This is a pamphlet of only 84 pages, but its value is not to be judged by its size. It is just what its title indicates: a faithful presentation of Bible truth on this important subject, and an exposure of the false theories prevailing in regard to it. Every believer in Bible truth should read it. Buy it, read it, and lend it to your neighbor. Price, 10 cents.
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Apples of Gold Library
THIS little quarterly publication, especially designed as an auxiliary medium of conveying the truth in letter-writing, has, we believe, accomplished much good in this line. It can be enclosed in a No. 6 envelope without folding, and without additional postage, being only a leaflet of from four to sixteen pages. We recommend it as a very effective means of spreading the truth.
Thirty-six numbers of this library have already been issued, embracing a varied field of topics, from which one may choose according to what will be best adapted to each case. Among the latest issues we might mention the following:—
Scripture Answers to Worldly Objections
Seventh-Day Adventists and Their Work
The Hope Set Before Us
The True Church
Subscription price: 5 copies one year, 25 cents; 12 copies one year, 50 cents. Special price in quantities.
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YOSEMITE VALLEY And Big Trees of California
Read All About Them in the Book
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Nearly 500 Pages, with Many Illustrations. Limp Binding.
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The Bible and Its Story
By Josephine Pollard
By Josephine Pollard
This volume has been published to assist parents, guardians, and teachers in the religious instruction of those under their charge, by enabling them to place in their hands a book which would reverently tell the Bible story. The one object that has been kept steadily in view throughout its preparation, has been to present a connected narrative of the sacred events, consecutively arranged in the order of their occurrence. The book contains 558 pages, with 280 illustrations. PRICE, Cloth, $1.00.
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Pacific Press Publishing Co.
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SURE WORD OF PROPHECY. A study of the book of Daniel.
A concise study of this important prophetic portion of the Bible. Fully illustrated. Paper covers. 96 pages, Bible Student’s Library No. 131. Price, 10 cents.
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PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING CO.
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Who Made Sunday Holy?
By Editor
The Methodist Times gives an authority which heretofore we have not heard cited for the observance of Sunday as a sabbath. It says: “Throughout the civilized world Sunday has been set apart by the Anglo-Saxon as a day of rest and of thanksgiving and of prayer to the Creator; whatever our individual beliefs or opinions may be, we are in duty bound to respect the day and the feelings of those that keep it holy.” There will, no doubt, be many people curious to know where the Anglo-Saxon obtained the power to set apart a day and make it holy throughout the civilized world. It is right, yea, Christian, to respect the feelings of all classes, but there is one point that the promoters of enforced religion usually overlook: They are quick to see the obligation of others to respect their feelings, but they fail to see that others have feelings which they are bound to respect. There ought to be at least a reciprocity in this matter.”
THE WORD OF GOD VERSUS THE WISDOM OF MEN.
By W. N. G.
Dr. C. W. Wendte (Unitarian pastor), of this city, is having a controversy with Dr. L. W. Munhall, revivalist, who has been conducting meetings under the auspices of eight evangelical churches. The latter holds that the Bible means what it says, and threw out some criticisms of those Unitarians who hold to the “higher criticism.” Dr. Munhall resented very tartly some remarks against his revival methods. Dr. Wendte deems this a “splendid opportunity” to “place before the public the rising and truly helpful view of the Bible.” This “rising and truly helpful view” eliminates much of the Scriptures as “intrinsically absurd;” for instance, “the statement that the first woman was made out of a rib of a man, the account of a serpent and an ass talking, the stories of Nebuchadnezzar eating grass like an ox for seven years and that Jonah lived three days within the belly of a great fish.”
Of Mr. Munhall’s methods we have nothing to say, as we know nothing of them from observation. If he clings as closely to the Scriptures as Dr. Wendte’s representation would indicate, we have no hesitancy in saying that thus far his method is good. We note this controversy for the purpose of showing the trend of the modern Bible teaching, or rather Bible destruction, called “higher criticism.” The support of this method is altogether human, as the authorities cited are all celebrated for their learning in this world’s wisdom,—such as R. F. Horton, D.D., Dr. Briggs (of Union Theological Seminary fame), Canon Fremantle, Revs. Driver, Cheyne, Walter F. Adeney, Rev. Frank Porter (of the Yale Divinity School), and others. Dean Stanley is also quoted as asserting that Genesis contains two contradictory accounts of creation. Then, to show how sweeping is the influence of this system of theology, Dean Farrar, of Canterbury, is brought in to say:—
“I can not name a single student or professor of any eminence in Great Britain who does not accept, with more or less modification, the main conclusions of the German school of critics. In Germany itself there are scores of learned professors, and among their entire number there is said to be only one—and he a man of no name—who clings to the old method of interpretation.”
The Word of God itself gives ample answer to this class of critics who would assume to prune and amend its matter: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Tim. 3:16, 17. Then if a man have a thorough knowledge of the Scripture (which he can attain only through a great measure of the Holy Spirit), tho he have no other knowledge, he is “thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” Again, we read: “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called; but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are; that no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption; that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” 1 Cor. 1:26–31.
Christ is “made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification.” How are we sanctified?—Through the truth, which is the word of God (John 17:17). It was written by “holy men of God,” who “spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” Now God says of this Word, that he will not alter the thing that is gone out of his lips (Ps. 89:34). Christ indorsed the Law to the last jot and tittle (Matt. 5:17–19); he indorsed “Moses and the prophets” (Luke 16:29–31; John 5:45–47), and he specially indorsed the story of Jonah and the great fish, and gave it a literal application (Matt. 12:40). Not only did he thus indorse all the Scriptures, and say that he would not alter them, nor destroy a jot or tittle of his law, but he has pronounced a curse upon any who shall attempt to do so (Rev. 22:19). “The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore let no man glory in men.” 1 Cor. 3:19–21. “All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away; but the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word which by the Gospel is preached unto you.” 1 Peter 1:24, 25.
The revival that is needed in the church to-day is a return to the Word of the Lord. The reformation that is needed in the world is a reform based upon individual acceptation of the Word, “as it is written.”
W. N. G.
Sharing the General Conference Bulletin
THE General Conference Bulletin comes to us laden with some of the good things that are dispensed to the brethren and sisters who are fortunate enough to hear them all. But, judging from the report of the number printed, there are thousands of our people doing without these spiritual, health-giving portions who might have had them just as well as not.
The Chastening of the Lord
“My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him; for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. . . . Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”
Those Who Ridicule the Bible
THE men who frequently ridicule the Bible are those who know it least, even as a book. Mr. Moody tells of a man in Montreal who did not like the Bible we had, and would not be a Christian till we could have a new one. The minister told him that probably could not be, but before he threw away the Old Book, to see whether he was through with it, and then asked the objector, “Which is the first book, Genesis or Revelation?” And the man who wanted a new Bible did not know enough about the Bible to know which book was first; yet he was sure the world needed a new Bible.
Strange, yet Not Strange.
By Editor
On Sunday, the 21st inst., several of the ministers of this city took occasion to berate two members of the city council whom they specially blame for the elimination of the Sunday-closing issue in the coming city election. These ministers have all been zealous and eloquent in their denunciations of the saloon curse; this they have done well and truthfully. But they certainly show bad taste, and give ground for a suspicion of insincerity, when they manifest such a spirit of indignation because the council gave the people a chance to vote against the evil thing every day in the week instead of on Sunday only. It is sad to see such able advocates of temperance appear so anxious to cut off six-sevenths of the force and effect of their telling arguments. But they have in this instance demonstrated what we have all the time charged, that the underlying principle of Sunday closing is not temperance, but enforced Sunday observance. They can not longer deny this charge with even a semblance of consistency. We sincerely hope, however, that they will be convinced by their own good arguments that the saloon is a continuous evil, that it is bad all the time, and that it does not require any more votes to say that it must be totally abolished than to say it must be suspended on Sunday. We hope these able men will turn out, while the opportunity is open, and contend with the saloon nuisance upon broad temperance grounds. Then when they stand upon the rostrum and portray the dire results of saloonism, the people will believe that they mean what they say.
Workingmen’s Home and Medical Mission
ATTENTION is called to the notice, “Free Farm Labor Bureau,” on page 12. The Workingmen’s Home and Medical Mission is a reliable institution, and gives references to reliable business and professional men and women in Chicago. Its mission is to help the needy and friendless to help themselves. A circular just issued, says:—
“Over a thousand a day of these poor men use our free lavatories, and hundreds use our free bath and laundry every day, and for several days we have fed over fifteen hundred men per day. Every night for several weeks we have taken from 100 to 200 men out of the police station cellars to the Home, where they were given a warm bath and clean, comfortable beds and breakfast. We find most of these are worthy young men, quite willing to work if given a chance, and many do get work after being cleaned up and encouraged.”
The institution is extending its work as fast as the means for so doing come to hand.
New Catalog.—
The Pacific Press Publishing Co., publishers of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, have just issued a new “Catalog of English Publications,” which is a marvel of neatness, comprehensiveness, and convenience. It contains in compact form, 3½ x 5⅞ inches, a complete list of all English publications published or kept in stock by the company, together with the prices. Sent free to any address on application. Address, Pacific Press Pub. Co., Oakland, Cal.