Review and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 25. (6/20/1912)

Review and Herald

Jun 20, 1912

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jun 20, 1912

The Miracle

By WORTHIE HARRIS HOLDEN

WORTHIE HARRIS HOLDEN

Dying, we live through Jesus; Weeping with Him, we joy; Giving, we lay up treasure; Tempted, no trials annoy.

Fearing because we love Him, Seeking the One who sought, Justified though unholy,— Such is the wonder wrought.

Marvel of worlds beholding,— Miracle,— saved by grace; Here let us kneel adoring, Soon shall we see His face.

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Frontispiece, “A Victim of the Fourth.” Death to the Fly. What to do for That Headache. Lax Meat Inspection Worse Than Loss of “Titanic.” Congressman Nelson on “U. S. Inspected and Passed” Meats. Fourth of July Casualties From 1903 to 1912. How to Cure Consumption. Consumption Cure Frauds Exposed (Illustrated). International Antituberculosis Congress. Is Vivisection Justifiable? A Model Fourth of July City Ordinance (Double-page Feature). Is Tobacco Injurious? School Records of Boys Who Smoke. Healthful Cookery. Relaxation and Sleep. On Reducing Fat. Questions and Answers (14 Questions Answered). Forty-six Other Important Articles and Items.

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Jesus the Crucified

By E. M. Peebles

E. M. PEEBLES

O SAVIOUR, can it be a traitor there From thy Last Supper dares to go and make Compact to lead the soldiers to thy place Of prayer? Will they need spears and weapons strong To take this Man whose every touch and word Hast blessed the world? O, cruel plot so dark! We see thee now in lone Gethsemane, Craving the human watch, while bloody sweat Falls ’drop by drop on the cold ground; we hear The cry, “O Father, let it pass! the cup I fear to take, lest human strength might fail.” But yonder come the heavenly messengers To make him strong. And so they lead him out from Pilate’s hall, Where the mock trial has condemned to die; They lead him up toward Calvary’s height, bearing His cross, till fainting, lo! he falls beneath Its weight. Still on they drag that weary form, And ’tween two thieves they hang him up to die. Those hands, e’er stretched to bless, are pierced and torn; Those feet, which ever led to deeds of love, Are crushed with nails; and soldier’s spear has made That heart of thine yield up its store of love. That flowing crimson tide shall heal the wounds. Of sin-bruised souls, who’ll look to thee and live. Ah! yes, ’tis this that gives him strength to die. But O! what wonder nature hangs a pall Of darkness o’er the scene, and shuddering earth Flings open wide the graves of sleepers there To witness now this death! We hear him cry, “My God, my God! O why dost thou forsake Me in this dreadful hour?” Ah! thus must thou Drink to its dregs the cup of wrath ’gainst sin, And so be substitute for those thou can’st To save. “’Tis finished;” now the debt is paid, And loving hands shall bear thy form, so cold And still, to Joseph’s tomb, and leave thee there With Roman guard to keep. O puny man! How canst thou keep thy Maker in the grave, One who e’en now holds key of death and hell? When passing time has brought the limit of Thy power, one eager angel hastes to break Thy seal, and lead the Conqueror forth again No more to fall by cruel stroke of death.

A Great Responsibility

By R. A. Underwood

R. A. UNDERWOOD

“And the things that thou hast heard of me by many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” 2 Tim. 2:2.

EVERY minister and church officer should be a recruiting officer in the Lord’s army. Latent talent is unused in the church, and sometimes entirely lost to the Lord’s cause, because no one has properly encouraged some young person to engage in special labor in the cause of Christ.

It is expected that a conference president shall be on the lookout to encourage young people to prepare for the ministry or some other line of work.

The conference employs a field agent to enlist missionary canvassers and to help them in their work, but this is not enough; the responsibility rests upon all who have heard the message of hope to commit the same as far as possible to faithful men who shall be able to teach others also.

I shall ever remember the time—about forty years ago—when Elder James White put his hand upon my shoulder and said: “Brother Underwood, God has been waiting for the popular ministry to accept and carry this message to the world; but he will wait no longer. He is now calling teachers, students, mechanics, and farmers to enter his ministry. Come, Brother Underwood, help us to carry the message.” I had never up to this time thought of entering the ministry. Other brethren emphasized the suggestion of Elder White, until about two years later I was pressed into service. Had it not been for the urgent efforts of others, I should never have left the farm to enter the ministry, and later to enter Battle Creek College.

If there is one service that brings more joy to the soul than another, it is the knowledge that one has helped to enlist “faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” in giving the saving message to a dying world. This is a work not entirely confined to the ministry or conference officers.

It was the wise counsel of Jethro that led Moses to engage in active service an army of “able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness,” to be co-workers with him. Ex. 18:19-24.

Younger men must be trained to carry the burdens borne by those who have grown gray in the service of the cause; and it is a great mistake for older men to feel that the work will not be carried forward when they take a less active part in the battle. However, it is not the easiest task to drop the heavy burdens one has carried; but it helps to test one’s faith in the great Leader of Israel—the Holy Spirit.

King David began the work of building the temple, but he was asked to turn it over to Solomon. David could only say, “Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the Lord God.” 1 Chron. 29:1.

The person who loses his interest in the work because some one else is chosen to take the responsibility he has carried, shows that his faith was more in himself than in the work he was doing for God. David was no less interested in the palace of God after he was released from the responsibility of its building than he was before.

Ananias hesitated and argued the case when commanded of God to go and lay his hands on Saul. He felt that it was a risky undertaking to recognize the young man who had been a persecutor. “But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.” Acts 9:10-15. This was a test of Ananias’s faith in the gospel message and in the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

It is worthy of notice that God did not lay upon young Saul the care of all the churches at this time, but he laid upon the young man the burden of raising up churches, and this Paul did for many years. The care of the churches came after the apostle had raised up many churches, and his experience had fitted him for this added responsibility.

There are always some who have a burden to preach whom the brethren have little faith will make a success. The best way to settle such cases is to tell them to go and raise up good churches, and the conference will recognize their labor. However, after a fair trial, if they are not able to comply with the test of a call to the ministry, they should be advised to do something in which they have ability to succeed. Every man entering the ministry should be put to the test of 2 Tim. 2:15; 1 Cor. 9:2.

The most of those called to the ministry may have some burden in that direction, yet be so timid and fearful that unless some one encourages them, they will never enter the work.

There is a great demand for fathers and mothers in Israel to-day who will inspire the young to give themselves to the work of God, and then help them succeed. This will require helpful counsel, loving correction, and words of encouragement.

There are those standing at the parting of the way who, like Saul, are praying, and need an Ananias to give them a word of encouragement. Shall we be the messenger of God to bring words of courage and to lead to active service in the cause of Christ those who may be helped?

Mesopotamia, Ohio.

The Duty of Workers to Care for their Health

By Ellen G. White

MRS. E. G. WHITE

HEALTH is a blessing of which few appreciate the value; yet upon it the efficiency of our mental and physical powers largely depends. Our impulses and passions have their seat in the body, and it must be kept in the best condition physically and under the most spiritual influences in order that our talents may be put to the highest use. Anything that lessens physical strength enfeebles the mind, and makes it less capable of discriminating between right and wrong.

The misuse of our physical powers shortens the time in which our lives can be used for the glory of God, and it unfits us to accomplish the work God has given us to do. By allowing ourselves to form wrong habits, by keeping late hours, by gratifying appetite at the expense of health, we lay the foundation for feebleness. By neglecting physical exercise, by overworking mind or body, we unbalance the nervous system. Those who thus shorten their lives and unfit themselves for service by disregarding nature's laws, are guilty of robbery toward God. And they are robbing their fellow men also. The opportunity of blessing others, the very work for which God sent them into the world, has by their own course of action been cut short. And they have unfitted themselves to do even that which in a briefer period of time they might have accomplished. The Lord holds us guilty when by our injurious habits we thus deprive the world of good.

The health of the Lord’s messengers should be carefully considered. As the true watchman goes forth bearing precious seed, sowing beside all waters, weeping and praying, the burden of labor is very taxing to mind and heart. He can not keep up the strain continuously—this soul stirred to the very depths—without wearing out prematurely. Strength and efficiency are needed in every discourse. And from time to time, fresh supplies of things new and old need to be brought forth from the storehouse of God’s Word. This will impart life and power to the hearers. God does not want his workers to become so exhausted that their efforts have no freshness nor life.

I can sympathize with some of my brethren who have strong feelings but not strong bodies. I do not know what we should do without men who feel intensely. But God would have these workers regard the laws of life and health; for when they are exhausted by long speaking and praying, or much writing, the enemy takes advantage of the tired condition of their nerves, and causes them to be impatient and to move rashly. It was at the close of Christ’s long fast in the wilderness that Satan thought to gain the victory over him. But Christ drove him from the field of battle, and came off conqueror. Even so may those who preach the word to-day overcome when tempted in a similar way. But it is necessary that they labor with discretion, in order that they may preserve health and strength in the best possible condition; then, when occasion requires, they can put forth special efforts, and, relying upon him who has conquered the enemy in their behalf, can come off more than conquerors.

While God’s workers are to be filled with a noble enthusiasm, and with a determination to follow the example of the divine Worker, they are not to crowd too many things into the day’s work. If they do this, they will soon have to leave the work entirely, broken down because they have tried to carry too heavy a load. It is right for them to make the best use of the advantages given them of God in earnest efforts for the relief of suffering and for the salvation of souls; but they are not to sacrifice health. We have a calling as much higher than common, selfish interests as the heavens are higher than the earth. But this thought should not lead the willing servants of God to carry all the burdens they can possibly bear, without periods of rest.

How good it would be if among all who are engaged in carrying out God’s wonderful plan for the salvation of souls, there were no idlers! How much more would be accomplished if every one would say, “God holds me accountable to be wide awake, and to let my efforts speak in favor of the truth I profess to believe. I am to be a practical worker, not a day-dreamer.” It is because there are so many day-dreamers that true workers have to carry a double burden. Writing by the Spirit, Paul says: “As we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another; not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”

It is the part of a medical missionary to minister to the needs of the soul as well as the needs of the body. Those who put the whole soul into the medical missionary work, who labor untiringly in peril, in privation, in watchings oft, in weariness and painfulness, are in danger of forgetting that they must be faithful guardians of their own mental and physical powers. They are not to allow themselves to be overtaxed. But they are filled with zeal and earnestness, and sometimes they move unadvisedly, putting themselves under too heavy a strain. Unless such workers make a change, the result will be that sickness will come upon them, and they will break down.

We need as workers to keep looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. As workers together with God, we are to draw souls to Christ. We are to remember that each has a special part to act in the Master’s service. O, how much good the members of the church might accomplish if they realized the responsibility resting upon them to point those with whom they come in contact to the Redeemer. When church-members shall disinterestedly engage in the work given them of God, a much stronger influence will be exerted in behalf of souls ready to die, and much more earnest efforts will be put forth in medical missionary lines. When every member of the church does his part faithfully, the workers in the field will be helped and encouraged, and the cause of God will move forward with power.

Some of our ministers feel that they must every day perform some labor that they can report to the conference. As a

result of trying to do this, their efforts are often weak and inefficient. They should have periods of rest, of entire freedom from taxing labor; but these can not take the place of daily physical exercise.

Brethren, when you take time to cultivate your garden, thus gaining the exercise needed to keep the system in good working order, you are just as much doing the work of God as in holding meetings. God is our Father, he loves us, and he does not require any of his servants to abuse their bodies.

Another cause, both of ill health and of inefficiency in labor, is indigestion. It is impossible for the brain to do its best work when the digestive powers are abused. Many eat hurriedly of various kinds of food; this causes war in the stomach, and confuses the brain. The use of unwholesome food, and overeating of even that which is wholesome, should alike be avoided. Many eat at all hours, regardless of the laws of health. Then gloom covers the mind. How can men be honored with divine enlightenment when they are so reckless in their habits, so inattentive to the light which God has given in regard to these things? Brethren, is it not time for you to be converted on these points of selfish indulgence? “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” Study these words earnestly.

Life is a holy trust, which God alone can enable us to keep, and to use to his glory. But he who formed the wonderful structure of the body will take special care to keep it in order if men do not work at cross-purposes with him. Every talent entrusted to us he will help us to improve and use in accordance with the will of the Giver. Days, months, and years are added to our existence that we may improve our opportunities and advantages for working out our individual salvation, and by our unselfish life promote the well-being of others. Thus may we build up the kingdom of Christ, and make manifest the glory of God.

Christianity

By Charles P. Whitford

CHARLES P. WHITFORD

CHRISTIANITY is not designed to force men to do right. Christianity changes the heart so the desire to do wrong is taken away. The man who says he wants to keep the Sabbath, and needs to have a law enacted by the state to prevent him from reading the secular newspapers upon the Sabbath, has no love for the Sabbath. The man who wants to steal, and needs to have his hands tied to prevent him from stealing, has never been converted.

I once heard a man say, “If it were not for the fine, I would be a pretty bad man.” Trying to be a good man simply to keep from being fined, is acting from a principle of selfishness. But the principle of selfishness is directly opposed to the principles of Christianity. “God is love” (1 John 4:8), and love “seeketh not her own.” 1 Cor. 13:5.

Doing right simply because we wish to be saved, is contrary to the spirit and character of God. Outward observance of the law of God to save self will result in destruction at last. “Love is the fulfilling of the law.” Rom. 13:10.

“Harken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?” James 2:5. Do we love him? If so, we are heirs of the kingdom.

Orlando, Fla.

Surrender, Then Resist

By J. S. Washburn

J. S. WASHBURN

WHAT an apparent contradiction! We must surrender in order to be able to resist. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7. We can not reverse the order; the surrender must be first, and the power to resist is measured wholly by the completeness of our surrender.

Are you struggling in vain to overcome? Do you constantly fail? Are you fighting a losing battle? Would you like to know the secret of your failure? Do you wish to know, on the other hand, the secret of success? If it were offered you, would you accept and keep the key to complete, continual, eternal victory in every temptation, over every sin? It is a secret so simple that all may have it. Listen! it is in the one word surrender!

Your surrender is not complete, or your victory over sin would be complete. You are keeping back part of the price. You probably know of something in your life that you feel is wrong, or to say the least, doubtful. You have never been willing to surrender this to God, that he might take it away forever from you.

You can not resist God and the devil at the same time. “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” James 4:6. The proud, the unsubmissive, resist the appeals of the Spirit of God, and God resists them. If you resist God on any one point, you can not successfully resist the devil. He who submits all to God receives the power of God to resist all the power of the devil.

Do you wish to win the fight with sin and Satan? Then you must surrender all, every sin, every doubtful thing, every power of body and mind, every purpose, and every plan wholly and unreservedly to God.

You will never, never have the power to win, to stand firm as a rock against the fierce assaults of the enemy, until you have toward God an absolutely passive and of the unconquerable determination was seen in Jesus! When he came into the world, he “emptied himself,” surrendered himself to God. He said, “I can of mine own self do nothing.”

At the last, when all the waves of hell were beating madly against his frail human nature, he cried out in agony that no man can ever fathom, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.” But the absolute surrender of Jesus to the will of the Father was shown in the words, “Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” The surrender was to him victory, to us salvation.

On the shameful tree of Golgotha when Satan was making his utmost effort to overwhelm the dying Christ with despair, and to blot out every ray of light and hope, the Saviour uttered those despairing words, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

Upon him, dying in our stead, had fallen the same despairing agony as will fall upon the lost soul in the final judgment. Yet with all the agony of all the lost concentrated in one awful hour upon his breaking heart, hear his final words of submission and surrender: “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” The one secret of his sinless life and of his final victory in the hour of temptation was his absolute and utter surrender. The submissiveness of Jesus to the Father made him against Satan inflexible, unbending, determined, the very Rock of Ages, against which all the surges of sin beat in vain.

What contrast! the tenderest, meekest, most humble, most yielding man who ever lived, yet the bravest, boldest, mightiest warrior that ever fought a desperate fight, winning gloriously at the last,—the Lamb against the lion!

“If we surrender our lives to his service, we can never be placed in a position for which God has not made provision. Whatever may be our situation, we have a Guide to direct our way; whatever our perplexities, we have a sure Counselor; whatever our sorrow, bereavement, or loneliness, we have a sympathizing Friend. If in our ignorance we make missteps, Christ does not leave us. His voice, clear and distinct, is heard saying, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.’

“‘He shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.’ We may overcome as he overcame. The Saviour took upon himself the infirmities of humanity, and lived a sinless life, that men might have no fear that because of the weakness of human nature they could not overcome. Christ came to make us ‘partakers of the divine nature,’ and his life declares that humanity, combined with divinity, does not commit sin.”

“The Elder Brother of our race is by the eternal throne. He looks upon every soul who is turning his face toward him as the Saviour. He knows by experience what are the weaknesses of humanity, what are our wants, and where lies the strength of our temptations, for

he was ‘in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.’ He is watching over you, trembling child of God. Are you weak? he will strengthen. Are you ignorant? he will enlighten. Are you wounded? he will heal. The Lord ‘telleth the number of the stars;’ and yet ‘he healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.’”

But we must pay all the price, not a part of it. Who could hope to purchase anything without paying the full price demanded? Not till you pay the last cent of the price is the article yours. Not till you have given all to God without reserve is the complete blessing yours.

The secret of blessing is surrender; the moment of surrender is the moment of blessing. Daily surrender means daily blessing. Continual surrender is continual blessing, eternal surrender is eternal blessing. Every morning let the first waking thought be: Lord Jesus, I give myself, body, soul, and mind, to thee for this new day. Control my thoughts. Cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

“All to Jesus I surrender, All to him I freely give; I will ever love and trust him, In his presence daily live. “All to Jesus I surrender, Now I feel the sacred flame. O the joy of full salvation! Glory, glory to his name! “I surrender all, I surrender all; All to thee, my blessed Saviour, I surrender all.”

Memphis, Tenn.

Not to Condemn, but to Save

By G. W. Shone

G. W. SHONE

“God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:17. “If any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.” John 12:47. “As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world” (not to condemn, but to save). John 17:18.

If we would always remember these words of him who gave his life to save us, and not alone to save us, but as a ransom for the whole world, would we be so ready with tongue and pen to criticize and condemn those who are the purchase of his precious blood? would we be so ready to lend our ears to evil reports against those who are of the household of faith, yea, even against fellow workers in the vineyard of the Master?

Some go so far as to originate a false report, in order to poison minds against an individual. My brethren, my sisters, these things ought not so to be. How can we deceive ourselves with the belief that we love God, love the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, when our hearts are full of envy, jealousy, evil surmising, and we lend our tongues to be used by Satan to accuse, criticize, condemn, and speak evil of the brethren? “Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit. Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother’s son.” Ps. 50:19, 20.

What right have those who do such things to take God’s words upon their lips, and teach them to others? (Compare verses 16, 17.)

God will surely require it of those who indulge in such a course. He will bring them over the same ground, that they may experience what they have caused others to suffer. When you injure one who is the purchase of Jesus’ blood, you are doing it unto the Lord. These things are written in the books of heaven, and an account will have to be rendered of every wrong word and action.

If we look into our own hearts for the motives which prompt these unkind words whereby some soul is hurt, we shall find envy and jealousy, in nearly every instance, to be the cause. Let us not deceive ourselves. What we sow we shall surely reap. “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.” James 1:26. “If any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Rom. 8:9.

How much better it would be for our own peace of mind, what a sense of victory we should experience, if we would let the mind of Christ be in us! Then, instead of indulging in evil-speaking, envy, and jealousy, we would lay down our lives for the brethren. We would be willing to bear blame for that in which we have no share, in order to shield a brother or sister from suffering.

How must holy angels, who rejoiced when Satan was cast out of heaven because he was always accusing the brethren, weep, when they see these brethren doing the same work! I beseech you to refrain from this kind of business.

We shall never enter the presence of our beloved Redeemer, and join in the song of Moses and the Lamb, until we have gained the victory over every wrong word and action. How much longer are we going to retard the Lord’s coming, for in love he waits, with long-suffering patience, till we are ready. “Get ready! Get ready!” “Press together,” is the message to God’s remnant people. “Ye must die a greater death to self than ye have yet died if ye will enter glory.”

We can not afford to slight these warnings. Let there be a humbling of heart, a subduing of self, such as there has not yet been, that the Lord may be gracious unto his people, and heal their backslidings.

“The end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things, have fervent charity [love] among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:7, 8.

“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another.” Rom. 12:10. “Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh no account of evil; rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth; . . . endureth all things.” 1 Cor. 13:4-7, A. R. V. “Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil-speaking, be put away from you, with all malice. And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Eph. 4:30-42.

Hinsdale, Ill.

I Know a Thing or Two

“My dear boy,” said the father to his only son, “you are in bad company. The lads with whom you associate indulge in bad habits. They drink, smoke, swear, play cards, and visit theaters. They are not safe company for you. I beg you to quit their society.”

“You needn’t be afraid of me, father,” replied the boy, laughingly; “I guess I know a thing or two. I know how far to go and when to stop.”

The lad left his father’s house, twirling his cane in his fingers, and laughing at the “old man’s notions.”

A few years later, and that lad, grown to manhood, stood before the bar of a court, before a jury that had just brought in a verdict of guilty against some crime in which he had been concerned. Before he was sentenced, he addressed the court, and said, among other things: “My downward course began in disobedience to my parents. I thought I knew as much as my father did, and I spurned his advice; but as soon as I turned my back on my home, temptations came upon me like a drove of hyenas, and lured me into ruin.”

Mark that confession, ye boys who are beginning to be wiser than your parents. Mark it, and learn that disobedience is the first step on the road to ruin. Don’t take it.—Selected.

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