The Christian Light-Bearer.
By Ellen G. White
"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." "Ye are the light of the world" said Christ to his disciples. As the sun goes forth in the heavens, dispelling the shades of night, and filling the world with brightness, so must the followers of Jesus let their light shine to dispel the moral darkness of a world lying in sin. But they have no light of themselves; it is the light of Heaven which they are to reflect to the world. "A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid." Our thoughts and purposes are the secret springs of action, and hence determine the character. The purpose formed in the heart need not be expressed in word or deed in order to make it sin, and bring the soul into condemnation. Every thought, feeling, and inclination, though unseen by men, is discerned by the eye of God. But it is only when the evil that has taken root in the heart reaches its fruition in the unlawful word or deed that man can judge the character of his fellow-man. The Christian is Christ's representative. He is to show to the world the transforming power of divine grace. He is a living epistle of the truth of God, known and read of all men. The rule given by Christ by which to determine who are his true followers is, "By their fruits ye shall know them." Many professed Christians, some even who expound the sacred truths of the Bible, are yet living as though there were no God who can read the innermost recesses of the soul. They forget the dignity and solemnity of their high calling as children of the heavenly King, and their responsibility as "the light of the world." They may not now realize their sinfulness; but when summoned before the great white throne, they will in speechless terror stand condemned. With the eye of the Judge looking upon them, they will not dare to mention the excuses which they now so flippantly urge to shield themselves from the divine requirements. They knew their Master's will, but did it not. And yet the faults and errors of church members will be no shield for the impenitent in the day of God. Those who would make them such when the claims of God are presented, evince their true character as lovers of sin. They are actuated by the same spirit as their master, whom the Bible declares to be the "accuser of the brethren." The fact that some professed Christians are not what they should be, proves nothing against religion, but only that these persons are not faithful to their profession. Neither does it prove that the church is corrupt. Does she not deal with offending members, and separate from her company those who persist in an evil way? And these persons who point so complacently to the faults of Christians are not consistent. They will make the most of a man's faults while he is a member of the church; but let him be expelled, and they turn about, and sympathize with him, declaring the church to be uncharitable and severe. "Let your light so shine before men that they may . . glorify your Father which is in Heaven." The Christian's godly life and holy conversation are a daily testimony against sin and sinners. But he must present Christ, not self. Christ is the great remedy for sin. Our compassionate Redeemer has provided for us the help we need. He is waiting to impute his righteousness to the sincere penitent, and to kindle in his heart such divine love as only our gracious Redeemer can inspire. Then let us who profess to be his witnesses on earth, his ambassadors from the court of Heaven, glorify Him whom we represent, by being faithful to our trust as light-bearers to the world. Every one who at last secures eternal life will here manifest zeal and devotion in the service of God. He will not desert the post of duty at the approach of trial, hardship, or reproach. He will be a diligent student of the Scriptures, and will follow the light as it shines upon his pathway. When some plain, Scriptural requirement is presented, he will not stop to inquire, What will my friends say, if I take my position with the people of God? Knowing his duty, he will do it heartily and fearlessly. Of such true-hearted followers Jesus declares that he is not ashamed to call them brethren. The God of truth will be on their side, and will never forsake them. All apparent losses for Christ's sake will count to them as infinite gain. Said our Saviour: "This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." The word of God, believed and obeyed, exerts a transforming power upon the life and character. Its sublime truths, its pure and holy principles, strengthen the intellect, ennoble the affections, enlighten the understanding. How great the loss which they sustain who neglect this store-house of eternal riches. But the word of God is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. This is why so many are opposed to the truths which it teaches. They love some indulgence which it condemns, and hence hate the light which reveals their sin. "For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." Many whom the world styles liberal, generous-hearted, noble men, are in the sight of God wicked and corrupt. For God sees not as man sees; his thoughts are not as our thoughts. Men in their self-complacency attempt to gloss over the defects in their lives and characters, and flatter themselves that all is well. But the light of truth would reveal their danger, and strike a death-blow to their self-satisfaction. Then they would see the importance of a holy life, and their own need of Christ as a Saviour. We have but a brief space in which to prepare for the future life; and all who expect to dwell hereafter with the pure and holy, must here obtain a fitness for such society. Then let the moments heretofore squandered in idleness and folly be henceforth devoted to prayer and reading of God's word. This discipline every Christian may have, and, rightly improved, it will make him wise unto eternal life. The mind grows by what it is fed upon. The understanding gradually adapts itself to the subjects which it is required to grasp. If allowed to dwell only on the things of this life, it becomes dwarfed and enfeebled. If absorbed in vanity and folly, it will after a time almost lose the power of growth. To secure strength and vigor, the mind must be tasked; and there is no other means by which this can be so successfully accomplished as by the study of the Holy Scriptures. The means which God has provided to enable us to resist temptation are the study of his word, and earnest prayer. In his encounter with the prince of darkness in the wilderness of temptation, our Saviour prefaced every answer with the words, "It is written." It was the word of God that vanquished Satan. Those who make that word their study are arming themselves with weapons of divine power against the attacks of the foe. "Thy word," said the psalmist, "have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee." In his conversation with Nicodemus, Christ explained the nature and importance of true conversion. He solemnly declared, "Except a man be born again,"—unless he receive a new heart, new desires, purposes, and motives, leading to a new life,—"he cannot see the kingdom of God." He is no longer a willing subject to the enemy of Christ, to remain in subjection to the power of sin. Those who have experienced the new birth have but entered upon the Christian life. To such are addressed the words of the apostle, "As ye have received the Lord Jesus Christ, so walk ye in him." In the temptations and trials of life, it is often hard to maintain the patience and gentleness of Christ; but let not those be discouraged who are sorely tried, and who feel that they have not strength enough to cope single-handed with the power of evil. God has promised grace according to our day. By patient endurance we may become strong, by failure we may learn success, and through apparent defeat we may conquer. All the people of God should become co-laborers with him. None need wait for great opportunities nor ask for extraordinary talents. The ability that God has given them is all that he requires. He would have us each quietly, faithfully do what we can, and leave the result with him. Our daily life may be a light to the world, a living testimony to the power of divine grace; and the influence of that testimony will widen and deepen, so long as we are connected with the God of wisdom and power.178 "Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." This is the rule of life laid down in the Holy Scriptures. And those who practice it will not love darkness rather than light; but they will come to the "light, that their deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God." STILL with Thee. When purple morning breaketh,
When the bird waketh, and the shadows flee;
Fairer than the morning, lovelier than the daylight,
Dawns the sweet consciousness, I am with Thee! Alone with Thee, amid the mystic shadows,
The solemn hush of nature newly born;
Alone with Thee in breathless adoration,
In the calm dew and freshness of the morn. When sinks the soul, subdued by toil, to slumber,
Its closing eye looks up to Thee in prayer;
Sweet the repose beneath Thy wings o'ershading,
But sweeter still to wake and find Thee there. So shall it be at last, in that bright morning,
When the soul waketh, and life's shadows flee;
Oh! in that hour, fairer than daylight's dawning,
Shall rise the glorious thought, I am with Thee.
-Sel. Re-enactment of the Nine Commandments.
By R. F. Cottrell
THERE is good reason for saying that the Sabbath is distinct from the Levitical law. It was "made for man," in his innocency in Eden. Mark 2 : 27; Gen. 2 : 2, 3. The commandment enforcing its observance is the first precept recognized in the Scriptures as the "law" of God. Ex. 16. The Sabbath precept is the only one of the ten that traces itself back to the creation. Ex. 20. As far as inspiration or Bible history extends, the Sabbath is called the Sabbath, as though the institution really existed; and prophecy predicts its existence and observance in the new earth. Isa. 66 : 22, 23. It is true also that Jesus affirmed the perpetuity of every jot and tittle of the law, "till heaven and earth pass." Matt. 5 : 18. But if Paul tells us that the law that was written and engraven on stones was abolished, Jesus must have meant some other law than the ten commandments, though, in that case, it is difficult to tell what law he did mean, since it is clear that the handwriting of ordinances was nailed to the cross. But if it be assumed that the ten commandments were abolished, being nailed to the cross, we inquire about the re-enactment of the nine. Jesus, in his teaching, referred his hearers to five of the ten commandments; but it is difficult to conceive how he could re-enact them before they were abolished. If the ten were abolished at the cross, the labor of re-enacting five of them before the crucifixion, was lost unless that doubling them before prevented their breaking, and so they escaped the fate of the other five, not being abolished at all. It is true that the pious women "rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment," after the crucifixion (Luke 23:56); but they had not yet learned that it was abolished. It is a little singular, however, that Luke, aided as he was by the Holy Spirit, had not discovered their mistake when he wrote his gospel, more than twenty years after the occurrence. As the nine commandments were not re-enacted before they were abolished, we must look to the writings of the apostles for their re-enactment. What they command all must admit to be binding upon Christians. But there is a little difficulty in the outset. All their epistles, and, in fact, every syllable of the New Testament, were written years after the crucifixion, the point of time where the commandments were abolished. But this is but a slight objection, as it was but a very few years, say from thirty to sixty, that men were without any law to God whatever—from the crucifixion to A. D. 54, when Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, or to A. D. 97, when John finished his writings. Antinomians, it is probable, held jubilee during this period, but their rejoicings soon came to an end. The apostles soon re-enacted the nine commandments, or as many of them as they repeated in their writings. But now the question arises, How did they re-enact them? An examination of their writings will show. Paul is the only apostle, with the exception of one passage in James, who in his writings repeats any one of the nine commandments. As he was the apostle to the Gentiles, it seems reasonable that he should be the one to re-enact the commandments for them. It is true that it was some few years after the gospel dispensation was fully begun, when he was converted, he having persecuted the church, even unto strange cities. But this, as we said before, is but a small break in the law of God. The beloved disciple, in his general epistle, has much to say about the commandments, and attaches great importance to the keeping of them, affirming that "this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments." Says he, "Hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." But John does not re-enact or repeat one of the nine commandments. It was unnecessary for him to reiterate what had already been given. So he only refers us to the old commandment, "the word" which had come down from the beginning, and the "new commandment" which Jesus gave his disciples, that they love one another. How then did Paul and James re-enact the nine commandments? We will read:— "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet." Rom. 7:7. "He that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." Rom. 13:8–10. "Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for this is right. Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth." Eph. 6:1–3. "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law." Jas 2:10, 11. Such are the apostolic re-enactments; and these are all, though but six of the nine that are binding are given. There are other references to the moral duties contained in the commandments, but they are treated as principles already established and acknowledged. And these too, it must be admitted, appear as much like appeals to a standing code of acknowledged authority and supremacy, as like new enactments for this dispensation. Had the apostles left out such expressions as "I had not known sin but by the law;" "the law had said," "hath fulfilled the law," "if there be any other commandment," and "he that said," or "the law that said" (margin), etc., they would have appeared to us more in the character of lawgivers. If a judge, in giving a charge to a jury, should tell them that the law in the case said so and so, it would be strange if any one should conjecture that he had assumed the duties of a legislator, and was enacting laws by which to try the cause in question. And it must be confessed that the apostles appear before us rather as appealing to an existing, supreme law, from which there is no appeal, than as enacting new laws or re-enacting old ones which had been abolished. Says Paul, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for this is right." How do you know, Paul, that it is right? Have you any known and acknowledged law to prove it? "Honor thy father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise." This commandment, with the annexed promise, is found in the decalogue, but not in any other place in the New Testament. And as this is the only place in the apostolic teachings where it is inserted, it follows, that had not Paul had occasion to back up his teaching to children by authority, this commandment would not have been re-enacted in the "new law." But we have it; and it is well for us, for we could not well do without it. Paul is the only writer in the New Testament that gives us the tenth commandment; or, rather, the precept, Thou shalt not covet; for there can be no tenth commandment in the "new code," which consists of but nine. The two places where it is repeated have been quoted above. Read them again as re-enactments. Paul had found himself a sinner, but had repented and found pardon through Christ. But it seems he would not have discovered his sinfulness, had he not re-enacted the law, Thou shalt not covet. It seems indeed strange how this commandment could convict him years after it was abolished, and years before he re-enacted it. Such as the foregoing is the flimsy covering with which thousands are trying to cover themselves, against the day of wrath, which is just before us. It will be found too narrow and too unsubstantial in that day when "the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place." Not one of the ten commandments has been re-enacted in the New Testament, for the very good reason that none of them have been abolished. If even the Sabbath commandment had been abolished, there would have been a necessity for its re-enactment; for all are agreed that we need a Sabbath. "But," says the objector, "the fourth commandment is left out of the New Testament." So, I reply, is the first, the second, and the third. "But the principles of these commandments are recognized in the New Testament." So is the Sabbath and the commandment enforcing its observance. The women rested the Sabbath day, according to the commandment, after the handwriting of ordinances had been nailed to the cross. And the Sabbath is mentioned as an existing institution, many times more than any other commandment of the ten. The wise will find a better shelter than the no-Sabbath system affords. God's truth will be their shield and buckler. His law is the truth. All his commandments are truth. And the truth has never been abolished, though so many desire it should be. "The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God." Ex. 20:10. The Devil's Four Servants.
The devil has a great many servants; they are all busy and active ones. They ride in the railway trains, they sail on the steamboats, they swarm along the highways of the country and the thoroughfares of the cities, they do business in the busy marts, they are everywhere and in all places. Some are so vile looking that one instinctively turns from them in disgust; but some are so sociable, insinuating, and plausible, that they almost deceive at times the very elect. Among the latter classes are to be found the devil's four servants. Here are their names:— "There's no danger." That is one. "Only this once." That is another. "Everybody does so." That is the third. "Bye-and-bye." That is the fourth. When tempted from the path of strict rectitude, and "There is no danger" urges you on, say, "Get thee behind me, Satan!" Whenever tempted to give the Sabbath up to pleasure, or to do a little labor in the workshop or counting-room, and "Only this once" or "Everybody does so" whispers at your elbow, do not listen for a moment to the dangerous counsel. All four are cheats and liars. They mean to deceive and cheat you out of Heaven. "Behold," says God, "now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation." He has no promise for "bye-and-bye."—Christian at Work. "Lively Times Presently."
By W. A. BLAKELY.
Such is an expression which the Toledo Daily Blade of February 6, 1886, uses in an editorial on the recent proclamation of the mayor of the city of Philadelphia, warning all against a violation of the Sunday law of 1794, which enforces the observance of the first day of the week, but makes no exemption of those who conscientiously observe the seventh. The paragraph entire, is as follows:— "If the mayor of Philadelphia is a man of grit, the courts of that city will be likely to have lively times presently. He has issued a proclamation quoting an act of 1794, which prohibits the performance of any worldly employment on Sunday, and provides for a penalty of $4.00 fine or imprisonment for six days in the House of Correction. All persons are warned against a violation of that law. The mayor evidently means business." The law in the past has caused some hardship to Christians who, having "rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment," afterward went quietly about their work on the first day of the week. A Seventh-day Baptist of Venango, has been repeatedly fined and imprisoned. Seeing this, an effort was made in the legislature of 1881–82, by some of the leading men, to secure a provision by which the law would exempt observers of the seventh day, which lacked but one vote of passing. In the following session, 1882–83, the bill was introduced again. But Hon. Felix R. Brunot, the president of the National Reform Association, on receiving a copy of the bill, had it published in the Commercial Gazette, of Pittsburg, condemning it in the following manner:— "Its enactment will lead toward the destruction of the Christian Sabbath in this commonwealth. It is very desirable that the bill should be understood by our people, and that numerous and emphatic protests be adopted and forwarded immediately." The result was, that, when a vote was taken, the "bill was defeated by the surprising majority of 130 against 37." Such was then the feeling in regard to a law which only placed all on an equality. This feeling has been continually growing stronger, and now a proclamation is issued by the mayor of Philadelphia in which "all persons are warned against a violation of that law," and he "evidently means business." Other places will soon do the same. Undoubtedly, we shall have "lively times presently," and the prosecution of those citizens who assert their rights—rights given to them by the Creator of the universe, in the moral law—of observing the seventh day of the week and engaging in labor on all of the others, including the first, will be continued with increased diligence and severity. The desire of Mr. Brunot, that "numerous and emphatic protests be adopted" against a bill proposing to give all equal rights before the law, shows plainly the real position they hold, and indicates the steps they will take when they have the power. Reader, stop and think before you indorse a movement which will deprive any American citizen of the privileges which he should enjoy. Let every one who loves the freedom which the Constitution of our nation insures him, consider well the step before making any move to abridge the rights of any, for which, before they were obtained, many a patriotic ancestor gave his life. One of the commonest mistakes of intelligent Christians is in the assumption that God necessarily desires them to have long life in his service on earth; that if they are honoring him by their earthly existence he will, as a matter of course, desire them to continue their lives here as long as possible. Yet, as a practical fact, we know that it is very often by the expenditure of one's vital force, rather than by its preservation, that God is honored, and that one's place is filled on earth. What would be thought of a soldier who should hesitate to lead a forlorn hope at the call of his commander, on the ground that, being a good soldier, he ought to live as long as possible, and run no risks of losing his valuable life? Would not the answer to this suggestion be that a soldier has chief value as a soldier in his very readiness to lay down his life as soon as its laying down could accomplish more than its retention? And is not every Christian to do service, and to endure hardness, and to be ready to run risks, as a good soldier of the Lord Jesus Christ? Of course, neither the one soldier nor the other has a right to throw away his life, his strength, his talents, or his time; but, on the other hand, he must not count it a sure premise in his reasoning process that he will necessarily be more useful if he lives than if he dies. Living is a very good business in its way; so is dying; and often the very best thing a man can do to make his life a complete and well-rounded life, is to risk it fearlessly at God's call, or to lay it down cheerfully at the call of God.—S. S. Times. The best time for Bible reading is in the morning. The mind and body are fresh after the repose of the night, and the highest powers of thought may be brought to bear upon the chapter selected. But, with most people, each recurring morning brings its own pressing tasks. Business cares, the daily toil, and the duties of the house, are the first and most engrossing concerns. Some hours must pass, with many, before they can find time to sit down to any quiet reading. Let the plan be honestly tried by taking some words from God's book for the first meditation of the morning. Make for a month a fair, steadfast trial of the plan of studying the Bible when your faculties are at mental high-water mark. You wonder at the familiarity of this or that friend with the psalms, the epistles, the gospels. It has been gained, a little at a time, by patient, daily reading—thoughtful, prayerful reading, too, which was hived by the soul as something worth treasuring. We shall all gain immeasurably in our influence, as well as our comfort, by giving more of our unwearied thought to the holy book. A few tired, sleepy, worn-out moments at night, and those only, are almost an insult to the Master whom they profess to serve.—Sel. STORM.
By Prof. Stephen G. Barnes
A TRAVELER o'er the weary western plain
Gained distant sight of heaven-kissing peaks,
Whose lofty heads seemed far to rise above
The rude attack of any earthly storm.
But no! E'en as he gazed, there gathered fast
The messengers of elemental wrath.
Thick darkness blotted out from mortal sight
The topmost peak, and thunder's awful peal
Bespoke concussion dire of fiercest strife.
Sad that the highest earth can show must bear
The stress and shame and wreck of angry war,
The traveler mused in bitterness on fate
And pain and death—when lo! his path had reached
The place of storm, and all around he saw,
Not torn and blasted witnesses of wrath,
Not e'en the mountain's hard and rugged shapes,
But, soft as wool, and white as light of sun,
That silvery supreme of heaven, the snow. Earth has its storms for all; no height secure
From blackest cloud and sternest thunder peal.
Yet fear thou not, my soul! For every storm
May bring new peace. Black clouds not always are
The smoke of hell. See thou in them, faint heart,
The hiding-place of love unknowable,
And when the thunder of God's voice has ceased,
And from the heaven above breaks in the light
Of that glad day which knows no shadowing cloud,
Thou shalt behold thyself, not torn and marred,
Nor even see the rude and shapeless waste—
So long familiar to thy harassed thought,
But over all that robe of purest white
Which is the righteousness of saints; that robe
Which first from heaven came to sinful earth,
Amid the struggle of the darkest hour
The world has ever seen, when on the Mount
Of Calvary the awful storm of wrath
Divine swept over Him who once for all
Did conquer storm and wreck, and evermore
Doth pray for all his own, that faith fail not. —Prof. Stephen G. Barnes, in S. S. Times. It is considered a disgrace to be lazy. He who is too indolent to work for his own living becomes a by-word and reproach. But there is a very common form of laziness which is not always noticed. It is that of the mind. We first become conscious of it in our young days, when we “don't feel like study.” We dawdle over the book with our thoughts half asleep, and, as a result, give a fine exhibition of stupidity in the recitation room. It is true that disinclination to study sometimes grows out of fatigue and illness. The liver is responsible for much of it; but in the majority of cases it is pure laziness, as young people will discover if they will shake themselves up and go resolutely to work. This sort of indolence in youth is very dangerous, for it becomes a habit, and the mind grows rusty and dull in the very prime of life, when it should be at its best. And on the heels of this form of laziness comes another bad habit, that of intellectual loafing. What loafing is in the common sense, we all know. It is hanging about with no definite aim or purpose, idling away the time without method and without profit. Well, there is mental loafing as well, and it is known in the dictionary as reverie. It is a dreamy state of the mind, when the thoughts go wool-gathering. The fancy sails away into fantastic seas, and revels in unreal things till the wits are fairly benumbed and unfitted for sober work. This habit, so common to young people, is fatal to mental growth. Many a promising youth is ruined by over-indulgence in it. It wastes time and enfeebles the mental powers. It is really a form of laziness, and it should be sternly corrected at the very outset. The action of the mind should be kept under control. When the thoughts begin to wander, it is time to whip them into order. A resolute will will do it.—Sel. True Obedience.
By Herrick Johnson
It will have no reservations. Its submission is absolute. All the commandments will be the same as any commandment. There will be no attempt to strike balances by a great devotion to God's will in one direction as an apology and a justification for utter neglect of his will in another direction. Generosity in the home and selfishness in the pew; a spirit of worship in the sanctuary and a backbiting spirit not a rod away from the sanctuary,—these are forced marriages in any life, manufactured conjunctions and conditions. A true obedience is obedience all round. It may fail of doing God's will at many points, but at no point of all God's will will it fail to try. This is one infallible sign of true obedience. Another is that it will never cry "Halt," never ask for rest, but will evidence itself in a steady and beautiful constancy. It has no vacations. It is a ship that never anchors, an institution that never suspends. When obedience pushes to the front with a great zeal for God in times of revival, but fails to get itself into the eye of God or man during the steady, plodding days of the church; or when obedience carries itself becomingly at home, but loses all possibility of recognition abroad; or when obedience manages itself fairly well on Sabbath, but gets sadly out of gear down through the week,—we may be sure it is too intermittent for any very favorable heavenly recognition.—Rev. Herrick Johnson. If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. Matt. 19:17.