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Review and Herald, Vol. 78, No. 30.

SATISFIED

Review and Herald

Jul 23, 1901

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · Jul 23, 1901

SATISFIED

By The Parish Visitor

“They thirsted not when He led them.”—Isa. 48:21.
As Israel never thirsted While the Lord alone did lead, So thousands have borne witness That His fullness met their need.
They thirsted not for pardon When He led them to His blood, They knew they were forgiven When He showed the crimson flood.
They thirsted not for pleasure When He whispered, “Ye are mine A fount of joy sprang upward As they answered, “We are thine;
They thirsted not for feeling, When He would lead by faith; No sign or prop upholding, But the trusty staff, “He saith.
They thirsted not for knowledge While sitting at His feet, For all their hardest questions He could silence or could meet.
They thirsted not for honor, Hidden low behind their Lord, To hear Him say, “My servant,” Gave them rank, and full reward.
They thirsted not for friendship In a solitary way, For oft His steps showed clearer Where none other passed that day.
They thirsted not for quiet If He led them through the crowd; His well-known voice could reach them Amid confusion loud.
They thirsted not for money, Their heritage was sure,— Here daily bread, hereafter All treasures that endure.
They thirsted for no blessing That His hand did not outpour, But longed for hearts made larger To take His boundless store.
- The Parish Visitor.

IN THE WORLD, BUT NOT OF THE WORLD.

By Ellen G. White

MRS. E. G. WHITE.
Many argue that those who have received the truth should remain where they are in the world, and be as those of the world, joining in worldly amusements and festivities, and following worldly fashions. They say that thus an influence can be gained over the people of the world, who will in this way be brought up to the Christian's level.
But this cannot be. It is not right for those who claim to be children of God to retain their worldly habits and practices, to cling to the worldly pleasures so congenial to natural inclination. Let them not think that thus they can convert the world. There are unsurmountable obstacles to the success of such witness-bearing.
The Scriptures bear decided testimony against Christians maintaining a world-loving attitude. “Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” “Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” “If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
We cannot follow Jesus and retain the friendship of the world. There must be on the part of the Christian an entire surrender, a forsaking of the things of this earth. True Christians will take Christ as their pattern in all things, loving Him with the whole heart, and serving Him with the whole being. He says, “Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” The child of God must not be guided nor governed by human wisdom; for this always leads away from the path of self-denial and cross-bearing cast up for the ransomed of the Lord.
At this time there comes to us a most solemn message, “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, . . . and touch not the unclean thing.” God calls for faithful men and women to be in the world, but not of the world. The believing people of God, those who are worthy to claim kinship with Him, will demonstrate the genuineness of their relationship by being true witnesses for the truth. By their modesty in apparel, by their Christlike words and actions, they will show that they are sons and daughters of the heavenly King. They will wear the pilgrim's dress and manifest the pilgrim's spirit, witnessing a good confession.
We are not to shut ourselves away from the world to escape from it. Christ's prayer to His Father was, “Not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil.” We have a work to do in the world, the work of seeking for lost souls. The law of God is made void. God calls upon us to stand in defense of this law. As Christ was the light of the world, so we are to be lights in the world. Christ lived in the world, but He was not of the world. Men did not understand Him. His self-sacrifice was to them a mystery. He lived a life apart from them. “He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.” They hated Him because He would not be one with them. Had He united with them in eager pursuit for applause, for riches, for worldly honor, they would not have hated Him; for He would have been of them. And because the world knew not the Saviour, it knows not His followers.
Christ said of His followers, “As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.” Many think that worldly appearance is necessary in our work, in order that the right impression may be made. But this is an error. Appearance has something, yes, much, to do with the impression made upon minds, but the appearance must be after a godly sort. Let it be seen that the workers are bound up with God and heaven. There should be no striving for recognition from the world in order to gain character and influence for the truth. Consistency is a jewel. Our faith, our dress, our deportment, must be in harmony with the character of our work,—the presentation of the most solemn message ever given to the world. Our effort should be to win men to the truth by preaching the word and by living godly lives. We should strive earnestly to show the consistency of our faith, to show that the great truths we are handling are a reality to us. The Lord will impress minds if we will work with earnestness.
The Lord sees not as man sees. Those whom He most loves and honors are often the objects of the scorn and derision of the enemy. He desires us to learn the lesson that we shall not gain true success in His work by trying to meet the criterion of the world. Hypocrisy and pretense can find no favor in His sight. The victories gained by the soul are not measured by outside appearance or by the praise of men, but by the goodness which shines forth in the life, by the firm adherence to God's holy law.
All the thoughts of the mind, all the aspirations of the soul, are read by Him with whom we have to do. In every line of His work let our principles, purposes, words, and deeds be pure and unselfish. Let us manifest truth and goodness to all men. Regard not pretense and show as a mark of greatness, but reveal the sanctified ambition which Christ revealed in His life, an ambition to make the world better by having lived in it.
In God's great work there is need of conscientious, godly men,—men who have been wrestlers in their life-work, who have maintained a good fight against evil, who have sought not for the applause of the people, but for the favor of God. Men are needed through whom God can work,—men who will wrestle with the Lord in prayer, and then go forth into the work with the inspiration He alone can give. Workers are needed who will pray, and then act their prayers, remembering that they are a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.
When we read the word of God for the purpose of understanding it and responding to its claims, we shall not desire to be esteemed andhonored by the world. We have no claim nor right to greatness only as Christ gives value to our influence. The estimate He places upon our work is alone of value. All true greatness comes through Him. The esteem of those who are not guided by God, who are not living in obedience to the laws of His kingdom, is valueless. It cannot add to nor detract from true worth of character. The wisdom of the world, with all its show and pretense, will come to nothingness; for in the sight of God it is foolishness.
Christ laid aside His royal robe and kingly crown, gave up His position as Commander in the heavenly courts, and clothed His divinity with humanity, that humanity might touch humanity, and divinity lay hold upon the throne of the Eternal. He became a partaker of humanity that He might bear the infirmities of humanity. “Verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted.”
The God of heaven gave His Son up to a life of shame, humiliation, and reproach, in order that man might have a probation in which to mold his character after the divine model, that it might be said of him, “Ye are complete in Him.” “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.”
Old and young, rich and poor, have only one road to travel, one Saviour to serve, honor, and obey. With Christ God has given us all privileges, all opportunities, and the very richest promises. This He has done that we may serve Him with the undivided affections. We are violating the conditions of His covenant with us when we keep our eyes fixed upon the world, its customs, ideas, and practices. Self is the god we worship when we do this. Self interposes between the soul and its highest interests. Those who choose to be Christians after a worldly style, in a way that suits themselves, may be satisfied with this kind of service; but in God's eyes it is of no value. Solid worth of character, the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit,—it is this that is in the sight of God of great price.
The choice of God's people is to represent Christ in all their works, their practices, and their teaching. They are to be untouched by the perverse principles prevailing in the world. Those who have any connection with the service of God are to be entirely separate from corrupting influences. They are to be guided by the principles which Christ gave while leading the children of Israel through the wilderness. It was God's design to establish the Israelites in Canaan as His chosen nation, to be an example to all nations that should live on the earth. They were to be a kingdom of priests, living only for His service. But they became filled with a desire to be like the nations round them, to have an earthly ruler. Through His prophet God told them what the result of their choice would be, and His word was verified. They obtained a king, but with him came trouble and distress. To-day many professing Christians are making a similar choice. They are patterning after the world for the sake of gain. Christ has uttered a warning against this. Lifting up His voice, He cried, “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
By the great cleaver of truth, God's people have been cut away from the world, and brought into the workshop of the Lord. In this workshop the ax, the hammer, and the chisel are to be used to prepare the rough, misshapen stones for the process of polishing, that each may fill its exact place in the building of the Lord. Thus the temple is to grow to completion. Each stone is to be a living stone, emitting light to the world. So the children of God are to show that they are preparing for a home in the kingdom of God.
God requires from His blood-bought heritage the homage of the entire life. Every part of the being belongs to Him. He is our Creator and Redeemer, and therefore our Owner. He calls upon us to serve Him, not to bow at the altars of the world. Let us hide self in Christ, conforming the life to His life. Then we can claim the promise, “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.” God desires us to use our physical, mental, and moral powers in the enlargement and final triumph of His Church. But He cannot work with those who are continually seeking for worldly recognition. When those who labor for Him are humble and sincere, He will send His angels to work with them. This will give character to their work.
John presents the advantages gained by accepting Christ. “Beloved,” he says, “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.” No pen can describe the honor that this relationship is to us. And yet many act as if it were a great humiliation to accept Christ as their Saviour.
In comparison with the honor which comes with Christ, all earthly honor sinks into insignificance. If our names are even mentioned by the great men of this earth, we think it a matter of sufficient importance to cherish, and tell again and again, that others may see how we have been honored. But the lips that uttered our names are but mortal. Dust they are, and to dust they must return. Our names may be uttered with joy by the Son of God. Honor has been promised us by Him who is King of kings. If we are faithful, the eternal God will claim us as His sons and daughters. Neither cherub nor seraph will be slow to recognize and welcome God's redeemed ones. Is not this honor worth striving for?
When we think righteously and sensibly, we shall be ashamed of our ideas as to what constitutes elevation of character. True elevation is ours only as we reveal the attributes of the Christ-life. Our will must be placed in harmony with the divine will. We must accept Christ as a personal Saviour. Then the Sin-bearer takes away our sin and imputes to us His righteousness. We are cleansed in the blood of the Lamb.
This is the only true elevation. This is the highest standard to which we can reach. We are perfected by beholding Christ. Changed into the same likeness, from character to character, we are made complete in Him. His life is the standard of excellence. There is no exaltation for any of us only as it comes through Him. Our highest good is found in following Him. We meet with many failures because we do not strive lawfully. If we lift the cross cheerfully, and press forward bravely in the path of self-sacrifice, God will guide us by His Spirit, and afterward receive us into glory.

A STRANGE CLAIM.

By Chas. P. Whitford

CHAS. P. WHITFORD, (Rutland, Vt.).
God’s servants, upon whom has been placed the burden and responsibility of proclaiming the solemn message of Rev. 14:9–12, not infrequently meet with new and ofttimes strange opinions. Brother L. H. Crisler and myself recently came in contact with one of these strange positions, and a desire to warn others of its danger prompts me to repeat it, with the hope that some self-deceived soul may be benefited thereby.
We had been holding public meetings all winter in the city of —. The message, “If any man worship the Beast and his Image, and receive his mark, . . . the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God” (Rev. 14:9–12), had been faithfully and earnestly proclaimed, and it had been clearly shown that he who disregards this warning will meet with the disapproval of God. Not only does the language of the message itself show this, but it had been shown by numerous other scriptures. In short, it had been made clear that the “wine of the wrath of God” is nothing more nor less than the seven last plagues; for of these plagues it is said, “For in them is filled up the wrath of God.” Rev. 15:1. “And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the Beast, and upon them which worshipped his Image.” Rev. 16:1, 2. These scriptures show conclusively that every individual who persists in doing what the Lord, through the proclamation of the Third Angel’s Message, tells him not to do—namely, not to “worship the Beast and his Image, and receive his mark”—will be visited by the seven last plagues.
At the close of our last service, a lady who had attended our meetings sought an opportunity to bid us “good by,” but before doing so, stated, in a confidential manner, the reason why it was not at all necessary for her to obey the Third Angel’s Message. In substance, this is what she said: “I have enjoyed your meetings, and appreciate the lectures very much indeed, but I want you to know why I cannot go with you any further. Twelve years ago I was saved by the blood of Christ. I am still trusting in the blood.”
The position of this woman seemed to us very strange. She did not question that we had been sent of God to proclaim a message which develops a people of whom it is said, “Here are they that keep the commandments of God.” Rev. 14:12. She did not deny that the voice of God commands the observance of the Sabbath, and even more, that the Lord’s Sabbath is the seventh day of the week, but, strange to say, she did deny that it was necessary for her to obey God, since she was saved twelve years ago, by trusting in the blood.
This woman is blessed with a good degree of intelligence, and she may have enjoyed a genuine religious experience up to the time of which we are speaking. Her position has given rise to the following reflections: Since this woman claims she was saved twelve years ago, my first query is, From what was she saved? Was she saved from disobedience to God? Since she claims that it is not necessary for her to obey God now, the query arises, Has she been obeying God the past twelve years? If it is not necessary for her to obey God now because of being saved, why should it have been necessary to obey God during the past twelve years, since, according to her position, it is not necessary to obey God after being saved. The mission of Christ to this world was tosave from sin; for of Jesus it is written, “He shall save His people from their sins.” Matt. 1: 21.
Notice, the record does not say that Jesus will save “His people” in their sins, but from their sins. From this we conclude that wherever we find people who are being saved from sin, there we find “His people.” Since “sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4), and since the law says, “The seventh day is the Sabbath” (Ex. 20:10), whenever and wherever it is made clear and plain to one of “His people” that he has not been obeying God in keeping the Sabbath, he will immediately obey this command of God, as well as all others, and thus it is proved that he is indeed one of “His people,” because he is being saved from sin.
It is perfectly proper to trust in the blood of Christ for salvation, but does the blood of Christ avail to cleanse one from sin who intelligently and knowingly refuses to obey the solemn message of warning of Rev. 14:9–12? The Lord says: “If any man worship the Beast and his Image and receive his mark, . . . the same [man] shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God.” “Any man” would include this woman; for the word “man” is used in its generic sense, and means any individual of the human family. But this woman says, “Not so; I shall not drink of the wine of the wrath of God, because I was saved twelve years ago.” She is laboring under a most terrible deception of Satan.
How shall the delusive spell be broken that causes not only this woman but tens of thousands of others to believe that they are saved while refusing to walk in the advancing light of God’s truth? They seem to think that when saved, they do not need to obey the law, for “by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” “But,” the apostle says, “if, while we seek to be justified [made righteous] by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners [or transgressors of the law], is therefore Christ the minister of sin?” Gal. 2:17. In other words, will Christ live in us, and cause us to commit sin? “God forbid,” says Paul; and so says every right-minded individual. On the other hand, Christ will do the same works in us and through us that He did for us when in this world eighteen hundred years ago. He obeyed God. He kept His commandments, and so shall we when saved from sin; for it is written, “Sin shall not have dominion over you.” Rom. 6:14.
In conclusion, let us notice the following text, which clearly shows for whom the blood of Christ avails: “But if we walk in the light, . . . the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7. Brother, are you walking in all the light God has shown you? If so, and you are trusting in “the blood,” that will avail in cleansing you from “all sin;” but if you think that because the blood cleansed you from “all sin” twelve years ago, it is not necessary for you to “walk in the light” now, you are cherishing a vain hope. To be cleansed from “all sin” means to be free from sin (Rom. 6:18–23), not free to commit sin. The blood of Christ will not cover up known sins. You must stop sinning. It is a sin to disobey God. Do not be deceived. The “wine of the wrath of God” will surely be experienced by those who worship the Beast and his Image and receive his mark. “God is not a man that He should lie.” Be wise, heed the message of warning, keep the commandments of God, and you will find a refuge, safe and sure, from the plagues that will fall upon the shelterless heads of those who worship the Beast and receive his mark.

The Church’s Duty to Disturb

THE Church was built to disturb the peace of man; but often it does not perform its duty, for fear of disturbing the peace of the Church. What kind of artillery practice would that be which declined to fire for fear of kicking over the gun carriages, or waking up the sentinels asleep at their posts?—H. W. Beecher.

THE CHURCH.

By John Norton Loughborough

Caution to the Church.

ELDER J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” 2 Cor. 11:3.
Greenfield, in his Lexicon, says that the Greek word aplotetos, here rendered simplicity, means sincerity and purity. It is used in Rom. 12:8 with reference to giving to aid the needy, and for the support of the cause. In 2 Cor. 1:12 the same term applies to conversation, which word anâstrophe is defined “mode of life, conduct, deportment.”
The Lord marked out the “mode of life” for Adam and Eve, but Satan objected to that, and beguiled Eve with what he claimed to be a better plan. In Paul's time Satan still sought slyly to introduce his ways in opposition to those given by the Saviour. He came out more boldly when using Elymas, the sorcerer, whom the apostle rebuked in these words: “O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?” Acts 13:10.
The scheming of Satan is just the same now as in olden time. He is watching for his opportunity to pervert the Lord's work, and make confusion in the Church. The Lord warned His people of this as early as 1853, in these words: “In these last days, while God is bringing His children into the unity of the faith, there is more real need of order than ever before; for, as God unites His children, Satan and his evil angels are very busy to prevent this unity and destroy it.”
In 1868 it was said, “Never, never, will these heavenly messengers place their indorsement upon irregularity, disorganization, and disorder. All these evils are the result of Satan's efforts to weaken our forces, to destroy courage, and prevent successful action.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. I, page 650.
In 1882 this message was given: “Union is strength. . . . Satan well understands this. Never was he more determined than now to make of none effect the truth of God, by causing bitterness and dissension among the Lord's people. . . . If there was ever a time when the people of God should press together, it is now.”—Id., No. 31, page 232.
In “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. I, page 210, it is stated: “Order must be observed, and there must be union in maintaining order, or Satan will take the advantage.”
In 1889 this instruction was given: “One point will have to be guarded, and that is individual independence. As soldiers in Christ's army, there should be concert of action in the various departments of the work.”—Id., No. 33, page 62.
In “Christian Education” (1894) we read: “I am sure that the Lord has wrought in the organization that has been perfected, and the fact that there are discouraging features in the work should not be thought a sufficient reason for disorganization.”—Pages 134–136.
Again in the same book we read: “Evil does not result because of organization, but because of making organization everything, and vital godliness of little moment.”
This mode of Satan's scheming was seen anciently. When the Lord had given the people sacrifices to keep fresh in their minds the offering of Christ that was to be made for them, Satan led them to “trust in the sacrifices and ordinances themselves, instead of resting upon Him to whom they pointed.” We read in “Christian Education,” page 134, “When form and machinery take the pre-eminence, and a laborious task is made of carrying on the work that should be done with simplicity, evil will result, and little will be accomplished in proportion to the effort put forth. The object of organization is just the reverse of this; and should we disorganize, it would be like tearing down that which we have built up. Evil results have been seen, both in the Sabbath-school work and in the missionary society, because of making much of machinery, while vital experience was lost sight of.”
Once more we quote from “Christian Education:” “O, how Satan would rejoice to get in among this people, and disorganize the work at a time when thorough organization is essential, and will be the greatest power to keep out spurious uprisings, and to refute claims not endorsed by the word of God! We want to hold the lines evenly, that there shall be no breaking down of the system of regulation and order. . . . We are living in a time when order, system, and unity of action are most essential.”
Not a line is found in the Testimonies objecting to the plan and system of order and organization that God has established among Seventh-day Adventists; but we have found it plainly stated that “God has led” in the establishment of the system. In 1894 it was spoken of as “a plan that has been perfected.” One that “is to stand, strengthened and established.”
In view of these plain statements, we inquire, What has led individuals to the conclusion that the present mode of working, so well established, was now to be relaxed? We answer, It must be a misunderstanding of the cautions given to this people. The following was given in 1881, in “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. IV, page 535:—
“The steady progress of our work, and our increased facilities, are filling the hearts and minds of many of our people with satisfaction and pride, which we fear will take the place of the love of God in the soul. Busy activity in the mechanical part of the work of God may so occupy the mind that prayer will be neglected, and self-importance and self-sufficiency, so ready to urge their way, will take the place of true goodness, meekness, and lowliness of heart. The zealous cry may be heard, ‘The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, are these!’ ‘Come with me and see my zeal for the Lord.’ But where are the burden bearers? Where are the fathers and mothers in Israel? Where are thosewho carry upon the heart the burden for souls, and who come in close sympathy with their fellow men, ready to place themselves in any position to save them from eternal ruin?”
Not long after this caution was given, one who has since left our ranks, in giving instruction to young ministers, told them they should get before the people an idea of our great institutions and the magnitude of our work, as a means of creating an interest in their minds. May the Lord forgive us who may have followed that instruction.
In the volume of Testimonies from which the last quotation was taken, we read of another danger: “Our brethren should be guarded, lest they become stereotyped in their plans and labors. They may spend time and money in preparing an exact channel, that the work must be done in just such a way or it is not done right. There is danger of being too particular. . . .
“There is a great work to be done in the day of God's preparation, in devising and executing plans for the advancement of His cause. Our publications should have a wide circulation; for they are doing a great work. There is much missionary work to be done. But I have been shown that there is danger of having this work too mechanical, so intricate and complicated that less will be accomplished than if it were more simple, direct, plain, and decided. We have neither time nor means to keep all parts of this machinery in harmonious action. . . .
“By obtaining a most thorough education in all the minutiae, and leaving vital principles out of the question, we become dry and formal workers. The hearts that God has made willing by the operations of His grace, are fitted for the work. . . .
“Less dwelling upon set forms, less of the mechanical, and more of the power of godliness, are essential in this solemn, fearful day of responsibilities.”—Pages 600, 601.
In the REVIEW of Aug. 7, 1894, we read: “The people of God have lost much by not maintaining the simplicity of the truth as it is in Jesus. This simplicity has been crowded out, and forms and ceremonies and a round of busy activities in mechanical work have taken its place. Pride and lukewarmness have made the professed people of God an offense in His sight.”
Some of the foregoing statements refer especially to rules adopted by the tract and missionary societies, which had made the work of the society “a laborious task.” Especially was this the case with the devoted, earnest souls who did effective work, but had not the ability to make the required reports, or perchance had obtained their tracts without following all the round specified in the rules of the society. The writer has seen persons plead with tears for tracts for some soul who was anxious to read, but the careful librarian refused them because they failed to keep an exact account of the number of pages they gave away, and did not report as specified in the mechanical rule.
In an unpublished Testimony of 1894 attention is again called to these things, but to avoid the difficulty the missionary society is not to be abolished, neither is order to be abandoned, as is seen by what follows:—
“I learn that it is proposed by some of our brethren to do away with the organization of some at least of the branches of our work. No doubt what has led them to propose this step is that in some of our organizations the machinery has been made so complicated as really to hinder the work. This, however, is not an argument against organization, but against the perversion of it.”

S. O. JAMES

By S. O. James

Can we, at the close of each day, review the record made, and remember the subject of our thoughts, the themes talked upon, the acts performed, and then understand the nature of the motive that prompted each movement?

S. O. JAMES

I AM NEVER ALONE.

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

MRS. L. D. AVERY-STUTTLE.
I am never alone, by day or night, Or whether the sky be dark or bright, Or whether the stars in the heavens shine, Or whether a darksome path be mine; Though His ways I may not understand, Yet my faith takes hold of the Father's hand.
As the young man stood by the prophet's side, When his blinded eyes were opened wide, He looked and saw, and ceased to fear; For the heavenly horsemen gathered near. And so, to-day, though I may not see, I know that the angels walk with me.
I am never alone; O the blessed calm That the sweet thought brings, like a healing balm! When my heart is weary and sick and sore, And the joys of life's springtime are mine no more, Still standing ever anear my side Is the blessed form of the Crucified.
I am never alone; when I bow the knee By the grave of my loved ones gone from me, When in grief I murmur a silent prayer, I lift my eyes, and my Lord is there! Yes, He who wept by the young man's grave Is there to comfort, and bless, and save.
What though I stand, like the faithful three, In the midst of the burning, fiery sea, The form of the Fourth will be there, I know, Though e'en through the valley of death I go. And so I banish each doubt and fear; I am never alone; for my Lord is near.

THE SUPPORT OF GOSPEL MINISTERS ACCORDING TO GOD'S PLAN.

By D. T. Bourdeau

ELDER D. T. BOURDEAU:
(Continued.)
It is safe to say that hundreds of thousands of missionaries could be sustained in heathen lands if all professed Christians were faithful in paying their tithes. This could be done without depriving home missionaries of what they need to meet their reasonable temporal wants. And would not this be far better than for so-called Christian nations to expend annually billions of dollars on spirituous liquors, tobacco, and other needless and injurious articles, and to pay out so much to meet war expenses? If these nations had really had the true missionary spirit, and given God His just dues, war to-day would be unknown, and there would be but little, if any, heathenism in our world.
“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. III, page 395, has these significant words: “If all who profess the truth will come up to the claims of God in giving the tenth, which God says is His, the treasury will be abundantly supplied with means to carry forward the great work for the salvation of man.” The work carried on by the ministry is here intended. The truthfulness of this statement would be confirmed by making a general estimate of the income of our people. If, therefore, an honest tithe from our people would suffice to sustain our ministers, why call for donations for this purpose in addition to the tithes received? The answer is: Because not all those who profess present truth pay an honest tithe. Donations must come in to make up for the lack. And those who make voluntary offerings, or donations, for this purpose, will have the reward and wear the crown of those who fail to do their duty, unless the latter repent and reform. And what if all were to lay upon the ministers not only the preaching of the gospel, but also the support of themselves and the missionary work? In that case, all but the ministers would lose their crowns and their glorious, everlasting reward. This is not God's plan.

GOD'S PLAN IS FOR ALL.

God would have all take part in the work of giving, that all may receive the rich blessings in store for so doing, the ministers not excepted. Anciently the Levites, as well as others, paid tithes. See Neh. 10:38. And why should the ministers of Christ under this dispensation be deprived of the privilege of fulfilling this duty? Why should they not set an example to the lay members in so important a matter? On this point we will add the following words, from a reliable source, which appeared in the REVIEW AND HERALD of Dec. 17, 1889: “The ministers themselves should be strict to carry out to the letter the injunctions of God's word.”
Even little children who have come to the years of accountability, should be encouraged to pay tithes and offerings. Encouraging them to do this is a potent means of leading them to take an interest in the work of salvation, to early give their hearts to the Lord, and to lead useful lives. The first tithes I saw offered to preachers by Seventh-day Adventists were chiefly the avails of children's industry. The children met twice a week, and spent two hours in braiding palm-leaf hats. Each time they earned at least two dollars, which they joyfully put into the treasury as their tithes. This was over forty years ago. I have watched these children, have seen them all grow up into Christian manhood and womanhood.
“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. III, pages 411–413, bears the following pointed words under this head:— “Each member of the different families in our churches, who believes the truth, may act a part in its advancement by cheerfully adopting systematic benevolence [an expression used to mean or embrace the tithing system when these words were written]. ‘Let every one of you lay by him in store [margin, by himself at home], . . . that there be no gatherings when I come.’ . . . The responsibility should rest upon every individual who enjoys the belief of the truth. ‘Let every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him.’ Every member of the family, from the oldest down to the youngest, may take part in this work of benevolence.
“The offerings of little children may be acceptable and pleasing to God. In accordance with the spirit that prompts the gifts will be the value of the offering. The poor, by following the rule of the apostle and laying by a small sum every week [and ‘the first day of the week’], help to swell the treasury, and their gifts are wholly acceptable to God; for they make just as great sacrifices as their more wealthy brethren, and even greater. The plan of systematic benevolence will prove a safeguard to every family against temptations to spend means for needless things; and especially will it prove a blessing to the rich by guarding them from indulging in extravagances. . . .
“The apostle suggests the first day of the week as a proper time to review the course of Providence and the prosperity experienced, and, in the fear of God, with true gratitude of heart for the blessings He has bestowed, to decide how much, according to His own devised plan, shall be rendered back to Him.”
The poor, and those in debt, should not excuse themselves from paying their dues to God. If poverty and debts are a substantial excuse in this matter, then Christ need not have made himself poor to save us, and that we might have the riches of His grace and finally inherit the everlasting riches of the world to come. Then we should not love God supremely and our neighbors as ourselves. Then we may forget Jesus' words of commendation with regard to the poor widow who dropped only two mites into the treasury—all that she had for her living. Mark 12:42–44. Then might men ever harbor selfishness, and keep in debt that they might never pay their dues to the Lord!
The following reply of a servant of Jesus Christ, whose writings have been and still are extensively circulated, to a person who asked her, “Do you think my father should pay tithes? He has met with great loss recently, and he says that as soon as he cancels his debt, he will pay tithes,” is to the point:—
“How do you regard our obligations to God, who gives us life and breath, and all the blessings we enjoy? Would you have our indebtedness to God continually increasing? Would you rob Him of the portion He has never given us to use for any other purpose than to advance His work, to sustain His servants in the ministry? For the answer to your question, the prophet Malachi asks, ‘Will a man rob God? . . . But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee?’—as though there was a willingness to misunderstand this subject. The answer comes: ‘In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.’ After such a statement, would I dare say to you, You need not pay tithes as long as you are in debt? Shall I tell you to be sure to pay all you owe any man, although you rob God to do so?” —Special Testimony, entitled “Will a Man Rob God?”
(To be continued.)

S. O. JAMES

By S. O. James

MORALITY is morality; but when the Most High shall lay down His standard upon that of earth, the latter will be crushed to atoms.

S. O. JAMES

Continue reading: Escaping a Burning Building