Review and Herald, Vol. 32, No. 6. (7/28/1868)

Review and Herald

Jul 28, 1868

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 28, 1868

SPIRITUAL GIFTS.

By Joseph Clarke

BY JOSEPH CLARKE.

TEXT.—“Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” Eph. iv, 8.

A PRESENT, or gift, bestowed with judgment, delicacy, and hearty good will, upon a worthy and grateful recipient, is often remembered and cherished and long held as a token of friendship and love.

Our Saviour, at his departure from this rebellious earth where he had been ignominiously treated and crucified, did not forget his loving followers who would brave the opposition of Satan's host, to manifest their love for him; but as he rose from earth, followed by the saints who had risen from their graves at his crucifixion, thus leading captivity captive, he then bestowed upon those who were left to fight the battle with sin and Satan, such gifts as the Son of God alone could bestow, and such, too, as his followers only could appreciate.

1. We understand from the context, that these gifts were as follows: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers; and from 1 Cor. xii, 28, we find enumerated others; as, miracles, gifts of healing, helps, governments, diversities of tongues, also interpretation of tongues, the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, and the discerning of spirits. See verses 8–10.

2. The object of this liberality was not only to manifest regard for his people here, but for their practical use and benefit, as we see (in Eph. iv, 12), in continuation of his subject, Paul says they were bestowed “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ;” and in 1 Cor. i, 4–8, the apostle rejoices that his brethren are enriched by the Lord, “in all utterance, and in all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you; so that ye come behind in no gift,” &c.; so that the gifts are intended to enrich, to edify, to perfect, to unite the church.

3. We think this object is not yet attained, because, as yet, God's people are not wholly united, perfected, or enriched, but rather the contrary. They are scattered here and there, as sheep having no shepherd; some in one church, and some in another, holding to creeds, and of various religious beliefs, and enveloped in error and spiritual darkness. Also, the expression, “Waiting for the coming of Christ,” in this connection (verse 7), conveys the idea that the gifts are especially necessary, to fit the church for the coming of Christ.

4. We believe that the gifts bestowed by the Lord at his ascension, have, to a greater or less extent, been enjoyed by his people up to this time. Pastors, teachers, and evangelists have ever been present, to build up and to edify the church; and the lives of Luther, Wesley, and other eminent reformers, furnish testimony that some other gifts appeared in their times; and during the persecutions of the church by the Pagan, and afterwards by the Papal power, there were many manifestations of God's power in behalf of his people; still, we may safely affirm that spiritual gifts have greatly decreased, both in frequency and power, since the apostles' days.

5. The causes which have led to the partial disappearance of the gifts, are, no doubt, the influences of Satan, in causing the great apostasy, spoken of prophetically by Paul in 2 Thess. ii, 1–10, as a great falling away; the mystery of iniquity, which in his day was already at work, and finally culminated in the establishment of the Papal church, which yet casts its shadow of error over the whole of christendom.

6. That Protestant churches have not wholly purged themselves of Papal errors, is admitted by many candid men among them; and Cotton Mather has justly observed, in effect, that the Protestant churches in their haste to leave Rome, brought more or less of her errors with them. These errors being petted and especially defended as important doctrines of the Bible, by these churches, have had a deadening and chilling effect, and the vitality of godliness is, in a great measure, eaten out; and thus we see that Rome to this day exerts her poisonous influence, not only upon her own members, but upon all those churches which have ever been under her influence; so that the same causes which led to the withdrawal of the gifts from the Papal church, still prevent their return to the Protestant churches, which are really, as the Revelator has styled them, the daughters of the harlot, Papal Rome.

7. That the dealings of God with his people in the past justify us in these conclusions, we fully believe; for in the history of ancient Israel we find that when they departed from him, he left them to their enemies; and, on the other hand, when they kept his statutes and his Sabbaths, he was near to defend them, and to hear their petitions.

8. The Scriptures plainly inform us, not only that the Lord Jesus confirmed the gifts to the whole church, even to the end of the world, but that there would be a revival of those gifts in the last days.

The commission given to the apostles in Mark xvi, 15–20, places the signs which are to follow the believers—the casting out of devils, speaking with new tongues, the taking up of serpents, healing the sick, and the assurance of protection from poison—all on a level with the other articles of the commission—the preaching of the word, the faith of believers, the baptism of the same; so that when one ceases to be valid, the other also becomes of no effect, and void; and as long as it is duty for ministers to preach, so long must they look for the signs to follow, or be recreant to their trust.

9. The special outpouring of God's Spirit and the revival of the gifts in the last days are clearly prophesied of in God's word. Rev. xii, 17 informs us that the remnant (that is, the last generation of the church) of the seed of the woman, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ, will be the special subjects of Satan's wrath; and this testimony is explained in Rev. xix, 10, to be the spirit of prophecy, proving clearly that the last generation of the true church will possess this most important gift.

The Prophet Joel, also, in chap. ii, 28, expressly affirms that, in the last days, there will be a remarkable outpouring of the Spirit, causing prophecies, visions, dreams, and remarkable manifestations of Jehovah's power. This was partially fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, but is more especially applicable to the last days, yet to come, close at hand; and already some of the particulars of this prophecy are fulfilled before our eyes, for which God's people are truly grateful.

10. The commission of Mark xvi, 15–20, relating to the gospel, to faith, baptism, salvation, and spiritual gifts, placing these articles together, and in one list, is given by our Lord; it is sure and immutable; was given some forty days after his death; and is to continue in force as long as probation lasts, or as long as there are any to believe and be baptized. It began to receive its public fulfillment on the day of Pentecost, and those to whom the work of carrying it forward is intrusted, are as sure of the help of God in the work, as were the apostles. Opposers of this truth may do what they will; God's work is sure to be done. To hinder him in his plans, or controvert his counsel, is as impossible as it would be to move the earth from her orbit.

11. The period of time included in the term, “last days,” would doubtless comprehend the whole Christian dispensation from the rending of the vail of the temple at the death of Christ, to his second coming; as Peter interprets Joel's prophecy applicable to the church in his day, we conclude it began to have its application at that time, and it is clear that the last of the last days are included in this prophecy; and Paul speaks of the last days as those in which perils would encompass the people of God, being yet in the future; therefore we must conclude that the last eighteen hundred years are the last days of the world's history; as we say of the last two or three days of the week, It is the last of the week.

12. In the last days, perilous times shall come, says Paul. See 2 Tim. iii, 1. Why perilous times? The eighth verse informs us that as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so would these also resist the truth by the counterfeit gift; as did the magicians of Egypt, so would the people of the last days do. How? Moses wrought miracles, so did the magicians; Moses wrought by the power of God, they by Satan's art. Hence we infer that, as the counterfeit is to appear in the last days, the genuine must exist at the same time.

Satan has had a taste for counterfeiting for a long time. He deceived Eve by a counterfeit miracle, and we may conjecture that he was not idle in the time of Cain, and other lawless antediluvians; and in the days when the ark was preparing, he was, no doubt, still deceiving by the same means. In the time of Samuel, Satan did his best for the worship of Dagon; and in the days of Elijah, the prophets of Baal evidently expected a miracle in behalf of their religion and idol worship, and must have had encouragement from Satan previous to that time, or they would not have cried to Baal to consume their sacrifice, with such confident pertinacity. Babylon with its temple of Belus, and afterwards, Rome with its Pantheon, rivaled the worship of God at Jerusalem; and all that Satan's skill, power, and art could effect, he did for Pagan deities, and, no doubt, he wrought wonders; at Ephesus, he boasted a temple to Diana, a building of great cost and magnificence; and for each of these, no doubt, he wrought, as he now does for the advocates of Spiritualism.

When Paganism became effete, he reared a new altar at Rome, a counterfeit most skillfully adapted to the work he wished to perform. The Pope he used as his stool-pigeon, to catch unwary souls, and he employed himself as his agent to destroy the true sons of God. Millions fell by violence, but far more by flattery. The Papists boast of miracles; no doubt, they had many favors of this kind from their master; but their feigned ones answered, in most cases, just as well; so blind and infatuated is man; and if Satan can succeed, he cares not for the means.

But Paganism and Popery are both, in a great degree, effete now; at least, among such as Satan is in danger of losing, and he casts about for a new trap; so Spiritualism appears; tables turn and travel; chairs move about of themselves; the raps are heard; and communications come from the dead; the old-fashioned witch of Endor appears in a new form and fashionable dress: and, lo! senators and great men, kings and emperors, sit in the magic circle. The world is enchanted. As the poor mouse admires the fine appearance of the cat he never saw before, so the world is taken with the new dress in which Satan has arrayed himself. It is, in reality, nothing new; there are the arts by which he seduced Eve and Pharaoh, and Balaam and the Canaanites. By these, he reared altars to Baal and Dagon, to Diana, and at Rome. By these, he deceived Constantine, and founded the Papacy, his peculiar church. Oh! how it enraged him when Huss and Luther began to undermine his beautiful temple.

13. But the worst is yet to come. His power is yet to be exerted to the fullest extent upon poor, weak man who has entered his service. Rev. xvi, 13, 14 informs us that the spirits of devils, working miracles, are yet to gather the nations to the battle of the great day of God; Satan's influence is yet to be felt to the largest extent, limited only by the power of God, who says to the mighty deep, Thus far shalt thou come, and be farther; and man is to drink the bitter cup of God's wrath to the dregs.

14. At this time, the danger of deception from false gifts is great. Those only who reform their lives by keeping the law of God, and place themselves under the influence of the testimony of Jesus Christ, are safe; and those only can be safe who are walking in the light.

15. But we may distinguish between the true and the false. “By their fruits ye shall know them,” says Jesus. Spiritualists deny the moral law, and set aside the atonement, placing the Saviour on a level with themselves. The gifts from God place the Sabbath on its old foundation in the bosom of the moral law, and then apply the whole decalogue to the conscience of the sinner, and convict him as a transgressor; and when he cries for anguish of heart “What shall I do to be saved?” they point him to the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world. They then follow him up, and call him to a high standard of Christian life and action; exhort to purity and holiness; abase the proud, and lift up the weak and desponding. How different the counterfeit, which levels all law to human baseness, and turns the hand of man against his only hope—virtue and truth; not so the testimony of Jesus; here all is pure and ennobling.

We have seen the fruits of this testimony for more than twelve years. We have no motive but to get at the truth for ourselves and others, and, above all, thus to please God; and we say our confidence is unshaken and firm as the hills, that this is the true testimony. It has the clear ring of gold without alloy. Are you a Christian? Have you had a personal experience of God's goodness? Has his love filled your heart? Then you will say, soon as its sentiments enter your heart, This is the true testimony. Yes; you will say, No man, nor any creature, could produce such works; it is the mind of God; we extol it as such.

16. There is an imperative necessity at this time for such a testimony. Satan is redoubling his efforts to deceive; and so long has the mystery of iniquity been at its cruel and subtile work, and such is the extent of its power, and so firmly is the web of error drawn about the scattered people of God, that nothing but the exertion of divine power can rescue these unwilling victims of error, and tear away the sophistries of Satan from the mind, long held in bondage to creeds and hollow forms.

The church needs such testimony, to prevent fanaticism and disunion, to detect deceivers, and rescue the deceived. Was this gift necessary that Daniel should understand Jeremiah? or that the apostles should comprehend Isaiah and the prophets as to Christ? Much more, amid the various comments upon Daniel and John, do we need divine aid in our investigations of prophecy; and, to the praise of God, it has been granted.

THE ERRING.

By Julia A. Fletcher.

“Charity never faileth.”

Think gently of the erring! Ye know not of the power With which the dark temptation came In some unguarded hour. Ye may not know how earnestly They struggled, or how well, Until the hour of weakness came, And sadly thus they fell.

Think gently of the erring! Oh! do not thou forget, However darkly stained by sin, He is thy brother yet. Heir of the self-same heritage! Child of the self-same God! He hath but stumbled in the path, Thou hast in weakness trod.

Speak kindly to the erring! For is it not enough That innocence and peace are gone, Without the censure rough? It sure must be a weary lot That sin-crushed heart to bear, And they who share a happier fate, Their chidings well may spare.

Speak kindly to the erring! Thou yet mayst lead them back, With holy words, and tones of love, From misery’s thorny track. Forget not thou hast often sinned, And sinful yet may be, Deal gently with the erring one As God has dealt with thee! —Julia A. Fletcher.

HUSBAND AND WIFE.

Of all human institutions, marriage is the oldest and most important. It dates back beyond the fall, to the days of the Garden of Eden. It was instituted by God himself, in the time of man's innocency, before sin had entered our world. Marriage, then, is consistent not only with Christian, but with Adamic, perfection.—Our Saviour recognized it, and honored it with the first miracle he worked among men. Saint Paul declares it to be honorable.

The duty of the husband and wife to each other, is clearly laid down in the Bible. And first of all, it is their duty to love each other. This is indispensable. For the want of this, there can be no compensation. A husband may provide for his wife a costly mansion, fine furniture, gorgeous apparel, and every delicacy that money can purchase; but if he fails to love her, he totally fails in the most important duty he owes to any of his fellow-beings. The wife may see that her house is well kept, and her husband cared for; but if she does not love him, she wrongs him, and sins against God and her own soul. A man and woman married to each other, have no right to live together merely as provider and housekeeper. They are to be more to each other than their nearest and dearest natural relations. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Saint Paul gives the love which Christ had for the church, as the measure of the love which the husband should have for his wife. His language is, Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.—Eph. v, 25.

This, of course, is the greatest degree of human love of which one is capable. God must be loved supremely, and neither husband nor wife must be allowed to come in between the soul and God. But God never contradicts himself. He never, by his Spirit, requires a person to act contrary to the plain teachings of his word. Says Dr. Adam Clarke, “What miserable work has been made in the peace of families, by a wife or a husband pretending to be wiser than the apostle, and too holy and spiritual to keep the commandments of God!”—Com. on 1 Cor. vii, 8. We have met with a number of cases, where the husband or wife got too spiritual for conjugal affection. If they did not get cured of what Dr. Clarke calls “a fancied sanctity, unsupported by Scripture or common sense,” they almost invariably turned out badly. We are getting to distrust, very strongly, the professions, no matter how high, of that husband or wife who is plainly wanting in affection for his or her wedded companion. There is generally unsoundness, either of the head or of the heart, or of both. “If a man love not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” But he is to love his wife much more than his brother; therefore, if he does not love her, it is folly to pretend that he loves God, and especially that he loves God so much that he cannot love his wife as God so plainly commands. This is equally true of the wife. It is perfect folly for her to imagine that she has attained to such a degree of sanctity that she cannot keep one of the plainest commands of God. Enoch was one of the purest characters of whom mention is made in the Bible. He walked with God; and God took him up bodily in a chariot of fire to Heaven. But, that he might stand as a constant reproof to transcendental pietists of all ages, it is recorded of him, that he lived in holy wedlock, and “begat sons and daughters.”

The difficulty, with some, is in the domestic circle. They do not grow in grace, nor retain the blessings they get, because they do not have the affection which they should for those whom they are solemnly bound to love and cherish. A strict observance of their marriage vows, would help them more than a protracted meeting. Yet no one has a right to violate plain commands of the Bible, to please a companion. But let the general course of conduct be such, that it may be evident that the refusal is for Christ’s sake, and does not proceed from a lack of affection. Let every one in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

REFLECTIONS ON THE FOURTH OF JULY.

By S. S. Bartlett

Another fourth of July is numbered with the past; a day of revelry, feasting, and dissipation, to the multitude; to others, of cheerful and wholesome recreation; and now, as we calmly review the events of the day, it may be proper for us to inquire, What record will it leave to be registered for us in the great book of accounts? Have we heeded the injunction of the apostle, “Whether, therefore, ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God”? In all our pastimes during the day and in all our preparations beforehand, have we sought to show our faith by our works, with an eye single to his glory and the best good of all concerned? Happy indeed for us, if we have thus done! with what calm satisfaction could we lie down to rest at night, having the consciousness of a day well spent. But, alas! I fear that, with many, pride, vanity, and a desire to please the world have been the ruling motives. “Perhaps some of the world may meet with us, and we must have things thus and so, or we will appear mean and contemptible in their eyes.” Well, suppose the great “I AM,” the Ruler of the Universe should deign to make one in our midst; have we no ambition to appear pleasing in his sight? He has given us ample instructions (Testimony No. 12, pp. 25, 26.) as to the manner in which our holidays may be spent, and our recreations arranged, in order to meet his approbation; and, think you, he looks on

with indifference, while he sees his counsel thus set at naught? Dear friends, “be not deceived; God is not mocked.” He is as jealous for his honor now, as when Nadab and Abihu, for one act of disobedience, were “destroyed by fire from the Lord.”

The fourth of July has been so long associated in our minds with decoration and display, that it is a difficult matter wholly to disconnect the two. Indeed, the very words seem to suggest these things, especially to the minds of the young. Let us seek to modify and direct what we may not altogether control. While we gladly yield to our children every indulgence in this respect, which is consistent with our faith; yet, in all our preparations, let us not fail to remember, and to impress upon the minds of our children, the fact that we are emphatically a plain people, and that a profusion of ornaments and display becomes not the “stranger and the pilgrim.” Sojourners, indeed, are we, journeying on through an enemy’s land, watching and longing for our Saviour’s coming to take us to our Father’s house, where there “are many mansions.” There, dear children, if so happy as to enter that glorious home, your longings for the beautiful will be abundantly realized. There you will pluck unfading flowers, gaze enraptured upon the city of gold, and bask in the sunshine of eternal love. O dear children, dear brethren and sisters, shall we not, in view of this “eternal weight of glory,” which is soon to be revealed to the faithful—shall we not, during the few remaining days of our pilgrimage, be content to walk in the strait and narrow way; to walk in the footsteps of Him, the meek and lowly in heart? Shall we not endure the cross, despising the shame, that we may also partake of the joy?

Do you say, “An entertainment such as you hinted at, would possess no interest for our children?” Well, admitting this, shall we do evil, that good may come? Shall we stoop to them? or shall we seek to raise them to us? But I do not admit that an entertainment which is strictly in accordance with our faith, must necessarily be distasteful to the young. Our children are essentially what we make them. Faithful daguerreotypes are they, reflecting back our words, our actions, and even our thoughts. Keen-sighted, also, are they, often knowing us even better than we know ourselves. Let them see in us the same zeal manifested in this, which we have formerly shown in an opposite direction, and we shall see them gradually partaking of the same spirit, and, at length, entering into our plans with all the enthusiasm of their ardent, impulsive natures. I believe that we may, with far less weariness of the flesh and spirit than has formerly attended our efforts, arrange an entertainment for our children, which shall be strictly in accordance with the testimonies and genuine pleasure and satisfaction, which will cause delight to sparkle in their eyes, and the roses of health to bloom upon their cheeks. I believe we may, by the exercise of good taste and skill, prepare a repast of plain, hygienic food, which shall afford real pleasure, both to the eye and to the palate; of which we may freely partake without, meanwhile, “singing a lullaby to our consciences;” to which the charm of novelty will lend an added grace; and, happier result than all, over which angels may preside, and the eye of our Heavenly Father rest approvingly. How sweet, as we invoke his blessing to rest upon us, to be able to say, “I have done as thou hast commanded me.”

But, it may be objected, there are divided households in which the influence of one parent is for the truth, while that of the other is exactly the reverse. Such have our cordial sympathy. We acknowledge the difficulty which attends such a state of things. Still I can conceive of no situation in which we can be placed, that calls for a denial of our faith. Indeed, it seems that the responsibility is thereby increased, on the part of the believing parent, to live out the truth as strictly as circumstances will permit. And are our counsels disregarded, and our examples set at naught? We have one refuge which can never fail us, one friend who can never die.

“Ah! whither should we flee for aid, When tempted, desolate, dismayed? Or how the hosts of hell defeat, Had suffering saints no mercy-seat?”

There we can go, and pour our sorrows into the listening ear of Him who has said, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him.” He has all hearts in his hand, and can turn them as the rivers of waters are turned; and so surely as he has never said, “Seek ye my face in vain,” so surely will our prayers be answered, and our constancy rewarded in his own time and way.

Our standard is high. No people on earth aspire to such excellence as ourselves. Perfect purity, and holiness—a church without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; this is the goal toward which our steps are tending. We claim to be “the light of the world,” “the salt of the earth;” and such we truly are. And oh! “If the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” “If the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted?” The world are watching us. They look to see, and they have a right to expect, a straight-forward, consistent course of action in a people who profess so much; and while they see us bowing before the shrine of fashion and frivolity at which they worship, think you they respect us the more? Most assuredly not. We must inevitably sink ourselves in their esteem by so doing, even though they and their master “love to have it so.”

Oh! I long for the day, when, untrammeled by the fetters which bind us now, God’s people shall mark out for themselves an independent path, when the world shall see that their power to control us is at an end; when, by an undeviating course of rectitude, we shall compel their respect; and when, awakening to that conscious dignity and self-respect which ever becomes the humble child of God, we shall shine forth “fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners.” That day will surely dawn. Dimly, do I see it in the distance. Oh! that we may all, by our earnest, persevering efforts in the right direction, seek to hasten its approach.

“Happy day! For thee we’ll wait, and watch, and pray.”

S. S. BARTLETT. Holly, Mich.

A MUCH-ABUSED COMMANDMENT.

We refer to the second of the ten commandments. All of them, have, of course, been sadly violated, both in letter and spirit, ever since they were given; but the second has suffered a peculiar kind of ill treatment, which we cannot call by a more fitting name than abuse or insult. And this has been done by professed Christians.

In the first place, in many Roman Catholic Catechisms it is entirely omitted; the tenth being divided to make out the full number. Thus, in “Dr. James Butler’s Catechism,” approved by Bishop Doyle, D. D., printed at Dublin in 1848, the commandments begin and end as follows: “1. I am the Lord thy God: thou shalt not have strange gods before me.

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day.
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s goods.”

Rev. Dr. M’Caul quotes from twenty-nine foreign catechisms in use in Rome and Italy, France, Belgium, Austria, Bavaria, Silesia, Poland, Ireland, England, Spain, and Portugal, in twenty-seven of which the second commandment is entirely omitted. We cannot doubt that the cause of this omission is found in the prohibition of image-worship, which the second commandment contains. What other commandment of the decalogue has received such high-handed abuse?

The same commandment has not altogether escaped abuse at the hands of Protestants. For what milder term shall we give to certain flippant misrepresentations of it, though they come from men whom we greatly respect? Some, who regard the decalogue as an obsolete Jewish law, affirm that the second commandment, if understood literally, positively forbids practicing the arts of sculpture and painting! In confirmation, they ask, “Did any one ever hear of Jewish artists?” We answer, Yes: all readers of the book of Exodus have heard of such, as will appear from the following passage: “And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, See, I have called by name Bezaleel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in cutting of stones to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship. And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the hearts of all that are wise-hearted I have put wisdom; that they may make all that I have commanded thee.” Ex. xxxi, 1–6.

And what were they commanded to make? Among other things, two images, or winged figures, called cherubim, to overshadow the mercy-seat. Did the second commandment, then, prohibit the making of images for whatever purpose?

We know of another Jewish artist. It was Moses, or one who wrought under his direction; for we read, “Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole.” Num. xxi, 9. This was not only commanded by God, but was used by our Saviour as an emblem of himself.

There were, then, Jewish artists who did not break the second commandment. We might mention one who did; viz., Aaron. Now, what was the difference between the golden calf and the brazen serpent? One might think them dangerously alike; for the latter was an instrument of miraculous blessing. But they were not alike. One was a divine ordinance, and the other was a heathenish insult to the Most High.

What, therefore, did the second commandment forbid, as interpreted by the Legislator himself? Plainly, the making of images as objects of religious worship; and the great duty taught was spiritual worship,—the adoration of the Unseen One.

The language of the commandment leads to the same conclusion: “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image. . . . Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them.” The first clause must be taken in connection with the last. Any other interpretation is not only forced, but inconsistent. If all making of likenesses was forbidden, it were needless to add that such should not be worshiped. We may go further. It is characteristic of a primitive language like the Hebrew to join together independent clauses, instead of making one long, complex sentence. Prof. Green, in his Hebrew Grammar, says, “The Hebrew sedulously avoids all involution of sentences.” Thus, the clauses before us are a simple and emphatic mode of saying, “Thou shalt not bow down and serve any graven image or likeness, and thou shalt not make anything which is designed to be so used.”

We have dwelt thus upon this because there is an important principle involved. Dr. Colenso has assailed the Old Testament by straining every statement to the extreme of literal interpretation, and making it appear as bad as possible. Others are doing the same to some of the ten commandments. They, doubtless, think they are doing God service. We do not believe they are. We believe they are doing service to a very different being, however good may be their intentions.—Am. Tract Journal.

The Prayer.

A YOUNG lady was taking a pleasant walk one summer day in a deeply-shaded woodland, and, being weary, sat down to rest on a secluded mossy bank, near the summit of a hill. Presently she heard a voice, as of one engaged in earnest conversation; and, on advancing a step or two, she saw good Mr. M— coming leisurely up the hill, the reins hanging loosely over his horse’s neck. “What can he be talking about so earnestly to himself?” she thought; but directly she heard the voice of prayer; and the words which God’s providence caused to be especially impressed upon her mind were these; “O Lord, have mercy upon the dear youth of this place.” The good old man rode on; but the voice of prayer was heard, after he had disappeared from her view, in the leafy depths of the forest. The young lady was struck with the thought: “Is this the way Christians go about the town, and mingle with the world? Do they pray thus for our souls? I have hardly ever prayed for my own.” From that day she began to pray, and became the first-fruits of a glorious revival.

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