Review and Herald, Vol. 32, No. 23.
OUR FAITH AND HOPE; Or, Reasons Why We Believe as We DoPage 1
OUR FAITH AND HOPE; Or, Reasons Why We Believe as We Do.
By James White
NUMBER THREE—THE MILLENNIUM.
AND I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them; and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. Rev. xx, 4, 5. The word millennium signifies a thousand years. And while there is a general agreement in relating the word to the period named in the text, all do not agree as to the character of the millennium. The popular view of this subject is, that the world is to be converted, and that all men will become holy. This happy state of things, it is said, will continue one thousand years, during which time Christ will reign with his people spiritually. At the close of the millennium, Christ will come the second time, and the Judgment will take place. The scriptural view of the subject is that the world will not change for the better, but, rather, for the worse, unto the end, and that the last days will be perilous, and like those of Noah and of Lot. Christ will come at the commencement of the one thousand years, and will raise the righteous dead, and change to immortality the righteous who shall be living, and reign personally with them one thousand years. At the close of the millennium the wicked dead will also be raised, and receive their punishment in the second death. Says John, “And I saw [not a converted world, but] thrones [of judgment] and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them.” He then mentions that portion of the martyrs of Jesus who had been beheaded, and also the victors over the beast, his image, and his mark, representing all the righteous; and adds, “They lived [were raised to life] and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead [the wicked] lived not again [were not raised from the dead] until the thousand years were finished.” The millennium of the Bible is to open with the revelation of the Son of God from Heaven, the destruction of the living wicked, the resurrection of the just, and the change to immortality of the living righteous. It is a period in which Christ will reign personally with the just of all ages who have suffered with him. 2 Tim. ii, 12. And this period is bounded at each end with a resurrection. Christ plainly declares that “all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” John v, 28, 29. And Paul testifies “that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” Acts xxiv, 15. But it is left to the Revelator to place these resurrections one thousand years apart, at each end of the millennium. In the further consideration of this subject we propose to examine those texts usually quoted to prove that the world will be converted, and enjoy a period of peace and universal holiness in this mortal state, and then bring forward those portions of sacred Scripture which prove that no such state of things can exist prior to the second coming of Christ and the Judgment. The principal texts relied upon to prove the world's conversion are the following: 1. “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” Ps. ii, 8. As sufficient evidence that this text does not prove the conversion of the world, we quote the verse following it: “Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.” 2. The stone cut out of the mountain without hands, shall roll until it becomes a great mountain, and fills the whole earth. All the proof for the world's conversion, found in the above, is in quoting the text wrong. Here is the text as it reads: “Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out 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. ii, 34, 35. In this remarkable portion of prophecy, the following points are worthy of notice. First, the stone smote the image upon his feet, and brake the iron, clay, brass, silver and gold to pieces together. Here is destruction, not conversion. Second, they became like the chaff of the summer threshing-floors, and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them. And here is illustrated the removal of all earthly governments from the territory of the kingdom of the God of Heaven. Third, then the stone became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. In this prophecy the stone has nothing in common with the image. The image, a symbol of earthly governments, and all wicked men, is first removed, and then the stone fills the whole earth. If it be said that dashing the heathen to pieces [Ps. ii, 9,] and the breaking of the image to pieces, [Dan. ii, 34,] mean the conversion of the world, then Paul's words, “The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly,” means the conversion of the devil. 3. A nation shall be born in a day. Here is another incorrect quotation. Isa. lxvi, 8, reads: “Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.” This text has no allusion to the conversion of sinners; but evidently refers to the resurrection of the just. 4. “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ.” But let it be borne in mind that this is under the third woe. When it is also said, “And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead that they should be judged, and that thou shouldst give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldst destroy them which destroy the earth.” Rev. xi, 15, 18. 5. “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come.” Matt. xxiv, 14. The preaching of the gospel of the kingdom as a witness unto all nations, is the first sign of the end mentioned by our Lord in the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew. And is this work nearly accomplished? Those who teach the world's conversion think the great work but just begun. They would have the gospel preached to all nations, every individual hear it, believe it, obey it, and all become holy by it. What then? The end? No, not until the world enjoys a sinless period of one thousand years. But our Lord says nothing of the conversion of the world, or any portion of the human family, in this verse. He simply declares, (a) “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world,
(b) “For a witness unto all nations,
(c) “And then [not one thousand years after, but THEN] shall the end come.” 6. They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” Micah iv, 3. The same is in Isa. ii, 4. No passage in the Bible is relied on with more confidence to prove a temporal millennium than this in Micah iv, and no one can be presented more plausibly in its favor. Yet the evidence against the construction given is very strong; so strong that the text would never have been used for that purpose, had the harmony of Scriptures been kept in view. The whole text as quoted for that doctrine is as follows: “But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain178of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig-tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of host hath spoken it. For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever.” The expression in verse 4, “for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it,” is supposed to indicate that the state of things thus described will surely come to pass; but by reading verse 5 we learn that the “many nations” are still speaking, and they confess that “all people will walk every one in the name of his god,” which is quite inconsistent with the state they are anticipating. But the Lord speaks in verses 6, 7, as follows: “In that day, saith the Lord, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted; and I will make her that halteth a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the Lord shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth even forever.” And thus it is made to appear that “in that day,” when “many nations” are prophesying of peace and safety, the Lord's remnant people are driven out and afflicted. Therefore we judge that this is not a prediction which the Spirit of the Lord has made, but is one of those spoken of in Eze. xiii, 7: “Whereas ye say, The Lord saith it; albeit I have not spoken.” But we have more and very decisive testimony in regard to the state of the nations in the last days. Says the Lord by the prophet Joel: “Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles: Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up; beat your ploughshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord. Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.” Joel iii, 9-13. This is very important testimony in this connection, as it is the exact opposite of what “many nations” are saying at that same time. They prophecy of peace. The Lord says, Prepare war. They say, Swords shall be beaten into ploughshares, and spears into pruning-hooks. The Lord says, Beat your ploughshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears. This is a difference not to be lightly passed over. That this prophecy of Joel does refer to the last days, even to the closing scenes of this world's history, is evident from verse 13. “Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe,” &c. Jesus himself says in Matt. xiii, 39: “The harvest is the end of the world.” And all of verse 13 corresponds with Rev. xiv, 14-20, wherein the Lord Jesus is represented as coming to reap the harvest of the earth, and gathering the clusters of the vine of the earth, and casting them into the great winepress of the wrath of God. Again, Joel's prophecy continues: “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision; for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake, but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.” Verses 14-16. The chronology of this prophecy cannot be mistaken. It is the ushering in of the day of the Lord. It is when the Lord's voice is heard from Heaven, shaking the heavens and the earth. Jeremiah speaks of the same time and event, and also speaks of the destiny of the nations of the earth, at that time. “Therefore prophecy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, The Lord shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth. A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the Lord hath a controversy with the nations; he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the Lord. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.” Jer. xxv, 30-32. Instead of the nations' no more lifting up the sword against each other, in the last days, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and the sword shall devour them. No careful reader of the letter of Paul to the Thessalonians can be surprised to find a discrepancy between the declarations of the Lord and that of “many nations,” in the last days. Paul says “The day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them.” 1 Thess. v, 2, 3. How strikingly is this saying of Peace and safety, fulfilled in the preaching of the temporal millennium, the conversion of the world, and the prophecy of peace among the nations; while Scripture and facts combine to show that the world is sinking lower and lower, the wicked are waxing worse and worse, and the nations are making far greater preparations for war than at any former period. How evident that “the battle of the great day of God Almighty” is impending, and the people of the world are preparing the snare for their own sin, by prophesying peace, or singing the popular song of the “Good time coming,” when destruction is ready to fall upon them. 7. All shall know the Lord, from the least to the greatest. Heb. viii, 11. This is in the promise of the new covenant, and relates first, to the condition of each individual with whom the new covenant is made; and, secondly, to the fullness of the blessings of the gospel when all are brought into harmony with God in the everlasting state. Both ideas are embraced in the promise. But that every individual will be converted, or that all of any generation this side of the immortal state, will be converted and come to the knowledge of God, the Scriptures do not teach. This promise is made concerning those with whom the Lord makes the new covenant. Now, although every thing has been done that can possibly be done to ratify the covenant, or make it of force, yet we cannot say that it is actually made “with” any individual until that individual is brought into covenant relation with God. But when they are so brought into covenant relation with him, according to the promise, the law of God is written on their hearts: then they know God; for John says, “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.” 1 Jno. ii, 3. This, of course, cannot apply to the unconverted; and all who remain impenitent are not embraced in the promise. 8. The glory of the Lord shall fill the earth as the waters cover the sea. There are three texts which speak of this, as follows: “But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.” Num. xiv, 21.
“They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” Isa. xi, 9.
“For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” Hab. ii, 14. It is a great mistake to apply these texts to the temporal millennium, or to the earth in its present, sin-cursed state. Because of transgression, the Lord by his prophet says, “Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate; therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.” Isa. xxiv, 6. Peter says this prophecy will be fulfilled in the day of the Lord, which is the day of Judgment and perdition of ungodly men; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements, and also the earth, melt with fervent heat. He then adds, “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” 2 Pet. iii, 13. When the earth is renewed; when the curse is removed; when the ungodly have all perished in the day of Judgment, and none but the righteous are left to inherit the new earth, then will the glory of God fill the earth. In Rev. v, 13, a prophecy is given as follows: “And every creature which is in Heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.” But this can never be fulfilled upon the earth in its present, sin-cursed state, with the ungodly dwelling upon it. They will continue to dwell upon it till the day of the Lord, for the Scriptures connect its destiny with theirs. The burning of the great day comes at once upon it and them. He leads us on
By paths we did not know;
Upward He leads us, though our steps be slow;
Though oft we faint and falter on the way,
Though storms and darkness oft obscure the day,
Yet when the clouds are gone
We know he leads us on. He leads us on
Through all the unquiet years;
Past all our dreamland hopes and doubts and fears.
He guides our steps through all the tangled maze
Of sin, of sorrow, and o'erclouded days.
We know his will is done,
And still he leads us on. And he, at last,
After the weary strife,
After the restless fever we call life,
After the dreariness, the aching pain,
The wayward struggles which have proved in vain,
After our toils are past,
Will give us rest at last. THE SPIRIT OF SACRIFICE.
By James White
“Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for naught? Neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for naught. I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.” Mal. i, 10. The text expresses, in plainest terms, God’s displeasure at selfishness in those connected with his work, and is applicable to any age, or people, or department of his work, where it may exist. The great plan for the salvation of lost man was founded upon a sacrifice of infinite value. No greater sacrifice could be made than the gift of the Son of God for our sins. And God designed that all who should be connected with his cause, should labor with the spirit of sacrifice. The plan was carried out in a good degree by patriarchs and prophets. And we see all Israel, on certain occasions, bringing their free-will offerings unto the Lord. The apostles left all to follow Jesus. Their sacrifices were very great. Says Paul, “I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts xx, 33–35. The apostle sacrificed from choice, that he might save his brethren. To the church at Corinth he said, “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you.” 2 Cor. xii, 15. And thus they toiled, and suffered losses, and sacrificed, in their Master’s cause. Most of them sealed their testimony with their blood, and they all rest in hope of a glorious recompense at the resurrection of the just. Fifty millions of martyrs have since chosen to sacrifice life in their adherence to the cause of Jesus Christ. The reformers suffered and sacrificed. In fact, wherever there has existed a living church, in which there has been the spirit of truth and living holiness, there were seen men and women who have loved to sacrifice in the cause of Jesus Christ. Men and women are now wanted who, from choice, can sacrifice time and means for the advancement of the cause of the Redeemer. Men and women are wanted who are as ready to wear out in the cause of God, as most men and women are in order to obtain the things of this life. The cause of our divine Lord languishes for want of such men and women. We want such a ministry. Those men who stand between the living and the dead must be qualified for their responsible position by the spirit of consecration, that they may, by the help of God, diffuse the same spirit throughout the entire membership. Our institutions, so dear to us, such as the Publishing179Association, and the Health Institute, suffer for want of men and women who will sacrifice their time and their means, and will employ their precious strength, for Christ’s sake, for the benefit of suffering humanity, and for the sake of precious souls. Selfish persons should not touch the work of God. And until they are converted, and in them dwells the spirit of sacrifice, they will be almost sure to mar the work. In this case God is dishonored, and his cause bleeds. Separated from the special work of God, the condition of the selfish is bad enough; but when connected with it, the case of such persons is fearful. We plead for the cause. Let the work of God be in the hands of its true friends. The man or woman who will not from choice sacrifice time, means, and strength, in the work of God, should have nothing to do with it. Those who feel that they should have as much money for their labors in connection with the cause of God, as they can obtain for labor in the service of the world, should not be suffered to handle the work of God. The cause of Christ in all its departments calls for sacrifice. Has the spirit of sacrifice met the approbation of God in all past time? Much more will he approve of it in those who profess to believe the present to be the period of the last merciful message to sinners. Time is short. Seventh-day Adventists have a vast work to do, and but a brief period of time in which to labor. Brethren and sisters, in the language of the text we would inquire, ‘Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for naught?’ Where are the men and women among us who will labor in the work of God for naught, or for part pay in this world, and trust in God for the balance in the world to come? We do not now inquire for that class of men and women who are below par in mental and physical strength, and for want of moral and mental culture, would make only second-class hands anywhere. No; the cause of our soon-coming Redeemer calls for number-one laborers. Men and women are wanted to labor in the several departments of the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association, who are physically, mentally, and morally, constituted to become efficient laborers, and in whose hearts is the real spirit of sacrifice. Again we quote the sacred inquiry, ‘Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for naught?’ Men and women of good qualifications are also wanted at our Health Institute, in whose hearts is a desire to labor for suffering humanity and for Christ. These institutions must ever be, in part, charitable institutions. And in order that they should accomplish the work God designed they should, they must be nourished by all friends, who are able to sacrifice, and they should be robbed and weakened by none. We have called upon those who hold the Lord’s money to furnish it in establishing these institutions. Now we call on young men and young women, of the right stamp, to make a corresponding sacrifice in labor. These institutions, so pure and benevolent in their character, must not be burdened with the indolent, the stingy, and the selfish. They have no need of those who are anxious for high wages, and for an easy task. Yet there have both men and women filled responsible places in these institutions who were a living curse to them. Some have been selfish, caring more for their own interests than for the prosperity of the institutions with which they were connected. Others have loved their ease, and have been paid for labor which they never performed. And some others have lacked ability to properly act the important part assigned them. And all have lacked the spirit of sacrifice which the work, and the time in which we live, demand. Some have the idea that persons who are so short of physical or mental strength, or both, that they cannot well act a part in the busy world anywhere else, can do well at the Publishing Department, or at the Health Institute. Such persons generally expect full pay, when their labor is worth about half price. We call for number-one laborers, who can, from choice, work for part pay in this life, and joyfully expect the balance in the next. We must see self-sacrificing, care-taking men and women at these institutions, whose hearts and interest shall be in the work. ‘Neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for naught.’ That spirit that leads men and women to ask a price for everything they do for the Lord is displeasing in his sight. He freely gave his Son for us. He has sent holy angels to keep and to instruct. He has sent down his Spirit to comfort and to teach. And he has in reserve the inestimable gift of eternal life for all who will obey and believe. For those who hope to be saved by grace, to ask pay for every errand they do for their gracious Lord, is a sin of no small magnitude. ‘I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts. Neither will I accept an offering at your hand.’ In these words God expresses his displeasure, and even indignation, at the course of those stingy, selfish, ease-loving ones, who must have pay for everything they do in his cause. This spirit will creep into the ministry, unless great care is taken. Every department of the work must be guarded, lest this sin, so displeasing to God, shall call down his frown, and the precious work of God be marred and hindered in its progress. Systematic Benevolence, established and carried out by our people, secures a good support to all our acting preachers. Treasuries have been well filled, and money has been paid out to our preachers with a liberal hand. Young preachers, with small families, if any, have received more than their wants have demanded, and several among us, who entered the ministry from five to ten years since, find themselves in possession of property, probably more than if they had been engaged in any other business. Some of our ministers have money at interest, and this very money fell into their hands because of the over-liberal pay they received for their services. The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association is paying ten per cent interest on several thousands. These ministers, as well as others of our brethren, who have money at interest, are invited to let the Association have the use of a few hundred each, without interest. Almost everything connected with the Association needs revolutionizing. When we appealed to our people to give of their means to constitute a publishing capital, our appeal was on the ground that the Association would be able to furnish publications cheap, and give thousands of dollars’ worth annually. But for the want of a spirit of sacrifice, and because of a spirit of selfishness, the Association has only been able to hold its own without giving publications to the amount of a dollar a year. The wages have kept climbing up, for a few years past, and there were so many leaks in the business, for want of attention and proper care, that there was nothing left from a paying business to show for the use of thirty-two thousand capital. Those who have cheerfully donated this sum to establish a publishing interest, have right to expect an increase annually of the property equal to ten per cent, which would constitute the handsome sum of three thousand two hundred dollars, or that the Association should give, for circulation, that value in books. But during the past year, the Association gave no books, and added nothing to the value of the property. Is it not high time to call for young men and women of good physical and mental strength, good habits, and sanctified hearts, who will love to sacrifice for the good of the Association, and for the cause generally? We are in earnest in this matter. Changes have been made. More will be made when practicable. We feel assured that the Lord is with us. The spiritual atmosphere is improved, and the work is moving cheerfully and to advantage. We close by saying that we shall be glad to hear from those who feel an interest in this article. The Publishing Association is paying interest at the rate of ten per cent on several thousands. Much of this is from brethren who do not need the interest on their money. But we do not feel like asking them to give the Association the use of all the money they have in it. What we wish in the case is, to be able to pay these a part, and they each give the use of from one to five hundred dollars. Then we would have others lend the Association from one to five hundred dollars each, without interest, so as to enable us to pay all hired money. The Association is also in want of $10,000 to put into large editions of several new works of 400 pages each, and also several smaller ones which we design to revise and re-print. Brethren are offering the Association money at seven and at ten per cent. They can do better. They can lend it to the Lord without requiring of him pay in this world, in hope of the highest interest at the resurrection of the just. With the Scriptures before us, it is all that we can do, to justify the taking of usury under any circumstances. To require usury of the poor is cruel and sinful. But to require usury of the Lord for money employed in any department of his work connected with the last message, is abominable. WHO ARE TIME-SETTERS?
By Albert D. Rust
THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS, as a people, have never set a definite time for the consummation of all things earthly; nor have they failed to make their position known to the world. And yet the world would have them suffer the reproach of the passing of the predicted time, and tantalize them with the same. Time has frequently been set for the coming of the Lord, or, as many say, the end of the world. Now the question, “Who sets these times for so great and important an event to come?” may be answered. The no-sabbath or first-day Adventists frankly admit that they have set the time and failed in their predictions, and again set the time, and again failed. Now while the professed Christians, as well as non-professors, are eagerly seeking to shoulder the failures above mentioned upon the Seventh-day Adventists, they themselves are setting time as well as the first-day Adventists. In an article under the caption, “The Mystery of the Sun,” now going the rounds in the secular papers, I notice some very remarkable statements concerning the condition of, and changes now taking place in, the sun, which are said by scientific men to be the precursors of a great solar magnetic storm, about to visit this planet. The writer, after having noted some of the latest and most important discoveries of the solar system, says: “Meantime we shall watch with anxious interest for the great magnetic storm of 1870.” “Perhaps,” he says, “the growing solar chromosphere, bursting its bonds, will write on the dial-plate of eternity the warning which, reflected in magnetic sympathy on the flashing wires girdling the world, will bring about the consummation of all things.” We here notice at least one prediction of the coming end. But whatever these things may or may not indicate, we, with our high profession, should be prepared for the coming of that great event at any day. The North British Review says:—“The pressing need of our faith is not simply faithful evangelists to proclaim its doctrines, but legions of men consecrating their worldly vocations, witnessing to that truth on which much skepticism prevails, that Christianity, so received as to become an integral part of a man, is omnipotent to keep him from the evil, not by taking him out of the world, but by making him victorious over it. He is a most worthy disciple of Christ, who, like Palissy, or Buxton, or Budgett, or Perthes, exhibits religion as ‘the right use of a man's whole self,’—as the one thing which gives dignity and nobility to what is in itself sordid and earthly—as the main-spring of earnest and successful strivings after loftier ends and a purer life—as the power outside of and within man, which, lifting up conduct in the individual, raises the community—and not as a state of mind mystical, and in active life unattainable, high up among things intangible, separated from contact with work-a-day life, appropriate to Sabbath days and special hours, to leisure, old age, and death-beds. Every man who is ‘diligent in business, serving the Lord,’ is a sermon brimful of the energies of life and truth, a witness to the comprehensiveness and adaptability of Christ's religion, a preacher of righteousness in scenes where none can preach so effectively or so well.”—Sel. Never Make Money at the Expense of Your Reputation
Never make money at the expense of your reputation.