"Call to Remembrance the Former Days."
By Editor
The following article from A. Hale will be read with interest and profit. In the main we believe it to be correct. But the idea of the "door of mercy" being shut is unscriptural and untrue. The Bible mentions no such door. An expression alike unscriptural may be seen in the same number of the "Herald," in the remarks of J. V. Himes, headed "An open door in Canada." He says, "I am more convinced than ever since I came to this Province, that Jesus yet sits upon the mercy seat." The mercy-seat was placed upon the ark containing the commandments of God, and was overshadowed by the cherubims of glory. Its place was within the vail, in the "holiest of all." The high priest alone entered that place only once a year, and then to cleanse the Sanctuary; but certainly he never got up upon the mercy-seat. That would be a singular position indeed for the high priest. Jesus could enter the holiest of all to cleanse the Sanctuary, the "True Tabernacle," only at the end of the 2300 days. But he never was, and never will be, on the mercy-seat. We freely admit that our Great High Priest has entered the Holiest, but to say that he "sits upon the mercy-seat," is one step further than we can possibly go. It is also evident that to "suppose," as A. Hale does in this article, "that the condition of things at the shutting of the door, would be very much as it was after the day of atonement among the ancient Jews," is incorrect. The shutting of the door of the Holy Place, is preparatory to the antitypical tenth day atonement for the cleansing of the Sanctuary. But we recommend the article to all. It should be read carefully. It is well calculated to improve the faith and piety of those who are weak in faith. By this article it will be seen that the view we cherish, that the parable was designed to apply to the Advent movement, was advocated by one of the editors of the "Advent Herald," in 1845. A large portion of the Advent brethren then held this view; but few, however, have been able to bear the cross, and endure the scoffs arising from this position. Let us "call to remembrance the former days."