October 4, 1898

“Editorial” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 40, p. 634.

IT must never for a moment be forgotten that the great object of the gift of the Holy Spirit is the perfecting of the receiver of the gift.ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.1

Whosoever receives, or would receive, the gift of the Holy Ghost, frustrates the very purpose of the gift unless he believes in Christian perfection, and unless he expects the Holy Spirit to bring him unto perfection.ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.2

This is taught and illustrated in the very first chapter in the Bible: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.3

The word here translated “moved” signifies “to brood over” and fructify. Thus when the unformed mass had been created, it was the Spirit of God which, through the spoken word of God, shaped the earth, clothed it with beauty and fruitfulness, and brought it to perfection.ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.4

Except for this gift of the Spirit to move upon the void and formless earth, and except for the further word of God and ministration of the Spirit of God, the earth would forever have remained without form and void. The object of its creation would have been utterly missed.ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.5

The only object in the creation of the earth was that it should be brought to perfection. When it had been created, the Spirit of God was given to move upon it. And the object of this bestowal of the Spirit was that the earth, by the ministration of the Spirit, should be brought to perfection. And so this object was accomplished.ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.6

Now “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.7

But though we are thus created unto the good works of God, yet when we have been so created, so far as the realization of these good works in action, our lives are as formless and void as was the earth when it was first created.ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.8

And unless the Spirit of God can come upon this new creation, to brood over it and fructify it with the power of God; unless the further word of God, and the ministration of the Spirit of God, shall come into the life, this new creation must forever remain as formless and void as, without it, would have remained the original creation.ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.9

Such, however, is not the object in this creation, as it was not the object of the original creation. The object in this new creation is that it shall be brought to perfection, as certainly as was the object in the original creation. And this can be done only by the gift of the Spirit of God, and the further word, and ministration of the Spirit, of God.ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.10

Therefore, every believer must constantly hold perfection in view. He must never be satisfied one moment with anything short of perfection. He must never forget that only this is the object of his having been created new in Christ Jesus. And he must never forget that this object can be accomplished only by the power and ministration of the Holy Ghost through the word of God.ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.11

“Ask, and it shall be given you.” “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” “Be filled with the Spirit.”ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.12

“Hebrews 3” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 40, p. 634.

IN Hebrews the third chapter, we are exhorted to faithfulness.ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.1

The basis of this exhortation is the faithfulness of Christ.ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.2

“Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; who was faithful to him that appointed him.”ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.3

This “wherefore” is the conclusion upon what has gone before. And that which has gone before is Christ lower than the angels as man, one of man, partaker of the same flesh and blood as man, made in all points like as we are.ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.4

Christ, being in all respects as we are and what we are, was faithful. “Wherefore” we, being in all things just as we are and just what we are, can be faithful, as was he who in all things was as we are and what we are.ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.5

Are you weak? So was he: “I can of mine own self do nothing.”ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.6

Do you say that you can do nothing? That is as much as he could do—of himself.ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.7

Do you say that you are too sinful to be faithful to the Lord? You are not so sinful as was he; for “the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.8

He had upon him the sinfulness of all. You have upon you only the sinfulness of one—yourself; or at the very most, of only three or four.ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.9

Then when he, with the sinfulness of all upon him, could be faithful to God, with the sinfulness of only one, or at the utmost of only three or four, upon you, can not you be faithful to God?ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.10

When he, who of his own self could do nothing, could yet be faithful to God, can not you, who can do no less, also be faithful to God?ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.11

Indeed, is not the prospect a good deal easier for you to be faithful than it was for him?ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.12

Upon him were the iniquities of all. Upon you, at the utmost stretch, there are only the iniquities of three or four.ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.13

Then is not the chance for you to be faithful as much better than was his, as three or four are less than all?ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.14

And when he, at that immense disadvantage, was faithful to God, glorified God on the earth, and overcame the world, why should he not say to you and to me, “Be of good cheer”?ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.15

When he, at that immense disadvantage, was faithful to God, why should not we be of good cheer, who, in comparison, have no approach to such disadvantage as had he?ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.16

O soul! O holy brother! partaker of the heavenly calling, “be of good cheer.” Consider Christ Jesus, who at such enormous disadvantage was faithful, and be of good cheer.ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.17

We must have no divided interest between Christ and the world. He must have all, or none. Whatever else we may give to him, it is of no value without ourselves.ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.18

“Editorial Note” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 40, p. 634.

IF Eve had believed the word of God, she would never have sinned.ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.1

Yea, so long as Eve had believed the word of God, she never could have sinned.ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.2

All who will think must agree that this is true.ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.3

She had the word of God plainly expressed: “Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.4

Satan came with his new word, his arguments and persuasions: “Ye shall not surely die; for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be like God, knowing good and evil.”ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.5

If, then, Eve had said: “No; God has said that I must not eat of that tree. He has said that in the day I eat of it I shall die. I believe God. I do not claim to know all about it, but he does know all about it. I will trust him. I will not eat of that tree,“—had she so done, she would never have sinned. And so long as she had so done, she could not have sinned.ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.6

Therefore it is everlastingly true that had Eve believed God, she never would have sinned; and so long as she had believed God, she never could have sinned. And Adam the same.ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.7

Now that thing is just as true to-day as it was that day; and it is as true of every man and woman to-day as it was of that woman that day.ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.8

The person to-day who believes God, will not sin; and so long as he believes God, he can not sin. This principle is eternal, and is as good to-day as it was in the beginning. And Christ in human nature has demonstrated it.ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.9

But this calls for really believing God,—not a pretended believing, that apparently accepts one word of the Lord and rejects another; that professes to believe one statement of the word of God, and doubts the next one. That way of doing is not believing God at all.ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.10

This also calls for a readiness and diligence, a hungering and thirsting, to know the word of God, that will lead on and on to know all that the Lord has spoken. Of course if any person would rather sin than to search to know and believe the word of God, that he may not sin, there is no power in the universe that can keep him from sinning. But whoever abhors sin, whoever would rather die than to sin,—to him the word of God is precious; to him it is a pleasure, yes, a joy, to study to find all the Lord has spoken; with him there is a hungering and thirsting that will gladly receive the word of God, that he may not sin.ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.11

“Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.”ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.12

“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart.”ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.13

“Study to show thyself approved unto God.”ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.14

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.”ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.15

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.16

And so shall you indeed be “kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready” now “to be revealed,” because it is the last time.ARSH October 4, 1898, page 634.17

“Our Schools” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 40, p. 635.

THE most of our colleges, academies, and schools have opened their doors and begun work again. Will they now be conducted as the strictly Christian schools that they profess to be?ARSH October 4, 1898, page 635.1

Will the directions of the Lord be followed?ARSH October 4, 1898, page 635.2

Will all the books containing pagan and infidel sentiments, and worldly wisdom, and human science, be put away?ARSH October 4, 1898, page 635.3

Will the Bible be given, without question or criticism, the place that God has assigned it in every school, and in every line of study in every school?ARSH October 4, 1898, page 635.4

Will God be recognized as the teacher, in all things? and this not only mediately, but also immediately?ARSH October 4, 1898, page 635.5

The sciences—mental, moral, and physical, all—must be taught there: will these be taught there: will these be taught from the divine source, or from human sources? from the divine writings, or from human writings? In other words, will true science be taught there? or will it be science falsely so-called?ARSH October 4, 1898, page 635.6

“Science” is knowledge: and knowledge is something known. A guess is not knowledge. Conjecture is not knowledge.ARSH October 4, 1898, page 635.7

In order to teach science, there must be taught that which is known: not what is guessed at, not what is supposed, not what is derived from a “working hypothesis.”ARSH October 4, 1898, page 635.8

To teach for science what is not known, what is supposed, what is derived from hypotheses, is only to teach science falsely so-called. It is to teach as knowledge that which is not known, and therefore is a contradiction in terms.ARSH October 4, 1898, page 635.9

And this is precisely the attitude of the accepted science of our time. A leading scientist has laid down as strictly scientific this proposition: “All our knowledge must ultimately repose on propositions which are unproved and unprovable.” Such “knowledge” is not knowledge. It is simply assumption and speculation. And being not knowledge, it is not science; for science is knowledge. It is only science false so-called.ARSH October 4, 1898, page 635.10

The teaching of true science is the teaching of that which is known: it is the teaching of the certainty of knowledge. And the certainty of knowledge is found only in God, and is expressed only in the word of God. He knows. And only such knowledge is true science.ARSH October 4, 1898, page 635.11

Therefore, anything taught for science, which has not the word of God for its foundation, is only science falsely so-called.ARSH October 4, 1898, page 635.12

God alone is the author of true science; and his word is the only certain foundation of it for man. Will the true science only, be taught in our schools?ARSH October 4, 1898, page 635.13

“Editorial Notes” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 40, p. 635.

PEOPLE can not profitably study the history of the great empires and nations,—indeed, they do not know how to study it,—until they have studied the Bible. Study there, without conjecture, the history of the nations. See what it says, know what it calls for; then do not try to make history, as written by the historians, fit the Bible; but look in the history for what the Bible says would be, and then you will always get it straight. When the Lord makes a definite prediction concerning a nation or an individual, look for it, and you will find it; for there will be only one thing like it in the whole field of history. There is no possibility of mistake when you first know what to look for.ARSH October 4, 1898, page 635.1

“Back Page” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 40, p. 644.

WHEN the supper was prepared, and the guests were bidden to come, as related in the Saviour’s parable, the record says, “They all with one consent began to make excuse.” The Lord is to-day doing a great work in the earth. He is calling to his people, “Go work to-day in my vineyard;” for the fields “are white already to harvest.” Many, even among those who have been long in the way, are holding back and making excuses. Don’t do this, brethren. Fall in line. Accept the invitation. Say, Lord, “here am I; send me.” Remember that of those who did not accept the invitation it is said, “None of those men that were bidden shall taste of my supper.”ARSH October 4, 1898, page 644.1