Earlier text: The Right Attitude Toward the TruthCatholic Sentiment Toward Luther
Those misguided Protestants who think that the Roman Catholic Church has changed its attitude toward their “separated brethren,” and that it does not regard Luther and the Reformation in the same light that it did three centuries ago, would see their mistake if they could read a few genuine expressions of Roman Catholic sentiment concerning these things. For example: in a recent issue of the New World (Catholic) we find the following editorial expression of opinion concerning Luther and his doctrine of justification by faith, a corner-stone of Protestantism:— No greater foe of public order and individual morality ever appeared in history than the apostate monk. His chief principle of “justification by faith” destroyed every motive for upright conduct. Good works, noble deeds, being of no value according to Luther, the inevitable inference was to regard restraint of the passions, acts of sacrifice or self-denial, as worthless. Law also came to be held in contempt, and blind faith or confidence that God would ignore our crimes because of Christ’s merits became the pivot on which the Christian life in Protestant lands turned. It is difficult to write calmly about such an utterance as this. It is such a bald misrepresentation of the truth, such a perversion of the doctrine of justification, such a falsification of historical Protestantism, that we can only wonder that a professed teacher of truth could possibly give expression to it. The intolerant hatred of Catholicism for Protestantism is only thinly veneered, and occasionally, as in this case, it breaks through. It is not difficult to understand what would be the fate of Protestants and Protestantism if this writer could enforce his views.
“The same horn made war with the saints.” “And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.” History may be repeated. The Roman Catholic Church believes in religious liberty when it means full liberty to propagate the teachings of that church. Thus under the heading “Religious Liberty” a Catholic paper prints the following:— Lizardo Garcia, the new president of Ecuador, is allowing the religious orders and the priests who were driven out by former President Plaza to return. He has also granted full liberty to the Catholic press. That conception of religious liberty which permits the unrestrained teaching of the Protestant faith is a grievous error, according to the Catholic view, and no such privilege is granted when Catholics are in control. The Roman Catholic definition of religious liberty is “liberty for Catholics to teach their doctrines.” This is the “religious liberty” which will be granted in free America when Roman Catholic principles prevail. Catholic Regulations for Lent
The spiritual dependence of members of the Roman Catholic Church upon the word and authority of men rather than upon God, is forcibly shown in the Catholic regulations for Lent, which are published each year in the official church organs at this season. The regulations state who are bound to fast during this period, and who are exempt from fasting, and just what is “permitted” to fasters in the preparation, quality, and quantity of each meal. For example: “It is allowed in the morning to take some warm liquid, as tea, coffee, or thin chocolate, made with water, and with this liquid a mouthful of bread.” If milk were used instead of water, or two mouthfuls taken with the liquid, it would be a sin! Such is the arbitrary nature of spiritual allegiance of man to his fellow man. It is slavery. Another statement indicates the attitude of the Catholic Church toward the use of intoxicants; thus: “Those who avail themselves of this indult are not allowed to use flesh meat and fish at the same meal, and they are earnestly exhorted to perform some other act of mortification, such as abstinence from intoxicating liquors.” Such abstinence, necessitated at all times by the practise of Christian temperance, is enjoined only at stated seasons, and is then exalted to the place of an act of merit, by this church. At other times this “act of mortification” is not essential. The whole observance of Lent is based upon the propensity of human nature to try to atone, by a season of self-denial, for worldly indulgence during the remainder of the year. The Catholic religion is the religion of human nature. A Holy People
By Ellen G. White
“HEAR my voice, O God, in my prayer; preserve my life from fear of the enemy. Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity; who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words: that they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not. They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them? They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.” “But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded. So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away. And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing. The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.” This scripture will be literally fulfilled. Everything is to be shaken that can be shaken, that those things that can not be shaken may remain. I am amazed as I consider the past, present, and future of the people of God. The Lord will have a pure, holy people,—a people who will stand the test. Every believer needs now to search his heart as with a lighted candle. We may well ask the question asked by the lawyer, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Christ said to him, “What is written in the law? how readest thou?” The answer came. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.” And Christ said, “Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.” “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” God is our creator, benefactor, preserver. The author of all good, he is able to fulfil his purpose in the creation of human beings. The wickedness that fills our world is the result of Adam’s refusal to take God’s word as supreme. He disobeyed, and fell under the temptation of the enemy. “Sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” God declared, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” And, apart from the plan of redemption, human beings are doomed to death. “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” But Christ gave his life to save the sinner from the death sentence. He died that we might live. To those who receive him he gives power that enables them to separate from that which, unless they return to their loyalty, will place them where they must be condemned and punished. Christ is the sinner’s only hope. By his death he brought salvation within the reach of all. Through his grace all may become loyal subjects of God’s kingdom. Only by his sacrifice could salvation be brought within man’s reach. This sacrifice has made it possible for men and women to fulfil the conditions laid down in the councils of heaven. Christ came to this earth and lived a life of perfect obedience, that men and women, through his grace, might also live lives of perfect obedience. This is necessary to their salvation. Without holiness no man shall see the Lord. Before us is held out the wonderful possibility of being like Christ—obedient to all the principles of the law of God. But of ourselves we are utterly powerless to attain to this condition. All that is good in man comes to him through Christ. The holiness that God’s Word declares we must have before we can be saved is the result of the working of divine grace as we bow in submission to the discipline and restraining influence of the Spirit of truth. Man’s obedience can be made perfect only by the incense of Christ’s righteousness, which fills with divine fragrance every act of true obedience. The part of the Christian is to persevere in overcoming every fault. Constantly he is to pray to the Saviour to heal the disorders of his diseased soul. He has not the wisdom and strength without which he can not overcome. They belong to the Lord, and he bestows them on those who in humiliation and contrition seek him for help. The work of transformation from unholiness to holiness is a continuous work. Day by day God labors for man’s sanctification, and man is to co-operate with him by putting forth persevering efforts in the cultivation of right habits. The way in which we are to work out our own salvation is plainly specified in the first chapter of Second Peter. Constantly we are to add grace to grace, and as we do this, God will work for us upon the plan of multiplication. He is always ready to hear and answer the prayer of the contrite heart, and grace and peace are multiplied to his faithful ones. Gladly he grants them the blessings that they need in their struggle against the evils that beset them. Those who listen to the counsels of his Word shall not want any good thing. The reason that many who once knew and loved the Saviour are now in darkness, wandering far from him, is because in self-confidence and self-sufficiency they have followed their own inclinations. They walked not in the way of the Lord—the only way of peace and happiness. By disobedience they cut themselves off from receiving his blessings, when by obedience they might have gone forward in his strength. The abundant evidence given by God that he desires the salvation of all, will be the condemnation of those who refuse the gift of heaven. At the last great day, when all will be rewarded or punished according to their obedience or disobedience, the cross of Calvary will appear plainly before those standing before the Judge of all the earth to receive sentence for eternity. They are made capable of comprehending something of the love that God has expressed for fallen human beings. They see how greatly he has been dishonored by those who have continued in transgression, choosing sides with Satan, and showing contempt for the law of Jehovah. They see that obedience to this law would have brought them life and health, prosperity and eternal good. To-day angels are sent to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation, to help them to escape from the thraldom of Satan’s power, and stand as faithful volunteers in the army of him who in their behalf came to this world and endured suffering and affliction. Each human being is given the freedom of choice. It is his to decide whether he will stand under the black banner of rebellion, or under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel. With deep solicitude heaven watches the conflict9between good and evil. None but the obedient can enter the gates of the city of God. Upon those who choose to continue in transgression, the death sentence must at last be pronounced. The earth will be purified from their misdoings, their defiance of God. “Yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.” “For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. . . . They shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.” Those who refuse to conform their characters to the divine similitude can never enter the city of God. They have cut themselves off from the happiness, and hope, and peace, and joy that might have been theirs. Had they accepted the grace of Christ, they would have been made strong to resist the temptations of the enemy; and they would at last have been received into the holy city as sons and daughters of God, to be eternally blessed, to live a life measuring with the life of God. But the mournful words that God spoke of Israel, he will be obliged to speak of many, many living on the earth to-day: “My people would not harken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.” God would have rejoiced to number them with the saints in light, but he could not; for they refused all his invitations and appeals. He says, “O that my people had harkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries. The haters of the Lord should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured forever. He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat; and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.” The Divine Standard of Character
God’s law is the transcript of his character, and those only who obey this law will be accepted by him. Every departure from obedience to the law of God is rebellion. It is for the highest interest of man to obey the law of God; for conformity to the principles of this law is essential to the formation of a righteous character. The rules of life that the Lord has given will make men pure and happy and holy. Those only who obey these rules can hear from the lips of Christ the words, “Come up higher.” Idolaters are condemned by the word of God. Their folly consists in trusting in self for salvation, in bowing down to the works of their own hands. God classes as idolaters those who trust in their own wisdom, their own devising, depending for success on their riches and power, striving to strengthen themselves by alliance with men whom the world calls great, but who fail to discern the binding claims of his law. God will more than fulfil the highest expectations of those who put their trust in him. He desires us to remember that when we are humble and contrite, we stand where he can and will manifest himself to us. He is well pleased when we urge past mercies and blessings as a reason why he should bestow on us higher and greater blessings. He is honored when we love him, and bear testimony to the genuineness of our love by keeping his commandments. He is honored when we set apart the seventh day as sacred and holy. To those who do this the Sabbath is a sign, “that they might know,” God declares, “that I am the Lord that sanctify them.” Sanctification means habitual communion with God. There is nothing so great and powerful as God’s love for those who are his children. In My Dreams
By Eliza H. Morton
In my dreams I have seen the heavens
Aglow with a flood of light,
And my eyes have beheld my Saviour
Descending with angels bright.
I have seen his face in its beauty,
His hands with the nail-marks there,
And the wound in his side for sinners—
A vision most wondrous, fair. In my dreams I have seen a city
With streets of the purest gold,
And with stones in glittering splendor
That walls of jasper uphold,
And with gates of pearl in their gleaming,
Wide open for you and me.
O city of God in thy glory—
A city where all are free! In my dreams I have seen the righteous
Caught up by an angel band,
And I would I had words to tell it
To make you all understand;
But no tongue can describe that meeting,
No painter can paint that scene.
Like a flash in the dark ’twas given,
A picture upon a screen. Ah, those dreams are dreams to remember,
Like etchings in frames of white
They are hung in the chamber of silence
To brighten the hours of night;
They’ll come true, those dreams, in the future:
They’re all in a Book that is given
To guide us in paths that are upward,
That end at the gate of heaven. Jeremiah and Zedekiah
By Stephen Nelson Haskell
Jeremiah prophesied in the days of Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah. It was Zedekiah that went into captivity under the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. Zedekiah was vacillating in character. He professed to believe the testimonies of Jeremiah, and would often surrender himself to them, but would afterward swerve to the popular sentiment of the people. The book of Jeremiah is a compilation of personal testimonies to these rulers and to the people that went into captivity. Oftentimes the curtain would be rolled back before the prophet’s mind, and he would see the end of this world and the condition of the people of God in the closing scenes of this world’s history. Zedekiah would frequently inquire of the prophet if the Lord had any word for him and his people. On a certain occasion when this inquiry was made, the prophet told him that there was word from the Lord, and that he was not to be deceived, saying, ‘The Chaldeans shall surely depart from us: for they shall not depart. For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, yet should they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire.’ Because of this personal testimony given the king, the prophet was put into a dungeon, for there were many who heeded his words. Through the influence of one Ebed-melech, an Ethiopian, the king repented of what he had done to Jeremiah and ordered him taken from the dungeon. ‘So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took him up out of the dungeon: and Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.’ Zedekiah repented of the course he had pursued and was anxious to do the will of the Lord, and so he asked the prophet if there was any word of the Lord for him. The prophet said there was, and the king swore unto him secretly, saying, ‘As the Lord liveth, that made us this soul, I will not put thee to death, neither will I give thee into the hands of these men that seek thy life.’ When he thus made a covenant to follow out the words of the Lord, the following promise was made to the king: ‘If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon’s princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house: but if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon’s princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand. And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me.’ The prophet became exceedingly anxious that Jerusalem might be saved from the judgments that God had threatened would come upon the city, and he besought the king, saying, ‘Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the Lord, which I speak unto thee: so shall it be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live.’ The prophet assured him that everything that he feared would come upon him if he did not go forth. But Zedekiah was a weak man. He yielded to the popular sentiment and did not go forth, but was destroyed, and so was Jerusalem, and the people went into captivity. From this history we learn several important facts. First, the threatened judgments of God are conditional, as are his promises. If we obey God, we live; if we disobey, we die, and bring upon ourselves swift destruction. Second, the testimony of the Lord, in adapting itself to the situation, appeared to be contradictory because the people changed, and what would apply to the king before he repented, would not apply when he repented. And so when the Lord said that Jerusalem would be destroyed, it was on condition that the people continued in their sinful course. Third, the Lord was anxious to save the king and the people from the judgments that he had said would come upon them. The prophet’s very soul was drawn out that they might be saved, but the conclusion of it all was that the king feared the people, surrendered to the people, and practically took back the covenant that he made with the prophet, and brought upon himself and upon the people the judgments threatened. There Is no Escape
By J. S. Washburn
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption.” “Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” Yes, not the servant, as we consider a servant to-day, but the bond-slave. We have sold ourselves for naught, and our will has been surrendered10to the cruel one, who hates those who serve him most faithfully, and pays them, in the end, not the glittering rewards promised, but corruption and death, eternal shame and ruin. By no power of the will, by no protestations of sincerity and of good intention, can we escape the awful consequences of sin. The highest intellectual gifts or attainments, yea, the deepest spiritual understanding and knowledge, even of the Word of God; the highest, the most lofty position, even though it be that of an angel shadowing the throne of the eternal God, can not preserve him who turns aside from the straight and narrow path of right to follow the ignis fatuus of his selfish desire and his own vain imagination. An angel, the most beautiful in the heavenly courts, the very day-star, has become the prince of darkness. The Bible is full of painful examples, of pathetic pictures, of fallen mighty ones. The whole of the powerfully written book of Jude, also the second chapter of Second Peter, are full of warnings to those who turn aside from the simple, plain truth to delusive sophistries and the illusions of their own pride and self-will. Their theories, their beliefs, may be painted in all the colors of the rainbow about the throne of God; they may be spoken of in apparent sincerity as being special revelations of the kindness and love of the Father in heaven, but every departure from the plain, straight, sensible word of God, every deviation from God’s special message for the time in which men live, leads to ruin and corruption: there is no escape. He who “spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment,” he who “spared not the old world,” but destroyed it with a flood; who turned “the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes;” who brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, and afterward “destroyed them that believed not,” can not spare any man who commits sin, and continues therein. Now we have come to the days when Satan’s last terrible delusion is sweeping into his net the millions of the world, and a number even of those who profess to believe God’s last message. A host of evil spirits is swarming over the world. The so-called Christian nations of the West are replenished from the East with heathen philosophies and delusions. Have men forgotten the terrible examples of the past—Saul, Judas, Balaam? Of these the Scripture says, “These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; . . . for when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.” “Clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.” A falsehood not practised at first, but accepted in the mind, permeates, and at last destroys. “Ungodly teaching is followed by sinful practise. It is the seducing bait of the father of lies, and results in the impenitence of self-satisfied impurity.” — “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VIII, page 293. The spirit of prophecy is here speaking of the danger of receiving the “doctrine of an impersonal God, pervading all nature, and similar errors,” and immediately says, “The experience of the past will be repeated.” The Testimony further says, “The exaltation of nature as God, the unrestrained license of the human will, the counsel of the ungodly,—these Satan uses as agencies to bring about certain ends.” Countenancing, or compromising with, these delusions, there is no escape. And there is hope only in an utter, unconditional, and continual surrender of self, and an acknowledgment of wrong. Even then much sorrow and pain must be endured by those who have gone aside from the simple truth as God has revealed it in his last message to the world. Sin is a cruel, merciless monster. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked.” And yet in this, the last battle of the conflict of the ages, we have the strong assurance that, if we abide in him, no man shall be able to pluck us out of his hand. “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” Departing for a Season
By T. E. Bowen
When the series of temptations, planned by the devil for the Son of God, were ended, the tempter departed from Christ for a season. Somehow in these few brief words there comes a sweet assurance from God to us down here at the end, when we, too, are also coming into close contact with this same wily foe, that he shall not be permitted to constantly afflict the children of God, but that they, too, shall enjoy in their personal experience little seasons when the tempter is forced to depart from them. It may truly be for only “a little season,” but what wonderful strength and power each struggling saint may gather in communion with Christ during that little respite! We are all counted in by the foe. In numbering his subjects, the tempter does not overlook that little band of Sabbath-keepers. He feels sure that somehow he will by some effort unlooked for by us compass our ruin. Now the question rests largely with us whether it shall be thus or not. If not, then you may count on a hand-to-hand conflict with some representative from the headquarters of the prince of darkness. Don’t count on your being an exception. There are none. The devil is no respecter of persons. He is artfully playing the game of life for every soul. And he counts for his subjects the world. For every varied mind, high or low, rich or poor, he has special temptations. And they are appropriate temptations. He did not assail Christ as he does you and me. O, no! With him it was, “If thou be the Son of God.” He never would approach us like this. This insinuation to Christ was a temptation. One word from his Creator, whom he was then addressing, would forever have put an end to his temptations. But Christ showed that he was the Son of God, by refraining from using his power as God in this manner. He does not tempt worldly people as he tempts Seventh-day Adventists. He has special temptations all planned to use for us as a people. One of these is to lead men to covet earthly wealth. He seeks to make the world specially attractive in the minds of Sabbath-keepers. He thus disheartens the workers by keeping means out of their hands — just anything to eclipse the truth, so we shall think more of these unimportant, passing things than we do of the precious, enduring treasure of the truth, by which we are sanctified. Shall we be deceived? If not, then we must be gaining victories over ourselves now. God has provided for us a winning armor. Let us carefully examine ourselves to see if we have it all on. “Wherefore,” says Christ, “take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day.” Because “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against wicked spirits [margin] in high places.” It is extremely dangerous now to be caught napping. Even though our foe departs from us for a season after some hard spiritual battle with him, let us not be deceived by thinking we shall be successful in avoiding meeting him again. It will be found that he will appear again, clothed, perhaps, in another garb, approaching from another quarter and at a time we had not expected. Therefore, it is highly important that we all heed the counsel of Christ to “watch,” and “pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”