Earlier text: Peter’s Living Monument of Character—It is a law of spiritual growth that the receiver must be a giver. He who accepts God’s gifts in order to retain them must dispense them. He who attempts to get without giving will grow poor. He who hopes to gather without scattering will find poverty awaiting him. God blesses that we may bless. He gives of his own radiance, his own riches, his own life, that we may be lights to those in darkness, riches of grace to those in poverty, and may carry the bread and water of life to dying souls. He imparts to us life, that we may live and grow and shed beauty, fragrance, and fruitage on other lives. He makes us righteous that we may do righteousness. And he who long lives contrary to the law of his spiritual being, constantly receiving and never giving, will become a spiritual dyspeptic, to die with spiritual heart disease. There should be many precious seasons of waiting on Christ, of drinking from the fountain, of feeding on the heavenly manna, but these seasons must be followed by active labor for Christ, by patient, faithful living, by godly words and deeds, by winning souls for Christ, if we would grow up into Christ, our living Head.” To very many who pray, God seems far off. They do not know whether he hears them or not. They do not hear his voice. That is not the way to pray to God. What is the difference between praying to a god that has ears but hears not, and has eyes but sees not, and a mouth but speaks not, and praying to the true God and not knowing whether he sees or hears or speaks? God is not a long way off. He is “not far from every one of us,” said the apostle, speaking to the heathen men; “for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.” “FEAR GOD, AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS.”
By Ellen G. White
“If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.” God has tested the character of men from the time of Adam unto the present time, and he has always blessed the loyal and obedient. But those who keep the law of Jehovah are not in favor with the world, or with professed Christians who are making void the law of God. Abel kept the commandment of the Lord, and was hated by his brother Cain, and from the time of Abel’s persecution and death at the hands of his brother, there have been two classes upon the earth who have manifested the same characteristics as were displayed by these two brothers. After the fall of Adam in Eden, the Lord said, “I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” The enmity is developed and made manifest in one class by the reception of truth, while it is developed in others by their antagonism to truth and righteousness. One class vindicate the law of God, preserving order, arresting wickedness, and vindicating the honor of God. The other class make void his law, and persecute those who render obedience to God’s commandments. The Searcher of hearts said of Abraham, “I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment.” There would be on the part of Abraham no betrayal of sacred trust, no yielding to any power or any guide but One. Abraham recognized the fact that Jehovah had a law, and he determined that he would keep that law as the apple of his eye. He recognized the fact that he was amenable to the Lawgiver, and he would not be turned aside from his duty. God rules by the combined influence of authority and affection, and blessings follow in the track of those who obey his law. The Holy One has given us rules by which we are to be guided to the courts of heaven, and these rules form the standard, from which there can be no turning aside. The first principles of holiness are yet to be learned when God’s voice is not heard and obeyed as the supreme authority. Satan, with all his masterly power, has interposed himself between man and the law of God, that through falsehood and sophistry he may inspire men with the same rebellion against God and his law as actuates himself. Those whom he can not deceive, he hates. He misinterprets their words and actions, and causes the world to persecute and destroy, in order that earth may hold no soul who is not in league with the prince of this world and the ruler of its darkness. History testifies to the fact that no man can serve God without coming in conflict with the united forces of evil. The conflict between the believer and his foes may be painful and protracted, and at times the soul may, through manifold temptations, yield to the power of the evil one; but God will not give his servant up to be the prey of the destroyer as long as he cries unto him. The pitiful Saviour knows his weakness, and through his servant John, he has sent the repenting sinner a message of consolation: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.” Of those who honor Jesus, and keep the commandments of the Lord, Christ has said, “Marvel not if the world hate you.” We can expect no better treatment from the world than the treatment given to the law of God. Those who vindicate the law of God by keeping the commandments, will be targets for the wrath of the dragon, and opposition to righteousness will not end until evil is destroyed; for as long as human nature is under the control of the enemy of all righteousness, enmity to the righteous will be manifested through the children of men. The offense of the cross has not ceased by any means. Satan has his most efficient batteries masked under pretensions to godliness, and he will cause them to open fire upon the followers of Jesus Christ. The servants of God must expect that they will be reviled, misrepresented, maligned, persecuted, and oppressed; for all who “will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” The people of God will stand firm to the faith only through the grace of God. “The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” The great rebel against God is leading his armies to the conflict; but let the followers of Christ bear in mind the fact that he can bruise only the heel, while those who are loyal to Christ by their fidelity and piety shall bruise the head of the serpent. While men are making void the law of God, we must pray, as did David, “It is time for thee, Lord, to work; for they have made void thy law.” Through Christ believers will gain the mastery, and inch by inch they will contest the ground, and obtain the victory. Let the followers of Christ do all that is possible to teach repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. One soul gained brings joy to the Father and to the Son, and there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of heaven, and an anthem of praise goes up from countless harps and voices through the heavenly courts. Those who break the law of God, and teach others to break God’s commandments, are not following Jesus, who says, “I have kept my Father’s commandments;” they are following another leader. It was Christ’s own voice that proclaimed on Mount Sinai the Ten Commandments, and he will not countermand his statutes. Satan in his rebellion in heaven sought to find some flaw in the law of God, in order to support his argument that the law of God must be changed; but his efforts were in vain. He did not succeed, and after he had deceived thousands of angels, and had drawn them to his side, he was cast out of heaven. But the law of God was not changed in one jot or tittle. God is wise and unchangeable, and those who flatter themselves that they can find a safer rule of life than that which God has given, are deceived by the same delusions that led the angels of heaven to join the ranks of Lucifer in questioning the authority of God’s law and the justice of his government. Those who have true Bible religion will yield their will to God’s will as supreme, and will reverence God by rendering obedience to his righteous and just laws. They will place themselves under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel, and acknowledge themselves as under the control of the Ruler, not only of earthly intelligences but of the hosts of heaven. Can man frame a constitution for the governing of the world that is better adapted to the purpose than that which God711 has framed? In what particular is the moral code wanting? Can it be amended by finite men? If so, then man can exalt himself to the place of God. Can the human family afford to do without one of the commandments that God has given? Read the Ten Commandments carefully, and see which one can be dropped out. The man of sin thinks himself able to change the times and the laws of God, and the Protestant world have accepted the authority of the papal power, and in so doing have apostatized from God. All nations have been made drunk by partaking of the wine of Babylon, by accepting the presumptuous work of the man of sin, who has tampered with the law of God, and thought to change the precepts of Jehovah. But the original law of God is safely deposited in the ark in the heavenly sanctuary, and will be presented to man just as God engraved it on the tables of stone. To the king on his throne and the humblest of his subjects, the law of righteousness will constitute the standard of character, and by its precepts will every work be tried and every thought be brought into examination. The fourth commandment will be found in the bosom of the Decalogue just as it was written by the finger of God, and every soul who has presumed to exalt the false sabbath above the Sabbath which was sanctified and blessed and given to mankind for respect and observance, will be found out of harmony with the law of God. God gave the Sabbath to be a sign between him and his people, that they might know that it was the Lord who was their sanctifier. Those who have knowingly trampled upon the true Sabbath, while they have exalted to its place a spurious institution, will have to answer for their action before the Lord who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is therein. God has proclaimed himself a jealous God. Can men presume to think that a better path can be found than that which Jehovah has marked out for them? Obedience to God’s commandments places the feet of man in the royal path that leads to holiness and heaven. Paul inquires, “Who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth?” Well may this question be asked of those who have minds by which to search for reasons as to why men should depart from God. Satan could present no defined reasons as to why he wished the law of God changed or abolished. He simply declared his conviction that the angels would be better off without the law, but could not tell in what way they would be advantaged. He desired to exalt himself above God, and to convince the hosts of heaven that his wisdom was superior to that of the Omnipotent. The human family have been made drunk with the wine of Babylon, and drunken men will not reason. They have taken large drafts of Satan’s sophistry, and they are determined that they will not see the foolishness of accepting another standard, while casting aside the law of the Lord of hosts. True sanctification is found in yielding the will to the will of God, in rendering obedience to his commandments, and in making his standard of righteousness the aim of our life. If men would consent to follow the Lord fully, if they were not confused with the wine of Babylon, they would see that to tamper with the Lord’s standard, to depart from his commandments, is the worst species of rebellion. This is well represented as the wine of the wrath of the abomination of Babylon, the cup which she has presented to all nations to drink. Were it not for this, thousands, yes, millions, would be found in the path cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in. But the will of God, expressed in his law, the direction which he has given to guide men in the path to heaven, is authoritative and divine. We have more than a royal road to heaven, we have a divine pathway in which to travel. The opinions of men are not to weigh as amendments to the law of God; for the law of God is the expression of the will and mind of God, of him who is unchanging in counsel. The precepts of the law are not given to the human family as propositions to criticize. They are the positive declarations and decisions of an infallible Judge, and they will stand through eternal ages. They are the very laws that will test character, by which we are to be judged for the deeds done in the body. Who hath bewitched you, that you who are finite by nature, who are sinful and erring, should presume to handle the law of God in the manner in which you do? How is it that you think yourselves at liberty to cancel the decisions of Jehovah, to remove the ancient landmarks, and substitute in place of the true guide-boards false waymarks that will lead men to follow the path of the first great apostate in place of following Jesus Christ? God has not left his law to be endorsed, reviled, or annulled according to the pleasure of his creatures. The wise man declares the true attitude of man to the law, and says: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” FROM PARADISE TO PARADISE.
By Harry Armstrong
O Paradise fair, what a bright home of pleasure
Thou wert when thy smile met the smile of thy God;
Thou wert to thine Author a well-chosen treasure,
When only thy walks by the sinless were trod. Thy sweet, balmy air, filled with fragrance of flowers,
The richest of music from birds in thy trees,
Was wafted along ’neath thy cool, shady bowers,
In harmony sweet by the song of the breeze. The pure, living water which through thee was flowing,
Whose murmurings sounded like whispers of prayer,
Did sparkle like crystal, reflecting and showing
An image of beauty and excellence rare. How free were the songs that in sweet adoration
Rose high from the hearts filled with love most divine!
How solemn and grand was the sweet meditation,
When Creator and creature conversed at thy shrine! How countless the blessings then man was enjoying,
While pruning thy increase with tenderest care!
How sweet were the labors his moments employing,
Amid such fair glories and sweet, balmy air! And yet in the youth of his pleasure and glory,
We read how the tempter beguiled him to lie;
How sad were thy changes, how sad is the story!
Since then all thy glories have lived but to die. ’Tis discord not music, ’tis weeping not gladness,
’Tis fading not blooming, ’tis evening not morn.
For peace like a river, ’tis anguish and sadness;
For choice, fragrant flowers, ’tis brier and thorn. And yet, in the midst of this sad desolation,
The bright Star of morning holds up to our view
A promise of love—’tis thy full restoration;
He says he’ll create all thy glories anew. O Paradise fair, what a bright home of pleasure
Thou’lt be when thy smile meets the smile of thy God!
Thou’lt be to thine Author a well-chosen treasure,
When only thy walks by the sinless are trod. How free, then, the songs that in sweet adoration
Will rise from the hearts filled with love most divine!
How solemn and grand then the sweet meditation,
When Creator and creature commune at thy shrine! SIN AND DEATH.
By Roderick S. Owen
We have found that in order to render it possible for man to exercise the power of choice, and thus to develop character, God must place before him two paths, the one right, the other wrong. This made it possible for sin to exist, but did not call it into existence. Sin is defined in 1 John 3:4 to be “the transgression of the law,” but the Bible abundantly teaches that the law is transgressed in the thoughts. In fact, in the choice lies the real transgression. The act is simply the outward expression of the sin which already exists in the heart. Thus, in the cases of Ananias and Sapphira, they agreed together to deceive. God by the question of the apostle Peter simply gave the woman an opportunity to express publicly the lie which already existed in her heart, so that her soon-coming retribution would be seen to be just. We are too apt to look upon the act as the sin, and to measure the enormity by the results which follow. In dealing with children this mistake is frequently made. A child disobeys in some matter, but no serious results follow, and so we pass it by. Perhaps at another time the same transgression results in the destruction of some property, and then we inflict a punishment. What must the child conclude from this?—Why, most certainly, that the wrong was in the result and not in the disobedience, and that it must be all right to disobey, provided the bad results do not follow. Let us always remember that the sin lies back of the act, in the motive that prompted it, in the choice that determined to do it. Sin, then, is the condition of making choices out of harmony with God’s will. But we have found that trials or tests are necessary to the development of strong characters; but how could one be tried before sin existed? and how could one be tempted before there was a tempter? This brings us to consider the origin of sin. Sin originated with or in the person of Satan, who was an angel of light, a son of the morning, known in heaven by the name of Lucifer, or day star. Isa. 14:12. He occupied the position of covering cherub at the throne of God, being exalted to a place second only to the Son of God. Eze. 28:14. But in such a position, and amid such surroundings, what could tempt him to make a wrong choice? He must have had the power of choice, else he never could have done contrary to the will of God; but the power of choice, as we have shown, implies the power to do wrong, or sin. In creating him an angel of light did God place in him some evil propensity which would ultimately control him?—No, indeed, for this would make God the author of sin, and therefore responsible for it. But God did desire that he, in common with all other intelligences, should develop character. To this end it was necessary to implant in him the desire for self-preservation and for self-advancement, the last being dependent on the existence of the first, for if we had no desire to live beyond the present moment, we could have no desire to improve. This desire for self-preservation may be followed even to the injury of another; but not so with the desire for self-advancement, for it becomes wrong the moment it is attempted at the expense of others. Such a course is the result of a wrong choice, and would constitute a step in the development of a wrong character, while it would also introduce contention and strife. This same desire for self-advancement, in itself good, and which constitutes the impelling force in making right choices, becomes the impelling force in both making and executing wrong choices. So in Satan, this desire turned by him in an improper direction, left him to seek to exalt himself at the expense of another, even the Son of God. And thus sin entered, and so the harmony of the universe was broken and the great rebellion was begun. But God was not surprised by this, for his plan was laid deep enough and broad enough to cover every exigency which might arise. And so when sin entered, he harnessed it to his great will of eternal purpose and set it to work grinding out character. Thus Satan and all the hosts of evil are only instruments in the hands of God to assist us in attaining perfection. This principle was recognized by the Saviour when before Pilate. Pilate “knew that for envy they had delivered him.” He knew that the whole thing was the work of the jealous and evil designing. Jesus too knew all this, but he saw deeper and further than did Pilate. He saw behind it all the powers of darkness combined in one effort to defeat the eternal purpose of God. And so, when Pilate said, “Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?” Jesus answered, Thou couldest8 (712) have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above.” John 19:10, 11. So the hosts of evil can do nothing against the child of God excepting what God permits. And surely we ought not to rebel against what our heavenly Father in his wisdom allows. Realizing this we “know that all things work together for good to them that love God,” for he causeth the wrath of man to praise him and the remainder of wrath he restraineth. But we have found that this wrong choice on the part of Satan has introduced strife and broken up the harmony which before existed. Will not this defeat God’s plan of universal harmony? Has not this introduced an element of discord which can never be eradicated. This would be the case if God had not laid his plan in great wisdom, so as to meet even this condition also. He has attached a penalty to sin, for we read, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Eze. 18:20. “The wages of sin is death.” Rom. 6:23. “When lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:15. Thus we see that sin and death are inseparably connected. And thus we learn that God was not arbitrary in attaching the death penalty to sin, for in no other way could a condition of universal harmony be brought about after sin had once been introduced. Therefore the incorrigibly wicked, those who will not develop characters in harmony with God, who, if permitted to exist, would to all eternity constitute an element of discord—these must be destroyed, and will be, as shown by many scriptures. “But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs; they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.” Ps. 37:20. “For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.” Mal. 4:1. “Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Matt. 3:12. That the fallen angels will share in this with ungodly men is also shown by many texts, as Jude 6 and 2 Peter 2:4, which tell us that they are reserved unto the great day of judgment; and again, in Rev. 20:9, 10 and 21:8, which assign them a part in this fiery destruction, which is called the second death. When this shall have occurred, then shall the universe be rid of both sin and sinners. And the experiences of the presence of sin shall have raised such a barrier against it that it never again can find an entrance. Then all that remain will be in perfect accord with the Creator and with each other. And that universal song of praise will be sung which the revelator heard in vision on the isle of Patmos:— “And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.” Rev. 5:13. Tradition vs. Bible.
By William Simpson
Some time ago there came under my observation the following newspaper clipping from the Harlan American— An Extract from a Lecture Delivered by Father Enright.
The attendance at the Catholic Church was unusually large last Sunday eve, many being unable to gain admittance. The subject treated of on that eve was the “The Power and Authority of the Catholic Church.” Father Enright’s remarks upon Sunday observance created something of a sensation. He said:— “My brethren, look about you upon the various wrangling sects and denominations. Show me one that claims or possesses the power to make laws binding on the conscience. There is but one on the face of the earth,—the Catholic Church,—that has power to make laws binding upon the conscience, binding before God, binding under pain of hell fire. Take, for instance, the day we celebrate—Sunday. What right have the Protestant churches to observe that day?—None whatever. You say it is to obey the commandment, ‘Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.’ But Sunday is not the Sabbath according to the Bible and the record of time. Every one knows that Sunday is the first day of the week, while Saturday is the seventh day and the Sabbath, the day consecrated as a day of rest. It is so recognized in all civilized nations. I have repeatedly offered $1,000 to any one who will furnish any proof from the Bible that Sunday is the day we are bound to keep, and no one has called for the money. If any person in this town will show me any scripture for it, I will to-morrow evening publicly acknowledge it and thank him for it. It was the Holy Catholic Church that changed the day of rest from Saturday to Sunday, the first day of the week. And it not only compelled all to keep Sunday, but at the Council of Laodicea, A.D. 364, anathematized those who kept the Sabbath, and urged all persons to labor on the seventh day under penalty of anathema. Which church does the whole civilized world obey? Protestants call us every horrible name they can think of,—‘antichrist,’ the ‘scarlet-colored beast,’ ‘Babylon,’ etc., and at the same time profess great reverence for the Bible, and yet by their solemn act of keeping Sunday they acknowledge the power of the Catholic Church. The Bible says, ‘Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy,’ and that the seventh day is the Sabbath; but the Catholic Church says, ‘No, keep the first day of the week’—and the whole world bows in obedience.” The above extract has been largely circulated. As a result of this the objection has been made by Catholics as well as Protestants, that this was nothing but a shrewd scheme gotten up to deceive the people. Having met this objection so many times, I wrote to Cardinal Gibbons, whom I knew would be a good witness and good authority in the Catholic Church. The following is a copy of the letter:— CARDINAL GIBBONS, Baltimore, Md.—Dear Sir: Pardon me for taking the liberty of addressing you, but I would like to ask you in regard to the truthfulness of certain statements made by your people. Father Enright, I have heard, has offered $1,000 for one biblical text enjoining the first day of the week to be kept as the Sabbath, saying that it was the Catholic Church that changed the day from Saturday, the seventh day, to Sunday, the first day of the week. Is this so? Is Sunday keeping founded wholly upon biblical or traditional authority? If it is founded upon the tradition of the Catholic Church, are not Protestants who claim to take the Bible only9 as their guide inconsistent with their profession, while professing great reverence for the Bible and yet entirely ignoring the day commanded by their Teacher, and accepting a day which has nothing for its authority but tradition? Should not Christians be consistent in their belief? Awaiting your reply, I am yours respectfully. After a few days I received the following reply:— CARDINAL’S RESIDENCE, 408 N. Charles St., Baltimore, June 23, 1895. MR. WM. SIMPSON, Darrell, Ont.—Dear Sir: Your letter addressed to the cardinal was received. The cardinal is now in Rome. In reply to your question, I beg to say that Father Enright is certainly correct in his assertions. There is not in the Bible a single text enjoining the observance of Sunday. Sunday as the Lord’s day rests entirely upon traditional grounds. The Catholic Church is consistent, for she has always acknowledged tradition as well as the Bible to be her rule of faith. Yours truly, With the above facts staring us in the face, is it not time that we Protestants were getting our eyes open? Shall we stand still and do nothing to free ourselves from the bands that Rome has thrown about us, or shall we as God’s children shake off every Romish doctrine that still holds us in “Babylon”? God is calling now to every honest child of his to come out of Babylon and be separate. It will require a struggle, but can we not afford to suffer inconvenience and even persecution and be on the safe side? The Reformation has not yet ended. It did not end with Luther, as many seem to suppose. Luther had a great work to do in reflecting to others the light which God permitted to shine upon him, yet he did not receive all the light which was to be given to the world. From that time till this, new light has been continually shining, and will continue to shine more and more till the perfect day. And God calls for a reformation to-day to oppose the tradition of men, and hold forth a plain “Thus saith the Lord.” God calls his children everywhere to rally together and rescue his Sabbath from the mass of débris, corruption, and error of the Romish Church which has covered it for these many years. There will be inconvenience, but no true reformers ever had an easy time. The foundation of our hope of everlasting life can not be laid too sure. We must have a plain “Thus saith the Lord” to rest our hope upon. In vain do we worship him if we knowingly teach for doctrine the commandments of men. It will require effort and moral courage to live out God’s truth, and it will surely bring persecution; but let not the promise be forgotten that “if we suffer, we shall also reign with him.” LONG-SUFFERING IS SALVATION.
By L. A. Phippeny
“Account that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation.” 2 Peter 3:15. The term long-suffering is a common one, and may readily be defined. The simplest meaning that can attach to it is “suffering long.” From this it enlarges to suffering injury or wrong a long time, and patiently, with great endurance and forbearance. And if the conditions are of a certain nature, it may include the idea of tolerance or permission. Long-suffering is one of the qualities seen in the character of God, and, like all commendable qualities, is there revealed in its fullest degree. This quality comes into operation only where sin exists, and when developed in the Christian, becomes one of the heavenly graces. As manifested in the character and attitude of God, it commands our profoundest admiration, and constitutes moreover in any case a cause for deepest thankfulness and worship, inasmuch as it affords us an opportunity to repent of our sins and turn to the Lord. Sin is a wrong against God, the greatest wrong that could possibly be worked against him. Every wrong that has ever been done by man to man is a result of sin. If we suffer because of evil done us, let us remember that God’s sensibilities are infinitely more acute than ours, and because of the wrong of sin he suffered as only God can suffer, even unto death. If we in any degree sense the wickedness of sin, and feel a sorrow for its effects, let us remember that God’s sense of sin, and sorrow because of its results, are infinitely greater than ours. It is because this is so that God pities man in his sinful condition, and grants him time in which to see Jesus, learn of salvation for himself, accept it, forsake sin, and escape the ultimate end, which is eternal death. It is for the purpose of drawing men to himself that the Lord does not punish immediately for evil works. He is a God of love, and is by no means pleased that any should perish. Men know they are sinners, and it is the plan of the devil to keep them such, and he leads them to believe that God has no regard for them either for good or ill, because of their condition. “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” Eccl. 8:11. But every exhibit in the case, every word of revelation, every patient explanation to man concerning his condition,—the past, present, and future,—shows him to be a God of tender love and compassion. He protests, “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” Eze. 33:11. While the consequences of sin are clearly depicted, the great theme of God’s revelation to man is salvation. It is not a plan of sin and death, but a plan of salvation and life. Sin is revealed, but is revealed only by contrast with righteousness, that the man may turn from death to life. It is a most merciful revelation, begotten of love, and the intent and motive of the Lord are made so plain that there is left no excuse for rejecting his goodness. “Despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” Rom. 2:4. This is the lesson we are to learn from the long-suffering of the Lord. He appeals to the reason, even while the Spirit touches the soul with divine healing, which begets love for the benefactor. In view of all these things, despise not his goodness, but account that reproofs, warnings, long-sufferings, and patient instructions are the ripe opportunities afforded each individual to make sure of his soul’s salvation. Experience Gained Through Well-Doing
“The best equipment for welldoing is in the experience gained by having done well before. The reward of one duty is the power to fulfill another.” JOTTINGS FROM THE EAST.
By H. P. H.
When journeying to Constantinople, one day was spent on the Danube, between Roumania on the north and Servia and Bulgaria on the south; and one day at Rustchuk, a chief river town of Bulgaria. This region was the seat of hostilities in the European part of the last war between Russia and Turkey. The principalities in this region, called the Balkan states (from the Balkan Mountains), so long under Turkish rule, are now wholly or partly independent. Servia, Roumania, and Bulgaria are fertile lands, with sufficient resources to make rich nations. But under bad administration these nations have been impoverished and degraded. When Bulgaria was freed and left to govern itself, its commerce was in a poor state, the country impoverished, and the people ignorant. This people, some five millions in number, were not accustomed to govern, and, being suddenly given full liberty without the knowledge of how to use it, their state was quite as critical as before. But, gradually, they are recovering and improving their national and domestic condition. While Bulgaria is coming up and in time might build up a strong state, she has little hope of long maintaining her independence. Her geographical position forbids it. She is surrounded by great nations, and expects sooner or later to be swallowed up by one of them. Her language being of the same branch and her religion the same as those of Russia, would naturally lead Bulgaria to incline to Russia. Russia is not insensible to these advantages in her favor, and makes due use of them. A ride through Bulgaria gives the impression that it is a most desirable land. Grain fields, pasture lands, and vineyards are abundant. Having harbors on the Black Sea, and being connected with Central Europe by the Danube and railways, Bulgaria possesses great possibilities. Bulgaria’s freedom is really the cause of the recent troubles in Macedonia. There are several million Bulgarians there; seeing their brethren enjoying liberty creates in them a desire for the same; and their recent agitations were in the hope that they might thereby involve the interference of the powers, and thus secure freedom from the Turkish yoke. As the powers are just now wrought up and taking Turkey to task because of the Armenian troubles, these Macedonian Bulgarians thought that their supreme moment had come; but their rioting has been put down by Turkish troops, and so for the moment they have gained nothing. But it is asserted that they will never stop short of liberty; they are ready to spring at the first opportunity. With such elements in the west and the Armenians in the east constantly brewing difficulties, and the great powers standing by dictating to her how she shall settle these difficulties, the position of Turkey is not an enviable one. On the one hand, it is a wonder that Turkey does not become exasperated and make a desperate effort for independence or death; and, on the other hand, it is still more marvelous how the powers of Europe can so long dally with the Eastern Question. On this question the Bible furnishes the only satisfactory solution. The Lord has commissioned angels to hold the winds of strife till his servants are sealed. When that work is finished, and the angels no longer hold the winds, we shall behold what men can now see must be the outcome of the present situation,—the closing out of Turkey, and a general strife among the powers for her territory. As to how soon this may take place is a matter of speculation. When the work of the Gospel is finished10 in the earth, the Lord will come; and as we know not in advance when that event will take place, so we can not tell in advance when the angels will cease holding the winds. So far as the Eastern Question is concerned, everything has been ready for years, and now seems beyond the point of waiting much longer. The moment God’s work is accomplished, the fatal and final struggle will begin. As that time seems very near, and everything in the world is ready for its part, the supreme question for every Christian should be, Am I ready for my part? Constantinople, September 30. THE best evidence of the presence and work of the Holy Spirit is love. “The fruit of the Spirit is love,” says the Book. Love is put first. That is where it belongs. There is not much of polemics in the foregoing statement, but heaven is in it. If we would all stop here, there would be less fog in our spiritual sky and more joy in our believing hearts. The atonement of Christ is that work of obedience and suffering for man by which he rendered the government of God the infinite service of showing the awful evil of sin, the supremacy of divine law, the incalculable value of human souls, and the coexistence of justice and love in God, because of which service for man and in man’s nature God can safely pardon the penitent sinner who trusts in Christ. Many a Christian man who in the hours of his ease and prosperity forgets to pray is driven back to the mercy-seat by the storms of adversity. Losses, bereavements, persecutions, bring with them a deep sense of human helplessness and an earnest longing after divine help. In the midst of calamities which they can not control, men naturally turn to the one and only source of perfect security. It is then that they realize, as never before, how “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”—Selected.