The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, vol. 76

January 10, 1899

“Editorial” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 76, 2, p. 24.

“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 January 10, 1899, page 24.1

Notice that it is the knowledge of what the Scripture means as to the “necessity of cultivating faith,”—not particularly having faith, but cultivating it. ARSH January 10, 1899, page 24.2

There is not much said in the Scriptures about any necessity of our having faith, while very, very much is said about our cultivating faith. ARSH January 10, 1899, page 24.3

The reason of this is that to all people there is given faith to begin with: and all they need to do is to cultivate faith. Nobody can have more faith than is already given him, without cultivating the faith that is already given. And there is nothing known to man that will grow so fast as faith, when it is cultivated—“faith growth exceedingly.” ARSH January 10, 1899, page 24.4

Faith is the expecting that the word of God itself will accomplish what that word says; and the depending upon “the word only” to accomplish what the word says. To cultivate dependence on the word of God, “the word only,” itself to do what the word says, is to cultivate faith. ARSH January 10, 1899, page 24.5

Faith is “the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8); and that it is given to everybody is plainly stated in the Scriptures: “God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Romans 12:3. This measure of faith which “God hath dealt to every man” is the capital with which God endows and starts “every man that cometh into the world;” and every man is expected to trade upon this capital—cultivate it—to the salvation of his soul. ARSH January 10, 1899, page 24.6

There is no danger of ever lessening this capital when it is used: as certainly as it is used at all, it will increase, it will grow exceedingly. And as certainly as it grows, the righteousness, the peace, the joy, of the Lord, are assured to the full salvation of the soul. ARSH January 10, 1899, page 24.7

Again: faith comes by the word of God. Therefore it is written: “The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach.” Romans 10:8. Thus faith, the very word of faith, is in the mouth and in the heart of every man. ARSH January 10, 1899, page 24.8

How is this?—Thus: when the first pair sinned in the garden, they wholly believed Satan; they gave themselves wholly to Satan; they were taken completely captive by him. Then there was perfect agreement and peace between them and Satan. But God did not leave it so; he broke up this agreement, he spoiled this peace. And he did it by his word, saying to Satan: “I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed.” Genesis 3:15. ARSH January 10, 1899, page 24.9

“It is God alone that can continually put enmity between the seed of the woman and the serpent’s seed. After the transgression of man his nature became evil. Then was peace between Satan and fallen man. Had there been no interference on the part of God, men would have formed an alliance against heaven, and, in the place of warfare among themselves, carried on nothing but warfare against God. There is no native enmity between fallen angels and fallen men. Both are evil, and that through apostasy, and evil, wherever it exists, will always league against good. Fallen angels and fallen men join in companionship. The wise generalship of Satan calculated that, if he could induce men as he had angels to join in rebellion, they would stand as his agents of communication with their fellow men to league in rebellion against heaven. Just as soon as one separates from God he has no power of enmity against Satan. The enmity on earth between man and Satan is supernaturally put there. Unless the converting power of God is brought daily to bear upon the human heart there will be no inclination to be religiously inclined, but men will choose to be the captives of Satan rather than to be free men in Jesus Christ. I say God will put enmity. Man cannot put it. When the will is brought into subjection to the will of God, it must be through man’s inclining his heart and will to be on the Lord’s side.”—Unpublished Testimony. ARSH January 10, 1899, page 24.10

This enmity against Satan, this hatred of evil, which God puts in every person by his word, causes each soul to long for deliverance: and the deliverance is found alone in Jesus Christ. Romans 7:14-25. ARSH January 10, 1899, page 24.11

Thus this word of God, which plants in each soul enmity against Satan,—this hatred of evil that calls for deliverance, which is found alone in Jesus Christ,—this is the gift of faith to men; this is “the measure of faith” which God has dealt to every man; this is the “word of faith,” which is in the mouth and in the heart of every person in the world. ARSH January 10, 1899, page 24.12

This “is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:8-10. ARSH January 10, 1899, page 24.13

Therefore say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven, to bring faith to us? Neither say, Who shall descend into the deep; or, Who shall go far off; to find faith and bring it to us?—For “the word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach.” Deuteronomy 30:11-14; Romans 10:6-8. ARSH January 10, 1899, page 24.14

Say that: and exercise the faith which God has given to you, as to every other person in the world; for “understanding how to exercise faith, this is the science of the gospel.” ARSH January 10, 1899, page 24.15

“Editorial Note” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 76, 2, p. 24.

WHOEVER is baptized with the Holy Ghost is thereby baptized into the unity of Jesus Christ; for “by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body.” ARSH January 10, 1899, page 24.1

God is one. Jesus Christ is one. The Holy Spirit is one. And these three are one: there is no dissent nor division among them. ARSH January 10, 1899, page 24.2

The body of Christ, which is the church, is one. Though they be many members, they are but one body—all the many are one. “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.” ARSH January 10, 1899, page 24.3

The Holy Spirit is the only element of unity in this body composed of many members. Nothing but the all-pervading, all-gracious, all-gentle, and all-powerful, Spirit can possibly be the element of assured unity in this body of many members, which is the church. ARSH January 10, 1899, page 24.4

And this blessed Spirit is this element of assured unity. It is so just now; for wherever that Spirit is, there is unity in Jesus Christ. All who have this Spirit are one in Christ Jesus. All who have this Spirit are one in Christ Jesus. Any two, or any number, of persons, who have the Spirit of God, are one. We do not say they ought to be one: they are one. The very fact of their having the Spirit makes them one; for the baptism of the Spirit is “into one body.” ARSH January 10, 1899, page 24.5

Whosoever, by whatever connection, professes to belong to the church, the body, of Christ, and yet indulges in criticism, dissension, or division, is self-deceived. He is not a member of the true church of Christ at all. he has not the Spirit of unity, which is the Spirit of Christ. And “if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Romans 8:9. And as surely as any man has the Spirit of Christ, there is not, there can not be, with him, any criticism, any dissension, or any division. He has the Spirit of unity, and unity he will ever seek. ARSH January 10, 1899, page 24.6

The unity of the church of Christ is just as complete as is that of the most perfect human body. All the members of the body of Christ move in just as complete and harmonious action as do the members of a perfect human body. For Christ is the Head of the body, the church: and just as all the member of the human body are set together, each in its proper place, and are, each in particular, directed by the head through the will; so all the members of the body of Christ are set together by God, “as it hath pleased him,” and are all, and each in particular, directed by the Head through the Spirit of God. ARSH January 10, 1899, page 24.7

By the Holy Spirit each individual member is joined to Christ, the Head; and from the Head the one Will actuating all the members, perfect unity is fixed and maintained. But in the body of Christ, as in the human body, which is the figure, the members are not, each in particular, joined immediately to the head. In the human body, which is the figure, the members are joined to the head by being joined one to another,—the fingers to the hands, the hands to the forearms, the forearms to the upper-arms, the upper-arms to the trunk at the shoulders: yet each particular member is connected with the head, and is entirely controlled from the head, though it be through other members. Each member in the connection is essential to the efficiency of the other members; and each member must be strictly in its own place, in order efficiently to perform its own mission in the body of which it is a part. And “the eye can not say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.” ARSH January 10, 1899, page 24.8

So it is in the body of Christ: “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” 1 Corinthians 12:27. And “we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” Romans 12:5. And just as God alone, through his creative Spirit, is the author of the symmetrical connection and unity of all the members of the human body, so it is God alone, through the brooding creative power of the Holy Spirit, who is the author of any symmetrical connection, organization, and unity, in the body of Christ, which is the church. ARSH January 10, 1899, page 25.1

Have you been, are you now, baptized by that one Spirit into that one body? Have you been, and are you now, baptized by the Holy Ghost into this divine unity of the true church of Christ? If you have been, and are now, baptized with the Holy Ghost at all, you are baptized into this divine unity; if not, not. And just now the line is being drawn, by the Lord himself, between those who are of this divine unity and those who are not. Those who are, are being sealed with the seal of the living God; those who are not, are being weighed in the balances of the sanctuary, and pronounced wanting. Where stand you? ARSH January 10, 1899, page 25.2

“As, 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 January 10, 1899, page 25.3

“‘The Sheet-Anchor of American Republicanism’” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 76, 2, p. 24.

IN these 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 10, 1899, 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 10, 1899, page 24.2

He was speaking at Peoria, Ill., Oct. 16, 1854, and said:— ARSH January 10, 1899, 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 10, 1899, 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 10, 1899, 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 10, 1899, 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 10, 1899, 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 10, 1899, 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 10, 1899, page 24.9

“Back Page” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 76, 2, p. 32.

THROUGH a terrific storm on the sea, and not by any means a mild one on land, Elders Waggoner and Prescott, Mrs. Prescott and three other sisters, arrived at Battle Creek from England, Friday evening, January 6, all in good health and in good cheer. ARSH January 10, 1899, page 32.1

A DISPATCH from Havana, January 5, says that through “the status of the Roman Catholic Church in Cuba has not yet been considered,” yet “the cost of the establishment will probably be paid out of the island revenues until definite action shall have been taken.” The island revenues are the revenues of the United States government; and the payment of any of these revenues to the Catholic Church, will be the payment of public money by the United States government to the Catholic Church; for the United States government is the only government in Cuba. ARSH January 10, 1899, page 32.2

A DISPATCH from London, January 4, says: “The Rome correspondent of the Daily Mail says, ‘The pope will forbid Archbishop Ireland to represent the Untied States at the [czar’s] disarmament conference, because the Vatican is not to be represented.’” Isn’t the pope a little too fast in this? Since Archbishop Ireland is the pope’s official, and officially accepted, representative to the United States government, when Archbishop Ireland is made the official representative of the United States government, when Archbishop Ireland is made the official representative of the United States government at this conference, why would not the Vatican thus be represented there? ARSH January 10, 1899, page 32.3