To say the very least, we were amused and pleased by reading an article in the Sabbath Memorial for July, published at London, England, under the caption, The Humble Remonstrance of Saturday. Well instructed Sabbatarians after passing Mr. Punch, Mr. Spectator, Who, Which, and That, better understood at London, will see some fine points in the remonstrance, which the casual reader may not. Here is the article:—
Mr. PUNCH: When Who, and Which made their celebrated complaint to your great ancestor, Mr. SPECTATOR, against That he was candid and courteous enough to hear both sides, and so let That speak for himself. Now, what I wish, is to be allowed simply to speak for myself; for I am unfortunately reduced to the condition of such a miserable drudge, that I am scarcely ever permitted to hold up my head and look about me as cheerfully as any other day of the week. All this, alas! dear sir, has been brought upon me by that upstart, whose “self-assertion” you have lately admitted into your pages. When I look back upon the early history of my life, I remember how I was born and nursed in paradise; and though last, I was not the least of all the seven brothers and sisters that then composed a happy family. I maintained an honorable position in society, beloved and respected above all my brothers and sisters, for more than two-thirds of my life, till at last my eldest brother, “Sunday,” pretended that there was an alteration made in our family settlement; and without ever producing any new deed in proof of his rival claims, he ventured to usurp all my inheritance, notwithstanding that the original deed remains enrolled in the most ancient record in the world, and the enrollment has never been cancelled or vacated. I have often demanded a fair hearing, but am so browbeaten by my brother and his adherents, that I should be driven to utter despair were it not that I have an office copy of my title deed and a few friends remaining who know the justice of my claims; and by their undiminished regard show that they are not ashamed of me in my present reduced condition. Indeed, sir, all this bother about the post-office would have been settled without difficulty if my brother could have produced (which I know he can't) such an authentic document as might prove him, beyond all dispute, to be what I truly am, namely, the Patriarchal, the Jewish, and the Christian Sabbath.
SATURDAY.
Delaying Obedience.
By James White
We give in the following the substance of an appeal made by Mrs. W., April 16, 1875, on the dangers of delaying obedience, addressed to a man and his wife who were hearing lectures and were hesitating on the point of obedience, according to the convictions of their minds. And we are sorry to say that these persons have taken the course that they were warned to avoid. For the benefit of others in similar danger, the appeal is now given. J. W.
DEAR BROTHER AND SISTER: I had hoped to meet you again before we crossed the plains, but this may not be. I have thought much of our interview at your house, and have prayed that you both may have strength to walk in the path of obedience. You have had light, but Satan will not let you pursue the narrow road, and become loyal and true to all God's requirements, without contending every inch of ground. He has his agents in men who profess as did Satan, when he tempted Christ, to be ministers of righteousness. They would belittle in your minds God's holy commandments. Satan is at war with that law which is the foundation of God's government in Heaven and in earth. God has let his light shine upon you. Will you, dear friends, cherish the light. Men may come with the garb of holiness, having error and truth mixed together, and many are deceived. Satan quoted scripture to Christ, showing that he could use scripture to work his deception upon minds. Those who are acquainted with their own heart know the necessity of being closely connected with God in order to have divine wisdom to discern the wiles of Satan and to cling, with firm, unyielding grasp to Jesus. There is no nook or corner of the world, however secluded, where error and sin have not found their way. Error is often presented in a specious garb, so that it requires more than human wisdom to detect the falsehood under the pretension of truth. If error was not ever mingled with truth it would not be so subtle in its influence upon the mind. If error stood forth alone in its true hideous form, souls would not be deceived. But there are many who see attractions in error, and will eagerly feast upon it although it poisons the mind. Error always injures the soul and deforms the character. Error may, at first sight, appear plausible, but its tendency is to corrupt the heart, and to ensnare its victims. We often hear it stated that it matters not what one believes if his life is only right. But the life is moulded by the faith. If light and truth is within our reach, and we neglect to improve the privilege of hearing and seeing the truth we virtually reject it, and choose darkness rather than light. Said Christ to the Jews, “Ye will not come to me that ye might have life.”
I beseech you, my brother and sister, to inquire of God, as those who are willing to know the right way, What is truth? Do not willingly cheat your own souls of the light which you may have if you will. Like the noble Bereans, search the Scriptures daily, and see whether these things are so. And be true to your convictions of truth and of duty. Many infidels are compelled to be such because they cannot consent to accept truth which requires a sacrifice for them to live out. Convenience is consulted by a large number who profess Christ. There is a desire to climb up some other way, that will require less sacrifice.
Said Christ, “He that will come after me let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.” To follow Jesus fully requires a thorough conversion. Half-way converts make half-hearted Christians. Again, said Christ, “He that is not for me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.” The plain words of truth spoken by our Saviour sifted his followers down to a few faithful ones who laid the foundation of the Christian church. Many of the wealthy, honorable, and noble ones of the world were charmed with the teachings of Christ, and had a desire to follow him. But when the truth in its practical bearings was brought home to their hearts and lives they drew back and walked no more with Jesus. The young ruler was desirous of following Christ. “Sell all that thou hast,” says the Master, “and come, follow me, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven.” He could not comply with the terms. His poor selfish heart loved his possessions better than the kingdom of God, and he turned from following his Saviour. He turned from his heavenly treasure, and went back to his idolatrous love of his earthly treasures, and lost eternal riches.
Jesus requires the entire surrender of the soul to him without compromise. Those who are thoroughly converted will never be among the number to cowardly plead, “I pray thee have me excused.” The living Christian loves duty, and enjoys even the severities which he must bear if he is a soldier of the cross of Christ.
We feel the greatest anxiety for souls who are in the valley of decision. We feel a dread of Satan's attacks upon these poor souls. He watches his opportunity to bring his powers to bear when he sees that there is a possibility of hindering souls from deciding to be wholly on the Lord's side.
While the Spirit of God is convicting you of the truth, do not stop to cavil, but believe. Do not find fault, but listen to evidence. Yield your pride to humility, and exchange your prejudice for candor. Confer not with flesh and blood; but surrender all to God. Take the Bible as your guide, and earnestly inquire, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” When you once yield your natural independence and self-will for a child-like submissive obedience, and are willing to be taught, you will hear the voice of the true Shepherd saying “This is the way, walk ye in it.” Christ does not propose to teach the self-conceited and self-willed. It is only the meek whom he pledges to guide in judgment, and to whom he will teach his way.
If you are in search of truth, obedience will not be difficult. If you really want to know the Master's will you will thankfully receive it. We are learners in the school of Christ. A genuine love for Jesus will of necessity create a love for the truth. Treasure up the truth in your heart. Seek knowledge. Make this your daily prayer, “With my whole heart have I sought thee; O let me not wander from thy commandments. Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” We are not safe only as we mould our daily life after the divine Pattern.
I entreat you, my dear friends, to move guardedly; for you are making decisions for eternity. Walk in the light while you have the light. Let no one influence you to turn from the truth. You can never be sanctified through error. Christ prayed to his Father in behalf of his disciples, “Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth.” It is a time and age of the world when error prevails, and with nearly all is taken for granted as truth. Error is no less error because it has been instilled in minds from their very youth. Error is taught in schools and preached from the pulpit. Theories are advanced which have no foundation in the word of God.
You made the remark, “My parents were godly and they kept Sunday and will be saved. If I keep the day which they kept why will not I be as safe as they?” Your relatives and friends may have lived up to the light which they had. They are not accountable for the light which shines in your day which they did not have. If you have greater light than your fathers, and you live up to that light as faithfully as your fathers did to the light which shone upon them, you will be saved by obeying as they will be saved by obedience to the light which the Lord permitted to shine upon them. “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” “If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin; but now they have no cloak for their sin.” We are responsible for the light which shines upon our path. This is our day of visitation and privileges. God is setting before us solemn truth. Will we accept it? Reject not present light, and do not lightly esteem God's gracious opportunities.
If God in mercy has permitted light to shine13out of darkness, and has removed the mist from your eyes that have been long blinded to the claims of his holy law, I beseech you to cherish the light and walk in it, lest it become darkness. We are living in the perils of the last days. It is not safe to be careless and indifferent now. With humble hearts and perfect submission to the will of God, we should pray earnestly to be kept from error and that we may be guided into all truth. Truth sanctifies. Error corrupts. The soul can be kept pure and strengthened only by walking in the light as Christ is in the light.
My heart has been drawn out in love to you. I have longed to see you moving out understandingly upon the truth, committing the keeping of your souls to God. In faith press through the moral darkness of error and unbelief and yield your soul's best and holiest affections to him. He has claims upon you which you cannot resist and be guiltless. I entreat of you to yield yourselves to God in faith. He can and will receive you with all your peculiarities of temperament, and with all your trials and temptations, and with all your duties, your cares and burdens of responsibility, and will bear you and also your every burden, and will bring all your powers under the control of his grace. God will come to your help, and will aid you in your warfare. His messages of truth and warning are sent to save you, and not to flatter and amuse you. While truth deals in an unsparing manner with your sins, it has the deepest compassion for your soul.
Every taxing duty becomes easy, and every sacrifice becomes a pleasure to those whom the truth makes free. What a victory is gained when the carnal life ceases, and the spiritual life begins. The Lord guides. The Lord keeps. The Love of God, and the obedience to all his commandments, bring all the powers of the soul into obedience to his will. What can constrain the heart and affections like love, sanctified love. That love which brings the soul into connection with Heaven, is more earnest, fervent, and enduring for earthly relatives than any other. There is nothing in the heart at war with God's requirements. The mind, submissive and obedient, will love to do all his commandments. Evil will be abhorred, and the good will be chosen. There will be no self-denial or self-sacrifice that is grievous, for the heart delights in doing for Christ, and seeking to save souls from error and from the transgression of the holy law of God. When God has control of the affections the mind will not be selfish, shrinking from sacrifices.
The committing of the soul to God is essential for our salvation. You cannot follow a course of your own choosing, and be at war with the law of God, living in disobedience to his requirements, and yet be in harmony with God. Entire obedience to the will of God, will bring courage, hope, peace and happiness to the soul. There will be seen watchfulness, diligence and prayer, self-denial, self-crucifixion and active benevolence. John thus describes the faithful whom he saw in vision upon the isle of Patmos:—
“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands. And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.”
“And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat; for the Lamb, which is in the midst of the throne, shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”
What an example have the martyrs for Jesus left us in their lives of self-denial and sacrifice. They were faithful and true to principle. Although prisons, tortures, inquisitions, gibbets, and the stake threatened them, they counted not their lives dear unto themselves. Their love for the truth was here manifested. They chose to obey the truth at the expense of great suffering. The world was not worthy of these heroes of faith. They died for their faith. The pure gold was refined from all dross through trial and suffering. As these shall enter the portals of glory they will shout in triumph, We overcome by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of our testimony. We were faithful unto death and now receive a crown of life. Shouts of triumph will come from lips that never triumphed before. Those who were too timid to praise God vocally were not too timid to die for their Lord. They struggled and fought the good fight of faith. They were steadfast to the end. They will unite their glad voices in the universal songs of triumph and victory, that they were accounted worthy to receive the heavenly benediction “well done” from the Master they loved, and for whom they had suffered. His own right hand will place upon their brows crowns of immortal glory that fadeth not away.
Mr. Kalloch on the “Jewish Sunday.”
By Joseph Harvey Waggoner
Mr. KALLOCH is the Baptist preacher of the Pacific Coast. He was “called” to San Francisco because he could “draw” a congregation. He is a popular speaker. Recently he advertised to speak on the “Jewish Sunday and Christian Sunday.” This was a very singular announcement. School boys are supposed to know that the Jews kept the seventh day “according to the commandment,” and that the seventh day was never called “Sunday” by the Jews nor by any other people. The Jews had no names for the days of the week; they conformed to the usage of the Scriptures and called them only by numbers. The names of the days of the week are entirely of heathen origin. More than this, they are of Pagan origin, and relics of idolatry. Thus of the name of Sunday we quote:—
“Sunday was a name given by the heathen to the first day of the week, because it was the day on which they worshiped the sun.”—Sunday-School Un. Bible Dict.
“The heathen nations in the north of Europe dedicated this day to the sun, and hence their Christian descendants continue to call the day Sunday.”—Webster’s Dictionary.
“The ancient Saxons called it by this name because upon it they worshiped the sun.”—Religious Encyclopædia.
“It is also called Sunday from the old Roman denomination of dies solis, the day of the sun, to which it was sacred.”—Douay Catechism.
All history points to the decree of Constantine as the first authority for the observance of the first day of the week, and in that its pagan character is recognized. This decree is as follows:
“Let all the judges and town people, and the occupation of all trades rest on the venerable day of the sun, but let those who are situated in the country freely and at full liberty attend to the business of agriculture; because it often happens that no other day is so fit for sowing corn and planting vines; lest the critical moment being let slip, men should lose the commodities granted by Heaven.”
Dr. Schaff, in his Church History, says that Constantine “enjoined the civil observance of Sunday, though not as dies Domini, but as dies solis, in conformity to his worship of Apollo,” or the sun-god. The sun was the “tutelary deity” of Constantine, and after his professed conversion to Christianity he continued to pay divine honors to the sun. Thus again, Dr. Schaff says, Ch. Hist., Vol. 2, p. 15:—
“Down to the end of his life he retained the title of Pontifex Maximus, or high priest of the heathen hierarchy. His coins bore on the one side the letters of the name of Christ, on the other the figure of the sun-god, and the inscription, Sol invictus.”
In this decree its observance was inferred as “the day of the sun.” And so it is called Sunday. But did Mr. Kalloch ever learn that the seventh day—the day enjoined in the commandment and kept by the Jews—was called “the day of the sun”? Surely not. Why, then, does he call that day Sunday?
The report of his discourse in a city paper, contains the following:—
“In the Jewish calendar it was a day of holy convocation. The sacrifices were doubled. The prophets were busy, as ministers are now. They had ‘blue Monday’ as well as we. Christ visited the synagogue on Sundays.”
We might make allowance for errors in the report of a daily paper, and distrust the accuracy of the foregoing; but Mr. Kalloch called it “the Jewish Sunday” in his own published appointments, which fastens the curiosity (we know not what else to call it) upon himself.
Now what shall we think? We are sorely puzzled. We cannot believe that Mr. Kalloch is ignorant of the fact that it was the first day, and not the seventh day, which the pagans dedicated to the sun. We cannot believe that he thinks the day which the Jews kept, which was enjoined in the Scriptures as the seventh day, was identical with the present Sunday, or first day of the week. We cannot imagine that any man occupying his position and having his opportunities, can possibly be ignorant of such plain and well known facts. But why, before an intelligent community does he make such singular statements? A professed minister of the gospel stands before the public as a teacher of truth. We know that the popular preacher often leaves this high position and descends to the level of the declaimer or the essayist. But even then we cannot see any excuse for his ignoring or contradicting facts with which even school children are acquainted.
The office of a minister is a very responsible one. If “by our words we shall be condemned,” he, above all others, should be careful to speak right words. He professes to speak for God to a people in danger of everlasting ruin. The day is coming when every man’s work will be tried. To stand the test of that day we must be faithful witnesses, to “tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”
J. H. WAGGONER.
Cause in California.
By John Norton Loughborough
DEAR BRETHREN: I trust you have an abiding and increasing interest in the cause on this coast. I do not cease to pray for you daily, that you may be steadfast, and faithful in duty at the various points where you reside. The cause is one, and whether efforts are being made in our own town, or at some other place, we should all earnestly pray that it may be a success.
Since the camp-meeting I have been exceedingly busy in the tent-meeting in San Francisco, so I have had but little leisure to even answer your letters, or write for our excellent SIGNS OF THE TIMES. The success of the effort in San Francisco has a bearing on the cause all over this Pacific Coast. This also being the entre-port of commerce for the coast from all parts of the world, souls embracing the truth here from various nationalities can readily scatter light to their native lands. I trust none of our brethren and sisters will get the idea that they are neglected while well directed labor is being put forth here.
The Conference Committee will do the best they can to supply labor at those points where help is needed, as fast as it can be done. All must be learning to bear their own burdens, to gain an experience for themselves, and be prepared, like the branches of the mustard plant which bore up the birds, to reach out in faith, and labor as they “have opportunity” to help others to the light.
Our work is, as ministers and people, to do all we can to spread the light and influence of present truth where there is promising fields; and in places where we have churches labor should be put forth, but our great work is in new fields. The desire and burden of my own mind is to enter fields where we have as yet made no effort at all, and from which earnest requests are coming for labor.
Shall we be permitted to enter these whitening harvest fields on this coast, or shall we still be held in assisting others to do what they ought ere this to have learned to do themselves?
I trust you are faithful in the missionary work; that you are each keeping a minute of your work in your little pass books so as to fill out your blanks in season for the quarterly meetings soon to be held. Can we not be faithful in all these things? “He who is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much.”
The quarterly meetings will be appointed soon. We will try to arrange so that the ordinances may be celebrated in all places as far as practicable, and that these occasions may be made interesting. We desire to see the work prospering, but if it does all must learn to do in their sphere the duties that devolve upon them. May it be so. J. N. L.
The Christian Life.
By Jos. Clarke
WHENEVER the Christian thinks within himself, now I will do something grand and noble, he does very little if anything at all; but when he gets very humble and feels that God alone can make him of any use in the work, that he is very little and despised, then he does his work as it should be done, and God approves his efforts.
When enemies arise, and the Christian says to himself, now will I avenge myself of these people, I will show them what I can do, then he gets badly routed and defeated; but when he says, let them curse, the Lord has bidden them curse; I deserve trouble and sorrow for my dulness in the work, and for my neglect; I will repent and call upon God and place my cause in his hands, then he conquers and triumphs in the Lord.
Whenever the Christian says, I cannot give so much time and money to the cause, it is ruining me; then he begins to grow poor; but when he says, all I have is the Lord's, it is all at his disposal, I will give in all my tithes and offerings, old arrears, as well as present dues, from that time he begins to grow rich. So it is. The carnal and the spiritual are contrary to each other, and must be weighed in scales which Heaven only furnishes and endorses.
Jos. CLARKE.
“What Then?”
When Philip De Neri, who, in the sixteenth century, renounced the hereditary honors of the Florentine nobility for the service of the living God, was living in an Italian University, a young man ran to him with a face full of delight, and told him he had come to the law school of that place on account of its great fame, and that he intended to spare no pains or labor to get through his studies as soon as possible.
Philip waited for his conclusion with great patience, and then said:—
“Well, and when you have got through your course of studies, what do you mean to do?”
“Then I shall take my Doctor’s degree.”
“And then?” asked Philip again.
“And then,” continued the youth, “I shall have a number of difficult questions to manage, shall catch people’s notice by my eloquence, my zeal, my learning and acuteness, and shall gain a great reputation.”
“And then?” repeated the holy man.
“And then,” replied the youth, “why, there can’t be a question I shall be promoted to some high office or other. Besides I shall make money and grow rich.”
“And then?” repeated Philip.
“And then,” said the young man, “then I shall be comfortably and honorably situated in wealth and dignity.”
“And then?” asked the holy man.
“And then,” “and then—and then—then I shall die.”
Here Philip raised his voice: “AND WHAT THEN?”
Whereupon the young man made no answer, but cast down his head and went away. The last “And then,” had, like lightning, pierced his soul, and he could not get rid of it. Soon after he forsook the law, and gave himself to the ministry of Christ, and spent the remainder of his days in godly words and works.
Is it not well for us all to look to the end of the road we take, whatever it be? Is it pleasure or mirth? Indulgence or excess? Follow it to the end. Ask at every opening scene, “What then?” Do not be deluded or cajoled. Do not deceive yourself. Follow out every plan, and purpose, and device, to its ultimate termination, and inquire, “What then?” Do not rest in uncertainties. Do not deceive yourself with temporary expedients. Travel onward to the journey’s end. Watch the final result. “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof.” May that end to us be blessedness and peace.
An end will come—youth and beauty, mirth and joy, fame and honor, wealth and pomp, riot and hilarity, life and health, time and opportunity all must pass away, and what will follow at the end?” What then? Ah, yes, “What then?”
“After the joys of earth,
After its songs of mirth,
After its hours of light,
After its dreams so bright,—
What then?
Only an empty name;
Only a weary frame;
Only a ceaseless smart;
Only an aching heart.
After this empty name,
After this weary frame,
After this conscious smart,
After this aching heart,—
What then?
Only a sad farewell
To a world loved too well;
Only a silent bed
With the forgotten dead.
After this sad farewell
To a world loved too well,
After this silent bed
With the forgotten dead,—
What then?
Oh, then—the Judgment throne!
Oh, then—the last hope gone!
Oh, then—the day of wrath!
Oh, then—the second death!”
Reports from the East.
From Canada Bro. A. C. Bourdeau reports that he has spent five weeks in Bolton, giving forty-one discourses, and visiting many families. Twelve have promised to keep the Sabbath, and many more acknowledge that he has the truth.
From Soldier Valley, Iowa; Eld. H. Nicola gives an encouraging report of the general meeting held in that place. This meeting was held in the western border of Iowa for the benefit of the scattered ones in Western Iowa, and Eastern Nebraska, who could not attend the Iowa Camp-meeting. Bro. Nicola says:—
“Our people in Western Iowa are much scattered. But few of them have church privileges. Many of them have embraced the truth by reading, consequently this meeting, which has just closed, was one of necessity, and was highly appreciated by all who were so fortunate as to be able to attend it. There were about one hundred in constant attendance, many of them having come from thirty to one hundred miles. Nearly all camped on the ground, there being six or seven small tents pitched, besides the large one, which made ample room for all. The meeting was conducted much as our camp-meetings are. Good order was observed. Ten discourses were given with a good degree of freedom. Judging from the feeling manifested in the prayer and social meetings, much of the melting Spirit of the Lord was present. There was a united effort in seeking God. Sabbath afternoon, backsliders and sinners were invited forward for prayers. Thirty-three responded, many of whom came forward for the first time.”
“First-day afternoon, after a discourse upon the subject of baptism, by Bro. Boyd, twenty-two followed their Lord in this solemn ordinance. The Missionary work received some attention. Twelve joined the Society, a few dollars were donated, and a good supply of reading matter was distributed to the members for circulation.” And after speaking of the scattered condition of the brethren in Nebraska, the difficulties which lay in the way of their attending this meeting, and the impossibility of their being at the camp-meeting held farther east, he again remarks:—
“We hope the time may soon come that the friends of the cause in this new and enterprising State will become numerous enough to support a Conference of their own, so that important meetings may be held in their midst. God is blessing the faithful labors of Bro. C. L. Boyd, who has been in this field for a considerable length of time, and if those who are entering this field, and the friends who are already in it, will heartily co-operate, a separate Conference may soon be organized.”
Bro. J. F. Hansen reports five months’ labor among the Danes in Iowa and Dakota. Twenty-six have been converted by his labors besides many being strengthened and encouraged. He says: “There are now four organized Danish churches in Iowa, with a membership of over one hundred. The work of the Lord is steadily going forward among them, for which we feel to thank and praise him.”
Christ Our Refuge.
By R. A. MORTON
“COME UNTO ME, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matt. 11: 28–30.
This language expresses the mission of our Saviour in few words. The Scriptures bear us out in asserting that Christ's mission here was that the sinner might have a refuge from the burden of sin and its baneful consequences, and that this refuge is the Son of God. Hence his earnest entreaty: “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money come.” That he will receive such is well attested by every act of his life. He made the dumb to speak, the deaf to hear, the blind to see, the lame to walk. He healed the sick and forgave their sins, cleansed the lepers and raised the dead. He spoke words of cheer to the desponding, and bound up the broken heart. He was moved with love and tender compassion to yield up his spotless life on Mt. Calvary that you and I, dear reader, might have faith in his name to cleanse us from the leprosy of sin.
But whom does the Saviour so earnestly entreat? It is not those who feel no need of him; not the proud, the worldly, the unconcerned. No; it is not even they who, from the force of evidence, acknowledge the need of a Saviour; but it is they who feel condemned, and, with godly sorrow, cry day and night from the depths of their soul for rest from the mighty burden of sin. A few tears, with no deep feeling of regret for having offended our Heavenly Father, is not striving to have eternal life. Not very well will it compare with the grief and anguish of soul our Saviour bore for us.
The evidences that our Saviour has power to give rest to burdened souls are too numerous to mention. All who have fled to him for refuge are so many witnesses that the Son of God has power to fulfill his promise. Yes; every fagot that has been kindled around them, every instrument of torture and death that has been invented to take away the lives of these refugees are so many unimpeachable witnesses that Jesus has power to give joy and peace to the troubled. But this is not all he was to do. The prophet Isaiah tells us that he was to magnify the law and make it honorable.
The text does not tell us what it is that condemns the sinner, nor how he is made to feel his load of sin. Christ did not come to condemn the world. “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3: 17. But why is man condemned? It is by reason of sin. What is sin? It is the transgression of the law, says the Scriptures. Therefore the law by being transgressed condemns the transgressor.
“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” Rom. 3: 19. How does the world become guilty before God? By hearing what the law saith. It is the law that condemns, and the Saviour that redeems.
So long as man is ignorant of sin he can not repent. He must therefore have a knowledge of it before he can come to Christ. This is by the law, “for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
Paul says: “I had not known sin, but by the law; for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.” Rom. 7: 7.
This also shows by what law the sinner is condemned. It is the law of God. It was by contemplating the claims of this law that Paul found himself condemned. Then he exclaims from the depth of his soul: “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Then his ears were opened and he heard that same voice which had said “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” He found peace in Jesus, and became a true and an everlasting witness that Jesus can and will fulfill his promise.
But what did he say of the law? He said: “The law is holy. I delight in the law of God after the inward man.” “The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Is this the language of many professed Christians at the present time? It is not.
Though they may appear to elevate the standard of Christ with all the zeal of a zealot; though their voice may be heard on the street day and night lauding the name of Jesus; if they abrogate the law of God by word or act when light has come, they are treading under foot that which the Lord our Saviour magnified and made honorable; that which shows the sinner his lost condition that he may take refuge in Jesus. Oh, that they would acknowledge the authority of God and live!
Dear reader, let us examine ourselves daily, in the light of His holy law, lest we be found with an unconscious load of sin at his appearing. Jesus is pleading for us. He is able, he is willing to receive us if we feel our need of him. I want to be meek and lowly in heart.
“Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness; it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger.” Zeph. 2: 3. R. A. MORTON.
An Instructive Anecdote.
Most young people are very fond of display in dress. Rings, breastpins, and similar superfluities, are in great demand among them. We have known a girl to spend a month's wages for a single article of this kind, and a young man to run in debt for a cane when he had scarcely clothing enough to appear respectable. The following story of a successful merchant will show to such how these things look to sensible people. Said he:—
“I was seventeen years old when I left the country store where I had ‘tended’ for three years, and came to Boston in search of a place. Anxious, of course, to appear to the best advantage, I spent an unusual amount of time and solicitude upon my toilet, and when it was completed, I surveyed my reflection in the glass with no little satisfaction, glancing lastly and approvingly upon a seal ring which embellished my little finger, and my cane, a very pretty affair, which I had purchased with direct reference to this occasion. My first day’s experience was not encouraging. I traveled street after street, up one side and down the other, without success. I fancied, toward the last, that the clerks all knew my business the moment I opened the door, and that they winked ill-naturally at my discomfiture as I passed out. But nature endowed me with a good degree of persistence15and the next day I started again.
Toward noon, I entered a store where an elderly gentleman was talking with a lady near by the door. I waited until the visitor had left and then stated my errand.
“No, sir,” was the answer, given in a crisp and decided manner. Possibly I looked the discouragement I was beginning to feel, for he added in a kindlier tone, “Are you good at taking a hint?”
“I don’t know,” I answered, and my face flushed painfully.
“‘What I wish to say is this,’ said he, looking me in the face and smiling at my embarrassment, ‘If I were in want of a clerk, I would not engage a young man who came seeking employment with a flashy ring upon his finger, and swinging a cane.’”
“For a moment, mortified vanity struggled against common sense, but sense got the victory, and I replied, with rather shaky voice, ‘I’m very much obliged to you,’ and then beat a hasty retreat. As soon as I got out of sight, I slipped the ring into my pocket, and walking rapidly to the Worcester depot, I left the cane in charge of the baggage master ‘until called for.’ It is there now, for aught I know. At any rate, I never called for it. That afternoon I obtained a situation with the firm of which I am now a partner. How much my unfortunate finery had injured my prospects on the previous day I shall never know, but I never think of the old gentleman and his plain dealing with me, without always feeling, as I told him at the time, ‘very much obliged to him.’” —Sel.
The Conflict of Life.
ONWARD, onward, though the region
Where thou art drear and lone;
God has set a guardian legion
Very near thee—press thou on!
Upward, upward! their hosanna
Rolleth o’er thee, “God is Love”!
All around thy red-cross banner
Streams the radiance from above.
By the thorn road and none other
Is the Mount of Vision won;
Tread it without shrinking brother!
Jesus trod it—press thou on!
By thy trustful, calm endeavor,
Guiding, cheering, like the sun,
Earth-bound hearts thou shalt deliver;
O, for their sake, press thou on!
Be this world the wiser, stronger,
For thy life of pain and peace;
While it needs thee, O, no longer
Pray thou for thy quick release;
Pray thou, undisheartened, rather,
That thou be a faithful son;
By the prayer of Jesus: “Father,
Not my will, but Thine be done!”