p. 7 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 35. (9/1/1898)

AN OBJECT LESSON TO AMERICA.

What the Papacy Has Been Doing in America.

We have shown in our more recent issues that what Spain is the Papacy has made her. The Roman Catholic Church boasts that she is infallible, and does not change. It is declared that “what the church has done in the past for others, she will now do for the United States.” What she has done in the past for other nations may be read in the history of the Middle Ages, and in the Spanish nation to-day.

Previous to the Supreme Court decision, Feb. 29, 1892, which declared this to be a Christian nation, Roman Catholics did not consider this government “to be any government at all, or as capable of performing any of the proper functions of government;” but since the beginning of 1892, note the following significant items concerning Rome’s progress (we quote from “Rights of the People,” pp. 190–194):—

1. February 29, 1892, the Supreme Court of the United States declared it to be the “meaning” of the Constitution of the United States that it is “the voice of the entire” people of this nation, speaking in “organic utterances,” that “this is a religious nation,” and that “this is a Christian nation.”

2. July 11, 1892, there was published in this country, in the New York Sun, a letter from the Vatican announcing the plans of Leo XIII. respecting the United States, and through this the world. In this letter it said:—

What the church has done in the past for others, she will now do for the United States. . . . Like all intuitive souls, he hails in the United American States, and in their young and flourishing church, the source of new life for Europeans. He wants America to be powerful, in order that Europe may regain strength from borrowing a rejuvenated type. . . . If the United States succeed in solving the many problems that puzzle us, Europe will follow her example, and this outpouring of light will mark a date in the history not only of the United States, but of ALL HUMANITY.

3. In October, 1892, Francis Satolli, archbishop of Leponto, was sent to this country as the personal representative of the pope, ostensibly to represent the pope’s interest in the Columbian Exposition, but in reality to be permanent apostolic delegate at the capital of the nation, with assurance under the seal of “the fisherman’s ring” that whatever he does shall be confirmed by the pope.

4. September 5, 1893, at the World’s Catholic Congress, Chicago, this same Satolli delivered to “the Catholics of America” the following message from Leo XIII.:—

In the name of Leo XIII. I salute the great American republic; and I call upon the Catholics of America to go forward, in one hand bearing the book of Christian truth, and in the other the Constitution of the United States. . . . Bring your fellow-countrymen, bring your country, into immediate contact with that great secret of blessedness—Christ and His church. . . . Here you have a country which will repay all effort not merely tenfold, but, aye! a hundred-fold. And this no one understands better than the immortal Leo. And he charges me, his delegate, to speak out to America words of hope and blessing, words of joy. Go forward! in one hand bearing the book of Christian truth—the Bible—and in the other the Constitution of the United States.

5. A few days later, September 24, 1893, Prof. Thos. O’Gorman, of the Catholic University, Washington, D. C., having been announced in the published program to read a paper at the World’s Parliament of Religions on “The Relation of the Catholic Church to America,” changed the title to “The Relation of Christianity to America,” and declared that “by right of discovery and possession, dating back almost nine hundred years, America is Christian;” cited evidences in proof of “an acquaintance between America and the church in times when the only Christianity in existence was Catholic;” and declared that this is “a nation that shall find its perfection in Catholic Christianity.”

6. October 18 and 19, 1893, the jubilee of Cardinal Gibbons was celebrated at Baltimore. The night of the 18th Archbishop Ireland delivered a panegyric in which he exclaimed:—

I preach the new, the most glorious crusade. Church and age! Unite them in mind and heart, in the name of humanity, in the name of God. Church and age! . . . Monsignor Satolli, the church, and the age. Rome is the church; America is the age.

And at the banquet the night of the 19th, the archbishop again spoke to the following purpose:—

I do not know whether or not you appreciate the full value of the union you see typified here to-night,—the union of the Catholic Church and America; the fraternity between the church and the non-Catholics of the nation. The Vice-President of the United States comes here and takes his seat alongside the cardinal. The spirit of fraternity between Church and State thus typified, is the result of the work of our American cardinal.

7. September 21, 1894, a despatch announcing the return of Bishop Keane from Rome gave the following words of an interview with him:—

The policy of the pope in view of the late overtures in Italy, is the union of the church with the great democratic powers of the future—that is, America and France. This is his hope, and toward it all his remarkable energies are bent.

Three days later, September 24, the newspaper despatches stated that Bishop Keane was “the bearer of a receipt from Pope Leo XIII.,” of which the import was the following:—

The papal rescript elevates the United States to the first rank as a Catholic nation. Heretofore this country has stood before the church as a missionary country. It had no more recognition officially at Rome than had China. . . . By the new rescript the country is freed from the propaganda and is declared to be a Catholic country. . . . The importance, not only to Catholics, but to all citizens of the United States, of this radical change in the relations to Rome of the church in America, can scarcely be overestimated.

8. A letter from the Vatican, dated October 14, 1894, to the New York Sun, republished in the Catholic Standard (Philadelphia) of November 3, says:—

The United States of America, it can be said without exaggeration, are the chief thought of Leo XIII. in the government of the Roman and universal Catholic Church; for he is one of the choice intellects of the Old World who are watching the starry flag of Washington rise to the zenith of the heavens. A few days ago, on receiving an eminent American, Leo XIII. said to him, “But the United States are the future; we think of them incessantly.” . . . This ever-ready sympathy has its base in the fundamental interests of the holy see, in a peculiar conception of the part to be played and the position to be held by the church and the Papacy in the times to come. . . . That is why Leo XIII. turns all his soul, full of ideality, to what is improperly called his American policy. It should be rightly called his Catholic universal policy.

9. In his encyclical of January 6, 1895, to the hierarchy in America, Leo XIII. himself speaks, and says:—

We highly esteem and love exceedingly the young and vigorous American nation, in which we plainly discern latent forces for the advancement alike of civilization and of Christianity. The fact that Catholicity

with you is in good condition, nay, is even enjoying a prosperous growth, is by all means to be attributed to the fecundity with which God has endowed His church; . . . but she would bring forth more abundant fruits if, in addition to liberty, she enjoyed the favor of the laws and the patronage of the public authority.

10. The Catholic Mirror (Baltimore) of March 2, 1895, reported a sermon by “Father” Lyons, of that city, delivered Sunday evening, February 24, 1895, in which he said:—

It is strange that a rule which requires a Supreme Court to give final decisions on disputed points in our Constitution, should be abused and slandered when employed by the Catholic Church. Citizens and others may read the Constitution, but they are not allowed to interpret it for themselves, but must submit to the interpretation given by the Superior [Supreme?] Court. The Bible is the constitution of the Catholic Church, and while all are exhorted to read this divine Constitution, the interpretation of its true meaning must be left to the superior court of the church founded by Christ. The decision of our federal Supreme Court is final; the decision of the superior court of the church is final also, and, in virtue of the divine prerogative of inerrancy granted the church, infallible. The church has not, does not, and can not, permit the violation of God’s commandments in any case whatsoever.

11. March 11, 1895, the New York Advertiser printed a despatch of March 10, from San Francisco, as follows:—

SAN FRANCISCO, March 10.

Private advices received here give an interesting and important communication from Mgr. Satolli to officials in Guatemala, concerning that country’s following the course of Nicaragua in sending to Rome an envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary.

In the course of the document reference is made as to the propriety under the United States Constitution of official relations between Washington and Rome, and an interpretation given of that feature of the Constitution relative to the separation of Church and State. Mgr. Satolli’s letter was written while negotiations were pending about four months ago. It refers at length to difficulties in church administration in Guatemala, and suggests that certain changes desired by the government should be accompanied by an equivalent of serious advantage to render less burdensome the condition of the church in Guatemala. The document then adds:—

“The condition of the Catholic Church in the United States, in whose Constitution was inserted the article of separation of the State from any religious sect, can not escape our consideration. I might almost say it causes no surprise. If up to date no official relations exist between the government and the holy see, it is because the great majority of the population is anti-Catholic. In the meantime the church here is attaining possibly greater development and liberty than in other States.”

It is stated that this is the first time, so far as is known, that Mgr. Satolli’s mission has been extended outside of spiritual questions and has dealt with governmental subjects.

Now can any man read over this string of facts and deny that there is being carried on by the Papacy in the United States a fixed purpose to crowd herself into place in this nation as the “Christianity” of “this Christian nation”? Can any one fail to see that from the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Constitution to mean that “this is a Christian nation,” she has caught the cue, and not only holds to that as true, but has begun to take upon herself the interpretation of the Constitution as it relates to “Christianity, general Christianity”?

But more hereafter.

CHRISTIAN COURAGE.

By Robt. S. Greaves

THERE are many men who in their early lives have been servants of Satan, yet in later years have desired to become disciples of Christ by leaving off their many evil ways, such as gambling, thievery, drunkenness, etc. The road often seems rough at first, and it is hard to give up old habits of many years’ standing, yet these men persevere amidst the sneers and laughter of their former companions. Each victory won makes the next one easier, until at length they become faithful servants of the Lord.

The courage which such display for good against evil is not always realized, is often accused of being hypocritical, a name which all men despise and which most people would do almost anything to avoid having applied to them.

A soldier on the field of battle often receives promotion for facing difficulties that are not harder, and whilst doing the deed receives all possible help. But the Christian can not make a rush on the impulse of the moment and get through with everything, and reach the goal in view; and, instead of meeting with human help, often he meets only with evil usage.

But, O, the prizes are far different, and, however much harder the battle is to fight, it is well worth the trouble and perseverance, for our reward will not be just an earthly medal, but an everlasting crown! Instead of struggling with each other for the medals of this world, how much better it would be to strive for the heavenly crown!

ROBT. S. GREAVES.

GOD’S POWER AND LOVE.

By W. C. Mathewson

The Lord is great. Ps. 145:3. He is very great. Ps. 104:1. His greatness is unsearchable. Ps. 145:3. God’s greatness reaches far beyond the comprehension of His creatures. It can not be understood, because it is unsearchable.

What mind can conceive of a power so boundless that the whole universe of countless millions of revolving worlds, hanging upon nothing (Job 26:7), unsupported by any foundations, are held up in space, and not one world has broken away from its orbit? Think of the vast expenditure of energy required to support the immense weight of the universe. And what renders the mystery still more unfathomable, is the fact that the God who is performing this immeasurable work every moment of eternity’s time, night and day, without pausing for rest or sleep, “fainteth not, neither is weary.” Isa. 40:28. Surely His greatness is unsearchable.

This knowledge of God’s power, disconnected from His love, would be of no practical benefit to us. But united with God’s unsearchable power, is His deep and matchless love. The mind that can solve the mysteries of the one, can penetrate the exceeding depths of the other.

In Eph. 3:19 we read that the love of Christ “passeth knowledge.” That is, it is so far-reaching in its results that finite knowledge is too weak to attain to it. So God’s love is as deep as His power is great. Then His love is “everlasting” in its effects, because it is supported by the exhaustless resources of His power.

What motive had God in creating the universe and what, now, in sustaining it, but to provide homes for the subjects of His love? And what a source of unspeakable joy to the weak and trembling soul, to know that the omnipotent God of love, who is able to keep the worlds from falling, is able, and as fully willing, to keep insignificant man from “falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy”! Jude 1:24.

W. C. MATHEWSON.

Fergus, Mich.

LEANING HARD ON MY SAVIOUR’S BREAST.

By Nannie Beauchamp Jones

I HAVE somewhere read That our Saviour once said, “Child of My love, lean hard on Me.” And I long to lean, With nothing between That great heart of love and myself.

I do lean hard; I am trusting His Word; And, safe on my Saviour’s breast, Myself and my care Are resting there, In the arms of His infinite love.

MRS. NANNIE BEAUCHAMP JONES.

Baxter Springs, Kansas.

PROCLAIMING LIBERTY.

FROM the California Independent, published at Los Angeles, Cal., we clip the following:—

Flags and flowers were in evidence at the Boyle Heights last Sunday morning, and a large congregation assembled to attend the patriotic service announced for that time. The special music by the choir was sweetly rendered, the congregational singing good, and a most pleasing feature of the service was that of the children of the Sunday-school marching onto the rostrum with their color-bearer, and singing “America,” with spirit and melody. The pastor’s address was based on the lines, “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land and unto all the inhabitants thereof.” . . . A strong, deep spirit of patriotism pervaded the address, and it was meat in season. It met with a hearty response in the hearts of the hearers.

The proclamation of liberty in the scripture quoted above had reference to the jubilee year commanded to Israel. “In the year of this jubilee ye shall return every man unto his possession. And if thou sell aught unto thy neighbor, or buyest aught of thy neighbor’s hand, ye shall not oppress one another.” Lev. 25: 13, 14. There is nothing in the patriotism of this country, or manifested under its banner to-day, that indicates any such good prospect as contemplated in that proclamation. The popular contention for liberty in this country to-day is for liberty abroad. It is a demand for other people to let the oppressed go free, and restore possessions; there is no thought of doing anything of the kind at home. Here the taxes may be increased on every hand, the rich may continue to grow richer by the process of the poor being oppressed into greater poverty; but that is all “patriotism” and “enterprise,” all made to appear as an indication of great prosperity, when done at home. But we can wrap the “Stars and Stripes” around us, and march to the house of worship to the tune of “America,” and make righteous demands upon other nations to proclaim liberty throughout their lands; and if they do not do so to our liking, we will take our army and navy, enlarged to several times their normal size, and go forth to enforce our edict upon them. Yes, even our “Christian” and “charitable” societies will lend their material aid to get in good readiness the army and navy to kill and to destroy the people and property of another nation for doing the same things that have been and are being done in our own land. It would be interesting to know how many of the “Christian patriots” of this country would be willing, against their own financial interests, to practically carry out at home the obligations of the jubilee year. The idea is grand to contemplate in the long ago, or even now if applied in Armenia or in Cuba; but in the United States—well, we’ll cover it over with the American flag, and drown it in “spread eagle” oratory. W. N. G.

The Path of the Just

“THE path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” Prov. 4 : 18.

Every Difficulty Overcome Is Made a Stepping-Stone

“EVERY difficulty overcome is made a stepping-stone.”

LIFE AND LIGHT.

“In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.” So says the evangelist, of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Life.

Life and light are in a way synonymous terms. In the physical world light comes in the sunlight. In other words, God gives life to the physical world in the light of the sun. If all sunlight were cut off from our world, it would not be long ere all life—vegetable and animal—would become extinct.

What the sun is to the world, flooding it with a wealth of beaming, fructifying life, that Jesus Christ is to the spiritual world. He is “the Sun of Righteousness.” He is “the Light of the world.” “He is the Light of Life.” There is no part of the earth where His light is not. He has written His Gospel of life and light not only in His holy Word, the Bible, but in the pure, crystal water, in the strong, rigid rock, in the mighty mountain, in the fertile valley, on the tiny grass blade, in the noble, symmetrical tree, in interlacing fern and fragrant flower, in the azure heavens, in the brilliant bow of promise. In all these has Jesus Christ written with the pencil of physical light the Gospel of God, the light of life.

Man may not see it. We may shut our eyes to the light of the sun.

“A finger’s breadth at hand will mar A world of light in heaven afar, A mote eclipse a glorious star, An eyelid hide the sky.”

And so may man wilfully close his eyes, or he may willingly allow ambition, pride, hate, pleasure, appetite, passion—self in some form—to hide from his sight the great flood of spiritual light flowing from the heavenly Fountain. But the light is there—there all the time. God is everywhere present by His Spirit, and “God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.”

Darkness is sin and selfishness, and ignorance of God. Those who are in sin are those “having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.” Satan is “the prince of the power of darkness.” Those who consent to be led by him are children of darkness, “in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

Step out of the darkness, sin and self, into the light of God’s love. In other words, yield to God. Give up yourself, your all, to Him, for He has purchased all. Accept of His Word, the Word of life and light, and yield to do what it commands to be done, to trust when it says trust, to believe all that it has promised, to yield all that it says to yield, and to receive all that it asks you to receive,—Jesus Christ in His fulness. Do this with all the heart, with an eye single to God’s glory, and “thy whole body shall be full of light.” Yea, it will be full of life.

As you use that light to God’s glory, as you let it shine out to those in darkness, as you let the life currents of holy endeavor flow through you to others, that life will cleanse out the disease of soul and body, and bring healing to every fiber of the being; for “if the spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.” “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus [separation from sin, Rom. 6:10], that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.”

We are glad that there is coming into the Christian world longings for the Spirit, the power, the life of God. It is not a theory; it is not a fancy; it is not imagination; it is not a matter of the future alone: God is a present and ever-living God. His life is the present all-powerful life of His eternal Spirit. It will come into the heart and soul and strength of every one who will open his ears to hear its melodies, open his eyes to see its glories, open his mouth to taste its goodness, reach out his hands by faith to grasp its eternally real blessings, yield himself to the harmony of that life, that every fiber of his being may be vibrant with the heavenly melody, the life of God. O, “receive ye the Holy Ghost”!

LOOK AT JESUS.

By T.

It is by looking at Jesus that we get correct views of ourselves. He shows us our imperfections and reveals to us what we should be. While we look at ourselves we will either become proud, boastful, and exalted, or else we become discouraged and sink in despair because of our manifest imperfections. The imperfections are just as apparent in the one case as in the other. But the proud and boastful man does not see his faults, because he keeps his eyes closed to that “True Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” Neither does the man who is buried in despair see his faults in their proper light; for he is looking only to himself, and therefore has no standard by which the real character of his guilt and troubles should be measured.

The haughty, self-satisfied man feels secure. He has persuaded himself that he is all right, and that every act of his life is perfection itself. But how grossly is he deceiving himself! He has made his own standard by which he is measuring himself, and as he is most naturally prejudiced in his own favor, he unconsciously bends that standard to fit every imperfection in his crooked character.

The man who is in gloom and despair has also selected a false standard, and therefore does not see himself as he should. He may have a dark enough view of his sin. He is doubtless viewing all his troubles in a very much exaggerated light. But all the time he is only looking to himself, or some other human arm, for aid. He would gladly escape, but he sees no way out. Despair, hopeless despair, is holding him in chains of torture.

Now what both of these classes of persons need is to see Jesus. The self-sufficient, selfish, self-satisfied man, when he beholds the perfect and lovely Jesus, will see his own miserable imperfections. He will see how blinded he was in setting any standard before his mind that was below the divine Pattern. He will rejoice to know the Lord, and gladly will he yield to His discipline, that all the accumulated evil of his life may be washed away.

Then the poor, gloomy, despairing one, as he turns to Jesus, hears Him saying, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:28. Study this word of the Master. It is a wonderful invitation. “Come unto Me,” is the entreaty of the Man of Calvary. And “all,” not a select few merely, but “all ye that labor and are heavy laden” are invited. And then hear the positive promise, “I will give you rest.”

And, O, the “rest” in Jesus! It is indeed the perfection of rest. It blends every emotion of the soul into a surpassing joy and peace. Do you know Jesus? If not, accept His invitation, “Come unto Me.” And you will then know for yourself that He does “give you rest.”

FOR PRINCIPLE'S SAKE.

By Editor

How few there are who stand for principle! How many are willing to condemn those who do, and attribute to them some sordid motive, rather than to acknowledge the noble sacrifice which they make for the sake of truth, of consistency in morality and profession,—for the sake of Christ! How few know or realize what it means to sunder for the sake of Christ and loyalty to His cause the personal affections and relations, the heart ties and associations of years, which take hold of every sympathetic cord of one’s being! We respect one who thus acts, even tho we believe him to be mistaken.

These and many more thoughts crowd in upon us as we read the letter by Elizabeth Andrew and Katharine Bushnell, to the Union Signal (the W. C. T. U. organ), dated London, June 28, 1898, and appearing in the Signal of August 4. These ladies believe that the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union has really departed from its high standard, and has assumed an attitude of compromise, (1) in representing “that it is necessary to assume a different attitude toward the liquor traffic according to customs and public opinion, as prevailing in different countries;” and (2) in the “declaration that in the full light of a verbatim report of Lady Henry Somerset’s testimony before the Royal Commission on Liquor Licensing Laws you [the Union Signal, representing the W. C. T. U.] yet boldly declare your loyalty to her as a leader for the W. C. T. U., and state that you would have voted for her re-election at Toronto—at the time that she was supporting a scheme for the government management of the Indian army evil.” From these and other things these ladies conclude that the W. C. T. U. has been changing its attitude towards the liquor traffic and the social evil, from one of absolute hostility to one of compromise.

And not wishing to thus compromise with evil or countenance such compromise, these ladies tell us that they believe that their souls will be saved or lost “according to whether or not we uphold the same moral standard the world over, without regard to custom or rank; without regard to whether the multitude is with us, or we

walk alone with God in the dark.” They thus conclude:—

To-day we send our withdrawal of local membership in the W. C. T. U. Henceforth we are clear from the blood of all those who, in the organization, make compromise with iniquity. Heretofore, we have felt it a duty to sound the trumpet and warn of the approach of the enemy, as God commands the watchman to do in Eze. 33:1–9. That task is over, for the banner of “expediency” is now held aloft, and the leaders of the W. C. T. U. call on the rank and file to follow. The enemy is here. On each one individually now rests the responsibility to act. We go our way, a widely divergent one from that of the leaders of the W. C. T. U. But be it known that, like the house of David, the sword will not soon depart from the W. C. T. U. for the folly that hath this day been wrought in Israel.

ELIZABETH ANDREW, KATHARINE BUSHNELL.

London, June 28, 1898.

Those who do not know Mrs. Andrew and Miss Bushnell may sneer or blame or pity; but we know that this step cost them long agonizing nights of prayer, and we may believe the severing of many a cord of tender relationship. They have labored long and hard and valiantly in what they believed to be the work to which God has called them; they have met the organized hosts of evil at every step, and in God’s name have gained victories. But their hardest blow is to see the reform forces wavering, lines breaking, and leaders ignorantly or traitorously compromising with the foe.

But we bid these noble women, and every other person fighting the battles of God, to be not discouraged. “Put not your trust in princes.” Look to God; in Him is strength. Study His Word; receive of His Spirit; go forth in His might. We shall often be disappointed here, especially if we look to man; but in Jesus Christ we shall not be ashamed nor confounded, world without end. As to Lady Henry’s present attitude we do not know, but the W. C. T. U. can better afford to lose all the titled officials in the world who are not whole hearted than one noble soul who holds Christ and principle above compromise or expediency.

CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP.

By T.

Every one is supposed to be a citizen of some country. And whatever country that may be, the good citizen will be perfectly loyal to the government of that realm. He will uphold its rulers, obey its laws, and seek in every way he can to build it up. And above everything else he will see to it that his affections are not stolen by some hostile and inferior kingdom.

It is perfectly evident that no man can be a citizen of two countries at one and the same time. For there never can be two countries, no matter how friendly they are, whose interests are absolutely identical. If two such countries could be found, they would of themselves blend into one. So, then, the citizen’s affections and loyalty must center in some one government to the exclusion of all others.

Men can recognize the foregoing principles clearly as they apply to the governments of this earth. But why do they not see them just as clearly when applied to the government of heaven? The man who bestows his allegiance upon the United States would be cast out as a traitor if he should be found either openly or secretly connecting himself with some other nation. The men of this world are very quick and sensitive upon this point. They seem to have a clear and jealous perception of the idea that no man can belong to two countries at one and the same time. And the man who may attempt it is stigmatized as a traitor at once.

It often happens that either business or some other interests or necessities will call a man to leave his own country to sojourn in a foreign land. But this dwelling in a foreign realm does not of itself make him a citizen of that realm. In order for him to become a citizen there, he must first renounce the country to which he holds his present allegiance, and then take out naturalization papers and become adopted by the government of his new choice.

Now since it is a recognized principle that no man can be a citizen of two countries of this earth at one and the same time, how much more clearly should it be recognized that no one can be a citizen of this world and at the same time be a citizen of Christ’s heavenly kingdom. There are many things in which the nations of earth stand on common ground. But this world, with all its sins, its crimes, its vanities and follies, has nothing in common with the kingdom of heaven. Nations of this earth may form alliances to carry out common designs and desires. But Christ’s kingdom has nothing in common with the world.

In that wonderful prayer of the Master as recorded in the seventeenth chapter of John, the record is: “I have given them Thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 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.” Verses 14–16.

We should accredit the King of the heavenly kingdom with being authority upon this subject. “They are not of the world,” says the Master, “even as I am not of the world.” This is a positive, direct, and authoritative statement. “They are not of the world,” is the language of the divine Lord.

To be sure, there always has been and always will be multitudes of professors who claim to be following Christ, yet they are all absorbed in this world. They do not read the Bible, unless it is just occasionally. They have not even read it through, much less closely studied it. Perhaps they have not done so much in all their lives as to read one of the books of the Bible through. Then how can such persons, no matter what or how much they profess, expect to represent the Lord Jesus Christ and His kingdom?

Is it any wonder that they devote their lives to the politics of this world? that they should consider it incumbent upon them to attend every caucus, and spend their time in every way they can in looking after the affairs of this present evil world? They have not studied the Master’s words, neither have they partaken of His Spirit, and of course they could not be expected to follow Him.

But what a fatal delusion it is for men to be seriously led into the belief that they can be of this world and absorbed in and identified with all its interests, and still be faithful representatives and citizens of the kingdom of heaven! The god of this world is mammon. The men of this world have no higher aim than self. Each one is rushing hither and thither looking after his personal temporal interests. Very few thoughts of God and eternity enter his head, unless he is face to face with death or some other great calamity. And yet in such a world, many persons hold themselves as citizens, while they claim at the same time to belong to the unselfish, benevolent, and pure kingdom of the Lord and Master, Jesus Christ.

“No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye can not serve God and mammon.” Matt. 6:24. Thus the Lord plainly says, “No man can serve two masters.” We should acknowledge the literal truth of this divine statement. The Christian has a more important work to do for the world than to dabble in its politics and generally mix up with its affairs. His life should be given to pointing men to the way of escape from the universal ruin into which this world is about to plunge. And he has not a moment of time for anything else.

Question Corner

By Editor

“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.

853. The Great Battle—against Whom?

How is it that in the great battle of the last days, when all nations are at war with one another, all are said to be fighting against God? B.

God counts that done against Himself that is done against His children. In the last days the world will be brought to decide between the Word of God and the traditions of men. Those who reject the message which the Lord sends, will turn against His messengers, even as the Jews who rejected Christ turned against Him, even as King Ahab and his wife Jezebel turned against Elijah. See Rev. 12:17; 13:16, 17; 15:2; 17:14; Dan. 7:21, and other passages, which show that the people of God will be persecuted by the powers of earth. But God’s people put their trust in Him, and the Lord’s weapons will be the fruit of the sinner’s own doings, the pouring out of the seven last plagues. See Revelation 16; Job 38:22, 23; Joel 3:2; Jer. 25:31–33; Isa. 66:15, 16. The powers of earth are united only in one thing, the destruction of God’s people. They afterward war among themselves; and the presence of the Lord consumes them all.

854. The Office of the Law. Gal. 3:19.

WILL you kindly explain Gal. 3:19: “It [the law] was added because of transgressions, till the Seed [Christ] should come to whom the promise was made”? As I understand it, it is to Christ’s coming, in His second appearing, that the promise refers, but how does this affect the law? W. J. V.

Our querist is right in his understanding of the time when the promise applies. The promise will be fulfilled to Christ when He comes again. See Eze. 21:25–27. “Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added [Deut. 5:22] because of transgressions.” Let the parallel text, in Rom. 5:20, explain: “Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound.” “That sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.” Rom. 7:13. The law was spoken, added in written form, that the blinded conscience of sinful man might see more clearly how sinful is sin. “By the law is the knowledge of sin.” It points out sin in the sinner, shows him to be without hope and doomed to death, in order to lead him to Christ, that he “might be justified by faith.” Gal. 3:24. But when Christ comes, character will forever be decided. This office of the law, to convict of sin, will be no more; but that law will be written on the hearts of God’s people to all eternity.

855. R. W. P. Cain’s Wife was one of the daughters of Adam and Eve. See Gen. 5:4. Some of these may have been born long before Seth, who is named because through him came the righteous posterity of Adam.

Continue reading: FEEDING THE POOR