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Signs of the Times, Vol. 6, No. 1.

GENERAL ARTICLES
Earlier text: THE POWER OF THE PRESS

REPORT FROM SWITZERLAND.

By John Nevins Andrews

We have just closed our sixth annual Conference, our first being held a few weeks after my arrival in this country five years ago. Our Conference this year convened at Locle, Sabbath evening, Nov. 14, and terminated on first-day, Nov. 16. It was in several respects the best Conference we have ever had in this country. Our brethren have been slow to learn the things necessary for the advancement of the cause of Christ, and have not always been as ready as they should be to co-operate in the work. At this Conference all seemed desirous to engage in the work with zeal and consecration. Some of our brethren have greatly hindered the work of the tract society by constantly saying that no one is benefited by receiving the tracts, and that the labor and expense of tract distribution are thrown away. At this Conference several persons were present who had been converted by reading tracts. This was an argument in behalf of tract work which entirely changed the feeling on the subject. The brethren voted to make renewed and persevering effort in the tract and missionary work. I shall use my best endeavors to see that this resolution is carried into effect.
They also voted in favor of a more perfect organization of our churches and our Conference. This will be immediately acted upon. The subject of Sabbath-schools was considered, and it was decided to adopt the system of our American brethren in place of the less efficient system now in use in Switzerland. The duty of giving one-tenth of our income to the cause of God was made clear to the mind of every person present, and so far as I know, every individual connected with our cause intends to carry it into effect.
Two persons received credentials at this Conference, and seven received licenses. Instruction was given with respect to the duty of licentiates, and in what manner they should give proof that they are called of God to take part in this work. I have never before seen so much of a disposition to receive instruction of this kind. Sixty Sabbath-keepers took part in this Conference. In Switzerland there are 137 members; in Germany, 37; in Turkey, 20; and in France, Italy, and Egypt, the other countries connected with this mission, there are enough to make our entire number 225. This, of course, includes none that are connected with the mission of Eld. Matteson or with that of Eld. Loughborough.
I have recently succeeded in obtaining a large number of addresses of Protestants in France, and to these we propose to send our French paper for a certain period. If any of the tract societies in America desire to aid us in this work we will thankfully accept their assistance. We will do all the work ourselves, in the same manner that it is done by the tract societies in America, and only ask those who are willing to do so to aid us by paying for such a number of copies to be sent into France as they shall feel able to pay for.
Bro. Ertzenberger has labored faithfully in Switzerland during the past year. Our statistics show an increase of twenty-five members in Switzerland during this time. For the present he will labor with me in carrying out the action of the Conference in regard to organization and tract, missionary, and Sabbath-school work. I may then visit Bro. Ribton in Egypt, calling on the way on our friends at Valence in France, and at Torre, Pellice, and Naples in Italy. During my absence, Bro. Ertzenberger will probably visit our friends in Germany.
We hope very soon to have the assistance of Bro. Albert Vuilleumier in our work. He has been hindered hitherto by his embarrassments. His help will make a very great addition to our strength.
Our paper, during the whole period of its publication, has borne a faithful testimony on the subject of temperance, and it has wrought a marked change in the practice of its readers. I sent a very full report to the General Conference of all things relating to this mission. I trust it arrived in season.
I have known for many years that there is a denomination of Christians in Eastern Russia, called Malakani, who believe in the near advent of Christ. A recent writer in MacMillan's Magazine, London, gives a very interesting account of this people. Many thousands of them keep the seventh day. They received their light on Christ's near advent from the writings of Bengel, of Germany, who thought Christ would come about 1836. The Malakani are not the only Sabbath-keepers in Russia. There is an older denomination, numbering several hundred thousands, if we may credit the reports that have reached us from several apparently reliable sources.
Bale, Nov. 27, 1879. J. N. ANDREWS.

MISSIONARY WORK IN OAKLAND.

By W. J. BOSTWICK, Director, Dist. No. 7.

ALL who are interested in the Tract and Missionary work on this coast and elsewhere, will be pleased to learn of the effort now being put forth in Oakland to bring present truth before the people of this city. Believing that the time has arrived when we should make a special effort in this direction, our people have shaken off the robes of slumber which have so long enwrapped them, have awakened to the dangers and necessities of the hour, and are now moving out burdened with the consciousness of the great work which they are called to do; and it is but just to say that the zeal and activity manifested by these workers in the Lord's harvest field is highly commendable, and upon which, we believe, rests the approving smile of the Lord.
The field of labor is large and ever increasing. Here we have a city, with its suburbs, including Alameda, of over fifty thousand inhabitants, while just across the bay is the great city of San Francisco, with its three hundred thousand inhabitants; and the great mass of these people are yet blinded by the errors of the "man of sin." But the light of God's truth must be presented to these people. All must have an opportunity to accept or reject it; and who is going to do this great work? Even that people whom the Lord has placed in their midst to be light-bearers to the world. And this is the work which the Oakland T. and M. Society have entered upon, and in which we hope to be soon reinforced by our brethren across the bay. But in order that our friends may have an idea of the work we are doing, we extract a few items of interest from the report of the quarter just closed. Here it is:—
No. pp. tracts and pamphlets loaned......56,829. " " " " given away......65,578. Total.......................................122,407. " periodicals distributed..................5,356. " Annuals " ..................................651.
In comparison with this report we wish to state that the whole amount of work done in the entire district during the quarter ending Oct. 1, was only about one fourth this amount, which shows a great increase over last quarter. Next quarter, the Lord blessing, we expect to see this work doubled.
The good results accruing from this effort in the missionary work are at present beyond computation. Already many interested readers are upon our list, and a spirit of inquiry is being aroused upon all sides. People are beginning to inquire, Are these things so? and the honest hearted will no doubt receive the light and take their stand upon present truth. Many items of interest could be given, had we space, showing the effect the truth has upon the minds of the reader. I will cite two: One lady who had received the "Three Angel's Messages," became so much interested that she set up until two o'clock in the morning to read it. Another, an old gentleman, who had read "Vindication of the Sabbath," remained at home from his business almost the whole afternoon waiting for the missionary to come, upon the day appointed, that he might get another book. And so it goes. The seed is being sown diligently, perseveringly, and unitedly, and we firmly believe that the Lord will water it with his Spirit, and that it will bring forth a bountiful harvest of souls to his glory.
W. J. BOSTWICK, Director, Dist. No. 7.

TEMPERANCE RALLY.

By Barbara C. Stickney

The temperance work in this State should receive more attention from all, especially those who were appointed to act as solicitors and agents. If these are not all supplied with pledge papers, certificates etc., they should send immediately for them.
The winter, the best time for holding such meetings is passing away, there are as yet but nine clubs formed. We have about thirty churches in this State, and clubs should be formed in all those places where we have a church at least.
When new clubs are formed reports should be sent in giving the names of those who belong, which pledge has been signed, and who have paid the initiation fee and become full members. If any have signed before organization please give the date and place, and state if they are full members. Officers of clubs should ascertain who have been benefitted by signing the pledge and what injurious habits have been overcome by each; so that in reporting all necessary information can be given.
Notice has been sent to the secretaries of clubs that a meeting should be held Jan. 4 for the annual election of officers, and after this date the meetings should be monthly. Those who join after this will be required to pay 35 cts. as the annual dues are to be paid at or after that time. Below is a notice given in No. 2. of The Health and Temperance Quarterly. We hope that this will be quite generally responded to, and that many of those who are not already subscribers for Good Health will become so before the close of the present month.
A Generous Offer.—The publishers of Good Health have generously offered to print the new temperance quarterly as a department in this journal and send it free of charge to all full members of the Association who are also subscribers to Good Health. Those members of the Association who are not now subscribers to the journal can easily become so, and when sending in their names if they will mention the fact that they hold certificates of membership in the Association the new department will be added to the copy of the journal sent to them.
We wish to see this matter taken hold of by our people and our State H. and T. Society second to none in point of interest and efficiency.
BARBARA C. STICKNEY.

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND.

By John Norton Loughborough

Our cause, in this mission, is advancing in its various branches not only here in Southampton, but in other parts of the kingdom where we are making efforts by distribution of reading matter and correspondence.
Another sister took her stand last week to keep the Sabbath with us, and some who have ability to defend the truth have written favorably, and think of taking their stand with us soon.
The work of placing our publications on ships has been increasing in interest and importance every week. England is an important point from which to distribute reading matter all over the world; being the mother country, or home port, of a kingdom "on whose soil the sun never sets." As one English writer says: "Before the sun's evening rays leave the spires of Quebec, his morning beams have shone three hours on Port Jackson, (Port Jackson, near Sidney, New South Wales, Australia.) and while sinking from the waters of Lake Superior, his eyes open upon those of the Ganges. (Ganges, in India.)"
There is a constant passing and repassing of ships from England to all the numerous branches of this vast kingdom, which embraces possessions in Europe, Asia, and Africa, as well as America and numerous islands of the sea.
Since the completion of the Suez canal, connecting the Mediterranean and Red Seas, transit is rapid and more frequent to the East Indies, Bombay, Calcutta, etc. Before me is a table making a comparison of the ships of all nations that passed through the canal from May 1, 1878 to April 30, 1879. In that time there was just one solitary American vessel of two thousand tons burden passed through the canal while of English vessels there were 1,173 bearing 1,686,239 tons of freight. The highest number from any other nation was France, which passed through only ninety-two vessels. It is true Southampton is not the best port in England from which to reach all parts of the dominion by sea, but it is second only in importance—standing next to London and Liverpool.
We could have done more in ship-work than has already been done, but we have lacked material in the different languages with which to work.
Just at present there is a great German emigration to the United States. The North German Lloyd Line of steamers from Bremen to New York stop at Southampton several hours every Tuesday. Of late they have had from two to four hundred passengers each week going to all parts of the United States. What an excellent chance to introduce Stimme der Wahrheit into the various German communities in the United States. Then again on returning steamers to send some copies into all parts of Germany. We have ten copies of the paper that Bro. Ings paid for, and have been obliged to make up the rest of the scanty meal for the hungry passengers with a few copies of German tracts. If some who are interested to spread the German paper could furnish us clubs to the amount of 50 or 60 papers post prepaid at the rate of two cents a number, we will see that they are judiciously distributed.
Again there are a great many ships from Norway, Denmark, and Sweden, that come into this port, some return to various parts of their native country, some go to the United States for grain, and some have sailed to Russia. To supply these clear headed sailors that come into port we have had five copies of Tiderness Tegn, and a few Danish and Swedish tracts. Bro. Ings came across one man the other day who had read, in Norway, the false reports against Bro. Matteson. He was much pleased to learn that Bro. Ings was acquainted with him. Conversation removed prejudice. He read tracts and papers, and is now reading with interest Bro. Matteson's "Sabbath in the New Testament," which he purchased. We must have more papers in Danish and Swedish from some source to help in that work from this port.
The branch in which most has been done here is with our American Signs of the Times, and as the time for the subscription of many of these clubs has nearly expired we would say, we know the Signs distributed by sea and land have done a great work, not only in calling attention to our work, but in deciding many on the truth. We hope our friends in America, who so kindly sent us clubs last year, will fit to continue them, and that they have clean papers; either Signs, German, Swedish, or Danish, that they would like distributed, to please mail them to J. N. Loughborough, Ravenswood, Shirley Road, Southampton, England, prepaying postage at the rate of two cents for each and every number, we promise you on our part, that they shall be judiciously distributed.
Our ship work has been in operation long enough for many of the ships to return a second and third time. They not only report that the periodicals and books in the various languages are read with interest on the ships, but after being thus read have been scattered at the various ports where the vessels called. In some instances, stewards and captains have themselves become so interested as to purchase our large works. One steward of a steamer, last week, bought six of our $1.00 volumes to put on his own table at his home after he had read them.
These ship-officers not only request more reading matter, but kindly offer to do all they can to help us in distributing our publications. One who had read our works said to another ships crew who had just received the papers and tracts for the first time, "Now you have some reading matter that amounts to something."
We were never of better courage to labor in all these branches of the work. While we work, we are praying, hoping, and waiting to see the salvation of God. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

REPORT FROM EGYPT.

By H. P. Ribton

A long and severe illness deprived me of the power of working for two months; but God has mercifully raised me up, and I hope again to labor diligently in his service. Meantime our brethren in the Sabbath, both here and in Italy, continue steadfast in their faith and hope. To do so in Italy in the midst of great persecution, requires much firmness; yet the little churches both at Naples and at Bari announce an increase in their numbers. Our church here have passed through a severe trial, several having left us on the question of implicit and unqualified obedience to the commandments. They went out from us because they were not of us. But the faithful ones who remained firm continue to meet for the observance of the day that the Lord has sanctified, as they do also on other days of the week for the study of his holy word.
We have done much work in correspondence and tract distribution during the past month. Indeed, Bro. Rupp has been indefatigable. He has written and sent tracts to a great number of Baptist ministers, in addition to distributing tracts here; which, as well as copies of Les Signes des Temps, have been read with much interest by those to whom he has given them. This month we have sent sixteen new addresses to Bro. Andrews for Les Signes des Temps, and about thirty to Bro. Drew in California for the Signs of the Times.
I have, during the past month, availed myself of my profession as a means of carrying the word into many places where it would otherwise be impossible to gain access. I have thus been enabled to make many new acquaintances, to whom I have announced the near coming of our Lord, and the necessity of obedience to his commandments in order to enter into his new kingdom.
I am still seeking for some means of printing tracts in Greek and Arabic. An Arab friend has already translated into his language the tract "Can we Know?" I have seen specimens of work of two newly invented copying machines, that profess to take off one hundred copies of a given manuscript; also the electric pen of the celebrated Dr. Edison, but none seem sufficiently accurate to be safely depended upon.
Our dear Bro. Bertola writes very pleasing news from Pitesti, near Bucharest, in European Turkey. A little church of twenty Sabbath-keepers has been formed there; it is increasing in numbers, and he baptized several new members during his visit. He relates especially how they put to shame the Jews around them, by closing their shops on the Sabbath; while the latter, who ought to know better, keep theirs open. The rising church owes its origin principally to the reading of Les Signes des Temps. Bro. Bertola has now gone to Odessa, in Russia, on commercial business, where he hopes to gain more fruit.
Thus is spreading the announcement of the coming of our Lord's kingdom. So may the number of his people soon be made up, and so may he come quickly and give rest to his waiting and watching servants. Alexandria, Nov. 1, 1879 H. P. RIBTON

VAN WERT, OHIO.

By G. G. Rupert

Three have united with the church here, one was baptized, a few others have commenced the observance of the Lord's Sabbath, and nine have joined the tract society. S. S. and T. and M. record books have been purchased. The brethren will engage more earnestly in this part of the work than they have done in the past.
G. G. RUPERT.

MISSIONARY WORK.

By Barbara C. Stickney

A new year has dawned upon us with all its duties and responsibilities; and the most important season for missionary work is passing away without much being accomplished. Our president is not with us to urge forward the work; but it leaves us just so much more to do that his absence may not be so great a detriment to the cause here. Let us not allow the present opportunity to pass by and the golden moments be wasted, but with united action come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty.
Every branch of this work should receive more attention from us as a people. Our periodicals are to be canvassed for, and there should be some one in the field from each church engaged in this work. Special inducements are offered to canvassers and agents, and missionary officers have been supplied with The Agents' Quarterly, which gives much necessary information concerning this part of the work, which should be carefully studied.
The Signs will now be issued in an eight and a twelve page edition; the former for missionary work, at $1.00 per year where ten or more copies are taken. This will enable us to greatly increase the number used by our V. M. Societies. All orders should specify which edition is called for.
We will give the offer made by the publishers of Good Health, and it is very desirable that a special move be made in this direction the coming quarter.

GOOD HEALTH TRIAL TRIP.

"With the January number Good Health will begin a trial trip for four months, at twenty cents. This will afford our friends an opportunity to send the journal to their friends for a sufficient length of time to enable them to test its merits. Many persons can be induced to pay twenty cents for a dollar journal for four months; and who cannot afford to pay a dollar for five copies of the journal to be sent to friends for four months? We want at least fifteen thousand names. Let them come in at once. If every one will help a little, we shall meet with a grand success."
We are required to improve the time and talents that God has given us, and the reward which the faithful will receive will far more than compensate for all the efforts we may put forth. Let us come right up in every department of the work, and be active, earnest workers in our Master's vineyard.
BARBARA C. STICKNEY.

ITEMS OF NEWS.

By Editor

  • Gen. Grant has received enthusiastic receptions in the South.
  • The thermometer marked 40 degrees below zero in Minnesota on Christmas.
  • The Principal part of the city of Paducah, Kentucky, was recently destroyed by fire.
  • During the recent cold wave the thermometer fell to 58 degrees below zero at St. Vincent, Minn.
  • A fire on Buchanan's Wharf, Baltimore, on Jan. 2d, did damage to the amount of more than $100,000.
  • Oregon is moving in the matter of inducing colored people to immigrate from the South to that State.
  • The Seine and the Danube are bank full, and portions of Paris and Vienna are in danger of inundation.
  • Correspondence has been discovered proving an alliance between the German Socialists and Russian Nihilists.
  • De Lesseps has arrived at Panama, and at the end of this month will commence the definite survey of a sea-level canal.
  • The railroad and turnpike bridges at Millersburg, Ky., on the Kentucky Central, were burned the 4th inst., at a loss of $250,000.
  • Paris has had 30 days of frost, and the thermometer went down to 8 degrees below zero; the coldest weather on record there.
  • Two shots were fired at the king of Spain on the evening of December 3d, but without effect. The would-be assassin was arrested.
  • Bishop Gilbert Haven died in Malden, Mass., Jan. 3, after an illness of several weeks. Bishop Haven was a man of rare ability, and an independent thinker.
  • A Scottish lord has sent to Dr. Talmage a shepherd's crook, as an emblem of his calling. A secular paper suggests that a pair of bellows would be more appropriate.
  • Gov. Wm. A. Howard, of Dakota, was stricken with neuralgia of the heart, Dec. 29, and his recovery is considered doubtful. Gov. Howard was appointed from Michigan.
  • The suit long pending of the Alton and Terre Haute railroad against Samuel J. Tilden and others, has been compromised, the defendants paying the road a large sum of money.
  • The Vallejo (Cal.) Chronicle says some boys were fortunate enough to possess "eastern skates," and skating was done in the neighborhood of that city this winter for the first time.
  • The political muddle in Maine which has excited the country for some time is supposed to be settled, the Supreme Court of the State having decided against the action of Gov. Garcelon and the Council.
  • Mrs. Meeker, through the Pueblo Chieftain has made known the fact that herself, daughter, and Mrs. Price were outraged by the Utes during their captivity, and the Colorado papers are clamoring for summary vengeance upon the guilty Utes.
  • Bishop Corrigan of New Jersey tells his parishioners that he is not a banker, and that hereafter he will pay no interest on any deposits they may please to leave with him. He will avoid the evil which befell the Archbishop of Cincinnati.
  • It is announced with confidence that Edison has succeeded in perfecting his electric light to his own satisfaction, and that of all who have beheld it. No one who knew Edison could doubt his ultimate success. Already his stock is selling very high.
  • A fire on Federal and Devonshire streets, Boston, on the night of December 28th, did damage to the amount of about $2,500,000. The printing and publishing houses of Houghton, Osgood and Co., and Rand, Avery and Co., were among those destroyed.
  • The large force of Afghans which had occupied Cabul and invested the English cantonments at Shirpur, were crushingly defeated on the 23d ult., by Gen. Roberts. The English have been reinforced by Gen. Gough, and again occupy the Bala Hissar and Cabul.
  • Of all railroad disasters, the worst probably is that of the fall of a bridge across the River Tay in Scotland. A gale was blowing. The bridge and the Edinburg train went down; the number of passengers is not known, but the loss is large. The bed of the river is quicksand, and it is quite possible that the actual number of the lost will never be known.
  • Delegate Cannon, of Utah, fears the action of Congress, and acknowledges that, "without special divine interposition," polygamy is doomed. The departure of an apostle from Salt Lake to Mexico is supposed to look toward a settlement beyond the jurisdiction of the United States. It is, however, considered certain that Mexico will not permit polygamy in her territory.
  • An English paper says the Duke of Armaale celebrated the feast of St. Humbert at Chantilly, by having his dogs blessed at the parish church. The "senior member" of the pack was chosen to represent them, and the priest poured holy water on the hound, and decorated him with the Orleanist cockade. Probably "the church" might be induced to "canonize" the dog for money.
Testimony to the Church No. 29 will contain about two hundred pages of the most important matter for our people at this time, including the recent wonderful description of the Judgment. Price, postage paid, 25 cents.

THE SIGNS FOR 1880.

By James White

We have finally decided to take the general oversight of the Signs of the Times. Mrs W. will furnish a page or more for each number.
We design to give a series of sermons for the entire volume, besides furnishing a leader for each number on some part of the great field of thought we have been exploring with great delight for some time past, Redemption through Jesus Christ.
We shall labor to secure expositions of various subjects applicable to our work, to be given in consecutive order in the volume for 1880.
We would suggest to those who have relatives and friends they are anxious should understand the reasons of our faith and hope, that the volume of the Signs of the Times for 1880 may well meet the case. The regular price of the Signs, postage paid, is $2.00 a year. J. W.

S. D. BAPTIST MISSIONARIES TO CHINA.

By Joseph Harvey Waggoner

On the 27th of December, Eld. D. H. Davis, of New Jersey, with wife and child, accompanied by Miss Lizzie Nelson, of East Otto, N. Y., left San Francisco on the steamship City of Tokio, for Shanghai, China, as missionaries of the Seventh-day Baptists. We were exceedingly glad to receive a visit from Sister Nelson at the Office in Oakland. We found Bro. Davis temporarily ill from his overland trip, and regretted that his time was so occupied that he could not accept our invitation to rest with us and receive the care which we would have been pleased to give him. As we had to be absent to an appointment at the time of their sailing, Sister L. M. Hall accompanied them to the ship. We remember them in our prayers as they cross the great deep, and pray that they may be successful in bringing many who now sit in darkness to the knowledge of the true God, and to the keeping of all his commandments.
We often think of the company of Sabbath-keepers in China raised up under the Seventh-day Baptists. Their standing so long alone, firm to their principles, is a remarkable illustration of the power of the gospel of Christ. We can imagine the joyfulness of the greeting of these faithful ones on the arrival of the long-looked-for missionaries from America.
J. H. WAGGONER.

Sabbath Meetings in Portland

By Alonzo T. Jones

For the information of any Sabbath-keepers passing through Portland, Oregon, I would state that meeting is held every Sabbath at 1 o'clock, P. M., at Nonpareil Hall, corner First and Taylor streets. All are invited to attend.
Alonzo T. Jones.

AN AIMLESS LIFE.

By Robert Dale Owen

I committed one fatal error in my youth, and dearly have I abided it. I started in life without an object, even without an ambition. My temperament disposed me to ease, and to the full I indulged the disposition. I said to myself, "I have all that I see others contending for—why should I struggle?" I knew not the curse that lights on those who have never to struggle for anything. Had I created for myself a definite pursuit—literary, scientific, artistic, social, political, no matter what, so there was something to labor for and to overcome—I might have been happy. I feel this now—too late! The power is gone. Habits have become chains. Through all the profitless years gone by, I seek vainly for something to remember with pride, or even to dwell on with satisfaction. I have thrown away a life. I feel, sometimes as if there were nothing remaining to me worth living for. I am an unhappy man.—Beyond the Breakers, by Robert Dale Owen.

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CAL CONFERENCE

Santa Rosa church 20.75, T M Chapman 49.26, Bloomfield church 15.00, Nevada church 35.40, Red Bluff church 4.25, San Jose church 6.55, Healdsburg church 54.00, Gilroy church 55.15, Vacaville church 33.50.

THE LIVING SOUL.

By John Nevins Andrews

IN the last number of our journal we called attention to some of the consequences that follow from the doctrine that man possesses an immortal nature. The first grand consequence is that every member of the human family must live to all eternity. But the greater part of mankind live and die in sin. If therefore men are now immortal one of three things must be true: 1. All men will be saved without respect to character; or, 2. God has some method of saving men from their sins after death; or, 3. All who die in sin enter at death upon a life of misery and wickedness that will never end.
But we well know that wicked men will never enter the holy city, and we also know that there is no purgatory in which to purify those who die in sin. We must therefore say that if man is immortal by nature the greater part of all the dead have entered upon an endless life of misery and sin. The foundation of this doctrine of endless misery is the theory that God gave to Adam at his creation an immortal soul, and that all who are descended from him inherit this immortal nature. Moses gives us the record of the creation of Adam in these words:—
"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." Gen. 2:7.
This passage is very remarkable. Moses does not say that the breath of life became a living soul in the body of the man, but he says that the man formed of the dust of the ground became a living soul. The living soul was the entire man. The breath of life was not an immortal being sent from God to dwell in the body of Adam, but it was the principle of life by which God made man a living being.
But does not the term living soul (Hebrew, neh-phesh khay-yah) which is here applied to man indicate that God gave to Adam an immortal nature? Those who think thus are not aware that this Hebrew term is used by Moses three times with respect to all the lower creatures before he applies it to man. In the first two cases it is used with respect to all creatures that live in the water. In the third it is applied to every beast, bird, and reptile that lives upon the dry land. In the fourth case it is applied to man when he became a living being. Here are the four instances in which this term is used.
1. "And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life." (Hebrew neh-phesh khay-yah.) Gen. 1:20.
2. "And God created great whales, and every living creature [neh-phesh khay-yah] that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly." Gen. 1:21.
3. "And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air and to everything that creepeth upon the earth wherein there is life, [Hebrew neh-phesh khay-yah] I have given every green herb for meat." Gen. 1:30.
4. "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." Gen. 2:7. Neh-phesh khay-yah.
Thus it is seen that the term neh-phesh khay-yah is applied to every creature that lives upon the earth. It cannot therefore be said that man possesses an immortal nature merely because the term neh-phesh khay-yah is applied to him. In this respect he has no pre-eminence above the other creatures that God has made. God made man capable of loving and fearing him and withheld this power from all other creatures upon earth. Man therefore has the high pre-eminence of being alone accountable to God. But God did not give to him immortal life. On the contrary he said to him at his creation that he should live if he obeyed and that he must die if he transgressed. Gen. 2:15-17. And when he had transgressed God said to him, Dust thou art and unto dust thou shalt return. Gen. 3:19.
This shows that God gave life to Adam which he might preserve or might destroy as he himself chose. If he walked in obedience his life would be perpetuated, and death would never have power over him, but if he transgressed, the sentence of death must be passed upon him at once and the penalty of death inflicted in due time. He had what may be termed conditional immortality. He had no reason to fear death as long as he walked in his uprightness.
If he had been faithful to God during the whole period of his probation he would then have received unconditional immortality even as all the people of God will receive it at the sound of the last trumpet.
The words spoken by God when he bade the angel drive Adam out of Paradise make this subject very clear. "And now lest he put forth his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat and live forever, therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden." Gen. 3:22-24. Adam would have lived forever had he not lost access to the tree of life. He certainly could not live forever when shut away from that tree if the judgment of his Creator is worthy of our acceptance. When man had rebelled against God he was shut away from the tree of life lest he should live forever, and now man in his pride believes that he can live forever without ever tasting of that tree, because, as he asserts, he possesses an immortal nature. Those who overcome will have access to the tree of life. Rev. 2:7; 22:14. Those whose names are not written in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire which is the second death. Rev. 20:14, 15.
J. N. A.
Continue reading: SYNOPSIS OF THE PRESENT TRUTH