The Present Truth, vol. 13

July 1, 1897

“Front Page” The Present Truth, 13, 26.

E. J. Waggoner

“Every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.” Luke 6:43. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 401.1

That is one of the simplest propositions to be found in the whole Bible; yet there is probably not a text in the Bible that is more misunderstood. Nearly every one who reads it imagines that it means that he must indure everybody else and measure every other person's deeds; when it teaches exactly the opposite. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 401.2

Notice: “Every tree is known by his own fruit.” Very well; but who is it that knows the fruit? Is it the tree itself?—No; not by any means. Is it another tree that stands in the same row? or any other tree in the garden?—Impossible; no tree in the garden is, or can be, the judge of any other tree's fruit. All that any tree can do is to bear fruit; it is not fitted for anything else, and if it should attempt anything else, then it would be of no use at all, except to cut up for firewood. See Matthew 3:10. The gardener is the one to judge of the fruit, not only of one tree, but of all. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 401.3

The trouble with those who read these words of Christ, is that each one thinks of everybody else as a tree, whose fruit is to be proved, and forgets that he himself is also a tree. It is as though each tree in a garden should imagine itself to be the gardener. In that case there would not be much fruit of any kind. The only tree that would be of any value would be the one that was content to be simply a tree, neither trying to bear the fruit of another tree, nor to train another tree to bear its kind of fruit. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 401.4

Read the connection, and you will see that the whole is a warning against judging another. “Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye. For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit, neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil; for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” Luke 6:41-45. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 401.5

God is the husbandman. It is He who has planted the trees, that by their fruit He might be glorified (John 15:8), and it is He who alone can judge of the fruit. “And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear” (1 Peter 1:17), and not in boastfully judging another's work. Let us be content to bear fruit, and leave to God the work of deciding as to its quality. Let not us, who are but plants, imagine that we are the gardener. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 402.1

“Acceptance with God” The Present Truth, 13, 26.

E. J. Waggoner

Many people hesitate to make a start to serve the Lord, because they fear that God will not accept them; and thousands who have been professed followers of Christ for years are still doubting their acceptance with God. For the benefit of such I write, and I would not bewilder their minds with speculations, but will endeavour to give them the simple assurance of God's Word. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 402.2

A PURCHASED POSSESSION

“Will the Lord receive me?” I reply by another question: Will a man receive that which he has bought? If you go to the store and make a purchase, will you receive the goods when they are delivered? Of course you will; there is no room for any question about it. The fact that you bought the goods, and paid your money for them, is sufficient proof, not only that you are willing, but that you are anxious, to receive them. If you did not want them, you would not have bought them. Moreover, the more you paid for them the more anxious you are to receive them. If the price that you paid was great, and you had almost given your life to earn it, then there can be no question but that you will accept the purchase when it is delivered. Your great anxiety is lest there should be some failure to deliver it. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 402.3

Now let us apply this simple, natural illustration to the case of the sinner coming to Christ. In the first place, He has bought us. “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price.” 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 402.4

The price that was paid for us was His own blood-His life. Paul said to the elders of Ephesus: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood.” Acts 20:28. “For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation [manner of life] received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” 1 Peter 1:18, 19. He “gave Himself for us.” Titus 2:14. He “gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.” Galatians 1:4. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 402.5

He bought not a certain class, but the whole world of sinners. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son.” John 3:16. Jesus said, “The bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” John 6:51. “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6, 8. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 402.6

The price paid was infinite, therefore we know that He very much desired that which He bought. He had His heart set on obtaining it. He could not be satisfied without it. See Philippians 2:6-8; Hebrews 12:2; Isaiah 53:11. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 402.7

IT WAS HIS BARGAIN

“But I am not worthy.” That means that you are not worth the price paid, and therefore you fear to come lest Christ will repudiate the purchase. Now you might have some fear on that score if the bargain were not sealed, and the price were not already paid. If He should refuse to accept you, on the ground that you are not worth the price, He would not only lose you, but also the amount paid. Even though the goods for which you have paid are not worth what you gave for them, you yourself would not be so foolish as to throw them away. You would rather get some return for your money than get nothing. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 402.8

But, further, you have nothing to do with the question of worth. When Christ was on earth in the interest of the purchase, He “needed not that any should testify of man; for He knew what was in man.” John 2:25. He made the purchase with His eyes open, and He knew the exact value of that which He bought. He is not at all disappointed when you come to Him and He finds that you are worthless. You have not to worry over the question of worth; if He, with His perfect knowledge of the case, was satisfied to make the bargain, you should be the last one to complain. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 402.9

For, most wonderful truth of all, He bought you for the very reason that you were not worthy. His practised eye saw in you great possibilities, and He bought you, not for what you were then or are now worth, but for what He could make of you. He says: “I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake.” Isaiah 43:25. We have no righteousness, therefore He bought us, “that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” Says Paul: “For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him, which is the Head of all principality and power.” Colossians 2:9, 10. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 402.10

HOW CHRIST GETS GLORY

Here is the whole process:— PTUK July 1, 1897, page 402.11

“We all ... were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus; that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:3-10. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 402.12

We are to be “to the praise of the glory of His grace.” This we could not be if we were originally worth all He paid for us. There would in that case be no glory to Him in the transaction. He could not, in the ages to come, show in us the riches of His grace. But when He takes us, worth nothing, and at the last presents us faultless before the throne, it will be to His everlasting glory, and then there will not be any to ascribe worthiness to themselves. Throughout eternity, the sanctified hosts will unite in saying to Christ: “Thou art worthy ... for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests.” “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” Revelation 5:9, 10, 12. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 402.13

THE DOUBTING “BUT”

Surely all doubt as to acceptance with God ought to be set at rest. But it is not. The evil heart of unbelief still suggests doubts. “I believe all this, but—.” There, stop right there; if you believed you wouldn't say “but.” When people add “but” to the statement that they believe, they really mean, “I believe, but I don't believe.” But you continue: “Perhaps you are right, but hear me out. What I was going to say is, I believe the Scripture statements that you have quoted, but the Bible says that if we are children of God we shall have the witness of the Spirit, and will have the witness in ourselves; and I don't feel any such witness, therefore I can't believe that I am Christ’s. I believe His Word, but I haven't the witness.” I understand your difficulty; let me see if it cannot be removed. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 403.1

As to your being Christ’s, you yourself can settle that. You have seen what He gave for you. Now the question is, Have you delivered yourself to Him? If you have, you may be sure that He has accepted you. If you are not His, it is solely because you have refused to deliver to Him that which He has bought. You are defrauding Him. He says, “All day long I have stretched forth My hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.” Romans 10:21. He begs you to give Him that which He has bought and paid for, yet you refuse, and charge Him with not being willing to receive you. But if from the heart you have yielded yourself to Him to be His child, you may be assured that He has received you. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 403.2

Now as to your believing His words, yet doubting if He accepts you, because you don't feel the witness in your heart, I still insist that you don't believe. If you did, you would have the witness. Listen to His Word: “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself; he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar, because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son.” 1 John 5:10. To believe in the Son is simply to believe His Word and the record concerning Him. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 403.3

And “he that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself.” You can't have the witness until you believe; and as soon as you do believe, you have the witness. How is that? Because your belief in God's Word is the witness. God says so: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 403.4

If you should hear God say with an audible voice that you are His child, you would consider that sufficient witness. Well, when God speaks in His Word, it is the same as though He spoke with an audible voice; and your faith is the evidence that you hear and believe. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 403.5

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” Romans 7:16. How is the witness given? By the Word. There the witness is written, and the Holy Spirit brings to our remembrance the words recorded. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 403.6

This assurance does not warrant us in relaxing our diligence and settling down contentedly, as though we had gained perfection. We must remember that Christ accepts us not for our sake, but for His own sake; not because we are perfect, but that in Him we may go on unto perfection. He blesses us, not because we have been so good that we have deserved a blessing, but in order that in the strength of the blessing we may turn away from our iniquities. Acts 3:26. To every one that believes in Christ, the power-right or privilege-is given to become the sons of God. John 1:12., margin. It is by the “exceeding great and precious promises” of God through Christ that we are “made partakers of the Divine nature.” 2 Peter 1:4. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 403.7

“Rome in Australia” The Present Truth, 13, 26.

E. J. Waggoner

The Roman Catholic press has been advertising the progress of Romanism in the Empire during the Queen's reign. It is freely said that not less by the numerical increase in her ranks than by the spread of her principles amongst Protestants she estimates her gains. The following paragraph shows how extensive a propaganda of Rome Protestants must face in Australia:— PTUK July 1, 1897, page 411.1

“When her Majesty ascended the throne sixty years ago, there was only one Bishop in all the vast Australian colonies. He bore the title of Vicar-Apostolic of New Holland and Van Dieman's Land and the adjacent islands, and with him were associated half-a-dozen priests ministering to twenty thousand faithful. There were as yet but a few humble sacred edifices; no institutions of Catholic charity, no religious schools. How different from the rude outlines of such a picture is the grand religious spectacle to be contemplated in the Australian Church of to-day. Including New Zealand, there are twenty-eight Arch-bishops and Bishops, with 900 priests and more than 800,000 faithful. In 1837 there was not a single nun in Australasia; there are at present considerably more than 3,000 engaged in their marvellous mission on charity and mercy. Such is the review which Cardinal Moran has been making in replying to congratulations and addresses on the occasion of the silver jubilee of his episcopate, and it will be readily admitted that the pleasant retrospect was a fitting subject of thought in these Jubilee days.” PTUK July 1, 1897, page 411.2

“A Singular Fact” The Present Truth, 13, 26.

E. J. Waggoner

Curiously enough, says the Century Magazine, neither the birth, baptism, nor confirmation of Queen Victoria is a matter of official public record. One might suppose that, filed away in its appointed place among the State archives, there could be found a document formally setting forth the birth of the child who, though not heir presumptive to the throne at the time of her birth, was removed from it by only three degrees. But such is not the case. With regard to her birth, all that was deemed necessary was its announcement by the State officials whose duty it was to be personally cognisant of the fact. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 411.3

In the huge Public Records Building in Chancery Lane, wherein are jealously guarded the muniments of ancient lauded titles and the records of royal treaties, one may see the marvelously well-preserved Doomsday Book, which is the beginning of all things to the English conveyancer; the solemn compacts of cardinals, enjoys, ambassadors, and ministers; the priceless records of royal prerogatives side by side with the grants wrung from unwilling monarchs to the growing power of the people. There, also, are preserved, and with equal care, a multitude of writings which have no other interest, despite their antiquity, than that which comes from the fact that they have to do with the trivial details of the most common incidents in the lives of the kings and queens of England. But among them all there can be found no official or other record of the coming into existence of a certain child, one Alexandrina Victoria, who was destined to become the first empress that ever sat upon an English throne, to rule over a wider extent of country than ever before comprised the dominion of a sovereign, to count among her willing subjects a greater number of people and a wider diversity of races than has ever acknowledge a common scepter, and who has, finally, in the closing decade of the nineteenth century, completed a longer term of continuous reign than has been allotted to a queen in the world's history. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 411.4

Among these records there is guarded, as if it had a special pious virtue, a discoloured parchment which, in Elizabeth's time, was the patent by the authority of which a certain dean was made the instructor of the queen in the rights and ceremonials of the Church. But there is no note, formal or informal, among these records of how or where or when Queen Victoria, this first empress, and the most illustrious of English sovereigns, was received into that Church of which she is now the temporal head. Even the circumstance that, since the time of Charles II., every English sovereign, upon his accession to the throne, has been required by law to make a declaration which precludes the possibility of its occupant being of any faith save that of the Established Church, is hardly sufficient to account for the omission from the records of the baptism and confirmation of the present head of the Church. But this being the case, and the birth of the Queen being accepted as a matter of officially demonstrable proof, and her baptism as a matter of inference, her coronation becomes, in point of time and importance, the first event with which the public records concern themselves. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 412.1

“Boy Smokers” The Present Truth, 13, 26.

E. J. Waggoner

So great evil has followed the use of tobacco by young boys that physicians and statesmen in many lands are making strong efforts to keep tobacco away from them. Cases of death and of insanity among boys have been reported lately as the result of cigarette smoking. Let boys beware of following a nasty practice, which will surely injure their health. Many a boy who smokes thinks no one knows it, but his friends can often tell it by the change in his looks. A public school-master recently said: “I can go through this school and put my hand on every boy that uses tobacco, for he shows it in his face, and if I am in doubt, I can prove my surmise by looking at his recitation cards.” It ruins the health, dulls the mind for good and noble thinking, and very generally leads boys to deceive their parents. It is one of Satan's favourite ways of preventing the young from being manly and useful in the Lord's service. For your own sake, boys, and for Christ's sake, don't smoke. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 413.1

“Items of Interest” The Present Truth, 13, 26.

E. J. Waggoner

-The Powers find it difficult to select the Governor for Crete. The insurgents there are comparatively quiet, waiting for the announcement of the war between Greece and Turkey. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 414.1

-Official figures give the deaths from the earthquake in India as 360. Villages are ruined, and, railway lines in some districts are twisted out of shape for miles. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 414.2

-It is estimated that four millions of people watched the Royal procession on Jubilee Day. The freedom from any serious incidents attending it is a good testimony to the orderliness of London crowds. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 414.3

-The war in Cuba goes on savagely. The Spanish authorities having declared the Cubans traitors and not to be treated as prisoners of war when captured, the insurgents have declared their intention to shoot all Spaniards taken in arms. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 414.4

-The fanaticism of the Brahmins has been roused by the steps taken to stamp out the plague in India. They regard the visit; of the sanitary officers to houses and temples, and interference with burials, as sacrilege, and on Jubilee Day three officials were shot by natives. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 414.5

-A comparison of prices of common household articles in the years 1887 and 1897 shows how things have cheapened. Sugar cost from 3rd. to 1s. when the Queen came to the throne; now it is 1d. to 2? d. Butter is less than half the price, soap less than a third, and so also raisins and currants. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 414.6

-Between 500,000 and 400,000 are estimated to have participated in the free dinners to the London poor last Thursday, initiated by the Princess of Wales, and mainly paid for by Mr. Lipton, a successful provision merchant, who contributed ?25,000 for the purpose. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 414.7

-Sixty years ago the revenues of the British Empire amounted to about ?75,000,000-the United Kingdom ?50,000,000, India and the Colonies ?25,000,000, of which India's share was ?20,000,000. To-day the gross public revenue of the Empire is about three times this amount, or ?335,000,000. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 414.8

-American Socialists are preparing to found a colony in the Far West on Socialist lines. They assert that half a million men will join the colony before the end of the year. They purpose forming a new political party opposed to the money power. The poor men who dream dreams of an ideal commonwealth will, of course, be disappointed. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 414.9

-Japan has entered serious protest against American annexation of Hawaii. The United States may very easily get into trouble at its first step toward annexing island territory. The Hawaiian Islands are thirteen in number, with a population of 107,000, of whom 23,000 are whites. The whites who govern the islands overthrew the native monarchy in 18114, making it a republic. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 414.10

“Back Page” The Present Truth, 13, 26.

E. J. Waggoner

“The Lord hath prepared His throne in the heavens; and His kingdom ruleth over all.” PTUK July 1, 1897, page 416.1

“Bless the Lord, ye His angels, that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His Word.” PTUK July 1, 1897, page 416.2

“Bless ye the Lord, all ye His hosts; ye ministers of His, that do His pleasure. Bless the Lord all His works in all places of His dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul.” Psalm 103:19-22. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 416.3

This is the Lord's call to all to recognise in sovereignty. From the angels that excel in strength to the humblest soul in His dominion, all have reason to bless Him and serve Him. And only service can honour Him. His will is to be done in earth even as the angels do it in heaven. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 416.4

The one part of God's dominion where His will is not done is this rebellious earth, under the temporary rule of “the prince of this world.” Out from this rebellion God is calling men by His Gospel. They are called to join the angels in doing His commandments and hearkening to the voice of His Word. The world likes not to listen to that voice. It does not minister to ambition and pomp and pride. And yet it calls to fellowship with God and the angels! PTUK July 1, 1897, page 416.5

The worldling counts it a great thing to be a part of the machinery of this world's government. The recent pageant, representing the greatest of empires, stirred the enthusiasm of the multitudes who watched it because, as one distinguished journalist said, PTUK July 1, 1897, page 416.6

Each one of us-you and I, and that man in his shirt-sleeves at the corner-is a working part of this world-shaping force. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 416.7

It is a tremendous force, as the world goes, and those elated with the idea of being important factors in it think they have too important work on hand to wait in the attitude of the angels, hearkening for the voice of the Lord. But the greatest thing in this world to-day is the Lord's work in the earth, and there are none so lofty and none so lowly but that the most important thing to them is to be a part of that work. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 416.8

“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the vainglory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. Little children, it is the last hour.” 1 John 2:16-18, R.V. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 416.9

The Archbishops and Bishops in charge of the religious service at St. Paul's on Jubilee Day seized the occasion to show that the official religion of the realm is Sacerdotalism. High Church papers are eloquent in describing the gorgeous appearance of the sacerdotal vestments, glittering with gold and silver embroidery. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 416.10

As the Queen started in the procession last week she touched the button that sent her message to the Empire: “From my heart I thank my beloved people. May God bless them.” During the few minutes following the message was flying under seas and over continents to the ends of the earth, and by the time the Queen's carriage returned to her palace loyal replies were in waiting. Distance counts little if only proper connections are established and open. Sometimes people wonder how the Lord's message is to be carried to every creature in the world, before He comes in the clouds of heaven, all the angelic hosts uniting to make it the greatest triumphal procession of the universe. They forget that God has established connections with every creature. “He sendeth forth His commandment upon earth: His Word runneth very swiftly.” PTUK July 1, 1897, page 416.11

Twenty-five miles of British war ships were reviewed at Spithead, the heaviest naval fighting force ever assembled. Nearly as many more are on their stations in various waters abroad. Yet this is not enough. If the wave of Imperialism passing over the Empire does not result in at once greatly increasing the navy, says a Government organ, “the Jubilee itself will be a mockery, a delusion, and a snare.” PTUK July 1, 1897, page 416.12

We are glad to learn that the sanatorium established by our Society just over a year ago in Basel, Switzerland, makes progress. The health magazine published in connection with it, Le Vulgarisaleur, has a circulation of 8,000 copies monthly. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 416.13

“Earthly Empire at its Best” The Present Truth, 13, 26.

E. J. Waggoner

Earthly Empire at its Best .—At various crises it is well known that the Queen's influence has been to restrain warlike feelings. The high character of her domestic life has raised the standard of the court far above its predecessors. It has been an era of constitutional development. But no kingdom of this world can be maintained save by the price of blood, and for the reason that it has been an era of expansion of the Empire it has been an era of almost continuous war in some part. PTUK July 1, 1897, page 416.14

“Labouring for the Fire” The Present Truth, 13, 26.

E. J. Waggoner

Labouring for the Fire .—Because all nations dream of similar expansion, the world is now making war preparations on a scale never before attempted. Empire building is the international passion of the hour, and it has became a proverb of statesmen that “you cannot make omelette without breaking eggs.” You cannot build empires without giving life and taking life. They think it pays. But God says that they are labouring for vanity-nothing-building for the fires of the last day that is now hastening on. Over every nation to-day hangs the woe of the prophet: “Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity! Behold, is it not of the Lord of hosts that the peoples labour for the fire, and the nations weary themselves for vanity?” PTUK July 1, 1897, page 416.15

“‘Thy Kingdom Come’” The Present Truth, 13, 26.

E. J. Waggoner

“Thy Kingdom Come.” -“Since that these things are thus all to be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness, looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the elements being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? But according to His promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” Then again all His works will bless Him “in all places of His dominion.” PTUK July 1, 1897, page 416.16

“A Mind at Rest” The Present Truth, 13, 26.

E. J. Waggoner

A Mind at Rest .—The one who shuts the Lord out of his life, in order that his mind may not be troubled with questions of duty and conscience, little realises that God alone can keep the mind at rest. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.” PTUK July 1, 1897, page 416.17