THE MILCH KINE AND THE NEW CART

I. Samuel vi. 7

I. N. VANMETER

Signs of the Times- August 15, 1883

G. BEEBE'S SONS - DEAR BRETHREN: - I have received a private letter recently from Elder R. S. Banks, of Iron Mountain, Missouri, in which he requests my views on the subject heading this article; and although I do not feel qualified to instruct or edify my brethren in the ministry, or any one else, unless the Lord shall help me, yet I shall try to comply with the request, if but briefly. I shall not attempt to notice the whole history of the case, as it would occupy too much space, and the reader may read or call to mind the whole history in the connection, if he feels an interest in the subject. Samuel was now a prophet in Israel, and Eli, the priest, was old, and his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were officiating in the priestly office, but abused and desecrated that sacred trust in the most shameful and dishonorable manner. - Chapter ii. 12-17. Their father failed to give them sufficient reproof, and to restrain them from their wicked course, and, "like people, like priest," the people of Israel, under the priesthood of Eli and his sons, set up idols and worshiped them, and provoked the anger of God. As he had threatened them in their law, (Deut. xxviii.25,) their enemies, the Philistines, invaded their land and prevailed against them in battle. They were astonished and sorely perplexed under their defeat, and sent to Shiloh for the "ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts," and brought it into the camps of Israel. But its presence availed them nothing, as they had forsake the Lord, and had turned unto idols. His hand of chastisement was upon them for their sins, and they were to suffer yet greater calamities before he turned away his anger from them. They were guilty of the most provoking sins in departing from the living God, and they must suffer the most severe rebukes from God, who is jealous of his honor and glory. Though the ark was a sacred thing under the law, and in its proper place, yet it was not the God that had redeemed them out of Egypt, and who could give them victory over their enemies. We should highly esteem and properly appreciate all the blessings God has given us, such as the holy Scriptures, our church privileges, the ministration of the gospel by faithful men, &c.; but we should remember that nothing should be worshiped but God himself, the Giver of all these, and all other blessings we enjoy.

"Thanks to his name for all these things, But they are not my God."

Israel could not succeed in battle while his idols were in the land, nor while his trust was in the ark instead of the God of the ark. Until Achan is removed from our camps we cannot successfully meet our enemies. - Joshua vii. 12. The ark was brought into the camp, attended to by the two sons of Eli, the wicked priests, and 'a great shout was raised by the host of Israel over the ark. Their dependence seemed to be placed in the ark for help, instead of in God, as the apostle says, "They served the creature more than the Creator." Israel was again smitten, the two wicked priests slain, and the ark of God taken by the victorious Philistines as a part of the spoil. It is set up by the side of Dagon, one of the principal gods of the Philistines, in the city of Ashdod. The idol falls before it and is broken. Dreadful plagues also fall upon the people of this and other cities where the ark is taken, and many die. Something mysterious and dreadful follows and attends this little chest wherever it goes among this idolatrous and uncircumcised people. They seem at first to hold it to be the god, or a god, of the Hebrews, and set it in Dagon's house, as, perhaps, another object of worship; but they soon become terrified at its presence and mysterious power. A blessing attends its presence at the house of a Hebrew in Palestine (II. Samuel vi. 12,) but not among the Philistines; and the things of God, the oracles of God, the Scriptures of eternal truth, are equally out of place among the enemies of Zion. The pillar of fire was light unto Israel, but darkness to the Egyptians. The natural man can neither receive nor know the things of the Spirit of God, but wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction. I am not sure that I understand the typical signification of the ark and its sacred contents, but I hope I shall write nothing concerning it that will conflict with the Scriptures or with christian experience. This little piece of furniture contained something so sacred and important that it was lined with pure gold inside and outside, and placed within the most holy place in the tabernacle, and on it the mercy-seat and cherubims. It was hid by a dark veil from the vision of all mortals except the high priest alone, when in its place in the tabernacle. It contained three precious things, to wit, the tables of the law, the pot of manna, and Aaron's rod that budded - a triune treasure. The ark may be illustrative of more than one thing spiritually, as, first, the everlasting covenant of grace. The tables of the law being typical of God the Father, the sovereign lawgiver of the universe. The pot of manna represents Jesus the Mediator, the true bread from heaven. The rod that budded and brought forth fruit may represent the Holy Spirit producing the fruits in God's people. Second, the ark and its contents may be typical of the wonderful character of our Lord Jesus Christ, as in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in mysterious unity. Outwardly he could be seen and handled, but the indwelling Godhead was hidden from mortal vision; and so was the ark. Third, the ark illustrates the child of God experimentally, as in his heart is written the law of the Lord, and Jesus the manna from heaven, and the Spirit producing fruits unto God, as in Galatians v. 22, 23. God's written oracles contain, in the letter, all this, so that the gospel of Christ in all its power and glory is also illustrated by the contents of the ark; and whoever handles this ark must be consecrated for this special work, or called of God, as was Aaron. The Scriptures of truth being a revelation from God, and containing all we need to know and teach in spiritual things, the man of God is thoroughly furnished unto all good works, and is most solemnly commanded to preach the word; and the gospel treasure is committed to men called of God, and consecrated or set apart to the work by the Spirit of God. The oracles of God committed to the Jews first, and after that to the church, and especially to the ministry, contain a true history, and are a true record of what God has done for and said concerning his people, and are a memorial of the marvelous things he has done in the past; and so the ark contained memorials of the past. As the awful judgments of God were sent upon the Philistines wherever the ark was sent, they call a council of their lords to consult about what to do with this wonderful and dangerous article they had captured from Israel as a trophy of victory. As Dagon had fallen and was broken to pieces in its presence, and as plagues attended those who kept it in every city of the Philistines, they decided to send it back to the land of Israel, and to the people from whom they had taken it, and to get rid of it entirely. But the plan adopted for the return of the ark was a novel one, and as an experiment to test the notion among the people that the God of Israel was the author of these plagues, it was a sensible one. The children of this world are often wiser in planning and scheming than the children of light. "Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them: and take the ark of the Lord, and lay it upon the cart." They reasoned well upon the subject, saying that if these two unbroken cows, tied to a cart for the first time, without a driver, would leave their young shut up at home, and leave their pasture and old stamping ground, and all the pleasing environs of home, and drag a cart after them, and go directly with their load to the land of Israel, why then they would know that the God of Israel had sent the plagues they had suffered; but if not, if the kind would not leave home with their load, or if they should turn aside out of the way, and not deliver the ark to the people of Bethshemesh, then they should know it was only a "chance that had happened to them." Accordingly the new cart was constructed, the ark laid on it, with the presents, the kine were yoked together, tied to the cart, and let go. "And the kine took the straight way to the way of Bethshemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left." The lords of the Philistines followed, and watched their course. In many things I understand these remarkable occurrences to illustrate the gospel commission, and the work of the gospel ministry; and I remark, brother Banks, and brethren, that I thought I would be brief, but after having written thus far, I find myself just on the threshold of the most interesting part of the subject, and I must condense. The cart is a new one entirely, not an old one repaired and patched up; so is the gospel covenant new, and every piece and every part new and strong, "ordered in all things, and sure." The new covenant of grace contains and reveals all that God has done, is doing and will do for the eternal glorification of spiritual Israel. In this ark of the covenant of grace is treasured up the eternal plan of redemption, of the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, the three sacred treasures in the ark spiritually. This ark of sacred treasures of grace is placed on the new cart, as the old or legal covenant could not bear such a treasure, or show mercy, or give life, or take away sin. The gospel in its proclamation is committed to men, not broken to' the yoke at a theological school, and trained to drawing this new cart by the goads of earthly divines and scientific tutors; but their Master, Jesus, calls them away from their fish nets, their farms, their stores, and lays the yoke upon them, and says, "Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel;" "Go ye into all the world." He sent them out two and two to preach. But what about the galling yoke, the heavy cart, the untried and strange road? Ah, what about the young ones shut up and left at home? the lovely wife, the tender children and home comforts? "Lord, suffer me to go, and bid them farewell which are at home at my house," is in substance their language and their feelings. "Lo, we have left all and followed thee; what shall we have?" What is to become of our families? What are we to eat and wear? end many a groan, a sigh, a prayer, goes up from their burdened bosoms. The kine went, "lowing as they vent." They were thinking of home, and of the young ones left there, but some unseen and irresistible power forced them on their way, even the highway leading directly to Israel. "They turned not aside," after any "lo, here," or "lo, there," after the applause of men, after political offices and honors, nor after the laughters of anti-christ. "Go preach the preaching that I bid thee." "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." "Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee." If the yoke is sometimes heavy and galling, and the way so difficult that in drawing the cart they sink into the deep mire, and often fall to their knees, yet they are not to turn back nor turn aside, but to go to their Master, end he will make the yoke easy and the burden light. As to their temporal wants, the Master says to them, "Behold the fowls of the air, I feed them; consider the lilies, I clothe them." The kine were so strongly tied to the cart that they did not and could not break the tugs, nor get out of the harness, nor get loose from the cart. They may have struggled and fretted and groaned under their awful load, crying, Who is sufficient for these things?" "I am of slow speech, and of a slow tongue." "I cannot speak, for I am a child." But it is of no use. The ark must go to Israel, for it belongs to them. "Say not, I am a child; for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee;" and under this stern command of the King of Zion one feels to Say, "Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel." No, brother Banks, the kine who are tied by the fetters of God's command to the gospel cart, or chariot of salvation, cannot break loose nor shake off the burden. Some volunteer to draw the cart for filthy lucre, or for the honors and applause of men, saying, "I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest;" but such are not wanted, and are solemnly rebuked for their presumption. - Luke ix. 57, 58. If five hundred dollars have tied a man to the cart, six hundred dollars will induce him to break the tugs, or to jump out of the harness. These milch kine left all that was dear to them, and under' an irresistible impulse, and contrary to nature, carried the ark to Israel; and so it is with those called of God to preach. They must preach, or die with trouble, while some are nearly dying to get to preach. But' these faithful milch kine, after delivering the ark to the men of Bethshemesh, were slaughtered and sacrificed by those whom they had served. Was not that cruel and ungrateful? How much less ungrateful is the neglect of the Lord's children of some of the aged and faithful oxen. They have spent their lives under the yoke, and now, in their dotage, are they to be turned out to shift? God forbid. Brethren Beebe,, I submit the above to you, and to Elder Banks, though imperfect.

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