Experiences in Australia

Experiences in Australia, 1894

(1) The First Australian Camp.
(And Interesting Experiences Connected Therewith) EA 128.1

Tents were first pitched on the ground on the 26th of December, and from that time the number steadily increased until it reached one hundred and eight, and between four and five hundred people were encamped on the ground. Our first meetings were workers’ meetings, which lasted for several days. Our Conference began Friday, Dec. 29. We had an excellent meeting in the smaller tent. The large pavilion had not yet been pitched, because it was holiday time, and nothing could be obtained on a holiday, however urgent the want. Those who came to the workers’ meeting received most precious things from the word of God. The truth from the treasure house of God is of far greater value to those who receive it in the heart than the most precious things that earth can afford. It is as much higher than the things of earth, as the heavens are higher than the earth. EA 128.2

On January 2 the large tent was well pitched and prepared for the meeting. I spoke to the people, and was surprised to see so large a number of believers on the ground. The large (2) tent was well filled, and we questioned if we should have room for the outsiders. EA 128.3

This was the first camp-meeting that Melbourne had seen, and it was a marvel of wonders to the people. Far and near the sound went out concerning this city of tents, and a most wonderful interest was awakened. Every afternoon and evening the tent was filled to its utmost capacity, not with a cheap order of society, but with people of intelligence, physicians of note, ministers, and business men. We saw that, with the blessing of God, this camp-meeting would do more to bring our work before the people than years of labor could possibly do. EA 128.4

In attendance at the meeting were those who had kept the Sabbath for as long as four years, and this was their first opportunity of testifying to the truth in the congregation of God’s people. Many were there who had been scattered in the highways and byways, and whom the Lord had moved upon to come up to this holy convocation. Now for the first time they were hearing the living preacher. Our papers and publications had been the messengers of God to them, and had sown the seeds of gospel truth in their hearts. In social meeting they told how they (3) were first led to see the light. To some the Sabbath truth had been revealed through reading “Great Controversy”; others had embraced the truth through reading “Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation”; many had been much blessed by reading “Steps to Christ”. How great was the delight of these souls as they feasted on the rich banquet that heaven had prepared for them at the camp-meeting. I saw countenances lighted up, plainly impressed with the divine image. Many voices expressed the gratitude of joyful hearts as men and women contemplated the precious truths of the third angel’s message. They were led to understand more fully what is comprehended in this message, how all self must be renounced, all dependence upon self given up, and how Christ must be received in the heart as a complete Saviour. They were led to believe that they were born of God, and entitled to the privilege of sonship with Christ. EA 128.5

They were features in this meetings that testified clearly that the Spirit of God was working for the cause of truth in this place. The camp was in a good locality; the surroundings were favorable; there was a large number in attendance. But that which gave us greatest joy was the outside interest. (4) Thousands visited the encampment and expressed their delight and astonishment at the order of the ground, and the nicety of arrangements in the clean white tents. No stubborn opposition seemed to be awakened as men and women listened to the truth for the first time. The power of God was among us. Brighton was stirred from one end to the other. An interest was awakened in Melbourne also and the surrounding suburbs greater than anything we had witnessed since the movement of 1844. The truth was new and strange, yet it took hold upon the people; for we preached the word of God, and the Lord sent it home to the hearts of the hearers. EA 128.6

Many visitors came from long distances, and, as it was in the 1843 and 1844 movement, they would bring their lunch and remain through the day. A number of the citizens of the place declared that if they were not living close by they would hire tents and camp with us on the ground. They valued the privilege of hearing the word of God so clearly explained; they said the Bible seemed to be full of new and precious things, and was like a new book to them. We heard from many such expressions as these; “This is more than we hoped for.” “We are surprised every day with the new and precious things that are opened to us (5) from the Word of God.” “our faith is confirmed; our hope brightened, our belief in the testimony of the Scriptures made strong.” EA 129.1

A request was made that I should speak one evening during the week; for many wished to hear me who could not come out on Sunday or Saturday afternoon because of other engagements. An appointment was made to meet their wishes. Many of the people had read “Great Controversy”, and this had awakened an interest to see and hear the woman who had written it. EA 129.2

Sabbath, January 20, passed with its burden of record into eternity. And what a Sabbath! From the early morning meeting till the close in the evening, every hour was marked with the special blessing of God. It was such a day of the manifest presence of God as will never be forgotten. The Word of God was presented in the demonstration of the Spirit and in power. Outsiders came in the morning, and remained until the last meeting in the evening. EA 129.3

The meetings began at six a.m., and with short intermissions continued until evening. There was a social meeting in the morning at six o’clock, meeting at eight in the district tents (6) at 9:30 Sabbath school in the large tent. At eleven p.m. Elder Corliss preached, and the spirit and power of God attended the word. Many came forward for prayers, and the Lord wrought upon human minds in the manifest moving’s of the Holy Spirit. There was melting of heart before God, and the interest was so great that the meeting could not close till 2 p.m. EA 129.4

I spoke at 3:30, the meeting being delayed because of the protracted service that had preceded it. As W.C. White came to escort me to the tent he said, “Mother the forenoon meeting was held from 11 a.m. till 2 p.m. I think you had better speak but a short time this afternoon. The wind is blowing a gale, and the dust storm is very disagreeable, and there will probably be only a few outsiders. When we entered the tent, we found it full of people, fully one half of whom were outsiders. It is not common at any of our camp-meetings to have a large number of outsiders at the tent on Sabbath afternoon; but this afternoon provided an exception. So large was the attendance, that our people were invited to give up their seats and stand, which they cheerfully did. The crowd continued to come, until many were standing, both of believers and unbelievers, as a wall about (7) the tent. EA 129.5

The Lord gave me his Holy Spirit, and I bore testimony to the people. All listened with the deepest interest. Tears were in many eyes as I dwelt on the greatness of the gift of God in sending Jesus to our world to save perishing sinners. Many came to speak to me after the service, to tell how they were comforted and refreshed. Deep conviction was upon many minds. EA 129.6

The next service was a solemn ordination, when Brother Hickox was set apart to the ministry. Brother Corliss prayed in the spirit and power of God. Elder Olsen gave the charge. Everything was of the most elevated, solemn character, calculated to make a deep impression. EA 129.7

The following Sunday there was a large company out, and in the afternoon and evening the people crowded about the tents in large numbers. I spoke in the afternoon on the subject of Temperance. Several influential ministers were out to hear. One said he would preach from his pulpit in the evening. He there took up the leading points of our faith, and stated them quite accurately. He told the people that we as a denomination understood the Scriptures quite literally, but that he understood them in a spiritual sense. He gave our people the highest recommendation. (8) Later in the day I was visited by the president and secretary of the W.C. T.U. The president was a strict vegetarian, not having tasted of meat for four years. Both were ladies of intelligence. They manifested deep interest in all they saw and heard. They made request that I should speak in the hall in which they hold their meetings, and they also asked Bro. Starr to write for their temperance paper. The president expressed an earnest desire that we should harmonize in the temperance work. “Be assured,” we said, “we shall enter every door open to us, that we may let our light shine to others.” I gave to each of them a copy of “Christian Temperance” and to one I gave “Great Controversy” and to the other “Patriarchs and Prophets”. EA 130.1

The weather was all that we could desire for some time; then a wind and sandstorm came upon us, and it was necessary to place sentinels at every post of the tent to guard it. Three family tents and two larger tents were blown down; but these circumstances did not disturb us, since the Lord was encamped upon the ground. The prince of darkness might use his power to annoy and perplex us, but he could not overthrow us. EA 130.2

The congregational church at Brighton was wonderfully stirred over the truth taught at the campground. About twenty-five (9) young men, by their own request, held meetings in one of our tents for the study of the Sabbath question and other points of our faith. Some of these were university students, who were fitting themselves to become lawyers and statesmen. They had invited Elder McCullagh to a meeting where a young man was to speak in reference to the Sabbath question. Elder M. went, and heard many things that were excellent, while others were misstatements. In the providence of God an appointment was made for these young men to visit Elder M. at the encampment to state their views in regard to the validity of Sunday observances; then Elder M. was to state his views. The young men were to have liberty to ask questions; but the opportunity was to be given for one question to be answered before another was put. EA 130.3

Brother M. was requested to lead out in the conference. He did so by presenting an illustration showing the relation which the law, sin and the gospel sustain to one another. Placing three books on the table to represent these three, he said; “We will suppose that the law is done away; we will remove the law (removing that book which stood for the law). Sin is the transgression of the law. When there is no law, there (10) is no transgression, no sin. We will remove sin. (taking away the book which stood for sin) Where there is no law, and hence no sin, there is no need of the gospel (removing the last book). What have we left? Brother M. then spoke decidedly upon the immutability of the law of God, and its sacred claims upon every member of the human family. The meeting lasted till past 11 p.m. EA 130.4

The young men then invited Elder M. to come to the congregational church, where they would have other young men present, and continue the consideration of these subjects. The congregational minister was away at the time, and Bro. M. told them it would not be right to go to the church in the absence of their minister; it would look as if he were taking advantage of their pastor’s absence. “But,” Bro. M. said, “you are perfectly welcome to come to the campground, and here you shall have all the liberty you desire.” They consented to come, and bring their friends. They told Elder M. that they had come in the first place with a strong array of Scriptures, prepared to prove the abolition of the law; but that when he showed the relation existing between the law and sin and the gospel, they could not produce the arguments they had to present. (11) At this time the minister of the Congregational church was away on his vacation. When he was informed that the members of his church were being drawn away, he hurried back, and attended the special meeting with the young members of his flock. He presented the same arguments that others use against the truth and the Sabbath in particular; but his arguments were so weak and untenable, that his own people were ashamed of them as well of the spirit he manifested. Other meetings were appointed in a private house, where the young men still pursued the investigation started. EA 130.5

Some from the Congregational Church took their position for the truth, and this greatly offended the minister. In the last meeting, when he saw his own weakness, he said that he had a confession to make; he had let pleasure come before his duty; and instead of preparing for the occasion he had taken a pleasure excursion in a yacht on the bay. This statement left a bad impression on the minds of the young men; for they felt really in earnest to investigate these important subjects, and they said they thought the example given them by their minister was not as it should have been. One of these young men confessed the truth. EA 131.1

(12) Among those who attended the meetings was an excellent family who lived close by the ground. Mr. Hill was the superintendent of the Wesleyan Sunday School in Brighton, and had occupied this position for twenty-eight years. He had stood at the head of a large drapery establishment as one of its partners for nearly thirty years. This family was now making its decision. They saw the truth, and were now called on to decide whether they would obey it or not. They were interested to learn everything; they acknowledged that the churches were in a backslidden state, and that the presentation of the truth had opened the Bible to them as a new book. This family formed a pleasant acquaintance with Brother and Sister Starr, and invited them to their home to eat with them, and talk with them about the Scriptures. EA 131.2

Many others were interested in the truths taught, and a number decided for the truth. We were rejoiced to hear one after another saying, “I am keeping my first Sabbath.” At the first Sabbath of the Conference meeting, three commenced the observance of the Sabbath, and the following week five more took their position for the truth. The people who had taken hold soon began to talk of building a meeting house. EA 131.3

When one sister took her stand upon the truth, her husband (13) said, “You can give up the seventh day Sabbath, or leave my home.” They were Wesleyans. She left home. Later her daughter, a girl of sixteen, took her stand for the Sabbath, and the father told her to leave also. When the mother heard of this, she went home for her daughter. The husband said to her, “Well, have you decided to give up the Sabbath, and come back and live with me?” She replied, “No, I have come back for my daughter, whom you have turned out of doors.” EA 131.4

“But what are you going to do?” he questioned. EA 131.5

“I am going to support myself and my daughter; she may help me where she can.” EA 131.6

He then begged on his knees that his wife would give up these terrible doctrines. She had been a very timid woman, but the truth made her strong. “No,” she said; “I shall never give up the Sabbath as long as I live. I shall obey God.” EA 131.7

“Well,” he said, “if you will come back, you and my daughter may keep the Sabbath; but promise that you will not go to the meetings.” EA 132.1

She would make no such promise. “I will be a faithful wife to you in everything,” she said; “but should I listen to your proposals, and disobey God, I would not be a faithful child (14) to him, and therefore I could not be a faithful wife to you, nor a faithful mother to my children.” EA 132.2

“Well,” he said, “I am in great distress of mind. Will you go to our minister, and talk with him? At first she refused, saying that she knew her duty, and need not go to the minister to learn it. But as he continued to entreat her, she finally consented. EA 132.3

It was ten o’clock that night. They aroused the minister, and the man laid the whole matter before him—how he had turned his wife out of doors because she had kept the Sabbath. “Now,” said he, “did I do right in this, in saying to my daughter that if she kept the Sabbath she should not stay in my house? I want you to tell me, did I do right in treating my wife thus?” EA 132.4

The minister answered, “You did perfectly right under the circumstances.” EA 132.5

The man responded with much vehemence, “No, I did not do right. I abused my wife, and was unkind and abusive to my child. I see now how shameful was my course in treating a woman, the mother of my children in so heartless a manner.” He then asked the forgiveness of his wife, and said she should come back to his home; no restrictions would be placed upon her; she should (15) be at liberty to do as she thought right. He felt greatly troubled over the course he had taken. So the wife was reinstated in her home, more respected and loved than before this fiery opposition broke upon her. EA 132.6

Several came out in the earlier stage of the meeting. Among these were two brothers who were connected with a large music store. I will tell you a little more definitely about these A. brothers and their wives. Brother Somerville was the first to interest these men in the truth. He asked the help of Brother Starr in giving them Bible readings, and through these influences they were led to come upon the campground. They were delighted with the cotton city, and decided to have a tent for their families, and thus be able to receive the benefit of the meetings. The wives could be on the ground whenever they chose, but the husbands could attend meetings only when their business permitted. But they did this, placing themselves in the channel of light where the heavenly current could flow to their souls. EA 132.7

They were converted and baptized. From that time they closed their music store on the Sabbath. The father was much troubled over their course; for they not only refused to do business (16) themselves, but would not allow him to open the store for business on the Sabbath. “The store must be opened on Saturday,” the father said. “No,” was the answer; “not while our names stand on the sign can we open the music store on the Sabbath.” This was a very trying experience for them; but through the help of the Lord the matter was adjusted, and the brothers went on with their business without leaving the truth, though they had to suffer the opposition from mother and father and relatives. EA 132.8

The wives of these men did not take their stand at the times of the Brighton camp. They were so mixed up with the world that it was hard to make impressions that would divorce them from worldly idolatry. About four months later, at a meeting held in the hall at North Fitzroy, these sisters were converted and took their position with God’s people. EA 132.9

For several days before this meeting I knew that I was expected to speak in the church on Sabbath; but I had a severe cold, and was quite hoarse. I felt inclined to excuse myself from this appointment, but as it was my only opportunity, I said, (17) “I will place myself before the people, and I believe the Lord will answer my earnest prayers, and remove the hoarseness so I can present my message to the people,” I presented to my Heavenly Father the promise “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. . . . If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” Again, Christ says, “Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” EA 133.1

The word of God is sure. I had asked, and I believed that I would be able to speak to the people. I selected a portion of Scripture, but when I rose to speak it was taken from my mind, and I felt impressed to speak from the first chapter of second Peter. The Lord gave me special freedom in presenting the value of the grace of God. How much is his grace to be appreciated? The apostle Paul says, “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue; whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” EA 133.2

I was enabled by the aid of the Holy Spirit to speak with clearness and power. At the close of the discourse, I felt impressed by the (18) Spirit of God to extend an invitation for all those to come forward who desired to give themselves fully to the Lord. Those who felt the need of the prayers of the servants of God were invited to make it manifest. About thirty came forward. Among these were the wives of Brethren A., who for the first time made manifest their desire to come near to God. My heart was filled with unspeakable gratitude because of the movement made by these two women. I could then see why I was so earnestly moved to make this invitation. At first I had hesitated, wondering if it were best to do so when my son and I were the only ones whom I could see who would give us any help on that occasion. But as though someone had spoken to me, the thought passed through my mind, “Cannot you trust the Lord?” I said, “I will, Lord.” Although my son was much surprised that I should make such a call on this occasion, he was equal to the emergency. I never heard him speak with greater power or deeper feeling than at that time. He called upon Brn. Faulkhead and Salisbury to come forward, and we knelt in prayer. My son took the lead, and the Lord surely indicted the petition; for he seemed to pray as though in the presence of God. Brn. Faulkhead and Salisbury also presented fervent petitions and then the Lord gave me a voice to pray. EA 133.3

I remembered the sisters A. who, for the first time, were taking a public stand for the truth. The Holy Spirit was in the meeting, and many were stirred by its deep movings. EA 133.4

(19) At the close of the meeting, many pressed their way to the platform, and taking me by the hand, requested me with tears in their eyes to pray for them. I answered heartily, “I will”. The sisters A. were introduced, and I found that their hearts were very tender. EA 133.5

(20) The mother of one of the sisters who has not taken her position on the truth, had been a most bitter opposer, and had threatened that if her daughter did become a Sabbath-keeper, she would not allow her to enter her home; for the mother would look upon her as a disgrace to the family. Mrs. A. had often made the statement that she would never join the Seventh-day Adventists. She had been brought up in the Presbyterian Church, and had been educated to think that it was very improper for women to speak in meeting, and that for a woman to preach was altogether beyond the bounds of propriety. She enjoyed hearing Elder Daniells and Corliss, and thought them very clever speakers, but she would not listen to a woman’s preaching. Her husband prayed that God would so arrange matters that she would be converted under the minister of Sister White. When I made the appeal, and urged those to come forward who felt their need of drawing nearer to God, to the surprise of all, these sisters came forward. The sister who had lost her little one, said that she was determined that she would not move forward, but the spirit of the Lord so forcibly impressed her mind that she dared not refuse. When the brethren A. saw their wives going forward, they said they felt like leaping and praising God. They could hardly believe their own eyes. These men have proved (21) God’s promised true; for in asking they have received; and their faith has been greatly increased in him who has made every promise sure in Christ Jesus. EA 134.1

My faith was also rewarded, and although difficulty was brought upon me by the prevailing epidemic, the Lord sustained me, and lifted upon me as the health of his countenance. I felt so grateful to my heavenly Father for his loving kindness in bringing these two precious souls to unite with their husbands in obeying the truth. They have counted the cost before they have entered upon the Christian warfare. For some time these sisters have been attending the Sabbath-school. They brought the little children with them that they might receive the benefit of the instruction in the smaller classes; while they themselves have felt that they have gained much instruction in studying the lessons of the senior division. They were much nearer belief in the truth, much nearer the kingdom of heaven, than they themselves had thought. EA 134.2

This Sabbath day was a precious day. Was there not joy in heaven over those two souls who had received Christ? John says, “as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (22) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth. . . . And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.” EA 134.3

This precious experience was one of the result of the Brighton camp-meeting. The influence of the meeting was far-reaching. The people have not yet forgotten it. EA 134.4

Before the camp closed, a petition was sent in for a minister to labor in Brighton and explain the scriptures to the people. One gentleman came forward and offered an enclosed lot for the tent, free of charge. Others begged for meetings to be held in their localities. Williamstown was stirred. Some from Hawthorn had embraced the truth, and calls for preachers came from both these places. The temperance workers asked that instruction in healthful cooking might be given in their hall. Sister Starr went to act as teacher. The hall was provided with good facilities, so that after the lecture a practical illustration could be given of the best methods of healthful cookery. Sister Starr told them that she was not qualified to teach. “Well,” they said, “tell us what you know.” (23) After the camp-meeting, a tent was pitched at North Brighton, and Elders Corliss and Hare worked unitedly, and with success. In his visiting in this place, Elder Corliss came across a man and his wife who had kept the Sabbath for ten years. They had not attended any of the meetings on the campground, did not even know that there had been a camp-meeting. EA 134.5

In Middle Brighton, one family named Malcolm accepted the truth. There were five members in this family, the aged mother, two daughters, a son, and his wife. One daughter had been a missionary in China. She is an intelligent, fine-looking woman, and an interesting speaker. Later she attended the Bible School, eagerly feasting on the truth, and qualifying herself for future work. EA 135.1

In their labors after the camp, Elders Corliss and Hare experienced some opposition from the congregational minister in Brighton. Several members of his church had embraced the truth during the camp, and this had hurt him. He came to the tent one evening, accompanied by a large number of his church members. This minister was the founder of the Council of the Churches in this country, and a man of wide influence. He asked the privilege of speaking after Elder Corliss had spoken (24) but was told that this could not be permitted, for it would do no good, and would only create confusion. He insisted, and said, “Will you put the matter to the vote?” This was a scheme on his part; for he had brought along his church members in order to carry the day. Elder Corliss replied, “No; I cannot give this meeting away.” Before the whole congregation he said, “I will give this minister the tent, free of expense, any night in the week except Sunday night, to speak the whole evening on this subject; but I cannot permit him to divert the minds of this congregation from important things. I wish them to hear, and to investigate the Scriptures for themselves, that they may see if this is not the truth that I present to them.” EA 135.2

To the minister he said, “I will give you five minutes to decide upon the evening you will appoint to speak in this tent.” The man turned very pale, but answered not a word. The five minutes went by in dead silence. Then Elder Corliss went on with his discourse, showing the fallacy of the minister’s position on this question which Elder Corliss had, stated in print, in his hand. EA 135.3

After the meeting closed the minister announced that he would on Wednesday evening in his own church answer the discourse. (25) Brethren Hare and Colcord were present to hear this review. It was a repetition of the same object that Canright has put forth in his books. The minister had Canright’s book. But the congregation was not at all satisfied. Now his own people were so thoroughly stirred up that the minister felt compelled to do something; for his reputation was at stake. He sent a challenge to Elder Corliss to meet him in discussion. EA 135.4

Elder Corliss felt much troubled over this matter; but there seemed to be no way of evading the question; for the enemies of the truth would triumph if the matter were not taken up. Elder Corliss therefore agreed to accept the challenge if the minister would consent to continue the discussion for six evenings. One night, Elder Corliss felt, would not be sufficient to do justice to the subject. He hoped his proposition would be rejected, for the interest in his tent work was great, and he did not wish to drop it at this juncture. Meanwhile, while the matter was pending, Elder Corliss resolved to go on with his work, pressing into his discourses all the important matter possible, and carrying the interest as far as he could before the discussion should begin. EA 135.5

We thought the minister would not accept the conditions; (26) for his aim in his opposition so far had been to confuse the mind of the hearers of truth. He had no weapons furnished him in the Bible with which to war against the truth; and he must supply his necessity from the armory of the prince of darkness. These he could use in one evening, and claim that he had defeated the supporters of the law of God and the Sabbath. But when he had to keep to the point for six evenings, the weakness of his arguments would become apparent to the people. EA 135.6

(27) “As an outgrowth of the Brighton camp-meeting, several churches were raised up. I visited the church in Williamstown, and rejoiced to see that many had moral courage to manifest their loyalty to the commandments of God in spite of the continual opposition and contempt that have been heaped upon them and upon God’s holy law. They had sought earnestly after truth, and the feelings of the earnest seeker after truth are expressed in the words of the psalmist, where he says, ‘It is time, Lord, for thee to work; for they have made void thy law. Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right, and I hate every false way. Thy testimonies are wonderful; therefore doth my soul keep them. The entrance of thy words (28) giveth light; it giveth understanding unto them simple.’ A church was raised up in Hawthorn, and another in Brighton. About sixty belonged to these two churches. A large number of new members have been added to the Parham church and to the church in North Fitzroy. A number of members have also moved away; but persons are continually coming in who heard the truth at the Brighton camp-meeting. The Lord is drawing, and some are responding to his drawing. It would be a mistake to take the camp-meeting to Ballarat. Let the meeting be held where the people are, that they may not only attend, but sustain it. Let it be held where persons who have had their minds exercised may have the benefit of hearing again the reasons for our faith <and be converted>. The truth may be presented also to a class who have never before heard it. Were the tents pitched in a new locality, a new class of hearers would be reached. EA 137.1

Some will say that these camp-meetings are very expensive, and that the Conference cannot afford to support another such meeting; but when we look at the three churches that have been organized, and prospering in the faith, can we hesitate in answering the question, Will it pay? Shall we not raise our voices in decided affirmation, It will pay?” EA 137.2

L.B. 3, P. 375.
CAMP-MEETING LETTER. EA 138.1

(549) While in the Colonies I tried to encourage the people to work to the point of building plain houses for worship, and have talked much upon the need of economy, in order to advance the work in this field. In America the habits and customs of the people are far more indulgent and expensive than in this country. The hard times which were lightly felt in America, made a serious impression in Australia. But notwithstanding the hard times, we felt it was essential to have a camp-meeting in Melbourne before we could leave the country. We felt that, as far as it was consistent with our circumstances, we must make all things in the camp-meeting after the divine similitude, that it might leave the right impression upon the people as to what constitutes a camp-meeting after God’s order, and also it might give character to our work. We know this was all right; but all such advanced movements involve expense. Tents had to be made, and every arrangement planned with the strictest economy. (We planned closely, and studied economy in every part, feeling that each one was connected with all, and the whole assembly to God.) Some of us who know, had a true realization of the fact that we were devising and planning under the supervision of heavenly intelligences. Angels were viewing the care taken by the workers, the neat, tasty appearances of the tents, and the orderly arrangement of the grounds. They saw the effort made to rightly represent us as a people. EA 138.2

In this first camp-meeting in Australia we felt that we must have everything arranged in a manner that could be approved (550) of God; for were we not a spectacle unto the world, who knew us not, and to angels and to men? We were regarded as a peculiar people by the world. In the sight of God we were regarded as a peculiar people in a different sense. “For thou art an holy people into the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The Lord did not set His love upon you, nor choose you, because you were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: but because the Lord loved you, and because He would keep the oath which He had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a might hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bond men, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the Lord thy God, He is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments for a thousand generations; and repayeth them that hate Him to their face, to destroy them: He will not be slack to him that hateth Him, He will repay him to his face. Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them.” “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him that hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” EA 138.3

We knew that all the heaven was interested in our preparation for the camp-meeting, and the Lord had promised to be our counselor, if we would be guided by Him in all things. “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” We felt that the eye of God was upon all (551) our arrangements, and in the order of our camp we sought to show forth “the praises of Him who hath called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.” The result upon the people was more than we had dared to expect. The encampment made the impression upon those who visited it that the truth we advocated was of great importance, and that the missionary spirit is the true spirit of the gospel. Men of influence made the remark that none but Americans could plan such a camp-meeting, and bring the arrangements to such perfection in every line. Thus we did honor to our country, but above all we honored God in doing His will, and in making so favorable impression upon the people. EA 138.4

Our people encamped on the ground, sought to make the visitors as welcome as possible, and thus testify to them that they were seeking to follow Christ. It is the privilege of every one to have a drawing influence, through the endowment of the Holy Spirit. The atmosphere surrounding the soul of the Christian should be full of pleasantness, courtesy, and kindness, and thus represent the Spirit of Christ. These qualities of character are to be perseveringly cherished, and employed in the work of God, giving character to that work in representing Christ to the world. Human influence deriving tis efficacy from heaven is ordained of God, as an instrumentality by which the transforming, sanctifying power of the truth may be demonstrated. EA 139.1

The Lord is dishonored with anything that is done in connection with His service, in a lax, loose, slipshod manner. In everything concerning the camp-meeting we desired to show that the influence of the truth was an uplifting influence, and that it fashioned the heart, the manners, and the taste of the human (552) agent after the divine similitude. This we sought to do as far as it lay in our power. We had a decided purpose not to merge our ways and conform our habits and practices to the mold of the habits and practices of the Colonials. God would not be pleased to have us do this, to catch up their sentiments, their manner of speech, and method of pronunciation. Christ is our model, and we are to change our reason, our affections, our speech, our habits according to His divine example, rather than to seek to follow the customs, practices, and habits of any nation. We are to receive our mold from Christ. He is to see Himself in the character of his followers. We are to copy His Spirit, to have our lives hid with Christ in God. EA 139.2

In every true believer the character of Christ is to be reproduced. The Spirit of Christ is to be made manifest through human efforts. As those who have been transformed by the truth come into contact with others who have had a false education, and have received perverted ideas, they are to represent Christ in order that the deficiencies of those that have had but little experience may disappear, and the mold of Christ may be seen upon them. The followers of Christ are to represent His tenderness, His courtesy, and His love towards others. His solicitude for human souls is to be reproduced in those who believe in Him. They are to lift Christ up in order that He may draw all unto Him. The world must have a representation of Christ in His believers. EA 139.3

It is not in the power of those who have named the name of Jesus to give Him more than is His own. He has brought every human agent with an infinite price, and we are His property for both time and eternity. He owns every moment of our time, and our (553) gifts of reason and of talent belong to Him. Every soul converted to the truth, not only takes the name of Christian, but is under the responsibility of putting on Christ in spirit, in word, in conduct. This invests him with the same kind of influence as had the human agent who, through the power of the Holy Spirit, led him into the light of truth. Then all likeness of Christ appears in his character, and he is a laborer together with God, and draws souls by the divine power of the grace that has been imparted to him. EA 139.4

Christ took humanity upon Him. He was our substitute and surety. He said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself but what He seeth the Father do: for what things so ever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.” “For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth Him all things that Himself doeth; and He will show Him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom He will.” EA 139.5

Address to Bible Workers and Ministers.
Brighton Campground, Sunday, 10 a.m.
January 28, 1894. EA 141.1

(581) “And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in the white robes? and whence came they? And I aid unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said unto me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lam. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple; and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto fountains of living waters: and God shall wipe all tears from their eyes.” (582) Christ is opening before us the treasure of the truths of the Bible, and we do not appreciate them. Their meaning seems holden from our understanding. We should be far in advance of our present spiritual condition if we had steadily followed the light as it has come to us. Satan has placed every hindrance in our way to keep us in earthliness and commonness, that we should not grasp the eternal. “This is life eternal,” Christ declares, “that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.” EA 141.2

The light and truth given us by God is compared to a price less treasure hid in a field. We are to buy the field, and work every part of it. The more we behold the promises of God, the brighter they will appear to us. The more we practice the principles of God’s word, the clearer will be our understanding of them. EA 141.3

Our faith, and our position in the world as commandment keepers is based on the Bible. Never should the Testimonies be brought in to take a high place than the Bible. It is not essential to go back to the early history of the message for evidence to maintain the importance of the Testimonies. (583) If the Holy Spirit is not controlling the Testimonies now, if divine credentials do not attend them now, then it is time my work ceased. What we need to see is the testimony of the Spirit of God working upon human minds, the presence of the Holy Spirit revealed in us individually. Our brethren should feel the importance of praying more, of loving more. The love that is expressed for the brethren speaks with a voice that nothing can silence. Because He loved the world, God sent His Son into the world. EA 141.4

“Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil for the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke thee.” As representatives of Christ, be careful that you do not rail. The Holy Spirit is to be life and voice for us. Our tongue should be as the pen of a ready writer, because the Holy Spirit speaks through the agent. When you use that twit and fling, you reveal self, and that is not needed. Those who advocate the truth can afford to be fair and pleasant in their dealings with one another. We need not bring so much that is human into our work. It is not for you to use the Holy Spirit of God; the Holy Spirit is to use you. EA 141.5

(584) We have a testing message for the world, and we should present the truth as it is in Jesus. Our life is to be hid with Christ in God; then we will not reveal self in our work. The preciousness of the truth will be revealed as it is, so far reaching, so deep, so broad, that self is lost sight of. It is not flowery discourses that we want, not a great floor of wood that mean nothing. We need to preach so that the people can lay hold of big ideas, and dig out the precious ore hidden in the mine of truth. It is not our education that will accomplish this work; the Holy Spirit must come into the hearts of the workers. The Bible is its own interpreter. EA 141.6

We have the arguments of truth the handle, and we shall have ridicule and opposition to meet; but we cannot afford to put on the armor or ridicule and sarcasm while proclaiming the truth. We need to put on the whole armor of God, and be clad with the Spirit. His righteousness must go before us, and his glory be our rereward. When you work in this way, the universe of heaven will engage with the people of God in a way that will astonish you. Just as soon as you reveal the meekness and lowliness of Christ, Christ and heavenly angels (585) will cooperate with the human agent. A Paul may plant, and Apollos water, but God giveth the increase. Among those who ridicule the truth, some will see the foolishness of their course, and will turn to the Lord. EA 142.1

You have the most solemn truth to present to the world. Your faith is to be tried that its preciousness may be seen, and that you may learn to look to Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith. Let the work of God begin in your homes, and in the church, and we shall see of the salvation of God as we have never seen it, or dreamed of it. If we are one in Christ Jesus, the world will surely know it, and recognize your love as not of this world. You will not need to tell them that you have the spirit of God. If it is in the heart it will be manifest in the life. EA 142.2

Sermon, Brighton Tent, Sabbath
February 10, 1894. 11 a.m.
Isaiah 58 EA 143.1

(586) “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.” EA 143.2

A people is here represented as seeking the Lord in obedience to his will, but in reality they have forsaken God. “They ask of Me the ordinance of justice.” This was the condition in which Christ found the Jewish nation. The priests and Pharisees looked at their outward forms and ceremonies, their form of worship, and thought that these would certainly commend them to Christ. Christ showed them that they did not have the spirit of meekness and lowliness. “Behold,” He said, “ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the first of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day (587) to make your voice to be heard on high.” There is a voice that God bids shall be heard on high; it is the voice that gives the trumpet a certain sound. “Is it such a fast that I have chosen, a day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under his? Wilt thou call this a fast and an acceptable day to the Lord?” EA 143.3

This is not the kind of fast that the Lord takes pleasure in. “Is not this the fast that I have chosen, to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free; and that ye break every yoke.” EA 143.4

Why, you say, I have been taught that we are not saved by our good works. No; you are not; but you cannot be saved without good works. You cannot depend on your good works for salvation; you must have a living dependence upon God. When there is a living connection with God, when Christ is abiding in the heart by living faith, the human agent does the works of Christ, he speaks the words of Christ, and reveals a character like the character of Christ. EA 143.5

(588) When our life and character is hid with Christ in God, we cannot afford to let impulse or passion control our words or actions. We must keep the Saviour’s example ever before us. We must do as we believe Jesus would have done under similar circumstances. If trials come, we are not to manifest a rebellious spirit. When we are oppressed, and burdens placed upon us which we think others should bear, we are not to let self rule. In such experiences we are to learn to take the burdens to the right one. “Come unto me,” Christ says, “all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” “Learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart.” Whatever of conflict or trial we are called to pass through, if we accept this truth of heavenly origin, meekness, and lowliness of heart will be revealed in all our actions. EA 143.6

We need to clearly understand the work that is before us. It is a work of mercy and love. We are to work in Christ’s lines, and just as Christ worked. In the parable of the nobleman who before going on his journey gave to every man his work saying, Occupy till I come, Christ and his followers are represented. To everyone his work, and this work is Christ’s (589) work. The human agent is to cooperate with the divine. He is not to feel that all he has to do is to attend to his individual self. He has a broader field than this. “Occupy till I come.” Be laborers together with God. We need to understand clearly what it means to be laborers together with God. We cannot do this merely with our intellect or education. We must be imbued with the Spirit of Christ. EA 143.7

We cannot buy the grace of Christ with money; we cannot obtain it by eloquence or by the power of our intellect. It is a gift received by us from heaven. We are to occupy according to the knowledge we have, sensing our responsibility, and letting our light shine to those around us; and in doing this we work the works of God. EA 144.1

“Is not this the fast that I have chosen, to loose the bands of wickedness, and to let the oppressed go free; and that ye break every yoke. When we present to others the perfection there is in the law of God, we are presenting that which will loose the bands of wickedness, and free those who are oppressed by the enemy. (590) Our enemy is he who rebelled against the law of God in heaven, and who fell because of his disloyalty When we work in his lines we are fastening our fellow men in the shackles of oppression. In obedience to Christ we are free; for he came to make us free. “His servants ye are whom ye obey.” EA 144.2

“To let the oppressed go free.” What can we say to the oppressed? We can show them that obedience to the requirements of Christ means freedom, liberty, salvation. “And that ye break every yoke.” EA 144.3

God requires our faithful service. Nothing must be allowed to come between Him and our souls; for we are of infinite value to Him. We cannot trust our salvation to man. We must search the Scriptures for ourselves, and know what they teach. EA 144.4

“Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked that thou cover him, and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh.” We cannot do this work if we live selfish extravagant lives, using every dollar we possess to make (591) a place for ourselves in this world. We are to honor God by showing that we esteem the purchase of his blood. We are to show that we value humanity from God’s standpoint. The Son of God died to redeem the human race, to give the freedom which can come through Him alone. EA 144.5

Christ was the representative of the Father. Let us consider the character of his work, and what the Spirit of God led Him to do. He declared of himself in the synagogue at Nazareth, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken hearted; to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind; to set at liberty them that are bruised.” When Christ came to the earth he found the truth hidden by error that surrounded it and present to men in such a way as to show the loveliness of its character. Error may be hoary with age, but this does not make it truth. The Jews held their customs received through traditions of the fathers, from age to age and generation to generation. Christ said to them, (592) “Ye are blind.” “Ye are ignorant both of scriptures and of the power of God. They were teaching for truth the traditions of men. Christ came, he said, to give “recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that were bruised.” EA 144.6

You can see that the work of Christ is the same work that Isaiah declares to be the work of his professed people. God has given you the glorious light of truth. He has chosen you to be his peculiar people, a royal people, a holy nation. What are you doing to show forth the power of Him that hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. When God lets his light shine upon you, do not let your mouth be stopped by tradition. Speak the truth as it is in Christ Jesus. Let the Spirit of God speak. Do not mingle self and selfish ideas and opinions with your work. Present the truth as it is in Christ Jesus, and let the truth make its own impression. EA 144.7

There is a little church in Denver where no one who has to work for a living is allowed to worship. Everyone of the working class is excluded. And therefore Christ is excluded for he was a worker, toiling at the carpenter’s bench as (593) and example to us. On one occasion a noble family took their seamstress to this church, and the other members where greatly offended, and remonstrated with them that they should bring one worker in. These souls are hiding themselves from their own flesh. The Saviour of mankind took his position with the poor. He preached the gospel to the poor in such simple language that they could understand him. EA 145.1

“A certain man,” said Christ, “Made a great supper, and bade many; and sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it; I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have brought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them; I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So the servant came, and shewed the lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry, said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed and the halt and the blind. And the servant said, Lord it is (594) done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the Lord said unto his servant, Go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” EA 145.2

We are to let the bright rays of light shine upon all classes in clear steady lines, that they may see and follow the words of Jesus. “I, if I be lifted up,” Christ said, “will draw all men unto me.” This is the work we are to do, to draw. Shall we go to the highest? Yes, to the highest powers on earth and tell them that we have a truth that will satisfy every soul. This is a truth so broad and deep that it will satisfy every want that man can feel. Present to the higher classes the precious truth. There are many palaces who long for something they cannot find. The truth will satisfy these souls. Paul had converts in Caesar’s household. He did not tell them to come out from their luxurious homes, but to honor God in the place where he had stationed them. EA 145.3

“Hide not thyself from thine own flesh.” Go to work right where you are. Among every class of people there is work to do. Life up your eyes and look; the fields are ready for (595) the harvest. Men are interposing themselves between Christ and the people. They are working in the lines of the enemy instead of in the light and power of truth. God wants to see in the human agent the power that says, Come, for all things are now ready. He wants to see his people giving their fellow-men food. They are hungry. They do not want froth and fables; they want the word of the living God. “Except ye eat my flesh and drink my blood,” Christ said, “ye have no life in you.” When his disciples heard these words they were offended; for they did not discern spiritual things. Christ said, “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life.” To eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God is to be doers of the word. We have a work to do in going to the people who have souls to save or lose and teach them the terms of salvation. “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” EA 145.4

The prophet tells us what our experience will be if we work in Christ’s lines, refusing to become self-centered, and spending our time in brooding over our own troubles and afflictions. If we will take time to consider that there are others besides ourself in the world, “thy light,” he says, “shall (596) break forth as the morning, and thy health shall spring forth speedily. This health is a spiritual as well as a physical health. “Thine health shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee; and the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward.” Our sin is taken away, and the righteousness of is imputed to us. Jesus Christ becomes our righteousness; and the glory of the Lord is our rereward. If the righteousness of Christ goes before us in the path we travel, and his glory follows in our wake, we are surely a blessed people. We stand out distinguished by light and love and power, and the world sees that here is a people who will work according to the law of God. EA 145.5

“Then shalt thou call, and the Lord will answer: thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: and the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in (597) drought, and make fat thy bones; and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.” EA 146.1

The Lord responds to our call and says, What shall I do for you? He will give us the very thing that our souls hunger for. Christ says, If ye do these things, I will answer. I am with you, right at your side. What is the reason that men are in obscurity. The light is shining, and Christ says, Then shall light shine in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday. And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, whose waters fail not. Those who trust in Jesus, and drink of the water that He gives, it shall be in them a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” EA 146.2

“And they that be of thee shall build the old waste places; thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations. And thou shalt be called The repairer of the breach, the restorer of paths to dwell in.” EA 146.3

What is the matter? Do we see any waste places down here (598) in 1894? “If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor Him, not doing thine own ways nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth; and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy Father, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” EA 146.4

We need to understand what the breach here mentioned means. Let us look at the fourth commandment. We have assembled here today to acknowledge that the Lord created the heavens and the earth in six days, and that on the seventh day he rested, that he sanctified and blessed the seventh day and set it apart for man to observe as a day of rest and worship. In observing this day, we honor God’s memorial which calls to mind the only true and living God. God gave the seventh day Sabbath to man as a memorial of his work of creation. Satan the enemy of God, has instituted Sunday observance, and God calls him the man of sin, because he has thus perpetuated transgression. The (599) breach that has been made in the law of God has been a breach for many years. Shall it always be a breach? EA 146.5

“Why do you always talk about the Sabbath?” so many ask. “Why do you not talk about Christ?” Suppose a fence enclosing a valuable field of yours should be broken down in one part. Which part of that fence would receive the most of your attention? Would it be the part that was secure? No; the breach would be that which would occupy your time and thought until the enclosure was secure again. It is so with the law of God. The Sabbath of the law of God is the breach in the wall. It has been broken down. “The foundation of many generations” is the seventh day Sabbath. “This is the sign,” God says, “between me and thee throughout your generations.” The world has taken the liberty of putting in the place of the seventh day Sabbath a day that God has not sanctified and blessed, and it worships God on that day as though it had not departed from His ordinances. The Protestant world has taken this delusion, cradled and nourished it. But God does not accept this spurious Sabbath, and shall we accept it? “Six days shalt thou labor,” He says, “and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the (600) Sabbath of the Lord thy God.” Then let us work to repair the breach; let us raise up the foundation of many generations, that we may be called the repairers of the breach, the restorers of paths to dwell in. EA 146.6

We each need to become intelligent in faith and doctrine, that we may be able to give to every man that asketh us a reason of the hope that is in us. Let us seek God, that we may find Him. He wants us to seek Him. May He help us to come to the place where we will uplift the Sabbath that has been trampled under the feet of men. Let us pray that our eyes may be anointed with eye salve, that we may see. “If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day, and wilt call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy Father; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” Let us hide under the promise, and find our refuge in Christ. He will establish us in truth and righteousness, and the glory of the Lord will be our rereward. EA 147.1

The Immutability of God’s Law.
Sermon, Williamstown, Sunday
February 11, 1894, 4 p.m. EA 148.1

(601) “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” EA 148.2

Had we no other assurance than this in all the word of God, of God’s love for man, we would have sufficient to condemn every soul who had not a personal faith in Christ. The Son of God did not die for a favored few, but for all the world. God gave His Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. That whosoever includes you and it includes me. EA 148.3

Adam and Eve, and through them all their posterity, became sinners, by transgressions of the commands of God. The fruit of the tree of knowledge, of which they were forbidden to eat, was not dangerous in itself; the danger lay in the disobedience (602) of God’s command. Eve listened to the words of the tempter, contradicting the words of God, Ye shall surely die.” “Ye shall not surely die,” he said; “for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof ye shall be as gods knowing good and evil.” And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat. . . . And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this thou art cursed. . . . And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head; and thou shalt bruise His heel.” EA 148.4

God did not give his Son that he might do away with the law that Adam and Eve had transgressed. Had God been able to change one precept of his law to meet man in his fallen state, Christ need not have come to earth to die. But Christ did not die to give man liberty to serve other gods. He did not come to abolish the law, but to magnify it, and make it honorable. “Think not,” He said, “that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” (603) If it had been possible for God to change his law, Christ need not have yielded up his position as Commander in the heavenly courts to accept a life of poverty and a death of shame. But for our sakes, to give man another chance, and bring him back to loyalty to God, “he became poor, that we through his poverty might be rich.” By his death Christ made a perfect sacrifice for sin. No angel in heaven could have done this work. He who was one with the Father, full of grace and truth must meet the penalty of the broken law. Christ came to remove the excuse that man thought he had to deride the character of God. He came to teach men to believe in Him, to repent of transgression, and to accept the righteousness of Christ. In Christ we are to see a perfect representation of the Father. EA 148.5

When the children of Israel went down into Egypt, they lost to a degree their knowledge of the true God. Moses, the servant of God, was sent to bring them out of the land of bondage. “Let my son go,” God commanded, “that he may serve me.” God led His people to Sinai and there proclaimed to them the law that they had forgotten. There he presented to them the whole Jewish economy, and pointed to Christ as its founder. In the (604) sacrifices they were to offer daily, was typified with great Antitype. The Son of God was to come to earth, and give His life for the sins of the race. When type should meet antitype in the death of Christ, there would no longer be any need for their sacrificial offerings; for the great offering had been made to save every transgressor of the law, who would accept Christ as his Saviour, and return to his loyalty to God. EA 148.6

When Christ came to earth, He found transgression everywhere; traditions of men were taught for the commandments of God. Truth was mixed with error, until truth for the commandments of God. Truth was mixed with error, until truth was brought down to the very dust. Christ sought to tear away the error that covered the commandments of God, and to teach the truth in its purity. In His sermon on the mount, He presented the law to the people, in a way that they had never viewed it before. He showed how far reaching were its principles, and how they are to be carried into every transaction of the life. EA 149.1

It is the privilege of everyone to understand what sin is. John defines it as transgression of the law. “Whosoever committeth sin,” he says, “transgresseth also the law; for sin in the transgression of the law.” And in another place we read, (605) “Where there is no law, there is no transgression.” EA 149.2

We are living down a long way on this side of the crucifixion of Christ. Has God no law today to govern the angelic host in heaven and the inhabitants of the earth? It is because men today refuse to recognize the claims of the law of God, that earth has fallen into the depths of sin in which it lies. When we declare that the law of God has been done away, we declare God’s work as Creator and Ruler to be imperfect—that he made a law so defective, so inadequate to meet the needs of man, that he had to abolish it. The Victim of Calvary testifies to the fact that God could not abolish or change His law; but it tells mankind, that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Our obedience to God’s commandments will decide our eternal destiny; for if we are obedient children on earth, we shall be obedient children in heaven. God cannot take to heaven those who do not respect His law here; for such souls have not respect for the laws that govern heaven. EA 149.3

(606) When the lawyer asked Christ the question, “Haste, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Christ said to him, “What is written in the law? how readest thou?” The priests and rulers had sent the lawyer to Christ, hoping in his answer to hear something by which they might condemn Him. They had framed the question that the lawyer asked. To Christ’s question the lawyer made reply, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.” “Thou hast answered right,” Christ said; “this do, and thou shalt live.” EA 149.4

This is the question we should ask ourselves. Do I love God with all my heart and mind and soul and strength, and my neighbor as myself? On these two principles—supreme love for God, and unselfish love for man—hang all the law and the prophets. The first four commandments define our duty to God and demand supreme love for our Maker; the last six reveal our duty to God and demand supreme love for our maker; the last six reveal our duty to our fellow men. EA 149.5

Can you wonder that Satan seeks to make void the law of God. That law will be the standard of character in the judgment (607) when the books shall be opened, and every man is judged out of the things written therein. The names of those who have kept his law are engraven, Christ says, On the palms of His hands. The marks of the crucifixion have graven them there. They are hidden property—God’s by creation and by redemption. EA 149.6

“Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us,” the disciple John exclaim, “that we should be called the sons of God. Therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. And every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” The hope that John here speaks of leads man to purify himself, even as Christ is pure, is not a superficial thing, but a living working element in the soul. It requires that Christ be enthroned in the heart. Day by day we are to behold the loveliness of the character to charter, until the work of purification is accomplished in us. EA 149.7

When we listen to and believe the representations and assertions of Satan, we behold another character than that of Christ. We put another in the place of God. God is the One (608) whom we are to believe. We are to live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. The enemy told the first man a lie, and he believed it. We are to purify our souls by obeying the truth; we are to educate ourselves in a certain faith, — the faith that works by love and purifies the soul from every idol in enthroned there. EA 150.1

It is of great consequence to those who are striving for the crown of immortal life to know that they have the power, and not merely the form of godliness. We cannot afford to believe an error simply because it has been handed down from generation to generation to our time. What we need is truth, and we need it at every point. Listening to the words of Christ, we will get truth. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. EA 150.2

God gave man the Sabbath as a memorial of his work of creation. He who made the lofty trees and gave to the tiny flower its beauty of tint and form, blessed the Sabbath day and gave it to Adam and his posterity as a day of rest. If man had always obeyed the fourth commandment, there never would have been an infidel in our world. The fourth is the only precept of the Decalogue that declares God to be the (609) Maker of the world. EA 150.3

Some of you may say, My father was a Christian, and he did not keep the seventh day. Your father lives up to the light he received. He did not know that the seventh day was the Sabbath of the Lord. Had he lived in this age, and received the light of present truth, had he seen himself a transgressor of the law of God in his disregard of the seventh day as the Sabbath, he would, if he walked in every ray of light received, have inquired, is this the way of the Lord, and would have walked in the light. Every soul in every age is accountable for the light that shines in his age. The light comes to every soul to test character and prove our loyalty. If light comes to you, and you see that all the years of your life you have been breaking the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, determine that you will do so no longer. It is those who obey who receive the blessing of God. He will bless you in your children, in your lands, in everything you put your hand to. “Blessed are they,” he says, “that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, that they may enter in through the gates into the city.” EA 150.4

(610) Do not think that Satan will let you gain all this without a struggle. He is determined to be master if he can. He fell from heaven because of this very determination. He wanted to be equal with Christ. He is working on human minds today just as subtly, just as determinedly as he worked with Adam and Eve in Eden. Men and women are gathering beneath his banner and he is encircling them with his power. Those who discern the changeless character of the law of God, and respect its claims, will place themselves on Christ’s side. EA 150.5

God will not force any man to keep his law. Every soul is elected to be saved who will walk in the light that shines upon his pathway. Parents need to awake from their lethargy, and see that it is time to put on the beautiful robe of Christ’s righteousness. “Buy of Me,” He says, “gold tried in the fire, and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed.” Adam and Eve after they had transgressed, “saw that they were naked.” The garment that had covered them, and represented the righteousness of Christ, departed when they sinned. The righteousness of Christ cannot cover the soul polluted with sin. We have all been transgressors of the law of God. Our eternal interests (611) are involved in the question of obedience, and that is why I say to you, Cherish every ray of light. On your knees ask God to impress your heart by His Holy Spirit, that you may not turn away from His law. EA 150.6

We read that many of the priests in Christ’s day believed on Jesus, but their faith stopped right there. They did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue. Are there any here who are saying in their hearts, If I had lived in the time of Christ, I would not have joined my voice with those who cried, Crucify Him, crucify Him. Then prove that you would not have done this by following the light you receive today. You are not responsible for the action of those with hoarse voice cried Release unto us Barabbas, and to the question of Pilate, What then shall I do with Jesus which is called Christ, replied, “Let Him be crucified.” But you are responsible for your individual rejection of acceptance of light today. It was Satan who in Christ’s day led men to reject light, and grieve the Spirit of God. It is the same power that strives with souls today. We do not want to place ourselves under the banner of the prince of darkness, but under the blood-stained (612) banner of Prince Emmanuel. EA 151.1

If we place ourselves under obedience to Christ, God will teach us truths from His word that we have never seen before. It will take all eternity to understand some truths that have been crowded from the mind by false teachers who by their tradition have made the word of God of no effect. I point you to the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. You cannot bear your own sin. Christ says he will bear it for you, if you will take hold of the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. He suffered that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Believe in Him as the One on whom the sins of the world are laid. Shall it be said that Christ has died for you in vain? or will you give to the world a representation of the character of God in an example of rectitude because of your obedience to the commandments of God. May the Lord help you to be loyal servants of His. EA 151.2

“I saw a new heavens and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down (613) from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, The tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be His people; and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying; neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things have passed away.” EA 151.3

We are heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ to riches that are imperishable. Christ said to his followers, I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am there ye may be also.” We shall be with Christ until the city of God comes to earth, and we take possession of our future home. We shall build houses and inhabit them, we shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. Do you not want a place in the earth made new? I want to be there. I want to see the King in his beauty. I want to see the One who died a victim on Calvary for my sin. When He comes in power and great glory, the admired of all them that believe, I do not want to be found under the bondage of sin. EA 151.4

(614) You will be among the happiest people on the earth when you have the assurance within that you are not in conflict with the law of God. You need to be doers of the word that when test and trial comes, you house may stand because it is founded upon the Rock. The house that is built on the sand will be swept away. May God help you to keep all his commandments, and that when He comes to receive His people, you may hear him say to you, “Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and enter in through the gates into the city.” EA 151.5

“This is Life Eternal, That they Might Know Thee.”
Sermon, Parham, Sunday, 4 p.m.
Feb. 18, 1894 EA 153.1

(615) “As Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He might give eternal life to as many as thou shalt give Him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.” EA 153.2

We have presented before us the greatest knowledge, and the most essential for every individual. Men may put forth all their efforts, may expend money, go to the highest institutions of learning to obtain an education, but if they do not feel the necessity of obtaining a knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ whom He has sent, the knowledge they may obtain will avail them nothing; for it cannot give them eternal life. EA 153.3

Men and women will make any sacrifice to prolong their life. Many travel extensively, from east to west, to (616) Europe and other countries in search of health. In one place I saw a man in great suffering and distress. A large tumor growing on the back of his neck, and it had increased in size until his head rested on his breast. He was a professing Christian, but he said, Give me something to prolong my life. Even such suffering he manifested a tenacious hold on life. We talked with him about the future life which measures with the life of God, — a life without sorrow and sin, without bereavement or infirmity or affliction and into which no fear of death could come. EA 153.4

At the best our life time here is short. We know not how soon the time will come to any one of us when we must give up the world and all its interests. The question we should ask ourselves is, Have I become acquainted with God, the law giver, and with Jesus Christ whom he sent into the world to represent Him? EA 153.5

“This is life eternal that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent.” When I consider the conditions of eternal life, I wonder that the world is not filled (617) with the glory of God. I wonder why men and women are not making their aim and object to know God and Jesus Christ, why instruction has not come from parents to children that they might be trained and disciplined and educated to love and fear God. The first lessons that parents should teach their children should be lessons about the love of God and Christ; for unless the children and youth gain this knowledge, they will never know what eternal life is. Parents who by their conduct and conversation reveal that the world and its interests absorb their thoughts are guilty of wicked neglect before God. The mind and intellect is a gift from God and it is to be educated and trained and disciplined. EA 153.6

Parents, teach your children from their babyhood the lessons the God and Christ. When the precious words of life are familiar to their minds, the truth will become the treasure of the heart, and the transforming grace of God will mold the character. You are not to teach your children to know God as a stern judge, as a terrible being of whom they must be afraid. Teach them that He is a God of love Weave His love into your own (618) character, seek to bring it into the characters of your children. Practice true Christlike courtesy in our own lives it will appear in the lives of your children. Keep ever be them that they are living in the presence of a holy God. EA 153.7

Heavenly angels are watching the battle that is going between the Prince of life and the power of darkness. Christ in His life taught us how to meet the enemy in this conflict. He left the royal courts and laid aside his glory, and clothing his divinity with humanity became a man among the sons of men. He walked the streets of earth as a representative of the love of God, giving an example that all human beings may study, and revealing a character that all may copy. He did not like to please himself, but he lived to point men to God. He came to live the law of God, because Satan was bringing his power to bear upon men telling them that it was impossible to keep the law. It is true that it is impossible for man of himself to keep the law of God. But Christ teaches the sinner to lay hold by faith of the sin-pardoning Saviour and receive the righteousness of Christ. He presents to the Father his own righteousness for the transgressions of men, and the virtue of his character (619) is accepted in the sinner’s behalf. EA 153.8

When Satan is dethroned, and his place supplied by the grace and righteousness of Christ, Jesus is enthroned in the heart. And Christ says, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” “Verily, verily I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do, because I go unto My Father. . . . He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me; and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself unto Him. . . . If a man love me, he will keep My words; and My Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” EA 154.1

Christ came to the world to bring moral power to fallen man, that he might in keeping the commandments of God become a partaker of the divine nature, having escaped the corruptions that are in the world through lust. It is the privilege of every one of us to lay hold of the hope set before us. We are persons of hope. God has done everything for us in giving his (620) only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. “He that believeth in me,” Christ says, “the works that I do, shall he do also.” EA 154.2

The Pharisees seeing the disciples rubbing the ears of corn in their hands as they went through the fields on the Sabbath charged them with breaking the Sabbath. Could they have fastened the charge of Sabbath breaking on Christ, they would not have to get false witnesses to testify against him. But none could truthfully call Christ a Sabbath-breaker. He was the maker of the Sabbath. From the pillar of cloud, and from Mt. Sinai he proclaimed the law to his people. To the caviling Jews He said, Ye know not what this means, I will have mercy and not sacrifice, or ye would not have condemned the guiltless. Ye are ignorant of the Scriptures and of the power of God. EA 154.3

“He that believeth in me, the works that I do shall he do also, and greater works than these shall he do, because I go unto My Father; and whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” Why is it that we are so weak and helpless. Why do professing Christians mingle with the world till they lose sight of eternal life? (621) why are there so many families destitute of the Spirit of God, with so little of the love and life and likeness of Christ? It is because men and women do not know God. If they knew God, they would see him by faith in Jesus Christ. They would see the matchless charms in the Son of God, that they would desire to behold him, and beholding him would be changed into the same image. EA 154.4

Three and a half years of public ministry was all that the world could bear of the Son of God. Then they crucified Him. The heavenly vine was taken and transplanted on the other side of the wall. But the heavenly boughs hang over this side of the wall. Christ is still with us in his representative, the Holy Spirit. Through this medium communication is kept up between heaven and earth, between God and man. And we must be careful not to destroy this communication, lest we be overcome. EA 154.5

Christ overcame the world that we might overcome. Our work is to seek God with all our hearts that we may find Him. Do not be afraid of being found on your knees acknowledging God as your Father and your dependence upon Him. Let it be (622) known that you are acquainted with His power, that you want vital connection with the God of heaven. Let it be seen that you are turning your eyes toward heaven. So long as Moses kept his hands toward heaven, Israel prevailed over her enemies; but just as soon as they began to droop, the enemy gained the victory. When Moses’s strength failed and he could no longer hold up his hands, Aaron and Hur stood one on each side of him and held up his hands till the going down of the sun. By this attitude Moses signified to Israel that he was laying hold of the strength of God for them, and that they must look to the same sources for help. Christ was their helper. They must look to him for victory. EA 155.1

We are living in a world that is unfavorable to right and truth. Those who desire to serve God must put all their hearts into his service. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” God has placed a benediction upon those who keep his commandments. “I will bless you in fields,” he says, “in your flocks and herds, and vineyards, and in all that ye put your hands unto.” Shall we stand as the peculiar people of (623) God or shall we trample his law under our feet and say it is not binding. God’s law has not been abolished. Why should God abolish a perfect thing. Could the law have been abolished, Christ need not have died to save man from death. In the law of God every specification reveals the character of God. Christ came to fulfil the law. “Think not?” were the words that fell on the startled ears of his listeners, “that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” “Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one title shall in no wise pass from the law until all be fulfilled.” We are to search and study the Scriptures and learn if we are obeying the law of God and meeting the requirements of God’s standard of righteousness. EA 155.2

Parents, tell your children that you have disregarded the law of God, and that you are sorry. Tell them that you feel as King Josiah did. He was sorry to think that the law had been lost, and that God’s people had been careless and heedless in regard to it. They brought the law before the king and the people assembled together, and as one stood up to read (624) it, the people wept and mourned that they had not kept it. You can rejoice that you have the law. Bring your offerings God and offer praise to Him. When the light regarding the law God comes to us, and we can see that we have been transgressing we can say, “Now I understand how it is that we have been in darkness and uncertainty. I will keep God’s law and live. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. We need to use our intelligence to a purpose, and rejoice that we have found out where we have been disloyal. You would not have your record go up to heaven as a transgressor of the Law. Rejoice that you have found out how defective you are, and resolve that you will overcome sin and be a victor. “To him that overcometh,” Christ says, “Will I grant to sit with me on my throne; even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne.” We need to learn the obedience of Christ and receive the spirit of God. We need to practice his virtues, and be doers of the word. EA 155.3

The law has no power to save man. It is through Christ’s perfect obedience to the law, through the righteousness and merits (625) and virtue of His character that we receive salvation. It is only through Christ that we can keep the commandments of God. But while the law cannot save any man, it is the standard of character and to represent the character of Christ, we just live the law that guided his life. Do not teach that there is no law to govern heavenly and human intelligences. Those who teach such a theory as this stand on Satan’s side, and you cannot afford to be there. I beseech you to seek the Lord with all your heart that you may find him precious to your soul Jesus died that you might have salvation, that you might daily grow in a knowledge of God, and of Jesus Christ whom he has sent. EA 155.4

We must claim his sufficiency. When Satan says to you, “You are a sinner, and never can make yourself any better, tell him that you know you are a sinner, and that because you are a sinner you need a Saviour. Lay hold of the merits of Christ to save you from all transgression, and be washed in the fountain that has been opened to cleanse from all defilement of sin. EA 156.1

When we behold the perfection of Christ’s character, then we see the defects in our own characters. When we flee to Christ (626) and lay hold of his merits, he will be our help and salvation. He will wash us from all uncleanness. No stain will remain the character where Christ is enthroned in the heart. Christ does not war against God. “I and My Father are one.” He says. He was the express image of his Father, and as Christ represented the character of His father, we are to express to the world the character of Christ. EA 156.2

There is matchless loveliness in Jesus Christ. I love him because he first love me. We need his purity, and he will save to the uttermost all who come unto God by Him. As you see what Christ has suffered for you, are you will to be a partaker of his sufferings. If you will, He promises that you shall be partaker in his glory. If you will cooperate with him, he will cooperate with you to bring lost sheep back to the fold. There are souls perishing out of Christ. Paul declared, “I have taught them from house to house, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. God grant that we may seek the perishing and bring them back to God. We want to see sinners converted; we want to see transgression swept from the earth. EA 156.3

(627) It is our privilege to learn to represent Christ to the world. “Learn of me Christ Says. “Take my yoke upon you.” If we will love and serve him, we shall have most precious victories. He will open to us the gates of the city of God, and bid us come in, welcoming us with heavenly benediction, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” The joy of the Lord is the joy of seeing souls saved. In doing this work we shall be partakers in the sufferings of Christ, laborers together with God. And shall we not be partakers of the glory which he gives to every faithful child of God? EA 156.4

May God help us to know what we ought to do. We need to experience the deep movings of the Spirit of God in our hearts. We need to walk in the light as God is in the light; then we shall never be in darkness. Songs of praise and rejoicing will be heard as tell the story of the love of God for man, who gave His Son to die on Calvary that we should not perish in our sins. EA 156.5

Let us cease from evil, and follow on to know the Lord. O the light and love and preciousness that there is in Christ. (628) He will encircle us in the arms of his mercy, he will love us freely. Let us take the righteousness that Christ offers us, his robe woven in the loom of heaven. Let us put it on right here. The world needs the life of Christ, it needs an example of what man can become through the grace of Christ. O that we might manifest God to a fallen world. God grant that this may be our lot. Jesus loves us with a love that is infinite. He does not want that one of us should perish; but that everyone should have the life that measures with the life of God. God grant that we may secure that blessed inheritance. EA 156.6

Sermon, North Brighton Town Hall,
Sunday, 3 p.m. February 25, 1894. EA 158.1

(629) “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom also we have access by faith unto this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience experience; and experience hope; and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy chest which is given unto us. For when we were without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet per adventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from through Him. For, if when we (630) were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” EA 158.2

I want to present before you this afternoon the happiness, the advantages and the possibilities to be found in Jesus. We do not comprehend as we might the wonderful gift of the Son of God. We read over the Scriptures, as I have read this to you today, and often we do not appreciate what they mean to us. EA 158.3

When we were lost, Christ died to recover us. When we were sinners against God, and there was no hope for us, Christ consented to take our transgression on His soul. There was no virtue, no righteousness in us, that God should accept our efforts to keep the law. The provision was made before the foundation of the world that if transgression should enter, Christ would become our Substitute and Surety. The moment man fell in consequence of sin, that moment Christ was willing to take its consequences upon His soul. From that moment the sin of the world was laid upon Him. When God gave His Son he gave all heaven, that Satan could not say He could have done more than He had done for the human race. O I am so thankful (631) that God has placed such precious treasure within our reach. Those who have the offering made in their behalf have the presence of Christ with them at every step of their earthly journey. “Lo,” Christ says, “I am with you always even unto the end of the world.” EA 158.4

“Death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of Him that was to come. But if through the offence of one, many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift of grace, which is by one man Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.” EA 158.5

It is impossible for man to be justified by the law; for the law has no power to pardon the transgressor. When there was no hope, Christ appeared in behalf of the human race. God bestowed all heaven in one gift, and left man without excuse for continuing in transgression. EA 158.6

“In due time Christ died for the ungodly.” Through the preceding ages he had been working out the plan of salvation in His home above. He was as much the Saviour of Abraham and other patriarchs and prophets as He is ours. There was no hope (632) for them any more than for us, except in Christ. Thus Christ was the foundation of the whole Jewish economy. He was the “Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world.” EA 158.7

Abraham accepted Christ, and embraced the promise. Moses saw him, and endured the seeing of Him who is invisible. Noah the prophet of righteousness was perfected in his day. And Enoch walked with God. They had advantages in their day of knowing Christ. But we have a crucified and risen Saviour. Over the rent sepulcher of Joseph, the Saviour exclaimed, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Christ has broken the fetters of the tomb, and made it possible for every believer in Him to do the same, and to come up in the morning of the resurrection because of their hope in Christ. EA 158.8

Christ was the prince of life, the only begotten of the Father. Yet for our sakes he became a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief. Ask Isaiah who he is and he will tell you “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Of the increase and government of (633) his kingdom there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and justice henceforth and forever.” EA 159.1

The reason why so few accept salvation is that men do not love the truth. They are not willing to search the Scriptures, that they may become wise in the things of God. We read that many in Christ’s day believed in Him, but did not confess Him, lest they should be turned out of the synagogues; “for they loved the praise of men rather than the praise of God.” This is the reason why today men are not brought to repentance, why they do not accept the infinite sacrifice that heaven has made and grasp the only provision by which the sinner can obtain salvation. We may present the attractions of the gospel, the eternal weight of glory, the life that measures with the life of God, with its eternity of blessing; but their spiritual eyesight is blinded by the pride and vanities of the world, their minds held by its maxims and traditions, and they cannot see the glory that is in store for the overcomer. They cannot accept by faith God’s overtures for mercy in the gift of his Son. EA 159.2

(634) Christ came to reveal the true and perfect character of the law. The psalmist had declared it “perfect, converting the soul.” Christ came to reveal the character of God, and he showed that the unchangeable character of God is revealed in His law. “Verily I say unto you,” He said, “not one jot or one tittle shall pass from the law, until all be fulfilled.” Satan had tried to make man believe that it was impossible to keep the law. Christ in his life showed how false this teaching was. He saw how Satan had had his way on the earth. Man-made maxims were taught for the commandments of God. From Generation to generation the rubbish had accumulated until the law of God was hidden by the traditions of misrepresentations of men. Christ tore away the error that enveloped the truth, that the law might stand out upon its eternal basis of virtue and purity. EA 159.3

The Pharisees told the people that Christ was seeking to lessen the importance of the law of God, to make it of no effect. Christ replied to their words, by saying, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” The Saviour was sitting at (635) the time in the open air. Pointing to earth and sky he said, “Verily I say unto you, Until Heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall not pass from the law until all be fulfilled.” EA 159.4

The apostle Paul declared, “God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” This will be the experience of all who, appreciating the matchless charms of Jesus take their stand under His banner. Those who once were friends will turn from them saying, You have left us, and chosen a religion in which we have no interest.” The things they once loved, they will no longer love. But “being justified by faith,” they “have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom also we have access by one faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” There is an attraction here for the believer that unbelievers do not understand; for their spiritual understanding is blinded. They do not lay hold of the hope set before them. EA 159.5

It is nothing to be ashamed of that we stand under the banner (636) of Prince Emmanuel. We need not feel that we must apologize to the world for being Christians. It should not bring the flush of shame to our cheek t own that we are members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King. The world is ranging itself under the black banner of the prince of darkness. They declare that they are not on God’s side. This is a terrible declaration to make when God has made so great a sacrifice in their behalf. “Come out from among them saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will be a Father unto you; and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” EA 160.1

Can we comprehend the meaning of this promise. Sinners who caused the humiliation and shame and death of the Son of God may be lifted up from their condition of degradation and woe to be the sons and daughters of God, to be given a place with Him in His throne. “Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us,” John exclaims, “that we should be called the sons of God.” “Therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.” EA 160.2

“In the beginning was the word, and the Word was with God, (637) and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” EA 160.3

We want to understand what this light is. For more than fifty years I have known it. When gleans of God’s glory first came to me, Those who were with me thought that I was dead. They watched over me, weeping and praying. But this season was heaven to me; it was life. I saw the world spread out before me, covered with darkness as with the pall of death. I could see no light anywhere. Then I discerned a little glimmer of light, then another and another. These lights increased in number, grew brighter, and multiplied, till all the world was lighted by them. EA 160.4

When my breath came again to my body, I could not hear anything, and everything was dark. The light and glory that my eyes had rested upon eclipsed the light of the earthly sun. I remained in this condition for many hours. Then gradually I began to recognize those about me. “Where am I?” I asked. (638) “You are right here in my house,” answered one; “do you not remember?” Then it all came back to me. “Have I come back to earth again?” I asked. “Is this to be my home.” O the burden that came upon my soul. EA 160.5

Then grace was given to me, and since that time nothing has been able to deprive me of the glory I beheld in Jesus Christ. As far as human eyes may see Him, I have beheld Him. God has taken me away from this earth to behold His glory: and the views I have had have made me strong, so that no earthly power could lead me to put my trust in any other being. He will never leave me nor forsake me. I love Jesus. I see in Him matchless charms. I want to be like him, and glorify His name on the earth. EA 160.6

In the parable of the supper, the invitation was given, Come for all things are now ready. But one pled the excuse, “I have bought five yoke of oxen; and I go to prove them; I pray thee have me excused.” Another said, “I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.” The Master said, “None of those that were bidden shall taste of my supper.” EA 160.7

(639) Not only to the Jewish nation, but to every nation under heaven the invitation is given, “Come for all things are now ready. But as with the Jews, so men today with one voice make excuse. They cannot come. They do not believe. They will not taste of the love of God. Their senses are dulled by worldliness and pride and intemperance, and they have no will to consider the question, “How is it with my soul?” “What must I do to be saved?” A study of the word of God will answer this question for every soul. The Scriptures speak with no uncertain sound. In it God’s standard of character is not torn down and trampled in the dust. “This is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.” What excuse will men render in the judgment for having rejected Christ? They can render no excuse. EA 161.1

John was not the true light; but he was sent to prepare the way for the light. O the precious light there is in Jesus. I say it in the morning, in the night, and every hour of the day. God forbid that by the character I present to the world I should make Him ashamed of me. EA 161.2

(640) “That was the true Light, which lighteth ever man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.” EA 161.3

“But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name; which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God, And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.” EA 161.4

Those who hear and receive the word of God will often find the acceptance of it a cross; but the cross must be lifted. You cannot trample it under your feet. “Whosoever will come after me,” Christ says, “let Him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.” If you make up your mind that you cannot always follow the example of Christ, that you must go to the theater and other places of amusement where God is not, you will find yourself terribly disappointed. EA 161.5

What we need today is the truth. Many who stand in the desk give their own words and assurances for the words and assurances of God. What we need is the word of God as it is in (641) the Scriptures, the truth as it is in Jesus. Each should learn to look to Christ for strength and glory and power. I am grateful to my heavenly Father that it is the privilege of each one to read the Scriptures for himself, and to understand what they say. We need a new and rich experience in Christ. We need not hang our souls on any human being, but on Him. We may be complete in Christ, “by whom also we have access in the grace wherein we stand.” EA 161.6

O, says one, I wish I knew certainly that God was my Father. On my way to this country I received a letter from one saying, “O tell me if you can what I must do in order to know that I have Christ.” What could I tell this soul? Tell me, you who have tasted of the world to come, you who know what it is to have the spirit of supplication, and to lift up hands and heart in faith to God. Such souls want to live on emotion; but feeling is as changeable as the wind. They need to go to the Father with His pledged word, saying, You promised, Lord, that if I asked I should receive. You have said that you are more willing to give than we are to receive. I believe your word.” (642) I cannot show such souls any new way. Christ is the way, the Truth and the Life. He has given His life that men and women might be saved. He wills not that any man should perish, but that all should come to him and be saved. He does not want us to live day by day under oppression to sin. The reason why more are not attracted to Jesus is because his professed followers misrepresent Him. We are slothful servants, and do not reap the blessings we might have in our Christian experience. EA 161.7

Just as long as the devil lives, we will have our doubts and trials. He is working out his devices night and day. When Jesus “began to show unto His disciples how He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes.” Peter did not want to hear any such story. He thought that God would place Christ on a temporal throne, and that he would be the earthly ruler of Israel. Forgetting himself, he “took him, and began to rebuke Him, saying, Be it far from the Lord; thus shall not be unto thee. And he turned and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me Satan; thou art an offence unto Me; for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” EA 162.1

(643) Where was Satan?—He was right between Christ and Peter, filling Peter with doubts and unbelief. “Get thee behind Me, Satan,” Christ said; “stand back.” Then to Peter He said, “Satan hath desired to have thee; that thy faith fail not. Christ foresaw that Peter would deny him in the judgment hall. He saw also his repentance when the erring disciple fled to the garden of Gethsemane, and wept there in an agony of grief. Peter was converted them, and could safely be told to feed the sheep and the lambs. After this experience, Peter could go to the most tempted and tried; for he knew how to help them. EA 162.2

“And not only so, but we glory in tribulation also, knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience experience; and experience hope; and hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts.” EA 162.3

We rejoice in hope, not in feeling. We know that tribulation works experience, and experience hope. When we are tried, or do not feel just as we would like, we are not to become impatient, speaking harsh and unkind words. We cannot afford to do this. The trying of our faith is to work patience in us. (644) We are fighting the battle in view of heavenly intelligences, and we grieve the heart of God when we deny him in any way. We have the promise of the Holy Spirit, and we are to glory in tribulation, and find our joy in Christ. God commandeth His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. EA 162.4

“Herein is your Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you; continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love, even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.” EA 162.5

With such a promise should you be sorrowful? Should you walk in the path cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in and water it with your tears. “These things have I spoken unto you, that your joy might be full.” We are to walk in the light as Christ is in the light. EA 162.6

You may ask, Do you always have this light in a marked manner?—No; I do not always; but when Satan seeks to cast his shadow across my pathway, I do not look at it and talk about it, (645) and of what a hard time I have. I cleave right through the shadow, and lay hold of Christ by faith. By beholding Christ we are changed into the same image from glory to glory. Talk faith. Every doubt you express is a seed sown that will take root in some heart. Faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen.” How much we would increase our faith if we would make the word of God our counsellor. When we go to man for wisdom, and make flesh our arm, we reveal that we do not have faith in God. EA 162.7

Christ has purchased you, redeemed you. Satan has no claim on your services. You are to be free in Christ because you believe in Him. When Satan comes to you, and says, It is no use for you to pray; you are a sinner, tell him that that is the reason why you have need to pray. You need a Saviour because you are a sinner. If you should wait until you make yourself better before you come to Christ, you would never come at all. Christ came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. It is your privilege to accept the sacrifice that has been made for you at an infinite cost. Commit the keeping of your soul to him as to a faithful Redeemer. We will keep (646) that which you have committed to Him against that day. EA 163.1

Consider, my friends, is it not time for you to think of what God has done for you. Praise Him that angels guard you from dangers on the right hand and on the left. We has given you food and raiment; praise him for these tokens of his goodness. If you cannot think of anything in your life to thank him for praise him that He is merciful. There is one thing for which you can never cease to thank Him, He “so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” O praise the lord in your hearts, and teach your tongues to praise Him. Seek the gifts of God. Take his precious words, and hang them in Memory’s Hall; think of them; talk of them; praise God for them; and Satan will not interpose his shadow between your soul and God. Do not allow your minds to become absorbed with worldly things, so that you have no time to pray and educate your children, no time to make your home a symbol of the family in heaven. We must begin now to consecrate ourselves to God. EA 163.2

We each may have the rich experience of knowing God and (647) Jesus Christ whom he has sent. O, let it be seen in the world that God has given you tongue and utterance, by praising Him with heart and soul and voice. You are not to groan and complain. You are to be learners in the school of Christ of his meekness and lowliness. You are to bear his yoke. He says that it is easy, and His burden light. If you have found it so, you will know how to catch the strains of the heavenly music. Make melody to God in your hearts; and when the call comes, Child, come up higher; when you enter the city of God through the gates that will swing back on their glittering hinges for you, you will know just where to take up the immortal song. You will hear the music of heaven, and know that the warfare is accomplished. You will hear the voice of the Master, “Thou hast been faithful over a few things; I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” You will take your golden harp and fill all heaven with your songs, “Worthy, worthy is the Lamb that was slain.” EA 163.3

Have faith and patience and hope, and a rich experience will be yours. You will be a light in the world, and men seeing your good works, will glorify your Father which is in (648) heaven. I want to see you among the throng in the kingdom of God. I want to see your faces illuminated with the glory of God and reflecting the image of Jesus. All your sorrows will then be ended. There will be no more trouble or sin, but joy, eternal joy through the endless ages. EA 163.4