Earlier text: Nearing the RewardCLARENCE SANTEE
By Clarence Santee
From Egypt to Canaan—No. 4
When moving from place to place, Moses was as helpless to direct the journeys of the children of Israel as they were. He could only follow the pillar of cloud which God gave to direct them. “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night.” Ex. 13:21. Yet while Moses had no choice of ways, the people had continual question and objection to God’s guidance, attributing every turn to Moses. “And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians?” Ex. 14:11, 12. How must Moses have felt as he thought of the injustice of the charge! Had he not protested when sent to bring them out of Egypt, until he had incurred the displeasure of God? Ex. 4:13, 14. Had Moses led them into the defile of the mountains with the Red Sea in front? Did not the Lord command him to lead them into that place of no escape? Ex. 14:2. In that place the Lord taught a lesson of faith and victory that has echoed through the centuries, and to-day its luster has not become dim. Through the sea of difficulty lies God’s way to the land of promise. “I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” Isa. 48:10. When the pillar of cloud led Israel to a place where the Red Sea was before them, the mountains on either side, and Pharaoh’s army behind, their courage failed. They saw nothing but a return to cruel bondage and death. Moses saw a lesson of faith and an opportunity for God to be honored. He said, “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord.” Ex. 14:13. Josephus records the extreme to which their unbelief led them, in these words: “Their incredulity prompted them to throw stones at the prophet while he encouraged them and promised them deliverance.”—“Antiquities,” book 2, chap. 15, sec. 4. He also records the prayer of151 Moses. Sublime faith and courage fill the utterances and call our minds to the instruction he had received from Job. He said: “We are in a helpless place, but still it is a place that thou possessest; still the sea is thine, the mountains also that enclose us are thine; so that these mountains will open themselves if thou commandest them, and the sea also, if thou commandest it, will become dry land. Nay, we might escape by a flight through the air, if thou shouldst determine we should have that way of salvation.”—Id., chap. 16, sec. 1. A way was prepared through the sea. “High walls of water stood on either side, congealed by the power of God.”—“Facts of Faith,” page 248. “And the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.” Ex. 14:22, last part. “The floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.” Ex. 15:8. “He made the waters to stand as an heap.” Ps. 78:13. While going by day, Israel could see the distant peaks, and the points of the compass were plain. But when going by night, the darkness shut them in on every side. Even the way the path was tending was hidden. The light, however, that was in the pillar of fire was sufficient ever to show them the place to set their feet, and faith knew that it led toward Canaan. Have you learned this lesson of faith? Have you, too, pressed on with courage in the darkness, seeing only the place to set your feet to-day, knowing not what the morrow may bring, yet following the guiding light, knowing that it leads toward Canaan? Or have you, through discouragement, allowed doubts to come in until the darkness has shut you in? Remember how the enemy followed in the track of Israel, and killed those who fell behind through weariness. Deut. 25:17, 18. Even so Satan watches those who are fainting in the way, and as they fall behind and the darkness shuts them in, he secures them in his snare. Dear fellow traveler, the way may be rough, but it leads toward Canaan; and when there, our rest will be long and sweet. Take courage. The darkness may for a time hide the way-marks, but we are almost there. The last night is wearing away. The morning light will find us home. When the pillar of cloud led Israel from the Red Sea into the wilderness of Shur, Moses was distressed. He well knew the barrenness of the country and the bitterness of the waters of Marah. He had led his flocks to the back side of the desert, and had tested every watering-place. His test of faith was severe. An inspired writer has said:—“Moses, who was familiar with this region, knew what the others did not, that at Marah, the nearest station where springs were to be found, the water was unfit for use. With intense anxiety he watched the guiding cloud. With a sinking heart he heard the glad shout, ‘Water! Water!’ echoed along the line. Men, women, and children in joyous haste crowded to the fountain, when, lo, a cry of anguish burst forth from the host,—the water was bitter. In their horror and despair they reproached Moses for having led them in such a way, not remembering that the divine presence in that mysterious cloud had been leading him as well as them.”—“Patriarchs and Prophets,” page 291. Strange lack of faith you will say, after their experience in Egypt, seeing the plagues, even the death of the Egyptian first-born, their deliverance, the path through the Red Sea, the destruction of Pharaoh and his host,—a wonderful chapter, indeed, of providence that should have established their faith. But, my brother, my sister, do you believe that those things were true? Do you know that they were? Are you as certain that this record is true as if you had seen it with your own eyes? If so, then you have not only all the evidences they had, which you believe as much as they did, but you have a multitude of evidences added since their time, which they never knew. Then if your faith shall become weak or falter, will it not be doubly strange and without excuse? If you should allow yourself to murmur or complain at the hardness of the way, would not these same murmuring Israelites rise up in the judgment and condemn you? What you are doing to-day is the best evidence of what you would have done had you lived in some other age. In their extremity God again wrought for Israel, and the water was made sweet. Ex. 15:22-25. Another test quickly followed. The bread they brought out of Egypt was almost gone, and they feared death by hunger. God would set a “table for them in the wilderness” (Ps. 78:19) when they had divided the last portion with those who lacked. In their unbelief they again bitterly accused Moses of bringing them all their trials. Ex. 16:2-4. The cry of doubt and unbelief is still going up before God: “What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?” Matt. 6:31. God’s answer still comes back, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Verse 33. See Ex. 16:4, last part. For Our Comfort
By C. F. Campbell
The same God that led the Israelites through the Red Sea and over Jordan; that delivered the three worthies out of the fiery furnace, Daniel from the lions' den, and Peter out of prison; that cares for the sparrows, and numbers the very hairs of our heads, is our God to-day, the same loving, caretaking God now as in the days of old. Therefore have strong, firm, unwavering faith in his word, and stand on his side, trusting implicitly in him whatever may befall. Then some bright day when the last dark cloud has parted, when the mists upon life's sea are driven back, when its waves of sorrow and pain have been quieted by him who stilled the tempest on the Sea of Galilee, we shall enter the blessed harbor of eternal rest. Then we shall behold the King in his beauty; we shall meet our loved ones who have passed through the valley of the shadow trusting in him, and shall join with them in the triumphant song of victory and praise to him who redeemed us and washed us in the cleansing fountain of his own blood. A glorious privilege it is to become “the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” Rom. 8:17. Truly this is a blessed hope. Then— “Face to face with Christ my Saviour,
Face to face—what will it be?
When with rapture I behold him,
Jesus Christ who died for me. “Face to face shall I behold him,
Far beyond the starry sky;
Face to face in all his glory,
I shall see him by and by!” To correct the bad habits of others is often to form a bad habit yourself. A nagging disposition is natural to few; it comes from tired nerves or from supersensitiveness or from a too-free indulgence in sharp criticism, which is likely to lead a person into a minute and harassing scrutiny of the life about him. So long as criticism does not react unfavorably either on the critic or on the criticized, it is beneficial; but when it is accompanied by a sense of impatience in the one and of resentment in the other, it becomes nagging, and should be dropped.—Selected. Providence Leads Us Through the Wilderness
By Whyte Melville
PROVIDENCE leads us like children through the wilderness, by many a devious track toward our home. Joy brightens the path for one, and he walks on thankfully and happily in its rosy light. Grief takes another by the hand, and clutching him in her stern grip, points with wasted arm along the narrow way. What matter for so short a distance how we reach the goal? Brother! help me with my knapsack the while I guide thy feebler steps, and share with thee the crumbs in my homely wallet. Let us assist rather than hinder one another. Yonder where the lights are twinkling is a welcome for us all. Dark is the night, and sore the weary feet, and rough the way. Cheer up! toil on! we shall get there at last.—Whyte Melville. Great Occasions Reveal Character
GREAT occasions do not make heroes or cowards; they simply unveil them to the eyes of men. Silently and imperceptibly, as we wake or sleep, we grow and wax strong, or we grow and wax weak, and at last some crisis shows us what we have become.— Bishop Westcott. Sustaining Our Institutions
By Francis M. Wilcox
A Great Need Appealing to a Loyal People
In the development of this second advent movement many agencies and instrumentalities have been brought into being. Church and conference organizations, schools, publishing houses, and sanitariums have all borne an important part in the work that has been accomplished. The organization, under God's guidance, has given definite form to the movement, preserved its unity and integrity, and secured from the believers concerted and harmonious effort. Our schools have supplied the consecrated workers, who have gone forth to practically all the nations of the world. From our publishing houses have gone out millions of silent messengers into many places where the living gospel heralds could not enter. Our sanitariums have contributed no unimportant part to the sum total of missionary effort. To them has been drawn a class of people who doubtless would never have been reached through other agencies. Thus these institutions have had the privilege not only of ministering to human suffering, but of presenting before those who came to them concrete examples of the power of a living gospel and a saving truth. As with the work of God in every age, many crises have arisen in the history of this movement. These have been permitted by an overruling providence as a test of the faith and loyalty of this people, and to stimulate them to greater endeavor. And right royally have the believers in this movement demonstrated their loyalty to God and to this cause. In the darkness as in the light, they have followed the pillar of God's leading. To the promulgation of the principles of this truth they have devoted their property, their sons and daughters, their own lives. No sacrifice has been counted too great for the cause they loved. Never has there existed a more sacrificing people than those connected with the work being carried forward by Seventh-day Adventists. A fresh evidence of this loyalty was seen in the recent council held in Mountain View, Cal. Here were assembled nearly one hundred conference workers, including a large majority of the General Conference Committee in America, a score of conference presidents, representatives of leading denominational institutions, and other prominent church workers. The special occasion of the gathering was to consider the present financial situation of our schools and sanitariums, and the steps that should be taken to provide for their pressing needs. At this period of our church work no more important question could demand the consideration of the representatives and leading workers of this denomination. Elder A. G. Daniells, president of the General Conference and chairman of the meeting, placed before the delegates the situation that had been created in the establishment and operation of our institutions, and the urgent need of relief which the present condition of this department of the work demands. He saw nothing calling for discouragement, and no situation that could not be met, as similar situations in the past have been met, by the active, earnest cooperation of our people. He believed that the need of our institutions was the call of Heaven to this denomination to rally to their support, and that the representatives assembled should devise ways and means whereby these agencies of the cause of God in the education of our youth for service and in the relief of human suffering could have brought to them the hearty support and cooperation of the entire church. He placed before the council a plan which had been under prayerful and careful consideration for some time by several of the committee, and which, it seemed to them, afforded an excellent means whereby the situation could be successfully handled. Facts and figures presented by Elder W. T. Knox, treasurer of the General Conference, emphasized the importance of the question and the imperative need of the present call for help. Other speakers expressed similar convictions. The question in its general bearing, together with the arrangement proposed for meeting the situation, was submitted to a representative committee for study. After careful consideration the plan referred to the committee was unanimously recommended for adoption. The action of the council is outlined in detail in an article in this department by Elder A. G. Daniells, and need not be repeated here. The proposition appealed to the judgment of the entire council. All present, so far as our knowledge extends, expressed hearty approval of the method, believing that it would be the most natural and the easiest means whereby the aid of our entire church-membership could be enlisted to help our schools and sanitariums. The plan equalizes the burden. Every member, rich or poor, may share in the giving and have a part in the blessing. Confident that God had directed their deliberations, and with gratitude to him for his leadings in pointing the way to freedom from the heavy indebtedness which now hampers the operation of our institutions, and with unbounded confidence in our faithful people that they will respond liberally and cheerfully to this great call for help, the measure proposed was adopted and will be presented to our church-members for their kindly consideration. The Spirit of God, we are confident, led in the council. Light and courage supplanted perplexity and anxiety. We know that in this crisis, as in all the crises of the past, a loyal people will royally rally to the present call. By united effort the difficult task will be made easy, the heavy load light to bear. The call now is to the whole church to take hold of this proposition. Let none be found, like the mixed multitude which came out of Egypt, among the complainers and faultfinders. Rather let every one, as did the children of Israel in the days of Nehemiah when the walls of Jerusalem were to be rebuilt, have a mind to work. Let our forces be joined in the conflict, and let every man stand by his brother, and every man say to his neighbor, Courage in the Lord. We can accomplish this work. No power can hinder the united effort of the people of God. Let every member respond to the appeal which is presented by the president of the General Conference in this issue. F. M. W. A Plan for Meeting the Financial Burdens of Our Schools and Sanitariums
By Arthur G. Daniells
The meetings of the General Conference Committee just held at Mountain View and Loma Linda, Cal., may be placed in the list of the most encouraging and profitable meetings of the committee since the last General Conference. The main reason for holding these meetings was to give the financial interests of our institutions careful study, and to formulate plans for placing them on a good, substantial basis. This great, perplexing problem has existed since the day we began the institutional work of our cause, but it has never reached a satisfactory solution. We have been more successful in our9 efforts to place what may be termed our regular evangelical work on a satisfactory basis of support. In the early days of our history we were led to recognize the tithe of our income as the true source of the support of the ministry. In our endeavor to carry forward the work in all lands, we have found it necessary to supplement the income derived from the tithe with offerings, and we have succeeded in formulating and carrying out a plan for the accomplishment of this purpose which is as regular, definite, and certain as the tithing system. That plan is for every member to give fifteen cents every week to the cause of home and foreign missions. The plan is a success, and furnishes a definite, substantial basis for carrying forward our evangelical work. This relieves all connected with that phase of the cause from undue anxiety. Of course, there is always the need of more means, but those who are charged with the administration of affairs know quite definitely what they are to receive, and, therefore, what they can plan to expend; and those in the field of activity in both home and foreign lands need give little thought to the question of support. Nowhere can there be found a system of gospel finance superior to this. If some arrangement as definite and workable could be adopted for the erection, equipment, and maintenance of our institutions, without placing upon them a heavy burden of debt, great relief and blessing would come to our cause. This is the problem we are most earnestly endeavoring to solve. We believe this end can be reached, and we believe that a long step was taken in that direction at the Mountain View council. The arrangement agreed upon by the committee to submit to the coming General Conference for approval was this:— Recommendations to the General Conference in Session
Whereas, It is more clearly revealed, with each passing year, that schools, sanitariums, and publishing houses are most helpful and necessary facilities for the rapid and efficient carrying forward of the work of God throughout the world; and— Whereas, These institutions can accomplish their purpose only to the extent that they are understood, appreciated, and supported by our people; and— Realizing, That in the establishment and maintenance of the institutions we now have, there has not been given the careful study, the efficient management, and the proper financial support they should have had; therefore, be it— Resolved, That we take these institutions, with their workers and their great interests and needs, more fully upon our hearts and into our plans and fostering care than heretofore; and, further,— That we commend to the study, the interest, and the support of our people everywhere the schools, sanitariums, and publishing houses among us. Resolved, That we adopt the following arrangement for removing the present liabilities of these institutions, and for maintaining them without creating further indebtedness:— The standard of offerings to missions to be raised from 15 cents to 20 cents a week per member in the United States and Canada, and that 25 per cent of the total amount thus raised be devoted to the liquidation of the liabilities of all training-schools, and those academies, intermediate schools, and sanitariums whose liabilities equal or exceed 25 per cent of their assets. Recommend, That the carrying out of this plan be governed by the following provisions:— 1. That the entire amount received on the Twenty-cent-a-week Fund be kept intact, and remitted to the General Conference treasury. 2. That the 25 per cent to be devoted to the liquidation of the liabilities of the schools and sanitariums shall be divided annually, by the General Conference Committee, among the institutions, on the pro rata basis of their indebtedness. 3. That in the apportionment, due consideration be given to the conditions prevailing in each institution as to its financial situation, earnings, available assets that can be realized upon without detriment to the work, annuity contracts, etc., a complete report and financial statement being rendered each year to the General Conference by the institutions. 4. In case the total amount raised falls short of the 20 cents a member, so as to interfere with the operations of our foreign mission enterprises, the shortage shall be deducted from the relief fund rather than from the foreign funds. 5. That each institution receiving appropriations from this fund shall apply the full amount it shall receive to the liquidation of its liabilities. 6. That an institution sharing the benefits of this fund shall not by any means add to its present indebtedness either by buildings, by equipment, or in its operations. 7. That for the enlargement, repairs, equipment, or loss in operating, the needed funds shall be raised by direct gifts from the people. 8. Where it is demonstrated that an institution can not maintain itself without increasing its liabilities or encroaching upon the proposed relief fund, such institution shall, upon the advice of the General Conference Committee and the union conference in which it is located, be closed, and its assets be disposed of to the best advantage, or diverted to other denominational use. 9. That failure on the part of any institution to comply with these provisions shall debar it from receiving the benefits of this plan. 10. That there be appointed a finance commission of three members, men having experience that will enable them to give counsel regarding training-schools, sanitariums, and publishing-house enterprises, to counsel with the management of each institution regarding its affairs, and to make recommendations as to plans of operation, this commission to report to the General Conference Committee; that this commission shall take the place of the recently appointed committee on institutional finance, its members to devote their whole time to the work, the salary and expense of the members to be met from the 25-per-cent institutional fund before its distribution. 11. That this plan go into effect July 1, 1913. The limits of this article prohibit the extended statement we should like to make regarding this plan. May we request our people to give the outline most careful study? First of all, it is recognized that we should all give the interests, the needs, and the great purposes of our institutions more careful study, and take them more fully into our plans and fostering care. These institutions are designed to be of great service to the cause generally and to individuals in particular, and they are rendering, in a measure at least, that service. The good they are doing in all parts of the world can never be fully known until it is revealed in the world to come. Let us, then, give them our most earnest prayers and hearty support. But the great feature of the plan under consideration is the provision for the payment of the debts of the institutions we now have. This is necessary in order to place them on a desirable and prosperous basis. The way it is proposed to do this is made plain in the recommendation. It is to raise the weekly offerings of our people from fifteen to twenty cents a member, and to appropriate twenty-five per cent, or one fourth, of the full amount of that sum to our schools and sanitariums carrying an indebtedness of one fourth or more of their assets. If this plan is carried out fully, it will, during the next seven or eight years, wipe out the entire indebtedness of all the schools and sanitariums that are now entitled to draw from this fund. It should be remembered that in paying these obligations we shall not be throwing our money away. We shall not be making up some great loss sustained by wild speculation in stocks, mines, patents, etc. When we have paid these debts, we shall have in our possession far more than full value for every dollar we pay. The material value—the land, buildings, and equipment—will be worth more than the sum we shall now have to raise. To this must be added what may be termed the good will. These institutions are not dead, abandoned enterprises. The schools are filled with our young people, who are being instructed and trained for life's duties by Christian teachers. They are being led to fear God and to reverence the Bible. By ties that can never be broken they are being bound to the cause we love, and to which we want them to give their lives. But this is not all. These same schools have already sent hundreds of our young men and women into all parts of the world to live, and labor, and die, if need154 be, to win the lost to Christ. What should we do to-day without this great army of intelligent, consecrated workers? They stand at the head of union and local conferences, colleges and academies, publishing houses and sanitariums. They edit our papers, superintend our mission fields, preach the message in every land, compose the faculties in our schools and sanitariums, do the work in our publishing houses and conference offices, and a great, energetic army is doing valiant service in carrying our message-filled literature to the homes of millions of people. All this, and yet more, we have now, and shall still have after we shall have paid the dollars these institutions are now owing. Are such assets worth what it will cost to free them from the burden of debt that rests upon them? — Yes, and a thousand times more. These institutions form an essential and inseparable part of our great world-wide missionary enterprise. They are the nurseries of the great field we are to work. From them are being transplanted fruit-bearers to all lands. How could we ever carry out our great missionary program the Lord has given us without these institutions? In the mission fields we are establishing schools and sanitariums for the training of the young natives for service. We count these institutions a part of our missionary enterprise. Our schools at this end are furnishing the teachers, nurses, and doctors necessary to do the work in the institutions at that end. We believe this plan for freeing our schools and sanitariums from debt will meet with a glad response from our people everywhere. It is feasible and possible. It can be carried out. The splendid response of our people last year to the call to raise their gifts from ten cents to fifteen cents a week shows what can be done. We came short only twelve thousand dollars of increasing our gifts five cents a week for every member in the United States and Canada. And now to help our institutions we can spring the offering another five cents. Our people of large means can, and will, give thousands. Other features of the plan for placing our institutions upon a sound financial basis will be noticed next week. Awakening Conscience
By W. A. S.
OUR missionaries in the dark quarters of the earth have continual opportunity to watch the working out in human hearts of the experience described by the apostle Paul: “I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.” The untaught Peruvian Indian, for instance, has little idea of the finer distinctions of right and wrong. Elder F. A. Stahl was pleased recently to watch the awakening of conscience in the heart of one young Indian. The youth was a warm friend of the mission, but had not come very far along the road of the Christian life. He wanted to help, however; and when Brother Stahl was in the town of Puno getting supplies, he left some sacks of barley for the young Indian to bring out to the mission station. It was in the rainy season, and the sacks were wrapped in oilskins. “Now, can I trust you?” Brother Stahl asked. “You must bring these right through to the mission, because after being carried through the steaming heat this savada will spoil if it is not opened up.” “Yes, I will do it,” the young Indian said. But Brother Stahl, after concluding his business, made the long journey to the mission station, and found that the young Indian had not come. Some hours passed, and still he did not come. It was too late to go to his village to find him that night, but the next morning Brother Stahl went to the village, and found that some trifling thing had kept the young man from bringing on the supplies direct to the mission. Brother Stahl quietly escorted the delinquent to the mission station, and when they opened and spread out the barley, it was found musty and damaged. “You see,” he said to the young man, “I trusted you; you gave me your promise, but you have broken your word, and the savada is injured. You have broken your word.” The Indian said nothing, and weeks passed. Brother Stahl had not asked this young man to bring any further supplies. The young fellow had continued attending the meetings, but the real idea of a broken promise and of the wrongfulness of it had not been thoroughly worked out in his mind. However, in meetings held just at this time, during the visit of Brethren Westphal and Allen and myself, the Lord had come very near. On the Sabbath the topic was especially the forgiveness of sin, and the prompt and definite dealing with sin. The next week, as Brother Stahl was leaving the mission to be gone for some months, the Indians were helping in packing and saddling our animals for the journey. At the last moment, the young Indian who had disappointed Brother Stahl came up to him, and with tears said, “I am glad that Jesus forgives sins.” That was all; and Brother Stahl rejoiced to hear the words. It was no set form of confession, but Brother Stahl well knew that the young man was confessing his failure of weeks before. The Spirit of the Lord had convicted him, and helped him to repent of his sins, and to seek forgiveness; and the young fellow wanted Brother Stahl to know it. So in uninstructed minds that have been befogged, and that are intellectually and morally sluggish, the Spirit of God is awakening the conscience, and the missionaries rejoice as they see the work going forward in the hearts of those whom they love. The living word that is taught day after day and month after month, is like the rain that cometh down from heaven, causing the earth to bring forth and bud. So the spiritual seed-sowing is bringing forth the fruits of righteousness in honest hearts wherever the messengers are laboring. A Dangerous Responsibility
By C. M. S.
THERE is a peculiar kind of theological teaching in the following from the Ram's Horn, of Chicago. It is worthy of note only because it is the expression of a belief that is very prevalent at the present time:— Every day is a holy day to the right kind of Christian. Sunday calls for no higher standard of conduct than Monday or Wednesday. By common consent and through divine injunction, we are forbidden to do certain things on the Sabbath, but they are tasks which are not in themselves wrong, but because they interfere with Sabbath rest and worship. Sunday is not universally observed as the Sabbath. The Greeks observe Monday; the Persians, Tuesday; the Assyrians, Wednesday; the Egyptians, Thursday; the Turks, Friday; the Jews, Saturday; and the Christians, Sunday. Thus a perpetual Sabbath is being celebrated on earth. The important thing is not the particular day, but the giving one seventh of our time to rest and worship. It is indeed true that “Sunday calls for no higher standard of conduct than Monday or Wednesday.” In the first place, the Bible nowhere recognizes Sunday as a holy or sacred day; and in the second place, God has nowhere taught us in his Word that we are to be better one day than another. We can not impute any such teaching to the Lord of the Sabbath day. But he who tries to make a Sabbath of every day is just as far in the wrong as he who imagines he must be better on Sunday or on the Sabbath than on any other day. The Sabbatic institution was established as a memorial of creation, was blessed and sanctified by the Creator for the purpose of a memorial; he set it before the race and commanded its observance as a memorial, a day of worship. The founder of that institution “rested, and was refreshed.” So we are to find rest and refreshment. He blessed and hallowed it for a purpose and we totally ignore that purpose when we set up our own choice of a day for a Sabbath, or try to make a Sabbath of our own out of all the days of the week. The writer of the above extract overlooks the fact that God gave the Sabbath as a perpetual reminder of himself and his completed work. The Bible says upon that point:— And God blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it; because that in it he rested155 from all his work which God had created and made. Gen. 2:3. God did not rest on every day in the week from all his work; nor did he bless and sanctify every day in the week, because that in them all he had rested from all his work which he had created and made. Therefore all the days of the week could not be Sabbaths. He did not rest on any single day of the first six days of the week, nor did he sanctify and bless any single one of the first six days of the week. Therefore it is impossible that any one of the first six days of the week should be the Sabbath of the Lord. The extract says: “Thus a perpetual Sabbath is being celebrated on earth;” and that because each day of the week is being observed by some people. That is not true in the light of God's Word. It is but another illustration of the babel of confusion into which the world has permitted itself to drift by departing from the Word of God. The fire-worshiping Persian is not keeping a Sabbath to the Lord by performing his fire-worship on Tuesday; the whirling dervish is not keeping a Sabbath to the Lord God by performing his brain-befogging gyrations on Thursday; and the Roman Catholic is not keeping a Sabbath to the Lord Jehovah by going through religious rites and ceremonies on the day which the ancient pagan world dedicated to the worship of the sun-god. Nor are Protestants keeping a Sabbath to Jehovah by following the Roman Church in this and trampling upon the only Sabbath which Jehovah ever recognized as his or ever gave to men to keep. “The important thing,” the above extract says, “is not the particular day, but the giving one seventh of our time to rest and worship.” On whose authority can any man make such a statement? Nowhere in God's Word is any man given authority to change the statutes and ordinances of the Lord. God declares, “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.” Ps. 89:34. What is God's covenant? In Ex. 34:16 the Lord calls the Sabbath “a perpetual covenant.” What was it that went forth out of his lips?—“And God spake all these words,” saying. What are “these words” which Jehovah spoke with his own lips? They follow immediately, they are the ten commandments, in the bosom of which rests the fourth, the Sabbath commandment. God's own promise, then, is that he will not break that Sabbath “covenant,” nor alter his Sabbath commandment. Thus it stands, and will stand forever. It is a fearful thing to take upon one's self the responsibility of attempting to change the commandments and ordinances of God. Some of the ancient Israelites thought it made no difference about the particular day of the Sabbath, and they paid for their thoughtlessness with their lives. Some thought it made no difference if ordinary fire was used in the sanctuary service. They were slain. It is just as unholy business now as it was then to tamper with God's law and his requirements when thousands of souls are in the balances deciding for eternity. “Verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whosoever shall do and teach them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 5:18, 19. C. M. S. The Cure for Anarchy
By C. M. S.
THERE is a cure for anarchy. It is not a human cure; it is not brought about by legislation. It comes through the Great Physician, and through him alone. It will not only cure anarchy, but it will save the anarchist. It will do this in the individual, but only in the individual who willingly allows it to be done for him. There will be no compulsion about it; there will be no salvation of anarchy en masse, or as a society. That work of cure must go on in the heart until every root of bitterness is eradicated, until every selfish impulse is banished, and submission to the will of God is complete. Satan was the first anarchist; he revolted against the law of God. He sought the overthrow of government; he sought the exaltation of self. Now the cure for anarchy must be the very opposite of that, and we find it in Christ Jesus. This is the all-important admonition: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” That mind which was in Christ Jesus led him to lay down his life for those who had merited death through the breaking of God’s law. Thus was the majesty of the law upheld, and at the same time a way opened that men might be saved from the results of their own anarchistic course. The heart of the carnal man is the heart of anarchy; for we read, “The carnal mind . . . is not subject to the law of God.” Then, in the regeneration of the heart of man is the cure for anarchy; that is, letting the mind of Christ displace the carnal mind. That takes anarchy out of the individual, that saves the individual; and it is the only thing that can. That is anarchy’s only cure. And in the application of that cure, submission to the will of God, is the only true and perfect liberty.