Earlier text: The Law of GodEntering into Other Men's Labors
By I. H. Evans
“I SENT you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labor: other men labored, and ye are entered into their labors.” I heard a true, devoted disciple of the Master mourning because she thought there was to be no crown for her in glory. She said, “I can not see how it is possible for me to be saved. There are to be no starless crowns in heaven. Each star represents a saved soul. There has never been a person led to Christ through my efforts. No star can shine in a crown for me.” I said, “Then why do you not quit the service of God, and go with the world?” “O,” she replied, “go with the world?—Never! I love my Lord and Saviour, and I should serve him if I knew I should be lost. I hope some time before I die to win some soul to Christ.” This sister paid her tithe, and from her meager store freely gave offerings to her Lord. No servant of Christ need pass her door for shelter or food. The poor ever found at her home a welcome. Her prayers never failed to mention the laborers in the great harvest-field, and yet there was no soul that she could count for her Lord. The burning tears ran down her cheeks as she deplored her lack, and regretted her worthless life. Could one but look into the Master's reckoning, the true balances of one's life-work would there be counted. Not in sheaves gathered by the sower would the results be alone measured; but the7 seed sown, the earnest petitions offered, the sacrifices cheerfully made, the faithfulness and heart endeavor would all be remembered before God. The sower is as needful to the harvest as the reaper. John the Baptist must prepare the way for the coming Christ. Huss and Wycliffe sowed for the Reformation harvest. The Word of God, translated into four hundred and fifty languages and dialects of earth, scattered by self-sacrificing disciples of the lowly Nazarene, has opened the doors of nations, and brought forth a whitened harvest awaiting the sickle of the reaper. Those to-day gathering the ripened grain are reaping where others have sown. The seed may take years in coming to maturity, but the sower and the reaper are alike known to the Lord of the harvest. Not only do the sower and the reaper enter into each other's labors, but their harvest of souls is also to be shared with the children of God who have labored with them in prayers and offerings. They who support the servant of God by tithes and offerings, that he may give his whole time to the work of soul saving, can but be sharers in the labor of these men; and when the rewarding day comes, as come it will, and God makes distribution according to every man's work, those who have sustained the work of God by sacrifice and offerings will share in the gathered harvest. Not alone to the officers of an army belongs the glory of a great victory. True, they appear in the foreground, but the men behind the guns, the commissariat and the nation furnishing the recruits and means of sustenance, are important factors in the victory gained. So it is in the cause of God. They who support God's servants who are called to labor in a public way, are an essential element in the work of God. They enter into the labors of “other men,” and when rewards are distributed according to every man's work, the Lord will adjudge to each man his portion. And what a privilege to be a sharer in the souls of men whom we have never seen in the flesh, and who never heard our voice! In that day they will come from benighted Africa, those redeemed souls, and will shine “like the stars of heaven” in the crown of some of God's children. They will come from Asia and the islands of the sea, yea, from every nation and tongue and people under the whole heaven, and be an everlasting joy to those who have had a part in their salvation. Let us never forget that other men labored, and we have “entered into their labors.”
I. H. EVANS. United States Control of Santo Domingo Finances
By L. A. S.
A VERY interesting and important utterance has just come from the United States government through the Department of State. It is a statement of the government’s reasons for assuming charge of the finances of Santo Domingo, at the invitation of the Dominican government, and administering them for the benefit of foreign powers presenting claims against that country. The controlling consideration moving the United States to this course of action is set forth in the following paragraph of this statement:— The government of the United States having been explicitly, repeatedly, and emphatically informed by more than one of the great powers that it ought either to try to evolve some order out of the financial chaos in the Dominican republic or assent to certain European creditors of that republic doing this and to the administration of the Dominican custom-houses by them, supported by their war-ships, has deemed it advisable, in view of the unfortunate financial conditions in Santo Domingo, which for the last ten years have been rapidly growing worse, to accept the invitation of the Dominican government, and therefore representatives of this government and of Santo Domingo have signed a memorandum of a proposed agreement looking to the American control of the fiscal affairs, upon the request and with the consent of the Dominican government. The United States proposes to guarantee the territorial integrity of the Dominican republic. This is viewed by the New York Sun as being “perhaps the most important declaration of American policy respecting the Western continent in its relations to Europe that has appeared since the Monroe doctrine itself was first promulgated,” for reasons which the Sun thus states:— First, because it recognizes, at least in part, the force of the traditional foreign position and demand with regard to the responsibility of the United States for the behavior of the republics whose territorial integrity is safeguarded by the Monroe doctrine. Secondly, because the official statement indicates that the inconvenience and cost of such responsibility, at least in the case of Santo Domingo, have been weighed carefully against the dangers of a great foreign war resulting from a denial of the principle; and thus that the decision of the administration is based on the philosophy of enlightened selfishness and on high considerations of national expediency. Thirdly, because the new program, with its implied new interpretation of responsibility under the Monroe doctrine, involves a radical departure from previous practise, and constitutes for all future time a precedent, the far-reaching importance of which can not be blinked. This “novel and unusual relation which it is proposed that the United States shall bear to a neighboring sovereign republic,” observes the Sun, “can be effectuated constitutionally only in the form of a treaty between the two governments.” It will, however, remain to be seen whether the Constitution, in case the neighboring republic should be averse to such a treaty, will be allowed to stand in the way of “high considerations of national expediency.” Thus in this hemisphere, as well as upon the further side of the Pacific, this nation is being drawn into “world politics,” away from its former position of neutrality marked out by Washington, and away from those principles and traditions recognized as distinctively American. We are in a time when great events are unfolding with startling rapidity. To those who regard the revealed will of God as superior to any law of man, and of binding obligation under all circumstances, the following quotation taken from the examination of Senator-elect Smoot, of Utah, by the United States Senate committee, as reported in the Washington Post of January 22, will be of interest, and may afford food for thought:— “Do you believe the church still receives revelations from God?” asked Senator Overman. “I believe the church can receive revelations.” “I believe any good man can receive revelations, but President Smith is the only man who can receive revelations that would be binding upon the people.” “Do you believe that any revelation which might be given could be superior to the laws of the land?” asked Senator Overman. “I do not believe it would be superior to the laws of the land.” “Then if you got a revelation from heaven yourself, would you have to obey it?” “I believe if it was from God, it would be compulsory upon me to obey it. But if it was contrary to the laws of the country in which I lived, I would move to some other country where I could obey the law.” “Do you believe that revelations are ever given?” “Well, I have heard men testify so, but I could not say.” “I believe that God could do such things. He did it in former days, and could do it now.” “As I understand a former answer by you, it is fundamentally and primarily a part of your religion if a revelation should come to the church that commanded you to disobey the laws of the land, you would not have to obey it?” asked Senator Knox. Mr. Smoot responded that he would be a free agent to accept or reject it, but that if God spoke to him personally, he would leave the country and go to some place where the law of God was not in conflict with the law of the country. An Open Letter
By Ellen G. White
“ELMSHAVEN,” SANITARIUM, CAL., Jan. 11, 1905. To Our Workers in Washington, D. C. DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: You are engaged in a most important work, and I feel a deep interest in all of you. I am hoping that every stroke that is made in Takoma Park and in the city of Washington toward the upbuilding of the cause of God, may tell to the glory of the Lord. I pray that you may all work in such a way that many souls shall be brought to a knowledge of the truth for this time. Let all who can speak words for the Master be wide-awake now, just now, when so much depends upon the earnestness of our efforts. We have not a moment to lose. The end is nearer than when we first believed. Keep your eyes fixed steadfastly on Jesus. Seek the Lord daily for a new consecration. Often ask yourselves the question, “What must I do to be saved?” Then search your Bibles, and pray earnestly for the impartation of the Holy Spirit, that you may understand the truth as it is in Jesus. Remember that you are workers together with God, and that your hearts are to be purified from all defilement. Put away all strife, all evil speaking and evil thinking. Remember that haphazard work will not answer now. We are to do faithful work in upholding the claims of God’s law. Truth in the heart guides us to Christ, who is the author of all truth, and the only one who can cleanse the soul from defilement. The practise of the principles of truth fills the soul with peace. The Medical Missionary Work
I am very much pleased to know that our brethren in Washington have been successful in finding, in a good locality, a building suitable for well-equipped treatment rooms. I see the providence of God in this. I have been instructed that some provision must be made to carry on sanitarium work in this city as soon as possible, while the sanitarium building at Takoma Park is being erected. It would be in harmony with the instruction given me for our brethren to begin sanitarium work in rented buildings in the cities, and then carry on the work until other buildings outside of the cities can be provided. Patients can be transferred from the city place to the institutions in the country. City treatment rooms and country sanitariums can work together advantageously and harmoniously. In Washington the sanitarium work should thus make rapid advancement. The city patients can be gathered in by the place in the city, and from there be taken to Takoma Park, which is only a few miles away, and where they can have the retirement of rural life. In our Washington work wise, competent physicians, efficient managers, and nurses with the very best qualifications will be needed. Earnest, devoted young people also will be needed, to enter the work as nurses. These young men and women will increase in capability as they use conscientiously the knowledge they gain, and they will become better and better qualified to be the Lord’s helping hand. They may become successful missionaries, pointing souls to the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world, and whose healing efficiency can save both soul and body. The Lord wants wise men and women, acting in the capacity of nurses, to comfort and help the sick and suffering. Through the ministrations of these nurses, those who have heretofore taken no interest in religious things will be led to ask, “What must I do to be saved?” The sick will be led to Christ by the patient attention of nurses who anticipate their wants, and who bow in prayer and ask the great Medical Missionary to look with compassion upon the sufferer, and to let the soothing influence of his grace be felt, and his restoring power be exercised. O that all who are sick and afflicted could be ministered to by Christlike physicians and nurses, who could help them to place their weary, pain-racked bodies in the care of the great Healer, in faith looking to him for restoration! The nervous timidity of the sick will be overcome as they are made acquainted with the intense interest that the Saviour has for all suffering humanity. O the depth of the love of Christ! To redeem us from death, he died on the cross of Calvary. Let our physicians and nurses ever bear in mind the words, “We are laborers together with God.” Let every physician and every nurse learn how to work for the alleviation of mental as well as physical suffering. At this time, when sin is so prevalent and so violently revealed, how important it is that our sanitariums be conducted in such a way that they will accomplish the greatest amount of good. How important that all the workers in these institutions know how to speak words in season to those who are weary and sin-sick. Physicians and nurses should ever be kind and cheerful, putting away all gloom and sadness. Let faith grasp the hand of Christ for his healing touch. As our nurses minister patiently to those who are sick in body and soul, let them ask God to work for the suffering ones, that they may be led to know Christ, and let them believe that their prayers will be answered. In all that is done, let the love of Christ be revealed. Every sincere Christian bows to Jesus as the true physician of souls. When he stands by the bedside of the afflicted, there will be many not only converted, but healed. He who declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” will be with his faithful physicians and nurses as they strive to co-operate with him. If through judicious ministration the patient is led to give his soul to Christ, and to bring his thoughts into obedience to the will of God, a great victory is gained. It is for the object of soul saving that our sanitariums are established. In our daily ministrations we see many care-worn, sorrowful faces. What does the sorrow on these faces show?—The need of the soul for the peace of Christ. Poor, sad human beings go to broken cisterns, which can hold no water, thinking to quench their thirst. Let them hear a voice saying, “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters.” Poor, weary, oppressed souls, seeking you know not what, come to the water of life. All heaven is yearning over you. “Come to Me, that ye might have life.” It is that thirsting souls may be led to the living water that we plead for sanitariums, not expensive, mammoth sanitariums, but homelike institutions, in pleasant places. Never, never build mammoth sanitariums. Let these institutions be small, and let there be more of them, that the work of winning souls to Christ may be accomplished. It may often be necessary to start sanitarium work in the city, but never build a sanitarium in a city. Rent a building, and keep looking for a suitable place out of the city. The sick are to be reached, not by massive buildings, but by the establishment of many small sanitariums, which are to be as lights shining in a dark place. Those who are engaged in this work are to reflect the sunlight of Christ’s face. They are to be as salt that has not lost its savor. By sanitarium work, properly conducted, the influence of true, pure religion will be extended to many souls. From our sanitariums trained workers9 are to go forth into places where the truth has never been proclaimed, and do missionary work for the Master, claiming the promise, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Christ can bring light out of darkness. I appeal to all who have means to make a determined effort to carry out the instruction God has given regarding the establishment of a sanitarium in Takoma Park. Let our people rally to the support of this important enterprise. Let the churches in every State act their part, that the work in Washington may not come to a standstill. Let us make liberal gifts to this work, and the Lord will bless us and it. We can not see this work coming to a standstill while it is but half done. It need not come to a standstill if all our people will come up to the help of the Lord. Let us come up to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty powers of darkness. Satan is working with intensity of purpose to enslave and destroy souls. Let us take a firm stand against him. The word of God urges every one to go steadily forward on the upward grade, pressing toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. “He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.” Rev. 21:5. THE world is old with centuries,
But not for these she bows her head;
Close to her heart the sorrow lies —
She holds so many dead! Sad discords mingle in her song,
Tears fall upon her with the dew,
The whole creation groans; how long
Ere all shall be made new? Yet brightly on her smiles the sun,
A bounteous heaven delights to bless;
O, what shall be that fairer one
Wherein dwells righteousness? O happy world! O holy time!
When wrong shall die, and strife shall
cease,
And all the bells of heaven chime
With melodies of peace. No place shall be in that new earth
For all that blights this universe;
No evil taint the second birth —
“There shall be no more curse.”
Ye broken-hearted, cease your moan,
The day of promise dawns for you;
For he that sits upon the throne
Says, “I make all things new.” The Missionary Generation
By Allen Moon
DURING the Dark Ages the heathen nations remained closed to Christian missionaries. Owing to the corrupted form of Christianity then being taught and practised, the time had not come for it to go to all nations. The Reformation came to the so-called Christian nations, and for a time the work of purification went on, also the exposure of the rubbish of false doctrines substituted for the truth by the leaders of the Christian church. The revelation of truth continued through the efforts of godly men until the time came for the Bible, which now began to be printed in many languages, to go to all the world. The Saviour, in conversation with his disciples, told them that some great signs would mark the beginning of the work of giving the gospel of the kingdom to all the world. He mentioned a great earthquake, the darkening of the sun and moon, the falling of the stars, wars of nations, and told them that the generation that saw these signs would also witness the preaching of the gospel to the heathen. These signs began to appear toward the close of the eighteenth century, and continued into the nineteenth century. In addition to the signs referred to, it would be the most natural thing in the world to look for other indications that God and the heavenly host were moving not only the heavens, but the earth also, for the accomplishment of the work for this generation. Let us for a moment view what God has wrought on the earth. When Carey entered India at the very beginning of the nineteenth century, he met with great opposition. Up to that time India had successfully resisted all missionary effort on the part of Christians. The time had come for the decreed change, and in 1812 Carey baptized his first converts, and by the end of 1817 he had many native preachers in the field. The work spread rapidly. Bishop Thorburn, who spent thirty years in India, in writing of the period already referred to, says: “The organization of the London Missionary Society followed, and in many places, both in England and in Scotland, an intense interest was manifested in the new enterprise. The missionary era had been fairly ushered in.” It is recorded of the cobbler Carey that the greatest work of his life was the arousing of the missionary spirit among the Christian people of Europe, which resulted in rallying the people to the support of missionary effort. Thus it was at the opening of the missionary generation. To-day India is open to receive the gospel. More than one hundred and fifty thousand of the people of India have the Bible, and profess faith in the Christian religion. Africa was very little known until Livingstone began his explorations in 1843. The millions that peopled that continent were in total ignorance of the existence of the Bible, but now are being taught the word. The language is the principal obstacle, aside from the hardships of life in the wilderness. In Egypt the gospel may be taught as freely as in England or America, although only a few short years ago the entrance of the gospel was forcibly resisted. We might speak of China and Japan, the center of interest for all the world at the present time. Centuries ago the Chinese were not averse to foreign intercourse, but owing to the doubtful course pursued by the Spanish and other European people, as well as Catholic missionaries, nearly all foreign intercourse was cut off, and it was not until the nineteenth century that a change came. China to-day is ready for the gospel, and the missionary has already penetrated almost every part of that land peopled by more than four hundred millions of inhabitants. Japan was the most exclusive of nations, the laws prohibiting any intercourse of its people with the world. This condition continued from 1624 until the treaty with the United States in 1853. Since that time Japan has welcomed the Christian religion almost as freely as Western civilization. Through the conflict of nations and political evolution, God has wrought the preparation of the world for the great last-day work,—a preparation that only God could bring out of conditions existing three quarters of a century ago; and besides all this, in the same period, the railroads and steamship lines were built, penetrating the very heart of these dark lands, and bringing them as it were to our doors. Printing in almost every language and dialect proves a very great aid in the work of enlightening the dark corners of the world. We are in the last end of the missionary generation. Will God’s people embrace the opportunities provided by divine power, and use the facilities within their reach? “Ye Have Robbed Me”
By R. A. UNDERWOOD
“Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord.” Mal. 3:7. This terrible indictment of God against the remnant church is coupled with a message of hope. Christ holds out the scepter of mercy to a people that have committed a great crime. “Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord.” To stand in the judgment, we must have clean hands and pure hearts. God commands his servants to “cry aloud, spare not, . . . and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” The books of record have been opened. It is court week in heaven. “Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel,” (Amos 4:12) is the message of the hour. The angel with the measuring line has gone forth to measure Jerusalem. Zech. 2:1, 2. The search-light of the divine law must be turned upon every soul. Zeph. 1:12-18; Rev. 11:1; 14:12. The soul temple must be cleansed from every sin. Isa. 1:16; 1 John 1:9. Transgression must be put away from every one who abides the day of Christ’s coming. The church must be without spot upon her garments. The law of God, united with the faith of Jesus Christ (Rev. 14:12), will be the only passport that will admit a soul into the kingdom. This banner must be raised before the world by the church. The world must see exemplified in the life of the church all that the holy law of God demands. The church accepted at the coming of Christ, must be a living example of the divine law engraved in human flesh. For these reasons we invite your prayerful study of this great accusation. When the Creator gave man a being, he reserved holy unto himself the seventh day of time. This day must be recognized as not belonging to man for secular purposes; it is to be kept holy unto God. Ex. 20:8-11. God also reserved one of the fruit-bearing trees of the garden as a test of man’s loyalty, and a recognition of God’s ownership. Gen. 3:3. God reserved sacredly but one day out of the seven to himself. Likewise, of all the products of the earth, he reserved but one tree to test man’s loyalty. Time is essential to man’s being, so are the products of the earth. The former would be of no value to man without the latter, and the bounties of the earth would be of no profit to man without time. Hence God brings a test to man touching these essential gifts of God to man, which involve the entire moral law. The Sabbath has been a test in all the ages of the past, and will be to the end of the world. The tree of10 knowledge of good and evil was removed with the paradise from the earth. But God has given, since sin entered, another test of similar character upon the same point; namely, he reserves one tenth of all the products of the earth as sacred and holy unto himself. Lev. 27:30. The Sabbath has been trampled under foot for many generations. God’s people will take their feet off from the Lord’s holy day in the last days. Isa. 56:1; 58:1-13. For an equal period of time Satan has led the church to rob God of the holy tithe. Thus to defraud God is one of the greatest sins of which man can be guilty, and yet the sin is deep and wide-spread. “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say [in self-defense], Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation [or people]. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, . . . and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” Mal. 3:8-10. Will the church of Christ cleanse herself from these leprous sins? — Yea, she will come forth as “fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners.” Where Are the Blind?
By L. N. MUCK
This great question is one of vital importance, and we as Seventh-day Adventists, as true lovers of the third angel's message, should consider it, and ask ourselves, Where are the blind to-day, that throng of perishing souls who grope their way in darkness, yes, double darkness, and appeal to us for the gospel message? We feel it a great privilege in these last days to throw out the lifeline to our blind brothers and sisters. There are thousands of blind persons among us who have as yet never heard the message. I am convinced that we are responsible for the condition of these dying souls. We are not responsible for their physical condition, but we are responsible for their souls. We shall be held responsible in the day of judgment unless we speedily carry the message to this particular class of people. The question comes, How can we give a knowledge of the third angel's message to the blind? There are but few of them in the message. We can tell them of the soon coming of Jesus in the same way that the message is given to those who are blessed with sight,—by literature and by personal labor. The Christian Record is the organ through which we have reached many souls; and through the same organ, with the co-operation of our brethren and sisters throughout the field, we can give hundreds, yes, thousands, of blind persons a fair knowledge of the precious message. The work for the blind is in its infancy, yet there has been a great work accomplished for those who can see. Many lonely hearts have been made glad by reading the Christian Record. We appeal to all the brethren and sisters in each State, we appeal to each conference president, to give the work for the blind their consideration. We appeal to the tract societies to subscribe for the Christian Record in behalf of the blind people in their State who can not pay for literature. Each State conference and tract society ought to consider it a privilege to supply all the blind in its own State with at least a year's subscription, and thus give them a chance to read for themselves. Is this asking too much?—No. Have you not spent time and means in supplying our seeing friends with literature? Let us give the blind an opportunity. The result will be that laborers will be raised up who will give the message to our blind. My brethren, my sisters, are you enjoying the love of God? Are you willing to share it with your blind neighbors? You can do this by sending the Christian Record to those who can not see. We beseech you in the name of Jesus to subscribe for this monthly journal in behalf of those who can not see. We are at present sending out between five and six hundred copies to the blind. About one fifth of these persons are Sabbath-keepers, and many others are favorably impressed, so we hope to have a glorious harvest for the Master. Does not this pay for the money invested? Almost daily we are receiving applications from blind persons for something to read, and most of them add that they are unable to pay for anything. In almost every case the appeal is so touching that our hearts are melted, and our sympathies go out to them in pity, but we can not supply them. We bring them to you, dear reader, and entreat you to help us carry the message to these truth-loving people who are without hope in the world. Are you traveling to that goodly land? Are you so anxious to reach the goal that you do not see the outstretched hand of the blind? Who was it that called to Jesus as he was passing by?—It was the poor blind man. Jesus had time to stop. There are many to-day calling to us as we pass by. How many of us will take time to stop and bless them? We still have another class to present to you. We have already spoken of the blind who have all their senses except sight. But consider those who are not only clothed in darkness, but who are in absolute solitude, the deaf-blind who can not see the beauties of nature, nor hear the sweet notes of the song-birds. These blessings you enjoy; but do you appreciate them? Do you sympathize with those who are deprived of them? If you do, then co-operate with us in sending the message to them. There are about one hundred and thirty persons in this country who are deaf, dumb, and blind; but many of them can read with their fingers. In the Christian Record we have just what they need. God wants us to be eyes and ears to these unfortunate beings, by carrying the gospel to them. There never was a time in the history of the world when the opportunity was more favorable to sound the last-day message than at the present time. Therefore let us hasten to those who are starving for the gospel. We have copies of the Christian Record in ink type. Those wishing to read it will please drop us a card, and we will gladly mail them a copy. The paper for the blind is full of the message for to-day. Each issue tells of the soon coming of the King. Subscription price, two dollars per year. It is set in American braille and in New York point. The management of the Christian Record has been transferred from Washington, D. C., to the Central Union Conference, College View, Neb. Please send all donations and subscriptions to the secretary, Miss Katie Coleman, College View, Neb., and all funds will be turned over to the treasurer, J. Sutherland.