The Present Truth, vol. 11

August 8, 1895

“Salvation for All” The Present Truth 11, 32.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

Salvation for All.—“This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who willeth that all men should be saved.” 1 Timothy 2:3, 4, R.V. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 497.1

Every Man.-God can desire to save all only as He desires to save each one. If He wants to save each one He must think of and care for each one. Then He is thinking of you. And all those who are finally lost will be lost because they would not let the Lord save them. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 497.2

Can You Breathe?-If you are ever tempted to think the Lord has forgotten you, draw a breath. Where does it come from?—From God, who made the earth and “giveth breath unto the people upon it.” If He were to forget you for one moment you would perish. If He sends you breath every moment, He knows where you are, and your need of Him. The fact that He gives you the breath of life shows that He cares for you. Thank Him for it. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 497.3

Over all Flesh.-In His prayer to the Father Christ said of Himself, “Thou hast given Him power over all flesh.” John 17. Here is hope for that one who is discouraged over some trait of character, some habit against which he has struggled in vain. It is one of the evils of the flesh. Christ has power over all flesh. Then He has power over your flesh. Let the struggle be to believe it constantly, to yield yourself a helpless sinner to Jesus Christ, and His power will work the deliverance. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 497.4

“Cost of Standing Armies” The Present Truth 11, 32.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

“During the most peaceful years,” says Science Siftings, “the world has 3,700,000 soldiers who are withdrawn from productive occupations to pose as soldiers. The pay, equipments, food and clothing of these men cost the world’s tax-payers nearly ?1,600,000 a day.” When we consider this with the other huge sums expended needlessly or for that which is positively harmful, we find no cause to wonder at the prevailing distress and dissatisfaction reported among the masses throughout the world. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 497.5

“‘Another Day’—‘To-Day’” The Present Truth 11, 32.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

“Again, He limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To-day, after so long a time; as it is said, To-day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” Hebrews 4:7. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 497.6

God had promised rest to the children of Israel, and He took them out of Egypt to lead them to it. Then, as now, rest could be found only by learning of the Lord. Matthew 11:28, 29. But they rebelled against Him, refusing to learn of Him, although they saw His works marvellously wrought out before their eyes. The promise of anything does not profit anyone unless it is accepted; but the children of Israel did not believe the Lord, and “so we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.” Hebrews 3:19. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 497.7

But the unbelief of men cannot make the faith of God of none effect; therefore there still remains the rest of the people of God. Though men believed not, yet He abideth faithful. The same promise of rest still remains,—nay, the rest itself remains,—and “we which have believed do enter into rest.” The rest is all prepared, and was ready even in the days of ancient Israel, for “the works were finished, from the foundation of the world.” The evidence of this is found in the statement that “God did rest the seventh day from all His works.” Hebrews 4:4. When works are all finished, rest must necessarily begin. So the rest began on the seventh day of time, when “God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good.” Genesis 1:31. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 497.8

What were the works that were finished when God rested the seventh day?—The heavens and the earth had been newly created. A garden had been planted, in which man had been caused to rest, and the dominion of the whole earth had been given him. But through unbelief that rest was lost. Man sinned; and sin brought unrest and weariness into the world, for, “the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest.” Isaiah 57:20. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 497.9

Man lost the rest, but God did not. His rest is eternal, unaffected by any action on the part of man. Moreover, God did not forsake man, nor utterly take from him the rest which he had forfeited. He gave His only Son, who “is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” 1 Corinthians 1:30. “By Him were all things created” (Colossians 1:16); and the Sabbath, that memorial of creation, and the proof that the rest of God is ready for men when they believe, is left to us, that we may know that He has the power to sanctify us. Ezekiel 20:12. The Sabbath, the identical rest into which God entered on the completion of creation, is the rest which was given to man in the new earth. It is God’s rest, and can be gained and kept by man only as he has faith in Christ. He who keeps it through faith in Christ, has the sure pledge of final possession of the earth again made new. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 497.10

It was to this possession that God was leading the children of Israel. But they could not enter in because of unbelief. Joshua did not give them rest. Hebrews 4:8, margin. But God had sworn by Himself that the rest should be given, and so “it remaineth that some must enter therein.” Therefore since they to whom it was first preached did not enter in, He still holds out the offer to all who will accept it. If the children of Israel had been real children of faithful Abraham, the rest would have been given in their day, and so the day of salvation would have closed. But they were not faithful, and since God’s promise and oath to Abraham must be fulfilled, and his seed must be as the sand on the seashore, another day of salvation was offered. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 498.1

What is this other day? Read the first text again: “Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief; again, He limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To-day, after so long a time; as it is said, To-day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” Hebrews 4:6, 7. That other day is to-day. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 498.2

Notice the statement that God “limiteth a certain day.” In speaking of “another day” God limited the time to “to-day.” Since the ancient people of Israel refused the rest which the Lord offered, God holds out another day in which we may heed the gracious call: “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,” and that day is to-day. “To-day” is the only day that God has ever promised to man in which he may accept salvation. He has offered no time of repentance after death; He has not offered some time next year, nor next week, nor even to-morrow; but only “to-day.” PTUK August 8, 1895, page 498.3

There are many who hear the word of truth, the Gospel of salvation, who think that at some future time they will accept it. They do not think that they can do so to-day, because it is not convenient. Some would like to have their own way a little longer. Others have important matters of business that they think must be attended to before they can accept. They think that they must have their plans all perfected in this world, which is soon to pass away, before they can accept the other world, which is to endure forever. They are unconsciously like the child who refuses to run from the tide which is rapidly coming in, because he has not yet completed the little house that he is building in the sand. Like the child, they forget that when the tide comes in, it will sweep away the house of sand, so that it will be the same as though it had not been built. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 498.4

Vast interests centre in to-day. In one day an eternity of rest may be gained or lost. Think of it! God has given us one day in which we may gain an endless day. Eternity against to-day. Why should anybody hesitate as to the choice? “This is the day which the Lord hath made.” It is a glad day, because in it righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost may be obtained. Let us therefore “be glad and rejoice in it.” PTUK August 8, 1895, page 498.5

“Come, weary soul, and here find rest;
Accept redemption, and be blest;
The Christ who died, by God is crowned
To pardon on redemption ground.” PTUK August 8, 1895, page 498.6

“They Cannot Be Separated” The Present Truth 11, 32.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

In the days of Jesus of Nazareth there were many who did not believe in Him, but who professed to believe in Moses. Some of them said, “We know that God spake unto Moses; as for this fellow, we know not from whence He is.” John 9:29. To the one who stood up for Jesus, they said, “Thou art His disciples; but we are Moses’ disciples.” PTUK August 8, 1895, page 498.7

But what was the actual fact?—They did not believe on Moses any more than they did on Christ. He said to them: “There is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed Me; for he wrote of Me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe My words?” John 5:45-47. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 498.8

The highest testimony given to Jesus as the One sent from God, is this which the Lord spoke to Moses: “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and I will put My words in His mouth; and He shall speak unto them all that I shall command Him. And it to come to pass, that whoever will not hearken unto My words which He shall speak in My name, I will require it of him;” he “shall be destroyed from among the people.” Deuteronomy 18:18, 19; Acts 3:23. It is evident therefore that anybody must believe in Christ if he really believes Moses. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 498.9

But there is another side. In these days we find many who profess to believe in Christ. They have no sympathy for the Jews who refuse to accept Him, and they wonder at the blindness of that people. But they do not profess to believe very much in Moses. Many of them openly appreciate his writings as out of date. If the authority of Moses is not openly discredited by them, he is at least slighted. Yet these same persons profess the most implicit faith in Christ. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 498.10

What is the position of these last?—It is precisely that of the Jews of old. Listen again to the words of Christ: “Had ye believed Moses, you would have believed Me; for he wrote of Me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe My words?” In vain are all professions of faith in Christ by those who discredit Moses. The two cannot be separated. He who believes the one must believe the other also, and he who denies the one denies the other as well; for both were sent by God with the same message. To deny Christ while professing to believe Moses is exactly the same as denying Moses while professing to believe Christ. Happy will that man be who in the Judgment shall not be condemned either by the words of Moses or of Jesus. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 498.11

“Christ’s Second Coming” The Present Truth 11, 32.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

“He comes not an infant in Bethlehem born,
He comes not to lie in a manger;
He comes not again to be treated with scorn,
He comes not a shelterless stranger;
He comes not to Gethsemane,
To weep and sweat blood in the garden;
He comes not to die on the tree,
To purchase for rebels a pardon.
Oh, no; glory, bright glory
Environs Him now.” PTUK August 8, 1895, page 499.1

“Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:1-3. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 499.2

These words were spoken by our Saviour Himself, in His talk to His disciples, in the evening of the day on which He was crucified. He had been with them in constant companionship for over three years, and besides the tie of personal love which bound them to Him, they had given Him reverence as “the Christ, the Son of the living God,” and had “trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed Israel.” They had looked for a speedy deliverance from the Roman yoke, and now consternation and grief had taken hold of their hearts as they listened to His words: “Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek Me; and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.” John 13:33. Peter voiced the common desire, and said, “Lord, whither goest Thou?” and to this question the Saviour replied, “Whither I go, thou canst not follow Me now; but thou shalt follow Me afterwards.” And then He proceeded to comfort their troubled hearts, telling them how and when they could follow Him and be with Him. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 499.3

The “glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13), is the “blessed hope” that is set before the church of Christ. It has been the hope of the church in all ages. The ancient prophets foretold in minutest detail “the sufferings of Christ,” and at His first advent the “sure word of prophecy” was fulfilled to the letter; but “the glory that should follow” was no less the theme of inspired penmen, and the followers of Christ were pointed forward to the time when His glory should be revealed, as the time when they also should “appear with Him in glory,” and “be glad also with exceeding joy.” 1 Peter 4:13; Colossians 3:4. It was with this hope that our Saviour comforted His sorrowing disciples. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 499.4

“I will come again.” This means “another time; once more.” Not thousands of times, as they would have us believe, who claim that in fulfilment of His promise He comes whenever a saint dies, but only once more will He come again, to consummate the great plan of salvation. To this the apostle bears emphatic testimony, in these words: “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the Judgment; so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Hebrews 9:27, 28. It is appointed unto men once to die; in order that men might have life, Christ was once offered for sin, bearing “our sins in His own body on the tree;” and so, when His work for sinners shall have been finished, He will come once more—“the second time”—not as a sin-bearer, but for the salvation of those, who by means of His sacrifice and mediation, have “put away sin.” PTUK August 8, 1895, page 499.5

THE MANNER OF HIS COMING

As the disciples stood gazing up into heaven after their ascending Lord, two shining ones-messengers from the heavenly courts-appeared and said to them: “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11. And how did He go into heaven? Even “while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” So His coming will be personal and visible. Said the angels, “This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.” Paul says, “The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16. It will be the same one who was baptized by John in the Jordan, and who from that day “went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil;” the same one who, wearied and faint, sat by Jacob’s well, and found refreshment in revealing to a poor sinner the fountain of living water. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 499.6

It was the knowledge that Christ Himself would come in person, that animated the patriarch in his deep affection, when he said: “For I know that My redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God; whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another.” Job 19:25-27. “Whom I shall see for myself, and not a stranger,” is the reading according to the margin. And this serves to connect the hope of the patriarch with the promise of Christ. The disciples mourned the anticipated departure of the Saviour, as that of a dear friend and companion, as well as the one who should redeem Israel; and the patriarch triumphed, even in His sore distress, and the thought that when his Redeemer should stand at the latter day upon the earth, he should see in Him a friend, and not a stranger. Happy is the man whose acquaintance with Christ is such that He can look forward to His return with the same fond anticipation. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 499.7

Jesus “shall so come in like manner” as He went into heaven. How did He go? While they beheld, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. Then when He comes a cloud will attend Him, and He will be seen. And the beloved disciple testified: “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him.” Revelation 1:7. Again he says, describing his prophetic vision: “And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle.” Revelation 14:14. Christ, speaking of the events connected with His coming, said: “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” Matthew 24:30. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 499.8

He will come as He departed. But whereas only a few saw Him go away, “every eye shall see Him” when He returns. He will come “in the glory of His Father” (Matthew 16:17), accompanied by “all the holy angels.” Matthew 25:31. He will then “sit upon the throne of His glory,” and “a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about Him.” Psalm 50:3. He shall descend “with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God” (1 Thessalonians 4:16), and “the heavens and the earth shall shake” (Joel 3:16). None will be able to hide from their eyes “the brightness of His coming;” “for as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven, so shall also the Son of man be in His day.” Luke 17:24. Surely the question, “How will He come?” is sufficiently answered. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 500.1

THE PURPOSE OF HIS COMING

Why will He come? Because if He should not come the second time, His first coming would have been in vain. Said He, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” He comes to take to Himself the purchase of His own blood. He has gone to prepare a place for those who become His friends indeed, and He will come and take them to it. His coming will be the great consummation of the plan of salvation. In vain would be all His sufferings for men, if He should not return to complete that which He has begun. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 500.2

Christ’s words imply that if He should not come, His disciples could not be with Him. Notice: He said He would come to receive them to Himself, that (in order that) where He was there they might be also. The object of His coming is to take His people to Himself. Now it is evident that Christ does not do things that are unnecessary, but it would be unnecessary for Him to come for His people, if they could be with Him without His coming. Not only so, but it would be the height of folly for Him to come for His disciples if they went to be with Him when they died, hundreds of years ago. So the fact that Christ will come for His people, is evidence that they cannot be with Him until He comes. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 500.3

Since Christ’s followers cannot be with Him until He comes, then they all will receive their reward at the same time. To this the apostle bears witness, when, speaking of the faithful of past ages, he says: “These all, have obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise; God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” Hebrews 11:39, 40. And again the Apostle Paul says: “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [go before] them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17. “So,” that is by the resurrection of the dead and the translation of the living, at the coming of Christ, will the Saviour’s promise be fulfilled, to take His people to Himself, to be with Him. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 500.4

But the taking of His people to Himself involves something else. The earth is the kingdom which God prepared for His people “from the foundation of the world.” Compare Matthew 25:34 and Genesis 1:26; Psalm 8:6. To the meek it is promised that they shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5. They “shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Psalm 37:11. But this cannot be done while the wicked remain upon it; for “there is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked.” Therefore before the righteous can delight themselves in “the abundance of peace,” the wicked must be removed from the earth. And so when, in prophetic vision, John saw the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, he heard the elders around the throne in heaven say: “We give Thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because Thou hast taken to Thee Thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and Thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead that they should be judged, and that Thou shouldest give reward unto Thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear Thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them that corrupt the earth.” Revelation 11:17, 18, margin. Christ Himself said that when He should come, it would be to “reward every man according to his works.” Matthew 16:27. So, then, His coming means the salvation of the righteous, and the destruction of the wicked. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 500.5

THE EVENTS OF THE END

A few words as to the manner in which the final redemption of the righteous will be effected, may be in place. The Apostle Paul tells us that it will be by the resurrection of the dead, and the translation of the living. To the Corinthian church he wrote:— PTUK August 8, 1895, page 501.1

“Behold, I show you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-54. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 501.2

Thus the righteous enter into their eternal reward; but not immediately do they dwell on the earth. The earth must still be fitted for their dwelling-place, by the destruction of those who have corrupted it. When Christ appears in the clouds of heaven, in power and great glory, the righteous, because they are righteous, are strengthened to behold His glory; but the wicked cannot endure it. Says Isaiah: “He shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips shall He slay the wicked.” Isaiah 11:4. And the Apostle Paul, speaking of “the man of sin,” the lawless one, says that he is the one “whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 501.3

This, however, is not the final destruction of the wicked, and the cleansing of the earth, for the millions who have died in sin lie all this time in their graves, unconscious of the wonderful events that are taking place on the earth. Not at that time do they receive the recompense for their evil deeds. Neither do the wicked who are alive at the time of Christ’s appearing, and who are slain by the brightness of His coming, receive their punishment at that time. They simply drop dead, unable to endure the dazzling glory of Christ’s presence. “And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth; they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.” Jeremiah 25:33. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 501.4

The condition of the earth at that time is thus described by the prophets: PTUK August 8, 1895, page 501.5

“Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled; suddenly are my tents spoiled, and My curtains in a moment. How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet? For My people is foolish, they have not known Me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding; they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. [Compare Genesis 1:2.] I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the Lord, and by His fierce anger. For thus hath the Lord said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.” Jeremiah 4:20-27. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 501.6

“Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth. And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare; for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake. The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.” Isaiah 24:17-22. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 501.7

The earth will then be in its original chaotic state; in the condition described as “the deep,” “the abyss” or the “bottomless pit.” Upon the dark, dreary, desolate place, Satan will be left for a thousand years. See the prophet:— PTUK August 8, 1895, page 501.8

“And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled; and after that he must be loosed a little season.” Revelation 20:1-3. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 501.9

Unable to practise any of his hellish deceptions upon men, because there are no living men upon the earth, he is most effectually bound. No humble convict in solitary confinement in the dark cell was ever more surely deprived of liberty. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 501.10

During the thousand years the righteous will be in heaven, engaged with Christ, in passing judgment upon fallen angels and wicked man. See Revelation 20:4; 1 Corinthians 6:1-3. This period of one thousand years comprises the “many days,” at the end of which the wicked are to “be visited.” At the end of that time Satan shall be loosed from his prison, because the wicked will then be raised (Revelation 20:5), and they will have opportunity to practise for a little season the deceptive arts which are his very life. The holy city, the New Jerusalem, will have descended from God out of heaven, and Satan will gather the hosts of the wicked round it, making them believe that they can capture it for their own. Revelation 20:8, 9. And then fire shall come down from God out of heaven and devour Satan and all his hosts. That fire shall burn as an oven and the proud and all that do wickedly shall be stubble; and the fire shall burn them up, and shall leave neither root nor branch. Malachi 4:1. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 501.11

The same fire that causes “the perdition of ungodly men,” will also melt the earth, and purify it from the curse, so that from it shall come forth a renewed earth, fitted for the abode of righteousness. 2 Peter 3:7, 9, 12, 13. The righteous, safe in the city of God, and thus enabled to “dwell with everlasting burnings” (Isaiah 33:14, 15), shall “meditate terror” which shall not come nigh them; for only with their eyes shall they behold and see the reward of the wicked. Then when the wicked shall have been consumed “like stubble fully dry,” and the fire cease for lack of fuel upon which to feed, the righteous shall go forth to inherit the land for ever; “they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall prepare the waste cities, the desolations of many generations;” yes, “they shall build the waste cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens and eat the fruit of them;” and then they “shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” “Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.” Then the “people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting-places.” Isaiah 32:16-18. “For the Lord shall comfort Zion; He will comfort all her waste places; and He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like a garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein; thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.” “This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord.” PTUK August 8, 1895, page 502.1

“The Life” The Present Truth 11, 32.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

Christianity is a life, and not a mere system. There can be system without life, but there cannot be life without system; for all life is from God; He is the Lifegiver, and He works through system and order. Man may invent a system, but no man can impart life to that which he makes. And God does not impart life to man’s system, but to His own. Man may multiply offices in the church and appoint persons to fill them; but this is not a manifestation of Christian life. Christian life is Christ life, and Christ life is just what was seen when Christ went about in Judea, teaching the people the Word of God, preaching the Gospel to the poor, and relieving physical and moral distress. The church which does most of this work is most alive. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 502.2

“The Ladder and the Tower” The Present Truth 11, 32.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

Christianity needs no human support. The ladder that Jacob saw in his dream, when he fled from his home, reached from earth to heaven. It could not be supported upon earth, but was let down by the Lord from heaven, and its support was in heaven. That ladder represented Christianity. Christ Himself is the ladder let down from God to fallen man, by which he may ascend to God, and upon which descend and ascend the angels. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 502.3

There was an attempt which men made to mount up to heaven by that which had human support, which was represented by the tower of Babel. But it came to nothing. It served only to illustrate the folly of the idea which it embodied. It was broken off midway, and ended in confusion. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 502.4

The two represent two gospels; the one the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the other, the man-made “gospel,” supported by human laws, human efforts and resolutions, and which teaches that heaven can be attained by works. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 502.5

Jesus Christ had no support from man; the powers of earth were all against Him, and at the most critical hour of all even His own disciples forsook Him. Yet He triumphed gloriously; for with Him was the power of God. Even had men given Him their support, it would have availed nothing against the powers of hell,—the devil and his host,—which opposed Him. Only the power of God could carry the work of salvation forward to a successful termination. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 502.6

It is sad that men should be much more occupied to-day with building towers of Babel than with setting their own feet and inducing others around them to set their feet, upon the ladder let down from God. Yet such is the case. The old idea still prevails that men can build up a way of righteousness-a way to heaven-by human enactments. The individual enacts a moral code for himself which he is resolved to maintain in his life, and through the machinery of civil government certain men are allowed to enact moral codes for other men, which must be obeyed by the latter without even the help of a good resolution. So the work progresses and the tower ascends, until the short limit of human wisdom and power is attained; then confusion comes and the work stops, a monument to the folly of its builders. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 502.7

The ladder that reaches down from the highest heaven is strong enough to save a world. It is as strong as God Himself. The weakness is not in it, but in the man whom it is designed to save. It will protect them, but it needs none of their “protection.” No man can destroy it; the whole power of Satan’s confederacy of evil cannot move it a hair’s breadth from its place, for it is held there by an omnipotent power. It reaches from the highest heaven to the lowest vales of earth, that “whosoever will” may mount upon it up to the throne of God. And there it will remain till the work of God for man is done. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 502.8

Christianity is perfect. God’s moral code is perfect, and is, through Christ, perfectly adapted to the weakness of human flesh. Let it be our care to put on and keep on the perfect garment of righteousness given us in Christ, in which not a thread of human manufacture is woven; and to lift Him up, that others also may look to Him, and find life. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 502.9

“War About a Bucket” The Present Truth 11, 32.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

Every one knows that a very small matter may grow into a quarrel, when two small people feel quarrelsome. And when grown people allow pride and selfishness to rule their hearts they quarrel about as small a thing as children. So nations may fall out and fight, spending large sums of money and many lives over a very little thing. The following shows what “standing up for their rights” may lead men to do:— PTUK August 8, 1895, page 509.1

“In the year 1005 a soldier of the commonwealth of Modena ran away with a bucket from a public well belonging to the State of Bologna. The bucket might have been worth a shilling; but it produced a quarrel which was worked up into a long and bloody war. Henry, King of Sardinia, assisted the Modenese to keep possession of the bucket, and in one of the battles he was made a prisoner. His father, the Emperor, offered a chain of gold that would encircle Bologna, which is seven miles in compass, for his son’s ransom; but in vain. After twenty-two years’ imprisonment, he pined away. His monument is in the Church of the Dominicans. The fatal bucket is still exhibited in the Cathedral of Modena, enclosed in an iron cage.” PTUK August 8, 1895, page 509.2

“News of the Week” The Present Truth 11, 32.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

-Spain has another insurrection on her bands in the Philippine Islands. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 510.1

-The estimated population of the world on January 1, 1895, was 1,500,000,000. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 510.2

-The committee of the Hospital Sunday Fund had ?44,410 to distribute last week. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 510.3

-The coal production of the world last year amounted in weight to 658,700,000 tons. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 510.4

-China now has eleven daily newsmen, nine of which are pointed in Chinese, one in French, and the other in English. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 510.5

-Russia to establishing commercial and political relations with Abyssinia, and Russian officers are serving in the Abyssinian army. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 510.6

-It is said that the harvest is generally poor in England this year. The rains name too late, and the grain is not up to the usual standard, and there is very little straw. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 510.7

-At the Geographical Congress which has been sitting in London, Herr Audree described his plan for trying to explore the polar regions by balloon. His expedition is to start next summer. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 510.8

-By comparing the statistics of English and Scotch Universities in a given year it was found that Scotland, with a population of 3,725,400, had 6,500 University students, while England had only 6,000 students out of a population about six times as great. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 510.9

-In a recent speech in the Chamber Signor Crispi defended the Italian policy in Africa, saying Italy would give up nothing there, and adding: “From Africa, as from the East, might come the first spark which would kindle the general conflagration of a European war.” PTUK August 8, 1895, page 510.10

-The number of words sent over the cables between England and America last year was 23,000,000. Mr. Henniker Heaton declares that it would be feasible to telegraph the whole of the letters now exchanged between the two countries for the sum now paid the mail-steamship lines. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 510.11

-Dalziel’s St. Petersburg correspondent states that the Government has decided to have church cars constructed for use on the Trans-Siberian Railway. These cars will travel up and down the line in such a way as to enable the inhabitants in the region traversed to enjoy religious services at frequent intervals. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 510.12

-Steamers bring to Durban news of a French reverse in Madagascar, a detachment of native allies being surprised and destroyed by the Hovas. The French troops with their Maxim guns continue to advance, however, the only great enemy being the climate. The British vice-consul has advised all British subjects to leave the capital. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 510.13

-Remarkable specimens of ancient Egyptian jewellery have been recently taken from the royal tombs discovered near the White Pyramid. One mummy was that of a princess, who still wore the jewels with which she was burled 5,000 years ago. The emeralds in her necklace and bracelets were found glittering in a perfect state of preservation. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 510.14

-An English statistician in one of the reviews shore that as the result of improved agricultural machinery four American farmers an produce and deliver to the bakers as much flour as will feed a thousand persons, at twelve ounces of broad daily, for a whole year, In other words, one man can feed two hundred and fifty, whereas in Europe one man feeds only thirty persons. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 510.15

“Before the Court” The Present Truth 11, 32.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

It will be remembered that in February last the International Tract Society, carrying on a publishing business at 451, Holloway Road, N., and publishing the PRESENT TRUTH, was fined in the Clerkenwell Police Court for employing women on Sunday. At that time the matter was quite fully set forth in these columns, and the reasons were given at length, both as to why work was done on Sunday, and for not paying the fine. In that case the fines and costs, amounting to over ?6, were recovered by distress. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 512.1

Since the question was one of obedience to the commandment of the Lord, of course the Sunday work was continued as before. No further action was taken by the authorities, however, until June, when visits were again made by the Factory Inspectors. It is but fair to say that they were very courteous, and that they did their best to persuade the Directors of the Society not to employ the women on Sunday, with a kindly intention of saving the Society from prosecution. This being in vain, five charges of employing women on Sunday were brought, which the Managing Director was called to answer on Friday, the 2nd inst. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 512.2

Before these charges were brought, however, the Directors, who had been specially requested by Her Majesty’s Inspector to meet and give the matter further consideration, addressed to him the following letter:— PTUK August 8, 1895, page 512.3

The reason why we cannot compromise the Sunday as well as the Sabbath, is this: God declares that “the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord,” and commands us to keep it holy. This command ... same time recognising our Saviour established by human authority in opposition to the Sabbath of the Lord, even as no man can worship the Lord and at the same time regard other gods. The Catholic Church truly and authoritatively declares:— PTUK August 8, 1895, page 512.4

“The observance of Sunday by the Protestants is an homage they pay in spite of themselves to the authority of the (Catholic) Church.” PTUK August 8, 1895, page 512.5

As followers of the word of God we cannot, therefore, take the responsibility of compelling any of our employés to cease working on Sunday. To do so would be to compel them, as far as our jurisdiction extends, to pay homage to the Sunday, thus placing ourselves on the side of tradition which makes void the commandment of the Lord. We make no contention for our right; but God’s right to our service is not ours to surrender. The controversy, therefore, is not between us and the law, but between the law of God and the law of men; and when commanded to do that which is contrary to the Divine law, we can only say, with all deference and respect to those in civil authority, “we ought to obey God rather than men.” PTUK August 8, 1895, page 512.6

Mr. Cameron, who prosecuted on behalf of the Home Office, stated the facts that we have here given, and said that as the Society had refused to change its course he was compelled to ask the Court to assist him in the administration of the Factory Act. In response to a statement by Mr. Gibson, who had been summoned in behalf of the Society, both the Inspector and the Magistrate stated that there was no charge whatever that the persons employed had been overworked, or that they had worked against their will, or over time. The charge was simply that they had worked on Sunday, when the Factory Act says that they must not work. It is simply a question as to the time when they worked. If they worked but eight hours a week, and any or all of those hours were on Sunday, the charge would be brought just the same. The Magistrate said all he had to do was to consider the facts that the law had been broken, and decide upon the penalty. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 512.7

Mr. Cameron then stated that he had no personal motive whatever in the case, but he would point out that the Society had already been before the Court, and that had not put a stop to its defiance of the law, and he therefore asked the magistrate to give the full penalty in each case. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 512.8

Mr. Gibson:—“Mr. Cameron will pardon me, but we do not take a position of defiance to the law. We respect the Government, but this is a question between the law of God and the law of men.” PTUK August 8, 1895, page 512.9

Mr. Cameron:—“Yes, of course, that is what I mean.” PTUK August 8, 1895, page 512.10

The Magistrate:—“Well, you see I am here to administer the law of the land.” PTUK August 8, 1895, page 512.11

Mr. Cameron stated further that the Society had taken no steps to get the law altered, although there had been a Factory Act before Parliament, which afforded an opportunity for so doing. He conveniently forgot that he had already stated to the Court that at the time of the first case, last winter, Mr. Asquith, then Home Secretary, had been written to in regard to the matter, and had replied to the effect that the number of people represented by the Society was so small that it was not expedient to make special legislation for them. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 512.12

Mr. Gibson stated that the Society could not go before Parliament and ask permission from it to obey the law of God. The law of God must be obeyed anyhow. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 512.13

The magistrate again stated that the only question for him to settle was whether the law had been broken or not, and that if it had been, he would not be doing his duty if he did not impose a penalty. There was no denial of the fact that the persons named had worked on Sunday, and the full penalty—£3—was imposed in each case, making the entire fine £15, besides £1 0s, 6d, costs. Mr. Cameron asked that distress might be granted at once, as he was informed that the Society would not pay the fine. His request was granted. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 512.14

Such is the brief story of the case. There are several points in it on which we wish to comment at length, as they illustrate most important principles; but these comments must be reserved for the next issue of PRESENT TRUTH. But there is one fact that we wish to leave with the reader, and that is this:— PTUK August 8, 1895, page 512.15

The case is not one of the State vs. the International Tract Society, but one of the State vs. the law of God. The Society is before the Clerkenwell Police Court; but that Court has to deal with a higher Court, even that of the Most High. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 512.16

To some it may seem that the International Tract Society is getting into difficulty, but such is not the case. So long as its members stand upon the immovable Rock of God’s Word, they are safe; the danger is for those who mistakenly suppose that their duty to man is greater than their duty to God. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 512.17

“Back Page” The Present Truth 11, 32.

EJW

E. J. Waggoner

Amongst newspaper comments on the prosecution, touching the principles of the case, the following from the Standard’s evening edition is worth reprinting:— PTUK August 8, 1895, page 512.18

The magistrate who has to deal with cases of this sort is not to be envied. It is indisputable that the seventh day, not the first, was set apart for rest and worship. There is nothing more than tradition to explain how or when or why the early Christians exchanged the seventh day for the first. Mr. Haden Corser did wish-to refuse all argument, insisting upon the law,—so did Pilate, his victim might explain. These “Seventh-day Adventists” are urged to claim exemption upon the terms allowed to Hebrews; but they indignantly assert their Christian faith. It is no use talking, however. If they must go on breaking the Factory Act, the law must go on punishing them, right or wrong. PTUK August 8, 1895, page 512.19