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Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 20

THERE IS BUT ONE BAPTISM
Earlier text: LEADERSHIP

PENNSYLVANIA STATE QUARTERLY MEETING.

By B. L. Whitney

This meeting, held at Wellsville, N. Y., May 1-3, was an interesting and profitable one. There was a good representation of brethren from different parts of the Conference, and all the ministers and licentiates of the Conference were present. The preaching, which was mostly done by Eld. Canright, was practical, and well calculated to stir the brethren to renewed activity and earnestness in the work.
A good spirit pervaded our meeting throughout; and in laying our plans for the summer's work the Lord seemed to come especially near to us by the influence of his Holy Spirit.
The report of labor for the past quarter was very encouraging. Most of the districts have been actively engaged in the missionary work. But, on the other hand, some districts had a very meager report.
One especially encouraging feature was book sales of ministers, which, during the past quarter, amounted to over $500 00, although none of the ministers have been actively engaged during the entire time. One colporter reported over two hundred subscribers for the different periodicals during the quarter, although he had spent not more than one-half of the time in the work.
About $400.00 was pledged to our reserve fund, making nearly $900.00 pledged to this fund in this Conference.
Arrangements were made so that four tent companies will be in the field during the coming season.
The class in elocution, which held a week's session in connection with this meeting, was well attended, and a good degree of interest was taken in that branch of the work. We trust that the instruction received will prove a great profit to those who had the opportunity of receiving it. Prof. Miller is an excellent teacher, and seems well prepared to give our ministers just the instruction they need to help them in this part of their work.
Altogether, we were very much encouraged by this meeting. The impression seemed to prevail in the minds of the brethren that the Lord will help us in our work the coming season. He will surely do this, if we ask him as earnestly as we should. B. L. WHITNEY.
Syracuse, May 5.

ENCOURAGING

By A. J. Cudney

BY A. J. CUDNEY.
I GIVE below some extracts from a letter received from a young man in Oregon, who a little over one year ago was a believer in spiritualism. The little pamphlet entitled, “Nature and Tendency of Modern Spiritualism,” was sent him. This little work served to reveal to him the dangers of the road in which he was traveling. He sent for more books and tracts, which he read himself, and then loaned to others. He is now rejoicing with us in the light of present truth. He writes:—
“Your kind letter came to hand a few days ago. Although we are strangers to each other, we are not strangers to the subject that should interest us both. I am still reading your books and the Bible. The Bible does not appear to me to be such a condensed book of enigmas as I used to consider it. I can see more consistency in it now than ever before. During the spring I am going to send for more tracts to give away. When I quit herding, I intend to be more active in distributing tracts and papers, both in Washington Territory and Oregon.”
May God bless the efforts of this dear brother, and water the seed of truth which he may sow in these new fields.

INDIANA T. AND M. MEETING.

By S. H. Lane; W. A. Young

The State quarterly meeting of this society was held with the church in Alto, Howard Co., April 25, 1880. Meeting opened with prayer. The Secretary being absent, W. A. Young was chosen Secretary pro tem. The minutes of the last meeting were read and accepted, also the report of labor for the quarter ending April 4, 1880, which was as follows:—
Districts No. Members No. Reports Returned No. Members Added No. Families Visited No. Letters Written No. Signs taken in Clubs Subscribers obtained to Periodicals Pages of Tracts and Pamphlets distributed Periodicals Distributed Annuals sold and given away Cash rec’d on Tract Fund and Periodicals
1 41 32 ... 23 24 34 70 11422 734 337 $52 71
2 32 25 1 10 27 45 48 21346 907 226 59 84
3 50 28 ... 17 13 2 30 22500 208 35 27 02
4 36 23 11 43 49 15 22 16600 261 7 50 58
5 20 5 ... 3 23 6 11 2400 150 60 20 75
*1 ... ... ... 95 ... ... 3 14524 ... ... 45 53
179 113 12 191 136 102 184 88792 2260 665 $256 43
Stirring addresses on the T. and M. work were made by Elds. Lane and Reese, and Dr. Hill.
Resolutions were unanimously passed expressing grateful appreciation of the labors of Dr. Pottinger, of Kankakee, Ill., who has rendered efficient aid in the T. and M. work in this Conference; also the desire of the society that a T. and M. Institute be held in this State at the close of the tent season, at a place to be selected by the Board of Directors, for which Institute it is hoped the General Conference will furnish a competent instructor.
Meeting adjourned sine die. S. H. LANE, Pres. W. A. YOUNG, Sec. pro tem.

DAKOTA T. AND M. SOCIETY.

By S. B. Whitney; W. T. Henton

The quarterly meeting of this society was held according to appointment at Swan Lake, April 17, 18, Eld. S. B. Whitney presiding.
The report of labor for the quarter just closed is as follows:—
Districts. No. Members. No. Reports Received No. Members Added No. Families Visited No. Letters Written No. Signs taken in Clubs. Subscribers obtained for Periodicals Pages of Tracts and Pamphlets distributed Periodicals Distributed Annuals sold and given away. Cash rec'd on Tract Fund and Periodicals.
1 40 26 3 10 15 ..... 19 5481 396 46 $45 44
2 48 26 2 89 60 ..... 53 12185 354 47 $38 95
88 52 5 99 75 ..... 72 17666 750 93 $84 39
The meeting, which was interesting and profitable, was attended by our brethren generally who are accessible to the place. All felt that it was good to be there. The business matters pertaining to the interests of the cause were disposed of in a very satisfactory manner. The brethren seem to have a mind to labor more faithfully in the future than they have done in the past; and all feel that the cause in Dakota is onward.
The Sabbath-school received its share of attention, and the interest in this branch of the work is good. We feel that we are making some advancement in this direction. God bless our Sabbath-schools.
S. B. WHITNEY, Pres.
W. T. HENTON, Sec.

REPORT OF NEW ENGLAND T. AND M. SOCIETY.

By Eliza Thayer

FOR QUARTER ENDING APRIL 1, 1880.
Districts. No. Members. No. Reports Returned. No. Members added. No. Families Visited. No. Letters Written. No. Signs taken in Clubs. Subscriptions obtained for Periodicals. Pages of Tracts and Pamphlets distributed. Periodicals Distributed. Annuals sold and given away. Cash rec’d on Tract Fund and Periodicals.
1 58 9 .... 72 59 44 1 6974 338 90 $35 30
2 86 52 .... 312 409 219 73 36568 2692 221 $226 40
3 45 31 .... 26 67 26 47 7719 442 162 $79 01
4 52 15 .... 1 19 48 7 6946 169 112 $57 04
5 21 17 1 52 12 .... 3 20273 169 66 $11 90
6 24 15 1 17 41 10 7 6537 220 46 $22 53
7 109 48 .... 42 110 174 22 23537 1359 193 $173 18
8 19 18 .... 30 34 22 8 21653 396 85 $30 05
* .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... $245 29
414 205 2 552 751 543 168 130207 5785 975 $880 70
ELIZA THAYER, Sec.

REPORT OF MINNESOTA T. AND M. SOCIETY.

By Nettie G. White

FOR QUARTER ENDING APRIL 1, 1880.
Districts No. Members No. Reports Returned No. Families Visited No. Letters Written No. Signs taken in Clubs Subscriptions obtained for Periodicals Pages of Tracts and Pamphlets distributed Periodicals Distributed Annuals sold and given away Cash rec’d on Tract Fund and Periodicals
1 86 60 … 205 168 111 69 16119 1042 90
2 88 9 … 51 16 38 8 5068 236 32
3
4 97 44 … 188 120 69 86 9971 961 52
5 59 45 1 251 203 30 116 18916 540 18
6 11 9 1 7 14 7 2 3088 154 8
7 33 16 9 6 119 9 1363 525
8 20 20 11 72 28 81 23 470 177 25
9 29 17 1 37 4 12 14602 289 45
423 220 23 817 672 336 330 69597 3924 270
NOTE.—The local societies at Tenhassen, Lake Ellen, and Sauk Center failed to report.
MRS. NETTIE G. WHITE, Sec.

REPORT OF KANSAS T. AND M. SOCIETY.

By Ada A. Dawson

FOR QUARTER ENDING APRIL 1, 1880.
Districts No. Members No. Reports Returned No. Members Added No. Families Visited No. Letters Written No. Signs taken in Clubs Subscriptions obtained for Periodicals Pages of Tracts and Pamphlets distributed Periodicals Distributed Annuals sold and given away Cash rec'd on Tract Fund and Periodicals
1 88 47 1 109 38 37 101 24202 1085 365 $93 08
2 13 6 .... 5 5 .... 16 553 87 48 16 67
3 14 9 .... .... .... 6 4 2024 116 200 36 75
4 11 3 .... .... .... 10 27 8234 793 120 24 85
5 20 4 .... 1 10 8 2 1900 59 26 1 35
6 25 13 .... 21 14 12 29 3969 284 201 28 78
7 10 .... 4 7 3 .... .... 872 41 49 50
8 12 5 .... 37 3 .... .... 3433 40 19 ....
9 32 9 .... 16 26 10 30 6784 268 85 37 60
10 41 25 5 15 10 .... 26 10720 232 193 77 00
11 29 12 1 6 13 .... 13 1783 67 56 16 75
12 39 18 7 32 18 31 15 13383 202 162 39 70
334 151 18 250 140 114 363 77857 3275 1524 $373 03
MRS. ADA A. DAWSON, Sec.

Lift the Voice and Sound the Trumpet

—Lift the voice, and sound the trumpet, Watcher on the mountain height; Roll the clarion notes around thee, Shout as flees the passing night. Lift the voice in words of warning; Cry aloud, Behold the dawning! Rouse, and gird thee for the fight!

NEBRASKA

Blue Valley.—Sabbath and first-day, April 24, 25, profitable meetings were held with the Blue Valley church, which had never been fully organized, and could not celebrate the ordinances at the time of the regular quarterly meetings. On Sunday, after remarks by Eld. H. Shultz, the church proceeded to perfect their organization. They elected an elder and two deacons, who were ordained by Eld. Shultz. Three were added to the church, after which the ordinances of the Lord’s house were celebrated; and a sweet season in the history of the church was recorded.
J. BUCKLEY, Church Clerk.
Alma, Harlin Co., April 27.—I have spent three weeks in a series of meetings five miles northeast of Alma. Three were keeping the Sabbath when I came; they have since adopted the health reform. Some papers distributed by them awakened a family that embraced the truth eighteen years ago. They came six miles to the meeting, and have made a new start.
One man, a beloved physician, accepted the doctrine, but wishing to be assured of its effect upon the life, accompanied us to our good district meeting just past; and after spending over a week at the different homes, he says, “I never met such a people; they do love one another.”
During the meetings, two were baptized. April 24, a Sabbath-school of twenty-nine members was organized. Ten Instructors were ordered, also record and class books.
Satan is working hard against us, but God is good. Pray for this company and for me. GEO. B. STARR.

IOWA

By P. L. Hoen

Spencer, May 2.—I have labored near Spencer, Clay Co., Emmittsburg, Palo Alto Co., and in Dickinson Co., during the last two months. The last evening that I held meeting in Palo Alto Co., we had a temperance meeting. Seven signed the teetotal, and five the anti-whisky pledge. The brethren there have done well. We hope that several others who now believe the truth will soon take a firm stand with us.
The church at Spencer is striving to live near the Lord. We had a solemn meeting with them last Sabbath. Two followed their Saviour in baptism, and we hope for more soon.
Three Norwegian families are now keeping the Sabbath in Dickinson Co. Two came out by reading the Tidende. I have labored to establish them more fully in the truth. Another family kept their first Sabbath with us last Sabbath. They expressed a desire to be baptized as soon as there was an opportunity.
I also held three meetings in Estherville, Emmett Co. Although there is a great deal of opposition, I have an invitation to return and hold meetings there.
Pray for us here. P. L. HOEN.

LETTER FROM MISSOURI.

By Wilberforce Jones; Laura Jones

A LITTLE tract published by the Seventh-day Adventists, which has recently been handed to us, has been the means in the hand of God of awakening us to a newness of life.
We came to these conclusions because Christ says: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled.” Matt. 5: 17, 18. Now it cannot be claimed that all things spoken by the prophets have been fulfilled. In Mal. 4: 1–3, we read: “For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up,” etc. All will concede that this and many other prophecies have never been fulfilled; hence the law must still stand, and “whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” James 2: 10.
Being thus convinced that the law has not been changed, and that the first-day Sabbath is but a tradition of men, we are trying to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. We are almost alone, there being but one family of Seventh-day Adventists in this part of the country. We ask for the prayers of all those who love Christ’s appearing. WILBERFORCE AND LAURA JONES.

HOW WE FOUND THE TRUTH.

By Geo. E. Loomis

BY GEO. E. LOOMIS.
I WAS very much interested in the article by Bro. Garland on “Prophecy Fulfilling,” in REVIEW of March 25, 1880, perhaps more so than many others, although the careful observer of the signs of the times cannot fail to see that the prophecies are fast fulfilling.
I would like to say a few words concerning Bro. Garland. I first became acquainted with him in Clayville, N. Y., about five years ago. I had just embraced the doctrines of First-day Adventists, through the labors of Bro. Geo. D. Smith, now of Palmer, Mass. I was so happy that I was anxious to tell some one else the glad tidings. Bro. Garland was in a cold, unsettled state, and I began to talk with him on the subject of religion. He had never joined a church nor been baptized, although he had studied two or three years with a Methodist minister. His own words were, “There is something lacking. I am unsatisfied. I have been to all the churches, but could not make any of them my home, nor have I any desire to have any of the ministers baptize me. Something is wrong.”
This gave me an opportunity to advance the Bible view of the nature and destiny of man, the resurrection, and eternal life through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ at his coming, now not far distant. Bro. Garland was willing to investigate. Bro. Smith and myself started a prayer-meeting at private houses (for there was not a prayer-meeting in Clayville, a place where there were four churches), and Bro. G. was revived, and through the influence of those little meetings nine were converted.
Bro. G. soon came into the truth of the Advent doctrine, and oh, what a happy man he was! But he said to me, “I am not fully satisfied; there is something lacking yet, and I do not want to be baptized, although I feel so much better.” He then began to preach some. I thought it strange that he was not satisfied; but there was an unrest, a place unfilled. Finally we heard that there was to be an Adventist camp-meeting at Rome, N. Y., and decided to attend it, supposing, of course, that it was a First-day Adventist camp-meeting. This was in the fall of 1876. Bro. Smith soon suspected that it was a Seventh-day Adventist meeting, and we changed our minds about going; for I was very much prejudiced, and was not willing to encourage by my presence a people that keep Saturday for Sunday, as I called it. But Bro. Garland, living some distance from us, did not know of this arrangement; so on seventh-day he came, according to agreement, and urged me to go. He had never heard any Adventist preaching, and thought we could sort it out, and take the good and throw away the bad. So we went, but we could not get Bro. S. to go.
We reached the camp-ground late in the evening after the close of the Sabbath. We found ourselves among friends, and received such kind treatment as we never can forget, not only from the Whitneys, but from all the brethren and sisters. I still hold their kindness in grateful remembrance, and often pray for them all.
That night Eld. Smith preached on the two covenants. We were very much interested in the subject; it seemed to take a good hold of us. The next morning I believe Eld. Canright preached on the Sabbath question. We drank in the precious truth. I made up my mind that Bro. G. was getting the one thing which had been lacking. It was one of the happiest days we had ever seen. Praise the dear Lord that he ever thought us worthy to receive the truth. Oh, how happy we were all that day; for we had heard strange things. The truth was being unfolded to us. We were being convicted by God’s holy law. We began to be interested in the people that represent the Seventh-day Adventists, the people that keep the commandments of God, and have the faith of Jesus. We found that they had been misrepresented to us.
We stayed to the Sunday-night meeting, then we had to go. We spent all the money we had at the stand, for tracts, and walked eighteen miles to Utica after nine o’clock that night to save the amount of our fare to buy tracts.
Bro. G. commenced keeping the Sabbath immediately, but encountered much opposition. He lost his situation in the shop; his friends turned against him, but he had great faith in God, and found that it is better to obey than to sacrifice. The Lord has blessed him in his trials and sacrifices for the truth’s sake. After he was thrown out of work at Clayville, he moved to Cassville, and set up harness-making, going into business for himself. He is battling against opposition, and meets with difficulties, but is strong in the faith. May God still bless and keep him, is my prayer. I also lost my situation in the factory, as I could not retain it and keep God’s holy Sabbath. I came to Westerly, R. I., among our Seventh-day Baptist friends, to get work, and have succeeded finely. Was baptized by Bro. I. Sanborn, and have united with the new church at Niantic, R. I. Bro. Garland is now satisfied; he has found a home at last, and has been baptized, and united with the church in Brookfield, N. Y.
Bro. G. and myself are interested in Bro. Geo. Smith, above mentioned, who is still out of the truth. I would ask the prayers of Sabbath-keepers in his behalf. I cannot give him up. Brethren, let us, as Bro. G. says, take to the closet, and watch and pray while the prophecies are being fulfilled, so that the Lord shall find us ready for translation when he comes.
Westerly, R. I.

NOTHING TO DO.

“Nothing to do” in this world of ours, Where weeds spring up with the fairest flowers, Where smiles have only a fitful play, Where hearts are breaking every day?
“Nothing to do?” thou Christian soul, Wrapping thee round in thy selfish stole, Off with the garments of sloth and sin; Christ, thy Lord, hath a kingdom to win.
“Nothing to do?” there are prayers to lay On the altar of incense day by day; There are foes to meet within and without; There is error to conquer, strong and stout.
“Nothing to do?” there are minds to teach The simplest forms of Christian speech; There are hearts to lure with loving wile From the grimmest haunts of sin’s defile.
“Nothing to do?” there are lambs to feed, The precious hope of the church’s need, Strength to be borne to the weak and faint, Vigils to keep with the doubting saint.
“Nothing to do?” there are heights to attain Where Christ is transfigured yet again, Where earth will fade in the vision sweet, And the soul press on with winged feet.
“Nothing to do?” and thy Saviour said, “Follow thou me in the path I tread.” Lord, lend thy help the journey through, Lest, faint, we cry, “So much to do!”
—Selected.

DAKOTA

By S. B. Whitney

Parker, April 26.—After the general quarterly meeting, I went to Allentown and held three meetings with very good interest. Some opposition is rising against the truth, but we hope its friends will be firm. Sabbath and first-day I was with the friends in Parker. Sabbath was stormy, and but few were out; still the Sabbath-school and meeting were interesting. On first-day we had a meeting for the organization of the church, which was a success. Ten united in full fellowship. Bro. W. T. Henton was ordained elder, and Bro. D. T. Riggs, deacon. I expect much of this church, as it is the first one I raised up after coming to this Territory, and among its members are three who are trying to preach the truth, one of whom is State Secretary and another a director, in the tract society.
NATION, MAY 2.—Came here April 28. Find the outside interest still good. Six additions were made to the Sabbath-school, mostly from families not in the truth. Several are convinced on the Sabbath, and I hope they will yet obey, as they seem deeply interested. Much depends on the course pursued by the friends of the truth, and I hope they will feel their responsibility. A good interest is taken in tract society matters, which we succeeded in getting in good shape. S. B. WHITNEY.

NEW YORK.

By M. H. Brown

Labor among the Churches.—March 20, 21, I visited the company of Sabbath-keepers at South Rutland, and found them growing in the truth, and sustaining weekly meetings and Sabbath-school.
Was at Mannsville March 27. This church is sadly in need of help. It is being severely tested by trials, and some, we fear, will not bear the test.
March 28, I visited the friends at Goodenough. They were all holding on, and most of them making some progress. Tobacco still holds two or three as victims. Truly, appetite controls the masses.
April 1-3 and 14, I was with the Pulaski church. This church has some who may be excellent workers, and we now look for them to take hold with greater interest than ever before. We raised a club of Signs; they are now taking nineteen copies.
I attended the church and district quarterly meetings at Adams Center, April 4 and 17, 18. Sabbath, the 17th, we had an excellent meeting; the Spirit of the Lord was graciously present. We raised a club of Signs for the church here.
I was at Roosevelt April 10, 11, and attended the quarterly meeting for Dist. No. 2, which was held here. Raised a club of ten for the Signs. There is a manifest improvement in this church.
The H. and T. work was also considered, and close, practical remarks were made on that subject. Nearly all are taking hold of this branch of the work well. Those who fail to keep pace with our people in this good work, will soon become blind, so they cannot see afar off.
M. H. BROWN.

MISSOURI

By H. Wren

Queen City.—The work of the Lord is still going forward at the Roberts’ school-house, near Queen City, Schuyler Co. There is now a class of nearly twenty, who have meeting every Sabbath. They take part in meeting as a general thing. A Sabbath-school is in process of formation, and will soon be fully organized. On Sabbath last, thirteen signed the teetotal pledge, and all but two of them included pork. There is but one or two in the class who use pork or tobacco, and but two or three who use tea or coffee, and some of them are situated so they never get to meeting. I have no doubt but that nearly all of those who have not yet signed will do so. One old man who had used tobacco for fifty years, quit using it even before I preached on the subject. The Lord’s hand seems to be in the work, and we hope to have the best church in Missouri. H. WREN.

THE NEW COMMANDMENT.

“A NEW commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another: as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13: 34, 35. The command is new, not in the essential principle of it, love, which He had taught before as the very sum of the moral law, but in the extent, motive or example of it, which is that ye, My disciples, should do to one another as I, your Lord and Master, have done to you. The key to the interpretation is in the clause, “As I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” He had just said, “I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” He had just illustrated the measure of his own love in the menial service of washing their feet, and in telling them further that it was a love even unto death; “the Good Shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” It was new also in being now enjoined as the very badge and test of all true discipleship. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
The apostle John, who, in his Gospel, has recorded these impressive words and the circumstances in which they were uttered, evidently refers to the same thing in the second chapter of his first epistle. “Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you.” Here the context shows that it is this highest form of brotherly love, as illustrated in the example of Christ, which constitutes the essential feature of the new commandment. For this is the thing Christ says, this living illustration of it in him and his disciples, which is “love in him and in you.” The commandment is at once both old and new. It is old as to the essence of it, which is love; for the moral law always required love, and could be fulfilled only by love. But it is new as to the form and expression of it, being perfectly illustrated and fulfilled only in Christ, and in his disciples just so far as they imitate Christ and are like Christ. The word love had not indeed been used in the decalogue in the commands of either table. The precepts of the decalogue, being mostly negative prohibitions of wrong-doing, had not been expressed in the positive form of love’s high requirements. But the thing itself had always been there, as we see from Deut. 6: 5: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” There could be no true obedience, no acceptable fulfillment of any command, without love to God or man. This is plain from Christ’s own exposition of the decalogue, as given in Matt. 22: 37–40: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
The apostle James also refers to this condensed statement of the law by Christ in the second chapter of his General Epistle, where he calls it the law of liberty and the royal law. He says: “If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well; but if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.” If we put all these passages together, we shall see how perfect is the agreement of Scripture; and how the old commandment given to Moses in the decalogue, and interpreted by Christ as the law of love to God and love to man, becomes the all-comprehensive new commandment of the New Testament church, illustrated by the living example of Christ himself, and requiring the most intense self-sacrificing love in his name to the whole brotherhood of his disciples, and universal good-will to our fellow-men as neighbors and brothers. And we shall see, too, with what wonderful comprehensiveness of application, and what depth of spiritual import our Saviour summed up the whole of this new and old commandment, when in his sermon on the mount he expounded the second table of the decalogue and gave the golden rule for all the church and all the world: “Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.” Matt. 7: 12.
  • *
Still further: an interpretation is sometimes put upon this law of love, which virtually reverses it. Christ requires us to love one another, even as he loves us, and not only to love our fellow-Christians as being his disciples, but to love all men, even our enemies, with the love of kindness and good-will. We are commanded to do good unto all, especially to those who are of the household of faith; for all men are our neighbors, according to his teaching, and all Christians are our brethren. Are we living up to this law? It has certainly been enjoined, and it has never been repealed. But many professing Christians act as if the Golden Rule ran thus: Do unto others what they do to you,—treat them as they treat you. And in most cases those who adopt this low, selfish rule do not even live up to their own interpretation. They do not, in fact, treat their fellow-men or fellow-Christians half as well as they are treated. It is of the nature of selfishness to aim low in morals, and then to fall even lower than it aims.
A man is not often better than his principles. If his moral principles are lax and selfish, there is nothing to elevate his character. If he begins by injuring those who injure him, speaking evil of those who speak evil of him, he will end by failing to return good even for the good he receives. His low moral aim will lead him to construe and measure the good conduct of others by his own selfish standard of action. What a blessed thing it is that Christ has given us . . . a pure and spiritual standard of action, the highest and the purest ever propounded to man. He only will attain to true excellence who adopts this lofty standard of right, and aims at it perpetually in his daily life. All others fall short and miss the mark. Though the Christian man may be all his life approaching and never quite attaining this perfect standard of the Golden Rule and the New Commandment, still he will approximate it more and more, and in the end rise immeasurably higher than the man who has no higher law than the wretched selfishness of his own heart.—Interior.

THE LIFE OF FAITH.

Francis de Sales, at the end of his Religious Maxims, relates the following conversation, as having taken place between Thauler, a learned and popular preacher of the fourteenth century, and an obscure beggar.
A great divine prayed to God, during the space of eight years, that he would be graciously pleased to direct him to a man who might teach him the true way to Heaven. It was said to him at length,—
“Go to such a church porch, and there thou shalt find a man who will instruct thee in the spiritual life.”
Accordingly he went, and found a poor beggar, very meanly clad. He saluted him in these words,—
“God give you a good day, my friend.”
The poor man answered,—
“Sir, I do not remember that I ever had an evil day.”
The doctor said to him,—
“God give you a good and happy life!”
“Why say you that?” replied the beggar; “I never was unhappy.”
“God bless you, my friend!” said the doctor; “pray tell me what you mean.”
“That I will willingly do,” he replied; “I told you I never had an evil day; for when I have hunger, I praise God; if it rain, hail, snow, or freeze, if it be fair or foul, or if I am despised or ill-used,—I return God thanks; so I never had an evil day; nor have I ever been unhappy, since I have learned always to resign myself to his will, being very certain of this, that all his works are perfectly good; and therefore I never desire anything else but the good pleasure of God.”
Then the doctor said,—
“But what if the good pleasure of God should be to cast you hence into hell?”
“If he would do so,” replied the other, “I have two arms to embrace him with; the one whereof is a profound humility, by which I am united to his holy humanity; the other is love, or charity, which joins me to his divinity. Embraced with these two arms, he would descend with me thither, if thither he ordered me; and there I would infinitely rather be with him, than in paradise without him.”
Hereby the doctor learned that a true resignation to the divine will, accompanied with profound humility of heart, is the shortest way to attain God’s love.
After that, he asked him again from whence he came. The poor man answered that God sent him. The doctor inquired of him where he found God. He replied,—
“I found him where I renounced all his creatures.”
“And where did you leave him?” said the doctor.
He replied, “With the poor in spirit, the pure in heart, and men of charity.”
“But who are you?” said the divine.
“I am a king,” said the beggar.
“Where is your kingdom?” said the former. “In my soul,” replied the latter.
“I have learned to bring into subjection, and to govern my senses, as well outward as inward, with my affections and passions, which kingdom is undoubtedly superior to all the kingdoms of this world.”
The doctor then asked him by what means he had attained to such perfection. He answered,—
“By silence, watchfulness, meditation, prayer, and the union I have with God. I could find no sure repose or comfort in any creature of the world; by means whereof I found out my God, who will comfort me world without end.”—Golden Rule.

THE LESSON OF THE TELEPHONE.

CALLING upon a business acquaintance the other day, he suddenly interrupted our conversation with the words, “Excuse me a moment,” and turning toward his desk,—as if to a third person, though there was no third person in the room—“Well!” The person addressed, though quite invisible and inaudible to us, seemed to communicate intelligibly with our friend, who uttered requests and made promises and expressed gratitude to vacancy, in a way which would have led one a few years since to have deemed him insane. But he was n’t insane by any means. On the contrary, he was extra sensible and clear-headed. Attached to his desk was a telephone, which communicated with his home. In the midst of his conversation he had heard a call which my ear didn’t detect. He had been talking with his father—acknowledging with gratitude the fulfilment of requests previously made, venturing upon new petitions, encouraged by that father’s love, and in turn making such promises as were prompted by a filial heart.
Isn’t it a perfect parallel, we said, to prayer? The infidel taunts us with talking to vacancy when we pray. Sometimes the skeptical doubt rushes upon the Christian’s mind in the midst of his supplications. Is there an ear that listens and a voice that answers? Why not? If man, by the exercise of a little ingenuity, can communicate with his fellow-man; if, when he seems to be talking to vacancy, he is really pouring his requests into the ear of a friend; if his father, invisible and inaudible to the bystander, still does hear and answer prayer—why is prayer such an absurdity as it is sometimes represented? Why may not divine ingenuity have established a spiritual telephone between earth and Heaven, so that when the Christian is seemingly talking to vacancy he is really talking to God? There are a great many people who believe that there is a God, but regard it the height of absurdity to think that he hears and answers prayer. We commend to such the lesson of the telephone. Why should God not be able to do on a large scale what man has done on a small scale? There are many who believe that he is; that the heavenly telephone antedates the earthly; that from the place of business, in the pressure of sudden emergency, they can just as surely, just as safely, just as speedily, reach a heavenly as an earthly father.—Selected.

TO-DAY AND TO-MORROW.

I look at time as one who sees A pale leaf floating on the breeze Amid a grove of noble trees.
It fills awhile a little nook; To-day it is—to morrow, look! The great white throne! the open book!
We stand upon a narrow space, Eternity rolls on apace— Where next shall be our resting-place?
—Selected.
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