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Review and Herald, Vol. 92, No. 43.

Abide With Me

Review and Herald

Sep 2, 1915

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 2, 1915

Abide With Me

By Pearl Brunzen James

Abide with me, for life has just begun, Not many years have round their cycle run; Riding the main, hid shoals I cannot see, But Thou who guidest, oh, abide with me. Stay by my side, youth would go on its way, Storms not molesting, nor the rocks that lay Athwart the pathway of life's troublous sea. Pilot, who faileth not, abide with me.
Abide with me when life's meridian sun Beams e'er so kindly on a trophy won— Won from the sins which crowd on life's wide sea, Help of my helpless craft, abide with me. This human bark has been so tempest tossed, Only for Thee it never would have crossed Over the angry, foam-lashed, fevered sea; Wilt Thou the rest of life abide with me.
Abide with me when life's sun westward wanes, When I shall sleep from sorrow's cares and pains. Thou who art Master Mariner of the sea, Be still my helper, and abide with me. When faints my step, my hoary head is low, When on the way where threescore winters go, When in death's valley my aged form shall be, Help of the ages, oh, abide with me.
— Pearl Brunzen James.

Note and Comment

Spiritual Declension

VIEWING with deep concern the attacks which are being made upon the Christian faith and the elements of disintegration which are gaining influence in his own church, V. W. Wallace in the Christian Standard for May 29, makes the following call for a halt:—
Can you not understand that by forsaking the old paths you are driving a wedge through the body of your brethren, and robbing us of the only reason for our existence as a separate religious body? Out of the throes and convulsions of religious strife and dissension, we, as a people, were born, with a peculiar vision in our minds, a peculiar longing in our hearts, a peculiar plea upon our lips,—the plea for the restoration of apostolic Christianity, in the unity of God's people upon the Bible, and the Bible alone. Brethren, what are you seeking for, or what are you trying to do? Has that plea proved insufficient?
In concluding his appeal he draws the following comparison relative to the changes which may occur in the methods and plans of the church and the unchanging character of the gospel which has been committed to the church militant.
The church changes; the church grows. It is not complete and will not be completed until the last sermon is preached and the last tongue has confessed that Jesus is the Christ. The policy of the church changes to meet changing conditions. Its methods change, and are becoming, I trust, more effective. Its organization is being perfected as the years go by. But the message of the church never changes. As long as the world stands, its ministry must speak the same things. “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away.” The “Word,” together with its great Author, is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Let all men be liars, and God be true. Let us take heed to ourselves, for he is coming to take “vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ;” for, said Jesus, “The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”
A recent number of the Congregationalist publishes these views regarding religious work in the State universities of the United States:—
“In the majority of State institutions the chapel service has been declining in influence as a religious force during the last few years. Sixteen have no chapel, and fourteen have one chapel assembly each week. The timidity of the average faculty in dealing with religious questions in public is largely due to uncertainty as to what is the prevailing sentiment of the State. Little or no advance has been made in the instruction given by the State in Biblical subjects. Of fifty-one State universities examined, twenty-five offer no such courses. Four have departments for teaching the Biblical languages and literature, but in none of them are there as many as one hundred enrolled in the classes.
The remaining twenty-two offer courses in some Biblical subject taught in another department.”

“An American Prophetess”

UNDER the above heading the New York Independent of August 23 has an editorial of considerable length concerning the work of Mrs. E. G. White. Though the article contains a number of inaccuracies, it has a spirit of fairness. We quote the major portion:—
It is the distinction of our days that the American church has enjoyed the teachings of two prophetesses. The first century of our colonial history gave us Ann Hutchinson. In old times prophets were stoned, and Massachusetts banished her first prophetess to Rhode Island, and from thence she wandered to the Dutch colony on the Hudson and was killed by the Indians near Hell Gate. Our two later prophetesses, Mrs. Eddy, founder of the Christian Science Church, and Mrs. Ellen G. White, leader and teacher of the Seventh-day Adventists, lived and died in comfort and honor, surrounded by their admiring followers. Many of Mrs. Eddy’s disciples believed she would never die, and Mrs. White hoped to be one of those who would be taken up alive to meet the Lord in the air. But the Lord delayed his coming, and she entered into rest, just as others do, at the age of eighty-eight, and her burial took place a few days ago at the Adventist headquarters at Battle Creek, Mich. Her husband, Elder James White, shared with her the honor of founding the Seventh-day Adventist Church, but she was its one prophetess. . . . Of course, these teachings [of the founders of the denomination] were based on the strictest doctrine of inspiration of the Scriptures. Seventh-day Adventism could be got in no other way. And the gift of prophecy was to be expected as promised to the “remnant church,” who had held fast to the truth. This faith gave great purity of life and incessant zeal. No body of Christians excels them in moral character and religious earnestness. Their work began in 1853, in Battle Creek, and it has grown until now they have thirty-seven publishing houses throughout the world, with literature in eighty different languages, and an annual output of $2,000,000. They have now seventy colleges and academies, and about forty sanitariums; and in all this Ellen G. White has been the inspiration and guide. Here is a noble record, and she deserves great honor.
Did she really receive divine visions, and was she really chosen by the Holy Spirit to be endued with the charism of prophecy? Or was she the victim of an excited imagination? Why should we answer? One’s doctrine of the Bible may affect the conclusion. At any rate she was absolutely honest in her belief in her revelations. Her life was worthy of them. She showed no spiritual pride and she sought no filthy lucre. She lived the life and did the work of a worthy prophetess, the most admirable of the American succession.
Thus even a great worldly journal recognizes the tremendous influence which the spirit of prophecy has had in leading and molding and unifying the work of this denomination.

“A Mad World”

The Washington Post of recent date contains an editorial under the above heading, which, after showing the futility of any efforts at mediation between the warring nations at the present time, makes the following striking comments on present world conditions:—
For the moment it is worse than useless to talk of causes and origins, of righteousness or blameworthiness. Each is convinced that it is right and that all the opposing groups are wrong. Which in no wise militates against the conception of a mad world, seeing that the insane individual is always assured that he is the one sane person in a universe of madmen.
That the conditions will become worse before they become better is scarcely a prophecy. The spectacle of the smaller nations straining the leash, anxious to precipitate themselves into the all but universal European turmoil, tells its own story. Not one but that sees its 'day' ahead and stands more than willing and ready to pay the price.
If the ravages of the plague could be stopped by sentimental fiat, widespread epidemics would soon be checked. Wise doctors know that these must run their course, although their own good offices are ever present and operative. So must it be with the St. Vitus's dance of the nations.

EDITORIALS

By F. M. W.

Trials and Their Uses

ONE has said that he who has never known trial has never really come to know God. We believe that this is true. Trials have their uses in the development of Christian character. As by sunshine and shadow, storm and quiet, vegetable growth is developed, strengthened, and solidified, so it is in the spiritual world. The stalwart oak becomes strong and mighty through resistance of the blast. Its anchor roots strike the more deeply into the earth. Its cell structure becomes strong and stable. Trial makes the Christian strong, teaches him his own weakness, and drives him to the source of all strength for succor and help. It eliminates from his character the dross of sin, and develops in its stead the graces of the Spirit.
The apostle Paul declares, “We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience.” And the apostle Peter, in speaking of the temptations which come to the believers, says: “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”
In his beautiful discourse to the disciples, just preceding his betrayal, the Lord likens Christian believers to the branches of the vine. Just the same as the husbandman finds it necessary to prune the branches, sometimes cutting them back and relieving them of superfluous growth in order that they may bear fruit, so the heavenly Husbandman finds it necessary to prune and purge the branches of the spiritual vine. He declares, “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”
Upon this scripture the servant of the Lord, in the Review and Herald for Nov. 2, 1897, makes the following helpful comment:—
Even fruitful branches may display too much foliage, and appear what they really are not. The followers of Christ may be doing some work for the Master, and yet be doing not half what they might do. He then prunes them, because worldliness, self-indulgence, and pride are cropping out in their lives. The husbandmen clip off the surplus tendrils of the vines, thus making them more fruitful. The overgrowth must be cut away, to give room for the healing beams of the Sun of Righteousness.
Have we suffered disappointment in life, loss of property, bereavement through death? Have we wondered why it was that God permitted these things to come into our life? Have we thought him cold and unsympathetic to our pleading prayers for deliverance? Have we been asked to drink the bitter cup to its very dregs, and has its bitterness driven the sweetness out of our lives and the peace out of our hearts and left us broken and bitter in spirit? Oh, if we could but realize that these trials are the pruning knives, and see that, although the pruning process seems so painful at the time, submission on our part will bring blessed results, and that we shall glorify God through eternity for what the ministry of suffering wrought for us. We quote again from the pen of Sister White:—
The heavenly Husbandman, in order to promote the fruitfulness of the branches, comes with the pruning knife of disappointment, loss, or bereavement, and cuts away the hindering growth. . . .
Our sorrows do not spring out of the ground. In every affliction God has a purpose to work out for our good. Every blow that destroys an idol, every providence that weakens our hold upon earth and fastens our affections more firmly upon God, is a blessing. The pruning may be painful for a time, but afterwards it “yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness.” We should receive with gratitude whatever will quicken the conscience, elevate the thoughts, and ennoble the life. The fruitless branches are cut off and cast into the fire. Let us be thankful that through painful pruning, we may retain a connection with the living Vine; for if we suffer with Christ we shall also reign with him. The very trial that taxes our faith the most severely and makes it seem as though God had forsaken us, is to lead us more closely to him, that we may lay all our burdens at the feet of Christ, and experience the peace which he will give us in exchange.—Review and Herald, April 10, 1894.
The purpose of trial is expressed by a striking figure in the writings of the prophet Malachi. He likens the pruning process to a furnace. Of the work which God will do for his children he declares:
“And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years.” The old-time refiner of gold and silver sat over the furnace watching the work of the fire upon the molten metal. When the dross was so purged away that he could behold in the liquid before him a perfect reflection of his own image, he knew that the work was complete. By this figure God represents the purifying process which he seeks to carry on in our lives. When he can look into our characters and see there a reflection of his own divine image, “then,” as stated by the prophet, “shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord.” God knows that his grace has not been received in vain. Let us not rebel against the One who in infinite wisdom is seeking to do for us this pruning, purging, and purifying work.
This is the primary use of trial, but it has a secondary use in Christian experience. It is by the trial, and by the comfort which we obtain in trial; that we are enabled to become the ministers of God’s grace to those who are in need. For this fitting and service the apostle Paul blessed God in these words: “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” 2 Cor. 1: 3, 4. How difficult it is to minister comfort to others which we ourselves have never shared; to enter into the feelings perchance of one who has lost a dear friend or a near relative, when we have never known the touch of such sorrow in our own lives. It is by personal suffering that we are brought into touch with the suffering of our fellows. Through such experiences we come to realize that our sorrow is not the only sorrow, but that there is a brotherhood of sorrow and suffering among our fellows.
Many seek selfish relief from the trials which God permits. They seek to run from them, to avoid them, to turn them upon others. This is not in God’s order. He has promised us a way of escape from trial and temptation. He says: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Cor. 10: 13.
When we look at life as God’s great training school, the wear and grind and the stress and storm of life’s experiences as the process by which we are fitted to become partakers of the heavenly reward, the bitter drafts of life will become sweetened; we shall learn to rejoice in tribulation, knowing that tribulation worketh patience. We shall learn how to rejoice in the Lord alway in possession of that peace which passeth all understanding. Seeing the wisdom of God’s way, remembering constantly his infinite love for his children, we shall rejoice in the ministry of trial and suffering which the divine purpose imposes upon us.
F. M. W.

Christian Unionism

By C. M. S.

God designs that there shall be no wall of separation between him and his children. Something does come between now. God says that our sins have separated between us and him, and it is they that have hid his face from us. But he has made ample preparation for the complete removal of that hindering veil, so that we may be entirely at one with him again.
The union that God proposes to make between us and himself is the closest possible. It is fittingly set forth in the illustration of the vine and the branches.
“I in them, and thou in me,” was the prayer of Jesus for his disciples. That union with the Father made Jesus all-powerful for good; and Christ’s prayer fulfilled in his disciples will make them also a resistless power in the work of God.
In union there is strength. In the right kind of union there is increased power for good; in the wrong kind of union there is increased power for mischief. It is worth while to know whether we are working with the one or being worked by the other. The ideal union is the one in which the Leader is working for the good of all, and every member is working for the good of all men, and consequently for the glory of that Leader. That is the perfect union — One working for all, and all working for that One, and for all others. That union is not of human origin. It is Christianity. That is the union which Jesus Christ came into the world to institute among men for their eternal good and for the glory of God. In the true Christian union there is an eternal principle which the mind of the worldly man cannot comprehend. He clings to, and works for, self and its interests; gains his ends by himself if he can, or else by confederacies with others against those who oppose; but in true Christian union there must be the surrender of self and selfishness. In such a move the worldly man sees only ruin; but in it the Christian finds eternal gain, everlasting riches.
The union which Christ taught is comprehended in the one word, love. Humanity had severed the cord that should have held it to the heart of the universe, and infinite love came down to join again the broken band. God was holding it forth to a world turning its back upon him, and he holds it forth still. There is infinite harmony in that union. Christ declares: “I and my Father are one;” and again: “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us.” “All mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.” In that union with God through Christ, there is no bitterness, no oppression, no envy, no malice toward any.
In the illustration which our Saviour uses, the vine and the branches, we learn this lesson: Separated from him, the life channel is sundered, the branch withers, the fruit decays, and the keeper of the vineyard finds nothing but food for the flames where there might have been glorious fruit. In that illustration is the story of the gospel work and its results. There are the two classes: one in union with God, bearing fruit to his glory; one cut off from that union, withering into itself and perishing.
The union of man’s designing is for a fragment of time, and the birthright of eternity is sold for its “mess of pottage.” It struggles for self, fights for self, exalts self to be its god, and lies down finally in the ashes of its idol to wake no more forever. How insignificant, how worthless, how transient, are the fruits of such unions! In the working out, class is arrayed against class, company against company, hatred against avarice, man against man — to force the coffers of other men; and when it is worked out, all that might have been is lost, and the full coffers of eternity are bolted and barred against them. It is not worth it.
How much better — infinitely better — is that union which Christ is instituting among men! Running all through it are the golden threads of love; and hatred, and strife, and accusation have no place. Selfishness is sacrificed; but in its place we have all working for the good of each, and the hearts and interests of all twined and intertwined and woven into one harmonious web of love and peace, stretching out in undimmed and unending beauty as long as the universe holds and God lives. Works of love and mercy here, and all the blessings and riches of eternal life when Christ shall come — that is the union for which the Christian will work and plead. That is Christian unionism.
C. M. S.

Signs of the Approaching End

By W. A. S.

Part 6. General World Conditions and Movements

(Concluded)

3. Signs in the Industrial World

THE industrial question today adds its contribution to the “distress of nations, with perplexity.” Through the word of prophecy, the Lord long ago foretold these conditions, with a warning to the careless rich, and a warning to the laborer and the poor not to be drawn into strife and contention for the things of this world while the Judge is at the door. The prophecy, it will be seen, refers specifically to latter-day conditions:—
“Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the Judge standeth before the door.” James 5: 1-9.
There is no need to argue that the issues with which the prophecy deals are issues that now press upon the world with ever-increasing perplexity. We quote but two statements by men not engaged in agitation, but calmly and thoughtfully setting down the signs of the times.
The late Lord Avebury (Sir John Lubbock) wrote a few years ago in the Review of Internationalism:—
The religion of Europe is not Christianity, but the worship of the god of war. . . . Unless something is done, the condition of the poor in Europe will grow worse and worse. It is no use shutting our eyes. Revolution may not come soon, not probably in our time, but come it will, and as sure as fate there will be an explosion such as the world has never seen.
Of the rapid growth of discontent and its propaganda of protest, Mr. Frederick Townsend Martin, of New York, wrote:—
Fifty years ago there was scarcely a voice of protest; indeed, there was hardly anything to protest against. Twenty-five years ago the protest was clear and distinct, and we understood it. Ten years ago the protest found expression in a dozen weekly publications; but today the protest is circulated not by hundreds or thousands of printed copies of books, pamphlets, magazines, and newspapers, but actually by the million.
This propaganda of protest has its daily papers that are distinctive and published for that purpose, and that purpose only. It has its magazines and tens of thousands of weekly papers. Only a fool sneers at such a volume of publicity as that. . . .
The warnings that hundreds of us are uttering may be ignored. The squandering may go on, the vulgar bacchanalia may be prolonged, the poor may have to writhe under the iron heel of the iron lord—the dance of death may go on until society’s E string snaps, and then the Vesuvius of the under-world will belch forth its lava of death and destruction.—Hearst’s Magazine, September, 1913.
Thus hearts grow faint “for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.” But while increasing “distress of nations, with perplexity” abounds, the Lord sends the steadying, assuring message that soon Christ will come to end the reign of sin and strife. He would have his children keep the gospel light glowing and wait patiently for him.

4. The Great Missionary Movement

This is in itself a joyful sign of the approaching end. It is a bright signal of hope in a suffering world. The Saviour’s prophecy of the signs of his second coming places this work of world evangelization as the culminating sign. He said:—
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matt. 24: 14.
Before the end, the light of the gospel was to shine into every dark corner of the earth. True to the sure word of prophecy, when the latter days began, the time of the end, there sprang up the great movement of modern missions which has been one of the leading characteristics of the last century. Here are a few facts showing the missionary developments of the century:—
In 1800 the foreign missionary societies numbered seven. In 1900 they numbered over 500.
In 1800 the income of seven societies amounted to about $50,000. In 1900 the income was over $15,000,000.
In 1800 the number of native communicants enrolled in Protestant mission churches was 7,000. In 1900 there were 1,500,000 native communicants.
In 1800 the adherents of Protestant churches in heathen lands were estimated at 15,000. In 1900 they numbered 3,500,000.
In 1800 only one fifth of the human family had the Bible in languages they could read. In 1900 nine tenths of the people of the world had the Word of God in languages and dialects known to them.
Since 1900 the missionary movement has remarkably increased in extent and activity. It is estimated that now there are about 22,000 foreign missionaries in the fields, with many thousands of trained native evangelists and helpers. The prophecy is fulfilling before our eyes. It is not the conversion of the world that Christ’s words foretold, but the evangelization of the world; and when all the world has heard the gospel of the kingdom, “then shall the end come.”
Another prophecy—that of Rev. 14: 6-14—shows that the closing phase of this world-wide missionary movement was to be the proclamation of the special gospel message of preparation for the coming of the Lord, calling all men to worship God and keep his commandments, and warning all against following the traditions of men that make void the Word of God. With the coming of this generation, there has come just such a message—in the rise and progress of the advent movement—the burden of the message being expressed in the very language of the prophecy. And the movement is spreading rapidly “to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.” Thus in vision the prophet on Patmos heard the message given; and when its warning cry had reached all men, he saw Christ coming in the clouds of heaven to reap the harvest of the earth.

“Even at the Doors”

Of the beginning of the special signs of the last days, Christ said:—
“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21: 28.
But of the time when the signs should all be seen fulfilled or in process of fulfilling, the Saviour said:—
“Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” Matt. 24: 32-35.
In this generation we see these things. All about us the signs have appeared. We know, then, by the word that shall not pass away, that the generation at last has come that is to see the Saviour coming in power and great glory. “Of that day and hour knoweth no man,” but we are to know that it is near, “even at the doors”—the day for which the saints of God have hoped through all the ages.
“Swift on the wings of time it flies; Each moment brings it near; Then welcome each declining day, Welcome each closing year. “Ye wheels of nature, speed your course! Ye mortal powers, decay! Haste! till the last glad morning rise That brings eternal day.”
W. A. S.

The Spirit in the Wheels

By F. M. W.

THE prophet Ezekiel was given a vision of a wonderful divine mechanism. There were wheels within wheels, all moving in perfect order. Every description of the operation of this wonderful living machine concludes with the statement, “For the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.” This was the motive power. This must be the motive power of all organizations if they would prove effective in Christian service. We may have perfectly organized conferences and churches and auxiliary organizations. These organizations may meet and discuss plans and pass resolutions, but all this will prove to be fruitless effort if the spirit of the living creature is not found within the wheels to operate and control.
Speaking of the need of the Spirit of God in organization, the Christian Standard of August 14 makes the following truthful and pertinent observation:—
The power of the Spirit is retained by the continuation of prayer and study of the Bible. Life produces organization, but organization cannot produce life. The church can organize and harness up auxiliaries, but they never can take the place of the Holy Spirit. Any auxiliary in the church that is the result of life will be a success as long as you have life to keep them alive; and all forms without life are nothing but brakes on the church, and we would be better off without them. Strive to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, and then the promise will be yours.
Let us heed this lesson, and recognize at all times the source of our power in the work of God. When we meet together to devise methods of work and to lay plans for its prosecution; when we meet in the business sessions of our conferences, and in all the board and committee meetings of our institutions, how necessary that we seek for the wisdom and power that come only through the work of the Holy Spirit! Sometimes, we hope not often, we have known committee meetings to be held without prayer. Let us make God our partner in all of our planning. Let us seek him for wisdom. Better to spend more time in prayer and less time in the discussion of resolutions. Our great need today is more prayer, more of the Holy Spirit’s power in our personal work, and in our denominational activities. Then will we see more fruit of our labor.
F. M. W.

The Burden Bearer

By WORTHIE HARRIS HOLDEN

WORTHIE HARRIS HOLDEN
BEARER of the grief of ages, Weighing heartaches and their woe, Read we in prophetic pages How thou didst our sorrows know:
Homeless, though the Lord of heaven; All forsaken by thy friends; Bearing stripes for our sins given, And the scars thy vision lends.
Son of God and still our Brother, Through earth's strife thy calm sustain; For thy solace that no other Giveth, wreathes with smiles our pain.
That thy might imbue each life deed, Help us roll away the stone, Resurrect from direst soul need Lives that will thy power make known.

H. A. ST. JOHN

By H. A. ST. JOHN

Seven Great Triumphs — No. 1

H. A. ST. JOHN

1. A Triumphant Life

SEVEN, the perfect number, how often we meet with it in the Scriptures. It is in that Holy Word that we learn about seven great successive triumphs. Each of these is for mortal, human beings on probation, and in each of these man is wholly dependent upon divine aid; but this is fully and freely proffered to all men. God has freely and surely given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness. Abundant grace and strength are made easily accessible to all. If man fails to gain these seven wonderful triumphs, he alone is to blame.
The first is a triumphant, holy life. In his great love and mercy God has made ample provision, through Christ, for its beginning, its progress, and final success. Jesus himself took upon him our mortal, dying nature, and encountered all the obstacles and enemies of man. He saw the race unto the end, having more and severer conflicts than any man ever had, and finished a perfect, beautiful, and triumphant life. He was tempted in all points like as we are, only with an intenser bitterness. In every conflict he was victorious. Yet he tells us that of himself he could do nothing. His Father, the holy angels, and the Holy Spirit were his constant helpers, and thus he overcame. We do well to ever remember that we have the same divine helpers. We, too, may be obedient unto death. And as Jesus overcame, so we may overcome, and have a triumphant probationary life.
When Jesus was tempted, he ever found the way of escape; when he was reviled, he reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not. In this way, in all things he was victorious, leaving us a perfect example of how we may walk in his footsteps; and in this way, like Jesus, we may finish the work he has given us to do, and end our mortal lives triumphantly.
Dear reader, gird on the whole armor of God. Set your face as a flint Zionward. Fight the good fight of faith, in Christ, until your course is finished. Then the righteous Judge will account you worthy of the first great triumph, a triumphant life; and the other six are sure to follow.
Sanitarium, Cal.

This Is the Time of the Latter Rain; Have You Prepared the Way?

By I. A. Crane

I. A. CRANE
The perils of the last days are upon us. The nations are angry, and the wrath of God will soon be poured out. The great Ruler of the universe is withdrawing his Spirit from the guilty inhabitants of earth who reject his message of mercy. They will be allowed to reap the fearful reward of wrongdoing. War, famine, and pestilence increase on every hand. But terrible as these already seem to be, the student of God’s Word knows well that this is only the beginning of what must come. For “destruction upon destruction is cried.”
Urged on by demons, the armies of the maddened nations will overrun and spoil the whole land. Men will suffer in blood and agony, while women and children perish, homeless, famine-stricken, and in despair. Little do the inhabitants of earth realize now the fearful doom awaiting them.
Can there be a Seventh-day Adventist whose heart is not filled with longing to see the last message go with the promised power, that God may bring to an end this awful struggle? In these days of war and trouble does not your soul long for the coming of the Prince of Peace?
Yet how powerless are the people of God to do so great a work in so short a time! We stagger at the magnitude of the work which must be done. Shall we not all heartily repent of having allowed the years of peace to go by with so little accomplished? Now the whole world cries out in its last agony of despair for God’s last message to them. Shall they hear it? Its proclamation depends upon the church. Never, never, can we clear ourselves if we neglect to do our part now. My brethren, if you are not moved to action now in this hour of the world’s distress, nothing can atone for your sinful neglect. The church as well as the world is on trial,—the church to give the message, and the world to receive it. It is a life-and-death question with all. The crying need of the world is the loud cry of the message. No tame proclamation will meet the need of the hour. Nothing short of the loud cry will be heard above the din of war and the confusion of Babylon.
Why has not the message gone with the power which was foretold and which the times demand? Are the people of God asleep? “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand.” How shameful it is to find strife and contention in our church at such a time as this! What a pity that whole churches should be stirred over paltry affairs of which the immediate parties themselves should be ashamed!
Nothing can save the church and help the church to save the lost, but the latter rain, the refreshing from the presence of the Lord. Years ago we were told that the Spirit awaited our demand and reception. Later it was said, “Already many are receiving the Holy Spirit, and the way will no longer be blocked by listless indifference.” Can it be that I have blocked the way for the outpouring of the latter rain, and thus have hindered the progress of the work? Are we all guilty? The very thought of such sinful neglect ought to lead every one of us to most humble heart searching. This is evidently what is meant by Joel’s word, “Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly.” The whole church is called to fasting and mourning.
The Holy Spirit is promised to all who ask. Luke 11: 9-13. But you may say, “I have asked time and again, but do not receive.” Have you felt under condemnation for sin? Has there come into your heart a longing to live a better life? If so, the Spirit did come, but you did not receive him. Remember, dear reader, that the Spirit comes to all who ask, but he abides only with those who prepare him room. He fills only those who give him full possession. When he condemned you for some sin, did you put away the thing that grieved him? When he created in you a soul hunger for righteousness, did you seek that gift that you might be fitly adorned for such a holy Guest? “Oh,” you say, “I am so sinful I never can overcome my faults! I have tried so often, only to fail.” But wait! You surely do not expect the Holy Spirit to abide in a place given up to sin and uncleanness, do you? And you surely know that your eternal destiny depends on your being cleansed. Then you must gain the victory over your sins. All depends on this. Can you afford to fail? Listen! The whole gospel story is bound up in the words, “He shall save his people from their sins.”
If you are not saved, it must be one of three things that has hindered it: He is not able to save you, or he is not willing, or you are not willing. Which of the three is it? Is not Christ, to whom is given all power in heaven and in earth, who cleansed the leper and saved the demoniac, able to save you from your sins? He is abundantly able. Think of his mighty works. Let your faith grasp his almighty power. Do you think he is not willing to save you? Remember the price he paid to redeem the lost. Think of the scoffs and jeers, the agony and death, he endured for you. Do you think now he will refuse what he was willing to purchase at so great a cost? Though your sins be as scarlet, he will yet receive you and wash you white as snow. Then verily he is both able and willing. All now depends on your submission to him. Do you want to be saved enough to sacrifice everything? If so, wait not a moment. Sever yourself from everything that hinders. Place and keep yourself fully under his control. He has promised, and he will save you fully from your sins. This prepares you for the fullness of the Spirit. The world needs to hear the story which you will then be able to tell. The loud cry of the message will be given by those who have in this way obtained the victory. When this living testimony is revived and borne to the world, without doubt the gospel work will be finished.
Waurika, Okla.
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