Review and Herald, Vol. 32, No. 14.
THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES, AND THE TIME WHEN THEY ARE POURED OUTPage 1
THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES, AND THE TIME WHEN THEY ARE POURED OUT.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
I am aware that there is a difference of opinion among Adventists as to the time when the seven last plagues are to be poured out. Many hold that we are now under the pouring out of the sixth; but Seventh-day Adventists hold, on the contrary, that none of them have yet been poured out, nor will they be, till just before Jesus comes. In favor of this position, I offer a few thoughts. 1. I can see no reason why they should be called the “seven last plagues,” Rev. xv, 1, if they cover a period of several hundred years, in common with other judgments, sent upon the wicked. Their being called the seven last plagues, seems to indicate that they will be poured upon the world after all other judgments have ceased, as the finishing stroke of God’s vengeance upon the wicked. 2. Rev. xiv contains three messages of warning to the world. The first one, verses 6, 7, says that the hour of God’s judgment is come. This certainly must be given near the end of the world in order to be true. The second, verse 8, says that Babylon is fallen. The third, and last, warning message, verses 9–12, says, “If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation,” &c. Immediately after the close of this message, the Son of Man is seen coming on a white cloud. Verse 14. In chap. xv, 1, we read: “And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues: for in them is filled up the wrath of God.” This language indicates that the seven last plagues are the same as the unmixed wrath of God threatened in the third angel’s message, against those who worship the beast, or have his mark. In one place, his wrath is said to be poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation, and in the other place, his wrath is said to be filled up in the seven last plagues. This conclusion is proved to be true by the fact that the seven last plagues are poured out on the very class who are threatened in the third angel’s message; viz., those who worship the beast. Thus we read, chap. xvi, 1, 2: “And I heard a great voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshiped his image.” Then, the first one of the seven last plagues cannot be poured out till the close of the third angel’s message. But this is the last message of warning to the world; hence, the conclusion is unavoidable that none of these plagues can be poured out till just before the coming of the Lord. 3. That these plagues are all poured out in quick succession upon the same generation of men, and not scattered over a period of several hundred years, is evident from the fact that when the fifth plague is poured out, the men upon whom it is poured, are still suffering from the effects of the first plague, which was a “noisome and grievous sore.” Verse 2. “And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, and blasphemed the God of Heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.” Verses 10, 11. 4. But another fact which seems to me to be decisive as to the time when the plagues are to be poured out, is that it is after the sounding of the seventh trumpet. That this is so, will be seen by comparing the events which occur under the sounding of the seventh trumpet, with those which occur under the pouring out of the plagues. Let us read: “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in Heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. . . . And the nations were angry, and Thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that Thou shouldest give reward unto Thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and to them that fear Thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. And the temple of God was opened in Heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament; and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.” Of course, I need not stop to argue that the seventh angel does not begin to sound till just before the coming of Christ. The events which happen under it, prove this. Under the sounding of this angel, we notice that, 1. The wrath of God comes. 2. Those who destroy the earth, will then be destroyed. 3. The saints will then be rewarded. 4. The temple of God was then opened in Heaven. 5. There were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail. Now these same events occur at the pouring out of the seven last plagues, chap. xv, 5, to xvi, 21. 1. The temple in Heaven is opened. “And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in Heaven was opened: and the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed with pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.” Chap. xv, 5, 6. This definitely locates the time when the seven angels having the seven last plagues receive their commission, and prepare to pour out the plagues; namely, at the time when the temple in Heaven is opened, which is not till after the seventh angel begins to sound. This is a nail in a sure place. 2. Then the wrath of God comes in these plagues. “And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.” Verse 7. This is exactly what occurs under the sounding of the seventh angel—“thy wrath is come.” Verse 8 contains another testimony as to the chronology of these plagues: it is after probation has closed. “And the temple was filled with smoke, from the glory of God and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.” The fact that no man was able to enter into the temple, shows that the ministration there had closed; hence, the plagues are not poured out till after probation has ceased. 3. Under the seventh plague it says, “There were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake. . . . and there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven.” Chap. xvi, 18–21. 4. These plagues will destroy those who have destroyed the earth. 5. So, also, at this time the saints will be rewarded. Thus we see that the events which occur under the sounding of the seventh trumpet, are the same as those which occur in connection with the pouring out of the seven last plagues. Hence we understand that none of the plagues are poured out till the seventh trumpet begins to sound. But, says one, verses 12–14 show that we are now under the sixth plague. It reads thus: “And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the East might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits, like frogs, come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet; for they are the spirits of devils,” &c. This work of the spirits, it is agreed, is modern Spiritualism, which is now working in the land; therefore, we are now under the sixth plague. At first sight, this argument seems to be conclusive; but let us look a little closer.186At the time when the work of these spirits is noticed in the prophecy, they are seen “coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.” These beasts represent governments. How can anything be said to come out of the mouth of a government? Manifestly when that government speaks to its subjects by the proclamation of its laws. It can mean nothing else. The prophet saw the spirits come out of the mouths of these three governments; that is, the spirits had so far gained control of these governments as to speak through them in their laws. Evidently, this is what the prophecy means. Now has Spiritualism done that yet? No; the spirits must first get into the body before they can come out of the mouth. This is what Spiritualism is now doing. It is working, and spreading, and rapidly making converts among all nations. At length they will become numerous and strong enough to control political parties; then they will issue laws to suit themselves; then will they “come out of the mouth” of the beast, but not before. So according to this proof, we are not yet under the sixth plague. Then, from all this evidence, I conclude that the plagues are yet future, and that by them God will at last destroy every living thing on the earth. God has said, “I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the Lord. I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea.” Zeph. i, 2, 3. All things in the air, on the earth, and in the sea, must be destroyed. Will the seven last plagues do all this? They will; for some of them are poured upon the earth, some upon the sea and waters, and some into the air. Read them. By these means, then, God will destroy the earth. The above facts suggest a few practical thoughts to my mind. It is not only necessary that we should know that the Lord is soon coming, and that the world is soon to be destroyed; but it is also necessary that we should know the nature of that destruction; that is, how it will be accomplished. If we simply know that a destruction is coming, but do not know the nature of it, nor how it will come, how shall we prepare ourselves for it? “Oh! trust in the Lord, and he will save you,” says one. But faith in God is always active. It teaches us to move out and do something, and trust in God for help to do it. The case of Noah exactly illustrates my idea. The Lord warned Noah that he was about to destroy the world. He believed the Lord, and went out and warned his fellow men of the coming destruction. But was that all that he did? Did he then simply trust in God, and wait for the awful event? No; he went to work preparing for the coming destruction. But suppose he had simply known that this destruction was coming, yet did not know how it was coming, how could he have prepared for it? The Lord not only told him that he would destroy the world, but that he would do it by a flood of water. Now Noah understands what to do. He must prepare to save himself from a flood of water. Hence he built the ark, and was saved. His faith in God taught him that the world was soon to be destroyed, and that it would be done by a flood, and that he must save himself from that destruction by building an ark. His was an active faith. It led him out to do that in which there was no sense unless the flood was coming. So of Lot. He was not only warned that Sodom was about to be destroyed, but he was told how to save himself; viz., by fleeing from the city. An ark would not have saved him, any more than fleeing from a certain city would have saved Noah. So at the destruction of Jerusalem. Christ not only informed his disciples that the city would be destroyed, but he told them how it would be done; viz., by an army. Luke xxi, 20. Then he told them to flee into the mountains. This, and nothing else, would save them. They not only knew that the destruction was coming, but they knew how it was coming. This enabled them to prepare for it. Now I believe that the same will be true with respect to the destruction which is coming on the world at the coming of the Lord. The Lord is about to destroy man and beast, the fowls of heaven, and the fishes of the sea. Zeph. i. God’s people will be on the earth, the same as Noah was, while this destruction is going on, till just before the pouring out of the last plague. Rev. xvi, 15–17; Ps. xci. But these plagues will not touch them any more than the waters did Noah. Ps. xci, 7–10. Now is it not reasonable to suppose that the people of God will know the nature of the destruction which is coming, that they may be prepared to stand amid these plagues? If the example of Noah, Lot, &c., teaches anything, it is reasonable. “As it was in the days of Noah,” so it is to be when Christ comes. But looking at the nature of the seven last plagues, we see that God will destroy every living thing by “plagues,” “noisome and grievous sores,” turning the water into blood, scorching men with heat, &c.; also, by famine and pestilence. Joel i; Rev. xviii, 8; Ps. xci. These, then, are what we are to prepare for. This I understand to be the ultimate object of the health reform. But those who believe that the plagues are nearly all now in the past, and that no such things are coming on the earth, but are simply looking for the Lord to come, are they not overlooking the very preparation they will need, so that they will be found unprepared when the wrath of God is poured out? I fear this is so. May the Lord help us to know what is coming, and prepare for it. Amen. D. M. Canright. RETRIBUTION
By Vesta N. Cumworth
AIR—"Pass under the Rod." Though bold, unforgiven, thy dark sins have stood,
Long veiled from the world's feeble eye;
With the finger of justice, they are written in blood,
And will fill you with shame by-and-by.
The dearly-bought laurels that twine 'round thy brow,
Were woven in anguish and pain;
With the tears of thy victim, they sparkle and glow,
And soon will be withered again.
A pitying eye saw that heart-stricken one,
And brushing a tear away,
Bore it safely on high, to God's glorious throne;
Thou shalt meet it again in that day. For all thou hast given, four-fold back again,
Thou shalt reap as the fruits of thy toil;
And the measure of suffering, anguish, and pain,
Returned, running o'er, to thy soul.
Though long thou hast waited, the pay-day will come;
Retribution's a law that is sure as God's throne. In the pit thou hast dug for thy neighbor, thy soul
Shall sink in the day of thy woe;
In the snare thou hast set for thy fellow, shalt fall,
While none shall their pity bestow;
While back in thy bosom the slanders shall roll,
With falsehood, oppression, deceit;
And a bounteous harvest spring up in thy soul,
For what thou hast sown, thou shalt reap. For God overrules in the routine of life,
And the crowns nestle close to the cross;
Though man heats the furnace, oftentimes in the strife,
God takes it, to burn up the dross. Soon Justice, grown weary, will take thee away,
And give thee the cumberer's doom;
He will soon cut thee down in his wrath, and will say,
Where God is, thou never shalt come.
Though long thou hast waited, the pay-day will come;
Retribution's a law that is sure as God's throne. VESTA N. CUMWORTH.
Springfield, Mass. FREEMASONRY.—XI
By C. G. Finney
Freemasonry Imposes on the Ignorant by Many False Representations.
In what is called the “Sublime Degree of Master Mason” there are the following gross misrepresentations worthy of notice. First, Hiram Abiff is represented as going daily into the Most Holy place for secret prayer; whereas the Bible representation is that no one was allowed to enter the Most Holy place except the high priest. Neither Solomon nor Hiram were allowed to enter it. And the high priest was allowed to enter it only once a year, and that on the great day of atonement—“not without blood, which he offered first for himself, and then for the errors of the people.” Again, this Hiram is represented in Masonry as having been murdered by three ruffians, who demanded of him the Master’s word. As he refused to give it, they murdered him, and buried him at a distance from Jerusalem, in a grave “six feet deep perpendicular,” where he remained fourteen days. Then, after a great deal of twaddle and misrepresentation in regard to the supposed circumstances of his murder and burial, Solomon is represented raising him from this depth in the earth by the Master’s grip—and that “upon the five points of fellowship,” which are, “foot to foot, knee to knee, breast to breast, hand to back, and mouth to ear.” It is no wonder that infidel Masons should ridicule the credulity of professed Christian Masons in crediting such a ridiculous story as this. Again, Masonry goes on to represent that, after Hiram was thus raised from this grave, six feet deep—“foot to foot, knee to knee, breast to breast, hand to back, mouth to ear”—he was brought up to Jerusalem, and buried under the Most Holy place in King Solomon’s Temple. I will quote from the lecture of this degree, as found in the first edition of Bernard, p. 81: “Question [speaking of the body].—What did they do with the body? Answer. Raised it in a Masonic form, and carried it up to the temple for more decent interment. Q. Where was it buried? A. Under the sanctum sanctorum, or holy of holies, over which they erected a marble monument, with this inscription delineated thereon: A virgin weeping over a broken column, with a book open before her; in her right hand a sprig of cassia; in her left, an urn; Time standing behind her, with his hands infolded in the ringlets of her hair.” Now, observe, this burial was under the Most Holy place in King Solomon’s Temple; and the marble monument was erected over it, and consequently must have been in the Most Holy place itself. Does not every careful reader of the Bible know that this is false? We have a minute description in the Bible of everything relating to the Most Holy place: its form, size, embellishments, and of every article of furniture there was in it. No such statue was ever there, and the whole story is a gross falsehood. But let me quote a little further from this lecture, continuing on page 81: “Q. What does a Master’s lodge represent? A. The sanctum sanctorum, or holy of holies of King Solomon’s Temple. Q. How long was the temple building? A. Seven years; during which it rained in the day-time, that the workmen might not be obstructed in their labor.” This is a likely story! Is there anything of this kind in the Bible? And does any one believe that a miracle of this kind could have been wrought without having been recorded in the Bible? But, again: “Q. What supported the temple? A. Fourteen hundred and fifty-three columns, and two thousand one hundred and six pilasters, all hewn from the finest Parian marble.” Where did they get this? Again: “Q. What further supported it? A. Three grand columns or pillars. Q. What were they called? A. Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty. Q. What did they represent? A. The pillar of Wisdom represented Solomon, king of Israel, whose wisdom contrived the mighty fabric.” But the Bible represents Solomon as having received the whole plan of the temple from David, who received it directly from God. Solomon never contrived the building at all. 1 Chron. xxviii, 11, 12, 20. Again, on page 82, we have the following: “Q. How many constitute a Master’s lodge? A. Three Master Masons. Q. Where did they usually meet? A. In the sanctum sanctorum, or holy of holies of King Solomon’s Temple.” Now this misrepresentation is kept up; and in the work of making a Master Mason they make the lodge represent the Most Holy place in King Solomon’s Temple. A masonic lodge in the Most Holy place of King Solomon’s Temple! What an absurd, unscriptural, and ridiculous representation is this! And yet this is seriously taught to the candidate whenever a Master Mason is made. But, again, this whole representation in regard to Hiram Abiff is utterly false. If any one will examine the fourth chapter of 2 Chronicles, he will see that Hiram Abiff finished the work for which he was employed; and so far as we can get any light from the Bible, he must have lived till after the temple was finished. Where and when he died we know not, as he no doubt returned to Hiram, King of Tyre, who sent him to assist Solomon. But that he died in the manner represented by Freemasons, that he was buried in a grave six feet deep, and raised upon the five points of fellowship, that he was then buried again under the Most Holy place of King Solomon’s Temple, and a marble monument erected in the Most Holy place to his memory, is a glaring falsehood. Again, Masonry teaches that the Master’s word could only be given by three persons, standing in a peculiar attitude, and each one repeating one of its syllables. That this word was known at the time by only three persons, Solomon, Hiram, king of Tyre, and Hiram Abiff; and that, consequently, when Hiram was killed the word was lost, as they were under oath never to give it except in that particular manner. Now, in the Royal Arch Degree, Masonry professes to give an account of the manner in which that word was received. Some men, it is said, were employed in digging about the temple, and discovered a stone, which proved to be the key-stone of an arch covering a vault deep under ground, constructed, as it is said, by Hiram Abiff, in which they found the Ark of the Covenant. On pp. 78, 79, of Richardson’s “Monitor of Freemasonry” we have their explanation of this pretended discovery as follows: On p. 79. “Principal Sojourner. Most Excellent, in pursuance to your orders, we repaired to the secret vault and let down one of our companions. The sun at this time was at its meridian hight, the rays of which enabled him to discover a small box or chest standing on a pedestal, curiously wrought and overlaid with gold. . . . We have brought this chest up for the examination of the Grand Council. High Priest [looking with surprise at the Ark].—Companion King, this is the Ark of the Covenant of God. King [looking at it].—It is undoubtedly the true Ark of the Covenant, Most Excellent. High Priest [taking the187Ark]—Let us open it, and see what valuable treasure it may contain. [Opens the Ark, and takes out a book.] High Priest to the King.—Companion, here is a very ancient looking book. What can it be? Let us read it. [Reads the first three verses of the first chapter of Genesis.]” After reading several other passages the High Priest says: “This is a book of the law—long lost, but now found. Holiness to the Lord! [He repeats this twice.] King.—A book of the law—long lost, but now found. Holiness to the Lord! [Scribe repeats the same.] High Priest to Candidates.—You now see that the world is indebted to Masonry for the preservation of this sacred volume. Had it not been for the wisdom and precaution of our ancient brethren, this, the only remaining copy of the law, would have been destroyed at the destruction of Jerusalem.” After several further misrepresentations, on p. 79, we have the following: “Looking again into the Ark, the High Priest takes out four pieces of paper, which he examines closely, consults with the king and scribe, and then puts them together so as to show a key to the ineffable characters of this degree. After examining the key, he proceeds to read by the aid of it the characters on the four sides of the Ark. High Priest reading first side: Deposited in the year three thousand. Second side: By Solomon king of Israel. Third side: Hiram, king of Tyre, and Hiram Abiff. Fourth side: For the good of Masonry generally, but the Jewish nation in particular.” If any one will consult the ceremonies just as they occur, and as they are recorded by Richardson, he will see to what an extent the candidate is misinformed and deceived in this degree. And the same in substance may be learned from “Light on Masonry.” Now, observe, Masonry teaches in this most solemn manner that in Solomon’s time the Ark of the Covenant, with its sacred contents, was buried in a vault by Solomon and the two Hirams. Solomon was only the third king of Israel. And when did he have this Ark buried? Did it not stand in the Most Holy place during his own reign? Was not the Ark of the Covenant, with its sacred contents, in the Most Holy place in the temple after Solomon’s day? What reader of the Bible does not know that this representation of Masonry is false? Again, the candidate is also falsely taught that the world is indebted to Masonry for preserving the book of the law; that but for this discovery of the Ark with its contents in that vault, no book of the law would have been preserved, as this was the only copy in existence. But this, again, is utterly false. Masonry teaches that, but for the discovery of this volume, the Bible would have been lost at the destruction of Jerusalem. But there is no truth in this; for copies had been multiplied before the first, and still further multiplied before the last, destruction of Jerusalem. The following examples I extract from Prof. Morgan’s report: “It is alleged that, in consequence of the murder of Hiram Abiff, a particular keystone failed of its designation; but that Solomon caused search to be made for it, when it was found by means of certain initial letters which Hiram had employed as a mark. These letters were the initials of the English words, Hiram, Tyrian, widow’s son sent to King Solomon. These initial letters are now employed as the mark of the Mark Master’s Degree. Masons sometimes wear a seal or trinket with these letters on it. I have seen them exhibited in a picture of a seal or badge in a widely-circulated Masonic manual. Here we have Hiram, who never could have known one word of English—the English language not existing till thousands of years after his time—employing the initials of eight English words as his mark. And, in honor of his employing them, Mark Masters display them as their mark, and thus display the ignorance or imposture of their craft.” Another alleged historical fact is given in Richardson’s “Monitor of Freemasonry,” p. 155—the Gold Plate story. “In the ceremonies connected with the degree of ‘Grand Elect, Perfect, and Sublime Mason,’ the Master says: ‘I will now give you the true pronunciation of the name of the Deity as revealed to Enoch; and he engraved the letters composing it on a triangular plate of gold, which was hidden for many ages in the bowels of the earth and lost to mankind. The mysterious words which you receive in the preceding degrees are all so many corruptions of the true name of God which was engraved on the triangle of Enoch. In this engraving the vowel points are so arranged as to give the pronunciation thus: YOWHO. This word, when thus pronounced, is called the Ineffable Word, which cannot be altered as other words are; and the degrees are called, on this account, Ineffable Degrees. This word, you will recollect, was not found until after the death of Hiram Abiff; consequently, the word engraved by him on the Ark is not the true name of God.’ ‘Here we have a most ridiculous piece of imposture, more than parallel with the gold-plate imposture of Mormonism. Every Hebrew scholar of the most moderate attainments knows that the vowel points, here alleged to have been used by Enoch before the flood, did not even exist till six or eight centuries after the birth of Christ. Besides, the merest smatterer in Hebrew, with very little thought, would know that the name of God could not, by any proper arrangement of vowels, be pronounced in this way. ‘The story could impose only on the grossest ignorance or most careless inconsiderateness.’ To quote all that is scandalously false in its teaching and pretensions would be to quote these books almost entire. We hear professed Christians, and even ministers, claiming that Freemasonry enables them to better understand the Bible. Can it be that they are so ignorant as to believe this? But this is often urged as an inducement to join the lodge. Indeed Masonry claims that, to this day, none but Freemasons know even the true name of God. After Enoch’s day, the Divine name was unknown until recovered by Freemasons in the days of Solomon, and that this true name of God is preserved by them as a Masonic secret. Of course, all others are worshiping they know not what. So, this is Masonic benevolence and piety, to conceal from all but their craft the name of the true God. How wise and benevolent Freemasonry is! I wonder how many ministers of the gospel are engaged in keeping this secret! They only, of all ministers, know the true name of God, and have joined a conspiracy to conceal it from all but Masons!—C. G. FINNEY, in N. Y. Independent. WILL YOU BE HELPED?
By Jos. Clarke
Some of the brethren in railroading their way to the camp-meeting were carelessly carried some two miles beyond the place where they should have been left, and they had to plod their way back, on foot, in the dusk of evening; passing a bridge all open, stepping from timber to timber, over a deep ravine. All but one of the number walked over it with comparative ease; but this one, being unpracticed, was too timid to venture, and tried to get around; but this was more dangerous still. He knew not what to do, and laid down his bundle. The brethren, seeing his difficulty, came back. One took his satchel, two others took hold, one of his right, the other of his left hand, and kindly and courageously addressing him, essayed to lead him across. The thing seemed impossible to the timorous traveler; but nerving himself, he thought, I will try it if I fall in the attempt; and so, holding his teeth tightly together, he crossed, quickly and safely, not only this, but a second one, still more difficult to walk upon; but it was only with a strong and determined will, and the help of his fellows, that he overcame a dizzy faintness in so doing. I have thought to moralize a little upon this incident. The Christian comes to a difficulty in life. He cannot overcome it. He stops, and tries to go around it; but he cannot—the way around is still more precarious. He lays down his burden. His brethren and good angels come to his rescue. He hesitates. It is too dangerous. He finally sees that his brethren are too much in haste to wait. What will he do? Already his kind brother has shouldered his bundle, and has passed half way across the bridge. He nerves himself. He says, These are good angels; they are kind brethren; if I die in the attempt, it will be better than to die a deserter, a victim of fear. I will let these good brethren lead me. He overcomes. Again he comes to a like difficulty. He is half broken in. His brethren know what to do. They lead him safely across. What if he had doggedly, sullenly refused to be led? had gone back? Brethren, let us go on with the body. If we faint, let us be willing to be led. Soon we will not need so much help, if we are willing to learn how to overcome. “But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” The reverse of this declaration is, If ye be not led of the Spirit, ye are under the law. If the phrase, under the law, means condemned by the law as its transgressors, there is no difficulty in understanding the text. Those who are led of the Spirit are forgiven their transgressions, through faith and obedience, and are thus released from condemnation, while the others are not, the law still holding them under its just condemnation, and demanding the execution of the penalty. But if it means that those who are led of the Spirit are under no obligation to keep the precepts of the law, while those who are not led of the Spirit are, we come to the strange conclusion that common sinners are held to moral duties that Christians are not; and consequently if the former fulfil their obligations, they will exhibit a better character than the latter! This puts me in mind of an expression I once heard. A friend was complaining of the unjust dealing of certain professed Christians, and contrasting with it the fair and upright dealing of some who made no profession. Said he, “I have sometimes thought that sinners were the best Christians!” Those dishonest Christians probably held that they were not under law, but under grace. R. F. C. THE BLESSING.
By F. C. Ross
“BLESSED is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.” These words spoken so long ago, by the angel, and clothed with obscurity, now seem covered with light. The sacred pages have gathered brightness. Like Aaron’s rod, if I may use the expression, they have budded, blossomed, and brought forth fruit. Hath the Lord spoken, and shall he not do it? The words of our Saviour seem to have a significance here: “Blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.” The beloved Daniel inquired diligently. He earnestly sought of God that he might understand the vision; but it was said to him, “Go thy way, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.” This blessing was reserved for us, “upon whom the ends of the world are come.” The vision has been opened. Light has sprung up. The blessing has come down. He that runs, may read. Our eyes have seen it, and our ears have heard proclaimed with a loud voice the near coming of our dear Saviour. “Prepare ye the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.” Is my robe clean and spotless? or shall I be ashamed in that day, without one word to offer in my defense? Prepare me, gracious God, to stand before thy face. F. C. ROSS. WHO ARE JEWS?
By W. S. Foote
It is not uncommon for the enemies of truth to call the law of God an “old Jewish law,” and those, “Jews,” who are, through divine grace, striving to fear God, and keep his commandments. When the saints first have a view of “the bride,” or heavenly city, I wonder if any of them will call it an “old Jewish city,” and turn away from it with contempt; There will be seen upon its foundations the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, who were Jews; and upon the gates of it, will be seen inscribed the names of the twelve tribes of Israel; and those who are permitted to enter the city, will see there the prophets and apostles of the Lamb, who were all Jews; also, the glorious Light of the city, the Redeemer, by whom we must be saved, and be a Jew. All who enter there will be “the children of Abraham.” Gal. iii, 7. I am not ashamed of the name. Lord help us to become Jews inwardly, the true Israel. The following description of the moral condition of our country, from the Evening Mail, presents not a very hopeful picture except to those who are waiting for the consolation of Israel, who know that there will be no moral improvement in this state of things, and that all that remains, is for earth to fill up her cup of iniquity, and be destroyed, preparatory to the setting up of God’s kingdom of righteousness and peace. Since this is the only way through to that condition of things for which the whole creation now groans and travails, we can only say, Let the moral leprosy develop itself; let iniquity prevail; let sin and crime hold high carnival, and the sooner accomplish the remainder of their short career; and oh! let the eternal days of purity and glory soon be ushered in. Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. The Mail says:— It is a startling thing to reflect that the nation derives its greatest income from a tax on whisky; that gold is creeping up higher and higher day by day, just in proportion as our foreign trade increases, which consists almost entirely of an importation of luxuries which we should learn to do without; that there is no such thing as public integrity or official honor; that most of our books and newspapers are trash, unfit to read; that heartless fashion and vain display are the ruling sentiments of the day. A people which allows such a state of things to continue, is doomed to destruction. Nothing but a radical change in each individual, will save the nation. Already we see the elements of our own destruction daily increasing in our midst—the decay of the native population of New England; the increase of celibacy; the light regard in which public integrity is held; the frightful blight of intemperance, sweeping to the grave the highest and the lowest; the frequency of divorces; the general dishonesty which prevails.” “Nothing,” says this writer, “but a radical change in each individual, will save the nation.” Now we ask, Can the most sanguine, even those intoxicated with the idea of a temporal millennium, suppose that there ever will be a radical change wrought in one-fifth, one-tenth, one-twentieth, or even one-fiftieth, part of this nation? Then on this authority, where is the hope of this country? There is only one hope which is not doomed to disappointment, and that is the hope that is built on God’s word, and which looks to the coming dispensation alone for the better state of things. [SINCE Bro. White left for the western camp-meeting, we have received from him the following line, which may have been intended for a private note; but as it will be of interest to all the readers of the REVIEW, we give it.] Bro. Smith: In an hour after we left you and the friends at Battle Creek, the excitement of packing up and getting on the train passed away, and we found ourselves very weary. These visits to Battle Creek, where we find so much to do in a short time, are wearing to brain and nerve. If frequently made, and attended with so much labor, our work will be quite as wearing as if we were located near where we could perform a more temperate amount of work each day. We reached Chicago at 8 in the evening, and stopped at the Massasoit House, near the Great Union Depot. I called for a retired, well-ventilated room, and good bed, and found as good as we ever occupied, and at reasonable cost. We never slept better at a hotel, and are refreshed. We are now passing the open prairie, in full speed, toward the place of meeting. The day is fine. The sun is shining brightly, and the cool breeze comes in at the open window as I write. Its refreshing influence is in wide contrast with the fire-heated air in yesterday's car, which made us all faint and languid. When good air is so cheap, and so necessary to life and health, what a shame that car-travelers must be deprived of it. I find in this car a widowed lady of middle age, from Ohio, with her son and daughter, who has often entertained my brother that is a Methodist minister in that State. Our conversation has been agreeable. I have given her tracts, and wish I had a copy of Life Incidents for her. I have handed each of the children a copy of “Little Will,” the sweetest little book for children ever in print; and they are all reading. A lady living at Morrison, Ill., by some reason learning that we were to stop there, made such inquiries of Bro. Andrews as led him to state that we were going to camp-meeting near her place. He has invited her to attend, giving her books. While I write, she is reading. I question the propriety of going through the cars, and handing our tracts to all. But the close, discerning observer will find in every car, more or less who will gratefully receive our tracts, and will converse candidly upon important points of Bible truth. This is a delightful field of labor. How pleasantly and swiftly pass the otherwise tedious hours of travel. In our haste in leaving you, we did not take a full supply of tracts and books to give to fellow-passengers. This is often the case with us, and we as often resolve to take more the next time. JAMES WHITE.