Signs of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 43. (11/13/1884)

Signs of the Times

Nov 13, 1884

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Nov 13, 1884

Science Falsely So Called.

By Ellen G. White

(Concluded.)

SAYS Paul, "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." This scripture is especially applicable as a warning against modern Spiritualism. If the mind commences to run in the channel of phrenology and animal magnetism, it is almost sure to lose its balance. "Vain deceit" takes possession of the imagination. Many think there is such power in themselves that they do not realize their need of help from a higher power. Their principles and faith are "after the traditions of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." Jesus has not taught them this. He does not direct the minds of men to themselves, but to God, the Creator of the universe, as the source of strength and wisdom.

"Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind." In this verse a special warning is given. The teachers of Spiritualism come in a pleasing, bewitching manner. Their object is to deceive, and those who listen to their fables are beguiled by the enemy of righteousness. When one is overcome by this fascinating influence, the mind is poisoned, and faith in Christ as the Son of God is destroyed. The victim of this sophistry is beguiled of his reward; for he is led to rely upon his own merits for salvation. Many exercise voluntary humility, are even willing to make sacrifices, to debase themselves, and to yield their minds to the belief of supreme nonsense. They receive the most absurd and erroneous ideas from those whom they believe to be their dead friends, now angels in a higher sphere; and their eyes are so blinded and their judgment so perverted that they see not the evil.

Spiritualism is a most successful and fascinating delusion,—one that is calculated to take hold of the sympathies of those who have laid their loved ones in the grave. Evil angels come in the form of these loved ones; they relate incidents connected with their lives, and perform acts which they performed while living. In this way they lead persons to believe that their dead friends are angels, hovering about them and communing with them. These evil angels who assume to be dead friends, are regarded with a certain idolatry, and with many, what they may say has greater influence than the word of God. This holy word they entirely reject, or they select the vital portions which testify of Christ and point out the way to Heaven, and change these plain statements to suit their own corrupt nature and ruin souls.

With due attention to the word of God, all may be convinced if they will of this soul-destroying delusion. That word declares in positive terms that "the dead know not anything." Eccl. 9:5, 6: "For the living know that they shall die; but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun." The word of God expressly declares that the dead have no more a portion in anything that is done under the sun. Spiritualists say that the dead know everything that is done; that they communicate to their friends on earth, give valuable information, and perform wonders. "The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence." Satan, transformed into an angel of light, works with all deceivableness of unrighteousness. He who could take up the Son of God, and place him upon a pinnacle of the temple, and again could take him up into an exceeding high mountain, and present before him the kingdoms of the world, can exercise his power upon the human family, who are far inferior in strength and wisdom to Jesus, even after he had taken upon himself man's nature.

"Intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind," says the apostle. Some tamper with Spiritualism to gratify their curiosity. They have no real faith in it, and would start back with horror at the thought of being mediums; yet they place themselves in a position where Satan can exercise his power upon them. They do not mean to enter deep into this work; but they know not what they are doing. They are venturing upon forbidden ground; and the mighty destroyer considers them his lawful prey, and exercises his power upon them against their will. They have yielded their mind to his control, and he holds them captives. Nothing can deliver these ensnared souls but the power of God in answer to the earnest prayers of his faithful followers.

Satan cannot control minds unless they are yielded to him. But those who depart from the right are in serious danger. They separate themselves from God and from the watch-care of his angels; and the prince of darkness, who is ever upon the alert to destroy souls, begins to present to them his deceptions. Such are in the utmost peril. If they see the snare, and try to free themselves from it, it is not an easy matter. They have ventured on Satan's ground, and he claims them. He will not hesitate to engage all his energies, and call to his aid all his evil host, to wrest a single human being from the hand of Christ. Those who have tempted the devil to tempt them cannot free themselves from his power without making a desperate effort. But when they begin to work for themselves, angels of God, whom they have grieved, come to their rescue. Satan and his angels are unwilling to lose their prey, and the conflict is severe. But if those who have erred continue to plead, and in deep humility confess their wrongs, angels that excel in strength will prevail, and wrench them from the powers of darkness.

The only safety now is in searching for the truth as it is revealed in the word of God, as we would search for hid treasure. The great and important truths for this time will prove as an anchor to hold God's people amid the perils of the last days. But the mass of mankind despise God's word, and prefer fables. They receive not the "love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie."

The most licentious and corrupt are highly flattered by these spirits, which they believe to be the spirits of their dead friends, and the wicked and vile are vainly puffed up in their fleshly minds, "not holding fast the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and bands, increaseth with the increase of God." They deny Him who ministers strength to the body, that every member may increase with the increase of God, and each man become perfect in Christ Jesus.

Vain philosophy! The members of the body are controlled by the head. Spiritualists lay aside the Head, and believe that all the members of the body must act out their nature, and that fixed laws will lead them on in a state of progression without a head. Said Jesus: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned."

Christ is the source of our strength. He is the vine, we are the branches. We must receive nourishment from the Living Vine. Deprived of the strength and nourishment of that Vine, we are as members of the body without a head, just the condition that Satan wishes us to be in, that he may control us as he pleases. He works "with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie." Spiritualism is a lie. It is founded on the great original lie, "Thou shalt not surely die."

Satan is Christ's personal enemy. He is the originator and leader of every species of rebellion in Heaven and on earth. His rage increases as the time to work grows shorter, and we do not realize his power. Evil angels are upon our track every moment. Are we prepared to resist them? Will not many souls be ensnared and taken? We should all now seek to arm ourselves for the contest in which we must soon engage; and the word of God is the only weapon which we can use successfully. That word, prayerfully studied and practically applied, will be our shield from Satan's delusive arts, and will bring us off conquerors through the blood of the Lamb.

"THY WILL, NOT MINE."

By American Reformer

Into Thine outstretched hand We lay it all; Only at thy command Can ill befall; And secret good must hide In seeming ill, Welcomed and loved, because It is Thy will.

Thy will that takes the sting From every care; Thy will that joy can bring From our despair; Thy will that turns to gain Our shame and loss, That lets the crown remain, And takes our cross.

Dear Lord, thy gracious will, Once understood, We in thy hands lie still; Make thou us good. No fear, no care have we, No way, no choice; Whate'er thy teaching be, We must rejoice.

Even the rod is sweet In thy employ; There can be at thy feet Nothing but joy; And naught but sweetest peace In any smart, For souls whose life is hid In God's great heart.

—American Reformer.

Perilous Times.

By Alonzo T. Jones

"In the last days perilous times shall come," says the Scripture. 2 Tim. 3:1. That we are in the last days, no one can doubt who will give any attention to the word of God on that subject, for that word has spoken so much about the last days that no one who will study, can fail to see that the times in which we live are those days. The disciples asked the Saviour, "What shall be the sign of thy coming?" Matt. 24:3. He answered, "There shall be signs." Luke 21:25. They asked for but one "sign," he said there shall be a number, "signs." Peter, quoting from Joel, says, "And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath." Acts 2:19. These signs are so numerous, and in such places, that every one who is not warned by them will be without excuse. "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things that are coming on the earth." Luke 21:25, 26. Now count the number of places where these signs are to be. (1) In the sun, (2) in the moon, (3) in the stars, (4) and upon the earth, (5) and amongst the nations, (6) and upon the sea, (7) and among men themselves, their hearts failing for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth. Men will see these things coming, their hearts will fail them for fear, because of them, yet they will fail to draw from them the only lesson that there is in them, namely, the Lord is coming. He says: "When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh." These things began to come to pass in 1780. Then the sun was darkened, and the moon also, as the consequence. Again, the Saviour said, "When ye shall see all these things, know that he is near, even at the doors."

Now is there any one of these things named by the Saviour as signs, which cannot be seen by any one at the present day? It is a historical fact that the sun and the moon were darkened May 19, 1780; and this fact is perpetuated as unexplainable, in each successive edition of Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, the highest human authority in the English language. It is likewise a fact that in November, 1833, occurred the greatest star-shower ever known, which fact is perpetuated in the astronomical geographies and treatises, as well as in many other kinds of records. Again, what nation is at ease and in quiet? Not one. Our own nation, the best one of all, is not. It is a fact that there is distress with perplexity as never before in every nation. Mark the expression, "distress of nations, with perplexity." Webster says, "We are perplexed when our feelings, as well as judgment, are so affected that we know not how to decide or act." Nations have been grievously distressed before, but they always knew just what to do to relieve themselves. The peculiarity of the present "distress of nations," is the "perplexity"—they do not know how to decide or act; they do not know which way to turn. Therein lies the sign, and nothing below the divine mind of Christ could have penetrated it. "The sea and the waves roaring," spreading affliction and calamity, and all can see it. "Men's hearts" are "failing them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth." The cyclones, the waterspouts, and the fearful floods, carrying destruction in their paths, none knowing when nor where they will come, are the very embodiment of that which causes men's hearts to fail them for fear. There is not one of those signs in the heavens that may not be seen by all, in the most authentic records; and there is not one of these signs upon the earth that is not seen by all in the very fact itself. Be he believer or unbeliever, he does see all these things. This is the fact, but it only points to the other, and most stupendous fact, that the second coming of Christ is at the doors. He says, "When ye shall see all these things, know that he is . . . even at the doors." The people do see all these things. He is at the very doors.

But it is not in these things that the peril lies which is referred to in 2 Tim. 3. These evidences only show that we are in the days when the perilous times shall be. The perils are from other causes: "In the last days perilous times shall come for [because] men shall be lovers of their own selves." And from this root, selfishness, grows the fearful catalogue of eighteen forms of sin, named in the following verses. In the sins of the last days lies the peril.

"As the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Matt. 24:37. "The earth also was corrupt before God; and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth." "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." Gen. 6:11, 12, 5. "Every imagination of the thoughts," on which Dr. Clarke says: "The very first embryo of every idea, the figment of every thought, the very materials out of which perception, conception, and ideas were formed were all evil." "And the Lord said my Spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh." Again says Dr. Clarke: "They were flesh, wholly sensual, the desires of the mind overwhelmed and lost in the desires of the flesh." Every desire was fleshly, and every effort was only in the direction of satisfying such desires, with the natural and inevitable result, as the Saviour expresses it. "They were marrying and giving in marriage;" and with nothing in view but the satisfaction of the fleshly desires, it was an easy step to where "They took them wives of all which they chose." Gen. 6:2.

Now let any one take the divorce records of any of the County or District Courts, in the United States, or the statistics which are compiled from these, and in view of the wonderful facility with which divorces are obtained, let him ask himself whether we are not fallen upon such times as were in the days of Noah? Whether men do not now take to them wives of all that they choose? In itself marriage is right. It was instituted by the Lord himself. It is the dearest relationship of the human race. It is honorable in all when it is entered into in the fear of God, and when the relationship is maintained in accordance with those sanctions which God has established. But when people are married to be divorced, and divorced to be married, all respect for the relationship and its obligations is annihilated, and the institution is destroyed.

From this the evil goes on in the descending scale to another stage mentioned by the Saviour, "Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot . . . even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed." Luke 17:28-30. That it is the moral condition of the world that is here referred to, as well as to worldly carelessness and lack of faith in the great event which is to come upon them, is plainly shown in 2 Peter 2, where he is writing of the same things spoken of by the Saviour; after giving the instance of Noah and his times, he takes up Sodom and Gomorrah, and speaks of "just Lot vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked; for that righteous man dwelling among them in seeing and hearing vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds."

Paul also shows that this is the point that is reached in the full development of the perilous times. He says: "For of this sort are they which creep into houses and lead captive silly women, laden with sins, led away with divers lusts." But he not only shows what the condition of affairs will be, but he shows how it is brought about. "Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth." 2 Tim. 3:6-8. "As [in the same manner] Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses." By turning to the record in the seventh and eighth chapters of Exodus, we learn that it was by miracles that these men withstood Moses, and Paul says as they did, "so do these resist the truth." Now if it be so, as all the other scriptures show that we are in the perilous times, for this specification to be met, and thus these positions be fully confirmed, there should be in the world at the present time, people who resist the truth (the word of God, John 17:17) by working miracles, showing signs, and doing wonders. It is well known that Spiritualism does these things. It is equally well known that the very first of the efforts of Spiritualism everywhere is to destroy confidence in the Bible as the truth of God, and to resist its obligations upon the people.

In speaking of the second coming of the Lord, Paul says, "Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." This shows that just before the Saviour comes, Satan, by power and signs and wonders, will resist the truth of his coming, and the truth which will prepare a people for his coming. It is thus then that Satan, by miracles, and signs, resists the truth of God, and brings to the full the last days as were the days of Noah and the days of Lot. If any one will know the possibilities of evil that are in Spiritualism, let him read Deut. 18:9-14, with the eighteenth and twentieth chapters of Leviticus, and he will see what it did for those nations which dwelt in Canaan. And when in the last days these same "spirits of devils, working miracles," "with all power" "go forth to the kings of the earth and the whole world" it is "to gather them to the battle of the great day of God." Thirty-six years have these "spirits of devils" been going forth. Soon, very soon will they gather the nations to the battle of the great day. "Who is on the Lord's side?" We are in the perilous times. Who will escape? Christ is at the doors. Who is ready when he shall knock to open to him immediately? Luke 12:36.

God’s Better Gifts

By Cecil

God denies a Christian nothing but with a design to give him something better.—Cecil.

Christ Praying For Us.

By Ida Hinman

"Yes; but, my dear child, the blessed Saviour has prayed for you a great deal more than I ever shall."

These words were the response of Bishop Simpson, on one occasion, to a young lady, who came to him in much distress of mind, and asked him to pray for her. Is there not in the bishop's words a truth for every human being? What earthly friend has prayed for us as has the blessed Saviour? He ever liveth to make intercession for us. He is our constant advocate at the throne of God. If any one is so alone in this world as to have no earthly friend to send up a petition to Heaven for him, yet need he not feel forsaken, for here is a friend who without intermission makes intercession for him. It is well if we have earthly friends who can pray for us; but what are the combined prayers of all earthly friends, the greatest and the best, when compared with the constant pleadings of our Lord.

We must not forget our Lord's relationship to ourselves. Though God's Son, he is our brother. Thus he is the connecting link between God and humanity, the mean without which these two extremes would not be brought together. Were it not for him, there would be no intercourse between the Almighty and us. Notice, also, how entirely Christ belongs to his brethren in this world. Whatever else in Heaven does or does not belong to us, Christ certainly does. It seems as if his existence was just for us. His life in Heaven now is for us, as was his life in this world. When it was necessary for our salvation for him to leave Heaven, he did so. For us he bore the separation from his Father's face and from the heavenly glory, exchanged the associations of the pure and the holy for a life among the unholy and the impure, never flinching from those associations which must have been most repellent to his infinitely pure nature. We do not know the mystery of his existence amongst us; but we know that he gave up much—infinitely much—for our sakes, and that only eternity will be able to tell the wonders of that self-sacrificing love, which, being in the form of God, thought not that high condition a thing to be grasped, but gave it all up freely for us.

Think what it would be for those of us who have been reared in refined Christian homes, accustomed to the society of the cultured and to those luxuries which wealth bestows, to leave it all for a life of toil and poverty, not knowing where to lay one's head, and for associations the most degrading, with people of low life and low morals. This would be a contrast to present life, but not so great a contrast as that which the change from Heaven to earth was, for our Saviour. Yet he endured it all for our sakes. He lived thirty-three years in this world, subject to the same laws and temptations as we, and that for our example; then he died for us, that God might pardon us; and for us he ascended into Heaven and ever liveth. Why? Oh, wondrous thought! he liveth to make intercession for us. Even the glory of Heaven cannot take his attention from this world. When his earthly work for us was finished, his heavenly work, that of prayer for us, began.—Ida Hinman.

Experience as an Adventist.

By S. P. Bollman

The writer of this, a recent convert to Adventism, takes pleasure in giving his testimony to what he regards as an internal evidence of the truth of the doctrines of Seventh-day Adventists: "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God or whether I speak of myself." John 7: 17.

Few persons have been more strongly prejudiced against the general mission of Adventists (namely to call God's people out from the so-called orthodox churches) than I was; and few have more persistently turned away from, or closed their eyes against the light of present truth than I did. Gradually, however, I began to read a little more candidly their publications, and finally concluded that if an opportunity offered I would attend a camp-meeting, and learn from actual observation, and participation in the services of an occasion of this kind, what there was in Adventism. Providentially, and sooner than I had anticipated, an opportunity offered, and "God who is rich in mercy," brought me to the California camp-meeting of September, 1884. From the very first, though still inclined to cavil, I found my prejudices giving way, and the light of truth breaking in upon my soul with a subduing power; objection after objection vanished before the earnest preaching of men who spoke God's truth with a plainness and simplicity calculated to "commend itself to every man's conscience in the sight of God," until I felt convinced beyond a doubt that this was the Lord's work and "marvelous in our eyes;" and to it I was constrained to give a hearty consent and acquiescence, asking for a name and a place amongst a people who I believe have inquired for and found the "old paths" spoken of by the prophet Jeremiah, chapter 6 : 16: "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls."

The Spirit of God seems to set his seal of approval, by his manifest presence, on services and ordinances as they are engaged in and observed by those who are thus looking for the second coming of Christ "without sin unto salvation." My experience is that the godly life to which the Adventist faith calls, is Bible truth, and produces peace, and gives rest to the soul, such as can be found nowhere else. Those espousing present truth hear the Spirit of God saying unto them, "This is the way, walk ye in it," even wisdom's ways, which are ways of pleasantness, and her paths, which are peace.

Let it not be said that "Adventism has too narrow a platform, and too little charity." Her platform is as broad as the Bible, and her charity (love) as far-reaching as sinful man is found. Adventists believe God has a people, a part of whom are now to be found in all the churches—the honest-hearted, the conscientious, who want to know and obey the truth—and her call to all such is, Come out from the corruptions, the leanness of barren ordinances, the spiritual death, which, as a dark pall, has settled down upon the churches, thus indicating the parentage of the old denominations as descended from the spiritual Babylon referred to in Revelation 18: 3, 4. That many may hear this last call of mercy now sounding in these last days, and so hear that they may live forever, is the prayer of the writer, who looks for immortality and eternal life through Jesus Christ at his second coming.

S. P. BOLLMAN.

The Self-Imposition of Skepticism.

It has been said that "self-imposition is a preliminary to imposing on others." The vital nerves of truth are paralyzed. Things are not seen as they are. Isaiah's description is verified, "A deceived heart hath turned him aside; he feedeth on ashes."

It requires adroitness on the part of a teacher to convince a caviler of his self-delusion and to show him the paucity of his materials of unbelief. The trouble is in the heart, not so much in the head. "Ye will not come unto me." A little sagacity will sometimes reveal all this to the doubter, if he be at all candid. A gentleman once called on Dr. R. G. Storrs, saying in substance: "Will you allow a stranger to ask advice? I believe nothing. What shall I do?" Dr. Storrs began by asking if he would, for purpose of conversation, admit the fact of his existence. He thought that he might admit that single fact. "And mine, also?" He concluded that he did really believe that much. "Well, sir, do you admit any difference in the act of coming here to converse with me and in coming to assassinate me, were that your purpose?" "Oh, certainly." Dr. Storrs then showed how much he did really believe. In course of one or two hours the gentleman was thoroughly convinced that he was wrong in saying he believed nothing. He had a conscience. He admitted not only the facts of consciousness but the distinctions of right and wrong. In other words he had imposed upon himself. The materials of unbelief were more scanty than he had fancied, and those of positive truth more abundant than his blinded heart had been willing to recognize.—Baptist Weekly.

To Whom Shall We Go?

By William M. Taylor

WHEN the prophets of our modern materialism are asking us to leave the company of Christ's disciples, we make reply, "To whom shall we go? Find us a better answer to the questionings of our spirit than He has furnished. Show us a better ideal of manhood than He has given. Bring us a better testimony to the life beyond the grave than He has borne, and let us see in the cold realm of your negations a love for human creatures such as He has enkindled in the hearts of his followers, and a willingness like theirs to spend and be spent in offices of benevolence. In one word, give us something better than the Christ of these gospels, and then we may accept it; but till then cease your importunity, for your enticements to forsake him are in vain." Till then! ah, what irony has unconsciously escaped me! for never can such a demand be met. Four thousand years the world tried in vain to return to God, and now that he has come to be himself the way, we will not give him up for a negation. Go, then, with your everlasting No, to those who have no sin, no sorrow, no trial, no temptations—they may accept it if they will; but for us "None but Christ;" he has spoken to us the words of eternal life, and we cannot, we will not leave him, for we know that he will not deceive us.—Dr. W. M. Taylor.

The Trial of Our Faith as a Means of Grace to Others.

By H. Clay Trumbull

OUR troubles, and our deliverances from trouble, are often the means of more good to others than anything in the line of our unbroken prosperity could prove to be. It is what the men of God in olden times suffered, rather than what they enjoyed, that lifts them up into prominence for the encouragement of our faith. All of Job's sons and daughters, and sheep and camels and oxen and she-asses, would have done little to make him a pattern for believers, or to have fastened the world's attention on his story, if it had not been for the robbers, and the thunder-bolts, and the cyclone, and the boils, and the carping friends, which were the cause of so much worry to him.

And so all the way down the Bible record—including Joseph and Daniel and Jeremiah and John the Baptist—to the list of Paul's countless disasters, and the assurance of his upholding in and through them all.

Even if we fail to see what good has come to us through that which has tried us most severely, in the providence of God, we may be comforted in the thought that if we commit our cause to the Lord, and rejoice in his saving and sustaining grace, others shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord, as they would not have been led to but for that which was a cause of such sorrow and trial for us in its passing.

God has the good of others in view, as well as of ourselves, in all his dealings with us in the sight of others. This ought to be a comfort to us.—H. Clay Trumbull.

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