p. 197 | Review and Herald, Vol. 42, No. 25. (12/2/1873)

A Call to the Ministry. What Is It?

By George I. Butler

There seems to be in the minds of many people a degree of vagueness in regard to the nature of a call from the Lord to labor specially for him. I propose, in this article, to offer a few thoughts upon this subject; for it is eminently a practical one, and one that should be clearly defined. Our cause is in great need of laborers to go out into the harvest field to work for God and humanity. In no other respect, perhaps, do we suffer so much as in this. And I seriously question whether the commonly-received idea of a call does not stand in the way of some entering the ministry who might do good and bring souls to Christ. If this be so, it is certainly time that there should be a well-defined view among us concerning it.

If I understand the matter rightly, many people hold an idea something like this: that a call from God to preach is a sort of undefinable, indescribable something which a person feels pressing upon him continually that he must go out and speak to the people in public. Some poor souls carry this burden around with them months and years, and are in terrible distress of mind if their brethren do not see the point as they do, and help them forward in their proposed course. I have known persons half distracted over this thing for years, so that they could hardly content themselves to do any business, and could take no comfort themselves or permit those around them to do so. And yet no other person could see any good sense in their views, and when actual trial of the matter occurred, it proved a failure.

I should have more patience and charity for this kind of a call had I not seen so many who were moved this way demonstrate their utter incapacity when giving the matter a trial. When God calls a man to do any work, he will not make a wrong selection, and it will not be found, when actual experiment is made, that the person chosen was wholly inadequate for the emergency. He understands what he is about. The difficulty, then, comes in by persons’ mistaking certain things for evidences which are not really such.

What, then, are real evidences of a call from the Lord to enter the ministry? While we believe it is not some mysterious, incomprehensible something that nobody can define, we, on the contrary, believe it is something evidently rational and reasonable, that can be understood. God’s work is always sensible. When it is properly understood, it will be found to agree with good common sense every time. As the same God who made the human mind also gives his Spirit to enlighten it, there will be a beautiful harmony between the two, when that mind acts rationally and in harmony with its highest intuitions.

We lay down this principle, then, that when God calls a man to do any work, there will be found some degree of natural fitness and adaptation to do that work. This is the very reason why he calls that particular person. He acts as sensibly as man. When men have a job to do, they look about them for some one who can do it. So God, whose eyes are over all the works of his hands, searches out those who will consecrate themselves to him and have some, at least, of the necessary qualifications for the position. His Spirit impresses their hearts if they are really in a suitable condition. Fitness, then, and consecration are the two important prerequisites necessary.

By fitness, I mean the possession of some, at least, of those natural gifts of mind which will be called into exercise when doing the work they will have to do. If a man is to labor as a mechanic, he must, to make a success of it, have those organs of mind that will be called into exercise in his business or he will not have success. He will make a botch of his work. If a man labors as a merchant or clerk in the mercantile business, he must have judgment in such things, nice ideas of order, more or less business tact, and a pretty good capacity for mathematical calculations, to enable him to keep his accounts correctly, or in all probability he will make a failure.

If a man should give himself to teaching others the truths of God’s word, to persuade men to serve the Lord, he must have ability to do so to a certain extent, in order to be successful. A person who can reason logically and sensibly on other subjects can reason also upon religion when his heart is consecrated to the Lord. The reason why some men can talk so glibly upon everything else, but can say very little upon religion, is because their hearts love something else, and their experience has all been in some other direction. The faculties that will be specially called out in the labors of a minister are the moral and intellectual. Conscience, reverence for sacred things, love of justice and right, and ability to show the importance of these, are specially needed.

If a person has never, by his life, given any evidence to his acquaintances of possessing these to a reasonable extent, they would not be warranted in believing him called of God to preach, however much he might wish he was. If a person has never given any evidence of possessing force of character to accomplish what he undertakes, it is very probable he would fail in this profession; for there are difficulties to be encountered of no small magnitude. A good, sound, common-sense judgment is a very important qualification, which will make up for many other deficiencies. A practical mind that can adapt means to ends well, will succeed in almost anything it undertakes, when united to force of character. If consecrated to God, it can do good in his cause. To consecrate, is to devote to the service of God.

We all know very well what it is to devote one’s self to business, to pleasure-seeking, or something of a worldly nature. From early morn to dewy eve, men give themselves to money-making. They allow nothing else to get in the way of it. Early they hie themselves to their toil, to watch and labor for the dollar. Pleasure has no charms for them, for the time being. The dollar is what they are after. They turn themselves, they think closely, they watch the market reports, to buy cheap and sell dear, that the dollar may come to their pockets. This is devotion to business. It is thought, in these days, to be the highest wisdom. It ends in death and eternal ruin to those who make it the great aim of life. Why cannot men thus devote themselves to God? What would a man do if he did? He would manifest just the anxiety and interest that I have mentioned in helping forward the cause of God and in laboring to save souls for whom Christ died. He would not let pleasure or business or any worldly interest keep him from the one great aim.

The service of God requires of us personal obedience to his will, which is plainly set before us in his word, and earnest labor to help others to see their duty to labor in the same direction. We cannot do God any good personally, but we can bring ourselves, by earnest effort, and by his blessing, where we shall be acceptable to him; and we can influence others also. Here is our duty.

Now, I claim that every person who has natural ability to instruct others and make plain to their minds principles and facts that are important for their well-being, when he will thus consecrate or devote himself to God’s service, is called to labor in this direction. I have no hesitation in saying that many of our people have a call if they would only heed it, and bring themselves where they feel as much interest in bringing souls to God as they do in bringing dollars into their pockets, or even greater.

Have they no education? We have an excellent place now prepared in which to get it.

Have they thus far given themselves to worldly pursuits, and succeeded in amassing property so that business seems to be the only thing that comes natural to them? It is high time, then, to turn their talents in another direction and no longer have them buried in the earth.

Have they made teaching the sciences a success? Religion is more important than science, and the salvation of souls, for whom Christ died, exceeds everything else in magnitude. The person who can make science plain to other minds can make the truths of God plain, if the love of God fills the heart.

Do any say, We have no taste for such things? We cannot get up an interest to talk and pray with others about religion, as we can upon worldly things? Then, dear friend, you stand not only where you will do no good in the world, and where your influence will count for the world, but where your own heart needs converting to God. Your affections are not really set upon the right object.

How many there are laboring upon their farms, or in their workshops, or making money in one kind of business or another, who could save souls from death if they were really in earnest for God; if they would walk out by faith, determined to succeed. They could make God their trust by cutting loose from every worldly hope, as well as others, but they will not. Who knows but souls will rise up in the day of God and lay their eternal ruin to their charge? They might have done their duty, but they would not do it. Worldly riches will then be esteemed at their true value. The Lord is coming, careless professor. You will then have to give an account of your talents. You will get no reward if they have been buried in the earth.

In conclusion, we wish to say that every one who has a reasonable amount of ability of that kind which would enable him to present God’s truth plainly and clearly before the minds of others, and has the necessary judgment and force of character to enable him to act sensibly and judiciously in other directions, when his heart is imbued with the spirit of true religion, and when he prizes it at its proper value, is called to go into the Lord’s vineyard to work for souls. Possibly, the Spirit of the Lord may impress this upon his heart and he may realize it. Possibly, false modesty and diffidence may keep him from it until his brethren call his attention to it. Many self-conceited and self-deceived persons may get a false burden; but in this time there is much to be done. Where are our young men who are intelligently taking hold of this work? Has selfishness, and love of ease, and hatred of responsibility and burdens, kept them from doing their duty? Go, labor in my vineyard, says the Master. There are many places to labor. He don’t tell us to wait for a certain feeling, or to simply talk from the rostrum. But we are to labor in every way possible to snatch souls from Satan, to talk and pray in private as well as in public. Who will be on the Lord’s side?

GEO. I. BUTLER.

United Effort Between Theory and Practice

By united effort, the theorist and the practical man may accomplish much, which neither could effect alone.

GEO. I. BUTLER

By George I. Butler

LET friendship creep gently to a hight; if it rush to it, it may soon run itself out of breath.

The Tract Society and the Advance-Pay System.

By S. N. Haskell

It is well known that each State Conference, a few years since, assumed the responsibility of paying the delinquency on our periodicals in their respective limits. Subsequently, the tract societies in these various Conferences took this matter in hand, raised the money and have settled this bill of indebtedness with the Office of Publication. The names of those whose papers have been stopped have been placed in the hands of the officers of these tract societies for the purpose of collecting what is collectable, and of obtaining a renewal of their subscription, and especially to learn who are unable to pay. Those who are worthy, yet unable to pay for the periodicals, should have them. And it will be a pleasure for each tract society to pay for all such. And the constitution provides that a record of the names of all such shall be kept.

But while this work has been going on in the different Conferences, many have written to the Office, stating their circumstances, some requesting a little time, when they would pay. In such cases the periodicals have been continued.

But many of these individuals who promised payment have not responded. And it has been ascertained that some of these individuals are well able to pay for their paper. Now, to save further imposition on the Publishing Association, and not to deprive any who are worthy of having our periodicals, it is thought best to put this entire matter into the hands of the tract societies. Those, therefore, who should have the paper and are not able to pay for it, and those who wish time granted them, will apply to the director, secretary, or president, of the society in the Conference where they live, who will hereafter attend to all such business. Therefore any letters hereafter received at the Office as described above will be forwarded to the secretary of the tract society of the Conference in which the individual lives who wished the favor; and the secretary will forward it to the director of the district in which he resides, and the director will ascertain the facts in the case and act accordingly.

The tract society will advance the pay for all whom it deems worthy, and the advance-pay system will be strictly carried out. Therefore, every such name that is now on the list will at once be forwarded to the secretary of the tract society, and if there be no return by Jan. 1, 1874, the names will be dropped from the list. Hence, all who have written to the Office to have their paper continued without pay must, before Jan. 1, 1874, apply to the proper officers of the tract society. Those living outside the bounds of any Conference, and, hence, beyond the limits of any organized tract society, will correspond with REVIEW AND HERALD as heretofore; also those scattered individuals who may not be acquainted with the officers of the various tract societies can write to the REVIEW AND HERALD, and the letters will be forwarded as above described. S. N. HASKELL.

Have Courage.

By R. F. Cottrell

The rebukes and chastenings of the Lord are for our good, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.” It is better to be subjected to rebuke than to be given over. And when we seek the Lord, walking in the light given, it is our privilege to believe that God accepts. It is the motive, and not the greatness of the work, that constitutes its value in the sight of God. The mite with the pure motive is more than the rich gifts given to gain the admiration of men. Those who do what they can, have done as much as any one. The Lord is good, and compassionate, and loving. He desires our salvation, and he will save us, if we comply with his requirements, and thus make it possible. He stands at the door, because he desires to enter. And when we truly consecrate ourselves to do his will in all things, it is our privilege to believe and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

We have been far from God and have not realized our responsibilities, as those called to bear the light to the world. Now, while we pray for pardon and acceptance, we must act. The advancement of the cause of God demands our first and best efforts. Whereas the world has been first in our care, there must be a radical change. By the grace of God we can do what he requires; and he is ready to pardon and accept. Who will make the earnest and persevering effort? Those who will, may claim the rich promises. And will it not be enough to pay a thousand times all we are called upon to sacrifice? An eternity of joy unspeakable, instead of the blackness and darkness of the second death!

Let us crucify self and sin, become dead to the world, and alive to God. We need not fear that we shall be robbed of our reward. Our individual cases are in the hand of God. If we commit ourselves to him in well-doing, no one can pluck us out of his hand or deprive us of the reward he has pledged himself to give. The willing and obedient may rejoice in the Lord. “Again [says an apostle,] I say, Rejoice!” R. F. COTTRELL.

Difficulty Refines Character and Sustains Under Misfortune

Difficulty excites the mind to the dignity which sustains and finally conquers misfortune, and the ordeal refines while it chastens.

G. M. DIMMICK, W. B. HILL

By G. M. Dimmick; W. B. Hill

Minnesota.

Commenced labor at Raymond, Stearns Co., Oct. 31. Have had good interest. Five have commenced to keep all the commandments of God. Many more are interested, whom we hope will soon take hold of the good work. Last Sabbath, God’s melting Spirit was with us. Ten arose for prayers. Pray for us, that we may be humble, and that God’s blessing may attend our labors.

G. M. DIMMICK, W. B. HILL

Racine Co., Wisconsin.

By John Matteson

During the four weeks preceding the General Conference, we held meetings in Raymond and Norway, mostly in the last-mentioned town. On the way, we stopped at Little Prairie and attended their quarterly meeting. The meetings in Norway were ended sooner than we desired on account of the Conference. The interest to hear was good. We obtained ten subscribers for Advent Tidende; six commenced keeping the Sabbath, and two were baptized.

I am very thankful to God for his blessings in the Conference and the religious meetings that have been held here. God is leading out his servants and giving them right views of the vast importance of this world-wide message, which closes up the proclamation of the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. The spirit of our blessed Master is melting and uniting all hearts that love the Lord. And we, who have come from other lands and nations, are grateful for the privilege of sharing with you in the work, the burdens, the sufferings, and, if faithful, the final glorious victory. I remain here some time to translate, and get out new tracts in the Danish language.

JOHN MATTESON.

Battle Creek, Mich., Nov. 20, 1873.

The Testimony of Jesus.

By E. B. Lane

I FULLY believe our position on the three messages of Rev. 14:6-14, because reason and Scripture abundantly teach it. A proper understanding of the history of the seven trumpets of Rev. 8-11, establishes the date of their being given, while the facts of the great Advent movement of 1844, is fitly applicable to the first of them. The second message was given by the same people. Seventh-day Adventists believe that we are now giving the third. We claim the identity especially from verse 12 of chapter 14. “Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” That these are advent messages is evident from their nature, and verses 14-20, the third of the series, is the closing or harvest message. “The patience of the saints” applies to the patient waiting time prior to Christ’s second coming, a time of tribulation taught elsewhere in the Scriptures—a time already commenced.

Our identity is further claimed by keeping all God’s commandments, the seventh-day Sabbath of the fourth included. We call attention to our publications attesting our positions. And last, though not least, we claim the Heaven-given blessing of the “Faith of Jesus.” I do not see how any believer in the message can doubt this if he will permit Scripture evidence to decide the case for him. Rev. 12:17, doubtless refers to the same people as 14:12: “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” The “wrath” and “war” (tribulation and persecution) require the patience of the saints (Rev. 14:12) for the same reasons, i.e., keeping the commandments of God and “testimony of Jesus.” Rev. 19:10, gives us an inspired definition of this phrase—“testimony of Jesus,” “for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” What could be plainer? Adding one more of many proofs, 1 Cor. 1:4-8, Paul thanks God that those “waiting for the coming of our Lord” have the testimony of Christ confirmed among them. If Paul could prophetically thank God for this gift with us, will we stand clear in the sight of God to pass the testimonies carelessly by, and pay little or no regard to them? What excuse can those render who profess to believe them as a part of the truths of the third angel’s message, and then rebel against them if they, in God’s mercy, are reproved by them? What better positions do those occupy who profess to believe the testimonies until their wrongs are pointed out, and then simply acknowledge them to save their reputation, while, by disobedience, they show no practical faith in them? We have only to observe the many instances where others have done this, to be warned of the fearful consequences. God pity such, and permit the scales to fall off their eyes, that they may see their true condition and repent ere the Spirit of God ceases to strive with them.

The testimonies given through our beloved Sister White are in harmony with the Scriptures, and generally indorsed by all believers of the third angel’s message, as now being given. Dear brethren, are we thankful enough to God for this blessing? Are we sufficiently obedient to them, so as to insure God’s approbation? We hail with joy and thankfulness each token of favor thus bestowed; but I fear we are so lukewarm that they do not have that effect on our lives that they should, and we lose many blessings.

In Testimony No. 22, p. 117, is a precious testimony to me. I feel to thank God and his instrumentality for it. I first received it by faith, believed it, for God had spoken. I earnestly sought God in tears, and he permitted me to see it in fact, for I was blinded to my own condition. As God has pointed out my standing, I have tried to humble myself before him, and I believe he has heard my prayers and delivered me from future danger as long as I heed the warning given. I desire always to keep the glory of God in view, lose sight of self, and exemplify the life of Christ in all things. I cannot feel thankful enough to God for his goodness to me. I frankly confess my error and danger, and I believe I have received the forgiveness of God, and help to overcome. I am glad, too, that individual testimonies are printed, for I find more or less in them that warns me, and points out my wrongs and dangers, which is certainly for my good. With meditation, study, and a prayerful heart, I am trying to derive all the benefit from them God designs for me. May God bless them to the good of all who read them, and bestow his rich blessing on the instrumentality through which they are given, is my prayer.

E. B. LANE.

Bowling Green, Ohio, Nov. 4, 1875.

The Testimonies.

By E. O. Hammond

“The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.” Ps. 19: 7.

It is to be feared that many of us fail to see the importance of heeding the testimony of the Lord Jesus, which is the spirit of prophecy. Rev. 12: 17 and 19: 10. Take, in connection with the scripture above quoted, Prov. 1: 22, 23. “How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my Spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.” The remainder of the chapter describes the terrible condition of those who do not heed the words of God given through the influence of the Spirit. “Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set at naught all my counsel, and would none of my reproof. I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me.”

Right here is the famine described by the prophet Amos. “Not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord; and they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east; they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.” Amos 8: 11, 12. Then the work of our High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary will have been finished, and the gentle voice of mercy will be heard no more by a guilty world and heedless, lukewarm professors.

When the Lord sent pestilence upon Israel on account of their sin and the sin of their king, the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, but the Lord, in tender pity, said, “It is enough, stay now thy hand.” But in that terrible time to come, God’s unmingled wrath will be poured out upon the shelterless heads of those who did not choose the fear of the Lord; and those who have not heeded the counsels and reproofs given by the Spirit of God will be left to eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

We, as a people, looked for our Lord in 1844; but what a mercy it was to us that he did not come at that time. We were not prepared to meet him. We were ignorantly trampling upon the unchangeable law of Jehovah. Not only the fourth precept of that law, but also the sixth,—not realizing that a course of living which would injure health and thereby shorten life, was a violation of the command, “Thou shalt not kill.” We were in a fearful condition. Some of us steeped in tobacco, and our moral sensibilities benumbed by stimulants, such as tea, coffee, and unwholesome articles used as food, and our minds weakened by intemperate eating and sexual excesses. This latter sin has done more to weaken the mental and physical powers of the human race than any other, for which they will have to answer at the bar of God. This is considered a delicate subject, and Satan loves to have it so; but the God of Heaven has spoken upon this point, as well as upon other points of health reform, and his servants should take his word and warn the people.

But, says one, I cannot bring my mind to believe that these testimonies are from God. To such, we would say, You and your unbelief will have to perish together. There are some who would not believe if one should rise from the dead and tell them, and if the Lord, himself, should speak from Heaven with an audible voice, they, like the unbelieving Jews of old, would say, “It thundered.” Every test which the Scriptures give us to prove the spirits, whether they be of God, has been applied, and these testimonies are proved to be dictated by the Spirit of God. They exalt Jesus Christ as the Son of God. They hold up the law of God as our only rule of right. They condemn sin, and expose the cunning deceptions of Satan.

May the Lord help us to heed the pure testimony, which will make wise the simple, though it cuts like a two-edged sword. We ought, truly, to be thankful that God still waits to be gracious, that he is showing us our sins and giving us time to put them away, and purify our souls by obedience to the truth. E. O. HAMMOND.

The Humiliation of Our Saviour.

By C. Green

It is not in the power of human imagination to conceive the majesty and glory our Saviour had with the Father before the world was. But few know the splendor of the courts of earthly kings. How far above these is the glory of the court of Heaven! With a faint conception of his high and exalted position, we contrast it with the lowly condition of the Babe of Bethlehem, and now can, in a measure, comprehend our Lord in human form, for he becomes like ourselves. All are more or less acquainted with suffering. Disappointment and sorrow are the heritage of mortals. He comes to share with us in all our trials, that he may sympathize with the afflicted.

Our trials begin with life. Perhaps this is why the story of our Saviour’s birth awakens so strong an interest in the human breast; so much so that even the little child becomes often deeply affected by it.

But it is not here that we learn the lesson of our Lord’s humility and patience. We trace his steps from Nazareth to Jordan. We follow him into the wilderness. We witness his conflict with the various temptations and wants of

humanity. We watch with interest his almost unequal contest with his first great enemy, and the adversary of man, and rejoice in his final victory over the power of darkness.

We consider the character and calling of those he chooses to be with him during his ministry. We follow with them his journeyings on foot; witness his miracles in behalf of suffering humanity; listen to his teachings of wisdom and instruction; his rebuke of sin in those who made a high profession of piety; his gentle reproofs to those he loved, and forbearance toward those who came to learn the way to life, but, sorrowing, turned away from his cross-bearing counsel; and also his interest to succor those who cried loudly for help. All of these incidents we become acquainted with, but are not yet made familiar with his humiliation. These are his triumphs over disease, evil spirits, and weaknesses of the flesh. He moves along, carrying the tide of humanity with him, by his teachings, his miracles, and his power, when he sought to exercise it in behalf of the truth and his Father’s honor.

His humiliation we do not witness, until it begins beneath the shades of Gethsemane. For years, he has borne the sufferings of mortals, but now he feels the sins of the world.

Dreadful hour! None but those who have felt the burden of sin can sympathize with him now; and that, but in a faint degree. The Father begins now to cause his Beloved to feel his hatred of sin. His own face begins to be hid from his devoted Son. The triumph of the power of darkness now begins; and not only is the presence of evil spirits felt, but armed men are drawing near, to bind and lead him to the judgment hall.

Betrayed with a kiss, that strongest token of friendship, forsaken by friends, and God’s face hidden from him, he is led before those who for a long time have sought his life. He who once swayed the multitude in his favor has given up his power, that the Scripture might be fulfilled and his Father’s will in regard to sin satisfied; and in sweet submission he humbles himself, even to the death of the cross. In one, he satisfies his Father’s will, and the desire of his enemies by his death. Clothed in purple, a reed,—a token of royalty—in his hand, a crown of thorns on his head, spat upon, his humiliation becomes complete by being nailed to the cross, and derided by the multitude. Borne by friends to the tomb, he is hid from mortal sight, to share with all in the lowly bed of mortal man. From Bethlehem to Calvary, we trace his steps, and in his death we find he triumphs, in that he does not murmur, but submits with meekness and filial love, with the words, “Thy will, not mine, be done.” C. GREEN.

WORK WHILE IT IS CALLED TO-DAY

Up! there's no time for rest to-day! There's stubborn work to do For every willing heart and hand The blessed daylight through. Nor must we loiter, slack, or sleep, Save in the friendly night, Which hides beneath its grateful shades The labors of the light!

Up! there's no chance for rest to-day! Brothers of human kind In many a dark and sterile spot Are groping halt and blind. And there are burdens to be borne, And fetters to be broke, And trees of evil to hew down With many a toilsome stroke!

Up! for the world is full of strife, The earth is sown with sin, Quick springing, like the noxious tares, A noble field within. And, though at first but tiny blades, Of shower and sunshine born, The laborer needs but rest, and straight They overtop his corn!

Then up! nor dream of rest to-day! The foes are all around; And some concealed in ambush lie, And some dispute the ground. Then let us gird the harness on To wrestle or to toil: The laborer reaps the golden grain, The conqueror wins the spoil!

—Independent.

Missouri Church Revival at Uniontown

By J. H. Cook

Missouri.

I have just returned from the Uniontown church, which came out last winter. Was well pleased to find them still holding on to the truth, though they had been neglected the past summer. But, as the result of the meeting, eight more signed the covenant. Four were baptized, S. B. was organized, and there was a general disposition to take hold of the whole truth. J. H. Cook.

Nov. 20, 1873.

Tattling and Gossip.

By John Norton Loughborough

A sure cure. All entitled to the recipe free, if they will only use it.

I said a cure; but there is more than one cure. Two cures for gossip, at least, occur to my mind now; one in fact, however, serves as a preventive to the disease, as well as acting as a sure cure in case the disease exists. That is, to get the heart fully imbued with the great principles that are the foundation of all righteousness: “Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind,” and “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself,” and with this, make the salvation of our fellow-men of more consequence to us than any selfish interest, spending leisure moments in searching our own hearts, and humbly inquiring before God what we can do to lead some poor soul to the Lord; not only inquiring for duty, but doing it. If the head and heart and hands are busily employed, always employed in doing good, we shall have no time to find fault with others. Pursuing such a course is destructive to the spirit of selfishness every time; and be it known that tattling and gossip are usually accompanied with selfishness,—it is a system of self-clearing, blaming somebody for some evil, real, or imaginary. It is a system of “mote” pulling, too often, alas, with those who have the plague spots of “the beam” in themselves.

But there! I am not coming at what I intended when I wrote the heading of this article. It was a cure for tattling of which I designed to speak, a genuine cure in a case where this plague has really come into the house. Our Saviour says it is impossible but that offenses will come. He never told us to tear Heaven down over other peoples’ heads to get justice done for ourselves, but he has given us an excellent rule to follow in Matt. 18:15–17. Read this scripture carefully: “If thy brother trespass against thee, tell him his fault between thee and him alone.” That, of course, is the first duty, if we have been wronged, or injured, or even imagine that such is the case. We have no business to go to a third party with a supposed trespass of a brother or a sister until we have first been to them. If we fail, after going in a humble, prayerful spirit, to rescue the brother or sister, then tell it to one or two more. “Take with thee one or two.”

These scriptures give only one privilege in going to others with the supposed trespass of a brother or sister; that is, to get them to go with you, to humbly assist in effecting a reconciliation.

The remedy I propose is this: If a brother or sister comes to us with the supposed or real wrongs of another, do not let us suppose for a moment that they would dare to transgress the injunction of the Saviour. Acting upon that thought, consider them in the light of those who have come to get our aid to settle the real or imagined difficulty. Of course, they have been to the one who has grieved them, and now want us to go with them to help settle it. Perhaps they are diffident about telling us their real want. Never mind. As they begin to tell you the faults of a brother or sister, say to them, Certainly, I will help you; let us pray over the matter; after which, go directly to the brother or sister and have this matter talked over at once. If all will accept this recipe, and pledge themselves thus to act, mountains of trial, sometimes existing, would vanish into mole-hills. My humble judgment is that this remedy is death to a spirit of gossip and tattling in a church. Try it and see. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

Maine: Visits and Meetings Among the Bradford Believers

By W. H. Blaisdell

Maine.

Since our camp-meeting, Bro. Webber and I have visited the friends in Bradford, and spent several weeks with them.

The most of those who embraced the truth when we were there with the tent are still holding on, and seem to have a good determination to walk in the light of present truth.

Our meetings generally were characterized with a good degree of interest, and many of them with feelings of deep solemnity.

As we presented the light on the spirit of prophecy, the health reform, &c., we were very glad to see manifested among the brethren and sisters generally a good degree of willingness to believe the truth on these subjects, and a readiness by the most of them to engage immediately in the work of reform.

We organized Systematic Benevolence, and the pledge for a year was $76.56. Spiritualism prevails very largely in that town, and its doctrines seem to pervade a very large portion of the community to a greater or less degree. The spirit of infidelity is very extensive, and while we have labored there, and seen a company brought out upon the present truth, though many influences have been brought to bear against it, we have often been reminded of the following words from the “Song of the Reapers.”

“Go out in the by-ways and search them all; The wheat may be there, though the weeds are tall; Then search in the high-way, and pass none by, But gather from all for the home on high.”

May the Lord help these dear brethren and sisters to endure unto the end.

W. H. BLAISDELL.

Rome, Me., Nov. 17, 1873.

Greatness of the Love of Christ.

It is an axiom of biblical truth—“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend;” and we have here and there a beautiful, though dim, legend of some heroic husband and wife who, for the love they bore to each other, did literally die for each other. There are, in the facts of profane history, a few dim, shadowy outlines, a few scanty, dishevelled notices of such occurrences as these—that when the oracle gave any individual the alternative of dying for another, some such individuals have counted it a sweet and sacred thing to die, and have died for their love of another—for their wife, for their husband. Such are the tales of profane history (and there are not half a dozen of them in the six thousand years of this world's history), such are the stories that have come down to us of the triumphs of human love, of the achievements of human affection. But there is not one recorded of a person dying for his enemy. We have instances of a person dying for his friend, an attached friend! No doubt David or Jonathan would have died, the one for the other. David would have died for Jonathan, or Jonathan would have died for David, if there had been occasion; such was the love they bore one to another. But the love of Christ was not for his friends, but for his adversaries; not for his lovers, but for his enemies. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that God loved us.”

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