We are informed that in Great Britain our book canvassers are generally doing well.
THERE are at present 215 employees engaged in the Review and Herald Publishing House at Battle Creek, Mich.
BROTHER W. SIMPSON reports that seven precious souls have accepted the truth as it is in Jesus, as a result of meetings held at North Branch, Mich.
ELDER J. B. GOODRICH, writing from Quebec, reports three additions by baptism to the church at Buckingham, two at Fitch Bay, and two at South Stukely.
ELDER I. H. EVANS, president of Michigan Conference, writes that the interest is such in Toronto, the Sunday-law city of Ontario, that a house of worship must soon be erected.
ELDER S. N. HASKELL is doubtless now on his way to South Africa, as he designed to sail from London August 10, by the steamer Hawarden Castle. May God go with his worn and tried servant.
WE wish to call the attention of our workers everywhere to the articles on the first page of the Review and Herald of August 7 and 14, entitled “Look to God for Wisdom.” They are meat in due season.
IT is with regret that we chronicle the news of the death of Elder A. E. Flowers, who went to the island of Trinidad to labor, February last. He died of yellow fever, after an illness of five days, June 29. Our sympathy is extended to his bereaved companion. “God buries his workman, but he carries on his work.” Sister Flowers will return to this country.
ELDER E. E. ANDROSS, who has been in attendance at the teachers’ institute in Battle Creek, Mich., passed through this city on the 24th inst., en route to his future home in Healdsburg. He returned by way of the Northern Pacific route.
WISCONSIN.—At Bloomville, under the labors of Brethren Swinson and McIntosh, twenty-seven have embraced the truth, twenty of whom were baptized August 5. At Richland Center eight souls have been converted. The laborers there are Brethren Anderson, Wilkenson, and Phelps.
ONE of the encouraging features of the tent meetings held in Asheville, N. C., by Elders George I. Butler and D. T. Shireman, was the acceptance of the truth by the Baptist minister of that place, who addressed a large audience in the tent on the subject, “Why I Am No Longer a Baptist.”
THE new church at College View, Neb., will, the Lord willing, be dedicated by appropriate services September 23. Elder J. H. Durland will preach the dedicatory sermon. Elders E. W. Farnsworth, W. B. White, J. G. Matteson, H. F. Graf, C. C. Lewis, and Brother A. R. Henry will be present and assist in the exercises.
THE meetings recently held at Gouverneur, N. Y., closed with eight converts to the faith. These, with four believers already there, and other interested ones, were organized into a Sabbath school, and will continue Sabbath meetings weekly. The meetings were conducted by Elder S. M. Cobb and Brother H. L. Bristol.
THE tent meetings conducted by Elder J. W. Collie in Tampa, Florida, resulted in eighteen additions to the church. The daily papers were very kind in their notices, but the clergy were generally quite persistent in their opposition. The church has purchased a meetinghouse formerly occupied by the Presbyterian Church.
ELDER C. L. BOYD, president of the Tennessee River Conference, says that “they are doing more work and seeing more interest in that field than ever before. One member of the grand jury which indicted Brother Capps, who is now lying in jail for conscience’ sake, has with his family begun the observance of the Sabbath. Seven adults have recently united with the church at Nashville.”
WITH reference to the trouble experienced by Brethren John F. Jones and A. J. Howard on Kent Island, Chesapeake Bay, mentioned last week, we learn that no further molestation was offered, but the people ignored the meetings altogether. They were deterred by the sheriff from doing violence, and determined not to hear the preaching. It was a clear case of utter rejection of the gospel truth, and the tent was taken to another locality.
BROTHER JOHN QUINN reports an invitation from Friendship Liberal League, Philadelphia, to address the League on the subject of “Christianity As We Find It vs. Christianity in Fact.” On complying with the request, he was again invited to speak on “The United States a Subject of Prophecy.” We may expect to find in these days, as it was during the first advent, that the world will be more ready to hear the searching truths of the gospel than will those who profess to be the people of God.
PENNSYLVANIA.—The president of the Pennsylvania Conference, Elder I. N. Williams, reports that since their camp meeting, in June, they have organized four churches, as follows: At Bradford, with 19 members, since increased to 22; Indian Creek, with 20 members, with 5 more ready to join, not one of whom was a member of another church when the truth found them, and some of them professed infidels; Harrisburg, with 11 members; Lebanon, with 21 members. There are four more companies nearly ready for organization at Cobham, Butler, Waynesburg, and Oakland. The addition of 10 members are reported at Lowville, Erie County, and 7 new converts at Geneva.
ELDER A. T. ROBINSON writes from South Africa that the people of Claremont presented to our people there a formal petition to open a school for the general public at such rates of tuition as would place the school within reach of those of limited means. This has been acted upon, and ground has been purchased, and a building erected at a cost of £410, or $2,000. The building is 24x48, and is completed and furnished. The school opened July 4 with an attendance of 37, which has since increased to nearly 50.
NEWS has been received from the brethren who left Cape Town for Mashonaland. They reached Bulawayo, the capital of Matabeleland, July 5. Here the governor of Mashonaland, Dr. Jamieson, was visited, who gave them a liberal donation of land for mission purposes. It was hoped that one tract could be secured near Bulawayo and another north of Fort Salisbury. Brother Harvey writes the Foreign Missionary Society that they have been molested by no wild beasts or venomous reptiles, but that they dwell safely.
THE following admonition of Elder H. E. Robinson, president of Atlantic Conference, to the brethren in his field, is timely in other fields: “I am constrained to admonish our people who have thus far been prospered financially that hard times are probably before us, and, therefore, all should use economy in expenses, devoting as much as possible to the work of the Lord. Millions are to be warned, and much money will be needed. Be ready to help in all the calls that are made for the progress of the message. It is no time to bury the talents in the earth.”
IOWA.—At Sumner, Iowa, as a result of the meetings held by Brethren Henderson, Habenicht, and Shaver, eight souls have embraced present truth. The wife of a minister in that place is reported to have instructed young people in this way: “It is your duty to hate the Adventists, and do everything in your power to put them down.” At Atlantic, Brethren Larson, Ketchum, and Guthrie report twenty who have embraced the Sabbath. Twelve have united with the church, ten of whom were baptized. Thirteen have been baptized at Milford, and others soon will be. A church will soon be built at this place. Brethren Watson, McClintock, and Berguson are in charge of the work.
BRAZIL.—Brother A. B. Stauffer, writing from Brazil to the Review and Herald, says of the town of Santos (which by its name ought to be holy), which has a population of 15,000:—
In all my travels I never have seen a place where there is such disregard of the Bible and everything religious, such drunkenness, sin, and demoralizing habits, as are practiced openly here. This is not to be wondered at when we know that there is neither a gospel mission nor a missionary in all the place.
Here a medical missionary should locate at once; and not only here, but there is room for many more to engage in the same line of work in other parts of this country. But these must be men who will not count their lives dear unto themselves, men who are saved themselves, having realized the cleansing, saving, and healing power of Christ, and who have a faith that will not be deterred by difficulties, however great.
One brother [in the State of Santa Catharina] writes that there is a company of upward of seventy-five Sabbath keepers in the locality where he lives. They are divided, however, into two factions, but all keep the Sabbath. May we not hope that these dear souls will yet receive the truth fully, as some of them are already rejoicing in the light, and call to us to come and help them? Brother Dressel, in another section of the same State, writes very encouragingly, and makes an earnest appeal for help. Also the German brethren in Argentina write that685the Lord is blessing them greatly, and adding others to their company, so that in all there are now twenty-six who are keeping the Sabbath there. Praise God for this. I rejoice to know that Elder Westphal will soon be with them, and I am certain that a rich harvest of souls awaits his efforts there. And a still richer harvest is to be reaped by earnest labor bestowed upon this field. But where are the reapers?
CLEARNESS IN ILLUSTRATION.
An illustration has value and charm in its axiomatic clearness. A preacher of great power, in speaking of the great difficulty God’s Spirit would have in entering a man whose whole being was blocked with sin, said, “You may hold a corked bottle under Niagara Falls, and you won’t get any water in the bottle.” “Why, anybody knows that,” said a child who overheard this illustration. Yes, and the preacher’s very power lay in his ability to put truth in such a form that anybody might understand it.
LITERARY NOTICES.
By Editor
[The Signs of the Times holds itself under no obligation to notice any publications sent it by publishers. Those considered worthy of notice, or which are deemed profitable to its subscribers, will receive such notice as time, space, and value will permit.]
"THE LEGAL SUNDAY;" "THE SABBATH QUESTION IN THE DOMINION PARLIAMENT;" "WHAT DO THESE THINGS MEAN?" International Religious Liberty Association, Battle Creek, Mich.
The three pamphlets mentioned above are Nos. 22, 23, and 24, respectively, of the Religious Liberty Library. The first we have before noticed. It is by James T. Ringgold, Esq., of the Baltimore Bar. It is a strong presentation to the general public of the rights of Sunday under the law. Over 250 pages; price, 40 cents. It should be read by all. No. 23, the second named, is the reprint of some forcible arguments by Hon. G. Amyot, in the Dominion House of Commons, against "An Act to Secure the Better Observance of the Lord's Day," commonly called Sunday. Price, 1½ cents. No. 24, "What Do These Things Mean?" discusses in the light of the Bible the ever-living question of the strife between Capital and Labor as manifested in the "Industrial Armies." Price, 2½ cents.
"THE LOVE OF GOD" (price, 3 cents); "The Sinner's Need of Christ" (price, 2 cents). These are two gospel tracts in the Chinese language. The latter is a translation of the first chapter of "Steps to Christ." They may be obtained by addressing the California Tract Society, 1059 Castro Street, Oakland, Cal. May they be circulated by the myriads.
"CAMRAU AT GRIST," which Englished means "Steps to Christ." By Mrs. E. G. White. International Tract Society, 59 Paternoster Row, London, E. C., England. Price 1s. 6d. In American money it would sell, we should judge, for 50 cents, post free.
The above is a Welsh translation of that excellent little work, published by Revell Company, which has had such a large circulation in this country. It is now being translated into several languages. Of this we are glad. We hope that every Welsh-speaking family in the world may be blessed with a copy. The work in English, and we suppose in Welsh, merits unstinted praise.
"THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA IN AMERICA," by Bushrod W. James, A.M., M.D. Porter & Coats, Philadelphia, Pa.
The above is a neatly printed pamphlet of 13 chapters, nearly 140 pages, on America's future, politically, commercially, etc., according to the author's opinion. He holds that, instead of partisan elections, there should be "an unbiased election of superior individuals of undoubted principle and statesmanship for the most important and honorable positions in the power of a discriminating public to bestow." His hope is that "if existing parties will not choose good statesmen, possibly there may be some latent power within this vast nation which will require it. A grand political upheaval may come—in fact, it seems as if it were imminent—and from the confusion may arise a power for pure, good legislation stronger than has ever existed in this country." A groundless hope. In the words of Scripture, "Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one." Dr. James and thousands more will be disappointed at the dawning.
"THE UNKNOWN LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST." By the discoverer of the manuscript, Nicolas Notovitch. Translated from the French by Alexina Lovanger. Rand, McNally & Co., Chicago and New York.
This book professes to be notes on a manuscript discovered in a Buddhist monastery in Thibet, which claims to give the life and teachings of Christ from the time he was twelve years of age till his baptism by John, in which also it is intimated that the morals and doctrines taught by Jesus were received from Buddhism. It is one of the weakest attempts on the part of Buddhists to gain prestige by borrowing from the Christian religion. The whole account of the finding of the manuscript has been discredited by those who claim to have a thorough knowledge of the country. The book will arouse a little curiosity, and then fall dead. See article on the above in another column.
"THE PEERLESS COOKBOOK," illustrated. Farm and Fireside Library, No. 109. Mast, Crowell & Kirkpatrick, Springfield, O.
This pamphlet contains over 1,000 recipes and suggestions, good, bad, and indifferent, in its 320 pages. It is well gotten up, and will doubtless meet the popular mind, which desires above all something to taste good, but it is a book which a hygienist could hardly indorse.
"PROCEEDINGS OF THE GENERAL THEOLOGICAL LIBRARY FOR THE YEAR ENDING APRIL 16, 1894," has been received from the library at No. 6 Mount Vernon Street, Boston, Mass. The pamphlet gives a sketch of the history of the institution, the rules, a list of its officers, founders, patrons, members, etc. The secretary is the Rev. Luther Farnham, whose address is as above.
"KORADINE LETTERS, A GIRL'S OWN BOOK." By Alice B. Stockham, M.D., and Lida Hood Talbot. Alice B. Stockham & Co., Chicago. Cloth, 424 pp.
The above book is written to teach girls those matters usually withheld from them, containing more or less on physical, mental, and spiritual training. It consists of 35 fairly written, gossipy letters, in which the author has deftly woven in the subtle and deceptive teachings of Christian Science, the soul its own saviour.
International S. S. Lessons.
By Editor
"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 XII.—SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1894.
JESUS AT JACOB'S WELL.
[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.]
9. The Samaritan woman therefore saith unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a Samaritan woman? (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)
10. Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldst have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
11. The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; from whence then hast thou that living water?
12. Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his sons, and his cattle?
13. Jesus answered and said unto her, Everyone that drinketh of this water shall thirst again;
14. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up unto eternal life.
15. The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come all the way hither to draw.
16. Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.
17. The woman answered and said unto him, I have no husband. Jesus saith unto her, Thou saidst well, I have no husband;
18. For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband; this hast thou said truly.
19. The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
20. Our fathers worshiped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
21. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall ye worship the Father.
22. Ye worship that which ye know not; we worship that which we know; for salvation is from the Jews.
23. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such doth the Father seek to be his worshipers.
24. God is a Spirit; and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth.
25. The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh (which is called Christ); when he is come, he will declare unto us all things.
26. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
Golden Text: "Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst." Verse 14.
NOTE.—The events between this and our last lesson are as follows: After the interview with Nicodemus, Jesus and his disciples left Jerusalem to spend the summer in Judea. Here he taught the people, and his disciples baptized them, the crowds leaving, to a great extent, the ministry of John the Baptist, and going to Jesus. This awakened jealousy in some of John's disciples, and they reported the fact to John; but John was not jealous, and bore testimony to Jesus that he was the Messiah. In our lesson of to-day we have the record of Jesus going through Galilee and passing through Samaria. When reaching the city of Samaria, where Jacob's well was, Jesus sat down, weary with his journey, about noon. While resting, a woman comes to draw water, of whom Jesus asks to give him a drink, as his disciples were gone away to buy food. Here our lesson of this week begins.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
1. As Jesus asked the woman of Samaria for a drink, what reply did she make? Verse 9.
2. Why was the woman astonished? Verse 9. See note 1.
3. What did Jesus reply to the woman? Verse 10, first part.
4. What did he say he was able to give? Id.
5. What reply did the woman make? Verses 11, 12. See note 2.
6. What does Jesus say in regard to the drinking of the water from the well? Verse 13.
7. What did he say of him who drank of the water he would give? Golden text.
8. What did he say that water would be to him? Verse 14, last part.
9. As he told her this, what did the woman ask of him? Verse 15.
10. What did Jesus tell her to do? Verse 16.14
11. When the woman said she had no husband, what did Jesus say unto her? Verse 17.
12. How did he show that he knew her inner life? Verse 18.
13. As he revealed to her her sin, what did the woman perceive? Verse 19.
14. What did she say about the place of worship? Verse 20. See note 3.
15. What did Jesus reply in regard to the place of worship? Verse 21.
16. What did he tell her of the worship of her nation? Verse 22. See note 4.
17. What worshipers alone are pleasing to God?
18. How must men do in order to truly worship him? Verse 24.
19. What did the woman say in reply to this? Verse 25.
20. How plainly did he reveal himself? Verse 26. See note 5.
NOTES.
1. The Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.—The Samaritans were the descendants of the different nations which the king of Assyria brought into Palestine when the children of Israel were taken into captivity, as recorded in 2 Kings 17. Their religion was a mixture of the worship of the true God with various forms of idolatry. Perhaps as years had gone by they had learned to reverence God more and their own idols less. They opposed the Jews at the time of the building of the temple under Zerubbabel and Ezra (see Ezra 4), and through opposition they seem to have aroused hatred between the two classes. Nothing was so evil in the eyes of a Jew as a Samaritan. To be a Samaritan and to be possessed of a devil was one and the same thing with a Jew. They said unto Jesus at one time, "Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?" John 8:48. The woman knew that the Jews had this feeling toward her nation, and was therefore surprised that Jesus should ask her for a drink of water. But our Saviour uses this little incident to teach not only the woman, but the entire race, a deep spiritual lesson.
2. The woman was as slow to understand a spiritual lesson as was Nicodemus. The carnal mind does not understand the things of the Spirit of God. When Jesus told Nicodemus, "Ye must be born again," Nicodemus could not comprehend our Lord's meaning. When he tells the Samaritan woman that he would give her living water, she understands by the term that he would draw it from Jacob's well. But our Saviour's object was to lighten her understanding. By the natural water, life-giving and cheering, he would teach her the necessity of the Spirit of God, which gives eternal life.
3. As Jesus was revealed to the woman as a prophet, another question seems to arise in her mind in regard to the true place of worship. One of the questions of frequent discussion between the Jews and Samaritans was in regard to the true place of worship. Of course the Jews claimed that at Jerusalem was the only place of worship, while the Samaritans claimed that the Mount of Samaria was the place, doubtless Mount Gerizim. Their ancestors had worshiped there for more than four hundred years before Christ, and it was there that the blessings were read, as recorded in Deuteronomy 27 and Joshua 8. But it was also true that God had chosen Jerusalem, and now that Jesus, a Jew, had shown himself to her as a prophet, evidently doubt came into the mind of the woman in regard to the true place of worship, and she thought that after all Jerusalem was to be preferred to Samaria.
4. What our Saviour said was literally true. The Samaritans did not know what they did worship. For proof of this read 2 Kings 17:41: "So these nations feared the Lord, and served their graven images, both their children, and their children's children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day." But the Jews, backslidden though they were, had a knowledge of the true God. God had committed to them his holy law and the great plan of salvation, and through them came the Seed of Abraham, our Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation is of the Jews, and that man has little regard for the words of the Saviour who sneers at anything which God has given through the Jews, as "Jewish." Christ himself was a Jew, and so were all his apostles.
5. How clearly and plainly Jesus reveals himself to the simple-hearted! He could not say to the Jews, those of his own nation, "I am the Christ." They would not believe him, because of their jealousy and hardness of heart, but to a woman of a despised nation, one who was a sinner, but who longs to know Christ, he reveals himself. She says, When he (Messiah) is come, he will tell me all things. Jesus says, I am he. The woman goes and tells her people, and many of the Samaritans come and believe in Jesus. And so it is with those who have great light and privileges, but who turn away from the blessings which God gives, and harden their hearts against it, while those who have few privileges and less light see the truth, and receive some of the great blessings which the truth brings.
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. 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.
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.
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 at corner of Eleventh and East Everett Streets. 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.
Washington, D. C.—Church on Eighth Street between F and G Streets, N. E. Regular preaching service at 11 A.M. Sabbaths. Sabbath school 9:45 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 261. O. S. SMYTH, Clerk.
St. Paul, Minn.—Church on Greenbriar Avenue, between Jenks and Clawson Streets. Regular preaching services on Sabbath at 11 A.M. Sabbath school at 9:45 A.M. Prayer meeting Tuesday evening at 7:45. All are cordially invited.
NETTIE MCSTAY, Clerk.
BIBLE ELECTION. By M. C. Wilcox. A brief presentation of God's plan and purpose concerning man, showing that the doctrine of election, or predestination, according to the Bible, is full of comfort and instruction. It throws new light on old controversies. Bible Students' Library, No. 67; 24 pp.; price 3 cents. Address Pacific Press Pub. Co., 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.
23. But when he heard these things, he became exceeding sorrowful; for he was very rich.
24. And Jesus seeing him said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
25. For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
26. And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?
27. But he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
28. And Peter said, Lo, we have left our own, and followed thee.
29. And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or wife, or brethren, or parents, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake.
30. Who shall not receive manifold more in this time, and in the world to come eternal life.
31. And he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written by the prophets shall be accomplished unto the Son of Man.
32. For he shall be delivered up unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and shamefully entreated, and spit upon;
33. And they shall scourge and kill him; and the third day he shall rise again.
34. And they understood none of these things; and this saying was hid from them, and they perceived not the things that were said.
35. And it came to pass, as he drew nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the wayside begging;
36. And hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant.
37. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.
38. And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
39. And they that went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace; but he cried out the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
40. And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him; and when he was come near, he asked him,
41. What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
42. And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight; thy faith hath made thee whole.
43. And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
In this lesson we have the remainder of the story of the young ruler, Christ's death foretold, and the healing of the blind man. The entire chapter may easily be analyzed. Do it for yourself, and do not be content to go on with the next lesson until you can give a brief outline of the contents of this chapter.
Repeat the story of the rich young ruler who came to Jesus.
What question did he ask?
To what did Jesus refer him?
What did the young man reply?
What did Jesus say that he lacked?
How did the ruler receive this counsel?
What caused his sorrow?
When Jesus saw his sorrow, what did he say?
How difficult is it for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God?
What was said by those who heard this?
What did Jesus reply to that?
What did Peter say?
What did Jesus say that those who leave all should receive?
What did Jesus then reveal to the twelve?
How minutely did he foretell his sufferings and resurrection?
How much of it did the disciples understand?
Why did they not understand? See note 2.
As they came near to Jericho, whom did they find?
How did the blind man learn of their approach?
When he heard that Jesus of Nazareth passed by, what did he cry?
What was said to him by those who went before?
What effect did this have?
What did Jesus do?
What request did the blind man make?
What did Jesus say to him?
What did Jesus say saved the blind man?
NOTES.
1. "It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." This expression implies absolute impossibility, and so it was understood by the disciples, who said, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus said that the thing that is impossible with men is possible with God. The rich man who submits to the Lord will cease to be rich in this world's goods, but will become rich in faith, and then he may enter in. But it is as impossible for a man to enter into the kingdom of God as a rich man, as it is for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. The Babylonian Jews, using the same proverb, which was a very common one to denote impossibility, have "elephant" instead of "camel." Many attempts have been made to strip the words of Christ of all force by saying that he had reference to a certain gate in Jerusalem called "the needle's eye," which was so small that in order for a camel to pass through he had to have his load stripped from him and then get down and crawl through on his knees. This is pure fancy of the most absurd kind. The term "needle's eye" applied to small gates is a modern one, which has originated from the attempt to destroy the force of this verse. There is no trace of any such name in ancient times.
2. In the case of the twelve we see an instance of the effect that preconceived opinions, without foundation, have on one's reception of truth. So firmly fixed in the minds of the disciples was the idea that Jesus was going to be a temporal ruler, and that his kingdom was to be of the nature of earthly governments, that what he told them about his death and resurrection had no effect on their minds. It was as though he had said nothing. Yet, if they had been diligent students of the prophecies, they might have understood his words, and thus have been prepared for the event. For all the prophets foretold the sufferings of Christ that should precede the glory. 1 Peter 1:10, 11.
3. The healing of the blind man should not be passed lightly by as an ordinary story. It was not given merely to excite our wonder, but to cause us to trust in God. Note the readiness with which Jesus received him and healed him. This was the mercy of the Lord. Note that it was the faith of the blind man that brought him his sight. He was poor, a beggar. He could do nothing for himself. But he could call upon the Lord and plead his mercy. That brought him sight. We are in the same plight that he was. We are "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." Rev. 3:17. If we come to the Lord Jesus as the blind man did, we shall receive our sight as readily as he did. This miracle was recorded for no other purpose than to show how spiritual sight and riches are to be obtained.
"Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
"Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve,
Because thy promise I believe;
O Lamb of God, I come, I come."
THE ATONEMENT.
The author, in a book of 368 pages, takes up this great central doctrine of the gospel, and treats it in two parts. Part first,
An Atonement Consistent with Reason.
In this he shows that the doctrine of an atonement through the medium of a voluntary substitute is consistent with reason. Part second,
The Atonement as Revealed in the Bible.
In this is discussed the plan of redemption through Christ, by which every sinner who accepts Christ will be justified; sin will be turned back upon the head of its originator; the earth will be cleansed from the curse; God's righteous government will be restored over the entire universe; and all who will not become loyal subjects of that government will be destroyed.
The book presents a CRITICAL AND EXHAUSTIVE TREATISE on this interesting subject, by a thorough Bible student, and wholly from a Bible standpoint, and cannot fail to be of great value to everyone who reads it.
Third edition, bound in cloth, embossed in black, with gold title on back and front cover.
Price, postpaid, $1.00.
Address, Pacific Press Publishing Co., Oakland, Cal. Or 43 BOND ST., New York City.