MISCELLANEOUS OBSERVATIONS.
By Editor
It is of no use to attempt to discuss Bible doctrines with those who do not believe the Bible. The first question to be settled with such is the authenticity of the Scriptures themselves. But in all the doctrinal questions which arise in the theological world, there must be some ground upon which we can anchor; there must be some standard by which to test and decide conflicting opinions. Such a standard is the word of God. It is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. That those who do not believe this, should become confused and bewildered by the infidel vagaries of these last days, is not strange; but that they should be thus betrayed from their integrity who do receive all scripture as of the inspiration of God, is strange. It is also strange that any with this belief, should offer such sentiments, and bring up such objections to the truth, as the following: 1. “It is only your hobby. The Catholics have their hobby, the Methodists theirs, the Baptists theirs, and you have yours.” Well, what if this is so? What if each one has a particular point on which he specially dwells? Does this alter the word of God? Does this prohibit its teachings from being definite and infallible on points of truth essential to the salvation of man? By no means. Well then, our hobby is, “To the law and the testimony.” We only ask men to take the word of God, take it as it is, read it, believe it, obey it. Wherever we find its teachings particularly disregarded, there, as consistency demands, we are particularly tenacious for reform. 2. “Every one can find enough in the Bible to substantiate his belief.” Is it possible that any believer in the Bible should make such a statement? It is the “old fiddle” argument of infidels. We deny its correctness. Doctors of divinity, to be sure, by their earth-wise, but heaven-foolish subtleties, by their spiritualization, and mystification of the word of God, by the multitudes of their religious creeds, and the fierceness and animosity of their contentions, have paved the way for this objection. But the Bible is not responsible for the course of doctors of divinity. Whatever of truth any man or any body of men may possess, may be defended by the Bible. Nothing else can be. To say otherwise is to cast upon this wonderful book the worst of imputations. This no believer can do; for against this he is effectually guarded by his confidence in its divinity. 3. “I do not think that all that I can do, will entitle me to eternal life.” Who does, friend? Not we, to be sure. Have we ever so taught; that man in his present condition could by obedience merit eternal life? We do not so believe. Some people will persist in either misunderstanding, or misrepresenting us, on this point. When we endeavor, with every consideration at our command, to urge upon men the necessity of obeying the holy law of God in all its particulars, they meet us with the exclamation, Oh, you believe we are to merit reward by our good works, to purchase eternal life by obedience? No, sirs, we do not. The apostle Paul assures us that all the world are subject to the law of God; that all have transgressed, and are consequently all become guilty before God. Perfect obedience is all a person can in anywise render. All this the law demands; and hence should we live from this time forward in unexceptionable obedience, it can do nothing towards removing the guilt of past transgression; for we do nothing, in this case, but our duty; and we do not hold, with the Catholics, to works of supererogation. All our guilt of transgression, therefore, past, present or future, can only be removed through faith in Christ. Hence eternal life is the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Now let us ask a question. Do you believe it possible to obtain justification through faith in Christ, while living in disobedience to the requirements of God? Because it is through faith in Christ that we obtain pardon, are you therefore freed from all restraint and authorized to transgress at pleasure? Will you continue in sin that grace may abound? The Apostle lays his emphatic “God forbid,” on all such reasoning. Rom. vi. 15. Let no more be said, then, either of our hinging redemption on the merit of good works alone, or of your thinking to obtain salvation through faith alone without obedience. Obedience and faith can no more be separated in the plan of salvation, and the sinner obtain life through either alone, than a man can sustain his being with oxygen gas, or nitrogen, alone, though these are the component parts of atmospheric air. In their separate state they are deadly; united, they form air and sustain life. So faith or works alone depended on, will land us in the second death; united, they will secure us a right to the tree of life, and an entrance through the gates into the city. 4. “What I feel to be my duty may not be the duty of another; and I am not to judge him for that.” In some particulars this may be true. But it cannot be urged as touching the commandments of God; for we all owe the same duties to God and to each other. And whoever does not feel it his duty to obey the plain requirements of God, had better change his disposition, and that speedily. 5. “Well, I believe in having charity.” So do we. But what do you mean by charity? Do you know that the term is grossly abused? Do you know that it is made to cover mountains of trash which do not come at all within its province? What do you mean by charity? Do you mean fellowship? Perhaps you answer, Yes. Then we understand that those you have charity for, you fellowship? Yes. And you believe in having charity for people, if they don’t see it their duty to keep the Sabbath? Yes. Then we will try it on another commandment. A man steals. Do you fellowship the thief? Oh, no. I do not fellowship the action, but I have charity for the man. But stop. A man’s actions are an index of his character; and character is inseparable from the man. If you fellowship a thief, you fellowship his theft. If you fellowship the Sabbath-breaker, you fellowship Sabbath-breaking. And so of every sinner, and every sin. 5. “Well, I hold to living peaceably with all men.” Yes; and so do we—as far as in us lies! The Apostle elsewhere gives a standard on this point; namely, first pure, then peaceable. No peace till there is first purity. No peace with corruption; no peace with sin; no unholy compromise on the part of the child of God; no shutting of the lips to let impiety go unrebuked; eternal war with wickedness; for what communion hath light with darkness, or what concord hath Christ with Belial! First pure, then peaceable.