Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 28, 1856
Objections Answered
By James White
WHEN WILL THE NATIONS BE DASHED IN PIECES?
(Continued)
OBJECTIONS ANSWERED.
ISA. liv, 1-10. The expressions in this chapter cannot refer to the New Jerusalem; the same that has been forsaken, desolate, &c., is to be built up in the future age. (See Age to Come, by J. Marsh, pp. 66, 67.)
This objection would have some degree of plausibility in its appearance were it not that Paul has settled it otherwise by applying it to the New Jerusalem in his letter to the Galatians. A few words of divinely inspired comment are worth volumes of human reasoning, or human wisdom. There are many scriptures bearing on this point, serving to throw light on the expressions of the Apostle. In Matt. xxv, is a parable of a wedding; the cry is made, "Behold the bridegroom cometh!" See Mal. iii, 1-3.
In Rev. xxi, we are told that the bride is the New Jerusalem; of course the saints will be the guests at the marriage supper. Compare Rev. xix, 7-9, with Luke xii, 32-37. This (midnight) cry was made in 1844, at the termination of the 2300 days of Dan. viii, 14, when Jesus went into the Most Holy Place of the Sanctuary in heaven, before the Ancient of days, to receive his kingdom and dominion. Compare Dan. vii, 9-14, with Rev. xi, 15-19.
The bride—the city—is the capital of the kingdom which he is there to receive; and his receiving the kingdom, (which must be before his return,) is identical with the marriage. Before the marriage, Paul makes an application of Isa. liv, to the New Jerusalem; and it is evident that old Jerusalem was called the "married wife" in the days of Isaiah, or of the writing of this prophecy. Says the Apostle, "So then, brethren, we are not children of the bond-woman, but of the free." Gal. iv, 31. Yet this free-woman, whose children we are by adoption, was desolate, or unmarried, and so continued at least till A. D. 1844, or till the marriage is fully consummated, which must be after that date. Those who bear these facts in mind, and consider Paul's argument in Hebrews, showing that the Sanctuary in the temple of heaven was defiled and needed to be purified or cleansed from sin, can have no difficulty in allowing all that these scriptures say of the New Jerusalem.
There are those that stumble on many subjects by not bearing in mind the apparent interchange of expressions in reference to type and antitype. Thus in Dan. viii it was said that the Sanctuary should be cleansed at the end of 2300 days; and afterwards in explaining the same vision, in chap. ix, the angel without any qualification of terms, predicted the destruction of the city and the sanctuary, which was literally fulfilled long before the 2300 days terminated! Will not the sanctuary have to be "rebuilt," and some son of Aaron (for no others could minister there) have to come up to cleanse it at the end of the days? So we should suppose, if we treated this subject as many others are treated, leaving out of sight the New Testament testimony, which shows that there were two sanctuaries, and points out their relation to these prophecies. So the New Testament informs us there are two Jerusalems, and we must bow to the decision of the scripture which shows their condition, and their relation to the prophecies, and to each other.
But if these expressions be allowed to refer to the present or old Jerusalem, then of course that will be the capital of the kingdom in the age to come; and her children—her seed, must be the saints who will inhabit her, and all who shall become such in that age. The question then arises, What will become of it at the termination of that age? This is an important question, as its settlement has a bearing on our title to the inheritance; and but two suppositions can arise in regard to it; namely, it will be burned up at the end of 1000 years, with the other works that are in the world; or, it will for ever continue to exist in connection with the New Jerusalem. In regard to the first supposition it would seem improbable that the capital of Christ's kingdom should ever be burned up; and if it was so to be, then Isa. liv, (and a great many other scriptures quoted as parallels by the advocates of the age to come,) will not apply. It says: "For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercy will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee." Allowing the Advent to be as soon as 1866, where some Protestant writers begin the millennium, and dating the little wrath at the destruction of Jerusalem in A. D. 70, the little moment will be one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six years, and the EVERLASTING kindness, extend through one thousand years! The little wrath would be its overthrow and treading down by the Gentiles, and the great mercy end in its being burned up by the fire which comes down from God out of heaven!
But the advocates of the age to come may say they do not believe any such absurdity. Of course, then, they believe it will stand for ever, together with the New Jerusalem. Let us see how this will agree with the Scriptures. Those who inhabit her or are gathered to her after being rebuilt would doubtless be her children, her seed, referred to in the text. Now let Paul's reasoning be applied to this view. He makes Hagar, the bond-maid the covenant from mount Sinai in Arabia, answer to "Jerusalem which now is," so that what the scripture says of the free and bond-woman he applies to the two Jerusalems, the old and the new; and there are no other Jerusalems but these two to which these expressions can apply. Now the advocates of the age to come argue as if the scripture said: Release the bond-woman and her son, for the son of the bond-woman shall take the precedence of the son of the free-woman! But "what saith the scripture? Cast out the bond-woman and her son, for the son of the bond-woman shall not be heir with the son of the free-woman." I pray that the Lord will deliver me from ever being gathered to Jerusalem which now is with her children, for so sure as the scripture is true, she with her children will be cast out when the New Jerusalem and her children come to take the inheritance.
Jesus would have gathered the children of Jerusalem, but she "would not;" and for all her sins the curse of God came upon her. She has been the "married wife"—God's name was named on her—his tabernacle was there; but for her adulterous actions especially with the Romans, she was cast off and utterly rejected. After about 1800 years her bonded children apply to Christ to receive her again and come and reign in her; but alas, for her hopes and theirs: when he comes they find that he has another bride! and the scripture demands that the adulterous woman and her bonded children be cast out. The glorious bride of our glorified Lord is the New Jerusalem. None but the "little flock" fully recognize this fact, and they are "waiting" for him to "return from the wedding." They know that the marriage is to be consummated in heaven, and patiently wait for their Lord to come to take them to the city, where they will be permitted to sit down at the "marriage supper of the Lamb." Then will the prophets be confounded "which see visions of peace for Jerusalem, and there is no peace, saith the Lord God." Eze. xiii.
J. H. W.
(To be Continued.)
THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES,
By H. Edson
And the Deliverance and Restoration of the Remnant of Israel from the Seven Times, or 2520 years of Assyrian or Pagan and Papal Captivity considered.
BY H. EDSON.
(Continued)
It is in this American land that the great body of the Church has chiefly shared her glorious triumph and prosperity since 1798. It is here that the wilderness and the solitary place have been made glad for them, and the desert has rejoiced and blossomed as the rose.
It is here that the loud voice of preparation,170"Prepare ye the way of the Lord," &c., has been chiefly given. From this American land the Advent message has sounded forth to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. This land, and people are recognized by the name of Zion, and Jerusalem, [Isa. ii, 1–3; xi, 1, 9; Micah iv, 1, 2,] of whom it is written, [Micah iv, 2,] "The law shall go forth of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." This is now being literally fulfilled in the proclamation of the Third Angel's Message, [Rev. xiv, 9–12,] advocating the perpetuity and obligation of God's ten moral precepts, the constitution and foundation of his moral government.
By consulting Eze. xxxviii, 8–12, we learn the fact that God's people in the closing scenes of the present dispensation are found dwelling in a land of unwalled villages, having neither bars nor gates, dwelling safely or confidently, (margin,) and that they are a people gathered out of the nations, and out of many people into a land that has always been desolate and waste, that is, an uncultivated, waste, howling wilderness, but is now inhabited by a people gathered out of the nations, and have gotten them goods, and cattle, and gold, and silver, &c. Please read Eze. xxxviii, 8–12.
We have reached the appointed time when the great body of God's living, professed people are to be found in such a land as above described; and there is no people or country on the habitable globe at this time that will answer the above description, but the people and country of this American land.
This American land so far as the ancient history of the world is concerned, has been always waste and desolate; an uncultivated, desolate, waste, howling WILDERNESS, unknown to the civilized world until the time of the promise drew nigh, when God was about to fulfill his word, and set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people from the land of their captivity, and bring them into the wilderness of preparation, &c. It was just in due time that God permitted this American continent to be discovered, and without doubt the Lord sent his angel to stir up the spirit of Columbus to engage in the enterprise, and guided his bark across the trackless deep to the discovery of this new world.
The dreadful and terrible beast, [Dan. vii, 7, 19,] which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet, thought also to cause this American land to feel his iron stamp; but in due time God removed his brazen hoof by bringing back these United States from the sword in the American revolution as predicted Eze. xxxviii, 8, and thus opened here just in due time an asylum of civil and religious liberty for the remnant of his people to be gathered into.
From the foregoing considerations we learn the important truth that God does literally gather the remnant of his people out of the countries wherein they have been scattered, and does literally bring them from the land of their captivity into a literal wilderness of woods, a place of preparation prior to their entering the land of Israel, the promised eternal inheritance of the earth made new.
It is after Jerusalem's appointed time which was accomplished A. D. 1798, that in the wilderness the voice of preparation is heard sounding. Read Isa. xi, 1–10. It is also since 1798 that steam engine power has been brought into use and applied in propelling rail-road cars. The prophet Nahum has foretold as recorded in chap. ii, 3, 4, that "the chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his PREPARATION. The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall jostle one against another in the broad ways; they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings."
We now behold these chariots streaming through the land in all directions; we hear their loud and shrill whistle, and their loud rolling thunder in the distance, and are thus admonished in thunder tones that the day of God's PREPARATION has arrived, and we are in the wilderness where the loud voice of his preparation is sounding, "Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a high-way for our God—and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together. Behold the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold his reward is with him, and his work before him." Read Isa. xi, 1–11.
Inasmuch as the remnant were to be gathered out of all places and countries wherein they were scattered, and were to be brought from the land of their captivity into the wilderness of preparation, the question arises, How much territory does the land of their captivity embrace? Answer: It embraces the ancient Assyrian or Babylonian, the Medo-Persian, the Grecian, and Roman empires: it embraces all territory over which the seven heads of Gentile rule have exercised their supremacy, the land of Canaan not excepted; hence we are driven entirely from the eastern continent to find the wilderness of preparation into which the remnant are gathered to prepare the way of the Lord, and make strait in the desert a highway for our God; and hence we are unavoidably confined to this American continent.
It is written [Dan. viii, 9] of the little horn (Rome) that "it waxed exceeding great toward the South, (Egypt,) and toward the East, (Palestine is in the East from Rome,) and toward the pleasant land." From the reading of this text, the pleasant land lies in a different point of compass from those named, and is necessarily located in the West, and must refer to the wilderness of preparation.
From the above it is clear that this wilderness of preparation is the pleasant land brought to view Dan. viii, 9. It is called in chap. xi, 41, 45, the glorious land, and the glorious holy mountain, or goodly land, land of delight or ornament, &c. See margin.
In Isa. xi, 11–16, we have the prophetic account of the Lord's setting his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people from the countries of their dispersion, and to gather and assemble them from the four corners of the earth, and the point of compass toward which they journey, in leaving the land of their captivity is expressly stated in verse 14 to be TOWARD THE WEST. It is also written [chap. lix, 19] "So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the West, and his glory from the rising of the sun." The glory of the coming of the Son of man will be as the lightning shining out of the East even unto the West. Matt. xxiv, 27. When the Lord shall roar like a lion, then the children shall tremble from the West. They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria. Hosea xi, 10, 11.
In the Roman empire the last end of Israel's captivity was accomplished; for the remnant to leave that land of their captivity and journey toward the West, there is no other alternative but for them to cross the broad Atlantic. Zech. x, predicts the departure of the scepter of spiritual Egypt, &c., in other words the taking away the dominion of the Pope 1798, and also the gathering of the remnant from the land of their captivity into Gilead and Lebanon; i. e., the wilderness of preparation to which the glory of Lebanon, &c., was given. He also testifies that they pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves of the sea; and Isa. lx, verse 9, reads, "Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the Lord thy God, &c. For the remnant to leave the Roman empire and journey toward the West, and pass through or across the sea, would bring them to this American continent. This very plain truth must be visible to all.
This gathering of the remnant from the land of their captivity is accomplished by lifting up an ensign for the nations, and by blowing a trumpet for the assembling of the outcasts of Israel. Compare Isa. xi, 11, 12; xviii, 3, 7.
Long did I toil, and know no earthly rest;
Far did I rove, and found no certain home;
At last I sought them in His sheltering breast,
Who opes his arms and bids the weary come,
With him I found a home, a rest divine;
And I since then am His, and He is mine.
Yes, He is mine! and naught of earthly things,
Not all the charms of pleasure, wealth, or power,
The fame of heroes, or the pomp of kings,
Could tempt me to forego His love an hour,
Go, worthless world, I cry, with all that's thine!
Go! I my Saviour's am, and He is mine.
The good I have is from His store supplied:
The ill is only what he deems the best;
He for my Friend, I'm rich with naught beside:
And poor without Him, though of all possess'd,
Changes may come—I take, or I resign—
Content while I am His, while He is mine.
Whate'er may change, in Him no change is seen—
A glorious Sun that wanes not, nor declines:
Above the clouds and storms He walks serene,
And sweetly on His people's darkness shines,
All may depart—I fret not, nor repine,
While I my Saviour's am, while He is mine.
While here, alas! I know but half His love,
But half discern Him, and but half adore;
But when I meet Him in the realms above,
I hope to love Him better, praise him more:
And feel, and tell, amid the choir divine,
How fully I am His, and He is mine!
VISIONS AND DREAMS.
By David Arnold
THEIR ORIGIN, NATURE, AND UTILITY.
We discover from the infinite variety and adaptation of the Creator's works, that he possesses intelligence in its highest state of perfection. And from the description he has given of his own personal form, and the record of man's creation, we learn that he formed man physically in his own image; thus endowing him with capabilities for attaining to a state of intelligence far superior to any other earthly being.
From these reflections, the reasonable conclusion is, that the design of God was that man should be an intimate associate of his Creator. This conclusion is confirmed by the record of their mutual intimacy before man's sin and expulsion from the garden, and the presence of God, and we have nothing to warrant us in the divine record that Adam ever saw the face of God after his alienation by sin.
Since the fall, man has been too unholy to behold the face of a holy God and live; and even his voice caused the children of Israel to exclaim, "If we hear the voice of the Lord our God any more, then we shall die." See Deut. v, 25, and its connection. Under these fearful circumstances, what shall be done for poor fallen man, the noblest of all the Creator's works, yet by sin too vile, too unholy to hold personal and visible communion with his Maker and live? Shall he be left to grope his way by the dim light of nature, having no communication with the great Source of wisdom and knowledge? This would wholly subvert and destroy the great plan of the all-wise Creator, whose original design was as before stated that man should be his associate. For proof that this design will be accomplished we refer you to Rev. xxi, 3, and its context.
For the furtherance and accomplishment of this design we find that God after man's apostasy, instituted means and modes whereby man could receive direct communication from his Maker, without his visible presence. These modes were three:
1. Personally. In this plan of communicating there was a manifestation of his presence, yet his real person was not openly manifest. He also under this mode, frequently communicated by proxy or the substitution of another, as in the case of the communication made to Abraham concerning the destruction of the cities of the plain. Here the record states that "the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre;" yet the sequel shows that three men or angels were all that appeared to Abraham. But in the interview between them and Abraham there are some points worthy of note. On all points touching their mission to Abraham the address assumes the individual form as, "My Lord," and, "The Lord said unto Abraham." But in matters of their personal convenience and accommodation, the address is in the plural, as "rest yourselves under the tree." "And they said, So do as thou hast said."
From this the fair conclusion is that Abraham considered the communications direct from God, although they were through the mission of angels.
Many are the instances on record of similar communications from God to man, to which we might cite your minds, but we pass to notice,
2. Visions. This is another form or mode which God has instituted to communicate his will and purposes to fallen man. Its nature and mode of operation differs from the personal, and is more confined to mental or spiritual and less to natural vision. The external organs of sense being closed by the power of the Holy Ghost to surrounding objects, scenes, figures and communications, by the same power are made to pass before the mental perceptions, thus conveying instruction from God to the individual as a medium of communication to others. Such were the visions of the Patriarchs, Prophets and Apostles, by which a great share of the important truths of inspiration have passed from the great Fountain of light and truth to us. Isaiah in vision saw the scenes of "the last days," when their land should be full of silver and gold, no end to their treasures, full of horses, no end to their chariots, land full of idols, worshiping the work of their hands, and that which their own fingers have made. He also saw the scenes of earth's desolation and restitution, the earth made new where Jerusalem shall be a rejoicing and her people a joy, and where the wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and nothing shall hurt or destroy in all that holy mountain. Ezekiel saw the heavens opened and "saw visions of God." Daniel in vision also saw many things of deep and thrilling interest to those living in the "last days."
Through this mode of communication, Peter, James, and John, on the mount of transfiguration, saw the coming kingdom of the Son of David, which was represented to them by the King in his beauty and glory as he will then appear, and Elijah, representing the translated saints which shall not sleep but be alive and remain, and the resurrected saints represented by Moses who saw death. Such was171the nature and manner of the communication to Paul when he knew not whether he was in the body or out; when he seemed "caught up into Paradise and heard unspeakable words which it is not possible for a man to utter."
But of all the communications made to man through visions none exceed in grandeur and sublimity the revelations to John on the isle of Patmos, while in solitary banishment, showing a consecutive course of events from the first Advent down through the reign of the great red dragon, the falling away of the apostolic Church, the rise, persecuting reign, and overthrow of the Papal supremacy, the rise, and progress of the two horned beast, the signs and scenes of the last days, the coming of Christ on the white cloud, the desolation of the earth, by the seven last plagues and the messages which precede it, the resurrection and translation of the saints, the one thousand years of earth's desolation, Satan's bondage and the day of Judgment, the release of Satan, the resurrection, deception and destruction of all the wicked in the lake of fire, the earth made new, possessing all the loveliness of its pristine perfection, bearing upon its uncursed, hallowed bosom the glorious city, the New Jerusalem, the habitation of the living God, and the perfected, everlasting kingdom of the Prince of Peace.
These are some of the many glorious truths bearing the impress of divine revelation, disclosed to us and our children through this mode of communication.
3. Dreams. This mode differs from visions in this respect: the external organs of sense are closed to surrounding objects and influences by natural sleep, or dormancy, instead of the direct operation of the Spirit or power of God. In this state, as in visions, scenes, figures and communications are made to pass before the mental perceptions, which are brought into action without the mutual co-operation of the external senses.
Dreams are produced from three sources:
First, by the power of the Holy Ghost moving upon the mental faculties, stamping upon the perceptions and memory by figures or otherwise the intelligence God designs to give. Such was the dream of Pharaoh of the seven fat and lean kine by which God communicated the knowledge of the approaching famine; also, Nebuchadnezzar's notable dream of the Metallic Image.
Second, by the power of Satan; as in the dreams of which Job speaks in chap. vii, 14: "Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions."
Third, through a multiplicity of business. During the labors, cares, and excitements of the day the mental organs become surcharged with thoughts and do not sink to rest as soon as the external organs; consequently the thoughts are more or less active and real as the faculties one by one sink away to rest. To this source may be charged a great share of the entire mass of dreams.
Here the reader will perceive that dreams and visions widely differ as a source of reliable communication. In visions the whole person, mental and physical, is under the entire control of a higher power; therefore what is then communicated is really from the being holding this control over the person. In dreams we are more liable to be swayed by our thoughts through the day and the external circumstances and influences around us; therefore from their nature and varied source we cannot rely upon them with that certainty that we can upon visions, and should be very cautious how we use our dreams to measure the faith or actions of others; yet when given of God they bear the impress of divine wisdom and are as really communications from God as visions.
There are also two sources from which visions originate; two beings and two only who have power to hold this entire control over the physical and mental powers of man; one independent of all control or influence; the other by permission. One exercises this power for the special good of fallen man; the other as a counterfeiter and deceiver for man's destruction.
Here the inquiry may arise, How shall we know the true from the counterfeit? Christ said "By their fruits ye shall know them." But where shall we look for the fruit? "Do men gather grapes of thorns? or figs of thistles?" Shall we look for true visions from God among those who are not walking in the light of revealed truth? This would truly be looking for grapes on thorns and for figs on thistles. Wisdom would point us to the source to look for the counterfeit, but truly we here find "the working of Satan with all power, and signs, and lying wonders, with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish, because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved."
Thus clairvoyant and mesmeric influence, are nothing less than the power of Satan, holding control over the mental and physical powers of human beings, producing false visions.
And why all this display of the counterfeit, if there is none of the genuine among us? Truly the day has come in the which God said, "I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams." Satan (more wise than his adherents) knows all this, and is working with all deceivableness of unrighteousness to make the counterfeit pass as genuine.
But where amidst such a display of the counterfeit, shall we look for the true; for if there was not a true, there would surely be no counterfeit? Not among thorns or thistles, which are nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be burned; not among the lovers of this world who are laying up treasures on earth; not among cold hearted professors, who put far away the evil day, and are saying in their heart, My Lord delayeth his coming, and whose candlestick has been removed out of his place; not among professed Adventists who have perhaps received the First and Second Angels Messages, but have ceased to "follow on to know the Lord" by keeping the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus; nor even among those who profess to receive the Third Angels Message, and yet deny the existence of true visions in these "last days."
Among all these it were hopeless to expect a display of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, producing true visions. Would not such jewels, by all these, be trodden under foot? Where then should we constantly look for the manifestation of this product of the Holy Spirit in these "last days?" The record says, "And on my servants and on my hand-maidens I will pour out, in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy." How did they prophesy anciently? Mostly by a revelation through visions, and dreams produced by the outpouring of the Spirit.
Then reason would dictate that we are to look for and expect to find these Gifts manifested in that church who have come out from the world and proclaimed the hour of God's judgment come, and that Babylon is fallen, and have left her ranks, and are now "following on to know the Lord" by "keeping the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus;" that church who are striving to live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God; not yet perfect, but feeling after God, if haply they may find him; striving for the victory over every earthly propensity, endeavoring to walk in all the ordinances of the Lord blameless; looking for and loving the appearing of Jesus; believing in, expecting and praying for, the bestowment of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit for the perfecting of the saints, that they may appear without spot or wrinkle in the day of Christ's coming. To such a church, and among such a people, God will manifest himself as he does not unto the world.
Some may have vainly supposed that God would not choose an imperfect church, or especially an imperfect individual, for the bestowment of such an important gift. Then would he have to send angels to bear the Gifts of the church; for none here are perfect, and those whom he chose anciently, as mediums of communication were subject to like passions with us; yet they were generally persons who were striving to walk with God in all holy living. But these Gifts are pearls too precious to be bestowed upon those who will trample them under foot.
Having shown the origin and nature of these manifestations of divine compassion and mercy for fallen man, also the time and place of their more visible outpouring, we will now inquire concerning their utility. On this point little need be said, were it not that an opinion has almost universally obtained that since the days of the Revelation given to John, God has not thus manifested himself to the church; consequently to those holding this opinion all such manifestations are spurious and vain; therefore it becomes necessary that a vast amount of prejudice should be removed before such can see the benefits to be derived from these Gifts.
Let us reflect for a moment that we are truly and emphatically in the "last days," in the which evil men and seducers are waxing worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. Lo here, and Lo there, is cried in every direction. The spirits of devils are working miracles. Satan is working with all power, and signs, and lying wonders, trying if possible to deceive the very elect. Churches and church organizations have multiplied until mystery Babylon presents her six hundred and sixty-six varied phases, yet all professedly based upon the sure Word. Avarice, lust, pride, self-will, bigotry, and covetousness, are fastening their iron grasp deep in the hearts of the children of men. The signs of the times on every hand present unmistakable evidence that the great day of the Lord hasteth greatly. The nations are preparing and rushing to the last great onset, and the time is near when the Mighty Conqueror will dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. In these last days, these perilous times, when the land is barren of faith, and the great mass of professed Christians are putting far away the evil day, and almost everything pertaining to Bible faith, or in other words the so-called Orthodox faith of the day appears heterodox, and contradictory, where shall we look for light amid such an array of mist and darkness? We answer in the words of the Psalmist, "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."
But how shall we know, says one, amidst such a multiplicity of opinions and sentiments, what is the true light the Scriptures were intended to convey? He who "saw the end from the beginning," and well knew the conflicts and perils of his people, and what they would have to contend with in the last days, has provided a way and means whereby his people may be brought to "see eye to eye," and into the unity of the faith, that they may no more be tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine; a means whereby those who err from Bible truth may receive timely correction, and thus have their loins girt about with truth, their lamps brightly burning, and themselves be waiting for their Lord's return from the wedding.
In the midst of these last-day scenes and perils, God is purifying to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works, which are to stand with the Lamb on mount Zion, having the Father's name written in their foreheads; a people who are to follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth; redeemed (not from the grave, but) from among men. For the special work of fitting up this people for their high and holy vocation, God hath purposed in the counsel of his wisdom, and revealed the same to us through his prophets, that in the "last days" he will pour out of his Spirit on his servants and hand-maidens, causing them to see visions and dream dreams; thus preparing them to stand as daysmen or prophets to his people. Such is the plan of him whose wisdom is infinite, and who adapts all his plans to the purposes intended.
Thus the utility or usefulness of this plan and mode of communication may be seen at a glance, when we reflect for a moment upon the extreme dangers and perils of those who are honestly seeking for those Bible truths through which they are to be sanctified and fitted to escape the plagues that are coming on the earth, and to stand before the Son of man, when he appears clad in the garments of vengeance.
And now with this view of the subject before us, who is prepared to reject these Gifts to the Church, as having no part in the all-wise plan of salvation for the remnant of God's people in these perilous times, which are now daily growing more and more perilous.
Dear Reader, are you willing thus to close your eyes against the clear light of truth, and put yourself beyond the reach of benefit from this plan of the Creator for the special instruction of his children? Or be intreated by one who from eight years' experience and close observation of this mode of teaching, believes it to be from God, to be careful how you reject these Gifts of the Church, lest haply you be found fighting against God.172DAVID ARNOLD.
Fulton N. Y., Feb. 6th, 1856.