If we would but open our eyes, we should see that God has set wonderful things before us, not only within our sight but within our reach, which should fill us full of hope and rejoicing.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 401.1

It is common to say, We know not what is before us; but this expression is not altogether of faith. The uncertainty is not so much in regard to what is before us, as to what will be our choice, and what course we will pursue. The Lord says, “See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil.”PTUK June 27, 1895, page 401.2

These things are as certainly set before each of us as they were before ancient Israel, for “unto us was the Gospel preached as well as unto them.” But whether we will choose life or death, good or evil, is a matter which rests altogether with us.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 401.3

Of our Saviour we read that He “for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame.” Yet through all his earthly life He walked in the shadow of Gethsemane and Calvary. He knew the ordeal that was before Him. Yet he looked not at this, but at the joy that was set before Him. And if He could walk joyfully in the full knowledge that His pathway led to such an awful hour of agony and gloom, certainly we, for the joy set before us, can do the same. For the joy that was set before Him, is also set before us; the faithful will finally enter into the joy of their Lord. Matthew 25:21.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 401.4

It was by faith that the Saviour saw the joy that was set before Him. And the same faith is given unto us; for He is “the Author and Finisher of faith” (Hebrews 12:2), and there is no other faith but His. Faith is not a thing of human manufacture. “It is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8. The saints “keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 401.5

The faith of Jesus will do for us what it did for Him. And as it enabled Him to see the joy that was set before Him, and thus to endure the cross, despising the shame, so it will enable us, whose conflicts and trials are so much less than His, to walk joyfully in the Christian pathway. In Gethsemane and Calvary the faith of Jesus met the supreme test, and triumphed gloriously. And that was also an eternal triumph for those who follow Him. Having endured the greatest test, that faith will certainly endure all lesser ones. “And this is the victory that hath overcome the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4, R.V.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 401.6

The joy, the life, the glory that will never end, are set before us. This we know; it is as certain as that the Word of God is true. But whether we have them or not depends upon our own choice. We may make it a certainty by our decision. There is no uncertainty about it save what we create ourselves.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 401.7

The very doorway of Heaven is set open before every soul. “These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works; behold I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.” Revelation 3:7, 8.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 401.8

“How Christians Grow” The Present Truth 11, 26.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

To us Christ says, as well as to His disciples of old, “Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain.” John 15:16. But how are we to bring forth fruit? By the same power that causes the natural fruit of the earth to grow. That word which said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit,” and whose power we can see manifested in the grass and trees, says to us, “Bring forth fruit;” and if we are willing to be as submissive to the word as is the inanimate creation, the fruit will be as abundant.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 401.9

THE PLANTING OF THE LORD

The Divine command is, “Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” But how are we to grow? Just as the seed grows in the ground. Hear the words of Christ: “So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed upon the earth; and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, he knoweth not how.” We may not know how the good seed of the word of God springs up within us, to cause to bring forth fruit, but that makes the difference. “God giveth it a body as it hath pleased Him.” Our part is to yield to the Divine Husbandman; His part is to cause the growth and the perfect fruit.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 401.10

The growth of plants is again and again used in the Scriptures as illustrating Christian growth. The Apostle Paul says, “Ye are God’s husbandry,” or tilled land. 1 Corinthians 3:9. So the Lord says:—PTUK June 27, 1895, page 401.11

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me; because the Lord hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; ... 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.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 402.1

Bear in mind that the whole thing is of the Lord. We are His tillage. We are His planting, that He might be glorified. But note further how likeness to the growth of plants is carried out. See how salvation from sin-a life of righteousness-is indeed as when one casts seed upon the earth:PTUK June 27, 1895, page 402.2

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.” Isaiah 61:10, 11.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 402.3

PERFECT FREEDOM

It is wonderful what God can do if we will only let Him. Does some one say, “If He is so powerful why does He not have His way in spite of us?” Simply because His power is the power of love, and love does not use force. God wants everybody in the universe to be satisfied, and so He gives to all the right of perfect freedom of choice as to what they will have. He tells them the relative value of things, and begs of them to choose that which is good; but if any are determined to have that which is evil, He lets them have it. He will have free men in His kingdom, and not a race of slaves and prisoners. Such they would be, if He compelled them to have salvation against their will. He wants subjects whom He can trust in any part of the universe; but if He were to compel any to be saved, He would still have to exercise force to retain them in the kingdom. Christ came to preach deliverance to the captives, and He does not propose to deliver them to bondage.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 402.4

But when anyone wants salvation, no matter how small and weak he is, no matter how insignificant he may be in the eyes of the world, even though he be regarded no more than the grass which is trodden under foot, God can work wonders with him. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, how much more will He clothe with power the man whom He has made in His own image, if they but submit to Him. That promise that He will clothe us does not refer exclusively to clothing for the body. “The life is more than meat, and the body than raiment.” Luke 12:23. If He gives us that which is least important, surely He will give us that which is of infinite value. So the promise that He will much more clothe us than the grass, refers as well to the garment of salvation and the robe of righteousness, with which we are to be clothed. That power which works so wonderfully in the tiny blade of grass, will work still more mightily in the man who trusts the Lord.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 402.5

“AS THE LILY’

“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow.” Matthew 6:28. This is written for our encouragement in our growth in grace. As they grow, so must we. Now read some words of Inspiration, which show clearly that the growth of the lily is but an illustration of the Christian’s growth in grace:—PTUK June 27, 1895, page 402.6

“O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. Take with you words, and turn to the Lord; say unto Him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously; so will we render the calves of our lips. Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses; neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods; for in Thee the fatherless findeth mercy.” Hosea 14:1-3. There is no doubt but that it is sin and righteousness that the Lord is here speaking of. He tells His people, who have departed from Him, to return, and He tells them what to say when they return. Note that they are to say that they will not any more trust in the work of their hands. Their works are not to be from self, but those that are wrought in God. Now see the assurance that He gives those who thus turn to Him:—PTUK June 27, 1895, page 402.7

“I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely; for Mine anger is turned away from Him. I will be as the dew unto Israel; He shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under His shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow [margin, blossom] as the vine.” Hosea 14:4-7.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 402.8

But this is not all. God’s people are His vineyard, the branch of His planting, that He might be glorified; and He would not be glorified if through any lack of personal attention they should be destroyed. So He assures them of His constant care.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 403.1

“In that day sing ye unto her, A vineyard of red wine. I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment; lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day. Fury is not in Me: who would set the briers and thorns against Me in battle? I would go through them, I would burn them together.” Isaiah 27:2-6.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 403.2

But what need of carrying the likeness any further? We could not exhaust the Scriptures if we should try. And the only design of this writing is to lead the reader to study the Word more closely for himself, and to appropriate it as the living Word of the living God, which works effectually in all that believe. Do not put the Lord off, but let your faith prove that He is near, even a very present help in trouble. He is a God nigh at hand, and not afar off; and nothing is too hard for Him. He has written His love and His power upon all creation, and wants to speak to us through the things that He has made. In Him all things consist. That same word that spoke the universe into existence, which said to the earth, “Bring forth grass,” speaks to us in the words of God’s law. But His law is not a hard, lifeless decree, which weak mortals are to strive in vain to keep, while God watches them with a stern eye, ready to taunt and punish them for failure; but we “know that his commandment is life everlasting.” That word which says to us, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and thy neighbour as thyself,” sheds that love abroad in our hearts, just as the word of God brings forth the fruit in the plant. Then well may we sing:—PTUK June 27, 1895, page 403.3

“How gentle God’s commands!
How kind his precepts are!
Cast your burdens on the Lord,
And trust His continued care,PTUK June 27, 1895, page 403.4

“Beneath His watchful eye
His saints securely dwell;
That hand that bears all nature up
Shall guard His children well.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 403.5

“Why should this anxious load
Press down your weary mind?
Haste to your Heavenly Father’s throne,
And sweet refreshment find.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 403.6

“His goodness stands approved
Through each succeeding day;
I’ll drop my burden at His feet,
And bear a song away.”PTUK June 27, 1895, page 403.7

“The Church and Citizenship” The Present Truth 11, 26.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

The church is an association of Christians. The work of the church is not to make men good citizens, but to spread the light of the Gospel, by which men are made Christians. A Christian is necessarily a good citizen, but good citizenship is not the aim of the Gospel. If it were, it would fall infinitely short of accomplishing what it does to-day. A Christian must be a good citizen; but a good citizen may be no Christian at all.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 403.8

The foundation of Christianity is faith—“the faith of Jesus.” The foundation of citizenship is respect for the rights of others. Christianity deals with the thoughts and intents of the hearts; citizenship deals only with the outward deportment. The majesty of the law may secure in an individual an outward regard for the rights of others, but it cannot make right the thoughts and intents of the heart.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 403.9

He whose outward deportment does not correspond with the desires and intents of his heart is a hypocrite. The law can change a man’s deportment, but not the man himself. When it essays to change character, it succeeds, if at all, only in making men hypocrites.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 403.10

To bring the force of the Government to bear upon the conscience of men is therefore the worst possible way to attempt to make good citizens; for good citizens are not identical with hypocrites. The man who yields to force and regards not the dictates of his own conscience, will not be likely to regard the consciences of others. No reform in character therefore can come from the ballot box; but only a change in the administration of Government. The reform that is to make men better must be wrought by the grace of God. The one uplifting and transforming power that can be brought to bear upon men in this world is the power of the Gospel.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 403.11

It is the work of the church to “preach the Gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15. This includes ministering to the physical as well as to the spiritual wants of mankind. See James 1:27; Matthew 25:31-46. And when the church is doing this, her legitimate, God-appointed work, she is doing all that it is possible for her to do toward making men good citizens.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 403.12

“How to Be Free from Want” The Present Truth 11, 26.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

Who would not be glad if he could be assured that he could have everything he wanted? How many people there are who are filled with unsatisfied longings! This is a world of want and woe. It is not only those who have no money who are in want. Often those who suffer the most from unsatisfied desires are those whose money is reckoned by millions. They want more.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 404.1

Well, there is a sure way by which every man may have all that he wants,—may have every desire gratified. Here it is: “Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwelt in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Psalm 37:3, 4.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 404.2

It is a sure thing. Whoever delights in the Lord will have everything he wants. “No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly,” or sincerely; and those who delight in the Lord will want nothing but that which is good. Christ himself is the surety for the fulfilment of this promise. He says: “If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7. He has an unlimited supply, for the apostle assures us, “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19. His riches are unsearchable. Why will men persist in being in want, when they might have abundance?PTUK June 27, 1895, page 404.3

“The Coming Famine” The Present Truth 11, 26.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land; not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, and they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.” Amos 8:11, 12.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 404.4

There is no record that this prophecy has ever been fulfilled; but it will be fulfilled, as surely as there is a God in heaven, whose Word is truth. It will even be fulfilled in the days of people now living.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 404.5

Men have not generally cared much about the Word of God; if they had the history of the world would not be such a record of continual apostasy and sin as it is. They have never valued it enough to search for it from sea to sea. But there is coming a time when they will value it enough to seek it far and near, but without success; when they will feel the lack of it as keenly as they feel a famine which deprives them of food for their bodies.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 404.6

It will be a peculiar time when this is so, for ordinarily men will go without the Word of God to the point of spiritual starvation, without feeling any concern. Events will be turned out of their ordinary course. Says Ezekiel, “Destruction cometh; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none. Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall be upon rumour; then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients.” Ezekiel 7:25, 26.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 404.7

It is at such a time that men learn to value the Word of the Lord. When King Saul was in sore distress because of the ruin that threatened himself and his kingdom from the host of the Philistines, he would have given much in his perplexity and anxiety for some word from the Lord; but he had so separated himself from God that there was nothing left for him but the divine judgment. “When Saul enquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.” 1 Samuel 18:6. Saul then experienced what the prophet has foretold for the earth in general-a famine for the Word of God.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 404.8

Under circumstances of general distress and perplexity such as the world has never yet known, men will feel as did the ancient king of Israel. In prosperity men forget God; but when His judgments are upon them,—when they are made to realise their own weakness and the folly of that which they had accounted wisdom, they turn to that which they recognise to be the only source of help. And that time is coming. The Word of the Lord has announced it. Prophets have spoken of it, and the Saviour foretold it when discoursing to His disciples. The Word of the Lord by Joel has said:—PTUK June 27, 1895, page 404.9

“Alas for the day! for the day of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.... The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down; for the corn is withered. How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate. O Lord, to Thee will I cry; for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field. The beasts of the field cry also unto Thee; for the rivers of waters are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness.” Joel 1:15-20.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 404.10

The prophet Daniel wrote: “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great Prince which standeth for the children of Thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time; and at that time Thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” Daniel 12:1.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 404.11

And Jesus, in His prophetic outline of events reaching down through the centuries to the time when He should come again, said, “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” Luke 21:25, 26.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 404.12

Already the judgments of God are in the land, and there is “distress of nations, with perplexity.” The earth is filling up with that wickedness which was foretold for the last days. 2 Timothy 3:1-5. There is apostasy from God, as there was with Saul. Saul had the Word of the Lord, but he would not heed it, and Samuel said to him, “Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and, to hearken, than the fat of rams.” 1 Samuel 15:22. To-day men have the Word of God, but it is slighted and set aside for dogma and tradition. There is plenty of form and ceremony-burnt offering and sacrifice,—but obedience is lacking, because the Word of God is but little read, and less understood.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 404.13

The experience of Saul will be repeated. As his apostasy ended in distress and perplexity, so will it now in “a time of trouble, such as never was.” As Saul’s mind was in darkness, so now darkness covers the earth, “and gross darkness the people.” Isaiah 60:2. As he sought in vain for some word from the Lord, so will men seek in the time that is near to come. And as he finally obtained, through the witch of Endor, what he thought was the word of the Lord, so now in the coming famine, men will be driven to seek, as Saul did, to the dead, and through an apparent communication with them will receive that which they will accept as light and truth.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 405.1

If we will receive the Word of the Lord now,—if we will hide it in our hearts and store it up in them, we shall escape the coming famine. But we must walk in the light while we have it (John 12:35, 36), else the light that is in us will become darkness. Matthew 6:23. By refusing to let the Word of God shape and control our lives, we are doing as Saul did, and bringing upon ourselves the darkness which came upon him. “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” 1 Samuel 15:23. The light of God’s Word is given us that we may walk in it; not that we may stand still. We must step out upon the Word of God, with faith in its power to hold us up. Then will our pathway be “as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”PTUK June 27, 1895, page 405.2

“The Light of Life” The Present Truth 11, 26.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

Christ-who is one with His Father-is the “Sun of Righteousness.” Malachi 4:2. What the visible sign is to the physical world, Christ is to the spiritual world. The sun gives light to the physical world, and the Sun of Righteousness gives righteousness to the spiritual world. As we cannot see the sun without having its light upon us, so we cannot see Christ without having His light upon us, which is righteousness. Looking unto Him, we are covered with His righteousness which shines upon us, and thus are made righteous. As the sun is a powerful disinfectant and destroyer of disease-giving germs, so the Sun of Righteousness destroys with His beams all that which brings disease to the soul. “Unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings.” Sin cannot live in the sight of God, as mould cannot live in the bright sunshine. In the light of God’s countenance is life, and that light comes to us through Jesus, the propitiation for our sins. Thus we can look upon it and live, which no man could do were he to behold God’s face. That light destroys sin, but not the sinful flesh in which it works. So then we are to “run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of faith.” Hebrews 12:1, 2.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 405.3

And how can we see Him, and thus stand in the light of the Sun of Righteousness?—Simply by faith, believing His word. Faith exercised to its full extent always brings Jesus into view. By faith we may ever “look and live.”PTUK June 27, 1895, page 405.4

“Natural Growth” The Present Truth 11, 26.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

Coleridge, the philosopher, was once visited by Thelwall, a sceptic. Thelwall maintained that children should not be taught religion; it was interfering with their freedom, and filling their minds with prejudices; they should be allowed to grow up naturally, and then choose for themselves. The two sauntered into his garden. Coleridge loved his books more than his plants, and his garden was a mass of weeds; but Thelwall was fond of gardening. “I wonder,” said he, “Mr. Coleridge, that your garden is in such a state. Why don’t you weed it and plant flowers?” “Oh,” replied Colleridge with a smile, “I want my garden to grow naturally. I won’t fill it with prejudices.”PTUK June 27, 1895, page 406.1

“News of the Week” The Present Truth 11, 26.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

-Austria is struggling with a Governmental crisis, the cabinet having resigned.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 414.1

-Meteorologists shy that there is in progress a gradual change to less settled weather.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 414.2

-The telegraph lines of the world aggregate 1,069,128 miles. America has more than half-348,882 miles.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 414.3

-An artificial cotton almost as good as the real article can now be made from the wood of the pine, spruce, or larch.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 414.4

-The nests of the termites, or white ants, are, proportioned to the size and weight of the builders, the greatest structures in the world.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 414.5

-A Parsee sacred fire, which is burning in a temple at Leiguie, Persia, is known to have not been extinguished since the days of Rapiboreth, who lived 12 centuries ago.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 414.6

-Habitual topers are to be photographed in New Zealand towns. Each saloon is to have a gallery of them, and the proprietors who supply liquor to them are to be fined.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 414.7

-The Ladies’ Temperance Society, of Connecticut; U.S.A., has enrolled 1,400 young women who will refuse to marry a risen who Indulges in, or oven drinks a single glass of intoxicating liquors.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 414.8

-The proportion of crimes due to drunkenness is larger in Scotland than in England, notwithstanding the fact that the English public-houses are open on Sundays and later and earlier on week days.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 414.9

-Professor Fraser, of Edinburgh, claims to have discovered a genuine antidote for snake-bite which he calls antivenine. He uses the blood serum of animals which have been inoculated with snake poison.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 414.10

-June 19, in the Italian Chamber, a discussion over the question of amnesty waxed so warm that a number of the deputies, after a vigorous exchange of personalities, engaged in a scuffle, which obliged the President to suspend the sitting.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 414.11

-It has been computed that the death-rate of the globe is 68 per minute, 87,790 per day, or 85,717,790 per year. The birth-rate is 70 per minute, 100,800 per day, or 36,817,200 per year, reckoning the year to be 365? days in length.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 414.12

-The Italian military authorities have secured a new magazine rifle which was submitted to them by an infantry officer. Its chief characteristic is that it fires 20 shots automatically, and that the firing may be intermittent or continuous at the pleasure of the marksman.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 414.13

-The mining industry has at last given civilisation a foothold in the Arctic regions. A railroad has been laid down for the purpose of carrying iron ore from the Gelilvare mines to the seaport of Lulea, extending fifty miles above the Arctic circle. This is the first railroad to penetrate the Frigid Zone.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 414.14

-One of the principal features of the forthcoming Bordeaux Exhibition will be the largest bottle ever made. It will be 115ft. high, and divided into storeys, the lowest of which will be fitted up as a restaurant. A winding staircase will lead up the neck to a kiosque-taking the place of a cork-where there will be room for 35 persons to sit at a time and look over the exhibition grounds and the city.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 414.15

-Chicago clergymen have formed a polyglot club, for the purpose of instructing prospective foreign missionaries. In the various foreign languages, President Harper, of the Chicago University, has secured as members of the organisation, representatives of almost every nationality visited by missionaries, and by the reproduction of conversation, the phonograph will take the place of instructors.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 414.16

-The Porte is exercising itself in devising ways and means to evade the acceptance of the demands made by the European powers for reforms in Armenia, and thus far has succeeded in preventing the negotiations from reaching any definite result. How much longer it can keep this up is the principal question now awaiting solution. Meanwhile Turkish troops have made an incursion upon the frontier of Bulgaria, and that power has made a demand upon the Porte for compensation.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 414.17

“Back Page” The Present Truth 11, 26.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

Great distress is said to prevail in Armenian provinces which were desolated by the late massacres.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 416.1

The Stundist or Protestant movement is said to be making headway in Siberia among the exiled colonies.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 416.2

Recent disclosures in the German courts have shown that some of the Roman Catholic monastic institutions are nothing less than prisons, where those who have offended their superiors may be immured without opportunity to escape or to appeal for justice.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 416.3

To find the bitterest feelings against Romanism among the masses one has to go to countries where Rome has had full power to work in its native ways. We have received from one of our agents in Chile some copies of newspapers in which priests and all that is of clericalism are attacked most vehemently.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 416.4

While this anti-Catholic feeling in South America is very largely anti-religious as well, the people knowing nothing of religion save as the priests have represent it, there is no doubt that disgust with Romanism will lead many to listen to the Gospel. We are glad of the success of our agents who are selling our publications on both the eastern and western coasts of South America. Success also attends the preaching of the Word.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 416.5

The suicidal policy of many Protestants is advancing the chances of Rome. Thus the English Churchman is trying to revive an old law which prohibits Catholic priests wearing official robes and bearing religious emblems appearing in the public streets. This anti-Catholic legislation is purely papal, being simply the weapon of Rome directed against its inventor. Every time professed Protestants resort to these methods they deny Protestant principles and help Rome forward. It is a truth of the Word that “all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” The saddest sight of the times is the tendency everywhere to turn from the “sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God,” to the weapons of the flesh.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 416.6

In heathenism men merely deified perverted human passions, and the heathen worshipped gods like unto themselves. It is a very easy matter to do this; it is what every man does who makes his own way, the pet traits of his own disposition, the supreme rule of life.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 416.7

There are many ways of putting self before God. There is an idolatry against which every soul must be constantly guarded by the watchful power of the Lord. The heart is so deceptive that the Lord must do the guarding; else the person may interpret the call of selfish indulgence as the voice of the Lord. The voice of God speaks to the heart, and speaks by the Word, and if we should listen to His voice more we would be less frequently drawn into sin by the suggestions of the natural disposition.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 416.8

An illustration of how perverted human nature may be deified, and the voice of evil nature be regarded as the voice of God was furnished recently by a member of the Aberdeen Free Presbytery in a speech advocating the Gothenburg plan for managing the liquor traffic. He said:—PTUK June 27, 1895, page 416.9

He believed it was not in accordance with the Divine will that the traffic should come to an end. God had made the traffic, and He so constituted human nature that there was a natural desire for drink on the part of man.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 416.10

It is difficult to conceive of a more terrible doctrine than this, which makes the cravings of the flesh the interpreter of the Divine will. It is because perverted nature has acquired a desire for intoxicants that the Lord says, “Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink.”PTUK June 27, 1895, page 416.11

South Africa is joining in the hue and cry for Sunday laws. The Cape Argus reports the proceedings of a department organised by the Y.M.C.A. of Cape Town, which demanded of the Government a stricter enforcement of Sunday observance by law, and the total prohibition of Sunday entertainments. This recourse to the law is not calculated to help the Y.M.C.A. of South Africa in what, we suppose, is its earnest purpose, the conversion of those who frequent theatrical entertainments. If Sunday were the Sabbath one of the wickedest things that men could not do would be to try to force men to keep it.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 416.12

The Catholic press having announced that the band of the Colstream Guards would play during mass at the laying of the foundation-stone of the new cathedral, is indignant at the later refusal of the Government to allow the band to be present. Now it is announced that a London military band will play. It seems an essential part of the religious ceremony to have a military band.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 416.13

The London Freeman, organ of the Baptist denomination, prints the following resolution adopted by the American Baptist Missionary Union, referring to the prosecution of Seventh-day Adventists in the States:—PTUK June 27, 1895, page 416.14

Whereas, It has been widely reported that, in some portions of the United States, professing Christians who have conscientiously observed the seventh day of the week as a day of religious rest and worship, and to thereafter on the first day of the week have conscientiously engaged in labour which in nowise disturbed their fellow-citizens who desire to observe the first day, have for this act been arrested and fined and imprisoned and sent to the chain gang, therefore, resolved, That (assuming the facts to be as reported) we earnestly and solemnly protest against this violation of the right of religious liberty, a right for which our fathers suffered imprisonment, the spoiling of their goods, stripes, exile and death itself.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 416.15

The German Emperor declared that the array of war-ships gathered at the opening of the Berlin Canal might be regarded as a symbol of peace. But when human nature so changes that the peace of a community is concerned by its members going about armed to the teeth, then the time will have come when the arming of nations will make for international peace.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 416.16

The question of “bad beer” is being discussed. It is time all thoughtful observers decided that all beer is bad, and altogether bad. This can be determined to a certainty by analysis of it, or by the easier method of observing the effects of its use. The British Medical Journal declares the cry for “pure beer” as a temperance message to be “a pure fabrication of the drinking party,” and adds:—PTUK June 27, 1895, page 416.17

People get drunk because they drink, and act by means of the badness or the adulteration of their drink. There is little or no adulteration of spirits or beer. None, anyhow, which can be considered harmful or which produces intoxication. They are now and again watered, but it is not the water which intoxicates.PTUK June 27, 1895, page 416.18

June 20, 1895

July 4, 1895