Earlier text: Publishers’ PageAt this season Americans are forcibly reminded of their blessed heritage of civil and religious liberty. And upon the day of which this paper bears date, in every city and town, village and hamlet, will be heard again those memorable words, “That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” It is well to be thus reminded of the great and just principles upon which our government was founded, and to have recounted again the struggles of our forefathers in securing for us such liberty as we now enjoy; for we might almost as truly say of them, as Peter did of the prophets, “that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the[se] things.” But by whatever means God has overruled in the affairs of men and nations in the past “that the word of the Lord may have free course,” yet as individuals there is greater need that we be encouraged to “resist not him that is evil,” than that we should be urged to defend our rights. Since the hearts of men are selfish, there is often strife because each of two parties considers his rights to have been violated by the other. Many scriptures could be quoted to show the course a Christian should pursue when his domain of “rights” has been invaded; but we will content ourselves with noticing what Jesus did on one occasion when he clearly intimates that an unjust demand had been made upon him. The record is found in Matt. 17: 24-27. “And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received the half-shekel came to Peter, and said, Doth not your teacher pay the half-shekel? He saith, Yea.” It will be noticed that this half-shekel was the price of the annual ransom which was required of each individual numbered above twenty years, and was applied for the service of the congregation in the temple. Ex. 30: 11-16. “But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel” (Num. 2: 33), and so, as God’s ministers, being they were exempt from paying this tribute. Likewise prophets were exempt, but the refusal of any one else to pay was considered an act of disloyalty to the temple. So Peter, quick to resent any insinuation of disloyalty on the part of his Master, when asked, immediately replied that Jesus would pay, thereby virtually admitting that Jesus was not even a prophet, much less the Son of God, which Peter had recently so strongly affirmed. After they reach the house, Jesus clearly shows that he is under no obligation to pay the half-shekel, by asking, “What thinkest thou, Simon? the kings of the earth, from whom do they receive toll or tribute? from their sons, or from strangers? And when he said, From strangers, Jesus said unto him, Therefore the sons are free.” Surely then the Son of God was free from the tribute required to maintain the service of the temple, which to him was simply his Father’s house. But he does not vehemently denounce the duplicity of the Jews in trying to entangle him, neither does he stoutly refuse to pay the amount. He does not even upbraid Peter for thus placing him in a compromising position. Instead, his concern seems to be for those who clearly are at fault, for he said to Peter, “Lest we cause them to stumble, go thou to the sea, and cast a hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a shekel: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.” So a miracle was wrought to satisfy this unjust claim. Nor should we think he used this means of providing it simply to save the draft on their treasury of a sum equal to about seventy-five cents. Had it not been that by so doing he would have virtually denied his mission as a teacher sent of God, Jesus would have asked Judas to furnish the required shekel, although in purchasing power it was the equivalent of about ten dollars at the present time. Where the violation of a principle is involved in an unjust demand, the Christian will choose “to obey God rather than man;” still, by his example in this experience, Jesus has taught us that where no principle is sacrificed, it is better to yield to an unjust demand than to be drawn into useless controversy concerning our rights, lest we cause some one to stumble. It is dangerous to tamper with the Scriptures. It is dangerous to take a text of Scripture and attempt to make it mean more than its obvious teaching. He who does that is in danger of making many texts mean less than they were intended to mean or of entirely changing their obvious meaning, so leading himself out of the path of truth and blinding the eyes of his followers. Don’t strive for something new, but in prayerful study seek to know the truth for the truth’s sake and for the good that knowledge will enable you to do. The following interesting note and comment thereon we clip from the Chicago Home Herald (Ram's Horn). The conditions set forth by that journal are not overdrawn. This disease and the many other deadly maladies prevalent to-day, point with unfaltering finger to the end of the rule of sin:— A cure has been found for the great American malady. Neurasthenia has displaced consumption in its boastful position for first honors. It claims more victims than the “great white plague.” It is the penalty which we suffer for our surrender to the mad rush of present-day civilization. This is a neurotic age. An eminent doctor recently explained how he had studied physical culture to learn to relax his muscles, and then practised self-hypnotism to cure insomnia after a season of overwork. Diseases of the nerves are not confined to America, but we are told they are raging in England and throughout the continent. Dr. T. B. Hyslop, superintendent of the Royal Hospital, London, has been led professionally to give the matter a great deal of study, with a view to discovering the best means of combating what might be called a universal nervous plague. His conclusion is an interesting one, and is most unique, since it bears both a pathological and theological character. He says:— “As an alienist and one whose whole life has been concerned with the sufferings of the mind, I would state that of all hygienic measures to counteract disturbed sleep, depressed spirits, and all the miserable sequels of a distressed mind, I would undoubtedly give the first place to the simple habit of prayer. Let there be a habit of nightly communion, not as a mendicant or repeater of words adapted to the tongue of a sage, but as a humble individual who submerges or asserts his individuality as an integral part of a greater whole. Such a habit does more to clean the spirit and strengthen the soul to overcome mere incidental emotionalism than any other therapeutic agent known to me.” “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” The mind that is filled with that conviction will rest undisturbed in the storm of care and trouble. The best cure for sick nerves is a sound religious faith and a daily exercise of the same. One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollar Fund
By S. J. Hersum
For Special Work at Home and Abroad The Gold and Silver Are the Lord's
“The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord.” Haggai 2:8. Not only are the silver and gold his, but the cattle upon a thousand hills, and all the fowls as well. Ps. 50:9, 10. Not only the cattle and fowls belong unto the Lord, but the world itself and everything in it. Verse 12. It matters not under whose control these things are at the present time. They in present possession are only stewards over what belongs to God. It is God who gives man ability to get wealth. Deut. 8:18; Hosea 2:8. But if that which the Lord gives is put to a wrong use, he will hold the one who has it responsible. The Lord will always bring into the hands of his people an amount of means sufficient to carry forward his work. Illustrations of this fact are given us in the Scriptures. When God's people had been for so many years in bondage in Egypt, it is but reasonable to suppose that they had but little aside from their herds and flocks. But the Lord had a work for that people to do that required something besides sheep and goats,—a work that required some silver and gold,—so he told his people to borrow jewels of silver and gold from the Egyptians (Ex. 12:35, 36), and those things were used in the building of the sanctuary after they came out into the wilderness. Ex. 35:22-24. At another time, when God's people had been in captivity for threescore and ten years, at the end of that time the Lord had promised that his people should return to their own land, and the temple was to be rebuilt. But had that people the means with which to build it? It is evident that they had not the money of their own to do that work; so the Lord put it into the heart of Cyrus, when he made the proclamation for that people to return, to give them means with which to do the work. Ezra 1:4. And later, after the work had been begun and before the temple was finished, they still needed means to carry the work to completion; so Artaxerxes made a donation to help forward the work. See Ezra 7:15, 16. The amount specified in verse 22 is one hundred talents of silver, an amount that equals, in our money, $164,250. This certainly was a fulfilment of Isa. 60:9, 10, which says: “The sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee.” But could that people expect help financially from the world if they had had the means to do the work themselves? I can not think they could have expected it. Man's necessity is God's opportunity to work. The gift of Artaxerxes exceeds the amount called for by our leading men, more than fourteen thousand dollars. There is no question in the mind of the writer that if this denomination had not the means to meet this call, God would move upon the hearts of others, and they would supply the money needed. But so long as this people are able to raise the amount called for, they can not expect help from the world. The time is soon coming when the property we possess will be of no value to us. It will be consumed in the fires of the last days. The apostle says: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” 2 Peter 3:10. Those who have money, then, will have to give it up. How much better it would be to use some of this means now, when the cause of God is in so much need of money with which to carry its work forward. S. J. HERSUM.
Richmond, Maine. Received on the $150,000 Fund up to June 25, 1907
Atlantic Union Conference
Central New England ............... $ 2,472.26
Chesapeake ........................ 424.26
Eastern Pennsylvania ............. 1,411.85
Greater New York ................. 415.75
Maine ............................. 360.82
New Jersey ........................ 552.63
New York .......................... 1,026.17
Southern New England .............. 880.53
Vermont ........................... 850.70
Virginia .......................... 266.67
Western Pennsylvania .............. 822.57
West Virginia ..................... 241.67
Western New York .................. 1,291.67
Total ............................ $11,017.55 Canadian Union Conference
Maritime .......................... $316.43
Quebec ............................ 33.78
Ontario ........................... 350.48
Total ............................ $700.69 Colorado .......................... $ 878.19
Iowa .............................. 2,244.97
Kansas ............................ 1,655.65
Missouri .......................... 851.45
Nebraska .......................... 4,789.63
Wyoming ........................... 403.87
Total ............................ $10,823.76 Washington churches ............... $1,168.24 East Michigan ..................... $ 1,197.82
Indiana ........................... 4,475.48
North Michigan .................... 121.51
Northern Illinois ................. 1,619.74
Ohio .............................. 2,661.61
Southern Illinois ................. 750.58
West Michigan ..................... 3,165.35
Wisconsin ........................ 1,812.22
Total ............................ $15,804.31 North Pacific Union Conference
Conference not specified .......... $ 350.26
British Columbia .................. 67.80
Montana ........................... 221.66
Upper Columbia .................... 1,348.22
Western Washington ................ 1,021.81
Idaho ............................. 844.90
Western Oregon .................... 864.53
Total ............................ $4,719.18 Northern Union Conference
Alberta ........................... $ 144.10
Manitoba .......................... 238.70
Saskatchewan Mission Field ........ 34.85
Minnesota ......................... 3,485.00
South Dakota ...................... 2,114.19
North Dakota ...................... 1,681.23
Total ............................ $7,698.07 Arizona ........................... $ 177.87
California-Nevada ................ 5,164.16
Southern California ............... 482.79
Utah .............................. 205.46
Total ............................ $6,030.28 Southern Union Conference
South Carolina .................... $ 103.85
Alabama ........................... 200.63
Tennessee River ................... 502.94
Florida ........................... 337.65
North Carolina .................... 255.25
Kentucky .......................... 30.36
Cumberland ........................ 533.44
Louisiana ......................... 385.61
Mississippi ....................... 190.63
Georgia ........................... 345.86
Total ............................ $2,891.22 Southwestern Union Conference
Not specified ..................... $ 170.18
Arkansas .......................... 221.64
Oklahoma .......................... 1,414.94
Texas ............................. 1,060.86
Total ............................ $2,867.62 Unknown ........................... $149.20 Algeria ........................... $ 13.33
Australia ......................... 137.06
Bermuda ........................... 25.00
China ............................. 3.00
South Africa ...................... 128.16
Jamaica ........................... 13.41
Yukon Territory ................... 10.00
England ........................... 256.32
West Africa ....................... 13.90
Mexico ............................ 2.00
Costa Rica ........................ 2.00
India ............................. 12.48
South America ..................... 23.35
Switzerland ....................... 9.69
Panama ............................ 9.00
Nicaragua ......................... 2.00
Trinidad .......................... .34
Central American Mission ......... 17.00
Norway ............................ 25.00
Japan ............................. 12.50
Hayti ............................. 5.00
Egypt ............................. 51.55
Palestine ........................ 2.00
Tobago, W. I. ..................... 1.22
Total ............................ $775.31 Grand Total ........................ $64,645.43 All remittances should be made to the treasurer of the State conference wherein the remitter resides. If, for any reason, this is not possible, then remittance should be made to I. H. Evans, Treasurer, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C., and not to the Review and Herald Publishing Association. What I Must Give Up for God
By Amos R. Wells
If I would talk with God, my hasty tongue
Must hold itself for that high converse pure,
As one who has appointment with a king
Scorns gossip with a minion at the gate. If I would listen to the voice of God,
I dare not hear the prattlement of men,
The bargaining, the vaunting, the untruth,
The words that crawl and sting; for ears have room
For somewhat, and no more. If I would walk
Beside my God, his comrade and his friend,
I must go his way; he will not go mine. If I would own the wealth of God, the gold,
The gems of affluent heaven, like the dross
Of basest refuse I must hurl away
The spoil of greed and all the miser’s glut. If I would know the wondrous lore of God,
What sciences I shall not dare to know!
If I would wield the awful power of God,
How I must sink myself in helplessness!
If I would revel in the love of God,
What lesser loves must I disdain to serve! O Infinite, O Lover, O Supreme,
Father and Leader and unfailing Friend,
What littles must I gladly lose for thee,
What nothings must I tread beneath my feet
To reach thy hand, thy bosom, and thy face!
— Amos R. Wells. Not by Might Nor by Power
By Ellen G. White
Those who search for worldly distinction and glory make a sad mistake. It is the one who denies self, giving to others the preference, who will sit nearest to Christ on his throne. He who reads the heart sees the true merit possessed by his lowly, self-sacrificing disciples, and because they are worthy he places them in positions of distinction, though they do not realize their worthiness and do not seek for honor. To them Christ’s words of encouragement are spoken, “I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” What a promise is this! Christ’s faithful ones are to be sharers with him in the kingdom he has received from his Father. This is a spiritual kingdom, in which those who are most active in serving their brethren are the greatest. Christ’s servants, under his direction, are to administer the affairs of his kingdom. They are to eat and drink at his table, that is, be admitted to near communion with him. The Saviour said again, “And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.” God places no value on outward display or boasting. Many who in this life are looked upon as superior to others, will one day see that God values men according to their compassion and self-denial. When the scenes of the judgment are enacted before them, they will see the mistake they have made. Those who follow the example of him who went about doing good, who help and bless their fellow men, trying always to lift them up, are in God’s sight infinitely higher than the selfish ones who exalt themselves. God does not accept men because of their capabilities, but because they seek his face, desiring his help. God sees not as man sees. He judges not from appearances. He searches the heart, and judges righteously. “To this man will I look,” he declares, “even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” He accepts and communes with his lowly, unpretentious followers; for in them he sees the most precious material, which will stand the test of storm and tempest, heat and pressure. Our object in working for the Master should be that his name may be glorified in the conversion of sinners. Those who labor to gain applause are not approved of God. The Lord uses many gifts in the work of saving sinners. In the future, common men will be impressed by the Spirit of God to leave their ordinary employment to go forth and proclaim the last message of mercy. They are to be strengthened and encouraged, and as fast as possible prepared for labor, that success may crown their efforts. They co-operate with unseen, heavenly agencies, for they are willing to spend and be spent in the service of the Master. They are laborers together with God, and their brethren should bid them Godspeed, praying for them as they go forth to fulfil the great commission. No one is authorized to hinder such workers. They are to be treated with the greatest respect. No taunting word is to be spoken of them as in the rough places of the earth they sow the gospel seed. How dare any one bar the way of God’s servants by unjust, unfeeling speeches? But this has been done, and thereby laborers have been discouraged, and many souls lost who might have been saved. Those who do this work are not prompted by the Spirit of God, but by another spirit. Scornful criticisms and discourteous remarks are wholly of Satan. If ministers, teachers, and people would practise Bible courtesy, they would find hearts open to receive the truth, and God would be glorified. Those who search for something with which to find fault have taken Satan’s side of the question. Christ can not say of them, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” They are not giving the trumpet a certain sound. All who can should do personal work. As they go from house to house, explaining the Scriptures in a clear, simple way, the Lord will make the truth powerful to save. But in order to do this work successfully, all worldly ambition must be left behind. Every weight, every besetting sin, must be laid aside. The church can not measure herself by the world, nor by the opinions of men, nor yet by what she once was. Her position in the world is to be compared with what it would have been had she continually pressed onward and upward from victory to victory. God’s watchmen are to lift up the voice, saying, “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, . . . and touch not the unclean thing.” “Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.” Some look with contempt upon those whom the Lord honors. They regard them with indifference because they have not had the educational advantages they themselves have enjoyed. But though not highly educated, these children of God are consecrated to his service, and they work for him with self-denial. In his sight they are much farther advanced than many who have had greater opportunities and have been entrusted with a greater number of talents. Let us rejoice that the Lord does not measure the workers in his vineyard by their learning or by the educational advantages they have had. The tree is judged by its fruit. The Lord will co-operate with those who co-operate with him, even though, judged by the world’s standard, they may not be educated. Life’s best things—simplicity, honesty, truthfulness, purity, unsullied integrity—can not be bought or sold; they are as free to the ignorant as to the educated, to the black man as to the white man, to the humble peasant as to the king upon his throne. Humble workers, who do not trust in their great gifts, but who work in simplicity, trusting always in God, will share in the joy of the Saviour. Their persevering prayers will bring souls to the cross. Heavenly angels will respond to their self-sacrificing efforts. By the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus will move upon the hearts, working miracles in the conversion of sinners. Men and women will be gathered into church fellowship, meeting-houses will be built, and schools established. The hearts of the workers will be filled with joy as they see the salvation of God. These workers are trees of the Lord’s planting. In a peculiar sense they bear fruit equal to the fruit borne by the apostles. A rich reward awaits them in the future life. The best thing to give to your enemy is forgiveness; to an opponent, tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to your child, a good example; to a father, deference; to a mother, conduct that will make her proud of you; to yourself, respect; to all men, charity.—Selected. Our Glorious Hope
By H. F. Phelps
In the early days of this message we were so impressed with its reality that we believed the coming of Christ was even then near at hand. And now, after the lapse of so many years, I can say that I know the coming of my blessed Lord is very near. That event toward which I have been looking so long, and which has been the joy of my soul, hasteth greatly. It is not far away. Then, and through the succeeding years, we believed we were in the last generation. Now I am persuaded that we are in the last days of the last generation, and that the grand culmination will come quickly. At that time, and all the way along, we thought we heard the cry of peace and safety; for the popular pulpits continually told the people that all the world was to be converted, and there would be a thousand years of peace during which time swords and spears would be turned into implements of peace, and the nations would learn war no more. We told the people that this was an evidence of sudden destruction. But now, in view of the gigantic preparations for war, in view of the literal fulfilment of the words of the prophets of long ages ago, that “in the last days,” “the people,” “many nations,” would come and say the very things that are now being said at the peace conventions of the world (Isa. 2:2-4; Micah 4:1-3), I know—I am positive—that “sudden destruction cometh upon them, . . . and they shall not escape.” This is a cry of peace that will be heard by all the world as the delegates of the nations at The Hague shall return again to tell these things to their people. This, then, is a sign, the handwriting upon the walls of time. All the world can read it, and they will read it as a sign just in proportion as we tell them what it means. Momentous responsibilities! Important moment! A world sign, and a world message, to tell the people of its terrible significance! A time of trouble such as never was, and a people already upon the stage to tell the people of the world how to be saved out of it! Will this people arise to their God-given opportunities? Will they be equal to the occasion? In the early days of the message a spirit of devotion led some to sell all they had, putting the proceeds into the cause, depending on God for their daily needs. If such a course was necessary and commendable then, it is a thousand times more so now. As the lovers of the truth made real sacrifices then in order to advance the work, there should be no end to the sacrifices at this time in order to finish the work. It is more than probable that we did not so fully realize the magnitude of the work, but we felt sure, and told the people that “this generation shall not pass, till all these things are fulfilled.” And now, even though we are commanded to carry this gospel of the kingdom to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, I do know for a certainty that “this generation shall not pass,” till that work is accomplished. “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” This is a mighty work! It is a greater work than man can perform. But it is the work of God, and he is almighty, and abundantly able to finish that which he has begun. He will pour out of his Spirit upon all flesh. He will establish centers of light amid all the nations, and we may act a part in this great and glorious work. It is ours to “lift up the standard,” and lift it high. It will thus become a witness to all nations. Honest souls will be attracted to the light, and embrace the truth. But the vast majority will see the light only as a witness. Having no root in themselves, they yield not to its attractions. Go forward with courage, brethren. Enter all open doors as fast as possible. Scatter the printed page like the leaves of autumn. The Master Workman will not suffer his word to return unto him void. He knows where every honest soul is located. To all these he will bring the printed page, the Bible worker, or the minister, and they will be saved. All others will see, and hear, and know enough of God's last message of mercy to constitute it a witness, and then the end shall come, and we shall reap the reward of our labors. May the day hasten, even though some of our plans may not be realized. The Sifting of Israel
By L. H. Proctor
“For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth. All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, which say, The evil shall not overtake nor prevent us.” Amos 9:9, 10. Amos, the prophet of God, is here given a view of the last days,—the time when the Israel of God is to be tested, or sifted, in all parts of the world, like grain in a sieve. Every grain must, during this sifting, be so perfectly developed that it will not pass through the sieve with the seeds of evil, or tares, neither be blown to the earth with the chaff by the winds of false doctrines which are abroad in the land. This work of sifting will continue until the chaff is entirely separated from the wheat. Matt. 3:12. This fanning and shaking process will bring the glorious results so long looked for by this people, the latter rain, the results of which are recorded in Amos 9:13. At that time, because of the latter rain, the plowman will overtake the reaper, showing the great rapidity with which this closing work will be done, a similar experience to that of Pentecost, when Peter, animated by the Holy Spirit, broke up the soil of stony hearts, sowed the seed (the word) in their hearts, and reaped the harvest, all in one day. The same work will be accomplished again in the near future. Joel 2:23. The same sifting of the house of Israel described by the prophet Amos, has also been foretold by the spirit of prophecy for more than twenty years. “But the days of purification of the church are hastening on apace. God will have a people pure and true. In the mighty sifting soon to take place, we shall be better able to measure the strength of Israel. The signs reveal that the time is near when the Lord will manifest that his fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor. The days are fast approaching when there will be great perplexity and confusion. Satan, clothed in angel robes, will deceive, if possible, the very elect. There will be gods many and lords many. Every wind of doctrine will be blowing. Those who have rendered supreme homage to ‘science falsely so called,’ will not be the leaders then. Those who have trusted to intellect, genius, or talent, will not stand at the head of rank and file. They did not keep pace with the light. Those who have proved themselves unfaithful will not then be entrusted with the flock.”—Testimonies for the Church, Vol. V, page 80. “The time is not far distant when the test will come to every soul. The mark of the beast will be urged upon us. . . . In this time the gold will be separated from the dross in the church. True godliness will be clearly distinguished from the appearance and tinsel of it. Many a star that we have admired for its brilliancy, will then go out in darkness.”—Id., page 81. Many of the brightest stars of this denomination will be sifted out from us. They will then become the worst enemies this truth will have to encounter, and will soon be engaged in a warfare against the true leaders of this work, as we see from the following:— “The enemy is preparing for his last campaign against the church. . . . The worst enemies we have are those who are trying to destroy the influence of the watchmen upon the walls of Zion. Satan works through agents. He is making an earnest effort here. He works according to a definite plan, and his agents act in concert. A line of unbelief stretches across the continent, and is in communication with the church of God. . . . Be careful lest you be found aiding the enemy of God and man by spreading false reports, and by criticisms and decided opposition. . . . Satan’s object is to dishonor God, and he works with every element that is unsanctified to accomplish this design. The men whom he makes his instruments in doing this work, are blinded, and do not see what they are doing until they are so deeply involved in guilt that they think it would be useless to try to recover themselves, and they risk all, and continue in their course of transgression to the bitter end. Satan hopes to involve the remnant people of God in the general ruin that is coming upon the earth. As the coming of Christ draws nigh, he will be more determined and decisive in his efforts10 to overthrow them. Men and women will arise professing to have some new light or some new revelation whose tendency is to unsettle faith in the old landmarks [the third angel’s message]. Their doctrines will not bear the test of God’s Word, yet souls will be deceived. False reports will be circulated, and some will be taken in the snare. They will believe these rumors, and in their turn will repeat them, and thus a link will be formed connecting them with the arch-deceiver. The spirit will not always be manifested in an open defiance of the message God sends, but a settled unbelief expressed in many ways. Every false statement that is made feeds and strengthens this unbelief, and through this means many souls will be balanced in the wrong direction.”—Id., pages 294, 295. Satan, after causing some to distrust the leaders of this denomination, will next make war on the Testimonies, as foretold years ago in Testimonies for the Church, Vol. V, page 672: “It is Satan’s plan to weaken the faith of God’s people in the Testimonies. Satan knows how to make his attacks. He works upon minds to excite jealousy and dissatisfaction toward those at the head of the work. The gifts are next questioned; then, of course, they have but little weight, and instruction given through vision is disregarded.” “Next follows skepticism in regard to the vital points of our faith, the pillars of our position, then doubt as to the Holy Scriptures, and then the downward march to perdition.” “If you lose confidence in the Testimonies, you will drift away from the Bible truth.”—Id., 674. “The searching testimony of the Spirit of God will separate those from Israel who have ever been at war with the means that God has ordained to keep corruptions out of the church. . . . The plain, straight testimony must live in the church, or the curse of God will rest upon his people as surely as it did upon ancient Israel because of their sins.”—Page 676. “If you seek to turn aside the counsel of God to suit yourselves; if you lessen the confidence of God’s people in the Testimonies he has sent them, you are rebelling against God as certainly as were Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. You have their history. You know how stubborn they were in their own opinions. They decided that their judgment was better than that of Moses, and that Moses was doing great injury to Israel.”—Page 66. The experience of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, as recorded in Num. 16:1-50, will be repeated in the last days. These men murmured against those at the head of the cause, whom God had chosen to deliver Israel from the false religions of Egypt. These men, with the two hundred and fifty princes, not only rejected Moses and Aaron as leaders of Israel, but Moses being the leading prophet of that people, they rejected the spirit of prophecy also. Among the two hundred and fifty princes who rebelled against Moses were famous men, men of renown, men of prominence in Israel. In verse 3 we see that these men had not been exalted, as they thought they should have been. They inferred that they were all holy and capable of governing themselves, without leaders and prophets, for they were all prophets, therefore it was unnecessary for Moses and Aaron to exalt themselves above the people. Moses and Aaron had no thought of exalting themselves, but were trying to do faithfully the work the Lord had given them to do. Korah had hoped so to change the government of Israel as to set aside the present leaders, Moses and Aaron (or the one-man power, as he doubtless called it); for this, he thought, restricted the liberties of Israel, bringing them in bondage to men, and thus disaster would follow. He argued that the people were all as holy as the leaders, and that Moses had no right to make himself a prince over them. Verse 13. In Patriarchs and Prophets, page 398, is the following:— “Korah’s success with the people increased his confidence, and confirmed him in his belief that the usurpation of authority by Moses, if unchecked, would be fatal to the liberties of Israel; he also claimed that God had opened the matter to him, and had authorized him to make a change in the government before it should be too late.” Korah wished a change of government from a selfish standpoint, thinking that if he could bring about a new government, he would be leader instead of Moses, thus exalting himself, which was his chief aim. This self-exaltation brought his ruin, as well as that of his sympathizers. God showed his disapproval of the dissatisfied, complaining element in Israel by sending his wrath upon them, also showed his approval of the present plan of organization, by sparing the lives of Moses and Aaron, the past leaders. We also find that that plan was strengthened by appointing still more leaders, or heads, as recorded in Deut. 1:8-17; where leaders were appointed over thousands, others over hundreds, others over fifties, and still others over tens, and from these to Moses himself, the prophet of God. As Israel’s history is to be repeated in the last days, it is just as necessary to have order, organization, heads, leaders, etc., now as anciently, and with them, God’s sanction. The captains, or heads over thousands, would represent today the leaders of our General Conference; the captains over hundreds, our union conferences; the captains over fifties, the State conferences; captains over tens, our church officers; and when a matter should arise too difficult to be decided by these men, then we should go to the prophet of God, to know what light has been received from God, pertaining to the matter under consideration. Just as surely as the history of ancient Israel is to be repeated in the last days, just so surely may we look for persons to arise from among the Israel of to-day, who, like Korah and his company, will rebel against the leaders of Israel, against the prophet who has led them during their wilderness journey, who will also despise the work of the priesthood, tithing, etc., connected with the priesthood, as Korah and his company despised the work of Aaron and his sons. As the sifting of ancient Israel took place in one generation prior to the entering in of the earthly Canaan, so in one, or the last generation, will God’s true Israel be sifted, tried, and tested, before entering into the heavenly Canaan. Let every true soldier of Israel to-day ask himself, Shall I march forward under the direction of the Great General who never lost a battle, or shall I be found among those who retreat, and are found in rebellion against God and his work, as did Korah and his company, and share their fate?