Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 11, 1893
Christ’s Personal Second Coming
"I WILL come again," said Jesus to his disciples, as recorded in John 14:3.
THIS did not mean that he would come by his providence, or by his Spirit, or by death; it meant that Jesus himself, personally, would come again.
THAT Christ's second coming is not the pouring out of his Holy Spirit is evident from what Jesus said in promising the Spirit: "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you." John 16:7. So far, then, as the bestowment of the Holy Spirit's being Christ's coming again, Christ's absence was necessary to the coming of that Spirit.
THAT Christ's second coming is not at death is also shown (1) by the fact that the manner of that coming is against such a view; (2) that this would make many comings, even one every second, and often simultaneously in various parts of the world, whereas the apostle says he will "appear the second time;" and (3) that this view would make Christ come in the form of an enemy which he came to destroy; for death is an enemy. See 1 Cor. 15:26; Heb. 2:14; 1 John 3:8. Death is, therefore, not the second coming of Christ. His absence meant death to Lazarus; his coming meant life. John 11:32, 43, 44. And the disciples of Jesus understood that if one of their number lived to the time of Christ's coming, he would not die. John 21:22, 23.
THE second coming of Christ is a personal coming. Said the heavenly messengers to the eager, sorrowing, and amazed disciples who witnessed his ascension into heaven, amid a cloud of angels: "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come IN LIKE MANNER as ye have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:11. It will, therefore, be a visible, personal coming. The same truth is stated by the apostle Paul:
"For the Lord himself [not another] shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise." 1 Thess. 4:16. His coming is, therefore, personal and visible. "Behold, he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him." It will be the same Jesus who came to this earth in his lowliness, who was born in a manger, who suffered being tempted, who ministered to all man's wants and necessities, who died for our sins, Jesus the friend of sinners, who is coming again. He is coming to give life to those who sleep in him, coming to gather to his eternal kingdom all who trust in him. Reader, are you ready to meet him?
TWO PRINCIPLES.
TWO RELIGIONS.
TWO METHODS.
The Method of Antichrist.
THE method of Christ in controlling men we considered very briefly last week. It is by love; and as Christ represented God to the world, and as he in fact is the only one who has properly revealed, declared, or represented God to the world, it follows that God's method of controlling and dealing with men is just what was manifested through Christ while here upon earth. For as God was then manifest in Christ, and as God is unchangeable in character, therefore God's method of controlling men has always been the same. God is love, he always has been, and always will be; he wins by love; he gives man free choice. He, in love for man, points out the sad consequences of sin, the inevitable doom of the unrepentant, and appeals to man from the depths of his eternal love to turn and live; but he will not compel man.
Whatever power, therefore, has manifested, in its dealings with men, opposite purposes, motives, and methods, is not of God, but is82of the evil one. In other words, it is antichrist, it is the mystery of iniquity.
Force has ever been characteristic of all false religions, all of which have the same general basis. For familiar examples before Christ we need only to turn to the Bible. God gave to Nebuchadnezzar the kingdoms of the world, and made him ruler over them all, calling the Babylonian king his "servant." See Jer. 27:5, 7. God's grant to Nebuchadnezzar, however, only contemplated civil rule or power. Within the province of civil government, Nebuchadnezzar had unlimited sway; but any exercise of power outside of that was on his part a usurpation. The duty between man and God, or religious duty, God reserved to himself.
Nebuchadnezzar concluded, as many have since, that the faith or worship of his subjects fell within his purview. He therefore set up a great golden image in the plain of Dura, and made imperial proclamation that all should fall down and worship it on hearing the music of the royal band. Conspicuous in that vast throng, when the music burst forth, were three young men clad in official robes, holding high offices in the empire, but they bowed not before the image. They were summoned before the king on the complaint of jealous priests, courtiers, and magi. In his supposed clemency the king offered them another opportunity to worship; if not, the burning fiery furnace. But the offer was useless. The three men who so nobly stood by their God-given right to worship or not to worship made reply:—
"O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." Dan. 3:16-18.
Brave and noble answer, which God vindicated, thereby showing to the world forever that any earthly ruler, God's servant though he might be, and receiving his power and kingdom from God, had no right or authority from God to compel or enforce worship. Nebuchadnezzar was a worshiper of the sun and the gods of nature.
We give from the Inspired Record another example where another "servant" of God in matters civil, attempted to prevent worship of any kind save that of himself. It was not demanded that men should bow down to some object of worship, but they must not ask any petition of any god or man for thirty days, save of the king, on penalty of being subjected to cruel death. The whole thing was based on selfishness. The princes were selfishly jealous of Daniel. They induced the king to decree the senseless blasphemy through flattery of himself. The result was that the only man involved, the only criminal which the law produced, was the best man in the kingdom, one who served the empire well, because he truly served God. But he went on just as he had been doing, and prayed to his God three times a day. He disturbed the zealous patriots; Daniel was led before the king, and, contrary to the king's desire, was, by the law which the flattered and deluded monarch had ratified, cast into the lions' den. But God again vindicated his truth, and showed that earthly rulers had no power over the hearts and consciences of men.
And this principle would have been just as sacred if the worship desired to be enforced were the worship of the true God, or the worship desired to be prevented were the worship of false gods. For force on the part of man is always an evidence of a lack of the Spirit of God. It is always an evidence that the principle behind it is selfishness, not love; that the power behind it is Satan, not God, for he who is of God knows God, and will do the works of God, as manifest in Jesus Christ.
But upon this we will have more to say in the future.
WHAT WILL THEY SAY?
By Editor
Our esteemed contemporaries, the religious press, protest loudly and eloquently against Russian intolerance and persecution toward German Baptists and Lutherans, and Jews. And we say, Amen. But at this writing (December 1) there are lying in jail in the commonwealth of Maryland three citizens of this republic whose only crime is serving God according to their understanding of his word and the dictates of their conscience. Their general crime is "doing bodily labor on Sunday." Specifically, on Sunday one was found plowing in his own field, another setting out tomato plants in his own garden, and a third chopping wood at his own door. This work disturbed only those who purposely spied it out, and they only knew it because of their inquisition. These men are otherwise good citizens. They are made criminals wholly on account of their religion, which would harm no one. What will our contemporaries say? What will the followers of the once persecuted Luther, Wesley, and Roger Williams say? What will the Independent, the Examiner, the Christian Advocates, the Christian Enquirer, the New York Observer, the Lutheran papers, the Christian at Work, the Outlook, the Congregationalist, the Interior, the Advance, and many other great papers say? We will print their responses if they will send us marked copies. What do our readers of all denominations say? It is not a matter of denominational belief that is at stake, but the great principle of liberty of conscience. Speak, brethren. What have you to say, in the light of the Golden Rule?
MARYLAND CRIMINALS.
By Editor
THE Times of this city of December 1 has the following editorial note:—
A man in New York has spent $750 and eighteen months of time in trying to find out whether he has a right to fish on Sunday in the Empire State, in a pond reserved by an anglers' club to which he belongs. A year ago last summer he was seen sitting in a boat trolling for pickerel, by a pious man whose veranda gave a view of the pond, and the Puritanical spirit prompted his arrest for breaking the sabbath. His case is now before the Court of Appeals. In Maryland a Seventh-day Adventist is in prison because his interpretation of the Bible teaches him to make Saturday his Sabbath, instead of Sunday. This all occurs in the evening of the nineteenth century, when civilized people supposed persecutions like these were past.
There are three Seventh-day Adventists in prison in Maryland to-day, one for plowing his field; one for setting out tomato plants in his garden, the only witness against him being the constable, who went there to catch him, and who, by the way, was his own son; the third for chopping wood in his own dooryard, the witnesses against him being two men who "spied" him out on purpose, and who had threatened to arrest him if he worked Sunday. Worse than all, the sheriff refused to permit the friends of the "criminals" to bid them good-by at the jail—a privilege accorded the worst of criminals and their friends. Or is it true, as Archbishop Ireland states, "The violator of a Sunday law is the worst of criminals"?
ROME WISHES GOVERNMENTAL SUPPORT.
By Editor
THE faithful, devoted student of the word of God is not blind to the projects, aims, and purposes of the Papacy. The papal church herself declares that she is and has ever been the only true, infallible church. Some, and, in fact, most professed Protestants now consider that she is now greatly affected by the liberal spirit of the age; that she is no longer what she once was; that she is really a part of the church of Christ, and as such should be counted an ally in all matters of reform, especially as regards the Sunday question.
But Rome declares that she is now the true church of Christ, and always has been; that the alleged atrocities of authentic history are prejudiced views of intense partisans, the rantings of fanatics, or the out and out falsehoods of her enemies. True; there are changes in Rome's policy—but not in her purposes—because her environments and condition demand such changes. Her purposes have ever been the same,—the glorifying of the hierarchy, the supremacy of the Roman pontiff, the extension and power of the church as represented in the Vatican. Are the strong governments of earth autocratic and monarchical? The Papacy holds to the divine rights of kings, if their authority be received through the pope as God's vicegerent. Has the Papacy power?—Kings tremble at the power, and are humbled at its will. Is the church cast off by the civil power?—She pays assiduous court to every earthly government, clothing the angular form and cruel features of her centuries of crime against God with the stolen livery of heaven. Is the political trend toward democratic or republican form of government?—Rome is an ardent admirer of all such institutions, and the only conservator of the republic's safety and continued prosperity, while all the time, by the arts of which she is mistress, she is gaining control of the powers of government to use for her own ends.
Two weeks ago we showed just how Rome, despite all the efforts of Protestants, had been able to secure from the government twice as much money for Indian schools as all the other churches combined. Now she is asking for support for her denominational or parochial schools as a blessing to the government, a worthy object of government support. The address of the papal ablegate Satolli, delivered on Thanksgiving day, in Washington, D. C., ostensibly to the students and faculty of Gonzaga College, but really to all the country, is printed below, as taken from the San Francisco Examiner of December 1:—
The whole of America gives thanks to-day to Almighty God, whose kind providence continues to spread its benefits on this glorious republic. As all power comes from God, so must we acknowledge as coming from God, prosperity, the fruit of peace, and victory, the fruit of the duty performed. Since Catholics should be most faithful, constant followers of religious and social virtues, so as to be living examples of all who do not share in their faith, they have indeed good reason to be proud and to think themselves privileged to conform on this day to the President's solemn invitation to thank God for protecting and speeding the American republic.
We may be sure of this, that all Americans of whatever church they may be members, even if of none, recognize the value of the Catholic school; they are interested in it; they wish it to continue and progress; they have learned by experience that citizens educated in these schools do not fall short in knowledge and in love of the American Constitution; that they do not lag behind the most progressive of the American people; that they are endowed with steadiness of character, with constancy of right purpose; that they are just, active, charitable, and generous unto sacrifice.
Such, then, is the magnificent spectacle presented to America by the Catholic schools, not unlike the spectacle given by the first Christians to the whole world in the early centuries of the church. In those days it looked as if pagans and philosophers might despise and calumniate the customs and religion of the Christians, but in reality they could not conceal very long their true judgment, nor hide their astonishment at the spectacle of social and religious virtues preached by Christians.
It was impossible at the time to bring about this harmony, because the civil constitution was imbued with errors and superstitions, and because it was believed with no good reason that the ruin of the State would follow inevitably the disappearance of those superstitions. But, thanks to God and glory to the men who inspired the American Constitution, such a state of things as obtained in Rome is not possible here.
He is speaking here of Pagan not Papal Rome. Neither does this mean that Satolli is converted to the principles enunciated in the American Constitution; for he is not; he is only expressing his Catholic faith in Catholic schools, and saying to the government, "Support them, for it shall be well with you." He continues:—
And I will say that whoever seriously meditates on the principles of the American Constitution, whoever is acquainted with the present condition of the American republic, should be persuaded and agree with us that the action of Catholic faith and morality is favorable in every way to the direction in which the Constitution turns. For the more public opinion and the government will favor Catholic schools, more and more will the welfare of the commonwealth be advanced.
Catholic education is the surest safeguard of permanence throughout the centuries of Constitution, and the best guide of the republic in civil progress. From this source the Constitution will gather on that assimilation so necessary for a perfect organization of that great progressive body which is the American republic.
That is the sincere expression of my conviction, and, so to speak, the profession of my faith in this matter. Up to the present it has been inexplicable to me, and never, perhaps, shall I find out what was the origin of the suspicion that my views were not favorable to Catholic schools.
Those who at first or ever after have attributed to me such an absurd opinion ought to point to some word or action of mine to justify themselves. Had I spoken differently, I should be unfaithful to my mission, ungrateful to the generous hospitality which I have enjoyed and am enjoying in America; and, moreover, I should have given the lie to my first and unchangeable convictions.
Every Catholic school is a safe guardian of youth, and it is at the same time for the American youth a place of training, where they are brought up for the advantage of the church and the country.
Grant, Heaven, that Catholic schools may continue to increase in number, grow stronger, reach the highest perfection, endowed with the blessings of God, commended by the authority of the church and Holy Father,83honored and appreciated by every honest citizen, from the illustrious President down to the most humble workman.
Those only are against them who do not know them, or who are not animated by the spirit of the church, and are wanting in sentiments of true liberty.
There are those who know nothing about Rome, but who will agree to all of this rather than to be called ignorant. There are others who are so drunken with the wine of Babylon's fornication that they will acquiesce in it all as a family utterance. There are others who know Rome of old, know what she has been, know she has been a blighting, blasting curse to every nation which has given her power, and who know she will still be; and yet they hope to do what powerless Protestantism can never do,—check her advances, and destroy her influences. There are others still who see in all this the rapidly cumulating evidences of the short, sharp, terrific struggle foretold in the word of God, when the beast shall make war with the Lamb, but the Lamb shall overcome, and will deliver his persecuted people. Theologians may rave against Rome's encroachments, but scheming politicians will sell honor and country to extend their little minute of earthly power and prosperity.
These professions of benevolence and love of liberty, this claim to loyalty to the Constitution, this parade of patriotism of Roman Catholics, are all parts of the beguiling song which this Siren of the Centuries is singing to-day in the ears of America, and which will certainly lead her to destruction. They are all ingredients in the magic cup which this modern Circe is mixing for the nations, and which they are now quaffing to their own degradation and destruction.
THE DEVOTED SUNDAY KEEPERS.
By Editor
THE "GREAT MORAL VICTORY."
ONE special reason why Sunday laws are desired is to compel Sunday keepers to keep Sunday. During the early part of the summer much was said in religious papers about the great moral victory of the Sunday closing at the World's Fair. The fact was that there was no moral victory about it. Some were induced to cover their exhibits, and strong pressure was brought to compel it. The railroad fare kept up during the larger part of the season, and the people did not care to pay large railway fares and full admission fee to see a half show. We said so at the time; the last five Sundays of the Fair demonstrated it, and now the Sunday national reformers have admitted it. Read the following extracts from an article by Rev. J. W. Foster, one of the old-time National Reform secretaries, in the Christian Statesman of November 4:—
There are in the United States 2,000,000 working men who uniformly trample underfoot the sabbath laws of this country. To them the message is addressed, "Submit yourselves to these sabbath laws, which have been enacted for the public good." They reply: "We would be glad, for the sake of ourselves, our families, our country, and our God, to rest every Lord's day. But our employers compel us to work on sabbath on pain of losing our position." Now, it must be said in candor that there is not much of the martyr spirit here. They did wrong in consenting to work on sabbath. They ought to have obeyed God and left the consequence with him.
By the term "sabbath" Mr. Foster means Sunday. Italics throughout are ours. He continues:—
But those who make sabbath work the condition of their being employed have the greater sin. Who are their employers?—They work for street-car companies, railroad companies, and for the United States Government in the mail service. But who is the principal?—We went to the president of a street-car company and asked him if he was responsible for the sabbath work of his company; he said: "I am only the servant of the directors. Personally, I believe in the sabbath and keep it faithfully." Then we went to the board of directors—the majority were church members. They said: "The churches do not regard it as wrong to run the cars on sabbath. They are a great convenience in getting to and from church. The public demand them and we meet the demand. Besides, we are only agents. The owners of the road require it to be run seven days in the week." We asked, "Who are the owners?" And they named the stockholders. All but three or four of these were church members. They said: "We do not regard ourselves as responsible for the sabbath desecration charged upon our road. Holding stock in a corporation does not make us responsible for the crimes of the body. Besides, the company was incorporated by the government; and if it is allowed to break the law, the government is responsible." Then we went to the government, and said: "This government compels half a million men to break our sabbath laws in the United States mail service. This government gives charters to street-car companies and railroad corporations, which deprive as many more of their sabbath rest and make them lawbreakers." The reply was: "This is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. It is based upon public sentiment. The people demand that the postal service, railroad service, and street cars be continued on sabbath. From that decree there is no appeal. Besides, we have been observing the churches. Their members use the street cars, railroad trains, and post office on sabbath. Their members do the mechanical part of this public work on sabbath. Their members are stockholders, officers, and directors of these sabbath-breaking corporations. And so we conclude that the churches one and all uphold the public verdict. If the churches would lift up a faithful testimony against this sabbath desecration, and exclude from her membership all who are personally, or by implication, guilty of the crime, then this public sabbath breaking would cease. But till the churches do their duty, it will go on."
Then, after referring again to Sunday trains, street cars, Sunday papers, etc., Mr. Foster says:—
I can see no hope until God comes in his judgments and makes these enterprises a financial loss to those interested in them.
Mr. Foster then refers to slavery, and says that the churches are as slow in responding to Sunday laws as to the abolition of slavery, and quotes Senator Ingalls as saying that New England was not aroused to the evil of slavery "until it ceased to be profitable;" and this is what it is proposed to do—to make Sunday business of all kind unprofitable by the boycott, and then the church conscience will be aroused. Mr. Foster further says:—
No wonder the public conscience did not respond to the message of the Abolitionists. To-day the church cannot be found that makes the holding of stock in sabbath-breaking corporations a matter of discipline. All the churches have become parties to this terrible sabbath desecration. Is it any wonder the public conscience is dead to the call of sabbath reformers? I suppose the "American conscience will never be alive to the immorality of sabbath-breaking corporations until it ceases to be profitable, and the country will not finally determine to put away this sabbath desecration until convinced that its continuance threatens not only their industrial independence but their national life."
All of this for Sunday. The great mass of the people know that the day is in nowise sacred, is not the Sabbath. There can be no good conscience behind Sunday reform. The whole thing is based on a wrongly instructed religious sentiment, blind religious prejudice, and absolute selfishness. The ministers want the people to attend church, and so wish laws to prevent their doing anything else.
The merchant, the shopkeeper, wants laws to compel men to close their places of business, because he wishes to close, and he does not want their competition on that day. Others have a sort of religious sentiment with reference to the day, because father or mother kept it; and all of these will be wonderfully stirred in conscience and will develop wonderful zeal in Sunday reform when Sunday opening or travel is rendered unprofitable. Who cannot see the selfishness of the whole Sunday "reform," from beginning to end? The unselfish man, the man with the Spirit of Christ, would never ask for a Sunday law, nor any religious law whatever. Seventh-day people have no trouble. They observe the seventh day. Why?—God commands it; Christ kept it. Unprofitable?—Yes, from a financial standpoint. Lose their places?—Yes, many of them. But Christ and his truth are more than all else. They may suffer, but they will not disobey God.
But may we suggest that before our Sunday-law friends ask for further legislation it might be well to convert those who profess to regard the day, and then see what their example would do? In all soberness, what a spectacle to angels of God must be this "Christian nation" and these "Christian churches," which require civil laws to compel them to observe the "Christian sabbath"!! It is all contrary to the gospel of Christ.
ROMEWARD.
By Editor
This is the trend of modern Protestantism. Says Cardinal Gibbons in reply to a question if there were many conversions to the Catholic faith (Catholic Mirror, October 28, 1893):—
“Great numbers. We keep a record, and there were, for instance, seven hundred and fifty-six last year in the diocese of Baltimore alone.”
And then, speaking of the trend toward ritualism on the part of the Methodists and Presbyterians, he thus continues:—
“The Low Church of to-day would have been regarded as High Church not many years ago, and the present High Church is as nearly Roman Catholic as imitation can make it. We should have many more conversions among Protestant ministers who would like to become priests but for one thing,—the celibacy of our clergy. There are men longing to enter the fold of Christ [the Roman Church], but they have wives and children to care for. In their hearts they are true Catholics.”
And why not unite with Rome? If the Roman Catholic Church—the Papacy—is a part of the church of Christ now, she was in the time of the Reformation; for she does not and has not changed from her principles since; in fact, she has augmented her assumptions to divinity. If she is the church of Christ now, she was then, and therefore the Reformers who called her "apostate," "apocalyptic harlot," and "antichrist," were mistaken, and Protestantism was therefore a mistake; and therefore, again, the only logical thing for Protestants to do, who believe that church to be a part of the church of Christ, is to return to the fold and renounce Protestantism as unjustifiable and wrong, and without a reason for its existence. This is the inevitable logic of the primary supposition. But, thank God, the Reformers were not mistaken, the Reformation not a mistake, the cry of the Bible and the Bible alone not empty words. True Protestants, who stand on the rock of God's word, will not go to Rome, but will protest still. Reader, what will you do?
TRUTH REVEALED TO THE HUMBLE.
By Ellen G. White
BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.
"Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes." The Lord Jesus presented the heavenly treasures to the Jewish people, but many of them would not receive them. The educated men thought themselves too wise to need instruction, too righteous to need salvation, too well honored to need the honor that Jesus would confer upon them in making them laborers together with God. In the scribes, Pharisees, and rulers, Jesus found not the bottles for his new wine. He was obliged to turn from them to humble men, whose hearts were not filled with envy, covetousness, and self-righteousness. The lowly fishermen obeyed the call of the divine Teacher, while the scribes and Pharisees refused to become converted.
The disciples that Jesus called were uneducated, and were far from being perfect in character when Jesus united them with himself; but they were willing to learn from the greatest Teacher the world ever knew. They were truly converted men, and became the new bottles into which Jesus could pour the new wine of his kingdom. But though they were converted to Christ, yet, because of their limited earthly comprehension—the result of the teaching they had had from the Jews—they were unable fully to understand the spiritual nature of the truth he could impart. The burden of his instruction was the necessity of his followers having pure and holy hearts, for holiness alone would fit them to become subjects of his heavenly kingdom.
The divine Sower scattered grains of precious seed, which we cannot see until a skillful laborer, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, gathers them together and presents them to us as a complete system of truth, unfolding the depths of divine love. For all ages Jesus, the author of truth, through prophets and people, had presented truth upon truth to the Jews, from the pillar of cloud and fire. But the truth he had given had become mingled with error, and it was necessary to separate from the companionship of heresy and evil. It was necessary to readjust it in the framework of the gospel, in order that it might shine forth in its original luster and illuminate the moral darkness of the world. Wherever he found a gem of truth that had been lost from its setting, or had been marred with error, he reset it, and stamped upon it the signature of Jehovah. He proved himself to be the word and the wisdom of God.
The commonplace matters of time and earth had engrossed the minds of the people at the time of Christ, just as Satan had designed that they should. Sin had expelled from the heart the love of God, and instead of the love of God there was found in the heart the love of the world, the love of sinful indulgence of evil passions. Christ alone could adjust the claims between heaven and earth. Man's vision had become blinded, because he did not keep in view the spiritual and eternal world. But the kind of teaching that Christ gave to the world did not harmonize with the teaching of the scribes and Pharisees; for their religion consisted in a round of forms and ceremonies, and the offering of sacrifices, which had been designed by Christ to keep his sacrifice in mind, had lost its significance. Unless the sacrifices were offered in faith, accompanied with contrition and humility, they were valueless in the eyes of God, and even an abomination to him. God repeatedly had declared that the sacrifices acceptable to him were a broken and a contrite heart. He said, "The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit."
In Christ's perfection of character was found the ransom for the sinner, the way in which the rebel against God might be reconciled to God. Those who will submit to the drawing power of Christ, may be justified by a just God. Jesus is the ladder which Jacob saw. The base of this ladder rests upon the earth, in the human nature of our Lord, and its top reaches the throne of God, in his divinity. The light of the glory of God illuminates the whole ladder, and that light shines into every believing heart, enlightening, strengthening, encouraging. Angels of shining brightness ascend and descend upon this ladder, and minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation. Through the merit of Christ, intercourse between heaven and earth has been opened, and the system of sacrifices instituted at Adam's fall had no virtue except as they showed forth the great Mediator between God and man. Jesus was the true Sacrifice, who was to die for man's transgression. The sacrifice of Cain was rejected because it was not an offering that acknowledged the sacrifice of Christ for the sins of the world. In Cain's offering there was no confession of sin, no acknowledgment that he was in need of a Saviour. To-day there are thousands and tens of thousands who are making the same mistake as did Cain, and as did the Pharisees in the days of Christ. They are trusting in self, and depending upon their own wisdom, and do not realize their own spiritual poverty. To them comes the Laodicean message: "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot; I would that thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked."
As in the days of Christ, the Pharisees do not know their own spiritual destitution. The Lord says, "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see." Faith and love are the gold tried in the fire. But with the Pharisees the gold has become dim, and the rich treasure has been lost. To them it is said: "I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent."
But while these messages of reproof are addressed to those who have backslidden, and who have left their first love, yet He who knows all things has given us this precious promise: "I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known; I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them." One who has been anointed with the spirit of wisdom and understanding, is able to lead every soul who will submit to be led, and He has trodden every step of the way before us. "If any man lack wisdom," let him lean upon his fellow-man?—No; "let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not."
In the person and work of Christ the holiness of God is revealed; for Christ came to reveal the Father. Satan had cast his shadow athwart the pathway of humanity, and misrepresented the character of God. The controversy of Satan did not end when he was expelled from the courts of heaven. He hated Christ for his position in the courts of God, and he hated him the more when he himself was dethroned. He hated him when he came to a ruined world, to show mercy and manifest his compassion toward a race of sinners. Through the chief priests and Pharisees the hatred of Satan was manifested toward the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world.
CHRISTIAN CONDUCT.
By William Jay
OFTENTIMES a young Christian may be puzzled about how he should act as a Christian. I have this much to say—one who is very anxious to do God's will, and is prayerful and reads his Bible daily, is not often troubled by this question. We must take it for granted that everybody who is a Christian wants to do the will of Christ.
The New Testament furnishes general rules for Christian conduct. The whole law is love to God and love to man. This comprehends everything. We give some rules founded on the Scriptures:—85
1. Do nothing if you doubt its being right. "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin."
2. If there is something you want to do which would do you no harm, but might lead a weaker brother into sin, dare not do it. "Wherefore if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth."
3. Do not place yourself in a false position. "Abstain from all appearance of evil."
4. Do nothing in thought, word, or deed on which you cannot ask God's blessing. "Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."
The work of a Christian, as it is described in the Bible, looks fitter for the angel than for a fallen man; but the fallen, weak man has more than the sufficiency of an angel for the discharge of it—his sufficiency is of God.
—The Rev. W. Jay.
MY CREED.
By Alice Cary
I hold that Christian grace abounds
Where charity is seen; that when
We climb to heaven, 'tis on the rounds
Of love to men.
I hold all else, named charity,
A selfish scheme, a vain pretense.
Where center is not can there be
Circumference?
This I moreover hold and dare
Affirm where'er my rhyme may go,
Whatever things be sweet or fair,
Love makes them so,
Whether it be the lullabies
That charm to rest the nursling bird,
Or that sweet confidence of sighs
And blushes, without a word,
Whether the dazzling and the flush
Of softly sumptuous garden bowers,
Or by some cabin door a bush
Of ragged flowers.
'Tis not the wide phylactery,
Not stubborn fasts, nor stated prayers,
That make us saints; we judge the tree
By what it bears.
And when a man can live apart
From work on theologic trust,
I know the blood about his heart
Is dry as dust.
—Alice Cary.