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Signs of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 27.

The Purpose of the Ages
Earlier text: HOW LONG, O LORD, HOW LONG!

FIELD NOTES.

By Editor

THE dedication of a new church at Chetopa, Kansas, is noted by Elder C. McReynolds, president of the Conference.
IN connection with the Missouri Conference Bible School, which closed a few weeks ago, twenty-seven persons were baptized.
THE Territory of Utah has been cut off from the California Conference and taken under the charge of the General Conference, as missionary ground.
WE have information from headquarters that Elder A. J. Breed, now in charge of General Conference District No. 5, is to be transferred to the Pacific Coast.
AT Providence, R. I., March 31, six candidates were baptized by Elder H. J. Farman, and a good interest was continued in the meetings being conducted there.
ELDER O. S. FERREN reports to the Kansas Worker two additions at Natoma; five baptized at Placo; in the neighborhood of Chester, Neb., a church of seventeen members organized; and in meetings in progress at Concordia at date of writing eight had taken their stand on the side of the commandments of God.
BROTHER J. R. GLASS reports an attendance of eighteen at the canvassers' institute now being held at Healdsburg, Cal. Some of these are preparing for work in foreign fields.
THE following schedule has been marked out by Elder O. A. Olsen concerning himself: At Rural Health Retreat, California, May 4-7; at Oakland during camp meeting; leave Oakland for the East May 20; sail from New York for Europe May 30.
WE are informed that Elder F. D. Starr, president of Indiana Conference, has been called to Battle Creek, Mich., to connect with the publishing house there, in the capacity of a translator. Also that Elder T. H. Purdon, of Vermont, is to succeed to the charge of the Indiana Conference.
LESS than three months ago a Japanese school was started in Vacaville, Cal., with four pupils. Now Sister M. E. Light reports an enrollment of twenty-five. Seven of this number keep the seventh-day Sabbath. These form a class in the Sabbath school, with one of their own number as teacher.
ELDER A. W. BARTLETT, who has been laboring in Indiana for several years, has returned to his former field in the California Conference, arriving in this city April 25. On his way hither he stopped at Phoenix, Arizona, and gave the little company there the encouragement of six weeks' labor.
ELDER L. R. CONRADI states in the Review that the Hamburg branch of the International Tract Society prints in the Hungarian and Servian languages at Buda-Pesth; in the Roumanian at Bucharest; in the Bulgarian, at Rustchuk, and in the Bohemian, at Pardubitz. He adds that "in the last three months the Lord has given us seventy souls in the German and Russian fields."
FROM the Pitkin, Colo., Miner of April 20 we clip this item: "The Scripture studies at the chapel are crowding it every evening, with a constantly increasing attendance and interest in the afternoon, many facing the all-important question of life with calm consideration and intelligent conclusion. The meetings are taking a decided revival turn, and it is probable that Elder J. D. Pegg will remain another week."
THE persecution of our brethren in Georgia, under cover of a Sunday law, has caused a decided interest to hear the truth in regard to the Sabbath question. Elder R. S. Owen says, "I have appointments in four different places, and others are anxiously waiting for their turn to come." In one of these places six persons had fully decided to keep the Sabbath of the Lord. He also reports the following preamble and resolutions adopted by the mayor and council of a certain city, the name of which will be furnished to any of our brethren on application to Elder Owen at Gainesville:—
WHEREAS, We are aware that many cases of persecution have arisen in different cities and States against people who conscientiously observe the seventh day as the Sabbath, and who desire to be free to pursue their usual avocations peaceably on other days of the week; therefore,
1. Resolved, By the mayor and council of the city of—that we offer to these people a most cordial and hearty welcome to—; and,
2. Resolved, That we pledge our official and individual influence to secure these citizens from persecution, and to guarantee to them the fullest and freest exercise of their religious liberty.

PRAY, CHRISTIAN, PRAY.

By Mrs. M. J. Bahler

BY THE LATE MRS. M. J. BAHLER.
PRAY, Christian, pray. At all times be In suppliant mood, For thou canst not too often raise Thy heart to God.
Pray, Christian, pray. Dangers are round Thee thickly spread; And thou, in thy weak, mortal strength, Must needs be led.
Pray, Christian, pray. Thy God is one Who says not, Nay, But answers sincere, humble prayer. Then, Christian, pray.

AN APPEAL FOR THE SPANISH.

By H. L. Rawson

AN OPEN LETTER.

DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: A few weeks since I saw in the Signs an appeal for men and means to carry God's last message of mercy to the perishing millions of Spanish people. I am heartily in sympathy with the appeal. It is high time that we as a people were alive in the work of carrying the Third Angel's Message to those people, as well as to other nations. May an abundance of laborers and means be speedily forthcoming for that good work.
But while we seek to send help to our Spanish brothers in other lands, let us not forget the thousands of Spanish in our own land. They are within our reach, right here among us. We cannot all go to Mexico, South America, or Spain, but we can do something in our own land for the Spanish-speaking people. If we cannot go to their countries now, some of us can begin work among them at our very doors. And while we bear to them the precious truth, we will gain an experience which, with the blessing of God, may fit us to bear the message to foreign lands. But whether we go or stay, we shall be doing a blessed work, which the Lord can make fruitful unto eternal life for some poor souls who are now blindly worshiping the beast.
God has given me the privilege of doing a little work among the Spanish during the last few months. I wish my work had been more extensive and more perfect, but I can testify that it is a blessed work. Here and there I find souls who are hungering for the bread of life, whose countenances light up with joy as some precious grain of truth reaches their understanding. I cannot yet report any converts among them, but I am of good courage. The seed of God's word is being sown in hearts which on the whole are as good soil from which to expect a harvest as the hearts of so-called Protestants, who are fast becoming worshipers of the beast and his image. God says, "My word shall not return unto me void." I believe it will not, even if it is sown in the Spanish heart.
Brother, sister, will you join in this good work? H. L. RAWSON. Santa Barbara, Cal.

THE LAW OF GOD

As Changed by the Papacy.

HERE we have arranged the papal assumptions and admissions side by side with the law of God. These selections are all taken from works of acknowledged authority among the Catholics, and are therefore valuable for reference. Price of cloth, $1.00; paper, 5½x8½ in., per 100, 50c. Address Pacific Press Publishing Co., Oakland, Cal., or 43 Bond St., New York City, or 18 West 5th St., Kansas City, Mo.

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 VIII.—SUNDAY, MAY 20, 1894.

CHILDHOOD OF MOSES.

[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.]

Lesson Scripture. Ex. 2: 1-10.

  1. And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.
  2. And the woman conceived, and bare a son; and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.
  3. And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch; and she put the child therein, and laid it in the flags by the river's brink.
  4. And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him.
  5. And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river side; and she saw the ark among the flags, and sent her handmaid to fetch it.
  6. And she opened it, and saw the child; and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrew's children.
  7. Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?
  8. And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child's mother.
  9. And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it.
  10. And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses, and said, Because I drew him out of the water.
Golden Text: "I will deliver him, and honor him." Ps. 91:15.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

  1. Note the connection between this and the last lesson. Note 1.
  2. What took place in the tribe of Levi at the time of Pharaoh's decree to destroy the male children? Verse 1.
  3. What was the name of this man and woman? "And Amram took him Jochebed his father's sister to wife." Ex. 6: 20.
  4. When her son was born, what did she do to save him alive? Verse 2.
  5. When she could no longer hide him, what did she do? Verse 3. Note 2.
  6. Who watched over him? Verse 4.
  7. Who came down to the river in the morning? Verse 5. Note 3.
  8. What did she find? Verse 6.
  9. How did she regard the child when the ark was opened and brought to her? Same verse. Note 4.
  10. What did she say?
  11. As the sister of the child saw the compassion of the princess, what did she say to her? Verse 7.
  12. What did Pharaoh's daughter reply? Verse 8.
  13. Whom did the maid call?
  14. What instruction did Pharaoh's daughter give the child's mother? Verse 9. Note 5.
  15. What privilege did this give the mother?
  16. When the child grew, to whom was he brought? Verse 10. Note 6.
  17. What name did she give the child? and why?
  18. Notwithstanding Moses' greatness, what choice did he make? Note 7.

NOTES.

  1. THE time of this lesson, according to Usher's Chronology, is about 1571 B.C., extending to 1531, when Moses was forty years old. Our last lesson closed with the decree of Pharaoh that the male children should be slain. This lesson records an interesting incident in connection with that. The place of these events was probably Zoan, in Egypt, called Tánis in the Septuagint Greek and Sán in modern Arabic, all different forms of the same word. Egypt was then the most glorious nation on earth. Rome was not in existence, Greece was but a den of robbers, but Egypt was the seat of learning and civilization. The ruler was Rameses II., who filled the land with great statues and buildings. For an inspired commentary on this lesson see Acts 7: 18-29 and Heb. 11: 23-27.
  2. She took for him an ark.—Bush says that we are told by Pliny that a piece of acacia wood was put in the bottom of the boat to serve as a keel, to which the plants were joined lengthwise, being first sewed together, then gathered up at stem and stern and made fast by means of a ligature. The bulrush is a papyrus plant. It is a strong-growing rush attaining the height of ten or fifteen feet. The Egyptian paper was made from its pith. Our word "paper" is derived from the word "papyrus." The slime with which it was daubed seems to have been mineral pitch, which when cold became as hard and brittle as glass, impervious to water. The river is the branch of the Nile, on which the capital, Tánis, was built, and said to be the only branch not infested with crocodiles. We are told in Hebrews that it was by faith that the father and mother of Moses did what they did. They knew that Israël was to be delivered from Egypt, and it seems evident that they felt that their child would be the deliverer. The sister set to watch was doubtless Miriam. See Num. 26: 59.
  3. Daughter of Pharaoh.—Her name, say the Egyptian monuments, was Nefer-ari, who was first the sister and then the wife of Rameses II. She afterwards added to her name Mer-en-Mut. This last term is the basis of the Thermuthis of Greek historians, and this also shows why Josephus calls her first "daughter," and then "Thermuthis," and finally describes her as "co-regent in the administration of affairs." To wash.—While the women of Egypt are now secluded in harems, anciently they mingled with men as women in Christian countries do now. Bathing in the river was a common practice with them. The river was also considered a sacred object. The princess herself discovered the ark, and that gave her a personal interest in it.
  4. And she had compassion.—The king had decreed the death of the child; but the heart of the princess was more than the law. Alford says, "If there is a thing too strong for man's law, it is a woman's heart." As Professor Green expressed it, "The babe found a protector in the very family of the king who decreed its death." She evidently concluded that it was a Hebrew child, from the complexion, which in the Hebrews was lighter than that of the Egyptians, or from the features, and from the fact that none but a Hebrew mother would need to hide her child.
  5. Take this child and nurse it for me.—To the mother it was a call from God, for which she was doubly paid, first by the princess and then by the better wages of seeing her son and having the privilege of caring for him and training him. Trumbull says: "The highest wages in the world are earned by good mothers. The mother who does an honest day's work week in and week out in faithful and faith-filled care of her children is on a large salary; and she will be rich sooner or later." Every child should be trained, not for amusement, or for the service of the parent, but for God. It should be trained in the knowledge of God and his love.
  6. Became her son.—He became a member of the royal family, and was "learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians." This, says Rawlinson, "included orthography, grammar, history, theology, medicine, arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and engineering. By the more advanced, poetry was read, and poetic composition was occasionally practiced." He was probably received into the priestly caste, and knew all the secret learning of the Egyptian priests. He was not only learned in the wisdom of the Egyptians, but Stephen says "he was mighty in words and in deeds." Stanley says "he taught Orpheus, and was hence called by the Greeks Musæus, and by the Egyptians Hermes." He was sent on an expedition against the Ethiopians. In fact, he was considered, not only by the Egyptians but by other surrounding nations, as one of the most remarkable men of his time.
  7. THE remaining part of Exodus 2 tells how Moses was grieved because of the oppression of his brethren, how he took their part against the Egyptians, how he was forced to flee to the land of Midian at the age of forty years, and there for forty years was a simple shepherd, but learning higher lessons of wisdom from the God of nature than he had ever learned in Egypt. Heb. 11: 24-26 says that Moses chose "rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt." He had faith in God, and he looked forward to the future for his reward.

CAMP MEETINGS FOR 1894.

By General Conference Committee

DISTRICT NUMBER ONE.

  • Pennsylvania.....................May 30 to June 11
  • Quebec............................June 14-25
  • New York.........................July 26 to Aug. 6
  • Virginia.............................Aug. 7-14
  • West Virginia....................Aug. 16-27
  • Vermont...........................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. 27 to Sept. 7
  • Florida, Seffner................Nov. 8-18

DISTRICT NUMBER THREE.

Ohio, Newark.....................Aug. 10-20
  • Indiana, Indianapolis.........Aug. 7-13
  • Illinois..............................Aug. 22-28
  • Michigan..........................Sept. 19 to Oct. 1

DISTRICT NUMBER FOUR.

  • Iowa, Ingleside Park, Des
Moines.............................May 29 to June 5
  • Minnesota, Minneapolis.....June 5-12
  • Wisconsin, Portage............June 12-18
  • South Dakota, Madison....Aug. 21-28
  • Nebraska, Seward.............Aug. 21-28

DISTRICT NUMBER FIVE.

Texas, Cleburne.................Aug. 9-20 Arkansas, Chester...............Aug. 16-27 Oklahoma............................Aug. 23 to Sept. 3 Colorado, Denver................Aug. 30 to Sept. 10 Kansas, Emporia.................Sept. 6-17 Missouri..............................Sept. 19 to Oct. 1

DISTRICT NUMBER SIX.

  • California, Bushrod Park, Oakland...May 10-21
  • North Pacific.....................May 23-30
  • Upper Columbia, near Walla
Walla................................May 30 to June 6
  • Montana............................June 13-20

DISTRICT NUMBER EIGHT.

Denmark.............................June 1-10 Norway...............................June 13-24 Sweden...............................June 28 to July 8 Central Europe, Neuchâtel...July 12-22
Appointments marked by a star will be preceded by a workers' meeting.
GEN. CONF. COM.

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.
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, No. 507 East Ankeny St. 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.
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.
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 251. O. S. SMYTH, Clerk.

ADDRESSES OF CANVASSING AGENTS.

F. L. MEAD, general agent, Battle Creek, Mich. Z. Sherrig, 18 Werder St., Chicago, Ill. Charles Michaels, Echo Pub. Co., N. Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia. B. B. Newman, cor. High Holbourn and Berry Sts., Kingston, Jamaica. N. Z. Town, 451 Holloway Road, London, N., England. F. W. Spies, Grindleburg, 15a, Hamburg, Germany. Emil Lind, Smalandsgaten 15, Stockholm, Sweden. T. Wittle, 76 Pyrmont Bridge Road, Glebe, Sydney, Australia. Wm. Crothers, Banks Terrace, Wellington, New Zealand. R. B. Craig, Casilla del Carreo 481, Buenos Ayres, Rep. Argentina, S. A.

DISTRICT NO. 1.

F. L. Downs, North Deering, Maine. F. S. Porter, Northfield, Vermont. S. F. Reeder, Newburg, West Virginia. J. R. Calkins, 317 W. Bloomfield St., Rome, N. Y. A. S. Bowersox, Box 644, Williamsport, Pa. C. A. Watkins, Winchester, Va. H. C. Wilcox, S. Lancaster, Mass. U. P. Long, 2847 W. Lansdale St., Baltimore, Md. C. L. Taylor, 97 Plymouth Grove, Montreal, P. Q., Canada. F. W. Morse, 20 Melbourne Ave., Toronto, Ont., Canada.

DISTRICT NO. 2.

E. C. Haskell, 219 South St., Montgomery, Alabama. W. L. Killen, Oxford, N. C. C. F. Dart, St. Landry Parish, Morrow, La. L. E. Johnson, 159 Laurel St., Columbia, S. C. C. N. Perrin, Meridian, Miss. W. R. Burrow, Trezevant, Tenn. A. F. Harrison, Graysville, Tenn.

DISTRICT NO. 3.

S. G. Haughey, 611 E. Gambier St., Mt. Vernon, Ohio. I. S. Lloyd, 122 Ruckle St., Indianapolis, Indiana. G. A. Wheeler, 125 W. Monroe St., Springfield, Ill. A. J. Olsen, Ovid, Mich.

DISTRICT NO. 4.

J. J. Devereaux, 1505 E St., Lincoln, Neb. S. A. Hill, Adel, Iowa. Frank Gravelle, Bridgewater, S. Dakota. C. M. Everest, Box 989, Minneapolis, Minn. S. D. Hartwell, Milton Junction, Wis.

DISTRICT NO. 5.

James Hackett, 2010 E. 23d St., Kansas City, Mo. S. C. Osborne, 821 W. 5th St., Topeka, Kansas. L. C. Somerville, Springdale, Ark. W. W. Eastman, Cleburne, Texas. A. M. Fisher, 1112 S. 11th St., Denver, Colo.

DISTRICT NO. 6.

J. R. Glass, 1059 Castro St., Oakland, Cal. W. S. Holbrook, College Place, Wash. E. P. Boggs, 737 5th Ave., Helena, Mont.

"APPLES OF GOLD LIBRARY."

By Editor

This is the title of a little monthly publication recently started by the Pacific Press, and is designed especially for use in personal correspondence. It is printed on thin paper, and one or two numbers can be put in a No. 6 envelope, with an ordinary letter, without increasing the postage.
The following numbers have already been issued: No. 1. Looking unto Jesus. " 2. The Christian's Privilege. " 3. The Sure Promises of God. " 4. How to Get Knowledge. " 5. The Church and the World. (Poetry.) " 6. The Elect of God. " 7. How Esther Read Her Bible. " 8. The Thief on the Cross. " 9. The Eleventh Hour. " 10. Benefits of Bible Study. " 11. Righteousness: Where Is It to be Found? " 12. Power of Forgiveness. " 13. Responsibility of Parents.
Five copies for one year, postpaid, 50 cents; or 12 copies for $1.00. Single subscriptions are not desirable, for two reasons: (1) The numbers being so small they are liable to be lost in the mails. (2) If they are used in correspondence, as recommended, more than one copy would be necessary.
Single or assorted numbers of the Library will be mailed in quantities at the following rates: 50 cents per hundred, or $4.00 per thousand copies. Always order by the NUMBER.
Address, # PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING CO., New York City; Kansas City, Mo.; Oakland, Cal.
"Living by Faith." (Spanish.) A translation of Bible Students' Library No. 75; 16 pp.; price, 2 cents. Address, PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING CO., Oakland, Cal.
BIBLE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS CONCERNING MAN. By Alonzo T. Jones. Bible Students' Library, No. 76 Pacific Press Pub. Co., Oakland, Cal. 16 pp.; 2 cents.
HEALTH AND TEMPERANCE BOOKS AND TRACTS.—Assorted Package No. 2; price, 40 cents. Fifteen subjects treated; over 100 pages. Address, Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal.
ANGELS; THEIR NATURE AND MINISTRY. Contains also some hints on the origin, history, and destiny of Satan as gleaned from the Scriptures. Bible Students' Library, No. 89 Pacific Press Pub. Co., Oakland, Cal. 140 pp.; 20 cents.
STEPS TO CHRIST. The Pacific Press Publishing Co., Oakland, Cal., have received an entirely new stock of the latest edition of that excellent book entitled "Steps to Christ," by Mrs. E. G. White. The price, postpaid, is only 75 cents. Address as above.

LESSON XX.—SABBATH, MAY 19, 1894.

THE BREAD OF LIFE.

Lesson Scripture, Luke 9: 7-27.

7. Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done; and he was much perplexed, because that it was said by some, that John was risen from the dead; 8. And by some, that Elijah had appeared; and by others, that one of the old prophets was risen again. 9. And Herod said, John I beheaded; but who is this, about whom I hear such things? And he sought to see him. 10. And the apostles, when they were returned, declared unto him what things they had done. And he took them, and withdrew apart to a city called Bethsaida. 11. But the multitudes perceiving it followed him; and he welcomed them, and spake to them of the kingdom of God, and them that had need of healing he healed. 12. And the day began to wear away; and the twelve came, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals; for we are here in a desert place. 13. But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more than five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy food for all this people. 14. For they were about five thousand men. And he said unto his disciples, Make them sit down in companies, about fifty each. 15. And they did so, and made them all sit down. 16. And he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake; and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. 17. And they did eat, and were all filled; and there was taken up that which remained over to them of broken pieces, twelve baskets. 18. And it came to pass, as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him; and he asked them, saying, Who do the multitudes say that I am? 19. And they answering said, John the Baptist; but others say, Elijah; and others, that one of the old prophets is risen again. 20. And he said unto them, But who say ye that I am? And Peter answering said, The Christ of God. 21. But he charged them, and commanded them to tell this to no man: 22. Saying, The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up. 23. And he said unto all, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24. For whosoever would save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 25. For what is a man profited, if he gain the whole world, and lose or forfeit his own self? 26. For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when he cometh in his own glory, and the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels. 27. But I tell you of a truth, There be some of them that stand here, which shall in nowise taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.
This lesson may be sufficiently outlined as follows: Herod’s perplexity; the return of the twelve; the feeding of the five thousand; opinions concerning Jesus; instructions to his followers. Again the caution must be repeated to the student not to study the synopsis from the lesson pamphlet, but directly from the Bible. In every lesson use the pamphlet at first only for the purpose of noting the portion of Scripture forming the lesson. Then read the verses very carefully several times, and make your own synopsis. Note down on a slip of paper the different topics, and then compare with the list in the pamphlet. Bear in mind that the Bible, and not the pamphlet, is to be studied. The pamphlet is designed only to direct your study, so that you may study to the best advantage.
1. How was Herod the tetrarch affected by the reports of Christ’s work? 2. Who did different ones say that Jesus was? 3. What did Herod say? and what did he desire? 4. When the apostles returned, what did Jesus do? 5. Who followed them into the desert? 6. What did Jesus do for them? 7. At the close of the day, what did the twelve say? 8. What did Jesus say to them? 9. How much food had they with them? 10. How many people were there to be fed? 11. Relate the details of the miracle that followed. 12. How much remained after all were filled? 13. What question did Jesus ask his disciples at a season of prayer? 14. Tell what answers were given. 15. What was their own testimony concerning him? 16. What did Jesus then tell them? 17. What did he say must be done by all who would follow him? 18. Who will lose his life? 19. Who are they who will save their lives? 20. What important question did Jesus ask? 21. What will be the lot of those who are ashamed of Jesus and his words? 22. What did Jesus say that some then present should see?

NOTES.

1. "And he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing." There is one thing that always recommends one to the kind attention of Jesus, and that is to be in need. And yet that feeling of need and general worthlessness is what keeps many away from him. There were no exceptions, no special favorites. No matter who they were, nor how many there were, he healed them that had need of healing. Thus it came to pass that "there were whole villages where there were no sick ones, for he had healed them all." He is the same to-day that he was then. What he did then he is just as able and willing to do now.
"All the fitness he requireth Is to feel your need of him."
2. FIVE thousand men were fed with five loaves and two fishes, and not only did they all eat, but they were all filled. Imagine how much it would take to fill to satisfaction a crowd of five thousand hungry men, besides women and children. And then think of the small portion available for them. There was not enough for each one to have a mouthful. If they had divided it equally among themselves, there would have been scarcely enough for anyone to have even the taste of food. And then, most wonderful to relate, there was much more left, after all had been satisfied, than there was when they began to eat. What more striking illustration could be given of the statement that he "is able to do exceeding abundantly, above all that we ask or think"? Eph. 3: 20.
3. THE question is, Where did that bread come from? The original amount, instead of being diminished, was increased. There can be only one answer: It came from the Lord Jesus Christ himself. He is the Bread of Life. John 6: 48-51. In this miracle we are again shown how that believing on him we may have life through his name. For just as he had power in himself to supply the physical needs of that multitude, so he has power to supply all our spiritual wants. And just as surely as the multitude could eat that bread which came from him, and be nourished by it, so we may really feed upon Christ, and grow thereby.
4. IT seems incredible that anyone who really believes this miracle should ever have a doubt of Christ's power to save us by his own life in us. The general objection is that it seems so unreal, so intangible, that we cannot understand how Christ's life can come into us to make us strong to do his will. Well, here we have the thing made as simple as the supply of daily bread for our physical strength. Let us go to the very beginning of the matter. There is nobody who has any doubt that the food which we eat day by day gives us strength. We become faint and ready to die through long fasting; we eat good food, and our life and our strength come again. That food becomes part of our blood, and the strength and the life which we feel renewed in us are the strength and the life that are in the food we ate. And yet as we look at the bread we can see no life in it, and it does not look at all like flesh and blood. If we had not been used to receiving strength all our lives through eating food,—if we had been miraculously kept alive till manhood without food,—and at the age of twenty-one were told that our life in the future depended on our eating bread, the majority of the people would starve to death. Very few would believe that any life could come from such a source. Scientists would be ready to demonstrate the impossibility of forming flesh and blood out of bread. It is a merciful provision of God for the preservation of the race that people learn to sustain life by eating, long before they are able to reason about it. When the plant is growing, we see evidences of life in it, although we cannot see the life. We see immense energy displayed by it. We see huge clods of earth pushed aside by it, and even stones are sometimes rent asunder by it. Whence comes this life and power?—Through God’s word, which said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth." Gen. 1: 11. The energy displayed in the growing plant is nothing less than the power of God. The same life is stored up in the seed, which forms the food of man, so that our physical food comes as truly from the Lord as did the bread which the five thousand ate. In that case the process of bread making was shortened. Now just as God fills the plant with life, of which we partake for the nourishment of our bodies, so he fills us with his own life of righteousness, if by faith we receive him through his word. We cannot understand how any of it is done; but it is no more difficult to believe that God can work perfection in a man than that he can do it in a plant.
5. THE people could not feed themselves; they could not derive any strength from themselves. They, as we and all others are, were entirely dependent for strength on the food which they ate. Moreover, they could not do anything to assist the food to give them strength. All that they could do was to eat it as it was provided for them, and then leave it alone. Why can we not learn the lesson which God designs us to learn from our daily food? Whether we realize it or not, we depend absolutely on Christ for our life, through the food which he provides us. So we must depend solely on Christ for our righteousness, which is real life. If our faith grasps the reality of this miracle,—a miracle that is repeated every day,—then it can grasp the fact that he can put his life directly into us; and having that, we have all. His life fills and satisfies the hungry soul.
6. THE gospel is God's plan, and not man's. Man's only plan for receiving anything is to seize upon it. "Each one for himself," is the motto of the world. But Christ says that whosoever wishes to live must give up his life, and that whosoever seeks to save his own life, shall lose it. The world's motto is derived from Satan. He had a glorious position. But he wanted more, and set about to seize it, and as a consequence he lost everything. Christ had everything, but he willingly gave up all. He did not grasp and hold even his own, and as a result he gained everything. Read Phil. 2: 5-9. "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." 2 Cor. 8: 9.
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