THE brethren at Missoula, Mont., have decided to open a church school about the middle of the present month.
AUGUST 11, five members were added to the church in Des Moines, Iowa, four of whom were baptized that day.
THREE members were recently added to the church in Alameda, Cal., by baptism. Brother C. M. Gardner administered the ordinance.
"FIFTY swarms of bees," says the Wisconsin Reporter, "is the latest acquisition to the Woodland Academy, and thirty more are expected."
WE are informed that Sister E. G. White, now in Australia, will return to America in November. It is her purpose to attend the General Conference, to be held in February.
JULY 29, six persons were baptized by Brother H. Nicola, at Waukon, Iowa, and added to the church. One other member was added who had been baptized previously.
UNDER the labors of Brother F. M. Burg and C. T. Everson at Smith River, Del Norte County, Cal., twelve persons have accepted the doctrines presented from the Word.
WRITING to this office of the work at Readstown, Wis., Dr. O. C. Godsmark says: "Thirteen new ones have taken their stand, and three backslidden ones have been reclaimed to the fold of Christ."
AT Boulder Creek, Santa Cruz County, Cal., where Brother T. H. Watson and others have been laboring, twenty adherents are reported. The ordinance of baptism was recently administered by Brother C. N. Martin.
THE "Year Book of the California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists" is a neat little pamphlet of thirty-two pages, packed full of information concerning the work and workers. It is an "extra" of the California Missionary of August 6.
THE latest issue of the Religious Liberty Library (No. 9, August 15) is entitled "Christian Citizenship, or the Moral Regeneration of Society." 12 pp.; price, 1 cent each, or 60 cents per hundred. Issued by the International Religious Liberty Association, 324 Dearborn Street, Chicago, Ill. If you want the truth on this subject, read this tract.
AT Parker's Prairie, Minn., where Brother E. H. Huntley and others are laboring, twelve converts are reported. The report in the Worker adds: "The Baptists have given us the use of their church, and have apparently turned over the congregation into our hands, and we are feeding them the best we can. . . . We have a regular Sunday-evening preaching service and Wednesday-evening prayer-meeting and Bible-reading. We are carrying on the services just as the Baptist pastor would do, and he gives us full charge, and part of the time attends our services."
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17 "But if, while we sought to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ a minister of sin? 18 God forbid. For if I build up again those things which I 19 destroyed, I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the 20 law died unto the law, that I might live unto God. I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live; and yet no longer I, 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 21 me, and gave Himself up for me. I do not make void the grace of God; for if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for naught."
NOTE.—It is useless to think of learning this lesson if the previous ones have been neglected. The verses that immediately precede, which we studied in lesson 9, must stand out as clearly in our minds, and as ready to hand, as does the alphabet or the multiplication table. Besides reviewing from the first verse of the first chapter, give special attention to all that precedes in this chapter.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) To what noted incident does Paul refer in this chapter? (2) Relate the circumstances of this visit to Jerusalem. (3) What was the question under consideration? (4) What was Paul's experience at the meeting? (5) Who spoke heartily in favor of the truth of the Gospel, as held by Paul? (6) Where did Paul and Barnabas go after the conference closed? (7) Who followed them later? (8) What did Paul do when Peter came to Antioch? (9) Why did he so sharply reprove him? (10) What did he say to him? (11) Why had they, the Jews, believed in Christ? (12) By what are we made righteous? (13) But if, while we seek righteousness through Christ, we are found to be sinners, is that a part of the Christian life?-"God forbid." Literally, "By no means." (14) What things are destroyed in Christ? (15) Who alone is responsible if the body of sin, once destroyed, rises again? (16) What happened to us through the law? (17) Why are we dead to the law? (18) What is the manner of our death with Christ? (19) What wonderful thing occurs when we are crucified with Christ? (20) Whose life is it, however, that is manifested in us? (21) How, then, do we live the new life day by day?-"By the faith of the Son of God." (22) What has He done for us? (23) Whom did He love? For whom did He give Himself? (24) What do we not do when we receive the life of righteousness through the faith of Christ? (25) What would be the case if righteousness came by the law? (26) Then what do we do if we seek to be made righteous by our own obedience to the law?
NOTES.
1. In verse 16 we should follow the common version rather than the revision, altho the latter, as a general thing, is better. It is perfectly true that we are justified by faith in Christ; but the stronger term "justified by the faith of Christ," expresses much more, and is really more true to the Greek text. Christ trusted in the Father. Ps. 22:8, 19; Isa. 50:7-9. In giving us Himself, He gives us His faith. Therefore, the same means and the same power that kept Christ righteous make and keep us righteous, when through faith in Him we fully accept Him.
2. CHRIST is "the Holy and Righteous One." Acts 3:14. "He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him is no sin." 1 John 3:5. Therefore it is impossible that He should impart sin to anybody. In the stream of life that flows from the heart of Christ, there is no trace of impurity. It is impossible that He should be the minister of sin, that is, that He should minister sin to any one. If in any who seek righteousness through Him, or who have actually found it, there appears sin, it is because they have dammed up the stream and allowed it to become stagnant;—they have not kept the channel open so that the water of life could flow freely. The Fountain is pure, but the purest water becomes corrupt if, after it has left its source, it is confined.
3. SIN is that which we destroy through faith in Christ. Being crucified with Him, the body of sin is destroyed. Rom. 6:1-6. Sin is of the devil, and Christ was manifested "that He might destroy the works of the devil." That which the faith of Christ destroys will show itself active as soon as that faith is lacking; and in that case, we are the ones who are responsible for the upbuilding of sin, because we do not "keep . . . the faith of Jesus."
4. THE law which condemns, also kills. The law condemns all, therefore it will kill all; but each one has his choice as to how and when he will die. He may either die willingly, and now, or he may have his life taken from him at the last day. If in Christ we now willingly allow the law to take our life,—yielding it up even as Christ did,—then so long as we remain in Christ, we are dead to the law, and at the last day it will have no occasion to take our life. "In those days, and in that time, saith the Lord, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found; for I will pardon them whom I reserve." Jer. 50:20. "I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God." Compare Rom. 6:11, 12.
5. WHETHER we read, "I am crucified with Christ," or "I have been crucified," does not make much difference, since the perfect tense reaches down to the present moment. The crucifixion of Christ is, therefore, a continuous process, even as is the living with Him. The cross can never be separated from the Christian, nor the Christian from the cross; and whoever understands it will not desire that it should be, but will say, "Far be it from me to glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world hath been crucified unto me, and I unto the world."
6. THERE is only "one faith" (Eph. 4:5), namely, "the faith of Jesus Christ." When we become new creatures, so that it is no more we who live, but Christ who lives in us, the faith of Jesus will be found to be strong enough to subdue all the wickedness even of our sinful flesh.
7. WHAT a glorious thought—He loved "me" and gave Himself for "me"! When you repeat these words, let the pronoun "me" have its full force. Do not think of Paul or of anybody else except yourself and Christ. It was true of Paul, but it is equally true of everybody else; but each one may have everybody else out of the question, and may have the unspeakable joy of the thought—He loved me, and singled me out from the world.
"O, if there's only one song I can sing,
When in His beauty I see the great King,
This shall my song in eternity be,
O, what a wonder that Jesus loves me!"
8. "But I am not worthy of the love of Jesus," some one will say. That has nothing whatever to do with the matter; He loves you, nevertheless. "Love is of God," and is as eternal and unchangeable as He is. No reason can be given for the existence of love; it is, and that is all that can be said of it. If one could state just the reason why he loves another, that would show that he had not true love; for what he calls love would cease if the conditions were changed; whereas, true love never ceases nor changes. It is useless to try to explain why God loves me, except by the fact that He is love. Let us rejoice that He loves me "with an everlasting love," and that His own boundless, unselfish, unchangeable love will be shed abroad in our hearts if we receive the Holy Spirit.
9. IF men could do the things that the law requires, and, over and above all that, make up for the failures of the past, there would have been no necessity for Christ to die. His death would have been a vain thing. Whoever, therefore, seeks to be justified by the law, that is, by his own obedience to it, seeks to prove that it was useless for Christ to give Himself. Let us take heed not to frustrate the grace of God.
13 "AND one out of the multitude said unto Him, Master, bid 14 my brother divide the inheritance with me. But He said unto 15 him, Man, who made Me a judge or a divider over you? And He said unto them, Take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness; for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance 16 of the things which he possesseth. And He spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought 17 forth plentifully; and he reasoned within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have not where to bestow my 18 fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my corn 19 and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, 20 drink, be merry. But God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which 21 thou hast prepared, whose shall they be? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
22 "And He said unto His disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat; nor yet for 23 your body, what ye shall put on. For the life is more than the food, and the body than the raiment."
Golden Text: "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul." Mark 8:36.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) While Jesus was teaching one of His most impressive lessons, what question did one who was present ask Him? V. 13. Note 1. (2) What pointed question did Jesus ask him? V. 14. Note 2. (3) Turning to the listeners, what caution did He give them? What reason does the Saviour give for giving this warning? V. 15. (4) What parable did Jesus introduce to impress upon His hearers the result of covetousness? V. 16. (5) What question does He represent this man as asking himself? What was perplexing this man? V. 17. Note 3. (6) What did this covetous man finally decide to do? What was his purpose in building greater? V. 18. (7) What does this man say to his soul? What does he invite his soul to do? V. 19. (8) What does God call such an one? What terrible announcement does the Lord make to him? What question does the Lord ask him in regard to his hoarded wealth? V. 20. (9) What is the occupation of those to whom this lesson applies? What is their lack? V. 21. Note 4. (10) Whom does Jesus now personally address? What practical instruction did He give them? V. 22. (11) What is the relative importance of life and food? What of the body and that which clothes it? V. 23.
NOTES.
1. One of the multitude.—Not one of the disciples, but one who had been listening unmoved to the solemn lesson the Saviour had been teaching. His question seems to have been an interruption of the Saviour's discourse. The Saviour taught with power and with authority; and this man, who had been dwelling upon his grievance, thought Jesus was just the one to secure for him the earthly possessions he desired. Instead of learning the solemn truths which Jesus was teaching, this man was planning how he might use Jesus to secure his own worldly ends. Are we not doing the same, when, during the worship of God, we lay plans in worldly matters?
2. Not a judge or divider.—He had not been appointed a public officer of a worldly kingdom. He was not a divider, that is, one appointed to separate property, apportioning to each one his share in accordance with the judge's decision. Jesus, in these words, makes it plain that the business of a politician, or political office-holder, is not the business which He has commissioned His servants to perform. "I have given you an example," are the words of Christ. "He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked." 1 John 2:6. Christ's church should be separate from the State. It must be or it can not be His church. A church that is in politics is a church that has left her lawful Spouse. The light of such a church is darkness.
3. He reasoned within himself.—The decision which a man reaches in reasoning within himself is bound to be a selfish decision. He does not pray over the matter, and follow the light God gives him; but he asks himself what he shall do, and self gives him an answer that is pleasing to himself; but the answer is sure to be out of harmony with the purpose of God. It is sure to lead to disappointment, distress, and ruin. "The value of life depends on what we are, not on what we possess. Any beast may carry a load of gold, but he is a beast still."
4. Not rich toward God.—In seeking a place to lay up treasures, he had overlooked heaven, and had lost all. He was not "rich in love, in character, in good works, in deeds of kindness, in labors and gifts for the salvation of men; not rich in all that makes the glory of God and the bliss of heaven. The only man who is really rich is he who is rich toward God."—Peloubet.
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NOTE.—We wish those who ask questions to take particular notice: (1) Only such questions will be answered here as we believe to be of general interest and information. (2) We can not undertake to explain from four to a dozen scriptures, as in one sentence we are often requested to do. (3) Do not ask to "explain" a certain text or passage. State clearly the point in question. (4) Give full name and address, not for publication unless desired, but as evidence of good faith, and to give us the privilege of replying by letter if deemed best. (5) Unsigned communications of any kind find the quickest way to the waste-basket. (6) It is always well to inclose stamp. (7) "Foolish and unlearned questions avoid," also those that minister to mere curiosity. (8) Study the Scriptures yourselves.
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How Our Publications Are Appreciated
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The Desire of Ages
This, as nearly all know, is a large volume—one of the finest as well as the most expensive we have ever published. During the past four months its sales have been as follows:—
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Literature and the Cape Nome Gold Rush
There was a deep significance in the act of Martin Luther in throwing his inkstand at the devil. Perhaps he did not realize the full force of it. An anonymous writer says that "the inkstand stands for literature, either good or bad." So, inasmuch as Satan is throwing his inkstand at the cause of God, in every conceivable shape, the Lord's people should be using theirs in the circulation of truth. The great moral contest of to-day, and of the future, is to be fought with the pen, the typewriter, and the printing-press, as auxiliaries of the human voice, through which the Spirit by the Word is to reach the masses with the good news of salvation. God's people need to be diligent in circulating a sound, wholesome literature.
Some of the difficulties encountered in the desperate struggle for earthly treasure may be seen in the following late items from the Cape Nome gold region:—
"A great storm occurred at Nome. Everything in the shape of barges, lighters, and small craft is on the beach. The steamer Merwin sank."
"Smallpox is raging. The town is full of hungry and desperate men, who have attempted to burn the town."
"There is no work here, and the diggings are a failure. A million dollars' worth of machinery and mining oddities are abandoned."
"Food is scarce, and men offer to work for a dollar a day. The whole thing is a speculation for merchants and shippers."
"Many men have no blankets, having sold them for food. Numbers bunk together like hogs, keeping themselves warm by driftwood and brush."
Yet people are still going to Nome, each one expecting to be, in some mysterious way, the exception to the rule. How many would risk as much in quest of the heavenly treasure, or of souls for the Master's kingdom?
Literature
By Editor
Literature.—One of the great political parties in 1896 sent out over 160,000,000 pieces of campaign literature, making over 130 car-loads of printed matter. So says L. A. Coolidge, in Ainslee's Magazine for June. In the shipping department alone 275 people were employed. The other great party sent an amount almost equally large. Can it be that in this critical moment, when the Lord's coming is so near, "the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light"? "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good."
Timely Instruction.—When the disciples of Christ asked Him about His coming again, and of the end of the world, He gave them most valuable information on the subject. He said: "Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." Matt. 24:4, 5. Further along in His conversation He repeats the caution: "If any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." Then there will be a terrible deception in regard to the second advent. But He continues: "Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in the desert; go not forth; behold, He is in the secret chambers; believe it not." Verses 25, 26. But he does not leave us with these negative assurances: He gives in plain words the manner of His coming, so that no one need be deceived, if he will "take heed" to the Word. Here it is: "As the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Paul tells us that, in connection with this great event, the righteous dead will be raised to life; that "the Lord Himself will descend with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God." This instruction is timely just now, in these deceptive times, when the doctrine of the coming of the Lord is being enshrouded with so much error. The manner of His coming, as shown in His Word, can not be counterfeited by any one; and any pretender who can not fulfil the foregoing requirement is a deceiver. "Take heed, that no man deceive you."
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Grand total . . . $2,210.31
Church and Politics
By Editor
Political hopes have some strange bases, as shown by the merely local contests in Alameda County, Cal. It is claimed that one candidate for State senator is strong because "he was the head of the Epworth League for years, and is said to have the church people with him." It is said, "That means a great deal out Berkeley way." Then a certain candidate for county supervisor is said to feel very certain of success because "he has the race track and the railroad behind him." What either of these conditions has to do with the proper qualifications for the positions sought is a mystery; but such is politics. The pity is that the church is so ready to stoop to a contest with the world for earth's empty honors.
Why Not?
By Editor
Why should not the "good soldiers of Christ Jesus" be as energetic and courageous as the patriots of worldly governments? Is there not a greater incentive to self-sacrifice and earnest zeal in the cause of the Lord than in any mere worldly cause? These questions are suggested by the following expression, in the Missionary Review:—
"No sooner do a few missionaries fall in China than some persons are ready to denounce missions, and not a few of God's professed people lose heart and would recall the laborers from the field, and actually abandon the attempt to push the conquests of the cross."
The killing of hundreds and thousands of foreign soldiers in China does not have such an effect in any of the so-called Christian nations. Their places can be readily filled by volunteers. Yes, the more soldiers fighting against China there are killed, the greater the anxiety to fill up the ranks, and even to greatly enlarge the invading army. Why should the soldiers of Christ, backed by the love of God and the power of the Spirit, be more reluctant to push on in quest of souls for the Master, than are the soldiers of earthly governments in pursuing merely temporal advantage.
General.
The Land of the Pyramids, M. H. BROWN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
"Ask, and It Shall Be Given You," MRS. E. G. WHITE . . . . . . . 2
Apostasy in the Church, FRANCIS M. WILCOX . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
The Sin-offering and Trespass-offering, G. E. FIFIELD . . . . . . 4
Is Physical Restoration Always a Miracle? DAVID PAULSON . . . 5
Outlook.—The Entanglements about China—In the Realm of the Trust—Political Religion—A New Thing in History—Strong Drink among Women—March of Events in China. 8, 9
The Home.—Demoralization of the Young Man, W. S. SADLER—Exercise of the Lungs—Vegetarianism and Intemperance, DAVID PAULSON, M.D—Two College Boys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10, 11
Missions.—The Chinese, MRS. SUSAN BIRDSALL ROBERTS. 12, 13
October 1, 1900.—Remember the change of price that takes place in the SIGNS OF THE TIMES October 1. See our advertisement of it on another page.
Back Numbers
By Editor
Back Numbers.—We have on hand back numbers of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES containing the usual amount of excellent matter, which we will send post-paid at 50 cents per hundred. Who wants some of them? Address this office.
Eternal Life in the Son
It is commonly taught that all men have eternal life in themselves; but "this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." 1 John 5:11, 12.
