A Christian Secretary Embraces Advent Truth
By J. B. Cook
From the Christian Secretary.
Middletown, Jan. 30th, 1843. BRO. BURR:—I feel very solemn in making this communication. It may surprise some, make others think me weak and wavering, and others still, that I am as Festus thought Paul, mad; but no—I "speak forth the words of truth and soberness."—My object is, in part, to forestall false reports of what is passing here. We are having Second Advent meetings in our church, and my views and feelings have undergone a great change. It began last August, by a singularly sweet and holy influence, which led me to pray over and investigate this subject. It was not by human agency, for I was alone with God. It was not from a prepossession in its favor, because I was as much afraid of it as many unconverted men are of religion. If I were ever led by the Holy Spirit, or if I knew what this leading is, that blessed guide of God's people led me solemnly to contemplate this subject. Having been very much engaged through the Winter, my investigations have proceeded slowly, till the 21st inst., when brother Stoddard began to lecture. I need not describe the great change of which I have been the subject. Suffice it to say, I have never, since my conversion, felt so much like a young convert as I do now. I fear neither poverty, nor reproach—indeed, I dread nothing save the displeasure of God. My prejudice, my pride, my desire to please men, seems to be gone; so that I am the Lord's freeman. Let me say, then, that I am solemnly persuaded that the doctrine of our blessed Lord's speedy coming is of God. I have not time to furnish you with but a brief statement of the hope that is in me. I had read the prophecies with much interest, and had learned something of what others have written, but still darkness, more or less dense, seemed to shroud them from my view. My understanding was not convinced. Now I am persuaded—my mind reposes in the persuasion that the truth is seen. To show that the clouds of darkness have shrouded this portion of God's word, this fact is in point.—An infidel, having read Prof. Stuart, said, "Well, he makes the Bible mean but very little, and that is the opinion I always had of it." I frankly confess that many of the prophecies have very little meaning in my view, if they be interpreted as they have been. Their obscurity has been increased—their darkness has been perpetuated, by overlooking their simplicity. I got some views, thirteen years since, from Elder Frey concerning the Jews' return, which I have ever entertained, because I was sure he was an honest and unwearied student of the prophecies.—But just come out from the poetry and symbolic prophecy of the Old Testament, where the distinction between the national and the real Israel is not very accurately maintained, into the clearer light of the New. Here the Old Covenant is seen to have been vanishing away more than seventeen hundred years ago. Now don't supply another idea. "That which decayeth and waxeth old, is ready to vanish away (not restored.) "They that are under the law are under the curse," (not under the promise.) They adhered only to "the letter," which killed, and rejected the promise, which alone could give life. They invoked the blood of Messiah on them, and wrath came on them to the uttermost. These passages should be understood as they say. As many of the Jews as adhered to "the law,"—"the letter," the Old Covenant, have perished. This was so at the destruction of Jerusalem, and has been so since; by consequence all other Jews, as really as Gentiles, who are not brought off from the Old Covenant must perish, because the law cannot restore Jews more than Gentiles. If they be ever graffed in, it must be "by faith." If they ever become the children of God, they must believe in Christ. Gal. iii, 8-10, 26-30. There are only two Jerusalems answering to the two covenants. The old has nothing left but a few fragments floating down the current of time.—It is a wreck from which none are saved, except those who are brought off by Christ. They must let go and betake themselves to the better Covenant which directs their minds to the Jerusalem above—"the city which hath foundations—the heavenly country." Now the obscure in prophecy should be interpreted by this plain, unambiguous language. Then all is clear, that the unbelieving Jews of our day are lost, as really as in the first age of Christianity, except they repent. The inheritance given to Abraham by promise, and which is "sure to all the seed," is the heavenly Jerusalem, and this is according to God's promise, "in the new heavens and the new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." I mean to say that there is no third or immediate Jerusalem. As to the signs, I have not room to say but a word. It seems to me plain, that as the Jewish Christians had signs given them, by which they might know when to escape, so has our Lord given us signs of his second coming. Nay, he has fulfilled them in this generation literally. He says, therefore, "Know that it is nigh, even at the doors." This, then, is my solemn conviction, that the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. I lift up my head in hope, and say, "Even so, come Lord Jesus, come quickly."—Amen! I do affectionately entreat my brethren in the ministry to give this subject a candid, prayerful investigation. You will be greatly blessed, if I may judge from my experience, in opening your pulpits as well as your hearts. But let others do as they may, I will not be among the "foolish virgins," nor among "the fearful and unbelieving."—May none of you be.