THE following is from a thoughtful editorial in the World's Crisis, the leading First-day Adventist paper in the United States:—
"We must unify our forces, concentrate our testimony. We are now quoted—and truthfully too—as holding so many opposites. Men say of us, No two of them agree. Yet each claims that the Bible is a plain book, and teaches plainly. This is our weakness, a great cause of our inefficiency. It comes of not sticking to the message with which God started us out. The remedy is in leaving all minor questions, and matters we don't know about, to be settled by the judgment, and preaching what God gave us to preach at the beginning,—the coming of Christ, why he is coming, what he will do when he comes, and preparation to meet him. This is message enough. This will distinguish us as a people. We do not need to preach vagaries, or uncertainties, in order to be noted. God will honor those that cling to the simplicity of the Word. Preach the Word."
But the preaching of the Word and sticking to the advent message will inevitably lead to the proclamation and keeping of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Rev. 14:6-14 is one message. Its result is set forth in verse 12, in developing a class of people who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. It prepares them for the coming of Christ, as revealed in verse 14. The message God gave the Advent people in 1840 and onwards was a living, moving message. Sticking to that message is going forward, following with it, even as the third angel followed with the first and second, even as the disciples followed with Jesus. Why cling to the moldy bread of the past? It was good then; but the bread of to-day is that which God gives fresh from heaven. Feeding upon that, giving that to the world, is sticking to the message God is giving to prepare a people for Christ's coming.
Delight in God’s Law
Under the law is under its condemnation. We do not consider ourselves under a dear friend; nor do we exalt ourselves above him. He is our fellow, our companion, in whose communion we find sweet delight. So it is with God's law to the true Christian. Like Christ he will say, "I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy law is within my heart." Like Paul he will say, "The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good." Like John he will say, "This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous." Brother, what do you say?
All for Christ
All for Christ.—The only true decision for Christ Jesus is to decide for him for life or death, in poverty or riches, alone or with the multitude. It is to take him and him alone in preference to all things else beside. Many persons yield themselves to Christ because others do. Many seemingly make fair progress in the Christian race as long as they have company; but they can not run alone. Such have never seen Christ. If they had, they would have started alone with him, whether any one else entered his service or not. They would pursue the race with him, tho every other one gave up, for they would see in him more than all. All we see and all we do not see must be given up. "But what things were gain to me [those which he saw], those I counted loss for Christ. Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord." If we endure at all, it is because we have forsaken all for him, and find his presence more precious than all else.
Premium Bible Offer
By Editor
Read our great premium Bible offer on page 14.
Donations for Missionary Work
By Editor
Donations for Missionary Work.—Our brethren and friends will remember that the missionary collection to be taken on the fourth Sabbath of this month is for the benefit of the International Tract Society. The society has no means of support excepting donations; yet it has a great work on hand, a work limited only by its means with which to work. It is now making an effort to prepare and furnish literature for the blind, to supply reading matter for inmates of hospitals, prisons, reform schools, and other public institutions. While donations to help this work are always in order, this occasion is set apart for a united effort.
Leaving God Out.
By Editor
In a note on a recently published brochure, entitled, "The Pharaoh of the Exodus," by Dr. Edward Mahler, of Vienna, in which he attempts to fix the exact dates of the Exodus, the Christian Work remarks:—
“Here we may note two points mentioned by Professor Harmer as bearing upon Professor Mahler’s conclusions. The year in question [B.C. 1335] presented an eclipse that might well be the cause of the darkness that might be felt.”
Now if the record of the darkness in Egypt is to be believed at all, why not believe the whole of it? A total eclipse of the moon may last an hour and a half; of the sun, about four minutes. But the record of Egyptian darkness reads: “And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days.” Ex. 10 : 22, 23. If the fact of the darkness is to be believed, why not believe its duration? The object seems to be to leave God and the miraculous out of the question. Now if it is not true that there were three days’ darkness, how do we know that there was any darkness at all? To believe of the Word only that which agrees with our theories is to not believe it at all.
Heaven
By Editor
Heaven.—The sensational New York Journal seems to think it a strange thing that there is a man who can say that he knows anything about what heaven is like. By heaven is meant the place of reward of the people of God. And yet God has told us again and again in his holy Word that the place of reward of his children would be this earth made new and sinless and deathless, and that its capital city would be the New Jerusalem in all its transcendent and immortal glory, as described in the Revelation, chapters 20 and 21. Why will not men believe God's Word? And why is it a strange thing that a minister should say he believed it? Surely faith is waning, but God and his Word are real, and will not fail.
Church
Church.—The word "church" in Scripture comes from the Greek word ekklesia, meaning "an assembly of the citizens regularly summoned." The church is an assembly of God's citizens, citizens of the "heavenly" country, Christian citizens, "regularly summoned." The One who summons them is God. The regular call or summons is the Gospel of his grace. Those who give that call are the true ministers of his Word. Those who respond are those who receive and accept of that Word with all the heart. They are called out of the world; they are called into the service of Christ. That call is sounding through the world. It comes to you, reader. Will you accept it?
Why Not Believe It?
Why Not Believe It?—God has a government and a law. That law is summarized in the Decalog, and all other moral teaching of his Word is but the divine drawing out and revealing of that wonderful law. What that law would do in character God manifested in Jesus Christ, the faithful and true Witness of just what that law is. Now why not believe it? Why endeavor to destroy the only complete and perfect law in the entire universe? What charge could be brought against this world if all men kept that law?
Birds for September
"Birds" for September presents an interesting account of the Yellow Warbler, the Hermit Thrush, the Song Sparrow, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, the House Wren, the Phœbe, the Ruby-crowned Kinglet, the Mourning Dove, and others, partly told by the birds themselves. The reproductions of the birds are excellent. Other interesting articles appear. Monthly, $1.50 per year. Nature Study Publishing Co., Chicago.
Papers Sent Without Payment
By Editor
We send no papers from this office to individuals without pay in advance.
When persons receive copies without ordering them, they are sent by other parties, and we can give no information in regard to them. Persons thus receiving copies of the "Signs" are not indebted to the office, and will not be called upon to pay for them. Please read the papers you may receive, and hand them to your friends to read.
Truth Cannot Be Settled by Vote
The truth can not be settled by vote. Human majorities have never been on the side of the religious truth for the time. This is because the unconverted heart will not yield to truth's claims. It is never wisdom, therefore, to put to vote before any audience the matter of Bible doctrine or teaching. It is a matter which rests entirely between the individual soul and his God. If men vote in truth's favor, it is no more truth. If they vote against it, it is no less truth. The wise teacher of truth will, therefore, never compromise it by even seeming to submit it to a popular vote.
El Faro, the Lighthouse
By Editor
"El Faro," or The Lighthouse, is the name of our new monthly Spanish paper, published at Buenos Ayres, Argentine Republic. The first number is a bright, clean-looking sheet of 12 pages, well printed, in good, clear type. It contains a page of choice advertisements. It will, we believe, prove a blessing to our work in that country, even as its older sister is in Mexico. May the Lord abundantly bless them both.
Missions and the Fireside Room
By Editor
The demands on our Missions department greatly diminished our Fireside room. But we are sure that the articles given in the Missions will more than compensate for this.
An Interesting Experience
By Editor
Read "An Interesting Experience," in our Missions department.
CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER.
By Editor
Editorial.
Concerning Prayer (notes), E. J. W. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1, 2
Which? Sabbath or Sunday? Seventh Day or First Day? . . . . . . . . . 2
Poetry.
The Word Speaketh, JOSEPH REA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4