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Review and Herald, Vol. 87, No. 3.

The Call of the New Year

Review and Herald

Jan 20, 1910

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 20, 1910

The Call of the New Year

By William Herbert Hudnut

QUIT you like men, be strong; There’s a burden to bear, There’s a grief to share, There’s a heart that breaks ’neath a load of care — But fare ye forth with a song.
Quit you like men, be strong; There’s a battle to fight, There’s a wrong to right, There’s a God who blesses the good with might — So fare ye forth with a song.
Quit you like men, be strong; There’s a work to do, There’s a world to make new, There’s a call for men who are brave and true — On! on with a song!
Quit you like men, be strong; There’s a year of grace, There’s a God to face, There’s another heat in the great world race — Speed! speed with a song!
— William Herbert Hudnut.

THE WORK — AND — THE WORKERS

FROM a recent letter written by B. T. Walker, Dayton, Tenn., we quote the following: “There are eleven in our family, and every one is circulating much of our good literature every year—books, papers, magazines, and tracts. Our ages range from 30 to 66, and the youngest has sold over 2,000 magazines since General Conference.” What a blessing it would be to others, to the cause, and to the individual members of all families, if they could report as this family has.
WEBSTER’S NEW INTERNATIONAL DICTIONARY. Just issued. New from cover to cover. 400,000 words and phrases. 2,700 pages, 6,000 illustrations. Editor-in-Chief, W. T. Harris, Ph. D., LL. D., for seventeen years United States Commissioner of Education.
STYLES OF BINDING NET PRICES Sheep, marbled edge, indexed........................$12.00 Cloth, 2 volumes, indexed............................12.00 Sheep, 2 volumes, marbled edge,     indexed........................................14.00 Half Morocco, marbled edge, in-     dexed...........................................14.50
THERE is ever present temporal and spiritual blessings, peace, and satisfied enjoyment with our periodical workers. Hattie Hamer, who spent last summer selling our magazines, expresses herself as follows: “I can say that I enjoy selling our magazines very much, and hope to again take up the work next summer. I truly believe that a great work can be done with these papers, not only financially for the person who sells the magazines, but spiritually for those who buy. I believe many people will be brought into the truth through the influence of these magazines.”
IT is true that it requires some effort to establish a good work, but it pays in every way. The following statement from one who has established a good work in her community reveals how it pays: “I sold 50 copies of the November number of Life and Health in six hours, and have sold as many of the December number. We all think Life and Health is of great value, and growing better month by month. Many of my patrons are glad when the time comes for the new issue. I enjoy selling the magazine, and feel glad that I am a Life and Health worker.”
MRS. S. E. RICHARDSON, one of our successful periodical agents, working in New Orleans, has tested the selling qualities of Christian Education in that city on two occasions, each being on Sunday. The first Sunday she sold 20 copies, and the next Sunday, having access to a large crowd of people, she sold 100 copies. She says the people buy it as readily as any other paper, and besides it seems to have admissible and suitable matter to sell on Sundays. This may be a good suggestion for other workers. The wholesale price of the journal, when 25 or more are ordered at one time, is 6 cents a copy. The selling price is 10 cents a copy.
THOSE who have had the Sabbath School Worker, and have studied it in connection with the Sabbath-school lessons, recognize its value, and are unwilling to be without it; for they say it is of far more value to them than four times its cost. The following statement, or something similar, is a fair sample of thousands of expressions of appreciation that come to us as renewals are sent in: “We have been greatly benefited by the Sabbath School Worker. We thank you for the helpful notes on the Sabbath-school lesson, and the matter giving suggestions for conducting the Sabbath-school!”

Two Companion Volumes

THE “Story of Daniel” and the “Seer of Patmos” are two companion volumes written on two companion books of the Bible, for present-day study. The books of Daniel and Revelation are important books for us to understand at the present time, for the reason that they reveal and make plain present-day occurrences. Both Daniel and John were latter-day prophets. In the second chapter of Daniel, verse 28, we find the prophet telling King Nebuchadnezzar that the dream given to him as recorded in that chapter, was for the purpose of making known to him what should be in the latter days. Various lines of prophecy found in the second, seventh, eighth, and twelfth chapters of Daniel, and amplified and explained in the intervening chapters, also those wonderful prophecies found in the book of Revelation, all have as their focal point the second coming of Christ and the setting up of the everlasting kingdom of God in this world.
The books of “Story of Daniel” and “Seer of Patmos” help to make clear the important prophecies above mentioned. Being written in story form rather than in an argumentative way, they are the more interesting for young people. Grand practical lessons are given for young people, drawn from the narrative of the life of the prophet Daniel. These are valuable books to place in the hands of any one interested in the study of these important prophecies, and those who are not interested may become so by reading these instructive books.
The books are uniform in size and style, and are both fully illustrated. The prices of each volume are as follows: Half cloth, plain edges, $1; half cloth, marbled edges, $1.25; full cloth, marbled edges, $1.50. Order of your State tract society or from Review and Herald Publishing Association, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C.

“Scriptural Evidences”

Bible Texts on Doctrinal Subjects Collected, Classified, and Compared

This work contains more than 2,200 references, the author's purpose being to make use of, and put in its proper setting, every proof-text bearing upon any phase of the following eighteen subjects, not including a study on the Holy Scriptures: The Second Coming of Christ; The Resurrection of the Dead; The Millennium; The Home of the Saved; The Moral Law; The Ceremonial Law; The Sabbath, or Seventh Day; Sunday, or the First Day; The Two Covenants; The Sanctuary; The Judgment; The Nature and Destiny of Man; Religious Liberty; The Spirit of Prophecy and Other Gifts; The Tithing System; Baptism; The Lord's Supper; and Feet Washing. All the distinctively advent doctrines, except prophecy, are thus treated.
The references on each subject, except two, are first arranged in the order in which they occur in the Bible, under the names of the different books, with notes and comments suggesting the substance of the text and its bearing upon the subject; thus making easy a critical study of each text. After this the references are classified and grouped upon each phase, or division, of the subject, in a series of propositions leading from one point to another in the most natural and logical order, with further copious explanatory notes. Of these propositions there are, in all, more than three hundred.
The Index is so arranged that anything wanted can be found instantly. This has been especially commended. This work should be in the hands of every worker and believer. It is a valuable aid to Bible study.
“Scriptural Evidences” contains 211 pages; size, 3½ x 6 x ⅜ inches; bound in two styles, at the following (post-paid) prices: Cloth, 30 cents; leather, gilt title, 60 cents.
Order of your State tract society, or of the Review and Herald Publishing Association, Takoma Park, D. C.

Are You Prepared?

In 1 Peter 3:15 we find these words: “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” There are many aids to the study of the Bible that are very helpful. One of the most convenient of these is the “Bible Text-Book.” Being of the right size for the pocket, it is easy to carry, and therefore be always at hand to refresh one’s memory regarding the texts on any subject. It contains 49 tersely written Bible readings on as many different subjects. There are five charts, explaining the difficult Scriptural subjects, such as the “weekly and yearly Sabbaths,” “The Two Laws,” “The Week,” “The Seven Seals,” “The Seven Plagues,” and “The Millennium.” It contains 208 pages, table of contents, and general index of subjects. It is bound in two styles of binding, as follows: Cloth, 30 cents; leather, 50 cents. Order from your State tract society or Review and Herald Publishing Assn.

All Gone

By Editor

Two weeks ago we advertised the tract printed by the Catholic Mirror Company, entitled “The Christian Sabbath,” etc. The orders came pouring in so fast for this tract that our limited supply was soon exhausted, and the orders continue to come. We can not secure any more of these tracts, but in order that all who wish may be supplied with the matter contained in the tract, we have republished the same matter in pamphlet form, under the name “Rome’s Challenge.” The price of this pamphlet is two copies for five cents, or five or more copies at two cents a copy.

A Straightforward Way.

By W. A. S.

Those who walked in the advancing light needed not to repudiate their former experience. They recognized the fact that the judgment hour came, according to prophecy, in 1844. But the great body of Adventists began to set other times for the coming of the Lord, repudiating past experience, and groping in confusion. At the same time they bitterly opposed the little band of seventh-day observers. Addressing himself to these opposers, Elder James White, in the Present Truth for December, 1849, wrote of the sure word of prophecy in the development of the advent movement:—
Once the whole advent host believed that the parable of the ten virgins applied exclusively to the advent movement. . . . We still believe what the whole host once believed and with holy confidence and energy published and preached to the world. . . . These men should be the last to oppose our views. . . . When we in 1843 sang, “My Bible leads to glory,” we sang a true sentiment. It did not stop in 1844, and “lead” us back around another way—no, no! but it led onward, . . . through the waiting time, and keeping of “the commandments of God,” into the kingdom. Glory to God, “my Bible leads to glory.” Amen. . . . Let the storm of persecution rise, and the fiery darts of the wicked fly all around us; thus armed with holy truth, we are safe. Glory to God, we are on the rock. My spirit grows warm, as I contemplate this glorious theme.

The Shining Way.

The way looked bright and short to those pioneers in the third angel’s message. And it has but grown brighter ever since with the rapid march of fulfilling prophecy and the onward sweep of the message from land to land. Not for a moment can we now tarry by the way, or settle down as if to remain long in this evil world.
“A scrip on my back, and a staff in my hand, I march on in haste through an enemy’s land; The road may be rough, but it can not be long; I’ll smooth it with hope, and I’ll cheer it with song.”
W. A. S.

Blasting at the Gospel

By C. M. S.

WITH the greatest schools of the nation maintaining expensive professorships that inculcate the principles of infidelity in the minds of the undergraduates, and with great magazines that call themselves religious employing talented writers or editors who teach principles subversive of the gospel, the conviction is forced upon the one who believes God’s Word that the enemy of souls is more than ordinarily busy and has certainly come to realize that he has but a short time. While we most deeply regret the fact that such agencies of doubt and ruin are so prevalent and so active, nevertheless there is a sense in which we draw courage and comfort from their prevalence and activity. They speak to us of the time when we “shall see Him as he is,” with no dimming veil between.
What should be the very citadel of the church militant has become so honeycombed with doubt that it no longer becomes a place of refuge, a rock of defense. Pulpits that should be proclaiming the everlasting gospel are now ringing with doubt, and shepherds who draw magnificent salaries for feeding the flock are sowing broadcast the seeds of unbelief that are bound to bring forth a reaping of ruined hopes, a harvest of death.
A great portion of the modern church has grasped, with great avidity, at two temptations which have in them as much of the ingenious deceit of the adversary as had the temptation that came to Adam and Eve in Eden. Those two temptations are evolution and the Higher Criticism. The clergyman who to-day is bold enough to assert his refusal to accept either is quite generally looked upon with a degree of pity by college-bred theologians. He is by them considered out of date, and lacking either in education or mental acumen. It has come to be an established fact that no statement of the great Book of God which these self-elected censors of Inspiration are not able to explain on the basis of known facts is to be permitted to stand as the word of God, or even as the truth. Taking them altogether, they have attacked the Bible all along the line. This attack upon the Bible from within the organized church body is bringing the sifting time to many millions of souls to-day. The attack of open infidelity upon the Word never made such rapid strides in the ruin of effectual faith in God as is now being made by this more insidious attack by clergymen schooled in doubt under the tutelage of accomplished skeptics in the divinity schools and universities.
When these attacks are supported by influential “religious” journals, it can readily be seen that the destructive influence is greatly augmented.
In the January 8 issue of The Outlook, Dr. Lyman Abbott, the editor, has an article entitled “Religion and Miracle.” It is important as an indicator of the lengths to which the movement he is fostering can go and still profess to be Christian and to be doing the work of God in the world. If ever a single act of man fulfilled that scripture, “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof,” that article has done so. We shall quote from his article simply to show how completely the teachings of modern theologians contradict the Word of God and the purpose of God and nullify the most fundamental principles of the gospel. It is a warfare that has been long predicted; it has come; and we need to be well grounded in the purpose of God and the plan of redemption if we are to stand successfully before its persistent and tremendous onslaughts. Said Dr. Abbott:—
“If it could be proved that Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead, the proof would take no intelligent disciples from the Christian church.This means that the resurrection of Jesus Christ has nothing to do with man’s future; that man’s future life is independent of anything accomplished by Christ’s death and resurrection. But if such a statement were true, the whole groundwork of the gospel would be gone. In such a case, the life of our Saviour on earth was needless; his sacrifice was not a sacrifice, but a mere illegal execution; there is no such thing as redemption in the gospel; and Jesus himself is made a deceiver instead of a Saviour. Either the entire Word of God is false, or the statement above quoted is false. We have no hesitancy in deciding which it is. The Bible contradicts such a teaching from its beginning to its close, and the most positive teachings of Jesus by word of mouth contradict it.”
Says the prophet Isaiah, “The Holy One of Israel is thy Redeemer.” The Higher Critic denies the fall of man, and therefore the necessity for a Redeemer; but the Bible still proclaims the necessity. More than that, it proclaims the fact that such a Redeemer would be provided. We read:—
“Who hath believed our message? and to whom hath the arm of Jehovah been revealed? For he grew up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised, and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and as one from whom men hide their face he was despised; and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and Jehovah hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. . . . Who among them considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people to whom the stroke was due? And they made his grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in his death; although he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased Jehovah to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of Jehovah shall prosper in his hand. . . . By the knowledge of himself shall my righteous servant justify many; and he shall bear their iniquities. . . . He poured out his soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors: yet he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53.
The declaration is plain. The transgression of man merited the stroke, but it fell upon Christ, who offered himself in our place. Wonderful love! We transgressed — he was wounded for it; we did iniquity — he was bruised for it; his were the stripes that we might
be healed; the world was lost in its sin, but through the chastisement of our Substitute we are at home again and at peace again with our God — not that God took pleasure in Christ’s bruising, but that in that bruising God saw the love of man again turning toward him because of what Jesus would bear in man’s behalf. Wonderful love of Jesus! wonderful Gift of God! It was necessary to man’s restoration to peace and harmony with heaven, or God would never have permitted it, and Jesus would never have done it. It is a glorious accomplished fact, and because it is, eternal life is assured to all who accept it for what it is. That makes it possible for us to understand this: “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” John 1:4. The Saviour’s declaration to the Jews is explicit upon this point:—
“I am the living bread which came down out of heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: yea and the bread which I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world.” John 6:51.
Again he said:—
“I am the resurrection, and the life! he that believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he live.” John 11:25.
Jesus couples the resurrection and the life together. Because of his sinlessness death could not hold him, and because it could not hold him, it can not hold those who are his. Says Paul:—
“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” 1 Thess. 4:14.
There is nothing of such tremendous importance to the Christian as the fact that Jesus Christ triumphed over death. The resurrection is the kernel of the gospel. Without that there is no hope, no reason why there should be people calling themselves Christians, and Christianity is no more divine than Confucianism, Shintoism, or Buddhism. There is no use for a shell when the kernel is gone.
In order to carry out the proposition of the lack of deific manifestation in the life and labors of Jesus, Dr. Abbott attacks the miracles. He believes in none of the Biblical records of miracles except those whose processes can be explained in harmony with natural laws. He can conceive of the children of Israel crossing the Red Sea because the conditions make such a thing possible. Jehovah could sweep back the waters with a great wind because the waters are not too deep, and strong winds frequently blow there in the direction one would have to blow to accomplish such an act. The inference from such teaching is that Jehovah could not have taken the Israelites across the Red Sea if the conditions had been different. Such a conception of the power of Almighty God, the Maker
of the universe, is an extremely belittling one. We are not thinking of God as the Creator when we declare him circumscribed by the things which he created. The first declaration in the third angel’s message is: “Fear God, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment is come; and worship him that made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters.” Rev. 14:7. The burden of such teaching as that of the Higher Critics is to belittle God, make him a creature of circumstances, and take away his glory both as Creator and as Redeemer.
Jesus declared concerning himself and the miracles which he performed: “If I had not done among them the works which none other did, they had not had sin.” John 15:24. That takes the works wrought by Jesus entirely out of the category of works done by men; and he himself teaches that those works testify to his deity, and leave those who reject him without excuse for doing so. Yet Dr. Abbott thinks and teaches that “modern psychotherapy” would account for the works which Jesus performed. He says:—
“That Jesus Christ may have possessed in a supereminent degree the spiritual power of which modern psychotherapy gives us only as yet a hint is entirely possible. That many of the so-called miracles of healing attributed to him may have been wrought by this psychic power is certainly conceivable.”
We do not remember ever having seen a statement so disrespectful to heaven, to the power of God, to the mission and work of Jesus, as this just quoted. Such a teacher is certainly leaving no stone unturned in order to get rid of the deity of Jesus. Is it using too strong a term to characterize it as blasphemy, when one teaches that the power manifested in the mighty works of Jesus was the same power that is manifested to-day in mesmerism, hypnotism, and Spiritualism? We know what the power is that is operating in psychic demonstrations, because of the kind of work it does. It is the same power that has been working mischief in the world since Adam fell. It may even effect some cures when by doing so it can more effectually deceive. The Higher Critic is not able to explain the works of Jesus on any other basis, nor to accept the explanation of Jesus. He said:—
“The Father abiding in me doeth his works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.” John 14:10, 11.
Through the power of God Most High the works of Jesus were wrought, that through those works men might come to believe on him as the Saviour smitten for man, that man, to whom the smiting was due, might be again at one withGod through the mediation of the Son of God and Son of man. Let not the philosophy of human wisdom rob us of our Redeemer and our salvation.
C. M. S.

Light All the Way

By Editor

Editorial

Light All the Way. — The truth upon the sanctuary in heaven made plain all the story of the 1844 movement. Even the bitter disappointment of those who had expected the Lord to come was a matter of prophecy (Rev. 10:8-10); and there, in the “sure word,” stood the call to “prophecy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.” Verse 11. The third angel’s message of Revelation 14 was to follow the first and second, with the call to the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

Paul's Hope of Reward

By F. M. W.

Viewed from a human standpoint, the apostle Paul had made no small sacrifice for the gospel cause. Brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, a leading member of the most aristocratic sect of the Jews, learned and influential, the world presented to him a promising outlook. But to the mind of the apostle, when all this earthly prospect and glory was weighed in the light of heavenly truth, it appeared worthless. He said: “I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.”
His life in gospel work was one of unceasing toil. He was beaten, stoned, imprisoned, shipwrecked, suffering perils by land and sea, in the church and among the heathen, under conditions of weariness, hunger, and cold,—all for the sake of the cause of truth. But these experiences, instead of disheartening this brave disciple of the Lord, became his joy; and all because they were done for the one he loved. He said: “I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake.”
At the end of his long life of service, when writing from his Roman prison-house to his son in the gospel, it was no spirit of vainglory which prompted him to feel that God had enabled him to wage a successful warfare. He said: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”
Where now was his reward for this life of toil and sacrifice? Upon what time did his hopes center? When should he receive from God a recognition of his service? Death would bring him release from conflict; but not to the day of his decease did the disciple look for the reward of service. His day of death was the crowning incident of his whole life of martyrdom. His faith spans the little period of cessation from labor; it bridges the gulf which death has made between this life and the life to come. It looks to the day of restitution, to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, who “shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.”
That the apostle looked to this day for his reward is clearly indicated in the words which he addressed to Timothy. He said: “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” We have only to refer to the words of Paul to the church of Thessalonica, to find clearly to what day he referred, and at what time the appearing of the Lord Jesus will take place: “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thess. 4:16-18. Read also 1 Cor. 15:51-55.
Paul closed his eyes in sleep nearly two thousand years ago. Since that time the centuries have come and gone. Ages with their ceaseless toil, their long cycles of sin and sorrow, have rolled away. As we scan the page of history and cast our thoughts backward, it seems a long, long time, but when the apostle Paul awakes at the sound of the last trumpet, it will seem as but a moment so far as his consciousness is concerned; it will be as if the moment of death had ushered him into everlasting joy. To the living, it seems like the vigils of the night which we anxiously spend by the bedside of some afflicted loved one. To us who work and wait and watch, it seems that the morning dawn will never break; but to the weary one who falls into restful, unconscious sleep, the night passes as in a moment.
As in the carrying out of life's purposes, we make no account of the hours spent in sleep, the hours of rest when all activity ceases, so God in carrying out his great purpose for the human family, makes no account of the little gulf which death may make. His purpose lives still, whether in darkness or in light, throughout eternal ages. In the Christian's life, death is but an incident, which the purpose of God sweeps aside. Thus it was that the apostle Paul could contemplate the day of his departure as a release from the conflict, as the time when, so far as his consciousness was concerned, he would enter into the eternal reward awaiting the people of God.
This is the star of hope which pierces this earth-night of gloom, the cheering ray which beckons us on. The night of sin will soon be past, the darkness and thraldom of earth will soon be swept away, and in the glorious reign of righteousness will the children of God find the grand fruition of their longing hopes and fondest anticipations. “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” May the prayer of every believing heart be, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
F. M. W.

The Fruit of the Christ-Life

By William Warren Prescott

CHRIST is the living pattern. He was the pattern put into life for us that that same pattern might be put into life in us. We belittle the work of Christ if we stop short of the idea that the life of Christ on the earth must be lived over again in our life on the earth. It is thus that Christ is identified with his followers, because it is his life which they live.
Only by life connection, vital connection, that connection which permits actual life to flow back and forth, can we be kept alive. There is special stress to be laid upon these thoughts just now, because we are in the time of the closing up of God’s purpose. That is why such a brilliancy of light is shining now. Just before Christ’s coming, every ray of light that has ever shone upon God’s Word will shine again. We have all the light the Reformers had in their great movements. All the light that ever shone is focusing in this time, and now God in Christ is working mightily to restore his image in the souls of men.
Where do we find the revelation of God’s character? He has told us that it is in his law. That is why there is light shining upon the law of God. Perfection comes in only through our obedience to the commandments, and that is possible only through Christ. He will save us; for we have his promise, “Sin shall not have dominion over you.” What is sin?—“All unrighteousness is sin.” What is righteousness? “His name . . . shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” Christ is the example of righteousness. Through him the gift of righteousness comes to us, and we shall be saved from unrighteousness. Righteousness is being like Christ. Christ was the image of God. Unrighteousness is unlikeness to Christ. God will save us from that unlikeness. “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.” “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.”
Christ is still united to his followers. “For we have not an high priest which can not be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the wordof God; even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations.” What is that mystery? “Christ in you, the hope of glory; whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith”—not visit, not call, but dwell, abide in your hearts—dwell there permanently. It is Christ dwelling in you. That is the message of Rev. 3:20: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Now when Christ has made such abundant provision as this that his image shall be restored in us, should we not accept it? He has made all this provision for some results to appear. He measures the extent of our union with God by the results which are manifested. It is not a nominal faith in Jesus Christ that stands the test, but to have the works of faith brought out in us, because it is by those works that we are all tested. We can not work the works, but God has made every provision that his life shall be manifested in us, and he measures us by the fruit of righteousness manifested in our lives. He does not ask us to manifest those results ourselves, but makes all provision that those works shall be manifested in us, and then he judges us by the results. He has a right to do so. By the results he measures the value of our profession. “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” He measures them by the result of their lives, not simply by their profession. “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord.” If profession would do anything, they have done all. “Then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit.” W. W. P.

This Same Jesus

By F. M. W.

THE early disciples loved their Lord. They loved to sit at his feet, to listen to his words, to gaze into his face. His blessed, personal presence was a source of constant joy and rejoicing. There was a reason for their feelings. Christ had proved a true and tried friend. He had been a comforter and counselor. His hands had ministered to their temporal needs and physical welfare. His words of courage had fired their hearts with new hope. He had so closely identified himself with all their interests that they felt that their lives were wrapped up in his.
No wonder that when told that he was about to go away, sorrow filled their hearts. Earth would be desolate without the Lord. Christ sees their grief, and hastens to administer the needed comfort: “Let not your heart be troubled: . . . I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself.”
The night these words were uttered saw the shattering of their hopes. He who they thought would redeem Israel, and take the throne of his father David, was delivered to the ungodly, and in a few brief hours was hanged as a common criminal and imposter upon the cross. A gloomy outlook presented itself. Where now was all their cherished hopes?
The resurrection morn arrives. The entombed Christ comes forth triumphant over death. Vanquished hopes return. This surely is the day of deliverance. Eagerly they press the question, “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” Expectantly they await the answer. Again they are bidden to look to the future, to the work to be done before the kingdom could be established. Before the victory must come the conflict, before the reaping the sowing, before the resting the labor. They were to be witnesses for the Lord to earth’s remotest bounds. While Christ’s personal presence would be removed from their midst, his Spirit would go with them, and would accomplish for them and through them what he could not do in person without its influence.
Christ is separated from their midst. A cloud receives him from their sight. Wondering at this new revelation of celestial glory, they are addressed by two angels: “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” Their minds are carried back to the words of the Lord himself. This was the going away to which he referred. And he would come again. This same Jesus with whom they had lived and labored, the same Jesus with whom they had associated in such sweet communion, he who had been a friend and brother in every time of need, he was to come again. This thought, this faith, this hope, was to be henceforth the inspiration of their labor. For him they could toil on. With his loving gaze still upon them, his Spirit to guide and keep them, they could do and dare for the spread of the gospel message.
This was the hope of the early disciples; it should be the hope of his disciples to-day. If in our experience Christ has become as precious to us as he did to Peter, James, and John, we will long for his appearing as earnestly as did they. We can not separate our love of our friends from our love of their personal presence. We can not separate our love of the Lord from our love of his soon coming. If we have entered into communion with his life, if he has become to us our dearest friend, the sharer of our joys and sorrows, we will long to be near him, to see his face, and clasp his hand, and listen to his voice of love. The pursuit of no human plan will lead us to desire that his coming be delayed. His time will be our time. Every plan and purpose will be subservient to his divine leading, and we will rejoice in every indication that this same Jesus is coming to take us unto himself. Desiring his presence, we shall seek to be like him, purifying ourselves even as he is pure. Washed by the grace that he freely gives, we may enter unabashed into his presence, and enjoy at his right hand pleasures forevermore.
F. M. W.

Note and Comment

The Difference

The following forcible contrast is instructive to the lover of missions:—
There is one Christian minister for every 500 of the population of the United States, and there is but one for every 114,000 in Japan, one for 165,000 in India, one for 220,000 in Africa, and one for 437,000 in China. There are 405,297 temples and shrines in Japan, and only 1,635 churches, chapels, and preaching-places, nearly 250 times as many places to worship myriad gods as to worship the living God.

Labor Troubles

THE issues between capital and labor continue no more smoothly with the passing years. In fact, of late the situation is regarded by observers as growing more tense and disturbing. The other day General Bragg said in Wisconsin:—
If present social conditions continue, civil strife is inevitable. At times I think it is not far away, but again it appears to be a long distance from us. The French Revolution should serve as an example to the United States.

Peculiar Exegesis

IN a paper by Rev. J. A. Crosby, United Presbyterian, read at a late gathering of the Allegheny Valley Ministerial Association, at Tarentum, Pa., the Sabbath is thus defined: “The Sabbath refers to the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday.” He quotes the fourth commandment as authority for the Sabbath, which may be very fairly regarded as quite clear in announcing the seventh day and not the first as having that distinction. How is it possible to regard such a method of Scripture exegesis as harmonizing with gospel honesty?
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