Review and Herald, Vol. 85, No. 47. (11/19/1908)

Review and Herald

Nov 19, 1908

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 19, 1908

Gospel Charts in China

A Chinese Evangelist With Book-Stand and Chart

This is Evangelist Wun, who acts as preacher and colporteur in the province of Honan. The Chinese are attracted by a picture, and will listen for a long time to an address in explanation of its meaning. Taking advantage of this fact, our workers have prepared a series of charts illustrating gospel truths.

LIBERTY

By Editor

The Official Organ of the Religious Liberty Bureau

The Issue for the Fourth Quarter Now Ready

This number strongly presents the whole question of religious liberty in the light of present developments in the nation; it deals with the contest now going on in Missouri over moral and religious legislation, in which over six thousand gospel ministers have taken an active part.

It points out the significance of the discussion, during the recent presidential campaign, of the question of the religious views of the leading candidates, giving in full President Roosevelt’s vigorous letter of protest against raising the question of a man’s religion when considering his qualification for any public office.

It especially emphasizes the danger that confronts the people should the Johnston Sunday bill, already passed by the Senate, become a law.

The way in which these and other events of religio-political significance are discussed makes Liberty, No. 4, a journal which can readily be sold. Now is the time to act in enlightening the people everywhere concerning these vital issues. Order now.

Prices

Single copy, 10 cents; 25 or more copies, 4 cents. Special rates to agents on lots of 500 or 1,000. Write for special terms on large quantities. Address—

LIBERTY

Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C.

Life and Health

By Editor

December, 1908

THE November edition of Life and Health was so quickly exhausted that it became necessary to issue the December number earlier than usual.

The special feature of this number is a portrayal of the evils of narcotics and stimulants. This subject is so interestingly and convincingly presented that no offense will be given to persons addicted to the use of such drugs.

In addition to this matter there are most helpful articles on the best methods of preventing disease. Dr. Kress forcibly presents the beneficial effects of proper breathing; and Dr. Sperry shows how all mental states influence to some extent the bodily functions.

The Department of Healthful Cookery and the Health Catechism deal with two essentials of life—bread and water.

The importance of placing this timely instruction in the hands of the greatest possible number of persons calls for a very large circulation of the December issue of Life and Health. Send in your orders!

Prices

Single copy, 10 cents; 25 or more copies, 4 cents. Special rates on large quantities. Write for terms to agents.

Editorial

A Sinner’s Prayer

HAVE mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness:

According to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity,

And cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions;

And my sin is ever before me.

Against thee, thee only, have I sinned,

And done that which is evil in thy sight;

That thou mayest be justified when thou speakest,

And be clear when thou judgest.

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity;

And in sin did my mother conceive me.

Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts;

And in the hidden part thou wilt make me to know wisdom.

Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean:

Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Make me to hear joy and gladness,

That the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

Hide thy face from my sins,

And blot out all mine iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God;

And renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from thy presence;

And take not thy Holy Spirit from me.

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation;

And uphold me with a willing spirit.

Then will I teach transgressors thy ways;

And sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation;

And my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness,

O Lord, open thou my lips;

And my mouth shall show forth thy praise.

For thou delightest not in sacrifice; else would I give it:

Thou hast no pleasure in burnt-offering.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit:

A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion:

Build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

Then wilt thou delight in the sacrifices of righteousness,

In burnt-offering and whole burnt-offering:

Then will they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

The Conquest of Prayer

By C. M. S.

OUR LORD, during his earthly ministry, taught his followers a lesson on prayer which can not be disregarded with safety. That lesson he taught by both precept and example. Those lonely nights in the wilderness, with no ear but that of the Father listening to his petition, brought spiritual refreshing and spiritual strengthening, without which even he, the Prince of heaven, could not have carried on to victory the warfare against Lucifer, or borne successfully to the cross the crushing load of this world's sin.

The victory of Christ was won through the power of persistent prayer, and there is no other channel of strength provided for those who would follow in his footsteps. Without that power, human weakness pits itself against the whole kingdom of darkness, and the result of the conflict is certain defeat for the human. Six thousand years of inherited weakness and tendency to sin, arrayed against six thousand years of experience; cunning practise on the part of Satan and his followers, leaves no question as to who will be victor in the individual struggle, unless the human contestant draws power from that Source to which our divine Example turned daily and hourly in his need.

From the beginning of human history to the present moment, two colors have been woven into the warp of man's experience,—a black and a white,—one representing Satan and his influence upon human hearts and lives, and the other representing Christ and his influence; and it has always been in man to choose which color shall dominate. But to choose the white, without laying hold of the power of heaven in prayer for strength to carry out the choice, is certain defeat. The black will dominate in spite of the choice. The tendencies to sin will thrive in such a spiritual atmosphere, the power of resistance will shrivel and waste away, and the world will see an example of a dissatisfied, disappointed, disheartened man, approving of the good, but powerless to do it; disgusted with sin, but practising it diligently; his eyes turned feebly in the direction of heaven, while his feet carry him steadily toward ruin.

It is against such a contingency that our Saviour warns us in the parable of the importunate widow: “He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” There is no alternative—a neglect of prayer means spiritual syncope. If we would be victors, we must not faint; if we would not faint, we must pray.

But prayer must be intelligent. A repetition of forms of expression is not prayer. The prayer-wheel of the Tibetan, which is supposed to utter a prayer every time it is turned over by the wind, is just as effectual as a prayer that consists in words only and repetition of stereotyped phrases. Such prayers lift no clouds of darkness, dispel no gloom, bring down no strength, win no victories. The true prayer is the soul's earnest expression of its actual and understood needs. This prayer goes straight up to the throne of God. The words of the other drop like clods on the coffin of a dead hope.

The Saviour condemned those who, “for a pretense make long prayers.” “These,” said he, “shall receive greater condemnation.” Mark 12:40. Such, pretending to be in communion with

God, were, in reality, seeking by the very attitude of prayer, to impress the people with their sanctity, that they might the more easily carry out their schemes of robbery. Such persons were literally stealing the livery of heaven to serve the devil in. If our purpose in public prayer is anything else than to glorify God and present the needs of his children, we stand condemned. The prayer of pretense is heard only to record judgment against us. It were better not to pray than to utter such a prayer. The true prayer brings us into harmony with God's purpose, and makes it possible for him to work in us and through us.

There is one thing that will always stand as an effectual barrier against the answer of our prayers, and that is iniquity nurtured in the heart. The psalmist says: “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.” Iniquity and righteousness can not tenant together in the same dwelling. When we harbor iniquity, we bid righteousness go, and it is the prayer of the righteous that the Lord promises to hear. This includes every soul that has accepted Christ's righteousness; otherwise there would be no prayers from earth heard in heaven, for we read: “In thy sight no man living is righteous.” Ps. 143:2. When we come before the throne of God, pleading forgiveness in the name of Jesus Christ, God sees us through his righteousness, and counts us righteous. Then the hunger of the soul for divine strength and grace is satisfied, the prayer is answered. “The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working.” James 5:16. That assurance fits a prayer thus offered. Sin confessed, and a suppliant appearing before the throne of grace in Jesus' name, pleading for the supplying of the soul's needs,—these are the conditions which make prayers answerable; and such communion with heaven arms and strengthens the soul for every conflict with the powers of sin. Thus armed and thus strengthened, our victory is assured. While nothing pleases Satan better than to see men pouring out prayers of pretense, thoughtless mouthings of words and phrases, there is nothing that so quickly puts him to flight as an earnest soul in frequent communion with heaven.

C. M. S.

This Year's Prayer Season

By W. A. S.

THINGS actually done in heaven and on earth, is the meaning of the prayer of faith. More people and more languages than ever before will unite in the coming week-of-prayer season. And something very special in heaven and on earth is to be looked for now.

The Lord puts in the mouths of his people in the very last days this prayer for the finishing of the work:— “Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. . . . Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over?”

The Lord responds to this cry: “Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem.” Then the answer to the prayer is promised: “The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.”

This we must see now, and in ever-enlarging measure. A whole people is called to unite, in the assembly and in the closet, in seeking God for the revelation of this arm of might. No activity in effort or in gifts can take the place of prayer. Only the power of God can cleave the way of this advent movement through the seas of peoples and tongues that lie between us and the promised land.

The tendency of the time is to anything rather than prayer. But let us make this coming season truly a week of prayer. Something is done when a church spends an hour in earnest and specific prayer to God, for one another, for the backslider or unconverted, for the conference, and for the mission fields.

It has always been that as the church prayed on earth, the power of heaven has been revealed. World-changes have come. Deliverances have been wrought. The church has been revived. The cause of truth has triumphed over difficulties. From many a far corner of the earth, thoughts will turn toward the home churches at this prayer season; and every missionary, if he could, would repeat to the believers the words that Paul sent to the church in Rome: “I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God.”

W. A. S.

A Good Preparation for a Great Work

By Arthur Grosvenor Daniells

ALL arrangements for the Thanksgiving campaign work are now completed, and this is the last opportunity we shall have to say a word through the REVIEW regarding this important work:

At this writing we have received orders for four hundred thousand copies of the REVIEW, and they are still pouring in. We have increased our order to the Review and Herald Publishing Association to five hundred thousand. Every day wagon-loads of the Thanksgiving number are being taken to the post-office.

Besides getting this good number of the REVIEW out at an early date, many letters have been written to conference and church officers, to ministers and to the leaders in our educational, medical, publishing, Sabbath-school, religious liberty, and young people's work. An excellent and timely appeal from Sister White has been sent to all our churches. Many stirring articles have appeared in our union and local conference papers.

At the General Conference Office we have done all that we have known how to do to make this Thanksgiving effort a real success. Many prayers have been offered to our Father in heaven for the success of this plan; and we should all continue to pray the Lord to give us special help.

While all should be very earnest in their endeavors to place this number in the hands of the people, and to secure gifts to missions, all should be careful not to annoy any one. Let all pray continually for wisdom to know just what to do in every case. Let all be modest and courteous, that a good impression may be left. We want all who get the paper, and who contribute, to feel blessed thereby.

We solicit reports from all who meet with special favors and experiences. Send them to D. W. Reavis, Takoma Park, D. C.

And now may the presence of the Lord be with his people to give them abundant success.

A. G. DANIELLS.

Religious Liberty in Russia

It is one thing to promise liberty; it is sometimes another thing to fulfil the promise. Religious liberty has been proclaimed in Russia; but it now appears that there are at least exceptions to the rule. The following paragraph testifies to this:—

The Russian government is still backward, and fears to grant religious liberty, lest people take advantage of it to leave the church in larger numbers. Rev. Samuel Wilkinson, of Mildmay Mission, writes that the gospel meetings for Jews in Odessa have been stopped by order of the governor of that city. This is after many months of undisturbed gatherings, in which many Jews have found Christ as their Saviour. Extensive alterations of the premises have been made to accommodate larger audiences, and a school was opened for the children of converts. Now comes the order to close the meetings! This and a similar prohibition at the recent Stundist convention at Kieff indicate that, though there is increasing liberty for gospel testimony in Russia, the era of true liberty has not yet come.

So far as we have learned, our own workers in Russia are permitted to preach the gospel freely, and for this we should be thankful. Nevertheless, we desire the same privileges for others that we seek for ourselves.

Readings for the Week of Prayer

By Ellen G. White

To Be Read in all the Churches in the United States

December 12-19, 1908

_Preparing for Heaven_

_MRS. E. G. WHITE_

_(Reading for Sabbath, December 12)_

“And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.” Zech. 3:1-3.

Here we find a representation of the people of God of to-day. As Joshua stood before the angel, “clothed with filthy garments,” so we stand in the presence of Christ, clothed in garments of unrighteousness. Christ, the angel before whom Joshua stood, is now interceding for us before his Father, as he is here represented as interceding for Joshua and his people who were in deep affliction; and Satan now, as then, stands by to resist his efforts.

Ever since his fall, it has been the work of Satan to oppose Christ’s efforts to redeem the race. In the Bible he is called an accuser of the brethren. It is said that he accuses them before God day and night. Pointing to their sins, as he did to the filthy garments of Joshua, he says: “They profess to be thy children; but they do not obey thee. See the traces of sin upon them. They are my property.”

This is the argument that he employs concerning God’s people in all ages. He pleads their sinfulness as the reason why Christ’s restraining power should not hold him back from exercising his cruelty upon them to its fullest extent. But to the accuser of his people the Saviour says, “The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; . . . is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? Have I not thrust my own hand into the fire to gather this brand from the burning?”

So long as the people of God preserve their fidelity to him, so long as they cling by living faith to Jesus, they are under the protection of heavenly angels, and Satan will not be permitted to exercise his hellish arts upon them to their destruction. But those who separate themselves from Christ by sin are in great peril. If they continue to disregard the requirements of God, they know not how soon he may give them over to Satan, and permit him to do to them according to his will. There is, therefore, the greatest necessity of keeping the soul free from defilement, and the eye single to the glory of God; of thinking soberly and watching unto prayer continually.

Satan is now more earnestly engaged in playing the game of life for souls than at any previous time; and unless we are constantly on our guard, he will establish in our hearts, pride, love of self, love of the world, and many other evil traits. He will also use every possible device to unsettle our faith in God and in the truths of his Word. If we have not a deep experience in the things of God, if we have not a thorough knowledge of his Word, we shall be beguiled to our ruin by the errors and sophistries of the enemy. False doctrines will sap the foundations of many, because they have not learned to discern truth from error. Our only safeguard against the wiles of Satan is to study the Scriptures diligently, to have an intelligent understanding of the reasons of our faith, and faithfully to perform every known duty. The indulgence of one known sin will cause weakness and darkness, and subject us to fierce temptation.

Joshua is represented as pleading with the Angel. Are we engaged in the same work? Are our supplications ascending to God in living faith? Are we opening the door of the heart to Jesus, and closing every means of entrance to Satan? Are we daily obtaining clearer light, and greater strength, that we may stand in Christ’s righteousness? Are we emptying our hearts of all selfishness, and cleansing them, preparatory to receiving the latter rain from heaven?

Now is the time when we are to confess and forsake our sins, that they may go beforehand to judgment and be blotted out. Now is the time to “cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” It is dangerous to delay this work. Satan is even now seeking by disasters upon sea and land to seal the fate of as many as possible. What is the defense of the people of God at this time?—It is a living connection with heaven. If we would dwell in safety from the noisome pestilence, if we would be preserved from dangers seen and unseen, we must hide in God; we must secure the protecting care of Jesus and holy angels. In these days of peril, the Lord would have us walk before him in humility. Instead of trying to cover our sins, he would have us confess them, as Joshua confessed the sins of ancient Israel. We profess to be the depositaries of God’s law. We profess to be building up “the old waste places,” and to be raising up “the foundations of many generations.” If this great and solemn work has indeed been committed to us, how important that we depart from all iniquity!

The third angel’s message is to lighten the earth with its glory; but only those who have withstood temptation in the strength of the Mighty One will be permitted to act a part in proclaiming it when it shall have swelled into the loud cry.

As the intercession of Joshua was accepted, the command was given to those that stood by, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And unto Joshua the Angel said, “Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. . . . So they set a fair miter upon his head, and clothed him with garments.” Even so will all those who come to Jesus in penitence and faith receive the robe of Christ’s righteousness.

As we approach the perils of the last days, the temptations of the enemy become stronger and more determined. Satan has come down in great power, knowing that his time is short; and he is working “with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish.” The warning comes to us through God’s Word that, if it were possible, he would deceive the very elect.

Wonderful events are soon to open before the world. The end of all things is at hand. The time of trouble is about to come upon the people of God. Then it is that the decree will go forth forbidding those who keep the Sabbath of the Lord to buy or sell, and threatening them with punishment, and even death, if they do not observe the first day of the week as the Sabbath.

“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” By this we see the importance of having our names written in the book of life. All whose names are registered there will be delivered from Satan’s power, and Christ will command that their filthy garments be removed, and that they be clothed with his righteousness. “And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.”

In the time of trouble, Satan stirs up the wicked, and they encircle the people of God to destroy them. But he does not know that “pardon” has been written opposite their names in the books of heaven. He does not know that the command has been given, “Take away the filthy garments” from them, clothe them with “change of raiment,” and set “a fair miter” upon their heads.

If we could only see the many dangers from which we are daily preserved by the holy angels, instead of complaining of our trials and misfortunes, we would talk continually of the mercies of God. How precious in the sight of God are his people!

The exhortation of the prophet is, “Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you.” “Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger.”

In view of what is soon to come upon the earth, I entreat you, brethren and sisters, to walk before God in all meekness and lowliness of mind, remembering the care that Jesus has for you. All the meek of the earth are exhorted to seek him. Those who have wrought his judgments are to seek him. Let self break in pieces before God. It is hard to do this; but we are warned to fall upon the rock and be broken, else it will fall upon us, and grind us to powder. It is to the humble in heart that Jesus speaks; his everlasting arms encircle them, and he will not leave them to perish by the hands of the wicked.

A GERMAN-SAXON SABBATH-KEEPING FAMILY IN TRANSYLVANIA, HUNGARY

What is it to be a Christian?—It is to be Christlike; it is to do the works of Christ. Some fail on one point, some on another. Some are naturally impatient. Satan understands their weakness, and manages to overcome them again and again. But let none be discouraged by this. Whenever little annoyances and trials arise, ask God in silent prayer to give you strength and grace to bear them patiently. There is a power in silence; do not speak a word until you have sent up your petition to the God of heaven. If you will always do this, you will soon overcome your hasty temper, and you will have a little heaven here to go to heaven in.

God wants his people to cleanse their hands and purify their hearts. Will it make them unhappy to do this? Will it bring unhappiness into their families if they are kind and patient, courteous and forbearing?—Far from it. The kindness they manifest toward their families will be reflected upon themselves. This is the work that should be carried forward in the home. If the members of a family are not prepared to dwell in peace here, they are not prepared to dwell in the family that shall gather around the great white throne. Sin always brings darkness and bondage; but right-doing will bring peace and holy joy.

The work of overcoming is a great work. Shall we take hold of it with energy and perseverance? Unless we do, our “filthy garments” will not be taken from us. We need never expect that these will be torn from us violently; we must first show a desire to rid ourselves of them. We must seek to separate sin from us, relying upon the merits of the blood of Christ; and then in the day of affliction, when the enemy presses us, we shall walk among the angels. They will be like a wall of fire about us; and we shall one day walk with them in the city of God.

When tempted to sin, let us remember that Jesus is pleading for us in the heavenly sanctuary. When we put away our sins and come to him in faith, he takes our names on his lips, and presents them to his Father, saying, “I have graven them upon the palms of my hands; I know them by name.” And the command goes forth to the angels to protect them. Then in the day of fierce trial he will say, “Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee; hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.” What are the chambers in which they are to hide?—They are the protection of Christ and holy angels. The people of God are not at this time all in one place. They are in different companies, and in all parts of the earth; and they will be tried singly, not in groups. Every one must stand the test for himself.

There has never been a time when the people of God have had greater need to claim his promises than now. Let the hand of faith pass through the darkness, and grasp the arm of infinite power.

While we speak of the necessity of separating from sin, remember that Christ came to our world to save sinners, and that “he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him.” It is our privilege to believe that his blood is able to cleanse us from every spot and stain of sin. We must not limit the power of the Holy One of Israel. He wants us to come to him just as we are, sinful and polluted. His blood is efficacious. I entreat you not to grieve his Spirit by continuing in sin. If you fall under temptation, do not become discouraged. This promise comes ringing down along the line to our time: “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” I feel that for this one promise a continual song of thanksgiving ought to go forth from the lips of mortals. Let us gather up these precious jewels of promise, and when Satan accuses us of our great sinfulness, and tempts us to doubt the power of God to save, let us repeat the words of Christ, “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

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