KINGDOM AND AGE TO COME.
“Earnestly contend for the Faith, which was once delivered to the Saints.”—Jude
Volume 1—Number 1 (January 1851)
Since 1834 the Editor of this paper has published eleven or twelve volumes of periodical numbers. Six were styled the “Apostolic Advocate,” one “The Investigator,” and five the “Herald of the Future Age.” The first of these was to advocate what he then supposed to be the doctrine of the Apostles, under the impression that the New Testament, as expounded by certain writers, was a sufficient rule or measure of faith and practice. He therefore called it the “Apostolic Advocate.” But in process of time he perceived that this impression was not made upon his mind by the scriptures of truth. From the study of these he discovered that the measure of a man’s faith was exceedingly defective which did not embrace an intelligent belief of the Old Testament as well. The words of the Apostle to the Gentiles sounded in his ears, that he testified to the people and their rulers, “saying, none other things than those which the Prophets and Moses did say should come,” Acts 26: 22. It was evident, therefore, from this and numerous other passages which might be quoted, that a christian should know and believe the things that God had spoken to the Fathers of Israel by the Prophets. Under this conviction he applied himself to the study of them, and proceeded to call the attention of his readers to them also. Thus the interpretation of the sure word of prophecy was superadded to the advocacy of what was supposed to be the Apostles’ doctrine. This was an advance which seemed to indicate the propriety of amplifying the title of the paper; and it was accordingly named “The Apostolic Advocate and Prophetic Interpreter.”
In 1839 the last volume of the Advocate was concluded. Having removed to the North-West, to a country which was being filled up with raw materials from all parts of the Union, and the British Isles, the Editor thought that the state of things there at that time rather demanded investigation of what existed than the especial advocacy of what he then believed. Whether this were a correct view of the nature of things or not, he acted upon it, and in recommencing his literary labours he styled his paper “The Investigator.” The country, however, was too new, its population was too much engaged in “subduing and replenishing the earth,” for examination of the high and important matters pertaining to things unseen and eternal. The Editor was, therefore, removed from this place to another, where spiritual ideas command more attention and respect. The mission of the Investigator came to an end, but the Editor still survived.
A few months after the Apostolic Advocate was commenced, the Editor was entangled in divers controversies. The principle he had set out upon was to “prove all things and to hold fast that which was good.” He supposed that the spirit as well as the letter of this apostolic precept was the honest and ingenuous policy of the ecclesiastical community with which he found himself associated by the force of circumstances. Perhaps these circumstances expressed the will of God, who had thus placed him there for his trial and preparation for some future work. He learned patience and obedience by the things which he suffered; and acquired an experience which could be purchased only by endurance. He found that he was at liberty to “prove all things” provided that he held fast only what the rulers allowed to be good. This was setting up a mere human standard of faith and practice, a substituting their views of truth for the truth itself, which was certainly not the meaning of the precept, and therefore could not be submitted to by those who aspired to the liberty of the Sons of God. The manifestation of this disposition to arbitrate with despotic authority in the community—to say, “thus far shalt thou go and no farther”—originated within its pale a diversity of opinion in the premises which predisposed to the examination of principles which might lead to a difference of faith and practice.
The principle which first turned up as the result of proving all things, was that the immersion of an individual whose “faith” was not the faith of the gospel was a valueless immersion—it was not christian baptism. This principle has been a leading one, implied if not expressed, in all the Editor’s teaching from 1834 to 1850. From this he has never swerved, and cannot possibly depart so long as reason holds her own. Out of this principle grew another, namely, that a knowledge of the truth acquired subsequently to such an immersion did not convert it into obedience of the gospel or christian baptism. These principles were warmly opposed by the rulers. At first some of them reasoned, but their reasonings proving weak and their position untenable, they changed their tactics, and resorted to denunciation and to attacks upon character. This only widened the breach and rendered highly improbable a restoration of unity among the old materials of the sect.
But to return to the principles. While they were maintained by the Editor and others, they were advocated under the supposition that the faith of the gospel consisted in believing in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, in his death for sin, his burial, and resurrection, and that “baptism was for remission of sins.” They did not then perceive that these things did not constitute the faith of the gospel, although some of them are unquestionably items of the mystery of the gospel. “Baptism for remission of sins” was then proclaimed throughout the land as the “Ancient Gospel” to all who should repent and believe that Jesus was the Christ. Many of the leaders in this proclamation had been preachers in the Baptist denomination, who, when this “Ancient Gospel” was first propounded to them, violently and acrimoniously opposed it. It was obvious then that when they were immersed they were, if not ignorant at least entirely faithless of it. But afterwards they ceased their opposition, and declared that they believed that faith in Jesus as the Christ and remission of sins by baptism were the gospel, and so they continued to preach. Now the two principles stated above became to these people so many thorns in their flesh; for they resolved their immersion into a mere introduction into the Baptist body instead of a putting on of Christ by union to his name. They therefore turned upon the Editor, saying in effect, “Forbear, for in teaching these things thou condemnest us also!” This, however, was a trifling consideration; for he had assumed the position that the truth must be spoken, maintained and defended, though all might be condemned including himself. This position he has consistently and perseveringly maintained for years, and is prepared to uphold it to the end of the chapter.
Shortly after the controversy about the scriptural foundation of immersion commenced, the Editor propounded certain questions for examination without affirming his belief in any of them. Among these were some bearing upon the subject of immortality. No sooner were these announced than the rulers seized upon them as a kind of godsend. They declared that they were not simply inquiries, but bona fide articles of faith—a creed to which he proposed to convert their community. They raised a great dust, hoping, doubtless, thereby to obscure the real question at issue about the two principles. But good very often is educed from present evil. It was so in the case before us. The clamor and attacks made by the rulers compelled the Editor to study the subject of immortality so that he might be able to state the truth concerning it, and to defend it from assaults on every side. The result was that he discovered for himself that immortality is a good thing, which like all other good things to come is promised to the righteous, and to them alone.
This hope of immortality raised the question when will this hope be realised? He saw clearly that it was not at death, but at the resurrection of the righteous from among the dead. This resurrection then was a great epoch in the future history of the world, and the commencement of an era of wonders upon the earth. It was introductory in truth to an Age and Dispensation in which the “exceeding great and precious promises of God” would be realised by all the saints. The scripture testimony of these things created in his mind a hope which looked beyond the resurrection epoch, and contemplated a kingdom, glory, and dominion under which all nations should be blessed. This economy is styled by the Apostle “the Age to come,” Ephesians 1: 21, or the Future Age. Of this age the Lord Jesus is the Founder, and therefore he is styled by the prophet “the Father of the Everlasting Age,” which being an age of undisturbed repose confers upon Him the honourable and glorious title of “the Prince of Peace.”
To advocate the claims of this age upon the faith and hope of his contemporaries, the Editor recommenced his literary labours, and bestowed upon the periodical devoted to it the name of the “Herald of the Future Age.” He was the more induced to designate it by this title because he believed that the Age was at hand or fast approaching. If he had thought that it was far off he would not have styled it the “Herald” of that age. He believed then as he believes now, that it was near, even at the doors; he therefore heralded forth that announcement though upon different principles from “the cry” that was then sounding throughout the land. That cry as a question of time has been shown by events to have been discordant with the word; the truth of the advent, however, has not been at all affected by the mistake. The word of the Lord lives and abides forever, and though men may err in their interpretations, the declaration of his will standeth firm that all things here shall be subjected to his dominion, so that “his will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
From 1834 to ’46 or ’47 the Editor had been bringing out and advocating great and important truths. During this period every effort had been made by the rulers to prevent their discussion and to turn away the ears of the people. But the Editor was bound to persevere although discouragements obtained pre-eminence on every side. He advocated the truths because he believed them to be true; and because all truth that God has condescended to reveal in his word is worthy of being known, and when known is calculated to soften the heart, and improve the dispositions of men. At that time he would not have said that the knowledge and belief of them was indispensable to a participation of the everlasting blessings of the age to come. He had not the testimony before his mind to justify such a conclusion; consequently could not venture to affirm it. But in process of time he came to see that they were the gospel in ruins—its integral parts lying as the fragments of a wreck all around. Having made this discovery he proceeded to rebuild the fabric—to bring the dismembered elements together, and to set them forth as one harmonious whole.
His faith had now attained an amplitude it had not possessed before. It embraced the hope of God’s calling to his kingdom and glory in the name of Jesus as the future Lord and sovereign of the world. He now perceived what the faith of the gospel was that was necessary to constitute an immersion christian baptism. It was nothing less than the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and name of Jesus as the Christ; and he discovered accordingly that if a man would inherit that kingdom he must believe with an honest and good heart the things concerning it. It was not simply a Future Age of glory, but it was “a kingdom, glory, and dominion” in that age with “honour and immortality” that were the glad tidings of “the truth as it is in Jesus.” To become a joint-heir with him of this kingdom the Editor was immersed in 1847. Having thus obeyed the gospel himself, he forthwith commenced its announcement to others in the United States, and afterwards in Britain. Thousands upon thousands have heard the joyful sound during the two years that are past; and if it be God’s will that it should be still further proclaimed in these States the Editor holds himself in readiness to do it to the full extent of the means afforded him.
Having returned from Europe for this purpose, he begins this work by the issue of the “Herald of the Kingdom and Age to Come.” As the things of the Kingdom of God and of his Anointed will be the great theme of this periodical, he has amplified the title of the former work. The “Future Age” and the “Age to Come” signify the same thing; he has therefore for the sake of euphony adopted the latter phrase as a substitute for the former, and inserted “the Kingdom” before it. This is the great fact of the Age to Come, and the promise made to the fathers, the hope of Israel, and the faith of all believing Gentiles, who are not highminded and too wise in their own conceit to learn. The kingdom has become the topic of the present age which cannot be set aside. The acceptance or rejection of the doctrine concerning it will determine the destiny of every man that hears it; for it is the subject of the gospel by which we all must be saved.
Thus from the beginning to the present time progress has marked the Editor’s career. There has been no vacillation with him. He has not professed and recanted, and professed again, not knowing his own mind for two successive moons together. Though hampered for want of means to carry on efficiently the work in which he has been engaged these seventeen years, he has never sold his birthright for a mess of pottage. Such “grains of sense” as these he has inherited from none. He has proved by his works his faith, and when his traducers can do the same, he will cheerfully yield to them the palm of equal disinterestedness with himself.
THE HERALD OF THE KINGDOM AND AGE TO COME may be considered as the organ of all those, be they many or few, whose hope the kingdom is. The Editor is their humble servant for the truth’s sake. When they can find another who will serve them in that truth more patiently, perseveringly, and self-denyingly, he will readily give place to such an one, and retire into that obscurity which is far more congenial to his feelings and habits than a notoriety which exposes him to the rancor and ill will of the rulers of the present darkness, and of those who do their will. Till then, however, it is to be hoped that they will bestir themselves, and not allow his efficiency to be cramped by a parsimony of which the world itself would be ashamed. Much can be done with a little as he has proved; but the armies of the aliens cannot be effectually encountered if the locker be entirely destitute of shot. A word to the wise is enough.
