THE LATTER RAIN by Daniel T. Bourdeau

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 3, 1859

THE LATTER RAIN.

By Daniel T. Bourdeau

This blessing is soon to be bestowed upon God's people; and there are few that realize it. The indifference that is manifested by many enlightened christians in regard to the latter rain, arises from a lack of love for the sweets that true religion affords. Those who have the light on this glorious theme, and have not a longing desire for the time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord are truly in a deplorable condition; for they cannot be perfectly right towards God and their fellow-men, while they do not long for that blessing that will put them in a position where they will be nearer God, the author of every good and perfect gift, and enable them to glorify him, in exerting a good influence on those around them.

There are those who indeed think that the latter rain is very desirable, and who speak much about it; but they do not realize what preparation they must make in order to be benefited by it. They think that what they cannot do towards preparing to go through the conflicts that are before them, the refreshing will accomplish; and they are comparatively at ease: they make no great efforts to overcome. Such, in our estimation, are no more prepared for the latter rain, than they would be if they cared nothing about it. Their desire is a false desire, and their hope one that will not stand in the hour of temptation which shall try all those that dwell on the earth. They lack the very thing that God's people must have to be benefited by the latter rain.

There is still another class who are not well established in the truth, and who look with pleasing anticipation to the time of refreshing, with the sincere belief that the generality of those who profess christianity will largely share the blessings of the latter rain. For the benefit of such, we will make a few remarks. And we would here ask, can God consistently pour his Holy Spirit on those who love not the truth, and hate righteousness, and are the enemies of Christ's humble followers? Has God ever dealt on this wise with the children of men? Not by any means. God is said to be a kind and compassionate Father. He deals justly with all men; and he pities them as kind and wise earthly parents pity their children. Now how willing are earthly parents to give good gifts to their children? Let us see. To illustrate we will suppose a case:

A certain judicious and wealthy parent has two sons. One is very industrious and obedient, and endeavors in all things to please his father; the other is very slothful and disobedient, and cares not whether his father is pleased by his conduct, or not. One is very grateful for the gifts that his kind father bestows upon him, and makes good use of them; the other is never satisfied with the blessings with which his kind and indulgent father favors him, and spends all the gifts he receives in satisfying his evil desires, without taking any thought about the future. These two sons come to the time when their father is to manifest his indulgence and love towards them; and what course does he take? Does he treat them alike? By no means. How does he deal with them? He gives much wealth to him who has been faithful and obedient, and is disposed to make good use of the blessings he receives; and he says to his slothful and disobedient son, My son, I truly desire to promote your happiness. I have been very indulgent towards you in the past; but I cannot consistently commit to your care the amount of wealth I should, were you disposed to mend your ways and rightly spend the gifts that are imparted unto you. I will keep that portion of my wealth that I had reserved for you, and give it to your brother, or to some other one who will make good use of it, unless you reform and give good evidence that you will be benefited by receiving your portion of my property.

Thus will our kind heavenly Father deal with those who profess christianity, and are slothful and disobedient, and despise those who love God, and strive to follow the meek and lowly Jesus. He cannot pour his Holy Spirit upon them while they are in a state of rebellion; for they would not feel the necessity of amending their ways: on the contrary they would think themselves well off, remain in their sins and finally be lost. This view of the subject shows us why most of those who profess godliness are so destitute of God's Spirit; and it also shows us what spirit those are of, who, while living in sin, profess to share largely of the Spirit of God.

But, says the critic, does not God say that he will pour out his Spirit upon all flesh, that is upon his people Israel? Most certainly he does. But what is meant by Israel? Says the apostle Paul, "They are not all Israel which are of Israel." Rom. ix, 6. "Thou therefore which teachest another teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal dost thou steal? thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? For he is not a Jew which is one outwardly. . . . But he is a Jew which is one inwardly." Chap. ii, 21, 22, 28, 29. "Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham." Gal. iii, 7. So we see that such only as are of faith, and honor God through righteousness, constitute the true Israel, and will be refreshed when the latter rain is poured.

But why confine the expression "all flesh" to the Israel? O, "says the objector," because the Lord speaks of "my people Israel." Joel ii, 27. And besides, we know that God does not refer to those who are not christians; for surely those who do not believe in Christ cannot partake of that blessing which he reserves for those who follow him in these last days. This reasoning is good; but why not carry it out a little further? Why not say that, inasmuch as many professed christians by sinning against the light, become more guilty in the sight of God than those who have never taken the name of Christ in their lips, only those who sincerely believe in Christ and live up to the light that shines on their pathway, shall be benefited by the latter rain?

But, says one, don't you believe that God's Spirit will strive with the wicked while the latter rain is being poured on the just? Certainly we do; but in our mind there is a vast difference between God's Spirit striving with men, and God's Spirit being poured on men. God's Spirit strives with men to convince them of sin, that they may repent, forsake their evil ways, and obtain mercy; but God's Spirit will be poured on those who make a thorough preparation for the latter rain. God's Spirit has strove with men ever since the fall of our first parents; and it will continue to strive with men till the day of mercy closes; but God's Spirit will be poured on the church of God just prior to Christ's second coming. That the Spirit of God will strive mightily with the wicked, while the saints are receiving the latter rain, we freely admit; for God will cut his work short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.

The more we reflect on this subject, the more we are convinced that the idea of a universal refreshing is contrary to the teachings of the Bible. It perfectly coincides with the doctrine of the world's conversion, which is opposed both to Scripture and common sense, and has a tendency of lulling the church and world asleep.

DANIEL T. BOURDEAU. West Enosburgh, Vt. Feb. 10th, 1859.