Review and Herald, Vol. 77, No. 13. (3/27/1900)

Review and Herald

Mar 27, 1900

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 27, 1900

“HE THAT LOVETH NOT HIS BROTHER ABIDETH IN DEATH.”

MRS. E. G. WHITE.

The Lord has a message for all who are in positions of holy trust. He desires them to do honor to him by cherishing tenderness and sanctified love, by showing confidence in their brethren. In the ministration of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Lord uses diverse gifts; and he has not given any man authority to hold in low esteem the various instrumentalities and gifts of the gospel. He has not given any man the privilege of looking upon the Lord’s work through his appointed agencies as inferior, or the privilege of carrying things in his own way because he thinks that way superior. This is dangerous for himself and for all who are connected with him.

“He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.”

All these gifts are to be blended in the work of building a spiritual structure on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Jesus Christ himself is the chief corner stone, “in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord.” “Fitly framed together.” Study these words, and seek to understand all they comprehend. “Fitly framed together,” each acting his respective part. Thus we grow “unto an holy temple in the Lord.” Have a care how you build. Take heed to the admonitions of the Lord. We are to work to one end, “till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” Whence comes our power to work? “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” “God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, . . . and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”

These words need to be closely studied. To those in charge of his institutions God says, You must change in heart and character. You must show that you have yoked up with Christ, to learn of him his meekness and lowliness; that you have opened the heart to the Saviour’s love, so that this love may flow forth in pure, rich currents of tenderness, courtesy, and kindly deeds. If the heart is not speedily unlocked, that Christ, the light and life of men, may take possession; if there is not a reformation in the soul, a determination to obey the injunctions Christ gave his disciples, you will lose the attributes he came to give.

There is need of far more childlike sympathy. Addressing his disciples as “little children,” Christ said to them, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” By this manifestation of love “shall all men know that ye are my disciples.” This love God now demands his disciples to show for one another. He is greatly dishonored because his professed followers are drawing in selfish lines, closing their hearts to the softening, subduing influence of Christ’s Spirit, as if to show love for one another were a species of weakness. Instead of exerting the pure, holy, uplifting influence that dwelt in Christ, many are manifesting Satan’s attributes.

My brethren, how long will you be satisfied to imperil your souls by remaining unconverted, unsanctified, unholy? How long are you going to stay as you are? You may have some excellent qualifications; but if you padlock the door of the heart against Christlike love for your brethren, you do not possess the attributes that will give you an entrance into the kingdom of God.

To the church at Ephesus John wrote, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit: “I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: and hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast labored, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”

Why will brethren cherish selfishness and covetousness? Why will they allow the root of bitterness to spring up in their hearts? Would it not be well to take heed to the words of the True Witness, and find out what it is that makes the hearts of brethren as hard as steel toward one another? Shall we not ascertain for ourselves whether we are destitute of love for one another? The Lord is measuring the temple and the worshippers thereof. Will you not heed his warning? He declares, “I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.”

Read the whole of the third chapter of Revelation, and seek to understand the work to be done. Those whom Christ warns have some excellent qualifications; but these are neutralized by self-love, and self-deception, self-justification for gross neglect to help their brethren in the service of God by encouraging words and deeds. There is a dead fly in the ointment. They are being weighed by One who never makes a mistake. He tells the result of actions that show that the love of Christ is not an abiding principle in the soul. The Holy Spirit has come with convicting power to God’s people; but though some stir has been made, the work of true conversion has not been perfected. Self has not yet been crucified; and until it is, hardness of heart, lack of love for one another, will be seen. You will hold to your own opinion, you will not bend from your self-exaltation to study the necessities that you should relieve. Men’s hearts become like flint when they seek to grasp all for themselves, refusing to relieve the necessities of those who are doing a severe and trying work.

God calls upon you to put away your faculty for seeing the mistakes of others. Turn your attention to your own defects. Your self-righteousness

is nauseating to the Lord Jesus. He declares, “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked; I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.”

Position does not make character. To all who are in positions of trust Christ says: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” This command is an application of the great lesson of love which Christ gave the lawyer who came to him with the question, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” This lawyer had heard the words that just previously to this Christ had spoken to his disciples. The Saviour had been giving those who kept on his track to criticise, cavil, or condemn, unmistakable evidence that he was the Sent of God. He had healed the sick, and worked other miracles; but still the people did not believe in him, and he denounced them for their resistance of light and knowledge.

The seventy disciples, whom Christ had sent “into every city and place, whither he himself would come,” had returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.” Christ answered them with the words, “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. And he turned unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see; for I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.”

The lawyer had been deeply convicted by these words; and he came to Christ with the question, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Christ answered, “What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.” “Thou hast answered right,” Christ said; “this do, and thou shalt live.”

Willing to justify himself, the lawyer asked, “And who is my neighbor?” In answer Christ told him of a man who had been robbed, and then left by the roadside, wounded and half dead. “And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.” Those who should have helped him did not. They looked upon their suffering fellow creature, and then passed by on the other side. Thus it is to-day. How many of those whose hearts should be tender and compassionate refuse to admit Christ into their hearts, and therefore fail to speak kindly and tenderly to those who are in trouble. Their brother may be very much in need of encouragement, but they have none to give. They have lost the dear Saviour, if they ever had him. They are strangers to his tenderness and love. A stern, cold, forbidding, steel-like spirit controls them; and works of mercy and love are barred out. All such should remember that they do not belong to Christ’s family. He does not acknowledge them as his brethren. Selfishness, self-love, is the controlling element in their lives. They do not represent the Saviour. The image of God is not stamped on the soul.

HE HEARS.

By Paul Gerhardt

Thy thoughts are good, and thou art kind, E'en when we think it not; How many an anxious, faithless mind Sits grieving o'er its lot, And frets and pines by day and night, As God has lost it out of sight, And all its wants forgot.

Ah, no! God ne'er forgets his own, His heart is far too true; He ever seeks their good alone; His love is daily new; And though thou deem that things go ill, Yet he is just and holy still, And all things he can do.

The Lord is ever close and near To those who keep his word; Whene'er they cry to him in fear, Their prayer is surely heard; He knoweth well who love him well; His love shall yet their clouds dispel, And grant the hope deferred.

— Paul Gerhardt.

AN EXHORTATION.

By M. D. McKee

MRS. M. D. MCKEE.

“The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence.” “The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day.” “They that go down into the pit can not hope for thy truth.” “The father to the children shall make known thy truth.” Ps. 115:17; Isa. 38:18, 19. These solemn scriptures express the duty of every Seventh-day Adventist in particular, and of every Christian in general. If these statements of God’s word were believed, remembered, and acted upon, how soon would the earth be lightened with the glory of the last message, sinners saved, and our Saviour appear!

There are four propositions in the scripture quoted, which appeal to me in a special sense. I wish to analyze them, as I see them, and hope some souls may be helped, as I have been.

First, “The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence.” In life and buoyant health, how seldom we think of these words. Our routine of daily duties, the commonplace things that occupy our time, too often unfit us for praising the Lord. Why do we not, while “living,” before the “silence” comes upon us, allow our daily lives to praise him?

When we look upon the still forms of loved ones, friends or neighbors, we realize that they have gone down “into silence.” While it is true that “their works do follow them,” their voices are hushed, their feet no more go on errands of mercy or love, they stand no more to witness for God in testimony, their tongues speak no more helpful words of comfort or of praise to God; the still hands rest upon the lifeless breast, and the warm clasp of sympathy is felt no more. But “the living, the LIVING, he shall praise thee, as I do this day.”

Dear brethren and sisters, are you, as among the living, praising God? While the breath of life is yours, how are you living? In view of the recent losses we have sustained, as one by one our dear laborers have fallen asleep, does it not become us to see to it that our lips speak forth his praises, our eyes smile loving helpfulness on those about us, our ears refuse to listen to reproaches or gossip of our neighbors or friends, liable as we to “go down into silence”? Should not our feet go willingly and more frequently on errands of love and mercy, or bear us to the weekly prayer-meeting, to which many are constant strangers? And should we not there unite with others of like precious faith in testimonies of praise? Should not our hands minister to the poor and needy, pen letters to dear wandering souls who are hurrying on “into silence,” or send tracts and papers that lie unused at home? Oh, the many things we might do while life is ours!—things that, if left undone, will burden our last hours with remorse.

“As I do this day.” The personal pronoun “I” means every one of us. Are you, “this” day, to-day, using your life to praise God, or will you wait until, conscious of but a few days or hours of life, you sigh and mourn “over years of wasted life”? Can we not learn the lesson now? Surely God is teaching us in the experiences we are passing through, and every person should earnestly inquire, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?”

The third proposition brings an answer to the question. “They that go down into the pit can not hope for thy truth.” Are any friends or neighbors of yours ignorant of “the truth”? If so, they can only know of it while living. When they die, and go into the pit (grave), they can not learn of God’s saving truth.

Then what is our duty to the living who know not our precious message for these days? Who will be held responsible for those who go down without hope? The living, the living,—father, mother, brother, sister, husband, wife, child, relative, neighbor, friend, or stranger,—“shall make known thy truth.” Perhaps some one near by is “hoping” for the “truth.” What is of more importance than to “make it known” to him? The dying testimony of our beloved Sister Henry sounds out upon the air with a power that should lead every one who knows the truth we profess, to such a humbling of soul and searching of heart as we never knew.

When, when, shall our houses be set in order, our business shaped, our hearts fully surrendered to God and his truth, and we ourselves ready for service? Truly, “the living, the living, he shall praise thee”! Now, while you have your faculties of mind and body, “while it is called To-day,” “harden not your hearts.” Our duty to God, to ourselves, to one another, and to the world never was so great. Can you believe this? Do you realize it? Will you live as if you realized it?

Let us each ask God to teach us how to pray, and how to live out, the following beautiful prayer:—

“Let me not die before I’ve done for thee My earthly work, whatever it may be; Call me not hence with mission unfulfilled, Let me not leave my space of ground untilled. Impress this truth upon me—that not one Can do my portion that I leave undone; For each one in thy vineyard hath a spot To labor in for life, and weary not.”

The message to the Laodicean church, in volume one of the Testimonies, will help us to awake from our lethargy, and equip ourselves for service under the direction of the Holy Spirit.

“HE CARETH FOR YOU.”

By L. D. Santee

L. D. SANTEE. (Chicago, Ill.)

“CARETH for you”! Oh, wondrous, glad assurance, Reaching down to satisfy your needs! With what loving trust, what firm endurance, Should you follow in the way He leads.

“Careth for you”! You ne’er can be forsaken; Though from joys of earth you’re called to part, All your woes and sorrows can be taken To the loving Saviour’s pitying heart.

“Careth for you,” should fill the heart forever, Though the coming years be dark or fair; For the Lord asks you to come, and ever Cast upon him all your anxious care.

“All your care”?—Yes, life is happier, brighter, For the precious promise that is given; All the crosses on the way grow lighter, Till we drop them all for aye in heaven.

Letting God Help Us

“THERE is but one way in which man can ever help God—that is, by letting God help him; and there is no way in which his name is more guiltily taken in vain than by calling the abandonment of our own work the performance of his.”

THE GOSPEL AND CIVIL GOVERNMENT.

By R. S. Owen

R. S. OWEN.

(Hatley, Miss.)

The gospel is the power of God unto salvation. It is God’s plan, and the only plan, by which sinful men can be saved from their sins, converted into good men, and prepared for heaven. It affects not simply the outward actions; but the sinful heart is subdued by its influence, so that the whole man is brought into harmony with God.

The power by which this great change is wrought in the lives and characters of men is the power of love. God is love. He is constantly manifesting his love to men, and thus seeks their love in return. The greatest display of love ever witnessed was the giving of God’s Son for the salvation of sinners, and the first and greatest of all God’s commands to us is, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart.” Matt. 22:37, 38. The gospel presents to the world this loving Saviour, who died to redeem men from sin and death. By beholding the Lamb of God they are led to love him. Loving him, they delight to obey him. His law is written in the heart, and is manifest in the life.

CIVIL GOVERNMENT.

God has ordained that such governments shall exist among men as shall be needful for their safety. These are to protect the lives, property, and all other rights of the people. The power of a civil government is the combined power of its citizens. They have an important and distinct work in regulating the affairs of the state, between man and man; and in their sphere their authority is to be respected and obeyed. The duties we owe to God, and the manner of discharging them, do not, however, come within the scope of civil government.

THE GOSPEL.

The gospel system is the religion of Jesus Christ. It came from God. It is designed to prepare a people to dwell with God, and he is to be their final judge. Whether men shall obey the gospel is an individual matter. Every one must decide for himself. The gospel invites all, and extends to all the offer of free salvation, but compels none. “Whosoever will” may come, but unwilling service will not be accepted. “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24.

The work of the gospel and the work of civil government are distinct and separate. They should never be confounded. Our Saviour recognized this distinction in the saying, “Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.” Matt. 22:21. The civil ruler is not to take the place of God. In that which pertains to the worship of God, he has no place. In things pertaining to God, Cæsar has no more right to rule his humblest servant than that servant has to rule Cæsar. “Every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Rom. 14:12. As one can not answer for another in the Judgment, so no one should ever try to rule the conscience of another. “Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth.”

GOSPEL MINISTERS NOT TO USE FORCE.

While God has called men to preach the gospel, he has never authorized them to enforce it upon the disobedient. In sending out his disciples, Jesus bade them to be “harmless as doves.” Matt. 10:16. Gospel ministers are commanded to “reprove, rebuke, exhort;” but they are to do it with “long-suffering.” They are to “feed the flock of God;” not “as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” 2 Tim. 4:2; 1 Peter 5:2, 3.

Jesus Christ in his life gave a perfect example of what the gospel minister must be. He preached, he prayed, he entreated, he wept, and he died, that sinners might be saved through the gospel; yet he said, “If any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.” John 12:47. On one occasion, when two of his disciples proposed to bring down fire from heaven to destroy those who rejected Christ, he rebuked them, and said: “Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.” Luke 9:55. When Peter drew the sword in defense of his Master, Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” Matt. 26:52.

The gospel warfare requires all the courage of a true soldier; but the weapons are of a different nature. The gospel warrior is to be prepared with the girdle of truth, the “breast-plate of righteousness,” the “shield of faith,” and the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Thus armed and panoplied, the early Christians went forth in the face of strong opposition from earthly government and state-entrenched systems of error. They told the story of the Saviour’s love, of his power to save, and of his death upon the cross. Their lives were an illustration of the gospel of love which they preached; and they won from the ranks of the enemy willing subjects for the Master’s kingdom. Their weapons, though not carnal, were mighty through God.

A DEPARTURE FROM THE GOSPEL.

As the first centuries of the Christian era passed away, there came a sad change among the professed followers of Christ. The love of many waxed cold. The spirit of worldliness came in, which resulted in that “falling away” foretold by the apostle. 2 Thess. 2:3. In this evil time the tempter offered to a fallen church the power of the sword, bidding her take it, and conquer the world for Christ.

As the church grasped the carnal weapon, and united with the kingdoms of earth, she separated from the power of God. Religion as defined by ambitious men became established by law. It was permitted neither to teach nor to think otherwise than as the court of Rome directed. All who could not accept the established creed were doomed to banishment, to torture, or to death. The most terrible instruments that men could invent for inflicting pain, were used for the purpose of subduing the consciences of those who were condemned as heretics.

During those dark ages millions of lives were sacrificed on the altar of their faith. The spirit of liberty was trampled in the dust. The gospel of love, mercy, peace, and good will toward men seemed driven from earth, or found refuge in the caves and dens of the mountains, whither the persecuted ones fled to escape the edge of the sword. It was the darkest period of the world’s history. A spirit of religious frenzy seems to have taken possession of those in authority, both in the church and in the state. The woman was “drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.” Rev. 17:6.

The Reformation of the sixteenth century finally dawned upon the world; and the light of God’s word then revealed the fact that those heretics, as they had been called, were the faithful followers of Christ. And thus was disclosed the awful truth that the professed church of Christ had been bathing the forbidden sword in the blood of Christians.

A LESSON FOR OUR TIMES.

The sad experience of those ages teaches a lesson that is much needed in the world to-day. The principles of religious liberty as taught by our Saviour, and which were revived during the Reformation, are again threatened. Men professing great zeal for the gospel of Christ are now grasping after the arm of civil power with which to enforce religious observances upon those who otherwise would not follow their teaching.

The Sunday is the one great object of their anxiety. They say it is imperiled; and they ask the civil rulers to come to its rescue. Their church-members are lax in its observance; the ungodly do not keep the day holy; and Christians are divided as to whether Sunday is the Lord’s day, some claiming that God would have us keep the seventh-day Sabbath. To remedy this, they would have a law enforced that will bring all to the keeping of Sunday, whether they wish to keep it or not.

Without stopping to question which of the two days is the Sabbath, or Lord’s day, we ask, Has the gospel become so weak that it can not maintain its doctrines or secure the observance of its ordinances without the aid of human power? Must it now lean upon the arm of civil law for support? Jesus stands ready to help in every true gospel work: “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” The angels of God are also at the service of those who are engaged in the work of saving souls. “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” Heb. 1:14. The word of God is “quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword.” Heb. 4:12.

What need, then, has the church of Christ to appeal to the civil power for help? Every petition to Congress or to legislature, every resort to the arm of the law, in behalf of Sunday or its observance, is a confession of the lack of the power of God. Armed with his power, the Christian has no need of any other. Do we read of the apostles sending petitions to Rome asking Cæsar to enforce obedience to Christ? Did Jesus bid them apply to Rome, to be endowed with power from Cæsar? What a manifestation of weakness this would have been!

Adopting the language of C. H. Spurgeon, “I am ashamed of some Christians because they have so much dependence on parliament, and on the law of the land. As to getting the law of the land to our religion, we earnestly cry, Hands off; leave us alone. Your Sunday bills and all other forms of act—of parliament religion—seem to me to be all wrong. Give us a fair field and no favor, and our faith has

no cause to fear. Christ wants no help from Cæsar. Let true religion triumph by the power of God in men’s hearts, and not by the power of fines and punishments.”

(To be concluded.)

HELPFULNESS

The King's Messenger.

The gospel of help is the gospel of Jesus, is the gospel to be practiced as well as preached, is the only, the best, gospel needed to-day.

Help one another — not help to pauperize, but help to develop, help to bless; not only financially, but socially, mentally, physically, and spiritually. The church's lack is helpfulness. This is the cause of the separation between the church and those whom it has come to bless and save.

The church should be the place of the abiding of the Abider, the Comforter. Everyone should be comforted with the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and everyone should be under-comforters. Comforted ourselves, we should comfort others with the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. In fact, we should receive the Holy Ghost, not for ourselves, but for the comfort and helpfulness he will make us to others. Away with all selfishness, and let us put helpfulness in its place. What though we are rebuffed and ill-requited for our pains? what though the world is full of ingratitude, and we are buffeted and ill-treated for our helpfulness, and those we have helped and blessed are our accusers and persecutors? So they did to Jesus; so they have done, and ever will do, to Spirit-filled folks.

What, then? — Keep on helping. Yours to help. If they curse, you bless. When the Master was filled, he blessed, he healed them all. When the big, burly Jew smote him from behind on the cheek, and dropping back into the mocking crowd, tauntingly saying, Prophesy. Who struck thee? and again, when the same people, whom he blessed and desired to save, spit upon him and smote him and gave him vinegar mingled with gall to drink, he prayed, “Father, forgive them; they know not what they do.” So Stephen, so Paul. They still continued to help. Helpfulness must be our forte. Help one another.

This is the need of the church in the world to-day — a spirit of helpfulness. “Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” The Holy Spirit came not to Jesus to make him holy, but to make him helpful. So to us to-day; not holiness, but helpfulness, is to be our seeking — not for self, but for others; not to be blessed, but to bless. This is the cry of the Holy Ghost in us to-day: “Bless me, Lord, and make me a blessing.” Nothing selfish in our prayer: not for self, but others. Bless me, not make me happy, nor holy, nor wise, nor successful; but make me a blessing, and thus enable me to help others. This is the true desire of the Holy Ghost in each heart — helpfulness.

GIVING

By Ella Cornish

ELLA CORNISH.

(College View, Neb.)

“God so loved the world, that he gave,” freely, fully gave, all that heaven could bestow—the matchless, priceless gift of his only begotten Son, to be a “sacrifice for sin.” Thus the very foundation of Christianity lies in love—a love that gives, not that which costs nothing, but love that gives by sacrifice; for “Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us.”

The gift of loving sacrifice has ever been, will ever be, blessed and honored of God. The poor widow’s two mites were, in the estimation of him who knows the heart, more than all the gifts of wealth or pride; but he who gives “to be seen of men” receives but the reward of unrighteousness.

If we give ourselves, our love, our sympathy, and our prayers with our gift, the blessing returns to our own hearts in “good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over.”

Christ performed a notable miracle in feeding the multitude by the Sea of Galilee. The bread came from him, but it was distributed by the disciples; for he “gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.” And does he not give to us, his disciples, that we may distribute to the multitude?

If we are his disciples indeed, we can not shirk the responsibility of setting the bread of life before famishing souls, that they may eat and be filled. We may think we have so little that we have none to spare; but I can not imagine Peter, John, and the other disciples each staggering along with a load sufficient to feed a thousand persons. It seems to me that they distributed what was in their hands, and returned to Jesus for more; nor need we fear to give what he has given us, then look to him, who has all the wealth of the universe at his command, to supply our need.

It is not what he withholds, but what he gives us, that we are responsible for. And be our giving little or much, if according to our ability, and given in love for Jesus and the souls for whom he died, God will bless the gift and the giver, and we shall hear at last from the lips of the Saviour, “Ye have done it unto me.”

SOWING WILD OATS.

By E. W. Catlin

E. W. CATLIN.

(Kenyon, Minn.)

“Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.” Eccl. 11:9. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” Jer. 17:9. With what does the heart “cheer”?—With deceit. How will you be walking if you “walk” in its ways?—In wickedness. Now you may “do all these things,” and even “rejoice” in them, “but know thou that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.” “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Heb. 10:31. To fall is to fail in power. When you “fall into the hands of the living God,” at the Judgment, you will fail in power, and must then accept the reward of the deeds done in the body. My young brother, “be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Gal. 6:7.

Preach the Word

By T. L. Cuyler

It is a fair question whether some of the falling off of conversions is not to be attributed to a falling off in many minds of an implicit faith in the perfect truthfulness, perfect infallibility, and perfect inspired authority of God's blessed word. A certain style of reckless and irreverent Biblical criticism is working sad havoc in these days. The minister who wastes his week over studies that unsettle him, and on Sunday mounts his pulpit with shaking knees, is not likely to win many converts. Brethren, “preach the Word!” That is the beginning and the end of your high commission. Preach the Word, seasoned with prayer, and God will take care of it, and converts will be multiplied. — T. L. Cuyler.

LIFE ETERNAL, OR NOTHING— WHICH?

By W. M. Herd

W. M. HERD.

Some time ago many of us were enthusiastic over a message sent by the Lord through the Spirit of Prophecy, telling two important truths. One, as generally expressed, is that the sealing work has begun; the other, that in order to solve the mystery of faith and godliness, we should proclaim, “I know that Christ is my portion forever.”

At a meeting held soon after this Testimony was received, where this latter feature was especially dwelt on, there was a prompt, enthusiastic response from nearly all present, who seemed to appreciate the power contained in this message from the heavenly sanctuary. But the last brother who spoke advanced an idea to the effect that the proclamation, “I know that Christ is my portion forever,” may truthfully be given by every one, saved or unsaved; for while Christ brings salvation to the righteous, he at the same time destroys the wicked, and thus is the ultimate portion of both classes. This idea seemed to check the enthusiasm previously shown. And wherever this idea is accepted, it can not fail to neutralize the power contained in the proclamation. This is, probably, the reason so little has been heard on this subject since that time, and I can not wonder at it; for it seems like an insult to our Father to class his utterances through the Spirit of Prophecy with the meaningless, ambiguous phrases of the Delphian oracle.

When the Lord instructs us to say, “I know that Christ is my portion forever,” there is indeed the power of an endless life in it; for if Christ is my portion, all that belongs to him belongs to me; and if he is my portion forever, all that he has is mine forevermore. And how much is included in this? — He says, in John 16 : 15, “All things that the Father hath are mine.” Is death included among the attributes of God? — Nay, verily; it belongs to another being entirely. Heb. 2 : 14. No; here is what the Saviour says: “As the Father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.” Then, Christ being my portion forever, I have life in Christ forever, and all things else that pertain unto life and godliness.

This proclamation can fairly be classed with that of Job: “I know that my REDEEMER liveth,” which shows Job’s confidence that the Lord would raise him to immortality.

So also, those who can say, “I know that Christ is my portion forever,” can confidently expect in their individual experiences the fulfilment of the promise contained in John 6 : 54. Indeed there is reason to believe that the promise, in John 8 : 51, “If a man keep my sayings, he shall never see death,” applies with special force at this time.

If this message from the Lord means anything, there is the power of an endless life in it; and I can not conceive it possible that any one who believes the Testimonies could, upon mature reflection, place any confidence in any such construction of a Testimony as that which is here exposed. No; there is no double meaning. There is life, and joy, and peace, and power in the proclamation, if we will take these good words of the Lord, and make them ours; for that is what they were given for. Then the power that is in them will be ours, and thus can be fulfilled that other part of the Testimony, which says, “The time has come when all who work in Christ’s lines will have the mark of God, in words, in spirit, in character, in their honor of Immanuel.”

The Comforter and Spirit of Truth

“The Holy Spirit is called both the Comforter and the Spirit of truth, because there is comfort and hope in the truth.”

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