Earlier text: EditorialTHE OBJECT OF THE SABBATH.
By Ellet Joseph Waggoner
“THE Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27. The Pharisees had laid down rigid rules as to how the Sabbath should be kept. There was no allowance for difference in circumstances, but these rules were to be carried out by everybody on every occasion. Being only human rules they could not be adapted to the condition of men. With them the Sabbath of their own making, not the Sabbath of the Lord, was everything, and man was nothing. It was far better in their eyes to let a man die than to do anything for his relief on the Sabbath day. Thus they made the Sabbath a burden, whereas God gave it to man for a blessing. The Saviour’s statement that the Sabbath was made for man does not at all convey the idea that it is a plaything for man; that man can do as he pleases with it; but it does show that it is designed for man’s welfare. Man’s welfare is the great consideration with God. It is man that God cares for. He has not made institutions and arbitrarily commanded man to keep them, so that it makes no difference what the man may suffer, if only the institution be preserved intact. God is not a tyrant. It is true that he has made institutions, the Sabbath among them, and that he designs that they shall be kept; but only because the keeping of them is beneficial for man. God in his wisdom has devised such institutions that the observing of them just as he has commanded, is the only way in which man can attain the highest good, and experience the richest blessings. “The Sabbath was made for man.” Mark well the fact that this statement by the Saviour did not introduce a new order of things. He did not say that the Sabbath which God gave in the beginning had been a hard yoke, but that he had come to modify it, so that men might do with it as they chose, keeping it if convenient, and dispensing with it if they saw fit. No; “the Sabbath was made for man.” When God gave it to man in Eden, as well as when he spoke the fourth commandment upon Mount Sinai, it was designed as a blessing for mankind. God, who made man, knew what he needed, and in the Sabbath he gave him that which would lift him to the highest possible place. It is true that Christ did tear away from the Sabbath the senseless and burdensome restrictions which the Jews had placed upon it, by which the Sabbath was broken instead of kept; but in so doing he merely let the institution shine forth just as God gave it. He did not in the least remove any of the sanctions which had been thrown around it by the Lord; for Christ “came not to destroy.” Man cannot make a rule so broad and comprehensive that it can cover every possible case; in every law of man there must be exceptions or else someone must suffer. But not so with God’s law; he knew how to make laws and institutions that would be applicable in every case, and yet work injustice to none. There cannot be any circumstances in which it is not the duty of man to keep the Sabbath day; yet in no case will the keeping of it work injury to anyone. On the contrary, it is only in the keeping of the Sabbath that the greatest blessings come to man. “And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it; because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” Gen. 2:3. God does not ask man to make the day holy; he did that himself. God blessed the seventh day. It is asked, “How could God bless a day, so that it would be any more holy than another day?” That we cannot tell. One might as well ask us how God could create the world. We know nothing about how the thing was done; all we know is the fact. Of that we are very sure, because the Bible tells us. The seventh day,—not simply the Sabbath institution,—is blessed. It, and it alone, of all the days of the week, has a blessing placed upon it. It is different from all the other days of the week. Therefore in the keeping of the Sabbath there is a blessing to be found. We do not mean that people may not be blessed upon other days of the week, for not only the Christian, but even the ungodly, receive blessing from God on every day of the week. The Christian may, and often does, receive a large measure of the Spirit on any working day; but all that does not take the blessing of the Sabbath. On the seventh day, when it is observed as God designs, there is a blessing to be obtained, that cannot be obtained on any other day. It is quite commonly thought that if men keep another day than the seventh, they will experience the same blessing. As evidence of this, we are told by strict observers of the first day of the week that they have all the blessing on that day that they could possibly have on the seventh day. But this they cannot know, because they have never kept the seventh day. That they do experience a blessing in their worship, need not be denied; but that they do not experience the blessing of the Sabbath, is as sure as the Bible. The reason why is very simple. A thing can never be found where it is not. A man cannot be found in London if he is in Liverpool. One may go to the Cape of Good Hope in search of the North Cape, but he will never find it there. He will find a cape but it will not be the North Cape. Now the Lord has blessed the Sabbath day, the seventh day. He has never blessed any other day. The blessing which he placed on the seventh day in the beginning has never been taken off. It could not by any possibility be taken off. Therefore if one wants to find the blessing of the Sabbath day he must find it in the keeping, according to the commandment, of the seventh day. Many will not believe this; they think that it is foolish to suppose that there is any difference in days. But whoever tries it, not in form merely, but in Spirit, keeping in reality the Sabbath of the Lord, will know that it is so. It was Christ who blessed and sanctified the seventh day. Since it was by him that all things were created, it is evident that he must also have rested at the close of the six days of creation. He created, he rested, he blessed, and he sanctified. Therefore the blessing of the Sabbath day is the blessing of Christ. The blessing of Christ is to turn men away from iniquity. Acts 3:26. The Sabbath, therefore, is for the purpose of turning men away from their sins—not simply from the sin of Sabbath breaking, but from all sin. How can this be? A few words will indicate the answer, which will be treated further in another paper. The Sabbath is the memorial of creation. The Sabbath was made for the reason that in “six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and all that in them is.” Ex. 20:11. Aside from the fact that every day man may see something of the works of the Creator, the Sabbath is given for the especial purpose of keeping God in mind as the great Creator. But for the Sabbath rest, men would forget God. And forgetting God, they fail to avail themselves of his power, in overcoming sin. So we have the words of the Lord as to why the Sabbath was given: “Moreover also, I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them.” Eze. 20:12. God sanctified the Sabbath for man, that man might know that he is the One that sanctifies from sin. It was Christ that blessed the Sabbath, and sanctified it, so that the seventh day is the Lord’s day. The blessing of the Sabbath is the blessing of Christ, and that is sanctification, for Christ is “of God made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.” 1 Cor. 1:30. Here again we see that the Sabbath means sanctification. The Sabbath is the memorial of creation; but redemption is creation. David prayed, “Create in me a clean heart.” Ps. 51:10. “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.” 2 Cor. 5:17. The gospel “is the power of God unto salvation” (Rom. 1:16), and the power of God is seen only in the things that he has made. Verse 20. So the power of the gospel is the power that created the worlds. Therefore the Sabbath, in commemorating creation, makes known to man the power of God to save from sin. As it calls to remembrance the power of God as shown in the works of his hands, it reminds us of the words of the apostle: “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained, that we should walk in them.” Eph. 2:8-10. This, and this alone, is the object of the Sabbath. This object can be gained only in the keeping of the Sabbath in just the way that God designed from the beginning that it should be kept. More in this line may be given in the next paper. IT IS WELL WITH THEE.
By Mary K. A. Stone
WHEN I awake, 'mid silences of night,
From sleep's dim, distant realm, this thought I
take,
Since I am still with Thee, all is most right
When I awake, Yes, "still with Thee"—and so no need to make
Aught evil of these shadows of the night.
I would lie still, content, for Thy name's sake. When, from my latest slumber, heaven's own
light
Upon my startled eyelids swift shall break,
Blest thought—still, still with Thee, and all is right,
When I awake! HOLINESS THE POWER OF THE CHURCH.
By Ellen G. White
THE professed church of God may be possessed of wealth, education, and knowledge of doctrine, and may say by her attitude, "I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;" but if its members are devoid of inward holiness, they cannot be the light of the world. The church is to reflect light into the moral darkness of the world, as the stars reflect light into the darkness of the night. These who have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof, do not reflect light into the world, and will not have power to reach the hearts of the unsaved. Without vital connection with Christ the value of truth cannot be made to appear in good fruit in the world; but if Christ is formed within, the hope of glory, his saving grace will be manifested in sympathy and love for perishing souls. Every soul truly converted to God will be a light in the world. Bright, clear rays from the Sun of Righteousness will shine forth through human agents who use their intrusted ability to do good; for they will coöperate with heavenly agencies, and labor with Christ for the conversion of souls. They will diffuse the light which Christ sheds upon them. The Sun of Righteousness shining in their hearts will shine forth, enlightening and blessing others. The rays of heaven shining from human agents will exert a subduing influence upon those whom Christ is drawing to himself. The church is weak before the angels of heaven, unless power is revealed through its members for the conversion of those who are perishing. Unless the church is the light of the world, it is darkness. But of the true followers of Christ it is written: "We are laborers together with God; ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building." The church may be composed of those who are poor and uneducated; but if they have learned of Christ the science of prayer, the church will have power to move the arm of Omnipotence. The true people of God will have an influence that will tell upon hearts. It is not the wealth or the educated ability which the members of the church may possess that constitutes their efficiency. The members of the church may have been so situated that they may have had every spiritual advantage, they may have been so situated that they have had opportunity to know the truth, to know Jesus Christ their Lord; but notwithstanding their advantages, if they are not humble, praying men and women, there will not be with them the hiding of the power of God. They will not exert that influence that will be far reaching as eternity in its results, and men will not see their good works, and glorify God because of his people's faithfulness. It is when the Sun of Righteousness shines forth from the people of God that Christ is glorified and his kingdom advanced. It is then that they are chosen vessels of salvation, and are fit for the Master's use. If the churches established in our world would follow Christ, they would pray as Christ prayed, and the result of their prayers would be seen in the conversion of souls; for when communication is opened up between souls and God, a divine influence is shed upon the world. When the members of the church abide in Christ, they deliver an effective testimony in their lives. They fulfill the words of Christ, "Ye are my witnesses." By their influence all the day long by precept and example, they say, "Come," "behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." The Lord is our light. The Lord is our salvation. This is the period in the earth's history when light will surely be given to the Lord's chosen people. The world's Redeemer "is light, and in him is no darkness at all." Jesus says, "He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." To those who will appreciate light, and who in their turn will impart light to others, God will give increased light. Saints and prophets of former ages were recipients of precious light and knowledge that was to be unfolded to the chosen of God in these last days. The disciples of Christ were honored in having Christ, the Light of the world, among them. But they failed to appreciate their great privileges and blessings, until Jesus had left them. When his presence was no longer with them, they realized that they had been blessed with association with the only begotten Son of the infinite God. That they might fully realize the blessing that had been bestowed upon them, the Lord Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit, which would bring all things to their remembrance, whatsoever he had said unto them. In their blindness and unbelief they had not comprehended the value of the celestial truth presented to them; but the Holy Spirit was to illuminate the lessons of Christ before their minds, that they might have an appreciation of heavenly things. Jesus is the fountain head of knowledge, the treasure-house of truth, and he longed to open before his disciples treasures of infinite value, that they in turn might open them to others. But because of their blindness he could not unfold to them the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. He said to them, "I have many things to say unto you; but ye cannot bear them now." The minds of the disciples were to a great degree influenced by the traditions and maxims of the Pharisees, who placed the commandments of God on a level with their own inventions and doctrines. The scribes and Pharisees did not receive or teach the Scriptures in their original purity, but interpreted the language of the Bible in such a way as to make it express sentiments and injunctions that God had never given. They put a mystical construction upon the writing of the Old Testament, and made indistinct that which the infinite God had made clear and plain. These learned men placed before the people their own ideas, and made patriarchs and prophets responsible for things they never uttered. These false teachers buried up the precious jewels of truth beneath the rubbish of their own interpretations and maxims, and covered up the plainest specifications of prophecy regarding Christ. They made the keeping of the commandments of God appear to be a rigorous round of ceremonies, so needless and foolish that the force of God's law was destroyed. They heaped exactions upon the commands of God that could never be met, and thereby lessened respect for God. When the Author of truth came to our world, and was the living interpreter of his own laws, the Scriptures were opened to men like a new revelation; for he taught as one having authority, as one who knew whereof he was speaking. The minds of men were confused with false teaching to such an extent that they could not fully grasp the meaning of divine truth, and yet they were attracted to the great Teacher, and said, "Never man spake like this man!" HOW DOES GOD MANIFEST HIS PRESENCE?
By T. E. Bowen
THE thought sometimes troubles the believer how it is possible for Christ to be in heaven carrying on a work before his Father, and still fulfill the promise to the two or three to be in their midst when met in his name. It may be helpful to compare a few texts upon this point. It is plain that in a certain sense God's presence fills his universe. If a man dig into Carmel, there the Lord will take knowledge of him. If, like Jonah, he imagines the deep will cover him, there, even, God's hand will find him out. In the sense of fleeing from God's presence, therefore, it is evident there is no creature "that is not manifest in his sight; but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do." This presence, however, is not a saving presence, hence may we not still ask profitably, "How does God choose to reveal his saving presence unto the world?" If we can learn how the Father manifested himself unto Jesus, after Jesus had identified himself with poor fallen humanity, then it will be shown how Christ's presence will be manifested unto us. Jesus says of his mission to earth: "I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing." John 6:38, 39. It was the Father that sent him whose will he came to do. It is evident he could not do that will unless he knew what it was, and that would require a constant revelation. This is shown in his reply to Philip to show them his Father: "Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself;695 but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." John 14:10. The Father dwelling in the Son was alive—thinking, talking, and working. Just how this could be is the mystery of the plan of salvation, and we cannot explain it, but this is just how it was with Christ and how it must be with us. Let us place beside this text, that the Father was in Christ, the one in 1 Cor. 6:19: "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" Was not Christ, then, a temple for the Holy Ghost? If the Father was in Christ, as is shown by the text in John 14:10, and it can be shown that the Holy Ghost was also in Christ, is it not plain that the Father has chosen to manifest his saving presence through the Holy Spirit? Let us study a few texts concerning Christ's relation to the Holy Ghost: "But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost." Matt. 1:20. "For he shall be great, . . . and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb." Luke 1:15. "And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon him." Luke 2:40. "It came to pass that Jesus being also baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him." Luke 3:21, 22. "And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness." Chapter 4:1. He went from place to place as he was led and directed by the Spirit, and did all the miracles through its mighty power. See Luke 4:14; Matt. 12:28. All of Christ's words were burning with the Spirit. "From whence hath this man this authority," was often forced from astonished spectators. The presence of his Father was the source of his authority, and Jesus presumed to do nothing only by the authority of the Spirit of God. Was it necessary then for Jesus to pray? Yes; for then it was he committed himself to the Holy Spirit. Then it was that he invoked the presence of his Father. By the foregoing texts we learn: 1. That Jesus came here to represent the Father. 2. He said nothing of himself. 3. Because he placed his will in subjection to that of his Father, he and his Father were made one. 4. That the Father was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, and that his presence and mind were manifested in Christ by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Concerning us Jesus prayed: "As thou [Father] hath sent me into the world, even so [in just the same manner] have I also sent them into the world." John 17:18. He was sent to do his Father's will, which should be revealed in the word and by the ever-present Spirit. We are sent to do the same. His commission was, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, . . . and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Matt. 28:19, 20. He instructed them to tarry until endued with power from on high, which power was manifested at Pentecost. His presence was here especially manifested. A flash of the Spirit taught persecuting Saul that Jesus' presence was nigh, and especially entwined about his loving children. If Jesus, the precious, loving Son of God, who, from the beginning, was with God, needed to be filled with the holy presence of his Father, in order to do his will, is it not of the utmost importance that that same Holy Spirit fill us, enabling us to do Jesus' will? Unless we have the Spirit of Christ, we are none of his. It remains, therefore, that everything done outside of the Spirit is not of Christ, and, if not of Christ, is of the devil. To be void of that Spirit, then, means death. We are now in the time of its latter rain. Oh, may we be content with nothing less than being filled to overflowing with this sweet, holy presence of Christ our Saviour! THE FLOWERS OF FAITH.
By Eliza H. Morton
ALONG the paths of earth life
Are roses bright and fair,
And blossoms, rich with perfume,
Are waving in the air. And there are also briars
And thorns along the way.
'Tis best to shun the brambles,
And cull the flowers each day. God's promises are flowers
Which grow on every hand;
Our sins are thorns and briars
In number like the sand. God's love will surely cover
The past, tho' dark as night,
Then grasp the precious promise
And walk within the light. The thorns but wound and grieve us,
To gather them is wrong,
But flowers of faith give comfort,
And waken joyous song. MEET OFTEN TO WORSHIP GOD.
By G. T. Wilson
“AND that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for He is faithful that promised; and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works; not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Rom. 13:11; Heb. 10:23–25. What if you are few in numbers? what if those who should show the most interest and attention to the worship of high heaven seem indifferent and cold? yet the promise is sure “that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matt. 18:19, 20. What a promise is this! Then shall we not claim it and often meet to pray to the Father of mercies and to give thanks unto the name of our God? We are soon to be taken to heaven if we are prepared to meet Jesus when he comes to gather his saints, and are we now learning to talk the language of the court of heaven? Paul says in Phil. 3:20, “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.” We need to know all we can about the place we are going to occupy all the long ages to come. A thousand years we will spend in heaven with all the redeemed and with Jesus and angels and our Father in heaven, and we need to talk of this to each other much, that we may provoke each other unto love and to good works. “We are in the time of waiting;
Soon we shall behold our Lord,
Wafted far away from sorrow,
To receive our rich reward.” We need to have our loins girt about with truth, and to have our lamps burning, that when our Lord returns from the marriage to gather home his guests, you and I may be prepared to say, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us.” “We are living, we are dwelling,
In a grand and awful time;
To be living is sublime.” We are altogether too worldly, and take too much time for the things of the world, which do us no good, and then we excuse ourselves from reading our Bibles and from secret prayer, because we are too busy. “Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.” Worry yourselves about nothing, “but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” When we go to meet each other, let us have our conversation on the things of God as much as we can, and then when we have made our visit, let us pray together, for each other and the cause of God. We pray far too little, and we let go of the arm of the Lord too soon, and for this reason we sometimes do not see the answers to our prayers we had hoped to see. Some may complain that they cannot find words to pray, that they do not know what to say. Well, the Lord has told us to ask for the things we are in need of, and that if we ask in faith, it should be done unto us. God has also promised his Holy Spirit to help us to pray. See Rom. 8:26: “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” “Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another; and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.” Mal. 3:16. Then let us pray, and talk of heaven and its joys, of Jesus and his love, of our Heavenly Father and his unbounded mercies, and we shall be kept by his grace safe until Christ comes. MAN’S WORD VS. GOD’S WORD.
By Grant Adkins
It is certainly appalling to see how far people will go in theory and falsehood, and what reckless assertions they will be led to make, to evade the plainest teachings of the Bible. Recently the Rev. Mr. Long, D.D., of Fountain City, Tenn., in a labored effort to show his people that they need no longer obey the fourth commandment, after reading Gen. 2:2, 3, with Rev. 1:10, said: "The word 'Sabbath' is not the name of the day of the week." One can scarcely comprehend how a minister of the gospel, with any degree of biblical knowledge whatever, would dare make such an assertion before an intelligent audience when the word of God is so plain on that point. In turning to the record of creation, in Gen. 2:2, 3, we learn (1) that, after working six days, God rested on the seventh day, and (2) that he "blessed the seventh day," and (3) he "sanctified" the "seventh day." Why did he thus set apart a specific day?—Because "that in it he had rested from all his work." Jesus, in giving the law on Mt. Sinai, said of the then existing Sabbath day: "Remember the Sabbath day"—the day that God made at the close of creation week, most assuredly. Here Jesus calls the seventh day "the Sabbath." Language could not speak more plainly. But this is not the only place where the seventh day is called "the Sabbath." Mark 15:42 says: "And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath." All know that the "preparation day" then was, as now, the sixth day of the week, especially to those who keep "the Sabbath according to the commandment." Luke 23:56. And, again, Mark 16:1, 2 shows conclusively that the "Sabbath" was the name given to the seventh day, because it (the Sabbath) "had passed" when the first day came on. And Acts 13:27, 42, with the above scripture, demonstrates beyond any possible doubt that, when the word "Sab8bath" was used, it was understood as referring to the seventh day of the week; and, more than that, the only day God ever did name at all was the seventh day, and he called it the "Sabbath," the Rev. J. D. Long, D.D., to the contrary notwithstanding. After quoting John 20:19, Mr. Long said that they had assembled there and were "discussing what the two on the road to Emmaus, and Peter, had seen," and "that it was nonsense to say they were there for fear of the Jews," and again he says: "To-day we are worshiping on the first day. God instituted the seventh day [a candid admission that he never instituted the first day], and it is a surprise to me that this question should come up for pulpit discussion in the nineteenth century." Yes, and it ought to be a "surprise" to any man who believes the word of God, for the Bible says just as positively as can be that "the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord." Ex. 20:10; Isa. 58:13. Mr. Long laid considerable stress on Rev. 1:10, and as that text in itself did not say which day was the "Lord’s day," Mr. Long found comfort and consolation in the writings of Ignatius and Pliny, those saintly(?), fathers of the church. He reported them as teaching that "Sunday was the Lord’s day," and then, with an air of satisfaction, asked, "What are we going to do with the teachings of such men?"—Why, do just as any honest man would do when their writings were contrary to God’s word,—reject them. "To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isa. 8:20. "We ought to obey God rather than men." Acts 5:29. God says keep the seventh day holy. Ex. 20:8–11. "In vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." Matt. 15:9. INCREASE OF CRIME.
By Wm. Penniman
"EVIL men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." Crime is defined by lexicographers to be any violation of law, either human or divine. Sin is defined as the transgression of the law of God. "Vice is a moral fault, or immoral conduct." Crime is generally a transgression of the law of God as well as of the law of man. Therefore when we speak of the increase of crime, it is about the same as to say increase of sin, wickedness, vice, or lawlessness. Judge Vansickel, in a New Jersey court, in October, 1891, referring to the increase of crime and its causes, said:— In 1891 more than 6,000 murders were committed in the United States, and in only one case out of fifty has capital punishment been meted out. If this disregard of human life is not checked, more than 6,000 persons are doomed to die in the year to come. We think that the facts in the case prove that the judge was right in his prediction, as there were more than 7,000 in 1892. The judge goes on to prove that the causes of this increase are undue sympathy for the criminal, a prejudiced jury, and the consequent failure to administer the just penalties. But it is not in the province of this article to discuss the causes of the increase, more than to say that many of the causes are no doubt criminal as well as the effects. The fear of punishment does not always prevent crime. When a wicked man has murder in his heart, and is determined to wreak his vengeance on someone, no fear of death or of hell fire will deter him. We have instances of this in recent cases of terrible and outrageous crimes, and the perpetrators have been hung, burned, and handled in various ways by mob law. This mob law is still in exercise, and the inhuman brutes continue their ruinous work, to give occasion for more lawlessness or mob law. It seems that this lawless method of dealing with some criminals is worse than the crime for which the criminal is punished. In a case which recently happened, it was the intention of the mob to burn a negro while alive, but as he happened to be killed in another way, they burned him after he was dead. Some time ago when another was burned alive and many were gathering around him to see the sight, he coolly said to the crowd, "Please step aside and give the ladies a chance." This is a specimen of the boasted civilization and refinement of the nineteenth century. I think we have no record of any white men being burned in this country for similar crimes, but it is not because some of them do not deserve it as much as the degraded blacks, that they are not. It is right for man to administer whatever civil justice human law requires, yet every Christian should take into account that God says, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay." We are living in an age of covetousness as well as an age of murder, in a time when justice is nearly dead and money is king. This is one reason, if not the greatest, why crime is so much on the increase. Very much is implied in the words of Scripture, that "the love of money is the root of all evil." Said a man to me some time ago, "Give me $100,000 and I can kill any man in Macoupin County and get clear"—referring to several cases where money had cleared men. This is one of the reasons, if not the greatest, why only 120 persons received capital punishment in 1891, when in that year there were over 6,000 murders. There never was an age of the world when there was such a heaping up of earthly treasures as now. How many millionaires can we find who have not made their fortunes illegally or criminally? And is not this kind of crime on the increase? Again, look at the evils of intemperance in our land. Is it not the love of money as well as the love of drink that keeps up the army of 1,000,000 of confirmed drunkards? If statistics show that 240,000 saloons employ more than a million men, and that there is $1,200,000,000 expended annually, and $800,000 because of drink and drunkenness, and hundreds of millions foolishly wasted on tobacco, tea, coffee, and many other useless articles, and only comparatively a few millions in Christian missions, is it any wonder that crime of every description is so terribly on the increase? that conversions have become so scarce, and the dawn of the millennium seems so distant as to cause the hopeful Talmage to exclaim (when looking at both sides of the question), "Within the last twenty-five years the churches of God in this country have averaged less than two conversions a year each. There has been an average of four or five deaths in the churches. How soon, at that rate, will this world be brought to God? We gain two, we lose four. Eternal God! What will this come to?" ROME'S IDEA OF MISSIONARY WORK AND SUNDAY KEEPING.
By Frank C. Kelley
SINCE the Roman Catholic Church claims and teaches that her doctrines never change, we have, therefore, the right to say that she would do now just the same as she did when her power was supreme. Let history tell how she regarded the Sunday and did her missionary work. We will give only those ideas that are taught and practiced upon the American continent, particularly in California, Mexico, and the adjacent islands. Sunday keeping is described by Mr. Hittell, in his "History of California," vol. 2., pp. 502, 503, as follows: "Every Sunday was a festival. After mass the day was devoted to amusement. As there was no impiety in firing salutes to accompany Sunday mass, so there was no sin in Sunday military parades. A man who attended church in the morning was at liberty to enjoy himself in the afternoon as suited his fancy. He could turn out, if he pleased, with rattling drum and ear-piercing fife; or, if he liked better, he could spend the remainder of the day, without impeachment of his orthodox devoutness, at the race course or gaming table. There was no offense in Sunday laughter or hilarity, and no one imagined that Sunday dancing was damnable." In speaking of amusements he says: "Not only Christmas and Easter, but every Sunday, had its religious festivities and amusements. Every mission had its anniversary; every family, its reunion; every individual, his saint's day. Every wedding was made a festival; every funeral, a time of amusement." Here the Church of Rome, backed by the State or government, has stamped her idea of Sunday keeping as a part of the history of this continent. Martyrs' blood and worldly pleasures are fit companions for the church that forsakes Christ, her Divine Head, for that of earthly governments. It has been thus, in Protestant churches as well as in the Roman, and always will be. They turn from Christ to the god of this world, and sacred things are reduced to the level of the common and the profane. The plan followed by the Roman Church in the evangelizing of America can be found on pages 200–202 of "Fox' Book of Martyrs," Aldine edition, Lovell, publisher, from which we quote:— In 1492 Christopher Columbus landed first in the large island of St. Domingo, or Hispaniola, which was at that time exceedingly populous; but as soon as the Spaniards gained a permanent foothold on the island, the inoffensive inhabitants were murdered by multitudes. Blind superstition, bloody bigotry, and craving avarice, turned that which, at the arrival of the Spaniards, seemed to appear as an earthly paradise, to a dismal desert. By the repeated barbarities of the Spaniards 12,000,000 souls were destroyed in the West Indies and on the continent of America in a space of forty years. All the inhabitants of a large and populous town were driven off to the mines, and 6,000 helpless infants, left behind without means of subsistence, perished. Whenever the people of any town had the reputation of being rich, an order was immediately sent that every person in it should turn Roman Catholic; if this was not directly complied with, the town was instantly plundered, and the inhabitants murdered; and if it was complied with, a pretense was soon after made to strip the inhabitants of their wealth. Between the years 1514 and 1522, 800,000 in Terra Firma were destroyed. Between 1523 and 1533,697 500,000 natives of Nicaragua were transported to Peru, where they all perished by incessant labor in the mines. In twelve years from the first landing of Cortez on the continent of America, 4,000,000 Mexicans perished. All the inhabitants were seized who refused to turn Roman Catholic, and as they did not know the meaning of the religion they were commanded to embrace, the Spaniards put them all to death. Some may say: "I do not believe it. I do not believe any such barbarities ever took place." We reply, These facts are indisputably ascertained, and the circumstances admitted by their own writers, some of whom have even gloried in their inhumanity, and, as Roman Catholics, deemed those atrocious actions meritorious. A brother of the writer, now in Cartagena, S. A., writes that the implements of torture used in the days of the Inquisition can be seen from the street, they being placed in the windows of the cathedral. He says, "The people need a better religion, more education, and a separation of the Church and State." What religion is better than Christ's? Who will say, Here, Lord, send me? Dear reader, the call is for you and me. Let us say, "Yes, Lord, send us."