Signs of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 14. (4/8/1889)

Signs of the Times

Apr 8, 1889

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Apr 8, 1889

THE CHRISTIAN'S CALLING HONORABLE.

By Mrs. E. G. White

BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.

I HAVE heard persons say, "I cannot think of such a thing as becoming a Christian. I would have to give up all my pleasures if I embraced religion." But I want to know what pleasures would have to be renounced to become a follower of Christ?—The poor, fleeting pleasures of the world. How many scores of people have come from places of amusement smitten with death! How many have contracted disease, and have stained their souls with sin in ball-rooms and banquet halls. This is wonderful liberty indeed that men are so reluctant to relinquish for the sake of gaining Heaven.

I have heard others say: "Oh, I can't come down to be a Christian. I would have to sever my connection with my associates. My mind is of too exalted an order to take any pleasure in the simplicity of the religion of Christ. I cannot afford to come down to the humble life that is described in the Bible as necessary to fit one for eternal life." The Lord of Heaven, the Majesty of worlds, he who marshaled the stars in their courses, and called them all by name, he who made the everlasting hills, and put in them their treasures of gold and silver and precious gems, he who clothed the fields with verdure, has invited you to come out from the world, to separate yourself from its sinful pleasure, and he promises that if you will do this he will be a Father unto you, and you shall be his sons and his daughters.

What an honor it is thought to be, to be noticed by a king or queen of earth! I was in London at the time of the queen's jubilee, and I saw the great preparations that were made to do her honor. All the verandas and windows that overlooked the street where her retinue was to pass, were rented for enormous prices by those who desired to catch a glimpse of her majesty as she passed by. What a privilege it was thought to be to touch her hand at the reception. But the King of Heaven has said that we may be his children. He says, "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters." We may be members of the royal family of Heaven, and bear the royal name.

During the jubilee, the queen's name was on every lip. How I desired that Jesus might be as highly honored, and his name be spoken with as much praise. How I wished that the people might behold the King of glory! The whole city was full of the bustle of preparation for the coming of England's queen; but I wished that the same joy and earnestness might be manifested in preparing for the coming of Christ, the King of glory. Oh, that men might manifest as great eagerness to proclaim their loyalty to the Prince of Heaven as they manifested to proclaim their loyalty to Queen Victoria!

I want to be a Christian, an heir of Heaven. Men talk of the mansions of earth, but I will talk of the mansions of Heaven. Jesus has promised to come again and receive us unto himself, and he will take us to the mansions that he has gone to prepare for his people.

I have respect unto the recompense of reward. I will not dishonor my God, by thinking it is unimportant, or a dishonor, to be a Christian. "Will a man leave the snow of Lebanon which cometh from the rock of the field? or shall the cold, flowing waters that come from another place be forsaken?" Shall we leave the Fountain of living waters that spring up unto eternal life, for broken cisterns that can hold no water? Shall we turn away from the prospect of Heaven for the fleeting pleasures of earth? I have seen enough of what men call perfection here below. Seekers for pleasure are only drinking at broken cisterns, that can hold no water. The glories of the unseen world attract my soul. The life hid in Christ, the privilege of being one with him as he is one with the Father, of being loved, if obedient, as God loves his Son,—all these claim the entire service of my life and affection. "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow." Talk not to me of your blessings outside of Christ. They are empty, worthless.

The servants of God, by an interested effort, have found the field that conceals the treasure. They have found jewel upon jewel, and treasure upon treasure. The simple disciples of Christ have furnished us with examples in wisdom such as the world cannot give. Mighty men of God have digged in the mines of truth, and have brought forth precious gems. Those who prayerfully study God's word will find it infinite, exhaustless.

We are to eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of man. Jesus told his disciples that this meant that they were to live upon his word. The more we know of his truth, the more we shall desire to know.

There will be an eternity before us, in which to explore the mysteries of God. It will be the delight of our Lord to lead us in green pastures, beside flowing waters, and unfold to the redeemed the mysteries of redemption. Let me be a stranger and a pilgrim here. Let me toil and be weary, but let me know Jesus and his love, and I will not complain. Was not my Lord weary? Was not he a stranger? Did he not say to his disciples, "Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while"? Often his disciples had to take him by force away from his labors lest he should fail because of weariness. At night he sought the mountain, and poured out his supplication with strong crying and tears, not for himself, but for us.

Will you not give yourself to him now? Why do you delay? Is it gold you want? Can you not wait for an immortal inheritance? The streets of the New Jerusalem are paved with gold. Its walls are of jasper and precious stones. Is it honor that you desire? Can you not wait a little? Jesus will crown his children with glory, honor, and immortality. It is enough. My soul feasts on his love.

Consecrate your lives to Christ. Take your children and patiently educate them that they may have pure and holy characters. Tell them the blessed story of the cross of Calvary. This is the great, central theme of all wisdom. Teach them to bear the cross; for in bearing the cross the cross will bear them. It is the pledge to them of the crown of glory that will never fade away. Said the apostle, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." Lift up the man of Calvary. Talk of his love, tell of his power. All the universe is watching to see if you prize the gift of eternal life that has been purchased for you at an infinite cost. Everyone that casts himself at the foot of the cross, giving his soul into the keeping of a faithful Creator, testifies his willingness to bear the contempt of the world. But the redeemed soul can say with Paul: "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." Therefore lift your minds up out of doubt and darkness by contemplation of the spiritual and eternal. Your King is exalted in the highest heavens, and you should exalt him below by reflecting his divine image. Let your faith lay hold upon his merits. Are you a sinner against him? Hear what his promise is to those who repent of their rebellion: "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Oh, that the veil might be swept aside, and you might get a clear view of the King in his beauty! How the world would pale and fade before you!

I once had the privilege of speaking to twenty thousand people, and, oh, how glad I felt that I could honor Jesus before that immense throng! Only a little while longer, and we shall see him as he is, and be made like him. He is coming with clouds and with great glory. A multitude of shining angels, "ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands," will escort him on his way. He will not wear that simple, seamless robe, but robes of glory, white, "so as no fuller on earth can white them;" and on his vesture and on his thigh a name will be written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." He will come to raise the dead, and to change the living saints from glory to glory. Who will be able to stand at that day? Who will be ready to say, "This is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us"?

Make your peace with him to-day. Put your case into the hands of the great Advocate, and he will plead for you before the Father. Though you have transgressed the law, and must acknowledge your guilt, Christ will present his blood in your behalf, and through faith and humble obedience you may stand acquitted at last. God will be your friend when the final trump shall sound. Christ has enjoined upon his people the necessity of watching and praying, lest he come unexpectedly and find them unprepared.

The glory of the eternal world has been opened before me. I want to tell you that Heaven is worth winning. It should be the aim of your life to fit yourself for association with the redeemed, with holy angels, and with Jesus, the world's Redeemer. If we could have but one view of the celestial city, we would never wish to dwell on earth again. There are beautiful landscapes on earth, and I enjoy all these prospects of loveliness in nature. I associate them with the Creator. But I know that if I love God, and keep his commandments, there is a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory reserved in Heaven for me. Beautiful as are the scenes of earth, they can bear no comparison to the glories of the eternal world. Says the apostle, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." God desires us to contemplate heavenly things. He desires us to behold the matchless charms of the divine character, and by beholding we shall become changed into the same image, through the power of his transforming grace.

Berryvale’s Saloons

The California Prohibitionist is authority for the statement that Berryvale, in this State, has a population of 75, and 15 saloons.

Chicago Children and Strong Drink

More than 30,000 children of school age in the city of Chicago are said to be addicted to the use of strong drink. "What will the harvest be?"

German Teaching Bill Defeated

A bill recently before the Wisconsin Legislature to prohibit the teaching of German in the public schools of that State was called up and defeated two days before the time set for its consideration.

Tobacco, the Next Enemy

"Tobacco," says the Prohibitionist, "is the next enemy the reformers of our country must engage. It has now come to be so that a person cannot walk along the streets without having offensive smoke puffed into the face at nearly every step."

A Pastor’s Record Investigated

Not long since a Western church in need of a pastor, telegraphed to a Boston commercial agency to look up the record and capacities of a pastor in that vicinity. The result of the inquiry and of the information given to the pastorless church has not been announced.

Restitution to the Jesuits

The Pope, acceding to the desire of the Canadian Episcopacy, has issued a brief in which he has decided the amount of the restitution to the Jesuits by the Canadian Government as follows; $160,000 to Jesuits, $100,000 to Catholic bishops, and $140,000 to a Montreal university. Like obedient vassals, the Canadians have voted the sums claimed.

Switzerland Fortifies St. Gothard

THE action of Switzerland looking to the fortification of St. Gothard, is significant, inasmuch as it shows a settled belief on the part of that Government that war between France and Germany is only a question of a short time. Of course the object of the proposed fortification is to prevent the Germans from marching through Swiss territory in the event of a war with France.

Convict Labor and Insane Paupers

A YEAR or so ago the labor unions of New York succeeded in getting a law enacted in that State forbidding the employment of convict labor. The result is that the prisons have become a heavy burden to the tax payers, and not only so, but they are beginning to turn out insane paupers. In one of the prisons two young men have gone insane and been sent to the hospital, and others are sure to follow.

Revival Tickets and Church Attendance

By Editor

THE Congregationalist tells of a recent revival in Boston for which tickets were issued bearing the words: "Not good for any church-member unless accompanied by one who is not." Our contemporary suggests that if such a barrier were interposed at the doors of every church, the assembly rooms of the saints would present a rather vacant appearance.

Southern California Telescope Lens

It is announced that the University of Southern California has concluded a contract with Alvan G. Clark, who made the Lick 36-inch telescope lens, for a 40-inch lens for the telescope, with which it is proposed to equip the observatory endowed by E. F. Spence, the Los Angeles banker. The observatory will probably be located on Wilson's Peak, a lofty height in Los Angeles County, near Pasadena.

Church Union in Japan

It is stated that Rev. Henry M. Scudder, missionary to Japan, is disturbed because of the opposition which has recently sprung up in this country to the union of the Congregational and Presbyterian Churches in the Mikado's empire. In a long letter to the Evangelist he explains the situation, remarking that the union movement is purely Japanese, and that almost all the missionaries sympathize with it.

Catholics and Prohibition in Pennsylvania

It is thought that the influence of the Catholic Church in Pennsylvania will for the most part be against the adoption of the proposed prohibitory amendment. Archbishop Ryan is said to favor high license rather than prohibition. Those Catholics who have taken the pledge may support the amendment, but as the liquor business of the State is largely in the hands of Catholics the majority of that communion will probably oppose prohibition.

Massachusetts Distillery’s Rum Contract

A CORRESPONDENT of the Congregationalist says that he has directly learned from the very best authority that a distillery firm within three miles of the Massachusetts State House, has a contract to furnish 3,000 gallons of rum daily to the African trade, for the next seven years. This would be equivalent to almost one million gallons annually. If Massachusetts were to adopt constitutional prohibition, that distillery might find it rather difficult to fulfill its contract.

United Presbyterian Differences Remain

A UNITED PRESBYTERIAN writes to the Christian at Work from Colorado protesting against the statement that the action of the Presbytery of Detroit, of the United Presbyterian Church, uniting with the Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church, was made probable, indeed, almost inevitable, from the repealing by the United Presbyterian General Assembly of the prohibition against the use of the organ. He says:

"While the General Assembly has repealed the rule against the use of organs, yet that by no means takes away all the differences between this church and the Presbyterian. This was the least of the differences. The principal issues now separating the two churches are the use of a scriptural psalmody, the opposition to secret oath-bound societies, and restricted communion, in opposition to what is known as open communion."

CONFIDENCE.

By Frances Ridley Havergal

In thee I trust, on thee I rest, O Saviour dear, Redeemer blest! No earthly friend, no brother knows My weariness, my wants, my woes. On thee I call, Who knowest all. O Saviour dear, Redeemer blest, In thee I trust, on thee I rest.

Thy power, thy love, thy faithfulness, With lip and life I long to bless. Thy faithfulness shall be my tower, My sun thy love, my shield thy power, In darkest night, In fiercest fight. With lip and life I long to bless Thy power, thy love, thy faithfulness. —Frances Ridley Havergal.

THE JERUSALEM OF TO-DAY.

BISHOP JOHN H. VINCENT, in an article on the "Social and Religious Life in Modern Jerusalem," in the Independent of March 7, does not present a very flattering view of what was once "the joy of the whole earth." He says:—

But nowhere do misconceptions of Christianity find firmer hold than in this very city where the Son of God walked among the sons of men. In this place, full of sacred associations, whence the fountain of divine truth sent forth its streams, exist the most corrupt forms of Christianity, illustrating the fact that it is the half-truth or the distorted truth which works most harm to men. An African bishop in an early century, when he ordained an elder, in answer to the question where he should go, said, "Go where there is most devil." A missionary movement on this principle would make directly for Jerusalem; for

the purest forms of religious theory and life are most needed where perversions of truth in false systems of doctrine and conduct most abound.

El Khuds (the holy) presents to-day the most melancholy picture to be seen on the planet,—a picture of religions full of hatred and malice, in which are warring sects, each one of which claims to have an "unbroken succession" from apostolic days, and to be the "only" representative of the true church of Christ on earth. In the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Mohammedan scimitars and rifles keep guard over these precious representatives of the so-called "church" of Him who "came to bring peace on earth and good-will to men."

It is in Jerusalem that we have the ripened fruit of the sacerdotal and sacramentarian theory which puts emphasis on places and things and modes, and on physical taction as means of spiritual life. In the Church of the Holy Sepulcher one sees the very apotheosis of the tractarian idea, where nearly all that is distinctively Christian is lost, and all that is pagan retained, and where, amidst flickering candles, clouds of incense, bursts of music, and the discordant rumblings of greasy priests, one longs to hear the key-note of a true Christianity from His lips, who, under the shadow of Gerizim, said to the woman of Samaria: "The hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father." "God is a spirit; and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." There is no place on the planet where men more seriously need the simplicity and power of the gospel of Jesus Christ than in this holy city of Jerusalem.

RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE IN RUSSIA.

RUSSIA is apparently determined to suppress as much as possible all religions within her mighty domain that will not bow to the orthodox church. Czar Nicholas, the grandfather of the present ruler, and seemingly his model in political and ecclesiastical government, declared as the program of his rule: “One country, one language, one religion.” Russia is full of non-conformists; its sects number almost legion. But the leading ones are the Lutherans of the Baltic provinces, the Stundists of Central Russia, and the Armenians in the East. It is upon these that the heavy hand of tyranny is laid.

The Stundists have long been the object of persecution, and but recently the leader of the Protestants of Armenia was banished to Siberia, his chief offense having manifestly been the translation of the Bible, the propagation of a biblical Christianity. In the Baltic provinces the agents of the orthodox church have made sad havoc among the Lutheran peasantry. Oppressed by terrible taxation, and protected in scarcely any rights, they have been won over to the orthodox church by the promise of freedom from taxation, freedom of military duty, land grants, and money. And when won they neither receive what has been promised nor can they return to their old church.

To leave the orthodox church and join another, is in Russia a grave criminal offense. Even to urge a man to leave the orthodox church, is punished by imprisonment of two years. Pastor Brondt, a leading Lutheran minister, received back into his church several members who were sorely conscience-stricken for having deserted the faith of their fathers. He was banished to Siberia for this action. The University of Dospal, one of the best in Europe, is made the special object of attack, and a decree has been promulgated that within a certain period all the lectures there must be delivered in Russian. This is to be done notwithstanding the fact that the great majority of students and professors do not speak this language.—Christian at Work.

INTO THY HANDS, MY GOD.

By Julia B. Cady

BY JULIA B. CADY.

Into thy hands, my God, I gladly fall, Resigning there my life, my will, my all; Do as thou wilt, O Lord, for I am thine; Whatever thy blest will is also mine.

Into thy hands, my God; for there, at length, Through my poor weakness shall I find thy strength; Thy grace shall triumph over all my sin, And Christ's dear blood shall make me pure within.

Into thy hands, my God,—those hands of love Which sweetly reached and drew me, from above; Those hands which countless daily mercies give, Those hands by which I every moment live.

Into thy hands, my God,—my Father's hands; Near them a living Saviour pleading stands. Oh, love! he pleads for me—how can I fear With such a Father, such a Saviour, near?

In thy dear hands, my God, there let me rest; Send pain or sickness if thou seest best; Do as thou wilt—thy love I cannot doubt, For perfect love casts fear and sadness out.

Safe in thy hands, my God, a little child, I look to thee, through Jesus reconciled; I dare, for his dear sake, to call thee mine; For this sweet bliss I would all else resign.

Into thy hands, my God, I cast my will; Bid every murmuring, restless thought be still; My only wish, while on the narrow road, Tranquil to lie in thy dear hands, my God.

KEEP UP, CHRISTIANS.

By Charles Haddon Spurgeon

As I was riding along in the south of France one day, I saw a pair of fine birds overhead. The driver called out in the French tongue, “Eagles!” Yes; and there was a man below with a gun, who was wishful to get a nearer acquaintance with the eagles; but they did not come down to oblige him. He pointed his rifle at them, but his shots did not reach half way, for the royal birds kept above. The higher air is the fit dominion for eagles! Up there is the eagle’s playground, where he plays with the callow lightnings. Keep there, eagles! Keep there! If men can get you within range, they mean no good to you. Keep up, Christians! Keep up in the higher regions, resting in Jesus Christ, and do not come down to find a perch for yourself among the trees of philosophy.—Rev. C. H. Spurgeon.

Faithfulness in Little Duties

By Henry Edward Manning

EVERY duty, even the least, involves the whole principle of obedience; and little duties make the will dutiful, that is, supple and prompt to obey. Little obediences lead into great. The daily round of duty is full of probation and of discipline; it trains the will, heart, and conscience. The commonest life may be full of perfection. The duties of home are a discipline for the ministries of Heaven.—H. E. Manning.

Relieving Distress Is Godlike

"To pity distress is but human," says Horace Mann; "to relieve it is Godlike."

THE CROSS THE WAY TO THE CROWN.

By C. J. Pope

CHRIST came from the highest exaltation to the lowest humiliation. He was "in the form of God," but was "found in fashion as a man." Down all the length of that long ladder which reached from the highest throne in heaven to the lowliest cottage in Nazareth, the Saviour came. He was "in the form of God." That was his own by right. No one could have found fault if he had continued to hold on to his own. He was a great King on a throne. But he saw his subjects "plunged in deep distress." They were "poor, wretched, blind." "There was no eye to pity, no arm to save." And so he came himself, a loving King to his helpless subjects. All the way down the ladder he came. He was "found in fashion as a man." But he steps down lower. "He took upon himself the form of a servant." But this is not enough. Down still farther he comes. He humbled himself more, "and became obedient unto death."

"Did e'er such love, such sorrow meet?" But this was not all. Below his feet there is yet one round. It is the lowest of all. Will he take it? He hesitates. He prays in the garden. He resolves. And he steps down. He dies upon the cross—the cross of shame.

"O God, what love, what love was that When Jesus died on Calvary! Took from my hand the bitter cup, And drank its dregs for me, for me!"

And there the gulf is bridged. Its first pier was erected upon the highest battlement of Heaven. Its last upon the lowest strata of human lowliness. And from that to this a great bridge is stretched; and upon it is written, "Our Lord Jesus Christ, who, though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor." But he arose from the dead and is set "far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named." And again the chasm is spanned. Upon this structure is written, "He humbled himself; . . . wherefore God hath highly exalted him."

It is not alone by his inherent and eternal right as King and Monarch that Christ has established himself Lord of all. That was his. That is his. He is Lord by right of his inherent power and majesty. But he is King of millions of willing subjects through the power which he gained by coming down from his throne to the lowest depths of humility to secure his people’s good. He came to the crown by way of the cross. Like the image produced by the lens, the ladder by which he descended from his exaltation seemed to be inverted. We saw him coming down, round after round. But he was, in reality, going up. When we saw him at the bottom he was at the top. He was never so much a King as he was on the cross. And so the cross is the wisdom of God and the power of God. He sits Monarch, "not by might nor by power," but by the constraining energy in self-renunciation. He will not subject the world by armed battalions nor learned philosophies. His weapons are not carnal. But they are mighty and powerful. It is love, unquenchable, unparalleled, undying, unmerited.—Rev. C. J. Pope.

LOOK UP AND NOT DOWN.

BUNYAN'S unfailing instinct showed itself nowhere more clearly than in his introduction of Giant Despair into the immortal allegory of man's progress through life. Many of the giants with whom men have to contend select as their victims the weakest and the meanest, and are satisfied if these alone become their prey; but Giant Despair is not content with inferior men; he lays his hand quite as often upon the most aspiring and noble, finding in these a sensitiveness, or refinement, or tenderness of feeling, which makes them susceptible to his power. Many a man has been slain by Despair, who would never have succumbed to any other enemy. And the most singular thing about the power of this giant is that it lies mainly in an illusion skillfully thrown over its victims. Often a little longer fight, a little more courageous resistance, would have placed the strugglers forever beyond the reach of Despair.

Nothing is ever accomplished by despair. It means always and only rout and defeat. No man was ever spurred by it to attempt to change the fortunes of the day or to recover a lost position; no man was ever inspired by it to raise himself out of the mire in which he had fallen and renew a struggle in which he had been beaten; its one word is surrender; its only end, final defeat. Many have borne up in the midst of their despair, and while under the shadow of it recovered that which they had lost; but this swift reversal of fortune has always been due to some ray of hope which has bid the wounded heart pluck courage out of danger and light out of darkness. For despair is, at bottom, cowardly; a brave man dies, but never surrenders; a brave ship sinks, but never strikes her colors. The surrender of despair has always a cowardly element in it. It is not a question of the odds against one; it is simply a question of having courage enough to hold out to the end, whatever that end may be. In most cases despair is an illusion, and not a reality; in other words, it bases its demand for surrender on a preponderance of forces which do not exist, or which further resistance may scatter into thin air. Many a man has turned in the midst of his despair to make one struggle more, and has suddenly found himself a final victor in a field which he had supposed hopelessly lost. Many a man looks back in his life to some experience which held for him the bitterness of despair, and sees that it was the beginning of his great prosperity. There is a truth in the old adage, that it is darkest just before the dawn, and a greater truth in the still more ancient adage, that man's necessity is God's opportunity.

In all great struggles an hour of something like despair inevitably comes, and that is the decisive hour in the whole conflict; if they who fight yield to the illusion of defeat, then the battle is permanently lost; but if in that moment the pressure of what appears to be final disaster makes their purpose all the clearer, and their will the more resolute, then despair itself becomes the forerunner of success. Its dark and terrible lessons are seen to be the inevitable preparation through which the soul of a man or of a nation wins its hardest triumphs. The world has nothing to learn from the gospel of despair, except to shun it. To listen to it debilitates, demoralizes, and defeats. It is the song of the siren which has a certain pathetic and appealing note, but which leads always to wreck and death. The greatest natures are never preachers of despair. There is a sanity in them which saves them from the touch of this disease, and which makes them always the teachers of hope. A world which has a God over it, and a life which has a God in it, has no place for despair. Loss, calamity, grief, are not excluded, but these do not bring the message of despair. Despair comes only when there is no longer any hope, and no possible issue out of adversity but permanent and eternal loss. Despair may be the necessity of atheism; Christianity, which makes the cross of shame and death the symbol of triumphant immortality, has no place for it. "For sudden the worst turns the best to the brave."—Christian Union.

SECOND ADVENT DOCTRINE AN INCENTIVE TO HOLINESS.

THE beloved apostle who sat at the feet of Jesus, who leaned upon his breast at the supper, who was with him in the Holy Mount when there was exhibited a miniature of the glorified kingdom to come, when writing upon the subject of the second advent, and the transformation of the sons of God into the physical likeness of Christ, said that "every man that hath this hope"—i. e., of seeing Jesus and being made like him—"purifieth himself, even as he is pure." Persons who expect a long life to enjoy,—a long period of time to elapse before they are called to render an account of their stewardship,—are more liable to live carelessly than one who fully expects to be called in a little time to meet the Lord in Judgment. I know of nothing from which a sinner shrinks with so much dread as a meeting with the God against whom he has sinned.

It is not only the dread of meeting an offended God which excites men to holy living, but the implanting of the desire and expectation of seeing the One who has loved them "so." "Him whom, having not seen, they love," prompts one to holy living for the sake of pleasing Him.

The very teacher designed to teach men to live soberly, righteously, and godly, to deny themselves of all ungodliness and worldly lust, "teaches them to look for the blessed hope and manifestation of the glory of the great God, and our Life-giver, Jesus, the Christ."

Peter, after describing the second advent, and the scenes connected with it, said, "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness!"

Not only does the second advent incite people to holy living, but it excites them to activity in the work of saving others. It has been claimed by some that the doctrine of the second advent near is injurious, inasmuch as it destroys missionary zeal, and is the means of causing Christian workers to relapse into a state of inactivity. But such an idea is absolutely incorrect; the more imminent the danger, the more anxious are people to hasten to the rescue.

There is nothing so crucifying to the world and inspiring to missionary zeal, as an unshaken faith in the near advent of our Lord; it is the one thing needful in this present worldly state of the church, to awaken them to a sense of their condition,—needful to feed the flock of God. It is meat in due season. Churches are suffering for it; individuals' hearts are longing for its invigorating sweetness; the entire world is in need of it. Brother, let thy voice be lifted up to proclaim it.

Let ocean in its mightiness proclaim With thunderings clear— Let hill-tops sound aloud the glad acclaim,— The Lord, our Christ, is near.

—Quar. Jour. of Prophecy.

KEEP.

By J. F. Corn

THERE are certain things in the word of God that we are commanded to keep. We will therefore give some texts in which the word "keep" is found, especially what God has commanded us to keep.

Gen. 18:14: "For I know him, that he will command his children, and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment." Ex. 20:8: "Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy." Ps. 34:13: "Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile." Prov. 4:20, 23: "My son, attend to my words; and incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart, for they are life unto them that find them, and health to all their flesh." "Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life." Prov. 6:20: "My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother. Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck; when thou goest it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee." Prov. 7:1, 2: "My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. Keep my commandments and live; and my laws as the apple of thine eye."

Eccl. 5:1: "Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools; for they consider not that they do evil." Eccl. 12, 13: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man." Matt. 19:17: "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." Luke 11:28: "But he said, Yea, rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it." John 8:51: "Verily, verily I say unto you, If a man keep my sayings, he shall never see death." John 14:23: "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."

1 Cor. 11:1, 2: "Be ye therefore followers of me, even as I am also of Christ. Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them unto you." Eph. 4:3: "Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." 1 Tim. 5:22: "Keep thyself pure." 1 John 5:21: "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." Jude 21: "Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the

mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." Rev. 22:7: "Behold, I come quickly; blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book."

All these sayings God has told us in his word to keep. Now, where has he ever said to quit keeping these things? Nowhere; nor at any time. These are plain passages of Scripture, God’s word to us; hence it is the doctrine of Christ. Therefore, let us abide in it. "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him Godspeed; for he that biddeth him Godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds." 2 John 10.—J. F. Corn, in the Good Way.

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