THE REMNANT OF ISRAEL
Page Seven
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THE CHALLENGER CHALLENGED
AN EDITORIAL FROM “THE WATCHMAN"
Clarcnee Darrow, veteran eriminal lawyer, says:
“there is neither purrosze in existence nor a goal in
living. If we knew where we were going, we could
pick out the road. But so far as science, philosophy,
or history can throw any light on the subject, we are
not going anywhere and there's no purpose. . . . You
can make nothing else of man but man. Selfish. moan,
aggressive, tyrannical, prejudiced; that’s what man
is, and a lot more. It is absolutely hopeless to change
men; I don't care how much environment you give
him. Heredity and not environment shapes the
human race.”
It is true that neither science, philosophy, nor
secular history projects a spotlight that pierces the
mystery at the end of the road of life.
It is true that to the godless philosopher there is
no solving of the riddle of the universe, and for him
there is no sublime purpose in it all.
It is true that unregenerate man will ever La but
“man,” with a lot of unlovely traits, inherited ov
cultivated, that have a most distressnig way of show-
ing themselves at intervals.
It is true that you cannot change degraded, sin-
befouled man by environment. A pig in a parlor is
a pig withal, and the parlor will soon become a sty.
It is also true that heredity, unless counteracted
by higher forces, shapes the human race with relent-
less hand.
But it is not true that man’s prospect is hopeless
and impossible of change. There is a power outside
and above man, even the creating, converting power
of God, that has changed and still does change the
lives of men who have even touchad bottom. Thous-
ands of cases are on record, with transformations so
marked that even a lawyer must admit the evidence.
It is not true that life is an aimless tramp through
the mire of purposcless events, Life is the scaftolding
upon: which we build for eternity. It is a period of
test for the development of character. There is a
divine purpose for cvery life. and a grand objective
toward which the whole creation moves.
Neither is it true that there is no light that illum-
inates the goal at the end of the road. The Bible is
an unguenchable “lamp.” lighting life's path from
cradle to grave, and its prophecies are mighty seavch-
lights piercing the darkness of the future and
disclosing the goal of human exisience.
Mr. Darrow, with all your keenness of intellect
and vour forensic brilliance, your major premise is
defective and vour conclusion therefore fals2. You
have left out God, Ilis revealed word and will, His
transforming power, and His redemptive love and
mercy. God is the missing factor in your great
equation.”
INFALLIBLE INTERPRETERS.
G. G. Rupert.
(Continued from page 3).
Eighth. God has placed in that church by his
own appointment those whom He alone has called {or
teaching men what the Word says. Again we quote,
“Consider whet I say and the Lord give thee under-
standing in all things<.” Man teaches whet the word
says, calling our attention to the comments of each
writer of the Bible. The understanding comes from
the Mord. Says the beloved John as he wrote under
the influence of the spirit, “Ye have an unction from
the Holy One, and ye know «ll things.” Again he
cays, “But the anointing which ve have recoived of -
him abideth in vou and ve need not that any man may
teach you; but as the same anointing ieacheth yon of
all things ts truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath
taught you, ye shall abide in him.” 1 John 2:27,
Thus there are two teachers of men, once the man
who teaches the word, the other the Holy Spirit which
gives the understanding of the word. This shuts out
all private interpretations and cleims of the so-called
authority of men over men. This teaching of the
spirit appeals to crery individual as the only one to
impart knowledge on the word. That forever ends
all this supposed authority or organizations on earth.
Again we read how the Spirit and the Word are
to be united in the search for truth. Says the apostle,
“Comparing spiritual things with that which is spiri-
tual” “The word is spirit and it is life.” Thus com-
paring the word, with the word is what that teaches.
1 Cor. 27:15.
Says the apostle, “He that is spiritual is judged
by no man.” This teaches me that no man is amen-
able to others regarding his faith and understanding
of the word of God. Here is what the Master said
when here:
“If ve love me, keep my commandments.
“And 1 will pray the Father, and he shall give
vou another Comforter, that he may abide with you
forever;
“Liven the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot
receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth
him; but ye know him; for he dwelleth with vou and
shall be in vou.
“I will not leave you comfortless: 1 will come
to vou.