Long Cherished Views by M. W. H.

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · Dec 23, 1862

Long Cherished Views.

By M. W. H.

Conversing, not long since with a young lady of more than ordinary intelligence, our conversation turned upon the various phases of Christian belief; and among other things, we spoke of the pertinacity with which most cling to established ideas, even in the face of direct scripture to the contrary. I then referred to the popular expectation based on Isa. ii, from verse 17 to close of the chapter. When she had read it, I inquired, "Which, do you understand are to go into the clefts of the rocks?" "Why," she replied, "just which it says, the people." "Just so," I answered "and how any one with a common understanding of English grammar can think otherwise, I cannot see; and yet, we heard our minister pray this afternoon, 'that the idols might be cast to the moles and the bats, to go into the clefts of the rocks.'" "What fear of the Lord," was the suggestion of another, "could the idols have? Yet inspiration says they were thus abandoned, 'for fear of the Lord and the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth!'" And replied I, with this consistent view, how perfectly in harmony is Rev. vi, 15, 16, and 17; and how clearly is shown that mankind will cling to their various idols, till compelled to drop them, as themselves flee in their vain attempts, to escape from "the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; because the great day of his wrath is come!"

M. W. H.

Malone, N. Y.