p. 15 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 33, No. 30. (7/24/1907)

Earlier text: The Hague Peace Conference

Studies in the Christ-Life at Brother Eldred's

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

Twelfth Evening's Study.

JUST at this moment the door-bell rang sharply. Sister Eldred groaned inwardly. Why must their cozy, pleasant, profitable study be interrupted, especially just now—just as Mr. Field had become interested enough to ask a question, and such an important and vital one, too?

Ah, how little we know of the wonderful ways of Him who is perfect in wisdom, and who never makes a mistake, even in the seemingly small affairs of the earth-life of His children! Sister Eldred glanced questioningly at her husband, and hurried to open the door.

"Good evening, Mr. Allan; come in and join us in our Bible study," said Brother Eldred, cordially.

"Bible study? Well, now—that's rather a new departure for me, Mr. Eldred," and the newcomer smiled dubiously, as he continued: "I just stepped in to inquire about the lease of that house I understood you had for rent. I hope I'm not intruding."

"Intruding? O no; we're always glad to welcome our friends; but you have not lived in the village long enough to have heard that we observe the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath of the Lord, according to the commandment, and that the day properly begins with the setting of the sun. So, you see, as we can do no business on this evening, we would be very much pleased for you to join us in the reading."

Mr. Allan's face was a study as he seated himself rather uneasily in the chair offered him, and accepted the proffered Bible, while Brother Eldred continued:

"We were about to answer a question which our friend, Mr. Field, propounded just as you entered. Will you kindly repeat your question, Mr. Field?"

"It was this: supposing the Bible account of the temptation and suffering of Jesus Christ to be true, what was the real object of it all? and why did God allow His Son to suffer and die for a world of guilty men? It has always seemed unreasonable to me that the innocent should suffer for the guilty. I was taught from boyhood to regard the story as a myth, and Jesus Christ simply as a great and good man, and that if I was ever saved, I must save myself."

"You are not the first who has been led to question the vicarious atonement," replied Brother Eldred, while Sister Eldred again quietly repeated her favorite 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.' "

At once Mr. Allan's face took on a softened expression, and his eyes filled with tears as he exclaimed, turning to Sister Eldred:

"O madam! I've been trying to get away from that verse for years, tho I've not heard it repeated since my mother died with it upon her lips. But I don't know how to believe on Him, and, as Mr. Field says, it seems unreasonable and unnatural that the innocent should die for the guilty."

"And yet," replied Brother Eldred, "we see the same principle carried out in nature, and we do not think to question it. If the blossom did not die, the fruit would never appear; and constantly some of the brain cells and muscular tissue of these wonderful bodies of ours die, that the body may be kept in health and strength and activity. If one part of the body is wounded, at once the little blood corpuscles fly to the rescue like tiny soldiers, to give their life for the life of the body. Will Mr. Allan please read Rom. 5:6, 8, 9?"

Tillie handed her open Bible to him, and he read slowly and thoughtfully:

" 'For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. . . . But God commendeth His love toward us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath thru Him.' "

For a moment there was silence. The Holy Spirit was striving to obtain a foothold in hearts filled with unbelief and doubt. At last Sister Eldred spoke:

"Yes, it must be thru Him. We are as unable to keep or to save ourselves as is a drowning man in the midst of the ocean; but Jesus Christ came to offer us the rope of salvation. We must grasp the rope by faith. These are the terms. If we refuse, we are lost, lost!"

A tear shone in Sister Eldred's eye, and her husband added:

"But did you never think, Mr. Field, how unreasonable is the idea that Jesus Christ was merely a good man? If He were not the Son of God and the Saviour of the world, then there remains but one alternative—He was an impostor, because He claimed to be the Son of God."

"O, that could never be, never!" exclaimed Mrs. Field, shuddering. A troubled look flitted across Mr. Field's expressive face, as he said:

"I had never thought of it in just that light before. No; I am not at all willing to call Him an impostor."

"His words and His teachings are too wonderful for that; don't you think so, father?" questioned Mildred, earnestly.

"True, true, my daughter; these things are all so strange and new to me. As I said, I must take time to study the Bible more in the future. But," turning to Brother Eldred, "I have always believed the resurrection of the dead to be an impossibility. You remember I told you I was something of a Sadducee."

"Of course if it depended upon men, Mr. Field," interrupted Tom, "there could be no resurrection from the dead, but as Florence quoted, Jesus says, 'I am the Resurrection and the Life.' That alters the question entirely. Why, if God made these wonderful bodies of ours, could He not bring them again from the dead?"

"But, my son," commented Brother Eldred, "while your reasoning is good and plain, we must not forget that the things of God are spiritually discerned, and that we can not believe unless God gives us faith. Let us read together the fifteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians."

At once every member of the little reading circle opened the Bible, and the wonderful chapter was read. It was Mr. Allan's turn to read the fifty-fifth verse: "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" He became deeply affected, and, as the little circle broke up, after appointing the next evening's meeting, he exclaimed tremblingly:

"Will you pray for me, Mr. Eldred? I believe God sent me here to-night."

That evening, as Mr. Allan walked homeward under the silent stars, the angels of God recorded the first prayer he had offered for many a long year.

(To Be Continued.)

Friend in the Kitchen

Friend in the Kitchen.—This is an educational cook-book. Its object is to educate people away from flesh-eating by presenting to them a far better way. This "better way" consists of 400 thoroughly tested recipes for the preparation of good, wholesome dishes, none of which include meat of any kind. The book gives the nutritive value of foods, time required to digest various foods, rules for dyspeptics, best food for infants, substitutes for meats, and, in fact, about everything a person wishing to reform his dietary needs to study. Durably bound in flexible cloth, 25c; oilcloth, 50c.

Colds

Colds.—By G. H. Heald, M.D. A treatise on the causes, prevention, and cure of colds. White leatherette binding. 58 pages, 25c.

"Sealskin"

It is not often that we select any one Bible and give it the prominence we are giving the one here shown, but our judgment on many years' experience in the Bible business is that it is worthy of it.

It is printed on the celebrated Oxford India paper.

It is only ⅝ of an inch thick.

The type is clear-faced minion.

The chapter titles are in figures.

It contains references and twelve maps.

It is bound in genuine sealskin and is kid-lined.

It is sewn with silk and has silk head-bands and marker.

It is guaranteed to be absolutely perfect in every respect or your money will be promptly returned.

It is the lightest, thinnest, most beautiful, as well as the most durably-bound, Bible published.

In ordering, call for "Sealskin." It will be sent with charges prepaid, on receipt of $4.50.

Pacific Press Publishing Company

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SPECIAL RATES.

By Editor

1. One new yearly subscription and one renewal, or two new yearly subscriptions, sent at one time, $2.50.

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Sample copies sent on application.

DATE OF EXPIRATION.

By Editor

The SIGNS wrapper bears date of last issue due on your subscription. Unless renewed in advance, paper stops with expiration date.

If herewith is an order blank, you will know you have overlooked sending renewal. You will not wish to miss a single issue. Back numbers often can not be furnished.

BOOKS FOR ALL AGES.

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Our Busy Factory.

By Editor

THE cut on this page gives a general view of our bindery in action. These are very strenuous days with us here in the factory. The significance of the rapidly occurring events of this time have stirred a large army of our devoted people to go into the field to distribute the printed pages that bear the message of the Lord's soon coming, and that also tell of the preparation necessary to meet Him in peace. This has made it necessary for us to employ all the extra help that we can secure in these parts, and then we have had to work overtime besides. If these busy activities were caused by a rush of ordinary commercial printing, they would have no particular significance. But since every page that is being sent out is devoted directly to the giving of the message to which we have consecrated our lives, it is a clear prophecy of the fact that this work is being rapidly pushed to its completion. And we have the promise that when it is completed, then the Lord will come. Let us all do everything within our power to hasten the desired day.

General View of Our Book-Bindery in Action.

The King of Denmark knighted a socialist, Julius Andersen, for his work in temperance, and his Socialist organization expelled him. They felt that to accept knighthood was a denial of Socialistic principles.

Cost of Celebrating Liberty.—It cost to celebrate liberty last fourth of July, reported up to July 6, fifty-nine lives, and reported injured, 3,870. This is the largest record in nine years. Pittsburg led with twelve deaths. It is a poor way to celebrate liberty.

We plead not alone for liberty for ourselves, but for each and every man,—for our neighbor,—be he infidel or believer, pagan or Christian, Catholic or Protestant, Gentile or Jew. As long as the liberty of the individual is secure, the liberty of all and the stability of the nation are safe.

Has the Gospel Lost Its Attractions?—A news item declares that "the roof of the Fair Hill Baptist Church, Philadelphia, is to be surmounted by a roof garden where vaudeville will be given, in order to attract to Gospel services." Such a step as that is the strongest kind of a confession that that minister does not know the Gospel. Jesus said, "And I, if I be lifted up, . . . will draw all men unto Me." Lift Him up, the Saviour of men, the Saviour of sinners. Let Him draw. Let not God's house be thus desecrated.

Strife and Revolution in the Air.

By Editor

WHILE the representatives of over twoscore nations are discussing plans of peace at The Hague, the Central American republics are either at war, or upon its very verge; conspirators are hatching plots to dethrone Spain's king, and his queen is in constant fear; the Portuguese are in rebellion against King Carlos I, who disregards the constitution of the kingdom. He wants to get rid of the Cortes, or parliament of Portugal.

In case there should be the threatened revolution, they might make the beautiful and good Queen Amelia, whom they call "the angel of charity," the ruler instead of her husband. Her many deeds of goodness and helpfulness have endeared her to the people. They might give the throne to one who claims it—Don Miguel de Braganza. They might overturn the throne, and do as did Brazil—declare it a republic.

Then, too, seemingly more serious than all of these combined, at least in foreign circles, are the strained relations between Japan and the United States. In high circles in this government, matters are not spoken of as serious, but the reports from Europe indicate that the most of the great powers believe that war will come sooner or later, and probably soon. Military authorities scout the idea that Japan is unprepared, and it is freely talked that in the beginning of such a strife the "Sunrise Empire" would have a decided advantage.

What do we think about it? Just this: As the word of God declares, men may cry, "Peace, peace, but there is no peace." There never can be till the hearts of men are regenerated by the Prince of Peace. But that is an individual work, and no peace congress nor agreement among nations can take strife from the natural heart of man.

But God has a work to do for the world. His great sealing message must go to the world, and He has commissioned His mighty angels to hold the winds of strife till that work is finished. Rev. 7:1-3. When that is done, when God's "everlasting Gospel" shall have done its work, then shall the world see the great war of Armageddon, and the slain shall number multitudes. Read Rev. 16:12, 13; Jer. 25:15-29. Now is the time to make peace with God that in that day we may find Him our Refuge.

India's Mountain Mission Home.

By Editor

THE readers of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES have had their attention called to our India Mountain Mission Home. Our missionaries who labor in the lowland country of that great empire are not able to endure the extreme heat and the malaria incident thereto. They must have a few months out of the year when they can get back into the hills where it is cool and healthful, in order to build themselves up for another campaign in the lowlands.

Our first workers that were sent there succumbed to the climate and were swept into untimely graves. We have none too many of these consecrated men and women who are willing to take up work in those distant and needy lands, and so we are providing a good home back in the mountains where the worn missionaries can recuperate before they are completely broken down. We have within one thousand dollars of enough to dedicate this much needed missionary home free from debt. We hope to receive donations promptly that will enable us to send this amount to Brother Shaw within the next two or three weeks. Send your contributions to the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Mountain View, Cal., stating that they are for the India Mountain Mission Home.

Our Next Issue.

By Editor

NEXT week we will give the second of the promised numbers on the general subject of "Man and His Destiny." All the great works of creation that we see about us, with man as the masterpiece of this manifestation of creative power, could not have been made for just a brief existence like the life we now live. Men have thus reasoned and have sought for solutions of the problem, but the Bible gives the only satisfactory presentation of the outcome.

In considering the question, we will have articles on the following interesting topics next week:

Eternal Life and Immortality. The Resurrection to Life and Death. The Reward of the Righteous—Eternal. The Doom of the Wicked—Eternal.

Anarchist Convention in Amsterdam

Anarchists will hold a convention in August in Amsterdam. The dealing with governments and the destruction of specially obnoxious rulers will be considered.

Peace Conference Building at The Hague—Opening Day (1907)

View of the First Peace Conference (1899), While at Their Deliberations in the "House in the Woods"