" Sanctify them thiotigh Thy trtith : Thy Word is trti1h."--John 3svii. 17.

Vol. 12. LONDON, 1-1URSDAY, JULY 3o, 1896. No. 31.

There is the ladder from the earth to the heaven, clause which states that everlasting life iu gig prgsatt &nib. There are the angels hovering o'er thy which to personally enjoy the use of this head, PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY THE There is the Father saying, "Restored, forgiven," increased estate is to go with it as an in- International Tract Society, Ltd., There thou mayest weep, and still be com- separable adjunct. This is indeed much. 59, Paternoster Row, E. C. forted. The blessing's thine, the birt,hright, God bath From this point of view the increase in , Annual Subscription, By Post, 6s. 6d. spoken ; value upon the original investment be- Make all Orders and Cheques payable to the International His love o'ershadoweth the bowed and broken. comes not one hundredfold merely, but 'tract Society, Limited, 461, Holloway Road, London, N. There thou mayest find 'tis Bethel, gate of God, infinite. To be had at Messrs. W. H. Smith & Bon's Railway Gate unto heaven, though a house of sadness. This is qualified, however, by the sur- Bookstalls, or through any News Agent. There find the cross, the ladder where Christ trod, prising statement, to a worldly mind, that And angels ministering to bring thee glad- BETHEL. many that are first shall be last ; and the ness. last shall be first. Then in the chapter im- DISCONSOLATE fled Jacob from his home,— Rise from thy sleep of grief and see the grape. mediately following (Matt. xx.), the expla- Fatherless, motherless, friendless and Un- Build up the altar, make thy vow to prove nation of this is given in the parable of the known. Thou knowest God Himself is in this place, The very love that stole the blessing for him, Giving thee tokens of almighty love. householder, who went out from time to Now thrust him forth into time during the day and the night alone. How was he blessed by that hired labourers for his vine- great word just spoken ? yard, paying them all at The birthright his, the blessing, the close of the day the yet heart-broken. same wages, irrespective of The stars shone coldly down whether they had laboured through silence chilly, The wilderness spread round one hour or the entire day. alone, alone ; And when those whom he There was no mound of grass to had engaged first, and who make a pillow, He gathered for his head a had worked the full day, couch of stone, NEAR BETHEL— " THE WILDERNESS SPREAD ROUND ALONE." murmured, he answered, Forsaken of God and man: and yet there oame "Is it not lawful for me to A shadowy ladder from the very skies, The birthright's thine, the blessing, and the token, do what I will with mine own ? Is thine God's comfort oometh to thee, 0 heart-broken. God looking down, angels that spoke his name, eye evil, because I am good ? So the Coming and going in sweet ministries. FANNIE BOLTON. And Jacob roused from sleep at that great last shall be first, and the first last ; for token, many be called, but few chosen." The birthright his, the blessing, though heart- A VALUABLE INVESTMENT. What does the penny a day represent? broken. CHRIST has said that whatever of the The wages of sin is death. The wages in "How reverend is this place," he cried in terror. things of this world anyone shall forsake, the service of God is eternal life. Is the "This is no other than the house of God, penny, then, eternal life ? If it be so, The gate of heaven, and angels know my error, for His name's sake, shall be returned to Yet come to soothe my soul beneath the him a hundredfold, with the addition of then would it not be just that those who rod. murmured that others received the same This wilderness, this silence and this sorrow an eternity of possession and enjoyment of Are pregnant with a Presence all unsought; that which he has received. wages should be last, and that the last who I'll raise an altar here ere dawns the morrow; The value of property is always enhanced went gladly, trusting only that they would For God is here although I knew it not, receive that which was just, and ready to And He'll be with me, so His word hath spoken ; in proportion to the length of time the title The birthright's mine, the blessing, though heart- has to run. A freehold is more valuable be satisfied with whatever was given them, broken." than a lease for a term of years. But in should be first ? 0 comfort for the weary and oppressed, this case the promised return for the in- Here is sweet lesson for thee, lost and lone. vestment is not only to be one hundred- Why God Waits.—Objectors often say, Where art thou with thy heavy-laden breast? Where art thou with thy pillow made of fold, with a title which shall run for eter- " Why doesn't the Lord, if He has the stone? nity, but also this has joined with it a power, put a stop to evil ? Why does He 482 THE PRESENT TRUTH. N.31. let it go on in the world ? " The objector ciples, He would show them, in such a follow Me ! " But the sacrifice which that does not stop to think that it would go hard manner as to impress it vividly upon their entailed was too great, for the young man with him if God should instantly put an minds, that it should not be among them was very rich, and held high social posi- end to evil. God has promised to bring as in the world, " But whosoever will be tion and authority; he was a ruler. These sin and misery to an end, and " the Lord great among you, let him be your minister; things he could not give up, and he turned is not slack concerning His promise, as and whosoever will be chief among you, away grieved, and very sad. some men count slackness ; but is long- let him be your servant." Then, striving His question was, " What shall I do to suffering to us-ward, not willing that any to recall to their minds the solemn words inherit eternal life ? " Did Jesus answer should perish, but that all should come to which He had previously spoken, in warn- his question? Did He point out to hint repentance." 2 Pet. iii. 9. Instead of ing as to what was about to befall Himself, the way to eternal life, for which he asked? finding fault with the Lord for waiting, the He illustrated what their service should be and did the young man accept the reply, objector would better hasten to take ad- by what His own had been and was to be and walk in that way, or did he turn from vantage of God's longsuffering and desire to them,—" Even as the Son of man came it ? Christ is the way and the life. He for his salvation ; for while the Lord is not to be ministered unto, but to minister, is the heir, and with Him and through longsuffering, He cannot always wait, and and to give His life a ransom for many." Him alone is the inheritance of eternal " the day of the Lord will come as a thief life. in the night." Then evil will vanish away in the fires that melt the elements and "WHAT MUST I DO TO BE Chinese Chronology.—Very often we purify the earth in order that it may be re- SAVED ? " meet the statement that the Bible cannot newed and filled with righteousness. IT is related that a young man came to be true as the Chinese have records reach- the Master and said, " Good Master, what ing back many thousands of years. The " WHICH IS YOUR REASONABLE good thing shall I do, that I may have determined unbeliever will always swallow SERVICE." eternal life ? " Mark says that the young the tallest fable if it only runs contrary to man came running, and kneeled to Him, the Bible, whose simple record he claims THAT was a solemn moment when and asked Him, " Good Master, what shall he cannot believe. It is like the giant Christ said to His disciples, " Behold, we I do that I may inherit eternal life? " It who swallowed windmills but was at last go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man is evident that the youth was a man of choked by a pat of butter. Here is the shall be betrayed unto the chief priests high worldly position, for Luke calls him explanation of this windmill of Chinese and unto the scribes, and they shall con- " a certain ruler." chronology :— demn Him to death, and shall deliver Him The first words of Christ's reply to him " Sceptics have alleged against the Bible to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, are very striking. It was as if He would chronology the age of the Chinese annals. and to crucify Him; and the third day He challenge him to acknowledge Him to be At length Professor DeLacouperie has shall rise again." Matt. xx. 18, 19. The the Son of God : " Why tallest thou Me found the key to these extravagances. The Chinese themselves were unable to make twelve were all there together. Christ good? there is none good but One, that is, sense of their oldest books, but this emi- had even taken them apart by the wayside, God." But, seemingly, without waiting nent Frenchman has deciphered them, that they might be alone by themselves for a reply He reminded the young man showing that their characters are derived while He first clearly stated to them in that he knew the commandments of God, from the Babylonian. In the Chinese list definite words the treachery which He and that the observance of them was of mythical sovereigns he discovers a re- was to meet, and the painful and ignomini- necessary to eternal life. Yet, apparently production of the first Babylonian dynasty ous death He was to die. desiring to know if special stress should be mentioned by Berosus, and in the records which accompany it, some of the' facts and Yet, notwithstanding the clearness of laid upon any particular commandment, legends in Babylonian history. In a paper His statement, and the impressiveness of the youth asks, " Which? " Christ then read before the Royal Asiatic Society, the circumstances under which it was enumerates to him some of the ten com- Professor DeLacbuperie seems to set these given them, they seemed to fail utterly to mandments. And he answers, "All these wonderful identifications beyond doubt." comprehend it, or to appreciate in any de- things have I kept from my youth up; what - - - --•41-4111,0 gree its tragic and solemn import. For lack I yet ? " Upon this, Mark says, immediately after this, apparently, the " Then Jesus beholding him loved him." "Whom Jesus Loved "—The first two brothers, one of whom was the affec- It seems that he was a pure and noble chapter of the Gospel of John, and the tionate and noble disciple whom Jesus character,— such an one as would, in these opening verses of the first epistle of John, loved, with their mother, came to ask days, be considered a model Christian bear a most interesting resemblance in for personal preferment and power. The man. And it is true that for the beauty thought and feeling. In the writings of reply of Jesus, " Ye know not what ye and purity of his life Christ loved him ; this epistle the keen and intelligent natu- ask," was apt and expressive. Yet, not- yet he was not perfect. There was one ral insight of the man seems to show, as withstanding their error in making such a thing still lacking,—that was sacrifice. well as his affectionate and lovable quali- request, and the fact that it could scarcely This was the answer to his question:— ties. Surely, through such a character as have been more ill-timed, He did not re- " Go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, this, the inspiration of God could readily prove them sharply. He only used the and give to the poor, and thou shalt work to move mankind to an understand- incident to illustrate to them all the dif- have treasure in heaven; and come, take ing of His Gospel, and a realisation of His ference between the administration of up the cross, and follow Me " Mark love towards the erring and the lost. How heavenly and of worldly affairs. x. 21. much to-day the Lord's work needs men of By the use of this sad misconception This was His answer,—that loving in- clear minds, simple expression, and loving and the jealous anger of their. fellow-dis- vitation,—" Come, take up the cross, and hearts, like John. July 30 THE PRESENT TRUTH. 483

they are only willing, and believe His Word. A gift cannot be forced upon one, and therefore those who would receive God's righteousness, and the inheritance of righteousness, must be willing to receive it. "All things are possible to him that be- lieveth." God can do "exceeding abun- dantly above all that we ask or think," if we but believe His Word, which effectually worketh in them that believe. The Phari- sees were much more respectable people than the publicans and harlots, and yet Christ said that these would go into the kingdom of heaven before they did; and the reason was that the Pharisees trusted in themselves, and disbelieved God, while the publicans and harlots believed the Lord, and yielded themselves to Him. So with Jacob and Esau. Esau, was an in- fidel. He regarded the word of God with contempt. Jacob was no better by nature, but he believed the promise of God, which is able to make the believer a partaker of the Divine nature. God chose Jacob in the same way that was wholly in the Lord's power, and that ISRAEL—A PRINCE OF GOD.. He does everybody else. " Blessed be the no man could have anything to do with God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, had bought the birthright from the disposing of it, except to reject it for JACOB who hath blessed us with all spiritual Esau for a mess of pottage, and had himself. Even though Esau had obtained blessings in heavenly places in Christ through deceit obtained the blessing of the the blessing from his father, God would Jesus ; according as He hath chosen us in firstborn from his father. But not by have brought His own plan about in good Him before the foundation of the world, such means may anybody obtain the in- time. that we should be holy and without blame heritance which God promised to Abraham before Him in love." Eph. i. 3, 4. We and his seed. It was made sure to Abra- 00D'S CHOICE. are chosen in Christ. And since all things ham through faith, and no one need think So Jacob became doubly an exile. Not were created in Christ, and in Him all to inherit it through force or fraud. " No only was he a stranger in the earth, but he things consist it is evident that we are not lie is of the truth." Truth can never be was a fugitive. But God did not' forsake required to get ourselves into Christ, but served by falsehood. The inheritance him. There was hope for him, sinful as only to acknowledge Him, and abide in promised to Abraham and his seed was an he was. To some it may seem strange Him by faith. There was no more par- inheritance of righteousness, and therefore that God should thus prefer Jacob to Esau, tiality in the choice of Jacob before he it could not be gained by anything un- for Jacob's character does not at that time was born, than there is in the choice of all righteous. Earthly possessions are often seem any better than Esau's. Let us re- others. The choice is not arbitrary, but gained and held by fraud, but not so the member that God does not choose any in Christ, and if none rejected and spurned heavenly inheritance. The only thing that man because of his good character. "For Christ, none would be lost. Jacob gained by his sharpness and deceit, we also were aforetime foolish, disobedient, was to make his brother an everlasting deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, " How rioh the grace I the gift how free! 'Tie only ' ask,'—it shall be given ; enemy, and to be an exile from his father's living in malice and envy, hateful, hating 'Tie only' knock,' and thou shalt see house for more than twenty years, never one another. But when the kindness of The opening door that leads to heaven. again seeing his mother. God our Saviour, and His love toward 0 then arise, and take the good, So full and freely proffered thee, Yet God had said long before that Jacob man, appeared, not by works done in Remembering that it cost the blood should be the heir instead of his elder righteousness, which we did ourselves, Of Him who died on Calvary." brother. The trouble with Jacob and his but according to His mercy He saved us, mother was that they thought that they through the washing of regeneration and re- could work out the promises of God in newing of the Holy Ghost, which He poured JACOB'S FIRST LESSON. their own way. It was the same kind of out upon us richly, through Jesus Christ WHILE Jacob believed the promise of mistake that Abraham and Sarah had our Saviour; that being justified by His God sufficiently to enable him to endeavour made. They could not wait for God to grace, we might be made heirs according to secure its fulfilment by his own efforts, work out His own plans in His own way. to the hope of eternal life." Titus iii. he did not understand its nature well Rebekah knew what God had said con- 3-7, R.V. enough to know that God alone could cerning Jacob. She heard Isaac promise God chooses men, not for what they are, fulfil it through righteousness. So the the blessing to Esau, and thought that but for what He can make of them. And Lord began to instruct him. Jacob was on unless she interfered, the Lord's plan there is no limit to what He can make of his lonely way to Syria, fleeing from the would fail. She forgot that the inheritance even the meanest and most depraved, if wrath of his offended brother, " and he 484 THE PRESENT TRUTH. No 3t. lighted upon a certain place, and tarried Gospel to him. We have learned that flock have I not eaten. That which was there all night, because the sun was set ; God preached the Gospel to Abraham in torn of beasts, I brought not unto thee; I and he took of one of the stones* of that the words, " In thee shall all the families bare the loss of it ; of my hand didst thou place, and put it under his head and lay of the earth be blessed." Therefore we require it, whether stolen by day, or down in that place to sleep. And he are sure that when the Lord said to Jacob, stolen by night. Thus I was; in the dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on " In thee and in thy seed shall all the day the drought consumed me, and the the earth, and the top of it reached to families of the earth be blessed," He was frost by night ; and my sleep departed heaven; and behold the angels of God preaching the same Gospel. from mine eyes. Thus have I been twenty ascending and descending on it. And, be- Connected with this statement, was the years in thine house : I served thee four- hold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I promise of land, and of an innumerable teen years for thy two daughters, and six am the Lord, the God of Abraham, thy posterity.' The promise made to Jacob years for thy cattle; and thou hast changed father, and the God of Isaac; the land was identical with that made to Abraham. my wages ten times. Except the God of whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, The blessing to come through Jacob and my father, the God of Abraham, and the and to thy seed; and thy seed shall be as his seed was identical with that to come fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread through Abraham and his seed. The seed thou hadst sent me away now empty. abroad to the west, and to the east, and to is the same, namely, Christ and those who God hath seen mine affliction and the labour the north, and to the south ; and in thee are His through the Spirit ; and the bless- of my hands, and rebuked thee yester- and in thy seed shall all the families of the ing comes through the cross of Christ. night." Gen. xxxi. 38-42. earth be blessed. And, behold, I am with All this was indicated by that which This was a calm and dignified state., thee, and will keep thee whithersoever Jacob saw, as well as by that which he ment, and showed that the fear of Isaac, thou goest, and will bring thee again into heard. There was a ladder set up on the and the same spirit, had actuated him. this land ; for I will not leave thee until I earth, reaching up to heaven, connecting The preaching of the Gospel had not been have done that which I have spoken to God with man. Jesus Christ, the only in vain in Jacob's case; a great change thee of. And Jacob awaked out of his begotten Son of God, is the connecting had come over him. sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in link between heaven and earth; between Let it be noted here that Jacob gained this place; and I knew it not. And he God and man. The ladder connecting nothing whatever from the birthright was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this heaven with earth, upon which the angels which he had so shrewdly bought from place ! this is none other but the house of of God were ascending and descending, his brother. His property was due to the God, and this is the gate of heaven." was a representation of that which Christ direct blessing of God. And in this con- Gen. xxviii. 11-17, R.V. said to Nathanael, that true Israelite : nection we may recall the fact that Isaac's This was a great lesson for Jacob. Be- " Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and blessing was to the effect that God would fore this his ideas of God had been very the angels of God ascending and descend- bless him. The inheritance was not one crude. He supposed that God was con- ing upon the Son of man." John i. 51. which could be transmitted from father to fined to one place. But now that God The way to heaven is the way of the cross, son, as ordinary inheritances, but one had appeared to him, he began to realise and this is that which was indicated to which must be to each one by the direct, that " God is a Spirit; and they that wor- Jacob that night. Not by self-assertion, personal promise and blessing of God. ship Him must worship Him in Spirit and but by self-denial, are the inhefitance and To be "Abraham's seed, and heirs accord- in truth." John iv. 24. He began to the blessing to be gained. " He that will ing to the promise," we must be Christ's; realise what Jesus told the Samaritan lose his life," and all that life contains, but if we are Christ's, and joint-heirs with woman long afterwards, that the worship " shall save it." Him, we are " heirs of God." of God does not depend upon any place, but upon the soul's reaching out and find- APPLYING THE LESSON. THE FINAL TEST. ing Him, wherever it is. Moreover, Jacob began to learn that the OF Jacob's sojourn in the land of Syria, BUT Jacob had made a grievous failure we need not speak particularly. In the in his earlier life, and so God, as a faithful inheritance that God had promised to his twenty years that he served his uncle Teacher, must necessarily bring him over fathers, and which he had' thought to get Laban, he had ample opportunity to learn the same ground again. He had thought by a sharp bargain, was something to be that deception and sharp dealing do not to win by guile: he must completely learn gained in an entirely different manner. How much of the lesson he grasped at profit. The course that he had pursued that " this is the victory that overcometh came back upon himself; but God was the world, even our faith." 1 John v. 4. this time, we cannot tell; but we know with him, and prospered him. Jacob When Rebekah proposed to send Jacob that in this revelation God proclaimed the seems to have laid to heart the lesson that away from home, because Esau sought to •I. beg the pardon of the intelligent reader for had been given him, for we see very little kill him, she said, " Now therefore, my referring in this connection to the Scone stone in the coronation chair in Westminster Abbey, which indication of his natural disposition to son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to is by some supposed to be the stone on which overreach in his dealing with his uncle. Laban my brother to Haran ; and tarry Jacob slept, and which, by its position in the He seems to have trusted his case quite with him a few days, until thy brother's coronation chair, is supposed to identify Eng- land with Israel, and to make the Anglo-Saxon fully to the Lord, and to have submitted fury turn away; until thy brother's anger race heirs of the promise to Jacob. Saying noth- to all manner of ill-treatment without re- turn from thee, and he forget that which ing of the unfounded and unprovable assertion taliation. In his reply to Laban's charge thou hast done to him ; then will I send that the stone in question is the one on which Jaoob slept, the idea that the possession of it that he had stolen, Jacob said:— and fetch thee from thence." Gen. xxvii. could make any people heirs of the promises to " This twenty years have I been with 43-45. But she did not know the nature Israel is paralleled only by the medieval supersti- tion that a man could inherit the sanctity of a de- thee ; thy ewes and thy• she-goats have of Esau. He was bitter and unrelenting. parted saint by wearing his old shirt. not cast their young, and the rams of thy " Thus saith the Lord, For three trans- July 3o. THE PRESENT TRUTH. 485

gressions of Edom, and for four, I will not Jacob had once tried to get the better of evidence that Jacob knew that it was the turn away the punishment thereof; be- his brother by fraud. He had thought that Lord that was wrestling with him, until cause he did pursue his brother with the thus he could become an heir of the the morning broke, and his thigh was put sword, and did cast off all pity, and his promises of God. Now he had learned out of joint by the touch of his antagonist. anger did tear perpetually, and he kept that it could be gained only by faith, and The angel appeared to him as a man, and his wrath for ever." Amos i. 11. (Edom he betook himself to prayer in order to be Jacob, doubtless thought that he was being is Esau. See Gen. xxv. 30; xxxvi. 1.) delivered from his brother. Having made attacked by "a, robber. We can well con- Here we see that, bad as Jacob's natural the best possible disposition of his family ceive that Jacob was in sore trouble all disposition was, Esau's character was and flocks, he remained alone to continue night. The time was fast approaching most despicable. his, prayer to God. He realised that he when he must face his angry brother, and Although twenty years had passed, wag not worthy of anything, and that if he dared not meet him without the, full Esau's anger was as fresh as ever. When left to his deserts he should perish, and he assurance that all was right between him- Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau, felt that he must still further cast himself self and God. He must know that he was to speak peaceably to him, and to con- upon the mercy of God. pardoned for his past wicked course. Yet ciliate him, they brought back the news " And Jacob was left alone ; and there the- hours that he had designed to spend in that Esau wail comindwith four hundred wrestled a man with him until the breaking communing with God, were being spent in

THE RIVER .TABBOK - WHERE JACOB WRESTLED.

men. Jacob could not hope to make any of the day. And when He saw that He pre- wrestling with a supposed enemy. So we stand against these trained warriors; but vailed not against him, He touched the may be sure that while his body was all he had learned to trust in the Lord, and hollow of his thigh ; and the hollow of engaged in resisting his antagonist, his so we find him pleading the promises in Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as He heart was uplifted to God in bitter anguish. this manner :— wrestled with Him. And He said, Let The suspense and anxiety of 'that night " 0 God of my father Abraham, and God Me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, must have been terrible. of my father Isaac, the Lord which saidst I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless Jacob was a man of great physical unto me, Return unto thy country, and to me. And He said unto him, What is thy strength and endurance. Watching the thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee: name? And He said, Jacob. And He flocks night and day for years had demon- I am not worthy of the least of all the said, Thy name shall be called no more strated this, and had at the same time mercies, and of all the truth which Thou Jacob, but Israel ; for as a prince hast hardened his frame. So he continued the hast shown unto Thy servant; for with my thou power with God and with man, and struggle and held his ground all night. staff I passed over this Jordan ; and now haat prevailed. And Jacob asked Him and But it was not thus that he gained the I am become two bands. Deliver me, I said, Tell me, I pray Thee, Thy name. victory. We read that " by his strength pray Thee, from the hand of my brother, And He said, Wherefore is it that thou he had power with God ; yea, he had power from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, dost ask after My name ? And He blessed over the angel, and prevailed ; he wept, • lest he will come and smite me, and the him there. And Jacob called the name of and made supplication unto Him ; he mother with the children. And Thou the place Peniel :. for I have seen God face found Him in Bethel, and there He spake saidst, I will surely do thee good, and to face, and my life is preserved." Gen. with us ; even the Lord of hosts ; the make thy seed as the sand of the sea, xxxii. 24-30. Lord is His memorial." Hosea xii. 3-5. which cannot be numbered for multitude." People often speak of wrestling with By his power Jacob prevailed with God, Gen, xxxii. 9-12, God in prayer, as Jacob did, There is rto but it was not by his power as Et wrestler, 486 THE PRESENT TRUTH. No. 31.

His strength was in his weakness, as we He who has power with God, will most even as I also overcame, and am set down shall see. certainly prevail with men. This is the with My Father in His throne." Rev. iii. Notice that the first intimation that secret of power. Let the servant of God 21. Jacob had that his opponent was other know that if he would have power with than an ordinary man, was, when his thigh men he must first be able to prevail with PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD AND was put out of joint by His touch. That God. He must know the Lord, and have revealed in an instant who his supposed talked with Him face to face. To such the SUNDAY OBSERVANCE. enemy was. It was no human touch, but Lord says, " I will give you a mouth and AT the late annual meeting of the Eng- the hand of the Lord, that he felt. What wisdom which all your adversaries shall lish Church Union the special subject did he then do ? What could a man do in not be able to gainsay nor resist." Luke discussed was that of prayers for the dead, his condition ? Picture to yourself a man xxi. 15. Stephen knew the Lord, and held and the Union strongly urged that this wrestling, where so much depends upon communion with Him, and the haters of custom should be more fully recognised in the strength of his legs, and having one of truth " were not able to resist the wisdom the services of the Church of England. them suddenly dislocated. If one were and the Spirit by which he spake." What To this all Protestants are, of course, walking, or simply standing still, and one then must have been his power with those strenuously opposed. Prayers for the of his legs should suddenly be put out of whose hearts were open to receive the dead, associated with offerings for the joint, he would instantly fall to the ground. truth ? dead, known in Catholic phraseology as Such would have been the case with Jacob, In this story of Jacob, we learn anew masses for the dead, come from the if he had not at once thrown himself upon how the inheritance which God promised ancient pagan custom of sacrificing for the Lord, with a firm grasp. He would to Abraham and to his seed is to be ob- the dead and the worshipping of demons, most naturally grasp the nearest object for tained. It is by faith alone. Repentance against which the Scripture specifically support ; but the knowledge that here was and faith are the only means of deliverance. warns all. But it is not of the doctrine the. One whom he had been longing to By no other means could he hope to have itself that we shall speak, but of the argu- meet, would make his grasp more than an any share in the inheritance. His whole ment by which those who urge it silence involuntary action. His opportunity had salvation lay in his dependence upon the the objections of those in the Church of come, and he would not let it slip. promise of God. It was thus that he was England, and Protestants generally, who That Jacob did at once cease wrestling fully made partaker of the Divine nature. oppose it. and cling to the Lord, is not only most Protestants say that the practice is apparent from the fact that he could do WHO ARE ISRAELITES? without Scripture warrant, founded merely nothing else, but also from the words of WE learn also who are Israel. The on tradition which has always made void the Lord, " Let Me go." " No," said name was given to him in token of the the Word. It is so, and the objection is Jacob, " I will not let Thee go, except victory which he had gained by faith. It unanswerable. But those who favour Thou bless me." It was a case of life and did not bestow any grace upon him, but prayers for the dead do not take the death. His life and salvation depended was a token of grace already possessed. Scriptures as authority so much as ec- upon his holding on to the Lord. The So it will be bestowed upon all those who clesiastical tradition. They adopt the words, "Let Me go," were only to test through faith overcome, and upon no Catholic position. But then they turn on him, for the Lord does not willingly leave others. To be called an Israelite does not their objectors and retort that Protestants, any man. But Jacob was determined to add anything to anybody. It is not the while pleading for the Word as the stand- find a blessing indeed, and he -prevailed. name that brings the blessing, but the ard, themselves reject the Word and take It was by his strength that he prevailed, blessing that brings the name. As Jacob tradition when it so pleases them. The but it was by the strength of faith. did not possess the name by nature, so 'Dean of Lichfield, Dr. Lucock, in his " When I am weak, then am I strong." nobody else can. The true Israelite is he speech at the meeting of the E. C. U., In that hour Jacob learned fully the lesson in whom is no guile. Such ones alone replied to the Protestant controversialist that the blessing and the inheritance come please God; but " without faith it is im- as follows:— not by might, nor by strength, but by the possible to please Him." So the Israelite Just because there is no direct evidence in so Spirit of the Lord. is only the one who has personal faith in many words in Holy Scripture enjoining prayers the Lord. " They at e not all Israel, which for the dead, he maintains that as members of the Reformed Church, believing Scripture and A NEW NAME. are of Israel ; " " but the children of the Scripture alone, we have no right to revive them. new name was a pledge to Jacob promise are counted for the seed." Rom. I want to point out to you what inconsistency is THE involved in this position. Take the case of Sun- that he was accepted. It did not confer ix. 6, 8. day as an illustration. Thero is not a single text anything upon him, but was a token of Let every one who would fain be known in the whole Bible which teaches us in so many as an Israelite consider how Jacob received words that the seventh day was to be superseded what he had already gained. Resting upon by the first. It is perfectly true that in the New God, he had ceased from his own works, the name, and realise that only so can it Testament we find religious associations connected so that he was no more the supplanter, be worthily carried by anyone. Christ, as with the first day. But if there was a single text directing the change we should not have found in seeking to further his own ends, but the the promised seed, had to go through the certain portions of the Church in the early cen- prince of God, who had fought the good same struggle. He fought and won turies both the seventh and the first day observed. fight of faith, and had laid hold on eternal through His trust in the word of the Father, In justifying the change, we appeal to the Primi- tive Church, being perfectly certain that the life. As Israel he was henceforth to be and so He is of right the Iting of Israel. rulers and Bishops of the Church would never known. Only Israelites will share the kingdom with have sanctioned such a revolution as that unless Now he could go forth to meet his Him ; for Israelites are overcomers, and they had received by tradition such directions as they believed to have oome from our blessed Lord brother. He who has seen God face to the promise is, " To him that overcometh Himself. What, then, is the rule of authority in face, has no need to feu the face of man, will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, the one case Must be made the rule in the other. July 3o THE PRESENT TRUTH. 487

The Church Times endorses the Dean's rites and observances by " the law and the Christian servant to fight even for that argument editorially, saying, " No distinct testimony." By this test it is seen that which may be rightfully due, and as in- direction is given in the Gospel for the " there is no light in them." Isa. viii. 20. justice increases and is met by increasing observance of the first day of the week in Notice how generally this question of violence on the part of the oppressed, the lieu of the Sabbath." This of course is the authority of Sunday is being made the Christian is to stand apart from strife and not a matter of argument. It is a matter test of the authority of the Church aside wait patiently for the grand event which of fact. The argument based upon the from the Word. It was on this point that is to bring oppression to an end and right fact simply amounts to saying, " There is the Council of Trent based its condemna- all wrong for ever. no Scripture for prayers for the dead, tion of the Reformers' appeal to the Bible neither is there for Sunday keepiny, ; but alone, as against Church authority. It is CHRIST'S SECOND COMING. we do both according to the primitive just here that the Church of Rome is con- tradition, which we follow instead of the stantly charging the Protestant world with THE fact that Christ will come a second Word." The answer silences the Protes- inconsistency in accepting Sunday ob- time to this earth, is most explicitly stated. tant who finds himself keeping the Sunday servance by authority of the Church, while " Unto them that look for Him shall He and refusing prayers for the dead, which rejecting that authority in other matters appear the second time without sin unto practice comes on the same authority as where it pleases them to do so. And the salvation." Heb. ix. 28. The restrictive Sunday observance. Anglican Catholics are also learning the clause, " unto them that look for Him," It is a fact, everywhere made prominent weak spot in the armour of popular Pro- does not apply to His appearing ; for when in ecclesiastical history, that what is called testantism. This is why we cannot do He comes, " every eye shall see Him " primitive tradition begins after the "falling otherwise than continually call attention (Rev. i. 7 ; Matt. xxiv. 30), but only to away" of which the Apostle Paul warned to the Sabbath question. On the side 'of His bestowal of salvation ; for to those the early church. The apostasy had al- human authority the Sunday is being made only who look for Him will He appear ready begun to work in his day, he 'fold the test, and the mark of such authority. " unto salvation." them, and immediately after the days of On the side of Divine authority and the When Christ ascended, the two angels the apostles the errors which crowd the Word of God the Sabbath is the sign or who remained a moment behind to com- Roman Church came in as a flood. As mark of allegiance to God. Ezek. xx. 12, fort the disciples under the shock and Dr. Killen says in his preface to the 20. The issue is joined. It is the Word sorrow of separation from their Lord, ex- "Ancient Church" :— of God against the word of man. On claimed in thrilling tones, " Ye men of Rites and ceremonies, of which neither Paul which side will you choose to stand ? nor Peter ever heard, crept silently into use, and Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into then claimed the rank of Divine institutions. heaven ? This same Jesus which is taken Officers, for whom the primitive disciples could have found no place, and titles, which to them Strikes —Strikes are not only becoming up from you into heaven shall so come in would have been altogether unintelligible, began more frequent in the industrial world, but like manner as ye have seen Him go into to challenge attention, and to be named apostolic. violence is more frequently resorted to in heaven." Acts i. 11. This statement is It is to these times that men appeal conducting them. Such contests, attended direct. Its terms are simple and explicit. whenever they appeal to primitive tradi- with violence, necessitating the calling out It is not ambiguous. It has no double tion in support of doctrines and practices of troops have recently been reported from meaning. Men may disbelieve it ; but it for which they find no warrant in the the Continent, England, and America. can be understood in only one way, and Scripture. And it is interesting, in this The inequalities of social life, with increase that is, that the same Christ who ascended, special connection, to note the fact that in of both riches and wretchedness, are being will literally, visibly, and personally appear the earliest times prayers for the dead, or more keenly felt, and men seem to have again to human eye in the clouds of heaven. offerings for the dead, and Sunday ob- less patience to endure. There are often 1 Thess. iv. 16 states the same thing; also servance were associated together. In two sides to these labour disputes, but the Mark xiii. 26 ; xiv. 62 ; Luke xxi. 27. accounting for these practices, the manner Scripture gives advice to the Christian The object of Christ's coming is to re- of observing the Sunday, offerings for the labourer which is equally good whether it ward every man as his works shall be. dead, and the sign of the cross, Tertullian, is the covetousness of the employer or of Matt. xvi. 27 ; Rev. xxii. 12. And this is who wrote about the year 200, said :— the employed, or both, which leads to bad accomplished by— If for these and other such rules, you insist feeling and a struggle on each side to First, raising the righteous dead to im- upon having positive Scripture injunction, you will find none. Tradition will be held forth to overcome the other. The prophet warns mortality. John vi. 39, 40 ; 1 Con xv. 23, you as the originator of them, custom as their the rich in these Says who have " heaped 42-44, 52 ; 1 Thess. iv. 16 ; 2 Tim. iv. 8 ; strengthener, and faith as their observer. That treasure together for the last days " by Rev. xx. 6. reason will support tradition, and custom, and faith, you will either yourself perceive, or learn keeping back the hire of the labourer. Second, changing all the righteous living from some one who has. James v. But anticipating the violence to to immortality through the mighty energy That was all that could be said for these which these things would lead, the pro- of the Holy Spirit. Rom. viii. 11; 1 Cor. practices then, and it is all that c-. 11,3 said phet says to the Christian, " Be patient xv. 51, 52 ; Phil. iii. 20, 21; Col. iii. 4 ; 1 for them now. But the retort that silences therefore, brethren, unto the coming of Thess. iv. 17 ; 1 John iii. 2. those who cling to one unscriptural prac- the Lord. Behold, the husbandman Third, destroying all the living wicked. tice and object to another, based on the waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, Isa. vi. 11; xiii. 9 ; xxiv. 1, 3; ,Ter. xxv. same authority and associated with it in and hath long patience for it, until he re- 32-35 ; Zeph. i. 2, 3 ; Matt. xiii. 38-42 ; • origin, will not silence the protest of those ceive the early and latter• rain. Be ye 2 Thess. i. 7-10; ii. 8 ; Rev. vi. 14-17 ; xix. who take the Bible as God's Word to Men, also patient; stablish your hearts: for the 21. The wicked dead are reserved for and test of all these perversions of the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." It is punishment to the second resurrection, truth and adaptations of ancient pagan incompatible with the character of the after the investigative judgment on their 488 THE PRESENT TRUTH. No 31. cases during the thousand years of Rev. Do you long to be freed from sin ? Be- were sent to Belin, the town near which xx. 5, following which, in their cases, the lieve 1 John i. 9; Isa. lv. 7; Jer. xxix. 13 ; the tract was found, to inquire for the second death ends all. Rev. xx. 11-15. Matt. vi. 14; vii. 7. teacher of this religion ; and, finding I had When buffeted by temptations, keep in In view of this great event, the second returned here, they took a little boat (it view James i. 12, and always remember being in the rains) and came seeking me, coming of Christ and the end of all things, Ps. xxxiv. 7. WM. SIMPSON. but the Buddhists here, hearing what they the church is exhorted to watchfulness Darrell, Ontario. were seeking for, turned them aside, saying (Mark xiii. 36, 37 ; 1 Pet. iv. 7), sober, the teacher lived a long distance away righteous, and godly living (Titus ii. 12, 13), IF I COULD ONLY KNOW. still, so they were discouraged and returned patience, and love to the brethren (Jas. v. home. 8, 9), and all holiness and godliness in life " Casting all your care upon Him ; for He eareth for you', " The next dry season, when they met a 1 Peter v. 7. and conversation. Obedience to these ex- blacksthith from Thaton, they inquired of IF I could only surely know him, and he told them where they would hortations will secure us a preparation for That all these things that tire we so find the Christian teacher, and so the two that day. Disregarding them, we shall Were noticed by my Lord,— men came again, and found the mission find our portion at last with hypocrites and The pang that cuts me like a knife, The noise, the weariness, the strife, house, and drank in the truth, and when unbelievers. U. SMITH. And all the cankering cares of life— they returned, two of our preachers went What peace it would afford I with them to instruct them more in the way."—Missionary Review. THE PROMISES OF GOD. It seems to me, if sure of this, Blent with each ill could come such bliss That I might covet pain, " WHEREBY are given unto us exceeding And deem whatever brought to me PERSEVERING PRAYER. great and precious promises : that by these The loving thought of Deity ye might be partakers of the Divine nature, And sense of Christ's sweet sympathy, PERSEVERANCE in prayer has been made having escaped the corruption that is in Not loss, but richest gain. a condition of receiving. We must pray the world through lust." Such are the Dear Lord, my heart shall no more doubt always if we would grow in faith and words of inspiration concerning the pre- That Thou dolt compass me about experience. We are to be " instant in cious promises of the Bible; but how often With sympathy Divine; prayer," to " continue in prayer, and we glance them over little realising their Thy love for me, 0 Crucified, Is not the love to leave my aide, watch in the same with thanksgiving." worth. But waiteth ever to divide Rom. xii. 12 ; Col. iv. 2. Peter exhorts God's promises, like the stars, show Each smallest care of mine. believers to be " sober, and watch unto their brilliancy when the shades of dark- —Selected. prayer." 1 Peter iv. 7. Paul directs, " In ness come. everything by prayer and supplication, with Spiritual darkness like a funeral pall is A TRACT, AND WHAT CAME OF IT . thanksgiving, let your requests be made being drawn over the earth. Said the known unto God." Phil. iv. 6. "But ye, prophet, foreseeing these last days, "Dark- . AN incident comes to us from Miss beloved," says Jule, " praying in the Holy ness shall cover the earth, and gross dark- Elizabeth Lawrence, of the Baptist Mission, Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of ness the people." The Divine nature is Burma, which illustrates what is often God." Jude 20, 21. Unceasing prayer is Well-nigh obliterated from many who are called in question, the power of the truth the unbroken union of the soul with God, formed in the image of God. Many are in many instances to lead men to a new so that life from God flows into our life ; the sighs and cries for the abominations life of faith in Christ, apart from the and from our life, purity and holiness flow that are done in the land. The earnest personal teacher, and which also affords back to God. inquiry of every true follower of Christ, in encouragement to those who do not see There is necessity for diligence in prayer; view of a preparation to meet the Lord, is, the fruit of their labours to hope that in let nothing hinder you. Make every effort " How can I become a partaker of the some cases the seed cast on the waters or to keep open the communion between Jesus Divine nature? how can I escape the cor- in the face of the winds may bring forth and your own soul. Seek every opportunity ruption that is in the world through lust?" manifold. Miss Lawrence may relate her to go where prayer is wont to be made. The answer comes back from the Lord : own story. She travels far into the jungle Those who are really seeking for communion " By the exceeding great and precious pro- often, where the face of no other white with God will be seen in the prayer-meeting, mises that I have given you." woman was ever seen to work in heathen faithful to do their duty, and earnest and Weary traveller, when clouds of dark- villages ; and also among the churches, anxious to reap all the benefits they can ness and discouragement would overwhelm holding meetings with the women and gain. They will improve every opportunity you, do not give up in despair. Look up, children, and aiding the native pastors by of placing themselves where they can receive lift up your head as Jesus has commanded Bible readings in the church. At the time the rays of light from heaven. Behold God's promises that are shining referred to above she wrote :— We should pray also in the family circle; like brilliant stars all through His Word to " Just now I am rejoicing over nine and above all we must not neglect secret encourage us in the journey of life. converts in a heathen village some thirty prayer, for this is the life of the soul. It Are you burdened ? Read Ps. lv. 22; miles away from all Christian influences, is impossible for the soul to flourish while 1 Peter v. 7 ; Matt. xi. 28. who were brought to the light by the prayer is neglected. Family or public Are you persecuted and oppressed? grandfather in one household reading a prayer is not sufficient. In solitude let Read Matt. x. 22; Luke vi. 22, 23; Ps. tract called The Awakener,' which was the soul be laid open to the inspecting eye ix. 9; John xvi. 33; Isa. li. 7; Matt. v. 11. picked up under a rest-house by the way- of God. Secret prayer is to be heard only Are you in trouble ? Read Ps. ix. 9; side some fifteen miles away from their by the prayer-hearing God. No curious xxxiv. 17; Nahum i. 7. village, and carried to him by one who ear is to receive the burden of such Have your friends forsaken you ? Read could not read. Although the tract was petitions. In secret prayer the soul is John xv. 24; Ps. xxvii. 10 ; Matt. xix. much soiled and some of the leaves gone, free from surrounding influences, free from 29 ; xii. 50 ; Mark x. 29. the Holy Spirit used it to his salvation and excitement. Calmly, yet fervently, will it Are you afraid of coming to want ? that of his household of six adults, and reach out after God. Sweet and abiding Read Prov. x. 3; Ps. xxxiv. 10, 15; xxxvii. another household, a man and wife, and will be the influence emanating from Him 3 ; lxxxiv. 11; Isa. xli. 17 ; xlix. 15, 16 ; lxv. they are teaching their little ones the right who seeth in secret, whose ear is open to 13; Matt. vi. 30-34; x. 29-34. way. After reading the tract two men hear the prayer arising from the heart, Ali) 30. THE PRESENT TRUTH. 489

By calm, simple faith, the soul holds many proofs as to the Lord's faithfulness for this wisdom. Dear reader, are His communion with God, and gathers to itself to His promise, attached to the Divine pre- words your wisdom, counsel, guide ? If rays of Divine light to strengthen and cept, Be not " weary in well-doing; for in not, believe them, meditate upon them, sustain it in the conflict with Satan. God due season we shall reap, if we faint not." hide them in your heart. Jesus will then is our tower of strength. Selected. be unto you, by His Word which abides in Pray in your closet; and as you go you, a living, personal Saviour, who will about your daily labour let your heart be actually and truly deliver you from evil often uplifted to God. It was thus that THE LATTER RAIN. habits, and preserve you unto His heavenly kingdom. He is the wisdom which, if Enoch walked with God. These silent IT is not that we need to strive and cry prayers rise like precious incense before For God to send His Spirit and its power ; exalted, will bring true promotion. His the throne of grace. Satan cannot over- 'Tis waiting us; in mercy He withholds, favour is worth more than that of kings; come him whose heart is stayed upon God. Lest coming thus upon us in our sin His loving-kindness is better than life. There is no time or place in which it is Its light should blind ; its awful power consume. W. E. GERALD. Beware, then, that ye ask not carelessly inappropriate to offer up a petition to God. For this great gift ; but rather ask of Him There is nothing that can prevent us from A deep heart searching, that will bring to light THE CHANGE. lifting up our hearts in the spirit of earnest The hidden things of darkness Satan hides. prayer. In the crowds of the street, in the t4 A sinless life,"—and this is what we're told. midst of a business engagement, we may Must be our record in that awful day " IT happened not long ago," writes It Sinless " because in us His life is lived, send up a petition to God, and plead for Margaret E. Sangster, " that a friend of And our part lies in letting that life shine. mine who had been very near-sighted all Divine guidance, as did Nehemiah when Ten days of prayer preceded that great shower ht made his request before the King Of pentecostal blessings and their power,— her life had her eyes fitted with glasses, Artaxerxes. A closet of communion may Ten days of prayer and deep humility which have given her a new sense of the Ere sin was vanquished on the battle-field, wonderful world she lives in. be found wherever we are. We should And then the blessing came—came into hearts have the door of our heart open continually, " The first time this friend went to Softened, subdued, and humbled by a sense church after the new glasses had revealed and our invitation going up that Jesus Of their great sinfulness, His majesty. may come and abide as a heavenly guest South Africa. JESSIE H. ROGERS. to her the manner of place the world was, in the soul. MRS. E. G. WHITE. she felt embarrassed at seeing so much and so clearly. Walking through the aisle to TWO KINDS OF WISDOM. her pew, she beheld for the first time, though she had heard him preach for years, HOW TO SPLIT THE ROCK. THERE are two kinds of wisdom. One the benevolent face of the pastor. She is the " wisdom of this world," and the saw the choir, too, and elders and deacons. A MINISTER preached a number of years other is the " wisdom of God." The wis- The new glasses had introduced her to a in a certain place without any visible •bene- dom of each is foolishness to the other. new world simply by revealing to her what fit -to anyone. Finally, he concluded it The wisdom of God is of God, and God is had always been there. was not right for him to preach, and in love; the wisdom of the world is sensual " No change had been wrought on the consequence thought he would give it up. and devilish, and the devil is the very es- world, and her environment remained what While musing on the subject he fell sence of selfishness. This is why the it had long been. But all was altered asleep and dreamed. "I dreamed," he world by its wisdom has never known to her. Revelation had been granted, and said, " that I was to work for a certain God. she could truly say, ' Whereas I was blind, man for so much, and my business was There are some in the world whose now I see.' splitting open a very large rock with a very wisdom is obtained from the newspapers, " Something like this happens when one small hammer, pounding upon the middle and consists in keeping track of awful who has never realised the loving-kindness of it in order to split it open. I worked a crimes, accidents, and incidents. Scandal of God suddenly awakens to a sense of it." long time to no effect, and at length I be- is a choice titbit which they will devour came discouraged and began to complain, with great relish. With others it is wis- when my employer came. dom to amass this world's goods; with FORCING MEN TO SIN. " Said he ; ' Why do you complain ? others it is to be popular and " go with Have you not fared well while in my em- the crowd;" with another it is to drive a SAID the Protestant Princes at the Diet ploy ? ' sharp bargain with his fellow-man. But " 0, yes ! ' all this is foolishness with God. The wis- • of Spires, referring to religious disputes, " Have you not had enough to eat ? ' dom which God gives is the only sound " In such difficult matters we must act, " ' Yes.' and true wisdom, because it will save from not with the sword, but with the sure " Have you been neglected in any selfishness, which is sin. He gave it in Word of God ; for as Saint Paul says, way ? ' the form of the Word which was made What is not of faith is sin. If therefore " No, sir.' flesh and dwelt among men. Jesus is that we constrain Christians to do what they " Then,' said he, keep to work—cease wisdom, and He was a living example of believe unjust, instead of leading them by your complaints, and I will take care of unselfishness. He, " the author and God's Word to acknowledge what is good, the result.' After this he left me. finisher of our faith," is " mighty to save." we force them to sin, and we incur a The written Word, which is His words, terrible responsibility." If all Christians " I then thought I applied my little and all men in authority understood this imbued with His Spirit, testifies of Him, hammer with more energy, and soon the truth and would act upon it, there would rock burst open with such force that it and is able to make us wise unto salva- never again be religious persecution.— tion. woke me. Then," added he, " I ceased to Bible Echo. complain. I seized my little hammer with David was one who understood more new vigour, I hammered upon that great than all the ancients, because he kept the rock—sin—with renewed energy, nothing precepts of God. " 0 how I love Thy lav,i! " COUNT your troubles every day and doubting, and soon the rock burst. The it is my meditation all the day ; " " how you will soon have nothing but troubles to Spirit of the Lord rushed in, and the result precious also are Thy thoughts unto me; " count. Count your mercies every day and was a glorious ingathering of souls," " how sweet are Thy words unto my you will soon begin to include even your In the foregoing incident we have one of taste ! " are expressions showing his regard troubles among your mercies." 490 THE PRESENT TRUTH. No. 31.

from his father, and early determined that ,7119111171177' his life should be spent in service for lirthinkOafsoevenn others. He made lung diseases a speci- rr_tOttoaordereport "netills"; ality, and studied with Koch in Berlin, ;;;;infitIrs.ue' and in the best schools in Europe. When he came back to New York, he was un- known, save to physicians, but he imme- diately opened, at his own expense, a hospital for consumptives in the poorest part of the city, and threw himself heart and soul into the work of alleviating the distresses of friendless patients. It was his custom, when called upon to attend a poor family, to leave a few dollars on the table behind him. In the bestowal of these gifts, neither creed nor race was recognised. A friend said of him : " He was a man who took peculiar pleasure in seeing other people happy. He often declared that if he had ten million dollars, he would spend :vGwrityla Homm.KD., his life in driving around in the tenement districts relieving the poor." He himself once said : " I like to discover a case SEND THEM TO BED WITH A KISS. " Well," continued the minister, " when where a hard landlord is pushing a poor your husband comes in from his work tenant to the wall. Then it is my delight 0 MOTHERS so weary, discouraged, fractious and quarrelsome, and says a to come in at the last moment, raise my Worn out with the cares of the day, You often grow cross and impatient, sharp thing to you, what do you do?" hand, and call a halt, with a cheque for the Complain of the noise and the play; " Oh, I answer back, of course," she re- amount owed by the tenant. Then real For the day brings so many vexations, plied. happiness is seen in the face of the one So many things going amiss ; " Very well," said the minister, " the relieved." But, mothers, whatever may vex you, mysterious charm is this : whenever your "A man's life is so short at the best ! " Send the children to bed with a kiss. husband comes in and speaks sharply, the he was wont to say. " It would be au The dear little feet wander often, first thing you do is to run out to the easy matter to make the world happy, and Perhaps, from the pathway of right, pump, fill your mouth with water, and keep one's self, too, if each person would but The dear little hands find new mischief it in for ten minutes." To try you from morning till night; contribute all he possibly could to the re- But think of the desolate mothers The woman came back to the minister lief of the suffering." Who'd give all the world for your bliss, three or four weeks after, and said, " The Several years ago a case of blood-poison- . And as thanks for your infinite blessing, Lord help you, sir, for that's the most ing occurred on the east side of New Send the children to bed with a kiss. wonderful charm I ever heard of. Indeed York. The patient was a prior woman, For some day the noise will not vex you, it is."—Selected. and she was critically ill. Physicians to The silence will hurt you far more ; 441 411,••• whom application had been made, had re- You will long for the sweet ohildish voices, fused to take the case, because of the ex- For a bright childish face at the door; A REMARKABLE PHYSICIAN ceptional risk in the treatment required. And bo press a child's face to your bosom,— You'd give all the world just for this ; The night when Dr. Aronson heard of For the comfort 'twill give you in sorrow, LAST spring, in the city of New York, it was the night of his brother's wedding, Send the children to bed with a kiss. occurred one of the most remarkable and he was dressed to attend it. He was —Advocate and Guardian. funerals ever witnessed. The hearse told the woman would die, unless she which bore the dead man was attended by were operated upon within two hours. sixty pall-bearers, and each man of the He threw .off his dress-suit, hurried to her THE WONDERFUL CHARM. sixty owed his life, under God, to the bedside, and performed a successful opera- ministration of him they bore. Behind tion. A few days after, he was taken THERE was once a woman who went to the hearse walked eight hundred men in down with blood-poisoning, contracted her minister for advice, and she said, line, hardly one of whom but was indebted from the sufferer, and for weeks lingered " Dear sir, my life is very miserable." to the dead man for his ability to be between life and death. " Well," replied the minister, " what there. Then a wonderful and beautiful sight would you have me to do." To which the Two hundred and ninety-three carriages was seen. Hundreds came daily to inquire woman answered :— followed, and these in turn were attended for the good physician. Scores of people " Ah, my husband and me don't agree. by a large number of people on foot. knelt together in the open air around his We quarrel very often. He comes in tired Who was this man who, being dead, doorstep, and prayed aloud for his re- and ill-tempered, and I fire up. Then we could so stir the hearts of the people ? covery. The man was greatly beloved be- go at it with tooth and nail." Who was he, that he should be mourned cause he had greatly loved and grandly " Very well," said the minister, " I can by fifteen thousand persons in one day, be- given. When he recovered, he said he cure that." cause they would look upon his face no would again gladly undergo the same, to " Oh, can you, sir ?" said she, " I am more ? Was he a great general, a world- save life. so delighted, for I do love my husband honoured statesman? At last came a day when upon his re- when all's come and gone." No. He was a simple east-side physi- turn from a call on a poor and wretched " It's a certain cure," said the minister, cian, whose patients were dwellers in the patient, this good man dropped dead near " and will work like a charm." tenement dist-icts, and whose mourners his own doorstep, his ending thus coming, " Oh, I am so happy to hear it," said were the poor to whom he had ministered. it was said, just as he had long secretly she. Dr. Aronson inherited a small property hoped and prayed that it might come. July 30 THE PRESENT TRUTH. 491

The end came, we have said. But who When they come to us with a story which merciful to me a sinner." And God heard can predicate an end to a life so filled with depreciates the good qualities of some little the cry, and came to the heart of the the Spirit of Him who was, pre-eminently, friend, do we counsel them not to tell over murderer with forgiveness and peace. the helper and healer of men?—Selected. anything which will hurt the reputation of Human sympathy and tears had broken that child ? Do we help them to aequire his heart, and he was led like a little child the habit of that charity which thinketh to Christ.—Selected. no evil of one's neighbour ?—Evangelist. GOSSIPING IN THE PRESENCE OP CHILDREN. SOME LAUNDRY HINTS. A WOMAN'S LOVE. THERE are many families nowadays who A HADIT of indulging in gossip is per- have the bulk of the washing sent out, but nicious in its influences and results over us A MURDERER sat in his cell in the gaol, who prefer to keep sundry small articles to all. " Pity 'tis, 'tis true," that we often- repeating over and over again to himself be cleaned at home. D'oyleys are found times give a willing ear to the stories cir- the sentence pronounced by the judge. to wear much longer, and look much better, culating about our friends and acquaint- " You are to be hanged by the neck till when they are washed under the careful ances, and more is the pity that we are you are dead, dead, DEAD, and may God supervision of the housekeeper. They tempted too readily, and yield to the temp- have mercy on your soul." should be washed in warm, soapy water, tation, to tell these detrimental reports But there were no tears in his eyes, and made by pouring boiling water on to a little over again to other willing ears. no penitence in his heart. His dark visage, good soap that has been cut up beforehand. It is astonishing how thoughtless mothers marred by many a scar from the sabre of The d'oyleys must be gently washed in this often are of their speech before children. sin, looked blacker and viler as he repeated water, and then well rinsed through clear Children are very attentive listeners. They the words, cursing God and men. water. If they are ironed while damp they may seem to be interested in their play or Ministers had•come to him with Gospel need, no starch, or just a very little can be their books, but, nevertheless, nothing said messages of Divine mercy; but he spurned added to the last rinsing-water. Lace may by their elders escapes their ears. Chil- their words, and told them to come no also be washed in soapy water, but should dren like to hear what their elders are more into his presence. be soaked for some time first. It must be talking about, especially if the talk is " Why, man," said one, " you are con- well rinsed in clear water, and it will help carried on with a show of mystery. demned to die, and in a few weeks you to stiffen it if a piece of loaf sugar is added Friends may speak depreciatingly of will be launched into eternity—how can to the last rinsing water. Knitted or some other friend, without a thought of you stand before God with all your unfor- crotcheted wool articles must be washed in the consequences, and perhaps without given sins on your soul? " warm, soapy water with a little ammonia even a remembrance of the words spoken, " That's my business, not yours. I wish added, about a tablespoonful to a gallon of a few days afterwards, but the child who no further conversation with you," was water. They should be well rinsed in clear hears it makes a memorandum of the sins his answer, as he waved his hand impa- water, but great care must be taken that of commission or omission which mother tiently for them to depart. the temperature of all the waters used must and her friend talked over, and thus an A report of the interview was published be the same, or the article will shrink. unjust prejudice is acquired, which the in the papers next day. Among those who Stockings should be put into tepid water mother is astonished to hear expressed read the account was a timid, delicate, with a soap solution in it ; they should be perhaps weeks afterwards. "What mother Christian woman. The tears dropped rubbed well on the right side first, then says must be so," is the argument the upon the paper as she read, and a great turned and well rubbed on the wrong side. child uses to reason out the wrong and desire came into her heart to tell the poor If they are of a delicate colour, rub the feet right of things. Mother is the ideal of all condemned man that she was sorry for first, so as not to leave the legs so long in that is true and just and good. him. But she said, checking herself: the water. Rinse them thoroughly in Think of this, mothers. What wonder- " I can't do it. I was never in gaol in water of the same temperature, squeeze ful trust your little child places in you and my life ; and I wouldn't know what to them dry, and hang them by the tops of your judgment and actions Is it not a say. And then, I should be sure to cry. the stockings. Silk stockings should be very serious matter to be a child's ideal of Oh, I wish I could go and speak a few washed and rinsed in lukewarm water, and what is best and truest in motherhood ? words to him without w3eping." wrung between towels.—Selected. " Mrs. So-and-So must be a dreadful Her desire grew into a purpose, and one woman," reasons the child, who has heard morning she gathered a delicate bouquet GREASE spots may be removed from that neighbour spoken of in a depreciatory from her house plants, and went to the hearthstones by covering with hot ashes manner. And if that neighbour has a gaol over the crisp, snowy road. The or live coals. child, what a show of superior goodness jailor who admitted her conducted her to * * the child of the gossiping mother carries the cell, and throwing open a window Cement for Joining China —Beat tke about with her hereafter when she mingles through which, without entering, persons whites of eggs to a froth, let them settle, with Mrs. So-and-So's child How piti- may converge, he called the prisoner by add grated cheese and quicklime, beat well fully she regards her in the light of her name, saying, " Here is a lady who wishes together, and apply to the broken edges. mother's depreciating estimate—it is such to see you." The woman's courage and This will endure the heat of fire and a dreadful thing to have a mother who voice entirely failed her as she stood face water. does things which mother thinks are so to face with the hard, dark-visaged mur- * * bad ! Two-thirds of the gossip circulated derer. She could not utter a single word, Uses for Soda.—If grease has been about persons is libellous, because it is but, handing him the bouquet, she burst spilt on the table or floor of the kitchen, untrue, and, if legally followed up, would into tears. or pantry, put a little soda on the spots prove a crime. The sad results of scan- The flowers and the weeping woman and then pour boiling water over them. dalous stories are often pitiful in the ex- brought a flood of memories long buried, This simple mixture is useful in another V treme. a picture of a home embosomed in flowers way. Steel knives that are not often used We try to have our children acquire across the sea, and of a Christian mother may be kept from rusting if they are habits of truth and justice that will help who wept over him at the parting. And dipped in a strong solution of soda: three them on in right living, but are we particu- while the woman wept outside of the cell, parts soda to one part water; after drip- lar to teach them not to speak untruthfully he cried with a great, deep, bitter cry, as ping them, wipe dry, roll them in flannel, or unjustly of their little playmates? the tears rained over his face, " God be and keep in a dry place.

492 THE PRESENT TRUTH. No 31.

What a boon those gardens are ! Ah ! these homely English fields, and their hidden treasures of comfort, assurance, and supreme delight ! Cut up and ap- portioned at a time when right was might they are still with us The same primroses glint beneath the hawthorns, the same bluebells carpet the Woodlands ; the same birds still haunt meadow and hedgerow. But alas ! the prime beauty and freshness of the field has already left us, the last wild rose has shed its fragrant petals, the honey-suckle has given place to the scarlet- berried bittersweet, and traveller's joy is rambling over the hawthorn and preparing to throw over it a dense •mantle of creamy blossoms. • But harvest time is yet to come, although the wheat is assuming already the rich golden brown of the ripening ear ; the green seas of bearded THE DESERTED VILLAGE. proved by the condition of many old ivy- barley roll and swirl beneath the light, covered ruins in which the joints have fickle, summer winds, and poppies still SWEET Auburn 1 loveliest village of the plain, glint among the silvery oats— Where health and plenty cheered the labouring been found so perfect arid the mortar so swain, hard and dry that it was only with much The oats are like a pack of girls Laughing and dancing too. Where smiling spring its earliest visit paid, difficulty that they could be tarn down. And parting summer's lingering blooms delayed ; Permit the vines to grow, both for their Not a little of the beauty of the fields is Dear lovely bowers of innocence and ease, due to the homely bramble Even in Seats of my youth, when every sport could please, beauty and their protection, only exercise winter its foliage sparkles with rich colours. How often have I loitered o'er thy green, care that they do not obstruct any gutters Where humble happiness endeared each scene 1 At present it is showing abundance of How often have I paused on every charm, or conduits, and by causing them to over- bloom, and gives promise of affording an The sheltered cot, the cultivated farm, flow upon the walls produce dampness. ample harvest of this delicious poor man's The never-failing brook, the busy mill, fruit. The English blackberry, by the The decent church that topt the neighbouring hill, The hawthorn bush, with seats beneath the shade, way, is never cultivated, although some For talking age and whispering lovers made I IN THE FIELDS NOW. varieties of the Lawton berry are. The How often have I blest the coming day, latter produces enormous crops of a flavour When toil remitting lent its turn to play, WRITING of the delights of a walk decidedly inferior to our own. It makes And all the village train, from labour free, through the fields just now, " Luke Ellis " rapid growth on a wall or gardep fence, Led up their sports beneath the spreading tree. says, in the Echo :— and well repays the trouble of a little Sweet smiling village, loveliest of the lawn, The beauty of the fields owes much to attention in training. Thy sports are fled, and all thy charms withdrawn ; the wider horizon that environs them and Sunk are thy bowers in shapeless ruin all, the keener light. There is, moreover, not And the long grass o'ertops the mouldering wall, WHEAT GROWN ON A LAKE. And, trembling, shrinking from the spoiler's hand, only more room to scrutinise, but more Far, far away, thy children leave the land. room to " live, and move, and have our CORSICA has a lake with a wheatfield Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, being." Then, owing to the varying aspects upon its surface. Near the headwaters of Where wealth accumulates, and men decay: of the heavens, there is incessant change. Princes and lords may flourish or may fade; the Favignano River, about twenty-two The mists of the morning and evening, the A breath can make them, as a breath has made: miles from the village of Corte, there is a clouds whose shadows chequer the fields But a bold peasantry, their country's pride, ten-acre field which is simply a subter- When once destroyed, can never be supplied. below, the succession of foliage and flowers ranean lake covered with soil to the depth —Goldsmith. characteristic of the season—all these add of about eighteen inches. Last year wheat their fleeting charms to pictures ever new was cultivated upon this very peculiar in the fields around us; and the reason IVIED WALLS. field, and yielded thirty-five bushels to the that so few, comparatively, seem able to acre. Anyone of an investigating turn of A RECENT writer corrects the erroneous appreciate this beauty is that the masses mind, digging a hole a spade-handle in have never been taught to look for them. notion, so prevalent, that ivy and similar depth, would find that he had dug entirely I spoke lately of the comfort of the grass, climbing plants which cling to the wall by through the covering of the soil to the sur- its delightful verdure, its variety, its rootlets make the walls which they cover face of the lake, which is from twenty-five fragrance. It is beautiful, too, comprising damp. The reverse is the fact. Quanti- to eighty feet deep. Through openings many types of elegance in its nodding thus made fish have been caught. The ties of water are evaporated daily from the panicles. But the well-shaven lawn, too, soil covering this subterranean lake is a extensive leaf surface of these vines. close and tender as velvet pile, has its black marl, made up of centuries of ac- This is to some extent drawn from the charms. One may see by the Law Courts cumulations of vegetable matter. soil about the foundations where the roots a huge hospital surrounded by crowded run, but to a large extent also from the courts and narrow streets. One after walls themselves through the little clinging another, pale, feeble forms come slowly A SPEAKER emphasising the importance down the steps, or emerge from the grimy of agriculture said recently : "If the towns rootlets which penetrate every crevice. courts. Their purpose is to reach the and cities were burned and the country Besides, the leafy covering acts as a thatch Embankment-gardens and rest awhile on left, towns would spring up as by magic; to shed the rains and the mists from the the seats. It is not the brilliant flowers but let the farms be desolated and the walls and thus protect them from the that arrest their attention and soothe the fields idle, and grass would grow in the beating of the storms. This is practically sufferer ; it is simply the green grass. deserted streets of the world's cities." THE PRESENT TRUTH. 493

and his friends come to know what he His friends earnestly begged him to fly, should do. Should he run away, or should but the missionary said: " No, he is right. he go and hand over the money he had He has spoken well; he must deliver up collected? After a silence the missionary the money." said :— They all knelt down in prayer together, " Tell me what you think." the missionary wondering sadly if he Looking lip, Samweli replied, " My should ever see the young hero again. friend, I cannot leaire the things of the " My friend, I will try to start early, king." and leave the cowries with the chief,'

HE CALLED THE CHILDREN.

I Tams when I read that sweet story of old, When Jesus was here among men, How He called little children like lambs to His ff fold, I should like to have been with Him then. 7 ell liiitllSt=:. I wish that His hands had been placed on my head, That His arms had been thrown around me; And that I might have seen His kind look when He said, SA AC, like turn back if he wished. But he went "Let the little ones come unto Me." Samuel of bravely on, and his faith in God's promise Yet still to His footstool in prayer I may go, whom we did not falter. And ask for a share in His love; And if I now earnestly seek Him below, learned last The Lord had promised that through I shall see Him and hear Him above. week, was Isaac, the son that He had given to —Selected. specially Abraham, his children should be as the given by stars of heaven and the sand upon A YOUNG AFRICAN HERO. God to his the seashore,—so many that they could parents in answer to prayer. Abraham not be counted, and also that the Lord SOME of you have hard words to bear at his father, and Sarah his mother, were both Jesus Christ should come to this earth as times because you love the Lord Jesus. very old when he was born. Many years one of his descendants. Now as yet Isaac But in some parts of the world people who before this God had promised them a son, had no children, and if Abraham should say they believe in Him are beaten cruelly, and even put to death. but He kept them waiting a long, long slay, him as God commanded, one of two In central Africa, a few years ago, some time, so that He might see whether they things must certainly come to pass. boys were burned to death by order of the believed in His word, and in His power to Either the Lord must break His word, king because they were Christians. Yet, fulfil His promise. and the Lord Jesus never come to earth in spite of this, a boy of about sixteen was But Abraham was " strong in faith, to save men, and so the whole race of men brave enough to wish to become a Chris- giving glory to God," fully believing that perish ; or else He must bring Isaac again tian. He came to the missionary, and " what He had promised He was. able also from the dead in order to fulfil His promise. said in his own language :— Abraham knew that the word of God can- " My friend, I wish to be baptized." to perform ; " and Sarah " judged Him " Do you know what you are asking ? " faithful who had promised." So at last, not be broken, and therefore though he said the missionary in surprise. when Abraham was more than a hundred should kill Isaac, the Lord who had given " I know, my friend." years old, their faith was rewarded by the him would again restore him to life. " But if you say that you are a Christian, coming of Isaac, the child of the promise. It was this faith in the word of God that they will kill you." But Abraham was to be the "father of made it possible for Abraham to take his " I know, my friend." the faithful," an example of faith in God only son and bind him on the altar that he " But if they ask you if you are a Chris- had built, and take the knife in his hand tian will you tell a lie, and say, No ? " to all the nations of the earth, so it was Bravely and firmly came the boy's necessary that his faith should again be to slay him. But just at the last moment, answer, " I shall confess, my friend." tried, to give a lesson to all his children, before his life was taken, the voice of God A little talk followed, in which he showed showing what true faith in God is. There- was heard calling from heaven : "Lay not clearly that he understood what it was to fore when Isaac had grown to be a young thine hand upon the lad ; . . . for now I be a Christian, so the missionary baptized man, the Lord said to Abraham : " Take know that thou fearest God, seeing thou him by the name of Samweli, which is the now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, same as our Samuel. thou lovest, and get thee into the land of from Me." The king found him so useful that he employed him to collect the taxes, which Moriah ; and offer him there for a burnt At this moment Abraham saw a ram are paid in cowries—little shells which offering upon one of the mountains which caught in the thicket by his horns, and he are used instead of money. I will tell thee of." joyfully offered this as a burnt offering One day when he was away on his busi- " And Abraham rose up early in the instead of Isaac, who was saved from the ness, the king again got angry with the morning," without waiting to talk the mat- death to which he had been so near. So Christians, and ordered that all the lead- ter over with anyone, even with Sarah, we are all " ready to perish " because of ing ones should be killed. Samweli's and taking with him Isaac his son and the our sins, but God has provided Himself a name was found upon the list. As he wood for the burnt offering he started for sacrifice so that we may go free,—the Lord came back, he heard of the death that was awaiting him. That night, when it was the place that the Lord had told him of. Jesus Christ, " the Lamb of God," who dark, the missionary was awakened by a It took him three days to get to the place, takes our plaCe, and suffers death in our low knocking at his door. It was Samweli so he had plenty of time to think, and to stead. E. E. A. 494 tHE PRESENT TRUTH. No 31. said the lad as he set off; "but I fear my the danger lurking in the cup as they raise carriers will not be ready till after daylight, it to their lips. But how long, think you, and if I am seen, I shall be caught. will the strong and healthy remain thus, Good-by." how long will the light-hearted keep their But God kept him. He went boldly to joy and their innocence if they continue the chief's hut, put down the cowries, and daily to pass within those doors ? Is it walked away. He went again a few not from such as these that the ranks of nights after to tell the missionary, who the drunkards and the harlots are filled said, " You ran when you got outside ? " up? Were not the men and women who " No, my friend, for I should have been fill our lunatic asylums, workhouses, and noticed at ' once. I walked quite slowly prisons many of them just such as these in until I got out of sight, and then I ran as the days of their youth ? fast as I could, and so I escaped." It is a serious matter, and one which all This is a true story, taken from Mr. Englishmen ought to consider, how the Ashe's book, " Two Kings of Uganda." physical strength of the nation is being ,Native risings are reported from Formosa. It shows that the love of Christ can make lowered and weakened by this same in- The Japanese are said to be hard pressed. a boy brave to do his duty even in the sidious power of strong drink. The —A boundary dispute between Chili and Argentina face of danger and death. " alcohol habit " is impairing the energy is to be arbitrated by Queen Victoria in case of " In the fear of the Lord is strong con- and strength of a large proportion of the necessity. fidence."—Canada Presbyterian. men and women of our country, its —The Young Men's Christian Associations own hereditary influence extends to the genera- buildings and other real estate to the value of tions yet unborn, and unless it can be 0,600,000. checked while yet there is time, we shall —Appeals are being made for funds in relief of be reduced to the status of a sickly and Cretans, both Christian and Moslem, who are enfeebled race. suffering by the insurrection there. Both seem to The late Sir Andrew Clark, physician to have suffered equally, one side being as savage as the Queen, ascertained, on going the round the other. of his hospital wards, that " seven out of —Mount Vesuvius continues active, considerable every ten there owed their ill-health to streams of lava flowing down. Mauna Loa, in the Sandwich Islands, is again throwing out great alcohol." Lord Shaftesbury, for sixteen quantities of molten rook after a long period of years chairman of the Commission in inactivity. Lunacy, says " sixty out of every 100 come —The University of Jena has conferred the to these asylums directly through drink." honorary Degree of Medicine upon Prince Bismarck. How passing strange that people who He also holds the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy, value their health—educated people, who Doctor of Law, Doctor of Biblical Science and know these facts, and have them constantly Doctor of Theology. illustrated before their eyes—should go on —On the first Sunday that all the London THE HOUSE AT THE CORNER. imbibing day after day a poisonous drink, museums were thrown open they were visited by which is injuring both the health and the 10,650 persons. Of these, 2,437 went to the you scrutinise somewhat closely the, morality of the nation. National Gallery, 3,173 to the South Kensington IF Museum, and 1,644 to the British Museum. appearance of those entering by this door, There is 'much talk now of education you will notice two things. First, that the amongst the great working class of our —Teheran, the Persian oapital is held by troops constant frequenters of the house, those land. Working men, many of them, are called Cossacks and officered by Russians. Russia dictates Persian policy, and the new Shah is more who come again and again, and appear thirsting for more knowledge outside the Russian than his father in his sympathies. It is perfectly familiar with its precincts, are narrow world which has hitherto been said that northern Persia is Russian in all but always shabbily dressed and slovenly- theirs, desiring an expansion of life, wider name. looking. A certain air of thriftlessness and interests, more leisure for the cultivation of —A French expedition for the Upper Nile region suspicion clings about them, manifest even the powers God has given them. Social is said to be working its way from the Congo in their shuffling foot-steps on the pave- reformers, men and women, whose hearts regions. Doubtless this is one reason why the ment, contrasting with the open counte- beat in sympathy with theirs, are doing advance on Dongola was planned. Central Africa still belongs to the first one who can get it, and all nance and manly tread of the free and their best to forward these hopes and the powers are after it. sober British workman. And what won- aspirations, to provide for them a better der, when these poor victims too often, way of life, to share with them some of the —An ordinance prohibiting the opening of public- houses within two hundred feet of a building alas l are held fast as by an iron chain, good things, feasts of the intellect and occupied for school purposes has been passed by and could not if they would, humanly pleasures of the senses, which the great the City Council of New York, and upheld by the speaking, free themselves from it ? Many Father has bestowed freely for all His courts. It is said that this will necessitate the of these are broken down in health, limp- human family. But here again the drink- closing of at least five hundred public-houses. ing with gout, supported by sticks or fiend bars the way of progress. —The value and importance of the commerce of crutches, pale, haggard, and weary-looking ; How can a man who constantly spends the great lakes of North America is shown by the others, again, florid and fierce in coun- his earnings in the public-house have time fact that Cleveland, Ohio, is the second greatest tenance, but none looking healthy or con- or money, or even inclination, to cultivate ship-building port of the world, the Clyde being first, and that the traffic thrc ugh the ship canal at tented, or as if life carried much brightness his higher nature ? How can we expect Sault St. Marie is greater than that of the Suez with it for them. the brain, sodden with alcohol, or the Canal. But, as you look, a second thing strikes clouded intellect of the spirit-drinker, to —The Pope advised members of Parliament that you. There are some who have been seen expand or reach out to gather the fruits of the Deceased Wife's Sister's Bill was not agreeable to enter that door, just once or twice, in knowledge, which are only to be plucked to him, and now we hear that it is to be dropped. the fulness of health and strength—young by honest effort and concentrated energy ? In the United States the party platform upon men, whistling carelessly, passing in and —E. M. W., in the Christian. which the late Republican nomination for the out with a firm step and a cheery word presidency was made, as at first drafted, contained a clause against the appropriation of public money to the bystander—young women, light- THE Arab lives almost entirely upon for sectarian uses. Archbishop Ireland objected hearted and innocent, thinking nothing of bread, with a few dates as a relish. and the clause was expunged.

July 30. THE PRESENT TRUTH. 495'

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The above can be obtained at our City Office, The well known engraving by Munkaosy, 59 Paternoster Row, (near Cheapside). CH NISI original of which was sold for £25,000 Price 1/6. LIST OF TRACTS, AND Published by International THE SABBATH. The Lord's Prayer Beautifully illuminated in gold and several Tract Society, Ltd. colours. Baptism : Its Significance, Id. A THOROUGH presentation of the SABBATH as related to the SIZE OF SHEET 22 x 17 in. Bible Election, lid. Prico 45., postpaid 55. Bible Questions and Answers Concerning Man, Id. Christian, showing Can We Keep the Sabbath? Id. WHAT IS TRUE SABBATH-KEEPING, Change of the Sabbath, 218 pp., 10d. TEN COMMANDMENTS, Christ and the ,Sabbath, WHY THE SABBATH WAS GIVEN, Christ or Peter—Which ? id. AND —LAD— Civil Government and Religion, 176 pp., 1/- Coming of the Lord,* id. WHEREIN ITS BLESSING CONSISTS. PSALM XXIII, Consecration, 0. in the same size, style and price. Eastern Question, Illustrated, id. Being the distinctive sign of the power of God, Free as a Bird, Illustrated,* id. it has always been the special object of Satan's Full Assurance of Faith, id. attacks, and thus becomes rer Orders by post promptly attended to. Immortality of the Soul, 2d. THE TEST OF OBEDIENCE. Inheritance of the Saints, 82 pp., 5d. Is Sunday the Sabbath? It reveals God to man as Creator and Re- Justice and Mercy, ld. deemer, and, by making known the Rest of Send for complete Catalogue to Law and Gospel, lid. the Lord, connects the Believer with the New INTERNATIONAL TRACT SOCIETY, Ln , Literal Week, id. Creation and the Inheritance, incorruptible and Living by Faith, Id. undefiled. 48 Pages. Price, 21d. 59, Paternoster Row, London, E.C. 496 THE PRESENT TRUTH. No 31

to pray that the winds of strife may be stands without, fearing to let go of the tht rtstnt truth. held in check until the message of the hollowness of life for fear the Lord has everlasting Gospel is brought to those who nothing good for him. What a mistake to "I am the way, the truth, and the life." "And lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." are waiting for it in these regions. stand afar off and refuse to enter in, or to LONDON, JULY 30; 1896. follow so slavishly and unbelievingly that one gets only the hardness of the way, and FORTY villages are said to have been FOR TERMS SEE FIRST PAGE. the crosses, without the life and power of destroyed in the late disturbances in the re- the cross ! Unto those that believe is the THE PRESENT TRUTH may be obtained in South gion of Van. Even correspondents whose Africa through the International Tract society, preciousness. No one ever yet ventured 28a Roeland-street, Cape Town. attitude is consistently hostile to the Turk- ish Government say that there is no doubt their all upon the promises of God without finding them precious indeed, "exceeding the Armenian revolutionists precipitated A LEAFLET on foreign missions states great and precious." that 40,000,000 people in Great Britain the conflict. When will the churches of Christendom learn that when they magnify have one preacher to every 1,000. But By What Life ?—By what life are we 1,000,000,000 heathen have but one foreign into a virtue political revolution, and breathe out nothing but the spirit of hatred saved ?—By the life of Christ, and He has missionary to every 200,000 souls. The but one. Jesus Christ is " the same yes- average contributions of members of and violence against the Turkish Govern- ment, they are taking a terrible responsi- terday, and to-day and for ever." Heb. churches in England for foreign missions xiii. 8. It is by His present life that we is 1d. per month. bility for the loss of life—the innocent suffering with the guilty—which accom- are saved, that is, by His life in us from panies political insurrection in Turkey. day to day. But the life which He now A CERTAIN church committee were dis- lives is the very same life that He lived in cussing how they could best raise some Judea eighteen hundred years ago. He necessary funds for church repairs. A A NEWSPAPER, commenting on the need took again the same life that He laid down. satirical elder said : " And now, brethren, of such work as Dr. Barnardo is doing for Think what was in the life of Christ, as let us get up a supper and eat ourselves the children of the streets, says : " In we have the record in the New Testament, rich. Buy your food, then give it to the London there are generally about 100,000 and we shall know what ought to be in church. Then go buy it back again. persons living in open profligacy, 20,000 our lives now. If we allow Him to dwell Then eat it up, and your church debt is professed beggars, 3,000 receivers of stolen in us, He will live just as He did then. paid." goods, 20,000 children living in destitution If there is that in our lives that was not in and sin ; 12,000 children living under regu- His then, we may be sure that He is not A MISSIONARY, writing home from Mada- lar training for vice ; 30,000 thieves. It is living it in us now. gascar, says that under the rule of the heart-breaking to think of the misery and French many material improvements are crime in London. But the picture is not Russian Censorship.—The infinite pains being made in the capital and the island all dark. Owing to the work of men ani- taken by officials in Russia in shutting out generally. But " there are evils which mated with the spirit of Christ, there are what they regard as heresy is something seem inseparable from the presence of a spots of blue." wonderful. Even the PRESENT TRUTH large number of soldiers of whatever does not escape. A reader in St. Peters- nationality. There is a great increase of Rooted in Him.—The reason why burg a few weeks ago received the paper drinking among the Malagasy, as well as many are not " rooted and built up in with a portion cut out by the censor's of licentiousness." Him " is that they do not abide in Him scissors, and other portions blacked out sufficiently long to get rooted. No plant with ink. It is a very common thing for A BARBER of Sheffield has been fined will root itself firmly in the soil if it is newspapers to be thus dealt with for their five shillings under the Lord's Day Ob- pulled up every day. Just so many who political criticisms, but when the shortest servance Act, for carrying on his business think they want to be rooted in Christ, are of notes in a religious journal are detected on Sundays. The action was brought by variable and changeable, here and there, and obliterated, it shows how close is the a local hairdressers' association for the never settled and established in the truth, scrutiny of the officials. purpose of compelling the acceptance of and do not abide in Him so that they may the time of work agreed upon by the asso- be rooted in Him. THE Society of Christian Endeavour, ciation. An appeal was taken to a higher which has a large membership here and is court. In the same town a milkman was Getting the Preciousness.—The Re- said to number nearly three millions in the convicted for publicly crying milk for sale vised Version brings out the thought in United States has had an international on Sunday. The old law still has vitality 1 Peter ii. 7 very clearly : " For you there- meeting in Washington. With much zeal enough, and the disposition to use it is fore which believe is the preciousness." in truly Christian endeavour it is much to being manifested more than formerly. God has given exceeding great and pre- be regretted that it is being drawn in the cious promises, but the preciousness of the direction of political reform, expecting to Nom only in Armenia and Crete is the gift of God is only for those who believe. advance religion by political methods. It Eastern Question raised by violence and The way and the service of God seem dull is the temptation which comes with num- outrage on the part of both Moslems and and barren to the unbeliever; he, cannot bers—the hope of securing the kingdoms " Christians," but now the Macedonian see the joy there is in God. Of course he of this world by some easier way than the frontier is ablaze, and a troop of Greeks cannot see what is in the promises of God, Cross. When Jesus was tempted in this has destroyed a company of Turkish troops because he does not take it. He does not way He chose, the Cross, and that is the in that region. It is for every Christian taste and see that the Lord is good, but only way of salvation.