The Review and Herald, Review and Herald, Vol. 47, No. 19.
SIGNIFICANT ITEMSPage 1
SIGNIFICANT ITEMS.
By F. A. Buzzell
ACCORDING to the Boston Pilot, there were in 1825, one Roman Catholic priest in Maine, one in New Hampshire, and one in Massachusetts, with eight churches. There are now in New England, according to this authority, one Archbishop, five Bishops, 441 priests, 432 churches, and a Catholic population of nearly 7,000,000. Reader, do you ask the amount levied on this great city? We reply, $30,000,000! Of this, one-quarter is required to pay the interest on the city debt, which is more than $100,000,000. Unfortunate New York! one may exclaim, burdened and robbed, and every year drifting into a still more helpless condition. . . . Cheating and robbing is the order of the day. There never was so much defalcation as this year has brought to light.—Martel Concord Statesman. My eye was most revolted by the stiff bronze figure of St. Peter, sitting bolt upright, key in hand and foot extended, to receive the pious homage of the people. This miserable figure has long been the particular object of public worship—the lip service of millions of the devout has repeatedly worn away the solid metal, and the holy saint has been at least thrice retouched. The best of the joke to a heretic is, that it is not St. Peter at all, but an old and very ugly statue of Jove, enhaloed and simply grasping a key instead of a bolt.—Grace Greenwood, Visit to St. Peters. A theological student may be never so conscientious and consecrated, but he chooses his church on common business principles, as it is proper he should. The only unwisdom is in talking as if he did not. He never remits a cent of his salary because he calls his parish a field of labor. When he leaves that parish for another, he says God has called him to another field of labor, and the dismissing council says amen; but all it really amounts to is that people are tired of him and he of them, his salary is too small, the house is damp, or the situation unhealthy; or he wants to live in a city, or preach his old sermons, or have a wider scope. God calls him to go just where the minister thinks, on the whole, he would rather go.—Gail Hamilton. All Europe Expected to be soon upon a War Footing.
London, April 3. Letter in Sunday's New York World. FROM my tall tower in Fleet Street, looking with a comprehensive and careful glance over Europe, I see evidence which encourages me to hope that affairs are rapidly coming to a head, and that ere long we shall be on a war footing again. My belief is strengthened by the private letters which I have received from your correspondents all over Europe within the last few days. “It will be well to be prepared for prompt action,” writes your man at Berlin. “The abdication of the Czar seems to be certain, and it means mischief to Germany. The thunderbolt may strike at any moment.” “Our new government,” writes your next agent at Rome, “can scarcely last long, and the chances are even that in its downfall it will overthrow the monarchy and set up the red republic, or give place to a reactionary government, which, backed up by the hitherto suppressed voice of the masses of the Italian and Roman people, will restore to the pope his sovereignty, and send the General Government back to Florence.” And he adds this significant sentence: “The adoption of universal suffrage in Italy would result in a most overwhelming victory for the Catholic party.” From Paris I am told that the calm which prevails there is the calm which precedes the storm, and not all the soft sayings of Gambetta, nor his pleadings for moderation on the part of his non-dominant faction, can prevent the speedy coming of a convulsion which will end, as the other Republics in France have ended, in the establishment of an empire. From Vienna, Constantinople and St. Petersburg, come similar notes of warning. But there is this counter reflection—that whatever every one expects does not come to pass, and that it is the unexpected which happens. Thus we may all be deceived, and the Centennial year of the American Republic may not be remembered as the date of outbreak of a general European war. ANOTHER ALARMED CORRESPONDENT.
London Dispatch in Sunday's New York Herald. The oriental specter which has been abroad during the week has been making general havoc on the European Bourse. The attitude of the Herzegovinian insurgents causes much alarm in political circles. General Rodich, Governor of Dalmatia and Austrian Commissioner, having failed in mediating between the Turks and the insurgents, has warned the latter against expecting any support from Russia, whereupon the Russian press turns upon him and angrily construes the warning as an insult to Russia. The Austrian press takes the matter up in turn and adds to the turmoil by attacking Russia. These growing antagonisms between these two great powers sufficiently explains the agitation on the various bourses. And when we consider by the light of recent events the fact that the Czar has declared that whenever Russian interests demand war with the great powers, he will abdicate the throne, there is still further cause for anxiety. Indeed, there now appears to be a very general fear in London that war is imminent. The Herald correspondent at Vienna telegraphs to-night that he has received reliable advices from Constantinople to the effect that the Sublime Porte intends, if driven to extremes, to arm the Mohammedan population, and declare it their determination to postpone all payments of interest on debts until after the restoration of peace. The insurrection in the provinces of European Turkey is still vigorously maintained. The most significant fact which has recently transpired is the more manifest sympathy of Russia with the insurgents, coupled with the rumor that the Czar proposes to retire or abdicate in favor of his son, who represents more fully the strong anti-Turkish sentiment of Russia. The following extracts from an able European journal will assist in understanding the Eastern question:— THE SITUATION IN CONSTANTINOPLE.
It is difficult to believe that a catastrophe of some kind can be avoided at Constantinople for many months longer, and it may take a somewhat unexpected form. All the accounts from the Bosphorus, cautiously as most of them are worded—the government of Abdul Aziz, like the government of Louis XVI., being still strong enough to punish libels—point to an impending collapse, but the form of that collapse may still be a surprise. As usual in decaying States, the immediate cause of the overturn will be the want of ready money. The Sultan’s government has for years oppressed the provinces till the population is decaying, the peasantry are ready for revolt, and all sense of security, either for property or for life, has disappeared; but except on the European frontier, no formidable insurrection has broken out. . . . The personal authority of the Sultan has, amidst the decay of the empire, rather increased than declined. This occurred also under the late Cæsars, and under the wretched successors of Philip II. of Spain, whose orders to the last were supreme with all subjects not in avowed revolt. So high now is the authority of the Sultan that it approaches the divine, and the greatest men in the empire dare not inform him of the most dangerous facts, or address him, save with their arms shielding their eyes from the too great effulgence of his glory. The Sultan has probably never seen the eyes of a Turk fixed, however respectfully, on his own. Nevertheless, the decay is creeping visibly inward from the provinces to the capital, and upward from the people to the palace. It has long been the practice to compensate the soldiers for deferred pay by license to plunder the provincials, and now their very food, as they march northward, is only provided by ruinous little loans. The bondholders have been openly robbed, and now even the bankers of Galata are told that they must give up half their claims. The unstatesmanlike and timid policy of a half-repudiation has destroyed Turkish credit without relieving Turkish wants, till, though every sixpence is exacted that can be obtained, the treasury is unable to borrow abroad at any price, or to sell obligations sufficient to raise fractions of a million. It is believed by grave politicians that the bankruptcy of an empire which holds the most fertile portions of Europe and Asia in direct sovereignty may arise from the impossibility of raising £800,000. The power of borrowing little sums even for a moment is departing. . . . The circle of devastation is closing in. Constantinople, in fact, is suffering at last as the provinces have long suffered, and even if the last fraction of credit is destroyed by the confiscation of the half-interest, the machine may stop any day for want of motive-power. Till the Sultan knows the truth it may go on, all men obeying even though unpaid, and the Sultan knows as yet nothing; but the moment want touches the seraglio, the moment an order for an iron-clad, or a palace, or a set of jewels, cannot be obeyed, the Sultan will know all, and will probably rush to some extreme of despotic fury. It is clear that much of all this is thoroughly known to the governing class in Constantinople, and clear, also, that their blame for it is all gradually concentrating itself upon the head of the Sultan himself. They admit that he is ruining the country. The mysterious reverence always paid to the Caliph has never prevented exasperated Mohammedans from dethroning him. The Mohammedan mob, always liable to fits of fury, has lately been burning palaces very close to the seraglio. The troops in Constantinople may be relied on against insurgents, without being trustworthy against a new Sultan. The elements of conflagration lie heaped about in the capital, and it is difficult to believe that the Pashas, at last affected in their personal interests, and long aware of the ruin of their country and their faith, will not find means of firing them.—London Spectator. THE CHASTENING OF THE LORD.
By John G. Matteson
TEXT: “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him.” Heb. 12:5. The Lord chastens his children to educate them and to prepare them for the eternal kingdom. Every Christian ought to understand what this chastening is, and how it can benefit him; for those who are without chastisements are bastards and not sons. Verse 8. A great “cloud of witnesses” are introduced in the preceding chapter. They lived for the Lord, and died in faith. They finished their course with joy, and have the promise of “a better resurrection,” and a heavenly country. This is written to encourage us to follow their example, and to run our race with patience as they did. In order to do this, lest we be wearied and faint, our eye of faith is directed unto Jesus. Trusting in him and following in his footsteps we can overcome; but in no other way is this possible. Are we called upon to endure much contradiction of sinners in Zion? He endured much more. Is our cross heavy and are we despised for the truth’s sake by those who ought to love us? Christ bore a cross that was much heavier. How bitter was his cup when the sins of the world were laid upon him! And what terrible shame fell upon him when he became a curse for us and was numbered with transgressors! Yet he “endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” “Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him; for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” Verses 4–6. The great problem for every Christian to solve is, to strive against sin, and to resist unto blood—unto death. Thousands of noble martyrs have been faithful unto death. We must also purify our souls in obeying the truth. And the truth is valuable to us only in proportion as it purifies us, increasing our faith and love, teaching us to crucify the flesh with the lusts and affections thereof, and preparing146us to dwell with Christ in the kingdom of glory. In order to advance this work the Lord chastises us, and this is a proof of his fatherly love, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten,” be zealous therefore, and repent.” Rev. 3:19. “My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction. For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” Prov. 3:11, 12. When the Lord corrects us, and thus endeavors to lead us in the way of life, we are immediately exposed to temptation. Satan desires to hinder our growth in grace. He tries to turn our feet away from the narrow path either to the right or to the left. We may be tempted to despise the chastening of the Lord, or, as the original also means, to neglect it or regard it slightly. Then it does not improve the heart, and the object of God is not reached. His chastisement brings forth no fruit of righteousness. Others receive the correction. They are much grieved on account of their mistakes. They despond when convinced of error. Then Satan tries hard to push them over unto the other side—into discouragement and despair. The way of life is like a narrow path with deep ditches on both sides. If we lean too much to the left, the enemy of our souls is quickly ready to push us down into the ditch on that side. And if we try to avoid this, and go too far to the right, he is just as willing to push us into the ditch on the right side. For this reason we should always keep in the middle of the road, and this is no small task. Therefore, we need light and help from God daily. It is wrong to be trifling, and receive the correction of God lightly. But it is also wrong to be discouraged and give up. The golden mean is the way of life. The word chastening is translated from paideia, and means training, instruction, discipline, correction. It is rendered “nurture” in Eph. 6:4, and “correction” in 2 Tim. 3:16. The corresponding verb paideuo is translated chasteneth, Heb. 12:6; learned, Acts. 7:22; taught, 22:3; instructing, 2 Tim. 2:25; teaching, Titus 2:12. Moses was learned or trained in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. And Paul was taught or trained according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers. This shows clearly that the chastening of the Lord is performed when the Lord instructs and trains his children, as he warns and corrects them by his word, his Spirit, and the kind direction of his providence. He discovers unto us our spiritual poverty—how blind and naked we are. He warns us most earnestly to repent, as in the message to the Laodiceans. We are children, but not good children. Our memory is weak, our comprehension poor. We need frequent instruction and correction. Sickness, poverty, tribulation, and persecution are not always chastisement. Many are sick and poor who never have been the children of God and never will be. These afflictions are not in themselves the chastening of the Lord. When they befall us there is generally a natural cause. But God suffers them to come upon his children also. If, then, the word and Spirit of God with the affliction instructs and trains us, it may become a chastisement from the Lord. And the affliction may help to make room in our hearts for the voice of God. “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him.” It is left to our own free will whether we will heed the instruction of God, and bend our minds after his fatherly direction, or not. If we do, we will learn from our Saviour who was meek and lowly in heart, and then we shall find rest to our troubled souls. “When we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.” 1 Cor. 11:32. The apostles of Christ endured much affliction. They were “chastened, and not killed.” 2 Cor. 6:9. Their chastisement came often in the form of prisons and scourging, yet they were always rejoicing. They suffered themselves to be taught and trained by the Lord in whatever manner he saw fit. Then Jesus came in and supped with them, and they were often inexpressibly happy in the midst of the greatest afflictions. “If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye are without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.” Heb. 12:7, 8. We do not desire to deceive ourselves. It would be a terrible fate to find ourselves with the rich man in the lake of fire on the last day. Therefore we would rather pray: Lord, make us partakers of thy chastisement, that we may be sons and not bastards. “Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence; shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.” Verses 9, 10. God is our spiritual Father. He has begotten us again unto a lively hope by the gospel. He will give us everlasting life through his Son. As much as eternal life is more excellent than this short life, so much more excellent is it also to be permitted to call God our Father, instead of having merely an earthly parent. And if we have obeyed our earthly fathers, how much more should we obey God, our spiritual Father, and live—live forever. We should also remember that our earthly fathers were imperfect in their method of training, and often made mistakes, but our spiritual Father in Heaven makes no mistakes when he chastens us. His chastisement is always for our profit and is brought about for this noble object, that we might be partakers of his holiness. “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them that are exercised thereby.” Verse 11. Nothing on earth is so painful as the chastening of the Lord. It breaks the heart. It is difficult for us to see and acknowledge our own sins and mistakes. Confession and reformation are not pleasant to the flesh, yet yield the blessed fruit of righteousness to all those who improve by them. This fruit does not consist in boasting of our knowledge or in a feeling of self-sufficiency, but it consists in a quiet rest in Jesus, the mind being controlled by the Heavenly Shepherd, so that we love to follow Christ. It is seen in a spiritual life and in unselfish labor for the glory of God and the salvation of precious souls. “Lord, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer [Danish: their quiet prayer] when thy chastening was upon them.” Isa. 26:16. In joy and prosperity the Lord is easily forgotten, but in trouble we feel more disposed to visit the Lord. It is very precious when the children of God, bowed down with such chastisement, pour out their heartfelt prayers in a quiet place before the Lord. “Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law; that thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked. For the Lord will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance. But judgment shall return unto righteousness; and all the upright in heart shall follow it.” Ps. 94:12–15. The chastening of the Lord leads us to learn from his holy law. Those children who as yet do not desire to see or understand the obligations shown by the law of God, have not been sufficiently exercised by the chastening of the Lord. But if they will not despise it, the Lord will give them rest. He will not cast off his people until all the upright in heart learn to follow after his righteousness. This is encouraging for those who are trying to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. “Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” Heb. 12:12–14. This encouragement to the weak and fearful of heart is given in connection with the coming of the Lord. The prophet points the feeble ones to the great day of the appearing of the Lord: “Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not; behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you.” Isa. 35:3, 4. Let us put our trust in the living God and wait for his Son from Heaven. Are your hands weak, and do they hang down by your side? Are your knees feeble and your steps faltering in the way of life, so that the lame is in danger of being turned out of the way? Is your heart fearful and your spirit discouraged? Do not give up. Lift up your eye of faith unto Him who shall come in a little while and shall not tarry. God bids you strengthen the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. He says unto you, Be of good cheer, fear not. Do you hear the word of the Lord? Can you believe it? Will you trust in the Lord more than in your own understanding? Then his word shall not return unto him void, but shall accomplish the will of God. The Lord bids you follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. This is the express will of God. He will not save you in any other way. But he will and can save you in this very manner. Strive, then, in the name of Jesus, and the Lord will bless you. He will nourish your spiritual life. Your Heavenly Father will deal with you as with sons. He will chasten you and exercise you by his chastening until you bring forth the peaceable fruit of righteousness. Sabbath Hymn
By Roswell F. Cottrell
Jehovah spoke the word, and it was done;
He gave command, and countless worlds upsprung;
Each system moved around its central sun;
Angels beheld, and songs of rapture sung. He planted earth with trees and herbs and flowers,
To every living creature he gave birth;
He placed the human pair in Eden's bowers,
Gave them dominion over all the earth. Six days were thus employed, as he thought best,
Though all might have been finished in an hour,
But he would consecrate a day of rest,
In which to celebrate his love and power. Hail, sacred Sabbath! thus for man designed,
And separated from the working days,
That from earth's labors he might lift his mind,
And duly celebrate his Maker's praise. All hail the power that spoke the worlds from naught.
All hail the goodness that to man is shown!
All hail the love that man's best good has sought!
Let songs of thanks and praise surround the throne. Though fallen man has lost his first estate,
And sin has trampled on the day of rest,
New heavens and earth Jehovah will create;
All then will keep the Sabbath and be blest. What Is to Become of Turkey?
“WHAT is to become of Turkey?” is the conundrum that agitates Europe, and “there seems to be a certainty that the old prophecy will be fulfilled, and Sultan Abdul Aziz become Abdul as was.”—Det. News.