The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, vol. 75

January 11, 1898

“Editorial” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 2, p. 28.

“WHEN thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” ARSH January 11, 1898, page 28.1

Note, this does not say that he will reward you in secret. No; he sees you in secret, he hears you in secret; but he rewards you, he answers you, openly. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 28.2

In this, then, he teaches you and me that we are to care for the secret life, and he will care for the open life. And as certainly as we are watchful upon our life, and keep it straight with God, so certainly he will be watchful upon our open life, and will keep it straight with men. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 28.3

Yet man’s way is the reverse of this: he is inclined to be ever watching his open life, trying to correct a wrong impression here, to straighten a crooked influence there, all the while neglecting the secret life, of which these outward things are but the reflection. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 28.4

Can a crooked stick cast a straight shadow?—No more can a life that is crooked in secret be straight openly. When a crooked stick has cast its crooked shadow, is it the sensible thing to go to tinkering the shadow to make it straight?—No; correct the stick, make it straight; then there will be no difficulty with the shadow: all who see it will see that it is straight. No more is it sensible to be tinkering your outward life to have it straight; straighten the secret life, and God has certified that your open life shall be straight. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 28.5

Then put your time and attention upon your secret life; keep your time and attention there; spend much time with him who seeth in secret; and he will put his time and attention upon your open life; he will keep his time and attention there, and will spend much time with you openly, and before those who see only openly; and will see to it that your open life tells only of the good, the pure, and the true,—that it tells only of God. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 28.6

“‘The Sheet-Anchor of American Republicanism’” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 2, p. 24.

IN the times when self-government is denied to the people of the new accessions of the United States, and even the principle is being abandoned by American Republicanism, it is well to revert to original principles. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 24.1

No American ever understood this better than did Abraham Lincoln; and no one ever made it plainer, nor proclaimed it more fully. He hoped that “government of the people, by the people, for the people,” would not perish from the earth. And now that it is really being abandoned by the leading men of the United States, and the masses are following, it is well to recall the attention of the American people to what Abraham Lincoln declared to be “the sheet-anchor of American Republicanism.” ARSH January 11, 1898, page 24.2

He was speaking at Peoria, Ill., Oct. 16, 1854, and said:— ARSH January 11, 1898, page 24.3

I trust I understand and truly estimate the right of self-government. My faith in the proposition that each man should do precisely as he pleases with all which is exclusively his own, lies at the foundation of the sense of justice there is in me. I extend the principle to communities of men, as well as to individuals. I so extend it because it is politically wise as well as naturally just—politically wise in saving us from broils about matters which do not concern us. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 24.4

The doctrine of self-government is right—absolutely and eternally right.... If the negro is a man, is it not to that extent a total destruction of self-government to say that he, too, shall not govern himself? When the white man governs himself, that is self-government: but when he governs himself, that is self-government, and also another man, that is more than self-government,—that is despotism.... ARSH January 11, 1898, page 24.5

No man is good enough to govern another man without that other’s consent. I say this is the leading principle, the sheet-anchor, of American Republicanism. Our Declaration of Independence says:— ARSH January 11, 1898, page 24.6

“We hold these truths to be self-evident: 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. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, DERIVING THEIR JUST POWERS FROM THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED.” ARSH January 11, 1898, page 24.7

I have quoted so much at this time merely to show our ancient faith,—the just powers of government are derived from the consent of the governed.... Allow all the governed an equal voice in the government; and that, and that only, is self-government. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 24.8

Abraham Lincoln understood perfectly what American Republicanism is. And since he has here so clearly defined it, what is this thing now being advocated by the expansionists, who must needs deny to whole peoples the exercise of self-government?—This is the distinct abandonment of every principle of republican government. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 24.9

“Evangelistic Temperance. The Lord’s Wish” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 2, p. 25.

TEMPERANCE is self-control. Evangelistic temperance—Christian temperance—is self-control in all things,—of body, soul, and spirit. For he which “striveth for the mastery is temperate [controls himself] in all things.” This is the only true temperance. And this is in order that we may glorify God in both body and spirit,—glorify him, and him alone, in all things, and so meet the object of our creation and of our redemption. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 25.1

The Lord has created and redeemed the body as really as he has the soul. He cares for the body as really and as fully as he does for the soul. And he wants us to care for the body as really and as fully as we care for the soul. Therefore he has said, “I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” Thus it is certain that the wish of the Lord is that our prosperity in health shall be even—evenly balanced—with our prosperity of soul, or spirit. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 25.2

No one will for a moment question that God has given directions and prescriptions abundant to assure the prosperity of the soul. Every one knows that every one who will sincerely accept the word of God as to the good of his soul will assuredly find his soul prospering abundantly. Yet as the Lord has recorded his wish, “above all things,” that our health may prosper evenly with our souls, it certainly follows that he has given directions and prescriptions assuring prosperity in health evenly with the directions and prescriptions assuring prosperity of soul. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 25.3

Yet this is very little thought of, even by professed Christians; and by many who happen to think of it, it is not believed sufficiently to lead them to an honest study of the word of God to know what he has said on the subject, and then give it a place in the life. Many will bear great concern about the prosperity of their souls, to the utter neglect of their health, when if only they would take thought and care as to how they are living, and correct that by the word of God, the prosperity of their souls would be so abundant that there would be no room for anxiety in the matter. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 25.4

Many people will ask for prayers that they may enjoy the blessing of God, when all that is needed is that they quit using some pernicious thing in food or drink. Many will “call for the elders of the church” to pray that they may not be sick, when all that is needed is simply a good bath, or perhaps only a good hot foot-bath. They will ask for prayers for recovery from sickness, when a bath, or perhaps only a foot-bath, would have entirely prevented the sickness. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 25.5

Now we are not saying anything against calling for the elders of the church or praying for the sick; but we do say that the Lord never intends that prayers shall take the place of thought and common sense in every-day, simple things. He does not intend that he and miracle shall be substituted for individuality and intelligence. He has given us responsibility, intellect, and judgment. He has given us his word and his Spirit to be our knowledge and guide. In his word he has told us that “above all things” he wishes that we may be in health; in his word and our own bodies he has made every possible provision that, by the co-operation of his word and ourselves, we may indeed, “above all things,” prosper and be in health according to his wish. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 25.6

That we may do all that is possible to help in this great thing, we shall publish, in this department of Evangelistic Temperance, the Bible principles of evangelistic health, which are essential to evangelistic temperance, as well as the principles of evangelistic temperance itself. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 25.7

“Editorial” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 2, p. 28.

Note, this does not say that he will reward you in secret. No; he sees you in secret, he hears you in secret; but he rewards you, he answers you, openly. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 28.2

“Provide Things Honest in the Sight of All Men” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 2, p. 28.

IN the sixth chapter of Ephesians, and also in the corresponding passage in Colossians, there is a statement of the Christian life in all its relations. In the latter part of the fifth chapter, directions are given to husband and wife; then in the first verse of the sixth chapter, the children are addressed: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.” Christian parents will teach their children to obey because it is right, not because they have power to punish if they do not do right. The children must be taught to obey because it is right. Then when the children have grown up, they will do right because it is right, and they will refuse to do wrong because it is wrong. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 28.1

The fourth verse says to the fathers: “Ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” ARSH January 11, 1898, page 28.2

And the fifth verse speaks to those who are employed by others,—servants,—those working for others: “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.” ARSH January 11, 1898, page 28.3

In all our service, even when we are employed by other men or institutions, we are working for Christ. Whether you recognize it or not, this is a fact. Every one who is employed by another, whatever the business may be, is to consider that he is working for Jesus Christ. And whatsoever he does in his work there, he is to do it in the sight of Christ, because Christ is his employer. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 28.4

The man for whom I am working individually, and whose money is to come to me for what work I do, may be an infidel; yet in that work I am to work for Jesus Christ. I am to do that work as unto Christ, as though Christ alone were my direct and only employer. And I am to do that work in such a way that I can with confidence lay it before Christ, trusting him to accept it without any question. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 28.5

When I do the work in that way, the man who has employed me will be pleased with it; he, too, will accept it without any question. He may despise my religion, he may not care for me; but he will be pleased with the work that I do. And whatever you and I, Seventh-day Adventists,—all,—are employed by anybody else, whether it be by one of our own brethren, by one of our institutions, or by some man in the world, we are to do that work as unto Jesus Christ. We are to consider that he is our only Master; that we are his servants only. We are to consider always that we are his servants only, and that in working at that which men give us to do, we are the servants of Jesus Christ. He is the only Master; the work is unto him, and he is the one who rewards it. Whosoever does thus will provide things honest in the sight of all men. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 28.6

Again we read, in Colossians, third chapter and the twenty-second verse, and onward to the end of the chapter: “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God.” ARSH January 11, 1898, page 28.7

Your service will not then be divided between God and men; it will be with singleness of heart unto God. You will honor the man in whose employment you are working; in respect to the work to be done, you will be honestly considerate in doing his will and conforming to his wish, in that thing. Yet all the time you will bear in mind that you are not working for the man but for God. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 28.8

“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.” ARSH January 11, 1898, page 28.9

Thus the word of God insists upon this one thing,—that wherever you and I are at work, we are working for God, we are working for Jesus Christ. Then every hand employed in any institution, or by any individual, is under employment to Jesus Christ; he is to see Christ’s service in the work. He is to work honestly, as in the presence of Jesus Christ. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 28.10

No one employed in an institution is to work for any foreman in the institution; he is not to work for the superintendent of the institution; he is not to work for the manager, the president, or any other man; he is to work for Jesus Christ. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 28.11

If it is a heathen institution altogether, and a Seventh-day Adventist is employed there, whatsoever the work may be, he will be at work there for Jesus Christ, and he will see nothing else in it than the work of Jesus Christ. The observance of this principle is the only possible way in which employees can keep from stealing. It is the only possible way in which we can provide things honest in the sight of all men. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 28.12

“How Shall We Do His Will?” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 2, pp. 28, 29.

WE pray often, some of us every day, “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” But how many have ever taken the time to find out just how his will is done in heaven? Yet where can there be any real point in our prayer, “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven,” so long as we do not know how his will is done in heaven? ARSH January 11, 1898, page 28.1

Such a prayer is certain to be vague and indefinite, a mere generalization, unless we know how his will is done in heaven. But when we do know that, our prayer can be definite, positive, and full of faith, and thus with the sure result that, so far as we are concerned, his will will be done on earth precisely as it is in heaven. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 28.2

What a wonderful thought that is,—that the will of God will be done in us on earth just as it is done in heaven! Yet it is certainly true, or else that prayer is all in vain, and the giving of it to us by him is but a vain and tantalizing thing. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 28.3

But the Lord does not present to men vain things. It is intended, and it can be so, that that word shall be accomplished as certainly as it is prayed. Though, again, we say, How can this be unless we know how his will is done in heaven, so that this prayer by us can be definite, positive, and full of faith? ARSH January 11, 1898, page 28.4

Who are in heaven to do the will of God there?—The angels, to be sure. Then when we know how the will of God is done by them in heaven, and what they do that the will of God may be done in them in heaven, we can know how to pray this prayer so that it shall mean to us just what it says,—we shall know just how the will of God shall be done on earth as it is in heaven. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 28.5

What, then, of the angels? ARSH January 11, 1898, page 28.6

First: In heaven the angels “do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 18:10. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 28.7

Second: His angels harken to the voice of his word. Psalm 103:20. And they “do his commandments” through “harkening unto the voice of his word.” ARSH January 11, 1898, page 28.8

Third: The will of God, as in his word,—“as it is in heaven,”—is conveyed to the knowledge of the angels by the Spirit of God—“Whithersoever the Spirit was to go, they went.” Ezekiel 1:20. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 28.9

Fourth: When the Spirit of God thus conveys to their knowledge the will of God, as it is in his word, to which the angels are “harkening,” instantly their spirit responds, and thus his will becomes at once their will, too,—“Whithersoever the Spirit was to go, ... thither was their spirit to go.” Verse 20. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 29.1

Fifth: When, by the instant submission of their spirit to his Spirit, his will has become their will, the thing is done; his word is fulfilled, his will is accomplished, quick as the lightning’s flash—“Withersoever the Spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go.” “And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.” Verses 20, 14. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 29.2

That is the way that the will of God is done in heaven. And that is the way that it is to be done in the earth. That is what is in the prayer, “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” And that is the way that his will will be done on earth, in every one who, knowing how his will is done in heaven, puts him self in the same attitude with those in heaven, and makes the prayer in an intelligent faith. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 29.3

And this attitude of the angels in heaven is precisely the attitude which it is intended that we shall hold on earth. Read, then, of ourselves:— ARSH January 11, 1898, page 29.4

First: We are always to behold the face of God, “in the face of Jesus Christ.” “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image.” 2 Corinthians 4:6; 3:18. “Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God.” Psalm 123:1, 2. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 29.5

Second: We are to harken to the voice of his word—“Mine ears hast thou opened.” Psalm 40:6. “The Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.” “He wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.” Isaiah 50:5, 4. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 29.6

Third: The will of God as in his word, is to be conveyed to our understanding by the Spirit of God. We are to be ever dependent upon the Spirit of God for this. “Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.” 2 Timothy 2:7. “The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, ... whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:26. “He shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak.” John 16:13. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 29.7

Fourth: When the Spirit of God does convey to our understanding the will of God as it is in his word, instantly our spirit is to respond, and yield submission to his Spirit, that his will may be our will. “As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” Romans 8:14, 16. And “the minding of the flesh is death; but the minding of the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:6, margin. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 29.8

Fifth: When we thus harken to his word and receive, by his Spirit, the understanding of his will as it is in his word,—“as it is in heaven,”—and our spirit responds to his Spirit so that his will becomes our will, then the thing is done; his word is fulfilled, his will is accomplished, in us on earth as it is in those in heaven: and it is done just as quickly—“as the appearance of a flash of lightning”—in our innermost, secret life, and shines through all time, openly, before those who are without. For “my word... shall accomplish that which I please.” Isaiah 55:11. And the word of God always acts instantaneously—“He spake, and it was.” Psalm 33:9. The leper said, Lord, “If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.” The Lord replied, “I will; be thou clean. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.” Mark 1:40-42. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 29.9

Do you now see more clearly, do you understand better, how the will of God is done in heaven, and how it is to be done on earth? Can you now pray more intelligently, “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven?” And will you now pray directly, positively, and in full faith, “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven”? ARSH January 11, 1898, page 29.10

“Studies in the Book of Daniel” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 2, pp. 29, 30.

“IN the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God; which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure-house of his god.” Daniel 1:1, 2. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 29.1

It was not the Lord’s wish that the king of Babylon or any one else should besiege Jerusalem. It was not the Lord’s wish that King Jehoiakim should be captured by Nebuchadnezzar. It was not the Lord’s wish that the holy vessels of his own holy house should be carried away by an idolatrous king, and laid up as tokens of victory in the house of a false god. It is therefore well for us to study the causes of these unwished results. This will be well also, in order that we may the better discern the true setting of the book of Daniel. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 29.2

The Lord sent his prophets, and especially the prophet Jeremiah, with messages of love, in counsel and warning, to save Judah and Jerusalem from that which came upon them. That which came upon them was but the inevitable result of causes from which the Lord earnestly endeavored to save them. And there were several of these which stand out so clearly as easily to be distinguished. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 29.3

The first of these, and the worst, was formalism in religion. The Lord had appointed, in his service, many forms and ceremonies, as the means of expressing the religion that, from him, was to dwell in the heart. And when that religion was not truly abiding in the heart, all the forms and ceremonies which even the Lord had appointed as the means of expressing it, were only meaningless and empty nothings. Yet this was the very position which the king and the great mass of the people occupied. They made everything of the forms of religion, and nothing of the religion which alone could give meaning and grace to the forms. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 29.4

Under these circumstances, all sorts of iniquity appeared in the daily life, while at the same time they were exceedingly zealous in the performance of all the forms of religion. Then when the messenger of the Lord would reprove them for their iniquity, they would reject it all, and shield themselves with their punctilious practise of the forms. And as the temple of the Lord was the great center of all the worship and of all the forms, they made it the citadel of their formalistic defense against the reproofs of the Lord upon their essential wickedness. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 29.5

When the Lord, by the prophet, told them that their wickedness of life would surely result in the destruction of the city and the temple, and in their own captivity, they hooted at it. What! the Lord destroy his own temple, where dwells even now the holy Shekinah! the holy house which was built under his own direction, and which, at its dedication by the great Solomon, had been accepted by the complete filling of it with his own glory! Faugh! Away with such prophesying, and with such prophets, too! “The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, are these”! ARSH January 11, 1898, page 29.6

But Jeremiah was commanded of the Lord to go and stand in the very gate of the temple, and “proclaim there this word;” “Hear the word of the Lord, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the Lord. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, are these.... ARSH January 11, 1898, page 29.7

“Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; and come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the Lord. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 29.8

“But go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel. And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the Lord, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not; therefore will I do unto this house, which is called by my name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh. And I will cast you out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brethren, even the whole seed of Ephraim.” Jeremiah 7:2-15. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 29.9

Yet even with all this, the Lord pleaded with them, and promised, “For if ye thoroughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor; if ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt: then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever.” Jeremiah 7:5-7. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 29.10

But they would not mend their ways. They would not cease their wickedness. They would not believe the Lord. Therefore the sure result came,—their wickedness grew so great that the land was not able to bear them; their city was made a heap of ruins, the temple was completely destroyed, they themselves were carried into captivity or slain, and their land was left desolate. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 29.11

Now this same condition of formalism in religion is declared in the Word to be, and it is, the great characteristic of the last days. Read: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 30.1

In these last days, too, men will increase the forms of religion, and intensify their adherence to them, while in their wicked lives they, as “evil men and seducers, shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” And this, as of old, will be persisted in until the terrible captivity of death by sword, famine and pestilence carries away the whole multitude, and the whole earth is left desolate, without an inhabitant. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Revelation 19:11-21; Jeremiah 4:23-29. ARSH January 11, 1898, page 30.2

Thus it is plain that the evil practises that resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem and the desolation of that whole land, are used by the Lord, and are recorded in his book, for the counsel and warning of the people in the last days. And the book of Daniel, written specially for the last days, is a book of divine principles which, if received by all, would save the world from the destruction that came upon Judah and Jerusalem. And even though these divine principles be rejected by the great mass, resulting only in the great destruction, yet every individual who will receive these principles as his life will surely be delivered in the great day “when the towers fall.” ARSH January 11, 1898, page 30.3