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Signs of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 28.

The Religion of Christ
Earlier text: "CAST THY BURDEN UPON THE LORD." PS. 55:22

FIELD NOTES.

By Editor

ELDER A. O. BURRILL reports the baptism of five candidates at Prattsville, Mich.
WITHIN a few weeks' time twelve new members have been added to the church in Stockton, Cal.
ELDER W. M. HEALEY reports six converts to the faith in Calistoga, Cal., the result of a recent short series of meetings.
APRIL 22 Elder Matthew Larsen closed a series of meetings at Urbana, Iowa, and organized a church of twelve members.
AT Winthrop, Iowa, on the 22d ult., Elder A. A. John baptized four candidates, two of whom were over seventy years of age.
AT Uncompahgre, Colo., as a result of meetings held by Elder F. L. Trubey and others, a church of twenty members was organized about a month since.
IN San Diego, Cal., April 14 and 21, twelve persons were baptized, all but one being heads of families. These are fruit of the labors of Elder G. K. Owen and wife.
ELDER J. D. PEGG reports that about 100 persons have embraced the Seventh-day Adventist faith in the Colorado field during the past year. He has himself baptized seventeen since the 1st of January.
A MONTH ago the case of one of our Tennessee brethren was to have been heard in the Supreme Court of that State on appeal. But by some means the papers pertaining to the case in the lower court are reported as lost.
IN response to an urgent call Elder J. W. Scoles recently began a short series of meetings in Toledo, Ill. He at first occupied the Baptist Church, but it proved too small to hold the audiences, and the opera house was secured.
OF the church in Detroit, Mich., Sister M. C. Kenyon reports that one year ago the membership was thirty-four; now it is sixty-five; membership of Sabbath school, 105. The mission address has been changed to 426 Trumbull Avenue.
ELDER J. P. HENDERSON, of Iowa Conference, after reporting a very successful season of work at various points, during the winter and early spring, is obliged to report himself at the Battle Creek Sanitarium, undergoing physical recuperation.
IN the vicinity of the home of Brother R. M. King, deceased, who suffered persecution and prosecution in Obion County, Tenn., for his obedience to the law of God, Elder C. L. Boyd lately baptized four persons. Brother Boyd states that he was treated very courteously by the people there, although that is the place where, a few years ago, about twenty shots were fired into the schoolhouse while Elder Covert was preaching.
FROM a letter written by Elder B. J. Cady, missionary on Raiatea Island, we take the following estimate of population of various islands of the Society group: Raiatea and Tahea, between 3,000 and 4,000; Huahine, 1,200; Borabora, between 800 and 1,000; Maupiti, about 300; Maiao, about 200.
SINCE the trial of Elder McCutchen and Professor Keck at Gainesville, Ga., for laboring on Sunday, they report quite an interest in our work on the part of many who otherwise might not have noticed it. The attorney who prosecuted them has expressed a desire to send his son to the school to learn shorthand.
AS a result of house-to-house tract work in Galesburg, Ill., two sisters have found such a demand for Bible readings that their time is fully occupied. It is evident that all who go to work humbly and faithfully, and in lines within their ability, will soon reap the reward of their labors, not only in personal blessing, but also in souls for the kingdom of heaven.
ELDER ALLEN MOON, of Washington, D. C., is authority for the following statement which we clip from the Review of the 1st inst.:—
The case against Brother Price for Sunday breaking, set for trial in the circuit court of Maryland, held at Chestertown, was dismissed on the 23d of this month [April]. The court held (Judge Wicks presiding) that a violation of the Sunday law is not an offense for which a person may be indicted by the grand jury of that State, and that the only way the circuit court can obtain jurisdiction in such cases is on an appeal from a justice court. The case of Brother Price was not tried before a justice of the peace, but was taken directly before the grand jury.
A LATE Melbourne, Australia, paper contains the following:—
At the W. C. T. U. headquarters, 140 Flinders Street, on Thursday afternoon last, Professor Kellogg [Dr. M. G. Kellogg, of California], an American food specialist, delivered a lecture on hygienic cooking, in which he laid particular stress upon the difference between natural and acquired tastes in the matter of food. He recommended his hearers to cultivate a relish for a simple, unadulterated diet, without the use of condiments or stimulants, if they desired to enjoy good health. At the close of the lecture, several samples of well cooked pastry and a dish called "mush," made of maize, were presented to the ladies present. Mrs. Starr, of New Zealand, has kindly consented to conduct the cookery classes being formed at the institution.

CAMP MEETINGS FOR 1894.

By Editor

DISTRICT NUMBER ONE.

  • Pennsylvania.....................May 30 to June 11
  • Quebec...............................June 14-25
  • New York...........................July 26 to Aug. 6
  • Virginia.............................Aug. 7-14
  • West Virginia....................Aug. 16-27
  • Vermont............................Aug. 23 to Sept. 3
  • New England....................Aug. 30 to Sept. 10
  • Maine, Bath......................Sept. 6-17

DISTRICT NUMBER TWO.

  • Tennessee River, Bowling Green...Aug. 27 to Sept. 7
  • Florida, Seffner...................Nov. 8-18

DISTRICT NUMBER THREE.

Ohio, Newark.......................Aug. 10-20
  • Indiana, Indianapolis...........Aug. 7-13
  • Illinois..............................Aug. 22-28
  • Michigan..........................Sept. 19 to Oct. 1

DISTRICT NUMBER FOUR.

  • Iowa, Ingleside Park, Des Moines...May 29 to June 5
  • Minnesota, Minneapolis.......June 5-12
  • Wisconsin, Portage..............June 12-18
  • South Dakota, Madison.......Aug. 21-28
  • Nebraska, Seward...............Aug. 21-28

DISTRICT NUMBER FIVE.

Texas, Cleburne....................Aug. 9-20 Arkansas, Chester.................Aug. 16-27 Oklahoma............................Aug. 23 to Sept. 3 Colorado, Denver.................Aug. 30 to Sept. 10 Kansas, Emporia...................Sept. 6-17 Missouri...............................Sept. 19 to Oct. 1

DISTRICT NUMBER SIX.

  • California, Bushrod Park, Oakland...May 10-21
  • North Pacific.......................May 23-30
  • Upper Columbia, near Walla Walla...May 30 to June 6
  • Montana.............................June 13-20

DISTRICT NUMBER EIGHT.

Denmark..............................June 1-10 Norway...............................June 13-24 Sweden................................June 28 to July 8 Central Europe, Neuchâtel....July 12-22
Appointments marked by a star will be preceded by a workers' meeting.
GEN. CONF. COM.

"APPLES OF GOLD LIBRARY."

By Editor

This is the title of a little monthly publication recently started by the Pacific Press, and is designed especially for use in personal correspondence. It is printed on thin paper, and one or two numbers can be put in a No. 6 envelope, with an ordinary letter, without increasing the postage.
The following numbers have already been issued:
No. 1. Looking unto Jesus. " 2. The Christian's Privilege. " 3. The Sure Promises of God. " 4. How to Get Knowledge. " 5. The Church and the World. (Poetry.) " 6. The Elect of God. " 7. How Esther Read Her Bible. " 8. The Thief on the Cross. " 9. The Eleventh Hour. " 10. Benefits of Bible Study. " 11. Righteousness: Where Is It to be Found? " 12. Power of Forgiveness. " 13. Responsibility of Parents.
Five copies for one year, postpaid, 50 cents; or 12 copies for $1.00. Single subscriptions are not desirable, for two reasons: (1) The numbers being so small they are liable to be lost in the mails. (2) If they are used in correspondence, as recommended, more than one copy would be necessary.
Single or assorted numbers of the Library will be mailed in quantities at the following rates: 50 cents per hundred, or $4.00 per thousand copies. Always order by the NUMBER.
Address, PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING CO., New York City; Kansas City, Mo.; Oakland, Cal.

Religious Liberty Literature

By Editor

Now is the time to circulate it.
ORDER BY NUMBER.

SENTINEL LIBRARY.

No. Price.
1. The National Reformed Constitution 3 cts.
3. Evils of Religious Legislation 1 "
4. The Blair Sunday-Rest Bill 7 "
5. The Blair Educational Amendment 3 "
6. Purity of National Religion 1 "
7. National Reform and Rights of Conscience 2 "
8. The American Papacy 2 "
9. The Salem Witchcraft 1 "
10. National Reform Is Church and State 2 "
11. What Think Ye of Christ? 1 "
12. Bold and Base Avowal 2 "
13. The National Reform Movement an Absurdity 2 "
14. The Republic of Israel 1 "
15. National Reformed Presbyterianism 4 "
16. A Lutheran View of the National Reform Movement 3 "
17. Religion and the Public Schools 4 "
19. Rev. W. F. Crafts against the Editors of the American Sentinel 10 "
20. Romanism and Civil Liberty 4 "
22. The American Sabbath Union and Human Rights 1 "
23. A Civil Sunday Holiday 1 "
24. Blair's Sunday Rest Bill and Joint Resolution 1 "
25. Civil Government and the Decalogue 1 "
26. National Reform Success Means Religious Persecution 1 "
27. The National Sunday Law, revised 25 "
28. A Religious Political Movement 1 "
29. Arguments on the Breckinridge Sunday Bill 10 "
32. Civil Government and Religion 25 "
33. The Edmunds' Resolution 2 "
35. A Dangerous League 2 "
36. The Churches and the Public Treasury 4 "
37. An Attempt to Christianize the Government 2 "
38. Congress and Sunday Legislation 2 "
39. God and Caesar 1 "
42. Sunday Laws of the States and Territories 20 "
43. Should Church Property Be Taxed? 2 "
45. An Unbiased Arraignment 1 "
46. The Importance of Maintaining Our Principles 2 "
48. Religious Toleration vs. Religious Rights 1 "
49. The Prohibition Party and Freedom of Conscience 1 "
52. Jesus, the Church, and the World's Fair 2 "
53. The Union of Church and State in the United States 15 "
54. A Christian Nation ½ "
55. Why Adventists Work on Sunday ½ "
56. Sunday Closing of the Midwinter Fair 1 "
57. The Midwinter Fair--Petitions for Sunday Closing ⅜ "
58. National Christianity 1 "
. Views of National Reform, pamphlet 15 "
Address, PACIFIC PRESS PUB. CO., Oakland, Cal.

International S. S. Lessons.

"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 IX.—SUNDAY, MAY 27, 1894.

MOSES SENT AS A DELIVERER.

[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.]

Lesson Scripture, Ex. 3:10-20.

  1. Come now therefore, and I will send thee [Moses] unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
  2. And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
  3. And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be the token unto thee, that I have sent thee; when thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.
  4. And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
  5. And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
  6. And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you; this is my name forever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
  7. Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, hath appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt;
  8. And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.
  9. And they shall hearken to thy voice; and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, hath met with us; and now let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.
  10. And I know that the king of Egypt will not give you leave to go, no, not by a mighty hand.
  11. And I will put forth my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof; and after that he will let you go.
  12. Golden Text: "Fear thou not; for I am with thee." Isa. 41:10.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

  1. Note the principal events between this and our last lesson. Note 1.
  2. Whom did the Lord call to send unto Pharaoh? Verse 10.
  3. What was Moses' response? Verse 11.
  4. What assurance and pledge did God give Moses to strengthen him for this work? Verse 12.
  5. What question did Moses ask? Verse 13.
  6. Who should Moses say had sent him? Verse 14. Note 2.
  7. Who else did God say Moses should tell them had sent him? Verse 15.
  8. What did the Lord say of his name?
  9. What did he instruct Moses to do immediately? Verse 16.
  10. What promise did he repeat? Verse 17.
  11. Of what did he assure Moses before he started on his mission? Verse 18.
  12. What reasonable request was he to make first of Pharaoh?
  13. How did the Lord say Pharaoh would regard his request? Verse 19.
  14. How would he be induced to let Israel go? Verse 20. Note 3.

NOTES.

1. Our last lesson closed with the flight of Moses into Midian. There he remained, keeping the flock of Jethro, the priest of Midian, for forty years, during which time he married one of Jethro's daughters. While near Horeb the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a bush burning with fire, which was not consumed, this symbol representing the affliction of Israel in Egypt, which did not destroy them. Here the Lord reveals himself to Moses as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and tells him that he remembers the affliction of his people in Egypt, and that he has come to deliver them out of the land of the Egyptians, and to bring them into a good land, flowing with milk and honey. Here our lesson begins, about 1493 B.C., Usher's Chronology. It is interesting to know that about this same time the city of Athens was founded by Cecrops, the city of Troy a little later. Egypt was in the height of its glory, especially in the magnificence of its architecture and the development of art.
2. I AM That I am, or, I am What I am.—"The words express absolute, and therefore unchanging and eternal, Being. The word I AM in Hebrew is equivalent in meaning to Jehovah, and differs from it very slightly in form. This is much obscured by our substitution of Lord for Jehovah."—Cook. So Moses should say that the personal, self-existent, unchangeable, invisible, living God had sent him, the one who had promised to deliver them 400 years before; as the next verse expresses it, The Lord, the I AM, the God of your fathers Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, God's wondrous name or memorial, expressing his character, by which he will be remembered in all ages.
3. In all the dealings of God with Pharaoh, the Lord's great mercy is shown. The first request that Moses was to make was simply for a three days' journey into the wilderness. As afterward shown, this was reasonable, because they could not sacrifice the gods of the Egyptians before their eyes without bringing upon themselves unnecessary persecutions. But the Lord foresaw that Pharaoh would not even comply with this request, yet God would give him every opportunity before he brought his sorest judgments upon that proud, wicked, and haughty kingdom which had rejected him. The fourth to the tenth chapters speak of the various plagues which the Lord brought upon Egypt; how Pharaoh hardened his heart under one judgment after another, until the Lord withdrew his Spirit from him and left him to entire hardness of heart. The last great plague was the slaying of the firstborn, under which the children of Israel were released. It will be noticed that in the Revised Version it is not said that the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart until the plague of the boil. And the Lord hardening his heart simply means that Pharaoh had so rejected the mercy of God that the Spirit of the Lord was utterly withdrawn from him. It would seem that in the great mercy which the Lord had shown him, despite all the persecution that had been brought upon God's people, he would naturally have yielded his heart to the Lord. Pharaoh symbolized the wicked world; and those whom the world persecutes are fitly symbolized by the children of Israel in Egypt. But God remembers them even as he remembered Egypt, and as Christ was then with Moses to deliver his people, so is he with us now to deliver us.

LESSON XXI.—SABBATH, MAY 26, 1894.

POWER AND GLORY OF HIS COMING.

Lesson Scripture, Luke 9:28-50.

28. And it came to pass about eight days after these sayings, he took with him Peter and John and James, and went up into the mountain to pray.
29. And as he was praying, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment became white and dazzling.
30. And behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elijah;
31. Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
32. Now Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.
33. And it came to pass, as they were parting from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah; not knowing what he said.
34. And while he said these things, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them; and they feared as they entered into the cloud.
35. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my Son, my chosen; hear ye him.
36. And when the voice came, Jesus was found alone. And they held their peace, and told no man in those days any of the things which they had seen.
37. And it came to pass, on the next day, when they were come down from the mountain, a great multitude met him.
38. And behold, a man from the multitude cried, saying, Master, I beseech thee to look upon my son; for he is mine only child;
39. And behold, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth, and it hardly departeth from him, bruising him sorely.
40. And I besought thy disciples to cast it out; and they could not.
41. And Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and bear with you? Bring hither thy son.
42. And as he was yet a-coming, the devil dashed him down, and tare him grievously. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.
43. And they were all astonished at the majesty of God. But while all were marveling at all the things which he did, he said unto his disciples,
44. Let these words sink into your ears; for the Son of Man shall be delivered up into the hands of men.
45. But they understood not this saying, and it was concealed from them, that they should not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
46. And there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.
47. But when Jesus saw the reasoning of their heart, he took a little child, and set him by his side,
48. And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this little child in my name receiveth me; and whosoever shall receive me receiveth Him that sent me; for he that is least among you all, the same is great.
49. And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbade him, because he followeth not with us.
50. But Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not; for he that is not against you is for you.
The last verse of the last lesson is properly the first of this, for the transfiguration was the fulfillment of the promise that some then present should not taste death till they had seen the Son of Man come with power. Do not neglect to reread the preceding lesson while studying this. A careful reading of the verses composing this lesson will show the following topics: The transfiguration; casting an unclean spirit out of a child; announcement of Christ's approaching death; a lesson of humility; exclusiveness forbidden. The most prominent things in the lesson are the transfiguration, and the healing of the child. The other things are no less important; but if the lesson is carefully studied as a whole, these most striking features will serve to recall the others to the mind.
  1. What had Jesus said that some of his disciples should see before their death?
  2. What did he do about eight days afterward?
  3. As he prayed, what took place?
  4. Who appeared with him in glory?
  5. Of what did they talk?
  6. What were the three disciples doing?
  7. What did they see when they awoke?
  8. What did Peter say?
  9. As he was speaking, what overshadowed them?
  10. What was heard from the cloud?
  11. As they came down from the hill the next day, who met them?
  12. What request was made by a man of the company?
  13. Describe the condition of the man's son.
  14. What effort had the man made for his son's restoration?
  15. What did Jesus say?
  16. What took place as the child was coming to him?
  17. What followed?
  18. How were the people affected by the miracle?
  19. Of what did Jesus again remind his disciples?
  20. How did this information affect them?
  21. Concerning what did a dispute arise among them?
  22. How did Jesus reprove them?
  23. Who did he say shall be the greatest?
  24. What did John say they had done to the man who was casting out devils in his name?
  25. What did Jesus say in reproof of their exclusiveness?

NOTES.

1. THAT the transfiguration was a miniature representation of the second coming of Christ, is evident from the words of Peter: "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount." 2 Peter 1: 16-18.
2. WHEN Christ comes, it will be with the glory of the Father. Matt. 16: 27. See also verse 28 of the chapter we are studying. When he comes there will be two classes of the righteous,—those who have died and are raised to life immortal, and those who are alive and are changed to immortality and taken to heaven without tasting death. See 1 Thess. 4: 14-17. These two classes were represented at the transfiguration. "Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab." Deut. 34: 5, 6. The only way by which a man once dead can ever appear among the living is by a resurrection. Jude, in showing the meekness of Christ, incidentally refers to the resurrection of Moses: "Yet Michael the Archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee." Jude 9. The devil has the power of death, through sin (Heb. 2: 14), and so he claimed Moses as his lawful prey. Christ claimed him by right of redemption, yet would not rail at the devil. By virtue of his superior power he delivered Moses from the grave, and so they were together in the holy mount. Elijah had been taken to heaven in a whirlwind,—translated to heaven without seeing death. These two representatives of the vast host of the redeemed at the last day were with Christ when he appeared in the glory with which he will be clothed at his second advent.
3. "This is my beloved Son; hear him." Does this absolve men from the duty of hearing and obeying God the Father? Hear him: "I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him." Deut. 18: 18. Hear him: "Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me." John 7: 16. "For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak." John 12: 49. "The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself; but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." John 14: 10. "As my Father hath taught me, I speak these things." John 8: 28. Hear him: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill." Matt. 5: 17. "And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fall." Luke 16: 17. "Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Matt. 7: 21. Christ is the only manifestation of God to man. The law of God is the righteousness of God. Isa. 51: 6, 7; Rom. 3: 21, 22. It is God's way. Ps. 119: 1, 2. Therefore the life of God is the law of the universe. But Christ is God. In him is life, even the life of God. In the life of Christ we see the law of God in action. So the law of God is found by men only in the life of Christ. He is the one mediator between God and man, to bring man to God. Therefore we are commanded to hear him. For the Father "hath committed all judgment unto the Son; that all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father." John 5: 22, 23.

LESSON XXII.—SABBATH, JUNE 2, 1894.

THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST.

Lesson Scripture, Luke 9: 51-62; 10: 1-16.
  1. And it came to pass, when the days were well-nigh come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem.
  2. And sent messengers before his face; and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
  3. And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he were going to Jerusalem.
  4. And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we bid fire to come down from heaven, and consume them?
  5. But he turned, and rebuked them.
  6. And they went to another village.
  7. And as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
  8. And Jesus said unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven have nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head.
  9. And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
  10. But he said unto him, Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but go thou and publish abroad the kingdom of God.
  11. And another also said, I will follow thee, Lord; but first suffer me to bid farewell to them that are at my house.
  12. But Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
  13. Now after these things the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself was about to come.
  14. And he said unto them, The harvest is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth laborers into his harvest.
  15. Go your ways; behold, I send you forth as lambs in the midst of wolves.
  16. Carry no purse, no wallet, no shoes; and salute no man on the way.
  17. And into whatsoever house ye shall enter, first say, Peace be to this house.
  18. And if a son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall turn to you again.
  19. And in that same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give; for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.
  20. And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you;
  21. And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
  22. But into whatsoever city ye shall enter, and they receive you not, go out into the streets thereof and say,
  1. Even the dust from your city, that cleaveth to our feet, we do wipe off against you; howbeit know this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh.
  2. I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.
  3. Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which were done in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
  4. Howbeit it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment, than for you.
  5. And thou, Capernaum, shalt thou be exalted unto heaven? thou shalt be brought down unto hades.
  6. He that heareth you heareth me; and he that rejecteth you rejecteth me; and he that rejecteth me rejecteth Him that sent me.
THERE are more distinct topics in this lesson than in some of the others, but persistent and thoughtful reading of it will make them all take their proper places in the mind. We find, first, the rejection of Jesus by the Samaritans, and the desire of James and John to call fire down upon them, which met with a rebuke from Jesus; then we have the words of Jesus to three who would follow him, showing that they must not expect ease and abundance in his service, and that everything else must hold a secondary place. In the portion of the lesson found in the tenth chapter, we have the sending out of the seventy, and the instruction given therewith. If the portion of Scripture has been thoroughly studied, all the details may be brought to mind by something like this: Rejected by the Samaritans; conditions of following Jesus; sending out the seventy. Do not forget to review not only the whole of the ninth chapter, but the seventh and eighth as well. Read frequently from the beginning of the book, and occasionally take a mental review of all the chapters from the beginning, without the Bible in hand. This may be done while walking to or from work, while riding on a train, while the hands are employed in some mechanical work that does not require special thought, or in a waking hour of the night; and it will be found a pleasure instead of a task.
  1. To what place did Jesus send asking entertainment?
  2. Why would not the people receive him?
  3. What punishment did James and John wish to bring down upon the inhospitable inhabitants?
  4. What did Jesus do and say to the disciples?
  5. What did he say was his mission?
  6. As they went on their way, what did a certain man say to Jesus?
  7. What did Jesus reply?
  8. What response did another make to the command, "Follow me"?
  9. What did Jesus say to that?
  10. What did another wish to do before following him?
  11. What did Jesus reply?
  12. Whom did the Lord send out before him after these things?
  13. How were they sent out?
  14. What prayer were they to offer? Why?
  15. As they went out into the world, to what were they likened?
  16. What provision were they to make for their journey?
  17. How were they to get their support?
  18. When they entered into a city, what were they to do?
  19. Were they to do anything besides preaching?
  20. How were they to act when they were not received?
  21. At what time will such cities receive recompense?
  22. Upon what cities did Jesus pronounce woes?
  23. What did he say about them?
  24. In rejecting Christ's messengers, whom do men reject and despise?

NOTES.

1. THE lesson given to us by the Saviour, through the rebuke to James and John, is very simple, yet how slow we are to learn it! If it had always been heeded by those who professed to be the followers of Christ, there would never have been any Inquisition; no martyrs would ever have been burned at the stake, in the name of Christianity. People sometimes think that the evil of religious persecution lies in the fact that men who are in error persecute those who hold the truth. This is true only because those who hold the truth never persecute. In the case before us Christ was openly rejected. Surely if ever punishment should be administered on religious grounds, it was then; but Christ would not suffer it. It is as impossible for a true follower of Christ to persecute others in any way whatever for religious opinions as it would be for Christ to do so; and he said: "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not; for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world." John 12: 46, 47.
2. "Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of Man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." Persecution, therefore, is not from the Spirit of Christ. The spirit that would inflict punishment on men because they do not believe as we do, or even because they openly reject Christ, is the spirit of antichrist. Christ's whole work is to save men, and not to destroy them. James and John did not know what spirit they were of; they were deceived. They thought it was zeal for Christ that prompted them to wish to call down fire upon the Samaritans; but it was a false, selfish zeal. It was personal pique, rather than zeal for the Master, for love to Christ shows itself in Christlike ways. In every persecution on account of religion it will be found that pride and selfish bigotry are at the bottom of it. The persecutors feel personally affronted because others do not agree with them. They feel as if they were being defied, and they call their hateful spirit zeal for the cause of God.
3. "And they went to another village." Christ has not only given us precept, but he has left us an example of how we should deal with those who sin against light. When he was rejected, he went to another place. How much trouble and dishonor to the cause of Christ would have been avoided if his professed followers had learned to let people alone when they chose their own way instead of Christ's! Take his words to them faithfully, "ye that are spiritual." Again and again, with the meekness and patience of Christ, hold before the erring ones the words of the Lord.
4. "Let the dead bury their dead." As we ordinarily read this, we form a mental picture of the man's father lying dead at home, with no one to give him a decent burial, and so Christ's words seem almost unfeeling. Now any view which causes one to think thus of Christ is to be suspected. Consider the case. In the East burial follows almost immediately after death. There is no long delay. If the man's father had been dead at that time, he would have been attending to his father's burial, instead of being there. When, in response to Christ's call, "Follow me," the man said, "Suffer me first to go and bury my father," he was really asking for permission to wait an indefinite time before taking hold of the Lord's work. It amounted to asking to be excused until after his father should die, and he could have an opportunity to settle up his affairs. It was the same with him as with those who began to make excuse. Luke 14: 18. How many whom Christ is calling now are saying the same thing! Their temporal affairs must all be attended to before they can enter the Lord's service. To such he says, "Let the dead bury their dead; but go thou and preach the gospel."
5. "Go your ways; behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves." That is the true position of Christ's followers in the world. It is the nature of wolves to bite; therefore, the lambs must expect to be at least snapped at. They will certainly be annoyed by the wolves; they may be bitten, and they may possibly be killed. "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." 2 Tim. 3: 12. What are the lambs to do under the circumstances?—Commit themselves to the keeping of the Good Shepherd, who gives his life for the sheep. "For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." 1 Peter 2: 25. "Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator." 1 Peter 4: 19. Nobody ever heard of lambs attacking wolves, or even resisting them. The lamb always flees for safety. There is such a thing as wolves in sheep's clothing; and, if anyone thinks he has seen Christ's lambs biting and devouring, let him know that they were disguised wolves. The figure means simply this, that Christ's followers are to leave all force and opposition to the world. They can no more use any manner of force against those who resist the truth than lambs can devour wolves.

Danish and Swedish Early Writings

By Editor

DANISH AND SWEDISH EARLY WRITINGS.—Plain at $1.00, red edge at 1.25. For sale by the Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal. Please call the attention of the S. D. A. brethren and sisters of those nationalities to this book printed in their language.
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