Signs of the Times, Vol. 13, No. 45. (11/24/1887)

Signs of the Times

Nov 24, 1887

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Nov 24, 1887

THIS DO AND THOU SHALT LIVE.

By Mrs. E. G. White

BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.

“And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right; this do, and thou shalt live.”

An important question was addressed to Christ by this lawyer: “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” The answer is direct and positive: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.” Jesus presented the whole law of God, and said, “This do, and thou shalt live.” The first four commandments of the law grow out of our relation to God, and demand the loving loyalty of our whole hearts. The last six grow out of our relation to our fellow-man, and require us to regard his interests as our own. The keeping of these commandments comprises the whole duty of man, and presents the conditions of eternal life. Now the question is, Will man comply with the requirements? Will he love God supremely and his neighbor as himself? There is no possible way for man to do this in his own

strength. The divine power of Christ must be added to the effort of humanity: “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh; that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Repentance toward God for our failure to keep his law, is the first step in the Christian life, while faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ claims the merits of his blood for the remission of sins that are past, and makes us partakers of the divine nature. The carnal heart, that “is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be,” is made spiritual, and exclaims with Christ, “I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy law is within my heart.”

There are many who say they believe in Christ; but do they? Have they the spiritual mind, the mind of Christ, that delights in the law of God? They claim to be the children of God, but they do not the works of God. We cannot afford to make any mistakes in this matter, for our eternal interests are at stake. A correct faith will be made manifest in godly works, and will bring the whole life into harmony with the law of God. Faith and works must go hand in hand. Christ referred the lawyer to the law, and inquired, “What saith the law? how readest thou?” And he showed that those righteous statutes require our perfect obedience. When, through the goodness of God, our attention has been called to the demands of God’s commandments, and light shines on us from his word, we are to believe and obey from the heart.

Many put their own interpretation upon the words of God; but we cannot depend upon them. We must know for ourselves “what saith the Scriptures.” An infinite price has been paid for our redemption, and ought we not to bestir ourselves to search the chart and prove to our souls that we are in the highway cast up for the righteous, and walking in the path of humble obedience? We are warned to “make straight paths for our feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way.” We are examples to others, and if we pursue a wrong course, and lead others away from the path of right, we shall be held accountable.

We can see the importance, then, of having true faith, for it is the motive power of the Christian’s life and action; but feeling is not faith; emotion is not faith. We must bring our very work and thought and emotions to the test of the word, and true faith will be profoundly impressed by the voice of God, and will act accordingly. If people would only search the Scriptures more diligently, false doctrines and heresies would be fewer. When anyone comes to you with a new doctrine, you should challenge him to prove it by the word of God. The test is written: “To

the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”

Forty-five years ago, when I commenced my labors, we met many erroneous doctrines. One and another would say, “I have the truth, because my feelings tell me so.” Others declared that they were led of the Spirit; but there are two spirits in the world,—the Spirit of God and the spirit of Satan. We are not left to be guided by the uncertainty of feelings, nor by the deceptive spirit of error. Here is the word of God. Christ declared, “Thy word is truth;” and the Spirit that Christ promised to his disciples, was to lead them into all truth. Then can we not test what spirit we are of? If we are led into harmony with the explicit commands of God, we have the Spirit of truth. These I have spoken of had gone beyond the need of their Bibles; they had left that for those not so far advanced as themselves. As I endeavored to reason with them, with my Bible in hand, they pushed me away, unwilling that their errors should be tried; “but he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” We want to know “what saith the Scriptures.” Let God be true, but every man a liar. He has declared the conditions of eternal life, and we want to know that we are complying with them, and are preparing for the world to come.

Adam and Eve were placed upon probation in the garden of Eden, and they were to prove their loyalty to their Creator by obedience to his law of love; but they fell, through the temptation of a wily foe. A great and infinite sacrifice has been made, that man may have another trial. God provides that man may have another probation, and his efforts to keep the law are made acceptable through Christ. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Christ came to bear the conflict in which man was conquered. The earth was the battle-field. Just before the temptation he bowed on Jordan’s bank and offered up a prayer that cleared its way to the throne of his Father. The Heaven opened and the voice of God responded, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased;” and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, like burnished gold, descended upon his head.

This is of wonderful significance to us. It tells us of the power of prayer,—how the human voice may reach the ear of God, and man’s petitions find access to the courts of Heaven. Though earth was struck off from the continent of Heaven and alienated from its communion, Jesus has connected it again with the sphere of glory. His love has encircled man and reached the highest Heaven;

and now the light that fell from the open portals on the bowed head of our Saviour, may fall upon us as we petition our Father for help to meet and conquer temptation.

Christ passed from this scene of joy to meet the cruel temptations of his adversary. He passed step by step over the ground that man had trodden, and was “tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin.” When man stumbled and fell, Jesus came off more than conqueror. Had he failed on one point, in reference to the law, all would have been lost; he would not have been a perfect offering, nor could he have satisfied the demands of the law; but he conquered where Adam failed, and by loyalty to God, under the severest trials, became a perfect pattern and example for our imitation, and he is able to succor those who are tempted. There is enough in this idea to fill our hearts with joy and gratitude every day of our lives. He took our nature upon him that he might become acquainted with our trials and sorrows, and, knowing all our experiences, he stands as Mediator and Intercessor before the Father.

Everyone who shall follow Christ will keep the commandments of God. The question will arise, Is this convenient for me? But if you flatter yourself that God does not require you to keep his commandments, because it interferes with your convenience, you make a sad mistake. Another leader is commanding you, instead of the Captain of your salvation. Jesus suffered and withstood the severest temptations, and, finally, yielded his life on Calvary’s cross, to demonstrate to every member of the human family that the law of God is immutable, and that not one jot or tittle can be put aside. Satan has deceived the Christian world with the story that when Christ died he abolished the law. It was the cross of Calvary that exalted the law of God, and made it honorable. The cross is a monument of its immutability; and thus it is demonstrated before all worlds and before the angels, and before all men, that the law cannot cease to exert eternal jurisdiction. It sustains the throne of God, and is the rule of his Government. If God could have changed one iota of his law, Jesus need not have come to our world to suffer and die; but he who was equal with the Father came and suffered even the death of the cross, to give man another probation.

Then if this great and infinite sacrifice has been made in our behalf, let us ask ourselves, What are we doing? Do we say, “Believe, believe on Christ, and that is all”? If we have not the faith that works by love, and purifies the soul from every stain of sin, then we have a spurious faith. Christ is not the minister of sin. And what is sin? The only definition given in God’s word is, “Sin is the transgression of the law;” and the apostle Paul declares, “Where no law is, there is no transgression.” The law is the great standard that will measure every man’s character. The very test that was brought upon Adam in Eden will be applied to every member of the human family. We stand as Adam did, with opportunity for a second trial, to prove our allegiance to the Government of God. If we listen, as Adam did, to the first adversary of God’s law, we shall be led to treat the words of God as of little consequence, and transgress the commandment. “The wages of sin is death.” The Father loved us, and his love led him to suffer his beloved Son to make an atonement for us, that we might not perish but have everlasting life. To as many as received this precious Jesus, “to them gave he power to become the sons of God.” John exclaims: “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.” It is no cheap faith, that costs nothing and requires nothing, that we are to have. But John continues: “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.”

Believe, believe, believe in Jesus, is the soothing lullaby that is lulling the world to sleep in the cradle of carnal security. Why, the devils believe and tremble. We need to be alarmed. We need to sound the cry, “Depart from all iniquity.” When you bring Jesus into your daily life and character, you will not make your feelings the criterion of your religion; you will exalt him in the darkest hour; you will seek to point those around you to the cleansing fountain. You will not cry, “Away with God’s commandments; I do not want to hear anything about them;” but with your Saviour you will “magnify the law and make it honorable.”

We are in the perils of the last days, and Jesus has bidden us beware of false teachers. You are to know them by their fruits. Do they teach obedience to God, and yet break his plain words of command? God has given us reasoning faculties, and he wants us to use them. We are to “prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” He has given us the revelation of his will, and we shall be without excuse if we do not study the Sacred Word. Hear what the voice of the true Shepherd says to you, and walk in the path of obedience and love. “This do,” said Jesus, “and thou shalt live.” We cannot afford to lose eternal life. May God grant that we may meet you around the throne of God, to sing with you the song of redemption in the kingdom of glory.

TAKE COURAGE.

By Anna Hyatt

“The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. Deut. 33:27.

WEARY soul, by hope forsaken, Lift thy longing eyes above; Rest thee on this firm foundation— God's eternal, changeless love.

When all other refuge fails thee, This thy refuge safe and sure; Here, beneath his wings enfolded, Thou mayst hide and be secure.

When the tossing billows round thee Fright thee with their rude alarms, List, a gentle voice beside thee, Whispering with its soothing charms— “Fear thou not, for underneath thee Are the everlasting arms.” —Anna Hyatt.

THE NINTH COMMANDMENT.

INVIOLATE truth is the corner-stone of the universe. If God be not what he declares himself to be, he cannot be God. That the laws of nature may be depended upon; that our own consciousness is not mendacious; that the conditions of belief are not false guides—these lie at the foundation of all our thinking and feeling and well-being. There is something, therefore, not only awfully sacred, but something which lies between man and chaos, in the obligations of truth. With such emphasis is the fact that one may almost condone the offense of those who put morality really above religion, with whom truth takes chief and central place in morality. There was a touch of the sublime in that attitude of the “liberal” theologians in our land of the early part of the century, who pushed moral virtue to the front of all the relations of man to God and insisted that to live a pure life, and to be true in speech and conduct, was more than all the whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices of whatsoever issue or dogma. And the history of the past fifty years has often borne shining witness to the benignant wholesomeness of that exalted and inflexible integrity which such men have exhibited in private life and in all public relations.

The ninth commandment especially forbids all forms of detraction—from its most flagrant manifestation in the shape of lying testimony in a court of justice, down to the

hasty utterance of what is not known to be true, to the harm of another, and the malicious misinterpretation of acts or speech which, in reality, are in no way open to the insinuated censure.

A sound theologian has well said that "in condemning all speaking ill of our neighbor, the Scriptures condemn a suspicious temper, a disposition to impute bad motives, and an unwillingness to believe that men are sincere and honest in the avowal of their principles and aims—the opposite of that charity which thinketh no evil, which believeth all things, and hopeth all things."—Congregationalist.

TRUE TO GOD.

By Dr. Goulburn

NEVER lower your principles to the world's standard. Never let sin, however popular it may be, have any sanction or countenance from you, even by a smile. The manly confession of Christ, when his cause is unpopular, is made by himself the condition of his confessing us before men. If people find out that we are earnestly religious, as they soon will if the light is shining, let us make them heartily welcome to the intelligence. And then, again, in order that the lights may shine without obstruction, we must be simple, and study simplicity.

This is by no means so easy as it at first sight appears; for in this highly artificial and pretentious age all society is overlaid with numerous affectations. Detest affectation as the contrary of truth, and as hypocrisy on a small scale, and allow yourself to be seen freely by those around you in your true colors. There is an affectation of indifference to all things and of a lack of sensibility which is becoming very prevalent in this age, which is the sworn foe to simplicity of character. The persons who labor under this moral disorder pretend to have lost their freshness of interest in everything; for them, as they would have it believed, there is no surprise and no enthusiasm.

As Christians, we must eschew untruth in every form; we must labor to seem just what we are, neither better nor worse. To be true to God and to the thought of his presence all day long, and to let self occupy as little as possible of our thoughts; to care much for his approval, and comparatively little for the impression we are making upon others; to feed the inward light with oil, and then freely to let it shine—this is the great secret of edification. May he indoctrinate us into it, and dispose and enable us to illustrate it in our practice!—Dr. Goulburn.

TEMPTATIONS.

By A. W. Thorold

TEMPTATION is the condition of human life, and to try to flee from it in one shape is often only to provoke it in another. Every period of life, every class in society, every occupation and calling, duties as well as pleasures, work as well as rest, contain within them the elements of an incessant temptation, which it is at once our folly to ignore, our discipline to encounter, and our glory to overcome. It is no sin to be tempted, for Jesus, the sinless One, was tempted in all things like as we are, yet without sin. It is no weakness to feel the temptation grievous, for Jesus again “suffered being tempted.” Heb. 2:18.

The mistake is to run into temptation of our own accord. The sin is in listening to the voice of the charmer until our hearts go out after the forbidden sweetness, and it is all up with us. The weakness is in our great terror at the noise of the waves and the darkness of the sky, to gaze upon the danger till we are rapidly sinking into it and till it is almost too late to call out to him who rides upon the storm, “Lord, save us; we perish!” Matt. 8:25.

Yet if our enemies are here, our Saviour is here as well. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” Prov. 18:10. If the assaults of the enemy all but exhaust us, and, like Christian with Apollyon, our sword flies out of our hand when we want it most, and the battle is all but decided against us, at the last moment the way to escape shall appear, that we may be able to bear it; for “when the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” Isa. 59:19. The table in the wilderness is spread by the Lord’s own hand. He who provided a morning meal by the Sea of Galilee for his seven disciples, wearied by their night’s toil; he who fed the five thousand on their way to the passover because he pitied them as sheep having no shepherd, will be to his own tempted and wearied servants what the good Samaritan was to the wounded traveler, healing their wounds, supplying their needs, and comforting their hearts.—Dr. A. W. Thorold.

UNBELIEF.

SOME professedly wise men make light of unbelief, and tell us that it has no moral bearing upon the character and destiny of man. They would have us to believe that man is not responsible for his faith or his non-faith. If he believes and trusts in God, well; if he does not believe in God, just as well. The teaching of the Bible, and the history of mankind in all lands and in every age, contradict such philosophy. They teach us that man is under obligation to trust in God; that unbelief is sin; that the want of faith and trust in him produces restlessness, distrust, alarm, and terror; that it provokes God to anger, and incurs his displeasure. It is our faith or unbelief that gives direction and character to our actions, and fixes our destiny. The Israelites' want of confidence in God's ability and willingness to lead them safely into Canaan, and their faith in the wisdom of a return to Egypt under the leadership of a chosen captain, caused them to rebel, and brought upon them the terrible defeat which they suffered in their battles with the Amalekites and Canaanites, and their wandering for thirty-eight years longer in the wilderness, and deprived the whole generation of the unbelieving Israelites of the privilege of entering into the land of promise.

Such is unbelief. It is a sin against God. It calls in question his existence, his power, his faithfulness, his truth and readiness to save, according to his promise. We are guilty of unbelief when, in trying circumstances, we feel our own weakness and yet knowing that God commands us to go forward fearlessly in the discharge of duty, we stagger at the promises, lose faith in God's presence and power to carry us safely through, and refuse positively to act. . . . Unbelief produces discontent and fear; it drives sleep from our pillow; converts the shadow of danger into reality; makes us too weak to stand before our foes, or even to press forward to a successful issue any great moral reform, even if we know that God has promised to give us the victory.

The Christian who has yielded to unbelief in God so far only as to foster doubts concerning his faithfulness, will gradually lose interest in his worship; his delight in prayer will fail him; the family altar will be neglected; earnest Christian work will become a burden, and will soon be abandoned, and especially so if God calls him to contend against any popular iniquity which has its stronghold in the customs and habits of society. He is ready then to cry out, "There are giants in the way," and to reflect on God and say, "How is it that thou requirest me to expose my business and my reputation to loss, and, perhaps, to ruin, by requiring me to attack a vice so dear to many of my best customers. I will not go up and fight." But such professors of the faith of Christ are not happy. They hear God saying to them, "Add to your faith courage," and that he cannot but be displeased with such unbelief, and their conscience is ill at ease. They know their duty but they do it not. . . .

It is "he that believeth," that shall be saved, and, according to the provisions of the gospel, he alone can be saved. Joshua and Caleb of all the generation of Israel entered into Canaan, because they believed and trusted God. Be ye Joshuas and Calebs, even if the faint-hearted be against you, and threaten to stone you. Canaan the bright and glorious, with other temple than Solomon's, and a life that shall never end, shall be the reward of your faith. There will not be Anakim giants enough to overcome you, and deprive you of your inheritance. The eternal God is your leader. He will provide you with the weapons of warfare, and give you strength and skill to use them. He will turn the councils of your enemies into confusion. "When a man loses confidence in God," writes Barnes, "he is on a shoreless ocean that is full of whirlpools, and rocks, and quicksands, and where it is impossible to find a secure anchorage. There is nothing to which he may moor his driven bark; and he will never find safety or peace till he comes back to God."—Methodist Recorder.

DIVERTED OR CONVERTED.

SOME people mistake the one for the other. Those, for example, who turn for a season from selfish pursuits and pleasures, but after a few weeks or months are found back in the old ways again. The world, looking upon them, says, complacently, "They are going my way, after all. I thought they had taken a different track."

These people were diverted, not converted. They were turned aside from their sins for a time, but were not turned away from them. He who only turns half around under some special pressure of gospel truth can hardly be called a follower of Christ. With one eye upon the world and the other upon the cross, he finds little real pleasure in either. Diverted from the world by thoughts of the kingdom of Heaven, and yet loving the world too well to be converted, or turned quite away from it; trying to hold Christ with one hand and sin with the other, like the young man in the story of old, he goes away sorrowful.—Golden Rule.

WHATSOEVER IS BORN OF GOD CANNOT SIN.

DOES this text teach that it is impossible for a true Christian to commit sin? That were to contradict observation, experience, and Scripture. A misunderstanding of the word "cannot," lies at the basis of such an interpretation. When Nehemiah was engaged in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, his enemies sought to allure him to a conference. He replied, "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down" (Neh. 6:3); which language, of course, means that he was, not physically, but morally unable to do so. In 1 Cor. 10:21 we read, "Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of devils." So far as physical ability was concerned, these persons could do both. The idea intended to be expressed is obviously that Christian consistency placed them under moral constraint not to do so. In like manner if I, a total abstainer, were asked to take wine with a friend, I might reply, "I cannot do so." He, and everyone would understand me as meaning, "My principles do not allow me to do so, and therefore I will not."

I submit that it is in this sense that the word "cannot" is used in the passage under consideration. So explaining it, whilst it does not teach that it is impossible for a Christian to sin, it does teach that he is under the strongest possible obligation to avoid sin, and that so long as acting in character, he avails himself of the strength which is in Christ Jesus, he will not sin.—Selected.

Trusting God’s Promise

Sooner walk in the dark and trust to a promise of God, than trust in the light of the brightest day that ever dawned.

Religion and Its Enemies

RELIGION would not have enemies if it were not an enemy to their vices.

SECRET AND PERSONAL PRAYER.

By American Messenger

"Enter into thy closet," says the Saviour, "and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." And how wonderfully in the history of the Bible has this gracious promise been fulfilled! How multiplied the examples of those who prevailed in prayer when they were alone with God!

Abraham was alone when he pleaded with God for Sodom, and so far as he failed, it was "because he ceased to ask before God ceased to grant." Moses was alone when God communed with him from the burning bush and appointed him the deliverer of Israel. Joshua was alone when the angel of the covenant came to him as an armed man; and Gideon and Jephthah were alone when commissioned to deliver Israel. When Elijah raised a child from the dead, and when afterwards Elisha did the same, each were alone pleading with God in prayer. Daniel was alone praying in his chamber, and alone when his soul went up in supplication from the den of lions, from which he was so divinely delivered. Cornelius was alone when the angel appeared to him, Peter alone on the house-top in prayer when divinely taught to make known the gospel to the Gentiles; one John alone in the wilderness, and another alone in Patmos, when God was specially near to them. And in every age it is found that when God's children are wrestling with him in the closet, they seem to draw nearest to him, and to receive the richest blessings from on high, both for themselves and others.

The closet may be the upper chamber, as with Elijah; or the open air, as with Jacob; or the house-top, as with Peter; or the lions' den, as with Daniel; but so it be a place where the soul goes out in earnest, and longing personal communion with God, there he will meet the suppliant and grant special blessing to the soul that thus waits on and pleads with him.

"Then, my soul, in every strait To thy Father come and wait; He will answer every prayer, God is present everywhere." —American Messenger.

Faith Demonstrated by Works

FAITH in Christ involves not merely the reception of him in his offices and work, but also, and necessarily, the unreserved consecration of soul and body, time, talents, and property, to his service. It is not enough to say, "My Beloved is mine," we must add, "and I am his." Nor will it do to say all this, we must live our profession. Christian doings as well as Christian believings are necessary to usefulness here and happiness hereafter. Orthodoxy in doctrine is all right in its place, but it is out of place when it is confided in for salvation at the expense of orthodoxy in practice. Faith in Christ is a living principle, manifesting itself in the holy acts of a life dedicated to the service of God. "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."—Selected.

GOOD WORKS REQUIRED OF ALL.

By Mrs. A. W. Heald

THE apostle Paul said, "Man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law" (Rom. 3:28), while James writes, "Faith without works is dead." James 2:20. These seemingly conflicting statements are more fully explained in the following passage: "Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?" Here we learn that faith and works are complementary, each serving to complete the other.

Jesus Christ, our perfect Pattern, abounded in good works. He said, "My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish his work." John 4:34. The boundless work in which the infinite Father and Son are engaged passes the comprehension of our finite minds. The single work of redemption as revealed in the Scriptures surpasses our highest powers, and should we live through all eternity, we can never fathom its depth. And yet it is given to men to share in promoting this great work. When our risen Lord was about ascending into Heaven, he said to his disciples, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." All who accept this divine commission, humbly following in the footsteps of the Master, become co-laborers with him in the great work of saving souls.

It is not given to all Christians to preach the word, but all are required to abound in good works, whereby the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ may be manifest; and those

who are called to serve in a humbler sphere are no less needful in the divine plan. "If she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work"—such also are co-workers with God.

Are we sufficient in ourselves for these things? Not so; Christ said, "Abide in me, . . . for without me ye can do nothing." John 15:4, 5. Let us then put away all pride and self-righteousness, looking humbly unto God for guidance. He has promised by the mouth of his servant David, "The meek will he guide in judgment; and the meek will he teach his way." Ps. 25:9.

Let us also seek that "faith which worketh by love." We should be actuated by the same spirit of love whereby God the Father gave his only begotten Son,—and Jesus Christ, "having loved his own . . . loved them unto the end." When impelled by this divine principle of love, the humblest work is glorified into service for the Master. Without it, even martyrdom is of no avail. "Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, [Revised Version] it profiteth me nothing." 1 Cor. 13:3.

This motive alone will establish us in that day when "every man's work shall be made manifest; . . . and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide . . . he shall receive a reward." 1 Cor. 3:13.

"Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward."

MRS. A. W. HEALD.

PATIENCE IN CHRISTIAN LIFE.

By J. M. Buckley, D. D.

IN Christian life the triumphs of steady patience have been at once beautiful and enduring. The church has achieved some of its most brilliant victories in prison, at the stake, and on the scaffold. Not on fields covered with a cloth of gold have our brave heroes won their present laurels. Their most memorable work, that which has projected itself farthest into the future, has been performed against terrible odds, when the world was against them, and supposed them and their cause doomed to speedy annihilation. Martin Luther was at his best when Leo X. excommunicated him. His first work was done in the concealment of his dark little room in the Wartburg Castle. John Wesley's moment of loftiest triumph was when he was not permitted to preach in the little Epworth church, but dared to proclaim the truth from his father's tombstone, just outside the church door.

In the time of apostolic planting and cultivating of Christianity, the very pauses of the good cause were full of hope and courage. Peter in prison, Paul and Silas in bonds and the dungeon, were heroes in triumphant battle-fields. They were known far and wide to be suffering, and not only was prayer offered for them by the whole body of believers, but the very picture of such amazing suffering was a more eloquent sermon than any ever spoken by prophet or apostle. The church of all later periods has been the richer for such early experiences. Without the endurance of those ten persecutions the early Christians would never have become the models which they have proven themselves to be—the types of heroic patience, ready for the hard task of standing still and receiving the heavy blows.

The large place which our disappointments and bereavements really occupy in Christian life is but little understood. Let any believer look back upon the forces which, in the end, have produced his greatest trust and highest joy. He does not need long to discover that his strength has come from the blows he has received. Some personal hope has been blasted, some cherished plan has fallen to pieces, some long and tedious illness has come in the midst of his activity, and so he has been compelled to pause and listen to the voice of duty, and see in the sorrow of the hour that God has meant only the joy of all the later hours. Slow pupils are we. We like the easy lessons of the sunshine and the summer the best, little dreaming that they are the least forceful and instructive of all we ever learn.

One of the reasons why we do not see the training and the power of those darkest hours of the past, is that we do not stop long enough to study their great purpose. The experiences of God's children are not accidents. The moment one commits his ways to God is the beginning of a new career. Whatever happens, from whatever cause, is seen by him who notes every falling sparrow. We must cling to the comfort that God watches every step, and that he encamps about those who trust him. We dwell beneath the folds of his pavilion. Then whatever sorrow or joy may come is either caused or permitted by him who seeth in secret and rewardeth openly.

Shall we any longer select for ourselves and for those we love, and for the pure cause of the truth, only the pleasant and the comfortable? No; we will choose nothing for ourselves—nothing but what he sends. If his gifts are now and then thorny paths or bitter tears, we will take them, and try to learn calmness while we suffer. The bright, rewarding sunlight will come in his time. So was it with John, who was in exile "for the kingdom and patience of Jesus." Patience may be only a rock of lonely exile in mid-sea, but it becomes more than that to the banished and beloved disciple—the place where Heaven is most clearly revealed to his longing eyes.

"HOLDING THE TRUTH IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS."

By N. Y. Christian Advocate

THE accepted meaning is, obstructing or hindering the way of truth on the part of transgressors. Many precious truths are held back and fail to influence communities because of the neutralizing effects of evil men.

We are not to suppose that unrighteousness must be always active and open to produce this deplorable result. One doubting, vacillating professor of religion may be sufficient to hinder many other souls in securing their salvation. One who makes a flaming confession of Christ, and yet who denies him by an inconsistent life, may be the means of incalculable harm. One who continually groans under the gospel yoke, as though he served a "hard master," subverts truth. His serious mien, mistaken very often for piety, misrepresents that gospel which is "peace and joy in the Holy Ghost."

It is a most important consideration to know how to aid in furthering a righteous cause in any given place and at any precise time. Each locality has its peculiar obstructions to overcome. Whoever would come forward in support of truth must have certain qualifications for service. He must experimentally "know the truth" in a sense that the truth produces in his soul conviction, courage, inspiration. Lacking these he hinders instead of helps. His inefficiency very soon becomes apparent. And this experimental knowledge must be progressive. New revelations must come to him continually. His face must be turned toward the future rather than the past. He cannot rest as though he had "already attained." Onward, upward, his unwearied steps bear him. And in this spiritual ascent he is made the helper of other souls. "They take knowledge of him that he has been with Jesus," as they see righteousness maturing in his life, words, and work.

ZEAL LACKING.

By Independent

AMONG the many symptoms of decline in individual Christian and church life that come under our observation, is the lack of steady persistency in service for God, coupled with burning zeal. In the ministry there is a certain regularity of service. Sermons are prepared and preached, prayer-meetings are attended, to be sure, nor do we mean to imply that these services are done in a perfunctory way; but, unless the soul of the minister is kept hot with constant and living communion with the great Master-workman, there is danger that that service will become formal rather than really zealous.

Without doubt, there is a general lassitude in the name of the Lord. It does not require close observation to detect the difference in the spirit and methods of work as between the private and secular enterprises which engage the attention and employ the energies of Christian men and the work of the Lord. In the one case there is energy, foresight, close attention, alertness, and persistency of effort; in the other, there is indolence, bordering on reluctance, a strange lack of foresight (and not even a good "hindsight"), much inattention and remittent effort.—Independent.

PSALM XCIII.

By D. D. T. McLaughlin

THE ever-living One. Jehovah reigns! His robes are majesty, his girdle power! His own right arm the solid world sustains; Secure, till he proclaims its final hour.

Thy throne is fixed; through endless years its round; Thyself to endless ages still the same; The angry floods stir up their depths profound; Abashed, they sink at thy victorious name.

Jehovah, thou art mightier than the voice Of many waters dashed upon the shore! Thy word is sure; in it thy saints rejoice; And holy is thy house for evermore. —D. D. T. McLaughlin.

Continue reading: THE GOSPEL FOR THE TIME

THIS DO AND THOU SHALT LIVE.*