p. 37 | J. H. WAGGONER by J. H. Waggoner

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · Jul 4, 1865

J. H. WAGGONER

By J. H. Waggoner

Spiritual Gifts. Vol. III.

THE feelings and impressions which I received on first reading Spiritual Gifts, Vol. iii, were strongly revived on lately reading it, and I feel that it would be a pleasing privilege to give expression to them in the Review. I doubt not others have received like impressions; or if they have not considered the matter in the same light, I presume they will respond to my feelings, on reading and reflecting.

The idea has become somewhat prevalent, and is quite often expressed, that the morality of the Old Testament is defective, and its standard of godliness, of piety and devotion, far below that of the New Testament. And those who would not concede so much have yet often been perplexed (I know not what word better to use), at the aberrations of some of the best men of olden times, apparently unrebuked if not apparently approved of. This may arise in part from the brevity of the record, and partly from a want of sufficient carefulness of study of the corresponding facts. We take the life of Enoch: How rich in incidents exemplary and instructive, must have been these many years of unswerving integrity and faithful godliness. Yet his memoir is embraced in three short words: He "walked with God." These would be too scanty for a modern epitaph, yet they form a Bible biography of a most important life.

The case of Abraham taking Hagar as his wife; that of Rebecca's artifice, and Jacob's deception, with others of a kindred nature, have been stumbling-blocks to many readers of the Old Testament. But when we read in the volume above referred to, of the family difficulties, the trials and cares of Abraham, the direct results of his indiscreet action; of the grief of Rebecca, and her separation from her son as the consequence of her error; of Jacob's penitence, and his long continued wrestling with the angel, who continued to press his sin upon his notice, and thus brought him to the deepest humility, all occasion of stumbling is far removed; and the scene is so far changed that we behold at a single glance the straitness of the way, and the necessity of spirituality in worship in that age as well as in the present, to please God. We see in a clearer light the unchangeable character of God, and his ways to man are fully vindicated.

So strongly was this impressed upon my mind in reading that book, that I can say with all cheerfulness, that if the gifts of God's Spirit vouchsafed to the church of this age had done this service only, I should yet thank God that it has increased and strengthened my love for the Old Testament, and that I can read the Bible record of ancient times, especially the memoirs of ancient saints, in the light of the instruction of that volume, with greater interest and pleasure than ever before.