La a Fa a Fi al Tal Tan aa We SN WL
** The path of the just is as
the shining light, that shin-
eth more and more unto the
perfect day.”
THE
NASHVILLE, TENN., MAY 28, 1907
WATCHMAN
a a en Yen Po VL
“The way of the wicked
is as darkness; they know
not at what they stumble.”
No. 22
AANA AAA A
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HOLD MY HAND aie
William Brickey
Hop my hand; I'll bear it, Father,
Though my treasures fade away;
Leave me not to self, but rather
Hold my hand from day to day.
Lest I manifest my weakness
"Neath the tempter’s mighty power,
Let me show a Christlike meekness
Day by day and hour by hour.
Hold my hand; T'll bear it, Father,
Though severe indeed the test;
Surely all will work together
For my good, and all is best.
In thy strength I'll bear the trial
As I hide behind the cross;
I will drink the bitter vial,
And for thee count all but dross.
Hold my hand; T’'ll bear it, Father,
Neither murmur, nor .complain;
Fate may scatter what I gather,
But my loss shall be my gain.
Though my present crumbs be scanty,
Thin may be the garb I wear,
In my Father's house is plenty;
He has bread enough to spare.
—
“DENY THYSELF, AND TAKE UP THE CROSS”
Mrs. E. G. White I
N the nineteenth chapter of
Matthew is recorded the
case of the rich young ruler.
This young man’s tastes and
desires were favorable to the
growth of spirituality. As
he saw Jesus blessing the
little children, he was con-
vinced that this must be a good man.
He was sure that he could live in per-
Hastening to
and
fect harmony with him.
the Saviour, he knelt before him,
said, “Good Master, what good thing
shall I do, that I may have eternal life?”
“Why callest thou me good?” Christ
asked. “There is none good but one,
that is, God; but if thou wilt enter into
life, keep the commandments. He saith
unto him, which?” Jesus said, “ Thou
shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not com-
mit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou
shalt not bear false witness, Honor thy
father and thy mother; and, Thou shalt
love thy neighbor as thyself.”
“The young man saith unto him, All
these things have I kept from my youth
up; what lack I yet?” He had been
flattered for his amiable traits of char-
acter. He was willing to do good
things, and he flattered himself that by
his integrity in dealing with his fellow
men he was fulfilling the law. The per-
fection of character he thought he pos-
sessed, ranked him in the same state
spiritually as was Paul when, touching
the letter of the law, he thought himself
blameless. But no human standard can
save a soul from death. God’s standard
must be seen, acknowledged, and fol-
lowed.
“If thou wilt be perfect,” Christ said,
“ go and sell that thou hast, and give to
the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in
heaven: and come and follow me.” Je-
sus needed the co-operation of just such
whom God had intrusted with his
goods. It is God’s plan that those to
whom he has given money or houses or
lands shall act as his faithful almoners,
relieving the sufferings of their fellow
beings, and in this way winning them
to the Saviour.
men,
By helping the Saviour to help the
needy, suffering ones around him, the
young ruler would indeed have been lay-
ing up treasure in heaven. The test
had come to him. What would be the
result? When he heard Christ's words,
“he went away sorrowful, for he had
great possessions.”
Jesus tested the young ruler by a true
standard,— the law of righteousness,—
which requires man to love his neighbor
as himself; and the ruler proved himself
to be destitute of love for either God or
man. He thought himself perfect, but
he was weighed in the balances of the
sanctuary, and found wanting. He was
alienated from God ; for he regarded that
which God had given him in trust as of
far more value than heavenly treasure.
He went away sorrowful, because he
could not selfishly retain his possessions
and at the same time have the pleasure
of following Christ.
“Then said Jesus unto his disciples,
Verily I say unto you, That a rich man
shall hardly enter into the kingdom of
heaven. And again I say unto you, It
is easier for a camel to go through the
eye of a needle, than for a rich man to
enter into the kingdom of God. And
when his disciples heard it, they were ex-
ceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can
be saved?” They expected the young
ruler to do as Matthew had done, and
because of his refusal they were sorrow-
ful and dejected. Jesus said, “ With
men this is impossible; but with God
all things are possible.”
The question was asked by Christ,
“ What is a man profited, if he shall gain
the whole world, and lose his own soul?
or what shall a man give in exchange
for his soul?” Man sells himself
cheaply when he spends his life in se-
curing worldly advantages; for in the
ambition to secure earthly estate, God
is forgotten, and he reaps loss to all eter-
nity. His money and lands cannot pay
a ransom for his soul. Better, far bet-
ter, to have shattered hopes and the
world’s denunciation with the approval
of God, than to sit with princes and for-
feit heaven. “Ye cannot serve God and
mammon,” Christ declares.
The young ruler represents many in
our world to-day. God has intrusted his
goods to them, that they may advance
his kingdom by planting the standard of
truth in places where the message has
never been heard. But they do not carry
out God’s purpose. The words, ““ Deny
thyself, take up thy cross, and follow
me,” cut directly across their cherished
plans, and they refuse to obey. God’s
messages come to his people, but they
have not been, and are not yet, willing
to receive them. He is testing them as
he was testing the young ruler when he
said to him, “If thou wilt be perfect, go