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Signs of the Times, Vol. 16, No. 9.

JESUS KNOCKING AT THE HEART.

Signs of the Times

Mar 3, 1890

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 3, 1890

JESUS KNOCKING AT THE HEART.

By Mrs. E. G. White

BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."
CHRIST is willing to take possession of the soul temple, if we will only let him. He is represented as knocking at the door of our hearts for admission, but Jesus never forces himself upon us; he will come in only as an invited guest. If we seek him, we shall certainly find him. Many seem to have an idea that Christ is a great way off. It was difficult for the children of Israel to understand that Christ was their divine leader, and that he was enshrouded in the pillar of cloud by day, and in the pillar of fire by night. If we could only realize that we do not have to ascend into the heavens to bring Christ down, nor descend into the earth to bring him up, but that he is near us, how different would be our actions. There would not be so much trifling conversation. We would not be so easily led into temptation, and there would not be so many things in our lives to displease Jesus. We would realize that the divine eye is upon us, and that the record is passing up to heaven which we must meet again in the day of final accounts; for the judgment is to sit, the books are to be opened, and everyone is to be judged according to the deeds done in the body.
In order to let Jesus into our hearts, we must stop sinning. The only definition for sin that we have in the Bible is that it is the transgression of the law. The law is far-reaching in its claims, and we must bring our hearts into harmony with it. Men may wrapthemselves about with their own righteousness, they may reach their own standard of character, but they do not reach the standard that God has given them in his word. We may measure ourselves by ourselves, and compare ourselves among ourselves; we may say we do as well as this one or as that one, but the great question is, Do we meet the claims that Heaven has upon us? The reason why iniquity prevails to such an alarming extent is that the law of God is made void in the earth. His law spoken from Sinai and exemplified in the life of Christ, is perfect, converting the soul. It condemns every sin, and requires every virtue. Not only does it demand a correct outward deportment, but its principles reach even to the thoughts and affections of the heart. "Behold," said the psalmist, "thou desirest truth in the inward parts; and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom." In the light of the law, covetousness is seen to be idolatry, lust adultery, and anger murder. No wonder that the carnal mind is enmity against God, and not subject to his law.
Those who are loyal to God's law will not always find the way smooth. God has not promised his people exemption from trials, but he has promised that which is far better. He has said: "As thy days, so shall thy strength be." "My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness." "The God of all comfort, who comforteth us in all our tribulation." "As the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth." All who love and fear God will suffer persecution. But Jesus will be near to sustain everyone who is afflicted for the truth's sake. When in the prison of Philippi, the scourged and heavily-manacled servants of Christ had such divine consolation that they sang praises to God, and the walls resounded with their triumph. To these faithful messengers, that cold dungeon, reeking with dampness, was made as the gate of heaven. The glory of the Sun of Righteousness beamed forth into that inner prison, making it radiant with a divine effulgence. Christ, the royal messenger, came to John when on his sea-bound isle, and gave him the most wonderful revelations of himself, and of what was to take place in the world's history prior to his second appearing. Jesus revealed himself to Stephen while he was surrounded with pitiless foes. The martyr was given a view of the glory of God with Jesus standing at his right hand to give help to his suffering servant.
Like Paul and the worthies who suffered for the truth's sake, we may be brought into positions of great trial because of our fidelity to God. But Christ is a tender, pitiful Saviour, and will never forsake his children. When on earth, his heart was ever touched with human woes. On every occasion he relieved the afflicted and suffering that were brought to him; he turned none away. A woman who had suffered for years believed that Christ had power to heal her of her infirmity if she could only go to him and tell him her great need. The multitude thronged him as he passed on his way, but she pressed her way through the crowd, and as Jesus came near, she reached forth her hand, and succeeded in touching the hem of his garment, and in a moment she felt that she was made whole. Hers was not the casual touch; it was the touch of faith. This should impress us all with the importance of having living faith in Jesus as our personal Saviour. Many say that all we have to do is to believe, but they make the service of Christ altogether too superficial. They are satisfied with a nominal belief in Christ; but it is not enough to merely assert that Jesus is the Son of God. We must abide in him as the branch abides in the vine. We must have an experimental faith, a faith that works by love and purifies the soul. Then we have evidence that we bear fruit to the glory of God. What is it to bear fruit to the glory of God? It is to manifest the love of Jesus in our daily life, to be kind and courteous and forbearing to those around us, and to try to lead them to the Saviour. The divine light that shines in the face of Jesus shines also in the heart of the believers, and they walk in the light as he is in the light. That same Jesus represents himself as standing at the door of our hearts and knocking for entrance. Every one of us has a work to do to open the door, if we would have Jesus as our guest. The work of perfecting the soul through obedience to all God's requirements must be constantly going on in our lives. If we regard iniquity in our hearts, the Lord will not hear us. Will you open the door of the heart, and let the light of heaven in? Will you just now invite Jesus as a welcome guest to take possession of your heart? We should desire his presence above everything else on the earth. We should regard him as the one altogether lovely, the chief among ten thousand. Why do we keep the door of the heart closed, when he has given us such a gracious invitation to open the door and let him in?
Some seem to think that if they accept the religion of Christ, they will take a step down; but that is not so. Those who receive honors from earthly kings feel that they are exalted; how much more are they exalted who receive honors from the King of heaven! The Monarch of the universe has promised to adopt into his family all who come out from the world and are separate. All who are faithful in his service will become members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King. Is not this an exalted privilege? We should seek to increase in knowledge and wisdom; for we are to take our talents of intellect into the future world. Our minds should become strengthened, and our hearts refined and elevated, that Jesus may take possession of them. We must imitate his character if we would find ourselves in the society of holy angels in the kingdom of glory. All who enter there will be obedient to the law of God. That law may be trampled under foot here by those who are rebels to God's government, but Jesus said, "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." It would be a terrible thing to meet the Lawgiver over the broken law. We should pray, as did David, "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law."

Extravagance at Funerals

Rev. F. F. Jewell, D.D., of San Jose, has recently preached a sermon against extravagances at funerals. And the Methodist Advocate truly says that "to involve a poor family in large funeral expenses for fashion's sake is a great wrong."

The Constant Spirit of Christian Discipline

By Editor

Now that Lent has come, we suppose that many of the worldly and uninstructed members of Zion will abstain from certain kinds of food and pleasures, thinking that these forty days will atone for all the year; but it is the constant spirit which is of value in God's sight.

Are the Articles Christian?

By Editor

The Lutheran Observer is taking to task certain Presbyterian divines, who have called the thirty-nine articles of the Church of England Calvinistic. The Observer claims that they are of Lutheran origin. Well, be it so; but it seems to us that it would be much better to ask, "Are they Christian?" If they are, they do not need them. The words of Christ are found in the Bible. Having that, we have all, and need no other creed.

A Banquet of Wine and Tobacco

THE banquet held at the recent centenary of American jurisprudence, in New York City, was especially noted for one thing, and that was, according to a spectator, its wines and tobacco. Says the New York World:—
"Those legal potentates have been magnificently dined and wined. . . . It was apparent that the fame of the alluring but potent Bar Association punch had reached the ears of the uppermost court. . . . Now the United States Supreme Court is launched for its second century upon a sea of wine, music, and liquid eloquence."

How to Read the Bible

By Editor

WE believe God's word, and that it is all given for a purpose. Our understanding or not understanding a passage does not affect the Scripture or its object. Upon this point we commend the following from the Independent:—
“One who, in reading the Bible, finds it necessary to slur over this passage, to dodge that passage, and to pervert the natural and obvious meaning of a third, and so on indefinitely, may be sure that he does not come to the study of the book divine in a proper state of mind. He makes the Bible an authority when and where it suits him; and when it does not suit him, he virtually disputes or absolutely denies its authority. This is not the way to read the Bible to the highest profit.”

Reading and Keeping God's Word

The way to read God's word to the highest profit is revealed in that word: "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear, . . . and keep those things which are written therein." Rev. 1:3. He who reads God's word with a heart to follow its teachings will find it more precious than gold.

The Labors of Dr. Cuyler

WHEN Dr. Theodore L. Cuyler became pastor of the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church, in April, 1860, it numbered 140. It now numbers 2,330, and the Sunday-school, 1,600. It pays the salaries of three ministers in the city and two in the South, and leads every church in Brooklyn in the amount donated to foreign missions. In size it ranks third in the United States. Besides this work, he has published several books, and has contributed more than 3,000 articles for papers and magazines. He resigns in April, fearing that he will get old and will not know enough to resign. His labor is a good example for young ministers. God calls them to work.

Warning to Liquor Dealers

By Editor

THE following from the Louisville Courier-Journal is, as headed in the paper from which it was clipped, not only a “warning to Liquor Dealers,” but is a warning to all. It would be a good thing for temperance we presume if all liquor dealers were compelled to test their poisonous beverages to the full before ruining others with them. Here is the item:—
“Grafton, W. Va., Jan. 8.—Elihu C. Moore, a prominent merchant and liquor dealer of Huttonville, Randolph County, poisoned himself, and died in great agony to-day. Moore had a large quantity of cheap wine which he dosed with dyes to make it resemble whisky. Before selling it he determined to drink some himself, to ascertain the effect. The poison in the dyes killed him in a few hours.”

Christ and the Pharisees' Charges

THE disposition to believe the Pharisees' testimony against Jesus, on some special points, is remarkable. For instance, they said, "How knoweth this man letters, having never learned;" and straightway it is assumed that he was allowed by his parents to grow up without any attempt at educating him. And this notwithstanding the fact that Jewish parents were especially enjoined to teach certain things to their children. We read, also, that when he went to Nazareth, where he was brought up, at the very beginning of his ministry, "as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath-day, and stood up for to read." Then he had learned to read, notwithstanding the Pharisaical slur to the contrary, because he had not attended the schools of Jerusalem. One more of their charges, which many Christians approvingly repeat, is that he disregarded the Sabbath. But it is very plain that he resented this accusation, and showed that he did nothing but what was lawful to do on the Sabbath day, although he did violate their traditions.

INVITATION AND PRIVILEGE.

“BEHOLD, I stand at th’ door and knock,” Saith thy Redeemer and thy Lord. Unbar the door, shoot back the lock, And list the loving Master’s word. He’ll sup with thee while thou dost spread Before Him sins and griefs of thine; He’ll bless the board, and Sorrow’s bread Shall be transformed by Love Divine.
And thou, half-starved on scanty dole, Shalt sup with Him—His bounties share— Shalt satisfy thy famished soul With blood-bought viands, rich and rare, Shalt eat His bread and quaff His wine, Jehovah’s gracious gifts so free. Still wilt thou close that heart of thine? Eternal Love calls now to thee.

SOME RELIGIOUS ERRORS CORRECTED.

By Rev. P. C. Croll

ONE error concerns the test of conversion. Every true conversion must have its proofs. Except there be fruits in keeping with the new life received, we may well doubt the genuineness of the so-called process or experience of regeneration. What a pity it is, however, that there should be so many mistakes made in the tests that are applied, the criterions by which to measure the sincerity of this work of grace? How many make certain untangible and indescribable states of mind as the test, such as visions, ecstacies of transporting delight, strange and peculiar sounds heard, and the like, their proofs of being saved. They will always, in after years, refer to these shadowy, inapprehensible experiences as the surest proof of their renewal and their acceptance with God. Now a renewed life by grace has to do with things more real than such impalpable states and frames of mind as I have just alluded to. What now is the convert's attitude towards sin, towards God and Christ his Saviour, and towards his fellow-men? These are better test questions than, What ecstatic bliss or what indefinable vision have I enjoyed? For unless there be now begotten in the soul such a hatred and abomination of sin as to make us turn away from what is sinful and the very appearance of evil, and such love to God as makes him our chief joy and portion, and ready to say, "Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none on the earth that I desire besides thee," and such trust in Jesus as to lead us to commit our all to him for time and eternity, and such an interest in our fellow-men as to make us willing to become their servants in sympathetic love and yearning desire for their timely and eternal welfare—unless such fruits abound we may well doubt the reality of our regeneration. Since regeneration is the impartation of God's life to the soul by the quickening influence of his Holy Spirit, this new life must also have the attributes of him who begat it. And these are God's relations towards sin and the human race. And "by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." "Everyone that loveth is born of God." "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God; and everyone that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him." "Whosoever abideth in Him [Christ] sinneth not."
Still another error made upon this subject is the undue emphasis given unto conversion in the category of a Christian life. From the standpoint of the sinner, one cannot well emphasize too strongly the necessity of repentance and regeneration. The one great necessity above all necessities—the one thing needful for such an one—is to turn unto the Lord his God. The great cry that messengers of God must ever cause to resound in his ears is, "Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." But I refer to the emphasis that is often given by renewed souls to the experience of conversion, to the oversight and neglect of the cultivation of the Christian graces. Birth is a most important essential to life, but we would not like to have a youth of twenty years still point to his birth as a proof of his existence. There must now be other unmistakable evidences in manifold activities to prove that he is notdead, or, despite the fact of his birth, he will be considered a corpse and carried out to the cemetery for burial. Yet what shepherd of souls has not frequently met with men and women who love to speak of their religious experience, that may have occurred ten, fifteen, twenty or more years ago, saying, "I know what I experienced, here or there, so many years ago. I know that I am right, for I know when and where I first met the Saviour." And then follows an account going into the minutiae of their experience of the new birth years ago. Now we do not deprecate the assurance of such a conversion, nor disregard the source of joy the review of such an experience may prove; but in full-grown Christians other things should fill the mind and heart and hands—things that are present and near at hand, things that are before rather than behind us—and these should be equal sources of joy and serve as better proof of spiritual life than what may have happened a score of years ago. The point taken is that to a living Christian the activities of the Christian church in advancing the Redeemer's kingdom among men, and the cultivation of a well-rounded, complete personal character, perfect in Christ Jesus, should receive the greatest emphasis. Grateful for the renewing and pardoning grace of God experienced, he should now turn his attention to the work that was given him to do by Him who hired him as a laborer in God's vineyard. No husbandman is content when his acres are sown, even if the seed is the choicest of wheat. He wants to see the seed come up, and the sprouting grain protected, and the crop harvested. Neither is the grower of fruit satisfied when his trees are planted. They must be kept straight and symmetrical in their growth, pruned of wild growths and dead wood, and thus be made productive. The fruit is what he is after—not the planting of the tree, though without this there can be no yield. So God wants our lives to be bringing forth the peaceable fruit of righteousness, and our Christian characters, like so many matured trees, to bear abundantly the fruits of the Spirit, such as love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, and such like. What orchards of the Lord's planting should every congregation of professing disciples prove themselves to be! So, while conversion is important as the birth into a new life, we should not forget as Christians to emphasize the development and fruitfulness of this life as it advances.
Correct views on all the points touched upon, as well as on others closely related, will not only help the sinner seeking salvation to be the sooner restored to divine favor and forgiveness, but will also help him when renewed the quickest to grow into the likeness of his divine Pattern and into a gracious agency of salvation to others.—Rev. P. C. Croll, in Lutheran Observer.

The Burdens of Riches

THERE is a burden of care in getting riches; fear in keeping them; temptation in using them; guilt in abusing them; sorrow in losing them; and a burden of account at last to give up concerning them.

CREEDS.

By T. S. Parmelee

It is quite fashionable now to speak against human creeds, but do we know why? Do not some speak against them because it is becoming customary to do so in certain circles? If any reason exists why "the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth," should not have a creed formulated by uninspired men, that reason ought to be known. Such a reason does exist. Every human creed is a rival of God's word, and every properly-instructed Christian must be so jealous of God's word that he will view with apprehension every attempt to formulate the truth in a human creed, even if such a creed is called a "Christian creed."
A recently-published article by Rev. J. M. Manning, D.D., on this subject, makes it necessary to notice it, though it is a pity that such a question as, "Shall we have a creed?" should be necessary, when other questions of such magnitude ought to be occupying our attention. Dr. Manning says:—
"Such creeds are a safeguard against error. Having learned them in early childhood, and knowing that they contain the substance of the gospel, we are not deceived by new forms of error constantly springing up around us. Theories claiming to be the gospel, but really opposed to it, do not mislead our minds. As good business men have their familiar tests by which they detect adulterations and counterfeits, so we have, in a Christian creed thoroughly learned and faithfully applied, a ready test by which we may distinguish all false gospels from the true."
It happens, however, that the "Christian creeds" are contradictory, so that for this reason alone, if for no other, they cannot be reliable tests, though they may be ever so thoroughly learned and faithfully applied. No wonder Christians are losing respect for "Christian creeds."
These words of the reverend doctor concerning creeds can only be true when applied to God's word. His word alone is an unerring test by which we may distinguish all false gospels from the true. To use language in recommending human creeds that is true only of God's word, is an attempt to clothe the language of uninspired men with that authority which belongs only to the words of God. Such attempts, when they succeed, put the creed in the place of God's word, and the creed-maker in the place of God. Again the doctor says: "A Christian creed embodying the essential truths of the gospel is all-important for purposes of instruction."
God's word is all-important for purposes of instruction. God's word alone embodies all the essential truths of the gospel. He alone knows how to embody his own essential truth. He has not failed, through either incompetency or neglect, leaving a work to be finished by doctors of divinity or other reverend gentlemen. Any Christian who will stop to consider the subject must know that it is impossible for uninspired men to embody all essential truth in a creed of their own construction, and that no man or body of men can attempt to do this without putting themselves in the place of God. No man can accept a human creed as "all-important for purposes of instruction" without having another god besides the Author of the Bible. Christiansshould shrink from using an uninspired creed as a "ready test by which we may distinguish all false gospels from the true," just as they should shrink from idolatry, because such a test, for such a purpose, is idolatry. It is paying homage to the framers of the creed instead of to God, whose Spirit inspired men to write his word.
That spirit which would turn attention to what men believe rather than to what God has said, is not the Spirit of Christ, but it is the spirit of antichrist, that will work as perseveringly as ever in the last days. Satan will always seek to make it easy for Christians to take the first step into idolatry, and the second will, quite likely, be as easy as the first. Satan's motto seems to be, "Anything to turn the minds of men away from Christ and his word."
In every age there is a path that leads to apostasy. These paths may appear different from one another, but they all agree in this, that they lead away from the word of God. The apostle Paul foretold that apostasy would be caused by the introduction of "perverse things," by those who would "draw away disciples after them." The antidote he recommended was not "Christian creeds," but he said, "I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace." Acts 20:32.
Again Dr. Manning says: "Go into communities where such creeds are unknown, and you find but little clear and definite knowledge of religious truths. What you do find is fragmentary, superficial, inconsistent with itself."
Knowledge of truth is never inconsistent with itself, for truth itself is whole, harmonious, and consistent. Knowledge of truth may be imperfect, but it can never be inconsistent or contradictory. It can only be incomplete, or fragmentary; but it is the least so where the Bible is the most known and "Christian creeds" are the least known. "Christian creeds" have always been hindrances to reform, especially where they have been looked upon as "all-important for purposes of instruction," because all truth that does not correspond with the creed is rejected and regarded with suspicion, if not looked upon as error. Those who defend "Christian creeds," as well as those who introduce them, usually appear very pious. The doctor has sugar-coated his article with the following:—
"But for the germ of all these creeds we must come back to the words of Peter, and to the spirit of loving trust which filled his heart when he said, 'Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.' That belief in the blessed Son of God which leads you to consecrate yourself to his service, is the confession of faith which he asks at your hands."
The germ of every man-made creed is from below. Peter's creed was from above. The Saviour said to him, "Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." Matt. 16:17. Every similar confession of faith is inspired. "No man can say that Christ is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost." 1 Cor. 12:3.
As Satan quoted God's word when he tempted the Saviour, so men may put his word into their creeds. God's word was not the germ of Satan's temptation, neither is it the germ of any man-made creed; nor will it prevent the creed from leading away from God. "Every word of God is pure; he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar." Prov. 30:5, 6.
T. S. PARMELEE.

CONSUMING THE DROSS.

By Fannie Bolton

BY FANNIE BOLTON.
"The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Rom. 8:18. "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." 2 Cor. 4:17. "Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction." Isa. 48:10. "I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir." Isa. 13:12.
Down in the earth in a dark, hidden vein Was a nugget of ore, And the pick of the miner touched it with pain That it knew not before. And the wise Master knew from the nugget of gold A rare treasure might come, fit for kings to behold.
It was loosed from its bed in the earth, and away From the nuggets it knew, Taken out of the dark to the broad light of day, 'Neath the heaven of blue. And the Master saw then there was dross with the gold, But a treasure was there fit for kings to behold.
Hot, hot was the furnace to the nugget of gold, And it melted with woe; For the flames of the furnace leaped up to enfold In a cruel overflow; And it quivered and moaned of its woe and its loss, While the flame of the fire was consuming the dross.
And the face of the Master bent down from above, As he sat to refine, And he looked on its anguish with pity and love That was deep and divine; But ever his love touched the flame to the place, Till the dross was consumed, and it imaged his face.
Then the flame of the fire no more hurt the gold, There was no more of loss; It mirrored the smile of the Lord in its mould, There was no more of dross. And the Master uplifted and then shaped it o'er To the fashion he'd thought of as glorious before.
He set it on high in his crown of delight, And it sparkled and shone, Till it seemed like a glad, golden star in the sight Of those round the throne; And ever it smiled on the Master's sweet grace, And ever it mirrored the love of his face.
So grew the crude, worthless nugget of worth, Through the finer's skill, And so, O ye poor, lost, sad children of earth, It is Heaven's glad will That ye may grow to Christ's radiant grace, And reflect the rare glory and light of his face.
If ye have been taken away from the past, From a dark, hidden vein, And have found the cruel flames of the furnace at last, With their touches of pain, Oh, know One is near you, who sits to refine! Oh, know Christ would fit you for glory divine!
Think not when the flame seems about to devour, That you're suffering loss; When joys fade away that you've cherished before— It is only the dross. Only the dross will be lost from your hold, And all that is left will be gold, purest gold.
Hear what the Master has said in his love To the children of earth: "I will make a man precious, I'll refine him and prove, And make him of worth. As the gold wedge of Ophir, all solid with weight, I'll make a man precious and holy and great."
Then, then when the furnace is seven times hot, Pray for grace to endure. The Lord is most near thee, he has not forgot, He would make thee all pure. 'Tis a furnace of love, and, oh, wonder untold! The Refiner himself's in the fire with his gold.
He knows all the pain, feels the flame, and the loss, But his love bids him wait Till the fire at last has consumed all the dross, And then he'll elate, By and by, when on high in his crown thou shalt shine, How glad thou wilt be for this furnace of thine!

Witnessing for Christ

THE world has no time to read the Bible. It reads the character of Christians, and judges Christianity by their exemplification of it. Witnessing for Christ is more than testifying to his goodness or confessing our faith in him as the Saviour; it is living, day by day, so that our unconscious as well as conscious influence is always on the side of Christ.—Christian Inquirer.
Continue reading: DRAWING—DRIVING