p. 15 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 31. (8/6/1896)

The Rights of the People

By Alonzo T. Jones

Or Civil Government and Religion

BY ALONZO T. JONES

An Up-to-Date Pamphlet on the Principles of Religious Liberty.

“THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE” contains fifteen chapters, the following being a portion of the chapter headings:—Christianity and the Roman Empire—What Is Due to God and What to Cæsar—The Powers That Be—How the United States Became a Nation—What Is a Nation?—Who Made the Nation?—Religious Right in the United States—Religious Rights Invaded—The People’s Right of Appeal—National Precedent on Right of Appeal—Sunday-law Movement in the Fourth Century and Its Parallel in the Nineteenth—Will the People Assert and Maintain Their Rights?—Religious Rights in the States.

In the four appendixes to the book are given the Declaration of Independence—The Constitution of the United States—The Dred Scott Decision, and the “Christian Nation” Decision.

This is a book of permanent value for reference and study and one that all should possess. It contains 384 pages, with several illustrations, is issued as No. 32 of the Religious Liberty Library, and is bound in paper covers. Price 40 Cents.

A FINER EDITION on laid paper is also ready. It is neatly bound in cloth. Price One Dollar.

Address orders to

PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING CO., Oakland, California.

18 West Fifth Street, Kansas City, Mo.

43 Bond Street, New York City.

Publications on the Sabbath

THE LORD'S DAY, THE TEST OF THE AGES

Presents in the briefest, simplest manner a part of the Bible evidence concerning both sides of the Sabbath question. The subject is treated in a new and interesting way. Fully illustrated with diagrams and original illustrations. 128 pages, paper covers, just out, price 15 cents.

ABIDING SABBATH AND LORD'S DAY

A pointed review of two of the best recent productions for the defense of the Sunday sabbath. The best arguments in support of Sunday are undoubtedly presented in this book. 173 pages, paper covers. Price 20 cents.

CHANGE OF THE SABBATH

A brief treatise answering the question so often asked, “Who Changed the Sabbath?” 218 pages, paper covers. Price 20 cents.

NATURE AND OBLIGATION OF THE SABBATH OF THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT

A candid and thoroughly scriptural treatise on this important question. 96 pages, paper covers. Price 10 cents.

THE SABBATH AND THE LAW

This work covers the Sabbath institution from Eden created to Eden restored, and its arguments are clear and forcible and convincing. 192 pages, paper covers. Price 20 cents.

THE HISTORY OF THE SABBATH

An exhaustive treatise on the Sabbath question, in which every passage in the Bible which has any connection with the Sabbath, either in the Old or New Testament, is examined at length. It is a veritable mine of information, both Biblical and Historical, on this subject. Three volumes, paper covers. Price $1.00 per set.

... Send for Catalogue containing Price List of other ... Publications on this Subject.

Pacific Press Publishing Co.

Oakland, Cal.

Kansas City, Mo. N. Y. City, N. Y.

RISE AND PROGRESS —OF— Seventh-Day Adventists.

By John Norton Loughborough

Tokens of God's Hand in the Movement, and Brief Sketch of the Advent Cause from 1831 to 1844.

By J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

This new book, fresh from the pen of one of the oldest ministers in the advent movement, cannot but be of great interest to all, and especially to those who have become Seventh-Day Adventists in recent years and know but little of the early history of the cause and its leaders.

The following are some of the chapter headings: Extent of the Advent Proclamation; The Tarrying Time; The Midnight Cry; The Disappointment; Fresh Tokens of Divine Guidance; Perils, Reproaches, Victories; New Features in the Work; Providence of God in the Publishing Work; Organization; Rapid Advancement; Though Workers Faint, God's Work Advances; Truth Advanced Even by Opposition.

The book contains nearly 400 pages, with 50 illustrations, several of them full page, and is neatly bound in cloth, and furnished in two styles.

Cloth, plain edges . . . . . $1 25

Cloth, gilt edges . . . . . 1 50

Books sent postpaid on receipt of price.

Address,

PACIFIC PRESS PUB. CO.,

OAKLAND, CAL.

“This Rock, or the Foundation of the Church.” (Spanish.)

Showing that the Rock of Matt. 16:18 is Christ, and not Peter; 4 pp.; 50 cents per 100. Address, PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING Co., Oakland, Cal.

Jesus and the Sunday Laws

IF JESUS of Nazareth were in Tennessee and worked at his carpenter trade six days in the week, Sunday included, and rested the seventh, as he did nearly nineteen hundred years ago, would he not be arrested, convicted, and put in the chain-gang as a common criminal, even as his followers are to-day?

“Hast Thou not said that what is done Unto Thy meanest and Thy humblest one Is even done to Thee?”

Sin and Crime

We wish to repeat, what we have many times said, that there is a vast difference between sin and crime. A crime may be sinful, and a sin may be criminal; but neither of these is necessary. “Sin is the transgression of the law,” says the Inspired Word; that is, it is the transgression of God’s law, and pertains not to outward deed or act, but to the spirit, thought, motive, intent of the sinner. “The law is spiritual,” says the apostle, and therefore may be transgressed in the realm of thought and motive. Not only is he a murderer who kills his brother, but he is a murderer who hates his brother. (See 1 John 3:15.) Adultery includes cherished lust. (See Matt. 5:27, 28.) This is sin. Crime is transgression of civil law. If there were no law in this country against murder, it would not be a crime to kill, but it would be a grievous sin, even as hatred is, which the civil law can not prohibit. God’s law says, “Thou shalt not covet.” To transgress it is sin; but civil law could not prevent coveting if it so desired. Civil law can not, therefore, make sin a crime; it can only regulate the outward act.

It was a crime for the three Hebrew young men to refuse to bow down to the golden image set up by Nebuchadnezzar (see Daniel 3), but it was not sin; in fact, it would have been sin if they had bowed down. It was not sin for Daniel to pray to God, but the law of Persia made it a crime. (See Daniel 6.) Jesus Christ died a criminal, so did Paul, so has the great host of martyrs, but they were not counted sinners in God’s sight. Tennessee’s Sabbath-keeping Christians (Christ kept the Sabbath) are counted criminals by her laws to-day; but are they sinners? Does God count that sin which he has commanded to be done and which Jesus Christ did, even tho Tennessee or Maryland counts it crime? It is never good to be a sinner. It is always better to be a criminal, when the choice lies between sin and crime.

Items of Interest

By Editor

READ the article on the “Child Life of Jesus.” It presents most precious truth.

ONE of the livest local papers that comes to our table is the Castroville Enterprise. It is well edited, fearless, and up to date. The enterprising editor is M. H. McCarthy.

ONE sister writes that the articles on Romans are alone worth the price of the paper, and they are. The Signs of the Times is a cheap paper at $2.00 a year, but it is only one-half that price.

THE International Religious Liberty Association is doing all in its power for liberty of conscience of all men in the United States. Any money which our readers may wish to contribute for helping in this direction, will be promptly forwarded to the association by the SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

THE Christian Statesman says that “one of the largest and most enthusiastic meetings of the late Christian Endeavor convention, in Washington, was the Sabbath observance meeting;” but others who were present say that it was one of the smallest, only about fifteen hundred of the 30,000 delegates being present.

AMONG the interesting things which the Review of Reviews for August gives is a sketch of Dr. Barnardo and his work for homeless and worse than homeless orphans. It ought to be read by those who have plenty. May God bless Barnardo in his noble work, and all others who are laboring like him for the uplifting of the downtrodden.

THE deceased wife’s sister’s bill, after being rejected for fifty years through the opposition of the bishops in the English Parliament, finally passed the House of Lords July 10, and is now law. It legalizes marriage with the sister of a deceased wife. Most of the colonies decided the matter to be legal long ago. A questionable interpretation of Scripture hindered it in England.

The Gospel Campaign

The great presidential campaign is on, and many men—and women—will be absorbed in politics for months. Its issues at the most are temporal. The Gospel campaign is always on, and the men and women who are Christ’s should be absorbed in his work and cause, not for a few months only, but for all time. The issues of this campaign are eternal and of inestimable value. Do not lose sight of them, fellow-workers.

A Mighty Power

A Mighty Power in the present conflict of church and state forces is the American Sentinel. For years its faithful voice, speaking in no uncertain tones, has been lifted in warning the people of the dangers menacing this country in a union of church and state, or of religion with the state. It ought to be in the hands of every public servant in the United States, especially municipal, state, and federal officers. May its shadow never grow less. It is only $1.00 a year. Address, 39 Bond Street, New York.

Our Missionary Ship.—

By Editor

On page 11 will be found a threefold illustration of our missionary ship Pitcairn, her sailors, and the missionaries she carried. This was made from photographs taken by Brother F. J. Brainerd, of the Pacific Press, just before the Pitcairn sailed. These we believe are the best photos ever taken of the ship, and may be obtained for 25 cents each, postpaid. There was one other taken, not shown above, when the ship was passing through the drawbridge, after leaving the wharf.

Calamities

The last week has been another prolific week in storm and tempest, heat waves and tidal waves, and fearful accidents. Upon the heart-rending Nebraska train wreck comes another from New Jersey, in which nearly fifty were killed, and many more maimed and crippled. The fearful heat experienced in the east, during which so many horses and men died of sunstroke, or were entirely overcome by the heat, should call to mind the prediction of the prophet that in the last days the sun should have power to scorch men with heat. (Rev. 16: 8.) The great tidal wave in Japan, in which 27,000 persons were destroyed and 8,000 injured, is followed this week by another on the coast of China, the meager details of which report 4,000 lives lost, and a consequent famine to follow the destruction of the rice fields. Surely the earth is “waxed old as doth a garment,” and it will not be long ere its Maker, whose “years have no end,” shall come and “as a vesture shall change it,” and usher in the new heavens and new earth. Hail the glad day!

The Need of the Hour.

The National Christian Citizenship League sent out a circular to pastors, asking that a sermon be preached on the sabbath (Sunday) before or after July 4. In that circular the League says:—

“The particular need of the present hour is a fuller recognition of the kingship of Jesus Christ, and of the fact that the truths taught by him are the only cure for present-day evils. We demand the application of the principles of the Gospel to all policies, platforms, and parties, to all questions of municipal government and reform, to all social and industrial problems—to everything which affects man’s relations to his fellows as well as to his God.”

With the first sentence we have no particular fault to find, if the recognition of the kingship of Christ and the application of the truths taught by him are personal. The principles of the Gospel can not be applied to government or parties or platforms. Words may be embodied in written documents, political, governmental, and otherwise, but no words of men are the Gospel of Christ. The Gospel is a message from God to individuals, and can be received only by personal faith. It can not be enforced save by love. Christianity is not a form, a theory, but a life imparted by Christ to the individual soul through faith. All that the League could accomplish by the carrying out of its “demand” is union of church and state, the manufacture of hypocrites, the persecution of the good and just. The real need of the hour is the Gospel of Jesus Christ as preached by him and his apostles.

A Better World.

When Barnardo obtained his first glimpse of youthful want and wo in London, he says that “a passionate sense of the unfairness of things flooded my heart and mind as I stood that night upon the roof-top. Why should these eleven have nothing, and I and countless others have all we needed? It seemed so unfair, so wrong.” And so many of the poor—those who have nothing—look upon it when they behold their own abject misery, want, wo, and wretchedness, and the want, wo, and wretchedness of those they love, and see others rolling in wealth, wealth many times wrung from the nobler poor. No wonder how, apart from God, men’s hearts grow sick and hard and desperate. It is no wonder that we have all the various parties and associations and schemes and plans for the betterment of the condition of the suppressed millions and the “submerged” thousands. All these are the attempts of drowning humanity to save itself by catching at straws; but they will profit nothing permanently. Let us say to them, the poor, the hopeless, the downtrodden, the crushed, the helpless: There is hope and help. There is a better world. The bruised and crucified Man of Calvary pities and sympathizes with all the suffering ones. He longs to save you, even in this world, from sin—that which has brought all suffering. Saving you from that here, if you will let him, he will save you from all its consequences in the better world soon to come. Will you let him do it? There is reality, blessed, restful reality, in the religion of Christ. Will you take it? All may pass you by here, but “him that cometh to Me,” says Christ, “I will in nowise cast out.”