Not the Product of Human Skill—A Gift Direct from God—Bodily Healing Only Partially Restores
By L. A. HANSEN
Health is not an open market product, something to be purchased for dollars and cents. It is not quoted in catalogues, nor is it sold over counters. It is not to be found in newspaper advertisements nor in billboard posters. It is not an article of commerce.
Health does not come in bottles or boxes. It is not dispensed from drug store shelves, nor is it dosed out in so many drops every so many hours. It does not consist in pills, powders, or potions.
Neither is health a product of mechanical device or apparatus. No amount of material appliances can impart it. Health does not lie in institutional equipment or appointments, however complete and perfect.
There is no “pathy” that can claim the power to impart health, no procedure that can insure it, no kind of manipulation or adjustment that can guarantee it. It does not rest with any system of medicine or therapeutic measure.
Human skill, scientific research, professional technique, trained ability, and the highest accomplishments of man, are in themselves wholly helpless in giving health. The doctor, the surgeon, and the nurse are unable to do it.
Health is not made by thinking it. It is not a product of thought, old or new. It cannot be evolved by process of reasoning. It is not the result of mental effort, though ever so well directed. Nor will non-belief in disease bring health.
No, health does not lie within human domain or the power of man alone. It is of God, a divine blessing. Though it is associated with human instrumentality, and comes through natural and material means, it is a gift of heaven. We may not recognize it in its true character, or realize whence it comes; but ever and always it is the exercise of divine power.
God alone can say, “I heal thee,” or, “Be thou whole.” It is the Lord who healeth all thy diseases.” In olden times, this was quite fully recognized. Modern invention has made no change in the fact. Our failure to credit God for all healing does not rob Him of the power to heal, nor does it give that power to man.
God pleases to work through human agency, and has given to man a mind to understand His ways of working, and has intrusted to him intellect and skill to make use of natural means of restoration. He enables man to invent and devise facilities for utilizing curative agencies. He desires, above all things, that man should prosper and be in health, even as his soul prospers (3 John 2), and to this end God makes every possible provision.
God has given us natural laws, obedience to which insures health. The violation of these laws brings disease. A sick man is a sinner, in that he has sinned against natural law, which law is a part of God’s decalogue. To get well, man must get right. He must get back to an observance of the laws of health.
It is not only right and proper, but highly important, that we study the laws of health, and know how to live in conformity to them. To make use of natural means of healing is not a denial of faith in God’s power to heal. It is fitting that we exercise faith in making use of such means, and that we be guided by an understanding faith in our selection of means. At no time are we to look upon the means itself as the healing agency. Whatever the means, it must always be in keeping with established and fundamental laws of health.
“Health . . . is of God, a divine blessing. . . . It is a gift of heaven.”
The blessing of physical health should bring to us spiritual healing, for it is but a part of the fuller blessing that God means us to have, and that He wants to give us. Though we may not know it, we come close to Him when His healing touch gives renewed physical life; and if we would, we could at the same time be made whole, which is, after all, true healing. To be cured of physical ailment is only partial healing.
A knowledge of our dependence on God for physical healing, and a realization of His power to heal, help us to sense our need of divine help for spiritual living, and to know better how to accept it. The joy of physical healing is but a taste of the satisfaction that comes with healing of the soul. Giving us a renewal of our earthly life may be a great blessing to us, but it is small as compared with the gift of eternal life. The renewed life here should indeed be so used that we may be sure of the long life of the future.
Healing is only partial if it reaches merely the physical being. The God “who healeth all thy diseases” is the same God “who forgiveth all thine iniquities,” and both of these acts are spoken of as among the benefits we should not forget. Ps. 103:1-3. The very material evidence we have in our physical healing should be so much evidence of God’s power and goodness, and, far from ever leading us to forget Him as the Healer, should lead us to complete healing.
Modesty in Dress
“THE outside appearance is an index to the heart. True refinement does not find satisfaction in the adorning of the body for display. A modest, godly woman will dress modestly. Simplicity of apparel always makes a sensible woman appear to the best advantage. A refined, cultured mind will be revealed in the choice of simple and appropriate attire. In the sanctified heart there is no place for thoughts of needless adornment.”
What Kind of Wine Was It?
By George E. Hollister
By GEORGE E. HOLLISTER
WHAT kind of wine did Christ make at the wedding in Cana? Is this matter susceptible of proof? Study carefully the following texts, then answer the question yourself. Let the Bible tell you the story in its own words.
THE CHARACTER OF GOD
“He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” John 4: 8.
“Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him.” Ps. 103: 13.
CHARACTER OF WINE
“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” Prov. 20: 1.
“Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.” Prov. 23: 29, 30.
“Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, that putteth the bottle to him, and makest him drunken also.” Hab. 2: 15.
“Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his color in the cup. . . . At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.” Prov. 23: 31, 32.
“O that thou hadst hearkened to My commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea. . . . There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked.” Isa. 48: 18, 22.
CHRIST'S TESTIMONY OF HIMSELF
“If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love.” John 15: 10.
“For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me.” John 6: 38.
And what is the will of God?—“This is462the will of God, even your sanctification.” 1 Thess. 4: 3.
THE CHARACTER OF ANOTHER WINE
“Wine that maketh glad the heart of man.” Ps. 104: 15.
This is the same that Joseph gave to Pharaoh. “And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.” Gen. 40: 11.
“Thus saith the Lord, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it.” Isa. 65: 8. Note that it is not a woe or a curse.
All that God made was “very good.” “And God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good.” Gen. 1: 31.
The ruler of the feast testified of the wine that Christ, the Son of God, made: “Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.” John 2: 10.
And this is the wine that Christ will drink with His redeemed ones in the kingdom of heaven. “I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom.” Matt. 26: 29.
Now, reader, you can answer the question; for in view of the above, the matter is settled forever.
FOR SALE
By J. B. Huguley
Twenty acres of alfalfa land, good stand, striped, checked.
Located on state highway, one fourth mile from Salida, seven miles from Modesto, California, in the noted Modesto Irrigation District.
Four-room plastered house, electric lighted, with all modern improvements, well, windmill, barn with room for 20 head of stock.
In addition to irrigation water from open ditch, you have access to an electric pump which throws 1,100 gallons a minute ten feet to water level.
Price, $8,000; $2,000 or $3,000 cash, balance on easy terms. Near S. D. A. church and school with two teachers.
I am not a real estate man, but have sixty acres adjoining this. For further information, address J. B. Huguley, Salida, California.
The Three Best Ways to and from California
The Overland Route via Ogden
The Overland Limited
Extra Fare Train
The Pacific Limited
The San Francisco Express
All Making Less than Three Days to CHICAGO
“The Sunset Route”
Via the Elegant Sunset Limited
Three Days to New Orleans
Connecting with Palatial Southern Pacific Steamers, or Trains for the East
“The Shasta Route”
Through the beautiful Shasta Region, through Portland and the North
All protected throughout with automatic block signals. Inquire of any agent, or
C. S. Fee, Passenger Traffic Manager
Flood Building, San Francisco
SOUTHERN PACIFIC
It's a Comfortable Trip to Sacramento
Through Cool and Shady Canyons
Fast Electric Trains Make the Trip Shorter
Transcontinental Scrip Honored
Oakland, Antioch & Eastern Railway
San Francisco Depot, Key Route Ferry
Nurses’ Class at Glendale Sanitarium
The Glendale Sanitarium and Hospital Training School for Missionary Nurses, Glendale, California, announces the opening of its next nurses' class August 15. We will be glad to receive applications from earnest, consecrated young people who desire a training that will fit them for more efficient service in the Lord's work. We wish to accept those who are already missionaries. A calendar will be sent upon application to the Glendale Sanitarium, Training School Superintendent, Glendale, California.
I Earned My Living
the Past Five Years by Selling Magazines
“I used to sell from 900 to 1,000 a month in South Carolina, in eighteen towns where I had regular customers. I worked about four hours a day, and in that time sold from 30 to 50 magazines. I noticed many good thoughts in your ‘Helps’ for magazine workers.”
This woman found her work of selling the Signs Magazine remunerative, educational, healthful, dignified, and sufficiently varied to be intensely interesting. Hers is not an isolated case. Many others are doing as well. Some who give only spare hours to it, manage to sell from 25 to 100 a month.
THE MOTIVE
Few if any engage in this work for mere profit. They believe the teachings found in the magazine, and wish to give publicity to them. The publishers will welcome others who may be like-minded. Additional agents are wanted in every state.
FORMER EXPERIENCE UNNECESSARY
Weeks and months of preparation are not needed. One does not have to become a clever, finished salesman. A few words only, and the magazine will do the rest, because its very cover and contents are an appeal to themselves. People are thinking and talking about questions that are satisfactorily dealt with in this magazine from month to month. That is why its circulation jumped from about 30,000 to 50,000 a short time ago.
The “Helps” referred to in the opening paragraph may be yours for the asking.
Send a trial order of 25 or 50 copies to our representative in your state. See list on page 15. 25 will cost you $1.25 (5c a copy); 50 will cost but $2.00 (4c a copy).
THE AUGUST NUMBER IS READY
SIGNS OF THE TIMES MAGAZINE
Mountain View, California
The Underwood
Is the machine upon which all world's speed and accuracy typewriter records have been established.
The Underwood
is the holder of the Elliott Cresson medal for superiority of mechanical construction.
Underwood
“The Machine You Will Eventually Buy”
UNDERWOOD BUILDING — NEW YORK
Advance Guard of Missions
The leavening influence of the gospel is seen in an amazing degree in China, India, and other heathen countries. Thrilling were the experiences of those pioneers who blazed the trail for the thousands of missionaries that have followed. More than fifty inspiring stories of the most prominent ones are told in the above named book.
347 pages. Plain cloth, $1.00; marbled edges and white side stamp, $1.50. Prices postpaid.
Our representative in your state (see list on page 15) can fill your order promptly.
Pacific Press Publishing Association
Mountain View, California
Prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven’s storehouse
“In Touch with God”
A New Book on Prayer
Bishop Hall said: “God cares not about the arithmetic of our prayers, how many there are; nor the rhetoric of our prayers, how eloquent they be; nor the geometry of our prayers, how long they be; nor the music of our prayers, how sweet our voice may be; nor the logic of our prayers, how argumentative they may be; nor the method of our prayers, how orderly they may be; nor even the divinity of our prayers, how good the doctrine may be. What He wishes is a childlike expression of love and tender solicitation.”
If you wish to know better how to talk with God, get a copy of “In Touch with God.” Its 300 pages offer many precious, helpful suggestions. You will find appropriate experiences and illustrations. Not a dull, uninteresting book, by any means, but vibrating with life and good cheer.
$1.00 postpaid, from any of our representatives. $1.10 in Canada. See list on this page.
Pacific Press Publishing Association
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA
German, Danish, and Swedish Magazines
THIRD QUARTER, 1915
(Facsimile of cover in one color, reduced)
Your German, Danish, and Swedish friends will enjoy the interesting articles in the new number of the Signs of the Times magazines in these languages. Some of the subjects are:
“When the Turk Leaves Europe”
“Armageddon—The Future War”
“Nearness of Christ’s Coming”
“Peace on Earth”
“Millennium”
The significant cover beautifully printed in three colors arouses interest at a glance.
The titles of these quarterly magazines are as follows:
“Zeichen der Zeit” (German)
“Tidens Tecken” (Swedish)
“Lys over Landet” (Danish-Norwegian)
Third quarter’s numbers—July to September—now ready. 5 to 40 copies, 5 cents each. 50 copies or more, 4 cents each. Order of your tract society.
Slip a Copy into Your Grip
Its entertaining pages will lend pleasure and profit to your vacation. The author shows that camping and outdoor recreation are conducive to a healthy state of body and mind.
“OUT-OF-DOORS” is one of the best substitutes for an outing to be found. To read it is akin to getting a whiff of fresh mountain air.
104 pages, cloth cover. Sixty cents of any of our representatives. See list on this page.
Pacific Press Publishing Assn. Mountain View, California
The Bread That Satisfies
By E. W. Catlin
“MAN shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matt. 4: 4. The word of God given through holy men of God as they were moved by the Holy Ghost is the “bread of life,” which men shall feed upon and live.
The word that was given through Moses while dwelling beneath the shadows of the great Egyptian pyramids is that “bread of life” which will sustain all nations that will partake of it.
The word that was given during the weary march across the parched deserts of Arabia is the “bread of life” that will strengthen the weary traveler of to-day.
The word that was given through the prophet Daniel amidst the sensual splendor behind Babylon’s impregnable walls is that “bread of life” which will satisfy the most fastidious of this pleasure-loving age.
The word that was given by the eminent apostle Paul, contemporaneous with the scholars of his age, is that “bread of life” which will furnish food for the ambitious scholars of all ages.
The word from the beloved John in the lonely solitude of Patmos is the “bread of life” that will comfort the lonely one now.
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” And so He could truly say, “I am the bread of life.”
