Earlier text: The Better WayQuestions and Answers on God's Sabbath
By EDWARD ERTEL
Does it make any difference which day we keep as the Sabbath? Did the Lord set apart and bless and sanctify a certain day and command us to keep that day holy? Gen. 2:3; Ex. 20:8-11. Since every day begins with the evening, the seventh day, or Sabbath, must begin with the evening of the sixth day, and continue until the evening of the seventh day. How close is the relationship that exists between Christ and the Father? John 10:30. Did Christ destroy or change the law which was written by the finger of God? Matt. 5:17, 18. Did God alter the words that have gone from his lips? James 1:17. How long is the divine law to remain in force? Ps. 111:7, 8. Did man change God's law, or did he think he would change it? Dan. 7:25. Since the Lord calls the seventh day his “holy day,” and the other six days are called working days in Eze. 46:1, 16:1, then the Lord's day mentioned in Rev. 1:10, must mean the seventh day, or Sabbath. Was the Sabbath made for the Jews only? Mark 2:27. Was not the Sabbath made before there were any Jews? Gen. 2:2, 3. Shall we keep Sunday as the Sabbath if it seems to be right? Prov. 14:12. What will be the result if we turn away our ear from hearing the law? Prov. 28:9. Is the Old Testament the word of God? If so, how long will it stand? Heb. 1:1; Ps. 119:89. In Hosea 2:11 we have a prophecy in which the Lord declares that he will cause the ceremonial sabbaths to cease; and in Col. 2:16, 17, we find these words: “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come.” The difference between a memorial and a shadow is this: a memorial always points back to past events; a shadow points forward to future events. In Joshua 4:5-7 we find the words “sign” and “memorial” used interchangeably. Will this memorial be observed in the new earth by the Jews only? Isa. 66:22, 23. Offending in one point of the law of God, of how much are we guilty? James 2:10, 11. By what shall we be judged? Verse 12. What does God call people who say they know him and do not keep his commandments? 1 John 2:3, 4. Who will have right to the tree of life? Rev. 22:14. Letting Our Light Shine
By E. J. BAKER
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
THESE words were spoken by the One who was and is today the light of the world. They were spoken to those who heard him, and to those who were to be his followers on down through the ages of time. Therefore they are spoken to us, and these words come to us today more forcibly, if possible, than they did to the disciples in their day, for the reason that the responsibility resting upon this generation to let its light shine is greater than that of any preceding generation. This generation has the light of preceding generations shining out in the world's history for its benefit. It has God's Word, although in many instances the Word is on trial in the house of its friends. It is being attacked by its enemies as never before—by higher criticism, by the theory of evolution, by new thought, new theology, Spiritualism, scientific investigation, etc. Yet, notwithstanding these facts, God's eternal truth remains the same, yesterday, today, and forever; and in these highly prophetic days, God's Word, that great standard of righteousness, the Book of Truth from the Great Mind of Truth, is shining out brighter and clearer than ever before. Those who are holding to the inspired Word, in order to keep pace with the Book itself must let their light shine in all its strength to glorify the Father. Light is an evidence of God's presence. If we are in that close touch with8divine grace and power which will enable us to let our light shine, others will see that light, and will realize God's presence in our lives. If we have received the light from the one that lighteth every man that cometh into the world, that light will shine out in our lives, and God will be glorified by those who are won to worship him, through seeing in our lives the light of gospel truth. That will be revealed in our conversation, which at all times and upon all occasions should be pure and holy. It will be seen in our homes, where, as we go in and out before our loved ones, our example and our influence should be good and positive, always on the side of righteousness and truth. It will be seen in our business life, when we come in contact with the people of the world, where every transaction should have written upon it, “Holiness to the Lord.” In all societies, at home or abroad, in prosperity or adversity, let our light so shine that our lives will be a living witness to the truth of the religion of Jesus Christ. We may stand before the world as a follower of Christ; we may make many professions; we may be diligent in attending all the duly appointed services of the Lord's house; but unless our everyday life is shining out in the beauty, the purity, and the simplicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we are not getting out of the gospel what its author intended that we should; and our influence for Christ will be that which will not gather, but scatter abroad. On the other hand, where the light of Christ has come into a darkened soul, and cleared the darkness away, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, that light cannot be concealed; and where it does not shine, it does not exist. Those who profess to be followers of Christ, and whose desire for the associations of this world and for finery and dress cause them to live, to act, and to dress like the people of the world, are not letting their light shine to glorify the Father. We may be eloquent speakers, we may have volumes of words at our command, but unless we are right with God and live right before our fellow men, we cannot be shining lights which will cause others to glorify the Father. After all, it is the life that counts. It is our everyday living that convinces others of the truth of our sincerity in that which we profess. A life hid in Christ, which sets him forth before the world, is a light which will glorify the Father. Surely it is in our daily living that we have the greatest opportunity of letting our light shine to glorify the Father. If an inventor should come to you and take up one whole day of your time, explaining to you theoretically the working of his invention, he might leave you at the end of the day skeptical as to the practicability of his invention. But if another inventor should in a short time show you a perfect working model of his invention, he could with a few words convince you of its success and practicability. So it is in regard to the conviction which we carry to others in our lives. It is what the people of the world see of the power of Christ in our lives that convinces them of the truth of his religion. If we are having a good Christian experience, our lives will show it, and to attempt to conceal or to hide our light of Christian knowledge and experience would be to betray our trust and render our lives useless. The admonition to let our light shine that others may see our good works is not designed to convey the impression that this should be the motive and the principle which prompts us to let our light shine, but the object should be that others seeing our good works may be led to worship the Father, and thereby glorify him. There are many whom we hear spoken of as “shining lights.” There are men and women who stand on the pedestal of fame, at the top round of the ladder in their chosen profession. They are shining lights to the world in the work which they represent. Many in this class, no doubt, are loyal men and women, honest in heart, and some of them are giving their best efforts for humanity. On the other hand, it must be admitted there remains the saddening fact that the great majority of this class are letting their light shine that others may see their good works and glorify them. They are engaged in the great world-wide struggle for wealth, influence, commercial and social power and prestige, or worldly honor and position. There are shining lights in the different vocations of life, national and private. There are great financiers, the great railroad and steamship magnates, great soldiers, far-seeing statesmen, great political and social leaders, who are masters of the positions in which they stand, who hold the key to the situation, as it were, who are shining lights in the world of finance, society, politics, etc. But what a sad mistake they are making in letting their light shine to glorify themselves. When they pass to the great beyond, their light goes out never to be lit again. It reached its zenith at death, and after death it is soon forgotten. But the light that shines to glorify the Father, continues to shine here upon this earth with ever-increasing brightness, and at death does not go out, but shines on down through the ages of time and into eternity, where it will shine as the stars forever. What a contrast between these results! How much greater the reward to those who let their light shine to glorify the Father. Let us remember to let our light shine, with the object in view that the Father may be glorified, and that good actions may be seen and lead men to honor God. We may be poor, we may be unlearned and unknown, yet we may let our light shine by doing good deeds, and he who knows the intents and purposes of every heart, never fails to recognize and to reward every effort put forth in his name. God has many shining lights in this world, and he is placing them in the different parts of this earth to prepare the way for his coming. The recent wars in the Far East have been the means of opening up new doors for these lights to enter. It requires only a few more of them in the dark places, and the work will be finished; then the power will be turned on from the great white throne, and this earth will be flooded with the glory of God, which will be the last message of warning to a perishing world. May God grant that we may all be shining lights for him in the closing scenes of this world's history. Trials
By CHARLES E. NIXON
A STUDY of the Scriptures reveals a threefold purpose of trials: First, by trial God proves us. The Hebrew word rendered “trial,” or “temptation,” is used in Ex. 17:7: “And he called the name of the place Massah, . . . because they tempted the Lord.” The word massah means to test or prove, as shown by Ex. 16:4: “Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.” There is a prevalent notion that a temptation is an attempt to cause us to sin; but this is not the primary idea of trials; there is a vast difference between proving and attempting. This thought is further illustrated in Gen. 22:1: “And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.” In other words, God did massah Abraham, that he might prove him. Thus we have the first purpose of trials—that God may prove us whether we will walk in his law, or no. God does not tempt or try men in order to ascertain their characters, as if he were ignorant of them, but to give them an opportunity to exercise their virtues and to receive grace from heaven. Second, by trials God seeks to strengthen us. The tree that grows in the sheltered cove is weak and an easy prey to the storms; but the sturdy oak that has grown where the winds could beat upon it, has become deep-rooted, and there it stands, a century old, conqueror over every storm. So we, if sheltered from the storms of adversity, become weak and unresisting; but as we overcome the trials which come to us day by day, we gain strength to be victorious in the great crises that come in the life of every one. Third, we are purified by trials. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.” 1 Peter 4:12. Literally, as elsewhere rendered, “think it not strange concerning the burning which is to try you.”9Fire is a symbol of purification; so in our experience, trial is the fire that purifies and changes us. Though nothing is blacker and more contaminating than lampblack, yet let the chemist put some of this black, unpromising soot in a clay crucible and subject it to a temperature of several thousand degrees under enormous pressure for several days, then break the crucible, and there will be seen little glittering points. Take up one of the larger and examine it under a lens; it will be found to be a diamond. Great is the likeness between the soot and the sinner; both are unpromising; they sully that with which they come in contact; in their present state they are of no value; but both are capable of a wondrous change, one into the pure sparkling diamond, the other into a righteous soul among the great throng of the redeemed. As we are tried and afflicted, there is great comfort in the experience of the three worthies in the fiery furnace—“and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” So, as we withstand the burning, there is ever with us the Saviour, who was tempted in all points. When we are tried, it is often difficult for us to see God’s purpose in allowing us to be afflicted; let us then remember that he is thereby proving, strengthening, and purifying us, and let us say with Job, “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” “There is no path in this desert waste,
For the winds have swept the shifting sands;
The trail is blind where the storms have raced,
And a stranger, I, in these fearsome lands.
But I journey on with a lightsome tread,
I do not falter or turn aside;
For I see His figure just ahead,
He knows the way I take—my Guide.”
A Triumphant Entrance
By H. A. ST. JOHN
Seven Great Triumphs—No. 6
The saints of God have just concluded a grand and triumphant ascension to the gates of heaven. The Saviour is in their midst, and he at once begins to prepare them for their triumphant entrance into the Father’s house of many mansions, where he has prepared places for them. Angels first bring from the city glorious crowns, with the name of each saint written thereon. Jesus receives them, and then with his own right hand he places a crown on the head of each saint. Next, harps are brought, and Jesus gives to each saint a harp. All being in readiness, the gates of pearl are swung wide open on their glittering hinges, and with Jesus as their leader, the saints enter, with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads. They will see the places prepared for them, and feel that they have a perfect right there, that they have reached their long-looked-for and longed-for rest that remains for the people of God. And the universal feeling and exclamation will be, “The half has never been told!” As has already been observed, the saints’ sixth triumph will be at the beginning of their millennial reign with Christ in the paradise of God,—a veritable jubilee, for the old earth during the time will have a complete rest from the wonderfully mixed, and in many instances evil, productions to gratify the perverted tastes, appetites, and passions of a sinful race. Judgment begins with the household of God. The saints in the holy city are immortalized and glorified, and hence their cases have then been decided. They are then enjoying the blessedness of a favorable decision. We are told in the Word that the saints shall have the honor of judging men and angels. It will be at this time that the saints will participate in the judgment of the wicked, and the fallen angels. And at the end of the millennial period, they will witness the execution of that judgment, and will then be able to exclaim, “Just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.” Revivals and Revivalists
By H. J. FARMAN
WHY should not Seventh-day Adventists as individuals and as a denomination be revivalists in the truest sense of the word? Have they not a message which should greatly affect the lives of those who receive it? Does it not give life for death, light for darkness, and salvation from sin? Does not this work go on daily? Why, then, are we not revivalists? The psalmist said: “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me.” “Wilt thou not quicken [revive] us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?” “Thou which hast showed us many and sore troubles, shalt quicken us again, and shalt bring us up again from the depths of the earth.” From these scriptures we see there is spiritual reviving in the midst of many troubles, even great rejoicing when the way seems dark. James says: “Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into manifold temptations; knowing that the proof of your faith worketh patience.” So we are to be constantly rejoicing—in the midst of a continuous revival. The word revival seems to be the most expressive term of a living Christian experience. Repeatedly the psalmist prayed, “Quicken me in thy righteousness.” The prophet Habakkuk, in his psalm of prayer, looking down into these last days, sang: “O Lord, I have heard the report of thee, and am afraid: O Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.” Hab. 3:2. God has promised greatly to revive his people in this our time. “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. For I will not contend forever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.” Isa. 57:15, 16; 61:1-3. Would it not be well to have more of a revival spirit in all our work? “Come Down From the Cross!”
THESE were, perhaps, the most insidious, and, withal, the most cruel words addressed to the Master during his brief stay in our sinful world. They were spoken at a time when he was suffering the greatest physical pain, the most intense mental agony, and supreme sorrow of soul. Surely, the invitation was one of the most alluring and the most accursed that could have come to man or God. Little did his tormentors dream that it was easily within his power to come down from the cross, and to smite them, one and all, with everlasting death. He might have willed, and in a single second all the armies of heaven would have come to his rescue. He could lay down his life; but neither man nor devil could take it from him. According to his own will, he came to the cross, and out of a boundless love for lost creatures, endured the shame and death of the cross. As to the Master in the long ago, so to his children today comes the cry of the centuries, “Come down from the cross!” Let the young man strive to live the pure and noble life, and the Christless throng will hiss in his ears the same satanic words. The plea to the young man of today is to avoid distinctive piety, and be as others about him. “Why should you be different from the rank and file?” is continually dinned in his ears. Day by day he is deafened by the din and roar of deviltry, and his eyes are often blinded by the glare of gilded sin. Happy, thrice happy, the young man who, like his Saviour, can resist the tempter’s cry and bear his cross to the end of the journey. To the poor girl, working for a mere pittance, comes the seductive cry, “Come down from the cross!” “Why,” says the tempter, “should you plod on in poverty, while others have the luxuries and pleasures of life?” Come down from the throne of honor and virtue, is the ceaseless song of the satellites of sin. As never before, sin proffers its premium to the storm-tossed soul. Thank God, Christ bore the cross, and dared to die for us that we might live for him. His death on the cross glorified every cross we are called upon to bear for him. As he endured the cross, despising the shame, for the joy set before him; so may we, for the joy that awaits us in his presence. Let us toil on till the end of the day; and by and by it will appear that our dreaded crosses have become glittering diadems in the crown of life.—Western Recorder. The Appeal From Our Brethren in the East
SHANGHAI, CHINA, May 11, 1915... DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS IN AMERICA: For three millenniums the people of eastern Asia held little intercourse with the nations of the West. They were outside the great routes of commerce, and for many centuries they made little or no progress in learning, arts, or civilization. As there was but faint knowledge of the true God, spiritual darkness seemed to reign supreme. But in the providence of God this condition was not to continue forever. When the hour struck, God’s Spirit energized the hearts and intellects of explorers, scientists, and inventors, and the world witnessed an unparalleled century of progress and development. The world’s business and trade routes were revolutionized, and the Orient suddenly found itself situated on some of the great international highways. Commodore Perry with his battleship fleet visited Japan, and that nation, as if by magic, threw her doors open to Western influence and civilization. A little later, following the opium war between Great Britain and China, came the treaty of peace, which provided for the opening of various ports to commerce, and the entire empire to the Christian missionary. In 1898 the Philippine Islands fell into the hands of America, and here the doors of opportunity were at once thrown wide open for a new order of things, including Protestant missionary endeavor. Commercial interests have not been slow in entering and exploiting these fields of the Orient. They have established mammoth business concerns; modern steamships connect all important coast ports and plow the waters of every navigable river. Thousands of miles of railway are already in operation, and many other lines are either projected or are in process of construction. Here again is seen the guiding hand of God in providing rapid and comfortable traveling facilities for his messengers of peace and good will to men. But we cannot deal further with individual nations or special providences. That which stands out so prominently is the mighty fact that prophecy is being marvelously fulfilled in the awakening of the heathen nations, and that practically all Asia, with more than half of the world’s population,—Asia that slumbered in darkness for so many centuries,—now permits the ambassador of Christ to travel freely throughout her borders, and without molestation to preach the gospel that saves men from their sins. During the past century there has been an ever-increasing interest in Christian missions. A few noble pioneers led the way, and others followed, until now the foreigners comprising the Protestant missionary body, including India, are not less than twelve thousand strong, with double that number of native assistants, and a native constituency of a million members. This is a splendid record, and we should also bear in mind that statistics do not begin to reveal the vast influence exerted by these Christian communities scattered here and there throughout the continent of Asia. The Work of Seventh-Day Adventists
Twenty-one years have now elapsed since Seventh-day Adventists established their first mission in a non-Christian land, and nineteen years since work was commenced in Asia. Field after field has been occupied, until in India and eastern Asia our present staff of foreign workers, including wives of missionaries, numbers 228. In every country we have entered, the third angel’s message has won its way into the hearts of faithful men and women, and the total church membership in these countries is now nearly 4,000. Irrespective of race or color, present truth has the same influence on the heart and life of those who accept it. The converted Oriental willingly suffers persecution for Christ’s sake; is loyal to God and the truth; out of his extreme poverty he donates liberally for the support of the message, and looks forward with glad anticipation to the fruition of the blessed hope, even as do his brethren and sisters in other lands. As we consider the results already achieved in proportion to the labor expended, our hearts are filled with deepest gratitude to God, and thanksgiving to our loyal people in the homelands. Truly, “this is marvelous in our eyes.” When we remember that we have but one ministerial worker to every ten million persons, and when we contemplate the stupendous task set before us as outlined in the great commission and the three angels’ messages, there is but one inevitable conclusion, and this should be written large across the missionary horizon—WE HAVE BUT TOUCHED THE FINGER OF THE UNDERTAKING. As we find ourselves confronted with a problem of such overwhelming magnitude, the feelings of weakness and insufficiency that come upon us are beyond the power of pen or tongue to describe. We, therefore, delegates of the Asiatic Division Mission, in conference assembled, solemnly appeal to our dear brethren and sisters in America to give earnest and prayerful consideration to the conditions and needs of these Oriental mission fields. The demands press themselves upon us from two directions. In the first place, we need a large increase in our staff of foreign laborers. In a number of our fields from five to ten years have passed without bringing any addition to the band of workers. During this same time there has been growth in our native constituency and corps of native laborers of several hundred per cent. New calls are coming to us from all sides, and we tremble to push out into these providential openings, because with so meager a force we are unable even properly to foster and supervise the work already undertaken. We do not call for workers to form the rank and file of our mission forces. These are, under the blessing of God, being trained and developed from among our native brethren and sisters. Our great appeal is for loyal, consecrated young men and women who have the qualification of leadership. It is for those who have executive ability, that they may direct the work in our local missions, and stand at the head of our various mission departments and institutions. Our sense of responsibility to God and humanity will not permit of our remaining silent. Practically all the Asiatic Division missions are distressingly undermanned, and we plead with you to at once set on foot and press forward such a missionary crusade as shall quickly terminate this condition, and bring relief to the work in Asia. It should be clear to all that this request provides only for the minimum of our immediate needs; and, it is our conviction that it represents but the minimum obligation of this denomination to this great field. Even when the requests we are now sending to the Mission Board have all been met, there will remain vast stretches of territory, whose teeming millions await the proclamation of the third angel’s message. The second need is for funds. With the coming of new recruits, we require additional homes for workers. Publishing plants must be established to supply the printed page to the many nations and tongues in the Asiatic Division. It is imperative that educational institutions be established to give the children and youth a Christian education; and in various places treatment rooms and dispensaries should be opened. This means that in numerous centers, land must be purchased and suitable buildings erected. For the accomplishment of this we must have a large increase of funds. Earnest effort is being put forth in the mission fields to raise the native tithes and offerings, and to practice careful economy in all our missions departments and operations. We are sending to the Mission Board a request for a large increase in the appropriations11to the Asiatic Division for 1916. Our calls are for thirty-six more missionaries and $150,000. Does this seem thoughtless and rash to you who are to do the giving? You would not have felt that we were thoughtless had you been in our midst when the needs were being considered, and witnessed our earnest efforts to cut these requests to the lowest points consistent with our duty to the field. After eliminating every item that did not seem absolutely necessary, we separated our requests into three classes, placing all that we felt could not be delayed in class one, and the rest in the other two classes according to their urgency. The items in class one total twenty-seven missionaries, and $100,000. This is what we most solemnly believe the Lord would have his people add to what has already been provided for this field for 1916. We believe that what our loyal people in the homeland desire is an actual knowledge of mission facts and conditions, and that when these are supplied, bank accounts will be cut down, houses and lands will be sold, and old and young with enthusiasm will devise ways and means for bringing a large offering to the cause of God. We assuredly believe that the Holy Spirit will move upon the hearts of a great many consecrated young people to volunteer for service in the mission field; and we are equally confident that our brethren and sisters in more favored lands will, under the influence of the same Spirit, rise to the call of the hour, and covenant with God to count no sacrifice too great, or treasure too dear, to lay upon the altar for Christ, and thus bring adequate relief, reinforcements, and equipment to our mission fields. Faith assures us that this appeal will be met with a loyal, whole-hearted response. The words of Bishop Berkeley are regarded by many as almost prophetic:—
> “Westward the course of empire takes its way;
> The first four acts already passed;
> A fifth shall close the drama with the day—
> Time’s noblest offspring is the last.” As touching the progress of the third angel’s message, the order is reversed. Establishing itself first in America, “time’s noblest offspring,” the message wings its flight eastward. Europe and then Africa are stirred by the solemn announcement, and, last of all, the message is sounded in the great continent of the East, the cradle of the human race. Dear brethren and sisters, it is in behalf of Asia that we come to you with this appeal. We are not only persuaded that this is God’s set time to favor Asia, but we also believe that many of the mightiest struggles in the closing hours of this message will be waged in the lands of the East. The problems here are greater than are those faced by missionaries in any other part of the world; and to meet these we appeal to you to assist us in providing for, and carrying on, a larger, more comprehensive program, and also for a stronger and more efficient administrative organization. In conclusion, the words of the Saviour come to us with special emphasis: “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” John 4:35. Today the fields are “white,” they are “already to harvest.” God grant that no one shall counsel a delay of “four months.” While today the fields are open to the reapers, there are in many parts ominous signs which point to a reactionary movement toward Christianity and a restriction of missionary effort. We know not when or how the clouds may burst, but we do know that the present opportunities are boundless. Does it not seem that the conditions and calls of this hour should arouse and electrify every member of our denomination, and lead us, to the utmost of our strength and ability, to exert ourselves for a united, triumphant effort to quickly finish the work? May our God, who is the Lord of the harvest, bring this to pass, is the earnest desire and prayer of your sons and daughters, relatives, classmates, old-time friends, and collaborers in the Asiatic mission field. ASIATIC DIVISION OFFICERS CHINA MISSION TRAINING SCHOOL PHILIPPINE ISLAND MISSION12 Medical Missionary Work in the Hills of Porto Rico
By Clarence Moon
THESE last few months here in Porto Rico have been months of great blessing from the Lord, both in the church work and in opening up new interests out in the country. We had the privilege of seeing eight persons baptized in the sparkling waters of a brook which dashes down from the hills overlooking Moca. Some of our workers had made trips out into the country to Barrios Cruz and Burladores, but had met with little success. At one place a Catholic woman told one of our sisters that she did not care to have anything to do with us. The next day her son fell and fractured his left arm near the shoulder. She brought him to us, and we bound up the fracture, and they went their way. In a few days we heard through this sister that the woman had changed her ideas about us, and was now saying that “los Adventistas son muy buenos” (the Adventists are very good). We afterwards went out and gave her studies. I was called out one night to assist in an operation where a small boy was wounded by a falling rock. His head was so badly crushed that part of the brain had been forced from the cranium. The doctor who went out on the case, after making an examination told me that there was absolutely no hope for the boy. He sewed up the wound on the head, and left the boy to die. I went back the next morning and found him almost dead, and the place in great confusion. These people have a very demonstrative way of manifesting their grief, in shrieks and wails, and one feels quite relieved to get away from such a place, out into the open air. On this particular morning I was feeling a great burden for these poor people, and so I determined to do what I could to console them and to point them to Him who has promised to carry our griefs and sorrows. I found a small New Testament, and read from Heb. 11:1 where it says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for,” etc. I then talked to them on the subject of faith and prayer. They gave the very best attention. After this we had prayer, and I never felt the presence of the Lord more than at this time. The room seemed to be full of light, and we prayed earnestly for the boy, believing the promise, “They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” We felt that the Lord had heard us, and all seemed in a more hopeful mood. The boy made a speedy recovery, and the other day he came out to meet me when I went to their house. We held several studies with this family, and since that time other doors have opened, until now we are making regular trips out there each week, holding cottage meetings and house-to-house Bible studies. Such instances as these bring to our minds the truth so often enunciated by the Lord's servant: “As a means of overcoming prejudice and gaining access to minds, medical missionary work must be done, not in one or two places only, but in many places where the truth has not yet been proclaimed.” “We are to work as gospel medical missionaries, to heal the sin-sick souls by giving them the message of salvation.” It also brings before our minds the fact that when God extends his hand to do a work, he opens closed doors, and breaks down the hindrances to the advancement of the blessed truth. We are at times tempted to look at the greatness of the task before us, and say, with the ten spies, “We cannot go up;” but certainly when we think upon the unlimited resources of Omnipotence, we are led to say, with Jeremiah, “Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched-out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee.”