China by John J. Westrup

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 24, 1907

China

By John J. Westrup

JOHN J. WESTRUP

We can not afford to be without the Review, the messenger of inspiration and courage, in this wilderness of heathenism. It comes to us every week as a loving letter from home, continually reminding us of the great and blessed hope we have in Jesus—the day when we shall see our dear Saviour face to face, and meet and embrace all the dear brethren in the Lord. We nearly always read Sister White’s article first, because it is especially Spirit-filled and inspiring.

We have just finished reading “Christ Our Saviour” through the second time for little Joseph. While he has been blessed, my wife and I have been doubly blessed in reading it. This book and the “Desire of Ages” help one to realize the love of Jesus better than any other books I ever read. All who really want to come up on higher ground, who hunger and thirst for the righteousness of Jesus, and long for the day when they can measure their lives by the life of Christ, will thank God every day for the blessed books and Testimonies that he in his love has given to this people.

O, how we long for the day when we shall be able to give this grand truth in its completeness and depth to this people! The first year and a half is very trying in China, as one’s very breast seems to be continually aching with a longing desire to give this blessed gospel story to these people. But we thank God that now we can begin to see the fruit of eighteen months’ hard study. Mrs. Westrup has been preaching to the women and children at ten o’clock in the morning, and teaching them the Sabbath-school lessons at three in the afternoon, for some time. I have conducted the meetings for the men, and taught them the Sabbath-school lessons. Yesterday (Sabbath) was a very blessed day for me. It reminded me of olden times as I,

during the Sabbath-school, was standing before about thirty persons, preaching, teaching, and asking questions. And I was glad to see in their beaming faces that they understood the truth presented, and the love of Jesus.

Let this be an encouragement to the many brethren and sisters who, we expect, will come to the Lord’s help in China this fall. While it is difficult in the beginning, let us remember that God lives, and that he is able and willing to help us over all obstacles—only let us have faith in God.

A week ago last Sabbath, a woman possessed with the devil came to the Sabbath-school. As my wife was telling the women and children about the love of Jesus, the devil began to torment the woman. My wife prayed, and the very name of Jesus made the enemy powerless. When thus brought face to face, so to speak, with the devil, how very thankful we are that we have Jesus, mighty to save. The enemy is exceedingly angry, and he is using even those who profess Christ to persecute those who wish to keep the same Sabbath that Jesus kept, who believe that Christ will create a new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwelleth only righteousness, when sin and sinners and the author of sin shall have been destroyed, and come to naught. But thus it has always been, is, and will be to the end. Those who love the truth are regarded as peculiar and bigoted, and are held in contempt.

Now we read about the great centenary missionary convention, held in Shanghai. The Chinese Recorder states that about fifteen hundred people were present, representing eighty-three different societies or agencies working in more than five hundred cities throughout the empire of China. In the great Martyrs’ Memorial Hall is this embroidered motto:

“1807 LAUS DEO 1907 UNUM IN CHRISTO”

The uppermost thought in the conference is union—union at any cost. The plan is to form a Chinese church, “and leave confessional questions to the judgment of the Chinese church for future consideration.” Dr. Gibson reminded the conference of the old story of the man who went out early in the morning and thought he saw a tiger through the mist. Coming nearer, he saw it was a man; and when nearer still, found it was his own brother. Unity is a thing to be prayed for; but it must be unity in Christ. And Christ is the truth; hence it must be unity in the truth, and not to persecute those who hold the truth precious. This great union will not include Seventh-day Adventists in China; one may be sure of that. But God lives, and Christ is with us even to the end of the world.

It is a great encouragement to read about the great movement among the Hwa Miao tribe in the southwest of China. Hundreds walked six and eight days in order to get within the sound of the blessed gospel, and then stayed and studied the gospel until two o’clock in the morning. As a result, fifty immoral club-houses were destroyed, and hundreds of drunkards became total abstainers, and have remained so for over two years. In three years’ time thousands have diligently sought and found Christ, and with childlike faith, they are living up to the light they have, and are waiting for more. This gives us a little glimpse of what God will do when he wakes up the sincere and honest ones, and cuts his work short in righteousness. These great unions will bring persecution, and persecution will bring out the sincere ones. Hence we rejoice to see them affected; for thus the last part of Revelation 13 will soon be fulfilled, and this will hasten the consummation of all things.

In the face of these sign-fulfilling events, what shall we do? Let us lay aside all self, get out of Babylon and into Christ, and thus be ready for the great finishing work that God shall accomplish through his people. Let us, by the grace of God, prefer one another in love. Let love be without dissimulation, and let us pray earnestly for one another. Christ has told us to watch and be ready; “for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”

In the dark hours before us let us constantly have our eyes directed toward heaven, and the approaching advent of our Lord, with all its attending events, and we shall never lose courage, but be faithful to the end, and receive the crown of life.

We are all well, and the truth was never more precious to us than it is now. What we all need is more earnestness in prayer in the name of Jesus. Prayer brings all the grace and power of heaven at our disposal.

Shang-tsai, Honan.