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ALL the perversions, innovations and corruptions of the pure and holy religion of Jesus Christ that have found way into it and disgraced it, have been introduced under some pretext of doing good—some plea of a supposed benevolent nature. In some form or other they have all claimed to have the good of the cause in view, and in some way have put up some kind of claim to divine authority. Some of them were introduced by good men, with good intentions, who saw not the evil that would follow, while others, no doubt, were introduced by “designing men.” George Fox was probably a good man, or a man of good intentions, and, when he talked of the “light within,” and tried to sustain his position by Scripture, he had no idea of the evil that would follow—much less did he design it. Though he quoted Scripture, it was not as a rule of faith and practice; not as a system of religion, nor as supreme authority, but merely to give currency to the theory he was laboring to introduce and support it in the minds of the people. The leading idea in the new theory was that the light within was the guide—the unerring rule; that it was from God, and that he who followed it was following the will of God, the influence of the Spirit. He certainly did not intend to turn the hearts of the people away from God and lead them to follow the imaginations of their own hearts. He clearly designed no such wickedness as this; but what has followed? Where has the “light within” led his followers? It has led some of them to neglect and forsake the word of God; to regard the Bible simply as a good book, a true history and guide to the people of its time, but not as an authority, a rule of faith and practice for us. It has led some of them into Spiritualism, others into Universalism, and some, more recently, into exciting revival, mourners’ bench-meetings, in which old members have been trying to “get religion,” as seekers do in Methodist and other revivals. Many of them have been led into out-and-out infidelity. This is where the “light within” has led them. Original Quakerism has virtually run out.
Numerous other bewildered people are seeking an evidence of pardon and acceptance with God directly from heaven. They are trying to find this evidence in their feelings, impressions, emotions, impulses, sensations, dreams, some sound or voice, and not in the promise of God. This direct or immediate evidence, in their view of it, is from the Spirit of God and perfectly reliable. The promise of God, with them, is the mere word, the bare word, the mere letter of Scripture. They are thus completely turned aside from the testimony of the Spirit of God, as confirmed by the most grand and awful displays of supernatural power, to their own imaginations, their own spirits, and as completely perverted as if they never had received any revelation from God.
There is no teaching of the Spirit of God among men only that found upon the pages of the Bible. Those led by the teaching of the Spirit of God spread on the pages of the Bible are led by the Spirit of God, but those not led by that teaching are not led by the Spirit of God at all. They may be led by their own spirits, desires, feelings, emotions, impressions, sensations; by men, or even the adversary, “captive at his will;” but they are not led by the Spirit nor under his influence at all. When they turn away from the teaching of the Spirit of God recorded in the Bible, it matters not much to what they turn, whether they profess to be led by the “light of nature,” so called, “the light of reason,” “the light of conscience,” the “light within,” impressions, feelings, emotions, sensations, by men, or the adversary, they turn away from God, from Christ and from the Holy Spirit. They are perfectly deluded, and, if they thus continue, they must come to ruin. God will eventually overthrow all who turn away from him, no matter to what they turn.
Men may claim to have the Spirit, to be led by the Spirit, talk about the Spirit, pray about the Spirit, sing about the Spirit, and at the same time despise the things of the Spirit, the things commanded by the Spirit, and do despite to the work of the Spirit. Such men manifestly have not the Spirit. All their claim to having the Spirit is an empty and idle pretense. They are not led by the Spirit at all, but are led in opposition to all the Spirit ever taught. Those led by the Spirit receive what the Spirit teaches, as found in Scripture, believe it and delight to follow it. It is idle for those who will not do this to be talking about the Spirit, or the influence of the Spirit.
If any man gets an immediate evidence of pardon, it is an evidence that comes not through the Mediator, for what comes through him is not immediate, but through him as a Medium, or Mediator. It is a direct revelation, not through Christ at all, and it is a new revelation. Are men receiving any new revelations now? The Mormons and Spiritualists think they are. Do others think so? We do not believe any new revelations are now being made from God. On this ground we reject all Mormon pretensions, as well as Romish pretensions and those of Spiritualists. Since the apostles died, and those on whom they laid their hands died, not a miracle has been done or a revelation from God been made. Every pretense to miracle or revelation from then till now is an empty and idle pretense—an imposition. Since John, the Apostle, closed the book of Revelation, with the declaration that, if any man shall add to it, the plagues of that book shall be added to him, there is an end of all revelation till time shall be no more.
Through Christ, God made a final revelation, to which nothing is to be added, and from which nothing is to be taken. The will of God is in that concerning man, and if we desire to know the mind of God we must consult that revelation. The restlessness of man is wonderful. He is not willing to be limited even to the revelation God has made, the testimony God has given concerning his Son, and the unfailing promise of God for assurance of acceptance with him. But this is the highest and the only assurance we have or can have, in this world. When God made the promise, that we might have strong consolation, he confirmed it by an oath. We come to God by faith and not by sight; we walk by faith and not by sight; enjoy God, and Christ and the Holy Spirit by faith and not by sight. So we enjoy the remission of sins and acceptance with God by faith and not by sight. “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved,” said the Lord, among the last words he uttered before he ascended to heaven. Men who will not rely on that promise—on the words shall be saved, or shall be pardoned—would not believe though one would rise from the dead. It is not baptism such need; it is faith. They are not fit subjects for baptism. They must remember the condition, “He that believeth.” They can not come to God without faith. “Without faith it is impossible to please him.”
BE FIRM IN THE RIGHT.
IF it is wiser to obey God than man, if an infallible law is better than a fallible, if a perfect law is better than an imperfect one, if a divine law is better than a human, if the authority of God is better than the authority of man, if the word of the Living God is better than a human creed, if the infallible teachings of inspiration are better than uninspired human creeds, if the teachings of the Holy Spirit of God are a safer guide to heaven than the teachings of erring men, if God should govern in preference to man, we are right, and our opposers wrong, on this transcendent point, and it is our duty to God and our fellow-creatures, that we maintain with manly zeal and fortitude that which is so manifestly and self-evidently the will of God. We never can falter. We have no ground to doubt or fear; but if we shrink or hesitate, it must be manifest indifference. While we hope, then, for the blessing of God upon us, and call upon God for his mercy, let us remember our fealty to him, and maintain our integrity to the day of his coming.
THE BIBLE WILL SAVE THE WORLD.
