p. 6 | Review and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 63. (12/21/1916)

Every Christian’s Work

By Ellen G. White

(Concluded) *

MRS. E. G. WHITE

(From the REVIEW of Feb. 28, 1893)

Those who would work for the Master may come to him in full assurance of faith; and with meekness and lowliness of spirit, they may enter upon the work that lies directly in their pathway. Do not pass by the little things, and look for a large work. You might do successfully the small work, but fail utterly in attempting a large work, and fall into discouragement. Take hold wherever you see that there is work to be done. Whether you are rich or poor, great or humble, God calls you into active service for him. It will be by doing with your might what your hands find to do, that you will develop talents and aptitude for the work, and it is by neglecting your daily opportunities that you become fruitless and withered.

This is why there are so many fruitless trees in the garden of the Lord. God has given light, and that light is to shine forth to others in good works. It is by communicating light to others that heartfelt pity is cultivated. In this way you manifest to the world the excellency of the power of the grace of God. Every believer is called of God for this very purpose. He is to do his best toward illuminating others by giving his talents of time, influence, ability, and money to the service of God, that the truth may be set before those who are in darkness. The truth must be brought home personally to the hearts of men.

All heaven is in activity, and the angels of God are waiting to coöperate with the human agent who will devise plans whereby souls for whom Christ died may hear the glad tidings of salvation.

Every soul has an influence for good or evil. If the soul is sanctified to the service of God and devoted to the work of Christ, the influence will be to gather with Christ. God depends upon the church for the forwarding of his work, and he expects that his professed followers will do their duty as intelligent beings. There is great need that every trained mind, every disciplined intellect, every jot of ability, shall be brought to the work of saving souls. There will be no idler, no slothful one who neglects the work of the Lord, found inside of the kingdom of heaven.

God has given the light of truth to his church, and the remedy for sin must be presented to the sin-sick world, whose inhabitants are perishing in their iniquity and ignorance. God expects his church to discipline and fit its members for the work of enlightening the world. But let no one feel that because he is not educated, he cannot be expected to take part in the work. God has a work for you to do. He has given to every man his work.

You can search the Scriptures for yourself. “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” The prayer of the sincere heart, offered in faith, will be heard in heaven. It may not be grammatical; but if the heart is in it, it will ascend to the sanctuary where Jesus ministers, and he will present it to the Father with the fragrant incense of his own perfection, without one awkward, stammering word, graceful and perfect through his merit; for his righteousness refines and ennobles it, and makes it acceptable before the Father. The Lord accepts the prayer of the sincere heart, and will answer it out of his abundant fulness.

Fervent piety, sincerity of heart, contrition of soul, are grateful to God. Sincerity is the essential necessity of prayer. This with uncouth language and imperfect utterance is far more acceptable to God if it is the best that the suppliant can offer, than the perfectly worded, elegantly uttered prayer that is offered from a self-sufficient, self-important, pharisaical heart.

Though ignorant and humble, if your heart overflows with love to God, and if in this spirit you appeal to one who is out of Christ, the Lord will not despise your effort. Your small offering, presented with cheerful gratitude to God, will be classed with the widow’s mite, and be blessed of God. The effort to do your duty to the best of your ability, from the motive of love, will be noticed of Heaven. God does not make light of the small ability he has intrusted, but expects that it will be put out to usury, as well as the larger talents.

Those to whom large capabilities have been intrusted will have to bear large responsibilities, but those whom God has intrusted with but few talents, one or two, and placed in a humble sphere, need not repine because of their meager ability. Let them trade diligently with the talents intrusted, and prove their fidelity to God by a faithful use of his gifts, and their loyalty will be manifested, and the Lord will be satisfied.

The church is composed of large and small vessels; but the Lord does not expect that the small vessels will contain what the larger vessels will contain. He does not expect that the lowly, unlearned Christian will exercise all the intellectual power of him who has had advantages and privileges whereby his talents could be improved and his ability increased. He does not expect of the poor the alms they have not to give, nor from the sick and suffering the active energies which their infirmities forbid. But God has given to every man his work, and there is need of devoted, earnest, humble workers in all parts of the wide harvest field.

Revelation of the Hidden Mystery

By I. A. Crane

I. A. CRANE

“According to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest . . . to all nations for the obedience of faith.” Rom. 16: 25, 26. What wonderful theme is this which was hidden for ages, but is now being revealed to all? What can be the nature of this mystery, so marvelous, so sublime, so incomprehensible, that even angels in time past were not able to comprehend it? Can it be possible that there is now revealed to man some of God's hidden treasure hitherto unknown even to the angels? Incredible as this may seem, it is nevertheless true; and like all other revelations of truth, it is most reasonable.

We learn only as we are able to comprehend, and as we have opportunity. To illustrate: Let us take some man with whom you are but slightly acquainted. You have never seen him severely tempted; you do not know how he would act under temptation. What would he do if some one were to approach him and begin to heap abuse and insult upon him? You do not know. Neither do you know how he would act if placed where he could obtain immense wealth by fraud. You do not know how he would stand the test if he were tempted like Joseph. His character and moral worth are not known to you, and you can learn of it only as opportunity to do good or evil presents itself to him. He himself does not understand his weakness. He may be noble and good and true, or he may be, in heart, vile and contemptible and mean. All that mortal mind can comprehend, even of our fellow man, is revealed by the way he seizes opportunity to do good or evil. All one's life during probation is but a revelation of his real moral worth.

This is even so with God. Not even the angels knew how good he was. They could believe or disbelieve, but they could not know what was hidden in the heart of the Infinite. The depth of God's love and mercy was made known by the manifestation of Christ's character as the Saviour of fallen man.

Sin, Though Inexcusable, Will Manifest God's Glory

God is not responsible for sin. There is no excuse for it. His law forbade it. He warned man against it. He knew what the effects of transgression would be. Neither angels nor men knew. They could believe his warning and escape sin and death, or they could set up their own wisdom against the counsels of their all-wise Creator. He would not intimidate them. He would not terrorize them into obedience. The use of force would not convince them. It would not make them happy or contented. To be happy they must see that God is good, and his law is just. They must obey him of their own free will. They must learn, either by faith or by experience, that God loves them and knows what is best for them. If they would not believe and trust him, there was no way to convince them except by the sad experience with sin itself. This was the only way that they could be led to trust and obey him whose only desire was for their happiness.

How Sin Began in Heaven

Sin began in heaven when Lucifer, one of the covering cherubs, exalted himself against the knowledge of God. His heart was lifted up because of his beauty and wisdom. Eze. 28: 12, 17. Terrible was the effect of unbelief upon the heart of the first sinner. Doubt of God's goodness poisoned his mind and separated him from the Source of all wisdom. He became more and more blinded as he brooded over imaginary wrongs. Slyly and artfully at first, he began to make known his doubts to the other angels. He criticized God's law and its application in the government of the universe. Since all the angels were holy and endowed with great wisdom, what need was there for a law curtailing their liberties? Pride and unbelief soon led him even to hate the sinless Author of his existence. When pressed, he could even stoop to falsehood and misrepresentation rather than yield his position or confess his wrong. Farther and farther did he depart from the truth, until he had violated every principle of the law.

The all-wise God well understood that there could be no peace nor happiness except by obedience to the just requirements of his holy law. The law points out and forbids those things which bring ruin and death. God cannot make wrong right. God's law is perfect. Ps. 19: 7. It tells the truth. Ps. 119: 142. If it did not forbid sin, it would not be perfect. If it excused sin, or failed to condemn all sin, it would not be true. As it is, God himself cannot change it. It is an eternal standard of truth and justice. This was known to God; but what could be done to convince sinners that these things were so?

The Eternal Plan of Salvation Made Known

The Lord was not surprised by sin. It was to be met according to the eternal purpose which he had purposed in Christ before the world was. Eph. 3: 11; 1: 10. This eternal purpose in which the Father was pledged to allow his own Son to die

that sinners might be convinced of his love, was now made known. Filled with love and pity for erring creatures, the Father and Son were both willing to make any sacrifice to save them. The promise of God to give his Son to die was hailed with doubt and derision by men, the rebel host. They would not believe it.

The Ten Commandments in Heaven

The whole controversy in heaven and on earth is over the justice and the binding obligation of the ten commandments. The angels who went into the rebellion “sinned.” 2 Peter 2: 4. “Sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3: 4. The law which condemns sin is the ten commandments, from which Paul quotes, “Thou shalt not covet.” Rom. 7: 7. That it was the ten-commandment law which the wicked angels transgressed, is further shown by the fact that Jesus mentions two of these commandments which were broken by Satan. He was a liar and a murderer from the beginning. John 8: 44.

The Character of God Revealed by Sin

None of these angels knew, apart from the knowledge of faith, how God would act under temptation. How would he act when by lies and misrepresentation his creatures were being turned against him, when every act of love was misconstrued into weakness and selfishness? How would he act when even the promise of salvation through the death of his Son was doubted and derided? What would Christ do when in the weakness of the flesh he was accused and assailed by the adversary? Would he be patient when even his dying agony was greeted with scoffs and jeers? No one knew until it was revealed in his life on earth. Not even the angels could understand the unsearchable riches of his grace until he had drunk the bitter cup of suffering to its dregs. He died to cure unbelief and sin. He died for all. O, what wonderful love! No wonder that unfallen worlds looked on aghast, amazed at the depth of his love,—a love so boundless, so unsearchable, so incomprehensible! No wonder that all nature heaved with mighty convulsions, and the sun refused to shine! Yet how strange it is that those for whom such love was manifested should seem so little concerned! “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” The entrance of sin had indeed opened the way for the manifestation of the love that passeth all understanding.

“Mine is an unchanging love, Higher than the heights above, Deeper than the depths beneath, Free and faithful, strong as death.”

Surely, if the truth of the cross will not lead to repentance, if it will not cure sin, the case is hopeless. Infinite love can do no more. Clearly those who believe shall be saved, but those who refuse must reap the results of their own choice.

The Controversy Settled in Heaven

Since the death of Christ the unfallen worlds can never be led to doubt God's goodness nor the justice of his law. To all eternity they will never doubt his word or his love. Christ has forever vindicated the law. He himself was obedient to its claims, even unto death. Phil. 2: 8. By God's love and mercy, shown to sinful man through Christ, there is revealed to men, and through men to all the universe, the glorious treasures of God's goodness, which never could have been shown in any other way. Satan's accusations no longer have influence in heaven.

At the death of Christ, Satan was forever cast out of heaven into the earth. There was great rejoicing then in heaven; but “woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Rev. 12: 7-12. The controversy, now confined to earth, must soon be forever ended. Satan knows that he has but a short time. Still his hatred increases as he enters the last struggles against the remnant church. It alone in all the earth disputes his authority by keeping the commandments of God. Rev. 12: 17; 14: 12. The bitter hatred shown today against the ten commandments is proof of Satan's wrath.

Dear reader, where do you stand in this closing conflict? Can you afford to array yourself with the rebel hosts against the law of the Most High? May God forbid. “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.” Eze. 33: 11.

Waurika, Okla.

Are You Afraid of Leprosy?

By Meade MacGuire

MEADE MACGUIRE

Of all the diseases to which humanity is heir, there seems to be none which arouses such an instinctive horror in our minds as leprosy. We are told by physicians in these modern times that leprosy is not contagious, and that our fear of it and our aversion to its victim are to a great extent superstitious; still, when a case appears here in our land, the poor creature is shunned and feared as a fugitive and almost as a criminal. After all, this can hardly be wondered at when one reads the description of a case of real leprosy.

Thompson says: “The ‘scab’ comes on by degrees in different parts of the body; the hair falls from the head and eyebrows; the nails loosen, decay, and drop off; joint after joint of the fingers and toes shrink up and slowly fall away. The gums are absorbed, and the teeth disappear. The nose, the eyes, the tongue, and the palate are slowly consumed.”

How could any one help shrinking from the unfortunate victim of such a dreadful malady? But let us consider a very striking statement found in “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VI, page 217: “We should shun debt as we should shun the leprosy.”

Think for a moment what it would mean to us as individuals, and as a people, if we really had that instinctive horror of debt that we have of contact with the dread disease—leprosy. True the contracting of debt is the way of the world; but the world is wrong, it has lost its way financially and economically as well as morally.

God has plainly told us his way,—“Owe no man anything, but to love one another.” Why, in the face of this positive command, do we feel free, individually or collectively, to plunge deeply into debt, only to groan under the burden of financial perplexities.

While some do not think the methods of that mighty man of faith, George Müller, are practicable for us to follow in our work, we certainly may learn some valuable lessons from him. When his institution was first established, he laid down several principles which were to govern its policy. Among them were the following:—

“4. We reject altogether the help of unbelievers in managing, or carrying on, the affairs of the institution (2 Cor. 6: 14-18).

“5. We intend never to enlarge the field of labor by contracting debts (Rom. 13: 8), and afterward appealing to the church of Christ for help; because this we consider to be opposed both to the letter and the spirit of the New Testament; but in secret prayer, God helping us, we shall carry the wants of the institution to the Lord, and act according to the means that God shall give.

“6. We do not mean to reckon the success of the institution by the amount of money given, or the number of Bibles distributed, etc., but by the Lord’s blessing upon the work (Zech. 4: 6); and we expect this in the proportion in which he shall help us to wait upon him in prayer.”

God so honored the faithfulness of his servant and the principles for which he stood that he was able to carry on an immense work of Bible and tract distribution, assistance to foreign missionaries, and support of orphans. During his whole life, great institutions were maintained and enterprises carried on for which he was wholly responsible financially, yet he never incurred one dollar of debt, but through prayer and waiting upon God he was enabled to go forward with confidence, the Lord providing upwards of seven million dollars for his use.

Brethren, is there not altogether too much laxity in the way we manage our personal affairs? and is this not one reason why our cause suffers from its burden of debt? It is not so important to remedy the condition as to cure the disease. God says to his children, “Owe no man anything, but to love one another.” “We should shun debt as we would shun the leprosy.” Let us settle down upon these principles, and then God will help us to lift our present burdens, and we can turn our strength and means to saving perishing souls.

From Scarlet Sins to Snow

“THOUGH your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” Isa. 1:18.

Powerplus Canvassing in Hawaii

By Ching; Rowland

CHING AND ROWLAND

With our up-to-date powerplus motor cycles, the message of the soon-coming Saviour is carried to the homes of Hawaiians, Americans, Englishmen, Spaniards, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Filipinos, and to those of many other nationalities.

Much of our canvassing is done during the latter part of the day. While the men are at home, it is possible to take orders. Prosperity has come to Hawaii, due to the present high price of sugar, and now is the best time to place our truth-filled literature in the homes.

The majority of the people on the island love pleasure, and are inclined to be hospitable. Among the primitive Hawaiians, Mormonism seems to flourish, but the majority are Catholics.

The book, “The Great Controversy,” has so stirred many minds that one priest commanded his followers to burn the books. To our knowledge a few families are contemplating keeping the Sabbath. Brother and Sister Robert McKeague are the only Bible workers in the island. We are very glad to be able to suggest to the sick whom we meet in our work that they try the treatments given by these graduate nurses. This opens the way to gain a hearing for the gospel message. The medical work of the treatment-rooms enables the colporteur to place books in many homes which would otherwise be closed to him.

We earnestly crave an interest in your prayers for the advancement of the truth in this part of the Master’s vineyard.

Ready for a colporteur trip in Hawaii Island.

India's Gibraltar

By A. H. Williams

A. H. WILLIAMS

“While Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.” It was not because Paul found the Athenians waiting with open arms to receive him, that they might hear from him the gospel of Christ, that his “spirit was stirred in him,” for the majority derided him; but it was because he found human beings, those for whom he knew the Son of God had sacrificed his precious life, bowing down to wood and stone, and worshiping the creatures of their own hands.

Here in India we find men as deeply sunk in idolatry as were the Athenians of Paul’s day. For ages past the masses of India have had held up before them ideals which, measured against the pure standards of Christianity, are scarcely worthy of comparison. Surely if the sights at Athens stirred Paul’s heart, we in our day should be aroused to action by the appalling darkness into which the Orient has sunk. Think of the millions bowing to idols representing gods whose moral attributes would almost shock a Nero; of the thousands of young girls who are dedicated to the temple, that the lusts of a degraded priesthood may be satisfied, and who later are turned adrift upon the world to lead a life of shame. Think of the Hindu widows condemned to a life approaching slavery, because the gods in their anger have smitten down their husbands. Mohammedanism—does the thought of it not arouse our hearts to action? and Islamism, with its false ideals, its empty formalism, its hideous heaven, its degraded womanhood—do we not hear its challenge?

Too often we think of heathenism as declining and ready to give place to Christianity; but Hinduism and Mohammedanism have even a stronger hold on the people than ever in the past, for the reform movements from within these religions tend but to their upbuilding.

The gospel of Christ is as unwelcome to the heathen of India as it was to the heathen whom Paul encountered. Yet we must not cease from proclaiming it, for Christ has commanded us to go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in. And who, having tasted for himself and learned that the Lord is good, is not stirred to break to these heathen the bread of life? “He which converteth the sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death.”

The missionaries in India, in China, in Africa, and in the islands of the seas need your money, your sons, and your daughters; but especially do they need your prayers, that their courage may not falter. Surrounded day by day by the very grossest ignorance, by multitudes who know not God, our spirits often weary when we see the hardness of the people’s hearts. So much effort and yet so little progress! If it is true anywhere, it is true in India, that converts must be won “one by one.” Yet honest hearts have heard, and others yet will hear; for “my word,” saith the Lord, “shall not return unto me void, but . . . it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

We also need your prayers, that right plans may be laid and right methods followed. This work in which we are engaged is not a fight “against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world;” for in the false religions of the East we find crystallized the wisdom of the adversary, accumulated through centuries of experience. Unless, therefore, the work is carried on under divine direction, unless we continually submit our ways to the wisdom of him who sent us, we can look for but little progress.

We are grateful for the help received in the past, and we thank our heavenly Father for the fruit he has given us; but we realize that much remains to be done. Many languages are as yet untouched, many millions are yet unwarned, many areas are yet unentered. We need more men, we need more money; but especially we need more prayers in our behalf. Not all can come and help us; some may not be able to give much financial help; but all have equal access to the throne of grace. Do not neglect this opportunity of helping.

British Guiana

By Mr. I. G. Knight; Mrs. I. G. Knight

MR. AND MRS. I. G. KNIGHT

We reached our new field of labor August 3. Georgetown, the capital, is a thriving city of sixty thousand inhabitants. Here twentieth-century civilization borders on the vast wilderness of the southern continent. Although less than five hundred miles north of the equator, it is not oppressively hot, and contrary to prevalent ideas, it is not unhealthful. Throughout the year the trade winds blow constantly and temper the heat of the tropical sun; and while it is uncomfortably wet during the rainy season, yet the mercury never reaches the nineties, and the sweltering heat of the States is unknown. Mosquitoes are about the only pest we have, and as they are not malaria carriers nor the singing kind, we are able to endure them by sleeping under nets.

Since reaching here we have been very busy. Elder N. H. Pool, the president of the South Caribbean Conference, had come from Trinidad in order to look

after the work left by Elder C. E. Boynton on his removal to Colon. We were glad that he and Sister Pool were here, as they could help us in getting acquainted with the situation and with the people. We found a church of one hundred and forty members, who gave us a warm welcome. Brother and Sister Pool remained about three weeks after our arrival. Then Elder M. B. Butterfield came to unite with us in a tent meeting.

We enjoyed a successful six weeks’ campaign. The interest continued even when we reached the testing truths. Every night from four hundred to one thousand people attended. The collections amounted to $70, which, considering that wages are from twenty-four to forty-eight cents a day, was excellent.

But best of all, fifty-six gave in their names as intending to keep the Sabbath, and joined the baptismal class which we hold in the church Monday night of each week. We call the roll, and if any are not present, we visit them in their homes and give them the study. We shall do our best to lead them into the full light of present truth. Many others for whom we work are not fully decided.

Elder Butterfield has now gone, and we both have all we can do. We ask an interest in the prayers of all the REVIEW family, that we may continue in health, and be able to help finish the work.

Georgetown.

Niue Island

By S. W. Carr

S. W. CARR

God's blessing is resting upon the work in Niue, and Sabbath school services are now conducted in three of the eleven villages on the island, and a weekday service in a fourth.

The whole island has been stirred by our coming, as it had been the settled policy on Niue for sixty-seven years not to allow workers from any other than the established mission to come here. Once, many years ago, a Roman Catholic arrived, but he was met with such coldness and disfavor that he went away on the same boat on which he came.

The enemy of souls has tried to hinder the establishment of our work. The people were forbidden to come to our meetings, to visit us, to rent us a house or to lease their land for our mission. We had no difficulty, however, in securing a convenient and comfortable house, good attendance at our meetings, and a welcome wherever we went. When the time comes, the Lord will open the way for us to lease land and to establish permanent headquarters for the work here.

Land has been offered us in three villages, situated respectively five, nine, and eleven miles from Alofi, the capital. It does not seem best to accept any one of these places, so we shall wait until the Lord directs us more clearly.

After four months on the island we find the language becoming much easier, and I am now able to conduct Sabbath school and simple services in Niuean, but am glad of Vai's efficient services as interpreter in our main Alofi meetings. Vai came ten months ahead of us, and her quiet Christian influence has won the hearts of Europeans and natives alike.

Porto Rico

By Wm. Steele

WM. STEELE

If there is one need greater than another in our field, it is that of a school where native workers may receive an education that will fit them to help carry the last message to the thousands here who are groping in darkness. Many of these people are looking for the light of truth, and are quick to see and grasp it when it is presented.

This is especially true of the young people. Since the American occupation of the island, thousands of young people have been educated, and have learned to think for themselves. They are not satisfied with what Catholicism has to offer, neither entirely with Protestantism permeated with higher criticism, as taught today. So they are especially attracted to the people who teach the Bible as the infallible will of God.

The past year a number of bright young people have accepted the truth. Among these are three men who were preachers in other denominations. Some have entered the colporteur work, and are having success.

These young people, properly educated, will be able to do much more effectual work than foreigners. We must have their help in finishing the work, but first they must be taught how to work successfully for the salvation of souls.

Last June we decided to hold a three months' school in connection with a tent effort in the city of Aguadilla. Brother C. E. Moon and Sister Jessie C. Butler rendered invaluable help in the school and the tent meetings. School was held from 8 A. M. to 12 M. In the afternoon some time was spent in visiting the people, inviting them to the meetings, and where interest was shown, in studying the Bible with them. Eight young people attended the classes, and made rapid progress. All are enthusiastic, and desire that the coming year a longer time be devoted to study. We desire to help them, but there is need of a suitable building where they can be properly cared for while in school.

Certainly there is no more important work, nor one of greater value to the cause, than that of educating the young people to bear responsibilities in the work. This is just as important in Porto Rico as in the States.

May the Lord place a burden on some one to provide the means, that this work may be carried on successfully, is our greatest desire.

Chinese Interest in Present Truth

A REPORT in China's Millions of a conference held in the province of Shen-si, says that a lively interest was manifested in considering the influence of Seventh-day Adventism, and the workers were urged to give circulation to books refuting our teachings. In more than one province of China inquirers have been sent to our workers in considerable numbers by the circulation of this same kind of literature. So long as the Word of God states that “the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God,” any agitation or effort to declare otherwise can only set people to studying the Word of God. At the same time a letter comes from Elder J. E. Fulton, speaking of the recent baptism of sixty-three believers in Hankow. “Being anxious,” he writes, “to ascertain just the proportion of these converts who had been in actual connection with other churches, I asked the brethren to examine the candidates to make inquiry; and of the sixty-three it was found that eight had been members of other denominations. Three or four of these had severed their connection some considerable time previous.” So the Lord blesses, and the heathen are being won, while at the same time, naturally, many connected with other societies become diligent in studying the truth for these times.

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