Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 13, 1893
Editorial.
By Editor
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable."—2 Tim. 3:16.
WITH some the cry is all faith, faith, and no works. With others it is works, works, with no faith. With others still it is faith and works, but with the well-instructed Christian, the genuine child of God, it is FAITH AND ITS WORKS. Such will do faith-full service and will be faith-full servants.
IT is not enough that we believe Christ to be the Saviour of man, of our brother, or of a friend. We must accept him as a personal and individual Redeemer. We are considered of the Lord, in his redemptive scheme, not collectively, as a nation or as a church, but as distinct and separate individuals, each responsible alone for his individual acts. "If any man eat of this bread;" "if any man will do his will;" "if any man thirst;" "by me if any man enter in;" "if any man hear my words and believe;" "if any man have not the Spirit of Christ;"—all these expressions, together with many others all through the sacred word, make the work of redemption a very personal as well as practical matter.
OH, that we improved the opportunities which continually present themselves to speak a word for Christ and his truth! Said a little lad of four years, with no word of prompting or suggestion from older heads, in referring to a news agent on the train:—
"Papa, does that man keep the Sabbath?"
"No, my son," replied the father.
"Does he know of the Sabbath?"
"I think not," was the reply. Then came from the little lips in saddened tones:—
"Why does not someone tell him?"
Aye, why not? Why is there not someone to tell every soul of the Sabbath of the Lord our God, the memorial of the creation and the Creator, the sign of Christ's creating, redeeming, regenerating, and sanctifying power? Reader, are you doing your part in warning and inviting the sinner to Christ?
GOD knows everything. His knowledge compasses the universe. And his true greatness is shown not more in the fact that he takes cognizance of great things than in that his great knowledge includes the most minute details of his creatures' experiences. And while this view of God presents to us his power and greatness, it also portrays his love and goodness. To the trusting, confiding child of God there is no thought of his Maker that brings sweeter comfort and consolation than that God knows everything. And the harder the Christian's experience, the sweeter and more consoling is this assurance. Yes, God knows everything—my joys and my sorrows, the inmost desires and motives of my soul, the minute but trying experiences of my life. He knows how hot to make the furnace, how strong to permit the wind of adversity to blow, how high should be the joys, how deep should be the sorrows. With his infinite wisdom, his matchless, wonderful love, we may safely commit to him the keeping of our souls as unto a faithful Creator.
THE WANING OF THE STAR OF LIBERTY.
THERE have appeared in the firmament of heaven at various times stars which for a brief period shone wonderfully bright, and then rapidly faded away into nothingness. They were more disappointing than the vanishing of the meteor; for from the rapidity of the meteor's flight it is not expected to shine long, and the deeper darkness which follows its momentary brightness is expected, therefore, not disappointing. But when a new lamp is lighted among the bright chandeliers of heaven and burns steadily awhile with perhaps growing glory, it is disappointing indeed to the observer to find it fading away.
One hundred and sixteen years ago a new star appeared in the firmament of nations. It was ushered in with a light that dazed the half-blinded nations of the Old World, which saw in it an evil omen betokening the destruction of the forged chains and fetters which they had bound upon men. Those who longed for human freedom could read in the light of that glorious star the legends, "EQUALITY OF MAN," and "Freedom of Conscience," and in those brightly emblazoned legends dying souls gathered new hope.
To throw off the figure, that star was this nation, and the legends are those of civil liberty which it emblazoned forth to the world in the Declaration of Independence and in the Constitution of the United States. The first document declares that "all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." The second document declares that Congress—the law-making power—"shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Coupled with this is the clause that Congress shall have no power to abridge the freedom of speech and the liberty of the press.
And liberty-loving souls, oppressed by grievous laws in the Old World, grew glad as they heard of the land beyond the sea toward the sunset. And, leaving home and country—driven out from home and country—they flocked to these shores, braved inhospitable climate, unknown dangers, and hostile savages, and yet were happy and joyous in the newfound freedom. France drove out the Huguenots, and has reaped in consequence a harvest of infidelity and worse. From England and Germany came Puritans, Baptists, and Quakers, not all with just ideas of liberty, but out of all came the freest form of government the world ever knew, and which assured equal rights and liberty to all.
In no country of the world have religion, arts, and science flourished as here during the period of this nation's existence; yet in no other country of the world has religion met the free opposition that it has here from both pulpit and press. Yet the churches which have grown strong under a government which has allowed them the most perfect freedom, and has never sought to restrain religious discussion or force the conscience, are now manipulating the government to compel observance to the institutions of so-called Christianity which they hold in common. Their influence has unitedly been brought to bear upon every branch of our government, and every branch of our government has yielded to that influence. We do not mean religious influence. Would to God that those in responsible positions in all branches of the government would yield to the influences of genuine Christianity. But the influence of which we speak is an influence foreign to the spirit and genius of Christianity. Jesus said that his kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36), but those who profess to be his followers take the matter into their own hands and declare that Christ shall be king of this nation, and that his reign shall be ushered in through "the gateway of politics." It is in the matter of politics that this church influence has been brought to bear. Note the following:—
1. On February 29, 1892, the Supreme Court of the United States decided that "this is a Christian nation," and in that decision290justified the union of Church and State, with all its logical results. The Constitution declares that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion; but the Supreme Court declares that this declaration of the Constitution is in perfect harmony with a union of Church and State. Thus by a judge-made law the Constitution, designed by our fathers to forever preserve the people of this nation from religious tyranny, is swept away by this unwarranted and judge-made proviso.
2. Last July, in harmony with the decision of the Supreme Court, Congress did, what Congress unanimously refused to do sixty years ago, committed itself fully to religious legislation and yielded to the demands of the churches in closing the World's Fair on Sunday. The Supreme Court declares this to be a 'Christian nation.' The churches declare the Sunday to be a Christian institution. Congress, therefore, establishes Sunday by law, and thereby establishes the Christian religion.
3. The President makes valid the law by his signature.
Thus have all three branches of the government,—the judicial, the legislative, and the executive,—committed themselves to religious legislation, and so formed an image to the papal beast. We know, as well as everyone else knows who is not blinded by error or prejudice, that this nation is not Christian; the treaty with Tripoli, signed by Washington, declares that in no sense is this government founded on the Christian religion; one-fifth of its population, it is safe to say, are not Bible believers in Christ, but the Supreme Court has decided the nation Christian, and so it will stand in law, though false in fact. Of course we know, and so does every intelligent reader of God's word know, who is not blinded by error or prejudice, that Sunday is not the Sabbath nor a Christian institution; but it has been so decided by the great religious bodies, and indorsed by the government, and so it stands in national law, though false in fact. The very truth of Christianity, which teaches the utter separation of Church and State, has been rejected in this decision of the Supreme Court, in this action by Congress; and in rejecting the truth of Christ, Christ himself, who is the Truth, is also rejected. And those who have influenced the government to do these things are ready to cry, 'Infidelity,' 'Anarchy,' 'Treason' against the manly voices which protest in the name of Christ against the coming tyranny.
These are the first steps, the beginning of the mighty torrent of religious legislation and persecution soon to follow, so graphically portrayed in Revelation 13.
But not these blows alone have been struck at liberty. The Supreme Court of the United States on February 1 rendered a decision (see SIGNS OF THE TIMES of February 18, current volume) which lays the foundation for the prohibition of every protest against the wickedness of the steps in religious legislation which Congress has taken. The 'freedom of speech' remains, but the great religious teachers are demanding that there shall be a limitation to the discussion of religious questions; that Christianity—their pseudo Christianity—shall not be spoken against.
The above is a brief statement of where this nation now stands, of the waning of the star of liberty. And just as a distant star may die, and its light, which has left it some time before, still reaches the eye, so that the observer supposes it to be shining still, so some still suppose that the star of liberty still burns and shines with its wonted radiance. Let us beseech them to solace themselves no longer in this vain delusion. Liberty of conscience respecting religious observances is waiting under death warrant its final execution. Do not solace yourself, reader, that all these utterances of Court and Congress amount to nothing; for they are pregnant with mighty and evil results, waiting only the convenient times of the near future for the deliverance of the evil brood of persecuting decrees against those in whom is enough of true manliness and loyalty to Christ to refuse to cease to protest, or become hypocrites. The strides now being taken in these very things are mightier than the apostate church ever knew in the early centuries of the Christian era. 'Why do these men in high positions do these things?' it is asked. Let Jesus reply: 'And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.' If they knew Christ or his gospel they would never dare do it.
Against it all God gives the solemn warning of Rev. 14:9, 10: 'If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God;' while the same loving voice presents the antidote of all the evil in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, Rev. 14:6, 7. Reader, where do you stand?
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
By Editor
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.
ONE of the matters which, though having no legitimate connection with the Conference, yet persistently intrudes itself, and outside, occasioning no little remark, is the cold weather. There has been very much of it in the East this winter, and Michigan has had more than her share of it. And it is still here. Two or three days since our arrival have made old residents of the East almost smell maple sugar, so warm, sunshiny, and beautiful were they after the sharp frost of the night previous. Weather of this kind is most delightful, overhead at least, and those from California have enjoyed it much. During these days the melting snow and ice run in rivulets and brooks down the streets and gutters. The two beautiful days thawed out the electric railway track of this city, and the cars are again running. We could not help thinking of how San Francisco's cable roads would withstand such storms, thaws, and freezes, and how the people would ever get up and down some of the hills of that city. This morning, February 21, the mercury stood at eight degrees below zero, following quite a snowstorm. The sleighing is good. But we did not begin this to speak of the weather. The climate of our own "Golden State" in many localities is delightful, though it has its draw-
backs. The climate in many parts of the East is severe and rigorous, though it has its advantages. But the climate of that "better land," even the heavenly, will perennially be all that the mind could wish or the heart hope. There we hope to meet our readers.
We wish to speak in this article of our educational institutions. We do not exaggerate when we say that their growth has been marvelous. Battle Creek College was started seventeen years ago. It was established in the providence of God to educate men and women for usefulness in God's cause. When a few years ago it was, through unconverted men, turned away from this purpose, it was by the Board of Education promptly closed. Many at that time thought that such a step was a confession of weakness, and a fatal blow to the college. But subsequent history proved otherwise. It was the strongest and wisest thing which could have been done. Since that the school has been enlarged from time to time, new facilities have been added, and it has prospered as never before. This has been especially true during the last two years.
When Union College, near Lincoln, Nebraska, was established, two years ago, it was thought that it would draw largely from Battle Creek College. But how has it been?—Union College has a greater number of students to-day than Battle Creek College had ever had when Union College was established, and Battle Creek has more students enrolled than ever before, numbering now seven hundred and twenty-five members; and it is calling loudly for funds for the increase of buildings and facilities. Every possible inch of space is used, even to the room containing the museum, for daily school work. The last year has been one of revival in spiritual things; and revival in spiritual things means progress. The motto for Battle Creek College, as is that of Union College also, is, "They shall be all taught of God."
The educational secretary gave a very interesting sketch of the beginning of this work, in the institute held at Harbor Springs, Mich., nearly two years ago; how God revealed himself to his people there; how the above scripture was taken then as the motto of the institute, and how the light which God there gave had revolutionized the methods of education among us; that now the education is not part religious and part secular, but all religious; and how the true idea was brought into the schools that the very education which would prepare men and women especially to work for the Lord, best prepared them to meet all the duties, conflicts, trials, and privileges of life. These methods have been carried out in our schools, and as the result many workers have been prepared and souls have been converted.
Union College was opened September 30, 1891, with an enrollment the first year of three hundred and twenty-one students. The enrollment thus far the present year is five hundred and fifty-three, consisting of seventy-one German students and eighty-five Scandinavian, with the remainder English. The English quarters are already too small, and a new building is demanded.291Walla Walla College was opened December 7, 1892, with an attendance of one hundred and one. The enrollment at present is one hundred and sixty-five, with the gentlemen's dormitory already full, with more room demanded.
Another school has been opened in South Africa, and while the buildings were considered by some too large, as were also those of Union and Walla Walla Colleges, they are already crowded, and enlarged facilities will be demanded soon. Four teachers were sent from America, and more are demanded.
Our older schools, Healdsburg College, California; South Lancaster Academy, Massachusetts; and the new school conducted by Brother Colcord, at Paris, Tennessee, are all in prosperous, growing condition.
Many of us thought that when these large buildings were erected, the older institutions would be weakened and our teaching force scattered, but the older institutions are stronger than ever, and the demands for instructors have been met, and we believe that He in whose providence the schools have been founded, will have all that is necessary for carrying on these institutions in due time. There has been greater progress in education among us during the last two years than all the previous years. The next two years will, we believe, show the same rate of progression. There are now about two thousand students in attendance in our various schools, and many of these are there for the purpose of preparing themselves for labor in the cause of Christ. Demands for short-term schools for middle-aged people will be met the coming year. Our sanitariums and Bible schools are doing good work in educating workers for Christ. For all these omens of good we thank God and take additional courage. His work is like him. We expected progress, but it is greater than we expected. It is so in all good things. God does for us more than we are able to ask, or think, if we will keep our face and heart faithward.
Battle Creek, Mich.
LIFE IN CHRIST.
By Elder E. J. Waggoner
BY ELDER E. J. WAGGONER.
"For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." Many act and talk as if Christ was dead, and irrecoverably dead. Yes, he died; but he rose again, and lives forevermore. Christ is not in Joseph's new tomb. We have a risen Saviour. What does the death of Christ do for us?—Reconciles us to God. He died, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. Now mark! It is the death of Christ that brings us to God; what is it that keeps us there?—It is the life of Christ. We are saved by his life. Now hold these words in your minds: "Being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life."
Why was the life of Christ given?—"God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Then Christ gave his life that we might have life. Where is that life? and where can we get it? In John 1:4 we read, "In Him was life; and the life was the light of men." He alone was life, and He gives that life to as many as will accept it. John 17:2. Then Christ has the life, and he is the only one who has it, and he is willing to give it to us. Now what is that life? Verse 3: "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." Has a person who knows Christ eternal life?—That is what the word of God says.
Again he says in John 3:36, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life." These are the words of the Lord Jesus Christ.
How do we know that we have this life? This is an important question. "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer; and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him."
Says one, "We know that we will get eternal life by and by." Yes, that is true, but there is something better than that; we get it now. This is not a mere theory, it is the word of God. Let me illustrate: Here are two men—brothers—to all appearances they are alike. But one is a Christian, and the other is not. Now the one that is a Christian, although there is nothing in his external appearance to indicate it, has a life that the other has not. He has passed from death—the state in which the other one is—to life. He has something that the other has not, and that something is eternal life. The words, "No murderer hath eternal life abiding in him," would mean nothing if nobody else had eternal life abiding in him.
"He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself; he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son." 1 John 5:10. God cannot lie, and so when we say that the words of God are not so, we make liars of ourselves. Now, according to this scripture, we make God a liar, if we believe not the record that God gave of his Son. What, then, must we believe in order to clear ourselves of that charge,—of not believing this record and thus making God a liar? The next verse explains it: "And this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son."
We are to believe that God has given to us eternal life in Christ. As long as we have the Son of God, we have eternal life. By our faith in the word of God we bring Christ into our hearts.
When Jesus went to Bethany, he said to Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life." We have already read about passing from death unto life; how was that done?—Only by a resurrection. In Christ we have a resurrection to a new life. Note the following: Paul prays that he may know him, and the "power of his resurrection." What is the power of that resurrection? In Eph. 2:4, 5, 6, and 7 we read: "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us [made us alive] together with Christ (by grace ye are saved)."
Notice, he hath done this, and he "hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." We were dead, we are quickened, and we are raised up to sit in heavenly places with Christ Jesus. We must have, and we can have, the life of Christ to-day; for when he comes, he will change our vile bodies by the same power by which he has changed our hearts. The heart must be changed now. It cannot be changed except by the life of Christ coming in and abiding in it. But when Christ is in the heart, we can live the life of Christ, and then when he comes, the glory will be revealed. He was Christ when he was here upon earth, although he did not have a retinue of angels and glory visible about him. He was Christ when he was the Man of Sorrows. Then, when he ascended, the glory was revealed. So with us. Christ must dwell in our hearts now, and4when he comes and changes these bodies, then the glory will be revealed.
In Heb. 5:2 we learn that the work of the high priest was to be one of compassion. "Wherefore in all things it behooved him [Christ] to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." Heb. 2:17. What is done by the compassion of Christ?—Strength is given to us. What benefit is the compassion of Christ to us?—He knows the strength we need. He knows what we need, when we need it, and how we need it. So the work of Christ as priest is for one thing—to deliver us from sin. What is the power of Christ's priesthood?—He is made priest, "not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life." That is the power by which Christ delivers you and me from sin this day, and this hour, and every moment that we believe in him.
No one could take life away from Christ. The wicked had no power to kill him. He laid his life down. But God raised him up, "having loosed the pains of death; because it was not possible that he should be holden of it." He had power in his life that defied death. He laid life down, and took death upon himself, that he might show his power over death; and when the time came for him to do so, he took his life again. Why was it that death could not hold him?—Because he was sinless. Sin had spent all its force on him, and had not marred him in the least. It had not made a single blot upon his character. His was a sinless life, and therefore the grave could have no power over him. We have that same life when we believe on the Son of God. There is victory in that thought. We can have it by believing on the Son of God. Give your sins to the Lord, and take that sinless life in their place.
The life of Christ is divine power. In the time of temptation the victory is won beforehand. When Christ is abiding in us, we are justified by faith, and we have his life abiding in us. But in that life he gained the victory over all sin, so the victory is ours before the temptation comes. When Satan comes with his temptation, he has no power, for we have the life of Christ, and that in us wards him off every time. Oh, the glory of the thought that there is life in Christ, and that we may have it!
The just shall live by faith, because Christ lives in them. "I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
Faith Manifested by Works
Works is the test of genuine faith. Says James, "Show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works." But while works are the test of faith, faith and works are by no means distinct and separate. Works are only the outward manifestation of the inward faith. It is the faith that works, and without faith no works would be done. So works, being the outward manifestation of faith, become the test of that which one may profess to have. But if genuine faith manifests itself in works, and those works must of necessity be good, does not credit belong to the individual for his good works?—By no means. The faith is the "faith of Jesus Christ," and the good works are only the manifestation of Christ in the individual. The man of himself is sin, and sin only. He can do no good thing, but when controlled by the Spirit, "it is Christ that worketh" in him, and the life that he lives, he "lives by the faith of the Son of God." Christ is all and in all, and from him emanates every sincere purpose, holy desire, and righteous work.
God’s Blessings Awaiting Us
By Macdonald
God only knows how blessed he could make us if we would but let him.—Macdonald.
THE law of God requires
Obedience full and free;
The spirit too desires
A walk in harmony;
But fleshly fears obstruct the road
That leads to holiness and God.
Teach me, O Lord, thy will,
And help me to obey;
With love my spirit fill,
And cast my fears away;
Let love my heart constrain and draw,
For love alone fulfills the law.
Thou child of dust draw near
And place thy hand in Mine;
Give to the winds thy fear
And walk by faith divine;
O'er boisterous billows thou may'st tread
As long as faith looks overhead.
Have faith in Him, my soul,
Who walked upon the wave;
He can the winds control,
His arm is strong to save;
He made the heavens, earth, and sea,
And can He not now succor me?
Ask for the good old way,
And enter by the door;
The Saviour's call obey,
And try to trust him more.
He shed his blood for thee—thy sin—
Take up thy cross and follow him.
—A. Smith.
REVERENCE FOR LAW.
By Joseph Clarke
BY JOSEPH CLARKE.
THEN Peter and the other apostles answered and said, "We ought to obey God rather than men." Acts 5:29. Notice here the apostles had been commanded to preach no more in the name of Jesus. See Acts 4:18. Not much reverence had the apostles for a wicked law, even made by the highest earthly court, the great Sanhedrin, when in conflict with the laws of God.
"Love for our free civil institutions in our country is," says President Harrison, "on the increase." I had concluded it was on the wane, from the apathy he manifests towards religious intolerance in some of our States, and from the zeal shown by the Supreme Court and by himself to return to religious legislation. For the honor of our country, we may be in a measure less critical, and hide the evidence of national hypocrisy. But the Sunday question is causing high officials to declare their own shame. Let good men weep and lament for the country, once the cradle of liberty, now the hope of the Romish inquisitor and the paradise for hypocrites. Our liberties are no more. Heathen principles triumph; Christians mourn; patriots blush; and the genius of liberty departs from our land.