Statement and Appeal to Every Believer in the Third Angel’s Message
By General Conference Committee
With the full and certain confidence that the Seventh-day Adventist people have been raised up to do a work as the fulfillment of the sure word of prophecy, and with the earnest conviction that the time has come for a clear re-statement of the mission of this people, and how its work may be so conducted as to bring it to a speedy and triumphant conclusion, we present this statement and appeal. As it goes forth from the hearts of the General Conference Committee, we believe it will find a response in the hearts of God’s waiting people.
The coming of Christ has been the hope of the church in all time. A continuous effort has been made to pervert this blessed hope into the unscriptural teaching of a merely spiritual coming, or a coming at death; but there has always remained in the church a well-defined belief in the personal, visible coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory, and that this would mark the close of the reign of sin, the resurrection of the dead, and the final reward of the righteous.
In the history of God’s work in the earth, we find that there have been certain times when, under the Lord’s direct leading, great movements have been inaugurated for the accomplishment of God’s purpose in the furtherance of the message of the Saviour’s coming, and the deliverance of his people. These movements have usually been the subject of prophecy. Such were the deliverance from Egypt, the coming out of Babylon, and the first advent of our Lord.
Coming to a later period, we find that the time from the ascension of Christ to his second advent is covered by various lines of prophecy. These prophecies mark the onward march of events with such clearness and accuracy that the faithful student of the words of the prophets can with confidence apply each prediction to its definite place in the history, and say, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” The assurance that this movement is a fulfillment of prophecy is our ground of confidence concerning this people and their work.
The expiration of the prophetic periods in the books of Daniel and Revelation in this generation, and the appearance of those “signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars,” as predicted by the Saviour, bring us face to face with the fact that “he is near, even at the doors.” Then it is that the threefold message of Rev. 14: 6–12 must be given to the world as the final and supreme effort to save the unsaved from the wrath to come.
This threefold message is “the everlasting gospel” of salvation from sin through faith in a crucified and risen Lord. It is the gospel wholly freed from the perversions and traditions of “the man of sin,” so presented that it shall be
a convincing warning against the deadly errors of the papacy and apostate Protestantism. It is to deliver a people out of Babylon, and make “ready a people prepared for the Lord.” This is a definite work. It proclaims the hour of God’s judgment and the immediate personal coming of Christ in glory. It must preach this gospel of the kingdom “to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,” a world-wide sounding forth of “the voices of the prophets.”
Early Days of the Message
As in every such experience in the past, “when the time of the promise drew nigh,” the word of God came to some who were men and women of God’s opportunity, and they began to speak this word to the people. These were the early days of this message. Then such servants of God as Joseph Bates, James White, Mrs. E. G. White, J. N. Loughborough, J. H. Waggoner, J. N. Andrews, and Uriah Smith, in deep poverty, but uncompromising faith, laid the foundation for the work which has called out the Seventh-day Adventists as a separate people. They taught the speedy coming of Christ, as shown by the expiration of the prophetic periods, revived the confidence of advent believers by imparting the light upon the subject of the sanctuary and its cleansing, emphasized the unchangeable nature of God’s law, and the consequent obligation of the seventh-day Sabbath, and led in a movement to restore primitive Christianity in the church.
The history of other reform movements has been in a certain measure repeated. First a period of simplicity and power; then a period of rapid growth, with a tendency toward greater conformity to the other denominations; then a period of internal friction over doctrines and administrative methods, which has brought into the denomination and its work a sense of uncertainty, and a distinct weakening of the original advent faith. Doubts have been sown in public and private as to the truthfulness of the position of this people concerning the coming of the Lord, and as to the fact that they had any distinctive message to declare to the world. Many began to think, and some to say, “My Lord delayeth his coming.” This denomination became less weighted with the burden that they were debtors to the world to give them the last message of warning, and more weighted with the burden of financial debts, until the very life of the movement seemed to be threatened.
At the last General Conference a reform both in teaching and in administrative methods was called for, and the courage of believers was revived by a voice calling the denomination to its distinctive work of giving the advent message to all the world in this generation. The Spirit of God witnessed to the assurance
drawn from his Word that there should be delay no longer, and new hopes were awakened.
A Great Forward Movement
We are now deeply impressed with the conviction that the time has come for a united and determined forward movement to give speedily our definite message to the world. The time demands it. The fields, white already for the harvest, demand it. The condition of our own people demands it. Our own salvation lies in rising to the situation, and giving ourselves to the proclamation of this advent message. The keynote of every effort must now be, “The coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” All branches of our work must be conducted under the inspiration of this truth, and with the definite purpose of representing it to the world. All the messengers must learn to speak the same thing by a prayerful study of the foundation truths of this message, and there must be a faithful dealing with error within the body, as well as without. The confidence in this movement must be based upon faith in the prophetic word and the evidence of God’s favor, rather than upon the talents of any men or the approbation of the world. On this basis God will be glorified in doing a mighty work through his people, this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world for a witness, and we shall shortly experience the fulfillment of the Saviour’s promise, “I will come again.”
But before Jesus can come, this gospel of the kingdom must be preached in all the world for a witness. This is the greatest and most definite sign which will mark the time of his coming; for this gospel must be preached to all nations, and then shall the end come.
For fifty years we have been carrying this message to the people of the United States, but have made only feeble efforts beyond our own borders. In the United States there is now one Sabbath keeper to every 1,300 people, while in the European field, where the most has been done abroad, there is only one Sabbath keeper to each 62,000. In many large countries there is only a handful of believers, and in several great nations not a word of this message has ever been proclaimed. But to-day there is a “sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees,” and God’s providences are opening the way to far-off lands, and are bidding us bestir ourselves. Barriers which have long stood in our way in many countries are being leveled. The doors are thrown wide open, and urgent calls are coming from every land. God’s people have begun to move forward with a firm, steady tread in the right direction. Our laborers are volunteering for foreign fields as never before, and many of the conferences of the United States are sharing their regular tithe with the Mission Board for the support of foreign work.
At its last session, the General Conference Committee drew up, and unanimously passed, the following resolutions as a statement of its policy in carrying—10
The Third Angel’s Message to the World
Whereas, The one great work of this people is to carry the third angel’s message in this generation to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people; and,—
Whereas, About four fifths of the laborers, and the means with which to support them, are now gathered in the United States, where there is only about one twentieth of the world’s population; therefore,—
1. We recommend, That a systematic and thorough campaign be entered upon and kept up to turn the attention of conference committees, ministers, and people to the needs of the fields outside of their respective conferences and outside of the United States; and that all conference resources of ministers and money be held open by the conference management to the needs and calls of the regions beyond, the same as within the bounds of local conferences.
2. We recommend, That conferences urge their laborers to move out into needy fields, especially into fields outside of the United States, and pledge to support them there, as their own laborers, until they have raised up a sufficient constituency to give them their support.
3. We recommend, That in all cases where laborers are sent into another field, as already suggested, they work under the direction of the conference into whose fields they are sent; that the committee under whose direction they labor audit their accounts; and that all appropriations for their support be sent to the treasury of the Mission Board.
4. We recommend, That the General, Union, and State Conferences give their internal workings and the expenses of administration careful study, to the end that all unnecessary expenses be eliminated, and the work put upon a sound basis.
5. We recommend, That we encourage the States that are able to do so, to set aside a definite per cent of the regular tithe as an appropriation to the general work of the Mission Board.
6. We recommend, That this forward movement in behalf of missions be placed clearly before our people, and that their responsibility to pay a full tithe into the Lord’s treasury be emphasized.
7. We recommend, That in addition to this devotion of conference resources to destitute fields, we urge all our laborers and people to agitate the matter of the regular weekly offerings to missions, known as the ten-cent-a-week plan, by which a large treasure may easily be turned to the evangelization of the world.
Gospel Finance
The time has fully come for a sharp, quick work in carrying the gospel to the world. If we would march rapidly, our equipment must be light and simple, and free from entanglements and perplexities. In the past we have built large institutions, and have carried forward great enterprises, to a degree upon borrowed money. The debts which have been thus incurred have made our work burdensome and perplexing. God by his Spirit has told us that these debts
are a reproach, and should be rolled away. The time has fully come when these burdens should be lifted, and all the organizations of this denomination should adopt a policy which will prevent a repetition of our past experiences.
The following resolutions, passed by the General Conference Committee at its last meeting, are an expression of its financial policy; and we recommend this policy to all the organizations and institutions of the denomination:—
Whereas, The work of carrying on the third angel’s message is rapidly enlarging and extending into new fields; and,—
Whereas, Unless careful management be given to the operations in extending the message, large debts will be contracted; therefore,—
1. We recommend, That all evangelical and missionary enterprises carried on in the name of the denomination, or under the denomination’s support, be conducted on a strictly cash basis.
Whereas, Most of our corporations and institutions are carrying large liabilities; therefore,—
2. We recommend, That said corporations and institutions be requested to give special attention to the rapid liquidation of their obligations.
3. We further recommend,—
(a) That the General Conference or Mission Board from this day shall not be held financially responsible for any obligations which they have not assumed by their own action.
(b) That the foregoing be the general policy of the union and State conferences and other organizations and institutions of the denomination.
(c) That all parties undertaking local enterprises, such as institutions, church buildings, and other undertakings in this country, secure their means in their respective local territories, and not by general call for means, unless previously arranged.
We bespeak for these recommendations a careful reading. We believe they voice the burning convictions of all who desire to see the speedy triumph of this work. They point the way to a great forward movement, and they insure financial safety in carrying on that movement.
Macedonian Calls
Calls for help are coming to Seventh-day Adventists in America from all parts of the world. This is not a sentiment. It is not an overdrawn statement. It is the sober, candid truth.
Great Britain and Scandinavia have both been pleading most earnestly for laborers and means. We are now answering these calls, to their great joy.
Germany and its mission fields of Russia, Austria, Hungary, and the Balkan States, containing two hundred and fifty-five million people, keep a standing order with the Mission Board for help.
Turkey has long pressed upon us a call for a superintendent, to be located in Constantinople, hoping that such a laborer from abroad may go about more freely than the native worker, who is
subject to many legal restrictions. Our dear brethren and sisters in Asia Minor have waited long for some minister who can visit them. Shall their hopes die? O brethren, pray that the Lord may lay the burden of Turkey upon the heart of him who should go.
Spain and Portugal do not call to us with an audible voice, as do most other countries, but their mute appeal comes even more touchingly than the call from the partially entered countries of Europe. No believer in this message has yet gone to them with this gospel of the kingdom, which must be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations. The silence of these countries, with their twenty-five million people in darkness and entire ignorance of this special message, calls loudly for messengers. Shall they be sent at once?
India and Burma, with their three hundred million souls, have long kept a call ringing in our ears for help. Vast provinces, with many millions, have waited, unentered by the living preacher. Ministerial laborers are needed at once for such great centers as Bombay, Madras, and Rangoon, where interests awakened by our literature should be followed up.
So, too, it is in China and Japan, which have only recently been opened. The workers in these empires begin to get a view of the vast fields before them, and see the possibilities, and naturally can only send in the leading calls for more laborers.
In the East Indies, a light has been kept glowing in Sumatra, but more lights should be kindled in these populous islands, and along the Malay Peninsula. Shall help go on to this dark and waiting region without longer delay?
Africa’s dark places are opening to our messengers. Beginning in Cape Colony, we have planted the standard in various parts of South Africa, Rhodesia, Nyassaland, the West Coast, and Egypt. But the laborers there are few, and as the Lord opens new fields before them, they send on their calls to us for more messengers.
South America sends most encouraging news of progress among the different peoples, but with this news it couples earnest calls for more help. Its forty millions must have more ministers, teachers, physicians, and nurses to fill the openings of God’s providences.
Everywhere, as we lift up our eyes, we see fields white unto the harvest. The same call for laborers is heard from Central America, the West Indies, Mexico, and from Australia and the islands of the South Seas.
Thus it is that from all the world there comes now to Seventh-day Adventists in America a definite, continuous, pressing call for help. It comes from messengers at the front. It is placed before us in touching and cheering incidents of victories gained, and in sober, truthful descriptions of providential openings, and positive demands for a strong advance.
“The Set Time Is Come”
The truth is, we have come to a point11
in our work when something greater, and larger, and stronger than we have ever yet done, must now be done. The time and the circumstances appeal to us,—
“Arise, give light, for thy light has come; and the glory of the Lord beams upon thee. For, behold, darkness covers the earth, and gross darkness the peoples; but over thee will shine forth the Lord, and his glory will be seen over thee. And nations shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy shining. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see! They all gather together, and come to thee. Then shalt thou behold it with exuberant joy, and thine heart shall palpitate with exulting delight, when like the sea the multitude shall roll onwards upon thee; like a rapid stream the nations shall flow in unto thee.”
The third angel’s message is more than a theory. It is a great system of truth, and a great body of believers, and a great missionary movement, all combined. The truth is God’s message to the world, the people are those whom the truth saves, and the missionary movement is the proclamation of the truth to the world by those whom it saves.
We cannot think of the third angel’s message apart from that company keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Nor can we think of that company apart from that great movement signified by the angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.
This, and nothing less, is the threefold message of Revelation 14. Every call to loyalty to the message is a call to the believers to be obedient to the truth and faithful in world-wide service. There are, even now, strong reasons for appealing to the loyalty of the believers. The current is downward. The tendency ever is to drift from our moorings. We must hold to the infallible Word of the living God. We must study anew the simple truths that so thrilled our hearts when the message first came to us. Every feature of the blessed truth must shine out with new luster, and thrill our hearts with new and increased power.
But all this means a continuous and ever-widening missionary movement on the part of this people. The message is for the whole world, and it must be given to the whole world. That greater movement into the fields is called for at this very hour. What we have done thus far has placed us where we are called upon to do far more.
The truth came to us, and challenged our attention, convinced our judgment, and convicted our conscience. We accepted it, and began to proclaim it. We have assured the world that Jesus is soon coming. We have declared that God’s final message is now due, and that this people have been raised up to give it. We have gone to nearly all nations with this solemn profession. Thousands have
been convinced. Avenues for giving our message have opened before us in all lands. And now, as a result of the word preached, there comes to us from all the earth a mighty call for a genuine world-wide movement. That call cannot be ignored. It must be answered, and that without delay.
We cannot retract, we cannot retreat, we cannot stand still; nor do we desire to do either. There is but one thing for us, that is to go forward. We must charge the enemy’s lines. And, thank God, it is to be the last charge. To this last charge the trumpet now calls every believer in the third angel’s message.
Who will obey this call? Who is willing to consecrate his service unto the Lord in this solemn and thrilling hour? What fathers and mothers will now, at this moment, dedicate anew and forever their sons and daughters to God’s work, wherever he may call them? What young man and young woman will hear, and now surrender all to Christ for service? And who among the believers in the third angel’s message will now lay property on the altar for God to use as he requires? And who will pray him to use it now without further delay?
Brethren and sisters, we have a message and work which, as being God’s final proclamation to a perishing world, is even more urgent and pressing than the message in apostolic times. Surely the consecration of our lives and means to service should be as great as that of apostolic believers. The believers then laid their possessions down at the apostles’ feet for the cause of Christ, and gave their lives to his service. We, too, should lay all we have at the feet of our blessed Master, for his use, and then give our lives to consecrated service.
This is the call of the hour. In this spirit the early pioneers in the advent faith built up this work by the grace of God. In the same spirit, and the same faith in the same message, this people now, responding to the call of their great Commander, must quickly finish the work which he has given us to do IN THIS GENERATION.
GENERAL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.
An “Evolution” in Prayer
By C. M. S.
We read of a Christian man in the United States, that, on becoming interested in missions, his first earnest prayer was, “Lord, save the heathen!” Later, as his knowledge of God’s ways increased, he prayed, “Lord, send missionaries to save the heathen!” Then as his interest and a sense of personal responsibility deepened, his prayer became, “Lord, if thou hast not anybody else to send, send me.” Further experience and discipline humbled him, and led to this modification, “Lord, send me, but if thou canst not send me, send somebody.” Eventually his prayer became, “Lord, send whom thou wilt; but in any case permit me to pay my share of the expenses.” Surely this should be the soul-attitude of every supplicant for missions. The recognition of the divine claim over self and possessions must be complete and unreserved. When the church attains to this, some of the harassing problems of carrying on missionary work will disappear.—C. M. S., in Intelligencer.
Decision
EVERY one should cultivate the faculty of making up his mind on all important subjects without needless delay, and adhering tenaciously to his conclusion. In practical affairs the sooner one proceeds to carry out his purposes after deciding upon a particular course, the better. The young man who hesitates and wavers not only wastes precious time, but wastes his energies also, and weakens the forces which Providence has placed in his hand. His mind is never fully concentrated on his work. Nothing receives his best thought and effort. Such a man cannot reasonably expect success. But one who decides deliberately and intelligently, and proceeds without delay to execute his plans, will surely conquer. He may not be a prodigy of intelligence, his opportunities may be meager and his adversities many; but his decision of character will carry him through. A settled mind is half the battle of life.
In the assay offices of the government very delicate and accurate balances are required. It is no easy task to construct such a balance. For a long time the balances used were sufficiently sensitive, but lacking in decision. They responded instantly to the slightest pressure, but wavered for a long time before settling down to a final result. Valuable time was lost waiting for the decision. At last an invention was made which answers the purpose admirably. The scales now used are both sensitive and decisive. They respond instantly to the slightest pressure, and settle quickly upon the final result. This is a good illustration of a well-balanced mind. A mind which responds instantly to the slightest touch of truth, decides quickly, and holds fast its final conclusion, is well balanced. No one should allow himself to fall into habits of vacillation. Such a habit is ruinous. Be true, be firm. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
In religion, decision of character is yet more important. One may drift into worldly success without appreciating it. We have known men to be elevated to important positions by fortunate combinations of circumstances, and to be kept there by political influence when they were in no way worthy. A man may become rich by the mere accident of birth. He may be a citizen of the most beautiful and prosperous country under the sun without choosing it. But one cannot become good without definitely and intelligently choosing it. Goodness is a treasure which we cannot inherit from our parents. We shall never come into possession of it by accident. We cannot drift into the kingdom of God. Political influence can never give us a place in our Father’s house. It matters not how many excellent qualities we may inherit from our ancestors and acquire by culture, we must deliberately choose12the kingdom of God and his righteousness, or we cannot enter therein. There is no trick nor art nor device of men or the devil whereby the gate of the kingdom can be opened to those who are unworthy. We must desire it, appreciate it, seek it, and choose it for our portion. “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” — New York Christian Advocate.
Who Can Serve God?
By Ellet Joseph Waggoner
E. J. WAGGONER
The question is not, Who will serve God? but, Who can serve God? That is a very important question. A failure to understand who can serve God is the reason why many people continue in useless attempts to serve him.
Joshua had recounted to all Israel the goodness of God to them and to their fathers, and concluded with these words: “Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Then all the people answered, and said: “God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods; for the Lord our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed: and the Lord drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve him, the Lord; for he is our God.”
That was a good resolution. How shocked they must have been, therefore, when Joshua turned on them with the assertion: “Ye cannot serve the Lord: for he is an holy God.”
Only such as are holy can serve a holy God. That is plain enough if we but stop to think for a moment. To serve him is to do his will; his will is holy; therefore whoever does his will must be holy. An unholy person certainly does not serve the Lord, and cannot as long as he remains unholy; for his unholiness is most displeasing to God.
Are there, then, only a select few who can serve God? — Yes; for all God’s people are “the elect,” or the selected ones, — Christ said to his disciples, “I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain,” — and the number of them is very small compared with the number of wicked. But this does not mean that only a few have the privilege of serving God if they will. “Whosoever will” may take of the water of life freely; and the assurance is, “To whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are.” Whoever fully yields himself, soul, body, and spirit, to God, is accepted by him as his servant, and is made holy, so that he can serve him.
Christ has chosen us, that we should bear much fruit to the glory of God. But he says that the tree must be made good, before it can bring forth good fruit. Matt. 12:33. “A good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.” “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil.” Luke 6:43, 45. So when we are cleansed by the Lord, we become “trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.”
The law of God is the transcript of his character. Wherefore “the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” Rom. 7:12. To keep the law of God is to serve him; but not everybody can keep the law. The latter part of the seventh chapter of Romans pictures the unsuccessful efforts of any unregenerate man to keep the law of God. Then comes the comforting assurance: “What the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
So it is not a difficult matter to serve the Lord, after all. Then what about the statement that a great many people try to serve God, and fail? The answer is found in the form of the question: they simply try to serve God, which is something that God has never asked anybody to do: he asks us actually to serve him. We must do his will, not try to do it; and to the end that we may really serve him, he puts his laws into our mind, and writes them in our heart. Heb. 8:10. This is done for all who accept him as their God, and who fully yield to him. “His commandment is life everlasting;” therefore when his law is in our heart, it follows that it is our life:13it controls our actions, instead of our attempting to put it into action. When we yield to righteousness as completely as we have to sin, we shall find that there is a greater power in righteousness than there is in sin; for “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
But in order that we may experience the perfect working of this power, we must not be partial in the law, choosing one portion and rejecting another. We must receive it all, and be willing for it all to have its effect in our lives. Thus, with God working in us to will and to do of his good pleasure, we shall come to know the blessedness of the assurance, “His servants shall serve him: and they shall see his face.”
Go to Work
By E. A. Sutherland
E. A. SUTHERLAND
“Go to work, whether you feel like it or not. Engage in personal effort to bring souls to Jesus and the knowledge of the truth. In such labor you will find both a stimulus and a tonic; it will both arouse and strengthen. By exercise your spiritual powers will become more vigorous, so that you can with better success work out your own salvation. The stupor of death is upon many who profess Christ. . . . In the effort to bless others, your own souls will be blessed. We have the theory of the truth, and now we need to seek most earnestly for its sanctifying power.”
“A great work can be done by presenting to the people the Bible just as it reads. Carry the Word of God to every man’s door, urge its plain statements upon every man’s conscience, repeat to all the Saviour’s command; ‘Search the Scriptures.’ Admonish them to take the Bible as it is, to implore divine enlightenment, and then, when the light shines, gladly to accept each precious ray, and fearlessly abide the consequences.”
“Truths which have proved an overmatch for giant intellects are understood by babes in Christ.”
We who have invited Christ, the great missionary, into our flesh should surrender our faculties completely to him, and go about doing good. The best proof that Christ is abiding in us is a willingness to carry the plain, simple story of salvation to our neighbors and to the world. Many are willing to do this, but they feel timid about starting. The essential preparation comes with complete confidence in the power of God to save from sin. The individual who desires to do missionary work knows that his sins are forgiven. He knows that Christ is abiding in his heart. He believes that there is power in the Word of God to convict the sinner of sin when it is presented in simple faith by one who has felt the power of the Word cleansing him from sin. Those who have had this experience will not allow affairs of a material nature to hinder them from doing this kind of work for their neighbors. From those who have been faithful in working for their neighbors, will be gathered hundreds and thousands of workers to leave home and carry this simple gospel to those in distant lands.
“The very first impulse of the renewed heart is to bring others also to the Saviour. Those who do not possess this desire give evidence that they have lost their first love.”
“The missionary spirit is a spirit of personal sacrifice.”
A Call to Praise
By Florence Harker
FLORENCE HARKER
O PRAISE our God, ye people!
Yes, praise him in the morn,
When the sun lights up the eastern sky,
And each new day is born.
O praise our God, ye people!
Yes, praise ye him at noon.
Though the day be hot and the journey rough,
Jesus is coming soon.
O praise our God, ye people!
Praise him at day's decline,
For his loving care in answer to prayer.
Yes, praise him all the time.
O praise our God, ye people!
Yes, praise him day by day;
'Twill bring to your side bright angels,
And scatter the evil away.
O praise our God, ye people!
Yes, let your praise be heard.
Like incense sweet, it ascends to the throne;
God listens to every word.
O praise our God, ye people!
Be glad, rejoice, and sing,
Lift up your heads; redemption's nigh;
Exalt your Saviour King.
Then praise him, praise him, praise him,
For the sunshine of his love,
And soon with all the hosts on high
You'll praise him up above.
How Shall We Forgive?
By H. T.
H. T.
How is the Lord going to forgive us? — Just as we forgive those who injure us. “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” “But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Under what conditions will our Heavenly Father forgive us? — As we forgive. “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”
Seventy times seven — four hundred and ninety times — he should forgive his brother. Then Jesus related to Peter a parable: “Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and besought him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.” The king’s compassionate heart forgave his debt.
How long did this servant remember this great kindness? — He did not remember it at all; for when he met one of his fellow servants who owed him a trifle, he took him by the throat, and cast him into prison; and when the king heard what this wicked servant had done, he delivered him to the tormentor. “So likewise shall my Heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”
There is a great difference between granting a pardon and forgiving. True forgiveness forgets the injury or debt. One should cease to feel resentment. As soon as one permits resentment to be aroused, his mind is filled with unpleasant memories, displeasure, choler, and sometimes rage.
Our Heavenly Father commands us to forgive one another. If we fail to obey, and our hearts are void of his tender love and sympathy, he permits us to return to our vile natures; for we could not live under his banner of mercy without perfect unity.