Signs of the Times, Vol. 1, No. 27. (5/13/1875)

Signs of the Times

May 13, 1875

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, Cal. · May 13, 1875

The Sermon.

By J. H. Waggoner

PERPETUITY OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS.

BY ELDER J. H. WAGGONER.

ALL who are not deeply prejudiced will acknowledge that there was much consecration among the early Methodists, and that the Spirit often witnessed to their work with great power. There were among them many Godly persons of strong faith, and the fruits of faith were often manifested according to the gracious promises of the Saviour. The following case of curing of blindness is copied from the life of Bramwell:—

"William Greensmith, son of Thomas Greensmith, of Watnal, near Nottingham, when about nine years of age was severely afflicted with a scrofulous humor in his eyes, so that he was unable to bear the light even with a bandage upon them. Mr. Bramwell was then in Nottingham circuit, and went in his regular turn to preach in Mr. Greensmith's house. On one of these occasions he remained all night; and previous to his departure the next morning, when his horse was brought to the door, he asked where the boy was who had sore eyes. Mrs. Greensmith replied that he was in a dark room behind the door. He wished him to be called out. He came and stood near Mr. Bramwell, who put his hand on the boy's head, and looked upward as if in ejaculatory prayer. He then went out leaving the child standing, while the latter as if conscious of some important change, pulled off his bandages looked through the window, and asked if Mr. Bramwell was gone. On perceiving that his eyes were perfectly healed, all the family were completely astonished. He is now about thirty years of age, and has never since had any complaint in his organs of sight.—Memoir, p. 157."

The following is one of many cases of healing by faith recorded in Wesley's Journal:—

"In returning to Canterbury I called upon Mr. Kingsford, a man of substance as well as piety. He informed me, 'Seven years ago I so entirely lost the use of my ankles and knees that I could no more stand than a new-born child. I could not move from place to place, but on crutches. All the advice I had profited me nothing. In this state I continued about six years. Last year I went on business to London, then to Bristol and Bath. At Bath I sent for a physician; but before he came, as I sat reading the Bible, I thought, Asa sought to the physicians and not to God; but God can do more for me than any physician. Soon after I heard a noise in the street; and rising up, found I could stand. Being much surprised I walked several times about the room, then I walked into the square, and afterward on the Bristol road; and from that time I have been perfectly well; having as full a use of all my limbs as I had seven years ago.'" Wesley's Journal*, vol. 4, p. 682.

The reader must not suppose that these things transpired without awaking some opposition in the minds of the unconsecrated. Prejudice was aroused which often manifested itself in bitter reproaches. To the charge of egotism and self-righteousness Mr. Wesley made the following reply, which we would recommend to the consideration of all who think there is a lack of humility in claiming answers to the prayer of faith:—

"Now let the candid man judge, does humility require me to deny a notorious fact? If not, which is vanity? to say I by my own skill have restored this man to health, or to say God did it by his own almighty power?"

Bishop Hall, speaking of the good offices which angels do to God's servants, says:—

"Of this kind was that marvelous cure which was wrought upon the poor cripple at St. Marden's, in Cornwall; whereof besides the attestation of many hundreds of the neighbors, I took a strict examination in my last visitation. This man, for sixteen years together, was obliged to walk upon his hands, the sinews of his legs being so contracted. Upon following an admonition in his dream to wash in a certain well, he was suddenly so restored to his limbs that I saw him able to walk and get his own maintenance. The name of this cripple was John Trebble."

Wesley remarks: "And were 'many hundreds of the neighbors,' together with Bishop Hall, deceived in so notorious a matter of fact? or did they all join together to palm such a falsehood on the world? O, incredulity! what ridiculous shifts art thou driven to! what absurdities wilt thou believe rather than own any extraordinary work of God!" Wesley's Journal, vol. 6, pp. 565, 566.

Wesley's Journal, Dec. 20, 1742, says:—

"When I came home they told me the physician said he did not expect Mr. Meyrick would live till the morning. I went to him, but his pulse was gone. He had been speechless and senseless for some time. A few of us immediately joined in prayer (I relate the naked fact); before we had done, his sense and his speech returned. Now, he that will account for this by natural causes has my free leave; but I choose to say, This is the power of God.

"Saturday, 25. The physician told me he could do no more. Mr. Meyrick could not live over the night. I went up and found them all crying about him; his legs being cold, and (as it seemed) dead already. We all kneeled down and called upon God with strong cries and tears. He opened his eyes and called for me; and, from that hour he continued to recover his strength till he was restored to perfect health. I wait to hear who will either disprove this fact, or philosophically account for it."—Vol. 3, p. 275.

Mr. Bramwell's biographer writes:—

"I was once attacked by a violent pleuritic fever, when all around me despaired of my life. Many of our kind friends visited me in my affliction; and almost unceasing supplication was offered up to God for my recovery. But all prayers appeared to be without effect till Mr. Bramwell came home out of the circuit. He immediately came to see me, and on entering the room was quite astonished at beholding such a woeful change in my appearance. He thought I had all the marks of a speedy dissolution upon me; and giving me a look of the greatest sympathy he raised my head a little higher by means of a pillow. He then went to the foot of the bed and began to pray to God in my behalf. His faith seemed to gain ground as he proceeded. He continued his intercessions with the greatest fervency; and, in agony, asked in submission to the will of God, that I might be restored. The Lord heard and answered his servant's prayers; for I immediately experienced such a sweet tranquillity and melting of soul, as I am unable to describe. From that moment my recovery commenced, and I was soon strong enough to resume my ordinary occupations."—Memoir, pp. 163, 164.

Mr. William Carvosso, who was sixty years a class leader in the Wesleyan Methodist connection, gives an account of the healing of a sick woman as follows:—

"The next morning, a friend asked me to visit a woman who was sick, and offered to accompany me. When we arrived at the house, we were informed she was very ill. I went up stairs and found her, to all appearance, on the borders of eternity. Finding that she had been three years a member of the society and knew nothing of salvation by the remission of her sins, I felt no little concern for the salvation of her soul. I explained to her the plan of salvation. 'And now,' said I, 'it is a duty which God requires of you to believe in Jesus Christ and in the truth of his promises.' While I was thus speaking to her she was seized in a strange manner; and it appeared to me and those present that she was dying. But in a moment or two she lifted up her hands and eyes to heaven, and cried out, 'Glory be to God, I am healed! I am healed!' And for some considerable time she kept on repeating, 'The Lord has healed me, body and soul.'

"The news of this was soon conveyed to her neighbors, who rushed into the chamber in such crowds that I was afraid the beams would give way. But she continued saying, 'The Lord has healed my body and my soul.' We then kneeled down to praise the Lord for what he had done; and while engaged in prayer, two of those who came in were awakened and began to pray for mercy. With these distressed souls I was occupied four hours before I could leave the place. The next day Mr. Sibly, from Truro, came there to preach, and dined with us at the friend's house where I lodged; when the friend who had been with me the preceding day related the circumstance to him. Having expressed a desire to see the woman, I went with him to the house; and to our very great astonishment, we found her down stairs, sitting by the fire. I visited her several times after this, and found her not only happy in God, but confirmed in her restoration of health. I have seen many of the mighty works of the Lord, both in convincing and converting sinners, but never before saw the body healed as well as the soul."—Memoir of Carvosso, pp. 73-75.

The memory of Hester Ann Rogers will ever be precious to the Christian world. In her journal of June 29, 1782, she says:—

"This day the Lord instantaneously removed a rapid mortification in my dear mother's limb, in answer to prayer. The doctor having given his opinion that in a few hours it would be fatal, I flew to my almighty Refuge, and felt I had power with God, through faith in that promise—'The prayer of faith shall save the sick.' And when in half an hour I looked again at the wound, all the bad symptoms were gone; and the same doctor, standing astonished, said no danger now appeared. I could not forbear weeping aloud for joy and gratitude, praising the God of my life.

"June 10, 1794. I had a peculiar season in wrestling prayer with my God this night, on account of my dear little Mary. The great weakness of her limbs for three months past, and her seeming total inability to walk, has caused much pain to my dear husband as well as myself. It appears to me I had used every possible means in vain. But this night I had power to cry unto my God, and tell him, 'Thou art the same yesterday, to-day, and forever; thou art my God! Thou hast said call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will hear thee. Thou hast healed cripples, made the lame to walk, yea, raised even the dead in answer to praying faith! Lord hear me now; stoop to my request; let the child's feet and ankle bones receive strength; give power to walk, and let me soon know thou hast heard my prayer;' and I had power to believe it would be done; my soul was filled with the divine presence.

"Thursday, the 12th. I already see in the child an answer to my prayer. She is greatly strengthened in her limbs. How good, how faithful, how condescending is the Lord! We may—I may, like Abraham, like Moses, like Elijah, ask and obtain." Journal, pp. 116, 119, 120.

What has been said of the early Methodists may be said in truth of the people known as Christians. I mean those who are now bearing the nick-name of New Lights. Elder William Kinkaid was a well-known writer, and minister, and missionary of that church. He said:—

"There have been in the bounds of my acquaintance many miraculous cures performed in answer to prayer. I have been acquainted with several of the people who were healed, conversed on the subject with the persons who were present at the time, and some of these cures I have seen myself. I as firmly believe that Elder David Haggard had the gift of healing, as that the apostles had. He has fallen asleep, but there are many alive who saw him perform cures, and what I saw myself puts the matter beyond doubt with me. I state these facts in honor to God, who, in every age of the world has shown a willingness to bless his creatures in proportion to the faith and obedience."—Bible Doctrine, p. 341.

"Discerning of spirits" was set down by the apostle as one of the "gifts of the Spirit" which was "set in the church" according to the promise. The following instance of the exercise of the gift of discernment is recorded in the Memoir of Mr. Bramwell, whose sincerity, piety, and Christian graces were questioned by none:—

"Mr. Bramwell was by no means of a censorious disposition; yet he had the gift of discerning the spirits and dispositions of men in a remarkable manner. I have frequently known him to detect impostors who have stepped forth to exercise in various meetings. On one occasion when he was desired to visit a dying man, I went with him. We beheld the wretched object without a shirt to his back. The few rags which hung on him scarcely covered his body. His habitation was a damp, miserable cellar, and a woman was attending him who was represented to be his wife. For some time after our entrance into this dwelling, Mr. Bramwell remained silent. At length he exclaimed, 'All is not right here! I am clear there is something amiss in this place!' Then turning to the woman he said, 'this man is not your husband. You never were married to him but for several years you have been living together in sin and wickedness!' His word went with power to their hearts. They both wept exceedingly, acknowledging the charge to be true, and began to entreat the Lord to have mercy upon them."—Memoir, p. 155.

Other instances in his life might be given, but we omit them for the sake of brevity, promising to refer to facts which have occurred in the present generation as notable as any recorded in the times of the Reformers, Luther and Wesley.

The following cases of deliverance from enraged enemies are recorded by John Wesley and Dr. Adam Clarke. While the facts cannot be disputed we must look upon them as direct interpositions of divine grace, and as truly miraculous as any case recorded in the New Testament:—

"The circumstances that follow I thought were particularly remarkable: 1. That many endeavors to throw me down while we were going down hill on a slippery path to the town; as well judging, that if I was once on the ground, I should hardly rise any more. But I made no stumble at all, nor the least slip, till I was entirely out of their hands. 2. That although many strove to lay hold on my collar and clothes, to pull me down, they could not fasten at all: only one got fast hold of the flap of my waistcoat, which was soon left in his hand; the other flap, in the pocket of which was a bank note, was torn but half off. 3. That a lusty man just behind, struck at me several times with a large oaken stick; with which if he had struck me once on the back part of my head it would have saved him further trouble. But every time the blow was turned aside, I know not how; for I could not move the right hand nor the left. 4. That another came rushing through the press, and raising his arm to strike suddenly let it drop, and only stroked my head, saying, 'What soft hair he has!' 5. That I stopped exactly at the Mayor's door, as if I had known it (which the mob doubtless thought I did), and found him standing in the shop, which gave the first check to the madness of the people. 6. That the very first men whose hearts were turned were the heros of the town, the captains of the rabble on all occasions, one of them having been a prize fighter at the bear garden. By how gentle degrees does God prepare us for his will! Two years ago a piece of brick grazed my shoulder. It was a year after that the stone struck me between the eyes. Last month I received one blow, and this evening two; one before we came into the town, and one after we were gone out; but both were as nothing: for though one man struck me on the breast with all his might, and the other on the mouth with such force that the blood gushed out immediately, I felt no more pain from either of the blows than if they had touched me with a straw."—Wesley's Journal*, vol. 3, pp. 297, 298.

Dr. Clarke's account is as follows:—

"A missionary who had been sent to a strange land to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom of God, and who had passed through many hardships, and was often in danger of losing his life through the persecutions excited against him, came to a place where he had often before, at no small risk, preached Christ crucified. About fifty people who had received impressions from the word of God, assembled. He began his discourse, and after he had preached about thirty minutes, an outrageous mob surrounded the house, armed with different instruments of death, and breathing the most sanguinary purposes. Some that were within shut the door; and the missionary and his flock betook themselves to prayer. The mob assailed the house and began to throw stones against the walls, windows, and roof; and in a short time almost every tile was destroyed, and the roof nearly uncovered, and before they quitted the premises, scarcely left one square inch of glass in the five windows by which the house was enlightened. While this was going forward a person came with a pistol to the window opposite to the place where the preacher stood (who was then exhorting his flock to be steady, to resign themselves to God, and trust in him), presented it at him and snapped it, but it only flashed in the pan! As the house was a wooden building, they began with crows and spades to undermine it and take away its principal supports. The preacher then addressed his little flock to this effect: 'These outrageous people seek not you but me; if I continue in the house they will soon tear it down, and we shall all be buried in the ruins; I will, therefore, in the name of God, go out to them, and you will be safe.' He then went towards the door: the poor people got around him and entreated him not to venture out as he might expect to be instantly massacred. He went calmly forward, opened the door, at which a whole volley of stones and dirt was that instant discharged; but he received no damage. The people were in crowds in all the space before the door, and filled the road for a considerable way, so that there was no room to pass or repass. As soon as the preacher made his appearance, the the savages became instantly as silent and as still as night; he walked forward, and they divided to the right and to the left, leaving a passage of about four feet wide, for him and a young man who followed him to walk in. He passed on through the whole crowd, not a soul of whom either lifted a hand or spoke one word, till he and his companion had gained the uttermost skirts of the mob. The narrator who was present on the occasion, goes on to say: 'This was one of the most affecting spectacles I ever witnessed; an infuriated mob without any visible cause (for the preacher spoke not one word) became in a moment as calm as lambs. They seemed struck with amazement bordering on stupefaction; they stared and stood speechless; and after they had fallen back to right and left to leave him a free passage, they were as motionless as statues! They assembled with the full purpose to destroy the man who came to show them the way of salvation; but he, passing through the midst of them, went his way. Was not the God of missionaries in this work?'"

By reference to the "Life of Adam Clarke," it will be seen that the "missionary" referred to above was no other than Clarke himself. From page 209 we take the following:—

"During the whole time of his (Clarke's) passing through the mob, there was a death-like silence, nor was there any motion, but that which was necessary to give him a free passage! Either their eyes were holden that they could not know him; or they were so over-awed by the power of God that they could not lift a hand, or utter a word against him. The poor people, finding all was quiet, came out a little after, and passed away, not one of them being either hurt or molested! In a few minutes the mob seemed to

awake as from a dream, and finding that their prey had been plucked out of their teeth, they knew not how, attacked the house afresh, broke every square of glass in the windows, and scarcely left a whole tile upon the roof. He afterward learned that the design of the mob was to put him in the sluice of an overshot water-wheel, by which he must necessarily have been crushed to pieces."

(To be continued.)

The Golden Side.

THERE is many a rest on the road of life, If we would only stop to take it: And many a tone from the better land, If the querulous heart would wake it. To the sunny soil that is full of hope, And whose beautiful trust ne'er faileth, The grass is green, and the flowers are bright, Though the wintery storm prevaileth.

Better to hope though the clouds hang low, And to keep the eyes still lifted: For the sweet blue sky will soon peep through, When the ominous clouds are rifted. There was never a night without a day, Nor an evening without a morning; And the darkest hour, the proverb goes, Is the hour before the dawning.

There is many a gem in the path of life, Which we pass in our idle pleasure, That is richer far than a jeweled crown, Or the miser's hoarded treasure; It may be the love of a little child, Or a mother's prayer to heaven, Or only a beggar's grateful thanks, For a cup of water given.

Better to weave in the web of life A bright and golden filling, And to do God's will with a ready heart, And hands that are swift and willing, Than to snap the delicate silver threads Of curious lives asunder; And then blame heaven for the tangled ends, And sit, and grieve, and wonder.

—Sel.

Will the Belief of a Lie Save a Man?

By D. M. Canright

"BE not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Gal. 6:7. The apostle here exhorts us not to be deceived, and states as a reason for this that whatever a man sows that he shall certainly reap. If he is deceived and led to sow the wrong kind of seed, the seed will yield bad fruit, just as certainly as though he sowed it with a full knowledge of its nature. The truth of this principle we see illustrated all around us in every-day life. Unfortunately we live in a world where deception is very common. Men are liable to be deceived at every turn, however honest they may be, or however anxious to avoid deception. And when a person is deceived, it does not change the result any to know that he was deceived. An honest man enters into partnership with a rogue. He meant to secure an honest partner, and make an honest livelihood, but he was deceived and lost all he had, and he has to suffer the consequences. A woman is deceived by a man, and marries a tyrant and a scoundrel. Her life is one of sorrow. She suffers just the same as though she knew just his character. A man in planting an orchard is deceived in the nature of the trees which he purchases, but this will not change the result in his orchard. So it is ever and always. When a man is deceived he suffers for it. Honesty or good intentions does not save him. Hence, in the affairs of this life, men have to exercise the greatest caution, keep their eyes open, obtain the best information, and look at a thing on all sides lest they get deceived and suffer irreparable loss.

But, alas! how differently men reason with regard to religion and eternity. It has come to be quite a maxim that it does not make so much difference what a man believes as it does that he is sincere in his belief—that he really believes it; that it will not effect a man's salvation particularly either way whether what he believes is truth or error, provided that he sincerely believes it. But we are prepared to show that this is a most pernicious and fatal doctrine to hold. We boldly affirm, upon the authority of the Bible, that it is not a man's belief which saves him, but it is what he believes. Two men can be equally strong and sincere in their belief, and yet one may be saved by what he believes, and the other be damned by what he believes. Take an illustration from nature: We obtain strength by eating, yet it is not the act of eating that gives us strength, but it is the nature of the food which we eat. A person may be very hungry and anxious to obtain nourishment. He takes food, but he is deceived in the nature of it. It is poisonous; he eats and dies. Another person eats proper food and receives strength. Both eat—one was killed, the other was strengthened. It, then, is not the act of eating that gives us strength, but it is the nature of the food which we eat.

Just so the idolator puts his faith in Moloch, or Jugernaut. He trusted in a lie. The Mahometan verily believes in that false prophet. He is willing to defend his faith with his sword and his life, and yet he will be damned, for he trusts in an impostor. If simply firm belief can save a soul, then Christ died in vain, for men could have been left of God to believe in their false gods, and then have been saved as well as by the true. But no; both in nature and in the Bible, God has ever taught us that those who are deceived and trust in a lie must suffer for it. Eve's case well illustrates the teachings of the Bible upon this point. The Lord told her not to eat of the forbidden fruit, and if she did she should die. But the wily serpent, with his subtlety, persuaded her that this was not so, that the fruit was good for her, and she should not die. She was deceived. 1 Tim. 2:14. Suppose that she had reasoned as men do now. She would have argued to the Lord that it was not right to punish her, for she sincerely believed that the fruit was good, and that it was not wrong to eat of it. Of course she did really believe this or she would not have done it. Now will not her sincere belief excuse and save her? By no means.

But let us tear the veil off from this deception. Did not the Lord plainly tell her not to take of it? Certainly; but Satan persuaded her that God had lied, and thus she believed, and in this she trusted. Now, reader, what did her sincere belief amount to? She really believed that God had lied. When properly stated, her act grew out of blank unbelief; and so it is with all who believe a lie instead of the truth. God, in his word says a thing is thus and so, they do not believe this, but believe it is some other way. It is entirely wrong to call this sincere belief. It is simply strong unbelief; and unbelief never will save any body.

The case of Paul is to the point. He says: "I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth." Acts 26:9. If ever a man was honest and sincere in opposing the truth and believing error, it was Paul. But would he have been saved had he died before he was converted to Christ? Is it proper to call his faith sincere belief? No indeed. Hear what he afterwards said of himself. 1 Tim. 1:13. "Who was before a blasphemer [will God save blasphemers?], and a persecutor, and injurious; but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in [what? sincere belief? No, indeed; and mark what he says] unbelief." What he did then was done in unbelief. Notice that his honesty was not counted for faith. He was in unbelief; and unbelief will save no one. All unbelief is sin. God says that the fearful and unbelieving shall have their part in the lake of fire. Rev. 21:8. And the Prince of Peace has said, "Preach the gospel to every creature; he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." Mark 16:15, 16.

The Lord sends out his truth with sufficient evidence upon which men can base their faith. Then he requires all men to accept that truth upon that evidence, upon the pain of being damned. If for any cause they do not believe, but reject it, and really believe that which is false in its stead, God says they shall suffer the consequences for it; they shall be damned.

Then will no one be saved but those who have believed the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Will all be damned who have believed error? We do not claim this; but we do claim that the belief of error, or that which is not true, will not save any one. It is the belief of the truth which saves a man. If a man's faith embraces enough cardinal truth, he will be saved by that truth notwithstanding the error which he has mixed with it. It is not his faith in the error which saves him, but it is the truth which he holds with it that saves him. On the other hand if the cardinal pillars of his faith are error, although he may have some truth mixed with it, yet he will perish by his error.

To illustrate; a hungry person eats food. In the main it is a good food, yet there is some poison mixed with it but not enough to materially injure him. He receives strength from his food, but does it come from the poison? No, indeed. So of what we believe. No soul will ever be saved for his belief in a lie, but it must be the truth that saves him. This fact is ever kept prominent all through the Bible. Thus Jesus says, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32. Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth." John 17:17. Observe that we are to be sanctified through the truth. It is never said that we are to be sanctified through error. Paul says, "God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth." 2 Thess. 2:13. How are we sanctified? By the Spirit and the belief of the truth.

Again Christ says, "God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." John 4:24. We must not only worship God in spirit, but it must also be in truth. Again, Jesus says, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life." John 14:6. Once more he says, "And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth." John 17:19. And again, "To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice." John 18:37.

These texts are but examples of how the truth is everywhere exalted in the Bible. Time after time it is directly stated that we are to be sanctified through the truth. Hence there is a vast difference whether we believe a lie or the truth. The devil is the author of every lie, every falsehood, every error, and every fable, every false doctrine, and everything that is not the truth. Jesus says he is a liar and the father of it. John 8:44. But God is the author of every truth and every true doctrine. Satan is intensely interested in the sustaining and building up of error; but God is interested in putting down error, and establishing the truth.

Just so far, then, as our influence goes in sustaining error and false doctrine, just so far we are sustaining Satan and his kingdom. The fact that we are deceived and do it ignorantly does not alter the result in the least, and just so far as we give our influence against that which is truth, whether we know it be the truth or not, just so far we are opposing the kingdom of God. Is it so, then, that the Lord is equally pleased with a man, whether he believes a false doctrine, or a true doctrine, provided that he is only honest in his belief? No, God is not in partnership with the devil, nor will he ever bless a soul for believing a lie, however honestly he may believe it. But it is objected and some claim that it is impossible to know the truth because there are so many contradictory doctrines held by men, all claiming to be proved by the Bible; each one sure that he has the truth and that the other is wrong; hence they say, do the best we may, we are not certain of finding the truth. I do not believe that these affirmations are true. To maintain them is virtually to charge God with injustice, and throw the blame of our errors upon the Creator. This view of the case squarely contradicts the plainest teachings of the Bible. "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. This is the language of our Saviour. Is it reliable? Does he mean what he says? If so, then we can know whether a doctrine is of God or not. But mark the condition. We must first submit our wills to do God's will, give up our ways and be willing to be led and taught by the Lord, however crossing it may be to us.

Again, the Saviour says: "He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." John 8:12. My brother, are you in darkness? Then you are not really following Christ; for he declares that the very object of his mission to our earth was that his followers should not walk in darkness. Again, he says: "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness." John 12:46. And again: "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled." Matt. 5:6. Righteousness is rightness, that which is right, that which is true, in opposition to that which is false and untrue.

Jesus says that those who hunger and thirst after this shall be filled. Is his promise reliable? Can we depend upon it? Yes, if the conditions are complied with—if we hunger and thirst after it. This does not mean an indifferent, careless wish for the truth, nor simply a faint effort to obtain it; but it means a most intense, anxious, and longing desire for the truth—a disposition which will not be satisfied with anything but the truth, though it costs everything to obtain it. Look at the illustration: a man hungering and thirsting for food and drink. For hours and days he has been without nourishment. He is almost perished. His stomach is gnawing with hunger, and his tongue clings to the roof of his mouth for very thirst. What would not that man give to obtain food and drink. He would not be very dainty as to how it was prepared. Now, says Christ, the soul which longs for the truth, as that man does for food and drink, shall be filled. But, alas, how few feel thus. Most persons are perfectly contented with error. If convinced that they are holding error they feel indifferent about it and argue that it does not make much difference. If truth is presented to them their first inquiry is, How much will we have to sacrifice if we receive this? Will it be unpopular? Will it be inconvenient? Will it conflict with our business? If so, they promptly inquire whether they cannot be saved without believing it? What does this show? A hungering and thirsting after the truth? an anxious desire to know the real will of God? No, but a selfish desire to be saved without any regard to the truth. If such persons are left to their own ways, to believe a lie, it will be no marvel.

Such cases are very numerous. Paul says that Satan will work "with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they receive not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." 2 Thess. 2:10. Here is a class of persons who had the truth presented to them, but they did not receive the love of the truth. They thought that error would do just as well. Now notice the consequences: "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie." Verse 11. Notice now that God leaves them to really believe a lie. They not only say they believe it, but they do believe it, they strongly believe it, they are willing to risk their souls upon it. Now will such strong faith as this save them. Listen a little farther, "That they should believe a lie; that they all might be damned who believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." Verses 11, 12.

What! will a just God damn a soul for believing that which he really thinks to be true? Certainly he will, and serve him right too; for, mark, it is those who do not love the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. God's truth was presented to them but it required a sacrifice on their part to receive it. They did not wish to do this. They were anxious to avoid the cross; hence they made the most of every objection which they heard against the truth. They diligently sought for every plausible pretext to sustain them in their error, and God saw that the real love of the truth was not in their hearts. Hence, he leaves them to ways which they have chosen, to really believe the fable and false doctrine which they love. They had the light presented to them but they did not love it, for it exposed their errors and called on them for reform. They turned away from the light and they then imagined that their garments needed no changing, because in their darkness they could see no defilement upon them. But had they come to the light and walked in the light, they would have seen it. Says Jesus: "Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you; for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light." John 12:35, 36.

An important fact is stated here of which few are fully aware. It is this: "To-day a person may see the truth, may be strongly convinced that it is the truth, may be almost decided to obey it, but halts, and falters, and neglects to take up his cross; he seeks for objections and excuses to justify him in disobedience, and in this way the Spirit of God is grieved. The light gradually departs from him, his conviction passes off, he becomes less interested, at length indifferent, and finally does not believe it at all. He now persuades himself that it never was true; he settles down satisfied with a lie, and God leaves him only to be awakened from his fatal delusion by the terrors of the Judgment.

Dear reader, we beseech you to be careful how you trifle with light and truth. God has no fellowship with Satan, nor with any of his lies or fables. Truth alone will save us. Do not persuade yourself that you cannot distinguish between truth and error. You can if you will, but you must be willing to search for it, to dig for it as for hid treasures, make any sacrifice, even that of property or friends, or life itself, to know and obtain the truth. If you do not you are not worthy of it. Be not deceived; God is not mocked. He cannot be trifled with. He means what he says, and will execute what he has threatened. Have you sought God in prayer for light and help? Have you lifted up your voice and cried after the truth? Have you fasted and prayed that you might find it; or has your desire been to get around the truth, quiet your conscience, excuse yourself, and to hope for Heaven in known disobedience? Vain hope! Throw away that fatal delusion. Arise and shake yourself from its grasp or it will sink you in perdition. The day is coming which will try men's souls and shake their foundations. Eternal interests are at stake. You cannot afford to risk your soul upon a lie. The day of Judgment will sweep away the refuge of lies. Truth, pure, holy, God-given truth alone will profit us then. With the poet let us say:—

"Truth is the gem for which we seek, Oh! tell us where shall it be found. For this we pray, and search, and weep, That truth may in our hearts abound." D. M. CANRIGHT.

Continue reading: Unbelief of Pretended Science in Reference to the Lord's Coming