p. 6 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 39, No. 41. (10/22/1912)

On the Wing

By Editor

By request of our General Conference, the editor has been spending two months in the East in attendance upon camp-meetings and at the General Conference Council at Washington. We left Mountain View August 2, reaching Chicago August 5, and Kokomo, Indiana, where the first state conference and camp-meeting was held, that same night. The next morning we were heartily welcomed by Brother Montgomery, the president of the conference, and by Brethren Knox and Moon, vice-president of the General Conference and president of the Lake Union Conference, respectively, and by all the other ministers, so far as we know. As of this meeting, so of all we attended, our association with our ministering brethren in all lines of the work—with the representatives of our publishing houses, our schools, and our sanitariums—was most cordial, and our labors together were greatly blessed of God.

It rained in Indiana a good part of the time of our meeting, and this was also true of the other meetings that we attended; but it did not dampen the ardor and good spirits of the campers, which burned with a steadily increasing flame to the close. In Indiana all were united, all had a mind to work, and tho the camp-meeting was short (only a week), there was much of revival work done, many were converted, and many more were revived, enheartened, strengthened, and established.

We here met for the first time Brother M. V. Wood, who was a missionary for the Methodists many years in India, and who, in following the light, came to the truth of the great threefold message. He and his wife left for India shortly after this. In fact, he was hurried away from the midst of our next camp-meeting to get ready for sailing. We believe that our India force of workers will be greatly helped by Brother and Sister Wood.

We also met here Brethren Reavis and Mace of the Review and Herald; Blosser, the chief book man of the Lake Union Conference; MacGuire and Russell, engaged in the young people's work; Haysmer and Maxwell, representing the work in the South; Professor Graf, of the Emmanuel Missionary College; and others. And here, too, we enjoyed sweet counsel with Pastor W. P. Pearce (Baptist), author of "The Lover's Love, or John 3:16."

We do not recall all the officers of the conference that were elected. Pastor O. Montgomery was re-elected president. All these will appear in the Review and Herald in due time, and in "Our Work and Workers" column. We look for excellent success in the Indiana Conference in the year to come.

From Indiana we proceeded to Bay City, East Michigan Conference and camp-meeting, of which conference Pastor H. H. Burkholder was president. Here they had erected and completed their camp in the midst of most discouraging, rainy weather. It was on the fair ground outside of the city, and was in splendid shape, notwithstanding the rain. Here we had good meetings, despite difficulties and obstacles.

The same general workers were present as were at the meeting at Kokomo. Pastor Burkholder has done excellent work here in the little time he has been able to spend in the conference; but as he could not be in the conference the whole time, on account of the sickness of the beloved mother in Ohio, Pastor William Guthrie of Canada was elected as president. In East Michigan there are some young men of ability who, if devoted and humble and teachable, will make strong, able workers for God. Souls sought and obtained victory, and hearts were helped and strengthened. Both of these conferences, Indiana and East Michigan, voted for a longer meeting—ten days—next year. A week is too short for both spiritual and business meetings, and the spiritual uplift of the first Sabbath can not well be dispensed with.

From East Michigan we visited the original Chautauqua grounds in Western New York, on Chautauqua Lake, to look over the grounds with the view to securing them, if everything seemed best, for our next General Conference. The grounds were excellent, having plenty of room in auditoriums and in cottages; but the time of year would interfere with the work of the Chautauqua, and hence it was found impossible to consider this beautiful site further. It was, however, freely offered if we could take it at the close of the regular season. The next evening, we held a meeting with the church at Burt, Niagara County, New York.

Leaving there, we arrived at the West Pennsylvania meeting, at Washington, about thirty miles southwest of Pittsburg, before the first meeting was held. The president of this conference is Brother B. F. Kneeland. He had been unable to put his camp in condition, on account of a severe cloudburst that had occurred two or three days before. In fact, the town itself had been flooded, and one man drowned in the streets of the town. It was almost impossible to get either freight or express. But all were good-natured; and by working hard, in a short time the ground was ready for meeting. In God's good providence, the clouds cleared, and bright, sunny weather was given during the time of our stay. The opening meetings were most excellent. The camp as a whole sought God earnestly, and the Lord greatly blessed. Here we met with Brother B. G. Wilkinson, president of the Columbia Union Conference; Dr. Menkel, from Washington; Brother W. A. Westworth, now located in Pittsburg; and other old and new laborers.

Leaving there Sunday, we have not heard of the outcome of the meeting; but if it continued as it began, it was indeed a most excellent meeting. After the meeting was over, we learned by the newspapers that very severe storms had again occurred in Western Pennsylvania. Hundreds of sheep were drowned, two million dollars damage done to crops in Washington County, and the lives of fifty persons lost.

Leaving the West Pennsylvania meeting September 29, we arrived in Utica, New York, at the Central New York Conference meeting, September 30, and were with this meeting until its close. Here also the same earnest seeking of God was manifest, and blessed victories were obtained. In our conferences in the Atlantic Union, Pastor W. B. White, president of the union, was present. The president of the New York Conference is Pastor W. H. Holden, who was reelected. We had the privilege of meeting many old laborers and acquaintances, it being the conference where we first began our own labors for the Lord; and we rejoiced greatly in finding those who were older in the work, still pressing on, and those who were but children a few years ago, engaged heartily in the work of God. There were many faces missing, however, having fallen asleep in the Master's service. Here we met Brethren Palmer, Jayne, Longacre, and Tolf, representing respectively the Review and Herald publishing house, the religious liberty work, and educational and book work. There was a rain at this camp-meeting also. In fact, it was extremely cold for the time of year. Passing through New York, we saw thousands of bushels of grain in shock, some of which was rotting upon the ground, the rains being so continuous that it was impossible to gather it in proper condition. Grain crops were generally good, but much will be lost by the late, continuous rains.

On our way north we stopped for one night at the Black River Sanitarium, Watertown, New York, at the head of which is Dr. Isadore L. Green. Dr. Green has built up a good sanitarium by sheer force of hard work, and upon the real merit of medical skill and devotion. The sanitarium deserves to succeed, and should be well patronized. September 7 and 8 we attended a general meeting at South Russell, New York. Representatives from other churches were in attendance. Five meetings were held, at which we spoke four times. Two of these meetings were held, by the courtesy of the Presbyterian pastor, in the Presbyterian church at De Grasse. September 11 we met with the new church in Ogdensburg, gathered by the labors of Pastor Garton; and next morning proceeded on our way to Vermont, and held a meeting in Felchville, September 14, with the Sabbath-keepers in that section. Here also we enjoyed a blessed season.

September 15 we left for Washington, to attend the General Conference Council in that city. All the various lines of work with which the General Conference Committee has to do were considered. Chief among these were strong actions taken and counsels given against involving the denomination, in any of its departments, in debt. The reorganization of the great general work, necessitated by the fact that the foreign membership is so large now that it is not considered wise or expedient to send representative delegations to any distance to attend meetings of the General Conference, was considered, and it was suggested that the world be divided into divisions of the general work, such as the European division of the General Conference, the Atlantic, South American, etc. This was placed in the hands of a committee who were to consider the various phases of the question, and report at the next General Conference. One of the important things for consideration was the appropriation of funds to the various mission fields, not simply according to need, but according to ability, and $500,000 was thus appropriated for 1913. The time has just arrived when there are more laborers in mission work than in the regular organized work in America. In fact, our home field has been constantly drained of the best and most earnest laborers, in order to meet the calls in foreign fields. This also demands earnestness and consecration on the part of the young who are fitting themselves for work in the cause of God. It was also voted that the next General Conference should be held in Washington, May 15 to June 8. All things considered, it was thought best to hold it here again, on account of our foreign brethren who perhaps would see our institutions here for the first, and perhaps the last, opportunity which would be offered. Here is situated one of our great publishing houses, the Foreign Mission Seminary, now connected with the sanitarium as a training school, and here too is a quiet grove.

Here also we met Dr. Margaret Evans, whom our readers know as a contributor, connected with the Branch Sanitarium in Washington city. The sanitarium now conducts a dispensary down on 4½ Street, which we visited one day, where the poor and the maimed and the halt and the blind of Washington come for medical counsel, relief, and such treatment as can be rendered by those who are fitting themselves for foreign work. Very much work is done free in this way. There were thirty-seven in the day that we called. On other days, we are told, it runs up to nearly a hundred. Doctors and nurses are doing noble work.

We left Washington September 26 for the West, stopped at Salt Lake City overnight, met with the workers there, and reached home October 2.

Going East, wishing to reach there as soon as possible, we took the Overland Limited from San Francisco on the Southern Pacific. It is one of the best trains in the world; and if one wishes to reach the East from San Francisco, or vice versa, there is no better train than this. From Omaha one can take one of a half dozen roads, but we know of none better than the Chicago & Northwestern. Running into Chicago is the beautiful new station is something of a privilege. We had the pleasure of looking over the new station, which is all, it seems to us, that could be desired. Here are not only waiting-rooms, but writing-rooms for both men and women; not only writing-rooms, but rest rooms for tired women, and a special room for mothers with children. But the Northwestern people have done more than this. They have a hospital in connection with the station; and if any of the passengers are taken sick, or arrive there sick, they are taken to the hospital, and free nursing is given them. If a physician is desired, of course that must be at the expense of the patient. But here they are cared for in the best and most scientific way until preparations can be made to move them. Here, also, one can secure a bath, with all other accessories in the way of toilet, at a merely nominal price.

Returning, we came by the Rock Island and the Denver & Rio Grande,—the D. & R. G., which some have stated stands for "Dangerous and Rough Going," and it certainly merits the apt designation. It

has scenery, lots of it, and in that respect is fine; but the road service is poor, and trains are almost invariably late. If there is a road in the country that ought to adopt the block system, it would seem that the D. & R. G. ought to do it, but it has nothing of the kind. If one wishes to cross the continent in comfort, in cleanliness, and with safety and speed, we commend the Southern Pacific, the Union Pacific, the Chicago-Northwestern, or the Burlington. It is a wonderful relief to change from the smoking, coal-burning trains of the East to the great oil burners on the Southern Pacific; and we wish to say it freely, that there are no better trains on the continent, so far as our experience goes.

We are glad again to get home, find lots of work to do, and hope to make this work, with our co-laborers here, a great blessing to our readers.

Consider the Moral Code

By Ellen G. White

By Mrs. E. G. White

"I WILL walk at liberty: for I seek Thy precepts. I will speak of Thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed. And I will delight myself in Thy commandments, which I have loved. My hands also will I lift up unto Thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in Thy statutes." The commandments of God are not a yoke of bondage, and in obedience to them we have nothing of which to be ashamed. We should not feel that we are severely restricted in being required to keep God's law. The Lord withholds from us nothing which is for our good. We should be ashamed of disobedience to His precepts.

There are men who profess to open the Scriptures to others, and who claim to be ministers of the gospel, who yet place stumbling-blocks in the way of those who are seeking for safe paths. But let the sincere seeker for truth look to the Author of truth, and not to the would-be instructor who knows not the way of light. Go to the Fountain of knowledge, and become acquainted with what saith the Scriptures, and take no mortal man's inferences and assertions. The fallacies of men have in them no power to sanctify the soul; and the Word of God is not to be adulterated with the customs and traditions of the world. "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." "And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment, That we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us commandment. And he that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us."

The Old Commandment from the Beginning

The next verse opens with this warning: "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." Let us consider the moral law, which was specified by the loved disciple as the "old commandment which ye had from the beginning," which was spoken from Mount Sinai amid smoke and flame, thunder and earthquake. The commandments are:

"I. Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. "II. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments. "III. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain. "IV. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man servant, nor thy maid servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it. "V. Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. "VI. Thou shalt not kill. "VII. Thou shalt not commit adultery. "VIII. Thou shalt not steal. "IX. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. "X. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man servant, nor his maid servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's."

If this code of morals had been respected and obeyed, the world would not now be in the state in which it is,—corrupted under the inhabitants thereof. If human agents had coöperated with God, and had obeyed the laws which lie at the foundation of His government, we should not see and hear so much concerning iniquity and crime, suffering and death. Christ magnified the law, and made it honorable. He saw the necessity of expounding the law which He Himself had spoken amid flame and thunder and tempest. The rabbis had heaped the rubbish of their traditions upon the law, and made of no effect the commandments of God, because they taught as doctrines the commandments of men. He showed the people that the law of God penetrated to the motives of the heart, and the lover of self was a transgressor of the law. He rescued the commandments from their companionship with error, and placed them in the framework of the gospel, and presented them to men in their true significance and importance; and to those who listened, the law seemed a new revelation. Far from taking anything from the sacredness of a single precept, He revealed to men the exalted character of the whole law. But because He cleansed from the law the rubbish of tradition, and freed it from the exactions of men, and from the multitude of minute requirements of men, that confused the people, and hindered them from seeing the real significance of the requirements of Jehovah, the Pharisees were saying in their hearts that Christ had come to do away with the law. But while they were musing in their hearts, He spoke words that revealed to them the fact that He read their thoughts as an open book:

Not Destroyed

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."

Christ then proceeds to show that the commandments are exceeding broad, and penetrate to the very motives that control the heart.

The great adversary, the first rebel and apostate, makes war on the commandments of God, for "by the law is the knowledge of sin." This is the reason that he would have the world believe that the law of God is not binding, for then he can keep men in ignorance of the fact that they are sinners and in need of a Saviour. In this way he can lead them to reject the great salvation, that has been purchased for them at infinite cost.

With Vision of the Holy

By Worthie Harris Holden

Suggested by Dan. 10:7, "I Daniel alone saw the vision."

By Worthie Harris Holden

God wants His people to be men of vision, E'en as the prophet saw his glorious Lord, While fear and trembling seized upon his comrades, And drove them from the presence of the Word; Men delving deeply, not to hoard their treasure, But to lay up their wealth in store on high; Men who acknowledge all the rights of Cæsar, And for the truth of God would dare to die; Men who, amid the rivalry for homage, Are God's own noblemen by birth and grace; Who, tho in reach of fame and worldly honor, Behold their plaudits in His smiling face. When in the noise and din of earthly combat, His stalwart soldiers—loyal, steadfast, true— Still persevere in quest of heavenly laurels, Alert fore'er to do as Christ would do. These are the souls who never swerve from duty, Who joy the Master's mandates to fulfil, And living thus, with vision of the Holy, Will soon enraptured stand on Zion's hill.

Loving Service

By Lutheran Observer

A LADY was walking homeward from a shopping excursion, carrying two or three packages in her hand, while by her side walked a little boy. The child was weary. The little feet began to lag, and soon a wailing cry arose:

"I'm too tired! I want somebody to let me wide home!"

The mother looked about her, but there was no street-car going in her direction. She took one of her parcels and gave it to the child, saying:

"Mama is tired, too, and Willie must help her to get home. She is glad she has such a brave little man to take care of her, and help her to carry the bundles."

Instantly the little fellow straightened, his step quickened, and he reached for the offered parcel, saying stoutly:

"I'll tarry 'em all, mama."

It was only the old, old lesson, that our Father is always teaching us: "Is the homeward way weary? Try to lighten another's burden, and the loving service will smooth thine own path."—Lutheran Observer.

The Punishment of the Impenitent

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

WHAT is to be the final punishment of the impenitent?

There are so many millions of human beings to whom this question comes with fearful import, that were it not for the fact that the Word of God is very conclusive upon the subject, I might well approach it with hesitancy. It is a question which is only equaled in importance by that one which we have already considered, "Shall the dead live again?"

Husbands have asked it over the graves of their wives; and wives have uttered the compelling question above the sealed sepulchers of their dead. Mothers have mournfully repeated it over the graves of their sons and daughters; and countless multitudes whose unwilling feet are about to enter the dark valley of the shadow, Christless and godless, are facing the dim unknown with the same question trembling upon their pallid lips — even as I write.

And hence it is with a swift prayer to Heaven for help that my pen may be laden with words of wisdom and truth, that I undertake to bring you God's answer from His Book. Can we wonder that this question propounds itself to a dying world with an insistency which refuses to be satisfied with anything less than truth?

The Commonly Accepted Idea

We all know the commonly accepted idea concerning this subject, — an idea which is so at variance with the teachings of the blessed Bible, so defaming to the loving character of our merciful Redeemer, and withal so repugnant to our own ideas of justice, that it is verily astonishing that the error has become so wide-spread and general.

This weird, unscriptural, and unreasonable idea that the unrepentant must enter, at death, a seething, roaring maelstrom of fire, and never, never be consumed or released through the eternal ages, has its foundation in that hoary falsehood first whispered by the insidious tongue of the serpent. Indeed, it is part and parcel of the first lie glibly muttered by the wily foe: "Thou shalt not surely die."

And there are not a few who are gullible enough to believe, with honest hearts, that the human soul can not possibly die, even after spending an eternity in the horrible fires of hell.

God's Word on the Subject

Well, what does God say about it? — He says plainly that "the soul that sinneth, it shall die." And He repeats it in the same chapter, and then adds, as if He knew our proneness to impute injustice to Him, "Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal."

When the Almighty speaks once, it ought to be sufficient; but He has been kind enough to give us line upon line, precept upon precept, "here a little, and there a little," upon this most thrilling subject.

King David, the sweet singer of Israel, had some sad experiences. His enemies were numerous. Idol-worship was on every hand. Treacherous and cruel foes sprang from many an ambush. Wicked men appeared to triumph in his day — as well as in ours.

Besides this, with prophetic vision, the seer looked far down the stream of time, and saw the coming generations of wicked men rising in rebellion against God. Therefore he makes wicked men a subject of prayer; and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he prays concerning their death, "Let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave."

But, David, why do you pray so vain a prayer as this? Do you not understand that at death, the wicked can not be silent in the grave, because they are shrieking amid the torments of the fires of hell, where they must forever exist in awful agony?

Hark! The voice of the inspired prophet is raised in earnest protest: "For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be."

Solomon, the son of David, seems to have entertained the same ideas as his inspired father. King Solomon had become acquainted with wicked men. He knew them alive, and he had seen them die; and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, he speaks of their condition in death: "The heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead. . . . For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything. . . . Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished."

Now could it be possible for the hatred to perish from a man's heart, if he were enduring the awful pains of hell, with no prospect of relief to all eternity? — Nay, verily.

But let us have another testimony to the point from David. Tell us, O man "after God's own heart," must the wicked man who dies in his sins, be condemned to everlasting torture and never-ending anguish?

Listen: "But 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."

Neither Root nor Branch Left

This language is as plain as it is possible for language to be. But we will give one more testimony from the last prophet of the Old Testament: "For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts—"

"But surely," somebody protests, "there must be something left to suffer on to all eternity, is there not?"

Let the Lord of Hosts Himself give the answer: "The day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. . . . For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this."

O my friends, do we not rejoice to know, then, that there is no such thing as eternal suffering? A God of love can not and will not permit it.

Satan Himself Destroyed

Not long ago, a man said to me, "Why, I do believe that you actually think Satan himself will be utterly destroyed."

No, I do not "think" anything of the kind. I know it. How? — Because God says so: "Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so. . . . Thou wast perfect in thy ways, . . . TILL iniquity was found in thee. . . . Therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub. . . . Therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. . . . The people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and NEVER shalt thou be any more."

A Clean Universe

O, let us thank God that it is true. When the Almighty speaks, let the cunning fables of men and devils be silenced. The universe of God will be clean some day. There will be left no creature to moan and to shriek in anguish unutterable. Else the divine Revelator could not have said, "There shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain." Could this be true if, in some dark corner howsoever remote, there were millions upon millions of screaming, groaning, shrieking, blaspheming creatures — creatures made in the image of God Himself? — Nay, verily. The brain reels, and the heart turns sick, at thought of it.

"But," you say, "does not Christ declare of the wicked, that 'these shall go away into everlasting punishment'?" Surely He does, and it is true. But there is vast difference between "punish-ing" and "punishment." Christ does not say that the punish-ing will be everlasting. But the effects of that punishing must be eternal. Those who suffer the pangs of the second death, can never hope for life again. They must share the fate of Satan — of whom God says, "Never shalt thou be any more."

From the Standpoint of Justice

But now let us consider this question a moment from the side of justice. "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord." If it is true that the wicked go to a place of eternal torment at death, then Cain, the first murderer, must have been forced

to suffer unspeakable torture for about six thousand years longer than the murderer who dies to-day. Again, if this is true, then the comparatively innocent man must suffer side by side, eternally, with the most hardened and vile criminal—when God has said that men shall be punished ACCORDING to the deeds done in the body.

Reader, our heavenly Father delights in mercy. He says, “I will not contend forever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before Me, and the souls which I have made.”

Aye, He is infinite in mercy. Shall we impute to Him a vindictiveness and a cruelty which shocks our own sense of mercy or justice? “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”

We speak of Nero, the emperor of Rome, with a shudder. His very memory is hateful to the world. Why?—Because of his fiendish cruelty. But Nero put men to death quickly. He burned them—but the fires have gone out centuries ago.

We would not torture the vilest worm with a lingering death. The state condemns the fiercest murderer to death by lightning. He sits in the electric chair. The current is turned on. That is the end.

O, away, I say, with that God-dishonoring theory which paints our loving heavenly Father in character blacker than that of a Nero or a Caligula!

Well, what then?

God gave man life conditionally. If we obey Him, He makes that life eternal. If we disobey, He takes from us the life He gave; because we have virtually refused to accept it, when He has freely offered it.

Let us take comfort in the thought that sin and suffering must not be eternal—can not be; for “neither shall there be any more pain.” “And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.”

Thank God, the time is at hand when the entire universe will be clean and pure and beautiful forevermore. Amen.

Jacob's Great Grief

By Delwin Rees Buckner

When Falsely Informed by His Sons that Joseph Had Been Slain by a Wild Beast

By Delwin Rees Buckner

What? Joseph slain? And not a soul to save My darling? Dead? — Yes; lo, his coat, all red With bloody froth, left where the lion fed Before he dragged his fang-scarred bones to pave The paw-pressed trail, tracked to his twilight cave. With Joseph gone, Lord, let me make my bed Within the dark, damp earth; let my hoar head Descend in sorrow to the gaping grave. O, might I kiss once more that boyish face, Snatched from beneath the flesh-fiend's clinching claws! But that can never be — this side the tomb. Would God I'd perished in my Joseph's place, Had choked between the cruel beast's tightening jaws, My nostrils sucking in his scarlet spume.

Separation from the World

By J. W. Lowe

GENUINE Christians will not conform to the fashions and customs of the world, that they may receive its recognition and favor; but with sincerity of heart and purpose in all these matters, they will conform to the mind and will of God, that they may be in harmony and favor with Him.

In this age of extravagant fashions in the matter of dress, and outward adorning in general, Christians ought to be so distinct and separate from the world at large, that they would be known, whenever and wherever seen, by their simplicity in dress and manners.

Extravagance in the matter of adorning one's person almost invariably proceeds from the wrong motive, in that its indulgence is usually for the purpose of calling attention to self. Christians will never make an effort to call attention to self, but will constantly be pointing others to Christ. The special adorning of every true Christian will be the inward adorning of the heart.

True Christians will not spend their money in needlessly adorning their persons, or in extravagantly adorning their homes; but will use their surplus means in assisting the worthy poor, and sending the gospel to the world. The one object of a real, genuine Christian is to carry forward the work of God.

J. W. LOWE.

Our Bible Reading

The Change of the Sabbath

1. What is the plain statement of the New Testament in regard to Christ’s changing His Father’s law?

2. Since the foregoing text shows that God has no design of changing His law, and since the world is observing a sabbath that is contrary to that law, is there no Scriptural evidence that such a change in the Sabbath was foreseen?

"And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall arise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time." Dan. 7: 24, 25.

NOTE.—The power mentioned in the foregoing prophecy will not only speak great words against the Most High and wear out His saints, but this self-same power will even think to change the times and the laws. The only commandment in God’s law that relates to time is the Sabbath commandment. Then we should see from this prophecy that this power would undertake to change God’s Sabbath.

3. What does the apostle Paul say of that power that would attempt to change God’s law?

"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." 2 Thess. 2: 3, 4.

NOTE.—The only way in which any power could seek to exalt itself above God would be for it to undertake to set aside God’s authority. In what way could that be more effectually done than by attempting to change God’s law, just as the prophet Daniel predicted a power would try to do?

4. Has any great world power arisen that has made the claim to have actually changed God’s law, in harmony with the foregoing prophetic scriptures?

Let the following from the catechism entitled, "The Catholic Christian Instructed," by Dr. Challoner, answer the question:

"Ques. What are the days which the church commands to be kept holy? "Ans. 1st, The Sundays, or the Lord’s day, which we observe by apostolic tradition, instead of the Sabbath. 2dly, The feasts of our Lord’s nativity, or Christmas Day; His circumcision, or New Year’s Day;" etc. "Ques. What warrant have you for keeping the Sunday, preferable to the ancient Sabbath, which was the Saturday? "Ans. We have for it the authority of the Catholic Church, and apostolic tradition. "Ques. Does the Scripture anywhere command the Sunday to be kept for the Sabbath? "Ans. The Scripture commands us to hear the church, . . . and to hold fast the traditions of the apostles, . . . but the Scripture does not in particular mention this change of the Sabbath."

NOTE.—There are many utterances made by Catholic authorities that state, in language similar to the foregoing from Dr. Challoner, that the Catholic Church is responsible for the change of the Sabbath. And the Catholics have been making this claim for centuries. For instance, in his debates with Martin Luther, the much celebrated Dr. Eck said:

"The Scripture teaches: Remember that you keep the Saturday; six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God, etc. However, the church has transferred the observance from Saturday to Sunday by virtue of her own power, without Scripture, without doubt under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit."

NOTE 2.—We have, then, the clearest prophetic predictions that a great power would arise and think to change God’s times and laws. And then we have one of the greatest ecclesiastical powers known to history coming forward and boldly and proudly making the claim that she has made the change. And then we find the world at large following her in that change, showing that she has actually accomplished it so far as the majority of men are concerned. The case is a very clear and a very conclusive one. We ought to be able to see where we should take our stand on the Sabbath question.

Hold-Ons

HOLD on to your hands when you are about to do an unkind act.
Hold on to your tongue when you are just ready to speak harshly.
Hold on to your heart when evil persons invite you to join their ranks.
Hold on to your virtue; it is above all price to you in all times and in all places.
Hold on to your feet when you are on the point of forsaking the path of right.
Hold on to the truth, for it will serve you well and do you good throughout eternity.
Hold on to your temper when you are excited or angry, or others are angry with you.—Selected.

One Thing at a Time

By E. K. Warren

No MATTER how much you have to do, remember you can only do one thing at a time. You can get through it all by doing one thing at a time, and that’s the only way you can get through. You are lost if you try any other way.—E. K. Warren.

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