Review and Herald, Vol. 84, No. 46.
Thou Knowest, LordPage 1
Earlier text: Thou Knowest, LordAtlantic Union Conference
By I. H. Evans
Received on the $150,000 Fund up to Nov. 5, 1907
Atlantic Union Conference
Central New England ........ $2,771.18
Chesapeake .................. 519.04
Eastern Pennsylvania ........ 1,889.18
Greater New York ............ 1,118.11
New Jersey .................. 802.63
Maine ....................... 689.88
New York .................... 1,626.50
Southern New England ........ 1,158.50
Vermont ..................... 1,255.00
Virginia .................... 717.14
West Pennsylvania ........... 1,501.85
West Virginia ............... 381.51
Western New York ............ 1,923.80
Total ....................... 16,354.32 Canadian Union Conference
Maritime .................... 317.43
Quebec ...................... 63.64
Ontario ..................... 740.70
Total ....................... 1,121.77 Colorado .................... 2,635.65
Iowa ........................ 4,256.95
Kansas ...................... 2,594.79
Missouri .................... 1,553.23
Nebraska .................... 5,686.90
Wyoming ..................... 780.99
Total ....................... 17,508.51 Washington churches ........ 1,358.44 East Michigan ............... 2,439.01
Indiana ..................... 5,177.27
North Michigan .............. 693.74
Northern Illinois ........... 2,778.31
Ohio ........................ 5,203.00
Southern Illinois ........... 1,136.29
West Michigan ............... 4,706.15
Wisconsin ................... 3,805.47
Total ....................... 25,939.24 North Pacific Union Conference
Conference not specified ... 429.66
British Columbia ............ 122.80
Montana ..................... 497.63
Upper Columbia .............. 2,296.53
Western Washington .......... 1,914.78
Idaho ....................... 889.90
Western Oregon .............. 2,129.94
Total ....................... 8,281.24 Northern Union Conference
Alberta ..................... 200.80
Manitoba .................... 305.30
Saskatchewan Mission Field .. 47.60
Minnesota ................... 5,283.50
South Dakota ................ 2,645.47
North Dakota ................ 1,949.13
Conference not specified .... 73.82
Total ....................... 10,505.62 Arizona ..................... 388.74
California-Nevada ........... 7,981.35
Southern California ......... 1,575.06
Utah ........................ 431.58
Total ....................... 10,376.73 Southern Union Conference
South Carolina .............. 144.39
Alabama ..................... 433.89
Tennessee River ............. 1,119.61
Florida ..................... 613.54
North Carolina .............. 587.21
Cumberland .................. 906.72
Louisiana ................... 390.61
Mississippi ................. 254.59
Georgia ..................... 408.47
Total ....................... 4,859.03 Southwestern Union Conference
Not specified ............... 20.18
Arkansas .................... 384.86
Oklahoma .................... 2,631.21
Texas ....................... 1,203.41
Total ....................... 4,239.66 Unknown ..................... 158.20 Algeria ..................... 13.33
Australia ................... 163.84
Bermuda ..................... 36.00
China ....................... 31.60
South Africa ................ 278.16
Jamaica ..................... 13.41
Yukon Territory .............. 20.00
England ..................... 263.06
West Africa ................. 14.06
Mexico ....................... 2.00
Costa Rica ................... 6.25
India ....................... 147.94
South America ............... 41.80
Switzerland .................. 9.69
Panama ....................... 19.00
Nicaragua .................... 4.00
Central American Mission .... 26.00
Trinidad .................... 28.69
Norway ...................... 25.00
Japan ....................... 12.50
Hayti ........................ 5.00
Egypt ....................... 51.55
Palestine ..................... 2.00
Tobago, W. I. ................. 1.22
Cuba .......................... 8.00
Hungary ....................... 3.00
Tahiti ....................... 14.88
France ........................ 6.80
Philippine Islands ............ 1.00
Samoa ......................... 8.00
Barbados ...................... 5.00
Portugal ...................... 1.00
Straits Settlement ........... 10.08
Total ....................... $1,273.86
Grand Total ................. $101,976.62 “Faint Not”
By Hubert Fletcher
Faint not;
Thy Father knows thy burdens and thy
woes.
His eyes are watching thee;
His love, his sympathy, his pitying care
Are overshadowing thee. Faint not;
Though rough and tempest-tossed thy
life may be,
He knows it all.
His hand on thee, at times though heavy
laid,
Is for thy good. Faint not;
Though sundered far from home, from
those ye love,
He's ever near,
Near thee to hear thy groans, thy sighs,
thy calls—
Yea, he will hear. “Judge Not”
By Ellen G. White
The work of judging his brother has not been placed upon any man. “Judge not,” the Saviour says, “that ye be not judged: for with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” He who takes upon himself the work of judging and criticizing others, lays himself open to the same degree of judgment and criticism. Those who are ready to condemn their brethren, would do well to examine their own works and character. Such an examination, honestly made, will reveal the fact that they, too, have defects of character, and have made grave blunders in their work. If the great Judge should deal with men as they deal with their fellow workers, they would regard him as unkind and unmerciful. “Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye,” the Saviour asked, “but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” The scribes and Pharisees were very rigid in their rules, very severe in their judgment of others, and unmerciful in condemning. They exalted themselves as judges among the people; and while they justified the course of forbidden action that they themselves indulged in, they were quick to condemn with scornful words the course of others, even of those whom God was using to do his work. Their criticism of Christ and his disciples was severe and denouncing, and placed them in a false light before the people. To the view of the Pharisee his individual sins were as the mote, but that which he saw to condemn in others he represented as a beam. Christ declared to such, “Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” Christ did not make himself a judge among men; but he was heaven-appointed to lay down correct principles for the rule of the human family. He appoints agencies to carry out these principles; and by him “princes decree justice.” In the advancement of his cause in the earth, he would have men appointed to deal with the erring who will be kind and considerate, and whose characters reveal the similitude of the divine,—men who will show the wisdom of Christ in dealing with matters that should be kept private, and who, when a work of correction and reproof must be done, will know how to keep silence before those whom it does not concern. Unbelievers should not be given opportunity to make God’s people, be they ministers or laymen, the objects of their suspicion and unrighteous judgment. When it becomes necessary for a minister to do a work of correction, he should be very careful to act righteously and wisely. He is not to denounce the erring harshly before those who know not the truth. The unconverted judge the servants of God by such actions, and conclude that this can not be the work of God. Those who are not of our faith, but who are convicted of the truth, when they see a lack of unity among the ministers who claim to be obeying the truth, close the door of their hearts, saying, We want none of these things. Thus by the exercise of unsanctified speech, souls are turned from the truth, and an example given that opens the way for the things of truth and righteousness to be lowered in the dust. Our workers, when tempted to speak hasty words of criticism and judgment, should remember that silence is golden. I am instructed to bear this message to ministers: Judge not after the desire of your own mind. Do not, in order to carry out your own plans, bring forward that which will condemn another. Such a work is not a work of righteousness, and is one which God forbids. If you are under the sweet influence of Christ’s Spirit, it is your privilege to give counsel to your brother; but if you are not under the direction of the Spirit of God, keep silence. It is God’s prerogative to judge, not man’s. Man is debarred from the seat of judgment by the words of Christ, “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” My brethren, the time has come for every man to examine critically his own case. The time has come for men to keep their words of fault-finding for their individual selves. Let those who have been free to express their ideas regarding the error of their brother’s course, examine their own lives by the light of the Word of God. There is a great work of reconversion to be done before the way for the Lord’s coming shall be prepared. Men and women who have long professed to serve the Lord need to experience the quickening power of the Holy Spirit. Great care should be exercised in choosing men to occupy positions of responsibility as guardians of the churches. My brethren, do not make this choice blindly, lest the flock of God be given an example that will teach them to tear and devour. The men who bear responsibilities in the cause of Christ should be men of prayer and humility. They are to act like men who in all their dealings with their brethren are guided by the Spirit of God. They are to give an example of righteousness. They are sacredly to guard the reputation of those who are doing the work of God. I have been shown that some of the leaders in the work have acted the part of an inconsiderate father who loses control of his words and spirit, and who acts severely with his children because he supposes it necessary to show his authority. Often such a father, in exercising his ruling power, gives an example of passion and injustice, which strengthens the evil. The parent who deals thus with his child does it a great wrong, and needs to turn his indignation and censure against himself. I have been instructed to say that those workers who have carried this spirit into their labors and plans in the conference are as surely stumbling-blocks to souls as is the inconsistent parent to his child. God never intended that in his work the mind of one man should control the mind of another. Those who are trying to carry out their personal plans should carefully consider whether they are following the example of him who said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Those who follow in the footsteps of Christ will not act the part of an accuser, passing judgment on those who they suppose make mistakes. We have a most solemn message to bear to the world. Let those who suppose that they are to have authority, remember that they are men under authority. A higher power than that of any earthly potentate is to rule them. Religion's Chief Test
By K. C. Russell
Recently the following paragraph came under my observation, and it is so expressive of the true elements that are embraced in the Christian religion that I have been constrained to pass it on to the readers of the REVIEW:— “The supreme test of religion is that it be experienced in our lives. A man may have deep religious feeling, but if it does not prove itself in action, it is but vapid emotionalism. Sentiment and prayers do but make a mockery of God9 and the church, if they do not issue in right life. It is only when our religion masters our temptation, sweetens our ugly tempers, overcomes our bad habits, casts out our selfishness, moves us to do good to our neighbors, gives us courage in danger and faith and calm under the fire of affliction, that it is real. Then it has set to it the seal of experience, and then it will bring the favor of God and crown with an immortal hope.” The question that these words should prompt each one to ask himself, is, Will my religion stand the test outlined in the foregoing words? There is nothing that will so recommend the religion of Jesus Christ in these times, when there is so much empty profession, as an unselfish godly life, which will manifest itself in the home, church, and business. It is said of Christ himself, “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Searching for the Lost
By William Covert
OUR relation to Christ as sinners saved by grace places us in the field of labor to help in saving other sinners. The gospel of salvation which applies in our redemption, should, like the water that runs the mill, flow on to do the next service that lies in its course. What Paul said of his gospel debt (Rom. 1: 14, 15) is true of every Christian, and his earnest effort to discharge the obligation was no more strenuous than ours should be. In one of his epistles he spoke of thirty-nine reasons (2 Cor. 6: 3-10) that impelled him to work, and said he must not offend or come short in any of these, else the ministry would be blamed. And every point that he mentions, and many more, plead with us to be zealous in our missionary work. The message is more complex now than when Paul preached in Ephesus or on Mars Hill. The number of false gods which men worship now are more than twice as many as received their devotions then. There are more people in the enemy's ranks now than belonged to his forces then. At no time in the world's history have the hearts of men been set against the truth more than now. Never before were the people as widely distributed over the face of the whole earth as now; and all of them are to be found and told about the coming of the Lord and everlasting life in the home of the saved. Many of them will believe and obey when they hear the good news, but they must be searched out. The Lord calls those who may be saved through the truth, straying sheep. So he says, “I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land.” Eze. 34: 11-13. A prophet writes concerning the very careful search that is to be made, saying, “I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.” Jer. 16: 16. The Lord is not willing that one should perish; therefore every possible effort is to be made in searching for those who are wandering away from the fold. Those who are most skilled in fishing and most persistent in hunting for souls, are now to be employed in the final work of gathering out the Lord’s jewels from among the vast millions that people the earth. No pains should be spared, nor should anything be left undone that would aid in hastening this great work. All the mercantile and business interests of earth sink into insignificance when compared with the importance of getting the wandering souls out of the darkness and distress of sin into the light and joy of eternal life. Every available person is called upon to search for the lost. Every sea and river must be fished; every mountain and hill must be hunted, and every kingdom and tribe traversed now in finishing this last great work. As to the time and place of beginning, the reader should understand that now is the time, and the nearest home is the place to begin. The early Christians were instructed to begin at Jerusalem, the place where they dwelt just then. When Jerusalem was worked, they were to enter the provinces nearest to it, and then to spread abroad as rapidly as their success would indicate that the field of labor should be widened. No one will have far to go who begins with the sinner nearest at hand. Begin now. G. B. THOMPSON
By G. B. Thompson
A PRAYERLESS home is indeed a sad thing to behold, especially when the inmates profess to love God. In Jer. 10: 25 we read: “Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not upon thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.” In some homes where once the family altar was set up, and the father as the priest of the family gathered the members of his household together morning and evening for prayer, and to seek the Lord for help, it has fallen down. The cares of life have crowded out this blessed hour from the home. But mark it—backsliding is gradual—the day that family worship was omitted, your backsliding began. When family worship is crowded out of the home through making the cares of life primary, the spiritual influence suffers in consequence. When the voice of vocal prayer is heard no more, the spiritual atmosphere changes, and as a result the children drift into the world and are lost. The following beautiful words concerning family prayer will be read with profit:— “Surely the goodness of a thoughtful Providence, received day after day in unbroken continuity, requires some grateful recognition of praise. Then is it not a perilous thing for members of the household to disperse in the morning to their duties and responsibilities, into dangers and temptations, to meet possible trials, without invoking Heaven’s guidance, protection, and help? There is reason to fear that in many homes family worship is neglected, and that in the intense whirl and excitement of these busy times the neglect is becoming more and more common. How can we expect God’s blessing upon our homes if we do not call upon his name? Is it any wonder that there is sorrow over children’s wanderings in the households in which there is no family altar?” “There is a wondrous educating influence in the daily assemblage of the family for prayer. Where through childhood and youth the custom has been regularly maintained, its influence over the life is such as can never be wholly obliterated. And it may be seriously questioned whether in any other way, by any other means, children can be so firmly ‘bound by gold chains about the feet of God.’” “The memories of the old family altar, waked years and years after the home walls had crumbled and the home voices had become silent, have led many a wanderer back to God’s feet.” “Then there is nothing else that so sweetens the home-life. True family worship is a fountain that brings streams of holy influence into every part of the household. It is a vase of perfume that sheds fragrance over all. It softens asperities. It quells anger. It quiets impatience. It settles difficulties. It subdues evil passions. Hearts that are drawn together at God’s feet every day can not get very far apart. The frictions of the day are forgotten when all voices mingle in the same heavenly song. As the tender words of inspiration fall with their benign counsels, all feeling of unkindness melts away. The altar in the midst wondrously hallows and sweetens the home fellowship. Besides, it puts new strength into every heart. It comforts sorrow. It is a shield against temptation. It smoothes out the wrinkles of care. It inspires strength for burden bearing. It quickens every religious sentiment, and keeps the fires burning on every heart’s altar.”—“Week-Day Religion,” pages 77–79. Has the family altar fallen down in your home? Or have you been neglecting to establish in your home the morning and evening hour of prayer? In either case, delay no longer. Begin today. Gather your family together, and after reading God’s Word, kneel before him and thank him for the many blessings you have continually received, confess your sins, and pray that he who10 notes the sparrow’s fall will keep you as a family from sin. This will bring the blessing of God into your heart, and strengthen you in many a conflict with the powers of darkness. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH
By John Norton Loughborough
The Lord in his Word teaches us that his Spirit has a work to do for us in leading us into all truth, helping our infirmities, and like a voice behind us, saying, “This is the way,” when we are liable to stray from the right path. In our natural condition our heart is said to be “a heart of stone,” yet the Lord by his prophet has said, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” Eze. 36: 26, 27. By the same prophet the Lord has said of one brought into such a position, “If he trust to his own righteousness and commit iniquity, all his righteousness shall not be remembered.” Eze. 33: 13. Such then “follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing.” Eze. 13: 3. Having tasted the presence of the Holy Spirit, if they begin to trust in their own strength, they are quite sure to fall. So they were admonished, “Take heed to your spirit” (Mal. 2: 15); that is, be sure that the spirit leading you is the Lord’s Spirit, and not the spirit of Satan, or simply the leadings of your own mind. So also in the New Testament times our Saviour said to some who were zealous to see vengeance upon those who did not favor them, “Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.” Luke 9: 55. The beloved apostle John left on record this admonition: “Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God.” 1 John 4: 1. The apostolic church was troubled with those who labored with great “zeal,”—zeal that was “not according to knowledge.” The beloved John thus spoke of Diotrephes, “who loveth to have the preeminence,” as “prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.” 3 John 9, 10. What was true in the early church has been manifest also in later times. When the Lord has a special work going forward, Satan will seek to move some souls to follow their own spirit. Professing to have light from the Holy Spirit, they bring reproach upon the cause by their fanaticism. Thus it was in the days of the Reformation, under Luther and Melanchthon. A counter movement was started, in which the leaders claimed that all should be taught directly by the Holy Ghost. Of these it was said, “They rejected the Word of God as the all-sufficient rule of faith and practise, and substituted the changeable, uncertain standard of their own feelings.” They pleaded that they were “led by the Holy Spirit.” Of them Melanchthon said, “There are spirits of no ordinary kind in these men; but what spirit? On the one hand, let us beware of quenching the Spirit of God, and on the other, of being seduced by the spirit of Satan.” Of these fanatics Luther said, “I always expected that Satan would send us this plague.” Of the leaders in the movement he said, “To them the Holy Scriptures are but a dead letter, and they all began to cry, ‘The Spirit! the Spirit!’ but most assuredly I will not follow where their spirit leads them.” Again we read of them, “The fanatical leaders gave themselves up to be governed by impressions, calling every thought of the mind the voice of God. Consequently they went to great extremes.” The teaching of Munster, one of the leaders in the fanaticism, “led them to break away from all control, and to give the reins to their prejudices and passions.” In the great second advent movement, which so mightily stirred the people from 1840 to 1844, Satan was restrained from introducing his fanaticism. As an illustration of the work, we quote the testimony of Elder L. D. Fleming, where he speaks of the labors of Brother William Miller in the Casco Street Christian church of Portland, Maine:—“The interest awakened by his lectures is of the most deliberate and dispassionate kind, and though it is the greatest revival I ever saw, yet there is the least passionate excitement. It seems to take the greatest hold on the male part of the community. What produces the effect is this: Brother Miller simply takes the sword of the Spirit, unsheathed and naked, and lays its sharp edge on the heart, and it cuts! That is all. Before the edge of this mighty weapon, infidelity falls, and Universalism withers. False foundations vanish, and Babel’s merchants wonder. It seems to me that this must be a little the nearest like apostolic revivals of anything modern times have witnessed.” The winter of 1844-45, after the close of the 2300-day period, until the people began to receive the true light on the sanctuary question and the third angel’s message—the explanation of their disappointment—was a time when Satan was busy seeking to introduce his fanaticism. One of the most effective of his snares was the extreme teaching that every one was to get his light in all things directly from the Lord—from the Holy Ghost—thus to come into a state of “holiness” where his every thought would be from the Lord. A few claimed that they had reached that “spiritual state.” Their course, however, seemed to develop more of the animal than was consistent with their claim. Sister Harmon, now Sister E. G. White, was sent by the Lord from place to place to reprove and correct these fanatics. For this reason her enemies charged her with teaching those things which she had actually condemned. By the aid of her instructions those accepting the third angel’s message were shielded from these deceptions. Of course Satan did not like to be defeated, so, until order was established among us, he tried to have some of these individuals ventilate their peculiar ideas. Regarding the way of safety in these things we have this instruction: “The peril which threatens our usefulness, and which will prove our ruin, if not seen and overcome, is selfishness—placing a higher estimate upon our plans, our opinions, and moving independently of our brethren. ‘Counsel together,’ has been the word repeated again and again. . . . Satan may move through one man’s mind to warp things out of their proper channel; he may succeed with two who view things in a similar light; but with several minds enlisted, there is greater safety against his wiles. Every plan will be more liable to be viewed from all sides, every advance will be more carefully studied, so that no enterprise will be likely to be entered upon which will bring confusion and perplexity, and defeat the work in which we are engaged. In union there is strength; in division there is weakness and defeat.”—“Special Testimony,” No. 5, page 3. Following such wholesome instruction would surely be a safeguard against that kind of trusting in the spirit, and a great aid in trying—proving—“the things that differ.” In all his dealings with the nations God has sought, first of all, to save as many of their people as possible. This purpose he has never lost sight of. “When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.” Deut. 32: 8. The apostle Paul states the same fact thus in his address to the Athenians: “He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times, before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us.” Acts 17: 25-27. The people of all nations are equally near to the Lord, and, since he has made all of one blood, all are equally dear to his heart. He does not regard them with indifference, as mere passive agents in the execution of his designs, but seeks to stir them up to feel after him, that they may find him. One of the most ancient families of the earth was settled in the land of Egypt, and the history of God’s dealings with that people is full of interest. Like the other nations, they lost the knowledge of the true God because when they did know him, “they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of11 the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.” Rom. 1: 21-23. Yet, although the land of Egypt was filled with idolatry of the grossest kind, God did not abandon it, but sent his witnesses again and again to declare the truth. Abraham and Joseph made known in Egypt the living God, and the children of Jacob were welcomed to the land by Pharaoh. But a change came, and persecution, long and sore, was visited upon the rapidly multiplying Israelites until God stretched out his hand and by great signs and wonders delivered his people from the house of bondage. No nation in the world ever had a clearer testimony to the true God than was given through Moses and Aaron to the Egyptians. From that time Egypt had full opportunity to know what God was doing in Israel. Again and again the prophets received messages for the land of Egypt, but its ancient pride and stubbornness frustrated the work that God would have done for it, until the time came when he was obliged to break its strength to pieces, and humble it into the dust by means of the armies of Babylon. There were two sins for which Egypt was especially punished, her pride and her treachery to Israel. It is true God had forbidden his people to go down to Egypt for help, but that did not excuse Egypt for her deceitful course. Her statesmen had been very prompt to desert those who trusted in them when the interests of Egypt seemed endangered, but God had marked the treachery, and its punishment came in due time. “And all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the Lord, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel. When they took hold of thee by thy hand, thou didst break, and rend all their shoulder: and when they leaned upon thee, thou breakest, and madest all their loins to be at a stand.” Eze. 29: 6, 7. The pride of Egypt was to be permanently humbled. “It shall be the basest of the kingdoms; neither shall it exalt itself any more above the nations: for I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations.” Verse 15. But all these things came upon Egypt, after being foretold to her by God’s prophets, in order that she might know the true God, and might learn to fear him. “And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt, every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the Lord of hosts, which he hath determined against it.” Isa. 19: 17. Egypt became later a place of refuge for the children of Israel, a land where they were welcomed, and, on the whole, kindly treated. To Egypt Joseph and Mary were directed to flee from the wrath of Herod, and there, probably in one of the colonies of Jews, they found a refuge until Herod was dead. It may have been this experience that was before Isaiah when he wrote: “In that day shall there be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, . . . they shall cry unto the Lord because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a savior, and a great one, and he shall deliver them.” Verses 19, 20. In their weakness Egypt learned the lesson that was taught in vain in the days of pride and prosperity, and thus the distress and downfall of Egypt was blessed to it. “And the Lord shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day.” On the day of Pentecost devout men were present from Egypt, and a little later the treasurer of Candace, queen of Ethiopia, carried to the south of Egypt the good tidings of the Saviour. “And the Lord shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the Lord, and he shall be entreated of them, and shall heal them.” Under the healing influences of the gospel, the three ancient enemies, Egypt, Assyria, and Israel, should be no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens and of the household of God; “whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria, the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.” Notwithstanding the rebellious spirit of Egypt, God’s thoughts toward it were thoughts of peace. He was compelled to humble it as a nation in order that the people of Egypt might feel after him and find him. In mercy God shatters the idols and the ambitions of mankind in order that he may bring true and lasting good to his children. More than this, no one can tell how powerful to restrain the other nations has been the history of Egypt. On that stage, before the eyes of all the earth, God has revealed himself and taught a needed lesson to many peoples: “I will also vex the hearts of many people, when I shall bring thy destruction among the nations, into the countries which thou hast not known. Yea, I will make many people amazed at thee, and their kings shall be horribly afraid for thee, when I shall brandish my sword before them; and they shall tremble at every moment, every man for his own life, in the day of thy fall.” Eze. 32: 9, 10.—Present Truth. One Difference
By Addie S. Bowen
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.” Isa. 55:8. One very marked difference between the thoughts and ways of the Lord and those of man, is in the disposition shown toward offenders. God is reaching out after sinners, ever ready to receive any who will come to be folded in his forgiving embrace. Sorrow and repentance for sin, with pleas for forgiveness, are gladly accepted, and the sinner is abundantly pardoned. All the mistakes and sins are at once moved out of the way, put behind the Lord’s back. Isa. 38:17. Those forgiven sins are never held up as a separating barrier by the Lord, to dishearten or discourage his child, nor to hinder him in overcoming. With man, how different! When a person is mistreated or thinks he is mistreated, if not a truly humble Christian, he holds the offender at a distance, and that offense comes up again and again as a barrier between the two. The offender may have acknowledged the fault and asked pardon. It may have been excused, yet it is brought out to be examined and talked over by the offended one and others, perhaps as long as he lives. It is not put behind the back, left once for all, never to make a separation again. This is the way of humanity. But, thank God, the love with which he loves sinners we can have, hearts full of it, if we ask God for it, and do our part to get rid of our naturally wicked hearts. He promises to take away the hard-heartedness and give us of his disposition, and he does it when we choose to let him. It is blessed to have the love of God for every one, and not a hard, unkind thought toward a soul on earth. BEING lighted is never the end of the Christian’s life; not even being lighted from above. Being “lights”—that is the end. The moon is bright when it happens to be in a bright place; when the earth comes between it and the sun, it is dark. There are moonlight Christians who are bright enough when lighted by God’s manifest favor, but if the darkness of earth—a sorrow or a burden—rises between them and God, they are black and dark. . . . Christ would have us so “dwell in the light” that we may become “children of the light,” in whom there is “no darkness at all.”—Selected. Do Not Neglect the Little Things
“Do not pass by the little things and look for a large work. You might do successfully the small work, but fail utterly in attempting a large work, and fall into discouragement. Take hold wherever you see that there is work to be done. Whoever, and wherever you are, O youth, God calls you into active service for him. No one but yourselves can do your work. If you withhold your light, some one must be left in darkness through your neglect. Every day there are souls going down to ruin, ‘lost for a want of a word’—a word you might have spoken.” WE were listening recently to a statement of an unusually bright man, concerning his experience with a set of fanatics. He said, “I went among them prepared to accept whatever truth they might have. But I found that the dove was not there.” The Holy Spirit was well symbolized at Jesus’ baptism by the dove, the gentlest and most loving of all the feathered creation. Those who have him have the dove-like nature.—Selected.