Earlier text: My Heart Maketh a Noise in MeThe Law and the Prophets until John
By F. M. Burg
Moses and the Prophets Wrote of and Taught Christ —
Beautiful Gospel Expressions of Forgiveness
of Sin in the Old Testament "The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it." Luke 16: 16. By "the law and the prophets" are meant the Old Testament Scriptures. "The law" refers to the first five books, written by Moses, and known as the Pentateuch; while "the prophets" include the remainder of the Old Testament. This is conceded by all Bible scholars, and needs no discussion. The Jews so designated the writings which to them were the Holy Scriptures, and in which they thought they had eternal life. Jesus said to the Jews, "Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me." John 5: 39. At the time He spoke these words, the New Testament had not been written. His reference was to "the law and the prophets." Paul had in mind the same writings when he said, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable." 2 Tim. 3: 16. These Scriptures testify of Jesus,—of the One who forgives sins. Salvation through the One who saves His people from their sins is the theme of all these inspired writers. Note the words of Christ Himself in referring to the writings of Moses: "Had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed Me: for he wrote of Me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe My words?" John 5: 46, 47. As stated in these words of Christ, Moses wrote of Him. Jesus and His salvation was the subject of the books written by Moses, the servant of God. So important a part did Moses act in connection with God's great plan to save men, that when the work is finally consummated, and the redeemed of all nations stand on the beautiful shore, they will sing the "song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb." Rev. 15: 3. Through Moses God built the earthly sanctuary. In connection with this tabernacle, a system of ceremonies and rituals was carried forward that set forth in type the great work of our High Priest in heaven, who offers His own blood before the Father for the remission of sins. Through Moses the law which serves so important a purpose in working out man's salvation was given to men. "By the law is the knowledge of sin." Rom. 3: 20. By means of the law the sinner is led to see the "exceeding sinfulness of sin"; and so, "where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." By being led to see himself a sinner, the subject of grace appreciates the redemption price that was paid for him; and so full of gratitude is he that he constantly feels unable to give it adequate expression, and he longs for the eternal years to come, that he may through all generations tell the riches of God's grace in His kindness toward him through Jesus Christ. Eph. 2: 7. ALL THE PROPHETS TOLD OF HIM
So did all the prophets tell of Christ and of the salvation offered through His sacrifice. Hear Isaiah's message: "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Isa. 1: 18. Again he says: "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon." Isa. 55: 7. Could pardon be thus offered to sinners save through the merits of the sacrifice of Christ? How could Micah the prophet give the assurance he did that God would forgive sins, except through the redemption price that was paid when God gave His beloved Son to die? Hear his comforting words: "He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which Thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old." Micah 7: 19, 20. OUR DANGER THE SAME AS THEIRS
So we might continue quoting from Moses and all the prophets, showing the things concerning Him, even as He did on the occasion of the memorable walk to Emmaus. Luke 24: 25-27. Let us not be so slow as were those disciples to believe all that the prophets have spoken of Him. How sad it is to see men so blinded, that when they read Moses and the rest of the Old Testament, they fail to see Christ there! Paul, in writing to the Corinthians, spoke of just such a condition. 2 Cor. 3: 14, 15. Attention is called again to the text in Luke, "The law and the prophets were until John." Until John's work began, the gospel of salvation through Christ was preached from the standpoint of the law and the prophets,—the same plan of redemption that is preached in the gospel to-day. Since then, the "kingdom of God" is preached. This will be the theme of an article next week. WHO knows the meaning of honor?—Not necessarily the monarch whose will is the law of his kingdom. Not necessarily the queen in her royal palace, nor the general who never lost a battle, nor the rich man in his lofty mansion, nor the decorated daughter of fashion. None of these may be enrolled on the list of true honor. They may be laid away to rest under the eulogy of the world's greatest orators. The highest tribute of national honor may be expressed in the costly monument that marks the place where they repose in dreamless slumber. Yet if in life their only ambition was to acquire position, wealth, and earthly glory, they may rest in less abiding honor than the pauper that begged at their door. The world may praise, promise, and allure; but its charms are like the morning mists that disappear in the first rays of the rising sun. If, then, true honor is not always found in the royal palace, or wrapped in imperial robes; if it does not invariably abide in the mansions of the wealthy, or is not enclosed in the warrior's martial cloak,—where shall we seek for it? True honor must come from a sinless realm, from the royal dominion untainted by evil. "For," says the Lord, "them that honor Me I will honor, and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed." 1 Sam. 2:30.6 Outside of the great, glorious plan of redemption, there is no abiding honor. But through the plan of salvation, the vilest of men may attain to honor that will abide the ages. The Lord has promised to take the penitent beggar and place him among heavenly princes in the realms of bliss. He will make the penitent poor eternally rich, and they shall inherit the throne of His glory. 1 Sam. 2:8. The Lord sometimes reduces the rich to poverty in order to bring them to repentance. He humbles the proud in the dust, that they may cast their helpless souls on Him, and learn the unsatisfying and transitory nature of earthly things. The poverty-stricken one who delves in the dust in almost abject despair, through the Crucified One can be lifted to the heights of heavenly glory. Let the humble poor who are struggling under adverse circumstances be of good cheer. Let them, in the fear of God, clothed in heavenly armor, battle against the powers of darkness, then at last receive the heavenly riches that waste not away nor tarnish with time. The exalted of the earth who know not God, may revel in luxury and worldly honor; but eventually their monuments will crumble, their wealth disappear, and their names will rot. Prov. 10:7. But the humble soul that seeks for glory, heavenly honor, and immortality, be he rich or poor, high or low, will be eternally exalted. "Before honor is humility." E. HILLIARD. Dialogue Between Two Ministers
By M. A. Hollister
Reported by M. A. HOLLISTER First Minister.—I understand that you have said you could "knock out" that law and Sabbath proposition in a hurry. Second Minister.—Yes, sir; that's right. I'm just the one that can do it any time you want to tackle the subject. First Minister.—I don't want a debate, but I do want to ask you a question or two that may help settle this matter. Second Minister.—All right. Go ahead. First Minister.—Will you please tell me the Bible definition of sin? Second Minister.—Transgression of the law, moral law. First Minister.—Commonly called the Ten Commandments? Second Minister.—Yes, sir; that's right. First Minister.—Now one more question: Where in that law, or in the entire Bible, for that matter, are we told it is sin to work on Sunday, the first day of the week? It says we should not work on the seventh day, the Sabbath, and doing so would be sin; but where is Sunday labor called sin? Second Minister.—It doesn't say anything about it in the law or the Bible; but any time you want to tackle the subject, I am ready. First Minister.—I don't want to enter into any controversy; but if you will give me one text to show that Sunday labor is sin, I will admit I am defeated. Socialism and Christianity
By W. L. Sims
The Two Systems Not Compatible, as Shown by Socialist Leaders—A Conflict and a Revolution Instead of the Ideals of Socialism—The Coming of Christ Must Be That Climax
THIS is the second of two articles by Elder Sims on the subject of socialism and Christianity. Last week he showed from the Bible that the teaching of Christ and the doctrines of socialism are out of harmony. This week he quotes from socialist leaders who regard the Bible and socialism as more or less antagonistic. The matter he presents is worthy the consideration of those who believe that socialism and Christianity should be blended into one great reform movement. NOT only do the teachings of Jesus and the Scriptures prove that socialism and Christianity will not mix, but the testimony of many prominent socialist leaders furnishes overwhelming evidence that the socialistic movement is positively hostile to Christianity. Here is the proof: Joseph Dietzgen, the most philosophical writer on socialism, and associate of Karl Mark, the apostle of socialism, says: DIFFER AS THE DAY AND THE NIGHT
"Yet socialism and Christianity differ from each other as the day does from the night. . . . Indeed, all religion is servile, but Christianity is the most servile of the servile."—"Philosophical Essays," page 122. Again, Professor Rauschenbush, in speaking of American conditions, declares "that men who draw their democracy and moral order from Jesus have difficulty in cooperating with party socialism. In socialist meetings they find an almost universal attitude of suspicion and distrust against the church, which often rises to downright hate and bitterness, and expands to general antagonism against religious belief. . . . The party platform declares religion to be a private matter, but that declaration of neutrality does not exclude persistent attacks on religion by official exponents of the party." ("Christianizing the Social Order," pages 397, 398.) James Leathan, a well-known English socialist, writes: "At the present moment I can not recall a single instance of a person who is at one and the same time a really earnest and an intelligent socialist and an orthodox Christian. . . . Marx, Lassalle, and Engel among the earlier socialists, Morris, Bax, Hyndman, Guesde, and Bebel among the present-day socialists, are all more or less avowed atheists; and what is true of the most noble men of the party is almost equally true of the rank and file the world over." ("Socialism and Character," pages 2, 3.) SUCH CONTRADICTORY FORCES CAN NOT COMBINE
Thousands of men who have been drawn into the socialist movement by its economic proposals, sooner or later have found that their faith in the word of God was incompatible with the theories of socialism. The more one imbibes of the teaching of socialism, the less faith, interest, and confidence he has in God, the Bible, or the work of the gospel of Jesus Christ. How can such a movement, with such an attitude toward Christianity, be otherwise than antichristian? Who then is justified in believing that if Christ were on earth to-day, He would identify Himself with a movement that is antagonistic to Him and His teachings? In speaking of the last days of our world's history in sin, the word of God declares: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves. . . . Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." 2 Tim. 3: 1, 2, 13. To the question, "What shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?" Jesus replied, "As the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Matt. 24:3, 37. Of the days of Noah we read: "God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." "The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence." Gen. 6:5, 11. And this violent element is fast driving the whole world to reap what was reaped in a more limited way in the French Revolution. This is a bold statement, but it is not mere speculation. It is made on the authority of the prophecies of the word of God. In the fifth chapter of James is recorded a prophecy dealing with the industrial and financial troubles of the last days — the days just preceding the second coming of Christ. This prophecy reads as follows: "Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth; and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter; Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." James 5:1-8. INCREASING WHAT IS NOT HIS
This prophecy points out that there are days of misery in store for the rich. Verse 1. What that misery is, may be known beforehand by reading and believing the prophecy of Hab. 2:1-8. The poor are described as saying, "Wo to him that increaseth that which is not his!" Verse 6. The outcome of this struggle is thus given by the prophet: "Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them? . . . because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein." Hab. 2:7, 8. FINALLY DRIVEN TO DESPERATION
This prophecy clearly indicates that the oppressed will finally be driven to desperation, and turn with awful violence to wreak vengeance upon their opponents; that what they can not get by the ballot, they will try to obtain by the bullet. When they finally fail to win by an appeal to reason, they will appeal to arms. And looking at the situation from a worldly or human point of view, the only outcome will be a deadly and universal conflict. Perhaps my socialist reader is ready to exclaim, "It is unfortunate that the writer's study of the Bible leads him to see such scenes of war and bloodshed." In reply we would say, Not only does our study of the prophecies of the Bible lead us to see this outcome of socialism, but the Appeal to Reason is also responsible for so "unfortunate" a conclusion. There was published in that journal in March, 1905, an article from Eugene V. Debs on the Moyer-Haywood indictments. The Spokesman-Review of March 14 contained many quotations from this article. Here are a few samples: REVOLUTIONISTS THREATENED
"If they attempt to murder Moyer-Haywood and their brothers, a million revolutionists at least will meet them with guns."599 "Let them dare to execute their devilish plot, and every state in the Union will resound with the tramp of revolution." Mr. Debs justifies the Haymarket rioters in the following language: "Nearly twenty years ago the capitalist tyrants put some men to death for standing up for labor; and if an attempt is made to repeat it, there will be a revolution, and I will do all in my power to precipitate it." These quotations are from a man who three times has held the nomination of the Socialist Party for president of the United States. Hence according to the characteristic utterances of some of the socialist leaders, all that would be required to precipitate a revolution, war, and bloodshed on the part of a "million socialists" would be the termination of some trial of a conspicuous character adverse to their ideas. Such revolutionary utterances as the above would not come from the practical disciples of the Prince of peace. And the reader can rest assured that there will be no practical disciples of the Prince of peace identified with the socialist movement in that day. "For the Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying, Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the Lord of hosts Himself; and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread." Isa. 8:9-13. Text: "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever." Dan. 12:3. True wisdom will lead one to give his first and greatest attention to things of the greatest importance. There is no work of greater consequence than the work of winning souls for Christ and eternity, from the paths of sin to the ways of righteousness. One soul won for Christ, and eternally saved in the kingdom of God, is worth more than all the world. Luke 9:25. The science of salvation is therefore the greatest science of all sciences in the universe, and is as much above the social and economic teachings of "scientific socialism" as God's thoughts are above man's thoughts. Christianity is a divine philosophy. Socialism is only a human philosophy. One fits the believer for a life that will run parallel with the life of God. The other, if it had its own way, would benefit no one longer than this temporal life. Therefore whosoever will give his first and greatest attention to the work of promulgating the doctrines of socialism, makes a serious and grievous mistake. We intend no offense in this plain message. It is given in love; for truth on any subject comes from above, from the source of all goodness combined. All heaven is interested in the welfare of each one in both temporal and eternal things. Christ Jesus our Lord loves every one, and longs to save each, and to give each a part in that "blessed hope" that is big with immortality and full of glory. Titus 2:13. The only remedy, the only star of hope, is the one revealed in the Scriptures; namely, the second coming of Christ to put an end to sin and injustice. When Jesus comes, the present order of things will be destroyed. Then the rule of competition in every branch of human industry will be brought to an end. Then the kingdoms and various governments of earth will be destroyed. Dan. 2:44. Then in the glorified new earth the redeemed of all ages will be governed by the true principles of association — principles of cooperation; for a King will then reign in righteousness from pole to pole. "And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him." Dan. 7:27. Sabbath-Breaking and Israel's Captivity
By William Covert
The Chosen People Were Asked to Be the Light of the World — Their Failure and Overthrow — The Cause of Their Downfall
GOD separated Israel from other people because all other families of the earth had adopted some form of idolatry, and Heaven wanted a better state of conduct maintained among men. So after they were brought out of Egypt, He said: "I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine: and ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation." Ex. 19:4-6. In making this proposition, God was not expressing an arbitrary desire to favor one people more than another, but was trying to develop a people in righteousness, that through them He might bring all the earth into allegiance to Himself. DESIGNED FOR MODELS OF OBEDIENCE
In that land of promise they were to be a model of obedience, that other people might learn how to obey God. He had but one plan and one way of obedience for all the world, and He wanted all to adopt that plan. At a later time, Peter stated this truth when he said, "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him." Acts 10:34, 35. In delivering Israel from Egyptian bondage, God was giving them a chance to develop in wisdom and righteousness, so they could become missionaries to help other people out of the darkness of heathenism into the way of eternal life. They were to be placed in the land that had been promised to their fathers, and the law that God proclaimed for them upon Mount Sinai was committed to them in trust for all the world. The covenant made with Abraham contained terms of blessing for all the families of the earth. See Gen. 12:2, 3; 22:18; 26:4, 5. OPPRESSED BY THEIR CAPTORS
The Egyptians were cruel, not only as taskmasters and slave-drivers, but they also interfered with Israel in matters of religion, so that Egyptian idolatry was encouraged and the worship of God was restrained. But Israel having been delivered from all oppression, they were to obey God. In their own land, what history did they make? Let us see the record: "And when Joshua had let the people go, the children of Israel went every man unto his inheritance to possess the land. And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the Lord, that He did for Israel." Judges 2:6, 7. Joshua died at the age of one hundred and ten years. When his faithful contemporaries had passed away, and a new generation occupied the places where Israel saw their early victories, the history which this new generation made in matters of religion was to quite an extent a relation of apostasies and defeat. Indeed, the generation that bore arms with Joshua lacked the courage necessary to vanquish fully the heathen foe, consisting of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, and pagan affinities. Therefore, the chronicle says, "The children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites: and they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods." Judges 3:5, 6. The association of the Hebrew young people with the young among the pagans who were left to inhabit the land soon wrought a sad change in the religious affairs of the nation. The intermingling of these classes early led to intermarriages, and the blending of family ties hastily produced an amalgamated religion. And when the religion was amalgamated, it was no longer the pure truth that God had given to His people. The Sabbath was designed to serve as a barrier against all forms of idolatry; and if all had constantly remembered it as they were commanded, none would have gone away from God to worship with the pagans. The Lord, when speaking to Israel about their reverses in matters of righteousness after they went into the promised land, said: "When I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up Mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savor, and poured out there their drink-offerings." Eze. 20:28. THE SABBATH A SIGN OF LOYALTY
The keeping of the Sabbath was to be a sign to that people, constantly pointing them to the Creator of all things, and the Upholder of all things. And as long as they kept it, their obedience was to serve as an eloquent appeal to the nations, inviting them to do likewise. Moses faithfully set before Israel what their deliverance meant, both to them and to the nations who were to be helped by the lesson and by their example, if they should prove to be obedient. He said: "Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations,600 which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon Him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?" Deut. 4: 5-8. Moses referred especially, in this rehearsal, to the proclamation of the Ten Commandments from Sinai. His citation in verses 10-13 specifically mentions the Ten Commandments, which God wrote upon two tables of stone; and he placed special emphasis upon this document, which if observed would make them a noted and wise people, superior to all others upon the earth. "Out of heaven He made thee to hear His voice, that He might instruct thee: and upon earth He showed thee His great fire; and thou heardest His words out of the midst of the fire. And because He loved thy fathers, therefore He chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in His sight with His mighty power out of Egypt; to drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier than thou art, to bring thee in, to give thee their land for an inheritance, as it is this day. I know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord He is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else. Thou shalt keep therefore His statutes, and His commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, forever." Deut. 4: 36-40. It is plain to see that Israel would never be driven from the land where they had been placed as long as they were obedient to the commandments of God. Now, while the conditions stated in the foregoing scriptures applied to all the Ten Commandments alike, obedience to the Sabbath commandment was at a later time set forth as a special test of loyalty, and their dwelling in the land was made to depend upon it. The following message was sent to Israel through the prophet Jeremiah: "Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, whereby the kings of Judah come in, and by the which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem; and say unto them, Hear ye the word of the Lord, ye kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter in by these gates: thus saith the Lord; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem; neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the Sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers. . . . And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently harken unto Me, saith the Lord, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but hallow the Sabbath day, to do no work therein; . . . this city shall remain forever." Jer. 17: 19-25. But verse twenty-three says, "They obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction." There is a long and sad history of apostasies and of adversities connected with the downfall of this people. Captivity by Babylon came as a punishment for their transgression. Yet the Lord through His messengers labored most earnestly for them before the crises came. "But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised His words, and misused His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy." Then came the Chaldees upon them. "And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof. And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia: to fulfil the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her Sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept Sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years." 2 Chron. 36: 16-21. God, who had made the world, requested His people to keep the Sabbath in memory of His creative works. When they utterly refused to keep the Sabbath and rest from their works on the Sabbath day, the Lord allowed them to be removed from the land; and when they were removed, the land rested from their tillage on the Sabbath day. The time is coming, on account of man's wickedness, when the earth will rest from its tillage for a period of a thousand years. Then the sinners will be destroyed out of it; and after that period of rest, there will be no more Sabbath-breaking. "PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD"
By E. E. A.
Must Meet Him — We Have No Choice in That Matter — Will We Be Prepared? — The Awe-Inspiring Judgment Hour Is Imminent "THEREFORE thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel." Amos 4:12. When the ancient seer penned these words, he undoubtedly beheld God's people of to-day. To a degree, the prediction was fulfilled in his time; but soon all the world is to meet the great God around the Judgment throne. To-day the message, "The hour of His Judgment is come," is due, and the words of the prophet Amos should be heard in all the earth. It is not a question of choice as to whether we shall meet God or not. You, dear reader, must meet Him, and so must I. In His great love, the Lord now calls upon us to prepare to meet Him. All that is necessary to enable us to stand before the King, without shame, has been done for us, and now we are invited to put on the royal robes. First, we must meet God in the Judgment, where our life record will be opened, and the final decision rendered. Nothing will escape that awful tribunal. "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do." Heb. 4:13. "The Judgment was set, and the books were opened." Dan. 7:10. "The dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." Rev. 20:12. EVERY WORK BROUGHT TO JUDGMENT
Inspiration has emphasized the fact that God will take cognizance of every act human beings have ever done, and of every thought their minds have conceived. Ponder well the words of the wise man: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into Judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." Eccl. 12:13, 14. Again, the admonition is given: "Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into Judgment." Eccl. 11:9. Many yield to the impulse of the natural heart, and in doing this become slaves to inclination. "When we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death." "If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." Rom. 7:5; 8:13. There is an infinitely higher law than the desires of the flesh, and it must be obeyed. NO APPEAL FROM THE DECISION
Think of it, dear reader. You have a case to-day pending at the bar of eternal justice. The decision rendered in your case will be irrevocable. From it there can be no appeal. When the sentence is pronounced, it will stand for eternity. Every one of us must stand before that tribunal, and hear the unalterable fiat of the Omnipotent One. O, how solemn, how awful the thought! Whether we are ready or not makes no difference as to the fact. "Solemn are the scenes connected with the closing work of the atonement. Momentous are the interests involved therein. The Judgment is now passing in the sanctuary above. . . . In the awful presence of God our lives are to come up in review. At this time, above all others, it behooves every soul to heed the Saviour's admonition, 'Watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.' Mark 13:33, 35, 36." "Perilous is the condition of those who, growing weary of their watch, turn to the attractions of the world. While the man of business is absorbed in the pursuit of gain, while the pleasure-lover is seeking indulgences, while the daughter of fashion is arranging her adornments,—it may be in that hour the Judge of all the earth will pronounce the sentence, 'Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.'" Think of it, you who are engrossed with the cares of this life, and can not find time to read your Bible or to pray. Think of it, you who are so absorbed in the pursuit of gain that you have but little or no time for the services of the house of God. Think of it, fathers and mothers who are rearing your children upon the ruins of the family altar, now almost if not quite forgotten because you are too busy for family worship. Think of it, I beseech you, you who are too busy to prepare to meet your God. O, some day, and that soon, you will have time—possibly when it is too late. Some day, I repeat, you will have time. Take it now. The fatal hour may strike while the pleasure-lover is seeking indulgence. Do you have time for the theater, for the ballroom, for the moving picture show, for the many forms of worldly pleasure that paralyze the spiritual senses, and unfit one to approach God? Think for a moment of the pleasures that await the righteous—pleasures that will endure to all eternity. "In Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore." Ps. 16:11. O, think of the case you have pending at the bar of justice, and of the eternal consequences involved therein! While the devotee of fashion is arranging her adornment, it may be that the angel of mercy will take its flight, never to return—that the hand will appear upon the wall, slowly but surely tracing her eternal doom. How sad it is to see those who profess to be preparing to meet their God, bowing to the goddess of fashion, and placing their necks under her galling yoke! How much better would it be for all such to return to simplicity of attire, and with godly demeanor reveal the holiness of life that all must possess who see the face of our glorious Redeemer and stand with Him upon Mount Zion! Weighed in the balance and found wanting! O, the unspeakable terror of those words! Then will come forth from the lips of the lost the agonizing cry, "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved." Jer. 8:20. Thank God, the sun of salvation's day still lingers in the western heavens, though it is now rapidly approaching the horizon, and must soon sink forever from our sight. The sweet voice of mercy is still heard, tenderly pleading with us, entreating us to cast ourselves unreservedly into the arms of infinite love, and that without further delay. PLACING THE MARK OF DELIVERANCE
The angel spoken of in the ninth chapter of Ezekiel, with the writer's inkhorn by his side, is passing through the land, placing the mark of deliverance upon the foreheads of all who have made their peace with God and are victorious over every sinful602 thought and passion of the heart. If he should come to you, dear reader, would you be ready? This very hour surrender all to Jesus, accept forgiveness and cleansing at His hand, and commit the keeping of your soul to Him as to a faithful Creator. "Prepare to meet thy God."
E. E. A. A WORD TO OUR READERS
By Editor
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