Earlier text: Signs of the TimesThe Great Federation Movement
By George B. Thompson
Is It on Right Principles?
A LITTLE more than fifty years ago, Rev. Charles Beecher, observing the religious trend of the times, in one of his sermons made the following forecast: "The ministry of the evangelical Protestant denominations is not only formed all the way up under a tremendous pressure of merely human fear, but they live, and move, and breathe in a state of things radically corrupt, and appealing every hour to every baser element of their nature to hush up the truth, and bow the knee to the power of apostasy. Was not this the way things went with Rome? Are we not living her life over again? And what do we see just ahead?—Another general council! A world's convention, evangelical alliance, and universal creed!" In view of the present condition of things religiously, the utterance of this eminent divine seems almost prophetic. That we are rapidly drifting toward something like this seems evident. This is an age of unions, trusts, and combines. The Inter-Church Federation movement, which was launched in the notable gathering held in New York City less than two years ago, representing thirty-two of the leading religious denominations, and some eighteen million adherents, has a deep significance. Tho disclaiming any union of the Church with the State, we are firmly of the opinion that it is but the beginning of a gigantic religious combine. Once formed, we apprehend that this great union, or federation, will deal with those who do not see their way clear to unite with it much the same as secular unions deal with those who do not see their way clear to join the union, and that which they can not control, they will endeavor to crush. A Church and State Union in Reality.
Tho claiming to be opposed to a union of the Church with the State, from a statement of a delegate to the Inter-Church Federation Conference, it is clear that they propose to influence legislation. He said: "I trust that one of the practical results of this conference will be the organization of a force that lawbreakers and lawmakers will respect and heed when great questions of morals are involved. Our Gospel is the fulfillment of the law. It is our province, in the name of our Supreme King, and seeking the good of mankind, to ask rulers to respect the code of our kingdom. Rulers may ignore sects, but they will respect the church. This federation will compel an audience, and it will speak with power if it will put aside its differences and make its agreement its argument." This is practically a union of Church and State. And let the plans and purposes of this federated movement once succeed, and, tho the purpose of the promoters may be ever so good, it can only result in persecution. Church decrees would be enforced with methods similar to the Dark Days of the Roman supremacy. The Federation Principle.
The whole principle of church federation is wrong. It is based upon the very principle which underlies the Papacy. In the formation of the Catholic Church, many and varied councils were held and almost endless discussion engaged in regarding the true faith. And what should be believed, and what should not be believed, was settled by the majority. Upon their own opinion they dogmatically staked their conclusions. Then when the faith was once established, those who did not subscribe to the creed formulated by these benighted, misguided, ecclesiastical zealots, felt the iron hand of persecution, as the history of the Dark Ages witnesseth. The history of the Church as a result is written in blood, and the fairest portions of the earth have been devastated, and suffering which no human pen can trace has been experienced as a result. So it will be again. This present trend toward church federation has in it the very image of the Papacy. To federate they must decide upon certain points of faith upon which they can all agree. There are some points of faith upon which most of the various denominations might unite. Especially so as the tendency of the times is to look with disfavor upon any effort to agitate and teach Bible doctrine. Doctrine is deemed to be non-essential. One point especially upon which they could unite is the observance of Sunday as a day of rest. They could even form an alliance with the Roman hierarchy upon this matter, for it is Rome's own child, adopted from Paganism. Having decided the true faith by some "general council," or "evangelical alliance," this would necessarily become a sort of "universal creed." This "creed" would need to be defended and upheld, by force of law if necessary, and dissenters suppressed; otherwise their federation would be rendered nugatory, and the creed perhaps overthrown. This will indeed revive old controversies. Animosities will be engendered, and some kind of an inquisition will become necessary, by which heretics can be sought out and punished. It would be quite natural that the terrors of civil law would be used to exterminate those who would not subscribe to her decrees. The smoldering embers of tyranny will be fanned into a flame, and the goddess of religious liberty clothed in the sable garments of night. Power Not Confined to Numbers.
Strength in God's work does not consist in numbers. Three hundred loyal, Spirit-filled hearts once were more than a match for an alien army, whose number were "as the sand of the seaside." Power in the church of the Most High God comes thru the anointing of the Holy Spirit, not thru federation. Just prior to His ascension, the Lord of the harvest said, "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you." Acts 1:8. Many churches feel their weakness, and realize something of their inability to cope with the surging tide of ungodliness which they find both in the church and in the world. We are glad they do. It is a hopeful sign. It is well to feel our weakness, that we may be led to seek for strength. That souls are not converted and brought to Christ thruout the churches of Christendom as they once were, is the sorrowful confession of many godly laborers in the Master's vineyard. Many sigh and cry for the abominations done in the land. Possibly it is to remedy this sad condition of things that the churches seek federation. But it is a sorrowful spectacle to witness the spouse of Christ seeking for human bond of union as a means of strength. They are seeking to quench their thirst from a broken cistern; strength can not come forth from weakness; a fountain can not rise above its source. The Real Source of Power.
Instead of talking so much concerning civic righteousness, and petitioning Congress for help, let petitions in brokenness of spirit ascend to the throne of Omnipotence. Let the church humble herself and plead for the endowment of the Holy Spirit. An "upper room" experience is needed. After Pentecost, the Galilean fishermen made no appeal to Caesar for help. We read nothing concerning the apostolic federation of churches. The apostles were everywhere opposed by the Roman State. Her laws consigned their property to confiscation and themselves to death. They were whipped, stoned, imprisoned, and beheaded, but the Gospel they preached went on. It was accompanied by a power before which the iron monarchy of Rome was powerless. In answer to prayer, prison doors were rent asunder, and the very earth quaked. They needed no federation, for they were clothed with the power of God. Let the professed church of God humble herself. We appeal to her to do so; to sit, if need be, in sackcloth and ashes, laying aside her pride and empty forms, and, with prayer, tears, and many supplications, storm the throne of God with her intercessions for the endowment of the power of the Holy Spirit. Let her wait before God, until she secures a second Pentecost. When this is done, we shall see an end of all church federation. Tho her numbers may be few, with the truth of the word and the energy of the Holy Spirit, she will come forth from her wilderness condition, "fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners." The Ebb and Flow of Civilization
By Lord Lytton
CIVILIZATION obeys the same law as the ocean; it has its ebb and flow, and where it advances on one shore it recedes on the other. Church Federation Movement
By K. C. Russell
EVERY federation that has been carried on in the name of religion from the earliest history of the professed church of Christ to the present, is claimed to have been for the best interests of society. Good men in every age have longed to see the evils removed which have been a menace to good morals, and hence any movement which has sought to accomplish this end has been eagerly accepted as a possible remedy. The most earnest, devoted, and consecrated of the professed church of Christ to-day are sighing and crying for the abominations that are being done in the land, and are willing to cooperate with those who are desirous of removing these things from our midst. They see the terrible curse of the liquor traffic and every other vice which is lifting its venomous head against the home, the church, and society. Some of the reforms which are sought by many who are engaged in this gigantic movement for federation are commendable, but the end that many are seeking to secure as the result of their course, will ultimately prove disastrous. Every attempt to bring about unity of the diversified sects by resolutions which might be passed by the most thoroly organized society has failed. The only way in which such a union might be obtained is by the removal of that which produces division, and that is sin. Any federation that is formed in the world with sin and selfishness lying at its foundation, will eventually result in ruin. The Master has said, "A house divided against itself can not stand." Let the reader imagine the multiplicity of beliefs which prevail in the various denominations of Christendom and ask himself if, in such a relation, they are not divided against themselves. There is scarcely a uniformity of ideas to-day on great fundamental questions, even as to God Himself. Time and space will not permit me to speak of the conflicting views on theological questions. The Bible plainly teaches that God's people must be of one mind, and all speak the same thing. This sort of federation which means the possession of real unity will prove to be the greatest power the church has ever possessed. It can only be obtained by the renewing of the mind. Religious Federations Never Good.
Federation in the commercial world may be engaged in by those who make no claim to its being religious with some degree of propriety, and even that kind of federation is attended by anything but peace and harmony. But the federation under the name of religion, that seeks the power of the State to further her ends, has never and can never be attended with the blessing of God, or even be accompanied with the success that a worldly federation has. In the first place, the church or churches that enter into such a compact or relation, enter into an agreement that restricts the liberty there is in Christ; in other words, they endeavor to harness the Spirit of the Lord, so that it must operate in certain prescribed limits. Those who do not fall in with the plan are regarded as disloyal to the federation. It matters not that the federating arrangement deprives one of the spirit of freedom that the Lord has given to every one who loves the truth. The Territory Parceled Out.
It will not be questioned that such results will follow when one examines some of the provisions that are to be accepted by those who enter this proposed church federation relation. It is on this wise: One denomination is to have exclusive control of a certain district or territory where it is to operate, and any other denomination or society which transcends its limits which have been fixed by the union is regarded as tho it had encroached upon one's personal possessions. Conceive, if you can, of such a federation being engaged in by Christ and the apostles. If the proposed plan of church federation had been followed out in the days of the apostles, Philip would have been obliged to refuse the call of the Spirit when it bade him join himself to the chariot, wherein sat the Ethiopian of great authority, because it would have been out of his legitimate territory that had been assigned him by the federated body. Paul and Silas might have been out of their field of action when they taught the jailer and his family the Gospel, and so we might cite many other examples. Such a course would only curtail the freedom of the Spirit as far as it would be possible for man to hinder its work. Every person must be left free and untrammeled to work in the sphere to which God calls him. Of course we would not be understood by this that he would not work in harmony with the organized church with which he is associated. This would be in harmony with Christian organization. No Reformation on Such a Plan.
Again, such a scheme as is proposed by this modern church federation would forever preclude the possibility of another reformation. Would there ever have been such a thing as the Reformation of the sixteenth century if Wycliffe, Huss, Martin Luther, Zwingle, and others had been members of a federation movement of this kind in their day? The impracticability of such a movement can be seen when subjected to the slightest analysis. To illustrate: The person who might have been moved by the Holy Spirit to break away from the lifeless forms and ceremonies of a priest-ridden church, would not have dared to attempt it, because he had been bound by the church federation. Where the Spirit of God is, there is liberty. The design of the enemy of the Gospel of Christ, who is the sole promoter of this movement, is to deprive all of their freedom in Christ, the great Head of the church. The outcome can only be that the federated denominations will seek to have a monopoly on the government, a veritable church trust. Rome possesses the very essence of confederacy. This spirit has always characterized her from her earliest history. She is holding her conventions for the purpose of organizing for more aggressive efforts. The recent convention of federated Catholic Societies of America was held in Indianapolis, Ind., behind closed doors, which certainly bears the seal of the Papacy in this particular, for this church itself is but one stupendous secret society. How different from the methods of Him who said, "In secret have I said nothing." Then we have a large per cent of the Protestant denominations united in one great federation, and they are still seeking for a more complete union. It is true there are some features that doubtless will enable their federation to occupy common ground, such as Sunday legislation. Another alarming feature is entering into this great Inter-Church Federation movement, and that is the unity of the great federation of labor organizations with the church federation. One prominent advocate of Sunday laws said that he had interviewed prominent officials in the federated labor organizations, and that they had expressed themselves in perfect accord with the efforts to do away with Sunday labor. When this condition of things comes about, it will be seen how easy it will be to bring about a fulfilment of the words which were spoken by the Seer of Patmos under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, when he said: "He causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads, and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." Rev. 13:16, 17. Let the reader take warning from these things, and seek alone for that union with Christ that will enable him to stand regardless of these gigantic movements which are being substituted in these times for the power of the Holy Spirit. Contentment and Desire
By Thomas Fuller
CONTENTMENT consisteth not in adding more fuel, but in taking away some fire; not in multiplying of wealth, but in subtracting men's desires.—Thomas Fuller. Noble Thoughts Are Companions
By Sir Philip Sidney
THEY are never alone that are accompanied with noble thoughts.—Sir Philip Sidney. WOULD’ST thou stand at Christ’s appearing,
Confident His coming greet?
Naught but purging fires can make thee
For that holy presence meet. Would’st thou walk in white with Jesus?
Thou His dark reproach must bear,
He who wears the crown of glory
First the crown of thorns must wear. Can thine heart endure His dealing?
Canst thou drink His cup to-day—
Thru the vale of perfect suffering
Learn to perfectly obey? Never yet in all thy striving
’Gainst the world’s iniquity
“Unto blood” hast thou resisted,
As thy Saviour did for thee. Fail not then nor be discouraged!
Turn not back in day of strife!
Everlasting joy awaits thee—
Wilt thou save thy little life? Sharing in thy Lord’s temptations,
Knowest thou not His promise true?
O’er the conquered nations ruling,
Thou shalt share His kingdom, too.
—Selected. The End of the Wicked.
By Arthur L. Manous
What is the wages of sin? “The earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” 2 Peter 3:10. What will God do with the wicked? “The Lord preserveth all them that love Him; but all the wicked will He destroy.” Ps. 145:20. What is said of the transgressors? “The transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.” Ps. 37:38. Where will the wicked be punished? “Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.” Prov. 11:31. Where will the wicked be cast, and what is this called? The wicked shall be “cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” Rev. 20:14. What will become of the heathen? “The day of the Lord is near upon all the heathen, . . . and they shall be as tho they had not been.” Obadiah 15, 16. What is said of the existence of the wicked and their place of punishment? “Yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be; yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.” Ps. 37:10. How will the wicked consume away? “The wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs; they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.” Ps. 37:20. What will God rain upon the wicked? “Upon the wicked He shall rain quick burning coals, fire and brimstone, and a burning tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.” Ps. 11:6, margin. To what will the wicked be reduced? “Ye [righteous] shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.” Mal. 4:3. Will the wicked be completely annihilated? “Behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud; yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be as stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.” Mal. 4:1. See also Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43. The Coming Revolution.
By Editor
We refer not to a political revolution, or an industrial revolution, tho both are involved in it. There are conditions which demand change. There are conditions which breed revolution and lawlessness and crime and anarchy. The selfishness of humanity and Satanic devices have combined to control, especially in this "land of the free," nearly all the commodities of life, and to exploit humanity thru this control to the selfish interests of the few and the plunder of the many. Thus colossal fortunes have been piled up beyond all precedent in history, till careful estimates declare that one per cent of the population possesses over one-half the enormous wealth of this nation. The yearly income of one person, who controls almost wholly one great and useful product, which in God's providence the earth furnishes humanity, is estimated at the tremendous sum of from $72,000,000 to $100,000,000, more than the aggregate wealth of all the millionaires in the country a half century ago. The property which produces this income is estimated at from two and one-half to three billion dollars. No man can comprehend it. In all normal conditions of society this wealth would have been far more equitably distributed. Every man who thinks honestly upon the matter feels in his soul that such fortunes have been wrongly acquired, acquired by the corruption of railway corporations, the purchase of venal legislators, the destruction of small traders by "cornering" the necessities of life, and freezing the dealers out, and preying upon the very life-blood of humanity. There are various remedies proposed, and we sympathize with the men who propose and promote them, but we can not have faith in the remedies. The root of all the trouble is the selfish, greedy heart of man, and we know of no political remedy that can extract or destroy that root. And now that men have learned thru combination, legal and illegal, public and secret, to exploit humanity for solely selfish interests, they will do it still. We know that systems are devised which promise to take from selfish man his opportunities to combine and exploit his fellows, but how can those systems be put in operation? We may say that it is the privilege and in the power of the exploited to transfer, by the means of his ballot, these great necessities of life and public utilities to the ownership of the public. But can it be done as long as wealth can corrupt, and smooth-tongued demagogs can deceive and betray? And history, not ancient, shows how the chosen representatives of the industrial classes are as willing to sell honor for gold as are any others. What will the end be when every peaceable means is exhausted?—Violence, the only thing left to unregenerate humanity. Then will those who live sumptuously on the plunder of their fellows suffer the pent-up rage and wrongs of years. We are not saying this of ourselves, tho he is blind to history and present conditions who can not read the handwriting on the wall. The prophecies of God's word speak of these very times. Read one from the New Testament, James 5:1-7: "Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth; and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord." Notice that it is "in the last days" (Revised Versions) that men are heaping up treasure at the expense of the poor; that they live in pleasure and are wanton; that they have passed on unheeding the cries of the poor; and that the crushed worm turns, and miseries fall upon the head of the thoughtless, selfish rich. Another prophecy is the conditions set forth by Habakkuk. Men oppressed men in a small way in his day, and God uses them for a prophecy of the last days. The prophet seems to wonder how God can let such wickedness go on unchecked. Why does He hold His peace when "the wicked swalloweth up the man that is more righteous than he;" and makes men like the fish of the sea to gather into his net, "because by them his portion is fat, and his food plenteous." He "keepeth not at home," but "enlargeth his desire as Sheol, and he is as death, and can not be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all peoples;" that is, the wealth of all peoples. Could words describe any clearer the exploiting capitalist of the present day? He gets "an evil gain for his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the hand of evil." And much more of the same import. Read Hab. 1:13-17; 2:5, 11-13. But there comes an end to the oppression. Humanity unaided of God can not endure the inequity and iniquity forever. And thus does divine prophecy declare their work: "Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Wo to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay! They shall not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them? Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein." Hab. 2:6-8. And another prophet declares of that same time: "And the songs of the palace shall be wailings in that day, saith the Lord Jehovah; the dead bodies shall be many; in every place shall they cast them forth with silence." "And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentations; and I will bring sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning for an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day." Amos 8:3, 10. Yet the children of God can take no part in this revolution. "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." They, like Christ, must leave the righting of their wrongs to the Judge of all. They know that no human remedy can heal earth's ills, because no human power can recreate the human heart. They know that the only remedy for the individual lies not in any human federation or combination, but in life union with Jesus Christ, and that the only remedy for the great, selfish, unbelieving world is Christ's coming. We plead with all to make Jesus Christ their refuge. Politics may win temporal advantage, but "the true gain is the long gain." Righteousness by faith, vital union with Christ, means eternal life. "Stormy Wind Fulfilling His Word."
By T.
THE 148th Psalm is a song of praise to the Lord. Among the things that are called upon to praise the Lord are mentioned, "Fire, and hail; snow, and vapors; stormy wind fulfilling His word." "His word" says, "I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come." Joel 2: 30, 31. The prophet is here talking about "the great and terrible day of the Lord." And he tells us of some of the things that will be seen in that time. There will be general commotion. Another prophecy says, "Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven." Luke 21: 10, 11. These verses are taken from the prophecy that our Lord gave in answer to the questions that the disciples asked Him concerning the signs that would precede His coming and the end of the world. This prophecy also tells of the general commotion that will be in the world at the close of time; it tells of the earthquakes, the famines, the pestilences, and the fearful sights and great signs that shall be from heaven as precursors of the great day of the Lord. These commotions, these storms, these earthquakes, and all the rest of the disasters that these prophecies call for are not permitted to come because the Lord is angry with us; but He allows them to come in mercy so that we may not become so wedded to this life that we fail to prepare for the great day of the Lord that is so near at hand. And when any of these great calamities9 are being visited you will find that the impression is riveted irresistibly upon the mind that the end of all things is being witnessed to and foreshadowed. The expression is heard everywhere, when some great visitation is in progress, "the end of the world has come, the end of the world has come!" We might expect such expressions from the ignorant and the superstitious; but the most educated give way to fears in the presence of nature's upheavals, and the conviction is wrung from them also that the end of time is reached. These things would convince us, if we were not too stubborn or too proud to admit it, that God's Spirit accompanies His prophetic word to produce conviction as it is being fulfilled. There are daily reports of great floods, of hail storms, of tornadoes, of earthquakes, of famines and pestilences. These things have always existed to a greater or lesser extent. But they never came in such numbers and in so many places as during the recent years. And those who are observant know that they are alarmingly on the increase. And, more than this, those who know the word of God are fully aware of the fact that they will increase more and more to the end of time. The storms and other calamities that we have had in the past are as nothing compared to what is before us in the immediate future. The worst has not been reached by any means. But, while all this is true, it is also true that every one who places his trust in the Lord and in His word has nothing to fear or to dread. God will protect His people thru it all. The promise is, "Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night, nor for the arrow that flieth by day; for the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold, and see the reward of the wicked. For Thou, O Jehovah, art my refuge! Thou hast made the Most High thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy tent." Ps. 91: 5-9. The foregoing promise is wonderfully strong and soul-uplifting. It assures us that the child of God will not only pass thru these last-day disasters unscathed, but he will actually "not be afraid." How glorious! The thought of being able to stand without fear in the midst of all the calamities the prophets tell us will come in the last days is enough to make every individual desire to take shelter under these mighty promises of our heavenly Father. When all the world is being stricken with the agonies of fear it is most fitting that the Father above would raise His followers above such torments so that they may hold forth the sheltering comforts of God's promises in the strong and steady confidence of divine power. Scattering Wheat or Tares.
By Max Hill
In the time of the seed-sowing a husbandman sent his servant with grain to sow in the fields of his estate. With a strong arm the servant scattered the golden grain, having faith that the rains would descend, the sun shine, and the soil would nourish the seed, and that a bountiful harvest would result. With a song he labored on, cheering his own heart and his fellow-workers as well. As the sun rose higher and higher, he paused to rest by the wayside, and there he found a great measure of tare seed, which an enemy had purposely left there to tempt the good man's servants. Now the wheat was heavy, while the worthless seed of the tares was light, and, thinking to lighten his load, the laborer took of the tares and sowed it with the wheat. Again and again he took from the enemy's measure, using less and less of the wheat. At length the master came to see how the work progressed. Overcome with sorrow for his wickedness, the servant fell before his master and craved forgiveness. Being merciful of heart, the master forgave him, and set him again to scattering good seed. But soon the heat became oppressive, the load heavy, and the weak servant, despite his good promises and resolutions, mixed tare seed with the wheat, at first sparingly, and then before he realized it, he was sowing nothing but tares in the master's field. Again the master came, and again the servant plead for mercy. Tho knowing his sin and his weakness, the master forgave him again. But the servant had indulged his natural inclinations so long that no sooner had the master gone than he threw aside the wheat and began scattering tares. Even then when he found him disobeying him, the master forgave. Over and over he pardoned him, until at length there was no hope for him, and he cast him forth from his estate as an unprofitable servant, one whom he could no longer use in his service. And none of the other servants pitied the outcast, nor blamed the master of the estate. In His love the Saviour of the world sends forth His servants to labor for Him in the great world-wide field, to sow the seed of truth. He sends the rain and promises the increase, and all He asks of His servants is that they sow the seed and guard it well that no tares be mixed with it. But O how many there are who grieve Him by unfaithful labor, who mix with the pure Gospel seed the seeds of error, who scatter sparingly where the soil is rich, who throw away the pure seed altogether, and scatter only tares. Still the Master is merciful, full of compassion, and ready to forgive. Again and again He pardons the backslidings of His servants, and puts within their hands good seed to sow. But as with the wicked servant of the parable, justice must speak at length, mercy will some time be withdrawn, and then the unprofitable servant will be cast into outer darkness and be lost. Now "whosoever will may come," enter the service of the King, and receive the reward; but soon the day of human probation will close, when sin will receive its just punishment. In the judgment day those who receive the reward of eternal life will be those who sow the good seed now. Max Hill. The Odiousness of Comparisons
By Miguel de Cervantes
Comparisons made between wit and wit, courage and courage, beauty and beauty, birth and birth, are always odious.—Cervantes. She Hath Glorified Herself and Lived Deliciously.
By F. D. Starr
CONCERNING whom is this spoken? It is of course spoken to some one to whom it would be applicable, and this would be any one who has done the thing mentioned. As originally pronounced, in Rev. 18: 7, it applies to Babylon the great, and Babylon is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth. But Babylon is composed of millions of individuals, and the only way that Babylon could do these things would be by the individual members of whom she is composed performing these acts. Individuals, God's people, are warned to come out of Babylon that they partake not of her sins. And what are her sins? What was the sin of her prototype—Sodom? "Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy." Eze. 16: 49. The sin of Babylon is similar: "She hath glorified herself and lived deliciously." This is the point on which her destiny turns. "How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her." "In the cup which she hath filled, fill to her double." How natural it is for individuals to glorify self! As will be seen by Ps. 49: 16, 17, glory consists in one sense in riches. The message for this time is to fear God and give glory to Him. Can one truly and fully give glory to God and retain his riches for himself? Who are living deliciously?—Surely the man who was "clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day," was living deliciously, lavishing money on self. Who of us will dare do it? The rich man in the parable was not an isolated case, but a sample of many in our world to-day. We have come out of Babylon, have we not?—Yes, for we have abandoned her heterodoxal creeds. But what will sink one in perdition the most surely, her creeds or her deeds? "Partake not of her sins." What are her sins?—Prominently, glorifying self and living deliciously. Are you doing such a thing? God forbid it. Where is the man who would dare to stand before the great white throne at last and hear it said of him, "He hath lived deliciously"? Where is the woman who wants to hear the irrevocable decree: "She hath glorified herself and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her"? Let us look over the inventory given in Rev. 18: 12-14 and see how many of these articles we are holding in our possession to glorify self, and live in pleasure on the earth. God is no respecter of persons and of whomsoever the fearful words of Rev. 18: 7 may be spoken, the doom that follows will be his. Let us take warning.