Your ShelfYour Projects

Review and Herald, Vol. 77, No. 19.

THE CALL TO THE FEAST

Review and Herald

May 8, 1900

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 8, 1900

THE CALL TO THE FEAST.

By Ellen G. White

MRS. E. G. WHITE.
“The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: and the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.”
The king sent his messengers first to those who were called his chosen people. But these, wholly intent on securing worldly gain, sent in their refusal, saying, “I pray thee, have me excused.” They did not have sufficient respect for the master of the feast to accept his invitation. They are represented in the words, “Them that are turned back from the Lord; and those that have not sought the Lord, nor inquired for him.” Thinking their own wisdom sufficient, these have much to say, as if they were oracles of wisdom. The Lord declares, “Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord God: for the day of the Lord is at hand: for the Lord hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests. And it shall come to pass in the day of the Lord’s sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king’s children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel. In the same day also will I punish all those that leap on the threshold, which fill their masters’ houses with violence and deceit.”
When the class that were first called refused the invitation, the king sent his messengers into the highways, where were found those who were not so deeply absorbed in the work of buying and selling, planting and building. “The wedding is ready,” the king said, “but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.”
“And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.”
There are those who come in to enjoy the privileges of the banquet of truth who have not eaten the flesh and drunk the blood of the Son of God. They claim to believe and teach the word to others, but they work the works of unrighteousness. “But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil-speaking, be put away from you, with all malice; and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
Those first called, who refused the invitation, represent God’s chosen people. The Lord declares, “Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them: yet they hearkened not unto me.” Had they heeded the call which meant so much to them, they could have united with the messengers in giving the invitation. But with one consent they began to make excuse. Still the blessing of truth must be set before them, to give them an opportunity to heed the message.
The invitation neglected by those who had first been bidden, was sent to another class. It was given to the Gentile world. And it was first to be proclaimed, “in the highways,”—to those who had an active part in the world’s work, to the leaders and teachers among men. Let the Lord’s messengers bear this in mind. It comes to the shepherds of the flock, the teachers divinely appointed, as a word to be heeded. Those belonging to the higher ranks of society are to be sought out with tender affection and brotherly regard. This class has been too much neglected. It is the Lord’s will that men to whom he has entrusted many talents shall hear the truth in a manner different from the way in which they have heard it in the past. Men in business, in positions of trust, men with large inventive faculties, and scientific insight, men of genius, are to be among the first to hear the gospel call.
There are men of the world who have God-given powers of organization, which are needed in the carrying forward of the work for these last days. All are not preachers; but men are needed who can take the management of the institutions where industrial work is carried on, men who in our conferences can act as leaders and educators. God needs men who can look ahead, and see what needs to be done, men who can act as faithful financiers, men who will stand as solid as a rock to principle in the present crisis and in the future perils that may arise.
We need and have needed talent that it was the Lord’s purpose we should have. But so much selfishness has been woven into our institutions that the Lord has not wrought to connect with the work those who should be connected with it because he has seen that they would not be recognized or appreciated.
There are conscientious men who have not yet seen the light of truth who need to betaught. Those who have labored in the temperance cause, and who in their work have had the Lord behind them, should have had far more labor put forth in their behalf. We need to feel our responsibility in this work. Do not go to those in the higher ranks of life and call them in such a disrespectful manner that they will not listen.
The teachers, the leading men among the people, must be called. To them the invitation must be given. They must be dealt with personally and earnestly; for if one teacher is won to the truth, he will be able to communicate to many others the light received. More work should have been done for those in high places. Those who give the last message of mercy to a fallen world are not to pass by the ministers. God’s servants are to approach them as those who have a deep interest in their welfare, and then plead for them in prayer. If they refuse to accept the invitation, tell the Master about it, and then your duty is done.
Lest we should think only of great and gifted men, to the neglect of the poorer classes, those who are in humble circumstances, Christ in the parable of the great supper instructs his messengers to go also to those in the byways and hedges, to the poor and lowly of this earth. Go to those in gross darkness, and as many as you shall find, bid to the feast. This is the work we are to do. Labor is to be put forth for all classes.
The humblest men and women have their appointed work. The most lowly, if they will receive the truth, will be accepted by Christ to do his work. The Lord will do a great work through humble men in reaching humble men. God will accept the talents of the greatest men, but if these refuse to return to him their intrusted gifts, he uses humbler workers. It is God who has given men all the power they possess. Those who refuse to use their gifts in his appointed way will be left to their own finite wisdom, to lose their all. God will accept the patient, loving service of lowly people. Through the skill of a multitude of humble workers he will carry on his work.
From the arrangements made for the building of the tabernacle we see from whence man gets his strength, skill, and education. “The Lord spake unto Moses, saying, See, I have called by name Bezaleel, . . . the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber. . . . And in the hearts of all that are wisehearted I have put wisdom, that they make all that I have commanded thee.”
Those in the byways and hedges came in response to the call of the messenger. The servants gathered together as many as they found, both bad and good, and the wedding was furnished with guests. So those who come to the gospel feast are a mixed company. Some are true believers; others have not on the wedding garment. Some will accept the invitation, and apparently take their stand as believers, who have never put on Christ. But the work of separation is not given to any human being. Yet there is laid upon the church the work of carrying out the Bible rule in regard to disorderly members.
Those who came to the feast had no fitness for it in their common dress; and therefore fitting apparel was provided for them. So before we are ready for the banquet Christ has prepared, we must put on the garment he has provided, the robe of his righteousness.
The man who came in to the feast without the wedding garment, represents those who violate God’s law. Christ gave his life to make it possible for God to pardon sin. Violation of the law caused Adam to lose Eden. The disobedient can never enter in through the gates of the holy city. They can never have a right to the tree of life. The Lord has made every provision that no soul need in any way dishonor him. He has provided the wedding garment, and it is essential for each to be clothed in this garment. Those who think they are complete without Christ’s righteousness will find in the end that they have lost their souls. Faith is made perfect by works. Those who make no change in character, though claiming the privilege of being called Christians, have not on the wedding garment. They think that in themselves they are good enough, virtuous enough. Without faith in Christ, they rest upon their own merits. True repentance for sin they have never felt. Therefore when Christ comes in to examine the guests, the command goes forth, “Bind him hand and foot, . . . and cast him into outer darkness.”
“Many are called, but few are chosen.” This is a true statement of the final outcome. Man is very dear to the heart of God, and all are invited to this feast. But many come not having on the wedding garment. They do not accept Christ’s righteousness. They have not repented and made peace with God. They have not received his free gift.
Christ must be all and in all to every soul. Those who try in their own strength to solve the mystery of the creation of man, the mystery of redemption, the mystery of eternity, will be baffled. But those who put on the garment provided for them at an infinite cost, find an abundant entrance to the rich feast of spiritual blessings. By receiving this garment they acknowledge that in bestowing it God confers on them a great favor. And as they receive the righteousness of the Saviour, God places his stamp on them.
Only one can bestow this priceless gift, but all may receive it, and thus become entitled to a place at the feast. The call to this feast is a call to partake of the richest spiritual provision. All who respond to this call will find awaiting them an abundant supply of grace, and the more grace they receive, the more they desire. Those who partake of this feast may turn to their heavenly Father, saying, Thou hast kept the best wine until now.

GRANT US THY PEACE.

By Emily Appleton Wade

FAR in the west the day is slowly fading, Dark grow the shadows of the evening hours; Sweet o’er the senses steal the zephyrs, laden With the soft fragrance of the drooping flowers. Grant us thy peace.
All through the day our erring steps have wandered Far from the paths thy sacred feet have trod; With broken vows and precious moments squandered, On humble knee we pray to thee, O Lord, Grant us thy peace.
Dark grows the night, the weary world is sleeping; Darkness can hide not from thy piercing light; Take us, O Saviour, in thy gracious keeping, Safe from the terrors of the lonely night: Grant us thy peace.
Grant us thy peace when life’s brief day is closing; Hold thy dear cross before our fading eyes; Through the dark vale within thine arms reposing, Till morning dawns for us in paradise, In perfect peace.
— Emily Appleton Wade, in The Churchman.

THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.

By Clarence Santee

CLARENCE SANTEE.
(Concluded.)
“Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” 1 Cor. 16:2. This text is used to prove that Sunday is the Sabbath. It has been argued that Paul enjoins the putting of offerings in the collection box on that day, that to do this they must meet together, that therefore this was the common gathering day, and hence was the new Sabbath.
A moment’s thought will convince a candid person that this view is untenable. Paul says: “Let every one of you lay by him in store.” You can not lay an offering by you when you put it in the public collection box. Greenfield in his lexicon translates the term, “With one’s self; that is, at home.” “Let him do this by himself when he is at home, when he can calmly look at the evidence of his prosperity.”—Barnes. “Lay by him in store; at home.”—Justin Edwards Notes. “Par heauto, At one’s home or house.”—Liddell and Scott’s Lexicon. So we might multiply translations.
Paul asked contributions for the poor saints at Jerusalem. Verses 1, 3. “According as God hath prospered him,” “not according to that he hath not.” 2 Cor. 8:11, 12. This was purely a business matter. To look over the receipts of the last week, and so determine the prospering hand of God, is not a business to be entered into on the Sabbath day. In fact, some men in business find a full half-day of close application none too much to decide the profits and losses of a single week. The Lord, speaking through the apostle, suggests this day as one most fitting to balance all accounts before entering the duties of the new week.
Thus every text being briefly examined that mentions the first day, we find no sacred title applied to it, no command for its observance as a Sabbath, no blessing upon him who thus observes it. Instead, the disciples are found, after the resurrection, laboring upon that day, and the Spirit of God designating it as a business day.
Does not John term the first day, “the Lord’s day”?—No. The text is Rev. 1:10: “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day.” The special day is not mentioned further. The question at once arises, Which is the “Lord’s day”? The Lord does not leave us in uncertainty. In Ex. 20:8–11 I read, “The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.” Again, “if thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord,” etc., Isa. 58:13. Christ says, “The Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath.” Mark 2:28. “The Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day.” Matt. 12:8. The Lord’s day then is the Sabbath day, and “the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord.” Therefore John was in the Spirit on the Sabbath, the seventh day, which the Scripture “specifically” mentions as “the Lord’s day.” Isa. 58:13; Mark 2:28; etc.
The Sabbath day belongs to Christ. He made it: “for by him were all things created: . . . all things were created by him and for him.” Col. 1:16. “God . . . hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, . . . by whom also he made the worlds.” Heb. 1:1, 2. “All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made.” “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.” John 1:3, 10. As Christ created the world and all things therein, then it was Christ who rested, and thus made the rest day, or Sabbath day. Gen. 2:2, 3.
Christ inherits the name “God” from his Father. Isa. 9:6; Heb. 1:4, 8. The Sabbath brings to us our Creator. It was given for this purpose. Ex. 31:13, 16, 17. Without the Sabbath we can not know him as he is. “I gave them my Sabbaths to be a sign that they might know that I am the Lord.” Eze. 20:12, 20. The Sabbath commemorates every act of the first six days of creation. “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.” Ex. 20:8–11.
Let us consider a few points that are precious in the true Sabbath: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Gen. 1:1. How?—“By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.” Ps. 33:6. “The worlds were framed by the word of God.” Heb. 11:3. Then the Sabbath is to us a continual reminder of the power of God’s word.
Again: “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.” Gen. 1:3. How did the light come?—From the power in God’s word: “And God said.” Was the sun then shining on the earth?—No, not until the fourth day. Verses 16, 19. The light was asgood before the sun shone upon the earth as it has ever been since. “God saw the light that it was good.” Verse 4. Are we then dependent upon the sun as the great source of light, heat, and reproduction?—No; but upon the power of God’s word. The Sabbath commemorates that power. If the Sabbath had not been forgotten, there could never have been a heathen nor a sun worshiper.
Look again: “And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and the herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit.” Verses 11, 12. Could man look to the sun as the cause of this growth?—Certainly not, as the sun had not shone upon the earth. Could man look to the earth as the power that caused the trees to stand there in full size, “yielding fruit”?—No. Again the Lord has not left us ignorant. “The Lord God made . . . every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew.” Gen. 2:4, 5.
Could then our first parents, as they plucked the ripe fruits, have looked to the earth, sun, or sea, and worshiped any of them as the source whence they received these blessings? These were only the servants bringing the blessings that the Lord had provided, and behind them was the only power that man could look to, and that was the never-failing “God said.” The Sabbath reminds us of this fact, and is the pledge of the Lord that the “word” still stands.
When the day comes that it can be said that “the flame hath burned all the trees of the field,” and “the seed is rotten,” and “the corn is withered” (Joel 1:17–19), who alone will be strong, depending upon God’s word, to supply their need?—Those who see all this great power in the great remembrance, the Sabbath, the sign of God’s everlasting “word of his power.” God can never fail you as long as he permits you to take hold of all this in the Sabbath.
Can these mighty assurances be found in First-day observance?—No; because the call to remembrance comes only from man, and man is powerless.
Listen to the statements of eminent men, as to where the First-day sabbath rests. Father Enright, Catholic, says, “I have repeatedly offered one thousand dollars to any one who can prove to me from the Bible alone that I am bound to keep Sunday holy. There is no such law in the Bible. It is a law of the holy Catholic Church alone.”
Rev. John Snyder, a First-day observer, said, in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat of April 3, 1887: “Every instructed man knows that there is no New Testament authority for the change of the day of rest from the seventh to the first day of the week. Every instructed man knows that the Catholic Church gave to the Christian world the Sunday, and determined the manner in which it should be observed.”
“This commandment has never been repealed by divine authority, and the method of observing it has never been changed one jot or tittle since it was thundered forth from Sinai.”—The Free Baptist, June 1, 1887.
Thus we are brought to the alternative of deciding upon whom we can rely for succor in the evil day. God says, “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the Son of man, in whom there is no help.” Ps. 146:3. But instead, “Trust ye in the Lord forever: for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.” Isa. 26:4.

AN OPEN LETTER.

By Samuel D. Heady

To Christians of All Denominations, the Church of Rome Excepted.

[The following, though not exactly a sermon, nor delivered by a minister, nor yet by a Christian, but only by a common man and a sinner, will be found to contain at least two important sermons: one in the direct subject-matter of its appeal; the other, and not inferior one, in the effect, which it sorrowfully reveals, that the disobedience of ministers has in holding men in the thraldom of sin. With painful emphasis it appeals to every minister to heed that counsel of the Lord, “He that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully.”—Ed.]
I, the undersigned nonprofessing Christian, would like some of your honorable members to answer a few questions that one of your fellow men, and a sinner, would like to know; and also in order to enable you to see more clearly how the world at large regards you. I except the Church of Rome, for they do not believe that the Scriptures contain all things that a Christian is bound to believe. See “Faith of Our Fathers,” page 111, Cardinal Gibbons. But all Protestant churches, so far as I know or ever heard, believe in the Bible and the Bible alone. And if you do believe in the Bible only, why do you not teach only the Bible? See 2 Tim. 3:16, 17; also Gal. 1:8, 9. With these scriptures before you, how can you teach those unscriptural doctrines that can be heard every Sunday from most of the popular pulpits all over our fair land? And how can you expect sinners like myself to believe you are sincere, and believe what you teach, when anyone who has made a study of the Scriptures can see you are weighed in the balances, and found most woefully wanting?
Please tell me, any of you, Where do the Scriptures tell you to keep Sunday for the Sabbath, or Lord’s Day? and where was Sunday ever made holy? When Paul did not teach such doctrine, and tells you that anyone who teaches anything different from what he taught shall be accursed, what will be the fate of those teachers who lay aside the plain testimony of the Bible, and substitute for the same the doctrines of men? Let Christ bear testimony in this case. Matt. 15:9, 13, 14.
Do you say, You do not know these things are in the Bible? I know that you do know it. Many of you teach this error knowingly. A minister of my acquaintance told me that he knew there was no Scripture for Sunday-keeping; and I have several books in my library, on First-day sacredness, that acknowledge that there is no divine command for First-day sacredness. And then those same ministers wonder why we sinners do not join their churches! It makes one believe one of two things; namely, that the popular ministers are themselves disbelievers in what they teach, or else they preach just as I run my train—for dollars and cents.
Now I know from personal study of the subject that Sunday is not the Sabbath; and I know that all the ministers I have talked with know it also. And what other conclusion can I, a worldling, come to? Now remember that I am not a professed Christian, and never have been; but if I ever should join any church, it will have to be one that keeps the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Rev. 14:12.
There is one other conclusion that I am sometimes compelled to contemplate when pondering over the fables taught from the popular pulpits: perhaps those teachers are the ones of whom we are told in 2 Thess. 2:11, 12. They certainly are not the ones spoken of in Phil. 4:8, 9. Sunday sacredness is not true; is not honest toward God, for it robs him of his own chosen, holy time. It is not pure worship; for many of the keepers of the day know better.
Now I would not have you think that I do not believe there is any good in the churches. I most certainly think there are many good people in all churches. But I can not think those teachers who weekly preach error, and know it, are any better than I am, and I know that I am not good; for I am a sinner, and not living up to the light that it has pleased an All-wise God to give me.
The true Christian will say to me, Why don’t you live up to the light?—I answer: The god of this world—riches—has me in the boat with our popular ministers; and I can not see how men who preach error, and know it, are any better than I am.
Again: they teach that heathen doctrine of the immortality of the soul, and the teacher of that doctrine in the Bible has not much of a reputation for truth. Gen. 3:4. He—Satan—is called a liar from the beginning. God told the man he should surely die. The serpent told the woman, “Ye shall not surely die.” Now there is but one conclusion to come to,—one told the truth, and the other a falsehood. And most of the professed Christians of the world to-day give Satan the credit for telling the truth in this instance.
Certainly nowhere in the Bible is the immortal soul spoken of. If the soul is immortal, what use is there for a resurrection of the dead? And if the real man is in heaven or hell as soon as he appears to die, what need can there be of a resurrection? If all men have life independently of Christ, what does man need of Christ? Christ says he is the way and the life. The ministers of our day preach that all men have life independently of Christ? The Scripture says, “He that hath not the Son of God, hath not life.” 1 John 5:12.
Again: the Scripture tells us in John 14:3, “I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” Why will Christ come again, if all his chosen ones are already in heaven? Such doctrine makes vain the second coming of Christ. And if there is no second coming of Christ, then there will be no resurrection of the dead, and, consequently, no future life for believers, since the second coming of Christ is to accomplish the resurrection of his saints. 1 Thess. 4:16.
Again: there can be no judgment day if all are judged when they die, unless all are to be judged twice; and that is to charge God with folly. As I am writing to Bible students, I consider it unnecessary to give Bible references.
Again: let me ask, When is coming the time that is spoken of in Rev. 5:13, if millions of our fellow creatures are to suffer throughout all eternity in a burning, seething hell?
And now to notice one other doctrine held by some of the popular churches; namely, baptism. The Scriptures tell us there is “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” Now if I read the Scriptures aright, repentance and belief come before baptism, and I would ask the advocates of infant baptism why they baptize any one who has neither repented nor believed and simply can not either repent or believe.
There is another plainly taught doctrine in the Bible that is ignored by all the churches, as far as I know, with but three exceptions; namely, the ordinance of the humility of Christ, or feet-washing. “But,” says one, “you make me blush by speaking of such things.” Perhaps you may blush now; but what do you imagine you will tell Christ when he asks you if you knew these things? John 13:4-17. The question with me is, Did Christ know what he was talking about, or not? I think he knew what he wanted his followers to do; at least he says, “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.” Now, man, whoever you are that professes to be Christ’s, do you do as Christ tells you that you “ought”? Do you wash your brother’s feet? And, now, woman, do you wash your sister’s feet? If not, are you Christ’s from a Bible standpoint?
Remember, God is not mocked; and if you will not do these things, and will disregard his word, when plainly understood, then you are not, and of necessity can not be, any better than I am; and I know that I am a sinner. Now if Christ knew what he wanted to say, and did say it, then I should obey, were I a professor of Christianity. I could write for a week on these and kindred subjects, and not exhaust them, and I like to talk on the same subjects when I meet a minister. And as I do not wish in any way to hide my identity and am responsible for these lines, I will tell you who I am. My name is Samuel D. Heady. For more than twenty years I have been a railroad conductor. At the present time, and for about fourteen years, I have been in the employ of the Santa Fé system. I was born in South New Berlin, N. Y.
If I am wrong in any of the foregoing matters, I would thank any one on earth to show me my error. S. D. HEADY.
Albuquerque, N. M.

The Least Unbelief

“The least unbelief, if cherished, involves the soul in guilt, and brings great darkness and discouragement.”

SIN IS SIN.

By H. W. Reed

H. W. REED.
(Milwaukee, Wis.)
TO BREAK any one of the ten commandments to-day is but to do great wickedness, and sin against God. To do thus was to sin, in Abraham’s day, in Joseph’s day, in Christ’s day; it is the same to-day; and the day of Judgment will prove it sin throughout probation’s day. Christ is our only refuge. He is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. He is the city of refuge to the transgressor of the law. Wherever sin is, grace doth there abound.
Before the speaking of the law at Mt. Sinai, the Lord remonstrated with the children of Israel, saying, “How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?” The very commandment they had violated was the fourth, which some tell us had no existence till given at Mt. Sinai about thirty days later. Thus we see the existence of God’s law before Israel came to Mt. Sinai.
It is generally admitted that the ten commandments were kept, and that all were binding, from Mt. Sinai to the cross. Some profess that when Christ died, God’s law was abolished. Some religious teachers claim that God’s law did not exist for more than the first two thousand years, but that it did exist for the next two thousand years, was then abolished, and has not been in existence since then, or for the last two thousand years. If this claim be correct, the people of these periods must have different standards by which to be judged, as well as by which to live. But this view, or claim, must be incorrect; for God is no respecter of persons. He will use one standard alike for all. Every man will be measured by the perfect law of God, from the first to the last saint saved, and from the first to the last sinner destroyed.
Let none of Christ’s followers believe, teach, or practice the soul-destroying doctrine that the law of God is abolished; for what else than soul-destroying can it be called? It gives license to sin; and God’s word says, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” This means the second death. If any man would escape this death, it must be through the life of Christ.
Then let all transgressors of the perfect law repent toward God for their violations of it, and by faith receive the perfect righteousness of Christ. This is the sinner’s hope, whether in the church or out of it.
Christ is the only one on earth who ever yielded perfect obedience to the perfect law. We all may have Christ in us, the hope of glory. Then, and then only, can perfect obedience be wrought in us. To attempt otherwise is but to invite utter and inglorious defeat. Then let all accept Christ that he may be to them “all, and in all.”
His obedience must be our obedience; his righteousness our righteousness. His perfection must be our perfection. He must be all of this unto us, if we are ever saved.
Let all, then, accept the perfect Christ, that they may have the perfect righteousness which is in him, and thus keep the perfect law of God. Sin is sin, and its sure result is eternal death.

WEEK OF PENITENCE.

Delaware (N. Y.) Gazette.
The Board of Bishops of the Methodist Church issued to all Methodist churches the world over, a letter appointing a week of penitence and prayer. The bishops prepared the letter after studying statistics and reports, showing a decrease of church membership and a falling off in attendance. They specify the causes, as follows: labor troubles and the church standing aloof from a solution of them; neglect of the submerged tenth; Methodism above its business, and permitting the Salvation Army to do its work; speculations and vagaries of Christian Science; no more camp-meetings; light literature; character of amusements, and too many of them; side-tracking of moral and spiritual forces, necessary to build up a church, and the lack of self-denial; no more revivals—given up because some people make fun of them; criticism of preachers and of sacred things; higher criticism of the Bible,

Union with Christ

“UNION with Christ means the dispensing of his blessings.”

TAKE ME AND MY BURDENS.

By Carrie Merrall

Wouldst thou have thy gift most surely Reach and comfort some sad heart? Then be sure thou art not giving Only just a meager part.
Wholeness, be it gifts or heart-love, Is what gives the sweet, the bloom; E'en a thread must not be missing When the fabric leaves the loom.
Do we often give our Father Hearts where something is reserved? Thank him, then, if sorrow bringeth Back to paths from which we swerved.
He wants us, yea, more, our burdens, Longs to give, instead, his peace: He would “gather” us, and hold us, Where all care and worries cease.
Take us, Father, and our burdens, Hold us close, that we may there, “In the secret of thy presence,” Let thee every trial bear.
Take our thoughts, “dear Holy Spirit,” Make them captives to thy will; So inbreathe thine own each moment, That thy joy our hearts will thrill.
Then do thou so fill our vision, No more room for self and sin; Time and thought filled with his service, Till his door shall shut us in.
— Carrie Merrall, in King's Messenger.

THE HOLY GHOST.

By Belle Beck Gibson

BELLE BECK GIBSON.
  • (Victoria, British Columbia.)*
Reproves of sin. John 16 : 7-11.
Invites us to come. Rev. 22 : 17.
Makes intercession for us. Rom. 8 : 27.
Speaks to us. Rev. 2 : 7.
Guides into all truth. John 16 : 13.
Renews. Titus 3 : 5.
Gives liberty. 2 Cor. 3 : 17.
Gives knowledge of Jesus. 1 Cor. 12 : 3; Eph. 3 : 5.
Regenerates. Titus 3 : 5.
Makes us an habitation. Eph. 2 : 22; 1 Cor. 6 : 19.
Brings unity. Eph. 4 : 3.
Dwells in us. John 14 : 17.
Gives life. 2 Cor. 3 : 6.
Helps our infirmities. Rom. 8 : 26.
Strengthens inner man. Eph. 3 : 16.
Writes the law of God in our hearts. 2 Cor. 3 : 3.
Reveals the deep things of God. John 16 : 14; 1 Cor. 2 : 10.
Gives power. Acts 1 : 8; 1 Cor. 2 : 4.
Anoints. Acts 10 : 38.
Changes into divine image. 2 Cor. 3 : 18.
Searches all things. 1 Cor. 2 : 10.
Justifies. 1 Tim. 3 : 16.
Glorifies. John 16 : 14.
Seals unto day of redemption. Eph. 1 : 13; 4 : 30.
Bears witness. 1 John 5 : 6; Heb. 10 : 15.
Brings to our remembrance. John. 14 : 26.
Fruits. { love joy peace longsuffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance righteousness truth } Gal. 5 : 22, 23.
Gifts. { w​​isdom knowledge gifts of healing working of miracles prophecy discerning of spirits divers kinds of tongues Interpretation of tongues } 1 Cor. 12 : 8-10.

WOMAN'S MINISTRY.

By L. A. Hoopes

In the Review of Jan. 30, 1900, notice was given concerning the work among the women, which was started by Mrs. S. M. I. Henry. It was there stated that the women had the same ministry since the death of Sister Henry as before. She was a leader among the women, and there is no question as to her call of God to the cause she espoused. But her toil and labors are ended, and the women are left with the same work to carry forward. Their responsibility is not lessened in any degree. The personal, individual work of each and every woman increases as time goes on. Each new opportunity for doing good and helping some discouraged soul to look up and trust in Jesus, brings an increased responsibility.
The General Conference Committee in their spring session considered this question, and were fully convinced that the work was specific enough to demand more than a passing notice. After examining some of the correspondence of Miss Grace Durland, the office secretary of this department, it was clearly manifest that the women's work should assume a more tangible form. Accordingly Miss Durland was retained as office secretary, and an advisory committee of five women was appointed to take this entire department in charge, and develop and set in operation such plans as will be for the best interests of this phase of our work, and the advancement of the cause of God.
The following-named women were appointed by the General Conference Committee to have charge of this work: Mrs. G. A. Irwin, Mrs. S. N. Haskell, Mrs. A. J. Breed, Mrs. L. A. Hoopes, and Mrs. C. M. Christiansen. Mrs. Irwin was chosen as chairman of the committee. Correspondence concerning this work should be addressed to her at 271 West Main St., Battle Creek, Mich., where it will receive prompt attention.
There are grave responsibilities resting upon this committee. While the plans must not be stereotyped so that the work can be done only in one way, yet there must be plans laid that will enlist all the latent forces in our homes and families, in the great work of saving souls. This committee can not do the work alone; they must have the co-operation of every lover of truth for humanity's sake. They must have your prayers.
L. A. Hoopes, Sec. Gen. Conf.
Continue reading: EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE