p. 532 | Review and Herald, Vol. 77, No. 34. (8/21/1900)

Review and Herald

Aug 21, 1900

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 21, 1900

WORDS OF COUNSEL TO YOUNG MINISTERS.

By Ellen G. White

MRS. E. G. WHITE.

Writing to Timothy, his son in the gospel, and to every young man who engages in the work of the ministry, Paul says: “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. . . . Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth: and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” And to Titus he writes: “Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded; in all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that can not be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.”

Young men, you have a faith of which you need not be ashamed; and you have solemn, serious work before you, in laboring for souls as they that must give an account. You need a knowledge of God, deeper, fuller, clearer, than you have ever had. You need to press forward, every day receiving grace and power from the Source of all power. You have a high and holy calling; and if you would have souls for your hire, you must take firm hold upon God. Let it be seen that you are intensely in earnest. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.”

As laborers together with God, we need to know what is required of us. Let none sit down at their ease and say, Christ has done all that is necessary. Surely it were better that Christ’s sacrifice had never been made, than that it should be made to minister to sin. It is this kind of religion that makes the cross of Christ of no effect. Throw your energies into the contemplation of eternal interests. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Respond to the operations of the Holy Spirit. Your soul will be lifted into a purer, holier atmosphere as you consider the important question, What shall I do to be saved?

“I have written unto you, young men,” John writes, “because ye are strong.” What makes them strong?—Eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God. Thus they grow up into Christ, their living head. “And the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.” This battle is to be fought over and over again. Be not content with your present experience. Sink the shaft deep in the quarry of truth. Truth, eternal truth, is the treasure for which you must seek with unremitting diligence. Do not rest until all that is superficial in your life is supplanted by a deep, fervent, solid experience. This will make you reliable in every place, because the Lord is your strength, his word your daily bread. Your religious experience will then give you strength to brace your mind against the counter-working influence of hereditary and cultivated tendencies.

This fallen world is in strange hands. Men rule for hire, and preach for hire. In all business transactions there is a strife for the supremacy. If Christ should walk through the streets of our cities to-day, few would have interest enough to follow him. Those who act a part in the government of the world have no part with Christ, who has declared, “Without me ye can do nothing.” Can they be successful statesmen who have not learned the ways and methods of the Great Teacher? The men in high positions of trust should be educated in the school of Christ. Do not shun these influential men. Men of talent and influence need to understand the word of God in its purity, that they may labor with a knowledge of what saith the Scriptures. If a man were drowning, you would not stand by and see him sink beneath the waves because he was a mayor, a lawyer, a minister, or a judge. Neither must you leave these souls to perish. Thus, while you do not neglect to do the work essential for winning souls in the humble walks of life, you may win to Christ those who can fill responsible places in the cause and work of God.

Seek conversion of body, soul, and spirit. Unfold your napkin, and begin to trade with your Lord’s goods. In so doing, you will gain other talents. Every soul intrusted with talents is to use them to benefit others. Who in the great day of final reckoning will say, “I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine”? To such the Lord will say, “Thou wicked and slothful servant: . . . thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.”

The Lord is still calling those who are apparently blind to their deficiencies, the self-complacent ones, who plan and devise how they can best serve themselves. God help the spiritually blind to see that there is a world to be saved. The truth is to be made manifest to those who know it not, and this work calls for the self-denying grace of Christ. Thousands who are now of no use in God’s cause should be digging up their buried talents, and putting them out to the exchangers. Those who think that they will surely reach heaven while they follow their own ways and imaginations, might better break the seal, and re-examine their title to the treasures of heaven. The men and women who feel at ease in Zion might better become anxious about themselves, and inquire: What am I doing in the Lord’s vineyard? Why am I not yoked up with Christ, a laborer together with God? Why am I not learning in Christ’s school his meekness and lowliness of heart? Why have I no burdens to bear in the service of Christ? Why am I not a decided Christian, employing all my powers in laboring for the salvation of the souls who are perishing around me? Saith not the Word, “We are laborers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building”? Shall I not with God’s help build a character for time and eternity, and promote godliness in myself and in others through the sanctification of the truth?

Selfishness and unbelief are spoiling many lives. The church is made weak by the inefficiency of those who should wear the yoke of Christ and lift his burdens. Christ has need of persons of genuine experience. Shall he have in his army men each with some spiritual defect, soldiers who must seek the easiest place, lest the rough path hurt their slippered feet? We are on the battlefield, enlisted for service. When the trumpet call is heard, “Advance!” do not stop to nurse your little infirmities. Forget that you have them, and move on. Where are the active soldiers, who, clad in all the armor of God, are prepared to do aggressive warfare? Where are the soldiers who are ready to lift the standard, and bear it through the battle, under the Captain’s order, unto victory?

Earnest engagements must be entered into; for the Lord is coming. Away with the ease-loving indolence that holds so many from the work. Unearth your buried talents. You are under obligation to be active, diligent workers. “Whosoever will come after me,” Christ said, “let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Do not refuse to see your responsibilities. Unite in earnest work for God. Go forth to labor, carrying your colors with you.

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

THE SPIRIT OF GOD.

By L. D. Santee

L. D. SANTEE.

I need thy sweet Spirit, my Saviour; For my life is weary with care, And the sorrows that chasten my spirit Are oftentimes heavy to bear. Before thee I humbly am kneeling, And for strength in my weakness I pray. Oh, come with the touch that brings healing, And drive all the shadows away!

I long for thy Spirit, my Saviour, To give me the graces I need,— The peace that flows deep as a river, Through meadows of love where I'd feed; The patience that knoweth not sorrow; The trust that is stayed but on thee; The hope that sees joy on the morrow; The Day-star o'er life's troubled sea.

I need thy sweet Spirit, my Saviour, When, bereaved, I stand by the tomb. 'Tis then I would know that the loved one Will awake and arise from the gloom; That, free from the country of shadows, He will enter the kingdom of God, And in peace rest in evergreen meadows, Where the footsteps of sin never trod.

SANCTIFICATION

By B. J. Ferciot

B. J. FERCIOT. (Canton, Ohio.)

“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” John 17: 17. In order for us to understand how we can be sanctified through the truth, it is necessary for us to understand the nature of truth, and how received.

We read, in 2 Tim. 3: 16, 17, these words: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” Let us consider the words “inspiration of God:” first, God breathed; second, inspiration is a breathing in. Into whom?—Into you and me if we will receive it.

In Gen. 2: 7 we have a beautiful illustration of this breathing in of God: “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” “And the inspiration [the breathing in] of the Almighty giveth them understanding.” Job 32: 8. And the same mighty power that created man at first is used through the Word to create him anew in Christ Jesus. “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth” (James 1: 18); “for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Eph. 2: 10.

Jesus, after his resurrection, when he appeared unto his disciples, said unto them: “Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” John 20: 21, 22. Now, as “the gospel . . . is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” (Rom. 1: 16); as “the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God” (1 Cor. 2: 11); and as the gospel is committed to Christ’s followers,—how important that we receive the Holy Spirit, through whom all Scripture as well as prophecy is given. For concerning prophecy we read: “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time [“at any time,” margin] by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1: 20, 21. And the Spirit of God through the apostle Paul gives us these words: “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.” Acts 20: 32.

Now in order for us to inherit, we must belong to the family of God. “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Gal. 3: 29. As we are thus adopted into the family of God and have been made partakers of the inheritance through faith, God gives us, or places upon us, his sign, seal, or mark, which shows that we are members of his family, and have become partakers of the inheritance “through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.” 2 Thess. 2: 13.

In order for a will, or testament, which conveys an inheritance to be of force, it must have the sign, seal, or mark, of the testator. And so it becomes necessary for us to inquire what is God’s sign, seal, or mark, which designates “them that are sanctified”? We read in Eze. 20: 12: “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.” “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, . . . that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest [or pledge] of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession [purchased by his own blood, Acts 20: 28], unto the praise of his glory.” Eph. 1: 11–14. “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.” Eph. 1: 18.

How important, then, that we heed the instruction given in 1 Peter 2: 2: “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby;” and also that we appreciate the gifts in the church, and understand their purpose as set forth in Eph. 4: 11–14: “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.” Therefore “grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

Now by what acts did Christ make it possible for us to attain unto perfection? We find our answer in Heb. 10: 14–17: “For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.”

We are perfected when we are sanctified through the truth, and not until then. And in 2 Tim. 3: 16, 17, we find that the object of God in giving all Scripture through inspiration was, and is, our perfection. Let us now consider

the definite character of God’s sign, seal, or mark, which he gives us. When was it established? and by what definite acts?—It was established at the completion of creation. Thus God gave his Sabbath as a memorial of his perfected creation; and he gives it to us as a sign, seal, or mark of a perfected re-creation in Christ. “For if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. . . . For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Cor. 5: 17–21. And as we attain unto this through faith, believing, we can enter into his rest only by ceasing from our own works as did God from his. Heb. 4: 10. Then for anyone to claim sanctification, or holiness, who has refused to receive his Sabbath, is to claim that which is false; for there is no other way but God’s way to true sanctification, and that is through his truth, of which the Sabbath is the seal. And if we refuse truth, it is certain that we can never be sanctified through it.

GIVE

By King’s Messenger

King’s Messenger.

WHAT shall I give? Silver and gold have I none, time and talents are not mine, sacrifice and service are not required; what shall I render? what can I give?—SPACE. That is all He wants—that he requires. Space to receive him! Room for his comfortable indwelling! Turn out, remove, empty of everything. Give him place. He wants to occupy, to make you his temple. But we are preoccupied. The first church, the world, the family, the self have pre-empted his claim, and there is no room. We cry to him to come. He comes, and there is no place for him, and he must return as he came. Pity! Give! give! give! Space, space, space! Better let him prepare it. Don’t try to empty yourself; let him do it all. He will empty, he will fill.

Jewish Students in American Education

Of the six hundred and forty girls who passed successfully the examinations for admission to the normal college this summer, the majority are Jews. More than five sixths of the whole number came from the public schools, of which, for many years past, the best scholars have been of that race chiefly. . . . Thus it happens that the supply of teachers and for the professions is coming so largely from the Jewish race. Jews are also now a notable part of the students of our great universities.—New York Sun.

BEHOLD, I COME QUICKLY.

By William Brickey

WILLIAM BRICKEY. (Kimball, Minn.)

“Behold, I come quickly!” These words of the Master Portentously ring, to the world, of disaster; For cyclones and whirlwinds come faster and faster, While war-clouds and pestilence darken the air. The wheels of his chariot roll down through the ages, The signs of his coming fill history's pages; They were written by prophets, and sanctioned by sages— A beacon of God to his church everywhere.

“Behold, I come quickly!” repeat the glad tidings; Go first to the church, in her shameful backslidings: The Third Angel’s Message, its warnings and chidings, May lead to repentance before ’t is too late. His coming draws nearer! the days are all numbered; But while he has tarried, his people have slumbered, And all his fair vineyard has been much encumbered With trees that were fruitless, though labor was great.

“Behold, I come quickly!” Oh, tell the glad story! Repeat it till earth is ablaze with its glory. The youth and the aged, the infirm and the hoary— Each one may the Third Angel’s Message unfold. On Nahum’s swift chariots go, teach every nation, Send swift wingèd lightnings with news of salvation; For this is the day of the Lord’s preparation, And he ’ll shorten the work, as the prophet foretold.

THE SABBATH-SCHOOL WORK.

By Alonzo T. Jones

A. T. JONES.

The book of Galatians is God's protest of the true gospel against salvation by formalism; against salvation by self-righteousness; against salvation by our own works. It is God's protest forever against all formalism, against all ceremonialism of whatsoever sort.

And that book of Galatians, of all the books in the Bible, is present truth to-day, to Seventh-day Adventists. [Voice: “Amen.”] Do you suppose that it is a mere make-up, to fill time with something only to be doing on Sabbaths, that these lessons have been arranged? Do you think that it is a mere happen-so that the book of Galatians should be brought before Sabbath-schools throughout the world now, to be studied itself, within itself, for just what it says? Do you think that it has come about without any of God's thought at all? [Voice: “No.”] I do not suppose you do. I believe that you believe that the Lord has brought it about, that this portion of the Scriptures should be studied now. [Voice: “Amen.”]

Well, then, that itself shows that it is present truth now; because—do not make the mistake of thinking that all the ceremonialism in the world was forsaken when they of the Pharisees and of the Jews, in Paul's day, were left behind. Seventh-day Adventists can be formalists and ceremonialists, just as really as could those “Pharisees which believed” back yonder. I say, They can be. A man can turn Sabbath-keeping into ceremonialism just as really as they did. True, they had other, and more, ceremonies than we have; but that makes no difference. We have ceremonies just as really as they had, even though not so many. Have not we the ceremony of baptism? Have not we the ceremony of the Lord's Supper? Have not we the forms of worship—going to church on Sabbath, prayers, singing, etc.? Now, we can turn all that into formalism and ceremonialism, just as really as those other folks did. The principle is the same now as ever.

Bear in mind also that the book of Galatians was not given to correct simply a particular form of ceremonialism; it was given to correct the THING. If it had been given to correct only some particular form of ceremonialism, and that was corrected at the time, what then would be the use of that book at the present time? It would not fit any other particular form or ceremony. But when the book deals only with the thing itself; when it strikes at the very root of ceremonialism in whatever form it could possibly appear,—then the book is forever present truth, and is applicable everywhere and to all people.

Indeed, ceremonialism is the culmination of things in the world, in our day. Therefore the book of Galatians is not only present truth to us, but is likewise present truth to the whole world. What do the Scriptures say shall come in the last days?—“In the last days perilous times shall come.” There is a cause of these perilous times. What is the cause? There are nineteen or twenty causes mentioned; but one of them is that men are “lovers of pleas-ures more than lovers of God,” and another is that they have a “form of godliness,” but deny “the power thereof.” 2 Tim. 3 : 1–5. With the Pharisees in Paul's day—the “Pharisees which believed,” and confused the Galatian Christians—the trouble was that they had the forms of godliness but not the power.

The gospel is “the power of God.” It is right to have the forms which God has ordained, when we first have the power of God. But it is only perdition to have only the forms.

First of all in the gospel of God is the power of God. First of all in that “other gospel” are forms and ceremonies. In that “other gospel” the way is, Do this, do that, do the other, and you will be all right. The first thing in the gospel of God is, BE all right, THEN do this, that, or the other thing, as God calls you to do.

And right here is where even Seventh-day Adventists are in danger of making a mistake in these times, and with relation to this very thing that is given to us to preach to the world. You have heard it said that “righteousness is right doing.” It is no such thing—except as a consequence. If you have had the idea that, rightly speaking, primarily and in itself, “righteousness is right doing,” please abandon that idea before you leave the house. [Voices: “Amen,” “amen.”] Righteousness is not that. Listen! consider something familiar: you speak of sweetness. Now, in speaking of sweetness, do you, did you ever in your life, mean, or expect, to be understood that sweetness is sweet doing? Is sweetness sweet doing? [Voice: “No.”] True. What is it? [Voice: “It is the thing itself.”] It is sweet being. Richness—is that rich doing? As a consequence the doing comes, just as the quality of sweetness will impart sweetness to other things. But sweetness itself is not sweet doing; no more is righteousness itself right doing.

The very construction of the word itself excludes the idea of righteousness being in itself right doing. Is the word “righteous-ing”?—No; it is righteous-ness. Does the suffix “ness” signify action?—No; never. It signifies quality. The suffix “ing” signifies action. Sweeten-ing tells of doing something. Sweet-n-ess tells only of being something. Right-en-ing suggests action: it tells of doing. Right-n-ess is being: that signifies quality, essence. For the word “righteousness” is only the lengthened form of the word right-ness, which has descended from “right-ness” through “right-wise-ness” to “right-ous-ness.” Do you not all now see that there is a difference between righteousness and right doing? It is just the difference between being right and then as a consequence doing right, and being wrong and then trying to do right in order to be right.

There is danger of Seventh-day Adventists falling into the idea that right doing is itself righteousness, rather than its being only the consequence of righteousness; and then going about to do right things, in order to be righteous. And that is exactly the case of the “Pharisees which believed,” who had confused the Galatian Christians, removing them from the true gospel, “unto another gospel,”—righteousness by works,—righteousness by doing things,—“which is not another,” because

it is not a gospel at all. For, of course, if righteousness is to come to me by my doing of things, then, in the nature of things, the more things I do, the more righteousness I shall have. But in all the doing I find not rest nor peace. And so the things that I must do in order to be righteous pile up, and up, until it is so much that I see with despair that I can not do them all. Then, all that I can say is, “Well, I know I have not the peace of God; I know that I am not what I ought to be. But I have done my best, and that is the best that I can do. And if that is not enough, I can not help it; for I can not do any better.” And that is precisely the Laodicean condition: “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot; I would that thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.” “Because,” in pride of self-righteousness, “thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” Rev. 3 : 15–17.

But that will never do. Therefore to the people to-day, in those Sabbath-school lessons in the book of Galatians, as really as in the book of Revelation, it is said: “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed.” Rev. 3 : 18. What is the white raiment?—“The righteousness of saints:” it is the righteousness of God by faith which makes saints. He says, Get it of me. You can not get it by your doing anything. It does not come that way. It is the righteousness of God, not of men. It is essence, quality; the character, the nature, of God. Get it of God by receiving it, the free gift of God. Get this righteousness, and it will impart its blessed quality, its character, to all that God calls upon you to do. Sweetness will impart its quality to whatsoever needs it. And so the righteousness of God, which is the very essence of righteousness, will impart its blessed quality of righteousness to whatsoever it touches in the heart and life of him who needs righteousness. Oh, let this righteousness touch your heart! Yea, let it dwell in your heart and life by faith. Then righteousness will be imparted to every action you perform, and to all the deeds that come from God to you to do; and thus the righteousness of the law of God will be fulfilled in you, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. [Voice: “Praise the Lord!”] Yes: let all the people say, Praise the Lord.

(To be continued.)

TOO MANY STUDIES IN THE SCHOOLS.

Chicago Times-Herald, Aug. 8, 1900.

THAT there are too many studies in the public schools, in all grades and all departments from the primary to the high school, in nearly every city of the Union, is the general belief of schoolmen who understand and correctly apprehend the theory of education, and are not in the pay of the schoolbook publishing houses.

There are no new disclosures, therefore, in the report of the elementary school committee of the “citizens’ educational commission,” appointed by the Civic Federation to investigate the Chicago school system. It is gratifying to note, however, that the committee’s report affirms what has already been pointed out by progressive educators. The committee finds that the course of study in the elementary grade is so extensive that it is physically impossible for the average child to accomplish what is required without overwork. It found that the pupils who finish the elementary schools are, as a rule, deficient in English, and can neither speak nor write the language acceptably. The committee is also in line with the most progressive educational sentiment when it declares against the teaching of foreign languages in the grades. The time and money thus expended could be employed to better advantage in the study of English and civil government.

The plethora of books in the schools results from two causes,—the growth of the “cramming system” in the public schools and the continuous and persistent pressure of the schoolbook publishers. One evil logically follows the other. Having engrafted the cramming system upon the schools, the demand for books is constantly enlarged, and the book publishers engage in fierce competition to supply the demand. The result is that the schools are loaded down with books, and the old notion, which regarded education as a “drawing out of the mental powers,” instead of packing the cranium with useless and indigestible facts, has been discarded. It is not an uncommon sight nowadays to see a ten-year-old child with spectacles on his nose, carrying to and from school half a dozen books.

This is not education. The text-book was originally designed as an aid to education. Properly used, it is a guide in the mental processes that are necessary to develop the mental powers of a child.

The Trials of Life

The trials of life are God's workmen, to remove the impurities and roughness from our character.—“Mount of Blessing.”

SOWING FOR PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL HEALTH

By David Paulson; W. S. Sadler

David Paulson W. S. Sadler

STRUCTURE BUILDERS, OR THE PROTEIDS.

Hindrances to Proteid Digestion.

(Concluded.)

FRIED FOODS.

The proteids can not be absorbed without being dissolved by the action of the digestive fluids. They can not be dissolved unless brought into immediate contact with these digestive juices. Therefore, it is clear that any particle of proteid substance that is inclosed in an envelope of fat, as it necessarily must be in fried foods, such as hot buttered toast, fried eggs, etc., will not be subjected to any digestive activity until it has passed on into the small intestine, and has been brought in contact with the pancreatic juice and the bile. These digestive juices have the power to dissolve and digest fat, thus freeing the proteid from its envelope of fat, and making it possible for it to be acted upon by the final digestive process.

GERMS AND DECOMPOSITION.

It is a matter of common observation that the germs that naturally live upon proteids produce the most poisonous and toxic substances. This is what gives the foul odor to decaying dough and stale bread; this being due in both to the decomposition of the gluten. It is because of the activity of these germs that cheese becomes such a frequent source of dangerous poisoning. It is because of the presence of these same germs, and the poisonous products which they produce, that severe illnesses, and often death, result from eating tainted meat.

A greater or less number of germs are always present in the alimentary canal. And if the natural antiseptic properties of the digestive fluids are overwhelmed in the attempt to disinfect a variety of unseasonable and unfit food substances, which have been loaded upon it, then these microbes will have a favorable opportunity to begin to prey upon the proteid substances; and the same process of decay will take place in the alimentary canal that would have occurred under similar conditions outside of the body.

The poisonous and injurious substances resulting from this decomposition are mainly tasteless and odorless, but none the less dangerous. And as these poisons are absorbed into the blood, and carried to the brain as well as to every vital tissue of the body, they will become active agents in producing headaches, and in laying the foundation for serious diseases of the kidneys, liver, and nerves, at the same time resulting in mental and moral depression and physical suffering, when a harvest of health and happiness might have been reaped instead. Thousands of lives have been ended prematurely as the result of bacterial activity preying upon proteid substances in the alimentary canal.

ICES AND ICE WATER.

Laboratory experiments have demonstrated that the digestive juices are active only at a temperature very near 100° F. When the stomach and its contents are chilled by eating frozen foods, and drinking iced drinks, such as ice-cold lemonade, ice cream, fruit ices, etc., there is a complete cessation of all digestive activity until the stomach contents have been again warmed up to very nearly the normal standard (100° F.). Meanwhile, the germs that are present have had abundant opportunity to flourish, and to begin the destructive work already described, which is directly responsible for the many cases of sickness following ice-cream socials, etc., as well as being the cause of the habitual indigestion of those who partake of foods at such an unnatural temperature.

OVEREATING.

When a larger amount of proteids is eaten than the system can utilize, it is a much more serious matter than the overeating of carbohydrates (the starch family). If too much starch is eaten, the liver will store up the surplus, and deal it out as the system demands; but there is no similar provision made for storing up the excess of proteids. The excess of these must be crowded upon the tissues, and, after overwhelming the digestive activity, will lay the foundation for rheumatism and kindred evils.

EATING BETWEEN MEALS.

The law of rhythm seems to run through all the operations of nature: there are established certain laws from which there can be no deviation without a forfeit being exacted. When the digestive glands are compelled to continue to pour out the digestive juices to act upon food substances at short intervals, and at irregular times, they soon become worn-out and deteriorated. To such a man, the food passing along the alimentary canal, from the mouth down, instead of becoming a source of nourishment, becomes more dangerous at each successive stage; for it becomes more and more saturated with poisons. And so the food, instead of being a source of strength to him, becomes an active agent in producing diseased conditions.

TOO GREAT A VARIETY.

Experiments have demonstrated that the tears of joy are somewhat different from the tears of sorrow. It is a well-known fact that the saliva produced by a dog when he is angry is much more dangerous than that produced when his temper is unruffled. Likewise there is every reason to believe that the gastric juice differs in some respects for each variety of the proteid family. And when a large number of different food substances are eaten at the same time, experience and experiment have both shown that the digestive efficiency is lowered, and the result is much less beneficial to the man than when living upon a more simple dietary.

TEA, COFFEE, AND CONDIMENTS.

The use of tea and coffee is in reality a lighter form of tippling. They contain no nourishment. They act upon the nervous system similarly to morphine, cocaine, and liquor, only in a less degree. Condiments that can blister and irritate the outside of the body will the more readily blister and irritate the inside when applied to the delicate mucous membrane of the stomach, and will cause it to pour out in self-defense a large quantity of mucus. Under the use of these, little by little the normal glands of the stomach shrink away, and their place is taken by mucous-glands, until, as is often the case with an old dyspeptic stomach, practically nothing is secreted except mucus, which of course has no digestive power.—Boix, Liver of Dyspeptics.

TABLE SHOWING THE PER CENT OF PROTEIDS IN VARIOUS FOOD SUBSTANCES.


FLOUR.		VEGETABLES.
Graham	11.7	Sweet Potato	1.
Wheat	11.1	Asparagus	1.8
Rye	11.6	Squash	1.1
Barley	11.4	Peas, Green, Garden	6.4
Oat	15.1	String Beans	2.7
Corn	9.7
BREADS.		LEGUMES.
Whole wheat	8.7	Peas, small	24.6
White	5.3	Beans, field	25.
Rye	6.1	Beans, white	26.9
Zwiebach, White	8.5	Beans, lima	21.9
Macaroni	9.	Lentils	25.9
NUTS.		MILK AND BUTTER.
Chestnut	14.6	Cows' Milk	4.1
Walnut	15.8	Cream	2.7
Hazelnut	17.4	Skimmed milk	4.
Sweet Almond	23.5	Buttermilk	4.1
Peanut	28.3
Coconut	5.6	MEATS.
VEGETABLES.		Lean Beef	19.3
Cabbage, White	1.9	Lean Mutton	18.3
Potato	2.2	Veal	16.5
Beet	1.3	Pork	9.8
		Poultry	21.
		White Fish	18.1
		Entire Egg	14.

FRUITS.

The common fruits contain less than one per cent of proteids, or nitrogenous material, with the exception of the strawberry, which contains about one per cent, and the banana, which contains almost two per cent. Dried fruits run from one to three per cent; the date contains nine per cent. Raisins contain over two per cent, and figs four per cent.

Copyrighted, 1900, by David Paulson and W. S. Sadler.

How to Preserve Your Health

MANY have inquired of me, What course shall I take best to preserve my health? My answer is, Cease to transgress the laws of your being; cease to gratify a depraved appetite; eat simple food; dress healthfully, which will require modest simplicity; work healthfully; and you will not be sick.—“Testimonies for the Church.”

Cheap Meals for the Poor

SIR THOMAS LIPTON declared, years ago, that “if he ever became rich enough, he would help supply good food, at the lowest possible price, to poor people. The Alexandra trust dining-rooms, recently opened in London, prove his sincerity, as his donation to its support was $500,000. Meals, costing from a half-penny (one cent) to four and a half pence, consist of hot soup, steak, pudding, and two vegetables, with a choice of pastry, and tea, coffee, or cocoa. Hot-water carts are provided, to carry meals to sick and bedridden persons, who are unable to walk to the dining-rooms, which can accommodate fifteen hundred persons at a time; and facilities are ample for serving from ten thousand to twelve thousand persons daily.”

Continue reading: A FEW THINGS I HAVE OBSERVED