EJW
E. J. Waggoner
We have whatever has been given to us, unless we refuse to receive it, or throw it away, or lose it. This being the case, let us note some of the things that have been given us, that we may know how well off we are. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 1.1
The Word of God.-Jesus said to the Father, “I have given unto them the words which Thou gavest Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from Thee, and they have believed that Thou didst send Me.” John 17:8. All that the Father has said to Jesus, His only begotten Son, He has passed on to us, so that we may know that we are sons of God just as surely as we know that He is the Son of God. What a rich gift this is! PTUK January 3, 1895, page 1.2
Peace.-Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you.” John 14:27. The world gives only where an equivalent can be returned; Christ gives to those who have nothing, and does not recall His gifts. If there is any man, therefore, who doesn’t have peace, it is because he doesn’t care for it, or doesn’t believe the Lord’s word. If we believe the word that He has given to us, then we have the same peace that Jesus had. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 1.3
Faith.—“Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17. With the word of God comes the power to grasp and appreciate it. “For I say through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Romans 12:3. The faith that is given is “the faith of Jesus,” so that by it we may live the same just life that Jesus lived, for “the just shall live by faith.” PTUK January 3, 1895, page 1.4
Grace.—“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” Ephesians 4:7, 8. If we have not received the grace of God in vain, we have salvation, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8. And “the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men.” Titus 2:11. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 1.5
Glory.—“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory.” Psalm 84:11. He has given grace to every man, and the glory is ours also; for Jesus said to the Father: “The glory which thou gavest Me, I have given them.” John 17:22. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 1.6
Christ Himself.—“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. He “gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity.” Titus 2:14. But we have more than a share in Him; we each one have the whole of Him, if we but believe that He “loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 1.7
Everything.-The riches of Christ are unsearchable. Ephesians 3:8. In Him are all things. Therefore “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Romans 8:32. “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.” Having all things, there is no possible chance for complaining or discouragement. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 1.8
Don’t Forget.-Let every one therefore continually say to himself: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits; who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Psalm 103:1-5. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 1.9
EJW
E. J. Waggoner
The Papacy is conducting an active lecturing campaign in England for the purpose of making converts from nominal Protestants to Romanism. A series of lectures are given, beginning with some subject not in controversy between the two bodies, as, that of the inspiration of the Scriptures, and calculated to make an impression favourable to the speaker and to Rome, and ending with such subjects as the rule of faith and the infallibility of the Pope. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 1.10
In this the Papal prelates find an easy and congenial task, and are meeting with no small degree of success; for although some anti-Catholic bodies have started an opposition crusade, to answer the arguments of Rome, and to present counter charges against her, they are shorn of their strength by the fact that they are standing on Rome’s ground, and endeavouring to fight her with her own weapons. There is in their attempt the deadly weakness of inconsistency. This Rome sees, and this she has no difficulty in showing. She knows how to use her own weapons, and to fight on her own ground. Her long experience has given her a training and resources which have made her incontestably superior in this respect to the forces with which she contends. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 1.11
The only power that can meet and vanquish Rome is the word of God: and this weapon Protestants, so-called, have for the most part abandoned. Those who still essay to use it find it a useless weapon in their hands; for by adopting the foundation principle of Rome,—that of the authority of the Bible and the Church,-they have placed themselves in the same position, and the “sword of the Spirit” cuts through them as it does through Rome. Rome has simply to remind them of the fact that they have chosen this position, to force an instant relinquishment of the only weapon that she dreads. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 2.1
When Protestants who profess to be guided in belief and practice solely by the word of God, quote that word against the corrupt doctrines and practices of the Roman Church, they are reminded by the latter that there is no warrant in Scripture for the observance of Sunday; and this being the truth, as they are forced to admit, they can defend their own belief in Sunday as the Sabbath and their observance of it, only by recourse to the authority of the Church as the interpreter of that word. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 2.2
But this is precisely the platform of Rome; she contends for nothing more. And when once it is admitted that the word of God is not sufficient in itself, the claims of the Church of Rome to be recognised and followed as its interpreter are as good as the claims of any other denomination. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 2.3
By what means, then, do “Protestants” who have in practice abandoned the word of God, hope to prove superior to Rome in the contest for the recognition and following of men? Can they win by argument, or by sophistry? No; Rome has a master hand for such weapons, and she is using them to demonstrate the inconsistency and weakness of the Protestant position. Every endorsement of her doctrines and methods by Protestants strengthens her hands. It throws the weight of logic upon her side. “Protestants” must now either return to the position of the supreme authority of the word of God, and conform in practice to that, or go on to a complete union with Rome, or be held up by Rome as a glaring example of inconsistency before the world. Rome will force them to choose in the matter, and indications are not wanting as to what the choice will be. The movement Romeward is becoming more and more definite and pronounced, and full union is the only place where it can end. This is what Rome wants, and which she confidently expects. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 2.4
But meanwhile the word of God has not lost its power, and those who hold to it, and it alone, have not been forced by Rome to yield their ground. The fortress of true Protestantism remains the same: the rock is not affected by the removal of those who have left it. Rome will gain the victory over those who have chosen her ground and her weapons: the devil will overcome all those who fight him with fire. But this will not affect the cause or the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. “The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” is almighty in the hand of him to whom it is the supreme rule of faith. It will cut through all its foes, and all who trust to it will get the victory. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 2.5
EJW
E. J. Waggoner
Papal Infallibility.-Aside from the wicked and blasphemous presumption involved in the claim that any creature is infallible, the Roman Catholic doctrine of infallibility is one of the most ridiculous things in the world. It is thought to relieve it of its baldness by saying that the Pope is not infallible except when he speaks ex cathedra. He is not infallible in ordinary conversation, and his opinions, and even on matters of polity or doctrine, are not to be received as infallible, unless it is stated that he speaks ex cathedra. But he himself is the sole judge as to when he thus speaks, and he can thus speak whenever he chooses. So he himself determines when he will be infallible and when he will not be. When he gets ready to give forth an infallible utterance, he virtually gives warning, saying, “Take care, I am infallible now.” Either this must be done, in order that “the faithful” may know what is imperative and what is not, or else they must be left in suspense until the event determines whether or not he was infallible at any given time. And since when he does not speak ex cathedra, he must be infallibly sure of that fact, it follows that the claim amounts to the same thing as his complete infallibility. The Pope’s claim is really this: “I am infallible all the time, but I do not choose to exercise my infallibility on all occasions.” PTUK January 3, 1895, page 2.6
EJW
E. J. Waggoner
We come now to the close of the eighth chapter of Romans. It is the Pisgah of the epistle, for from it the eye of faith sees the promised land a certainty. Perhaps at this point a very brief summary of the ground already passed over may be profitable. The following is perhaps about as briefly as it can be put. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 2.7
In the first chapter we have the theme of the epistle put in a few words. It is the Gospel of Christ, the power of God unto salvation. It is to both Jew and Gentile, and has been made known to all through the works of God. The condition of men who have refused to learn of God is then described. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 2.8
The second chapter shows us that at heart all are the same; that all are to be judged by one and the same standard; and that knowledge and high profession do not in themselves recommend any one to God. Obedience to God’s law is the only mark of an Israelite indeed and an heir of God. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 2.9
The third chapter emphasises the preceding points, and especially that there are no obedient ones. “By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” But there is nevertheless hope for all, because the righteousness of the law is put within and upon all who believe in Christ, so that a man is made a doer of the law by faith. One God justifies both Jews and Gentiles alike through faith. Faith is not a substitute for obedience to the law, but insures the doing of it. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 2.10
In the chapter fourth we have Abraham set forth as an illustration of righteousness gained by faith. We learn also that faith in Christ’s death and resurrection is the only way by which to inherit the promise to the fathers, which promise embraced nothing less than the possession of the earth made new. The blessing of Abraham is the blessing that comes by the cross of Christ. And since the promise to Israel was only the repetition of the promise to Abraham, we learn that Israel consists of those in every nation who gain the victory over sin through the cross of Christ. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 2.11
Abounding love and grace, and salvation through the life of Christ, may serve as the barest outline of chapter five. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 3.1
New creatures in Christ may serve to bring to the mind of the faithful reader the main thought of chapter sixth. It sets forth death, burial, resurrection, and life with Christ. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 3.2
In the chapter seventh we learn how close is the union between Christ and believers. They are married to him, so that they are “members of His body, of his flesh, and of His bones.” The struggles by which freedom is secured from the first husband the body of sin, are vividly portrayed. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 3.3
The eighth chapter, the crown of the book, describes the blessings of the free-born son of God. The hope of future immortality is the actual possession, through the Spirit, of the present life and glory of Christ. Those who are in Christ are predestined to eternal glory. And thus we are brought to PTUK January 3, 1895, page 3.4
“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” PTUK January 3, 1895, page 3.5
The apostle has asked, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” The answer must be, “No one.” God is greater than all, and none can pluck anything out of his hand. If he who has power to make all things work together for good is for us, then it is certain that everything must be for us. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 3.6
But the question often arises in the minds of people, “Is God really for us?” People often wickedly charge Him with being against them; and even professed Christians sometimes think that God is working against them. When troubles come, they imagine that God is fighting against them. Now that question is forever settled by one fact, and that is, that God is he who gives himself for us, and who justifies. Read the question and answer:— PTUK January 3, 1895, page 3.7
“Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” PTUK January 3, 1895, page 3.8
Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s own chosen? Shall God, who justifies them? Impossible. Well, God is the only one in the universe who has the right to lay anything to the charge of any; and since he justifies instead of condemning, we must be free. We are free if we believe it. Whom does He justify?—“The ungodly.” That leaves no doubt but that He justifies us. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 3.9
And what about Christ? Will He condemn us? How can He, when He gave Himself for us? But He gave Himself for us, according to the will of God. Galatians 1:4. “God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:17. He is risen again for our justification, and He is at the right hand of God for us. He interposes Himself between us and the death that we have deserved. Then there is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 3.10
“But,” says one, “Satan comes to me and makes me feel that I am such a sinner that God is angry with me, and that there is no hope for me.” Well, why do you listen to him? You know his character. “He is a liar and the father of it.” What have you to do with him? Let him accuse all he will; he is not the judge. God is the judge, and he justifies. Satan’s sole object is to deceive men, and allure them into sin, making them believe that it is right. Be sure, then, that he never tells an unforgiven man that he is a sinner. God does that by His Spirit, in order that the guilty man may accept the pardon that he freely offers. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 3.11
The case then stands thus: When God tells a man that he is a sinner, it is in order that the man may receive his pardon. If God says that a man is a sinner, then he is a sinner, and ought to acknowledge it, but “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” And this is true, no matter who tells us that we are sinners. Suppose that Satan tells us that we are sinners; we do not need to parley with him, or to stop a moment to discuss the question; we can let the accusation go, and comfort ourselves with the assurance that the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin. God doesn’t condemn even when He convicts of sin; and nobody else has any business to condemn. If they do condemn, their condemnation does not amount to anything. Therefore there is no condemnation to those who trust the Lord. Even Satan’s accusations may serve as encouragements to us; for we may be sure that he will never tell a man that he is a sinner, so long as that man is in his power. Since God is for us, everything is for us. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 3.12
“The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 3:3. Since this is so, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” His love is everlasting, and knows no change. And His love is for us; therefore nothing can separate us from it. Our own deliberate choice can reject it, but even then His love continues the same; only we have in that case removed ourselves from it. “If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful; He can not deny Himself.” 2 Timothy 2:13. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 3.13
Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword, separate us from the love of Christ? Impossible, since it was in those very things that his love for us was manifested. Death itself can not separate us from His love, since He so loved us that He gave Himself to die for us. Death is the pledge of His love. Sin, that separates us from God, does not separate us from His love, for “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” “Him who knew no sin be made to be sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21, R.V. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 3.14
“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” It must be so, since everything is for us. Since Christ suffered hunger, and distress, and peril, and even death itself, in order that He might deliver us, all those things are for us. It was through death that He gained the victory for us; therefore even in death we gain an overwhelming victory. Those whom Satan persecutes even to death, gain the greatest victory over him. That which seems to be a victory for Satan, is his most crushing defeat. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 3.15
Behold, what a wonderful provision God has made for our salvation! It is easy enough to see that if Satan did not trouble us at all, we should be saved. If our enemy would leave us entirely alone, we should have no trouble. So on that side we are safe. But he will not leave us alone. He goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Very well, God has so ordered it that even his attempts to destroy us help us along. Death is the sum of all the ills that Satan can bring upon us, and even in that we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. “Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” PTUK January 3, 1895, page 4.1
“For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.” Isaiah 30:15. “For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end.” Hebrews 3:14. Our faith is the victory. God alone is our strength and salvation. Therefore our strength consists in confidence in Him. “Trust ye in the Lord forever; for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.” Isaiah 27:5. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 4.2
The apostle Paul had been “in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.” He says: “Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day have I been in the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.” 2 Corinthians 11:24-27. Surely he is one who can speak with the authority of great experience. Hear, then, what He says:— PTUK January 3, 1895, page 4.3
“Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” PTUK January 3, 1895, page 4.4
Only to those who wilfully reject the love of God is there “a fearful looking for of judgment.” Christ says to us, “Be not therefore anxious for the morrow.” He does not desire that we should have our minds filled with fear and anxious forebodings. Some people can never be at rest, even under the most delightful circumstances, because they are afraid that something terrible will happen by and by. Now it makes no difference what may come, since neither things present nor things to come can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. We are assured that things to come, as well as things present, are ours. 1 Corinthians 3:22. Therefore in Christ we may sing:— PTUK January 3, 1895, page 4.5
“Let good or ill befall,
It must be good for me,
Secure of having Thee in all,
Of having all in Thee.” PTUK January 3, 1895, page 4.6
EJW
E. J. Waggoner
“In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:2. These words of the Saviour, spoken to His disciples just before His betrayal, manifest His unchanging interest in their welfare and that of His church. He would keep nothing from them which it is for their interest to know. He would not leave them to speculate over any point of truth which pertains to their salvation. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 4.7
His assertion that He would not have left the disciples ignorant concerning the nature of His Father’s house is an assurance that He has not left them ignorant concerning the path by which that house is to be reached. As we are told elsewhere in His word, “His Divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue.” 2 Peter 1:3. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 4.8
Therefore there is no room for speculation concerning the things which pertain to salvation. None of these things have been withheld from us; they are all revealed in the word of God. We find there a knowledge of God. We find there a knowledge of God’s will, which is His law. We find Jesus saying, “If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments,” and citing the law which says, “Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal,” etc. Matthew 19:17, 18. If that law had been changed, He would have told us. If that commandment which says, “The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God, in it thou shalt not do any work,” had been meant to apply in this age to the first day of the week, He would have told us. But so far from telling us this, He has expressly declared that not one jot or title should in any wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Matthew 5:18. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 4.9
Not speculation, nor reasoning, but the knowledge of Christ, is the source from whence we learn what things pertain to life and godliness. Speculation is not knowledge, nor is spiritual knowledge deduced by the reason of man. It is revealed in the word of the Lord. And he who feels obliged to speculate, and infer, and reason upon the word in order to find out the truth, may thereby know that what he needs is a closer acquaintance with Christ. When we know the Saviour well enough we shall know that He has Himself revealed to us every part of the way from earth to that place whither He has gone. He has told us all things which pertain to a saving knowledge of the truth. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 4.10
EJW
E. J. Waggoner
Many people pride themselves on their politeness, who never offer a word of thanks to the Giver of all that they have. True politeness does not ignore a favour because it comes from the Lord. It is a manifestation of the life within,—of the fragrance of the pure and upright principles that control the heart. Righteousness is both beautiful and fragrant. If God could be imposed upon and His favours bought, doubtless men would be much more obsequious to Him than they are. But politeness is not a form; it is not a medium of exchange. It is not a mere polish; it is indicative of the nature within. A polish can be put upon deal and similar woods, but it is a fraud; its only purpose is to deceive the eye. It is altogether different from the polish which comes from the fineness of texture of the wood itself. So the character must be of the right texture before the true polish can appear. And it must be made so by the converting power of God. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 4.11
There is no truth but God’s word. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 4.12
EJW
E. J. Waggoner
“Thou, O king, art a king of kings; for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath He given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.” Daniel 2:37, 38. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 5.1
How simple are the words of Divine truth! In the most direct manner, Daniel rehearsed the greatness of the empire over which Nebuchadnezzar reigned, and declared that it was represented by the golden head of the terrible image. The expression, “Thou art this head of gold,” does not refer to Nebuchadnezzar as an individual, but as the representative of the most magnificent empire that the world ever saw. It was to Nebuchadnezzar that Babylon owed her wonderful prosperity. Rawlinson says:— PTUK January 3, 1895, page 5.2
“Nebuchadnezzar is the great monarch of the Babylonian Empire, which, lasting only eighty-eight years-from B.C. 625 to B.C. 538-was for nearly half the time under his sway. Its military glory is due chiefly to him, while the constructive energy, which, constitutes its especial characteristic, belongs to it still more markedly through his character and genius. It is scarcely too much to say that, but for Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonians would have had no place in history. At any rate, their actual place is owing almost entirely to this prince, who to the military talents of an able general added a grandeur or artistic conception and a skill in construction which places him on a par with the greatest builders of antiquity.”—Seven Great Monarchies. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 5.3
It was fitting, therefore, that Nebuchadnezzar should stand for the empire. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 5.4
The extent of the Babylonian Empire is indicated in verse 38: “And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath He given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all.” This means universal dominion. A few years later, the prophet Jeremiah bore testimony to the same effect. The kings of Tyre, Edom, Moab, etc., with Zedekiah, king of Israel, were contemplating a revolt from Babylonian rule. To show them the folly of such an attempt, the prophet, by the command of the Lord, sent messengers to them, saying: “Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say unto your masters; I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me. And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him. And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son’s son, until the very time of his land come; and then many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of him.” Jeremiah 27:4-7. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 5.5
This language is not figurative nor hyperbolical. It is plain history and is substantiated by the writings of profane historians. The “Encyclopedia Britannica,” art. “Babylonia,” after telling how Nabopolassar, ruler of the province of Babylonia, revolted from Assyrian rule, says:— PTUK January 3, 1895, page 5.6
“The seat of empire was now transferred to the southern kingdom. Nabopolassar was followed in 604 by his son Nebuchadnezzar, whose lone reign of forty-three years made Babylon the mistress of the world. The whole East was overrun by the armies of Chaldea, Egypt was invaded, and the city of the Euphrates left without a rival.” PTUK January 3, 1895, page 5.7
The city of Babylon was described by Herodotus as follows:— PTUK January 3, 1895, page 5.8
“The city stands on a broad plain, and in an exact square, a hundred and twenty furlongs in length each way, so that the entire circuit is four hundred and eighty furlongs. While such is its size, in magnificence there is no other city that approaches to it. It is surrounded, in the first place, by a broad and deep moat, full of water, behind which rises a wall fifty royal cubits in width, and two hundred in height. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 5.9
“And here I may not omit to tell the use to which the mould dug out of the great moat was turned, nor the manner wherein the wall was wrought. As fast as they dug the moat the soil which they got from the cutting was made into bricks, and when a sufficient number were completed they baked the bricks in kilns. Then they set to building, and began with bricking the borders of the moat; after which they proceeded to construct the wall itself, using throughout for their cement hot bitumen, and interposing a layer of wattled reeds at every thirtieth course of the bricks. On the top, along the edges of the wall, they constructed buildings of a single chamber facing one another, leaving between them room for a four-horse chariot to turn. In the circuit of the wall are a hundred gates, all of brass with brazen lintels and sideposts. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 5.10
“The city is divided into two portions by the river which runs through the midst of it. This river is the Euphrates, a broad, deep, swift stream, which rises in Armenia and empties itself into the Erythrean [Arabian] Sea. [The river does not flow directly into the Arabian Sea, but into the Persian Gulf.] The city wall is brought down on both sides to the edge of the stream; thence from the corners of the wall, there is carried along each bank of the river a fence of burnt bricks. The houses are mostly three and four stories high; the streets all run in straight lines, not only those parallel to the river, but also the cross streets which lead down to the water-side. At the river end of these cross streets are low gates in the fence that skirts the stream, which are, like the great gates in the outer wall, of brass, and open on the water. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 5.11
“The outer wall is the main defence of the city. There is, however, a second inner wall, of less thickness than the first, but very little inferior to it in strength. The centre of each division of the town was occupied by a fortress. In the one stood the palace of the kings, surrounded by a wall of great strength and size; in the other was the sacred precinct of Jupiter Belus, a square enclosure two furlongs each way, with gates of solid brass; which was also remaining in my time.” PTUK January 3, 1895, page 5.12
The royal cubit was twenty-one inches. The reader will therefore see that the outer wall of the city was eighty-seven fifty feet high. The city was divided into two parts by the Euphrates, which ran diagonally through it, the banks of which were protected by walls, and the following means of passage from one part of the city to the other was devised:— PTUK January 3, 1895, page 6.1
“In each of these walls were twenty-five gates, corresponding to the number of the streets which gave upon the river; and outside each gate was a sloped landing-place, by which you could descend to the water’s edge, if you had occasion to cross the river. Boats were kept ready at these landing-places to convey passengers from side to side; while for those who disliked this method of conveyance a bridge was provided of a somewhat peculiar construction. A number of stone piers were erected in the bed of the stream, firmly clamped together with fastenings of iron and lead; wooden draw-bridges connected pier with pier during the day, and on these passengers passed over; but at night they were withdrawn, in order that the bridge might not be used during the dark. Diodorus declares that besides this bridge, to which he assigns a length of five stades (about one thousand yards) and a breadth of thirty feet, the two sides of the river were joined together by a tunnel, which was fifteen feet wide and twelve high to the spring of its arched roof.”—Rawlinson. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 6.2
The public buildings of the city were on the same magnificent scale. Of one of them we read:— PTUK January 3, 1895, page 6.3
“The most remarkable edifice in Babylon was the temple of Bel, now marked by the Babil, on the northeast, as Professor Rawlinson has shown. It was a pyramid of eight square stages, the basement stage being over two hundred feet high, two other statues of gold, a golden table forty feet long and fifteen feet broad, and many other colossal objects of the same precious material.”—Encyclopedia Britannica. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 6.4
“The great palace was a building of still larger dimensions than the great temple. According to Diodorus, it was situated within a triple enclosure, the innermost wall being twenty stades, the second forty stades, and the outermost sixty stades (nearly seven miles) in circumference. The outer wall was built entirely of plain baked brick. The middle and inner walls were of the same material, fronted with enameled bricks representing hunting scenes. The figures, according to this author, were larger than the life, and consisted chiefly of a great variety of animal forms.” PTUK January 3, 1895, page 6.5
“But the main glory of the palace was its pleasure-ground-the ‘Hanging Gardens,’ which the Greeks regarded as one of the seven wonders of the world. This extraordinary construction, which owed its erection to the whim of a woman, was a square, each side of which measured four hundred Greek feet. It was supported on several tiers of open arches, built one over the other, like the walls of a classic theatre, and sustaining at each stage, or story, a solid platform, from which the piers of the next tier of arches rose. The building towered into the air to the height of at least seventy-five feet, and was covered at the top with a great mass of earth, in which there grew not merely flowers and shrubs, but trees also of the largest size. Water was supplied from the Euphrates through pipes, and was raised (it is said) by a screw working on the principle of Archimedes.”—Ib. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 6.6
The city thus briefly outlined, well deserved the title given to it by the prophet,—“The glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency.” To the mind of man it would seem that the city so substantially built must stand for ever, but God had spoken to the contrary. Without pause, the prophet said: “And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee.” Daniel 2:39. Jeremiah, when he spoke of the greatness of Nebuchadnezzar’s empire, foretold its fall, and also told under whose reign it should fall. He said:— PTUK January 3, 1895, page 6.7
“And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son’s son, until the very time of his land come; and then many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of him.” Jeremiah 27:7. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 6.8
Thus we find that in the days of Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson the kingdom of Babylon should pass away, and other nations and other kings should establish themselves, and serve themselves of this kingdom. And in the direct record of the fall of Babylon, given in Daniel 5., Nebuchadnezzar is repeatedly spoken of as the grandfather of Belshazzar, the king who was reigning in Babylon at the time of its fall. See verses 2, 11, 13 (margin); also “Seven Great Monarchies,” Fourth Monarchy, chap. 8, notes 179, 185, and paragraph 51. The exact fulfilment of prophecy in the fall of Babylon will be noted in the next number. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 6.9
EJW
E. J. Waggoner
A zealous soul without meekness is like a ship in a storm,—in danger of wreck. A meek soul without zeal is like a ship in a calm that moves not as fast as it ought. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 6.10
EJW
E. J. Waggoner
“I am ashamed of some Christians because they have so much dependence on Parliament and the law of the land. Much good may Parliament ever do to true religion, except by mistake. As to getting the law of the land to touch our religion, we earnestly cry, ‘Hands off! Leave us alone.’ Your Sunday bills and all other forms of Act-of-Parliament religion seem to me to be all wrong. Give us a fair field and no favour, and our faith has no cause to fear. Christ wants no help from C?sar. Let our members of Parliament repent of the bribery and corruption so rife in their own midst before they set up to be protectors of the religion of our Lord Jesus. I should be afraid to borrow help from Government; it would look to me as if I rested on an arm of flesh, instead of depending on the living God. Let the Lord’s day be respected by all means, and may the day soon come when every shop shall be closed on the Sabbath, but let it be by the force of conviction, and not by force of the policeman: let true religion triumph by the power of God in men’s hearts, and not by the power of fines and punishments.”—Extract from one of Spurgeon’s Sermons. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 6.11
We are glad to be able to agree with every word of the above. Of course Mr. Spurgeon meant Sunday when he said, “Let the Lord’s day be respected by all means, and may the day soon come when every shop shall be closed on the Sabbath, but let it be by the force of conviction, and not by force of the policeman;” but with his words we can heartily agree, since “Lord’s day” and “Sabbath” are terms that designate the seventh day of the week, and no other. Nevertheless the principle is correct in any case: Let every man act according to his convictions, and not according to force or policy. A religion that cannot stand without aid or “protection” from civil government, is not worth the paper that is wasted in framing the laws for its support. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 6.12
EJW
E. J. Waggoner
Justifying the Catholic Church.-The Catholic Church well understands that in the recognition of Christmas, which is so general, she has a strong hold upon professed Protestants. So the paper that represents that branch of the English Church which would feel insulted if it were not called Catholic says:— PTUK January 3, 1895, page 6.13
We are thankful to see the Separatists so busily condemning, one by one, all the grounds of their separation, and justifying their mother the Church. Every Dissenting newspaper publishes a Christmas number, and prints a Christmas day sermon: and almost every meeting-house will be opened on Christmas day. This is a more hopeful sign for the recovery of union than all the compliments of Grindelwald. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 6.14
And, again:— PTUK January 3, 1895, page 7.1
We do not ask Dissenters to justify the Church by their words. They are themselves justifying her by their deeds. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 7.2
We are glad to see these things. We hope that “the Church” papers and speakers will press them more and more, until those who do not wish to be Catholic will see that the only way they can keep from it is to obey the word of God alone, and to forsake everything not commanded by it. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 7.3
EJW
E. J. Waggoner
The Daily Chronicle’s Rome correspondent telegraphs that when the Cardinals reassemble in conference they will discuss the question of union between Catholicism and the “Orthodox” Church in Russia. At the Pope’s request they will elaborate a scheme for the union of the churches, which will be submitted to the St. Petersburg Synod. The Pope does not expect immediate results, but he wishes to pave the way for ultimate action. The Czar’s action at the time of his marriage indicates that the Pope’s overtures will receive a “respectful hearing” in Russia as well as in England; and thus the time is drawing near, which was foretold by the prophet, when “all the world wondered after the beast, and they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast; and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” Revelation 13:3, 4. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 7.4
EJW
E. J. Waggoner
The Psalmist exclaims, “Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!” Psalm 107:8, 15, 21, 31. Why, indeed, should not man praise the Lord for these things? Are not His goodness and wonderful works manifest? Yes, they are seen and felt on every side. Is praise a difficult thing to produce? No; it is no more difficult than to speak. And yet few and faint are the words of praise that ascend to Him from a world overflowing with His gifts. The fact only shows the paralysing power of sin. It is sin that stops the voice of praise and blinds the sight to the tokens of the goodness of God. He says, “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me;” and it is when men glorify Him that He can let His glory be seen upon them. This is what would follow if men would but praise Him as the Psalmist desired. The glory of the Lord would be seen in the earth to the wonder of all and the salvation of many sinners. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 7.5
Every sin is a testimony against God and in favour of him with whom sin originated. Sin began with a failure to give praise to God. Lucifer wanted some of that praise for himself; and ever since that time he has been endeavouring to secure the praise of men. There is praise enough in the world, but it is not bestowed where it is due. Praise belongs unto God; it is due to Him alone; but men are willing to praise even things inanimate, rather than Him. If men would not manifest such base ingratitude and blind folly, God would do wonderful things for them beyond all that they have seen or imagined. The loss is theirs, not His. What good would it be to do more while His wonderful works that are now done are passed by almost without a word of recognition or praise? PTUK January 3, 1895, page 7.6
EJW
E. J. Waggoner
The Daily Chronicle, in a leader on ecclesiastical festivals and the religious idea bears witness to the paganising of the church after apostolic days. The absurd suggestion that the Christian religion was preserved by alliance with paganism and political power is of course wholly untrue. It was not Christianity that thus allied itself with earthly powers. Real Christianity in those days was kept alive by the preservation of the living word, and by the little bands of believers who were persecuted by the apostate Church which had forsaken God and joined itself to another master. Speaking of the medi?val darkness surrounding this confederacy in evil the Chronicle says:— PTUK January 3, 1895, page 7.7
“It must never be forgotten how much of the elements of Paganism had been incorporated into medi?val Christianity. The union of the Church with the Roman Empire was, doubtless, inevitable and necessary. The tares had to grow with the wheat, as the symbolism of the parable has it. When the early fervour of the Church had died away, it is very doubtful whether Christianity would have been preserved as a commanding fact and universal formative influence in Europe had it not been for the political power with which it was so closely united. And yet what a price this was to pay for the spread of a nominal Christianity! Even to-day, more than fifteen centuries after the time of Constantine, Christianity is credited with ideas and customs that are, as all scholars know, absolutely Pagan, and which, under other names, were familiar to the minds of Greeks and Romans for centuries before the Christian religion was born among the hills and by the Lake Galilee.” PTUK January 3, 1895, page 7.8
EJW
E. J. Waggoner
The Way of Escape.-It is the will of God that men should live without sin, and He has made provision that they may do so. We are inclined to think that at times we cannot help being overcome, but this is a mistake. Paul writes, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to men; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13. The way is there; the only trouble is that we fail to see it. We look at the temptation, we look at ourselves, and we seem to be hopelessly trapped. Ah, we do not see Christ! He is the way of escape. There is no sin in that Way. We have but to see and fly to it, and we are safe. It is only when we look away from Him that danger comes. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 7.9
EJW
E. J. Waggoner
The life of the Italian peasant in the upper valleys of the Piedmont far from the beaten paths of tourists’ travel, is a very simple one, and arduous. The sustenance must be gathered from the soil in some way, and here, where nature has piled the mountains one upon another, it requires a struggle to gather the necessaries of life. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 12.1
Our farmers who cut their supply of hay for the winter from smooth meadows, or even perhaps sometimes from steep hillsides, which slope at an angle that makes the swinging of the scythe an inconvenient exercise, will be prepared to sympathise with the hay-gatherers who climb from crag to crag to gather a bundle of grass, and then pick their way again down the mountain sides to their homes, bearing the burden upon their backs. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 12.2
But the simple fare, the bracing atmosphere, and the out-of-door labour make hard muscles and sturdy limbs. And the mountains which shut in these valleys and seem at first sight to be rather against the people who find homes amongst them, have often in centuries past been heaven-provided places of refuge for the persecuted, and may be again when Rome again secures the power for which she is seeking. The following paragraphs from “The Great Controversy,” by Mrs. E. G. White, show how the early Piedmontese were saved from destruction when Rome set herself utterly to “wear our the saints of the Most High:”— PTUK January 3, 1895, page 12.3
“For centuries the churches of Piedmont maintained their independence; but the time came at last when Rome insisted upon their submission. After ineffectual struggles against her tyranny, the leaders of these churches reluctantly acknowledged the supremacy of the power to which the whole world seemed to pay homage. There were some, however, who refused to yield to the authority of pope or prelate. They were determined to maintain their allegiance to God, and to preserve the purity and simplicity of their faith. A separation took place. Those who adhered to the ancient faith now withdrew; some, forsaking their native Alps, raised the banner of truth in foreign lands; others retreated to the secluded glens and rocky fastnesses of the mountains, and there preserved their freedom to worship God... PTUK January 3, 1895, page 12.4
“Behind the lofty bulwarks of the mountains,—in all ages the refuge of the persecuted and oppressed,—the Waldenses found a hiding-place. Here the light of truth was kept burning amid the darkness of the Middle Ages. Here, for a thousand years, witnesses for the truth maintained the ancient faith. God had provided for his people a sanctuary of awful grandeur, befitting the mighty truths committed to their trust. To those faithful exiles the mountains were an emblem of the immutable righteousness of Jehovah. They pointed their children to the heights towering above them in unchanging majesty, and spoke to them of Him with whom there is no variableness nor shadow of turning, whose word is as enduring as the everlasting hills. God had set fast the mountains, and girded them with strength; no arm but that of infinite power could move them out of their place. In like manner he had established his law, the foundation of his government in Heaven and upon earth. The arm of man might reach his fellow-men and destroy their lives; but that arm could as readily uproot the mountains from their foundations, and hurl them into the sea, as it could change one precept of the law of Jehovah, or blot out one of his promises to those who do his will. In their fidelity to his law, God’s servants should be as firm as the unchanging hills.... PTUK January 3, 1895, page 12.5
“The mountains that girded their lowly valleys were a constant witness to God’s creative power, and a never-failing assurance of his protecting care. Those pilgrims learned to love the silent symbols of Jehovah’s presence. They indulged no repining because of the hardships of their lot; they were never lonely amid the mountain solitudes. They thanked God that he had provided for them an asylum from the wrath and cruelty of men. They rejoiced in their freedom to worship before him. Often when pursued by their enemies, the strength of the hills proved a sure defense. From many a lofty cliff they chanted the praise of God, and the armies of Rome could not silence their songs of thanksgiving.” PTUK January 3, 1895, page 12.6
EJW
E. J. Waggoner
-The Pope has created three new “apostolic vicariates” in the lake district of Central Africa. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 14.1
-It is estimated that a ton of gold, used in stopping teeth, is annually buried in American cemeteries. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 14.2
-No less than 105 persons lost their lives during the great of Friday and Saturday, December 21, 22. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 14.3
-The Indian National Congress is in session at Madras, 1,150 delegates and 3,000 visitors being present at the opening meeting. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 14.4
-The steamer Abydos was lost in the storm of December 22, near the Isle of Man, and her crew of twenty-two men were drowned. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 14.5
-A new yacht has boon built for the Czar, 425 feet in length, with 10,000 horse power, and manned by a crew of over 300 men. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 14.6
-The transatlantic steamship record Eastward has been reduced by a recent voyage of the Campania to five days nine and a-half hours. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 14.7
-No fewer than 6,336 persons were injured and 172 killed in the streets of London in the last year. Cycles caused injury to over 600 persons. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 14.8
-The British flag was hoisted in November at Jebu Remo, West Africa, and the country declared to be formally annexed to the British possessions. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 14.9
-The position of the Jews in the southwest of Russia, where they have been treated with great severity by Count Ignatieff, is now, by the removal of that official, said to be greatly improved. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 14.10
-At a recent meeting of Holland Socialists held at the Hague, it was decided to replace the old Dutch Socialist League by a now organisation, the Congress of which should hereafter be held in public. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 14.11
-A Russian physician has been testing how far animals can count. He declares that the crow can count up to ten, and is thereby superior to certain Polynesian tribes of men, who cannot got beyond five or six. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 14.12
-Recently in Madrid thousands of people paid fabulous prices and fought their way into the arena to witness a deadly combat between an African lion and a five-year-old Spanish bull. To the surprise of the spectators, the bull quickly defeated the lion. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 14.13
-The total loss caused by the Chicago railway strike last summer in loss of wages, destruction of property, and cutting off of traffic, has been computed by the federal commissioners at about seven million donate. Besides this, twelve persons lost their lives. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 14.14
-A railway accident, attended with fatal consequences, occurred on Christmas day at Dallas, Texas, by the collision of two passenger trains on the Texas Central Reeds. Sixteen people were killed. The accident was due to the defective working of the air brakes. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 14.15
-In Georgia, U.S.A., a negro suspected of a crime was pursued by whites to a town inhabited by coloured people. Because they refused to give him up, fighting ensued, nearly twenty blacks being killed, and many others injured. Women, it is alleged, were subjected to violence and outrage. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 14.16
-The “purification” of New York City officialdom still goes on, end has now taken hold of the police. As a first result of the trials for bribery and blackmailing, Captain Stephenson, a member of the force, has been sentenced to three years and nine months’ imprisonment, and to pay a fine of 1,000 dollars. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 14.17
-During the progress of a negro fair in Alabama, U.S., December 23, some drunken negroes became noisy, and an attempt was made to eject them, when one of the men fired a shot, and a regular riot ensued, during which knives and pistols were freely used. Four persons were killed and thirteen others mortally wounded, among the latter being several women. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 14.18
-Never before has the Parcel Post carried so many Christmas presents. Even in London alone they numbered hundreds of thousands, and the various carriers were equally deluged, the vans being engaged all day on Sunday delivering pack-ages. A writer estimates that the extra expense incurred by the community at the Christmas season amounts to thirteen millions sterling. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 14.19
-During the storm on Saturday evening, Dec. 22, a railway goods wagon was blown from a siding on to the main line at Chelford, on the London and Northwestern Railway, with the result that a collision took place a moment later with a heavy express train, which was running at a high speed. Several cars were demolished and thirteen of the passengers were killed, while many others were injured. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 14.20
-The treachery of the French artillery Captain Dreyfus has brought on him a terrible punishment. He was found guilty by a court martial of selling to a foreign Power certain documents connected with the national defence, and was sentenced on Saturday to transportation and perpetual imprisonment in a fortress, and to military degradation. It is now proposed in France that treason on the part of any officer or ones in the army shall he punishable by death time of peace as well as in time of war. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 14.21
EJW
E. J. Waggoner
The “apostolic delegate” in the United States, Mgr. Satolli, has promulgated an edict of the Pope, placing under the ban of the Church as secret societies the Oddfellows, the Knights of Pythias, and the Sons of Temperance.-Reuter. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 16.1
At Warwick, where a clerical majority of the School Board, decided to introduce the “Apostle’s Creed” “with proper explanations,” the parents of 250 children have sent in notices to withdraw their children from religious instruction. An attempt has been made to conciliate them by saying that it is only desired to teach the creed without explanations; but if the parents are true Protestants they will refuse to be caught. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 16.2
Ever since the creation it has been true that the whole earth is full of the glory of the Lord (see Isaiah 6:3), and that the heavens declare it. Psalm 19:1. The trouble is that men are so self-centred that they do not recognise it. The work of the Gospel is to lead men to recognise the glory of God in His works, and to do all things to His glory. When the Gospel shall have been finished, then “the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14), and then God will be all in all. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 16.3
The Catholic Church has nearly recovered the place in Germany, which it lost to the Reformation. Count Bernstorff, of Berlin, has written an article for a syndicate of religious weeklies, in which he says that “Protestantism has done much to tone down Catholicism in Germany, and make it something vastly different from the Catholicism of Spain, Italy, and other countries.” It is stated that “in many important questions Catholics and Protestants are at one,” which is true, because in some of them Protestants have gone back to Romanism, and in others they never separated. Whenever Protestants, so-called, and Catholics are alike, it may be set down as a fact that Catholics are the dominating force. It is significant that the principal point of likeness that is noted to the credit of Catholics is in their support of efforts to secure Sunday as a rest day. Protestants in their blindness think that Rome is coming over to them, when she is simply caring for her own. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 16.4
The Church Times says: “Christmas day is the only day in every year upon which all sorts of conditions of men, willingly or unwillingly, pay some degree of graceful homage to the Catholic Church.” Fortunately there are some yet who do not bow the knee to Rome, and doubtless there are many others who will refuse even this tribute when they learn that in recognising Christmas Day they are exalting, not Christ, but the Catholic Church. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 16.5
The same paper says further concerning the Pope’s efforts for unity:— PTUK January 3, 1895, page 16.6
All Christians cannot but sympathise with the Pope’s sincere and holy desire for the healing of the wounds of Christendom, and they will receive with all due respect any appeal he may judge fit to put forth. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 16.7
We are Christians, but we beg to be left out of that statement. As followers of Christ we cannot give any hearing whatever to anything any pope may say. The most that the Pope can do to heal the wounds of Christendom is to become a Christian himself, and in order to be a Christian he would need to cease to be Pope. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 16.8
In the memorial which is being circulated as a protest against the consecration, by the Archbishop of Dublin, of a bishop of the Reformed Church in Spain, one of the strong reasons against the recognition of that Church by the Anglican Church is that in its Prayer Book “The Office for the Baptism of Infants” contains no reference to any “mystical washing away of sin,” and it omits the idea expressed by the words, “seeing now that this child is regenerate,” or, “that it hath pleased Thee to regenerate this infant with Thy Holy Spirit.” PTUK January 3, 1895, page 16.9
Old and young come to him with their problems of life. He enters into their feelings, he knows their temptations, and appreciates their weaknesses. While stern in his judgment of sin, he loves the sinner. Many are the hours of vicarious suffering he has spent, with the sins of others weighing him down. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 16.10
Of whom is this spoken? of the Lord Jesus Christ? He is the only one to whom it can rightly apply, but it actually appeared in an American religious paper with reference to a minister who has recently achieved distinction as a director of politics. What a blessing it would be if people would trust the Lord as readily as they will a man. Hero-worship is largely superseding the worship of the Lord in the church that bears His name. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 16.11
“Thou shalt call His name Jesus; for He shall save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21. But there would be no chance for Him to save His people from their sins if they got rid of their sins before becoming His. Sinners, therefore, are the Lord’s people. “This Man receiveth sinners.” They belong to Him, because He has bought them. “Christ died for the ungodly.” He receives sinners, and claims them as His own people, in order that He may save them from their sins. The person, therefore, who thinks that he is too sinful for the Lord to accept, is doing His best to deprive Jesus of His rightful office, that of Saviour. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 16.12
A Christian is one who not only professes belief in Christ, but who is an actual follower of Him. Christ says of Himself, “I am meek and lowly in heart.” He is one who does not exercise lordship, but who serves. Least of all is he who sets himself up in Christ’s stead. The Pope of Rome claims to be Christ’s vicar on earth. He claims to have the authority of Christ on earth. That is to put himself in the place of Christ, and thus to be antichrist. But Christ and antichrist have nothing in common. Therefore wherever the Pope is honoured and exalted, there Christ is dishonoured and denied. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 16.13
Christ said, “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:20. Now since a vicar or vicegerent is one who takes the place of another, and acts in his stead, it is evident that the claim that Christ has a vicar on this earth is a denial that Christ Himself is with His people. The Papacy, therefore, is as opposed to Christ as darkness is to light. There are very many honest, sincere Catholics, who serve God to the best of their knowledge; but Catholicism itself is antichristian. For Catholics we have only love; for Catholicism we are not allowed to have any sympathy. PTUK January 3, 1895, page 16.14