The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, vol. 75

July 12, 1898

“Evangelistic Temperance. Importance of Good Cooking” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 29, p. 441.

II

THE point in all this is: Do not try to make health-reform foods take the place of the old until they are at least as well prepared as the old. If the old were well prepared, and the new are as well prepared, the new will always be better than the old. It is true, and experience will demonstrate it every time, that when the health-reform dietary is as well prepared as the old, it will always be not only accepted, but freely chosen, instead of the old. I have seen families who despised the thought of Seventh-day Adventists, and hated the name of health reform, won to a full health-reform dietary, simply by the wisdom and tact of the faithful wife in putting on the table, along with the other foods, the health foods brightly prepared. In a little while the health foods were so freely chosen that the old kinds were not wanted at all, and so found no place. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 441.1

“These changes should be made cautiously, and the subject should be treated in a manner not calculated to discussed and prejudice those whom we would teach and help.”—Testimonies for the Church 2:370. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 441.2

Having found in the list of what is good, that which is good for you, and having prepared it in a healthful and infighting manner, then think the Lord for it, cast off all care and anxious thought, and eat with a cheerful heart; and then, having so eaten it, let it alone. For if you do not let it alone, it will hurt you. Of all the times that food should be let alone, it is after is eaten. On this point I can do no better than to quote the words of the Testimonies. So here they are:— ARSH July 12, 1898, page 441.3

“Exercise will aid the work of digestion. To walk out after a meal, hold the head erect, put back the shoulders, and exercise moderately, will be a great benefit. The mind will be diverted from self to the beauties of nature. The less the attention is called to the stomach after a meal, the better. If you are in constant fear that your food will hurt you, it most assuredly will. Forget self, and think of something cheerful.”—Id., 530. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 441.4

And again we read:— ARSH July 12, 1898, page 441.5

“You... keep thinking on what you eat and drink. Just eat that which is for the best, and go right away, feeling clear in the sight of Heaven, and not having remorse of conscience.”—Id., 374. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 441.6

This closes the series of lessons on health and temperance, that we have been studying together. There has been no effort to treat the subject exhaustively, or even fully. All that has been attempted is simply to set forth the principles, with sufficient other matter to make clear the application of the principles, in order that all may see that the health reform is as simple as any other of the Christian principles. I know that if these principles are studied, and carefully applied by faith in Jesus Christ, who is the Author of all right principles, nothing but the best of health can possibly follow. And thus will be fulfilled in all the “wish” that, “above all things, thou mayest prosper in be in health.” ARSH July 12, 1898, page 441.7

So we may close were we began, with the statement that all health reform, with all good health, is contained in this simple statement: Find out all that you can as to what is good food. Then find in this list what is good food for you, then cook it well, or otherwise prepare it in and in fighting form. Then thank the Lord for it, and ask him to bless it to your good. Then eat it with a glad heart. Then let it alone. And breathe right. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 441.8

Do these things by true faith in Jesus, and you will be all right. Let us all do these things by true faith in Jesus,—“for whatsoever is not of faith is sin,”—and we shall all be all right. Then we shall be healthy and temperate indeed, and so be true health reformers. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 441.9

“Editorial” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 29, p. 444.

“PEACE I leave with you, My peace I give unto you.” ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.1

Where does he leave his peace?—“With you.” ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.2

Then when he leaves his peace with you, isn’t it with you? ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.3

Whether you accept it or not, is another question: but where is the peace of Christ, the peace of God? He says he leaves it “with you.” ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.4

When you leave a thing with a person, isn’t that thing there? Whether that person ever uses it, or pays any attention to it, yet isn’t it there?—You know that it is. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.5

Very well: when the Lord says, “Peace I leave with you,” then is not that peace just where he leaves it? He says that he leaves it with you; then it is with you. Whether you use it or not, it is there, it is with you. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.6

Then since he leaves it with you; and since it is with you anyhow, not because you are so good that you deserve it, not because you have earned it, but it is with you simply because he leaves it with you, take it, and enjoy it. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.7

Yet more than this: he says, “My peace I give unto you.” ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.8

When he gives it to you, doesn’t it belong to you? Isn’t it, then, yours? ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.9

When you give something to a person, do you not count that the thing belongs to that person? And if he doubts that it does belong to him, and treats both you and it as if it does not belong to him, then are you not disappointed and grieved?—You know you are. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.10

Yet the Lord says, and for O so long has said, “My peace I give unto you.” ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.11

Then when he has given it to you, doesn’t it belong to you? Assuredly it does. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.12

Yet have you gone on all these days and years without it? And do you still go on without it? Do you doubt that it really belongs to you? Do you treat both the Lord and his gift as if the gift did not belong to you? Why will you so disappoint and grieve him? ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.13

“My peace I give unto you.” It belongs to you, then. Why not, then, accept it, thank him for it, and enjoy it? ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.14

“Let the peace of God rule in your hearts.” Do not try to make it rule: let it. Do not try to let it rule: simply let it. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.15

The peace of God wants to rule in your heart and life. It will rule if you will only let it: let it. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.16

And when you let it, then “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.17

It will keep both your heart and your mind: you yourself can do neither. Let the peace of God rule and keep. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.18

It will, if only you will let it: let it. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.19

Then, too, the Spirit of God will rule in your heart, and keep your mind; for the peace of God in the life is the fruit of the Spirit. “The fruit of the Spirit is... peace.” ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.20

“Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him.” “The fruit of the Spirit is... peace.” ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.21

“Ask, and it shall be given you.” “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.22

“The Bible First” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 29, p. 444.

THE principle in the Bible’s being the leading book in all education, is the simple one that “first impressions are most lasting.” ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.1

As first impressions are most lasting, it is all-important that the first impressions shall be the best that can possibly be made. And as it is impossible that better impressions can be made than those which are made by the word of God, it follows inevitably that the first impressions made upon the mind, both in the very beginning of the child’s thinking, and at the beginning of every subject that comes before the student, should be those made by the word of God. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.2

Is it not a familiar fact that very aged people remember clearly the times of their childhood, and yet can not remember ten minutes what you tell them to-day? Why is this?—Simply because the first impressions are most lasting. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.3

Sometimes it is said of very aged persons that they have their second childhood. If people were only considerate, they would know that in a beautiful sense this is true: they have, indeed, their second childhood; because their minds have failed for the things of to-day, and they live once more only amid the scenes of their childhood. And they live amid the scenes of their childhood because those scenes, having been the first impressed upon their minds, are the last to fade. What a blessed and beautiful thing it is when such minds can dwell amid scenes of the word of God, as the consequence of that word’s having been the means of instruction in their childhood! ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.4

Now, every person, whatever may be his age, is practically only a child when he enters a new field of study. On that particular subject he has everything to learn, every thought must be acquired. It is, therefore, all-important that his first thoughts, the first impressions upon his mind, shall be the best and the truest. Therefore, the very fundamental principle of the education demands that the word of God shall be given the first place in every study. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.5

“The Second Coming” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 29, p. 444.

FOR nearly half a century, this people have been looking for the personal coming of Christ. This hope has actuated all the Holy desires, and stimulated the self-sacrifice, that Seventh-day Adventists have ever possessed. When the work began, none thought the time of its completion would be so long delayed; neither did the children of Israel, as they left Egypt, think it would be forty years before they would reach the promised land. In that long march, many grew discouraged, and gave up in despair. But the time came when the Israelites were ready to cross over Jordan, and then their entry was a triumphal one. The tokens of Christ’s coming certainly indicate that we are “nearer than when we [first] believed.” What was seen in the beginning only by faith, is now literally fulfilled before our eyes. It is only because the work of the Lord in the earth is not finished that he has not come sooner; and he has declared that this work itself will be “cut short in righteousness.” How this blessed thought should thrill every lover of the Savior’s return. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.1

“‘A Novel Christian Duty’” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 29, pp. 444, 445.

IN connection with the war that is now been waged with Spain, there is one amusing thing; and that is the efforts of the pulpits and the religious press to make it appear Christian,—to make it fit with the sermon on the mount. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.2

Recognizing the Spaniards as their enemies,—they call them “our enemies,“—and been forced to recognize that there has been, that there is yet, and that there is likely to be, considerable killing of them, these good “Christian” preachers and editors find considerable difficulty in making all this harmonize with the Lord’s direction, “Love your enemies.” ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.3

The Independent maintains that when the war is over, “we” will love the Spaniards just as much as ever, and will do only good to them. But Jesus did not say, When you have killed all the enemies you can kill, then love all the rest. The love of Christ—that love alone which can love enemies—is a love that will not allow us to kill any of them. This love loves them so that it will not do anything that would even lead to the killing of them. Christian love loves all enemies long before the war is over, long before those professing it have killed all they can of them; it loves them so that there can be no war against them at all. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.4

A doctor of divinity publishes an article on this subject, under the text, “I say unto you, Love your enemies;” and his first sentence is, “Americans are confronted to-day with an entirely novel Christian duty.” And this “novel Christian duty” is the duty of loving their enemies while they are fighting them, and doing everything possible to kill all of them they possibly can! or else it is the duty of fighting and killing all of their enemies they possibly can, while loving them! it is not decidedly clear which. However, either way, the “duty” is sufficiently novel to deserve notice. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.5

We should say that in either case that is decidedly a novel Christian duty,—so novel, indeed, that it is difficult to conceive how anybody who understands the first principle of Christianity could ever be “confront” with it, or think that anybody could ever be confronted with it. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.6

This doctor of divinity fears that such a novel situation threatens the “demoralization of our Christian consciousness.” But any Christian consciousness that will allow the possessor of it to kill his enemies, even going across seas to hunt them down and kill them,—such a Christian consciousness as that is already absolutely demoralized. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.7

Again, he says: “To love our ‘enemies’ is intelligently and actively to pity them. This we do. But American would stay his hand from ministering to the man wounded and suffering, because he is a Spaniard? Rather, we would help him the more promptly and joyfully. This much of Christ spirit we have thoroughly learned. There is no fear that Spanish prisoners of war will be starved for harshly treated, or even taunted.” ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.8

With a beautifully active Christian pity that is, indeed, that will allow the possessor of it to do his best to kill an “enemy,” and having suc- ceeded in only wounding him, and so causing him to suffer, then stays not the hand from ministering to him! only then becomes at all active! ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.9

But the true question here is not, “What American would stay his hand from ministering to the man wounded in suffering because he is a Spaniard?” but, What Christian would wound a man, and cause him to suffer, and that in a direct effort to kill him because he is a Spaniard, or any other “enemy”? ARSH July 12, 1898, page 445.1

How much of Christ. Has any man even partially, much less “thoroughly,” learned who will do everything he can to kill his “enemies,” and will wound and make prisoners of war all that he cannot kill? We were Christ’s enemies; and instead of doing his best to kill us, he suffered us to kill him. We were enemies; but instead of wounding us, “he was wounded for our transgressions.” We were enemies; but instead of causing us to suffer, he suffered for us; he “endured the cross,” “the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God.” ARSH July 12, 1898, page 445.2

Again, this doctor of divinity says that “Christian love does not demand that we make war feebly.” No; Christian love demands that its possessor shall not make war at all. “Put up again thy sword into his place,” is the word of the Author of Christianity, the embodiment of Christian love. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 445.3

So long as men think they can be Christians, and at the same time be a part of worldly governments,—a part of nations which do fight and will fight; which do make war, and kill all the enemies they can, and wound and make prisoners of war all the others,—just so long will they be confronted with that “novel Christian duty” which is so entirely novel that it works the absolute “demoralization of Christian consciousness” in every one who occupies such an attitude. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 445.4

But just as soon as men recognize the truth Christians are not of this world, but are chosen out of the world; that Christians are strangers and pilgrims on the earth, seeking a country, even a heavenly; that no Christian can make war,—that no Christian can kill even his enemies, even in war,—just so soon will they be easily rid of the inconsistency of the “novel Christian duty” of doing their best to kill the “enemies” whom they “love,” and of exercising active Christian pity toward them only when, having failed to kill them, they are wounded in suffering. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 445.5

When men will hold Christianity as that which separates from this world, and all that is of this world; as that which joins them to heaven; as that which empties men altogether of the Spirit of this world, and fills them with the Spirit of heaven and of God, then this world will have a chance to know that God has sent Jesus Christ into the world, and has loved us as he loves Jesus Christ. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 445.6

“Editorial Note” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 29, p. 444.

THE poor of the world are the ones the Lord has ever chosen to show forth what true sacrifice means. The story of the widow’s two mites will always stand out on the pages of inspiration as a wonderful example of giving. But examples of the spirit are not lacking, even in our day. As is well known, Booker T. Washington is doing his best to elevate his race. At the Tuskegee Negro Conference, held last February, at which two thousand farmers were present, he said to his people: “Get land; get a decent home; raise something to eat, improve your schoolhouses, and give the rising generation a chance.” Then he told this story:— ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.1

One day a lame black woman, seventy years old, who was born in slavery, hobbled into my office, holding something in her patched apron. “Mr. Washington,” she said, “I’s ignorant and poor, but I know you is tryin’ to make better men and women at dis school. I knows you are tryin’ to make a better country for us. Mr. Washington, I ain’t got no money, but I want you to take dese six, and put to ‘em into de eddication of one of dese boys or girls.” ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.2

“Passing Events. The ‘New World-Power’” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 29, pp. 444, 445.

BETWEEN Spain and the United States there exists, and there has existed for some time, a state of war. And though the actual war has but little more than fairly begun, there have already sprung prospects of possibilities that are of most profound interest to every soul in the United States, whatever his view or his attitude concerning it. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.1

As a matter of fact, the incidents of this controversy are of far more importance to the country than all the actualities put together, so far. It is these things that we are watching and studying with most absorbing interest. We are not, in these things, criticizing; we are simply calling attention to important developments. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.2

One of these, which we have pointed out, is the distinctive advance made, and point gained, by the papacy and her designs with regard to the United States. More will be heard from that before the controversy shall be ended. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.3

Another is the proposal and prospect of an alliance between Britain and the United States. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.4

And now a third is the proposal and serious prospect of a world career to be seized and followed by the United States all on her part. This prospect has already become so tangible as to excite the serious attention of leading and thinking men both for it and against it. The most calm and considerate view of the situation as it is, that has yet appeared, is set forth by Colonel T. W. Higginson, in Harper’s Bazar of June 11, under the title, “A New World-Power,” the substance of which is as follows:— ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.5

It startles one a little to turn back to Bacon’s Essays, and read their the quiet remark, made three hundred years ago (in the essay on the “Greatness of Kingdoms”), that the only two nations of Europe which excelled in arms with the Spaniards and Turks; though he admits “great declination” as to the latter race. He little dreamed that a few hours in the Bay of Manila were to reveal the existence of a wholly new power, which in his day had not even been born on the planet; and before which the Spanish race should apparently be destined to yield. It has been given to few men and to few events to construct so much of human history as was accomplished in those few hours by Admiral Dewey. Not only did it seal the downfall of one great world-power, but the arrival of another; and it will cost all the power of resistance on the part of moderate men to keep this country from following the steps of England into an imperial position on the globe. It is a curious fact that the Monroe doctrine—“let the western hemisphere alone, and we will let the eastern hemisphere alone”—was the attitude held to be radical only so long ago as the days of Cleveland and Olney. Yet those who now hold that same Monroe doctrine, and propose to abide by it, are taunted as conservatives. There have been, in political history, few greater and more sudden transformations of public opinion. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.6

When the Athenian general Themistocles was asked to touch a lute at a feast, he said that he could not play on that instrument, yet he could make a small town into a great city. No matter how large the country, the temptation to make it larger is just as strong. Rome means to us the Roman Empire, and England the British Empire. There are none now living who can personally recall the excitement provoked when Jefferson bought the vast Louisiana Territory in 1803; but although it was a direct violation of all his political theories, and perhaps actually unconstitutional, it evidently swept the nation, and practically annihilated the opposing party. There are many living who uttered the threat, “Texas and disunion;” yet who would now be willing to forego the national possession of Texas? It would certainly be the same with the much-distrusted Alaska. It is inevitable that those who have seen, again and again, these successive steps in its enlargement of our territory, should be tempted to raise the cry of “manifest destiny.” It is as inevitable as the temptation, when a man has already enlarged his farm by buying an adjoining lot on the northeast, that he should look with increased favor on the offer of another adjoining strip on the southwest, and so on indefinitely. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.7

Yet the farmer who yields much to such temptations is pretty sure to come to grief sooner or later; and it is the severest test of the judgment and self-control of a nation when it knows how to stop. Practically, this nation holds Alaska by the grace of England, just as England holds Canada by the grace of this country; and perhaps this recognized interchange of hostages is a sufficient guaranty. The case is very different when we plan to go far from home, and to become occupants of islands which may involve us with all the leading powers of the world. All the entanglements of the older nations become partly ours when we once set foot on their very ground. What is worse, all the safeguard of the Monroe doctrine vanishes; for there is no reason that those nations should not proceed to parcel out South America as they have Africa, the moment we depart from the traditions of Monroe. All this is to bequeath to our children a wholly different world of policy from that which their parents have dwelt in,—a formidable result to follow from a few hours of target-practise at Manila. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.8

There will be involved, also, the enormous expense and labor of keeping up an army and navy on the scale of European nations. And this, with our vast scale and the payment of pensions—and expense far exceeding that of European nations—will affect all taxation, and consequently our whole habits of living. Nothing that we can do in any foreign waters will be worth half so much to the world as to perpetuate a successful republic on this continent; and to endanger that is to forfeit our chief mission on this planet. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.9

The only republic that ever went over this ground before was the republic of Rome. And when Rome once became imperial in territory, it was but a little while before she became both imperial and imperious in spirit, and then it was but a little while before she became imperial in government. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.10

Anybody who is really acquainted with the course of Rome, can readily appreciate the wisdom of the following words from Harper’s Weekly of June 11:— ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.11

The sound American believes in the genius of the republic and in the virtue of its institutions. His government was founded for the benefit of the individual citizen. Its task is the most innocent of all the tasks performed by government the world over. Its burdens rest so lightly upon its citizens that they hardly realize its existence. It makes mistakes; it is sometimes ignorant; it is often awkward; it exasperates us; it is frequently inefficient as it is; it would be always inefficient if the burdens of large military establishments and of colonial government were imposed upon its executive power. Its virtues live very largely in this executive weakness. But awkward and mistaken, inefficient and exasperating, as it often is, it has worked more last- ing good in the world than all the other governments combined. It does not govern colonies. It governs no man against his will, or without his consent expressed as to the smallest detail. Its accomplishments for the human race and its virtues are the consequences of its differences from other governments. Other governments can manage colonies, because they possess the machinery for ruling men against their wills, for levying taxes without the consent of those who pay them. In the elements and features of our government, which differ from those of Europe, lies its Americanism; and those who wish to maintain the government as it was framed, and as it has existed until now, are the true Americans; all those who want to go abroad in distant oceans for new territory thus express their distrust in our institutions, and their longing for a return to the flesh-pots of Egypt. ARSH July 12, 1898, page 444.12