SEPTEMBER 1, 1901 we sometimes say, “I see God’s hand in this.” And again, we are informed that “all flesh shall see the salvation of ZION’S WATCH TOWER (291-292) God." And agam. * Look unto me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth.” Vou. XAIT A writer in the Advance facetiously points out the antagonism between the Bible and its true friends on the one side, and the Higher Crities on the other. But he does not secm to realize that the followers of these higher critics are in most of the pulpits and im the most influential pews of Christendom:—that the seeret of the prevalent skepticism and indifferenee of professing Christians is doubt. It is not the loud and foul-mouthed infidelity of a century ago: but much more insidious and dangerous. because it has a “form of godliness’—much more deceptive to such as are sincere truth-seckers. The writer savs:— “Bevond any question some unknown writer gathered up the legends of his time and used them to deseribe a hero, whom he named Abraham <A later writer used the same levends, but he ealled his hero Isaac. Without doubt all these stories were invented to account for the supremacy of Israel over Edom.” So said a Rev. Dr. in his ‘lecture’ to some fifty ladies of Tas chureh a few days since—in a Coneregatronal church not far from Boston! At the close of the leeture, among others this question was asked: ‘Doctor, do you believe that any such persons as Abraham and Isaac ever lived” ‘Well, [ don’t know,’ rephed the Doctor. ‘It is quite possible that persons bearing those names have lived, but probably these names represent nations or tribes. I should sav thit the weight of best modern scholarship is against the theory, that any such persons as Abraham end Isaac actually lived?” Beme from the baekwoods and not familiar with the “best modern scholarship.’ IT was wont to exclaim, “Such knowledge is too wonderful fer me: it is high, I cannot attain unto it!” What a pity that Isainsh could not have heard a course of lectures ike these before he prophesied! Then he would have heen spared the mortification of making such a reference as we find in lis propheey—Chanter 41:8: “But thou, Israel, att ma servant. Jacob whom T have chosen, the seed of Abraham omy frend And another blunder worse than the first: “Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare vou for TP ealled him alone. and blessed him and increased ham't But af may be that Cthe best modern scholarship” will discover. af indeed at has not already proven, that no such prophet as Tsueh ever prophesied or jived even; This would do much in cleaing the way tor a solid foundation for our faith’ It 1. a great pity also that Matthew could not have heard or read a tew leetures concerning the “higher eriticism” before he wrote lus book. for he would have omitted the first chapter which has decorved so mans ignorant souls since his time! A great many people have lived in tones past and “fell on sleep” beheving thit in some way Jesus was descended from Abrahom! Abas whet ignorance! Why could not the wise men of the East have discovered this new knowledge ages ago? Moreover, what help it would have been to Jesus if he could have known the * last word of our best modein seholatship!” He would not have been deceived, nor would he have deceived others ly quoting trom those “old legends,” as He did im Matt. 22°32: "DT am the God of Abiaham, and the Ged ot Isaae, and the God of Jacob!” Nor would He have said: “Lor father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it and was elad. | say unto vou before Abraham was I am” John $ 56. 58. Then think of the unfortunate Stephen! Had he only known the results of “the best modern scholarsInp’ he never would bave spoken as he did in Aets 7:5—and co might bave saved dus lifet lf he was ignorant or so foolish as to rehearse as true a lot of “legends” about people Who never lived, whys should not the multitude gnash on him with their teeth. stop their ears, 1un upon hm with one accord, cast him out of the city and stone him to death! James too was deceived and quoted as a fact a passage from those same “old levends”; Jas, 2°23, But the most deluded of all those poor, ignorant men, who lived and worked im the first century was Paul! How unhappy be must be even in heaven (if there is any heaven), if he now knows the “last word of best modern scholarship!” lis ignotance first appears im quoting the same “old legend” that fooled James in his letter to the Galatians—3:6. He repeats the myth in his letter to the Romans—4:1-4. But worse than this, in the ninth chapter he digs up and palms off ALLEGHENY, PA., SEPTEMBER 15, 1901 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER No. 18 onto the innocent and unsuspecting Romans a whole string of “legends!” Ah me! Four years of preaching and working does not seem to have brought any more light into his benighted mind! for then he wrote that strange epistle to the Hebrews! Who ean read the eleventh chapter of that epistle in the light of “the best modern scholarship,” with any degree of allowance for the ignorant writer? Poor Pault—To think of the sermons written and spoken from the “legends” quoted by Paul in that chapter 1s enough to give a man spiritual nightmare! And the preachers have believed those stories to be true, and so have deceived their flocks. “The blind leading the blind!” These deluded preachers have cited Abraham for an example of faith, living, saving faith, lo, these centuries past! And yet Abraham uever lived! To buttiess their sermons on prayer, these same preachers have quoted again and again Abraham's petitions as found in the “legends” recorded in Gen. 15, 17 and 18! What a debt of gratitude we owe to the “higher criticism,” that our eves have been opened and that with the very beginning of this glad new century “the best modern scholarship” haa brushed away the myths and “legends” of the ages and given u- a ‘new theology” founded upon the latest researches of * the higher criticism!” * * * The scrious feature of the matter is, that Chistian people in general are but “babes” as respects a knowledge of God's Word, and hence liable to lose their little all of faith: cspecially when the doubts are suggested by their leaders. tc whom they have been taught to look too implicitly for guidance in matters of faith. The Word of God clearly shows us that so meat a falling away from the faith 1s to be expected here, in the end of the age, as will justify our Master’s words,——“When the Son ot Man cometh [is present] shall he find faith on the eaith*’ (Luke 8 18) These ae the “perilous times” mentioned by the Apostle, and of whose deceptions our Lord said,—‘“If it were possible [if they were not divinely aided] the very clect would be misled by them.”"—Matt. 24:24, compare 2 Thes 2°10-12; 2 Tim, 3:1-5. The only safe-guard for the Lord’s people now is the “present truth? with which the Lord is so bountifully supplying the “table” of his fully consecrated people. God has so arranged the outward evidences respecting the Bible that the world and all who have the spirit of the world can find plenty to cavil at and stumble over. The Lord’s intention was and still is that only from the inside can Ins Word and plan be seen in their true beauty and strength. He intends it to be “sufficient, that the man of God may he thoroughly furnished unto every good work” But who are genuinely men of God, 1s the question. The difficulty is that many professing to be men of God are men of their own—not couscerated and many of the consecrated are consecrated to a particular work or theory or sect instead of to God. Now the “hour of trial” has come which will show the real standing of cack one professing godliness. God is now making it quite possible for every “man of God” to be thoroughly furnished fully equipped, at the same time that he 1s permittiay the \dversary to bring in error like a flood.—Isa, 28-2, 18-20, 59 19 In view of these conditions let all whose eves ate open, al. who see where we are and what is coming, be alert tust tor themselves that they may be of the “brethren” who will see and be delivered, by giving the more carnest heed to the things which God has shown us, lest we let them slip: and secondly, for all who give any evidence of being “brethren,” to assist them as much as Heth in us. Thus we may make our own calling and election sure, and minister grace to all with whom we come in contact.—2 Pet. 1:10; Mph. 4 29 THE OUTLOOK—WAR AND PROSPERITY As our readers are aware, we credit the prosperity of the world during the past three years very largely to their wars, which have put hundreds of millions of dollars into mreulation among the people, and stimulated manufacturing, shipbuilding, ete., at a cost of an increase of public debts, which, being put into the shape of negotiable bonds, is practically an increase in the world’s circulating medium—moncy. Our principal reason for looking for a further period of [2875]
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