“SO MUCH THE MORE, AS YE SEE THE DAY APPROACHING.”
By Wm. Covert
THE apostle, in Heb. 10:24-26, evidently does not mean that meetings should be held more and more frequently as we approach the end of the age, for in that case we would have been holding one continuous meeting ere this; and yet the exhortation would still be, “So much the more.” But exhortations to love and good works should be more frequent and earnest as we near the end. This cannot apply to the popular churches now in existence, for Paul says of them that they will “heap to themselves teachers having itching ears.” With such an abundant supply of preachers there will be but little demand for the exhortations of the laity. Some denominations at present are overrun with ministers to such an extent that the less talented are underbidding their more fortunate competitors in order to obtain employment. But with our people it is different. “Reapers are few, and the work is great;” and we fear that “much will be lost” by waiting. Many of our churches are left much of the time without any ministerial help, and the members are learning to “exhort one another.” Those who go through to the end will do this, and “so much the more as they see the day approaching.” From the nature of this admonition, we conclude that the apostle did not consider it specially important to dwell upon theory in social meetings; our principal anxiety should be with reference to love and good works. These things we need. These we must have or be lost. For these we should pray in secret, in our families, and in the church. “For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” This fearful announcement is made to those who live just prior to the coming of the Lord. As a people, we have such a thorough knowledge of the theory of the truth that we are represented by the faithful and true Witness as saying that we “have need of nothing.” This is a dangerous position to occupy. Unless we get rid of our filthy rags (Isa. 64:6), and buy the fire-tried gold and white raiment, and have our eyes anointed with the eye-salve, a perfect theory of the truth will prove only a source of condemnation to us in the Judgment.