October 4, 1894

“Front Page” The Present Truth 10, 40.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

“I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4. There is nothing more terrible than fear. “Fear hath torment.” 1 John 4:18. It makes no difference if there is no actual danger, the fear of an imaginary evil is as real as the fear of a known peril. But out of all fear the Lord delivers them that trust Him. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear.”PTUK October 4, 1894, page 625.1

“He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth.” Proverbs 19:21. This makes no exception. We are not merely forbidden to despise those who are honourable, but we must not despise anybody. It is natural enough not to despise those who are noble; the grace of God only can keep us from despising those who are mean. But many who seem to us to be utterly unworthy may be God’s chosen ones, and so in despising anybody we run the risk of bringing upon ourselves the judgment recorded in Matthew 18:6.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 625.2

The rule of Paganism is, Do good, in order that you may be good; the rule of Christianity is, Be good, in order that you may do good. Here are two principles, and between them there is a world of difference. The first means, righteousness attained by works; a good stream flowing from a corrupt fountain-the natural heart. The second means, good works attained by righteousness; a good stream flowing from a pure fountain-the heart regenerated by faith. Every religion that operates by the former principle is pagan, whether professedly so or not.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 625.3

“Nothing Impossible” The Present Truth 10, 40.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

Nothing Impossible.-The story of the flood is now very largely discredited even by many who profess to be Christians. Though they may admit that there was a flood, they do not believe that it covered the whole earth, as the Bible says. They think it impossible. Let us see what that unbelief really involves. How much of the earth’s surface is now covered with water?—About three-fourths. Who made the sea?—The Bible says, “The sea is His, and He made it.” Psalm 95:5. Well now, it is a very simple problem. Couldn’t He who has covered three-fourths of the earth’s surface with water, have very easily covered the other one-fourth with water also? The question answers itself, and shows us that disbelief in the flood, as described in the Bible, means disbelief in God as the Creator and Upholder of the earth.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 625.4

“Greatness” The Present Truth 10, 40.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

Greatness.-The greatest men that have lived are those whom God has made great; and God makes men great by simply revealing in them His own greatness. But those in whom He most fully reveals Himself are not those who strive most eagerly to display their own powers, but those in whom self appears the least. There is no greater place for any man than the place he is in when he has fully yielded himself to the Lord. If we would be as great as Moses, we must be, like him, the meekest of all persons on the earth; or if we would be as great as Paul, who was not a whit behind the very chiefest of the apostles, we must be able to say with him, “I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” The very first step toward this greatness is the realisation of the truth, “I am nothing;” and succeeding steps consist in learning the greatness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 625.5

“Reasoning with God” The Present Truth 10, 40.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

It is a very common thing for men to reason with God. Though He does not stand personally and visibly before them and talk with them, they have His spoken word, to which many feel free to make objections, or excuse themselves from performing its requirements. It is just the same as if they stood face to face with the Creator and presumed to enter into an argument with Him.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 625.6

This is not the kind of reasoning that the Lord desires. He has said, “Come now, and let us reason together,” but He does not ask us to tell Him anything that He does not know, or attempt to prove Him to be in the wrong. To do that would be to unseat Him from His throne. But He says, “Put Me in remembrance, let us plead together.” Isaiah 43:26. He wishes men to remind Him of His promises; not because He has forgotten them, but because He longs for an opportunity to fulfil them. He pleads with men to comply with the conditions upon which His promises are made, in order that by fulfilling them He may demonstrate to men His power and love toward them.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 625.7

If they will do this, He will remember instantly the things that He has sworn to perform. He holds out to them the greatest of inducements by saying, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; and though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18. To reason properly with the Lord is simply to give Him an opportunity of doing for us this wonderful work. The result will be most convincing, as regards all the points that can possibly be at issue.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 626.1

“God’s Garden” The Present Truth 10, 40.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

In the beginning, when the work of creation had been finished, “the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food.” Genesis 2:8, 9. The Lord still has a garden upon the earth, though Eden has long since been removed. Not the trees nor the shrubs nor the flowers were the most essential things in the garden, but the man and woman whom He created. The purpose of God was centred in these, and not in the beautiful things which surrounded them. That purpose He has been steadily carrying out since time began. He has had a spiritual garden, in which Adam and Eve were the first plants, and which has spread out over the whole world, as the physical garden which was removed was doubtless designed to do.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 626.2

In this garden grow both wheat and tears; for the devil has sowed tares which have sprung up and developed more abundantly than the wheat. But the Saviour has said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.” Matthew 15:13. And when that rooting up has taken place, the physical garden will be restored and cover the whole earth, and thus the full purpose of God will be carried out.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 626.3

But while in this present state the tares grow largely in excess of the wheat, there is still abundant opportunity for the latter to attain a luxurious growth. It is “rooted and grounded in love” (Ephesians 3:17), and so has an abundance of the richest soil; for the Psalmist says, “The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord” (Psalm 33:5), and, “The earth, O Lord, is full of Thy mercy.” Psalm 119:64. And he also testifies that “the righteous shall flourish like the palm tree; he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.” Psalm 92:12. He is “like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf shall not whither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” Psalm 1:3.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 626.4

This garden is also full of most beautiful flowers, which are the promises of God. Not all the tares that are growing around us can hide these from our view, or shut us out from their fragrance. God has poured out His Spirit upon all flesh, and its work is “to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified.” Isaiah 61:1-3. If we will but let the Lord plant us in His garden, we shall find this world still a beautiful place in which to live.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 626.5

“Studies in Romans. The Surety of the Promise. Romans 4:16-25” The Present Truth 10, 40.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

In our last lesson we learned what Abraham found, and how he found it. At the same time we learned what God has promised us as well as Abraham, if we believe His word. God has promised to every man who believes Him nothing less than the freedom of the world. This is not an arbitrary thing. God has not said that if we will believe certain statements and dogmas, He will in return give us an everlasting inheritance. The inheritance is one of righteousness; and since faith means the reception of the life of Christ into the heart, together with God’s righteousness, it is evident that there is no other way in which the inheritance can be received. This is further made clear by a statement in the last lesson, which was not noted, namely, thatPTUK October 4, 1894, page 626.6

“The Law Worketh Wrath.”-Therefore whoever thinks to get righteousness by the law is putting his trust in that which will destroy him. God has promised a grant of land to every one who will accept it on His conditions, namely, that he shall also accept the righteousness which goes with it, because righteousness is the characteristic of the land. Righteousness is to “dwell” in it. But this righteousness can be found only in the life of God, which is manifested in Christ. Now the man who thinks that he himself can get righteousness out of the law is in reality trying to substitute his own righteousness for God’s righteousness. In other words, he is trying to get the land by fraud. Therefore when he comes in the court to prove his claim to the land, it appears that there is a criminal charge against him; and he finds “wrath” instead of blessing. “Where no law is, there is no transgression;” but there is law everywhere, and therefore transgression. All have sinned, so that the inheritance can not be by the law.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 626.7

“Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (as it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations), before Him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb; he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded, that what He had promised, He was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” Romans 4:16-25.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 626.8

QUESTIONING THE TEXT

What have we already found the inheritance to be?PTUK October 4, 1894, page 626.9

“The world.”PTUK October 4, 1894, page 626.10

And how is it to be obtained?PTUK October 4, 1894, page 626.11

“Through the righteousness of faith.”PTUK October 4, 1894, page 626.12

If it were of works, what would be the result?PTUK October 4, 1894, page 626.13

“Faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect.”PTUK October 4, 1894, page 626.14

Why?PTUK October 4, 1894, page 626.15

“Because the law worketh wrath.”PTUK October 4, 1894, page 626.16

To what end?PTUK October 4, 1894, page 626.17

“To the end the promise might be sure to all the seed.”PTUK October 4, 1894, page 626.18

Of whom is Abraham the father?PTUK October 4, 1894, page 627.1

“The father of us all.”PTUK October 4, 1894, page 627.2

Before whom?PTUK October 4, 1894, page 627.3

“Before Him whom he believed, even God.”PTUK October 4, 1894, page 627.4

According to what scripture?PTUK October 4, 1894, page 627.5

“As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations.”PTUK October 4, 1894, page 627.6

How could God say to Abraham before he had any child, “I have made thee a father of many nations”?PTUK October 4, 1894, page 627.7

He “quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things that be not as though they were.”PTUK October 4, 1894, page 627.8

How did Abraham receive the promise of God?PTUK October 4, 1894, page 627.9

“He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief.”PTUK October 4, 1894, page 627.10

In what was he strong?PTUK October 4, 1894, page 627.11

“He was strong in faith, giving glory of God.”PTUK October 4, 1894, page 627.12

Of what was he persuaded?PTUK October 4, 1894, page 627.13

“Fully persuaded that what He had promised He was able to perform.”PTUK October 4, 1894, page 627.14

What was the result?PTUK October 4, 1894, page 627.15

“Therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.”PTUK October 4, 1894, page 627.16

For whose sake was this written?PTUK October 4, 1894, page 627.17

“For us also.”PTUK October 4, 1894, page 627.18

Why for our sakes?PTUK October 4, 1894, page 627.19

“To whom it shall be imputed?PTUK October 4, 1894, page 627.20

That which was imputed to Abraham, namely, righteousness.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 627.21

On what condition will it be imputed to us also?PTUK October 4, 1894, page 627.22

“If we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead.”PTUK October 4, 1894, page 627.23

Why was He delivered to death?PTUK October 4, 1894, page 627.24

He “was delivered for our offences.”PTUK October 4, 1894, page 627.25

For what purpose was He raised again?PTUK October 4, 1894, page 627.26

He “was raised again for our justification.”PTUK October 4, 1894, page 627.27

Sure to All.-Since the inheritance is through the righteousness of faith, it is equally sure to all the seed, and equally within the reach of all. Faith gives all an equal chance, because faith is just as easy for one person as for another. God has dealt to every man a measure of faith, and to all the same measure, for the measure of grace is the measure of faith, and “unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” Ephesians 4:7. Christ is given without reserve to every man. Hebrews 2:9. Therefore, as the same measure of faith and grace is given to all men, all have an equal opportunity to gain the inheritance.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 627.28

Jesus Is the Surety.-Faith makes the promise sure to all the seed, because it has Christ alone for its object, and He is the surety of the promises of God. 2 Corinthians 1:20. We read also of the oath of God, by which Jesus was made high priest, that “by so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament,” or covenant. Hebrews 7:22. Now Jesus was not given for a certain class, but for all without distinction. “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. Jesus by the grace of God tasted death for every man. Hebrews 2:9. He says, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37. Christ dwells in the heart by faith. Ephesians 3:17. Therefore, since Christ is the surety of the promise, it must be sure to every one who believes.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 627.29

The Oath.-It may seem to some a little far-fetched to say that the oath by which Jesus was made priest is the surety of the promise to Abraham. But a little consideration will enable any one to see that it can be no other way. In the sixth chapter of Hebrews we read that “when God made promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no greater, He sware by Himself, saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee.... God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath; that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us; which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the vail, whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made a high priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.”PTUK October 4, 1894, page 627.30

For Our Sakes.-Why did God confirm His promise to Abraham by an oath? That we might have a strong consolation. It was not for Abraham’s sake, because Abraham believed fully without the oath. His faith was shown to be perfect before the oath was given. It was altogether for our sakes. When does that oath give us strong consolation? When we flee for refuge to Christ as priest in the most holy place. Within the veil He ministers as high priest; and it is the oath of God that gives us courage to believe that His priesthood will save us. Then our consolation comes from Christ’s priesthood, and so from the oath which made Him priest. Therefore the oath of God to Abraham was identical with the oath that made Christ high priest. This shows most plainly that the promise of God to Abraham is as wide as the Gospel of Christ. And so our text, speaking of the righteousness that was imputed to Abraham, says, “Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead.”PTUK October 4, 1894, page 627.31

Power of God’s Word.-God “calleth those things which be not as though they were.” Sometimes men do the same thing, but we soon lose confidence in them. When men speak of things that are not as though they were, there is only one proper name for it. It is a lie. But God calls those things that be not as though they were, and it is the truth. What makes the difference? Simply this: Man’s word has no power to make a thing exist when it does not exist. He may say that it does, but that does not make it so. But when God names a thing, the very thing itself is in the word that names it. He speaks, and it is. It was by this power of God that Abraham was made the father of many nations, even of us, if we believe that Jesus died and rose again.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 627.32

Quickening the Dead.-It is by the power of God’s word which can speak of those things that be not as though they were and have it true, that the dead are raised. His word makes them live. It was Abraham’s faith in the resurrection of the dead that made him the father of many nations. God’s oath to Abraham was on the occasion of his offering Isaac. Genesis 22:15-18. And “by faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac; and he that had received the promises offered up his only-begotten son, of whom it was said, that in Isaac shall thy seed be called; accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead.” Hebrews 11:17-19.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 627.33

Righteousness and Resurrection.-The righteousness which was imputed to Abraham will be imputed to us also if we believe on Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead. Therefore it follows that righteousness was imputed to Abraham because of his faith in the resurrection of the dead, which comes only through Jesus. Acts 4:2. That was what the apostles preached the promises to the fathers. The power by which a man is made righteous is the power of the resurrection. See Philippians 3:9-11. This power of the resurrection, which works righteousness in a man, is the surety of the final resurrection to immortality at the last day by which he enters upon his inheritance.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 627.34

Not Weakened in Faith.-Some versions of Romans 4:19 give the idea, “Without being weakened in faith, he considered his own body now as good as dead.” That is to say, after God had made the promise to him, a full consciousness of his weakness and of all the difficulties and seeming impossibilities in the way did not have any effect in weakening his faith. Nothing is impossible with God, and there are no difficulties for Him. Whenever a person is inclined to doubt the possibility of his salvation, let him stop and consider that God made the world by His word, and that He raises the dead, and that it is by that same power that God will save him if he is willing. To doubt God’s promise to deliver us from all evil is to doubt the fact that He created all things by His word, and that He is able to raise the dead.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 628.1

“Receiving Reproof” The Present Truth 10, 40.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

Receiving Reproof.-In the Bible we read much about the danger of scorning and rejecting reproof. “He that hateth reproof shall die.” Proverbs 15:10. “He that refuseth instruction [or correction] despiseth his own soul.” Verse 32. We naturally think that we are doing exceedingly well to receive patiently reproofs that we know we deserve; but we feel that we have a right to reject reproofs that seem to us uncalled for. This is thought to be only the manifestation of a proper spirit of self-respect. But when we do so, we are likely to deprive ourselves of much necessary and wholesome warning; for we are most commonly blind to our own failings, so that we usually think reproof unnecessary. The wise man is he who receives all reproof with meekness. The reproof that we think least deserved may really be the most needed. By accepting all reproof without gainsaying, we run no risk of losing valuable instruction.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 628.2

If perchance a reproof should be undeserved, then we ought to be able to endure it the better. A man was bitterly complaining that he had been accused of gross misconduct, of which he was entirely innocent. He thought that a man had a right to feel indignant when accused falsely. “Well,” said one to him, “would you feel better if the charges were true?” This put the matter in a different light, and made him more contented. We do well to remember Matthew 5:11, 12.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 628.3

“Which Day Is the Lord’s Day?” The Present Truth 10, 40.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

The article that appeared in these columns several weeks ago, concerning the Lord’s day and the petition to Lord Rosebery, has attracted still further notice. Before the letter from Mr. Hill, and the reply to him, were printed, an article appeared in The English Churchman from Mr. James Girdlestone, who kindly called our attention to the fact that he had written in reply to our article, and asked us to show where he was wrong, or else to admit that we were in error. Although the most of his letter has been covered by the article in last week’s paper, we reprint the whole of it as it appeared in the Churchman, that there may be no appearance of omitting any point in the Sunday argument. Here is the letter:—PTUK October 4, 1894, page 628.4

THE LORD’S DAY

SIR,—Somebody has sent me a paper on this subject in a journal called THE PRESENT TRUTH (Vol. 10, No. 34). I agree with the writer when he lays down the broad foundation: “All that may be known of the Lord is found in the Bible, and therefore all that may be known of the Lord’s Day must be found there” (p. 583). Subject to Romans 1:20; that is true. I agree also with him when he says, “The Sabbath of the Lord God is God’s own memorial, and it is a memorial in behalf of the labouring men, too. It is the badge and the surety of the rest, and perfect liberty, which He gives. It is more than simply twenty-four hours of cessation from toil-it is the renewal of life” (p. 535). He also aptly quotes Exodus 20:8-10, and been Isaiah 58:13-14. I next deal with some of the points where I do not agree with this writer.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 628.5

1. Referring to Revelation 1:10 He says that “The Lord’s Day” is an expression that occurs here alone (p. 533). That is true. But he proceeds to argue that because in Exodus 20. “the seventh day of the week, commonly called Saturday, is the Sabbath of the Lord, consequently the seventh day of the week is the Lord’s Day” (p. 535). That statement appears to me to be erroneous. The Fourth Commandment does not say “the seventh day of the week.” It speak of working for six days and resting on “the seventh day.” There was the difference. If the Divine commandment had been, “Work the first six days of the week, and rest the seventh day of the week,” I should say we must return to the usage of the Jews, and rest on the seventh day of the week, commonly called Saturday, and work on the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday. The letter of the Divine law is silent as to “the day of the week.” The letter of the law leaves that point, the day of the week, a matter of liberty. The spirit of the Divine law of rest for the worker is equally observed, whether it is the first day of the week or the seventh day of the week, on which the worker takes rest.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 628.6

2. The writer lays stress on the fact that “The same John who wrote the book of Revelation also wrote the fourth gospel, wherein he twice mentions the day called Sunday, and each time he names it simply as ‘the first day of the week.’ Of course this is only negative; still it is a significant fact that nowhere in the Bible is the day called Sunday given any other title than its numerical designation, ‘the first day of the week’” (p. 538). That begs the question, which is whether “The Lord’s Day” in Revelation 1:10 is the seventh or the first day of the week. On this subject we are not instructed by any express statement in the Bible. Permit me to carry my answer a stage further. The Bible nowhere speaks of “the seventh day of the week.” But “the first day of the week” is referred to in the Bible, several times, and under circumstances that support an inference that “the Lord’s Day” mentioned in Revelation 1:10 is “the first day of the week.” That is the day of the week when the Lord Jesus rose from the dead. The victory was won.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 628.7

3. The writer says, “Sunday is one of the six days in which the Lord says we should labour” (p. 584). I have shown under head 1 that this statement is unfounded.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 628.8

4. The writer points to Luke 23:54, 56; 24:1 to show that “the preparation” preceded, and “the first day of the week” followed, “the Sabbath.” That is so. But no one doubts that the Jews rested on the seventh day of the week, or that we rest on the first day of the week. I have already shown that we are at liberty to act as we do.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 628.9

There are other points on which I differ from this writer. I have answered only those that appear to me to be directly material to a sound interpretation of the Scriptures in regard to a point about which people often are unnecessarily perplexed. JAMES GIRDLESTONE.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 628.10

Sept. 3.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 628.11

ONLY AN INFERENCE

First of all, let us notice the ground on which the observance of Sunday as the Lord’s day rests. In the paragraph numbered (2) Mr. Girdlestone says: “The first day of the week is referred to several times, and under circumstances that support an inference that ‘the Lord’s day mentioned in Revelation 1:10 is the first day of the week.” The only ground for Sunday observance, therefore, is inference.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 628.12

Later on we shall repeat some of the direct statements of Scripture which show that the seventh day of the week, and that alone, is called the Lord’s day. But for the present, let as proceed as though there were no such direct statements. Allow that one may infer from certain texts in the Bible that the first day of the week is the Lord’s day; what then? Does that settle anything definitely?—Certainly not. Everything is vague and indefinite. Because some persons infer a certain thing from certain words, that is no proof that everybody must make the same inference. If it is only inference, then anybody is at liberty to draw his own. Nobody can be charged with sin for not agreeing with somebody else’s inference.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 628.13

The statement that the Sunday Lord’s day rests on inference, is an admission that there is no authority to bind anybody to its observance. This being the case, what shall be said of any human laws directed to the enforcement of the observance of the first day of the week as the Lord’s day? Is it not evident that such a thing is going beyond the Lord? So far as the enforcement of Sunday observance by law is concerned, the question might rest here. For since God in His word has not said that the first day of the week is the Lord’s day, and has given no commandment whatever for its observance, it is clear that for men to make such laws is to set themselves above God. It is to place themselves in the position of the “man of sin” (2 Thessalonians 1:3-8), and to merit his doom.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 629.1

THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT

But it is claimed that authority for Sunday observance is found in the fourth commandment. It is claimed that since the commandment says only “the seventh day,” it may apply to the first day of the week as well as to the seventh. Suppose that for the moment we allow this to be true; what then?—Why, again we are met with the fact that for men to make laws enforcing Sunday observance, is not only to go beyond the Lord, but to go against Him. For if in His commandment He has left men at perfect liberty to rest on whichever day they may choose, then for men to seek to compel others to rest on some certain day is to transgress His commandment. Let this one fact be clearly noted, namely, that no man can by any interpretation of the Bible construct an argument for Sunday observance that will not demonstrate the wickedness of all human laws on the subject.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 629.2

Mr. Girdlestone is a Protestant. But if he believes that the fourth commandment is indefinite, and does not specify which particular day of the week is to be observed, then one of two positions he must take. He must either (1) admit that there is no necessity for the observance of any particular day, and that the men who might keep Friday or Monday, as well as the men who keep Saturday and Sunday, are all alike strictly obeying the fourth commandment; or (2) he must admit the necessity for a Pope, who shall decide between them. For if men ought to keep one and the same day, and the Lord has left it open as to which day it shall be, then there must be some person higher in authority and power and wisdom than all other men, who shall take the Lord’s place, and do what the Lord left undone. This is what the Papacy has presumed to do with the fourth commandment. Let those follow him who will; but “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”PTUK October 4, 1894, page 629.3

“THE SEVENTH DAY”

The commandment says that “the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.” “The seventh day.” Mark that it is definite. It does not say “a seventh day,” but “the seventh day.” Say what you please about a seventh part of time, the fact remains that the words of the commandment indicate a definitely recurring seventh day.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 629.4

The question then arises, “The seventh day of what?” Is it the seventh day of the year? Does the commandment require the observance of only the seventh day in the year? Evidently not, because it says, “Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.”PTUK October 4, 1894, page 629.5

The same thing may be said about a month, or about one’s life. It cannot mean that we should rest simply on the seventh day of the month, nor the seventh day of our lives, for that would be nonsense.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 629.6

Of what then is the Sabbath the seventh day? Read the commandment again. “Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work.” Ah, it brings to view a cycle of seven days: six days of labour, and one day of rest; six days of labour and one day of rest, and so on. Well, did anybody ever hear of any such cycle of days? Oh, yes, every child knows that seven days make one week. The week is a definite portion of time, consisting of just seven days. It is the only period of time in which one could work six days and rest the seventh, and continue the practice. Then it is the seventh day of the week that the commandment declares to be the Sabbath-the Lord’s day.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 629.7

SIXTH DAY AND SEVENTH DAY

But this matter may be settled still more definitely. What has gone before is simply preliminary. Mr. Girdlestone, as a lawyer, will admit that the fourth commandment can never mean anything different from what it did when first given, without a change being made in the words. No change has been made in the words, for they stand the same in every Bible. Now let us see if there is any ground for the inference that the fourth commandment has left it indefinite as to whether or not we shall keep the seventh day of the week.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 629.8

In the sixteenth chapter of Exodus, we have the account of the giving of the manna, a little more than a month before the commandments were spoken from Sinai. I will quote a few verses, and will ask the reader to read the entire chapter.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 629.9

“Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no. And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.” “Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents. And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less. And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating. And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till the morning. Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them. And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating; and when the sun waxed hot, it melted. And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man; ... and they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein. And Moses said, Eat that to-day; for to-day is a Sabbath unto the Lord; to-day ye shall not find it in the field. Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the Sabbath, in it there shall be none.” Exodus 16:4, 5, 16-26.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 629.10

Now let us try on the indefinite seventh-day theory. Let it be noted that in this record we have the expressions, “the sixth day,” and “the seventh day.” The word week is not mentioned. We have a perfect parallel to the fourth commandment. Moreover, this is an illustration of the fourth commandment, for the whole transaction was to prove them, to see whether or not they would walk in the law of the Lord. In verse 26 we have the same form of words as in the fourth commandment: “Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the Sabbath, in it there shall be none.”PTUK October 4, 1894, page 629.11

We are now to proceed on the supposition that “the seventh day does not mean the seventh day of the week, but simply one-seventh part of time.” Very well, then it is evident that “the sixth day” does not mean the sixth day of the week, but simply one-sixth part of time. If this interpretation works in one case it must in the other.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 630.1

In order that the reader may get the matter clearly it in mind, we herewith append a portion of the calendar. It is for the whole month of July and the first part of August of the present year.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 630.2

Sun. M. T. W. Th. Fr. Sab.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 630.3

1 2 3 4 5 6 7*PTUK October 4, 1894, page 630.4

8 9 10 11 12 13 14*PTUK October 4, 1894, page 630.5

15 16 17 18 19 20 21*PTUK October 4, 1894, page 630.6

22 23 24+ 25 26 27 28-PTUK October 4, 1894, page 630.7

29 30 31PTUK October 4, 1894, page 630.8

1 2 3 4*PTUK October 4, 1894, page 630.9

5 6 7 8 9 10 11PTUK October 4, 1894, page 630.10

It will be noticed that every seventh day is marked with a star, but every “sixth” day, not of the week, but simply the sixth day after five is marked with a cross.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 630.11

Now let us place ourselves back in the wilderness, and go out to gather manna for our daily food. For the first week we get along very well. Our theory works beautifully. We gather a double portion on “the sixth day,” and are well supplied for the Sabbath.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 630.12

We will not place ourselves among those who went out on the seventh day to gather, although our theory would really make us do it. But on the first day of the week we begin again to gather manna. We find no difficulty on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. But Thursday is our “sixth day,” because “the sixth day” means the sixth day after five. So on Thursday we go out and gather twice as much as on other days, and lay it up for the morning, when, lo, we have a mass of corruption. It did not keep. And yet the Lord told us that if we gather twice as much on the sixth day as on other days, it would not spoil. What can be the matter? Is it possible that the word of the Lord has failed? Not at all; we have simply been trifling with it.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 630.13

Let us go through our calendar on this basis. We will not be thrown off our theory by one rebuff, but will carry it through. “The sixth day” does not mean the sixth day of the week, but simply one-sixth part of time. Now since it is only on the sixth day that we are to gather a double portion of manna, and our sixth day does not come on Friday any more for six weeks, we must not gather a double portion on that day. So when the next Sabbath comes we shall have to fast, and so on every Sabbath for six weeks. And once a week we shall be subject to the mortification of finding our food decayed.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 630.14

But now we come to the close of the sixth week. We have doggedly stuck to our theory that “the seventh day” means the seventh portion of time, and that “the sixth day” means the sixth part of time. On the sixth day we must gather a double quantity, and on the seventh day we must gather none. But lo, this week, our “sixth” and the “seventh” day are one and the same day; and we are under the necessity of gathering a double portion on this day, and at the same time we are forbidden to go out to look for any, and are assured that if we do we shall find none. Surely every one will agree that if we do not give up our absurd theory now we deserve to starve.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 630.15

Let it be noted that we should fare even worse if we did not start out right. In this case we have begun with the first day of the week, so that the seventh day falls regularly on the seventh day of the week, just as the Lord indicated. But if we should carry our theory so far as to begin at some other time, then we should have the case much more involved.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 630.16

But it is useless to carry the matter further. Perhaps it may seem a waste of space to dwell so long on such a supposition. But if it shall result in showing our readers the absurdity of the theory that “the seventh day” of the commandment means any seventh part of time that men may choose, and that it does mean the seventh day of the week, it will not have been lost time and space.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 630.17

A few weeks after the manna began to fall, the Lord spoke the ten commandments from Sinai. The fourth commandment meant the same thing then that it does now; neither more nor less. If it now means that we are at liberty to choose any day of the week that we please, as the Sabbath, and that the commandment does not limit us to the seventh day of the week, surely it meant the same thing then. And in that case we should have the Lord making it an impossibility for people to keep His law, even in the thing wherein He was proving them to see if they would keep it! Why was there not someone in the camp of Israel wise enough to quote the words of the Lord against Him, in justification of his course in seeking to keep a double portion on some other day than the sixth day of the week, and to gather manna on the Sabbath? The fall of the manna not proves beyond all possible cavil that “the seventh day” of the fourth commandment means the seventh day of the week, and nothing else.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 630.18

SABBATH AND FIRST DAY

Our friend has evidently missed the point of the reference to Luke 23:54-56; 24:1. He sees that “the preparation” preceded, and “the first day of the week” followed, “the Sabbath.” He says, “That is so. But no one doubts that the Jews rested on the seventh day of the week, or that we rest on the first day of the week.”PTUK October 4, 1894, page 630.19

But do you not see that this admission overthrows your theory that the commandment is indefinite? The Jews kept the seventh day of the week. Very well. But the last verse of the twenty-third chapter of Luke says that “they rested on the Sabbath day according to the commandment.” That was why I quoted that text. It shows that resting on the seventh day of the week is the only way in which the Sabbath of the fourth commandment can be kept.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 630.20

The Sabbath, according to the commandment, is the day before the first day of the week. And we have just shown that God Himself most rigidly fixed the day of the Sabbath to the seventh day of the week, so that in keeping it the Jews were obeying Him. But, by the same token, it follows that those who say, “No one doubts that the Jews rested on the seventh day of the week, or that we rest on the first day of the week,” thereby convict themselves of not keeping the fourth commandment.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 630.21

Is the first day of the week a working day?—Most certainly, and my friend must admit this whether he agrees with me about the definiteness of the fourth commandment or not. For if that commandment be indefinite, allowing everybody to choose for himself which day he will keep in obedience to it, then the first day must be a working day for everybody who chooses to keep some other day; and nobody can tax him with doing wrong in working on it. But if, as is the case, the seventh day of the week, and that only, is enjoined by the commandment, then of course the first day of the week is one of “the six working days” (Ezekiel 47:1), just the same as Monday and Tuesday.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 630.22

POSITIVE TESTIMONY, NOT INFERENCE

“Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you is safe.” With this authority for repetition, we again give a brief summary of proof that the seventh day of the week is the Lord’s day.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 631.1

And first, it is sufficient to recall the evidence that the Sabbath of the fourth commandment is none other than the seventh day of the week. “The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.” He claims it as His day. To claim any other day as the Lord’s day is to ignore or contradict the commandment of the Lord.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 631.2

Second the Lord, through His holy prophet, whose lips were touched with the coal from God’s altar, said, “If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My holy day,” etc. Here He expressly calls the Sabbath His own day. The Sabbath therefore is the Lord’s day. But the Sabbath here spoken of was the Sabbath which the Jews kept, for Isaiah was writing to Jews; and Mr. Girdlestone himself says that “no one doubts that the Jews rested on the seventh day of the week.” Of course not. Therefore he must admit that God Himself expressly calls the seventh day of the week the Lord’s day. Let this suffice for the present on this point.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 631.3

THE HOLY SPIRIT’S TESTIMONY

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God.” Many times in the New Testament the day which the Jews observed is called “the Sabbath.” That day was, without controversy, not the seventh day of the week. The question is, Shall we use the language of the Holy Spirit, or not? If not, then we have no guide at all. If we do not still call the seventh day of the week, and no other, the Sabbath, then what are we going to do with the four Gospels and the Acts? Shall we say that they were not inspired of the Holy Spirit? Or shall we say that the Holy Spirit was mistaken, and that we are not to follow His guidance?PTUK October 4, 1894, page 631.4

The Holy Spirit has given us the origin of the weekly cycle, and designates the days, “the first day,” “the second day,” and so on to “the seventh day.” The days of creation are sufficiently designated by being numbered, but the day that celebrates creation complete-the day that was blessed and made holy-is honoured by having a name. The name of the seventh day is “Sabbath.” By the naming of the seventh day it is distinguished from all other days, and by numbering the others without naming them the fact that the Sabbath is a definitely recurring day is made prominent. The Holy Spirit in the New Testament speaks the same as the Holy Spirit in Genesis. And when God spake the fourth commandment, in that very command He referred to the work which originated and established the weekly cycle, and said “the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord.”PTUK October 4, 1894, page 631.5

This is not a matter to be treated lightly. It does not involve the fourth commandment alone, but the whole of the Gospels, yes, of the New Testament. For if we cannot stand by this point, we have no assurance that anything is right. The question then is, Shall we keep the commandment of God just as it reads, or shall we modify it to suit ourselves? Shall we follow the language of the New Testament, or shall we claim that it is only a human production? “Choose ye this day whom ye will serve.”PTUK October 4, 1894, page 631.6

We have some other matter that would come in very aptly in this connection, but will postpone it till another week.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 631.7

“The Life in the Seed” The Present Truth 10, 40.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

The old question as to whether seeds will grow after hundreds of years was discussed recently in an evening paper. One reply to the question, “Will ‘mummy’ wheat grow?” is given as follows:—PTUK October 4, 1894, page 634.1

“Lord Winchilsea seems to have decided the oft-mooted question as to whether the corn found in the Egyptian tombs really possesses the germ of life. A few months ago Lord Sheffield, on his return from Egypt, gave Lord Winshilsea a handful of wheat which he had himself taken from the sarcophagus containing a mummy. One hundred of these grains were carefully planted under a glass frame. The result was awaited with interest by those who knew of the experiment; but, after some weeks, the seeds were discovered to have rotted away.”PTUK October 4, 1894, page 634.2

The vitality of the seed, however, could not be judged by one trial, in which the grains were from the same place and possibly subject to conditions which might destroy the germ. In reply to this report a correspondent of the paper, the Echo, wrote:—PTUK October 4, 1894, page 634.3

“Some few years ago a friend who was at the opening of a mummy at the London University-dated 2,000 years B.C.-obtained two peas, which he gave me, and I sowed, getting from them a yield of about a hundred. From this seed I have sown successively for years with good results. They differ from other peas-growing in clusters on very thin stalks-to the height of eight to ten feet, thus rendering them unfit for field culture, but they are very prolific. This year I have sown them between beans, to keep them off the ground. They have a very pretty flower-like sweet peas-are large, but not good eating, and boil with a thick skin the colour of broad beans.”PTUK October 4, 1894, page 634.4

All we know of the life of the seed is that God gives it life. After all the study of plants and the interesting knowledge that has been gained by observers, the greatest of botanical scientists freely confess that they have not got beyond the parable of the seed and the kingdom, in which it was stated that the seed springs and grows up—“he knoweth not how.”PTUK October 4, 1894, page 635.1

“Paper” The Present Truth 10, 40.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

Great changes have been made in the methods of making and using paper since the ancient days when the bulrush papyrus was pounded and pressed into parchment. Besides the common use of paper, it is now being used for maing a multitude of things, from a water pail to a carriage wheel. And it is made from as great a variety of materials. Thus we are told that in the United States there are over 2,000 patents relating to the manufacture of paper.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 637.1

“Some of the patents provide for the making of paper from the leaves of trees; from hop plants, bean stalks, pea vines; from the trunks and stalks, of Indian corn and every variety of grain; from moss, hay, and more than 100 kinds of grasses; from straw and cocoanut fibre; from fresh water weeds and sea weeds; from sawdust, shavings, and asbestos.”PTUK October 4, 1894, page 637.2

“News of the Week” The Present Truth 10, 40.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

-The latest bicycle record in England is 258 miles in 12 hours.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 638.1

-Twenty school children were killed in Naples by the collapse of the roof of a school building.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 638.2

-Every animal kept by man, excepting the cat, is taxed in Austria, and now it is proposed to tax cats.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 638.3

-It has even decided that house rates can be collected only for the time a house is actually occupied.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 638.4

-It is estimated that in London alone nearly one million pawn tickets are issued every week for sums under 10s.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 638.5

-A terrible cyclone swept several States of America, causing 100 deaths and wholesale destruction of property.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 638.6

-The Victorian Government has resigned, and the leader of the Opposition, the Hon. George Turner, has been called upon to form a new Cabinet.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 638.7

-The Salvation Army is to have a “self-denial week,” the date being Oct. 20-28. At other times, we may infer, self will have a fair amount of recognition.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 638.8

-The output of wine in Cape Colony has fallen by 2,000,000 gallons, or one-third, during the last four years, partly In consequence of the ravages of phylloxera.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 638.9

-France is to send a military expedition to Madagascar, which will consist of 7,300 men. There are already eight French cruisers and gun-boats in Madagascar waters.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 638.10

-The Kaffirs in the neighbourhood of Lorenzo Marques, in Portuguese South Africa, are in rebellion against the Portuguese authorities. It is feared that other tribes will join them.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 638.11

-Excavations in Upper Egypt brought to light a set of wooden statuettes of soldiers, showing the costumes of the troops of the Pharaohs, which are said to be identical with that of the Soudanese of to-day.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 638.12

-The Hungarian House of Magnates has taken action in favour of granting freedom to all classes in matters pertaining to religious worship. This step comes as a sequence of the enactment of the civil marriage law.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 638.13

-It is stated that the Admiralty have on foot a large scheme for the maintenance of trained crews for the armed cruisers on which subsidies are now paid. The whole proposition includes the manning of no less than twenty-six vessels.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 638.14

-A private telegram received at Berlin, from Warsaw, states that a large number of persons have been arrested there on the charge of belonging to a secret society. Among those apprehended are literary men, chemists, students, and compositors.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 638.15

-Good samples of fen wheat sold recently at 16s. 8d. per quarter, the lowest price on record, and other lots, which last year would have fetched 25s., did not realise more than 17s. This is lies than a halfpenny a pound. Farmers any this means a loss of ?1 for every acre of wheat grown.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 638.16

-Later reports of the naval battle between the Chinese and Japanese fleets leave no doubt that the advantage meted with the Japanese. The damaged Chinese warships are not expected to be ready for at least two months, and the Japanese have in the meantime practical control of the seas.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 638.17

-Mail advices received at San Francisco from Japan state that is destructive storm has occurred there, laying waste the districts of Okita and Twate. Fifteen thousand houses are reported to have been levelled with the ground. Great havoc has been wrought amongst the shipping, and 800 persons perished.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 638.18

-China having demonstrated her weakness in the war with Japan, the question of the partition of the country by the powers of Europe has already been raised, and is boldly advocated by the Novosti, a leading journal of Russia. The Novosti proposes a joint occupation of China by Russia, England, and France.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 638.19

-Placed end to end in a continuous line, the streets of London would extend from the Mansion House across the entire Continent of Europe and beyond the Ural Mountains into Asia. The number of inhabitants exceeds the population of Paris, Berlin, Vienna, and Rome put together. And yet London is one of the healthiest cities in the world.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 638.20

-The question of the jus exclusionis, or right of the sovereigns of Franco, Austria, and Spain to object to the election of any cardinal as Pope, has been revived in the Hungarian delegation to the approaching papal conclave, and has excited much indignation at the Vatican. The Pope, it is stated, will do his utmost to prevent any revival of this, ancient prerogative.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 638.21

-Korean soldiers are an odd-looking military force. Their uniform consists of blue trousers and blouse, with red facings, sandals, and broad-brimmed hats. Caps were first tried, but so derogatory to their wearers did they seem (a Korean being ranked as a man by his hat) that violent opposition was raised, and a compromise on hats two feet in diameter was made.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 638.22

-Professor Behring, of Halle, the discoverer of blood serum as a cure for diphtheria, in a paper read at a recent meeting of German naturalists, said that although for the present the serum is absolutely efficient only in the case of diphtheria and tetanus, it is but a question of time when it will be successfully used also for cholera, pneumonia, typhus, and probably also for consumption.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 638.23

-The rainfall in London this year has been inches above the average, and the mean temperature 2 degrees below the average,—an exact reversal of the conditions of last year. Notwithstanding this some sections of the country are suffering from scarcity of water, and at Leicester, it is said, unless there is a heavy rainfall within two weeks, not a drop of water will remain in the reservoirs. Boring operations are going on night and day, and the outlook is very serious.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 638.24

-Dr. Viquerat of Geneva, after a long study of tuberculosis has reached some extraordinary results. Twenty-seven tuberculous patients of the second or third degree have undergone his treatment (sub-cutaneous injection of the serum of asses), and twenty-five, who had been given up by their physicians as lost, are to-day entirely cured. An authoritative report gives the names and addresses of twenty-five patients treated. As a result of this success a philanthropic Genevan has founded in Geneva the Viquerat Institute for the treatment of persons whose case is looked upon as hopeless.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 638.25

“Back Page” The Present Truth 10, 40.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

The Bishops of Hungary have decided to bring a bill into the legislature “prohibiting conversion to Judaism.” This is like some of the old laws demanding that the people must believe certain doctrines, and must not believe others-as though human laws could really control the action of the mind.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 640.1

The claim that Ritualism in the Church of England prevents people from going over to Romanism, by supplying them at home with the Catholic doctrines and practices, is paralleled by the case of the man who, in order to keep his sons from public-houses, opened a bar in his own house, with a full supply of liquors, to which they had free access.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 640.2

The twenty-eighth annual report of Dr. Barnardo’s Homes is an interesting one. The number of orphan and waif children dealt with during the past year was larger than any year preceding, reaching a total of 13,418. Notwithstanding the general depression which has affected the finances of many religious and philanthropic societies the income of the Homes shows an increase.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 640.3

The prophet Joel, in the third chapter, is speaking of “the day of the Lord,” and the gathering of the mighty ones of the earth to the battle of the last day. “Let the heathen be wakened,” “Prepare war, wake up the mighty men,” he says. Who does not think at once of the great nations of Asia who are just awakening out of the sleep of centuries, and learning the arts of war, and awakening to the knowledge that they may be counted among the great powers, and have a hand in the struggle for possessions and superiority?PTUK October 4, 1894, page 640.4

The Lord commanded the widow of Sarepta to sustain Elijah, although she had but a handful of meal; but from the Lord’s comment in the fourth of Luke we learn that this was only the Lord’s way of sustaining the widow and her household, and blessing her with salvation. It is always so with God’s commandments. They are not grievous; and instead of being given to bring us into distress, as the widow might have reasoned had she been faithless, they are designed to be the means of bringing great blessings to us.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 640.5

“The life was manifested,” said John, “and we have seen it.” But we read also that the life of God, and His Divine power and Godhead are manifested in the things that He is made, and may be clearly seen by all, so that all are without excuse if they do not accept the life. There were many who saw Christ in the flesh, but few saw the life. All the world is daily seeing the things that God has made, and all are living by the life He gives them, the breath of life that He sends moment by moment; and yet how few now see the life that is manifested in all this.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 640.6

“The Spiritualistic Revival” The Present Truth 10, 40.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

The Spiritualistic Revival.-As the prophetic Scriptures repeatedly referred to the revival of the old practices of witchcraft, or spirit communication in the last days, we may expect to see Spiritualism, already world-wide, increasing its operations and commanding more attention every year. Those who are deceived by it already congratulate one another on the rapid progress it is making. Last week a conversazione of the London Spiritualistic Alliance was held at St. James’ Hall, at which Professor Barret, Dean of the Faculty in the Irish Royal College of Science, gave an address. A report says:—PTUK October 4, 1894, page 640.7

The Professor concluded by remarking that he believed they were on the eve of a very great change in public opinion with regard to Spiritualism, and that change had been signalised by one of the most distinguished statesmen of the day-viz., the Right Hon. A. J. Balfour-in his presidential address to the Psyschical Research Society recently when he remarked that the time was coming when the scientific thought of this country would be aroused to further investigations, which it was their bounden duty to undertake.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 640.8

“Virtuous Cant” The Present Truth 10, 40.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

Virtuous Cant.-A Russian official journal calls upon Great Britain, France, and Russia to divide China between them. It declares it to be unworthy of Europe to tolerate further the barbarities of the Chinese, “the massacre of missionaries,” etc. Yet not one of the missionary societies operating in China could withdraw one missionary from China and send him to Russia to engage in similar work. And in Russia it would not be the occasional opposition of the superstitious and prejudiced common people, but the strong arm of the law, the determined purpose of the Russian authorities to enforce the customs and usages of the Greek Church and prevent the preaching of the pure Gospel. What a difference it makes where the persecution is! And in other countries that we might name there are many people who abhor Russia for trying to force its subjects to conform to forms and ceremonies in which they have no faith, who themselves follow Russia’s principles exactly in their effort to compel the observance of institutions which they think all should honour.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 640.9

“But a Beginning” The Present Truth 10, 40.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

But a Beginning.-Last week the Christian truly said:—PTUK October 4, 1894, page 640.10

The Reformation itself was an imperfect work-only a beginning-and retained many of the deadly seeds of Romanism; and, further, that where the Reformation was victorious it sometimes caused reaction by pressing its successes too far. Into many cases its alliance with princes and rulers was its weakness and downfall. The truth is safest in the keeping of loving hearts, however humble.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 640.11

This truth needs constant emphasising, especially now when the tendency, even among those whom our contemporary represents, is to invoke the aid of civil power to advance the cause of religion. The Reformation began with the cry, “The Bible and the Bible only,” and it will not be ended until that is the cry of every child of the kingdom of grace, and every tradition received from human authority is cast aside.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 640.12

“A Geographical Question” The Present Truth 10, 40.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

A Geographical Question.—The Archbishop of Dublin has long been proposing to consecrate as Bishop the leader of some Spanish congregations who have broken away from the Roman Church. He has at last done so in the face of the opposition of the Anglican Episcopate, the majority of the English Church considering it rank heresy for these congregations to separate from the Catholic Church in Spain. On the Continent the true church is apparently supposed to be Rome, but crossing the Channel to England it becomes the Anglican Church. The Church Times calls the Spanish Reformers—as they have been named—“a new schismatical communion,” and threathens the Archbishop of Dublin with certain condemnation when the Lambeth Synod meets. The Spanish churches are very Ritualistic, and it is urged in their favour that they have reformed very little in the matter of altars, and lights, and Roman Catholic ritual generally, but they have nominally denied the authority of Rome.PTUK October 4, 1894, page 640.13