p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 51. (12/24/1896)

Earlier text: LESSON III.—SABBATH, JANUARY 16, 1897

THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES

By Editor

FOR 1897.

The SIGNS OF THE TIMES presents as an appeal to the public Great and Important Truths, told in simple English, and backed by the Living Word of God.

What It Has Been

its readers well know. In 1896 every phase of the Gospel of Christ was set forth more or less fully. The great and important doctrines which are agitating the world to-day have been discussed with lucidity and simplicity.

Many of the subjects presented were illustrated; and our five symposium numbers, if published in pamphlet form, would have brought at low rates one-half the price of the paper. It is safe to say that no religious weekly in the land presented before its readers more Gospel Truth than did the SIGNS OF THE TIMES during 1896.

What Shall It Be in 1897?

We expect, by the blessing of God and the coöperation of our subscribers and friends, to do even better in the year 1897. It shall be our aim to "abound more and more."

While it will have as its friends and contributors devoted servants of God, those who have made the science of Christianity their study and practice for years, and who know how to write, yet it boasts not in men or great names. Its boast is in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Among the Great Subjects considered will be the following:— The Scriptures and Their Inspiration, Justification, Regeneration and Sanctification, Life in Its Relation to Righteousness, Life through Christ, and How Obtained, Practical Christian Life and Godliness, The Coming of the Lord and What That Coming Means, Church and State, Their Union and Separation, The Dangers That Threaten Both, The Sabbath in Its Various Phases, Great and Important Prophecies.

The SIGNS OF THE TIMES will be published in 1897 as a 16-page, illustrated religious weekly, for the entire family. It will be printed from new type. Bright, brief, and original articles will characterize the paper in the momentous year before us.

Never was there such a time of expectation and dread over what is coming to pass as now. THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES will tell

What These Things Mean in the Light of Prophecy.

Various departments will be maintained which will contain instruction from the word of God on the living issues of the time and the vital teaching of the Gospel; some of the more striking indications of the trend of public sentiment, and the omens of the time; helpful suggestions, articles, and stories for the home life; missions and mission fields will receive attention; Sabbath-school and Sunday-school lessons will be expounded; questions on scriptural and historical subjects will be answered; and notes and news of important events will be recorded from week to week. These departments are as follows: Editorial, General Articles, Outlook, Our Question Corner, Missions, The Fireside, Our Sabbath School, International Sunday School, and News and Notes.

But few advertisements will be found in the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, and these will, so far as human foresight can see, be proper for a religious paper, and reliable.

The price of this large 16-page weekly illustrated paper is placed at the exceeding low price of only One Dollar a year. Directions as to how to send money will be found on this page. Special terms in clubs and to agents. See our valuable offer on the opposite page.

Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, OAKLAND, CAL.

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By Editor

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TEACHERS' BIBLE PREMIUM OFFER

By Editor

For January and February, 1897

During the first two months of 1897 the SIGNS OF THE TIMES offers to all NEW SUBSCRIBERS a chance to secure a Magnificent Self-Pronouncing Teachers' Bible at an astonishingly low price. Never before have the publishers been able to make such

An Unparalleled Offer

This Self-Pronouncing Teachers' Bible is American made—not a cheap reprint, but a copyrighted edition from new type set plates. It has the chapter numbers in plain figures, contains a Complete Series of Helps with Illustrations, and a "Word Book" which embraces a Concordance, Subject Index, Gazetteer, Bible Dictionary, Etc., all in one Alphabetical Arrangement. By consulting the Word Book you can find at once what you want, and do not need to look in half a dozen places for it.

Few people can read and properly pronounce the difficult proper names in the first chapter of Matthew, but the Self-Pronouncing feature in this Bible will enable anyone to read them at sight.

This new Bible has Minion type (see specimen page herewith), is bound in American Morocco, has silk head bands, a silk marker, a silk-finish lining, and red under gold edges, and will be furnished to bona fide new subscribers, together with a year's subscription to the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. If ordered during the month of January or February, 1897, for $2.50. Both Bible and Paper sent post-paid.

WE GUARANTEE the Bible to give satisfaction, and anyone who is not satisfied with it may return it to us, within three days after receipt, and we will refund his money.

ADDRESS, SIGNS OF THE TIMES OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA

(This page is an exact reproduction of one page of our Premium Bible and shows size of the type.)

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO

SAINT MATTHEW.

CHAPTER 1.

1 The genealogy of Jesus Christ; 18 Mary's miraculous conception; Jesus is born: 21, 23 his names.

THE book of the ^a generation of Jē'sus Christ, ^b the son of Dā'vid, the son of Ā'brā-hăm.

2 Ā'brā-hăm begat Ī'saac; and Ī'saac begat Jā'cob; and Jā'cob begat Jū'das and his brethren;

3 And Jū'das begat Phā'rēs and Zā'rā of Thā'mar; and ^c Phā'rēs begat Es'rom; and Es'rom begat Ā'ram;

4 And Ā'ram begat Ā-mĭn'a-dăb; and Ā-mĭn'a-dăb begat ^d Na-ăs'son; and Nā-ăs'son begat Săl'mōn;

5 And Săl'mōn begat Bō'ŏz of Rā'chăb; and Bō'ŏz begat O'bed of Rŭth; and O'bed begat Jĕs'se;

6 And Jĕs'se begat Dā'vid the king; and Dā'vid ^e the king begat Sŏl'o-mon of her that had been the wife of U-rī'as;

7 And Sŏl'o-mon begat Rō-bō'am; and Rō-bō'am begat Ā-bī'a; and Ā-bī'a begat Ā'sa;

8 And Ā'sa begat Jŏs'a-phăt; and Jŏs'a-phăt begat Jō'ram; and Jō'ram begat Ō-zī'as;

9 And Ō-zī'as begat Jō'a-thăm; and Jō'a-thăm begat Ā'chăz; and Ā'chăz begat Ē-zĕ-kī'as;

10 And Ē-zĕ-kī'as begat Ma-năs'sēs; and Ma-năs'sēs begat Ā'mon; and Ā'mon begat Jō-sī'as;

11 And Jō-sī'as begat Jĕch-o-nī'as and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Bāb'y-lon.

12 And after they were brought to Bāb'y-lon, Jĕch-o-nī'as begat Sā-lā'thī-el; and Sā-lā'thī-el begat Zō-rŏb'a-bĕl;

13 And Zō-rŏb'a-bĕl begat Ā-bī'ud; and Ā-bī'ud begat Ē-lī'a-kĭm; and Ē-lī'a-kĭm begat Ā'zōr;

14 And Ā'zōr begat Sā'doc; and Sā'doc begat Ā'chĭm; and Ā'chĭm begat Ē-lī'ud;

15 And Ē-lī'ud begat Ē-le-ā'zar; and Ē-le-ā'zar begat Măt'than; and Măt'than begat Jā'cob;

16 And Jā'cob begat Jō'seph the husband of Mā'ry, of whom was born Jē'sus, who is called Christ.

17 So all the generations from Ā'brā-hăm to Dā'vid are fourteen generations; and from Dā'vid until the carrying away into Bāb'y-lon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Bāb'y-lon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

18 ¶ Now the birth of Jē'sus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mā'ry was espoused to Jō'seph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Hō'ly Ghōst.

19 Then Jō'seph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Jō'seph, thou son of Dā'vid, fear not to take unto thee Mā'ry thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Hō'ly Ghōst.

21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JĒ'SUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Em-măn'u-el, which being interpreted is, God with us.

24 Then Jō'seph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JĒ'SUS.

CHAPTER 2.

1 Wise men enquire after Christ. 13 Joseph fleeth into Egypt. 16 Herod slayeth the children: 19 Christ brought out of Egypt.

NOW when Jē'sus was born in Bĕth'-lĕ-hĕm of Jū-dæ'a in the days of Hĕr'od the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jē-ru'sa-lĕm,

2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

3 When Hĕr'od the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jē-ru'sa-lĕm with him.

4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

5 And they said unto him, In Bĕth'-lĕ-hĕm of Jū-dæ'a: for thus it is written by the prophet,

6 And thou Bĕth'-lĕ-hĕm, in the land of Jū'da: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Is'ra-el.

7 Then Hĕr'od, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

8 And he sent them to Bĕth'-lĕ-hĕm, and

The Right Place to Put It

By Editor

The Right Place to Put It.—A missionary in one of the islands of the South Pacific, a hard, conservative field, writes that 'sometimes when we see so many of the workers who come out full of zeal and courage become anxious to go home again, we are discouraged for them [Italics ours]; but the work here is under the direction of the hand of the Lord, and it can not fail [Italics his]. We may fail, but his work never.' And this, we thought, is the right place to put the discouragement, and also the faith. Would that every missionary had the spirit to so give himself to his work that he could in faith and verity say, 'Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.' And this is simply a desire that all might be Christians indeed; for a true follower of Christ is a true missionary.

We have been receiving of late many papers and pamphlets, containing articles which the senders wish reviewed. While we are glad to receive these publications, yet we could not possibly notice a tithe of the matter thus sent. However, our readers will find all opposition to the truth of God's word amply met by the positive evidence from the word of God which is from week to week appearing in the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. It does not add to the truth to issue a 'counterblaste' against John Smith or Pedro Yorke because he does not agree with it, and it stirs up unnecessary strife. Our primary object is to teach the Gospel. Secondarily and incidentally it is to attack and to show the evil of sin and error; yet our war is not against men, but principles and systems.

MEN VERSUS SYSTEMS.

By Editor

It is one thing to attack men, hold them up to ridicule before the public, defame them, ascribe unto them false motives, call names, etc., and quite another thing to attack erroneous doctrines and systems, the tendency of which is evil.

It is not honorable, high-minded journalism to indulge in the former; it might be not to do the latter. The former is generally the result of personal ambition, egotism, or spite; the latter is oftentimes the utterance of well-grounded and strong convictions which, to a conscientious mind, should not be withheld.

As an illustration of the former, it would not be honorable, high-minded, or Christian to attack a minister personally or a journal, because he or it did not agree with us. A man might be worthy of any amount of blame and censure, yet it is better to leave him out of the question, especially from a religious point of view; first, because it generally does no good, but rather creates prejudice and bitterness among his friends and acquaintances, and secondly, God has in religious matters reserved all judgment of the individual unto himself. To say that Peter Smith or Henry Yorke was a bad man, a sinner, an associate of harlots, would not prove us to be right or him to be wrong, so far as religious theories go.

As an illustration of the latter we may take a controversy which has been waged ever since the Reformation. Roman Catholics believe and do not hesitate to say that the various Protestant denominations are not churches of God; that their pastors and preachers are not ordained ministers of Jesus Christ; that if men are saved who belong to these "sects" it is not because of Protestantism, but in spite of it. And so far as man is concerned they have a right to thus speak; as between them and God, their judgment lies with him.

Protestants believe that the Roman Catholic Church is fundamentally wrong; that she has left her only lawful spouse, Jesus Christ, and her marriage covenant, his holy word; that her union with the governments of earth is unlawful union; that she in this has committed spiritual fornication, and therefore is a spiritual adulteress or harlot; and that God has foretold these things in the sure word of prophecy. They also believe that earnest Christian men and women exist in the Roman Catholic Church, but that they are Christians, not because of the system with which they are connected, but in spite of it. All these things they have a right to teach as truly as do Roman Catholics to teach what they believe to be truth. And these things can be taught publicly, without rancor or bitterness, at least, so it seems to us. Let the plain truth be stated; let each side of the controversy have "a free field and no favors," and let each hearer and reader be at liberty to decide for himself in the light of God and the judgment.

Let the controversy be with the principles, the system, not the men.

CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER.

By Editor

Editorial.

The Peace of God (notes) ................................................................1, 2 Babylon Is Fallen...........................................................................2-4

Poetry.

A Safe Retreat, MRS. J. B. GOLDSBOROUGH ...........................................5 My Guest, LUCY H. WASHINGTON ........................................................9 Christmas Carol.............................................................................10

General Articles.

The Test of Christian Life, MRS. E. G. WHITE......................................5 The Mission of Love ........................................................................5 The Signs of the Times, PROF. W. W. PRESCOTT .......................................6 Everlasting Punishment, C. A. WYMAN ................................................6 The Sabbath Complete in Jesus, WILLIAM COVERT.......................................7 Chapters in United States History. No. 9, PROF. CHAS. MORRIS........................8

Answers to Questions.

No. 448, Spirits of Just Men Made Perfect—No. 449, Delivered unto Satan—No. 450, Solomon's Repentance—No. 451, Christmas and Its Origin...............................................................................9

The Fireside.

Steps to Health. No. 5, E. H. MATTHEWSON, M.D.—The Great Master—Lesson of the Blemished Onyx—A Hot Place to Live........................................................................9, 10

International Sabbath School Lesson.

The Sickness and Death of Lazarus (Lesson 3, Sabbath, January 16, 1897) ......11

International Sunday School Lessons.

The Holy Spirit Given (Lesson 2, Sunday, January 10, 1897)—A Multitude Converted (Lesson 3, Sunday, January 17, 1897) .............................................................................11, 12

Our Work and Workers.

..............................................................................................13

News and Notes ...........................................................................13, 14

Publishers................................................................................14

Father Yorke’s Scathing Lecture

By Editor

"FATHER" YORKE, chancellor of the archdiocese of California, delivered a scathing lecture in Oakland recently, taking for his text the fact that the San Francisco Monitor, of which he is the reputed editor, is not kept on file in the public reading rooms of this city. He seemed to be greatly exercised about Seventh-day Adventists because two of their papers have a place in the reading rooms. Just why he should have felt so we do not know, as we have nothing to do with keeping out his Monitor, and see no reason why a Catholic paper should not have place in a reading room sustained by all the community. Seventh-day Adventists have had to stand a great many false charges, they expect to stand many more, and as long as they stand on the broad "foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone," they are able to stand many more; but when it comes to laying the responsibility of the Oakland tide-wave scare at our door, we simply say that Mr. Yorke ought to have known better, and his Oakland audience that applauded him when he made the charge ought to have known better. The fact that he appears not to have known better detracts somewhat from his reputation of being well posted. It is the first time we have heard of any one, who knew of that fakeful prophecy at all, being so uninformed as to charge that Mrs. Woodworth and her followers were Seventh-day Adventists. And for the information of Mr. Yorke's misinformed auditors and readers, we now state that not a single Seventh-day Adventist, to our knowledge, was in the least affected by the threatened disaster.

Military Drill in Public Schools.

By Editor

A bill is still pending, we believe, before Congress, "to establish a bureau of military education, and to promote the adoption of uniform military drill in the public schools of the several states and territories." Special pleas are put forth in behalf of this. One is that the exercise is needed from a health standpoint; but this can all be met by regular gymnastics and calisthenic practices. Able specialists declare that military drill is defective in meeting the requirements of boys in the growing period. Even military officers are opposed to it. But above and beyond its defects as a physiological benefit, it should be opposed by every lover of humanity. It develops within the boy the spirit of killing and murder. He looks upon human life as cheap. Instead of becoming his enemy's saviour, he seeks to become his destroyer. It should receive earnest protest from every lover of boys.

A Free Field and No Favor

By Editor

CHANCELLOR YORKE declares that all that Roman Catholics desire is "a free field and no favor." That is good. It ought to be granted them in every legitimate way. We truly wish that these may be Mr. Yorke's real sentiments, because they are good. We truly wish that he may always stick to them whatever may come. Truth can always afford to be fair and generous; "the eternal years of God are hers."

Anonymous Correspondence

By Editor

Anonymous Correspondence.—We wish once more to say that anonymous contributions or inquiry will receive no attention in this office. We must have the names of the writers, not necessarily for publication, if they do not desire, but for our own information. There are some who forget to sign their names; there are others who do not think it necessary; there are still others who do not wish to sign their names. We have no means of distinguishing between these classes, and have no time to do so. Some will be disappointed; for this we are sorry, but can not help it. We can not break our rule, and have no time to spend over unsigned communications.

Our Premium Offer

By Editor

Our Premium Offer.—May we not ask the reader, and especially our friends, to read our prospectus on page 14 of this paper, and also the marvelous sixty-days offer on page 15? Just think of it! a Bible which can not be bought for less than $3.25 will be furnished with the SIGNS OF THE TIMES for one year for $2.50. We hope to receive many new subscribers through this offer.

Missions Department Crowded Out

By Editor

Our Missions department has been crowded out of this extra number, but it will appear as usual hereafter. Notes on our Work and Workers, however, appear on page 13.

Next Issue Dated January 7, 1897

By Editor

Our next issue will bear date January 7, 1897.

Christmas Numbers

By Editor

Christmas Numbers.—Most of the great papers nowadays, including the dailies, issue “Christmas numbers,” and many of them indeed are “things of beauty,” and compensate in a measure, in appearance at least, for other issues. We have no criticism to offer against the magnifying of the gift of the Christ-child to the world. We praise God for it; and yet the Gift is not a gift of a day nor for a day; nor is it God's design that a single day should be kept in memory of that event. The Gift of God is both infinite in value and eternal in duration, and it calls for responsive gratitude from man, its recipient, gratitude in both word and deed,—at all times and seasons. To celebrate merely a day, when God has not commanded it, tends to exalt the institution and hide the great fact. Let the birth of Jesus and the fact that he identified himself as one of us be kept in mind at all times, and let it move us to show our gratitude to him by ministering to others. The beautiful poem by Mrs. Hemans on another page is suggestive of the spirit which remembrance of the events of the birth of Jesus should bring to our mind—a light to guide alway till we meet him again.

Papers Sent Only With Advance Payment

By Editor

We send no papers from this office to individuals without pay in advance.

When persons receive copies without ordering them, they are sent by other parties, and we can give no information in regard to them. Persons thus receiving copies of the "Signs" are not indebted to the office, and will not be called upon for pay. Please read the papers you may receive, and hand them to your friends to read.