The Present Truth, vol. 11
July 18, 1895
“The Spirit and the Word” The Present Truth 11, 29.
E. J. Waggoner
The Spirit and the Word.—“He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God; for He giveth not the Spirit by measure.” John 3:34, R.V. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 449.1
In the common version the words “unto him” are added, although they are not in the text, as is indicated by their being in italics. However, it makes really no difference whether they are in or not, for the meaning is the same either way. The plainly expressed idea is that God gives the Spirit without measure unto the one whom He sends, and who fulfils his mission by speaking the words of God. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 449.2
Of course there is no question but that this refers primarily to Christ. God “sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:10. God had said to Moses concerning Christ, “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put My words into His mouth; and He shall speak unto them all that I shall command Him.” Deuteronomy 18:18. So Jesus said, “Whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto Me, so I speak.” John 12:50. And again, “The word which ye hear is not Mine, but the Father’s which sent Me.” John 14:24. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 449.3
It was “through the eternal Spirit” that Jesus offered Himself to God. Hebrews 9:14. It was by the Spirit, therefore, that He spoke. But the word was not simply in His mouth but in His heart. The testimony of Christ was, “I delight to do Thy will, O My God; yea, Thy law is within My heart. I have preached righteousness in the great, congregation; lo, I have not refrained My lips, O Lord, Thou knowest.” Psalm 40:8, 9. The word being in His heart, it guided all His acts as well as His speech; so that Jesus both lived and spoke the words of God. And the Spirit was with Him without measure, both to speak and to do whatever the Father required of Him. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 449.4
But Jesus said of His disciples, “As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.” John 17:18. He said also, “I have given them Thy word.” Verse 14. Because He whom God has sent is sent to speak the word of God. This word of testimony cannot be truly spoken except by the Spirit; for “no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.” 1 Corinthians 12:3. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 449.5
The word of truth cannot be spoken unless it fills the heart; “for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Matthew 12:34. See also Deuteronomy 6:6, 7. Therefore it is evident that he who truly speaks the word of God, lives the word of God. Such an one lives “by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” He does not slight one precept. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 449.6
Now comes in the fulness of the promise that he who fulfils the mission on which he is sent, namely, to speak the word of God, will have the Spirit without measure. It is for this special purpose that the Spirit was promised and given. Jesus said, “Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto Me, both in Jerusalem, and in Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth.” Acts 1:8. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 449.7
The Spirit was manifested in the church without limit, as long as the church held forth the Word of God. It was only when the professed people of God turned from the mission from which they were sent, leaving the Word of God for fables, that the powerful manifestations of the Spirit disappeared. Would you have to the fire the baptism of the Holy Ghost? Give yourself wholly to the Word of God, to hold it forth in its wholeness and perfection, and the Spirit will be given without measure. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 449.8
“Everything from Heaven” The Present Truth 11, 29.
E. J. Waggoner
When John the Baptist was reminded by some of his disciples that his influence among the people was waning, and that the multitudes were flocking to Jesus, he replied, “A man can receive nothing, except it be given him heaven.” John 3:27. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 449.9
If the truth of this answer were recognised and believed by all men, there would be a perfect condition of society. It is well worth studying. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 449.10
In the first place, it shows us the uselessness of seeking a position and influence for ourselves. “A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.” Therefore he does not really possess that which he has gained, by his own self-seeking. Or, to put it more correctly, that which one gets, by his own selfish seeking, is nothing. Whoever, therefore, seeks position and influence for himself, is pursuing a shadow. Such seeking is worse than useless. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 449.11
Again, the will of heaven towards us cannot be thwarted by any other person. The reception of the gifts of heaven depends solely upon ourselves. If we are willing to receive what heaven has for us, no person on earth can stay it from bestowing them. Therefore it follows that we shall most certainly have everything that the God of heaven wishes us to have. A belief of this would produce perfect contentment in us. Moreover, if any position or influence is taken from us, we may know that it was taken by the will of heaven. We are not to blame men for it. Even the man who may possess it instead of us is not to be blamed. If there be any blame, we are the ones to whom it belongs. God may have taken it away because we did not use it properly. Or there may be no blame at all, but the purpose for which God gave it to us may have been served. But in any case we are not to blame men for what we have lost, since gifts are only at God’s disposal. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 449.12
With these words of John we may place those written by the Apostle James, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17. Therefore we need not mourn if we lose the position which was good, and which offered such facilities for serving God; because when it goes we may know that it would not be good for us any more. Not only are we certain to have every good thing that God has for us, if we are willing to receive it, but everything that comes from God is good. “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God.” Who cannot see that it is worse than foolish to complain when good comes to him? PTUK July 18, 1895, page 450.1
“Let good or ill befall,
It must be good for me,
Secure of having Thee in all,
Of having all in Thee.”
PTUK July 18, 1895, page 450.2
One thing more should be learned, and that is not to boast. Since a man can receive nothing except that which is given him from heaven, what wickedness it is to boast of any gifts that we may possess. “Who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” 1 Corinthians 4:7. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 450.3
He who remembers that God gives only good things, and everything that is good, and who lives in constant recognition of the fact that he is dependent on heaven alone, and who therefore commits himself to the heavenly keeping will, though poor and unknown, find even on earth the riches and satisfaction of heaven. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 450.4
“They Do Not Agree” The Present Truth 11, 29.
E. J. Waggoner
The religious papers are now publishing with warm approval a letter from the late Professor Dana the eminent geologist, concerning the relation of evolution to Christianity. Following is a portion of the letter:— PTUK July 18, 1895, page 450.5
While admitting the derivation of man from an inferior species, I believe that there is a divine creative act at the origin of man; that the event was as truly a creation as if it had been from the earth or inorganic matter to man. I find nothing in the belief to impair or disturb my religious faith-that is, my faith in Christ as the source of all hope for time and for eternity. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 450.6
But the Bible says that “God formed man of the dust of the ground.” Genesis 2:7. This was written by Moses, of whom Christ said, “If ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe My words?” John 5:47. Since the theory of evolution directly contradicts the Scriptures, and Christ identifies Himself with the Scriptures, it is evident that a belief in evolution is utterly incompatible with perfect faith in Christ. He who ignores one plain statement of the Bible, thereby denies the authority of the entire Bible. Evolution and Christianity are as much opposed to each other as darkness and light. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 450.7
“As in Noah’s Days” The Present Truth 11, 29.
E. J. Waggoner
“As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.” Luke 17:26. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 450.8
How was it in the days of Noah? The record tells us that “they did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.” In other words, they were pursuing their accustomed rounds of business and pleasure, as though nothing unusual were coming. And all this time Noah was preaching the message of a coming flood, by which the world would be destroyed. He was proclaiming the word of the Lord; but they regarded it not. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 450.9
Among those who perished in the flood were many wise men, after the worldly sort,—men of great intellectual power and high mental attainments. The giant strength and long life of the men of that age gave them the opportunity to attain great knowledge; and men trusted in their own knowledge, which laughed at the idea of a flood, rather than in the simple word of the Lord. In this respect, and others as well, the present age presents a parallel with that of Noah. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 450.10
In the midst of their self-glorification, “the flood came, and took them all away.” In this respect, also, the present age will be parallel to that of Noah. When the Son of man comes, there will also come destruction upon the earth, and not a “temporal millennium.” God warned the antediluvian world by a special message; He cannot send another destruction without a like warning. A special message must therefore precede the “days of the Son of man.” But the world will go on in its accustomed way, planning for a continuation of this present state, justified in its course by worldly wisdom. And when men will be saying, “Peace and safety,” sudden destruction will come upon them, and they will not escape.” 1 Thessalonians 5:3. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 450.11
The all-important question, therefore, for every individual, is, What saith the Word of the Lord? What men say,—even the most learned of them,—is not to be compared with this. “The world by wisdom knew not God,” and still knows Him not. The wisdom of man cannot comprehend God, His purposes and His ways. If we trust to that wisdom, we shall surely be overtaken without shelter by the coming storm. We may choose between that and the Word of God to the present world, which is giving them a special message of warning that the end of all things is at hand. The Word of the Lord is plain and simple; do not be too wise to believe it. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 450.12
“Destroyed from the Lord’s Presence” The Present Truth 11, 29.
E. J. Waggoner
The Psalmist, addressing the Lord, inquires, “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.” Psalm 139:7, 8. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 450.13
But of the wicked we read that they “shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power.” 2 Thessalonians 1:9. The presence of the Lord, when He manifests the glory of His power, causes the destruction of the wicked; and as His presence is everywhere, and will be manifested in the glory of His power against the wicked in the day of vengeance, the fate of the wicked can be nothing else but utter destruction. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 450.14
“Our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:26), and when that fire comes down from God out of heaven upon all the wicked, in the last great Judgment, it devours them as the flame licks up chaff, and makes an eternal end of them and of sin. Revelation 20:9. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 451.1
“Consider Jesus Christ” The Present Truth 11, 29.
E. J. Waggoner
In the first verse of the third chapter of Hebrews we have an exhortation which comprehends all the injunctions given to the Christian. It is this: “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.” To do this as the Bible enjoins, to consider Christ continually and intelligently, just as He is, will transform one into a perfect Christian, for “by beholding we become changed.” PTUK July 18, 1895, page 451.2
The exhortation to consider Jesus, and also the reason therefor, are given in Hebrews 12:1-3:— PTUK July 18, 1895, page 451.3
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” PTUK July 18, 1895, page 451.4
It is only by constantly and prayerfully considering Jesus as He is revealed in the Bible, that we can keep from becoming weary in well-doing, and from fainting by the way. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 451.5
HOW SHALL WE CONSIDER CHRIST?
But how should we consider Christ?—Just as He has revealed Himself to the world; according to the witness which He bore concerning Himself. In that marvellous discourse recorded in the fifth chapter of John, Jesus said: “For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom He will. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son; that all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent Him.” Verses 21-23. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 451.6
To Christ is committed the highest prerogatives, that of judging. He must receive the same honour that is due to God, because He is God. The beloved disciple bears this witness: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1. That this Divine Word is none other than Jesus Christ is shown by verse 14: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.” PTUK July 18, 1895, page 451.7
The Word was “in the beginning.” The mind of man cannot grasp the ages that are spanned in that phrase. It is not given to men to know when or how the Son was begotten; but we know that He was the Divine Word, not simply before He came to this earth to die, but even before the world was created. Just before His crucifixion He prayed, “And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was.” John 17:5. And more than seven hundred years before His first advent, His coming was thus foretold by the word of inspiration: “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose going forth hath been from of old, from the days of eternity.” Micah 5:2, margin. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 451.8
CHRIST IS GOD
In many places in the Bible Christ is called God. The Psalmist says:— PTUK July 18, 1895, page 451.9
“The mighty God, even the Lord Jehovah hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence; a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about Him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people. Gather My saints together unto Me; those that have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice. And the heavens shall declare His righteousness; for God is judge Himself.” Psalm 50:1-6. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 451.10
That this passage has reference to Christ may be known (1) by the fact already learned, that all judgment is committed to the Son; and (2) by the fact that it is at the second coming of Christ that He sends His angels to gather together His elect from the four winds. Matthew 24:31. “Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence.” No; for when the Lord Himself descends from heaven, it will be “with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16. This shout will be the voice of the Son of God, which will be heard by all that are in their graves, and which will cause them to come forth. John 5:28, 29. With the living righteous they will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, ever more to be with Him; and this will constitute “our gathering together unto Him.” 2 Thessalonians 2:1. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 451.11
“A fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about Him;” for when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, it will be “in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thessalonians 1:8. So we know that Psalm 50:1-6 is a vivid description of the second coming of Christ for the salvation of His people. When He comes it will be as “the mighty God.” PTUK July 18, 1895, page 451.12
This is one of His rightful titles. Long before Christ’s first advent, the prophet Isaiah spoke these words of comfort to Israel: “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 451.13
These are not simply the words of Isaiah; they are the words of the Spirit of God. God has, in direct address to the Son, called Him by the same title. In Psalm 65:6 we read these words: “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; the sceptre of Thy kingdom is a right sceptre.” The casual reader might take this to be simply the Psalmist’s ascription of praise to God; but when we turn to the New Testament, we find that it is much more. We find that God the Father is the speaker, and that He is addressing the Son, calling Him God. See Hebrews 1:1-8. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 451.14
THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON
This name was not given to Christ in consequence of some great achievement, but it is His by right of inheritance. Speaking of the power and greatness of Christ, the writer to the Hebrews says that He is made so much better than the angels, because “He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” Hebrews 1:4. A son always rightfully takes the name of the father; and Christ, as “the only begotten Son of God,” has rightfully the same name. A son, also, is to a greater or lesser degree, a reproduction of the father; he has, to some extent, the features and personal characteristics of his father; not perfectly, because there is no perfect reproduction among mankind. But there is no imperfection in God, or in any of His works; and so Christ is the “express image” of the Father’s person. Hebrews 1:3. As the Son of the self-existent God, He has by nature all the attributes of Deity. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 451.15
It is true that there are many sons of God; but Christ is the “only begotten Son of God,” and therefore the Son of God in a sense in which no other being ever was, or ever can be. The angels are sons of God, as was Adam (Job 38:7; Luke 3:38), by creation; Christians are the sons of God by adoption (Romans 8:14, 15); but Christ is the Son of God by birth. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 452.1
Christ Himself taught in the most emphatic manner that He is God. When the young men came and asked, “Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” Jesus, before replying to the direct question, said: “Why callest thou Me good? there is none good but One, that is, God.” Mark 10:17, 18. What did Jesus mean by these words? Did He mean to disclaim the epithet as applied to Himself? Was it a modest depreciation of Himself?—By no means; for Christ was absolutely good. To the Jews, who were continually watching to detect in Him some fault of which they might accuse Him, He boldly said, “Which of you convinceth Me of sin?” John 8:46. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 452.2
Christ cannot deny Himself, therefore He could not say that He was not good. He is and was absolutely good, the perfection of goodness. And since there is none good but God, and Christ is good, it follows that Christ is God, and that is what He meant to teach the young man. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 452.3
It was this that He taught the disciples. When Phillip said to Jesus, “Show us the Father, and it sufficeth us,” Jesus said to him: “Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?” John 14:8, 9. This is as emphatic as when He said, “I and My Father are one.” John 10:30. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 452.4
The Jews did not misunderstand Christ’s teaching concerning Himself. When He declared that He was one with the Father, the Jews took up stones to stone Him; and when He asked them for which of His good works they sought to stone Him, they replied: “For a good work we stone Thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that Thou being a man, makest Thyself God.” John 10:38. If He had been what they regarded Him, a mere man, His words would indeed have been blasphemy; but He was God. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 452.5
The object of Christ in coming to earth was to reveal God to men, so that they might come to Him. Thus the Apostle Paul says that “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself” (2 Corinthians 5:19); and in John we read that the Word, which was God, was “made flesh.” John 1:1, 14. In the same connection it is stated, “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him” (or made Him known). John 1:18. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 452.6
Note the expression, “the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father.” He has His abode there, and He is there as a part of the Godhead, as surely when on earth as when in heaven. The use of the present tense implies continued existence. It presents the same idea that is contained in the statement of Jesus to the Jews (John 8:58), “Before Abraham was, I am.” And this again shows His identity with the One who appeared to Moses in the burning bush, who declares His name to be “I AM.” PTUK July 18, 1895, page 452.7
And, finally, we have the inspired words of the Apostle Paul concerning Jesus Christ, that “it please the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell.” Colossians 1:19. What this fulness is, which dwells in Christ, we learn from the next chapter, where we are told that “In Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” Colossians 2:9. This is most absolute and unequivocal testimony to the fact that Christ possesses by nature all the attributes of Divinity. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 452.8
“Faith Works” The Present Truth 11, 29.
E. J. Waggoner
Faith is shown not by words, but by deeds. Jesus said, “Why call ye Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things that I say?” Luke 6:46. Men may talk very eloquently about Christ and the Christian life, they may discourse beautifully concerning the meaning of Scripture, and make a fine show of doing Christian work; but if obedience is lacking where they know there is a plain injunction of the Lord, they are worse sinners than those who make no profession of serving Christ. For their apparent piety is but a false light to delude others and lead them into the same disobedience. Many who have prophesied in Christ’s name, and in His name cast out devils and done many wonderful works, will find themselves at the last day among the workers of iniquity, to whom Christ says, “Depart;” “I know you not.” Abraham believe God, and he obeyed Him; and the children of Abraham are known to-day by the same sign. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 452.9
“Where Rome Rules” The Present Truth 11, 29.
E. J. Waggoner
One of our South American canvassers, who is working in Colombia, sends to a contemporary a copy of a circular letter to the priests in the diocese of Bogota, issued by the Archbishop. It closes with the following directions, which show Rome’s real attitude toward liberty of thought in places where she dares speak out:— PTUK July 18, 1895, page 452.10
In the exercise of our authority, we decree that you persistently communicate and explain to the faithful the following points:— PTUK July 18, 1895, page 452.11
1st. Apostates from the Christian faith incur the penalty of excommunication, latea sentencia reserved especially to the Roman pontiff, and with them all heretics, of whatever name or sect, and all who believe, harbour, aid or defend them; also schismatics, and all who obstinately depart from the obedience of the Roman pontiff. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 452.12
2nd. The same penalty is incurred by all who knowingly read, without the authority of the holy see, books of the said apostates and heretics, wherein their heresy is defended, or books of authors which are expressly forbidden, also those who keep, print, or in any manner defend them. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 452.13
3rd. No Catholic can, without committing mortal sin and incurring the other penalties imposed by the Church, send his sons, daughters, or those dependent upon them, or go himself to any establishment or school founded and known in this city by the name of the “American College for Boys and Girls;” nor can he give aid or help in any like educational institutions. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 452.14
5th. It is highly unlawful for all Catholics to co-operate or assist in any Protestant ceremony, funeral, etc., performed in the church or out of it. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 452.15
6th. The faithful who receive or have in their possession, tracts, leaflets, periodicals, such as the Evangelism Colombiano, and El Progreso of New York; Bibles or books of whatever class printed within or out of the Republic, which are distributed or sold by Protestant missionaries, or, their agents, or any other bookseller, are positively obliged to deliver said books to their respective parish priest, or send them to the archbishopric. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 452.16
Of the effect of this our brother says: “The effect of the circular has been to increase the attendance at the college. In my own work it has given the opportunity to more readily place tracts in the hands of the people. Yesterday in one of the parks I gave some tracts to two gentlemen, and meeting them a little later asked them how they liked them. They said they liked those they had read very well. In the course of the conversation which followed one said: ‘I had a large Bible and some Latin books which I valued very highly, but one day a priest came to my father’s house, accompanied by a policeman, and took my books away.’ For a Colombian there is little or no relief in such cases. The Church is the conservator of social order, as is stated in the Constitution of the country; and when it says that anything is contrary to social order the Government must prohibit, as it is bound to protect the Church and see that it is respected.” PTUK July 18, 1895, page 453.1
“Changing Our Mind” The Present Truth 11, 29.
E. J. Waggoner
It is not always an easy thing to change one’s mind. The ease with which a step may be taken depends largely upon whether the direction be up or down; and many a person indulges himself in a downward course under the impression that when the danger line is reached he can change his mind and retrace his steps. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 454.1
Such persons should take warning from the case of Esau. The bent of his mind was shown in the selling of his birthright to Jacob for a mess of pottage. Afterwards Esau would have changed his mind, when he saw the blessing that would have been his by inheritance, but he could not. We read that “he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.” Hebrews 12:17. The margin reads, “no way to change his mind.” That which he had lost was gone beyond his recall. He found no way to put himself back again in the place where by his choice he could have made the blessing his. That choice was the choice of faith, and the blessing that which comes to the believer in the Gospel; but Esau did not have faith; he was a profane person, and what God had made sacred, was in his eyes no better than things which were common. It was thus he “despised his birthright.” It was no better in his eyes than a mess of pottage. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 454.2
Any man can of himself step downward-away from God-but only the grace of God can enable any man to step upward. Any man can change his mind so that it will incline more strongly to evil, but no human power can turn it back again to the love of the pure and good. That can be done only by the power of God. And therefore any man who thinks to change his mind at his own pleasure and convenience is counting on a power which he does not possess or control. He is thinking to make the choice of faith by his own will. He is preparing himself to realise the terrible truth of the wise man’s words, “His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.” Proverbs 5:22. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 454.3
Profanity-the lowering of that which is sacred to the level of things common-prevails everywhere among men to-day. But few esteem their birthright above the value of the temporal, perishing things of this world. By our choice now we may have the birthright of sons of God. 1 John 3:1. “He that overcometh shall inherit all things,” and eternity will be the period of his employment of them. Revelation 21:7. But whether we shall properly esteem this birthright or not, is a question of our faith. If we view it with the eye of faith, we shall see it as it is; but if with the natural understanding only, it will appear to us as it did to Esau, and we shall repeat his folly. And when at last circumstances force upon the mind of the one who does so a sense of the blessing which he might have seen before by faith, he will find no way to change his mind; for faith does not come in that way, but only by yielding to the gentle voice of the Holy Spirit. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 454.4
Esau desired the blessing; he was greatly troubled, and wept over it; but he did not change his mind. He continued the same faithless, wicked person that he had been before, his first thought for the future being that of revenge upon his brother Jacob. “The sorrow of the world worketh death.” There is no virtue in worldly tears and lamentations. There is no way of safety but to listen and yield to the gentle Voice while we hear its pleading. “To-day, if ye will hear His voice, harden not your heart.” PTUK July 18, 1895, page 454.5
“News of the Week” The Present Truth 11, 29.
E. J. Waggoner
-Sunday wicket playing on Clapham Common has been prohibited by the London County Council. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 462.1
-This year is said to be the driest year in IreIand within living memory. The dry weather has suited the potato crop. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 462.2
-An epidemics of suicide which is alleged to prevail at the present time, is attributed by pathologists to the hot weather. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 462.3
-About forty persons were killed or injured by a collision of trains filled with Roman Catholic pilgrims near Quebec, July 9. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 462.4
-Forty workmen perished, July 9, through the sinking of a caisson of the great bridge in course of construction at Nag-el-Hamad, Egypt. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 462.5
-It is reported that the projected Chinese loan from Russia is likely to prove a failure, owing, it is supposed, to British influence at Pekin. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 462.6
-A hurricane destroyed the Roumanian village of Olanesci, July 6. About a dozen persons perished by the flooding of the rivers in the vicinity. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 462.7
-Forest fires have been ravaging the interior of Newfoundland, have destroyed the railway settlement at Norris Arm, and have swept 80 miles of timber lands. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 462.8
-An extensive plot against the life of the Czar is said to have boon discovered in Moscow. Eight arrests have been made, six of the accused being Nihilists recently pardoned. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 462.9
-China has begun the restoration of her fallen navy by placing orders for two ironclads of 8,000 tons, and two cruisers of 4,000 tons each, with firms in England and Germany. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 462.10
-The French Chamber of Deputies have adopted a proposal for the establishment of a permanent tribunal to arbitrate in oases of dispute between France and the United States. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 462.11
-July 6 and 7, severe storms prevailed in several States in America, in some places assuming a cyclonic character, doing much damage to property, and causing considerable loss of life. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 462.12
-A disastrous fire has occurred in the Russian town of Sambrow, in the Government of Lomscha. Two hundred and thirty houses were burned down, and over 2,000 persons are rendered homeless. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 462.13
-Serious disturbances, which involved considerable loss of life and required the interference of the military forces, are retreated between Mohammedans and “Christians” in the island of Crete. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 462.14
-News from the Cuban insurrection reports several small victories of the Spanish troops over the revolutionists. Marshal Campos, the Spanish commander, has issued an order that all rebels captured bearing arms shall be shot. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 462.15
-The Kurds are reported to be continuing their depredations in the Armenian district of Van. The funds are being distributed amongst the Sassoun villagers. Fresh insurgent bands are stated to have been formed in Macedonia. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 462.16
-The husband and relatives charged with burning a supposed witch to death at Clonmel have been sentenced, the husband to twenty years’ penal servitude, and the six other men to terms ranging from five years to six months. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 462.17
-Antiquarians are puzzled over a discovery recorded from Hungary. An architect claims to have unearthed evidences that the ancient Romano understood, as early as the second century, the art of printing and made use of moveable types, some of which are said to have have discovered during excavations at a Roman encampment. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 462.18
-In Boston, U.S.A., July 4, a Protestant procession carrying a model of a public school building surmounted by the American flag, was regarded by Irish Catholics as an insult to Rome, and was attacked by them accordingly. One person was killed and others injured in the riot that followed. Another riot of like nature is reported from Indiana, at a place where the Catholics were holding a large “picnic.” PTUK July 18, 1895, page 462.19
“Back Page” The Present Truth 11, 29.
E. J. Waggoner
One of our book canvassers in India writes of a native preacher who walked sixty miles to Madras to purchase a copy of one of our books. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 464.1
Moscow correspondents report that the officials of the Russian Church are holding special inquisitions in some of the southern provinces, and many Protestants are being exiled to the desolate regions of the Transcaucuses. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 464.2
People very naturally ask, How did it happen that in the early centuries the Sabbath was dropped in the confusion of the great apostasy and the Sunday taken up in its stead? A full and complete study of the question will be found in the pamphlet: “Sunday: the Origin of Its Observance,” price 6d., post free. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 464.3
The Mohammedans are swarming to Mecca, the Buddhist visits his shrines, and this, too, is the season for Roman Catholic pilgrimages to Rome and the many shrines of the Church. This idolatry of place all comes from the same pagan source, the ancient pilgrimages to the shrines of the gods. The Christian does not need to go to some special locality to find the Lord specially near. The word is, “Lo, I am with you alway,” and “unto the uttermost part of the earth.” PTUK July 18, 1895, page 464.4
The love that makes the burden light is illustrated in the following story, related by the late Dr. Macgregor. He met in a great Scotch city a little girl carrying in her arms a baby so bonny that she fairly staggered under its weight. “Baby’s heavy, isn’t he, dear?” Said the doctor. “No,” replied the little girl, “he’s not heavy; he’s my brother.” PTUK July 18, 1895, page 464.5
A few weeks ago we noted the fact that a deputation of ministers and others had waited upon the Government of Cape Town demanding the enforcement of stricter Sunday laws. The Cape Times now reports the proceedings of a deputation representative of the Seventh-day Adventists of South Africa, which waited upon the Premier and Treasurer-General, not to petition for any favours or exemptions, but to protest on Christian principles against all Sunday laws or other religious legislation. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 464.6
The following paragraph from the Times report shows the principles on either side of the question:— PTUK July 18, 1895, page 464.7
Sir. G. Sprigg: Do you object to the law forbidding Sunday trading? PTUK July 18, 1895, page 464.8
The Rev. Mr. Robinson: We object in principle to any Sunday law. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 464.9
Sir G. Sprigg: You made use of the expression that you object to what you call religious laws. You object, then, to the law which was passed to support religion-to support the principles of religion? PTUK July 18, 1895, page 464.10
The Rev. Mr. Robinson: Yes. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 464.11
Sir. G. Sprigg: That is the difference between us, and not simply between us, but between you and the community generally. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 464.12
One has only to see the statement in cold print to recognise the absurdity of it. Fancy the Lord establishing a faith which requires the support of human laws, or that can be so supported. Christ’s kingdom “is not of this world,” and none of the powers of this world can support it or legislate for it. No one who knows the things of that kingdom, with its righteousness, peace, and joy, could for a moment think of using the sword in its promulgation, and that is what is done when human law is appealed to. That is what the powers of this world, whenever they have tried to “support the principles of religion,” have always supported the religion of the “god of this world,” and his religion is to fight against God’s law and kingdom. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 464.13
Idleness is not necessarily lost. There are no people in the world so restless as those who have nothing to do. Even so idleness on the Sabbath day is not a proof that the Sabbath is kept. God is Spirit. His rest is spiritual rest. The seventh day is the Sabbath, or rest, of the Lord. He who truly keeps the Sabbath of the Lord, is the one who finds rest from sin, through the Holy Spirit. The Christian life is a life of restfulness, because it is a life of service of and with the Lord. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 464.14
The question of religious instruction is just now an exciting one in Canada. It having been decided that it is the proper thing for the State to look after religious instruction, the Catholics having the greatest influence in the Dominion Parliament had decided that Manitoba must grant separate schools for the Catholics, supported from State funds. The province of Manitoba being largely Protestant has refused to obey the order, and a Reuter’s despatch says:— PTUK July 18, 1895, page 464.15
Three thousand Orangemen from Manitoba and the territories unanimously passed a resolution to-day to resist with their blood and their lives if necessary the attempt of the Dominion Government to force separate Catholic schools at the dictation of the Hierarchy of Quebec. Resolutions were also passed, calling upon all English members of the Dominion House of Commons from Manitoba to resign. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 464.16
This is a hint of the contest and the bitterness of feeling which must certainly follow everywhere with the reviving of the papal idea of making religion and the support and teaching of religion a matter of human legislation to be decided by majorities. When it is decided that religion is to be supported the question at once presents itself, Whose religion shall it be? And with its centuries of experience the Catholic Church can give its professedly Protestant rivals a long start and yet come out ahead in intrigue and political wire-pulling. More than ever before it is the duty of Bible Protestants to proclaim the hopelessness and the wickedness of trying to fight Rome or advance the Gospel by carnal weapons. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 464.17
“Concerning the Election” The Present Truth 11, 29.
E. J. Waggoner
The Lord Jesus Christ has nominated us as candidates for a seat of honour with Him on His throne, in the new kingdom that is to last for ever; and we are exhorted to give diligence to make our calling and election church. 2 Peter 1:10, 11. We are told also an infallible method of securing this: “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Verses 4-8. This is a matter of pressing importance for every one of us. It takes precedence of every other interest that we can have. PTUK July 18, 1895, page 464.18