THE work of God is a work of faith. Webster says faith is an implicit reliance on the testimony of another. The Bible, which is the highest authority, says: "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Faith will make the testimony of God a living reality. The individual does not walk by sight, but the word is a lamp which lights up the path of every one who believes. Faith is practical; therefore faith will lead the person not only to see the light, but to walk in it. It is a living, active principle.
Every step taken in the cause of God is as much a step of faith in the nineteenth century as it was when God led Israel through the wilderness. Our faith grasps God's testimony concerning the present truth. Are there scores everywhere who will embrace the truth? Will the number of faithful men and women swell to one hundred and forty-four thousand, who, out of the last generation, will finally stand upon Mount Zion? Does the word teach us that we have reached the last part of the last generation of men that will live on this earth? Our faith says, Yes. It becomes us, then, to act accordingly.
Had we a score of years in which to talk about warning the world, there would be more consistency in dallying along for a year or two. But the providence of God is far in advance of us, and we have no time to lose. Many are the expressions that show that the work of God will move with great celerity near its close; and it becomes us to act accordingly: "For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness; because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth." "Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city."
God has committed this truth to men and women, and if you, dear reader, are a believer in it, then you thereby become responsible to enlighten others. God will hold you to an account. The day of Judgment will reveal that talents were lent us of God to use in his service. We have not a moment to spare.
S. N. HASKELL.
Temperance Work in Oakland.
The “gospel temperance meetings” still continue in Oakland. We regret that our time is so occupied, day and night, that we have so little opportunity to attend them.
A Temperance Reform Club has been organized, of which Dr. Agard was elected President. In his remarks acknowledging the honor conferred upon him, he said:—“The coming physician is not to be the man who can heal the most diseases, but he who can, by setting forth the laws of health, prevent most from becoming sick. So our work in this temperance reform is not so much to save the drunkard, though that is a good work, as to prevent people from becoming drunkards and to save the young to temperance and sobriety.”
As an ardent friend of the cause of temperance we congratulate the Club in their selection of a presiding officer. If these words are made the platform on which they stand and act, they will prove themselves worthy of the name of Reformers. There are many of the youth who will be enticed to their destruction in spite of the watchfulness of friends and guardians unless the opportunity be removed. And there is a large class of habitual drinkers, who have lost the power of self-control, whose reasoning faculties and their conscientiousness are weakened by their habits, of which only a small part can be reached by appeals to reason and conscience unless they can, at least to some extent, be restored to a normal condition, which can only be effected by cutting off the supply. And there is a large class of suffering women and children, destitute of provisions for body and mind, abused and degraded, who call for protection.
It is an old saying that “Prevention is better than cure.” Sin leaves its impress, even though it be forgiven. Habits in evil leave the body and soul weakened, even though they be discarded. The traffic in alcoholic beverages stands in the way of prevention, and retards the work of cure where the necessity unfortunately exists. Dr. Agard has struck the key-note of genuine reform, to which we hope all lovers of the cause will heartily respond.
No Paper Next Week.
By Editor
ON account of many meetings, and other business pressing upon us, we have labored very hard for some time past. As our volume consists of 48 numbers, we choose this time to find a brief respite from work. Our next paper will be dated June 5.