p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 21, No. 43. (10/31/1895)

Earlier text: International Sunday School Lessons

More Light and Truth.

The Rev. A. H. Quint, retiring moderator of the Congregational Council, of Syracuse, delivered an address in which he quoted the following words, from John Robinson to the Puritans as they were about to leave Holland for the New World:—

“We are now, erelong, to part asunder, and the Lord knoweth whether ever he should live to see our faces again; but whether the Lord had appointed it or not, he [says one of the Puritans] charged us before God and his blessed angels, to follow him no further than he followed Christ. And if God should reveal anything to us by any other instrument of his, to be as ready to receive it as ever we were to receive any truth by his ministry, for he was very confident the Lord had more truth and light yet to break forth out of his Holy Word.”

It is obvious to the intelligent reader that if the Puritans had heeded these words, they would never have persecuted Roger Williams nor the Friends. They would have at least learned the further truth that religious liberty was not alone for the Puritans. Would to God that those who profess to be walking in the same line would follow the same principle, would see the light and truth now shining from the word of God to prepare people for the second coming of Christ.

The Mystery of Godliness.

By Ellet Joseph Waggoner

When Christ was here on the earth in the flesh, it was God manifest in the flesh. “Believest thou not,” he said, “that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?” God was in him in the flesh which he voluntarily took,—the only-begotten Son abode in the bosom of the Father, and therefore he knew no sin, although in sinful flesh. This is “the mystery of godliness.” This being a fact by the word of God, whosoever confesses the fact, whosoever “confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is of God,” and whosoever “confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is not of God.” But it is a fact whether it is confessed or not. It is a glorious truth,—one with which one can go to the outcast and tempted, that, although Christ has “gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him,” he still abides with men. He “is come in the flesh.” You can go to the tempted and outcast with that, and assure them that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, and that every sin that they have committed, and even the sinful nature which led them into those sins, he takes upon himself, and identifies himself with it, assuming all the responsibility for the sins committed, with the life which has been perverted. O, the blessedness of the fact that God hath made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him! 2 Cor. 5:21. Tempted, and suffering as no man ever yet suffered in the flesh for sin, he knew no sin. Again and again he said that of himself he could do nothing, but he trusted God; and when we read that Jesus Christ came and took all the weaknesses of sinful flesh, we also read that these weaknesses never manifested themselves in his life. Therefore, when from the heart we confess the fact which the Scripture tells us, that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh even now, and even in us, because we are in the flesh, the recognition of that brings also the other fact with it, that in him was no sin while in the flesh; therefore his life, while we confess it, cleanses us from sin.

E. J. W.

Symposium Schedule and Mission Fields Omission

By Editor

Our symposium numbers will appear the last week in each month. The next will be on the subject of the “Signs of the Times, or Nearness of the Advent.”

We have in this issue, because of the length of our symposium articles, omitted our Mission Fields department, and with it an interesting article from Elder Haskell on South Africa.

THE price of extra copies of this number will be $1.00 per 100, 50 copies 50 cents. Where can a document be found which furnishes so much information on the second coming of Christ at so small a price?

Christ Is Coming Again

Christ Is Coming Again.—Those who know him now by his character, his word, his Spirit, will long to see “the Lord himself.” To them he will “not be a stranger.” We desire the personal presence of those whom we truly love. We may be comforted by their words, encouraged by their example, and rejoice, as with Jesus, in the power of the endless life given us, but all these things will intensify the desire, deepen the longing, quicken the hope of beholding him as he is, the Son of God, the Son of man—our Lord, yet our brother. The child of God can not separate our love for him from our love for his personal presence. To know him there is gladness of heart which mortal tongue can not express; to see him then will be joy unutterable even to tongue of immortals. It is home, glad, joyous home, forever. All trials are past, all tears forever wiped away, all sin forever banished, all strife ceased; death is no more. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

Fraudulent Healers

Fraudulent Healers.— The deaf-mute class can give ample evidence concerning the frauds practiced by the pretenders who pass as “healers” in these days. The Western Pennsylvanian, published at Edgewood, Pa., by the Western Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, bears testimony as follows:—

“The ‘great healer’ has bobbed up again. This time he is in Denver. He comes along every so often with promises to cure the lame, the blind, the deaf—in fact to do anything short of lifting a body from the grave. The people always flock to him and pour into his pockets their money, and there seems to be no way to stay the stream until it has run its course. The Denver man has great crowds of people waiting to be cured, and Superintendent Dudley says the work of the [deaf-mute] school at Colorado Springs has been interfered with ever since opening day by parents taking children to Denver for treatment. Not one of them has been benefited in the slightest degree, and it is very safe to say none will be.”

Persecution for Keeping One's Hat On

Persecution.—The Pacific (Congregationalist) says: “In Las Vegas, New Mexico, Mr. Cruz, an evangelist, being at a convenient distance from the procession of Corpus Christi, was asked by a policeman to take off his hat, but declined to do so, as did several men near him; the policeman knocked it off. On Mr. Cruz putting it on again, he was arrested for disturbing a religious meeting, and the court fined him $30, and thirty days in the county jail. The policeman gave himself up for striking him, confessed his guilt, and was fined $5.00. Has it come to this in the United States that it is a crime not to adore the host!”

It seems so, but, crime or not, it was persecution just the same. Believer or unbeliever, Mr. Cruz had a right to take off his hat or leave it on. It was doubtless idolatry to him to remove it; it was persecution on the part of the officer to compel him. But this is an exact parallel to the Sabbath-keepers of Tennessee. It is to them paying homage to a Romish dogma to observe Sunday different from other days. It is persecution to compel them to observe it. Mr. Cruz in keeping on his hat was exercising only the same right that others did in removing theirs, and the Sabbath-keepers of Tennessee and Maryland are exercising the same inalienable right in working on Sunday that others do in resting. Mr. Cruz infringed upon no right of his neighbor in keeping his hat on; it simply aroused their prejudice and bigotry. The seventh-day people of the states named do not in any way interfere with or disturb their neighbors—except as bigotry or prejudice is aroused. The two cases are parallel if the above report is true, though the religious press in general condemn the one and justify or are silent respecting the other.

A Good Basis, Why Not Adhere to It?

The recent Triennial Convention of Congregationalists in Syracuse, N. Y., proposed the following for a basis of union of the “evangelical” Protestant churches, the head of the committee who prepared it being, we believe, Dr. William Hayes Ward, editor of the Independent:—

“1. The acceptance of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, inspired by the Holy Ghost, to be the only authoritative revelation of God to man.

“2. Discipleship of Jesus Christ, the divine Saviour and Teacher of the world.

“3. The church of Christ, which is his body, whose great mission it is to preach his Gospel to the world.

“4. Liberty of conscience in the interpretation of the Scriptures and their administration of the church.”

Now this is good, but will Congregationalists accept of it themselves, say, for instance, the first and fourth, on the great and worldwide agitated question,—the Sabbath? Will they accept of the Sabbath of the Bible? If not, why not? And will they grant liberty of conscience to their persecuted brethren of the seventh day who hold to the first proposition? If not, why not? The Scriptures should be our standard whether others accept them or not. The only true basis of Christian union is the true basis of union with Christ. He places it on the acceptance of his word.

Honor Due to God

“Honor Due to God.”—An excellent number of the Bible Students’ Library, we believe (we have not had time to read the revision), is the pamphlet with the above title by E. J. Waggoner. It deals with tithes and offerings, and would prove a blessing to him who would read and do. No. 135, price 10 cents. It may be obtained by addressing Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal., or any of the offices of the International Tract Society.

The Pope's Claim to Temporal Kingdom

The pope poses as the vicar of Christ on earth. The inconsistency of the claim is manifest in his persistent demand for a temporal kingdom. This is just what Christ arbitrarily refused when he was on earth, and very plainly stated that his kingdom was not of this world. That an inferior representative should claim honors and emolument that his Principal emphatically disclaimed is the height of absurdity.

“STEPS TO CHRIST.”

We are glad indeed to see this valuable little work issued in another language, that of Portuguese, by the International Tract Society, Battle Creek, Mich. It is as finely printed as in any other edition, and presents this added feature, it is finely illustrated with eleven full-page cuts. This is the twelfth language, we believe, in which “Steps to Christ” has appeared. May it do as much good in this as it has in others, and thus lead many to Christ. Price, 60 cents, cloth. It may be obtained of the Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal.