The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, vol. 76

May 2, 1899

“Editorial” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 76, 18, p. 280.

“THE reason so many workers fail is because the wisdom of man attempts to teach the things of God.” ARSH May 2, 1899, page 280.1

When one stops to ponder a moment, it seems almost incredible to what extent men will voluntarily addict themselves to such health-destroying practises as snuff- and tobacco-using, the drink habit, etc. While not so pernicious as these, yet none the less disgusting, is the habit of chewing gum. In the United States it would take all the money raised for missions in four years to equal the amount spent for chewing-gum in one year. ARSH May 2, 1899, page 280.2

These are the days of reformations and would-be reformers. But there are only a few of these “reformers” who succeed in working any reformation. Indeed, so signal has been the failure of many of them, that now “reform” and “reformer” are only synonyms for insincerity and hypocrisy. The whole difficulty lies in the fact that the reformers themselves do not know what is involved in a reformation. If they did, they would succeed; for no true reformer ever started out to do a work without accomplishing something. To be a reformer, one must have two points constantly before him: First, stick to principles, and let men alone; second, reform yourself, and don’t attempt to reform the other man. ARSH May 2, 1899, page 280.3

“Editorial Note” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 76, 18, p. 280.

THE other day a brother said, “If only I could get out of this work into something else, I would feel more free to engage more heartily in the work.” Just what he meant, we do not know; but we do know that there is a disposition with many to wish for the task assigned to some one else. Where you are is where God wants you; so stay there, and do your work as unto him, till he calls you to another place. To get out of our present relations too often means to get out of service altogether. The very best way to get out of your present position is to make yourself so indispensable that your services can not be dispensed with; and then you will probably be the first one chosen for another important field. ARSH May 2, 1899, page 280.1

“Editorial Notes” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 76, 18, p. 280.

THE Lord is calling for men and women who are faithful in money matters; and who, as treasurers of Conferences, institutions, churches, Sabbath-schools, etc., can be trusted with the funds, and will be faithful in rendering an account for every cent placed in their hands. ARSH May 2, 1899, page 280.1

One of the traits of Abraham Lincoln was faithfulness in little things. Mr. Wanamaker, late postmaster-general, said, in a lecture he recently delivered at a banquet in Philadelphia, that while at Washington it came under his notice that Lincoln, in early life, had been a postmaster in a small town in Illinois. In the course of time the office was consolidated with that of Salem, and the man twice wanted afterward for president was for once not wanted for postmaster. Years afterward it was discovered that no settlement had reached Washington of the affairs of that little post-office. A visit was made to Mr. Lincoln, and the case stated, when the always great man rose from his desk, walked over to a chest of drawers, and took out a bundle of papers containing an envelope containing seventeen dollars and some cents, the exact sum, in the identical money of the government, safely in keeping until called for. As he handed it over to the agent of the Post-office Department, he said: “There it is. I never use any other man’s money.” ARSH May 2, 1899, page 280.2

That is the kind of honest and faithfulness that is wanted in this cause; and men and women who have demonstrated that they possess it are in demand. ARSH May 2, 1899, page 280.3

“Editorial Bite” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 76, 18, p. 280.

THERE never was a time when there were so many “confederacies” of all kinds as there are to-day. One of these is life insurance. The aggregate of the policies of some men is very great. John Wanamaker, of Philadelphia, carries insurance policies amounting to $1,505,000, and is the largest insurance-policy holder in America; John B. Stetson, the hat-maker, carries $700,000, insurance; and there are scores who are insured for from $250,000 up to $500,000. After all, the only insurance that is of real value to any man is to have his life “hid with Christ in God.” There is no danger of the failure of this company, and it will not be affected by the fires of the last days. Besides, you are sure of it, whether you are alive or dead. Isn’t that a queer sort of life insurance that you can’t get while you live, and can’t have when you are dead; and that will neither keep you alive, nor make you live after you have died? ARSH May 2, 1899, page 280.1

“Editorial Bites” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 76, 18, p. 280.

“If ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.” Luke 6:34. ARSH May 2, 1899, page 280.1

There is a sentence spoken by the Lord Jesus. Will you read it carefully, and then prayerfully ask yourself what is says? Please do not ask yourself nor anybody else what it means; for then you will get some human, selfish notion into it. Simply ask what it says; then you will know what it means; for it means exactly what it says. ARSH May 2, 1899, page 280.2

“If ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye?” Can you tell? ARSH May 2, 1899, page 280.3

“Sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.” What kind of man is it that lends, to receive as much again? What does this word of Christ say? Then what kind of man are you? Are you a Christian or a sinner? By that word you can tell. “Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” Verse 46. ARSH May 2, 1899, page 280.4

Here is another word of Christ from the same place: “But... do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest.” Verse 35. ARSH May 2, 1899, page 280.5

In which of these ways do you lend, and in which have you been lending, to the cause of God, to say nothing of people? Do you lend, and have you been lending, to the cause of God “to receive as much again”? or, “hoping for nothing again”? You can tell. Then are you one of the children of the Highest? or are you a sinner? By that word you can tell. For, “Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” ARSH May 2, 1899, page 280.6

“GIVE, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and SHAKEN TOGETHER, and RUNNING OVER, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye meet withal it shall be measured to you again.” Verse 38. ARSH May 2, 1899, page 280.7

Again we ask, Will you please read carefully these words of Christ, and then prayerfully ask yourself what they say? Do not ask yourself nor anybody else what the words mean. They mean exactly what they say. ARSH May 2, 1899, page 280.8

And when you find out what the words say, if it does not exactly suit you, please do not ask us to explain these statements of the Lord. We can not explain them. They are perfectly plain as they stand. Explanation is not what is needed. What is needed is that these words shall be believed. ARSH May 2, 1899, page 280.9

If not, why are they given to us by the Lord Jesus? ARSH May 2, 1899, page 280.10

The third angel’s message says, “Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Where are they? ARSH May 2, 1899, page 280.11

“Satanic ‘Reform’” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 76, 18, pp. 280, 281.

SOME time ago we mentioned the fact of a leading Salvation Army man in Wichita, Kan., making a campaign for the office of mayor of that city. We mentioned also some of the great things that he proposed to do in the way of reform if he should be elected, among which were the abolition of all plays and games of all sorts on Sunday; policemen to be requested to carry Bibles; ladies wearing bloomers to be fined five dollars for the first offense, and to be put ten days in jail for the second offense; the city to pay the street-car fare of all who desire to attend church on Sunday; religious services to be held in the city hall on Sunday, all public officials expected to be present; the meetings of the common council to be opened and closed with prayer; a public library made up wholly of Bibles to be added to the library already existing; all stores except drug stores to be closed on Sunday; and all poor people to be supplied with drugs and medicines free of charge. ARSH May 2, 1899, page 280.1

We have not hear how this man fared in the election, nor do we care, as he is only a type—one of a vast number of such. The basis of this man’s theory, as that of the whole National Reform system, is “that every one is born with moral instincts, and would not go wrong, did not opportunities beset him on all sides.” ARSH May 2, 1899, page 280.2

That has been the religio-political reformer’s theory from the beginning. It is the theory upon which the papacy was built, and, consistently enough, is the characteristic of the building of the image to the papacy. It places outside of men all the responsibility for their wrong-doing. So in order that all men may be perfectly good, all that is needed is to take away all opportunities for them to do anything bad. Now if that principle be correct, then Satan himself can be made a saint by that process. ARSH May 2, 1899, page 280.3

The truth is, however, that this principle is as false as any other one of Satan’s invention. By thus denying to men responsibility for any bad actions, men are also robbed of all virtue; because when men are good only by being deprived of the opportunity to be otherwise, all such goodness is altogether of a negative sort, an empty nothing. ARSH May 2, 1899, page 280.4

Such is not Christianity. Such principles and such methods of reform never can come from God. The truth is that man is responsible, altogether responsible, for any wrong thing that he does. And recognizing this truth, the Lord extends to all men the virtue by which to love and choose the good, and the power to do the good in the face of all the opportunities to evil that this world of evil can present. ARSH May 2, 1899, page 281.1

Such are the true principles and the true methods of reform. The principle and method of Satan can be carried out, and that “reform” wrought only by the power of the state. The principle and method of the Lord, and thus true reform, can be carried out only by the power of God. All who adopt the principle of Satan depend upon legislation and the power of the state. All who adopt the principle of the Lord depend upon the power of God. ARSH May 2, 1899, page 281.2

The principle and method of Satan are far developed, and are fast developing in the United States, and this satanic reform is being largely put into operation all over the land by means of the churches and religious organizations and combinations, etc., of the whole country. ARSH May 2, 1899, page 281.3

The Lord’s principle and method also are growing, and true reform is being put into operation by true Christians throughout the land. And it is time that every man should be intelligently looking at this matter, and choosing on which side he will stand—whether with Satan or with Christ. There is no middle ground. The enemy has come in like a flood. The Spirit of the Lord is lifting up a standard against him, and will put him to flight. This alone is the safe side. ARSH May 2, 1899, page 281.4