Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 24, 1893
Editorial.
By Editor
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable.”—2 Tim. 3:16.
WHEN Jehoshaphat was about to go out to fight against the inhabitants of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, the Lord said to him: “Ye shall not need to fight in this battle; set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord.” We may learn from this that the warfare of the Christian is not always active engagement. Instead of working through us, God sometimes bids us stand still and watch his workings independent of our agency. At such times it will require more faith to stand still than it will to go forward. Could we but see as God sees we would find in the waiting experience the only true gain. When God says, “Stand still,” obedience brings the greatest victories and the sweetest peace. To go forward at such a time would be retrogression, failure, and defeat.
JESUS CHRIST “emptied himself,” of himself, that God might fill him. Of himself he was righteous, but he did not come to represent self or anything of self to the world; he came to manifest God. God came into that heart which had wholly renounced self and filled it with his Spirit, gave it without measure. Thus it was that God could be manifest and was manifest to the world. “God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself.” Jesus said to Philip, “Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?” And as Jesus emptied himself that God might be seen in him, so we are to have the same mind, empty ourselves, that Christ may fill us, and thus we reveal him to the world. Thus he prayed, “I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one;” and then the effect,—“that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them as thou hast loved me.” Would God that all who profess Christ’s name might empty themselves that Christ might fill them. Then, indeed, would Christ be the light of the world, his followers one, and Christianity would be known by its power.
THIS life is made up of opposites—sunshine and cloud, light and darkness, joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain, favoring breezes and adverse winds of trial and discouragement. And it requires the cloud, the darkness, the sorrow, the pain, and the adverse wind quite as much as the sunshine, the light, the joy, the pleasure, and the favoring breeze, to fit and mould our Christian character. The sturdy oak gains strength through the opposition of wind and storm as well as through the sweet influence of balmy sunshine. The opposition only causes it to strike its roots down deeper and to strengthen the fibers of its framework. Thus with trials in the life of the Christian; they are permitted in mercy to strengthen the character, and to lead the disciple to cling more closely and confidingly to the Rock of Ages.
THE INCREASE OF CRIME.
By F. M. W.
IT is often argued by those who believe in the speedy conversion of all the world that crime is greatly on the decrease. We wish that this were indeed true, but we cannot shut our eyes to the stern facts which assert the contrary. Paul says, “Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” The history of all the past proves this to have been the growing tendency of the race of man. The history of the future (the prophecies of God’s word) plainly declares that this will be the tendency for the time to come. As we near the final culmination of earthly history, the nations of men will have filled up the cup of their iniquity to the brim. Delayed justice will assert its right, and upon a guilty world will be visited the wrath of the Lamb, whose proffers of mercy and love have been spurned and rejected.
The logic of facts presented in the world around us shows that crime is rapidly on the increase. Nor can the force of the argument be broken by the plea that the increase of crime is caused by the increase of the population. Statistics go to prove that the increase of iniquity is out of all proportion to that of the populative growth. A few figures will demonstrate the correctness of this claim.
Take for instance the increase of drunkenness. Surely all will admit this to be one of the crying evils of the day,—an evil, too, out of which grows, either directly or indirectly, many of the crimes that fill the country with violence.
According to Rev. Josiah Strong, D.D., in his widely-circulated and much-read book, “Our Country,” in Great Britain from 1850 to 1874, “while the population increased 113 per cent., the consumption of spirituous liquors increased 241 per cent. From 1868 to 1887, while the population increased less than 10 per cent., the amount of spirituous liquors consumed increased 37 per cent.” Says the Voice: “In the United States the consumption of beer has increased, since 1840, 1,675 per cent.; of wine, 400 per cent.; and of ardent spirits, 200 per cent.” And “during the same time,” adds Mr. Strong, who quotes the above extract from the Voice, “the population increased about 217 per cent.” These facts argue little for the speedy conversion of the world.
Take, as another notable example of the increase of crime, the growing frequency of the chief of all crimes,—murder. The present day is without a parallel in all the history of the past in the increase and frequency of this terrible evil. Upon the increase of murders in this country the following words from Judge Isaac C. Parker, a United States District Judge, will be of interest. They are part of a charge given to the Grand Jury at the February term of the Federal Court, sitting at Fort Smith, Arkansas:—
Let me say to you that in the year 1889 there were committed in the United States murders that were discovered, 3,568; in 1890 there were committed 4,290 known murders, an increase of 722, or about 20 per cent. over those of 1889. But in 1891 and in 1892 the red-handed demon seemed to fully get in his work. In 1891 the number of known murders was 5,908, nearly 6,000, over one-half as many more as were committed in 1889. The total number of murders known to have been committed in 1892 was 6,791, an increase of 793 over the year 1891, being an increase of a fraction over 11 per cent. During these four years there has been an aggregate of 20,557 murders. How much security for human life is there in this country, in the face of these facts? When we consider that the undiscovered murders in the four years I have named will make up at least one-fourth as many more as those which are known, it is safe to say that 25,000 human beings have been murdered in the United States in four years.
Laxity in enforcing laws against crime is always proportionate to the laxity in the morals of the people. And while the great increase in crime to-day is startling, more startling still is the laxity in the enforcement of the laws to suppress or punish the crime. The same bloodthirsty savagery which prompts the criminal to take the life of his victim is often seen in the punishment of the criminal. Instead of allowing justice to take its course, the fickle public will either idolize, and by their unwise course shield the lawbreaker, or else, moved by the same murderous cruelty that actuated him, they will rise up, and, without law, order, or investigation, wantonly take386his life. Either course shows a corruption of morals and a spirit akin to the one who commits the murder.
Speaking upon this point, Judge Parker says:—
There are other startling facts, and they show almost a failure to enforce the law in cases where these high crimes have been committed. For the 4,290 murders committed in 1890 there were executed by the law 102 persons, and there were lynched by mobs in that year 127 persons, more persons punished by mob violence than by the juries and courts.
In 1891 there were for the 5,906 murders committed tried by the law and executed 123 persons, while there were lynched by mobs 195. In 1890 25 more persons were lynched than were punished by verdicts of juries, and in 1891 72 more persons were lynched than were punished by law. In 1892, for the 6,791 murders committed, 107 persons were tried by the law and executed, while 236 were lynched by mobs, 231 of them being men, and 5 women; 129 more persons were lynched last year by mobs than were executed under the law.
The figures for these years are amply sufficient to show that the increase of crime is out of all proportion to the increase of population, and that the punishment for this high crime, while crime is constantly increasing, is constantly decreasing. There seems to be a failure of duty somewhere. What is the matter with the system of jurisprudence in this country that more men each year are taken out and destroyed by the violence of the mob, by the fury of the populace, and put to death for having committed murder, than are tried and convicted and punished legally for this great crime?
Yes, crime is sadly on the increase. The world is fast hastening on toward its final doom. Let us not deceive ourselves into thinking that crime is on the decrease, and that the world must be converted before Christ returns. The doctrine of the world's conversion, or a thousand years of peace and righteousness before the coming of the Lord, is one of the last-day delusions to blind the minds of men to the truths of God's word. All men might come to Christ if they would, but all men will not come. The great mass of the people will reject God and his truth. Let us not expect peace this side of the literal reign of the Prince of Peace. If we do we shall be deceived, and, with those who cry "Peace and safety," shall sudden destruction come upon us.
But while crime is on the increase, and Satan is working with all power to drown men in perdition, we, as the professed servants of Jesus Christ, should increase our efforts to rescue men and women from the vortex of destruction. In the midst of prevailing sin our light should shine out clear and undimmed, a beacon to those in darkness. May Christ in us be lifted up to the race, and may men be led by our godly lives to the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world.
F. M. W.
Vigilance After Spiritual Victory
Unless we are vigilant and watchful we will find ourselves overcome by the enemy immediately following some signal victory. Having gained the battle we are prone to lay off the armor and be less active and alert. But it does not take Satan long to recover from defeat. He steps in at the unguarded moment, and, ere we are aware of his presence, terror and confusion overcome us. This was true in the case of Elijah. He gained a signal victory at Mount Carmel, when God by the exhibition of fire from heaven witnessed to the faith of his servant. But the threat of Jezebel to serve him as he had served the prophets of Baal, reached Elijah in an unguarded moment.
He who had defied the wicked and haughty Ahab to his face, and rebuked his false worship before all Israel, was now seized with terror and dismay, and fled to the desert to save his life. Elijah but manifested the weakness of his human nature. Let us learn from his experience the lesson designed of God for us. Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom from Satan's power, and constant trust in God the only source of strength and steadfastness.
REPENTANCE.
By M. H. B.
THE subject of repentance is closely connected with a true Christian life. It is a necessary step in conversion. When the people cried out on the day of Pentecost, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Peter said unto them, "Repent." Acts 2:38. Paul, in his instruction to the elders from Ephesus, while rehearsing his work among them, declared that he had taught publicly and from house to house, "testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." Acts 20:20, 21. Dr. Adam Clarke, in commenting on Rom. 7:13, says "that a man cannot have a true notion of sin but by means of the law of God. It would be almost impossible for a man to have that just notion of the demerit of sin so as to produce repentance, or to see the nature and necessity of the death of Christ, if the law were not applied to his conscience by the Holy Spirit. Nor do we find that true repentance takes place where the moral law is not preached and enforced." This is in harmony with the teaching of John Wesley, Andrew Fuller, Dr. Albert Barnes, Luther, Thomas Dick, Spurgeon, Moody, and many others that might be mentioned.
Repentance being "sorrow for what one has done or omitted to do," must have reference to a standard of right and wrong. Repentance being "toward God," clearly shows that he has such a standard which all have broken. This is in harmony with Paul's teaching in Rom. 3:9, 10, 19, 23, where he declares that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin, and that the law of God stops every mouth, and proves the whole world guilty before him. He also confesses that the law gave him a knowledge of sin, and that he never would have known his guilty condition had it not been for the law which says, "Thou shalt not covet." Rom. 3:20; 7:7. In verse 12 he calls the law holy, and in verse 14 he says "we know that the law is spiritual."
As God's law is holy and spiritual, and it gives a knowledge of sin, our repentance should be towards him whose law we have transgressed, and against whom we have sinned. Repentance is more than sorrow, as we learn from 2 Cor. 7:10, which speaks of godly sorrow, and the sorrow of the world. The former is manifested by turning from sin with contrition and confession, and results in salvation, while the latter is not really sorrow for sin, but sorrow because of inconvenience, or trouble, or suffering, which comes to us in consequence of it; and this the apostle calls the sorrow of the world, which works death instead of salvation.
Repentance, like faith and every other good thing, does not emanate from us. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James 1:17; Acts 5:31; 2 Tim. 2:25. God commands us to repent, believe, and do, and he gives us repentance and faith to use, to exercise, and he furnishes the power to do what he requires, for "without me," says Jesus, "ye can do nothing." John 15:5.
God sends his Holy Spirit to our hearts to convince us of sin (John 16:8), and to give us repentance or godly sorrow for sin, together with faith, love, joy, peace, yea, all the fruits of the Spirit as enumerated in Gal. 5:22, 23. And if we will surrender our hearts and yield our wills to him, he will work in us "both to will and to do of his good pleasure." Phil. 2:13. True repentance is followed by confession of sin to God, confession to those we have wronged, and restitution to those we have robbed or defrauded. Eze. 33:15; Luke 19:8, 9. Then we can believe that the salvation of God is ours. See Rom. 10:10; Acts 3:19; 1 John 1:9. M. H. B.
Daily Bible Study
EVERY child of God should make the Scriptures of truth a daily study. God gives us natural or physical food and spiritual food. If we deprive ourselves of the natural food, our bodies will become dwarfed and weakly. In the same way will we become spiritually dwarfed and weakened if we neglect to partake daily of the spiritual sustenance God has provided for us. We should study the Bible systematically. If we cannot devote more time than ten or twenty minutes each day to its perusal, it will liberally reward us for the effort. Those who plead a lack of time for study of the word are often found spending hours in that which is of no help, but positively injurious, such as reading stories and novels, foolish jesting, etc. The Bible should be studied by course, reading it through carefully book by book. This will give a knowledge of its history and the order of events it records. It should be studied topically, taking up some subject and tracing it through the writings of the various prophets. Every truth of the Bible is a perfect chain, but all of the links of that chain are not in any one book. We find a link here, and another one somewhere else. Let us collect them all, unite them in their natural order, and we have a chain so perfect and symmetrical, so strong and durable, that the fiercest assaults of the enemy cannot break its unity. Above all let us study the Bible prayerfully, asking God for the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, so that it may become indeed our spiritual meat and drink.
Feeling Is No Criterion
By Ellen G. White
SOME obtain answers to prayer, a little freedom, and they become elated. They do not increase in faith, do not grow in strength and courage, but they depend on feeling. If they happen to feel well, they think they are in favor with God. How many stumble here! how many are overcome! Feeling is no criterion for any of us. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." We are to examine our character in God's mirror, his holy law, to detect our errors and imperfections, and then to remove them by the precious blood of Christ.—Gospel Workers.
THE CLEANSING TOUCH AND WORD.
By Ellet Joseph Waggoner
BY ELDER E. J. WAGGONER.
"AND it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy; who seeing Jesus, fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him." Luke 5:12, 13. This is one of the things that are written that we might know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and it is a forcible illustration of how if we believe we may have life through his name.
Such a wonderful cure had never been performed before since the world began. From that day to this, medical science has been impotent in the presence of the dreaded disease, leprosy. It was a most loathsome disease. The one who had it was shut off from human society, except from those who had the same disease. They were regarded as in the highest degree unclean. As the disease progressed, the different members of the body dropped off. It was actually a living death. The man could look on and see the death preying upon him, ever advancing, and had the certainty before him of final, complete death. For him there was no hope.
This man was "full of leprosy." He was evidently in the last stages of the disease. It had begun to prey upon his vitals, and in a short time he would drop into the grave. It was then that he saw Jesus; and when we consider his condition, we can appreciate the wonderful faith shown by the words, "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean." There was not the slightest doubt of Christ's power to save. Jesus immediately responded to the cry of faith, saying, "I will; be thou clean." And immediately the leprosy departed from him.
Sin is a sore disease that is preying upon the vitals of every man. Like the leper, men are filled with it. "Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil-doers, children that deal corruptly; they have forsaken the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are estranged, and gone backward. Why will ye be still stricken, that ye revolt more and more? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and festering sores; they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with oil." Isa. 1:4-6, Revised Version.
Like the leprosy, sin is progressive death. "The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law." 1 Cor. 15:56. "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin, and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." James 1:15. "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Rom. 8:6, 7. "For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing; for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good, I find not." "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" Rom. 7:18, 24.
The leprous person was separated. So the sinful person is separated from God. He is unclean. "Your iniquities have separated between you and your God." "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." Isa. 64:6. "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who being past feeling, have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness." Eph. 4:17-19.
But although the sinner is by his very uncleanness separated from God, yet God is not afraid to come near and touch him. Jesus was moved with compassion as he saw the poor leper, and he is the same now. "For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Heb. 4:15. Therefore, like the leper, we may come with boldness to a throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. For there is a "fountain opened to the house of David, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness." Zech. 13:1.
And though the person be full of sin and uncleanness, our High Priest "is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him."
Jesus not only has the healing touch, but his words have power to heal. The Psalmist says concerning his dealing with his people of old that "he sent his word, and healed them." Ps. 107:20. Mark, recording the healing of the leper, says that Jesus touched him, saying, "I will; be thou clean," and adds, "And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed." Mark 1:42. The word of Christ also cleanses from sin, and it was to make us realize this fact that the healing of the leper was recorded. Said the Saviour: "I am the true Vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, he cleanseth it, that it may bear more fruit. Already are ye clean, because of the word which I have spoken unto you." John 15:1-3.
Do we believe that the word and touch of Jesus made the leper clean? Then we may know that the same word and touch will make us clean from sin. He who does not believe that the Lord can cleanse him from sin, no matter how vile he may be, does not believe the Bible record of the miracles of Christ. But merely saying that we believe does not answer the purpose; we must accept the cleansing. There is another important truth taught in this lesson.
Jesus said, "I will; be thou clean." Read the words of inspiration: "Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world according to the will of God and our Father." Gal. 1:3, 4. "It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." "It is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish." Matt. 18:14. So we ought to come to the Lord with a great deal more boldness and confidence than the leper did. He knew that the Master had the power to heal him, but he said, "If thou wilt." God has given us such abundant evidence of his willingness to save us from our sins that it would be casting discredit on his word if we should say, "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst save me." "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. Thus has he shown not only his willingness, but his longing desire, to save men. He has left nothing undone, and has kept nothing back. "What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it?" Isa. 5:4. "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" Rom. 8:31, 32. He who doubts the willingness of God to hear and save those who wish salvation, must doubt the very existence of God.
Well, then, what is the final lesson?—Just this: "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us." 1 John 5:14. Now we have learned that it is the will of God to save people from sin. That is why Christ came to earth to die. There can be no question that it is the will of God to cleanse4us from all unrighteousness. Therefore we know that whenever we come and ask for cleansing, that moment he hears us. But this is not all. "And if we know that he hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." Verse 15. So, as soon as we ask in faith, the work is done.
The word of salvation has already gone forth. "To you is the word of this salvation sent." The word is full of healing power. We come to the Lord, saying, "Lord, I know that thou hast the power to cleanse me, and I know that thou wilt." We know then that he hears us. We do not then have to wait for the word to come to us, "I will; be thou clean," for it has already been spoken. So, when we know that he hears us, we know that we have the thing that we desired of him. Our faith appropriates the power of the word, and its righteousness is ours.
Who is there that does not want freedom from sin? It is ours, if we will but receive it. Thousands say that they believe, and yet they find no relief. To such the miracles of Christ are not a reality. They are but as idle tales. When they receive the word as it is indeed, the living word of God, then they will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and, believing, they will have life through his name.
THERE is a mystery in human hearts,
And, though we be encircled by a host
Of those who love us well and are beloved,
To every one of us, from time to time,
There comes a sense of utter loneliness.
Our dearest friend is stranger to our joy,
And cannot realize our bitterness.
"There is not one who really understands,
Not one to enter into all I feel;"
Such is the cry of each of us in turn.
We wander in a "solitary way,"
No matter what or where our lot may be;
Each heart, mysterious even to itself,
Must live its inner life in solitude.
And would you know the reason why this is?
It is because the Lord desires our love.
In every heart he wishes to be first.
He therefore keeps the secret key himself
To open all its chambers and to bless
With perfect sympathy and holy peace
Each solitary soul which comes to him.
So when we feel this loneliness, it is
The voice of Jesus saying, "Come to me;"
And every time we are "not understood,"
It is a call to us to come again;
For Christ alone can satisfy the soul,
And those who walk with him from day to day
Can never have a "solitary way."
And when beneath some heavy cross you faint,
And say, "I cannot bear this load alone,"
You say the truth. Christ made it purposely
So heavy that you must return to him.
The bitter grief which "no one understands"
Conveys a secret message from the King,
Entreating you to come to him again.
The Man of Sorrows understands it well;
In all points tempted he can feel with you.
You cannot come too often or too near.
The Son of God is infinite in grace.
His presence satisfies the longing soul,
And those who walk with him from day to day
Can never have a "solitary way."
—Selected.
THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST.
By F. M. Wilcox
BY ELDER F. M. WILCOX.
IN closing our article last week, we noted the fact that visitations of wrath and judgment from the Lord were always preceded by messages of mercy. The flood, the destruction of the cities of the plain, and the downfall of Nineveh were cited as examples. From this it would appear that before the second coming of Christ and the execution of the great final judgment upon the nations of men, the Lord would send a message of mercy to prepare mankind for those great events. He has given signs, many of them, as we all must admit. Will there go to the world a warning message based on these signs?—Natural reasoning would thus determine. Without such a message the signs would be of little worth; for while at the time they might occasion great concern, they would soon lose their power, and the events foreshadowed by them would be ignored and unregarded. Then, too, were there no proclamation based on these signs, calling attention to the prophecies of the Scriptures regarding them, mankind would fail to recognize their significance or the relation they bore to the end of all things.
But what say the Scriptures regarding a last-day message?—"Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand." Joel 2:1. Then there will be a message proclaimed to the world just before the end of all things, and the burden of that message will be that the day of the Lord is nigh at hand. The trumpet will be blown and the alarm will be sounded. And as a result of this message the people of the land shall tremble. "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come; and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." Rev. 14: 6, 7. Here, also, the same proclamation is brought to view, and it is plainly stated that it is to be preached to "every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people."
Of what is this message to consist? What will constitute its great burden and its leading features?—Briefly stated, it is a message of reform. It is a message to the godless world and to the backslidden church, calling upon them to forsake their sins, and to turn to the Bible standard and simplicity of doctrine, belief, and practice. That message warns men of pending judgment, and calls them back to allegiance to the law of God as the judgment rule and test. In short, it is a message embracing thorough reform upon every point, from every wrong doctrine and defiling trait, physically and spiritually—a message to fit its recipients for translation at the second coming of the Lord.
Such a message is already going to the world by tongue and pen, by the living preacher and the printed page. Such is the message being borne in the fear of God by this journal, and its colaborers in other parts of the great harvest field. Based on the word of God, answering to the prophecy of the word in the time and manner of its rise, it is now going forth, not by the power or genius of men, but in the strength and by the power of the living God, to accomplish that in the earth appointed it by Heaven's decree,—the preparation of a people for the reception of the soon-coming Saviour. Small credit indeed can those connected with it take for its past success. True, God has wrought through their weak and feeble efforts, but, more than this, he has wrought outside and beyond their efforts, proving that he was not dependent alone upon the humble instrumentalities employed, but upon his Holy Spirit's power for its accomplishment. Such, kind reader, do we believe is the message of God for to-day,—the present, living truth for this day and generation. And in saying this we trust that we may not be charged with egotism, for it is the conscientious conviction of our souls, strengthened, we believe, by the testimony of the immutable word.
But one more consideration demands our attention, and then will we draw this article, and with it this series of articles, to a close: For how long will the proclamation of Christ's return be sounding to the world? How long after the signs are witnessed before Christ will come? As to the exact number of days and months and years to be employed in the giving of the message, we cannot tell. The day or month or year of Christ's coming we cannot determine, and should we attempt it, it would manifest in us but presumptive curiosity. "Of that day and hour knoweth no man." We do know this, however, and we know it because God's word says it, that the same generation that witnesses the signs, and consequently that hears the message based on the signs, will live to witness the appearing of Christ in the clouds of heaven.
The proof of this we find in the 21st chapter of the Gospel of Luke. Beginning with the 25th verse, Christ speaks of the signs to be seen in the heavens, in the earth, and in the sea. He then introduces the parable of the fig tree. When we see the trees putting forth their leaves, we know that summer is nigh. Foolish indeed would we count the one who would attempt to prove to us that the opening buds denoted the approach of winter. "So likewise ye," continues Christ, "when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away; but my words shall not pass away." Verses 31-33.
How solemn to us is the thought herein contained! We are the generation that have witnessed the signs. Every one of the signs enumerated have we in some way, either with our own eyes, or through the eyes of others, on history's page, been witnesses to. Then to us the message comes. To us God sends the warning. We who are alive to-day shall witness that transcendent event, before which all the glories of the universe shall pale, the coming of the Son of man in the clouds of heaven.
Yes, Christ will come the second time. He will come now soon, within the day and generation of those who read these lines. There is no question about this, no mysticism, no doubt or uncertainty. And some will be waiting to receive him. Some there will be who shall look up when he appears, and say: "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us; this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation." But the great question with us, dear readers, is, Will we be among that happy throng? Will you be one who shall sing hosannas to the Son of David at that great day? Will I be one of that glad company?
These questions are for us to settle for ourselves. We may be saved in that happy throng if we will. It is for us to say what we will do. It is for us to decide, for us to choose, and it is for God to strengthen that decision with his mighty power. The decision will cost sacrifice. It will cost the loss of worldly pleasure, the endurance of scoffing, of ridicule, of persecution. It will cost the denial of sinful indulgence, and the utter crucifixion of self. But, oh, it will pay, a hundred-fold will it pay with interest compounded in the kingdom of God! We leave with you this question, Will you prepare to meet Jesus Christ in peace when he returns to claim his own? May God enable you in his strength, not your own, to make a wise decision. The battle is the Lord's, and victory will turn on the side of truth and righteousness. Through faith in Christ the victory may be ours.
ALONE WITH GOD.
By Rev. Wm. M. Baker
In every instance the man who prevails in prayer is the man who is alone as he prays with God. Abraham leaves Sarah behind when he pleads with him for Sodom; and if he fails, it is because he ceases to ask before God ceases to grant. Moses is by himself beside the bush in the wilderness. Joshua is alone when Christ comes to him as an armed man. Gideon and Jephthah are by themselves when commissioned to save Israel. Once does Elijah raise a child from the dead, and Elisha does the same, and in each case not even the mothers come in, while the prophet alone with God asks and receives. So of Ezekiel, so of Daniel.
Although others are present, Saul journeying to Damascus is alone with Christ after that he breaks upon him. Cornelius is praying by himself when the angel flashes upon389his solitude; nor is anyone with Peter upon the house top when he prepared to go to the Gentiles for the first time. One John alone in the wilderness, another John is by himself in Patmos when nearest God. It is when under his fig tree in prayer that Jesus sees Nathaniel. All religious biography, our own closet communion and success with God, show what Christ means when, as if it were the only way to pray, he says: "And thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."