Earlier text: THE ONE HOPE;Cultivating a Pure Expression.
EVERY word that falls from the lips of mothers and sisters especially should be pure, and concise, and simple; not pearls, such as fall from the lips of the princess, but sweet, good words, that little children can gather without fears of evil, or after shame, or blame, or any regrets to pain through all their life. Children should be taught the frequent use of good, strong, expressive words—words that mean exactly what they should express in their proper places. If a child or young person has a loose, flung-together way of stringing words when endeavoring to say something, he should be made to “try again” and see if he cannot do better. It is painful to listen to many girls’ talk. —They begin with a “My goodness!” and interlard it with “Oh’s!” and “Sakes alive!” and “So sweet!” and “So queenly!” and so many phrases that one is tempted to believe they have had no training at all, or else their mothers were very foolish women. There is nothing more disgusting than the twaddle of ill-bred girls; one is provoked often into taking a paper and reading, and letting them ripple and gurgle on, like brooks that flow, they know not whither. My heart warms with love for sensible girls and pure boys; and, after all, it is our own fault—that this great trust rests in heart and hands of the women of our land. If we have a noble, useful purpose in life, we shall infuse the right spirit into those around us. A Child's Definition of Faith
A LITTLE girl, five years of age, on being asked, What is faith? artlessly replied: “It is doing what God wants us to do, and asking no question about it.” This covers the whole field; perfect trust, combined with implicit obedience. The Cause Is the Lord's.
By R. F. Cottrell
The message of truth which we hold and proclaim is that which is promised in prophecy. Rev. 14: 6-12. Those who believe God's word and providence can ask for no clearer evidence than we have that the time is come for these, the closing messages of probation, to have their fulfillment, and, as a consequence, that the last warning to mankind is being given. Startling as this is, the truth cannot be disproved that the message is on its way, which is to test mankind, and decide the destiny of the generation now living on the earth. The third angel's message has come in the order given in the prophecy, preceded by the preaching of the first and second, and is to be followed by the coming of the Son of man to reap the harvest of the earth. And the declarations of the message itself prove that it is final, closing probation and deciding the destiny of the living. It is to be followed by the day of wrath, without mixture, upon all who do not heed its warning. “If any man worship the beast, and his image, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation.” What an awfully solemn declaration is this! Can it be possible that it is now being given? It cannot be otherwise. God's word in promising and describing it, and his providence in fulfilling it, are perfectly reliable; therefore, the believer is shut up to the conclusion that this is the work of the Lord. The history of the rise and progress of this work to the present time shows it to be in harmony with God's manner of working in other days. From a very small and humble beginning, and bearing the most unpopular truths, and, consequently, meeting with the greatest opposition possible, it has risen to its present state of development. The pioneers in this cause were poor; and while they labored to write and publish the truths into which God had led them by his word, his providence and his Spirit, they were obliged to venture out by faith, trusting in God for the means to perform their work. And many a time God's hand was evidently seen in supplying their wants, and in opening the way for them to go out with the message. Particular instances might be given, but this is not my design. Others, abler and better acquainted with the facts, have given them. But an idea of the progress of our work may be gained by a comparison of our publishing interest in the beginning, and at the present time. The first number of a paper to publish these truths was, after being consecrated to God, and commended to his blessing with thanksgiving, prayers, and tears, carried to the post-office in a hand satchel, or traveling bag. Now, from an office of publication belonging to the cause, with power presses and the best facilities, more than fifty bushels of matter for the mails goes forth in a week. With such a small beginning, and with the truths of God so unpalatable in this age of fables, its steady advancement and permanence show evidence of the guiding and fostering hand of God. We believe that this work is of God. If it is not, it is a stupendous delusion; and good men ought not to favor it in the least. Brother, sister, are you decided on this question? If you cannot, by an examination of all the evidences, come to a decision on this point, you will do best to give it up. Be decided on something. “Either make the tree good and its fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by its fruit.” This is a special movement in fulfillment of prophecy, as we think. It is either from Heaven, or of men. If it is of men, do not countenance it. Perhaps you say, “Its teachings are all right—all the commandments of God, and all the faith of Christ.” If that is so, it is from Heaven. No earthly tree can bear these fruits. But if we decide that this is a Heaven-sent message, be assured, it means something. If we believe we have the truth that is to test the world, as the third angel's message must, of necessity, we should act as if we believed it. Can we see our fellow-men going down to death, and make no effort to warn them of their danger? Will not their blood be found on us? Truly, we have a great work to do. Let us engage in it in the fear of God. R. F. COTTRELL. The Close of this Message.
By R. F. Cottrell
THE time is at hand when the message of the third angel will close, and the destiny of the living, moving throngs of earth will be decided forever. The coming of Him who said, “This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled,” cannot be much longer an event of expectation. His word will not fail; he will soon come. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? The final message has been on its way for a quarter of a century; yet its great work is in the future. Very soon it must be done. Something has been accomplished by way of preparation; a little beginning has been made; but the time is come for the work to be greatly enlarged; and we that have long professed to believe the truth will have the opportunity to prove the sincerity of our love. A crisis is before our people. If we do not repent of our lukewarmness, we shall be spewed out. But the Lord’s work will go onward, though our number should be reduced like Gideon’s army. Brethren, let us prepare for the trial of our faith. We have had warnings and reproofs from the Spirit of God. We have assented and professed faith; but how have we acted? Have we heeded the admonitions? Have we walked in the light? Have we corrected the faults of which we have been admonished? With many of you, I can say that I have tried. But how far short I have come! Earnest zeal and perseverance have been wanting. Self-sacrificing devotion, a love of souls, the true missionary spirit have been sadly wanting. But while we regret the past, we may still hope for the future. We have a merciful High Priest. The Lord still speaks to us. Let us prepare ourselves for the testimony that is ripening, which will try and prove us. Let us repent and open the door and receive the Heavenly Guest. And will he deign to come in? He desires to, or he would not stand at the door and knock. Thank God for reproofs and warnings which are given in great mercy in order to save us. My heart is in sympathy with the appeals which come to us from the Rocky Mountains. I am glad to know that while the Lord’s servants there are drawing near to the Lord, the Spirit’s cry is in their hearts for their brethren. And while I am drawing near for myself, it is encouraging to my heart to know that I have the sympathies and prayers of the dear ones whom God has made instrumental of good by leading out in his cause, and who have so deeply felt the burdens and responsibilities of the cause. May God forgive me for coming so far short of taking the responsibilities that I should. God has not forgotten his cause, nor his servants. And it is true, that if there was ever a time when God’s servants should stand together in the work, it is now. Who will be on the Lord’s side? By the grace of God, I will. The Lord is one; his cause is one; and we certainly ought to have learned by this time how to stand together in the work. The Lord has borne long with us, not because we were worthy, but because he is merciful and gracious. Now let us consecrate ourselves to his work, each one in his own sphere, to push it forward till the world are fully warned, the righteous sealed, and our garments are pure from the blood of souls. Our case is urgent. Our opportunities are fast passing. The work is great, and calls for united effort. Be zealous, and repent. We must reform and walk in the light. The willing and obedient shall be partakers of the promises; while the rebellious shall be cut off. It is my heart’s desire and earnest prayer to God that he will give me a part with his people in the work. R. F. COTTRELL. Henry Ward Beecher’s Orthodoxy.
By James White
There is, perhaps, no individual in the United States who has greater influence in the religious world, than H. W. Beecher. His sermons and lectures are printed in various papers and published in books. He is heard with delight by thousands, and many consider him a real reformer,—a “liberal” in a moderate and orthodox fashion. But the more staid and truly pious have regretted that so great clerical influence should be exerted in favor of novel-reading, and of light or pernicious literature. The habitual reading of such trash as is weekly circulated in the New York Ledger is as bewitching as is gambling, and it is just about as destructive to the moral sensibilities. Bonner is a shrewd money-maker. In paying Beecher $10,000 for writing a novel, he well knew that he would secure thousands of Beecher’s admirers as permanent patrons. The evil exerted by Mr. Beecher in this direction will never be known till the Judgment shall reveal the secrets of men. The question of his “orthodoxy” has been much discussed, and has seemed almost impossible to settle. His writing a novel, and his occasional remarks savoring of “liberalism,” after the most odious use of that term, have caused many doubts, while his many truthful and pious utterances have caused them again to hope. But a recent “lecture-room talk,” puts the question at rest. This was “reported for the Methodist,” of Sept. 6, 1873, where we now read it. The subject was of doubts. A remark was made by a member concerning his past trials of mind, who said, “Nothing helped me till I got hold of this text, The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin.” On this Mr. Beecher remarked as follows:—“That thought of blood never did me the least good in the world. The idea of blood is not to my taste, it pertains to the old sacrifices; the sheep or animal was killed, the people and everything was spattered with the blood. I do not use that text.” That a minister of the Christian religion, and one who is looked up to as an oracle of Christianity, can find no religious comfort in the thought of the blood of Christ, and does not use the text which gives assurance that that blood cleanses from sin, is truly deplorable. And the fact that such an utterance is heard without any apparent shock, and is published in one of the first religious papers of the land without comment or protest, seems fearfully ominous. The most out-spoken infidel of the age is not so dangerous in his influence as is Henry Ward Beecher. No spiritualist lecturer—no open reviler of God and the Bible, is so fast sapping the foundations of Christianity. And the multitude of church goers refuse to “hear sound doctrine,” and delight in the preacher of smooth things—the prophet of deceits. They accept such a plain denial of the blood of Christ, without which the gospel is no gospel in fact, and Christianity is robbed of its power to save. Truly, the “perilous times” have come. 2 Tim. 3:1–5. Duty toward Those that Have the Rule.
By John Nevins Andrews
THE Scriptures clearly define our duty toward those that have been intrusted with authority in the work of God. It is no light burden that is laid upon such persons, and no light account which they must render to God. But inasmuch as no cause can prosper in which there is no order and rule, and where all is anarchy and insubordination, God has in all ages called men to fill important places in his work, and that they may accomplish the task assigned them, he has conferred on them a measure of authority adequate to that task. Such has been the case with all the eminent servants of God in Bible times, and since those times, it has been the same. God has placed in the church such gifts and officers as it has pleased him. The prosperity of the cause of God demands that each of these should be properly regarded by the people of God. If this be not so, then evil will certainly result in every case. The apostle Paul has given this precept: “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves; for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief; for that is unprofitable for you.” Heb. 13:17. No doubt these words cover all the different degrees of authority which God has ordained in the church. They certainly show how God would have his people treat those that are intrusted with a part in his work, and they are a standing rebuke to those rebellious spirits who refuse all subordination, and say, “Our lips are our own; who is lord over us?” But the most important bearing of this text is upon the case of those who are called to bear the chief responsibility in the work of God. The burden upon these servants of God is very great. Their labors are excessive. The Spirit of God having selected these as the most suitable persons to employ in the work of leading out in the cause, it is in the highest degree reasonable to believe that those thus chosen should have clearer and juster ideas by far of the steps that should be taken than those can have who are not thus called of God. They occupy a position from which they can survey the entire field, and they have the special instruction of the Spirit of God to enlighten their minds. Now, it is plain that instead of distrust and murmuring on the part of the church toward such persons, there should be a disposition to sustain them in their work, and to hold up their hands which are ready to fall from weariness. It is an honor to be the helpers of such, and no disgrace to stand in a position where we are more ready to receive counsel than to give it ourselves, or to find fault with that which is given. But it may be asked, “Is there no danger that we may be deceived?” We do not ask any one to act rashly or blindly. But whenever God is specially at work, there will be men to lead and to bear responsibility in counseling and directing. The first thing, therefore, is to satisfy ourselves where God is at work at the present time. Then we may without difficulty ascertain who are those upon whom God has laid the special burden of the work. These are the ones who are entitled to our support and obedience. Shall we never learn to be helpers of such? Shall we always be fault-finders and murmurers, and think our dignity sacrificed by our acknowledging others to have clearer views of God’s work than we ourselves possess? God forbid. Let us be content with the position God has given us, and let us be the true helpers of those whose burdens are heavier, and whose responsibilities are greater than ours. Is it not plain that we must take this course if we would not displease God? And is it not reasonable and just that we should do it? So it seems to me. J. N. A. It is rough work that polishes. Look at the pebbles on the shore! Far inland, where some arm of the sea thrusts itself into a salt loch, lies girdled by the mountains, and sheltered from the storm that agitates the deep, the pebbles on the shore are rough, not beautiful; angular, not rounded. It is where the long, white line of breakers roar, and the rattling shingle is rolled about the strand, that its pebbles are rounded and polished. As in nature, as in art, so in grace; it is rough treatment that gives souls as well as stones, their luster. The more the diamond is cut, the brighter it sparkles; and in what seems hard dealing, their God has no end in view but to perfect his people.—Dr. Guthrie. Be it so, that the most part of Christendom nine hundred years has taught as you do. Is that sufficient argument to reject a doctrine evident by the word of God? May not all Christianity be clean defaced, if such arguments of continuance of time and multitude of persons should be rules to govern men’s consciences? Might not the Gentiles have alleged the like against the apostles and their successors? Might they not have said, and said more truly than you, that the worshipping of their gods, had continued, not hundreds, but thousands of years? that the whole world held with them! that the wise and profound, learned philosophers defended their doctrine? that the apostles were but new heretics, idiots, and unlearned persons? that their doctrine came from the doting people of the Jews? that the gods declared their displeasure and indignations against the new teachings of Christ, with seditions, tumults, wars, plagues, deaths, tempestuous weatherings, and such like? Might not Israelites have counted great folly in the house of Judah, that they would swerve from them in worshiping God, seeing they were ten parts to one? Might not the priests in the old law, yea, did they not, allege against the prophets continuance of time, and multitudes of doctors, priests, and Rabbins? Were they not hundreds to one poor Micheas? Did they not the like in Christ’s time? Did they not beat upon the long continuance of Moses’ law, which, they said he came to destroy? Did they not revile him for his age, his birth, his manner of life, and for that he taught otherwise than a number of the godly, wise, and holy Pharisees? which in those days had as great opinion of holiness of life and deep learning, as the best of your religious monks or observant friars? Might not the Turks, for continuance and multitude, make a gay face for confirmation of Mahomet’s law? Might not they say that it hath continued one thousand years, yea, and with great success and prosperity, as it had been a singular providence of God? May they not say, and too truly affirm, that they have ten for one Christian? May they not say, that it is not likely that God would suffer such a number of nations and countries to err, so many hundred years? Have they not, in many parts of their religion, such apparent devotion, as they may shame us Christian men? And yet it is almost evidently false, and God’s truth remaineth steadfast; although it bind itself neither to continuance of time, nor to person, to place, to number, to this color of life or that in the judgment of the world, but is governed by his wise and inscrutable providence. Wherefore these reasons make no more for you, and against us, than they did for the Israelites against the Jews, for the priests against the prophets, for the Jews and Gentiles against Christ and his apostles, for the Turks against the Christians at this day.—Old Author, Christian Treasury. Cheerfulness.
By Jos. Clarke
KIT is a clerk in a country store, and you would think, to see his pleasant face, that he had only sunshine in his experience. There is no cloud ever visible in his countenance, no thunder, no lightning, no low mutterings of distant or impending storms; yet there is another side, and it is this. Kit thus soliloquizes: It won’t do. If I notice little insults, given by thoughtless persons who trade with us, it will disgust people, and they will go over to the other store to trade. I must keep cool, and never mind what is said by people who are given to complaining. Of course we can’t suit all; and if we do all we can to please people, and they refuse to be pleased, it is not our fault. I have been schooling myself in this store for five years, and no one has ever seen me off my guard. My experience is worth to me five thousand in a business way; and I would not take that sum for it. The fact is, people must be made to feel happy and contented in our store, so that they will stay long enough to do their trading, else we lose their custom: it won’t do to get cross and crabbed, and go sulking around. You must be good-natured; this causes others to forget their grudges, and spend their cash over our counter. I ask if Kit’s policy is not wise; and if Christians would not be more likely to win souls, if they would always cultivate a happy, cheerful, kind manner. Jos. Clarke.