Earlier text: Transcendent LoveBribery in Rhode Island Elections
To the many stories of the subserviency of public officials in this country to the corrupting spirit of bribery, is now added one from Rhode Island, upon the authority of Governor Garvin of that State, who sets it forth in a recent message to the State Senate. In his message he says:— I desire to invite your attention to a question of the first importance. I refer to bribery in elections. That bribery exists to a great extent in the elections of this State is a matter of common knowledge. No general election passes without, in some section of the State, the purchase of votes by one or both of the great political parties. . . . In a considerable number of our towns bribery is so common and has existed for so many years that the awful nature of the crime has ceased to impress. In some towns the bribery takes place openly, is not called bribery, nor considered a serious matter. Probably the most depressing feature of the situation is that the men who constantly accept bribes are often men of substance, owning their homes, and sometimes other property. They don't need the money, but long years of bribe taking have deadened their consciences. The governor aims at remedying the evil by an amendment to the State constitution, but admits that the Senate must be reformed before a constitutional convention can be called. This picture of national corruption which has of late been spread before us in the newspapers and magazines, is but a reproduction of scenes which characterized the last days of the Roman republic; and the like causes which were undermining the government then, will produce the like effect now. It is high time that all who prize honesty, justice, and liberty should connect themselves with the government of God's kingdom, in which alone righteousness will be preserved when “government of the people, by the people, for the people,” shall have perished from the earth. France’s Struggle Against Clerical Orders
THIS is the day of the open door in countries from which Christianity has hitherto been nearly or quite excluded. Notably is this so in those lands which have been dominated by Rome. It is a remarkable fact, and one which we believe points clearly to the hand of divine Providence, that in nearly every Catholic country on the earth to-day the church is losing ground, and the gains of the papacy are made not in Catholic, but in Protestant countries. In Europe the most conspicuous example at this time is France. France has laid a firm hand upon the religious orders which have in a large degree had control of public teaching, and these orders are being dissolved. The aim of these orders in their teaching was to re-establish papal supremacy over the French nation, and the government sensed the fact that either itself or they must sooner or later come to an end. The latest news from Paris states that M. Combes, “the most anti-clerical premier that so far has presided over the destinies of the third republic,” has won a signal victory over the clericals in the Chamber of Deputies, by a vote rejecting a demand for the authorization of twenty-five religious orders which devote themselves to teaching. “This means,” it is stated, “that the orders in question are to be dissolved, and that the association laws are to be executed with drastic relentlessness and energy to the bitter end.” The account continues:— There is no mistaking the trend of public feeling, which strenuously favors a government that represents the radical and socialist majority. Cries of “down with the church” are heard already. The cabinet is being urged by the radical press in Paris and in the departments not to rest content with sweeping away the religious orders, but to attack boldly the concordat [the agreement governing the relations between France and the papacy]. The stipends of scores of priests have been suppressed, and half a dozen bishops have been censured and admonished. Not only the reactionaries, but the conservative republicans are dismayed at the outlook; for the movement is now so strong against the church that no one can tell where it may stop. As one result of this there is a great exodus of members of these orders to other countries, some going to Belgium, and more coming to Canada and the United States. The losses of the papacy in Catholic countries are opening the door to the gospel, and papal gains in Protestant lands have not yet closed that door. Thus the whole world is ready, or nearly so, for the proclamation of the final gospel message. Famine in Northern Europe
In spite of all the advancement of which this age boasts in the direction of mastery over the forces of nature, famine continues to ravage large and populous districts of the earth's surface. Probably at no previous time within a century, perhaps not within several centuries, has so large a territory been subjected to a visitation of this death-dealing scourge. It is computed that at the present date over 400,000 Finns, 200,000 Swedes, and many thousands of Norwegians and Lapps, not to mention multitudes in Siberia and European Russia, are dying of hunger. The worst situation exists in Finland, where, according to the St. Petersburg correspondent of the London Times, the Finnish peasants have been reduced to the necessity of trying to sustain life by eating bark, and unripe, frost-spoiled rye and barley, made into bitter cakes, that even the animals refuse to touch. So terrible is the dearth of vegetation, says another account, that even the birds have died by thousands in the forests. Investigations made by the Christian Herald, of New York City, disclose that in the famine provinces there was not during the summer of 1902 more than half a dozen dry days. The crop failure was the most complete in half a century. Finland's grain crop fell short of the average to the extent of $12,000,000. The fishing industry also failed. Every resource was swept away, and multitudes were left with nothing to subsist upon save bread made from unripe rye and barley, which the horses refused to eat. Loaves of barley husks and straw constitute the fare of thousands of families. Those upon the verge of starvation constitute one sixth of the entire population of the country. Relief work is being undertaken by the Christian Herald, in this country, and by the Russian government. This is a terrible picture; but the picture of the world's spiritual famine,—of the multitudes in all countries who are to-day perishing for want of the bread of life,—could it be truthfully drawn, would be still more terrible. And upon us devolves the work of its relief. “Search the Scriptures”
By Ellen G. White
No one can attain Christian perfection while neglecting the Word of God. “Search the Scriptures,” Christ said; “for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” This search enables the student to observe closely the divine model. And as he studies the life of the Redeemer, he discovers in himself many faults and weaknesses. He sees that he can not be a follower of Christ without surrendering all to him. Diligently he studies, with a desire to be like the great Exemplar; and he catches the spirit of his beloved Master. By beholding, he becomes changed. It is by thinking of Jesus, by talking of him, by studying his character, that we become changed. After Christ’s death, two disciples, on their way to Emmaus from Jerusalem, were talking over the scenes of the crucifixion. Christ himself drew near, unrecognized by the sorrowing travelers. Their faith had died with their Lord, and their eyes, blinded by unbelief, did not recognize their risen Saviour. Jesus, walking by their side, longed to reveal himself to them, but he accosted them merely as fellow travelers, saying, “What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?” Astonished at the question, they asked if he were a stranger in Jerusalem, and had not heard that a prophet, mighty in word and deed, had been crucified. “We trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel,” they said, sadly. “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken,” Christ said; “ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” He reproved them for not being more familiar with these scriptures. Had they known them better, their faith would have been sustained, their hopes unshaken; for prophecy plainly stated the treatment that Christ would receive from those he came to save. The disciples had lost sight of the precious promises linked with the prophecies of Christ’s death; but when these were brought to their remembrance, faith revived; and after Christ had revealed himself to them, they exclaimed, “Did not our hearts burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the Scriptures?” The word of God, spoken to the heart, has an animating power. Those who fail of becoming acquainted with this word can not fulfill God’s requirements. Deformity of character is the result of their neglect. Their words and acts are a reproach to their Saviour. The apostle tells us that “all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” If we would search the Scriptures, our hearts would burn within us as the truths revealed therein are opened to our understanding. Our hopes would brighten as we claim the precious promises strewn like pearls through the Sacred Writings. As we study the history of patriarchs and prophets, men who loved and feared God, walking with him, our souls would glow with the spirit that animated them. Our youth should be far more desirous to become intelligent in the knowledge of the Scriptures than to excel in the study of the sciences. They should allow nothing to keep them from learning thoroughly the Sabbath-school lesson. Teachers in the Sabbath-school have before them a wide missionary field in the opportunity given them to instruct in the things of God the children and youth under their care. The teachers must themselves be filled with a love for God’s Word, else how can they teach it to those in their charge in such a way that they will desire to learn more of it? And parents should co-operate with the teachers in the Sabbath-school, teaching their children the lesson during the week. But this many parents fail to do. They plead trifling excuses for not interesting themselves in their children’s Sabbath-school lesson. Forgetfulness of God and his Word is the example they set before their children. Some parents while away hours in their own amusement, in unprofitable conversation, putting God and heaven out of their hearts. How much better it would be for them and for their children if they would search the Scriptures, becoming intelligent in regard to the truths given to guide us to the heavenly home. Mothers are heard to regret that they have no time to teach their children, no time to instruct them in the things of God. But these same mothers find time to spend in needless stitching. They place the outward adorning above the inward adorning, which is in the sight of God of great price. In order to follow fashion, they starve their own minds and the minds of their children. Fathers and mothers, I entreat you to take up your long-neglected work. Search the Scriptures for yourselves, and show your children how to study the Sacred Word. Do not send them away to study the Bible by themselves. Read and study it with them. Take them with you into the school of Christ. The question is asked, What is the cause of the dearth of spiritual power in the churches? The answer is, We allow our minds to be drawn away from the Word. If the Word of God were eaten as food for the soul, if it were treated with respect and deference, there would be no necessity for the many repeated testimonies that are borne. The simple declarations of Scripture would be received and acted upon. The word of the living God is not merely written, but spoken. It is God’s voice speaking to us, just as surely as if we could hear it with our ears. If we realized this, with what awe we would open God’s Word, and with what earnestness we would search its pages. The reading of the Scriptures would be regarded as an audience with the Most High. The Perpetuity of the Law of God
By C. H. Spurgeon
The Law Must Be Fulfilled
I COME to show, secondly, that the law must be fulfilled. I hope there are some in this place who are saying, “We can not fulfill it.” That is exactly where I want to bring you. Salvation by the works of the law must be felt to be impossible by every man who would be saved. We must learn that salvation is of grace through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord, and not by our own doings or feelings; but this is a doctrine no one will receive till he has learned the precious truth that salvation by the works of the law can never come to any man of woman born. Yet the law must be fulfilled. Many will say with Nicodemus, “How can these things be?” I answer,— The Law Is Fulfilled in Christ,
and by faith we receive the fruit thereof. First, as I have already said, the law is fulfilled in the matchless sacrifice of Jesus Christ. If a man has broken a law, what does the law do with him?—It says: “I must be honored. You have broken my command which was sanctioned by the penalty of death. Inasmuch as you did not honor me by obedience, but dishonored me by transgression, you must die.” Our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the great covenant representative of his people, their second Adam, stood forward on the behalf of all9 who are in him, and presented himself as a victim to divine justice. Since his people were guilty of death, he, as their covenant head, came under death, in their place and stead. It was a glorious thing that such representative death was possible, and it was only so because of the original constitution of the race as springing from a common father, and placed under a single head. Inasmuch as our fall was by one Adam, it was possible for us to be— “As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” It became possible for God, upon the principle of representation, to allow of substitution. Our first fall was not by our personal fault, but through the failure of our representative; and now in comes our second and grander representative, the Son of God, and he sets us free, not by our honoring the law, but by his doing so. He came under the law by his birth, and being found as a man loaded with the guilt of all his people, he was visited with its penalty. The law lifts its bloody ax, and it smites our glorious Head that we may go free. It is the Son of God that honors the law by dying, the just for the unjust. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” There is death demanded, and in Christ death is presented. Life for Life Is Rendered
—an infinitely precious life instead of the poor lives of men. Jesus has died, and so the law has been fulfilled by the endurance of its penalty; and being fulfilled, its power to condemn and punish the believer has passed away. Secondly, the law has been fulfilled again for us by Christ in his life. I have already gone over this, but I want to establish you in it. Jesus Christ, as our head and representative, came into the world for the double purpose of bearing the penalty and at the same time keeping the law. One of his main designs in coming to earth was to bring in— “Everlasting Righteousness”
“As by the disobedience of one many were made sinners, so by the righteousness of one shall many be made righteous.” The law requires a perfect life, and he that believeth in Jesus Christ presents to the law a perfect life, which he has made his own by faith. It is not his own life, but Christ is made of God unto us righteousness, even to us who are one with him. “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” That which Jesus did is counted as though we did it, and because he was righteous— and counts us righteous upon the principle of substitution and representation. O how blessed it is to put on this robe and to wear it, and so to stand before the Most High in a better righteousness than ever his law demanded; for that demanded the perfect righteousness of a creature, but we put on the absolute righteousness of the Creator himself, and what can the law ask more? It is written, “In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is the name whereby he shall be called, The Lord our righteousness.” “The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honorable.” Aye, but that is not all. The law has to be— Fulfilled in Us Personally
in a spiritual and gospel sense. “Well,” say you, “but how can that be?” I reply in the words of our apostle: “What the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh,” Christ has done and is doing by the Holy Spirit, “that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Regeneration is a work by which the law is fulfilled; for when a man is born again, there is placed in him a new nature, which loves the law of God, and is perfectly conformed thereto. The new nature which God implants in every believer at the time he is born again is incapable of sin: it can not sin; for it is born of God. is the offspring of the eternal Father; and the Spirit of God dwells in it, and with it, and strengthens it. It is light, it is purity, it is, according to the Scripture, the living and incorruptible seed “which liveth and abideth forever.” If incorruptible, it is sinless; for sin is corruption, and corrupts everything that it touches. The apostle Paul, when describing his inward conflicts, showed that he himself, his real and best self, did keep the law; for he says, “So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God.” Rom. 7:25. He consented to the law that it was good, which showed that he was on the side of the law; and though sin that dwelt in his members led him into transgression, yet his new nature did not allow it, but hated and loathed it, and cried out against it as one in bondage. The new-born soul delights in the law of the Lord, and there is within it a quenchless life which aspires after absolute perfection, and will never rest till it pays to God perfect obedience, and comes to be like God himself. This which is begun in regeneration is continued, and grows till it ultimately arrives at absolute perfection. That will be seen in the world to come; and O, what a fulfillment of the law will be there! The law will admit no man to heaven till he is— Perfectly Conformed to It,
but every believer shall be in that perfect condition. Our nature shall be refined from all its dross, and be as pure as gold. It will be our delight in heaven to be holy. There will be nothing about us then to kick against a single commandment. We shall there know in our own hearts the glory and excellency of the divine will, and our will shall run in the same channel. We shall not imagine that the precepts are rigorous; they will be our own will as truly as they are God’s will. Nothing which God has commanded, however much of self-denial it requires now, will require any self-denial from us then. Holiness will be our element, our delight. Our nature will be entirely conformed to the nature and mind of God, as to holiness and goodness, and then the law will be fulfilled in us, and we shall stand before God, having washed our robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, and at the same time being ourselves— Without Spot, or Wrinkle,
or any such thing. Then shall the law of the Lord have eternal honor from our immortal being. O, how shall we rejoice in it! We delight in it after the inward man now, but then we shall delight in it as to our risen bodies, which shall be changed to be instruments of righteousness unto God forever and ever. No appetite of those risen bodies, no want and no necessity of them, shall then lead the soul astray; but our whole body, soul, and spirit shall be perfectly conformed unto the divine mind. Let us long and pant for this. We shall never attain it except by believing in Jesus. Perfect holiness will never be reached by the works of the law; for works can not change the nature; but by faith in Jesus, and the blessed work of his Holy Spirit, we shall have it, and then I believe it will be among our songs of glory that heaven and earth pass away, but the word of God and the law of God shall stand fast forever and ever. Amen.—C. H. Spurgeon. Look high, O soul! for what is earth but dust?
The fleeting shadow of the better things?
The heavens are thine if thou wilt use thy wings,
And sighs are songs if thou wilt only trust. Aim high, O soul! for on the higher forms
Is always room, while lower ranks are filled;
Who climbs the heights finds all earth’s noises stilled,
And a sweet calm and light above the storms. Be high, O soul! scorn what is low and base.
“Child of a king,” they call thee; be a king,
And troops of vassals will their tributes bring
To crown thee heir of glory, child of grace. Gospel Finance
By William Covert
THE remedy for sin was provided because man so greatly needed a Saviour. The gospel of this salvation had to be made known to men before they could receive it. The tithing system was doubtless inaugurated to provide an adequate finance for the material support of gospel workers while bearing the glad tidings of life to dying men. Before man sinned, the tree of knowledge, which occupied a central place in Eden, was claimed by the Lord, and of its fruit man was forbidden to eat. After man had partaken of this tree, he was sent forth to till the less fertile soil outside of Eden, and of its products the Lord is found to have claimed a tenth. But in the sequel of our investigation this claim will not seem an arbitrary thing on the Lord’s part, as it is used in the most sacred way for man’s greatest good. The fourteenth chapter of Genesis contains the first Bible account of a definite income for the support of gospel workers. Herein is introduced Melchisedec, the Lord’s high priest, as performing a gospel rite, and then receiving tithes from Abraham, the ancient father of Israel, to whom the promises had been made. “And Melchisedec king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: and blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.” Gen.10 14: 18-20. The account given is very brief, yet sufficient is said to show that Abraham looked upon the matter of turning over a full tithe of his income to the Lord’s cause as a part of the gospel plan. The account of Abraham paying tithes to Melchisedec antedates the making of the Levitical law and the appointment of the Aaronic priesthood, more than four hundred years. The order of priesthood to which Abraham paid tithes is the order to which Christ, our great High Priest, belongs. Indeed, Paul expressly declares that Christ is “a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.” Heb. 7: 17. He also shows that the Melchisedec order of priests now receives the tithe of God’s people. “Here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.” Christ is the One of whom it is witnessed that “he liveth.” The argument made by Paul in the book of Hebrews goes to show that the priesthood to which Christ belongs was recognized and supported by the tithes of Levi’s ancestors centuries before Levi was born, and that this priesthood is to receive the tithes of the faithful children of Abraham during the ministration of Christ as high priest in the true sanctuary in heaven. Study the whole scope of the book, and be convinced of the truthfulness of this proposition. In the twenty-eighth chapter of Genesis is found the second reference to the tithing obligation. This time, Jacob, a grandson of Abraham, makes a solemn vow to the effect that he will be faithful in the payment of tithes. “And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God: and this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.” Gen. 28: 20-22. This vow of Jacob was probably made about one hundred and fifty years after the event mentioned in chapter fourteen, the time when Abraham paid tithes to Melchisedec. These citations show that the tithing obligation was recognized and observed by the patriarchs generations before the time of Moses and the exodus from Egypt. The fact that Paul cites the very first mention of tithing to be found in the Bible, and clearly connects it with the support of the priesthood work of those ancient times, and refers to these things for the purpose of connecting them with the priesthood work of Christ in this dispensation, surely settled the question as to the necessity and obligation of Christians faithfully tithing for the support of the gospel now. It came to pass in process of time that Jacob had twelve sons, and he with all their families were living in Egypt. Before going into Egypt, however, Jacob passed through a severe trial, which resulted in a rich Christian experience. At the time of this experience, the Lord changed the name of Jacob, which signifies a supplanter, to Israel, which means one who prevails with God. The twelve sons, already mentioned, in the making up of their history, became the heads of twelve tribes, and these were called “the twelve tribes of Israel.” These people in Egypt were after a time made slaves, and greatly oppressed. Then they cried unto God, and deliverance came, which brought them out of Egypt. However, they had to quite a degree become contaminated with Egyptian idolatry; and when the first flush of their great deliverance had subsided, and reaction came, they made a calf in imitation of what they had seen done in Egypt, and worshiped it. At the time this apostasy began, Moses, their visible leader, was absent, but returning in the midst of their greatest demonstrations of folly, he called for all who would at that time stand up in defense of the Lord’s cause, to meet him at the camp gate, and the sons of Levi, descendants of the third son of Jacob, rallied to the call, and by their swords put an immediate stop to the idolatrous scene. The house of Aaron, of the tribe of Levi, had previously been chosen to the holy office of sanctuary service for Israel, but the decisive action of the tribe of Levi at this crisis gave them great prominence in Israel. The strong stand taken for the truth by the sons of Levi, when Aaron was vascillating and yielding to the evil demands of the people, was rewarded by the Lord with a covenant of sacred trust and responsibility greater than had previously been assigned them. Moses tells of how “at that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day. Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the Lord is his inheritance, according as the Lord thy God promised him.” Deut. 10: 8, 9. Moses, in pronouncing blessings upon the twelve tribes, spoke of the firmness of Levi for the right when the many had departed from the true path. On the occasion cited, the sons of Levi spared not their nearest relatives if found participating in idolatrous rites. Because they refused to favor father, mother, son, or daughter, when found in wickedness, Moses said to the Lord, “They have observed thy word, and kept thy covenant. They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar. Bless, Lord, his substance, and accept the work at his hands.” Deut. 33: 9-11. While faithfully performing the work assigned them, they could not accumulate property, nor give attention to finances, therefore the other tribes were required to turn over the Lord’s share of their income to the tribe of Levi. Of the Lord’s share it is said, “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s: it is holy unto the Lord. . . . And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord. He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed. These are the commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses for the children of Israel in Mount Sinai.” Lev. 27: 30-34. The book of Numbers tells how the Lord would have the tithe appropriated. “And the Lord spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel. And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.” Num. 18: 20, 21. The reader can readily gather from the Scriptures which have been cited thus far, that the Lord claims all the tithe of the land. The statement is very positive that all the tithe “is the Lord’s.” It is even declared to be “holy unto the Lord.” Being the Lord’s, it is for the Lord to say what shall be done with it, and for the period of Levi’s appointed service it was wholly given to Levi. This portion the Lord assigned them in Israel. Besides the tithe, there was also given them many special offerings, to be described further on. The Lord claims the tithes and offerings for the support of his cause, under every dispensation during all probationary time. It has been shown that many years before the Levites were upon earth, tithes were paid for the support of the Lord’s workers, and that the same obligation is extended throughout the Christian dispensation. The Saviour himself, when upon earth, defined what men ought to do regarding the payment of tithes. He said that the Pharisees had been very precise in the payment of tithes, but had failed to be faithful in such important matters as judgment, mercy, and faith. “These ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other [payment of tithes] undone.” Thus Jesus says the payment of tithes should not be left undone. Matt. 23: 23. Passing over centuries of history during which time the Levites should have received the tithes and offerings of Israel, we come to the writings of Malachi, the book which closes the Old Testament. The book is both historic and prophetic. By its history the student may learn how the subject of Bible finance was regarded and acted upon by the people of Israel during a long period of time. By its prophecy one can see that a great amount of unfaithfulness on the part of Christian people concerning tithes and offerings is foretold. We refer to some portions of this book (Malachi), not for the purpose of learning about who has been unfaithful, but to find out what the Lord requires of us. Both priests and people have gone aside11 from the Lord’s ways. Even the priests have corrupted the covenant anciently made with the tribe of Levi by pandering to the selfishness of the people. They are accused of yielding to the people to such an extent as to offer polluted bread and lame and blind sacrifices upon the Lord’s altar. This course is so very different from the firm and uncompromising stand taken by the sons of Levi at the time they gave the severe chastisement to the worshipers of the golden calf, that they are spoken of as decidedly backslidden. The third chapter speaks first of the coming of the Lord, and the purging of the sons of Levi so they may consistently perform the services enjoined upon them as priests. This advice shows that the “sons of Levi” addressed in this chapter are the priests. After giving this advice relative to the leaders, then all the sons of Jacob are addressed. Evidently what follows concerning their unfaithfulness in the matter of tithes and offerings, and the demand asking for a decided reformation, pertains to the Lord’s people just now. Read the strong statements made, the advice given, and the promises associated. “Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, 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. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.” Mal. 3: 7-11. The unfaithfulness on the part of the people concerning the tithes and offerings pointed out in the Scripture just quoted certainly applies to the conduct of the professed Christian church much more than it ever did to the fleshly descendants of Jacob. The Lord is being robbed, and he speaks in no uncertain way about it. He says plainly that he is robbed by his whole people in tithes and offerings. This wicked conduct has been going on for a long time. He calls most earnestly for his people to cease their transgressions, and return to faithfulness in the matter of gospel finance. His cause needs the funds which his people are using in carrying forward their own enterprises. The Lord’s work is hampered because of the shortage on tithes, and the lameness and blindness of the offerings. A TRULY consecrated man never carries an unconsecrated purse. Hymn of the Flowers
By Benjamin Gough
THERE is a voiceless music in the flowers, A silent hymn of reverence and praise, Which rises heavenward from the rural bowers, And evermore a grateful homage pays. God speaks in every blossom, great and small, On the bleak mountain, in the shady grove; The opening rose, “the hyssop on the wall,” Smile in his bright exuberance of love. And all the sweet variety of hues, Sparkling with starry colorings divine, Are smiles, which God continually renews, As springtides brighten, and as summers shine. Sing on, O flowers! unheeded and unheard Perchance on earth, yet welcome is your praise Where rows of burning seraphim are stirred, Their endless hallelujah songs to raise! JESUS CHRIST is not ashamed of his poor relations. “He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of One: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren.” Some one says, “Ah, but he doesn’t call any people brethren except those who are sanctified.” Stop and consider the text. The proof that he is not ashamed to call them brethren is found in his declaration: “I will declare thy name unto my brethren.” Now it is evident that there would be no need to declare the name of God to those who knew it; but those who do not know it are heathen. Thus the heathen are regarded by Christ as his brethren. Again, think of the time when the Son must first have made this declaration. It must have been when he was yet “in the form of God;” for he came to earth for no other purpose than to declare God to men. So Jesus in heaven, the brightness of the Father’s glory, and receiving the adoration of the angels, looked down to earth and saw the children of men doomed to death in their ignorance of God, and said to the Father, “I will declare thy name unto my brethren.” Thus he set the pattern for all missionary work. “Not to any class is Christ’s love restricted. He identifies himself with every child of humanity. That we might become members of the heavenly family, he became a member of the earthly family. He is the Son of man, and thus a brother to every son and daughter of Adam. His followers are not to feel themselves detached from the perishing world around them. They are a part of the great web of humanity, and Heaven looks upon them as brothers to sinners as well as to saints.” The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is the One “of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.”—Selected. A Serious Situation
By M. Bessie De Graw
WHEN a mother forsakes her child, the orphan appeals keenly to our sympathies. I have just read of a church in a Western village which gathered its children from the public schools, and employed a teacher to train them for the Lord’s service. The work was started well, but for some reason or other, when the school year was only half finished, those little children who had been gathered together, for whom prayers had been offered, and who had been taught to believe that God’s hand was in the starting of that school, were turned out, literally without a home. The teacher writes: “A few of us strained every nerve to carry on the school. I was teaching for twenty-three dollars a month, and gave four dollars of that to the support of the school. Another brother gave five dollars a month. The rest of the church were to raise the remaining fourteen or sixteen dollars necessary to keep up the teacher’s wages and the small incidental expenses.” What is wrong in this church? “Yea, they may forget,” says the Father, “yet will I not forget. . . . Behold, I have graven thee [those children] upon the palms of my hands.” Then every time Christ looks at his hands, he sees that little group of neglected children. I do not say that he condemns those parents, but I do say that he longs for them, and pities them because they do not know what they are doing. If the Christian school snatches the children from a stream of pollution, if it is the means of bringing salvation to many hearts, what should be done in a case like this? Are there not other fathers and mothers, possibly some whose hearts are bereft because of the loss of their natural children, who will volunteer to provide a training for those who are now neglected? This story, which is the record of an actual occurrence, has been too often repeated. It is the result of an imperfect system of support for Christian schools. Take heed, every father and mother, and study intelligently to ascertain God’s plan of caring for the little ones. There is ample means for the training of every child. No parent should be so bitterly oppressed by this responsibility that the support of a church school keeps him in slavery. No one will be in this condition when all respond to the God-given plan for the support of schools. God provides a liberal support for every gospel laborer. Why should a church school teacher be obliged to labor hard for a mere pittance, to devote over a sixth of his wages to the support of the school which he himself is teaching, and then be obliged to give it up altogether because there is not money to buy fuel or books? Answer, ye who are parents.