Review and Herald, Vol. 33, No. 14. (3/30/1869)

Review and Herald

Mar 30, 1869

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 30, 1869

A TEST OF CHRISTIAN CHARACTER.

By JOS. CLARKE.

When a man is building a house, which he intends shall withstand the iron tooth of time, he is very careful to have none but the most durable material used in its structure. If the building is to be of great size and weight, the stone is sometimes tested, to prove its strength and solidity, before it is placed in the building; as was the marble used in the building of the Washington Monument.

In the upbuilding of a Christian character, so many have failed in the past, it is evident to all who are in earnest for eternal life, that we cannot be too careful and severe with ourselves (not with each other), in subjecting our characters to Scripture tests, to know assuredly if we are the children of God.

The great reason for thus testing our own characters at this time is, not to adjudge ourselves outcasts from God, but to form such habits of thought, and feeling, and doing, as shall best conduce to our growth in the Christian life.

Every wrong motive of action, every wrong habit of thinking, speaking, or acting, every evil emotion of the heart, every vain thought, each and all of these are materials unfit to stand the test; while the opposite characteristics are durable and polished materials, with which to form a symmetrical, beautiful, and heavenly character.

But the particular test, to which I would call your attention now, is found in the words of David, “I hate vain thoughts, but thy law do I love.” This I speak of, as one out of many to be found in the Bible, and I do it because I know that it is the delight of every Christian to subject his own character daily to the mirror of God’s holy word; not in every case because he doubts his acceptance with God; for there are a few, who have so often examined themselves, that they have arrived at excellence of character. These however are few, and for these I do not now write; but for such as in consequence of past neglect have become lukewarm, given place to Satan, and now seek to get right with God. To such I would say, Are you willing to subject yourselves to this test? If you are, may the Lord help you. If not, this article is not for you.

To this test we now apply our minds: David was a man of God. He wrote as he was moved by the Holy Ghost. His delineation of Christian character is our model. He hated vain thoughts. Do we hate vain thoughts? If we do, so far we are right in the sight of God. Reader, you say you do; but please stop and consider. Are you sure you hate all vain thoughts? Do not, I beseech of you, hastily say, Yes, I do, and heedlessly pass on to something else, more interesting to your taste; stop right here, and ponder for hours upon this matter. Be sure it is not a light affair. It is of more importance to you, than all earthly considerations, whether you do truly hate all vain thoughts; I have seen men who wore the badge of discipleship, who hated a large class of vain thoughts, but still clung to a few vain ideas, which proved their ruin. Did you ever think of this, dear reader, that one vain thought, if perseveringly held, would ruin you in the end?

Do not, I demand of you most affectionately, get tired of my perseverance in holding you to this point; I assure you, it is a theme most interesting, when you get accustomed to meditate upon it. True it may bring you great dismay and shame of soul; but it is better to shame yourself out of your sins now, while you have an opportunity of getting clear of them, and throwing them overboard, than by-and-by, when they will cling to you like oil or powder to a burning magazine.

Vain thoughts were the bane of David’s life. He hated them. He hated all of them. Not one did he let. We sometimes see men—oh! how good they are in almost everything. You cannot but love them. They are pillars in the church. But alas! there are a few things against them, and perhaps the worst of it is, these few things lie so deep down you cannot touch them; neither can any man touch them. They can search themselves, by this test, and they would find out in time; but it would in many cases require time, and much candor and plain dealing with self, to get at the root of the evil.

The beauty of dealing severely with one’s self is, that God helps such by his Spirit. Ah! yes, and angels love to help such, and they build with such material as Satan cannot crush, or throw down; and the Tobiahs and Sanballats cannot get these Nehemiahs away to the plains of Ono, to discuss minor points. No, dear reader, he cannot do that.

Do not think I am getting personal, because if you do think so, you are the very person I am not writing for. I am writing for such as will like plain talk, and plain dealing. It is too late for fine-drawn distinctions. We want eternal life. That is what you and I seek. Before such a motive all personalities vanish. If I am indeed a child of God, I shall hate vain thoughts. Now I must know what vain thoughts are, or I may shipwreck my soul on this ignorance.

What then are vain thoughts? Solomon says of this world, “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” Ah! now we have the key to this matter: all is vanity; all of this vain earth. Another says, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity. The wicked and unconsecrated man is vain, in all his thoughts. His best acts are so mingled with unworthy motives that God sees no merit in them; and those not actually sinful, are, at least, vain; and how few of the best can say, I am free from vain thoughts. It may be asserted without fear of contradiction, that the greatest task the good man has, is to watch against vain thoughts. If successful here, he is everywhere. This is the door by which Satan enters; and he, who keeps this door well, can keep the other avenues to the soul. Vain thoughts! It is shameful to open your heart to this and that foolish idea, this surmise, and that fancy; this desire, this conjecture, and that plan so founded on nothing; air castles, day dreams—or, perhaps your mind is almost void at times: no connected plan of thought; vacancy, want of order. Do you know this is just the place for Satan to work, in a heart unkept, unwashed, unswept, all full of dust of the world, so that a good thought gets smothered in a moment? But again, vain thoughts include, not only thoughts actually sinful, but all useless thoughts. Why? Because this useless timber excludes good thoughts. Have you thought of this? Will robins mate with bats, or will the thrush nest with the crow?

Do not get tired, brother, I want to hold you here. We cannot soon exhaust this subject. It is a wide field. If you are disgusted with my plainness, and my subject, then my effort is not for you.

It is the delight of the neat housekeeper to scan the remotest corners for whatever filth is there; not because she likes to handle filth; but she is desirous to rid her house of the least particle of dust, which may unhappily cling to a corner, or to any part of her domains. So the Christian delights in this duty; and while he laments the existence of evil, he is so habituated to self-examination that it becomes his delight to turn his eyes within, not only because he has this work to do, but because he finds it profitable, and edifying to his soul. In time, he builds and builds, and from frequent imperfection, he attains to some assurance, which comforts and strengthens him in times of darkness. We say he builds; yes, and he is always ready to improve his building, by removing this or that article which the test pronounces unworthy, and he is willing to subject his building to the severest tests which inspiration furnishes; and it is as great a pleasure to remove the unworthy article, as to replace it with such as will stand the scrutiny of God’s wisdom. Why? Because that the removing the condemned article, is the first step in introducing the tried and sure material, durable as eternity. But to particularize a little more. It is possible for a man to cherish vain thoughts, and at the same time, think he is a very Solomon in wisdom, in this very thing, and to plume himself upon his vanity. I do not refer to men of the world, but to good men, at least those who we believe are good men; men who are at heart engaged in the work. A man may think he is such a guardian of another’s virtue, that he does not suspect

his own.

So those, having charge of souls, may be so burdened with other’s sins, that they forget their own frailty, and become overanxious. A sort of jealousy may come in, lest some brother should sin. We may not rid ourselves of responsibility; but there is a middle ground between recklessness, and a sickly, nervous worry about little matters. There is one species of vain thoughts which weakens us, at times. I speak of general principles, which apply to myself, perhaps, as much as to any one. But apply as they may, we may not ignore them, for this is our safety, to deal unsparingly with that “pink of perfection,” dear self. At the present time, a quick and rapid movement is called for in our onward march. Our Captain orders, Haste; the army is in great force upon our track. Many are too much encumbered with this world, to be reached. Only a few of the present company will reach the goal. These will have the more difficulty to break from the influence of those who have only a name to live. If one were wakened from sleep abruptly, to escape from the hungry flame, which was consuming the house, we could readily appreciate the kindness of him who gave the alarm. So we applaud the wisdom and kindness of those whom God has fitted up to alarm a drowsy church, and a sinking world. And as they bid us watch and pray, let us study continually, to see what dangers we must watch against.

In investigating this matter, all our labor will be fruitless, unless we have the eye-salve, to remove the film which sin and Satan have caused to cover our eyes. A clock might as reasonably be expected to repair itself, as for a wicked heart to seek out its own wickedness, and expel the same, of its own free will and power. We need the help of God’s good Spirit in this matter; and, dear reader, let us take care to cherish the good Spirit of God, and ask such aid in all our meditations.

Let us bear in mind, that exposure is of small consequence, compared with guilt. What if men do, or do not, know of our sins? God sees them. If we can propitiate his favor, all is well; if not, ruin is sure.

To attain to the power to exclude evil thoughts, we may with propriety seek for high attainments in holiness, as the only means of permanent success. We may maintain this position of light skirmishing with the enemy, sometimes victorious, sometimes vanquished, for a century if it were possible, and Satan would be pleased. What we now want, is a complete arming and discipline, and absolute victory in every conflict. To receive this we need humility, and courage to face the foe in that fortress, the heart.

We may pray as often and as long as the Pharisees did, and unless we understand our own case, our prayers will be as vain as theirs; and every one of them will only strengthen the foe we have admitted to this important position. When we have seen the evil of this heart, as God sees it, then will our prayers ascend with power to the throne on high.

Oh! the wisdom we need in this search! Solomon was wise; but when he turned his eyes within, he failed to see the folly and madness lodged in his heart. He nursed within himself the foulest serpents and the basest thoughts. His heart once filled with divine wisdom and purity, became swinish and beastly. Alas! would it were not so; but he doubtless was fully warned by the good men of his time. Their counsel was set at naught, and the wisest man fell.

Lord, arouse us to look within, and seek out the foes which lurk in our own hearts, only to ruin us. Let all our love for these foes be turned to hatred; and renew us wholly in the temper of our minds.

O Jesus, our great Physician, let us come near to thee by our faith; and as here upon earth, thou didst heal disease by a touch, so heal us of the disease of sin. Oh! heal us most thoroughly, so that it shall be natural and easy for us to act with wisdom and discretion. Heal us, so that every tendency to evil shall be eradicated, and take away our unbelief. Heal us, so that all our impulses shall be noble, every motive pure. Fulfill in us what thou didst in Enoch, and let us move on with constant and even step, until like him we shall be admitted to see thee amid the glories of Heaven.

JOS. CLARKE.

“I PRAY FOR GUIDANCE.”

By J. A. Gregory

FATHER, I would be guided by thy hand; Lead me, oh! lead me through this “vale of tears,” Until I reach that bright and heavenly land, Beyond the confines of these rolling years.

Lead me from sin, and from temptation far; Nor let me wander from the narrow way That leads to climes where saints and angels are, Where life flows on through realms of endless day.

Oh! guide me safe o’er all life’s stormy tide; Be thou beside me when the tempest roars; Soothe the rough billows as I onward glide, And bring me safely to the farther shore.

The paths of sin lie thick on every hand; Guide me, and keep me safe where’er I go, And grant that in thy strength I may withstand The fierce assaults of every secret foe.

Oh! keep me, Lord, nor let a single sin Blight all my hopes, and wither all my joy; But may my heart, all purified within, Be filled with love and peace without alloy.

J. A. GREGORY.

A BRIEF LECTURE ON THE DEVIL.

Text.—“Your adversary the Devil walketh about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter v, 8.

Introductory. There is a Devil.—See text, and many other texts, for which you are referred to in almost any portion of the Bible.

The Devil is an adversary.—References as above to be studied in the light of many chapters of your personal experience.

The Devil is malevolently active.—He goeth about on the mission of destruction.

I. He rises early.—If you awake betimes, and think to walk forth to the accompaniment of the matin song of birds, you will be shocked, it may be, to find him in advance of you. His engines are in operation, his shops are open, his artisans are busy, his agents are abroad, his nets are spread, his incantations are wrought, his pits are digged; earlier than waiting fathers, he has made ready for their sons; earlier than praying pastors, he is in pursuit of their flocks; earlier than morning prayers, he is afoot, “seeking whom he may devour.”

II. He sits up late.—“Nine o’clock, and all’s well,” once chanted the pacing watchman, but when he said, “All’s well,” the Devil must have laughed in sardonic scorn. The red fires of his work were burning all over the crowded city.

“Ten o’clock, and all’s well,” and pious people said their prayers and laid down to sleep, and here, and, in this city alone, here two thousand dram-shops stood open—gay lights made them cheerful, and the Devil laughed again as he saw the sons of ministers and deacons, class-leaders, stewards, sons of very good people in the country, turning in. Well he knew for what they were in training.

“Eleven o’clock, and all’s well,” and yet theaters crowded with young men and women, boys and girls, lurid with the air of sin, redolent of blasphemy, the air thick with moral pollution, were in full blast; concert-cellars gathered their motley crews, dance-houses rung with wassail cheer.

The tempted turned away from honest labor, sought in vain, crouched beside the wall, and an eager, hungry look was in their eyes—the Devil must have laughed as he heard the drowsy watchman cry, “All’s well,” and saw good people sound asleep.

“Twelve o’clock, and all’s well.” Once a year, some churches hold a watch-night, and with solemn song and prayer live the old year out and the new year in. It is an event prepared for, talked of, got ready for, and remembered as an epoch!

Now go out. Midnight! Hear the billiard balls as they are smitten; hark to the rattle of the dance; hear the oaths and curses of men around their card-table—the gambling hells keep watch-night, seven times each week.

Midnight! Yet through half-opened blinds streams the light of the house of the strange woman; her doors are open, and from them there is a direct and short path to the shade of hell.

On through the small hours, hot-footed, he keeps his way. Along his path is theft and arson and violence, ghastly murder, or outraged virtue—the sin-born babe is strangled—the wandering homeless wretch takes his plunge into eternity to escape the starvation or retribution of time.

III. He takes no vacation.—The schools are closed, for the hot summer is upon them, and then the Devil gathers the children to his schools. They are free. He never suspends for absence, nor expels for misconduct. He makes no distinction in color. All are welcome. He opens his school in the dusty street, in shade of stables and saloons, beside timber piles and wood-yards, on the dock, by the depot—anywhere. With what a glee he sings parody on the song:

“Gather them in, Gather the children in.”

The churches are closed. ’Tis hot weather. The heat comes in through walls of thick stone, through windows of costly stained glass, and down through roofs of slate. The minister perspires, the organist sweats, the bellows-blower grows anxious. Let all have vacation. Shut up the house of God, four, five, or six, long weeks—let the pastor go away—all hands for vacation!

Except the Devil. He is busier now than ever. His chapels are open, and are made more than ever attractive. The organ is dumb, but shall there be no music? The Sabbath is now to be especially worked, for Satan has it all his own way, and it will go hard with him if he does not so well improve the two months of closed churches, that he can afford to be comparatively easy during the minister’s protracted winter siege.

He takes no “noon-spell,” but “goes about” on his dangerous quest without cessation.

THREE LESSONS.

1. Be sober—thoughtful, considerate.

2. Be vigilant—ever watchful.

3. Remember he is “your adversary,” and he goes about to destroy you.—N. W. Christian Advocate.

ONE SHORT PREPARING HOUR.

By M. J. COTTRELL

“Yet does one short preparing hour, One precious hour remain.”

I was especially impressed with these words while reading them as quoted by Bro. Lamson in a late REVIEW. And my heart felt to respond, I, too, “want to improve it by divesting myself of wrongs, that I may have a clean record in the day of Judgment.”

It is a precious light which shines upon our pathway, showing us the dangers which threaten to destroy us. It is a precious light which shines upon our hearts, revealing to us the wrongs which are keeping us from making advancement in the Christian course. Then let us, with thankful hearts, give earnest heed to the precious light; and though made sensible of this light by the sore chastening of the Lord, let us remember that a God of mercy holds the rod, and that love, or tender parent's love, prompts the strokes under which we writhe.

Reproof has made me sensible that I have a great work to do in order to be accepted among God's pure, humble children. With shame I acknowledge that pride of the worst kind, pride of self, has crept into my heart, and held me a too-willing captive. I do desire to so humble myself before God that in his own due time he will be pleased to give me some place among his exalted, purified children.

The light given has caused me to search my heart as never before; and oh! what a multitude of evils I find lurking therein. It has caused an awakening to a sense of sin, such as I never before experienced, not even when first I felt my need of a Saviour. Truly I have felt too unworthy to lift so much as my eyes to Heaven; and the poor publican's prayer has been mine. But I have resolved to set earnestly to work, and, by God's assisting grace, root out the many evils I find in my heart, and strive daily to deny self. I will try to “heed the warning,” and live up to the light, hoping that our loving Father will accept me for Jesus' sake, and give me the strength I need.

Die to self! Oh! help me, Father, Learn this lesson which I know I must learn, or never enter Through those gates with pearls aglow, 'Soon they'll ope on glittering hinges, And the Man of Calvary, Who, though sinless, for poor sinners Suffered keenest agony. He who was a man of sorrows Then will bid his children come, And his voice like richest music Bid his ransomed welcome home. And I know that those who enter Through those pearl-set gates of light, Join the song of praise eternal, And are clad in garments white. They will all have learned this lesson, Painful though the process be. Father, help me now to learn it— Die to self, but live to thee.

M. J. COTTRELL.

Let Your Actions Speak

THE greatest talkers are usually the lightest workers and possibly the smallest thinkers. No matter how much you think over any plan for good. The more the better. But let your actions speak of it to the world, rather than your lips.

THE WORLD WHEN CHRIST COMES.

It is clearly set forth in the Scriptures, that the return of Christ to Judgment will find the world anything but holy, peaceful, Christian, and happy; and that the last days will be earth's worst days, crowded with all forms of abounding wickedness, apostasy, irreligion, disorder, and sensuality. Indeed, it is one of the uniform laws of Providence, that judgment never comes in a pure and peaceful age. It is only when the blasphemies of men run highest that the Almighty strikes. When the wickedness of the old world culminated, the flood came. When the iniquities of Sodom were at their height, the day of doom dawned. When the “iniquity of the Amorites was full,” the sword of Israel was upon them for their extermination. When the Jews, in their many crimes and apostasy, added responsibility for the Messiah's blood, the ploughshare of destruction overturned their city, destroyed the last remnant of their state, and entailed eighteen centuries of woe upon their children. The greatness of judgment is also graduated by the extent and turpitude of the offenses which call it down. As all divine judgments, hitherto, have been samples and earnests of the great Judgment to come; and, as that when it comes, it is to be the most universal and awful of all, we are forced to the conclusion that it will overtake the world in a condition of the most unbounded guilt and godlessness, transcending everything that has thus far marked the history of man.

To this, also, agree all the scriptural statements on the subject: “When the Son of Man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Luke xviii, 7, 8.) “As it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man.” (Luke xvii, 26, 27.) We know what sort of days those of Noah were. We know that they were not centuries of righteousness and peace. The testimony of God certifies to us what was the state of things. The inspired record is, that “God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The earth also was corrupt before God; and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.” (Gen. vi, 1–13.) Such is the awful portrait of those times, sketched by the Holy Ghost himself. And the word of the divine Jesus, more than once recorded, is: “AS THE DAYS OF NOE WERE, SO SHALL ALSO THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN BE.” (Matt. xxiv, 37–39.) We know, too, from the same infallible course, what was the moral state of the cities of the plain at the time. They were overwhelmed. “The Lord said: the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and their sin is very grievous.” Not ten righteous men could be found in all their teeming populations. (Gen. xviii, 20–32; xix, 1–17.) But the word of Jesus is, “Likewise, also, as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all; even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.” (Luke xvii, 28–30.) Paul testifies to the same effect: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” (2 Tim. iii, 1–9.) And if this correctly portrays what is to be the prevailing condition of the professing church, what shall be said of the vulgar multitudes who make no pretensions to piety or godliness? —Prophetic Times.*

KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS.

By M. P. STILES.

WHEN the darkness and gloom of the world, with the labor and cares of life bear heavily upon us, let us keep our eyes on Jesus. See him bearing the heavy cross up Calvary, fainting by the way, while he endures, in untold agony, the penalty for man's transgressions, suffering, the just for the unjust. When persecutions are heaviest, when friends forsake, and watch us for evil, saying things falsely against us, and when they separate us from their company, and cast us out, let us remember that we are but strangers and pilgrims on the earth, and have here no continuing city. Let us then keep our eyes on Jesus. Behold him, the meek and lovely One, fleeing from place to place, spit upon, reviled, scourged, having not where to lay his head.

When oppressed with the burden of this last message of mercy, and we feel that the Lord has a great deal for us to do, let us look at Jesus, a lad of twelve years, chiding his parents for expecting him home, saying, Wist ye not, I must be about my Father's business? Follow him in his arduous labors of love and mercy, with the sins of the whole world upon him, weeping and lamenting for the sins of his people, until he finished the work his Father gave him to do on the earth.

And now where do we look for him? Dressed in priestly attire, in the holy of holies, he is now doing the last work he will ever do for us as sinners. Oh! let us not now lose sight of him for a moment. Let his blessed Spirit fill our hearts and being with the light that surrounds him. Many years He labored for us on the earth, and many years has he been pleading and laboring in Heaven to prepare a people, who, for the glory set before them, and in view of his great love and sacrifice for them, will be willing to give all for him, bear the cross, despise the shame, and fear not those who can only destroy the body, but him who is able to destroy both soul and body. When we realize all that Jesus has done for us, does the way of life seem any too rugged? Is the recompense of the just any too dearly bought? Why do we desire ease in this world? We are laborers working for an inheritance. Oh! let us work with a will, doing our Father's business, be it ever so little that is required.

Are we lukewarm? Let us not rest separated from Jesus. Let us keep our eyes upon him. He still pleads for us. He still invites us, with his sweet Spirit and loving words, to come to him. Let us be zealous and repent, and buy the gold. Oh! let us do something for Jesus, to advance his cause. This is a good way to dispel the clouds. Let us afflict ourselves, make a sacrifice unto the Lord, even that of a broken heart, and contrite spirit. Let us be sure we draw nourishment from the true Vine. May we not be cast off as withered branches, but bear fruit to the glory of God. Soon, if faithful, he will take us home, to enjoy that “rest that remaineth.”

M. P. STILES.

THE BIBLE.

Who composed the following description of the Bible was never known. It was found in Westminster Abbey—nameless and dateless:

A nation would be truly happy if it were governed by no other laws than those of the Blessed Book.

It is so complete a system that nothing can be added to it.

It contains everything needful to be known or done.

It affords a copy for a king, and a rule for a subject.

It gives instruction to a senate, authority and direction to a magistrate.

It cautions a witness, requires an impartial verdict of a jury, and furnishes the judge with his sentence.

It sets the husband as a lord of the household, and the wife as mistress of the table—tells him how to rule, and her how to manage.

It entitles honor to parents, and enjoins obedience on children.

It prescribes and limits the sway of the sovereign, the ruler, and authority of the master—commands the subjects to honor and the servants to obey, and promises the blessing and protection of the Almighty to all that walk by its rules.

It promises food and raiment, and limits the use of both.

It points out a faithful and eternal guardian to the departing husband and father, and tells him with whom to leave his fatherless children, and whom his widow is to trust—and promises a father to the former, and a husband to the latter.

It teaches a man to set his house in order, and know his will; it appoints a dowry for his wife, and entails the right of the first-born, and shows how the young branches shall be left.

It defends the rights of all, and reveals vengeance to every defaulter, overreacher and trespasser.

It is the first book, and the oldest book in the world.

It contains the choicest matter—gives the best instruction—affords the greatest pleasure and satisfaction that we ever enjoyed.

It contains the best laws and most profound mysteries that ever were penned; it brings the best comforts to the inquiring and disconsolate.

It exhibits life and immortality from everlasting, and shows the way of glory.

It is a brief recital of all that is to come.

It settles all matters in debate, resolves all doubts, and eases the mind and conscience of all their scruples.

It reveals the only living and true God, and shows the way to him, and sets aside all other gods, and describes the vanity of them, and trust in such; in short, it is a book of laws, to show right and wrong; a book of wisdom, that condemns all folly and makes the foolish wise; a book of truth, that detects all lies and confronts all errors; and a book of life, that shows the way from everlasting death.

It contains the most ancient antiquities, strange events, wonderful occurrences, heroic deeds and unparalleled wars.

It describes the celestial, terrestrial and infernal worlds, and the origin of the angelic myriads, human tribes, and devilish legions.

Search the Scriptures.

THIS GENERATION.

By G. G. DUNHAM

It is supposed by some that the Saviour's words in Matthew xxiv, 34, have reference only to the generation to whom he was then speaking, and that the signs just mentioned in the preceding verses, were signs only of the destruction of Jerusalem. Now although there is Scripture enough, it seems to me, to convince any one that these signs are signs of the end, and that our Saviour's words have reference to the last generation, the very generation that sees these signs, we have other testimony which goes to show that such is the fact.

These signs were to appear immediately after the tribulation of those days. Verse 29. The tribulation of those days was the Papal persecution of the saints down to about the middle of the 18th century. Jerusalem was destroyed in A. D. 70, yet neither Josephus nor Milman mentions any of these signs as preceding the destruction of that city.

Josephus mentions many other signs, attending that event; but not one of those spoken of by our Lord, are, so far as I have read, mentioned. The book of Revelation was written A. D. 96, twenty-six years after the destruction of Jerusalem. In chap. i, 1, it says that the things therein revealed must shortly come to pass. In chapter vi, 12, 13, the same signs are mentioned again, and in such close connection with the end of time, and so long after the destruction of Jerusalem, that our friends should quibble no more upon this point.

G. G. DUNHAM.

Jackson Co., Mich.

How to Give.

“A FEW days ago,” says Dr. Schwartz, the editor of the Scattered Nation and founder of a Christian Jewish home, “I received a letter, and on the inside of the envelope, which contained six penny stamps and nothing else, these words were written: ‘Fasted a meal to give a meal.’ I know not who sent this touching gift, and it matters little whether I know it or not; it is known to Christ. The gift is appreciated by Him who saw the widow throw into the treasury the two mites, and called unto him his disciples, and said unto them, ‘Verily, I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than all they which cast into the treasury; for all they did cast in of their abundance, but she of her want did cast in all she had, even all her living.’”

A Loving Rebuke

A LOVING REBUKE.—John Howe once observed two men in a violent passion. Their mutual cursings shocked his religious sensibilities. He looked at them, raised his hat, and said in a solemn voice:

“I pray God to bless you both!”

This prayer so impressed the quarrelsome men that they ceased their strife, and thanked Mr. Howe for his supplication.

Temperance and Christianity Improve Character

TEMPERANCE and Christianity have a wonderful power in adorning people, or improving their appearance. It gives them “a meek and quiet spirit;” and this the Bible calls an “ornament which is in the sight of God of great price.” Temperance and religion make the eye look brighter, the complexion clearer, the smile sweeter, the voice softer, and everything about our person better-looking than it otherwise would be.

DECEPTION.

By Joseph Harvey Waggoner

Says the Proverb, “He that hateth, dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him. When he speaketh fair, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.” Prov. xxvi, 24, 25. It is the inevitable lot of a deceitful person not to be believed “when he speaketh fair.” Time and space would both fail, to point out all the testimonies in God’s word against deception. A hypocrite is a most odious character in the sight of God and man. He may think he can gain something by deception; but all he gets at the last is a bad name, and will not be believed when he tells the truth. A person who once tells a lie is distrusted and suspected; but a deceitful person—one who has cultivated a habit of falsehood in both word and life, cannot be believed, and is always shunned by the honest. No sin has been more severely denounced in the Scriptures, and none more certainly brings evil consequences even in this life; because it is not only an evil in itself, but it is the refuge and hiding place of all other sins. It is the accessory of all crimes.

The case of Jacob deceiving his father to secure a blessing is well presented in Spiritual Gifts, and so as clearly to vindicate the justice and purity of God’s character and government. And it is worthy of remark that Jacob suffered most severely in after life from the same cause.

When he had served the appointed years for Rachel, and “they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her,” how must his heart have sunk within him to find that his ardent affections had been trifled with by the deception of Laban, who had brought one unto him whom he had never loved. We can scarcely imagine anything more cruel than this.

And again his own sons caused his heart to bleed when, with deceit and falsehood, they brought to him the coat of his dearly-beloved son, and made him believe that an evil beast had devoured him. Long years he mourned his son as destroyed, because of this deception, though Joseph was both living and prosperous. As by his own deception he was long separated from his father’s house, so by the deception and treachery of his children was his son long separated from him. So his sin followed him.

But it may be asked, Why did Jacob suffer thus for his crime if he was truly penitent, and so forgiven? Because God would show his abhorrence of the sin of deception, and let him suffer in this life, though he was granted mercy and life in the world to come.

A family in England, somewhat noted for piety, was yet very unhappy in their family relations; calamities greatly befell them. John Wesley was asked the reason of this, as it seemed to many to be a denial of the providence of God over his servants. Mr. Wesley replied that he had known them from their childhood, and that, as a family, they had been very disrespectful and unkind to their parents, and therefore the like had been meted out to them. He further said that he had often noticed that, where persons had been guilty of sins peculiarly abhorrent to God, they had been left to suffer the bitter consequences in this life, though God had accepted their repentance and given them assurance of life eternal.

Many such cases are found in the Bible, beside that of Jacob. Though king David was in all else honorable, upright, frank and generous, and repented sincerely for his crime, yet the sin of adultery was so odious to God that it could not be altogether passed over. He caused him to suffer deeply in consequence of it. Had David been of an opposite character; had he been deceitful and vain instead of being frank and humble, who can tell what might not have been the result of such a sin? But noble as he was in all his life beside, even a man to govern Israel after God’s “own heart,” he had to feel the rod for his departure from the commandment of God.

No sin can be so secret that God cannot see it. Deception will not avail before him who knows the heart. And though a person may flatter himself that his schemes have succeeded, and his plans been too deeply laid to be detected, he will be sure to find at last that “The way of the transgressor is hard.”

J. H. WAGGONER.

Skowhegan, Maine.

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