The Signs of the Times, vol. 8

March 2, 1882

“‘Almost Discouraged’” The Signs of the Times, 8, 9.

E. J. Waggoner

“I am so weak, and have so much to overcome, that I am almost discouraged.” How often do we hear this expression in social meeting. It is the burden of some testimonies. It seems as though some people think that there is special merit in depreciating themselves. They almost take pride in their humility. Others do not seem to know that there is any better way for them to do. But however true it may be, or however often it is repeated, it cannot but be displeasing to God. We are commanded to “exhort one another,” and to “provoke unto love and good works,” but such language is anything but encouraging. Its effect is seen on the individual who uses it. It soon becomes habitual, for each time it is uttered the discouragement increases. It grows by repetition, but it is withering to the soul. SITI March 2, 1882, page 103.1

It is the language of unbelief. Although the individual may be unconscious of the fact, the spirit which prompts it is the same as that possessed by the ten spies who brought back an evil report. God had said: “My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.” Having this promise, it was exceedingly wicked for them to say they could not possess the land. On this occasion, as well as at other times of murmuring, God showed his great displeasure. In this instance we see the natural result of such distrust. They did not enter the promised land. “And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me. Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the Lord, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.” Numbers 14:26-30. They said they could not go, and they did not; but Caleb and Joshua, who said, “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are able to overcome it,” did enter the promised land. SITI March 2, 1882, page 103.2

Distrust and faint-heartedness are as displeasing to God now as then. His promises are abundant. Listen to a few: “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:15, 16. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James 1:5. God does not upbraid us, does not taunt us with our weakness. A child has not the strength of a man, and no father will ridicule his infant child because of its weakness. Its very helplessness appeals to his sympathy. So God says, “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” Psalm 103:13, 14. But it is necessary to “ask in faith, nothing wavering” for “without faith it is impossible to please Him.” Again we are exhorted: “Be content with such things as ye have for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5; and yet again: “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” Romans 8:32. One more passage ought forever to stop all our murmurings and doubtings: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13. Read also Hebrews 2:18; 12:1-4; 13:8; Philippians 4:4, 13; and especially Psalm 103:17, 18, and Lamentations 3:22-33. SITI March 2, 1882, page 103.3

Do we really believe these promises? If we did would we not appropriate them to ourselves? We read them, and say we believe them, and yet to very many they seem vague and unreal. But if they are to be of any benefit to us we must consider them as real, and make our requests accordingly. Our belief is measured by our actions, not by our words. Is it not as much infidelity to disbelieve a promise that God has given as it is to disbelieve any other portion of his word? Let us take heed lest there be found in any of us “an evil heart of unbelief in departing from God.” SITI March 2, 1882, page 103.4

But ought we not to be sensible of our weakness? Certainly; the more so the better. But we are not to think of it in such a way as to become discouraged. There are two ways of looking at our own frailties. One is to brood over them, lose sight of God’s willingness to help, and become discouraged. This pleases Satan. If we are prone to doubt and become faint-hearted, he will assist us to see more lions in the way than really exist. And such a course is really a form of selfishness. The individual becomes so intensely self-conscious that he can take cognizance of nothing else. He thinks of himself so much that he loses sight of Christ. He imagines that he himself must do the great work that is to be done, and when a few attempts show him the impossibility of it, he becomes discourage. Another way to consider them is in the light of the promises of God. When we do this we have every reason to be encouraged, and God is pleased with us. The more we distrust ourselves while trusting God, the stronger we will be, for God has said: “My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9. And in view of this, Paul was led to say: “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak then am I strong.” No man ever had more trials than Paul had, or felt less confidence in himself; but he believed God’s promises, and it was no vain boast for him to say: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” SITI March 2, 1882, page 103.5

Thus it was with Caleb and Joshua. It was not vain self-confidence which led them to say, “We are well able to overcome it.” Hear them: “If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us; their defense is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.” Numbers 14:8, 9. So the Lord is with us; his promises are multiplied to us. We have the accumulated proofs of his power and goodness through thousands of years past. It is far more sinful for us to distrust God now, than it was for ancient Israel. Then, “let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised.” E. J. W. SITI March 2, 1882, page 103.6

“Mixed” The Signs of the Times, 8, 9.

E. J. Waggoner

Consistency is a rare jewel, and nowhere do we find less of it than among the advocates of Sunday observance. A curious example was lately given in a meeting of the “Home Protection Society,” an organization to enforce the Sunday Law. In one of their resolutions it was stated that the weekly rest and worship of the “Christian Sabbath,” is a right guaranteed both by the laws of God and of the State. Later in the meeting, the individual who offered the above mentioned resolution, stated that he thought that Seventh-day Adventists, in carrying on their printing business on Sunday, “do not violate the letter and spirit of the law of man, but they do violate the law of God.” Now here’s the rub. The advocates of the Sunday have claimed that the law which they were seeking to enforce was simply a “police regulation,” that there was no thought of enforcing the law as a religious enactment. These same individuals too, at the society meeting referred to, regretted that Brother White, when arrested as manager of the “Pacific Press,” for working on Sunday, did not plead guilty. But an eminent member of the same society thinks that he has violated the law of God, but not any law of man, either in letter or in spirit. Of what, then, would they have desired him to plead guilty? Evidently of nothing, unless they hold that a Police Court is empowered to enforce the law of God. It has puzzled us to know just on what grounds the Sunday advocates stand, but we are not likely to have our curiosity gratified in this request, at least not until they find out for themselves. SITI March 2, 1882, page 108.1

One thing, however, we would request as a special favor. We claim to keep the law of God. In fact, the requirements of our denomination are simply to “keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” But our friends say we are violating the law of God. We ask, Wherein? We think that, as a Christian duty, they ought to apprise us of our error. It will not be enough to say that we work on Sunday. We know that, but what we want is a plain statement of the law of God that we violate by so doing. Something if it exists, that shows that Sunday has any more claims as a day of rest than Thursday or Friday. We shall not be exacting; a single passage will suffice. All the commandments of God with which we are familiar are very plain-“thou shalt,” and “thou shalt not.” Give us, then, a statement of it that is plain enough to convict a man in any court-before a jury of unprejudiced intelligent men, and we will plead guilty, and at once and forevermore keep “the venerable day of the sun.” We are willing to be enlightened, but while we find no law of God in favor of the Sunday, we shall believe with Paul, that “where no law is, there is no transgression.” E. J. W. SITI March 2, 1882, page 108.2

“Questions Answered” The Signs of the Times, 8, 9.

E. J. Waggoner

1. What is the nature of the “strong drink” referred to in Deuteronomy 14:20. It apparently recommends that which other Scriptures prohibit. SITI March 2, 1882, page 108.3

2. Are we to understand from Numbers 11:31 that the quails fell to the depth of three feet over so great an area of country as here indicated? C. E. W. SITI March 2, 1882, page 108.4

1. It is not in Paul’s writings alone that there are “things hard to be understood.” And it is not alone the “unlearned” that have stumbled over the subject of “strong drink” as found in the Bible. In this case, as in all, it is safe to start out with the assurance that the Bible does not contradict itself. The Hebrew word shebar, which is translated “strong drink,” means that which satiates, as well as that which intoxicates. Kitto says: “It had in all probability a much wider signification than is now conveyed by the phrase ‘strong drink.’” He classes the various senses of the word under three heads. 1. Luscious saccharine drink, or sweet syrup, especially sugar or honey of dates. From it are derived words meaning “dainty,” “dessert,” “sweetmeat.” 2. Date or palm wine in its fresh or unfermented state. 3. Fermented, or intoxicating palm wine. It is doubtless the first of these that is referred to in Deuteronomy 14:26. The “strong drink” of the first class, was not injurious in itself, but was forbidden whenever the circumstances required abstemiousness, as in Judges 13:4. It is a well-known fact that much sugar or sweetmeats produce a state of fullness, lassitude, and dullness. It was on this account, doubtless, that these things were forbidden to those who “separated themselves unto the Lord.” Numbers 6:2-4. The use of the last class, that which intoxicates, is not countenanced in the Bible. SITI March 2, 1882, page 108.5

2. It is not a necessary conclusion, even from our English version, that the quails lay on the ground to a depth of two cubits, and the original does not warrant it. The sense is conveyed by the Vulgate, a literal translation of which is: “They flew in the air two cubits high above the earth.” E. J. W. SITI March 2, 1882, page 108.6

“Sunday Law Tract” The Signs of the Times, 8, 9.

E. J. Waggoner

Last week an edition of 5,000 of this tract issued, and another edition is already called for. The Oakland church has taken and distributed 1,500, the San Francisco church 1,000, and other churches that ordered only a few hundred, are calling for more. The demand for it convinces us that it is the right thing at the right time. Our object in circulating the tract was not to stir up strife, but to take advantage of an interest that had been awakened by the friends of the Sunday, to place the truth of the Bible on this question before the people. The truth on the Sabbath question has probably been brought before more people in California during the past two weeks than ever before. SITI March 2, 1882, page 108.7

That the prejudices of some should be aroused by it, is no more than could be expected. The truth has ever met with opposers, and we know of no way to avoid opposition except by keeping silent in regard to the truth, and this we cannot do. On the whole, however, the tract has been well received, and has received favorable notice from the press of this city. Some persons accused us of playing into the hands of the “League of Freedom,” of desiring to enforce the observance of the Sabbath, and other things equally absurd. But none who have candidly read it, find any difficulty in understanding exactly our position. SITI March 2, 1882, page 108.8

We have nowhere charged the “Home Protection Society” with the arrest of the manager of the Pacific Press. They disclaim any connection with is, and we give them the benefit of the supposition that when they started the movement they did not foresee the result. Some evidently thought that a law which is general in its application could be enforced upon simply a few. They doubtless have learned better by this time. The Oakland Times justly says: “The obstacles in the way of a Sunday Law are much greater than had been anticipated when the agitation was first started.” One of two things must now be done: The law must either be strictly enforced or else repealed. Whatever happens we are content, so long as the agitation serves to make the truth of God more clear to the people. E. J. W. SITI March 2, 1882, page 108.9