In some of the Catholic fields the doors have been so long closed against Protestant missionary effort that they swing open slowly, as on rusty hinges. But surely, even though slowly, the way is made more ready for the swift progress of the advent message. The Interior notes the following signs of the times in South America:—
Ecuador, like France, has abrogated its “concordat,” and its statute-book now declares that the state permits the exercise of every religion not contrary to the laws nor to morality. Police protection for worship is guaranteed. In Peru, while it still continues unlawful to conduct Protestant worship in public assembly, the government has nevertheless issued stringent orders for protecting Protestant preachers. At the last advices received by our State Department from Bolivia, the lower house of the Congress of that country had passed a bill for complete religious freedom, and the upper house was expected to enact the measure into law.
This word comes just as our South American brethren are sending workers into Bolivia, and, as all know, we have taken advance steps in locating ministers7in Peru and Ecuador. Still we must pray very definitely for these long-closed lands. Legal restrictions may be removed by legislatures, but only the power of the living God can break down the barriers of error and prejudice and unbelief built up in the minds of the people by long centuries under Rome's deadly influence.
W. A. S.
The Proposed Papal Legation in Washington
ROME’S project of establishing a papal legation in Washington is being steadily pushed forward. It is now announced that at a recent meeting of archbishops in Washington “it was decided to put up a building for the residence and executive quarters of the papal legation to this country.” This building, it is further stated, will be an imposing and costly edifice, and will be located “in the heart of the best residence section of Washington.”
The New York Sun states that Pope Pius “has shown his desire to put Washington on a par with other capitals,” and that it is probable the city will receive the further distinction of being made a separate diocese.
While there is in reality no papal legation in Washington recognized by this government, and such a thing is debarred by the principle of separation of church and state which is fundamental in Protestant and republican government, press reports are made to convey the impression that such a delegation is now virtually an established thing at the national capital, and that only some action of a formal character on the part of the government, which will be forthcoming in time, is needed to put the legation on a par with papal legations elsewhere. The imposing edifice to be erected in Washington will naturally foster this impression. But between this outward show and reality there will be a world-wide difference so long as the principles of Protestantism remain in American government.
The Growing Problem of Suicide
A COMMISSION appointed in one of the great cities for the special purpose of checking the frequency of suicide, testifies to the magnitude of the present growth of this baneful sign of the times. Such a commission has been appointed by Mayor Tom Johnson, of Cleveland, Ohio. Mayor Johnson is reported as being “appalled at the number of suicides and attempted suicides in Cleveland during the past nine months,” and the aim of his commission will be to dissuade would-be suicides from their rash purpose. The plan is to invite all persons contemplating suicide to write a letter stating the nature of their trouble to the anti-suicide commission, which will then make an effort to provide relief. Christians may find food for contemplation in this remark of Cleveland’s director of public charities on the subject:—
The need of some means to counteract the condition has been felt, and we have expressed our willingness to aid any one who is in the depths of despair, and to whom life no longer seems worth living. How many suicides would be prevented if the sick, poor, and despondent had friends to go to, a place to get relief! Of the eighty-six suicides in the first nine months of this year the one word “despondency” is the keyword of all. In nearly every case the kind word of a friend or helper will prevent self-destruction.
Note and Comment
WE mentioned some time ago the creation by the Presbyterian general assembly of a “department of church and labor,” the design of which was to bring the church and the workingmen into closer relation. To this action the American Federation of Labor has responded by adopting the following resolution:—
Resolved, That the American Federation of Labor recommend that all affiliated State and central bodies exchange fraternal delegates with the various State and city ministerial associations wherever practicable, thus insuring a better understanding on the part of the church and clergy of the aims and objects of the labor union movement of America.
The church wants the workingmen to know more about the character and aims of the church, and the workingmen’s union wants the church to have a better understanding of the character and aims of labor unions. The result of the church movement will be, apparently, to affiliate the church and labor organizations rather than to win workingmen individually to the fold of the church.
“THE most striking thing about the whole conference,” says the Nashville Christian Advocate, speaking of the inter-church conference in New York City, “was the sweet readiness of all its members to agree to ignore, though without forgetting, the points of difference between them, and to strike hands on the great issues concerning which all are agreed.”
Comparing this conference with the Christian council recorded in Acts 15, it is interesting to note that the most striking thing about that early council was not an agreement to ignore, without forgetting, differences of religious belief among the disciples, but the complete harmony of view which was reached by the assembly under the influence of the Holy Spirit, though at the first there had been “much disputing.” The only question which divided the believers at that time was settled to the satisfaction of all, the object of the council being to settle existing points of dispute in order that the spiritual efficiency of the church might not be impaired.
The Advocate says further that this inter-church conference ranks with the church councils “which made history in the early Christian centuries.” The Advocate omits to state what kind of history was made by those early church councils; if it had stated this, it might have told more truth than it wished to tell. For out of those councils which made history in the early Christian centuries, as is plainly to be seen from the records of those times, emerged the full-fledged papacy. The history of those early centuries is repeating itself to-day.
L. A. S
By L. A. S.
WHILE the Roman Catholic Church did not participate in the recent inter-church conference in New York City, her representatives in this country were not indifferent to the spectacle or to its significance. One evidence of this appears in an article written by the Rev. M. M. Sheedy (priest) on the subject of “Christian unity as affected by this conference,” and published in the Catholic Mirror. “Father” Sheedy thinks the time has come to inquire whether “the various Christian bodies of the country are about to bury their differences and come closer together in creed and practise,” and after enumerating some evidences pointing in that direction, says:—
These are healthy signs of better understanding of what religion means, and plainly indicate the drift toward that unity of faith for which the dying Saviour prayed. Our twentieth century may witness the reunion of Christendom. It is a consummation devoutly to be wished.
“The reunion of Christendom” from the Catholic point of view, means the return of Protestants to the fold of Rome; for Catholics have no idea whatever of shifting their ground to meet Protestants half way. Among those things which indicate the desire among the Christian bodies for reunion, as “Father” Sheedy notes, are “the cordial invitation extended from time to time by the heads of various Protestant educational institutions to representative Catholic clergymen to explain some points of Christian doctrine,” and “the success of the missions to non-Catholics.” He does not note among these evidences any reciprocal move by the Catholic Church toward Protestantism; there are none such to be noted. The reunion, if it comes, must take place on Rome’s own ground. It must mean the complete undoing of the Reformation.
Representative Catholics are now hopeful of such a reunion, and the spectacle of the recent inter-church conference leads them to give expression to this hope. The Catholic Church has not forgotten the history of those things to which it owes its origin.
L. A. S
He That Soweth Iniquity Shall Reap Vanity
By Ellen G. White
Lessons From the Life of Solomon—No. 15
“He That Soweth Iniquity Shall Reap Vanity”
MRS. E. G. WHITE
ONE of the most powerful influences that led to Solomon’s apostasy, was the pride of prosperity. As wealth and worldly honor came to him, he at first remained humble, but after a time he began to lose sight of the Source of his unparalleled prosperity. This led to a wrong use of the talents of wealth and of influence. The gifts of heaven were perverted for selfish purposes.
Solomon’s profligacy was accompanied by extravagance. For his first wife, Pharaoh’s daughter, he built a magnificent palace “of costly stones . . . within and without, even from the foundation unto the coping.” “Solomon was building his own house thirteen years.”
“The House of the Forest of Lebanon”
“He built also [in Jerusalem] the house of the forest of Lebanon; the length thereof was an hundred cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits, upon four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars. . . . And there were windows in three rows, and light was against light in three ranks. . . . He made a porch of pillars; the length thereof was fifty cubits, and the breadth thereof thirty cubits.”
“King Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold; six hundred shekels of gold went to one target.” “And three hundred shields made he of beaten gold; three hundred shekels of gold went to one shield. And the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.”
“All the drinking vessels of King Solomon were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold: none were of silver; it was not anything accounted of in the days of Solomon.”
God’s money, which should have been held in sacred trust for the benefit of the worthy poor, and for national improvements of permanent value, was selfishly absorbed in the king’s ambitious projects. The suffering ones in Israel were not given proper food and clothing and shelter. In his proud heart the king cherished the desire to excel all other earthly kings in the magnificence of his court.
Solomon’s Throne
“He made a porch for the throne where he might judge, even the porch of judgment: and it was covered with cedar from one side of the floor to the other.” “Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the best gold. The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round behind: and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays. And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom.”
Military Equipment
A striking illustration of the blinding influence of sin is seen in Solomon’s disregard of the plain command of the Lord that the king of Israel should not “multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses.” The record declares: “Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt.” “They brought unto Solomon horses . . . out of all lands.” “And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots. . . . Barley also and straw for the horses and dromedaries brought they unto the place where the officers were, every man according to his charge.”
In the matter of military equipment, Solomon chose to follow unsanctified human judgment in the place of following the word of God. “A chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver [over three hundred dollars], and an horse for an hundred and fifty [over seventy-five dollars].” “Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem.”
“The king had at sea a navy of Tarshish with the navy of Hiram.”
A Record of Folly
The pride of prosperity brought separation from God. From the joy of divine communion Solomon turned to find satisfaction in the pleasures of sense. A word-picture portraying this experience is given, in the language of Solomon himself, in the book of Ecclesiastes. “I communed with mine own heart,” he confesses, saying, “Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me. . . . And I gave my heart to know . . . madness and folly.” “I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure.”
“I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly. . . . I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: I made me gardens and orchards; . . . I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me: I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts. So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem. . . . And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labor. . . .”
“Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit. . . . I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness. . . . Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me. . . . I hated life. . . . Yea, I hated all my labor which I had taken under the sun.”
The National Revenues
The enormous expense of establishing and maintaining a court of unrivaled splendor and Oriental profligacy, was met in part by the annual tribute of kings, and by the rich treasures brought from the East, from Tarshish, and from the land of Ophir, by the king’s seagoing vessels sailing from Ezion-geber, and from Eloth, “at the seaside in the land of Edom.” Hiram “sent him by the hands of his servants ships, and servants that had knowledge of the sea; and they went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and took thence four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought them to King Solomon.” “And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones.”
“The king’s ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Hiram: every three years once came the ships of Tarshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.”
“The weight of the gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and threescore and six talents of gold; besides that which chapmen and merchants brought. And all the kings of Arabia and governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.”
Even this enormous revenue did not prove sufficient to meet the lavish expenditures of the king and his court. And now pride, ambition, prodigality,9and indulgence bore fruit in cruelty and exaction. The conscientious, considerate spirit that had actuated Solomon in all his dealings with his people during his early reign, was now sadly changed. From the wisest and most merciful of rulers, he degenerated into a tyrant. Once the compassionate, God-fearing guardian of the people, he became oppressive and despotic. His passion for extravagant display led him to impose great burdens on the people. Tax after tax was levied on them, that means might be forthcoming to support the luxurious court.
The people began to murmur and complain. The respect and admiration they once cherished for their king was changed into disaffection and abhorrence.
National Apostasy
Solomon’s alliance with heathen nations was followed by evils which led many of the children of Israel to violate the law of God. Multitudes became contaminated with the principles and practises of the heathen. Polygamy was introduced into Palestine. The pure religious service instituted by God was replaced by idolatry of the darkest hue. Human sacrifices were offered to idols; and the licentious rites practised by the heathen were countenanced.
In the rejection of the ways of God for the ways of men, the downfall of Israel began. Thus also it continued, until the Jewish people became a prey to the very nations whose practises they had chosen to follow.
General Articles
“Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Phil. 4:8.
The Righteous and the Wicked
“Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him. . . . Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him.” Isa. 3:10, 11.
“SAY ye to the righteous,” saith God,
“It is well;”
Though the storm, cloud, and tempest appear,
Thou shalt hide thee for aye in the “cleft of the rock,”
And be safe in the hour of thy fear.
But say to the wicked, “With thee it is ill;”
O how dark and how sad is thy lot,
When the judgments of God in the land are abroad,
And the wing of the Lord shelters not!
O say to my people, forever, “Fear not,”
But trust in my power and my love;
In mercy I’ll comfort, and strengthen, and guide,
And triumphantly bear you above.
—Selected.
Work for the Young People
By B. E. HUFFMAN
B. E. HUFFMAN
As the autumn evenings lengthen into long winter nights, many a youth begins to wonder how he can spend his time so as to realize the most lasting satisfaction and the greatest enjoyment. Some may be tempted to associate with the young people of the world in their sports and merrymaking. But the consciousness of an evening thus wasted, or perhaps worse than wasted, brings a feeling of remorse to the soul. Such a course is fittingly described in the following paragraph:—
“The continual craving for pleasurable amusements reveals the deep longings of the soul. But those who drink at this fountain of worldly pleasure, will find their soul thirst still unsatisfied. They are deceived; they mistake mirth for happiness; and when the excitement ceases, many sink down into the depths of despondency and despair. O what madness, what folly, to forsake the ‘Fountain of living waters’ for the ‘broken cisterns’ of worldly pleasure!”
There are other youth who, not choosing to attend the world’s places of amusement, fill their minds with the same exciting, sensational themes in the form of cheap, trashy reading; but the effects are as unsatisfying.
“The young are in great danger. Great evil results from their light reading. Much time is lost which should be spent in useful employment. Some would even deprive themselves of sleep to finish some ridiculous love story. The world is flooded with novels of every description. Some are not of so dangerous a character as others, . . . but all are pernicious in their influence.”
Something must be done to save our young people from these influences which are leading so many astray. Where they are prepared for it, great good has resulted from the organization of missionary societies. This, perhaps, is the ideal for young people’s meetings, but there are places where these meetings do not satisfy the restless activity of the young. They want something more informal and entertaining. For such we would suggest the organization of a reading society, as follows:—
First, secure the co-operation of the young people and their parents. They should understand the plan and be anxious to co-operate in making it a success. This co-operation may be secured by personal private talks united with prayer and study at a time when they are in a frame of mind least liable to object to the plan or to taking part in it. Recognizing the continual craving for pleasurable amusements and the influence of these upon the minds and characters of our youth, instruction has been given touching this point, a part of which we quote:—
“I do not recommend pleasure parties where young people assemble together for mere amusement, to engage in cheap, nonsensical talk, and where loud, boisterous laughter is to be heard. I do not recommend this kind of gathering, where there is a letting down of dignity, and the scene is one of weakness and folly. Many times young men for whom heavenly intelligences have been waiting in order to number them as missionaries for God, are drawn into the gatherings for amusement, and are carried away with Satan’s fascinations.”—Special Testimonies on Education, pages 82, 83.
The following quotation from “Testimonies,” Vol. VII, page 64, is speaking of how every one may obtain a knowledge of health principles and medical missionary work, but it reveals a principle which may be employed with profit as an introduction to, or in preparing the way for, a study of such missionary work by a study of something more interesting to unconverted youth:—
“Form a home reading circle, in which every member of the family shall lay aside the busy cares of the day, and unite in study. Fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, take up this work heartily, and see if the home church will not be greatly improved. Especially will the youth who have been accustomed to reading novels and cheap story-books receive benefit by joining in the evening family study. Young men and young women, read the literature that will give you true knowledge, and that will be a help to the entire family. Say firmly: ‘I will not spend precious moments in reading that which will be of no profit to me, and which only unfits me to be of service to others.’”
Second, select some good book which will be found instructive and inspiring as well as entertaining. Assign a certain number of pages or chapters to be read at home each week. We believe the books used in the Home Improvement Courses, conducted for young people by the Central Union Conference, are excellent books for this purpose. Outline lessons and helpful suggestions are being printed in the Educational Messenger to guide in this study.
Third, the society should meet once each week or once in two weeks to discuss the reading lesson. The exercise in these meetings may differ according to the wishes of those conducting the work. There should be questions upon the lesson, quotations from other authors and the Bible upon the thoughts suggested by the lesson, with occasional recitations, songs, description of countries and places mentioned, and accounts of other missionary efforts in these countries, which may be found in the REVIEW, Youth’s Instructor, or elsewhere. In this way the exercises may be made very interesting, and all have a part to act. By encouraging them to help one another in every way possible, they may become home missionaries, without much thought of missionary work as such.
The leader of the society should appoint different ones each week to conduct the study. By using discretion in this work the young may soon be trained to bear responsibility in the home and in the church, and to do it in a creditable manner. If attention is given to every one, thus causing all to feel that they are a “part of the concern,” you will have but little trouble in holding attention.
This recommendation is not made to those churches having their young people well organized into active missionary societies. It is intended to reach a class who are not converted nor interested in missionary meetings. Any one desiring further information or suggestions should address Prof. M. E. Kern, or the writer, at College View, Neb.
Christ and the Sabbath
By Cyrus Simmons
CYRUS SIMMONS
“But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.” 2 Cor. 3:15.
This is the arraignment that Paul brought against the Jews for not being able to see Christ in the writings of Moses. There is a popular error to the effect that the Old Testament has been done away. The ones who hold to this are unable to see Christ in the Old Testament. “The veil is upon their heart.” Jesus tells us to “search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39. Evidently the Saviour had reference to the Old10Testament, as the New Testament had not been written at the time when he gave this injunction. The beginning of the text is “search.” We can see Jesus in the Old Testament only by searching.
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” 2 Tim. 3:16. This text shows that the Old Testament as well as the New is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable and necessary for our salvation. The spirit of Christ was in the prophets who wrote the Old Testament. 1 Peter 1:11.
Christ Was in the Wilderness With the Children of Israel
He told Moses to tell the children of Israel that “I AM” sent him to them. Ex. 3:14. When he was on earth, he told the Jews that he was the “I AM.” “Before Abraham was, I AM.” John 8:58. If Christ is the “I AM,” it was Christ who spoke to Moses.
It was Christ who suffered with the children of Israel in the wilderness; he went with them and saved them by the angel of his presence. “In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.” “So he was their Saviour.” Isa. 63:9, 8. “For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” 1 Cor. 10:4.
Christ Spoke the Law on Mount Sinai
“He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” John 12:48. Here Christ refers to his word that he has spoken, which shall be a standard of righteousness, by which all shall be judged. By the ten commandments all shall be judged. James 2:11, 12. The ten commandments were spoken, as well as written. “And God spake all these words, saying.” Ex. 20:1. In Ex. 34:28 the marginal reading shows that the expression “the ten commandments” is also rendered “the ten words.” The one who spoke the ten commandments is the one who brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt. “I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt.” Ex. 20:2. We are told by Hosea that the one who brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt was the Saviour. “Yet I am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no Saviour beside me.” Hosea 13:4. If the one who spoke the law was the one from the land of Egypt, and the one from the land of Egypt was the Saviour, the conclusion is evident that it was the Saviour, or Christ, who spoke the ten commandments on Mount Sinai.
Christ is the one who ascended on high and led captivity captive. Eph. 4:8. The psalmist tells us that the one who ascended on high was on Mount Sinai. “The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place. Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive.” Ps. 68:17, 18. If the one who ascended on high was Christ, and if he was on Mount Sinai, it is evident that Christ spoke the law from that holy mount.
Christ Is the “I Am” Who Was in Existence Before the First Sabbath Day Was Made
He is the “I AM” that existed before Abraham. John 8:58. “Yea, before the day was I am he.” “I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no Saviour.” Isa. 43:13, 11. If the Saviour was in existence before the first day was called into being, he lived before the first Sabbath was made.
His own testimony in the prayer that he made before he went to the garden of Gethsemane gives evidence of that fact: “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” John 17:5.
Christ Is in the Sabbath
It has already been shown that Christ is the “I AM” who spoke to Moses. Therefore it was the presence of Christ that made the ground holy while he was speaking to Moses. Ex. 3:5; Joshua 5:13-15. God calls the Sabbath “my holy day.” Isa. 58:13. We are told to “remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” Ex. 20:8. If the presence of Christ made the ground holy, it is the presence of Christ that makes the Sabbath holy, and in order to keep the Sabbath holy it is necessary for us to keep Christ in that day. The veil should be taken from our hearts so that we can see Christ in the Sabbath of the Lord.
Christ Is the Agent in the Creation of all Things
All things are of God and by Christ. 1 Cor. 8:6. God created all things by Jesus Christ. Eph. 3:9. God by Christ made the worlds. Heb. 1:2.
“Who is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature: for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they are thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” Col. 1:15-17. This last quotation shows that Christ created “all things.” If he created “all things,” he must necessarily have created the Sabbath day. “All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.” John 1:3. If the Sabbath was made, and if all things were made by Christ, does not Christ himself tell us that he made the Sabbath day? “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath: therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27, 28. If the Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath day, then the Sabbath day, not Sunday, is the Lord’s day. If Christ made the Sabbath, then the seventh-day Sabbath is the Christian Sabbath, and not Sunday. Christ wants us to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy in commemoration of him as our Creator. He tells us why he wants us to keep the Sabbath day: “For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.” Ex. 20:11.
Christ Is Our Re-Creator, or Saviour
To be regenerated we must be new creatures, or new creations. 2 Cor. 5:17. We must be born again, or from above (John 3:3), born by the word of God. 1 Peter 1:23. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.” Eph. 2:10. Sanctification is regeneration, being born again, being a new creation. Christ wants us to keep the Sabbath not only as a memorial of his creation of the worlds and of ourselves, but also as a sign of his re-creation, or sanctification, or redemption of us as his children. “Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them.” Eze. 20:12.
Christ is the power and the wisdom of God. 1 Cor. 1:24. The Sabbath is a weekly remembrancer and evidence of that power and wisdom. “There remaineth therefore a keeping of a Sabbath [margin] to the people of God.” Heb. 4:9.
Knoxville, Tenn.
Watch Unto Prayer
By H. F. PHELPS
H. F. PHELPS
“Pray without ceasing.” I Thess. 5:17. This admonition is given by the apostle Paul. Prayer, to the Christian, is a necessity. It is the means of communication between man and his Maker. It changes man’s attitude toward God. It draws man nearer to his Maker.
There is life in prayer. The more the Christian prays, the more he lives. It is a daily necessity. One meal a day is not enough. One prayer each day is insufficient. Prayer lifts the soul into the presence of God.
“My presence shall go with thee.” Ex. 33:14. It is the desire of Christ that his presence shall go with us. This is what we need. We need his presence here, that we may live in his presence in the holy city. And his presence is one of his most choice blessings. Through prayer we may receive it.
“Prayer is appointed to convey
The blessings God designs to give;
Long as they live should Christians pray;
They learn to pray when first they live.”
And they cease to live when they cease to pray. These things being so, we must learn to “pray without ceasing.” And so “continuing instant in prayer” (Rom. 12:12), we shall be able to overcome in every temptation.
Minneapolis, Minn.11
Lend a Hand
Somebody near you is struggling alone
Over life’s desert sand;
Faith, hope, and courage together are
gone;
Reach him a helping hand;
Turn on his darkness a beam of
light;
Kindle, to guide him, a beacon fire
bright;
Cheer his discouragement, soothe his
affright,
Lovingly help him to stand.
Somebody near you is hungry and cold;
Send him some aid to-day;
Somebody near you is feeble and old,
Left without human stay.
Under his burdens put hands kind and
strong;
Speak to him tenderly, sing him a song;
Haste to do something to help him along
Over his weary way.
Dear one, be busy, for time flieth fast,
Soon it will all be gone;
Soon will our season of service be past,
Soon will our day be done.
Somebody near you needs now a kind
word;
Some one needs help such as you can
afford;
Haste to assist in the name of the Lord,
There may be a soul to be won!
— Selected.
A Family Tragedy
THE following is a true tale of a recent happening in an American city. It is a good story to relate to patients and legislators in the campaign against nostrums and against adulterated foods and drugs. A respected clergyman fell ill, and the family physician was called. After examining the patient carefully, the doctor asked for a private interview with the patient's adult son.
“Harry,” said the doctor, “do you know what is the matter with your father?”
“No. We sent for you to tell us that.”
“Well,” the physician said, “I am sorry to tell you that your father undoubtedly is suffering from chronic alcoholism.”
“Chronic alcoholism! Why, that's ridiculous! Father never drank a drop of liquor in his life, and we know all there is to know about his habits.”
“Well, my boy, it's chronic alcoholism, nevertheless, and at this present moment your father is drunk. How has his health been recently? Has he been taking any medicine?”
“Why, for some time, six months I should say, father has often complained of feeling unusually tired. A few months ago a friend of his recommended to him [mentioning a much-advertised remedy], assuring him that it would build him up. Since then he has taken many bottles of it, and I am quite sure that he has taken nothing else.”
In this connection it might be added that a very prominent anti-saloon worker, a clergyman, lately said that in shame he was compelled to admit that he had run across indubitable proof that there are ministers of the gospel who receive pecuniary commissions from the makers of alcoholic nostrums whose wares they recommend. Than this there can be no worse form of graft. The time is here for the organized profession to join hands with all other workers and organizations, whether anti-saloon leagues, temperance unions, or courageous anti-nostrum publications, to set a definite limit to the progress of respectable and innocent intemperance.—Journal of American Medical Association.
The Prevention of “Colds”
Now that the season for “colds,” coughs, and neuralgic pains is with us, the careful man is on the lookout for such preventive measures as will guard him against the “eager and nipping air” that may prepare the way for a winter’s sickness. It is the proper adaptation to his environment that must settle the question of his immunity against the ever-threatening weather ailments.
With the changeable climate of our northern latitudes the task is often a difficult one. Thus a sudden drop in temperature is often followed by a veritable epidemic of catarrhal troubles.
The ordinary phenomenon of a “cold” is explained by a rapid cooling of the surface, whereby the superficial circulation is temporarily arrested, and internal congestions are produced. The primary effect is generally upon the mucous membranes of the nose, throat, and upper air-passages. In consequence of the revulsion, chilliness, lassitude, headache, sneezing, and cough follow in turn, and the patient becomes generally miserable. Then, when it is too late, he doubts his resisting powers against drafts, cold rooms, undue exposure, and the like, and is ready to resign himself to the coddling process for the remainder of the winter. Strange as it may appear, it is this misguided carefulness that explains most of the chronic catarrhs of the season.
First on the list of such causative agencies are our overheated and ill-ventilated apartments. Eminent medical authorities maintain that the sudden change from an overwarmed room to the cold air outside has more to do with the production of “colds” than all other supposed agencies combined. The air-passages, after having been dried, and, so to speak, baked in our living-rooms, are not only peculiarly sensitive to cold, but are in a condition least liable to resist the influences of the change.
The same principle might apply to overheating the body by too much clothing, and enfeebling the skin by confined perspiration. A condition exactly contrary results from the inurement to low temperature and the creation of a habit of natural resistance. The man who is accustomed to bare his throat to the blast never suffers from tonsillitis, and the one who is used to the cold morning plunge never knows a shiver, even in zero weather. The real moral is to face the cold with a bold front, to conquer rather than to shrink from it and be overcome in the end. . . .
A like principle applies to exercise. With ordinary garments the well individual never suffers from cold while in motion, but the one who sits or lies in a cold room or in a draft from open door or window is sure to become a victim of his indiscretion. . . .
The worst of all is that a “cold” taken in early winter is apt to linger and prepare the system for even more distressing ailments. The very lack of vital resistance that invites the first attack of catarrh is apt to intensify the predisposition to subsequent colds. This in a great measure explains the prevalence of pneumonia during the inclement season. The microbe never attacks a healthy membrane, but lies in wait for the local debilitation which furnishes the soil for the seed.
No more forcible argument could be used in favor of preventive measures against the slightest respiratory trouble that may show itself at this time. Nothing lowers the vital resistance against all winter diseases more than the initiative and apparently insignificant “cold.”—New York Herald.