The Present Truth, vol. 14

February 24, 1898

“The Master Was with Them” The Present Truth 14, 8.

E. J. Waggoner

After a whole day of teaching the multitudes on the shore of the sea, He Himself sitting in a boat, Jesus said to the disciples, “Let us pass over to the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took Him even as He was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake Him, and say unto Him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And He said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” Mark iv. 36-40. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 113.1

The last words let us into a great secret; indeed, the whole narrative shows us the same thing, namely, that the disciples ought not to have been terrified, notwithstanding the boisterous wind and the threatening waves. “Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” If they had had faith, they would not have been fearful; that is plainly indicated; and that they ought to have had faith is as plainly implied. But faith always rests upon fact, and the fact in this case was that they were in no more danger than the Lord Himself was; and that He did not regard the situation as dangerous, is shown by the fact that He slept peacefully, and by His calmness when they awoke Him. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 113.2

“Carest thou not that we perish?” As much as to say, “Are you utterly indifferent to our danger? Can you live and enjoy your ease, while we go to the bottom of the sea? Is that all the regard you have for us?” Thus did they in their unreasoning terror reproach the Lord. But their reproach was as foolish as it was undeserved; for He was in the boat with them, and it could not go to the bottom with them, without taking Him also. No danger threatened them that did not threaten Him also. They were as safe as He was. Anyone who reads the narrative can see that this is so. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 113.3

The seeming indifference of Jesus was not carelessness, but confidence. He had the faith which they lacked. He knew that none could pluck Him out of His Father's hand. When He at last voluntarily yielded Himself into the power of death, “it was not possible that He should be holden of it” (Acts ii. 24); much less, then, could the sea swallow Him, although “the prince of the power of the air” had lashed it into fury against Him. And here is another thing to be remembered, and that is, that the storm was raised against Him, and not against the disciples. It was He, and not they, that Satan wish to destroy. But notwithstanding the rage of Satan, Jesus was safe. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 113.4

“No waters can swallow the ship where lies
The Master of ocean, and earth, and skies.” PTUK February 24, 1898, page 113.5

“Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever.” Heb. xiii. 8. “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matt. xxviii. 20. “I will not leave you orphans.” John xiv. 18, margin. Jesus is with us as really as He was with the disciples in the boat on the stormy sea. He had been with His people in the most ancient times; for we read of the wanderings of Israel: “In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bear them, and carried them all the days of old.” Isa. lxiii. 9. And since He is the same to-day as then, we know that He shares all our troubles. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 113.6

Still more plainly is this truth stated. Read Deut. xxxii. 9, 10: “For the Lord's portion is His people; Jacob is the lot of His inheritance. He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; He compassed him about, He cared for him, He kept him as the apple of His eye.” R. V. So the Holy Spirit inspired the psalmist to pray, “Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of Thy wings.” Ps. xvii. 8. This prayer, inspired by the Holy Spirit, must be answered, “for we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities.” Heb. iv. 15. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 113.7

What an amount of unnecessary fear and worry we might save ourselves, if we would learn and remember the lesson taught by the story of Jesus on the sea. There is not a danger that threatens us, that does not likewise threaten Him. There is not an affliction that presses us, that does not in equal measure afflict Him. Not a temptation comes to us the does not touch Him. Every sin that we bear, He bears also. He is with us, and He cares for us, and He is abundantly able to deliver us, for He Himself has found deliverance. Heb. v. 7-9. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 114.1

Remember that Jesus came in our flesh. He was not here on His own account, but on ours. All that He suffered and endured, was for us. Whenever danger threatened Him, it was our danger. If the sea would overwhelm Him, it was only that we might perish. Satan sought to destroy Him, but only that we might be lost. But Satan did not succeed. Christ was kept; and since it was our sufferings that He endured, and our dangers that He shared, it follows that His victory and His deliverance is our salvation. “The chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” Isa. liii. 5. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 114.2

Jesus rested in the midst of the storm. He was care free, but not careless. Even so we, without being careless or indifferent, may cast all our care upon Him, knowing that He careth for us (1 Peter v. 7), and so be free from care, as He wishes us to be. If we do this, living in constant trust, we are as safe as He Himself is. “Underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deut. xxxiii. 27); therefore “Rest in the Lord,” for He says of those to trust Him, “I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall pluck them out of My hand.” PTUK February 24, 1898, page 114.3

“Safe in the arms of Jesus,
Safe on His gentle breast,
There by His love o'ershaded,
Sweetly my soul shall rest.” PTUK February 24, 1898, page 114.4

“Power” The Present Truth 14, 8.

E. J. Waggoner

The nations of the West are commonly called “Christian” in the religious press, but what a confession as to their character is the statement of the Church Times:- PTUK February 24, 1898, page 114.5

Our existence as a Power in the world depends upon its superiority to all possible combinations against us. So long as we can keep open to our ships the waterways of the ocean, we are safe. The moment we lose the mastery of the sea we shall be wiped out of existence. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 114.6

This is the kind of a world we live in. Thank the Lord, none need be of it although in it. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 114.7

“The Epistle to the Galatians. The Blessing and the Curse” The Present Truth 14, 8.

E. J. Waggoner

The two chapters of Galatians that we have already studied give us sufficient idea of the entire book, so that we can practically take leave of the Galatian brethren, and consider it as addressed solely to us. The circumstances that called forth the writing of the epistle were that the Galatians, having accepted the Gospel, were led astray by false teachers, who presented to them “another gospel,” that is, a counterfeit gospel, since there is but one for all time and for all men. The way it was presented to them was, “Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye can not be saved.” Outward circumcision was given as a sign of righteousness which the individual already possessed by faith. Rom. iv. 11. It was a sign that the law was written in the heart by the Spirit, and it was, therefore, only a mockery and a sham when the law was transgressed. Rom. ii. 25-29. But for one to be circumcised in order to be saved, was to put his trust in works of his own and not in Christ. Now although there is in these days no question as to whether or not a man should submit to the specific rite of circumcision in order to be saved, the question of salvation itself, whether by human works or by Christ alone, is as live a one as ever. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 114.8

Instead of attacking their error, and combating it with hard argument, the apostle begins with experience, the relation of which illustrates the case in hand. In this narrative he has occasion to show that salvation is wholly by faith, for all men alike, and not in any degree by works. As Christ tasted death for every man, so every man who is saved must have Christ's personal experience of death and resurrection and life. Christ in the flesh does what the law could not do. Gal. ii. 21; Rom. viii. 3, 4. But that very fact witnesses to the righteousness of the law. If the law were at fault, Christ would not fulfil its demands. He shows its righteousness by fulfilling, or doing, what it demands, not simply for us, but in us. The grace of God in Christ attests the majesty and holiness of the law. We do not frustrate the grace of God; if righteousness could come by the law, then would Christ be dead in vain. But to claim that the law could be abolished, or could relax its claims, and thus be of no account, is also to say that Christ is dead in vain. Let it be repeated, righteousness can not possibly come by the law, but only by the faith of Christ; but the fact that the righteousness of the law could be attained in no other way by us than by the crucifixion and resurrection and life of Christ in us, shows the infinite greatness and holiness of the law. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 114.9

THE LESSON FOR THE WEEK

“O foolish Galatians, who did bewitch you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth crucified? This only would I learn from you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now perfected in the flesh? Did ye suffer so many things in vain? if it be indeed in vain. He therefore that supplieth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Even as Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness. Know therefore that they which be of faith, the same are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Gospel beforehand unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all the nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse; for it is written: PTUK February 24, 1898, page 114.10

Cursed is every one which continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.” Gal. iii. 1-10. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 115.1

It may be well to call attention to the fact that the words, “that ye should not obey the truth,” in the first verse, do not appear in the Revised Version. The thought is there, however, and since the same words are used in chapter v. 7, where the Revised Version also has them, we may well take them as they come in the ordinary version. The fact is, as learned in the first chapter, that departure from the Gospel means departure from God. Now God is the God of truth; therefore departure from Him is disobedience to the truth. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 115.2

The Sin of Witchcraft. -The apostle asks those who are departing from God and His truth, “Who hath bewitched you?” “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” 1 Sam. xv. 22, 23. If you look up this text in the Bible, you will see that in both instances the words “is as” are added. The literal Hebrew is, “Rebellion is the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is iniquity and idolatry.” And how so?—Plainly enough, for stubbornness and rebellion are rejection of God; and he who rejects God, puts himself under the control of evil spirits. All idolatry is devil-worship. “The things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils.” 1 Cor. x.20. There is no middle ground. Christ says, “He that is not with Me is against Me.” Matt. xii. 30. That is, disobedience, rejection of the Lord, is the spirit of antichrist. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 115.3

The Safeguard against Spiritualism. -Spiritualism is only another name for ancient witchcraft and soothsaying. It is a fraud, but not the kind of fraud that most people think it is. There is reality in it. It is a fraud in that while it professes to receive communications from the spirits of the dead, it has communication only with the spirits of devils, since “the dead know not anything.” To be a Spiritualist medium is to give one's self to the control of demons. Now there is only one protection against this, and that is to hold fast to the Word of God. He who lightly regards God's Word, severs himself from association with God, and puts himself within Satan's influence. Even though a man denounce Spiritualism in the strongest terms, if he does not hold to God's Word, he will sooner or later be carried away by the strong delusion. Only by keeping the Word of Christ's patience can men be kept from the temptation that is coming on all the world. Rev. iii. 10. “The spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience” (Eph. ii. 2), is the spirit of Satan,-the spirit of antichrist,-and the Gospel of Christ, which reveals the righteousness of God (Rom. i. 16,17), is the only possible salvation from it. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 115.4

Christ Visibly Crucified. -“Jesus Christ was openly set forth crucified” before their eyes, said the apostle Paul, and he knew, for he first preached to them. But the experience of the Galatians was not peculiar to them. The cross of Christ is a present thing. The expression, “Come to the cross, is not a mere empty formula, but an invitation that can be literally complied with. Not until one has seen Christ crucified before his eyes, and can see the cross of Christ at every turn, does one know the reality of the Gospel. Let those scoff who will; the fact that a blind man can not see the sun, and denies that it shines, will not deter one who sees it from talking of its glory. Our next lesson will deal more fully with this matter of the cross in all creation. But accepting the fact on the apostle's testimony, is it not marvelous that those who had seen and accepted Christ crucified for them, could turn away from Him, to trust in their own works for salvation? Could it be anything less than witchcraft that could produce such a result? PTUK February 24, 1898, page 115.5

Hold Fast the Beginning. -“Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now perfected in the flesh?” Foolish is but a feeble term for it. The man who has not power to begin a work, has strength to finish it! Impossible. Who has power to beget himself? No one; we come into this world without having begotten ourselves; we are born without strength; and therefore all the strength that ever manifests itself in us, comes from another than ourselves. It is all given to us. The new-born babe is the representative of man. “A man is born into the world.” All the strength that any man has of himself is found in the infant as it utters its first cry with its first breath. Even so in things spiritual. “Of His own will begat He us with the Word of truth.” James i. 18. We can no more live righteous lives by our own strength than we could beget ourselves. The work that is begun by the Spirit, must be carried to completion by the Spirit. “We are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end.” Heb. iii. 14. “He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Phil. i. 6. And He alone can do it. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 115.6

Experience in the Gospel. -“Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” These questions show that the experience of the Galatian brethren had been as deep and as real as would be expected from those before whose eyes Christ was openly crucified. The Spirit had been given to them, miracles had been wrought among them, and even by them, for the gifts of the Spirit accompany the gift of the Spirit; and as the result of this living Gospel among them, they had suffered persecution; for “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Tim. iii. 12. This makes the case the more serious. Having shared the sufferings of Christ, they were now departing from Him; and this departure from Christ, through whom alone righteousness can come, was marked by disobedience to the law of truth. They were insensibly but inevitably transgressing the law to which they were looking for salvation. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 115.7

“Children of Abraham.” -The questions asked in verses 3, 4, and 5 suggest their own answer. The Spirit was ministered, and miracles were wrought, not by works of law, but by “the hearing of faith,” that is, by the obedience of faith, for faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Rom. x. 17. Thus Paul's labour, and the first experience of the Galatians, were exactly in line with the experience of Abraham, whose faith was accounted for righteousness. Let it be remembered that the “false brethren” who preached “another gospel,” even the false gospel of righteousness by works, were Jews, and claimed Abraham for their father. It would be their boast that they were children of Abraham, and they would appeal to their circumcision as proof of the fact. But the very thing upon which they relied as proving them to be children of Abraham, was proof that they were not; for “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Abraham had the righteousness of faith before he was circumcised. Rom. iv. 11. “Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.” Abraham was not justified by works (Rom. iv. 2, 3), but his faith “wrought righteousness.” PTUK February 24, 1898, page 115.8

The Gospel to the Gentiles. -“The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Gospel beforehand unto Abraham.” This verse will bear much reading. An understanding of it will guard one against many errors. And it is not difficult to understand; simply hold to what it says, and you have it. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 116.1

For one thing, the verse shows us that the Gospel was preached at least as early as the days of Abraham. And it was God Himself who preached it; therefore, it was the true and only Gospel. It was the same Gospel that Paul preached; so that we have no other Gospel than that which Abraham had. The Gospel differs in no particular now from what it was in Abraham's day; for his day was the day of Christ. John viii. 56. God requires just the same things now that He required then, and nothing more. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 116.2

Moreover, the Gospel was then preached to the Gentiles, for Abraham was a Gentile, or, in other words, a heathen. He was brought up as a heathen, for “Terah, the father of Abraham,” “served other gods” (Josh. xxiv. 2), and was a heathen till the Gospel was preached to him. So the preaching of the Gospel to the Gentiles was no new thing in the days of Peter and Paul. The Jewish nation was taken out from among the heathen, and it is only by the preaching of the Gospel to the heathen that Israel is built up and saved. See Acts xv. 14-18; Rom. xi. 25, 26. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 116.3

Thus we see that the apostle takes the Galatians, and us, back to the fountain head,-to the place where God Himself preaches the Gospel to us Gentiles. No Gentile can hope to be saved in any other way or by any other Gospel than that by which Abraham was saved. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 116.4

The Blessing of Abraham -The Gospel was summed up to Abraham in these words: “In thee shall all nations be blessed.” It should be stated here that the two words “heathen” (“Gentiles,” in R.V.) and “nations,” in verse 8, come from the same word in the Greek. In both the Hebrew and the Greek “the heathen” and “the nations” are the same. Now the blessing of Abraham was the blessing of sins forgiven, and of righteousness by faith. See Rom. iv. 6-11. And this faith was personal faith in Christ crucified and risen, as we learn from Acts iii. 25, 26: “Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.” “All nations” are included in this blessing; hence we are again brought to the fact that there is no Gospel for any people under heaven except the Gospel that was preached to Abraham. See Acts iv. 12. The blessing comes to all, but is not accepted by all. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 116.5

“They Which Be of Faith.” -These are “blessed with faithful Abraham.” That blessing is that their sins are forgiven, and the Lord “will not impute sin” to them. “Sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John iii. 4. So, then, the Lord will not impute transgression of the law to those who are of faith. But the Lord will deal justly, and will tell the truth; therefore, when the Lord does not impute sin to anybody, that shows that he has no sin, or, in other words, he is not a transgressor of the law, and if not a transgressor of the law, then he is a keeper of the law. Here again we come back to the point that justification by faith means nothing else than being made righteous, or doers of the law, by faith. The blessing is “in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.” PTUK February 24, 1898, page 116.6

A Contrast: Under the Curse. -Note the sharp contrast in verses 9 and 10. “They which be of faith are blessed,” but “as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse.” Faith brings the blessing; works bring the curse, or, rather, leave one under the curse. The curse is on all, for “he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.” John iii. 18. Faith removes the curse. Who are under the curse?—“As many as are of the works of the law.” Note that it does not say that those who do the law are under the curse, for that would be a contradiction of Rev. xxii. 14: “Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.” Ps. cxix. 1. So then they that are of faith are keepers of the law; for they that are of faith are blessed, and those who do the commandments are blessed. By faith they do the commandments. The Gospel is contrary to human nature, and so it is that we become doers of the law, not by doing, but by believing. “The Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling-stone; as it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a Stumbling-stone and Rock of offence; and whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.” Rom. ix. 30-33. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 116.7

What the Curse Is. -No one can read Gal. iii. 10 carefully and thoughtfully without seeing that the curse is transgression of the law. Disobedience to God's law is itself the curse; for “by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin.” Rom. v. 12. Sin has death wrapped up in it. Without sin death would be impossible, for “the sting of death is sin.” 1Cor. xv. 56. “As many as are of the works of the law are under the curse.” Why? Is it because the law is a curse?—Not by any means. Why then?—Because it is written, “Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” Mark it well: They are not cursed because they do the law, but because they do not do it. So, then, we see that being of the works of the law does not mean that one is doing the law. No; “the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Rom. viii. 7. All are under the curse, and he who thinks to get out by his own works, remains there. The curse consists in not continuing in all things that are written in the law; therefore, the blessing means perfect conformity to the law. This is as plain as language can make it. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 116.8

Blessing and Cursing. -“Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; a blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day; and a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after PTUK February 24, 1898, page 116.9

other gods.” Deut. xi. 26-28. “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live, that thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey His voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto Him; for He is thy life.” Deut. xxx. 19, 20. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 117.1

What It Means to Us. -Have you fully grasped the meaning of all this? Do you see what it means to us? Do you realise what the blessing of the Lord is? It is righteousness; perfect harmony with God's perfect law. This is the blessing of Abraham, which he obtained through faith in Christ, and which is offered to all men of all nations. Freedom from sin! “Not by works done in righteousness which we did ourselves” (Titus iii. 4), but by the “works which God afore prepared that we should walk in them.” Eph. ii. 10. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 117.2

Backslider or sinner of the world, whoever you are, this means you. You have desired to do right, to “live a better life,” but you have not been able. Well, there is One, and only One, who can live that better life, and that is Christ. He can impart to you the blessing of obedience of righteousness. “He is thy life;” therefore take Him, submit to Him, and He will live in you that blessed life that will make you a blessing. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 117.3

“Crooked Testimony” The Present Truth 14, 8.

E. J. Waggoner

In the “Notes on the Scripture Lessons,” published by the Sunday-School Union, in the notes for the primary teacher there occurs one note on the Lesson for March 6, which is treated of in this number of PRESENT TRUTH, which calls for comment. The lesson, as will be seen, is concerning Jesus and the Sabbath, from the narrative in Matt. xii. 1-13. After stating that “care will be needed in the treatment of the subject, so as to avoid weakening the sanctity of the Sabbath on the one hand, or investing it with dulness and austerity on the other,” the truths to be taught are said to be two, namely, “Jesus wants the Sabbath to be a bright day,” and “One way to make it bright,” the writer begins his hints thus:— PTUK February 24, 1898, page 118.1

God told Jews to rest one day in seven. Reasons for this: God's kind thought for man and beast. Jewish Sabbath (kept from Saturday evening to Sunday evening) a joyful day. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 118.2

It is difficult to believe that anybody capable of writing could make such a statement through ignorance; for one has but to consider the custom of the Jews at the present day to know that they do not rest on any part of Sunday, but from Friday evening till Saturday evening at sunset, according to the Bible. If it were made in ignorance, then it simply shows to what an extend the pagan Sunday has obliterated the knowledge of the truth from the minds of professed Christians. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 118.3

By the side of so egregious a perversion of the truth, the statement that “God told the Jews to rest one day in seven” seems comparatively mild, although it is directly contrary to the commandment, which says “the seventh day.” PTUK February 24, 1898, page 119.1

When the chief priests were determined to put Jesus to death, and were trying to find some show of excuse for doing it, “many bear false witness against Him, but there witness agreed not together.” Then some were found who testified (falsely of course) to what they had heard Him say about the temple, but “neither so did their witness agree together.” Mark xiv. 56-59. Even so it is with the effort to destroy His Sabbath. Their witness agrees not together; for the common argument to establish Sunday is that “Jesus changed the day,” while this witness says that the day was originally Sunday, although He had just said that it was “one day in seven,” and so no day in particular. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 119.2

The case can easily be decided by any impartial judge. Pilate said, “I find no fault in this Man;” and the unbiased judge must be compelled to say that the Sunday argument proves the Sunday institution to be an impostor, since “no lie is of the truth.” PTUK February 24, 1898, page 119.3

“‘Prepare War!’” The Present Truth 14, 8.

E. J. Waggoner

The Bible tells us that the time immediately preceding the coming of the Lord to judgment, will be characterised by great preparations for war, saying: “Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up; beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears; let the weak say, I am strong.” Joel iii. 9, 10. In ancient times, when battles were fought hand-to-hand, everything depended on the size and strength of the soldiers; but with modern implements of war, even a comparatively weak man may be a formidable opponent. The following from the Evening News of the 12th, gives in a sober, matter-of-fact way a little idea of what this country is doing in the way of preparation for the coming of the great day. Under the heading, “Woolwich is Busy,” it said:— PTUK February 24, 1898, page 119.4

“Wars and rumours of wars” is an ancient prophecy with nearly two thousand birthdays; and judging from the strange stories which are floating about just now, the latter part of the prophecy is being fulfilled with a vengeance. Eyes are at this moment naturally being turned toward the Government dockyards and factories, and any extra activity in them is attributed to impending warfare. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 119.5

Woolwich Arsenal is extremely busy at present, busier than it has been probably for half a century, for England has been making ready for the worst for some years. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 119.6

For two years, at any rate, work at the Arsenal has not ceased day or night in several of the departments. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 119.7

One good reason for this is the keen competition of the rival Powers. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 119.8

Altogether there are at the Arsenal some 17,000 employees, and about 4,000 of them are engaged in night work, starting at six in the evening and leaving at five in the morning, three of these hours are overtime, and the day workers are doing about the same extra work. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 119.9

In the torpedo factory there are 400 men working overtime; there are the same number in the fuse factory, and, so far as can be ascertained, other departments are proportionately busy. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 119.10

But overtime at the Arsenal is not a novelty, and has caused no trepidation or anxiety among the employees. The more work the more pay, and the PTUK February 24, 1898, page 119.11

STEADY INCREASE OF WORK

has done good all round. Through overtime the engineers, says one of the men, have made ?4 a week, skilled labourers ?2 5s., and unskilled men ?1 10s. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 119.12

A casual visitor to Woolwich with the China situation in his mind, might see in the bright night glare at the Arsenal the beacon of a coming warfare, in which all the nations of the earth shall participate. Those who live in Woolwich are used to this, however, for they have seen the factories lighted up for the last two years or more. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 119.13

Nevertheless the employees at the Arsenal are working with increased energy just now. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 119.14

The War Office has ordered half a million cartridges a week in excess of last year, bringing the total weekly output up to 2,000,000. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 119.15

In the fuse factory the men are engaged on 2,500 hundred fuses of one make, and 1,800 of another, and orders have been received to push along with the quick firing guns. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 119.16

Many of the orders on which the men are working are not of a very recent date, but by April it is anticipated that the men will be busier than ever they have been before. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 119.17

“Back Page” The Present Truth 14, 8.

E. J. Waggoner

“Who hath despised the day of small things?” Zech. iv. 10. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 128.1

Not the Lord, for He makes use of small things to accomplish His purposes. “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are.” 1 Cor. i. 27, 28. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 128.2

In harmony with this, the Lord says: “Fear not, thou worm of Jacob, and ye few men of Israel;.... Behold I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth; thou shalt thrash the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.” Isa. xli. 14 (margin), 15. “A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation; I the Lord will hasten it in his time.” Isa. lx. 22. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 128.3

Nothing is too small for the Lord to pay attention to it. If God did not care for small things He would neglect the principal part of the world, because there are far more small things than large ones. Indeed, even the large things are composed of small particles. God's infinite greatness manifests itself in this, that He can personally superintend an infinite number of details, without being worried or flurried. Where there is the greatest weakness, there does He exhibit His greatest power. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 128.4

Therefore “Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God? Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of His understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength.” Isa. xl. 27-29. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 128.5

“I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me; Thou art my help and might deliverer.” Ps. xl. 17. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 128.6

The plague in Bombay is said to be increasing, the number of deaths being more than double that of last year. A correspondent of one of the daily journals says: “Fires of sulphur are burning in the streets, and our nights are lit up with lurid flames from the funeral pyres heaped with burning bodies.” PTUK February 24, 1898, page 128.7

“A fatal nemesis falls on every man who props his position on a lie.” So says Dr. R. F. Horton in his discourse on “Romanism and National Welfare.” But what about the position that is propped up by a lie? Ah, that cannot stand, however proudly it rears its head, for the Lord has said: “Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet; and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding-place.” Isa. xxviii. 17. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 128.8

In a suit for damages in one of the city courts last week, the judge in delivering judgment, said that he feared he would have to disabuse the plaintiffs mind, for she had doubtless come there believing that common sense and law could be reconciled. This charge against the law, coming from the source it does, cannot be impeached. It quite reconciles those of us who have ever studied law to our ignorance of it, and shows that true Christianity is common sense, since Christ's followers are prohibited from going to law. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 128.9

Several journals have given “an authentic reproduction of the much-talked-of graffito discovered in the old palace of Caligula; on the Palantine Hill.” Most of our readers have doubtless seen references to the discovery, and the claim that it is a drawing of the crucifixion of Christ. The paper containing the picture closes its remarks on its various features with the statement: “In this curious and interesting piece of art the figure of Christ and self is not visible.” That is quite true, and it might at the same time be mentioned that the figure of the cross on which He was crucified does not appear; also the figures of the two thieves who were crucified with Him are invisible, and likewise the cross is on which they were crucified. Of course it is needless to say that the inscription which Pilate wrote for the cross is also absent. There are some rude figures of men who seem to be trying to erect a sort of scaffold. One representation has four figures dressed as soldiers, and three ladders, while another one has eight figures, of whom only one is dressed at all, and only two ladders. In the “explanation” of the picture, such terms are used as, “probably,” “the suggestion is,” “it is possible,” and “it is tempting to suppose.” If half the time spent in useless imaginations about Christ were spent reading His teachings, which need no effort of the imagination to enable one to understand them, it would be a great gain to the world. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 128.10

“The Church as a Military Training-School” The Present Truth 14, 8.

E. J. Waggoner

The Church as a Military Training-School .—By invitation of the Lord Mayor, who is said to be an enthusiastic volunteer, the boys of the London Diocesan Church Boys’ Brigade, gave a grand display of their readiness in drill, at the Guildhall, one evening last week. There was a large and of course a “brilliant” company present, including several dignitaries both of the church and of the Army. The Lord Mayor said that while it was no part of the duty of those who conducted the Church Lads’ Brigade to make them soldiers, the boys would lose nothing by having instilled into them the military spirit and military order, for the time might come when they would have to defend their country. He said that he was glad to see that Her Majesty's Government intended to take lads into the Army, and asked where they could get the lads better fitted for the defence of their country than from among the Church Lad's Brigade. What an anomaly! The professed followers of the Prince of peace engaged in training men for war! PTUK February 24, 1898, page 128.11

“Turkish Soldiers as Peacemakers” The Present Truth 14, 8.

E. J. Waggoner

Turkish Soldiers as Peacemakers .—Speaking in Parliament the other night, Lord Salisbury referred to the statement that had been made to the effect that there would be no peace in Crete until the Turkish soldiers were removed, and said:— PTUK February 24, 1898, page 128.12

Undoubtedly in the long run that is true. I think that the Turkish soldiers must ultimately be removed, but I doubt if at present there is adequate machinery to keep the peace even in the great towns without Turkish soldiers. PTUK February 24, 1898, page 128.13