"HOW DOES IT HAPPEN by J. Clarke

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 5, 1859

"HOW DOES IT HAPPEN

By J. Clarke

THAT we have not heard of these things before?" says the objector; and the question seems unanswerable to him.

How did it happen, dear sir, that no one but Noah knew of the flood? there were good men previous to Noah. How did it come, that God did not reveal the coming destruction to some of the great, the noble, of the antediluvians?

God sent by his prophets to ancient Israel to warn them of impending judgments, and these warnings were always just in the right time. They probably tried to silence those holy men in the same way. How do you know? What evidence have we that you know any more than Baal's prophets? Why are you, O Elijah, troubling Israel with new doctrines? Do you not see that Baal's worship is an old, established affair? Why, O Elijah, will you turn the present order of things upside down? How does it happen that you, a rough old man, know more than all the polished prophets of Baal? Here are thousands of our belief against you, and if you are right, why did we not find it out before? Why did not God reveal so important a matter to some of our priests of Baal? they have influence. God would never have chosen such a rough, unpopular man as you are to carry such a message.

Why, O Jeremiah, are you always harping upon these unpopular hobbies of yours? Has not God blessed us as a nation from Abraham down, and did not even Jacob have idols hid away in his family? and in the desert the same idea was carried out, and even Solomon built a house for image worship, to accommodate some of his family. Indeed, this practice of Baal worship is of very ancient date, and why did not God make this known before, if it was wrong? O Jeremiah, do not make yourself abhorred of every good, faithful patriot, by crying out, Captivity? captivity! Why, Jeremiah, it is no better than treason; you are only weakening the hands of the people.

Why, O John the Baptist, that robe of coarse camel's hair cloth, and that leathern girdle, and that mean diet of locusts? You, the son of a high priest, who might be extensively useful, if you would labor legitimately! If God had such an important message for mankind as you pretend to have, he would have sent a person who dressed and acted like other people. Why, John, you are only injuring your influence.

Why, O Luther, do you cry out so crazily against the holy mother Catholic church handed down to us, in a direct line from St. Peter, the great key-holder. You, a despicable monk, dare to attack the Holy Church, ancient and well established. O rebellious Luther!

J. CLARKE.