The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, vol. 75

May 3, 1898

“The Sermon. Christian Manliness. (Continued.) ¹” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 18, p. 281.

ALONZO T. JONES

(Continued.)

THE third angel’s message, that mighty threefold message of the everlasting gospel (Revelation 14:6-12), is the only salvation for men that there is in this world. That is the only thing that can save men from the evil tide, which, under the very profession of Christianity, is against Christianity,—which, under the profession of Protestantism, is against Protestantism,—the evil tide that is sweeping the world into the vortex of wickedness and weakness, where, knowing their wickedness, they are so unmanned that they have not the ability to stand up and oppose their own wickedness, but depend upon a figment to save them. ARSH May 3, 1898, page 281.1

The third angel’s message is to be given with a loud voice to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people in the world, to convey to them the only genuine principle of manliness that there is, and to “establish Christianity upon an eternal basis.” It is to persuade men everywhere to accept that principle of manliness, and by it to stand up in the midst of the wickedness of the world, and conquer it, however deeply they may have gone into it themselves. It is to bring to men this principle of Christian manliness that will cause them to stand up face to face with themselves, and put underfoot the weakness that is in themselves, and make them strong, manly men. That is what the third angel’s message is put into the world to do, and that is what it will do. ARSH May 3, 1898, page 281.2

Now, this third angel’s message, this message of Christianity for this day, which is needed in this day, and which alone can meet the issue in this day, is to be preached to just this kind of people,—to people who have been taught to look to, and to trust in, a figment. Of course when the everlasting gospel is preached to them, many of them will see the principle involved, they will see the tide that is running the wrong way, and what it is doing for themselves and everybody who has paid any attention to it, and they will accept this call to Christianity, and will turn away from that evil thing. ARSH May 3, 1898, page 281.3

Then when they have accepted this call to Christianity, it is essential that they be taught to allow that principle of Christianity to be their life all the way that they are to go. They must be taught to depend upon Jesus Christ, that manliest of men, to make, and to keep, them manly men. They must not be babied nor allowed to become weaklings, but must be taught to depend upon God alone. It is just as essential to teach them this after they have turned away from the other, as it is to teach them the true principle to get them to turn away from the other; because people whose lives and minds have been molded upon that false model must, when they turn away from it, be built up, educated, and caused to grow according to the right Model. If this is not done, they will become formal Christians; they will be Seventh-day Adventists by name and profession, but will be just as babyish Seventh-day Adventists as they ever were any other kind of people. If this true Christianity, this true Christian manliness, is taught to them in the beginning, and kept before them all the way along, so that this shall be the only kind of Christianity they will adopt, they will develop into real Christian, manly men. They will despise the very idea of depending upon anything or anybody but Christ, and he will be in themselves the hope of glory. ARSH May 3, 1898, page 281.4

Now nine tenths of the brethren of the ministry, if not all, will recognize as the truth what I am going to tell you,—that many times—not every time—when the third angel’s message is first preached to the people, and they are convinced by it of what they should do, about the first thing they say is: “I know that I ought to serve the Lord; I ought to be a Christian; I ought to keep the Sabbath. But if I do, I shall lose my place; I shall be thrown out of work. If I shut up shop on the Sabbath, I shall lose my business. Do you know of any place where I can get a position, or a place for my business, so that I can be a Christian, and keep the Sabbath?” You know this is so. And the answer to it is, and always should be: “No; there is no place in this world where you can get a position so you can be a Christian. You are to be a Christian, anyhow. Your Christianity is not to depend upon position, but upon Christ. Your Christianity is not to depend upon your position; your position is to depend upon your Christianity. And what I mean by Christianity is Sabbath-keeping Christianity. Your Sabbath-keeping is not to depend upon position nor upon work, but upon Christ. Your Sabbath-keeping must not depend upon position; but your position must depend upon Sabbath-keeping. If you cannot be a Christian where you are, you cannot be a Christian anywhere else.” ARSH May 3, 1898, page 281.5

I am not saying that when people do lose their situations,—as many times they do when they accept the third angel’s message,—no care should ever be taken to put them in the way of work, if it is possible to do so; but I am saying that until they have Christian manliness enough to be Christians, work or no work, position or no position, they are not manly enough to be Christians when they have work, upon that issue. In that case their Christianity—their Sabbath-keeping—depends upon their having work, and then when their work is gone, their Christianity is gone. Therefore, the only answer we can make to these persons—these weaklings—is: “No; there is no place in this world where you can secure work so that you can be a Christian. Be a Christian, and keep the Sabbath; then there will be plenty of work for you. And if somebody else does not furnish it, you yourself will make it.” ARSH May 3, 1898, page 281.6

It is Christianity itself—it is the very property, and power of life, of Christianity itself—to take people who are unable to make a living in this world, and make them such independent, free, manly, Christian men that they will make a living right along anywhere. We are not to judge Christianity by the people who profess it: we are to measure the people who profess it by Christianity. There are many people who cannot make a living any better after they have accepted Christianity than they did before; but this shows that with them Christianity is only a profession. But any profession of Christianity that does not make a man more than he was before he made it, is a fraud. He may have it professionally, but he has not the real thing. What he has is a fraud, by which he is deceiving, not others, but himself. I know this is so. Christianity, when a man really gets it, is able to take him and make him such a manly man in the world that he can make his way in spite of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Such a Christian never goes around complaining that he cannot get work. If he cannot get it, he will bestir himself and make it. That is Christianity. ARSH May 3, 1898, page 281.7

“But stop,” says one; “have you considered this point? Does not the Bible say that the gospel is to be preached to the poor?”—Of course it does; but it does not say that they shall forever remain poor. Listen: “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” It is equally true, though, that while they will never be poor as the world regards poverty, they will never be rich as the world regards riches. ARSH May 3, 1898, page 281.8

Yes, Christianity is preached to the poor,—to those who are in poverty because they have been so weakened and unmanned by the evil tendencies and teachings of the world that they have not been able to hold their own against the world. And because of their unfortunate position, the Lord singles them out first; he looks upon them in pity, and says, “Join yourselves to me, and win against the world.” And there is nobody who has any respect for God or Christianity, who will for a moment think that when such a one joins himself to God, he is not stronger than ever he was before, and stronger than he ever could be without joining himself to God. If I have been robbed of my manliness, so that I cannot hold my own against the world, and my children are in want, and I am in absolute need of help from others, I want to know what kind of God that would be who would call me to himself, and yet give me no more than I had before. No, sir; I will not disgrace the Lord by any such way of thinking. ARSH May 3, 1898, page 281.9

God has chosen the poor of this world, that is true. He sees them beaten back, and cast off, and unable to make their way; and in his loving manliness he wants them to have a chance. He therefore calls them to join him. And he does so for a purpose. That purpose is that he may implant and cultivate in them that genuine principle and power of manliness that will enable them to go through the world dependent upon no man, but depending altogether upon God. ARSH May 3, 1898, page 281.10

Understand, again, that this is not to say that all poverty will be done away with,—that there will be no such thing as a poor man any longer, among Christians. No; for constantly the gospel will be preached to the poor, and they will be coming in. But it is to say that after the poor who have joined themselves to Christ have learned how to make a living for themselves, they will help others who are still coming in to do as they have done. All will be constantly growing from helplessness to helpfulness. Whether you believe that or not, it is everlastingly true. It is a basic principle of Christianity. ARSH May 3, 1898, page 281.11

(Concluded next week.)

“Editorial” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 18, p. 284.

THE “Holy Spirit of promise” “is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession.” ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.1

An “earnest” is “a part paid beforehand on a contract, as security for the whole.” ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.2

God in Christ has contracted to give us an eternal inheritance in “a better country” than this, “that is, an heavenly,” having for its capital a glorious city, “whose builder and maker is God.” ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.3

This inheritance is all bought and all paid for, for us. But the time has not yet fully come for the full redemption of the purchased possession. ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.4

But he who has contracted to give it to us when it shall have been fully redeemed, pays us a part beforehand, gives us an earnest, as security for the whole eternal possession. ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.5

The earnest, that part paid beforehand on the contract, is the Holy Spirit. That security for the eternal possession is the eternal Spirit. ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.6

If you have that Spirit, and as long as you have him, you are sure of that eternal inheritance. If you have not that Spirit, you have no surety at all of the inheritance. ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.7

But the inheritance is a free gift to all; and so is the earnest, the surety, for it, a free gift to all. And that security is “that Holy Spirit of promise.” ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.8

“Ask, and it shall be given you.” “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.9

“Are You Dead?” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 18, p. 284.

“HE that is dead is freed from sin.” ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.1

Are you freed from sin? If not, do you not see exactly where the difficulty lies? ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.2

There stands the truth of God, that “he that is dead is freed from sin.” Then if you are not freed from sin, the only cause of it is that you are not dead. ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.3

Jesus says, “Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but it if die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.4

Again he says, “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit.” ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.5

As the Father is glorified in your bearing much fruit, and as it is only “if it die,” that it “bringeth forth much fruit,” it certainly follows that herein is the Father glorified, that ye die. ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.6

Are you dead? Are you freed from sin? Will you glorify the Lord by bearing much fruit? Will you die? ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.7

“Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone.” ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.8

Do you want forever to abide alone? “Without me ye can do nothing.” ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.9

Without him you can do nothing; without him you abide alone: “except it ... die, it abideth alone;” except you die, you can do nothing. ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.10

But, bless the Lord, “if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.11

In being dead, then, there is freedom from sin; there is abiding with the Lord; there is the bearing of much fruit to the glory of God; and the end, eternal life. ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.12

In not being dead, there is bondage to sin; there is abiding alone; and the end, eternal death. ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.13

Thus he that will save his life shall lose it; but he that will lose his life for Christ’s sake shall keep it unto life eternal. ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.14

Will you lose your life and save it? or will you save your life and lose it? ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.15

“It is appointed unto me once to die.” And in the gospel, God has fixed it so that every man can die that “once,” so as to live forevermore. ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.16

Except it die, it abideth alone; but when we choose to die that we may bring forth much fruit, he does not leave us alone, nor ask us to die alone. He only asks us to die with him. Bless his name! ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.17

Then “if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him.” He does not live in sin. And living with him, we shall not live in sin. ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.18

Are you freed from sin? Are you dead? Are you dead with Christ, so that you live with Christ? ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.19

“Studies in the Book of Daniel” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 18, pp. 284, 285.

SOCIETY in Babylon and the characteristics of that last night of Belshazzar and of the kingdom of Babylon, are representative of society and its practises in the last days. This would be plain, if from nothing else, from the fact that the term “Babylon” is used to describe the society and the practises of the last days. And the practises of Babylonian society that night were feasting, and drunkenness, and loose relations between the sexes. ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.1

And such is precisely the description which Jesus gives of things in the last days. He says they will be “eating and drinking,” and “eating and drinking with the drunken;” there will be “surfeiting and drunkenness;” and like as it was in the day when Lot went out of Sodom, “even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” Luke 18:30. ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.2

If these things were only confined to the confessedly wicked world, it would all be bad enough; but the faithful Word certifies that that these things are practised by, and among, those who profess to be the servants and people of God. “In the last days,” men will have “a form of godliness,” but will deny the power, and will be “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” 2 Timothy 3:4, 5. It is even these who will be surfeiting and drinking. It is even the professed servant of the Lord, though an “evil servant,” who says “in his heart, My Lord delayeth his coming,” and begins “to smite his fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken.” Matthew 24:48, 49. It is even professed churches, “mother” and daughters, that are designated in the Scriptures as “Babylon.” ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.3

And to-day it is sorrowfully a matter of serious consideration with the most spiritually minded in the churches, how much further the churches can go in their feasting and festivity; their fish-ponds, grab-bags, and kissing-bees; their auction sales—at “foot socials” and “ankle auctions”—of the young women of the congregation, the price invited by sensual suggestion,—before they arrive at the point where, like Babylon indeed, they, too, shall be weighed in the balances, and, because utterly wanton, found utterly wanting. Such proceedings cannot possibly have any other effect than to destroy in men that properly chivalrous and manly respect for women, and for themselves with women, that is the honor of a man; and to break down in woman that womanly modesty and reserve that everywhere are the perfect defense of a woman; and so to produce a looseness of relations between the sexes such as characterized Babylon itself. ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.4

Such is the inevitable tendency in society to-day, both in the church and in the world,—altogether toward Babylon, as portrayed in the book of Daniel the night of her dreadful fall. Yet as, in that ancient Babylon, people were scattered whom God recognized as his, and to whom, just before her destruction, he called, “My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of the Lord” (Jeremiah 51:45); so now, in these last days, there are people scattered in this Babylon whom God recognizes as his, and to whom, just before her destruction, he calls: “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Revelation 18:4. ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.5

And now God sends forth that call. Those by whose voices it is sounded forth must go everywhere, among all people, to find them, so that they can hear “the voice from heaven,” ringing with the sweet tones of the voice of the Good Shepherd. These messengers must go into the very streets and alleys of the “high-viced cities,” into the highways and hedges of the country places,—everywhere,—to save people “with fear, pulling them out of the fire.” Jude 23. ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.6

And of all things, those who go thus everywhere among Babylonian evils, must themselves be spiritual, must themselves be pure, must themselves be strong. They must so truly know the way of true holiness that, while loving the lost sinner overwhelmed in the lusts of the flesh, and in compassion pulling him out of the fire, they will so hate sin as to hate “even the garment spotted by the flesh.” “Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.” ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.7

All this can be done. In Christ, men can find perfect temperance; that perfect purity that will enable them to walk in white wherever they may go; and that manly integrity that will protect every woman in the world,—protect her even from herself, if need be. In Christ every woman can find perfect temperance, and also can find and preserve that genuine womanly modesty that is her full protection and sure defense everywhere she may be called to go. And thus Christian men and Christian women can live as did Daniel and his companions, not as Belshazzar and his crowd, and can and will preserve propriety of personal conduct and the proper relations between the sexes, wherever they may be called of Christ to go, even amid the corruptions of this last-day Babylon, and even to her last day of grace. ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.8

“Come out of her, my people.” “Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.” “Dare to be a Daniel.” ARSH May 3, 1898, page 284.9