The Present Truth, vol. 13

June 17, 1897

“Concerning Prayer” The Present Truth, 13, 24.

E. J. Waggoner

“Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” Psalm 50:15. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 369.1

Thus saith the Lord; and what He says in this place is repeated many times in the Scriptures. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” Matthew 7:7. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 369.2

Immediately following this statement, we find a striking illustration of God's willingness, nay, His anxiety, to answer prayer. “What man is there of you, when if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?” There can be but one answer; no real father would deal so heartlessly with his child. “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?” PTUK June 17, 1897, page 369.3

This is something that parents especially can appreciate. Whenever anyone who is a parent feels despondent, and thinks that God does not care for him, let him ask himself, Why should I think myself better than God? I would not think of refusing my children any good thing that lay in my power to bestow; but I am selfish even at the best, and even my best wishes for my children are limited by my lack of resources; God, on the contrary, is infinite love and compassion, and has power to perform whatever His love prompts; therefore as surely as I live I know that God does hear my prayers. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 369.4

Think further of the illustration here given. The parent is not only willing to supply the child's needs, but provides for them beforehand. The child never thinks of food until it is hungry. Suppose now that the parents likewise had not thought about providing food, until the child's request brought it to their attention; then the child would be obliged to wait, and would suffer hunger. But such is never the case. Long before the child thought of eating, the parents were at work providing something against the time of need. This is the work of parents, to look ahead, and provide for their children's wants. Even so it is with God. He knows what we need, so that, as the child to the parent, we come to Him, not to let Him know that we are in need, but to take what He has before prepared for us. Our asking is not to make Him willing to give, but to show our willingness to receive. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 369.5

God wishes that we should be saved from sin, that we should receive eternal life; and, as the greater includes the less, He also wishes that we should have all things necessary for this life. “Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8. In His Word God has made known His will. The commandments show that it is God's will that we should live righteously, that we should love Him supremely, and our neighbour as ourselves. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 370.1

But how can we attain to all this?—The question is easily answered. “This is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us. And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.” 1 John 5:14, 15. We cannot begin or continue our own lives, either in this world or the world to come; but God can, and it is His pleasure to do so; if therefore we are willing to accept God's good gifts, then we may know without any shadow of doubt, that we have them whenever we ask for them; and if we “pray without ceasing,“ then we are always in possession of every good gift. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 370.2

“Well, isn't it tiresome continually to be asking for what we need?”—That depends on whom we ask. The parable of the unjust judge (Luke 18:1-8) was given to teach us that “men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” The judge feared not God, neither regarded man, and so when a widow asked redress for her wrongs he paid no attention to her for a while. But afterwards he thought that his ease might be disturbed much more by her repeated requests than by complying with them, and so he granted them. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 370.3

If we read no further, we should not be encouraged to pray always and not to faint; for even if we did not become discouraged after a few unheeded petitions, and give up without receiving the thing desired, we would at least say, “I will not ask any oftener than I am absolutely obliged to.” But God is “faithful and just” (1 John 1:9), not unjust; He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7), and desires our welfare far more than we do. What then?—“And shall not God avenge His elect, which cry to Him day and night, and He is longsuffering over them? I say unto you, that He will avenge them speedily.” R.V. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 370.4

The parable is a contrast. If the unjust judge, who had no regard whatever for men, would grant a request simply that he might not be further disturbed, how much more will God grant the request of His chosen ones, with whose failings He is so long-suffering. He will not keep them waiting; nay, “He will avenge them speedily.” “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?” In spite of the fact that everything, not only in the Bible, but in God's open book of nature, speaks of God's readiness and parental anxiety to give good gifts, it is a rare thing to find people with faith enough to continue asking and receiving. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 370.5

“But why continue to ask, if God is so ready to give?” unbelief asks. “What means that statement that God's elect cry day and night to Him, if He is so willing to give?” How ready and seemingly anxious people are to make God out unfeeling, and the way of life hard! God's people cry day and night to Him, for the very reason that He answers them so speedily, not even waiting till they have done speaking. “I love the Lord, because He hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because He hath inclined His ear unto me, therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live.” Psalm 116:1, 2. Because He inclines His ear to us, bending over toward us, so as not to miss the faintest whisper, and even anticipates our words, because He reads the heart's desire, and knows what we would ask for far better than we know how to express it, we are encouraged to keep calling on Him continually. This is why we can always pray and not faint: God does not weary us by keeping us waiting. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 370.6

But when we go no further in the consideration of prayer than to agree that God answers prayer, although that is a good thing to know, it is far from a true realisation of what prayer really is. We speak now, of course, of sincere prayer. We speak about God's hearing us, when the question really turns on whether or not we hear God. In our ordinary thought and talk about prayer, we seem to have the idea that we speak first, and that our part is to call God's attention to us. That is a step in the direction of the heathen idea, that they must awaken their god, so that he may be conscious of their presence. It is this idea, more or less fully developed, which holds many people back from God. They fear to approach Him; they fear that they will be intruding on His time and patience, and they have no courage to ask an audience with Him, regarding Him much as they would an earthly autocrat, only infinitely greater and therefore proportionally unapproachable. If it were indeed the case that we must approach the throne alone, and ask to gain an audience with God on our own account,-if we had to take the initiative-then it would indeed be presumptuous for us to think of it, and we might well shrink from the trial. But the fact is, God has spoken first; He has called us to Him, and therefore instead of its being presumption for us to approach and speak to Him, it is rudeness in the highest degree if we turn away and say nothing. Common civility demands that we reply to a fellow-man when he speaks to us; how much more should we give heed and reply when God speaks to us. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 370.7

God speaks to us, and offers us forgiveness, righteousness, everlasting riches. When we come to Him in prayer, it is only because He has called us to Him; it is only to take what He has already said He freely gives us. The question is not, therefore, whether God will hear us, but whether we will hear God; and true prayer consists more in listening than in talking. Therefore it is that Christ tells us not to use vain repetitions, or an overflow of words, as the heathen who think that they shall be heard for their much speaking; “for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him.” Matthew 6:7, 8. God has called us to Him to receive rich gifts, and He says: “Incline your ear, and come unto Me; hear, and your soul shall live.” Isaiah 55:3. But since it is a fact that God has spoken first, that He has made known His will to us, and that true prayer is our response to His offer, with thanksgiving for what He has given, it necessarily follows that a study of God's will as revealed in His Word is necessary to prayer. He who is best acquainted with God's will, can pray best. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 370.8

But what if we should ask too much? Is there not danger of presuming on God's generosity, overtaxing it?—No fear whatsoever. He is able, and therefore willing, “to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” Ephesians 3:20. And when we hear His voice, that offers us so many good things, and come to Him, and receive them at His hands, what shall we give in return? That is just what the Psalmist asked, after God's readiness to hear had made him determined to call upon the Lord as long as he lived. “What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me?” Psalm 116:12. That is a most natural question, and the inspired answer immediately follows: “I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.” Verse 13. How shall I pay the Lord for what He has given me?—By taking more. That is the only way. “But then I will owe Him more than before!” Certainly, and so are you under obligation to take more than before; and as you are in duty bound to pay your debt by taking twice as much as before, so you make your debt four times as large, and in order to pay it you must now take eight times as much as before, and so on in endless progression. “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” PTUK June 17, 1897, page 371.1

“Papal Lutheranism” The Present Truth, 13, 24.

E. J. Waggoner

The Norwegian constitution has had an article to this effect:— PTUK June 17, 1897, page 371.2

The Evangelical-Lutheran Religion is and condemns the Public Religion of the State. The citizens, who profess the same, are obliged to see that their children are educated in it. Jesuits, and orders of monks and nuns are not to be tolerated. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 371.3

The other day the Norwegian Storthing discussed an amendment proposing to expunge the last clause. The debate resulted in striking out all of the clause save the declaration that Jesuits are not to be tolerated. As these pioneers of Rome are accustomed to working in secret the clause will not shut them out. The pity of it is that the Storthing did not see that the first clauses only establish a papal system under another name. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 371.4

Wherever the Lutheran Church is established, as in Scandinavia and Germany, it differs very little in the spirit from the Roman Church. The Word which Luther preached was the power of the Reformation. In harmony with the Gospel, Luther declared:— PTUK June 17, 1897, page 371.5

It is by the Word that we must fight; by the Word overturn and destroy what has been established by violence. I am unwilling to employ force against the superstitious and unbelieving. Let him who believes approach. Let him who believes not stand aloof. None ought to be constrained. Liberty is of the essence of faith. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 371.6

After the initial victory of the Reformation had been won by the power of the Word, Luther was persuaded to depart somewhat from these principles, and the work of reform ceased in the hands of his followers. Religion was put into a creed, and supported by the sword of the prince. So it comes that Lutheranism now is not reformed, and is an opponent of the very Gospel by which the great Reformer shook the foundations of the Papacy. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 371.7

“The Fulfilling Word” The Present Truth, 13, 24.

E. J. Waggoner

The very things that caused the disciples of Jesus dismay and confusion in the hour of His trial and crucifixion, would but have strengthened their faith had they believed the prophets and the words of Christ. We can understand how Jesus Himself saw prophecy fulfilling at every step of the way, from the betrayal to the trial by the chief priests, the delivering to Pilate the shameful insults and spitting, and all the details of the crucifixion. And how His faith must have rested upon those scriptures, carrying assurance of power to endure all faithfully. “I gave My back to the smiters, and My cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not My face from shame and spitting. For the Lord God will help Me; therefore shall I not be confounded.” Isaiah 50:6, 7. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 371.8

That was the hour of the power of darkness. To those who had not the Word every light seemed to be put out. But Jesus had the Scripture as a lamp unto His feet. Now, the “more sure Word of prophecy” is still “a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn.” As the dawning of the day of the Lord draws near, the power of darkness will again make special efforts to overthrow all faith; yes, is even now doing so. Perilous times have come. They will increase until men's hearts shall fail them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth. But as perils increase, and as the wrath of Satan is more violently manifested against the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, those who follow Christ's example in trial will see in these things the fulfilment of the Word, and find their faith grow stronger. “Because thou hast kept the Word of My patience,“ says Jesus, “I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly.” PTUK June 17, 1897, page 371.9

“How to Find the Truth” The Present Truth, 13, 24.

E. J. Waggoner

Paul was in prison, expecting any day to be led out to martyrdom. Already the working of the mystery of lawlessness had begun. Strivings about words and human speculations had increased “unto more ungodliness,“ and the faith of some had been overthrown by teachers who had perverted the doctrine of Christ. It was a time of confusion, and no doubt many simple ones, distrusting their power to discriminate between truth and the clever perversions of it, felt sorely troubled and anxious. For the encouragement of these, and as a lesson for all time, the apostle wrote:— PTUK June 17, 1897, page 371.10

“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 Timothy 2:19. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 371.11

When one feels confused and perplexed as to where truth lies, this is the way to find it. Put away iniquity, confess sin, cast the soul upon God. The learning of the truth is an experience of heart and life, not a merely intellectual review of theories. When the heart is not surrendered, and iniquity or sin is harboured, it is impossible to have clear perceptions of the truth. That is why the babe in intellect, whose heart is open to let the Lord in, may see truth that is hid from the worldly-wise and prudent. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 371.12

“Armaments a Menace” The Present Truth, 13, 24.

E. J. Waggoner

Sometimes it is said that the great armaments of the Powers are to maintain the peace; but the direct contrary is the fact, for when men have a great force drilled for war there is always an itching to use it. They feel like the Goorkha who commands the army of the Maharaja of Nepal. This impatient warrior, we are told, once asked Lady Roberts when the Russians were coming, “I wish,“ he said, “they would make haste. We have forty thousand soldiers in Nepal ready for war, and there is no one to fight.” PTUK June 17, 1897, page 371.13

“Easter in Abyssinia” The Present Truth, 13, 24.

E. J. Waggoner

A newspaper correspondent in Abyssinia gives a description of Easter time in that country, which shows that there too is need of the Gospel of Christ to redeem nominal Christians from actual heathenism:— PTUK June 17, 1897, page 374.1

“The Ras begs that you will not go far from the town without an escort of soldiers for the next few days,“ say my Abyssinian balderabba [or friend at court] yesterday. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 374.2

It seemed a funny sort of petition, till I gathered that the countryside, after a Paschal vigil rigidly maintained for five and fifty days, was liable to welcome the advent of the period that ends with Whitsuntide by getting unlimitedly drunk. In which state they are apt to light their battle o'er again, should a stray European happen along. Easter in Abyssinia is a very critical time. Should a servant be sent to buy anything he will return empty-handed, and plead that at this season such things are not. Would you see the Ras-the “head” in literal Arabic-you have that he is at church, whatever the hour almost. With all the officials the case is the same. Two hundred and sixty half-days per annum, plus extra dues imposed individually as penance, seems a half-allowance, but from all accounts the people make up for it on the feast-days. From Holy Thursday midnight [according to their calendar] until Sunday morning, no one is supposed to touch food of any kind-church-going and mortification is the order of those two days and nights-but then pandemonium is let loose, and the stranger, if he is wise, stays indoors till the guns have ceased going off in the streets, and the national spree draws to a close. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 374.3

“Overeating” The Present Truth, 13, 24.

E. J. Waggoner

Half the people we know, says a medical journal, have attacks of indigestion because they will persist in eating hearty meals when in an exhausted condition. They seem never willing or able to realise that there are times when the system is in no fit state to grapple with a full meal. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 382.1

They come in tired and hungry, almost ravenous, not thinking that may be a good deal of what they consider hunger is gastric irritation, then sit down to a table covered with the substantials of life, and deliberately go to work to overtax the already overstrained vital powers. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 382.2

No person should ever eat heartily when very tired. The wisest thing to do is to drink a cup of hot water with three tea-spoonfuls of milk in it, sit down for five minutes, and then begin slowly to eat, masticating thoroughly. In a little while the vigour of the stomach will come back, and all will be well. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 382.3

If this course were followed, there would not be one case of dyspepsia where now there are a dozen. It seems to be the most difficult of all things properly to control the appetite. It seems to be the master. It requires will power to get it under control. When once mastered, something important has been accomplished in self-discipline. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 382.4

“Fruits for the Table” The Present Truth, 13, 24.

E. J. Waggoner

All fruit with skins on, says a health journal, should be washed and peeled, before eating-especially fruits exposed on the streets, and where dust and flies can have access to them. Few are aware of the danger of food contamination by flies. They are great scavengers, and are not at all choice as to what they eat nor where they step. They pass at one bound from an infectious carcass, a foul ulcer, or a mass of diseased sputum or reeking filth, to the apple, pear, or peach, and with dirty feet and dirty proboscis run over it and contaminate it. Hence all such fruit should be first washed and dried and then pared if possible. Even food to be cooked ought, for cleanliness’ sake, to be washed if cooked with the skin on. Fruit is rich in acids that are grateful to the stomach, stimulate the salivary secretion, are grateful to the taste, and aid in digestion. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 382.5

“Items of Interest” The Present Truth, 13, 24.

E. J. Waggoner

The tobacco bill of the United Kingdom is ?32,500,000 yearly, while the wheat consumed costs but half a million more. This country consumes two pounds of tobacco per head of population. In Holland the number is seven; Austria, nearly four; Germany, three; United States, four and a-half. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 382.6

Custard should never cook a moment after it is solid, as it then begins to turn watery. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 382.7

Last year Ireland spent in intoxicants ?12,806,841, at the rate of ?33,087 every day. She spent in poor relief ?1,049,700. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 382.8

The most wholesome way of cooking a potato is to bake it. A small piece of the skin should be cut from the ends before putting the potatoes in to bake. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 382.9

-The private estates of the Czar cover 100,000 square miles. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 382.10

-The German War Office is trying a new pistol said to fire ninety shots a minute. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 382.11

-The total wealth of Great Britain, with all her possessions, is estimated at ?8,000,000,000. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 382.12

-Discontent in America and Hungary has manifested itself in several serious outbreaks of rioting. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 382.13

-Although on the verge of financial ruin owing to its Abyssinian raid and defeat, Italy is building nine cruisers. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 382.14

-A cloud burst in France destroyed about a hundred factories and mills, and devastated villages and crops. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 382.15

-It is known that there were men practising the profession of dentistry in Egypt at least two thousand years ago. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 382.16

-The British Isles comprise 1,000 separate islands and islets, without counting more jutting rocks or isolated pinnacles. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 382.17

-There are nearly a quarter of a million more men than women in Australia, and in New Zealand also women are in a minority. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 382.18

-The Admiralty commissioned ten war vessels last week, four of which are just from the dockyards. These four cost ?3,600,000. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 382.19

-The special engagements of the Jubilee celebrations will extend over ten days. The chief events are the procession in London and the great naval reviews at Spithead. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 382.20

-Communication is to be established between the island of Sark and Guernsey by means of the new system of telegraphy without wires, the invention of an Italian, which the Post Office is putting into practical use. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 382.21

-The annual congress of the Co-operative societies of Great Britain was held in Scotland last week. The societies are said to have a membership of nearly one-seventh of the population of the country, and do a trade of ?80,000,000 a year. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 382.22

-The Secretary for Agriculture at the Cape announces that shooting of infected cattle has been stopped, as it is useless to attempt to stay the progress of the rhuderpest by any method now known. He sees nothing to prevent the disease spreading among the cattle of Cape Colony. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 382.23

-Greece and Turkey are both bankrupt. Greece with a population of 2,000,000 has a debt of ?38,000,000. In 1894, the last year of which returns are published, Greece paid only 30 per cent. of the interest due on gold loans. These Bonds are held principally in England and Germany. The expenditure since the war began has been greatly in excess of the revenue. Turkey is worse off financially, but infinitely better off politically, for her creditors dare not, as things go now, allow her to suffer. She owes a debt of ?250,000,000 and this does not include the indemnity levied by Russia at the close of the Russo-Turkish war, and payable in fifty years. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 382.24

“Back Page” The Present Truth, 13, 24.

E. J. Waggoner

There have been significant demonstrations in Egypt and India of Moslem sympathy with Turkey. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 384.1

Added now to the troubles caused by famine in India, the Government has another frontier war on its hands. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 384.2

The chief thought in London now is of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations to mark the record reign of Queen Victoria. June 22 will be the great field day of the Empire. Not the length of the reign, but the character of it, and the material progress made in the Victorian Era will be celebrated with enthusiasm. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 384.3

The material progress is remarkable. The area of the Empire has been increased by one-half, and the lion's share of the world owns the sway of Great Britain. Estimates place the population of the Roman Empire in its palmist days at 100,000,000. The present population of the British Empire is over three times that-the greatest number ever gathered under one imperial empire. It is fitting enough that the military and naval ideas should dominate the celebrations, as the Empire, like every other power of earth, has been built up by the sword, and is guarded and maintained by the sword. It is a hard saying, when patriotism runs high, that “All they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” But it is the word of the Lord, and it is the story of empire from the founding of the first. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 384.4

It is easy for every generation to glorify its own achievements, and vote itself the superior of every other. The complacent temper which patriotism engenders is illustrated by the following from the Montreal Star:— PTUK June 17, 1897, page 384.5

It is with the utmost difficulty that we can give even a patient hearing to the pessimists who tell us that like the civilisation of Assyria and Egypt, of Greece and Rome, the British Empire too will pass. Its foundations are too broad to be uprooted by a dozen wars. There is no force outside of it anywhere on the planet that is strong enough to tear it down, as ancient Rome was, by sheer weight of numbers. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 384.6

It is sufficient to recall the fact, attested by history, that each of these great empires felt this same confidence. But patriotism, which is self-love, is always blind. Men think they can build something abiding. “Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling-places to all generations.” The record of ruin of these very empires of antiquity is written to teach men and nations a lesson in these days, but pride and selfishness make bad students of men. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 384.7

Every generation that has lived in a time of crisis in the history of God's dealings with men has been impatient at hearing anything but smooth things. All the great nations to-day are full of the Imperial Idea, and the lust for dominion is bringing them together in the sharpest rivalry. All the world is now apprehensive, and preparing for a conflict. The “more sure Word of prophecy,“ which has left witness of its truth in the ruin of ancient empires, now shows that the gathering of the nations is for the battle of the last great day. The world scoffs at the idea of disaster coming when it has such plans of progress and prosperity for the future. “There shall come in the last days scoffers.” They say, “Peace and safety,“ but when men so cry “sudden destruction” is to come upon them. Just before this boastful generation is “the time of trouble” for the nations, “such as never was.” Instead of responding to the call, “Prophesy unto us smooth things,“ instead of putting the sanction of religion upon pride and self-glorification, it is for the Church of Christ to “sound an alarm,“ for “the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand.” PTUK June 17, 1897, page 384.8

“The Coronation Oath” The Present Truth, 13, 24.

E. J. Waggoner

The Coronation Oath .—The Protestant Alliance publishes as a Protestant document a copy of an historic picture representing the Queen taking the Coronation Oath, clad in full ecclesiastical vestments. While indulging in a little pleasantry at this, the Church Times incidentally gives the High Church interpretation of the oath. It says:— PTUK June 17, 1897, page 384.9

It is true that the Queen swore to maintain “the Protestant Reformed Religion,“ which even a Roman Catholic Sovereign-if we had one-might be required to do in the interests of certain sections of his subjects. But it is worth remembering that in Malta the Queen maintains the Roman Catholic religion, and in India the native creeds. It will not do to press too much meaning into the Coronation Oath; but the alb and the dalmatic and the armils and the altar-what has the Protestant Alliance to say to them? PTUK June 17, 1897, page 384.10

Notwithstanding the ease with which the Churchman can explain away language, the Coronation Oath is a grievous offence to Anglican Catholics, who repudiate and detest the name Protestant. They and the Roman Catholics mean to have it altered yet. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 384.11

“Not Protestant” The Present Truth, 13, 24.

E. J. Waggoner

Not Protestant. -However much the words of this Oath may offend Catholics, it is far from being Protestant. The very essence of Protestantism is a protest against any interference of the civil power with religion. It is a protest against human authority intruding itself in the realm of religion, where only Divine authority can bear sway, and is an affirmation of the Gospel truth that the faith of Jesus stands not in the power of men “but in the power of God.” When, therefore any prince or ruler makes an oath to maintain the Protestant religion, and any people seek to establish such religion by their authority, the only result must be a papal religion. Thus even during the sixty years of the Queen's reign the Roman revival within the Church of England has made rapid progress. It is pitiful to see Protestants putting confidence in a meaningless oath prescribed by statute, and appealing vainly to a Parliament to withstand apostasy from Bible Protestantism. The Protestant is the one who believes the Word and has it. The faith of Jesus establishes the religion of Jesus, not in statute books, but in the lives of men. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 384.12

“The Papal Head” The Present Truth, 13, 24.

E. J. Waggoner

The Papal Head. -The King of Siam, the only reigning Buddhist, visited the Pope the other day. He is “the first non-Christian monarch,“ it is said, “who has been received at the Vatican. The Pope expressed great satisfaction at the fact that the King knelt and kissed his hand.” The Papacy stands for the human in place of Divine authority, for man in the place of God; hence the Pope is the natural head of all false religion, which is an effort at self-salvation, as opposed to salvation only by the faith of Jesus. The Buddhist monarch may have meant no more than to be polite to an aged man in a place of power, but his act of submission symbolises the papal headship over all the world. “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Revelation 12:8. PTUK June 17, 1897, page 384.13

This is why believing the Word of God makes an entire change in the life; “If a man love Me, he will keep My words, and My Father will love him, and we will come unto him and make our abode with him.” PTUK June 17, 1897, page 384.14