Signs of the Times, Vol. 26, No. 38.
STEPHEN, THE MARTYRPage 1
Earlier text: STEPHEN, THE MARTYR“I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE.”
By Otho C. Godsmark
“If a man die, shall he live again?” This question has confronted every soul that has come to years of maturity since the day that Adam, because of his transgression, was driven from his home in the Garden of Eden. Shall the dead really live again? Will our loved ones, whom we lay so tenderly away in the silent grave, ever come forth, and be with us again, that we may know them and realize that they have once more a real existence among the living? This question, as before stated, is one with which every thinking individual is brought squarely face to face; and one, we are sorry to know, that many, in their unbelief, ever fail to settle in the glorious light of the Scriptures. When Adam was driven from Eden, the promise was given that of the seed of the woman One would be raised up that should bruise the serpent’s head. This was to them the Gospel. It spoke to them of a coming Saviour who should unlock the dark prison house of the great destroyer, and call forth to life every son and daughter of Adam’s fallen race. It spoke of more than this; it told of the blessed possibilities of a life freed from the bondage of sin; of a life, tho fiercely attacked by the arch-deceiver, yet safely hid within the overshadowing presence of a heavenly Father’s love. All this, and even more, was couched in the promise made to Adam when it became necessary to deprive him of his beautiful Eden home. If faithful to God and His requirements, Adam should not only live again, but live to all eternity. This promise of an eternal life through faith in the atonement of a coming Messiah, was not made to Adam alone, but to every trusting, obedient member of his fallen race. “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” 1 Cor. 15:22. “Marvel not at this; for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” John 5:28, 29. All will live again; all will hear His voice and come forth. Whether that awakening be unto a life eternal, or to hear the words, “Depart from Me, ye workers of iniquity,” depends entirely on how we spend the time and opportunities given us here in the present time of probation. Jesus is our life. “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” We hear Him saying, in tenderest tones of sympathy, as He stands at the tomb of Lazarus, “I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in Me, tho he were dead, yet shall he live.” Precious promise, given to the sorrowing sons of men! “If a man die, shall he live again?” Yes, praise His holy name, we shall live again! Tho our feet may pass through the dark portals of the tomb; tho we may walk through the valley of the shadow of death, yet we will fear no evil; our souls shall be satisfied; our “life is hid with Christ in God;” and “when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.” CATCH THE SUNSHINE.
By Star of Hope
CATCH the sunshine, tho the shadows
All around you thickly lie;
Close behind is God's sweet sunshine
Brightly beaming in the sky.
Catch that bright beam—soon 'twill vanish,
All too quickly pass away,
Leaving yet a deeper shadow
Where its shining presence lay. Catch the sunshine, tho it glistens
Through a dark and fearful cloud;
It has come to bring sweet solace
To a heart in sorrow bowed.
Don't give up to gloom and anguish,
Do not yield to being sad;
Look! there comes a gleam of sunshine,
Catch it—O, it seems so glad! Catch the sunshine, it is glowing
All around you in the air;
Only look for it—you'll find it
Lurking, sparkling everywhere.
Blessed sunshine! how it gladdens
All the dark spots by the way,
Playing “hide and seek” with sorrow,
Chasing guilt and sin away! THERE is no quality or element in religion which can take the place of aggressive earnestness. Activity is the condition of growth. “Woe unto them that are at ease in Zion.” No divine malediction is necessary to consign them to their “own place” among the non-producers in the Lord’s vineyard. It is only by eternal vigilance and wise and ceaseless effort that we hold our own and make advances on the enemy’s lines. We are not enlisted to hold the fort but to capture the enemy. The campaign is offensive, not defensive; it is one of conquest, not compromise. Christianity in all its forms as developed in history, has been aggressive. It aims after the spiritual conquest of the whole world, and whatever it has achieved has been done through its power to inspire men and women to go forth as missionaries animated with this sublime and far-reaching idea. Whatever progress the religion of Jesus has made, in spite of all errors and superstitions, has been accomplished largely through this one all-mastering passion. This was the secret of Paul’s power; and the same is true of every preacher, whatever his creed, who has achieved success.—Selected. A WOUNDED Japanese soldier, while in the hospital, was converted to Christ. He labored faithfully with some of his comrades in the hospital, and afterwards was heard to say, “I must go home soon and get the people of my village to believe.” A suggestion was made to him that it might be well for him to wait a while before going home, till he was better instructed in Christian doctrine. The suggestion astonished him, and he replied simply, “It will never do for me to believe this alone; I must tell them.”—Selected. THE PEACE-OFFERING.
By G. E. Fifield
"There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked." Isa. 48: 22. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee; because he trusteth in Thee." Isa. 26: 3. THE peace-offering, whatever the animal was, must be without blemish. It was slain by the man who brought it, and the blood was sprinkled by the priest around the altar of burnt-offering. Certain portions of the meat were eaten by the priests, but other portions and all the fat were burned on the altar upon the burnt-offering. Here, as in all the offerings, the offering stands for the offerer, its life for his life. Before we can know peace, we must know what it is willingly to take our lives, and give them freely to be sprinkled by our High Priest, or used as He directs in the service of humanity. As the peace-offering was burned on the burnt-offering, the burnt-offering must precede it. But the burnt-offering could not be brought till the repentant soul, bringing his sin-offering or his trespass-offering, had thus been accepted, pardoned, and reconciled to God. Then he could bring his burnt-offering, showing thereby that his renewed life was consecrated to God, to be poured out and consumed in His service; and on this burnt-offering, "the food of the offering made by fire unto the Lord," was burned the fat of his peace-offering. The trespasser, conscious of a fault, could have no part even in the continual morning and evening burnt-offering, until he brought his personal trespass-offering. Then, with the others, he could consecrate himself anew in the burnt sacrifice, and so find peace. How plain this is! "There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." "The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it can not rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt." "Great peace have they which love thy law; and nothing shall offend them." But why was the peace-offering burned on the burnt-offering? Here is a great spiritual truth, the very innermost secret of the Gospel. The burnt-offering, as we have seen, is the giving of the renewed life to be consumed on the altar of service, consumed, if need be, as was the life of Jesus, going out in crucifixion and apparent defeat, hated, despised, maligned, and rejected. "Surely," says the natural heart, "here is no peace." Yet just here, on the burnt-offering, is the peace. Hark! I hear this same persecuted and crucified Jesus say: "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." "Not as the world giveth,"—not a little peace, to last a little while and only while things go smoothly, but the very secret of peace I give unto you, a peace which will endure through all trials, and through every affliction. What is the secret? Here is the answer: "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you." The yoke means the same toil, the same service, the same sacrifice that Jesus gave, the same that was signified by the burnt-offering. "Take My yoke upon you; . . . and ye shall find rest [i.e., peace, tranquility, quiet, restful joy] unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." Think of it! Look at the life of Jesus, a perpetual burnt-offering,—consumed to the last red drop on the altar; yet through it all He had peace, and said, "My burden is light." Was not the peace-offering burned on the burnt-offering? The cause of the world's unrest and lack of peace is just the opposite of this spirit of sacrifice, of giving the life. It is the spirit of selling the life for the uttermost that it will bring of the world's wealth, honor, and renown, and then being dissatisfied with the price. Two quotations from Carlyle make the principle of the world's unrest, and of the peace that can be found only in self-sacrifice, very plain. "Always," he says, "there is a black spot in our sunshine; it is even, as I have said, the shadow of ourselves. The whim we have of happiness is somewhat thus: By certain valuations and averages of our own striking, we come upon some sort of an average terrestrial lot; this we fancy belongs to us by nature and of indefeasible right. It is simply payment of our wages, of our deserts; requires neither thanks nor complaint; only such overplus as there may be do we account happiness; any deficit, again, as misery. Now consider that we have the valuation of our own deserts ourselves—and what a fund of self-conceit there is in each of us—do you wonder that the balance should so often dip the wrong way, and many a blockhead cry, "See there! what a payment! was ever worthy gentleman so used?" I tell thee, blockhead, it all comes of thy vanity, of what thou fanciest those same deserts to be." "Fancy thou deservest to be hanged; thou wilt feel it happiness to be only shot. Fancy thou deservest to be hanged in hair halter; it will be a luxury to die in hemp." "The fraction of life can be increased in value not so much by increasing the numerator as by lessening your denominator. Unity itself, divided by zero, will give infinity. Make thy claim of wages a zero, then; thou hast the world under thy feet. Well did the wisest of our time write, "It is only with renunciation that life, properly speaking, can be said to begin."—Sartor Resartus. "The wages of every noble work do yet lie in heaven, or else nowhere. Not in Bank of England bills needest thou, heroic soul, present thy account of earnings. Human banks know thee not, or know thee after generations and centuries are passed away, and thou art clean gone from rewarding. . . . My brother, the brave man has to give his life away, thou dost not expect to sell thy life in any satisfactory manner? Give it, then, like a royal heart; let the price be nothing; thou hast then, in a certain sense, got all for it."—Past and Present. Here is the very secret of rest and peace. Take Christ's yoke,—give the life; give it freely, make no claim; give it in Christ's name, and for His sake. In other words, present it a burnt-offering, to be consumed for a sweet savor unto the Lord, consumed in the service of humanity, consumed by the sacred fire of love which ever burns on the altar of the Christ-illuminated soul. Then, and only then, you will find peace. Surely it will be peace then; for if the life, through love, is freely given, there will be no quarrel as to how or when it shall be taken, and no perplexing questions of prices, or honors, or rewards. The feet of such an one may ever be "shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace," to tread any rough pathway. Surely, now we can see why the peace-offering was burned on the burnt-offering. This thought of complete self-renunciation as the secret of peace, runs through almost every reference to peace in the Bible. Jesus came to earth to manifest the given life of God, and to show how, because of that gift, the river of life is ever flowing from the throne. He came to teach us this same lesson of sacrifice,—of giving the life,—so that we may be made channels through which the living water of His given life may flow out to others. It was because of this fact that the angels, in announcing His birth, said, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." "Therefore being justified by faith [i.e., by Christ's righteousness, not by my striving, or struggling, or trusting to any merit of our own], we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom also we have access by faith into this grace [unmerited favor] wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." What about sorrows and trials now? Hear Paul: "And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope; and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." "Be careful [i.e., anxious] for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Truly He is the "Prince of Peace." I hear Him say, "In the world ye shall have tribulation; but in Me ye shall have peace." In quiet trust my soul responds: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in the Lord forever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength." Faithfulness in Daily Duties
By Jean-Nicolas Grou
Be sure if you do your very best in that which is laid upon you daily, you will not be left without help when some mightier occasion arises.—J. N. Grou. Keep still. When trouble is brewing, keep still. When slander is getting on its legs, keep still. When your feelings are hurt, keep still, till you recover from your excitement, at any rate. Things look differently through an unagitated eye. In a commotion once I wrote a letter and sent it, and wished I had not. In my later years I had another commotion and wrote a long letter; but life rubbed a little sense into me, and I kept that letter in my pocket against the day when I could look it over without agitation and without tears. I was glad I did. Less and less it seemed necessary to send it. I was not sure it would do any hurt, but in my doubtfulness I leaned to reticence, and eventually it was destroyed. Time works wonders. Wait till you speak calmly, and then you will not need to speak, it may be. Silence is the most massive thing conceivable sometimes. It is strength in very grandeur. It is like a regiment ordered to stand still in the mad fury of battle. To plunge in were twice as easy. The tongue has unsettled more ministers than small salaries ever did, or lack of ability.—World's Crisis. If you are going to do a helpful thing you want to be sure to do it at the right time. If you are going to say a kind word, choose the best time to speak it. If you have forgiven the wrong some one else has done you, take the best time to show it. Perhaps you think it will be hard to know the best time for these things. Not a bit of it. The best time for all of them is the present time. If you have a kind word to say, say it now. If you want to help another, help now. If you have forgiven somebody else for being unkind, show it this very minute. We do not gain anything by waiting a while before we begin to carry out our good intentions. The best time for these things is now. "I AM IN THE MIDST."
By Christian Advocate
AN ingenious dreamer has recently published a tract relating a dream in which he had a visit from the Lord Jesus. The effect of that visit upon the conduct of the household was manifest. Certain inelegancies and improprieties of conversation which were not considered sinful were laid aside for the time being. The use of wine was abandoned, and visiting the theater was given up, not because these things were considered wrong, but they did not seem to be exactly proper while the Lord was being entertained. The dreamer was accompanied to church one day by his distinguished Guest, and, altho the preacher, of whose abilities and gifts this parishioner was proud, preached a great sermon on a very deep subject, he was somewhat ashamed, feeling that it was not exactly the kind of sermon one should preach in the presence of Jesus. If the fact of His presence were always realized, what a difference it would make in the preaching, praying, and singing! What a difference it would make in the words used in business transactions and social conversations! All worship, all giving, and all living should be conducted as in His presence. This thought should banish our fears, chasten our speech, assuage our griefs, and surround us with the atmosphere and sunlight of heaven while journeying through a vale of tears. When a newly-elected President of the United States, who is known to be a church-member or a church-goer, is about to take up his temporary abode in the capital of the nation, great anxiety is manifest among the members of each congregation connected with the denomination to which he belongs or toward which he inclines, to have him worship with them. It has been currently and publicly reported that industrious efforts have been made by church people in Washington to induce the President to go here or there. The dignity and propriety of such a proceeding is open to question, but no one can think it strange that any congregation should desire the presence of so distinguished a worshiper. The presence of the President attracts a multitude, increases the revenues of the church, and affords a certain satisfaction to those who are associated with him once a week in holy exercises. It is an honor to preach before the President of the United States every Sunday. The members of the choir must prize the privilege of discoursing music for the ears of the chief magistrate of the greatest nation on earth. How few consider that One far more worthy is always present in every worshiping congregation! He does not wait to be invited. No special pew need be set apart for His accommodation. Wealth, station, fine music, and eloquent preaching furnish no inducements to Him. He is present in the most obscure church, with the poorest people. He is not confined to one congregation. His presence means more than the presence of the President. If His presence is properly recognized, the multitude will be attracted. Benefits which the presence of no human being can insure will follow His steps. He says, "I am in the midst." He does not state the object of His visit. It is enough to announce the fact.—Christian Advocate. NOTHING can detain or destroy a real prayer; its flight to the throne is swift and certain. God will not fail you, tho you fail yourself. Tho you faint, He fainteth not, neither is weary. Lift up your cry, and He will lift up His hand. Resort to your chamber, and it shall be to you none other than the gate of heaven. Tell your God your grief is heavy to you; it will be light enough to Him. Dilemmas will all be plain to His wisdom, and difficulties will vanish before His strength. But remember always, prayer, like a ladder, has two ends. If angels are at the top end, there must be a human being at the foot; if the sunshine and the rain are sent to bring forward the fruitage of the year into the harvest, man must plow and sow, else there will be no harvest. God recognizes and uses human agencies in the carrying forward of His purposes. This has its illustration in an incident in the life of Hudson Taylor. He is a man of great faith in God, as well as a great missionary. When he first went to China, it was in a sailing vessel. Very close to the shore of a cannibal island the ship was becalmed, and it was slowly drifting shoreward, unable to go about, and the savages were eagerly anticipating a feast. The captain came to Mr. Taylor and besought him to pray for the help of God. "I will," said Taylor, "provided you set your sail to catch the breeze." The captain declined to make himself a laughing stock by unfurling sails in a dead calm. Taylor said, "I will not undertake to pray for the vessel unless you will prepare the sails." And it was done. The missionary retired to his stateroom to pray. While engaged in prayer, there was a knock at his door. The captain's voice responded, "Are you still praying for wind?" "Well," said the captain, "you'd better stop praying, for we have more wind than we can well manage." And, sure enough, when but a hundred yards from shore, a strong wind struck the sails of the boat, so that the cannibals were cheated out of their human prey. Sails are made to catch the wind. This part of the prayer, namely, the spreading of the sail, the sailors could do. It belonged to God to send the wind. The application of all this is, if your prayer is for wind, be sure to first spread the sails. One great lack of the church to-day is the power of prayer. The little company in that upper room in Jerusalem—men and women—rightly interpreted the Lord, when for ten days they tarried in prayer. How simple, direct, fervent, importunate that prayer was all the world knows! In this first Christian prayer-meeting we have in miniature the pivotal point of power for the church to-day and of every day.—Selected. SOULS OR SOVEREIGNTY?
By C. M. S.
WHAT does the missionary seek in the highways and byways of heathenism—the souls of the heathen, or the propagation of his country's influence? In other words, whose ambassador is the man who goes to teach among the heathen "the unsearchable riches of Christ"? If he is Christ's ambassador, he will represent Christ and His kingdom, and all else will be subservient to that. If he has forgotten the import of his commission, he is almost sure to glorify the country from which he came, and extol the merits of his peculiar national civilization. He is a German Christian, a French Christian, or an English or American Christian. But the true Christian, the true ambassador of Christ, is a Christian without respect to nationality. An ambassador can not be the accredited representative of two different nations at the same time. Neither can Christ's ambassador represent Christ and any earthly government at the same time. He can not serve two masters. The ambassadorship of the Christian is of sufficient importance to engross the whole time and attention and energies of the man who undertakes the high responsibility. His business is to teach to the people the salvation of Christ, to represent in this earth, this foreign country, King Emmanuel and the sovereignty of heaven. He can not take the time to represent any other power; for the business of his Sovereign is urgent. The sovereignty of earthly powers must pass away; but the sovereignty of God is from everlasting to everlasting. Representing an earthly government, or extolling its merits among the heathen, is too small a business for him whom Christ has sent out in His name. Such work is a double failure; Christ is not honored, and the earthly government is involved in difficulty with the people among whom he has been laboring. The nations have their own representatives abroad, looking after their interests. The Christian, if he understands the meaning of his call, knows that he is abroad to represent the interests of the kingdom of heaven. His business is to seek the salvation of souls; and when in danger, he will seek the protection of the One who sent him forth. The missionary should weigh well the questions, Am I seeking the souls of men, or the extension of an earthly government's influence? Am I seeking to serve two masters, or one only, and that Christ? C. M. S. 1082. M. E. R.—What law is spoken of as being changed, in Heb. 7:12? The text reads, "For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law." The law that is changed is the law of the Levitical priesthood. This law required that the priests should be of the tribe of Levi. Ex. 40:12-15; Num. 18:6, 7. But when Christ finished His earthly work and began His ministry in the heavenly sanctuary, He became our High Priest. But He was of the tribe of Judah, and according to the law,—the law of the priesthood,—was not eligible. Therefore, in order for Him to become High Priest, it was necessary for a change to be made in that law, a change that would admit those of other tribes to the priesthood. That law ceased by limitation, with all the earthly ordinances of the tabernacle, at the death of Christ, for it was to Him that the whole system pointed. Then the new order,—or the re-establishment of the Melchizedek priesthood,—went into force. And since then the chosen of God, who in His purpose become Israelites in the broad sense, are called "an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices," "a royal priesthood." 1 Peter 2:5, 9. See also Rev. 1:6; 5:9. THE sale of alcohol may be prohibited, as it ought to be, but depraved appetite will find in Satan's materia medica some other potent drug for the destruction of body and soul. Cocain is one of the deceitful poisons now working effectually to destroy souls. The Cincinnati Enquirer of August 5 had an article entitled "Cocain," which opens with these paragraphs:— "The recent arrest of several druggists in this city for selling cocain indiscriminately to all comers, without requiring the order of a physician, has again started the discussion as to the uses and abuses of the most seductive drug known to medical science. The discussion of a few years ago settled nothing, as there was just as much testimony on one side as the other regarding the deleterious effects from its use. "Cincinnati, however, furnished two notable examples of what effect it has on some people, and both cases were the more remarkable from the fact that the victims were well-known physicians, and both became addicted to the use of cocain by reason of their desire to increase their knowledge by experimenting with it. One of the men referred to became a total physical and mental wreck, and sank into an early grave. The other, after years of suffering consequent upon its use, succeeded in breaking the charm that held him a captive for years, and finally regained his normal vigor of body and mind, and at this time is an honored and respected leader in his profession in an Eastern city, noted for its eminent men in the medical world. No matter what will be the result of the controversy on the subject of cocain using, all agree that its effects are delightful; that an eighth of a grain will make the user of it feel as if he owned the earth, and that all the ills and perplexities of existence were banished forever. But when the effects have worn off, then comes the reaction. Life is again unbearable, and the only way to make it endurable is another dose of the narcotic that numbs the sensibilities, eases bodily and mental pain, paints everything in a roseate hue, and places the poor devil in a transitory elysium of bliss." The Enquirer tells us, speaking of Cincinnati, that "there is not a drug store in the thickly-settled districts of this city that is not daily besieged by unhappy victims of misfortune." The drug is sold under various guises, as, for instance, a catarrh remedy. One physician is quoted by the Enquirer as saying:— "Cocain may be toxic, sometimes deadly, in large doses. It may give rise to dangerous or even fatal symptoms in doses usually deemed safe. The danger, near and remote, is greatest when given under the skin. It may produce a diseased condition, in which the will is prostrate, and the patient powerless—a true toxic neurosis, more marked and less hopeful than that from alcohol or opium." A traveling man declares that cocain-using produces a condition "wherein conscience is completely paralyzed, and all sense of moral responsibility is annihilated." And then he gives this instance to illustrate how the habit has spread:— "In Winchester, Ky., four years ago cocain was unknown outside of medical circles or the pharmacies, but to-day there are 800 known slaves to cocain, principally, however, colored. At another point in that same State, in a drug store, in the course of an hour, I counted eleven calls for morphine and eighteen for cocain. It is also a remarkable and well-known fact in the South that whenever a town goes dry, the sale of cocain increases." He tells of the case of a cocain fiend who began when young with paregoric, then opium, ending with cocain. The above also reveals why it is that we see such startling manifestations of conscienceless deeds. This is not a converted world. It is a great lazar house, filled with dying, hopeless souls, which only the grace of God can reach. THE FARMER'S LOT AND PROSPECT.
MAN'S original occupation was tilling the soil. The Lord set this occupation before him before the blight of sin made his labor irksome. In no other calling are the baneful effects of the fall so marked, for the reason, perhaps, that no other business enterprise existed at that time, and it seems to have been the only industry essential to the race. And even now the burden of supporting the race rests upon the farmer. Therefore it would seem that the enemy of souls schemes continually to make it hard for the agricultural classes. Almost every kind of covetous speculation bears directly or indirectly on the resources of those who labor to cultivate the natural productions of the earth. Here are some pertinent words recently spoken in Congress by Hon. Henry D. Green, of Pennsylvania, while discussing a certain enterprise which it was proposed to regulate by law:— “The farmer's lot is a hard one; it means incessant toil of the severest kind; it means manual labor under the burning suns of July and August and in the drenching rains of March and April. His wife and every one of his growing family must contribute their share to keep the wolf from the door. He suffers from drawbacks which come to no other occupation. At one time it is too much rain; at another it is too little; at another it is the fly in his wheat, the cholera among his hogs and poultry, or some other disease among his sheep or his cattle. “Hardly a season goes by that he must not face a substantial and unlooked-for loss. His taxes are high, and the owner of land and farm stock can not escape them, as does the coupon clipper. Profits never come to him in a great lump, as they do to the manufacturer. Good years are only comparative to him, as his margin of profit is never large, and bad years are often as disastrous as they are to the manufacturer. Ease and luxury he knows little about. He is always the victim of tariff legislation, for he pays a tariff on even the imported grains which he sows. He pays the direct and indirect exactions of all tariff-taxed commodities which he is forced to consume. He is forced to sell in the markets of the world at a price fixed by his foreign competitor, and buy at protection prices. “He suffers most from freight discriminations. He contributes the largest part by far to the profits of all trusts. He has suffered from the fall in the price of lands. He pays the highest rates of interest for the money he is forced to borrow. He asks but little consideration at the hands of Congress; he asks them not favors, but only rights.” Yet the farmer should not be discouraged; there is hope for his honorable calling in the world to come—in the new earth “wherein dwelleth righteousness.” Let the farmer have faith in God and in the power of His Word, which endureth forever. It is God's promise to “create new heavens and a new earth.” “And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat; for as the days of a tree are the days of My people, and Mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” See Isa. 65:17-24. A MURMUR IN EGYPT.
By C. M. S.
WHILE the attention of the world has been largely occupied with events in China for the past few months, Egyptian Moslems have been muttering threats against the missionaries of North Africa. The cause of this discontent and growing hatred is the same as that which has been working in China,—political influence in the interests of religious work. Much of this irritation has been directly caused by the zealous attempts in certain quarters to “appropriate the British occupation of Egypt and the reconquest of the Soudan as events designed by God to benefit missionary enterprise.” One English bishop asks, “How can we expect God to bless the British arms in any part of the world unless we do that work for which He gives us the victory?” The same bishop declares that God has given Egypt into the hands of England for a higher purpose than building railroads, canals, and telegraph lines, and plainly indicates that that “higher purpose” is the Christianizing of Egypt, and that England must establish bishoprics from Cairo to the cape. The bishop further claims that the army is a great proselytizing instrument. As the Mohammedans knew of these sentiments held by the established church, the last straw seemed to have been added when a tract, inclosed in what seemed to be a government wrapper, and bearing the title “Jesus or Mohammed,” was received by all the rulers of Egyptian provinces, the principal sheiks and omdehs, and the instructors in the Mohammedan university. It seemed to the Mohammedan a direct attack on the religion of Islam by the government of England. The government9 hastened to explain; but the Moslem's hatred for the missionary was only increased. Thus are many missionaries closing the doors against themselves by pursuing methods which Christ has never recognized. The true missionary for Christ will look to Christ alone for protection and support. He will not attempt to force any into the fold. He will not use any government influence to induce men to believe. Any other power than the power of Christ is an unmitigated hindrance to the support of Christianity. Paradoxical as it may seem, the government that attempts to support Christianity has joined forces with the enemy. The Christian who flies to an earthly government for help and support has, in that very act, turned his back upon Christ. The forces of evil are stirring up strife in every quarter of the globe, and every mistake of a Christian is taken advantage of by that power to add to the strife and hatred and unrest in the world. It is the ripening time, and the earth is ripening fast for her terrible harvest. The Christian should study carefully and prayerfully, that his acts may be only such as will gather with Christ. C. M. S. "PAIN-KILLERS."
By John Harvey Kellogg
THE New York World, in commenting upon the International Medical Congress, that has been convened in connection with the Paris Exposition, says:— "For the laymen, certainly the most interesting, and perhaps the most directly important part of the work of the congress was the papers and discussions upon the indiscriminate use of all manner of nerve and digestion stimulants. "Nowadays when a man gets that heavy ache in the pit of the stomach, he hastens off for a pill or a tablet, swallows it or them, and, finding the pain gone, congratulates himself upon being 'cured.' Or he gets a headache, and at once pours into his system a round dose of phenacetin, anti-kamnia, or some such drug. The headache disappears, he thinks he is 'well,' and tells all his friends what to do in case of headache. "What has happened in reality? The disease has not been benefited, may even have been aggravated, for the drug may have weakened nature's recuperative powers. The man has simply smothered the pain—the friendly voice that was warning him of an internal insurrection that was aiming to unseat health from its throne. "With the enormously-increased facilities for obtaining and using drugs, and in the prevailing ignorance as to their effects, sanitary science is having a hard task in trying to force down the ratios of sickness and mortality." It is gratifying to see how leading men in connection with the scientific world are coming to acknowledge the evil effects of drugging. Drugs at their best are poisonous, and the very least quantity of them that is taken into the system the better. God has provided us with wonderful recuperative powers through what we call "nature," and if we would study our physical needs with one-half the care that we study how to please the palate, we would soon learn what would be injurious to our health, and, leaving these things off, would find no occasion to resort to drugs. Those who are wasting their vital forces through dosing with all sorts of patent medicines, as well as drugs in general, should pay careful heed to what these men representing the highest medical skill of the world are saying to us concerning the evil effects of drugs. A SIGNIFICANT FACT
By C. M. S.
A CURIOUS condition of things exists in the city of Rome, brought about by the antagonism between the State and the Church. Both the pope and the king claim the exclusive right of sovereignty in the city of Rome. One class recognizes the claims of the king, while the other considers him a usurper, and declares the “Eternal City” the “sole property of the pope.” The regular representatives of the “powers” are accredited to the court of the king; but many of these same powers have representatives accredited also to the court of the Vatican, and these two classes of representatives hold no communication with each other. Should the reigning government be overthrown by the Papacy, the “powers” would still be represented at the court of the ruler without any further appointment. There is significance in this fact when considered in connection with the prophecy of Rev. 17:12, 13. The power and strength of the nations are one day to be given to the papal power ruling at Rome, the seven-hilled city mentioned in the ninth verse of Revelation 17, “that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.” Verse 18. Of no other power than that of the papal see could this be said. Rome alone claims jurisdiction over the kings of the earth; she alone claims the right to rule the subjects of other kingdoms. But her absolute authority will be short—one hour, prophetic time—and her end, sudden and terrible. The willingness of the “powers” to recognize the claims of the pope by appointing representatives to his court, shows that it is no impossible thing that at a certain time they should give to that power their strength and authority, reigning with it for a time. It will, however, be an astonishment to some, but not to those whose names are “written in the book of life.” Verse 8. Such will have heeded the message for this time, refusing to receive the mark of obedience to that power, and will find refuge in the everlasting arms. C. M. S.