O Sea, thy deep, unchanging blue,
As changeless as the blue on high,
Is emblem of the constancy
Of Him who rules both sea and sky.
— Isa. 49 : 15, 16.
Thy yawning depths, so dark and drear,
That never know the sun’s clear light,
Are like the deeper, darker chasm,
Wherein our sins sink from his sight.
— Micah 7 : 19.
Thy restless waves that ceaseless roll,
And cover o’er thy bosom bright,
Are emblems of his righteousness,
That robes his saints like garments
white.
— Isa. 48 : 18.
Thy boundless stretch, so vast, so far
Beyond the reach of human ken,
Is like the love, so full and free,
He beareth to the sons of men.
— 1 John 3 : 1.
O Father, Sovereign of the sea,
In all thy works we own thy sway!
O, manifest thy power in us,
For our salvation, day by day!
— Col. 1 : 13, 14, 16.
Tokyo, Japan.
Visit to San Pasqual and Escondido
By Ellen G. White
Notes of Travel—No. 5
Visit to San Pasqual and Escondido
MRS. E. G. WHITE
THURSDAY afternoon, May 9, we left San Diego for Escondido. Here we were met by Dr. Sophie Judson and Brother L. O. Johnson, who took us in their carriages to San Pasqual, ten miles further.
San Pasqual is a beautiful valley, where are located several families of our people. At this place was raised up one of the earliest churches in southern California. They have for their worship a neat little church, capable of seating over one hundred. Our brethren in the neighborhood also maintain a church-school, and on Friday afternoon I spoke to the children in this school.
The Sabbath Sermon
Sabbath morning quite a number of our brethren and sisters from Escondido drove over to San Pasqual, and when I entered the church, I found the room crowded. In my discourse, I dwelt largely upon the importance of a close union of the members of Christ’s church one with another, and with him, as illustrated in the parable of the vine, in the fifteenth chapter of John.
“I am the true vine,” says Christ, “and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”
Sometimes this pruning process consists in permitting some trial to come upon us that will drive us to an earnest seeking of the Lord. Shall we then think it strange, or shall we feel rebellious, when these trials come to us? Let us rather rejoice in the knowledge that “every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”
To maintain a constant union with Christ is essential to Christian growth, and is the great hope of those who are seeking a preparation for his coming. “Abide in me,” he continues, “and I in you. As the branch can not bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. . . . If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”
From the study of the vine we may learn also of the close union that is to exist among believers, all of whom must draw their strength and their life from the same stock. There are differences in the characteristics of the various branches and leaves of the vine, and so there will be in our various experiences. In our thoughts, our words, and our actions, we shall not be exact duplicates one of another. Yet as in the life of the vine every branch and every leaf acts its part, so the members of the church—the body of Christ—are to be as one harmonious whole.
God is hungry for fruit. The form may be perfect, the appearance beautiful, but unless there is a manifestation of fruit, the great Vine-dresser will take away the unprofitable branches. “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.”
The Responsibilities of Parents
I also dwelt at some length on the solemn obligations that rest upon parents. Children are a heritage from the Lord. They are to be brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. In the work of their training, the father and the mother are to work in harmony. The position of the father, as priest of the household, and of the mother, as queen in the home, are most solemn. The mother is not to occupy the position of a slave or of a drudge. Upon her rests largely the burden of educating the little ones in the fear of the Lord.
Into this important work of child training, we must bring all the sweetness of a subdued, tender disposition. We can not afford to wound the tender hearts of the little ones by undue harshness. They have a keen sense of justice, and their feelings naturally rise in rebellion if they are unnecessarily scolded or blamed. Draw them to Christ by the tender cords of love. It will be necessary to correct wrongs, and at times even to administer punishment, but this may be done in such a manner as will attract them, and not repel them. In their position as parents, fathers and mothers should study the dealings of God with his “little children.” His government is founded on love. Yet “whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” So in the correction of children, punishment is sometimes necessary, but this punishment should not be such as is prompted by feelings of anger or revenge.
It is of great importance that the work of training to obedience should be begun during the infancy of the child. From their very babyhood, children should be taught to overcome passion, but this can not be done by a manifestation of passion on the part of the parent. There must be an exercise of patient gentleness.
When we consider that the future destiny of the child is largely dependent upon the faithfulness with which he is educated and trained by the parents, we can but urge with all our power that there be more earnest diligence on the part of fathers and mothers. Let not the father so burden himself with business cares that he must neglect his duties as the priest of the household. O that there may be such faithfulness in this matter that when parents come up to the gates of the city of God, they may say, Here am I, and the children whom thou hast given me!
Visit to Escondido
Sunday forenoon we were taken in a carriage to Escondido, and entertained at the home of Brother H. E. Olmstead. The brethren and sisters in this place had urged us to hold services with them before we left, so an appointment was given out that I would speak in the afternoon in our church. This building is a substantial brick structure that was purchased at a very low cost from the Baptist denomination. Besides the main chapel, there is a room in which a church-school is conducted.
Afternoon Meeting
The service for the afternoon had been advertised in the local paper, and through the courtesy of the ministers of other churches had been announced in their morning services. As a result there was a good attendance from the public of Escondido, besides several of our brethren from San Pasqual.
I felt richly blessed of God as I stood before this congregation and presented the Christian duties as set forth in the first chapter of Second Peter. The working of God on our behalf according to the plan of multiplication, and our duty to work on the plan of addition, are here set forth. “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord. . . . And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.” In the attainment of these virtues, there must be a reasoning from cause to effect.8Following the knowledge,—“the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,”—we are to add the grace of temperance.
The Temperance Reform
There needs to be a great reformation on the subject of temperance. The world is filled with self-indulgence of every kind. Because of the benumbing influence of stimulants and narcotics the minds of many are unable to discern between the sacred and the common. Their mental powers are weakened, and they can not discern the deep spiritual things of the Word of God.
The Christian will be temperate in all things,—in eating, in drinking, in dress, and in every phase of life. “Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.” We have no right to indulge in anything that will result in a condition of mind that hinders the Spirit of God from impressing us with the sense of our duty. It is a masterpiece of satanic skill to place men where they can with difficulty be reached with the gospel.
Shall there not be among us as a people a revival of the temperance work? Why are we not putting forth much more decided efforts to oppose the liquor traffic, which is ruining the souls of men, and is causing violence and crime of every description? With the great light that God has entrusted to us, we should be in the forefront of every true reform. The use of drugged liquors is making men mad, and leading them to commit the most horrible crimes. Because of the wickedness that follows largely as the result of the use of liquor, the judgments of God are falling upon our earth to-day. Have we not a solemn responsibility to put forth earnest efforts in opposition to this great evil?
“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
“But he that lacketh these things”—whoever is not putting forth diligent efforts to work out this sum in addition—“he that lacketh these things is blind, and can not see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.”
Upon the condition of our “giving all diligence” in adding grace to grace, is based our great eternal life insurance policy, as expressed in the following words:—
“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
Creation Versus Evolution
By H. J. Williams
H. J. WILLIAMS
It is really remarkable how rapidly and completely the God-dishonoring doctrine of evolution is fastening itself upon the minds of the educated classes. One seldom meets a student of medicine or science who is not sadly contaminated with this falsehood of the arch-deceiver. However, this is hardly to be wondered at, since the professors of our leading universities in lectures to their students make such statements as the following: “Gentlemen, it is impossible for us as thinking men, in the light of scientific investigation of to-day, to believe the simple story we were taught at our mothers’ knees.”
Our purpose here is simply to contrast a few of the salient principles of these two most incompatible teachings. In order to do this we shall first state each one briefly:—
The account of the origin of man given us by the Spirit of God reads thus: “And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him.” “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Gen. 1:25-27; 2:7.
This record of the Bible is not that of the lowest form of life evolving through long periods of time through the infinite variations of life until it at last reaches the highest form, man, but it is that of a completed work, an act of creation.9
The account of man’s origin, according to Mr. Huxley, is as follows: “The whole world, living and not living, is likewise the result of the natural interaction according to definite laws of the forces possessed by the molecules of which the primitive nebulosity of the universe was composed.”—“Critiques and Addresses,” page 305.
Haeckel, one of the leading scientists of this age, in his “Riddle of the Universe,” gives us a more comprehensive statement of the above: “The extent of the universe or cosmos is eternal, infinite, illimitable. Its substance, with its two attributes, matter and energy, fills infinite space, and is in eternal motion. The duration of the world is equally infinite and unbounded; it has no beginning and no end. It is eternity. Substance is everywhere and always in uninterrupted motion and transformation. This universal motion of substance in space takes the form of an eternal cycle or of a periodical process of evolution, from which results all the phenomena of nature, including man, whose mind and soul, with all its faculties, are functions of the brain and part and parcel of the one universal substance, matter, with its inherent properties, and are distinct from the body, but to be explained by purely natural laws.”
The sum of the declarations of these two noted scientists amounts to this: that inorganic matter is evolved into living protoplasm (“the physical basis of life”—Huxley), and that man is evolved from this protoplasm.
It is plainly evident that this theory rests absolutely upon a false foundation; its premise is mere assumption without proof, indeed, an outright contradiction. These theorists state that their cosmos, or universe of matter, is infinite in extent and eternal in duration. Even if this were granted them, how could it be possible for the eternal to evolve? That which is boundless in extent has no space in which to undergo evolution, for it occupies all space; and that which is eternal in duration has no time in which to evolve, for it fills all time. Infinity of extension and duration would necessarily be indivisible, for how could that which is boundless be divided or bounded. But Mr. Huxley says that protoplasm consists of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen, and further tells us that this lifeless matter can be converted into living protoplasm only when it is brought into contact with previously existing living protoplasm. How then did this previously existing protoplasm originate? (Spontaneous generation has never been produced, and never will be.) It could not have existed eternally, for these same scientists tell us of a time when the surface of this earth was intensely hot, so hot that living matter could not have existed. If the earth’s crust should again become intensely hot (as we are told will occur, 2 Peter 3:12), will not living protoplasm again cease to exist? We, therefore, think it plain from the above that the material universe, instead of being infinite, is finite, and that it sometime began to exist, and that it is likewise possible for it to cease to exist. We also believe that there is a Being of infinite duration and power, whom we call God, the Creator of the universe, who is unity; who, by the power of his word, created man.
Creation is founded upon the sure word of God, the storehouse of all true science and sound philosophy. Evolution is founded upon falsehood, contradiction, supposition, and presumption.
Creation gives a reasonable explanation of the origin of life. Evolution fails altogether.
Creation is in harmony with the existing order of nature; that is, all life is from antecedent life. Evolution contradicts this.
The great Virchow, father of science in modern years in Germany, in a speech before a scientific meeting held at Munich some time ago (when Haeckel and others proposed that it should be demanded that the new doctrine be taught), said: “So long as no one can define for me the properties of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen in such a way that I can conceive how from the sum of them the soul arises, so long I am unable to admit that we should be at all justified in importing the plastidulic soul into the course of our education; on the contrary, I am of the opinion that before we originate such a hypothesis as the voice of science, before we say this is modern science we should first have to conduct a long series of careful investigations. We must therefore say to the teachers, ‘Do not teach it.’”
Edinburgh, Scotland.
Advertising
By L. D. SANTEE
L. D. SANTEE
LUKE declares, “The children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.” Luke 16:8. It must be in regard to business methods, for it can not be concerning spiritual interests.
Here in the city, some of our leading business men use fully half their income in telling the public about the excellence of their wares, and that they are on sale. Thousands of dollars are paid for the rent of bulletin boards, and other thousands fill the papers with “business ads.”
On every hand the lesson “Advertise, advertise,” is taught, and a man’s success is gauged by the amount of advertising he does. We have been fearful of copying the world too far. In this particular we have acted unwisely. We have been niggardly in advertising, and it has resulted in small audiences. Every show or troupe has learned the need of advertising; and while their seats were filled, we have wondered why people had so little interest to hear the truth.
Let us consider the advertising that Jesus did. “After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.” Luke 10:1.
If a man to-day should employ seventy men to prepare the way in thirty-five different places, we would say that he takes great pains to have his work known; and that in following up so many openings, he was a most diligent worker. He wished to meet the people in every place he visited, and deliver to them personally the message he had brought from heaven.
We can easily imagine what the work of the seventy would be. As they told of his words, of his miracles and his claim, the subject was wonderfully interesting. As they told of his healing the sick, perhaps there was some one in the audience who was afflicted similarly. How the interest would increase as they speculated and wondered if he would heal their sick. Before he came, the interest was at a white heat; and when at last he did come, the brief statement tells the story—“the multitudes thronged him.” By the words of the seventy, interest was awakened, their prejudice was disarmed, and the multitudes were eager to hear him.
Jesus kept these advance agents constantly employed. What a worker he was! and what a judicious worker! No time was lost in arousing an interest after he came to a place. That had been done by those sent before him.
Shall we not study his methods and follow his example? Can we not employ more of these helps of which the Bible speaks? The world is larger now than it was then. We need many times seventy. Let us search out those who are ready to be thus employed. We need men and women who will go forth for Jesus to-day, who will carry publications and hold Bible readings, and by a personal experience seek to hold up Christ as the sinner’s friend, and the One who is soon coming again. Paul said, speaking of the work of Christ, “This thing was not done in a corner.” Acts 26:26. Our ministers who have had the best success are those who have advertised the most.
The “gospel of the kingdom” has a world-wide field. It is many times larger than Palestine or Judea. In these last days, God has given us facilities that Christ did not have. The press is a factor that in his time was unknown. But he made use of all the facilities that he had; and in the work that he has commissioned us to do, he wants us to do the same. Tracts may be put in every home that will receive them. Posters may be placed so as to tell everybody where and when our meetings are to be held. We often sing, “To be living is sublime.” The reason is because of our opportunities. Shall we press everything into the service, make a short, glorious fight, gain the victory, and go home? Chicago, Ill.
Spirit of Prophecy Fulfilling
By J. L. McElhany
J. L. MCELHANY
A STRIKING fulfilment of the spirit of prophecy is taking place at the present time. If there are any doubts in the minds of any as to whether God has spoken through this source to his commandment-keeping people, we trust that the following statement of facts will serve to confirm their faith.
In “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VI, page 18, we read: “Brethren and sisters, would that I might say something to awaken you to the importance of this time, the significance of the events that are now taking place. I point you to the aggressive movements now being made for the restriction of religious liberty. God’s sanctified memorial has been torn down, and in its place a false sabbath, bearing no sanctity, stands before the world. And while the powers of darkness are stirring up the elements from beneath, the Lord God of heaven is sending power from above to meet the emergency by arousing his living agencies to exalt the law of heaven. Now, just now, is our time to work in foreign countries. As America, the land of religious liberty, shall unite with the papacy in forcing the conscience and compelling men to honor the false sabbath, the people of every country on the globe will be led to follow her example.”
At the present time Dr. Wilbur F. Crafts, of National (now International) Reform Bureau fame, is touring the world in the interests of that organization. He has visited China and Japan, where he was in conference with some of the highest government officials in the interests of the work he is doing. He spent a little time in Manila on his way to Australia and New Zealand, and from the latter countries he goes to Europe.
Although his stay in Manila was brief, some things were said and done that are deeply significant,—things that are fulfilling the above and other statements made through the spirit of prophecy. His first public address was upon the subject of “Living and Dying Nations.” His text was Isa. 58:13, 14: “If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.”
Dr. Crafts knows perfectly well that the prophet here refers to the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, the seventh day of the week, and not to the first day; but without explaining to his audience that he was reading a prophecy of a reform in keeping the true Sabbath, he made this scripture apply to Sunday, the false papal sabbath. The prophet was not so much concerned about saving a soul as he was about saving a community, a nation, and so with the organization represented by the speaker. This organization claims to be Christian, but apparently they have lost sight of the fact that Christ taught that the Good Shepherd went after the single lost sheep and restored it to the fold. According to the doctor’s exposition of Isaiah’s prophecy, the nations who are riding on the high places of the earth, the living nations, are the ones who are honoring and protecting by law the “quiet American sabbath.” The dying nations are the sabbathless ones who do not protect the sabbath(?), but turn it into a devil’s day, a day of pleasure, intemperance, impurity, and gambling. We would remind the doctor that Sunday comes down to us as “the wild solar holiday of all pagan times.” However, we can look for the time to come quickly when the International Reform Bureau will have succeeded in imposing this “quiet American sabbath” on all the sabbathless nations. There is a deep significance in the doctor’s talk about the “quiet American sabbath,” especially in the light of the above statement from the spirit of prophecy.
In order to save the day and dress it10up in sabbath garments, it is necessary to fight the vices that spoil the religious aspect, for according to the doctor’s version of Isaiah it is not to be a day of pleasure. Therefore the four great evils this international society is fighting are gambling, impurity, sabbath (Sunday) breaking, and intemperance. In his second address, speaking of these four great evils, he said that these things constituted a four-sided fort that must be attacked from all sides. Their weapons for fighting are “letters, lectures, literature, and legislation.” Legislation to attack sabbath (Sunday) breaking! Reader, do you understand what that means? Is your liberty to worship God on his holy Sabbath in danger? Twelve laws have already been passed by the United States Congress at the instance of this association, and they are working harder to-day than ever. They are doubling their force of secretaries.
Their attention is now turned to the Philippines. Here is the issue as outlined by Dr. Crafts: “My purpose is to bring to the officials and people of the Philippines, and especially its moral and religious leaders of all creeds—for the Bureau has had the support of Cardinal Gibbons and other Roman Catholics in three of its projects—such facts as will aid in wise agitation and effective legislation for the repression of these four evils in the Philippines.” According to this, the doctor wants legislation to repress sabbath (Sunday) breaking, among other things, in the Philippines, so that in place of a devil’s day the “quiet American sabbath” can take its place. At the conclusion of the doctor’s remarks a set of resolutions, touching on the opium traffic, was introduced and referred to a committee for further addition, copies of which are to be sent to the governor-general and the Philippine Commission. Dr. Crafts stated that President Roosevelt would know all about the action of that meeting as soon as his letter could reach the President. Thus we see that these men are using every opportunity to influence rulers and men in positions of authority. We need to be thoroughly awake to the situation. We have long known that these Sunday advocates would combine temperance and other reforms with their demands for Sunday laws; and because God’s people oppose the enforcement of this false sabbath, they will be accused of being enemies of temperance reform. In this connection every one should read carefully page 587 of “Great Controversy.” “Now, just now, is our time to work in foreign countries.” The conflict is on, the crisis is right upon us. Are we ready for the issue? We need to heed as never before the messages that come to us through the Lord’s servant. We need to hold up the true principles of Sabbath and temperance reform. Pray for the work in this field, that more workers may be found to come to this needy field and help to give the third angel’s message while there is still time to work.
Manila, Philippine Islands.
Mutual Oversight
By M. C. Strachan
M. C. STRACHAN
THE right of every individual is sacred, and his personal interests are of considerable magnitude; nevertheless, the church of Christ, the cause of God in the earth, has an oversight of its individual members, and has the divine prerogative to question the conduct and acts of its members.
In the twenty-second chapter of Joshua we read that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh built an altar by Jordan, “a great altar to see to;” and in verses 16-20 we read the speech which the children of Israel made to these tribes that dwelt on the other side of Jordan. “Thus saith the whole congregation of the Lord, What trespass is this that ye have committed?” Now, might not the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh do what they pleased about altar building? Did they not live in a free country? What right has anybody to interfere? These are the questions we might ask to-day.
Yes, the children of Israel had a right to inquire about the altar which the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh had built. However sacred our right or individuality or personality, none of us can live to himself. We can not lift a hand without compromising somebody. Life is much more subtle, delicate, sensitive, responsive, than some of us have ever imagined. It is touched by a million ministries at a million points; out of it goes what is incalculable as to influence and destiny.
With a true Christian, a member of the church, the body of Christ, there are no self-rights in the narrowest sense of the term. Why are there no self-rights? —Because self is lost in Christ. “Not I, but Christ.” “With brotherly love . . . preferring.” Self is destroyed the moment we catch a glimpse of a second person upon the scene of this great world. We shall never get right so long as we maintain that there is of right a self-interest, a self-idolatry, a self-trust. In Christ every man is part of every other man. We are members one of another. The acts of one are felt by all, consequently all have a right to question the wisdom of one's act or conduct.
This law of mutual oversight in the matter of doctrines. False doctrine is worse than bad bread. A man is no better than his doctrine when it comes to a clear summing up of things. If his doctrine is only in his head, then we care nothing for it; but if his doctrine has got down into his heart, it most assuredly will come up again in his life, his spirit, his conduct. And inasmuch as action brings with it continual influence ever multiplying, the church reserves the right to look into its sources and fountains and origins.
Christianity takes the oversight of the whole world. The Bible interferes with everybody and everything; the Bible will let nothing alone. Herein is revealed its inspiration. It searches into all interests and all claims and all institutions and all secret life by right. By what right? —By the right of life. The sun does not say, “By your leave.” It shines, and in shining, shows the reality of things.
All true Christians should be willing to allow their individual interests to stand aside that an established institution of the church might move on. There is a spirit of sacrifice in it that is akin to the divine. So long as the minds of men are diversified, the cause of truth in general will ever cut across the plan, the purposes, the privileges, of certain individuals.
“Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.” I Cor. 10:24.
“Even as I . . . not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many.” I Cor. 10:33.
“Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification.” Rom. 15:2.
It is a mistake to suppose that one is more likely to become a great saint because he has once been a great sinner. The two conditions have nothing in common. Paul was not great in righteousness because he looked upon himself as “the chief of sinners.” He could say, “By the grace of God I am what I am.” Peter was not better because he denied his Lord. The remembrance of sin may stimulate a good man to greater zeal in religion; but it is the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and not the remembrance of his evil life, that makes him what he is. Thousands of men have recalled the iniquity of their earlier years, and have not been made any better by it. Neither sin nor the remembrance of sin can make the character pure. “Thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine,” was not spoken of the prodigal. The remembrance that a man once smeared himself with filth does not make his complexion any fairer. There is nothing in sin to make anyone’s character beautiful or his life better. Grace and purity do not come from beneath, but from above.—United Presbyterian.
Why Wait?
By S. E. Kiser
If I to-morrow night should die,
You would endeavor to forget
My faults, my weaknesses, and try,
Perhaps, to even magnify
The virtues that were mine, and let
Your judgment of me rest, at last,
Upon my worthy deeds alone.
You would forget, when all was past,
The weaker traits that I had shown.
Why will you not, ere I depart,
O'erlook my faults sometimes, and see
And judge with kindness in your heart?
Why will you not, before I start
Upon the long, last journey, be
Content to judge me by the best
And fairest things I've done and said,
And kindly overlook the rest —
Why will you wait till I am dead?
— S. E. Kiser.
Tried
By Mrs. M. C. Du Bois
MRS. M. C. DU BOIS
“But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:10.
These words should bring comfort to the aching heart of the tempted one. They were spoken by one who knew whereof he spoke, one who had passed through great trials. Home, children, great wealth, were swept away in a day; disease fastened upon him, earthly friends forsook him, and he was brought very low. Even his wife taunted him; yet his faith in God remained unshaken. He was sure God would not forsake him, and exclaimed in all confidence, “When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” He would be purified from dross, as gold is purified in the fire. The knowledge of the fact that God understands our case perfectly should bring joy and courage. The way we are now walking may be rough and thorny; trials sharp and cutting may sweep over us; but can we not rejoice as we think that God takes notice of the path in which we are called to walk?
Still more; he not only knows the path we take, but he counts our steps. Think of this, weary one. This is not a fable: no, no! Weary mother, perhaps you have taken many steps to-day as you went about your daily work. You could not count them; but there is One who can, for “doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?” Job 31:4. Let us believe this, take courage, and cheer up.
Trials are for our good; they test us to prove what manner of persons we are. Every machine, every vessel that sails, has to be tried, tested. So every individual Christian has to be tried.
God’s people are a tried people. Not all will be tested, perhaps, in just the way Job was, but we shall be tested in such points as God sees we need. Have we the confidence in God that Job had? Can we say from the heart, “When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold”?
We are being tried day by day. Tests are coming which will prove whether we are true to God and his truth or not. Only those who are tried, will endure to the end. Think of that glorious ending when sorrow and suffering will be no more, no more sin, no more night. Is not the prize worth striving for?
Grand Ledge, Mich.
Tobacco
By H. W. Reed; Gilstrap, N. D.
H. W. REED
The use of tobacco in both smoking and chewing is rapidly on the increase. With a determination worthy of a better cause, boys and men persevere in learning to use tobacco. They easily tire of trying to do something that would bless themselves, and others as well; but they persist in learning to smoke or chew tobacco, even if they become deathly sick. This is a form of intemperance that we meet everywhere; on the cars, steamboats, stage, in the hotels, in the streets, in the home, on the farm, and wherever we find men, the tobacco user is found. The use of tobacco is an expensive, unhealthful, and filthy habit. It is a narcotic poison that weakens and confuses the brain, also paralyzes its fine sensibilities. It breaks down the nerve force, and benumbs the finer perceptions. It wrecks the bodies and minds of men. Though created in the image of their Maker, and designated the most noble part of God's created work, men are made slaves to a slow and insidious poison.
Parents can do much to prevent their children from forming the tobacco habit if they will but teach them to abhor all stimulants, such as spices, condiments, tea, and coffee. Instead of doing this, parents often foster in their children the desire for tobacco by the use of a stimulating diet. It is largely at the family board that the appetite is perverted, and the foundation laid both for the tobacco and for the liquor habit. Many parents, unknowingly, give the kind of food that surely excites a desire for tobacco and stimulating drinks. The family sits down to luxurious dishes, rich gravies, highly spiced foods, with an abundance of cakes and pastries; these highly seasoned foods irritate and inflame the stomach, which causes a desire for still stronger stimulants. All unnatural excitants are harmful, and cultivate the desire for tobacco and liquor; and when once the habit is formed, it is not easy to break its power; for daily the victim grows weaker, and the habit stronger. I have found many persons who could not get free from the tobacco and liquor habit on their own part. If help came at all, it came from outside, and from the One who did not fall on the point of appetite. Christ’s victory is our assurance that we, through him, may also overcome all debasing habits.
Gilstrap, N. D.
Intemperance and the Gallows
By James Berry
HAVING been impressed many times during my term of office as public executioner with the fact that intoxicating drink is the main support of the gallows, I think it would be dishonest on my part to my fellow countrymen were I to hide by any subterfuge the truth relative to this all-important matter.
The world would be astonished if it were generally known what quantities of intoxicants were consumed by those in authority in our prisons, and especially at an execution. It seems that the very thing that has been the means of bringing a murderer and his victim to an untimely end must also be used to goad the hangman before he can relentlessly carry out the law of strangulation.
Indeed, I can imagine no man who has in any way reached even a moderate degree of human development capable of deliberately hanging his fellow man before he has first excited his own lower nature by drink. I assert further that, out of all the teetotalers of the United Kingdom, and they now number about five millions, I do not believe it possible that one could be found who, were the post vacant, would declare himself ready to become the public executioner of this country.12
In all the seven hundred executions with which I have been connected, whether as hangman or as assistant, I do not know of one teetotaler among those who paid this extreme penalty.
What a country this is for mistakes! In this one thing alone we see the government legalizing a traffic which makes men mad and makes them commit murder; and then, on the other hand, providing a hangman to strangle them to death.—James Berry, for ten years public hangman for the British government. This statement is sent to the Sunday School Times by the Rev. Frank W. Dell, pastor of the Friends' church, Norwich, Ontario.