The Signs of the Times, vol. 11

October 15, 1885

“Tributes to the Bible” The Signs of the Times, 11, 39.

E. J. Waggoner

Quite frequently we have received articles which contain quotations from some eminent men, perhaps an infidel, who has been compelled to testify to the simplicity and beautiful consistency of the Bible, and of the Christian religion. At almost regular intervals we see such tributes in certain religious journalists, prominent among these tributes being Napoleon Bonaparte’s testimony concerning our Lord, which he gave while on the island of St. Helena. SITI October 15, 1885, page 617.1

Perhaps some of our readers may have noticed the absence of such quotations from the columns of the SIGNS. There is a reason why they do not appear. That is, we do not believe that the Bible stands in any need of such tributes, or that it gains anything from them. Says Paul, “And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.” Hebrews 7:7. Therefore for men to give their solemn indorsement of the Bible and of Jesus Christ, is a reversal of the correct order of things. Especially is this so when those men are, or have been as long as they had opportunity, notoriously wicked men. If the Bible commends a man, it is the highest honor that can be given to human kind; it is more than all else in the world, and all that any man needs. To have any man commend the Bible, adds not one whit to its authenticity or force; and to quote such commendation seems to us to be ridiculous. SITI October 15, 1885, page 617.2

Further than this, we do not believe that the Bible needs to be “defended.” Even if it did need to be defended, who shall defend it? Is it not rather turning things around to speak of a man defending the Bible? May it not be truly said of the Bible: “For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall”? Is it proper to speak of defending that from which we derive our sustenance, and upon which we depend for our lives? SITI October 15, 1885, page 617.3

The Bible is abundantly able to defend itself. We may expound it, and draw from the depths the wonderful truths which alone are capable of overthrowing error, but that is simply letting the Bible speak for itself. All the arguments that can be drawn from outside sources to meet the assaults of skepticism, are worthless when compared with a plain statement of some Bible doctrine. When the most profound argument in proof of the divine origin of the Bible have utterly failed to convert an infidel from the error of his ways, a clear exposition of the prophecies, and that the teaching of the Bible on the nature of man, the fate of the wicked, and the reward of the righteous, have often proved successful. And we will here say that if this latter method will not cause an infidel to see the folly of his position, no other method need be tried. SITI October 15, 1885, page 617.4

Said Jesus: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth shall be damned.” That is all. “Preach the word.” Let the light from the sacred word shine forth in all its clearness, and the word which is “quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow,” will surely convict every soul that is not hopelessly entangled in the snares of Satan. That word carries with it its own defense; it bears the indorsement of heaven. To those who will not accept it entirely, there is but one alternative. SITI October 15, 1885, page 617.5

“The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord. Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” Jeremiah 23:29, 29. E. J. W. SITI October 15, 1885, page 617.6

“One Cause of Unbelief” The Signs of the Times, 11, 39.

E. J. Waggoner

A long letter has just been receivedhat this office, from a man in the State of New York. We have not read the letter, and do not know that we shall find time to read it before the holiday vacation, but we have read a part of the first page. We gather from what we have read, that the writer has some views on the Bible which differ from those of his brethren. Now we do not wish to discourage investigation, or to shut out new light, yet we consider ourselves justified in condemning this writer’s views without reading them. Perhaps if we quote a part only of what we have read it, the reader will not charge us with making a hasty decision. Here it is:- SITI October 15, 1885, page 617.7

“I will first try and tell you the reason why I have not exactly agreed with the church; I shall by the Lord’s help try to tell the truth.1. Because most of them, and especially the rulers, have, as I have yjought, slighted me,” etc. SITI October 15, 1885, page 617.8

We have no need to read further. We have heard his story dozens of times. “My brethren have slighted meet, therefore I cannot agree with them in points of faith.” We meet a man whom we used to know as a brother, and learn that he has left the church, and renounced his profession. What is the reason? “Well, brother—did not use me well, and the rest of them got to thinking that they were better than I; so I left.” Brother A or Elder B has slighted me, therefore I do not believe that “the seventh day is the Sabbath.” I think my brethren feel above me, therefore it is evident to my mind that the Bible is not true. Is not that profound logic? Yet it is the only basis there is for a large portion of the turning away from the faith. SITI October 15, 1885, page 617.9

The first case of an apostasy for such a cause was that of Satan. He felt slighted, and therefore he would not accept the fundamental truth that God is Supreme Governor. And whenever we hear people preface their objections with the statement, “I have been slighted,” we naturally think that they are actuated by some of the same spirit which caused the great rebellion in heaven. Such persons have cause to tremble lest their case becomes as hopeless as that of the first grumbler. SITI October 15, 1885, page 617.10

When people begin to imagine that they are slighted, and are not rated according to their abilities, they may be sure that they are thinking of themselves more highly than they ought to think. Their brethren, no doubt, have not changed their behavior toward them, and rate them at their true worth. It is very seldom that a man’s opinion of himself is more correct than that of all his brethren. But whether the slight be real or fancied, it is certainly the lamest excuse for unbelief that was ever invented; and when any man wants us to give a hearing to his new ideas, he must not make, as a cause for holding them, the statement that he has been slighted by the church. E. J. W. SITI October 15, 1885, page 617.11