p. 15 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 3. (1/18/1905)

Earlier text: SUNDAY ENFORCEMENT NEWS AND COMMENT

A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG WOMAN THE DEVIL’S AGENT.

A YOUNG man in a Wisconsin town gave his heart to God, and was converted through and through. He was very bright, and before his conversion was very wild. There was a young lady in that town he had been wont to visit often. She said to a familiar friend of hers, when she heard of his conversion, "I wonder if he will come to our parties now?" That friend replied: "I don’t believe he ever will; and, after hearing what he said, I don’t think he will play cards any more." "I’ll bet I can get him to play," said she. "I’ll bet you can’t," said her friend, and they made some kind of a bet together. These two girls were both members of the church, tho they had no interest in religion. "Now, I’ll tell you," said the first, "I’ll give him two weeks, then report to you." A few nights after the meeting closed, he came down to spend the evening with the girl. He put his things on the rack in the hall, and stepped into the parlor. She invited him to a chair. By and by she said, "Well, let’s have a little game of cards to-night?" "No, thanks," said he, "I am not going to play any more."

"You are not? What do you mean?"

"I mean just that—that I am not."

"Well, I know you are not going to play with bad men, or gamble any more, but you will play with me."

This was his reply: "I played my first game in a parlor with a girl, and my last with a gambler in a gambling-den. Before I knew it I was gambling with all I could get. I don’t propose to start again, where I did the first time."

A brave, kind, polite answer. He had turned out a miserable gambler, and he did not propose to be caught a second time that way.

They talked on a few minutes together, and then she said: "O, pshaw! I am not going to let you be so particular. What will we do if we don’t play cards?" Continuing, she said: "There is such a thing as being really fanatical. I am glad you have changed, but I don’t want you to be fanatical. I wouldn’t have you fanatical for anything. And right here alone, just you and I—will you play a little game with me? I’ll never tell."

She pulled out a little drawer, and from it took a pack of beautiful, enameled, gilt-edged cards, and, as she held them out to him, she gave them that quick snap—music to the player’s ear.

"Come on! any game you say! your deal!" He looked at the cards; he looked at her; she was almost trembling with excitement. He looked into that eager face, and she smiled upon him out of those beautiful eyes; he saw those pearly white teeth, as they flashed out from behind coralline lips; she smiled at him again so temptingly; he thought the world of that girl.

He stood for an instant, hesitatingly looking into her face, then he reached out, and took the cards from her hands, and—tossed them over into a corner of the room. He turned, and said: "I have a lesson to prepare to-night for to-morrow’s recitation; I guess I had better go home, and get it. Good evening," and he bowed, and walked out of the room.

Young man, are you made of this sort?—Selected.

“THAT’S YOU, JIM.”

A troop of young men who had blacked their faces and hands, and dressed themselves in very strange-looking clothes, arranged themselves before a gentleman’s store door, one day for a “performance.” These people were “Ethiopian Serenaders.” After they had sung some comic songs, one of them, a tall young man, stepped up to the door and held out his hat for a few pennies.

Mr. Carr, the owner of the store, took one of the Bibles from the case, and going to the door, he said, pleasantly, “See here, young man, I will give you a shilling and this book besides, if you will read a few verses in it to your companions.”

The young man laughed. “That’s getting a shilling for an easy job,” he said gayly. “Now listen, boys, I’m going to give you a ‘public reading.’”

Mr. Carr opened to the fifteenth chapter of St. Luke, and pointing to the eleventh verse, asked him to read:

“Now, Jim, speak up!” said one of the party, “and earn your shilling like a man.”

And Jim took the book and read:

“‘A certain man had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.’”

Something in the reader’s voice seemed to keep the gay company quiet. He read on—

“‘And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance in riotous living.’”

“That’s you, Jim,” exclaimed one of the boys, “It’s just like what you told me of your father.”

Jim read on—“‘And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.’”

“Why, that’s you again, Jim,” the same voice said. “Go on.” “‘And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him to the fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat; and no man gave unto him.’”

“That’s like us all,” said the same voice again. “We’re all beggars and might be better than we are! Well go on; let’s hear what came of it.”

Jim went on, but his voice began to tremble—

“‘And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father.’”

At this point he broke down and could read no more. It was his own story told in the Bible; it made him think of his own home, of his father, of the love and care that had been given him when he was a little boy, and he made up his mind that he would arise and go to his father.

Will the boys and girls who read this story look for the fifteenth chapter of Luke and finish the Bible story?—Selected.

Smiles for the Stranger

THE devil never worries over the man who saves all his smiles for the stranger.—Ram’s Horn.

Admiring Virtue

To ADMIRE a virtue without seeking to emulate it is to enervate the soul.—Selected.

LESSON 5.—JANUARY 29.—JESUS AND NICODEMUS

By Editor

The Sabbath-school lessons have been discontinued. The Lesson Quarterly may be obtained, containing three months' lessons and notes, for five cents. Address, Pacific Press, Mountain View, Cal. The Sunday-school lessons will continue.

LESSON 5.—JANUARY 29.—JESUS AND NICODEMUS.

Lesson Scripture, John 3:1-15, A. R. V.

(1) "Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: (2) the same came unto Him by night, and said to Him, Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that thou doest, except God be with him. (3) Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born anew, he can not see the kingdom of God. (4) Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born? (5) Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he can not enter into the kingdom of God. (6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7) Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born anew. (8) The wind bloweth where it will, and thou hearest the voice thereof, but knowest not whence it cometh, and whither it goeth; so is every one that is born of the Spirit. (9) Nicodemus answered and said unto Him, How can these things be? (10) Jesus answered and said unto him, Art Thou the teacher of Israel, and understandest not these things? (11) Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that which we know, and bear witness of that which we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. (12) If I told you earthly things and ye believe not, how shall ye believe if I tell you heavenly things? (13) And no one hath ascended into heaven, but He that descended out of heaven, even the Son of Man, who is in heaven. (14) And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; (15) that whosoever believeth may in Him have eternal life." Golden Text.—"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." Verse 16.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) What noted man is mentioned in this lesson? Of what sect was he? What position did he hold? Verse 1. Note 1. (2) At what time did he visit Jesus? With what flattering words did he address the Saviour? Verse 2. Note 2. (3) How did Jesus reply to this salutation? Verse 3. Note 3. (4) What questions show that Nicodemus did not comprehend the Lord's meaning? Verse 4. Note 4. (5) What further explanation did Jesus give? Verse 5. Note 5. (6) What is the difference between the natural birth and that of the Spirit? Verse 6. (7) At what did Jesus bid Nicodemus not to wonder? Verse 7. (8) With what words did Jesus enforce His lesson? Verse 8. Note 6. (9) How did Nicodemus show his desire for further instruction? Verse 9. (10) How did Jesus express a natural surprise at the ignorance of this "teacher"? Verse 10. Note 7. (11) What did He say of His own testimony? Verse 11, 31-34. (12) How did He compare earthly with heavenly things? Verse 12. (13) From whom alone can we learn of heavenly things? Verse 13. Note 8. (14) To what event did Jesus refer as illustrative of His mission to the world? Verse 14. (15) For what purpose was the Son of Man "lifted up" on the cross? Verse 15. Note 9.

NOTES.

1. It is said that among the Pharisees were to be found most of the prominent persons who were at that time looking for the Messiah. Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin, or Jewish national council, and very wealthy, in fact, the teacher of the Sanhedrin. Verse 10.

2. It was not cowardice that caused Nicodemus to come to Jesus by night. That was a time in which a more private personal interview could be had. There was also in it that spirit of precaution that afterward enabled him to give conservative counsel to his brother officials with regard to Jesus, and to forestall any rash action. See John 7:50, 51. Altho he was accustomed to receiving homage from the poor, Nicodemus approached the poor Galilean with diplomatic courtesy, conceding that He was a minister of God.

3. If Nicodemus expected a return of compliments, he must have been disappointed. Jesus wasted no words; He saw the rich official's need as a sinner, and immediately sought to help him. His first need was to have his mind disabused of the idea that his position as a Jew, and especially as a ruler and teacher, would assure him a place in the kingdom of heaven. He must be born anew, "born from above." God's children are of heavenly birth.

4. Nicodemus' questions show that, however well versed he may have been in religious ceremonials and the letter of the law, he was wofully lacking in knowledge of spiritual things.

5. The words of Jesus in verse 5 "referred to water baptism and the grace of God. The power of the Holy Spirit transforms the entire man. This change constitutes the new birth."

6. "The wind bloweth."—Better "the Spirit moveth where it will." The original word is "pneuma," never rendered wind in any other place in the New Testament. Nicodemus knew this great fact by theory at least. As the moving and power of God's Spirit which he acknowledged, but which was beyond his grasp, so the power of the Spirit to bring forth a new being, tho beyond his comprehension, should be acknowledged by him. "The mind is an invisible agent of God to produce tangible results. Its influence is powerful, and governs the actions of men. If purified from all evil, it is the motive power for good. The regenerating Spirit of God, taking possession of the mind, transforms the life; wicked thoughts are put away, evil deeds are renounced, and love, peace, and humility take the place of anger, envy, and strife. That power which no human eye can see has created a new being in the image of God."—Great Controversy, Vol. 2.

7. The question, "Art thou the teacher of Israel?" indicates that besides the exalted position of Nicodemus politically, he was one from whom the people received religious doctrine—that which purported to be spiritual instruction. So here was an interview between two teachers; and the One "sent from God" upbraids the one recognized by the people, because he did not understand the simplest principle connected with that which he himself was assuming to teach. And so it must ever be when men depart from the law of God and teach in its stead the traditions of men. "If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!" Matt. 6:23.

8. No man hath ascended up to heaven and brought back the testimony of an eye-witness. Only He who came down from heaven can witness correctly concerning heavenly things. This assertion of Jesus forever precludes the idea of communication with so-called departed spirits respecting conditions in the heavenly world. All such pretensions are manifestly fraudulent. We can get no information in regard to the heavenly land, excepting that which comes through the Spirit and Word of Him who came down from heaven.

9. "The serpent" which Moses set up in the wilderness was a type of Christ, and looking to the serpent in that trying hour was typical of faith in Christ. The looking was an act of faith, implying repentance and a return to obedience of God's commandments. So the sinner looking to Christ by faith is healed of his sin—his serpent bite—and restored to a life of obedience through faith.

CO-OPERATION CORNER.

By Editor

WE have used this corner from time to time to bring together those who can use SIGNS OF THE TIMES but can not pay for them, and those who can not use them to good advantage but can pay for them.

Here is part of a letter just received from one sister who has been doing good work, but on account of sickness, failed to pay her bills, and to whose credit we placed $10.00 from this fund:

How can I thank the kind friends of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES enough for donating me the $10.00. I just said, "Bless the Lord" when I read the letter, and could have cried for joy the next minute.

If there are other readers who desire to assist similar worthy missionary workers, they may do so by sending remittances to SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Mountain View, Cal.

OUR International Publishing Association at College View, Neb., have a few sets of the November issues of the German, Danish, and Swedish papers which should be circulated at once. Our subscribers pronounce them to be the best religious numbers ever issued. Order a set for your German, Danish, or Swedish neighbor. A set will be mailed to any address for 10 cents.

Address the publishers, or your tract society.

In Our Next.

By Editor

Among other good things in our next issue will be an article on "Rationalism in the Church," by our London correspondent,—a striking setting forth of the religious drift in England; "Sunday-Law Enforcement" Notes and News by our Washington correspondent, showing how widespread is this anti-Protestant, anti-American movement; "Religious Trend in the Northwest," an article by Mr. G. W. Reaser, of Seattle, Wash. Others of equal interest will be found from other contributors and in our editorial columns.

Be More Careful, Please.

In a recent contribution sent to the SIGNS twenty-one scripture references were used to tell where the scriptures quoted could be found; and of these mistakes were made in twelve instances. In many cases the chapter before or the chapter after the correct one was set down, showing haste and carelessness. Many other articles are of about the same character. It is a pleasure to get good, well-written articles from our friends who freely contribute. It is worth while to take pains for one's own sake. But it is ever a question whether a carelessly-written article full of misquotations is worth considering at all. Whatever is worth doing, is worth doing worthily.

Poor reading and poor spelling is becoming proverbially the rule among graduates of the higher schools. Prof. Charles M. Gayley, of the University of California, is reported to have said: "There are many employers in San Francisco who for the last fifteen years have complained to me of the horrible English used by our graduates employed by them. They say there are very few indeed who can talk and write correctly. The main trouble lies in the fact that the students are 'railroaded' through colleges in their study of the professions, and very little, if any, of their time has been spent on the study of English expression and literature." To this the Christian Advocate adds: "The same is true of spelling. A litterateur, usually careful in expression, says that the presumption is that a recent graduate is a poor speller." But the real fault lies with the primary and grammar schools, as regards reading and spelling. Proficiency in spelling should be attained in these grades, and the habit of correct expression should be well established before leaving the high school. Where the colleges and universities are at fault is in their not requiring students to pass rigid examination in these branches, making them tests of admission. Such a course is due as a protection to the language, which is becoming over-burdened with slang, which outrage in time gains recognition in the dictionaries.

In making decisions involving moral considerations, no Christian should ask, What is expedient? but, What is right? Which is more like Christ? How would He have done, were He in my place? Expediency is one of the respectable doors by which the devil enters into the plans and business of many good men. Expediency is a foundation-stone of policy; but right is the foundation of principle. To him who hopes to succeed by expediency, his success will prove a curse; but to him who sacrifices for right, who loses financially by the sacrifice, his loss will prove a gain. Expediency led Peter to deny his Lord in the palace of the priest, but right principles led him to death by the cross. But who now would not infinitely choose the latter to the former. It is easy, however, to decide for others, especially after the deed is a past fact; what we want is principles of right and truth, and faith in the Word of God to guide us in the now.

Many do not wish to know that they are sinners. They avoid all places and occasions where they think the Lord would reveal to them their sins. They seem to think, if they are not convicted of their sins, they are not so sinful as tho they were convicted. But conviction does not make the sinner worse. It is a step toward something better, for it reveals to him his true condition; and, knowing his true condition, he can come to Him who is able to remedy every defect, and wash away every sin. Let not the deceitfulness of sin keep you back from knowing your true condition. "Be not deceived; God is not mocked."

What is good preaching?

It is giving the message of a living Christ to a dying world. It is giving the message of a soon-coming Christ to a church that has been stupefied by the deadly narcotics of the world. It is pouring out the Gospel of Christ in purity, through a vessel that has been purified by it, that it may do its purifying work in the sick and polluted hearts of men. It is not dispensing pious lectures upon passing themes; but it is the burning of the great truths of redemption into the very souls of perishing men and women. And that is the kind of preaching that counts—it is the only kind that does. The Gospel was not given for entertainment. Men and women may be highly entertained by pulpit discourses while their souls are starving for the bread of life, or are slipping out into those mysterious regions from which they can not be reclaimed. "Preach the Word;" that has in it the message that is due; the food that the soul needs; the power to convict of sin. "Preach the Word," and that will be good preaching.

The Jewish Counsel of Women of San Francisco recently discussed the subject of the celebration of Christmas in Jewish homes. While there was decided difference of opinion, the animus of the whole was anti-Christian. Several of the women argued that the celebration of Christmas tended to make the young and inexperienced Jew or Jewess think too highly of the festival which, they claimed, as distinctively Christian. Others contended that inasmuch as Christmas was originally a Pagan festival, participation in it by Jews could not be regarded as Jewish compliance with Christian standards. This argument was surely well founded, but it showed a preference for complying with Pagan standards rather than to countenance anything that might be deemed Christian. This preference was emphasized by one lady as follows: "Under such circumstances as actually exist, the Christmas celebration being purely Pagan in origin, and having no connection with the nativity of Christ, where, may I ask, does the objectionable influence come in?"

A Cold Radiator.

One of the most striking and truthful cartoons we have seen appears in the Ram's Horn of December 31. In it a shivering clergyman, with a "crazy" patchwork robe thrown over his shoulders, is shown trying to warm himself before a cold radiator which is labeled "The New Theology." Behind him stands a large waste-basket in the top of which lies a Bible. He has turned his back upon the discarded Bible, and stretches out his benumbed hands to the cold radiator that can not warm them or him. How true to life! and how it solves the problem of the empty pew and the lifeless professor! There is no warmth, no life, in the human inventions and schemes which are taking the place of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its purity. It matters not whether they are called New Theology, New Thought, Christian Science, Higher Criticism, or what not, they are not of Christ, have not His Spirit, have no power to convict of sin, or convert from sinful ways; they fill none of the soul needs of the individual. The man who has his back turned upon the Bible can not have his face turned toward the "Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world;" and the man whose face is turned away from Christ can not lead sinners to the great fount of soul cleansing, to the source of soul warmth, light, and life.

The work of Christ for a soul is a whole work. He is able to do all things needful for our salvation. He is so willing to do this that He died for that purpose. He is the Beginner and Finisher of our faith. Certainly He desires to do what He is able to do, and died to do. There is therefore nothing in Him which will hinder our salvation. If there is any hindrance, it is with us. There is no power outside of ourselves which is able to prevent the work of Christ being completed in us. If He does not work for us and in us, it is because we are not willing to have Him.

The commandment of the Sabbath, as given by God from Mount Sinai, is based upon that which concerns man universally; viz., the creation of the heavens and the earth. The earth was created, not for the Jews alone, nor for any other one race, but for all men; therefore the Sabbath was made for the whole of mankind. Hence, also, our Saviour's words, "The Sabbath was made for man." The obligation of the Sabbath rests upon all who live upon the earth. This conclusion is unavoidable.

Modern Christians live too much in the crowd. They have swung to the opposite extreme of asceticism as manifested in the old monks and anchorites. Both extremes are prolific of barrenness. God wants active servants, but He also wants those servants to draw aside at times from their active duties, to learn of Him, meditate on His instructions, to feed on His Word, and drink of His Spirit. It is thus that He makes His servants friends.

Do you wish to make your little child or anybody else's little child a nice present which will do them good all through the year?—Send them the Little Friend for a year, price, 50 cents, the address of which is Mountain View, Cal. It is a pure, bright little paper, and it does a child good to have a paper come in his name.

We are grateful for the good words we hear from our readers and subscribers. Will you not use your influence to help the SIGNS? There are many families who do not take a religious paper, and who would pay a dollar and a half a year for such a journal. Have you not such neighbors? Try it, and see.