When we think of it, we realise that our knowledge of even the simplest everyday things about us is very superficial. What do we really know of the origin and action of those vital forces by which the plant, which we see and delight in daily, is so symmetrically formed in stalk, and leaf, and bud, and bloom, and then so exquisitely tinted and perfumed? We cannot formulate the law of the life of this little flower. We cannot gather together the forces by which it originates and develops and set them in motion.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 34.1

Science notes all the phenomena of growth and catalogues the forms of its development, but, when it enquires for the sources of all this, human science is utterly at fault and helpless. He who ignores God's creative fiat is ignorant of the foundation of science.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 34.2

But they who realise that the omnipotent Word is the origin of all, and that it is the “word,“ the “water,“ the “bread,“ and the “light” of life, which continues to support all life and existence, organic and inorganic,—they have begun their course at the school of the prophets, to be eternally taught of the Lord.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 34.3

England's great poet has spoken of this with a beauty of simplicity worthy of quotation:—PTUK January 21, 1897, page 34.4

“Flower in the crannied wall,
I pluck you out of the crannies,
Hold you then, root and all, in my hand.
Little flower; but if I could understand
What you are, root and all, and all in all,
I should know what God and man is.”PTUK January 21, 1897, page 34.5

The little flower, the wide earth out of which it grows, the sun, the moon, and the far stars, which shine upon it by day and by night, are all God's creatures, proving to us His Fatherhood, His daily care, and His infinite love.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 34.6

“The Criticism of Unbelief” The Present Truth, 13, 3.

E. J. Waggoner

The Word of God warns us that the thought of God are not the thoughts of men, and that His ways are past finding out. Despite this, however, and notwithstanding the Divine injunction to the contrary, men continue systematically to discount the teachings of Holy Writ. A large proportion of the most popular and influential religious teachers to-day believe in the Bible, and teach it, only as interpreted by human reason, not resting in faith on God's own words, and allowing them to explain themselves, or be their own interpretation, one of the other.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 34.7

To allow the Bible to explain and interpret itself would be the natural method,—it would be the attitude which well-disposed critics would assume toward the work of an author in whom they had confidence.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 34.8

If the reliability of a writer were doubted, then the testimony of the internal evidence would not be considered sufficient. It would be thought necessary to subject them to searching tests as to whether everything therein stated could be corroborated, and the domain of literature would be carefully searched to find whether other men had ever previously written or spoken the same things. But this active investigation, in which the statements and assertions of the writer himself should be quite disregarded, would imply a doubt of his truthfulness. It would be as much as to say that judgment upon his credibility was held in abeyance, awaiting the result of the investigation. Then it might be expected that if contradictory statements were discovered, even if unsupported, they would be held as throwing a cloud of uncertainty over the accuracy of his narrative. Then, if in the nature of things it should be impossible to prove the false to be false, or to harmonise seeming contradictions, it must necessarily remain uncertain as to where the truth really was.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 34.9

This is the method which is followed in popular Biblical criticism,—the method of unbelief. Then, as it is certain that the thoughts of God are not the thoughts of men, is it not just as sure that when it is attempted to corroborate the deeds of Divinity, it will be found impossible to bring forward what the human mind, from that point of view, will recognise as conclusive? Were it possible, however, the very corroboration and proof, which is sought, would be instantly destructive of the element of Divinity in the deed.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 34.10

So these critics by the course which they pursue find unbelief a necessity, whatever their eventual conclusion. Therefore the Bible is, in their eyes, no longer an inspired Book. For them Genesis is no longer the story of genesis; the warning of the flood serves no purpose as a reminder of the destruction which is to come; Sinai's thunders fail to call their attention to the authority and immutability of God's law; and Revelation fails to reveal.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 34.11

This is the result of attempting to prove the infinite by the finite, of attempting to measure the mind of God and His ways by the mind of man and human methods. It is the criticism of unbelief, and not prayerful Biblical study inspired by faith in God. He who devotes himself to the study of the Word of God by faith will never have doubts of its inspiration; God Himself will open his mental vision to see the things of God.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 34.12

“What is Needed” The Present Truth, 13, 3.

E. J. Waggoner

What is Needed.—The New York Independent says:—PTUK January 21, 1897, page 34.13

Six men lynched in Kentucky in six days, is the record of last week. We have no doubt that the usual reckoning of one hundred lynched in this country in a year is much below the truth. If law cannot correct the evil, then a new Christianity needs to undertake the task.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 34.14

What is needed is not “a new Christianity,“ but the old Christianity, even “that which was from the beginning,“ the Word of Life. Not that Christianity can stop wicked men from doing wickedly, but when the Word is given free course, and not covered up and crowded out by human inventions in religion, it can and will transform many wicked men into good men. Christians who advocate “a new Christianity” are largely responsible for much of the evil that exists. “Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 34.15

“The Promises to Israel. The Promised Rest” The Present Truth, 13, 3.

E. J. Waggoner

“My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.” Exodus 33:14.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 36.1

It was with these words that God encouraged Moses to lead the people of Israel forward after they had so grievously sinned in making and worshipping the golden calf.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 36.2

THE REST OF CHRIST

In our study of the rest that God promised His people, it will be well to remember that the promise here recorded is identical with that in Matthew 11:28. Rest was promised, and could be found, only in God's presence, which was to go with His people. So Christ, who is “God with us” (Matthew 1:23), and who is with us “all the days, even to the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20), says, “Come unto Me, all ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” The rest that was offered to the children of Israel in the desert, is the very same rest that Christ offers to all mankind, rest in God, in the everlasting arms-for the only begotten Son “is in the bosom of the Father.” John 1:19. “As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you.” Isaiah 66:13.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 36.3

But God always was and is everywhere present; why then do not all people have rest?—For the simple reason that as a general thing men do not recognise His presence, nor even His existence. Instead of taking God into account in all the affairs of life, most people live as though He did not exist. “Without faith it is impossible to please Him; for He that cometh to God must believe that He is.” Hebrews 11:6. This shows that the general inability to please God, and so to find rest, arises from practical unbelief that He exists.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 36.4

How can we know that God exists?—Ever since the creation of the world, the invisible things of God, namely, His eternal power and Divinity, have been clearly revealed in the things that He has made (See Romans 1:20), so that those who do not know Him are without excuse. It is as Creator that God reveals Himself, for the fact that He creates marks Him as the self-existent God, and distinguishes Him from all false gods. “The Lord is great, and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols; but the Lord made the heavens.” Psalm 96:4, 5. “The Lord is the true God, He is the living God, and an everlasting King.... The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. He hath made the earth by His power, He hath established the world by His wisdom.” Jeremiah 10:10-12. “My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:2. “Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 124:8. Now since rest is found only in God's presence, and His presence is truly known and appreciated only through His works, it is evident that the promised rest must be very closely connected with creation.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 36.5

THE REST AND INHERITANCE INSEPARABLE

This we find is the case, for the rest and the inheritance were always associated together in the promise. When the children of Israel were being instructed in the wilderness, they were told: “Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes. For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which the Lord your God giveth you. But when ye go over Jordan, and dwell in the land which the Lord your God giveth you to inherit, and when He giveth you rest from all your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in safety; then there shall be a place which the Lord your God shall choose to cause His name to dwell there.” Deuteronomy 12:8-16. So also Moses said to the tribes that had their lot on the east side of Jordan: “The Lord your God hath given you this land to possess it; ye shall pass over armed before your brethren the children of Israel, all that are sons of power. But your wives, and your little ones, and your cattle ... shall abide in your cities which I have given you; until the Lord have given rest unto your brethren, as well as unto you, and until they also possess the land which the Lord your God hath given them beyond Jordan.” Deuteronomy 3:18-20. The rest and the inheritance are really one. Our inheritance is rest, in the place of the weariness that sin brings. In Christ, who is “God with us,“ we find rest, “in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him that worketh all things after the counsel of His own will.” The Holy Spirit is the first-fruits of this inheritance, until the purchased possession is redeemed. “The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance.” Psalm 16:5. He is both our rest and our inheritance; having Him, we have all.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 36.6

We have already seen the children of Israel in the land of promise; the land, and therefore the rest, was theirs, for we read this statement of what was true in the days of Joshua:—PTUK January 21, 1897, page 36.7

“And the Lord gave unto Israel all the land which He sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein. And the Lord gave them rest round about, according to all that He sware unto their fathers; and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand. There failed not aught of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.” Joshua 21:43-48.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 36.8

JOSHUA REHEARSES GOD's FAITHFULNESS

But if we should stop here, we should fall into grave error. Passing by one chapter, we come to the record of what Joshua told “all Israel” and their elders, their judges, etc., “a long time after that the Lord had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about.” Joshua 23:1, 2. After reminding them of what the Lord had done for them, he said:—PTUK January 21, 1897, page 37.1

“Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward. And the Lord your God, He shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the Lord your God hath promised unto you. Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left; that ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them; but cleave unto the Lord your God, as ye have done unto this day. For the Lord hath driven out from before you great nations and strong; but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day. One man of you shall chase a thousand; for the Lord your God, He it is that fighteth for you, as He hath promised you. Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the Lord your God. Else if ye do in anywise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you; know for a certainty that the Lord your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the Lord your God hath given you. And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth; and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing had failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof. Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which the Lord your God promised you; so shall the Lord bring upon you all evil things, until He have destroyed you from off this good land which the Lord your God hath given you. When ye have transgressed the covenant of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which He hath given you.” Joshua 23:4-15.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 37.2

THE REST ASSURED ONLY TO FAITH

In this portion of Scripture we have further evidence that the inheritance is the promised rest. We are plainly told that God had given Israel rest, and that this talk occurred a long time after that; yet in that very talk they were told the conditions upon which they might surely have the rest, and upon which the enemies that were still in the land would be driven out. It all depended on Israel's faithfulness to God. If they should go back from serving the Lord, and go after other gods, then they were to know for a certainty that God would no more drive out the remaining nations from before them, but those nations should continually harass them, and the Lord would utterly destroy them from off the face of the land which He had given them.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 37.3

Now how could the children of Israel be said to have rest from all their enemies, and to have the land in possession, when those enemies were still in the land, and there was a possibility that the enemies might drive them out, instead of being driven out? The Scriptures themselves afford the answer. For instance, when all the kings of the Amorites threatened the Gibeonites, who were in league with the Israelites, the Lord said to Joshua, “Fear them not; for I have delivered them into thy hand.” Joshua 10:8. What did Joshua then do?—He went and took them. He did not doubtingly say, “I don't see any evidence that the Lord has delivered them into my hands, for I haven't them;” neither did he foolishly say. “Since the Lord has given them into my hand I can disband my forces and take my ease.” In either case he would have been overcome, even after God had given him the victory. By his activity, Joshua showed that he really believed what the Lord said. Faith works, and continues to work.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 37.4

In like manner the people were told that God had given them the victory, while at the same time they stood outside the high walls and barred gates of Jericho. It was true that God had given them the victory, and yet it all depended on them. If they had refused to shout, they would never have seen the victory.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 37.5

In Christ we have the rest and the inheritance; but in order to be made partakers of Christ we must “hold fast the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end.” Hebrews 3:14. Jesus says, “In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. Yet in the very same talk He said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you.” John 16:27. What! peace in the midst of tribulation? Yes; for take notice that He says, “Not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” To have tribulation, and yet not be troubled; to be in the midst of danger, and yet have no fear; to be in the heat of battle, and yet enjoy perfect peace,—truly this is giving in a far different way from what the world gives.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 37.6

THE WARFARE ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED

Listen to the message which the prophet Isaiah was commissioned to give to Israel when they were passing through the most trying experiences, a message that is for us even more than for the men who lived when it was spoken: “Comfort ye, comfort ye My people, saith your God. Speak ye to the heart of Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned.” Isaiah 40:1, 2. Glorious assurance! The warfare is accomplished, the battle ended, the victory won! Shall we conclude therefore that we may safely go to sleep? By no means; we must be awake, and make use of the victory which the Lord has won for us. The conflict is against principalities and powers (Ephesians 6:12), but Jesus has “spoiled principalities and powers,“ and made a triumphant show of them (Colossians 2:15), and has been raised to sit in heavenly places, “far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come” (Ephesians 1:20, 21), and God has also raised us up with Him, to sit with Him in the same heavenly places (Ephesians 2:1-6), equally high above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. We may, therefore, and certainly ought to say, from the heart, “Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”PTUK January 21, 1897, page 37.7

LESSONS FROM THE PSALMS

David understood and rejoiced in this victory when he was hunted like a partridge on the mountains. Yet one time he was hiding in a cave in the wilderness of Ziph, and the Ziphites came to Saul and treacherously revealed his hiding-place, and said, “Now, therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand.” 1 Samuel 23:15-20. Yet David, knowing all this, took his harp and composed a psalm of praise, saying, “I will freely sacrifice unto Thee; I will praise Thy name, O Lord, for it is good. For He hath delivered me out of all trouble.” Psalm 54:6, 7. Read the entire Psalm, including the introduction. So he could sing, “Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear.” Psalm 27:3. The third Psalm, with its expressions of confident trust in God, and its note of victory, was composed while he was exiled from his throne, fleeing before Absalom. We need so to learn the twenty-third Psalm, that it will not be mere empty words when we say, “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”PTUK January 21, 1897, page 38.1

THE STRONG MAN OVERCOME

The victory that hath overcome the world is our faith. Oh, that we could realise and ever bear in mind the fact that the victory is already won, that Christ, the Mighty One, has come upon the strong man, our adversary and oppressor, and has overcome him, and taken from him all his armour wherein he trusted, so that we have to fight only with a conquered and disarmed foe. The reason why we are overcome is that we do not believe and know this fact. If we know it, and remember it, we shall never fall; for who would be so foolish as to allow himself to be taken captive by an enemy without armour and without strength?PTUK January 21, 1897, page 38.2

How many of the blessings that God has given us are lost simply because our faith does not grasp them. How many blessings has He given us?—“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” “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. And yet, notwithstanding the fact that all things are ours (1 Corinthians 3:21), we often act as though we had nothing. A man, a professor of religion and a leader in the church, once said when these texts were repeated to him for his encouragement, “If God has given me all these things, why don't I have them?” There are doubtless many who will read their own experience in this question. The answer was easy; it was because he did not believe that God had given them to him. He couldn't feel that he had them, and therefore he didn't believe that he had them; whereas it is faith that must grasp them, and a man cannot hope to be able to feel a thing that he does not touch. The victory is not doubt, not sight, not feeling, but faith.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 38.3

The subject of the Promised Rest will be concluded next week.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 38.4

“The Powers and the Papacy” The Present Truth, 13, 3.

E. J. Waggoner

Preparations for the election of the next pope, in the event of the death of the present occupant of the Papal chair, have been under consideration for a long time. The Papacy is too mighty a machine to be materially affected by the death of its head. But so great is the political power of Rome that all the European nations are directly concerned in the matter of selecting Leo's successor, professedly Protestant Germany no less than Austria and France.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 38.5

The Powers are interested in the Papacy for what they can get out of it to advance political ends, and the Papacy purposely makes itself necessary to the Powers in order to play them against one another for the exaltation of the Church to power over men's souls and persons. The specially Catholic Powers have always claimed the right to object to the nomination if desirable, or even to veto the choice of the Cardinals. But according to the Standard's correspondent, the Papal Nuncios at Vienna, Paris, Madrid, and Lisbon have just been instructed to inform the Governments to which they are accredited that “it must be understood that any idea of exercising the veto at the next Papal election, which has been alluded to by some of the Powers, must be totally abandoned henceforth.” The prophecy truly described the Papacy as a world-power, diverse from the others, but still only an earthly and corrupt power, intriguing with the kings of the earth, the chief agency of Satan and in corrupting man's ways in the last days.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 38.6

“White and Black Heathenism” The Present Truth, 13, 3.

E. J. Waggoner

“There is no difference,“ says the Book, between sinful men. All alike are what Satan makes of them, unless saved by grace. The barbarity of the black savage is Satan's way of working through a black skin, and the same power is able to work the same wickedness in the white when restraints are removed. Men of all races and colours are brothers when saved, and they are brothers in sin. The Christian notices this in a comment on a recent book about Africa:—PTUK January 21, 1897, page 38.7

How little civilisation, apart from religion, tends to bring right thoughts into men's hearts towards others of alien race and colour is sadly shown by Mr. Selous (the African explorer) in his new book on South Africa. That enterprising traveller writes regarding the native races of South Africa, some of whom are now in revolt in Bechuanaland:—PTUK January 21, 1897, page 38.8

The Kaffirs whom we sought to destroy with as little compunction as though they were a pack of wild dogs, are not men and brothers, but monsters in human shape, that ought to be shot down mercilessly like wild dogs and hyenas.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 38.9

If this is the attitude of the average South African settler, is it any wonder that there are occasional reprisals in the shape of massacre and murder, and that periodical revolt breaks out against the contemptuous tyranny of the white man?PTUK January 21, 1897, page 38.10

“Items of Interest” The Present Truth, 13, 3.

E. J. Waggoner

—In the far East, where elephants are used as beasts of burden, an elephant load is estimated at two tons.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 46.1

—France has kept 200,000 tons of coal stored at Toulon since 1893 to be ready in case war should break out.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 46.2

—It is said that a party of explorers in Venezuela have discovered a waterfall which is not less than 1,500 feet in height.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 46.3

—There have been a greater number of marriages solemnised in England the past year than in any previous equal time for twenty years.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 46.4

—The ancient copper mines of Sinai, which were worked by the Egyptians thousands of years ago, have lately been re-explored.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 46.5

—Our population is increasing at the rate of about 300,000 per annum, so that we are growing about three Birminghams every four years.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 46.6

—The sanitary authorities in Bombay find that ants and rate spread the plague from house to house, making it almost impossible to quarantine against it.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 46.7

—England is not only building ships for Japan, but furnishing great quantities of material for railroads as well. One English firm holds an order for seventy-two locomotives.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 46.8

—The treaty of arbitration between this country and the United States, which is now being discussed, is generally welcomed on both sides of the Atlantic, as a step in the right direction, though on both sides it is explicitly stated that each country would fight if the dispute involved honour, etc.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 46.9

—Lord Penrhyn, having had a dispute with the quarrymen in his Welsh slate quarries, has shut down his works entirely, and there is considerable feeling in labour circles that the State should forcibly intervene and forbid an employer shutting workmen away from their means of livelihood. It opens the burning question of private contract, which never will be settled as long as selfishness rules men's hearts.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 46.10

—The King of Benin, in the Niger district of West Africa, who is a blood-thirsty ruler of a savage tribe, has massacred a party of Englishmen who were going to see him on a political mission. Preparations are being hastened forward for an expedition to punish him. Marine forces will be quite largely employed, it is said, and native African troops will be relied upon for military help. So by next month another “little war” will be under way.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 46.11

—The population of the famine-stricken districts of India is about 85,000,000. It is said that the area and population already face to face with distress are greater than that in any previous Indian famine. Missionaries and others in the distressed districts report frightful destitution. Much criticism is made of the policy of the Government of India, by which the fund which has been accumulating from a certain tax, and known as a famine fund, has been used in boundary wars, and now is exhausted. Contributions are flowing into the Mansion House Fund, which it is hoped will reach a large figure.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 46.12

“Back Page” The Present Truth, 13, 3.

E. J. Waggoner

Beginning with the New Year, our society in Finland has been printing a fortnightly journal called the Aikain Vartija, devoted to the same work which PRESENT TRUTH endeavours to perform in the line of encouraging Bible study and Bible practice.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 48.1

Terrible scenes are reported from Bombay, as the plague spreads. The Mohammedan burying grounds and the Hindoo burning-grounds are crowded with funeral parties disposing of the dead. In the native town “the nights are rendered hideous by the clashing of symbols and by the chanting of the melancholy funeral dirge of the Hindoos, ‘Ramsri ram, ram bolo bhai ram’ uttered in a faint half-hearted manner.”PTUK January 21, 1897, page 48.2

All of heathenism is modelled more or less after the primitive sun-worship of early apostasy. Except with the Persian fire-worshippers, however, the sun was usually worshipped through symbols of man or beast, and not directly. Now the report comes that today's explorers in the Pamir regions of Central Asia have found an absolutely uncivilised tribe who are fire-worshippers. They are of diminutive size, and, stranger still, their domestic animals are also dwarfed.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 48.3

The Psalmist declared that “all the foundations of the earth are out of course.” This he seems to assert as the reason why the fatherless, the poor and needy, are in the hand of the wicked,—and he calls for their defence and deliverance. The poverty and plague-stricken millions of the world cry out to-day that they are in the hands of those who take from them everything and return nothing. If there has been oppression, it is reaping its reward in the commercial losses which must come through famine and pestilence for which no defence is provided. The day hastens when the Lord will rise and judge the world, and then the foundations of the earth will be set in their proper courses, and famine, and sorrow, and sickness will be no more.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 48.4

The multiplication of disasters and distresses in the world brings trouble to millions, but as we look at the future we know from the Word that these are only the beginnings of sorrows. “A time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation” is in waiting just ahead-how far no man knows. Shall the Christian, therefore, be downcast? No; when these things begin to come to pass he is to look up and lift up his head knowing that redemption draweth nigh. And he is to point others to the hope which God sets before every soul to be a support and comfort in times that try men's souls.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 48.5

It is a noticeable fact that those who live and labour among the poor, as those who carry on practical charities, University settlements, etc., usually come to sympathise with the poor from other than simply charitable reasons, and indeed, eventually to side with them on social and economic questions. This is a good testimony that the condition is not primarily and entirely their own fault, and that they suffer from wrongs which their fellow-men can, and should right.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 48.6

“The Turk Keeps the Peace” The Present Truth, 13, 3.

E. J. Waggoner

The Turk Keeps the Peace.—The constant presence of Turkish guards about the so-called “holy places” is necessary to prevent the various factions of “Christians” from fighting and possibly killing one another. At Christmas time the rivalry is especially pronounced. A newspaper says:—PTUK January 21, 1897, page 48.7

A conflict took place at Jerusalem between members of the Greek Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholics on Christmas Eve (Old Style). The Roman Catholics oppose the entry of the Greeks into the church through a certain door, and the Turkish authorities were obliged to intervene to restore order.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 48.8

Yet so devoid is religious formalism of any sense of humour as well as of spirituality that these quarrels which Turkish troops have to compose are taken seriously in Latin and Greek communions in Europe, and their rivalry is constantly in danger of embroiling great nations in strife, as it did in the case of the troubles which led up to the Crimean War.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 48.9

“Great Names” The Present Truth, 13, 3.

E. J. Waggoner

Great Names.—A leading religious publishing house has just brought out a book on “Higher Criticism and the Teaching of the Young,“ which the Chronicle reviewer hails with the remark:—PTUK January 21, 1897, page 48.10

Nothing perhaps is more remarkable in the recent history of the religious thought than the surrender of the orthodox position with regard to the inspiration of the Bible. The defenders of this venerable theological stronghold have been compelled to capitulate to the higher critics.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 48.11

Of course the book discounts inspiration, and yet it is written by men, mostly Doctors of Divinity, who bear names of great repute in the religious world. They represent, too, what is called the Evangelical side of Biblical criticism, and would feel aggrieved to be accounted enemies of Christianity. But the fact remains that they have nothing but their own authority to substitute for the authority of the Word which they consciously or unwittingly undermine. In the days of Jesus the Doctors of the Law obscured the Word and undermined its authority in the same way. But He who bore a name above “every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come,“ declared to the critics that “the scripture cannot be broken.” The modern critics are fond of appealing to the great names which sustain their attitude of unbelief; but the great Name is set to the seal of Holy Scripture.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 48.12

“Shutting God Away” The Present Truth, 13, 3.

E. J. Waggoner

Shutting God Away.—In his criticism of the miracles of the Old Testament, one of these writers says:—PTUK January 21, 1897, page 48.13

There are, we must admit, some stories in the Bible which we cannot take literally, such as that of the axe head swimming at the word of Elisha, or the three children in the fiery furnace. But a tactful teacher will know how to get over the difficulty.PTUK January 21, 1897, page 48.14

The higher critic, it is to be supposed, thinks it childish to accept such stories as these; and any other critic could as readily set aside all miracles, even as some do. The thought is, that these stories bring God down to this world as directly doing something for His children who need help. This is opposed to the modern revolutionary notion of the Deity, as sitting apart in the heavens while, by the inexorable loss of matter, the world swings along in its course. Really it is not a modern notion, but only the old doctrine of Paganism, in modern dress. The pagans talked of God as enthusiastically as might be; but only in the Word and in the Word made flesh is God seen as one with His creatures, touched by their needs, and able and ready to help in the greatest distress as well as in the comparatively trivial troubles. Unbelief would shut this God away from men; but the simplest soul that knows God's power to save and to help knows more than all these learned critics ever dreamt of. Such knowledge is open to babes, but is too deep for the “wise and prudent.”PTUK January 21, 1897, page 48.15

January 14, 1897

January 28, 1897