We will notice the object of these gifts. "For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon man, in slumbering upon the bed. Then he openeth the ears of man and sealeth their instruction. That I may withdraw man from his purpose and hide pride from man. He keepeth his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword." Job xxxiii, 14-18.
Those who have objections to this mode of instruction will make them on their own responsibility. "And he that contends with the Almighty shall he instruct him?" He that reproves God, let him answer Job xl, 2. "In this age of worldly wisdom and religious apostasy, intellectuality has usurped the seat of Bible faith," and the means of instruction appointed by God has had to give way to man's wisdom, through the theological instructions of the day, until God's appointed means have fallen into such disrepute that his servants who "come down" to them (for they have been above them) are stamped as visionaries; while others cry, Bible, Bible, but away with its means of instruction.
When the God of Heaven condescends to pour out his Spirit, and gives instructions and warnings to save us from "pride," the "sword," and the "pit," to say then that we are to give no more heed to them than to dreams and false prophets, is charging God with folly. It is as much as to say, By these means God opens our eyes, but we need not look! opens our ears but we need not hear! shows the pit but we need give no attention! Such I fear will find swift destruction.
Another idea which is thrown out to blind the mind, is the following: "When we lack wisdom let us ask of God, not of visions." Such expressions betray ignorance or blindness, and I hope the honest and candid will examine the idea, and be not deceived. While the cry is, Bible, let us understand Bible instruction. It is true we should ask God for wisdom and then we should be willing that he should answer in his own way. I think those who do not see the manner in which wisdom comes must be in the condition Job was, when Elihu was reasoning with him; viz., in the dark, where they cannot perceive when God does speak. And the reason why Job could not perceive was because he brought himself into the dark, by murmuring against God's dealings with him. I hope we shall remember the reproof of Paul, while God is restoring and using the gifts. He compares them to the different members of the body, and says, One cannot say to the other, I have no need of thee: [1 Cor. xii.] as much as to say we have need of them all; and the instruction is that they are a help to each other. So when we ask God for wisdom, and he sees fit to employ one of these gifts through which he imparts that wisdom, we cannot say we have no need. When we ask God to save us, we know he cannot save us in sin, and he will use his own means to point out that sin to us.
We have need of these gifts now if ever they were needed. And while we are in the time of judgment, God will bring every work into judgment with every secret thing, whether good or evil; therefore he must use means to bring out secret sins. One object of visions is to show present duty as well as future history. Peter was instructed when to go to the Gentiles. After receiving directions from the Saviour, not to go in their way, this caused a trial to the church, while they went up to Jerusalem. But Peter was bold to tell his vision, and says, "What was I that I could withstand God?" So that they were obliged to believe Peter's vision. And when we deny this operation of the Spirit of God, in this day, we withstand Bible instruction, and will need more humility, and self-abasement, before God can fit us for the society of holy angels, and to dwell in his presence.
Some may take exceptions, when we say that these gifts are necessary to point out our faults and errors, because the Bible is for our correction and instruction. So the Bible said, Thou shalt not covet, when Ananias and Sapphira kept back part of the price, but it took the gift of the Spirit to say, Thou art the man. God is the originator of every moral principle. But every age and dispensation brings man into different circumstances, where new items of duty grow out of the same principle. The Bible does not minutely point out, and could not without a world of books, the history of all mankind in every age and calling; so the Spirit is given to the world as a reprover of sin and to bring all things to our remembrance.
There is a wide field of instruction open to mind while meditating upon this subject. It looks so clear that it seems I could convince every candid mind, could I reason with them. Some believe in the gifts but say there is no importance to them. This is having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. If we say these gifts are not to be followed "any more than false prophets," we deny their power to influence the mind for good. Now I cannot believe that God should condescend to pour out his Spirit upon his children, and they be indifferent to it, and give it no place in their hearts and actions.
Now when we thank God for the Bible, let us have Bible faith, Bible Sabbath, Bible day for the Sabbath, Bible Commandments and Testimony, Bible gifts, Bible submission to them all, then we shall have Bible religion, Bible hope, and soon Bible salvation and Bible glory forever.
"Holy Bible, book divine,
Precious treasure, thou art mine."
I do not feel ashamed of God's blessed truths, though they come in contact with the wisdom of this world, however humiliating; nor do I feel like putting them under a bushel. Now brother, sister, reader, I do not feel like deceiving any one, or like supporting or upholding any false theories; for this will do no one any good. Every work will be tried of what sort it is. But let me remind you that heaven's eternal day is just before us, and we are in the antitype of ancient Israel, after they left Egypt, while in the wilderness being proved by God's law, when many drew back because of the straitness of the way, and fell before they reached the land of Canaan. So down here, many are not willing to have their lives searched and corrected, and brought into harmony with God's word, and are drawing back. Let us believe to the saving of our souls. No guile in our mouths, nor fault in our hearts, is the only qualification that will recommend to the favor of God, who has borne long with us. "Then we shall receive eternal gain for worldly loss; but the unfaithful eternal loss for worldly gain." Perfect holiness in the fear of God, without which no man can see the Lord,
C. W. SPERRY.