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Introduction
143
of the immortal state should eclipse the most brilliant displays of
spiritual power and knowledge ever manifested in this mortal state
.
The objection founded upon
2 Timothy 3:16
, which some have
gravely presented, deserves no more than a passing remark. If paul,
in saying that the scriptures are to make the man of God perfect,
thoroughly furnished unto all good works, meant that nothing more
should be written by inspiration, why was he at that moment adding
to those scriptures? At least why did he not drop the pen as soon as
that sentence was written? And why did john, thirty years afterward,
write the book of revelation? This book contains another text
[137]
which is quoted to prove the abolition of spiritual gifts
.
“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the
prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God
shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if
any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy,
God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the
holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
Reve-
lation 22:18, 19
.
From this text it is claimed that God, who at sundry times and in
divers manners spake in time past to the fathers by the prophets, and,
in the commencement of the gospel day, by Jesus and his apostles,
has hereby solemnly promised never to communicate anything more
to man in that way. Therefore all prophesying after this date must
be false. This, it is said, closes the canon of inspiration. If so, why
did john write his gospel after his return from patmos to ephesus? In
doing so did he add to the words of the prophecy of that book written
in the isle of patmos? It is evident, from the text, that the caution
against adding to, or taking from, refers not to the Bible as we have
the volume compiled, but to the separate book of revelation, as it
came from the hand of the apostle. Yet no man has a right to add to,
or subtract from, any other book written by inspiration of God. Did
john, in writing the book of revelation, add anything to the book of
Daniel’s prophecy? Not at all. A prophet has no right to alter the
word of God. But the visions of john corroborate those of Daniel
and give much additional light upon the subjects there introduced. I
conclude, then, that the Lord has not bound himself to keep silence,
but is still at liberty to speak. Ever be it the language of my heart,
speak, Lord, through whom thou wilt; thy servant heareth
.