December 13, 1898

“Editorial” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 50, p. 798.

“THE knowledge of what the Scripture means when arguing upon us the necessity of cultivating faith, is more essential than any other knowledge that can be acquired.”ARSH December 13, 1898, page 798.1

The centurion desired that the Lord should do for him a certain thing. The Lord said, “I will come,” and do it. The centurion said, No; “speak the word only,” and it shall be done.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 798.2

The centurion, then, expected “the word only” to do the work. He depended upon “the word only” for the fulfilment of his desire. And Jesus said that that is “faith,” even “great faith.”ARSH December 13, 1898, page 798.3

And by all this it is perfectly plain that faith is the expectation that the word of God will do what that word says; and that it is the depending upon that word to do what it says.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 798.4

The centurion did not expect, himself, to do what the Lord said. That would not have been faith; because it would have been to deny any power, or life, in the word, and would have been to depend altogether on himself.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 798.5

Yet you have said, many and many a time, that you would do what the word of God says. Often you have depended on yourself to do what the word says, instead of depending on that word to do what it says. And then you wondered why you did not succeed better in the Christian life. There is no place for wonder. You did not exercise faith: it was all yourself, and none of God.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 798.6

Yet more: the centurion did not expect even the Lord to do what the word said; that is, he did not expect the Lord to speak the word, and then, apart from that word and by some other means, himself do what the word said. Even that would not have been faith, because it would have been to ignore the word as the living and powerful thing that it is, and would have been to deny that God is able to do what he wishes, simply by his word.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 798.7

Yet many and many a time you, having the word of God before your eyes, and earnestly desiring in yourself what that word says, have turned away from that word, and have asked the Lord to do for you, and in you, what the word says.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 798.8

And then you wondered and were perplexed that what you asked was not done. But there was no place for any wonder or perplexity. Your expectation was vain. Your asking was not of faith: it ignored the word of God.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 798.9

You were without excuse, too, in both these ways; for, all the time, there stood your Lord’s plain showing of what is faith; and you had read it many a time. You had read that the centurion said to the Lord, “Speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.” It was there plainly shown that the centurion expected “the word only” to do what he wished, and depended upon “the word only” to do it. You had read the word of Jesus that this was “great faith;” and that therefore he did “speak the word only,” and the “servant was healed in the selfsame hour.” You had also read a number of other instances showing that the Lord did everything by speaking the word only.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 798.10

Would you exercise great faith? Then receive the word of God as it is in truth, the word of God; expect that word only, to do what it says; depend upon the word only, to do for you, and in you, what that word says.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 798.11

Then, asking in faith, you will receive what you ask; and being justified by faith, you will have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 798.12

“Editorial Note” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 50, p. 798.

IT is written that “in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished.” Revelation 10:7.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 798.1

The mystery of God “is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:26, 27.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 798.2

The finishing of the mystery of God, then, is the finishing of the work of “Christ in you.”ARSH December 13, 1898, page 798.3

The finishing of the work of Christ in you is the bringing of you to perfection in Christ Jesus.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 798.4

And the bringing of you to perfection in Christ Jesus, is by the power of the Holy Spirit, “according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself.”ARSH December 13, 1898, page 798.5

For the Holy Spirit is given, imparting his precious gifts, expressly “for the perfecting of the saints, ... till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:12, 13.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 798.6

This is promised for “the days [prophetic days—years] of the voice of the seventh [trumpet] angel, when he shall begin to sound.”ARSH December 13, 1898, page 798.7

The seventh angel began to sound in 1844, has been sounding ever since, and still continues to sound, and will yet continue to sound for a long time, even until all woe shall have passed from the earth.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 798.8

But it is not at the end of his sounding; it is not late in the years of his sounding,—no, it is in the years when he shall begin to sound,—that the mystery of God, the work of Christ in you, shall be finished.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 798.9

And as he has now been sounding fifty-four years with the mystery of God, the work of Christ in you, not yet finished, this shows that this work has been delayed. But on the Lord’s part there is never any delay: now is always the time with him. This delay is altogether on the part of his people. The Lord’s people have hesitated, and delayed to surrender themselves fully to be worked by the Holy Spirit into the complete image of the Lord Jesus. Many have delayed to have him even begin the mystery of God, the work of Christ in them, much less finish it.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 798.10

This will never do. This must not be so any more. Now is the time. These are the days. The seventh angel is sounding. The nations are angry. The wrath of God is about to fall. It is the time of the dead and the living, when they shall be judged; and when he shall give reward to the saints, and to the prophets, and to them that fear his name, both small and great. It is the time when the kingdoms of this world are to become the kingdoms of our God and of his Christ; and when he shall destroy them that corrupt the earth. Revelation 11:15-18. O, it is the time when the mystery of God should be, yea, and will be, finished!ARSH December 13, 1898, page 798.11

And the finishing of this mystery is the perfecting of the believers, even unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 798.12

The mystery of godliness is “God... manifest in the flesh.” 1 Timothy 3:16. And the finishing of this mystery signifies not only the finishing of the work of God in the believer, so that the believer reflects only Christ,—all of God and none of self,—but it signifies also that this manifestation of god in the flesh will be finished, and that he will be manifest only in the spirit: and this signifies the changing of the believers from flesh to spirit; and this signifies translation. Thank the Lord!ARSH December 13, 1898, page 798.13

And now is the time. We are in the days when the mystery of God will be finished, which means that we are in the days when God will prepare his people for translation, by bringing us to perfection according to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. Bless the Lord!ARSH December 13, 1898, page 798.14

What a precious promise, what a blessed prospect, that is,—that you and I shall be perfect!—perfect according to God’s own standard,—perfect as Christ was perfect. Yes, and perfect as he is perfect; for “we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him [not as he was—but] as he IS.” 1 John 3:2.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 798.15

“The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me.” Psalm 138:8. Bless his name! It is he alone who must make any one perfect. And he will “make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight,” “through the blood of the everlasting covenant,” “through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”ARSH December 13, 1898, page 798.16

Who, then, will, who can, hesitate and delay any longer to yield up all to God, that we may make you perfect?ARSH December 13, 1898, page 798.17

Do not think for a moment that it will take him a long time, as it has taken you, and in vain. He does this work by creation, not by evolution, as you have supposed. He does it, you can not do it. He does it by his word, not you do it by your vain efforts. Read this:—ARSH December 13, 1898, page 798.18

While so many of our people have been hovering about the mystery of faith and godliness, they could have solved the matter by proclaiming, “I know that Christ is my portion forever. His mercy, his gentleness, hath made me great.”—Testimony, Sept. 20, 1898.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 798.19

Why not, then, solve this mystery of faith and godliness just now, when it is so easily and so quickly solved? Why not let God finish his mystery in you, according to his own purpose in Christ Jesus? Why not, just now, receive his Holy Spirit in all his fulness and gracious working, that he may perfect you unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ? Why?ARSH December 13, 1898, page 798.20

“Ask, and it shall be given you.” “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” “Be filled with” “the Holy Spirit of God,” by whose working alone the mystery of God can be finished in you, and “whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”ARSH December 13, 1898, page 798.21

“Cure La Grippe Yourself” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 50, p. 799.

AS winter has now come in full blast, la grippe is likely to make itself felt at any time. It is a dangerous thing, too; and if not broken up at the earliest possible moment, it will cause severe illness at present, and leave its mark upon the system for months to come.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 799.1

However, la grippe can be so effectually broken up that no one need be injured by it, nor necessarily confined to the house longer than to put himself through the treatment. And the treatment is so simple that it is within the reach of everybody, and so easily applied that any one can give it to himself, if need be. And here it is:—ARSH December 13, 1898, page 799.2

1. As soon as you discover that you have la grippe, put your feet, and up to the knees if possible, in water as hot as can be borne.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 799.3

2. Keep the water as hot as can be borne, by putting in boiling water.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 799.4

3. Continue this till perspiration is started. At the same time it is helpful, though not essential, to sip hot lemonade.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 799.5

4. When perspiration has been well started, take out your feet, dry them quickly, wrap them in hot flannels, and lie down with hot-water bottles, hot bricks, or something of the kind, to your feet.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 799.6

5. Lie there till you choose to get up; and la grippe will be killed. You will probably be took weak to do much; but as la grippe is gone, your strength will soon return.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 799.7

Now do not pass this treatment by as too simple to be followed, and go to taking medicines, or even a full bath. Follow these directions strictly, simple as they appear to be, and you will find la grippe effectually broken.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 799.8

I know this because I have tested the treatment thoroughly. I have tested it while on a journey, when I had only poor facilities, yet with complete success. I have tested it in a country cabin, within fifteen miles of the Russian border, in the month of December, on an attack of la grippe straight from Russia and undiluted, and with such success as to miss but one sermon in a series of appointments. And others have applied it with equal success.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 799.9

There is true philosophy in it. And the philosophy lies here: La grippe, at its seizure, is peculiarly a disease of the head. Plainly, therefore, if the blood can be drawn away from the head, so that the disease shall have nothing to feed on, la grippe will have to fail. Holding the feet in water so hot, does effectually draw the blood to the farthest extremity from the head; and keeping the feet hot so long, holds the blood away from the head, so that the disease is robbed of support, and inevitably fails.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 799.10

A full bath, even though it be a Turkish or a Russian, is not effectual against la grippe, because the whole body is equally heated, the blood is made to bound more rapidly, and the disease is fed rather than starved.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 799.11

Follow these directions strictly, and nothing will fail but la grippe.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 799.12

If you have not had experience so that you are acquainted with la grippe, you can know that it is upon you by your eyes burning, your nose tickling, your head feeling large and dull, and perhaps every joint and muscle of the body aching. Though you need not wait for all these feelings: one or two of them is enough to justify you in beginning proceedings.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 799.13

ALONZO T. JONES.

“What Will the Protestants Do?” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 50, p. 799.

LAST week we gave the first half of the remarkable letter from the Washington bureau of the Baltimore Daily American, as printed in that paper, Oct. 15, 1898, declaring and justifying the fact that as the result of “numerous conferences with Cardinal Gibbons and Archbishop Ireland” on the subject, “it is the determination of President McKinley that the Catholic churches [in Cuba] shall be kept open, and that public worship shall be amply provided for,” and that “to this end, sufficient money will be advanced by this government to support the Catholic Church.”ARSH December 13, 1898, page 799.1

It was stated in this letter that “this will be only a temporary loan; and when law and order are fully re-established on the distracted island, the Catholic Church will be expected to maintain itself like every other church.”ARSH December 13, 1898, page 799.2

Do you notice the trickery in this sentence last quoted?—It is said that this governmental money “will be only a temporary loan.” Now, the natural complement of that expression would be that “when law and order are fully re-established on the distracted island, the Catholic Church will be expected to” pay back this money. But instead of that, we find only the elusive statement that while this money “will be only a temporary loan,” till “law and order are fully re-established,” yet “when law and order are fully re-established,” instead of paying back this “temporary loan, the Catholic Church will only “be expected to maintain itself like every other church.”ARSH December 13, 1898, page 799.3

Then where does the “temporary loan” come in? When the money is never to be paid back, how can there be about it anything of the character of a loan, either temporary or otherwise? The truth is, of course, that it is not, and it not expected to be, a temporary loan at all, but an eternal gift. If the writer of this letter is not a Jesuit, it is not because he never went to a Jesuit school.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 799.4

The letter next makes an open bid for all the other denominations in Cuba to sanction this unlawful course of the Catholic Church and President McKinley, by themselves doing the same thing. It says:—ARSH December 13, 1898, page 799.5

Such free Protestant churches as exist in Cuba are supported either by contributions of their congregations or by the mission funds of their respective denominations. At the same time, if a demand were made on this government that the same favors be extended to Protestant churches and clergymen in Cuba that it is intended to extend toward the Catholics,—that is to say, undertake the entire responsibility for their support,—it is assumed that this government could not consistently refuse to do so.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 799.6

This is an attempt to play again upon the Protestant churches the identical trick that was played upon them by the Catholic Church in connection with the Indian schools, in the first year of Mr. Cleveland’s presidency, by which fourteen “Protestant” churches and the United States government were entrapped, and from which the government has not yet been able to free itself.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 799.7

It is true that if this demand were made by the Protestants, the “government could not consistently refuse,” since the government is doing all this for the Catholic Church. And more than this, the government can not consistently do this for the Catholic Church without doing the same for all the Protestant churches. The Catholic managers of this scheme know this full well; and therefore this shrewd suggestion is made to the Protestants, that they may again be entrapped, and so hide the inconsistency of governmental support of the Catholic Church.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 799.8

Will the Protestants of the land repudiate this designing suggestion, expose this evil scheme, and demand that the United States government shall maintain the only lawful, as well as the only consistent, attitude,—that of absolutely refusing to furnish a single cent, or cent’s worth, of support to the Catholic Church, or to any other church; or to the “priests and high church dignitaries” of the Catholic Church, or the ministers of any other church, in Cuba or anywhere else? If the Protestants of the land will not do this, why will they not?ARSH December 13, 1898, page 799.9

It is here suggested that the Protestant churches and clergymen in Cuba “demand” that the United States government extend to them “the same favors that it is intended to extend toward the Catholics.” This is also intensely suggestive that the Catholics got these favors upon “demand.” The rest of this remarkable letter shows the basis of this demand of the Catholics. We have not space for it this week, and must therefore postpone the analysis of that till next week. However, from a careful study of it, we are prepared to say that for cool, essential iniquity, it must bear off the palm.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 799.10

Meantime, let all bear in mind that, so far, the Washington Bureau of the Baltimore American makes plain that “it is the determination of President McKingley that the Catholic churches [in Cuba] shall be kept open, and that public worship shall be amply provided for;” that “to this end, sufficient money will be advanced by this government to support the Catholic Church;” and that this means that this government “undertakes the entire responsibility” for its support.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 799.11

“Editorial Notes” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 50, p. 799.

IN discussing “The Policy of Expansion” of the United States, Bishop Henry C. Potter asks, “What are the indications that we have any single qualification for the task of ruling, enfranchising, and ennobling subject races?” Then he answers: “The question ought not to be difficult to answer; for in a comparatively short space of time—less than a century—three subject races, so to speak, have been dropped into our lap, and the record of our dealings with them may be known and read of all men. One of them is the Indian race, another the negro race, and another the Chinese. If any honest man, by any ingenuity, ... can extract any ground for anything else than shame and confusion of face in view of our dealings with these races, I congratulate him on his ingenuity. The story in every case, in greater or less degree, has been one long record of cruelty, rapine, lust, and outrage.... And this is the nation, with such a record, to demonstrate its capacity to deal with subject races,—which is to give a new and more benign civilization to the Spanish West Indies and the Philippine Islands!” The more this matter is studied and developed, the more certain it becomes that the United States is pursuing the course of republican Rome to that dreadful imperial despotism that is so fully portrayed in the Bible. And how Bishop Potter, or any other professed Christian, can identify himself with this dark and repulsive record, as he does in the use of such terms as “we” and “our,” is a mystery.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 799.1

“Back Page” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 50, p. 808.

Harry Champness.

ARCHBISHOP CHAPELLE says that a part of his work in the Philippines and the other places under his jurisdiction will be to look after religious liberty. That will be a good thin, if he will only look after it in the right way. but as the only way that Rome has ever looked after religious liberty in those islands has been to suppress it, there is not much ground of confidence that it will really be different now. And this the more especially as he begins his work by having the United States government appropriate the money of all the people of the United States for the support of the Catholic Church in Cuba.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 808.1

THE other day Archbishop Chapelle announced himself “a warm personal friend of President McKinley.” Last spring Archbishop Ireland announced himself the same. As a result of this warm personal friendship with the President, Archbishop Ireland got himself officially recognized by the United States as the representative of the papacy. And now the President determines to advance government money for the support of the Catholic Church and clergy in Cuba; and Archbishop Chapelle, his other “warm personal friend,” has charge of this work in Cuba. If, not, Cardinal Gibbons would announce himself “a warm person friend of President McKinley,” we should have pretty good cause to think that the whole United States government, as such, was being controlled by the papacy. It is a pity that there are not, among the Methodist bishops, nor anywhere else, any warm personal friends of the President, to tell him the truth as to all these things.ARSH December 13, 1898, page 808.2