“CERTAIN Greeks” once came to the Christian Philip with the request, “Sir, we would see Jesus.” From the divers philosophical cults of that day, these men had turned to the light glimmering faintly through the mists and shadows of Judaism. The cant and bigotry of the Jews had not wholly hidden the truth from the eyes of earnest seekers.
But these Greeks sought more than they had found in the Hebrew ritualism. They had heard of the new Teacher—more, they had heard Him. And their interest in Him was not merely that of their fellow countrymen who “spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.” Nor was it the shallow curiosity that would be satisfied with observing His pompless bearing, His homely attire, His quiet countenance. Thus much and more they had already had opportunity to observe, if they would. Even His miracles were not the point of greatest interest. But they craved further knowledge of those mighty truths which had been briefly opened to the motley multitudes.
Giant dredgers working to clear away the great slide in the Culebra Cut, Panama Canal.
DO WE DISTRUST THE INVITATION?
Philip himself, three years before, had been brought to Jesus by Andrew. Now he went to Andrew with the request of the Greeks, and the two disciples together took the strangers to the Master.
We have no intimation, in the Scriptures, that it was a difficult matter to secure audience with Jesus. Surely it was not difficult for His immediate disciples; and we wonder that Philip did not alone make his request to the Saviour.
Still, we need not criticize this ever overcautious disciple; for mayhap all are prone to distrust the sincerity of the invitation which, making no mention of mediating priest or saint, simply bids us come to Him, and assures us that those who come He will not repulse.
It is most gratifying to know that the importunity of these converts from paganism was wonderfully rewarded. Though the idle crowds about perceived nothing more remarkable than an apparent peal of thunder, these devout men received such a testimony from heaven as had only twice before been vouchsafed to mortal.
Had the request of the Greeks been made a few weeks later, Philip and Andrew could not have taken them into the bodily presence of the One sought; for then the Saviour was no longer in person with them. Yet such requests came, and they still come, virtually if not verbally. “We would see Jesus.” It is the cry of many a perplexed soul, longing for a solution of the bewildering questions that press upon a darkened world.
GOD WITH US
One of the titles given to Jesus in the Scriptures is Immanuel, “God with us.” Should a troubled heart turn to us for help, would he “see Jesus”—see God with us? Or must we, like Philip, pass the case along to some one else?
There are many seekers after truth who do not find in nominal Christianity the enlightenment they crave; and to these, since Christ has appointed us His representatives, we should be able to give a message as truly from heaven as was that which those “certain Greeks” heard in His presence.
The appeal may not be formally made—may not be made at all, because of our not being in condition to grant it. Yet any person who has access to the Saviour, will not lack opportunity to introduce other souls to Him; for there are those near us daily who “would see Jesus.”
The Zeal of the Sons and Daughters of God
By G. W. Reaser
As Christ, in childhood and youth, studied the Scriptures, His receptive mind was impressed by the Holy Spirit that He was the Son of God, with a divine mission to accomplish, which mission was, to provide salvation for the human family, even at the sacrifice of His own life.
It was written of Him beforehand, “The zeal of Thine house hath eaten Me up”; which meant that He would be controlled by love for the lost members of the human family. He gave oral expression to this consuming fire within, when, at the early age of twelve years, He said to His mother, “Wist ye not that I must be about My Father’s business?”
This undying passion for souls was wholly characteristic of His life, and finally led Him to Gethsemane and to Calvary. But He will eventually see of the travail of His soul, and will be satisfied with the great price at which He purchased our redemption.
Christ was not a redeemed member of our human family. Therefore the sense of gratitude for personal salvation was not what prompted His life of service and of sacrifice. Yet He was controlled by so great a burden for the lost.
Should not every one who has been redeemed, and who has the witness of the Spirit in his heart, by the Word, that he is a son of God, be controlled by a passion to win souls, even though it calls for the sacrifice of his life? Is this not our divine mission, our “reasonable service”? “The love of Christ constrained” us.
G. W. REASER.
A RIPENED PROPHECY
By J. O. C.
Conditions in the Church Foretold—Would Not Have Expected Such Things
The Warring “Christian Nations”—The World War
of Armageddon Yet to Come
ANCIENT prophetic foresight, looking through the vista of ages, saw the trend of religious professionalism, and declared that in the “last days” ominous times would come, in which men would wear the “form of godliness,” while denying its life-giving power. In this garb, the apostle says, they will love themselves, be covetous, boasters, proud, and even blasphemers, despising those who are good, being destitute of love toward God. 2 Tim. 3: 1-5.
WOULD NOT EXPECT IT IN THE CHURCH
Laying aside the voice of inspiration, one would hardly look for such characters in a professed church of God. But here is the statement, clearly made, that such as these would appear in the garb of godly forms and ceremonies, as a distinct revelation of last-day happenings. The prophecy also clearly points out that this would be the foundation of a world-wide danger zone. Indeed, the implication is here laid that the fulness of this danger season, known as the last days, will be brought about by those professing godliness, rather than by those who care nothing for the forms of religion.
WHAT EUROPE’S “CHRISTIAN NATIONS” ARE DOING
One has but to cast his eyes over the field of strife in Europe to note that of the dozen nations there embroiled, every one professes to be guided by the promptings of Christ’s Spirit. Each one practices, even on the battle plains, some form of Christian worship. Yet, as expressed by one writer, the campaigns of Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan were mere local squabbles compared with the mighty struggle now going on, in which fifteen million men have been killed, wounded, or taken prisoners. It is not strange, therefore, that a wondering world now asks, “Why?” Yes, why has this world war begun? And when will it cease?
To the first clause of this almost universal question, the scripture before cited gives answer. But the second part of it must be answered by reference to other prophecies. One inspired seer cried out in very agony at the view given him of a great world war. He was pained at his very heart, because he saw “destruction upon destruction,” which spoiled the whole land. He watched the result of it all until the earth lost its form, and was made void. In this action, the mountains and the hills moved out of their places, and no man was left upon the scene. Utter desolation assumed the place of a once beautiful spot of God’s creation, because in His anger He had smitten the nations for their wretched returns for all His infinite mercies. Jer. 4: 19-26.
WHEN MICHAEL STANDS UP
It requires no stretch of the imagination to see that this prophecy reaches down to the close of earth’s history, and that universal war brings its consummation. Another prophet views the same scene, and gives added information regarding its details. He says that “at that time shall Michael stand up, the great Prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” Dan. 12: 1.
A question or two regarding the statements here found: Who is Michael, that stands for the children of God’s people? And what means His “standing up”? This Being is none other than Christ, the Archangel, as may be seen by comparing Jude 9 and 1 Thess. 4: 16. His “standing up” is in contrast with His “sitting” at “the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens” (Heb. 8: 1), where He must remain until His foes become subdued. Acts 2: 34, 35. Then He comes to release His people from the awful carnage of the time of trouble such as had never before been seen.
CANNOT BE ARMAGEDDON
No one will question that the present titanic struggle is the mightiest one ever known. Yet this cannot be the long anticipated Armageddon, and for one certain reason, which is as sure as the prophecy under consideration. Isolated nations exist which have not yet been warned of the world’s coming doom. According to the Saviour’s prediction, these must hear such message before being made to meet the closing scenes of earth’s history. This is what He said: “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matt. 24: 14. This “witness” that the end of all things is near, has not yet been heard in earth’s remotest corners; therefore some sort of truce between the present belligerents must take place. But as all things are now ready for a quick work in bearing this witness, the lull of war will at most be but a short one.
A WORLD CONFLICT COMING
Yet the education for war and vengeance is well matured, preparatory to an entire world conflict, quickly to follow. Then the word will be heralded forth: “Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.” Joel 3: 9, 10. No nation will escape; for the prophet says, in his description of that time: “Come, all ye heathen: . . . cause thy mighty ones to come down.”
Why so general a struggle?—Because the time has come for Jehovah to bring deserved judgments upon all nations, and so the call is: “Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.” The reason for this turn of affairs is given in the following verse: “Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: . . . the press is full, . . . for their wickedness is great.” Joel 3: 9-13.
It is therefore clear that the great day of the Lord is very soon to burst upon a wicked world, through the opening of Armageddon. Already the preparation for that struggle has begun, and the way of “the kings of the east” is being opened to enter “the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” Rev. 16: 12-14. So the call of heaven to-day is, to “watch,” and keep the garments of religious faith well secured, lest, being found destitute of heavenly covering, we be drawn into the awful vortex that no tongue can describe. Verses 15, 16.
But in what way may human coöperation with Heaven be796effected to secure the coveted safety when such time arrives? Christ has Himself announced the process through the seer of Patmos. Thus he says: “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Rev. 14: 12. Turning his eyes in another direction, from earth toward heaven, he cries out: “I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud One sat like unto the Son of man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle.” Verse 14.
That is the moment when the saints are delivered, as given in the citation from Dan. 12: 1. That is when the harvest of the earth is gathered, as revealed in Rev. 14: 16, and corresponds to the Saviour’s statement in another place, when He said, “The harvest is the end of the world,” and then declared that in that time He will root out from their habitation all offenders against His rule of life, and lift up the righteous to “shine forth as the sun” in the kingdom of God. Matt. 13: 39-43.
There can be no escaping the evidence that the scenes of earth are rapidly passing beyond recall. God’s message is now calling on those of all nations to keep His commandments, and so be prepared, when the Saviour appears to take His rightful throne, to be counted loyal to the requirements of His heavenly rule. The time is at hand. Let all now secure heavenly favor, and so be watchful for the Master’s quick return.
J. O. C.
MASONRY AND THE MARK OF THE BEAST
By J. E. F.
IN conversation with an individual a few days ago, the remark was made that perhaps in Masonry might be found “the mark of the beast.”
Whatever marks, signs, or tokens there may be connected with this order, “the mark of the beast” cannot be found there. First of all, it was long ago settled that the “beast” of prophecy is Roman Catholicism. Luther taught this, all the other Reformers agreed, as also do most Protestant commentators from that time to this. The proof is abundant and indisputable. Therefore it is evident that “the mark of the beast” must be some distinguishing sign of papal authority, which is finally received, accepted, and enforced by law, as against the plain commandment of God.
WARNING AGAINST THE MARK OF THE BEAST
In Rev. 14: 9-12 is outlined a message against receiving this mark or giving homage to the beast. Those who do not do so are said to keep “the commandments of God.” Verse 12. Then plainly the papacy has taught the world something that is in plain opposition to the law of God. This it has done in changing God’s law in respect to the Sabbath.
Listen to Heaven’s indictment: “He [this antichristian power] shall . . . think to change times and laws.” Dan. 7: 25.
Now listen to the Catholic confession to changing the law of the Sabbath:
“Question — Have you any other way of proving that the church has power to institute festivals of precept?
“Answer — Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all modern religionists agree with her,—she could not have substituted the observance of Sunday, the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday, the seventh day, a change for which there is no Scriptural authority.”—“Doctrinal Catechism of the Catholic Church,” page 351.
This power has changed the day God has enjoined, and has substituted as its rival a day whose name betrays its unholy origin — Sunday.
God has given a message of warning in reference to this matter, so that the world may know the truth. But when, in opposition to God’s holy law, and the solemn, warning message God has given, men take a false sabbath, and enforce it by legal enactments, here is found “the mark of the beast.” Not in Masonry, but in that power which “thought to change times and laws,” is to be found the mark of apostasy. The papacy is responsible for the introduction of this mark, and now we are in the midst of the danger that in so-called Protestantism we shall find the continued acceptance and enforcement of this rival of God’s holy day. J. E. F
SABBATH BREAKING AND THE CAPTIVITY
By L. A. R.
Why the Jews Were Sent Exiles into Babylon
GOD said, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” — a positive command. But the children of Israel did not remember. They forgot it; and when they went into captivity, there was no possibility any more of their having their solemn assemblies and Sabbath observances in Zion. See Lam. 2: 6. The enemy had possession. Verses 7 and 9 tell very plainly why it was. Her kings and princes are among the nations where the law is not. This is not saying that some of the captives did not obey God and keep His Sabbaths, but it does say that in Zion there was desolation. Now just a few words with reference to this very time of which we speak.
THE CAPTIVITY AND DESOLATION OF ZION
At that very time, when the children of Israel went into captivity, God told the reason why. In the thirty-sixth chapter of 2 Chronicles, we read that Nebuchadnezzar carried the people away captive into Babylon, and “they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia: to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her Sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept Sabbath, to fulfill threescore and ten years.”
Here is an explanation of the desolation of the land of Israel. The people of Israel had failed, so much of the time, to keep the Sabbath, that they had polluted the land, and God had decreed that they should leave that land long enough for it to make up the Sabbaths they had failed to keep. The children of Israel had been about 840 years there; and according to this, about half the time, or 420 years, they had not kept the Sabbath. But whether God’s people kept a record of it or not, the Lord did.
The record shows, too, inferentially, that if the people had kept the Sabbath, they would not have come into captivity. But we do not need to leave the matter to an inference, for here is a direct statement from the book of Jeremiah, showing that even in that late day, God would have saved Jerusalem if His people had kept the Sabbath:
“And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto Me, saith the Lord, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but hallow the Sabbath day, to do no work therein; . . . this city shall remain forever.” Jer. 17: 24, 25. And the verse following shows that this blessing for Jerusalem would be extended to the land of the Jews as well.
On the other hand, “if ye will not hearken unto Me to hallow the Sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.” Verse 27.
We are sorry to say that the Jews took the second alternative, and their city was destroyed as a result. L. A. R.
G. B. T
By G. B. T.
The original word for “character” signifies to engrave. This is worth remembering. Character is what we are. It is not what we seem; that is appearance. It is not what people say we are; that is reputation. Character is within ourselves; reputation, what is in the mind of others. While others may mar and even ruin our reputation, we alone can mar or in any way tarnish our character. Though Christ had a spotless character, He was reputed by some to have a devil, and to be mad.
Truly a good character is a mine of wealth. It is of sufficient value to be immortalized by the Lord in His kingdom.
G. B. T
New Light on the Cancer Problem
By David Paulson
The Alarming Increase of Cancer — Recent Researches That Point to Sure Relief
By DAVID PAULSON, M. D.
Medical Superintendent of the Hinsdale, Illinois, Sanitarium
The cancer plague, from a medical standpoint, is the livest and yet the most deadly problem that confronts the human race. God has permitted the hand of man to banish yellow fever from our fair land. Medical science is slowly but surely compelling malaria to retreat. Diphtheria has been robbed of its terrors, and the death rate from tuberculosis is decreasing year by year, while that from cancer is increasing at an amazing rate.
CANCER STANDS SECOND
Dr. Charles A. L. Reed, of Cincinnati, Ohio, formerly president of the American Medical Association, says:
“I am not an alarmist, but I cannot shut my eyes to the facts that are forced upon me in my daily experience. That experience teaches me that cancer is increasing in this country literally by leaps and bounds. Tuberculosis causes more deaths than any other one disease. Cancer is now second on the list. In less than ten years, if present tendencies are permitted to continue, their positions in the death-dealing category will be reversed. More than sixty thousand people died from this malady alone in this country last year. There were twice as many more people who were afflicted with the disease, most of whom will die this year.”
A recent bulletin of the Illinois State Board of Health says that one out of every twelve deaths in the state above the age of thirty is caused by cancer.
In England, while the death rate from tuberculosis has been cut in two in the past generation, that from cancer has increased threefold. There are cities in Great Britain where the death rate from cancer is already greater than that from tuberculosis.
TOO MUCH CIVILIZATION
Dr. Robert Bell, physician in charge of cancer research at Battersea Hospital, England, says:
“Cancer is to a large extent the bitter fruit of our so-called civilization. We are of necessity compelled to come to the conclusion that cancer is one of the many evils for which civilization is solely responsible.”
Dr. Roger Williams, a cancer expert of world-wide reputation, has shown that wealth, with its tendency to luxury and idleness, greatly increases the tendency to cancer.
Dr. Ewing, another eminent authority, says that cancer chooses a notable portion of its victims among the well nourished and the indolent. Cancer is a growing penalty on a one-sided civilization.
Dr. Bell furthermore declares that cancer is nature’s protest against disobedience, and is the penalty she imposes upon those who have ignored her teachings.
THE IDEAL CANCER DIET
Dr. Albert S. Gray, the popular health writer in the Chicago Daily News, says that a group of the most advanced physicians for a hundred years have testified that there is a close connection between cancer and dietetic errors.
Dr. Evans, formerly health commissioner of Chicago, states that people who belong to families where cancer predominates should live abstemiously.
More than twenty years ago, Dr. Banks, of London, suggested that the principal cause of cancer was the great increase in the consumption of animal food.
Dr. L. Duncan Bulkley, the senior physician to the New York Skin and Cancer Hospital, has been a close student of this entire question for more than thirty years, and has naturally had a wide experience with cancer cases. He has recently written a notable book entitled “Cancer, Its Cause and Symptoms.” He asserts that the use of meat in England has doubled during the past generation, until now they consume 130 pounds for every man, woman, and child in the land; and during this same length of time, cancer has increased fourfold; while in Ireland, where the consumption of meat is only one third that of England, the deaths from cancer are only one half as great. He states that in Italy, which consumes the least meat of any European country, the cancer death rate is practically the lowest in Europe. He calls attention to the striking fact that in the United States, the consumption of meat has increased until the Bureau of Agriculture in Washington finds it has reached the excessive amount of 172 pounds for every man, woman, and child in our land. At the same time, cancer has increased so rapidly that in some of our large cities, it is now responsible for seven or eight per cent of all the deaths.
In a recent paper read before the American Medical Association, Dr. Bulkley said:
“In striking contrast to the enormous extent and increase of cancer in meat-eating communities may be mentioned the almost absence of the disease in regions where the diet is largely confined to the products of the ground. During a rather extensive trip through the far East, I was unable to see or even hear of any cancer, although I met a large number of medical men, and made inquiries in regard to the same in district hospitals, with a total of many thousands of patients. In Japan, Korea, China, the Philippines, India, Siam, and Egypt, I got the same response—that cancer is rarely seen among vegetarian people.”
This observation by an eminent authority on the cancer problem is in harmony with the following significant words found in “Testimonies for the Church,” volume 9, page 159:
“Flesh food has a tendency to animalize the nature, to rob men and women of that love and sympathy which they should feel for every one, and to give the lower passions control over the higher powers of the being. If meat eating were ever healthful, it is not safe now. Cancers, tumors, and pulmonary diseases are largely caused by meat eating.”
Ehrlich, a famous German investigator, found that when mice live upon a rice diet, they cannot be inoculated with cancer; while mice living on a meat diet can be made to take cancer readily, and the cancerous tumors develop quickly, and continue to grow until they destroy the animals. He even found that when cancerous mice were placed upon a rice diet, the tumors ceased to grow, and in many cases disappeared.
A CANCER-FREE COMMUNITY
Russell, who has made a monumental study of this question, makes this interesting observation in his book “Preventable Cancer”:
“The Russian Dukhobors have existed as a community about a century. They are plain-living, and do not eat flesh or stimulants. About seven thousand of them immigrated to Canada798when expelled from Russia. They refrain from fish, flesh, and fowl as food, and live on fruit, vegetables, and nuts. Cows are kept for milk. No tea nor coffee is drunk. Wholesome bread, jam, honey, and vegetable butter from sunflower seeds are eaten regularly. The houses are roomy, airy, and clean. The people are scrupulously clean, regular, and orderly. I have just heard from the manager that he has never known of any cancer among them.”
Professor Madden, of Cairo, writes that it is the consensus of opinion among the medical men of Egypt that cancer is never found among the black races of that country who live almost entirely upon a vegetable diet, but is somewhat common among those who live and eat much more like the Europeans; and Russell, quoting Dr. Renner, of West Africa, says that cases of cancer occur among the descendants of liberated Africans who have adopted the European mode of living and consume large quantities of butchers’ meat.
OTHER DIETETIC ERRORS
Russell writes: “I have brought forward much evidence to show the disastrous effect of the excess in diet, of stimulants, and of alcohol, especially in the form of beer, and of hot drug drinks, such as tea and coffee, a drug belonging to the class of potent vegetable poisons which is the ordinary daily drink of millions of people. Moreover, these drugs are usually drunk hot.”
Dr. Bulkley notes the fact that the people in the United States consume one third of all the coffee produced, or more than Germany, Austria-Hungary, France, and Great Britain combined.
Dr. Mayo, of Rochester, Minnesota, who has no doubt performed more surgical operations than any other man living, says that nearly one third of all the cancers of man are those of the stomach. He raises the question whether it is not possible that there is something in the habits of civilized man, in his cooking or the preparation of his food, that favors this condition; whether the taking of such hot foods does not have something to do with the development of cancer. He says that foods and drinks are often swallowed hotter than they can be held in the mouth, though the stomach is not so well protected as the mouth against the effect of heat; but as it does not have sensitive nerves, the injury is not immediately manifested by pain.
TEA, COFFEE, AND CANCER
Russell asserts that cancer has steadily and rapidly increased wherever there has been a steady and rapid increase in the consumption of rich foods and hot or toxic drinks—tea and coffee. He says that when natives among whom cancer does not occur, adopt this fare, they quickly become subject to the disease.
AUTO-INTOXICATION FAVORS CANCER
Dr. Bulkley is convinced, after a vast experience with cancer cases, that there is a very close relationship between auto-intoxication, stagnation of the bowels, and cancer.
Dr. Arbuthnot Lane, an English surgeon of world-wide reputation, says that cancer is invariably the last chapter in the story of chronic intestinal stagnation. Dr. Bell insists upon the following three points as a preventive of cancer: thorough mastication of food, a daily complete evacuation of the bowels, and living in a pure atmosphere.
For the prevention of stagnation of the bowels, he recommends apples and carrots as especially excellent articles of diet, and genuine Graham bread, made of flour ground in an old-fashioned burr mill. He says the white bread so generally consumed is a poor substitute, and should be avoided.799
We are fortunate in having here in the vicinity of Hinsdale just such a mill, and can secure genuine Graham flour for those who desire it.
IS CANCER EVER CURED?
Dr. Bulkley, in his recent book, records a number of cases of undoubted cancer in the early stages, where the disease disappeared when the patients were placed upon a strict vegetarian diet, with tea and coffee excluded, and proper attention was given to the bowels, and other hygienic measures were adopted.
Dr. Bell reports a case in which the open air treatment was given, the bowels were thoroughly flushed every day, and the diet was restricted to non-cooked green garden stuff, vegetable juices, fruits, milk, and eggs beaten in milk; and within three months, all traces of the disease had disappeared.
I personally recall a case of cancer where the surgeon snipped off a piece of the suspicious growth, sent it to three of the best laboratories in the United States, and all reported cancer. The patient had recently adopted a strict hygienic diet. As there was some delay in having the operation, when the time came, the growth was found to be disappearing, so the operation was postponed, and the patient is perfectly well to-day. There was at least one cure that could not be explained on the grounds of mistaken diagnosis.
SURGERY, X-RAY, AND RADIUM
When the blood and the tissues have so nearly lost their vitality as to permit cancer to flourish, it is too much to expect, except occasionally, that even a thorough reformation will result in a cure. This article is written to induce tens of thousands who would otherwise have cancer within the next few years, to leave behind forever their juicy beefsteaks, and their toxic tea and coffee, and eat instead, plenty of fruits, green vegetables, and other wholesome foods containing the necessary “vitamines” and minerals that the blood needs, and that at the same time furnish sufficient bulk to stimulate the sluggish bowels.
Stagnation of the human sewerage system is a more serious matter than a similar condition in the city sewerage system. Some cases that cannot be promptly benefited by diet alone can be helped by liquid paraffin. This is not a laxative, but acts merely as a lubricant. We are glad to supply it to those who cannot readily procure it at home.
At our present stage of knowledge, unquestionably competent surgery, performed in the early stages, holds out the best hope for the cancer victim. Only let it not be forgotten that the same hygienic program which would have prevented cancer in the first place should now be instituted to prevent its recurrence. The same principle applies equally well when cancer is benefited by x-ray or radium. None of these things can cure the cancerous condition in the system. Unless the cause is removed, they can at best only shrivel up the growth, and thus postpone the evil day.
THE “SURE CURE” DELUSION
Thus far, the so-called “sure cures” for cancer have all proved to be “a delusion and a snare”; and in view of the principles brought out in this article, they are likely to continue to be such, just as the sure cures for consumption were doomed to be failures. When we discovered that the consumptive needed fresh air to vitalize his blood, and nourishing food to build up his vitality, then we reached the real cause.
Unquestionably the same principle holds good for cancer; and the quicker the public becomes thoroughly converted on this point, the sooner we shall see a mighty reformation, and people will begin to eat for health instead of eating for destruction and disease, as they do at present. A momentary gratification of a perverted appetite is a small recompense for the terrible penalty that nature too often imposes sooner or later in the way of torturing death by cancer, or a wrecked brain from a stroke of apoplexy, or crippled circulation from partial heart failure, or a wretched death resulting from Bright’s disease.
Every intelligent physician knows that these chronic diseases are rapidly increasing in every part of the civilized world; and directly or indirectly, the root of them can be traced to dietetic errors and other wrong habits. It can be truthfully said of this generation, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
Let those who have treated genuine dietetic reform as a joke, tremble as they consider how thin and ghastly is the jest, when all around them are the sad and suffering victims of violated law. We have the divine assurance that as we reform, and obey God’s natural law, He will add His special blessing, not only physically, but also spiritually. So come, let us return to Him.
Constantinople the Goal of Ages
By Editor
For two hundred years, Russia has had longing eyes fixed on Constantinople. Germany feels that to protect her interests in Asia Minor and Turkey, she must at least have a controlling influence.
But who will get it?
Suppose Germany should defeat the allies. What effect would it have upon Turkey and Constantinople?
But enough; read about it in the January Signs Magazine. It gives some history, some Bible, and a large amount of sound thought on this much-discussed question.
There are twelve other good reasons why you should get a copy of the January number. Here they are:
CONTENTS
Are the Dead Alive? Purgatory Precedes Death; Purpose of Scientific Attainment; Religious Tyranny; Turkey and the East; The Messiah of Prophecy; The Beginning of Sin; The Tragic History of Liberty; The Sure Word of Prophecy; The Sabbath of the Apostles; The Prophecy of Revelation 17; and an even dozen of the leading current events of the day.
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A Worth-While PREMIUM
By Editor
“Hard” texts and difficult Bible questions explained — nearly 300 of them.
Don’t be unsettled; find the answer in “QUESTIONS and ANSWERS”
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Biblical Biographies
By Eliza H. Morton
THE secular biographer usually depicts the good only in the individuals whose lives he records. The sacred writers hesitate not to show the power of sin as manifest oftentimes even in the true servants of God.
The one instance of irritability in Moses, the one great sin of David, the idolatry of Solomon, the self-deceit of Balaam, and the weakness of human nature generally, are all faithfully portrayed by the pen of inspiration. These records are for our encouragement, and testify to the truthfulness of the Bible.
