Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jun 6, 1911
"IF YE WILL INQUIRE, INQUIRE YE."
By Editor
This Inquirers' Department is conducted for the purpose of helping those who are studying the Bible. The answers are oftentimes only suggestive. They are never to be considered infallible, only as they agree with the infallible Word. The writer who may answer them does not consider that his opinion is infallible. He will simply give the best that he has, and plead with the inquirer to search the Word. Such questions only will be answered as, to the editors, seem to minister to the good of the readers and to the mission of the paper. We can not answer repeatedly in the same volume questions upon the same scripture. The name and address must accompany question, not for publication, but as an evidence of good faith, and that answer may be made by letter if deemed advisable. No letters are answered which do not contain the name of the writer. It is well always to enclose stamp for reply.
3453 — Unpardonable Sins
By Editor
Please give an example of unpardonable sins. Be explicit as possible.
A Sin-Tossed Soul.
Let us emphasize it once more: An unpardonable sin is an unrepentable sin. Any soul that hates sin, that is sorry for his sinning, sorry that he has grieved God and the Holy Spirit, and longs to put away the sin, however deeply he has sinned, has not committed an unpardonable sin. For all these desires, feelings, emotions, longings, are begotten of the Spirit, to win him back to God.
Why ask for instances? No two cases can ever be just the same. But when Saul the King turned from God, the only one who could save, to a familiar spirit, he committed the unpardonable sin, because there was rejection of the means of salvation. 1 Chron. 10:13, 14. When the chief priests said, "We have no king but Cæsar," they rejected the only one who could save them. John 19:15; Matt. 23:37, 38. When the scribes called that power — the Holy Spirit — in Christ which cast out demons the Beelzebub, they set aside the only power that could save, and they could find no forgiveness, because they could never discern its source. Mark 3:29, 30.
It is the blood of Jesus Christ and the sanctifying power of the Spirit which saves. If we turn from these, what hope have we? Heb. 10:29. This is not to the discouraged soul, but to the sin-loving, Christ-hating soul. Here are three texts for every discouraged heart that has failed again and again: "As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live." Eze. 33:11. "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him." Heb. 10:38. "The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that hope in His mercy." Ps. 147:11. Read also Isa. 55:7; Micah 7:18, 19.
3457 — Baptism
If baptism is necessary for salvation, was salvation possible before 1844, as there were no ordained Seventh-day Adventists before that time, were there?
In the first place, neither baptism nor the Lord's Supper nor any other ordinance is necessary for salvation. Christ only is necessary for salvation. There will be millions saved who were never baptized. God can and does save the submissive heart. 2 Chron. 16:9. If that heart can not, does not, see every duty, unknown duty will not hinder his salvation. See John 15:22, 24. Seeing the duty of baptism and rejecting it is quite another thing.
Seventh-day Adventists believe in the continuity of the church of Christ. Sometimes that church has been pure and triumphant. Sometimes she has been backslidden and persecuted. For a long time she was scattered in Babylon, in the wilderness of error, and to some extent still is. The center of God's church has always been with the faithful remnant. It was His church in the first century, in the fourth century, in the sixteenth century, in 1840 to 1844, as well as afterward. Seventh-day Adventists are composed of those who have embraced restored, down-trodden truth, and new truth for this time. They did not start a new church of Christ. They are God's remnant for this time to witness to His whole truth; but they do not repudiate the past of God's work.
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3451 — Famine of Spiritual Food
By Editor
Kindly explain Amos 8:11, 12. Are there tracts dealing with that subject? V.
The prophet uses the awful condition of sinful Israel when they should be given over to their delusions as a type of what it will be in the last days. It is taught in many places, and especially in the Revelation, that God's great last threefold message will go to the world as a warning against the coming results of sin and to save all who will accept it. Rev. 14: 6-14. Many will reject it and follow the beast and his image. Rev. 13:4, 5, 8. After the message is given the plagues follow. Revelation 15 and 16. Then men will turn from their delusions to seek God's Word, but they will not find it, the Gospel will have done its work. Upon its messengers the Spirit will lay no burden. But their seeking then will not be for the purpose of salvation from sin, but salvation from sin's fruitage. "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: and they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the Word of the Lord, and shall not find it." Amos 8:11, 12. The best place to put God's Word is in the heart. Ps. 119:11. The foolish virgins arose and trimmed their lamps, but the oil was lacking. The oilless wicks of professed Christians who feed on husks instead of the Word may flash up momentarily, but they will soon go out. "The Great Day of the Lord," B. S. L., No. 65, price 2 cents, will help.
3452 — The Seven Divisions of the Gospel Age
By Editor
Am I right in my understanding of Revelation that the Gospel age is divided into seven distinct stages or epochs, and that our Lord returns near the close of the sixth? W.
From the view-point of the seven churches, no. When Christ comes, probation will have closed and every message to every church will have been given. While the Sardis church precedes the Philadelphia, and the Philadelphia precedes the Laodicea, all of them exist contemporaneously from the time that the latter enters — 1844 — till our Lord comes. In other words, the conditions represented by those three churches will exist to the close of probation. Out of Sardis and Laodicea will come the faithful into that of Philadelphia — brotherly love and faithfulness to God's Word.
But as to both the seven seals and seven trumpets, our Lord comes at the opening of the seventh seal, at the sounding of the seventh trumpet. Rev. 8:1; 11:15. The angel of Rev. 10:1 is a mighty angel in charge of that message of warning given in that chapter, given before the seventh trumpet sounds. The seven plagues cover one prophetic day or year. Rev. 18:8; Isa. 34:8. They come at the close of probation, before Christ's coming, and cover the little period "quickly" in Rev. 22:12. Follow the studies on the Revelation. Seven divisions of different things do not necessarily cover the same period. They merely denote completeness, fulness, of the thing to which they are applied.
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3454 — Daily Sacrifice and Abomination. Dan. 12:11
By Editor
Will you please explain through the question corner Dan. 12:11; Matt. 24:15? What is meant by the daily sacrifice, and the abomination that maketh desolate? What is the daily sacrifice that shall be taken away, and what is the abomination that will be set up?
"Sacrifice" is a supplied word. The word "daily" evidently refers, according to its use in the scriptures, to the continual or "perpetual service" of God, in which God was present, and which He acknowledged. It was Christ in His church. This perpetual, living service was replaced by "the abomination that maketh desolate." The same thing is told in Dan. 8:11. The abomination centers in the little horn power; the perpetual or continual, in the Prince of the host, our Lord. Christ regnant in the affairs of the church could be said to have been taken away in 508, when man assumed the place of Christ, and this false assumption continued for 1,290 years, or till 1798; but the last step in the restoration began at the close of the 2,300 days in 1844. Dan. 8:13, 14. What was seen in the closing days of Jewish apostasy and desolation was a faint foreshadowing of the great papal apostasy of the Dark Ages. This, very briefly, is, we believe, the general meaning of these terms.
3455 — Martin Luther and the Bible
By W. D. M. L.
Did Martin Luther translate the whole Bible or only a part of it?
W. D. M. L.
The whole Bible. He translated the New Testament in the Wartburg in 1522. The Old Testament appeared in parts 1523 to 1532, and the Apocrypha in 1534. The latter he did not consider canonical. He lived to see ten editions of his Bible translation printed.
3456 — To or for the Angels
By Editor
In an article, "The Law in the Christian Age," is the statement: "Men cease to watch and pray; they do not solicit the aid of holy angels, who would uplift for them a standard against the enemy." Does this agree with Rev. 22:8, 9; John 16:13-15; 14:6; Heb. 1:1-6; 1 John 2:27; 5:20?
We do not think the expression is against these scriptures. The solicitation is not to the angels for help, but to God for angelic help. "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them," Ps. 34:7. See also Heb. 1:13; Dan. 8:13; Matt. 26:53. In the light of these scriptures, surely we may ask God that He may send to our aid His angels.
See "Questions and Answers," page 81, No. 78. Compare Matt. 24: 28 with Luke 17: 37. The text refers to that time when the day of salvation is past, when the incorrigibly wicked, like a dead carcass, are waiting for the plagues; and the eagles or vultures are waiting to seize their prey.
The question on Zech. 8: 23 is answered in "Signs" of May 23, question 3441. Watch for the other. We can not always answer at once.
3459 — All Manner of Four-Footed Beasts. Acts 10:12
By Editor
Please explain Acts 10:12. Were there any unclean beasts then? C. Z.
Surely, there must have been unclean beasts; for all manner of beasts must include both classes. Peter would have eaten, but that was not the object of the vision. That great sheet represented the world for which Christ died. Peter only saw the Jewish race as accepted with God; all others were unclean, and God gave Peter that vision, to show him that he "should not call any man common or unclean." Acts 10:28. All were alike the purchase of Christ's blood. The lesson did not demand that Peter should eat, in vision or elsewhere. It was not a matter of dietary that God was giving.
Our first four days are in the first part of Isaiah, chapters 23 to 39. Mighty prophecies of the future, near and far, are given; strong denunciations of Ephraim and Judah, the prophet looking forward again and again to the coming and reign of Christ. Chapters 36 to 39 deal with the experiences of the good and great King Hezekiah, his sad mistake, and its predicted result.
Micah was contemporaneous with Isaiah during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. He prophesied very definitely of Christ's coming, and holds out wonderful promises to the repentant sinner.
Nahum's prophecy, in the latter days of Isaiah, is chiefly concerned with Nineveh, the wicked capital city of Assyria. That city is a type of many later ones.
Zephaniah seems to have prophesied just before Jeremiah, about B.C. 630. His burden is the great day of God's wrath, the necessity of preparation for that day, with prophecies against certain wicked nations, with a promise of future restoration.
Habakkuk is believed to be contemporary with Jeremiah. His reproof is against the oppressive and wealthy in Israel. He warns them against the coming of the Chaldeans. The Spirit uses the prophet's times as a type of our own. The last chapter is a majestic and beautiful poem.
Obadiah's prophecy (about B.C. 587) is against Edom, and the oppressors and revilers of God's children. It points to their utter destruction.
He Could Have Withstood Death
By Ellen G. White
Plan of Salvation—No. 4
By Mrs. E. G. White
THROUGH the death of Christ a door of hope was opened for fallen man. Man was under sentence of death for the transgression of the law of God. He was under condemnation as a traitor, as a rebel; but Christ came to be his substitute, to die as a malefactor, to suffer the penalty of the traitors, bearing the weight of their sins upon His divine soul. He descended lower and lower, till there was no lower depth of humiliation to sound, in order that He might lift up those who would believe in Him, and cleanse the guilty from moral defilement, and impart to them His own righteousness. He died to make an atonement, to redeem, cleanse, restore, and exalt man to a place at His right hand.
Through His life upon earth He scattered blessings wherever He went. Tho at His word legions of angels would render Him homage, yet He walked the earth unhonored, unconfessed. In place of praise He met reproach. He walked among men as one of the poor and lowly. Tho He healed the sick, relieved the oppressed, bound up the broken-hearted, yet few called Him blessed, and the great of the earth passed Him by with disdain.
He Could Have Withstood Death
As a member of the human family He was mortal, but as God He was a fountain of life to the world. He could have withstood the advances of death, and refused to come under its dominion; but voluntarily He laid down His life, that He might bring life and immortality to light. He bore the sin of the world, endured the penalty, yielded up His life as a sacrifice, that man should not eternally die. Contrast His suffering and humiliation with the riches of His glory, with the wealth of praise pouring forth from immortal tongues, with the anthems of adoration, with the homage of millions of holy angels in the heights of the sanctuary, and seek to comprehend what manner of love inspired the heart of Jesus.
He Manifested His Love
How much has God loved the race of men?—Look to Calvary. As you behold Jesus upon the cross, does not the heinous character of sin appear? It was sin that caused the death of God's dear Son, and sin is the transgression of the law. Says the prophet: "Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. . . . It pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief: when Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall My righteous Servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities."
When the sinner realizes that Christ died for him, that He might impute His righteousness unto him, he magnifies the love of God in providing the plan of salvation.
"The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." At infinite cost the salvation of man has been purchased. The world may refuse the gift, but this will not lessen its value, or relieve men of its responsibility. When He was upon earth, Jesus said to those who refused Him, "Ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life." There are many who are refusing to respond to the drawing love of Christ to-day. Jesus calls, but many refuse to respond to the invitation. They will not avail themselves of the privilege of having Jesus for their personal Saviour. They do not come in humility and faith, that they may know by a personal experience what they are to Jesus, and what He is to them. But the promise is, "He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied." Jesus will not rest until He leads His followers unto the realms of perfect joy and glory.
The plans of God can not fail. Men make great plans, but fail to accomplish the object that they design. They begin to build, and are not able to finish. They do not count the cost. But Jesus counted the cost of the salvation of every son and daughter of Adam. He provided abundant means whereby all might be saved, if they would but comply with the conditions and lay hold upon eternal life. Unfailing resources are at His command to complete the work which He has begun. Those who respond to His love, yielding their wills to Him, will not perish, but have everlasting life. How the wondrous provision of the plan of God for the4
Plan of Salvation
(Continued from page 3) salvation of men widens and exalts our ideas of the love of God! How it binds our hearts to the great heart of Infinite Love! How it makes us delight in His service, as our hearts respond to the drawing of His loving kindness and loving mercy! John calls upon men to behold the marvelous love of God. He exclaims: "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God; therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure." Those who are true, who are pure, who love and obey the words of God, will be counted children of the heavenly King, members of the royal family, heirs of God, joint heirs with Christ.
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
"Even as we have been approved of God to be entrusted with the Gospel, so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, who proveth our hearts."
Christ's Coming Preceded by a World-Wide Message
By H. W. Cottrell
By H. W. Cottrell
THE Book of God is radiant with Gospel assurances of Christ's return to this world the second time to receive His people. The eyes of God's children are fixed, and their hopes centered, on that prophetic Gospel epoch as the time of their full realization of the divine promises.
The second coming of Christ will therefore be the event of events, and like other moral epochs in the past, must be preceded by a world-wide message. To illustrate: The destruction of the earth by the Flood was preceded by Christ's message of salvation through Noah. The first coming of the Messiah, clothed in human flesh, was preceded by the joyful message heralded by John the Baptist, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
A Solemn Charge
That Christ's second coming brings with it decisions of eternal consequence to each individual, whether living or dead, is verified by the following quotation: "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick [living] and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom." 2 Tim. 4:1. This text also evidences the fact that He will appear as King in His kingdom, which kingdom He will finally establish "under the whole heaven."
The message of the coming King must go to earth's remotest bounds, that the people may decide, each one for himself, whether he will have the divine Christ and live eternally with Him, or choose death as his portion. "The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:23.
Paul, in admonishing to faithfulness, says: "I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; that thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: which in His times He shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords." 1 Tim. 6:13-15.
Christ's Definite Statement
Christ speaks very definitely in regard to the world-wide message that should precede His coming, in the following language: "And this Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." Matt. 24:14.
This "kingdom" Gospel message is the everlasting Gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ, which has come down the stream of time to each succeeding generation. But God adapts it to the times, in its detailed application, according to the needs of the people.
When John the beloved disciple was banished to the lonely isle of Patmos, the omniscient and ever-present Father was with him as Revelator. He permitted him to see with prophetic eye the peculiar need of earth's last generation of people, the definite threefold setting of the everlasting Gospel adapted to them, the returning Redeemer crowned King, the fruit-gathering of Heaven's effort for the salvation of the fallen race.
Three Angel Messages
The last world-wide message which is to precede the advent of our divine Lord will be brought very fully to view as we study John's record of Christ's revelation to him. A series of three angels is the pen picture.
One of them John said he saw flying "in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation; and kindred, and tongue, and people."
Even the casual reader will readily observe the following facts contained in the verse just quoted: The angel has the Gospel. It is the everlasting Gospel, and is to be preached to the whole world.
Then followed another angel with a message. And the third angel followed them. Immediately after the completed work of the third angel, Christ will "appear the second time without sin [sin-offering] unto salvation." These angels represent God's messengers with His last world-wide message.
Message of the First
The message of the first angel was, "Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." Rev. 14:6, 7.
The attention of all men is herein directed to God,—Jehovah,—and they are admonished to adore Him, especially in view of the fact that "the hour of His judgment is come."
The Lord has given the Gospel a different setting, in one respect, in this our day, from that of the days of Paul, because of the lateness of the day, as we are in the eleventh hour call. Paul preached of a "judgment to come;" but the burden of this angel's message is that it "is come." This is a solemn warning.
Message of the Second
The second angel followed, "saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen"—a Babylon formed of religionists; every wind of doctrine blowing, some even denying the Lord who bought them, by making themselves equal to the divine Christ. This condition is Babylon. This state of things became so intense to the prophetic eye that John saw Babylon fall morally lower and lower.
Message of the Third
The third and last angel of the series, with his message embracing the whole series, is described by "the beloved disciple" thus: "And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, 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." Verses 9, 10.
For lack of space, we will not endeavor to unfold the great volume of truth contained in this verse, but be content to say that it warns every man against the worship of "the beast and his image" and the reception of his mark. This beast doubtless refers to that great religious system known as the Papacy. An image would be a body of men who would proceed along the same line to enforce worship as did the Papacy; namely, by the strong arm of civil law. This message requires of every individual that he render adoration to God, and to Him only. Verse 7.
Hence God requires of every soul that he discountenance, in religious matters, every such system, whether the system be composed of a large body like the papal, or of a smaller body of men, or if it be found in the conduct of one lone man; for conscience and worship are due to be rendered to God only.
The tenth and eleventh verses pronounce the fiat of God upon the impenitent who have spurned forever Christ's proffered mercies.
To Precede His Second Coming
This message precedes the advent of Christ, and develops a people whose history5
Christ's Coming
(Continued from page 4) is penned in the language, "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Verse 12.
I will mention three qualities peculiar to this people: first, they wait patiently upon God in time of trial and trouble; second, they keep God's law, hence observe the seventh-day Sabbath; third, they keep Jesus' faith, by keeping Him spiritually abiding within the heart, and depend upon Christ alone for righteousness, hence they are Christians.
In fulfilment of the promise, "I will come again," "I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud One sat like unto the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle." Verse 14.
This message, dear reader, is under proclamation; has been sounding since the autumn of 1844, in fulfilment of prophecy; has gone to every nation, and to almost every country. Soon it will have accomplished its work, and then Christ will come. Will you hear and love His message?
The Coming Crisis
By Amos E. Flint
By Amos E. Flint
O'ER distant mountains, bleak and gray,
Comes reddening dawn of heav'n-born day;
Earth's long, dark night is almost o'er,
Supernal day is at the door.
As budding trees tell o'er the land
That summer days are near at hand,
So signs portend from year to year
That earth's great harvest day is near.
'Tis spent almost,—earth's dreary night,—
And fades before the orient light,
While higher creeps, with silv'ry ray,
The day-star that foretells the day.
No faithful watch earth's millions keep,
But slumber and repose in sleep,
Until destruction bursts around,
And shakes the trembling, broken ground.
Then slumb'ring ones, with wild dismay,
Arouse to dread and shun the day
When shall appear the Judge of all,
And they for rocks and mountains call.
Where shall the sinners find a stay
When bursts in pow'r that wrathful day?
'Twill sadly be in vain to call,
"Ye rocks and mountains, on us fall!"
That day is nigh! Unmingled, dire,
Will be His judgments and His ire;
And none can hope to flee His wrath,
Save those who tread the narrow path.
Awake! seek Heaven's shelter now,
Ere shadows gather on thy brow;
For soon destruction opens wide
In awful pow'r on every side.
Then come to-day, while mercy pleads,
And for the sinner intercedes;
While yet He'll grant His quick'ning pow'r
To flee destruction's dreadful hour.
Granger, Washington.
God’s Word Above All
I will worship toward Thy holy temple, and praise Thy name for Thy loving-kindness and for Thy truth: for Thou hast magnified Thy Word above all Thy name. Ps. 138:2.
Sanctified Through Truth
Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy Word is truth. John 17:17.
Speak God’s Word Faithfully
The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath My Word, let him speak My Word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord. Jer. 23:28.
God’s Word a Lamp
Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Ps. 119:105.
Kept and Taught by the Spirit
By William Covert
Through Infancy and Childhood
By William Covert
As an angel gave the Saviour's name before His birth, so did an angel proclaim to men the glad tidings when He was born. Devout shepherds who watched their flocks by night were first to hear the news of His advent to earth.
The messenger from heaven said to them: "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Then the herald told where the Babe could be found, and described the humble garb which clothed His infant form.
Hearing the welcome proclamation, the shepherds made haste to see the long-promised One. They soon found Him lying in a manger at Bethlehem, wrapped in swaddling-clothes, as the angel had said. Luke 2:8-16.
He had forsaken the riches and the glory of heaven (2 Cor. 8:9), to become poorer than the wild nesting birds and the den-digging beasts (Matt. 8:20; John 6:38), that man might inherit greater riches than mortals had ever known.
Shortly after the rites of His birth had been celebrated, King Herod the Great began to plot for His destruction, and the angel of the Lord advised His guardians to flee with Him into Egypt as a place of refuge from the murderous schemes of that jealous royalty.
By committing Himself into the care of the eternal Spirit, He was fortressed about by the power of omnipotence, and mighty angels were commissioned to watch the schemes of the enemy and cause their wicked designs to miscarry.
Every promise of help made for the children of men was valid for the Son of God when He came to our world in mortal flesh. Temptations which beset Him and trials which He suffered were duplicates of those which humankind have to bear. What He met, men may meet; where He walked, men may go; what He bore, men may bear. For He "was in all points tempted like as we are." "He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked." "Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows." Heb. 4:15; 1 John 2:6; Isa. 53:4.
He came to us a babe; yet for the period of His infancy it was written of Him, "Thou didst make Me hope when I was upon My mother's breasts." Ps. 22:9.
The son of Amoz, and seer of Israel, in his predictions relating to Jesus, said, "The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; and shall make Him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord." Isa. 11:2, 3.
The summary of Scriptural statements shows that spiritual help and divine protection are not withheld from any soul, either because of fewness of days or ripeness of years. Neither is help denied because of race, color, place, or position. "The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works." Ps. 145:9.
While it is true that none can hide from the eyes of the Lord, nor escape from the presence of His power, it is also just as true that all are subjects of His grace, and creatures of His care. For these reasons the man of God has asked, "Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence?" His preserving presence and His power to keep are above, and below, and also near at hand, whether one be far away or close by.
It is helpful, too, for us to know that what God did for Christ He could do for us, if we should become as wholly surrendered to the divine will as was the eternal Son. What matchless grace men could have if they would be as Jesus, who came down from heaven not to do His own will, but the will of the Father, who sent Him!
With Him even heaven was given up, and position in it, in the interest of His earthly mission. And being submitted in the very act of His coming to earth, He could be fashioned after the divine image from the day of His birth. Therefore, it is said of Him, "And the Child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, . . . and the grace of God was upon Him." Luke 2:40. It was the grace and the wisdom given Him by the eternal Spirit having Him in charge, that made Him strong in spirit and pure of heart.
In His wholeness of consecration He again brought to light that hidden wisdom which in the beginning God ordained to our glory (1 Cor. 2:7), that wisdom which none of the princes of this world knew, but that which the Prince of Peace, the Christ of God, will through the eternal Spirit teach to all the Spirit-born royalty of His kingdom.
A Life
By The Pulpit
CHRISTIANITY is more than a belief, it is a life. It furnishes not only truths to be believed, but things to be done, and the doing of them is by no means a secondary consideration. The truth which we believe is to be exemplified in our life. The life that we live is to be "by the faith of the Son of God," who hath loved us and given Himself for us.
The Share of Truth
By John Greenleaf Whittier
KNOWING this, that never yet
Share of Truth was vainly set
In the world's wide fallow.
— Whittier
