The Present Truth, vol. 11
December 5, 1895
“The Love of God” The Present Truth 11, 49.
E. J. Waggoner
“We love, because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19, R.V. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 769.1
This is the literal rendering, instead of, “We love Him, because He first loved us.” While this is true, it is not the whole truth, as given in the text. The love of God causes us to love, not Him alone, but all men. But for the love of God, there would be no love whatever in the world. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 769.2
This is shown by the seventh verse of the same chapter: “Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” Note also that when men wholly lose the love of God, they are “without natural affection.” See Romans 1:28-31; 2 Timothy 3:1-4. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 769.3
Love is the whole duty of man; “for this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments” (1 John 5:3); and to “fear God, and keep His commandments” is “the whole duty of man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13. “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” Romans 13:10. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 769.4
This is more fully set forth in the words of Christ to the lawyer who asked Him, “Which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus replied, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:35-40. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 769.5
There are not two kinds of love, but only one. The law is not divided into two parts; it is one perfect and indivisible whole. The Saviour did not say that one part of the law contains love to God, and another part of it love to men. What He tells us is that all the law is fulfilled in loving God and in loving our neighbour. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 769.6
Since “love is of God,” it is evident that no one can truly love his neighbour except the love of God is in his heart. “This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.” Therefore loving our neighbour as ourselves is but a part of loving God with all our heart. Love to God embraces everything. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 769.7
The last six commandments, which speak of our duties to our fellow-men, define our duty to God as well. That is, to refrain from injuring our neighbour in any way is a duty which we owe to God. When Joseph was tempted to break the seventh commandment, he said, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Genesis 39:9. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 769.8
Similarly we read that covetousness is idolatry. Colossians 3:5. The covetous man is an idolater. Ephesians 5:5. A man cannot break the last commandment without at the same time breaking the first. Violation of the tenth is violation of the first. Love, even the love of God, is the whole law. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 769.9
We have already seen that “love is of God,” and that therefore no man can love his neighbour unless he has the love of God in his heart. God’s love is for the world (John 3:16), even for His enemies. Romans 5:8. Therefore whoever has the love of God must necessarily love his neighbour. On the other hand, no man who does not love his neighbour can love God; “for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” 1 John 4:20. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 769.10
Let us not then be “partial in the law.” Let us not think that we can set bounds about it, or parcel it out. It is as boundless as God Himself. It is “everlasting love,” which is always the same; when it is shed abroad in man’s heart, it is the same as when in the heart of God. Love to men is not a substitute for it, but is the very love itself. But it comes from God alone. He who thinks to have a religion of love to men only, will love neither God nor man. He who devotes his whole mind and soul to loving God will love his neighbour even as himself. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 769.11
“The Lord’s People” The Present Truth 11, 49.
E. J. Waggoner
Who are the Lord’s people, and where may they be found? The answer is easy-every one and everywhere. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 769.12
“The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” Psalm 24:1. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 769.13
If you are a dweller in this world you belong to the Lord. It is not a question of whether you have ever given yourself to Him or not; for all men are His by purchase. He bought us when we had not power to give ourselves, and ransomed us with His life. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 769.14
Now the question is, Will you let Him do what He will with His own? All belong to the Lord; not all will let Him have His own. That is all the difference there is between men. The Lord paid no more for one than He did for another. He has no favourites. But while the favour is equally extended to all, few in every generation have been willing to own the fact that the earth is the Lord’s and that all who are in it belong to Him. The acknowledgement must be a personal one, and this text must for ever put away that miserable wail of the hymn: PTUK December 5, 1895, page 770.1
“‘Tis a point I long to know,
Oft it causes anxious thought;
Do I love the Lord, or no?
Am I His, or am I not?”
PTUK December 5, 1895, page 770.2
“Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his ye are to whom ye obey?” Romans 6:16. He who feels a doubt if he is the Lord’s may set his mind at rest on that point; he is the Lord’s but has not acknowledged God’s claim on him. And he who does not know that he loves the Lord, may be very sure that he does not, because he does not know Him. Whoever knows the Lord, loves Him. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 770.3
“The Higher Power and the Highest Power” The Present Truth 11, 49.
E. J. Waggoner
More than one of the London papers have noticed the case of the young German who refuses to drill on the Sabbath. It seems to be taken for granted that he will have to give in. Many people have no idea that no power in the world can compel a man to sin if he does not want to. But it is true. However, this is not the first case in Europe, nor even in Germany. The account of one case, reported by our brethren in Germany, will be of interest just now, when some are watching the present case. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 770.4
Some months ago a young German was called up to drill. As he steadfastly refused to perform the exercises on the Sabbath he was threatened with death. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 770.5
His answer was, “My Saviour died for me; why should I not be ready to die for Him and for His commandments? I fear more to transgress God’s law than that of the Emperor, for if I sin knowingly, the result will be the second death in the lake of fire,”—showing them the text. After being questioned before several, he was brought into a large hall, where thirty officers were assembled as a court martial, before whom he had to defend himself. He told them that he had one hundred texts for the Sabbath, but if they could show him one passage for Sunday, he would submit. They called for the chaplain who spoke with him for some time. But all present saw that this brother was in the right. Often they said that the Bible did not say so; and then he had to turn up the passage quoted, and read it. To the question who had taught him this, his reply was, “The Bible.” When asked whether he had any publications containing this doctrine, he said, “Yes,” and distributed the forty copies he had, but that did not suffice. Some gave him their addresses, requesting him to send them copies likewise. When he was to be led out, he said that he would not leave until they had proved Sunday to him, and if they punished him for keeping the Sabbath, then they ought to punish all others for keeping the other nine commandments. In their perplexity, they finally wrote in his papers, “Not fit for military service on account of hallucinations,” and therefore entirely dismissed him. When he remonstrated against being declared a lunatic so long as he was sane, they begged of him to rest satisfied, and to go home. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 770.6
“How to Win ‘Converts’” The Present Truth 11, 49.
E. J. Waggoner
The old ecclesiastical chroniclers tell wonderful tales of the help rendered by relics of the saints and other charms in some of the bloody campaigns of the children of the Medi?val Church. The day for such tales is not past. The Tablet, the organ of high class and intellectual Catholicism says that it is related in Nagasaki (Japan) that when a battalion stormed the heights of Port Arthur a body of Japanese Catholics were among the storming party. We read:— PTUK December 5, 1895, page 770.7
All returned injured, with their scapulars on their breasts. Their comrades, seeing them thus unscathed, begged also for these invaluable talismans to protect them from the enemy’s fire, and were anxious to be received at once into the Catholic Church. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 770.8
Anything that was supposed to enable a man to slaughter his enemies with safety to himself must have appeared a very valuable religious accession to the fighting Japanese. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 770.9
“Swords and Ploughshares” The Present Truth 11, 49.
E. J. Waggoner
In a recent lecture in London a military authority declared that the wars of the future could not endure long campaigns, owing to the enormous industrial strain which would ensue when the greater part of the workers were called from their work to the camp. A war between France and Germany would, he estimated, cost one and a-half million sterling per day. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 770.10
What a verification modern militarism furnishes of Joel’s prophecy of the latter-day demand, “Beat your ploughshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears.” The source of all wealth is the soil, and when the nations call the people from tilling the ground and from workshops where earth’s products are prepared for use they are literally turning the fruits of the ploughshare into swords. A St. Petersburg despatch says that only last month the Russian authorities called an additional million (and a few thousands over) of youth into the army. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 770.11
Great areas of territory are “coming into the market,” as the Times says, in reviewing Lord Salisbury’s speech. All the nations are preparing to get what they can of this territory, and are prepared to fight over the distribution of it. It is human nature’s way, and the nations are but composed of sinful men. The only way for civil governments to exist in this world is to fight, or be prepared to fight. That is the reason why the Gospel separates believers from the world, and makes them citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. While strife and enmity are preparing the nations for the destruction of the last day it is for Christians to keep the peace of God in their own souls, and preach the message of peace to others. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 770.12
“Secret Prayer” The Present Truth 11, 49.
E. J. Waggoner
“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thine inner chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret shall recompense thee.” This is one of the most definite and assuring promises of the Word of God. What a comfort it is as one goes to the place of sacred prayer, to know that God hears him, and that his petition is sure to be granted. When one is by himself, with no one near but the Lord, he cannot pray as he might in public. If he is indeed in secret with the Lord, he will ask for only such things as he knows are right. Face to face with God, it is impossible to pray merely for the sake of multiplying words. The soul makes humble confession to God, and, in spite of its failures in the past, boldly claims mercy and grace to help in time of need, and goes away with the positive assurance that the things asked for are his. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 770.13
“Salvation and the Sabbath” The Present Truth 11, 49.
E. J. Waggoner
Salvation and the Sabbath.—“Do you think that keeping the Sabbath will save anybody?” No; impossible. It is utterly impossible because only the man who is saved from sin can keep the Sabbath. Sabbath means rest, and the “Sabbath of the Lord” is the rest of the Lord; and no one can truly keep the Sabbath who does not know it to be to him just what God says it is—a sign of God’s sanctifying power. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 770.14
“Master and Servant” The Present Truth 11, 49.
E. J. Waggoner
“O Lord, truly I am Thy servant; I am Thy servant, and the son of Thine handmaid; Thou hast loosed my bonds.” Psalm 116:16. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 773.1
From this we may learn that the Lord’s servant is a free man. The Lord looses the bonds of those who acknowledge themselves to be His servants, and that freedom which He gives them is what binds them more closely to Him. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 773.2
Every soul on earth might, if he would, say with the Psalmist, “O Lord, truly I am Thy servant,” for the Lord has purchased all mankind with His own blood. He “gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us.” Titus 3:14. “Ye are not your own; for ye are bought with a price.” 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20. “Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold,” “but with the precious blood of Christ.” 1 Peter 1:18, 19. And He has proclaimed liberty to all who are bound. Isaiah 61:1. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 773.3
It matters not who the man may be, he is the Lord’s servant; for Christ has bought all. He tasted death for every man. Hebrews 2:9. But there are two classes of servants,—those who serve, and those who do not serve,—the “good and faithful” servants, and the “wicked and slothful” servants. The fact that a man does not acknowledge himself to be a servant, does not diminish his obligation to serve. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 773.4
He who does not acknowledge himself to be the Lord’s servant, is a slave. “For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin.” Romans 7:14. “Everyone that committeth sin, is the bondservant of sin.” John 8:34, R.V. “Of whom a man is overcome, of the same is He brought in bondage.” 2 Peter 2:19. “Ye have sold yourselves for nought, and ye shall be redeemed without money.” Isaiah 52:3. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 773.5
This last text shows not only that all who do not serve the Lord are slaves, but also that those who serve Him are free. Whoever says from the heart, “O Lord, truly I am Thy servant,” may also as truly say, “Thou hast loosed my bonds.” “He that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s free man.” 1 Corinthians 7:21. So the sum of the matter is that all men, from the greatest king to the humblest peasant, are in truth the Lord’s servants; those who do not acknowledge the Lord as their Master, are slaves, even though they be kings; while those who yield themselves to the Lord’s service, are free, even though they be servants. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 773.6
“One is your Master, even Christ.” Matthew 23:10. He is the only rightful Master. “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.” Matthew 4:10. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13. The rendering in the margin of the Revision is equally true: “This is the duty of all men,” “for all live unto Him.” Luke 20:38. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 773.7
This is what is written in the law: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.” Luke 10:27. We are not obliged to distinguish between different lines of duty, for the law is one, and love is its fulfilling. Loving our neighbour as ourselves is part of our duty to God. If we do not love our fellow-men, it is because we do not love God. Our one anxiety should be to seek the kingdom of God, and His righteousness. The kingdom of God is “righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost”; and “he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.” Romans 14:17, 18. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 773.8
Let it not be forgotten that the Lord is the only Master. This is shown by the fact that we are to serve Him with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our strength, and with all our mind. So if we do our whole duty to God, we have no strength for any other service than His. If all our strength is given to the Lord, there can be none left for any one else. And to this end the Apostle Paul says: “Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.” 1 Corinthians 7:23. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 773.9
Yet the same one who wrote, “Be not ye the servants of men,” wrote also, “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ” (Ephesians 6:5); and “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers; but in singleless of heart, fearing God.” Colossians 3:22. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 773.10
There is no contradiction here. The secret is found in the last clause of each verse quoted, and in what immediately follows. “Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve the Lord Christ.” Colossians 2:22, 24. And so also in Ephesians where servants are exhorted to serve “in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.” Chap. 6:6, 7. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 773.11
If all servants acted on this plan, regarding themselves not as servants of men, but as servants of Christ alone, no employer would ever have occasion to complain of unfaithful service. With such a servant it would make no difference whether his master were present, or not; his real Master is Christ, who is always present. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 773.12
There is in this thought encouragement for every labourer, no matter what his employment. Somebody has well said, “Whatever you know how to do best, God knows how to do it better.” That is, God knows far more than we do, even of that of which we may think ourselves masters. The master of workmen in any line of work is one who knows all about that work. If he is a competent master, he knows more about it than any of those who are under him. But the Lord is the Master of us all, so that no matter what the business may be, if we are in trouble we may go to Him with confidence that we shall find “grace to help in time of need.” To give us confidence in coming to Him, He came to this earth as a servant, and passed a thorough apprenticeship as a labourer. He knows how to help. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 773.13
The dignity of service depends much on the Master whom one serves. The servant partakes of the dignity or dishonour of his master. If one serves a mean master, then his is a mean service. Without any play upon words, we may truly say that such service is menial. But the one who realises that in all things he serves the Lord Christ, can never have any degrading work. The humblest service is noble and dignified, when done to the Lord, and not to man. As George Herbert quaintly put it:— PTUK December 5, 1895, page 773.14
“A servant with this clause
Makes drudgery divine;
Who sweeps a room as for Thy laws,
Makes that and the action fine.”
PTUK December 5, 1895, page 776.1
“No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon.” Matthew 6:24. The servant who thinks to follow two lines, making a distinction between service to Christ and his Master according to the flesh, will become hopelessly confused. No matter what our grade of service, nor what the rank of our earthly master, we have only to consider what will please the Lord. He who does this, will render to man every service that he has any right or duty to give. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 776.2
If two servants are together, and one of them is unfaithful, that is no excuse for the other one to be unfaithful also. If a dozen servants refuse to serve, that does not warrant another in neglecting his duty. Even though the others, being in a majority, persecute the faithful servant, and threaten him with the worst kind of treatment, it is evident that he is not justified in neglecting his duty. “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.” It makes no difference whether the enticement be in the shape of gifts if we yield, or of threats of vengeance if we do not, we are forbidden to be a party to sin. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 776.3
Remember now that all men are alike servants to God. After the exhortation to servants, the apostle addresses masters, saying, “Masters, render unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.” Colossians 4:1. Still more emphatically, “Ye masters, do the same things unto them, and forebear threatening; knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no respecter of persons with Him.” Ephesians 6:9, R.V. Both masters and servants are therefore servants of one Master, the Lord Jesus Christ. If some servants do not acknowledge their obligation to serve Him that does not in the least diminish the obligation. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 776.4
Suppose that the master so far forgets his duty to the one Master, as to demand that his servant shall do that which is sinful, and shall offer large inducements for such acts; we have the injunction, “If sinners entice thee, consent thou not.” The fact that the servant who is entrusted with greater responsibilities refuses to serve, does not warrant the more humble servant in neglecting his duty. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 776.5
We have the following instruction for such a case as that: “Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.” 1 Peter 2:18-20. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 776.6
If a servant did everything that even the wicked master told him to do, he would have no occasion to suffer. But the fact that he is exhorted “for conscience toward God” to “endure grief, suffering wrongfully,” shows that one may be obliged to refuse obedience to some command, since it will involve sin against God. If he is indeed a faithful servant of the Lord Christ, that very fact will keep him from yielding to a simple requirement. In that case, he must suffer patiently the buffeting that may follow. The Lord, the real Master of both, will settle the case when He comes, for He has told what shall be the fate of that evil servant who smites his faithful fellow-servant. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 776.7
These principles apply equally in the case of rulers and subjects. Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords. He is “the Prince of the kings of the earth.” Just as servants are exhorted to be obedient to their masters according to the flesh, “with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ,” so with kings. “Be wise now therefore, O ye kings; be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.” Psalm 2:10, 11. If they do not serve the Son, then destruction will be their portion. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 776.8
Jesus Christ is anointed King upon the holy hill of Zion (Psalm 2:6, 7), “far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.” Ephesians 1:21. “The head of every man is Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:3), and not any earthly power. To Christ, both rulers and people alike owe allegiance. The service of the humblest peasant is due directly to Christ, and to none other. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 776.9
This obviates the necessity of laying down rules as to how far we may go in our duty to civil rulers, without infringing on the rights of God. That way of putting it implies that earthly rulers are to be considered before God. The fact is, that Christ is the direct head of “every man.” He is Lord and Master of all. To Him is supreme allegiance due, and whoever faithfully discharges his duty to the Lord, will never fail in any particular of respect that is due to any that are “in authority” on earth. He will never be found in the ranks of anarchy and lawlessness in opposition to government; for he delights in the law of the Lord, which tells him not to resist even oppression, to “honour the king,” and to “speak evil of no man.” PTUK December 5, 1895, page 776.10
But suppose those servants who are “in authority” refuse to serve the Lord, or, professing to serve Him, ignore and trample upon His law, and threaten punishment upon those who will obey it in all particulars; what then?—“If sinners entice thee, consent thou not.” If some servants refuse to serve, that is no reason why others should forsake the Lord’s service. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 776.11
This settles the whole question of Sunday laws. God’s law says to all men, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work.” Exodus 20:8-10. It places the first day of the week commonly called Sunday, among “the six working days” (Ezekiel 46:1), which are to be habitually devoted to labour, in distinction from “the Sabbath of the Lord,” which is to be invariably devoted to rest from ordinary labour. A clear distinction must be observed between it and them. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 776.12
But the governments of earth, being infected with the spirit of the Papacy, have presumed to defy this law of God, and to prohibit the use of the first day of the week as “an ordinary working day.” The amount of deference which they require paid to the Sunday differs in different places; but whatever the amount, it is in direct defiance of the one “Lord over all.” If now some one says that, no matter what the law of the land is, we must obey it, we have only to reply, We must serve Christ. If His servants in the highest places refuse to serve Him, that will not justify us in being unfaithful to Him. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 775.1
“But it is so common to keep Sunday; almost everybody keeps it.” What of that? The Lord has anticipated that condition of things, by saying to us, “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil.” Exodus 23:2. It is true that many do not know that they are doing evil. So much the more reason for faithfulness on the part of those who do know. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 775.2
Once more, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.” The line of duty is very simple, when we know that we have but one Master. Then we need not and shall not have any fear of the consequences, for His servants are as free as He Himself. Even when in prison for His sake, they are free; for since He has the power to deliver them at any moment, it is evident that they remain there only during His pleasure. In such case they may, with Paul, rejoice that they are prisoners of the Lord. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 775.3
“Items of Interest” The Present Truth 11, 49.
E. J. Waggoner
-Devonshire grows oranges, lemons, and citrons in the open air. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 782.1
-On very dark nights a white light can be seen farther than any other colour. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 782.2
-It is said that the Prince of Wales receives two hundred begging letters, on an average, every day. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 782.3
-Cases made of paper pulp, for preserved products, are now being used as substitutes for the ordinary tin can. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 782.4
-The sellers of intoxicating liquors in England and Wales are about 20,000, a loss number than twenty years ago. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 782.5
-Less people are engaged in agricultural labour in England and Wales than twenty years ago by about 30,000. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 782.6
-A new volcano, which is omitting immense quantities of smoke, lava, and fire, has been discovered at Jalcotan, Mexico. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 782.7
-A medical journal has been studying the influence of occupation on long life. The most short-lived people are publicans, butchers, factory operatives, quarrymen, and doctors. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 782.8
-In 1894 Great Britain imported agricultural produce to the value of nearly 163 millions sterling. It is estimated that we live 190 days in the year exclusively on imported produce. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 782.9
-The British Museum library has thirty-two miles of bookshelves. Truly “of making many books there is no end,” and yet how few of the books that have ever been published are to be found in this great library. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 782.10
-The coronation robe of the Czarina of Russia, which is being made in Paris, is to cost ?40,000-and the peasantry, who are taxed to pay for it and the military displays which will attend the coronation, would be glad of sufficient clothing to keep themselves warm. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 782.11
-The Balloon expedition to the North Pole, which will take place under the auspices of the King of Sweden, in 1896, is said to be progressing favourably. The balloon will be filled on one of the islands north-west of Spitzbergen, and weighted to float about 100ft. high. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 782.12
-The influence of forests in protecting the water supply is well illustrated in the case of Greece. In ancient days she possessed 7,500,000 acres of forest. To-day she has hardly 2,000,000 acres, and the scarcity of water and other injurious climatic effects are traceable to the destruction of the trees. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 782.13
-A journal bewailing the fact that so few now enter the trades and work with their hands, says that the slavery of those who are mere dependent clerks and assistants is getting worse and worse, owing to competition. Two hundred clerks applied for an insignificant post advertised in one of the papers the other day. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 782.14
-Much is being said in political circles of Japan’s competition in the markets of the last. Nearly every line of industry is being started by the Japanese who work intelligently and industriously. The cheapness with which they are able to do work threatens to make them formidable rivals of Western nations. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 782.15
“Back Page” The Present Truth 11, 49.
E. J. Waggoner
Last week’s issue of PRESENT TRUTH announced the bailiff in possession of the office, to collect fines for Sunday labour; we have now to announce that he has gone, taking his booty with him. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 784.1
Three rooms-the accounting office, the manager’s room, and the editorial room, are almost entirely stripped of their contents, even to the carpets and linoleum on the floors. All the tables and chairs have been taken from the folding room. Other rooms have been stripped of what was movable. By an act of grace on the part of the bailiff, one chair was left in the entire building. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 784.2
But the last act in the affair is the seizing and removing of the engine. The other machinery is left, but the power being taken away, the business of manufacturing necessarily stops. Her Majesty’s Inspectors have at last succeeded in stopping women and young persons from working on Sundays, by depriving them, as far as they can, and others as well, of the means of working at any time. Thus it is demonstrated that the Factory Act is really protective-of Sunday. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 784.3
Of course the work of the International Tract Society will go on as usual, and with increased vigour and volume. The contest, as has often been stated, is not between the Society and the Government, but between the civil authorities and the fourth commandment. Really it is a question of whether God or the State is supreme. For a moment the State may seem to have prevailed; but God is still in heaven, the Judge of all the earth. He will win in every contest, by the simple power of His own righteousness. When all the kingdoms of earth shall have passed into oblivion, His Word will stand—the Rock of Ages. The Word of the Lord endureth for ever, therefore although the world passeth away, “he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” He who is established on God’s Word is safe, while those who fight against it, will wear themselves out by their own efforts. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 784.4
The French established a protectorate over Madagascar. The Hovas not wanting to be protected, there was a war. Now the French Foreign Minister announces in the Chamber that the Madagascar expedition has been gloriously accomplished. The rebellion of the Hovas against a French protectorate has been overcome. The war provoked by them has ended with the capture of their capital and the submission of Queen Ranavalona. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 784.5
“But there must be no tampering with the Eucharist,” says the Church Times, “by fanatical temperance reformers.” This refers to the desire which many temperance workers in the Church of England have expressed to see intoxicants banished from the Lord’s Supper. It is strange that there should be such objection to using “the fruit of the vine,” the pure juice of the grape, in place of the product of fermentation and decay, the fruit of the vat, which has so largely been substituted for the Scriptural beverage. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 784.6
Results in soul-saving cannot be tabulated and estimated as the world estimates results. One soul saved in the Kingdom will live in eternity as long as the added lives of all who have ever lived since Adam, and then will only have begun to live. A poor woman in Bengal, when dying, a few years ago, said, “My Keeper for eternity is Christ. I have laid all my load upon Him.” Even were this the one solitary triumph of the Gospel in India, would any Christian say that the means and labour and lives expended in missionary work in India during the last hundred years were too much for the result-one soul rescued for eternity? PTUK December 5, 1895, page 784.7
“We are now living in the closing scenes of this world’s history. Let men tremble with the sense of the responsibility of knowing the truth. The ends of the world are come.” PTUK December 5, 1895, page 784.8
“Statement of the Case to the Home Secretary” The Present Truth 11, 49.
E. J. Waggoner
The following communication and remonstrance has been addressed to the Home Secretary by the Secretary of our Board of Directors:— PTUK December 5, 1895, page 784.9
“The Board of Directors of the International Tract Society, Limited, beg respectfully that you will allow them to call your attention to the following facts, showing the operation of the Sunday clause in the Factory Act in the case of our printing works, situated at 451, Holloway Road, N. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 784.10
“By the seizure of machinery and materials to satisfy fines imposed for allowing certain women and young persons to work on Sunday we are compelled to close the factory. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 784.11
“For six years in our present factory our work was allowed to proceed without interference. Visiting Inspectors recognised the fact that the spirit of the Act was complied with, and that the violation was only technical. We being observers of the seventh day of the week, and all our employés being of like faith, our works have been entirely closed on the Sabbath, and opened on Sunday. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 784.12
“Further, had we been able conscientiously to sign the Jewish exemption form we might have continued without interference. But we are Christians-the International Tract Society, Limited being one of the publishing branches of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination-and cannot truthfully enter ourselves as Jews under the Act thus the administration of the law discriminates against us as Christians, forbidding that which would be allowed us did we falsely declare ourselves Jews. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 784.13
“We have not been contending for our rights nor for our convenience in doing business. But God’s right to our obedience to the Fourth Commandment is not ours to surrender, nor can we obey that commandment to keep the Sabbath holy and at the same time keep the Sunday,—an institution established by human authority in opposition to the Sabbath,—even as we could not serve God and at the same time recognise other gods. In effect the law has sought to compel us to recognise a religious institution which loyalty to the Law of God requires that we should not observe. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 784.14
“We acknowledge the uniform courtesy of Her Majesty’s Inspectors who have taken this new departure regarding our relation to the Factory Act, but we have felt it not disrespectful to address you this note of remonstrance against the action of the law by which the work of our factory is stopped and our factory employés deprived of this means of earning a livelihood. In the Act these are named as ‘protected persons,’ but by the operation of the Act they have been shut out from their work. PTUK December 5, 1895, page 784.15
“We respectfully submit that this is an injustice not contemplated by the framers of the Act.” PTUK December 5, 1895, page 784.16