o the
solitude of the desert, and there spent their time in practises of stern
self-denial and in acts of frenzied self-torture. Others shut themselves
up as voluntary prisoners, seeking glory in privation and self-imposed
penance. It was this unnatural view of life that gave rise to the
several orders of recluses, hermits, and monks.

Think you not that the Savior had such practises in mind, when, warning
the disciples of the false claims to sanctity that would characterize
the times then soon to follow, He said: "Wherefore if they shall say
unto you. Behold he [Christ] is in the desert, go not forth: behold, he
is in the secret chambers, believe it not"?

3. The Time of Christ's Advent Not Known.--The Lord's statement that the
time of His advent in glory was unknown to man, and that the angels knew
it not, "neither the Son", but that it was known to the Father only,
appears plain and unambiguous notwithstanding many and conflicting
commentaries thereon. Jesus repeatedly affirmed that His mission was to
do the will of the Father; and it is evident that the Father's will was
revealed to Him from time to time. While in the flesh He laid no claim
to omniscience; though whatever He willed to know He learned through the
medium of communication with the Father. Christ had not asked to know
what the Father had not intimated His readiness to reveal, which, in
this instance, was the day and hour of the Son's appointed return to
earth as a glorified, resurrected Being. We need not hesitate to believe
that at the time Jesus delivered to the apostles the discourse under
consideration, He was uninformed on the matter; for He so states. In the
last interview between Christ and the apostles immediately before His
ascension (Acts 1:6, 7) they asked "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore
again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to
know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own
power." Nor has the date of the Messianic consummation been since
revealed to any man; though even now, the fig tree is rapidly putting
forth its leaves, and he who hath eyes to see and a heart to understand
knows that the summer of the Lord's purpose is near at hand.

4. The False Doctrine of Supererogation.--Among the pernicious fallacies
promulgated as authorized dogmas by the apostate church during the long
period of spiritual darkness following the close of the apostolic
ministry, was the awful enormity know