The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, vol. 75

December 20, 1898

“Editorial” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 51, p. 814.

WHEN the centurion said to Jesus that he need not “come and heal” his servant, but that if he would “speak the word only,” the servant would be healed, Jesus “said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” ARSH December 20, 1898, page 814.1

Here was a Roman, by Israel despised and shunned as a heathen and held to be hated of God, who had spent his life among heathen influences, with no Bible advantages, yet who had discovered that when the Lord speaks, in that word itself there is power to do what the word says, and who depended on that word to do what it said. ARSH December 20, 1898, page 814.2

And there were the people of Israel, who all their lives had been in daily connection with the word of the Lord, who prided themselves on being “the people of the Book,” and boasted of their knowledge of the word of God; and yet had not learned that in the word there is power to accomplish what that word says. ARSH December 20, 1898, page 814.3

All this lack on the part of Israel prevailed, too, when that very word in which they boasted said to them plainly, and showed over and over, that such is alone the character of the word of God: and that word was read in their synagogues every Sabbath day. ARSH December 20, 1898, page 814.4

That word had all their lives said plainly to them: “As the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10, 11. ARSH December 20, 1898, page 814.5

Nature itself held constantly before them the instruction that the earth of itself could produce nothing; that it was the moisture of rain and snow, from heaven, that made it bring forth and bud, and produce fruit. ARSH December 20, 1898, page 814.6

And the Lord said, “So shall my word be.” As the earth of itself can do nothing, so you of yourself can do nothing. And as the moisture of rain and snow from heaven makes the earth bring forth, and bud, and produce fruit, so shall my word make you bring forth the fruit of righteousness to the glory of God. “My word.... IT shall accomplish that which I please.” ARSH December 20, 1898, page 814.7

Many and many a time had Israel read this scripture. And year in and year out they had read the word of God, and had said: I will do what that word says; I will accomplish that which pleases him. ARSH December 20, 1898, page 814.8

And that they might be the more certain that they should do exactly what the word said, that word was separated into parts, and each part drawn out into many fine-spun distinctions. Then they set about diligently to do, carefully and particularly, themselves, each specification of the word, as thus set forth. ARSH December 20, 1898, page 814.9

True, nowhere in all this did they find any peace, much less any joy. With all their doing, they never found the things done. Always they found themselves far short of having done what the word said,—so far short, too, that it was the despairing cry of Israel that “if but one person could only for one day keep the whole law, and not offend in one point,—nay, if but one person could but keep that one point of the law which affected the due observance of the Sabbath,—then the troubles of Israel would be ended, and the Messiah at last would come.” Yet still they slaved on in the treadmill round of their own fruitless doings,—all of works, and none of faith; all of themselves, and none of God; all of their own doing, which was not really doing at all, and none of the word itself doing, which is the only real doing of the word of God. ARSH December 20, 1898, page 814.10

How refreshing it was to the spirit of Jesus, in the midst of this desert waste of Israel, to meet a man, whoever he might be, who had found the word of God indeed; who knew that when the word was spoken, that word itself would accomplish the thing spoken; and who would depend upon “the word only.” This was faith. This opened the life to the power of God. And as the consequence, there was accomplished in the life that which pleased God. ARSH December 20, 1898, page 814.11

“My word, ... IT [not you] shall accomplish that which I please.” “The word of God... effectually worketh also in you that believe.” 1 Thessalonians 2:13. To depend upon it to work in you that which is well pleasing in his sight—this is faith. To cultivate this dependence upon the word is to cultivate faith. And “the knowledge of what the Scripture means when urging upon us the necessity of cultivating faith, is more essential than any other knowledge that can be acquired.” ARSH December 20, 1898, page 814.12

“Editorial Note” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 51, p. 814.

“THE time has come when all who work in Christ’s lines will have the mark of God, in words, in spirit, in character, in their honor of Immanuel.” ARSH December 20, 1898, page 814.1

The man who was to set the mark of God upon the people “was clothed with linen.” And “the fine linen if the righteousness of saints.” Revelation 19:8. ARSH December 20, 1898, page 814.2

This mark, then, which he sets upon the people, is the mark of the righteousness, the character, of God, “even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference.” Romans 3:22. ARSH December 20, 1898, page 814.3

This mark is set alone by means of the Spirit of God. “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death, ... that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:2, 4. ARSH December 20, 1898, page 814.4

Again: “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, ... that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Galatians 3:13, 14. ARSH December 20, 1898, page 814.5

The blessing of Abraham is the righteousness of God. The righteousness of God comes only by faith. And when it had come to Abraham, he then received the sign of circumcision, a “seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had.” ARSH December 20, 1898, page 814.6

True circumcision is “that of the heart, in the spirit.” Accordingly, the gift of the Holy Spirit is the seal of the righteousness of the faith which we have. He is the seal of the righteousness of God imputed to us by faith before we are circumcised, and also the seal of the righteousness of God imparted to us through faith after we have been circumcised. ARSH December 20, 1898, page 814.7

This is plain from the fact that the very object of this circumcision of the heart, in the spirit, is that we may love the Lord our God, with all the heart and with all the soul. Deuteronomy 30:6. To love God with all the heart and with all the soul, is charity—the bond of perfectness. It is the love of God, which is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us. And “this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.” And as all his commandments are righteousness; as the keeping of his commandments is the manifestation of the love of God in the life; and as this love of God is shed abroad in the life by the Holy Ghost, this is the righteousness of the law, which is fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. ARSH December 20, 1898, page 814.8

Thus, as the Holy Spirit is the seal of righteousness, it is only by means of the Holy Spirit of God that the mark of God can be set upon us in our words, our actions, our characters, in our honor of Immanuel. And in truth it is indeed the Holy Spirit of God whereby we are “sealed unto the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30. And “the time has come when all who work in Christ’s lines will have the mark of God.” ARSH December 20, 1898, page 814.9

Have you the mark of God? Have you the seal of the righteousness of God? If not, why? When the righteousness of God is a free gift to everybody, why do you not accept it—if so be that you haven’t it? You never find any difficulty in accepting a free gift that is bestowed by a man: why should you find any difficulty in accepting this free gift bestowed upon you by the Lord? ARSH December 20, 1898, page 814.10

Accept, then, in all its fulness, the righteousness of God, which is freely given. Then, upon this, receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Then still look to that Spirit, and depend upon him to impart to you the righteousness of God, to perfect in you the work of Christ, and to seal you “unto the day of redemption.” ARSH December 20, 1898, page 814.11

And the day of redemption is at the doors. This is certain; for when the man clothed in linen, with the writer’s inkhorn by his side, was commanded to “go through the midst of the city, ... and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and cry for the abominations that be done in the midst thereof,” to the others who had the destroying weapons in their hands it was said, “Go ye after him through the city, and smite: ...but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary.” Ezekiel 8:1-6. The ones with the destroying weapons follow shortly, if not closely, “after him” who sets the mark of God. And as “the time has now come when the mark of God” is being set, it can not be long ere the ones with the destroying weapons will pass through also. ARSH December 20, 1898, page 814.12

Have you the righteousness of God imputed and imparted, which God can seal by his Holy Spirit? It is a free gift to every one who believes. ARSH December 20, 1898, page 814.13

“As, and it shall be given you.” “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” “Be filled with” “the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” ARSH December 20, 1898, page 814.14

“What Will the People Say?” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 51, pp. 815, 816.

THE remaining portion of that remarkable letter of the Washington Bureau of the Baltimore Daily American, published Oct. 15, 1898, is as follows:— ARSH December 20, 1898, page 815.1

The administration fully realizes the objections that will arise in this country, from certain sources, against even a temporary sustenance of the Catholic Church in Cuba. But it has been given ample assurance by the Catholic authorities that the church shall be placed on a self-supporting basis as soon as it is possible to establish the new order that has been brought about by the Spanish evacuation. ARSH December 20, 1898, page 815.2

Archbishop Chapelle will be entrusted with liberal powers to institute such of the reforms as demand immediate introduction. It is likely that the responsibility of supporting the church in Cuba will eventually be assumed by the Catholics in this country. ARSH December 20, 1898, page 815.3

In determining to support the Catholic priests in Cuba until their church can take care of them, President McKinley has acted wisely from other points of view than mere humanity. The Cuban priests, as in all countries whose population is densely ignorant, exercise complete control over their parishioners. Apart from the cruelty of withdrawing all aid from these priests, it is easy to believe that the new American government in Cuba would have at its very inception built up a dangerous set of enemies if the priesthood of Cuba were given reason to regret the presence of the American flag on the island. The Spanish government at Madrid could easily give the American government some dearly bought information as to the malign influence that is in the power of a hostile clergy to exercise. Ever since the first Carlist uprising in 1833, every movement directed against the government of Spain has found its principal support in the clergy of Spain, who, almost to a man, are Carlists. ARSH December 20, 1898, page 815.4

It is true that objection will arise only “from certain sources” against governmental “sustenance of the Catholic Church” and “the vast number of priests and high church dignitaries” in Cuba? Is it true that the whole people of the United States have so far forgotten the fundamental principles of the nation, or else have so far fallen under the influence of the Catholic Church, that against the government’s undertaking “the entire responsibility” for the support of the Catholic Church in Cuba, objection will arise only “from certain sources”? Why will not objection arise from the whole people everywhere? ARSH December 20, 1898, page 815.5

All money given by the United States government for keeping open the Catholic churches, and providing for public worship in those churches in Cuba,—all money paid by the United States government to “the vast number of Catholic priests and high church dignitaries” in Cuba,—must be obtained by taxation, must be raised by revenue, laid upon all the people. Of the money now being paid by all the people for revenue—stamps on drafts, deeds, mortgages, and what not—a portion must go to the “support of the Catholic Church,” and “the vast number of priests and high church dignitaries” in Cuba. For is it not published by this Washington Bureau that “it is the determination of President McKinley,” coached by Cardinal Gibbons and Archbishop Ireland, that “sufficient money shall be advanced by this government to support the Catholic Church” in Cuba? Will all the people of the United States allow this thing to be carried on at their expense without protest? Our fathers, who made this nation, said that “to compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves, is sinful and tyrannical.” They therefore abolished the practise and repudiated the principle. Will the people now sanction the revival and the re-establishment of the principle? ARSH December 20, 1898, page 815.6

The second time in this letter we are told that assurance is given “by the Catholic authorities that the church shall be placed on a self-supporting basis as soon as it is possible to establish the new order.” And again we inquire, What confidence can be placed in any such assurance, in presence of fact that this governmental support is of the same identical priests and high church dignitaries, and the same identical system, that, though having had “complete control over their parishioners” for four hundred years, yet have never taught them to support their church and clergy, but have kept them “densely ignorant,” as this correspondent declares them to be to-day? When this is the record for four hundred years of governmental support, what is the value of “ample assurance by the Catholic authorities that the church shall be placed on a self-supporting basis” while governmental support is continued? In view of such a record, no assurance, by the Catholic authorities nor by anybody else, can be ample that the church shall be placed on a self-supporting basis while governmental support is continued. ARSH December 20, 1898, page 815.7

Another, and the final, consideration, which shows that no such thing as the self-support of the Catholic Church in Cuba can ever be expected, is that while it is promised by the Catholic authorities that “when law and order are fully re-established on the distracted island, the Catholic Church will be expected to support itself,” yet, at the same time, there is presented the abominable fact, which amounts, in effect, to a threat, that “the Cuban priests exercise complete control over their parishioners,” who are “densely ignorant,” and would prove “a dangerous set of enemies if the priesthood of Cuba were given reason to regret the presence of the American flag on the island”!! ARSH December 20, 1898, page 815.8

That is to say, the government of Spain has always supported the Catholic clergy and the Catholic churches in Cuba. And now, the United States having supplanted the government of Spain in Cuba, if this government does not “undertake the entire responsibility for their support,” “the priesthood of Cuba” will be “given reason to regret the presence of the American flag on the island;” and having “complete control” of their “densely ignorant” parishioners, “the new American government in Cuba would have at its very inception built up a dangerous set of enemies.” Therefore, to placate this “dangerous set of enemies,” the government of the United States must “undertake the entire responsibility for their support.” And accordingly, “President McKinley has acted wisely” in determining that “sufficient money” shall “be advanced by this government to support the Catholic Church”! And if anybody does not believe that it is wise thus to placate these “dangerous enemies,” then “the Spanish government at Madrid could easily give” him pointers in “some dearly bought information as to the malign influence that is in the power of a hostile clergy to exercise”!!! ARSH December 20, 1898, page 816.1

Then with “the vast number of priests and high church dignitaries” composing a clergy of such a “dangerous” and “malign” disposition as that, having “complete control” of their “densely ignorant” parishioners, and, upon such considerations as this, demanding governmental support until “law and order are fully re-established,” what prospect can there be that governmental support will ever cease? because what prospect can there ever be that law and order will ever be fully re-established while the cessation of the governmental support of such a priesthood must be the sure consequence of the full re-establishment of law and order; and the prevention of the full re-establishment of law and order rests completely with the “dangerous” and “malign” priesthood, who receive the governmental support that is to continue only until law and order are fully re-established? ARSH December 20, 1898, page 816.2

Again we must remark that this argument in behalf of governmental support of the Catholic priesthood of Cuba, based upon the “dangerous” and “malign” disposition of that same priesthood, is, for cool and essential iniquity, surely entitled to the palm. ARSH December 20, 1898, page 816.3

But are the people of the United States ready for all this? Will they all bear it all without protest? ARSH December 20, 1898, page 816.4

“Editorial Notes” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 51, p. 817.

“GRIEVE not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” When anything is sealed, it is made secure; and God by is Holy Spirit is now sealing hearts for eternity. Will you let the Holy Spirit do his work on your heart? Let him, let him! ARSH December 20, 1898, page 817.1

“Editorial Bits” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 51, p. 817.

AN excellent illustration of the fact that what is first learned remains longest, and is last thought of, is furnished in the fact that as Gladstone’s life was fading out in the fulness of old age, during the last two days, unconscious of all else, his broken sentences and muttered prayers were spoken in French. And this was because, in his earliest childhood, his nurse was French, from whom he had not only learned the language, but had learned to pray in that language. What a beautiful thing it was that she taught him to pray, instead of teaching him Mother Goose, High-diddle-diddle, and fables generally! Parents, what are the first impressions made upon the minds of your children? Are they such that the last lingering flashes, as life fades away, will be of holy prayer? ARSH December 20, 1898, page 817.1

Why may not home be heaven here on earth? ARSH December 20, 1898, page 817.2

“Back Page” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 51, p. 824.

IT is now announced from Washington that the pope is strongly in favor of the annexation of Cuba to the United States; and that Archbishop Ireland is his representative to work for it in the United States. Accordingly, Archbishop Ireland is spending considerable time talking to senators and representatives in Congress on the subject. He says that he speaks for a majority of Cubans, too. Considering the success of Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishops Ireland and Chapelle, et al., in getting the support of the Catholic Church in Cuba by the United States government, we would not wonder if they should succeed in their scheme of annexation. And if they do, it will be simply because annexation will be more to the Church of Rome than would be the independence of Cuba. ARSH December 20, 1898, page 824.1

REFERRING to the universal thought of war, Lord Salisbury, in his remarkable speech, Nov. 9, 1898, said that “what has been impressed upon us is that the subject-matter of war is terribly prevalent on all sides. We see nations decaying whose government is so bad that it can neither maintain the power of self-defense nor retain the affection of its subjects; and when this occurs, there are always neighbors impelled by some motive—it may be the highest philanthropy, or it may be the natural desire of empire—to contest as to who shall be heir to the falling nation; and that is the cause of war.” He then alluded to “the rapidity and unexpectedness with which wars break out,” and continued: “If Great Britain should ever permit her sea defenses to weaken, her whole empire would come clattering to the ground. It is therefore impossible, in the present state and temper of the world, to intermit our naval and military precautions.” Joel 3:9 is being fulfilled: “Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up.” And when they do come up, it will be to “the battle of the great day of God Almighty;” and therefore will he cause his “mighty ones to come down.” “But the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.” ARSH December 20, 1898, page 824.2