1 Greenbank Villas
Plymouth
Jan[uary] 10, 1912
Dr. W[illia]m. Alf[red] Russell Wallace
L.L.D. &c.
Dear Sir,
I read in the "The Daily News & Leader" of Monday last an account of an interview with you, in wh]ich] views purporting to be yours are given.
Dear Sir, let me request you to turn up Josephus' Antiquity of the Jews, book I Chap. IV, and read his account of the Tower of Babel, and the Confusion of Tongues1, and what led thereto. It is most enlightening. By it, you will see, that when God made man, He said, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the Earth, and subdue it["]: Gen 1. 28. and again in Gen ii 5: "and there was not a man to till the ground."
Supposing an intelligent Heathen who [2] knowing the History of Great Britain, and think she has very large colonies, sparcely [sic] populated, and yet has at <Home> in spite of her wealth, the sad conditions to be found in our large towns, pays you a visit, and during his stay learned your views. One day, while with you, he takes up the Bible, and opening it reads from the beginning and learns from Gen 1.28, the object and purpose of the design of the Creator in creating man. He goes on, learns of the flood, and of the promises, and instructions given to Noah and his sons after the flood as contained in Gen. viii 20 — ix7 Then passing on he reads Gen xiL 1-9, don't you think he [3] would ask you if it did not appear plain that the root causes of your social troubles was a religious one? Did we ever think of consulting the God whom we professed to worship? Had He now given with our care great tracts of the earth's surface, which were sparsely populated? Will it now appear remarkable that the British people should be importing such quantities of food when evidently the Creator's purpose and instructions lead to the obvious plan to people taking the pains and trouble of occupying the washplace of the Earth and growing for <themselves>? [4] Was it not evident from the scripture that man is a fallen creature, and unable to direct his way, needs Divine Guidance, is in the mass, unwilling to be taught of God — that his very thoughts are wrong, apart from Divine Guidance (Gen vi. 5 — Mark vii, 21)?
And if you gave him a Josephus to read, and he read the preface, and then the 4th chapter of the 1st book of his "Antiquities of the Jews" would he now be more than ever as finished? I am convinced he would.
We need to Repent. Repent. Repent. The fear of God needs reviving among us. As well as Love, Reverence, Gratitude to Him for all He has done for us. And a study of Scripture with pure eyes, and Christian Hearts. Is it a <righteous?> thing to <inquire> the plain truths, not only of Scripture but common sense? More and more the Sabbath is desecrated. Yet Sabbath breaking men destroyed Jerusalem (Gen. xvii: 19-27. Neh xiii. 2 Chrm xxxvi) Why should it not destroy us? Let me plead with you dear Sir, study the Bible, and use your <fear> in arguing a return to its teaching, for time and Eternity.
Yours truly | R.R. Cousins [signature]
Status: Draft transcription [Letter (WCP505.505)]
For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon
[1]1
A WORD TO A SABBATH-BREAKER.
By Rev. John Wesley, M.A.
"Remember the Sabbath-day, to keep it holy."2
Have you forgotten who speak these words? Or do you set Him at defiance? Do you bid Him do His worst? Have a care. You are not stronger than He. "Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth; but woe unto the man that contendeth with his Maker.3 He sitteth on the circle of the heavens; and the inhabitants of the earth are as grasshoppers before him!"4
"Six days shalt thou do all manner of work. But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God."5 It is not thine, but God's day. He claims it for his own. He always did claim it for his own, even from the beginning of the world. "In six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath-day and hallowed it."6 He "hallowed" it; that is, he made it holy; He reserved it for his own service. He appointed, that as long as the sun or the moon, the heavens and the earth, should endure, the children of men should spend this day in the worship of Him who "gave them life and breath and all things."7
Shall a man then rob God? And art thou the man? Consider, think what thou art doing! Is it not God who giveth thee all thou hast? Every day thou livest, is it not his gift? And wilt thou give him none? Nay, wilt thou deny him what is his own already? He will not, he cannot, quit His claim. This day is God's. It was so from the beginning. It will be so to the end of the world. This he cannot give to another. O "render unto God the things that are God's,"8 now; "to-day, while it is called to-day!"9
For whose sake does God lay claim to this day? for his sake, or for thine? Doubtless, not for His own. He needeth not thee, nor any child of man. "Look unto the heavens and see, and behold the clouds which are higher than thou. If thou sinnest, what doest thou against Him? If thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto Him? If thou art righteous, what givest thou Him? Or what receiveth He of thine hand?10 For thy own sake therefore, God, thy Maker doeth this. For thy own sake he calleth thee to serve him. For thy own sake He demands a part of thy time to be restored to Him that gave thee all. Acknowledge his love. Learn, while thou art on earth, to praise the King of Heaven. Spend this day as thou hopest to spend that day which never shall have an end.
The Lord not only hallowed the Sabbath-day, but he hath also blessed it. So that you are an enemy to yourself. You throw away your own blessing, if you neglect to "keep this day holy." It is a day of special grace. The King of heaven now sits upon his mercy-seat, in a more gracious manner than on other days, to bestow blessings on those who observe it. If you love your own soul, can you then forebear laying hold on so happy an opportunity? Awake, arise let God give thee his blessing! Receive a token of his love! Cry to him that thou mayest find the riches of his grace and mercy in Christ Jesus! You do not know how few more of these days of salvation you may have. And how dreadful would it be, to be called hence in the abuse of his proffered mercy! [2]
A WORD TO A SABBATH-BREAKER. Continued.
O what mercy hath God prepared for you, if you do not trample it under foot! "What mercy hath He prepared for them that fear Him, even before the sons of men!" A peace which the world cannot give; joy, that no man taketh from you; rest from doubt and fear and sorrow of heart; and love, the beginning of heaven. And are not these for you? Are they not all purchased for you by Him who loved you, and gave himself for you? for you a sinner? you, a rebel against God? you, who have so long crucified him afresh? Now "look unto Him whom you have pierced!"11 Now say, Lord, it is enough. I have fought against thee long enough. I yield, I yield. "Jesus, Master, have mercy upon me!"12
On this day, above all, cry aloud, and spare not, to the "God who heareth prayer." This is the day he hath set apart for the good of your soul, both in this world and that which is to come. Never more disappoint the design of his love, either by worldly business, or idle diversions. Let not a little thing keep you from the house of God, either in the forenoon or afternoon. And spend as much as you can of the rest of the day, either in repeating what you have heard, or in reading the Scripture, or in private prayer, or talking of the things of God. Let his love be ever before your eyes[.] Let his praise be ever in your mouth. You have lived many years in folly and sin: now, live one day unto the Lord.
Do not ask any more, "Where is the harm, if, after church, I spend the remainder of the day in the fields, or in a public-house, or in taking a little diversion?" You know where is the harm. Your own heart tells you so plain, that you cannot but hear. It is a base mis-spending of your talent, and a barefaced contempt of God and his authority. You have heard of God judgments, even upon earth, against the profaners of this day. And yet these are but as drops of that storm of "fiery indignation, which will" at last "consume his adversaries."13
Glory to be God who hath now given you a sense of this. You now know this was always designed for a day of blessing. May you never again, by your idleness or profaneness, turn that blessing into a curse! What folly, what madness would that be! And in what sorrow and anguish would it end! For yet a little while, and death will close up the day of grace and mercy. And those who despise them now, will have no more Sabbaths, or sacraments, or prayers for ever. Then how will they wish to recover that which they now so idly cast away! But all in vain. For they will then "find no place for repentance, though they should seek it carefully with tears."14
O my friend, know the privilege you enjoy. Now "remember the Sabbath-day, to keep it holy." Your day of life and grace is far spent. The night of death is at hand. Make haste to use the time you have; improve the last hour of your day. Now provide "the things which make for your peace," that you may stand before the face of God for ever.
A. C. Brown, Printer, Market Square Plymouth
Status: Draft transcription [Enclosure (WCP505.1509)]
For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon
Envelope addressed to "Alfred Russell [sic] Wallace, Esq L.L.D., F.R.S. &c, Old Orchard, Broadstone, Dorset", with stamp, postmarked "PLYMOUTH | JAN 10 13A | 11.15 PM". Note on front of envelope in ARW's hand: "About the Sabbath Josephus Bible!"; postmark on back. [Envelope (WCP505.1508)]
Please cite as “WCP505,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 29 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP505