Review and Herald for 1887

AND SABBATH_ H "Here is the patience of the Saints : Here are they that keep the commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus." Rev. 14:12. VOL. 64, No. 4. BATTLE CREEK, MICH., TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1887. WHOLE No. 1699. g 111 intrusted to God's faithful few. We should show do something for the cause of God. Some spend tin aim, and feria by our words and works that we recognize the a large amount for needless luxuries and to gratify ISSUED WEEKLY BY THE great responsibility laid upon us. Our light should their appetites, but feel it a great tax to contribute shine so clearly that others can see that we glorify the means to sustain the church. They are willing to Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association, Father in our daily lives ; that we are connected receive all the benefits of its privileges, but prefer Battle Creek, Michigan, with Heaven, and are joint heirs with Jesus Christ ; to leave others to pay the bills. Those who really TWO DOLLARS A TEAR (50 NUMS.rRS) IN ADVANCE, that when he shall appear in power and great glory, feel a deep interest in the advancement of the we may be like him. cause, will not hesitate to invest money in the Address all communications, and make all Drafts and Money We should feel our individual responsibility as work whenever and wherever it is needed. They Orders pt7able to members of the visible church and workers in the should also feel it a solemn duty to illustrate in their REVIEW AND HERALD, Battle Creek, Mich. vineyard of the Lord. We should not wait for characters the teachings of Christ, being at peace our brethren, who are frail as ourselves, to help us one with another, and moving in perfect harmony SUBMISSION. along ; for our precious Saviour has invited us to as an undivided whole. They should waive their BY J. M. noeraNs. join ourselves to him, and unite our weakness with individual opinion to the judgment of the church. his strength, our ignorance to his wisdom, our un- Many live for themselves alone. They look upon "I with cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant." Eze. 20: 37. worthiness to his merits. None of us can occupy their lives with great complacency, flattering "For whom the Lord 1 weth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son a neutral position. We are active agents for themselves that they are blameless, when in fact whom he receiveth." Heb 12 : 6. "And We know-that all things work together for good to them that Christ or for the enemy. We either gather with they are doing nothing for ,God, and are living in love God." Ron7. 8 : 28. " Submit yourselves therefore to God." James 4 : 7. Jesus or scatter abroad. True conversion is a rad- direct opposition to his expressed word. The ob- In sweet submission, 0 my God, ical change. The very drift of the mind and bent servance of external forms will never meet the My heart, my all to thee I bring; of the heart are turned, and the life becomes new great want of the human soul. A mere profession I meekly pass beneath the rod, in Christ. of Christ is not enough to prepare one to stand the And own thee Maker, Saviour, King. God is leading out a people to stand in perfect test of the Judgment. There should be a perfect I know thy ways are just and right, unity upon the platform of eternal truth. Christ trust in God, a child like dependence upon his• All things alike are known to thee; gave himself to the world " that he might purify promises, and an utter consecration of self to his In truth thou sbowest forth thy might, unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good will. And maltest known thy sovereignty. works. " This refining process is designed to God has ever tried his people in the furnace of Let good or ill my life befall, purge the church from the spirit of discord and affliction, in order to prove them firm and true, All things must work for good to me, contention, and from all unrighteousness, that and purge them from all unrighteousness. After ' Since thou, my God, art all in all they may build up instead of tear down, and may Abraham had borne the severest test that could be To those who put their trust in thee. concentrate their energies on the great work before *posed upon him, God spoke to him by his angel, I bless thy name, my Saviour, G,od, them. God designs that his people should all be as follows : "Now I know that thou fearest God, That though my Iot seems sometimes hard, joined together in unity of faith. The prayer of seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine 'T is love uplifts the chastening rod, Christ just before his crucifixion was, that his dis- only son, from me. " This great act of faith And bids me lean upon thy word. ciples might be one, even as he was one with the causes the character of Abraham to shine forth I look to thee I fill thou my heart Father, that the world might believe that the with remarkable luster. It forcibly illustrates his With holy trust and-confidence; Father had sent him. This most touching and perfect confidence in the Lord, from whom he Oh, may I ne'er from thee depart, wonderful prayer reaches down the ages, even to withheld nothing, not even his son of promise. My refuge and my sure defense. There is nothing too precious for us to give to Chatfield, Minn. our day ; for his words were, " Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe Jesus. If we return to him the talents of means on me through their word. " How earnestly he has intrusted to our keeping, he will give more should the professed followers of Christ seek to into our hands. Every effort we make for Christ answer this prayer, in their lives Many do not' will be rewarded by him ; and every duty we per- realize the sacredness of the church relation, and form in his name will minister to our own hap! "Then they that feared the Lord snake often one to another ; and the are loth to submit to restraint and discipline. piness. God surrendered his dearly beloved Son lord hearkened, and heard it, and p book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his Their course of action shows that they exalt their to the agonies of the crucifixion, that all who believe name."—Mal. 3:16. own judgment above that of the united church ; on him should become one through the name of and they are not careful to guard themselves lest Jesus. When Christ made so great a sacrifice to' UNITY OF THE CHURCH. they encourage a spirit of opposition to its voice. save men and bring them into unity one with an- Those who hold responsible positions in the other, even as he was united with the Father, BY MRS. E. G. WHITE. church may have their faults in common with what sadrifice is too great for his followers to As all the different members of the human sys- other people, and may err in their decisions ; but, make, in order to preserve that unity ? tem unite to form the body, and each performs its notwithstanding this, the church of Christ on earth If the world sees a perfect harmony existing in office in obedience to the intelligence that governs has given them an authority that cannot be lightly the cluirch of God, it will be a powerful evidence the whole, so the members of the church of Christ esteemed. Christ, after his resurrection, delegated to them in favor of the Christian religion. Dis- should be united in one symmetrical body, subject power to his church, saying, " Whosesoever sins ye sensions, unhappy differences, and petty church- to the sanctified intelligence of the whole. The remit, they are remitted unto them ; and whose- trials dishonor our Redeemer. All these may be advancement of the church is often retarded by soever sins ye retain, they are retained. " A rela- avoided, if self is surrendered to God, and the fol- the wrong course of its members. Uniting with tion to the church is not to be easily canceled ; yet lowers of Jesus obey the voice of the church. the church, although an important and necessary some professed followers of Christ will threaten to Unbelief suggests that individual independence step, does not make one a Christian or insure sal- leave the church when their path is crossed, or increases our importance ; that it is weak to yield vation, We cannot secure a title to heaven by their voice has not the controlling influence which to the verdict of the church our own ideas of what having our names enrolled upon the church book, they think it deserves. But in doing this they is right and proper. But to cherish such feelings while 'our hearts are not in unison with Christ and would themselves be the greateSt sufferers ; for in and views will only bring anarchy into the church his people. We should be his faithful representatives withdrawing beyond the pale of the church's influ- and confusion to ourselves. Christ saw that unity on earth, working in harmony with him. " Be- ence, they subject themselves to the full tempta- and Christian fellowship were necessary to the loved, now are we the sons of God.

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