"IF IT BE OF GOD YE CANNOT OVER-THROW IT."
By M. E. Cornell
AFTER our meetings had been in progress several days, it was announced that Prof. S. A. Taft of the Oxford College was coming to Lapeer. At this, some of the Baptist friends who were somewhat troubled about the subjects of the Sabbath, man's mortality, &c., were much rejoiced, hoping that he would sustain the popular view of these subjects. But alas for them! what must have been their chagrin to learn that Prof. Taft held to the perpetuity of the seventh-day Sabbath, and man's entire mortality. Eld. Taft delivered two very interesting discourses in the Court House, which, as one of the Baptist members afterwards admitted, was a complete confirmation of what we had presented in the tent. We attended and took notes, from which we extract the following. Text, Gal. iv, 4, 5. 1. There never was a time when the powers of darkness pressed stronger than to-day. That awful doctrine that "man is his own Saviour," is rapidly spreading over the earth; from the north to the south pole, from the rising to the setting sun, it is the same. 2. God appointed the time for the destruction of Babylon, Jerusalem, and finally for the end of all things. He has fixed the bounds. 3. When I speak of God, I mean the God of the Bible, and not the effigy of the God of humanity, that has no Son Jesus Christ. 4. Millions to-day are denying Jesus Christ. Am acquainted with a Methodist minister and a Baptist minister who once rejoiced in the atonement through Christ, that now deny the efficacy of his blood entirely. 5. Did not Christ pre-exist? Did man pre-exist? The Bible denies the lie; Beecher to the contrary notwithstanding. 6. Denies that Jesus Christ possessed two distinct natures, human and divine. Jesus on the cross is everything to the sinner. 7. What is it to be redeemed from under the law? Explains, to buy them out from under the law. We are to-day subjects of moral law. All, even angels, are subject of this law. This law links universal humanity to God. But men are at war with this law. Sin is here. This law cannot justify because it is broken. If angels could envy, they would envy the redeemed. The above sentiments were advanced with a zeal and independence that were truly commendable, considering the position occupied by the speaker. Prof. Taft's advice concerning the war that was being waged against us by the clergy of the place was: "They had better let these men alone, for they have too much Scripture on their side to be overthrown." Eld. Woodruff (Presbyterian) undertakes against us. In addition to the usual arguments, such as, thief on the cross, rich man and Lazarus, &c., there was a great amount of low slang, so that even his own members were disgusted with it. To destroy Job's testimony he endeavored to show that Job impeached himself—was excited, &c. In reply we quoted what God said to Satan. Job i, 8. "Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil." Also what God said to Eliphaz, the Temanite, Job xlii, 7. "My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends, for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath." Again Eld. W. says, Abraham stated a falsehood when he said of his wife, "She is my sister." If I should say such a thing, you would not hear me preach. In reply we referred the people to Abraham's explanation. See Gen. xx, 12. "And yet indeed she is my sister, she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife." We also referred to what God said of Abraham in verse 7. "He is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live," &c. Also in verse 17. "So Abraham prayed unto God, and God healed Abimelech," &c. Also chap. xxvi, 5. "Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes and my laws," all of which could not be true, if Abraham was such a liar that the like at the present time would not be worthy of a hearing. Eld. Borden (Methodist) enters the ranks against us. Text, Jer. xxiii, 21. "I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran, I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied." Remarks. It is characteristic of a false prophet to go without being sent. Paul, Luther, Wesley, &c., were sent. A false prophet goes out upon his own hook, and generally aims at the true prophets. This is true of Mormonism, Spiritualism, and an ism now among us without a name. In reply we called attention to the context. Verse 17. "They say still unto them that despise me, The Lord hath said ye shall have peace," &c., and remarked that it did not apply to us, for our message was an alarm—a solemn warning—exactly opposite the peace and safety cry. Again. If Martin Luther was called and sent, he declared that the doctrine that the soul is immortal was from the Roman dung-hill of decretals. We then inquired if Luther was not a dissenter from the established church the same as we are, and if so, how can it be shown that he had any more authority than those who are now dissenters? Subsequently Eld. Woodruff took up the Sabbath question: 1. The first day of the week is the only Sabbath; any other day is against Christ. If I were convinced that the seventh day was now the Sabbath I would keep it according to present reckoning. 2. It is infidel Judaism to teach the seventh day. 3. It is impossible to find the first day; consequently the seventh cannot be known. 4. Many in this place are being deceived; they may be honest, but the deceiver knows better. All these efforts against the truth have only served to advance it; for the mass of the people are convinced that our positions cannot be overthrown, hence they must be of God. Truth is mighty and will prevail.
M. E. CONNELL.
Lapeer, Mich., Aug. 13th, 1858.