The Present Truth, vol. 9
November 2, 1893
“Front Page” The Present Truth 9, 31.
E. J. Waggoner
“Fret not thyself [or, be not angry] because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.” Psalm 72:1, 2. See also Psalm 73:18, 19. Since this is the end of evil-doers, it is evident that whoever envies them, is in reality envying them their reward. How foolish! Surely none who consider the end of wickedness, can envy anybody’s ill-gotten wreath, or be angry when selfish men use oppression. “Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.” PTUK November 2, 1893, page 481.1
“Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed in security.” He who trusts in the Lord will do good, and he will dwell securely. For “they that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about His people from henceforth even for ever.” PTUK November 2, 1893, page 481.2
“Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way [roll thy way] unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.” Psalm 37:4, 5. This is a promise that is as sure as the existence of God. In it is the means for the solution of all difficult questions, and the removal all labour troubles, if men would believe it. But men refuse to rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. They become fretful and angry, and take matters into their own hands, and so spoil everything. In the world there will be trouble until the coming of the Lord, because men will be lovers of their own self; but this need not disturb the Christian. “These things have I spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace.” PTUK November 2, 1893, page 481.3
“Capital and Labour” The Present Truth 9, 31.
E. J. Waggoner
Capital and Labour.-“And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The Lord be with you. And they answered him, The Lord bless thee.” Ruth 2:4. There was no conflict there between capital and labour; nor will there ever be when such expressions can be used between employer and employes, not as a matter of form, but from the heart. When masters remember that they have a Master in heaven, who is no respecter of persons, and servants remember that they serve the Lord Christ, there can be no clashing. But only the Spirit of God in the heart can bring this about. Strikes, wars, and fighting will go on as long as evil desires reign in the human heart. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 481.4
“The Infallible Word” The Present Truth 9, 31.
E. J. Waggoner
The question of infallibility is one that is receiving a great deal of attention at the present time. As a matter of fact, everybody believes that there is such a thing as infallibility somewhere; the question to be decided, is, Where is it? Many will deny that there is any such thing as infallibility, but it will be found that those who the most loudly deny its existence, are the ones who most complacently trust in themselves, and think that their own reason is infallible. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 481.5
Infallibility is one of the great essentials of religion. In a matter concerning our eternal destiny we cannot afford to rest on uncertainties. We must know. Now the Gospel provides a certainty. We are told that we may “rest in the Lord,” and are exhorted to know the truth for ourselves. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 481.6
But the church is not infallible, for it is composed of men, and there is nothing infallible in any man on earth. “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool” (Proverbs 28:26), because “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” Jeremiah 17:9. This is true of the human heart without exception. It is just as true of the Pope of Rome as it is of the savages in Africa. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 481.7
Here is something that the Bible says about trusting in human power and wisdom. “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help, his breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” Psalm 146:3, 4. “Thus saith the Lord, Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.” Jeremiah 17:5, 6. This is not an arbitrary decree, but the statement of a natural consequence. Man is as the grass. At his best state he is “altogether vanity.” He who puts his trust in man, no matter who the man may be, is trusting in nothing; and He who trusts in nothing, must come to nothing. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 481.8
Look now at the other side: “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7, 8. “Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God; which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is.” Psalm 146:5, 6. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 481.9
The One who made the heavens and the earth is infallible, for we read, “Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thine hands; they shall perish; but Thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; and as a vesture shalt Thou fold them up, and they shall be changed; but Thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.” Hebrews 1:10-12. He “worketh all things after the counsel of His own will.” Ephesians 1:11. “Whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever; nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it; and God doeth it, that men should fear before Him.” Ecclesiastes 3:14. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 482.1
There is, however, no direct controversy about the infallibility of God. Few openly deny it, although one really denies it when he trusts in himself instead of in God. But the controversy in these days is over the Bible. The discussion is not between avowed infidels and Christians, but among those who profess to be Christians. There was a time when the Bible was held to be the word of God by all who professed to be Christians; but in these days the infidel’s occupation is gone, since a portion of the church is acting his part. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 482.2
The above is strong language, but it is true. At the recent meeting of the Congregational Union, in London, the minister read a paper in which the position was taken that, PTUK November 2, 1893, page 482.3
“A man who affirmed the absolute inerrancy of the Bible laid himself open to one or other of the three following charges: Either (1) that he did not know the facts with which he professed to deal; or (2) that he was unable, owing to the influence of some kind of intellectual strabismus, to see their true bearing and the conclusion to which they inevitably pointed; or (3) that he had not the manliness and courage to admit the unwelcome truth which he perceived.” PTUK November 2, 1893, page 482.4
Another minister, of another denomination, recently pleaded most pathetically with a congregation, not to lead souls to ruin by teaching them that the Bible is absolutely true. Said he, to the few souls who still hold that the Bible is true, and to our simple-minded enough to expect others to believe it:- PTUK November 2, 1893, page 482.5
“You are safe-safe not because you believe in an absolutely inerrant Bible,-I hope you have a better foundation than that,-you are safe because you believe in an inerrant Saviour.” PTUK November 2, 1893, page 482.6
From the report of another sermon, we take the following:- PTUK November 2, 1893, page 482.7
“In the course of his argument, the preacher said that to claim infallibility for the Bible was to contend for more than itself claimed. Nor was infallibility to be found in the Church; and no man living within sound of a railway whistle claimed infallibility for a church creed. Infallibility could not be in a book, but must be in a person who was sinless. Therefore Jesus Christ the sinless One was the only possible seat of infallibility.” PTUK November 2, 1893, page 482.8
In these references no names have been used, because our object is not to call any man in question, but simply to give a few specimens of a sentiment that is becoming alarmingly prevalent. Some may think that the last two quotations are not very bad, since, although they do set the Bible aside very summarily, they uphold the infallibility of Christ. But this is just what as a matter of fact they do not do. Speaking of this discussion about the Bible, a religious journal recently said:- PTUK November 2, 1893, page 482.9
“We greatly fear that some of those who are trying to break up what they call ‘book worship,’ and thereby magnify the Christ will soon practically get rid of Him also.” PTUK November 2, 1893, page 482.10
That is just what they have already done, as we shall show; and that is why we raise our voice in earnest protest and warning. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 482.11
It is said that the Bible does not claim to be infallible. Let us see. It does claim to be the word of God, spoken through men. Read the prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the rest, and on almost every page you find the words, “Thus saith the Lord;” “The word of the Lord that came,” etc.; “The word which the Lord spake.” To Jeremiah the Lord said, “Behold, I have put My words in thy mouth.” Jeremiah 1:9. We read, “The word of the Lord came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest” (Ezekiel 1:3), and the Lord said to Him, “Thou shall to speak with My words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.” Ezekiel 2:7. And thus it is throughout the book. It claims to be the word of God; if it could be shown that it is not what it claims to be, then the whole thing would be a monstrous forgery, and unworthy of the slightest regard. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 482.12
But let us read further as to what the Bible claims for itself. Take the following texts:- PTUK November 2, 1893, page 482.13
“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son.” Hebrews 1:1, 2. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 482.14
“No prophecy of Scripture is a private interpretation. For no prophecy ever came by the will of man; but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:20, 21, R.V. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 482.15
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 482.16
“And He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you; whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.” Acts 3:20, 21. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 482.17
“For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” 1 Thessalonians 2:13. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 482.18
“If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of God.” 1 Corinthians 14:37. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 482.19
Many more texts might be added, but these are sufficient. They show plainly that the Bible claims to be the word of God. It is not that it contains the word of God, but it is the word of God. In the words of the Bible, the Holy Spirit testifies. See Hebrews 10:15, 16; 1 Corinthians 2:13. It was the Spirit of Christ that was speaking through the prophets. This is what the Bible claims, and there are many who know of a surety that it is true. They are not Bible critics, however, but Bible believers. “If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” John 7:17. “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him, and He will show them His covenant.” Psalm 25:14. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 482.20
From the texts that have been quoted it is evident that whoever brings a charge against the Bible is bringing a charge against God. To say that the Bible is fallible, is to say that God and Christ and the Holy Spirit are fallible. For if the word of God be not infallible, then God is not infallible. But God is infallible, and so is His word. “As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried; He is a buckler to all those who trust in Him.” Psalm 18:30. “The words of the Lord are pure words; as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.” Psalm 12:6. “For ever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven.” Psalm 119:89. Jesus said to the Jews, “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 5:46, 47. And so it is that in rejecting the Bible, either as a whole or in part, men not only are in danger of rejecting Christ, but are actually rejecting Him. We write for the purpose of warning honest souls who may be confused by the show of learning made by Bible critics. Let them remember that “the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.” “A good understanding have all they that do His commandments.” When people who decry the Bible profess to believe in an infallible Christ, it is enough to ask them how they can know anything about Him, if it is not from His word, which they treat so lightly. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 482.21
But some will say, “Even though we admit the Bible to be infallible, every man’s opinion and interpretation thereof is not infallible.” Very true. We go further, and say that no man’s opinion or interpretation of the Bible is infallible. Further still, we will say that there is not a man on earth, whose opinion or interpretation of the Bible is worth any more than the paper on which it is written. It is not what men think about the Lord but what the Lord thinks about men, that we are concerned with. The Bible is not to be interpreted, but read, studied, and believed. The most learned man in the Scriptures can do no more than to lead others to the place whence he derived his knowledge and let them drink from the same fountain for themselves. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 483.1
There are in the Bible many “deep things,” and “things hard to be understood.” But PTUK November 2, 1893, page 483.2
“God is His own interpreter.
And He will make it plain.”
PTUK November 2, 1893, page 483.3
He gives the Holy Spirit freely to everyone who will receive it, as a Guide into all truth. John 16:13. The Spirit makes known to us the things that are freely given to us of God, “for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea the deep things of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:10. Learning is not to be despised, but rather desired; but the humblest person who truly fears God, may understand the Bible far better than the most learned Doctor who trusts in his own wisdom. The truth of God is hidden from the wise and prudent,-wise in their own wisdom,-and is revealed unto babes, who are willing to receive the wisdom that comes from God. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 483.4
Depend upon it that souls will never be saved by preaching that throws the least discredit upon the Bible. The man who feels constrained to apologise for the Bible, may have crowds to listen to his smooth eloquence, but he will not have them crying out, “What must I do to be saved?” The men through whom God worked in the past, were men who believed the Bible without reserve. There were things that they did not understand, but instead of parading their ignorance as wisdom, they took it to the Lord, and waited for Him to show them wisdom. And God is as able and willing to do mighty things through human agency to-day as He ever was. He says, “To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at My word.” Isaiah 66:2. When we see the humble acceptance of the word of God, we shall see the demonstration of the statement that it works effectually in all that believe. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 483.5
“The Eye of Faith” The Present Truth 9, 31.
E. J. Waggoner
The Christian sees with the eye of faith. Faith is the only means through which we obtain a knowledge of the things to which Christianity pertains. By faith we have received all that we know of the life to come. By faith we look back to the time before man was, and “understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God.” Hebrews 11:3. By faith also we understand truths of the highest importance pertaining to the present life. By the eye of faith we are enabled to guide our feet in the narrow path that leads by many snares and pitfalls to an eternity of joy and peace. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 483.6
Faith sees that which is not cognizable to the natural senses. “Faith,” we are told in Hebrews 11:1, “is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” But faith does more than simply see that which the natural senses cannot perceive, it contradicts the evidence of the senses. It refuses to see that which the senses claim to perceive. And this is where faith is especially valuable, for if we allowed ourselves always to believe the evidence of our senses, we should wander quickly and hopelessly away from the path which leads to God. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 483.7
One of our senses,-feeling, for instance, that inner feeling which is of the mind and heart-says, I do not see any happiness in the way, or any eternal weight of glory at the end of it; but faith says, It is there! Again, feeling says (and perhaps reason backs it up), I see great difficulty in the way; but faith says, It is not there; what you saw was only an appearance, not a reality. Faith deals only with realities. They may be invisible to us now, but they are no less tangible. That which seems so awfully real to us now, is described by Paul as the “light affliction, which is but for a moment”; the invisible glory beyond is an “eternal weight.” 2 Corinthians 4:17. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 483.8
Perhaps you see before you-or seem to see-a great list of very grievous sins that have darkened your past life. You have repented of and confessed them, but the devil comes and holds them up before you and says, There are your sins; do you not see them? You are too wicked a person for the Lord to save. But faith says, They are not there. And why? Because it quotes to you these words of God Himself, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all of righteousness.” 1 John 1:9. And when God forgives sins, He removes them from us, “as far as the east is from the west.” PTUK November 2, 1893, page 483.9
The very fact that the devil tries to discourage you with a long and vivid array of your past sins that you have confessed, is reason for encouragement, because the devil never brings to a person’s mind sins that are not confessed and pardoned. His work is to keep people in ignorance of their sin; but as soon as they are seen and confessed, and God has removed them according to His word, the devil holds them all up and tells the individual they are still there, in order to make him discouraged. He is as persistent in bringing such sins to the Christian’s mind and keeping them before him, as he was before in keeping them in the background. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 483.10
But faith says, “as far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12. And thus we are enabled to know the truth on this vital point; for faith always speaks by the word of God; and His word is truth. Romans 10:17; John 17:17. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 483.11
Where feeling sees mountains, faith sees only molehills. Where faith sees only the arm of flesh, faith sees only the arm of God. Where the wisdom of man sees foolishness, faith sees the wisdom of God. Where feeling and reason see nothing but defeat, faith sees eternal victory. Where feeling and reason see only death, faith sees everlasting life. It makes all the difference in the world whether we share our course in accordance with the evidence of the one, or the other. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 483.12
Faith sees nothing but truth. More than this; it sees nothing but that which is worth seeing. Paul said to his Philippian brethren, “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8. These are just the things that faith sees. So long as we direct our steps by the eye of faith, we shall walk in the paths of righteousness, but when we cease to walk by faith and begin to walk by sight, or by reason, or by feeling, we begin to go wrong, because we are guided by appearances and not by truth. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 484.1
Moses at the Court of Pharaoh, and Joseph and the house of Potiphar, walked by the eye of faith and thus kept themselves from paths that were false and evil. We are told that Moses “endured as seeing Him who is invisible”; and we may be sure that Joseph, surrounded by the licentiousness and idolatry of Egypt, walked in the midst of them as one who saw them not. And so it is with the Christian of to-day. He is not influenced by that which he does not see. Though he may see evil and wickedness with his natural eyes, and feel the promptings of evil in his own heart, he walks by faith, which sees only his Saviour and the pardoning blood of Calvary, and the things of the kingdom of God. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 484.2
The Christian must walk by faith, and faith alone. He will not be safe in making the least departure from the path that faith marks out, or in substituting any other source of knowledge for it, for all other sources of our knowledge are liable to be fallacious and misleading. And the devil can mislead a man every time when he can get him to substitute reason or feeling or something else, for faith. The devil surrounds his deceptions with very plausible appearances of truth. Notice how it was that he deceived our first parents. He appeared to Eve in the form of a serpent; and as she beheld him he was among the branches of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, eating of its fruit. As she came near the serpent spoke to her. She was surprised to hear a serpent speak, for she knew God had not given it the gift of speech. Then the serpent told her that the fruit of the tree of knowledge would not cause her to die, but would open her eyes and make her like a god; for see, he said, I have eaten of the fruit and it has not hurt me; and more than that, it has given me the power of speech! This, when we come to consider it, was really an overmastering deception. Her eyes, her ears, her reason, all testified to the truth of what the serpent said. Ah, had she then been guided by faith, and not by these, she would have known the truth, and the history of the world would have been deferred. Faith would have said, “In the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die.” This was the truth, and all the specious appearances before her were entirely false. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 484.3
The devil has lost none of his cunning since he tempted Eve. He has worked continually upon men’s feelings, upon their reason, upon all their natural senses, to get them to discredit the word of God. If he can do this He can deceive them every time. But if we will cling to the word of God, if we will have faith in it in spite of all appearances, however plausible, that contradict the word, we shall escape the deceptions of the devil, and keep our feet in the straight path that leads to eternal joy. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 484.4
“Getting Faith” The Present Truth 9, 31.
E. J. Waggoner
Getting Faith.-How often in a conference meeting we hear someone say, “What we need in order to make our Christian work more of a success, is more faith.” Very often a member will make the confession, “I know that the trouble with me is that I have not faith enough.” And then they will resolve to pray for more faith. People seem to think that if they have not faith it is the Lord’s fault, and that if He wishes them to have more of it, He must give it to them. They seem to think that faith is something that God must pour down from heaven, as He does the rain. It is an utterly senseless thing for men to complain that they have not enough faith. The only way to have faith, is to believe, and God has given all possible foundation for that in His word. What would be thought of a man on a broad plain, or by the sea-shore, who should complain that he is not breathing as much as he ought to? We should say to him, “Then breathe; for God is giving you abundance of air.” So to the faithless one we may say, “Believe; for you have the word of God as free and as abundant as the air.” PTUK November 2, 1893, page 484.5
“Right and Wrong Worship” The Present Truth 9, 31.
E. J. Waggoner
The fall, it has been rightly said, was the transferring of man’s worship from God to self. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 484.6
God claims man’s worship as due alone to Him. He claims all worship, as being the only rightful Object of worship. To worship is to ascribe power and glory and honour to the object adored. This may be done either by words or actions. Indeed, as “actions speak louder than words” obedience is in reality the truest worship. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 484.7
As God is the only Being who has power and honour and glory in Himself, He is the only proper Object of worship. All other things derive their power and glory from Him. Hence to ascribe such attributes to them, when they belong only to Him, is a falsehood. It matters not how glorious or exalted one may be; they have nothing except that which the Creator gave them. Whether they be angels, or principalities, or things in the heavens or things in earth, none have any power and honour and glory in and of themselves. All was bestowed by God, and to Him only can they be properly ascribed. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 484.8
The devil fell from his exalted place in heaven because he became lifted up in his heart on account of his beauty and brightness. Ezekiel 28:17. He saw-or thought he saw-something to admire in himself, and straightway he set out to work to establish a kingdom of his own, and make himself an object of worship. But though he was, as the prophet tells us, “full of wisdom and perfect in beauty,” and perfect in all his ways from the day of his creation till he began to be lifted up with pride, as soon as he saw self to be perfect, and full of wisdom and beauty and brightness, he began to fall. The Lord took from him His Spirit, and let him see, and let all the universe see, what he possessed of himself. But he immediately ceased to be an object worthy of admiration, and has been sinking lower and lower from that day to this. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 484.9
No one will ever become so good and bright and beautiful, or get so near to God, as to be in himself an object of admiration and worship. Should he even be, as Lucifer was, the anointed cherub overshadowing the throne of God, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty, and sinless in all his ways, just as soon as he would begin to admire himself and see in self that which is inherent only in God, he would make as great a mistake as Lucifer did, and the result, if persisted in, would be just as bad. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 484.10
The same principle was revealed in the fall of our first parents. The tempter made Eve think there were some god-like attributes in herself, that only wanted the magic influence of the fruit of the tree of knowledge to cause them to spring into life and elevate her to her proper place. The result was her fall and the fall of the human family. And the evil principle of self admiration and self worship has been handed down in her descendants, and rules the world to-day. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 485.1
The gospel turns men’s worship back again from self to God. It shows men that self is nothing, and God is everything. It puts in man the Spirit of God, which is the Spirit of truth, and can never witness to a falsehood. The Spirit expels the thought that there is anything good in self, and testifies of Jesus Christ as the One through whom all goodness comes. It causes death to self, but life unto God. It brings life and immortality to light through the everlasting righteousness of Christ. In the worship of God it brings to man more than he ever dreamed of attaining through the worship of self. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 485.2
“Clearing the Way” The Present Truth 9, 31.
E. J. Waggoner
Clearing the Way.-In mountainous countries, where the snow in winter falls to a great depth, it is often necessary to attach great ploughs to powerful engines, by which the snow can be removed. Sometimes the force of several engines is required before the obstruction can be removed. Suppose now that the engine driver should declare that it is impossible for his engine to make any headway as long as the snow is in the way, what would be said? He would be told that it is his business to remove the snow, and that if the snow were first cleared away, there would be no use for his snow plough. Just so must people say to the ministers gathered together to consider the “spiritual needs of London,” when they declare that the Gospel can make no headway as long as the public-houses remain. They say that the attractions of the public-houses, gambling houses, and other places of vice, are so great that the churches cannot successfully compete with them. But the church exists on earth for the sole purpose of saving men from those things, and if they were removed entirely from the land there would be no need for the church. Let the professed ministers of the Gospel preach the Gospel, and let all professed Christians live a Christian life indeed, and there will be no complaint about the superior attractions of vice. When Christ was on earth, the common people heard him gladly, and crowds flocked to hear the preaching of John the Baptist. For preachers to complain that they can accomplish nothing while wickedness is so rampant, is like an army of soldiers complaining that they can gain no victories as long as their enemies have arms in their hands. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 485.3
“Advocate—Comforter” The Present Truth 9, 31.
E. J. Waggoner
In the second chapter of the first epistle of John we read that “if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” Whole “systems” of theology have been built upon the idea which is commonly attached to the word “Advocate,” namely, that means a lawyer. Some men regard Christ as acting the part of a lawyer in heaven, labouring to work our cases through the heavenly court, before a God who is a stern and all most implacable judge. Return to the passage in question, and the Revised Version, and we find at the word “Advocate,” a reference to the margin, where we read the following: “Or, Comforter or Helper. Gr. Paraclete.” This opens up a new thought, and we pursue it further. Any reader of the PRESENT TRUTH can carry it through for himself. Let us see how easily it may be done, and what a wonderful blessing it will bring with it. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 485.4
We will suppose that the reader does not understand the Greek. Those who do will not need these suggestions, but will take their Greek Testament and Greek Concordance, and look the matter up for themselves. But having our curiosity aroused by what we find in the margin of the Revised Version we take Young’s Analytical Concordance, and turn to the word “Advocate.” There we find that it is indeed from the Greek word Paraclete. Of course this does not seem to help us much, for we cannot use the Greek Lexicon, in order to find out the meaning of the word Paraclete; but that need not hinder us in our study. We notice that the word “Advocate” does not occur elsewhere in the Bible, but we remember that the margin of the Revision gave “Comforter” as an alternative reading, and we also remember that somewhere in the Bible we have seen that word; so we turn it up in the Concordance. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 485.5
We find that the word “Comforter” occurs but four times in the English translation of the New Testament, and also that it is from the Greek word Paraclete, and from which “Advocate” is derived, in 1 John 2:1. Not if we have access to an Englishman’s Greek Concordance, we may find that the word Paraclete occurs but these five times. Four times it is translated “Comforter,” and once “Advocate,” with “Comforter” in the margin. Let us now turn to all these texts in the Bible and read them. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 485.6
“And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever.” John 14:16. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 485.7
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:26. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 485.8
“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me.” John 15:26. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 485.9
“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.... He shall glorify Me; for He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you.” John 14:7-14. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 485.10
“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have a Comforter with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 1 John 2:1. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 485.11
Now we have the texts all before us, and can read and re-read them, until the comfort that is in them comes into our hearts. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 485.12
We are all accustomed to consider the Holy Spirit as the Comforter, forgetting that He is only “another Comforter.” Jesus Christ is a Comforter, and the Holy Spirit is a Comforter simply because He represents Jesus Christ, coming in His name. Sorrow filled the hearts of the disciples when Jesus told them that He was going away from them. They had been used to going to Him in all their troubles, and He had always helped them and comforted them. So He said to them, “I will not leave you comfortless.” John 14:18. He promised to come again; but in the meantime, until His second coming, He sends His representative, the Holy Spirit, who speaks to believers the words of Christ, and who reveals Christ to us. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 485.13
But this is not all. Jesus Christ is the Comforter, only because He is the manifestation of God the Father. “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3, 4. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 486.1
Now let us read again, “If any man sin, we have a Comforter with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” What means the statement that we have a Comforter “with the Father”? Read John 1:1, 2: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.” Also the eighteenth verse: “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.” And again, “Believe Me, that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me.” John 14:11. “I and My Father are one.” John 10:30. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 486.2
Now we can see how it is that we have a “Comforter with the Father.” He is “the God of all comfort.” There is no comfort to any soul in the universe, that does not come from God the Father. But Jesus Christ is with the Father, even “in the bosom of the Father.” That is His dwelling place; He is there continually. He is the manifestation of God to man. His name is Emmanuel, “God with us.” So we have a Comforter with the Father, in His very bosom, even God Himself. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 486.3
And this Comforter is ours if we sin. He “comforteth us in all our tribulation.” But sin is the greatest trouble, being the source of all the trouble on the earth. It was sin that “brought death into the world, and all our woe.” So if we sin,-and “all have sinned,”-He is ready with His comfort. We cannot see Him, but “the only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him” the Holy Spirit comes as the representative of both the Father and the Son,-“another Comforter.” PTUK November 2, 1893, page 486.4
When He comes, He convinces of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. We should not know that we had sinned, but for the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. He makes us know that we have sinned, by revealing the righteousness of God. Just as the man who stands at the foot of a great mountain, or who gazes at the wonders of the heavens, feels his own insignificance (see Psalm 8:3, 4), so he who holds the righteousness of God, knows that he is a sinner. But God does not make known to us that we are sinners, in order to taunt us. It is the Comforter that convinces us that we have sinned. That same righteousness of God which causes us to know that we are sinners, is the righteousness which is declared unto and upon us in Christ, for our righteousness. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 486.5
This then is the comfort wherewith God comforts us. In Christ He has given Himself for our sins. Because of His love wherewith He loved us, even while we were dead in sins, He gives us His own righteousness in Christ. What confidence this gives us! God does not hate us, but He loves us. He loves not our sin, but He loves us, and He loves us so much that He has manifested Himself in Christ to take away our sin. We have a Comforter in the bosom of the Father, and if we accept the comfort that He offers us, we are taken into the bosom of the Father, and learn the preciousness of the word: “As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you.” PTUK November 2, 1893, page 486.6
“Christianity and Other Religions” The Present Truth 9, 31.
E. J. Waggoner
The PRESENT TRUTH has contains several criticisms of the “Parliament of Religions,” and it is pleasant to be able to note that there was at least one expression of truth there. Professor Wilkinson, of the University of Chicago, had a paper on “The Attitude of Christianity to Other Religions,” in which he said:- PTUK November 2, 1893, page 486.7
“Of any ethnic religion, therefore, can it be said that it is a true religion, only not perfect? Christianity says no. Christianity speaks words of undefined, unlimited hope concerning those, some of those, who shall never have heard of Christ. These words, Christians, of course, will hold and cherish according to their inestimable value. But let us not mistake them as intended to bear any relation whatever to the erring religions of mankind. Those religions the Bible nowhere represents as pathetic and partly successful gropings after God. They are one and all represented as groping downward, not groping upward. According to Christianity they hinder, they do not help. Their adherents’ hold on them is like the blind grasp of drowning men on roots or rocks that only tend to keep them to the bottom of the river. The truth that is in the false religion may help, but it will be the truth, not the false religion. That attitude, therefore, of Christianity toward religions other than itself is an attitude of universal, absolute, eternal, and unappeasable hostility, while toward all men everywhere, the adherents of false religions by no means excepted, its attitude is an attitude of grace, mercy, peace for whosoever will. How many may be found that will, is a problem which Christianity leaves unsolved.” PTUK November 2, 1893, page 486.8
It is significant, however, of the prevailing sentiment, that his paper is said to have “created a sensation”; and he is reported as having “had all his armour on,” and being “a valiant champion with shield and lance.” Fancy the benefit that can come to Christianity from a “Parliament” in which a man has to be armed and full of courage to dare to tell the truth about it. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 486.9
“‘Jesus Christ the Righteous’” The Present Truth 9, 31.
E. J. Waggoner
“If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 1 John 2:1. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 486.10
Of all the beings who have lived on this earth, Christ alone “did no sin.” He is the only one of whom it could be said, “There is no unrighteousness in Him.” Psalm 92:15. He Himself without egotism declared Himself to be sinless. And the reason why He could do this, was that He was indeed God. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” John 1:1, 14. Christ was God manifest in the flesh, so that His name was Emmanuel,-“God with us.” Matthew 1:23. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 486.11
Because “in Him is no sin,” “He was manifested to take away our sins.” 1 John 3:5. “This is His name whereby He shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Jeremiah 23:6. Note that He is our righteousness, and not simply a substitute for righteousness that we have not. Men are not, as a Roman Catholic work charges justification by faith with teaching, “reputed or considered wholly on account of the merits of Christ, without really being so.” The Bible teaches that they are actually to be righteous, through the merits of Jesus Christ. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 486.12
More and more is it getting to be held by professed teachers of Christianity, that there is in man at least as much good as evil, and that the good in men will eventually gain the complete victory over the evil. But the Bible teaches that “There is none righteous, no, not one.” Christ, who “knew what was in man,” declared that “out of the heart of men proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.” Mark 7:21, 22. He also declared that “an evil man, out of the evil treasure of his heart, bringeth forth that which is evil,” and that good cannot come from a bad source. Luke 6:43, 45. Therefore it is plain that from man of himself “no good thing” can come. “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one.” Job 14:4. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 486.13
God does not propose to try to bring goodness out of evil, and He never will call evil good. What He proposes to do is to create a new heart in man, so that good can come from it. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 487.1
No man can understand how Christ can dwell in a man’s heart, so that righteousness will flow from it, instead of sin, any more than we can understand how Christ the Word who was before all things, and who created all things, could come to earth and be born as a man. But as surely as He dwelt in the flesh once, He can do it again, and whosoever confesses that “Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is of God.” PTUK November 2, 1893, page 487.2
“If we walk in the light as He is in the light, ... the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7. “We walk by faith, and not by sight.” By faith we receive Christ, and to those who thus receive Him He gives the right and power to be called the sons of God. John 1:12. Then the exhortation is, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him.” Colossians 2:7. This is walking in the light. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 487.3
As the physical life is sustained by breathing and eating, so the spiritual life is sustained by faith; and as we cannot to-day breathe enough for to-morrow, but must keep breathing all the time, so we cannot to-day have faith for the future, but must continue to have faith, if we would continue to live a spiritual life. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 487.4
While we thus by faith walk in the light, we are continually receiving a divine life into our souls, for the light is life. And the life continually received, continually cleanses the soul from sin. The cleansing is an ever-present work, showing an ever-present need. Thus it is that we can never say that we have no sin. It is always only “Jesus Christ the righteous.” PTUK November 2, 1893, page 487.5
It is by the obedience of One that many are made righteous. What a wonder! Only one-Christ-obeys, but many are made really righteous. The apostle Paul said: “I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20. So then, if anyone asks a Christian, “Are you without sin?” he can only reply, “Not I, but Christ.” “Do you keep the commandments?” “Not I, but Christ.” Imperfect and sinful in ourselves, and yet “complete in Him.” PTUK November 2, 1893, page 487.6
With God is the “fountain of life.” Psalm 36:9. Christ is the manifestation of God, and so the fountain of life is in Him. “He ever liveth,” and so the fountain ever flows. As it is said of the river of life, “everything shall live whither the river cometh” (Ezekiel 46:9), so of the life of Christ, wherever it comes it cleanses from all defilement. And so, while confessing ourselves to be sinful and helpless, we are constrained to place all dependence in Him who “knew no sin,” and are “made the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 487.7
“‘He Calleth Thee’” The Present Truth 9, 31.
E. J. Waggoner
By the wayside, near Jericho, as Jesus passed along, sat blind Bartimaeus, begging. “And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. And many charged him that he should hold his peace; but he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they called the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; He calleth thee.” Mark 10:46-49. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 487.8
The result is well known. As soon as Bartimaeus said, “Lord, that I might receive my sight, Jesus replied, “Thy faith hath made thee whole.” “And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.” PTUK November 2, 1893, page 487.9
All men are blinded by nature, for “all have sinned,” and sin is blindness. “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.” Titus 3:11. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 487.10
With a word Jesus gave to blind Bartimaeus his sight. That was written for our sakes, that we might know His power to open our sin-blinded eyes. Said He, “I am the light of the world; he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12. His word is light and life, and the same word that gave sight to Bartimaeus, can remove the blindness of sin. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 487.11
“If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 1 John 2:1. In another article we have seen that Jesus as our Advocate, is our Comforter. It would have been better if the translators had put “Comforter” in the text, instead of “Advocate,” since the latter word is associated in so many minds with the idea of a lawyer before a judge; but if we take the word “advocate” according to its derivation, we shall find the same comfort. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 487.12
If we consult a dictionary we shall find that the word “advocate” is made up from two Latin words, meaning to call to. Thus an advocate is one who calls to another. In law it has come to mean one who speaks for another; but we will adhere to its original use. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 487.13
Now let us read the first with this definition of “advocate.” If any man sin we have with the Father One who calls to us. God does not turn away from us, but calls to us in Christ, who is in the bosom of the Father. So we read, “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 1:9. “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you in the grace of Christ.” Galatians 1:6, R.V. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 487.14
“God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself.” 2 Corinthians 5:19. Jesus said, “The word which ye hear is not Mine, but the Father’s which sent Me.” John 14:24. Therefore it is God who calls to us, “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 487.15
If any man sin, we have One with the Father who calls to us. And what does He say? “I will hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace unto His people.” Psalm 85:8. He says, “Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to Him that is near.” Isaiah 57:19. Also He speaks righteousness. “I the Lord speak righteousness.” Isaiah 45:19. God has set Christ forth “to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are passed.” Romans 3:25. When Christ speaks righteousness to a sinful soul, then there is righteousness there, just the same as there was light when He said, “Let there be light.” PTUK November 2, 1893, page 487.16
And so again we find that Christ as Advocate is a Comforter. The voice that calls out to us, “Peace,” comes from God Himself, for our Advocate is “with the Father.” “The Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The righteousness which it speaks is the righteousness of God. And He is calling to all; all may have the comfort, if they will hear His voice. “Incline your ear, and come unto Me; hear, and your soul shall live.” What greater comfort could there be than to know that a voice from God is calling to us to come to Him? Whosoever reads this, “to you is the word of this salvation sent.” Are you weary with grouping in the darkness of sin? “Be of good comfort, rise; He calleth thee.” PTUK November 2, 1893, page 488.1
“The Privileges of Love” The Present Truth 9, 31.
E. J. Waggoner
It is love that finds the highest and best privileges in the Christian life. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 488.2
Probably no one mentioned in Scripture had a more ardent love for the Saviour than did Mary Magdalene. Christ had cast out of her seven devils, and she was one that “loved much because she had been much forgiven.’ And her love brought her greater privileges than were realised by any other of the associates of her Master. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 488.3
It was Mary’s love for the Saviour that brought her precious lessons from His lips while her sister Martha was busy with household cares. But a greater privilege than this fell her lot,-the privilege of anointing the Saviour of the world for His burial. The event is thus recorded by Matthew: PTUK November 2, 1893, page 488.4
“Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, there came unto Him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as He sat at meat. But when His disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.” PTUK November 2, 1893, page 488.5
It is possible that Mary did not understand the full significance of what she had done; but she did that which her love prompted her to do, and God in His own wisdom ordained her reward. But what a contrast was presented in the mean and selfish spirit of His disciples! That which had been bestowed upon Jesus they characterised as a “waste”! As we are told elsewhere, it was the traitor Judas who first whispered the idea among the disciples, not on account of his love for the poor, but because the money would have been put in the bag which he carried; but the suggestion met with prompt sympathy from the rest. They had been constantly with Jesus, which Mary had not. They had been chosen to the highest positions; they were the foremost in point of privileges and honour; but Mary was foremost of anointing Christ for His burial and they lost it. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 488.6
Mary sought not for honour and renown, but she gained it; for the Saviour said, “Wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.” Matthew 26:13. And with it is also told the story of the meanness and ingratitude of the disciples. Her love brought her a privilege that might well have been coveted by angels; their selfishness brought them what was just the reverse. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 488.7
Yet another instance is recorded of what Mary gained through her love for her Saviour. The record in Mark tells us that “when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene.” Mark 16:9. Mary, as we learn from the narrative, was more anxious to find Jesus than were the others, and she was the first to behold Him. She was the first to have visible evidence that she had a risen Saviour. At this time, also, as we are told in the twentieth chapter of John, Christ had not ascended to His Father. He had waited in order that He might appear unto her! Her love for Him held Him to the earth until He had filled her longing heart with joy and comfort. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 488.8
Love gains the privileges now, as well as it did then. We may not have the talents or occupy the high position of others whom we know; but if our hearts are filled with the love of Christ, we may rest assured that our privileges will be as great as theirs. If we do that which our fervent love for Him prompts us, though we may not see the result now, we shall see by and by the privilege and the blessing that we gained, and the nearness which our love will have brought us to our Redeemer in the life to come. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 488.9
“Interesting Items” The Present Truth 9, 31.
E. J. Waggoner
-The epidemic of diphtheria continues in the inner circle of London. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 494.1
-Dr. Philip Schaff, President of the American Bible Revision Committee, has died at New York from paralysis. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 494.2
-There are only about thirty non-commissioned officers and men alive who were in the charge of the Light Brigade. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 494.3
-A dispatch from Valparaiso announces that a volcanic eruption has occurred near Calbuce, causing great damage to that town. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 494.4
-The United States government has launched a new battleship, the Oregon, said to be the must powerful in her navy, and to have cost $4,000,000. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 494.5
-lmprovements that are to be made in the Southampton docks by the South-western Railway Company will, it is said, make that port one of the best equipped in the world. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 494.6
-The latest transatlantic record is held by the Cunard steamship Campania, which recently made the trip westward in five days, thirteen hours, and thirty-nine minutes. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 494.7
-A World’s Fair special train collided with an express train on the Grand Trunk Railway at Battle Creek, Mich., Oct. 19, and twenty-six people were killed and as many more seriously hurt. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 494.8
-It is anticipated that next year emigration to Siberia from the congested districts of European Russia will be continued on a large scale. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 494.9
-A conference, convened by the London Nonconformist Council met recently, to consider the “spiritual needs of London from a practical standpoint.” The results have not yet become apparent. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 494.10
-Admiral Stanton, in command of the United States warships at Rio do Janeiro, has been proclaimed provisional President of Brazil by insurgent leader Admiral de Mello. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 494.11
-Senor Frederica Lorenz, the captain of one of the Brazilian insurgent vessels, has been proclaimed provisional President of Brazil by Admiral de Mello. Both sides are strengthening their forces preparatory to the final conflict. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 494.12
-Intelligence received from St. Petersburg reports extensive fires in the Crown forests in the district, of Gori, Caucasus. The damage done already amounts to several million roubles, and a number of persons have boon burnt to death. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 494.13
-Aluminium is now used in the construction of field officers’ canteens in the German army, the whole of the cooking utensils, plates, cups, etc., being made of this metal. The weight of the entire outfit for six persons is little more than 9lbs. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 494.14
-It is announced that during 1894 the Italian Admiralty commence the construction of three new ironclads of the theft class, six cruisers of the first class, three cruisers of the second class, four despatch boats, and twelve sea-going torpedo boats. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 494.15
-The crisis in Austria in consequence of Count Taafle’s new Franchise Bill is said to be growing more and more acute. The Premier, contrary to what has been stated, has no intention of resigning, and a dissolution of the Riochsrath and an appeal to the country on the question are regarded as inevitable. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 494.16
-Out of fifty-six cases at the Newcastle Police court on a recent day, fifty were charges of drunkenness. It is significant that, while the prisoners were at the Court-house, the unemployed of the town were holding a meeting not far off to urge the authorities to provide work to mitigate the distress in the district. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 494.17
-A telegram from Algiers reports that a detachment of forty French soldiers has been attacked by Tuaregs, near El Golca, in the extreme south of Algeria. The soldiers made a desperate defence, lasting an entire day, during which twelve of them were killed. The survivors were rescued by reinforcements from El Golca. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 494.18
-“The Buddhists of Japan,” says Church Bells are fighting desperately against Christianity. They are organising ‘salvation armies’ and ‘moral associations,’ buying up timber so that churches cannot be built, seeking to persuade hotel-keepers not to lodge Christians, and in some cases they are resorting to force, destroying chapels, and other buildings. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 494.19
-A subsidy has been recently granted by France for a Pacific cable between Queensland and New Caledonia. This has aroused considerable discussion in government circles at Washington, and it is urged that the United States should take steps for the construction of a cable to the Hawaiian Islands, with a view to its ultimate extension to Japan. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 494.20
-The Chronicle’s Moscow correspondent telegraphs that according to a published statement over thirty Lutheran pastors in the Baltic provinces have during the past year been fined, imprisoned, or dismissed their posts, mainly for administering the sacraments according to the Lutheran Church, to nominal members of the Orthodox Church. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 494.21
-It is announced that the forces of the British South Africa Company have had sharp engagements with Lobengula’s impis in Matabeleland. The Matabele were defeated with heavy loss. It is becoming apparent to the English public that the Matabele war is but a scheme of conquest on the part of the Company, who have promised a liberal reward in booty to all who will aid them in the undertaking. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 494.22
-Advices received from Uganda state that there has been further serious fighting in that region between Christians (so-called) and Mahommedans, the latter being defeated with the loss of several hundred killed. Selim Bey, the commander of the Nubians, is also reported to have mutinied with his troops. The latter were disarmed, and Selim was banished to a small island. He is reported to have since died. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 494.23
“Back Page” The Present Truth 9, 31.
E. J. Waggoner
The best way to oppose an error is to state the truth; and the best way to state truth is to state it in the words of God. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 496.1
Jesus Christ is the “Prince of peace;” not of outward peace merely, but of inward peace, that peace which reigns in the heart where He sits enthroned. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 496.2
Mr. Stead seems to be making wonderful progress as a writing medium. It is not from the professed spirits of the dead, that the messages are received, but from the living, as well, and that without their knowledge. In the last number of Borderland he relates the following incident:- PTUK November 2, 1893, page 496.3
“During my stay at Lucerne I received a very long communication from a friend, detailing minutely an occurrence which had taken place by the seaside in England, which was known only to himself. The curious thing was that his conscious itself was very anxious to keep the incident from my knowledge, and his letters not only did not refer to the incident, but he wrote as if it had never happened. It was only when I read the whole detailed statement to him, that he owned up, and said that everything had occurred as it was written. I should say that the message occupied more than a thousand words, and there was not a mistake in a single detail. I had not any knowledge as to the probability of the event recorded.” PTUK November 2, 1893, page 496.4
Another case is thus recorded:- PTUK November 2, 1893, page 496.5
“When I was in the train at Dover, I succeeded in securing an automatic telepathic interview with Lady Brooke, who was at that time in Dunrobin Castle, in the extreme north of Scotland; the distance between us must have been about 600 miles. I had not heard from Lady Brooke for weeks, nor have I heard from her since I published my article on ‘The Wasted Wealth of King Demos.’ My hand wrote her criticisms of the article, and, in short, I interviewed her without her conscious knowledge, at a distance of 600 miles. When I arrived at Victoria Station, I received from my manager a letter from Lady Brooke, which embodied in brief the substance of the communication written with my hand on the line between Dover and Canterbury.... It is the first time I have ever interviewed anyone by automatic telepathy for publication in the press; I hope it will not be the last.” PTUK November 2, 1893, page 496.6
It is not likely that it will be the last. Many people will not believe Mr. Stead’s statements, while many others will believe them, and will conclude that this automatic interviewing is a wonderful discovery, and very harmless with all, not knowing that it is nothing but the same Spiritualism as of old. That was the spirits of devils impersonating the dead; this is the work of the same spirits, but is so artfully designed as to disarm suspicion. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 496.7
In the first instance reported, there was no antagonism between the man’s “conscious self” and his unconscious self. The man-the whole man-wished to conceal the occurrence from Mr. Stead, but the devil, who knew all about it, revealed it to him. The second instance is just as easy of explanation. The communication of Lady Brooke had been written and was already in London when Mr. Stead’s hand was riding in the train, between Dover and Canterbury; for his manager met him with it at the station. The devil simply stole Lady Brooke’s copy, and gave a summary of it to Mr. Stead, in order to entangle him, and others, more closely in the meshes of his great deception. Of course the ones interviewed knew nothing about the affair, since they had nothing whatever to do with it. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 496.8
The “American Board,” which is the name of the corporation through which the Congregational churches of America do their missionary work, has just had its annual meeting, and the most important business transacted was the appointment of a Mr. Noyes as missionary to Japan. This case has been under consideration for several years, the “Prudential Committee” of the Board having refused to appoint him on account of his pronounced belief in probation after death. The case was at last referred to the entire Board, which, after a vigorous debate, appointed Mr. Noyes by a vote of 106 to 24. It was stated that this action involves no doctrinal changes in the sentiment of the Board; but inasmuch as Mr. Noyes is already in Japan as a missionary, and has been there for five years, it seems evident that this vote indicates nothing but a growing sympathy with the idea of probation after death. The secretary of the Board, who had served for twenty-four years, and two directors, which served forty-four and seventeen years, respectively, resigned in consequence of the altered position of the Board. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 496.9
During the debate on the appointment of Mr. Noyes, the Rev. Dr. Cyrus Hamlin, who has been actively connected with missions for sixty years, made a speech protesting against it, in the course of which he said:- PTUK November 2, 1893, page 496.10
“Your missions in the Turkish Empire and in all papal lands, and wherever you find the Oriental churches-Armenian, Greek, Syrian, Jacobite Syrian, Ethiopian, whatever they may be-have to meet with this doctrine of probation after death. All those churches, without exception are built upon that doctrine. I have never met with an Oriental or a Romanist who did not believe in probation after death. Their hope is placed on that doctrine. Their sins are indulged in on that basis. I have known one man of the basest life, when he knew he was dying, surround himself with two sets of men, musicians, to distract his attention, and the clergy, to administer to him the last sacraments, he leaving a sum of money for the performance of masses for his wicked soul after death. His hope was that by the discipline of suffering, by the ministries of the Church, by the offering of the bloodless sacrifice in the Mass, and by the prayers and supplications of the Church and of the Virgin Mary and the Saints, his wicked soul would be freed from its entanglements and his destiny after all his life of sin would be life eternal. Now that is the condition of the people to whom you have sent your missionaries, and your missionaries have invariably preached that ‘now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation.’ This proposed appointment will reverse all that. Pass the case; admit Mr. Noyes, and it will be known all over the world that the American Board has joined the side of its enemies, and all the devoted believers in the Oriental and in the papal churches will utter a shout of joy.” PTUK November 2, 1893, page 496.11
“‘Itching Ears’” The Present Truth 9, 31.
E. J. Waggoner
“Itching Ears.”-In summarising the Press notices of the Borderland, Mr. Stead says: “Both in the Old World and in the New there is, if not an open mind, at any rate an itching ear.” Undoubtedly. It is just what the Bible predicts, and it stamps as false and misleading everything connected with this “borderland” teaching. “Preach the word; ... for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:2-4. It has already come. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 496.12
“‘Christian Education’” The Present Truth 9, 31.
E. J. Waggoner
This is the title of a book of 256 pages, that has just found its way to our table. It is a book which we unqualifiedly recommend, not simply to teachers, but to parents. Indeed, it is more especially designed for parents, as it begins with the child in infancy, where its education really begins, whether the parents realise their responsibility or not. The parent is the natural and proper teacher of the child, not only before it is of school age, but afterwards as well. If this book were carefully read, and heeded, by every parent, it would be a blessing to all the children in the land. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 496.13
As will be supposed, it does not deal wholly with book education. The truest and best part of education cannot be gained from books. The physical, mental, and spiritual needs of the child are considered in this little treatise. As it is designed for all parents, it is in a simple style that all can comprehend. Send your order, with 2s., to the International Tract Society, 59 Paternoster Row, London, E.C. PTUK November 2, 1893, page 496.14