Editorial November 8, 1900 Issue

For God Alone

Editor

The spirit of the martyr is needed if one would fulfil his God-appointed mission. Nothing could cause the martyrs to forswear allegiance to their God. More than anything else, more than all else, was their Father's commendation,—the "well done, good and faithful servant." All was sacrificed that they might gain this divine recognition. Like other mortals, they longed for human sympathy and human commendation, but instead of these they suffered persecution because they dared be faithful to their high sense of Truth and right.

While they earnestly desired to impart the knowledge of the true God which would bless universal humanity as it had blessed them, and while they labored faithfully to that end, yet they realized that in all their endeavors they were working for God alone. To Him, and to Him only, were they accountable. He was their Judge, and by Him they knew they would be rewarded according to the measure of their faithfulness. So clearly did they realize that they were working for God, and that they would be judged according to God's standard, and not according to man's that they shrank not from the world's condemnation.

The world gave them nothing in return for all their labor and sacrifice, but this does not signify that they received no present reward. The consciousness of right doing, the supporting power of divine Love which enabled them to sing psalms of rejoicing when suffering the most bitter persecutions, and even when the human sense of life was being consumed by the devouring flames, was a present reward, such as the world could neither give nor take away. This was their joy; this was their present reward, which far surpassed all the favors the world could bestow. The fact that they were servants of God, working for Him only, was the secret of their lives of love and sacrifice. This inspired and sustained them in the darkest hour of persecution as well as in the days of joy and gladness.

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