International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 7, 1886
General Articles.
By Ellen G. White
The Power of Love.
BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.
Love is power; intellectual and moral strength are involved in this principle, and cannot be separated from it. The power of wealth has a tendency to corrupt and destroy; the power of force is strong to do hurt; but the excellence and value of pure love consist in its efficiency to do good, and to do nothing else but good. Whatsoever is done out of pure love, be it ever so little or contemptible in the sight of men, is wholly fruitful; for God measures more with how much love one worketh, than the amount he doeth. Love is of God. The unconverted heart cannot originate nor produce this plant of heavenly growth, which lives alone, and flourishes only where Christ reigns. Love cannot live without action, and every act increases, strengthens, and extends it. Love will prevail and gain the victory when argument and authority are powerless. Love works not for profit nor reward; yet God has ordained that great gain shall be the certain result of every labor of love. It is diffusive in its nature, and quiet in its operation, yet strong and mighty in its purpose to overcome great evils. It is melting and transforming in its influence, and will take hold of the lives of the sinful, and affect their hearts when every other means has proved unsuccessful. Wherever the power of intellect, of authority, of force, is employed, and love is not manifestly present, the affections and will of those whom we seek to reach, assume a defensive, repelling position, and increase their strength of resistance as they are met by another power than love. Jesus was the Prince of Peace. He came into the world to bring resistance and authority into subjection to himself. Wisdom and strength he could command, but the means he employed to overcome evil were wisdom and strength of love. Suffer nothing to divide your interest from your present work until God shall see fit to give you another piece of work in the same field. Seek not for happiness for that is never to be found by seeking for it. Go about your duty. Let faithfulness mark all your doings, and be clothed with humility.
“Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.” Blessed results would appear as the fruit of such a course. “With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” Here are strong motives which should operate on minds to constrain them to love one another with a pure heart, fervently. Christ is our example. He went about doing good. He lived to bless others. Love beautified and ennobled all his actions. We are not commanded to do to ourselves what we wish others to do unto us; we are to do unto others what we wish them to do to us under like circumstances. The measure we mete is always measured to us again. Pure love is simple in its operations, and is distinct from any other principle of action. The love of influence and the desire for the esteem of others may produce a well-ordered life, and, frequently, a blameless conversation. Self-respect may lead us to avoid the appearance of vice. A selfish heart may perform generous actions, acknowledge the present truth, and express humility and affection in the outward manner, with the motives deceptive and impure; and the efforts and actions that flow from them may be destitute of the savor of life and the fruits of true holiness, being destitute of the principles of pure love. Love, love, should be cultivated. It needs cherishing, for its influence is divine.
Nothing is more treacherous than the deceitfulness of sin. It is the god of this world that deludes, and blinds, and leads to destruction. Satan does not enter with his array of temptations at once. He disguises these temptations with a semblance of good. He mingles with amusements and folly some little improvements, and deceived souls make it an excuse that great good is to be derived by engaging in them. This is only the deceptive part. It is Satan's hellish arts masked. Beguiled souls take one step, then are prepared for the next. It is so much more pleasant to follow the inclinations of their own hearts than to stand on the defensive, and resist the first insinuation of the wily foe, and thus shut out his in-comings. Oh! how Satan watches to see his bait taken so readily, and to see souls walking in the very path he has prepared. He does not want them to give up praying and maintaining a form of religious duties; for I can thus make them more useful in his service. He unites his sophistry and deceptive snares with their experiences and professions, and thus wonderfully advances his cause.
The hypocritical Pharisees prayed and fasted, observed the forms of godliness, while corrupt at heart. Satan stands by, taunting Christ and his angels with insults, “I have them! I have them! I have prepared my deceptions for them. Your blood is worthless here. Your intercessions and power and wonderful works may as well cease; I have them! They are mine! for all their high profession as subjects of Christ, for all they once enjoyed the illuminations of his presence, I will secure them to myself in the very face of Heaven, which they are talking about. It is such subjects as these that I can use to decoy others.” Solomon says, “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool,” and there are hundreds of such to be found among professors of godliness. Says the apostle, “We are not ignorant of his devices.” Oh! what art, what skill, what cunning, to lead to a union with the world, to seek for happiness in the amusements of the world, under the delusive idea that some good is to be gained! And thus they walk right into the net, flattering themselves that there is no evil in the way. The affections and sympathies of such are wrought upon, which lays a foundation for their ill-built confidence that they are the children of God. They compare themselves with others, and settle down satisfied that they are even better than many true Christians. But where is the deep love of Christ shining forth in their lives, its bright rays blessing others? Where is their Bible? and how much is it studied? And where are their thoughts? upon Heaven and heavenly things? It is not natural for their minds to go forth in that direction. The study of God's word is uninteresting to them. It does not possess that which excites and fevers the mind, and natural, unrenewed hearts will prefer some other book to the study of God's word. Their attention is engrossed in self. They have no deep, earnest longings for the influence of the Spirit of God upon the mind and heart. God is not in all their thoughts. How can I have it that most of the youth in this age will come short of ever-lasting life? Oh that their sound of instrumental music may cease, and they no more while away so much precious time in pleasing their own fancy! Oh that they would devote less time to dress and vain conversation, and send forth their agonizing prayers to God for a sound experience! There is a necessity for close self-examination, and to closely investigate in the light of God's word. Am I sound, or am I rotten at heart? Am I renewed in Christ, or am I still carnal at heart, with an outside, new dress put on? Bring yourself up to the tribunal of God, and see, as in the light of God, if there is any secret sin, any iniquity, any idol you have not sacrificed. Pray, yes, pray as you have never prayed before, that you may not be deluded by Satan's devices; that you may not be given up to a heedless, careless, and vain spirit, and attend religious duties to quiet your own conscience. It is inappropriate for Christians in every age of the world to be lovers of pleasure, but how much more so now, when the scenes of this earth's history are so soon to close. Surely the foundation of your hopes of everlasting life cannot be made too sure. The welfare of your soul and your eternal happiness depend upon whether your foundation610is built upon Christ. While others are panting after earthly enjoyment, be ye panting after the unmistakable assurance of the love of God, earnestly, fervently crying, Who will show me how to make my calling and election sure? One of the sins that constitute one of the signs of the last days, is that professed Christians are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. Deal truly with your own souls. Search carefully. How few, after a faithful examination, can look up to Heaven and say, I am not one of those thus described. I am not a lover of pleasure more than a lover of God. How few can say, I am dead to the world; the life I now live is by faith on the Son of God. My life is hid with Christ in God, and when he who is my life shall appear, then shall I also appear with him in glory. The love and grace of God! Oh precious grace! more valuable than fine gold. It elevates and ennobles the spirit beyond all other principles. It sets the heart and affections upon Heaven. While those around us may be engaged in worldly vanity, pleasure-seeking, and folly, our conversation is in Heaven, whence we look for the Saviour; the soul is reaching out after God for pardon and peace, for righteousness and true holiness. Converse with God, and contemplation of things above, transform the soul into the likeness of Christ.
“I WILL bless the Lord at all times!”
’Tis difficult to say,
When heavy clouds are overhead,
And not one cheering ray.
It is easier to bless him
In bright and happy hours,
When the sunshine is all golden,
And paths are strewed with flowers.
“I will bless the Lord at all times!”
Bless him for everything;
Some choicest gifts are wrapped in clouds,
With a message from the King;
There must be shadows here below,
All sunshine would not do;
For it could not make the landscape
So beautiful and true.
“I will bless the Lord at all times!”
Oh, this indeed is rest;
Here we find faith’s deepest secret,
Its surest, constant test,
To prove that it is really strong,
If it will bear the strain
Of some constant, weary pressure,
Or sorrow, grief, and pain.
“I will bless the Lord at all times!”
Through every cloudy day,
When earthly schemes are blown upon,
And lonely seems the way.
My Lord will never make mistakes,
At all times he is right;
It is my blessed privilege
To “walk by faith” not sight.
—British Evangelist.
Spiritualism—A Delusion of the Devil.
By S. C. Littlepage, D. D.
It is a significant fact that Spiritualists, as a class, deny the existence of a personal devil, while many of the more advanced and philosophic among them deny the existence of a personal God.
The existence of Spiritualists as a class of deceivers is a fact of prophecy, and therefore confirms the truth of the Bible. St. Paul says: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy. Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats.” 1 Tim. 4:1–3. This prophecy is not only fulfilled in the rise and character of Spiritualism, but the philosophy of the delusion is given; no one was ever carried away by it who did not first “depart from the faith.” A desire for other evidence than God has been pleased to give, has been the entering-wedge of many a heresy, and for such there seems to be a proneness in our fallen, human nature. The apostate Jews required a sign of Christ while the very works of God were taught in their midst by him. If the best measures fail, inferior ones are useless; since God has revealed himself, his will and grace bring life and immortality to light in the gospel. For a man to turn from his word and Spirit, and seek through mediumistic agencies to ascertain the truth of what he declares, is to insult his veracity, wisdom, and love, grieve the Holy Spirit, and enter the dominion of the devil as the willing dupe of his deceptive power.
Now I have no faith in the devil, but I have a knowledge of his devices which has cost me dearly, and gladly would I recover any one from his snares. The apparently ugly and uncharitable caption of this article is selected in all kindness. The truth is, I entered upon the investigation of Spiritualism, in Central America, in the summer of 1869, and continued my researches for several successive years in the cities of Washington, New York, St. Louis, and elsewhere, for the purpose of saving a beloved brother with whom I was associated, and who was anxious to believe it true. I was anxious, if it were true, to ascertain the fact, with a strong persuasion that it was a delusion of the devil, from the fact that it antagonized every vital principle of Christianity.
I prosecuted my investigations by ascertaining the mental and moral processes by which a belief in the theory is reached, and its effect on the moral character of those who embrace it. This was done by free personal contact and conversation with the most cultured and advanced Spiritualists I could find in my extended travels; and my judgment is, that no tree in the moral universe bears so uniformly such evil fruit as Spiritualism. It germinates in doubt of God’s truth, and ripens the blank negations of atheism as its maturest fruit. It is more to be deplored than atheism, if possible, from the fact that it so frequently leads to insanity. Indeed, it has been decided by many physicians to be a species of insanity.
The faith faculty of the human soul, by which, alone spiritual truth can be ascertained, when it turns from God and his word, and seeks to ascertain spiritual things through this diabolical agency, becomes perverted, and is open to the temptations of the devil, and there is no limit known to his seductive wiles. The marvelous gullibility of a soul in such a state is one of the most marked phenomena of all that accompanies this delusion. Hence the widespread effects following the performances of tricksters, who do not scruple to resort to any method that enables them to gull the people and drive their own business; and though their tricks have been detected and their frauds exposed, still the people will believe “there must be something in it.” This desire to believe the doctrine true, in most cases arises from a desire to ignore a sense of personal responsibility to a just and holy God. This is instigated by the devil, “who was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth,” and has been murdering and deceiving on to the present.
A most remarkable illustration of the truth of this proposition came under my own observation, in the city of New York, in the winter of 1869. My brother C. V. L. had been ill for some days, when very quietly turning to me he remarked, “My wife is dead.” I asked him why he thought so. “I think nothing about it,” said he, “I know it, for she is here with me, and has been for several days.” I reminded him that he was sick. He replied, “I know I am somewhat ill, but I am in my right mind; test me in any way you please. If I am not as rational as I ever was in my life, I am very much mistaken;” and, indeed, he appeared to be so, as far as I could determine.
I tried to dispel the illusion from his mind, but could not. He said, “I see her as plainly as I see you; I have been conversing with her as intelligently as I ever did in my life, and then she has described the circumstances attending her death so naturally that it is impossible for me to be deceived. Besides, she gives the philosophy of the spirit state in such perfect accordance with my conception of it that I am fully satisfied. She now looks upon you, and smiles to see you so gross as not to be able to apprehend her presence. She has been trying to attract your attention for some time; says you will become so developed as to be able to converse with her. She tells me that she started from her mother’s near Austin, Texas, to visit our former home in San Marcos, but on entering the San Marcos River, the horses became frightened, upset the buggy, and she and two of our children were drowned. As soon as she entered the spirit state, she knew my condition, and came immediately to my relief, and has been with me ever since, except during a brief visit made to her sisters in Guatemala, C. A.; but traveling almost with the velocity of thought, her absence was scarcely appreciable.” I tried to divert his attention from the subject, and urged the importance of his recovery, when he manifested some impatience and replied, “This will not interfere with my recovery. I cannot say that I regret her death; it is all right. I shall miss her in the flesh, of course, if I get well, but she will be with me in her spirit form all the while.” Upon my suggesting the possibility of hallucination, he replied, “If a man cannot believe the concurrent testimony of three of the five senses, what can he believe? I see her with my natural eyes, I hear her with my natural ears, I feel her hand in mine as sensibly as I ever did, and this during several successive days. Don’t talk to me about delusion in such a case as this!” There was no meeting such arguments; the truth is I was silenced and astounded, for he was a man of a strong analytical mind, and “the very soul of honor,” and I had never seen him appear more calm and rational than at this time. His interviews with his wife appeared to be continued through several successive days, and to be very gratifying to him; of course I could do nothing; . . . but within about ten days we received a letter from his wife, from which we learned that she had never made the contemplated trip to San Marcos, knew nothing of her husband’s sickness in New York, nor the “philosophy of the spirit state.”
Strange to say, my brother would not talk of this New York hallucination, but sought other “tests,” as is usually the case. Whether he ever became convinced, I never knew, as he died in the city of Guatemala a few years since, while I was stationed at Houston, Texas.
Of course I would not draw on the privacy of family history, but for the hope of saving some endangered soul from the snare of the devil.
Now let us admit the doctrine of “total depravity,” and accept the truth of Scripture, that men “love darkness rather than light,” can any man suppose that this insatiable hunger for anything but the bread of life; that this restless, impatient grasping for everything that is false in science, philosophy, and religion, can be accounted for on any other hypothesis than the active agency of a personal, malignant devil, “the accuser of the brethren,” and the deceiver of the world, who used to go about “as a roaring lion,” but now generally as a wolf in sheep’s clothing, or a squat at pine tables, as Milton’s toad at the ear of Eve? I confess I cannot. I think too much of our poor, and fallen nature, bad as it is, to hold it capable of such greed of self-deception but for the influence of this malignant foe.
Let any man take a seat, sit mum and unknown for half an hour, as I have done at some headquarters of Spiritualism, and listen to the talk of a group of itinerant lecturers, mediums, physical and spiritual, if he wishes to become convinced that these are the apostles of the prince of darkness. Or if one could set before us the statistics of ruined fortunes, blighted homes, crazed brains, and lost virtue, traceable to Spiritualism alone, who could resist the conviction that the enemy who hath sown these tares among the wheat of the Lord’s planting is the devil? While the good that Spiritualism has done could be written in bold characters on the blank side of a postage stamp.—S. C. Littlepage, D. D., in Wilford’s Microcosm.
Mercy and the Consequences of Conduct
It is hardly to be doubted that the moral tone of society would be far more healthful than it is were there less interference, in the name of mercy, with the consequences of violated law. For a man to imagine that he may lie or steal and escape the evil consequence, or any part of it, is most immoral and dangerous. It fosters this illusion whenever a weak good-nature averts from a guilty back the scourge of just consequence. Mercy does not seek first to make men comfortable, but to make them morally sound and strong in conformity to right. For this a strict subjection to the consequences of conduct, whether in the State or in the family, is indispensable. It is not in the way of release from any part of our just responsibilities that we must think of the mercy of God. “Every man shall bear his own burden.”—Christian Union.
Equal Rights Demanded.
By Editor
THIS journal is emphatically opposed to the enforcement of religious rights and privileges by law, as such a condition cannot do otherwise than work serious injustice to many honest, conscientious souls. It is well known that the “National Reform Association” seeks such an amendment to the Constitution of the United States as shall “place all the Christian laws, institutions, and usages of our Government on an undeniable legal basis in the fundamental law of the land.”
One institution which they desire and design to enforce by law, is the first day of the week as the American or Christian Sabbath. This, we claim, would be an abridgment of Christian liberty; for many who conscientiously desire to obey God, knowing that the first day is not the Christian Sabbath, keep another day, which the word of God enjoins. Must they lose one-sixth of their time in homage to an institution which they know has no foundation in either reason or religion?
But if the majority regard the first day as the Sabbath, is it not their privilege to be protected in its observance? Certainly; and no observer of the seventh day proposes to interfere with that. What we claim is that there should be exemption in favor of those who keep the seventh day. Then the matter is all adjusted, and none have ground for complaint.
Recognizing the justice of this principle, many States have exemption clauses in their Sunday statutes. But we have yet to see the first intimation on the part of those who are clamoring for a universal Sunday law, that they would recognize the rights of any such class, or favor any such feature of the law.—Temperance Outlook.
The Terror of the Lord.
By Independent
“God is love,” says the apostle John. “For God so loved the world,” says Christ, “that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.” The gospel of Jesus Christ, which is entitled “the glorious gospel of the blessed God” and also “the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth,” is, beyond all question, the gospel of love, and, as such, the best acquisition earth ever gained from Heaven. God, considered simply in his benevolence and mercy as thus manifested, lays the foundation for all our hopes.
There is, however, another view of God found in the same Bible, equally true, and not at all inconsistent with his love and mercy. God is said to be “angry with the wicked every day.” Isaiah says: “Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him; for the reward of his hands shall be given him.” Christ says: “He that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” “Indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish” constitute the Bible picture of what God will render “to them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness.” “It is a fearful thing,” says Paul, “to fall into the hands of the living God.” “For our God is a consuming fire.” The same apostle tells us that “the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.” Peter speaks of “the day of Judgment and perdition of ungodly men,” Christ, when judging the world in righteousness, is represented as saying to the wicked: “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” Of the wicked it is said that they shall “go away into everlasting punishment.”
These and like passages, found in the same Bible, that speaks so fully and emphatically of the love and mercy of God, reveal “the terror of the Lord.” The God of the Bible is not so benevolent or merciful that he ceases to be holy and just. The severities of his justice are not malevolent in the evil sense. It is not more certain that he is benevolent and gracious than it is that he “will render to every man according to his deeds,” and that “whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”—Independent.
Be Fervent.
“FERVENT in spirit, serving the Lord.” This is an apostolic injunction. The Lord's service demands fervor. We should enter upon it and continue in it with all the energy and zeal of our souls. If we are cold and lukewarm about anything, let it be about something of little importance, and not the salvation of our souls. There are many professing Christians who can enter into the pleasures and pursuits of the world with great enthusiasm, and sometimes indulge in the greatest hilarity and demonstrations of interest, but who condemn anything like feeling or exhibitions of warmth and earnestness in the service of God. They think the Lord must be served very quietly and sedately, and if there is a spark of zeal in the soul, it must be suppressed, and the Lord must be worshiped in a stoical manner. Such persons would have been very ill at ease had they been present on the day of Pentecost, when the Spirit was poured out upon the people, and they spake in different tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. They would have considered the jailer at Philippi very rude when he sprang in and inquired of the apostles, “What must I do to be saved?”
If a man is arrested by the Holy Spirit, and made to feel that the wrath of God abideth upon him, and that, like the psalmist, the pains of hell have got hold of him, and that unless he obtains mercy he must perish forever, why not take it coolly? Why make a fuss about such a little thing as that? It only involves the salvation of his soul and his eternal happiness! Why not act with becoming propriety? Or if God saves his soul from the guilt and condemnation of his sins, and gives him the assurance of his favor, and makes him an heir of Heaven, what is there in that to make his heart overflow with joy, and to fill his mouth with praise?
The ungodly, and mere nominal Christians, who have never felt the bitterness of repentance and the joy of pardon, cannot understand why such an experience should excite the deepest emotion, and sometimes work men up to the highest pitch of excitement. There is joy in Heaven over one sinner that repenteth, and why should there not be joy on earth? Men are differently constituted, and manifest their interest in things in different ways, but where they are deeply interested, they will be sure to manifest that interest in some way, and to a corresponding extent. If there is any one thing on earth in which we should feel more interest and manifest more zeal and fervor than another, it is the service of God and the salvation of our souls.—Sel.
Christ’s Care for His Disciples.
THE most beautiful commentary possible on John 10:11, 12, is Christ’s solicitude for the safety of his little band of disciples. The power and majesty which could make the armed men, sent to arrest him, go backward and fall to the ground is not used for himself; it was never used for himself. He even undoes the effect of Peter’s rash act, which might have otherwise involved him in the same danger. And the question naturally rises, Is he less solicitous now? If under all that cloud of anguish and dread his first thought is for them, can there be any difference in his feelings now that he is exalted above all principalities and powers? To this question the Scriptures answer, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever.”—Cynosure.
BE TRUE.
By Horatius Bonar
Thou must unto thyself be true,
If thou the truth would teach;
Thy soul must overflow, if thou
Another's soul would reach;
It needs the overflow of heart
To give the lips full speech.
Think truly, and thy every thought
Shall the world's famine feed;
Speak truly, and each word of thine
Shall be a fruitful seed;
Live truly, and thy life shall be
A great and noble creed.
—Horatius Bonar.
It Is Easy.
It is easy to have faith when everything is clear to the eye; but then that isn’t faith; it is sight.
It is easy to be patient when everything is going just as we want it to; but then that isn’t patience.
It is easy to love those who are lovely; but then that isn’t any test of love; do you love the unlovely? That is the question.
It is easy to be interested in those who are interesting; but it isn’t much credit; we shall never get to Heaven on that; but to be interested in those who are not interesting, who are dull and repulsive, that counts.
It is easy to be brave when there is no danger; but that is not bravery.
It is easy to resist temptation, when the temptation is to something that we don’t care for; but this is not a temptation; and that is not resistance.
It is easy to sacrifice what we do not value; but that is not sacrifice.
It is easy to deny to other people what will give them pleasure; but that is not self-denial; it is the denial of other people’s selves.
It is easy to give away what we cannot keep any longer; but that is not generosity.
It is easy to be resigned to the losses of other people; but that is not resignation.
It is easy to go with the few—when the other side is still fewer.
It is easy to stand for the truth—when there are a few millions to stand with you.
It is easy to say to the man who is on the hot gridiron, “Do not groan so; you disturb me,” when you are sitting in an easy chair and are neither too hot nor too cold.
It is easy to say to a man or woman, “Now, you are just the person to do this laborious and expensive duty, to enlist in the war, to be a missionary, to forego pleasure, wealth, comfort, to bear cold and heat, poverty and danger; you are just the person to do it; you are so much engaged, so zealous, so devoted;” while you enjoy your luxurious home, and heap up riches.
It is easy to steal a railroad, or a city, or a State, and then give ten thousand dollars to a hospital.—National Baptist.
Earnestness in Seeking Christ
By Rev. J. Wilbur Chapman
THERE is “one thing” which stands in the way of many a one's salvation, and that is lack of earnestness in their search for Christ. God was very much in earnest when he gave his Son to be the Saviour, and Christ was very much in earnest when he died on the cross; and the earnest Saviour and sinner will very soon meet. We are very earnest when seeking a fortune, and when we must work to save our lives; when we seek salvation in such a way, it will soon be found. For it is said: “Ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”—Rev. J. Wilbur Chapman.