The Present Truth, vol. 11
May 30, 1895
“Front Page” The Present Truth 11, 22.
E. J. Waggoner
“Take heed what ye hear.” Mark 4:24. These are the words of the Saviour, and they are as important now as when first uttered. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 337.1
But what shall we hear? This is answered by the directions as to what we are not to hear: “Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.” Proverbs 19:27. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 337.2
Thus we are to hear the words of knowledge. And what words are they? Again we read: “For the Lord giveth wisdom; out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:6. The words of the Lord, therefore, are the words of knowledge. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 337.3
In Christ are hid “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:3. He speaks the words of knowledge, because He speaks only the words of God. “He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God.” John 3:34. Therefore the word of God concerning Christ is, “Hear Him.” Luke 9:35. His words are God’s words; and we are to live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. All other words are worse than useless. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 337.4
But there is still another exhortation as important as the other. It is this: “Take heed therefore how ye hear.” Luke 8:18. A man may hear the right thing, and yet not be profited, because he does not hear in the right way. How then shall we hear? PTUK May 30, 1895, page 337.5
In the first place, we should hear with gladness. The angels in heaven hearken to the voice of God’s word. Psalm 103:20. They listen attentively, lest any word should escape them. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 337.6
In the second place, they listen for the purpose of obeying. “They do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word.” Whoever listens in this way will have no difficulty in understanding what he hears; for “if any man willeth to do His will, he shall know the doctrine.” PTUK May 30, 1895, page 337.7
Lastly, it is important that we hear so attentively that we do not forget. There are some from whom the word is snatched away as soon as it is heard. Then it does them no good. “But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected.” 1 John 2:5. That word “keep” means” “to hold.” We are to hold the word. Where? In our hearts. Let it remain there so that its life will permeate every portion of the being, and it will make you “perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” PTUK May 30, 1895, page 337.8
“‘Thou, God, Seest Me’” The Present Truth 11, 22.
E. J. Waggoner
“And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny Me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.” Luke 22:61, 62. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 337.9
Consider what was wrought by that look of Jesus. It reminded Peter of his sin. It awoke in him a consciousness of guilt. With that consciousness of sin came contrition. He went out, and wept bitterly. That was also wrought by the look. But “the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.” Psalm 51:17. Therefore that look, which carried conviction and contrition, also brought forgiveness. For “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 337.10
There is healing power in the look of the Lord. Even the beasts are troubled when the Lord hides His face from them. Psalm 104:29. How much more then must men be troubled when they do not walk in the light of His countenance. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 337.11
There is also salvation from sin in the Lord’s look. When Daniel prayed for his people, he said: “Open Thine eyes, and behold our desolations.” Daniel 9:18. And also, “Cause Thy face to shine upon Thy sanctuary that is desolate.” Verse 17. So the Psalmist says, “Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts; cause Thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.” Psalm 80:8, 7, 19. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 337.12
Sin cannot endure the presence of the Lord. “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil.” Habakkuk 1:13. So as the bright sunlight destroys disease germs, the light of God’s countenance destroys the seeds of sin. What a comfort, then, to be able to say, “Thou hast set our iniquities before Thee, our secret sins in the light of Thy countenance.” Psalm 90:8. When the light of His countenance shines upon them, they vanish. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 337.13
We need not be afraid to have the Lord see us. Rather should we rejoice that He condescends to look upon us. One of the most blessed promises in the Bible is this: “To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My word.” Isaiah 66:2. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 337.14
“For 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, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” PTUK May 30, 1895, page 337.15
“The Evidence of a Future Life” The Present Truth 11, 22.
E. J. Waggoner
At a recent conference of Spiritualists held in London, the president of the London Spiritualist Alliance, who presided, stated that he had been visited by members of various churches, who had confessed to him that they were without evidence of a future life. He contrasted the disposition with that of Spiritualists, whose belief in a future life was based upon their experience in communicating with the dead. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 338.1
It is not unlikely that such confessions have been made, even by church members; for the evidence of a future life is altogether a matter of faith, while church membership is not. The Word of God plainly declares that there is a life that is eternal; but whether this is evidence to us or not depends entirely upon our faith. If we believe it, then we have the evidence; for “faith is... the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1. If we do not believe it, it is, of course, no evidence to us whatever. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 338.2
The Spiritualist’s evidence is the evidence of the senses; and this is the real materialism which is contrary to true religion. “Spiritualism” is materialism, for it rests entirely upon the evidence of the material senses; there is nothing really spiritual about it. But true religion-the Gospel-while it deals with material things, has its evidence based entirely upon faith, and thus is truly spiritual. The future life is a thing not seen, and of such things faith, and that only, is the evidence. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 338.3
The Scripture says, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.” John 3:36. The same evidence which assures us that we have a thing, is proof that the thing exists. If we know that we have everlasting life, we have the full evidence of a life to come. And we know this simply by believing God’s Word. “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself.” 1 John 5:10. The unbeliever may say, “I do not believe this;” but the believer knows that it is the truth. Faith is real evidence. How it is so we cannot say, for we cannot explain the power of God through which it operates; but that it is real-that it is a link which connects mortal man with the invisible God and with that life which comes from Him, no one who has it can doubt. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 338.4
All real evidence of spiritual truths must come through faith. The scribes and Pharisees were with Jesus, and saw His miracles; but that was not evidence to them of His Divinity, else they would not have put Him to death. It was evidence only to those who believed, or whose hearts were open to the convicting power of the Spirit. The multitudes thronged Christ, but only the touch of faith given by the woman who sought to be healed of her infirmity, drew forth the physical evidence of His power. So there may be signs and manifestations from God in the physical world to-day, but only he who has faith will see in them evidence of the existence and power of God. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 338.5
Without faith, all the evidence of the senses touching spiritual truths is unreal; and this is the kind of evidence which believers in communication with the dead have of a future life. For “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word God,” and the Word of God declares that no communication with the dead is possible, since they “know not anything” and their thoughts have perished. Ecclesiastes 9:5. Psalm 146:3, 4. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 338.6
All that is not of faith is “gross materialism,” and such is Spiritualism, with all that it puts forth as evidence of a life beyond the grave. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 338.7
“Binding and Losing” The Present Truth 11, 22.
E. J. Waggoner
Readers of the PRESENT TRUTH cannot have failed to notice at various times within the past few months certain statements quoted from prominent ministers concerning the origin of Sunday observance in the church. Invariably the statement is that there is no word of Holy Scripture warranting the change from the seventh to the first day of the week, but that “the church” has made the change of its own authority. This admission we have from both Churchmen and Nonconformists. All agree that the change was effected by the church in the face of the commandment, and of even the example of Christ; yet of course they all claim that the church was fully warranted in its course. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 338.8
This makes it necessary to consider the authority which the church has. Where did the church get this authority? Was it from the Lord? or was it self-assumed? But before we take up this question, we ought to consider briefly PTUK May 30, 1895, page 338.9
WHAT THE CHURCH IS
This can be settled in a few words. We are told that God gave Christ to be “Head over all things to the church, which is His body.” Ephesians 1:22, 22. Also that, “He is the Head of the body, the church.” Colossians 1:18. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 338.10
Of whom is this body composed? This question may also be answered in a few words. “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we bond or free.” 1 Corinthians 12:12, 13. “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Galatians 3:27. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 338.11
This shows that the church of Christ is composed of all who are baptized into the body of Christ, that is, of all believers. It is not composed of the bishops alone, nor of the bishops and deacons, but of every believer, no matter what his position, for in the body of Christ “there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free; but Christ is all and in all.” Colossians 3:11. The fact that every member, however humble, is necessary to the composition of the church, is made still more emphatic in the following passage:— PTUK May 30, 1895, page 339.1
“For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee; nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: and those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For... God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked; that there should be no schism [division] in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.” 1 Corinthians 12:14-25. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 339.2
The church of Christ, therefore, is composed of all the believers on earth. It is quite common for people to speak of “the church” as something apart from believers, and as being above them, and having power to enact laws for them. They speak of the laws of the church, and call the church “our mother,” as though the church were a person and entirely distinct from the people who compose it. But since the church is composed of men and women, and the most humble member is necessary, it follows that if the church makes laws it is simply a case of men deciding for themselves what they will do. To say that the church has authority to make laws for itself, is to say that men are their own masters, and are accountable to nobody but themselves. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 339.3
We have seen that every believer in Christ is necessary to the formation of the church. Of course the entire body of believers was never together at one time, and never will be until the Lord comes to gather them; but He has said, “Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20. This does not mean two or three officials, but any two or three who may be together in the name of Jesus. A company of bishops assembled together is no more the church than is a company of God-fearing farmers; and the one has no more authority than the other. This brings us to the consideration of PTUK May 30, 1895, page 339.4
THE AUTHORITY OF THE CHURCH
Here are the words of Christ upon this subject:— PTUK May 30, 1895, page 339.5
“If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone; if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church; but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 18:15-18. And then follows the statement already quoted, that where two or three are gathered together in the name of Jesus, there He is in the midst of them; showing that for all practical purposes two or three persons gathered together in the name of Jesus are a church, capable of speaking with as much authority as the entire body of believers; and that authority is the authority of heaven. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 339.6
Now the only question that can possibly arise is this, Did the Lord pledge Himself to ratify and abide by any and every act of any company of men calling themselves a church? There can be but one answer to this question. There is no person on earth who would claim or even admit that everything that has ever been done by men professing to act in the capacity of the church of Christ, has been sanctioned in heaven; for not only have different bodies been in direct opposition, but the same body of men has often passed contradictory measures. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 339.7
What then are the conditions under which that which is bound on earth will be bound in heaven? The first is that the company, whether large or small, shall be gathered together PTUK May 30, 1895, page 339.8
IN THE NAME OF JESUS
This means simply that they shall be indeed a Church of Christ-members of His body. This is evident from the fact that the church is the body of Christ, and people become members of it by baptism (See 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27, which have already been quoted); and further that those who are thus baptized into Christ are baptized into the name of the Son, as well as that of the Father and of the Holy Ghost. Matthew 18:19. To be assembled in the name of Jesus, therefore, is to be assembled in humble subjection to Him as the only Head of the church, and the only one having authority to issue commands to it. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 339.9
When the Apostle Paul was performing wonderful miracles by the name of Jesus, certain exorcists “took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preached.” Acts 19:13. The result of this was disastrous to the exorcists, for the evil spirits overcame them instead of all obeying them. Even so it needs something more than the repetition of the name of the Lord Jesus, to show that people are gathered in His name. What more is needed is shown by the Saviour’s words: “Why call ye Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say.” Luke 6:46. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 339.10
The Psalmist said, by the Spirit, “Thou hast magnified Thy Word above all Thy name.” Psalm 138:2. A company therefore which ignores the Word of the Lord cannot by any possibility be assembled in His name. “The disciple is not above his Master nor the servant above his Lord.” Matthew 10:24. The body is not above its head. When the body refuses to act in harmony with the head, it is evidence of most serious disease. It shows that the connection is broken or greatly impaired. So when the church takes upon itself to speak and act contrary to the directions of the Head of the church, it shows that it has separated from Him, and is becoming joined to antichrist. Jesus said, “He that is not with Me is against Me.” PTUK May 30, 1895, page 339.11
It must be evident that when anybody calling itself a church speaks and acts contrary to the words and example of the Lord, it is not controlled and directed by “the Head of the body the church,” and that since it has no authority to use His name, its decrees are not recognised in heaven, except as they are put down as transgressions of the third commandment. For the Scriptures make it very evident that things bound or loosed on earth are bound or loosed in heaven only when PTUK May 30, 1895, page 339.12
DONE BY GOD’S WORD
In the first place, we have the example of Christ, the Head of the church. He said: “I have not spoken of Myself; but the Father which sent Me, He gave Me a commandment what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that His commandment is life everlasting; whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto Me, so I speak.” John 12:49, 50. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 339.13
Again, He said: “I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father hath taught Me, I speak these things.” John 8:28. And again: “The words that I speak unto you, I speak not of Myself; but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works.” John 14:10. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 339.14
Since even Christ, when on earth as man, did not speak or act by His own authority, it is evident that whoever presumes to speak or act by his own authority is not a follower of Christ. And this is just as true of any body of men as it is of a single individual. The word “heretic” means “one who chooses for himself.” Whoever, therefore, presumes to speak from himself, and to act by his own authority, is a heretic; and when any body, no matter how great in numbers, presumes to choose its own way, regardless of God’s Word, that body is heretical. It may constitute the vast majority, but that makes no difference, since the standard is not man, but Christ and His Word. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 339.15
The work that Christ did by this word was to set at liberty those that were bound. One instance of this is recorded in Luke 13:11-13. Another is found in Luke 5:18-26. There are scores of others, but everything was done by the power of the word of God. Even He came not in His own name, but in the name of the Father. See John 5:43. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 340.1
When Christ spoke to the disciples, saying that whatsoever they should bind or loose on earth should be bound or loosed in heaven, it was not the first time that such power had been given to men. One notable instance is recorded in 1 Kings 17:1: “And Elisha the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be rain nor dew these years, but by my word.” PTUK May 30, 1895, page 340.2
But Elijah did not speak thus of his own authority. “And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, show thyself to Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.” 1 Kings 18:1. If Elijah was only God’s mouthpiece; his word was simply the word which God had previously spoken. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 340.3
To Jeremiah God said, “See, I have set thee this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.” Jeremiah 1:10. That was wonderful power and authority to be given to one person who was moreover but a child. But how was it? Simply in this way: God had just said to him, “Behold, I have put My words in thy mouth.” Verse 9. He was to speak only what God commanded him (verse 7), and to “diminish not a word.” Jeremiah 26:2. It was this word that was to tear down and to build up; for “the Word of God is quick, and powerful.” Hebrews 4:12. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 340.4
“AS THE ORACLES OF GOD’
It was in connection with the instruction about dealing with the erring, that Jesus said to His disciples, “Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven,” etc. If a brother commits a trespass, he is first to be visited by one, for the purpose of regaining him; if this fails he is to be visited by two or three, for the same purpose; and this failing, the whole church is to take up his case. Notice however, by comparing verses 16 , 18, that even the two or three brethren have the power to bind or lose. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 340.5
Notice the further instruction, implied in this passage, but plainly stated in Galatians 6:1: “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness.” Who are spiritual?—It is they who are in harmony with the law of God: “for we know that the law is spiritual.” Romans 7:14. Therefore it is evident that those who deal with the erring brother are to use only the word of God, and not their own words. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 340.6
What else could we expect, since they are to reclaim a sinner, and “sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John 5:4. It is by the law that men are to be judged (Romans 2:12), so that to keep it is the whole duty of man (Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14), and therefore those who have erred from it must be brought back into harmony with it. Those who do this work of reclaiming the lost are fulfilling the law of Christ, who gave Himself for the church, “that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word.” Ephesians 5:26. Therefore if any man speak, he is to speak only “as the oracles of God.” 1 Peter 4:11. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 340.7
The Word of God is settled for ever in heaven. Psalm 119:89. “It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.” Luke 16:17. It loses the bonds of the believing captive, and appoints the presumptuous rebel to his place of bondage under chains of darkness. So those who speak only the words of God may be sure that their words are as fixed as heaven itself. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 340.8
This is why the words of two or three have as much authority as the words of as many hundreds. The Word of God is just as powerful in the mouth of two men as in the mouth of two hundred. It is why it makes no difference whether those men are bishops or bricklayers; for the Word of God has the same authority in the mouth of one as of another. And it is why ten thousand learned men speaking their own words have infinitely less power to bind or lose than two or three poor, unlearned men, who speak only God’s words. Some men may have more knowledge of the Word than others; but the authority is not from man or from any number of men, but only from God’s Word. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 340.9
The Word of God is everything; men are nothing, except as created by it. “All flesh is grass;” “the grass whithereth, the flowers fadeth; but the Word of our God shall stand for ever.” Isaiah 40:6, 8. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 340.10
And so we come to the conclusion of the whole matter. Since Christ is the Head of the church, and the only guide of the body; since even He spoke only the words given Him by the Father, who made Him the Head of the church; since the word that He spoke is the word, and the only word that He gave to the church (John 17:14); since the body that acts contrary to the head shows that it is disconnected from the head; and since Jesus declared that those who are not with Him are against Him;-since all this is so, and since it is confessed that “the church” took upon itself to substitute the observance of Sunday for the observance of the Sabbath, without the slightest Scriptural warrant, it follows that it was the act of antichrist, and is a mark of apostasy from Christ; and that it is not recognised in heaven except by way of condemnation. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 340.11
“Daniel and His Critics” The Present Truth 11, 22.
E. J. Waggoner
“The new scepticism ought to be rational.” This is a remark made by the Freeman’s reviewer of Dr. Farrar’s new book on Daniel. After some scathing criticism of the feeble argument, and of the readiness with which the author throws away the Bible history because some parts of it have not been found in the Assyrian monuments, not five per cent. of which have been deciphered, the reviewer says:— PTUK May 30, 1895, page 340.12
The linguistic difficulties of his position seem to me insuperable. The language of the book, with its Chaldee quotations, indicate the age in which Daniel wrote, and they are certainly not what would be used by a Jew of the second century before Christ. Had it been written B.C. 184 it would probably have been written, like the books of the Apocrypha, in Greek. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 340.13
Dr. Farrar’s argument that no mention of Belshazzar’s disgraceful end has been found in the Assyrian monuments may call for a remark, inasmuch as we frequently hear a similar reason urged with regard to other portions of Scripture. It must not be forgotten that as yet a mere fraction of these monuments have been deciphered, and of those the translation is very uncertain. But we should not expect to find memorials of national disgrace. Already some cases have been brought to light which prove that monumental lying is not a modern art, and kings have erased inscriptions and added others to suit popular opinion or their own glory. When the New Zealander in the coming age walks from the ruins of London to examine the inscriptions remaining among the overturned stones of our great city he will look in vain for any mention of the terrible military disgraces our country suffered in the reign of George III. and our shameful discomfiture in America. Nations do not inscribe the disgraceful portions of their history on stone. We have all heard of the changed inscriptions on the Monument of the Great Fire of London. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 340.14
But apart from this, is there not something deficient in the spirit that looks to pagan monuments for its arguments? No doubt there are difficulties in the Old Testament Apocalypse, difficulties which humble reason and awaken faith. But the archdeacon’s method of dealing with them is like amputating an arm to cure a chillblain. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 341.1
“Protestant or Catholic?” The Present Truth 11, 22.
E. J. Waggoner
This week we have another to add to our list of testimonies from Sunday-keepers, concerning the absence of Scripture. It is from the New York Christian Advocate, the leading Methodist paper of the world. In the issue of April 25 the following is quoted from the Examiner, a Baptist journal:— PTUK May 30, 1895, page 341.2
The late Thomas Cooper, of England, an eminent popular lecturer, who in mature life became a Christian and a Baptist, once explained the way in which he was led to adopt Baptist views. In conversation with a Christian woman, a Baptist, he said: “I have generally found that, whatever practices or beliefs there may be among the various Christian bodies, they have usually some text which, rightly or wrongly, is quoted to justify them; but I have never heard of any text which authorises the old Romish custom of the christening of church bells.” “Really,” replied his friend, “that is a very simple matter. The christening of bells is authorised by the very next verse to the one which commands the christening of babies!”—a remark which set Thomas Cooper thinking, with the result above indicated. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 341.3
Upon this the Christian Advocate makes the following comment:— PTUK May 30, 1895, page 341.4
Why this was published we can hardly imagine. Is there any person who supposes that all the practices or beliefs of Christians can be sustained by some positive text? Our Baptist friends would find great difficulty in finding a positive text in support of some of their beliefs. Without doubt there is no text commanding the christening of babies. Nor is there any commanding the substitution of the Lord’s Day for the Sabbath. Nor is there any text forbidding the administration of the holy communion to anyone who has not been previously baptised. As for Romish customs, their very theory assumes the right of the Church to add customs and even dogmas to what is taught in the Bible. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 341.5
Merely stopping to note that the Sabbath is the Lord’s day (See Exodus 20:8-10), and that the first day of the week has no right whatever to the title, we would call attention to the fact that the Christian Advocate has not touched the point of all, although it has stopped the Examiner’s mouth. But let it be remembered that when one is reproved for an error, it is no excuse for that error to say to the reprover, “Well, you do something else that is just as bad.” Wrong never becomes right by being practised by a multitude. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 341.6
The Advocate truly says that “as for Romish customs, their very theory assumes the right of the Church to add customs and even dogmas to what is taught in the Bible.” Well, if Protestants do the same thing, as the Advocate admits they do in the case of sprinkling babies and keeping Sunday, wherein does the Protestant theory differ from the Romish? What is the use of professing to follow the Bible, if one feels at liberty to add to it at pleasure? “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him. Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” Proverbs 30:5, 6. The Swedish Bible very forcibly renders this text thus: “Make no addition to His Word, lest He smite thee as a liar.” PTUK May 30, 1895, page 341.7
“The Other Side” The Present Truth 11, 22.
E. J. Waggoner
Perhaps no place in the world is more lovely than Monte Carlo. Nature has smiled royally upon it, and man has done his utmost to turn it into a paradise of the eye. Yet this outward beauty is only a snare to lure men on to gamble at the tables set temptingly forth in the feverish atmosphere. No one will be deterred from trying his luck at the tables by the “croaking” of others, but perhaps one who had taken the following prescription would have little desire even to play and win. Says M. Botham Edwards:— PTUK May 30, 1895, page 347.1
The traveller is advised to take train to Monaco and arrived at the little station, whisper his errand in the cab-driver’s ear, “Drive me to the suicides’ cemetery!” PTUK May 30, 1895, page 347.2
A French cemetery, with its wreaths of beadwork and artificial violets, has ever a most depressing appearance. That of Monaco is like any other; we find the usual magnificence and usual tinsel. Many beautiful trees, shrubs, and flowers, however, relieve the gloom, and every inch is exquisitely kept. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 347.3
Quite apart from this vast burial-ground, on the other side of the main entrance, is a small enclosure, walled in and having a gate of open ironwork always locked. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 347.4
Here, in close proximity to heaps of garden rubbish, broken bottles, and other refuse, rest the suicides of Monte Carlo, buried by the parish grave digger, without funeral and without any kind of religious ceremony. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 347.5
Each grave is marked by an upright bit of wood, somewhat larger than that by which gardeners mark their seeds, and on this is printed a number; nothing more. Apart from these are stakes driven into the ground which mark spots as yet unappropriated. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 347.6
The indescribable dreariness of the scene is heightened by two monumental stones, garlanded with wreaths and surrounded by flowers. The first records the memory of a young artisan, and was raised by his fellow-workmen; the second commemorates brotherly and sisterly affection. Both suicides were driven to self-murder by play. The remainder are mere numbers. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 347.7
There are poor gamesters as well as rich, and it is only or chiefly the poor who are put into the ground here. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 347.8
The bodies of the rich, if identified, are immediately removed, and by means of family influence, interred with religious rites. Many suicides are buried at Nice and Mentone, and the bodies of many others are conveyed to their family homes in all parts of the world. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 348.1
“News of the Week” The Present Truth 11, 22.
E. J. Waggoner
-Five hundred people were made homeless by a fire in St. Albans, Vt., U.S.A., May 20. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 350.1
-News has been received of the wreck of a Spanish steamer off the Philippine Islands, with a loss of 168 lives. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 350.2
-Fourteen men were killed and 132 entombed through an explosion at the Monongahela mines in West Virginia, U.S.A., May 31. The latter were afterwards rescued. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 350.3
-About a million signatures have been affixed to petitions against the Welsh Disestablishment Bill, which have been forwarded to Parliament, while less than a thousand have, it is said, been received in its favour. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 350.4
-Severe earthquake shocks were felt May 18 at Florence, Bologna, Grassina, Lapaggi, San Martino, and other places in Italy. At San Martino a church was destroyed and a number of people were buried in the ruins. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 350.5
-It is reported that in a German town where there has been much malicious gossip, a Society for the Suppression of Scandal has been formed, which will take up slanders and run them to earth, the Society defraying the cost. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 350.6
-In the United States therefore 49,000 Methodist churches and 40,000 Baptist churches. The latter denomination has a membership of about 4,000,000, of which 1,000,000 are blacks. The value of Methodist Church property is ?30,000,000 PTUK May 30, 1895, page 350.7
-It is computed that 400,000 dead larks are sold for food every year in Leadenhall Market alone. It is not surprising, therefore, that a growing scarcity of these beautiful singers should be noticed in the vicinity of London. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 350.8
-During the tea season just closing the quantity imported from China shows a falling off of nearly six and a half million pounds on that of last year, while the amount from India shows no change, and that from Ceylon an increase of one million pounds. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 350.9
-In Italy, quails are packed alive in boxes for shipment to the London market, and as a result great numbers of them die on the way from thirst and close confinement. Owing to the outcry raised against this cruelty to animals, France has forbidden such shipments across her territory, and they are now sent by way of Switzerland. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 350.10
-In America steam is fast being superseded by electricity as a power for locomotion. Several electric railway lines are under construction in various States, and an Inter-Oceanic Electric Railway has been incorporated in Illinois with a capital of 200,000,000 dollars. It will construct an elevated electric railway between Chicago and New York, and finally from Chicago to the Pacific. American engineers seem to he all agreed that steam railways are doomed within a quarter of a century, so far as America is concerned. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 350.11
-The question of “clerical propaganda” in the French army was recently raised in the French Chamber of Deputies, by a member who alleged that the commander of one army corps compelled his men to attend religious services. In reply M. Ribot, the Premier, said the Government did not desire to make any encroachment on freedom of conscience. Military commanders ought to afford their men facilities to perform their religious duties, but they ought not to exercise any pressure. Soldiers were not permitted to join any association whatsoever, and the Government would not tolerate any proselytism in the army. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 350.12
-Twenty-nine nationalities are represented in a New York public grammar school. There are in the primary and grammar departments of this school 1,300 children, and at the last census there were represented among them Hebrews, Italians, Germans, Irish, Greeks, Russians, Poles, French, Scotch, English, Welsh, Swiss, Chinese, Sicilians, Assyrians, Tunisians (North Africa), Javanese, Congo West Indians, Cubans, Norwegians, Swedes, Austrians, Hungarians, Herzegovinians, Wallachians, Moldavians, Egyptians, Danes, and Armenians. Not more than ten per cent. of these children speak English in their homes. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 350.13
“Back Page” The Present Truth 11, 22.
E. J. Waggoner
The very ultimate attainment of foolish credulity is the belief that the Word of God is a lie. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 352.1
The natives of Yoruba country, West Africa, called beer and spirits epe oyibo, which means “the white man’s curse.” PTUK May 30, 1895, page 352.2
The Lord never takes back His gifts to men unless they are refused. What He gives us of His love and His Spirit is meant to be ours throughout eternity; and it is His pleasure to add to His gifts continually. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 352.3
At the annual meeting of the Peace Society Mr. Chalmers, of New Guinea, told of the eagerness with which the native Christians urged him to send one of their teachers to Europe, when the Franco-Prussian war broke out “to tell the people there how wicked it was to fight.” PTUK May 30, 1895, page 352.4
One item from our publication department this week may interest our readers. The retail value of publications set out last month was over ?2,000. As every page is designed to lead people to study the Word, we are glad to see the circulation of books and papers extending. But it is the Word that must do the work. The one object of all the preaching and every page that is written, in true Gospel work, is to call attention to what the Word of the Lord says. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 352.5
In an interview accorded to a London newspaper correspondent the Queen of Madagascar makes it plain that the only cause of the war with France is that France wants the country and means to have it. “Is it not better,” said the Prime Minister, “that each nation should keep to their own land, and that there should be no more war or bloodshed?” Why not? It seems to the simple natives that this is the simplest of problems; but they do not understand the insatiable earth-hunger of the great Powers which must be satisfied even though homes are desolated, and whole peoples dispossessed of the land of their fathers. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 352.6
A meeting was held in London last week to protest against the report of the Royal Commission on Opium, which was a defence of the traffic. There is of course no defence whatever for it; for opium is a poison, and the effect of the habit in all its hideousness can be seen on every side in India and China. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 352.7
The blackest record in the history of the opium traffic is that of its introduction into China, where millions of victims are being sacrificed to it. In the last Review of Reviews a writer gave a character sketch of Li Hung Chang, from which it may be seen how the memory of the introduction of the opium curse still prejudices intelligent Chinese people against Christian missionary effort:— PTUK May 30, 1895, page 352.8
The theory of the body of men and women coming over the seas to strange land and enduring hardships for the good of the people was something that no Chinese intellect could comprehend-not even the intellect of Li Hung Chang. There must be some ulterior purpose. And he would insist upon associating the Gospel with the sword, and see in the devoted persons who stood on the highways and preached Christ the man who had battered down the Taku pride and forced opium upon China. I cannot call it altogether obliquity of vision. It was rather an unfortunate coincidence of circumstance. The faith of the Bible was compelled to bear in his eyes the stain of the sword. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 352.9
The New York American Sentinel reports the indictment of a Seventh-day Adventist in the State of Georgia for working on Sunday, under a law which provides that PTUK May 30, 1895, page 352.10
All moneys arising from fines imposed for offences, the gist of which consists in their being committed on the Sabbath day [meaning Sunday] shall be paid to the ordinary of the county, to be by him distributed for the purpose of establishing and promoting Sabbath-schools in the county. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 352.11
But as Seventh-day Adventists do not pay fines inflicted for Sabbath-keeping, the Sunday-schools of the county are not likely to be enriched by this means, however they may be languishing for funds. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 352.12
The Apostle James tells us that “the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” James 3:8. Speaking of men in their unconverted state, the Apostle Paul writes: “Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips.” Romans 3:13. Thus in the unregenerated nature we have the picture of a serpent, the agency by which Eve was beguiled, and the poison of sin introduced into the world. As the serpent was the agency of Satan in Eden, so the unconverted man has been his agency since that time; and the one agency is very much like the other. Many a proud man and woman carries, unwittingly, a serpent’s tongue and fangs, more deadly than those of cobra or asp. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 352.13
“He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” Proverbs 16:32. The heart is a stronger citadel than a walled city, because it is held by Satan; and its capture is a greater victory than was ever achieved by human power. But none need be discouraged, for even while this citadel is in the possession of Satan, God gives us the power to surrender it to Him, and it is this surrender that drives the devil out. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 352.14
The only One who can conquer Satan is the Lord. Then if the Lord is in you when the devil comes with his temptations, he will be conquered; but if not, you will be conquered. “Submit yourselves therefore to God; resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” PTUK May 30, 1895, page 352.15
“The environment makes the man,” declared one of the leaders in the Labour movement to an interviewer the other day. The notion that people would be right and do the right if only surrounded by favourable conditions entirely overlooks the real cause of all the misery and evil-sin. Adam and Eve in Eden were not proof against sin when they trusted in self, and all the wrongs of the world were wrapped up in that sin. What men need is what the Lord has provided for all-a Gospel that saves from sin. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 352.16
“Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man,” although he be the highest dignitary in the Church. Lucifer, as covering cherub, stood next to God; and the angels that put their trust in him, fell; and so will every one who trusts in any other being than the Lord. Psalm 146:3, 4. PTUK May 30, 1895, page 352.17