Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 29, 1894
The Letter and the Spirit.
The "letter" of a command, law, or covenant is, according to the Standard Dictionary, "the literal or exact meaning or requirement of the words used; as, according to the letter of the law." The letter of God's law, and of every precept of that law, is, according to this recognized authority, "the literal or exact meaning or requirement of the words used."
The Spirit Behind the Letter.
It was the Spirit of God which inspired the words of God. 2 Peter 1: 21. The words of God, therefore, express the mind of God toward his children. As the Spirit gave the letter, the letter is not nor can it be antagonistic to the spirit. We may look upon the letter as the mere outward form, nevertheless it is the form of the truth. The Jews in the days of Christ made much of the outward form of the law. For this they were not rebuked. Rather it is expressly said by the apostle that they had "the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law." Rom. 2: 20.
It is evident, then, that the letter of the law expresses "the literal or exact meaning" of God's requirement. Of course there is more in God's word than the mere form. "The words that I speak unto you," says Christ, "they are spirit and they are life." It is the Spirit of God which gives knowledge; the Spirit of God is "the Spirit of truth," and therefore not only is the spirit of the words knowledge and truth, but the letter of the words is "the form of the knowledge and of the truth." The one is essential to the other. The man who cries out for the letter alone is "alienated from the life of God." And the man who cries out for the spirit alone and who says of the letter or form of the truth, "Away with it," is moved by another spirit than that which inspired the word.
"The Form of the Truth."
The Spirit of God in giving the word chose its own instrument, and breathed through that instrument its own words. It chose its own form for the expression of the will of God. To say that the form is nothing is an insult to the Majesty of the universe, who chose it. It is despising his wisdom. When God would make man he gave him a certain form, and placed within it life. The whole became a living soul. The form alone did not make the living soul, the living, thinking man. The life alone did not make him. The two combined told the whole truth. But God did not put the soul and mind of beast or bird in the form of the man. There was the exact adaptation of form to life and intelligence. All this man and sin and Satan have perverted, but God's plan was perfect. If we were told that the horse was a man, we would declare it false, because God has not written man in that form. He has not written the maple in the form of the larch, nor the pine in the letter of the oak.
God Is Particular.
Again and again in his holy word has the Lord shown us that he was particular in regard to the letter of the word. "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish aught from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God." Deut. 4: 2. (See also Deut. 12: 32; Prov. 30: 6; Rev. 22: 18, 19.) The above words clearly show that the instruction must be heeded if Israel were to keep God's commandments. And note also that it was not obedience to the mere letter of the law which God required, but it was the fullest obedience of its spirit; for thus we read: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord; and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart." Deut. 6: 4-6. But it was necessary, in order that this might be done, that there should be such regard for God's words that naught should be added to them or taken from them. Love would not dwell in the heart of the person who would knowingly change the form of the truth. In all the building of the tabernacle and temple the instruction was explicit that they should be built like the pattern.
Illustrations of Disobedience.
One of the first examples we have of disregard of God's word is the case of Nadab and Abihu. The fire used to burn incense before the Lord must be the sacred fire from the altar, where it was constantly kept burning. But these men reasoned that the letter was nothing; there was no difference between that fire and any other, and so they reasoned that they would comply with the "spirit" of the law, and use "strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not." The result of their rash disregard of the letter of God's instruction is given in Lev. 10: 1, 2. Another instance is recorded in 2 Sam. 6: 6, 7. God had commanded the priests to bear the ark upon their shoulders, but it was evidently thought by them at that time: "Now the principal thing is the carrying of the ark. Of course God has commanded us to carry it on our shoulders, but the letter killeth; we will therefore comply with the spirit of the law, and take it to its resting place in a better way. We will do better than the old way; we will make a new cart." They did so, and the displeasure of the Lord was again manifested, because they did not do his commandment "after the due order." 1 Chron. 15: 13. The "letter" is important.
Exceptions.
But are there not exceptions? Has not God sometimes blessed those who did not follow the letter of the law, but kept its spirit?—Yes, he has; but it was when "the form of the knowledge and of the truth" was not known. The Philistines placed the ark of God upon a cart and sent it home, and the Lord's judgments were lifted from the land. But they knew no other way to do; nor did they have the priests to carry the sacred chest. They acted on the best light they had. For centuries the church of God has been observing the first day of the week as the Sabbath of the Lord. They had to a greater or less extent the true spirit of obedience, but they did not "know the form of the knowledge and of the truth in the law," and therefore God did not punish them for their ignorance. But now he is everywhere enlightening men in regard to the claims of his holy law. Everywhere is the question agitated, and everywhere is read the words of God: "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy;" "the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God." God means what he says. To the man who simply regards the outward letter of that law, God promises no blessing. He only can keep the day holy who loves God with all his soul and has the commandment written in his heart. To those teachers before whom has come the plain command of God, and who have rejected God's word as the letter that killeth, the Lord thus speaks: "Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned [made common] mine802holy things; they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they showed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my Sabbaths, and I am profaned [made common, polluted] among them." Eze. 22: 26. The only safe path, the only blessed path, is to do in the Spirit of the Perfect Pattern just as God says.
IN our last issue it was shown that the composite beast of Rev. 13: 1-10 symbolized civil government as controlled by Satan in matters of religion. The particular phase of the beast presented in the chapter under consideration symbolizes the civil governments of the Roman world, represented by the horns, as dominated by the Papacy. This phase of the beast ended when the papal head received its deadly wound, in 1798, and its power to persecute came to an end.
At this time—when the papal power went into captivity—another power, symbolized by "another beast," was seen "coming up," having "two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon." A few specifications given of this beast of Rev. 13: 11-17 will serve to show what power it symbolizes: (1) It is seen coming up just as the papal beast went into captivity, namely, at the close of the last century. (2) It comes up out of the "earth," in contradistinction to the "sea," out of which rose the ten-horned beast. "Sea," or "waters," as a prophetic symbol represents, according to Rev. 17: 15; Isa. 8: 7, nations and peoples. The ten-horned beast gained its place through strife and conquest, while the two-horned beast came up out of the earth, a place unoccupied by civilized nations, in a peaceful manner. (3) It is evidently a republican form of government, as the two horns are without crowns (while the ten horns are crowned), and verse 14 shows that the people have a part in its work. (4) It had two horns like a lamb. The lamb used as a symbol represents preeminently our Lord Jesus Christ. The government, therefore, represented by this beast would have characteristics, the very characteristics represented by horns, which exalt it and give it power and prestige. (5) It has a dragon voice. The dragon represents primarily Satan, and Satan is the prime instigator of all persecution against the people of God. According to the symbol, therefore, the power represented by the two-horned beast becomes an agent of Satan in persecuting the people of God. This is why it is mentioned in prophecy. This the latter part of the chapter more fully details.
In what power are all the above specifications fulfilled?—There is but one in which they all meet, and that one is the United States of America. Note carefully the specifications above, and see how literally they are fulfilled in our own country.
1. When the persecuting power of the Papacy was taken away in 1798, there was but one great power of earth rising into prominence, and that was the United States. The Declaration of Independence was signed by the representatives of the colonial governments in 1776, the Constitution was adopted in 1789, and the beginning of the nineteenth century found the ship of State fairly launched and recognized as a sister craft by the great nations of earth. There was no other power of prominence then rising.
2. This government did not arise out of the conquest of Old World nations, but it came up out of hitherto unoccupied territory. George Alfred Townsend, in his "New World Compared with the Old," speaks of this country as "coming forth from vacancy," and says, "Like a silent seed we grew into empire." The Dublin (Ireland) Nation in 1850 spoke of this government as a wonderful empire, which was emerging, and "amid the silence of the earth daily adding to its power and pride." The testimony of the historian confirms the interpretation of the prophecy.
3. This country is certainly a republican form of government, while the most of the divisions of the Roman Empire were monarchical.
4. It "had two horns like a lamb," two characteristics of the religion of Christ, two features peculiar to Christianity alone of all the great religions of the earth, and peculiar to this government alone of all the great powers of earth. This specification above all others fixes the symbol to this government.
a. What two characteristics, above all others, apart from its supernatural power—its real wealth and resources—gave to the religion of Christ power and influence?
b. What two characteristics above all others—apart from its wealth and resources—gave to this government its power and prestige?
The answers to these two questions are simple, easily found, and readily understood.
One of the prominent characteristics of Christianity is the
EQUALITY OF MAN.
It is thus most positively stated:—
"There is no respect of persons with God."
"God that made the world and all things therein, hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth."
This same principle was to hold good in the Christian church:—
"But be not ye called rabbi; for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren."
A second great and prominent characteristic of Christianity is what we may call
LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE,
or the right and privilege of every man, vouchsafed to him by Christian ethics, to worship God, or not to worship, how or when he will, providing he does not interfere with the equal rights of his fellow-men. This principle is sometimes termed religious liberty. The gospel of Christ compels no one. It is not "Thou shalt," or "Thou shalt not." Its language is, "Whosoever will" "let him come." Listen to a chosen servant of the King of heaven:—
"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did BESEECH you by us; we PRAY [entreat] you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." "Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we PERSUADE men."
And that resolute apostle who was once so ready to use carnal weapons, writes, "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts." "Neither as being lords over God's heritage." How vastly different from the spirit and utterances of the great apostate church, which claims Peter as its head! "Not for that we have dominion [lordship] over your faith," says Paul, "but are helpers of your joy; for by faith ye stand." Our Lord Jesus Christ thus speaks: "And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not; for I came not to judge the world. . . . The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." How different is all this from those apostate churches with their "lords spiritual," their councils and tribunals, sitting in judgment on men's consciences, and prosecuting by civil law those who do not agree with their decrees.
Look all over the religions of the past—pagan or Jewish, Mohammedan or so-called Christian (papal)—and in not one of them do we find these two particulars. The curse of caste, the creation of offices, haughty, imperious, and ambitious hierarchies, religious dogmas, enforced legislative enactment or royal edict, one or all are present in all false religions, in all perverted forms of the Christian religion.
Both of these God-given principles are embodied in the charters of our liberty in this country, so far as they can be embodied in any earthly government. The first principle, equality of man, is found in that document which sounded the birth note of American freedom, and which made Americans civilly free men:—
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
The second principle is not only embodied in the word "liberty" in the Declaration of Independence, but our forefathers builded more surely than this. The first amendment to the Constitution of the United States reads:—
Congress shall make no laws respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.
Thus in the fundamental law of this government, man's freedom to worship or not to worship God, or his conceptions of God, were preserved and protected intact. We know of no other government of any note in all the world which holds these principles. There are republics, like Switzerland and France, but they have their State religion, supported by many to whom it is an intolerable burden. The United States Government is unique in this respect, and these principles have been the magnetic power which has drawn to our shores from the intolerant and autocratic governments of the Old World the persecuted and oppressed millions. They found here religion "without a pope, and a State without a king," and the consequent803privilege of worshiping God according to their own consciences and understanding of God's word.
THE DRAGON VOICE.
But the dragon voice was yet to be developed. The National Reformers, having their headquarters in Pittsburg, Pa., have been endeavoring since 1863 to commit this government to religious legislation, to launch it in the maelstrom of destruction in which other governments have gone to wreck. Their object is, as stated by themselves in the second article of their constitution:—
The object of this society shall be to maintain existing Christian features in the American Government; to promote needed reforms in the action of the government touching the sabbath, the institution of the family, the religious element in education, the oath, and public morality as affected by the liquor traffic and other kindred evils; and to secure such an amendment to the Constitution of the United States as will declare the nation's allegiance to Jesus Christ and its acceptance of the moral laws of the Christian religion, and so indicate that this is a Christian nation, and place all the Christian laws, institutions, and usages of our government on an undeniable legal basis in the fundamental law of the land.
Chief among these institutions is the Sunday sabbath. It need scarcely be said that such an object crystallized into law would be what certain men call "Christian," but in reality most unchristian. This movement, ridiculed and opposed in the beginning, has grown apace. In the years 1885-87 the Woman's Christian Temperance Union was won to its principles, and has been laboring for a Sunday law and a so-called theocracy ever since. The Prohibition party is following along the same line, especially for a Sunday law. Another mighty ally in this Church and State movement is the American Sabbath Union. The great Methodist Episcopal General Conference was induced by Rev. W. F. Crafts to take the initiative in this movement by forming a "National Sabbath Committee." This was done in New York City, November, 1888. Its object is "to preserve the Christian sabbath as a day of rest and worship." This would be perfectly proper apart from politics, but the chief effort has been political. Shortly after its organization it was indorsed by the general synods, assemblies, conventions, etc., of the other great denominations. Cardinal Gibbons and other prominent Catholics have also indorsed it.
The baleful seeds of Romish fornication have been assiduously sown since that time, till every town and village of the nation, almost, has been entered in one way or another. This great religious combination to effect a political purpose has made its "influence" felt in Congress, and, by its repeated deluge of petitions and its lobbying and threats, our politicians and even our judges of the Supreme Court have bent under it.
The last steps in the fulfillment of this great prophecy are the most striking. February 29, 1892, the Supreme Court of the United States went out of its way to declare, in the case against Trinity Church, under the contract labor law, that "this is a Christian nation," justified every Sunday law in operation in the various States, and affirmed that the Constitution with its first amendment is in harmony with all these laws. Thus is laid, by the last court of appeal in this government, the foundation of the reproduction of the persecutions of the Dark Ages. It is the image of the beast in embryo, containing within itself all the possibilities of evil for the future.
The Supreme Court declaring this to be a "Christian nation," and the great mass of the churches holding Sunday to be the "Christian sabbath," logically the "Christian nation" should regard the "Christian sabbath." The churches in the United States the same year made just such a demand as this of Congress in the matter of closing the World's Fair on Sunday,—a mild measure in and of itself, but evil in principle as any law of the Dark Ages, and but the first step to a logical series of steps inevitably to follow on future demands. Both Houses of Congress passed the Sunday measure, and it was signed by the President before the record of its passage was scarcely dry.
In still other ways has our government committed itself to the Sunday-law Church-and-State movement, till it is now too late to hope for reform. And the spirit existing in various parts of our country is shown in the petty, tyrannical, unjust persecutions of seventh-day people in the States of Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, and Maryland, and in the active sympathy and criminal silence which have been shown, almost unanimously, by the organs of the great denominations.
The seed has been sown in a fruitful soil; before us is growing what will soon ripen into a baleful crop. Still stricter laws will follow, heavier penalties will be added, till at last the people who dare to do God's will will be punished by not only boycott, but by confiscation of goods and death. Every specification of the prophecy has been fulfilled thus far. Not one word will fail of all that God has said. Sunday, the mark of the beast, will be enthroned in universal law.
TO ABIDE IN CHRIST THE WILL MUST BE SURRENDERED.
By Mrs. E. G. White
BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.
CHRIST says: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. . . . Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing."
It is not enough that we believe a portion of truth, we must grasp truth after truth, and by both precept and example we must teach the truth as it is in Jesus. When sorrow comes, we may see the love of Christ in it all, and the fullness of divine love may keep the soul in perfect peace. If we abide in Christ we must ever be searching after truth as for hidden treasures, in order that our apprehensions of truth may be quick and comprehensive. We shall not then be putting on the garments of resistance, and be prepared to be prejudiced against the very things which we need in our time. Christ is continually unfolding old truths in a new light. The only way in which we will be prepared to have a more perfect apprehension of truth, is by keeping the heart tender and subdued by the Spirit of Christ. We cannot afford to cultivate hardness of heart; for if we are students in the school of Christ, we shall be continually growing in knowledge.
Jesus gives the invitation: "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls; for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." When we come to Jesus as humble learners, seeking to know the mind of Christ, we shall have no disagreeable surprises. That which we received from him will be to us light,804and life, and salvation. We shall walk in the light of the Sun of Righteousness, advancing from light to a greater light, and at every step our hearts will well up with gratitude for the precious revelations of his love. We shall not walk in darkness, we shall behold him who is our only help, him who only has the words of eternal life.
We are never to feel that there is no more truth to be unfolded to us. The history of the past few years has taught us that the words which Jesus spoke to his disciples are appropriate to us. He said, "I have many things to say unto you; but ye cannot bear them now." But I trust that we shall not have the experience of those disciples who, when new truth was revealed to them, walked no more with him, but "because of the word they were offended." Will the experience of these disciples be repeated that called forth from Christ these words: "There are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. . . . From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God."
"Therefore, seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but, by manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost; in whom the God of this world hath blinded the mind of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves; but Jesus Christ the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For 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."
Could our eyes be opened, and could each see the conflict of angelic agencies with the Satanic confederacy, who are combined with evil human agencies, what astonishment would come upon the soul. The holy angels are working with terrible intensity for the salvation of men, because the destroyer of souls is seeking to make of no effect the salvation which has been purchased at infinite cost. Could our spiritual vision be opened, we should see that which would never be effaced from the memory as long as life should last. We should see souls bowed down under oppression, loaded with grief and pressed down as a cart beneath the sheaves, and ready to die in discouragement. We should see angels flying swiftly to aid the tempted ones who stand as on the brink of a precipice. These tempted souls are unable to help themselves, and avoid the ruin which threatens them; but the angels of God are forcing back the evil angels, and guiding the souls away from the dangerous places, to plant their feet on a sure foundation. We should see battles going on between the two armies, as real as those fought by opposing forces on earth. When the power of Satan over souls is broken, we see men binding their will to the cross, and crucifying the flesh with the affections and lusts. It is indeed a crucifixion of self; for the will is surrendered to Christ. The will of man is none too strong when it is sanctified and put on the side of Christ. The will is a power, and as many triumphs are to be won in spiritual warfare, and many points of progress to be made in the spiritual journey, and many lessons to be learned from Christ, the great Teacher, it is necessary that the will should be sanctified. In surrendering the will, the root of the matter is reached. When the will is surrendered, the streams that flow from the fountain will not be bitter, but will be as pure as crystal. The flowers and fruit of Christian life will bloom and ripen to perfection.
Jesus Christ is our example in all things. He began life, passed through its experiences, and ended its record, with a sanctified human will. He was tempted in all points like as we are, and yet because he kept his will surrendered and sanctified, he never bent in the slightest degree toward the doing of evil, or toward manifesting rebellion against God. Have men and women who profess to be followers of Christ, been simply gratifying their own tastes, been confirming themselves in selfishness, in obstinacy, simply living to gratify their carnal propensities? Those who persist in living in this way will at some time in their experience become offended by the truth presented from the word of God. They cannot be one with Christ or abide in him, because they refuse the terms upon which salvation is provided. They do not wear Christ's yoke or lift Christ's burden; for they will not learn of him meekness and lowliness of heart. Those who have a sanctified will, that is in unison with the will of Christ, will day by day have their wills bound to the will of Christ, which will act in blessing others, and react upon themselves with divine power. Many cultivate those things which war against the soul; for their desires and their will are set against God, and employed in the service of Satan.
Let us no longer gratify the enemy by complaining of the strength of our evil will; for in so doing we are feeding and encouraging our wills against God, and pleasing the evil one. Let us remember that we are children of God, pledged to cherish a holy will which cometh to us from God. "As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
When we resist the devil, he will flee from us, and we will rise above the human weakness in a way that will be a mystery even to ourselves. The judgment day is not that which will decide our eternal interests; but it is the yielding to influences that either subject our character to the moulding of Christ, or oppose our will to the will of God. The one absorbing aim of the life of Christ was to do the will of his heavenly Father. He did not become offended with God; for he lived not to please himself. The human will of Christ would not have led him to the wilderness of temptation, to fast, and to be tempted of the devil. It would not have led him to endure humiliation, scorn, reproach, suffering, and death. His human nature shrank from all these things as decidedly as ours shrinks from them. He endured the contradiction of sinners against himself. The contrast between the life and character of Christ and our life and character is painful to contemplate. What did Christ live to do? It was the will of his heavenly Father. Christ left us an example, that we should follow in his steps. Are we doing it?
THEY WILL GET THERE IN DUE TIME.
The Catholic Union and Times has the following appropriate remarks on those who are aping Roman customs:—
“We wish a hearty Godspeed to the Protestant Episcopal monk who has just made the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in presence of Bishop Potter, of New York. For the most part people are amused at this Protestant monk and nun business. But, with the Cardinal Archbishop of Sydney, we rather welcome the conceit. For most of those who play at such shadows find the substance in the bosom of the [Roman Catholic] Church.”
The Catholic Church makes the way of the rolling ball of apostate Protestantism as smooth as possible.
Church Music and Godly Singers
The New York Observer (Presbyterian) says in reference to church music that "church music is too often not the music of the church, but of the world, rendered by worldly people." And it only mentions one church of its acquaintance which does differently, and then it goes out of its own denomination and names a Congregational Church. Truly the picture is a sad one. The church demands godly singing and singers as well as godly preaching and praying.
THE RIVER OF PEACE.
By Mrs. Lizzie De Armond
BY MRS. LIZZIE DE ARMOND.
[An answer to "What Will God Give Us When He Takes the Sea?"]
I ALWAYS think of the restless sea,
With its never-ceasing ebb and flow,
With its storm-tossed waves and sullen roar,
As a type of human life below.
When the old world passeth out of sight,
And the holy city steppeth down—
The beautiful New Jerusalem,
White robed and wearing a bridal crown—
I do not know, but it seems to me
When sorrow and pain and endless strife
Shall cease, like the sea, and be no more,
And we live the restful other life,
That forth from the throne of God will come
The river of Peace, whose crystal tide
Reflects the glorious Maker's face,
And, murmuring softly, far and wide
It will flow, and sing the soulful song
The redeem'd in heaven chant to-day,
The sea is gone, but He knoweth best;
We have the river of Peace alway.