Earlier text: The Valley of PrayerReligion and the Government
SOME truths concerning the proper relation between religion and the government have been stated anew in a clear manner by a writer in the Chicago Israelite. From his article we take the following paragraph:— The government of this great American nation is secular. It has nothing to do with religion. It is simply neutral on that question. For all that, it is not godless or atheistic, as has so frequently been declared by bigoted creedists. It is about time that narrow-minded religionists were recognizing this fact, and were ceasing to attempt to foist their peculiar religious conceptions upon our secular state institutions. If this great, democratic government is based upon any legislation at all, it is grounded on the spirit of the Old Testament laws. It was a wise provision of the fathers and founders of our country and Constitution to divorce the state from religion. They knew what an alliance between church and state had meant for the Old World nations. They knew of the wars, the hatreds and animosities to which it had given rise, and they did not want to make this free nation the battle-ground for similar bloodsheds, and so they declared that state and church shall forever remain separate. Priests and clergymen do not seem to be satisfied with the immunity from persecution because of this wise provision of a separation between church and state, and are therefore forever clamoring for a marriage between them. In season and out of season they are calling upon the state to help them in the work which it is their particular province to perform. Now they are asking for the Bible and religious instruction in the public schools. Now they are deluging the legislative bodies with petitions for an introduction of the name of God and Jesus in the Constitution. They little know that when they appear before the state in the guise of a mendicant, they are convicting themselves of incompetency. It is the church and the home that should give religious instruction, not the secular schools. It is about time for the church to cease these beggar methods, and buckle on its armor and show a militant energy in the accomplishment of the distinctive tasks which have been given it to perform. If all those who desire the prosperity both of the church and of the state would adopt the principles here laid down, the repetition of some of the terrible chapters of the world’s history might possibly be avoided. We would that Christians might accept the Christian idea of civil government. IN the face of overwhelming calamities, and the evident judgments of God upon the wicked world, there are still prophets who are prophesying smooth things. One of them declares:— A great change is coming over the world. Within the next ten years a millennium and an era of fraternalism will come. It is strange but true that many who will reject the plain prophecies of the Scriptures will place confidence in such predictions as these, utterly contrary to the testimony of the facts. The coming of the millennium is near, but it will be introduced by the second personal advent of our Lord. Writing to Congressmen
By Editor
IN an article in a recent number of the United Presbyterian, Dr. W. F. Crafts urges the readers of that paper to write to their congressmen and senators concerning certain reform legislation now before Congress, including “the Johnston bill, to give the national capital such protection against Sunday toil and traffic as State legislatures have given to all the States save one.” In the interest of religious liberty and the prosperity of both religion and the government, we urge that letters should be written against the passage of this same bill. If this effort to commit the national Congress to religious legislation is successful, it will be a great blow to religious liberty, and will greatly strengthen the hands of those who are determined to exalt the false sabbath by law. It is a thousand pities that the opportunity should be afforded to a non-Christian editor to rebuke the methods employed by professed Christians in raising money for church expenses, but so it is. The editor of the Times (Tokyo, Japan), a leading Japanese paper, gives his view of church bazaars. His comment, translated, reads thus:— Church bazaars are among the most curious and eccentric forms of Western civilization imported into Japan to a moderate extent. Primarily the logical idea would be that if a community wants to raise money for building or repairing a church, people would simply put their hands in their pockets, pay what was needed or as much as they were able, and be done with it. But that is too direct and rational; the freaks and fads of the quaint Occident imperiously demand something that can be called amusement. And in this light they form an interesting study. The Yokohama Union Church Bazaar last Saturday was more amusing than a museum of curiosities. The queer “ins and outs” and why and wherefore of each item in the bazaar would afford ample material for a lecture on Strange Manners and Customs of a Strange People. Even a heathen can see the incongruity between catering to this demand for amusement and the claim of Christianity to deliver its believers from the follies of the world, and such exhibitions constitute a stumbling-block in the path of the Christian church and its efforts to Christianize the heathen. It Scattereth, Yet Increaseth
By DELWIN REES BUCKNER
DIVIDE the loaf in portions with the knife,
For who but God can tell what may befall?
Ere night it may be thou who needs must call
Upon thy neighbor for sustaining life.
A good deed done is never, never lost;
Though it be spent, it still doth truly earn.
Bread cast upon the waters will return,
Though many days upon the billows tossed.
But that which, scattered, doth the most increase
Is God's own Word of life, which, in the heart,
Is planted, grows, and yields its hundredfold,
And unto hungry souls it brings such peace
As only God's own Spirit can impart,
A blessing of more worth than mines of gold. The Conflict and the Victory
By Ellen G. White
There are many who do not understand the conflict that is going on between Christ and Satan over the souls of men. They do not realize that if they would stand under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel, they must be willing to be partakers of his conflicts, and wage a determined war against the powers of darkness. When thinking on the conflict, Paul writes to his Ephesian brethren exhorting them to “be strong,” not feeble, not wavering, tossed to and fro like the waves of the sea. But in what are they to be strong? In their own might?—No. “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” He says, “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” The gaining of eternal life will ever involve a struggle, a conflict. We are continually to be found fighting the good fight of faith. We are soldiers of Christ; and those who enlist in his army are expected to do difficult work, work which will tax their energies to the utmost. We must understand that a soldier’s life is one of aggressive warfare, of perseverance and endurance. For Christ’s sake we are to endure trials. Victories are not gained by ceremonies or display, but by simple obedience to the highest General, the Lord God of heaven. He who trusts in this Leader will never know defeat. Obedience to God is liberty from the thraldom of sin, deliverance from human passion and impulse. Man may stand conqueror of himself, conqueror of his own inclinations, conqueror of principalities and powers, and of the “rulers of the darkness of this world,” and of “spiritual wickedness in high places.” From the days of Adam to our own time, our great enemy has been exercising his power to oppress and destroy. He is now preparing for his last campaign against the church. All who seek to follow Jesus will be brought into conflict with this relentless foe. The more nearly the Christian imitates the divine Pattern, the more surely will he make himself a mark for the attacks of Satan. All who are actively engaged in the cause of God, seeking to unveil the deceptions of the evil one, and to present Christ before the people, will be able to join in the testimony of Paul, in which he speaks of serving the Lord with all humility of mind, with many tears and temptations. Satan assailed Christ with the fiercest and most subtle temptations; but he was repulsed in every conflict. Those battles were fought in our behalf; those victories made it possible for us to conquer. Christ will give strength to all who seek it. No man without his own consent can be overcome by Satan. The tempter has no power to control the will or force the soul to sin. He may distress, but he can not contaminate. He can cause agony, but not defilement. The fact that Christ has conquered should inspire his followers with courage to fight manfully the battle against sin and Satan. Now the church is militant, now we are confronted with a world in midnight darkness, almost wholly given over to idolatry. But the day is coming in which the battle will have been fought, the victory won. The will of God is to be done on earth, as it is done in heaven. Then the nations will own no other law than the law of heaven. All will be a happy, united family, clothed with the garments of praise and thanksgiving,—the robe of Christ’s righteousness. All nature in its surpassing loveliness will offer to God a constant tribute of praise and adoration. The world will be bathed in the light of heaven. The years will move on in gladness. The light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold greater than it is now. Over the scene the morning stars will sing together, and the sons of God will shout for joy, while Christ and God will unite in proclaiming, “There shall be no more sin, neither shall there be any more death.” This is the scene that is presented to me. But the church must and will fight against seen and unseen foes. Satanic agencies in human form are on the ground. Men have confederated to oppose the Lord of hosts. These confederacies will continue until Christ shall leave his place of intercession before the mercy-seat, and shall put on the garments of vengeance. Satanic agencies are in every city, busily organizing into parties those opposed to the law of God. Professed saints and avowed unbelievers take their stand with these parties. This is no time for the people of God to be weaklings. We can not afford to be off our guard for one moment. “Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” “This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; that ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ; being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.” “Let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: . . . stand fast in one spirit, . . . striving together for the faith of the gospel; and in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.” There are revealed in these last days visions of future glory, scenes pictured by the hand of God, and these should be dear to his church. What sustained the Son of God in his betrayal and trial?—He saw of the travail of his soul, and was satisfied. He caught a view of the expanse of eternity, and saw the happiness of those who through his humiliation should receive pardon and everlasting life. He was wounded for their transgressions, bruised for their iniquities. The chastisement of their peace was upon him, and with his stripes they were healed. His ear caught the shout of the redeemed. He heard the ransomed ones singing the song of Moses and the Lamb. We must have a view of the future, and of the blessedness of heaven. Stand on the threshold of eternity, and hear the gracious welcome given to those who in this life have co-operated with Christ, regarding it as a privilege and an honor to suffer for his sake. As they unite with the angels, they cast their crowns at the feet of their Redeemer, exclaiming, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. . . . Honor and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.”9 There the redeemed ones greet those who directed them to the uplifted Saviour. They unite in praising him who died that human beings might have the life that measures with the life of God. The conflict is over. All tribulation and strife are at an end. Songs of victory fill all the heaven as the redeemed stand around the throne of God. All take up the joyful strain, “Worthy, worthy is the Lamb that was slain, and lives again, a triumphant conqueror.” “I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.” “These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth upon the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” “And there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.” Will you catch the inspiration of the vision? Will you let your mind dwell upon the picture? G. B. THOMPSON
By G. B. THOMPSON
Beyond the Border-Line of Life—No. 2
For ages the voice of Jehovah has given instruction concerning the life of man beyond the portals of the tomb. The Bible knows nothing of a “continuation of consciousness” or the “survival of that mysterious thing which we call intelligence” between death and the resurrection. But to death-stricken humanity the Lord proclaims hope in the following words: “Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.” Isa. 26:19. Death is an enemy; the grave is its prison-house. But since reaching the throne of glory and being seated by the right hand of the Father, the Saviour has sent back to those who walk in the valley of the shadow of death the cheering message, “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” But the truth upon this great question has not been discovered by science. Divine truth is not found through scientific research. Recent investigation has caused scientists to take a “new position,” in which “certain happenings not explainable on natural grounds,” are taken to prove that man is conscious in death. There is still a “new position” for science to take before it will be on the platform of truth. Mr. Gustavus Myers, in the September issue of Van Norden's Magazine, classifies the “occult phenomena” seen in spiritualistic séances, which have caused science to take a “new position,” as follows: “What is the nature of the phenomena the substantiation of which has compelled science to throw away much of its old teachings as so much rubbish?—They are of various kinds, apparently dissociated, but fundamentally all manifestations of the same invisible power. They come under two general classes—intellectual and physical phenomena. In turn, these two classes embrace seven orders—telepathy, clairvoyance, materialization, levitation, automatic or trance writing and talking, clairaudience, and possession. Again, in turn, each of these groups has a number of subdivisions. All these phenomena are strictly beyond the range of the normal senses, and are not subject to the operation of any known law. In fact, they contravene and overthrow all hitherto known so-called cosmic laws. They seem to be subject to the law of another cosmos.” Some of these terms may be slightly bewildering to the average reader; but under whatever name the medium may choose to operate, there are the same phenomena, and the same power is at work. Concerning these “psychic manifestations” he says: “Under certain favorable, but thoroughly tested circumstances, they [certain disembodied personalities] have been seen, touched, heard, or felt, and some of them frequently photographed.” Again, he says: “Assuming that many of the great scientists are correct in their hypothesis of a spirit life beyond the mundane, and that when we die, we become instantly metamorphosed into spirits, we do not know why it is that these discarnate beings select certain embodied persons as a means of transmitting messages or giving other manifestations.” It seems quite correct to assume that if we are alive after we die, it is reasonable that we should communicate with the living. But whether or not those who have died are still living as “discarnate beings” is the point at issue, and this can not be assumed. That this assumption is not correct, we have the sure Word of the Lord, which says: “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” Ps. 146: 3, 4. With us this is a more certain foundation than all the speculations of science since the world began. If these renowned scientists would lay aside their wisdom, and investigate the origin of sin and the fall of man from the standpoint of the Bible, believing what Jehovah has revealed, a light would be shed upon these mysterious phenomena which would dispel the darkness, and would show that the power which is operating is not that of “disembodied intelligences,” but of fallen angels, who, because of sin, lost their abode in the realms of light, and are now engaged in their last effort to deceive souls. But the Scriptures speak of some who are “willingly ignorant.” That the greatest scholars of the world are being deceived by the manifestations of Spiritualism in its various forms, shows the power of this great deception, and how it is preparing speedily to sweep the world into the vortex of ruin. Concerning the rise of modern Spiritualism Mr. Myers says:— “Not until 1847 did the modern psychical movement begin. It had its origin in the manifestations displayed in the presence of two American girls, the Fox sisters, Margaret and Katherine, then living in the town of Arcadia, N. Y. In that year, they began to hear strange noises and see strange forms. These phenomena, it became certain, were not produced by human causes. The Fox sisters asserted that they soon learned by raps to communicate with invisible intelligences whom they called spirits. The age was a severely incredulous one; the wave of materialism was at its height; and the claim of the Fox sisters met with general derision.” Some of the manifestations as seen in the séance will be described next week. D. A. PARSONS
By D. A. PARSONS
JULY 12, 1843, Joseph Smith claimed that he received a revelation authorizing polygamy. But before this date a few members of the Mormon Church had been guilty of the practise. This fact being whispered about, much scandal was created, but the imputation was strenuously denied in public. And in an address delivered in England (as reported in 6 Mil. Star. 22), Mr. Pratt, one of the “twelve apostles,” said:— “Beware of seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, as first introduced by John C. Bennett, under the name of ‘spiritual wife’ doctrine. . . . It is but another name for whoredom, wicked and unlawful connection, and every kind of confusion and abomination. Should any elder or member come unto you professing to hold any such doctrine or practise, either secretly or publicly, you may be sure that he is not of God; . . . for know assuredly that no one has been authorized to teach, practise, or introduce any such doctrine in any branches of the church, neither is there any such doctrine known, held, or practised as a principle of the Latter-day Saints.” This official and “apostolic” denial was published in England two years after the revelation authorizing polygamy; but they now confess on oath that10it was secretly taught and practised by them at that very time. So much for their official veracity. It was the doctrine of having more than one wife that the statement quoted above condemns; and a man who lives with more than one wife is a polygamist. Therefore the Mormon Church, in 1845, condemned polygamy as a vile and wicked practise; and that being its true nature then, it is its true character today. In a desperate effort to evade this conclusion and the charge of deception, they now claim a difference between their doctrine and polygamy as taught by John C. Bennett; but this is only a shallow quibble based on “Mormon Authority.” Both doctrines taught polygamy, and in denouncing the one they condemned the other. The facts are simply these: When the denial was made, rumors were afloat in Great Britain that Joseph Smith had sanctioned polygamy among certain of his followers, and these rumors were working havoc among his English converts. Something had to be done, and done quickly. So the leaders denounced John C. Bennett for teaching polygamy, and also for saying that Joseph Smith had taught the doctrine to him; and in thus denouncing Bennett and his polygamy, they were able to deceive the English public, leading it to believe that polygamy was neither taught nor practised in the Mormon Church. A copy of “Doctrine and Covenants,” published in England, in 1849, six years after the revelation authorizing polygamy, is open before us, and from it we learn that the Mormon Church was still deceiving the English public. In proof of this we take the following from Section 109:— “Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication and polygamy, we declare that we believe that one man should have one wife, and one woman but one husband, except in case of death, when either is at liberty to marry.” That this was a deliberately planned deception is now evident from the admission of their prophet, seer, and revelator, who testified on oath as follows:— “I undoubtedly knew of its being taught to certain individuals at Nauvoo in 1841 and 1842.” (See page 302, Record in Case 516, Cor. Ct., app.) Deception formed no part of the character of the meek and holy Jesus, and there will be no occasion to impute it to those who obey him. Any church that resorts to falsehood to avoid the results of her evil course is thus doubly marked not of Christ. Knowing the general trend of Mormon theology, we were surprised to read in their “Hand-Book of References,” page 91, the following:— “The religion of the Latter-day Saints consists of doctrines, commandments, ordinances, and rites revealed from God in the present age. They are not taken from the Bible, but nevertheless are in complete harmony therewith.” What possible object could they have had in making such a declaration? The utter untruthfulness of the last portion of the statement has already been seen, and will be further proved. Another theory of Mormonism, antagonistic to the spirit of Christianity and revolting to the followers of Jesus, is that— In “Journal of Discourses,” Vol II, pages 79-82 are devoted to an argument to prove that Christ was not only married, but was also a polygamist. This sermon was delivered by Pres. Orson Hyde at the general conference held in the Mormon Tabernacle at Salt Lake City, Oct. 6, 1854. On page 81 President Hyde asks himself the following question:— “Then you really mean to hold to the doctrine that the Saviour of the world was married; do you mean to be understood so? And if so, do you mean to be understood that he had more than one wife?” Now note his ingenious answer to this question:— “When Mary of old came to the sepulcher on the first day of the week, instead of finding Jesus, she saw two angels in white. ‘And they said unto her, Woman, why weepest thou?’ She said unto them, ‘Because they have taken away my Lord,’ or husband, ‘and I know not where they have laid him.’” On page 82 President Hyde continues:— “We say it was Jesus Christ who was married [at Cana], to be brought into the relation whereby he could see his seed before he was crucified. . . . I do not despise to be called a son of Abraham if he had a dozen wives; or to be called a brother, a son, a child of the Saviour, if he had Mary, and Martha, and several others as his wives.” It seems that this doctrine of Mormonism thus boldly launched created considerable stir in the public press, for we find in another officially published sermon, delivered March 18, 1855, President Hyde making the following statement:— “I discover that some of the Eastern papers represent me as a great blasphemer, because I said in my lecture on marriage at our last conference, that Jesus Christ was married at Cana of Galilee; that Mary, Martha, and others were his wives; and that he begat children.” Although this doctrine has been repeatedly proclaimed by Mormon prophets and leaders, and published with their official sanction, yet their president recently swore before the Senate Committee of the United States that they did no such thing. Following is the senator’s question and Mr. Smith’s reply:— “Senator Overman: Let me ask a question for my own satisfaction. I have a little pamphlet which states that you teach that our Saviour was a polygamist. Is that so? “Mr. Smith: We do not teach any such doctrine. We simply teach the historical fact that Jesus Christ descended through a line of polygamists from David to Abraham.”—Sworn Testimony before Senate Committee, page 215. Such disclaimers are modest samples of the official “Scientific Aspects of Mormonism.” Their doctrines and sworn denials are only two sides of the same medal. Divinity of Christ Denied
This Nicolaitan sect does more than to accuse Jesus of living with two sisters as his wives at the same time. See Lev. 18:18. It denies his very divinity. Having just stated that Adam is the only god of Mormonism, Prophet Young continues by saying that Adam begat Christ by the natural laws of procreation. These are his exact words:— “The question has been and is often asked who it was that begat the Son of the Virgin Mary. . . . I will tell you how it was.” “When the Virgin Mary conceived the child Jesus, the Father had begotten him in his own likeness. He was not begotten by the Holy Ghost. And who is the Father?—He is the first of the human family.” Near the end of this sermon, Prophet Young said again: “Now remember from this time forth and forever that Jesus Christ was not begotten by the Holy Ghost.—Journal of Discourses, Vol. I, pages 50, 51. We would finish the quotation last given, but it consists of language which it would not be proper to put into print. Enough has been given to prove that the god of Mormonism is not the God of Christianity, nor is the Mormon christ the Christ of the Scriptures. The Disappointment and Its Explanation
By GEORGE I. BUTLER
HAVING taken a brief survey of the time movement in 1844, leading up to the beginning of the judgment hour brought to view in the first angel’s message of Rev. 14:6, 7, some attention should be given to the disappointment of the more than one hundred thousand believers at that time. We have glanced at the wonderful power with which the message was proclaimed, and the telling effect it had upon the minds of multitudes who listened to the clear and powerful evidences that God was in the proclamation, “The hour of his judgment is come.” Believers and unbelievers were awaiting the outcome of that judgment message with thrilling interest. The time came, and passed. The Lord did not come. The believers were terribly disappointed. The unbelievers rejoiced, and apparently triumphed. The scoffer did his worst to show his contempt by ridicule. Untruthful stories were circulated, and the Adventists were set down as the most foolish of fanatics. But there was one thing none of their opponents could ever do, and that was to11show from the Bible the fallacy of the arguments brought from the prophecies that the prophetic period of twenty-three hundred year-days terminated, as the Adventists claimed, in 1844. Those arguments have never yet been answered. They never can be answered. That period began B. C. 457, in the fall of the year, when Ezra and his large company reached Jerusalem, and the decree of Artaxerxes began to be carried into effect. Twenty-three hundred years reached to the fall of 1844, just when the Adventists said it did. There was the prophecy, which stands to-day in all our Bibles. The divisions of time which compose that long period each met their fulfilment just as the Bible declares. Forty-nine years from B. C. 457 reached to the time when Jerusalem was completely rebuilt, and the Jewish polity fully established. Four hundred eighty-three years from B. C. 457 reached to Messiah the Prince, in the fall of A. D. 27, when Christ himself said, “The time is fulfilled.” Three and a half years after this, A. D. 31, Christ was cut off in the middle of the last week of the seventy. Three and a half years later, or A. D. 34, the seventy weeks “cut off” upon the Jewish people terminated. And with their termination expired all the special privileges of that nation. The gospel went to the Gentiles. Eighteen hundred ten years of the twenty-three hundred remained, allotted especially to the Gentile world. At the expiration of that long period, a mighty proclamation went to the world: “The hour of his judgment is come.” These facts stand to-day as firm as the rock of Gibraltar; yea, verily, as firm as God’s Word, as firm as his everlasting throne stands in the heavens. There is a wonderful likeness between our age and the earliest period of the Christian dispensation—the closing period of the Jewish dispensation. In each period are two classes: believers in the prophetic word, and disbelievers in it. In the seventy weeks of years (i. e., the four hundred ninety years) “cut off” upon the Jews were contained the data which showed precisely the time when Messiah should appear, and when he should be “cut off.” We have the evidence that many were expecting him when he came. Why?—Simply because of this clear and emphatic statement in this prophecy of the seventy weeks as to the time when he should come. “Just and devout” Simeon was waiting for the Messiah; indeed, it was revealed to him that he should not see death till he had seen the Lord’s Christ. When Jesus was brought to the temple to be presented to the Lord, Simeon took the babe in his arms, and said: “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.” Anna, a prophetess, an aged and holy woman, also spoke of him at the same time. Luke 2:25-30. Many others believed. At that very time there was evidently quite a general expectancy, on the part of the most pious, that Christ was coming, because of the fulfilment of the prediction contained in the prophecy of the seventy weeks. John the Baptist’s work of reform came in to corroborate and strengthen these evidences. But how was it with the mass of the Jewish people, especially the officials, the popular leaders, the scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, etc.?—They did not believe this prophecy. On the contrary, they treated it with disdain and contempt. We come now to the end of this long period of twenty-three hundred years, and how do we find the mass of professed Christians treating this great inspired prediction?—In precisely the same way. They ignore it. They treat it as of no consequence whatever. But we thank God there are those who are studying it with the deepest interest; for this demonstrates beyond all question that we are in the very last days of time. The hour of God’s judgment has come. The last work of Christ in heaven is now in progress preparatory to his soon coming. As Simeon rejoiced when he beheld the infant Jesus, so should we all rejoice that he soon is coming again. The judgment period is rapidly hastening to its close. Then our Saviour will appear in his glory, to take his people home. How can sensible men who have known these facts grow cold, and apostatize from such a glorious truth? We have stated that there was a great disappointment in 1844, when the time passed. This was truly one of the most sad and bitter experiences that any Christian people ever passed through. Multitudes of professed believers soon gave up, and disappeared from the advent ranks. Their faith had not the staying qualities. But not so with the firm, faithful believers. They were stunned, and almost overwhelmed at the disappointment, but at once began to study their Bibles to learn why this disappointment had occurred. All the Adventists had believed that Christ would come at the close of the period spoken of by Gabriel, “Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” In other words, they thought the sanctuary here spoken of was our earth, and its cleansing was the purifying of the earth by fire. But did the angel say that unto twenty-three hundred days Christ should come?—Certainly not. They drew the conclusion that he would come, but there is no such statement in the prophecy. He did say, however, that at the conclusion of that period, the sanctuary would be cleansed. Is there any evidence that the earth is or ever was the sanctuary?—Not one word of evidence for this belief can be found in the Scriptures; but there is an abundance of evidence that the earth is not the sanctuary. What is the meaning of the word sanctuary?—“A holy place,” “a sacred place,” “a place where God dwells.” Is our earth, since sin entered our world, such a place?—Far from it. This world is in rebellion against God. Satan is served by the great majority of mankind. More than a thousand million of earth’s inhabitants are yet idolaters. The great masses in the so-called Christian lands are anything but Christians. “Wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction.” The great masses walk therein. “Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” This earth, then, can not be the sanctuary. In our next article we will show what the sanctuary is, and what its cleansing, and will explain more fully the great disappointment of the Adventist people of 1844. “Do you see this lock of hair?” said an old man to me one day. “Yes; it is, I suppose, a curl from the head of some loved child.” “No; it is a lock of my own hair; and it is now nearly seventy years since it was cut from this head.” “But why do you prize a lock of your own hair so much?” “Because it has a strange history. I keep it thus with care because it speaks to me of God and of his special care. I was a little child four years old, with long curly locks, which, in sun, or rain, or wind, hung down my cheeks uncovered. One day my father went into the woods to cut up a log, and I went with him. I was standing a little way behind him, or rather at his side, watching with interest the strokes of the heavy ax as it came down upon the wood, sending off chips in all directions with every stroke. Some of them fell at my feet, and I eagerly stooped to pick them up. In doing so I stumbled forward, and in a moment my curly head lay upon the log. I had fallen just at the moment when the ax was coming down with all its force. It was too late to stop the blow. Down came the ax. I screamed, and my father fell to the ground in terror. He could not stay the stroke, and in the blindness which the sudden horror caused, he thought he had killed his boy. We soon recovered, I from my fright and he from his terror. He caught me up in his arms, and looked at me from head to foot to find the deadly wound which he was sure he had inflicted. Not a drop of blood, not a scar, was to be seen. He knelt upon the grass, and gave thanks to a gracious God. Having done so, he took up his ax, and found a few hairs upon its edge. He turned to the log he had been chopping, and there was a single curl of his boy’s hair, sharply cut through and laid upon the wood. How great was the escape! It was as if an angel had turned aside the edge at the moment it was descending on my head. With renewed thanks upon his lips he took up the curl, and went home with me in his arms.” That lock he kept all his days as a memorial of God’s care and love. That lock he left to me on his death-bed. I keep it with care. It tells me of my father’s God and mine. It rebukes unbelief and alarm. It bids me trust him forever. It used to speak to my father’s heart; it now speaks to mine.”—Selected.