p. 50 | Review and Herald, Vol. 21, No. 7. (1/13/1863)

Review and Herald

Jan 13, 1863

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 13, 1863

Showing our Colors.

By Cuyler

THE name of Captain Hedley Vicars—the Christian hero of the Crimean war—is familiar to most of our readers. On the morning after his conversion he bought a large Bible, and placed it open on the table of his room; he was determined that an open Bible for the future should be his "colors." "It was to speak for me," he said, "before I was strong enough to speak for myself." His military comrades came in, and laughed at him—nicknamed him the methodist—hinted to him that he had better not turn "hypocrite;" but in spite of a perpetual guerrilla warfare of sneers and scoffs, he nobly stood by his colors. Having "clean hands, he waxed stronger and stronger." In time he became a spiritual power in his regiment, simply by a steadfast, bold, decided witnessing for Christ.

To his early disciples, Jesus Christ said: "Whosoever shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father, which is in heaven." Solemn injunction solemnly heard; heard as with chains already on their wrists, and the loud crack of the scourge echoing through prison corridors. But Christ did not mean this command only for his original apostles. It was intended for all times, and for every man who wishes to be saved. It is intended especially for a timid compromising class who hang about the "border states," the debatable ground between Satan's rebel provinces and Christ's loyal realm. They are the people who want to be on Christ's side in eternity, but are not exactly willing to be on his side in this Christ-despising world. Before this vacillating, man-fearing class, Christ lays down sharp, clear lines. He says: "He that is not for me is against me. And no man is for me who does not confess me."

Confession is a broad, far-reaching word, as the Saviour employed it. It refers first to the heart; then to the lips; then to the life. Whosoever would be saved must embrace Christ in the heart; this was conversion. Next, he must acknowledge him with the tongue; this was confession, or what we style a "profession of faith." Chiefest of all, he was to honor Christ by his daily living; and this was vital Christianity.

Jesus did not refer to the first point when he gave the command to "Confess me before men." He presupposed the secret interior work of conversion; he presupposed the root; what he demanded was the leafing-out and fruit-bearing of the tree. He demanded a bold, resolute, outspoken, love-inspired acknowledgment of him as their Saviour and their King, from every man who expected to be acknowledged in turn "before the Father and the holy angels." This confession was to be open, spontaneous, and sincere. Has the reader of this paragraph never made such an acknowledgment of Christ? Then, my friend, you must not be astonished if Christ refuses to recognize you in the last decisive hour of judgment. It will then be too late to take the oath of loyalty. He who does not confess Christ in this world will be lost in the world to come.

1. In nearly every congregation there are a few halting, timid, irresolute persons who have a trembling faith in Christ, but who do not come out decidedly and confess him. They may be Christians, but the world is not allowed to know it. They carry dark lanterns. "Shining lights" they certainly are not. No one is the better for their secret, clandestine attempts to steal along quietly toward heaven without letting any one overhear their footsteps. Now this is a miserable—we are almost ready to say a contemptible mode of living—this concealment of the colors when danger threatens, this dodging of "the draft" when duty calls, this following along after the church, with a vague hope of being counted in among God's people when heaven's prizes are distributed to the faithful. We do not say that no one can be saved who does not openly join the church. But we do say that the person who expects Christ to acknowledge him in heaven, and yet refuses to acknowledge Christ "before men," is a self-convicted coward, and while disobeying his Master's orders has no right to expect his Master's blessing. After fifteen years of pastoral observation, we have come to the conclusion that every day spent by the genuine convert outside of the church of Christ is almost a day lost; he loses the sense of responsibility that he needs to feel; he loses the opportunities of doing good; he loses in self-respect, in the respect of others; he loses the approbation of him who has so impressively said, "Whosoever is ashamed of me before men, of him will I be ashamed when I shall come in my own glory." When God gives conversion, he demands confession. To be effective and useful, this must be prompt, open, hearty, and decided.

2. But confession does not end with the public acknowledgment of Christ before the church. It only begins there. This is one decisive step, to be followed by a thousand other steps in the same direction. We do know, however, of many a church-member whose single solitary act of royalty to Christ was his standing up to respond to a church-covenant before the pulpit; from that moment onward all that the church had of them was their idle name on the roll. Like too many of the boasted recruits in new regiments, they enlisted, drew their "bounty," and then "straightway are heard of no more." In the campaign for Christ and the truth, they never answer to the roll-call of duty; is it very certain that their names will be called when the victorious Immanuel announces the rewards to his faithful followers "on the sea of glass like unto pure gold?"

A true Christian will rejoice to confess Christ everywhere and before everybody. He will aim to make his daily life lustrous and legible; he will glorify his Master by everyday acts of loyalty and love. He will live Christ. And when duty bids him open his lips, he is ready to speak for Christ. At such a time silence would be treason. The Christian who will sit with sealed lips when his Master is assailed, when religion is attacked, when wickedness is broached and defended, when truth is denounced, is a denier of his Lord, as guilty as Simon Peter in Pilate's hall.

It is pitiful to observe what cowardly shifts some professed Christians resort to in order to avoid an acknowledgment of their loyalty. We are all guilty of too much time-serving—too much concealment of truth—of too much compromise with Christ's enemies. The boldest are not bold enough; and the cowards are as much despised by themselves as loathed by their Master in heaven. When will we learn that the only course for a Christian is to "stand up for Jesus?" Men expect it of us; they in turn despise us for our shamefacedness, and doubt the sincerity of our professions.

We began this brief article with an incident from military life. We close it with another. "Last night," said a Christian soldier to his chaplain, "in my barrack, before going to bed, I knelt down and prayed, when suddenly my comrades raised a loud laugh, and began to throw boots and clothes at me." "Well," replied the chaplain, "suppose you defer your prayers till after you retire, and then silently lift up your heart to God."

Meeting him soon after, the chaplain said, "You took my advice, I suppose; how did it answer?" "Sir," replied the soldier, "I did take your advice for two or three evenings, but I began to think it looked like denying my Saviour; so I once more knelt down and prayed as at first." "What followed?" "Why, sir, not one of them laughs now. The whole fifteen now kneel down too, and I pray with them!"

"I felt ashamed of myself for my cowardly advice," said the chaplain, when relating the incident; "that young soldier was bolder and wiser than myself." Yes; and he might have added that the sermon which the godly private preached to his fellow-soldiers by that simple act was a more impressive one than any discourse they were likely to hear from such a chaplain. Vicar's motto was the true one, God's word shall be my colors.—Cuyler.

Parody on The Rose for Me.

THE broad, frequented road of sin Is not the road for me; Too many feet are traveling in Its slippery, dangerous way. But there's a narrow, happy road, Which leads to glory and to God; O, that's the road for me.

The vain, delusive joys of earth, Are not the joys for me; Too many sell their heavenly birth, For transient joys like these. But mine are joys above the skies, O! there my heart and treasure lies, Those are the joys for me.

This fleeting, vain, delusive world, Is not the world for me; Though many sell, for lust or gold, A blest eternity; I seek a city out of sight, A mansion filled with heavenly light, O! that's the world for me.

"Brother against Brother."

THE divisions in distinguished Kentucky families, caused by the necessity for the citizens of that State to choose between loyalty and treason, are remarkable.

Hon. John J. Crittenden, for example, has a neph-

The Age of Liars.

EXAGGERATION and a love for the marvelous, are characteristics of the present age. A writer in the N. Y. Observer truthfully remarks:

We have become a nation of liars! Most people love to read and to hear lies quite as well as others like to write and to utter them. Indeed the one is a pretty fair guage of the other. The market and the supply of lies are economically adjusted.

I have considerable sympathy for liar-makers and liar-mongers. They often do not like the business, but their bread and butter is in it. The public will have lies, and the man who must get his bread and butter by writing, must have no scruples about lying. One of the most popular writers of a New York journal, said to me pathetically: "I detest this coloring of the truth, this eternal exaggeration of lying; but the people will have it, and I must furnish it, or starve." Another popular writer, on recovering from a dangerous illness, told his physician that he should not be able to pay him, until he had got his returns from furnishing the public another of his lucrative stories. Such writers are considered smart. They wake up our imaginations, rouse our sympathies, play charmingly upon our passions, and we pay them well for it.

The public hankering for something extraordinary, startling, highly colored and exaggerated, has crept into our churches, invaded the pews, and to some extent given laws to the pulpit. There is now a great demand for smart preachers. The question is not whether a preacher is pious, prayerful, faithful, sound in faith and a winner of souls; one who rightly divides the Word of truth, and gives to every man his portion in due season;—all this is behind the times and old fogy. Is he smart? That's the question. Does he stretch the Indian-rubber to its utmost tension, and hammer out the precious grain of gold so thin that it has but one side? Can he do a splendid business on a small capital? Does he sparkle well? O, then he is an angel standing in the sun! We must have him at any price. What's the use of going to the theatre when we can have what we want at church? But will he also, as occasion may require, let off good round whoppers, thumping stories, and rouse us all up? Then he is the man for us. He will fill the house, sell the pews, youthfulize the congregation, and make us a good speculation.

Far be it from me to say that all congregations are of this type. But the tendency is in this direction; and unless resisted, will work fearful sin and ruin.

How to make Children false.

"My mother don't like you; you are a naughty woman," said little Nellie Brown to a caller—Mrs. Frazier.

"Nellie!" exclaimed Mrs. Brown, blushing to the reddest red, "go right out of this room in a minute."

"Didn't you say you didn't like her?" continued Nellie, now exceedingly perplexed to know what her mother's mortification and anger could mean.

"I say, Nellie, leave the room in a minute. You are a naughty girl to talk so; what has possessed you to tell such stories?" And with a thrust, she put her into the kitchen, and shut the door. So poor little Nellie went to sobbing and crying, just because she had told the truth, in her simple way.

The fact was she heard her mother express herself decidedly adverse to Mrs. Frazier. Her language was not mealy-mouthed nor indefinite, concerning this near neighbor, so that even a little child like Nellie could understand the meaning thereof. It was spoken only, as if the child were at perfect liberty to hear, and no charge given to the artless girl not to "tell tales out of school." Was it strange that Nellie should thus repeat what had dropped from her mother's lips? Especially when she never learned that the "truth is not to be told at all times." She had been taught to tell the truth, and to avoid falsehood. She did not dream that she was doing wrong in giving circulation to her good mother's expressed opinion. And now consider what conflicting thoughts and sentiments must pervade Nellie's bosom, as she is thrust into the kitchen for saying just what her mother had said before. "What have I done?" she must have asked. "Something naughty, certainly, or I should not have been treated so; but what?" And thus her troubled mind is in doubt and perplexity as to her offence. "Mother says I musn't tell a lie," she continues, "and I didn't. O, dear, what does it all mean?"

There is no fancy in the foregoing. Many a parent has been put into such a mortifying position by the glib tongue of a child. Children generally understand that it is right to speak the truth, although they may not comprehend that it is not to be spoken in all circumstances. Hence Nellie's intentions were good and so far praiseworthy. Instead of being summarily punished for the well-meant act there is a view to take of it that demands explanation. As it was, a shock was inflicted upon her moral sensibilities, and possibly a permanent injury was done to her moral character.

But we have cited the above for the purpose of referring to a social evil. The manners and customs of society do not tolerate to a person's face what is said to his back. It would be rude and uncivil in Mrs. Brown to tell Mrs. Frazier to her face that she was not a lovable woman. No! that would never do. She might say it at the fireside, and utter it to a neighbor, but it would be impolite to say so to Mrs. Frazier. We are not condemning this social law now, we rather think it is a good one. It wouldn't do to say to the face of people all that is said to their backs. We should have war all the time. Peace would be out of the question. But, then, it is worth while to inquire whether it is well to say anything to people's backs that this social law will not permit us to say to their faces? Here is the point, after all. Did not Nellie's mother perpetrate a greater wrong by criticising Mrs. Frazier than Nellie did by telling her of it? Then, which ought to have been thrust into the kitchen?

Custom may make it polite for one woman to tell another that she is glad to see her when she is not, to invite her to call again, when she hopes she never will, and sundry things, but there is no law of God to demand this course of action. Heaven has not a smile for such false-hearted ways. Veracity that is tried and true, is all that is current at the court of heaven. And this, too, for the sake of the children! For may not these social customs, that sanction one thing to a person's back and another to his face, educate children in duplicity and falsehood? Does not the course of Mrs. Brown tend to make her Nellie false-hearted? It is just here that the great evil of such manners and customs is seen. There is no telling how much influence is exerted in this way to make the young, dissemblers and hypocrites. Whatever there is of falsehood and treachery in the characters of men and women in social life, one great cause of it is to be found in customs that make it rude and impolite to say to a person's face what is freely spoken at their backs. It is a subject worthy of the thought and study of parents.—Congregationalist.

Trust in Christ.

REV. W. JAY, one day attended the dying bed of a young female, who thus addressed him:

"I have little to relate as to my experience. I have been much tried and tempted, but this is my sheet anchor: He has said, "He that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." I know I came to Him, and I expect

that he will be as good as His word. Poor and unworthy as I am, He will not trifle with me; it would be beneath His greatness; I am at his feet. As you have often said:

" 'Tis joy enough, my All in all, At Thy dear feet to lie; Thou wilt not let me lower fall And none can higher fly."

Did Jephthah Really Offer Up His Daughter?

We believe that Jephthah did not take away the life of his daughter. From the narrative we are led to regard the vow as implying that the object designated was to be offered to God in such a manner as circumstances would permit; had it been an animal not prohibited, then, in fulfillment of the vow, it would have been presented. As human sacrifices were in the highest degree offensive to God, Jephthah's daughter, who was the destined offering, was set apart for religious duties in her unmarried state, and as such she passed the remainder of her days unaffianced; and as by this seclusion her hope of establishing a household and ranking among the mothers of Israel, and also of being among the progenitors of the promised Messiah, was destroyed, her companions were accustomed yearly to visit her, to express we may presume their sympathy with her seclusion, and their esteem of her filial obedience.

We must not allow this inquiry to terminate without some remarks on the obligation incurred by vows. Men are not at liberty to perform unlawful acts in consequence of having bound themselves by oaths or by vows. They are prohibited by the fact that they were under a prior obligation, which precludes the right of making unlawful vows, or taking such oath. The sin, therefore consists in making unlawful vows, and not in breaking them. Men may deem it their duty to fulfill an unrighteous vow, but they ought to know that God will accept no action that comes into His presence charged with the murder of other duties.—Sel.

The Diphtheria Scourge in Western Illinois.

The diphtheria has been raging throughout the country to an alarming extent, and seems, to a great extent, to baffle the skill of physicians. It is confined almost exclusively to children, and when once under headway, death is almost certain to be the result. It will pass through whole towns, missing scarcely a family, and in some instances whole families of children have been swept away by it.

Our neighboring town of Moline, a place formerly remarkable for its healthiness, has been sadly affected by this disease for the past four or five months. In that time some 100 children have been swept off, and it is still raging to some extent. The parents in such a time become terrified, and call their children in and keep them housed up, hardly daring to let them breathe the fresh air, for fear the fell destroyer will take them away; but this practice has been proven to be the very worst one; for the little ones, being deprived of the necessary exercise and fresh air, are almost sure to be the next victims. We have noticed that those children who are allowed to rough it, in doors and out doors, just as they may desire, are the ones who escape.

It is certainly a terrible disease, but parents should not allow fear to get the better of their judgment, but should pursue a reasonable, thoughtful course, and save their "little pets" from its fearful ravages.—Rock Island Argus.

Genius and Labor.

ALEXANDER Hamilton once said to an intimate friend: "Men give me some credit for genius. All the genius I have lies just in this—when I have a subject in hand, I study it profoundly. Day and night it is before me. I explore it in all its bearings. My mind becomes pervaded with it. Then the effort I make is what people are pleased to call the fruits of genius. It is fruits of labor and thought."

Mr. Webster replied to a gentleman who pressed him to speak on a subject of great importance: "The subject interests me deeply but I have no time. There, sir," pointing to a large pile of letters on the table, "is a lot of unanswered letters, to which I must reply before the close of the session (then three days off.) I have no time to master the subject so as to do it justice."

"But Mr. Webster, a few words from you would do much to awaken public attention to it."

"If there be so much weight in my words as you represent, it is because I do not allow myself to speak on any subject till I have imbued my mind with it."

Demosthenes was urged to speak on a great and sudden emergency. "I am not prepared," said he, and obstinately refused.

The law of labor is equally binding on genius and mediocrity. The mind and body rarely visits this earth of ours so exactly fitted to each other, and so perfectly harmonizing together as to rise without effort, and command in the affairs of men. It is not in the power of every one to become great. No great approximation, even toward that which is easiest attained, can ever be accomplished without the exercise of much thought and vigor of action; and thus is demonstrated the supremacy of that law which gives excellence only when earned; assigns to labor its unfailing reward.

May not young men and all others take lessons from this?

Testimony for the Church.

By Ellen G. White

I saw that young and old neglect their Bibles. They do not make that book their study, and the rule of life as they should, especially the young. Most of them are ready, and find plenty of time to read almost any other book. But the word that points to life, eternal life, is not perused and daily studied. That precious, important book, that is to judge them in the last day, is scarcely studied at all. Idle stories have been attentively read, while the Bible has been passed by, neglected. A day is coming, of clouds and thick darkness, when all will wish to be thoroughly furnished by the plain, simple truths of the word of God; that they may meekly, yet decidedly, give a reason of their hope. This reason of their hope, I saw, they must have to strengthen their own souls for the fierce conflict. Without this they are wanting, and cannot have firmness and decision.

Parents had much better burn the idle tales of the day, and the novels as they come into their houses. It would be a mercy to their children. Encourage the reading of these story-books, and it is like enchantment. It bewilders and poisons the mind. I saw that unless parents awake to the eternal interest of their children, they will surely be lost through their neglect. And the possibility of these unfaithful parents being saved themselves is very small. Parents, I saw, should be exemplary. They should exert a holy influence in their families. They should let their dress be modest, different from the world around them. You should rebuke pride in your children, if you value their eternal interest. Faithfully rebuke this pride, and encourage it not in deed or word. I saw that this pride must be torn out of our families. O, the pride that was shown me of God's professed people. It has increased every year, until it is now impossible to designate professed Advent Sabbath-keepers from all the world around them. Much, I saw, was expended for ribbons and laces for the bonnets, collars and other needless articles to decorate the body, while Jesus the King of glory, who gave his life to redeem them wore a crown of thorns. This was the way their Master's sacred head was decorated. He was "a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed." And yet the very ones that profess to be washed by the blood of Jesus, spilt for them, can dress up, and decorate their poor, mortal bodies, and dare to profess to be the followers of the holy, self-denying, humble Pattern. O, I wish that all could see this in the light that God sees it, and showed it to me. It seemed too much, too much for me to bear, to feel the anguish of soul that I felt as I beheld it. "God's people," said the angel, "are peculiar, such he is purifying unto himself." I saw that the outside appearance was an index to the heart. When hung with ribbons, collars and needless things, it plainly shows that all this is in the heart, and unless that such persons are cleansed from their corruption, they can never see God, for the pure in heart alone will see him.

I saw that the axe must be laid at the root of the tree. Such pride should not be suffered in the church. It is these things that separate God from his people,

that shuts the Ark away from them. Israel has been asleep to the pride, and fashions, and conformity to the world, in their very midst. They advance every month in pride, covetousness, and selfishness, and love of the world. When the truth affects the heart, it will cause a death to the world, and the ribbons, laces and collars will be laid aside, and if dead, the laugh, the jeer, and scorn of unbelievers will not move them. They will feel an anxious desire to be separate from the world, like their Master. They will not imitate its pride, fashions or customs. The noble object will be ever before them, to glorify God, and gain the immortal inheritance. This prospect will swallow up all besides of an earthly nature. God will have a separate and distinct people from the world. And if any have a desire to imitate the fashions of the world, that they do not immediately subdue, just so soon God ceases to acknowledge them as his children. They are the children of the world and darkness. They hanker after the leeks and onions of Egypt, want to be as much like the world as possible; and those who profess to have put on Christ, by thus doing put him off, and show that they are strangers to grace, strangers to the meek and lowly Jesus. If they had acquainted themselves with him, they would walk worthy of him.

I saw that the Israel of God must arise, renew their strength in God by renewing, and keeping their covenant with Him. Covetousness, selfishness, and love of money, and love of the world, are all through the ranks of Sabbath-keepers. These evils are drying up the sacrifice of God's people. Those that have this covetousness in their hearts are not aware of it. It has gained upon them imperceptibly. And unless it is rooted out, their destruction will be as sure as Achan's was. Many have taken the sacrifice from God's altar, and they love the world, love its gain and increase, and unless there is an entire change they will perish with the world. God has lent them means. It is not their own; but God has made them his stewards. And because of this, they call it their own, and hoard it up. But, O, how quick, when the prospering hand of God is removed from them, it is all snatched away in a moment. There must be a sacrificing for God, a denying self for the truth's sake. O, how weak and frail is man. How puny his arm. I saw that soon the loftiness of man is to be brought down, and the pride of man humbled. Kings and nobles, rich and poor, alike shall bow, and the withering plagues from God shall fall upon them.

ELLEN G. WHITE.

The Wedding Garment.

At the royal marriage of Sultan Mahmoud, a few years ago, every guest invited to the wedding had made expressly for him, at the expense of the Sultan a wedding garment. No one, however dignified his station, was permitted to enter into the presence-chamber of that sovereign without a change of raiment. This was formerly the universal custom in the East. But inasmuch as these garments were very costly, and some of the guests invited might plead poverty, and thus appear unclad in the guest chamber of the king, the cost was defrayed at the Sultan Mahmoud's expense. To each guest was presented a suit of wedding garments. Had any, therefore, appeared before this absolute sovereign without the wedding garment, the Sultan would have deemed his dignity insulted, and his magnificent gifts despised. The question, then, "Friend, how camest thou in hither not having on a wedding garment?"—(Matt. xxii, 12.) explains the speechless condition of the man. The wedding robe was ready, not at the expense of the invited one, but at the cost of the king. He had simply to obey the requirements of Eastern state—put on the garment, appear before the king, and do homage to him for his rich habit. His refusal to comply with this reasonable custom, and presuming, notwithstanding, to thrust himself into the presence of royalty, was an avowal that he denied his authority to rule over him, and despised his power. Hence he was bound hand and foot and cast out.—Exchange.

Excellency of Christ.

By Giles Fletcher

HE is a path, if any be misled; He is a robe, if any naked be; If any chance to hunger, he is bread; If any be a bondsman, he is free; If any be but weak, how strong is he ! To dead men life he is, to sick men health, To blind men sight, and to the needy wealth— A pleasure without loss, a treasure without stealth. —Giles Fletcher.

Simple Trust.

WITHOUT faith it is impossible to please him,” Heb. xi. 6.

When a child who had lost her mother was once asked, “What do you do without a mother to tell all your troubles to?” She answered, “I go to the Lord Jesus. He was my mother’s friend and he’s mine.” And in reply to another question, whether she thought Jesus Christ would attend to her, “All I know” she at once replied, “he says he will, and that’s enough for me,”

What a beautiful answer was that; and what was enough for this child is enough for all.

How Quickly the World Moves On

THE world goes on. It is strange how soon, when a great man dies, his place is filled; and so completely that he seems no longer wanted.

Seven Children Lost to Diphtheria

In the town of Pompey, Onondaga county, N. Y., there were two families containing eight interesting and apparently healthy children. Within two weeks seven of the eight were carried off by diptheria.

Cure for Diptheria.

A lady of Port Byron, Caynga Connty, New York, enred six children, (five of them her own,) of diptheria, by the following remedy: “When the symptoms are first discovered, take Spanish flies, ponnd and mix with Venice tnrpentine, spread it on a piece of soft cloth and bind it over the throat, which will raise a blister, and soon remove the disease from the throat.” —Farmers and Miners' Journal.

Continue reading: Do we Discard the Bible by Endorsing the Visions ?