The Present Truth, vol. 14

December 15, 1898

“The Son of the Highest” The Present Truth 14, 50.

E. J. Waggoner

When the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she should have a Son, whose name should be Jesus, Saviour, he said of Him:— PTUK December 15, 1898, page 785.1

“He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David; and He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of His kingdom there shall be no end.” Luke i. 32, 33. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 785.2

There are many who adore Jesus as the great and mighty Son of the Highest, who do not experience the joy and blessedness that they should from the knowledge of His greatness, because they adore Him as one far off, separated from them by infinite space, and not as One near at hand, a personal companion. But while He is the Son of the Highest, He is the Son of man, and it is as such that He always referred to Himself. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 785.3

Christ is not to be worshipped as the heathen worship their gods. The heathen set their gods upon a pedestal, and think of them as enjoying themselves together apart from men, and having no interest in common with them. It is true that they attribute all human passions to their gods, but all these emotions are for their own kind, and not for men. No heathen ever thinks of his god as a being who loves him or has any manner of sympathy with him; the god is to him a being whose anger is to be appeased, or at the best, whose indifference is to be overcome, and his favour bought. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 785.4

But Christ appears among men first of all as man. His appearance in the world was as a babe in Bethlehem, “born of a woman, born under the law.” Gal iv. 4, R.V. He “was born of the seed of David according to the flesh.” Rom. i. 3. It is “the throne of His father David” that is to be given Him. His greatness is in His humility. “Being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross. Wherefore also God highly exalted Him, and gave Him the name which is above every name.” Phil. ii. 8, 9. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 785.5

It was not for His own sake that Christ, the Word, who was in the beginning with God, and who was God, came to this earth. It was not to win anything for Himself, for as God all creation was His. But man had lost his dominion of glory and honour which he had in the beginning as the son of the Highest. So in order to win back for man that which he had lost, He became Man, and it is now as Man, as the seed of David according to the flesh, that He is made great, and called the Son of the Highest. So in order to win back for man that which he had lost, He became Man, and it is now as Man, as the seed of David according to the flesh, that He is made great, and called the Son of the Highest. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 785.6

Remember this, it is as a Man, the Son of man, as “the Man Christ Jesus,” that He occupies His high position; not as a unique specimen, but as the representative Man, our Forerunner. “He died for all,” and what He won is for all. He is “the firstborn among many brethren,” all of whom through the grace of God have equal rights with Himself. “The Spirit itself heareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God; and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ.” Rom. viii. 16, 17. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 785.7

Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God. He is the One Mall who is entitled to be called the Son of the Highest. But coming in the flesh as the seed of David, the Son of man, He has in His flesh abolished the enmity that separated man from God the Father, “that He might create in Himself of the twain one new man, so making peace.” Eph. ii. 15. “For through Him we both have access in one Spirit unto the Father.” There is only one Man, “the Man Christ Jesus;” but in the faith and knowledge of the Son of God, we who have fallen, and have lost the Divine image, may attain “unto a full-grown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” Eph. iv. 13. Then in Him we also shall be great, and shall be called sons of the Highest, and shall reign with Him for ever and ever. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 787.1

God, who raised Christ from the dead, “and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion,” hath, because of His great love wherewith He loved us, made us alive together with Christ, “and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Eph. i. 20, 21; ii. 4-6. “He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.” In His hand is power and might, and in His hand it is to make great, and to give strength to all. 1 Chron. xxix. 12. “Thou hast also given me the shield of Thy salvation; and Thy right hand hath holden me up, and Thy condescension hath made me great.” Ps. xviii. 35, R.V. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 787.2

“With His stripes we are healed.” Because He humbled Himself we are made great; for if we accept Him as the sharer of our humiliation. He will acknowledge us as sharers of His greatness. Then let us gladly accept Him and worship Him as the Fountain of Life. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 787.3

“Not now afar, but near.” PTUK December 15, 1898, page 787.4

Sin never suffers much from the rebuke of sinners. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 787.5

“Notes on the International Sunday-School Lessons. Glad Tidings. Heb. i. 1-9” The Present Truth 14, 50.

E. J. Waggoner

DECEMBER 25

Jesus Christ is the Word of God. By Him all things were made. In the beginning the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All that Jesus Christ is, the Word is, for He was the Word made flesh. That Word had been spoken in divers manners in time past unto the fathers by the prophets; now the time was come for it to be spoken in the fulness of its power and meaning. The Word has not changed. It liveth and abideth for ever. Whatever was comprised in the Word made flesh is imparted to us to-day if we incline our ears to it. “This is the Word which by the Gospel is preached unto you.” PTUK December 15, 1898, page 787.6

A LIVING WORD

God spake. His words are alive and powerful. Heb. iv. 12. To show that this is so, He spoke by a life. The life of Jesus was a message from God to men. It set before them in visible action the words that God had been speaking for thousands of years. He had been preaching peace and forgiveness to men by His prophets, but the words had fallen largely upon unheeding ears. Men did not grasp His meaning. He declared unto them that their warfare was accomplished, their iniquity was pardoned, and invited them to enter into rest, and cease from their own works, but if they listened for a while they did not believe. They were too engrossed in the struggle, to acquaint themselves with God and be at peace. So God spoke to them by His Son, saying, “They will surely reverence My Son.” PTUK December 15, 1898, page 787.7

PREACHING PEACE

“The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ.” Acts x. 36. Christ Himself was the message of peace. He was the Word that God sent. In His life God was preaching to men. And the word was published throughout Galilee and Judea. How was it spoken. He “went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil.” That is God's idea of preaching. That was how He preached peace by Jesus Christ. And Peter said, “He commanded us to preach unto the people.” Verse 42. The preaching was to be carried on in the same way. It was not to be preaching about salvation. God's Word does not do that. It is salvation. “To you is the word of this salvation sent.” Acts xiii. 26. “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord.” Heb. ii. 3. God speaks salvation. “Hear, and your soul shall live.” PTUK December 15, 1898, page 787.8

THE WORD OF GOD

“God hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son.” Jesus is still God's message to us. Whatever the life of Jesus comprehends of power and blessing is God's thought to usward, preaching peace. “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil.” Jer xxix. 11. Jesus is heir of all things; by Him the worlds were made; He is the brightness of the Father's glory and the express image of His person; and the universe is sustained by His power, but none of these things were counted too dear to be sacrificed, if only peace could be restored to the rebellious race. Never until the redeemed behold the glory that Christ had with the Father before the world was can they appreciate the love that left it all for their sakes. Yet, so far as we can appreciate the sacrifice, we may learn from it the reality of the word of peace which is preached to us by the life of Jesus. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 787.9

THE POWER OF THE WORD

Jesus is heir of all things. Though He was rich yet for our sakes He became poor that we through His poverty might be made rich. Every token of love bestowed upon Him by the Father is shared with us who were esteemed, while dead in sins, above them all. We are made joint-heirs with Christ. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 787.10

The worlds were made by Him. Therefore His message comes to us charged with the inconceivable force of creation. The power that it took to construct the universe out of nothing is the measure of the power by which Christ destroys the enmity, and puts His righteousness in our hearts, making us now creatures. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 787.11

So, also, the message of peace brings to us the brightness of the glory of God, as it did to Moses and Stephen, that we should, in turn, show forth the excellencies of Him who hath called us out of darkness into His marvellous light, finally making our bodies like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able to subdue all things unto Himself. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 788.1

The peace is not to be a short-lived one. It brings in itself the assurance of its own permanence. For He, who is our peace, upholds all things by the word of His power; therefore He is able to keep us from falling and to present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 788.2

A LIVING WORD

Now that Christ has shown to men the nature of God's word, there is no reason why any should be weak and discouraged. Man's word may be an empty fancy. God's word is always a living thing. A man may make a true statement and we way believe it without being ally better off, but this is never so when God speaks. His words are alive, they are facts, not mere ideas, and whoever believes the word takes hold of the fact, and becomes one with it. Jesus is the Word of God. He is every word of God, and every word believed reveals to us more and more of the unsearchable riches of Christ. He is the possession of the human race. God so loved the world that He gave Him to us. Though His own received Him not, the gift was not withdrawn. He was despised and rejected of men, yet He says, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” He cannot deny Himself, and so He is still ours. “Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given.” PTUK December 15, 1898, page 788.3

FOR ALL MANKIND

“Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people.” All that God's message in Christ ever meant for any soul, it means now for every one. It is tidings of great joy and it is to all people. No one may put it from him on the plea that it cannot be for him because he is not reconciled to God. The message brings peace to such. It is for the weak and despairing, because it brings in itself strength and rejoicing. It is for the poor and the needy because it has promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Only he who receives the Word as life can help others, for only so can it he in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 788.4

“Dwelling in the House of the Lord” The Present Truth 14, 50.

E. J. Waggoner

That mortal men on this earth may in this present age not only enter the dwelling-place of the Lord, but may actually reside in the Lord's house, is a fact made very plain in the Scriptures. Let us read a few familiar texts. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 788.5

First, we have a blessing on those who dwell in the house of the Lord: “Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house; they will be still praising Thee.” Ps. lxxxiv. 4. They must praise the Lord, for He inhabits the praises of His people (Ps. xxii. 3), and “in His temple everything saith Glory.” Isa. xxix. 9. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 788.6

Without wasting any time arguing with those who would deprive themselves of the blessings of the Lord by claiming that they are not real, we read: “How excellent is Thy loving-kindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of Thy house; and Thou shalt make them drink of the river of Thy pleasures.” Ps. xxxvi. 7, 8. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 788.7

We are dealing with facts, not theories; therefore we have only to do with the fact that we may and should dwell now in the house of the Lord, and not with any explanation as to how it can be. With the text last quoted, about resting under the shadow of God's wings, and being satisfied with the fatness of His house, connect the following:— PTUK December 15, 1898, page 788.8

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide; under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress; my God; in Him will I trust. Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt Thou trust; His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold, and seethe reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the Lord which is my refuge, even the Most High thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.” Ps. xci. 1-10. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 788.9

Here we see that the safety of God's people during the awful time of trouble just preceding the coming of the Lord (See Dan. xii. 1; Luke xxi. 26-28), will be due to the fact that they have been and are then dwelling in the house of the Lord. The plagues that will be poured out upon the earth cannot touch them, because they will be dwelling safe in the place whence the plagues come. It is as one who is safe from the shot that comes from a fort, because he is in the fort whence the fire comes. And yet these people are at the same time on the earth, in the midst of the plagues, with the wicked falling all around them. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 788.10

See also in this connection Ps. xxvii. 4-6: “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me; therefore will I offer in His tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.” PTUK December 15, 1898, page 789.1

Now we may profitably consider how we may dwell in the house of the Lord, that is, what is necessary on our part. Assuming that every reader desires this privilege, many fail because they do not knew where the Lord lives. With Job they say, “O that I knew where I might find Him!” Read then these few texts, and let them be for ever fastened in your memory:— PTUK December 15, 1898, page 789.2

“Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit.” Isa. lvii. 15. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 789.3

“Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, Thou art there; if I make my bed in hell, behold Thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me.” Ps. cxxxix. 7-10. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 789.4

“Can any hide himself in secret places, that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.” Jer. xxiii. 24. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 789.5

“Thus saith the Lord, the heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool: where is the house that ye build unto Me; and where is the place of My rest.” Isa. lxvi. 1. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 789.6

God's house, then, is the whole universe. That is a fact, and yet there are myriads of people who do not dwell in God's house; they are in it as defilers of it, not recognising the sacredness of the place where they are. God dwells everywhere, and since His presence sanctifies, every place is holy. Now holiness becomes His house, and if everybody would but remember this, and recognise all space as God's dwelling place, all men would be holy. The temple sanctifies the gold, and the altar sanctifies the gift. Continually to recognise the presence of the Lord, is to make one a constant dweller in His house. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 789.7

He who thus dwells in the house of the Lord, will behold the beauty of the Lord. He will discern the Lord's body, for he will be dwelling in God, and so he will live indeed. And God will dwell in him, for he will not partake of anything but the perfect life of the Lord. Thus beholding the beauty and glory of the Lord, he will be changed into the same image, and overcoming the world, he will be made a pillar in the temple of God, to go no more out. Rev. iii. 12. So shall he dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 789.8

“The Everlasting Gospel: God's Saving Power in the Things That Are Made” The Present Truth 14, 50.

E. J. Waggoner

THE BEAUTY OF THE LORD

Rev. xiv. 6, 7: “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His Judgment is come; and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” PTUK December 15, 1898, page 789.9

Eccl. iii. 11: “He hath made everything beautiful in its time.” PTUK December 15, 1898, page 789.10

Ps. xciv. 9, 10: “He that planted the ear, shall He not hear? He that formed the eye, shall He not see? He that chastiseth the nations, shall not He correct, even He that teacheth man knowledge.” PTUK December 15, 1898, page 789.11

Ps. xcvi. 5, 6: “All the gods of the nations are idols; but the Lord made the heavens. Honour and majesty are before Him; strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.” PTUK December 15, 1898, page 789.12

Ps. xxvii. 4: “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple.” PTUK December 15, 1898, page 789.13

Ps. xix. 1: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork.” PTUK December 15, 1898, page 789.14

Ps. xlv. 2: “Thou art fairer than the children of men; grace is poured into Thy lips.” PTUK December 15, 1898, page 789.15

Isa. Iii. 11; liii. 2: “His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men.” “He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him.” PTUK December 15, 1898, page 789.16

Hosea xiv. 5, 6: “I will be as the dew unto Israel; he shall blossom as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree.” PTUK December 15, 1898, page 789.17

Ps. xc. 16, 17: “Let Thy work appear unto Thy servants, and Thy glory unto their children. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us; and establish Thou the work of our hands upon us.” PTUK December 15, 1898, page 789.18

Matt. vi. 28-30: “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin; and yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” PTUK December 15, 1898, page 789.19

Ps. cxlix. 4: “For the Lord taketh pleasure in His people; He will beautify the meek with salvation.” PTUK December 15, 1898, page 789.20

Isa. lii. 1: “Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.” PTUK December 15, 1898, page 789.21

Ps. xcvi. 9: “O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” PTUK December 15, 1898, page 789.22

Isa. xxxiii. 17: “Thine eyes shall behold the King in His beauty.” PTUK December 15, 1898, page 789.23

Rev. xxii. 3, 4: “And there shall be no more curse; but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him; and they shall see His face.” PTUK December 15, 1898, page 789.24

Ps. xvii. 15: “As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness.” PTUK December 15, 1898, page 789.25

The invisible things of God, even His everlasting power and Divinity, are seen in the things that He has made. “The heavens declare the glory of God.” So in the things that God has made, we see His own presence revealed. God puts Himself into all His works. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 789.26

The Word which was in the beginning with God, and which was God, and in which was life, is the Word that made all things. “He is before all things, and in Him all things consist,” that is, hold together. So it is from the life of the Lord that everything comes, and in that life that everything is upheld. “We are His offspring,” and the mountains, as well as the whole earth, were “brought forth” from His very being. Thus it is that everything that God has made bears His impress. Be has set His glory upon the heavens. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 790.1

Every faculty that any man has is but the working of God in him. If we do not put anything in the way,-if we do not refuse to be used by the Lord,-God will so work that every one of our faculties shall be perfect. Read Ps. xciv. 9, 10. From this we learn that whatever faculties man has, God has them infinitely more perfect. Whatever man can do, God can do better. We see because God gives us sight-a portion of His own power of seeing. We hear because God uses our ears as instruments of His power to hear. So to the questions, “He that planted the ear, shall He not hear? He that formed the eye, shall He not see?” we may add, “He that made all things beautiful, must He not be beautiful?” Just as the invisible things of God are seen in that which He has made, and everything bears the stamp of His own life, in spite of the curse, so all the beauty that is seen in the universe is but the shining through of the beauty of the Lord. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 790.2

Men's judgment concerning beauty has been very much perverted. They call many things beautiful, which are really ugly; and many things in which men see no beauty at all, are the very soul of beauty. “The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” That is why when Christ, who is “fairer than the sons of men,” came to this earth, He had no beauty that men should desire Him when they looked upon Him. They looked at what He appeared to be, and not at what He really was. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 790.3

Have you never had the experience of meeting with a person who at first seemed ugly, but who, after intimate acquaintance, was really beautiful? The first sight was not prepossessing, but when you saw what who, after intimate acquaintance, was really beautiful? The first sight was not prepossessing, but when you saw what the person really was, the ugliness of feature was entirely forgotten. This shows that beauty of character is the only real beauty. The saints of God may be very plain outwardly, but when the hidden things are brought to light, then shall they shine forth in the beauty of holiness. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 790.4

The beauty of Israel is as the beauty of the olive tree. An olive tree is one of the most gnarled, twisted, and ungainly of trees. It grows on hard, stony soil, and more often than not will have the appearance of an old willow tree that has been torn by storms until it is almost dead. Its beauty is the abundant crop of fruit that it bears, in the evidence that it shows of the richness of life in it. So the life of God in the soul is the real beauty of men, and that alone will constitute their beauty in the ages to come. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 790.5

Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of the lilies of the field. “Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, ... shall He not much more clothe you?” “If God so clothe the grass.” How does He clothe the lily? With His life that is in it, making it grow. The beautiful clothing of the lily is but the outward manifestation of the life within. The beauty is not put on from without, but comes from within. It is an essential part of the lily itself. Take the beauty away, and the lily is no more. Its beauty is God's life in it shining forth. Even so God will clothe all His children. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 790.6

Strength and beauty are in the sanctuary of the Lord, because He is the perfection of beauty. So the one thing that the Psalmist desired was to dwell in the house of the Lord, to behold the beauty of the Lord. He said, “I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness.” Not, as some misread it, When I awake in Thy likeness. No; the Psalmist had such a true sense of the beauty of the Lord, that he knew that the sight of the Lord's face would alone be perfect satisfaction. To be permitted to look at that face throughout eternity, will be the highest blessing that can be bestowed on men. Eternity will not be long enough to cause one to become tired of gazing on the face of the Lord. Each moment will reveal some new and glorious feature. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 790.7

How may we form some idea of the beauty of the Lord?—By looking at the things that He has made, and looking by faith, so that we can see Him in them. Learn first that there is no real beauty in the universe except the beauty of the Lord. Then think of all the beauty of the grass, trees, and dowers. Add together the beauty of the forests and the meadows, the colours of the rainbow, and the glorious tints caused by the setting sun. In thinking of these, one almost forgets the beautiful plumage of the birds, but that must be added in, too. Who can conceive the marvellous beauty of all these combined? But as these are only “parts of His ways,” so all the beauty that is revealed in this earth, is but a single feature, as it were, of the beauty of the Lord. All the beauty of the stars, not simply as their many colours are revealed through the telescope, but as a close acquaintance would reveal it, and the beauty of the infinite number of worlds that cluster round these beautiful suns, is but the manifestation of the beauty of the Great King. Ah, how much more meaning we can now see in that statement concerning the redeemed, “They shall see His face.” Not only when they stand in the place where the seraphim veil their eyes from the splendour of the glory, will the ransomed ones see His face, but wherever they wander in the great universe, the face of their Redeemer will shine out to them in all the wondrous beauty that everywhere appears. Who will not be satisfied? PTUK December 15, 1898, page 790.8

What is the practical benefit of this lesson to us? Is it merely a matter of curiosity? Far from it. “We all, with open face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Cor. iii. 18. It is the beholding of the beauty of the Lord as it is revealed to us in the things that He has made, that prepares us for the sight of His face when He comes. “He will beautify the meek with salvation.” The more we see and know of the marvellous beauty of the Lord, the more do we know of the power of His salvation. As we see the beauty that God has put into and upon the lower creation, we may form some idea of the beauty with which man, who was made to be creation's lord, will be clothed when he is restored to his own dominion. And as we think of that, it is that we may know the perfection of the beauty of holiness which God has for us even now. Let us then pray with new and more enlightened faith, “Let Thy work appear unto Thy servants, and Thy glory unto their children. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us; and establish Thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish Thou it.” PTUK December 15, 1898, page 790.9

“The Children. Our Hands” The Present Truth 14, 50.

E. J. Waggoner

Think what a wonderful little instrument your hand is, how many things you can do with it, and how helpless you would be without it. To every one of His creatures God has given just the organs that it needs to express itself with, to put its thoughts into action. But we do not find any of the animals with a hand, like the perfect hand of man, because God has not given them the wisdom to use it. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 794.1

The elephant, one of the most intelligent of creatures, has a long trunk which it uses skilfully, as you may have seen, in something the way that we use our hands. It can pick up things with its trunk, and by bending it into different shapes can do many different things with it. God has put the different members in the bodies of fill the animals according to the power and wisdom that they have to use them. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 794.2

But when we come to man, the highest and most intelligent of all living creatures, we find that God has given him this perfect little instrument, able to meet all the needs of his mind which directs them, in any kind of motion or work. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 794.3

This gives man great superiority over all other animals; he has been called “the animal with the thumb.” You will perhaps at first think it strange that so much notice should be taken of this little member; but see how few things you could do well without your thumb, and how many you could not do at all. Try it for a little while, and you will learn something of the wisdom of Him who “hath set the members in the body, every one as it hath pleased Him.” PTUK December 15, 1898, page 794.4

In the hand and arm there are thirty bones and fifty muscles all connected by nerves with the brain, which sends messages along them to tell the hand just what to do. If these nerves are injured the hand is quite useless, for it can do nothing of itself; it is only the servant of the mind which moves and works through it. The number and wonderful arrangement of these bones and muscles make it possible for the hand to be put into any position, and to do whatever work the mind wants it to. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 794.5

Besides the many different kinds of work that you can do with your hands, think how dependent you are upon them for feeling. The hand is the principal organ of touch or feeling. Some of the nerves that we spoke of send messages from the brain to the hand, telling it what to do, and others send back message from the hand to the brain about the things that it touches. So the brain feels things with the hand, and a great deal of knowledge can get into your mind through your fingers. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 794.6

When the nerves connecting the brain with the eyes are destroyed or injured, as in blind people, the brain makes the hands do the work of the eyes. You know that if you go into a very dark room where you can see nothing, by feeling with your hands you can find what you want, and move about without getting hurt or doing any damage. And then, too, you may have seen blind people using their fingers to read with, by feeling the raised letters in the books specially prepared for them, so making their fingers do the work of their eyes. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 794.7

When one is deaf and dumb, he makes his hands do the work of his tongue, and by making different signs with them he can make people understand what he wants to say. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 794.8

When we are separated from each other we can still talk together by using our bands to write with. You will think of many other ways in which we use our hands, and see how much you have to thank God for, for putting these most useful members in your body. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 794.9

But although we may all have hands just alike, just as perfect and beautiful in shape and structure, how much more skilfully some are able to use their hands than others. This will show you that the hand needs training to make it the perfect servant of the mind, able to do exactly what the mind wants done. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 794.10

You have, I am sure, already found this out in your writing, drawing, and other hand-work. What your hand puts onto the paper is often very different from the beautiful copy that you have in your mind, is it not? But the more the hand is used in useful work, the more skilful and able will it become. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 794.11

Remember what we have learned about our bodies being the temple of God, and all our members for His use and glory, not ours. Then let your hands be trained for His use, for the more skilful they are, the better He can use them in His service. Let Him have your hands, that He has made for His own use. Ask Him to take them and use them to do kind, helpful, loving deeds, and to keep them so that Satan cannot use them to do naughty, unkind actions with. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 794.12

“Take my hands and lot them move
At the impulse of Thy love.” PTUK December 15, 1898, page 794.13

“Jottings” The Present Truth 14, 50.

E. J. Waggoner

-Nearly a million persons make their living in America by the electrical industries. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 798.1

-An Atlantic liner, the Londonia, with a cargo of cattle, has foundered in mid-ocean. Part of the crew were taken off by a passing vessel. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 798.2

-The phonendoscope, a new invention, conveys to the physician the sounds made by an internal organ, and enables him to decide whether it is healthy or not. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 798.3

-The vicar of Lancaster says he has discovered, as chaplain of the Lancaster Prison, that nearly 99 out of every 100 who find their way to the jail do so through drink. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 798.4

-A Peterborough physician says that, during his forty years’ practice, one in every eighteen of the death certificates he or his partner had signed were attributable to drink, and many of these related to females. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 798.5

-A Glasgow minister states that during the last twenty-five years he has married no couple unless they undertook to have no alcoholic liquor at the marriage feast. Out of some 1,000 couples only five or six refused to agree to this condition. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 798.6

-James Tyson, the richest and, according to an old employee, the meanest, man in Australia, is dead. He has left millions but no loved ones to “enjoy” them. He had but one known relative, a brother, whom he never favoured while alive. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 798.7

-The Sirdar's scheme for an educational institution at Khartoum is meeting with a prompt response, and the money needed, ?100,000, has been nearly subscribed. The French Government is proposing also to establish some French schools in the Soudan, on the ground that if it is Egyptian territory, they have as much right to do so as England. Some irritation has been displayed in this country over their intention, which is regarded as a continuation of the “pin prick” policy. From which it would appear that the interests of the Soudanese are not the only consideration. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 798.8

-A hair alleged to be from the beard of the prophet Mohammed has been presented to the Constantinople poorhouse by a lady of that city. A great procession of State officials and military accompanied the relic when the transfer was made. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 798.9

-The French Minister has presented an ultimatum to the Chinese Government threatening that, unless a French missionary who is now a prisoner in the hands of the rebels is released within ten days, French troops will be ordered to cross the frontier. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 798.10

-The United States Secretary of War recommends, in view of the need for a military force in the islands now occupied by the United States, that the regular army be increase to 100,000 men, and that a portion of this force be recruited from the inhabitants of the islands. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 798.11

-In a Brooklyn church a large room has been fitted with up hammocks, cribs, and toys. A volunteer committee of young women assembles every Sunday morning, and the mothers who would otherwise be kept at home, leave their babies in their care while they themselves attend the regular church service. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 798.12

-Matters in Hungary are hastening to a serious crisis. The ten years’ treaty with Austria will expire at the end of this month, and no provision has been made for the future government of the country. There is great political excitement over the situation, and numerous resignations of prominent officials. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 798.13

-Two gigantic new trusts are announced from the States. One is a combination of flour interests, with a capital of thirty million sterling. The other is practically an amalgamation of all the railroads between the East and the Mississippi River, to control freight and passenger rates. It is the most colossal thing of the kind on record. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 798.14

-Between the time that the muzzling regulations came into force in February, 1896, and November, 1898, the London police seized 97, 262 dogs, of which 28,073 were claimed, and 69,189 destroyed. Whilst there were 662 cases of rabies in England in 1895, only sixteen cases had been reported during the present year. There had not been a single case of hydrophobia during the past twelve months. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 798.15

-Lord Roberts, speaking at Portsmouth, said that “we were living in stirring times, and it was impossible to say where or how soon the services of our soldiers and sailors might be required. It would no doubt be eminently satisfactory if they could make certain that they would never be required at all, and that the Czar of Russia's beautiful idea of general disarmament could be realised. But he confessed that he did not see how such an admirable end could be obtained until all nations of the world could agree to rest content with what they had got, and never strive for anything more; to forswear the acquisition of territories under any pretext or purpose whatever, either for the interests of commerce or for their own aggrandisement.” PTUK December 15, 1898, page 798.16

-Although all the European Governments are accepting the Czar's invitation to the Peace Congress, he must be getting discouraged over the prospect of success, for the Russian Government intend spending 180 million roubles on the reorganisation of the field artillery. A Russian paper has just published an article which rejects all idea of any continued peace between Russia and England, who are inveterate enemies. It speaks of “the supreme combat which she must inevitably have, sooner or later, with Great Britain.” The battle of Armageddon will not come by an unreasonable decree. It will be the natural outcome of the envy of the nations. All that now hinders it is God's Spirit, striving to turn men from their own ways. When that Spirit is rejected, the crash will not be long delayed. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 798.17

“Back Page” The Present Truth 14, 50.

E. J. Waggoner

We hear a great deal about “the plan of salvation,” from men who know nothing about salvation itself. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 800.1

If people knew more about real salvation, we should hear very little talk about “the plan,” for salvation is not a plan, but a power. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 800.2

People will sermonise and theorise and discuss by the hour about the wonderful plan of redemption. Some feel free to criticise it,-and if it were only a plan, why should they not?—and others are wholly charmed with its beauty; yes, they fully approve of the plan; it has their cordial approbation; they think that the Lord devised a thoroughly good scheme, and feel as though He ought to be very much pleased with them for their endorsement of His plan, and so they are contented with themselves, and with the plan. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 800.3

“Well, didn't the Lord devise it? and isn't salvation according to a plan?” What's that to you? Who would enter into a discussion on rope-making when he has fallen overboard, and the rope is flung to him? Suppose salvation is according to a plan; who are you that you should presume to be competent to express any opinion about it? A plan is good for nothing unless it will work. Salvation means the saving of somebody-the saving of you. You cannot know anything about the value of “the plan of salvation,” except by being saved. That is the test. If you are not saved, you can't know anything about it; and when you are saved, you will be too full of the fact, to be theorising about the plan. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 800.4

No; God didn't devise the plan of salvation; it was and it is. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Jesus Christ is the power of God, and He is salvation, and He was not devised and planned. He is. His name is “I AM.” PTUK December 15, 1898, page 800.5

“Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved.” That's it; in His name we must be saved. There is no other way; there could be no other way. He alone is the way; and He is the perfect way. He is the living way-ever living. He that cometh to God must believe that He is, not that He was devised. The remedy existed before the disease. Sin is finite; salvation is infinite; sin is temporal; salvation is eternal; because salvation is God. “Behold God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid.” PTUK December 15, 1898, page 800.6

Christ “loved me, and gave Himself for me.” That's the whole of the matter. And He didn't stop to plan and calculate about it. The man who sees a poor fellow helplessly sinking beneath the waves, and stops to calculate the chances, loses his chance, and loses the man. The only thing to do is to throw himself in. That Jesus did without hesitation. It was the only thing that could be done, and so there didn't need to be any planning; there was no room for it. He was on the spot when the need arose, and He loved the needy, lost one. What more need be said? PTUK December 15, 1898, page 800.7

If people wouldn't think and talk so much about God's plan of salvation, they wouldn't do so much planning and speculating about salvation for themselves. But the very talk about “the plan of salvation” seems to convey to people the idea that there were several possible ways under consideration, and that finally one was adopted; and so they feel like pursuing the investigation a little further, to see if God did really hit upon the best way; and it doesn't take much of this sort of speculation to make the ordinary man think that he can suggest a good many improvements. So he talks about schemes of salvation, and goes to perdition. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 800.8

Salvation is a thing done, and to be accepted. God has done it, and He has done it simply by being. He is and therefore there is salvation. Our part is to be saved. There was and is no other God, no other Christ, and so there is no other way of salvation; there could not and cannot be any other. We are saved by His life, and His life is a thing, not a plan. Don't theorise about it, but accept it and be saved. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 800.9

The power that closed the mouths of the lions when Daniel was cast into their den was not a new experience in his life. It was the same power that was always present with him, continually working in no less marvellous a fashion than when it demonstrated its ability to control wild beasts. Daniel was like all other men. He had like passions with others, and in him, as in all men, there was that “unruly evil, full of deadly poison,” of which Inspiration declares, that while “every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind,” yet “the tongue can no man tame.” James iii. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 800.10

It is evident, therefore, that if there was any power in Daniel's life to control his tongue, it was a comparatively easy thing to stop the mouths of lions, and it was because Daniel allowed this power to work in him that he was as safe in the den as out of it. The power that works in the Christian is “able even to subdue all things,” and this is demonstrated where the power is not restrained. Thus Paul fought with wild beasts at Ephesus and lived to tell of it. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 800.11

How do we know that Daniel allowed this invincible power to operate in his life? It was seen in the fact that even his enemies could find no ground in him for accusation. They were obliged to confess, after making the attempt, “We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” Daniel knew why God had sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths; “forasmuch as before Him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.” PTUK December 15, 1898, page 800.12

This was not because Daniel was naturally better, than other men. He needed, like all others, to pray, “Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.” Ps. cxli. 3. That which distinguished him from others was the fact that he prayed this prayer in faith, that is, He believed the Lord would do it and let Him do it. He thus learned that there was nothing too hard for God, and the confidence did not desert him when it became necessary that a lesser work should be wrought in setting a watch over the mouths of the lions and keeping the door of their lips. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 800.13

The expulsion of Turkey from Crete marks one more step in the direction of driving the Turk out of Europe. Those who wish to know what the Scriptures say of that event, one of the last to occur in earthly history, Should obtain the pamphlet on “The Eastern Question,” published at this office. Price one penny. PTUK December 15, 1898, page 800.14