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Review and Herald, Vol. 29, No. 19.

The Sermon

Review and Herald

Apr 16, 1867

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 16, 1867

The Sermon.

By A. S. Hutchins

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom, PREACH THE WORD. 2 Tim. iv, 2.

THE SOURCE OF TRUE PROSPERITY;

Or: How to Obtain Mercy.

BY ELD. A. S. HUTCHINS.
TEXT. “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Prov. xxviii, 14.
To the man desirous of salvation the doctrine of this text is of the utmost importance. It is stated in terms too plain to be misunderstood by the believing, obedient child.
In the examination of this subject, we shall consider, 1. The nature and consequence of sin. 2. The provision for removing sin. 3. The mercy obtained if we confess and forsake sin.
1. The nature and consequence of sin. From the sacred pages of inspiration, we learn that “Sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John iii, 4. And again, we read, “All unrighteousness is sin.” Unrighteousness is defined by Mr. Webster, “Injustice; a violation of the divine law, or of the plain principles of justice and equity.” Righteousness is defined, “Purity of heart and rectitude of life; conformity of heart and life, to the divine law.”
As sustaining these definitions, we call attention to the language of Moses, speaking of God’s commandments: “And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us.” Deut. vi, 25.
Hence, the righteous man keeps the law of God. He conforms in life and heart to its holy requisitions; while the sinner is its transgressor. He is a rebel against the just and holy principles of God’s government. “He that committeth sin is of the Devil; for the Devil sinneth from the beginning.” 1 John iii, 18. We say, then, in the language of inspiration, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” Prov. xiv, 34.
The sinner is not the servant of God; but he is the servant of the enemy of all righteousness, the great originator of all evil. Said Jesus to a certain class, “Ye are of your father the Devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.” John viii, 44. “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Rom. vi, 16.
“The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Rom. viii, 7. It wars against the glory of the Most High, and against its own highest, eternal good; and that of its fellow-creatures. This rebellion weakens all the nobler powers of the mind, perverts the judgment, blunts the sensibilities, sears the conscience, fills the heart with unbelief; and degrades the sinner physically, mentally, and morally.
Sin drove the first happy pair from the garden of Eden and shut them away from the tree of life. Sad and awful the change now! Joy and peace which filled their hearts in their once delightful home, must give place to sighs, and groans, and many a bitter regret, as they go forth to reap the reward of transgression. Sin called forth the destructive deluge of wrath upon the antediluvians, and swallowed up that ungodly race. Sin ruined the cities of the plain, and brought down the storm of fire and brimstone upon them. Rebellion against God and hatred to his people, led the Egyptian host to rush madly and wildly into the jaws of death. Unbelief and stubbornness of heart, led the once highly favored people of God, who had received so many distinguished tokens of his love and care for them, to prefer the life and companionship of a murderer, to that of the dear Saviour; and to cry of him, “Crucify him, crucify him.”
Sin had led them on from one degree of impenitence to another, till they could bear false witness against the innocent Son of God, on the night of his betrayal and apprehension; and greedily thirsting for his blood, to urge on and hurry forward his mock trial, and his sentence to die a condemned criminal upon the cross. They could look upon that blessed Jesus as the nails were driven through his feet which had borne him to their dwellings with tidings of mercy and salvation; they could gaze upon him as the nails were forced through those hands which had rested so gently upon the sick and afflicted, the dying and the dead, imparting health and life; they could stand gazing upon him in his dreadful agony upon the cross as he bled, thirsted, and groaned, and bowed his lovely head in death; but the heavens could not; they veiled themselves in clouds of darkness, and refused to witness the dreadful scene, when the spotless Lamb of God who “knew no sin,” must die as a criminal unworthy to live. The earth groaned and trembled, and the rocks burst asunder.
“Thy grief and thy compassion, Were all for sinner’s gain; Mine, mine was the transgression, But thine the deadly pain.”
But we pass to the consequence of sin, which is DEATH. “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James i, 15. This was the penalty threatened Adam for transgression. “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Gen. ii. 17. Or, “dying thou shalt die.” Margin.
Touching the nature of the death here threatened, it seems needless to mistake; for when fully defined to Adam subsequently to his transgression, it is made thus plain by God, whose majesty he had insulted, and whose precepts he had trampled under foot: “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” Gen. iii. 19. From this time forward, he is in a “dying” condition, his steps bending toward the grave, which he reached in nine hundred and thirty years.
As Adam could impart nothing to his posterity better than what he now possessed, a race of sinners under the sentence of death came forth. Mark its ravages! All the vast generations of men that like the broad swelling wave have arisen, have passed away by its steady and fearful strokes, and lie hidden in the secret depths of death and the grave. No age, rank, or nationality, exempts from death. “There is no discharge in that war.”
The king and his subjects, the slave and his master, the mighty warrior and the humble, devoted, Christian, are there. “There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest. There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor. The small and the great are there; and the servant is free from his master.” Job iii, 17–19. Our nearest and dearest friends have been torn from us by the ruthless hand of death, and they too are hidden there.
Through the degenerating influence of sin, our days are shortened “as an hand-breadth,” and our downward steps will soon bring us to the embrace of death, and its portals would forever close upon us and lock us in everlasting silence, in payment of the penalty incurred by the fall of man, were it not for the bright star of hope which shines forth from the pages of divine revelation, dispelling the darkness of such a cold and gloomy thought. From this source of light and truth, and life and immortality, we learn that “the righteous hath hope in his death.” Prov. xiv, 32. A halo of light now hangs over the resting place of the dear saints of God.
2. The provision for removing sin. The Scriptures testify that “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John iii, 16. “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,” Rom. v, 8.
The attention of the fallen pair was early directed to the Messiah and his work. Gen. iii, 15. Holy men of old manifested their faith in him, through their various offerings and sacrifices, which pointed forward and typified the great and saving Antitype. Through faith in him and obedience to the Father, their sins were forgiven. Says David: “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.” Psa. xxxii, 1, 2.
As he went forth upon his mission, to turn men from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they might receive forgiveness of sins, the attention of the people was called to him in the following impressive language, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John i, 29.
For this he sacrificed the glory which he had with the Father before the world was; for this, he who was rich became poor; for this he went about doing good, “despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” For this, he shed his most precious blood upon the cross, and died the just for the unjust, and lay down in the cold grave. Yes, Jesus the Life-giver once rested in a tomb. He has sweetened its domain, he has lighted its portals, and bids us look up and hope in him.
He burst the bands of death and the grave, and arose a triumphant Conqueror. He ascended to the Father to the mansions of glory.
“Bleeding Jesus, blessed Saviour, Now reigns on high.”
Oh! let us remember the sovereign love of our dear Master, our dying Lord! And may we follow in his steps.
In the gift of the dear Son of God, to die for the fallen sinful race, the attributes of love and mercy, manifest themselves in our Creator, in the strongest possible manner. So, with the inspired penman, we may say, “God is love.” Man had placed himself where even the mercy of God could not be exercised in his behalf, for his salvation, upon any other plan than that of the atonement. And this could be effected only through the unspeakable goodness of the Father, and the willingness of the Son to “humble himself, and become obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
Through the efficacious blood of this propitiatory sacrifice, we can now gain access to him whose law we have broken, and have all our sins purged away, our names written in the Lamb’s book of life, and we finally stand among the redeemed on Mt. Zion. Consoling thought! Blessed prospect! God can now be just, and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus.
Our great High Priest, the blessed Saviour, now pleads his blood in our behalf in the heavenly Sanctuary. And how inexpressibly comforting and cheering the words of the beloved disciple, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John ii, 1, 2.
The vicarious death of our dear Redeemer upon the cross, opens a way for all men to escape the awful consequence of sin. All are graciously invited to avail themselves of the merits of the Saviour’s blood, and live. None need remain away and perish. “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life.” Soon Jesus will finish his work in the Sanctuary, the sins of God’s people will be blotted out, and forever borne away.
Dear friends, it is your privilege and mine, to be in readiness for that important day, that our sins may all be blotted out. It is our privilege to be wholly consecrated to the Lord. Says the apostle in view of the preparatory work to meet the Saviour when he cometh, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly: and I pray God your whole spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thess. v, 23. And then adds the gracious assurance, “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.”
Our adorable Redeemer has promised to come again. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John xiv, 3. As he was taken away from the disciples and caught up to Heaven, two men stood by them in white apparel, “Which also said, ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” Acts i, 10. Mark the expression, Shall so come. Not in a mysterious, hidden, manner. Not with a mystical body, but that same Jesus will come again. Blessed thought! Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Darkness rests not upon the minds of the saints of God, respecting that bright morning, around which cluster the high and buoyant hopes of the resurrection of the dead, and the gift of immortality and eternal life.
“But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.” The signs of the times justify us in the belief that the coming of the Son of man is near, “EVEN AT THE DOORS.” The sun, the moon, the stars, the earth, the rolling oceans, the church, and the world in its moral and political attitude, all, all bid us look for Jesus’ coming as right upon us.
The sleeping saints will then awake and come forth to meet their coming Lord, and the righteous living be changed. “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. iv, 14–17.
Now to the righteous is restored the life through Christ, which was lost by the fall of Adam. And herein is fulfilled that scripture, “As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” 1 Cor. xv, 22. Now they receive the gift of eternal life. To this glorious day the apostle looked for his crown, and there all the lovers of the appearing of Christ look for theirs. Says Paul: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Tim. iv, 7, 8. “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” 1 Pet. v, 4. “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” Col. iii, 4.
This redeemed company live and reign with Christ a thousand years. It is evident from the word of God that this reign is in the New Jerusalem.
At the expiration of the thousand years the wicked dead are raised [Rev. xx, 5] to receive their reward. Paul teaches us that “the wages of sin is death.” Rom. vi, 23. And John says, “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection; on such the second death hath no power.” Rev. xx, 6. Again we read, “He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” Rev. i, 11. As the sinner did not overcome sin he can not have the overcomer’s reward; but as a reward for his personal transgressions, the second death falls upon him.
In probation he was exhorted, “Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” Eze. xviii, 31. As the death here spoken of which may be escaped by turning away from transgressions, can not be that death incurred by the fall of Adam, it follows that it must be the second death. This we may escape, but if we remain impenitent, it will certainly overtake us.
The element used for the utter destruction of Satan and all the incorrigible host of sinners, is fire from God. “And fire came down from God out of Heaven and devoured them.” “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Rev. xx. Here inspiration leaves them, and here must we, assured by the Scriptures of divine truth, that God “will render to every man according to his deeds.” Rom. ii, 6.
The element used to accomplish this destruction, we understand will also purify this earth [2 Pet. iii, 10], which is to be the final abode of the saints. When this is accomplished, then shall be realized the promise of the dear Saviour, “Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth.” Matt. v, 5. See also Isa. xi, 6–9; lxv, 17–25; lxvi, 22; 2 Pet. iii, 10–13; Rev. xxi, 1–4.
Now sin is removed. Its great originator and all his sympathizers, have met their due reward. Nothing now can tempt or worry the people of God: “Thy people also shall all be righteous.” The glorious peaceful rest of the redeemed is gained. And now is fulfilled the Scripture.
“And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.” Rev. v, 13.
3. The mercy obtained if we confess and forsake sin. Having briefly examined the nature and consequence of sin, and the provision for its removal; we are better prepared to appreciate the language of the text: “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”
We have seen that “sin is the transgression of the law;” and that it is only through the blood of Christ, that our sins can be washed away. Here is a fountain in which we may wash and be clean.
The high and holy platform then to which we invite the sinner, wracked and worn with his heavy load of sin and iniquity, is, “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts xx, 21. True saving faith in Christ, is preceded by genuine repentance of sin. Acts iii, 19; xxvi, 20; Matt. xxi, 32.
As the life-long transgressor of the holy law of God, is awakened to a sense of his deplorable condition, and resolves by divine aid, to change his mode of acting; to reform and amend his life, in what estimation will he hold that sacred and much-abused law? Most assuredly if he has an apostolic conversion, he will exclaim from the depths of his enlightened soul, “The law is holy, and the commandment is holy, and just, and good.” Rom. vii, 12.
He pleads not for its abolition; no, but for its life, as did the real mother for the life of the contested infant in the days of king Solomon. And the spontaneous language of his heart is, “This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” 1 John v, 3.
With this unerring rule as a guide with which to walk with God, he enters upon his new, his Christian life, assured “if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John i, 7.
Says the beloved disciple, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
The life of the Christian commences with the confession of his many sins. In deep contrition he confesses to his holy and benevolent Creator, his transgressions and ingratitude; and sincerely resolves to live in accordance with the divine law; which teaches us to love God with all the heart, and with all the soul, and with all the mind, and with all the strength; and our neighbor as ourself.
Has he grieved, injured or defrauded his neighbor, he humbly confesses his guilt, and as a pledge of his sincere penitence, he is ready like Zaccheus, to restore that which he has wrongfully taken. And oh! the peace and joy of that man who has a conscience “void of offence toward God, and toward men!” And who can say with that grayheaded man, who had walked with God from childhood,
“Behold, here I am: witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? or whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it.” 1 Sam. xii, 3.
As such an one moves on in the pleasing pathway of duty, growing in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; should he at any time go astray, it is his delight to confess and forsake his wrong. He walks in the light as it shines forth from the pages of inspiration; and true prosperity attends him. “Mercy shall compass him about.”
The peace of God which now fills his heart, and the soul-inspiring hope of eternal life, leads him to be merciful to all. Follow this devoted man in the walks of life; behold him as a compassionate and pitiful neighbor; as a winning and loving father; a tender and affectionate companion; and a faithful, cross-bearing and self-denying Christian.
In conclusion, let me say, my dear impenitent friend, your life need not be a blank. You need not live to no purpose, if you will confess and forsake your sins; if you will repent and believe, “keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus,” you shall have mercy. Through obedience you may obtain the palm of victory and the crown of life; you may join with all the redeemed,
“When the sleeping myriads will unite, With the pure angelic choirs above, To swell the strains of redeeming love.”
And my dear brethren, let us labor to keep ourselves “in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” And may we all be gathered where the “tabernacle of God shall be with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away.” Amen.

PRAYER FOR REFUGE.

By H. M. Kilgore

TUNE.—The Lone Starry Hours.
O GIVE me a refuge with thee, Lord, When the great day of wrath shall be here; When the wicked in terror shall flee, Lord, As the “white cloud” begins to appear; When is heard through the earth, their praying, For the rocks and the mountains to fall, May I, by thy truth here obeying, O Lord, then be saved from it all.
CHORUS: When is heard through the earth, etc.
O give me a refuge with thee, Lord, For none will be able to stand, Save those who thus sheltered shall be, Lord, And kept by thy powerful hand. When the Archangel’s voice shall be calling The dead from the earth and the sea, And the wicked around shall be falling, For safety to thee let me flee.
CHORUS: When the Archangel’s voice, etc.
O give me a refuge with thee, Lord, When the wicked the city surround; When the saints their destruction shall see, Lord, O let me with thee then be found. When the song through the new earth is ringing, Of triumph and joy evermore, Let me join in the heavenly singing, That rolls o’er the glorified shore.
CHORUS: When the song through the new earth, etc.
H. M. KILGORE. South Norridgewock, Me.

COMFORT PROMISED TO THE MOURNERS.

By C. A. Osgood

“Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.” How different from the ideas of worldly men are the teachings of Jesus Christ. They “call the proud happy,” they think that the rich, the gay, the mirthful, those who “live in pleasure on the earth,” are the blessed ones. But the Saviour pronounced blessings upon the humble poor, the sorrowful, the persecuted ones, and gave assurance, that such should enjoy the favor of God, and a possession in the kingdom of Heaven. But to the gay and sportive multitude he said, “Woe unto you that laugh now for ye shall mourn and weep.”
The promise of comfort is not to all in the world that may mourn from any cause, for “the sorrow of the world worketh death.” But it is to those who “sorrow after a godly sort,” that is, in a manner pleasing to the Lord. It is to those heavy laden ones who come to Christ, “take his yoke upon them and learn of him.” “They will find rest to their souls.”
The children of God as truly as others have their sorrows and joys here in this world. Some of the sorrows that ungodly persons have, they have not; some they have that the world have not; and some, both classes share in common. Sometimes the children of God are “in heaviness through manifold trials.” And again they are enabled to “rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” For their comfort God has given “exceeding great and precious promises.” The Holy Spirit is called the Comforter. He “takes of the things of Jesus and shows them” to his disciples. “The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirits that we are the children of God; and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
The sinner, truly sorrowful on account of his sins against a God of perfect righteousness, justice, and goodness, crying out “God be merciful to me a sinner,” finds peace in believing in the Lord Jesus, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Fleeing “for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before him,” he finds “strong consolation,” in the oath and promise of him who can not lie. Though God was “angry with him,” his “anger is now turned away and he comforts him.”
The backslider who has wandered from the fold of God, and sinned grievously, repenting with bitter tears over his guiltiness, crying to God, that he would “have mercy upon him according to the multitude of his tender mercies,” confessing his guilt, and acknowledging that he is not worthy to be called a child of God, has restored to him the “joys of God’s salvation,” so that his broken bones are made to rejoice, and “his tongue to sing aloud of God’s righteousness.”
The glorious things foretold by the prophets are exceedingly comforting to Christian mourners. Do they sorrow on account of the loss of dear Christian friends by death? They do not “sorrow as those who have no hope.” For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
Those who are “persecuted for righteousness’ sake are assured that their reward will be great in Heaven,” and thus are encouraged to follow the Saviour through evil report, and endure long in hope of an immortal crown.
The laborers in the gospel field, who toil with much anxiety to save souls, “warning every man night and day with tears” as Paul did, are comforted, by the conversion and steadfastness, and growth in grace of those for whom they have labored. These are their “glory and joy.” “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.” And converts saved will be the joy and crown of rejoicing of the ministers of Christ, in his presence at his coming. 1 Thess. i, 19.
The people of God are distressed now in view of the prevailing wickedness of the world. “Rivers of water run down their eyes because men keep not the law” of God. They “behold the transgressors and are grieved.” But they are comforted in remembering the promise of God, that he “will create a new earth, wherein the righteous shall dwell.” There will be no Sabbath breakers there. For “from one Sabbath to another shall all flesh come to worship before the Lord.” No profane swearer, or liar, or fornicator, or drunkard, or murderer, or extortioner, or covetous man will be there; but only the peaceful just, true and holy ones will inherit the land.
It is a great comfort to the afflicted people of God, to know that “all things shall work together for good to them that love God;” and that “these light afflictions which are but for a moment,” comparatively, “work out for them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”
Oh! how the people of God may be comforted, amidst all the cares, perplexities, toils and trials of the present state, when they think that these are not long to continue, but will be succeeded by everlasting comfort, peace and joy!
“God will wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there will be no more death, nor mourning, nor crying; for the former things will have passed away.” “There will be no more curse.”
C. A. Osgood.
Rochester, N. Y.

THEN FACE TO FACE.

By D. T. T.

Yes, face to face with the Lord! To see the King in his beauty; to see him as he is; to see his face; to be with him where he is, that we may behold his glory; to be forever with the Lord,—this, this will be the sum of all blessedness. His smile now enlightens the city of gold, and gives to Heaven its worth. Paradise would not be paradise without him. Not the glitter or the glory, but the Lord. Not the diamond and the topaz, but the Lord. Not the green, new earth, or the flowers that never hear of winter, but the Lord. Not the snowy robes, or the seraph’s song, but the Lord. He will be the brightest star in all the heavenly dome, the unsetting Sun whose fadeless lustre will attract and dazzle all immortal eyes. One look at his matchless person, when the golden clouds return him to earth again, will transform us into his image; to what perfection of likeness unto him shall they attain who gaze on his face in rapture endless and sublime? To lay hands on his sacred person, as did John the Immerseer; to pillow one’s head under the same roof with him, as did Lazarus of Bethany; to sit at the same table with him, as did Zaccheus of Jericho; to kneel at his feet and learn and adore, as did Mary; to feel his holy hand laid upon the person, as did sinking Peter; to walk by his side, as did the two who went with him to Emmaus; to lean upon his bosom, as did the beloved John,—were a privilege and a joy indeed. To anoint him for his burial; to bedew his worn feet with tears, and wipe them with her raven hair, and then print them all over with kisses, as did a tender, believing woman; to clasp him in the arms, and smooth down the thorn-pierced, dead brow of the dear Son of God, as did Joseph of Arimathea,—were a holier, tearful delight, a love to do Him honor.
But what were all these compared with being with him amid the splendors of his kingly metropolis, the New Jerusalem—our meeting-place the eternal throne, our meeting-time the eternal day? All the gathered good of eternity will be there, but our Lord alone will make a full Heaven. Well does Rutherford exclaim, “Oh, that He would draw aside the curtains, and that the King would come out of his gallery and his palace, that I might see him. What would I not give to waive time, that lieth betwixt Christ and me, that we might once meet. I cannot think but that at the first sight I shall have of that most lovely and fairest face, love will come out of his two eyes and fill me with astonishment. I would but desire to stand at the outer sides of the gates of the New Jerusalem, and look through a hole in the door and see Christ’s face. Oh, for the coming of the Bridegroom!”
But the redeemed shall have a nearer view than this. Their place is before the throne. So shall we ever be with the Lord. Then face to face,—
“For ever with the Lord! Amen; so let it be. Life from the dead is in that word— ’Tis Immortality!”
—D. T. T., in World’s Crisis.

Zeal, Error, Passion, and Divisions

SET bounds to your zeal by discretion; to error, by truth; to passion, by reason; to divisions, by charity.

The Lord’s Work in the Lord’s Time

Do the Lord's work in the Lord's time. Pray while God bears; hear while God speaks; believe while God promises; obey while God commands.

“BEHIND THE CROSS.”

By M. J. C.

Behind the cross, oh! let me hide, The cross of Christ the crucified, Let self sink down; ’tis not my aim To gain applause for my weak name.
I would not strive to please the ear With words of peace when foes lurk near, I would not seek to clothe my theme In lofty words to bring me fame.
Behind the cross, oh! let me hide; On that Christ suffered, bled, and died; And I, while pointing to that scene, Should bear a humble, contrite mien.
I do not wish to hear men say, “That's a smart man we heard to-day.” Ah no, I’d rather see them weep, Then should I hope some fruit to reap.
M. J. C.
Rochester, N. Y.

The Lying Seller’s Purse

—He that sells and lies, shall find the lie left in his purse.

Literal Interpretations.

By James White

“And if thy right eye offend thee pluck it out, and cast it from thee; for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee; for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement. But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery; and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.” Matt. v, 29-32.
A SAFE rule in the interpretation of the Sacred Scriptures is that every passage should be regarded literal unless a good reason can be given why a figure is used.
The above words of our Lord cannot be understood as literal, for the very obvious reason that there will be none among the immortal in the kingdom of God with but one eye, or one hand. We may, therefore, safely conclude that our Lord uses a figure. What does this figure represent? It has been said that the offending members, namely, the eye and the hand, illustrate evil propensities. That these are an offense to the living Christian is true; but that Christ did not mean evil passions is certain, unless it can be shown that he has taught that we should rid ourselves of some of our evil passions, represented by the plucked-out eye, and the cut-off hand, and may enter Heaven with other wicked passions, illustrated by the remaining eye and hand. But as the Saviour taught no such absurdity, we inquire again, What does the figure illustrate? The human body, with its several members, is several times used in the New Testament as a figure of the church. And it is also true that offending members should be cut off. But the church when it enters the kingdom, will be complete in all its members. That will not be a maimed church. Again we inquire, What does the figure mean? We venture to answer the question as follows:
The eye and the hand represent near and dear members of our families. The man is the head of the family, and the wife is his right arm of strength. How precious is the sight of the eye. This may represent a dear son or daughter.
The truth frequently makes divisions in families, where some of its members steel their hearts against and oppose the other members who receive it. And that those members who live and obey the truth are not accountable for such divisions, if they are seeking, as much as within them lies, to live in the peaceable enjoyment of truth, is evident from the following words of Jesus:
“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth. I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. And he that loveth son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake, shall find it. Matt. x, 34-39.”
Peace may be enjoyed in a household under two circumstances; first, where all are agreed in the truth, and second, where all oppose it. In the first case, all labor to shut Satan out, and in the second, the author of division is willing to leave whole households in the peaceable enjoyment of error. A third condition of the family, though seldom existing, might be mentioned, when there is such faithfulness, meekness and patience on the part of those who obey the truth, that those who do not receive it are induced to lead quiet lives, and generously cease to mar the feelings, by infringing upon the rights of those who believe.
The sketch given by our Lord is a sad one, and how painfully has it been filled up by the kindling fires of jealousy, and the wrath of the dragon, in those members of families who reject sanctifying truth. But the only safe course for the believing husband or wife, son or daughter, in the midst of family foes, is to press forward meekly amid the storm, and ever bend their lonely footsteps toward the golden city of God. If such love an unbelieving father or mother, son or daughter, more than the Lord, they are not worthy of him. Those who give up the truth, and sell the Lord, in order to have peace with their near friends, part with their interest in the kingdom at too low a figure. Such save themselves in this short life; but lose the future life, which is in point of value and duration, eternal.
But what goes to still further confirm the view that the offending hand or eye may represent the wife, son, or daughter, is the fact that our Lord in the connection, mentions the wife guilty of a great offense, which justifies the husband to cut her off by a bill of divorce.
The proper course for the believing to pursue, is to courteously and kindly, but firmly, press forward in the path of truth. If they yield the truth and go to perdition, probably every member of their family will go with them and all be cast into hell. But if they are faithful, these dear members of their family, seeing their good works, and becoming tired of waiting for them to give up the truth, may embrace the truth, and the whole family be saved.
We might give several worthy instances where whole families have in this way been rescued, and some very unworthy ones, where for the want of a little moral courage, whole families have given up their hope of the future life and sold their Lord for less than twenty pieces of silver. We have mourned that so few of our father's family were with us in the truth. But on looking the matter over, see great cause of rejoicing that our influence may have saved some of them.
At Mt. Hope Cemetery in Rochester, N. Y., lie a dear brother and sister that we took to our hired home in that city, and instructed in the way of truth. They were both marked for the grave when they reached our door. Their earthly prospects were blighted by disease, and they readily saw, loved and obeyed, the truth, and died in the triumphs of faith.
In Oak Hill Cemetery, lies a beloved son whose death was most hopeful and triumphant. And our dear parents are also reverencing in their age, the commandments of God. At our last visit to Maine, our eldest sister embraced fully the present truth, and now rejoices in it. May others be brought to its acknowledgment.
In our own family our two sons claim a part with the people of God. May they and we be found faithful, so that the entire family may be saved, without the loss of one member. But had we taken hold of the worldly baits thrown out to us, and yielded the truth to please friends, perhaps none of our family relatives would have embraced the truth and held it fast, excepting Mrs. W. To God be all the glory for what he has done for us. JAMES WHITE.
Continue reading: Notes on Genesis