Earlier text: NO OTHER GODS BEFORE MEAN INVITATION TO THE HONEST IN HEART
By Charles E. Holmes
CHARLES E. HOLMES
(Watsonville, Cal.) “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come, and let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” “If we keep uppermost in our minds the unkind and unjust acts of others, we shall find it impossible to love them as Christ has loved us, but if our thoughts dwell upon the wondrous love and pity of Christ for us, the same spirit will flow out to others.” — “Steps to Christ,” pages 154, 155. For the Word says: “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” God’s character is fully expressed in the word “love.” In character Christ is the perfect image of God. By contemplating the wonderful love and pity of Christ for us we are changed by the Spirit of the Lord, our characters becoming more and more glorious, until we come to perfect love, even His character, His righteousness. “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” “God’s people were strengthened by the excellent glory which rested upon them in rich abundance.” — “Early Writings,” Spiritual Gifts, page 139. “A compelling power moved the honest.” — Id. This is none other than the invincible argument referred to by Christ: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” All the honest in heart will come out of Babylon, and join themselves to the children of God. The Laodiceans were counseled to buy (1) gold tried in the fire—faith and love; and (2) white raiment—Christ’s righteousness. When we have gained the first, the second will come quickly. For example, read the experience of the apostles. On this rests another of God’s precious promises: “For He will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.” Whose righteousness?—Christ’s righteousness,—the white raiment, which we will put on when we cease to permit our thoughts to dwell upon the unkind and unjust acts of others, and bring ourselves to think upon the wondrous love and pity of Christ for us. This will draw all the honest in heart toward us as the children of God. The third point of the counsel to the Laodiceans follows quickly: “And anoint thine eyes with eyesalve [the Holy Spirit], that thou mayest see.” “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” “Mighty miracles were wrought, the sick were healed, and signs and wonders followed the believers. God was in the work, and every saint, fearful of consequences, followed the conviction of his own conscience, and united with those who were keeping all the commandments of God; and with power they sounded abroad the third message.” “I saw that this will close with power and strength far exceeding the midnight cry.” “Then I saw another mighty angel commissioned to descend to earth to unite his voice with the third angel, and give power and force to his message. Great power and glory were imparted to the angel. And as he descended, the earth was lightened with his glory. The light which attended this angel penetrated everywhere, as he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen.” What could be more glorious than God’s character revealed in His servants? What could be more powerful than Christ’s own words that we are His disciples? At this time there are two classes in the true Church of God. One class have heeded the counsel to the Laodiceans, have acquired the gold tried in the fire, and are ready to put in practice the admonition referred to on pages 154, 155 of “Steps to Christ,” and make the quick, unerring steps by which God shall close the work. The other class lack the first requirement. Therefore they can not bring themselves to take the next step, and can not be used by the Holy Spirit. Read the parable of the ten virgins. “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” HOW JESUS SAVES
By J. Doan
An intelligent person will not undertake an intricate piece of work without a well-defined plan, and he will work to his plan so far as he can, changing it only as its defects become apparent. The Scriptures declare that Jesus possesses all power in heaven and earth. It is plain therefore that no power or circumstance not included in the “all power” granted to Jesus can hinder or obstruct the application of His power to save a sinner. The only conceivable power in the universe that could prevent a sinner’s salvation is his own unwillingness to be saved according to the divine plan. The sinner naturally desires some part in his own salvation, and when the Holy Spirit has wrought in his heart a keen sense of sin, the question, What must I do to be saved? is intuitively asked. This question at once suggests an unwillingness to be saved without his own efforts being credited with a portion, at least, of the merits of his salvation, when in reality the only thing an unsaved sinner can possibly do to aid in his salvation is to obey the divine commands of his Saviour. It is just as impossible for Jesus to save a sinner that persists in suggesting some alternation or deviation from the divine plan, however slight, as it is to prevent his salvation when willingly submitting to be saved in God’s own appointed way. No person understands a piece of machinery better than the maker or inventor. No person is better qualified to give commands concerning its construction or operation. No person knows the perils and dangers of a road better than he who has traveled it. Nor can there be any one better qualified to give instruction pertaining to the salvation of a soul than the Author of salvation. No person needing salvation is qualified to criticise or improve the instruction given by the Saviour. Suppose, for an illustration, a vessel is driven upon the rocks by the raging storm, and is in danger of becoming a wreck. No person on that vessel is better qualified to give orders than the captain. And while the helpless vessel is rocked to and fro by the winds and waves, the captain of a life-saving crew observes the danger, and hastens to the rescue. No person in the vicinity of the doomed vessel is better qualified to give commands concerning the salvation of the passengers of the helpless vessel than the captain of the life-saving crew. This temporal deliverer sees at once that all on board must go down unless speedily rescued. He therefore orders the passengers to leave the wreck, and commit themselves to his care for deliverance. What person in such peril, with all avenues of escape cut off except the one offered by the life-saving crew, would argue or attempt to dictate any change in the plans of his deliverer? Who that would not obey the orders of their temporal savior in that perilous condition, could hope for salvation from a watery grave? What sinner, much less a professed Christian, that would not submit in detail to the plans of his Saviour, could consistently expect salvation from the power of the enemy? Yet I often hear persons who openly profess to follow the commands of their Saviour, say to Him, This way is just as good. When He says, Believe, and be baptized, they say, It is just as well to be baptized first and believe afterward. When He says that to be baptized is to be buried, they say a few drops of water taken from a cup or basin and sprinkled on their heads is just as good. When He says, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy,” they say, Another day is just as good, or, It makes no difference in the day so long as we observe one day in every seven. When the Christian throws himself upon the mercy of God, and expects salvation only through Christ’s merits, he enjoys that peace which flows like a river. There are heights and depths in the Christian life never experienced except by a complete surrender to the will of God, as expressed in His word. In the illustration given, what father would leap from the sinking wreck, and leave behind a helpless child, without first exhausting every means in his power to save his child, even at the peril of losing his own life? Yet many parents, instead of doing all they can to guide their children into the ways of salvation, actually obstruct the highway of the Lord, and turn them aside into bypaths of their own construction, by suggesting an improvement in the strait and narrow way as surveyed by the Creator of the universe. They see in the divine highway an obstacle, a test of faith, and immediately set to work to construct a path around it, thereby creating doubt in the minds of their children concerning the wisdom of the all-wise God, and thus, instead of helping them on in the way of righteousness and truth, lead them into the bypaths of doubt and infidelity. I have heard parents, not in full accord with the divine plan, say to their children, who had become impressed with the plain teaching of God’s word, and were anxious to follow their Lord in the ordinance of baptism, “You are too young yet to understand the nature of this ordinance. Wait a little while, and perhaps you will change your mind as to the mode of baptism. Perhaps you will think a little water sprinkled on your head, administered in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, will answer the divine command just as well as to be plunged into a river in His name; and it will be much more convenient, and less distasteful to the world. Baptism is only the answering of a good conscience toward God, and God does not care how you answer. Learned men differ as to what day is the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, although you now think that the Bible teaches that the seventh day is the Sabbath. You may, when you have had more experience, see that God is not particular as to what day you keep, but how you keep it. I do not believe it makes any difference what day we keep holy, so long as we keep one day in every seven.” In view of such teaching from parents, I do not wonder at the infidelity of children. The mere suggestion of doubt by the parent is the devil’s seed sown in the rich, productive soil of God’s garden. And it is one of the immutable laws of God that “whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” O parents, awake, awake, and before making or suggesting any alteration in the divine plan of salvation, ask God to choke out the evil seed already sown in the minds of your children, by a flood of divine grace overwhelming not only your children but yourself also. I HAVE a pleasant home and every convenience, and could invite my neighbors in frequently to dine, and thus introduce to them the health reform principles; but I am ashamed to own that I can not prepare a health reform dinner that would fitly represent the principles. I should like to be able to do some practical missionary work in this line, and thus open the way for Bible work. How can I gain information that will enable me to do this? A. L. T. You are not the only one who is not a good cook. In “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. II, page 370, we find the following: “Our sisters often do not know how to cook. To such I would say, I would go to the very best cook that could be found in the country, and remain there if necessary for weeks, until I had become mistress of the art,— an intelligent, skillful cook. I would pursue this course if I were forty years old. It is your duty to know how to cook, and it is your duty to teach your daughters to cook. When you are teaching them the art of cookery, you are building around them a barrier that will preserve them from the folly and vice which they may otherwise be tempted to engage in.” This is the best advice that could be given. We can do much by securing recipes of every good dish we hear of. First, give the recipe a fair trial; and if it proves a success, copy it in a blank book kept for the purpose. If you do this, you will soon have an invaluable cook book of your own. I wish to open a mothers’ meeting in a poor section of this city. Can you give me some suggestions, a programme, or any thoughts that would assist me? I am a novice in this work, and should be very thankful for any help. S. A. R. This is a good work, and I trust you will not be discouraged, but will seek help from God and go forward. I will give you a plan that I have tried, and found to work well:— First, secure a suitable location. A small hall or reading room is the best, but a private house will do if nothing better can be found. Secure remnants of muslin, calico, or any kind of cloth. Cut out children’s underwear, or garments of any kind. As soon as you are acquainted with the families you wish to help, you can cut garments that will meet their needs. Set a price on each garment. It is much better for those receiving the garments to pay something even if it is only half what they would pay in the stores. Open your meeting with song and prayer, and then present your cut garments, explaining that they can take the garment they wish to purchase, and sew upon it during the meetings, and bring what money they can each week. If, by the time they have it made, it is paid for, they can take it home. As soon as they are supplied with garments and are quietly sewing, give them an interesting Bible reading for about twenty minutes. Then vary the program with a song, after which read something interesting from the Home department of the REVIEW or Signs. Collect your garments, being careful to open an account with each one, giving exact credit for every cent paid. Close with singing and prayer. Spend some time each week visiting the families. Encourage them to make special requests for prayer. If any of them are Christians, arouse an interest to work for their friends. Much good can be done in this work. It is better to let them give a small sum for what they receive than to give them everything. In these meetings they can also be taught to make over secondhand garments, which may be contributed. “I REQUEST prayer for a banker in our city. is not his money, but his soul, of which I think. want to meet him in the earth made new.” “I request prayer for the conversion of my husband, who is out of the truth. Pray also that I may not stand in his way, but that I may live a true Christian life in my home.” “Please pray that my boy, who ran away from home, may be converted, and return to us again. Pray also that my daughter, who married out of the faith, may, with her husband, accept the truth.” “I ask you to pray that God will convert my two daughters and their husbands, and also a young daughter and a son, who have to go out into the world to earn a living, and an aged father who lives with me, who once loved the truth.” “My husband is much prejudiced against the truth. Please pray that the Lord will soften his heart, and lead him to accept it. Pray also for my son-in-law, who has given up through discouragement, and for my daughter, that she may be given a new conversion, and wisdom to bring up her little children for Jesus. Also pray for a neighbor, who is a drunkard. I hope he will seek Jesus, and become a Christian. Pray also for me, as I start to hold Bible readings in my neighborhood.” “I ask prayer in behalf of my son. About fourteen years ago he had an attack of fever, which, with other complications, left him debilitated, so that he must have help from the Lord before he will ever be in health again. He is my only child, and I earnestly ask you to present his case at the throne of grace, that the Lord may make him as strong as he once was. He has sought the Lord many times for his recovery, but at times he becomes discouraged. I believe the Lord will hear prayer, and give him back to me whole.”311 “I request the prayers of God’s people for the conversion of my husband and three sons.” “I request prayer for the conversion of two friends. Pray earnestly that they may find Jesus.” “Will you see that my wife is remembered at the noon hour of prayer? She has been a sufferer with tuberculosis, which has caused an abscess in her side, for two years. She is patient, although confined to her bed most of the time.” “A worthy sister, who is genuinely converted, has accepted the true Sabbath, and also believes that the Lord is soon coming. Will you have a special season of prayer for her, that she may be delivered from snuff-dipping? The habit was formed in childhood, and she greatly desires to be delivered from it. She has been completely delivered from pork-eating.” “I told our pastor of the Sabbath truth, and though he was extremely kind to me, he was strong against my belief, and said I was mistaken. I asked him to show me where the change was made in the Bible. He shook his head, and said, ‘I confess it is not there,’ yet he says Sunday is the Lord’s day. Please pray that I may convince him of his error.” “I have more faith in prayer than ever before. My son says he has quit using tobacco,—praise the Lord,—and I have not seen the one who had the ill temper angry but once since prayers were offered. I praise the Lord for His goodness and mercy to us, and would it be too much to ask you to pray for me, and also that the Lord will work on the hearts of my son and his wife and bring them into the fold?” “My daughter has been deserted by her husband, and has come home with three children. Her health is seriously impaired. She was baptized twelve years ago, but her husband persecuted her until she has almost given up. Pray that she may be converted. I have a cancer in my breast, and I request prayer that I may know whether I am able to go through the process of drawing it out.” “I know that the prayers of God’s people avail much, and I request prayers for my husband, who is trying to quit the liquor habit. He uses tobacco, tea, and coffee, and I wish him to see the sin in all these hurtful habits. Also pray for a friend who has accepted the Sabbath. She has two small children, and can not attend any of the church services, but desires me to explain the Bible to her. Pray that I may have wisdom from above to do so. Also pray for a friend who is beginning the Christian life. She has recently joined the Church, but has much opposition at home. Her husband is a gambler.” Lose Not This Day: Procrastination Rebuked
“Lose this day loitering, ’twill be the same story To-morrow, and the next more dilatory; The indecision brings its own delays, And the days are lost lamenting o’er lost days. Are you in earnest? Seize this very minute. What you can do, or think you can, begin it; Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Only engage, and then the mind grows heated; Begin it, and the work will be completed.” PRAYER
By Mrs. P. Alderman
IS NOT the privilege of prayer, of speaking to God, assured that He listens and answers, the greatest privilege of mortals? Let us remember the secret place; for our Father knows that we have need. Let us ask to be anointed with the oil of gladness; ask for strength. How gladly He will give it! Praise His name. The tree that is most firmly rooted is the one that has withstood the strongest blasts. So if we would be rooted and grounded in the faith, we must bear the discipline God sends, enduring all things, hoping all things; and this we can do if we have the anointing day by day. Yes, we become strong by enduring trials—strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Can we not live in the furnace if He will stay with us? Let us endure like good soldiers. How we admire the saints who have been faithful. If our time to be proved has come, let us be loyal to God and to His precious truth. Bean and Tomato Soup
By Hellen Hennig
Take one pint of boiled, or a little less of mashed, beans, one pint of stewed tomatoes, and rub together through a colander. Add salt, two tablespoonfuls of nut meal, half a cup of nicely steamed rice, and sufficient boiling water to make a soup of proper consistency. Reheat and serve. “Science in the Kitchen” gives excellent recipes for soups. How I wish all our sisters would study the first few chapters in that book! then they would know why we ought to be hygienic cooks. Hellen Hennig. Holy Living Through Obedience to the Word
“THE prophets and apostles and holy men of old are examples of holy living in obeying the Word just as the Lord gave it to them. When we begin to question and criticise the Word, and cease to follow the teaching of the Saviour, then we cease to live holy lives.” EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE
WHEN I have occasion to go anywhere, I always carry a few papers with me, and often meet some one to whom I have given a number in that way. I have taken two orders for “Christ’s Object Lessons,” and hope to get more. The oldest member in our church has a book, and says he will canvass for it. I attend both the Quaker and Methodist meetings. I think this is a good way to get acquainted with the people, and that it will influence others to attend our meetings. Pray on! The Lord hears! In three hours after leaving your circle, I passed through one of the darkest hours of my life; but Jesus was so near to me I could feel a strengthening power that was superhuman, enabling me to say in my heart, “Thy will be done.” One quite intelligent woman here was very bitter against the truth, but help in sickness has removed her prejudice, and she now talks freely with me on Bible subjects, and is willing to read anything I offer her. She has read many tracts and several REVIEWS and Signs, and wishes to know about Sister White. She has read “Great Controversy” with much interest. As I have taken my children and gone to my neighbors with “Christ’s Object Lessons,” I have been surprised to see how ready they are to tell me of their need of God. I have met some forlorn cases, rich in this world’s goods, but barren of God’s love and truth in their lives, who really long to know God. My heart goes out to them, and I long to help them. Praise God, I can point them to Him, and He can help. I, too, receive a blessing. This work is better than medicine—it blesses those who receive and those who give; for God is between, uniting us, and His healing beams shine out on both sides. A prominent lady, hearing that I knew how to give the Sanitarium treatments, sent for me, as her physician had said that these treatments would help her. Of course I went, and the Lord has been with me in a wonderful way, for which I feel grateful. I now go every night to her room, and the treatments give her immediate relief from severe pain. She asked me to sing to her of the Lord, and as I prayed with her, she was overcome. She is sure the Lord sent me to her, and has asked me why we believe that Jesus is soon coming. I have thus had an opportunity to tell her the precious news, and my heart has been greatly rejoiced. The first five verses are a continuation of the description of the heavenly Jerusalem. “In the midst of the street,” or, as others render it, the “broad place,” is the river of life, and on either side of it is the tree of life. The tree of life is “in the midst of the paradise of God” (Rev. 2:7), or the garden of Eden. Gen. 2:9. The garden of Eden was taken from the earth before the flood, and will be found in the heavenly Jerusalem, with the river of life in the midst of it. The throne of God is at the end of the park in the midst of the city, from which the river of life flows. This is a relic of the earth as it first came from the hand of its Creator. From one Sabbath to another and from one new moon to another all flesh will come and partake of the tree of life. Isa. 66:23. The leaves of the tree possess those qualities that will enable the righteous to grow up as calves of the stall (Mal. 4:2) until they attain to the stature they would have had if man had not sinned. This must have been from twelve to fifteen feet or more in height, and perfect in every respect. Deut. 3:11. The reader is referred to the last chapter of “Great Controversy” for a description of the glory of the city. The prophet became so enraptured with the glory of the scene that he fell at the feet of the angel to worship him, but the angel refused worship, assuring him he was only his servant, and the servant of all the prophets, and also of those who keep the sayings of this book. The same angel who appeared to Daniel (Dan. 8:16) appeared to John, and through the Spirit of Prophecy will also appear to the remnant (Rev. 12:17) who keep the sayings of this book. This book was never sealed; but it covers the history of the Roman kingdom from the time of Christ. It was, however, to be understood when the sealed book, the prophecies of Daniel, were opened. Revelation 10. The eleventh and twelfth verses of chapter twenty-two state positively that there will be a period of time called “quickly.” After that he who is holy will remain holy, and he who is filthy will so remain. When this time comes, the righteous and the wicked will still be living upon the earth in their mortal state. Men will be planting and building, eating and drinking, all unconscious that the final, irrevocable decision has been pronounced in the sanctuary above. Before the flood, after Noah entered the ark, God shut him in, and shut the ungodly out; but for seven days the people, not knowing that their doom was fixed, continued their careless, pleasure-loving life, and mocked the warnings of impending judgment. “So,” says the Saviour, “shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Silently, unnoticed, as the midnight thief, will come the decisive hour that marks the fixing of every man’s destiny, the final withdrawal of mercy’s offer to guilty men. “Watch ye therefore; . . . lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping.” Perilous is the condition of those who, growing weary of their watch, turn to the attractions of the world. While the man of business is absorbed in the pursuit of gain, while the pleasure-lover is seeking indulgence, while the daughter of fashion is arranging her adornments, it may be in that hour the Judge of all the earth will pronounce the sentence, “Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.” See “Great Controversy.” Again Christ assures the prophet that He is the beginning and the ending. In the infinite purpose of God, “before the foundations of the earth were laid, the Father and the Son had united in a covenant to redeem man if he should be overcome by Satan. They had clasped their hands in a solemn pledge that Christ should become the surety for the human race. This pledge was fulfilled when, upon the cross, he cried out, ‘It is finished.’”—“The Desire of Ages,” trade edition, page 1001. It was then the price was paid; Christ had woven the garment of righteousness without one thread of selfishness. At that time mercy and truth met together, and righteousness and peace kissed each other. But now the earth is arrayed in living green, as it would have been if man had never sinned. The same number that would have peopled the earth if sin had never entered are now saved as the trophies of divine grace. The earth blossoms as a rose. The people of God are now and evermore privileged to hold communion with the Son and the Father, with no dimming veil between. The heavenly benediction has been pronounced upon those who kept God’s commandments, and they have a right to the tree of life. The dogs and sorcerers, whoremongers, murderers, idolaters, and whosoever loveth or maketh a lie will have received their portion outside the city. Some will tell a lie, who would not make one. But the lover of a lie and the maker of it will perish together. Those who thirst after righteousness, whose hearts long for salvation, are invited by the glories of the earth made new, and by the glories of the city of God, to come and partake of the waters of life. Here, we take of them spiritually by faith; there, in reality. Now is the day of mercy. The invitation has gone forth, Whosoever will, let him come. It is well for all to ponder the closing words of this book. They are spoken in direct reference to the book itself. If in the past we have had no interest in the books of Daniel and Revelation, now is an opportunity to redeem ourselves. These words are full of solemnity; for if we do not read or study the words of the book of this prophecy, how do we know whether we have added to them or not? How do we know whether we have taken from them or not? “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” Thus closes this wonderful prophecy. It will not be long before the truthfulness of these words will be realized. DAILY READING FOR MAY 19–25
Sunday, “Thoughts on the Revelation,” verses 1–4. Wednesday, chapter 2 in “Patriarchs and Prophets.” NOTE.—Remember, as you read the chapter on creation, that Christ came “to seek and to save that which was lost,” and the beauties of the first creation, given to Adam, will be reproduced in the new earth, given to the second Adam. 1. Where is the source of the river of life? What position does the river occupy in the city? What grows on its banks? How many varieties of fruit on the tree of life? How often do they ripen? What do the leaves contain? What books of the Bible mention the tree of life? 2. What throne will be in the new earth? What do the saints behold? V. 4. Will the wicked ever see His face? Whence will God’s people receive light? What benefit is derived from keeping these prophecies? Compare Rev. 22:9 with 19:10 and 12:17. What was John forbidden to do? 3. When will the decree of verse 11 be given? What will come on the earth during the time indicated by the “quickly” of verse 12? How is Christ the Alpha and Omega? 4. Who enter the gates of the city? Who are without? What is the significance of Christ’s saying, I am the “root” of David? Also the “morning star”? 5. What one word contains the invitation to share all these glories? Who gave the invitation? Who was commissioned to give it? Can any one say “Come” if he himself is not on the right road? What is the difference between saying “Go,” and saying “Come”? Who are invited? 6. What will befall the individual who presumes to add to or take from this prophecy? EVER since the opening of our late Conference in this place, it has been a curious query in our mind what kind of story those who try to turn the doctrine of the second advent of Christ into ridicule, would try to fabricate concerning our position and our work. We have not had to wait long. Returns from newspaperdom are beginning to come in. Here is one from the North Carolina Evening Dispatch, headed— BATTLE CREEK, MICH., APRIL 23, 1901.—The General Conference of Adventists, which closed here to-day, brought out the fact that the Adventists hold that the world is coming to an end in this, the first year of the twentieth century.” To any who attended the Conference, it will be news that any such sentiment was held or advanced in the Conference, as that the end of the world is coming this present year. It is well known that the very scriptures which constitute the basis of our faith respecting the end of the world, make the time of the second coming of Christ absolutely indeterminate. We believe just as our Lord himself declared, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man [that is, the time of that day and hour], no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father,” or as Matthew records it, “but my Father only.” Mark 13:32; Matt. 24:36. And as the Father alone knows it, it is not now a matter of revelation; and if it ever is known, that knowledge must come from the Father only. But God has revealed enough to enable us to know, and therefore commands us to know, when “it” [“He,” Christ, margin] is near, even at the doors.” Matt. 24:33. If we do not know this, we are warned that we will, like the Jews, not be aware of the day of our visitation, and, like them, will perish in consequence. Luke 19:41–44. It could hardly be expected that the item would close without any reference to Mrs. White, of whom we accordingly read: “Mrs. Ellen White, the famous prophetess of the sect, announces that the second coming of Christ is near at hand. Thus far she has not been explicit concerning the exact time, but she declares that the hour is not far off. ‘The Scriptures contain prophecies from which can be computed the exact date of the end of the world,’ declares Mrs. White. ‘If we read the words of Daniel aright, we shall know when the Lord will come.’” It was very considerate in the writer of the foregoing item to keep within the truth by saying of Mrs. White that “thus far she has not been explicit concerning the exact time,” that is, that she fixes no time for the Lord to come; but the writer is far from the truth when he represents her as saying that “if we read the words of Daniel aright, we shall know when the Lord will come.” The Scriptures contain no prophecies from which can be computed the exact date of the end of the world, and Daniel contains no words from which the time of the Lord’s coming can be ascertained. And any one who asserts that we believe he does, either does not understand that of which he speaks or is not careful to confine himself to the truth. We refer to these things not with the expectation of correcting the impression that prevails in regard to them in the world at large, but to assure our friends who may have such assertions to meet, that our positions remain as before; and they may answer them accordingly. We do not make, nor have we made, the assertion that the end will come this year, or any other specific year. We know not the day nor the hour. But we do know that the end is near and hasteth greatly.