In the Missionary Survey for August, a paper published by the Presbyterian Church, Dr. S. L. Morris, secretary of home missions of that church, makes the following excellent statements relative to the value and importance of the church paper, which we may well apply to our own church papers:—
Next in importance to attendance upon the preaching of the sanctuary is the value of the church paper. If the great daily giving the latest news, and the magazine of current literature, are considered indispensable for the secular information of the home, how much more indispensable the religious press, which brings its spiritual messages, and makes its readers more intelligent and therefore more efficient Christians.
Aside from this, what the daily paper is to our every-day concerns, the religious paper is to the cause of Christ. Where its presence brings no vital contact with the work of our own church, and no familiarity with the interests of the kingdom at large, there is great danger that its absence may open the door for the Sunday newspaper. This mammoth publication, with its multiplied pages of light or sensational reading, its various recitals of scandal and crime, its crude, inflammatory “funny pages,” not only secularizes the Sabbath day, but makes our children early acquainted with the baser things of life, while debarring them from the privileges and wholesome pleasures of the church paper. The head of a family who does not provide himself and his children with his denominational organ is culpably negligent.
No denomination can boast of a religious press of higher standards than ours, and other communions bear willing testimony to its merit. If any reader of these words is not a regular subscriber to one or more of our splendid church papers, we wish to go on record as testifying to his error of judgment and his loss of some of the best things in life. For value received, for information, for entertainment, for efficiency in the service of Christ and his church, we know of no better investment than the small subscription price of a good church paper.
Our World-Wide Testimony Meeting
Greetings for the Week of Prayer From Many Lands
Peru
A. N. ALLEN: “The laborers in Peru add their testimony to this world-wide social meeting. The sacrifices of our brethren in the home lands to maintain foreign missions have not been in vain for Peru. The offerings have been blessed, and if the givers could see the living results, I am sure they would feel grateful for the privilege of helping where God so richly blesses. New places are opening for work, and new souls are uniting with the remnant people. All are of good courage, and as busy as they can be. Pray God to send more laborers to this needy field.”
British Union
W. J. FITZGERALD: “It has been ten years since the union was organized. It started with about one thousand members. In ten years the membership has been doubled, and there are upward of two hundred fifty members toward the third thousand. The annual tithe has doubled, with about $2,000 over. The offerings to missions are six times as much now as ten years ago. The year 1912 in many ways will go down in the history of the union as a record maker. The third quarter (the last for which we have complete reports) was the best we ever had financially. It made a very good showing also in the matter of new members. Our institutions have also enjoyed a good degree of prosperity. A very earnest evangelical spirit has possessed both the laity and the workers, especially during 1912. The outlook for the rapid advancement of the work in the British Isles was never so bright. To our Father in heaven we are deeply grateful for the privilege of bearing an encouraging testimony for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.”
Keizan, Korea
R. C. WANGERIN: “It has now been just ten months since we purchased a location and moved to Keizan. At that time we were unwelcome strangers here. There was not one Sabbath-keeper in southern Korea. But the good Lord worked mightily in our behalf. Through trial, opposition, and some hard fights, the light shone, and the standard of truth is firmly planted here. Hearts have been conquered and won, and are rejoicing in the third angel’s message. We now have an organized church of thirty witnessing for God’s truth. Our Sabbath-school numbers fifty-one. These, our Korean brethren, rejoice, and unite their voices in praise and prayer with all God’s true remnant church.”
India Publishing Work
W. E. PERRIN: “We have much to be thankful for. As the result of the $300,-00 fund we have been able this year to purchase a home of our own for the Watchman Press and the India Union Mission; and by a donation from the Pacific Press we have received a new printing-press. These blessings make it possible to increase the output of literature in this land of scores of languages and millions of people. There are many trials and perplexing problems to meet, but all are glad to be able to help where help is needed.”
Honan, China
JOHN J. WESTRUP: “Devil-worship has made a deep impression on all our brethren here. The devil being able to take such complete control of mind and body, we know that God will do as much for his children. The day must be very near when he will completely fill us for service. Acts 4:31. Our one longing prayer is to be able truly to represent Christ during the few years left. When this becomes the earnest desire of every son and daughter of God, we shall see still more men and means going out to these needy mission fields. This is just what Christ is waiting for us to do. We thank God for the privilege of being coworkers with him in this most needy field. Our Chinese brethren are growing in grace, and we are all of good courage, and praising God for the precious hope in Christ. We greet you with Zeph. 3:17.”
Training College, Argentina
W. C. JOHN: “This year has been our banner year in the matter of interest and missionary spirit in the school. We have ninety-seven on the grade rolls, besides special students and the nurses. We hope that in all parts of the world our young people will step forward for service. Last Wednesday the whole school was folding and sending away papers, and I asked them if they would like to send a message of hope and cheer to all the other fields. It was unanimously voted Si [yes].”
Gopalganj, Delta of the Ganges
A. G. AND MRS. WATSON: “Our hearts are with you this week of prayer. Pray for us, and we will for you. Our courage is good.”
West Indian Union
U. BENDER: “As you gather this year in the appointed prayer season, the believers in the islands and on the mainland about the Caribbean Sea send you greetings as brethren in the Lord. Our hearts are glad as we see the message moving on. Up the rivers of the Guianas, across the mountains of Venezuela, it goes. Into the capital cities of Costa Rica and Guatemala it has found its way. From Haiti, which has been without a visible leader for over a year and a half, the report comes from the local workers that over fifty persons await baptism. In the older fields of the British colonies people are embracing the message. From Cuba and Porto Rico come cheering reports of the sale of books and papers. As you seek God at this appointed time, may your hearts be encouraged as you see the fruit of your consecration, sacrifice, and prayers for this needy field. ‘Though sundered far, by faith we meet Around one common mercy-seat.’”13
Fiji Islands
A. G. STEWART: “We are glad it is a word of cheer that we can send from Fiji for the world-wide social meeting. We have had two good general meetings the past year, and have seen real victories over the attempts of the enemy to hinder the work. In one province where government laws compel every man to plant so much tobacco, and so much yangona (for native grog), our people have been granted the privilege of substituting poultry- and cattle-raising. The number of students in our training-school has increased. This week I baptized an old grandmama who is almost blind. She can tell of the old cannibal days before the gospel came. She was then a girl, and when tempted to do wrong she says she would go and hide herself. She rejoices now in the message which has found her in ripe old age. Remember Fiji.”
Swatow, China
WILL F. AND PEARL HILLS: “In joining our voices with the great chorus of missionaries, we have nothing but praise and thanksgiving to offer. This has been the fullest and best year of our lives. We have never regretted for one minute that we answered the call to China. Although alone with the millions who speak this dialect, we know that He is mighty who has said the work shall be finished; and daily we have the assurance that he is with us. We are getting ready to open a girls’ school. There will be about twenty-five to begin with. God alone knows how happy we are to be able to make this start, even though in rented quarters. We have to send the boys away to school, where they have to learn a new dialect. This is a hardship to us, but we are sure that it will not always be thus. God, whose work this is, will surely give us a school where we can train our boys to carry this message quickly. We can never do this without an army of workers, and to-day we do not have them even in training. We have only six evangelists. We shall continue to pray until this great need is supplied. We trust you will remember Swatow, and our needs in opening up this district.”
Bastoland, South Africa
H. C. OLMSTEAD: “The Emmanuel Mission sends greetings to the home lands, and requests to be remembered in prayer. We realize we must have the earnest prayers of God’s remnant people. Then we know the means and the recruits will come to press the battle against entrenched heathenism. One can not sincerely pray for the dark foreign fields, and withhold his means or even himself. Some here are breaking the bonds of heathenism, and are proving loyal to God even in persecution. One look into the peaceful face of a native woman who was often beaten, twice driven from home, and who is now hiding in exile for Christ’s sake, would convince all that missions pay. We are glad God called us here, and are happy in the blessed privilege of giving the last message to these needy people.”
Lake Titicaca Indian Mission, Peru
F. A. STAHL: “The work is onward here. Everywhere we meet persons ready for the message. The Lord has given the light that poor, benighted man may find the way to salvation. Many are coming into the fold of Christ. God has done so much for us and the people here. We are of good courage, and our faith is strong. We believe the battle will soon be over. Brethren, pray for us that we may continue loyal to the end.”
MRS. ANNA STAHL (whom the Lord recently raised up from illness when physicians said there was no hope): “Dear brethren and sisters: I am glad for another opportunity to bear my testimony. God has done so much for me. It was with increased joy that I returned to my work among the Indians. I love this work. I believe time is short, that Jesus is soon coming; but it seems that there is still much to be done. Remember me, with these people, in your prayers.”
Changsha, Hunan
C. P. AND MRS. LILLIE: “The prosperity of the message in south central China gives us great joy and courage. God is blessing the seed sowing. Greater than human agencies are at work. The work is developing here miraculously. Many are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. Some have been thrown into prison. Pray for the saints among the Chinese, that their faith fail not.”
Lucknow, India
S. A. WELLMAN: “God has been good to us in India. Three years we have been here, and in those three years we have seen great forward strides taken in spite of the smallness of the company of workers. Within that time the native vernacular papers have been increased from one to three, with another in preparation for this year. A book of Bible readings is nearly complete, and has been translated into five languages. Numerous other tracts and pamphlets have been issued. All five divisions of the field have their evangelistic, school, and dispensary centers. Our English papers have tripled in circulation. A school for the children of the workers has been established. Truly, brethren, even in this stronghold of heathenism we can see the signs of a rapidly finishing work.”
Finland
L. MUDERSPACH: “It is with the greatest joy that I give my testimony concerning the blessings wherewith the Lord has blessed our work in Finland. It is in every way the best year we have ever had. We have organized three new churches. We have twice as many canvassers as last year, and the books are being sold readily. We shall send eleven young people to the school in Sweden this year, and hope that we shall get some new workers from among them. Three of them have been teachers in the public schools. All the workers are of good courage. The name of the Lord be glorified!”
South China Mission
GEORGE HARLOW: “We see signs of progress in this field. It seems that after the rebellion the people are more eager to hear of God and his love than ever before. Our workers are kept very busy, not looking for opportunities, but trying to fill the constant demands. We believe it to be only the mighty working of the Spirit of God. Last night I was compelled to sit up till after eleven, to explain our doctrine to a number of Chinese who were intensely interested in the Word. As I meditate upon these things, my heart goes out to God in praise and thankfulness for the privilege of being a helper in his vineyard. In August our hearts were made sad by the death of our sister and fellow worker, Gertrude Thompson. She was about to take up work in the Bethel school, where we needed her help very much. We can not understand why the Lord allowed this to be, but we trust that he will fill the broken ranks, and that the good work she has left may be carried on, and the day hastened when the Master shall break the power of the tomb and set captives free.”
Java, East Indies
GEORGE AND ANNA WOOD: “Though visible results are few here, we experience the blessings of the Lord in our labors, and earnestly pray that the perplexities may serve but to drive each of us more often to the Fountain of wisdom and might. From a business standpoint this city of Surabaya is the most flourishing in all Java. We find the people’s minds absorbed in the pursuit of gain on the one hand, while on the other hand luxury or pleasure is the chief object of their lives. We want, as Noah did in his day, patiently and faithfully to warn the people that the end of all things is at hand, and in the glad time of the harvest to rejoice with you that our names are written in heaven, and that we have been instrumental in helping others to have their names written there also.”
Fatshan, South China
E. H. WILBUR: “Ten years ago today, on the Iowa camp-ground, the money was contributed which enabled my wife and myself to come to China. Truly the Lord has been good to us, and we rejoice as we see the progress of the message in this land and in all the world. Since our return from furlough in America last year, I have had the privilege of baptizing twenty-four precious converts. Last week I took a subscription for our Chinese Signs of the Times from a man who said he had been in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, and San Francisco, and had never met a Seventh-day Adventist before.”
Bahia, Brazil
JOHN LIPKE: “The believers in the East Brazil Mission are on the firing line, and expect to stay there. Always forward, and never backward, is our aim until the loud cry of the message is heard in every corner of our great field. We baptized forty-six persons in the first half of this year, and many more are waiting to take the same step. We have14a foothold now in the state of Rio Grande do Norte; and a very earnest man from the state of Para, by the mouth of the Amazon, is here in Bahia attending an institute. He will return to push the truth in those regions of the north. The Lord is working for us, and in his truth we triumph.”
Wales
H. E. ARMSTRONG: “Our people in Wales join with you in praising God for the glorious light of the third angel’s message. The truth is spreading over the hills and valleys of Wales, and now from north and south, and even from the very bowels of the earth [the deep-level coal-mines] the voice of praise is heard. We look forward to the joyful day when the whole family of God shall gather before his throne, representing every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.”
Garhwal Hills, Himalayas
L. J. BURGESS: “We are glad to join again in the world-wide social meeting. The year has been filled with endeavor to kindle the light among the hill tribes of north India. It has been our privilege to give the word of truth to about sixty intelligent Hindu boys from day to day in our school. We have not yet begun to reap the increase, but we shall continue to sow in faith, believing that a harvest will come in due season. We ask you to make the work among the Garhwali people of north India a definite and frequent subject of prayer.”
Is It Nothing to You?
By G. P. Turnbull
G. P. TURNBULL
“Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by?”
Lam. 1:12.
Is it nothing to you, O ye Christians,
That millions of beings to-day
In the heathen darkness of China
Are rapidly passing away?
They have never heard the story
Of the loving Lord who saves,
And “fourteen hundred every hour
Are sinking to Christless graves.”
Is it nothing to you, O ye Christians?
Can you say you have naught to do?
Millions in China are dying unsaved;
And is it nothing to you?
Is it nothing to you, O ye Christians,
That in India’s far-away land
There are thousands of people pleading
For the touch of a Saviour’s hand?
They are groping and trying to find him;
And although he is ready to save,
Eight hundred precious souls each hour
Sink into a Christless grave.
Is it nothing to you, O ye Christians?
Can you say you have naught to do?
Millions in India dying unsaved;
And is it nothing to you?
Is it nothing to you, O ye Christians?
That Africa walks in the night?
That Christians at home deny them
The blessed gospel light?
The cry goes up this morning
From a heart-broken race of slaves,
And seven hundred every hour
Sink into Christless graves.
Is it nothing to you, O ye Christians?
Will ye say ye have naught to do?
Millions in Africa dying unsaved,
And is it nothing to you?
Is it nothing to you, O ye Christians?
O, answer me this to-day!
The heathen are looking to you;
You can give or go or pray,
You can save your souls from blood-guiltiness;
For in lands you never trod
The heathen are dying every day,
And dying without God.
Is it nothing to you, O ye Christians?
Dare ye say ye have naught to do?
All over the earth they wait for the light;
And is it nothing to you?
—Selected.
Warnings Unheeded
By J. Wilbur Chapman
THE steamer “Portland” left Boston harbor in the storm of November, 1898. She left when all the signals for danger were flying; she left when the government agent at the signal office had advised outgoing vessels to remain in port; she left when the owners of the vessel had commanded her to stay at her dock. Why she left no one has ever been able to say. Her captain must have been apprehensive, for he said to the lighthouse-keeper: “Keep your light burning bright to-night; for we may come back.” But she never came back.
Once outside the harbor the mighty storm caught the vessel in her embrace, and tore her to pieces; and not one on board ever again saw home or friends.
A quill was picked up from the coast, which may have been from some of her passengers. The little piece of paper read: “We are on a raft; we have given up all hope; we are going down. O God, if I could only see my wife and little boy again!”
It is the saddest story of a wreck written for many a day. And the saddest part of it is that the vessel was wrecked because the captain disobeyed the orders of his superior.
“How many lives have been shipwrecked for the same reason! God has a plan for every life, and his orders must be obeyed. He knows the best for us all. On the highway of the seas there are drifting about more than fifty ships known as derelicts.
These derelicts have been abandoned by owners and crews, and now, with no compass by means of which they may be guided, with no pilot at the wheel to carry them into the harbor, with no captain to issue orders, and with no crew to obey them, they drift about, only a menace to other vessels that sail the seas. God forbid that any of us should become derelicts or wrecks because we have disobeyed our great Commander. “Whatever he saith unto you, do it.”—J. Wilbur Chapman, D. D.
TRANSLATION OF CHINESE MESSAGE ABOVE
The Seventh-day Adventist Church at Shanghai, China, assembled, send greeting—
To all our brethren and sisters scattered abroad in every part of the world.
At this time of the annual week of prayer, we wish to give our hearty testimony of courage and thanksgiving to God, who has led us out of darkness into his marvelous light, and has taught us to forsake ancient heathen customs, and prepared our hearts to receive the blessed light and truth of the third angel’s message. For these manifold mercies we can not but praise the Lord continually.
Our desire is that during this week of prayer we may see all our brethren and sisters of every land united as with one heart and one purpose, kneeling before the throne of Jehovah to beseech the Lord to cleanse us completely from every sin, and prepare us all, men and women, old and young, to become a pure and glorious church, without spot or wrinkle, ready to receive the outpouring of the latter rain, and be prepared and waiting for the soon-coming Saviour.
We ask all the brethren and sisters in all lands to pray for China’s millions, that when Christ comes, there may be many in this land of whom it will be said,—
“Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”
TRANSLATION OF CHINESE MESSAGE ABOVE
WEEK OF PRAYER GREETING FROM THE SHANGHAI CHURCH
(Translation below)
Brother F. E. Stafford, who sends the message and the translation, says: “I read your letter to the brethren, and asked them to answer in their own language. I know the blessed truth of the soon-coming Saviour is just as precious and real to this people in China as in any other part of the harvest-field. May this simple testimony be a means in God's hands of more firmly cementing the tie between East and West, in the one common brotherhood in Christ Jesus.”
The Sabbath
By ARTHUR W. SPAULDING
Come, Let Us Live With Our Children — No. 9
The Sabbath
ARTHUR W. SPAULDING
“The value of the Sabbath as a means of education is beyond estimate.”—Education, page 250. It is not merely as a day of physical rest that it is to be prized, but as a day when our spirits may be refreshed through communion, in our relation as children to God and as parents to children. Thus the Sabbath, in this double association, becomes an educating power in our lives.
We must come to the Sabbath prepared for this experience. Physical preparation must be made on Friday. “See that all the clothing is in readiness, and that all the cooking is done. Let the boots be blacked and the baths be taken.”—Testimonies for the Church,Vol. VI, page 355.
“We should jealously guard the edges of the Sabbath.”—Id., page 356. As the sun goes toward its setting, every one, children and parents, should have themselves in readiness to greet the Lord’s day. “Before the setting of the sun, let the members of the family assemble to read God’s Word, to sing and pray.”—Ib. There is no hour so holy, so entrancing, as that twilight worship hour at the beginning of the Sabbath. Then with special power come to the mind Montgomery’s words:—
“Twilight, I love thee! As thy shadows roll,
The calm of evening steals upon my soul,
Sublimely tender, solemnly serene,
Still as the hour, enchanting as the scene.
Deeper, O twilight, then thy shadows roll:
A glorious vision opens on my soul.”
Then follows the story hour that we and the children love, when God’s heroes of old troop before our memories and hover in our thoughts. Then most powerfully comes the resolution that, “seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus.”
“On Sabbath morning the family should be astir early.” This does not mean that if we have been accustomed to rise at five o’clock on week-days, we should rise at four o’clock on Sabbath. But plenty of time should be given for the worship hour, for preparation of breakfast and doing of the chores, and then for leisure time for study and for getting to Sabbath-school.
Of the Sabbath-school and the church service I have nothing to say here, for we are dealing with the family. Only let us observe this, that the whole family, unless unusual circumstances forbid, should be attendants at the Sabbath-school and at church. And in church the family should sit together. Every well-regulated family will do this. That we do not see much evidence of this spirit of unity in our churches is a sad commentary on the home, an evidence that the parents are not living with their children. The order and decorum of the home will be evidenced by the family in the church.
Sermons sometimes are uninteresting and trying to children, if not to older ones, and they can not be blamed for being unable to fix their attention upon what is being said. But even with the youngest child the parent can maintain quiet. It may sometimes be necessary to take a child outside more than once for correction, but insistence upon quiet and order will make itself felt finally.
There are little ways of keeping children quiet in church. They must vary with the age and the temperament. Very little children may be put to sleep; five-year-olds may have legitimate diversion in the quiet study of pictures. But let no papers rustle. Older children may be attracted by some method to notice the sermon. Suppose you give one a piece of paper, and ask him to listen to what the minister says, and every time he hears the name of God or Jesus, or any other word you may select, to put down a mark. Or if many texts are used throughout the sermon, the child who knows the books of the Bible may be asked to find the text whenever he hears one. Let no device, however, outlast the child’s interest.
The father’s and the mother’s own attitude of attention and reverence will chiefly affect the child. If the parent’s head is turned at every entrance or disturbance, no wonder that the child’s feet and hands and lips are added to the action.
The Sabbath should not be filled up with meetings. Ordinarily the Sabbath-school and the church service are enough, though circumstances may modify this rule. In the city it may be better to have a young people’s meeting in the afternoon than to leave the young people to the entertainment of the city. But in the country God’s plan can be more closely followed. The afternoon is the special time for the association of parents and children. To walk out across the fields or along the country roads is the delight of children, and should be of parents. Here is the father’s and mother’s great opportunity. “Often the father hardly sees the faces of his children throughout the week. He is almost wholly deprived of opportunity for companionship or instructing. But God’s love has set a limit to the demands of toil. Over the Sabbath he places his merciful hand. In his own day he preserves for the family opportunity for communion with him, with nature, and with one another.”—Education, page 251.
Parents must make themselves familiar with the things of nature. If they have an education in the natural sciences, they have a great advantage, through knowing the nature and habits and uses of plants and animals. But for the simplest and the least scientific there is a wealth of information to be gained and given. Oftentimes the observant farmer has more practical, useful, adaptable, inspiring instruction to give than the great student of botany and zoology.16
With the children on Sabbath we should study the shapes, the colors, and the perfumes of the flowers and plants, that they and we may know them. We are to recognize birds and wild animals, their songs and calls. Even if this has no direct and evident relation to our religion, let us reflect that it is a part of God’s religion, and that we ourselves need to be transformed. Stories of the Bible or other times may be mingled with these talks and investigations. Let the children weave their wreaths and garlands from the violets of spring and the goldenrod of autumn. The transition is easy, from such suggestive chaplets, to the crowns of gold in heaven. The sparkling brooks we pass, with the shining pebbles in them, of which the children may make collections, have an evident reference to the river of life and the garnished walls of the New Jerusalem. The hiding rabbits and the scampering little lizards are contrasts to the perfect trust of the animals in the new earth. If at first you can not tell stories, read some. Many parts of “Early Writings” are delightful to the child.
The winter days, in snow-bound regions, are not so easily provided for. More indoor work must be done; though, when walks are possible, there are still lessons to be learned out-of-doors. “As the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, . . . so”—what a wealth of study is suggested in these words: where does the snow come from? what shapes has it? what makes them? in what ways does the snow water the earth? how does it help the buds and the flowers? in what ways is the Word of God like this? Children should, in summer and winter, be encouraged to search out texts that relate to natural objects. It was thus that Christ gained his marvelous power of interpreting nature.
Shut up in the house on a Sabbath afternoon, story-telling and reading often suffice the little ones. But music is a good alternative, and various devices may be made to interest and instruct the children. I myself believe in Sabbath games for children, carefully planned and guarded. I have found effective paper angels and paper missionary ships, and personation of Bible characters. But let no common games nor toys be brought out. The secular papers and books should also be put away on Friday.
The Sabbath is the great test of the father and the mother. If on that day they are willing to devote themselves to the entertainment and instruction of their children (with a proper time granted them by the children, however, to study for themselves), they show an aptitude that may be developed more fully as the weeks go by, in the daily teaching of their children. If, however, the day is prized largely for the afternoon nap, while the children are sent off by themselves,—God pity those parents! Life abundant and full must be used on the Sabbath for the education of our children and ourselves.
His use of the Sabbath is a test of the believer’s loyalty. Only as we gain here on this earth the power to teach and lead shall we gain the privilege of living and teaching on the new earth. There, as here, the Sabbath is the great day of education. The families of the new earth during the week are studying, under their fathers’ instruction, the great science of salvation as revealed in the works, the organic words, of God. The knotty problems that even the wisest of them can not solve are kept to the day of the Sabbath. And on that day the families, the clans, the tribes of Eden, go up to the New Jerusalem, that they may have opened before them the glories and the joys of the knowledge that they seek.
Entering the city through their several gates, the various tribes find themselves the guests of the thousands of their own number who are the attendants of Jesus, and by them they are led deeper into the mysteries of life. At last they appear on the crystal sea before the greatest Master, and there their minds and hearts are opened wider to the gracious instruction he has to give. Hosannas ring forth from the enraptured throng, thanksgivings not only for the gift of eternal life, but for all of knowledge and power and joy that life is continually unfolding to them.
This is the life of which the Sabbath to-day is the earnest, the type, and the embryo. Let the Sabbath be this to us and our children with us.
I close this series with the hope that, incomplete as it is, it has yet served to emphasize and illustrate the basic principle of child-training: “Come, let us live with our children.”
He Knows
By Brainerd
I KNOW not what may befall me,
God tenderly shades my eyes;
And so each step in my onward path
He makes new scenes to arise;
And every joy he sends me comes
As a strange and sweet surprise.
I see not a step before me,
Yet I journey without a fear;
The past is still in God's keeping,
The future his mercy will clear;
And what looks dark in the distance
May brighten as I draw near;
For perhaps the dreaded future
Has less bitter than I think:
The Lord may sweeten the waters
Before I stoop to drink;
Or if Marah must be Marah,
He will stand beside the brink.
It may be he has waiting
For the coming of my feet
Some gift of such rare blessedness,
Some joy so passing sweet,
That my lips will only tremble
With the thanks they can not speak.
O, restful, blissful ignorance!
'Tis blessed not to know;
It keeps me still in those loving arms
That will not let me go;
And it hushes my soul to rest
On the Friend that loves me so.
I journey on not knowing (Heb. 11: 8) —
I would not if I might;
I should rather walk in the dark with
God
Than walk alone in the light;
I should rather walk with him by faith
Than walk alone by sight.
My heart shrinks back from trials
That the future may disclose;
Yet I never had a sorrow
But what the dear Lord chose;
So I send the coming tear-drops back,
With the whispered words, “He knows.”
— Brainerd.
The Noon-Hour Prayer
“Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” “And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends.”
HABIT has much to do with molding our characters. Nothing is more helpful in the Christian experience than regular habits of Bible study and prayer. It is well to have a stated period each day for the study of the blessed Word. While we should carry about with us always a spirit of prayer, and in every time of need should flash a heart-prayer to God for deliverance and divine help, nothing affords such strength in the Christian life as to have set periods of communion with the Heavenly Father. It is not too much to believe that our divine Friend anticipates with joy these seasons, because the communion brings to his great heart of love pleasure as well as to ours, and as we enter more and more into the secret of his presence and open our hearts wider to receive of the infilling of his gracious Spirit, we shall take even greater pleasure than we could take in communion with any earthly friend. Morning, noon, and night let our petitions ascend to God, and at the noon-hour prayer let us remember in a special manner those who have asked an interest in our petitions.
The last week has brought us our usual number of requests, which we present herewith:—
155. “About ten years ago my husband gave up the truth after having observed the Sabbath for eight years. I ask you to unite with me in praying that he may again identify himself with God’s commandment-keeping people,” writes a Michigan sister.
156. A sister residing in Washington requests prayer for the healing and conversion of her husband; also for the conversion of her brother who is out of the ark of safety.
157. From Louisiana a brother writes asking prayer for his son who has left the truth, and for himself that he may have special help from God in trials through which he is just now passing.
158. A sister in Nicaragua, who has suffered for several years from dyspepsia and severe nervous troubles, requests prayer for restoration to health.
159. A burdened sister in Kansas earnestly asks that prayer be offered in behalf of her husband. For many years he has been a firm believer in this message, but an accident has affected his brain so that he seems to be losing his mind.
160. One of our sisters writes from Massachusetts requesting prayer that she may overcome a hasty temper, and be truly converted to God.
161. From Florida an anxious father sends the request that we pray for his eighteen-year-old son, who is on the point of giving up the Sabbath, and for the conversion of his six other children.
162. This request comes from Wisconsin: “A sister in the Grand Rapids church was recently afflicted with a paralytic stroke, which has affected her mind. She has been an efficient worker in the Bible and church-school work, and is a young woman of ability. She has asked that prayer be offered for the restoration of her mental faculties.”
163. A sister writes from Illinois: “I ask the united prayers of all our people for the conversion of my oldest son and his family; for my younger son, from whom I have not heard for several years; and for my three sisters. I long to see them rejoicing in this truth.”
164. A young woman in Georgia, who loves this message, is anxious for the conversion of her mother and brother. Let us join her in praying for the fulfilment of this desire.
165. Another sister from the same State (Georgia) asks prayer for the conversion of her husband, who is opposed to her keeping the Sabbath, and for herself, that she may be faithful to God under all circumstances.
The Treasure of Kindness
(GUARD within yourself that treasure, kindness. Know how to give without hesitation, how to lose without regret, and how to acquire without meanness.—George Sand.
