Question Corner.—No. 515, The Book of Mormon—No. 516, Heb. 10:26—No. 517, The Two Witnesses—No. 518, The Sealed Book—No. 519, The Matter of Usury—No. 520, Heb. 7:12 again . . . 3
Poetry.
“Peace, Be Still!” . . . 4
A Song of Hope . . . 9
You Reap as You Sow . . . 11
General Articles.
“Go Work To-day in My Vineyard,” MRS. E. G. WHITE . . . 4
“I Am Here” . . . 4, 5
Christian Giving, REV. JAMES H. ECOB . . . 5, 6
Jewish Customs and Traditions (The Sanctuary and Its Services), E. C. GILBERT . . . 6, 7
The Kingdom of Heaven, B. L. HOWE . . . 7
Prophecy Fulfilling, CHAS. P. WHITFORD . . . 7, 8
In the Hour of Temptation, MRS. MARIE BEERMANN . . . 8
The Outlook.—The Ballot and the Bullet—The Bible Classed as a “Human Book” . . . 9
The Fireside.—True Story of a Little Saint—The Drink Curse—A Noble Woman—The Profit of Giving—The Christian Chinaman . . . 9, 10
Missions.—The Poles in America—A Buddhist’s Testimony in Japan—Notes on the General Conference—Our Work and Workers . . . 11, 12
International Sabbath School Lesson.—Persecution and Its Cause; the Coming of the Comforter and His Work (Lesson 3, Sabbath, April 17, 1897) . . . 12, 13
International Sunday School Lesson.—Gentiles Converted at Antioch (Lesson 3, Sunday, April 18, 1897) . . . 13
News and Notes. . . . 13, 14
Publishers. . . . 15
The Signs Subscription List
By Editor
THE SIGNS subscription list is steadily growing, now being nearly 40,000. We thank our friends, but we hope for much more. May it not be 100,000 by the end of the year?
The Way to Be a Christian
There is but one way to be a Christian—surrender all to God, and accept all in Jesus Christ. “If any willeth to do His will, he shall know of the teaching.” This is the assurance which may be had by every one.
The Kansas Religious Legislation Bill
SINCE the article on “Enacting and Enforcing God’s Law” was written, the Kansas Legislature has adjourned. The last we saw of the bill in question it was thought it would pass the Assembly. It was not introduced into the Senate. It is a logical National Reform child; but it is neither logical Christianity nor wise civil legislation.
The Least Self-Conscious
HE who is nearest God, who has the most of God’s glory within, is the least self-conscious. Moses did not know that his face shone from the glory of God within him when he came down from the mount. Those who ministered to Christ in the person of his little ones did not know that they had ever met the Master hungry, thirsty, or in prison. But God knows all about it. This is the true encouragement.
The Work of the Church
The Work of the Church may be called “Christian help work,” or missionary work; but it is the work given her by Christ: “As ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils; freely ye have received, freely give,” etc. This work is to be done, not ostentatiously, not in uniformed bands, not by blowing advanced trumpets, but in the Spirit of Christ, for his glory, whether the world knows it or not. He who has commanded the work will furnish the means, and will give the reward.
Thanks for a Theory.
The Chicago Christian Endeavorer of February tells us that Mr. Gamble’s theory that the “Jewish Sabbath” was “movable” has caused intense interest, and that “letters have been pouring in to him and into this office from all over the land, expressing the thanks of the writers that this new theory has been made known.” It is a sad confession. It has been claimed by Sunday advocates for two hundred years that there was Bible support for Sunday, and books innumerable have been written by men of various denominations claiming to have proved this beyond question. Now comes a “new theory” which demolishes all the previous arguments, and it is hailed with joy. Well, this shows that the former arguments were worthless, and this new theory is only a theory. It is not the eternal fact of God’s truth, but a theory having no basis in the Word. It is facts not theories that the soul needs.
Uncertain Witness
It is bad enough to have two contradictory witnesses on one side of a cause; but it is worse when one witness contradicts himself. And yet both these cases are frequent among the witnesses for the traditions of men against the Word of God. For instance, before us lies an article written against the seventh-day Sabbath, and yet in favor of Sunday observance. The writer first argues that it makes no “difference in the good received by us, whether the day chosen was the first one of the week or some other day,” that because the days of the year “will not divide into even weeks,” “it would not be possible to keep a certain day each week, year after year, as a Sabbath, which would correspond with all previous years;” and that “the observance of this commandment [is] impossible” because “our earth is round”! In the same article a little further on the writer says: “But putting all this aside, it is very important that we keep what we call the first day of the week as our sabbath, because everywhere among all Christian nations it is the day so set apart, and laws are made for its protection.” That is to say, God’s commandment can not be kept, was not designed to be kept, he did not mean what he said; but the definite day of man’s choosing can be kept, and the laws of men should be obeyed!! Truly it may be said of such teaching that it is too uncertain to follow. Better the Word of God. “What is the chaff to the wheat?”
Decorative Painting and Alexander Hamilton
The growing taste in the United States for decorative painting, as shown in the costly decoration of many recent structures, public and private, gives special timeliness and interest to a paper by Mr. Will H. Low, in McClure’s Magazine for April. Mr. Low, by his well-known ceiling in the Waldorf Hotel and other work of this kind, is himself closely identified with the new movement; and in this paper he touches upon the origin and extent of it, and then considers, biographically and critically, the three greatest masters of decorative painting in recent times. The paper is richly illustrated with reproductions of celebrated paintings by Paul Baudry, Puvis de Chavannes, and others. A series of portraits of Alexander Hamilton and his wife, all from originals painted or drawn from life, accompany a very interesting paper on Hamilton, in both his public and private life, by the Hon. Henry Cabot Lodge. The S. S. McClure Co., New York City.
Not a Question of Mere Days
Not a Question of Mere Days.—The Sabbath question is not a question of mere days. So far as twenty-four hours of physical rest is concerned, it is as good on one day as another; but the real question lies between the authority of God and men. Shall we obey God, who has given the Sabbath, who has commanded it, who has made it his memorial, a sign between him and his people, the Sabbath kept by Jesus Christ, our great Exemplar? or shall we observe the great high day of all pagan times, the day pushed in by antichrist to usurp the place of the Sabbath of the Lord, the day concerning which there is no divine command, no divine example? The real question is, The authority of God’s word or tradition, which? Which is it with you, reader?
Are You Interested in Flowers?—Who is not?
And do you wish to know where to get the best seeds? Well, try Vick’s. His Floral Guide for 1897 is just out. It is a beauty, in fact, one of the most attractive publications ever issued by James Vick’s Sons, Rochester, N. Y., and to those who have had dealings with this old, reliable establishment in past years, this means that the Floral Guide is one of the finest catalogs of the season. Aside from the brilliant ornamental features, it is a compendium of valuable information on the subject of flowers, and should be widely distributed throughout this country. Vick’s Floral Guide and packet of either branching aster, pansy or new Japan morning-glory mailed on receipt of 15 cents.
Sunday Laws for Religion and Labor
The Christian Endeavorers are working for Sunday laws in favor of religion. Many labor leaders are working for Sunday laws in favor of labor; that is, that Sunday shall be a day to be used electively as a holy day or a holiday. But the religious people demand the prohibition of the holiday as much as the work day. In California the principal thing objected to, especially in the vicinity of San Francisco Bay, is the holiday phase. The labor men will doubtless be deceived by those who desire a religious Sunday. They will unite to prohibit Sunday labor, but they will find at last that the same law prohibits Sunday recreation except at church.