Earlier text: CONTENTSAtlantic Union Conference
By I. H. EVANS
Received on the $150,000 Fund up to May 7, 1907
_Atlantic Union Conference_
Central New England ............... $1,823.79
Chesapeake ......................... 160.75
Eastern Pennsylvania ............... 904.25
Greater New York ................... 415.75
Maine .............................. 305.33
New Jersey ......................... 343.42
New York .......................... 1,019.17
Southern New England ............... 850.23
Vermont ............................ 733.06
Virginia ........................... 214.12
Western Pennsylvania ............... 699.83
West Virginia ...................... 189.07
Western New York ................... 920.02
Total ............................. $8,578.79 _Canadian Union Conference_
Maritime ........................... $281.43
Quebec .............................. 25.78
Ontario ............................ 254.49
Total .............................. $562.20 _Central Union Conference_
Colorado ........................... $ 877.19
Iowa .............................. 1,744.96
Kansas ............................ 1,201.03
Missouri ........................... 463.80
Nebraska .......................... 3,035.14
Wyoming ............................ 362.87
Total ............................. $7,684.99 Washington churches ............... $1,134.02 East Michigan ...................... $ 860.32
Indiana ........................... 3,214.52
North Michigan ...................... 66.23
Northern Illinois ................ 1,082.69
Ohio .............................. 2,658.61
Southern Illinois .................. 660.68
West Michigan ..................... 2,681.88
Wisconsin ........................ 1,451.37
Total ............................ $12,676.30 _North Pacific Union Conference_
Conference not specified .......... $ 315.30
British Columbia .................... 57.80
Montana ............................ 169.90
Upper Columbia ................... 1,195.37
Western Washington ................ 932.79
Idaho .............................. 829.90
Western Oregon ..................... 785.66
Total ............................. $4,286.72 _Northern Union Conference_
Alberta ............................ $ 81.90
Manitoba ........................... 238.70
Saskatchewan Mission Field .......... 34.85
Minnesota ........................ 3,079.50
South Dakota ...................... 2,104.10
North Dakota ...................... 1,527.62
Total ............................. $7,066.67 _Pacific Union Conference_
Arizona ............................ $ 166.87
California-Nevada ................. 2,743.26
Southern California ................ 321.94
Utah ................................ 111.01
Total ............................. $3,343.08 _Southern Union Conference_
South Carolina ..................... $ 58.99
Alabama ............................ 141.71
Tennessee River .................... 367.03
Florida ............................ 177.69
North Carolina ..................... 133.97
Kentucky ............................ 30.36
Cumberland ......................... 193.93
Louisiana .......................... 288.51
Mississippi ......................... 118.65
Georgia ............................ 146.55
Total ............................. $1,657.39 _Southwestern Union Conference_
Arkansas Tract Society ............. $ 213.14
Oklahoma ............................ 922.17
Texas ............................... 761.23
Indian Territory ..................... 3.00
Total ............................. $1,899.54 Unknown ............................ $149.20 Algeria ............................ $ 13.33
Australia .......................... 132.10
Bermuda ............................. 25.00
China ................................ 3.00
South Africa ....................... 128.16
Jamaica ............................. 13.41
Yukon Territory ..................... 10.00
England ............................ 256.32
Gold Coast, West Africa ............. 10.00
Mexico ............................... 1.50
Costa Rica ........................... 2.00
India ............................... 12.48
South America ....................... 23.35
Switzerland .......................... 5.81
Panama ............................... 4.00
Nicaragua ............................ 2.00
Trinidad .............................. .34
Central American Mission ............ 17.00
Norway ............................... 25.00
Japan ................................ 12.50
Hayti ................................. 5.00
Total ............................... $702.39 Elder J. M. Rees and wife (a thank-offering to the Lord to be credited to the $150,000 fund) ....$500.00 Grand Total ........................ $50,241.29 All remittances should be made to the treasurer of the State conference wherein the remitter resides. If, for any reason this is not possible, then remittance should be made to I. H. Evans, Treasurer, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C., and not to the Review and Herald Publishing Association. He Is Coming
By MRS. M. SOLLARS
THERE’S a message, solemn message,
To be given everywhere;
God is speaking to his servants,
“To the world my truth declare.” See! the harvest-time is nearing;
Gather in the golden grain.
He is coming, coming quickly,
As a king, in power to reign. Will you listen to his message,
In his loving, pleading tone,
Or in thunder notes receive it
From his awful judgment throne? He is coming, coming quickly;
Soon we’ll see him on his way.
Hear the message he is sending,
There will be no more delay. Unreserved Surrender
By Ellen G. White
God will accept nothing less than unreserved surrender. Half-hearted, sinful Christians can never enter heaven. There they would find no happiness; for they know nothing of the high, holy principles that govern the members of the royal family. The true Christian keeps the windows of the soul open heavenward. He lives in fellowship with Christ. His will is conformed to the will of Christ. His highest desire is to become more and more Christlike, that he may say with Paul: “I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Earnestly and untiringly we are to strive to reach God’s ideal for us. Not as a penance are we to do this, but as the only means of gaining true happiness. The only way to gain peace and joy is to have a living connection with him who gave his life for us, who died that we might live, and who lives to unite his power with the efforts of those who are striving to overcome. Holiness is constant agreement with God. Shall we not strive to be that which Christ so greatly desires us to be, — Christians in deed and in truth,— that the world may see in our lives a revelation of the saving power of truth? This world is our preparatory school. While here we shall meet with trials and difficulties. Continually the enemy of God will seek to draw us away from our allegiance. But while we cleave to him who gave himself for us, we are safe. The whole world was gathered into the embrace of Christ. He died on the cross to destroy him who had the power of death, and to take away the sin of every believing soul. He calls upon us to offer ourselves on the altar of service, a living, consuming sacrifice. We are to make an unreserved consecration to God of all that we have and are. In this lower school of earth we are to learn the lessons that will prepare us to enter the higher school, where our education will continue under the personal instruction of Christ. Then he will open to us the meaning of his word. Shall we not, in the few days of probation remaining to us, act like men and women who are seeking for life in the kingdom of God, even an eternity of bliss? We can not afford to miss the privilege of seeing Christ face to face, and of hearing from his lips the story of redemption. Shall we put our whole souls into the work of preparing for admission into the higher school, or shall we trifle away the gracious opportunity, wasting the months and years so rapidly passing into eternity? Our Responsibility and Our Great Need
By M. W. DE L'HORBE
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” We often read these words, and we read of the rapid progress of the message in all lands, how wonderfully all nations have been opened up for the entrance of the third angel’s message, and of the great work done by the various Bible societies in translating the Scriptures into nearly all languages and dialects, and scattering them “like autumn leaves” in every inhabited part of the globe. But some, while contemplating the work that has been done, are liable to lose sight of the work that is yet to be done before we shall be privileged to see our Saviour coming in the clouds of heaven. We are too apt to rest satisfied with the work that others are doing, while we forget that each one of us has part of this closing work assigned to him, and that the Lord will require us to give an account of our stewardship. It is true that we are living in the very last of the last days, and that “there shall be delay no longer;” true that we have accomplished as much in the last few years as in all the previous years, but it is also true that we have done but very little compared to the great work yet to be done. Nine tenths of the women of India never heard of a Saviour, and fewer still have had the opportunity of hearing the third angel’s message. Then there are the millions of China, Japan, Korea, Russia, Africa, South America, and the islands of the sea who are without hope and without God in the world. And all this work must be done, and must crowd the hour of setting sun. When we as a people are fully united and become of one heart and one soul, as were the believers in the time of the former rain, then the Lord can use us to do a quick work in the earth. What was the result of the former rain?—Thousands were converted in one day, the sick were healed, the blind received their sight, the lame walked, the deaf ears were opened, and the dumb were able to speak. In the short space of a few years, the gospel was carried to the uttermost parts of the inhabited world. Brethren and sisters, the time is at hand for the outpouring of the latter rain. And under its influence the work will be cut short in righteousness, and in a very short time the third angel’s message will be carried to every creature. We have the promise that the results of the latter rain will be greater than of the former. When thousands are converted in a day, and the Lord confirms the preaching with signs following, and we are scattered everywhere to preach the gospel, as were the believers in the days of the former rain, then converts will be seen flocking to the church from all parts of the earth. Then, dear brethren and sisters, let us begin now if we are not already doing so, to plead with the Lord to visit his people and quickly prepare us for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the power of the latter rain. In “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VIII, pages 20, 21, we read these words:— “To us to-day, as verily as to the first disciples, the promise of the Spirit belongs. God will to-day endow men and women with power from above, as he endowed those who on the day of Pentecost heard the word of salvation. At this very hour his Spirit and his grace are for all who need them and will take him at his word. . . . Let Christians put away all dissension, and give themselves to God for the saving of the lost. Let them ask in faith for the promised blessing, and it will come.” What precious promises these are for us to-day! May the dear Lord help us to put away all dissension, and fully surrender ourselves and all that we have and are to him for service, living up to the light he has given us on health reform, that our bodies may be fit temples for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Now let us read Rom. 1:14-16, making a personal application of this scripture: “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” To whom am I a debtor? What is the debt that I owe? How can I best pay this debt? To whom shall I pay it?9 When man fell from his sinless state and yielded himself to the power of Satan, he also mortgaged, or forfeited, the dominion of this earth which God had given him, and became subject to death. But God’s compassion was stirred, and he covenanted to give his only begotten Son to die in man’s stead, and to restore the lost dominion. So Christ died, and thus assumed the mortgage, or paid the debt for us, and became our creditor, and we are debtors to him. But Christ has ordained that we pay the debt by giving this precious gospel which he has intrusted to us, to the world. So he tells us in this text that we are debtors to the world: “both to the Greeks, and to the barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.” This statement includes every person living in the world. Christ gave the commission to his disciples, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15. So, the gospel is not only to go to every nation in this generation, but to every creature in every nation. Paul tells us that the debt we owe is the preaching of the gospel, and he again states the same fact in 1 Cor. 9:16, and he there teaches that he is not making any sacrifice when preaching the gospel, but only paying his debt. “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel.” We will leave the last two questions to be prayerfully considered by the reader. If any who read this article have not read “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VIII, the writer earnestly requests them to do so, as it contains important instruction for the church at this time. Especially please read in connection with this article the two chapters entitled, “Our Responsibility” and “The Power Promised.”
Toronto Junction, Ontario. The State of the Dead
By Arthur L. Manous
What saith the Scriptures concerning those who are asleep? “I would not have you to be ignorant,” says Paul, “concerning them which are asleep.” 1 Thess. 4:13. “The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence.” Ps. 115:17. “Man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?” Job 14:10. “His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” Ps. 146:4. “For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?” Ps. 6:5. “So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.” Job 14:12. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” Eccl. 9:10. “The grave can not praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit can not hope for thy truth. The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day.” Isa. 38:18, 19. “The living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything: . . . their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun.” Eccl. 9:5, 6. “Men and brethren,” says Peter, “let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day.” “For David is not ascended into the heavens.” And the patriarch Job adds, “So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor we raised out of their sleep.” Acts 2:29, 34; Job 14:12. “If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. . . . For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4:14-17. Short Sermons on the Ten Commandments
By W. A. MC CUTCHEN
“Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” Ex. 20:12. Here we enter upon the second table of the decalogue. The first four commandments, contained in the first table of the law, all relate to man's duty to God; the last six, embraced in the second table, show man's relations to his fellow man. And how appropriate that this division of the law be introduced by dealing with the closest relation that can exist between God's created intelligences on earth—that of parents and children. Just as the first command of the first table makes the Heavenly Father first in the domain of worship, so the first commandment of the second table makes the earthly father and mother first in the domain of human relationships. On the two principles of love to God and love to fellow man “hang all the law,” hence it is divided into these two divisions which show the two relations. One or two instances of the use of the term “honor” in the Scriptures will show what it is to honor parents: “Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase.” Prov. 3:9. “If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways,” etc. Isa. 58:13. From these scriptures we see that to honor God is to give unto him that which is his due. God claims the Sabbath and the tithe as his, and shows us in the passages already quoted that by rendering each to him we honor him. Likewise the child honors his parents by rendering to them that which is their due. And what is due the parents from the child? Certainly respect, reverence, and obedience are due them; and that, too, just as long as the child has parents, though he should be grown up and have children himself. Just as long as our parents live, they are our parents, and we their children, and the obligation to honor them rests upon us to the very end of their lives. This raises the very important question, “Is there no limitation to the obligation to honor parents in obedience?” There is just one limitation in this matter, and only one, and a hint of it is given in connection with Paul's quotation of this commandment in Eph. 6:1, 2: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise.” “Obey your parents in the Lord.” That carries with it the idea that if the parents are not “in the Lord” and require something of the child who has arrived at the years of personal responsibility which he knows is contrary to God's will and requirements, then the child's duty to obey the parent in that thing ceases. As long as the child is too young to have a knowledge of right and wrong, the parent must act for him, but there comes a time when the child becomes personally responsible to God for his acts; and when that point is reached, and the parent requires him to disobey God, his duty is then to the Heavenly Father first. As long as the earthly father is in harmony with the Heavenly Father, there will be no conflict of authority; but when there is a conflict, the authority of the Heavenly Father must take the precedence, just as it is the bounden duty of every citizen to obey the laws of the country in which he lives, even though they be oppressive, until those laws come in conflict with the higher law of God. When that point is reached, we, in the language of the apostles who had been forbidden by the authorities to preach Christ, are to say: “We ought to obey God rather than man” (Acts 5:28, 29), and act upon it. This shows there is a limitation to civil authority, and that it is reached when it touches (in conflict) the higher authority of God: so there is a limit to parental authority, which is likewise reached when it touches in the same way the same higher law, and is bounded by it. Let this point be well considered and understood. I do not wish to be regarded as encouraging rebellion and10disloyalty on the part of children. This in a degenerate age, in which children are “disobedient to parents,” does not need any encouragement in that direction, and certainly God's law gives none. There is altogether too much disregard of parental authority now, and I would not lay the weight of a straw on the side of lessening the force of God's command against this sin. It is a very delicate matter to talk of the limitations of parental authority at all, for fear that some unregenerate heart, despising restraint, will seek to take advantage of it, and construe it into what is not meant; but candor and a conscientious dealing with the question compel the statements made in this connection. It is only when a principle is involved, however, that disobedience to the requirements of an ungodly parent is ever justifiable. When no principle is at stake, and the boy or girl is not required to compromise the truth or right in disobeying God, and life is not made positively unendurable or endangered, the parents' requirements are to be respected and obeyed, even though they might seem harsh, unjust, or unreasonable. But when a question of adherence to God's law is involved, then the Christian child can only take the alternative of regretfully disobeying its parent. Sad as this is, there will sometimes come to pass the words of Christ: “A man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.” Matt. 10:36, 37. Paul tells us that this fifth “is the first commandment with promise.” The promise in it is “that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee;” or, as Paul puts it in quoting the commandment, that “thou mayest live long on the earth.” Eph. 6:2, 3. Whether this refers to living long upon this earth, or upon the “new earth,” which is to be the place of final and perpetual abode of God's people, it is equally true that honoring father and mother has an important bearing upon the question in either case. It contributes to the longevity of children, and consequently of the race, in this world, from the fact that parents, who have the welfare of their children at heart more than any others could have, restrain them from indulgences and excesses that would affect their health and shorten their days, and warn them against dangers that menace their lives. In honoring the parents by regarding the instructions given them, they are saved from disease and death that would many times ensue sooner but for this obedience. But if we apply this promise over in the world to come, where the rewards and penalties for the keeping or failure to keep the commandments are really meted out to all, it loses none of its force or truthfulness, nor its interest to the child of God. And one strong reason which lends strength to this latter view is the fact that God did not give Abraham nor his seed any of this world, “not so much as to set his foot on,” but they sojourned in the land as in a “strange country,” and looked to the world beyond for the fulfilment of the promise and for the “land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” Rom. 4:13; Acts 7:1-5; Heb. 11:8-13. The question may be asked, Then if this promise refers to the future where the life is to be unending, why the expression “that thy days may be long upon the land,” etc., as if to indicate that though the days of the beneficiaries of this promise would be lengthened out, yet they would come to an end? “If it refers to the days to be spent in the new earth,” says the questioner, “why not say they shall be eternal, and not simply ‘long’?” In answer to this I quote Isa. 65:22: “They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.” Here we have the word “long” used in a promise and with reference to a condition which we know has its application and fulfilment in the new earth. If the latter view here suggested is the correct one, then the “long” days of the fifth commandment refer to the same period mentioned in Isa. 65:22. The Lord grant that it may be our happy lot to enjoy them. “Plowshares and Pruning-Hooks”
By K. C. RUSSELL
The above is the title of an editorial in the Post, of Washington, D. C., bearing date of March 28, 1907. It appears that there was an interview between Dr. Sol. C. Dickey, president of the Technical Institution of Indianapolis, and President Roosevelt, which ran as follows:— “The Technical Institute,” said Mr. Dickey to the President, “is a place where we teach young men to beat swords into plowshares.” “But your young men should be taught also to beat plowshares into swords,” replied Mr. Roosevelt. The sentiments expressed by the educator and the commander-in-chief of the army and navy are not entirely harmonious. The idea conveyed in the passage from Holy Writ is that when swords are beaten into plowshares, the nations shall learn war no more. Toward that glorious consummation the tendency of the nations, while extremely slow, is sure, for it must come as the inevitable result of the continuous human progress. The first decade of the twentieth century of Christianity finds the Christian nations ardently professing Christianity, but all of them infinitely removed from any appearance of following Christ’s teachings as to peace. War and preparations for war constitute the chief interest of all the great powers, and consume a very large portion of the earning capacity of mankind.” It is interesting to note the comments which are made by the editor of the Post in the foregoing. He says, “Toward that glorious consummation [when swords are beaten into plowshares] the tendency of the nations, while extremely slow, is sure.” He further states the existence of a condition of things in direct opposition to the one previously mentioned. “The first decade of the twentieth century of Christianity finds the Christian nations ardently professing Christianity, but all of them infinitely removed from any appearance of following Christ’s teachings as to peace. War and preparations for war constitute the chief interest of all the great powers, and consume a very large portion of the earning capacity of mankind.” This is indeed a paradox, and can be understood only by those who have been enlightened by the Holy Spirit, which has made plain the sure word of Bible prophecy. In Isa. 2:4 it will be found that the expression, “They shall beat their swords into plowshares,” is what the people will be saying in these last days, and the expression found in Joel 3:10, “Beat your plowshares into swords,” is what the Lord says the people will be doing just before the end. The foregoing editorial confirms the truthfulness of these prophetic statements, for it says on one hand that the time will come when the nations will learn war no more, and in counterdistinction to this glorious outcome referred to, it plainly says that a condition contrary to it exists. This peace and safety cry on one hand, and the vast preparation for war on the other, are both significant signs of the times which plainly teach us that the Lord is soon coming. How Are the Masses to Be Reached?
By S. N. HASKELL
In America there are thirty-six cities with over one hundred thousand inhabitants, and four with over one million inhabitants. How is the truth to reach these congested cities, so that every one will have sufficient light to decide intelligently? To give one an idea of these cities, we will state that a tent-meeting could be held every night in the year for four years in Chicago, with an audience of over one thousand every night, with an entirely new audience each night during the four years. In Greater New York with its millions, one could have an audience of one thousand every night in the year for over nine years without the same person ever attending twice. One can readily see from these figures that when an effort is made in a tent or a hall, for a few weeks, with an audience of a few hundred, it is only one drop in the great ocean of souls to be reached. Some will attend courses of lectures, and read books sold by agents, but the mass of people in our cities will do neither. How can they be reached? Watch them day by day, and see how they are reached. Stand on the street corner as the stores and offices are closing11some evening, and see what takes place as the people pour out into the streets to take the street-cars. Watch the swarm of newspaper sellers, young boys, old men and women, all as busy as bees selling papers. Watch the crowds after they fill the cars; those fortunate enough to get a seat are busy reading the papers just purchased, and from the pockets of those standing protrudes the daily paper, which will be read when they reach home. There are thousands and thousands who would never attend a course of lectures or read a large book, who will buy a paper containing the truth, and read it. The paper work is the work to reach the masses in the great cities. Our brethren in Great Britain and Australia are aware of this, and have been flooding their cities with papers filled with the truth for several years; but in America we have neglected our cities. The Lord has put it in the hearts of some to sell large quantities of papers in the cities, and God will bless the seed sown; but not a tithe has been done of what should be done in this kind of work. There should be hundreds in all our large cities selling the Signs of the Times, Watchman, Bible Training School, Life and Health, and Liberty. The one who will work faithfully, can earn good wages. There is nothing lost in delivering, for the papers are sold for cash. We have workers selling the Bible Training School who have made as high as sixteen dollars a day in clear profits. Any one can sell the papers, both young and old, and any one who has a love for souls and longs to do something for the Master can sell papers. God will water the seed sown, if the work is done for his dear sake. One of our paper sellers in her first day's work felt very timid; she called at many of the business offices late in the afternoon, and just finished selling her papers as the offices were closing. "I fear those men will throw the papers in the waste-paper baskets," she thought as she started home weary and worn. Just then she noticed a blue Bible Training School peeping out of the coat pocket of a gentleman passing by. She then began to watch for the blue paper in the pockets of the passers-by, and came home feeling quite happy, confident that God would watch over the seed she had sown. But even if the papers are cast aside, it may be to reach some one who could be reached in no other way. While we were laboring in Oakland, one of the workers was surprised to have a woman where he called for the first time, bring out a soiled copy of the Bible Training School. The woman said she had picked it up in the streets one night some months before. She had read it and loaned it to a friend, and they were both anxious to subscribe for a year. We need intelligent men and women to sell papers containing the truth, in all our large cities; workers who will be ready always to give to every man that asketh them a reason of their hope, with meekness and fear; men and women of good address, who will command respect as they mingle among the people. Paper sellers working in the business portions of the large cities, come in contact with intelligent, thinking people, the very cream of the cities. To meet this class of people, we need God-fearing men and women, those whose love for souls overcomes all false pride. No work is small that wins souls. The consecrated paper seller in our crowded cities is sowing seed broadcast, which will bear an abundant harvest of souls in the great gathering day. There are scores of our sisters, both young and old, staying in their homes week after week, who could go out and sell thousands of papers, if they would step out by faith, and let the Lord help them. The disciple who ventured to walk out upon the water, felt the Saviour's hand holding him securely as he walked by the side of his Master upon the billows. Peter, by venturing out upon the water, gained an experience that those who remained in the boat never dreamed of. Those who will make an effort to scatter rays of light, and are willing to do any work, however small it may seem, will be blessed of the Lord. Guilty of All
By A. J. BRISTOL
When the binding claims of God's law are brought home to individuals, especially the necessity of obedience to the Sabbath commandment, we sometimes hear persons ask if it is reasonable to suppose that God will bar them from heaven for not keeping the day he commanded when they are doing everything else which a Christian is supposed to do. It is not always sufficient to quote to such persons the plain statement of James, that “whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” In order to show the unity of that law, and that every wrong act is literally a violation of every one of its ten precepts, let us consider the transgression of our first parents. From the statement that “the woman saw that the tree was . . . to be desired to make one wise,” it is evident that she broke the tenth command, which forbids coveting. No one will deny that in taking the forbidden fruit they both were guilty of stealing,—a violation of the eighth commandment. In believing the word of the tempter instead of God's word, they surely were not obedient to that first word of the law which forbids having any other god before Jehovah; for “to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey.” Rom. 6:16. And while we have no record that an image of Satan was set up within the gates of Eden, yet it is certain that they had “set up their idols in their heart,” and were, in spirit at least, breakers of the second commandment. By seconding Satan's lie about God's purposes concerning them, they bore false witness and added the ninth commandment to the list of those broken in that one act of transgression. As “sons of God,” they were guilty of a most flagrant violation of that fifth commandment, which enjoins honor to parents. In their innocence it was proper for them to bear the name of God, who was their father, for we read in Luke 3:38 that Adam was the son of God; but by their disobedience they proved that they were taking that “name in vain.” The third commandment was broken. In reference to the violation of the seventh commandment we read in “Early Writings” that Eve “first erred in wandering from her husband,” and was led to talk familiarly with another than the companion whom God had given her. They were both guilty of breaking that close union existing between God and his true people, which he frequently calls that of husband and wife. “Ye adulterers and adulteresses,” God says to those who are in the “friendship of the world.” James 4:4. In transgressing the sixth commandment they not only were guilty of killing themselves, but the whole human family as well, for “by the trespass of the one the many died.” Rom. 5:15. And as “no man dieth to himself,” it is certain that sin unrepented of will not only cause us to die the second death, but will also cause us to drag down to perdition some soul whom we might have influenced to choose eternal life; for it is just as true that “none of us liveth unto himself.” By count we have now seen that every one of the commandments save the fourth was violated in Eden, and this is no exception. This Sabbath commandment, like all the others, is of continual obligation, and not, as some seem to think, applicable to only one day of the week. The command is to “remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” They surely did not “remember” that the Sabbath day was coming, and that to keep it holy they must of necessity remain holy themselves. But in forgetting God and his holy day they became violators of the Sabbath command as well as of every other precept of the decalogue. Truly their guilt was sufficient to warrant their expulsion from paradise. And “lest we forget” how serious an offense we commit by breaking a single one of the commandments, let us consider that in violating the Sabbath commandment we are guilty of coveting God's “holy day;” we have another god (our own will) before him; we set up the “idol” in our hearts; and, whatever our profession, we are, as shown above, “by swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery,” showing that we shall be “without excuse,” when at last in his presence we plead the “many wonderful works” done in his name. He will say to us then, “Ye do dishonor me.” “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Without God's Presence
By Lois Mathilda Buck
I AM a broken flower,
That hangs its bruised and drooping
head
Upon its stem. The dews at morn
That filled its fragrant cup are shed
Upon the ground. E'en so forlorn
I am without thee, God. I am a dying bird,
That beats its fluttering wings to
mount
Once more into the sparkling sky:
Its strained, white pinions yet but
count
Their strokes upon the dust. I die
E'en so with thee withdrawn. I am the low night wind—
That blowing through the cedars
wakes
In them a voice to mourn with sighs
For Lebanon, their home, where breaks
The dawn from Jehovah's watching
eyes—
When thou from me art gone. I am a mountain stream—
That frets its breast against the rocks,
And tears to foam its wounded sides
To find the ocean where there rocks
The fulness of the silent tides—
When thou art far, O God!
— Lois Mathilda Buck.