p. 14 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 34. (8/23/1905)

HUSS GAVE HIMSELF TO THE CHURCH.

By Moravian

"CHRIST loved the church, and gave Himself for it" is the striking expression found in Eph. 5:25. Jesus gave Himself vicariously and sacrificially for the life and salvation of the souls which constitute His church. By means of that inexpressible Gift, the church was to become cleansed, sanctified, glorious, without spot or wrinkle, holy and without blemish. In this sense and for this purpose, no second one can give himself for the church. The sacrifice of Christ was "once for all."

But while Jesus gave Himself for the church, others can and should give themselves to the church. Through the efforts of the church, the work of cleansing and sanctifying humanity, begun by Christ, must be continued. "Even as the Father sent Me into the world, so send I you." Giving oneself to the church amounts to the same thing as giving oneself to God. He is the Head of the church, which is His body.

Ecclesiastical history tells us of a number of men and women who most literally and gloriously gave themselves to the church of Christ. No one did so more unreservedly than John Huss, the illustrious instrument in God's hand, for the founding of our [Moravian] church. He is uppermost in our minds at this time, because July 6 is the four hundred and ninetieth anniversary of his martyrdom.

He gave himself to the church of God by consecration. All the powers of intellect, of emotion, of will and energy; all his gifts and graces; all his time and energy, were dedicated to the church for God's glory. And his abilities were not small. Tho a peasant's son, he enjoyed every educational advantage. Only two years after graduating from the University of Prague, he was made a professor at his alma mater, then dean of the Philosophical Faculty, and finally rector of the University. He was a litterateur of great merit. His improvement of the Bohemian language was permanent; his writings remain classics to the present day. That he was a gifted orator is proved by his extraordinary success in the pulpit. Such a man could have won a name and fame in the educational world, but he gave himself to the church.

His energy was irresistible. He was not a reed shaken with the wind. Strength of will and of purpose was his, and iron determination. Disappointment and opposition only made him more unyielding. That energy would have crowned with success any effort at personal enrichment, had he chosen some commercial pursuit, but he gave himself to the church.

He gave himself to the church for his own individual soul-culture and for the edification of hearts longing for the light of truth and the love of God. In those dark days a corrupt clergy gave to members of the body of Christ no pastoral oversight, no thorough religious instruction, to the disconsolate and sad no sympathy and comfort. The heart of Huss burned within him for the sheep without a shepherd, and longed to break for them the Bread of life.

His careful and enthusiastic study of the Bible enabled him fully to realize the twin purpose of dedication. His views became more and more evangelical, tho reared in Romish error. "As regards the Bible, its divine origin, power and sufficiency, and the fact that it has been given for the salvation of man captivated his whole heart."

Because his own heart was filled with divine grace, his ministry in the Bethlehem Chapel at Prague was unusually acceptable to the people. He preached the simple Word of God so simply, that even the simple could understand. Very powerful was his rebuke of sin; most tender his testimony to the grace of God; most solemn his plea for the conversion of the sinner. And the Word of God did not return void. The unction of the Holy Spirit rested upon it; souls were saved, and an evangelical movement started which remains to this day, and exerts a powerful influence for good.

Huss also gave himself to the church by immolation. Even as the Master, after His public ministry as teacher and example, entered upon His passion as the Lamb of God, so also Huss, His servant, "followed His steps."

The stormy academic debates at the university over the writings of Wycliffe were soon followed by personal persecution. His reformatory work, his scathing attack upon the priests,—reminding us of the Master's denunciation of the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees,—his bold denunciation of the shameful traffic in papal indulgences, brought upon him the violent hatred of the so-called "holy father" and all his minions. Various efforts to excommunicate him failed, because of the support of powerful nobles in Bohemia. Finally, however, Rome employed the most powerful weapon it possessed in those days—a weapon which largely has fallen out of its grasp—the terrible interdict. The whole city of Prague was interdicted as long as it would harbor the arch-heretic. In order not to cause suffering to the entire town, Huss went into voluntary exile. He preached in forest and field, and devoted much time to literary work.

His horrible sufferings during the weary months of the Council of Constance, in filthy subterranean holes and in cold cells perched upon the top of towers, no pen can depict. A recantation would have been hailed with delight by his persecutors, and would have saved him from persecution instantly. But his love for Christ and the church impelled him to remain faithful even unto death. He died on the 6th of July, 1415.

May this noble example impel us to consecrate ourselves to God and His church, even to the point of sacrifice.

More aggressive prosecution of the work in that field. A commission of twenty-five ministers and laymen have been appointed to make arrangements for a suitable jubilee celebration somewhere in the United States in the autumn of 1906. As the interest of one mission field is, or should be, the interest of all, it is thought that the general agitation of this movement will awaken a more intense missionary interest for the entire world.

LIFE THAT LASTS.

THEY err who measure life by years With false or thoughtless tongue. Some hearts grow old before their time; Others are always young. 'Tis not the number of the lines On life's fast-filling page, 'Tis not the pulse's added throbs Which constitute their age.

Some souls are serfs among the free, While others nobly thrive; They stand just where their fathers stood, Dead, even while they live. Others, all spirit, heart, and sense, Theirs the mysterious power To live in thrills of joy or wo A twelve-month in an hour.

He liveth long who liveth well! All other life is short and vain; He liveth longest who can tell Of living most for heavenly gain. He liveth long who liveth well! All else is being flung away; He liveth longest who can tell Of true things truly done each day. —Anon.

Missionary Jubilee

Missionary Jubilee.—The last General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church decided to celebrate, next year, the fiftieth anniversary of the inauguration of the North India Mission, by Dr. Wm. Butler, in 1856. As one note of thanksgiving, it is designed to raise, in the meantime, $250,000 for the

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ABIDING SPIRIT.—By the late Mrs. S. M. I. Henry.

The object of this book is to show the necessity of having the help of the Holy Spirit in the performance of the common and every-day duties of life.

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Address PUBLISHERS OF THIS PAPER

A CALL TO THE CONVERTED.

[From an Appeal by the Andrew and Philip Society, Washington, D. C.]

THE day is gone by when the world is going to the church for the Gospel. The time has come when the church must carry the Gospel to the world.

The church member who is not an evangelist is missing his opportunities and mistaking his calling. It is not necessary that all should address audiences. The quiet evangelism which makes no parade of its purposes, plans, or doings, is often wonderfully effective.

It has been estimated that if there were only one Christian in the world, and he worked a year and won a friend for Christ, and if these two continued each year to win another, and if every man thus led into the kingdom of Christ led another every year, in thirty-one years every person in the world would be converted.

As Drummond so truly declares, "Every atom in the universe can act on every other atom, but only through the atom next it. And if a man would act upon every other man he can do so best by acting, one at a time, upon those beside him."

If you have found Christ, go, like Andrew and Philip, and tell some one else about Him; that He came to "save His people from their sins;" that there is none other way of salvation. He is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life." "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."

The greater portion of the people seldom, if ever, enter a church. Especially is this true of the working classes. We must wake up to the painful fact that a large part of our population has drifted entirely away from the old views of truth and duty, and the only way to reach them is to carry the Gospel to them where they are.

For the earnest Christian who knows the value and joys of salvation there are various ways of winning souls, and one most excellent, efficient way is the judicious use of choicest tracts and most select cards and leaflets.

Many a soul, after sermons had failed, has been awakened and enlightened by reading one of these silent messengers.

Richard Gibbs wrote a tract entitled "The Bruised Reed;" a tin peddler gave it to a boy named Richard Baxter; through reading it he was brought to Christ. He wrote "A Call to the Unconverted."

Among the thousands saved through it was Philip Doddridge, who wrote "The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul." It fell into the hand of William Wilberforce, the great emancipator of the slaves in the British colonies, and led him to Christ. Wilberforce wrote "A Practical View of Christianity," which fired the heart of Leigh Richmond. He wrote "The Dairyman's Daughter." Before 1849 as many as four million copies were circulated, and it has testified for Christ in over fifty different languages.

Before he died Dr. Chickering, author of the Christian Life Card, had the names of over 1700 who had written or told him they attributed their conversion, mainly to that leaflet.

He was also told by a physician that in three different cities, at intervals of about a year, some one put into his pocket without his knowledge, a little blue card containing the words, "Have you a home in heaven, where the angels are?" etc. The first two cards set him thinking, but the third, coming soon after he had lost his mother, led him to Christ.

No one of the three people knew that they were supplementing each other's work, and yet they were.

We shall never know all the good which comes from this kind of silent preaching, but we know enough to make it almost criminal for us to neglect it.

There are many ways in which tracts may be used. Enclose them in letters, circulars, packages, and library books. Lay them on the table in your parlor and guest chamber. Toss them into the saloon. Use them at the entrance and on the outside of fairs, races, circuses, and theaters. Leave them in the cars or hotels. Give them to the bootblack or newsboy. Drop them at the doorstep or sidewalk. Give them to the postman, the policeman, the meatman, the milkman. Enclose them in parcels of merchandise from your store. Give them to your customers, your neighbors, and your employees in city, town, and country. Give them to the boys and girls as they go home from school, and to the operatives going to and from the factory.

Leaflets sometimes open the way for conversation, and often they are better than spoken words; besides, you can send these messengers to places where you can not conveniently go yourself, and a regular, constant habit of sending them by mail would be the means of turning many sinners to salvation.

"And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars forever and ever."

OUR WORK AND WORKERS.

By Editor

Six members were added to the church at Groton, S. D., at the last quarterly-meeting.

At the last quarterly-meeting of the church at Webster, S. D., six new members were added.

NEBRASKA CONFERENCE has undertaken the support of Miss Amanda Van Scoy as a missionary to China.

A CHURCH of ten members has been organized at Cadott, Wis., by Brother C. McReynolds, president of the conference.

At the last quarterly-meeting of the church at Flintville, Wis., two persons were baptized by Brother J. S. Shrock.

JULY 22 five persons were baptized at Royal Center, Ind., where meetings were held by Brethren J. C. Harris and B. Hagle.

ON the 8th ult., a church of twenty members was organized at Wilson Creek, Wash., by Brethren H. J. Schnepper and C. F. Knott.

SEVEN persons recently took their stand for the truth at Burleson, Texas, where Brother W. A. McCutchen had been holding meetings.

TWO PERSONS were recently baptized, as partial fruit of meetings being held at Kewanee, Ill., by Brother E. A. Curtis and Brother Wood.

A REPORT in the Reporter, by Brother L. E. Sufficool, notes the baptism of five persons at Eagle River, Wis., three of whom were church-school children.

THE general camp-meeting of New York Conference will be held September 7-17, at Phelps, sixty miles west of Syracuse, and forty-three miles east of Rochester.

THE Welcome Visitor reports thirteen converts at Medina, Ohio, where Brethren W. E. Bidwell and G. P. Gaede have been laboring. They desire a church organization.

THE local camp-meeting held at Newfolden, Minn., July 10-16, is reported to have been a profitable occasion. Five young people were baptized by Brother P. A. Hanson.

AT Saginaw, N. D., July 2, a church of twenty-one members was organized by Brother A. E. Christian. This was the result of six weeks of labor. Others have united since.

IN connection with meetings held at Senjen, Minn., by Brethren George L. Budd and Albert Olsen, seven converts were recently baptized. A church building has been completed at that place.

A SUCCESSFUL camp-meeting at Santa Anna, Texas, is reported in the Record by Brother T. W. Field. Fifteen persons were baptized, and some others decided to observe the Sabbath of the Lord.

THE organization of a church of nine members at Six Points, Ohio, is noted in the Visitor by Brother H. H. Burkholder, president of the conference. This was the fruit of labor by Brethren F. M. Fairchild and R. B. Thurber.

WRITING from Gland, Switzerland, Brother Jean Vuilleumier says: "We have just had our Swiss and Latin Union camp-meeting on our new sanitarium grounds. Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Belgium were represented by the workers in these fields. Algeria is to be entered at once. All are of good courage."

On the 10th inst., Brother O. A. Olsen and family, and Prof. L. A. Hoopes and family sailed from San Francisco, on the steamer Sonoma, for Australia. Brother Olsen goes to take charge of the Australasian Union Conference, and Professor Hoopes to connect with the Avondale Academy at Cooran-bong, N. S. W.

Reporting to the Recorder concerning the camp-meeting at Sun River, Mont., Brother J. A. Holbrook says: "About twelve of our young people have yielded to the Lord, and about the same number of outside people have said that they would keep all the commandments of God." A report in the Bivouac says that fourteen were baptized.

As a result of meetings held at Elk City, O. T., by Brethren A. E. Field, E. L. Maxwell, and J. B. Hampton, after the camp-meeting, ten members were added to the church. Others have accepted the Sabbath who have not yet joined the church. Eight had been baptized during the camp-meeting. Funds are being raised to build a house of worship.

A card from Brother W. R. Beatty, dated Vancouver, B. C., August 7, says: "Our missionaries returning to their fields in the Orient got off safely this afternoon. In the party are Brother J. N. Anderson and Miss Amanda Van Scoy for China, and Brother F. W. Field and Dr. Maria Edwards for Tokyo, Japan. The latter goes on a visit only. They sailed on the C. P. R. liner Tartar."

A brief call from Brother J. N. Anderson at our office, on the 1st inst., brought us in refreshing personal contact with our missionary to China, whose encouraging reports have interested the readers of the Signs in the past. He came to America to attend the General Conference, and is now on his way to his chosen field of labor, headquarters at Canton, China. He left a number of illustrations, which will, from time to time, be reproduced in the Signs.

Of the camp-meeting at Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada, Brother J. W. Boynton writes: "We had a real good spiritual meeting. The attendance was about ninety, nearly double that of last year. Eight souls were baptized, and some others desired baptism but were compelled to go home on account of sickness. Brethren R. W. Underwood and J. S. James were with us and gave good help. After camp-meeting they went with me to Leavings, where we organized a church of twenty-five members. Nine were baptized there, and more expect to be in the near future. I am now at Edmonton, where we have the tents up for a series of meetings."

As in the days of the apostles, the spirit mediums of the present day are sometimes bold enough to try to inject their doctrines into places where the truth is being taught. Brother G. W. Reaser writes to the Pacific Union Recorder concerning a recent instance: "The tent-meetings in Los Angeles have been attended of late by a number of Spiritualists, who came to oppose the truth. One of these opposers was a woman who was ordained to the ministry in the Methodist Church, but who is now a Spiritualist medium. Two evenings she stepped upon the platform and stated her views to the audience. On being questioned by the ministers in charge of the work, the darkness and Satanic origin of Spiritism were made manifest, and a glorious victory was gained for the truth." We need not be surprised that even ministers of the Gospel are sometimes deceived by this delusion; for "the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." 1 Tim. 4:1.

EDUCATION IN THE HOME. NO. 15.

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

BY MRS. L. D. AVERY-STUTTLE.

"We had thought to resume our readings on the Sabbath question to-night," continued Brother Hartman, "for, altho there is much more which might be brought forward in proof of the immutability of God's law and the sacredness of His holy Sabbath, still we must give room for individual study and research. So, if there are any other questions in the minds of those present, please speak of them; and we will try to answer; and if we find ourselves unable to do this, we will study them with Bible in hand, until, with the Lord's help, we are able to make them plain."

Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur looked hard at each other, and Mr. and Mrs. Jones only smiled and nodded, but no one spoke a word for some time. Finally Walter Grey said earnestly:

"I'm nothing but a boy, Mr. Hartman, but there is one more thing I'd like to have studied, and that is the objection that I've often heard my father make; that the entire Ten Commandments were abolished at the cross of Christ."

"I am glad, my lad, that you have sufficient interest in these readings to bring up questions like this, which you would like better to understand. There was, of a truth, a law which was abolished at the cross; but that law was done away because it only commanded the observance of those ceremonies which pointed forward to Christ. So that when type met antitype at the cross, of course there was no longer any need of the continuance of the type, or shadow. Walter, will you please read Eph. 2:15?"

"Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances."

"You see," continued Brother Hartman, "that this verse makes it plain that it was not the moral law which perished at the death of Christ."

"Can you give us an example of any ordinance, or ceremony, which was done away?" questioned Mr. Jones.

"Certainly; circumcision is one example. The great trouble between Jew and Gentile was regarding this rite. Then, the eating of the Passover was another ceremony which was done away when the true Passover, Christ, was crucified. Gal. 6:15 is quite plain with reference to circumcision; will you kindly read the text, Mr. Jones?"

"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature."

"There is another text," said grandma, "that is to the point, in 1 Cor. 7:19. I would like to hear Mrs. Wilbur read the verse."

"Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God."

"But just think, Walter," said John, "what a fearful condition we would all be in, if the moral law were not now in force. Why! what a world it would be!"

"That's true," replied Walter. "I suppose it is very necessary to have a law, or even theft and murder would call for no punishment, and must be tolerated; somehow I never thought of it in just that way before."

"How long did God declare that His holy law should endure? Beth, you may read Matt. 5:18. Grandma will find the place for you."

"For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in nowise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."

"Walter, will you please read Rom. 5:13?" and the lad smiled as he read the text:

"For until the law, sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law."

"As much as to say," interrupted Sister Hartman, "that even before the giving of the law upon Mount Sinai, there must have been a knowledge of God's holy law in the earth; indeed, there can be no such thing as sin, without a law which forbids that sin."

"Elsie, do you believe that the ancient Sabbath of Jehovah will be observed in the redeemed state?"

"I believe it will, father."

"You do!" exclaimed Mrs. Wilbur. "Well, surely, this is a new idea to me. Where do you find the Bible for that, Elsie, may I ask?"

"I learned it by reading the last chapter of Isaiah, verses 22 and 23. Please turn and read them, Mrs. Wilbur," replied Elsie; and as Mrs. Wilbur turned to the text in question, she could not help wondering how she had closed her eyes so long to one of God's commandments.

"For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before Me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me, saith the Lord."

Tears were in Mrs. Wilbur's eyes before she had done reading. "How can we expect to have the privilege of keeping God's Sabbath above, if we have refused to keep it upon earth?" she said.

"I am afraid we can not," replied Sister Hartman, "after we have once seen and acknowledged the claims of the Sabbath, and been fully enlightened."

"Now," said Brother Hartman, "if there are no more questions on this subject, we shall proceed to the consideration of others. But I have been thinking that it would be a fitting close for this portion of our study to ask grandma to tell us about the first Sabbath she ever kept, and how she came to keep it. I have often heard her repeat the story, and it never loses its interest to me."

At mention of a story, Billy Black leaned eagerly forward and fixed his questioning eyes upon Grandma Hartman, who smiled upon the lad kindly as she said, "Would you like to hear a tale of olden times, my boy?"

And Billy, to whom a story possessed as much interest as a song, answered promptly, "If you please, ma'am."

"Very well; tho even after so long a lapse of years my cheeks burn at the remembrance of my own wilfulness and hardness of heart."

"O Grandma Hartman!" exclaimed Beth, "You were never hardhearted, was she, papa?"

"I have never thought her so, dear; but at the time of which your grandma speaks, I was a very little boy; so that I have no remembrance of the incident she will relate."

(To be continued.)

BEAUTIFUL HANDS.

By Frances Eugenia Bolton

BY FRANCES EUGENIA BOLTON.

They were beautiful hands, the artist said. They were shapely and soft and white, Dimpled and taper, and tipped with red, And they glittered with jewels bright. The artist modeled, the lover pressed, "They were made," he said, "to be soft caressed," They were beautiful hands.

They were beautiful hands, the angels said. They lay in a casket plain, Wrinkled and aged and calloused and dead, They had labored in sorrow and pain, Lifted burdens, nourished and blest, And they lay ungarnished in silent rest, They were beautiful hands.

Suddenly up at the throne, it seemed These hands were side by side,— The white and dainty, all jewel-gleamed, The old, and unglorified. At the gaze of the angel the jewels were paste, And the beautiful hands turned to hideous waste, No more beautiful hands.

But O, how the plain old hands grew fair! White, more shapely, fresh and fine, And they rippled the strings of a harp, and rare Was the music they made divine, And it seemed that an angel sang sweet above, Beautiful hands do the deeds of love, They are beautiful hands.

DANGER OF CHEWING GUM.

THE following note from The Hospital is especially interesting as controverting the principal claim of the advocates of gum—namely, that its use aids digestion by stimulating the flow of saliva. Says the journal:

"Attention has been called to the dangers attending the sale of 'chewing-gum' by an inquest which has been recently held at Lincoln on a child about seven or eight years old, who died after eating this substance, which it not unnaturally imagined was a sweetmeat. We would point out, however, that besides such risks as this, the habit of masticating this filthy compound of flavored India rubber is undoubtedly a cause of much dyspepsia. The constant titillation of the salivary organs kept up by chewing this stuff not only causes a drain of saliva, which is most wasteful, but what is more serious still, in consequence of the frequently repeated stimulation to which these organs are thus exposed, they fail to respond to the normal excitation which ought to rouse them to action when food is taken. A constant dribble of salivary secretion is substituted for the healthy flow which should occur only at meal times. The glands fail to respond to any stimulant less potent than the peppermint, aniseed, or other constituents found in chewing-gum; and the more insipid foods, such as bread and other starchy compounds, pass into the stomach unchanged. This is disturbing to digestion at its very commencement, and it is extremely probable that the indigestion for starchy substances, which is so commonly met with at the present day, is largely due to the waste of saliva caused by smoking and the constant chewing of various substances, which we see going on all around. The chewing of gum is thus not only a nasty habit, but it is provocative of ill-health. Unfortunately, when 'chewing-gum' is sold in the form of a sweetmeat it may cause still more serious consequences, being apt to be swallowed by children, who, like their first parents, when they see that it is apparently good for food and pleasant to the eyes, are undeterred by the superscription, 'not to be eaten.'"

CHAPERONING BOYS.

By Chicago Journal

WE chaperon our girls, and carefully guard them against unworthy boys, but we leave the boy to choose for himself his associates and his achievements.

Girls are naturally winsome, gentle, companionable. They win their way in homes and hearts. But the boy, noisy, awkward, mischievous, is invited into few homes, and feels none too much at home in his own.

About the only door that swings with sure welcome to the boy, about the only chair that is shoved near the fire especially for the boy, about the only place where he is sure of cordial greeting, is where he ought not to go.

It is one of the hardest things in the world to get hold of a boy—to get a sure grip on him. He is hungry for companionship, and he will have it. You can't chain him away from it. He wants the companionship of boys, and nothing will take its place. If the crime of selfishness has so encased your heart that the joys and hopes of your boy can not enter into it, the boy is to be pitied, but so are you.—Chicago Journal.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS

LESSON 10.—SEPTEMBER 3.—THE CAPTIVITY OF JUDAH.

Golden Text.—"Be sure your sin will find you out." Num. 32:23. Lesson Scripture, 2 Chron. 36:11-21, A. R. V. (11) "ZEDEKIAH was twenty and one years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem; (12) and he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah his God; he humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of Jehovah. (13) And he also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God; but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart against turning unto Jehovah, the God of Israel. (14) Moreover all the chiefs of the priests, and the people, trespassed very greatly after all the abominations of the nations; and they polluted the house of Jehovah which He had hallowed in Jerusalem. (15) And Jehovah, the God of their fathers, sent to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending, because He had compassion on His people, and on His dwelling-place; (16) but they mocked the messengers of God, and despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of Jehovah arose against His people, till there was no remedy. (17) "Therefore He brought upon them the king of the Chaldeans, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or virgin, old man or hoary-headed; He gave them all into his hand. (18) And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of Jehovah, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes, all these he brought to Babylon. (19) And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof. (20) And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; and they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia; (21) to fulfil the word of Jehovah by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its sabbaths; for as long as it lay desolate it kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years."

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) How old was Zedekiah when he became king? How long did he reign? Verse 11. Note 1. (2) What was the character of his reign? What charge is specially brought against him? Verse 12. Note 2. (3) What shows his treacherous disposition? What else is shown by his rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar? Verse 13. Note 3. (4) What is said of the character of the priests and people? Verse 14. Note 4. (5) How had God shown His mercy to His people? Verse 15. Note 5. (6) How had they received His appeals? Verse 16. Note 6. (7) What was the judgment upon the people because of this apostasy? Verse 17. (8) What was done with the vessels of the Lord's house? Verse 18. (9) What was done to the temple and city? Verse 19. (10) What was done with the people who were not killed by their enemies? Verse 20. (11) What was fulfilled in all this? What was made up to the land? Verse 21. Note 7. (12) How do present-day conditions compare with those preceding Judah's captivity? Note 8.

NOTES.

1. Zedekiah was the twentieth and last ruler of Judah. He was made king by appointment of the king of Babylon, who had deposed Jehoiachin, and carried him to Babylon. Of Zedekiah the Lord spoke by Ezekiel the prophet: "Remove the diadem, and take off the crown; this shall not be the same; exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it; and it shall be no more, until He come whose right it is; and I will give it Him." Eze. 21:26, 27. So we may know that there will be no more kingdom of Israel until the "Lion of the tribe of Judah" shall reign in person. When the "diadem" and the "crown" shall be restored to Israel, the natural seed, as such, will have no part in it. See Rom. 2:28, 29; Gal. 3:27-29; Phil. 3:3.

2. The king was a weak-minded man; he would confer with Jeremiah in secret, but, through fear and through illusive hopes, he could not bring himself to the point of yielding. Jer. 38:14-28.

3. Instead of yielding to Nebuchadnezzar, as the prophet advised, Zedekiah had actually rebelled against him, after having taken an oath before God to be subservient. This oath was probably taken at Babylon, when, in the fourth year of his reign, he had been taken to Babylon for some purpose not directly stated. Jer. 51:59. Zedekiah's rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar is reckoned as rebellion against God; for Nebuchadnezzar, altho a heathen, was now the recognized servant of God. Jer. 25:9. God's people having become worse than the heathen, were now subjected to heathen rule.

4. The fact that the chief of the priests and the people had turned to heathen worship had much to do with Zedekiah's course. He wavered between their influence and the counsel of the one prophet in Jerusalem who, under all circumstances, had the courage to stand firmly on the Word of God.

5. The Lord's patience with Israel is illustrative of His long-suffering patience with His erring children in all ages. God "doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men" (Lam 3:33), but sometimes it becomes necessary to quite severely chastise the persistent disobedience of the child that he may learn from experience the sinfulness and the consequences of his course. See Heb. 12:5-11.

6. "They mocked the messengers of God."—Jeremiah was imprisoned, beaten, and threatened with death, while Urijah was put to death. Jer. 26:20-23. This was principally through the instigation of apostate prophets and priests, as most religious persecution comes from the influence of intolerance on the part of the ministry and church officials. "No remedy."—That is, there was no remedy for that generation; so they must be made an example for future generations. Rom. 15:4. And Solomon had put it on record that "he, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy." Prov. 29:1. See also our Lord's arraignment of the Jews of His day. Matt. 23:29-36.

7. The Word of the Lord always finds fulfillment, for the reason that it "endureth forever," Isa. 40:8; Luke 16:17; 1 Peter 1:25. All this calamity upon the people was foreshadowed by the Lord when Israel was yet in the wilderness. Lev. 26:14-35. The land to enjoy her sabbaths for seventy years was because of the neglect to obey the law that the land should rest every seventh year.

8. The following truthful presentation of present-day conditions shows that the Lord's professed people have no just condemnation of those in the past. "Satan exults at his success in controlling the minds of so many who profess to be Christians. He has deceived them, benumbed their sensibilities, and planted his hellish banner right in their midst, and they are so completely deceived that they know not that it is he. The people have not erected graven images, yet their sin is no less in the sight of God. They worship mammon. They love worldly gain. Some will make any sacrifice of conscience to obtain their object. They love the things of this world, and have fellowship with the works of darkness. They have pleasure in unrighteousness. They have not love toward God, nor love for their neighbors. They are idolaters, and are worse, far worse, in the sight of God than the heathen graven-image worshipers who have no knowledge of a better way."

CONCERNING PITCAIRN.

By Edward Stubbs

No. 9 Oriel Chambers, Water St., Liverpool. March 29, 1905. PACIFIC PRESS PUB. CO., Mountain View, Cal.

Dear Sirs: Many thanks for your letter of the 10th, and for the book, "Story of Pitcairn," which will be most useful. Miss Young wrote me from Mangareva, one of the Gambier Islands, to say that she had gone on a little expedition to meet some missionaries, and had decided to wait for the little Cutter's return, but the boat never came back. Upon arrival at Pitcairn it was blowing too hard to land; the boat appears to have dragged her anchor, and when about eight miles from shore she was capsized by too heavy seas. One man was asleep below and was drowned. His fellow watchman got up somehow through the inrushing water, and he and the two men on watch on deck got into a little scow which the cutter carried, and reached the shore.

The Government had loaned them 200 pounds ($1,000) toward the last boat, but that money was still unpaid, and altho the Treasury have wiped off the debt, they decline to lend any more. It is very uncertain what I may be able to do in the way of getting subscriptions. Can you help me to raise more money, or can you find out for me what a well-fitted boat of thirty tons could be obtained for at San Francisco?

I suppose poor Miss Young is still at Mangareva, altho she may have gotten to Papeete, Society Islands. I am writing to our consul there and also to our consul in San Francisco. It might be well in case you take any action to communicate with the latter, so as to prevent our efforts overlapping each other. *Yours most truly, (Signed) EDWARD STUBBS, Captain Royal Navy.*

The Sabbath-school lessons have been discontinued. The Lesson Quarterly may be obtained, containing three months' lessons and notes, for five cents. Address, Pacific Press, Mountain View, Cal. The Sunday-school lessons will continue.

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