To Correspondents by Editor

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 10, 1860

To Correspondents.

By Editor

J. L. of Ohio. We know of no other testimony that Herod slew the children of Bethlehem, except the record of Matthew. If those you refer to would endeavor to convey the idea from this fact, that it is not therefore authentic, we reply that one declaration of Inspiration is just as satisfactory to us, as though it were an hundred times repeated.

E. S. of Ind. We think the expressions, wood, hay and stubble, of 1 Cor. iii, 12, refer to persons and not to doctrines, from the impropriety which there would be in talking about building upon the foundation, Jesus Christ, with false doctrines. But the church is built upon that foundation; and this text, with its accompanying verses, shows the responsibility that rests upon the builders in this work. Every man's work shall be tried. If it abide, he shall have reward; if not, he shall suffer loss, though he may barely be saved himself.

A. G. C. of Wis. The best light we have on Zech. xiv, will be found in Bro. Waggoner's late work on the Kingdom of God. 2 Thess. ii, 6, 8, 9, evidently cannot refer to the two-horned beast, as your friend would infer. Paul in that chapter forewarns the Thessalonian church of a great apostasy that should take place before the coming of the day of the Lord. The seeds of that apostasy he told them were already, in his day, at work. Verse 7. This development went on, and soon resulted in the establishment of the Papacy. This was that son of perdition, the man of sin, the one who exalteth himself against God, and sitteth in his temple showing himself that he is God. To this all will assent. But this manifestation took place, and the pope was exercising his blasphemous claims, as if in the temple of God, long ages before the two-horned beast came into existence.