Babylon's End Approacheth!
By E. Everts
It is apparent that the Lord in his instruction to his people, employs things animate and inanimate, beasts, nations, trees, cities, &c., to instruct and forewarn them of their whereabouts on the stream of time, and their entrance into the vast ocean of eternity. Dan. vii; Isa. xiv, 8; xxi, 13; Rev. xvii, 5; Isa. xxvi, 1, 2. In examining and comparing Rev. xviii and Isa. xlvii, we find a striking similarity. The boast of Babylon's exaltation, of being no widow, and the enchantments and sorceries of one, which are the works of the other, by foul spirits of devils, and also the gradation, but precipitance of her judgments, ending alike, in her being burned, show that the same symbol is used in both places. We feel warranted in the fear of the Lord, for the sake of giving light to the remnant, and warning honest souls that are deceived by fallen Babylon, to apply the instructions of those chapters to the popular fallen churches of this day. The boast of sitting a queen, and "I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children," is thus answered by the scriptures: "But these two things shall come to thee in a moment, in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection." Isa. xlvii, 8, 9. The rejection of the nominal churches came when they had acted out their hate fully, towards the proclamation of Christ's second coming, and towards them who loved and proclaimed it, in 1844. There was the "year day" of her divorce and loss of children. It is believed that fifty thousand lovers of the coming of Christ left the churches in that year. They have borne testimony to the same in the amplest manner in their reports. For sufficient evidence see their admissions noted in the "Signs of the Times, a pamphlet printed at the Advent Review Office, Battle Creek, Mich., pp. 86-90. And after their fall mentioned in Rev. xiv, 8, which was proclaimed throughout the land in 1844, Rev. xviii, announces that "Babylon is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit," which is fulfilling by the spirits of devils working miracles through members of the churches, by spirit developments since 1844. Notwithstanding the awful fall of Babylon, we hear the voice of long-suffering mercy, saying, "Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." This is a moral fall; and of an organization that encircles the people of God, and is of importance sufficient to intoxicate all nations and kings of the earth with the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and make rich through the abundance of her delicacies the merchants of the earth. Who is this Babylon? She is not the nations, nor kings, nor the merchants, of the earth; as in their sphere of organization, they are of the masculine gender, and of one party; but Babylon is the boasting queen, feminine, on the other hand. Her widowhood has come, and loss of children, in spite of her boast, sufficient to warrant the application of the symbol. But we expect that this will be to a greater degree; and then "a voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principals of the flock, shall be heard; for the Lord hath spoiled their pasture." Jer. xxv, 36. Here I would state what I witnessed on First-day, Feb. 22d. The circumstances were, that some of the most humble members of a Wesleyan church who had become anxious to hear on our faith, induced me to go to the W. house to solicit an opportunity for Bro. J. N. L. to preach in their house. Soon after I was seated, the minister of the day, who was not the incumbent in charge, but the teacher of the seminary, who I soon concluded was not preaching for "bread and butter," took for his text, Neh.171ii, 17. It reads thus: "Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come and let us build up the walls of Jerusalem that we be no more a reproach." I must say, such a description which their best members admitted was true, I never heard of the professed followers of Jesus; urged home as it was, with much command of language, and apparent feeling. He said that it was literally true throughout christendom, applied to W. and E. Methodists, to Baptists and Congregationalists, and all Protestant christendom. He charged them with neglect of attendance at church. Said he, "Here are no more than four fifths of the church to-day, and last Sabbath but five out beside himself; and two of them were children: and that they were full of variance, malice and quarrels; and if a difference was distinguishable between them and the world, it could only be seen in the house of worship; for, at the hotel, store or grocery and elections they are alike." Then he compared them to the worldling, not the moral, but the immoral. "Do they attend trotting and shooting-matches? So do you.
"Do they pitch quoits, throw dice and play at checkers? So do you.
"Do they vend and drink ardent spirits? So do you.
"Do they spend some $15 for tobacco and cigars each year? So do you.
"Do they attend parties, balls and cotillion parties? So do you.
"Are they guilty of fraud, trickery and dishonesty? So are you.
"Are they extravagant in dress? So are you For instance, (said he,) one lady in N. Y. City went to a ware-house, and purchased a diamond at $500, and placed it in a neck collar that cost fourteen thousand dollars. What think you cost the remainder of the dress? And this lady was a christian!
"Do they expend $200,000 for a palace or dwell-ing-house? So do you." "Even ministers must drive the best horse, have a silver-mounted, covered carriage, at the cost of $1500, or $2000. Nothing short of a silver-plated harness will do; and a gold fob chain, at the cost of $25,00, when a steel one that cost fifteen cents would answer just as well. Then attached to the gold fob, is a gold watch that cost at least $75,00, when a $15,00 watch would be just as good for two generations, at least. Thus the desolations of ruined old Jerusalem, were spiritually applied to christendom." Then he recited the catalogue of the "gold and silver vessels, and all the rich treasures that were carried as spoil to Babylon; and then the captives, the priests, the Levites and singers, the ancients and honorable, the young men and maidens, all were in captivity." Then over this death he raised his moan and wail, and exclaimed, Where are the fathers and mothers in Israel, who once poured forth their melting prayers and soul-stirring exhortations, with outstretched arms of a Saviour's love, with cheeks bedewed with tears for poor sinners? Where are the young men and maidens, who with the strength of young giants filled with new wine, or as a strong man rejoiceth to run a race, that made the closets, out-buildings and groves vocal with their prayer, and shouts of praise? "And where are the Marys and Elizabeths? Where are the Annas and Marthas, who attend constantly at the house of the Lord?
"Where are the graces of the church? Gone! gone! like the vessels of gold and silver, and rich treasures of Jerusalem, into the enemies' land.
"Where are the cheering hearty amens; and loud shouts of praise, giving glory to God in the highest? Gone!
"O that my head was waters, and my eyes were fountains of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people." The mourning minister closed by declaring that he feared and believed that their conformity to the world had absorbed all their energies or love for Zion, so that they would grudge the devoting of a few days in a protracted effort to revive the church, and save sinners for fear they could not make money so fast. He exclaimed with deep emotions, What I say is applicable to all christendom. You have not so much as a form of godliness. When the foregoing discourse was ended, one of their officials, who is a professed believer in the speedy second coming of Christ, introduced me to the congregation as being present to solicit their house to hold some meetings in, and granted me privilege to speak; which I did gladly; for my bones burned with the fire of truth, and through pity for the honest ones. I was very far from dissenting from the truthfulness of the discourse. I told them that I thanked God that there was a balm in Gilead, and a Physician there, for honest, penitent souls. This official said that he for one wished us to come; for, said he, "I feel like a drowning man, will be to catch at even a straw." The house was offered us for the next first day. The next day, the foremost member of the Congregational church, told me, that their minister preached just such a discourse the evening following, in their house. The next first day the W. preacher returned, and occupied the day, as one of their best members told me at the close of their long half day exercises, (for we were to occupy at 3 o'clock) in whipping them so, that when he closed, he requested the congregation to be seated and they would talk. "He said that the minister was procured to be an example to the flock, but that he was worse than any of the church; and that he was displeased because they had not paid him more, which was $150,00, for about four months, which he thought was enough. Their distraction prevented our meeting. I would add one remark of their pro tem, preacher which was in his moan. He said, "The time has been, when Methodists were slain by the power of the Spirit, but it is in the past, and I have not heard a shout, from a happy soul for years, giving glory to God, but once, and that was my father." "Ichabod." I sigh for the abominations that are done in the land. Judgment is come. Lord help.
E. EVERTS.
Round Grove Ills. Mar. 5 1857.