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Review and Herald, Vol. 87, No. 7.

The Indispensable Christ

Review and Herald

Feb 17, 1910

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 17, 1910

The Indispensable Christ

By George Macdonald

I AM so weak, dear Lord, I can not stand One moment without Thee; But, O, the tenderness of Thy enfolding! And, O, the faithfulness of Thy upholding And of the strength of Thy right hand! — That strength is enough for me.
I am so needy, Lord, and yet I know All fulness dwells in Thee; And, hour by hour, that never-failing treasure Supplies and fills in overflowing measure My last and greatest need, and so Thy grace is enough for me.
It is so sweet to trust Thy word alone; I do not ask to see The unveiling of Thy purpose, or the shining Of future light on mysteries untwining; Thy promise-roll is all my own — Thy word is enough for me.
There were strange soul-depths, restless, vast, and broad, Unfathomed as the sea — An infinite craving for some infinite stilling; But now Thy perfect love is perfect filling; Lord Jesus Christ, my Lord, my God, Thou, Thou art enough for me.
— George Macdonald.

The Protestant Magazine

Protesting against ecclesiastical error, and promoting gospel truth.
Teaching fundamental principles of true Christianity.
Revealing the difference between genuine and professed Protestantism.
Showing wherein Protestant principles are repudiated by Protestants.
Exposing the arrogant claims of the Papacy to unlimited power over both the church and the state.
Contrasting the truths of Christianity with the teachings practised by the Catholic Church.

The First Issue, 1910

The first issue of the PROTESTANT MAGAZINE deals with some of the dangerous errors of Catholicism, and sets forth many of the essential principles of true Protestantism without abuse or condemnation of those holding to wrong principles.
While it is unalterably opposed to the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church, it opposes in a strong, dignified, and convincing manner the PRINCIPLES and DOCTRINES of the church, without attacking any member of that communion.
It reveals the rapid development of the Papacy, and the present “peace and safety” attitude of the Protestant churches — a situation remarkably favorable to the full establishment of the Image of the Beast, and the fulfilment of all the prophecies pertaining to its work. It gives full evidence of a thorough knowledge of the present critical situation. In it are the following —

Propositions Established

That true Protestantism means absolute separation from Romanism.
That the Papacy claims unlimited power over the church and the state.
That Christ did not abolish the Law — the Ten Commandments.
That tradition has supplanted the Scriptures in the Roman Catholic Church.
That the true principles of Rome are revealed in their Episcopal Oath of Allegiance to the Pope.
That by means of the churches of the Reformation, God broke the great power of the Roman universal church.
That the leading articles of the Roman Catholic faith have only tradition for their authority.
That the Roman Catholic hierarchy is making a systematic effort to entangle the United States government in the toils of the Papacy.
That falsity and vain deceit, when brought to the supposed help of Christian truth, belittle and degrade that truth and its Author.
That the decree of the Roman Catholic justification is self-contradictory, and completely out of harmony with the principles of true Christianity.
That the Papacy seeks not only to control man’s outward life, but also to have absolute control over his conscience in all the minutia of religious worship.
That the departure of the leaders of Protestantism from the fundamental truths of the gospel is preparing the way for the revival of Roman Catholicism.
That the essence of the Roman Catholic belief is, “One only Catholic and Apostolic Church,” standing as the representative of our absent Lord.
That the rapid growth of the Catholic Church in this country of late years is the result of evangelical Christianity dropping its distinctive and positive testimony against Roman Catholic doctrines and practises.
That the growth of Roman Catholicism in the United States from the year 1776 has been from 1 in 120 of the population, to 1 in 6, or from a membership of 25,000 to 15,600,000.
That the only safe and consistent course for Protestants is to accept and to obey the Word of God in its entirety, regardless of creeds, traditions, and customs.
Order of State Tract Society, or

Editorial

By Editor

The Unbroken Circuit.—On the first page of the first number of the REVIEW was printed an article by James White, the editor, on the unbroken circuit of the weekly Sabbath, through all time. Under the title, “The Sabbath Not Lost,” he wrote:—
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” “The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.” “For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.” This language is definite; and while it assures us that the day here commanded to be observed is the same in its weekly returns with the day on which God rested, it assures us against any derangement of the week, or loss of time which might have been produced in the long lapse of time from the creation, by the general apostasy from the true worship of God. Had the true Sabbath been lost, it was certainly restored; and the day then known as the seventh day received the divine sanction. The same remark is applicable to the subject during the succeeding history of the Jewish nation. Had the weekly Sabbath fallen into total neglect, and the day of its regular recurrence been forgotten, our Lord Jesus Christ, by giving his divine example in favor of the day known by the Jewish nation as the proper seventh day of the decalogue, has settled the question conclusively, down to that time; so that the day known in the New Testament as the Sabbath, was the seventh day in regular succession from the creation of the world. A perfect uniformity among all the nations in the known world, as to the days of the week, both before and since the advent of Christ, is a further testimony that no derangement of the days of the week has ever taken place. Indeed, it will not be pretended that the account of time has been lost since the introduction of Christianity. Since that period, the Jews as a people have maintained a perfect uniformity in the observance of the ancient Sabbath, though scattered through every nation of the globe; and the Christian church, in all its divisions, has been known to observe either the seventh or the first day of the week; and for a considerable length of time, both of these days. So that we are as certain that the day now known as the seventh day of the week is the same with that enjoined in the fourth commandment, as we are of any fact for the knowledge of which we are dependent on the testimony of mankind.

God’s Voice or the Higher Critic

By C. M. S.

A QUESTIONER asks the editor of the Outlook if God really spoke to the people of old, or if what we have been taught to believe as God’s declarations to his people were merely the words of zealous religious men who believed they were speaking in accord with the mind of God. Replying to this question, the editor, who is a supporter of the Higher Criticism, replies:
The phrase, “Thus saith the Lord,” is the common Hebrew formula of an authoritative declaration, and means simply the same as the modern preacher’s phrase, “God knows that what I say is true.”
The editor further declares that,—the prophets themselves heard only the inner voice that we describe as the voice of conscience. It is only in conscience that a voice recognized as divine ever makes itself heard.
If this be true, then there is just as much evidence of inspiration in the utterances of the modern preachers as there is in the recorded words of the prophets which go to make up our Bible. Some hold that there are contradictions in the Bible, and have tried hard and long to prove that such is the case. But the veriest tyro in Biblical study would have no difficulty in showing contradictions, inconsistencies, variations from proved truth, unscientific statements, glaring misrepresentations of God’s character, and perversions of fact, in such a bible as the accumulated utterances of modern theologians would be—modern theologians, especially, who are drifting so far away from the teachings of that Book of books which is the Word of God, the foundation of purity and truth and life. It is because of this drift away from God’s Word that these contradictions and inconsistencies are so prevalent in the teachings of modern theologians.
But the statement of the Outlook is not true. There is an infinite difference between “holy men of God” speaking “as they were moved by the Holy Ghost,” and modern religious teachers speaking what they believe to be true, especially when such teachers are teaching that what “holy men of God spoke” aforetime was merely the outbreathings of their own finite convictions. They can not both be true. They can not both be the word of God. If the “convictions” of the modern theologians are true, then the utterances of the “holy men of God” who spoke in times past “as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” are not true; and the movings of the Spirit now contradict the movings of that same Spirit as manifested in the inspired writings. By such inconsistent teachings are the minds of the unstable to-day being turned away from God’s Word and his truth. There is a studied and persistent attempt on the part of such teachers to undermine and shatter the Rock upon which the true church of God is builded. Some will even be convinced that that Rock has been undermined and toppled over into the abyss of everlasting darkness, or that it has been shattered into a million fragments and scattered to the ends of the universe on the winds of the Higher Criticism; just as Christian Science is teaching its devotees that things do not exist which are actually in evidence.
The day is not far distant when such teachings will be put to the test—will be weighed in the balance of God’s judgment—and will be found wanting; and that Rock of truth, the Word of God, which men thought they had undermined and shattered, will be seen then standing at the entrance of the Valley of Eden, thegreat El Capitan of the universe, sheer and white, unshattered and unshaken, and yet an impassable barrier to every one who has flung invectives at it or pummeled his little fist against its eternal base.
There is one Rock of truth, and on that is builded the true church of the living God. That Rock is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Voice of the eternal Father, the Speaker of the words the prophets uttered. “Did God ever speak to man in an audible voice before the time of Christ?”—He did; and it was so intensely audible that those men besought Moses in these words: “Let not God speak with us, lest we die.” Ex. 20:19. In verse 22 the Lord himself declares: “Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.” Again: “Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.” Ex. 19:19. The inspired record of this event reads: “These words the Lord spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone.” Deut. 5:22.
The world would fain forget that God ever spoke to man with an audible voice, especially when those audible words were the great, unchangeable law of his kingdom. But the record stands, and all who will may read it. There is also the record of Elijah’s experience, when, standing in the mouth of the cave, he harkened to the “still small voice” of the Lord, and the Lord gave him positive audible instructions in regard to his work. See 1 Kings 19:12-18. He talked with Abraham concerning the destruction of the cities of the plain, and also, concerning his heir and inheritance. He spoke to Samuel when the wickedness of the sons of Eli made it impossible for the Lord to instruct them or carry on his work through them.
We read in Heb. 1:1 that God “at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets.” The Higher Critics teach us that this means that those men “heard only the inner voice that we describe as the voice of conscience.” But the Bible declares that God spoke by the prophets. The Bible and the Higher Critic can not both be right. “Let God be true.” The Bible tells us that those men spoke “as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:21. The Higher Critic teaches that they heard the inner voice of conscience, and spoke that. They can not both be right. “Let God be true.”
The Higher Criticism is infidelity’s first lieutenant, and is doing perhaps more strenuous service than its captain himself in overthrowing the faith of those who are not rooted and grounded in the truth. It is nothing less than one of those marvelous workings of Satan that were to be so prevalent in the last days. “When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”—Not if the Higher Criticism can prevent it. It will be scarce, but it will not be totally extinct. “Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Rev. 14:12. This is said of those who have faith. It will not be said of those who have been trying to destroy it.
C. M. S.

Bible Finance

“And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
“And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
“And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: for all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.” Mark 12: 41-44.

Led of the Lord to Light

By W. A. S.

As Cornelius, the centurion, prayed for light at Cesarea, he saw in vision an angel, who said:—
“Thy prayers and thine alms are come up as a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: he lodged with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the seaside: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.”
How encouragingly direct and personal is the connection between heaven and earth in the Scripture story. The Lord sent conviction, and heard prayer, and angels knew where sinners were seeking light, and how to lead such to servants of God who had the light and instruction to give. And that same loving Father is our God, and the same angels are ministers of his.
Of all the manifest leadings of Providence in bringing souls into contact with the truth, we could not attempt to tell. Our workers are continually meeting the evidence that shows a direct contact between heaven and earth, and the ministry of the Holy Spirit and of the divinely sent messengers. But here is an experience, related by Brother A. S. Booth at the last Southern California camp-meeting, which is rather out of the ordinary, and bears testimony to the Lord’s gracious working to save sinners. I summarize it briefly, from memory, as follows:—
Brother Booth and an associate were holding tent-meetings in a Southern California town. Some miles away in the country lived a man who had led a worldly and irreligious life. One night, as he was in bed, the conviction of sin came upon him so powerfully and so distressingly that he was impelled to get up and pray for mercy and for relief. The conviction continued with him a day or two, bringing him great mental distress. I believe he got hold of a New Testament and began to read it. Then, in his trouble, he left his ranch in the mountains, and went down to the town to seek for help.
The first evening he attended a Salvation Army meeting; but when it closed, he had not found the relief he sought. That night at midnight he was walking the street in his distress of soul. A policeman noted him as a stranger, apparently loitering in the night, and accosted him as a suspicious character. The man told of his trouble, and why he had come to the town. “I’ll tell you, if that is what you want,” said the policeman; “you go down to that tent, where those boys are preaching [directing him to our tent-meeting]; they have got the truth there.”
So next morning the man found our brethren; and there, too, he found release from his burden, and joy in the acceptance of the truth. Then he begged that one of the workers might go back with him to teach the way to his household. Brother Booth visited the brother’s home, and there the blessing of the Lord brought salvation to his house. In one of the last Bible studies at the ranch, Brother Booth told us, they read how Cornelius prayed and the Lord led him to send for Peter to come to teach him the way of life. The new brother’s heart was melted with gratitude and love as he saw that the same God had in mercy convicted him of sin, through no human agency, and then providentially led him to those who could teach him the truth for these last days.
There is a definite message for these closing hours of earth’s history. We know it by the sure, unfailing Word; and we know by multiplied experiences in all parts of the world that the Lord is pouring out his Spirit in the latter rain, and making bare his mighty arm for the finishing of the work. At home and abroad, we are seeing more and more the revelation of his direct providences in the work. Every day the Lord of life is in touch with every soul. He knows where hearts are longing for help. It will not take him long to finish the work, now that the time has come for the witness to be borne in every unwarned field.
Well may we be of good cheer, and surrender ourselves to be used of God in giving the words of life to others. It is by the ministry of God’s Holy Word, under the converting power of the Holy Spirit, that the work is being done.
W. A. S.

_Confidence Among Brethren_

By F. M. W.

CONFIDENCE in one's fellows is one of the essentials of true prosperity in every department of the world's great work. Let the spirit of distrust and suspicion once gain a foothold, even in the business world, and conditions are created inimical to prosperity and happiness. Some of the great financial crises of the world have resulted from this lack of confidence. The same principle is true as applied to the church of God. In this communion, higher and holier than any relationship which the world affords, confidence and trust will bear effectual fruit; and just as truly will distrust and suspicion produce baneful results.
That man is to be pitied, who, in consequence of reverses and untoward circumstances in his experience, has lost faith in his fellows, either in the church or in the world. We may see those around us, even our brethren and sisters, who do wrong. We may see them hold viewscontrary to our views, and follow plans and methods against which our judgment revolts; and yet while we may recognize this, we may still credit them with possessing good motives and laboring with good intentions. The cultivation of this view of the question will serve to cultivate a generosity of heart in us, and put us in a position where we can help those in error.
The great Master Builder takes us, rough, unhewn stones from the quarry, and sees with the eyes of faith the development of qualities and attributes entirely hidden to the natural gaze. When we fall, he lifts us up. When we slight his mercy, he again trusts us with his blessing. His infinite gaze can search out our weaknesses and recognize them far more certainly than we can recognize the weaknesses of our fellow men; and yet, with this perfect knowledge on his part, he still treats man on this basis of confidence and trust.
Let us seek to cultivate in our lives this same generous-heartedness. If some of our brethren fall, let us seek to raise them up, trusting that the second trial may bring them out victors. We can not know the full reason for their fall. We can not appreciate the traits which have been transmitted to them through heredity, the weaknesses which have come through early environment, the education for which they perhaps were not responsible, nor do we know how much they resisted before they fell. Possibly, had we been in their place we would have done far worse. Let us then be charitable, and instead of crushing the bruised reed, or extinguishing the smoking flax, let us seek to bind up the broken, and to kindle into new life the smoldering embers. By this course, we may save a soul from death, and may be the means in God's hands of helping to develop a truly noble character, which shall shine in resplendent glory throughout eternity.
Instead of drawing apart and finding fault with each other, let us seek to draw together. A divided church becomes the prey of the adversary; a united church under God may make a noble fight for truth and righteousness. Let us suppress the critical word, the unkind thought, and cultivate toward all our fellows, and especially toward our brethren and sisters in the church of God, a spirit of confidence and trust and love. Confidence will beget confidence. Love will cause returning love to spring forth; and that which we seek to give to others will return to us in sevenfold measure and blessing. “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing.”
F. M. W.

Christ’s Spirit in Politics

A PROMINENT layman of a prominent church recently addressed a number of public men, asking their opinion as to the dominance of the ideas of Jesus Christ in political affairs. The answers showed a very imperfect appreciation of what the principles of the kingdom of Christ are and what the purpose of our Saviour was in making them known to men. It was far from his purpose merely to give men a set of rules which would make them well spoken of and prosperous in this world’s affairs. Said one of the most prominent politicians of the country in reply to the gentleman’s query: “I do not believe it is disadvantageous to any man in any calling to be a professing Christian.” To be sure, it ought not to be, but that is one of the last considerations in becoming truly a Christian. This politician believed that the spirit of Christ was permeating business and politics to a greater extent than ever before. Another public man, whose name has been in the mouth of every American during the last few weeks, said:—
I believe it is a strong advantage for a public man to-day to be a professing Christian. It gives him confidence in himself, and it gives others confidence in him.
But “confidence in himself” is not one of the most prominent characteristics of the true Christian. Paul says: “We . . . glory in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” Phil. 3: 3. The psalmist says it is “better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” Ps. 118: 8. The business of Jesus in this world was not to found a system that would help men to get votes and win the confidence of the people. He who would hold before the eyes of men the worldly advantages accruing to them through a profession of Christianity puts religion upon the lowest plane and injures the cause he advocates by blinding the eyes of men to the real purpose of Christ and inducing men to profess Christianity who do so for the advantage such profession may bring them.

Note and Comment

Soiling Soul and Body

ONE significant sign of the times, in indicating the degeneracy coming into the professed church of Christ, is the marked tendency of many church-members to mingle freely with the world and in the world's sports. The line of demarcation between professors and non-professors is rapidly being obliterated. Says the United Presbyterian, of January 20:—
‘It was known there is a great change in the practise of members of the churches with respect to theatergoing, but it may be a surprise to learn from the Christian Work that theatergoing, within its observation, is now the rule, and abstention the exception. It accompanies this statement with a strong plea for the still larger patronage of the play by church people, applying the usual arguments as to the dramatic instincts of human nature, and the duty of encouraging those who are providing what is clean and wholesome.
As indicating how men and women who have indulged in theatergoing and have been converted to the Lord regard the influence of their former pastimes, another journal announces the conversion of an eminent German actress, Frau Hedwig Wangel. She has boldly renounced the theater, declaring it had “soiled her soul and body,” and this would be the testimony of scores of actors and actresses throughout the world if they were to speak the honest sentiments of their hearts. Strange that there should be found Christian people and great religious journals that would be advocating the duty of Christians to attend recreations of this character. Higher and holier motives and purposes will inspire the hearts of the truly devoted followers of the Master. Their pleasure, instead of being found among the godless and indifferent, will find its highest exercise in humbly walking in the steps of the Master.

Sunday Laws Not Needed in Madagascar

STRONG efforts have been made during the last few years to thwart the efforts of Christian missions in Madagascar. The governor of the island has been unfavorable to Christianity, and has encouraged persecution, resulting, in some cases, in martyrdom, and has promoted the practise of heathen rites. Recently he has been replaced, and Mr. Henry Cor, at one time governor of Tahiti, has been appointed to the position. In speaking of the status of Christianity in the island under the administration of the former governor, a missionary writes:—
In our own mission churches we have 29,319 members, and a total of 116,986 adherents. That is the bitter pill for our antireligious opponents. In spite of all the bribery by which it is sought to draw the natives away from Christianity, in spite of the “Sunday entertainments and other efforts put forth to make the people give up their worship in the Christian churches on the Lord’s day, the people stand firm. Indeed, they are getting refined by the things they suffer, and the Malagasy Christians are of a higher type to-day than ever before.
Sunday-law advocates may learn a lesson from this testimony. When once the spirit of real Christian devotion enters into the hearts of the people of any nationality, there will be no need of laws requiring Sabbath observance. They will worship the Lord from choice,

Consolation

By L. D. SANTEE

L. D. SANTEE
The friends I have loved, that have passed from my side, I shall meet in this earth-life never, And yet are the tears of my sorrowing dried, For we shall not be parted forever.
There comes to me now through the word of the seers A wonderful, touching story— That ever through heaven’s inexhaustible years, The soul wears a mantle of glory.
For those who are sleeping so low in the earth Only wait till the Saviour shall call them,— Only rest till they wake to an angelic birth, Where no evil or harm can befall them.
I left them in anguish, my cheeks they were wet; There was death, and a casket before me; But e’en in that hour I could not forget That the promise of God hovered o’er me.
And now, though I’m mourning their absence below, My heart grows light through my weeping, For the grave has no terrors for mourners who know ’Tis a chamber their loved ones keeping Till the voice of the Master shall bid them arise. They have slumbered through earth’s dreary weather, But soon, through the bending, the radiant, skies We’ll all enter heaven together.
And the odor and bloom of the beautiful years We’ll share in the rapture of gladness, And laughter shall fill all the measures of tears, And joy shall remove every sadness.
O ye, who are mourning o’er ridges of clay, Whose desolate bosoms are aching, Look up to the light of that glorious day That soon on the world will be breaking.
Moline, Ill.

A Lesson in Health Reform

By Ellen G. White

MRS. E. G. WHITE
(Concluded)
WE desire that the meetings which are held during the General Conference shall have a telling influence on every soul. Let us prove ourselves worthy of being trusted by God,—worthy of his confidence in our determination that we will not betray our sacred trust. Let us open the way for the light of God to shine into the chambers of the mind. Thus we shall be prepared to help others. To those who appreciate the truth as it is in Jesus, and who desire to reveal the truth in its beauty, its power, and its sanctifying grace, God will give strength to stand against temptation.
Intelligence is a gift of God,—one that he desires us to use to his glory. Students need not talk of their attainments in the so-called higher education if they have not learned to eat and drink to the glory of God, and to exercise brain, bone, and muscle in such a way as to prepare for the highest possible service. The whole being must be brought into exercise if we would secure a healthy condition of mind; the mental and the physical powers should be used proportionately.
To those who are desirous of being efficient laborers in God’s cause, I would say, If you are putting an undue weight of labor on the brain, thinking you will lose ground unless you study all the time, you had better change your views and your course of action. Unless greater care is exercised in this respect, there are many who will go down to the grave prematurely. This you can not afford to do; for there is a world to be saved.
A great work is to be done,—a work that we have scarcely begun as yet. Everywhere, everywhere the truth is to stand forth in its glorious power and in its simplicity. Do not boast of what you know, but take your case to God. Say to him, I comply with the conditions. Now, Lord, as I educate my appetites and tastes, so that a healthy current of blood may flow through my veins, wilt thou sustain me? Teach me how to use my powers in presenting the most precious truths that have ever come to mortals for the fitting up of character for the future, immortal life.
Fathers and mothers, you have a solemn work to do. The eternal salvation of your children depends upon your course of action. How will you successfully educate your children? Not by scolding; for it will do no good. Talk to your children as if you had confidence in their intelligence. Deal with them kindly, tenderly, lovingly. Tell them what God would have them do. Tell them that God would have them educated and trained to be laborers together with him. When you act your part, you can trust the Lord to act his part. Be strong in faith, and teach your children that we are all dependent upon God. Read to them the story of the four Hebrew children, and impress their minds with a realization of the influence for good that was exerted in Daniel’s time because of strict adherence to principle.
In connection with your home, have a garden if possible, where your children can work and where you can work with them. So instruct them and so arrange their work that their spare time will not be spent in idleness. Give them something definite to do, and let them feel that they are doing something to help father and mother, to sustain the family. Let the older ones feel the responsibility of giving a right example to the younger children. Let all act a part according to their years. When the children thus trained attend school, they will have clear minds. They will be able to reason for themselves, and will not accept that which this one says or what that one says without some proof.
I wish to say to every father and mother, If you have a hasty temper, seek God for help to overcome it. When you are provoked to impatience, go to your chamber, and kneel down and ask God to help you that you may have a right influence over your children. Your children are God’s children; they are to have a life that measures with the life of God. Can you comprehend it?—a life that measures with the life of God. It was to give them this that God sent his Son into the world. For this Christ laid off his royal robe and kingly crown and came to this sinful world as a helpless babe. He was educated under the supervision of heavenly angels. He worked at the carpenter’s trade,—he who was the Prince of life, the Saviour of all that would believe in him.
When Christ came to our world, in him were combined divinity and humanity. In his humanity he could lay hold of humanity; by virtue of his divinity he could bring power and health and grace to mankind. Thus he would make men and women partakers of the divine nature and able to escape the corruption that is in the world through lust.
To us is given the work of overcoming. This is no haphazard work. Only as we become partakers of the divine nature can we overcome our hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil. We must be trained to understand and follow Bible principles; we must learn of Christ the science of eating and drinking to the glory of God.
The Lord desires that his people shall be a wise people, and carry a sensible influence wherever they go. He has given us capabilities, and a part to act in his work. Let us act our part as faithfully as the four Hebrew worthies acted theirs. Then angels of God will preside in our homes.
You remember the story of the woman who was healed by touching Christ’s garment when in the midst of a dense throng. Her disease was such that no earthly physician’s power could help her. She saw Jesus healing the sick, and hope sprang up in her heart. She thought she would wait her opportunity, and when she got within reach of the Saviour,she put forth her finger and touched the hem of his garment; and immediately she was made whole. In this experience there was a lesson that Christ desired to impress on the throng about him. Humanity had connected with divinity, and the blessing had been received.
Christ came to the earth to bring divinity to humanity. We need that divinity; young and old need it. If you do not know anything about this power, I beseech you for Christ’s sake to seek for it. Endeavor to live a consistent life. Take hold of Christ by living, active faith. Come to him just as you are, helpless and dependent, and say, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” Help me to study thy life, thy self-denial and self-sacrifice; help me to become a Christian in every sense of the word.
Continue reading: J. O. CORLISS