No Precedent by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Aug 27, 1903

No Precedent

By Editor

Editorial

No Precedent

WE can follow no precedent in the work which is now to be done. There is to be a new experience altogether. We must forget the past, and believe that God “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” “Heavenly intelligences are waiting and longing to co-operate with human instrumentalities. God would reveal to the world what his people may become through the working of the Holy Spirit. Let us do all we can, and then wait patiently for him. Through union with divine agencies, we may accomplish much in saving souls ready to perish. Faithful efforts on our part will result in winning to Christ those whom God will make bright and shining lights in the world.” In these closing days of the great controversy heaven is drawing near to earth with abundant supplies of power that unprecedented victories may be gained for the truth.

“’Mid the darts of angry foe, The good soldier’s courage show, On to victory.”

Implicit Obedience

THE one thing which the Lord asks of his people is implicit obedience. He does not ask them to lead, but to obey. He takes upon himself all responsibility for results when they are ready to accept his plans for action. It happens, however, in many instances that assent is given to the instruction which the Lord sends, but it is not put into practice. Many are like the son to whom the command came, “Go work to-day in the vineyard,” and who replied, “I go, sir,” and went not. It sometimes seems so easy to show that our way is better than the Lord’s way, and to convince ourselves that under the special circumstances it will not be quite possible to follow exactly the command of the Lord. Over and over again is this experience repeated in human history, and always with the same result; and yet men refuse to learn wisdom. If we would see success in the hastening of the coming of the Redeemer’s kingdom, we must cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord, and learn the lesson of complete submission to the will of the Master.

The Old Truths

WE hope that the instruction which has been given in the recent articles by Sister Waite has received more than the usual attention. It has dealt fully and plainly with our present experiences, and has given us clear leading in a time of perplexity. There have also been paragraphs which call us to the definite work of proclaiming to all the world the specific truths which have been the basis of this advent movement for over half a century. Two of these paragraphs are found in the article which was published last week, and read as follows: “The old truths, given us at the beginning, are to be heralded far and near. The lapse of time has not lessened their value. It is the constant effort of the enemy to remove these truths from their setting, and to put in their place spurious theories. But the Lord will raise up men of keen perceptions, who with clear vision will discern the intrigues of Satan, and will give these truths their proper place in the plan of God.” “At this time there is need of men of sharp spiritual insight, who can discern truth from error. The first, second, and third angels’ messages are to be proclaimed with no faltering hesitancy. We know in whom we have believed. We know that as we obey his word to us, he will give to our words power that will convict and convert souls.” These statements are worthy of the most serious consideration. They point out a danger which threatens us at this very time, and ought to be as a trumpet call to those who have accepted the responsibility of being the heralds of this message. O that the Lord would give to all his servants a spirit of discernment that they may be quick to recognize every effort of the enemy to hide or to pervert this heaven-sent message, and a zeal according to knowledge that they may labor unceasingly for its advancement! “Ye that are men now serve him.”

The Promised Blessing

WHEN Jesus was about to leave his disciples to go to the Father, he sustained them with the assurance, “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may be with you forever.” The ascended Lord did not forget his promise, as the experience of Pentecost clearly showed; and filled with his living presence, the disciples went forth to bear their testimony in behalf of the crucified and risen Saviour. There was a power in their testimony which took hold upon the hearts of the people, “God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders, and by manifold powers,” and men “took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” Thousands were converted in a day, and “mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.” Although absent in the flesh, Christ in the person of the Holy Spirit was recognized as the Head of the church, and in the power of his presence with them his ministers preached a world-wide message in their own generation. Such was the influence of the early rain. Without any of the facilities which we regard as indispensable in these days, but under divine leadership and in co-operation with the heavenly agencies, a few men reached and stirred the world with the gospel of the kingdom. We are now in the time of the latter rain, the time for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in order that the last message of warning and salvation may go forth quickly to the ends of the earth and prepare the way for the coming of the Master. In looking back over the experiences of the last few years, we can

see that on several occasions this promised blessing has been almost realized, but there was a failure to recognize the time of our visitation, and the heavenly guest was not received. But we are encouraged to believe that the opportunity will again be presented to us to enjoy the refreshing from on high in our co-operation with the divine purpose to do a quick work in the earth, and that the movement to establish our headquarters at the nation’s capital is the signal of God’s providence indicating that the time is at hand. There must be no failure this time. We must receive the promised blessing.