WIDE is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat." Matt. 7:13. Thus spoke Jesus, the greatest teacher the world ever knew.
All morally accountable beings in this world have passed through this wide gate into the broad way, for all have sinned, and thus come short of the glory of God. There is a way of escape from that broad way; but sad to say, only the few of every generation seek and find it.
The broad way is down grade, easy of access, and can be traveled without watchfulness or prayer; and the great majority of the human race choose to walk therein. In this broad way may be found kings and queens, emperors and empresses, high officials in great numbers, the learned and the unlearned, highly educated and educators, many persons of great wealth, together with an innumerable company in all the walks of life — all in the broad way that leads to certain and eternal destruction. Those who travel the broad way to the close of mortal life, will, in the end thereof, find no way of escape from the eternal loss of everything, even of life itself.
2. THE STRAIT GATE
Praise God for His wonderful love, manifested to a world of sinners, in the gift of His dear Son. Jesus has opened a way of escape from the broad way. It is through a strait gate, into a narrow way that leads to everlasting life. Matt. 7:14.
God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that all who would accept Him might not perish, but have everlasting life. The strait gate is accessible to all, and is entered by repentance, and faith in Christ. And then, having entered upon the narrow way through the strait gate, we may ever walk the straight and upward path, by fixing our eyes upon Jesus, and walking in His footsteps.
It is a well-lighted path, being lighted by the word and Spirit of God, and shines more and more unto the perfect day.
O, how sad to think that so few hear the gracious call of the gospel of Jesus to come and walk in the way of peace, joy, and everlasting life! What a testimony to the deceitfulness of sin and the power of Satan is all this fearful negligence!
Reader, are you walking in the narrow way to life? If so, keep your lamp trimmed and brightly burning, that others around you, seeing your good works, may be led to walk in the same heavenly way, to the realms of eternal bliss.
3. GATES OF PEARL
"Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Rev. 22:14.
This glorious city of New Jerusalem is at the end of the narrow way. This holy city of Zion is the Father's house of many mansions, in which Jesus will have places prepared for all who persevere in the narrow way till the end of mortal life.
Jesus will come for them. He will awaken to life all the sleeping ones, and all will change corruptible, mortal, vile bodies, for incorruptible, immortal, and glorious bodies; and then, through the gates of pearl, they will enter Zion with songs, and everlasting joy upon their heads. And so shall they ever be with the Lord.
H. A. ST. JOHN.
Guarding Against Temptation
"Those who do nothing to encourage temptation will have strength to withstand it when it comes; but those who keep themselves in an atmosphere of evil will have only themselves to blame if they are overcome and fall from their steadfastness."
Perfecting a Christlike Character
"It should be the determination of every soul, not so much to seek to understand all about the conditions that will prevail in the future state, as to know what the Lord requires of him in this life. It is the will of God that each professing Christian shall perfect a character after the divine similitude. By studying the character of Christ revealed in the Bible, by practising His virtues, the believer will be changed into the same likeness of goodness and mercy."
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM A BIRTHRIGHT
By Editor
Illustrious Men of Old Who Have Sacrificed Themselves in the Cause of Individual Liberty — The Rights of One Man Defended Against a Nation
THIS article and the one next week by Mr. Porter deal broadly with the subject of inherent religious freedom. Each is independent of the other, but both contain important principles concerning man's accountability to God alone in matters of religious faith. This is a subject that is studied altogether too little in these times. Many of our fathers gave their lives to uphold these foundation principles. EDITOR.
RELIGIOUS liberty is a fundamental right of every man. It is soul liberty. It is the right of choice in religious matters. The right of choice embraces the privilege of choosing to be unrighteous, as well as perfect freedom to be righteous. It leaves a man as free to do wrong as to do right, religiously.
THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE WILL
Since man's eternal destiny rests upon his voluntary choice to obey and worship God or to disobey and not worship, God will not, and man can not in right and justice, enforce obedience in the religious realm. Enforced obedience can only apply in things civil. God would not compel His subjects in things religious. His call to sinners, since the fall of man, has always been, "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Rev. 22:17. This shows that in God's great plan, the will of the individual is sovereign in the realm of religion.
NATIONAL INTERFERENCE WITH RELIGIOUS RIGHTS
In the days of the Pharaohs, the Israelites were made slaves to the Egyptians. For two hundred years this slavery continued. The Egyptians came to think they owned Israel, body and soul. Their rights of conscience were totally disregarded. Jehovah sent this message to Pharaoh by the hand of Moses and Aaron: "Let My people go, that they may serve Me." He further instructed Moses and Aaron: "Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments." Ex. 6:6. The ten plagues that came upon Egypt were God's first mighty protest against national interference with the religious rights of the people.
THEY WOULD NOT SERVE HIS GODS
In the days of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, the accusation was brought by some of the Chaldeans to the king, that the Jews "serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." Dan. 3:8-12. This is another instance of national interference with the religious rights of citizens. Religious prejudice is the most cruel and relentless expression of bigotry. Because those men refused to worship the heathen images, and serve their gods, they were cast into the fiery furnace.
In order forever to brand this infamous abuse of national power with the stamp of His displeasure, the Son of God stepped down from His royal throne on high, to stand with these subjects of the kingdom of Babylon, who would rather die than surrender their298religious freedom. The fire burned off the cords that bound them; but beyond that, it had no effect. There were only three men involved in this refusal to worship according to the dictates of the state. God defended the rights of three men against a whole nation in their freedom of choice in religious matters.
A HEROIC STAND FOR RELIGIOUS RIGHTS
Under the reign of the Medes and Persians, some of the officials, who were unfriendly to the religious faith of the Hebrews, secured from the king a decree that no man should worship any god save the king for thirty days.
This decree was secured through a fraudulent representation. The king was informed that all the officers of state had agreed in making this request. Daniel, the prime minister of the kingdom, had, in fact, not been consulted. This is a specimen of the cunning that the father of lies weaves into all his attempts to secure control of men religiously, by means of legislation.
Upon this occasion, Daniel alone was the target at which the law was aimed. These designing princes were ready to sacrifice the grandest and truest citizen of their nation upon the altar of religious bigotry. He was watched, and was found to worship God as usual. The matter was reported to the king, and the king then for the first time understood the real import of the decree which he had been decoyed into signing. "Then the king . . . was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him." Dan. 6:14.
THE UNALTERABLE LAW OF THE MEDES AND PERSIANS
The king had only to be reminded that the decree was signed according to the unalterable law of the Medes and Persians, and the sentence assigning Daniel to the den of hungry lions for worshiping God was executed. But God sent His angel to close the lions' mouths, so that no harm came to His servant. Christ, "the Lion of the tribe of Judah," prevailed in this instance, as before.
The next morning, by order of the king, these religious zealots were cast into the same den into which Daniel had been thrust. The mouths of the lions were no longer muzzled by the angel sentinel, and their appetites, rendered furious by the touch of divine retribution, caused them to devour with greedy relish these religious tyrants.
This most striking defense of one man against a whole kingdom reduces the question of religious liberty to its lowest terms. One man possesses all the religious rights of a whole nation. A nation has no right to interfere with the liberty of a single citizen in religious matters. In civil things only is the civil government's sphere of legitimate legislation. Here again, in this case of Daniel, God interfered, when the question of religious rights was brought to the test. In every case, He defends the individual in his right to religious freedom.
HANGED ON HIS OWN GALLOWS
In the days of King Ahasuerus, Haman and his friends, moved with envy against Mordecai and the Jews, secured a decree from the king to put the whole body of the Jews to death. Again the providence of God reversed the decree, and Haman was hanged upon the gallows erected for Mordecai. In this instance, God again defended the rights of the unoffending citizens who stood for religious freedom.
CHRIST A VICTIM OF RELIGIOUS LEGISLATION
In the time of Christ, the Jews, who had so often themselves been persecuted, turned persecutors, and entered complaints against Christ, because He did not follow their religious traditions. Two special charges were made against Him: "He made Himself the Son of God," and He kept not the Sabbath day according to their customs. They secured from Pilate His death sentence, and He was executed upon Calvary, a victim of religious legislation.
ELOQUENT WITH THE PATHOS OF PITY
Just before His execution, He unsheathed the sword of His kingdom, the word of God, and with eyes filled with tears of tenderness, and a voice eloquent with the pathos of pity for those who were blinded by religious bigotry. He cut away the mask of insincerity, behind which those despots pursuing Him were hiding, and showed them openly in all their deformity. Their true character as revealed was recorded for the benefit of succeeding nations, which would be besieged by zealous hypocrites, under a similar guise of piety, for the enforcement of their religious creeds. Read the record of Christ's unmasking of the hypocrisy that seeks to dominate personal liberty of faith and worship, in Matt. 23:13-36.
R. C. P.
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By Editor
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SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS
Our authority for the doctrines we teach is the Bible. Quotations are usually from the King James Version or the American Standard Revised.
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WHY DID GOD REST?
By L. A. R.
There Remains a Rest for Those Who Will Receive It — Of What Does It Consist? — The Pledge that We Will Receive It
THERE is no rest until there has been work. After work, comes the rest; and if all the work is done, then there is nothing left but rest. This seems like a very matter-of-fact statement; but when we look at it in a spiritual way, it teaches an important truth.
DID IT IN SIX DAYS
When God created this world, He did it in six days; and when the six days were over, the whole work was done. The labor was absolutely complete, and we have God's word for it that this was so: “And the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.” Gen. 2: 1.
Then do you not see that if the work was all done, the very next thing would be rest? And so we read that on the seventh day God rested from all His work which He had made. On that day He did no work, for He rested from all His work. There was no work left to be done, because He had finished His work, and now He rested from all His work which He had made.
ETERNAL MONUMENT TO THE FACT
Therefore the Sabbath is an evidence — a positive proof — an eternal monument to the fact that God finished His work, and it is therefore a pledge of a finished creation. As long as the Sabbath remains, it tells us that God did a good work, a perfect work, a work that even God Himself did not need to amend or correct, or change in any way. He looked, and, behold, it was very good — perfect, finished.
Hence if there is anything about creation that to-day seems faulty, or if there is anything about us that seems imperfect or apparently unfinished, we have in the Sabbath a pledge that God's part was all right, and is all right, and that what may seem to be imperfect or unfinished is seen by the Lord through Christ as complete and finished, and in God's good time it will all appear again exactly as it is in the mind of God.
WE MAY ENTER THE FINISHED WORK
It is true that sin was introduced into the creation of God, and that for the benefit of man, God cursed the earth, and allowed it for a time to be imperfect, made it subject to vanity. Rom. 8: 20. So the material world seems to dispute the word of God. But even now there is a perfect creation, an absolutely finished work. And we may each one enter into this finished work, which is nothing more nor less than rest — God's rest. Hebrews 4.
And the Sabbath is still a pledge of this rest — this finished work. “For He hath said somewhere of the seventh day on this wise, And God rested on the seventh day from all His works.” “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.” The Sabbath is the pledge that there is such a rest for us.
THERE IS A SECOND ADAM
We have just quoted inspiration assuring us of what God has said about the seventh day, that on that day God rested from His work. It is the eternal monument that God did rest, and that He has never had to do over again creation's work. The first Adam failed, but there is a second Adam who has not failed; and when sin has been entirely eradicated from the universe, we will find the earth as beautiful as ever, the world unmarred, perfect, complete — a finished creation.
So the Sabbath is a pledge of the rest that the Christian enjoys in Christ, the peace that flows like a river, the righteousness that advances like the waves of the sea, peace that passes knowledge, and joy unspeakable and full of glory. The Sabbath is the pledge of it all.
SIN GIVES NO REST
There is no rest in sin. There is no rest for the wicked. “The way of the transgressor is hard.” “The wicked are like the troubled sea; for it can not rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” He that has entered into God's rest has ceased from his own works, sin, as God ceased from His work on the first seventh day of this world. Heb. 4: 10.
This ceasing from sin is the rest that belongs to God's children. And as the Sabbath is the pledge that God ceased from His work back there and rested, it remains still the pledge of God's rest for His children, — a pledge of all this rest and comfort that is offered to us through Jesus Christ.
PLANNED AT CREATION
All that Christ is to us now was planned and prepared at creation. So says the Scripture: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them.” They have all been created and prepared ages ago. And now as we accept these good works in Christ, which were prepared long ago, we do not have to struggle in our own strength, nor seek to manufacture them by our own human power. If we give ourselves over to the Lord, He works in us; and the Sabbath is a pledge of all that we thus receive through Christ.
Thus Christ but more firmly establishes the Sabbath by giving us added reasons for observing it as a pledge of the finished work; that is, the rest and peace that we have from God through Him. L. A. R.
THE GLORY OF GOD'S GRACE
By J. O. C.
A Mystery of Power and Kindness Toward the Sinner — The "Ages to Come" Will Still Be Unfolding It
As indicated by the word "glory," there is a beauty of majesty and a lofty mentality sheltered in God's grace, that is beyond the limit of human thought. Yet humanity is expected to commend that grace which mysteriously provides for God's natural enemies to become children of the Most High. Eph. 1: 5, 6. Such expectancy is made to appear next to inexplicable when one hears that this grace was bestowed through the Lord Christ, even before the world began (2 Tim. 1: 9), and that it henceforth was counted the essential of God's eternal purpose. Eph. 3: 11.
Another step toward this seeming human impossibility is taken when one learns that in all the ages before the appearance of God in the flesh, this eternal purpose was shut up in the breast of Jehovah, there to remain silent until faith should uncover it through fulfilment of the prophetic Word. Rom. 16: 25, 26.
THE REVEALING OF THE MYSTERY
But the revelation of this wonderful mystery was even then so delicately unfolded by the operation of the Holy Spirit, that none but lost sinners who have sought a change of life, could actually know its potency. Mark 4: 11. Strange though it may seem, the angels of heaven also are struck with amazement as they watch its earth movements, and earnestly desire to investigate the phenomenon thereby presented. 1 Peter 1: 10-12.
Yet there is something about this manifestation among men that, although not common to every-day thought, it wields an influence that commands general respect. Notwithstanding it constitutes "unsearchable" riches, and is therefore beyond profane conception, the great apostle was commissioned to preach its efficacy so as to make all men, in whatever walk or calling, see the fellowship it has with humanity. Eph. 3: 8, 9. It is this same companionable intercourse with a sinful race that the angels have looked on so wonderingly, yet without learning the mystery.299
THE MILLIONS OF THE SAVED MARCH IN TRIUMPH
But will this extended privilege ever be theirs?—Most certainly it will, but not until all redeemed sinners are presented by the Saviour to His Father, in exact likeness of their original creation, according to the eternal purpose of heavenly counsel. It is then, and only then, that the infinite skill of salvation's plan can be clearly visible to the unfallen inhabitants of other worlds. Scrutinizing the chart of heavenly truth to the limit of human capacity, one can only conclude that the complete glory of God's grace could in no other way be so fully demonstrated to principalities and powers in heavenly regions, as by the millions of saved being led in triumph through the gates of the eternal city of God. Eph. 3: 10, 11.
There is, however, a broader consideration, by which the magnitude of God's grace develops before the imagination. Had this benefit been limited to those who were made deserving by some wondrous act of their own, it would, indeed, have seemed profitless and disappointing to enter the list for heavenly honors. In that case the mass of humanity would have given themselves over to present excesses, and that without hope of a better life. But happily, all men are on equal footing regarding this gift of infinite love; for we are told, on reliable authority, that "the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men" (Titus 2: 11), so that where "sin hath reigned unto death," grace may also "reign through righteousness unto eternal life." Rom. 5: 21.
FREELY BESTOWED UPON ALL
Yet, great as is this boon, no work of man has conferred or can confer its privileges. Wherever and whenever it is bestowed, it must be freely given from the fulness of Christ's own righteousness; since it is plain that when one receives a reward for work performed, it is no gift of grace, but the payment of a debt. Rom. 4: 4.
This point is very clearly established by the apostle in another connection. Speaking there of Israel's relation to the plan of salvation, he says that a remnant of them must be saved by the election of grace, and then adds: "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work." Rom. 11: 6. The conclusion therefore is that if works save, then grace acts no part in salvation; or if one contends that the works method is really grace, then work is no longer work. But in this it may be possible for one so to dogmatize in his contentions as to frustrate or make useless the grace of God in his own case. Gal. 2: 21.
MAN'S WORKS CAN NOT SECURE IT
So then, by grace one is saved, through faith, and that not of himself; it is God's gift. This is so ordered because, if salvation were to come by men's works, then they would boast of their own power to the discredit of God's glory. Eph. 2: 8, 9. Faith is necessary to salvation, that it may be wholly by grace. Rom. 4: 16. Human boasting must be excluded, and God's glory exalted; and this can be done only through the law of faith. Rom. 3: 27.
Therefore God's grace justifies freely, not because man has earned it, but because of the redemption which abounds in Christ Jesus. He it is whom God has brought forth to be a propitiation—mercy-seat—for sinners, through faith in His blood which was freely given for all, that He might declare His own righteousness in the place of forgiven sin, all of which is by the forbearance of God's wondrous grace. Verses 24, 25.
IN THE AGES TO COME
But with all that may be said, a finite mind can never fully comprehend the infinite skill of God which has abounded toward the human family in the plan of salvation. Eph. 1: 8. He has, however, so arranged for the methodical strengthening of man's reduced mental perception, that "in the ages to come," He may be able to show the redeemed the "exceeding riches of His grace" in His kindness, or kinship, through the Lord Jesus. Eph. 2: 7. Then the eternal unfoldings of God's grace will give swift and constantly extending views of that unspeakable gift, so that men may ever have fresh occasions for praise throughout the reign of never-ending ages. Then will be sung understandingly the glory of God's grace. J. O. C.
SYSTEMATIC BIBLE STUDY
AMONG the scriptures that have been a source of great help to many a struggling sinner is the statement, "Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father." Gal. 1: 3, 4. The Master gave Himself for our sins. With what a thrill does this scripture come into the heart of the one who feels himself sinking beneath his load of guilt! Then as he looks up by faith to the great Redeemer, he finds Him saying, Grace and peace from God the Father, and also from our Lord Jesus Christ; for He hath given Himself for our sins. We should keep searching through the divine Word day by day for these priceless jewels of truth; and as we find them, we must appropriate them to our own experience, and feed upon them, and invite others to come to the great feast of good things that God has for us in His ever-living Book.
Read one chapter in Deuteronomy each week-day and two on the Sabbath. Read one psalm each day. Read one chapter in 2 Corinthians or Galatians each week-day and two on the Sabbath.
Why is "sabaoth" spelled in this way in James 5:4? Does it mean the same as "Sabbath"? W. S.
No; this is a different word from "Sabbath." "Sabaoth" means hosts, and the expression here conveys the thought that the Lord of all the hosts in heaven and earth is the guardian and avenger of the poor who are oppressed by the grasping rich.
The Common Version renders 1 John 5:7, 8: "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one." But the American Revised Version reads thus: "And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three who bear witness, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and the three agree in one." Why is the difference? Was something added in the one, or was it left out in the other? J. A. P.
There are a few very slight differences in the various original manuscripts that have been preserved, of the different books of the Bible; and this is one of those places where a difference occurs. Some of the best Greek manuscripts have it as translated in the King James Version, while others have it as it is given in the Revised. Boothroyd's and Rotherham's translations both omit verse 7. The Syriac retains the verse in the original, but encloses it in brackets. So also does Young's.
But the marvelous thing to the student of the Bible is that there are so few differences in these original manuscripts, and that none of these differences are really essential. Whether you follow the King James Version or the Revised, in this text or in any other, you get practically the same great truth. There is nothing in this text, in either one of these versions, but what is abundantly and clearly taught in other portions of the sacred Word.
God's great book was copied by hundreds of hands, into many languages, during the first centuries of the Christian era. These original manuscripts, in all these various tongues, as they have been passed on to us, are in substantial agreement in every particular. There is no disagreement that amounts to a contradiction. This shows the miraculous care that God has had for His word. No other book has passed through such an ordeal and come out with such a clear testimony. The way in which the Book has been preserved shows that it is divine.
It will be found not only profitable but intensely interesting to secure and read Dr. Gaussen's "Inspiration of the Bible." A more modern volume, that has had brought into it some of the clearest and strongest scholarship of this day, is "The Ancestry of Our English Bible," by Ira M. Price, Ph. D. The evidence that God's word has been miraculously preserved is of the clearest character.
God’s Care for His Creation
By G. B. T.
It is the creative power of God that has called all things into existence. There are creatures so minute that millions of them sport in one drop of water; there are suns so bright that the light which radiates from them is a thousand times greater than our orb of day; there are measureless fields and unfathomed abysses of space, all of which blaze with the ineffable glory of God. The God who can create and uphold all these vast systems and clusters of worlds, and care for the tiniest creature He has brought into being, can care for those whom He has made for His glory, and for whom Jesus died on the cross. We can indeed rest in confidence upon Him. G. B. T.
Question Corner
By Editor
WE can not answer repeatedly in the same volume questions upon the same scripture. The name and address must accompany question. It is well always to enclose stamp for reply.
Our West African School
By T. M. French
Natives from Many Sections Are in Training—Their Earnestness in Mission Work
THE past year has been the most successful, in many respects, in the history of our training-school.
The main school building has been completed, and we have been enabled to purchase some equipment that we greatly needed. Our new facilities have enabled the students to do much better school work. The year had scarce half passed when several of the boys were ready for promotion; and at the end of the school year, the grades spoke well for the year's work.
In this school, we have boys from Gold Coast, Liberia, and from the Mendi and Temne tribes of Sierra Leone. Already several students have entered the field as teachers, Bible workers, and licensed ministers. Under the blessing of God, many others ought to go forth into the heathen interior of Africa, to give the glorious gospel of Christ, and of His coming in this generation.
During the year, although a great deal of industrial work had to be done, the students did a great amount of missionary work. A large number of religious magazines were sold, much literature was given away, and some of the students acted as interpreters in meetings held for the country heathen.
It costs only eight cents a day to sustain a student in this school. How long will you support a student in training to preach the gospel in dark Africa? T. M. FRENCH.
Conflicts and Victories in Korea
By R. C. Wangerin
WHEN first coming out to the foreign field, we fondly believed that we would receive a royal welcome, and be made to feel perfectly at home; but instead we are sometimes made to feel as intruders, and the anti-foreign spirit is often clearly revealed. We have to come close to the people and win them before we can do anything to help them. It means a great deal for these heathen to step out and become well-informed and established Seventh-day Adventists. To live up to the truth of God's word is not so easy as to live up to the nominal creeds of the day. Hence the Sabbath is the test as much here as elsewhere.
The "gentlemen" class, composing about one fifth of the population, will not work, esteeming it beneath their dignity to work with their hands in honest occupation. Others who become Christians, if the bread or the rice does not come to them, after a time turn wherever they find that all-important factor.
THE HEAD OF THE HOUSE AS PROVIDER
According to Korean custom, the head of the family (often the wife does the work) provides for the household and the children's households until the husband's death, when the eldest son becomes heir to all. So it is difficult for the younger members to become Christians and exist with the food supply cut off. Only those who have enough moral backbone to break away from their father's house, and are neither ashamed nor afraid of hard work, and declare themselves independent, are really able to succeed. The other missions have what we might call "community churches," where one well-to-do believer, say a rice merchant, employs from ten to fifty or more persons, only Christians (?), on condition that they attend the church. While he thinks they all believe, yet when he leaves, they all quit the church.
A JOB AS REWARD
These devices have often proved to be a great temptation and annoyance to our poorer brethren. They were told that if they worked on the Sabbath and came to church on Sunday, a job would be the reward. Again the general attitude of the people seems changed and greatly changing since the annexation to Japan. Korea was once the land of promise and missionary enterprise. Now that the natives realize that we foreigners are here only for their spiritual welfare, and not to establish an earthly kingdom, little interest is manifested by many toward religious things.
WATERLOO SCHOOL BUILDING, SIERRA LEONE, WEST AFRICA
Nevertheless we are hopeful and thankful for a part in this grand work. We are glad that there is wheat among the tares. There are precious sheaves to be garnered in before the great day of the Lord comes. We must, however, face conditions as they are, and be brave, and press forward. There is victory ahead. Our faith has never been brighter nor our courage better than this day. These things are to us omens of the coming day.
