Wielding the Scepter by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, Cal. · Jun 25, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 26.

Wielding the Scepter.

By Editor

Of all the gifts of the Spirit to the disciples of Christ in this world, there is no mention of a scepter. Christ Himself is King in the realm of spiritual things. To His disciples He says: "They which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you; but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister; and whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all." These thoughts come to mind on reading in a Catholic journal of the resignation of the primate of Australia, Cardinal Moran. The journal mentions the good the cardinal has done "for the thousands of Catholics in that far-off land, over which he has wielded the scepter for many years." To assume a spiritual scepter is to assume the prerogative of Christ, to whom the Father saith: "Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows." Then the one who assumes to be above his fellows assumes the place of Christ, and to aspire to such a position is to place one's self above Him, for only one can occupy that position. And the one who thus sets himself up is called in the Scripture the "man of sin," the "son of perdition." The ambition to wield the scepter in heaven caused the downfall of Lucifer, and puny human beings who grasp the man-made scepter over the souls of their fellow-men, would do well to profit by his example.