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Review and Herald, Vol. 82, No. 27.

Jerusalem in History and Prophecy

Review and Herald

Jul 6, 1905

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jul 6, 1905

Jerusalem in History and Prophecy

A View of Modern Jerusalem
A View of Modern Jerusalem
FORMING the background of this view are the distant outlines of the walls and buildings of the historic city of Jerusalem, a center around which cluster so many weighty truths of history and of prophecy. The importance of the locality was foreshadowed as early as the days of Abraham, when he was directed to Mount Moriah as the place of his expected sacrifice; and to all that time has since revealed of interest concerning it, is added the prophecy of the descent of King Jesus upon the Mount of Olives, which is to divide asunder and become a great plain upon which will descend the holy city, the New Jerusalem.
As a city, Jerusalem first became of historical interest in the time of David, who captured it from the Jebusites, and made it his capital. In Solomon's reign it attained additional renown as the site of the temple, the most beautiful and famous building ever erected by man. Destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in the reign of Zedekiah, it was rebuilt by Nehemiah, and experienced varying fortunes until the time when the Jewish nation, having finally rejected the Messiah, suffered the destruction of their capital, and the extinction of their nationality by the Roman army under Titus, A. D. 70. Some centuries later the city passed under the dominion of the Ottoman power, under whose rule it has since remained save for a comparatively short period after it was retaken from the Turks by the Crusaders.
Many passages of Scripture are based upon the glory of Jerusalem as the seat of God's government on the earth, as the following: “Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof. Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following. For this God is our God forever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.” Ps. 48: 12-14. “Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King,” etc.

“Why Don’t My Paper Come?”

By Editor

THE following are some of the reasons which prevent prompt entering of names on our subscription lists, and are, therefore, the principal causes of delay in sending the papers.
1. Lack of Address, or One That is Illegible, or Incomplete.
It is really surprising how many people forget to write their full name and address plainly when ordering periodicals. We often have only the post-mark on the envelope from which to guess the address, and sometimes the post-office at which the letter was mailed is not the one to which the paper should be sent; yet after doing our best at guessing, we are often blamed for our blunders.
Our Memory.— Some seem to think we ought to remember where they live and all about them because their names are on one of our periodical lists; but when it is understood that there are many thousands of names on our various lists, it will be readily conceived that our list clerks can not possibly remember the various addresses; though, were it not for their remarkable memories, there would be far more disappointments than there are.
The above is a facsimile of a stencil, and shows its exact size. It consists of a sheet of parchment, mounted on a cardboard frame; the name, address, date, etc., being written by a special perforating typewriter, in the center of the parchment. The stencil is then put into the addressing machine, which prints the name on the wrapper, by forcing the ink through the perforations in the stencil.
The above is a facsimile of a stencil, and shows its exact size. It consists of a sheet of parchment, mounted on a cardboard frame; the name, address, date, etc., being written by a special perforating typewriter, in the center of the parchment. The stencil is then put into the addressing machine, which prints the name on the wrapper, by forcing the ink through the perforations in the stencil.
How the Lists are Kept.— Our lists are first arranged alphabetically by States, then by cities and towns; and where there are several subscribers in one city, the names of the individuals are arranged in alphabetical order. Each name and the full address is written by a special perforating typewriter on a wax stencil.
Whenever a renewal or change of address is sent, a new stencil must be made, and put into its proper place, and the old one taken out. It is, therefore, very important to give the old address each time when ordering a change of address.
Renewal Blanks.— About a month before each subscription expires, we send out renewal blanks, containing a proof of the stencil used in mailing the paper during the time of the subscription. It gives the name, address, and the date of expiration. This blank should be returned to us each time, because it is of material assistance in giving the name, address, and date exactly as they stand on the list, and prevents mistakes, delays, and much unnecessary confusion. Some keep this blank and write a letter instead, while others very carefully tear off and keep that portion of the blank which we need, and send only their name without any address.
2. Sufficient Time is Not Allowed.
Our mail is usually large. During the busy season we receive hundreds of orders for the REVIEW alone in a single mail. It, therefore, takes time to enter these names on the list and to begin the mailing of the paper. Frequently persons send a subscription from a near-by town, and write within two days to inquire why their paper does not come. We purpose to enter all subscriptions promptly; but it requires time to enter the cash receipts from all these letters, and get the names on the list.
Orders for More than One Periodical.— Where subscriptions for more than one periodical are on the same sheet of paper, which is often the case, the letter has to take its turn on each list; and it may be more than a week before all the names are entered and the stencil placed in the various lists. If orders for different periodicals were written on separate sheets of paper, it would facilitate prompt attention. In any case no one should expect to receive his paper within a week or ten days after subscription is sent.
3. Insufficient Cash Remittances; or Surplus of Cash Sent, for Which no Definite Instruction is Given.
Many send in their own subscription and include also another for a friend, an order for a book, or a donation to some enterprise, but forget to specify definitely what to do with all the cash sent. This necessitates our holding the order and writing for further instruction.
When several subscriptions are sent in at one time, care should be taken to specify how long the paper is to be sent to each individual. Failure to do this will prevent prompt entering of the names; and we shall be obliged to hold the order and write for more definite instruction. We appreciate most heartily the efforts of our subscribers to secure subscriptions from their friends and neighbors; yet, at the same time, we desire them to be careful that full instruction is sent with each order so that we may be sure to enter it correctly, and save delays and disappointments.
We are always willing to accommodate our people by sending to the General Conference, at Takoma Park, any donations to their various funds which are sent to us; but letters containing donations intended solely for the General Conference and having no business for the Review and Herald Publishing Association would receive more prompt attention if sent direct to the General Conference, Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C.
4. Wrong Addresses on the Letters Sent to Us.
Our address is still 222 North Capitol St., Washington, D. C. All orders for any of our periodicals, REVIEW AND HERALD, Youth’s Instructor, Life and Health, and Sabbath School Worker, and also for any of our books, should be sent to the above address or to our Branch in Battle Creek, Mich.
5. Failure to Give the Old Address to Which the Paper or Clubs of Papers Have Been Coming.
Persons who order clubs of any of our papers should be sure to tell us each time whether the order is a renewal or not, and if so, then to whom and to what address the club is then going. A newly elected Sabbath-school secretary often sends in for a club of papers, and forgets to state that it is to renew a club already going to the address of the former secretary.

ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS.

Individual Accounts.— We do not open accounts with individuals for periodicals, therefore remittance must accompany every order. If any want credit, arrangements for it should be made with the State Tract Society, and the order be sent through the tract society.
When You Do Not Have the Money.— While we do not carry individual accounts, we will not cut a subscriber off the list if he is not able to send the pay for his paper when it expires, providing he will write and ask that his paper be continued, and will name some date at which payment will be made. Remittance must be made within a short time, however, for no expired subscription will be carried on the list longer than three months. After proper notifications have been sent and no response is returned, the subscriber’s name, whoever he may be, is dropped from the list. This is usually done within two weeks after the time of the expiration of the subscription.
How to Tell When Your Subscription Expires.— Any one can tell when his subscription expires by examining the wrapper on his paper. The date is always given after the style of the sample stencil shown herewith—Aug. 1.-’05, or Aug. 15.-’05, or (as is the case with the monthly papers) simply Aug.-’05. These dates mean that the subscription is paid for the paper until that date. Every time you take off the wrapper, therefore, you may be reminded of the time when renewal should be sent, by glancing at the date thereon.
Do Not Write to the Editor.— The editors of our various periodicals do not attend to subscriptions, changes of address, or any matter of a like nature. Communications on business matters should not, therefore, be addressed to them, as this method delays rather than facilitates prompt attention. It is best not to address business communications to any individual. All letters addressed to Review and Herald Publishing Association or to any one of our periodicals will receive immediate attention.
It is, of course, proper to address all manuscript for publication to the editor of the particular paper for which it is intended.
Will our good friends please follow these suggestions, and thus enable us to give their orders the most prompt and intelligent attention?
REVIEW & HERALD PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION
222 North Capitol St., Washington, D. C.
Publishers of
Review and Herald, Youth’s Instructor, Life and Health, and Sabbath School Worker.

A New Literature

WITHIN a comparatively few years a new order of publications has appeared. The name of these publications is legion, for they are many. They expound the new theology, the new philosophy, the new science, and every new thing which exalts itself above the true knowledge of God and of his salvation. Some are written by wise men from the East who have emigrated to this new world as missionaries of the Oriental philosophy, but the most of them are written by professed believers in Christianity who claim to have discovered such new truths as utterly destroy the fundamental principles of the primitive religion. The religious literature of twenty-five and fifty years ago is being discarded in favor of modern views which really set aside “the faith which was once delivered to the saints,” and by substituting reason for revelation, and by emphasizing the natural in all things, put man in the place of God just as really, although not so openly, as the papacy. The publishing houses and publishing agents of the different denominations are printing and handling this literature, and there are few public teachers who have the discernment and the courage to make any effective protest against it. This is only a picture of what our own situation would have been, if we had not been delivered from it by the authoritative counsel of the spirit of prophecy. “The enemy of souls has sought to bring in the supposition that a great reformation was to take place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this reformation would consist in giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of reorganization. Were this reformation to take place, what would result? . . . The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error. A new organization would be established. Books of a new order would be written. A system of philosophy would be introduced.” This is just what has happened in the other denominations. And these considerations emphasize the demand for the circulation of the books and papers which contain the truth for this time. In the original advent message will be found the antidote for the new literature of the day. Let our books and papers be circulated.

Our Message

By Editor

(Concluded)
Now, further, in the very specific and direct application of this message, we come face to face with those scriptures in the fourteenth chapter of the book of Revelation which speak of the first angel and his message, and the second angel and his message, and the third angel and his message, and in these prophecies there are brought before us certain specific symbols, certain definite phrases, that we must deal with in this message. To deal with general truths of the gospel, and not to deal with these specific scriptures which give the setting for the gospel at this time, will not be to give the message that God has for this generation; even though the same scriptures are used, there is not the right use of the scripture at the time, in the setting of it, which will meet the mind of the Spirit of God, and which the Spirit of God will apply. The scripture given in that setting will have weight and conviction and light and power, which the same scripture out of that setting will not have. That is what will give a specific turn to the whole work of this message, even though old and familiar scriptures and old and familiar applications are made. When God has a specific work to accomplish at a specific time with a specific scripture, there is a meaning in that scripture which his Spirit only can bring out and apply, and which he will bring out and apply when it is given in the right connection. And this is because in every revelation there is an infinite depth. And this is not to say that we are getting something out of the Word of God that was never there, or that we have added something to it. That is not it; it is the Spirit of God making that application of scripture which belongs to it at that time to constitute his message for that time.
Now in the principles involved in this question of the beast and his image, when you have looked into it carefully, I think you will agree with me that the beast and his image are the very incarnation of the gospel according to man. That man of sin is called the mystery of iniquity in contrast with the mystery of godliness. While the true gospel according to God finds its incarnation andits highest revelation in Jesus Christ and his direct teaching of the gospel as he gave it, the gospel according to man—so far as it is possible that there should be another incarnation similar to that—finds its highest expression in that system which we call the papacy, in which the pope takes the place as head of the church, the true head of the church of Christ, and in which every doctrine of the gospel of God is perverted, until it takes in the general scheme of the gospel according to man, so that although the papacy appears to be a church,—uses all the names of the church, uses all the phraseology of the gospel, and appears to be a full, clear, wonderful revelation of the gospel according to God,—in actual fact, according to the Scripture, it is no church at all, it has no right to the name of a church; it does not teach the gospel of Christ; it is simply an utter and entire perversion of that gospel of Christ.
Before we finish the work that is before us, all classes of persons will be plainly brought under these two classifications. The result of giving this message will inevitably lead to that. While it may not be that names will be dispensed with altogether, yet, before we close, it will be clear to all that there has such a union taken place among all who may in any degree represent the gospel according to man that the contest comes directly and specifically between the beast and his image on the one hand, and those who stand for the gospel according to God on the other hand; and there will be clearly and distinctly two classes. The work of giving this message is to do that work, is to bring that result; it is to bring out a people who teach the gospel according to God. It will be revealed in obedience to the commandments of God, in a character in entire harmony with the law of God, so that in its fulness, not simply as an imputed character, not simply as a substituted character, but in its fulness as a revealed character, there will be in humanity the same revelation of obedience to the commandments of God in the people that are prepared for translation as there was in the person of Jesus when he was here in the flesh.
You can see that this must be so, for reasons that will occur to your mind at once. In contrast with that will be the gospel according to man, in which everything will be perverted from the conception of God, from the idea of his being, his character, from the idea of Christ as one of supernatural birth,—incarnation,—the idea of his supernatural resurrection, his ascension,—everything will be set aside, and it will be a clear revelation of the gospel according to man in contrast with the gospel according to God.
Now I have just a few moments in which I wish to call attention so specifically to these things that you can make further application yourselves of these principles. And I say, first, that in our time, just now, there needs to be the giving of the message of the gospel according to God that will reveal to the world clearly and plainly the true gospel teaching concerning the personality of God. There needs to be a clear revelation of the teaching of the supernatural side of religion as contrasted with the natural side. There needs to be a clear and full revelation of the doctrine of righteousness by faith which will be revealed in obedience to the full commandments of God in contrast with that false idea which has come to have a place, which releases man from any relation to the law of God.
You can apply these principles yourselves. You know in the whole trend of affairs, that there needs to be a mighty voice that shall reveal the truth upon these questions. And if we have the right view of the work of the message for this time, this controversy will wax stronger, and these issues will become clearer, until it will appear that in this third angel’s message, and in this third angel’s message alone, will be found elements that will stand against the pressure that will be brought to bear to substitute the gospel of man for the gospel according to God. We have not reached that time yet. There are now those who are not directly connected with this message, who are, according to the light they have, standing firmly and clearly for the correct idea of God and his character and the way of salvation by faith rather than the perversion of it in the gospel according to man; but this contest is just fairly beginning, and already it is beginning to sweep off their feet some who thought they stood on firm ground. When this contest between the gospel according to God and the gospel according to man, reaches its height, it will be found that in this third angel’s message alone are the elements of strength and power that will hold to the truth. If that is not so, we do not need this message. That being so, we may hold to this message with the utmost confidence, and let the storm rage; but in doing that, we must know what the message is. Otherwise we can not hold to it through such a period as we are to pass through.
Now I say to you in all sincerity, I have strong sympathy for those who are beset with doubts and temptations; and I say that one who has been beset with doubts and fears and temptations concerning these matters can sympathize with and can better help those who are in that condition than can those who never have had a doubt or a temptation.
Now I do not say myself that it is any sin to be beset with fears and doubts and temptations, but I think that the one who, being beset with doubts, fears, and temptations, goes to the Word of God to settle the matter, and there finds a solid foundation for his feet, has a better standing ground than he had before his doubts and his fears and his temptations came. I do not have the utmost confidence or feeling of assurance about those who do not know what doubt and temptation mean. I do not believe there will be a people in this message that will go through to the kingdom of God, who will not be beset by doubts and fears and temptations; but when one is thus beset, instead of going to the gospel according to man to find comfort and help and salvation and to get a solid foundation, he should go to the gospel according to God, and get his foundation upon the Word of God. After that experience he is better prepared to help those who are placed under similar trials.
Here is a summary of the results that it is claimed have already been attained by putting the gospel according to man in the place of the gospel according to God:—
A pantheistic god instead of a personal God.
A human savior instead of a divine Saviour.
Infallible scholarship instead of an infallible Bible.
Modern thought instead of a “Thus saith the Lord.”
A development of religious ideas from the human mind instead of a revelation from God.
The natural in all things; the supernatural in nothing.
Reformation instead of regeneration.
Culture instead of conversion.
A change of environment instead of a change of heart.
The energy of the flesh instead of prayer and faith.
Interest in the secular, instead of zeal for religion.
Nobody afraid of hell, and nobody caring much about heaven.
Everybody coming out right anyhow, and nobody on the wrong track except those who cling to “the faith once delivered to the saints.”
I call that pretty nearly a true characterization of the present situation; and we are not very far into this contest even now. Of course the principles are all involved in it. But what I mean to say is, there has not yet come into this controversy between these two gospels that overmastering and overwhelming power that will sweep from his bearings every one who does not know that he is anchored to the word of God, and that this message is just as was the message of John the Baptist—the word of God given to us to proclaim for this time, a message that belongs to the hour, which we must give, and to which God will witness by his own Spirit.
Now take this thought further: In the International Encyclopedia is a short article on the new theology; and it sums it up in this way: “With various differences of emphasis and of the completeness with which the separate results of the new method are adopted, the new theology may be said to agree in the following points: The acceptance of evolution as the method of divine providence in the spiritual sphere as well as in the material.”
Do not say that evolutionists do not believe in divine providence. Certainly they do; they believe in everything; but when they say divine providence, they mean the manifestation of that providence under evolutionary law. There is where much of this deception comes in. The same phrases are used with an altogether different meaning. When I say divine providence, I mean according to my interpretation as I understand the Scripture; when an evolutionist says divine providence, he means the manifestation, the guidance, under evolutionary law; and that is an altogether different thing.
Only yesterday a member of the committee of fifteen to whom was referred the resolutions respecting the introduction of religious instruction into the public schools of the District of Columbia said to me, that, although he favored the idea, yet he believed it was a mistake. He said, “What is the use to put the ten commandments forward as the main thing to teach? Why, the first and second commandments have no application at the present time, anyway. The whole ten do not include a complete system of morals. They are largely nothing but negative prohibitions, and you can never build religion upon such a basis.”
Now that does not represent agnosticism, what is called, infidelity. That represents what most of them call the most conservative orthodoxy, and the very trouble that this man had on the committee was his conservative orthodoxy.
Returning now to the enumeration of the various points upon which the new theology is agreed, I quote further from the article in the encyclopedia:—
The employment of the methods of the higher criticism in the discussion of the origin and authority of both Testaments; the rejection of verbal inspiration and the substitution for it of greater, or sometimes exclusive, emphasis upon revelation; a subjective view of the atonement; increased emphasis on ethics in distinction from dogmatics, and upon sociological study and work, restatement of positions in eschatology, with a strong tendency to universalism. The tendency of the school is to minimize the supernatural (miraculous), and in the left wing to exclude it. Every important denomination of Christians has some share in this movement.
Now I wish to say, Every denomination is permeated by some of these principles that involve discarding the gospel according to God, and substituting the gospel according to man. There is not one of these denominations that is able to rise up and shake itself loose from this system. Why?—Because it has not taken the very Word of God as its message.
In the experiences of 1833, and 1840, and 1844, and from that onward, note that in order to turn aside the message of the advent movement and the message of the seventh-day Sabbath, principles were laid down which are simply flowering out now, and before any denomination can shake itself loose from these perversions of the gospel that begin to show themselves for what they are now, it must go back and adjust the original foundations.
I say that the only thing, the only movement, and the only message on the face of this earth to-day, and from now until the Lord comes, that can shake itself loose from this, that can rise above it, and reveal a clear message against every perversion of the gospel according to God, is the third angel’s message. I do not say that boastingly or foolishly; but I say that is fundamental to this question.
If there are several other movements in the world that can do this work that must be done in this generation, how do we know where we are? I do not say that there are not those outside of this movement at present who are loyally and earnestly doing the same work; but as this work goes on, I do say that there will be a power revealed in this work that will bring all such persons together, and the third angel’s message will gather to itself all those who are willing to stand firmly and clearly upon the platform,—the Word of God, the gospel according to God. All the others will be driven into another camp, and there will be only two camps. The final controversy will be between them. Then we shall see the direct controversy between the third angel’s message and the beast and his image. That is what we are preparing for, and every one of these perversions of the gospel to-day has its bearing upon that final controversy.
The message to-day is to go in such setting, with such clearness, and in such power, the gospel according to God, the message for this generation, as shall cut out the very roots of all these perversions, and take away their very foundation. Then God’s message to this generation shall be revealed with clearness and power to do its work, to prepare a people for the coming of the Lord.

Editorial

By Editor

Effective Preaching

The test of successful preaching is in the results. It is not always the man who pleases the people the best who does them the most good. The most effective preaching is that which actually leads men to confess and forsake their sins, and to lay hold upon the saving grace of Christ. This was the result of the preaching of John the Baptist, and it is the result to be aimed at to-day. “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Profitable Hearing

The profitable hearer is he who expects to hear a message from God to his own soul, and who trembles at the word of the Lord. Such an auditor listens for himself, and not for others, and with his heart open to receive reproof he finds that all is sent in love, and that even the rebuke of the Lord is to him the testimony of sonship. His motto is, “I will hear what God the Lord will speak.” Such hearing will reveal definite results in the life. “He that receiveth seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.” “Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your heart.”

Interpreting the Bible

“WHO seeketh an interpretation from this book [the Bible] shall get an answer from God. Whoso bringeth an interpretation to it shall get an answer from the devil.”

A Noteworthy Convention

By L. A. S.

IN Germany, the home of the “higher criticism,” so much has been said by and about the advocates of the “advanced theology” based on such criticism, that one might suppose that the theology of the former days had been quite obliterated in that section of Christendom, and that a modern Elijah in that country would be justified in exclaiming, “I, even I only, remain a prophet of the Lord.” But it appears that there are still left in that home of apostasy from the old-time faith, “seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” The evidence of this was furnished by a recent convention in Berlin of the adherents of the former views, which met in response to a call for a showing of those who stood loyal to the old doctrines. An appeal was sent out based upon the conviction “that without the faith in the divine truth of the Holy Scriptures and in His atoning death and in the resurrection of the living Son of God, the church can not exist or live or do its work;” and that “the utterly subversive character of modern theology recognizes neither revelation nor the Holy Scriptures, and accordingly can be accepted neither as Christian nor as churchly.” The response to the call, it is stated, “afforded a surprise to both friend and foe,” since “not even the new Dom in Berlin was large enough to hold the assembly, which had gathered literally from all the corners of the empire.”
It is stated that “the convention enthusiastically took a stand against the whole radical theological trend of the times,” going on record in the matter in a series of resolutions, the pith of which is given in the following:—
1. This convention, in harmony with the historical confessions of the church, takes its stand on the foundation of the divine revelation in the Holy Scriptures, and accepts as the essential of its faith the divinity of Christ, as the Lord who has been crucified and who has arisen for mankind.
2. With sorrow we note the fact that both at the universities and in the pulpits destructive errors are permitted to be taught, which are a serious menace to the life of the congregation. In late months this condition has simply become intolerable.
3. We repeat the demand made already in 1895, and addressed to the authorities of the state and of the church, to the effect that in the appointment of theological professors not only the literary attainments, but also the confessional faithfulness of the candidate should be a decisive factor.
4. We further demand that if a pastor of any church teaches contrary to the confession of the congregation, disciplinary measures should be resorted to at once.
This is encouraging evidence that the higher criticism is not having everythingits own way even where it has found the most favorable soil for its development. In every stronghold of unbelief the Spirit of the Lord will still lift up a standard against the enemy until the mystery of God on earth shall be finished.
L. A. S.

Fatherhood and Brotherhood

A RECENT number of Public Opinion contained an article by Baba Bharati in which he attempted to answer the question, “What Can the East Teach the West?” The writer is the author of “Krishna: A History of the Universe,” and is an accredited representative of the Oriental philosophy.
As showing the intimate relation between the pantheism of the East and recent pantheistic teaching of the West, we quote the following paragraph:—
From the study of the Vedas—the spirit of which is the spirit of Buddhism, Taoism, and Shintoism—any earnest-minded Westerner in search of the truth, will find that this whole creation is one whole throbbing life, and that all phases and details of this life are but parts of the whole; that all the principles which compose and all laws which regulate the functions of this whole life, are present in every atomic part of it, whether they are manifest or not to the superficial vision or investigation; that man represents the most advanced stage in the evolution of the atom on the terrestrial surface, with possibilities within him of still higher development, either on the earth plane or planes higher than the earth—progress higher and higher till he reaches the stage of perfection which is called the Absolute, in which he is then merged. This central ideal of the East will teach the Westerner a much-needed lesson, that the Fatherhood of God—the basic, all-pervading principle of life—argues the brotherhood of not merely man, but of all the universe.
We can say to Baba Bharati, and to all other advocates of the Vedantic philosophy, that it will be quite unnecessary to send any Buddhist from the Orient in order to teach what is characterized as “a much-needed lesson” to the Westerner. This doctrine of the divine immanence, of the evolution of character, and of the brotherhood of being, with which we are familiar, is the Eastern philosophy with slight variations. This sort of teaching is utterly subversive of true Christianity, and there can be no compromise between the two.
Why should these ancient errors of heathenism be brought forward as new light? Why should professed teachers of the gospel of Christ substitute their own speculations for the plain revelation of the truth? Why should spiritualistic interpretations of the Bible be so persistently urged upon the people? It is all a part of the final effort to pervert the message of truth which belongs to the last generation. We must repudiate every trace of this pantheistic, spiritualistic, soul-destroying error.
Continue reading: Possibilities in an Important Decision