Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 25, 1894
Bible Faith
By Editor
The secret of overcoming evil habits and temptations is to be ever watchful, to train the heart to be ever uplifted in prayer to God, by living faith to draw help and life from the great Source of life. “Pray without ceasing” is an important injunction, and a good prayer is, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right [constant] spirit within me.” We must habituate ourselves never to forget God’s presence.
The word declares that “our God is a consuming fire.” Heb. 12:29. But all that a God ever gracious will consume is sin. If the sinner chooses God’s way, and thus renounces the sin, God will destroy the sin and save the sinner; the dross will be purged by grace; the pure metal will remain. But if the sinner identifies himself with the sin, if he will not separate from it, when the proper time comes, God’s burning glory will consume him in a moment. 2 Thess. 2:8. God’s pleasure is that the wicked turn from his evil way and live. Eze. 33:11.—From No. 111 Bible Students’ Library.
“Unchristianizing the Universities.”—The Baptists are becoming stirred about “the secular instruction that is unchristianizing their universities.” It was reported to have been said at the recent Baptist convention at Saratoga, N. Y., that “secular teachings are supplanting the Christian evangel in our American colleges and schools to so great a degree that now, if a young man leaves their doors unconverted, he seldom becomes a Christian afterwards.” And the Christian Advocate says that Methodists must deal with the same thing. It remarks: “A preposterous spectacle it is indeed when a denomination establishes a college or university to promote Christian education, and fills its chairs with professors who, by their private conversations, class-room implications, and intellectual bent and spirit, as well as their known connections, are continually counteracting the Christian influence of the institution.”
But this is just what exists all over the land. God’s word and faith in that word are what is needed. The “Higher Critics” are worse than the Agnostics. See the article on “Christian Education” in another column. When such education as is therein set forth is given in our colleges and universities, they will be schools of the prophets. Only one thing is necessary, make God’s word first.
Bible Faith.
How little the modern Christian world knows of faith! Protestants use the word largely in the sense given it by Roman Catholics, as meaning a creed or system. But this is not the Bible use of the word. Bible faith is a personal matter between the individual soul and God. The faith of Jesus Christ was that principle within him which led him to willingly submit to the will of the Father, and to draw from that Father the strength sufficient to do that will. The faith of Jesus in his people will be the living principle which leads each one of them to do the same thing as did he. That is “the faith once delivered to the saints,” or, as the Revised Version reads, “once for all delivered to the saints,” in the person of Jesus Christ, now present with us by his word and Holy Spirit.
Contend for This.
This is the faith worth contending for. A creed, system, or theory is cold, dead, and powerless. It may be held by millions, and everyone lost. But the faith of Jesus, that living principle which connects the individual soul with Christ through the word, is instinct with life, warmth, and power. In fact, it is such a yielding to the revealed will of God that it appropriates the power of that will. The word is to the child of faith a “living word,” powerful to do and to work effectually. Heb. 4:12; 1 Thess. 2:13. That word through faith cleanses from sin, changes the affections, makes the man a new creature, brings forth the fruits of righteousness and true holiness in the life, and gives to God all the glory through Jesus Christ. This is the faith that is needed to-day. It is the faith that eternal destiny demands of every soul. It is the only faith that saves. It is the only true Protestant faith. It is the only true Christian faith. Oh, for more of it!
Sad, Sad, Indeed.
A handbill of a “Wild West Sociable” held in a Congregational Church near the city of Denver, is before us. We will not try to reproduce the folly. It advertises a “Grand Round-up,” and among the attractions advertised are “Highfalutin Jane,” “Squaw Jim,” “Long-haired Ranch Egg Orchestra,” “Gunny Sack Fan,” etc. May it not truly be said, as Inspiration has declared for the “last days,” “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” See 2 Tim. 3:1-5. A dispatch to the San Francisco Chronicle of March 5, from Pittsburg, Pa., tells how women resorted to all sorts of shifts to keep the sheriff from the church. One young woman rode a high-mettled horse without a saddle; other women wheeled men in barrows; one young woman paid a man five cents to call on her; and so it runs. It is all wretched, disgraceful.
“The church is fallen, the beautiful church,
And her shame is her boast and pride.”
PAPAL INFALLIBILITY.
IN 1546 the Roman Catholic Council of Trent, concerning the Holy Scriptures, did "ordain and declare that the same old and Vulgate edition which has been approved by its use in the church for so many ages, shall be held as authentic, in all public lectures, disputations, sermons, and expositions, and that no one shall dare or presume to reject it, under any pretense whatever."
Thus were the words of the original Hebrew and Greek set aside for a Latin translation, made by Jerome in the latter part of the fourth century, and which even Jerome "did not," according to the learned Roman Catholic Dr. Jahn, "invariably give what he himself believed to be the best translation of the original," for fear of giving "umbrage to his readers by too wide a departure from the Established Version." Dr. Jahn again says: "Sometimes, too, he has substituted a worse in place of the old translation." This version of Jerome's, says the same author, "became corrupted with many errors," because of its being multiplied throughout the Latin Church.
Attempts were made by Charlemagne and Lanfranc, archbishop of Canterbury, to correct some copies of the Vulgate, but their work seemed to have had limited effect. In 1540 Robert Stephens printed an edition of the Vulgate Version, with the various readings of three editions, and fourteen manuscripts. Other readings were added by Hentenius, in 1547. In 1580 and 1585 other editions were published, with many more various readings.
Well, the Vulgate Version was held by the Council of Trent, A.D. 1545-63, as "authentic."514But as there were so many various readings in the various editions and manuscripts, it became necessary to prepare an "authorized edition." This was done under Pope Sixtus V., the pope himself correcting the proofs. In 1590 an edition was published at Rome by his infallible papal authority, as the authentic and unalterable standard of Scripture.
But it was soon discovered by scholars that this edition contained many errors, notwithstanding the infallible bull which accompanied its publication, enjoining its universal reception, and forbidding the slightest alterations, under pain of anathema.
But what was to be done now? Either the infallible authority must be maintained, and this fallible edition, with its thousands of errors, held as infallible, or the pope must be admitted to be fallible by correcting the mistakes. Well, the Papacy thought it would correct the mistakes and save its reputation to infallibility also. The corrupt edition was therefore called in, at least all of the copies which could be obtained, and Pope Clement VIII. issued in 1592 a corrected edition, declaring it, by a similar bull to that of Sixtus V., to be the authentic and unalterable standard.
There are two copies of the earlier edition in existence, one in the Bodleian library, Oxford, England, and the other in the royal library at Cambridge. The learned Dr. James, at one time keeper of the Bodleian library, compared these two "authentic translations of Sixtus V. and Clement VIII., and exposed in a book, which he called "Bellum Papale" (Papal War), 2,000 of the variations, some of whole verses, and decidedly contradictory. See Dowling’s "History of Romanism," book 7, chapter 2.
This is a sample of Rome’s "infallibility." How many of the laity know anything about it? How many of the priests know it? It is this same "unchanging," "infallible" system which is bidding for favor to-day, at whose feet are fawning so many Protestants. Would that all Protestants knew the "more sure word of prophecy," which has faithfully portrayed this apostate power.
The Real Conflict
The Real Conflict.—The Congregationalist of October 26, 1893, said:—
The battle between Protestantism and Romanism is yet to be fought, and, if we do not wrongly read the signs of the times, it is to be fought on this continent sooner, perhaps, and with more terrible earnestness, than we have thought.
The sad thing about it is that many who call themselves Protestants have placed themselves, by the principles which they have deliberately adopted, on the side of Rome. The word of God, and that alone, as the rule of faith and practice, and the absolute non-interference of the civil magistrate in things religious, are primary Protestant principles. But many, aye, the majority, of Protestants have preferred tradition to the word of God, and are demanding civil law to enforce these traditions of an apostate church. The conflict does not lie between names, but between principles, between truth and error, between God’s word and tradition, between the Sabbath of Jehovah and the pago-papal Sunday, between Christ and antichrist, between the power of the gospel of Christ to win men and the power of the civil arm to coerce men. So-called Protestants will stand where their principles place them; Christians will stand with Christ and his word. Brother, where will you stand? Where do you stand? It is time now to cry, “Who is on the Lord’s side?”
ONE CAUSE OF SUFFERING.
By Ellen G. White
WHY is it that there is so much suffering in our world? One reason is that the rich do not fulfill their God-given responsibilities, and, as good stewards of the grace of God, make distribution for the wants of the poor. Men have perverted their God-given powers, and think only of how they may accumulate wealth. There are thousands of rich people who have every luxury, and do not know what to do with their possessions. They make their bodies idols, and heap treasure upon themselves. The rich and the poor have been represented in the Bible in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. Those who do not deal out their bread to the hungry, clothe the naked, and bring the poor that are cast out into their houses, are committing the sin of Sodom. The iniquity of Sodom was pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness, neither did they strengthen the hands of the poor and needy. The Lord says, “They were haughty, and committed abomination before me; therefore I took them away as I saw good.”
Idleness is sin. To every man and woman God has given his or her work, and all are to employ their time in doing good to others. Through luxury and haughtiness, hard-heartedness and inconsiderate thoughtlessness are developed in the character, and these are found in a large degree among those who hold high positions in the world. Those who have an abundance have little sympathy for the hungry, the naked, and the homeless.
What true satisfaction can persons have who load their bodies with costly jewels, while there are thousands destitute, shivering in their nakedness, crying to God in their515hunger and distress! Oh, that those who deck themselves with jewels, and make idols of themselves, might see how they appear in the eyes of their Creator! Oh, that they might realize how the Saviour, who has died for them, looks upon them, witnessing every extravagance, and contrasting it with the destitution of the poor, who cry unto him, and who cry not in vain! Not one who decks himself with jewels and costly array will stand before God guiltless. No one can turn from the truth, violate justice, give up integrity, neglect the poor, and yet flatter himself that he has not forsaken God. All idolatry of self dishonors God, and he who dishonors God fails to benefit humanity. The eternal principles of right and wrong are violated. Needless expenditure of means, indulgence in extravagances, the putting on of gaudy trappings, and decking the body with flashing jewels, is an evidence that the soul has turned from God to self, and at the last day the poor will rise up in judgment and condemn those who have lived for the gratification of selfish desires. The sentence will be passed that, while many were in nakedness and starvation, the rich sinners were squandering money to gratify pride and ambition, and by so doing degraded themselves.
A man may be lifted up because of his wealth to sit among princes; but if he has not a living connection with the Lord Jesus Christ, he has a cheap mind, for he has lost eternity out of his reckoning. In the sight of God he is accounted of the earth, earthy and degraded, the slave of lust and ambition. He has sold himself to his riches, which will soon pass away. He has bowed himself down to an idol that can no more bless him than can the gods of wood and stone. All ungodly gain brings with it a hidden curse, and all well-gotten gain is intrusted to the man as so much capital to be employed in doing good to others. Rich men have the responsibility laid upon them of feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, educating the fatherless, and helping the widows in their necessity. If they neglect this work, they neglect Christ in the person of his saints.
The destiny of souls will be decided by that which we have done or left undone. Jesus says: “When the Son of Man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory; and before him shall be gathered all nations; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats; and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
The larger the intrusted wealth, the greater the responsibility. He who had large supplies yet who failed to succor the needy, will have large retribution. Justice will come upon the possessor of wealth if he has selfishly withheld it from those who needed its benefit. The condemnation that will come upon him who had great gifts will be that it was in his power to do good, to relieve the suffering, and he failed to do it. If men would keep the commandments of God, they would practice mercy and the love of God. Man would be upright in his dealings with his fellow-man; but he who serves not God places no restrictions upon his ambitions, and gives himself up wholly to covetousness, and thus he ruins his soul. He becomes miserable and discontented and unsatisfied, because he would grasp more of the world's wealth than he can get in his possession; and thus the more the covetous rich man has, the more miserable he becomes.
Those who would be happy, who would be a blessing to the world, must make the Bible their standard of character, and work in Christ's lines. Can it be possible that those who have riches and who spend money only for the gratification of self, have Bibles? If they have, do they read them? Have they read of the foolish rich man, who was abundantly blessed of God? Why?—In order to test and prove him, and make it manifest that he was not a character that could be trusted with eternal riches. What did the rich man do?—Just what many to-day are doing. Instead of opening his eyes to see the suffering around him, instead of opening his ears to hear their cry of distress, instead of appropriating his goods to supply their deficiencies, he said: “What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do; I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.” But what decision does the Lord make in regard to this disposal of matters?—“But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee; then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
What will be the reward of those who spend their money in extravagance? These persons have souls, which Christ has purchased with his own blood, and if they are saved at all, they must be saved through God's appointed way. Their bodies may be weighed down with jewels, with gold and silver, but will this enhance their value in the sight of God? Will this purchase for them the crown of eternal life, that fadeth not away? Will this buy for them the exceeding and eternal weight of glory, that eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, that hath not entered into the heart of man, that God hath prepared for them that love him? God has prepared indescribable glories for them that love not gold, not display, not extravagance, not luxuries and ornaments, but that love him. Those who love God with all their hearts, and their neighbor as themselves, will reap the eternal reward.
But not only in the world is the love of riches prevalent, but even in the church gold and silver have been made an idol of. There are many who profess the Saviour's name who have not helped the poor, nor strengthened the needy, nor regarded him who was ready to perish. The people of God are commissioned to be laborers together with God. Have the offerings of the church been made in proportion to the fields that cry for help? Has the love of Christ constrained those who profess his name to give to advance the gospel message in home and foreign mission fields? To every soul the reward will be, not according to profession, but according to what has been done. Actions will measure the love you have for Christ and for perishing souls. Christ will say to you, whatever has been your course, “Inasmuch as ye have done it [or did it not] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
Look Out for It
By Editor
Look Out for It.—The Sunday-law people said at the close of the last Legislature of California:—
California is no longer without a sabbath law, her Legislature having passed a Sunday law bill—good as far as it goes and open to amendment another year. Our efficient superintendent, Mrs. Armstrong, writes: “Our Legislature has passed the Rest Day Bill. It gave me much hard work to conduct the petition work, and while we did not get all we asked, we are glad to get this. It provides one day of rest to all employes.”
The law passed was not a Sunday law; it only specified one day of rest in a week, and has proved to be a dead letter. But it is open to amendment, and this will be pushed the coming year. The hold already obtained in various counties in California by the religious legislationists make them hungry for more. Dr. Thompson said joyfully that they were getting Sunday laws in this State in spots, like the measles. It is like a fretting leprosy. Let the friends of liberty be awake. Sunday laws are tyranny.
The True Test.
By Editor
If the Roman Catholic Church is the true Christian Church, and is as tolerant as she claims to be, why do members of her communion stone ex-priests and mob A. P. A. lecturers? Even granting that the ex-priests and the A. P. A. are wrong, is it right to do violence to them? Would Christ have done so? “Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Jesus said of his persecutors, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” But Rome curses and persecutes those who may speak against her dogmas. Is this the Spirit of Christ? Are Roman Catholics willing to abide by this test?
Tuberculosis in Vermont Cattle
TUBERCULOSIS has been found in the choice herd of cows kept at the experiment station farm of the State of Vermont. The tuberculin test proved the animals diseased, although outwardly they showed no symptoms of it. But all of the animals slaughtered verified the test. The papers seem to think that it can be stamped out among cattle, but that seems to mean the destruction of from two to ninety per cent of many of the dairy herds of the country. In two of the animals slaughtered in the State herd of Vermont the disease was far advanced, tuberculous portions being found in the lungs and udder. The question is one which, for the sake of precious lives, demands prompt and thorough attention throughout the country.
Whispered Words Can Revolutionize Worlds
By H. B. Macartney
Words spoken in a whisper may revolutionize a world.—H. B. Macartney.
THE DAY OF THE LORD.
By Horatius Bonar
THE day of the Lord, it cometh;
It comes like a thief in the night;
It comes when the world is dreaming
Of safety, and peace, and light;
It cometh, the day of sackcloth,
With darkness, and storm, and fire,
The day of the great avenging,
The day of the burning ire.
Not slowly, slowly, like twilight,
Nor like the cold creeping tide,
Nor bark from the distant offing
Moving on o’er the waters wide,
But instant, like sudden lightning,
In the depths of a tranquil sky,
From the west to the east in a moment,
The havoc descends from on high.
The voice of the awful trumpet
Arresteth the march of time;
With terror and woe and judgment
It soundeth through every clime.
It speaketh aloud to the living;
It speaks to the slumbering dead;
Earth heareth the final summons,
And boweth the trembling head.
Then the day of the evil endeth,
And the righteous reign comes in;
Like a cloud of sorrow evanish
The ages of human sin.
The light of the morning gleameth,
A dawn without cloud or gloom;
In chains lies the ruler of darkness,
And the Prince of light has come.
—Horatius Bonar.
THE CHRISTIAN IDEAL OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT.
By Elder A. F. Ballenger
NEVER since the adoption of our national Constitution until the present hour has there existed so deep seated an agitation touching the relation of Christianity to civil government as exists to-day. The divorcement of Church and State provided for in the Constitution of the United States, which for more than a century received the almost universal approval of civilian and churchman in America, as well as the approbation of the advanced thought of the world, is now seriously questioned by a large and growing body of American citizens, especially clergymen. The theory of government which has placed our country in the forefront of progressive nations is attacked, as well as the experience of more than a hundred years. Our national Constitution is denounced as "godless," "Christless," and the increase of crime and all public calamities is charged to a failure to acknowledge Christ as the ruler of the nation, by inserting his name in the fundamental law of the land. A defense of what is termed an "infidel Constitution" is denominated "political atheism," not only when the defense is made by a liberal non-churchman, but also when made by the otherwise most "orthodox" Christian minister.
This in brief is the present situation, and brings us to the question, Is a government in which Church and State are separate a "godless," "Christless" government? What is the Christian ideal of civil government? Is it the Church dominated by the State, exemplified in ancient Pagan Rome, and modern Russia, England, and Germany? or is it the State dominated by the Church, exemplified in Papal Rome before the loss of temporal power? or is it where there is a complete divorcement of Church and State, as exemplified in the Government of the United States when administered in strict conformity with its national Constitution? That some form of government is necessary will not be denied by any but the anarchist. Not only does all experience go to prove the necessity of government, but its existence is both ordained and sanctioned by Divine Revelation. "The powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God." Rom. 13: 1, 2.516
It being established that civil order is a part of God's plan in his dealings with fallen men, the next question in order is, What relation would he have the civil government sustain to his work for the redemption of man. Before answering this question, and as an aid to answering it, the question arises, What means does the Creator employ for the salvation of men? It must be admitted that in all God's dealings with fallen men there is perfect harmony; one institution of God for the good of man will not conflict with another. Does God employ any power other than that of moral suasion, exercised through the drawings of infinite love, to reconcile man to himself? Does he force the consciences of men? Will he save men by arbitrary power contrary to their wills? Such an idea is contrary to both reason and Scripture. It is contrary to reason to think that an Infinite Being would take pleasure in the worship of machines, for such men would be should their Creator force them to love and praise him; it is contrary to Scripture, for saith the word, "God is a Spirit; and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth;" "for the Father seeketh such to worship him." John 4:23, 24. Again, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11: 28); and "whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" (Rev. 22:17). "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." John 5:40. "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. "And they did not receive him. . . . And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we call fire to come down from heaven, and consume them? . . . But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of Man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village."
From these and many other scriptures that might be quoted it is established that God has created man a free moral agent, to choose or refuse his offered grace and abide the consequences. Not only does he refuse to employ force, but, as proved by the last scripture, he indicates that all force in religion partakes of the Satanic spirit.
And now it is impossible to believe that the Master would himself refuse absolutely to use compulsion in dealing with man's relation to himself, and at the same time delegate such authority and power to fallible, fallen men. Impossible. But however irresistible the conclusion from the standpoint of reason, we are not left with this alone; we have a "Thus saith the Lord." When questioned as to the nature of his kingdom as related to earthly power, Christ answered with words "like apples of gold in pictures of silver," "My kingdom is not of this world." Again, when the question involved the very subject of this article,—the nature of civil government and the limits of its jurisdiction over the conduct of men,—the answer came like a mighty cleaver of truth in the words, "Render therefore unto Cæsar [civil government] the things which are Cæsar's; and unto God the things that are God's," separating forever the ecclesiastical and the civil.
Thus it is seen that the Lord not only refuses himself to use force in spiritual things, not only condemns the use of it by his followers, but in the last quotation denies it to civil governments by removing from civil jurisdiction all things pertaining to man's relation to God.
From the foregoing facts we deduce the following conclusions: God being the author of civil order, or government, and at the same time creating and ordaining man free to be religious or not religious, it follows that the government must not meddle in the slightest degree with religion, for in so doing it would conflict with man's freedom in religion, and bring God in conflict with himself, for to create man free and then create a civil government to enslave him, would bring God in conflict with himself, which is impossible. It therefore follows that any civil government which interferes with religion, or man's personal relation to God, is in this matter contrary to God, and, therefore, to this extent "godless" and "Christless."
Again, Christ having by plain declaration declared for the separation of religion and civil government, it follows that the government which is organized in harmony with this principle is to this extent in harmony with Christian principles, and, therefore, in this matter represents the Christian ideal of civil government. It follows, then, that the Government of the United States, when administered in strict conformity with the federal Constitution, which provides for a complete separation of Church and State, instead of being for that reason "godless" and "Christless," is to that extent in harmony with Christian principles, and in this matter represents the Christian ideal of civil government.
The subject might properly be left at this point, but just here there arises in the minds of many honest inquirers the question, "It being true that the proper relation between Christianity and civil government is a complete separation of the two forces, how can Christianity exercise an influence for good, as it certainly ought, on the civil institutions of government?" The question is a very natural and proper one, and the answer is plain. Governments, especially representative governments, are but a reflection of the character of the people composing them. The better the individuals composing the government, the better the government.
Again, Christianity has to do only with the individual. "Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye," "Whosoever will, let him" come, are addressed to individuals and not to governments. Since governments are made better only by making better the individuals composing the governments, and since Christianity deals only with the individuals, it follows that the only way that Christianity can affect the government is by its influence on the individuals composing the government, and thereby indirectly influencing the government. A civil government made up of individual Christians would be the best government, not because the doctrines of Christianity would be enacted into law, for that would ruin the government, but because genuine Christianity reveals the most perfect justice, as between man and man, and this justice, which comes from an experimental knowledge of Christianity, and not the doctrines of Christianity, being enacted into law, would make it the best government.