California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists · Oakland, Cal. · Mar 4, 1875
The Sermon.
By James White
SIGNS OF THE END.
BY ELD. JAMES WHITE.
"What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world."—DISCIPLES.
"When ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors."—JESUS. Matt. 24:3, 33.
POWERS OF THE HEAVENS SHAKEN.
THIS event we must regard as being future. It holds the same place in the events of this chapter, that the departing of the heavens as a scroll does in the events of the sixth seal of Rev. 6. Both follow the falling stars. Please compare Matt. 24:29, 30, with Rev. 6:12, 17. The Scriptures plainly teach that, prior to the resurrection of the just by the voice of the Son of God, the voice of God the Father will shake the heavens and the earth, when will be fulfilled the shaking of the powers of the heavens. This will probably take place at the pouring out of the seventh vial into the air. Rev. 16:17. Then it is said, "And there came a great voice out of the temple of Heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done." This is not the voice of the Son of God as he descends to raise the dead. It comes from the throne of God in the temple of Heaven. "Whose voice then shook the earth; but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven." Heb. 12:26. "The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake; but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel." Joel 3:16.
We would not speak too positively of future events; but venture the opinion that the voice of the Father will shake the heavens and the earth before the sign of the Son of man appears. The people of God will be safe. Islands may disappear, and mountains be thrown down, but the saints will remain unharmed. Earthquakes may break up the earth's surface, so that the kings and nobles, rich and poor, bond and free, may "hide themselves in dens and in the rocks of the mountains," still God will be the hope of his people.
SIGN OF THE SON OF MAN.
This is not one of the signs which show that the Son of man is near; but "the sign of the Son of man in heaven." It is that which signifies his position. When Christ ascended from the mount of Olivet, "a cloud received him" from the sight of the disciples. They still gazed at the cloud as it rolled upward, bearing the Saviour toward the Father's throne; but they could not see his person. When he comes "in like manner" as he was taken up to Heaven, the cloud will appear small in the distance; but as it draws near, it will apparently increase in size. It will signify to those looking for his return, that he is there, soon to burst forth from the cloud in matchless glory. This cloud will be the sign of the Son of man in heaven.
THE TRIBES OF THE EARTH MOURN.
During the pouring out of the seven last plagues, and at the time of the shaking of the powers of the heavens, a large portion of the wicked will doubtless be destroyed. A portion will still remain, to view scenes still more terrific, and to endure anguish more dreadful. The sign is seen in heaven. The once slighted, insulted, and crucified Saviour, now King of kings, and Lord of lords, is coming near the earth! His glory blazes everywhere! The saints hope and rejoice with trembling; but what an hour for the wicked! The tribes of the earth mourn. Amid the ruins of shivered creation they hold one general prayer meeting. Kings and great men, rich men, chief captains and mighty men, free and bond, all, yes, all unite in the general wail. As the Son of man in the glory of his Father, attended by all the holy angels, draws still nearer, consternation fills every breast. They hide in dens, and in the rocks of the mountains. Their only hope is to be concealed from the glory of the scene. They know it is too late for mercy; that probation for the human family has ended forever. Here is a copy of that dreadful prayer to mountains and rocks, "Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand?" Rev. 6:16, 17.
But rocks cannot shelter them from the burning glory manifested by the King of kings, attended by the whole heavenly host. The presence of but one angel before Joseph's sepulcher, caused the keepers to fall like dead men. Then when "the Son of man shall come in the glory of the Father," "and all the holy angels with him," no sinner can endure the scene, and live. The exceeding brightness of that vast multitude of angels, brighter than a thousand suns at noonday, will pierce the sinner's lowest hiding-place, and will "make a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land." Zeph. 1:18. Or, as Paul says, "Whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness [bright shining, Macknight's translation] of his coming." O Christian brother, we warn you to watch and be ready to receive your Saviour with joy. Backslider, arouse, and return to the Lord while he may be found. And, poor sinner, though you have never tasted of the pardoning love of Christ, you, too, may come and find pardon, and a shelter from approaching wrath.
JESUS NEXT APPEARS.
The Son of man will be seen "coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." But before his coming, a great work will be done for his people. Should he suddenly burst upon them now, they could not endure "the power and great glory" of the scene. This subject is well illustrated by the following words of the prophet: "Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord; his going forth is prepared as the morning, and he shall come unto us as the rain; as the latter and former rain unto the earth." Hosea 6:3. The morning is a beautiful figure of the opening glory of the day of God. The day-star first appears, then the dawn of day. And as the light of day increases, our eyes are enabled to endure it, and view the sun shining in his strength. But, should the light of the sun burst upon the world suddenly at midnight, no human eye could endure it.130
So will the people of God be prepared to meet their coming King. They must first break away from the love and cares of this world, and consecrate all to the Lord. Then will they, in due time, share the outpouring of the Holy Spirit "as the rain, as the latter and the former rain upon the earth." The day-star will arise in their hearts. 2 Pet. 1:19. Those who have taken heed to the sure word of prophecy through the dark, watching night, will then raise their heads in triumph. They are filled with faith, and with the Holy Spirit. Glory is poured out upon them till they gaze upon Christ and the angels. The trumpet sounds. The angels are dispatched to the graves' mouths. The voice of the Son of God awakes the sleeping saints of all ages. They come forth in immortal perfection; and as they leave the earth, the living saints are changed. The "elect from one end of heaven to the other," each with an angel bright and strong to lead the way, are all caught up to meet the Lord, who waits in mid-heaven to receive the purchase of his blood. As language would fail to describe what follows, dear reader, we leave you here to contemplate it, praying that we may be prepared to participate in the meeting scene.
PARABLE OF THE FIG-TREE.
Verses 32, 33. Now learn a parable of the fig-tree; when his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh. So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it [He, margin,] is near, even at the doors." The parable of the fig-tree is probably the most forcible figure that could be used by our Lord to illustrate this subject. When the trees of the field begin to put forth their leaves, and the tender grass springs up, and the ground is being covered with its green, velvet carpet, we know that summer is nigh. It is a certainty with us that summer is coming when we see these signs in nature. We know that summer is nigh. "So likewise," or, with the same certainty, we may know that Christ's coming is at the doors when the signs in the sun, moon, and stars, are fulfilled.
Here, dear reader, our Lord has stated the object of these signs, which is, that we may know when his coming is at the doors. But we are told the church is not to know anything of the period of Christ's Second advent. Then, we inquire, why did our Lord give signs of the event? Are they given to deceive us? to lead the honest Christian to look for Christ's coming when, in fact, nothing is to be known of the time of the event? Certainly not. The fact that Christ foretells signs of his coming, and then states the object of those signs, that the church may know when the event is near, even at the doors, is sufficient proof that it is the design of Heaven that the church should understand the period of the second advent.
ALL THESE THINGS.
Our Lord says (Luke 21:28), "And when these things BEGIN to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." These signs began to come to pass with the dark day of 1780. Then it could be said that redemption draweth nigh, and from that time the humble follower of Jesus might look up in expectation of witnessing his glorious appearing. But (verse 31) "when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand."
The signs in the sun, moon, and stars, are all that were given to base faith upon. All the other events mentioned in connection with these, have their fulfillment after the faith of God's people is perfected, and the doom of all sinners is fixed; therefore they cannot be embraced in the phrase "all these things." The three signs having come to pass, we may now learn the parable of the fig-tree, and know that Christ's coming is near, even at the doors. The phrase, "all these things," does not embrace the mourning of the tribes of the earth, and the sign of the Son of man. Neither does it embrace the shaking of the powers of the heavens; for that does not take place until the seventh vial is poured out. But the faith of God's people is perfected, and the doom of all sinners is forever fixed, before the pouring out of the first vial. The parable of the fig-tree was given to inspire faith in the minds of those who hear the reasons of Christ's soon coming. But suppose that this parable is to be learned after it is said, "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still, . . . . and he that is holy, let him be holy still;" after the thunder, lightning, great earthquake, and great hail, "each stone about the weight of a talent," is most absurd. No! The phrase, "all these things," in verse 33, embraces the three great signs in the sun, moon, and stars, given to strengthen the faith of God's people, while merciful warnings are being given to the world. Here, then, since the falling stars of 1833, the parable of the fig-tree has force, and we may know that Christ's coming is near, even at the doors, with all the certainty that we know that summer is nigh when the trees put forth their tender buds and leaves.
THIS GENERATION SHALL NOT PASS.
Verses 34, 35: "Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away." Many suppose that our Lord here speaks of the generation then living, who listened to his teachings. That such are in error on this point, the following facts clearly prove:
1. It is certainly true that what was embraced in the phrase "all these things," was not fulfilled in that generation.
2. It could not be the generation living in the days of his flesh, for he said to them (Luke 11:29), "There shall no sign be given it but the sign of Jonas, the prophet."
It is evident that our Lord refers to the generation who were to see the signs fulfilled, and who were to be instructed by the parable of the fig-tree. In this prophetic discourse, he leads the mind of his disciples down over the events of the Christian age, mentions the signs in the sun, moon, and stars, which were to appear in the last generation, and then declares this generation shall not pass away till all these signs be fulfilled.
In like manner, Paul carries his brethren forward to the resurrection, when he says, "We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump." 1 Cor. 15:51, 52. Or, "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air." 1 Thess. 4:17. The things here mentioned by the apostle did not take place in his day. They have not yet taken place. Notwithstanding, he speaks of them as though they would take place in his day, and he have a part in them.
Also, in like manner is the mind carried backward in Ps. 95:10: "Forty years long was I grieved with this generation." The generation here spoken of provoked the Lord in the wilderness, long before David lived. He goes back and speaks of it as though it were present. In this manner our Lord goes forward, and speaks of the last generation as though it were present.
We do not believe that the phrase, "this generation," marks any definite number of years. Some suppose that our Lord designed to teach that some who were witnesses of the dark day of 1780 would live to witness the second coming of the Saviour. But it is our opinion that the Lord designed to teach that the people who should live at the time of the fulfillment of the last sign (the falling stars of 1833), and should hear the proclamation of the coming of Christ, based partly upon the fulfilled signs, should witness the scenes connected with his coming.
The proclamation of the coming and kingdom of Christ is given to the last generation. God did not send Noah to preach to the next to the last generation before the flood, but to the last. The very generation that was destroyed by the waters of the flood saw Noah build the ark, and heard his warning voice. So God has raised up men to give the solemn warning to the world at the right time to give force to the warning. And the very generation of men that live after the three great signs are fulfilled, and who hear and reject the warning message from Heaven, will drink the cup of the unmixed wrath of God. For such, the seven last plagues are reserved. And those of this very generation who receive the message, suffer disappointment, and endure the trials of the waiting position, will witness the coming of Christ, and exclaim, "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us." Isa. 25:9.
With what emphasis our Lord gave utterance to this sentiment. It is a rebuke upon our unbelief. As we read it, God help us to believe it: "Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled." And as though this were not enough to lead us to unwavering faith, he adds these forcible words: "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."
(To be Continued.)
Precepts.
By Thomas Randolph
BY THOMAS RANDOLPH, 1630.
First worship God; he that forgets to pray,
Bids not himself good morrow nor good day.
Let thy first labor be to purge thy sin,
And serve Him first whence all things did begin,
Honor thy parents to prolong thine end;
With them, though for a truth, do not contend,
Whoever makes his father's heart to bleed,
Shall have a child that shall avenge the deed.
Think that is just; 'tis not enough to do,
Unless thy very thoughts are upright, too.
Defend the truth; for that who will not die
A coward is, and gives himself the lie.
Take well whate'er shall chance, though bad it be,
Take it for good, and 'twill be good to thee.
First think; and if thy thoughts approve thy will,
Then speak, and after that thou speakest, fulfill.
So live with men as if God's curious eye
Did everywhere into thine actions pry,
For never yet was sin so void of sense,
So fully faced with brazen impudence,
As that it durst before men's eyes commit
Their brutal lusts, lest they should witness it.
How dare they then offend when God shall see,
That must alone both judge and jury be?
Would'st thou live long? the only means are these,
'Bove Galen's diet or Hippocrates,
Strive to live well; tread in the upright ways,
And rather count thine actions than thy days,
Then thou hast lived enough amongst us here;
For every day well spent I count a year.
Live well, and then, how soon soe'r thou die,
Thou art of age to claim eternity;
But he that outlives Nestor, and appears
T' have passed the date of gray Methuselah's years,
If he his life to sloth and sin doth give,
I say he only was—he did not live.
Ministration of Angels.
By D. M. Canright
WHEN Christ rose from the grave, he brought forth some of the prisoners (See Matt. 27:52, 53), both to show his power, and also as a pledge that he will bring them all out at a proper time. When Satan had the power, he refused to let any out of the grave (Isa. 14:17; Jude 9); but now Jesus has the keys of the grave, and can bring forth the prisoners when he chooses. So now the saints of God are quietly sleeping, waiting in the grave till Jesus shall call them forth. To those who were mourning for their dead friends, the apostle said, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For, if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” 1 Thess. 4:13, 14. They sleep in Jesus, waiting till the resurrection. All go into the grave, and all will be brought out again. All, by virtue of Christ’s resurrection, will be raised from the dead. Again, Paul says, “And [I] have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” Acts 24:15. The same apostle says that Christ tasted death for every man. Heb. 2:9. John says, “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.” 1 John 4:14. Some may think that this is Universalism, but we think not. By the transgression of Adam, the whole human race lost their lives and their probation, and were shut up in the grave. Here they must have remained eternally if Christ had not rescued them. By his death and resurrection, all will be brought back to life. But will all have glory, immortality, and the inheritance, bestowed upon them whether they seek for them or not? No; these are only to be obtained by obedience. “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land; but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” Isa. 1:19, 20. Not all who are brought from the grave will have immortality. “Marvel not at this; for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” John 5:28, 29.
All men now occupy a position similar to that which the two brothers occupied in the illustration previously given, when they were taken out of prison by their elder brother. Jesus has, in prospect, brought all men out of the grave. So far, it is universal salvation; so far, he is the Saviour of all men. All are affected by his death—all will be rescued, by him, from the grave. “For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of those that believe.” 1 Tim. 4:10. We have seen how he is the Saviour of all men; but Paul adds, “especially of those that believe.” How is this? Manifestly thus: The Lord now says to all men, as the elder brother in the illustration said to his brothers, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Phil. 2:12. Again: “I call Heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” Deut. 30:19.
We are now called upon to “choose” life or death. This shows that we are on probation. The human family have once failed, the flood is warning them to give up us, and now know by experience the sad consequences of doing wrong. But Jesus has saved them from the consequences of this failure, and has placed them on a second trial. Now, if they are faithful and obedient, so that he can safely trust them in the new earth, he will restore to them all that they have lost. All whom he cannot thus trust, will have no share in the inheritance.
“And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much; and he that is unjust in the least, is unjust also in much. If, therefore, ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?” Luke 16:9–12.
Here is the point, exactly: you are now working on trial; if you are not faithful now, where is the evidence that you ever will be? Can God safely trust you with an inheritance in the new earth? All must readily see that he could not consistently do so. Hence he now says to us, “Work out your own salvation.” Phil. 2:12. “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.” Isa. 1:19. All who are unfaithful will be remanded back to prison—will be reduced to dust again, as the just penalty for their misconduct.
All will be raised from the first death; but the wicked will have to suffer a second death. “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection; on such the second death hath no power.” Rev. 20:6. “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” Verse 14. If the wicked suffer a second death, it must be a death like the first one, otherwise it could not be called a second death. The first death reduces men to dust the first time, and the second death will reduce them to dust the second time. “But,” says the Universalist, “if this be so, then Jesus is not the Saviour of all men.” Will he not resurrect all men? will he not rescue them from the grave? Yes. Then if a part of them, by their misconduct, bring themselves back to dust again, does it prove that he never saved them? Suppose that to-day I see a child drowning. I jump into the water and save his life, and thus become his saviour. Ten years hence, this child deliberately throws himself into the water in the same place, and is drowned. Now does this alter the case any? Is it not just as true that I saved the child? It certainly is. Says Jude, “The Lord having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.” Verse 5. So the Lord did once save a people whom he afterward destroyed. So Christ will save all men from the grave. Then those who have wrought righteousness will have eternal life, and those who have wrought wickedness will die the second death as the reward of their deeds. Thus Jesus is “the Saviour of all men, especially of those that believe.”
What was the purpose of God in the creation of this world? When God created man, and before he had fallen, the Lord said to him, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it.” Gen. 1:28. God’s purpose concerning the earth may here be learned. It was that it should be replenished, or filled with inhabitants. The same truth is stated in Isaiah 45:18: “For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited; I am the Lord; and there is none else.” God says that he formed the earth to be inhabited, and although it had fallen, yet he says, “He hath established it; he created it not in vain.” Then it is plain that the Lord’s purpose was to have the earth filled with inhabitants who should dress the earth and delight themselves in its beauty and productions. If Adam and his posterity had proved faithful till that time, probably the test of their obedience, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, would have been removed, they would have been confirmed in immortality, and made as the saints will be in the kingdom; that is, they would neither marry nor be given in marriage. Then, of course, they would not “multiply” any more after the earth was “replenished.” Then man would have peaceably inhabited the earth forever.
To Adam was given the glorious privilege of accomplishing this work. But Adam failed and fell. Now will God’s purpose be frustrated? No, never! Jesus Christ, the second Adam, Rom. 5:15; 1 Cor. 15:45, now came down from Heaven, took man’s nature upon himself, stepped into Adam’s place, began where he failed, and will carry out the very work which the first Adam failed to do. Through him the earth will yet be filled with a race of holy men, and he will have the dominion and kingdom which Adam might have had, but lost. Luke 19:10; Micah 4:8; Rev. 11:15.
Hence the first promise after the fall was that the seed of the woman (Christ) should bruise the serpent’s head. Gen. 3:15. To Eve God said, “I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children.” Gen. 3:16. What does this mean? God had before told them to multiply and replenish the earth. If Adam and his posterity had all been obedient and righteous, none would have ever died. This being the case, it is evident that the requirement to multiply and replenish the earth, would soon have been fulfilled. But how is it now? Out of the millions upon millions who have been born, only a few, one here and another there, are fit for the kingdom of God, and will be saved. God will select these few righteous ones out of the great mass of corruption, and place them in the new earth to replenish it, and thus carry out what he at first intended, i. e., to have the earth filled with inhabitants.
Thus we readily see that, now, to get the complement of righteous persons which God first required, the sorrow and conception of woman has been “greatly multiplied.” In this light we can understand 1 Tim. 2:14, 15: “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding, she shall be saved in child-bearing, if they continue in faith, and charity, and holiness, with sobriety.” Thus we see that the woman, by child-bearing, is to repair the mischief that she wrought by transgression. And the earth is yet to be filled with righteous men.
Why has God permitted this wicked world to stand so long? He hates sin. But for six thousand years he has suffered it to go on when he could have put an end to it at any moment. The reason of this is evident. Enough righteous persons must be saved out of the race to people the new earth. A few out of the first generation were righteous, but not enough to fill the earth. So the Lord permits it to continue another generation. A few more are saved, but not enough yet. So it has gone on, one generation after another, a few being saved out of each. When a sufficient number has been saved, I believe that the time of probation will close. Then Christ will come to gather his saints and take possession of the earth. Matt. 24:30, 31; 13:40–43.
D. M. CANRIGHT.
(To be Continued.)
Who Believes!
By R. F. Cottrell
JESUS, the Son of God and the Son of man hath said, "As the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Matt. 24:37-39. "Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed." Luke 17:28-30.
Fearful language! But who believes it? Jesus, who was once upon the earth, who labored, suffered, died and rose again, to save lost men, sinful, rebellious and under condemnation to death, has promised, "I will come again." He is coming the second time to save them that believe and obey him, and to destroy them that "know not God and obey not the gospel" of our Lord Jesus Christ. "Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." Heb. 9:28. A day of gladness and joy to those who love him, but terrible to those who know him not! "Who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth?" In the days of Noah and Lot the few were saved, and the multitudes perished. These did not believe the warning given, and consequently destruction came upon them unexpectedly, as a thief in the night. Even thus shall it be when the Son of man shall be "revealed from heaven in flaming fire." "For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them."
Who believe these things? Not the giddy world rushing on its thoughtless career of business and pleasure, sin and folly. Not the professed Christian who closes his eyes to the signs of the times and hopes and trusts that the Lord will not come in his day, and leisurely floats on the tide of time, and carelessly drifts with the current of the world, and eats and drinks with the "lovers of pleasure," drunken with self-indulgence and sin. These are they who in their hearts, "My Lord delayeth his coming," and shall have their portion with the hypocrites—weeping and gnashing of teeth. Not the professed believer in the advent at hand, who rejects the last message and does not make the preparation required, namely, to keep the commandments of God and faith of Jesus. (See Rev. 14:9-12.) Neither is it the professed believer in this message who is at ease, and does not exert himself to publish abroad the warning to his fellow-men and thus save them from the wrath which is threatened in this message.
Such a faith as this demands immediate, earnest and persevering action. Faith without corresponding works is dead; and a faith which believes that the last warning is being heralded to the world—the closing message of probationary time, a message which is to decide the eternal destiny of the living generation—should be characterized with an earnestness and zeal such as the world of mankind have not yet witnessed.
Selfishness cannot enter heaven. The plan of human redemption and salvation is laid in self-sacrifice for the good of others. Jesus has set the example. He laid the corner stone in the sacrifice of himself. Christians are those who follow Christ. And can we hope to be approved of Heaven, while we see men exposed to the wrath threatened in this last message, and not exert ourselves to save them? May God help us as a people to let our course of action correspond to our faith. Who is sufficient for these things? Our sufficiency is of God. Let us seek to God for the Spirit to qualify us for this work of overwhelming magnitude, and while we seek power from on high, labor with our whole heart in all the strength he gives.
R. F. COTTRELL.
"How Shall I Get Rid of my Habit of Using Tobacco?"
By G. Trask
THOUSANDS propound this question, and thousands try to solve it by well-nigh innumerable expedients. During twenty years of anti-tobacco work, we have witnessed the struggles of multitudes to rid themselves of this despotic habit.
Some who have an "iron will" break this habit square off, play the man, and have comparatively but little trouble.
Some try to break it off by degrees, use less and less, and this tampering method sometimes succeeds.
Some resort to SUBSTITUTES. They use gentian root—they use common red plantain—they chew chamomile flowers, various spices, boneset leaves, the bark of wild hickory, tarred rope, stale tobacco, and everything almost upon which they can lay their hands; some have been cured by a fit of sickness—a fever perhaps has given them an utter aversion to this bewitching poison, and they have repressed the uprising appetite and it has never become their master again.
Some good men, impressed with the idea that the habit is a sin, a sin against God and nature, make it a matter of prayer, and God, they believe, gives them strength to renounce it, claiming that he heals the sick now, who call upon him, as in Apostolic times.
Some, of a supercilious turn, wag their heads, boast they can "give it up at any time," but never do, and die in their sins.
Some, even ministers of the gospel, under the pressure of reform, drop the habit and say nothing about it—they are dumb converts.
Some, more generous, more noble, on renouncing it, gladly make it known, others listen to their story, copy their example, and the reform goes on.
For any man to renounce a long indulged, tyrannical habit is no trifling piece of business. General Grant with five hundred thousand men at his back, conquered the rebellion, but can General Grant conquer his cigar?
The enquiry is being constantly urged upon us, "How can I get rid of tobacco?" We answer once for all, we have no confidence in the prescriptions of quackery, and have but little confidence in antidotes, our own or any other, unless a man is a man and has a will of his own.
We say to all who consult us: 1. Resolve, "live or die," that you will use no more tobacco in any form. 2. Use a nervine, gentian root or red plantain, a short time to brace up the relapsed nerves. 3. Exercise the glorious attribute of a moral agent, free will, have a mind of your own and play the man. 4. Look to God, our Saviour, lean upon him with all your might, and you will come off conqueror and more than conqueror. "We speak that we do know and testify that we have seen."—G. Trask.