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Review and Herald, Vol. 78, No. 30.

SATISFIED
Earlier text: SATISFIED

Escaping a Burning Building

In escaping from a burning building, creep or crawl out of the room with your face close to the floor. You will thus avoid suffocation by the smoke and flames.

GONE TO PREPARE A PLACE.

By Elder G. B. Thompson

ELDER G. B. THOMPSON.
To cheer the disciples, who were sad and desponding because Jesus was going to a place to which they could not go, the Saviour said: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. . . . And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14: 1–3.
How consoling are these words! How many weary pilgrims have been cheered by them on the field of battle! Now God’s children are strangers and pilgrims. This is not their home. There was no place for the Master when He was here, and there is no place for His children. Unknown by the world, they have wandered here below, forsaken and lonely. In deserts, in mountains, in dens, and in the caves of the earth they have been hidden because there was no place for them in this land of sin. They have been mocked, tempted, scourged, imprisoned, stoned, and sawn asunder, have wandered in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, afflicted, and tormented, counted as the filth and offscouring of all things. But in the midst of all these persecutions they have been encouraged to endure unto the end because of the precious promise that the Saviour was preparing a place for them, and in a little while would return to take them home.
It will be a grand and glorious place. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath the human heart conceived the glories and matchless splendor of that eternal dwelling place. It will be a renewed and beautified earth, on which will be situated the capital city, the New Jerusalem. Here will be the abode of the Father and the Son. On the very spot where stood the cross, and where the life-blood of the Lamb of God ran down upon the earth, will stand forever the throne of the Eternal.
Oh, what a God is our God! His domain is eternal and unlimited. All space is filled with shining suns and worlds, filled with happy, unfallen beings. One writer tells us that to the center of the milky way it is thirty-four million times as distant as from the earth to the sun. Yet could we transport ourselves there, and then gaze on beyond, we could behold other worlds as remote as our own. All these the Lord created to be inhabited, otherwise it would have been a vain creation. Isa. 45: 18. Each mansion is the place prepared for its inhabitants. So with this earth. Sin has marred it, and unfitted it for a dwelling place. But the Lord will prepare it for His people, and give it to them for their eternal home, and no sin will ever again intrude itself to spoil the happiness of the redeemed. “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.” Rev. 21: 4.
But how different with the wicked! Now they spread themselves like a green bay tree, but in the eternal ages there will be no place for them. “For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.” Ps. 37: 10. Why is there no place?—Because “the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Verse 11. The Jewish translation reads: “For yet but for a little while, and the wicked shall be no more: yea, thou shalt look carefully at his place, and he shall not be there.” Ps. 37: 10. This earth is his place now, but beyond the purging, cleansing fires of the last day, you can scan the utmost corners of the purified earth, but no sinner will be found; “he shall not be there.” An additional thought is suggested by Spurrel’s translation: “Surely yet a little while, and the wicked one shall not be.” And thou shalt diligently search for his abode, but he is not. Satan, that “wicked one,” shall be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, and destroyed. He is the root of sin, and with all the wicked and fallen angels will cease to exist. Mal. 4: 1, 3. The entire universe will be cleansed from evil; and iniquity shall not rise up a second time. How precious the thought! And shall we not live in such a way that we may inherit the place the Redeemer has gone to prepare?

UNDER THE LAW.

By M. E. Kellogg

M. E. KELLOGG.
It is not uncommon for the religious press to throw out expressions deprecating the study of the day of the Sabbath as something long ago settled, and therefore not worth discussing. But every little while articles upon this subject appear in the same papers, which show that, in spite of all efforts to the contrary, the question of the day of the Sabbath will not down, and the editors are fain frequently to publish something to sustain the practice of worshiping upon the “venerable day of the sun” of Constantine’s decree. Two long articles appeared some time ago in the Christian Advocate in support of Dr. Aker’s theory that Sunday is the original seventh day from creation. It will probably only be a question of time before some other writer will in the same paper prove (?) that we cannot tell when the seventh day, or any other day comes, as is very commonly taught in many pulpits and papers.
Recently a lady writer appeared in the Advocate as a defender of the observance of the first day of the week. The following are the first two paragraphs of her article:—
“About fourteen years ago a little tract was put into my hands, entitled ‘One Hundred Reasons Why Christians Should Keep the Seventh Day.’ It contained one hundred Scripture passages on the Sabbath, and not a word besides. It confused me, hurt me, stunned me. Holding it in my hand, I prayed that if the Adventists were right, God would open the way for me to worship on Saturday. Then I laid it aside and forgot all about it. Afterward, when the truth had been made clear to me, I found the tract and put it in the fire.”
“Recently my heart has been pained by the knowledge that some of God’s dear people are in sorrowful darkness because of erroneous teaching on this line. A long, pitiful letter received recently has stirred me to prepare this article. The writer, after telling of her struggles and beseeching help, says, ‘I went to my pastor for advice, but he could give me no satisfactory proof—in fact, seemed very uneasy.’”
The reader will notice that there was nothing in the tract which she received except Scripture texts, yet the writer confesses to having been “confused,” “hurt,” and “stunned” by them!
Why should the reading of plain Scripture texts with no word of comment have such an extraordinary effect upon a Christian? We can think of no reason except that the texts cited presented evidence that the reader was not living in accordance with their teaching. Afterward, when she had convinced herself that Sunday was the Sabbath after all, she committed to the flames those references to the Scripture, and so, in her own mind, destroyed the evidences that had so confused her! She evidently thought that references to Scripture texts were very dangerous things to have around. An ancient king of Israel once pursued a similar course to ease his conscience. See Jer. 36: 20-23.
We will now consider some points in this article: The very title of it is a confession: “Which? Sabbath or Sunday? Seventh Day or First Day?” Here is an admission that Sunday is not the Sabbath, that the first day is not the seventh day. In the article we read, “Our first day is not the Sabbath day changed, but a new day.”
By this must be meant a new institution. Of course this new Sunday institution cannot depend for its authority upon the bases of the Sabbath. The sanctification of the seventh day at creation and the Fourth Commandment of the Decalogue furnish no support to it. Contrary to all Methodist doctrines upon this point as set forth by the standard authors of that denomination and taught in the “Discipline,” this writer abolishes the law to get rid of the Sabbath which it ordains! Here is a specimen of the argument:—
“We are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.” Rom. 6: 14, 15. Because we are not obliged to keep the seventh day, which pertained to the old creation, to Sinai and to law, shall we be careless about the first day, which pertains to the new creation, to the Church, and to grace?”
Was there ever before such an argument, and such a conclusion following it, as the foregoing? Paul’s grand appeal to the Christians not to abuse the free pardon offered them through Christ by again relapsing into sin, or transgressing the law again, is dwindled down into, Being no longer obligated to keep the Sabbath, shall we be careless about Sunday! Why, bless the good sister; Paul was not writing nor thinking about Sunday at all. He was as innocent of the whole Sunday muddle as an unborn babe.
Let us look at this point again: The law of Ten Commandments is supposed to be abolished; it has passed away. Now we will try this new logic on some other one of the obsolete Ten Commandments and see how it will sound: Because we are not obligated to honor our parents any longer, which obligation pertained to the old creation, to Sinai and to law, shall we be careless about honoring the parents of other people? This is a very good parallel. One is no more absurd than the other.
Again we quote: “If we were under the law, the Seventh-day Adventists would be right, and we must keep the Sabbath, the seventh day, or disobey God.” The writer evidently holds that the expression “under the law” means under obligation to keep it. Not under it, then, must mean not under obligation to keep it. No obligation to keep it means permission to ignore and disregard it,—not one commandment only, but every one. Apply this theory of interpretation to the law, and what do we have?—Freedom to break the law—freedom to do just what it forbids—actually freedom to sin!
There is a better, a more sensible and reasonable explanation of the meaning of the words “under the law,” and that is that they mean under its condemnation. Through Christ we who believe are pardoned of all our sins, and are no longer under the condemnation of the law. We are no longer under law, but under grace, or favor. But should we sin,—and the transgression of that same law is sin,—we are no longer under grace, but under the law. By our own transgressions of the law we have put ourselves back there under condemnation again. And those who have not repented, and obtained grace, are not out from under the law; the law still holds them under its condemnation.
These quotations will give to the reader some idea of the quality of the matter that the leading Methodist Episcopal paper in the United States is placing before its readers upon the subject of the Sabbath and the law. In its treatment of the law as a whole, it contradicts the historic writers of the denomination. But this is not so bad as it is to contradict the Bible.

CHRIST IN MY LIFE.

By John M. Hopkins

JOHN M. HOPKINS.
(Westport, Minn.)
“I AM CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Gal. 2: 20.
Christ in my life, this is my need, Christ in my life, for this I plead, That every word and act of mine Shall magnify His grace divine.
Christ in my life. I long to be Henceforth from every evil free; That Christ may all my powers control, In all my life, in all my soul.
Christ in my life. O let me hear Thy loving voice to guide and cheer! The way of duty make me know, And lead thou me where’er I go.
Christ in my life. Lord, I would live Just where thy providence may give My life a place, while here I stay; Only abide with me, I pray.
Christ in my life. ’Twere blessed, Lord, To feed upon thy holy word; To speak thy grace and sing thy praise, With joyful heart, in joyful lays.
Christ in my life, both here and there Where praise shall take the place of prayer; Here, that I may thy servant be, And there, to praise eternally.

WALKING WITH GOD.

By Elder O. S. Ferren

ELDER O. S. FERREN. (Laramie City, Wyo.)
“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” Amos 3:3. This is a question of great importance. We must agree with God, in order to walk with Him. There will be no forced walk; God will not pull us along against our will. “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.” James 4:8. There is one thing sure: we are either walking with God or walking with Satan. God and Satan never walk together. They are far apart, one going one way, the other going another way. Let us see that we agree with God.
God says, “The end of all things is at hand.” 1 Peter 4:7. He tells us to walk honestly (Rom. 13:13), “and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:7.
The Lord says we should “love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him.” Do we agree with God?
He says, “The love of money is the root of all evil,” and the apostle says, “Having food and raiment, let us be therewith content.” Are we truly walking with God?
As the signs are fulfilling around us, showing that the end of all things is at hand,—this earth groaning under the weight of sin; Satan marshaling his forces; the storm cloud spreading over the nations of earth,—are we consecrating ourselves and all that we have to the service of our Leader? Do we agree with God? If so, we are walking with Him.
I saw a man walking toward the jail with an officer of the law. They were walking together, but it was a forced walk: there was neither faith nor obedience. The man was moving along because he was forced that way by the law: there was no agreement. God does not force nor push us along. We must agree with Him to walk with Him.
It seems strange that two vessels, sailing in opposite directions, may be driven by the same wind, until we learn that it all depends upon the way the sails are set. My brother, how are your sails set? Are they set so that you are sailing straight for the haven of rest? God says that it is good for you to draw near to Him, and the “Lord is with you, while ye be with Him.” By seeking, we shall find. But if we forsake Him, we all know the result.
Do we agree with God when He calls for our—no, not our, but His—money with which He has intrusted us? Do we step forward to do, even in times of trouble, the work which we have neglected to do in times of peace? Shall we heed the calls that are being made for help in the Lord’s work? Have you noticed the call for the Southern field? And there are other equally needy fields, such as the mission work in the great cities. “We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can take nothing out.”
Do we agree with God when He says that the end of all things is at hand? Let each ask himself the question, Am I truly walking with God?

TWO LESSONS.

By Mrs. J. S. Olive

MRS. J. S. OLIVE.
Whilst reading the “Desire of Ages,” the past week, I have been deeply impressed by the fact that the twelve chosen disciples of the Saviour were erring and faulty, even after they had been three years under the Saviour’s special instruction.
Did not Jesus answer them, “Because of your unbelief,” when asked the reason of their inability to cast out the evil spirit? Did He not say, “O ye of little faith!” when He arose and in their behalf rebuked the wind and the sea? Did they not forbid the mothers to bring their little ones to the Saviour? Did not James and John desire to call down fire from heaven to destroy the Samaritans when they refused to receive their Master? Did not Peter begin to sink through unbelief after he had by faith walked out on the water? Did they not again and again fail to understand the plain words of the Lord, just because they did not want things to be as He said they would be? Did they not forbid one whom they found casting out devils in the name of Christ, “because he followeth not with us;” was not Peter so full of presumption that he rebuked even the Saviour, saying, “Lord: this shall not be unto thee”? and Christ was constrained to answer, “Get thee behind me, Satan!” On their last journey to Jerusalem with their Master how they missed the needed help He longed to give them, because they were disputing among themselves who should be greatest. Oh, the utter worthlessness of poor human nature.
These things are not recalled to blame the disciples, but to help us. They loved the Saviour then, but were not wholly devoted to Him. Afterward they were fully converted and filled with the Spirit, and many of them sealed their testimony with their blood. So we see that proud, self-seeking, heady, and high-minded as they were, full of unbelief, afraid of men, ready to forsake the Saviour (“they all forsook Him and fled”) in His utmost need, discouraged and dismayed at His unexpected death, slow to believe in His resurrection, they did in time overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, and loved not their lives unto the death.
The first lesson in this seems to be that we are not to be discouraged when we find grievous sins in our own hearts. If they overcome, so may we. If we find that we are not kind; if we find envy and ill-will in our hearts; if we vaunt ourselves, are puffed up, and behave ourselves unseemly; are tempted, when assailed by harsh words or false accusations, to speak words that are wrong, we are apt to feel like giving up in despair. But let us take courage and hope to the end. We can overcome, even as they, through faith in His name.
The second lesson is this: We need not be discouraged about others, even if we see great inconsistencies and sins in them. We should be slow to believe that they are not Christ’s, and should cherish the hope that some day they may be purified and made white.
Sometimes the conviction is forced upon us that some one is anxious to be first even in the Church—will rule, will be first or be nothing. He slights the poor, and courts the rich. Well, what are we to do? Even at the last supper, were not the disciples still so full of ambition that they were in an unfit state of mind to receive the instructions of the Lord? When we see a brother manifest even this self-seeking spirit, shall we denounce him, and say that we cannot worship God where that man is?—Oh, no. If we cannot help him by kindness, we cannot by coldness. “Till the very last the Saviour gave even Judas opportunity to repent, and did not expose him till he took the last fatal step.”
If we see even ministers full of the love of the world, taking part with worldly men in worldly things we know are wrong, shall we say, “We do not want to hear that man,” and so absent ourselves from the place where Jesus promised to meet His servants?—Oh, no; Jesus does not say, If every one who meets to pray or worship is perfect, I will be there; but, “where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I.” Let us always remember that by dwelling on another’s faults, we may become more guilty than he. He may yet see his sin and put it away; then God says He will remember it no more. Let us see to it that not one harsh word or look is given him.
Suppose some of our sisters seem utterly to ignore the teaching against costly array and despite the fact that we are taught to lighten our heavy burdens by plain cooking and plainness of dress, suppose they waste their strength in needless display in dressing and eating. Let us still hope that they will see their error and reform; and let us search carefully to see if we are not injuring our own bodies, which are temples of the Holy Ghost.
“When we suppose one to be in error and sin, we are not to divorce ourselves from him. By no careless separation are we to leave him a prey to temptation or drive him upon Satan’s battle ground. This is not Christ’s method. It was when the disciples were erring and faulty that He washed their feet; and all but one were brought to repentance. Christ’s example forbids exclusiveness at the Lord’s Supper. Open sin excludes the guilty, but beyond this none are to pass judgment. Unworthy ones may come, they should not be forbidden.” “None should exclude themselves because unworthy ones may be there; if they do, they will suffer loss. All the disciples had serious faults—even John was not naturally meek and yielding. He and his brother were called ‘the sons of thunder.’ Evil temper, revenge, and the spirit of criticism,—all in the beloved disciple! John was proud, and ambitious to be first in the kingdom of God. But day by day as he beheld the tenderness of Jesus, and heard His lessons, he opened his heart to the divine influence, and became not only a hearer but a doer of the Saviour’s words.”
So let us hope unto the end, both for ourselves and for all who love the Lord.

Personal Influence

J. R. MILLER says: “Every one of us casts a shadow. There hangs about us a sort of penumbra — a strange, indefinable something — which we call personal influence, which has its effect on every other life on which it falls. It goes with us wherever we go. It is not something we can have when we will, as we lay aside a garment. It is something that always pours out from our life, like light from a lamp, like heat from flame, like perfume from a flower.”

APPRECIATES THE HOME DEPARTMENT.

By Aunt Rose

AUNT ROSE. (Kerby, Ore.)
I WOULD be more than pleased to see our Home department again filled with good things; for I think our REVIEW one of the best papers in the world. There was always much valuable information to be found in the Home page. It always seemed to me like a large harmonious family talking together.
I notice that many of our writers are wives and mothers. I, too, have three girls, and I like to hear from older and more experienced mothers.
I often think, dear home-keepers, that we should not allow ourselves to become discouraged about our work. It takes much patience and perseverance to learn, after maturity, what should have been learned in childhood. Some of us, unfortunately, are slow; but my advice is, Do not go at your work as hard as you can—slopping, slashing, and overturning things generally. I have seen housekeepers do this when in a hurry, but they never get ahead any faster for it. Just take things easily and steadily, as they come, without flying from one thing to another. Be careful about the extra steps. Keep your mind on the task in hand, and look for the short cuts. There are many such that give as good satisfaction as the longer, harder ways.
It will take practice and self-control to do this, but no effort in this direction is wasted. We are beset, with trials and temptations here on earth; for there is no sweet without the bitter, no rose without its thorn. Therefore, let us pray for strength to bear our burdens, to make home pleasant, to make at least one soul happy, and at all times do our duty.
I wonder if any of our sisters have tried a few drops of ammonia in a quart of water for their house plants. The plants will bloom profusely, and the leaves will be darker under this treatment. I am a farmer’s wife, and dearly love to work among my flowers.

TO MOTHERS.

By Mrs. P. Alderman

MRS. P. ALDERMAN.
Fond mother, dost thou understand There is committed to thy hand A work of more essential worth Than all the jewels of the earth? Or have you learned, and do you know, How destinies of mortals grow? The character that's shaped by thee, Honored of God himself may be. Thy influence, a thing sublime, Is bounded not by years of time.
He tells us we may wisdom ask For every labor, every task. Who, as a mother, needs to come For wisdom to the Holy One, To mold a little mortal mind, That it may Christ and heaven find? Then count thy child a sacred trust. God make thee faithful, wise, and just. Give loving precept, line on line— There is no greater work than thine.

THE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN.

By M. C. W.

MRS. M. C. W. (Fair Haven, Conn.)
June 20, 1901, it was my privilege to attend a Congregational Sunday-school in one of the Eastern States. As the subject of the lesson was the New Earth, I was much interested. While listening to a class of little ones talking about overcoming, my attention was attracted by a voice, explaining the glories of the new earth.
“Now, children, the Lord gave John, who was one of Jesus’ disciples, a vision of our home in heaven. He tells us we are to have beautiful houses, studded with precious stones, and the streets are to be of gold. How beautiful it will be! John also tells us that the new earth will be a land flowing with milk and honey.
“Now, children, it doesn’t mean that the streets are to be really made of gold, they are to be beautiful, but that was just as near as John could describe it so we could understand it. Then again, it doesn’t mean that the land will be flowing with milk and honey, because there are so many people who do not like honey. But we can be sure of one thing,—that the Lord will give us just what we like, the food will be nice, and the houses and streets beautiful.”
My attention was then called to the little ones discussing the question, Will there be any sun on the new earth? No one seemed to know. At last the teacher turned to a little boy, and asked him what he thought about it. He said there would be no need of the sun, for Jesus would shine brighter than the sun. The answer of the child proved to me that he was a Seventh-day Adventist.
The bell tapped, thereby calling the school to order. After a few remarks, the children were dismissed. As they filed out, my heart ached for them. To think that their faith in a “Thus saith the Lord” was being destroyed by one who should feed the lambs!
The Lord says to us, “We are under solemn, sacred covenant to God to bring up our children for Him, and not for the world; to teach them not to put their hands into the hands of the world, but to love and fear God and keep His commandments.”
Our children should be guarded with a jealous care in these perilous times. Let us as parents take up our God-given work and do it faithfully, not leaving the education of our little ones for some one else to look after.

WHAT TO DO WITH OUR FLOWERS.

By Mrs. Lula Joseph Ritchie

MRS. LULA JOSEPH RITCHIE.
There is a department in the W. C. T. U. known as the Flower Mission, which is used with much effect to remove prejudice, and to gain entrance into the homes of the people in the interest of temperance work.
Doubtless many of our sisters have flowers this summer. Could not these flowers be used in the interest of the message we love so much?
Care should be taken not to arrange cut flowers too stiffly. It is better, generally, to leave the flowers just as they come into the hand from the shears. They look more natural, consequently more restful.
Place among the flowers a card on which is written or printed some precious Scripture text. The first part of Isaiah 35 is very comforting. If for a sick person who is able to read, send something from the Apples of Gold Library—something short and comforting.
When a baby is a week or so old, send it a bunch of dainty flowers, with a card on which is written the baby’s name, or the words, “To the Baby,” together with some appropriate Scripture text. Follow up your gift by other kindnesses.
Send the mother a health journal, a copy of the Signs of the Times, or of the Little Friend if there are other children. Lead the mother to think of her responsibility to train the little mind for God.
When an entrance is thus gained, do not forget it. Keep opening the door a little wider week by week, until the whole truth has been presented. Much is lost by not continuing to follow, quietly and patiently, an opening.
Do not be in too much haste to flood your subject with literature. Give one thing at a time, and when that is read, replace with something else, giving our larger books just as soon as they will be acceptable. There is danger of wearying people by giving them too long a course of tract reading. Some persons would rather read a book than a tract. Study your subject, and remember that “continual dropping will wear away the stone,” while the same amount of water in a flood might make no perceptible change.
Keep your eye on an infant to whom you have sent flowers, as long as you are where he is. Even if you lose the parents, it may be that you will gain the child.
If there is a hospital near you, send flowers there, always accompanying them with Scripture texts. A little thought will suggest many variations of the flower-mission work.
The cultivation of flowers is healthful work for children, and has a refining influence upon the soul.

MIXING BRAINS WITH THE SOIL.

BOOKER T. WASHINGTON says that the colored graduates of Tuskegee have raised over two hundred and fifty bushels of sweet potatoes from an acre of ground in the same locality where the uneducated colored man raises less than fifty bushels to the acre.
Mr. Washington attributes the great difference in the crops to the knowledge of the chemistry of the soil which the educated negro has acquired. He says that the white farmers in the neighborhood respect the colored graduates, because of their superior knowledge and skill, and that they come to them for progressive ideas in regard to farming, building, and all sorts of things.
This seems to be pretty strong evidence that the kind of education given at Tuskegee comes nearer to solving the negro question than anything else that has been suggested.—Selected.

OIL YOURSELF A LITTLE.

ONCE upon a time there lived an old gentleman in a large house. He had servants and everything he wanted, and yet he was not happy; and when things did not go as he wished, he was very cross. At last his servants left him. Quite out of temper, he went to a neighbor with the story of his distresses.
“It seems to me,” said the neighbor, sagaciously, “it would be well for you to ‘oil yourself a little.’”
“To oil myself?”
“Yes, and I will explain. Some time ago one of the doors in my house creaked. Nobody, therefore, liked to go in or out of it. One day I oiled its hinges, and it has been constantly used by everybody ever since.”
“Then you think I am like a creaking door,” cried the old gentleman. “How do you want me to oil myself?”
“That’s an easy matter,” said the neighbor. “Go home and engage a servant, and when he does right, praise him. If, on the contrary, he does something amiss, do not be cross; oil your voice and your words with the oil of love.”
The old gentleman went home, and no harsh or ugly words were ever heard in the house afterward. Everybody should have a supply of this precious oil; for every family is liable to have a creaking hinge in the shape of a fretful disposition, a cross temper, a harsh tone, or a fault-finding spirit.—Selected.

Correction to July 2 Review

IN the REVIEW of July 2, middle column, second paragraph of page 7, it reads, “Tack a half-breadth of print over the ends of the ticks.” It should read, “tacks, or any quilts that can not be conveniently washed.”

DO NOT LOSE YOUR BEARINGS.

By Editor

THESE words are written with reference to an article which has appeared on vegetarianism; and the caution is thrown out for those who are disposed to make so much of it as to bear them away from all their moorings on other principles which are still more important and sacred. Why is it that some cannot touch what they esteem a reform without running it to such an extreme as to destroy all confidence in their position? D. Mackay, M. D., has an article on this subject in the Chicago Vegetarian, expressing views which will not strike any true Christian with much favor. He says:—
“CHICAGO VEGETARIAN: Your journal is full of very valuable reading, with a live go-ahead spirit. . . . Please let me say that the question of human dietetics is a purely secular one, and ought not to be tarnished by any religious views. Religion has ever been accompanied by the sacrificial blood of the innocent and helpless. The more I think upon this subject, the more I am convinced that religion is an insanity primarily possessing the human brain from the toxic influences of a flesh diet, to vanish like a hideous nightmare when man returns to his natural foods—fruits and farinacea. Then, and not till then, will he become sane, sound, and healthy; seeing things as they really are, in his own sensorium, and never outside of that, where only darkness and blank chaos reign.”
Our readers will want the clearest evidence by which to be able to trace to their source the utterance of such sentiments as these! We will therefore say that the Chicago Vegetarian advertises itself as the “official organ of the Chicago Vegetarian Society, circulates everywhere, published monthly.” The date of the number from which the foregoing quotation is taken, is January, 1899. We might think this was simply a spasmodic utterance from some vegetarian who has conceived an aversion to all sacred things, and so dismiss it in silence, had we not seen similar statements at other times in publications claiming to be vegetarian. This particular instance has but recently come under our notice, and it is so rank, and hostile to the whole scheme of redemption as revealed in the Bible, that we deem it time to raise a note of protest against coupling vegetarianism with any such sentiments.
We hope it is not the tendency of the vegetarian system to generate and foster such feelings in the human heart. And of those who are inclined to that way, it might now well be asked, How does it strike you to be taught that a flesh diet is the great promoter of religion, and that a return to a diet of fruits and farinacea is the surest way to get rid of the “hideous nightmare” and insanity of believing in sacrifices, and of accepting the provision of the atonement, and other views which are so exceedingly precious to every follower of Christ? We can hardly believe that a veal diet (Gen. 18:7) had such an effect upon Abraham as Mr. Mackay, M. D., attributes to the use of flesh; or a fish diet (John 21:10-12) upon the disciples of Christ, on that occasion, after His resurrection, when He was instructing them in reference to the principles of the kingdom of God. Acts 1:3; Rom. 14:17. Better diet on the whole menagerie that Peter was instructed to kill and eat (Acts 10:11-13), rather than give up the great cardinal truths of revelation, which are designed for the salvation of the soul. So we repeat the words with which these lines are headed: “Do Not Lose Your Bearings.” Do not lose sight of your obligation to the principles of religion and revelation. Do not, in these days of commotion and delusion, become so stimulated with the idea that you are a reformer as to become confused in regard to the basic principles on which the faith of the people of God is founded.

HOW MAY WE KNOW ?

By L. A. S.

How may we distinguish a religious impostor from a true disciple of Christ? This question is one that has long been asked, and as long been answered; yet it was never more pertinent to any time than to the present. For it appears that, in spite of the boasted progress and enlightenment of this age, never did religious impostors find readier dupes than they find to-day.
These impostors usually justify themselves by pointing to their works. If they have a measure of success in their undertakings, they point to it as evidence of the prospering hand of God. But the ability to accomplish even “wonderful works” is not a real test of discipleship. “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works? and then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matt. 7: 22, 23. The Lord will not deny that these persons have done many wonderful works in His name, but they were not His followers, nevertheless. All the evidence afforded by their “wonderful works” was simply a delusion, which confirmed them in their course of transgression of the divine law.
Again: “If any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of His.” Rom. 8:9. There is a man in Chicago who stands at the head of an extensive religious movement which purports, as one of its prominent features, to exemplify the Bible doctrine of healing by prayer. This man claims to be Elijah the prophet, and has thousands of followers, not only in Chicago, but in many other cities and towns. The wall back of the pulpit in his Chicago tabernacle is covered with crutches and almost every other kind of implement used by cripples and infirm people, which have been discarded by those whom he has “healed.” These are some of the “wonderful works” which demonstrate that he is sent of God, and there are others which the writer has heard him cite as evidence that he is acting by divine authority. But while he is pointing to these evidences of his commission from the Lord, he exhibits, frequently, a spirit anything but Christlike. The striking characteristic of his preaching is the vituperation and abuse which he heaps upon all who do not agree with his pretensions. Yet his followers listen to him and give their approval, seemingly utterly blind to the fact that the manifestation of such a spirit is incompatible with claims to godliness.
Not long ago we saw a man who claimed to be a prophet of the Lord, and undertook to force Seventh-day Adventists to accept him as such. He would calmly appropriate any Seventh-day Adventist pulpit at any time, as if it were his property, and occupy it until put out by force. He would appropriate the pulpit which had been built and the audience which had been brought together at the expense of others, and the time of the people, none of which things belonged to him, thus in three ways violating the commandment, “Thou shalt not steal,” and exhibiting a spirit as foreign to Christianity as could well be imagined. Yet he found adherents, and probably is still finding them to-day.
He who is sent of God will have the spirit of Christ and teach the doctrine of Christ. The devil’s work shows neither of these characteristics, but the devil has power, and can perform signs and wonders. Of such evidences therefore we must beware, for we are assured that in the last days many false prophets shall arise and show great signs and wonders, which if it were possible should deceive even the very elect. And this is but to say that the only sure way to escape deception is to be among the elect; for the elect will not be deceived.
We must be among those who have accustomed themselves to hear and heed the voice of God. The sheep who are of the fold of Christ know the voice of the Good Shepherd; “and a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.” John 10:4, 5. Their safety is in knowing the voice of the true Shepherd. And how do they know His voice?—Simply as any person learns to know the voice of another with whom he is closely associated. If we closely associate ourselves with Christ, we shall learn to know His voice beyond any possibility of mistake.
The more love we have for our Lord, the closer will be our acquaintance with Him, and the more sure will be our safeguard against the false Christs and false prophets which are now gone out into the world. L. A. S.
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