Review and Herald, Vol. 47, No. 7.
SYSTEMATIC BENEVOLENCE, OR THE BIBLE PLAN OF SUPPORTING THE MINISTRYPage 1
Earlier text: SYSTEMATIC BENEVOLENCE, OR THE BIBLE PLAN OF SUPPORTING THE MINISTRYTHE SABBATH QUESTION IN BOSTON.
[Bro. C. K. Drury sends us the following from the Boston Daily Journal for the Review.] The weekly meeting of the Baptist ministers was held in the vestry of Tremont Temple yesterday at 10 o'clock, Rev. J. C. Foster, of Randolph, in the chair. After prayer and singing, Dr. Gardner, secretary of the Baptist Missionary Union, opened the discussion of the morning upon the subject of the Sabbath. He said he looked upon the Sabbath as a sort of physical gospel, and of the greatest importance in the Christian economy. He thought there might be a wrong choice of arguments in defending the observance of the day. If there were any arguments which resulted badly for the day, he thought they ought to be re-examined. The Christian Sabbath grew up. The question was, How did it grow? from an old root or from a new seed planted at the birth of our dispensation? He believed in the former most decidedly, and that there was an old Sabbatical law older than the Jewish dispensation, from which both that and the Christian Sabbath were derived. As a proof of this, he referred to the constant allusions to a Sabbath and a week as a division of time in the patriarchal ages. The Sabbatic law received a special annunciation for the world on Sinai. It was not then instituted, but only re-enunciated. He had heard that it had been said there that the fourth commandment had been abrogated. He asked where was the man who had authority to say that a word of God, written by his finger on stone, had been abrogated. For his part, he believed the decalogue to be not a part of the ceremonial, but the moral, law, meant not for Jews, but for all time. The fact that God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it at the time of creation was, to the speaker's mind, an evidence of the intended perpetuity of the law. The ten commands of the decalogue were written on stone, and that was still another evidence that they were meant to last. The ceremonial law was given in a different way. The moral law is referred to in the New Testament as the “lively oracles of God,” and in many other terms. It is nowhere abrogated. Christ himself said, “The Sabbath is made for man,” not for the Jews, but for every man. He did not know how it struck others, but for one he could not find in the example of the apostles a sufficient foundation for the Sabbath. He must go back to the old Sabbatical law of the Old Testament to find his primary reason for a belief in the day. Having that, the allusions to the day in the New Testament become important, though without the former, the latter are insufficient to make a reason for the day. Rev. Mr. Nott, of Wakefield, said he could not conceive why God should have recorded the Genesical institution of the Sabbath had not he meant it as an eternal law. He considered Dr. Gardner's position as to its perpetuity as a part of the moral law of the decalogue to be impregnable. Paul speaks frequently of a moral law, evidently referring to the decalogue, which he thus admits to be perpetual. But some say the fourth commandment is an exception, belongs to the ceremonial, not the moral, law. He felt such a position to be absurd. The decalogue stands or falls together. Rev. Mr. Richardson, of Medford, thought that the work of Jesus in regard to the Sabbath was to purify it from Judaism, which he defined as a corruption of the Mosaic law. It was a pure assumption to consider the Sabbath as a Jewish ordinance. He felt that the ground for the Sabbath was in the fact that God “rested,” not in the day itself. Dr. Hovey, of the Newton Theological Seminary, who had written a careful argument upon the subject, was invited to read it before the Conference, and will do so next week. Rev. H. C. Townley asked Dr. Gardner how he accounted for the change from the seventh to the first day of the week. Dr. Gardner responded that the change came in as a part of the change in the dispensations, necessarily. Rev. Mr. Burnham referred to the statement in Romans that the law against coveting was done away for Christians who are now under another law. Yet that was a part of the moral law, which it had been claimed could not be abrogated. There were a good many moral laws scattered through the ceremonial, and there were some moral principles which were not in the decalogue. He thought the true ground for defending the Sabbath was that Christ did not negative it, but positively enunciated it when he said, “The Sabbath was made for man.” Prof. Gould, of Newton, said that he had never been able to find from any one any moral principle involved in the observance of the Sabbath. He did not believe that any such command would be found written on the heart of any one who had not seen or heard it first written or spoken. He did not believe God would judge a heathen who never heard of the decalogue for not observing the Sabbath, because the pagan could not be expected to know of the Sabbatic law, while he could be expected to know the moral law and be held responsible under it. Several other speakers briefly discussed the question till half past eleven, when the meeting adjourned after prayer by Rev. Mr. Safford of Farmingham. IN THE LAST DAYS.
By M. Wood
“This know also, that in the last days, perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away.” 2 Tim. 3:1–5. We are taught that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable. Therefore the scripture above quoted is not without its significance; it is for our instruction, admonition, and warning. And when we see the things come to pass which are recorded by the inspired penman, we are to lift up our heads, knowing that our redemption is near. The most skeptical will admit that the times in which we live are the most corrupt of any age during the Christian dispensation. Iniquity abounds, and the love of many waxes cold; for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. And while the world looks to the church for an example of holiness, the church, in too many instances, strive to see how near they can conform to the fashions and follies of the world without losing their identity with the professed people of God. There is too much pleasure-seeking, and too little seeking after God and a revelation of his will. And I know of no place where this is carried to such excess as at the “Hub.” Several weeks ago the daily papers heralded to the world a solemn announcement of a holy convocation of about forty clergymen. At the time appointed, this august assembly met in their house of worship, which had been dedicated to the service of God, there to transact business of an ecclesiastical nature. How much good resulted from this meeting of forty ministers and their respective flocks, we have no account. Whether perishing souls were fed with the bread of life, and that spiritual food was administered which it is the duty of God’s servants to administer, we have never learned. But we do know that days and weeks of precious time were consumed in making preparation for this gathering of God’s professed people. Neither time nor expense was spared to make the affair a grand success. And, to all outward appearance, it was a decided success. But it was not on account of the vast numbers who listened to the eloquent speeches of this combined force of talent, neither was it the solemn prayers nor the heart-searching sermons, to show the congregation their sins, which gave this gathering such notoriety. But it was the grand collation which took place in the house designed for God’s service. It reminded me of Belshazzar’s great feast. The culinary department was furnished with every luxury, the table was spread most sumptuously, and the attendants were drilled for the occasion. When the table was spread, it fairly groaned under the immense weight of roast beef, pork, lamb, mutton, and all kinds of poultry; pastry, tea, coffee, chocolate etc., etc. These church feasts are becoming more numerous as we near the close of time, and are but additional evidences that we are near the close of probation. After speaking of the signs that should precede his second coming and the end of the world, our Lord says, “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.” Luke 21:34. Again, he says, “And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.” Luke 17:26–29. See also Matt. 24:37–39. But how little the word of the Lord is regarded even by those who profess to love and serve him. How many profess to be Christ’s, but in works deny him. Of such, Jesus says, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Matt. 15:8, 9. The words of our divine Lord, in reference to the purpose for which his house should be used, are, “It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” Matt. 21:13; Isa. 56:7; Jer. 7:11; Mark 11:17; Luke 19:41. But a worldly church rides right over the words of inspiration, and runs eagerly after worldly fashions. In this they prove themselves lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. The Bible forbids the love of the world. It declares that “if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15. Speaking of the last days and a fallen church, the prophet says her merchants are the great men of the earth. Rev. 18. Christ says that we cannot serve God and mammon. And James adds, “The friendship of the world is enmity with God.” Jas. 4:4. The Bible everywhere teaches that it is our duty to labor for the salvation of souls. But to be co-workers with Jesus, we must be endowed with his Holy Spirit, and see the necessity of a separation from the world, its spirit, its honors, its pride, and its pleasures. These are not to be sought for by his self-denying people. We are living in a degenerate age, an age of frivolity, of pleasure-seeking, and even of amusements in the house of God—where the desk is used for the auctioneer’s stand, and the portrait of Jesus is sold to the highest bidder. Upon every hand are lottery tables, grab bags, etc., etc. Such practices as these prevail to an alarming extent, and have become so fashionable in our most popular churches that but little or no notice is taken of them. In fact, many claim to have Bible authority for such unholy practices. But if it exists, I think it must be found in the verse following the one which says that Sunday, or the first day of the week, is the Sabbath. In many instances, people appear willingly ignorant. Said the Lord, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Hosea 4:7. It is a question of vast importance to every one desiring the truth to know what the sacred word does teach. Jesus has said, “Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39. By so doing, we may ascertain beyond a doubt whether or not we are going astray, or holding on to any of the traditions of the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth. It cannot reasonably be supposed that the true people of God, at the second coming of Christ, who are to be made immortal, and caught up to meet him in the air, will be following practices of such origin. When probation ceases they will be without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. Christ left a pure church when he ascended to Heaven. He will find one when he returns. The standard of pure doctrine and holy practice has been lowered. The pretensions on which men build themselves a reputation are a sham, and their professions, hypocrisy. They are willing to be deceived, and to deceive others. This is the time spoken of by the prophet when “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” The word of the Lord is, “Sanctify ye a fast [not a feast] call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry unto the Lord.” Joel 1:14. Here is an admonition and an invitation from the Lord, to fast and pray, and to seek God. But what a contrast! Instead of fasting it is feasting; instead of lamentation and prayer and a turning unto the Lord with a broken heart and a tender spirit, many of his professed people have no relish for prayer, nor love for those who seek a constant communion with the Holy Spirit. God’s dear people love prayer. It is a connecting link between Heaven and earth. To pray is to talk with God. When we read his word, God speaks to us. He informs us that the time will come when many will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 2 Tim. 4:3, 4. Where are the faithful men who cry aloud and spare not, and who show God’s people their transgressions? The popular church is sinking lower and lower, conforming more and more to the world. A lamentable case recently came under my observation—that of a Methodist church fair. Immediately over the main entrance of the house of worship, was posted in large letters, “Oysters and Refreshments.” And within, the church and the world were lulled to sleep by the siren song of “peace and safety.” But God has said, “When they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them. . . . and they shall not escape.” 1 Thess. 5:3. At these banquets and fairs the young are educated to prefer every entertainment of folly and sin to walking in wisdom’s ways. Especially are the young ladies indulged in all soul-destroying vanities. They are trained to seek distinction in elegance of form, gaudy attire, or a splendid appearance, and are fond of levity and dissipation. Luxury and the pride of life are indulged in, as the chief object of life. Is it strange that children are blasphemers, disobedient, unthankful, unholy, and without natural affection? These are facts notorious to all. Let us, dear reader, unite in sounding the solemn cry, till the public conscience is awakened to the fact that we are living in the last days, and a necessity exists for coming back to the humble simplicity of the Bible. M. WOOD. Greatness Contributes to Goodness
GREATNESS, far from impairing goodness, does but contribute to its enlargement, as a public fountain is elevated that it may send forth its streams further.—Bossuet. WHITE FOR THE HARVEST.
By Stephen Nelson Haskell
“The fields are all ripening, and far and wide,
The world now is waiting the harvest tide.” “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal; that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.” John 4: 35, 36. When these words were uttered, the Saviour and his disciples were on their way to Galilee from Judea. It was about midday when they arrived at Sychar, a city of Samaria. Sychar, the name of the city, was descriptive of the character of its inhabitants. It signifies earnestness. The Saviour was wearied with his journey, and he sat upon Jacob’s well while his disciples went into the city to buy provisions. In the meantime a Samaritan woman from the city came to draw water. The Saviour asked her for a drink. Now the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans. They would not drink out of the same dish with them, or sit at the same table; they would have no communication with them whatever. The woman, therefore53 was surprised, and asked, “How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.” In the conversation that followed, our Lord’s testimony found a reception in the heart of this woman. She “left her water-pot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did; is not this the Christ? Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.” The disciples returned, and while she was gone they “prayed him, saying, Master, eat.” But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. The Son of man had become so interested in instructing one who would listen to his words that he had lost the sense of weariness and hunger. Personal ease and the wants of nature were lost sight of in the higher pleasure of instructing in the way of life one who had ears to hear. This experience the disciples were wholly unacquainted with. They never had had their interest so absorbed in the work of God as to lose sight of physical and temporal wants. They did not understand his words. Hence they said one to another, “Hath any man brought him aught to eat?” Jesus said unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. He then exhorted them not to reason, saying, “There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest.” Was not the evidence before them that God had prepared hearts for the reception of his truth? Many already believed because of the testimony of the woman. They flocked from the city, to hear the gracious words of Christ. This was unmistakable evidence that the time of the harvest of souls had come, and worldly considerations should be of secondary importance, and the work of God should be more to them than their meat or drink. The time of the harvest could not be postponed, any more than the harvest of grain can be postponed when the heads assume their golden hue, which tells the husbandman that the time has arrived that the grain should be gathered into the garner. The Saviour had come; God had prepared hearts to receive him. They were here in the midst of this wicked and profane city, outside of the Jewish people. Thus they had unmistakable evidence that the time had come to proclaim the message of the first advent of our Lord. This work was of more importance than everything else. Now was the time to turn their attention wholly to it; every other consideration was of minor importance. God makes no mistakes when he prepares the soil of the heart for the reception of the truth. He does it at the right time, and if, at such times, men should refuse to act their part, the stones would cry out. Luke 19. His word would be fulfilled, and as the scribes and Pharisees would not proclaim Christ’s coming, out of the mouth of babes and sucklings God perfected praise, by their “crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David.” Matt. 21: 15. No more convincing proof could be given that the birth of Christ had actually taken place than the fact that God had miraculously led the wise men of the East, by a star, to behold him who was to be King of the Jews. Great was their joy on reaching the land of the prophets; for they believed that then they would be instructed in the particulars concerning the young child Jesus. But the Jews were silent, and until Herod demanded of the Pharisees where the child was to be born, they had no light to impart, and even then they had no faith to believe that this was he. The solemn warning of the third angel has been heard for a quarter of a century, and God has prepared hearts to receive it in every part of this civilized nation—a nation which, in his providence, he has called to proclaim the truth to every part of the world. The government is of that character that it has attracted all other civilized nations, and even the heathen lands have representatives here. The Norwegians, Danes, Swedes, French, Italians, Germans, Prussians, and many of other nationalities, are to-day represented in the ranks of the third angel’s message of Rev. 14: 9–12. Thus effectual doors are opened, by means of which all parts of the world may be reached by our missionary efforts. God has also shown that the time of his harvest has come by bringing into the truth Prussians, Austrians, Russians, Spaniards, French, and Germans, in their native lands, and even companies in Africa. To our certain knowledge, many of these have been led to see the light without having any connection with others of like faith. They have had their attention called to this precious truth by reading the Scriptures alone. And even more than this, God has overstepped the bounds of civilized nations, nations which have the Bible, and in a miraculous manner has brought the Chinese to a knowledge of this glorious light, and this, too, within the last quarter of a century. And in our own midst there is scarcely a neighborhood which has not some individuals whose souls are thirsting for something more than the popular religion of the present day imparts. The truth of God fills this want. With these facts before us, is it not safe for us to conclude that the harvest of the earth is ripe? and does not the providence of God call upon us as never before to enter the harvest field, and gather fruit for eternal life? Shall worldly interests come in between us and the work of God? Is it not time for us to take hold of this work as never before? Ways and means are provided so that all may enter this work, and unite in proclaiming this last message of mercy. God has, in his all-wise providence, brought about improvements, so that with lightning speed the truth may be carried to the remotest parts of the earth. Postage is but a trifle. Packages of tracts can be sent by more than ten thousand believers in this land to their friends of many tongues and peoples, and to every clime. The clear and lucid manner in which the truth is furnished to hand by those whom God has called to the work of writing, and the present arrangements of our missionary operations, will leave all without excuse. The time has fully come when our hearts should be stirred as never before. The fact that everywhere hearts are prepared to receive this truth is an evidence of where we are in the world’s history and the progress of this work. Some prophecies, such as those relating to the rise and fall of nations, speak of events which may be repeated in the history of different nations. But that prophecy which relates to the warning of this world by the last message of mercy to fallen man will be fulfilled but once. God makes no mistakes. Throughout the world he prepares hearts for its reception but once. And we see that this is the case in our experience as a people relative to the truth in a most remarkable manner. Shall we quietly fold our hands in a time like this? or shall we enter the harvest field? “He that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal; that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.” The fruit to be gathered is not for this life, but for eternal life. We gather here, but it is in the kingdom of glory that the results of our labor will be seen and realized. We here gather the stars that will sparkle like diamonds throughout eternity. Each star will represent some soul saved. There will be no starless crowns there; hence none who have not labored here will enter there. Our best efforts, our best thoughts, our earnest prayers, with tears proceeding from an overflowing soul, full of love for God and his precious cause, would indicate real interest in the truth and work of God. DANGERS AND DUTIES OF OUR TIME.
By James White
The dangers and duties of our time are of that character to fully justify a pointed appeal to our people, whether located in our own good country or in other lands. To the minister of the word of God is given the oversight of the flock of God to watch for souls as “they that must give account.” Heb. 13:17. We would faithfully call attention to the duties of the present time, and warn you, in view of the impending Judgment, of the dangers to which you are exposed. Individually we must give account to God of the manner we have severally performed duty. The righteous judgment of God, with its final decisions, is upon us. It will then appear whether we have scripturally and faithfully warned you; and also whether you have taken careful heed to these admonitions. Our duty is expressed in the solemn charge of the great apostle to Timothy:— “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom: Preach the word. Be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” 2 Tim. 4:1–5.
This charge was not given to Timothy alone, to cease with that generation; but it was to be passed down in the ministry, as a ruling principle in the gospel of the Son of God, until the close of human probation. This important fact is fully substantiated by Paul’s previous charge to his son in the gospel in these paternal terms: “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” 2 Tim. 2:1, 2.
The youthful Timothy is here charged to commit the things he has heard from Paul to faithful men who should arise in his day, who should be able to teach them to others, and thus the great apostle’s charge is handed down to us. Every minister of the gospel since Paul addressed his epistle to Timothy has been virtually charged, in the presence of the great God and his Son Jesus Christ, and in full view of the awful decisions of the last Judgment, to faithfulness in the duties named. And as the apostle cites a future period, especially marked by preferences on the part of the people for popular fables, and the rejection of the sound doctrine of the word of God, we may safely conclude that this solemn charge to preach the word should be regarded as of increasing importance as the church nears the perils of the last days. In fact, the very period, and the very state of things, with those who have a form of godliness, has arrived, which is described in the previous chapter as follows:— “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away.”
The perils of the last days are upon us. There is no want of that class of teachers who would turn the ears of the people from the word of God to fables. And the charge to preach the word applies to this time with redoubled force. The great central idea in this charge is expressed in the phrase, “Preach the word.” The words, “be instant,” convey the idea of perpetual readiness, the mind and heart ever full of the words of life, whether “in season,” at regular appointments before the assembled people, or “out of season,” from house to house, or by the wayside. It is the minister’s duty to reprove; but in doing this he must preach the word. In the previous chapter, Paul states that the inspired Scriptures are “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” The faithful minister of Christ must even rebuke the people for their sins; but in the performance of this unpleasant duty, he may add to the influence which the gospel gives him the authority of the living word of God, which is “quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Heb. 4:12. “Preach the word,” says the Holy Ghost. The man of God can do this in the spirit of all long-suffering in his exhortations. He may appeal to the people with the doctrine of the word of God. This is far better than for one to exhort from the impulses of his own spirit, with words that irritate and distract the mind. Wounds made by a saw are more painful, and require more time in healing, than those made by a sharp surgical instrument. The ambassador for Christ, who in his Master’s stead beseeches the people to be reconciled to God, must preach the word “for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” In his righteous ministrations, he is thoroughly furnished in the word of God unto all good works. Dear reader, we appeal to you from the word of God. And we beseech you to let the “sword of the Spirit” cut its way to your conscience. You are satisfied with the correctness of our doctrinal positions. This is well as far as it goes. You accept the Bible not only as a general exposition of salvation through Jesus Christ and a rule of Christian duty, but as a prophetic guide down the stream of time to the close of the grand scheme of redemption. May you ever be grounded and established on this foundation. But we fear, judging from your apparent devotion to the things of this life, and your want of fervor and activity in the cause of present truth, that you are not standing where the Spirit of God can impress upon your minds the importance of the truths you profess, and the dangers and duties of this time. You profess to believe that the great lines of prophecy in the books of Daniel and of John terminate in our day with the close of human probation, the vials of God’s wrath upon those who reject the truth, the second coming of Christ, the resurrection of the just, and the destruction of all the living wicked. You also hold that the history of those who, by the will of God, look for the glorious appearing of Christ is given in outline in the three angels’ messages of Rev. 14:6–12. That the first message has gone forth, that the second has followed, and that for a quarter of a century the great testing truths of the last message have been shining forth from the word of God with increasing light and power, you also believe. We might here speak of the great work accomplished in our organization, and the harmony of the great truths connected with our specific message which, with the special blessing of God, has secured to our people unparalleled unity. With pleasure we make mention of our publications, which alone are bringing hundreds to the knowledge of the theory of truth held by us, and to Christ. Our groaning presses are almost daily throwing off sheets in the French, German, Swedish, and Danish languages, besides the great amount in the English language. God has given us, just at this time, to assist in the preparation for the coming of the Son of man, the subject of Christian temperance in the great health reformation. And with gratitude to God, and to his dear people who have given of their means cheerfully, we speak of our first College, where men and women are being qualified to teach the present truth in our own and in other countries. But in view of the wonderful work of God in raising up bodies of S. D. Adventists in different parts of Europe without our instrumentality, we repeat the words of Eld. Andrews: “God has gone out before us. It is most certainly a call to us to follow.” The way is fast preparing for the world-wide, powerful, closing work of God to be cut short in righteousness, symbolized by the loud voice of the third angel. And we are evidently far advanced in the period allotted to the work of the last message.