DEAR BRO. WHITE:—I wish briefly to notice a few points contained in a letter written by an Advent preacher, who professes to be looking for the coming of Christ this year, that others may see what those resort to who have not a thus saith the Lord, to substantiate their unscriptural assertions.
The first point, that I would notice is this: He states that he believes in keeping all the commandments of God, and then says, that the ten commandments are not binding. Consequently they are not the commandments of God, under the gospel dispensation, and John has no reference to them whatever in the text I have quoted. Viz: 1 John ii, 3, 4; v, 2, 3.
2. He says, Christ is our law-giver in this dispensation, and 3d, he makes the assertion, that the Lord's day [Rev. i, 10,] was the day the Lord arose from the dead, and was not the Sabbath.
In reply, I asked him the following questions: 1. What the commandments of God which he believed in keeping in this dispensation, were. 2. When, and where, Christ gave his law, how many precepts has it, and what are they. 3. If Christ is our Law-giver, who is our advocate. And 4. I asked him to prove to me from the word of God, that the Lord's day [Rev. i, 10,] meant the day that he arose from the dead.
I will give his answer to question 3d, as it is the only one he has attempted to answer. He answers, by asking me, if I believe we are to obey the precepts of Jesus Christ; for instance, Christ says, "I say unto you, love your enemies;" he says, if this precept is binding, Christ not only may be, but is, both our law-giver and our advocate; and again, he says, there is no difficulty here after all, notice one fact, there is no proof in the Bible, that Christ intercedes for any but the saints. O how blind are such teachers. I would to God that they would heed the counsel of the faithful, and True Witness, and buy the gold tried in fire, that they may be rich, and white raiment that they may be clothed, and anoint their eyes, with eye-salve that they may see. It does appear, that any one must be in want of Bible arguments to sustain a theory, that will take such a position; or if it be true, I fail to see how the sinner can be saved, as he has no goodness of his own to plead of, he must receive the penalty of his law. But I choose to hear what the word of God says on this point.
Wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost, that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Heb. vii, 25. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous. 1 John ii, 1. But allow me here to say, as my questions were not answered the first time, I repeated them, telling him if they were in the Bible, he could answer them, &c. but this he refused to do, telling me he was fully satisfied it would do me no good for him to answer, until I was free from the mesmeric influence, under which he was fully satisfied I was now held. Such an excuse will do for those who have not the Bible on their side to prove their unscriptural assertions.
But in these times, when satan is permitted to work with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish, because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved; for which cause strong delusion is sent upon them, that they should believe a lie, that they all might be damned, who believe not the truth, but have pleasure in unrighteousness.
I feel like heeding the admonition of the word of God, to try the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world. And I am thankful, that we have a detector, a statute-book, by which we may try all the fables of the last days. And we have the assurance, that if they preach another gospel, aside from that word, or speak not according to it, it is because there is no light in them. And it is by this word that I wish to try the above. 1 Pet. iii, 15. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. Now as we know that some have turned aside unto vain jangling, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm, [1 Tim. i, 6, 7,] let us beware lest we also being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from our own steadfastness. If the hope that is within us, is founded upon the word of God, we can give a reason of the same; but if it is not, and is only built on the traditions, and opinions of men, the sooner we abandon it the better; for the time is coming, that every thing that can be shaken, will be. Every man's work will be tried of what sort it is. Nothing short of the word of God will stand. If our feet are not firmly planted, upon this word, we shall fall, a prey to the enemy. Then how important that we examine carefully, the reason of the hope that is within us, to see if we can sustain it by the word of God.
In regard to the New-Time theory, he says, it is going with more power in some regions than the '44 cry. It is stirring the virgins, affecting the world, God is in it, and with it, the Holy Ghost is in it, Jesus Christ is in it, all of God's good children who are not in it will come into it; and to use his own words he says, there is salvation in it, and damnation out of it, and he says, if I ever sing the victor's song, I shall have to believe from the heart, that Jesus is coming in 1854. But if our salvation depends upon this, I see not why we are not as safe as they, for if Christ should not come this year according to their own theory, they are without hope. I choose rather to believe the words of Jesus. He says, blessed are they that do his [the Father's] commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Rev. xxii, 14.
While I look back upon the time since 1844, and see the many positions those have taken, who have denied the ending of the days at that time, and have repeatedly been setting times for the Lord to come. I feel to rejoice that God has a people on the earth, that are willing to follow down the track of prophecy, and are striving to hold the beginning of their confidence steadfast unto the end, and have patience that after they have done the will of God, they might receive the promise. And as they have obeyed the first, and second angel's messages, they are now heeding the warning voice of the third, which followed them, saying, with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast, and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture, &c. Here is the patience of the saints, here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. In this time when error is fast increasing, and darkness is covering the world, and gross darkness the people, I feel to praise the Lord for the third angel's message, which makes the past so clear, and shows us where we are in this world's history; while those that reject it, are left in darkness, not knowing at what they stumble.
God will have a remnant on the earth, when he shall appear, that are following him wholly, as did Joshua and Caleb; and although some may turn back, and bring up an evil report of the land, I am resolved to go on, for I believe it is a goodly land, and we are well able in the strength of the Lord to go up and possess it. But we must see to it that we are shielded with the word of God; for the enemy is on the alert, and if possible will hinder our prayers, and draw us away from God. But praise his name, truth is mighty and will prevail, and as the way is narrowing, and the conflict is more sure, let us take a firmer, bolder, and more decided stand, for God and his truth, and our Lord will fight for us.
"The battle is coming between the two kingdoms,
The armies are gathering round;
The pure testimony and vile persecution
Will come to close battle ere long;
Then gird on your armor ye saints of the Lord,
And he will direct you by his living word;
The pure testimony will cut like a sword."
LOIS J. RICHMOND.
Ashfield, Mass., March 16th, 1854.