Dr. Thomas and his Enemies
We have received a letter from bro. J. Donaldson, of Michigan, Detroit, United States, requesting insertion to a document drawn up by the brethren there, in vindication of the character of Dr. Thomas, which, it appears has been assailed by certain parties in that country, professing attachment to the truth which he advocates. Our rule is to exclude everything from the pages of the Ambassador at all tending to personalities, believing it to be a healthier policy to bestow exclusive attention upon the truth in its cosmopolitan relations which will wear out all the petty heats and jealousies of a passing generation. To all rules, however, there are exceptions; it is not always possible to keep the truth clear of personal questions, since the interests of the truth are strongly bound up with the personal reputation of its propagators. Even Paul in his letters, sometimes turns aside from the smooth current of spiritual discourse, and enters upon vigorous personal vindications. He appears to have been the subject of great personal disparagement, which at one time prevailed so potently that he could say, “All they of Asia have turned away from me.” His blunt and positive way of enunciating the truth, we can easily conceive to have been much unsuited to the refined tastes of those who were inoculated with the philosophy of the Greeks; and his summary mode of dealing with “every high thought exalting itself against the knowledge of God,” by whomsoever propounded, must have been anything but tolerable to those “men of corrupt minds” in the churches who, with a smattering of first principles, combined a love of pre-eminence which moved them to use the new doctrine of the apostles as a means of personal glorification. He was severe on this class of men, the sincerity of whose attachment to the truth was overborne by fleshly aspirations: and they found it difficult to “get on with” a man who, with single motive and uncompromising fidelity, knew no man after the flesh, and counted all things but dung that he might win Christ.
They ultimately put on apostolical airs, and like Aaron and Miriam in their rebellion against Moses, wanted to know wherein Paul was superior them, since God had given the truth to them as well as to him, and since they were called upon to preach it and had the gifts of spirit as well as he. They were offended at the deference shewn to him by the brotherhood generally, and measuring themselves by themselves, began to commend themselves and to traduce the the character and reputation of Paul, who was such an obstacle in the way of their aggrandisement. Their cynical criticisms insinuated that his bodily presence was weak, and his speech contemptible; and that he was in the habit of promoting his objects as an apostle by evil methods,—excusing the wrong by the good done. Their “malicious words” were not confined to Paul; John the beloved apostle, gave them equal offence by his equally stern opposition to those who corrupted the truth, or made it a pedestal of personal elevation; and he received the same treatment. One Diotrepes had gone the length in one church of repudiating his fellowship altogether, and forbidding the brethren to receive him. These occurrences compelled the apostles occasionally to take the attitude of self-defence—that is, to be personal, to throw off the incog . which otherwise they strictly maintained in their preachings and writings, and condemn men by name while vindicating themselves from the calumnies circulated concerning them.
So it is to a certain extent now. The truth is propagated by personal advocacy, and it is not always possible to ignore the questions arising out of the personal accessories of the propagandism. Circumstances occasionally compel a descent from the pure and lofty region of the truth-abstract, into the murky and heated atmosphere of personal controversy. It is an exceedingly disagreeable necessity, but cannot be evaded when it arises. It has arisen now. Dr. Thomas is not an apostle as a matter of commission: but as a matter of fact, he has fulfilled the function of an apostle for the truth in relation to this age of the world. He has brought to light and expounded the gospel when humanly speaking, it would never have been known in the nineteenth century. His patient and clearminded studies, providentially directed, have extracted from the mists of theological absurdity on the one hand, and philosophical speculation on the other, the clear shining of the truth as harmoniusly developed in the whole scriptures of Moses, the prophets, and the apostles, and his self-sacrificing labours have made it known over an extended circle which would otherwise have remained unilluminated. This is a fact which no generous and candid mind can ignore. It is a fact which entitles Dr. Thomas apart from all other considerations, to the deference and esteem of those who are sufficiently wise to appreciate the truth he has made manifest. In saying this, we do not inculcate hero worship. It is a scriptural principle to hold in reputation, and esteem highly those who are distinguished in the work of ministering the truth to perishing men; and this principle needs no defence. It is only strictly accordant with the feeling which actuates the bosom of Deity, and which will find judicial expression in causing to shine as the stars those who have turned many to righteousness.
What shall we say in defence of Dr. Thomas against the aspersions of his enemies? Shall we say that he is perfect? that he has no peculiarities which we might think him better without? that he never makes mistakes? that he never says things which would be better unsaid? If we did, we should be saying that which never could be said of any mortal man, living or dead. We should be claiming for him attainments which are impossible in the present imperfect state of existence. But while we cannot do this, we do claim that his achievements for the truth entitle him to great consideration and forbearance, and in our hearts, we believe that this attitude will be taken towards him by every genuine and grateful minded lover of the truth, however much he may think he sees to lament in his style of writing or deportment in minor matters. Love covers a multitude of sins in this respect. And what we further assert is that the Doctor’s hard words are rarely directed against that which is underserving of them, and if directed against pretence, error, crotchetarianism, or anything else that is unworthy, it is perhaps no great pity if his words create a little “feeling.” They prevent alliances that would be dangerous to the truth, and breaks up connections which are perilous to spiritual well-being. They may be compared to the wholesome bluster of a windy day in England, as contrasted with the seductive but balefully stagnant tranquillity of tropical weather.
We therefore gladly yield to the request of our correspondent and give publicity to the protest which the brethren in connection with him have thought it right to draw up and circulate for the vindication of a bold and upright, but much misunderstood and misrepresented man.
The following is an abridgment of the document which the brethren have styled a
TESTIMONIAL.
To Robert Roberts :—
Editor and Publisher of the “Ambassador,”
Birmingham, England.
Dear Brother Roberts :
We , the undersigned, members of the Ecclesia , meeting in Detroit, State of Michigan, (United States of America,) having recently had our attention drawn to certain articles printed and circulated in this and other locations, derogatory to the moral and religious character of our highly esteemed brother Dr. John Thomas , we feel under a sense of duty to address you a few lines as a testimonial of our high appreciation of his services, and to rebut, as far as we are able the charges which have originated in the hearts of malicious individuals, who have uttered them with an intent to sink him in the estimation of many of our brethren who have not been long acquainted with him personally or familiar with his writings; and also, toavert the effects that these slanderous reports may have upon those with whom we are individually familiar.
From our personal acquaintance with brother Thomas for nearly a quarter of a century, we are happy in having to state, that we have never known him to swerve aside, either to the right hand or left—that his career has ever been characterized by indomitable perseverance, firmness and steadiness of purpose—that his whole course of action has ever been onward, right onward,—never chequered or vascillating. Through all our acquaintance, we have found him a profound student of the Bible. As a writer or speaker, we have never known him to lend himself to the promotion of any other interest than the “Kingdom of God and His righteousness,” and the divine things pertaining thereto. As a defender of the truth, we have always found him bold and independent. In opening up the path of life, he has done what no other man of this generation has done—he has developed the complete plan of salvation—the “One Faith” and the obedience thereto—that, without which the present generation would be in total darkness and consequently without a ray of future life in the “Age to Come.” And for this alone, our brother stands foremost and paramount in our affections as an instructor in the “Righteousness of God.”
A late writer in England acknowledging him as his instructor in and inductor into the family and household of the “One faith,” says, that he is
“A man raised up of God among us to revive His truth in its simplicity and power, for the salvation of such of the last generation of ‘the times of the Gentiles’ as are ordained to eternal life.”
We endorse this sentence, and acknowledge ourselves as the benefitted recipients of his valuable expositions of the “Word of Life,” in the published volumes of the “ Heralds , ” “ Elpis Israel , ” “ Anatolia , ” “ Eureka , ” & 100. , & 100. , through the medium of which, we have had our minds enlightened; and all, who are of the “One Faith” with whom we are familiar, are either directly or indirectly indebted to him for the light they may have received—consequently, for an Existence in the Age to Come if they prove faithful. This is the position our brother Thomas occupies—viz. the discoverer and excavator of the “hidden treasures” of the “Kingdom and Righteousness of God”—which have been buried beneath the rubbish—the tradition, the absurdities and the follies of ages. He has by the labor of a life time succeeded in bringing to light the “wisdom of God,” and as such, we unite in giving him “Honor to whom honour is due.” With an eye single to the glory of God, we always find our brother Thomas exceedingly cautious not to take hold of the Crotchets of the day, or mix them up with the teachings of the Spirit. In the November number [1860] of the Herald of the Kingdom and Age to Come , we have his own words with reference to the subject of Crotchetarianism, which certain professed brethren were mixing up and advocating in connection with the “Gospel of the Kingdom,” &c. Some even went so far as to denounce their brethren who could not swallow down their Crotchets ; hence, the Doctor’s animadversions on the same:—
“Being temperate in all things, and having too much regard for the truth to dilute it with human folly, we hold ourselves aloof from Total Abstinence, Anti-porkism, Anti-tobaccoism, Anti-leavened-breadism, Vegetarianism, Water-cureism, Abolitionism, Decoction-of-raisinism, and the thousand and one other branches of Crotchetarianism, in the deep and gloomy recesses of which the little giants of the flesh imbed the truth, whose nature, spirit, and obligations, they fail scripturally to appreciate. The Herald is not the organ of these things. If its friends expect it to be such, they expect in vain. The Herald is the organ only of the simplicity that is in Christ. Let all those who are not for this, lift up their banner against it openly, that the real friends of the Gospel of the Kingdom may see clearly who are for the unadulterated milk of the Word , and who are for that word made of none effect by crotchetarian tradition.”
For his unswerving adherence to the truth, our brother has been shamefully abused by parties claiming affinity to him on the “One Faith;”—his motives have been misrepresented and belied, and his character maliciously attacked. In order to defame and render him powerless, the adversary has not been idle in coining epithets to brand and stigmatise him as unworthy of the confidence and esteem of his own brethren. Private letters have been written and peddled . Insinuations, inuendos, and “evil reports” have been printed and circulated.
But, under all this evil speaking, these vile slanders and evil reports, we are rejoiced to always find that our brother Thomas, “is unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord;” that with Paul, he can say, “But none of these things move me.”
To our dear brother Thomas we would say—Go on!—whether “through evil or good report”—Go on! You have begun a good work; though, like Job, you may, by the adversary be deprived of all you possess, and be rendered completely destitute; though you may have filched from you your good name—or, like our Lord and Master, be slandered, reviled, spit upon, and accused as a wine-bibber and a glutton, and everything that is bad;—go on as you have begun; you have nothing to fear from imbecile and erratic men. Your past life has been marked by steering clear of the isms and crotchets of the day. Go on as you have begun, and your reward will be great.
Our hearts’ desire and prayer to God is, that you may be preserved blameless to the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
James Donaldson,
Joseph Cockroft,
William Oliver,
Benjamin G. Chase.
The testimonial is accompanied with extracts from letters written by persons in America, to whom the Testimonial was submitted. Our limited space prevents us from quoting more than the following:—
“I take pleasure in endorsing heartily all that is set forth in relation to brother Thomas .—I am not only personally and intimately acquainted with himself, but with those also who have known him for a long series of years .—I take pleasure in giving my testimony in behalf of the unexampled, untiring zeal, energy and perseverance of brother Thomas in the diffusion of the glorious Gospel of the Kingdom of God, attended, as it has been, with the most unparalleled self-abnegation, as to the wealth, honor, and glory of this world.”
“Having been intimately and personally acquainted with the Doctor for a great many years, we are fully persuaded that all his actions, both of a private and public character, are governed by the fear of God. whom he serves and an ardent and jealous love for his Truth And if at any time he might use language concerning others that might seem severe, we are satisfied that it does not arise from a spirit of vindictiveness, but because he thinks that that truth which he so much loves, and which after a long and careful study of God’s Word he has been successful in discovering and bringing to light [but for which we might all have been in darkness to-day] would be compromised and suffer in the hands of unprincipled and unworthy men, by being mixed up with passing [though it may be popular] crotchets of the present day.
“We never knew our brother Thomas to act dishonourably to the christian character, nor do we believe he has.—He has been the means of bringing us from darkness into the marvelous light of the Gospel.—We hold brother Thomas in the highest estimation, for purity of life, uprightness of character, benevolence and philanthropy.—Some of us have been acquainted with his writings for upwards of twenty-six years. Hold up his hands, brethren, and may our God cause him to prosper a hundred fold.”
“Having been acquainted with the writings of brother J. Thomas ever since he published the Apostolic Advocate , and personally acquainted with him for twenty years, I feel it not only a christian duty but an obligation incumbent on me to add my name to any document, the object of which is to vindicate the character of so worthy a brother against the foul aspersions of ‘havening wolves in sheep’s clothing.”—I have read nearly all the works on prophecy in the English language such as Newton, Winchester, Begg, Lord Carlisle, Cumming, &c. &c., the authors of which being unenlightened by ‘ The Truth ,” only tend to confuse and bewilder the mind, instead of leading it into the right channel. Our brother Thomas, single-handed and alone, has, by a rigid and careful analysis and investigation discovered the Key , by which he has unlocked, as it were the arcana of Revelation, and brought to light the GOSPEL and the Mystery of the Gospel, without which, the present generation would be without one ray of hope.