Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 25, 1901
MORNING
By E. M. B.
The morning cometh!
The bitter night that wraps this guilty earth,
That night so full of weeping and of sighs,
Is now far spent; we wait the glorious birth
Of day, the golden day of paradise.
The morning cometh!
The shapeless fog which the gray valley fills,
And climbs in serpent folds the mountain-steep,
Becomes a rosy mist upon the hills,
A shining vapor where the waters sleep.
The morning cometh!
And gladder are her songs than those of night,
Touched less with tears and trembling chords of pain,
But dreaming of baptismal floods of light,
And pearly, new-blown dawning after rain.
The morning cometh!
A note of praise thrills through these dusty hearts,
These hearts so long in silent fear bowed down;
Immortal life from mortal languor starts,
And the pale martyr wears a starry crown.
— E. M. B., in World's Crisis.
A MESSAGE TO BE BORNE.
By Ellen G. White
MRS. E. G. WHITE.
The fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah should be studied carefully and prayerfully. Here God’s messengers are given a direct, forcible message: “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” It is to church-members that this message is to be given, to those who suppose that they are righteous, who take delight in approaching to God. “They seek me daily,” God declares, “and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness; and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.”
But they do not delight themselves in the truth. If they searched the Scriptures with a heart free from pride and prejudice, their eyes would be opened to see wonderful things in the law of God. But to accept the truth involves a cross, and therefore they reject it. They think they are righteous, but their righteousness is self-righteousness.
The people described in this chapter realize that they have not the favor of God; but instead of seeking His favor in His own way, they enter into a controversy with Him. Why, they ask, since we observe many ceremonies, does the Lord not give us special recognition? “Wherefore have we fasted, . . . and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge?”
God answers, “Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labors. Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.”
The fasts observed by these worshippers are a mere pretense, a mockery of humility. They retain all their objectionable traits of character. Their hearts are not cleansed from defilement. They have not received the softening showers of the grace of God. They are destitute of the Holy Spirit, destitute of the sweetness of its influence. They manifest no repentance, no faith that works by love. They are unjust and selfish in their dealing with their fellow men, mercilessly oppressing those whom they regard as their inferiors. Yet they complain because God does not exalt them above all others because of their righteousness.
The Lord sends them a message of positive reproof, showing plainly why they are not visited by His grace. “Is it such a fast that I have chosen?” He asks, “a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord?”
Will they accept this reproof, and pray for true repentance? Will they put away their sins and ask for pardon? Will they bring the atmosphere of heaven into their families, and into their association with their fellow men?
The Lord says, “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him, and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?”
Here are laid down the duties devolving upon those who claim to be Christ’s followers. Those who are truly connected with the Saviour will reveal this connection by doing the works of mercy here outlined.
And to those who obey this command is given the promise, “Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and He shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: and the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
“And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.” Notice the work that is to be done. A breach is to be repaired, and the Lord gives His ambassadors a message to bear to the people, calling upon them to do this work.
The Sabbath command has been set aside by human authority. Men have torn down God’s holy day, and have exalted in its stead a common working day. Thus God has been greatly dishonored. The Sabbath is His memorial of creation. After He had finished creating the world, He rested from His work, and He sanctified and blessed the day on which He rested, giving it to man as a day of rest. It is to be a sign between Him and His people forever. He says to those who live in this age of the world: “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, honorable; and shalt honor Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father.”
God has a message for the sinners in Zion, and the bearing of this message is the work before Seventh-day Adventists. The warning must be given. “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet.” Be earnest and decided. Make no concessions to transgressors. Bear the message to all peoples, nations, and kindreds, telling them that God has a law which is as high above man-made laws as heaven is above the earth. Let not the truth languish upon your lips. Let not your words be words of peace and safety. Say not to the transgressors, It does not matter what you believe. Say to the people, as Christ said to Moses, “Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord.”
A message of eternal importance is to be borne to those nigh and to those afar off. Let God’s messengers form no confederacy with those who, after hearing the message, refuse to search the Scriptures to see whether or not these things are so. God’s servants are to deal with evil as He has directed. They are to make no covenant with the world. The instruction which God gave to Moses for Israel is for us to-day: “Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee.” Satan works through those who do not acknowledge404God as their Ruler. “Ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves: for thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”
The message God sends through His servants will be scorned and derided by unfaithful shepherds, who tread down with their feet the feed of the pastures, giving the flock as food that which they have defiled. “Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord.” No outward nearness to God will screen from divine wrath those who trample under their feet the law of Jehovah. God will render to every man according to his deeds; “to them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath. . . . As many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.”
God will not treat men according to the position they occupy, according to their possessions, or their color, but according to the character they have formed. Thus will be decided the case of each one. The punishment of those who have had abundant opportunity to know the truth, but who in blindness and unbelief have contended against God and His messengers, will be proportionate to the light they have rejected. God greatly favored them, giving them peculiar advantages and gifts, that they might let their light shine forth to others. But in their perversity they led others astray. God will judge them for the good they might have done, but did not. He will call them to account for their misused opportunities. They turned from God’s way to their own way, and they will be judged according to their works. By walking contrary to the principles of the truth, they greatly dishonored God. They became fools in His sight by turning His truth into a lie, As they have been distinguished by the mercies bestowed on them, so they will be distinguished by the severity of their punishment.
PROPHETS
By Lou Jensen
LOU JENSEN.
(Baker, Kan.)
Jesus says, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” Many who use this verse to show that Jesus did not come to abolish the law, fail to see that He says the same concerning the prophets. They say that we have no prophets now, that we have no need of any. But Jesus says that He came not to destroy, but to fulfill, “to fill up.” “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: and on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.” By these verses we may clearly see what Jesus meant when He said He would fulfill the prophets.
By reading Rev. 12: 17 in connection with 19: 10, we see that the remnant Church will have the Spirit of Prophecy. And why should we not thank God, and be glad that we have it?
Some may ask, What need have we of a prophet in this age? “He that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.” 1 Cor. 14: 3. Do we not need building up? If we are not built up, we fall and become Babylon. The wise man says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Do we not need exhortation?—Certainly, we do; and how glad we ought to be that God sends special warnings to us when we err. And comfort?—Oh, yes! we need to be comforted. We are told that false prophets shall arise which shall deceive, if it were possible the very elect. We know that ere long we shall have to pass through severe trials, when it will seem as if God had forsaken us. Will it not then be a comfort to have read and believed such statements as these? “Could men see with heavenly vision, they would behold companies of angels that excel in strength stationed about those who have kept the word of Christ’s patience.” “The precious Saviour will send help just when we need it. The way to heaven is consecrated by His footprints. Every thorn that wounds our feet has wounded His. Every cross that we are called to bear, He has borne before us. The Lord permits conflicts, to prepare the soul for peace. The time of trouble is a fearful ordeal for God’s people; but it is the time for every true believer to look up, and by faith he may see the bow of promise encircling him.”—“Great Controversy,” pages 630, 633.
THE CHURCH.
By John Norton Loughborough
Legal Organization.
ELDER J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
“ALL things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.” I Cor. 10:23, 24.
An address setting forth the “tithing principle” as the best method of gathering funds for the support of the ministry, was published in the REVIEW of Feb. 6, 1859. This same address had been adopted by a vote of the Battle Creek church, Jan. 26, 1859. The plan proposed was so reasonable and consistent that it was readily accepted and acted upon by the generous and liberal hearted. It was welcomed as a measure well calculated to give greater efficiency to the work of the ministry. An address on the same subject was read at a general gathering of Sabbath-keepers in Battle Creek, June 3–6, 1859. It was adopted by a vote of that body, and recommended to all as a plan to be acted upon at once. The majority of our people began immediately to carry out the principle. Some, however, delayed, and the principal cause of such delays was well set forth in the following Testimony: “Rob not God by withholding from Him your tithes and offerings. It is the first sacred duty to render to God a suitable proportion. Let no one throw in his claims and lead you to rob God. Let not your children steal your offerings from God’s altar for their own benefit.
“I saw that in the arrangement of systematic benevolence, hearts will be tested and proved. It is a constant, living test. It brings one to understand his own heart, to see whether the truth or the love of the world predominates. Here is a test for the naturally selfish and covetous. They will put down their possessions at very low figures. Here they dissemble. Said the angel, ‘Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully.’ Angels are watching the development of character, and the acts of such are carried to heaven by the heavenly messengers. Some will be visited of God for these things, and their increase will be brought down to their figures. ‘There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.’”
“This tithing system, I saw, would develop character, and manifest the true state of the heart. If the brethren . . . have this matter presented before them in its true bearing, and are left to decide for themselves, they will see wisdom and order in the tithing system.”—Vol. I, pages 221, 222.
With a slight modification of keeping account of actual income, and giving one-tenth of that to the cause of God, the system introduced in 1858 is still carried out. It supplies a steady flow of means into the treasury for the gospel work. Note that the Testimony, from the first, called it “tithes” that should be rendered to the Lord.
As the message advanced, and the number of the laborers constantly increased, the Lord, in His providence, as we have seen, led us to an effective Bible plan for the sustenance of the ministry. With the increase in numbers came a demand for, and an increase in, facilities for printing and publishing the truth, and a corresponding accumulation of property at the Review and Herald office. That branch of the work, started in July, 1849, by Brother James White, printing the first number of a paper (The Present Truth) with money earned mowing grass, had grown until now there was several thousand dollars invested in the business. It became needful for some one to take the responsibility of this in the initiative. As the business had grown under his judicious management, the plant and “good will” of the business were legally his. He did not wish it so understood. He called it “the property of the Church.” In this position was an illustration of the principle expressed in the text at the head of this article, “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient.” He desired to place the matter in the hands of the Church; but the Church was not in a condition to legally hold property. This brought us, as a people, to a point where something was “wanting.” That was a third step in order—to make a move by virtue of which the Church could receive and lawfully hold its real estate and other property.
In the REVIEW of Feb. 23, 1860, Elder James White, in an article on this subject, said: “We hope, however, that the time is not far distant when this people will be in that position necessary to be able to get church property insured, hold their meeting-houses in a proper manner, that those making wills, and desiring to do so, can appropriate a portion to the publishing department. We call upon our preachers and leading brethren to give the matter their attention. If any object to our suggestion, will they please write out a plan on which we as a people can act?”
In the REVIEW of March 8, under the heading of “Legal Organization,” a minister made the following statements in reference to Brother White’s request: “What I understand is necessary to remedy all the defects in the matter, is to organize in such a manner that we can hold church property legally. Then the property could be held in the name of the Church. Money could be borrowed in the same way, and no one individual would have to take a burden upon himself which he ought not to bear. If it is wrong to protect church property, why is it not wrong to hold any property legally? If it is not wrong to hold farms and village lots in a lawful manner, neither is it wrong to hold church property in the same way. I think the same principle is involved in both cases.”
It may seem strange at the present time, to those unacquainted with the situation of our cause in 1860, that in the REVIEW of March 22 appeared an article from a brother in the faith, much esteemed, in which he stated that what was desired by Elders White and — was to “make a name, so as to be like the nations around them,” like the builders of the tower of Babel. He claimed that in the movement proposed for legally holding church property, these405brethren were going into Babylon, “uniting Church and State,” etc.
In the next two numbers of the REVIEW, Elder White fully answered the brother, showing that while it is wrong to resort to the civil arm to enforce the worship of God, “the Lord’s goods can be managed in this state of things only according to the laws of the country.” And it is “vain to talk of church property, if the Church is not in a position to hold it legally.”
The position of the brother opposing “legal organization” was that we should “trust the Lord in these matters;” that the “Lord would not allow the world to take advantage of us, because the property was the Lord’s own property, devoted to His service;” that “those pleading for legal organization showed a lack of faith in the Lord,” etc. He seemed to forget what the Testimony had said about Satan’s counsel to his angels to keep money matters in their control, and out of the hands of this people.
On this brother’s case the Lord was pleased to speak to His people in these words: “I saw that in temporal matters Brother B was too easy and negligent. He has lacked energy, considering it a virtue to leave to the Lord that which the Lord has left to him. It is only in cases of great emergency that the Lord interposes for us. We have a work to do, burdens and responsibilities to bear, and in thus doing we gain an experience.
“The Lord requires His people to use their reason, and not lay it aside for impressions. His work will be intelligible to all His children. His teaching will be such as will commend itself to the understanding of intelligent minds. It is calculated to elevate the mind. God’s power is not manifested upon every occasion. Man’s necessity is God’s opportunity.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. I, pages 212, 230.
From September 28 to Oct. 1, 1860, there was a general meeting of our people from Michigan and adjoining States, held at Battle Creek. At this time there was a full and free consideration of legal organization for the purpose of holding the office of publication and other church property—meeting-houses, etc. As the result of these deliberations, it was voted unanimously to legally organize a publishing association, and a committee of five was elected by those assembled, that such a corporation might be formed as soon as practicable.
As soon as a move should be made to organize, a name would needs be taken for the corporation, so this led to a consideration of the name by which we should be known. Some were in favor of the name “Church of God.” This was objected to on the ground that it gave none of the distinctive features of our faith, while the name “Seventh-day Adventists” would not only set forth our faith in the near coming of Christ, but would also show that we are observers of the seventh-day Sabbath. When this matter was put to vote, only one person voted against the name “Seventh-day Adventists,” and he decided in favor of it shortly after.
The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association was organized May 3, 1861. This was the first of the various legal corporations formed by this people. The formation of such corporations was point number THREE in establishing, in God’s opening providence, the “order and system” of managing the work of the Third Angel’s Message. All can now see the necessity for such corporations, and may wonder that it was not always seen by us. But let none lose the practical lesson contained in this case. While we should most earnestly seek the Lord for divine guidance, we must remember that as He works in us, as His instruments, we too have a work to do. We are not to expect Him to do what He has left for us to do, and what He “works in us” to “do.”
I AND THEE.
By John F. Jones
ELDER JOHN F. JONES.
(Wilmington, Del.)
“And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.” Ps. 39: 7.
One can readily see the contrast between the “I” and the “Thee” in this text. The book of Psalms is particularly noticeable because of its many contrasts between “I” and “Thee.”
It has ever been the studied plan of Satan to keep before the human family the I, and shut away from sight the Thee, in whom alone is our hope.
The self-examination of the psalmist, as brought to view in the first six verses, reveals an experience familiar to many a child of God. David’s success in the spiritual life, to the extent that he was called “a man after God’s own heart” (Acts 13: 22), makes his experience of vital interest to every soul whose difficulties are similar to those of the shepherd-king.
The first verse of the thirty-ninth psalm gives evidence that in the presence of wicked or non-professing persons he had conducted himself in a manner not conducive to the best results for God. What was that way? Perhaps he talked too much. At least he realized that he must “bridle his tongue.”
Then he goes to the other extreme, and “keeps silence” when an opportunity is presented to speak a word in season. Verse 2. Afterward comes serious self-examination, with the Spirit of God to guide his mind aright. Then spake he with his tongue. Was this his speech? “I thank thee, Lord, that I am not like others around me. I do not worship the Beast nor his image. I pay a conscientious tithe and do not believe men go to heaven when they die. I preach the Third Angel’s Message and teach the Sabbath truth with lips touched with the coals from off the altar.” No, no, brethren; it was not I, I, but it was, “Lord, make me to know mine end [my final outcome], and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am,” or “what time I have here,” margin.
Now comes the result of his self-examination: “Surely every man walketh in a vain show: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.”
The same Spirit bears witness that “the fashion of this world passeth away” (1 Cor. 7: 31); and as for riches, they “certainly make themselves wings, like an eagle that fleeth toward heaven.” Prov. 23: 5, R. V.
Remember the parable: “The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully; and he reasoned within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have not where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my corn and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry. But God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be?” Luke 12: 16-20, R. V.
The psalmist feels that the fashion of this world does not fill the desires of the soul. Neither do landed estates, gold, or silver, bring that blessed peace which the soul longs to obtain. No, no; but the Holy Spirit in His faithful guidance, enables every humble child of God to exclaim with the psalmist, “And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.”
THE SUPPORT OF GOSPEL MINISTERS ACCORDING TO GOD’S PLAN.
By D. T. Bourdeau
ELDER D. T. BOURDEAU.
Our Lord and Saviour, in sending out His twelve apostles to preach the glad tidings of salvation, said to them, among other things, “The workman is worthy of his meat” (Matt. 10: 10); and one of the statements He makes to the seventy in appointing them to the same work is, “The laborer is worthy of his hire.” Luke 10: 7. And the apostle Paul agrees with his divine Lord when he saith, “Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith He it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?” 1 Cor. 9: 7–11.
And the same apostle, giving faithful Timothy instructions concerning those “who labor in word and doctrine,” for him to communicate to the Christian churches that the apostle was soon to leave under Timothy’s care, repeats the scripture that says, “Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn,” and adds, “The laborer is worthy of his reward.” 1 Tim. 5: 17, 18. And a little further on in the same passage, still dwelling on the course to be pursued toward elders, he says, “I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.” Verse 21. Here Paul shows the importance of Timothy’s heeding instructions he is giving him, including those relating to the support of gospel laborers.
From these and other scriptures, it is clearly evident that God’s ministers should have a remuneration for their services, and that they should look for support to those for whom they labor, or unto whom they sow spiritual things. This view of the subject is a reasonable one. It is based on the principles of equity and justice. God himself declares that His ways are equal, and that He is a just God. Eze. 18: 29, etc.; But would His ways be equal, and would He be a just God, if He were to lay upon His ministers, who are to devote their time and energies to the work of proclaiming the gospel, the burden of supporting themselves, and leave the laity—those who have the benefits of the406labors of gospel ministers—with only the burden of supporting themselves?—Certainly not.
Such a plan would place a crushing burden on the ministers of Jesus Christ, and would greatly retard the work of the gospel. It would dry up in the laity the spirit of self-denial and sacrifice, and would develop in them selfishness, instead of noble benevolence, equal love for man, and supreme love for God, and would deprive them of the privilege of manifesting a true appreciation of the great sacrifice that was made by God the Father and God the Son to save them. How could those adopting such a plan profit, on the point of giving, by such words as the following: “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich”? 2 Cor. 8: 9. How far would those going by such a plan improve by these words: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works”? Matt. 16: 24–27.
In starting out His twelve disciples as evangelists, our Saviour forbade their taking gold, or silver, or brass in their purses; and they were not to take with them two coats, nor shoes, etc.; and later, a similar order was given to the seventy as they were about to engage in their evangelistic work. Matt. 10: 9, 10; Luke 10: 4. Was this to be a permanent and invariable rule for ministers to follow under all circumstances?—No. One of the disciples was a treasurer, whose duty it was to receive money with which to purchase for his fellow disciples and his Master food and other needful articles. John 12: 6; 13: 29; 4: 8. And shortly before His death, the Lord said, “When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye anything? And they said, Nothing. Then said He unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it.” Luke 22: 35, 36. As the work should enlarge, and the gospel go to distant lands, gospel workers would need purses provided with money to take them from one place to another, and some of them would need two coats and warm shoes to protect themselves against cold, rains, and snow, in the severity of the weather. Paul believed this common-sense doctrine when he wrote thus to Timothy, in view of approaching winter: “The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee.” “Do thy diligence to come before winter.” 2 Tim. 4: 13, 21.
Why, then, did our Saviour tell His disciples, when about to start on their first missionary tour in Palestine, not to take money, etc., with them? He gives His own reason in these words: “For the workman is worthy of his meat;” “For the laborer is worthy of his hire.” Matt. 10: 10; Luke 10: 7. He wished to have His disciples, at the very beginning of their ministerial work, fully learn the lesson of trust, and look for support to those for whom they labored. Then could they say, from experience, to those offering themselves to preach the gospel, Trust in God and in those who receive your testimony, for your maintenance; and your wants will be supplied. And you will be able to say of a truth, We lacked nothing when we began preaching without money and with a small supply of clothing.
Covetousness and the idea of big pay and making money were not the motives that started us out as ministers of the gospel: it was an undying love for perishing men, and the strong desire of seeing souls saved, that led us to venture all at the very beginning of our ministerial work. And we have been amply repaid by copious showers of blessings from Him who commissioned us to preach His gospel, and promised to be with us by His Spirit. We have been more than repaid by the realization of our ardent desire, in seeing souls saved by the gospel,—souls willing to deny themselves and suffer for the sake of Jesus and His saving truth, willing to feed, clothe, and to give of their means to, and even lay down their lives for, those who have brought to them the good news of free and full salvation.
And why may not this glorious result, and these inestimable blessings, and the power from on high, be the portion of ministers who now enter upon the work of preaching the gospel?—It may be if they enter upon and continue their work with the same faith and devotion and spirit of self-denial and sacrifice that the primitive preachers of the gospel possessed, and, by their teachings and example, infuse the same in those who receive from them the glad tidings of salvation.
Such ministers and their converts, possessing the missionary spirit of their divine Master, cherishing and cultivating supreme love for God and equal love for their fellow beings, and enjoying a continual feast in a sense of God’s love and care, in communion with God, in the contemplation of the treasures they are laying up on high, and in a foretaste of the joys and powers of the world to come, will cheerfully respond to any call from God for financial help to carry forward the work of the gospel. Knowing that God numbers the hairs of their heads, cares for the sparrow, and clothes the lily, that they are the Lord’s by creation and by redemption, that the earth and all the property in it are the Lord’s, and that it is the Lord who has given them power to get wealth (Ex. 9: 29; Ps. 50: 9–12; Haggai 2: 8; 1 Cor. 10: 26; Deut. 8: 17, 18), they deem it a great pleasure and privilege to return to the Author of every good and perfect gift (James 1: 17) whatever He may ask of them to advance the cause of salvation on the earth.
(To be continued.)
THE BLESSED HOPE.
By L. D. Santee
ELDER L. D. SANTEE.
“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” Titus 2: 13.
The hands of earth wake not the chords
That thrill with the hope of heaven;
For worldly hearts are cold and hard,
Nor believe the assurance given
That the skies shall reveal the coming King,
And burn with an awful splendor,
While the blood-washed throng shall rejoice and sing,
As He comes His award to render.
He will come with the shining angel host,
From the pearly gate of heaven,
To redeem the loved and restore the lost,
If to Him their hearts are given.
And smiles shine out on the care-worn face
As they list to the thrilling story,
How Christ, with His tender love and grace,
Will come in His Father's glory.
The world knows not of the King sublime,
His promises never reach them;
But He calls to “His own,” through the years of time,
“Go seek the lost, and teach them;
And tell of the thrilling, the blessed hope;
It is part of the ‘old, old story,’
That sin-sick souls that in darkness grope
May sit with the King in His glory.”
GET WISDOM.
By C. W. McConnell
C. W. MC CONNELL.
Of all the things in this world to be desired, there is none more valuable than true wisdom—the wisdom of God.
We are admonished to “get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting, get understanding.” Prov. 4:5–7.
“The wisdom of God alone can unfold the mysteries of the plan of salvation. The wisdom of man may or may not be valuable, but this wisdom of God is indispensable.”
There are inestimable treasures in the Bible. It is like a mine full of precious ore. It is not valued; it is not searched; and therefore its riches are not discovered.
By considering the twenty-eighth chapter of Job, we can see very clearly that there is a place for everything, or a place where everything may be found. “Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it. Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone,” etc.
But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? . . . It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof. . . . The exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold. No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.” “The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not in me.”
Then, “seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living,” where shall we look for it?
We have it! “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” The Holy Scriptures are able to make the man of God “wise unto salvation through faith which is in Jesus Christ.” See also Ps. 111:10; Prov. 2:6; Eccl. 2:26; Dan. 2:20; etc., etc.
Every one who values the heavenly treasure should exercise his mental and spiritual powers, and sink the shaft deep into the “mine of truth,”—that he may obtain the celestial gold,”—that wisdom which will make him wise unto salvation.
We are not merely to read the Scriptures, but to study, to consider. It is written: “Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.” What precious promises are enfolded in those pages! Every one, as he opens the Bible, should ask for the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, and the promise is sure that “it shall be given.”
I am indeed thankful that the Lord is opening my eyes, and has given me a heart to study His word. Let us diligently search the Word, with a teachable and prayerful spirit and a contrite heart, while we have the privilege: not for the sake of argument, but with the single object of learning what God has said, and of showing ourselves “approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”