December 6, 1898

“Editorial” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 49, p. 782.

“THE knowledge of what the Scripture means when urging upon us the necessity of cultivating faith, is more essential than any other knowledge that can be acquired.”ARSH December 6, 1898, page 782.1

In order to be able to know what the Scripture means when urging upon us the necessity of cultivating faith, it is essential to know, first of all, what is faith.ARSH December 6, 1898, page 782.2

Plainly, it must be to little purpose to urge upon a person the necessity of cultivating faith, while that person has no intelligent idea of what faith is. And it is sadly true that, though the Lord has made this perfectly plain in the Scriptures, there are many church-members who do not know what faith is. They may even know what the definition of faith is; but they do not know what the thing is; they do not grasp the idea that is in the definition.ARSH December 6, 1898, page 782.3

For that reason, the definition will not be touched now; but, rather, there will be cited and studied as illustration of faith,—an instance which makes it stand out so plainly that all can see the very thing itself.ARSH December 6, 1898, page 782.4

Faith comes “by the word of God;” to the Word, then, we must look for it.ARSH December 6, 1898, page 782.5

One day a centurion came to Jesus, and said to him: “Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof; but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.... When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” Matthew 8:6-10.ARSH December 6, 1898, page 782.6

There is what Jesus pronounces faith. When we find what that is, we have found faith. To know what that is, is to know what faith is. There can be no sort of doubt about this; for Christ is “the Author... of faith,” and he says that that which the centurion manifested was “faith;” yes, even “great faith.”ARSH December 6, 1898, page 782.7

Where, then, in this is the faith?—The centurion wanted a certain thing done. He wanted the Lord to do it. But when the Lord said, “I will come” and do it, the centurion checked him, saying, “Speak the word only,” and it shall be done.ARSH December 6, 1898, page 782.8

Now, what did the centurion expect would do the work?—“The word ONLY.” Upon what did he depend for the healing of his servant?—Upon “the word ONLY.”ARSH December 6, 1898, page 782.9

And the Lord Jesus says that that is faith.ARSH December 6, 1898, page 782.10

Now, brother, sister, what is faith?ARSH December 6, 1898, page 782.11

“Editorial Note” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 49, p. 782.

THE message is advancing so rapidly that constant watching and diligent attention are required to keep pace with it. And sad it is for the one who falls behind now, whether he is a layman, or one who must bear the burden and responsibility of acting in public capacity. In order to stand, all must have a constant consecration; indeed, consecration, to be consecration, must be constant.ARSH December 6, 1898, page 782.1

In 2 Chronicles 25:1, 2, we read that Amaziah reigned for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem, and that during that time “he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart.” There are Amaziahs to-day, and they find it an easy matter so to conduct themselves that men adjudge their acts as “right in the sight of the Lord,” but God does not accept their service. The Lord is soon coming. In that day only the “pure in heart” will see god unto salvation. Is there any one who knows these truths, and yet delays to pray, from the very depths of his soul: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting”?ARSH December 6, 1898, page 782.2

“The time has come when all who work in Christ’s lines will have the mark of God, in words, in spirit, in character, in their honor of Immanuel.”ARSH December 6, 1898, page 782.3

But God will never set his mark upon words that are not true and pure, nor upon a spirit that is not right. He will never set his seal upon a character that is not perfect, nor upon an honor of Immanuel which is not genuine.ARSH December 6, 1898, page 782.4

God can not put his seal upon anything that is in any respect short of perfection. Then as the time has come when all who work in Christ’s lines will have the mark of God, this says that we are not in the time when God will bring to perfection all who work in Christ’s lines. Thank the Lord! What a precious promise! What a cheering thought!ARSH December 6, 1898, page 782.5

But without the Holy Spirit, no one can have this mark; because it is only “the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”ARSH December 6, 1898, page 782.6

Again: none can receive this mark who are in any point short of perfection; and none can have the mark, without the Holy Spirit; therefore, it is the work of the Holy Spirit now to bring to perfection all who work in Christ’s lines.ARSH December 6, 1898, page 782.7

The Holy Spirit is now given without measure; and the Lord is calling upon all to receive the Holy Ghost. The Holy Spirit, when given, is to impart gifts “to every man severally as he will.” The object of these gifts is the perfecting of the saints. And this object will be accomplished in bringing all “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.”ARSH December 6, 1898, page 782.8

Therefore “receive ye the Holy Ghost,” and “covet earnestly the best gifts,” that thus you may be brought to perfection, and may receive the seal of God, in words, in spirit, in character, and in your honor of Immanuel.ARSH December 6, 1898, page 782.9

“In words;” because “now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things which is of God; that we might know the things which are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth.” 1 Corinthians 2:12, 13.ARSH December 6, 1898, page 782.10

“In spirit;” because “if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his;” and if any man have the Spirit of Christ, this “is life because of righteousness.” Romans 8:9, 10.ARSH December 6, 1898, page 782.11

“In character;” because “the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:4); and “here are they which keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12.ARSH December 6, 1898, page 782.12

“In their honor of Immanuel;” because they will not worship the beast nor his image, neither receive his mark in their foreheads, nor in their hands.ARSH December 6, 1898, page 782.13

How good the Lord is, to give us his Holy Spirit to bring us to perfection, that we may have the mark of God in words, in actions, in character, in our honor of Immanuel; and so be sealed with the seal of the living God!ARSH December 6, 1898, page 782.14

“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you PERFECT in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20, 21.ARSH December 6, 1898, page 782.15

“Ask, and it shall be given you.” “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” “Be filled with” “the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” For behold “it is near, even at the doors.”ARSH December 6, 1898, page 782.16

“Rome Is Getting in Her Work” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 75, 49, pp. 782, 783.

LAST summer we called attention to the movements of Rome in insinuating herself into the affairs of the government of the United States, by means of the Spanish-American imbroglio. At that time we pointed out much that had been done; and said that though much more that was evidently intended had failed, or might fail, yet when the time should come for the final settlement of affairs, Rome would surely be found again on the scene, working her crafty policy.ARSH December 6, 1898, page 782.1

Now the time has come, and she is at it, and with a prospect of considerable success already. For the Washington Bureau of the Baltimore Daily American, Oct. 15, 1898, evidently with much gratification, tells of what is being done. The following is the first half of the letter:—ARSH December 6, 1898, page 782.2

Archbishop Chapelle, who is to go to Cuba as the legate of the church, will find himself confronted with a serious problem. The Catholic Church and its clergy in Cuba, as in every state where the Church of Rome is officially acknowledged as the state church, is supported almost entirely by the government. The annual budget of Spain includes appropriations for the pay of the Catholic clergy and the support of the Catholic churches in the Spanish dominions; and the revenues for this purpose are raised by taxation. Hence, with the surrender of its authority to collect taxes in China, the Spanish government is necessarily compelled to withdraw all support from the Catholic churches and priests on the island.ARSH December 6, 1898, page 782.3

And the question of providing for the priests thus deprived of their sustenance is one of no little difficulty, and President McKinley has held numerous conferences with Cardinal Gibbons and Archbishop Ireland on the subject. The people of Cuba have never been taught to support their church and clergy by direct, voluntary contributions. Indeed, so dire is the poverty on the island at present, that it is doubtful if the Cubans could by any possibility raise sufficient money to keep their churches open and their priests from starving. On the other hand, it is manifestly impossible that the government of the United States can undertake to support the Catholic Church in Cuba.ARSH December 6, 1898, page 782.4

It is true that General Wood has ordered all the schools in Santiago reopened, and as the school-teachers are presumably the local priests, the situation in that city, at least, has been met by paying the priests who are employed in the schools. But this expedient will serve in only a small number of cases, and would not, of course, apply to the vast number of priests and high church dignitaries on the entire island.ARSH December 6, 1898, page 782.5

It is the determination of President McKinley that the Catholic churches shall be kept open, and that public worship shall be amply provided for. To this end, sufficient money will be advanced by this government to support the Catholic Church. But this will be only a temporary loan; and when law and order are fully established on the distracted island, the Catholic Church will be expected to maintain itself like every other church.ARSH December 6, 1898, page 783.1

The Church of Rome has robbed and peeled Cuba for four hundred years; and now that she can not do it any more, she puts up the plea that her priests and high church dignitaries there “are deprived of their sustenance,” and the people of the United States must be put to grind at Rome’s mill to support this “vast number” of her good-for-nothing priests and high church dignitaries.ARSH December 6, 1898, page 783.2

That these priests and high church dignitaries are good-for-nothing, is evident from the testimony in this very article, which begs for sympathy and support for them:—ARSH December 6, 1898, page 783.3

1. Rome alone has had the teaching of the people of Cuba for four hundred years.ARSH December 6, 1898, page 783.4

2. Yet, though there is “a vast number of priests and high church dignitaries” there, “the people of Cuba have never been taught to support their church and clergy by direct, voluntary contribution.”ARSH December 6, 1898, page 783.5

3. “The Catholic Church and its clergy in Cuba... is [has been] supported almost entirely by the government, ... and the revenues for this purpose are raised by taxation.”ARSH December 6, 1898, page 783.6

4. “So dire is the poverty on the island at present, that it is doubtful if the Cubans could by any possibility raise sufficient money to keep their churches open and their priests from starving.”ARSH December 6, 1898, page 783.7

5. “It is the determination of President McKinley that the Catholic churches shall be kept open, and that public worship shall be amply provided for. To this end, sufficient money will be advanced by this government to support the Catholic Church.”ARSH December 6, 1898, page 783.8

That is to say that while, for four hundred years, the Catholic Church has had the sole teaching authority in Cuba, she has never taught the people to support the church and the clergy, yet those same people have all this time been taxed to support the church and clergy; and now, when, by this everlasting taxation, with its consequences, the people are reduced to such poverty that they can not support in their customary affluence the priests and high church dignitaries, who are unwilling to share with the poor people the poverty which this same “vast number of priests and high church dignitaries” have been most instrumental in bringing upon them,—now, through President McKinley, coached by Cardinal Gibbons and Archbishop Ireland,—this same Catholic Church begins the taxation of the people of the United States to support these priests and high church dignitaries in Cuba!ARSH December 6, 1898, page 783.9

And how long shall the people of the United States be taxed to support this “vast number” of Catholic “priests and high church dignitaries” in Cuba? Since Catholic priests have had the teaching(?) of the Cubans for four hundred years, and yet “the people of Cuba have never been taught to support their church and clergy by direct, voluntary contributions,” because the priests were supported by the Spanish government, is it likely that these same priests, in less than another four hundred years, will teach the people of Cuba to support their church and clergy by “direct, voluntary contribution,” while they are supported by the United States government?ARSH December 6, 1898, page 783.10

But even though it should not take another four hundred years, even though it should take only a week, or only a single day, what right has President McKinley to take the money of all the people of the United States, and have it advanced by this government to support the Catholic Church? Where has such power as this been delegated to the president of the United States? The men who made the government of the United States said that to compel a person “to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves, is sinful and tyrannical.” Therefore they separated the government of the United States from all connection with religion, or recognition of it.ARSH December 6, 1898, page 783.11

By this scheme, Cardinal Gibbons and Archbishop Ireland, through President McKinley, are putting upon the government and people of the United States the identical system that has been worked by Spain and Rome all these ages. This sympathetic correspondent says:—ARSH December 6, 1898, page 783.12

The annual budget of Spain, including appropriations for the pay of the Catholic clergy, and the support of Catholic churches in the Spanish dominions, and the revenues for this purpose are raised by taxation.ARSH December 6, 1898, page 783.13

This correspondent also says:—ARSH December 6, 1898, page 783.14

It is the determination of President McKinley that the Catholic churches shall be kept open, and that public worship shall be amply provided for. To this end, sufficient money will be advanced by this government to support the Catholic Church.ARSH December 6, 1898, page 783.15

The only money that this government can advance for any purpose is money raised by taxation. For the government to advance this money, it must be appropriated by somebody. These two statements of the correspondent show the same thing precisely. Therefore it is as plain as A B C that Cardinal Gibbons and Archbishop Ireland, through President McKinley, are playing off upon the government of the United States the same old Roman and Spanish system of government support of the Catholic Church and clergy. Are the American people ready to let this scheme be carried through?ARSH December 6, 1898, page 783.16

It is true that the last sentence in the portion of the letter quoted, says that this is promised to be only temporary; but the rest of the letter, which we have not space now to review, shows that this “temporary” expedient can be perpetuated indefinitely.ARSH December 6, 1898, page 783.17

When Archbishop Ireland was making himself so conspicuous at the national Capitol last spring, we said that the United States government would not get out of this Cuban matter without being entrapped by Rome. And so it has come to pass. And there is yet more of it.ARSH December 6, 1898, page 783.18

In writing on “The Policy of Expansion” of the United States, Bishop John F. Hurst remarks: “No sooner are the dogs of war let loose than some subtle force takes possession of congresses and nations, and in due time all the participants are swept away by the unexpected omnipotence.” Since “war is hell,” and peace is only of God, can there be any doubt as to what is the source of this “subtle force” that “takes possession of congresses and nations” as soon as the dogs of war are let loose? This is why it is that all the great powrs can agree to maintain peace in the matter of the perennial Eastern question. They recognize the fact that the instant the dogs of war shall be let loose there, this “subtle force” from the infernal regions will take possession of the congresses and nations, and will engulf “all that is most powerful and civilized in Europe in a dangerous and calamitous contest.” Now the four mighty angels of the God of peace are holding the winds, that the dogs of war shall not be loosed, and so are restraining this “subtle force” till the Lord’s work shall be done in the earth. However, that awful day will come; the angels will not longer hold the winds; the dogs of war will be loosed; this “subtle force” will take full possession of congresses and nations; and then “there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation.” Where do you stand? “Get ready, get ready, get ready.” “My heart maketh a noise within me; I can not hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.”ARSH December 6, 1898, page 783.19