The Present Truth, vol. 13

June 24, 1897

“Front Page” The Present Truth, 13, 25.

E. J. Waggoner

There is much controversy about the “primitive faith,“ and the writings of the “Fathers” and the declarations of the councils are freely quoted to establish this or that doctrine or practice as of the primitive faith. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 385.1

Nothing is simpler than finding what the primitive faith was. The Scripture says that there is but “one Lord” there is also but “one faith.” Anything other than that must be no faith at all. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 385.2

The trouble is men want human definitions of the faith instead of the faith itself. But nothing human can enter into the composition of the faith. It is not what any man or body of men may think about the Lord. It is what He Himself says, and the life that He lives. “The faith of Jesus,“ is the one faith. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 385.3

Jesus, who was the Word, as our example of life and teaching lived “by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” His faith came by “hearing ... the Word of God.” “Morning by morning, He awakeneth Mine ear to hear.... And I was not rebellious.” “The word which ye hear is not Mine, but the Father's which sent Me.” “I came not to do Mine own will.” “I delight to do Thy will, O My God; yea, Thy law is within My heart.” “I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love.” “The Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works.” This is the primitive faith. It is a life of obedience that Jesus now lives over again in every one that accepts Him. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 385.4

“War From Trifles” The Present Truth, 13, 25.

E. J. Waggoner

A morning paper prints the following to show what trivial incidents have often led to fearful wars. Rather, they have been the excuse for war, the real reason being the lusts and hatreds which only waited for some excuse for giving vent to passion. The nations are now angry and facing one another in hostile mood because the people who compose them are so generally “living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.” From all this the Gospel delivers every believer. But when one considers how small a thing is sufficient to deluge the laud in blood, one may well cease not to pray to God “for kings and for all that are in authority” that national hatreds may be restrained yet a little longer, that there may be opportunity of still further preaching the Gospel of the kingdom amongst peoples in time of comparative peace. Here is the story of a few wars:— PTUK June 24, 1897, page 388.1

“Cicero said that the natural state of man is war. Certainly, whether savage or civilised he lets very few opportunities pass, as is proved by the trifles which have produced many terrible conflicts between nations. The Franco-German War, in which the loss of life was over 100,000, and the loss of money very nearly ?1,000,000,000, resulted from a little bit of Royal rematch-making. Spain had a marriageable princess, and the German House of Hohenzollern a marriageable prince. Both were, apparently, anxious to join fortunes, but France objected. The King of Prussia generously agreed not to press the matter, but France, to make sure that a German should never rule the country on her south-western frontier, insisted on getting a promise that the proposal of marriage should not be renewed at any future time. Naturally Prussia declined to humiliate itself, and, unfortunately for herself, France thereupon declared war. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 388.2

“Perhaps our influence at Constantinople is of great importance, though some argue that it is el very little moment. Either way, it has cost us heavily, both in lives and money. That war of the Crimea, by the way, began in an absurdly trifling event. The cupola of the church of the Holy Sepulchre was out of repair. The Greek monks claimed the right of putting it in order. The Roman Catholic monks disputed their right. Russia supported one party, France the other. The monks came to blows; the diplomatists lost their heads. And then followed the war, with its frightful consequences. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 388.3

“England's two wars with China have had admirable results, but the causes of them were really very trifling. The first one, in 1840, was about whether John Chinaman should be permitted to smoke Indian opium or not; and the second, that of 1856, resulted from the seizure of a villainous pirate by an armed Chinese vessel. The pirate was Chinese, and he sailed in a Chinese ship, but he cunningly hoisted the Union Jack. Under these circumstances, the pirate's capture was held to be an insult to England, and China's refusal to apologise led to hostilities. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 388.4

“We all know that the Red Indians fought for the love of the thing, but we must have been pretty fond of it ourselves in days gone by, for we fought France 272 times between 1110 and 1815, and the cause in most instances was nothing more than revenge.” PTUK June 24, 1897, page 388.5

“All Truth Essential” The Present Truth, 13, 25.

E. J. Waggoner

It is a very common thing for people to regard truth as of two kinds-essential and non-essential, important and unimportant. This is a great mistake. All truth is one, and cannot be divided into classes. Every point of truth is of equal importance with every other point. Truth is of God, for Jesus Christ whom He has sent is the Truth. But the riches of Christ are unsearchable. He is infinite, therefore the truth is infinite. But there can be no comparison of infinities. To the human mind, at least, all infinities are equal. So the only thing necessary to he determined is whether or not a thing is true. If it is, then no matter how unimportant it may seem to human understanding, we may be sure that it cannot be ignored without sin. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 388.6

ln a perfect machine the smallest bolt is as important and necessary as the largest shaft, for the reason that without the bolt the shalt would be useless. So in God's perfect Word the smallest matter is as important as what are called the great things. God has not wasted His time on non-essentials. He does not speak that which is of no importance. “Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him. Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” Proverbs 30:6, 7. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 388.7

“What the Righteousness of God Is” The Present Truth, 13, 25.

E. J. Waggoner

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 7:38. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 389.1

The righteousness of God, says Jesus, is the one thing to be sought in this life. Food and clothing are minor matters in comparison with it. God will supply them, as a matter of course, so that anxious care and worriment need not be depended on them; but to secure God's kingdom and His righteousness should be the only object of life. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 389.2

In 1 Corinthians 1:30 we are told that Christ is made unto us righteousness as well as wisdom; and since Christ is the wisdom of God, and in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, it is evident that the righteousness which life is made to us is the righteousness of God. let us see what this righteousness is. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 389.3

In Psalm 119:172 the Psalmist thus addresses the Lord: “My tongue shall speak of Thy Word; for all Thy commandments are righteousness.” The commandments are righteousness, not simply in the abstract, but they are the righteousness of God. For proof read the following:— PTUK June 24, 1897, page 389.4

“Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath; for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner; but My salvation shall be for ever, and My righteousness shall not be abolished. Hearken unto Me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is My law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.” Isaiah 51:6, 7. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 389.5

What do we learn from this? That they who know the righteousness of God are those in whose heart is His law, and therefore that the law of God is the righteousness of God. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 389.6

This may be proved again, as follows: “All unrighteousness is sin.” 1 John 5:17. “Whosoever commiteth sin transgresseth also the law; for sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3:4. Sin is the transgression of the law, and it is also unrighteousness; therefore sin and unrighteousness are identical. But if unrighteousness is transgression of the law, righteousness must be obedience to the law. Or, to put the proposition into mathematical form:— PTUK June 24, 1897, page 389.7

Unrighteousness-sin. John 5:17. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 389.8

Transgression of the law-sin. 1 John 3:4. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 389.9

Therefore, as two things that are equal to the same thing are equal to each other, we have:— PTUK June 24, 1897, page 389.10

Unrighteousness-transgression of the law. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 389.11

which is a negative equation. The same thing, stated in positive terms, would be:— PTUK June 24, 1897, page 389.12

Righteousness-obedience to the law. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 389.13

Now what law is it obedience to which is righteousness and disobedience to which is sin? It is that law which says, “Thou shalt not covet;” for the Apostle Paul tells us that this law convinced him of sin. Romans 7:7. The law of ten commandments, then, is the measure of the righteousness of God. Since it is the law of God and is righteousness, it must be the righteousness of God. There is, indeed no other righteousness. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 389.14

Since the law is the righteousness of God-a transcript of His character-it is easy to see that to fear God and keep His commandments is the whole duty of man. Ecclesiastes 12:13. Let no one think that his duty will be circumscribed if confined to the ten commandments, for they are “exceeding broad.” “The law is spiritual,“ and comprehends a great deal more than can be discerned by an ordinary reader. “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:14. The exceeding breadth of the law of God can be realised only by those who prayerfully meditate upon it. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 389.15

This righteousness can be “fulfiled in us” only by the power of the indwelling Christ. By faith Christ dwells in the heart (Ephesians 4:17), and thus faith establishes the law in the life (Romans 3:31). This righteousness is the first thing to be sought for. It is the one object of Christ's work to bring men to the obedience of faith. His name is called Jesus Saviour, for “He shall save His people from their sins.” When men traduce the law of God, therefore, and, refuse to acknowledge it as the standard of righteousness, they cast reproach upon the character of God, and frustrate the Gospel of Christ. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 389.16

“Sunday Laws and the Bible in Court” The Present Truth, 13, 25.

E. J. Waggoner

During recent years there have been in the United States numerous cases of prosecution of Sabbath-keepers for not regarding the Sunday. In England and the colonies, as well as in Europe, cases have also occurred, showing that one spirit is operating in the revival of the enforcement of religious law in all the world. But the church in the United States have been foremost in seeking to control legislation so that human laws might be used to maintain the Sunday. God says, “The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord,“ men say it shall be the first, and the question in all these cases is, Shall the Word of God or the word of man be obeyed? PTUK June 24, 1897, page 389.17

The Sentinel of New York, reports the recent trial of two of our Sabbath-keeping brethren in Delaware for not observing Sunday. A portion of the report brings out the real issue very clearly:— PTUK June 24, 1897, page 389.18

Munce: “Mr. John Qurney, you say you saw me digging up ... on the Sabbath day.” PTUK June 24, 1897, page 389.19

Witness: “Yes, I did.” PTUK June 24, 1897, page 389.20

Munce: “John, can you tell us which day is the Sabbath day?” PTUK June 24, 1897, page 389.21

Witness (confused): “Well, I did, we take Sunday; I went on the 10th of April.” PTUK June 24, 1897, page 389.22

Justice: “That won't do, it is contempt of court. We take the first day for the Sabbath, and, it is induced by the laws of this State, and the United States and the civilised world over as the Sabbath. So your argument won't do.” PTUK June 24, 1897, page 389.23

Munce: “Squire, you say that Sunday is the first day of the week.” PTUK June 24, 1897, page 389.24

Justice: “Yes.” PTUK June 24, 1897, page 389.25

Munce: “The Bible says the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.” PTUK June 24, 1897, page 389.26

Justice: “Stop, we don't want the Bible, that won't do, and if you don't stop, I will fine you for contempt of court. The Bible is not what we want, it is the law.” PTUK June 24, 1897, page 389.27

Munce: “Well Squire, can't you allow the evidence of the Bible in the matter?” PTUK June 24, 1897, page 389.28

Justice: “No, the Bible is not the thing, it is the law we want.” PTUK June 24, 1897, page 389.29

Munce: “Is not that a Bible you swore the witnesses on?” PTUK June 24, 1897, page 389.30

Justice: “Yes.” PTUK June 24, 1897, page 389.31

Munce: “Why is it, Squire, you will not take the testimony of these witnesses unless they swear by God's Word that what they say is truth? So they can be allowed those oaths by God's Word, why not accept my testimony concerning the Sabbath as God's Word?” PTUK June 24, 1897, page 389.32

Justice: “That will do. I don't want any more. You have got to stop.” PTUK June 24, 1897, page 389.33

The extract shows the easy unconventionality of a petty country court, but the justice in his blunt way only stated the case as it is. No matter where these prosecutions have come up, in effect the case of the prosecution has been, “The Bible is not what we want, it is the law.” It is the attitude of those who are calling for Sunday enforcement. Few realise the true issue. Those who are enthusiastic to reform society by law think they are working in a good cause, just as the churches in the early centuries thought to accomplish great things by political power. Those churches, however, had turned from the power of the Word and of the Gospel else they would not have sought human power, and Satan worked out his own lawless purposes by them. The result was the Papacy. Now the result will be an image of the Papacy. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 390.1

The two brethren on trial were convicted and sentenced to short terms of imprisonment. For what?—For living by the Word, for following the example of Jesus Christ. Not in courts alone, but to every soul of man in every place comes the question every week, Do I want the Bible? The Bible and the Sabbath go together. Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy Word is truth” (John 17:17), and the Sabbath, blessed and sanctified, is God's sign of His power to sanctify us (Ezekiel 20:12). Of course we want the Bible. We want the Lord Jesus and His salvation. The Lord wants everybody to have it, and at the time when His salvation is near to come and His righteousness to be revealed, He says, “Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.” Isaiah 56:2. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 390.2

“Items of Interest” The Present Truth, 13, 25.

E. J. Waggoner

-A German mechanic has invented a sewing machine which will sew either backward or forward. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 398.1

-During the Queen's reign the population of Canada has risen from one million to six million; of Australasia from 175,00 to four million and a half. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 398.2

-The false Messiah and his followers in Brasil, who had several times defeated Government troops, have at last been defeated and his following almost annihilated, it is said. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 398.3

The United States Government is preparing, it is said, to annex the Hawaiian Islands. They seem to have been hastened in their consideration of the step by Japanese designs on this group. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 398.4

-A wealthy old lady died recently at Madrid, after willing the whole of her fortune to the Church. She ordered one hundred and fourteen thousand masses to be read for her soul's welfare. Her next-of-kin are contesting the will. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 398.5

-It is reported that the plague has broken out amongst the Mohammedan pilgrims to Mecca, having been brought from India. Every effort is being made to keep it in quarantine, as if it spreads generally amongst the pilgrims, it may be carried to many parts, even to Europe. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 398.6

-It is said that Russia is managing Korea altogether, and the Japanese have practically no influence in the country which they wrested from China. The Korean King lives in the Russian legation, the army is under Russian officers, and Russian syndicates are exploiting the commerce of the country. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 398.7

-A writer shows that when France makes up her army to 4,300,000 men, she has a reserve of but 400,000 left in the country, while Germany, with the same body in the field, could call up a reserve of 2,900,000 untrained men. And while France has increased her population by 175,000 in five years, Germany has increased hers by nearly three millions. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 398.8

-It is reported that the post-office in Chittagong, India, was swallowed up by the opening earth during the earthquake a few days ago. In Calcutta and over wide extent of territory houses have been damaged and thousands of the poor are unable to find shelter. After the earthquake the highest temperature ever recorded was experienced in some parts. Altogether it is realised to be a great calamity, and added to other troubles in India. It may well cause terror to the people. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 398.9

-France has the largest national debt account ever reached by a nation. It is 1,241 million pounds. Next to France comes her ally, Russia, with 728 millions. But while France has been over two centuries building up the mountain of debt, Russia has contracted all of hers within this century. Next after these comes the United Kingdom. Statistics for the last five years, however, show that while the debts of all the other Powers have been growing, the debt of the United Kingdom has been decreasing. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 398.10

“Back Page” The Present Truth, 13, 25.

E. J. Waggoner

“The prejudice against confession,“ says Prebendary Villiers, of the English Church Union, “is rapidly dying out.” PTUK June 24, 1897, page 400.1

Our missionaries in the Fiji Islands now have a small boat for their work amongst the eighty inhabited islands of that group. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 400.2

The Argentine branch of our Society is preparing to begin the publication of a paper in the Spanish language next month. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 400.3

We go to press before the 22nd, and so can only report that London-at least in the City-seems wholly given up to thoughts for the festivities of Jubilee Day, and the days following. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 400.4

The programme of the Queen's procession was arranged alphabetically, as regards representatives of foreign powers. The Pope's envoy-extraordinary was placed under the letter H, as he represents the “Holy See.” PTUK June 24, 1897, page 400.5

It is very common to regard religion as a passport into heaven when men die, and the church as a society to insure that the passport shall be properly indorsed. They are nothing of the kind. The religion of Christ saves men from sin, from disobedience to God's law. Religion that doesn't save men from sin now cannot pass them into heaven. And the church is merely the company of those who are saved from their sins, not a corporation that can save others. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 400.6

The promise to the man who seeks first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, in the perils of the last days: “He shall dwell on high; his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks; bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty.” PTUK June 24, 1897, page 400.7

Religion is becoming a very hot-house of Romanism, according to the figures given in the following newspaper paragraph:— PTUK June 24, 1897, page 400.8

In 1814 there were in Belgium 132 convents for men containing 2,051 monks, and 649 convents for women containing 2,217 nuns. The wealth of the men's convents was valued at ?7,920,000 and that of the women's convents at ?20,480,000. On the 31st of December, 1886, the convents for men had increased to 244 with 4,306 monks, and the wealth to ?24,500,000. At the same date the convents for women had reached 1,498, housing 20,288 nuns, while the total revenue of these convents was ?44,788,000. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 400.9

“Politics are very warm in the South African Republic, President Kruger's domain,“ says President Clark, of the Christian Endeavour Society, “and the outlook is warlike; but Dutch and English churches alike are forming Christian Endeavour societies, and perhaps this may be one of the ties that will bind in Christian love the hearts of these discordant races.” Everything Christian will certainly make for peace, and keep the peace itself, whatever comes. But there are already the churches. Are they not Christian? Are they not giving the Gospel message so clearly that every one understands that no member of the Church of Christ make for war, to say nothing of war itself? PTUK June 24, 1897, page 400.10

The fact is, that churches seem to be powerless to restrain when popular passion is roused. The reason is clearly shown in the study, begun in this week's number, of the relations between the churches and the State in Constantine's day. The churches then made themselves parties to national politics, and the State made itself party to religious controversies. This condition has been maintained ever since. Only lately the Christian Endeavour movement has added a “Christian citizenship” department to its work, and the whole force of the society is being turned into political channels. The world is to be reformed by politics, and patriotism and flag-waving characterises the great conventions of the order. It can only result in evil, only by the preaching of the Word alone is the Gospel advanced. The effort to reconcile patriotism and Christianity fails, because they are opposed to one another. Patriotism is the love of one's country, which is but self-love. Christianity is the expression of God's love, not for a ballot box, but for “the world.” PTUK June 24, 1897, page 400.11

India is suffering from the three scourges of famine, pestilence, and earthquake. The earthquake which caused great ruin and suffering over an area of many thousand square miles, was an experience unprecedented in modern India. Those who scoff at the idea that the judgments of God are abroad in the earth repeat the cry, “All things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” But meanwhile those calamities do increase. Some will learn the lesson from them, others will not. “When Thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness,“ says the prophet. Yet he is compelled to add: “Let favour be showed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness.” PTUK June 24, 1897, page 400.12

The Scottish correspondent of a London journal says: “Analysis shows that in Scotland there are proportionately more Ritualistic churches in the Episcopal Church than in England. While in England there are about 23,000 Episcopal churches according to Whitaker, and 7,062 of them claimed by the E.C.T., leaving 15,138 Low Church; in Scotland, out of 236 registered in these lists, only twenty-three are Low, leaving the great majority, 243, Ritualistic and claimed by the E.C.U. as in sympathy with them. Scotland has thus made remarkable progress in this retrograde progress to Rome, and people have not marked it.” PTUK June 24, 1897, page 400.13

Already preparations are being made for another round of religious controversy over the London School Board choice next November. The leader of the Anglican Catholics, Mr. Riley, urges electors to return a majority pledged to the introduction of the “Apostles’ Creed,“ and the Church Times declares that “the schools are the real battle ground of religion.” Nonconformists generally may be trusted to work as earnestly to capture the schools for the kind of religious teaching which they approve. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 400.14

“Earth's Jubilee” The Present Truth, 13, 25.

E. J. Waggoner

Earth's Jubilee. -Reading of the preparations for the festivities of Jubilee Week, which will see money poured out like water by the wealthy in dress and entertainments, and drinking to the genius of empire, one can only think of that other jubilee, earth's time of release, so soon to be ushered in by the coming of the Lord. By fairs and other celebrations all nations are continually glorifying their achievements. Yet God has weighed them all, and found them wanting. “All nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her (Babylon’s) fornication,“ and the time is almost at hand when their judgment will fall. PTUK June 24, 1897, page 400.15