As Occasion Serves.-One of the most notable things in connection with working for the salvation of souls is the fear of departing from precedent. People hear of some man who has been used by the Lord for the accomplishment of a great work, and straightway they want to find out from him how he did it. They want to know what he said, how he laboured, and just the methods he employed. Then they will do as nearly as they can the same as he did, and wonder why they do not have the same success. They forget the one thing that is needful, and try to substitute method for the power and instruction of the Holy Spirit. Such should take a lesson from Samuel’s instruction to Saul. “And the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shall be turned into another man. And let it be, when these things are come unto thee, that thou do as the occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.” 1 Samuel 10:6, 7. When one learns from the Spirit of the Lord, he will not need to ask somebody how he shall present the Gospel, and what he shall say on different occasions. The same condition never occurs twice, and therefore however closely he may study another’s method of working, it will not give him success. The work of saving men is the Lord’s work, and no one can engage in it successfully except the one who has learned of Jesus.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 1.1

“A Slight Mistake” The Present Truth 9, 1.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

A Slight Mistake.-Some time ago Mr. Herbert Spencer charge the apostle Paul with lying, basing his accusation on the words of the apostle, in the third chapter of the Book of Romans, “If the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto His glory, while yet am I also judged as a sinner?” At the time we made a mental comment to the effect that the philosopher did not know what he was talking about. He himself has since admitted the same thing. He confesses that he had not verified the quotation, but depended upon some assistance for accuracy in the statement, and that he had not read the context, and therefore did not perceive the meaning of the apostle. On examining the passage for himself he sees that he was mistaken, and frankly acknowledges it. That is to his credit. But, at the same time, it should for ever discredit him as an opponent of Christianity and the Bible. It places his opposition on the same level with that of the carpenter, who announced that he was glad to find that he need not believe all that the Bible says, because many of its statements could be demonstrated to be impossible. Being pressed for an example, he cited the statements concerning the ark. He said that it was understood to be 450 feet long, 75 feet broad, and 40 feet high, and filled with live animals; and he was sure that had it been that large the Israelites could not have carried it around with them for forty years! Opposers of the Bible are never found among those who are best acquainted with it.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 1.2

“‘Reasoning Together’” The Present Truth 9, 1.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18. What a wonderful promise! It seems too much to be true, but it is truth. Think of it! A man that is thoroughly defiled by sin, made as pure as the snow fresh from heaven. That is the wonder of the universe.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 1.3

How is it accomplished? Well, it is in a way that no man would ever have thought of. “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 1:15. “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law; for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin.” 1 John 3:4, 5. “If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Verse 9. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.” Romans 3:23-25. “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Romans 4:5.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 1.4

The sum of all this is that the sinner is saved from sin by receiving the righteousness of God in Christ. He is redeemed, cleansed by the blood of Christ. But the blood of Christ is the life of Christ. See Leviticus 17:11. When Christ shed His blood for man, He poured out His life for sinful man. Whoever acknowledges that he has sinned, and takes Christ by faith, receives His life into his soul. Then he is a new creature, and the life that he lives he lives by the faith of the Son of God, who loved him and gave Himself for him. Galatians 2:20. That man has simply exchanged lives with the Son of God. Being crucified with Christ, he gives his old life to Christ, and thus it, with its sins, is nailed to the cross. But since he is crucified with Christ, he must also be made alive with Christ; for “if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him.” Romans 6:5. But only Christ has the power to live after giving up His life; therefore the new life that the redeemed ones live is the life of Christ. Thus he has exchanged lives with Christ.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 1.5

All this is contrary to human reason. “The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness.” 1 Corinthians 1:18. “We preach Christ crucified, and to the Jews a stumbling-block, and to the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” Verses 23, 24. Man would say, “Do right, and then you will be right.” That seems to the human mind to be the only reasonable way. But God says, “Let Me make you right, and then you will do right.”PTUK January 12, 1893, page 1.6

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:14, 15. The children of Israel had sinned in the wilderness, “And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.” Then the people confessed their sins and begged that the serpents might be removed from them. “And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole; and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.” Numbers 21:6-9.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 2.1

It would be strange if there were not some among the people who refused to look. They would “reason” in this way: “It is all nonsense to think that looking at that brazen serpent can heal a snake bite. If we would climb the poll, and rub the wounded against a serpent, there might be some virtue in that; but just looking can never be of any use, and I am not going to make a fool of myself.” That is just the way that men reason about the Lord. It seems to them foolishness that a man can be made perfectly righteous by simply looking at Christ. No; if they are ever to be made righteous they are confident that it must be by some more promising means than that. They will not risk their salvation upon a look. They can trust their own efforts, but to lie passively and look seems to them too presumptuous.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 2.2

The truth is that the facts of the Gospel cannot be reasoned out by man. They are altogether above and beyond the reach of human reason. Man left to his own reason will reason himself into hedonism every time. See Romans 1:20-25. “But doesn’t God tell us to reason together?” some will ask. Yes; and here is where so many pervert the text with which we started. They use their reason as a basis for faith, forgetting that faith must be the instructor of reason. God does not tell us to apply our reason to the task of figuring out a way of salvation but says, “Come now, and let us reason together.” Who does the “us” include? Why, ourselves and the Lord, of course. The trouble is that so many read that call, and then they proceed forthwith to begin to reason alone, leaving the Lord out altogether. Then they come to fatal conclusions.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 2.3

We are to reason together with the Lord. Well, it is only reasonable that in reasoning with the Lord we should defer to Him, and let His reason direct. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8, 9. Even “the foolishness of God is wiser than men.” So it is not with our mind that we are to reason about the things of God, but with the mind of the Lord. First we are to submit to the Lord, that He may put in us the mind that was in Christ, and then we shall see clearly, for we shall be walking in the light as He is in the light. Then it is that the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. That which seems foolishness when looked at from a human point of view, is very reasonable when seen with the mind of God; for as “God is love,” and as He “delighteth in mercy,” it is the most natural thing for God to save sinners. But it is none the less wonderful, for the smallest of God’s ways affords matter for the never-ending wonder of man.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 2.4

“Is It Not Spiritualism?” The Present Truth 9, 1.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

Nothing is more pitiful than to see people running into danger of which they are unconscious. And the fact that they might have known of the danger ought not to prevent people from sympathizing with them and trying to help them. We do not refuse to help a drowning man, although his own carelessness has precipitated him into the water. But nothing calls for more sympathetic help than that of men who are running into the snares of the devil when they think that they are in the way of life. True, the word of God is so plain that there is no need of anybody’s mistaking the way, but that should not cause us to censure. Men pity the blind, even though their blindness is due to their own fault.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 2.5

It is therefore only for the purpose of helping those who may be in danger, that we call attention to the following paragraph; for we are sure that very many are in the same condition, who do not know their danger. On December 4, Dr. Talmage preached a sermon about “Rizpah on the Rock” watching the dead bodies of her relatives. After drawing many parallels, he said near the close:-PTUK January 12, 1893, page 2.6

I wonder if now there is an after-death watching. I think there is. There are Rizpahs who have passed death and who are still watching. They look down from their supernal and glorified state upon us, and is not that an after-death watching? I cannot believe that those who before their death were interested in us have since their death become indifferent as to what happens to us. Not one hour of the six months during which Rizpah watched seated upon the rocks was she more alert, or diligent, or armed for them than our mother if glorified is alert and diligent and armed for us. It is not now Rizpah on a rock, but Rizpah on a throne. How long has your mother been dead? Do you think she has been dead long enough to forget you? My mother has been dead twenty-nine years. I believe she knows more about me now than she did when I stood in her presence, and I am no Spiritualist either. The Bible says, “are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister to them that shall be heirs of salvation?” Young man, better look out what you do and where you go, for your glorified mother is looking at you. You sometimes say to yourself, “What would mother say if she knew this?” She does know. You might cheat her once, but you cannot cheat her now. Does it embarrass us to think she knows all about us now? If she had to put up with so much when she was here, surely she will not be the less patient or excusatory now.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 2.7

Oh, this tremendous thought of my text, this after-death watching! What an uplifting consideration! And what a comforting thought! Young mother, you who have just lost your babe, and who feel the need of a nearer solace than that which come from ordinary sympathy, your mother knows all about it. You cannot run in and talk it all over with her as you would if she were still a terrestrial resident, but it will comfort you some, I think, yes, it will comfort you a good deal, to know that she understands it all. You see that the victories of the heavenly conditions are so great that it would not take her half a second to come to your heart. Oh, these mothers in heaven! They can do more for us now than before they went away. The bridge between this world and the next is not broken down. They approach the bridge from both ways, departing spirits, and coming spirits, disimprisoned spirits, and sympathizing spirits. And so let us walk as to be worthy of the supernal companionships.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 2.8

Dr. Talmage says that he is no Spiritualist. We can however, leave him entirely out of the question while we consider for the benefit of others, whether or not that to which he has given utterance is Spiritualism. The question is: Does a belief in the conscious existence of the dead, and that they are interested in human affairs, and can even communicate with the living, constitute Spiritualism? Surely none can answer this better than those who acknowledge themselves to be Spiritualists. In order to learn what Methodism is, we go to Methodists themselves; to learn about Presbyterianism, we apply to Presbyterians, and so for a definition of Spiritualism, we must ask Spiritualists. From the standing motto of the Spiritual Magazine, for many years the leading Spiritualist publication in England, we take the following statement:-PTUK January 12, 1893, page 2.9

“Spiritualism is based on the cardinal fact of open communion and influx.”PTUK January 12, 1893, page 3.1

Also from a leading Spiritualist journal of America, we take the two following definitions:-PTUK January 12, 1893, page 3.2

“The central idea of modern Spiritualism is the keystone of the religious arch. That is, a continued existence.”PTUK January 12, 1893, page 3.3

“The very central truth of Spiritualism is the power and possibility of spirit return, under certain conditions, to communicate with those in the material form.”PTUK January 12, 1893, page 3.4

The idea that the spirits of the dead have a conscious existence, and that they can, under certain conditions, return and communicate with the living, is the sum and substance of Spiritualism. Therefore all who believe that the dead are conscious, and that they can return to earth to communicate with those with whom they were associated in life, are Spiritualists, whatever name they may bear. And it is a fact that there are thousands who would be shocked at the intimation that they could ever by any possibility become Spiritualists, who hold exactly these ideas. Why is it that they have such a dread of the name? It is because they think that Spiritualism is nothing but jugglery and trickery. They have associated it with table tipping, immorality, etc. It is true that such things have been connected with Spiritualism, but they are but manifestations of Spiritualism. Spiritualism itself is, as we have seen, nothing but a belief in the return and communion of the dead. Whatever is connected with Spiritualism is an outgrowth of that idea.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 3.5

Having learned in brief what Spiritualism is we now consider the question of whether or not it is wrong in itself, and if so, wherein the evil consists.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 3.6

“Spiritualism and the Bible” The Present Truth 9, 1.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

In the preceding article we have found out what Spiritualism is. We have learned from the word of Spiritualists themselves that Spiritualism is nothing more or less than a belief in the doctrine that the dead do not really die, but that after the change which men call death they continue to exist, with keener perceptions and larger knowledge than they had while on the earth, and that they can under certain conditions communicate with people still on the earth. The question now before us is, Is this true? The Bible must furnish us with the answer to this question.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 3.7

“The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness: I said, In the noontide of my days I shall go into the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue of my years. I said, I shall not see the Lord, even the Lord in the land of the living; I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world. Mine age is removed, and is carried away from me as a shepherd’s tent; I have rolled up like a weaver my life; he will cut me off from the loom; from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.... But Thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption; for Thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back. For the grave cannot praise Thee, death cannot celebrate Thee; they that go down into the pit cannot hope for Thy truth. The living, the living, he shall praise Thee, as I do this day.” Isaiah 34:6-9, R.V.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 3.8

“For to him that is joined with all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead man. For the living know that they shall die; but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. And their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 9:4-6.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 3.9

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” Verse 10.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 3.10

“While I live will I praise the Lord; I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being. Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” Psalm 146:2-4.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 3.11

Still further, the patriarch Job asked the question, “If a man die, shall he live again?” and immediately answered it thus, “All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee; Thou wilt have a desire to the work of Thine hands.” Job 14:14, 15. What this “change” is we learn from the word of the Lord by the apostle Paul:-PTUK January 12, 1893, page 3.12

“Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-54.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 3.13

Once more: “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them; and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.” Revelation 20:4, 5.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 3.14

Note carefully all these scriptures. The first four plainly state that the dead have no consciousness whatever. Therefore to claim that the dead are conscious is to contradict the Bible. Spiritualism does make that claim. Therefore Spiritualism is a direct contradiction of the Bible. The last three texts speak of “living again,” and of a change that takes place in order that men once dead may “live again.” A man cannot go to Paris “again” if he has never been there once and gone away. If he was born in Paris, and has never left the city, it is impossible to speak of him, and speak correctly, as being in Paris “again.” So with living. The man who has never ceased to live cannot be spoken of as being alive “again.” In order for that to be truly said of him, he must have ceased to live, and then have been made alive once more. So the scriptures last quoted teach us that when man dies he ceases to live, and that in order to live “again,” so that he may praise the Lord, and receive a reward, a change must take place in him. This change takes place at the coming of the Lord. But Spiritualism teaches that men never cease to live; that at the change which people call death, they are more alive than ever before, therefore, again we find that Spiritualism is in positive contradiction to the Bible. But the Bible is the truth of God. Therefore Spiritualism is a lie of the devil.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 3.15

And so we find it. In the form of a serpent the devil deceived Eve, and thus caused the loss of Eden. God had told our first parents not to eat of the tree in the midst of the garden, saying that if they did so they should surely die. But the devil said to the woman, “Ye shall not surely die.” That is just what Spiritualism says. It is because Spiritualism is only a deception of Satan that we feel so sorrowful to see men embracing the teaching of Spiritualism, while they think that they are opposed to that system. And now that we have given the matter this much attention, we wish in the following articles to show how directly the doctrine that the dead do not really die is subversive of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the natural source of all immortality and vice.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 3.16

“Spiritualism Against the Gospel” The Present Truth 9, 1.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

Let it not be forgotten that Spiritualism is simply the belief that the dead are conscious, that they are interested in the affairs of men on the earth, and that they may communicate with them. That it is against the Gospel is sufficiently shown in the fact that it contradicts the Bible. But we wish to trace a little more minutely its natural working. Take, for instance, the paragraphs quoted from Dr. Talmage in the first article. Read them carefully again, and see what is set forth as the motive for right doing. Is it the approval of the Lord Jesus?—Not at all, it is the approval of dead friends. The words are, “Young man! Better look out what you do and where you go, for your glorified mother is looking at you.” But that is not the motive to set before any man, in order to get him to do right. Even if his mother were alive, something higher than the fact that she is looking at him ought to be the motive of his actions. But the idea that people are alive after they are dead, and that they are watching the living, puts them in the place of the Lord Jesus Christ and the angels.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 3.17

Here is a fragment of an editorial in a religious paper that has a circulation of many thousands among all denominations of Christians:-PTUK January 12, 1893, page 4.1

“Some of the saintly faces of fathers and mothers, which are a benediction to all who look at them, could never have shone as now with the reflected light of heaven, unless they had been summoned to frequent upward lookings through the clouds in loving communion with their children in heaven. There are manly and womanly children, who are more serious and earnest and devoted in their young life struggles, because of their constant sense of the overwatching presence of their dead parents.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 4.2

That is the Spiritualist way of being glorified. But now read the Bible way: “But we all, with unveiled face reflecting as a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory.” “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 3:18; 4:6. That which can in reality be done only by the Lord Jesus Christ, Spiritualism thinks to have done by the spirits of the departed. Thus the Lord is robbed of the honour due Him.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 4.3

But further. Life and righteousness are inseparable. “To be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Romans 8:6. This is so because God alone is good. See Romans 3:9-12 and Mark 10:17. God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, and therefore the life of Christ was the life of God. His life is the only perfectly sinless life that was ever manifested on this earth. Therefore no one can be righteous unless he has the righteousness which is by the faith of Jesus Christ, the righteousness of God by faith. It is by the righteousness of one that many are to be made righteous. Romans 5:19. That one is Christ.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 4.4

But as the life of God in Christ is the only righteous life, and righteousness is inseparable from the life of Christ, it follows that all who are made righteous by His obedience, are made so by having His life in them. It is in Him that we are made the righteousness of God. So we read, “I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 4.5

Now since righteousness is inseparable from the life of God, it follows that both eternal life and righteousness are attributes of Divinity. For one to claim that he has life in himself regardless of his faith, is to claim that he has also righteousness in himself, and that he has no need for the Saviour. For nothing is more certain than that Christ came to this earth for the sole purpose of giving life to men. See John 3:16; Colossians 3:3, 4; John 10:10. Therefore Spiritualism is opposed to the very fundamental truth of the Gospel.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 4.6

In a previous number of the PRESENT TRUTH we have seen that Christ gives righteousness by giving His own life. But that teaching that would make out that man has life in himself, frustrates the grace of God, and makes out that Christ died in vain. The apostle Paul, after showing the necessity of faith in Christ as the only means of righteousness, says, “I do not frustrate the grace of God; for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Galatians 2:21. And in the next chapter he says, “If there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.” Wherever life is, there is righteousness. Therefore the man who thinks that he has life in himself, unconsciously denies that Christ is the source of righteousness for men.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 4.7

The tendency of this teaching is to throw man upon himself for righteousness. Thus the Pharisees who would not come to Christ that they might have life, “trusted in themselves that they were righteous.” But this tends most directly to vice and immorality, for man is by nature corrupt, and out of evil only evil can come.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 4.8

Again, take the temptation by which Eve was made to fall. Satan said, “Ye shall not surely die.” Being deceived, she ate, and gave to her husband, and he ate. This disobedience “brought death into the world and all our woe.” All the iniquity in the world has resulted from a belief of the words, “Ye shall not surely die.” Nothing but evil can come from that belief.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 4.9

For this reason we lift up our voice in warning against any approach to the doctrine of Spiritualism. Shun as a pestilence any teaching that makes Christ and His sacrifice of none effect; accept nothing but the teaching of the word of God; and remember that man has life only by that same word.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 4.10

“The Result of Spiritualism” The Present Truth 9, 1.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

The statements made in the last paragraphs of the preceding article may seem too strong by some who have not given the matter much consideration, and therefore a few words further are in place. It is not charged that all who have held the doctrine that man does not in reality die are immoral. That would be a gross perversion of facts. Among the adherents of that doctrine have been some excellent men, and so there are still. Yet that does not disprove the charges made against the doctrine. An error is not made truth, nor is its error lessened in the least, because it is held by good men. The fact that Luther believed in the Real Presence did not make that theory true, nor diminish the evil which must result from it.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 4.11

While it is true that many good Christians have held the doctrine that the dead are conscious, let it not be forgotten that they held that doctrine in common with all the heathen. Moreover, that doctrine was at the very bottom of the heathenism. There has been this difference, however, namely, that comparatively few of the Christians who have believed it have in time just carried it to its logical conclusion, and held that the dead could return and communicate with the living. But it is an alarming fact that of late years a belief in spirit return and communication has greatly increased among professed Christians. It is in this feature that the greatest danger lies; but whatever results from this must be charged to the belief of consciousness in death, from which is springs.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 4.12

The way has been prepared for the prevalence of vice in the last days, even as great as it was in the days of Noah. In connection with what has preceded. A few quotations will suffice to show how it will be brought about. A few years ago Dr. Curry, a leading Methodist divine, in a conversation with a visitor, as he lay on his death bed, said, “I have perfect confidence in the truth of Christianity, although I expect my conceptions to be changed when I get over there.”PTUK January 12, 1893, page 4.13

Most people would doubtless consider that a very natural thing. It only serves to show that they are expecting to have their conceptions of Christianity changed after death. And that indicates a doubt as to the perfect truth of that which they now hold. But what we are concerned with is the effect that such ideas may have on the living. As a matter of fact, those who die have no consciousness of truth or error; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave. When a man dies, he returneth to his earth, and in that very day his thoughts perish. But it is a fact that many people have seen the appearance of their departed friends, and have talked with them. How was this? Why, simply that Satan, who originated the doctrine that the dead are alive, and who is able to transform himself into the appearance of even an angel of life (2 Corinthians 11:14), is working to propagate the false doctrine which he started in Eden. All the appearances of the dead, and the communications from them, are in reality from the spirits of devils.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 4.14

Now for another point. A few years ago a popular Baptist preacher in California became an avowed Spiritualist. He had, however, for a long time before he gave up his Baptist pulpit, been holding communications with spirits, whom he supposed to be the spirits of his dead friends. These spirits were familiar visitors to his family. Speaking of some of his experiences, he said: “Nearly half a score of old Baptist preachers, with whom I have been associated in the past, have already come to our home, and explained wherein their former teaching was erroneous. The whole system of biblical interpretation is far away from the truth, as everyone will find when he enters the spiritual world.”PTUK January 12, 1893, page 5.1

At a great religious gathering held in London less than two years ago, at which there were leading Protestant ministers from all parts of the world, one of the most applauded remarks was by a member who said: “We speak of holding fast to the faith of the fathers; how do we know what the faith of the fathers is now?” The idea was that the fathers may have made great changes in their faith since their departure from this life. Well, the spirits of devils will take care that all who are willing to be deceived in that way shall know what the faith of the “fathers” is now. These spirits will come with every appearance of those departed ministers, and will tell them, as they did the Baptist minister before referred to, that the Bible means a great deal differently from what it says. And those who believe that it does not mean what it says in regard to the condition of man in death, will be prepared to believe anything that these spirits tell them as to what it does mean.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 5.2

This is an exact fulfillment of the words of inspiration by the apostle Paul: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy.” 1 Timothy 4:1, 2.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 5.3

When men have thus cut themselves loose from the Bible, what is going to hold them?—Manifestly nothing. The Bible is the only safeguard against sin. “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.” Psalm 119:11. “The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.” Psalm 37:31. “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” John 15:3. Man can live only by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. So when men come to trust themselves into the hands of the devil, for an understanding of the Bible, what can follow except that he will lead them into the sins of which he is the author? And this he will do while he is flattering them with the belief that they are making advancement in truth and righteousness. Thus it was when he deceived Eve, and the apostle says to the members of the church of Christ, “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:3.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 5.4

It was even thus that the flood of error and superstition and immorality came into the church in the first centuries after Christ, resulting in the Dark Ages. As the result mainly of the influence of Origen, the mass of professed Christians came to believe that the Bible does not mean what it says. His teaching was that it means often directly contrary to what it reads, and can be understood only by a certain few. Of course the practical result of this was to take the Bible out of the hands of the people. For they would soon cease to read a book which they were told they could not understand, and which would be more apt to mislead them than to lead them right. Consequently they had nothing by which to test the truth of that which was given to them by their teachers, and so imbibed the grossest errors.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 5.5

More than this, the teachers themselves soon ceased to read the word of God. For since when they did read the Bible, they put their own interpretation upon it, making it mean whatever they pleased, it naturally came to pass that they soon fell into the practice of manufacturing scripture without the formality of reading the Bible before giving it to the people. Since it was only their own ideas that they taught the people, it made no difference whether they read the Bible, and then gave out their opinions, or gave out their opinions without reading the Bible. And so the whole world was open to the reception of the grossest errors. The result was seen in the frightful immorality that prevailed everywhere, and nowhere more than among those who professed to be Christians.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 5.6

When Moses went to Pharaoh to demand the release of the children of Israel, the magicians withstood him with their enchantments. These magicians were Spiritualist mediums, and their enchantments were by the power of their master, the devil. Now read the apostle’s description of how it will be in the last days, even among those who profess godliness:-PTUK January 12, 1893, page 5.7

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth; men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.” 2 Timothy 3:1-8.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 5.8

There are many good people who do not believe that they could ever be thus deceived. They cannot if they hold fast to the truth of God. But as long as they hold to error, they have no safeguard. It is the first step that contains all the rest. There are many who believe that the dead are conscious, who do not believe in Spirit return and communication. But when they see the exact images of their departed friends, and receive communications from them, they will believe errors in spite of themselves. Only those who are settled beforehand in the truth that the dead know not anything, that life comes from Christ alone, and that immortality is bestowed only at his coming, and that all spiritual manifestations are from the devil, will be able to stand. May the Lord help all the readers of this to cleave to Christ and His word.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 5.9

“A Plea for Help” The Present Truth 9, 1.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

The Sunday Closing Reporter gives the following copy of the letter recently received from the manager of a public-house:-PTUK January 12, 1893, page 5.10

“Gentlemen, I have the greatest possible pleasure in signing your petition for the closing of all public-houses on Sundays. Though a manager of licensed premises, I am in thorough sympathy with your movement, not only from a personal view, but because I consider it would be much more beneficial to the working classes of this country to be without drink on Sabbath than to have it. Sunday opening, I am convinced, is the cause of much evil both to the soul and to the body. Moreover, gentlemen, why should we be deprived of our one day in seven? Publicans, like all men, need spiritual nourishment, and would be glad, indeed, if an Act was passed in forcing the closing of public-houses on Sundays.”PTUK January 12, 1893, page 5.11

Then why does he not close? Nobody compels him to keep open on Sundays, or on any other day. He is convinced that Sunday opening is the cause of much evil both to soul and body, and therefore he wants an Act of Parliament passed, so that he will be compelled to stop doing that which he knows is wrong! It may be that those who are blinded by the glamour of Sunday closing think that this man’s confession is an evidence of his sincere desire to do what is right; but to one who looks at it with clear vision, it can be nothing but a pitiable confession of weakness, and a deliberate wrong doing.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 5.12

This confession accurately gauges the status of all “morality” that is a result of legal enactment. Many people think that if the Government would only enforce all the institutions of religion, there would be the dawn of the blessed millennium. There would actually be the beginning of the reign of hypocrisy. The man who wrote that letter doubtless thinks that when he stops selling liquor at the decree of Parliament he will be doing a Christian act. And this only demonstrates the fact that the enforcement of religion by law inevitably tends to the degrading of the standard of religion. For even supposing that Sunday was the Sabbath of the Lord, there would be no virtue in compulsory closing. If there were, then all that would be necessary to make Christians of all the thieves in England would be to lock them up in gaol. Then they could not steal. But they would not be any better unless there thievish disposition were changed, and that cannot be done by Government. It is necessary for the safety of society, that thieves be punished, but no one is so foolish as to suppose that forcibly detaining a man where he cannot steal effects that change in his heart. It may make him in the future refrain from stealing through fear of the law, but there is no virtue in that.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 6.1

So with the enforced observance of the Sabbath, supposing that any people were in favour of enforcing the observance of the real Sabbath of the Lord. Religion enforced by law is always at the expense of real godliness. It is the greatest device of Satan to hold men in sin while they fondly imagine that they are Christians.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 6.2

How any one can read the publican’s pathetic plea for an opportunity to rest and receive spiritual refreshment, without laughing, we cannot tell. “Moreover, gentlemen, why should we be deprived of our one day in seven? Publicans, like all men, need spiritual nourishment.” There is not the slightest doubt in regard to this last statement. Certainly those who are engaged in the work of dealing out to their fellows spirituous destruction, have great need of Spiritual nourishment for themselves.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 6.3

But there is more than an amusing side to this matter. It exhibits the artful turn that is everywhere taken in the plea for Sunday laws. Those who are deliberately working on Sunday, because they want to, because they have no regard for the day, are paraded before the people as being sorely oppressed. There must be a law passed to compel them to rest on Sunday, because they are not able to rest without such a law! The absurdity of the thing cannot be fitly put into words. But it is not simply absurd, it is wicked. The idea that men cannot do right without the compelling power of the civil law, is an insult to the Spirit of God. It puts at a discount all righteousness which is the fruit of the Spirit, and declares that there can be no righteousness by the power of the Spirit, but only by the power of the law of man. It is not strange that men in the darkness of heathendom should make such a plea, but that men in lands where the Gospel has free course, and who themselves have the Bible, and profess faith in Christ should make such a plea is indeed a marvel. It is, in fact, the working of the mystery of iniquity.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 6.4

“Look and Live!” The Present Truth 9, 1.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

Have you ever taken a ride on a railway train? How the trees and houses seem to whirl past, how fast you go, and how soon you reach the place for which you started! Long ago people could not travel so fast and so comfortably, for there were no steam engines and no railway trains. They had to ride on horses, donkeys, or camels, or else they had to walk. Sometimes they would take long journeys on foot.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 13.1

The Israelites once took such a journey. They had been living in Egypt for a long time, but finally were treated so cruelly by the Egyptian king and his people that the Lord pitied them and sent Moses to lead them out into a better land, where they would not need to work so hard, and where they could have time to serve God. They therefore took their little ones, and all their neighbours who were willing to put away their idols and worshipped the true God, and started on their long journey. What a procession it must have been!-“six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside the children, and a mixed multitude that went with them; and flocks and herds, even very much cattle!”PTUK January 12, 1893, page 13.2

They had to pass over miles and miles of sandy desert and rocky plains, where there was no food and but few springs of water, and where there were no living creatures but wild beasts, poisonous insects, and fiery serpents.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 13.3

But they were not alone. Jesus Himself went before and took care of them. When they hungered and could find nothing to eat, He pitied them and rained bread (manna) from heaven for them; when they thirsted and became faint because there was no water to drink, He caused clear, cool waters to gush out of the solid Rock and run down like rivers. He kept them from being ill, and although they walked day after day over the burning sands and sharp stones, He kept their feet from swelling, and their clothes from wearing out! And He kept the wild beasts and poisonous serpents from hurting them.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 13.4

How many things they had to thank God for! How much He had done to make them happy! But they were not happy. They did just as we often do now. They did not look to Jesus and think of Him and count up the many blessings that He had showered upon them, but they thought of themselves, and looked at themselves, and thought about the disagreeable things that they feared might come, until they could see and think of nothing else. They forgot that Jesus was caring for them and protecting them from danger every day. Because they could not have everything just as they did at home they complained, and found fault with Moses, and murmured against God again and again.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 13.5

It grieved the Lord very much to see how little they cared for Him, and how they were afraid to trust Him after all His tender love and care. He knew that they never could have a home in the promised land unless they learned to trust Him at all times and in all places, and His love for them was so great that He could not bear to think of their all being lost. He therefore sought to make them see what they were doing. He knew of no better way than to remove His protecting hand for a short time. Then they would see how faithfully He had been caring for them.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 13.6

As soon as the Lord stopped driving back the fiery serpents, they of course came into the camp of the Israelites, wriggling through the tents, and stinging the people with their fiery tongues. Many of the people died, and those that did not die were sore afraid that they also would be killed by the poisonous creatures that swarmed on every side of them.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 13.7

They then saw how good the Lord had been to them, and how wicked they had been. They came to Moses, and with sorrow confessed their sins and asked him to pray to God to take away the serpents. Although God hates sin, He loves the sinner, and He is always willing and glad to forgive those who really feel sorry for their sins. Therefore He immediately told Moses to make a large serpent of brass and put it upon a pole where it could be seen from all parts of the camp. And He said that if those who were bitten would look at the brazen serpent, they should be healed.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 13.8

Moses did as he was told. A man was sent through all the camp to tell the good news to the people. Many believed God, and finally turned their weary eyes toward the serpent on the pole. What a change took place! Suddenly the stinging pain ceased, the burning fever cooled off, the swelling went down, the dazed eyes brightened, and trembling limbs put on new strength,-the fainting, dying souls spring up as well and strong as ever! One look at the brazen serpent, and the poison was all gone! Did the serpent of brass heal them? Oh, no: it was Jesus in whom they had believed. But some would not look. They did not believe that Jesus would heal them for just looking at the brazen serpent,-and they died! How sad! when they too might have been saved if they had only believed and looked.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 14.1

I have never been bitten by serpents, as the Israelites were, have you? But let me tell you something: You and I and everyone else have been stung by sin; and that is worse than any serpent in the world, for if we do not get healed from it, if we do not have its poison taken out of our hearts, we shall die by and by never to live again. A man may die of a serpent bite, and yet live again when Jesus comes, and never die anymore. But if he does not get rid of the poison of sin he will be destroyed for ever.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 14.2

One could tell by the looks and actions of the Israelites that they had been poisoned by the serpents. And even little children show by their looks and actions that have been poisoned by sin. We saw them look cross, and we see them quarrel, and strike, and say bad words, and disobey their parents, and hate, and envy, and lie, and do many other sinful things.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 14.3

God says that if any one of these poisonous stings is left in your heart they will cause you to die, and surely as the poison of the serpents cause the Israelites to die. And you cannot heal yourself any more than they could. No doctor in this world can take the poison of sin out of your heart. Your father cannot do it, nor your mother. No one in the world can take it away. God knew this. He saw how you were going to be lost for ever unless someone could save you. He saw that no one but His only Son Jesus could ever do it; and He could not do it without suffering and dying. Think of it! God loved you so that He gave His only Son to die that you might live, that you might have the poison of sin taken out of your heart. Jesus was nailed to the cruel cross and lifted up, as the serpent was lifted up in the wilderness. God says that He was lifted up you, and that if you will look to Him believing that He will heal you from sin, He will do it, just as surely as He healed the Israelites when they looked at the brazen serpent.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 14.4

Jesus will know if you look up to Him and say in your hearts, “Lord, I do believe,” for He is not dead now, He is alive and again and in heaven. If you are really sorry for your naughty sins that caused Him to die, and tell Him so, and ask Him to forgive you as the Israelites did, He will take the sins all away, and will put His own gentle Spirit in your heart in place of them. Then if you let Him, He will use your tongue to say kind words, your hands to do loving acts, your feet to run on willing errands.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 14.5

Oh, will you look to Jesus and live? I beg of you do not disbelieve and wait, as some of the Israelites did, until it is too late. Do not wait and say, “I don’t see how it can be,” “I don’t understand how He can do it just by my believing and looking.” You do not need to understand, but you do need to believe and look. Just believe and do as it He says, and you will find this new year the happiest year of your life; and best of all, when Jesus comes, you will be ready to go with Him and be happy for ever and ever.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 14.6

“Interesting Items” The Present Truth 9, 1.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

-The Pope has mapped out a systematic plan of warfare against the Freemasons.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 14.7

-Very severe weather has of late prevailed on the Atlantic, and accidents have been numerous.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 14.8

-Two thousand extra men were required by the London post-office to handle the Christmas mail.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 14.9

-The Turkish Government will shortly ask contractors to tender for the construction of a bridge 400 metres long across the Euphrates.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 14.10

-A dynamite outrage was perpetrated in Dublin on Christmas Eve. An attempt was made to blow up the Castle, and one detective was killed.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 14.11

-The Limerick magistrates have decided to grant no new public-house licences, and to gradually reduce the number to one-third of the present figures.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 14.12

-Cholera has again appeared in Hamburg and in Russia. The fact that it appears in midwinter occasions the greatest fears for the approach of warm weather.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 14.13

-The 247th anniversary of Nonconformity in the city of Canterbury has just been celebrated at the local Congregational Church, which was formed in 1645 with nine members.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 14.14

-Bishop Potter, of the Episcopal Church, has just laid the corner-stone of the Cathedral in New York, which is to cost between £1,000,000 and £2,000,000, and is to have chapels for simultaneous service in seven different languages.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 14.15

-The trial of those charged with participation in the serious cholera riots, and resistance to the enforcement of the sanitary regulations, last July, has just been concluded at Tashken, Russia. Eight of the accused have been sentenced to death by strangulation. Others have been sentenced to exile and imprisonment.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 14.16

-The construction of new railways last year in the United States amounted to 4,100 miles, making the total mileage 174,000.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 14.17

-The French Government has just issued the population returns for 1891, which show an excess of deaths over births of 10,000; but for an excess of births among foreigners, the number would have been 19,000. It is worthy of note that in the five preceding years the total population of France had shown a small increase of 25,000; the increase of 5,000 a year is now converted into a decrease of 10,000.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 14.18

-The Chronicle says: “According to private information from Finland a large proportion of the inhabitants of the country are perilously near starvation. Out of a population of 2,000,000 inhabitants more than 200,000, are entirely destitute, and before the winter comes to an end it is expected that one-fourth of the total population will be in the same pitiable plight. In many districts in the north the people have commenced to live on bread either wholly or partially composed of birch-bark.”PTUK January 12, 1893, page 14.19

-Russia is again threatened with famine. Crops have failed in consequence of drouth, and the people, already impoverished, have little hope. Count Bobrinskey, Marshal of the Russian nobility, says, “We ourselves find ourselves face to face with the consequences of a bad harvest under much worse circumstances than last year. And to crown all he says, typhus and epidemics among children are appearing. Cold, damp huts, with mouldy walls, the snow falling through the apertures of the roof, the thatch having been used as fuel, the flooring coated with mud, while on the top of the spacious stove lie huddled together five or six individuals in the paroxysms of typhus fever, unattended, and without even bread and milk.”PTUK January 12, 1893, page 14.20

-Some time ago an Act was passed in the United States, known as the Geary Act, which provided that all the Chinese should register their names, addresses, description, etc., or else be expelled from the country. Only a very small number have registered, and as the time limit expires on May 1st, it will require a great deal of expense on the part of the Government to carry out the provisions of the Act and expel them from the country. Steps are being taken to test the constitutionality of the Act in the courts, and then to use diplomatic means, and, finally, to resort to retaliation, if necessary, by withholding protection to Americans in China. When the expense of sending back to their own country over a hundred thousand Chinese is considered, it will be seen that it is sometimes much easier to enact oppressive laws than it is to enforce them.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 14.21

Following are the persons to be prohibited from entering the United States according to the provisions of the Bill just introduced into the United States Senate: 1. All persons physically capable who are over twelve years of age, but who can neither read nor write their own language with reasonable facility, except that all aged persons who, although unable to read or write with facility, are the parents or grandparents of admissible immigrants, may accompany or be sent for by such immigrants.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 14.22

2. All persons not provided, in addition to the means for reaching their final destination, with sufficient money for their comfortable support, or not being members of families able thus to support them for two months after their arrival. The amount thus required shall not exceed $100 for each single person or head of a family, and $25 for each member of a family accompanying or being sent for by the head of the family.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 14.23

3. All persons who are blind, crippled, or otherwise physically so disabled as to wholly or partially unfit for manual labour, unless it is satisfactorily shown upon inquiry that such disabled persons are sure of support and not likely to become chargeable to the public.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 14.24

4. All persons belonging to societies which savour or justify the unlawful or criminal destruction of life and property.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 14.25

“Back Page” The Present Truth 9, 1.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

It is not alone upon the Atlantic that severe storms have been raging, and that disasters have occurred. Over thirty steamers are said to have gone down in a storm on the Black Sea. These things should serve to remind men of the insignificance of their works in comparison with those of God. The nations of earth put great confidence in their great navies; but they will be as nothing when the waters of the sea roar and are troubled, and even the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 16.1

Last year the members of the American Congress were made to believe that the country was overwhelmingly in favour of Sunday closing of the World’s Fair, that if they did not pass a measure to secure its being closed they would lose their seats. Accordingly they at once became very religious, and earnestly pleaded for the protection of the “fourth commandment.” But since then it has transpired that the “public sentiment” was manufactured by a very few people, and so a bill providing for Sunday opening has been introduced at the present session.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 16.2

Religious institutions that rest upon the will of human legislators are very uncertain things. There is only one certain thing about religious legislation, and that is that it will invariably be wrong. To test the history of the world affords no exception. Although Sunday as a religious institution has not the slightest authority from the Bible, and the American Congress did a wicked thing in voting for its observance at the World’s Fair, it would do it an equally wicked thing in voting that the Fair shall be kept open on that day. Although the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord, it would be just as wicked for Congress to vote that the Fair should be closed on Sabbath. The wickedness consists in the very fact of religious legislation itself. Congress should do nothing. The Directors should be left free to open or close the Fair on Sunday, as they see fit, and people should be left free to attend or stay away, as they please.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 16.3

The facts in regard to civil legislation on religious matters may be briefly put thus: If there is in the law of God no warrant for any practice, then to pass laws enforcing that practice is to try to compel men to sin; for God’s law requires all that He wants to do, and whatever His laws do not require, He does not want to have done. And if the law of God does require a certain thing, then any human law requiring its observance is unnecessary, and not only so, but presumptuous. If the Lord will, the relation of civil Government to the law of God will be considered more at length in the next number.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 16.4

Acting on the instruction of the Methodist Conference, the Wesleyan Committee of Privileges has been in communication with the Committees of the Liberation Society, the Dissenting Deputies, the Congregational and Baptist Unions, the Presbyterians, and minor Methodists bodies, with the result that a “Joint Consultative Committee” has been formed, the chief object which is to consider all legislative proposals affecting the rights of English Nonconformists, and to take concerted action. Thereby they cut the sinew of all their opposition to the Establishment. In the face of such a combination for political purposes, it will be but too evident that the opposition to the Establishment is prompted by a desire to share in the emoluments, and not by conscientious convictions against the union of Church and State.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 16.5

“Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” Hebrews 1:14. This question is really an emphatic statement. It admits of only one answer, and that is, Yes. But who are they who are thus sent forth to minister? They are the angels, as the preceding verses show. The first chapter of Hebrews is devoted to showing that Christ is superior to the angels. He is the Creator and Saviour of men; they are simply His servants in that work. But angels are not men. The second chapter of Hebrews shows that Christ is greater than man, although He was made like man; but when He was made like man, He was made “a little lower than the angels,” because man even in the beginning was made a little lower than the angels. The angels existed before man was created, for when the foundations of the earth were lay, “the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.” Job 38:7. Men on earth may minister to one another, but they are not “ministering spirits.” And the ministry of man in the Gospel is confined wholly to this present life, for when he dies there is no more work nor wisdom for him until the Lord comes to give him life again. And then they do not become angels, but remain redeemed men throughout eternity.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 16.6

Tuesday, September 4, 1893, is the date fixed upon for the opening of the great Catholic Congress to be held in connection with the World’s Fair in Chicago. By the way, there is no doubt but that the Columbus celebration will first and last do very much toward uniting professed Protestants and Catholics. The fact that Columbus was a Catholic, and that he was sent out by a Catholic queen, who had in view the advancement of the Roman Catholic Church, will be kept before the public. Mr. Justice Brewer has decided that the United States is a Christian nation, on the strength of the religious proclivities of those who made the first settlements. Consistency, therefore, would demand that the form of religion professed by the nation should be the Roman Catholic, since it had the first hold upon the country. It matters very little what the form of religion is that is professed by a State, for the very best would soon become as bad as the worst.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 16.7

Lord Yarborough, the owner of the famous North Lincolnshire pack of hounds, has been gathering some interesting statistics in regard to fox hunting. He says that there are 330 packs of hounds in England, Scotland, and Ireland, and estimates their cost and keeping to amount to £44,850. Adding to this cost of keeping the 99,000 horses that are used in the sport, he gives a total annual expenditure for fox hunting of over four and a half millions. There are many conclusions that might be drawn from this, but we leave each reader to make his own application of the facts.PTUK January 12, 1893, page 16.8

And rightminded people can sympathize with the forcible words used in the following item from the Echo:-PTUK January 12, 1893, page 16.9

“We are threatened with two disastrous visitations this year-one from Hamburg, the other from Paris. We might leave Dr. Collingridge to grapple with the cholera, but who shall delvier us from crinoline? It is that mighty potentate M. Worth who threatens us with the latter plague. Here is a splendid opportunity for the champions of the rights of women. Perhaps their battle for the franchise is to be won after all through the petticoat itself. Should they be able to make a successful stand against such an odious, ugly, indecent revival, they will win a host of new converts. No woman with any sense of self-respect, who has any recollection of the comments of the other sex when crinoline was last in vogue, would suffer her daughters to wear it on any consideration.”PTUK January 12, 1893, page 16.10

January 26, 1893