THE Lord Jesus will come again. This is believed by nearly all Christian people. But while all hold that He will sometime appear, few are prepared to acknowledge that we can actually know anything concerning the time. "It may be a thousand years hence," says one; "He may come before another sunrise," says another. And when each has given out his or her vague opinion, the world moves on undisturbed, because no one brings home to it a convincing message of certainty.
It is almost unthinkable that mankind should be left in darkness regarding an event so fraught with eternal consequences. Were it true, as many believe, that the whole matter is enshrouded in gloom, then we should indeed find God going contrary to His own chosen plan of procedure. Did He not through Noah warn the world of the approaching Flood? Did He not give to Sodom and Gomorrah notice of impending doom? Did He not send a message of reproof and counsel to Nineveh? Did He not reveal to Israel the judgments that lay in wait for them because of their sins? And has He not openly and frankly said, "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets"? Amos 3:7.
Not Among Uncertainties
Dear reader, it can not be true that Heaven has placed this wonderfully important subject of the second advent in the category of uncertainties. The most casual study of the Sacred Word will reveal abundant evidence; and faithful, heart study, coupled with the purpose to walk in the light, must bring home to the soul absolute knowledge and joyful hope.
We are to know much regarding that great day of all days—"the day of Christ." One thing, however, the good Father has wisely kept secret; namely, the day and the hour when the opening heavens shall reveal Him. Matt. 24:36. Time-setting is no part of the Christian's experience. And we may well view with suspicion everything that savors of speculation regarding this or that year when the Saviour shall come.
But while denying men the right to time-setting, the words of the Master encourage His people to take the greatest interest possible to faith in this very matter of time. He has left to us this explicit instruction: "Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately." Luke 12:35, 36. He would have the matter of His return so indelibly written upon the mind, and so cherished, that His people, believing His coming to be imminent, shall live in an atmosphere of constant expectation, bright hope, and earnest action.
God designs that His church shall actually be looking for the appearing of Christ. Titus 2:13. He would have them carefully watching. Mark 13:35-37. The divine commendation rests upon intelligent consideration of the trend of last-day events. 1 Thess. 5:1-5.
Not in the Apostle's Day
A very interesting discussion of the time of Christ's coming, and one of much importance to us who now live, is found in Paul's letters to the Thessalonians. In the first epistle (chapter 4:15-17) the apostle seemed to include himself personally, and the church of his day, among those who would live to see the Saviour appear. The Thessalonians so understood him. It became necessary, therefore, in his second letter (2 Thess. 2:1-5) to correct this wrong impression; and this he did by stating plainly that "that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." This "falling away" refers to the Papacy with its long, dark train of mystery, spiritual corruption, persecution, and death, which continued to usurp God's place until the close of the eighteenth century. History shows most lucidly that the papal power triumphed from the time of the decree of Justinian, 533 A.D., down through the 1260 years of prophetic announcement. Rev. 12:6. So, tho Paul seemed to indicate that the Lord would come in his own day, he was, in fact, writing of the last generation.
It is plain, therefore, that God's children were not to expect the day to come, and were not to look for it, until these scenes of papal tyranny were at an end. But, according to every law of logic, they should begin the watch from that time forward.
And now, dear reader, see how wonderfully Jesus teaches His church to do this very thing. And see, too, how He promises to give them, at this appointed time, signs of the approaching day.
Signs Which Will Occur
Referring to the terrible persecutions visited upon the world during the 1260 years already mentioned, Jesus said: "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." Matt. 24:21. And then He added, "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven." Verse 29. And to be as explicit and emphatic as possible, He gives the disciples to understand that, like as the opening buds of spring proclaim the nearness of summer, just so these signs in the sun, moon, and stars would show His coming near at hand. "So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it [My coming] is near, even at the doors." Verses 32, 33.
"Know," He says, "that it is near." "Know," because of evidence which He gives. Knowledge must always be based upon evidence; and in this instance, upon evidence far removed from the taint of human ingenuity and influence. It must be evidence that intelligent, consecrated faith can safely accept, and which the most blatant, open infidelity can not logically deny. It must be evidence that will give to the soul an infallible assurance, which alone is proportionate to the great interests involved.
But to return. Were the sun and moon darkened as Jesus said and when Jesus said? Look to history, child of God, and there you will find on record the most absolute and accurate fulfilment of every word. He whose words "shall not pass away," caused the heavenly bodies to bow in subjection to His will, and by the covering of their shining faces to proclaim to earth the day of His glory. Thus it was that May 19, 1780, our sun was darkened; and the following night the moon went into hiding, only to appear later as a great ball of blood. See Rev. 6:12. That was indeed a day of awe and terror to men, who thought that the day of judgment had come. But what is most remarkable, no satisfactory cause has been assigned by scientists or historians for this phenomenon.6
Yes, the sun and moon were darkened, not only as the Master said they would be, but at the exact time when. "Immediately after the tribulation" is the record of Matthew; but Mark is even more specific, and says, "In those days, after that tribulation." The days ended about 1793; but, through God's interposition, the rulers of Europe brought the persecution to a close twenty years earlier. The darkening of the heavenly bodies occurred, therefore, after the tribulation but before the days ended! Is not this evidence that satisfies faith? May not God's children rest their full weight upon such foundation? Hung in the very heavens, the sign is one that proclaims most mightily, His coming is near.
Now this is only one of many warning voices. The falling stars—the great meteoric shower—of 1833 is another sign after the same order. At that time men and women and children again thought that the great day was really at hand. It had been well indeed if they could have seen what God intended, and seeing, profited by the warning.
Many Signs
Ever since the close of persecution days, signs of the end have rapidly multiplied. Not only have signs appeared in the sun, moon, and stars, but everywhere upon earth. Note the wonderful increase of earthquakes. Luke 21:11. View the perplexity which, like a great cloud, hovers to-day over the nations of earth. Luke 21:25. Hear the cry of "peace and safety" issuing from the great pulpits of Christendom (1 Thess. 5:3), when, at the same time, the great nations, in jealousy and anger, and loaded down with military and naval burdens to the very point of breaking, are ready to spring at one another's throats. Rev. 11:18. Behold the titanic struggle between capital and labor (James 5:1-6), and remember that in connection with those events a voice from heaven bids the child of faith wait patiently the Lord's return. Verses 7, 8. Cast the eye about, and view the unrest and fear among men of business, men of state, men of society. Luke 21:26.
Turning from these conditions, let us ask a few questions about the spiritual life of mankind. Are we growing better? Some say so; but what is the testimony from actual life? The apostle, speaking of the last days, said, "Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse." 2 Tim. 3:13. Is it not true that the church of to-day fulfils largely the description of Inspiration,—does not the "form of godliness" cover the grossest of sins, and are not professed Christians almost a unit in the love of pleasure? Yes, truly, the times are perilous; and without question, the last days have come. 2 Tim. 3:1-5. And when the message of the Saviour's advent is proclaimed by His servants, last-day scoffers rise up and seek to bring it into contempt (2 Peter 3:3, 4), thus adding their quota of evidence that the end is near.
View as you will present world conditions, and it must be apparent that politically, socially, morally, and spiritually they all point the index finger toward the unusual and the unknown. The statesman wonders, the business man hesitates, the laborer worries in view of the ever increasing and portentous signs. All are saying, Something is about to happen. But the student of God's Word, with discerning eye, looks through and beyond this vast screen of human events and circumstances, and sees writ large and bright the promise of coming day.
Understanding of the Times
God has always had those who could and would cooperate with Him in times of emergencies. Noahs, Abrahams, Elijahs, and Pauls are still to be found. Men who understand the real meanings of "the times and seasons" are astir, and are warning the great world of what God has caused them to know. Having themselves been taught by the unerring signs of the times, they know without shadow of doubt that time is short; and hence with almost feverish haste they are going to "every nation, kindred, tongue, and people" with their glad message of a soon-appearing Christ. And in
the very work they are doing, at home and abroad, we may find one of the greatest signs of the second advent ever foretold in the Word. Did not Jesus say, "And this Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world as a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come"? Matt. 24:14. Yes; and now that faithful men have carried and are carrying the glad news into every dark corner of the world, we may know that the end is not far away.
May we know when His coming is near? Ah, he must be blind indeed who can not find in the thousand evidences of these perilous times a positive answer. And foolish, surely, is he who, having the privilege of knowing, will not earnestly seek for all the evidence possible, and, hearing the voice of the Master saying, "Behold, I come quickly," with the apostle of long ago respond, saying, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus."
If Jesus Should Come
By Rachel J. Rigby
By Rachel J. Rigby
If Jesus should come in the morning,
Midst all the hurry and din,
Would He find you prepared, my brother,
To kindly welcome Him in?
If Jesus should come at the evening,
After the toil of the day,
Would you gladly hail Him, my brother,
Or let Him go sadly away?
If Jesus should come at the midnight,
Would your lamps be ready to light?
He hath said, "Watch and be ready,"
Lest I come as a thief in the night.
Yes, Jesus is coming, my brother;
Open now thine own heart's door,
That He then may find you ready,
And save you forevermore.
OUR Lord had been teaching much by parables. It had been a busy day with a great multitude. He had taught for hours, and was weary. He wanted retirement and rest. It was now evening. He was still in the boat, from which He had been speaking to the people. When He gave orders therefore to cross to the other side of the lake, the disciples had only to send the multitude away, and then to embark with Him. They had been listeners only; He had been laboring, giving His life to the people. Naturally He was more tired than they. While they were rowing across the sea, He was fast asleep. It was a rude sleeping place for the Lord of Glory—a rough fishing-boat, with a board or at best a rower's cushion for His pillow. "The Son of Man hath not where to lay His head."
Storms are not uncommon on that inland sea, surrounded tho it is by hills and valleys; and they often arise suddenly. That night such a storm arose. It was a great storm. The wind raged, the waves were beating into the boat, and already the little craft was filling, when the terrified disciples awoke their Lord.
It seemed strange to them that He should sleep on, while they were in such danger. Master! they cried, Master! carest Thou not—is it nothing to Thee—that we perish—that we are perishing? What words to address to Him who was there, in the world, only that He might save them and others from perishing! He was come to seek and save that which was lost. He had made perishing sinners His special care. He was more than Master, or Teacher, to His disciples; He was their Saviour; the Saviour of the soul, and the Saviour of the body. He did care for them. He never ceased to care. Waking or sleeping, He was with them as their Saviour. With Him they were safe.
A word—and the storm was stayed. The waves ceased their tumult, there was "a great calm," a perfect and unusual smoothness—as if to show Almighty Power directly at work. When all was quiet, and they knew they were safe, He gently reproved them. Thus does He deal with His disciples. We also too often fear, through weakness of faith. Our safety is in nearness to our Lord, and union with Him. If we have cast in our lot and embarked our all with Him, we can not perish. The wind may blow, the waves may be rough, and all around may look dark and threatening; but He is with us. If ever faith fail at such a time, let us hear His voice saying to us, "Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?"
He does not sleep now. He is far beyond all those bodily weaknesses which He once took upon Himself for our sake. He cares for us, and is always near, always watching over us. Almighty power is ever put forth to save.
Los Angeles, California.
Character and Moral Choice
By J. C. Geikie
OUR character is but the stamp on our souls of the free choice of good or evil we have made through life.—J. C. Geikie.
THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST
By Milton C. Wilcox
"Let the Revelation speak and tell what is truth. . . . Uplift Jesus as the center of all hope."
III. The Divine Threefold Greeting
LET us ever bear in mind that this is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, a Revelation of the human-divine Christ, given of God through His Son, our Brother in the flesh, both truly divine and truly human, the God-man.
In Christ Jesus was the revelation of the mystery of God to the world. What God had set forth in His written Word, He had set forth in Christ Jesus, the Word personified, in order that men by faith might, as did He, empty themselves, grasp the same "power of an endless life," and be filled with all "the fulness of God." Thus Paul expresses it in his own experience: "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself up for me." Gal. 2: 20. Thus was the Son of God revealed in Paul, that Paul might tell the glad tidings to those who knew not the Saviour.
It is even thus that the revelation of Jesus Christ must come to us, not as a mere theory, not as mere knowledge of a book, but as the very life of God in our own souls, to cleanse from sin, and to keep from its power. He must be to us the Wisdom, the Righteousness, the Sanctification, the Redemption of God. Such He longs to be to every soul. Why not grasp it now by faith?
The Answer of the Text
[The answers to the questions are from the American Revised Version. Omitting questions, and disregarding sometimes the capitals at the beginning and the period at the close of an answer, the text may be read continuously. In notes and comments both versions are used without designation.]
1. To whom is John's message sent?
"John to the seven churches that are in Asia."
2. With what assuring words does he begin his message?
"Grace to you and peace."
3. From whom does the message come?
"From Him who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits that are before His throne; and from Jesus Christ."
4. What three things is Christ said to be?
"Who is the faithful Witness, the First-born of the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth."
5. What regard has Christ for us? and what has He done for us?
"Unto Him that loveth us, and loosed us from our sins by His blood."
6. What has He made us?
"And He made us to be a kingdom, to be priests unto His God and Father."
7. What is ascribed to Him, and for how long?
"To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen."
8. What is the promise concerning this Being of matchless goodness?
"Behold, He cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they that pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn over Him. Even so, Amen."
9. What does the One who gave the Revelation declare Himself to be?
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, saith the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
Notes of Explanation
1. "IN ASIA."— Asia is a symbol of the entire world. Seven churches in Asia Minor whose names and conditions are fit symbols, are taken as the types of the condition of the entire Christian church throughout the present age, seven indicating completeness; for it is not reasonable to suppose that this whole book was written to be sent to the seven churches named, and no others. There were other churches in Asia equally prominent with these mentioned, as for instance, at Colosse, Troas, and Miletus. The conclusion is irresistible that these named are types of the whole church. It would be out of harmony with the whole book were it otherwise.
2. "GRACE TO YOU AND PEACE."— That is God's attitude always toward His children. Grace is His favor unmerited by us; it is the revelation of His goodness, His sacrifice, His love — Himself — pleading to us ever to come to Him. His peace is extended to all. He is not at war with us. His thoughts toward us are "thoughts of peace, and not of evil." He has given Christ "our Peace." All the war, all the rebellion, all the disagreement is on our part, in our turning aside from eternal good. "The mind of the flesh is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be." Rom. 8: 7. Yield to Him; reckon the flesh crucified with Him; accept Him; and the peace is yours. "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Rom. 5: 1.
3. WHO IS AND WAS AND IS TO COME. — This is but another form of expressing the great I AM, the eternally-existent One. As He is, He ever has been, He ever will be. He changes not. He will ever give grace and peace. If grace fails to do the work for us as He desires, it will be because we will not receive, not because He fails to give, or fails in the giving.
4. SEVEN SPIRITS, denoting the fulness, the offices, the operations, the omnipresent workings, of the eternal Spirit of God.
5. JESUS CHRIST. — The only perfect Witness. God's works witness for Him. Good men witness for Him. But these are all finite and marred by sin. Christ was and is the faithful One. Because others were raised from the dead before Christ was raised does not make Him less the First-born. Esau was older than Jacob, yet to Jacob was given the birth-right. Manasseh was older than Ephraim, yet the birth-right was Ephraim's. Reuben was the first-born, but the birth-right was given to Joseph. Ex. 4: 22; Gen. 48: 8-20; Jer. 31: 9; 1 Chron. 5: 1. Jesus was the first-born by preeminence, the One by virtue of whose offering and work all others are brought from the dead. Ps. 89: 27. And He rules. In His own wisdom evil is permitted to work out its poison, that those who will not learn in any other way may see it, and separate from it. Yet Christ rules. "The wrath of man shall praise Thee: the remainder of wrath shalt Thou restrain."
6. NOTICE THAT THE LOOSING FROM SIN, the payment of the great purchase price of our redemption, is past; it was wrought in the very beginning, when Christ gave Himself — the Lamb slain — from before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1: 19, 20; Rev. 13: 8), and Christ with open hand and constant heart ever offers it. He "loveth us;" it is present tense. He ever loveth; He is "the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever."
7. "A KINGDOM." — The dearest thing in a kingdom, to its ruler, is His people. Christ has made us — His people — to be a kingdom. Nay, more, He makes each one to be a kingdom, in whose being He reigns supreme. That is the prayer He taught us: "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven," and first of all places in earth in our life. And every one in whom Christ thus reigns is a living pledge of the coming everlasting kingdom of a sinless dominion. AND8PRIESTS.— With our Lord Jesus Christ, to minister His character, His life, to all others; royal priests, sons of the King (see 1 John 3: 1; 1 Peter 2: 9); priests to show forth not ourselves, but Christ's virtues, and that not only here and now, but to all eternity.
8. "HE COMETH." — His coming is to be a literal one—"this same Jesus." Acts 1: 9-11. Clouds of angels will accompany Him. Matt. 25: 31. It will not be a "spiritual" coming or a coming by proxy; it will not be a secret coming; it will be literal, visible, to all. The righteous will welcome Him as "our God" (Isa. 25: 9), the tribes of earth shall mourn because all earthly hopes die; they are not ready to meet their Judge. The same Jesus, the anointed of God, is coming again. "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus."
9. "THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA." — The first and last letters of the Greek alphabet; the eternal Father, the great I AM. See note 3. By illustration, by positive assurance, God would impress upon us the great fact that apart from Him all is nothing. In Him must be spelled out by simple faith all life's lessons. And He is able to save to the uttermost and to the end.
"All without Thee only seems,
All beside is choice of dreams."
JOHN to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne;
5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful Witness, and the First-begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood,
6. And hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
7. Behold, He cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him Even so, Amen
8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Romanism and Protestantism
By Philip Schaff
ROMANISM makes all of the church; Protestantism makes all of Christ. The one measures Christianity by Catholicity; the other measures Catholicity by Christianity. The one knows only a visible church ruled by the pope; the other puts the invisible church ruled by Christ above all visible churches. Romanism obstructs man's relation to God by interposing traditions and saints; Protestantism brings man into direct communion with God through Christ the only Mediator. Romanism appeals to the voice of the popes and councils; Protestantism, to the Word of God. Romanism overrules the Bible by the traditions of men, and restrains its circulation; Protestantism spreads it in all languages over the world. Romanism makes justification dependent on faith and good works; Protestantism, solely on the grace of God as apprehended by a living faith, which manifests its power by good works. Romanism in its worship appeals to the senses and the imagination; Protestantism, to the intellect and the conscience. Romanism is a religion of priests; Protestantism, the religion of a self-governing Christian people. Romanism is a religion of authority, and at heart opposed to civil and religious liberty; Protestantism is a religion of freedom, and the pioneer of modern Christian civilization, especially in all Western lands, whither "the star of empire takes its course."— Philip Schaff, D.D., in Johnson's "Universal Encyclopedia," Art. "Roman Catholic Church."
Our Bible Reading
The Two Laws
1. God has revealed to us different laws of His Word.
These may be called the great moral law, the Decalogue; the ceremonial law, or that which regulated the offerings and sacrifices under the Levitical priesthood; the civil law of Israel; the law of the priesthood itself; and various hygienic and health laws.
2. Nehemiah makes a clear distinction between these two classes of laws.
“Thou camest down also upon Mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gav-
“THE LAW OF THE LORD IS PERFECT, CONVERTING THE SOUL: THE TESTIMONY OF THE LORD IS SURE, MAKING WISE THE SIMPLE.” Ps. 19: 7.
est them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments: and madest known unto them Thy holy Sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses Thy servant.” Neh. 9: 13, 14.
3. God's great moral law, the Decalogue, was spoken by His own voice and written with His own finger upon tables of stone.
“And the Lord said unto Moses, Come up to Me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee TABLES OF STONE, and A LAW, and commandments which I HAVE WRITTEN; that thou mayest teach them.” Ex. 24: 12.
“And He gave unto Moses, when He had made an end of communing with him upon Mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, WRITTEN WITH THE FINGER OF GOD.” Ex. 31: 18.
“And the TABLES were the WORK of GOD, and the WRITING was the WRITING OF GOD, GRAVEN upon the TABLES.” Ex. 32: 16.
4. This law was complete in itself.
“These words the Lord spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and HE ADDED NO MORE. And HE WROTE them in TWO TABLES OF STONE, and delivered them unto me.” Deut. 5: 22.
5. This moral law is unchangeable.
“The works of His hands are verity and judgment; ALL HIS COMMANDMENTS ARE SURE. THEY STAND FAST FOREVER AND EVER, and are done in truth and uprightness.” Ps. 111: 7, 8.
6. His other laws were limited by the ceremonies and types which they guarded.
“For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people.” Heb. 9: 19.
7. All these types and ceremonies given by the Lord to amplify instruction looking forward to something better were nailed to the cross.
“Blotting out the handwriting or ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross.” Col. 2: 14.
8. Even the ordinance of circumcision, which antedated the Levitical law, passed away.
“Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.” 1 Cor. 7: 19.
NOTE: As shown by Nehemiah and elsewhere, the Decalogue had its weekly Sabbath; the Sabbath entirely independent of yearly sabbaths. There were several yearly sabbaths, or feasts, in connection with the ceremonial law. These are expressly mentioned in Leviticus 23, in which we are expressly told that they are given “beside the Sabbaths of the Lord.” Verse 38. When type met antitype at the cross the ceremonial law expired by limitation; the Decalogue was decidedly emphasized and confirmed by Christ’s death upon the cross; for Jesus died to take away sin, save us from our sins—“sin is the transgression of the law”—not to destroy the law which pointed out sin. Jesus Christ is not the minister of sin, but of righteousness, the Upholder of the government of God.
What Really Happened to Hagar in the Wilderness
By William Hanna Thomson
WE bade farewell to the emir and Dahook and our kind Druse escort, and started for another and a long day's ride with a mounted guide furnished by the emir.
Just as we started, a young girl ran ahead of us driving a donkey, laden, as we found out, with her trousseau. She was the daughter of our guide, and he was taking advantage of this opportunity to escort her to the tent of her bridegroom, whom, by the way, she had never yet seen.
I mention this incident to explain the sending of Hagar away with her son from Abraham's encampment, because as that narrative reads in our version, Gen. 21:14, it would appear as a heartless procedure on Abraham's part. Every Arab, however, understands at once that Abraham for the purpose of quiet did not send her with an escort, but instead she was going to some one of Abraham's many encampments, which thereafter should be hers. The subsequent history showed that Abraham's son Ishmael received a large portion of his father's property, and therefore was enabled soon to take a high position among the roving Arab tribes, which were the sons of Joktan (Gen. 10:25-30), and who preceded Abraham. The Arabs to this day, accordingly, divide themselves into the original Arabs, descendants of Joktan, and what they call the "naturalized" Arabs, who are descendants of Ishmael. What happened to Hagar was that she evidently lost her way while going to what was to be her own encampment.— Dr. Wm. Hanna Thomson in October "Designer."
Righteousness in Being and Doing
RIGHTEOUSNESS is not only right doing, but right being. The right being is primary; it is the necessary condition to right doing. "He that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He [Christ] is righteous." I John 3:7.
Walking in Town and Country
HAVE you discovered that you do not get half so tired walking about your farm as you do walking on the brick streets in town?— Town and Country.
The Coming Lord and Our Jubilee
By John Hall, D.D.
The Scriptures teach the church to look to the coming of the Lord as the day of her completeness and triumph. It will be our Jubilee year.— John Hall, D.D.
