NOTES by James White

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Apr 20, 1888

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 14, No. 16.

NOTES.

By James White

SAID the Saviour to his disciples, "Ye are the salt of the earth." Salt is a preservative; that which would soon decay, if left to itself, may be preserved indefinitely by the addition of a little salt. It is thus that the true followers of Jesus are the salt of the earth. A corrupt generation would soon become so offensive as to necessitate its removal from the earth; but the presence of a humble few who walk in the Spirit, checks the flood of iniquity, and stays the wrath of God. The presence of righteous ones has often served to save the lives of wicked men. So God blessed Potiphar, and all that he had, for Joseph's sake. And since God uses means, it is not presumptuous to suppose that part, at least, of the blessing upon Potiphar's house was because an honest man was administering his affairs. The wicked despise the righteous, yet they owe to them more than they can realize.

WHEN David had committed the grievous sin of taking the wife of Uriah, and his sin had been brought home to his conscience, he cried out to the Lord: "Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight." Ps. 51:4. He realized that his sin was primarily against God. So when Joseph was tempted to wrong his master, he recalled how his master had trusted him by putting everything into his hand, and said, "How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" Every act which shows a lack of love for our neighbor, shows a lack of love for God; the wrong which one may do to his fellow-man is only secondary; the greater wrong is against God. Only conscientious souls realize this; those who have not the "fear of God" before their eyes, will not stop to consider the interest of their neighbor, when it comes in conflict with their own pleasure. W.