Sin is separation from God. As soon as the sinner realises his sin, he is conscious of separation from God, and a sense of helplessness, and a feeling that he is lost, comes upon him.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 513.3

The first effect of this consciousness of sin is commonly a feeling of despondency and almost despair. This feeling often comes upon the Christian who has been allowing more place in his heart to the world than to Christ. That is simply the emissaries of Satan saying, “There is no help for thee in God.”PTUK August 16, 1894, page 513.4

But the fact that it is God Himself who gives the consciousness of sin, is sufficient evidence that there is hope. It is He who makes us feel our need, in order that we may be reminded of the help that He has provided, just as the feeling of hunger makes a man think of food, or the cold makes him think of fire.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 513.5

The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin. 1 John 1:7. “In Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13. “Christ also hath once suffered” for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.” 1 Peter 3:18. Therefore although sin is separation from God, the very moment we become conscious of that separation, we are reminded of the blood which brings us near again. So God causes the light to shine out of darkness, and makes His strength perfect in weakness, if we but heed His word.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 513.6

“‘The Sinner’” The Present Truth 10, 33.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

“The Sinner.”—The literal rendering of the publican’s prayer is, “God be merciful to me, the sinner.” See margin of Revised Version. That presents the most marked contrast to the prayer of the Pharisee, who saw everybody’s sins except his own. The publican saw himself as the only sinner. That is the characteristic of true conviction of sin. He who has learned of the Lord, will see himself to be so great a sinner that he cannot imagine anyone else as bad as himself. So Paul said, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” The closer we get to the Lord, the keener becomes our consciousness of imperfection, and therefore the farther we are from criticising our neighbours.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 513.7

“Trusting and Rejoicing” The Present Truth 10, 33.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

Trusting and Rejoicing.—“But let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice; let them ever shout for joy, because Thou defendest them; let them also that love Thy name be joyful in Thee.” Psalm 5:11. Although this was written by David, it is the language of the Holy Spirit. Now when the Lord says, Let a thing be, it is the same as saying, It shall be. When the Lord said, “Let there be light,” it meant, There shall be light. When He says, Let it be, it is so. Therefore we may read this psalm, as it is indicated in the margin of the Revised Version. “All those that trust in Thee shall rejoice; they shall ever shout for joy, because Thou defendest them; they also that love Thy name shall be joyful in Thee.” If we are not rejoicing, that is evidence that we are not trusting the Lord.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 513.8

“Joy in the Lord” The Present Truth 10, 33.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

Joy in the Lord.-I suppose that the most common idea of God is that He is gloomy and austere, and too much absorbed in the great business of managing the universe to take any pleasure. Satan likes to have men think of God as unattractive. But the fact is that God is joy itself. “In Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11. The kindness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Love and joy are the very first among the fruits of the Spirit. Joy is inseparable from the Lord. Therefore everyone who knows the Lord must be joyful. When professed followers of Christ give unbelievers the idea that if they begin to serve the Lord they will have to become gloomy, they misrepresent the Lord. The only strength of the Christian is the joy of the Lord.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 513.9

“Preaching the Word” The Present Truth 10, 33.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

In Romans 3:10-18 we have an illustration of the way in which the apostles used the Old Testament, the only portion of Scripture in their possession. They wasted no time criticising it, or discussing its credibility, but quoted it as final authority. The following quotations are taken from the passage above indicated, and the references are to the places in the Old Testament, from which the apostle cited them. As it is written,PTUK August 16, 1894, page 513.10

“There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” See Psalm 14:1-3; 53:1-3.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 513.11

“Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit.” See Psalm 5:9.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 514.1

“The poison of asps is under their lips.” See Psalm 140:3.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 514.2

“Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” See Psalm 10:7.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 514.3

“Their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace have they not known.” See Proverbs 1:16; Isaiah 59:7, 8.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 514.4

“There is no fear of God before their eyes.” See Psalm 36:1.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 514.5

This is an illustration of what is meant by the command, “Preach the word.” 2 Timothy 4:2. It does not mean to quote a verse at the beginning of a discourse, and then to evolve the rest out of one’s own head. That is not preaching in the Scripture sense, no matter how good the talk is. To preach the word means to present the word pure and unadulterated, leaving it to accomplish that for which it is sent.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 514.6

“Walking in Light” The Present Truth 10, 33.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

One way of stating the difference between a Christian and one who is not a Christian, though he may claim and appear to be such, is to say that he who loves the light is a Christian, and that he who loves not the light is not a Christian. The light is the truth; and he who loves not the truth does not please God. Those who are afraid to hear and know all the will of God, which may be known from His word, lest they should thereby learn of disagreeable duties, are not in harmony with God. If God were first in their love, and if they had faith in Him, they would feel no hesitation in such a matter, but would desire to know more and more of the will of God, because they had pleasure in doing it. Conversion is something more than mere outward conformity to some part of the will of God, even though that conformity may cover all that the individual knows of His will. There must be also a love of the truth. Those who have not the love of the truth will not keep the truth when they receive it. And such, says the Apostle Paul, are the ones in whom Satan will work “with all deceivableness of unrighteousness,” making them his dupes and causing them to believe the worst of lies. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 514.7

The wicked will be condemned in the Judgment not only for the truth which they heard and knew, but for that which they might have known yet refused to know. And since the result of turning away the ears from hearing the truth is to be turned unto fables (2 Timothy 4:4), they will incur further condemnation for the lies which they have thereby been made to believe and practise. Those who excuse themselves now from doing God’s will, by refusing to hear and learn that will, will not dare to utter their excuse at the bar of God. Their course only proves that they love self more than God. “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved; but he that doeth truth cometh to the light, lest hid deeds should be reproved; but he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” John 3:20, 21. “God is a Spirit; and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth.” Chap. 4:24.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 514.8

“Studies in Romans. The Sum of the Matter. Romans 3:1-18” The Present Truth 10, 33.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

We have now finished the study of the first two chapters of the book of Romans, and it is time to take a brief review. It is not really correct to say that we have finished the study of these two chapters, because we can never finish the study of any portion of the Bible. After we have put the most profound study upon any portion of the Scripture, the most that we have done is only a beginning. If Newton, after a long life of study of natural science, could say that he seemed to be as a child playing on the seashore with the vast ocean before him unexplored, with much more aptness can the same be said by the greatest student of the Bible.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 514.9

Let no one therefore think that we have by any means exhausted this portion of the book. When the reader has the text well in mind, so that he can quite distinctly recall any passage at will, and can locate it with reference to the connection, he has just got where he can begin to study with real profit. Therefore let the reader who is anxious to acquire an understanding of the Scriptures for himself, dwell upon the words as though he were digging in a sure place for treasure. An inexhaustible one awaits his search.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 514.10

We found that the first portion of the first chapter, containing the salutation, some personal remarks, and the statement of the theme, really contains an epitome of the whole Gospel.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 514.11

Then we have the record of how men who knew God lost their knowledge of Him, and became fools, the chapter closing with a description of the condition of men who forget God.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 514.12

Leaving out the introduction, we might say that the first chapter is devoted to a statement of the origin of heathenism, and the condition of the heathen world.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 514.13

The second chapter is really summed up in the first verse, “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest; for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.” The remaining verses are but an amplification of this statement.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 514.14

Thus, we find that there is no exception to the fact that the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. Hearing and knowing the truth is not a substitute for practicing it. God is no respecter of persons, but will punish sin wherever it is found.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 514.15

Following this general statement of the case, we have an appeal directly to those who have the greatest amount of light and knowledge. In that it is shown that mere profession counts for nothing. The man who is nominally in the church, but who is guilty of the practices against which he preaches, is no better than the worldling who does the same things. Not only so, but he himself is actually a worldling. Circumcision is make uncircumcision through disobedience. The professed Christian who does not know the Lord is counted as the heathen who does not know the Lord; only the one who has the greater light is the worse of the two, and will be held accountable for more.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 515.1

Accepted with God.-In the house of Cornelius the apostle Peter made a statement: “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons; but in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him.” Acts 10:34, 35. There are men in heathen lands who may never have heard the name of God, or seen a line of His written word, who will be saved. God is revealed in the works of creation, and they who accept what they see of Him there are accepted with Him as surely as they who have learned much more of Him.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 515.2

God’s Impartiality.-The Scriptures bring to view the fact that there will be in the kingdom of God representatives from every people, and every class of people in the world. “After this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.” Revelation 7:9, 10. Thus at the last will it be revealed most emphatically that all sinners are “without excuse.” No people can come up in the Judgment and say to the Lord, “You did not give me a fair chance,” because right before them, among the saved, will be some from their own time and nation, thus showing that God is not only willing that all should come to repentance, but that He has also given all an opportunity to repent.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 515.3

OBJECTIONS ANSWERED

The first part of the third chapter of Romans consists of questions and answers. The thoughtful reader of the epistles of Paul must have noticed the frequent occurrence of questions in the midst of an argument. Every possible objection is anticipated. The apostle asks the question that an objector might ask, and then answers it, making his argument more emphatic than before. So in the verses next following it is very evident that the truths set forth in the second chapter would not be very acceptable to a Pharisee, and he would combat them with all his might. The questions raised by the apostle are not difficulties that lie in his own mind; this is clear from the parenthetical clause in verse 5, “I speak as a man.” With this in mind, we may read Romans 3:1-18:—PTUK August 16, 1894, page 515.4

“What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way; chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid; yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That Thou mightest be justified in Thy sayings, and mightest overcome when Thou art judged. But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man.) God forbid; for then how shall God judge the world? For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto His glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? And not rather (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just. What then? are we better than they? No, in nowise; for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips; whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness; their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace have they not known; there is no fear of God before their eyes.”PTUK August 16, 1894, page 515.5

As this text consists almost wholly of questions and sharp, clear answers, we shall not, as heretofore, specially question the text. Read it carefully.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 515.6

“The Oracles of God.”—An oracle is something spoken. That which was emphatically spoken by the mouth of the Lord is the ten commandments. See Deuteronomy 5:22. Stephen, speaking of Moses receiving the law, said, “This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the Mount Sina, and with our fathers; who received the lively oracles to give unto us.” Acts 7:38. The ten commandments are primarily the oracles of God, because they were uttered by His own voice in the hearing of the people. But the Holy Scriptures as a whole are the oracles of God, since they are the word of God, spoken “in divers manners” (Hebrews 1:1), and because they are but an expansion of the ten commandments. Christians are to shape their lives solely by the Bible. This is seen from the words of the apostle Peter: “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God.” 1 Peter 4:11.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 515.7

The Law an Advantage.-There are many who think that the law of God is a burden, and they imagine that the advantage of Christians is that they have nothing to do with it. But on the contrary, John says, “This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not grievous.” 1 John 5:3. And Paul says that the possession of the law was a great advantage to the Jew. So Moses said: “What nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?” Deuteronomy 4:8. All who truly love the Lord, count it a great blessing to have God’s holy law made plain to them.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 515.8

“Committed.”-The advantage of the Jew was not simply in the fact that to them were made known the oracles of God, but that “unto them were committed the oracles of God,” or “they were intrusted with the oracles of God.” That is, the law was given to them to hold in trust for others, and not simply for their own benefit. They were to be the missionaries to the whole world. The advantage and the honour conferred upon the Jewish nation in intrusting them with the law of God to make it known to the world, can not be estimated.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 515.9

Tell It to Others.-When Peter and John were arrested and threatened for preaching Christ who is simply the living law in perfection, they said, “We can not but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:20. They who appreciate the gift which God commits to them must tell it to others. Some think that it is useless to carry the Gospel to the heathen when they hear that God justifies the heathen who walk according to the little light that shines to them just the same as he does the person who walks according to the light that shines from the written word. They think that the wicked heathen are in no worse case than the unfaithful professed Christians. None who appreciate the blessings of the Lord could think so. Light is a blessing. The more people know of the Lord, the more they can rejoice in Him, and all who truly know the Lord must be desirous of helping to spread the “good tidings of great joy” to all the people for whom it is designed.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 515.10

God’s Faithfulness.—“What if some were without faith? Shall their want of faith make of none effect the faithfulness of God?” A very pertinent question. It is an appeal to the faithful of God. Will He break His promise, because of man’s unbelief? Will He be unfaithful because man is unfaithful? Will our wavering cause God to waver? “That can not possibly be;” for this is the force of the expression which is incorrectly rendered, “God forbid.” God will be true even though every man be a liar. “If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful; He can not deny Himself.” 2 Timothy 2:13. “Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and Thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.” Psalm 36:5.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 515.11

Power and Faithfulness.-Some one might hastily affirm that this overthrows the previous statements, that only those who have faith are heirs of the promise; for “how can it be that only the faithful are Abraham’s seed, and thus heirs, if God will fulfil His promise even though every man disbelieves?” Very easily, when we consider the Scriptures and the power of God. Listen to the words of John the Baptist to the wicked Jews who could be fitly characterised only as “vipers:” “Think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father; for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.” Matthew 3:9. God will bestow the inheritance only on the faithful; but if every man should prove unfaithful, He who made man of the dust of the ground can of the stones raise other people, who will believe.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 516.1

God Justified.—“That Thou mightest be justified in Thy sayings, and mightest overcome when Thou art judged.” God is now accused by Satan of injustice and indifference, and even of cruelty. Thousands have echoed the charge. But the judgment will declare the righteousness of God. His character, as well as that of man, is on trial. In the judgment every act, both of God and man, that has been done since creation will be seen by all in all its bearings. And when everything is seen in that perfect light, God will be acquitted of all wrongdoing, even by His enemies.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 516.2

Commending God’s Righteousness.-Verses five and seven are but different forms of the same thought. God’s righteousness stands out in bold relief in contrast with man’s unrighteousness. So the caviler thinks that God ought not to condemn the unrighteousness which by contrast commends his righteousness. But that would be to destroy the righteousness of God, so that He could not judge the world. If God were what unbelieving men say He ought to be, He would forfeit even their respect, and they would condemn Him more loudly than they do now.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 516.3

“I Speak as a Man.”-Was not Paul a man? Most certainly. Was he ever anything other than a man? Never. Then why the expression, “I speak as a man”? Because the writings of Paul, like those of the ancient prophets, were given by inspiration of God. The Holy Spirit spoke by him. We are not reading Paul’s view of the Gospel, but the Spirit’s own statement of it. But in these questions the Spirit speaks as a man; that is, the Spirit quotes the unbelieving words of man in order to show the folly of that unbelief.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 516.4

Unbelieving Questions.-There is a great difference in questions. Some are asked for the purpose of gaining instruction, and others are asked for the purpose of opposing the truth. So there must be a difference in answering them. Some questions deserve no more notice than would be given the same unbelief if uttered as a positive statement. When Mary asked, “How shall this be?” (Luke 1:34) with a desire for further information, she was told how. But when Zacharias asked, “Whereby shall I know this?” (Luke 1:18), thus plainly showing his disbelief of the angel’s words, he was punished.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 516.5

Wickedness Exposed.-When the objector says, “If the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto His glory, why yet am I also judged as a sinner?” the swift retort comes, in effect: “You might rather say, what you really mean is, Let us do evil that good may come.” The real intent of these unbelieving questions is that what which is called evil is really good; people are really righteous, no matter what they may do, so that good will at last come out of evil. This is the substance of modern Spiritualism and of Universalism, which teach that all men will be saved.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 516.6

Evil Is not Good.-There are many besides Spiritualists who virtually say, “Let us do evil that good may come.” Who are they? All who claim that man is able of himself to do any good thing. The Lord declares that only God is good, and that good can come only from good. See Luke 18:19 and 6:43-45. From man only wickedness can come. Mark 7:21-23. Therefore he who thinks that of himself he alone can do good deeds, really says that good can come from evil. The same thing is said by the one who refuses to confess that he is a sinner. Such an one is placing himself above God, for even he can not make evil into good. God can make an evil man good, but only by putting his own goodness in place of the evil.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 516.7

“All Under Sin.”-The objector is silenced by the exposure of his infidel sentiments; the damnation of those who hold such positions is just; and now the conclusion is emphatically stated, namely, that all men, both Jews and Gentiles, are alike under sin. Thus the way is fully prepared for the further conclusion that there is but one way of salvation for all men. The one who has been brought up within the sound of church bells and who hears the Scriptures read every day, has the same sinful nature and the same need of a Saviour, that the savage has. No one can justly despise another.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 516.8

All Out of the Way.-When the apostle wrote concerning both Jews and Gentiles, “They are all gone out of the way,” he was but repeating what Isaiah had written hundreds of years before: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 516.9

“The Way of Peace.”—“The way of peace have they not known” because they refused to know the God of peace. It has already been shown that God’s law is His way; therefore, since He is the God of peace, His law is the way of peace. So He says, “O that thou hadst hearkened to My commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea.” Isaiah 48:18. “Great peace have they which love Thy law; and nothing shall offend them,” or, “they shall have no stumbling-block.” Psalm 119:162. So he who prepares the way of the Lord, by giving knowledge of remission of sins, guides our feet into the way of peace (Luke 1:76-79), because he brings us into the righteousness of God’s law.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 516.10

“Subject to the Pope” The Present Truth 10, 33.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

Every trivial detail of the life of the Roman clergy would seem to be subject to the Pope. “Our Rome correspondent informs us,” says the Chronicle, “that the Vatican has recently decided that the clergy may use bicycles if the needs of the ministry require it.”PTUK August 16, 1894, page 516.11

“Not Learned of Christ” The Present Truth 10, 33.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

The Christian signifies a follower of Christ, but in conventional usage it may have a very different meaning. For instance, a contemporary reports that “every native in Samoa is a professing Christian in connection with some denomination, and Protestants are the most numerous.” At the same time we learn from a Reuter’s despatch that “desultory fighting still continues in Samoa between the King’s warriors and the insurgents, and several men have been killed and wounded on both sides. Both parties continue the practice of beheading their prisoners.”PTUK August 16, 1894, page 517.1

Yet they doubtless still profess to be Christians, and excepting perhaps the practice of beheading prisoners, there are many who would not consider them inconsistent in holding to the profession while engaged in war.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 517.2

But no one ever learned fighting of Christ. The Samoan simply lapses into his former nature when he starts out to kill a brother islander. And who can set up one standard for the South Sea islander and another for the European? Does the Christian German shoot his brother Christian on the French side of the line by authority of the text, “Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God”?PTUK August 16, 1894, page 517.3

“Giving to the Lord” The Present Truth 10, 33.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

No person is ready properly to give anything to the Lord until he is ready to say with the Psalmist, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” The very essence of giving is acknowledgement that God is, independently of anything we may do, the rightful owner of all things; that the thing we give is His, and was His before we gave it.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 517.4

It would not be possible to give that which is due the Lord from us, in any other way. Thus we find in the ninety-sixth Psalm the exhortation, “Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name.” Verses 7, 8. But what glory and strength has man to give unto the Lord? Even if man possessed some glory and strength, how could he possibly give to the Lord “the glory due unto His name?” It is very evident that all any person can do to this end is simply to confess that infinite glory and strength belong to God, and that God has them. And so likewise in presenting any other gift to Him, as a gift of money, we must give it as an acknowledgment that all our wealth really belongs to Him. Nor can we say that we have given ourselves to Him unless we did it as a confession that we were His already, both because He created us by the blood of Christ.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 517.5

Yet, though we have nothing worth giving to the Lord, He has wonderfully and graciously provided that in offering Him this feeble praise we should actually glorify Him, and He accepts our “gifts” as graciously as though He were on even terms with us, and gives us all the credit of having done Him a service.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 517.6

“Believing unto Righteousness” The Present Truth 10, 33.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

The difference between a righteous man and a sinner is much more than a mere difference of belief. It is more than a mere arbitrary reckoning on the part of God. It is a real difference, and one that is exactly expressed by the difference in the terms by which they are designated. When God calls a man a sinner, he is a sinner; and when He calls a man righteous, he is righteous in reality, as much so as if he had never sinned. There is no virtue in mere intellectual assent. God never declares a person righteous simply because he makes an acknowledgement of the truth. And there is an actual, literal change from the state of sin to righteousness, which justifies God in making the declaration.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 517.7

It is with the heart, and not with the mind merely, that man believeth unto righteousness. Romans 10:10. Heart belief represents not only an acknowledgement of the truth, but a love of it. And love of the truth is but another expression for love of God; for all truth is a manifestation of God, and all truth culminates in Him. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” To love the truth which God has revealed is to love Him; and to love Him is to open our hearts to Him so that His will may have free course in our lives. When the heart is open to God freely, He comes and dwells in it; not by a figure of speech, but actually, and His presence there is made manifest by love, for God is love, and love has no other source. “We know that we have passed from death into life, because we love the brethren.” John 3:14.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 517.8

“With God is the fountain of life.” Psalm 36:9. Hence that heart in which God dwells has in it the fountain of perpetual youth; so that “though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16. The inward man is the new creation, which is wrought by the presence of God, wherever, and whenever His will has free course. We are exhorted to “put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Ephesians 4:24.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 517.9

Though our outward man perish, and give no indication of any difference between us and those who know not God, there is nevertheless a new creature with which we are identical, and that new creature is righteousness, as are all creatures when they come from the hand of God. Therefore by opening our hearts to God we become truly and literally righteous, so that it is no figure of speech on the part of God to pronounce us so, and no fact is set aside by His declaration. He is the Creator; and as such He can create us new within, even though the new creature be not visible to human sight, as easily as He could create man at the beginning.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 517.10

And when Christ shall appear again in the clouds of heaven to receive His people, this mortal will put on immortality, and in the twinkling of an eye these bodies will be changed to correspond with the new creation within, which has been made in righteousness and holiness. That will be a change of the outward man, by the same power which has wrought the invisible change within, and it will make the righteous to shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 517.11

“Bulgaria Needs the Gospel” The Present Truth 10, 33.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

The idea that the ministry may be chosen as a profession, as one would choose a business calling, is unfortunately not unknown in our own country; but in Bulgaria it seems to be the accepted thing. The very idea shows that the one entertaining it regards the duties of religion just as any pagan priest regards the service of his gods-as a round of ceremonials to be mechanically performed. In his recently published book on Bulgaria, Professor Dicey speaks of the difficulty which the bishops of the Bulgarian Church find in filling the ranks of the clergy with people of intelligence, the more able men choosing other callings. He says:—PTUK August 16, 1894, page 517.12

“I am told, too, that the post of pope, as the village priests are called, has become much less attractive than it used to be owing to the changed condition of the country. In the Turkish days the pope was usually given the privilege of keeping the village liquor store. This is now altered, and the popes, therefore, are neither so well-to-do nor so influential in position as they were formerly. Moreover, in Bulgaria, as in most other countries where the Greek Faith is the national religion, the priesthood is almost always recruited from the lower ranks of the community. Ritual, as I have said, is more important than dogma; to intone well is a gift of more value to a parish priest than to possess the power of preaching. The high aspirations which, in other lands, lead men to become ministers of the sanctuary in the hope of saving souls, can hardly find much scope in a church where the possession of a fine figure and a flowing beard are indispensable requisites for high ecclesiastical preferment.”PTUK August 16, 1894, page 517.13

“News of the Week” The Present Truth 10, 33.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

-Suicides continue to be on the increase in Paris.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 526.1

-Naturalists assert that a healthy swallow will devour 6,000 files every day.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 526.2

-Buildings covering half a square mile have been destroyed by a fire in Chicago.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 526.3

-Korea umbrellas are of oiled paper, have no handles, and are simply worn over the hat.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 526.4

-The value of real estate in London is estimated at ?888,500,000; and that of Paris at ?583,500,000.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 526.5

-The town of Minsk, in Russia, has been visited by a disastrous fire, supposed to be the work of an incendiary.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 526.6

-Official despatches received at Washington from Nicaragua, state that Blueffields has been captured by the Nicaraguan army.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 526.7

-Reports received August 9 from Galicia and Bukowina show that cholera prevails in seventeen administrative districts in those provinces.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 526.8

-The Russian Government is trying the experiment of growing tea in the Caucasus. The results so far are said to be very successful.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 526.9

-Attempts were recently made in America to rob the grave of President Andrew Jackson, and to kidnap the children of President Cleveland.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 526.10

-A severe earthquake shock was felt in the island of Sicily, August 8. Many buildings were shaken down, and some loss of life is reported.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 526.11

-A well-known sculptor is at work in Rome preparing the tomb for Pope Leo. It is to be of black marble, surmounted by the figure of a lion.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 526.12

-A telegram from Charkoff, in Russia, states that a powder magazine, near Stavropol, has blown up, ten persons being killed. The cause of the disaster is not known.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 526.13

-The Turkish authorities have ordered the repair, at a cost of ?80,000, of the old aqueducts of Solomon at Jerusalem, which were in working order to the time of Christ.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 526.14

-A poverty-stricken man and wife poisoned themselves in London rather than enter the work-house. This and similar incidents has led to an agitation for reform in the administration of these institutions.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 526.15

-An infant was suffocated by its veil in London while being carried by its mother. The coroner warned mothers against placing veils over infants’ faces. Their breath makes the veil wet, and they are in danger of suffocation.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 526.16

-An insurrection has broken out in Peru. A telegram from Valparaiso states that Trujillo has been captured by Seminario’s forces, and that the Government troops sent to attack the rebels at Junin have declared in favour of the insurgents.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 526.17

-For some time past bears have appeared in Finland in unusually large numbers, end their ravages among sheep and cattle have been so serious that the Government has decided upon sending out detachments of troops to hunt them down.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 526.18

-A council of all the Roman Catholic bishops and suffragans in India will be held at Goa towards the beginning of next December. The last occasion of the holding of such an assembly was in 1606. The prelates will be accompanied by numerous theologians.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 526.19

-There are now eleven cables across the Atlantic and the twelfth is being put down. In the whole world there are 150,000 miles of submarine cable, representing ?40,000,000 of capital, and there are 2,000,000 miles of overland wire, representing ?65,000,000 of capital.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 526.20

-The Pope has issued a new Encyclical, which concludes by counselling the Bishops to found charitable associations of laymen, and after reminding them that the Press is a secular weapon which ecclesiastics should know how to employ, declares that they should also make political elections the object of their care and solicitude.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 526.21

-There is a momentary lull in the war tempest which has been raging about Korea, for the reason, as is supposed, that the belligerent powers are occupying themselves with preparations for a decisive struggle. A long and bitter contest between them is expected. Meanwhile the Russian troops are said to have been reinforced on the Korean frontier.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 526.22

-An English journal states that the density of the population of China is to that of she population of England as one is to six; and in a list of the countries of the world arranged according to the proportion which their population boars to their extent, the Celestial Empire would come it long way after Scotland, and not over-much in advance of Norway.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 526.23

-A serious religious riot occurred August 7, in Quebec. A French Baptist mission was wrecked by a mob of French Canadians, and the missionaries in the building barely escaped with their lives. The mob afterwards attacked the French Anglican mission and the Salvation Army Barracks, much damage being done. The police finally dispersed the rioters.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 526.24

-Some “shining specks” which have been noticed on the planet Mars, now in a favourable position for observation, have led to much speculation among scientists and others, from which have come theories of snow-capped mountains illuminated by the sun, forest fires, and even of signals to earth by the Martian inhabitants.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 526.25

-Details have been received of the destruction by fire of the town of Kazan, in Bulgaria. The flames raged for thirty-six hours, destroyed all the public buildings, and three parts of the town. Up to the present time 130 bodies have been recovered from the débris. The Government have sent tents and provisions for the homeless people, together with 50,000 francs in money.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 526.26

-Railways are comparatively few in Norway, owing to the cost of construction in a mountainous country, and to the disinclination of the apple to speculative enterprise. The highways, however, are excellent, and one may “travel post” almost anywhere in a public carriole or post-chaise. The post stations are seven miles apart, and the traveller changes vehicles at each station.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 526.27

-The United States Senate has passed an anti-Anarchist measure, by which no alien Anarchist is permitted to enter the United States. The Bill provides that a thorough inquiry shall take place before any intending immigrant is rejected. Inspectors are appointed to examine all passengers, and any Anarchist who makes a second attempt to land is liable to four years’ imprisonment.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 526.28

-In Russia, about 100 days per year are devoted to ecclesiastical “fasts and festivals.” The priests commonly celebrate these occasions by getting drunk, and their flocks largely follow their example. Those of the peasantry who have attained to a religion which is a real power upon character, the Stundists, namely, have broken from orthodoxy, and given evidence of their Christianity and their common sense by devoting these aforetime worse than wasted days to sober and cheerful industry.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 526.29

-The American Methodist Episcopal Church South took the following step regarding Church discipline at its late meeting: “Let all our preachers and members abstain from the manufacture or sale of intoxicating liquors to he used as a beverage, from signing petitions for such sale, from becoming bondsmen for any person as a condition for obtaining a licence, and from renting property to be used for such sale. If any member shall violate any of the provisions of this paragraph, he shall be deemed guilty of an immorality.”PTUK August 16, 1894, page 526.30

“Back Page” The Present Truth 10, 33.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

The following bit of wisdom is credited to Philip Skelton, an Irish clergyman of the eighteen century: “The devil has more authority in this world than some people are apt to think; he is called in Scripture the god of this world, the prince of this world, the prince of the power of the air, and accordingly disposes of many places a profit in it, bestowing high offices on persons of his own choosing.”PTUK August 16, 1894, page 528.1

The Echo says that millions of people in Italy are so poor that they are compelled to restrict their consumption of so cheap an article as salt; and then it ironically adds, “But have they not just had a glorious compensation? Their newly-launched monster of a battle-ship can steam three miles an hour faster than any other monster in the world.” Strange to say, many of those who are deprived of the necessaries of life in order that these monsters of destruction may be manufactured, will take off their hats and shout at the thought of the military “glory” of their country.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 528.2

The sculptor is at work upon the tomb designed for the Pope. One design in the monument is a figure holding a lighted torch in one hand and the Holy Scriptures in the other. It is meant to signify that the Papacy is a friend to the Holy Scriptures; but in view of the testimony of history as to the many times the hand of Rome has applied the lighted torch to the Scriptures, even the Roman Catholic can hardly blame us if the figure suggests the historical attitude of the Church of Rome toward the word of God.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 528.3

We have heard criticism of the PRESENT TRUTH, which very much pleases us. One lady who had read a few numbers of the paper, but declined to take it in any longer, saying, “It doesn’t contain anything that I cannot find in the Bible.” May it ever be thus. We have no ambition to be considered wise above that which is written, when it is written in the law of the Lord. “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God,” whether he speak with an audible voice, or on paper.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 528.4

It is a curious spectacle which is presented in the far East, as well as a mournful one; a spectacle unique in human history,—two heathen nations fighting each other with the weapons and the methods furnished them by their civilised, “Christian” neighbours. Having invented and perfected weapons of awfully destructive power, these “Christian” nations furnish them for a good price to two semi-civilised powers, and then look on with great interest at the slaughter. It is verily a curious kind of Christianity which allows a nation to help its neighbours to fight, to say nothing of incurring great expense in order to be ready itself to fight at any moment. Christians are not fighters, but peacemakers.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 528.5

“Publications Issued” The Present Truth 10, 33.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

Publications Issued.-Some figures from the annual summary of business done by our publishers, the International Tract Society, will be of interest to many. Publications have been sent out during the fifteen months ending June 30, as follows 73,038 tracts, 3044 pamphlets, 30,799 volumes of books. The list value of these is ?15,907. A large proportion of these publications have been sold in the colonies.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 528.6

“Gambling” The Present Truth 10, 33.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

Gambling.-A writer in the Echo on the betting evil now and a generation or so ago, says:—PTUK August 16, 1894, page 528.7

The betting of ninety years ago is not known to have run high; and what there was of it was confined to the rich-the gambling among working-women, and lads and lasses, which is prevalent in the manufacturing towns to-day, was absolutely unknown then.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 528.8

Thus, while the evil was perhaps more shamelessly indulged in by the rich then, now it has permeated all classes, and is doing more to demoralise the people than ever in the past.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 528.9

“Plain Words” The Present Truth 10, 33.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

Plain Words.-Preaching in Westminster Abbey recently, Archdeacon Farrar is reported to have said:—PTUK August 16, 1894, page 528.10

Now, as of old, the deadliest peril to Christianity rose from the unreality of Christians. He had long been convinced that many of their opinions and principles in these days differed enormously from the simple Gospel which Christ preached. They much more resembled the dead Judaism of priests and Pharisees; while in the world self-seeking, worldly torpidity, and the semblances of religion prevail among trimmers and half-and-half people, or people who were nothing at all except in church. If these were bitter truths, it was their duty to speak truths, however bitter, rather than soft platitudes and silken euphemisms.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 528.11

He urged his hearers to “burn up the ecclesiastical superstructures of wood, hay, straw, stubble,” and return to the simplicity which is in Christ Jesus.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 528.12

“Our Strength” The Present Truth 10, 33.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

Our Strength.-The word of God is always ready with an answer for all the doubts and discouragements of human nature. To the thought that you are too weak to overcome, and therefore might as well give up, the answer of Scripture is, “Strengthened with all might.” Colossians 1:11. Were the power offered us any less than this we might have cause for discouragement; but with “all might” working in us against sin and temptation, we can no more be overcome than can God Himself.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 528.13

“Not an Ideal Settlement” The Present Truth 10, 33.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

Not an Ideal Settlement.-A Sicilian correspondent of Dalziel’s news agency describes an Anarchist settlement on the island of Ustica, to which the Italian Government has been sending its more dangerous Anarchists. The average militant Anarchist is evidently not inclined to work when he can avoid it; for we read:—PTUK August 16, 1894, page 528.14

Ustica, a rocky islet, about four hours’ sail from this port, has a population at present of about 570 Anarchists and a few officials. By far the greater number of the Anarchists simply idle the time away, absolutely declining to work, and are quite content to live on the 70 centimes a day allowed them by the Government. The industrious portion of the prisoners numbers about 140, of whom about seventy are engaged in agricultural labour and the remainder occupy themselves as tailors, shoemakers, etc.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 528.15

“China and Opium” The Present Truth 10, 33.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

China and Opium.-Mr. J. G. Alexander, of the Society for the Suppression of the Opium Trade, has lately visited China. He saw the leading statesmen of the empire, and found all of them of one accord against the trade, but feeling that they can do nothing to avert the ruin that opium is working so long as the British Government upholds the traffic. Of his interview with a Peking official of the Foreign Board of China, Mr. Alexander says:—PTUK August 16, 1894, page 528.16

Speaking as official representative of the Board, he assured me that the Government of China is just as much opposed to the opium trade as ever it was; that it considers itself bound to admit opium by its treaty engagements with Great Britain; that it dares not close its ports to India and opium, lest it should bring on another opium war; and that we can best help China in the matter by persuading our Government to stop the export of opium from India to China.PTUK August 16, 1894, page 528.17

August 9, 1894

August 23, 1894