The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, vol. 75

September 20, 1898

“Editorial” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 38, p. 604.

THERE is a difference between “the gift of the Holy Ghost” and “the gifts of the Holy Ghost;” between the gift of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 604.1

The gift of the Holy Ghost is the gift of his Spirit bestowed by the Lord upon those who believe and are baptized in his name. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 604.2

The gifts of the Holy Ghost are certain powers and operations imparted by the Holy Spirit himself to those who have received the gift of the Holy Ghost. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 604.3

Plainly enough, the gifts of the Holy Ghost can be manifested only in those who have received the gift of the Holy Ghost. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 604.4

All the gifts of the Spirit—wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, teaching, discerning of spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues, helps, governments—belong in the church now. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 604.5

The Lord longs to see all these gifts and powers manifested in the church now. Many people, also, long to see all these gifts manifested in the church now: some, indeed, desire this more out of curiosity, or to benefit themselves, than for anything else; yet they do desire to see it. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 604.6

But how can there be manifestations of the Spirit where there is not the Spirit? How can the gifts of the Spirit be imparted, where the gift of the Spirit has not been allowed to be bestowed? How can the gifts of the Holy Ghost be manifested where the gift of the Holy Ghost has not been received? ARSH September 20, 1898, page 604.7

How can the church have the gifts of the Spirit, which belong in the church, until the church has first received the gift of the Spirit? And since the church is but the collection of the individuals who belong to the church, how can the church receive the gift of the Holy Ghost until the individuals who compose the church have received the gift of the Holy Ghost? ARSH September 20, 1898, page 604.8

Then is it not perfectly plain that, of all things, the one essential thing—first, last, and all the time—is that each and every individual member of the church receive the Holy Spirit? ARSH September 20, 1898, page 604.9

And now the Lord has sent, and is sending, to all the church throughout the whole land, the gracious essential message, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” O, who can fail to respond to the gracious call? “Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain.” Let every soul ask. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 604.10

“Ask, and it shall be given you.” “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” “Be filled with the Spirit.” ARSH September 20, 1898, page 604.11

“Editorial Note” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 38, p. 604.

DID you ever see a farmer trying to grow a crop in an impoverished soil? It took a great effort to get a little. So it is when we make an effort to get money from cold professors for missionary purposes. The heart must first be warmed by the Sun of Righteousness and watered by the Holy Spirit, before we can expect to get any fruit. Then giving is a privilege rather than a duty. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 604.1

“The Two Republics” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 38, p. 604.

IN several articles we have called attention to the course of the Roman Republic from plain republicanism to the most gorgeous imperialism; from simple self-government to the most extremely tyrannical government of others; from individual freedom to the most completely centralized despotism in the world. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 604.1

Every one who has read those articles, or who has read the history to which the articles refer, has readily recognized, in the career of this American Republic of the United States the past summer and at present, the perfect parallel to that of Rome at the beginning of her “progress” toward imperialism. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 604.2

Is this parallel a mere incident? or is it the repetition in history of the working of a principle of deepest meaning and vast concern to the world? ARSH September 20, 1898, page 604.3

No one can say but that in the original instance,—that of the Roman Republic,—the principle involved was of the deepest meaning and of vast concern to the world. No one can say but that in the original instance, the history wrought out meant so much to the world that it was, in fact, the history of the world at the time. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 604.4

This was so entirely true that the Lord, sketching in prophecy the successive great powers of the world, made Rome one of his subjects: “In the latter time of their [the four divisions of the Grecian] kingdom, ... a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.” Daniel 8:23-25. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 604.5

This is the history of Rome in all her phases from her rise to the end of the world. The history on each point drops into its place in perfect fulfilment of the prophecy. The first stages of the history occurred two thousand years ago, and others followed through the ages. This history was sketched in the prophecy twenty-four hundred years ago. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 604.6

But mark: the history that was sketched in the prophecy was not sketched for the time in which that original history occurred. It was sketched, and then was “closed up and sealed till the time of the end.” It was therefore sketched, not for that time, but for this time. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 604.7

Therefore, as certainly as that history of two thousand years ago was sketched twenty-four hundred years ago, and was then closed up and sealed until the time of the end, so certainly the principles and the lessons of that history are for the instruction and the warning of the people who live in the time of the end. ’ ARSH September 20, 1898, page 604.8

As the first stages in the history of that ancient great republic, which history was sketched in the prophecy and was then “closed up and sealed till the time of the end,” find their perfect parallel in the present-year history of this present-day great republic, this shows plainly that we are now in the time of the end. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 604.9

As the principles and the lessons of that history that was sketched, and then “closed up and sealed till the time of the end,” were for “the time of the end;” and as we are now in the time when that history finds its parallel, and so are in the time of the end; so the principles and the lessons of that history are for the people who live in this time, even for those who live this present year. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 604.10

As, in the original instance, the history wrought out by the ancient great republic meant so much as vitally to concern the whole world of that time; and as that history was sketched, and closed up and sealed until this time,—so in the present instance the history wrought by this present-day great republic means so much as vitally to concern the whole world of this time. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 604.11

Therefore it is certain that the history that was made by this present-day great republic the past summer, and that is still being made, in parallel with that of that ancient great republic, is laden with meaning for the whole world. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 604.12

Let every one study carefully the characteristics of the history of that ancient great republic, which was sketched in prophecy, and was closed up and sealed till this time; then let him watch the unfolding of events in the history of the present-day great republic, in parallel with that; and so, by these lessons, admonitions, and signs, let him be prepared to escape all these things that are certainly coming to pass, and to stand before the Son of man, whose coming is the ending of the history of all the nations, in that breaking “without hand” which marks the setting up of the kingdom of God, which shall never be destroyed, and which shall not be left to other people, but which breaks in pieces and consumes all these kingdoms, and stands forever. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 604.13

These are days of mighty events. Watch! and be ready. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 604.14

“The Older Brothers of Jesus” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 38, pp. 605, 606.

SINCE issue of the August SUPPLEMENT to the REVIEW AND HERALD, we have received a daily shower of letters making inquiry concerning a certain passage therein quoted from the forthcoming book, “The Desire of Ages.” The passage relates to Jesus, and reads as follows:— ARSH September 20, 1898, page 605.1

“All this displeased his brothers. Being older than Jesus, they felt that he should be under their dictation. They charged him with thinking himself superior to them,” etc. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 605.2

All these inquirers want to know how this can be. None of them believe it. Some want to know if it is not a misprint. Others suggest something else; and yet others, still something else. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 605.3

The point in this quotation at which all these folks stumble, is where it is said that “his brothers, being older than Jesus,” etc. By not believing it they “can no understand” how this could possibly be, when the Bible says always that Jesus was Mary’s first-born son. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 605.4

We suppose these inquiries are sent to us under the impression that perhaps we may have access to other writings from the same author on the same subject, that might make the matter plain to those who are disturbed over it. For surely this matter, being the statement of the Spirit of prophecy, no one would suppose that any but the Spirit of prophecy could explain it, provided it needs explaining at all. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 605.5

We are not at all displeased at receiving so many letters; we enjoy it; besides, it shows that not only is the REVIEW read, but its supplements also. So we shall do our best to help our inquiring friends. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 605.6

First, we do not see how there can be any misprint in the sentence. Of course misprints do occur sometimes; but in such cases the mistake is always in misprinting a word, which changes the sense of the sentence. It is not possible that that could be the case here. The word here upon which the whole subject turns, and where the misprint would have to be if there were any, is the word “older.” But to say that this should be printed “younger” instead of “older” would take all the substance out of the subject as it is in the two sentences. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 605.7

If it were printed “younger” instead of “older,” it would present the incongruous and even unnatural situation of his younger brothers feeling “that he should be under their dictation;” and of his younger brothers charging him with “thinking himself superior to them.” If they were indeed younger than Jesus, then there could be no possible ground for his being under their dictation. If he was indeed older than they, in the very nature of things, as well as by all the provisions of the Levitical law and the unvaried custom of that whole people from their beginning, he would be superior to them, and would be so recognized; and that being so, there could be no possible ground for their charging him “with thinking himself superior to them.” ARSH September 20, 1898, page 605.8

But with the sentence as it stands,—“His brothers being older than Jesus,”—it was also natural enough that they should feel “that he should be under their dictation.” And when they found that he would not be so to their satisfaction, it was also perfectly natural that they, “being older than Jesus,” should charge him “with thinking himself superior to them.” ARSH September 20, 1898, page 605.9

Therefore as the sentences in all their parts are intelligible and consistent only as they stand,—“his brothers, being older than Jesus;” and as that is the way the sentences stand in the book from which the passage in the SUPPLEMENT was taken, the suggestion of misprint is certainly excluded. Everything about the passage bears positive evidence that it is printed as it was originally written; and that it was intentionally written as it stands, saying that the brothers of Jesus were older than he. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 605.10

The theory of a misprint being excluded, the real point in all these letters of inquiry is, “Is it true?” It is perfectly plain, from the letters themselves, that the inquirers do not believe that it is true. Some of them, indeed, say flatly that they want nothing to do with the book that says such a thing. One in particular says, “If that is the book that is for sale, I do not want it;” and then in the very same letter, says, “Please send the latest Special Testimonies to Workers and Ministers.” But it is difficult to see what he can want with the Special Testimonies, or any other Testimonies, when he rejects a whole book that comes from the same source as do all the Testimonies, special or other. The Testimonies can do no good to people who do not believe then; for “prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.” 1 Corinthians 14:22. A person can not believe the Testimonies, and at the same time reject a whole book of the Spirit of prophecy. He may think he believes them; but he does not truly believe them: he believes them only so far as he can approve them, only so far as they agree with his own opinions. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 605.11

And just this, we are sorry to say, is the difficulty with many of those whose inquiries we are now considering. They know that the book, “The Desire of Ages,” comes from the Spirit of prophecy; they profess to believe the Spirit of prophecy; and yet the instant they find a statement from that book which they can not endorse,—a statement that does not agree with their own views,—they do not believe it, and “do not understand it,” and want an explanation of “how it can be so.” When the angel told Zacharias a certain thing, and Zacharias said, “Whereby shall I know this? for,” etc., the angel told him, “Thou believest not my words.” Luke 1:13-20. Do we believe the Spirit of prophecy, or not? If we do, when that Spirit speaks, we shall believe what is said, whether we understand it or not. What the Spirit says is the truth; and believing it, we believe the truth and know the truth, even if we do not understand it so we can explain just the “how” of it. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 606.1

So it is with this passage that has called forth so many inquiries; by every evidence the passage was intentionally written to tell, and does tell, that the brothers of Jesus were “older” than he. This, being the statement of the Spirit of prophecy, is the truth. He who believes it, believes the truth, and knows the truth, whether he can explain it or not. Of course any one who does not believe it can never understand it, even though the Spirit himself should explain it. But to those who believe it, all is easy enough. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 606.2

.1. He knows that it is the truth. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 606.3

.2. He knows that the place where he read it is in a very brief extract from a book of more than seven hundred pages; and he knows that it is possible, and altogether likely, that somewhere in the complete work, something is said to make it all plain and perfectly satisfactory. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 606.4

.3. He knows that even just as it stands, it in no way contradicts the Bible. For though the Bible says always that Jesus was Mary’s first-born son, this passage from “Desire of Ages” does not say that he was not her first-born son. Though the passage from “Desire of Ages” does say that the brothers of Jesus were older than he, that passage does not say that he was not her first-born son. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 606.5

.4. He knows, just as certainly as he will think, that Jesus could be Mary’s first-born son, and yet that his brothers could be older than he; for he knows that such things are common everywhere. There are families everywhere in which the wife has brought forth her first-born son; and yet in that same family there are brothers older than this first-born of his mother. In other words, he knows that there are numberless instances in the great human family, in which a man with children has been left a widower, and has married a second wife, and that this second wife has brought forth her first-born son in a family where there were children older than he; and that they all call him brother, and he calls them brothers and sisters, because that is what they are. Surely when such things are familiar in every neighborhood, it must be a peculiarly persistent sort of unbelief that gets into difficulty and confusion over a statement in a book, that in a certain family there were brothers older than the first-born son of his mother; and will reject the book because it says so. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 606.6

But some of these may ask, Does the book say that this is how it was? Outside of the passage here under consideration, we do not know that it does, because we have not seen the whole book. But this passage itself says it; because there is no other possible way in which there can be, in the same family, brothers older than the first-born son of his mother. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 606.7

However, we have seen, on another page, the following sentences, which suggest the same thing that the passage under consideration tells:— ARSH September 20, 1898, page 606.8

“By her [Mary’s] vindication of what she knew to be right in His conduct, she herself was brought into trying positions. She looked upon the associations of the home, and the mother’s tender watchcare over her children, as of vital importance in the formation of character. The sons and daughters of Joseph knew this, and by appealing to her anxiety, they tried to correct the practices of Jesus according to their standard.” ARSH September 20, 1898, page 606.9

As a matter of fact, this passage tells nothing more, and indeed nothing else, on that subject, than does the other passage; but it does tell the same thing that the other tells. It is possible that when we shall have access to the whole book, we may find yet more, and perhaps more plainly, said. But whether we do or not, the passage that has called forth the inquiries is plain just as it stands to every one that believes it. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 606.10

We hope this incident will have aroused such an interest in that splendid book, “The Desire of Ages,” that not one of our readers will rest until he has obtained and read it, and knows just what it says on this and every other subject upon which it speaks. ARSH September 20, 1898, page 606.11