JESUS said, in that grand sermon on the mount, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Now let us put that statement in another way: Cursed are the impure in heart, for they shall not see God. This is a reasonable deduction as will be apparent.
God does not punish us arbitrarily, but by the working out of natural laws allows our manner of life to be shown to be good or evil. It is written, “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? . . . A good tree can not bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.”
Did you ever see one who, having obeyed God’s laws through life, did not wear the mark of God’s blessing in his face? And did ever the sign of the curse fail to be apparent in the appearance of one whose life is impure? When the vilest sinner turns to God, and is thoroughly converted, how quickly a change is noticeable! How soon the eye, the index of the thoughts, which was wont to be averted in the presence of the pure, acquires a look of honest confidence! Instead of the look of guilt, we see there the evidence of the blessing. True, the scar remains, as does the scar of an external wound; but where there is a scar, we know that there has been a healing. “As he thinketh in his heart, so is he,” is a truth that is patent. A keen observer, standing for a moment on one of our crowded thoroughfares, might single out any number of men and women who bear the stamp of impurity; but could a like number be found upon whom God has set His seal? God alone can look upon the heart; therefore man may sometimes be deceived for a time by a fair outward show; but the evidences of sin are bound to appear. As well sow thistles and expect a harvest of grain, as to live in sin and expect to bear the mark of God’s approval. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”
We do not need a scientist to tell us that a tree is dead when it has been so for a long time; but the danger of deception is with regard to one that has just been killed, but is still standing. For a little while its leaves may appear fresh and green, but how soon the mark of death shows itself! God does not have to put a mark upon the dead tree to show us that it is dead; the simple working out of natural law shows us that life no longer exists. So it is with men. God does not need, by a miracle, to put the mark of Cain upon us to show that we are spiritually dead; that will come as a natural consequence when we live in disobedience to His laws.
Paul, in writing to the Philippians, says: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” By meditating upon the things of God, our minds will become conformed to His mind; and when our minds become changed into the likeness of God’s mind, we shall think God’s thoughts; and as God is the embodiment of purity, the more we come into harmony with Him, the more will purity be manifest in our daily life.
Impure thoughts precede impure actions, just as seedtime precedes the harvest. We might as well take in our hands a viper and expect to escape unscathed, as to cherish impure thoughts and think to come forth uninjured. Only the mighty power of God can break the bands of sin, and give us freedom; but when this has been done, we are constrained to say: “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name.” For “He was manifested to take away our sins.” “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.”
WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD?
By Ethan Lanphear
ETHAN LANPHEAR
(Plainfield, N. J.)
In all the civilized world there is a terrible buzzing and humming over the Sunday question and the Sabbath question. There is no trouble with the Sunday question or with the Sabbath. The sun moves as God created it to move, as do also the moon and stars; the sun giving light by day, and the moon and stars by night. The Lord made the Sabbath especially for man, and said, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. . . . The seventh day is the Sabbath.”
The sun’s day has no more to do with Sunday, or the first day of the week, as a Sabbath, than has the moon’s day. No sanctity was ever applied to either, as was applied to the weekly Sabbath. According to history, Constantine issued the first edict for worshiping on Sunday, or the first day of the week, and that applied only to townspeople. The agriculturist, or farmer, was not required to neglect the care of his crops.
God or Christ never had anything more to do with Sunday as a Sabbath than they had with the Fourth of July. The Church and the world have, for hundreds of years, been substituting the heathen Sunday in the place of God’s Sabbath.
The Roman Catholics claim that they had a right to change the Sabbath, and that they did change it. And doubtless some converts from heathenism continued to observe the Sunday as well as many other heathen customs, because of the opposition to the Jewish converts. Professedly Protestant Churches have so long preached Sunday-keeping that many believe that Sunday, or the first day of the week, is the real Sabbath, or Lord’s day, while there is not an instance in the Old or in the New Testament where either “Sabbath,” or “Lord’s day” is applied to Sunday, or the first day of the week. Many of the Protestant Churches of to-day are about as far from Christ’s teaching as the Roman Church is; and yet they claim to take the Bible for their faith and practice. The intelligent people of our country know that there is no Bible authority for keeping Sunday, and you can not convince them that it is a sin to work or to do business on that day the same as on any other working day; for they know that under God’s order of things, “where no law is, there is no transgression.”
All this attempt to compel people to observe Sunday as the Sabbath, is fighting against God by trying to substitute a heathen institution in place of God’s ordained law, the seventh-day Sabbath, which He made for man.
Is it any wonder that there is confusion in the churches and the world? How can you convince a man that it is a sin not to observe Sunday as the Sabbath? Every intelligent Bible student knows that there is no law for it, and that where there is no law, there is no sin. How can you compel a person to keep Sunday conscientiously if there is no law for it?
If we search the Scriptures, we may find that the Church and the world are as far from God and true religion as the antediluvians were. If Christ should come unexpectedly, would the professed people of God be prepared to meet Him? Would He not find nearly all the Churches, as well as the world, worshiping idols, and keeping the commandments of men instead of the commandments of God? Let every one examine himself.
WHICH ONE?
J. PROFESSES to be a Christian. B. does not. D. is a poor man. D. hired to B. to cut twenty cords of wood. When he had just begun the work, B. said, “Don’t you need some money?” D. said, “I have worked only a little.” “That is all right,” said B; “you may need some money. Here is five dollars.”
Some time afterward J. bargained to have D. cut twenty cords of wood for him. When D. had most of the wood cut, and was ready to begin hauling it, his wife was taken very sick, so that he could not leave the house. In a few days D. himself became sick, and of course was in need of money. J. laid the money away, and told D. that it was ready for him when the wood was delivered.
Which of these showed the Christian spirit?
This is a true story, and happened but a few weeks ago.
THE WAY WHICH SEEMETH RIGHT
By W. H. Bunch
W. H. BUNCH
(McKinley, Ore.)
“THERE is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
Very often in our experience a course of action presents itself, or is presented by the wily enemy, which seems altogether harmless, and in perfect accord with Christian ethics, at least it is not discountenanced by the lives of the majority of our professedly Christian associates.
We may feel the gentle warning of the Spirit of God, yet no scripture comes to our mind which pointedly condemns or satisfactorily sustains such a course.
It seems right, and too often Satan gains a signal triumph over us, and misleads others through our influence, just because through the presence of evil we lose sight of the facts that “every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.”
Under the rapidly increasing light of the Third Angel’s Message there is no place for a “way which seemeth right;” for if such is the only basis for our hope, the result is clearly stated in the scripture introducing the article.
Our words and daily Christian deportment must bear the stamp of positive assurance. We must know that our Redeemer lives. Our unswerving adherence to principle under every circumstance must show in our lives the verification of the promise: “If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine.” John 7:17.
The admonition comes to us with unmistakable clearness: “Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” Jer. 6:16.
The “old paths” and the “good way” do not seem the most desirable from the popular point of view, but along this route, guided by the unfailing light of God’s word, have walked patriarchs, prophets, martyrs,—the blood-bought throng of all ages,—and into its narrow, blood-stained limits are now filing God’s remnant people.
Let there be no drawing back, no trifling with ways which may “seem right;” for we know “that the kingdom of God is at hand,” and our ears hear the guiding words, “This is the way, walk ye in it.”
“Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.” Luke 8:18.
A Sweet Temper Promotes Long Life
“A SWEET temper is promotive of a long life.”
MISSIONARY WORK IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
By Ellen G. White
MRS. E. G. WHITE
Those who neglect their duty in the home and among their neighbors are, by their unfaithfulness, separating themselves from God. Their piety becomes tame and weak. Unfaithfulness in the home leads to unfaithfulness in the church. They do not strengthen and build it up. Through their failures in duty, all their work is marked with blunders and defects. Their indifference and neglect have a molding influence upon all who have confidence in them as Christians. The errors of one are copied by many, and thus the evil goes on deepening and widening. Brethren, you may not see this, but so it stands in God's sight, and you must meet it in the Judgment.
In the day of God, how many will confront us and say, “I am lost! I am lost! and you never warned me; you never entreated me to come to Jesus. Had I believed as you did, I would have followed every judgment-bound soul with prayers and tears and warnings.”
In that day the Master will demand of His professed people, “What have you done to save the souls of your neighbors? There are many who were connected with you in worldly business, who lived close beside you, whom you might have warned. Why are they among the unsaved?”
Brethren and sisters, what excuse can you render to God for this neglect of souls? I would present this matter to you as it has been presented to me; and in the light from the life of the Master, from the cross of Calvary, I urge you to arouse. I entreat you to take upon your own hearts the burden of your fellow men.
No one who professes to love Jesus can long retain the favor of God if he feels no interest for sinners around him. Those who seek merely to save their own souls and are indifferent to the condition and destiny of their fellow men, will fail to put forth sufficient effort to secure their own salvation. In hiding their talents in the earth, they are throwing away their opportunities to obtain a star-gemmed crown.
I write plainly, that every effort may be made on the part of all to remove the frown of God from them by sincere repentance. Whatever the neglect of duty, of parents to children, or of neighbor to neighbor, let it now be understood and repented of. If we have sinned against the Lord, we shall never have peace and restoration to His favor without full confession and reformation in regard to the very things in which we have been remiss. Not until we have used every means in our power to repair the evil, can God approve and bless us. The path of confession is humiliating, but it is the only way by which we can receive strength to overcome. All the dropped stitches may never be picked up so that our work shall be as perfect and God-pleasing as it should have been; but every effort should be made to do this so far as it is possible to accomplish it.
We have the promise, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,” even so was “the Son of man . . . lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” We are to “look and live.” Sinful and unworthy, we must cast our helpless souls upon the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. Then will God restore unto us the joy of His salvation, and uphold us by His free Spirit. Then we may teach transgressors His way, and sinners shall be converted unto Him.
Brethren, the Lord calls upon you to redeem the time. Draw nigh to God. Take on your neck, the yoke of Christ; stretch out your hands to lift His burden. Stir up the gift that is within you. You who have had opportunities and privileges to become acquainted with the reasons of our faith, use this knowledge in giving light to others. And do not rest satisfied with the little knowledge you already have. Search the Scriptures. Let no moment be unimproved. Dig for the precious gems of truth as for hid treasures, and pray for wisdom that you may present the truth to others in a clear, connected manner.
Many who have been left to darkness and ruin might have been helped had their neighbors, common men and women, come to them with the love of Christ glowing in their hearts, and put forth personal efforts for them. Many are waiting to be addressed thus personally. Humble, earnest conversation with such persons, and prayer for them, heart being brought close to heart, would in most cases be wholly successful.
Let labor for souls become a part of your life. Go to the homes even of those who manifest no interest. While mercy's sweet voice invites the sinner, work with every energy of heart and brain, as did Paul, who “ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” The heavenly messengers are waiting to co-operate with your efforts. Will you do the work appointed you of God?
The Comfort a Word May Bring
“A SINGLE word is a little thing,
But a soul may be dying before your eyes
For the lack of the comfort a word may bring,
With its welcome help and its sweet surprise.”
BEAN OR PEAS BROTH
By Helen Hennig
HELEN HENNIG
Bean broth is made from the liquid in which the beans are cooked. From one cup of dry beans we can take about four cups of broth, and the beans still be rich enough to be eaten, but they should be set aside to simmer for twenty or thirty minutes after the broth is drained off. A teaspoonful of lightly browned flour or cornstarch may be mixed with water, cream, or milk, and boiled into the broth, if it seems too thin. Salt to taste. Any of the red beans make a delicious broth. A little longer cooking may be necessary when kidney beans are used. Peas may be used instead of beans.
EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE
By Mrs. Geo. A. Irwin
My husband is with me in the truth, so he helps me carry my burdens. Although my work at home is heavy, yet I find time to help my neighbors. Sometimes I care for the sick, or prepare some dish that will help get the health reform principles before them. I have much to rejoice in when I think that we sisters can have a part in the great work of saving souls for whom Christ died.
A sister writes:—
A short time ago a minister's wife of our town was sick, and she sent for me. While I was at her home, she asked me to pray. So I knelt down and prayed. She wept, and said she wanted to hear me pray when she was dying.
This is Woman's Gospel Work. May many others also engage in it.
Is it wrong to worry when company, or other unusual cares that I can't prevent, absorb so much of my time that I am unable to keep up in my readings? I am naturally slow about some parts of the housework, and have tried and tried to overcome it. I have prayed over it, too, and sometimes am almost desperate because all my time seems to be devoted to housework and answering telephone calls, when others with larger families accomplish so much.
As to worrying, you surely know that it does no good to worry over anything, and therefore it must be wrong. “Fret not thyself in anywise to do evil.” Learn to see the hand of God in the little things of life, accept all that comes to you as from Him, and do the very best you can under all circumstances, and cease to worry, or fret. “In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.”
I am interested in what you say about being naturally slow in some kinds of housework. I can sympathize with you in this; for I have had just the same trouble myself. But I have asked the Lord to help me in this matter, and He has wonderfully done so. He has taught me to take many short cuts, which save time, and in the end bring the same results. Cooking the meals and washing the dishes has been the work that has tried me the most, but I have shortened up this part of the work wonderfully in the last six months.
I have found it a good plan never to hurry through a meal; but while sitting at the table, after the meal is finished, ask each one, in a pleasant way, to hand over his dishes, and then I pile them up by my side, while we continue the conversation. I keep my crumb pan on the table (I had a present of a very nice one, so it does not look out of place at all), and each one can brush up his place. So when we get up from the table, our dishes are all gathered, and the table brushed. And if, before dinner, you can wash up the things in the sink, in a short time all the dishes can be washed and wiped and put away, and all the work be finished in one third of the time it generally takes. I have also found it a great help to get each member of the family to put away his clothing as soon as taken off, as well as to put all other things in their places. I buy a great many ready-made garments, such as underwear, night dresses, and sometimes skirts; and this is a great help. Perhaps I am easier on my clothes than some women are. My sewing is a small part of my work.
I am impressed, although I can not tell why, that you are particular about things. While I think we should be neat, and be careful to have our homes tidy and comfortable, yet above all, we should avoid anything like nagging the different members of the family about keeping things in their places, and not soiling this or that. I read the other day that “one keep-clean is worth a dozen make-cleans.” I have always tried to impress this on the members of my family. It is much easier to keep a thing clean than to clean it after it has become dirty.
The City.— Whence does it come? What is it called? Give form of the city. How many miles on each side? Give height of wall. Of what is the city built? What does it resemble? What form the streets? How many gates? Of what are they composed? Who stand at the gates? Give the names written over the gates. Of what is the wall made? How many foundations? Give names of the stones. Give names written on the foundations.
The New Earth.— Who dwells with men? V. 3. In what condition will all things be? V. 5. What will God do for His people? Will there be kings and nations on the new earth? What will they bring to the city? How often will all gather? Isa. 66:22, 23. Will the sun shine on the new earth? Isa. 30:26. Why will the sun not be needed in the city? What will furnish light from the city? Who are cast out? Where is their part? V. 8. Who will inherit “all these things”? V. 7.
The first verse of the twenty-first chapter introduces us to a new heaven and a new earth. It also introduces us to a new heaven and a new earth. The judgments that come upon the great whore and upon the wicked are in the past. The first phase of the judgment was the investigative judgment, which began in 1844 and continued until the cases of the righteous had all been examined; then during the thousand years between the two resurrections, the wicked were judged. The punishment due each one who had trampled underfoot God's law, was there decided, after which comes the execution of that judgment. After this the prophet sees a new heaven and a new earth. The atmosphere, which had been full of miasma and poison, the earth, upon which the curse had so heavily rested for six thousand years, the miasmatic pools, and the turbulent sea, which has warred against Christ and His people, are no more.
He that sat upon the throne had made all things new. "And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God." This is glad news to all who love God; but it is not a matter of rejoicing to those who delight in feeding the mind on commonplace and trivial things. Those who take no pleasure in thinking and talking of God in this life, will not enjoy the life that is to come, where God is ever present, dwelling among His people. But those who love to think of God will be in their element, breathing in the atmosphere of heaven. Those who on earth love the thought of heaven will be happy in its holy associations and pleasures.
The prophet says: "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." "And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him, and they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads." See REVIEW AND HERALD of May 13, 1890, first-page article.
All who passed through trials which they could not comprehend, and dark providences which were never unfolded to them in this world, Christ will lead by the river of life, and open to them the design of God in all their experiences. "He that overcometh shall inherit all things." The battle is not to the strong nor the race to the swift, but it is to him who makes God his refuge.
Those who are ever fearful of doing right because of the reproach and stigma that may be cast upon them, will have their part with unbelievers, murderers, whoremongers, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, in the lake "which burneth with fire and brimstone." Here is the dividing line between the execution of the judgment and the new earth.
Again the seventh angel talked with John, saying, "Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife." So he brought him to a great and high mountain, and he saw the city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. No description of that city can be given better than the one given by the prophet in the remaining portion of this chapter. The precious stones mentioned in Gen. 2:11, 12, of which God designed that Adam and his descendants should build a city around the garden of Eden, Christ has taken, and with them built a city in heaven beyond the taint of sin, and He brings it down to the earth for man. The same varieties of precious stones placed in the breast-plate of the high priest in the earthly sanctuary are now formed into the foundations of the wall of the city. God created nothing in vain.
The city has twelve gates, and at the gates are twelve angels, and on the gates are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. It also has twelve foundations, and in them are the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. The city lieth foursquare, three hundred and seventy-five miles on each side. The wall is one hundred and forty-four cubits, about two hundred and sixty feet high. The gates are twelve pearls, and the streets of the city are pure gold; and as the stream reflects the trees upon its bank, so the streets of this city reflect the precious stones of the foundations. There is no dimming veil which shuts away the light in the temple; for God himself and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the sun will shine seven times as bright as it does now, and the moon will be as bright as the sun; but in the city is no need of the sun, neither of the moon; for the glory of God far outshines their brightest rays, and the nations of the saved walk in the light of that glory.
And the redeemed, and the kings of the earth that are saved, bring their glory and honor into it, and lay it at the feet of Him that redeemed them. There is no hurtful place in that land, no danger of robbers entering in through the gates, for there will be no night there, and nothing to hurt or destroy in all the universe of God. No defiling thought nor anything whatever that will work abomination or make a lie, passes into the inheritance reserved for the people of God.
All this is in reserve for those who live for it. The faithful have their thoughts upon heavenly things. The attractions of this world will in no case lead them away. It is the superficial minds and carnal hearts that love the things that are earthly and devilish. Those who love God will have an intelligent knowledge of Him. His image will show forth from the faces of His servants, and they will be openly acknowledged as the sons and daughters of God. How careful we should be as to the record that passes up to heaven concerning our daily life! God is no respecter of persons. He will render to every man according to his works. Man may be deceived, but the Judge of the earth reads the motives and thoughts of the heart. There will not be lack of evidence in the court of heaven; for a faithful record has been kept of every word man has spoken and of the purpose of his heart, and the concealed motives of all will be revealed as they enter the closing punishment. The eyes of the Lord run to and fro over the whole earth. He has offered salvation to sinners. Nothing but the merits of the blood of Christ is sufficient to wash out the stains of guilt from the hearts of men. But the reward is more than a compensation for every trial and every sacrifice in this life. This day of reward is soon to come.
REQUESTS FOR PRAYER
I ASK an interest in the prayers of our sisters for my oldest son, who uses tobacco. He is kind to me, and wishes to quit the filthy habit. Please pray for him, and pray that I may be a good mother, so filled with the Holy Spirit that I may have the right influence over him.
Pray that my unconverted husband and children may believe and obey before it is too late. I am completely broken down, in health. Pray that I may be given strength to do the work the Master has for me to do, in such a way that His name shall be glorified, and precious souls brought to the Saviour.
I desire to have your prayers for my family. My husband has backslidden, and my three stepchildren and two of our own children are unconverted. I desire that my own life may be consecrated to God and His work. My husband has the ability to teach others, having a good knowledge of the truth, but is easily discouraged.
“Please pray for my husband. He has been keeping the Sabbath for some time, but seems discouraged. He is working by the day, and is constantly in the company of scoffers and those opposed to the truth. Pray that he may give his heart to the Lord, and stand firm for what he knows is right. Also pray for the conversion of my brother, who has gone to a rough country far from home.”
Woman's Gospel Work
By Mrs. Geo. A. Irwin
DEAR SISTERS OF THE WOMAN'S GOSPEL WORK: No doubt you have noticed the resolutions for the Woman's Work printed in the Conference Bulletin; and as the committee has these resolutions under consideration, we are at present unable to say what are the plans for its future.
You will also learn, from the Bulletin, that I leave the work here to engage in labor in a distant field; and as we have over two hundred unanswered letters on hand, it will be impossible to reply to all of them before we go: so I write these few lines to wish you all Godspeed in the Woman's Gospel Work.
When the committee has completed the arrangements for this work, the sisters will be notified through the Review, and I trust that in the future each one will take as much interest in the work of this department as she has in the past.
Wishing you much of the blessing of God in your work for Him, I remain,
Your loving sister,
MRS. GEO. A. IRWIN.
Human Life Is a Sacred Trust
“HUMAN life is not only a precious gift, but is also a sacred trust,—a talent committed to our care, to be used for the honor of the great Author of life, and for which an account must be rendered at last.”
