Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jul 29, 1897
Editorial
By Editor
A Clean Heart.
In that wonderful prayer of the psalmist, found in the 51st psalm, which is also the prayer of the truly penitent sinner of all ages, and which is so beautifully expressed by the artist in our illustration, is set forth the foundation work of all genuine reform among men. "A clean heart" is the necessary beginning. Without that all reform will prove evanescent and hopeless.
The Fountain of Motive and Action.
The heart is used as expressing the seat of the affections, the mainspring of motive, the fountain of thought. "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness" (Mark 7: 21, 22), and every other sin in the catalog, and all these defile the man, even in the cherished thought; "for as he thinketh in his heart so is he." "Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart;" and again, "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer."
Cleanse the Fountain.
It follows from the above scriptures that the only way to reform the man is to cleanse the heart; the only way to purify the stream of life and action is to cleanse the fountain. "A good tree can not bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit." The fountain must be cleansed, the tree made good.
But Whose Heart?
Not the other man's, not the church's, not the nation's, but the individual's. "In me a clean heart." No man can truly pray for a clean heart in others unless he himself possesses it. He may ask their salvation from sorrow or trouble, but not from sin in its fullest, broadest, deepest sense. The primary watchword of true reform is not, "The World for Christ, The Nation for Christ, The Family for Christ, Myself for Christ;" it is the exact reverse of this. First of all it is "myself for Christ." John Knox himself was first reached by the Spirit of Christ before he could pray, "Give me Scotland or I die." The lips of Isaiah must first be touched with the cleansing coal from God's altar ere he could say, "Here am I; send me." "Moses must first look upon God before he could plead even for his own self-effacement that Israel might be saved. And so also with Paul the apostle. His own soul must know the salvation, the unselfish spirit of Jesus Christ, before he could say, "I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh!" The work of reform must begin where God by his Spirit begins it, with my heart; "then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee." See Ps. 51: 10-13.
How Changed?
Not by human power, or human wisdom, or human education; not by science or scientific evolution; not by law applied by man; not by legislative enactment; not by pledges or resolutions or penance. It is by none of these things that the heart is made clean. Some of these may seem to effect changes, but the change is not lasting. Oftentimes the change is only from one sin to another, as from degradation to pride, from gratification of lust to self-righteousness. But the soul is not thus satisfied; it has no rest; it is not clean. Temptations stir it like the troubled sea; and when God is near, it is afraid. It is not clean. How shall it be changed? The Spirit which inspired the prayer tells: "Create in me a clean heart." It must be by creation. Any power less than this will prove futile. From the chaos of doubt, and sin, and self-righteousness, and2darkness, and unrest, creative power must call forth the cosmos of a clean heart.
But by Whom?
It is only God, the Creator of heaven and earth, who can do this. "Create in me a clean heart, O God." Salvation is by God's creative power. Men talk of the works of creation and redemption, and say that the latter is greater than the former; but both are one. Redemption is but recreation. God's creation memorial, the Sabbath, is the sign of his power to sanctify and save. "Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them." Eze. 20:12. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." "That ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Eph. 2:10; 4:24. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation." 2 Cor. 5:17.
In His Word.
And this power of God to create clean hearts is in the word of his Spirit. How often has he taught this? He said in the beginning, "Let there be light; and light was." Gen. 1:3. And that same "God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." 2 Cor. 4:6. "For he spake, and it was; he commanded, and it stood fast." Ps. 33:9. He said to the physical leper, "Be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed." Matt. 8:3. And he speaks to the heart all full of the leprosy of sin, and declares, "Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you." John 15:3. His words are "spirit and they are life" (John 6:63); and such will every heart prove them to be that receives them. This is God's word to every soul. "All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flowers of grass," but God and his Word endure forever. This is the Gospel of God to us (1 Peter 1:24, 25); in this only is comfort to the afflicted of earth (Isa. 40:1, 6-8).
Doing His Work.
It is the bearing of this message to the world that God has given to his servants. He has not told them to reform themselves or the world by politics. On the contrary, he has taught them, and all history has demonstrated the truthfulness of the teaching, that all efforts of politics and force are utterly puerile and futile. He would cleanse all. He invites all to come; and in those who do he creates clean hearts, puts within them his Spirit, and sends them to the world with the same mighty Gospel, and the blessed assurance, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." While he puts no carnal weapon into the hands of his servants, he clothes them with a mightier armor and puts into their hands a more potent weapon, the armor of God and the sword of the Spirit. And all who are Christ's servants can say: "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God; many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust." Ps. 40:2-4. This is the work of God for all Christians—ministering Jesus Christ in word and deed and life, not condemning, not judging, not assuming to punish those who rebel against God, but lifting the fallen by the power of the Spirit of God.
Will It Prove Effectual?
Will it correct the habits of evil men? Will it reform governments? Will it prevent Sabbath-breaking? It is the only means that has done this. It will do all these in every one who receives the Gospel; and those who will not, no other power can convert. The Gospel of Jesus Christ apart from all civil law and force of arms changed the face of the earth in spite of all the opposition of the idolatrous, iron kingdom of Rome; but when she united with what was called a Christian State, she brought to herself and the State weakness, spiritual death, and destruction, and upon the world the Dark Ages. When she again turned from Caesar to God, the light of reformation broke upon the world through regenerated hearts; but when she again turned to civil power, she fell a paralytic. And now, not heeding these lessons of the Word and history, many professed teachers are leading, and hosts of professed Christians are being led, back to the Dark Ages of religious tyranny. O church of Christ, arouse! Retrace thy steps. Break alliance with the world. Leave the political pools to the men of earth. Put on the armor of God. Leave council and creed, and bear to the thirsting, famishing souls of earth the living Word of God, the blessed Gospel of Jesus Christ. It will do more than all the force of all the arms of earth. It will make the desert fertilized by the water of life blossom as the rose. It will bring from the slimy pools of vice and sin the pure white lilies, fragrant with the breath of God's grace. It will elevate and purify and cleanse, whereas civil power will but restrain at best, and will make hypocrites and rebels. "Not by might nor by army, but by my Spirit saith the Lord of hosts."
GOD RULES.
“THE Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.” “He removeth kings, and setteth up kings.” “Thou, O king [Nebuchadnezzar], art a king of kings; for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.” “He doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand.” Over and over again has God stated this truth, that man may learn not to meddle with the things of God, and that his children may depend on the final outcome.
He even calls the proud, idolatrous Nebuchadnezzar his servant: “And now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant.” He punished his own people because they would not submit to Babylon’s yoke. And yet so far as it was for God’s glory and their good, he always protected them from temporal harm. For our God makes even the wrath of man to praise him, and what may not be turned to his praise he restrains.
But have not some of his children died?—Yes, in all kinds of cruel ways. But the Most High is Lord of life and death. This world is but a brief span of God’s hand in his eternity. His children may lose life here, but they live with him in glory in all ages to come. He controls all. Devils and men may take counsel against the Lord even to slay his Anointed, his Son, but he that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh, and have them in derision, and set his Son on his holy hill in Zion, above all rule and authority and power. Fierce fiery furnaces, and hungry lions’ dens, and Roman crosses, and martyr fires may await his children; God will use them all, and those who thus plot against him, to preach the free Gospel of the Son of God. He always has, he always will; for he is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever.
Yet notwithstanding all this there are those who profess to be his children who worry and weep, who mourn and cry, who plot and plan in politics, lest the cause of God should go to ruin. Poor human laws for this and that and the other of the Lord’s laws and institutions, or what are thought to be, are demanded just as if God could not care for his own, and even save them if they are saved at all. How much better would it be if, like Daniel, they sought God for Jerusalem, and calmly pursued their way, whether Babylon or Medo-Persia were at the helm! How much better would it be if, like Paul, they would pray for all in authority, whether a wicked Caligula or a wickeder Nero reigned! And how much better it would be, instead of endeavoring to bring in the mighty, glorious, and righteous kingdom of Christ through the unholy policies of politics, for each to do his part in saving and fitting men for that kingdom by the Gospel of Christ, and leave God to establish his own rule, as he certainly will! He has not given that to man to do; “the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
NOT A CREED.
By Ellet Joseph Waggoner
JUSTIFICATION by faith, and that means salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ, is not a theory. It can never be put into a creed, a form of words. Every professor of religion who has certain points of doctrine which he holds, and who is satisfied with them just as he has put them into a form of statement, has as iron-bound a creed as any ever imposed by a council.
But the truth of God is ever growing, ever enlarging. “The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day” (Prov. 4:18), and we can not put that light into writing, and say, “This is the sum of the doctrine.” We may speak what we know, and write what we know, but this simply calls attention to the truth; there is more and more. There are oceans of light and truth, wonderful revelations that the Lord will make to every soul, beyond what he has ever seen, in the treasures of the grace of Christ, if he will but give up to the Lord continually, for him to live his own marvelous life in him. Continually should the prayer be made, “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” Every wonderful thing that we see is but the forerunner of a still more wonderful thing to be revealed, if we will but be open to receive it.
But the man not content with God’s words, who will not rest until he has defined doctrine by his own words and put God into a formula, shuts himself away from learning of God.
E. J. W.
THE TURKS AND ARMENIANS. No. 5.
By H. P. H.
IN my last article I remarked as to how the Armenian horrors reversed public sentiment in England; the people felt ashamed that they had so long helped the Turk, and were impatient with the government for not at once dealing summarily with him. This feeling against the Turk, which rose to such a high pitch in 1895, was also largely shared in America; and in the following year it spread to the nations of the continent of Europe. Mass-meetings were held, money was collected to aid the Armenians, and the feeling of indignation against the Turk ran high. The sentiment that the integrity of the Turkish Empire must be maintained has also here given place to a feeling of utter disgust with the Turk, and the whole Christian world demands that the Turk shall be blotted from the face of the earth. Hence we see to-day that the nations which helped Turkey in the past, and thus kept her from coming to her end, have completely changed in sentiment, and the nation that helped her most is now foremost in demanding her end. Everything seems to be rapidly developing towards the last step mentioned in the prophecy. Indeed, so far are they already advanced that it is a constant wonder how Turkey stands from week to week. And when we consider what comes with the downfall of Turkey, how solemn it makes this Eastern Question, and the march of events from day to day as they advance steadily and surely to the end! Even now the whole matter seems to tremble on the ragged brink of the precipice, and may make the final plunge at any moment.
Another scripture which speaks directly of the Turks, and throws much light on the present situation and course of events, is Rev. 16:12-17. This chapter describes the outpouring of the seven last plagues. Beginning with verse 12 is an account of what takes place under the sixth plague:—
"And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euprates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared."
In the Revelation the Euphrates River is used as a symbol of the Turkish nation, the nation occupying the territory through which the river flows. A study of chapter 9 makes this manifest. Hence, under the sixth plague, this nation will be dried up,—taken out of the way; and what for?—To prepare the way of the kings. Has Turkey been in their way? Our study of the eleventh chapter of Daniel shows that she is preëminently so. For years she has been held in position as a sort of buffer-state to keep the nations back. But when God's time for her end comes, all the nations of earth can not bolster her up any longer, and the moment she is removed, there will be a grand rush for her territory.
We have already had an illustration showing how surely this result will follow the drying up of the Turkish Empire. In 1895, after England had for months tried in vain to secure reforms for the Armenians, and her people were almost exasperated because she was so slow to act, a naval demonstration was decided upon to coerce the Turk. But as soon as this was planned, other nations proposed to join with her in the demonstration. They would not trust England to make it alone. They feared that she would repeat what she did in 1883, in Egypt, when at the time of the Alexandrian riot she seized the opportune moment to land her forces and take possession of the country on the ground that the Egyptians were not able to keep order, and that she must do it for them. Up to that time, France had acted a leading part in directing the affairs of Egypt; she had built the Suez Canal, and had done much to develop the commerce of the country; but now, with a sudden stroke, England had possession; and France has never forgiven herself for her fatal blunder in allowing the British to so adroitly take this excellent advantage from her.
Fearing that in the proposed naval demonstration in Turkish waters, England might seize the favorable moment to land her forces and take possession in Turkey as she had done in Egypt, the nations would not permit her to make this demonstration alone; they sent their war-ships to unite with her, so that in case hostilities should break out, they would be there to have a part in them. Thus, when there was but a bare possibility that the Turkish Government might be removed, and one of the great powers take possession, all the rest rushed to the scene. Hence, by their own acts, the nations have demonstrated that when Turkey comes to her end, is dried up, it will as nothing else bring them together. This will be the inevitable result of the present situation. Since the days of Peter the Great, the course of European politics has been in this direction.
"And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." Rev. 16:13, 14.
These verses make plain what we see in the world to-day. The three unclean spirits come from three sources. A careful study of the Revelation reveals the fact that these three sources comprise the whole human family. What are these unclean spirits? Verse 14 states plainly that they are spirits of devils. What they do is but part of the plan of Satan, the great rebel against God. From the first, it was his plan to defeat the purpose of God. The chief battles in his great rebellion are fought on this earth; human beings are the battle ground; when Satan knows that he has but a short time, he comes down in great wrath. Rev. 12:12. From God's Word Satan can know when he has but a short time, and he then assembles and trains all his forces for one last mighty effort. This work is going on now; it is most apparent in the work of Modern Spiritualism. Through this agency, Satan is doing many wonders, and many think it an amusing pastime to sit in circles and become agents, or mediums, through whom these wonders are performed. How little they realize that all this work is but a part of this great plan of the arch-deceiver in his last mighty effort against the work of God! How true it is that the people are being deceived by this work! For what purpose are they deceived?—To gather them to the battle of the great day of God.
Observe that this work is specially carried on through the kings of the earth. Do we see them preparing for war?—As never before. Never before were so many under arms and so well trained as to-day; never before were there such mighty war-ships, torpedo boats, and terrible engines of destruction. And still the preparation goes on.
But in the midst of all this preparation, these rulers are talking peace; talking about settling difficulties by arbitration; calling for peace congresses; forming peace societies; and talking about disarming. Are these men acting a double part? Are they hypocritical in their pretensions?—No; they are doubtless as honest as any one. But how can this be reconciled with their course in talking peace and at the same time preparing for war as never before? All is explained by the Scripture under consideration; it is the work of Satan, who has so shaped affairs that these rulers can not help themselves. Altho they seriously desire peace and disarmament, not one of them dares disarm; but all feel that for their own safety, they must increase their war forces. Meanwhile the burden of taxation has become so great that the masses are filled with discontent; socialists and anarchists are increasing and gaining in power; and cabinets and prime ministers are perplexed beyond measure to keep peace at home, and at the same time do what they think foreign relations demand.
Some other important features which have a direct bearing on this subject will be presented in another number. H. P. H.
Unanimity of Action
By L. A. Phippeny
IMPRESSIONS OF THE CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR CONVENTION, SAN FRANCISCO, JULY, 1897.
THE great convention of Christian Endeavorers is a thing of the past. It was great, if numbers count for greatness, and where impressions are concerned, they hold a prominent place when properly arrayed. It is estimated that fully forty thousand visitors to San Francisco took advantage of the reduction in railroad fares for this special occasion. Not all of these were members of Christian Endeavor Societies, for thousands wore visitors' badges and helped swell the grand total. A closer estimate placed actual registrations at about twenty-five thousand, while the known number of visiting members was about eleven thousand. It is needless to say that the great cities particularly concerned opened wide the doors of hospitality, and the purple and gold of International C. E. were displayed equally with the national red, white, and blue of the holiday season. Two great halls were provided for the meetings, the larger seating ten thousand, and the smaller less than half as many; yet these were literally packed at nearly all regular meetings, while other halls were filled, and overflow services were held in the streets.4
Yes, numbers tell, and if you happen to belong to the crowd, and your particular friends are in the crowd, and all are good-natured and happy, and you love the leaders, and all are on a great mission bent, and the spectators step out of the way and give you all the room you want, and look on admiringly, why, it's inspiring. You are lifted above the common affairs of life; things assume a different aspect than they are wont to wear, and you are ready to do great things. In short, you feel, because everybody else feels the same, that you "are the people," and you don't feel self-righteous either for feeling so.
So we can not blame the energetic, enthusiastic, eager hearts, young—and some older—for their energy, and enthusiasm, and overflowing spirits. They have grown up in the movement. It is a part of them, and they of it. Under other conditions the rest of us, who are not used to such demonstrations, would think and act the same way. Education and training are almost everything. If everybody were of our way of thinking and doing, we would look at some things differently than we do, and if we were right, all would be right, and that would be enjoyable indeed. But it is possible to be right, and happy, and enthusiastic, and still be with the few. But that is another subject.
Unanimity of Action.
It was a matter of constant wonder—barring the entrances and exits—the ease of control and unanimity of action displayed. In the machinery of the convention,—the distribution, the rising, the sitting, the singing,—in short, the program, one spirit seemed to control, and the great mass moved as one individual at the direction of the presiding officer. The best manners of civilization were distinctly in evidence—barring the crush at entrances and exits, and the securing of best places of observation. Here, ordinary human nature held sway. But in general, the mass was the body, the leaders the head.
This was true, not only in the matter of decorum, but in the thinking part as well. Not that the members themselves did not think, and perhaps profoundly, but the thoughts and the plans that were the animus of the convention were those of the head first of all. As stated before, training is a great thing, and perhaps it did not appeal to these young people as an extraordinary thing that they virtually had no voice—except applause—in the control of the movement. The head had its plans all laid, its ideas all thought out, and in the operation of presiding presented them in a happy I-know-you-will-all-agree manner that met with instant response, and at the word caused the reception of all speakers with the eye-pleasing Chautauqua salute of fluttered kerchiefs. But leaders are necessary, and time and place sometimes forbid general discussion.
Object of Conventions.
What, then, is the real object of these great conventions? We are all pretty much alike in this world. Impressions go a long way towards making opinions and molding actions. The greater a movement can be made to appear, the wider its influence will extend. And so these great gatherings, with all the concomitants of display and world-wide advertising, are first of all and essentially producers of public sentiment and makers of public opinion. The greatness of the movement, the great numbers, and especially the greatness of the present hour, were not allowed for a moment to suffer forgetfulness, but members and visitors and all were reminded in an ear-pleasing way that they were a part of it too, that they were in fact it. Agitation, keeping up interest and enthusiasm, that is all! How alike are all our methods! And these young people catch the thrill, and others catch it, the country and the world catch it, and the movement swells. All proper for the purpose, and yet—but that follows.
The Real Work of the Convention.
The crystallizing of aims and principles and methods into resolutions, was done by committees, and, so far as could be seen, the adoption was done by committees. True, some of the resolutions were read once in public, but there was no public discussion, no public vote, no adequate opportunity to digest what was set forth, and we venture the assertion that the great body of Christian Endeavorers will be quoted as adopting or indorsing principles and sentiments the true meaning of which has never entered the heads of the great majority. There can be no question—at least the impression impresses that way—that this movement is being manipulated by older heads and hands to accomplish certain ends which they are determined to see succeed. This is not particularly a criticism, and we should dislike to think or intimate that the motives of these leaders are other than lofty. But, frankly, the way it is done does not impress favorably.
The public work,—the educational part, the addresses,—were by picked men, eloquent men. Divers themes were handled, and one could not help being impressed at the measure of responsibility resting upon those who stood before such a concourse of plastic, pliable, receptive minds in the role of teachers and guides. Among the themes were: Christian Citizenship, Civic Righteousness, Christian Endeavor in various ways, Our Country, the Lord's Day,—its observance and protection, the brotherhood of mankind, the federation of the world in one grand march toward righteousness, the nation for Christ,—involving a better nation, better rulers, better laws, better individuals, better everything, and always, of course, the means to the end. Reforming, uplifting, these were the key-notes, and they are good, and worthy of all effort. But in the search for and application of ways of bringing about these desirable conditions there is room for a world of difference of opinion, and every man certainly has a right to his opinion. The determination of who is right is often a nice question, but in matters of morals and methods concerning the same there can be but one infallible guide,—the Word of God. Christian endeavor and Christian doing are good, and if methods tally with the Guide-book, all is well.
How to Bring about Better Conditions
was the great question of the convention, and the answer, as set forth by the majority of the speakers, was the creating of sentiment,—first, individual sentiment, then public sentiment, then faithful and intelligent use of the ballot, then better officials and rulers, then better laws, and the nation for Christ. This is the plan of the Christian-Citizenship and Civic-Righteousness movements, to which the great mass of the Christian Endeavor body is being committed. The words "Christian Citizenship" sound well; they touch one's patriotism and ideas of true greatness in a stirring spot, but,—the nation for Christ through the gateway of politics! The idea is forbidding, but this is the logic of the move. Can this be the true means to the desired end? Certain it is that such a course of action impresses one as savoring of the methods of men rather than of the methods of Jesus Christ. Is this "Applied Christianity"? True Christianity is always "applied"—in the way its Founder outlined. But can this be in any sense the idea of Him who said, "My kingdom is not of this world"? There were a few speakers who seemed to discern a better way, who deplored the lack of the power of God in the church of to-day, and the tendency to stand upon another foundation than the Almighty. These appealed to all to come back to the old way, to catch a glimpse of God and his truth, and pointed to a personal Saviour and an individual salvation as the only sure way of reform. This is the Gospel plan. There is need of reform, but the reform must be of the individual, and it must be in the form of the Spirit's gentle persuasion.
Righteousness by Law.
Sentiments were strongly expressed that we must have better laws; laws to suppress this or that evil; laws to protect the Sunday—and this latter received much attention—and the duty of every loyal American and Christian to work, from the ballot to the end. Has it ever occurred to the promoters of this plan, now so widely preached, that the power of civil law is the ability of the nation to enforce its laws? that back of the ballot is the prison cell, and even the sword and the bullet? Is this the power that Christian Endeavorers long to wield? It is the sure ultimate meaning of the method. "Not by might nor by power [human methods], but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." This is the way and the power of righteousness. Human law can never give it.
This is not to impugn the motives of any. Education and training again. But the majority may be in the wrong, and it is hard usually for majorities to understand why minorities should differ in views, especially where great principles are involved. But be not deceived. The Master has shown us the way, and he has left no intimation of command or example for his servants to use political methods in any form for the furtherance of the Gospel. It of itself is the "power of God unto salvation," and it needs no other help. When the power of civil law is appealed to, the inference is warrantable, surely, that other power is lacking. Then it does seem too bad, yes, deplorably bad, and sad, too, to see such a mighty power as the Society of Christian Endeavor, which in the legitimate ways of its inception might wield untold influence in the cause of true Gospel promulgation, massed behind moves whose very methods confess a lack of the power of God.
"For Christ and the Church"
is an inspiring motto; but let only Christ's methods be used. "The nation for Christ" is a lofty phrase; but, honestly, Christ doesn't need our nation as such, nor any other nation. His kingdom is not to be made up of earthly organizations. His kingdom is to endure forever, and his people forever, and it will have for its people the righteous of all nations from creation to the end of earthly kingdoms. He has told us simply, clearly, plainly in his Word—our guide—how it will all come about. Then the real meaning for us of saving the nation is to give the everlasting Gospel to its constituent parts, the individuals who comprise it, and they all need saving grace, people and rulers.
"Enthrone Christ king" is another happy-sounding phrase, but in the present world it can only be done in each heart, and that only as each one lets him in. And in the new order of things which he himself will bring about, he will be king, not only in the hearts of his people, but he will be king in fact, sitting on the throne of his kingdom, which will be the whole earth. Then the "righteous nation" that shall enter in will be the nation of the redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. That will be the blood-washed throng, not the civil-law-washed nation. How utterly different the way he has outlined in his Word and the end of it as there portrayed, and the way and the end of the human-conceived plan! Yes, education and training are almost everything, but everything depends on following the Guide-book.5
As intimated, the impression was felt that there were large-hearted, honest souls, not only among the speakers, but among the body, whose hearts are stirred over existing evils, and who have a mighty burden for greater and better things. The motives of none are impugned. But remember that numbers, and music, and decorations, and things pleasing to the senses, are not after all of material weight where the deep search of the soul is after God’s truth. May God reach out his loving hand to all honest minds in the shadow of tradition and wrong education, and lead them out into blessed freedom in the sunshine and clear atmosphere of his Word.
L. A. PHIPPENY.
TRANSFIGURATION.
By Hope Onslow
Not on the mount alone
Was humanity
Transfigured with snow-white flame
By divinity;
The Head of love's Brotherhood
With love's glory shown,
Linking our race to God,
In the ministering paths He trod,
And not there alone.
Down mid the toiling crowds
Where no glorious light
Shone for the outward eye,
Lo! the inner sight
Saw how humanity
Was divinely fair
In love's glorious ministry,
In the Christ that so bore for thee,
And for all men, care.
In the lowly paths of love
How His footprints shine
Up or down in the way
Of the mount divine!
Tho the world beholds no light,
We behold the blaze
Of divinity matchless, bright,
As we follow His steps aright
In His ministering ways.
