STRAY THOUGHTS by M. L. Huntley

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 16, 1880

STRAY THOUGHTS.

By M. L. Huntley

"THE thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there anything whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us."

The sentiment here expressed by Solomon is true in Christian experience, which is much the same over and over. The circumstances of life are calculated to develop the traits of character which men possess. Notwithstanding this "there is no remembrance of former things."

Men do not learn as they might from the events of the past. Under all circumstances the same fruit will be manifest in a true Christian. A man possessing the true missionary spirit in the nineteenth century will bear the same fruit as did devoted men in the seventeenth century. In the experience of the true followers of Christ in ages past we have revealed to us the history of the people living at the present time; and in this history we have a rich and costly legacy. The past is thus spread out before us, and as in an open book we may trace the leadings of God's providence, his dispensations, his overruling power, and in the language of Holy Writ, "see the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy." It is here also that we may find practical and forcible illustrations of those noble, elevating traits of character, of that self-sacrifice and humility, which ever have, and ever will, meet the approval of Heaven. Here, also, in all their unmasked ugliness we may see pride, self-arrogance and selfishness, and behold their legitimate fruits.

The principles of God's government, those upon which all his dealings with mankind are based, have ever remained unchanged. Underlying the outward ever changing circumstances are the same great fundamental truths. Short-sighted humanity, blinded by the god of this world, fails to comprehend these truths, hence one age, one generation after another is led to commit the same errors which have repeatedly proved the bane of their predecessors. Their criminal blindness and oversight led the Jews to crucify the Saviour, and the successors of the true apostolic church to become the very personification of cruelty and wickedness in putting to death the people of God. To this same cause also may be traced the divided and confused condition of the Christian world at the present time. And still blindly rushes the multitude on, the same as though the experiment had never been tried, and thousands had not fallen over this rock of stumbling and offense. God would have us learn of the past and fly from dangers to come, and thus be saved in the kingdom of God.

M. L. HUNTLEY.