Newspapers / Zion’s Landmarks (Wilson, N.C.) / March 15, 1876, edition 1 / Page 7
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i ■r- t -j Zion’s Landmark: Wilson, N. C. ir they do have a [)hysical freedom to violate God’s law, and if they can do BO witiiout n)Ueh remorse of con silience,) because the conscience is likewise de[>ravt*d) siiil they can nev er rightfully expec't to annul the sen tence ofileath, nor escape final pun ishment unless mercy interposes.— The day of retribution is sure to come. Whenever a son of Adam es- cii{)cs physical death, and lives forev er on tiiis earth without pain or sor row, he tlien may claim that he can do as he ph ases Just after the Hood the whole pop ulation were of one language, and «?eemed to l>e of one mind—namely, to build a higli tower, in onler to prevent their dispersion throughout the earth. This was imagining a vain thing, because the command of Gol was that they were to replenish the earth. The purpose, it would seem was, that the entire earth should be peoph'fl and subdued. This vain imagination of the people was to pre vent tills. Theiviore they begati to tnaimfaciure bricks, and to build.— Why did they not use stone ? It was wrong to build at all however. They bad great .streiigtli, fiir they were all of one language and perhaps of one {uind. God confounds their language, and they h'ave off to build, This check of God effectually dispersed them and stopped the building.— Th ere was such confusion that none could give a command, and none ojuld understand one. Such confus ion wliocver beheld ! Tlie v rv sten y tliey tiok to prevent their disporsifm 11 1...- ten seek to frustrate tlie pur[)ose *»f God, blithe makes the svrath of man to piaise him, an! restrain' the re mainder of wrath, remembering mer cy. Joseph’s brethren so'd him of envy and meant it for evil, hut God meant it for good. Men are wicKed in their devices, hut when God gives them rcpeniance • they glorify him; for all his works are clean and holy’ in tlieir eyes then, and their owm works are vile. Behold with what M'icked hands the murderers of Christ put him to death, but see how bless ed and gracious and holy God ap pears to them when lie grants them repentance on the day of Pentecost; although God had determined liefore band that Christ should die for the sins of otliers, and that he who knew no .'in should be made siii f>r us. Here we see that men are divided into nations, families and tongues : see the chapter preceding this one— Gen. 10 : 5, 20, 32. God’s jiidg nients are a great deep, and furnish one of the profoiindest themes for the trembling meditation of a Christian, and also for his joyful, thankful con templation. Hisjudgmeiits .areriglit- ’eofjs when they save only Lot and bis from Sodom, and when he con founds the language of proud man. Babel is eminently figurative of Babylon. It was fjuiuled in the land of Shinar and re.sted on its own base. Shinar is the ancient land of Babylon, a kingdom founded hv Nim rod, a graiid.sou of Ham, who gazed with pleasure on his father's sliame and nakedness in his druiikennes.s, while his righteous brothei*s, Shera *iid JapheUi, sorrowed over their fa ther'd nakednaw ai>d oovored him.— A vile man loves to sec another’s nakedness, or mean conduct, and glo ries in wickedness, while agodly man hates to see or even hear such things once mentioned. Nimrod, a son of accursed Ham,becomes a mighty hun ter, or conqueror, and founds a king dom in the land of Shinar, and this is Babylon. Jt is here that the peo ple begin to buil 1 this ambitious tower that sliall reach to heaven and make them a name. This is charac teristic of fal.se religion. These builders of false systems of religion all liave one mind ; that is, that they' can build a tower tha* can reach to heaven. All men by nature think they can do some good thing by’ wliidi they’ can inherit eternal life, and they are disposed to build up their liopes of .salvation thus. Tlie buildei's, too, make their own mate rial. They inanufaeture their converts of earth, like bricks, instead of choos ing aiid using the living stones of di vine creation, '['hey slumhle aI.so at the stiimhliiig .stone and rock of of fence, even Jesus the chief eorner stone. They cement their lu'u.se with a poor composition or mortar—part works and part grace—a comlitioiial system of giaee and works which will not hold together. They also are anxious for great numbers, and a high tower to make themselves a name.— They are ambitious to he great and highly esteemed of men. But Babel is written on the walls. Beliold wliat eonfiision is inanifes: theii teaching! Althongii theyii‘.(. otio iv.’.Tu, laiiiTiiage is the language orCanaan, the spirituJ There was a eorru[)t Canaan, full difierent tribes of people .speaking perverse tongue-^, imt the true Canaan had a simple, truthful language giv en them. What we understand by' a confus ion of tongues here Is, that the .speech is corrupt, or not according to the word of the Lord. sSome speak one thing and some another. Some are for money’, .some for Sunday schools, some for reformation, .some for self- righteousness, and some for human learning, &c., &e , in all of which there is ennfii-icm double—confusion ill that they differ among them.selves, and in that they are all opposing the Lord. There has never been a more bitter enemy to I.srael tlian Babylon. When they can they capture Israel anti oj)- pre.‘S him. Nearly, or quite all the persecutions the church of Chri.st has ever suffered have been from fal.se re ligion. Mystery, Babylon the Great, is the mother of harlots and of abom inations of the earth. They all s,*riiig out of the vai.j imaginations of men tliat they can climb up to iieaveii on their works, or in some other way than by Christ. This is the fountain of strife and hitterness that biced. evils so numerous in the earth. What false system has not origin- atcfl in and from thi.s sea of pollution —this dead sea that breeds and mul- ti[)lies all manner of fowls and un clean birds? Here Arminianism re- caved its definite shape and 8y.stem. Here works of man were taught to be meritorious. Here sins were said to be venal. Here it was taught that nua bad the right to change the Bi ble and supplant its true ordinances, by siibstiiuting some of human in vention. For instance infant sprink ling took its rise here. Baptism was admitted to he the apostolic hihle or dinance. But .said they, sprinkling or pouring is much more convenient and decent, and will be much more acceptable to the people, and the cliurch has tlie right to substitute it, and they did it. But error shot rath er over the mark then, for it is so plain that sprinkling or |)oiiring a little water is not a burial that any one unhias.sed ean see this^ even if he is not a believer. Tiien we know that one shmiM be dead before he is fit to he buried, or slionld be a be liever before he is bajitized ; and should be buried as soon as he is (lead, and baptized as soon as he be lieves It was here that tlie modern plan of mis.'^ions originated. In all eonn- tries they went and captured the minds of men to tlieir creed. Wlirii, ill the Bible teaching, the Holy’ Spir it sepa.-ates them unto the work of preaching the goS|>el to the heathen. It was here that human learning received its .solemn sanctions, and the One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, and they are called in one hope of their call ing. Tliere is one Husband, one Bride, one Church. Whetlier while or black, rich or poor, bond or free, old or young; whether wise or fool- is'i, ignorant or learned; whether Jew or Gentile, Asiatic or American, barbarian or civilized; all fleshly, national, or worldly distinctions are forever obliterated, and they are one in Christ Jesus. There shall not even be male and female. The be ginning of the go.spel is to jiartially effect this glorious union and unity hero in them. Hence (rue christian« should and do fellowship each other h(’re, and speak one and the same things in Chi i.st Je.sus now. Hence they preach and believe one doctrine, and that the doctrine of God our Savior; and practice the good works which God has commanded, for there are no other good works. wi.'dom of the world, hoiior.s, tradi tions and .superstitions were enshrined and dedicated to religion ; thus bring ing into its folds the most heteroge neous multitude of contradictions, .so that confusion was branded on the entire.system, and the spiritual wnr- shipper looked in vain among its iia.ssive pile.s of ruohisli fijr ihfe true hii.rvl! or spirit',;a! truth. iil. t'j^^Jds and "nu? to simpCr manners and a pnrXj Tah^ gnage. The errors of man, hlis de parture from truth, his vi lations of divine law, his fondness for new But in heaven there will be the ble.ssed consummation of this spiritual unity—wliere all shall be like Christ, the eternal peace of unmixed in righteousness and life. The myste ry of iniquity will then have been finished, and each will go to his own. An eternal, all-wise and righteous separation shall be put between the sheep and the goats. Truth, as a straight line, nfever Aiiiin.s, ^ flings, his resorts to inventions of men, have introduced unnumbered means and measures that cause eon- fu.sion, and characterize them as miglity hunters and builders. But all i« confusion, or crossing tlu^ word of the I.ord. In vain do we look for .salvation from tliese liill.s. No such altars can send an acceptable .sacrifice to heaven. Tlie.se altars are stained with the blood of saints. However the glorious go.spel of peace on earth and glory to God makes crooked things straiglit, and brings peace out of confusion. It re turns a pu’e language to Israel and gives a new t'lngue and gives all a new amj pure speech and the same speech. It gives one mind and lu^art to all. It gives the same language and tongue to all. I have not a par ticle of doubt that so far as God teaches men tliey perfectly agree.— Cliristians differ only on such things as the Lord has not taught them.— Where God teaclies there is great jieace and fellowsiiip, because he teaches all the same way’, and gives great peace; hut how ean there he great peace when one believes cue thing, and another another, and both differ from the truth ; or how could there be true pr-ace even if all a»-rec. while all are wrong f God’.s people are of one heart, mind and tongue, and all are taught that .salvation is of the Lord, and all ascribe it to the Lord. It is the .same righteousness that saves them all, ahd they are joinf heirs with Christ, turns, never compromises—hut error is always for compromise. It puts on the appearance of gn^at charity, and will admit abotr’ all yCiSiviairn, if yon will tolerate its claim.v. But they 1. I^rror can neve^ Jose by a compromis(>, but alway gjiiis some thing. Truth (jan never gain by a compromise, liecaus® it is already riaht. Tliere are some subscribers to the L.A.NDMARK behind, a y(*ar or more^ in their payment. Will they please let me hear from them in some way? I am needing the money. Ho they want their papers continued ? I ana disposed to give indulgence—when I can. I know tunes are hard. I hope all will send on a remittance that can and feel so disposed. I^et me hear from yon all. It is better to feel more than om can tell, than to tell more than one has felt. Though it is a great and useful gift to be able to express one's feeiing.s, and expound hard sayings, and resolve doubtful questions. Btill the work of the Lord is unspeakable and full of glory. Hence those who have been taught of the Lord desire the gift of utteraii(?e, to tell on the hous(>to|)s what has been told to then* in seoiet. He that prays to the Ixird is not. owned of men, but Gxl hears him, and the saints are in fellowship with him. In his calamity their prayer shall be for him. As one beeoiiu’s rich hi.s tciidcnty is to become avaricious. Henw, riches increase, set not your heart on them. He that prays to men, o(r to seen of men, is not heard by Lord. He has his reward, as much as lie asked for, hnt how littk ? V
Zion’s Landmarks (Wilson, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
March 15, 1876, edition 1
7
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