Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 15, 1860
ETERNAL LIFE.
By A. Lanphear
To them who by patient continuance in well doing, seek for glory and honor and immortality; [God will render] eternal life.
Patience is a calm and undisturbed temper with which a good man bears the troubles peculiar to this life; being convinced that they are best for him, and calculated to prepare him for that which he hopes beyond all his troubles. It signifies unreserved submission to God in times of trouble and afflictions of this life, enduring them without repining on account of the certain possession of the glory which shall be hereafter revealed.
The word eternal is used to teach us the nature of the punishment of the wicked who live and die in sin. It is called eternal damnation, and the vengeance of eternal fire, because they will die never to live again, and be punished with destruction, which shall prevent their ever being restored to life and favor, being as though they had not been.
Men tell us that man naturally possesses immortality; that the soul, that is, the real man is immortal and cannot die. God's word tells us that man is mortal, and if we would have immortality we must seek for it. If the popular doctrine of man's immortality is true, was not Paul unreasonable in exhorting us to seek for that which we already have? And was not the prophet mistaken when he said, "The soul that sinneth it shall die?" or the apostle, in saying, "The wages of sin is death?"
I think it is Dr. Adam Clarke who says that the soul will exist as long as God endures, ever blooming in the paradise of God, or eternally writhing, not dying, in the regions of despair. Which is right, man's word or God's word? I think it is best and safest for us to believe that God's word is true, though every man be found a liar. Then let us instead of trusting in the traditions of men for eternal life, take the admonition of Paul and seek for glory, honor, immortality and eternal life. Yes, eternal life! Who would not have it if it can be had by seeking for it?
O, how much is contained in the expression, I will give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish.
We cannot have eternal life here, for when man transgressed, God drove him out of paradise and placed a flaming sword to guard the tree of life, lest he should partake and live forever. Here we behold the wondrous goodness and love of God. If Adam had been permitted to partake of the tree of life after he had transgressed, he would no doubt with all his posterity, have been immortal and lived forever in the same condition that was brought upon him by the fall. In sorrow and by the sweat of his face would he eat bread to-day, to-morrow, and forever. But blessed be God for the glorious promise spoken of by all the holy prophets, that there should be a restitution of all things. Yes, glory to God, paradise will be restored. The flaming sword will be taken away from guarding the tree of life, and all that overcome will be permitted to partake of it and live forever. This will be when the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom and possess it forever. And the beloved city of our God will be there as the great metropolis or capital of the kingdom. And the city will not need the light of the sun, neither of the moon; for the glory of God will lighten it, and the Lamb will be the light thereof.
This kingdom is drawing near, when we shall see the tree of life, growing and shining forth in its glory and beauty, and the redeemed of the Lord will eat of its delightful fruit; and not only this, but they will drink of that river that makes glad the city of our God. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have a right to the tree of life, and enter in through the gates into the city.
Then, dear reader, come to Jesus who hath the words of eternal life. Come one, come all. The Spirit and the Bride say, come. And let him that heareth say, come. And let him that is athirst, come. And whosoever will, may come and partake of the water of life freely. Would you not have a dwelling there? Would you not have an inheritance in the land of promise? He whose goings forth have been from old, from the days of eternity, from everlasting, will dwell there! Jesus in all his glory will be there. Would you be there? Then seek for glory, honor, immortality and eternal life. It is your privilege to take the kingdom and possess it forever. O, will you hear the voice of the living God as he speaks to you through the prophets and apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, and live forever? or will you turn away from him who speaks from heaven, and heed not the voice of him who spake as never man spake? He speaks to us through the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom that is now being proclaimed to a dying world.
The prophet says, Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the land tremble for the day of Jehovah cometh, for it is near at hand.
Again, Behold the day cometh that shall burn as an oven, and all the proud, yea and all that do wickedly shall be stubble, and the day that cometh shall burn them up saith the Lord of hosts, &c. In Prov. we read, Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed, but he that heareth the commandment shall be rewarded. Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed. What is the word? The apostle says, "Thy word is truth." Yes the word of the Lord is truth. And what does that word say to us who live down here in the time of the end? The word has been spoken to us through the proclamation of the first angel's message, saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give glory to him for the hour of his judgment is come, &c. O how many have scorned and despised that message, but still it is the word of the Lord. Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed. The second message has also been proclaimed and is in the past; and the Lord is now speaking to us through the proclamation of the third angel's message, saying with a loud voice, 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, &c. Here is the patience of the saints, here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
The Lord is indeed speaking to us. The alarm is being given. His voice is being heard. The day of the eternal deliverance of the saints of the Most High—the destruction of the wicked is fast approaching. We are looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire, shall be dissolved and the elements shall melt with fervent heat.130Nevertheless we according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. O, sinner seek for glory and honor, not the glory and honor of this world, for they all perish with the using.
Men go to war and fight and kill and devour each other in battle to obtain the honor and glory of men. The hero of many battles is applauded by the high and noble of earth, but soon their glory is departed; it passes away like the morning dew. But if we seek and obtain the honor and glory of God, it will be an enduring substance, joy unspeakable and full of glory.
We must not only seek for honor and glory, but also for immortality; for immortality is the gift of God through our Lord Jesus Christ. And he will freely give it to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for it. We shall not have it now, but he will give us the earnest of the Spirit witnessing with our spirit that we are the children of God, and if children then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ to a rich inheritance which the righteous Judge will give us at the resurrection of the just, when this mortal shall put on immortality. And then the saying will be brought to pass, Death is swallowed up in victory, O death where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory? Then, and not till then, shall we have our reward; and then there will be a glorious light bursting forth from the eternal throne of God. Jesus will come in all the refulgent glory with which the Father has caused him to be clothed. Then the saints will possess the kingdom. Then indeed they will have glory, honor and immortality, eternal life. Yes, eternal life! What a glorious boon! Eternal life! What a royal gift! Only such a one as could be given by him and him alone, who said, Let there be light and there was light. Eternal life! What a rich inheritance! Even the glory, the righteousness of Jehovah, God of Israel. Who would not have it? It is freely offered to all, and will be given to all who by patient continuance in well doing, seek, &c. And it will be given in the day of the revelation of Jesus Christ. In that day the sacred doors of Paradise are thrown wide open. The flaming sword will fall beneath the wondrous gift; the tree of life is in full view, and all the redeemed will freely pluck and eat, and live forever. They will enter their long lost Eden. The glorious gift is now theirs, even eternal life! O, let it be written upon our hearts in letters of living fire, Eternal life! And let all the full creation, the glad chorus join, till the vast echo fills the realms of space. Hosannah, hallelujah! Praise the Lord. Eternal life in the kingdom of our God! Glorious thought! Who is able to go up and possess it? All those who by patient continuance seek for glory, honor and immortality.
A little longer we must patiently wait till our Redeemer comes. The time is near. Who of us is ready? The bright glories of the eternal world will soon be revealed. We shall, if faithful, soon see the King in his beauty. The glorious end to the Christian is at hand. The time long looked for by the prophets of old. The time of casting out that old serpent the Devil; when it shall be said, Now is come salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ. O blessed day! Day of restitution of all things. But a day of trouble to the wicked, such as there never was since there was a nation. Day of Jehovah's wrath. Day of deep mourning and weeping. The sinners in Zion will be afraid; fearfulness will surprise the hypocrites. The day of Jehovah's vengeance, the year of recompense for the controversy of Zion. But Zion shall be redeemed with judgment and her converts with righteousness. For whoso findeth me, findeth life, and shall obtain favor of Jehovah.
Now is the gathering time. The remnant people of God are being gathered, under the proclamation of the third angel's message, getting ready to receive the promised and purchased possession. And O my friends, none but the pure and holy will possess it. Therefore we would say, Live holy lives. Let your thoughts be holy. Walk in holiness and love.
"Therefore beloved seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also being led away by the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to whom be glory ever more. Amen."
A. LANPHEAR.
Nile, N. Y.
THE DELIVERER.
ARISE! the kingdom is at hand,
The King is drawing nigh;
Arise with joy, thou faithful band,
To meet the Lord most high!
Ye Christians, hasten forth,
With holy ardors greet your King,
And glad hosannas to him sing;
Naught else your love is worth.
Look up, ye drooping hearts, to-day!
The King is very near.
Oh! cast your griefs and fears away,
For, lo! your help is here;
And comfort rich and sweet
In many a place for us is stored,
Where, in his sacraments and word,
Our Saviour we can meet.
Look up, ye souls weighed down with care;
The Sovereign is not far.
Look up, faint hearts, from your despair;
Behold the Morning Star!
The Lord is with us now,
Who shall the sinking spirit feed
With strength and comfort at its need,
To whom e'en death shall bow.
Hope, oh ye broken hearts, at last!
The King comes on in might;
He loved us in the ages past
When we sat wrapped in night;
Now are our sorrows o'er,
And fear and wrath to joy give place,
Since God hath made us, in his grace,
His children evermore.
Oh! rich the gifts thou bringest us,
Thyself made poor and weak;
Oh love beyond compare, that thus
Can foes and sinners seek!
For this to thee alone
We raise on high a gladsome voice,
And evermore with thanks rejoice
Before thy glorious throne.
THE EARLY AND LATTER RAIN.
By Francis Gould
BE patient therefore brethren unto the coming of the Lord. Behold the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth and hath long patience for it until he receive the early and latter rain. James v, 7.
The apostle in the above text, takes a figure or a similitude from the natural world to explain spiritual things. We know by observation, and especially by revelation, that it is requisite in the order and economy of God, that there should be an early and latter rain for the germination, growth, and perfection of the precious fruit of the earth. "And it shall come to pass if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, that I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain, and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn and thy wine and thine oil. Deut. xi, 13, 14. "Neither say they in their heart, let us now fear the Lord our God that giveth rain, both the former and the latter in his season." Jer. v, 24. "Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord; his going forth is prepared as the morning, and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and the former rain unto the earth." Hos. vi, 3.
To apply the figure, we learn that the church of God is to be visited with two general outpourings of God's holy Spirit which constitute the early and latter rain. We read in Matt. xxii, that a certain king made a marriage for his son and sent forth his servants saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready; Come unto the marriage. This dinner was the last call to the Jews. 1st by John the Baptist, 2nd by Jesus Christ, 3rd by the apostles. The Jews as a body, rejected this call to the dinner. There were a few however that took heed to the warning. "He came unto his own, and his own received him not; but as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believed on his name." John i, 11, 12. The church was led out step by step until they were fully prepared to receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost (the early rain), which took place on the day of pentecost.
Again in the xivth chapter of Luke there is a great supper brought to view; and at supper time there was a servant sent out to say to them that were bidden, Come, for all things are now ready. We understand that supper time is near the close of the day, and the last meal of the day. We believe it to be the last call to the Gentiles near the end of the gospel dispensation. There are three calls to the great supper corresponding with the three angels messages of Rev. xiv. Two calls have been made and passed away, and the third is now being made. The Gentiles as a body have rejected the invitation; but a few have taken heed to the last warning note and have been led out step by step, and are following in the track the Saviour has marked out, and will soon be prepared to receive the latter rain which will ripen them off for the great harvest and prepare them for translation. Says Peter, Repent therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and he shall send Jesus Christ which before was preached unto you whom the heavens must receive until the time of restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. Acts iii, 19-21.
Here is a glorious restitution promised. Christ told his disciples that Elias should come and restore all things. John the Baptist came in the spirit and power of Elias to make ready a people prepared for the Lord; but he was to come again. When? Just before the great and notable day of the Lord. Says the prophet "Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord, and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers." Mal. iv, 5, 6. This prophecy is fulfilled by the servants of God who are going forth in the spirit and power of Elias (or Elijah) to gather out a people from the world that shall receive the refreshing from the presence of the Lord and stand on mount Zion.
My mind glances back to the primitive church, where God's holy law was honored and revered, and the gifts were all in lively exercise. The doctrines and traditions of men had no place then in the church of God, but the mystery of iniquity had already begun in the days of Paul. The Man of sin, the Son of perdition was to practice and prosper, and cast down the truth to the ground for 1260 years. It thought to change times and laws. But thank God a brighter day is now arising on the church. "She cometh up from the wilderness leaning upon her beloved." "She looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun and terrible as an army with banners." Arise shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. Put on thy strength O Zion, thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem.
Again, God's truth will be restored. The question may arise in the mind of some what this truth is? The prophet Ezekiel speaking of a certain class of people, says, "Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things; they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they showed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them." Eze. xxii, 26. But the prophet Isaiah speaks of a certain class that shall be called the repairers of the breach, the restorer of paths to dwell in.
This life and death question occupies a conspicuous place in this restoration. The gifts of the gospel church which have been so long trodden down will take their place in the church, which will prepare her to be presented before the Father without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. The same rain that ripens the wheat for the garner ripens the tares to be burned. The separating line is being drawn. The broad road that leads to death is fast filling up. Into the narrow way that leads to life the saints are pressing, and will soon hear the welcome sound, "Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb." FRANCIS GOULD.
East Brookfield, Vt.
TRIALS.
By Jos. Clarke
SOME very dear brethren and sisters, seem to have many trials. You can hardly tell what their trials are. Go to their houses, they have food and clothing, fuel, books, they have the Review and Instructor, and best of all, the Bible, and a multitude of blessings; they can pray, and Jesus answers their prayers, and often sends them his Spirit; yet after all, they are always whining about their trials; if they exhort they always refer to their trials, and they weep freely when they speak of them; and they wind up with a rhetorical flourish, something like a complaint.
Now I like to sympathize with brethren and sisters in their trials, but this blind way of speaking of them does not seem quite pleasant.
If we ask for sympathy, we should state plainly the trial so that relief may be given if possible; and if the trial is a mere bugbear, as many trials are, we might dissipate the cloud by the use of a few grains of common sense mixed in a solution of courage.
Trials! Look at what warriors have endured in order to win a name; see what Regulus endured for love of his country; and shall the Christian complain when he is in view, as it were, of the celestial city? Shame on such childish Christians who faint at the rustling of a leaf. Trials! Indeed! What? have you yet been laid upon the rack until every joint has been excruciatingly agonized? Have you been yet with Jeremiah in the low dungeon, in the deep mire? But what! Oh, some one has spoken ill of you, has basely slandered you, or you have been in some way led into temptation, and131baffled yourself until the hot blood rose to your temples and the mortification was severe, surely. Now dear brother test yourself. Did you ever when thinking of Jesus' sufferings while he was here on the earth, feel as deeply moved as when suffering yourself from these little trials?
Oh what selfishness! What pity for poor self! I, O I have such trials! Now just try an experiment, O tried one; just say nothing about your trials, think no more of them, think, speak and pray as though your trials were nothing in the world; praise the goodness of God, and when trials come, compare them with the wounds Jesus received when the nails were driven through his blessed hands and feet; compare the vile slander of the enemy with the contempt he endured in Herod's judgment hall; or compare your little trials with that of Stephen, who was stoned to death for his faithfulness; or with those martyrs who were sawn asunder, and in every way malice could invent, tormented and slain.
If we are going to talk about trials, let us wait until trials come, and ever hold our hearts out for the clear sunshine of peace and love. Count afflictions light, not to be spoken of, compared with that eternal weight of glory in store for the righteous.
JOS. CLARKE.
LOVE YOUR ENEMIES.
By J. D. Hillis
MATTHEW V, 44, 45. "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you, that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven."
Christ has also said, "Ye are the salt of the earth." As the property of salt is to keep, and preserve pure all which comes in contact with it, so the influence of Christians will to a great extent control the actions and shape the course of their unconverted friends and neighbors; yes and even your enemies may be brought to a saving knowledge of the blessed Redeemer, by the influence of a meek and lovely spirit, the cultivation of a forbearing disposition before them. "Ye are the light of the world." As light is designed to shed its brilliant rays all around, so will your religious influence and gospel light manifest its power with an irresistible influence upon all within the circle of your acquaintance; even your enemies will forcibly feel its effects.
Christian brethren, do you love your enemies? If so, how? By saying all manner of evil against them, and hating them with all your heart, willing to reject them from your society? That Saviour whom you worship never did so. He took the opposite course, setting a better example, saying, "Bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you." Brethren do you as Christians follow these instructions given by the great Redeemer himself? If not what better are we as a church than Babylon? For observation teaches us that but few in the nominal churches live up to the rule laid down by Christ any better than those of the world. In these latter days it is very difficult to know who are true Christians by their common intercourse with men. While those calling themselves Christians live and act so much like the children of the world, is it any wonder that it is so hard to distinguish one from the other.
We should not only love the brethren, but we should love our enemies as Christ has instructed us. Hold them up in your prayers before God and pray him to bring them to a saving knowledge of his redeeming love, that they may be saved from everlasting destruction.
Do you know of an individual that hates you? Christ says in plain and positive language, Do good unto him. Then if you know of any way for you to do good, how dwells the love of God in you if you fail to do it?
"Avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath; for it is written vengeance is mine; I will repay saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger feed him; if he thirst give him drink; for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head." Rom. xii, 19, 20. Strive to live the life of a Christian as well as to sing, talk, pray and preach it; then others observing your upright course, may be brought in with you to enjoy the consolation and reward of christianity.
"Pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you." Brethren, many of you are scoffed at and buffeted; are hissed at, having the finger of scorn pointed at you; are cast off by your former friends who were near to you by Christian ties, as well as by the ties of nature. Many used to walk hand in hand with you through all the social and rural walks of life, as warm hearted friends; but how is it now since you have embraced the third angel's message, these glorious and heavenly truths? Are you forsaken by former friends and despitefully used by many of your neighbors; rejected and persecuted by your relatives? Remember Christ says, Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven; and blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake; rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven. God will take care of you if you live in obedience to his holy laws. It is God who says, Love your enemies, and this is one of his requirements. And the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil; and who is he that will harm you if ye be the followers of that which is good? But if ye suffer for righteousness' sake happy are ye; and be not afraid of their terror neither be troubled. Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. 1 Pet. iii, 12-15. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian let him not be ashamed [chap. iv, 16], but let him greatly rejoice on account of it, for the reward is said to be "an exceeding and eternal weight of glory." It is something for which Christians should be willing to make great sacrifices, and suffer much persecution. "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God; and if it first begin at us what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God; and if the righteous scarcely be saved where shall the ungodly and sinner appear?" 1 Pet. iv, 17, 18. They never can receive that great reward of glory unless they seek for immortality and eternal life through the sufferings, death, and atonement of Christ; for which, dear brethren and sisters let us fervently pray, and use all the means of godliness in our power. And unto godliness we should add brotherly kindness, charity, &c.; and if we fail to do this we "are blind and cannot see afar off," and perhaps have forgotten that we were purged from our sins. Strive for the mastery over your sins, cultivate within you a principle of love; for love worketh no ill to his neighbor, for it is of God; and every one that loveth his brother is born of God. "If we love one another, God dwelleth in us; for God is love;" but if we say we love God, and hate our brother we are guilty of falsehood according to the word of God; for we know that if we love God we love our brother also. Then if we love our brother, we should also love our enemies, to carry out the doctrine taught in the word of God.
Christ says, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, pray for them, &c." Perhaps you will ask, what profit shall we have if we love our enemies and pray for them? Much every way; but Christ answers the question and says, "That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven." Then it would seem that we have great honor in being sons and daughters of our heavenly Father, who is King of kings and Lord of lords.
Now brethren we are not in darkness, but in gospel light with the word of God in our hands as a guide and compass pointing us to our home in heaven where the care-worn and weary pilgrims shall forever rest from their toils and cease from their labors. Let us closely observe the pointing of our compass and follow its directions with joy and delight, heed its sure admonitions, trust in God, and at last receive our great reward when we shall "meet in our home in heaven."
Brethren, pray for us here in the far west.
J. D. HILLIS.
Pleasantville, Iowa, March 1860.
The Wise Believer’s Devotion
A wise believer observes God in all, looks to God through all, goes to God with all, trusts God for all, loves God above all, and honors God more than all: do you aim at this?
BALKING.
By Jos. Clarke
The horse is a noble animal and ministers both to the pride and necessities of man. All he can do (and more if possible), will he do for his master. But like almost everything else on this fallen earth, the horse has his vices; and occasionally we find one that has the miserable habit of stopping just where he pleases, and there he stands, or rather plants himself like some stubborn oak, perhaps at the foot of some steep hill, or half way up, or in some slough, or in some deep ford, swift running and cold, or when great haste is required. He stops perhaps at the stable door; you leave him in despair and away you run on foot, while the horse for which you paid your eight gold eagles, pets his balky temper at the spot he himself chose (not you), and there he will stand until the sharper to whom you have now sold your nag for eight dimes, arrives and by some magical art makes the animal perfectly tractable until he has traded him for some good worker, when back the animal apostatizes to his balky habits again under his less skillful owner. There is no radical, perfect cure for this miserable habit. Do what you will your horse may relapse at any time into this fatal habit.
'Tis a miserable trick; better kick or bite or run away; better rear or shy or be unruly, or blind or deaf or lame or clumsy; nothing spoils a horse like balking; it is his ruin. I don't care if the horse is swift as the wind, and strong as iron, and perfect otherwise, if he occasionally balks I don't want him; he is not worth the taxes you pay upon him; you will not take him as a gift.
So there are some who get into the church, and get also into some trouble perhaps; some trial as they call it, and as it becomes onerous they remember the old adage, 'the last feather breaks the camel's back,' and blasphemously applying the said maxim, they stop short and forgetting the burden of 'the patience of the saints,' they in sulky mood withdraw from their brethren, and think to cultivate the Christian graces alone, in solitary dignity, and in sorrowful, significant silence, they think to perhaps terrify their poor brethren or something else which they cannot define.
Worst of all, this balky spirit is contagious. When it once enters, it seems as if some balky evil spirit enters too, and soon as one balky brother is either cured or transferred, another is attacked with the same disorder and few, very few ever are perfectly cured. Alas for the patient!
Sometimes we find it in children and then is the time to root it out. Parents watch closely against this vice ere it is rooted in the heart. Brother or sister are you plagued with this miserable, sulky, God-provoking malady? Do overcome it. Indeed it is fatal to your happiness; fatal especially to your usefulness; and remember that the higher your station, the more baneful the habit, the more extensive the evil influence of religious balking.
A steady, straight forward course of right doing is the right way. Forward, 'forward march,' never halt except for rest or at the master's call. Forward brethren! As Bro. Taber has said, let every day count one in our march.
Jos. CLARKE.
"IN THE HEART OF THE EARTH."
A CORRESPONDENT inquires how the Saviour could be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth, if he was crucified on Friday and rose on Sunday morning. There is a difference of opinion concerning the time of Christ's crucifixion; some placing it so far back in the week as to have three full days and nights intervene between that event and the resurrection. We do not bring up this subject here for discussion, but merely propose to give our views concerning it, for the sake of several who have solicited them.
1. We consider it a settled point that the Saviour was crucified on the sixth day of the week; for it was "the day before the Sabbath." Mark xv, 42. That the Sabbath here brought to view was the weekly Sabbath, we conclude from the fact that it is elsewhere twice mentioned in connection with the scenes of the crucifixion and the day immediately following it is said to be the "first day of the week." Thus Matthew says, "In the end of the Sabbath as it began to dawn towards the first day of the week;" and Mark records, "When the Sabbath was past, very early in the morning, the first day of the week." Matt. xxviii, 1; Mark xvi, 1, 2. And Luke, also, after stating that the women returned from the sepulchre, and rested the Sabbath-day according to the commandment, "which is an incidental though irrefutable proof that the original Sabbath is binding in this dispensation, brings to view the first day of the week as the very next day following. Luke xxiii, 56; xxiv, 1. We also conclude from certain allusions, that the passover sabbath, and the weekly Sabbath, came together on that occasion. We are plainly told in Jno. xix, 14, that the preparation (that is, the day before the Sabbath, Mark xv, 42) was the "preparation of the passover;" and in verse 31 of the same chapter it is said that "that sabbath was a high day;" both of which passages are most naturally explained on the ground that the passover and weekly Sabbaths came together.
2. Christ many times declared that he should be slain and rise again the third day. He showed his disciples how he must be killed, and rise again the third day." Matt. xvi, 21. "They shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. Chap. xvii, 28. The same statement is also found in Matt. xx, 19; Mark ix, 31; x, 34; Luke ix, 22; xviii, 33; xxiv, 7, 46; 1 Cor. xv, 4. And after the event had transpired the disciples as they journeyed to Emmaus testified to the truthfulness of all these declarations, when they said, "But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel; and besides all this, today is the third day since these things were done." Luke xxiv, 21. Here then we find eleven positive declarations that the resurrection should and did take place the third day after the crucifixion; and these declarations cannot be harmonized with the supposition that three full days and nights elapsed between those events. But,
3. It is once said that the Saviour should be "three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" [Matt. xii, 40], and twice [Mark viii, 31; Matt. xxvii, 63] that he should rise "after three days;" and how can these declarations be harmonized with the above? We answer that according to Jewish usage there is no discrepancy. Had there been any, his Jewish persecutors, ever watchful to catch him in his words and raise objections to his claims, would have discovered it, and urged it against him. But nothing of this kind was done; for by an idiom with which they were familiar, the unrestricted expression, three days and three nights, might be applied to any period which embraced only parts of such days and nights. The Old Testament furnishes quite a number of examples where events said to occupy three days, or continue till after three days, consumed but a portion of the third day. We need only refer to the following: Gen. xlii, 17, 18. "And he put them altogether into ward three days. And Joseph said unto them the third day," &c. In 2 Chron. x, 5 we read that Rehoboam said unto Israel, "Come again unto me after three days; but verse 12 informs us that "Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king bade." Again, queen Esther commanded the Jews to fast three days; but on the third day she put on royal apparel and went into the king's presence. Esther iv, 16; v, 1, 2. Thus it is evident that a part of a day was often put for the whole. For further satisfaction on this subject, Dr. Clarke refers the reader to Whitby, Wakefield, and Lightfoot.
The subject may then be summed up as follows: 1. Christ was crucified the day before the Sabbath, which was Friday. 2. He repeatedly affirmed that he would rise the third day, as he accordingly did, on the first day of the week, after the Sabbath. 3. The expressions, "three days and three nights," and "after three days," according to Jewish usage may be applied to periods of time covering only a part of the first and third of those days.