The present war between the United States and Spain is demonstrating the terrible destructiveness of modern weapons. Thirty years ago the old smooth-bore muzzle-loading cannon was effective only at a moderate range. But to-day the American war ships stand out three, four, and even six miles to sea and play havoc with the forts and cities on shore.
The Vesuvius Hurling Guncotton Bombs at the Fortifications of Santiago.
But, perhaps, there is nothing more impressive than the work done at Santiago de Cuba by the dynamite cruiser Vesuvius. A picture of the vessel was given in the SIGNS a short time ago, and it was then stated that she was the only vessel of her kind, and hence was largely an experiment.
Our accompanying illustration shows the Vesuvius in action at the entrance of the Santiago harbor. The New York World’s report says:—
She dropped three shells, each containing two hundred pounds of guncotton, on the western headland at the entrance to Santiago. Only a terrific convulsion of nature had ever before produced such an effect. There was no noise, no smoke, no flash, when the Vesuvius discharged her guns. Each mightily destructive missile started on its flight in silence, and silently arose, speeded, fell. But as it struck, the land shook, waves were raised as by an earthquake, and the war ships outside the harbor rocked. The report of the explosion was deafening; tons of rocks were hurled in air, and clouds of powdered rocks rolled up.
Another report states that the Spaniards in Santiago said, “The Americans are hurling earthquakes at us.” And truly the effect must have been very similar to that of the earthquake; for vessels two miles at sea are said to have been rocked by the explosion.
The Vesuvius hurls her shells by means of compressed air, hence the absence of flash or smoke, mentioned in the report. Her effective range, however, does not exceed a mile and a half, and her shells are charged with only two hundred pounds of gun-cotton. But the slow-burning powder, as recently explained in this paper, bids fair to take the place of compressed air in these guns for throwing high explosives, and then the range will be from six to nine miles, the same as with the regular modern cannon. And in the place of throwing two hundred pounds of guncotton, it is planned to hurl shells charged with half a ton, and in some instances a ton, of this awfully destructive material. The effect of shelling a city and its fortifications by such materials and in such immense quantities is beyond the powers of description. The concussion would be so great that houses would be shaken down completely, and the shock would kill hundreds without their being hit by any missile. And then the flying debris from buildings in the vicinity of these bursting shells would be a regular storm of driving bricks, stone, timbers, etc.
Instead of these awful weapons making men fear to go to war, we find them as ready to rush into battle as they were when they fought with only the rude spears and swords. In fact, the outlook for a universal war was never greater than now. There is not a nation on the face of the whole earth but what is in a quarrel with some other nation. The outlook before the world is anything but peace.
There is an ancient prophecy, which, quoting from the revised edition, reads as follows:—
“Proclaim ye this among the nations; prepare war; stir up the mighty men; let all the men of war draw near, let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears; let the weak say, I am strong. Haste ye, and come, all ye nations round about, and gather yourselves together; thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord. Let the nations bestir themselves, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there will I sit to judge all the nations round about. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe; come, tread ye; for the winepress is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.” Joel 3: 9–14.
Men are convinced to-day that this intense war spirit that is in the world is an omen of some impending doom or world-wide revolution. The Word of God tells us in very plain language that the present conditions in the field of war are one of the sure signs that “the day of the Lord is near.”
Time is growing very short. Get ready, get ready, get ready. T.
Equal and Exact Justice to All
By Thomas Jefferson
Equal and exact justice to all men, of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political.—Thomas Jefferson.
Christ’s Kingdom Is Not of This World
“My kingdom is not of this world; if My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now is My kingdom not from hence.”—Jesus.
LIFE FROM GOD.
We learned in our last study that as man lost life and brought death upon all within the earth, it must be won back where it was lost, in man. As righteousness and life were lost in the flesh, the battle must be won back in the flesh. As sin became incarnate in the first Adam, the head of a race of sinners, righteousness became incarnate in the Second Adam, the head of the race of righteous. As when Adam sinned, all beneath him were involved in the ruin, so when Jesus Christ, the Second Adam, finishes His work, all the creation beneath man will be delivered.
But this will not be fully accomplished until Jesus Christ shall come again, and by that same all-power which enabled Him to live a righteous life in sinful flesh, which gave Him eternal victory over sin and the grave, by which He makes every soul a “new creature” who yields to Him, He will raise the righteous dead, He will transform the righteous living, and He will change the face of all the creation marred by the sin of Adam. Those who are “born again” are children of God now, even as Christ was the Son of God while on the earth. But even as He was not revealed as the Son of God until His resurrection from the dead (Rom. 1:4), even so His children will not be revealed in glory till He comes again (1 John 3:1-3; Rom. 8:23). Thus it is written:—
“For the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” Rom. 8:19-22, R.V.
Inanimate and irresponsive creation, with its perverted life, its suffering, dying, corrupting conditions, is now represented as groaning and being in pain for that better day, even as the heavens and earth, the field and trees, are said to rejoice when Christ comes to judge the earth in righteousness. Ps. 96:11-13. Then will eternal life flow on uninterruptedly in all creation when Christ reigns, and regenerate and restored man is once again in dominion.
Now in man’s sinful condition, he looks below for his life and for food to sustain it. He feeds upon the lower animals; and many are so far deceived as to think that the flesh-eating of lower creatures is necessary to the existence of the race. And the lower creatures feed on still lower, man feeding upon them all.
But this is not God’s order. He would have man look higher. In fact, in this respect he may learn a lesson from the domestic brute; for “the ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib; but Israel doth not know, My people doth not consider.” To teach Israel to look above for life, God led them out into a barren wilderness destitute of water. He gave them living water out of the rock, and “angels’ food” from the skies. But they acted as tho it came from Moses, and treated the life-giving food and drink as tho it were the work of man. Well did Jesus state the double truth of their blindness and its result in the following utterances: “Moses gave you not that bread from heaven;” “Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.” John 6:32, 49. Wherefore?—They did not eat by faith, and “their carcasses fell in the wilderness.” They did not receive it as from God, the giving of His own life, and they died. And this is the sad record of the unbelieving world.
God would give life to His people, but they must take it as from Him. He sent Jesus Christ to reveal Himself to the world, and to give life to the people; but they must eat His flesh and drink His blood; for He said, “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you;” but “whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him.” John 6:53-56.
“But does this mean the literal eating of the literal flesh of Jesus?”—No; let Him explain His own words: “It is the Spirit that quickeneth [maketh alive]; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” Verse 63. “If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” It is the words of Christ received by faith into the heart, eaten, digested, assimilated, absorbed into the life, that give man life, the life of God. So Christ declares: “My meat [food] is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work.” And thus receiving by faith life from God through the indwelling Word, He could say to His disciples, “I have meat [food] to eat that ye know not of.”
This was the lesson which God taught the children of Israel, but which they would not learn: “And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep His commandments, or no. And He humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that He might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.” Deut. 8:2, 3. But this was the lesson learned so perfectly by Jesus Christ in His fierce temptation with the enemy in the wilderness of Judea. Matt. 4:3, 4. But the Word must be received “not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” 1 Thess. 2:13.
This is the reception of the law of God as it is in Christ Jesus, “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus,” and which sets us free from the law of sin and death.
Knowing Christ, receiving His life from His living Word, taking all His gifts by faith as from God, we shall find life and blessing in everything. Our hearts and appetites and hopes will not be set upon the things that die, but upon the living Word of the living God, through a living, risen Saviour.
IS THE SPIRIT OF PERSECUTION DEAD?
By T.
IN last week’s paper the prophecy in the last part of Revelation 13 was considered, and it was shown that the “beast” with “two horns like a lamb” symbolized this United States Government. And under the righteous principles of the Lamb which this government adopted in the beginning, the great republic has become, in an incredibly short time, one of the greatest governments that the world has ever seen. Freedom and equality have been accorded to all, not as “a gift from the throne,” but as a recognized “inalienable right.”
But the same prophecy that tells of these “lamb-like” principles of this government also declares that “he spake as a dragon.” To speak as the “dragon” is to present a condition of things that is the exact opposite of the sentiments of the Lamb. What are the indications that this great, free, and liberty-loving nation is yet to cause the “dragon” voice to be heard in its fair realm? This is the question that we promised last week to notice in this paper.
The first and strongest indication that we have to present is the prophecy itself. God has revealed it in His prophetic Word, and what is thus revealed is always the exact truth. The heavenly Father reads the future perfectly. He knows what will take place just as well before the occurrence of the events as tho they were all in the present. He knows what the depraved natures of men, guided by the “dragon,” will do, and He tells us about these pitfalls in advance. These divine predictions serve a twofold purpose—they show us that God is able to read the future, and we are thereby led to have confidence in His Word, and, further, to avoid the snares that are so clearly disclosed.
But are there any indications of the fulfilling of this prophecy that the United States will “speak as a dragon”?—We think there are. The dragon spirit all through the ages has been that of tyranny. It has sought to dominate the minds of men and hold them in certain specified grooves. Rulers who have been jealous of their authority and usurped prerogatives, joined by bishops and priests who have not known the true God except in name, have ever striven to supply the exact form by which men should be governed, and also how they should worship their Creator. These self-constituted guardians of mankind have contended that the “common people” could not be trusted with their liberties. If too much liberty was allowed them in civil matters, it was argued, they would become insubordinate and insurrectionary. And in like manner it was urged that if they were allowed to choose their religion for themselves, they would become atheists and infidels. And in the midst of all this darkness and error the Reformation arose. It sowed the principles of true freedom, and in due time this government proclaimed that rulers get their prerogatives, not by usurpation, but by “the consent of the governed.”
Especially in religious matters did this government say that as an earthly power it had nothing to do. That question was one between7the individual and God alone. And it is a fact that should not be lost sight of that where men have religious freedom they are free in every other way. And contrariwise when their religious freedom is encroached upon, their freedom in other directions soon departs. Hence all should sacredly guard the point of their religious freedom. When an individual loses it, his manhood is gone. When a nation loses it, the soil is prepared in which tyrannical rulers and superstitious ecclesiastics can hold full sway.
It may seem small in the eyes of some who have not given much thought to the subject, but nevertheless all eyes should be opened to the extent to which the work has gone of trying to regulate by civil law the day upon which we should observe a weekly sabbath, and also how we should employ our time on that day. We say this may seem small to some. But have you read the history of the early Christian church? If so, you must have observed that it was upon this point exactly where the apostasy that led into the Dark Ages began.
Sunday was a pagan holiday, devoted to all kinds of hilarity. The people flocked to the theaters, the games, the races, etc., very much as they do now, but the preachers did not have such large congregations. So at first, regardless of what God’s Word said to the contrary, they induced Constantine to pass a Sunday law; but still the people did not go to church. Having, however, progressed thus far, the next step was comparatively easy. Another law was enacted requiring attendance at church, and all were compelled to appear to be religious. Shake your head all you like, but the first step involves the next. When I allow and urge that the civil power may prescribe my day of rest, in that very act I am saying that it may also prescribe any or all of the articles of my faith. Are you willing to even look down such a road, much less to start in that direction? The Word of God has hoisted the danger signal, and the gory history of the Dark Ages sounds the warning. Beware!
Just think of this carefully and watch the developments. T.
TRUE RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.
The real test of a true sentiment on religious liberty is not what one desires as regards himself, but what he is willing to grant to his opponents.
The Roman Catholic or the Mohammedan believes in religious liberty—for himself. So did the Puritans of New England. So does every one.
But the true sentiment of religious liberty holds to the same liberty for the other man. The Catholic, if he holds to religious liberty, will demand for the Protestant the same liberty he demands for himself. The Protestant, if he holds to religious liberty, will demand the same liberty for Catholic and Jew and other Protestant “sects” which he demands for himself. The believer, if he believes in religious liberty, will demand liberty for the infidel; and the infidel will, if like-minded, contend for liberty for the believer.
The basis of true liberty is broader than this: it is liberty for the man, the person, so long as his liberty does not by deed bodily injure his neighbor’s life, property, or reputation. And the laws which secure this right must bear equally upon all, excepting no class because of belief or opinion. The man is to be protected in his rights; the religious belief or institution or religion is to be left to itself, its author, its devotees.
The only wise way to secure religious liberty is to secure it for all. There are then no exceptions to be repealed or modified; and it is much easier to prevent them from being enacted.
It is a sad fact, however, that in this country, the only place on earth where true religious liberty as a right has been justly estimated and secured by civil statute, we hear men now talking of “toleration” and “exemptions.” These things are invariably found connected with Sunday laws, and should show to every right-minded man the evil of the law. We know that good men advocate Sunday laws; that these same good men propose the exemption of certain religionists from some of the provisions of this law; but the law is unequal and evil or it would need no exemptions; and to even admit the right of the government to grant an exemption, is to grant the right to take it away. It is strange that liberty-loving men can not see this. It is all in the Golden Rule: “All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”
Question Corner
“Enquire and make search and ask diligently.”
[From time to time we will reply under this head, if deemed advisable, to such candid inquiries as may be sent us. Correspondents wishing a reply to their questions must give their full name and address, not for publication unless they wish, but as an evidence of good faith on their part, and to give us opportunity to reply by letter if deemed best. It is always well to inclose stamp. Let the questions be short and pointed, and such as may be answered in limited space. The questions will be numbered continuously.]
Matt. 16:19 declares that God gave unto Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven, that which would open the door to that kingdom. Peter thus interprets this: “Ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the Word of the Gospel, and believe.” Acts 15:7. He opened the Gospel to Jews on the day of Pentecost and to Gentiles at the house of Cornelius. “But what about the binding and loosing?” (1) What was given to Peter in Matt. 16:19 was in John 20:23 given to all the disciples. (2) How did they exercise this power?—By proclaiming the conditions on which binding and loosing were bestowed. They proclaimed the Gospel in power. He who accepted it was saved, who rejected it was lost. 2 Cor. 2:16; 1 Peter 2:6–8. So Jeremiah was set to build and to throw down kingdoms. Jer. 1:10. He did it by the messages of God he bore. The conditions are stated in Jer. 18:7–10. See Bible Students’ Library No. 63, “The Sure Foundation.” Price, 1 cent.
821. The New-Covenant Promises.
ARE we under the new covenant? If so, what do the promises of Heb. 8:10–14 mean?
We are under the new covenant, and the promises mean what they say, grandly, blessedly, gloriously here, but more hereafter. If our hearts are opened to God, He forgives our iniquity, blots out our sin, writes His own law in our hearts, accepts us as His children, and we know Him. That does not mean that we may not know more in Him, but it means that we do not need that any man shall introduce us to God. All who thus come into relation to Him are His people, and in the glorious coming time there will be no other people.
822. John the Baptist—Free Masonry.
WAS John the Baptist a Free Mason? If not, upon what do the members of that society base their claims? M. L.
No; John the Baptist was a Christian. We do not know to what claim you refer; but a great many Masonic claims are utterly baseless. Good authorities place the beginning of free Masonry in London, 1717. The cult has borrowed many old customs from sun-worshiping and other idolatrous mysticisms.
823. A. R.—The word Jew is supposed to come from Judah. The Sabbath was made at creation. Gen. 2:1–3; Mark 2:26, 27. Judah was born about 2,250 years afterward; but his descendants were not considered a tribe until Israel went out of Egypt 2,513 years after the creation. This is Usher’s chronology. Others give it more years. Abraham was called a Hebrew in Gen. 14:13, supposedly because he was a descendant of Eber (Gen. 11:15–17), who was evidently a noted man (Gen. 10:21, 25). The term Jew is not identical with Hebrew in its origin, tho so used now. It first occurs in the Bible in the plural in 2 Kings 16:6; in the singular, in Esther 2:5. It will be seen that in both cases it refers to those who were under the tribe of Judah.
824. Keeping a Pig.
Do you think it any harm to keep a pig till fall? We have so much milk to throw out that it would make a bad smell about the place. D.
Pigs are natural scavengers, and we know no harm in keeping them for that purpose. We do not believe that they are wholesome food, either from a scientific or scriptural view point. If some one wishes to buy a pig, we know no harm in selling. But as between the odor of some milk thrown on the ground and the odor of a pig-pen we would prefer the former. Many farmers feed their sour milk back to their cows, to their horses, or to calves. We believe it to be better to have nothing to do with those things about which we have conscientious scruples. If it is not right for us to keep hogs at all times, is it right to keep them a part of the time? It certainly is not an elevating business.
WHAT is meant in Matt. 10:23 by the words “till the Son of man be come”? F. I. H.
This is one of the double prophecies found so frequently in the Word of God. It refers first to the work of Himself and His disciples in the land of Palestine. Compare with Luke 10:1. “The Son of man be come” doubtless has reference to the close of His earthly work and the pronouncing of sentence upon that nation which rejected both Him and His messengers. See Matt. 22:41–43; 23:34–38. This proclamation of the Gospel to the Jews, their rejection of it, and the swift-coming judgment, foreshadow the spread of the Gospel in the last days, its rejection, and the judgment at the second coming of Christ. Compare Matt. 24:11–14; Rev. 14:6–14.
Jesus’ words are always harmony. We may not always see it or hear it, but there is always harmony in the words of Jesus. We certainly can understand Matt. 26:52. It plainly declares that he whose hope is in a sword will perish with his hope. He trusts in the world; he will perish with it. Luke 22:36 is our Lord’s advice to provide for the future. While He was with His disciples in a land of peace, they had all that was needed. Now perils awaited them; let them prepare, and, above all things else, take the sword, not of earthly warfare, but “of the Spirit.” Each were to secure a sword, even to sell his garment and secure it. The disciples, thinking that He meant a carnal weapon, said, “Here are two swords.” Jesus, seeing that they did not understand Him, said, “It is enough,” say no more. But when the enlightening Spirit came upon them, it was clear. They knew naught of self-defense by carnal weapons. See Paul in 2 Cor. 10:3–5; Eph. 6:10; and Peter in 1 Peter 2:11–23; 3:13–17. This is our view of it.
SWINGING BACKWARD.
By T.
The Dark Ages were well named, because the period covered by this title was the blackest midnight of human woe. In those times even the most intelligent of all the people were full of superstition and bigotry of the worst type. Kings made laws that the people were obliged to slavishly obey, and priests defined tenets of faith that all were required to blindly profess. Under such a régime oppression and cruelty were the rule. The many were held in debasing bondage and superstitious fear, while the few could revel in their usurped and superficial superiority.
A false religion was at the foundation of all this evil. True, this religion was called Christianity; but it was no more like the Christianity of the Nazarene than midnight darkness is like the noonday light. It was only when the Reformation cast the light of the real Gospel into that wilderness of darkness that men began to get free and rise.
When one man allows another to regulate his faith and religious conduct, he submits to a human and fallible guide, and so can not tell into what pit of error, darkness, and superstition he is going to land. Therefore every one should persistently refuse any but the great Leader Himself and His trusted guide-book, the Bible.
It is often said that “history repeats itself,” and there is truth in it. So we may reasonably ask, Is there danger of the world swinging back again into the darkness of the Dark Ages? Think of the situation a moment and see.
No nation aside from the United States has swung right out and squarely taken her position against a union of Church and State. The Old World, with her State churches, has been watching the procedure and questioning how it would come out. There can be no question as to the outcome if this country only would stand by her principles. She would simply lead the world because of the correct stand she has taken.
But there is evidence of a backward movement. Any attempt, be it ever so small, to regulate religious days, ceremonies, or beliefs, by civil law is a step in the direction of a Church-and-State union. And this is being done to an alarming extent in this country.
Sunday is a day that is religiously observed by thousands. So long as they are left free to observe it or not as they choose, there is no danger. But when civil law is demanded to compel unwilling persons to rest on that day, it is a big step toward compelling the observance of any other religious belief or notion that men may have; for when it is admitted that the law can prescribe my day of rest, it must also be granted that it can say whether I be immersed or sprinkled, enjoin my homage to the Virgin, require me to attend church at stated times, etc., etc.
But you say, “This Church-and-State despotism can never come in free America.” Don’t be too sure. When once the principle is conceded on a single point, who can tell where it will end? Already the Christian Endeavors, the Epworth League, the W. C. T. U., the Prohibition party, the Law and Order Leagues, the “Sabbath” Unions, Christian Citizenship League, and numerous other lesser organizations have declared in favor of laws compelling the observance of Sunday. It will be seen that many of the churches of the land are quite fully represented by the above organizations. Hence there is a strong body already headed in this backward direction.
It is not enough to reply that all these people have good motives and represent the great moral force of the church. An individual with a good motive is often in the wrong. And the church element is always the one to take the initiative in leading down to a Church-and-State union.
We believe that thousands and thousands who are engaged in the movement to secure Sunday laws and their enforcement, are honest, and we honestly ask them to candidly consider before going farther. We should shun the evil by not taking the first step.
T.
THE PAY OF WAR CHAPLAINS.
By T.
According to the New York Sun, a “post chaplain ranks as captain in the army, and his pay for the first five years of his service is $1,500 a year, and this is increased for every five years’ additional service. A chaplain in the navy receives $2,500 a year when on sea duty and $2,000 on shore duty for the first five years, and after that he receives $2,800 for sea duty and $2,300 for shore duty.”
This is fairly good pay for the disciples of Him who “had not where to lay His head.” And may it not be that in some instances at least the fat salary blinds the eyes so that the chaplain does not see the inconsistent position that he takes? He claims to represent Christ, who said, “Love your enemies,” but he goes onto the battle-field to pray that his enemies may be slaughtered and utterly routed. There is no place for war in the heart of him who is completely governed by the kind and sympathetic precepts of Christ. Civil governments often fight to maintain their existence or rights, and God may overrule in the war to bring good out of that which Satan has stirred up to work a great evil. But with these questions of war, Christians are neutrals. Of his followers Christ said: “I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” John 17:15, 16.
Then the Master Himself says that His followers “are not of the world,” even as He is “not of the world.” Study the life of Jesus closely and see how He treated the affairs of this world. They were almost wholly out of sight, while His whole being was absorbed in the work of His Father. He knew that this world’s course of sin would sooner or later plunge it into ruin, and he devoted His life to the one work of rescuing as many as possible from the wreck. Why should the disciple take a different course from his Lord? When you are alone, meditate on this important question, and make your reply to God. T.
“FUN THAT KILLS.”
By T.
A HANDBILL has recently fallen into our hands that reads as follows:—
“Evangelist — will preach on FUN THAT KILLS.A wide-awake meeting!Sew on the buttons, say your prayers, come and hear the last word on the amusement question.”
When a person first looks at the above, he is inclined to think that the subject might indicate that a minister of Christ was about to attack the “fun that kills,” and show the ruin into which the pleasure-loving spirit of this age is plunging such vast multitudes. But when we are exhorted to “sew on the buttons” and “say your prayers,” it looks as tho the “evangelist” was going to try an act at the clown, so as to do some fun-making himself.
There are many pleasurable recreations that Christians should enjoy, and when they are enjoyed, they elevate. But when the pastor or “evangelist” turns his pulpit into a stage, and he acts the part of a comedian in order to make “fun that kills,” he can not be said to be doing the Lord’s work. One of the most noticeable evils of this age is the desire for fun. We would not expect anything else, however, in the world, but the extent to which the professed church of Christ has gone into this fun-making business is simply deplorable. The place of worship is solemnly dedicated to God. But how many pastors there are who fail to win a congregation, and instead of searching their hearts to find the evil that thus keeps them from leading souls to Christ, they resort to theatrical plans in order to draw people to what they would fain have us believe is purely consecrated fun.
What a delusion! And did you ever consider the enormous extent to which this fun-loving and amusement spirit has taken possession of our various churches? And while your mind is on the subject, turn to 2 Tim. 3:1–5 and read what is said. In verse 1 we are told that “in the last days perilous times shall come.” And, speaking of the people living in these “last days,” verses 4 and 5 say of them that they are “lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God,” and yet at the same time they are “having a form of godliness.”
The world does not pretend to have even the “form of godliness,” so it is the professed church in the “last days” that is here spoken of as “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” Reader, study these first verses of the third chapter of Second Timothy, then look around you for what the apostle tells shall come in the “last days.” If you do this honestly before God, you may be sure that His Spirit will reveal to you His truth.
We are surely in the last days. Everything points to it. If you are prepared for the issue, you are rejoicing in the hope of a soon-coming Saviour. If you are not prepared, get ready at once, so that you may rejoice at that great day. T.
QUICK TRAVELING.
By T.
A French statistician gives us some comparative figures on rapid traveling that are very interesting. In 1650 it took five days to go from Paris to Calais; in 1782 the journey could be made in 60 hours; in 1834 it was made in 28 hours; in 1854 it took 6 hours and 40 minutes, while to-day an express train makes the journey in 3 hours and 42 minutes.
From Paris to Strasburg it took 218 hours in 1650; 108 hours in 1782; 10 hours and 40 minutes in 1854. And to-day it requires only 8 hours and 20 minutes.
The duration of the journey from Paris to Marseilles was 15 days in 1650, 80 hours in 1834, and only 12½ hours to-day. From Paris to Bayonne two centuries ago it took 388 hours; to-day it requires but 11 hours and 11 minutes. Brest can be reached in 13 hours and 37 minutes, while in 1650 it took 270 hours. In 1650 it was considered quick traveling to reach Havre in 97 hours; it took 17 hours to reach it in 1834, and to-day the journey is made in 3 hours and 15 minutes.
Truly this age has achieved marvelous results in the matter of traveling. The foregoing facts show that it was as much of a task to go from Paris to the outposts of France or over into southern Germany 200 years ago as it is to-day to go from New York to Liverpool, or from San Francisco to New Orleans or Boston.
The Master has promised that “this Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in ALL the world for a witness unto ALL nations; and then shall the end come.”Matt. 24:14. Do you not see that He has everything ready to make quick work in giving this world-wide message? The plans are all completed, the material is all in readiness, and hence the work will soon be done. Are you ready for the issue? Whatever your position or condition, you should hasten; for time is speeding to its close. T.
The Cigarette and Its Evil Effects
A despatch was sent out some time since, purporting to come from the War Department, stating that ninety per cent. of the rejections of volunteers for the army were due to the use of cigarets. But the manufacturers of cigarets could not let this statement alone. Their craft is in danger, so they are placing nicely and takingly written statements in the large dailies in which they endeavor to show that the cigaret is not so bad after all. But, no matter how much they may try to cover it up, the cigaret, as well as the use of tobacco in all its forms, is a sister evil to rum, and doing its full share in ruining the world. And what must be the depravity of men when, for the simple love for gain, they will seek to cover up the facts concerning the ruinous effect of tobacco, so that they may have the greater sale for their vile weed! Human laws do not seem to define such acts as crimes, but God’s perfect standard of right clearly shows that they are terrible sins.
Love Is the Golden Chain
“Love is the golden chain that binds
The happy souls above,
And he’s an heir of heaven who finds
His bosom glow with love.”
