Earlier text: The Northern Lights“My Times Are in Thy Hand”
My times are in thy hand!
I know not what a day,
Or e'en an hour, may bring to me;
But I am safe while trusting thee,
Though all things fade away.
All weakness, I
On him rely
Who fixed the earth and spread the
starry sky. My times are in thy hand!
Pale poverty or wealth,
Corroding care or calm repose,
Spring’s balmy breath or winter’s snows,
Sickness or buoyant health—
Whate’er betide,
If God provide,
’Tis for the best; I wish no lot beside. My times are in thy hand!
Should friendship pure illumine
And strew my path with fairest flowers,
Or should I spend life’s dreary hours
In solitude’s dark gloom,
Thou art a friend
Till time shall end,
Unchangeably the same; in thee all beauties blend. My times are in thy hand!
Many or few my days,
I leave with thee—this only pray,
That by thy grace I, every day
Devoting to thy praise,
May ready be
To welcome thee
Whene’er thou com’st in clouds to
summon me. My times are in thy hand!
To thee I can entrust
My slumbering clay, till thy command
Bids all the dead before thee stand,
Awakening from the dust.
Beholding thee,
What bliss ’twill be
With all thy saints to spend eternity! To spend eternity
In heaven’s unclouded light!
From sorrow, sin, and frailty free,
Beholding and resembling thee—
O too transporting sight!
Prospect too fair
For flesh to bear!
Haste, haste, my Lord, and soon transport me there! The Training of Workers
By Ellen G. White
The true worker in the cause of God will banish from the mind, as impious, every thought of inherent merit. Even the heavenly angels take to themselves no praise. Throughout the heavenly courts, in one grand chorus, resounds their acknowledgment to the Creator: “All things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.” Those who live on this earth should unite with the heavenly host in ascribing all praise and glory to the Creator. No man has the least cause for boasting or self-exaltation, not even when he does his very best. Man often fails of doing his duty, leaving undone a vast amount that a close connection with God would have enabled him to do. Constantly God is laboring to make up man’s deficiencies. Even repentance is brought about through the application of grace. The natural heart feels no need but of repentance. The tears that fall from the eyes of man because of sorrow for his sinfulness and because of sympathy for other sinners, start unbidden. They are as dew from eyes that belong to God. Man’s sighs are but indications of the deep feeling in a heart that is God’s. The good resolutions we make are but the expression of desires that are his. The reformed life is but the better employment of a life that has been ransomed by the sacrifice of his Son Jesus. No credit should we take to ourselves for anything that we may do. “All things come of thee,” we shall eventually be led to acknowledge to our Creator, “and of thine own have we given thee.” Faith, too, is the gift of God. Faith is the assent of man’s understanding to God’s words, that binds the heart to God’s service. And whose is man’s understanding, if it be not God’s? Whose the heart, if it be not God’s? To have faith, is to render to God the intellect, the energy, that we have received from him; therefore those who exercise faith do not themselves deserve any credit. Those who believe so firmly in a Heavenly Father that they can trust him with unlimited confidence; those who by faith can reach beyond the grave to the eternal realities beyond, must pour forth to their Maker the confession, “All things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.” No man has a right to call himself his own. And no man possesses any good thing that he can call his own. Every man, every thing, is the property of the Lord. All that man receives from the bounty of heaven is still the Lord’s. Whatever knowledge he has that in any way helps him to be an intelligent workman in God’s cause, is from the Lord, and should be imparted by him to his fellow men, in order that they, too, may become valuable workmen. He to whom God has entrusted unusual gifts should return to the Lord’s storehouse that which he has received, by freely giving to others the benefit of his blessings. Thus God will be honored and glorified. In all the departments of the Lord’s work, every laborer is to help his fellow laborers. The workers who have had many advantages are to take no credit to themselves, nor are they to think that they deserve praise for using in the service of Christ the talents that he has entrusted to them. They should realize that the non-employment of their capabilities would place upon them a burden of guilt, making them deserving of God’s just displeasure and severest judgments. Heavenly bestowed capabilities should not be made to serve selfish ends. Every energy, every endowment, is a talent that should contribute to God’s glory by being used in his service. His gifts are to be put out to the exchangers, that he may receive his own, with usury. The talents that fit a man for service are entrusted to him not only that he may be an acceptable worker himself, but that he may also be enabled to teach others who in some respects are deficient. If in their ministry those whom we teach develop an energy and an intelligence even superior to that which we possess, we should be led to rejoice over the privilege of having a part in the work of training them. But there is danger that some in positions of responsibility as teachers and leaders, will act as if talent and ability have been given to them only, and that they must do all the work in order to make sure that it is done aright. They are liable to find fault with everything not originated by themselves. A great amount of talent is lost to the cause of God because many laborers, desiring to be first, are willing to lead, but never to follow. Although they closely scrutinize and criticize all that any one else does, they are in danger of regarding that which goes forth from their hands as perfect. To those upon whom God has bestowed many talents, I am instructed to say: Help the inexperienced; discourage them not. Take them into your confidence; give them fatherly counsel, teaching them as you would teach students in a school. Watch not for their mistakes, but recognize their undeveloped talents, and train them to make a right use of these powers. Instruct them with all patience, encouraging them to go forward and to do an important work. Instead of keeping them engaged in doing things of minor importance, give them an opportunity to obtain an experience by which they may develop into trustworthy workers. Much will thus be gained to the cause of God. Those placed in positions of responsibility should patiently seek to make others familiar with all parts of the work. This will reveal that they do not desire to be first, but that they are glad to have others become acquainted with details, and to become as efficient as they are. Those who faithfully fulfil their duty in this respect, will, in time, have standing by their side a large number of intelligent workers whom they have trained. Should they shape matters in accordance with narrow, selfish conceptions, they would stand almost alone. Some workers are incapable of filling positions that others can fill. Many who might have been able to fill positions of trust, have not disciplined themselves, nor have they done that which they could have done from day to day to meet the increasing demands of the present time. Others are able to bear responsibilities, and would do so, if they were encouraged, and if there were some one who, with patience, kindness, and forbearance, would teach them how to work. Ministers should show a real earnestness in helping such persons succeed, and8 should put forth persevering effort to develop talent. The inexperienced are in need of wise generals who by prayer and personal effort will encourage and help them to become perfect in Christ Jesus, wanting in nothing. This is the work which every gospel minister should endeavor to do, but which some are liable to fail of doing. Men of varied talents and superior ability will unite with us in the work of giving the last message of mercy to a perishing world. My brethren, learn to see and to recognize ability and talent in others besides yourselves. Be examples to the flock. Give to others the benefit of all the knowledge that the Lord has given to you. He has entrusted you with this knowledge, that you may impart it. With the same liberality and freedom that the Master teaches you, teach others, binding them to your heart by love and tenderness. Let no one seek to exalt himself by talking of his deeds, extolling his abilities, displaying his knowledge, and cultivating self-consciousness. Let no one strive to tear down the work of others who do not labor according to his standard. The heavenly Teacher extends to us the invitation: “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Christ was never self-confident or conceited. He declared, “The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.” A great work is to be done in America and in other lands. As yet, many fields are still unentered. The most important duty before those who have been sent out into the fields at home and abroad as missionaries, is to combine the forces and strength of all whom they can possibly enlist as helpers. Thus they can make mighty strokes for their Master. God will do a great work in every part of the field, if with willing hearts his servants put self out of sight, and labor only for his glory. For What Shall We Pray?
By R. A. Underwood
A SPECIAL season of seeking God in prayer has been appointed for December 10-17. Shall this be a formal occasion that shall mean but little to us? Or shall we enter upon it with a realization of its importance? If this is done, and the purpose of God in this week of prayer is fully met, we shall experience a greater blessing in spiritual things than Seventh-day Adventists have ever known. We are admonished that “men ought always to pray,” to “pray without ceasing,” and “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” While we should always be in the spirit of prayer, and have stated times each day to present our requests to God with thanksgiving. yet there are times that demand special seasons of united prayer for definite objects. Such occasions require special preparation, and, when entered upon in the order of God, mark great victories for the church of Christ. Just before the day of Pentecost the disciples were brought to such a time. The Saviour had commissioned his disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Believers were few compared with the masses. The great of the earth, from the world’s standpoint, were not numbered among the believers. From the human standpoint it was impossible to carry out the commission of Christ. Christ had seen all the obstacles in the way of his “little flock” in accomplishing the work committed to them. Therefore he made provisions whereby they could meet every hindrance with a glorious victory. For this purpose he commanded the disciples: “Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high;” and with this he gives the promise: “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” In harmony with this instruction the disciples assembled in Jerusalem. They prayed, they confessed their sins, they put away all strife and selfishness. They were united in love and purpose. It is written of them, “They were all with one accord in one place.” The Spirit took control, and all spoke “as the Spirit gave them utterance.” A short time before, they were seeking the first place of honor; but now, each esteems his brethren better than himself. If honor is to be given to any one, he prefers to see it bestowed upon his companions in labor. Selfishness can not live in the heart controlled by the Spirit of God. Means and men were laid upon the altar of service. Signs and wonders followed the proclamation of the gospel. In a short time the world had heard the sound of the glad tidings of salvation. We are living when a great crisis is impending. We have received commission to preach this gospel of the kingdom to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people in this generation before the end shall come. We are as powerless to do this without the baptism of the Holy Ghost as were the disciples of old. Therefore Christ commands, “Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain.” We are living in the time when this prayer is to be made by God’s people, and to be realized in its fulfilment. The rain promised is a symbol of the outpouring of the Spirit of God upon his people. The Spirit has been sent into the world. He is waiting to put his power upon his people. Our prayer should be, “Lord, make me a willing subject for the Spirit to use.” Our life, time, children, property, yea all we are and have, must be placed upon the altar of service. We sometimes pray for the Spirit, that we might use his power. This is a dangerous prayer to offer. Heaven wants men and women who will be worked by the Spirit, those who speak as the Spirit gives them utterance, those who go at the Spirit’s call. This does not mean fanaticism, it does not mean confusion or lack of order in the work of God. It does mean a second Pentecost. It means the loud cry of the third angel’s message. It means the finishing of the gospel. It means that many now occupied in money making will devote their talents to soul saving. It means that the cause of Christ has the first place in all our plans for time and eternity. It means a mighty conflict between the powers of heaven and fallen beings. It means that signs and wonders shall attend the preaching of the testing message. It means the healing of soul and body to many. It means a revival of the faith, courage, and power of apostolic times. It means a short conflict and the ushering in of the kingdom of peace and life eternal. To this end let us pray, surrender all, believe, and receive the Holy Spirit. The Missionary Spirit
By A. O. Burrill
THIS was what was found in the church in the apostles’ days. When Christ selected twelve men, he called them his twelve apostles, or missionaries. “And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples [missionaries],” he sent them forth. Matt. 10:1, 5. And he said, “Go rather to the lost sheep,” “and as ye go.” By this we see that these men were selected with the express purpose of going forth. They were not to remain at home, but to go into all the world. And as they went, these missionaries had a message, which was, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” This missionary spirit was to take them from city to city, from town to town, and from house to house. By the reading of the prophets and the sermons of Christ they were so imbued with the missionary spirit that they could leave father, mother, brother, sister, houses, and lands to carry the glad tidings into the regions beyond. The world to them at that time meant largely the basin around the great Mediterranean Sea. Here, under the Roman government, they found all nationalities. The division walls had been broken down. The different nationalities had come into close relation with one another, all over this great territory. The wars of Rome, and their captives, had carried the inhabitants of many cities into the various parts of the then known world. The victorious armies of Rome had gone out from the imperial city in every direction. Among the captives were all classes of individuals, the educated and the uneducated. Many of these were sold into slavery, with but little prospect of their ever obtaining their freedom; so that when the gospel was carried by these missionaries to these individuals, they saw in this blessed gospel of the kingdom a promise of freedom from sin, and9 in the life to come, everlasting freedom. Thousands upon thousands who had been taken from their homes, and subjected to slavery, were made glad by such glorious prospects. These missionaries were endued with the power of healing the sick of all their maladies. The day of Pentecost was not fully past before there were enrolled individuals from fifteen different nationalities. And so thoroughly were they imbued with this missionary spirit, that they “sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men as every man had need.” Their first work was largely done in Jerusalem. Their companies were augmented with such vast numbers that they were soon forgetting their great commission as missionaries. To stir them up to the sense of what they should do as such, the Lord allowed persecution to come upon them, so that only the twelve apostles were left in Jerusalem. “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.” A few glimpses of the results of their labors are seen in the book of Acts, and hinted at in the epistles. In about thirty years these missionaries had carried the glad tidings to all the inhabitants of the then known world. Col. 1:23. About the time that Peter and Paul were martyred at Rome, they had the satisfaction of knowing that the gospel had reached every individual then living. What a joy it must have been to the hearts of these men! Well could one of them exclaim, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, . . . henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” This same missionary spirit that actuated the believers in those days is again to fill the hearts of God’s people. “I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come.” This angel is joined by the second, and then the third unites with these with a warning against the worship of the beast, and his image, and the reception of his mark. So we have the three messages in one, with their threefold parts. These are followed by the personal coming of our Saviour to this earth. These messages are to prepare the inhabitants of earth for the great day of God. It is those who keep the commandments of God, and have the faith of Jesus, who bear the warning to the world against the threefold apostasy of the last days. They are to be imbued with the Spirit, which is symbolized by the angel as flying. These last days have brought to God’s people a rapid mode of travel by land and sea, so that they can visit all parts of the earth. In Paul’s day only a small territory could be reached in a long time. But now the missionaries are going into all parts of the earth. These missionaries are to run to and fro, until every man, woman, and child has had an opportunity to know that the coming of Christ is near at hand. Only see what the missionaries have done for the last hundred years in penetrating into the dark parts of the earth. There, while living with the natives, they learned their language, and then translated the Scriptures into their native tongue. Only think what a burning zeal these men have had to do this work. Think of the numerous Bible houses in all Protestant lands, and the large sums of money that have been contributed to prepare the Scriptures for these different nations. As the early church sacrificed their earthly goods to send the gospel to all nations, so this people are being imbued with a spirit of sacrifice to send their sons and daughters to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. The call which was made by the last General Conference Committee Council, for eighty thousand dollars, at first seems large; but what is that amount for these seventy-five thousand Adventists? Many of these thousands are poor, yet they are rich in faith. The coming of the Lord is to them more than everything else. With joy they trace the lines of prophecy and their expositions in our periodicals and books. They have become largely imbued with the spirit of the Lord’s coming. In many thousands of homes, father, and mother, and children are planning to contribute their part to this sum of money for this glorious work. When Paul wrote to the Hebrews, he referred to their sacrifices as the “spoiling of their goods,” and says that they took it joyfully. So there are many to-day who are called to send their hard-earned money to the treasurer of our Mission Board, that real missionaries may speed the way to all parts of the earth. The recommendation of the last council, for missionaries to leave the home land and go to the regions beyond, thrilled the hearts of the loyal subjects of this message. Think of the sacrifices made by the Russian and Japanese soldiers in the great Russo-Japanese war. Thousands of them are laying down their lives for their country and homes. If they are willing to do this for an earthly crown, what ought we to be willing to do to close up this mighty work? Soon the last opportunity to contribute for its support will be in the past. Happy at that day will be those who have given their all to it. In the book of remembrance is recorded many a conversation, many a sacrifice, to further this message to the ends of the earth. The reports of our missionaries from China, from India, from Africa, and from the islands of the sea are read with joy. This missionary spirit needs to come into each of our homes, into each of our hearts, so that we shall not only give our means, but, like Hannah, dedicate our children to this great and glorious work. We appeal to all our brethren and sisters in the Ontario Conference to assemble regularly at their places of worship during the week of prayer, and there earnestly plead with God to raise up laborers to finish this work. Let each do his best to give all that he can. Our Work and Message
By William Covert
As the time for another week of prayer approaches, we are impressed with the thought that the world is older and the coming of the Lord nearer than ever before. The third angel's message, which tells the student of gospel prophecy about earth's last great struggle, and teaches him to meet it, is even now far advanced with its weighty mission. Its stirring notes have been heard, and to some extent heeded, by many kindreds, tongues, and peoples. Already tens of thousands have joyfully accepted the glad truths taught, and many adherents are earnestly engaged in proclaiming the wonderful story. Christ, in speaking of the signs of his second coming, said: “When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” What, then, should be our expectations when we consider that the judgment hour, which is to be closely followed by the resurrection of the righteous dead and the coming of our Lord, began its solemn work more than sixty years ago? The fact that the heralds of Jesus' second coming are actually doing their work in fulfilment of the many prophecies which show the nearness of the great, decisive day, should mightily arouse all our people, and cause them to equip for immediate and decisive action. The work which Seventh-day Adventists are doing is of itself incontrovertible evidence of its truthfulness. The messages which they are giving are precisely what the Word of God declares must go to the whole world just before Christ comes in the clouds of heaven. Since these things are so, the only consistent thing for our people to do is to demonstrate their faith and interest in these things by spreading the messages over all the earth with the greatest possible speed. All available help should be utilized. Money should be given and talent used in saving souls while the opportunity lasts. We understand that the General Conference Committee is admonishing our people to raise twice as much money this year by the agency of their annual offerings as they gave last year. The sum of this fund reached forty thousand dollars last year, but double that amount is needed this year. We do not believe that He who died for sinners would advise us to give a less amount. When we consider the many millions who are unsaved, and our responsibilities toward10 them, the only consistent course that we can take is to trim all our lamps, and, as far as lies in our power, place bright lights to shine in all the dark corners of the earth. The money and the ability which the Lord has given his people are for the purpose of establishing his work in the earth. Then let it not be tied up in napkins or placed in banks while it might be used in sending laborers with the gospel to perishing sinners. Brethren and sisters, can we feel clear before the Lord if we do not now meet the demands which the third angel's message is making upon us? Does not the situation say that every needy field under the sun should be entered by our missionaries and faithfully worked at the earliest possible date?—Surely it does; and shall not we proceed to do this work without longer delay? Now I want to read you another text: “And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament.” Rev. 11:19. This brings us to another point in the history of the sanctuary question. When was this?—Under the sounding of the seventh angel. Then the temple of God was opened in heaven. There is a temple of God in heaven, and in that temple there is the ark of God’s ten commandments. When that most holy place was opened in heaven, there was seen by the people on earth the ten commandments. This brings us to a special work of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary. Let me read you a few other verses that cluster around this. Turn with me to Acts 3:19-22: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” Repent and be converted, for what purpose?—“That your sins may be blotted out.” When are your sins blotted out?—“When the times of refreshing shall come.” The time of the blotting out of the sins is the cleansing of the sanctuary at the end of the twenty-three hundred days of Dan. 8:14. Christ entered the most holy place to cleanse the sanctuary from the sins of God’s people, and will blot them from the books, and bring them out and lay them upon the scapegoat. This will give a deeper experience than when Christ ascended on high. When he took his position at the right hand of the Father, it was that men might repent and be forgiven of their sins. But now the Saviour bears them out from the heavenly courts. From our present spiritual condition, I verily believe that many will pass through the loud cry of the third angel’s message and the blotting out of sins without knowing that that event had happened. Many are not near enough to God to catch his voice and to know the moving of his Spirit. O my soul, can it be that we are sixty years in the investigative judgment since Christ entered the most holy place, and at the same time we have no deep moving of the Spirit of God in this time of the loud cry of the message? A friend asked me, since I have been here, “When shall we hear the loud cry of the message?” I did not know what to say. I thought to myself, Poor soul! we may go through the loud cry, and you never know it. “Well,” says one, “will there not be more of an outpouring of the Spirit?” I expect there will be, far greater than anything we have seen as yet, but if you wait for that outpouring of the Spirit of God to save you in the time of trouble, you will never be saved. This is taught both from the Bible and from the spirit of prophecy. There is another text I want to read you, and that is in Isa. 43:25. How many times within the last few years I have heard that quoted with the statement that it proves that our sins have been blotted out. When Christ covers our iniquities with his own blood, he pledges himself that those sins will be taken away; and if we prove faithful, they all will be taken away; but they are not blotted out yet. Here is the text: “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” Notice the next verse: “Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.” What! put God in remembrance! How could we put him in remembrance if we did not know anything about the heavenly sanctuary? Did we not show you that every soul that will be saved in the time of the end will understand something about the sanctuary question, and that not a wicked person will understand? What does it say here?—“Put me in remembrance.” Then we shall understand about that blotting out, that it takes place in the heavenly courts; and in view of the blotting out, we shall confess our sins, we shall examine our hearts more thoroughly than we have ever examined them before. We shall seek God that he may discover to us our sins, that we may confess those sins, and ask him to blot them out. Then what?—“Declare thou.” Declare what?—When we confess our sins, it is our privilege to believe that God forgives our sins. And when Satan comes to your heart and tries to make you believe that God has not forgiven your sins, it is your privilege to declare that God has forgiven them. But tell me how you can do that if you do not know anything about the blotting out. If your faith is not revived in the sanctuary question and in the work of our High Priest, and if you do not get an experience out of it, I fear you will never go through. We must have an experience in this work of our High Priest. How is it that you have the school buildings erected here? Why is it that you have representatives from different parts of the world at this meeting? Why is the work going in every part of the world to-day, and especially in Russia and in the countries where every plan is laid to intercept the work of God, and God’s providence is so manifestly over it? Why do you hear, in the reports that come from Africa, India, and from China and different parts of the world, of the conversion of souls to-day, to present truth? It is because of the experience that comes to us from a belief in the most holy place in that heavenly sanctuary. You take that out of it, and you have no business to be a separate people. If there is not a transforming power in a belief in Christ’s work in the heavenly sanctuary, our entire position is wrong. “Well,” says one, “I do not see it.” Did you see it in the type? Now think a moment. When they brought the lamb, laid their hands on its head and confessed their sins, and the lamb was slain, and the priest took the blood and went in to the sanctuary, did anybody see the priest? Did they see what the priest did with that blood?—No one ever saw it. He went in, and the veil shut him from their view. But the sinner believed that the priest was presenting the blood before God, and sprinkling it upon the altar of incense. On the tenth day of the month when they brought those two goats, and the blood was carried into the most holy place, who saw the priest offer it before the Lord?—No one. It was a work of faith, and faith grasped the fact that the priest had made an atonement for them. They might have confessed their sins and brought a lamb three hundred and sixty-four days, but if they had neglected the work of the atonement, the tenth day of the seventh month, they would have been cut off. You may have had a good experience in the past, but unless you have an experience in the work of the High Priest in the most holy place, it will not stand the test in the shaking time. Put wheat in the sieve and shake it; no two kernels will stick together. They will all be shaken apart, but the wheat will remain in the sieve. It is high time we have an individual experience in the things of God. We need the baptism of the Holy Spirit that we may be able to stand in the coming storm. I read the following from “Early Writings”: “Now is the time to lay up treasure in heaven, and to set our hearts in order, ready for the time of trouble. Those only who have clean hands and pure hearts will stand in that trying time. Now is the time for the law of God to be in our minds, foreheads, and written in our hearts. The Lord has shown me the danger of letting our minds be filled with worldly thoughts and cares. . . . Time has continued a few years longer than we expected, therefore they think it may continue a few years more, and in this way their minds11 are being led from present truth. In all these things I saw great danger. . . . I saw that many were neglecting the preparation so needful, and were looking to the time of ‘refreshing’ and the ‘latter rain’ to fit them to stand in the day of the Lord, and to live in his sight. O, how many I saw in the time of trouble without a shelter! they had neglected the needful preparation, therefore they could not receive the refreshing that all must have to fit them to live in the sight of a holy God. Those who refuse to be hewed by the prophets, and fail to purify their souls in obeying the whole truth, and who are willing to believe that their condition is better than it really is, will come up to the time of the falling of the plagues, and then see that they need to be hewed and squared for the building. But there will be no time then to do it, and no Mediator to plead their cause before the Father. Before this time, the awful, solemn declaration has gone forth, ‘He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; . . . and he that is holy let him be holy still.’ I saw that none could share the refreshing unless they obtained the victory over every besetment, over pride, selfishness, love of the world, and over every wrong word and action. We should, therefore, be drawing nearer and nearer to the Lord, and be earnestly seeking that preparation necessary to enable us to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord. Let all remember that God is holy, and that none but holy beings can ever dwell in his presence.” There is a work for us to do when our High Priest is in the heavenly sanctuary, right at the present time. If there was ever a time when there should be a careful searching of hearts, it is now. Have you temptations that every now and then get the better of you? In the strength of God, master them. We need the baptism of the Holy Spirit to come upon us in our work. The devil has his eye on the persons, at the present time, that have not had an experience in the early work of the former messages, because they do not know what an experience the people of God had in the early times. We should come so near to God that he can speak to us, by his Holy Spirit. If there is anything that would lead us to search our hearts, it is faith in the work of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary. You may pass along, day after day, week after week, and hide your sins, but God will have a people that will unearth every wrong, and confess their sins, so that he may forgive them, and they will be blotted out. Shall you and I be prepared to be saved? God grant that this company may be among that number. Do you think it will make men sell their farms? It did in 1844. In the old Signs Office in Boston, Mass., I was told by the editor of the old Advent Signs, that on that counter men brought thousands and thousands of dollars just before the tenth day of the seventh month, and with tears begged them to take it; but they had enough to publish all they wished until the tenth day of the seventh month. May God forbid that that shall be the experience of a single individual in the audience to-night. Let us begin at once to examine our hearts, and see if our case is clear before God. May the Lord add his blessing and save us in his kingdom for his name’s sake.