The Signs of the Times, vol. 14

August 10, 1888

“The True and Abiding Sabbath” The Signs of the Times, 14, 31.

E. J. Waggoner

“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, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.” Exodus 20:8-11. SITI August 10, 1888, page 486.1

The fourth commandment is the solid foundation upon which Sabbath-keeping rests. They who tremble at the word of God can desire no other. If we analyze it, we shall find that it consists of a simple command to keep the Sabbath day holy, and then such an explicit definition of the Sabbath as distinguishes it from every other day, so that no attentive person can fail to know what day the Sabbath is. SITI August 10, 1888, page 486.2

“The seventh day is the Sabbath.” What seventh day? The most natural conclusion is that it is the seventh day of the week; for the fact that six days of labor precede it, shows that it is the last in a period of seven days; and the only period of seven days is the week. Besides, the commandment specifies what is meant by saying, “For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.” The “creation week” is a very common term to express the time of God’s creation and rest. The day on which God rested was the seventh day of the creation week; the day on which we are commanded to rest is the seventh day of the week, which took its rise from the first week of time, in which God created the heavens and the earth, and rested. SITI August 10, 1888, page 486.3

That the seventh day of the week is the Sabbath, and that this is what the commandment enjoins, is evident from a passage in the New Testament. The writers of the four Gospels all record with more or less minuteness the events of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. They all state that the crucifixion was on the preparation day, that is the day before the Sabbath. They likewise all mention the fact that certain women came to the sepulcher very early on the first day of the week, and found it empty. Luke says (24:11) that they came “upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning;” and Mark says (16:1) that it was “when the Sabbath was past.” Now read in consecutive order what Luke says immediately following his account of the burial of Jesus:- SITI August 10, 1888, page 486.4

“And that day was the preparation, and the Sabbath drew on. And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulcher, and how his body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment. Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared.” Luke 23:54-56; 24:1. SITI August 10, 1888, page 486.5

From this text we learn that the preparation day immediately preceded the Sabbath day. Verse 54. We learn also that the first day of the week immediately followed the Sabbath. Then since there are but seven days in the week, that Sabbath day must have been the seventh day of the week. “Well,” says one, “nobody questions that; what is the use of stating it so explicitly?” Simply because that Sabbath day which is proved beyond all possibility of denial to have been the seventh day of the week, was kept by the women, “according to the commandment.” Thus we have it most positively proved by an inspired writer that the Sabbath day which the fourth commandment says we must remember to keep holy, is the seventh day of the week. SITI August 10, 1888, page 486.6

“Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy,” not to make it holy. Man cannot make anything holy; God alone has that power. It is an unwarrantable, almost a blasphemous, assumption, to say that men can sanctify as the Sabbath any day on which they may choose to rest. The Lord made the Sabbath day holy, and he requires men to keep it holy, and not to pollute it by unholy words and deeds. SITI August 10, 1888, page 486.7

But the Sabbath did not originate with the giving of the commandment from Sinai. At that time God only declared the law which already existed. The sacredness of the Sabbath, which is guarded by the fourth commandment, did not begin at that time, any more than the sacredness of human life, which is guarded by the sixth commandment, began at that time. The commandment itself refers us to creation. Why are we commanded to keep the Sabbath day holy? “For [because] in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is; and rested the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.” SITI August 10, 1888, page 486.8

The statement that God blessed and hallowed the Sabbath day, is equivalent to saying that he blessed and hallowed the seventh day, for “the seventh day is the Sabbath.” It became the Sabbath from the time when God rested upon it. The Sabbath is the name of the seventh day of the week, which God sanctified. That God did bless and sanctify, or make holy, the seventh day in particular, and not merely the Sabbath institution in general, is plainly declared in the record to which the commandment refers. SITI August 10, 1888, page 486.9

“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it; because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” SITI August 10, 1888, page 486.10

This statement that God sanctified the seventh day, because that in it he had rested, upsets the theory that God’s Sabbath is an immensely long time; that the Sabbath which he begun when he finished the work of creation, is not yet completed. Such a theory makes nonsense of the fourth commandment, which enjoins upon us the day on which God rested; but if it were true that God’s Sabbath has continued since creation, and is even now going on, a command for us to keep the Sabbath of the Lord would be the same as a command for us never to do any work! But the fact is clearly stated, that when God blessed and sanctified the seventh day, his rest upon it was in the past. He blessed and sanctified it, not because he was resting in it, but because he had rested in it. SITI August 10, 1888, page 486.11

Notice how the steps by which the Sabbath was made: First, God made the heavens and the earth in six days,-six days such as we are familiar with, composed of a dark part and a light part, caused by the revolution of the earth upon its axis, and each completed in twenty-four hours. Second, God rested on the seventh day. Third, he blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because that in it he had rested. Then it became God’s holy Sabbath day. SITI August 10, 1888, page 486.12

At the close of God’s rest upon the seventh day, he sanctified it. To sanctify means to appoint, to set apart by specific directions and injunctions. Thus the Lord says: “Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly.” Joel 1:14. The children of Israel appointed (margin, sanctified) six cities as places of refuge. See Joshua 20:7. They sanctified them by setting them apart for that purpose, and letting everybody know it. Still more clear is the evidence in the nineteenth of Exodus. When the Lord would come down upon Mount Sinai, he said to Moses: “And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it.” Exodus 19:12. And afterwards Moses said unto the Lord: “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai; for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.” Verse 23. So God sanctified the Sabbath, by placing around it the sanction of his word, and commanding the people then living-Adam and Eve-and through them their descendants, not to step over those bounds. SITI August 10, 1888, page 486.13

On these three facts the Sabbath rests: God created the heavens and the earth in six days; he rested on the seventh day; he blessed and sanctified, or appointed as sacred, the seventh day. Before the Sabbath can be changed, the facts of creation must be changed. But a fact is that which has been done, and a fact cannot be changed. Even if the heavens and the earth were destroyed, it would still remain a fact that God created them, and that he rested upon and blessed and hallowed the seventh day, as a memorial of his creation; and upon these facts the Sabbath rests. To abolish the Sabbath, or to change it to another day than the seventh, it would be necessary to annihilate the heavens and the earth, and not only so, but to annihilate the fact that they were ever created, so as to make it a truth that they never had an existence. But this even omnipotence cannot do. SITI August 10, 1888, page 486.14

What stability there is to the works of God. “The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. They stand fast forever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.” Psalm 111:7, 8. Therefore “it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.” Luke 16:17. W. SITI August 10, 1888, page 486.15

“The Doxology. The Lord’s Prayer” The Signs of the Times, 14, 31.

E. J. Waggoner

“For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.” Matthew 6:13. This close of the Lord’s prayer, which is called the “doxology,” from two Greek words meaning an ascription of praise or honor, has been omitted in the revised version of the New Testament. It is therefore necessary, before commenting upon it, to give the reasons for commenting upon it at all. SITI August 10, 1888, page 486.16

The reason which the Revision Committee gave for rejecting it, is that it does not appear in the most ancient versions. Dr. Roberts gives, however, after stating the objection to it, this testimony in its favor:- SITI August 10, 1888, page 486.17

“There is indeed, one mighty argument in its favor. It is found in most of the ancient versions, such as the Ethiopic, the Armenian, the Gothic, and, above all, the Syriac. And could we be sure that the doxology existed from the first in such an ancient version as the Peshit Syriac, its genuineness would perhaps no longer be disputed.”-Companion to the Revised Version. SITI August 10, 1888, page 486.18

And the whole argument, pro and con, is thus briefly put in the “Speaker’s Commentary:”- SITI August 10, 1888, page 486.19

“The doxology is omitted by the majority of modern editors (Lachmann, Tischendorf, Tregelles, Alford, Wordsworth), who regard it as an interpolation derived from the use of the prayer in the early liturgies of the church, with an ascription of praise added. The principal argument against it rests on its absence from four of the oldest uncial (A B D Z) and five cursive MSS., from the Latin and Coptic versions, and from the citations of the Latin Fathers. On the other hand, it is found, with occasional variations, in the nine uncials and at least 150 cursives, and in the Syriac, Sahdic, Ethiopic, Gothic, and Armenian versions, and is supported by preponderating evidence from the Greek Fathers.” SITI August 10, 1888, page 486.20

It seems, therefore, that the evidence against the genuineness is at the best but negative. This would be sufficient, if the ideas expressed by it were not in harmony with the truth as revealed in the Scriptures. But that the doxology does express perfectly scriptural ideas, is evident from the following sample texts. On “thine is the kingdom,” read Psalm 22:28: “For the kingdom is the Lord’s; and he is the Governor among the nations.” On “the power,” read Psalm 62:11: “For hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.” For “the glory,” and all the rest, forever and ever, read Revelation 5:13: “And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.” SITI August 10, 1888, page 486.21

Now since the kingdom, and the power, and the glory are the Lord’s, it would certainly be proper to ascribe them to him in our prayers, even though it were proved beyond all controversy that the doxology was not originally given with the Lord’s prayer. Let us therefore see what lessons we may learn, and what aids to devotion we may find, in the closing words of that petition as it stands in the common version, and as it naturally comes from the lips of thousands of reverent worshipers. SITI August 10, 1888, page 487.1

“For thine is the kingdom.” This statement, if remembered, tends to beget confidence as well as reverence and awe. “The Lord hath prepared his throne in the Heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.” Psalm 103:19. “For the Lord most high is terrible; he is a great king, saith the Lord of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.” Malachi 1:14. Now while the greatness of God as king may strike terror to the hearts of the wicked, it is a source of joy to the Christian, for he knows that his confidence is not in a vain thing. He knows that God is love, and therefore he loves to think that he is great, for that means great love. So while “the sinners in Zion are afraid,” the upright in heart may say with all confidence: “For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us.” Isaiah 33:22. SITI August 10, 1888, page 487.2

“And the power.” In the thought that “power belongeth unto God,” there is the same comfort that there is in the thought that the kingdom is the Lord’s. For immediately following the verse in which the psalmist says so emphatically that “power belongeth unto God,” we read, “Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy.” Psalm 62:12. Power without mercy is terrible; mercy without power is despicable; but power and mercy combined form a character worthy of love and respect. And when that power and that mercy are infinite, then the One in whom they are found is worthy of all worship. SITI August 10, 1888, page 487.3

The creation of the world stands as the great evidence of God’s power. Says the prophet Jeremiah:- SITI August 10, 1888, page 487.4

“But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king; at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. Thus shall ye say unto them, the gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.” Jeremiah 10:10-12. SITI August 10, 1888, page 487.5

Again the same prophet says:- SITI August 10, 1888, page 487.6

“He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding. When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens; and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.” Jeremiah 51:15, 16. SITI August 10, 1888, page 487.7

Again the prophet repeats the statement, and couples with it, or rather draws from it, a comforting thought. He says:- SITI August 10, 1888, page 487.8

“Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee; Thou showest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the Lord of hosts, is his name, great in counsel, and mighty in work; for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men; to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 32:17-19. SITI August 10, 1888, page 487.9

Although this also speaks of God’s power to execute judgment upon the wicked, it nevertheless contains comfort to the righteous; for as strong as God is to execute judgments, so strong is he to protect his people. And so Moses, in “the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel,” said:- SITI August 10, 1888, page 487.10

“There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky. The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms; and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.” Deuteronomy 33:26, 27. SITI August 10, 1888, page 487.11

As the Christian comes to God with his humble petition for strength, what could give him greater assurance than this thought? When he knows that all the power of God is pledged to the support of his children, will he not come with the greater boldness, the more he realizes the power of God? When he reads that “the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him” (2 Chronicles 16:9), is it not a comfort to know that God is omnipotent? When he says, “Hallowed be thy name,” and remembers that it is a glorious and fearful name, what an encouragement to be assured that “the name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10. SITI August 10, 1888, page 487.12

Once more we read of the power of God, as described by the prophet Isaiah. Says the prophet:- SITI August 10, 1888, page 487.13

“Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance; behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.” “All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.” Isaiah 40:15, 17. SITI August 10, 1888, page 487.14

Again he says of God, that,- SITI August 10, 1888, page 487.15

“It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in.” Verse 22. SITI August 10, 1888, page 487.16

“To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number; he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.” Verses 25, 26. SITI August 10, 1888, page 487.17

But why are we interested in learning of this great power of God? Read on:- SITI August 10, 1888, page 487.18

“Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall; but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Verses 28-31. SITI August 10, 1888, page 487.19

God’s power, then, is for the benefit of his children. He clothes them with his own power. The fullness of his power may become theirs in the strife against evil, if they but earnestly desire it. This will be brought out more fully further on. SITI August 10, 1888, page 487.20

The power of God as manifested in the healing of disease can be noticed only in the most general way. The dead have been raised, the lame made to walk, the blind to see, the dumb to speak, and the deaf to hear. Withered limbs have been made whole in a moment of time. Men full of leprosy have had their flesh become like that of a child. Now why are all these exhibitions of the power of God placed on record? For the purpose of begetting confidence in God. When the child of God offers the Lord’s prayer or its equivalent, he is not to utter the words, “For thine is... the power,” as a matter of form, but is to come with an intelligent sense of the power of God. That knowledge, coupled with his knowledge of God’s willingness to help, is the assurance that his petition, if it is a proper one, will be granted. The expression, then, “For thine is... the power,” is virtually a statement of the petitioner’s confidence in God. SITI August 10, 1888, page 487.21

Says Paul: “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.” Romans 1:16. Not only is the gospel the power by which God saves those who believe, but it is the manifestation of all the power of God for the salvation of those who will accept it. Christ is “the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:24. He represents all the power in the universe, because “in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9), and it was by him that all things were created, “that are in Heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers.” Therefore when God in his great, love for the world gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life, he gave all that Heaven had to bestow. And this is further indicated in the words of Paul: “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” Romans 8:32. SITI August 10, 1888, page 487.22

The greater includes the less. Since God has already given us his Son, which is a greater gift than all things else combined, how is it possible for us to ask or expect too much from him? Christ, who is our Advocate with the Father, says: “All power is given unto me in Heaven and in earth;” and he is with his people always, even unto the end. Surely, then, it is not without reason that we are taught to acknowledge in our prayers the power of God. What confidence such knowledge begets! SITI August 10, 1888, page 487.23

“Beneath his watchful eye
He saints securely dwell;
That hand which bears all nature up,
Shall guard his children well.” W. SITI August 10, 1888, page 487.24

“Colombia Bible Burnings” The Signs of the Times, 14, 31.

E. J. Waggoner

The Missionary Review says that there is an established agency at Bogota, the capital of Colombia, for the burning of Bibles and Protestant books. It is stated that Colombia is probably more under the power of the priesthood than any other Roman Catholic country in the world. Of course, if other countries were as much under the control of the Catholic priesthood as Colombia is, there would be an agency for destroying Bibles in those countries; and the agency would keep at work till the Bibles were destroyed. As we write, the question comes to our mind, How long will it be before Rome will be destroying Bibles in the United States? When she can dictate what books shall be used in the public schools, her power cannot be many steps behind what it is in Colombia. We don’t wonder that Rome doesn’t like the Bible; it tells harder things about her than Swinton’s history does, or than any history that was ever written. SITI August 10, 1888, page 488.1

“The Commentary. The Development of the Beast” The Signs of the Times, 14, 31.

E. J. Waggoner

THE THIRD ANGEL’S MESSAGE.
THE MAKING OF THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST.
(Lesson 8. Sabbath, August 25.)

1. What Government have we proved to be represented by the second beast of Revelation 13? SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.1

2. What power is to be exercised by this beast? SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.2

“And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him.” Verse 12, first clause. SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.3

3. For what purpose does he use this power? SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.4

“And causeth the earth and then which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.” Remainder of same verse. SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.5

4. What is said by him to them that dwell on the earth? SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.6

“Saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.” Verse 14, last part. SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.7

5. What power is represented by the first beast?-The Papacy. SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.8

6. What have we found to be the great characteristic of the Papacy?-The union of Church and State-the Church using the power of the State for the furtherance of its own aims. SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.9

7. For what then are we to look in this nation?-For the religious power to exalts itself to that place, where it shall dominate the civil, and deploy the power of the State for the furtherance of its own ends. SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.10

8. Is there any effort even now being made in this direction?-Yes, a large and influential organization is working to this very end. SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.11

9. What, according to their own words, is the object of the association? SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.12

“To secure such an amendment to the Constitution of the United States as shall suitably express our national acknowledgement of Almighty God as the source of all authority in civil Governments; of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Ruler of nations; and of his revealed will as of supreme authority; and thus indicate that this is a Christian nation, and place all the Christian laws, institutions, and usages of the Government on an undeniable legal basis in the fundamental law of the land.” SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.13

11. Of what does the organization consist in itself? SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.14

Of a president, the names of about one hundred and twenty vice-presidents, a recording secretary, a corresponding secretary, a treasurer, seven districts secretaries (at present), and the Reformed Presbyterian Church as a body. SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.15

12. Who are some of the prominent men actively engaged in favor of it? SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.16

Joseph Cook, Herrick Johnson, D.D., Julius II. Seelye, president of Amherst College; Bishop Huntington, of New York; Hon. Wm. Strong, ex-justice of the United States Supreme Court, and many others. SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.17

13. Of what other important bodies has it gained the support. SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.18

The “principal” churches, the National Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, and the prohibition party in many States. SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.19

14. What was the prevailing theory of the church leaders in the time of constant theme?-“The theocratical theory.” SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.20

15. What is the theory of the National Reformers? SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.21

“Every government by equitable laws, is a government of God; a republic thus governed is of him, and is as truly and really a theocracy as the Commonwealth of Israel.”-Cincinnati National Reform Convention, p. 28. “ A true theocracy is yet to come, [and] the enthronement of Christ in law and law-makers, and separate devotedly as a Christian patriot, for the ballot in the hands of women.”-Monthly Reading, W.C.T.U. SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.22

16. What had the church leaders determined to do in the days of Constantine?-“To make use of the power of the State for the furtherance of their own aims.” SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.23

17. What have these in our day determined to do?-The same thing. SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.24

18. What came of that in the fourth century?-The Papacy. SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.25

19. What will come of this in the nineteenth century?-The image of the Papacy. SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.26

20. Of what other bodies is the National Reform Association diligently working to secure the support?-The workingmen and the Catholic Church. SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.27

21. What does this Association say of the Catholic Church? SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.28

“We cordially, and gladly, recognize the fact that in the South American republics, and in France and other European countries, the Roman Catholics are the recognized advocates of national Christianity, and stand opposed to all the proposals of secularism.... Whenever they are willing to co-operate in resisting the progress of political atheism, we will gladly join hands with them. In a World’s Conference for the promotion of National Christianity-which ought to be held at no distant day-many countries could be represented only by Roman Catholics.”-Christian Statesmen, December 11, 1884. SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.29

22. What are all Catholics commanded by the pope to do? SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.30

“All Catholics should do all in their power to cause the constitutions of States and legislation to be modeled on the principles of the true church; and all Catholic writers and journalists should never lose sight, for an instant, from the view of the above prescription.”-Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII., 1885. SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.31

23. Then is not the National Reform Association aiming to form a government modeled after the principles of the Papacy? SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.32

24. Then, if professed Protestants under the leadership of the National Reform Association succeed in this, what will there be erected in this Government?-An image of the Papacy. SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.33

“Back Page” The Signs of the Times, 14, 31.

E. J. Waggoner

Bishop Foss, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, says: “I believe the so-called modern Spiritualism to be about nine-tenths deception and one-tenth devil.” The Independent agrees that the Bishop has given the constituents correctly, whether the proportions are right or not. Both are wrong. Spiritualism is all devil; and it is all deception-self-deception you may call it if you please; for no man can be deceived unless he yields assent to the deception. SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.34

A private letter received from Elder G. C. Tenney, just as we are closing the paper, contains the following interesting item concerning the church in Melbourne: “At our quarterly meeting yesterday, one hundred and fifty names were on the roll, and a response was had to all but two of them.” We venture to say that there are not many churches in America that can show so good a record. A report which we have in hand from Elder Tenney will appear next week. SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.35

It seems that the statement telegraphed from Europe last week, that Emperor William had decided not to visit the Italian capital, was a mistake. William will, immediately upon his arrival there, visit the Pope, before going to the Quirinal. He will take this course in order to avoid offending the head of the Catholic Church, “his holiness” Leo XIII. If he must follow the example of Henry IV., and go to Canossa probably William could not do it any more gracefully than in the manner proposed. SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.36

It may be interesting if not comforting to the people who know that Sunday-schools are now being started by Socialists, in which lawlessness is being taught to the children. America, published in Chicago, says of these Anarchist-breeding schools:- SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.37

“Under the superintendency of Paul Grottkan, they are making great progress in the city. There are six of them now, and they hold their meetings every Sunday morning. Among the teachers in these ‘Sunday-schools’ are Christianson, editor-in-chief of the Arbeiter Zeitung. Paul Grottkan, Mrs. Lucy Parsons, and others equally well known to fame. Those in charge of the classes where instruction is given are careful as to who are admitted, and that an outsider will find it an impossibility to gain an entrance. These schools have not been organized more than a month, but the attendance upon them is already large and constantly upon the increase. It is estimated by Grottkan and others interested that 25,000 people will soon be enrolled in the schools, including children. Of those now attendants many are children not more than ten years of age. Captain Schaack and Inspector Bonfield have as yet made no move toward breaking up the meetings where disobedience to the laws of the country and the State is taught.” SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.38

When one considers that lawlessness is natural to the human mind; that it is only by a thorough, careful training that children are taught respect for authority, it will be very easy to see that these Anarchist Sunday-schools will have a wonderful success in their special line. Men whose hearts do not fail them for fear of those things that threaten this earth, are either blind to the signs of the times, or else they are dwelling in the secret place of the Most High, and the Lord is their confidence. SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.39

A recent letter from Honolulu, H.I., brings the welcome intelligence that a vessel has been provided by one of the brethren at that place for a voyage to Pitcairn, and that Elder Cudney expected to sail July 31 for that island, via Tahiti, there expecting to take in Brother Tay, who sailed direct to Tahiti from San Francisco, July 5. Other islands will also be visited, and the truths of the Third Angel’s Message introduced, as opportunity offers. We know that the prayer is our brethren and sisters everywhere will follow these brethren as they carry the message to these remote parts of the earth, and we believe that God will send prosperity. SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.40

One of the great San Francisco dailies in its issue of August 5 says: “Both Old and New Testaments were translated into a Latin edition, called the Vulgate-that now used by the Roman Catholics-which, in its turn, was done into English by Tyndale, Luther, and others.” SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.41

The only remarkable thing about this statement is the ignorance which is displayed in it. But it is only a fair sample of the religious intelligence imparted to its readers from time to time by the same great paper. Everybody ought to know, and almost every school-boy does know, that Luther translated the Scriptures into German, and not into English. SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.42

The California Christian Advocate of the 1st inst. gravely informed its readers that “Congressman Plumb, of Kansas, has offered an amendment to the Sunday Civil Bill providing an appropriation for the building of a public drinking fountain in the Capitol.” Of course the bill to which the Kansas Congressman has offered an amendment is the Sunday Civil Appropriation Bill; but in these days of proposed Sunday legislation it is perhaps not strange that the friends of Sunday laws fail to discern what to them seems so small a difference. We fear, however, that the day is not far distant when even the Sundry Appropriation Bill may contain clauses relative to Sunday, and then it will indeed be literally the “Sunday Civil Bill.” SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.43

“The Proposed Bond of Union” The Signs of the Times, 14, 31.

E. J. Waggoner

In an article in behalf of the Sunday-sabbath the leading Presbyterian paper of New York City says: “In the time of efforts in the direction of Christian union, it is wise and well for those who can unite in nothing else, to unite in words and works which will tend to keeping for this great country a holy Sabbath.” SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.44

This means that if Christians can unite on nothing else they should unite for the preservation of the Sunday institution in this country. But is this the one thing needful for the conservation of religion, that it should be made the bond of union? Is it indeed true that if “Christians” can unite on nothing else they should unite to enforce upon all the observance of Sunday, the relic of a false system of worship, an institution which has almost wholly supplanted the Sabbath of the Lord, the seventh day enjoined upon all by the fourth commandment of the decalogue? Verily, religion is at a low ebb when those who profess it can find in the Scriptures nothing upon which to unite, and are compelled to seek a bond of union in an institution which is wholly without divine authority. SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.45

“Nebraska Camp-Meeting” The Signs of the Times, 14, 31.

E. J. Waggoner

A notice of Nebraska’s annual gathering, to be held at Grand Island, August 28 to September 4, comprising the workers’ meeting, the camp-meeting, and the sessions of the Conference, Tract and Missionary Society, Sabbath-school Association, and the Health and Temperance Association, was received too late for publication this week but will appear next week. SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.46

Brother Gardiner, the president of the Nebraska Conference, makes an earnest plea that all who desire to do something in the cause of God in the State attend this meeting. Let all such who can possibly do so be at Grand Island on or before August 28, that they may receive the benefit to be derived from the instruction to be given in the workers’ meeting. SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.47

The camp-meeting proper begins September 4, and as far as possible every Sabbath-keeper in the State ought to be present at the beginning and remain until the close. The delegates to the Conference especially, should be there on time, in order that the several churches may be represented at the first meeting of the session. We regret that we could not print the notice this week, as it contains information which all ought to have. SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.48

Those who go to the meeting by rail should, when they buy their tickets, ask the agent for a certificate stating that they pay full fare in going. This when properly signed by the Conference secretary, will entitle the holder to return at one-third the going fair. SITI August 10, 1888, page 489.49