Signs of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 28. (7/22/1889)

Signs of the Times

Jul 22, 1889

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Jul 22, 1889

Consecration and Humility Before God

“LORD, what wilt thou have me to do?” should be the question of every Christian. If there is consecration and faith on our part, God, on his part, will cleanse and fit us for his work, even as he did the prophet of old. However hard the task or perilous the mission, we will then say “Here am I; send me.” Isa. 6:5-8.

No repentance is so deep as that having for its foundation a deep sense of God’s purity and goodness and love. No obedience is so faithful, so willing, as that born of gratitude to Him “who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity.” The Cross of Calvary adds undimmed luster and holiness and beauty to the Law of Sinai, and awakens within the heart a holy fear that the thunders of Sinai could not compel.

No terms can express the greatness and majesty and glory of Jehovah. He is the High and Lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy. Truly it would seem that to walk with such a being, man must lift up himself. Such he would endeavor to do if he were to walk with an earthly king. But the Majesty of Heaven says, “Humble thyself to walk with thy God.” Micah 6:8, margin. God dwells, walks, abides, with the lowly in heart, but the proud he knoweth afar off. “Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift thee up.” The Valley of Humility is a hard place to get, but a blessed place to walk; for He who alone can bless, walks with us.

CONSECRATION to God means submission to his whole will. To consecrate ourselves to God is to dedicate or devote every faculty and power of our being, body and soul, to his service. All is to be devoted to God, because the individual realizes in all true consecration, that all belongs to God by the right of purchase, the price of which was the precious life-blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Devoting ourselves to God, thinking that we are doing him a favor, is not Christian consecration; it is self-righteousness. Neither is that Christian consecration which devotes all to God, to be used in our way. We may call it consecration, but it is no more the genuine article than though we did not profess the name of Christ at all. We have put our way for God’s way, our will for God’s will.

Our way may, from a human standpoint, seem best, but to follow that way in opposition to God’s way is to deny his unerring wisdom and infinite holiness; and to deny either of these attributes of Deity is to deny God. And this is the class spoken of by the apostle in Titus 1:16: “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” To deny God in works, we have only to follow the will and way of the carnal heart, instead of submitting to God’s will and walking in God’s way. It is ever well to remember that “if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” 2 Tim. 2:5.

THE reason why so many Christians lament their lack of influence and power among their fellow-men, is simply because they fail to share the influence and power of Christ in their own experience. It is the duty of every Christian to so live out his profession that a divine fragrance will be shed round about him, and that those who come in contact with him will realize that he is breathing of the atmosphere of Heaven. In order for us to make the religion of the Lord Jesus Christ attractive to others, we must first realize its attractiveness in our own souls. Paul speaks of himself as “one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord” (1 Cor. 7:25), and it was this fact, continually realized by him, and always coming up before him, that enabled him to have such power for helping others.

THE “sure word of prophecy” is a light in the darkness of this world, to which all do well to take heed. Those who will in God’s way seek this light have a satisfying consciousness that it is light. They know in whom they have believed. But how different to this is the man who depends on the knowledge of this world. All is darkness before him. This is well represented by the following from Professor Huxley, in the Nineteenth Century (italics ours):—

“I had, and have, the firmest conviction that I never left the ‘verace vio’—the straight road; and that this road led nowhere else but into the dark depths of a wild and tangled forest. And though I have found leopards and lions in the path; though I have made abundant acquaintance with the hungry wolf, that ‘with privy paw devours apace and nothing said,’ as another great poet says of the ravening beast; and though no friendly specter has even yet offered his guidance, I was, and am, minded to go straight on, until I either come out on the other side of the wood, or find there is no other side to it—at least, none attainable by me.”

Said Jesus, “If any man will do His [God’s] will, he shall know of the doctrine.” John 7:17. “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all,” wrote one who had walked in the way of light for fifty years. 1 John 1:5. “What is the chaff to the wheat?”

HOME TRAINING.

By Mrs. E. G. White

BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.

THE mother is a teacher, and to a great extent she moulds the character of her children. But how few are the mothers who realize the responsibility that is placed upon them! Many mothers spend their time in doing needless nothings. They give their whole attention to the things of time and sense, and do not pause to think of the things of eternal interest. How many neglect their children, and the little ones grow up coarse, rough, and uncultivated. Mothers may have acquired knowledge of many things, but they have not acquired the essential knowledge unless they have a knowledge of Christ as a personal Saviour. If Christ is in the home, if mothers have made him their counselor, they will educate their children from their very babyhood in the principles of true religion. They will teach them obedience and submission. They will not allow them to disobey their commands.

When children are permitted to take their own way in opposition to the will of their parents, they lose respect for father and mother, and learn to despise even the authority of God. They are indulged in manifesting passion in the home, and when they are brought into the church, they exhibit the same

defects of character there, as they exhibit in the home. If they are ever converted, they will have to learn at the foot of the cross lessons which they might have learned at their mother's knee. They are marked by the defects of the father and mother. The parents did not go to Christ for the grace of patience and forbearance. The mother did not feel the importance of being Christ-like, of manifesting love and gentleness.

When Christ comes in the clouds of heaven, every man will be rewarded according as his work has been. Every father and mother will have to give an account of how they have employed their talents, and how they have borne their responsibilities.

A well-disciplined family is a great power for good in the world. To bring up your children in such a manner as will fit them to stand against temptation to evil, so that they will not be corrupted by iniquity, is one of the most important kinds of missionary work. Why is it that there is so much corruption among the youth of to-day? To a great degree it is because parents neglect their God-given work, and sin lies at their door. Before it shall be too late, I urge you to take up your neglected duties, and arouse to a realization of your responsibilities. You will need the grace of Christ in your work, and he says not only to mothers, but to fathers and children, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Mothers, when you yield to impatience, and deal harshly with your children, you are not learning of Christ, but of another master. Jesus says, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." When you find your work hard, when you complain of difficulties and trials, when you say that you have no strength to withstand temptation, that you cannot overcome impatience, and that the Christian life is up-hill work, be sure that you are not bearing the yoke of Christ; you are bearing the yoke of another master. But for Christ's sake, for the truth's sake, I entreat you to repent and be converted. Do not dishonor the name of religion by an inconsistent course.

You should begin to seek God where you are. You must be born again. There must be a renovation, a new life created within you, that you may not serve sin, or the lusts of the flesh. Your children must be converted. You have a solemn work to do.

You cannot afford to spend time in trifling conversation, or in entertaining fashionable visitors. You should take time to talk and pray with your little ones, and you should allow nothing to interrupt that season of communion with God, and with your children. You can say to your visitors, "God has given me a work to do, and I have no time for gossiping." You should feel that you have a work to do for time and for eternity. You owe your first duty to your children.

The father should not excuse himself from his part in the work of educating his children for life and immortality. He must share in the responsibility. There is obligation for both father and mother. There must be love and respect manifested by the parents for one another, if they would see these qualities developed in their children.

Those parents who manifest wisdom in the home will bring into the church the same tact and ability they exercise at home, and the church will be benefited by their influence. They will be interested for the children of their neighbors, and will influence others to be true and loyal to God.

When Christ bowed on the banks of Jordan after his baptism, and offered up prayer in behalf of humanity, the heavens were opened, and the Spirit of God, like a dove of burnished gold, encircled the form of the Saviour, and a voice came from Heaven which said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

What significance does this have for you? It says that Heaven is open to your prayers. It says that you are accepted in the Beloved. The gates are open for every mother who would lay her burden at the Saviour's feet. It says that Christ has encircled the race with his human arm, and with his divine arm he has grasped the throne of the Infinite, and united man with God, and earth with Heaven.

Praise God for this. If there is any people who should praise God, it is those who have had these wonderful evidences of his love! I point you to Calvary, and to the suffering Redeemer. O that we may know his love that passeth understanding! If parents have the love of God in their hearts, they will be able to bind their children to them by the tender ties of affection. It is in this way that you may be missionaries for God, you may be home missionaries. You have a work to do that Satan shall not gain the control of your children, and take them away from you before they are out of your arms. Mothers, you should see to it that the powers of darkness do not control your little ones. You should set your will that the enemy shall not raise his banner of darkness in your home. You should be determined to take your children with you to the kingdom of heaven. Your children are worth something; they have been purchased at an infinite price, and eternal life to them is worth more than anything that earth can afford. A pure and holy character is of more value than silver and gold. If you have instructed them in the principles of truth, if you have reproved them when they indulged in evil, if you have manifested the Spirit of Christ, you have done a work that Heaven will approve.

Eli did not reprove his sons when they transgressed his commands. He indulged them in their evil ways, and they became more and more corrupt, until the judgment of God fell upon the house of Eli. The Lord said, "Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house; when I begin, I will also make an end. For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering forever."

How different was the case of Abraham. God could bless him, for he said, "I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him." God's law was the rule in the tent of Abraham. Wherever he camped, he built an altar unto the Lord, and offered up sacrifice with supplication and praise.

Parents must be converted; they must arouse from the lethargy that has come upon them, and seek God for a realization of the solemn responsibility that has been placed upon them. I entreat you to awake, and take up your neglected work before you are weighed in the balance and found wanting. Every one has a work to do for the Master, and no one can accomplish his God-given work unless he is born again; but the soul in which Christ is abiding, will be able to meet the mind of God, and will receive the approbation of Heaven.

“NEARER TO THEE.”

By Lowell

DRAW me nearer, precious Saviour, Nearer to thy wounded side; Let me follow in thy footsteps, Be my ever-present guide! To thy arms, oh, draw me nearer, Though they hold thy chastening rod; I will bless thee if each sorrow Draws me nearer to my God.

Press me closer, blessed Saviour, Closer to thy holy cross; In the light of love so wondrous, Earthly gain I count but loss, Worldly honors, fame, and pleasures Charm no more—they are but dross; All I yield thee, only keep me Clinging to thy sacred cross.

Teach me, O my loving Saviour, Teach me all thy holy will, Let each sweet and precious promise All my longing spirit fill. Lead me to thy heavenly pastures, Where the peaceful waters flow, And my heart shall thrill with praises All my pilgrimage below. —Lowell.

THE GROWTH OF THE WAR SPIRIT.

By Christian Cynosure

THE increase of European armies from six to ten million in seventeen years, with sixteen million more ready to be called out on short notice, marks the growth of one of the greatest of modern evils. Sixty war ships were launched by the great naval powers last year. Six of these were in the United States; and it must have been observed by every one that, in respect to the navy, our military spirit is gaining too rapidly in Congress, and the attempt to maintain the national pride in foreign parts seems to turn aside the better judgment of our rulers and law-makers.

But, in addition to this, it appears that of late years there has been a steady development of the military spirit amongst the general population. A very intelligent English traveler, who has repeatedly visited the United States, and lately returned home from an extensive lecturing tour here, says that the aspect of American life which most impressed him during this last journey in particular, was the extraordinary development of popular interest in all manner of military shows and warlike pomps. It seemed to him that there was a wide-spread passion for the display of arms and uniforms, and for marching in long processions, with military style and martial music.

It is true that the regular standing army of the United States numbers only 25,000 men, yet there are hundreds of thousands of carefully-trained militia and volunteers in the various States, whose evolutions and public parades have become marked features in the social economy of each district. Official and popular encouragement is being extended, in very powerful measure, to foster the increase of these local regiments. For example, New York offers the large bounty of $300,000 to each militia regiment of a certain size—usually from 1,000 to 1,500 men—on the condition of their building an armory of certain proportions. And in such cases the regiment, with its officers and friends, usually subscribes a similar additional amount. There are already six of these large and costly armories in New York City alone.

The very numerous pensions paid by the Federal Government to the surviving soldiers who fought for the North in the Civil War, or

their widows or other representatives, amount, in the aggregate, to the enormous sum of $86,000,000 per annum. This wide distribution of rewards, for participation in past warfare, holds out a suggestive and tempting inducement to millions of citizens to regard with at least considerable complacency the possible recurrence of war in the future, with whatever nation or foe it may happen to be waged, because it is evident that any such conflict would be followed by a further wholesale distribution of pensions and other emoluments.

The training of the young to the use of arms, or to military drill, is rapidly extending in the United States, and is attended by much popular approval and admiration. Thousands of lads, in their smart uniforms, are paraded through the streets of cities and towns, from time to time, amid the enthusiasm of their friends and crowds of interested spectators. The adoption of military dresses and processions is extending among large classes of the civilian population, and semi-barbarous character is fostered amazingly by all the secret societies with their pompous processions, flaming and often outlandish regalia and prize drills, and also by their badges, buttons, and various emblems which serve the purpose of pleasing a vain mind, and show with what devotion the decorations and medals of war are esteemed.

But more than this by far, several of these un-American orders have a special department, known as a military degree, where the manual of arms is studied with care and military drill is brought to a high degree of perfection. These degrees are armed and decorated with great extravagance. Such military degrees are the Knights Templar Freemasons, the Patriarchs Militant of the Odd Fellows, the Patriarchal Circle, the Uniform Rank of the Knights of Pythias (which is organized with the same official titles and names of divisions as the army of the National Government), and the United Workmen. Besides, the continually recurring names of "Knights," "Templars," "Grand Armies," etc., are educating thousands with a false and conceited notion about militarism. Church parades of these secret lodges are becoming increasingly frequent; and as the brightly-dressed processions, with their shining arms and equipments, and their military music, file into and out of church or chapel, the effect produced upon the numerous spectators is, it may be easily imagined, anything but favorable to sober and pacific sentiments.

In addition to all these influences of a martial tendency, we must estimate the work of societies of an avowed military purpose, as the Grand Army of the Republic, with its 400,000 members, and several subsidiary lodges. We say nothing at this time of the illegality of these bodies of armed men, nor of the threatening and dangerous crisis in the history of American liberty for which we fear they are preparing. Altogether, a huge tide of militarism is increasingly setting in amongst our vast nation of sixty million people—a nation which, it is evident, can never be conquered by any foreign invader whatever, and which, therefore, might reasonably rest secure from alarming apprehensions of invasion from any quarter. Some half dozen peace and arbitration societies are laboring faithfully and perseveringly among us to counteract, at least in some degree, this great current of martial enthusiasm, but unfortunately the influences tending in a contrary direction are incomparably more numerous and extensive.—Christian Cynosure.

THE CHRISTIAN IN THE WORLD, BUT NOT OF IT.

By Prof. Richard T. Eley, in the Congregationalist.

BESIDES the exhibition within the church of the spirit of Christian brotherhood, the life of Christians outside the church, in their dealings with the world, must also conform to Christian principles. Christ calls upon us to choose between him and the world, and he wants no half-hearted followers. A Christian may say, If I love my neighbor as myself, my necessities are as important as his. True, but my comforts are not as important as his necessities, nor are my luxuries and superfluities as important as my neighbor's comforts. Luxury can never be indulged in by a Christian so long as he can minister to the real well-being of others and supply them with material goods helpful for their development, and this forever renders luxury an impossibility for a Christian. Luxury is materialistic and selfish; it retards the mental and spiritual development of a people and tends to impoverish a nation.

Luxury breeds luxury, as sin begets sin. One tries to outvie the other. Men spend more than they can afford. Speculation is fostered as a means of money-getting, and fraud and embezzlement are the legitimate outcome. Wasted fortunes, blighted careers, broken hearts, boundless opportunities forever lost—these are the end of which the beginning is self-indulgence. It is impossible for a Christian carefully to examine the nature of industrial society, or even to look a very little way into social science, without drawing a very close line around personal expenditures which are not sinful. This looks very much like cross-bearing, and it seems to me that we modern Christians have well-nigh forgotten the existence of a cross. Christ meant that we should lead a life of renunciation. He said we must take up our cross. What he did say was this: "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Why? Because love renders sacrifice easy; and if we love our neighbor as Christ loved us we will rejoice that it is permitted us to give our goods, our lives, and all that we have for others, and we will account the renunciation of pleasures in which this world delights as but an easy yoke and a light burden.—Prof. Richard T. Eley, in the Congregationalist.

THE SUNDAY LAW IN OPERATION.

By William Covert

THE State of Tennessee enjoys the bliss of a Sunday law; and if there is anything civilizing and elevating in such a law, then Tennessee should be a happy State indeed. A certain neighborhood proposes to have peace and harmony and to hinder their "morals" from being "insulted" by enforcing the Sunday law of the State; and for this purpose a league has been formed. The following is an exact copy of the pledge taken by this league when it was organized in this State last winter:—

“NOTICE—To whom it may concern—That the undersigned citizens of—, being desirous of the welfare of our community, and that peace and harmony may prevail, and that the morals of ourselves and our children may not be insulted and trampled upon by a willful violation of the Sunday laws of our land; do this day pledge our word and honor, that we will individually and collectively prosecute each and every violation of the Sunday law of our State that may come under our observation.” “Dec. 10, 1888.”

This league seemed to think that all that was lacking in the way of morals and peace and harmony, could be secured by giving life to the Sunday law of the State. This league is composed mostly of the members of the Methodist Church. The Sunday law had long been violated by the people of this neighborhood. Scores of men have made Sunday a day for hunting and fishing. The gambler has used it as a convenience for his purpose. The church members of different denominations, and also the non-professors, have made it a rule, if business was urgent, to do common labor upon this day. This is the history with reference to the manner in which Sunday has been observed in the past, as gleaned from citizens of this neighborhood.

No one has been prosecuted for violating the Sunday law in the past, but of late this church, which has been organized here for many years, has discovered a supreme necessity

for the enforcement of the Sunday law. But what has led to this discovery? Answer: The organization in this community of a small church who keep the seventh-day Sabbath.

The members of the Methodist Church told the elder of the seventh-day church that, if they “permitted” him “to continue,” their children would not know which the Sabbath-day was. They insisted that he must move out of the community if he wanted to keep the seventh day. He told them that he had been taught by them that this was a free country, and that he was allowed to worship God as he understood the Scriptures to teach. But they said that he must keep Sunday, and not teach their children that the seventh day is the Sabbath; and if he did not comply with their wishes, he would be prosecuted. He cited them to the past history of the community wherein Sunday had not been observed, and yet they had not prosecuted any one for its violation. Their answer indicated that all parties would be compelled to keep it from that time on, whether they kept any other day or not. He argued that if he conscientiously observed the day which he believed God required, they should not then compel him to keep a day in which he did not believe, as that would be tyrannical. He also stated to them that he was a poor man, and was not able to surrender one-sixth of his time from the support of his family. He told them that he could explain the matter to his children, and that, as far as they were concerned, he had no fears but that they would know which is the Sabbath-day, and that the same course of action would be left open for them in the training of their children. But this was the point that gave them so much anxiety. They could never make it plain to their children; and, therefore, they would not tolerate his course. Nothing short of submission would be accepted by them.

This feature of National Reform work was going on in Tennessee while the notable National Reform Convention was being held in Washington City last winter. Now for the fruit. The Sunday gaming and shooting has gone on since the league was organized, precisely as it did before. But those who keep the seventh day have not been engaged in this kind of work. Others beside those who keep the seventh day, have worked upon their farms on Sunday during this time in a more public and noisy manner than has been done by those who observe the seventh day. But not one word of complaint has been made about it. When, however, the elder above referred to, went out into his field on Sunday to quietly plow out (cultivate) his corn, which was so tall at the time, as to nearly hide him from sight, he was promptly arrested for the same. He will certainly be convicted as a criminal, and as he is a consistent Christian man, he feels that it would be wrong to pay a fine for doing what he verily believes is his religious duty to do. So he will go to jail and lie there for obeying God; and his professed Christian neighbors will send him there to satisfy their hatred toward the seventh-day Sabbath.

But is this all their zeal leads them to do? No, no; this seventh-day keeping church desired a minister to visit them during their quarterly meeting, and hold some services with them. But this Sunday-law league heard of it and determined that it was not likely to deepen their neighbors’ faith in the sanctity of Sunday, nor to create any hatred toward the seventh-day people, to permit him to labor in this neighborhood. So they organized a vigilance committee, and armed them with shot-guns, rifles and revolvers, and on Sunday night, fired into a congregation of men, women, and children. Their aim was to kill the minister, the elder of the church, and another leading member. Some fifteen or twenty shots were fired, but as they had to shoot through the wall of the building and the windows, no one was hit, yet the balls pierced the wall, cutting their way through both the weather-boarding and the ceiling. One rifle-ball passed exactly through the space behind the desk that had been occupied a moment before by the speaker. It seemed a direction of Providence that he had stepped to one end of the desk an instant before the shot was fired.

If the Reverend Doctor Brooks were here, he could not complain that the preachers do not “speak out.” They are speaking out, and proposing that as many as do not worship as they do shall be killed. Rev. W. J. Coleman, who spoke at Lakeside, Ohio, in August, 1887, could find the army that he called for who are “ready to pour out treasure and blood” for the cause he was advocating. They are also ready to pour out the blood of innocent Christians, in order to compel people who observe the seventh day to keep Sunday.

The minister above referred to, whose assassination was attempted, had mildly, but in a very plain and convincing manner, set before the people of the community the inconsistent and unkind manner in which they had proceeded. He also showed that their course was un-American and Papistic. They replied with the rifle and shot-gun.

We do not believe that National Reformers will approve of this course, but the speeches they make are, many of them, calculated to incite to just such deeds of violence. National Reformers should counsel moderation for the credit of their cause, if for nothing else. WM. COVERT.

THE NOBLEST ARE THE LOWLIEST.

By Fannie Bolton

BY FANNIE BOLTON.

WHAT'S the delight of the noblest? The things most simple and innocent; The flower that lifts up its face of rest, And discloses the love of God's sweet intent. The greatest have knelt low to learn from a flower A lesson that kept life more calm for an hour.

Oh! over the sordid, and into the fine, The tint of the sunset may set us free. The brow, grown weary, becomes divine, As we rise for a glimpse of the thing to be; And hears not the spirit most masterful words, Caught up to the stars in majestical chords?

What most touches the noblest? Some simple tale of a commonplace life, Whose hidden pathos, perhaps unguessed, Reveals the secret of inmost strife; And swifter than light, and softer than dew, The heart is inspired to be more true.

What most appeals to the noblest? The tender words of the Holy Book, "Come unto me, I will give you rest;" The prayer heart-broken, the pitying look; The touch of a child's soft little hand, Has fallen like balm from the better land.

I think of the lowly things to-day, And I bless the Lord for their mighty power,— The sunshine falling so over the way, And the delicate face of the little flower; And the children dear, and the soul of worth, God's lowly things that have blessed the earth.

The noblest souls are the lowliest, Like Him who was meek and lowly of heart. I read his image in all the best, In Heaven and earth, in valley and mart; For all things fair speak his royal sway, And tell of his sovereign majesty.

Oh! lowliest One. Oh! noblest, Lily of meekness. Pearl of all pearls; For the rose of love is within thy breast; Chief of ten thousand throughout all worlds, Make me, oh, make me partaker of That nature whose innermost name is "love."

Draw my soul to behold thy grace; Let me learn of thee how the heart may rest. Trace thou thine image on soul and face, Trace thou thine image on brow and breast. Whatever the cost, shall I not be blest, If but granted a place with thy lowliest?

SIN.

By J. H. Durland

WHEN we look around and see the miseries, sorrows, and perplexities of this life, we are prone to ask, Why is this? It can all be answered by the little word, sin. All sorrow and misery is the fruit of sin, and originated with the great author of sin. "He that committeth sin is of the devil, for the devil sinneth from the beginning." 1 John 3:8.

It was Satan that first brought sin into our world. He was the first to rebel against God, and when cast out from the presence of God, he left the courts of Heaven and carried sin to this world, where our first parents dwelt in peace. But after listening to, and obeying, the tempter’s voice, they found it contained a sting that should go through the world until the world should be redeemed by Him who shall destroy sin and its author.

Before Satan fell from his high position in Heaven, there was peace and joy throughout the universe. All was in perfect harmony with the Creator’s will. Love for God was supreme, and love for one another was impartial. This love is the fulfilling of all law. It is said, "perfect obedience is perfect happiness, when there is perfect confidence in the power to be obeyed." Supreme love will give perfect confidence.

"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law; for sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4. God’s law is his will revealed to his creatures. Satan chose to disobey, and he was successful in introducing his rebellious spirit on this earth. When man transgressed God’s law, his nature became evil, and he was in harmony with Satan. "He that committeth sin is of the devil." If we are transgressing God’s holy law we are in harmony with, and working for Satan.

We say sin is the transgression of God’s holy law; but what is it to transgress? One writer has given the following definition: "sin is any thought, word, action, or mission, or desire contrary to the law of God." In order that we may have the true idea of sin, we should constantly study the law of God. Like the Psalmist, we should meditate upon it day and night. It is a perfect law, and the more we study it, and try to live by it, the more sensitive we become to the presence of sin. Increasing light means increasing self-judgment; and things which were allowed in the twilight of dawn, become abhorrent as the noontide light reveals their true character. God’s holy law is like the great ocean. We cannot stand on the shore and see its length, its power and majesty; but when we sail out into the great deep, we are constantly beholding its beauties, and wonders. When we read over God’s standard of righteousness, we are not able to comprehend its greatness; but when we endeavor to obey it, as prompted by love, we learn of its magnitude. As we read the Saviour’s comments (Matt. 5:21, etc.), we learn that God’s law deals with more than our outward actions. It reaches our secret thoughts, our words, and our acts.

But how does man view these things? Is it not too often that the only view he takes of God’s law, and the nature of sin, is a surface view? Were we to take the account of the late White-chapel crimes, and go down in the lowest dens of iniquity in London, New York, or Paris, and read the details to those men

whose lives are made up of crimes, how much would they be affected? They would laugh at the words, and treat it as an idle matter. Were we to read the same account to a class who are not so deeply stained with sin, they might say, "that is worse than we would do." But take your history of iniquity and read it to those who are anxious to do that which is right before God and man, and they are shocked and horrified. The heinousness of sin may be covered if there is an inclination in the heart to commit sin. Satan has not only succeeded in planting sin in the heart of man, but he has succeeded too well in benumbing the sensibilities of man, so that he may look upon sin as a light thing. Like Eve, we are apt to behold the forbidden fruit, and as we look upon it, we say, "I will not partake," but how oft we find that in continuing to behold, we lose our strength to resist.

"Vice is a monster of so hideous mein, That to be hated, needs but to be seen. But seen too oft, familiar with its face, We first endure, then pity, then embrace."

But how does God look upon sin? "Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity." Hab. 1:13. While God loved the sinner to that extent that he gave his only begotten Son to die for him, yet he cannot look upon sin with any degree of allowance. Some are apt to think that because God was so merciful as to give his Son to die for sinners, he will not be very particular as to their lives. But would such only stop to consider, they would see that the very idea of God giving his Son for a sin-offering, shows that he is very particular. If he could have excused sin at all, he would have saved from death his dear Son. But his pure eyes cannot behold iniquity, therefore he gave Jesus to take away our sins, that we might be clothed with his righteousness. In making this provision, he does not excuse us from obedience to his righteous law in the future. In our sinful state we cannot keep God's commandments, so he gave his Son, to save us from our past sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness, that we may be enabled to walk in the perfect law of liberty from our conversion onward.

Then, how earnest we should be in the study of God's law that we may know its depth. If sin reaches to our thoughts, and secret motives, and God cannot tolerate iniquity, how diligent we should be that we know the promptings of sin and turn from the evil, as we would from the poisonous viper before we are bitten. If we tarry until the monster strikes his poisonous fangs into our hearts, it may be too late before we can cast our eyes upon the all-healing antidote. Should it not be too late, sorrow for our transgressions must follow before we can be washed in the all-cleansing fountain.

"Peace follows virtue as its sure reward; And pleasure brings as surely in her train Remorse and sorrow, and vindictive pain."

Let us seek that peace that can only be had by constantly relying upon Him who has promised to never leave us. "Abide in me and I in you. If ye abide in me and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." John 15:4,7. When the tempter comes, if we are abiding in Christ he will only test us and pass by. But, should he find us drying up, not drawing daily supplies of grace, he will place before us something that will please our diverted minds, and when we stop to gaze, he will make the deadly strike that may prove our ruin. Oh, that Christian men and women hated sin more, and had greater love for God! There are too many of us that love to think that it is impossible for us to live without sin and then excuse all sins we commit, with this thought. It would be far better, if we would dwell upon the thought, that God wants us to live free from sin, and gave his Son to help us, and then treat sin as we would the deadly serpent. If we were living in India where there are so many deadly serpents in the jungles, we would not be anxious to go into those regions just to see them. We would not reason, that we must go among them, and if among them we could not help being bitten. But we would reason thus: If I go where they are I may expect to be bitten, so I will keep away from the jungles. We would care but little to investigate them. Let us treat sin in the same way.

Temptation is not sin, for Jesus was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin. But it is sin to willfully enter into temptation. We are weak and have no strength in ourselves, and should we willingly enter the gate of temptation, we leave our Saviour without, and are left alone upon the tempter's ground. But let our eyes be fixed upon the Saviour, and in our hearts inscribed a copy of God's holy law.

"The cross once seen is death to every vice, Else he that hung there suffered all his pain, Bled, groaned, and agonized, and died, in vain."

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