ELDER N. W. ALLEE has been reëlected president of the Minnesota Conference and Tract Society.
ELDER J. R. PALMER has been elected president of Montana Mission Field, and also of the tract society.
ELDER D. T. BOURDEAU has been assigned to the duty of carrying the message to the French population of Wisconsin.
ELDER A. A. JOHN reports an addition of five to the church at Tyner, Iowa, where the brethren have recently erected a new house of worship.
AT Nineveh, Va., three persons were baptized by Elder G. B. Tripp, June 24. At Arlington, in that State, where Brother W. E. White has been laboring, they have a new house of worship ready for dedication. Brother T. H. Painter is opening a new field in Highland County.
A GENERAL meeting is to be held at Asheville, N. C., August 1-7. Elders R. M. Kilgore, Geo. I. Butler, and D. T. Shireman will be present.
AT San Jose, Cal., seven persons were baptized on the 14th inst., making eleven during the course of meetings being held by Elder D. C. Hunter.
THAT popular and valuable little book "Steps to Christ" has been issued in the Welsh language by our London publishing house, 59 Paternoster Row.
ELDER H. F. COURTER reports the baptism of four converts at Hanford and one at Lemmore, Cal. He also reports a good attendance at the tent meetings at Hanford.
TENT meetings are being conducted for the benefit of the Scandinavian people in Perth Amboy, N. J. Elder J. F. Hansen has charge of the work, and reports a good and increasing interest.
ELDER J. P. HENDERSON reports the baptism of four at Ames, Iowa, where it is designed to organize a church in the near future. He also reports the addition of three to the church at Marshalltown.
THE latest news we have from the Utah field is that Elders C. M. Gardner and J. M. Willoughby were there, and that Elder J. H. Morrison, of the General Conference Committee, was also there in consultation with them in regard to the work.
THE brethren in charge of the tent work at Milford, Iowa, recently gave the Methodist minister the use of their tent on two occasions to preach against views on the law and on the Sabbath. Nevertheless, their meetings continued without decrease of interest.
MISS SADIE MEANS, the young telegraph operator of Columbia, S. C., whose Sunday labor caused her to come under the disciplinary hand of the Presbyterian Church, has become interested in our work, and, it is said, is to visit Battle Creek, Mich., this summer.
AT the recent session of the Wisconsin Conference the following officers were chosen: President, O. A. Johnson; Secretary, G. M. Brown; Treasurer, H. O. Thomas; Executive Committee—O. A. Johnson, J. W. Westphal, P. H. Cady, W. S. Shreve, and W. P. Jordan.
THE Southampton, Eng., Observer of June 16 gives an extended report of a discourse by Elder Francis Hope on the subject, "Tormented Forever and Ever." It is also stated that "the services conducted by Messrs. J. S. Washburn and Francis Hope at the Philharmonic Hall are attended week by week by increasingly large congregations." These meetings, we understand, are held on Sundays.
THE authorities of a certain city in Georgia seem to be ashamed of their State Sunday law, or at least of its application to the case of Elder W. A. McCutcheon and Prof. E. C. Keck, who were prosecuted for doing some Sunday work in a schoolhouse preparatory to opening school. On Brother McCutcheon’s sending an appointment for a meeting, the city council, mayor, postmaster, and other prominent men arranged to meet him at the depot and give him a welcome. But by his coming by other conveyance, the plan failed. However, they called a mass meeting in his honor, when he gave them a stirring address on temperance. He was enthusiastically received, and urged to promise a course of lectures in the near future. While such expressions of good will are always comforting for the time, especially in the midst of much opposition, it is not safe to lay too much stress upon them. They may turn in a short time. Such was the experience of Paul and Barnabas at Antioch in Pisidia and at Lystra; also of Christ on the occasion of his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The friendship of the world is often dangerous.605At Gainesville, Ga., already somewhat noted for its Sunday-law persecutions of persons who observe the seventh-day Sabbath, six converts were baptized and united with the church on the 16th ult. Several families from the Northwestern States are emigrating to that locality, in order to encourage the work and at the same time have the benefit of the school. A camp meeting is to be held there in August.
ELDER S. McCULLAGH writes to the Bible Echo that "all the Sydney leading dailies are unanimous in a vigorous outburst of indignation at the disgraceful persecution of the Adventists" at Kellyville. He quotes this expression from the News: "It is a pity that the Parramatta police and magistrate cannot find something better to do than furbishing up the old Commonwealth Act (subsequently adopted and neglected by Charles II's Government and Parliament) for the worrying of Seventh-day Adventists."
AT Debby, West Va., there is a church building (a kind of union building, we understand), at which one of our brethren was a trustee. We learn from the Monitor that he was recently superseded in office by another man in order to shut our people off from using the house. On the door was placed the following notice: "July 5, 1894. Notice is hereby given to all persons teaching the Advent doctrine to not open these doors or teach that doctrine in this church any more. By order of the trustees of Lord Church." It is stated that of the trustees' signatures attached to the notice, not one was correctly spelled.
A PRIVATE letter from Elder A. J. Read, missionary at Papeete, Tahiti, dated June 10, states that Brother Deane, a native and formerly pastor of a native church which accepted the S. D. A. faith in a body, has gone to Raiatea to assist Elder Cady in his school work. This leaves the full charge of the native church at Papeete on Brother Read's hands. That we may have an idea of what this means, he gives the following:—
In the morning at 7:30 there is a district preaching service for the natives, of which I must take charge in the district where we live. At 10:30 A.M. I must preach again to the whole congregation at the church. At the close of the preaching service a little Bible reading for the benefit of our English-speaking brethren, and after that a deacons' meeting, which takes up the time until 2:30 P.M., when Sabbath school opens. Owing to a scarcity of teachers, I must teach a class, after which I review the school. An evening service at 4 o'clock is conducted by one of the deacons. At 7:30 in the evening, after the Sabbath, all the natives of my district meet to review the sermons of the day, and I have to be present and conduct that meeting, as well as to explain any points which may not be clear to them. Before the close of the meeting a call comes to visit a sick person, and at 11 o'clock at night we find ourselves just ready to lay our weary head upon the most welcome pillow. This is the program of last Sabbath, and is quite similar to the regular Sabbath program, except that we are not always kept up so late at night. So you see that the work of running a native church is considerable, because one has to be a sort of parent, as well as a doctor, teacher, and pastor for the native flock. We are, however, enjoying a wonderful degree of health, and find in many ways much pleasure in the work which the Lord has given us.
GOD’S PRESENCE.
By Newman Hall
SOME years ago a famous lay preacher, a God-sent evangelist, was announced to preach. Great numbers had assembled, and, the hour having struck, were getting impatient. The preacher was in his bedroom, at the house of the farmer on whose grounds the service was to be held. The latter sent to summon him, but the servant returned saying he had got someone with him in his room and was begging him to come with him, and was saying, “If you do not go with me, I will not go up hence,” or something to that effect. The godly farmer said, “Oh, it’s all right! we shall have God’s presence to-day.”
And so it was. A remarkable power attended that day’s ministry. Many were pricked to the heart and cried aloud for mercy. It was the beginning of a long-continued period of spiritual revival, during which not only a multitude of sinners were converted, but the whole tone of the spiritual life of believers was raised, in personal devotion, attendance at services, actual zeal, and righteousness of life.
It cannot be wrong to avail ourselves of methods to promote revivals which are scriptural and have been proved efficacious, but we must be on guard against thinking more of methods than of objects, of creating a revival ourselves rather than of seeking it from heaven, of looking to some human agency more than to the Divine Head of the church, to freshness, eloquence, music, excitement, rather than to the Holy Spirit, to kindle and fan the sacred flame. Very often real and lasting revivals have begun within a church, among two or three members, rather than from foreign aid and fire kindled from without.—Newman Hall, D.D.
ARISE, SHINE.
By Minard Wood
BY MINARD WOOD.
MANY are wise in their own conceit who in the sight of God are fools. 1 Cor. 3:19: None are truly wise but such as are wise for eternity, and all such, being taught of God, must be truly wise; it will be made to appear in eternity that they were such, although they were counted fools here. They who walk in the way of wisdom in time shall have a glorious reward in eternity. “They shall shine as the brightness of the firmament.” Here they are buried in obscurity, and loaded with reproach and shame; but there, when God shall have rolled away their reproach, they shall shine like an unclouded sky, and that in the same proportion as they have made themselves useful in instructing others. Matt. 5:19. For they that turn many to righteousness, that is, turn the wicked from the error of their ways, from sin (1 John 3:4), to holiness (Heb. 12:14), and help them to fly from that death which is the wages of sin (Rom. 6:23), shall have addition to their glory by sharing in the glory of others. “They shall shine as the stars forever and ever.” Dan. 12:3. Christ is the sun, the fountain of all light, and those who teach others may be considered as stars, or planets, some shining much brighter than others, but all shining in that light they derive from Him who is the Author of light, both of grace and glory.
Figures were originally used, not for ornament, but to explain the sacred truths, and we need them for that same purpose still. We have no way of understanding what is difficult but by the application of what is familiar. No wonder, then, in order that we might have some weak conceptions of the glory of heaven, we read of rivers of pleasures, tree of life, palms of victory, crowns of glory, feastings and mirths, treasures and triumphs, singing and shouting, and a thousand other images which serve to show us a little of the glorious substance which God has laid up for them that fear him. Ps. 31:19. And when the stars shall fall from heaven as the leaves from the trees, and their light shall have gone out, the saints shall shine on forever and ever. Trim your lamp now, my brother, that it may burn well in eternity.
For yourself in heaven lay there up
Treasures amaranthine, real,
Where moth and rust do not corrupt,
Nor thieves break through and steal,
Where the crystal springs are bubbling,
In the Eden of the blest,
“Where the wicked cease from troubling,
And the weary are at rest.”
Highland Park, Ill.
CAMP MEETINGS FOR 1894.
DISTRICT NUMBER ONE.
New York, Auburn......................July 26 to Aug. 6
Virginia.....................................Aug. 7–14
West Virginia, Parkersburg.........Aug. 16–27
Vermont, Morrisville..................Aug. 23 to Sept. 3
New England............................Aug. 30 to Sept. 10
Maine, Bath.............................Sept. 6–17
DISTRICT NUMBER TWO.
Tennessee River, Bowling
Green.....................................Aug. 31 to Sept. 10
Florida, Seffner........................Nov. 8–18
Appointments marked by a star will be preceded by a workers' meeting.
Gen. Conf. Com.
International S. S. Lessons.
"So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading."—Neh. 8:8
LESSON VII.—SUNDAY, AUGUST 12, 1894.
THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS.
[NOTE.—The questions which follow are merely suggestive for the student on the leading points of the lesson; it is presumed that the thorough student will think of many more as he studies the subject. References, where verses alone are given, always refer to the lesson scripture printed above. All other references are given in book, chapter, and verse. The text printed is that of the Revised Version, not because it is especially preferred, but because it is not found in every family, as is the common version.]
THEN was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil;
And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he afterward hungered.
And the tempter came and said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Then the devil taketh him into the holy city; and he set him on the pinnacle of the temple,
And saith unto him, If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down; for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee; and on their hands they shall bear thee up, lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Jesus said unto him, Again it is written, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Again, the devil taketh him unto an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
And he said unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan; for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Then the devil leaveth him; and behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Golden Text: "In all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Heb. 4:15.
NOTE.—This lesson includes Matt. 4:1–11; Mark 1:12, 13; Luke 4:1–13, and Heb. 4:15, 16, as well as other scriptures. In the Old Testament there are two parallels to this time of fasting, Moses (Ex. 34:28) and Elijah (1 Kings 19:8, 14). There is no hint given as to the place to which Jesus went to be tempted. Some authorities think that it was in a part of the wilderness of Judea, between Jerusalem and Jericho, near the Jordan, but of this we know nothing. For aught that we know, it may have been at Mt. Sinai, where both Moses and Elijah fasted. There is one point that is worthy of notice in connection with this lesson, and that is the breaking of the power of appetite under which our first parents fell. Just as the first Adam was tempted at the beginning of his career, so the second Adam, the head of the redeemed race of God, was tempted and tried at the beginning of his work. As has been truly said, "The first Adam failed, and changed Paradise into a desert; and the second Adam gained a victory, and changed the desert into a paradise."
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
After Jesus' baptism, what took place? Verse 1. Note 1.
What was his condition after fasting forty days? Verse 2.
Who came to him while thus hungry and faint? Verse 3. Note 2.
What temptations did he present?
How did Jesus meet these temptations? Verse 4.
What did Satan then do? Verse 5.
What temptation did he present? and in what words? Verse 6.
How did Jesus again meet the temptation? Verse 7. Note 3.
What did Satan then do? Verse 8.
What temptation did he present to our Saviour? Verse 9. Note 4.
How did he meet this last temptation? Verse 10. Note 5.
What followed this? Verse 11.
NOTES.
1. "Led of the Spirit."—Mark shows what the other evangelists do not, that Jesus was led of the Spirit in order to be tempted; but he went not of his own selfish desires. He was led of the Spirit. Whenever we place ourselves in the way of temptation, contrary to God's will, we have no promise of his help. In fact, we take ourselves out of the hands14of the protecting power of God. Wherever God leads us by his Spirit, we may know that he will sustain us, however great the temptation may be.
2. WE are not to understand by this that the tempter just now came to him, because we have already learned that he was tempted of the devil during the entire forty days and nights. See also Luke 4:2, "Being forty days tempted of the devil." Doubtless there was set before him at this time all the teachings of the rabbis in regard to a temporal kingdom, all the conflicts and trials with which the human race was beset, and the improbability of his ever being able to accomplish his work. The three special temptations were doubtless similar to those all the way through, and present before us the three great points upon which men are specially tempted: First, the point of appetite, upon which so many millions have fallen, and with all the baser lower passions which spring from appetite; second, the presumption of standing in his own strength, presuming upon God's mercy; and, thirdly, upon the point of ambition, the very acme of selfishness. It will be noticed that in these temptations Satan came, in the first two, evidently, as an angel of light, presenting scripture as a reason why the Son of God should yield to his suggestions. Jesus meets him on his own ground, and shows just how he has perverted the Scripture. But in the last temptation Satan throws off his disguise, and demands worship. Then it is that our Lord tells him, "Get thee hence, Satan." But he also meets that, as all temptations forever must be successfully met, by the word of God.
3. IT will be noticed that in every instance Jesus quoted from the part of the word of God which is now called in question by the higher criticism. In every instance he met the power of the enemy by "It is written," and in every instance from the book of Deuteronomy. This one proof from our Lord himself ought to establish in the minds of all who love him respect for the word of God. Jesus told the Jews, "Had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me; but if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?" And it is just as true now as it was then. There is another thought also in connection with this answer of Jesus to the second temptation. Satan quoted scripture in order to fortify his temptation; but Jesus showed that that scripture could not be used against the great truths of God's word. Satan said, "It is written." Jesus said, "It is written again." There are some scriptures which may seem dark to our minds. Let us have them until we can, in the light of other scriptures, see light in them. Satan will suggest a wrong meaning to a text that seems dark to us. Let us leave it until Christ says to us, "It is written again." The last will make the first clear, and we shall see a divine harmony which always exists in the word of God.
4. IN the beginning the dominion of the world was given to Adam. See Gen. 1:26. When Adam yielded that up to Satan, man and all over which he ruled passed into the hands of the enemy; but of course, as man was subject to God, the great, omnipotent Ruler of the universe, so Satan was subject to him in this sense, that he could go no farther than God permitted. So when he presented the temptation to Christ, "All this power will I give thee," as stated in Luke 4, "for that is delivered unto me," he stated what in a sense was true. He is the god of this world. Christ came to win it back, not in the way in which the kings of the world have won it, but by suffering death and humiliation, and meeting the temptations upon which man fell. This was the path which our Saviour must take. Therefore he could not yield to the temptations of Satan.
5. THE scripture used by our Saviour in meeting the last temptation has within it the foundation of all Christian character: "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." It shows this, also, that the only true worship is that which includes faithful service, or obedience. Christ could not give up his spiritual kingdom for a temporal—his spiritual power of love, for armies, palaces, and outward honors. He would not accept the ruling of this world as Satan desired, for the conversion of the world. To have accepted of Satan's offer would have left the world unconverted, and, therefore, under the dominion of Satan. Satan, by this very temptation, revealed himself. Sometimes it may be difficult for us to realize the real motive of the tempter. The persons whom Satan uses may be unconsciously tempting us; their motive may be good. What may seem to them our duty may not be our duty after all. They may come to us as the servants of God. In such cases we should meet them in the same way, and show them by scripture itself that we cannot do wrong. When Satan demanded that Christ fall down and worship him, he showed then his true character, and Jesus rebuked him as such. Christ was tempted in all points like as we are. He is, therefore, able to succor us in all our temptations.
CHURCH SERVICES.
By Editor
All of our churches, especially on this coast, who desire their regular weekly services announced in this column, may have it done by reporting through the proper officers.
Chicago, Illinois.—Church on Forty-sixth Street, corner of Champlain Avenue. Regular preaching service at 11 A.M. Sabbath school at 9:30 A.M. every Sabbath. Prayer meeting Monday evening at 7:30 P.M. The above services are held in the Forestville Congregationalist Church building until our own church will be completed, when proper notice will be given. All are cordially invited.
Oakland.—Church at corner of Twelfth and Brush Streets, Regular preaching services or Bible study. Sunday at 7:30 P.M., Friday at 7 P.M., and Sabbath at 11 A.M. Sabbath school at 9:30 A.M. Sabbath. Prayer and missionary meeting Wednesday at 7:30 P.M. All are cordially invited.
San Francisco.—Church at 914 Laguna Street. Regular preaching services at 7:30 P.M. Sunday and 11 A.M. Sabbath. Sabbath school at 9:45 A.M. Prayer meeting Wednesday 7:30 P.M. Missionary meeting Thursday 7:30 P.M. Seats free.
Los Angeles.—Church at 143 Carr Street. Preaching service Sunday evening 7:30. Missionary meeting Wednesday evening 7:30. Sabbath school on Sabbath at 9:45, and preaching service at 11 A.M. All are welcome.
East Portland, Oregon.—Church at corner of Eleventh and East Everett Streets. Services every Sabbath 11:30 A.M. Sabbath school 10 A.M. Missionary meeting evening after Sabbath 7 P. M. Prayer meeting every Wednesday evening 7 o'clock. All welcome. Seats free.
Washington, D. C.—Church on Eighth Street between F and G Streets, N. E. Regular preaching service at 11 A. M. Sabbaths. Sabbath school 9:15 A. M. Sunday, 7:30 P.M., Bible study. Prayer meeting Friday at 7:30 P.M. All are welcome.
H. W. HERRELL, Clerk.
Sacramento.—Church on G Street between Eighteenth and Nineteenth Streets. Regular services: Sabbath school at 10 A.M., preaching service at 11 A.M., Sunday at 7:30 P.M. Prayer and missionary meeting Wednesday evening at 7:30. Seats free. All are cordially invited.
Pasadena.—Church at corner of Summit Ave. and Mountain Street. Sabbath services every Sabbath at 11:30 A.M. Sabbath school 10 A.M. Prayer meeting every Sunday evening 7:30. Missionary meeting Tuesday 7:30 P.M. All are cordially invited. Box 261.
O. S. SMYTH, Clerk.
FOR SALE.
By E. W. Whitney
DESIRING to be free to engage in the work in another State, and as the providence of God has opened the way in other respects, I offer for sale my home in Boulder, Colorado, consisting of three large city lots (about three-fourths of an acre—good soil for gardening), fruits of different kinds upon each, a substantial nine-room frame house, with cellar and basement kitchen, a small barn, an excellent well of soft water, besides city water, and in many respects one of the best locations in the city.
I will sell the whole, or the house and two of the lots. Price of the whole, $2,600; of the house and two lots, $2,300. Time can be given on part of the purchase price.
The church, educational, health, and business advantages of Boulder are equal, if not superior, to those of any other town of its size in the State. It has special advantages for those who come to the State on account of health, as the Sanitarium Boarding Home, a branch of the Battle Creek Sanitarium, is located here. Its business standing during the close financial times of the past year has been the best of any town in the State. For further particulars, address, E. W. WHITNEY.
Cleveland Bicycles,
STODDARD & LEE,
306 McAllister St., San Francisco, Cal.
LESSON VI.—SABBATH, AUGUST 11, 1894.
By Editor
CALLED TO THE FEAST.
Lesson Scripture, Luke 14: 15-35.
15. AND when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.
16. But he said unto him, A certain man made a great supper; and he bade many.
17. And he sent forth his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
18. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a field, and I must needs go out and see it; I pray thee have me excused.
19. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them; I pray thee have me excused.
20. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
21. And the servant came, and told his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor and maimed and blind and lame.
22. And the servant said, Lord, what thou didst command is done, and yet there is room.
23. And the Lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and constrain them to come in, that my house may be filled.
24. For I say unto you, that none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
25. Now there went with him great multitudes; and he turned, and said unto them,
26. If any man cometh unto me, and hateth not his own father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
27. Whosoever doth not bear his own cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
28. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doth not first sit down and count the cost, whether he have wherewith to complete it?
29. Lest haply, when he hath laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all that behold begin to mock him, saying,
30. This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
31. Or what king, as he goeth to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
32. Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and asketh conditions of peace.
33. So therefore whosoever he be of you that renounceth not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
34. Salt therefore is good: but if even the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
35. It is fit neither for the land nor for the dunghill; men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
THIS lesson, which includes the remainder of the fourteenth chapter, may readily be divided, for convenience in remembering, into two subjects: "The Parable of the Supper," and "Counting the Cost." Analyze and review the entire chapter.
Where was Jesus when he gave the instruction that is recorded in this chapter?
On what day was it?
What was said by one who sat at the table with him?
What was it that led to this remark?
In what manner did Jesus reply?
Without committing to memory verbally, see how accurately you can relate this parable.
What did a certain man make?
What did he do at supper time?
What did those who were bidden begin to do?
What different excuses are recorded?
When the servant returned with these messages, what did the master of the house say?
When this was done, what did the servant say?
What was the servant then commanded to do?
As Jesus went from the Pharisee's house, who followed him?
What did he say to them?
Who only can be his disciple?
What examples of counting the cost did he give?
What conclusion did Jesus draw from these illustrations?
1. THE injunction never to guess at the meaning of Scripture is needed in connection with unexplained parables more than anywhere else. In this case the connection shows us some, at least, of the lessons we may learn. Jesus was speaking about the resurrection at his second coming, when he himself has said that he will gird himself and serve his own guests. Moreover, the remark that was prompted by the reference to the resurrection, and which in turn prompted the parable, was, "Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God." Therefore we know that the parable represents the Lord's invitation to men to eat bread in his kingdom. Without trying to fix a location in point of time to the various calls to supper, we may note the following obvious lessons:—
(a) God hath chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, as heirs of the kingdom (James 2: 5), not because he is partial, for he bids "whosoever will" to come, but because the most of those who have great earthly possessions are content with them, and also because whoever has wealth must become poor for the sake of Christ. See Luke 14: 33; 2 Cor. 8: 9.
(b) We may learn the danger of making excuses. Those who make excuses now will by and by find themselves without excuse; for the fact that one makes an excuse proves that he has had a sufficient call. Those who believe do not make excuses, and they partake of the feast.
(c) We may learn a lesson of comfort and hope from the urgency of the Master of the feast. It was imperative that he have guests at his feast. "Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief; again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To-day, after so long a time; as it is said, To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts." Heb. 4: 6, 7. God has sworn by himself that his house shall be filled. He has sent the invitation to everybody, but most have rejected it. But his honor is at stake, and his oath cannot be broken, and so the feast must be supplied with guests. God has more at stake than any man can have. And so there is none so poor and wretched but that he will be accepted as a guest. Such are begged and entreated to come. They will make as worthy guests as any, since the robe and all the fitness that is necessary are supplied by the Lord. It is he that "hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light." Col. 1: 12.
2. "If any man come to Me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." The same Spirit that uttered these words also inspired the apostle Paul to write, "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it" (Eph. 5: 25); and, "If any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." 1 Tim. 5: 8. The Spirit does not contradict itself. Let Christ's own words, as recorded in Matt. 10: 37, be the comment on the meaning of the word "hate" in the text in the lesson. "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." That love which leads a soul away from Christ is to be forsaken.
THE ATONEMENT.
By Editor
The author, in a book of 368 pages, takes up this great central doctrine of the gospel, and treats it in two parts. Part first,
An Atonement Consistent with Reason.
In this he shows that the doctrine of an atonement through the medium of a voluntary substitute is consistent with reason. Part second,
The Atonement as Revealed in the Bible.
In this is discussed the plan of redemption through Christ, by which every sinner who accepts Christ will be justified; sin will be turned back upon the head of its originator; the earth will be cleansed from the curse; God's righteous government will be restored over the entire universe; and all who will not become loyal subjects of that government will be destroyed.
The book presents a CRITICAL AND EXHAUSTIVE TREATISE on this interesting subject, by a thorough Bible student, and wholly from a Bible standpoint, and cannot fail to be of great value to everyone who reads it.
Third edition, bound in cloth, embossed in black, with gold title on back and front cover.
Price, postpaid, $1.00.
Address, Pacific Press Publishing Co., Oakland, Cal. Or 43 Bond St., New York City.
THE SECOND ADVENT.—Assorted Tract Package No. 3, contains 96 pages; price, 10 cents. Subjects considered—The Coming of the Lord, Is the End Near? Can We Know? The Signs of the Times, The Judgment, and The Second Advent of Our Lord. Address, Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal.
