Review and Herald, Vol. 86, No. 49. (12/9/1909)

Review and Herald

Dec 9, 1909

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 9, 1909

A Prayer

By Joseph H. Beale

Thou’st swathed our yesterdays in glory, And given songs to cheer the night; Each morn repeats its blissful story; Thou kissest sobs and tears with light, And on the cloud the bow Thou settest All woven in amazing grace, For through these earth-born mists Thou lettest Thy love-light shine in Mercy’s face.

Lo, in the darkest day Thou lendest Thine aid to guide our feet aright,— And to our souls this word Thou sendest, “At evening time it shall be light.” Then Faith the precious promise borrows And looks into Thy loving face, And Hope still hails the glad to-morrows Abounding with unending grace.

O, give us, Lord, that open vision To see the path Thy feet have trod, And lead us to the fields Elysian, And bring us face to face with God. Whatever way Thy wisdom leadeth, Our willing feet would softly tread, Like sheep whom loving bounty feedeth When by the tender Shepherd led.

—Joseph H. Beale.

BOOKS FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

Have you selected your Holiday gifts? Nothing can be better than good books. They are always appropriate. The quality of one's books indicates the character of the individual. The reading of good books elevates the mind and stimulates the aspirations. Why not make your gifts, and help your friends to make their gifts, of things both beautiful and helpful? The following books are all good for this purpose. Order from your tract society or from the publishers.

A Man of Valor

A new book written expressly for young people. The Old Testament character of Jonathan is taken as the leading figure, and around the wonderful story of his life is clustered a wealth of practical lessons and historical information. Twelve beautiful full-page illustrations have been especially prepared for the book, and each is a real work of art.

Price . . . $ .75

The New Testament Primer

An attractive book for children, composed of simplified nature and Bible topics, and sparkling with bright two-color illustrations. One of the most attractive children's books ever published.

Board . . . . . . . $ .35 Cloth . . . . . . . . .60 Presentation edition, cloth, gilt edges . . . . . . .75

Colds: Their Cause, Prevention, and Cure

People are inclined to speak lightly of a cold. But even if the affection is not more serious, its importance is sufficient to demand immediate attention and intelligent treatment.

Price . . . . . . . $ .25

The Practical Guide to Health

A masterly treatise on anatomy, physiology, and hygiene, with a scientific description of diseases, their cause and treatment; especially designed for the home and the instruction of nurses. Contains 668 pages, with twelve color plates and nearly 100 other illustrations, substantially bound as follows:—

Cloth, marbled edges . . . . $3.00 Library (full law sheep), marbled edges . . . . . . . . . 4.00 Full morocco, marbled edges . . . . . . . . . 5.00

Steps to Christ

A book which will cheer many a discouraged heart. Presents in a simple and attractive manner the steps by which the sinner may be made complete in Christ. While the book is an excellent guide for inquirers and young converts, it also contains a wealth of counsel and encouragement for those who are laboring with the difficulties that beset a growing experience.

Cloth . . . . . . . . $ .60 Gilt . . . . . . . . . 1.00 Paper . . . . . . . . . .30

Education

By Mrs. E. G. White. Education in its entirety, covering all phases. Especially prepared for parents, teachers, and students. Excellent for all classes. The great principles of Christian education are clearly set forth, and invaluable counsel for the education of the youth, is placed within the reach of all. 321 pages, beautifully bound in cloth, with three-color cover design.

Price . . . . . . . . $1.25

His Glorious Appearing

An exposition of Matthew Twenty-four, revised, enlarged, and illustrated. The book contains 128 pages, with twenty full-page illustrations. The work takes up Christ’s great prophecy of his own second coming, and the signs of the times are clearly pointed out in their relation to that great event. Just the book for the times! Attractive, interesting, timely, and instructive.

Bound in boards with cover design in colors . . $ .25 Bound in fine English cloth, embossed covers, lemon edges . . .50 Issued also in German, Danish, and Swedish.

Gospel Primer

The object of this little book is to teach reading, and at the same time combine lessons that will instil into the minds of the learner the truths of the gospel. The first pages are devoted to the alphabet, each letter of which combines some Bible scene. The remaining part of the book is given to Bible stories, made so simple that any child can understand them.

Heavy board, with handsome design in colors . . . $ .35 English cloth, embossed cover, lemon edges . . . . . . . . .60

Best Stories From the Best Book

Designed with special reference to its adaptability to the needs of the children. For this reason it has been profusely illustrated. This book is divided into two departments: Easy Lessons Department and Bible Story Department. The stories have been prepared with special reference to teaching the truth. Contains 200 large pages, in the following styles of binding:—

Paper . . . . . . . . . . $ .25 Board covers, cloth back, heavy paper . . . . . . . . . . .50 Full red cloth, embossed . . . . . . . . . . .75

The Coming King

Treats in a clear, concise, and readable manner the live issues of our times. It shows our Saviour’s connection with the history of this world during the patriarchal age, and very lucidly presents the events clustering around his first advent to earth. But more especially does it show how history is accurately fulfilling the great prophecy of our Lord as recorded in Matthew twenty-four. The book contains 321 pages, 180 engravings. Bound as follows:—

Blue cloth, plain . . . . . . $1.00 Full buckram, marbled . . . . . . 1.50 Two colors cloth, stamped in gold, gilt edges . . . . . . 2.00

Christ Our Saviour

Giving in graceful yet simple language a graphic account of the birth, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ. His life and work are so presented as to instil new thoughts in the mind of the reader concerning our Lord’s mission to earth in pursuance of the plan of salvation. 182 octavo pages, profusely illustrated with original drawings especially designed for this work.

Cloth back, board covers, in fine colors . . . . . . $ .50 Fine English cloth, embellished aluminum cover . . . . . . .75 Presentation edition, two colors, vellum cloth, embossed in jet, green, and gold, beveled edges, gilt top . . . . . . 1.25

REVIEW AND HERALD PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION South Bend, Ind.　　　　　　　　　WASHINGTON, D. C.　　　　　　　　　New York, N. Y.

Our First Paper

By Editor

Editorial

Our First Paper.—The first paper devoted to the proclamation of the three-fold message of Revelation 14 was the Present Truth, printed in July, 1849, at Middletown, Conn. It was an eight-page, semimonthly, published by James White.

The Burden to Publish.—The motto of the paper was, “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant. Ps. 25:14.” The first paragraph was the text: “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the PRESENT TRUTH.” “For months,” wrote the publisher, “I have felt burdened with the duty of writing, and publishing the present truth for the scattered flock. . . . I tremble at the word of the Lord, and the importance of this time.”

Dedicated to God.—Thus on that July day, in 1849, the first of our periodicals spread its white wings to fly with the third angel’s message to the children of men. This was the paper the entire edition of which was brought from the printing-office in a hand-bag. And we have been told how the little band of believers knelt round the pile of papers on the floor, and with tears dedicated this first periodical to God, and besought him to bless the silent messengers as they were sent forth. Now, with our hundred twenty periodicals, in many languages, we do well to call to mind that day of small things but of great faith; and in the same spirit of devotion to dedicate and consecrate our all to God in this time of the finishing of the work. With all our numbers, and with all our facilities, we are as utterly helpless to do the work, and as dependent upon God, as were they.

The Tremendous Issue.—“I tremble at the word of the Lord, and the importance of this time,” wrote James White as he began the first paper. How much it meant that the time so long foretold in prophecy had at last come! The scene at the opening of the judgment hour had transpired in heaven:—

“I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.” Dan. 7:9, 10.

God’s providence had raised up a little band of believers to begin the work of proclaiming the last message on earth. Well might Elder White feel the tremendous importance of the time as he launched that first paper; and well may our hearts now tremble at the word of the Lord and the importance of this time, sixty years later, on the very verge of eternity. This third angel’s message movement is no dream. The end of all things is at hand. Cry it aloud, and wake every sleeper.

How Providence Prepared the Way

By William A. Spicer

THIS week's testimony to the Lord's intervening power is from our own earlier history. I hope it will suggest to some of our readers that it is time to send in accounts of manifest special providences in connection with our work and workers.

It is cheering to recount these experiences of deliverance or special leading, with their evidence of a Heavenly Father's constant care over his children and his work. “Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord.”

This story tells of the manner in which the Lord prepared a sister to hear and accept the truth, and prepared a laborer to present the right thing at the right time.

In the early years of our work, Miss Annie R. Smith was a student in a young ladies' seminary in Massachusetts. Her mother, in New Hampshire, had embraced the Sabbath truth, and was specially burdened for her son—Uriah Smith—and the daughter. She had talked with Elder Joseph Bates of her burden, and now that he was soon to hold a meeting, in Somerville, Mass., near Miss Smith's place of residence, it was arranged that the mother should inform the daughter of the meeting, and earnest prayer was offered that the young woman might be led to attend.

The sequel is told by Elder J. N. Loughborough, in his “Great Second Advent Movement:” —

Elder Bates had never been in the room where the meeting was to be held, and therefore knew nothing of its situation. The night before the meeting, he dreamed of being in the room, and that every seat was occupied except the one just by the door. He also dreamed that he changed his subject from that on which he intended to speak, and spoke on the sanctuary question; that they had sung the first hymn, prayed, and sung the second hymn, and he had just opened his Bible and was reading, “Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed,” pointing to the figure of the sanctuary on the chart, when the door opened, and a young lady entered and took her seat in the vacant chair. He also dreamed that the person was Annie R. Smith, and that she at once became interested, and embraced the truth.

Elder Bates' meeting was on the Sabbath (Saturday), and as there was no school that day, Annie said, “Just to please my mother, I'll go.” The night before that Sabbath she dreamed that she went, and was late; that on arriving at the door the first hymn had been sung, prayer offered, and they were just concluding the second hymn; that as she entered, she observed that every chair was occupied but the one by the door; that a tall, noble, pleasant speaker was pointing to a chart such as she had never seen before, and was repeating, “Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” She dreamed that what he said greatly interested her, and that it was the truth.

She started for the meeting in ample time, but missed the way, so failed to get there until the singing of the last of the second hymn. When she entered, everything was exactly as she had seen it in the dream, and the identical man of her dream was repeating, in the same manner, the text from Dan. 8:14. It

struck conviction to her heart at once. Elder Bates had not thought of his dream until she entered the door and took her seat. He had prepared to talk on another subject, but his mind would rest on the sanctuary question. While he was repeating the text, his dream flashed into his mind, and silently he prayed for help to speak to the hearts of his hearers. He had great freedom in explaining the passing of the time, with which Annie was familiar. Then he set forth the truth of the third angel's message and the Sabbath.

As he closed the meeting, he stepped up to Annie, and said: “I believe this is Sister Smith's daughter of West Wilton. I never saw you before, but your countenance looks familiar. I dreamed of seeing you last night.” Then Annie told her dream. She left the meeting with feelings and aspirations all changed, having there and then accepted the truth of the Sabbath.

She went back to the seminary, packed her trunk, and went home. On learning of Elder White's cares in publishing, and of his labors in preaching, she felt that God called her to go and help him in his office work.

Miss Smith continued with the REVIEW until her death, a few years later, having given to us some of our most inspiring hymns; by which, though she sleeps in death, she “yet speaketh” of the goodly pilgrimage and the thrilling cry of the advent message.

W. A. S.

A Vital Doctrine

By W. W. P.

THE genuine gospel of Christ is distinguished from all false religions by that vital teaching, that doctrine which is both the power and the glory of the gospel,—the mystery of godliness. This is that union of the divine and the human in the person of Christ, Son of God and Son of man, which has brought human nature into a personal relation with God. This mystery furnishes the key for the explanation of the whole plan of salvation as revealed in the Scriptures. It is only because the Seed of the woman would be divine as well as human that the promise could be made in Eden which involved the utter overthrow of Satan and all his works. It was only because the son of David would also be David’s Lord that he could be assured of an everlasting reign “upon the throne of David.” It was only because the Son of man was also Son of God that he could predict that he would come “in the glory of his Father and with his angels.”

Some of the scriptures which set forth this central truth of the gospel may be read in this connection with profit:—

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth.” John 1:1, 14.

“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh; and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.” Rom. 8:3.

“But when the fulness of time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” Gal. 4:4.

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: he who was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, received up in glory.” I Tim. 3:16.

“Since then the children are sharers in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same; that through death he might bring to naught him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and might deliver all them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily not to angels doth he give help, but he giveth help to the seed of Abraham. Wherefore it behooved him in all things to be made like unto his brethren, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” Heb. 2:14-17.

In the experiences set forth in these simple statements we find the fulfilment of those promises which foretold the incarnation. As, for example:—

“Jehovah thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him shall ye harken.” Deut. 18:15.

“And now, O Lord Jehovah, thou art God, and thy words are truth, and thou hast promised this good thing unto thy servant: now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue forever before thee; for thou, O Lord Jehovah, hast spoken it; and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed forever.” 2 Sam. 7:28, 29.

“I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant: Thy seed will I establish forever, and build up thy throne to all generations.” Ps. 89:3, 4.

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign: behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel [God is with us].” Isa. 7:14.

In addition to these prophecies declared in plain words, there are many intimations in type, symbol, and prophetic history which clearly foretell this great mystery of the gospel, and which have no definite meaning apart from it. The ancient tabernacle of the Hebrews, in which the glory of God was revealed behind veils and curtains, was in itself testifying to the revelation of the glory of God which would be veiled with humanity. The form of the fourth, the companion of the three Hebrews in the fiery furnace, was not a mere optical delusion, but rather a real presence, the presence of him who would take the flesh and tread the pathway of trial with his brethren.

It makes a great difference in personal experience whether one accepts Christ as the fulfilment of these prophecies and intimations of the Scriptures, or whether he regards him merely as the highest type of human development. His own words make this clear:—

“Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” John 8:24.

In thus speaking Jesus evidently referred to himself as being the manifestation in the flesh of him who in the Old Testament had been revealed to the chosen people by the name “I AM.” This is true whether we read the passage without supplying the word “he,” or whether we accept the usual rendering. This is clear from the words of the prophet Isaiah:—

“Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am Jehovah; and besides me there is no savior. I have declared, and I have saved, and I have showed; and there was no strange God among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and I am God. Yea, since the day was, I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who can hinder it?” Isa. 43:10-13.

From these statements we learn that Jesus of Nazareth was the revelation in the flesh of the same one who declared his name to Moses, and who spoke through Isaiah, saying, “I am he.” We further learn that belief in this union of the divine and the human is the only means of escape from the power of sin. The faith which apprehends this great truth is the means through which the same union is wrought out in the experience of the believer, and thus Christ dwells in the heart by faith to transform the life and reveal his own character.

Any teaching which tends to obscure or undervalue this vital truth of the gospel should be repudiated in the most emphatic manner. It is not a question of the theoretical exposition of some doubtful text, but rather a question of personal experience in the saving power of God. To deny the incarnation of the Word in the obvious meaning of the scriptures to which we have referred, is to reduce the gospel of Christ to a merely human philosophy, and to make one dependent upon his own efforts to copy the example of Christ, rather than to depend upon an indwelling Christ to reveal his own life once more in the flesh. The teaching of the present day that the idea of incarnation “is apprehended as the immanence of God in the realm of human personality,” and that “the truth of the incarnation is that humanity, raised to its highest power, becomes Divinity,” is the direct result of the application in the field of theology of

the principle of evolution, and takes out of the gospel that unique revelation of Divinity in humanity which lifts it above the plane of false religions, and establishes the claim that it is the heaven-born plan of salvation. Beware of any doctrine which sets aside the Biblical view of the incarnation.

W. W. P.

Continue reading: Ought Always to Pray