Rest in Hope by M. W. H.

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · Aug 26, 1862

Rest in Hope.

By M. W. H.

TWICE, in an hour's miscellaneous reading, to-day, we have met the expression, "go down to the grave and rest in hope;" and in either case, were the authors questioned concerning their meaning, they would betray a contradiction that they would do well to investigate till they either coin a new set of phrases, expressive of their true meaning, or consent to abide by the import of what they utter; for the world has become too shrewd not to detect such theoretical inconsistencies, and consequently no longer attach all theological errors to the Romanist.

Discarding all uninspired authority as authority, and constantly striving to search deeper into the truths of the Bible, we are impressed continually by new discoveries, as well as with the great departure from primitive simplicity of faith; and in a way, too, that tends to bewilder rather than truly enlighten. For instance, when we hear the expression, "rest in hope," certainly it does not convey the idea that "death is but the stepping-stone" to an immediate life of joy, and fullness of pleasure forevermore.

And here we might hint at the frequent practice of many writers and speakers, of clothing their happiest thoughts in such a cloud of metaphor, as to render them almost unintelligible; subjecting themselves to the rebuke of Paul, "Except ye speak words easy to be understood, ye do speak to the wind." Also at the growing tendency to award indiscriminately to all, this entrance upon a blessed life, forgetful that while the Bible holds out the encouragement of reward to the righteous, it none the less seeks to terrify by its denunciations to the wicked. But if the "unbound spirit" passes at once into the full blaze of eternity, no more to be separated from Jesus, what mean such scripture passages as Luke xiv, 14; 2 Tim. iv, 1, 8; Col. iii, 4; 1 Thess. iv, 13–17; Heb. ix, 28; 1 Pet. i, 5, 13; v, 4; Rev. xi, 15–18; and xxii, 12?

Let none pass unnoticed (as is often done) this great array of texts, thinking they are familiar with them all, as is quite probable; for this very familiarity may be the reason that hitherto they have failed to perceive their true import. I confess this has long been the case with me, and thus am I better prepared to understand this habit of thought.

With the mere speculative reasoner it were useless to waste words, but the serious inquirer after revealed truth, when he reads "that the dead in Christ shall rise first;" "when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, we shall appear with him;" "if Christ be not risen, then they which have fallen asleep in Christ are perished," cannot fail to be impressed with the Bible fact that Christ is the great Lifegiver as well as Judge at his appearing and his kingdom, according to 2 Tim. iv, 1.

However determinedly and persistently many hearts are closed to the evident import of these scriptures, we are not prepared to charge such with want of honesty, but regard them herein themselves deluded, while deluding others. And though we pity the Papist when in his blinded bigotry and zeal he refuses to look or think, and therefore has no weightier argument than that he believes just what his church teaches; what shall we say when intelligent Protestants, with open Bible in their hands, virtually do the same? We feel that we might easily be tempted to sarcasm, biting and pungent, as when Elijah mocked the priests of Baal.

There is, it is said, a propensity in mankind obstinately to maintain an assumed position, and ever an inclination to hush up a wrong, when it has become too conspicuous longer to close one's eyes to it. A fancied consistency lies at the foundation of this, or as Emerson has said in substance, "A foolish consistency hinders men from saying in earnest words what to-day thinks, and to-morrow saying in earnest words again what to-morrow thinks, even though it should contradict all that has been said to-day." But Pope has better expressed it by saying, "A man should never be ashamed to own he has been in the wrong; which is but saying in other words, that he is wiser to-day than he was yesterday."

Many there are who pride themselves on never changing their opinions; and such will neither listen to facts or arguments, if the object be to move them one iota. But we dare affirm that whoever will not modify his opinions according to the best light he may have from day to day, will never make many advances. And if our maturer judgment has constrained us to think differently in some things, is it not in such as we had received upon human authority, without having previously bestowed on it a questioning thought? We cannot help feeling it were better, if we have traditionally received an error, to make a searching investigation, and a relentless removing of that error; for however many rights a system may contain, if there be one wrong bound up therein, that one wrong will cause disquiet. We are now seeing this exemplified politically. Shall we ere long see it religiously? Or are we already beginning to see its agitations? If so, and we have drifted with the current peacefully as long as we may, we would fain step aside and let the eddying whirl go by; but this may not be; for life is an earnest work, and the world holds each to a stern responsibility who mingles in its strife. Therefore are needed not holiday soldiers, but rather such as can endure hardness, ready to defend each honest conviction with the determination of those willing to bury themselves under its ruin. And though some scenes in the experience of another are daguerreotyped painfully forever upon our memory, yet if by his providence God is preparing us a work, and us for that work by a peculiar discipline, we would not shrink from that discipline, though it fall with crushing weight upon one who can no longer conscientiously by a discreet forbearance screen herself from the watchful eyes of those who cling so pertinaciously to long-standing theories.

But is this long-standing sufficient proof of their correctness? Even the disciples made sad mistakes, yet Jesus left those mistakes for time to correct. When he rode triumphantly into Jerusalem amid the shouts of the people, were they not sadly mistaken? Yet we find no intimation that he even hinted to them that he would not yet "restore the kingdom to Israel." Indeed, as another has said (in our pulpit), "The church has ever been mistaken regarding the process or manner of God's operations concerning his cause and kingdom." But is this any argument against its truth? With equal conclusiveness it might be asked why the eyes of the immediate disciples were holden that they should not at once recognise Jesus after his resurrection; or their understandings darkened, that in bewilderment they questioned among themselves "what that rising from the dead should mean?" In God's own time it flashed upon their mental vision, intensified by the teachings of the Spirit.

Possibly therefore what is so often branded as fanaticism, even though it give a visionary tinge to religion, may not be quite so preposterous after all, as those think who would have whatever has the appearance of enthusiasm in religion dispelled by sober reason.

M. W. H. Malone, N. Y.