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Review and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 60.

Ten Reasons Why Every Seventh-day Adventist Should Read the “Review”

Review and Herald

Dec 7, 1916

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 7, 1916

Ten Reasons Why Every Seventh-day Adventist Should Read the “Review”

By I. H. Evans

1. It is our church organ, and speaks with clearness on all points of doctrine and church polity.
2. It is carefully edited, and contains nothing that has not been carefully considered from every standpoint.
3. It keeps the reader in touch with the progress of the work in all parts of the field.
4. It gives the latest in world issues and current events; so one who reads keeps pace with the signs of the times.
5. It keeps the reader in touch with the policies and plans for the advancement of the message in mission fields, and gives notice of new workers being sent abroad.
6. It contains departmental reports, and gives the people the very latest reports of growth and progress in all lines of the work.
7. It supplies spiritual food to the reader, and leads to deeper spirituality and greater consecration.
8. It seems incredible that any who diligently read the “Review and Herald” would backslide and lose their Christian experience.
9. It contains reports of our general councils, and keeps the reader well informed concerning the various plans laid for the advancement of the message.
10. It speaks for the whole world-wide advent movement, and is not local, but general, in its interests.
I. H. EVANS, President North American Division Conference.

Note and Comment

A Time for Calmness

THAT time is surely the present. If we look out into the great world of thought and action, we see much from a human standpoint to cause disquietude and anxious foreboding. It was fondly hoped that 1916 would bring a settlement of the great European war and the adjustment of many other national and international complications. But the year seems destined to come to an end with a more ominous outlook than that with which it began. While rumors of coming peace have persisted for months, peace seems no nearer realization than one year ago. Indeed, with the changed and changing conditions on the war frontiers, and with the advantages which each side of the conflict feels have been gained, it is to be questioned if it is in the purpose of any of the warring rulers of Europe to seek for early cessation of hostilities. The war apparently has settled down to a war of attrition and exhaustion, and the contending states are far from this condition at the present time.
As this state of affairs continues in Europe, new and increasing complications, as a result of the war, are occurring in nearly every country outside of the war zones. In the United States President Wilson, at the beginning of his second term of four years, must face some very perplexing questions both from a national and an international standpoint. The relation of this country to Mexico and to the nations of Europe, and the industrial situation in the country itself, which insists on assuming more ugly proportions than ever before, will greatly tax the wisdom of the present administration. Speaking of these conditions, the Washington Post of November 21 says:—
“The industrial peace of the nation may depend upon the developments in Washington in the next few weeks. There have been few periods so fraught with danger or demanding more skilful statesmanship.
“Not only the industrial peace of the nation, but the preservation of peace with foreign nations may depend upon the outcome of present deliberations. The Mexican situation is again critical. The Mexican commissioners persist in regarding their own country as the aggrieved party, whereas all the grievances which need a cure are those presented by the United States. Upon the manner in which the negotiations are handled at Atlantic City may depend the question whether this country is to remain at peace with Mexico or ultimately go to war.
“The submarine situation, while it has been discussed very little of late, nevertheless has grown acute.
“While these ominous foreign problems are pending, the railroad brotherhoods and twelve federated unions have reached a working agreement to fight any bill for the suspension of strikes during the period of public investigation, and report on the issues involved.
“The employers of the country, feeling that no concessions can be expected from the employees, are organizing. Class prejudice and class lines, instead of becoming less discernible, have become more marked.
“These problems that confront the nation affect not merely its present prosperity, but its whole future. It is a time when all patriotic citizens should discard prejudice and passion, and support real leadership.”
The child of God, more than the politician or the statesman, should keep calm in the stress and storm which are upon us. It is for him to look beyond the transitory things of this world, and fix his mind on the eternal realities. Among the warring elements which exist on every side, God is working out his great and eternal purpose. The message of his soon-coming is going to the world. A people is being developed from every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, to greet him at his appearing.
Let us be calm and hopeful and courageous, for soon the dark night of earth’s history will give place to the glorious dawning of eternal day. While many of the conditions existing in the world today are deeply to be regretted, we must view them in the light of fulfilling prophecy, and dark though they may appear, as harbingers of the coming day. And we must not be content to see them in this light for ourselves, but must be diligent in giving to others a knowledge of the meaning of these things which are coming on the earth. Let us be faithful to the task to which God has appointed us.

Worldly and Sensational Advertising

THE loss of spiritual power on the part of the Christian church has always been attended by an appeal to the spirit of worldliness and to worldly elements. It required the employment of no sensational methods on the part of the Master to draw men to listen to the preaching of the word; and throughout the ages the heralds of the cross who have had a living message to bear could secure a hearing without resort to worldly or sensational advertising. It is admittedly a confession of worldliness when the church today must resort to such methods.
Recently a great church in the city of New York advertised a “baseball” service, resulting in crowding the church edifice to overflowing. The editor of Zion’s Herald, although dealing with a question which concerned a church of his own denomination, sounds this note of warning against the employment of such methods:—
“The first remark that we would make in answer to the query raised by this whole grotesque business, is that it must ultimately fail of doing the very thing which it sets out to do. It is like the drug habit. A little answers at first, then more and more, until it defeats its own ends. A congregation drawn together by thrillers will call constantly for new thrillers, and by and by will find its senses so jaded that no minister, however vigorous, will be able to satisfy the unnatural craving.
“The voice of warning must be raised in this connection. Not that this particular service that has just been held is any worse—or any better, for that matter—than any other of the kind that might be mentioned, but because, heralded from one end of the country to the other, it is liable to receive and lead others to think that that is the road to spiritual success. It would be a calamity unspeakable—whatever may be the case in New York—if these grotesque methods were to become at all dominant. They justly invite ridicule from the daily press, and they repel sober-thinking men and women. Let the gospel be made as attractive as possible, let the singing be of the best, let the atmosphere of the church be of the most cheerful, and in it all and through it all let congregation, laymen as well as minister, be devoted whole heartedly to the work, and it will not be necessary to drag the pulpit down to the arena of the clown with joke-telling ministers, or to turn the service into a vaudeville performance, with public entertainers talking platitudes on being good and playing the game on the square.
“We call upon our ministry and laity everywhere to rally firmly and squarely against the dangerous tendency toward the bizarre and grotesque that is threatening the church. It spells ruin. The gospel preached with the demonstration of the power, and the sane, intelligent use of modern methods in church work, will attract the people. Of that there can be no doubt. Moreover, success is not to be measured by the mere gathering of thousands. The purpose of their coming together and the message they receive are of importance.”

MRS. O. A. OLSEN

By Mrs. O. A. Olsen

I WAS twenty-three years old when I first saw the REVIEW AND HERALD. From that time till now, I have been a constant reader of the good paper. I do not read it only in part, but I read it from cover to cover. I am now seventy-four years old, lacking three weeks. Its weekly visits have been better to me than a dear, loving friend. The good instruction, the admonition, and the cheering reports that come from afar have been a great blessing to me, to cheer me on my way. How glad I am that the work is moving onward! My earnest prayer is that the work will go much faster. How impossible for me to get on without the REVIEW AND HERALD! Speed on, dear, loving friend, with your mission of love, until Jesus comes. Those who do not read the REVIEW AND HERALD are meeting with a serious loss. How easy it would be to backslide, if one did not read this good paper! We are fast nearing the end. May God help us to get ready.

MRS. O. A. OLSEN

The Nature of Christian Experience

By L. L. C.

SOME Christians, through a misconception of the nature of Christian experience, are led into great discouragement as they view their own experiences. Some very conscientious persons are even caused to question whether they really are Christians at all. These forget that perfection of character is the goal, not to be attained at once, but only through a continual, lifelong struggle. "The formation of a noble character is the work of a lifetime, and must be the result of diligent and persevering effort."—"Patriarchs and Prophets," p. 223. The gifts of the Holy Spirit have been given to God's people to aid them in reaching this goal, being given, as the apostle Paul says, "for the perfecting of the saints, . . . till we all come . . . unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." Eph. 4: 12, 13.
The entrance of the believer into the Christian life is spoken of as a birth. Christ told Nicodemus, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3. The child at birth may be perfect, as a child, but he must grow into perfect manhood. Should growth fail to ensue, that which was considered perfection in the child would become a lamentable deformity. So also the apostle Peter exhorts those who have experienced the new birth: "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby." 1 Peter 2: 2.
As a good, healthy growth in the children is a great cause of rejoicing to the parents, so Paul rejoiced when he saw the growth in Christian experience of the believers in Thessalonica. This growth was so manifest that he said, "We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth." 2 Thess. 1: 3.
What joy it affords the parents when the little child begins to walk alone! There are few children, however, who gain this ability without a few tumbles and even some serious falls. Parents, while doing what they can to minimize the dangers to the child in this experience, encourage him not to become disheartened, but to get up from each fall and go on. Even after the art of walking has been acquired, the child may, through carelessness, stumble and fall. But if he gets up again promptly, why be discouraged?
The growth of Christian experience in its quiet development is compared in the Scriptures to the increasing light of the rising sun. Solomon tells us, "The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." Prov. 4: 18.
Instead, then, of claiming a present perfection of life, let us say, with the apostle Paul, "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus." Phil. 3: 12. And instead of becoming discouraged at past failures and mistakes, let all have the apostle's experience when he says, "This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Phil. 3: 13, 14.
L. L. C.

Clinging to Sin

By G. B. T.

THE terrible consequence of clinging to sin is illustrated in the life of Judas. The name of Judas is a hissing and a byword because of his dark treachery and deliberate, wilful hypocrisy. The stigma of the words, “Judas, . . . who also betrayed him,” will never be effaced so long as time lasts. But why this dark stain? Judas was once an innocent child in the arms of his mother, who hoped he would grow up to be a man honored and beloved. He grew up as other boys. He played in the street, and his innocent laughter was mingled with theirs. He was endowed with many natural abilities which would enable him to fill a place of usefulness and service to his fellow man. He had a commanding appearance. The rainbow of promise glowed in the sky for him. He came within the reach and influence of the Master, and for three years sat under the instruction of the greatest Teacher the world has ever known. He was taught by Him who spake as man never spake. He filled a position of trust and honor among the chosen twelve. He was treasurer; he carried the bag.
But all this time he wore a mask. He appeared to be what he was not. As he sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to his instruction, he was not insensible to the power and influence of the Spirit. But his heart did not fully respond. He hardened his heart by clinging to sin. He refused to yield up that which he knew was wrong. He was covetous. He loved money. He fell, and the bag held him down.
“When Judas joined the disciples, he was not insensible to the beauty of the character of Christ. He felt the influence of that divine power which was drawing souls to the Saviour. He who came not to break the bruised reed nor quench the smoking flax, would not repulse this soul while even one desire was reaching toward the light. The Saviour read the heart of Judas; he knew the depths of iniquity to which, unless delivered by the grace of God, Judas would sink. In connecting this man with himself, he placed him where he might, day by day, be brought in contact with the outflowing of his own unselfish love. If he would open his heart to Christ, divine grace would banish the demon of selfishness, and even Judas might become a subject of the kingdom of God.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 294.
Judas had admirable traits of character, which might have been used to bless and help others. The Saviour knew his covetous disposition, and longed to help him. But Judas was unyielding.
“Instead of walking in the light, Judas chose to retain his defects. Evil desires, revengeful passions, dark and sullen thoughts, were cherished, until Satan had full control of the man. Judas became a representative of the enemy of Christ. “When he came into association with Jesus, he had some precious traits of character, that might have been made a blessing to the church. If he had been willing to wear the yoke of Christ, he might have been among the chief of the apostles; but he hardened his heart when his defects were pointed out, and in pride and rebellion chose his own selfish ambitions, and thus unfitted himself for the work that God would have given him to do.”—Id., p. 295.
What a warning! His sins made him a complete failure. The same evangelists who tell of his ordination have left on record the statement that he was a betrayer. Luke speaks of him as a traitor. John goes even farther, recording the words of Jesus that he was a devil. John 6:70. A terrible biography this! and all because he clung to sin.
I have read that at Schuylerville, N. Y., on the ground where General Burgoyne surrendered in Revolutionary times, there stands a monument, beautiful and expensive. In a niche on one side is a figure of General Schuyler; on the other the figure of another general. On the third side in a similar niche is another general. The fourth niche is vacant. It is said that Benedict Arnold might have filled that niche had he not been a traitor.
The history of Judas is much like this. He might have been honored of God and approved through all eternity if he had only yielded his heart wholly to God; if by prayer, faith, and consecration he had gained the victory over his mean, covetous disposition. Instead he fills a niche in the monument of infamy for all time to come. He might have been true and faithful; but instead he stands convicted, by his words and by the clinking silver, as a betrayer of innocent blood, and must come forth to meet the fate of the impenitent at last.
He had every chance to be a better man. Jesus longed for his salvation. He was with the Saviour at the Last Supper. He came and mingled with the disciples even after he had bargained with the priests and scribes to betray the Master for a price. The Saviour washed his feet. Even at this late hour he might have confessed his sins, and yielded himself unreservedly to the Saviour, but he made a different choice. He turned from the prompting of the Spirit. He clung to his sins. Then he went out, and “it was night”—night outside, and night in his heart.
We read that after Judas received the sop, Satan entered into him. The figure is a strong one. It suggests that up to a certain time the deceiver had been as it were hovering over him, and by his insinuations causing him to fall beneath his power, perhaps occasionally. But now Judas reached the place where he surrendered himself wholly to Satan’s control. Then followed the betrayal, the traitor’s kiss, and later, despair and suicide.
Suppose instead of a hypocritical kiss Judas had thrown himself on the mercy of Jesus, had told him how he had sold him for a paltry sum, but that he repented now in sorrow, and asked forgiveness for every sin. How different the story would have been! He who came to save, who is able to reach to the uttermost depths and lift up lost souls, would have saved his disciple even then. But Judas did not do this. He clung to his sin, and lost all.
The experience of Judas contains a terrible warning for all, showing the danger of allowing any evil thing in the heart to control the life. Our only safety lies in breaking with sin, and welcoming into the heart the principles of righteousness. G. B. T.

About the Case of John James

By W. A. S.

Our “History of the Sabbath” gives the essential facts regarding the martyrdom of John James, one of the old-time Sabbath keepers of England. However, interest attaches to any historical statements regarding this matter, even though they may add no essential particulars.
The case of John James illustrates the ease with which religious intolerance makes use of political prejudice to bring accusations. Stirred by religious prejudice, the Jewish leaders brought political charges against Jesus in order to secure his condemnation. Just so those who found fault with the doctrinal teaching of John James made use of political charges to secure his condemnation.
Masson, in his ‘Life and Times of Milton,’ tells of the conditions of those days of 1661, following the collapse of the Commonwealth and the restoration of the monarchy in England under Charles II. After speaking of characteristic enactments to punish political leaders of the Commonwealth period—even bodies of some who had died being exhumed to hang on gibbets—Masson says:— “Equally symptomatic in another way had been the hanging, drawing, and quartering, on the twenty-sixth of December [November], 1661, of John James, a preacher of the ‘Seventh-day Baptist’ denomination, for what was called treasonable language in the pulpit. They wanted an example from among such preaching sectaries, and had dragged this poor man, as suitable for the purpose, out of his conventicle in one of the city alleys, where detectives had been catching his words.”—Vol. VI, p. 228.
In his trial, John James disavowed any sympathy whatever with the acts of Oliver Cromwell. Those who were not of the popular Puritan sects had by no means received any favors under that administration. But victims were demanded by the spirit of the times, and John James, with his Sabbatarian principles and his preaching of the coming of Christ’s everlasting kingdom, was taken. How churchmen looked at the matter is shown by the following from a pamphlet printed in 1661, entitled, ‘The Speech and Declaration of John James, a Weaver, in the Press Yard at Newgate, on Sunday Last.’ This apologist for government-regulated religion wrote:—
‘Blessed be the name of God forevermore, we have the word preached among us faithfully. We need not go into corners and holes to hear the word of our blessed Lord and Saviour taught. It abounds, through the great hand of Providence, in a most miraculous way, to all liege and loyal subjects, and the conduit pipes of heaven we see apparently opened, from whence descends the fountain of living water. God in his great mercy continue the powerful influence thereof. And if there be some (and I suppose too many) that have a design to soar beyond their capacities and undertakings, let them learn that good and Christian lesson of the holy apostles, Submit yourselves to the higher powers. . . .’
‘In one of their private conventicles at Whitechapel, on Saturday, Oct. 19, 1661, John James, a pretended preacher to that society, a silk weaver by trade [mind that], took his text out of the eighth psalm and second verse; the words these, ‘Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength, because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.’ From whence he raised several doctrines, which alluded to seditions and rebellions, as appeared by the testimony of some witnesses, who being then present, departed the place, and acquainted the next justice of the peace with it; upon which information the said justice sent for some officers, and immediately came to the place where this conventicle was, where they found the aforementioned John James in the full height of his seditious exercise.’
The chief witness who testified to hearing seditious sentiments was a “Mr. Tipler, a tobacco-pipe maker,” a man of thoroughly unreliable repute. Members of the congregation testified that they had never heard John James express the seditious sentiments which this man and other like witnesses claimed to have overheard.
The effort of Mrs. James to secure the intervention of King Charles II just before her husband’s execution, is thus told in Palgrave’s “State Trials,” under the year 1662:—
‘His wife, by advice of some friends, endeavored to make address to the king, to acquaint him with her husband’s innocency, and the condition of this loose person who had falsely accused him. . . . ‘With some difficulty at last she met the king as he came out of the park, going into the gallery [of St. James’s Palace], where she presented him with the paper, which on the back side was indorsed, ‘The humble request of Elizabeth James;’ acquainting him also by word who she was, to whom he, holding up his finger, said, ‘Oh, Mr. James—he is a sweet gentleman!’ but following him for some further answer, the door was shut against her; which was all she could obtain at that time. The next morning she came again to the same place, where she had not long been before the king came out of the gallery to go into the park, whom she followed down the stairs, imploring his answer toher request; he then replied ‘that he was a rogue, and should be hanged.’ One of the lords attending him asked her of whom she spoke; whereupon the king answered, ‘Of John James, that rogue: he shall be hanged, yea, he shall be hanged.’ And so she came away, satisfied in her conscience that what she had done was but her duty.”—Vol. III, p. 475.
Bogue, in his “History of the Dissenters,” adds, with reference to the king’s remark: “For once the king remembered his promise, and Mr. James was sent to join the noble army of martyrs.”—Vol. I, p. 155. W. A. S.

Patient unto the Coming of the Lord

By F. M. W.

REPEATEDLY in the Scriptures the church of Christ is exhorted patiently to wait for the coming of the Lord. The apostle James declares that in the same way as the husbandman waits for the maturing of his harvest, and “hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain,” so Christians also are to be patient, establishing their hearts, for the coming of the Lord draweth near. James 5:7, 8. The Master admonishes his followers to watch because they know not what hour the Lord will come. Matt. 24:42. He then cites the illustration of the good man of the house being surprised and overtaken by the thief because, not knowing at what hour the thief would come, he had neglected to keep faithful vigil, and then he draws this conclusion: “Be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”
Whether the coming here has particular reference to the coming of the Son of man to judgment as marked by the close of probation, or to his coming in the clouds of heaven, makes no particular difference. The two are so intimately connected that the principle is true as applied to either event. We cannot figure out by any method of calculation when the Lord will come. We cannot say with assurance that he will come next year, five years hence, or ten years hence. Nor is it proper that we should predict that the Lord will come within any specified period. Indeed, the Scriptures plainly declare, “Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”
The Master does give us certain signs by which we may know his coming is near. He tells us of phenomena which will be witnessed in the heavens, of conditions which will exist in the physical, social, political, industrial, and religious worlds. When we see these conditions existing, we may know that his coming is near, even at the door, the same as we may know that summer is near when we see the trees putting forth their leaves. We may even go so far in our assurance as to state, upon the authority of the Scriptures of truth, that the generation which sees these conditions shall not pass away till all things are fulfilled. Matt. 24:32-34; Luke 21:25-32. But it is not for us to seek to set the bounds of the generation. The Bible affords no definite data as to the exact length of a generation. And even if it did, there is no data by which we may tell when “this generation” spoken of by our Saviour in Matt. 24:34 definitely begins.
If we can be led to fix our eyes upon the time and to begin conjuring dates so that we shall forget the great purpose of the movement with which we are connected in the salvation of mankind, Satan will be well pleased. This was the temptation placed before the church of the first century. Their eyes were fastened upon the time of the kingdom rather than upon the work of the kingdom. And this was true even after the resurrection of the Lord. The disciples came to him and said, “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” The Saviour in his answer seeks to turn their minds away from the consideration of the time to the work he had given them to do. “He said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 2:6-8.
The lesson is for us who live today. The Master has given us a knowledge of the times in which we live. He has given us specific signs by which we may know that his coming is near; but he has not revealed the day nor the year nor the decade of his coming. He has revealed only the generation, and he has given us no data by which we may determine its exact beginning. We only know this, that we are living in the generation of which he speaks, and that men and women living on the earth today will behold the coming of the King in majesty and power. Let us not seek to go beyond that which is written, and make predictions which may bring to us at a future time confusion and shame.
By no course of reasoning or of conduct are we to say, even in our hearts, “My Lord delayeth his coming.” Let us be careful not to be drawn into the false security of this deception. The signs of that great day are rapidly fulfilling all around us. The great prophetic periods pointing to Christ’s return have nearly all reached their complete fulfilment. It is our privilege to lift up our eyes and rejoice, knowing that our redemption draweth nigh; knowing that those connected with this movement—those who have begun the work of restoration—will live to finish the work. Zech. 4:9. This confidence should prove our joy, and should bring into our lives inspiration and earnestness.
The only way we can hasten the coming of the Lord is by hastening the performance of the work committed to us. In our love for souls, in our eagerness to win them for God, let us learn to love the labor rather than the resting, even as the Lord Jesus in his love for humanity preferred a life of suffering to the glory of heaven, in order that he might be able to ransom lost men and women. Let us be patient unto the coming of the Lord, rejoicing in the work which he gives us to do. F. M. W.

Adventist Work in Szechuan, China

ELDER F. A. ALLUM reports from Szechuan, China: “In spite of difficulties, God’s Spirit is gathering out from the darkness of heathenism persons who, we think, are going through to the kingdom of God. A church is being built up which will, we believe, stand the ‘test of fire.’ Our present church membership is fourteen. This number could have been much larger had we baptized all who were desirous of baptism, but we have tried to receive into the church only those who manifest that the Spirit of God is working upon their hearts and changing their lives. Another class, of perhaps six or seven, will shortly go forward in baptism. None of these have been members of any other church, but are those who formerly bowed down to heathen idols. We have recently secured a new chapel, in the center of Chungking, on a very busy street. Day by day the hall has been crowded to its utmost capacity with interested listeners. As we have appealed to them to give their hearts to God and receive salvation through Christ’s atoning sacrifice, many have given in their names, stating that they were desirous of studying further the gospel message. We hope to see some become true, loyal Christians. We have chapels in two other towns where good interests are being developed.”

Central European Union Conference Report

The Central European Union Conference, which comprises the very heart of Europe, including German Switzerland, southern Germany, and Austria (except Galicia), received into fellowship last year 723 members, increasing its membership to 4,414. The tithe amounted to more than £10,600.

Baptisms in Japan

Fifty persons were baptized in Japan last year, and added to the twelve churches in that field.

German Church Organized in Los Angeles

A GERMAN church of twelve members who has been organized in Los Angeles, Cal.

Life-Blessings Unnumbered

By Worthie Harris Holden

WORTHIE HARRIS HOLDEN
DROP by drop the rain descending Brightens, livens everything; In the scale of worth ’tis lending Tons of blossoms to the spring.
Grain by grain the sands are drifting All unseen beside the sea, But a mount is slowly lifting By the tide of years for me.
Sun-kissed clouds adorn each morning, Bowers veil the noontide ray, Evening flaunts its regal warning, Closing the accounts of day.
So unmeted and unnumbered Come life-blessings, one by one, Reckoned not till they are sundered At the setting of the sun.
Lo, thy cup is overflowing! See each laden moment bear Treasures, far beyond thy knowing,— Tokens of the Father’s care.

A Short Sermon

By H. A. St. John

H. A. ST. JOHN
“Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not at the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.” Judges 5:23.
Why? What had Meroz done?—Nothing. Cursed bitterly for doing nothing! Its inhabitants would not hearken to the call of the Lord to come up to his help against the foes of Israel. Probably their proximity to the scene of conflict, or the opportunity they had of rendering some special assistance, made their refusal peculiarly blameworthy.
We have come to the time when the true Israel of God are entering upon the last conflict with all their mighty foes, with the powers of darkness. This final struggle will be short, but sharp and severe. The Lord is now calling upon every true Israelite to come up to his help against the mighty. Those who come not up, who heed not the call, but remain indifferent and lukewarm, will be cursed bitterly in the end, when there will be no chance to reform, no time to redeem the past. Such can have no part in the final triumph of the true Israel of God.
But how can you come up to the Lord’s help against the mighty?—By consecrating body, soul, and spirit to the Lord as a living sacrifice. Cleanse yourselves from “all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” Be filled with the Holy Spirit; then you will be filled with divine love and light and truth; then you will be burning and shining lights in the world, living temples of the living God; then you will have come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty. Then he can and will use you as efficient instruments in closing up his work triumphantly and gloriously. That triumph and glory will be eternal, and in it you will share.
Hasten, dear reader, to find your place in the Lord’s glorious cause, and maintain it until you hear the inspiring words, “Well done.” Then you will enter into the joys of the Lord, to be with him and with all the redeemed saints forever.
Sanitarium, Cal.
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