Earlier text: A Prayer for GuidanceOne Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollar Fund
By R. M. Kilgore
For Special Work at Home and Abroad One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars
THIS is quite a large sum of money; yet Seventh-day Adventists have undertaken to raise it for missionary extension, and important institutional work. If the burden of raising this amount of money devolved upon one man, it would be crushing. If ten men were given the task, there would be delay. If a hundred of our people were set to work, it would require each one of these to raise $1,500, but few of whom could perform the task in the time allotted for it. If all our people were to put their shoulders under the load, it is estimated that each one would be required to raise only $2.53. How many are there of our people who could not raise that amount? There may be a few among us, but there are many others who would not be satisfied to give so small an amount. Some will give $10, others $25, while others will willingly give $50, and some will make their gifts to this fund $100 and more. By this plan of co-operation, the $150,000 could be easily and speedily raised. When this plan was set before us by Elder A. G. Daniells in the REVIEW, the Graysville church immediately set itself to work. The officers of the church met in council. We found we had nearly $500 to raise as a church. This was ascertained by multiplying our membership by the amount allotted to each one, as suggested above. In order to make the amount for the church sure, it was suggested by some that $3 to each one would be better than the smaller amount. A soliciting committee of four or more earnest, active members was appointed, being supported by the entire church. They are authorized to call on every member of the church, and present to each one personally his duty in this matter, and to collect the money. To those who may be absent, earnest letters will be written soliciting their co-operation in making up the sum total for the church and for the large fund. Those who are able to give more than the individual share must be constrained to double or quadruple the individual share, or do even more than this, in order to make up for those who are not able, such as the destitute, the widows, and those who have large families that are members of the church. Those who are poor will be invited to give all they can toward their share. Thus every member of the church will be importuned to do all in his power to enable the church to raise its share of the $150,000. Those who are not prepared to pay all at once will be asked to render their share in instalments, as may be arranged between themselves and the solicitor, while others will ask for time, being willing to pledge. Now, in order that the church may know when its share is made up, it is understood that all money must be gathered in and every pledge listed by the first of May. This will give ample time for all instalments to be collected, and pledges to be enrolled or met; so by that time we shall know that the task is accomplished, or just how much is yet to be done in the Graysville church. The work is progressing, and is well under way. The officers and members of the church are awake to the fact that when all work unitedly in faith and with willing hearts, the “yoke is easy,” and the “burden is light.” How Shall Our Share Be Raised?
By George I. Butler
An important question in the Southern Union Conference at this time is, How shall we raise our share of the $150,000 fund? By a careful estimate, it was unanimously agreed upon by our delegates and the General Conference officers that the sum of six thousand dollars would be the reasonable share for this union conference. The writer apprehends that the brethren and sisters who are true to this cause in this field would never for one moment be willing to fail in doing their just share in raising this sum. In view of the fact that our Southern field receives fifty thousand dollars of this fund for its own benefit, to equip its suffering institutions, without which they could not be placed on vantage-ground, how could any self-respecting believer here in the South be willing to see this union conference fail in raising its share? This needs no argument. We call attention to an article in this number from the pen of Elder R. M. Kilgore, the vice-president of the Southern Union Conference, concerning the movement at Graysville to raise the five hundred dollars that is about the share of that church. Let every reader of this paper carefully consider this excellent plan of our largest church in the South to raise its proportion of this fund, one twelfth of the share of the union conference. We urge all to carefully study this plan, for it seems to us most excellent. It is businesslike, and it enlists all in the work. It makes provision for collectors to either visit every member, or if absent, write to them. If these solicitors are wide-awake, earnest men, filled with solicitude for the success of this important work, setting before the members the consistency, reasonableness, and importance of this work, and the benefits to be derived from the fund to this poverty-stricken field in building up its needy institutions, the proportion of each can easily be raised, and great rejoicing will result. We heartily indorse this businesslike plan which enlists all in the work, and ask the cordial co-operation of every officer and member in this conference. How much better to have some fixed point ahead to aim at than to be drizzling along in some indefinite way. The plan requires energy, push, complete unity of effort, and a loving, longing desire to see this great effort to carry on the work of God made a success. Sabbath May 4, is the objective point when this plan should reach its consummation. We have not a moment to spare in getting at this work. Every member of each and all our churches composing the Southern Union Conference ought to feel a holy zeal in doing his part. Our great desire is to see this union conference earnest and faithful in all that pertains to the advancement of this best of all causes. In view of these facts, we solemnly call upon each State conference or mission field, and the committee of the same, to at once set in motion every church and the officers thereof. The president of each State conference should at once call his committee together, and obtain from the conference secretary the number of members in each church, and give to the elder or officers of each local church the amount apportioned to their church to be raised. Then as quickly as possible the officers of the local church should proceed to appoint solicitors. The members of the conference committee should keep a constant supervision over this work, and assist all in their power to raise the various apportionments. The success of this excellent plan will depend largely upon the interest taken in it by the officers of the conference and churches, and the earnestness and enthusiasm they put into it. The plan is so reasonable, and the needs of the cause so great, and the importance of its success so evident, that it must succeed. Giving to the cause of God is lending to the Lord his own. All is his, and we are his by creation, preservation, and redemption. To fail in bestowing our offerings is called “robbing God.” Mal. 3:8. “The liberal soul shall be made fat.” “God loveth a cheerful giver.” GEO. I. BUTLER,
President Southern Union Conf. The Gospel Message
By Lucina Moon
Tune: “One Hundred Years to Come.” Go tell the tidings far and near,
“The Saviour soon will come;”
Bid every saint his brother cheer,
“The Saviour soon will come.”
Go sound the message o’er the land,
To islands far and ocean’s strand;
Awake, ye saints, this gospel bear
To every nation far and near,
“The Saviour soon will come.” In dungeon dark the story tell,
The sinner’s Friend will come,
Who died that we might with him dwell;
Our Saviour soon will come.
To heathen lands he bids us go,
The harvest reap; the sun is low.
Let this our song and message be,
He comes to set the captives free.
O Saviour, quickly come! The mourners then shall dry their tears
When Christ their Lord shall come;
They’ll praise his name through endless
years
When Christ the Lord has come;
The sick and maimed, the halt and blind,
Shall in his presence blessing find,
And songs of joy shall fill our days
With endless happiness and praise
When Christ our Lord has come. Go tell the news, he bids us go,
The Saviour soon will come,
Who died for sinners here below;
Our Lord will surely come.
Repent, believe, your sins confess,
Put on his robe of righteousness,
Reach out the helping hand to save
Your friends from an eternal grave,
For soon our Lord will come. Our Duty as Parents
By Ellen G. White
Parents have not yet aroused to understand the amazing power of Christian culture. There are mines of truth to be worked that have been strangely neglected. This careless indifference does not meet the approval of God. Parents, God calls upon you to look at this matter with anointed eyes. You have as yet only skimmed the surface. Take up your long-neglected work, and God will co-operate with you. Do your work with whole-heartedness, and God will help you to make improvement. Begin by bringing the gospel into the home life. The Lord looks with sadness upon the families in which the parents have not educated and disciplined themselves for the work of training their children. Too often parents have little sense of their accountability. They allow their children to grow up with characters tainted by vice. While they sleep in godless indifference, Satan is sowing in the hearts of their children seeds which will spring up to bear a harvest of death. Yet often such parents resent counsel as to have their mistakes. They act as if they would like to ask those who offer advice, What right have you to meddle with my children? But are their children not God’s children also? How does he regard their wicked neglect of duty? What excuse will they offer when he asks them why they brought children into the world, and then left them to be the sport of Satan’s temptations. Many seem to think that the declension in the church, the growing love of pleasure, is due to want of pastoral work. True, the church is to be provided with faithful guides and pastors. Ministers should labor earnestly for the youth who have not given themselves to Christ, and also for others, who, though their names are on the church-roll, are irreligious and Christless. But ministers may do their work faithfully and well, yet it will amount to very little if parents neglect their work. It is to a lack of Christianity in the home life that the lack of power in the church is due. Until parents take up their work as they should, it will be difficult to arouse the youth to a sense of their duty. If religion reigns in the home, it will be brought into the church. The parents who do their work for God are a power for good. As they restrain and encourage their children, bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, they bless the neighborhood in which they live. And the church is strengthened by their faithful work. The work of forming the character of children, of properly preserving and developing their physical, mental, and moral powers, is no small task. It is chiefly upon the mother that this task devolves. To do this work as it should be done requires talent and skill and patient, thoughtful care. It calls for self-distrust and earnest prayer. Let every mother strive by persevering effort to fulfil her obligations. Let her bring her little ones to Jesus in the arms of faith, and tell him of her great need, asking for grace and wisdom. The mother should surrender herself and her children to the care of the compassionate Redeemer. Earnestly, patiently, courageously, she should seek to improve her own abilities, that she may use aright the highest powers of the mind in the training of her children. She should make it her highest aim to give her children an education which will receive the approval of God. As she takes up her work understandingly, she will receive power to perform her part. Mothers, leave not your children to gain impressions of evil, impressions which can never be wholly effaced. Day by day imprint upon their minds the lessons given by the Saviour. This is your work,—a work which no one but you can do. The home is your mission field. Here you are to work for God. Lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset, that you may engage as you should in the work of making your children what God would have them. Teach them self-control. Give them something to do. Make the home a school in which they will learn to help others. There is untold value in industry. Let the children be taught to do something useful. If parents are so occupied with other things that they can not keep their children usefully employed, Satan will keep them busy. Many parents allow their children to associate with evil companions, to go to questionable places of amusement, to grow up mischievous and idle. Let such parents remember that the sin of Sodom was pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness. It is the cry of many mothers, “I have no time to be with my children.” Then for Christ’s sake spend less time on your dress. Neglect if you will to adorn your apparel. Neglect to receive and make calls. Neglect to cook an endless variety of dishes. But never, never neglect your children. What is the chaff to the wheat? Let nothing interpose between you and the best interests of your children. Guard your physical and mental powers, that you may be able to do good work for your little ones. Show your children that you are determined to be a Bible Christian. Dress modestly. Speak wisely. Be gentle, yet as firm as a rock, to principle. Devote no time to needless cooking or stitching. Make your clothes and your food plain. Then you will have time for the culture of your children. God will call upon you to give a strict account of the work you have done for your little ones. You make them what they are. They will either stand pure and undefiled before God, because you have worked faithfully for them, or, corrupt and defiled, they will be banished from his presence, because you have neglected your work. Christ placed such a high estimate upon your children that he gave his life for them. Treat them as the purchase of his blood. Patiently and firmly train them for him. Discipline with love and forbearance. As you do this, they will become a crown of rejoicing to you, and will shine as lights in the world. When to Work
By Nancy D. Underhill
LET us who have been called to work in our Lord's vineyard consider whether we are called to labor now, or at some indefinite time in the future. Did he not say, “Go work to-day in my vineyard”? When he called us to become adopted children in his family, did he say, To-morrow is the accepted time, or next week, or next year? Souls are dying every day. Are we trying now to save them, or waiting for a more convenient season? Some have entered the field as canvassers. It is cold this winter, and the roads are sometimes a little rough or a little sticky. Can't very conveniently go when the days are so short? Some are listening to a smooth, soft voice which says, “Better stay in the house9where it is warm, this winter, it's so much more comfortable indoors. Then it may be that you can study a great deal, and be all the better fitted to take up the work next spring.” Maybe the voice comes from one who is a dear, kind friend (?), one in whose presence you take so much comfort. Maybe the voice comes to you through a member of the church—even a preacher, maybe. But listen! Is it ever the Lord's voice that calls to procrastination, self-indulgence, ease, and pleasure? Of course you can study much this winter, but you can not study all the time. Every muscle of the body must have some exercise, or you will die of inertia. The servants of our Saviour ought not to waste the precious time of opportunity in idleness or play when God's dear children are starving for the bread of life, which he has entrusted to us to carry to them. Next spring may be too late. That soul whom we could have helped may be dead ere then. Now, during the long evenings of winter and the sometimes inclement weather, is the very time when people have leisure to read. If a new book were brought to them now, how gladly would they peruse its pages! and some would thus find the way of life. But next spring, when the ground must be prepared, the seed sown, and the soil cultivated; when the evenings are short, and the toilers weary from their hard work, they will not find time to read. They will not care so much to buy your book then. Even if a few do buy, they will probably lay it aside until they have leisure, and will forget all about it. Meanwhile, time is not waiting. How rapidly it is passing! So, if we wait till by and by to do the work which should be done to-day, by and by the King will return when we are not expecting him, and then what excuse can we offer for having neglected the opportunities which he gave, for having despised his trust, and buried his talent in the grave of indifference. Let us not wait till a more convenient season. Work now. Why not study a portion of each day, and work a part of every day? We can not expect to obtain all the knowledge before we begin to use any of it. That would be like hoarding up our riches, trying to get enough ahead to feed a whole famine-stricken nation, instead of using our means as we obtain them. While we are trying to get the wealth of the world in our clutches, our near neighbor whom we could have helped, would die of starvation, and we would never be any better fitted to feed the nation than we were at first. As soon as we have a loaf of bread, we are able to help our starving brother. As soon as we have the knowledge of one blessed truth, we are qualified to share that knowledge with some soul who has it not. As we go on teaching or spreading the knowledge that we have, we shall obtain more. “There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.” Work for Jesus now. Give to his service your time and talent, while you may. Prayer Through Christ
By William Covert
1. On what condition and to what extent will prayer be answered? “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7. 2. In what name are our requests to be made unto the Father? “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.” John 14:13, 14. 3. What marvelous promises are made to the Christian believer, and why? “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” John 14:12. 4. What important service does Jesus promise to perform for his followers while he abides in heaven? “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever.” John 14:16. 5. What responsive testimony does the apostle bear regarding the intercession of Jesus in behalf of his people? “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” Heb. 9:24. 6. Since Jesus has gone to heaven to present our requests to his Father and to represent our interests there, to what extent will he be able to help us? “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Heb. 7:25. 7. What is our relation through Christ to heaven and to the powers that rule there? “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.” Col. 2:9, 10. 8. How may we be sure of this close connection with our Saviour? “Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.” 1 John 4:13. 9. Since this united relationship between Christ and the believer is effected by the Holy Spirit, what may be said of our acceptance with God and of our standing in heaven? “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.” 1 John 4:17. 10. What was done for man on earth when his Advocate and Intercessor was received and crowned in heaven? “But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.” John 7:39. “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.” Acts 2:32, 33. 11. When our Redeemer and Elder Brother was accepted in the heavenly court, what great favors were granted to us? “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. . . . To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved.” Eph. 1:3, 6. It gives us much courage to know that there are those among us, who, having been much in the home of Sister White, and present at the manifestation of the spirit of prophecy, have had their courage and faith in the Lord greatly strengthened thereby. With the prayer that the faith of many doubting ones might be strengthened, I quote the following significant and self-explanatory letter written to a doubting brother by a daughter of one of the old pioneers in the message:— “DEAR BROTHER ——: Since hearing your sermon yesterday my soul has been greatly burdened, and I have felt impressed either to visit or write you. Perhaps what I say will do no good. But with the prayer that God will help me by his Spirit, I take up my pen to address you. “O Brother ——, I fear you are standing on dangerous ground! I beg of you to consider well the position you are taking. Will the Word of God bear you out in it? “You spoke in your discourse of the danger of being led by a head, and referred to the evils resulting to the children of Israel on account of their depending on the leadership of Moses. Now I ask you, Brother ——, did Moses set himself up as a leader, or did God call him to be the leader of his people? If God did ordain him to be the leader of Israel from Egyptian bondage to the land of Canaan, did he make such a mistake as to cause the people to worship the golden calf while Moses was away forty days? Instead, I think it plainly shows the need and importance of their having a leader. “How many times God has manifested his displeasure when the leader was spoken against! How was it with Aaron and Miriam? Numbers 12. How was it when the whole camp murmured against him? Numbers 14. What was the result when Korah, Dathan, and10Abiram, and ‘two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown,’ rose up in rebellion and said, ‘Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?’ Please read the whole chapter of Numbers 16. Was it the instrument, or was it God against whom they were speaking? The fearful judgments that came upon those that took part in the rebellion answer the question too plainly to admit of a shadow of doubt. “‘Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.’ God has always led his people by human instrumentalities. He speaks through his chosen servants to make known his will to his people. It is not the human instrument as a person we are to follow, but the voice of God to us spoken through his servant. If it is dangerous to have a head or leader, then God has made a great mistake in all his dealings with his people, for his plan has been to raise up men or women to lead out in every phase of his work, and he is still doing so. “What would an army do without a head or leader? What would any corporation do without a head or leader? What is the use of church officers? What is the need of preachers to teach us, if every one is to be led personally by the Spirit of God, as you say? It seems to me that if this idea were carried out, it would bring in utter confusion and tear up the very foundation of our faith—the commandments of God, and the testimony of Jesus, which is the spirit of prophecy. If we give this up, we may as well give up the whole truth which we have held so dear these many years. And that is just what all have done who have rejected the Testimonies in the past. They have gone into darkness; and where are they?—God has rejected such. I have yet to know of one that has made a success. It is a fearful thing to fight against God. The very course that many are taking at the present time is the strongest proof of the inspiration of the Testimonies that have been given in the past, one of which stated that some of our brightest lights would go out in darkness. “I have been connected with this truth from my childhood. I have seen it rise in feebleness, obscurity, and poverty. I have seen how God has blessed those who have stood firm and loyal to his truth. I have seen it grow in brightness and splendor until it encircles the earth, and thousands are now rejoicing in its glorious light. If God had not led in this message, it would have come to naught long ago. And how has he led?—By the humble instrument of his choice, which was but a poor weak vessel, but God spoke through the human instrument. “Right here I want to ask, What is there in any of the Testimonies that is contrary to the Bible? What is there that will injure us in the least? Only our pride and selfishness are crossed. What is there in them that, if lived up to, will lead us away from God and his truth, or cause us to sin and commit wickedness? Is not the very opposite true? ‘By their fruits ye shall know them.’ “God is and has been in this message, and it will triumph gloriously. If we turn our backs upon it, it will make no difference with the truth; God will take care of that. But it will make a difference with us. If we reject it, God will reject us, and we shall lose the blessing pronounced upon those that keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus, and with it our right to the tree of life and an entrance through the gates into the city. “It is neither man-worship nor woman-worship to heed the voice of God spoken through his chosen servants, be they men or angels. In Rev. 19:10 the angel told John not to worship him, for, he says, ‘I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.’ “Hoping you will pardon the liberty I have taken in thus addressing you, and praying that God will add his blessing to the humble thoughts I have penned, and that God will bless and lead you into all truth, I am, “Your unworthy sister in Christ.” Are You Ready?
By L. N. Muck
“BEHOLD, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” These words foretell an event which is about to take place; they call our attention to the second advent of Christ; they announce the fact that the hour of God's judgment has come, and that Jesus is at the door. If we are not ready for this event, it is evident that there is something wrong with us; that a deeper conversion must be experienced before we are prepared to enjoy the holy atmosphere of the saints. “Behold, I come quickly,” is the assurance that our redemption draweth nigh. Then it behooves us to be up and doing, to have our lamps trimmed and burning, to have oil in our vessels. It is time for the watchman in Zion to blow the trumpet, and sound the last-day message louder, and still louder; for we are told that “there shall be delay no longer.” John the Baptist had a message for his day, and his message should be ours to-day. He was the forerunner of Christ, “the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord.” He was the mouthpiece of Jesus, whose mission it was to point men to “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” We, as Seventh-day Adventists, should bear the same message that John bore. Each child of God should act well the part of John the Baptist; each one should be the voice of Jesus, warning a dying race to make straight the way of the Lord. We must be overcomers in deed and in truth, and must put away “the sin which doth so easily beset us,” and run with patience the race that is set before us. None but the pure in heart will be permitted to stand on the sea of glass. If we are willing to be used of the Lord, and accept him as our personal Saviour, then he will come into our hearts, and we shall reflect upon others the glorious rays of his countenance, because he is shining in and through us. Opportunities come but once in life, and the use we make of them will count for or against us in the judgment. Who shall stand in the day of God Almighty? And who shall be able to look upon his countenance and say, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us”? Only those who have had their garments washed, only those who have had their sins purged, will care to join in singing the praises of him who is about to claim his own. The best of all promises, and the one which constitutes the Christian's hope, is that of the return of Jesus. Are we ready for him? Are our eyes open for the vision which is about to appear? Are our ears being tuned by the music which will be made manifest by the saints? Are we preparing to join that song unheard by mortal ears? Are our hearts beating in anticipation for that day of redemption? Are we longing to come into his presence, and to worship at his feet forever? “Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give to every man according as his work shall be.” “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” A Methodist Church Paper on the Sabbath Question
By K. C. Russell
The Peninsula Methodist of June 30 is largely devoted to the discussion of the Sunday question, involving the work of Seventh-day Adventists. The paper not only attempts to prove Sunday to be the day that should be observed by Christians, but also discusses the question of Sunday legislation in other countries as well as our own. The argument made in defense of the Sunday sabbath is practically a thrashing over of the same old arguments which are generally used by those who attempt to bolster up the idea of Sunday sacredness, so I will not weary the reader with all of the oft-repeated and groundless assertions made in this paper. It is sufficient to say that it is claimed that Sunday observance is based upon the resurrection of Christ on the first day of the week, and that Christ and the apostles showed special regard for the day, etc. The first article in this paper, entitled “The Christian Sabbath,” begins as follows:11“The Sabbath was given to Moses in the wilderness, and was effective until the resurrection of Christ, and not a week after.” This statement, implying that the Sabbath was first given in the wilderness, is not only in flagrant contradiction of the Bible, which plainly teaches that it originated in Eden at the close of creation week (Gen. 2: 1-3; Ex. 20: 8-11), but is also out of harmony with the teachings indorsed by the Methodist Church. Binney’s “Theological Compendium Improved,” on page 169, in speaking of the seventh day of the week, says, “The day appointed of God, at the close of creation, because that in it God himself had rested from his work.” Again: it is stated in this remarkable treatise on the Sunday question by the Peninsula Methodist: “We have nothing in the Word of God to warrant the statement that in the beginning of the human race, every seventh day was to be used as a celebration day to commemorate the creation.” In reply to this assertion it will be only necessary for the reader to consider the fourth commandment of the decalogue, which begins with the word “remember;” this word itself is suggestive of a memorial. We read, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. . . . For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.” This scripture will be sufficient to demonstrate to every candid mind that the seventh-day Sabbath is a memorial of creation. In this assertion the editor of the Peninsula Methodist also takes a position which contradicts the view considered authoritative by the Methodist Church on this point; for in the same volume of Binney’s works referred to above, it says, on page 169, that “the seventh-day Sabbath, God’s blessing and sanctifying the day, meant that he separated it from a common to a religious one to be a perpetual memorial, or sign, that all who thus observed it would show themselves to be worshippers of that God who made the world in six days and rested on the seventh.” In speaking of the non-essential features of the Sabbath question, an article by W. H. Poole says: “Of these, perhaps, the one most potent for mischief has come from the efforts of some well-meaning people to make all true Sabbath-keeping depend on the particular day of the week to be observed.” The facts are that those who are agitating a better observance of the Sunday institution, and who desire to have it sustained by civil enactment, are determined that the day to be kept should be that particular day of the week called Sunday. To illustrate: not long since I had an interview with a prominent Sunday advocate who claimed to be greatly burdened because the poor laboring men were being oppressed by their employers in that they were obliged to work on Sunday. I replied that I thought it was a good thing for a man to rest one day in seven; but that if it was simply the rest that they desired to secure for the toiler, why not select some other day as well as Sunday? To this the reply was quickly given that the rest day must be Sunday because that was the Christian sabbath. Thus it will be clearly seen that those who criticize observers of the seventh day for placing so much stress upon the observance of a particular day of the week, are also insisting upon the observance of a particular day, and that particular day must always be Sunday. So anxious are they in this, that they want it enforced upon all by civil enactment. How quickly this difficulty regarding the Sabbath controversy could be settled if the golden rule, “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them,” were followed. Our First Love
By C. H. Bates
“I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” NEVER in our experience as Christians should there come a time when we can not say that we are living nearer the Lord, and our hopes are brighter, than when we were first converted. The Christian life is one of progress in the divine life. While the Christian will not boast of the progress made, he will be able to look back on his past experience and see when victory after victory has been gained, every one of which has left him stronger to meet the enemy of all righteousness. Whenever I hear that any one has left the truths of God's Word, it brings a sadness over me which is hard to describe. In 2 Tim. 4:10 we have the following: “For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world.” The record of Demas is a sad one. He was at one time associated with the apostles in carrying the gospel to every part of the then known world; but for some reason this servant of God laid down the armor, and we are not left in darkness and doubt as to the reason. Does the love of this present world have anything to do with your present spiritual condition? Do you long for this present world more than for the world to come? Remember, you are not the first to be found in this condition. We have the experience of Demas and many others before us. Timothy, in writing to his fellow workers, leaves this encouraging testimony: “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” When you first gave your heart to the Lord, did you commit the keeping of the same to him? If you answer, Yes, then I would ask, Is he keeping it better than you could keep it? And are not your experiences in the things of God richer and brighter than they once were? Remember that we do the committing, God does the keeping. Is God able to keep us? The scripture just quoted abundantly proves that he is; but you might reason thus: He says he is, but what evidence have we that he is able to do it? When we receive a promise from a man, that he will pay us a certain sum of money or perform a certain obligation at a certain time, we at once begin to question his ability or his financial standing, or may look up his rating, to see if he is able even though he desires to do as he has promised. But when I consider all these things, I am reminded of the words of David when he said: “My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved. . . . Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” Do you realize, fellow Christian, that the One who has promised to keep you is the maker of the heaven and the earth? Do you think there is power, then, sufficient to keep you from falling, and not only to keep you from falling, but at last to present you faultless before his throne? Remember, the one who has promised to keep us does not sleep and forget his trusting saints here upon this earth. “He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” Then let no trusting soul become discouraged. We have every reason for rejoicing. The promises of God are abundant, and if we let them, they will lift us above the trials and difficulties of this life, and will finally give us a home such as described by the apostle when he said: “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.” ONE of the most effective of all mechanical powers is the wedge, by which large bodies may be raised or divided, and many things accomplished which could not easily be done by other mechanical agencies. In the mental and moral world the wedge can sometimes be used to great advantage. In hundreds of arguments we may put truth into wedge form, and thus drive it home. There are some persons, however, who always seem inclined to drive their wedges butt end first, and in so doing they split the beetle oftener than they do the log. They assail others in the most offensive manner. They find out the points whereon they disagree with others, and make those points the most prominent of all. They attempt to catch fish by thrashing the water. This is not the way of wisdom. Use the wedge, and be careful that you place it with the thin end to the log. Do not go too fast. Do not tell too much. Do not teach things which men are not able to comprehend or learn. Begin on a small scale. Place your wedges carefully. Drive them slowly and steadily, until they have fully entered and begun to take hold, then let ponderous blows drive them home, and let your strongest arguments carry all before them.—The Christian.