Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 25, 1882
General Articles.
By Mrs. E. G. White
Home Training—Its Importance and Results.
BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.
“That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner-stones, polished after the similitude of a palace.” It should be the object of every parent to secure to his children a well-balanced, symmetrical character. This is a work of no small magnitude and importance. It will require earnest thought and prayer, no less than patient, persevering effort. A right foundation must be laid, a framework, strong and firm, erected, and then day by day the work of building, polishing, perfecting, must go forward.
Upon the mother rests, to a great degree, the responsibility of the early training of her children. Did mothers but realize the importance of their mission, they would be much in secret prayer, presenting their children to Jesus, imploring his blessing upon them, and pleading for wisdom to discharge aright their sacred duties. Let the mother improve every opportunity to mold and fashion the disposition and habits of her children. Let her watch carefully the development of character, repressing traits that are too prominent, encouraging those that are deficient. Let her make her own life a pure and noble example to her precious charge.
The mother should enter upon her work with courage and energy, relying constantly upon divine aid in all her efforts. She should never rest satisfied until she sees in her children a gradual elevation of character, until they have a higher object in life than merely to seek their own pleasure. Children should be taught at home to exert every faculty of mind or body. Thus they gain an understanding of their own capabilities, and at the same time strengthen and develop every power by calling it into action.
Parents, your own home is the first field in which you are called to labor. The precious plants in the home garden demand your first care. To you it is appointed to watch for souls as they that must give account. Carefully consider your work, its nature, its bearing, and its results. Line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little, you must instruct, warn, and counsel, ever remembering that your looks, words, and actions, have a direct bearing upon the future course of your dear ones. Your work is not to paint a form of beauty upon canvas, or to chisel it from marble; but to impress upon a human soul the image of the Divine.
Mothers, will you not dispense with useless, unimportant labor for that which must perish with the using? Will you not seek to draw near to God, that his wisdom may guide and his grace assist you, in a work which will be as enduring as eternity? Aim to make your children perfect in character. Remember that such only can see God.
I speak the more freely and earnestly, because I know that many parents are neglecting their God-given work. They are themselves far from purity and holiness. They do not see the defects of their children as they would if their own eyes were beholding and admiring the perfection of Christ's character.
For Christ's sake, for the sake of your children, seek to conform your own life to the divine standard. Let nothing come in between you and your God. Be earnest, be patient and persevering, instant in season, out of season. Give your children intellectual culture, and moral training. Let their young hearts be fortified with firm, pure principles. While you have the opportunity, lay the foundation for a noble manhood and womanhood. Your labor will be rewarded a thousand fold.
You must make the Bible your guide, if you would bring up your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Let the life and character of Christ be presented as the pattern for them to copy. If they err, read to them what the Lord has said concerning similar sins. There is need of constant care and diligence in this work. One wrong trait tolerated by parents, uncorrected by teachers, may cause the whole character to become deformed and unbalanced. Teach the children that they must have a new heart; that new tastes must be created, new motives inspired. They must have help from Christ; they must become acquainted with the character of God as revealed in his word.
Family prayer receives too little interest and attention. In many cases, the morning and evening worship is little more than a mere form, a dull, monotonous repetition of set phrases in which the spirit of gratitude or the sense of need finds no expression. The Lord accepts not such service. But the petitions of a humble heart and contrite spirit he will not despise. The opening of our hearts to our Heavenly Father, the acknowledgment of our entire dependence, the expression of our wants, the homage of grateful love,—this is true prayer. When we come pleading the merits of Christ's blood, and trusting with implicit faith his promises, we shall secure the blessing of the Lord.
Redeem the precious hours worse than wasted in talking of your troubles, or gossiping over the faults of others. Seek earnestly to God for help, and you will become strong in his strength. You may have Christ as a guest in your home. Be not satisfied merely to bear the name of Christians. Be in truth followers of Jesus. Let your hearts be warmed with his love. Make him your friend, your helper, your counselor.
The most valuable rules for social and family intercourse, are to be found in the Bible. There is not only the best and purest standard of morality, but the most valuable code of politeness. Our Saviour's sermon on the mount contains instruction of priceless worth to old and young. It should be often read in the family circle, and its precious teachings exemplified in the daily life. The golden rule, “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them,” as well as the apostolic injunction, “In honor preferring one another,” should be made the law of the family. Those who cherish the spirit of Christ, will manifest politeness at home, a spirit of benevolence, even in little things. They will be constantly seeking to make all around them happy, forgetting self in their kind attentions to others. This is the fruit which grows upon the Christian tree.
Few realize the influence of the little things of life, upon the development of character. Mothers, cease to spend your time and strength for that which is merely attractive to the eye, but which does not minister to comfort or real happiness, and you will cut off a large share of the cares and worries that make you nervous and irritable, impolite and unchristian. The precious moments heretofore given to needless labor should be devoted to beautifying the souls of your children, teaching them how they may obtain the inward adorning, that meek and quiet spirit which God accounts of great price.
If real politeness were practiced by all the followers of Christ, if obedience to the golden rule were made one of the corner-stones of Christian character, we would see fewer church-trials, less hardness and animosity between brethren. There would be no harsh, thoughtless words, no strife for the highest place. God's people will be tested. Every one will be exposed to the fierce fire of trial and temptation. If we would not be consumed as dross, we must have the love of God—the gold that has been tried—abiding in us. Now is the time to soften and subdue our rough, harsh traits of character. We must cherish kindness, forbearance, Christian integrity. Ungenerous criticism, hard speeches, questioning the motives of another, or magnifying his faults, open the door to Satan's temptations, and lead many away from God. The Holy Scriptures give us a safe and profitable rule for thought and conversation. “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” If we would have our children practice kindness, courtesy, and love, we ourselves must set them the example.
“Charity suffereth long, and is kind.” It “thinketh no evil,”—another fruit borne on the tree of love. Our souls must be stayed upon God, imbued with his Spirit, if we learn these sacred lessons. Said the apostle, “Gird up the loins of your mind.” If the thoughts are rightly disciplined, it will be a far less difficult task to control the feelings. Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, will give us courage, hope, and constancy. Shall we not obey the teachings of God's word? Shall we not make it our guide and counselor? Shall we not devote time and thought to its perusal? How can Christians neglect the book in which God has revealed his will to men? Our children need help to understand the Scriptures. They should become acquainted with the life and character of Jesus, that they may love him, and choose to obey him.
Parents and guardians must themselves maintain purity of heart and life, if they would have their children pure. They must give the needed instruction, and in addition to this, they must exercise unceasing watchfulness. Every day new thoughts are awakened in the minds of the young, new impressions made upon their hearts. The associations they form, the books they read, the habits they cherish—all must be guarded. The interests of your children, for this life and the next, are at stake.230“What now you do, you know not,
But shall hereafter know,
When the seeds your hands are sowing,
To a ripened harvest grow.”
When you stand before the great white throne, then your work will appear as it is. The books are opened, the record of every life made known. Many in that vast company are unprepared for the revelations made. Upon the ears of some, the words will fall with startling distinctness, “Weighed in the balance, and found wanting.” To many parents the Judge will say in that day, “You had my word, plainly setting forth your duty. Why have you not obeyed its teachings? Knew ye not that it was the voice of God? Did I not bid you search the Scriptures, that you might not go astray? You have not only ruined your own souls, but by your pretensions to godliness you have misled many others. You have no part with me. Depart, depart!”
Another class stand pale and trembling, trusting in Christ, and yet oppressed with a sense of their own unworthiness. They hear with tears of joy and gratitude the Master's commendation. The days of incessant toil, of burden-bearing, and of fear and anguish, are forgotten, as that voice, sweeter than the music of angel harps, pronounces the words, “Well done, good and faithful servants, enter ye into the joy of your Lord.” There stand the host of the redeemed, the palm branch of victory in their hand, the crown upon their head. These are the ones who by faithful, earnest labor, have obtained a fitness for Heaven. The lifework performed on earth is acknowledged in the heavenly courts as a work well done.
With joy unutterable, parents see the crown, the robe, the harp, given to their children. The days of hope and fear are ended. The seed sown with tears and prayers may have seemed to be sown in vain, but their harvest is reaped with joy at last. Their children have been redeemed.
Fathers, mothers, shall the voices of your children swell the song of gladness in that day?
HE LEADETH ME.
By Hallie C. Young
BY HALLIE C. YOUNG.
As I e'er, through good and ill,
Footsore, struggle up life's hill,
Looking upward to the blue,
Ever yearning for the true,—
Strong or frail, howe'er I be,
He leadeth me.
What though the tear-drops sometimes start;
"Blessed are the pure in heart,"
Are ever to me, words of peace,
Bidding every tumult cease;
With doubts or hopes—howe'er I be,
He leadeth me.
Or traveling in the perfect day,
Keeping in the narrow way,
To the mount where joys abound,
The holy place where peace is found;
Full of trust, where'er I be,
He leadeth me.
Beyond this vale of tears, I know
A land where stilly waters flow;
The pastures there are living green,
And ever-blooming flowers are seen.
That I may reach that glorious lea,
He leadeth me.
Clarenden, Ark.
Now and Then.
By John Norton Loughborough
BY J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, OF SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND.
St. Paul, when contrasting the present with the future state, says, "Now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face; now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." 1 Cor. 13:12. The now relates to this state of "adoption," "trial," "patience," and "hope," when "it doth not yet appear what we shall be;" the then is that time "when he shall appear, and we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." 1 John 3:2.
Now "the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together . . . waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body." Now we are only "saved by hope; but hope that is seen is not hope; for what a man seeth why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it." Now we are "heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." Rom. 8:17, 22-25. "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, he shall . . . say to them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Matt. 25:31-34.
Now is the preparatory state for the future kingdom of glory, but when that kingdom comes it will be said, "Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in." Isaiah 26:2. St. James says, "Hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him." James 2:5. If we are now heirs of that kingdom the future is the time when its realities will be enjoyed.
St. Paul says, "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." 1 Cor. 15:50-52. This language shows most clearly that the inheritance of the kingdom is not in the present state, but after the resurrection of the dead.
The words of our Lord's prayer are also clear proof that his kingdom is still future, "Thy kingdom come." Whoever understandingly prays this prayer virtually says, The kingdom has not yet come, but, Lord, let the kingdom come, and "thy will be done on earth as it is done in Heaven;" and thus it will be done when the kingdom of Christ is fully established. Then "violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls salvation, and thy gates praise. The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee; but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light and thy God thy glory. Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself; for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light [as is said concerning the new Jerusalem, Rev. 22:5], and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. Thy people also shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation; I the Lord will hasten it in his time." Isaiah 60:18-22. To make our Lord's prayer suit the idea that his kingdom is now established, some have rendered it thus, "Let thy kingdom be extended;" but it does not so read.
The ordinances which our Lord gave to his church are fitted to this state, and anticipate the kingdom in the future. We instance the Lord's supper. In instituting this, he said, "I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." Matt. 26:29. As Luke records, "I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come." Luke 22:18. The final fulfillment of the ordinance must be when all who have by faith availed themselves of the virtue of Christ's blood (represented by the wine in the sacrament), are saved and in the kingdom of God with our adorable Redeemer. That the ordinance looks to that time for its accomplishment is further evident from the following statement of Paul: "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show [margin, show ye] the Lord's death till he come." 1 Cor. 11:26.
In the visions of Daniel relative to earthly kingdoms and the setting up of God's everlasting kingdom, we find the kingdom is represented by "A stone cut out of the mountain without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and break them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing-floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them; and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth." Dan. 2:34, 35. While the metals and clay of the image are called kingdoms that should rule the world, the stone cut out without hand is called the kingdom that God shall set up, "without hand," .i.e., not by aid of human hands as the kingdoms of earth are now maintained, but by divine power and judgment.
If, as some claim, the stone kingdom is the church, where and when has it smitten the image? Instead of this stone smiting the image, the image has all the way along been smiting the stone; especially is this true in the fourth or Roman kingdom with its divisions. In proof of this look at the Christian blood shed under Pagan and Papal persecutions for a large part of the last eighteen hundred years. The stone is to smite the image before the kingdom is established on this earth. When the stone smites the image it is all broken to pieces and passes away with no place found for it; then it is that the kingdom is set up. This is represented in the word of the Lord by this book of Daniel is not the church. The church exists while these kingdoms exist, but the kingdom of God is to be set up after these earthly kingdoms have passed away. This is represented in the words of the Psalmist, "Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." Ps. 2:8, 9.
In the seventh chapter of Daniel the establishment of God's kingdom is placed after the overthrow of the powers represented by the beasts, and not as existing at the same time with them. "These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the Most High shall take the king231dom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever." Dan. 7:17, 18. Again, "And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him." Verse 27. The kingdom under the whole heaven must be a kingdom that shall fill the whole of the earth. It is evident from these statements that the Lord is at last to have a kingdom established over the whole earth, and indeed this is confirmed by the prediction of the prophet Zechariah, "And the Lord shall be king over all the earth; in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one." Zech. 14:9.
If a kingdom of which there shall be no end is finally to fill the whole of the earth, it must be that the Lord has a purpose concerning our world, and concerning the race of beings which he placed in the world, reaching farther than what we see manifest in the present life. The Lord has indeed been pleased to state plainly his purpose, not only in respect to the formation of the earth, but also in regard to the creation of man. The prophet Isaiah declares, "Thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited." Isaiah 45:18. Concerning who was, and who is, to inhabit the earth, we read, "The heaven, even the heavens are the Lord's; but the earth hath he given to the children of men." Ps. 115:16. To the inquiry, What must be man's condition in order to be a possessor of the earth? we may gain an answer by reference to what he was when God gave him the earth. The wise man says, "This only have I found, that God hath made man upright, but they have sought out many inventions." Eccl. 7:29. God formed the earth and gave it to man while he was in an upright state, before his inventions of sin, by means of which he has departed so far from that uprightness. Of the final possession of the earth by man, Solomon says, "The upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it." Prov. 2:21, 22.
Of the Lord's purpose concerning the formation of man we read, "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." Gen. 1:26. St. Paul, in writing to the Hebrews says, "One in a certain place testified, saying, What is man that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of thy hands." Heb. 2:6, 7. The certain one who spake thus was David. He says, "Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet; all sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; and the fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas." Ps. 8:6-8.
We see, then, that God formed the earth to be inhabited, and then formed man as king over all the living harmless creatures then existing on earth, or in the sea or air. But sin has marred this dominion, for Paul says, "We see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man." Heb. 2:8, 9. That dominion is to be restored by Christ. But as death was the penalty for sin, he who is to destroy sin and sinners and affect the restitution of the earth to that state which would have been had man never sinned, must defeat death. That Christ has power thus to do is clearly manifest in that, having died, he rose again from the dead a victorious conqueror, exclaiming, "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and behold I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell [hades] and death." Rev. 1:18.
Of what Christ has at last to do with this original dominion we may read in the prediction of the prophet Micah, "And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem." Micah 4:8. Christ is the tower of the flock, and the strong hold of God's people. He is to have the first dominion. The first dominion named in the Scriptures is the dominion of the whole earth and over all upon it, which God gave to man at his creation.
Christ's future kingdom will indeed fill all the earth. Then, after the ungodly are cut off, "Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty; they shall behold the land that is very far off. . . . Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities; thine eyes shall see Jerusalem [the new Jerusalem. Rev. 21] a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken. . . . And the inhabitants shall not say, I am sick." Isaiah 33:17-24.
This kingdom of Christ, when his glory shall fill all the earth is the then of our article. Now we are passing over the stormy sea; then we shall be safely anchored in the city of God. Now it is sadness, sorrow, weeping, pain and death; then all tears will be wiped away. There shall be no more sorrow nor pain nor death in that blissful abode. Looking by faith through the mists of the mortal state to the then of Christ's kingdom, we may with earnestness say:—
"How bright the vision, Oh, how long
Shall this glad hour delay?
Fly swifter round, ye wheels of time,
And bring the welcome day."
Hunting a Text.
If the following "Tale of the Fashionable Clergyman of To-day" is strictly true, it will be seen that his position is not an enviable one. Judging from the style of many popular sermons, it might have happened if it did not:—
The good pastor was known among his perhaps envious brethren as a "sensational" preacher. One day while he was sitting in his study, immersed in thought, with a heap of crumpled newspapers on the floor beside him, Deacon Bullit came in. After a few preliminary remarks, the pastor said:—
"Bullit, I want a subject for my next Sunday's sermon, and I can't think of a thing. Can you suggest a theme?"
"I don't know," said the deacon, reflecting. "I've been through the whole of that pile of newspapers, telegraph columns, police columns, even the advertising columns, and there is nothing striking among them."
"Let's see; you preached against the Mormons three weeks ago? That was the Sunday I was away."
"There's nothing in that. I've 'gone for' the Mormons twice since last fall. Then, you know, I preached last Sunday about the big railroad accident at Dunkard's Creek, and in the afternoon I had a discourse about the snow-storm."
"Nothing more in the Guiteau case, is there?"
"No, the people are tired of it. Three sermons on that subject are as much as they can stand. Do you think I could stir things up with another discourse pitching into City Councils, or, say, the management of the water-works?"
"I don't know. Maybe you might. The last time you went for Councils the church was crowded; all the Councilmen came, and the collection was the largest since New Year's."
"But I couldn't repeat that story about the colored man and the mule, could I? That was the best thing in the sermon, I think."
"It brought down the house, that's certain."
"Laughed, didn't they? But I couldn't tell it again, and so I guess I won't take up Councils. I have half a notion to discuss the Panama Canal question. Do you think the people would feel an interest in that? I might preach about the Panama Canal in the morning, and about the small-pox epidemic in the evening. The spread of the small-pox interests everybody."
"Yes; but why not devote the sermon chiefly to the history and value of vaccination?"
"It might answer. Nobody knows how hard it is to find fresh and interesting subjects. Things happen so inconveniently. Just as likely as not there will be a big fire in the city late Saturday night, after my two sermons are written; and when it will be too late to write another with the fire as a theme."
"You could extemporize about it."
"But not so well; not so well. By the way, Bullit, have you heard the rumors that Cashier Smith, of the Tenth National Bank, is a defaulter?"
"I believe there are reports of that kind afloat."
"That would be a lively theme! Suppose I take it up in a general sort of a way, and make it sensational? That might do for the morning, and then I could give a blast at the variety theaters in the evening. Or I could devote my evening sermon to the tariff, and the morning one, to the balloon expedition to the North Pole. You would be surprised how little help I get now from the newspapers. A man may skim over fifty without finding a single theme that will draw a full house and excite the curiosity of the congregation."
"Have you looked anywhere but in the newspapers?"
"N-n-no! Excepting in the Report of the Board of Trade and in a couple of the Reviews."
"Didn't refer to the Bible, of course?"
"Well, I'll tell you, deacon, the people are tired of Scriptural subjects. They want something novel and exciting. Of course, it seems a little queer to throw the Bible over; but a man has to meet popular expectation, and my theory is, to reach sinners one way, if you can't reach them the other. That's sound, isn't it?"
Before the deacon left, the pastor had it arranged to preach one sermon on the boiler explosion at Hackensack, and another upon cultivation of the carp as a food fish.
Separation from the World.
By Thomas Guthrie
SALVATION is all of grace. Yet these things are required: "Let him that nameth the name of Christ depart from all iniquity." "Whosoever would be my disciple, let him take up his cross, deny himself daily, and follow me." "Ye cannot," says our Lord, "serve God and Mammon." Shrink not from the pain these sacrifices must cost. It is not so great as many fancy. The joy of the Lord is his people's strength. Love has so swallowed up all sense of pain, and sorrow been so lost in ravishment, that men of old took joyfully the spoiling of their goods, and martyrs went to the burning stake with beaming countenances, and sang high death-songs amid the roaring flames. Let us by faith rise above the world, and it will shrink into littleness and insignificance, compared with Christ. Some time ago two aeronauts, hanging in mid-air, looked down to the earth from their balloon, and wondered to see how small great things had grown—ample fields were contracted into little patches; the lake was no larger than a looking-glass; the broad river, with ships floating on its bosom, seemed like a silver thread; the widespread city was reduced to the dimensions of a village; the long, rapid, flying train appeared but a black caterpillar slowly creeping over the surface of the ground. And such changes the world undergoes to the eyes of him who, rising to hold communion with God, and anticipating the joys of Heaven, lives above it and looks beyond it. This makes it easy, and even joyful to part with all for Christ—"this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."—T. Guthrie, D. D.
People Who Whine.
THERE is a class of persons in this world, by no means small, whose prominent peculiarity is whining. They whine because they are poor, or, if rich, because they have not health to enjoy their riches; they whine because they have no luck, and others' property exceeds theirs; they whine because some friends have died and they are still living; they whine because they have aches and pains, and they have aches and pains because they whine; they whine no one knows why.
Now, a word to these whining persons: First, stop whining—it is of no use complaining, fretting, fault finding, and whining. Why, you are the most deluded set of creatures who ever lived! Do you know that it is a well settled principle of physiology and common sense that these habits are more exhausting to nervous vitality than almost any other violation of physiological law? And do you know that life is pretty much as you make it? You can make it bright and sunshiny, or you can make it dark and shadowy. This life is meant only to discipline us—to fit us for a higher and purer state of being. Then stop whining and fretting, and go on your way rejoicing.—Sel.
True Friends in Adversity
TRUE friends visit us in prosperity only when invited, but in adversity they come without invitation.
Perfection.
"I have seen an end of all perfection; but thy commandment is exceeding broad."—Ps. 119:96.
ON this passage the Rev. Albert Barnes remarks: "To all claims to perfection made by man, he had seen an end or limit. He had examined all which claimed to be perfect; he had found it defective. All claim to perfection on the part of man must be abandoned forever. . . . All claims to perfection had arisen from the fact that the law was not properly understood, that its true nature was not seen. . . . Men set up an imperfect standard; and when they became conformed to that standard, as they might do, they imagined themselves to be perfect; but when their conduct was compared with a higher and more just standard—the law of God—it could not but be seen that they were imperfect men. That law had claims which they had not met, and never would meet in this life. It is very easy to flatter ourselves that we are perfect, if we make our own standard of character; it is not possible for man to set up a claim to perfection, if he measures himself by the standard of God's word; and all the claims to perfection are made simply because they do not properly understand what the law of God requires."
Who Are Wanted?
A GENTLEMAN in a responsible government office, when complimented on his long and well-appreciated service, replied, "There's nothing like making yourself indispensable."
This is worth thinking of. If you have a good place and wish to keep it, try to make yourself so useful that your employer cannot do without you.
The other day a gentleman was making inquiry for the purpose of finding a man to fill a responsible position in a large mercantile house. He came to a person whom he thought would be likely to give him accurate and honest information concerning several men whose names he had. One was discussed, and another, and another. Then the name of Mr. — was mentioned.
"The very man for the place; competent and worthy in every respect; but he cannot possibly be spared from the position he now holds."
"Sir," said the gentleman, "we do not want a man who can be spared?"
There was a big volume in that remark. "We do not want a man who can be spared!" What a multitude of men who can be spared cumber every avenue to promotion.
The barnacles, the sharks, the make-shifts, somebody's nephews, somebody's proteges, somebody's good-for-nothings. Young man, remember, please, that these are not the ones who are called for when responsible positions are to be filled.
TRUE SIGHT
By Dr. Cuyler
Let us hesitate before we condole with a brother who is under the chastisement of our loving Father in Heaven. Be careful how you condole with a man who has lost his money and saved his good name—or congratulate the man who has made a million at the expense of his piety. When a Christian is toppled over from a dizzy and dangerous height, and “brought down to hard-pan,” he is brought down to the solid rock at the same time; in the Valley of Humiliation he has more of the joy of God’s countenance, and wears more of the herb called “heart’s-ease” in his bosom, than he ever did in the days of his giddy prosperity. Sickness has often brought to a man spiritual recovery; suffering has often wrought out for him an exceeding weight of glory. The writer of this paragraph has lately been led through a very shadowy pathway of trial; but it has never been so dark that he could not see to read some precious promises that glowed like diamonds. The adversary tries hard to break our lamp, and to steal our diamonds, in those dark passage-ways of trial. We need good eyesight in such times of trouble, so as not to stumble, or to lose sight of the Comforter, or of the bright light which shines at the end of the way.
Expect No More of Others
If every person would be half as good as he expects his neighbor to be, some one has said, what a heaven this world would be. That is true, yet in that case every person would be but half as good as he ought in all fairness to be. It is a good rule to expect no more of others than we exact of ourselves.