A Regular Hodgepodge.—This is the way Sam P. Jones, in a recent letter to the Chattanooga Times, puts the present Church and State mixture:—
"The very fundamental laws of our government forbid the union of Church and State. But, to my mind, politics have gotten into the churches, and the churches into politics, until to-day we have partisan saints, partisan Democratic saints, and partisan Republican saints, and partisan saints mixed with red-nosed bums and political rascals, until Church and State, devil and all, are so tangled up together you can hardly tell which is t'other, and all seem to be on their journey home, with your finger pointing downward. Let the preacher teach his people that they can go to hell through politics as well as they can go through a gambling hell, a bawdy house, or penitentiary."
Is not this a good picture of Babylon? God says: "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, . . . and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." "Babylon the great is fallen. . . . Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."
The Signs of the Times is published for the purpose of teaching the word of God as it is in Christ Jesus. That will be its aim and object for the year to come. Without fear or favor its conductors will proclaim the gospel of Christ, with all its precious warnings, instructions, precepts, and promises. They expect to do better work, give clearer explanations of Bible truth, teach with more power in 1895 than in any year in the past; for the necessities of the times demand it; the cause is God's, and he is able to supply all our needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Shall we not have the earnest coöperation of our friends everywhere?
A COMBINATION OFFER FOR ALL.
By Editor
PROPHETIC LIGHTS. By E. J. WAGGONER. Prophecies of the Old and New Testament explained by the Bible and History. Finely Illustrated. Paper bound, 180 pages, 50c.
STEPS TO CHRIST. By MRS. E. G. WHITE. A wonderfully helpful book to the sinner who would find his Saviour, as well as to young and old in Christian experience who would know Christ better. Neatly bound in Cloth, 158 pages, 75c.
The Signs of the Times, one year, with PROPHETIC LIGHTS (post free) - - - - - $1.75
The Signs of the Times, one year, with STEPS TO CHRIST (post free) - - - - - 2.00
Address— Signs of the Times, 12th and Castro Streets, Oakland, Cal.
Articles on Hebrews
By Editor
WE begin the publication soon of a series of independent articles from the pen of Elder J. H. Durland on that wonderful book—Hebrews. While these articles will be independent, they will also be a valuable commentary on the great doctrinal and practical truths of this wonderful epistle.
No Paper Next Week
By Editor
No Paper Next Week.—There will be no paper next week. According to our usual custom, we drop a paper at the close of the volume. The date of the next issue will be Thursday, January 3. The paper will hereafter be dated on that day of the week. The volume for 1895 will consist, as ordinarily, of fifty numbers; the price, $1.50.
The Beginning of Modern Missions—Carey
By Editor
IN our Mission Fields department during 1895 will be found original articles on the great mission fields of the world, by one who has made a special study of the various countries of earth. These papers will be prepared by Elder D. T. Jones, who has charge of our missionary work in Mexico. The first article will be entitled "The Beginning of Modern Missions—Carey." These articles alone will be worth the price of the paper to him who is interested in general missionary work; and what Christian is not?
THE SPIRIT OF THE SUNDAY LAW.
By Editor
FROM a report in the Review and Herald, from one of our laborers in the Province of Ontario, we reproduce this significant extract. It illustrates the intolerant spirit of the Sunday-law evil, and the logical tendency of its practical workings:—
"The agitation on the Sunday question has been made prominent by a bill introduced last spring into the Dominion Parliament. The mover of this bill was Mr. John Charlton, a staunch advocate of Sunday observance. He desires, as far as lies in his power, to compel every Canadian to observe Sunday as the Sabbath.
"After the Sunday bill was somewhat amended, it passed the House of Commons and was taken up in the Senate. Much amusement was occasioned by the senators' making various ridiculous amendments, which were ruled out, and finally the bill was placed on the table for six months. It seemed that they recognized the fact that Mr. Charlton had tugs on the lake which he failed to call in on Sunday.
"In a recent ministerial council held in the city of Toronto it was held that the treatment Mr. Charlton had received at the hands of the Senate was an insult to the Presbyterian Church and the Christian people of Canada. They thought that the Senate should be dealt with for so abusing the church. One speaker said that public opinion was strong enough to do away with the present Senate when the opportunity presented itself. He said, 'It has either to be ended or mended.' Thus the enemy is constantly working to destroy the little religious freedom which at present exists in Canada."