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MAN'S NATURE AND DESTINY.
By Uriah Smith
--OR--
THE STATE OF THE DEAD,
THE REWARD OF THE RIGHTEOUS,
AND THE END OF THE WICKED.
BY ELDER URIAH SMITH.
THIS work is a thorough canvass of the great question of a future life, the nature of man in the present life, and the condition of immortality from a logical and scriptural standpoint.
Every text in the Bible which has any possible bearing upon these points, is taken up and carefully explained, thus giving the most comprehensive view of the subject that has yet been presented.
"Man's Nature and Destiny" contains 444 pages, and is printed from clear, new plates, on heavy paper, and is attractively bound in green muslin, with gilt side and back titles. All orders will be promptly filled by mail or express. Price, $1.50.
Address,
PACIFIC PRESS, Oakland, Cal.
CHRIST IN THE GOSPELS,
—OR—
The Life of our Lord in the Words of the Evangelists,
BY JAMES P. CADMAN, A. M.,
Is, as its Name Indicates, a Compilation in which the four Narratives of
# THE LIFE OF CHRIST
ARE WOVEN INTO ONE CONNECTED STORY, MAKING A COMPLETE HARMONY OF THE GOSPELS IN THE EXACT LANGUAGE OF THE SCRIPTURES.
The text is that of the Revised Version, and while every word in the four Gospels appears, the work is so arranged that the reader can tell at a glance the words used in each Gospel. Those who have tried to gather all the facts concerning some miracle, or other event, and at the same time properly locate and credit the various parts of the narrative, will appreciate this book, which is the very best of its kind and gives evidence of an immense amount of careful and painstaking labor.
The book is fully indexed so that any text or subject can be readily found; and the maps, notes, and diagrams which it contains are alone well worth the price of the volume. The following partial (less than half) TABLE OF CONTENTS will give an idea of the scope of the work:—
Index to chapter and verses; Life of Our Lord (333 pages); Index of persons, places, and subjects, with dictionary of proper names; Explanation of maps and diagrams; Map of the pathways of Jesus; Diagrams illustrating the principal events of crucifixion week.
This work is invaluable, and all who love the Bible should have a copy. It contains 394 pages, is well printed on good paper, and is neatly and substantially bound in cloth.
NEW EDITION, OCTAVO SIZE, 1,200 PAGES.
Many important additions and improvements from the works of the most eminent scholars, commentators, and travelers. It is designed to be
A COMPLETE GUIDE
In regard to the pronunciation and signification of scriptural names; the solution of difficulties respecting the interpretation, authority, and harmony of the Old and New Testaments; the history and description of Biblical customs, events, places, persons, animals, plants, etc.
In this book it is designed to make everything intelligible to those who understand only the English language, and to place them as nearly as possible on a level with the scholars who are familiar with the original languages of the Scriptures.
All the words in the vocabulary are pronounced and divided into syllables, and words or parts of words are respelled whenever this is necessary to indicate the pronunciation.
The book contains numerous maps, and is abundantly supplied with superior engravings, which are of real utility to the student.
No one who desires to study the Scriptures intelligently will be without a copy of this most excellent book.
A THIRTY-TWO PAGE BI-MONTHLY, devoted to the dissemination of true temperance principles, and instruction in the art of preserving health. It is emphatically
A JOURNAL FOR THE PEOPLE,
Containing what everybody wants to know, and is thoroughly practical. Its range of subjects is unlimited, embracing everything that in any way affects the health. Its articles being short and pointed, it is specially adapted to farmers, mechanics, and housekeepers, who have but little leisure for reading. It is just the journal that every family needs, and may be read with profit by every member. Price, 50 cents per year.
Address, PACIFIC PRESS, Oakland, Cal.
SPIRITUAL GIFTS, VOLUME ONE.
By Editor
BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.
THE readers of the SIGNS need no introduction to the writings of Mrs. White. The article on the first page of each paper, from her pen, is always eagerly read; and those who read it need no guarantee that her writings are elevating in their nature and marked by a high moral tone. This book has long been out of print, and is now republished, as much that it contains has never appeared in any other work. It is a brief but vivid sketch of the great controversy between Christ and Satan, from the rebellion in Heaven to the establishment of Christ's Kingdom. The book is well adapted for extensive circulation, as it contains a great amount of important matter in a small space. Much of the matter is of special interest to the church at the present time. In paper covers, 154 pp. Price, 25 cents.
Address, PACIFIC PRESS, Oakland, Cal.
THE SABBATH QUESTION.
Assorted Package No. 1, Price, 10c.
Which Day Do You Keep, and Why—Who Changed the Sabbath—The Sabbath in the New Testament—Elihu on the Sabbath—God's Memorial—Sunday Not the Sabbath—Why Not Found Out Before—One Hundred Bible Facts about the Sabbath.
Assorted Package No. 2, Price, 25c.
This package contains all the tracts in package No. 1, and the following in addition:—
Seven Reasons for Sunday-keeping Examined—The Ten Commandments Not Abolished—The Seventh Part of Time—The Definite Seventh Day—Perfection of the Ten Commandments—Address to the Baptists—The Sunday Law.
Other Works on the Sabbath.
The Truth Found.—A comprehensive exposition of the nature and obligation of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. 64 pp....................................................................10c
Sunday Seventh-day Examined.—A critical examination of the claim that Sunday is the true seventh day of the fourth commandment. 88 pp....................................................................10c
Brown's Review of Gilfillan on the Sabbath Question. 64 pp....................................................................10c
Appeal to the Baptists.—An address from the Seventh-day Baptists to their first-day Baptist brethren, urging a restoration of the Bible Sabbath from the standpoint of Baptist principles of argument and interpretation. 48 pp. 10c
Vindication of the True Sabbath.—By a former missionary of the Presbyterian Church (Morton), 68 pp....................................................................10c
Morality of the Sabbath.—Showing that the Sabbath commandment, being found in the midst of the nine acknowledged moral precepts, is, like the others, moral in its nature. 96 pp....................................................................15c
Testimony of the Fathers of the first three centuries concerning the Sabbath and first-day. A candid examination of both sides of the question: 112 pp....................................................................15c
Address, PACIFIC PRESS, Oakland, Cal.
THE TRUTH FOUND.
THE NATURE AND OBLIGATION OF THE SABBATH OF THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT.
BY ELD. J. H. WAGGONER.
THE title of this little book sufficiently explains its character. It contains more scriptural information in regard to the Sabbath than any other book of twice the size, and yet it is so simplified as to be easily comprehended. The author quotes the opinions of many learned men concerning the Sabbath, and their conflicting theories are strongly contrasted with the clear, straightforward teaching of the Bible. 64 pp. Price, 10 cents. Address, PACIFIC PRESS, Oakland, Cal.
EXPERIENCE AND VIEWS.
BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.
Early Writings of Mrs. White
By Editor
THIS volume contains the earliest writings of Mrs. White, first printed in 1851. It contains an account of her early religious experience, and a brief account of the wonderful dealings of God with her. Apart from its intrinsic value, it will be of interest as showing the harmony between the earliest writings of the Seventh-day Adventists and those published at a later date. Its publication is very timely. In paper covers, with Supplement, 25 cents.
Address, PACIFIC PRESS, Oakland, Cal.
THOUGHTS ON BAPTISM.
By Joseph Harvey Waggoner
BY ELD. J. H. WAGGONER.
An examination of the Action, Subjects, and Relations of the Ordinance of Baptism. Also, a brief REFUTATION of the
AN EIGHT-PAGE MONTHLY JOURNAL,
DEVOTED TO
The defense of American Institutions, the preservation of the United States Constitution as it is, so far as regards religion or religious tests, and the maintenance of human rights, both civil and religious.
It will ever be uncompromisingly opposed to anything tending toward a union of Church and State, either in name or in fact.
In the trial of Professor Smythe, of Andover, for heresy, Professor Baldwin, of Yale College, one of the counsel for the defense, is reported by the Independent as follows:—
"The doctrine of probation after death, Professor Baldwin maintained, has already done much, and was destined to do more, to overcome agnosticism, the most hurtful error which prevails at the present day among men."
An "agnostic" is one who does not believe anything, and doesn't profess to know anything, although he really thinks that he knows more than all the world beside. Professor Baldwin says that the doctrine of probation after death has converted men from agnosticism. That is, they believe it, and therefore they can no longer be called agnostics. How convenient it is to be able to invent doctrines that will take infidelity away from men whether they will or not. Thus, the doctrine of probation after death tells the sinner that if he doesn't repent in this life, he will be all right, because another "chance" will be given him after death. This, being in accordance with his desires, is of course readily accepted. In this way the "larger hope" converts men. We submit that it is better to be an agnostic than to believe a lie; for the man who believes a lie rests satisfied with his condition and cannot be moved.
BIBLE JUSTICE VINDICATED.
In a Spiritualist paper we find the following quotation from Pascal:—
"Nothing appears so revolting to reason as to say that the first man should impart guilt to those who, from their extreme distance from the source of evil, seem incapable of such a participation. This transmission seems to us not only unnatural, but unjust. For what can be more repugnant to the rules of our despicable justice than to condemn eternally an infant, yet irresponsible, for an offense in which he appears to have so little share, that was committed 6,000 years before he came into existence?"
Doubtless many besides Spiritualists will adopt that language as their own, and will fancy that in so doing they are bringing an unanswerable argument against the doctrines of Christianity. But everybody who has read the Bible to any purpose knows full well that it does not teach that either infants or adults are condemned for an offense committed either 6,000 years or half as many minutes before they were born. Neither is one person condemned for the offense of another, no matter when that offense is committed. The Bible plainly declares:—
"The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him." Eze. 18:20.
And the same thing was taught to the Jews in their earliest history. Thus: "The father shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers; every man shall be put to death for his own sin." Deut. 24:16.
The Bible nowhere countenances the idea that one person shall suffer for the offense of another. But it does recognize the fact that a stream cannot rise higher than its source. If Adam had retained his purity, he would have begotten children with tendencies to right doing; but having fallen, his posterity must necessarily be born with tendencies to evil. This evil nature with which all men are born, is strengthened by evil practices, so that although "by one man sin came into the world," death justly passed upon all men, "for that all have sinned." To those who charge the Bible with partiality and injustice it may always be said: "Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures."
The Signs of the Times.
By Editor
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, FIFTH-DAY, JANUARY 20, 1887.
We send no papers from this office without pay in advance, unless by special arrangement. 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 and hand them to your friends to read.
LAST Sabbath, January 15, the Oakland church had the pleasure of listening to a sermon by Elder W. D. Curtis, lately from Kansas. The discourse was based on Matt. 16:19, and was an outline of the fundamental principles of the doctrine of the true church of Christ, with a statement of the danger to which the church has been and is exposed, and a description of the final triumph of the faithful. On Sunday, January 16, Brother Curtis and family sailed for Australia on the steamer Alameda. He will stop at Honolulu a month or two, to help along the work there.
Clergy and the Ballet
Not long ago several of the clergy of Chicago, yielding to the argument(?) that "to the pure all things are pure," and to an invitation from the National Opera Company, attended the performance of certain ballets that they might, as the invitation ran, "give a fair opinion as to whether the dance, as presented with artistic refinement in the American Opera ballets, is not an attractive, artistic, and morally innocuous adjunct to the opera." It is almost needless to say that no sooner had these men yielded to this operatic sophistry than they were told by the friends of the ballet that they "went there to satisfy their curiosity and see what it looked like;" that "the excuse that they desired to inform themselves that they might more forcibly condemn it, is too thin;" that they knew very well before they went what they would see, "for it is a matter of conceded, undisputed, universal knowledge. Yet they went there to see whether it was bad or not!" and finally, that having gone themselves they could not well object to their parishioners going. All of which should be a lesson to the clergy of Chicago.
The Thief and Christ’s Second Coming
The Christian Standard says of the request of the thief on the cross, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom" (Luke 23:42):—
"He had no doubt reference to the kingdom as it will be manifested at the second coming of Christ—the kingdom of the glorified, though he had no clear conception of its nature."
Nobody can tell how clear a conception he may have had of the kingdom of Christ, but it is certain that in his request he had reference to the second coming of Christ. This truth is more clearly marked by Griesbach's text, which reads, "Remember me in the day of thy coming." And since Christ's coming in his kingdom is at his second coming (Matt. 25:31) we see that the thief made his request intelligently. What Christ promised was simply that his desire should be fulfilled. An emphatic declaration was made to the effect that when Christ should come the second time the thief should then be with him; he should be remembered. The word "to-day" simply makes the declaration the more emphatic.
THE "LARGER HOPE."
THE "larger hope" is being much talked about now. This "larger hope" is that if men do not accept Christ in this life, they will have a chance to repent after death. It is no new thing. Satan set before Eve a "larger hope" than the Lord did. He persuaded her to believe that she would be much better off if she went outside of God's command. She soon found out her mistake. The antediluvians cherished a "larger hope" than Noah did. He, poor credulous soul, thought that if he didn't get into the ark he would be drowned. Their hope was not so circumscribed. Their free minds took a much wider range, and they thought that they would be safe enough if they ignored the ark. But "the flood came, and destroyed them all." The men of Sodom were not so narrow in their beliefs as Lot was. He believed that his only hope lay in flight from the city. They had a "larger hope," and therefore would not put themselves to the trouble to flee. "But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all." "Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed." Those who cherish this "larger hope" will then find out their mistake. "Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." This hope is large enough to take in the whole creation; "for God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." This hope is limited to this life, for when Christ comes the second time it is "without sin, unto salvation." Nevertheless, the Spirit and the bride say, Come; and whosoever will may take the water of life as a gift. Who could ask any larger hope than this? Well might the apostle exclaim: "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!"
"How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your hope in his excellent word!
What more could he say than to you he hath said,
Who unto the Saviour for refuge have fled?"
"THE GOSPEL MANUAL."
By Editor
Such is the title of an excellent little book, a copy of which we received some days ago from the author, Rev. Samuel Slocombe. As described by the title page, the book is "an arrangement of the four Gospels into one continuous record of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, with notes and appendix." Unlike some other works of the same nature, this book does not give all of the four Gospels; that is, where two or more of the evangelists have recorded the same thing, only the fullest account is given. But while this may be an objection to the critical student, there are no doubt many who will be pleased with the simplicity of the work.
The appendix contains some interesting thoughts on the "characteristics of the Gospels," besides "brief notes, mostly chronological," which are explanatory rather than controversial, and are "indicative," the author says, "of the reason for adopting a particular course in the presence of conflicting views."
The convenient size of the book, 192 pp., five and one-half by six and one-half inches, and the price, from fifty cents to one dollar and twenty-five cents, according to binding, together with some of the features before mentioned, will no doubt make it quite popular. It can be obtained of Geo. C. McConnell, 757 Market Street, San Francisco.
"VICK'S FLORAL GUIDE."
By Editor
This Guide, which is far more than a mere catalogue of seeds, comes to us this year looking brighter and better if possible than ever before. It contains two colored plates, besides hundreds of other instructive and pleasing illustrations, together with descriptions of nearly all the flowers and vegetables grown, with directions how and when to plant, and how to care for them. Indeed, the Guide might properly be called a cyclopedia of floral and horticultural knowledge; and no one who takes any interest whatever in such matters, whether they wish to buy seeds or not, should be without it. Certainly everyone who can do so should at least cultivate a few flowers, as they lend a charm to home life and cast about it a refining influence which nothing else can. We would unhesitatingly say to each of our readers, If you have not already done so, do not fail to send ten cents to James Vick, seedsman, Rochester, N. Y., for a copy of his Illustrated Floral Guide for 1887. No one who has ordered seeds from Vick was ever dissatisfied; he always does better than he promises, and he promises well.
THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES,
By Editor
PUBLISHED WEEKLY, AT OAKLAND, CAL., FOR THE
International Tract and Missionary Society.
A sixteen-page Religious Family Paper, devoted to a discussion of the Prophecies, Signs of the Times, Second Coming of Christ, Harmony of the Law and Gospel; with Departments devoted to Health and Temperance, the Home Circle, the Missionary Work, and the Sabbath-school.
Price Per Year, post-paid, - - - - $2.00
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To foreign countries, single subscriptions, post-paid, 10s.
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES,
Twelfth and Castro Sts., OAKLAND, CAL., U. S. A.