Earlier text: EditorialCREATION.
By William Covert
WHEN Moses wrote about the origin of things he says, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." Gen. 1:1. We have never been able to positively know anything about this subject only as we have learned it from the Scriptures. There has been much speculation as to how the worlds were made, but there is no agreement upon the subject, excepting with those who believe the Bible. Even they can agree only when they actually indorse what is written. Paul writes as follows upon the subject: "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God." Heb. 11:3. Thus we see that it is faith that gives the understanding. We feel quite certain regarding those things which we understand. But where can we obtain the faith by which to understand? Answer: "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Rom. 10: 17. The word of God says that "in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is." Ex. 20:11. Thus by faith we understand that God made the heaven and the earth in six days. But as Paul tells us that God created all things by Jesus Christ (Eph. 3:9), we are enabled to progress in our understanding by believing from faith to faith. Therefore we understand that God framed the heavens and the earth in six days by Jesus Christ. We know that God associated someone with him in creation, because Moses tells us that God said, "Let us make," etc., showing that he took counsel with another. And Paul tells us that God made the worlds by his Son. Heb. 1:2. The proposition in creation was that man should bear the image of the Creator. If man was made in the image of the Father, he was also made in the image of the Son, for Paul says that the Son was the brightness of the Father's glory, and the express image of his person (verse 3), so that if man was in the image of the one, he was also in the image of the other, because they were in the same image. We are elsewhere told that Christ is "the image of the invisible God." And in the same connection the apostle says of Christ, "By him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by him, and for him; and he is before all things and by him all things consist." Col. 1:16, 17. As there is not a throne, dominion, principality, thing, nor power in all the universe that was not created by Jesus Christ, he is therefore the Creator of all things. He was one with the Father in making the worlds. So the Father, in speaking to Christ concerning the work of creation, addressed him thus: "Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands." Heb. 1:10. This is what the Father himself declares concerning the mighty works of his Son. In the secret counsels of eternity the Father and the Son laid the plan of all things, and the Son by his word called for each thing in its order, and it came into being because of the power of the word of Him that spake. The reader will please notice how the prophet addresses the Creator: "But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not; for I have redeemed thee." "For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour." Isa. 43:1, 3. And again, "I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no Saviour." "Yea, before the day was I am he." Verses 11, 13. The Creator here referred to is the only Saviour. But Christ is that Saviour. Acts 4:12. But the unity of Christ with the Father both in creation and redemption is so clearly seen in the scriptures already cited that it seems useless to mention other proof. But perhaps someone will ask why the subject should be presented at all, as it is so plain that it could scarcely be overlooked by any student of the Scriptures. We answer that, although it is so plain, yet many have not noticed it, and many who do acknowledge it have not had their attention called to a very interesting conclusion that is based upon it. We will therefore request your careful attention to some future articles that we trust will be profitable for your study. PREDESTINATION.
By N. W. Kauble
By the term "predestination" is meant the purpose of God from eternity respecting the salvation of mankind, or, in other words, "the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord." "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love; having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will." Eph. 1:4, 5. This purpose which in the good pleasure of his will he purposed, will be accomplished; for it is decreed by him "who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will," and who admonishes us, "Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure." Isa. 46:9, 10. The salvation revealed in this purpose is not, therefore, a thing of doubt but an absolute certainty; so certain indeed is it that if John Smith were named as one of the class embraced, there is not power enough in the universe to prevent his being saved. But no one is thus specified, for God's purpose is not to give this priceless treasure to name, rank, or family, but to character; and so the blessing remains just as much a fact to those receiving the character as though named. Our Lord, "who changeth not," from eternity saw and approved of the character in Christ, and ordained that all who would take it in Christ should be saved. "To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious; and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious; but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient; whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." 1 Peter 2:4-9. Those who are chosen as a royal priesthood and peculiar people are those who are called out of darkness into light. Only those are thus called who will come (Rev. 22:17) and take the water of salvation as a free gift through Jesus Christ (John 7:37). From eternity God foresaw who would willingly accept of this light and salvation, and "appointed them" "to obtain" it by our Lord Jesus Christ. "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first born among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called." Rom. 8:29, 30. Since only those are predestinated who are called, and those called who "will come," and those who "will come" are conformed to the image of Christ, it therefore follows that only those are predestinated who are "found in him not having" their "own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through faith of Jesus, the righteousness which is of God by faith," these are they who are made heirs according to the hope of eternal life, which hope is in Christ Jesus. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God." Eph. 2:8. "For there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12. Those who trust in works for salvation are as utterly incapable of salvation as it is impossible for those to be lost who trust in Christ. The Jews as a people claimed to be the called and chosen of God, but when many of them were cast off by trusting in their works, the apostle inquires:— "Hath God cast away his people?" But in the next breath declares: "God forbid." "God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew [would trust in Christ]. Wot ye not what the Scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace." Rom. 11:1-5. If the elect of God, foreknown of him, of which there was a remnant at this time, was the people who trusted only in his grace for salvation, and if those were cast off who trusted in works, how important that we who would be saved separate ourselves fully from every idea of salvation except that which is in Christ, and so know of a certainty that we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. "For if God spared not the natural branches [who trusted in their works], take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness; otherwise thou also shalt be cut off." Rom. 11:21, 22. Of What Avail Is All Our Profession?
"Of what avail is all our profession if we are not really kept?" There Is Something Wrong with Our Religion
“THERE is something wrong with our religion when we are ashamed of it.” OVERCOME AS CHRIST OVERCAME.
By Mrs. E. G. White
SINCE the fall of our first parents, obedience has not been deemed an absolute necessity. Men have followed the imagination of their own hearts, which the Lord has said is “evil, and that continually.” The Lord Jesus declares, “I have kept my Father’s commandments.” How? as a man? “Lo I come to do thy will, O God.” To the accusations of the Jews he stood forth in his pure, virtuous, holy character, and challenged them to point out a defect in his life. He said, “Who of you convinceth me of sin?” The world’s Redeemer came not only to be a sacrifice for sin, but to be an example to man in all things. He was a teacher, such an educator as the world never saw or heard before. He spake as one having authority, and yet he invites the confidence of all. “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” The only-begotten Son of the infinite God has, by his words and in his practical example, left us a plain pattern which we are to copy. By his words he has educated us to obey God, and by his own practice he has showed us how we can obey God. This is the very work he wants every man to do, to obey God intelligently, and by precept and example teach others what they must do in order to be obedient children of God. Jesus has helped the whole world to an intelligent knowledge of his divine mission and work. He came to represent the character of the Father to our world; and as we study the life, the words, and works of Christ, we are helped in every way in the education of obedience to God; and as we copy the example he has given us, we are living epistles known and read of all men. We are the living human agencies to represent to the world the character of Christ. Not only did Christ show us how we may become obedient children, but he showed us in his own life and character just how to do those things which are right and acceptable with God, so there is no reason why we should not do those things which are pleasing in his sight. We are ever to be thankful that Jesus has proved to us by actual life that man can keep the commandments of God, contradicting Satan’s falsehood that man cannot keep them. The great Teacher came to our world to stand at the head of humanity, to thus elevate and sanctify humanity by his holy obedience to all the requirements of God, showing it is possible to obey all the commandments of God. He has demonstrated that a lifelong obedience is possible. Thus he gives men to the world, as the Father gave the Son, to exemplify in their life the life of Christ. Christ redeemed Adam’s disgraceful failure and fall, and was conqueror, thus testifying to all the unfallen worlds and to fallen humanity that through the divine power granted to him of heaven man can keep the commandments of God. Jesus, the Son of God, humbled himself for us, endured temptation for us, overcame in our behalf, to show us how we may overcome; by the closest ties he bound up his interest with humanity, and gave positive assurance that we shall not be tempted above that we are able; for with the temptation he will make a way of escape. The Holy Spirit was promised to be with those who were wrestling for victory, demonstrating the power of might by endowing the human agent with supernatural strength, and instructing the ignorant in the mysteries of the kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit is to be our helper. Of what avail would it have been to us that the only-begotten Son of God had humbled himself, endured the temptations of the wily foe, and wrestled with him during his entire life on earth, and died, the just for the unjust, that humanity might not perish, if the Spirit had not been given as a constant working, regenerating agent to make effectual in our cases what had been wrought by the world’s Redeemer? The Holy Spirit implanted in the disciples, enabled them to stand firmly against idolatry, and to exalt the Lord alone. The Holy Spirit guided the pens of the sacred historians that the record of the precious words and works of Christ might be presented to the world. The Holy Spirit is constantly at work seeking to draw the attention of men to the great sacrifice made upon the cross of Calvary, to unfold to the world the love of God to man, and to open to the convicted soul the precious promises in the Scriptures. It is the Holy Spirit that brings to the darkened minds the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness. It is the Holy Spirit that makes men’s hearts burn within them with an awakened intelligence of the truths of eternity. It is the Holy Spirit that presents before the mind the moral standard of righteousness and convinces of sin. It is the Holy Spirit that produces godly sorrow which worketh repentance that needeth not to be repented of, and inspires faith in Him who alone can save from all sin. It is the Holy Spirit that works to transform character by withdrawing the affections of men from those things which are temporal and perishable, and fixing them upon the immortal inheritance, the eternal substance which is imperishable. The Holy Spirit recreates, refines, and sanctifies the human agents, that they may become members of the royal family, children of the Heavenly King. Jesus says: “Follow me.” “He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” Consider it not a hard duty. The commandments of God are his expressed character flowing out of a heart of love in thoughtful plans that man may be preserved from every evil. They are not to exercise an arbitrary authority over man, but the Lord would have men act as his obedient children, members of his own family. Obedience is the outgrowth and fruit of oneness with Christ and the Father. “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” When we unmistakably hear his voice and obey, every murmuring thought will be repressed; and we will leave all consequences with Him who gave the commandment. If, as we see the footprints of Jesus, we step in them and follow him, we shall have love and power. The question is often asked, “What difference does it make which day we keep for the Sabbath?” But it does make a difference; for the same principle is involved as was involved in Adam’s case. He was put to the same test. For he was to prove by obedience his loyalty to God or by disobedience to forfeit the right to the tree of life. Satan presented this same specious question. What difference does it make whether you eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, or of any other tree of the garden? Adam’s sin consisted in doing the thing the Lord had forbidden him to do, and this opened the flood gates of woe on our world. We should carefully meditate upon the life of Christ, and desire to understand the reason why he came at all. We should search the Scriptures as Christ has enjoined upon us to do, that we may know those things that are testified of him. By searching we may find the virtues of obedience in contrast with the sinfulness of disobedience. “As by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” The Lord Jesus has bridged the gulf that sin has made. He has connected earth with heaven, and finite man with the infinite God. Jesus, the world’s Redeemer, as our example,375 could only keep the commandments of God in the same way that humanity can keep them. “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” The glory mentioned is character, and by faith we become changed from character to character. “And be renewed in the Spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” “Ye are the light of the world. . . . Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.” Num. 13:30. BACK came the spies with weary feet
And fearful hearts, their tidings telling;
“A land of precious things and sweet,
A goodly land to make our dwelling;
But strongly walled its cities rise,
Fierce giants there we did discover;
We seemed as nothing in their eyes.
Oh, no; we dare not venture over!” Then boldly spoke the faithful two
Who held God's truth with hearts undaunted.
“The land,” they said, “is fair to view,
Our heritage by God appointed.
He led us through the wilderness;
His strength our feebleness shall cover;
Let us at once the land possess,
We are well able to go over.” But all the timid, trembling host
Listened, dismayed and unbelieving;
Backward along the dreary coast
They turned, their faithful leader grieving,
And in the wilderness they fell;
Their graves the desert caverns cover.
The mournful fate its shadows tell
Of those who dared not venture over. We linger in earth's wilderness,
Dismayed and faint, a feeble nation;
We fail the promise to possess,
The peace of God, a full salvation.
With trembling hearts, with tearful eyes,
Upon its verge we mournful hover,
And say, “What glory lights those skies!
But, ah! we fear to venture over.” “It is a goodly land,” we say,
“A land all precious gifts bestowing;
But, oh, the giants in our way,
And Jordan's waters wide o'erflowing!”
Yet when our heavenly Joshua leads,
The raging floods a path uncover;
The gracious hand that guards and feeds
Shall safely guide his people over. Look back along the desert way,
Then lift to God our joyful chorus;
The hand that keeps from day to day
Bids the walled cities fall before us.
He saves us to the uttermost;
His righteousness our guilt shall cover;
Press onward, then, ye ransomed hosts,
Till all his people shall pass over. THE EFFICACY OF PRAYER.
By Elder T. H. Starbuck
"For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness; giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light." Col. 1: 9-12. We dwell upon such a low plain and know so little of what it is our privilege to enjoy, that when, occasionally, the full force of revelation dawns upon the mind, we are surprised. The above scripture is full of light and consolation; and yet many who are trying to be Christians read it with such inattention that they fail to see the vastness of God's grace revealed in it. But when read with care, one is almost overwhelmed with the boundlessness of the field it opens up, and the richness of God's redeeming love. It is a wonderful lesson on the efficacy of prayer. Prayer is one of God's appointed means of grace. In his economy of grace he has ordained that we shall receive what we need, by seeking him for it. The plan of redemption proceeds upon the principle that its blessings must really be desired in the heart, and sought after, and due recognition is to be rendered to Him from whom all blessings come. Prayer, to be availing, must be constant, not fitful. Paul says, "We do not cease to pray for you." He was proceeding upon the right plan, for he was constrained by the love of Christ. If the praying is fitful, the life will be similar. The life of a Christian is an index to his persistency in prayer. "By their fruits ye shall know them." The daily life is a picture of the soul's communion with God. But that prayer may be efficacious, the soul must feel the need of what is asked for. To pray for that for which we feel no need is to pray in vain. Few people have any adequate idea of the richness of the blessings to be obtained by instant prayer. They are clearly defined in Paul's prayer for the Colossians; but God had no more blessings for the Colossians than he has for us. His prayer will well repay a careful study. First, a knowledge of God's will is to be obtained through prayer. The natural man cannot apprehend the things of God, for they are spiritually discerned. To seek God in prayer is to have his Holy Spirit to aid in understanding his word. The word is the sword of the Spirit, and without the Spirit the word can neither be understood correctly nor used effectually. It is possible to be filled with a knowledge of his will; that is, the heart can be full of divine truth. "They shall all be taught of God." The Spirit of God writes his law (his word) in the heart. To have the law written in the heart is to have its principles so impressed upon the mind that they become a part of the new nature, or converted man. It is to have the mind of Christ impressed upon the affections of the soul. The knowledge of God is not that which puffs up. It leads no one to behave unseemly. One element of it is wisdom, and wisdom is ability to use knowledge aright. Another feature of it is spiritual understanding, or divine enlightenment and perception of the mysteries of God. It is the Spirit of God directing the mind into all truth, and leading it to make a proper application of the principles of truth in all the walks of life. It is the characteristics of Christ's life on earth reproduced in the Christian. Such enlightenment is an inestimable treasure. Second, through prayer one can attain to a daily walk that is worthy, because it pleases God. It is in fact a walk with God as friend walks with friend. Abraham was the friend of God. It is just as possible for men now to be the friends of God, for he has not changed since Abraham's day. Not many know the blessedness of such friendship, because so few are acquainted with God. Friendship implies acquaintance, and is impossible without it. God wants men to become acquainted with him. "Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace; thereby good shall come unto thee." It is a present and an eternal good to be acquainted with the Giver of every good and perfect gift. Such a walk and such a friendship with God are fruitful in good works. Such a life conforms to the example of Christ's life in the flesh. A daily walk with God gives one confidence to say with Paul, "Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God." Such an acquaintance once formed will constantly become more intimate, and the increase of knowledge will correspond to the growing intimacy. Moses was so well acquainted with God that they conversed together face to face. The result was that he came to understand divine mysteries, and became, under God, the author of the Pentateuch, and the instructor of all succeeding generations. Third, to know God is to know his power. Acquaintance with him is obtained through seeking him in prayer. To know the mystery of godliness, which is Christ within the hope of glory, is to be strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power. When Christ appeared in the flesh, God was in him, reconciling the world unto himself. The incarnation is simply a picture of what God is willing to do for us if we submit ourselves to him. "As thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world." The power of God was placed at Christ's command, to be used in fulfilling his mission. The lesson is that we can have the same power for a similar mission. But to have the power of God is to manifest the characteristics of that power. Patience and endurance will be prominent traits in the life of a Christian. God is never in a hurry, and he who is right can afford to wait without becoming impatient at delays or vexations. Trials and temptations, sorrows and bereavements, will be endured as means which God uses to strengthen and refine the character. The lives of the martyrs testify that God hears prayer and imparts strength. The life of a Christian is also a life of joy. It is not the joy of the world, but the joy of a deep and abiding peace with God—a joy that is born of faith in his promises. It is the privilege of the child of God to rejoice and be exceeding glad, for no created beings ever had so much to inspire joyfulness. The grace of God bestowed upon a lost world is the wonder of the universe. Fourth, thankfulness is the result of prayer. The heart that has received so much from God will express its gratitude spontaneously. Why should not the Christian be thankful? By the abundance of God's mercy he has been made inexpressibly rich. To be delivered from the dominion of darkness, and made a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light, is more than the world with all its coveted treasures can yield. Truly life consists not in the abundance of worldly goods held in store, but in the rich and abundant supplies of grace which God has provided for everyone who seeks him understandingly. To seek him understandingly is to approach him with a clear perception of what he is willing to impart. The benefits of prayer are not overdrawn by the apostle to the Colossians. He had tested the matter by personal experience, and testified of things he had seen. A like experience may be ours if we let God have his own way. But such blessings are not estimated at their true value, because the world has such a hold upon men. Is it not time to accept what God offers, and then "arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee"? THE PRECIOUSNESS OF GOD'S PROMISES.
By C. H. Edwards
WE have found that amid our cares and perplexities the Lord has told us to look up, and see his mighty power as revealed in the open heavens. There we behold the countless millions of shining orbs, which he assures us that man cannot number, but he just as positively assures us that he has counted them all, and called them all by their names, yea, and further he holds them all by his power so that in their revolutions "not one faileth." Isa. 40: 26. Let us notice another illustration of the wonderful precision of the heavenly bodies:— Once as I entered the observatory at Harvard College, at the close of day, a friend who had led me there asked if I might be shown the new instrument that had just been introduced. The professor replied courteously, "Yes; I think there is time enough yet for him to see a star, if you will find one." My companion "found one" by looking in a worn book of astronomical tables lying on the desk, and replied quietly, "There is one at 5:20." So in a hurried instant the covering was stripped off from the great brass tube, and prone upon his back, under the eyepiece, lay the enthusiastic professor. While my friend stood by, with what seemed to be a tack hammer in his hand, I noticed that he kept his eye on a tall chronometer clock near us. Suddenly two sounds broke the impressive stillness; we had been waiting for the star. One was the word "there," spoken by the professor, the other was the tap of the hammer on the stone top of the table by my companion. Both occurred at the same instant, the same376 particle of the instant; they were positively simultaneous. But the man who spoke the word could not see the clock; he was looking at the star that came swinging along till it touched the spider web line in his instrument; and the other man who struck the hammer stroke could not see the star; he was looking at the second hand on the dial plate. When the index in its simplicity of regular duty marked twenty minutes after five, there fell the click on the stone; and then, too, there came on in the heavens, millions of miles away, one of God's stars, having no speech, but rolling in on time, as he bade it ages ago. Then I was invited to look in, and see the world of light and beauty as it swept by the next fiber of the tube. But afterwards I went curiously to the book, and found that it had been published ten years before, and that its calculations ran far away into the future, and that it had been based on calculations 1,000 years old. . . . Need I say that these two professors almost wondered—so used to such things were they—at the awestruck devotion, the hushed reverence with which I left the room. —S. C. Robinson, in Christian Statesman. What infinite power and wisdom is this? It is not held before us to terrorize us, but to encourage us on and give us greater confidence in him. He does not leave us here alone, face to face with this glorious power, but to still lead us on he asks (Isa. 40: 28), "Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?" Why should these questions be asked? What has been said that would lead us to think he might be weary and faint?—Ah, he has been holding the great universe in his grasp, so that not one has ever failed! What a sublime question! Now comes the precious promise (verse 29): "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young man shall utterly fall; but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." What power and strength will he give?—This same power he has been showing to us. Wonderful promises, wonderful power with which to fulfill them! Reader, do you sometimes shrink, and fear to trust him? If so, "look up," for "He that bears all nature up
Will guard his children well."
Walker, Mass. FAITH AND PRAYER AND "SCIENCE" HEALING.
By E. W. Webster
[The following article was originally a paper read before the Pastors' Union of La Crosse, Wis., March 13, 1893, and very severely criticised—especially that part pertaining to faith and its use, and creation in redemption. These ideas were denounced as "credulity," "superstition," "narrow-mindedness," etc. It is really marvelous how men of learning can be so blinded, but the fact that such is the case accounts for the spiritual weakness of the churches in these last days.] THIS is really a misnomer. Strictly speaking, there is no such thing. The common use of these expressions shows either thoughtlessness or a sad misunderstanding of the meaning and use of faith and prayer and the science of the Bible. A proper understanding and discussion of the subject will lead us to study what is faith, what is prayer, what is Bible science, and their relation to each other and to healing. To start with, faith has so largely died out of the Christian church, and genuine faith is such a rare article, that but few, comparatively, know what it is, or how to use it. It is something that must be possessed and exercised to know what it is. He who does not know whether he has faith or not, or does not constantly and almost unconsciously use it, really does not have it. If he has it, he will know that he has it; for he will use it, for "faith worketh by love," and purifies the soul. Now faith is so simple that it is hard for men to grasp it, merely because it is not easy to become as little children and take things without questionings and reasonings. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Rom. 10: 17. We cannot have faith in that of which we have never heard. To illustrate: I have a thought in my mind. Do you believe the truth of that thought?—No. If I should tell it to you, you would then have some ground for faith to rest upon. It is a "gift of God," but the one who will not take the word of God as the word of God—he who will not hear—how can he have faith? How can God give it to him? Faith not only believes God's word, but believes that word as it is written. It knows that God is able to say what he wants to say, as he wants to say it; that he did not say or allow to be said what he did not want said; that what is said is just what he wanted said, in just the way he wanted it said. If the Lord has spoken to us, it is in the Bible. Faith believes that he was able, and did give us the Bible just as he wanted us to have it, with just that in it which he wanted us to have, in just the way he wanted us to have it. That is exactly what he wants us to believe, in exactly the way he wants us to believe it. Nothing short of this is faith. It is candid receiving and satisfied, contented resting upon what God says, as if being spoken exclusively to me. It will know and acknowledge that what we appear to know we do not know if it is contrary to God's word. Faith will enable us to say that the wisdom of the world, of every man in the world, and especially our own, is foolishness, and will cause us to esteem and use God's word before any man's word. Faith is the most reasonable thing on earth when we reason as God reasons. I might add right here that the reason for so little faith, and consequently so little power, among the professed followers of Christ, and especially among his servants, is that man's words are read, talked about, preached about, and dwelt upon more than God's word, and to the shameful neglect of the Bible. What some great divine has said—and he is only a man—is often taken in preference to the Bible. This, to my mind, is the reason of so many various and conflicting ideas in regard to the Lord's word. As many men saw only the man side of Christ's life, as often God flashed through his human flesh, so many men to-day see only the human side of the Bible; but so does God flash through it. If any part of it is taken as man's word, why may not any other part of it be taken so? And if one man may take one part of the Bible as only man's writing, another man may take any or all other parts as the same, and we would thus have only a man-made Bible. In fact, if we set up our reason against the word, or any part of it, we have sat in judgment against God, and dared to dictate, in that thing, what he ought to have written and how. That is not faith, but unbelief; for faith takes it simply as it is said. Faith believes what the word says about the power of God, and opens the way for that power to work; and here, as we shall see, lies the secret of the subject before us. I have spoken thus of faith because the exercise of this opens the way for God to work in "healing," as also in every other thing, for the power to heal lies in the word. Prayer is the sincere desire of the soul breathed in the presence of a holy God. It is not a mechanical repetition of words, but the drawing of the cords of the heart to God. Faith cannot be separated from true prayer; and we had better not attempt to pray if we do not know that we are asking in harmony with God's will, or do not believe we receive what we ask. In relation to healing, prayer is only the expression to God of the faith we have that he will do the work. The "science" of the Bible is salvation through faith in Christ Jesus; also that the power of God as seen in creation is that used in redemption. Bible science is contrary and unreasonable to human reason, because human reason is so far perverted from God and its original in Adam. The wisdom of the world is foolishness with God, and the wisdom also of God is foolishness to the unconverted mind. So the only safe way for man to do is to let God declare a thing and then take it as declared, believe it, act upon it, and rejoice in it, even though it might seem unreasonable and even absurd to him. Bible "science" will kindle a fire in a bush and not consume it; will send men through the fire and not burn even their clothes—all of which is quite contrary to human reasoning and science. It will call "the things which be not as though they were."