Christian Labor and God’s Guidance
By Editor
Up to the latest date the Congressional Record reveals page after page of petitions from all over the country asking Congress to repeal the act closing the World's Fair on Sunday. Of course these were disregarded, as it would be out of dignity for congressmen to admit that they had erred in passing an unconstitutional law; but these petitions have demonstrated the sentiment of the masses of the people from all quarters as nothing else in the petition line ever has. THERE are three points which are most necessary for every successful colaborer with Christ to understand: What God wants him to do, where God wants him to do it, and how God wants the service rendered. And knowledge upon none of these points will God withhold from the one who seeks with a true and earnest desire to know the mind of the Spirit. God commands us to labor in his vineyard, and then gives wisdom and strength to rightly do the work. GOD's redemptive work is but the manifestation of his creative power. The "new creature," the "new man," is said to be "created in righteousness and true holiness;" and Paul says of himself and of all who have been regenerated, "We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works." Truly nothing but re-creation could change the vile and wicked sinner into a son of God. Every time a conversion is effected, there is manifested the same miraculous power that in the beginning spoke the worlds into existence. ONE's temporal condition in this world does not determine his standing before God. The Lord sends rain upon the just and upon the unjust, and often gives to the vilest sinner as bounteous crops as to his own people. In this respect does the Lord place no premium on rightdoing. Did men observe that the fields of the righteous brought forth bountifully, while the ungodly suffered drought and famine, they would profess allegiance to God not from a principle of love to him, nor in order to be made better in character, but for the hope of temporal gain. But while from a mere temporal or financial standpoint there oftentimes may appear no advantage or profit in serving God, eternity will reveal the vast difference between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. Malachi, in speaking of that day when will be manifest the result of every way, and God shall reveal to every man the loss or profit in his doings, says: "Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Son of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings." We will see at that time that it has paid to serve God. WHEN the American Sabbath Union started out for a three years' campaign, three years ago, its champions felt very certain that the legislative session of this year would pass a Sunday law. They had no doubt of their ability to educate the people up to that point in three years' time. The boast was that the Union never had made a failure, and never would. But it can now record one defeat at least. The Sunday-law measure did not stand half the chance at the session this year that it did two years ago; this time it was not even honored with an introduction. The attempt to call it out by petition heard no favorable response but its own echo. Yet Sunday fares as well in California as in any other State. The bitter pill with the Sunday-law criers is that they have no opportunity to put their opponents in the chain gang. IN the "Sabbath Reform" items of the Christian Statesman of February 18 appears a strange contradiction. We quote as follows:— The Rev. Dr. Edward Thomson, the Pacific Coast Secretary of the American Sabbath Union, writes that in that capital of the only State except Idaho with no Sabbath law, a Sabbath law favorably reported in both houses is pending. Then, within an inch of this item, in the same column, occurs the following:— The Sunday-law effort in the present Legislature of California has made its appearance in the form of a petition. At this writing no bill has been introduced. The latter item is true; the former is not true; and how Dr. Thomson could have written such a statement when he was in a position to know better, is what seems equally as strange as the publication of two such contradictory statements so near together. A PARIS dispatch says: "The papal jubilee proves that all Europe, without distinction of religion, renders homage to the aged pontiff." The growing influence of the papal power in the Old World, and of its image in America, calls in emphatic terms for the proclamation with a loud voice of the Third Angel's Message: "If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb; and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever, and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name." Rev. 14:9-11. This is the last message of warning that is to be given the people of the earth. Who will hear it? Who will carry it to others? THE Toledo, Ohio, correspondent of the New York Christian Advocate has this to say of the "evangelical wing" of the Friends, or Quakers:— They are now the most zealous and lively of all the denominations, and with preaching, prayers, songs, exhortations, insist on conversion and sanctification, the witness of the Spirit, and an active life, and all this with enthusiasm and noise equal to the old-time Methodists. Their ministry and lay members, men and women, are working in many a revival now with our [Methodist] people, to whom they most naturally take in their religious affiliations. Some of them, of the David B. Updegraff type, are now working as evangelists in some of the churches of this city, and the Methodists are now the Quakers. THE disappointments that follow upon illegitimate speculation generally breed either insanity or recklessness. The inclination of men who lose in the gambler's calling is to hatred of those who are successful. A striking illustration of these results occurred in San Francisco February 24, when W. C. Rippey, a broken-down stock speculator, attempted to murder John W. Mackay, the mining millionaire. When the would-be assassin gave up all hope of ever retrieving his lost fortunes, his last resort to gain satisfaction was to kill a wealthy man who had made much of his wealth in the same line, and was therefore a special object of envy. Rippey deliberately shot Mackay in the back as he passed along the street, and then shot himself. The intended victim will recover, but there is little hope of the recovery of his assailant. This is but an individual case, but it illustrates a principle that will yet cause trouble on the earth on a large scale. The fires are smouldering all over the "civilized" world. THEY who, like Simon of old, desire the Holy Spirit's power for temporal advantage, in order that they may heal the sick, prophesy, or work miracles, will never receive it. The Spirit is not bestowed for worldly gain. God has his dwelling place with him who is of an humble and contrite heart, and those desiring God's power in order that their own selfish pride may be gratified, will perish with their unholy ambition. Let us, then, seek God for his Holy Spirit, not to use for our own advancement, but for the advancement of his cause, that we may be made more effectual ministers of the word. Then let us not mark out any way for God to work, nor fix up in our minds the manner in which the Spirit will be given, nor let us designate to God what gift of the Spirit should be given us. Let God bestow his Spirit as he will; let him bestow what gift he will, or none at all if he so pleases. Seek God in faith for power, and leave to him the answering of the petition. WHEN physicians all over the country are predicting a general visit of the great cholera scourge during the coming summer, the child of God may draw comfort and assurance from the precious promises of God's word. The Lord through David gives this guaranty: "Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." Ps. 91:9-11. While perhaps this chapter may apply in its fullness to the time of trouble ahead, we believe God's children have a right to apply and appropriate its promises at the present time. We are pleased to learn that none of our brethren and sisters in plague-stricken Hamburg last summer fell victims to the cholera. Obedience to natural laws, and trust in the God of all wisdom, power, and might, are the only safeguards in the times of trial, sickness, and devastation soon to come upon the world. Let us say of God: "He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in him will I trust."