This world is the scene of a great controversy between good and evil, and Christ says, “He that is not with Me is against Me.” Matthew 12:30.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 113.1

The enmity is against God. This is an encouraging thought to the believer when the attacks of the enemy come. “The battle is not yours, but God’s.” God’s honour is at stake, and so for His sake as well as man’s He must triumph. The rebellion against His law began before ever man became involved in the controversy.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 113.2

“And there was war in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world; he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Revelation 12:7-9.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 113.3

Although the battle is between Christ and Satan, men cannot be mere spectators. There is no neutral ground where one can be on neither side. Satan succeeded in getting man to join his rebellion against God’s authority, and so he makes of every natural heart a citadel of opposition against God. But God, in His love and mercy, did not leave man when he had chosen the side of Satan. “When we were enemies,” He gave His life to bring to us deliverance “from the power of darkness,” and to translate all who desire it “into the kingdom of His dear Son.”PTUK February 21, 1895, page 113.4

Therefore He calls to every one, “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” Every day each one is making the choice. “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Romans 6:16.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 113.5

“Without Me ye can do nothing.” “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” With Christ, means His life manifested in mortal flesh; to be without Christ means to be against Christ, for the life will inevitably be “according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” Ephesians 2:2. Every act of disobedience is the direct working of Satan against the truth of God. Every act of obedience is the working of Christ’s power in the hearts of those who choose Him. “For it is God that worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”PTUK February 21, 1895, page 113.6

Satan not only works disobedience in men, but he works this “with all deceivableness of unrighteousness.” So it was that when he led the powers of this world to condemn Jesus they knew not what they did. But he knew. And he carried on the war against Christ by turning the wrath of the powers of this world against the followers of Christ. But “they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives under the death.” The “god of this world” will continue the warfare to the end; the conflict will become even more severe as the end draws near, and the remnant of the church of Christ will know the power of God to deliver from the wrath of Satan. “Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time... And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 12:12, 17. It is the righteous law of God, against which he rebelled in the beginning, that he still hates.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 113.7

It is therefore no light thing to make the choice. On the side of Christ is the reproach of Christ. But even this reproach was esteemed by Moses greater riches than all the treasures of the world, for with it is the life of Jesus, which works to subdue self to God and to cleanse from sin. The word of God “liveth and abideth for ever.” He who builds upon that is founded upon the rock which no storm can shake. To choose disobedience means death; obedience is life, for Jesus said, “I know that His commandment is life everlasting.” “Therefore choose life.”PTUK February 21, 1895, page 113.8

“Follow Christ” The Present Truth 11, 8.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

God has said, “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil.” Exodus 23:2. If it is not safe to follow a multitude, it is certainly not safe to follow a few, or one individual. The voice of the people is not the voice of God. The multitudes are not leaders, but followers; they echo the sentiments and strive to imitate the example of their great men. It is a man’s voice, a man’s wisdom, that guides them, and the great men of the world are not safe spiritual guides. In the Christian’s calling “not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.” If we cannot put our trust in princes (Psalm 146:3), we cannot trust in men of less degree. “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Of man 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.” Romans 3:10-12.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 113.9

We may walk among men, but we must not follow them. This will not deprive us of good company, but will on the contrary insure it to us. The rule given us by inspiration is, “Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.” Hebrews 12:1, 2. The Saviour stands in full view of all who will look unto Him in faith. He is our Leader, and we must not allow our sight of Him to become obscured by the interposition of another being between us. This will not be if we keep near enough to Him. But when faith fails, the spiritual side grows dim, and then it is that we fall back and ere long find ourselves following some human leader. The Christian walks “as seeing Him who is invisible.” Hebrews 11:27. He who has a visible spiritual leader, is not following the Christian’s Guide.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 114.1

Faith gives us a sight of the invisible, being “the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1. And faith comes by hearing the word of God. Romans 10:17. By believing and resting upon Christ’s word, we keep Him ever in view. When we go to the earthly oracles for guidance, it is because we have forgotten that they are “living oracles” given us from God. Acts 7:38. We have forgotten that there is a “word” which is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path (Psalm 119:105), and a voice behind us saying, “This is the way; walk ye in it.” Isaiah 30:21. No mystic utterances do these oracles speak forth, as did the heathen oracles of old; no lying voices proceed from them, as from the heathen shrines. The word of the Lord enters into the heart that is open and willing, and is a discerner of its thoughts and intents. Hebrews 4:12. And by that very thing it makes its meaning irresistibly clear to us. The discerning process is not one that takes place in the heart unconsciously. We cannot be unconsciously convicted of sin; and being convicted or justified, we must know the truth by which our way has been measured.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 114.2

“Beware,” writes the apostle, “lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him.” Colossians 2:8-10. Each one of us already has the oracles of God, and outside of these there is only “philosophy, and vain deceit, after the tradition of men.” Any man who would take the place of the oracles of God to us, has only this to give us. God does not communicate with us by the word of man, but by His own words; and “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God.” 1 Peter 4:11.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 114.3

Let us look at an incident in the life of Peter,—he from whom the Pope claims to derive authority to speak and act as the world’s spiritual guide. Just before His ascension the Saviour met Peter and some other disciples at the Sea of Galilee: and after talking with Peter and telling him of the manner of His death, He said to him, “Follow Me.” “Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; .... Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou Me.” John 21:20-22. The Lord rebuked Peter for such a question, notwithstanding he had just been commissioned to feed the lambs and the sheep of God’s flock. Much more would He have rebuked him if he had presumed to tell the disciple what he must do, and take measures to compel him to do it. John was not following Peter but Christ, and no man had authority to be his leader. And Peter, if he had kept his eyes on Christ, would not have essayed to stand between Him and John. And if Peter had no authority or right to do this, there is none to be derived from him, neither has any man possessed it since his day. God looks directly to each one of us; and we must look directly to Him.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 114.4

“Criticising Mr. Self” The Present Truth 11, 8.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

When you are about to comment upon the failings and weaknesses of your neighbour, pause a moment and think of that other person, well known to you, who actually never did anything worth mentioning; namely, Mr. Self. Is it fair to criticise the one and say nothing about the others?PTUK February 21, 1895, page 114.5

“The World’s Unrest” The Present Truth 11, 8.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

The most superficial observer can hardly fail to be impressed with the state of general strife and turmoil in which our world enters upon the year A.D. 1895. The Great War in the East goes on, with no prospect of speedy and permanent termination. Mexico has been for some time preparing for war with Guatemala, and Argentina is getting ready for a war with Chile. A revolution is in progress in Colombia. France is undertaking an expedition against Madagascar. The Turks have been committing terrible atrocities in Armenia, and Mohammedan outrages are now reported from Damascus and Beyrout, in Syria. The Italian and Portuguese are fighting the natives in Africa. The nations of Europe maintain their attitude of hostile watchfulness of each other. Political and social disquiet is causing the disruption of Cabinets and the downfall of Governmental leaders. And all this is only the surface picture of national strife and commotion, leaving out of view the hidden but no less real unrest of each individual heart arising from the difficulties of its own particular environment.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 114.6

Civilisation does not mean rest and peace. The resources of men have proved vain for the promotion of human tranquillity. At the highest point of the world’s intellectual advancement, it presents a picture of commotion and strife which is actually startling. The state of things is evidently growing worse, and that rapidly. This conviction forces itself upon even the most unwilling minds; and the question arises, What is to be the outcome? From whence shall we look for that which science, civilisation, and statesmanship have signally failed to afford?PTUK February 21, 1895, page 114.7

The outlook is indeed dark for that era of universal peace for which so many are vaguely looking. If people would look to the word of God, they would find light upon this, as upon many other subjects which agitate the religious world. In that word we are told, “The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” Isaiah 57:20, 21. And the Psalmist says, “Yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be; yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Psalm 37:10, 11. So long as wicked people fill the earth, the strife and unrest must continue. There can be no peace till wickedness is rooted out.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 114.8

The hope of peace for all men is in the Prince of Peace. Wherever He is, there is peace and rest. And He will bring peace and quiet once more to all the earth, by coming to it and making it His abode. The wicked, however, will be blotted from its face, for iniquity cannot endure in the presence of God. Christ is the power that “maketh wars to cease unto the ends of the earth;” and the work already awaits His appearing. There are wars unto the ends of the earth now, and every passing year brings its additions to the general strife. Sin means war,—war against God and against everything that does not minister to the desires of self. Righteousness, on the other hand, means rest and peace, now and for ever, in the midst of this world’s tumults as well as in the sinless world to come.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 115.1

“Looking Backward” The Present Truth 11, 8.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

This is one point in which the Christian life is distinguished from the life of the world. The Christian has no occasion to look behind him. He may have passed the days of youth, when his body was sound and vigorous, or the period when prosperity smiled upon him with an abundance of temporal blessings; but still he has not to look mournfully back to the joys of other days. His joy remains the same as before; the brightness of his life has not grown dim, because it comes from before him. “The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” The climax of his hopes and of his efforts have not been reached and passed, as with the worldly man; but he is ever attaining to the high and glorious purpose of his existence.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 116.1

It matters not if dark days and trying ordeals may have been met, which would cast a gloom over all the future of a career built upon worldly wealth and fame. No sorrows can bind him with their chains. The rule of his life is, “Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13, 14. There are many things which it is pleasant to forget, and the Christian life provides that all shall be forgotten that is painful and evil. The time is coming when God will create a new earth, and “the former shall not be remembered nor come into mind,” a time when God will fulfil His word concerning His people, that “their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” When God will not remember our sins, none of us will be able to remember them. And even now, “the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” shines so brightly before us, that in the sight of it we count the pain and sorrow of this life as “light afflictions, which are but for a moment.”PTUK February 21, 1895, page 116.2

“Love and the Law” The Present Truth 11, 8.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

The law of God is spoken of as “a fiery law.” Deuteronomy 33:2. Such it was to the congregation of Israel assembled round Mount Sinai, beholding with fearful eyes the lightnings and the smoke and the “devouring fire” upon its summit, and listening to the awful voice which proclaimed in tones of thunder the ten words. Terror-stricken by the terrible display of Divine majesty, they removed afar off, and said to Moses, “Speak thou with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” Exodus 20:19.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 116.3

And yet this fiery law is a law of love; for we read that “love is the fulfilling of the law,” even the “royal law,” which says, Do not commit adultery, and, Do not kill. Romans 13:10; James 2:8-11. It commanded only love, and only by the manifestation of love can it be kept. But this truth the Israelites did not then perceive. This was not the fault of God, but of themselves. The fault was in their hearts. The law spoke to them as it speaks to all who are unconverted-who have not the love of God in them. They received it from the standpoint of the sinner, from which the law presents only its negative or prohibitory side, expressed by the words, “Thou shalt not.” It cannot be otherwise; for the law speaks death to sin. But it is a law of life to him from whom sin has been separated.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 116.4

Until the heart is open to God by faith, so that He can come in and dwell there, the law of God will ever appear to the individual as it did to the congregation of Israel at Mount Sinai. It will be a fiery law, speaking Divine wrath and awful judgments upon the transgressors. Yet this very fact proclaims it to be the law of love and life, for to these, sin is utterly antagonistic. Either sin must be destroyed, or love and life must cease. And so in the terrible lightnings and thunders and the devouring fire upon the top of Mount Sinai so terrible to the assembly of Israel, we have a most striking exhibition of God guarding with jealous care the happiness of the universe. The devouring fire for sin, is the preservation of love and life and happiness for every being whom God has made, and therefore but a manifestation of love toward sinful man.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 116.5

“Love is the fulfilling of the law,” and “God is love.” This is the very nature of God; and in Him love has its source. He is the fountain of love and of life. He has these in and of Himself; but His creatures have them only because He has put them in their hearts by putting Himself there. Love is a manifestation of the presence of God. It does not come by the exercise of the will, but is God’s gift. We cannot love by promising to love or trying to love. We cannot create love by our exertions. Love can spring up in the heart only through its being opened to God, so that He who is love can come in. And this we do by the exercise of faith. “Faith worketh by love,” and faith and love are inseparable. And faith is inseparable from righteousness, which is inseparable from life.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 116.6

No man can by his exertions keep the law of God since He cannot thereby create that love which is the fulfilling of the law. He can keep the law only by opening his heart to God and letting God dwell in him and manifest Himself through him. And he who has the love of God in his heart will love righteousness. The law will be to him the royal pathway, wherein is found life and happiness and peace. He will say as Jesus said, “I delight to do Thy will, O my God; yea, Thy law is within my heart.” He will love the Lord his God with all his heart, mind, and strength, and his neighbour as himself.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 116.7

“If any man willeth to do His will, he shall know of the teaching.” John 7:17, R.V.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 116.8

“The Papacy. From Babylon to Rome” The Present Truth 11, 8.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

“And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it; and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.” Daniel 7:5.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 117.1

For the expression, “And it raised up itself on one side,” the marginal reading would substitute, “it raised up one dominion.” This would indicate what was actually the case, that one branch of the Medo-Persian Empire had the pre-eminence. At the first, the Median kingdom was the kingdom, and Persia was only a province. When the Babylonian expedition was begun, it was by Darius, king of Media; his nephew Cyrus, prince of Persia, was simply an ally. When Babylon was conquered, Darius took the throne; but after the death of Darius, the Median portion of the kingdom became secondary. Some historians say that Persia revolted from Media, and gained its pre-eminence by conquest. But however it was, there is no question but that Persia was the leading power in the Medo-Persian dominion. So greatly did it tower above the Median portion, that the empire is often spoken of simply as the Persian Empire.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 117.2

“And they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.” Daniel 7:5. By this we can see the propriety of having the second line of symbols to represent the four kingdoms. Their peculiar characteristics could not be indicated by the parts of the image, except that one could be shown to be stronger or more magnificent than another. But in this line additional features are indicated. Thus the Medo-Persian Empire is shown to have been characterised by lust for conquest, and disregard for human life. Every reader of history knows that the cruel, despotic disposition of most of the Persian kings, and the vast armies that they sacrificed, fully sustain the character which the prophecy gives to that empire. Prideaux pronounces the Persian kings, after Cyrus, “the worst race of man that ever governed an empire.”PTUK February 21, 1895, page 117.3

“After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it for wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.” Daniel 7:6.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 117.4

The leopard is a very swift-footed beast, and the addition of four wings would give it speed almost beyond comprehension. Nothing could more fitly represent the Grecian Empire under Alexander, whose very name is a synonym for celerity of movement. Says Rollin, “Alexander, in less than eight years, marched his army upwards of seventeen hundred leagues, without including his return to Babylon.” And he conquered enemies as he went.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 117.5

The four heads of this beast can indicate nothing but the four parts into which the Grecian Empire was divided after the death of Alexander. Bear in mind that the Grecian Empire was not divided into four other empires, but that there were four heads to the one empire, just as there were four heads to the leopard. Rollin gives the history of all the kings of the four divisions, under the head of “Alexander’s Successors.”PTUK February 21, 1895, page 117.6

“After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it; and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots; and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.” Daniel 7:7, 8.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 118.1

Since the four beasts represented the four universal empires of earth (Daniel 7:17, 18), it follows that the fourth beast represents the fourth kingdom, or Rome, of whose iron monarchy we studied a fortnight ago.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 118.2

But Daniel was not completely satisfied with the first answer given by the angel. From his connection with Nebuchadnezzar’s dream he must have known the main features of these four kingdoms; but there were some particulars upon which He desired more light. “Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; and of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.” Daniel 7:19, 20.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 118.3

The answer to this request was given as follows:—PTUK February 21, 1895, page 118.4

“Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, ... and the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise; and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.” Daniel 7:23, 24.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 118.5

The fourth beast was the fourth kingdom,—Rome,—and the ten horns, it is plainly stated, “are ten kings that shall arise,” that is, ten parts into which the Roman Empire should be divided. This division is mentioned in Daniel 2:41. It was affected by the incursions of the barbarous tribes which dismembered the Roman Empire in the fourth and fifth centuries, the history of which is so graphically described by Gibbon.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 118.6

After the division of the Roman Empire was completed, which was in A.D. 476, another power was to arise, and in its rise was to pluck up three of the first kingdoms by the roots. There is so general an agreement in regard to this “little horn” which had “eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things” (Daniel 7:8), that we risk nothing in saying at once that it represents the Papacy. Positive proof of the fact will appear as we proceed. It uprooted three kingdoms to make room for itself; and as if to show the fulfilment of the prophecy, the Pope’s tiara is a triple crown. Such a crown is worn by no other ruler. The three kingdoms that were plucked up will be named a little further on in our studies.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 118.7

“And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws.” Daniel 7:25.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 118.8

If we find that these three specification apply to the Papacy, then it will be useless to look further for an application for the little horn. We will consider them in detail in our next.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 118.9

“News of the Week” The Present Truth 11, 8.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

-Russia and Roumania have entered upon a tariff war.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 126.1

-Lunacy has of late seriously increased in Ireland, where many of the asylums are over-crowded.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 126.2

-Last year Australia sent 3,000 tons of butter to England, besides very considerable quantities of poultry and eggs.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 126.3

-Plans have been prepared for a suggested ship canal 1,000 miles long between the Baltic and the Black Sea. The estimated cost is ?20,000,000.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 126.4

-It is rumoured that an American protectorate has been declared over the Hawaiian islands, Admiral Beardslee having previously taken possession of Pearl Harbour.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 126.5

-The Japs estimate that since the beginning of the war, 700,000,000 dollars’ worth of property has fallen into their hands. Between 400 and 500 Jape have been killed, and nearly 10,000 Chinese.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 126.6

-The cruel practice of cropping dogs’ ears has, it is said, been given a damaging blow by an announcement from the Prince of Wales that he never allowed dogs belonging to him to be so treated.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 126.7

-A young woman is in custody in Hungary who is said to have procured her living by poisoning the husbands of wives who were willing to pay for their removal. She has confessed to one murder of the kind, for which crime she received 400 florins from the wife.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 126.8

-In Colombia the Government forces seem to be getting the better of the revolutionists. A despatch from Colon, Feb. 9, stated that the rebel General Salmiento had surrendered at Tolima with 1,600 of his followers. The insurgents have also been detested at Corozal, and the Government troops have gone in pursuit of them.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 126.9

-The Russian commission appointed by the Government to consider the question of the advisability of exiling political and other offenders to Siberia has, it is reported, decided in favour of banishing only members of the privileged classes to that region, whilst criminals belonging to the lower classes will be confined in prisons in the mother country.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 126.10

-A marvellous discovery of gold is reported from Western Australia. The cone of quartz, which is said to be rich with gold, is said to be 70ft. high, 250 yards long, and 20ft. wide at the summit. The seven prospectors who claim to have made the discovery, on their return were arrested and charged with massacring an entire tribe of natives, men, women, and children.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 126.11

-In accordance with Siamese custom, the body of the recently-deceased Crown Prince was tightly bound up, the chin resting on the knees. It was then placed in an iron urn, which was put into a magnificent urn of gold, studded with precious stones. This was placed on a golden pyramid nine feet high, in a building adjoining the grand palace. Here the body will remain for a year, and then be consigned to the flames.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 126.12

-The exceptionally cold weather has caused great distress throughout all Europe. For the first time in many years, the River Scheldt is frozen over, and navigation is suspended. Reports come from Italy that children in the snowed-up districts are dying of starvation, while others have perished of cold. In London two hundred thousand men connected with the building trade have been thrown out of work, and there is almost a paralysis of this industry throughout the country.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 126.13

-At a sitting of the Academy of Sciences, in Stockholm, Feb. 13, M. Andre, the celebrated Swedish aeronaut, explained in detail a proposal made by him for undertaking a voyage to the North Pole in a balloon. In the course of his lecture he expressed the belief that, in view of the favourable conditions which the Polar regions afforded for aërial voyaging and the great progress lately made in aëronautics, a balloon could make the voyage from Spitsbergen over the North Pole in about thirty days. The cost of the enterprise would be about 130,000 kroner (about ?7,220).PTUK February 21, 1895, page 126.14

“Back Page” The Present Truth 11, 8.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

We are glad to say that our publications are going out from our printing department as never before. During December nearly 18,000 tracts and pamphlets were despatched.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 128.1

Nearly the whole adult membership of a Sabbath-keeping church in Switzerland is under arrest for refusing to send their children to the public school on the seventh day, as commanded by the new Canton law. They offer to provide teaching at their own expense, but the authorities deny the privilege.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 128.2

Another item of news from our publishing department will interest our readers. In getting out our larger works-such as are sold only by subscription by our agents in the colonies and the home field-it is customary to print editions of some thousands, and then have them bound in smaller lots as they are needed. In one week recently, binding orders were given for completing 5,000 volumes. This shows that there is a demand for books dealing with the truth for these days.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 128.3

Rome despatches say that Cardinal Vaughan dissuades the Pope from addressing a public document to England, believing that the attitude of the Anglican Church is not at present favourable to general secession to Rome. He however expects a rapid increase of individual conversions to Catholicism. The Pope, however, seems unable to understand the sentiment which keeps people outside of the Catholic Church while the doctrines and practices of that Church are so fully adopted. He does not give up his scheme of reunion.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 128.4

Smoking always costs the consumer of the tobacco money that might better be spent in doing good, but in the case of pastors of the Free Church of Scotland it is shown to cause the congregations a considerable amount as well. The Insurance Trust of the Free Church point out in their report that tobacco smoking caused fires in manses which cost the trust ?589-nearly one half of its entire expenditure.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 128.5

The consecration of a bishop of the Spanish dissenters from Rome by the Archbishop of Dublin was made the subject of condemnatory resolutions in both of the Houses of the Convocation of Canterbury. Archbishop Farrar made a strong speech in favour of showing sympathy for the Spanish dissenters-who are evidently half-way between Romanism and Protestantism-but the Houses maintained the protests of High Churchmen against recognising those who have separated from the Church of Rome in Spain.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 128.6

“The Sunday Law in London” The Present Truth 11, 8.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

Most of our readers have doubtless already learned, from reports in the newspaper press, that our publishing department has come in contact with one of the numerous Sunday laws upon the statute books. All the newspapers, with few exceptions, reported the trial of the manager under the Sunday clause of the Factory Act. We have space here for but a few notes on the matter, and will deal with the whole question fully in our next number.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 128.7

The penalty of a few pounds fine was fixed by the magistrate. As the manager could not in conscience pay the fine,—virtually imposed for Sabbath-keeping,—it was intimated that goods in the works would be seized to satisfy the law.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 128.8

Those who have read the PRESENT TRUTH regularly for some time will recognise this experience as essentially the same as has come recently to observers of the Sabbath in Europe and the colonies, and also in America. It is the working of the same spirit, and the way in which the demand for the enforcement of Sunday laws has suddenly developed so fully in all the world is evidence that one mind is behind it all. For years our printing department has been running every Sunday as on other week-days, but all at once it is decided that the Sunday must be recognised-that having kept the Sabbath of the Lord that department of our work must, to a degree, also pay homage to the institution which has been established in opposition to the Sabbath. Of course this cannot be done.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 128.9

Expressions of sympathy have come to us from every side-from very many who, while not prepared to recognise the seventh day as the Sabbath, yet recognise the fact that whatever seeks to compel by force the recognition of religious institutions is of the very spirit of the Papacy, and not of the Lord who said, “If any man hear My words, and believe not, I judge him not.” John 12:47.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 128.10

First of all, let us say that we have no grievance, and no complaints to make against majorities or authorities. Of course fair-minded persons naturally sympathise with those whom they believe to be treated unjustly. But the Lord has not set the believer in the world to contend for his rights, nor to demand justice of the world. The Christian is not concerned with his personal rights. The Divine right of the Lord Jesus Christ to his personal service is the only right he cannot surrender. When the laws of men demand this surrender, he can only say, “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.” And if men choose to judge that the word of man must stand, the Christian can only speak the word of God and submit his property, his person, or, if to the glory of God, his life. All these things pass away, and amount to nothing, but the word of God stands fast for ever and ever.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 128.11

Therefore by the principles of the Gospel, to testify to which we are brought to the courts, we disavow all thoughts of urging any complaint or grievance, or inviting personal sympathy. We invite all who have ears to hear to listen to what God says in His word. These things which are coming in all the world, and to which Seventh-day Adventists have been looking forward for over forty years, simply show that the prophetic word is being fulfilled, and that God calls upon all men to search and see whether they are prepared to stand upon the word of God, and remain loyal to God’s law when the wrath of the enemy seeks to turn men away from God into sin and disloyalty. Revelation 12:17.PTUK February 21, 1895, page 128.12

February 14, 1895

February 28, 1895