117. DUTIES OF CHILDREN
By Editor
[From time to time we will reply under this head, if deemed advisable, to such candid inquiries on scriptural topics or moral questions as may be sent us. Questions which minister strife to no profit to our readers will not be answered here. Correspondents wishing a reply to their questions must give their full name and address, not for publication unless they wish, but as an evidence of good faith on their part, and to give us opportunity to reply by letter if deemed best. It is always well to inclose stamp. The questions will be numbered continuously.] Will you please explain Isa. 65: 20 and oblige? F. S. L. The text reads as follows: “There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days; for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be destroyed.” A suggested plausible explanation is as follows: The first part of the verse, to the first semicolon, refers to the new earth (see verse 17), and simply declares that there shall be no death in that state. The last part of the verse refers to the wicked which are raised from the dead (see Rev. 20: 1-9), and remain upon the earth “a little season,” or one hundred years. During this time the wicked youth will grow up and the hardened sinner will abide, but at the end of that period sin and sinners are no more, while the people of the Lord endure forever. We present the suggestion for what it is worth. Is it required of children to obey their parents when the duties required are not in harmony with the requirements of God? AN INQUIRER. The command of the Lord is, “Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” Honor certainly means to obey. But the command assumes that the parent’s requirement will be in harmony with what is right. See Deut. 6: 5-9; Prov. 22: 6. It is therefore the parent’s first duty to obey God and train the child aright; and it follows that it is the child’s duty to obey the parent. But if the parent command the child to do what is contrary to God, and the child knows that it means eternal death to obey the parent, it is the duty of the child to obey God first; eternal life is worth more than this life. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” But let the child be careful that he faithfully obey whatever is not against the word of God, however great the hardship involved. God should be the first in the hearts and lives of everyone who has reached the age of accountability. A married sister who has returned to her father’s house, receiving there no money, nothing but her board and clothes, asks if it is her duty to pay tithes. Whenever she earns money, she says, she pays tithes and offerings. These questions of conscience are difficult to decide, and, in fact, can only be decided by the one who is involved. If the income of the father was produced by the joint labor of his family, and his tithe was a joint tithe of this joint income, of course the tithe of each member would be counted in the tithe of the father. In that case he should not call it all his, but should give his family a share in it. On the other hand, if the above be not the case, it seems to us that the clothing and board should be estimated, and a tithe paid on the estimate. God asks of no one impossibilities; that is, he will enable everyone to do whatever he asks him to do, if such an one will submit to do it. Just what her duty is in this matter our sister must decide between her soul and God. Ask him. He has promised to give wisdom to those who ask in faith. “Ask and it shall be given,” and, finding the way, walk therein with thanksgiving. 119. JOHN WESLEY’S BELIEF IN CHRIST’S COMING.
Will you kindly mention the work and page containing John Wesley’s belief concerning the second coming of Christ? E. H. Unfortunately we do not have at hand all of Mr. Wesley’s works; but sufficient may be found to show his belief in Vol. 2 of his sermons, especially those under the title of “The General Deliverance,” “The Resurrection of the Dead,” and “The New Creation.”