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to a people of strange customs, and with their wives they
entered valiantly into service for Christ with only one
year’s support in view. Stories of such experiences in
the early days of our missionary progress could be
multiplied. When their lives had been yielded to the
Lord, they were ready to ask, * Lord, what wilt Thou
have me to do?” and to follow where He led the way.
Our challenge is one to sacrifice and rugged heroism.
At the time of the recent (General Conference, we
found ourselves reminded of the spirit of the early
pioneers. It was a spirit that was not daunted by lack
of money or difficulties. In the early days a few be-
lievers under the leadership of such workers as Pastor
and Mrs. James White and Pastor Bates, announced
that they expected to carry this message to the
entire world. They had no money, but they had a spirit
that was rich in faith in the promises of God. Like the
apostles of old, they had turned aside from ordinary
With their hearts transformed by the love of
pursuits.
God and the fellowship of Jesus Christ, they were sus-
tained in a missionary experience that has not been
surpassed in modern times. They were submissive to
the cross, and gloried in any suffering which meant an
advance for the cause of their Master. They were
moved by the constraining love of Christ, Their eyes
had been turned away from achievement in this life, and
in deep devotion and earnest contemplation of the life
and example of the Saviour, they moved forward to
follow Him. “They looked unto Him, and were
radiant.” Ps. 34:5, A R.V.
Such is the heritage of Seventh-day Adventist youth
in faith and example. Young people have always had a
large part in the advancement of this message. And it
is confidently expected that they will nobly meet the
challenge of the hour for them in helping to finish the
work of the gospel in all the world.
(Reading for Wednesday, May 27)
We Have an Altar
BY J. L. SHAW
HE altar of the Old Testament, built of earth or
stone or metal, was the appointed meeting place of
(God with man. Upon it the sacrifice was laid and con-
sumed. Here about the altar events of far-reaching im-
portance transpired as man’s faith obeyed God's com-
mand. Here at times God manifested His pleasure by
fire from heaven consuming the offering.
The statement of Paul that “we have an altar,”
made to believers this side of the eross, would indicate
that the altar service is still in force, that we even now
actually do have an altar. Just how that can be may
raise questions. If we have an altar, what is that
altar ? And what is the order and purpose of its
ceremony ?
As a background, let us in answer to these questions
understand that the book of Hebrews, addressed par-
ticularly to Hebrew Christians under eriticism and per-
secution by their brethren in the flesh, is a book of
comparisons, purposing to show the advantages of re-
ligious services in the present Christian dispensation.
In brief let us refer for a moment to some of these com-
parisons :
Provisions for Man’s Salvation Before and Since
Calvary Compared
In the first two verses of the book of Hebrews we
have set forth the advantages of (God's manner of com-
munication in these last days as compared with Old
Testament times: “ (GGod, who at sundry times and in
divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by
the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us
by His Son.” Speaking through His Son Jesus is com-
pared to speaking through prophets. In chapter three,
Moses’ house is compared to Christ's house; ** Christ as
a Son over His own house; whose house are we.”
Verse 6. In chapter four, the personnel of the two
priesthoeds are compared: * We have not an high priest
which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirm-
ities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet
without sin.” Verse 15. No temptation can come to
us that Jesus Christ, our high priest, cannot understand
and appreciate. He knows the pangs of it all. He
“ was in all points tempted like as we are.”
In chapter eight, reference is made to the faultiness
of the old covenant, and the advantages of the new,
wherein He puts His laws in our minds and writes
them in our hearts. Comparing the two tabernacles in
Hebrews 9: 24, he says, ** Christ is not entered into the
holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the
true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the pres-
ence of God for us.”” The superiority of Christ's sacri-
fice as compared with that of bulls and goats, is set
forth in Hebrews 10:4. (See also Heb. 9:12-14.)
“He taketh away the first, that He may establish the
second. By the which will we are sanctified through
the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
Heb. 10:9, 10.
And now in the line of comparisons, we come to our
text. We have an altar, whereof they have no right
to eat which serve the tabernacle.” Heb. 13:10. As
the previous comparisons have each been set forth as
superior to the Old Testament ritual, we assume that
the altar now is superior to the altar then. To realise
the advantage, we first must know what our altar is
and the place and purpose of its ceremony.
Altar Service
Let us in our study of this. question go back to that
first altar built outside the gates of Paradise, and under-
stand its meaning and purpose. The holy pair in the
enjoyment of all the beauty and pleasure of their Eden
home spoke face to face with the Creator. They basked
in the effulgence of God's love and approval. Then
through sin a change came. Not content with what
God had given them, and not heeding His instruction
and counsel, they reached forth and partook of the for-
bidden fruit, and were driven out of their heautiful Eden
home. In a moment of transgression they had partaken