p. 15 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 33, No. 10. (3/6/1907)

Is It a Religious Measure?

By Editor

THE RESPONSE OF THE "CALIFORNIA CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE" TO THE REPLY OF THE "SIGNS OF THE TIMES" OF JANUARY 30.

THE "California Christian Advocate" of February 14 has the following. We print it entire that our readers may know just what is said (we wish the "Advocate" were as willing to print the other side):

Giving It to Us in the Short Ribs.

The "Signs of the Times," the organ of the Seventh-day Adventists, devotes some space to the editorial of the Advocate on the attitude of the Adventists toward the proposed Constitutional Amendment providing for a Sunday rest law. "The Signs of the Times" discerns that the measure is a "religious" measure disguised. The reason it is religious is because there is no other sort of a day of rest. "The rest day must be a religious day." "The Signs of the Times" declares we can not reply "to the averment that the Sunday law would interfere with 'religious liberty.'" The "averment" is too absurd. It carries its own denial. No normal man outside of the Advent fold could be induced to believe that a Sunday law which prevents employers from working their employees seven days in a week does in any way interfere with the personal rights of any one. The law protects the weak and dependent man against the greed and avarice of the employer. This Sunday rest law is in the interest of the laboring man. All this fine balancing in the air is well enough for a show, but the hard facts remain. The Seventh-day Adventists for the sake of their theory have united themselves with the saloon-keepers, the gamblers, the godless, the conscienceless, and made common cause with all the evil-doers in the State of California against the peace and good order of the State. Their contention is so utterly absurd, so morally blind, so intellectually dreary, that we believe their responsibility is limited.

First of all, let us say we are sorry that what we said reached only to the ribs. We wish that it might touch the heart.

A RELIGIOUS MEASURE.

Secondly, as to the "Advocate's" contention that is "not a religious" measure. This was stated repeatedly by those who spoke for the proposed amendment before the Assembly Committee. Yet another reason, strongly urged by the California Sunday-law advocates everywhere, is to the effect that California is disgraced because it has no Sunday law, that all the older States with their higher degree of civilization have that mark of superiority, while California stands almost alone in this respect; and that California ought to put itself in the ranks of the older States. Ordinary people could come to no other conclusion than this, that California asks just such Sunday laws as are on the statute books of other States.

Now, almost invariably, the older States do not try to hide the issue; the law is not for the workingman, but for the religious day called "the Sabbath," "the Christian Sabbath," or the "Lord's day," "commonly called Sunday." The laws are to guard that day and to prevent its desecration. Arkansas exempts from its law "persons who are members of any religious society who observe the Sabbath on any other day of the week than the Christian sabbath, or Sunday."

Some of these laws prohibit all amusement and recreation, and all travel by any means of conveyance, wagon, stage, or railway train. See also the laws of Connecticut and Delaware.

Georgia's law prohibits "bathing in any stream or pond of water in view of any road to or from any house of religious worship," and all convicted under the Sunday law are liable to be sentenced to the chain-gang, and may be sold for the length of their term, and the county may do this "upon such terms and under such restrictions as may subserve the ends of justice."

Other States copy New York's Sunday law, which reads (Penal code, section 259): "The first day of the week being by general consent set apart for rest and RELIGIOUS USES, the law prohibits on that day certain acts hereinafter specified, which are serious INTERRUPTIONS OF THE REPOSE AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY of the community." See also Minnesota's law. Practically all the States have the RELIGIOUS-DAY law, and make all exemptions, when made at all, for religious reasons. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated scores of times that those who have to bear the penalties of the law are not the saloon-keeper, the gambler, the brothel-keeper, nor the great corporations, or railway companies, but those who religiously observe some other day. This has been witnessed in Arkansas, Massachusetts, Illinois, Maryland, Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina.

Editors of secular papers have said again and again, in so many words, that almost every other kind of business has been in operation, men have been at work on their farms, in their orchards, and yet they have been passed by, and religious people who have been working have been the ones to suffer arrest; and that not because they have been openly or ostentatiously working. Ostentation is discountenanced by seventh-day observers everywhere. Sometimes they have been working in their shops, sometimes on the inside of buildings, sometimes far from street or highway, on their farms, in schoolrooms; but there were always certain bigots that were ready to spy them out and bring upon them the penalty of the law.

Here is a case in point both as to stability and tolerance of Sunday laws. The Arkansas Sunday law had up to 1885 exempted from its penalties those who observed the seventh day as the Sabbath. That year the exemption was repealed, showing the uncertain tenure of all such exemptions. The same power which grants exemptions can repeal them. Following that repeal, twenty-one prosecutions were instituted against seventh-day observers. Of this law, Samuel W. Williams, an ex-judge of the State Supreme Court, one of the foremost lawyers of the State, wrote, March 21, 1887:

"A test case was brought from Washington County; our Supreme Court could not see its way clear to hold the law unconstitutional, but the justices as man and lawyers abhorred it."

Judge W. M. Rose, of Little Rock, wrote under date of April 15, 1887:

"The act of 1885 was found to work oppressively on persons believing that Saturday is the Christian as well as the Jewish Sabbath. . . . It was manifestly unjust to them as well as to Jews who are sincere in their faith. . . . Nothing can exceed my abhorrence for any kind of legislation that has for its object the restraint of any class of men in the exercise of their own religious opinions."

Mr. E. Stinson, a farmer and teacher in Hot Spring County, not a seventh-day observer, wrote, March 27, 1887, regarding the indictments in his county:

"In each and every case the parties so indicted have been conscientious observers of the seventh day, so far as I know them. To my knowledge, others have worked on Sunday who did not observe the seventh day, and no bills were found against them. I believe the prosecutions to be more for religious persecution than for the purpose of guarding the Sunday from desecration. The men who have been indicted are all good moral men and law-abiding citizens to the best of my knowledge."

Under the date of April 9, 1887, Benj. C. Fitzhugh, Justice of the Peace at Malvern, Hot Spring County, writes:

"There were five or six of them (that is, seventh-day people) indicted (and some of them the second time) by the Grand Jury of this county, for the violation of this law. In fact, these people were the only ones that were indicted for Sabbath-breaking, during the two years in which this law was in force."

Thus it was in Tennessee. We could fill this paper full of the opinions of disinterested parties, observers of Sunday, belonging to the so-called evangelical churches, living in the vicinity of the prosecutions, who cried out against the religious intolerance that was manifest whenever any prosecution for violation of the Sunday law took place. Almost invariably the judges who convicted them expressed their opinion that they condemned because that was the law, and not because those who were condemned were in any true sense wrong-doers. Moreover greater effort is constantly being put forth, thruout the East to make their present laws more stringent.

The "California Christian Advocate" may endeavor to deceive its readers. The advocates of a Sunday law may endeavor to deceive themselves, that the law is not in the interest of the religious day, but the history of all religious legislation from Constantine to the year 1907 demonstrates to the contrary.

FOR THE LABORING MAN.

Thirdly, it is said that the Sunday law is in the interests of the laboring man, and a great plea is made for the poor laboring man, but when the proponents of the California measure were making their plea for Sunday, there stood within the committee room at least two representatives of the labor councils and Federation of San Francisco, who were diametrically opposed to the bill, and would have said so had opportunity been given, but who said after the hearing was over that they would oppose the law to the last limit. They said, also, that when they wished any one to speak for them, they could furnish their own speakers instead of trusting to the preachers. Certainly the laboring men of California and other States have able representatives, men who are capable of speaking at any time and on all occasions where labor interests are involved. It certainly was a strange thing that the laboring men, union or non-union, had no representative at the hearing for the enactment of the measure. It would seem that so many proponents might have included one labor representative. We have yet to be convinced that the "poor workingman" is such a slave, is so fearfully oppressed, as the "Advocate" and its allies would have us believe. He seems, unitedly, at least, to get about all he wants in California. Usually he gets from one and a half to two times the wage Sundays he does on other days. Furthermore, there is a law on the statute books of California now which grants him one day in seven. See Penal Code 722.

"The fine balancings in the air," is on the part of the "Christian Advocate" and its allies. It is an easy matter for the "Advocate" to state that "the averment that the Sunday law is religious is too absurd." Ridicule is one of the stock arguments that we always hear on the wrong side of a religious cause. Ridicule is the last ditch always of the man who suffers defeat; we should have said the last ditch but one. Persecution is the last.

NOT MEN, BUT PRINCIPLES.

Fourthly, we are charged with uniting ourselves with saloon-keepers and gamblers. On the true principles of religious liberty we have, as a body of Christians, stood almost alone, the many Baptists—regular and Seventh-day—have stood with us. But we are willing to stand alone for religious liberty, not for ourselves but for all men, every man, including the editor of the "California Christian Advocate." We stand there forever unless we reject Christianity. We believe in the exercise of the rights God-given. If saloon-keepers and gamblers look upon a right thing as right, that does not affect the right thing. Shall we condemn a good thing because those who engage in evil practices or occupations, which are tending to degrade their fellow men, look upon some things rightly? Is that evidence that the thing is wrong? A little less than two thousand years ago, the charge was brought against the Master that He had gone to be a guest with a man who was a sinner. One class of people at that time had divided the community into two, themselves the holy and orthodox ones, all others sinners. They themselves could not do anything wrong; the sinners could not do anything right; and not having the argument and the truth with them to meet the Christ of God and His wonderful teaching, they sought to prejudice the people by saying that He had allied Himself with the publicans and sinners. He said at that time to those critics: "The publicans and harlots go into the kingdom of God before you." As to whether that has application to-day or not, it is not for us to say; we are not putting ourselves in the Lord's seat. It is certainly true, however, that it is well worth consideration.

The sad, sad thing to us is that those who profess the religion of the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom the Father has given all power, and who has vouchsafed all power to His church, have so little grasp of that power that they must turn from the living springs of God and seek help from the broken cisterns of the world that can hold no water.

Sunday Bill Killed

By Editor

In an explosion of gas in a coal mine at Las Esperanzas, Mexico, February 18, of the 105 Japanese and Mexican employees, between sixty and eighty were killed.

Sunday Bill Killed.

According to the Portland (Ore.) Journal of the 15th ultimo, the Kay Sunday Rest Bill was indefinitely postponed by the Senate. Even the gentleman who introduced it, by request, Senator Kay, could not support it. There are one or two pending in that State, we believe.

The American Bible Society, thru its agent, Dr. John R. Hykes, at Shanghai, China, tells us that the Boxer trouble is not a thing of the past, that there are Boxer companies in various parts of China, which have their meetings, rites, ceremonies, etc. These Boxers are armed with knives and spears, and are prepared to kill foreigners. One can imagine that a well-matured plan of this kind would result in a fearful massacre of missionaries if there is a general society of this kind thruout China. Missionaries in various parts are always in danger, and we would appeal to our readers to keep them before the Lord in prayer, for His protection is worth more than armies.

Butte and Helena, Mont., are experiencing considerable difficulty with striking workmen. February 18 all the members of the Typographical Union in Butte and Anaconda refused to arbitrate with the publishers, who must accede to their terms if work is resumed. In Helena, the street-car, electric light, and telephone services are all disorganized, many of the employees, including the telephone girls, walking out, and with no indications of a settlement.

Running at a speed of a mile a minute, a train of electric cars on the New York Central met with a fearful accident February 16, in Bronx borough of Greater New York. The train of five coaches was crowded to its full capacity, and when a misplaced rail was encountered on a sharp curve, the cars were overturned, dragged over a hundred feet, and the passengers ground in the wreck. Most of the twenty-five killed were women. One hundred or more were injured.

In the Washington Legislature, a bill has been introduced to repeal the Sunday-closing laws so that they will apply only to liquor saloons. Its enforcement took altogether too broad a type to suit the liberal officials up there. How they will come out with it remains to be seen.

Every man who conducts himself as a good citizen is accountable alone to God for his religious faith, and should be protected in worshiping God according to the dictates of his own conscience.—George Washington.

Every one knows that New York is wicked, and yet Rev. Dr. Madison C. Peters tells us that it is away beyond any conception of which the public generally knows. He declares that a "lewd Parisian play is more at home in New York than in the French capital," right in the face of what some liberal men are teaching at the present time, that the theater is all right and is becoming elevated, etc. We will not place upon our pages the words of the doctor, they are among the things of which the apostle declares, "It is a shame even to speak of those things that are done of them in secret," and we may add, openly; and yet these low theaters are, as he truly declares, to the public taste. They are just what the public makes them. If the people did not want them, they would not flock to them in such mad crowds. But they show that they want just such foulness, and to the theater men there is money in it.

The First Falsehood Still in Vogue.

A clipping sent us from the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, of January 13, tells of some new views of a London preacher, said to be pastor of the City Temple, an unworthy successor of the late Joseph Parker, concerning Bible logic and truth. It is a sort of a modified Buddhism that Dr. Campbell teaches, holding that there is no real distinction between humanity and the Deity. Jesus is a perfect Example, but "every man is a potential Jesus Christ," or rather a man evolves Christ. He is a manifestation of "that side of the nature of God from which all humanity has come forth." He first states that the new theory, of course, holds to the immortality of the soul; but the Bible student can easily see that this is only another development of the first lie, "Ye shall not surely die;" "ye shall be as God." This new religion holds to both phases of the falsehood.

The "back-to-the-land" idea has proved wonderfully successful in Philadelphia and other cities, also in parts of England, where poor people have been given the privilege of using vacant lots for gardening purposes, the seed and tools being also furnished for the start. For eight years the work has been carried on, and in that time more than four thousand families have been assisted. The project has been successful financially, and the value both to those helped and the community in improved health and moral tone, increased comforts for wives and children, increased happiness for all, can not be estimated.

Redwood in the San Francisco Fire.

Shortly after the San Francisco fire, we were told by an eastern scientific journal, usually considered the very best authority, that the fire was much worse because so many of the structures were built of redwood. Doubtless the fire was worse because of the many wooden structures, but the idea of the eastern paper was that the redwood burned so much more readily than ordinary wood would have burned. To show the mistaken idea of the report in the paper referred to, the Redwood Association of California has issued a large pamphlet in which it shows the non-inflammability of redwood, and how the fire was stopped at a number of different points, when if the buildings had been of pine it would in all probability have swept clear thru to the end of the city. This publication gives some fine illustrations of the San Francisco fire, its work, and where it was checked at different points. The booklet may be obtained by addressing the secretary, A. B. Wilcox, 433 Monadnock Building, San Francisco.

A pamphlet has come to us entitled, "Recent Researches in the Japanese Slave Trade in California," written by Elizabeth Andrew and Katherine Bushnell. These women have been working for years to prevent, just as far as they can by their disclosures of the awful conditions existing in various lands, the degradation of women to the lusts of men. The Japanese women are peculiarly susceptible to the designs of wicked men. Up to the time of the earthquake last April, they tell us, there were no Japanese prostitutes in Oakland, with its population of nearly one hundred thousand. That population is now said to have nearly doubled, and there are more than 125 Japanese women of the character noted above, and a hundred more expected shortly. They tell of the fearful conditions there. Those who may wish to learn more of these conditions and give encouragement to these noble women, can write them at Oakland, General Delivery.

One of the most interesting general expositions held in this country will be the Jamestown Ter-Centennial Exposition, commemorating America's three-hundredth anniversary. It will be an elaborate naval, military, historical, educational, and industrial celebration. The grounds cover more than 400 acres, with two miles of water-front, facing the greatest waterway in the world, making the naval features peculiarly attractive. The military and naval pageant, according to the plans, will be the greatest ever witnessed. War vessels from the navies of all foreign nations are expected to participate, and on the international military encampment detachments of troops from other countries will unite with the United States in a series of maneuvers, parades, etc.

The passenger department of the Southern Pacific has issued a pamphlet showing the remarkable rejuvenation of the San Francisco hotels, and to meet the many rumors that there is inadequate hotel accommodation in that city. It also shows that the prices are very moderate, as compared with other cities thruout the country. Forty-nine hotels are listed, containing from twelve to six hundred rooms, with many apartment houses. It can be obtained by addressing Mr. Chas. S. Fee, Passenger Traffic Manager, Southern Pacific Co., San Francisco.

Professor Jamieson, of Pentwater, Mich., is issuing a publication that he calls a "Series of Science English," or reading by sound, in which he contends that the only way to make reforms in spelling is to go right at the very root of it. Those who wish to investigate the matter can write him as above. We feel, however, that his system is altogether too radical, and that it will go begging.

"Save the Boys," a monthly journal devoted to the purpose intimated in the title, published at Minneapolis, Minn., has suspended publication for lack of support. The editor had put forth noble effort.

Items of General Interest

By Editor

We can fill no more orders for the SIGNS of January 23. The edition is exhausted.

We are not thru with the Sacramento Sunday Amendment hearing of February 4. Our readers want to hear some of those "capital speeches" of which the California Christian Advocate speaks. They are on both sides of the question.

A Desired Work on Botany.—Mr. C. Russell Orcutt, editor of the Western American Scientist, of San Diego, is issuing a work on California botany. It will be issued in parts, each containing descriptions of about 100 species of the native trees and flowers. The price is $3.00 for twelve numbers. It is hoped that the first volume of the twelve parts will be completed during 1907. Mr. Orcutt's address is 3322 E St., near 23d, San Diego, Cal.

One of our readers of Bartow, Fla., kindly corrects a note in the SIGNS of Nov. 7, 1906, concerning Mrs. Jefferson Davis. Our note was based on a news item, presumably without thinking of the fact, well known, that Mrs. Jefferson Davis, recently deceased, was the second wife of Mr. Davis. As our correspondent says, Mr. Davis' first wife was the daughter of President Taylor, but his second wife who recently died was a Miss Howell, of Natchez, Miss. Thanks for the correction.

The workers in the SIGNS office are daily delighted with the advance omens of summer—spring is already here. The almond trees are full of beautiful white and pink blossoms, in places presenting solid banks of blooming trees for many blocks, or along the country road. Peach and plum flower-buds are just bursting, callas are opening, rosebuds are swelling, and soon the grassy fields and waysides will be a blaze of golden poppies. It is a beautiful earth the Lord has given us, and objects of beauty and purity greet the eye and heart of the lover of nature and nature's God on every hand.

"An Interesting Experience."—This is what the editor of the California Christian Advocate calls his presence at the hearing on the Sunday rest day amendment before the Assembly Committee on February 4, at Sacramento, Cal. He states that it was by "the courtesy of the Judiciary Committee" that the hearing was granted. In this, as in many other things, the Advocate is mistaken. The hearing was before the Committee on Constitutional Amendments. Of course, the editor thought that the "brethren of the church federation" "made capital speeches," while the opponents, the Adventists, "contended in a vague sort of way that the measure was religious, and therefore the State had no right to enact a religious law. They affected to believe such a law was the beginning of a bitter religious persecution." And they contended rightly. Just the justice and fairness they might expect under such a law is shown by the Advocate itself. It made certain statements, derogatory and insulting, a few weeks since, relative to Adventists and their opposition to the law exempting church property from taxation in 1899. We printed what they said in the SIGNS of January 30, and denied the statements in toto. Let the Advocate correct those statements or prove them. Common courtesy demands it, to say nothing of Christianity.

The Advocate further declares that the opponents of the bill "had logic, but no premises." That may be true to the editor, who seems to know neither religio-political history nor the "more sure word of prophecy."

The courteous editor puts this language in the mouth of Adventists: "Saturday is Sunday, Saturday is a religious day, therefore, Sunday is a religious day." We again say that no Seventh-day Adventist ever so argued. Such logic was hatched in the sanctum sanctorum of the California Christian Advocate. Let us tell him again that Saturday is not Sunday; Saturday is not a religious day (tho the Sabbath is a holy day). Sunday is a religious day, and is so held by "the church federation."

The Advocate continues, "Every effort was made to get them to agree to any sort of a day of rest, but they would not even agree to Saturday." No, sir; the law has no right to impose a day of rest upon free humanity. If Seventh-day Adventists numbered nine-tenths of the people of this State they would have no right to impose a legal seventh-day rest upon the one-tenth, nor upon their own membership. With God, they find no trouble with the Sabbath rest. The Committee on Constitutional Amendments reported back a substitute providing for one rest day in seven, but no specific day. Is the Advocate satisfied with this? We trow not.

NEWS FROM SACRAMENTO informs us that the substitute offered by the Assembly Committee on Constitutional Amendments for the Sunday Rest Amendment was voted down. Then Assemblyman Grove L. Johnson called up the original measure and endeavored to get it thru without debate. But after a thoro discussion, it was defeated by a vote of 46 to 20. So ought all such measures to perish. They are not proper subjects for legislation.

"Not Religious?"—The California Christian Advocate contends that the Sunday law demanded is not in the interests of religion, but is purely a civil measure for the workingmen. But the only ones who favored the measure before the committee who had it in charge were the "brethren of the church federation." And it is well to remember that the object of the national federation of which the above is a branch, is "to secure a larger combined influence for the church of Christ in all the matters affecting the moral and social condition of the people, so as to promote the application of the law of Christ in every relation of human life." Among these is the legal sabbath.

Let Californians remember that the advocates of Sunday law amendments contend that they are working for 100,000 poor slaves who are compelled to work Sunday in this State. But the fact remains that no labor representative appeared for the measure in the committee hearing, and the representatives of labor present were opposed to it, and so declared after the hearing. They were given no place in the hearing.

Asking in Vain.—Surely people have a right to ask of their teachers the meaning of the great important passages of the Bible. Before us lies a paper calling itself Christian, having a tremendous circulation. It also answers questions. In the issue before us is one question: "What is the meaning of the three angels' messages of Rev. 14:9-12?" And this is the answer:

"There was a prediction that an image should be set up which would have the power of speech, and a decree would be issued that all men should worship it; and that no man should buy or sell who did not worship it, and bear the mark or symbol of it (Rev. 13:15-18). It is this worship, whatsoever it may mean, whether the worship of money or of the head of a party, that the angel denounces."

We could not help wondering what satisfaction that could be to the one who asked the question. Here is one of the most fearfully solemn messages in all God's word. Connected with it is one of the most awful penalties pronounced in His word. Out of the dire dangers of which we are warned, God will deliver by most marvelous manifestations of His power. Those who faithfully heed the warning will develop a character which the Lord will delight to honor, and of whom He says, "Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." And yet we are told that we know nothing about it; it may mean this, it may mean that, it may mean something else. We appeal to our readers who know something of what this glorious message means to do all in their power to enlighten those who are anxious to know what it means, but are put off with such uncertainties as the above.

Peace and the Hague Conferences.—A national peace conference will be held in New York, April 14 to 16, in Carnegie Hall, beginning with a great musical consecration service, followed by brief addresses by Bishop Potter, Cardinal Gibbons, Edward Everett Hale, and others, and during the meeting it is expected that the British ambassador James Bryce, William J. Bryan, Samuel Gompers, Professors Chas. W. Elliott, Nicholas Murray Butler, David Starr Jordan, and others will address the meeting. This is preliminary to the International Peace Congress, which meets in Germany next autumn, and it will doubtless send delegates to The Hague Congress, which it is now said will meet in June, probably June 15. The SIGNS OF THE TIMES will have representatives at all these great conferences and will report them.

The Melbourne "Age," of Nov. 21, 1906, comes to us with a long article on what it calls, "The Individualistic Settlement," a write-up from the standpoint of the paper itself. It is a description of the settlement of our own people at Warburton, near Melbourne, where the Australian Signs of the Times is published. It describes the surroundings on the Yarra River as very beautiful indeed, tells us how the seventh day is kept as the Sabbath, how each of the employees has a portion of land to work for himself, and, in fact, presents an ideal condition, if there can be such in this world. The little settlement, we are told, is Wonwondah, and the natural water power supplies all that is needed for the printing plant and to irrigate the land.

Strength of character does not come by the forgiveness of God unless we continue to use the divine means for imparting strength. God gives us strength that we may overcome, but we add no strength to our character unless we use that strength in overcoming, in resisting the evil, in doing the good. When temptation comes we may fail, and God will forgive, but that imparts no strength. The strength comes by using His word to resist, overcome, the temptation, transmuting His word into our character. "I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the evil one." "Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee."

We have before noticed a chart published by W. H. Wild, of Hinsdale, Ill., entitled, "The Good Way," lithographed in nine colors, mounted and varnished, with a key giving description, making it especially helpful to fathers and mothers and Sabbath-school teachers. Those who are needing something of this kind would do well to write to the author at the above address.

A New "Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels."—Charles Scribner's Sons are publishing in two large volumes of nearly a thousand pages each, an absolutely independent dictionary of Christ and the Gospels. The advance sheets of this work indicate that it will be one of value indeed; the fullest, completest thing, without doubt, on the customs, times, and persons of the Gospel age.