Cunningly-Devised Fables.
No words of mockery can be uttered by latter-day scoffers, nor words of opposition by error-loving professors, nor sentiments of scorn or indifference by a careless and ease-loving world, but the word of God has pointed them out, and fortified the humble disciple against them. Scoffers refute themselves. How often are the Advent people told, in the bitterness of the opposition which they have to meet, that they are the false prophets that should arise in the last days, as recorded in Matt. xxiv, 24. How is this? Are we those false prophets? Yes! exclaims the enraged opponent. But, friend, those false prophets were to arise just before the coming of Christ, and constitute a sign of that event; and if we are the ones, then that sign is fulfilled, we are in the last days, and the coming of Christ is at the door! But hold! that is the very doctrine we are proclaiming, and hence we cannot be the false prophets spoken of. Thus the skeptic refutes himself and clears us. Again, Peter informs us that "there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming?" Now it is evident that before this can take place, the doctrine of the Lord's coming must be agitated. There must be a general move on that subject, and the attention of the people be called to it, or there would be no occasion for the scoffer to arise and propose his question, Where is the promise of his coming? If, then, we can find a time when the doctrine of the Lord's coming is urged upon the people, and scoffers coming up all over the land, with the very question in their mouths which Peter ascribes to them, what must we conclude? Why, beyond controversy, that we have reached the very time spoken of by Peter. And when did he say these things should happen? "In the last days." Very well. These things are now transpiring before our eyes. The picture Peter has presented before us, is being fulfilled to the letter. We have therefore only to say to the scoffer as he comes up, that there is abundant promise of the Lord's coming; that Peter has pointed him out, and described his work, as that that should take place in the last days; and that therefore he is himself furnishing unanswerable evidence in favor of the doctrine against which he scoffs. But again, Peter takes occasion to assure the disciples that they "have not followed cunningly-devised fables." In reference to what subject does he speak this? Answer. "The power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." What is the matter here? Why, we may be sure that this doctrine will be denounced as a fable; and not being able to account for the scripture harmony by which it is sustained, people will endeavor to soothe their consciences with the thought that it is very "cunningly devised" but still a fable. And how is it? If popular theology be correct, we are certainly following a fable. We are deluded. All our expectations of the coming of Christ, and all that we are doing in reference to that event, are wholly based on fable. But how do they account for the wonderful harmony which our theory presents? Oh, how often we hear the expression, your doctrine is very curious; it is well put together; what an ingenious theory you have; &c., &c., but still they declare it a fable, and go to their farms, their merchandise, or their pleasure. Has not Peter anticipated this very thing? May we not tell such persons that Peter has declared that they would denounce the doctrine of the Lord's coming as a fable, and then pass over the wonderful harmony of the doctrine, by regarding it as very cunningly devised? Verily so. But, brethren, the assurance of Peter is ours: We have not followed cunningly-devised fables, in making known the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Peter saw upon the mount a miniature representation of the future glorious coming of our Lord in the clouds of heaven. We shall soon behold the reality. And then our course will be vindicated, and our hopes fulfilled before an unbelieving and scoffing world.