p. 132 | A Parable by J. H. W.

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 22, 1863

A Parable.

By J. H. W.

A company of men were upon a Railroad track upon which a locomotive was running. They were unable to get off the track, and of course in danger of destruction. But a friend interposed for their safety. The question arose, How did he save them? which A. and B. answered differently. A. said he stopped the locomotive. B. said, Not so; he took them off the track. Let us hear their reasons for their different conclusions.

A. said they could not get off the track, which was admitted. He said also that the person interposing was able to save them, which was also admitted. Hence, he concluded the locomotive must have been stopped. And many said this conclusion was reasonable.

But B. denied this conclusion, and offered the following proofs of his position. 1. All who were saved were afterward found off the track; which proves that the interposing friend could take them off, though they of themselves, were unable to get off. 2. The person so interposing was actually run over by the locomotive in his efforts to save others. 3. Those who rejected his aid, and who refused with his help to leave the track, were run over by the locomotive after his efforts for them had ceased, which could not have been the case if he had stopped it. These proofs of B. were not denied. He further argued that he could admit A's. proofs, as they did not conflict with his (B's.) position. But as B's. proofs were destructive of A's. conclusion, reason requires A. to deny the proofs of B., (which he did not), or to renounce his conclusion as erroneous.

As there seems to be some doubt as to this matter still, I request that the proofs be examined and the question be answered. Did he stop the locomotive, or take them off the track?

N. B. This question is open to all antinomians. J. H. W.