" Behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall he." 
l?Pv. 22 :12. 
VOLUME 9. �
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, FIFTH—DAY, AUGUST 9, 1883. �
NUMBER 30. 
Eke c$ign5 of tke rime5. 
PUBLISHED WEEKLY, FOR THE 
S. D. A. MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 
(For Terms, etc., See Last Page.) 
Entered at the Post-Office in Oakland, Cal. 
JESUS 1NCY 
MY thoughts are winging their gladsome way 
To thy presence, 0 Jesus, my King! 
Oh, fill them with purity, love, and sweet peace, 
Bid holiness, judgment, and knowledge increase, 
And faith with her heavenward vision ne'er cease,— 
That honor and glory to thee I may bring. 
My heart runs over with loving speech, 
In praise of thee, Jesus, my King! 
Oh, lay on my stammering lips a live coal, 
That my words with a power beyond their control, 
May carry a message of life to each soul,—
So honor and glory to thee I will bring. 
My soul is filling with song, break thou 
Its silence, 0 Jesus, my King! 
Oh, give me a melody perfect and sweet, 
With harmony ringing, and royally meet, 
To bear up the hearts of thy saints to thy feet! 
All honor and glory to thee I would bring. 
I'm rich when I'm poor, and happy in bonds, 
If serving thee, Jesus, my King! 
Go with me, I pray thee, wherever I go, 
Dwell in me, that I, with thine image aglow, 
Draw others unto thee, as quick ivaters 
Thus honor and glory to thee I can bring. 
The lights of home grow nearer, more bright! 
Art coming ? 0 Jesus, my King! 
0 shining in strength! 0 Ancient of Days! 
O blessed Redeemer! 0 Love's living rays! 
In " beautiful garments," salvation, and praise, 
What honor and glory to me thou dost bring! 
—Hannah Coddington, in S. S. Times. 
mural g(rficle5. 
Aleander's Speech Against Luther. . 
BY MRS. E. G. WHITE. 
WITH redoubled zeal, Aleander now urged upon 
the emperor the duty of executing the papal 
edicts. Overcome at last by this importunity, 
Charles bade the legate present his case to the 
diet. This was just what Aleander had secretly 
desired. With great care he prepared himself to 
appear before that august assembly. Rome had 
few advocates better fitted, by nature and educa-
tion, to defend her cause. Aleander was not only 
the representative of the sovereign pontiff, in-
vested with all the outward dignity befitting his 
exalted position, but he was one of the most elo-
quent men of his age. The friends of the Re-
former looked forward to the result of his speech 
with some anxiety. The elector absented himself 
from the assembly, but instructed some of his 
counselors to be present, and to take notes of the 
legate's discourse. 
There was no little excitement when Aleander, 
with great dignity and pomp, appeared before the 
diet. Many called to mind the scene of our 
Saviour's trial, when Annas and Caiaphas in the 
judgment-hall of Pilate demanded the death of 
him " who perverteth the nation." 
With all the power of learning and eloquence, 
Aleander set himself to overthrow the truth. 
Charge after charge he hurled against Luther as 
an enemy of the church and the State, the living 
and the dead, clergy and laity, councils and 
private Christians. " There are people who tell 
us," he said, " that Luther is a man of piety. I 
will not impugn his private character. I will only 
remind this assembly that it is a common thing 
for the devil to deceive men under the appear-
ance of sanctity." 
A little further on, however, he attacks 'the 
Reformer, heaping upon him the most bitter in-
vectives. Then turning to the emperor, he sol-
emnly appeals to him to withdraw his protection 
from the monk of Wittenburg: " I beseech your 
imperial majesty not to do that which could only 
reflect dishonor upon your name. Meddle not 
with an affair in which the laity have no right 
to interpose. Discharge the duty that properly 
devolves upon you. Let Luther's doctrines be 
proscribed by your authority throughout the em-
pire; let his writings be everywhere committed 
to the flames. Shrink not from the path of justice. 
There is enough in the errors of Luther to 
warrant the burning of a hundred thousand 
heretics." 
In closing, he endeavors to cast contempt upon 
the adherents of the new doctrines: " What are 
all these Lutherans ? A motley rabble of inso-
lent grammarians, licentious priests, disorderly, 
monks, ignorant advocates, degraded nobles, mis-
led, and perverted plebeians. How greatly supe-
rior is the Catholic party in numbers, in intelli-
gence, in ,power! A unanimous decree of this 
illustrious assembly will open the eyes of the 
simple, show. the unwary their danger, determine 
the wavering, and strengthen the weak-hearted." 
The advocates of truth have in every age been 
attacked with just such weapons. The same 
arguments that were urged against Luther, are 
urged by our opponents to-day: " Who are these 
Sabbatarians ? They are unlearned, few in num-
bers, and of the poorer class. Yet they claim to 
have the truth, and to be ;the chosen people of 
God. They are ignorant and deceived. How 
greatly superior in numbers and influence are 
our denominations. How many great and learned 
men are in our churches. How much more power 
is on our side." These are the arguments that 
have a telling influence upon the world. But 
they are no more conclusive now than in the days 
of the Reformer. 
The Reformation did not, as many suppose, end 
with Luther. It is to be continued to the close of 
this world's history. Luther had a great work to 
do in reflecting upon others the light which God 
permitted to shine upon him; ,yet he was not to 
receive all the light which was to be given to the 
word. From that time to this new light has been 
continually shining-upon God's word, new truths 
have been constantly unfolding. - God is light, 
and he is ever imparting light to his followers. 
Those who refuse to advance as the providence 
of God leads the way, seek to arrest the progress 
of those who endeavor to walk in the light. The 
churches of this generation profess to be holy, 
but they permit the love of the world to control 
them. They have united in spirit and fellowship 
with the workers of iniquity. They choose to 
depart from the divine commandment, rather than 
to separate themselves from the friendship and 
customs of the world. They are joined to the 
idols they have chosen; and because temporal 
prosperity and the favor of a sin-loving world are 
granted them, they deem themselves rich and in 
need of nothing. Pride, luxury, riches, and pop-
ularity are their treasures, and in their spiritual 
blindness they count these an' evidence of the 
love and favor of God. Was the Romish church 
in great deception in Luther's day ? The Prot-
estant churches are in equally great deception to-
day. They refuse , to receive instruction or re-
proof. Their ministers cry, Peace, peace, and 
the people love the soothing message. In their 
willful blindness they believe only that which 
will not disturb their carnal security. But in 
every age of the world, God's- true people have 
learned by experience as well as by the word of 
inspiration that prosperity and learning and 
wordly honor are no evidence of the favor of God. 
The life of Christ, the Captain of our salvation, 
teaches the lesson that on earth the true church 
cannot enjoy the favor of a wicked world. 
The legate's address was three hours in length, 
and his impetuous eloquence made a deep impres-
sion upon the .assembly. There was no Luther 
present, with the Blear and convincing truths of 
God's word, to vanquish the papal champion. 
No attempt was made to defend the Reformer.-
There was manifest in the assembly a general im-
pulse to root out the Lutheran heresy from the 
empire. Rome had enjoyed the most favorable 
opportunity to maintain the justice of her cause.' 
Tier claims had been presented with the utmost 
skill. The greatest of her orators had spoken in 
this assembly of- princes. All that Rome could 
say in her own vindication had been said. Error 
had presented her strongest arguments. Hence-
forth the contrast between truth and error would 
be more clearly seen, as they should take the field 
in open warfare. The apparent victory was but 
the signal of defeat. Never from that day would 
Rome stand as secure as she had stood. 
The majority of the assembly were ready to 
sacrifice Luther to the demands of the pope; but 
many of them saw and deplored the existing de-
pravity in the church, and desired a suppression 
of the abuses suffered by the German people in 
consequence of the extravagances and lies of 
popery. The legate had presented the papal rule 
in the light most favorable for Rome. Now the 
Lord moved upon a member of the diet to give 
a true delineation of the effects of papal tyranny. 
With noble firmness Duke George of Saxony 
stood up in that dignified assembly, and specified 
with terrible exactness the wrongs; the decep-
tions, and abominations of Rome, and their dire 
result. He exposed the utter corruption of her 
ecclesiastical system and its workings. His 
speech closed with these words:— 
" These are but a few of the abuses which cry 
out against Rome for redress. All shame is laid 
aside, and one object alone .incessantly pursued: 
money! evermore money! so that the very men 
whose duty it is to disseminate the truth, are 
engaged in nothing but the propagation of false-
hood; and yet they are not merely-tolerated but 
rewarded; because the more they lie, the larger 
are their gains. This is the foul source from 
which so many corrupted streams flow out on 
every side. Profligacy and avarice go hand in 
hand. The officials summon women to their 
house on various pretenses, and endeavor either 
by threats or presents, to seduce them; and if the 
attempt fails, they ruin their reputation. Oh! it is 
the scandal occasioned by the clergy that plunges 
so many poor souls into everlasting perdition. 
A thorough reform must be effected. To accom-
pish that reform, a General Council must be as-
sembled. Wherefore, most excellent princes and 
lords, I respectfully beseech you to give this 
matter your immediate attention." 
A more able and forcible denunciation of the 
abuses of Rome could not ,have been made by 
Luther himself; and the fact that the speaker 
was an . opponent of Luther, gave greater influ-
ence to his words. The assembly proceeded to 
constitute a committee for the purpose of drawing 
up a list of popish grievances. The list, when com-
pleted, was found to number one hundred and one. 
The report was presented to the emperor with 
the earnest request that he would do what was 
just in so important a matter. �
What a loss of 
Christian souls," said the committee to the em-
peror, " what injustice, what extortion, are the 
daily fruits of those scandalous practices to 
which the spiritual head of Christendom affords 
his countenance! The ruin and dishonor of our 
nation must be averted. We therefore very 
humbly, but very urgently, beseech you to sanc-
tion a general reformation, to undertake the work, 
and to carry it through." 
Had the eyes of the assembly been opened, 
they would have beheld angels of God in the 
midst of them, shedding beams of light athwart 
the darkness of error, and opening minds and 
hearts to the reception of sacred truths. It was 
the power of the God of truth and wisdom that 
controlled even the adversaries of the Reforma-
tion, and thus prepared the way for the great 
work about to be accomplished. Martin Luther 
was not present; but a Greater than Luther had 
made his voice heard in that assembly. 
Charles could not disregard the appeals of the 
diet, so utterly unexpected both by the legate 
and himself. He immediately withdrew the edict 
for the burning of Luther's writings, and or-
dered that they be delivered into the hands of 
the magistrates. 
The assembly now demanded Luther's appear-
ance before them. " It is unjust," urged his 
friends, " to condemn Luther without having 
heard him, and without having ascertained from 
his own lips that he is the author of those books 
which it is proposed to' burn." 
" His doctrine," said his opponents, " has taken 
so fast hold on men's minds that it is impossible to 
check its progress, unless we allow him a hearing. 
There shall be no disputing with him; and in the 
event of his acknowledging his writings, and 
refusing to retract them, we will all, with one 
accord, electors, princes, and states of the holy 
empire, in firm adherence to the faith of our 
ancestors, give your majesty our unsparing aid to 
carry your decrees into full effect." 
The legate Aleander is greatly troubled by this 
proposal. He knows that he has everything to 
dread from Liither's presence before the diet. 
He therefore appeals to the princes known to be 
most favorably disposed toward the pope: " There 
shall be no disputing with Luther, you say; but 
how can we be sure that the genius of this auda-
cious man, the fire that flashes from his eyes, the 
eloquence of his speech, the mysterious spirit 
that animates him, will not suffice to excite a 
tumult ? Already there are many who revere 
him as a saint, and his image is everywhere to be 
seen encircled with rays of glory, like those 
which surround the heads of the blessed." 
And now a Satanic thought enters the mind 
of this agent of the great adversary, and he adds: 
" If he must needs be cited to appear, beware, at 
all events, of pledging the public faith for his 
safety." Aleander hoped that, should Luther 
appear at Worms, the Romanists might obtain 
possession of his person, and silence forever that 
reproving voice, even before it should utter a word 
in the assembly. 
The priests and Pharisees were actuated by 
the same spirit in their opposition to Paul. 
Whenever the apostle's words in vindication of 
the truth were allowed to influence the people, 
the cause of the Jewish leaders suffered loss; 
therefore the same Satanic subtlety was employed 
to silence Paul's voice. Those Jewish leaders 
knew, as did Aleander, that if truth were pre-
sented before the people, it would appear in so 
striking contrast to error that none could fail to 
see the distinction. 
The same motive led the Jews to destroy 
Stephen. It was the words of truth which the 
priests and elders could not controvert that in-
spired those wicked judges with such madness 
against this man of God that even while his coun-
tenance was shining with the glory from Heaven, 
they dragged him from the judgment-hall, and 
silenced his eloquence, not with arguments from 
the law and the prophets, but with stones. 
The Hop, of the Righteous. 
THE hope of the righteous is always associated 
with that faith that shows and proves itself by 
works, and that charity, or love, that comes only 
by the Holy Spirit; for " God is love." 
In Ps. 78 : 7, we read of Israel, " That they 
might set theii hope in God, and not forget the 
works of God, but keep his commandments." 
Ps. 146 : 5. " Happy is he that bath the God of 
Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his 
God." In Prov. 14 : 32, " The wicked is driven 
away in his wickedness; but the righteous hath 
hope in his death." Jer. 17: 7. " Blessed is the 
man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope 
the Lord is." In Jer. 31:17, we have a passage 
that refers plainly to the resurrection: " And 
there is hope in thine end, saith the Lord, 
that thy children shall come again to their own 
borders." In Joel 3: 16, we have a scripture 
that refers to the closing ticenes of the present 
earth : " The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, 
and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the 
heavens and the earth shall shake; but the Lord 
11.1./.11.7021:11, 
MAIME1111•1111•11.1.1.6•...1 
 
 
 
TII �
1-i, SIGNS OF TI-11-T, TIM IA,S. 
Vol,. 9, No. 30. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
will be the hope of his people, and the strength 
of the children of Israel." In Acts 23: 6, Paul 
claims to be a Pharisee, and said: " I am a Phar-
isee, the son of a Pharisee; of the hope and res-
urrection of the dead I am called in question." 
In Acts 24: 15, we have another plain testimony: 
" And have hope towards God, which they them-
selves also allow, that there shall be a resurrec-
tion of the dead, both of the just and unjust." 
Also Acts 26: 6, Paul again says: "And now I 
stand and am judged for the hope of the promise 
made of God unto our fathers; unto which prom-
ise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day 
and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, 
King Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews. Why 
should it be thought a thing incredible with you, 
that God should raise the dead ?" A prophecy of 
the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, on Which the 
living again of all men depends, is quoted in Acts 
2: 26, 27. 
In Rom. 8 : 24, we read, "For we are saved by 
hope; but hope that is seen is not hope." This 
chapter, Rom. 8, plainly teaches that " the mani-
festation of the sons of God " will be the resur-
rection of the righteous. In 1 Cor. 15: 19, we 
read " If in this life only we have hope in Christ, 
we are of all men most miserable." By reading 
from this verse to the end of the chapter, we 
learn in plainest terms that a future, or second 
life depends upon a resurrection from death. In 
Eph. 4: 4, we learn that there is but one hope. 
" There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye 
are called in one hope of your calling." In 1 
Thess. 4: 13-18, we have an important scripture; 
because it teaches that unless we have a hope in 
a glorious resurrection, we are as others who 
have no hope. " But I would not have you ig-
norant, brethren, concerning them which are 
asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which 
have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died 
and rose again even so them also which sleep in 
Jesus will God bring [from the dead] with him." 
At the end of this chapter, we are told to com-
fort one another with these words. These words 
of comfort like those our Saviour gave at the 
grave of Lazarus, are very different from the 
comfort we often hear from the popular pulpits. 
In Titus 2: 13, we read, " Looking for that 
blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the 
great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." In 
Titus 3: 7, we read, " That being justified by his 
grace, we should be made heirs according to the 
hope of eternal life." In John 6th chapter, and 
many other places, we are taught that eternal 
life will be given to the righteous at their resur-
rection. But the wicked who sow to the flesh 
shall of the flesh reap corruption. Gal. 6: 8. In 
1 Pet. 1: 3, we have, " Blessed be the God and 
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which accord-
ing to his abundant mercy hath begotten us 
again unto a lively [living] hope by the resur-
rection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an in-
heritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and, that 
fadeth not away, reserved in Heaven for you, 
who are kept by the power of God through faith 
unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last 
time." 
1 John 3 : 2, '3, toads, " Beloved, now are we 
the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear 
what we shall be; but we know that, when he 
shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall 
see him as he is. And every man that hath this 
hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." 
John 14 : 3, reads, " And if I go and prepare a 
place for you I will come again, and receive you 
unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be 
also." This passage, like many others, plainly 
tells us when our hope shall end in fruition or 
reality. Matt. 16: 27 shows us that when Christ 
Jesus shall come with all his angels, " Then he 
shall reward every man according to his works." 
Matt. 25:34 shows us that the invitation, ".Come ye 
blessed of. my Father, inherit the kingdom pre-
pared for you from the foundation of the world," 
will be given when Christ shall come in his glory. 
In Luke 14: 14, we have a pointed text: "_For 
thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of 
the just." Can language be plainer? In 2 Thess. 
1: 7, we learn that God will recompense " rest 
with us [the apostles] when the Lord Jesus shall be 
revealed from heaven with his mighty angels," &c. 
In 1 Cor. 1: 7, we learn that the righteous are 
" waiting for the comiqg of the Lord Jesus 
Christ; ' not waiting for our immortal souls to 
be released from these bodies of clay. In 1 Pet. 
5: 4, we read, " And when the chief Shepherd 
[Christ] shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of ' 
glory that fadeth not away." Why should we 
expect a crown as soon as we die, and sooner 
than the Lord's second advent? In Col. 3: 4, we 
read that " When Christ who is our life shall 
appear, then shall ye also appear with him in 
glory." 
We have given, as it were, a shOwer of plain 
texts on this subject, and have omitted many-
other plain texts. Proof on proof will not con-
vince those who do not want the truth; but for 
the sake of the honest we should give proof on 
proof. Brethren, I fear there is a coldness on 
many of you. It is no time to be idle. We can 
all do something. Awake, awake ! for the com-
ing of the Lord Jesus is upon us. Surely we are 
in the beginning of a terrible storm. Let us be 
up and doing. �
EPSILON. 
The Warping of Interpretation. 
" THE Scriptures," says Bungener, " were writ-
ten by common men to be understood by common 
men." " The more .any interpretation bears the 
mark of simplicity, and it appears as if it ought to 
have struck the reader before, the more likely is 
it to be true," says Ernesti. " It is better to run 
all lengths with Scripture truth in a natural and 
open manner," Bengal adds, than to shift and 
twist and accommodate." " The sense of Script-
ure is one, certain and simple," breaks in Melanch-
thon, " and is everywhere to be ascertained in 
accordance with the principles of grammar and 
human discourse." And finally Luther: " We 
must not make God's word mean what we wish; 
we must not bend it, but allow it to bend us ;.and 
give it the honor of being better than we could 
make it; So that we must let it stand." But 
the fatal facility of exegesis when under stress is 
proverbial, and has been often justly satirized. 
Mohammed, it was said, prohibited the eating 
of a certain part of the swine. But the Mussul-
man, having first assumed uncertainty as to the 
part forbidden, argued against the probability of 
the intended application of the prohibition to each 
part successively, until he had gone over the 
whole. The result Cowper sums up:— 
" Thus, conscience freed from every clog, 
Mohammedans eat up the hog." 
Dean Swift's famous story of the dexterously 
interpreted will scarifies the same foible. The re-
tention of the demise was made dependent among 
other things on the heir's refraining from the 
wearing of" silver fringe." But that style of dec-
oration having come in fashion, it was opportunely 
found that the term "silver" was " all'egorical," 
and that " fringe" (being perhaps a " generic" 
word) might mean " broomstick." The objection 
that a prohibition to wear an " allegorical broom-
stick" was unmeaning, was overruled as " irrev-
erent and hypocritical." This sarcasm is not 
lower than the strange abuses of Scripture which 
provoked it. Of such a character was the ser-
mon justifying the persecution of heretics, from 
the words, " Rise, Peter, slay and eat." The de-
fense of seven as the number of the sacraments on 
the ground that mysterion is the Greek word for 
sacrament, and that seven is the mystic number, 
and the proof that the mass is a true oblation be-
cause Paul speaks of the " table of the Lord," 
while " table " means " altar," and an " altar " 
implies " sacrifice;" are of like character. Dum-
oulin justly says that to depend on such proof-
texts is " like warming one's self at the moon." 
Even the great Augustine, to save unbroken the 
doctrine that baptism is essential to salvation, 
maintains that the dying thief was baptized with 
blood from the Saviour's wounded side, or else 
had been baptized before his conviction. 
OTHER ILLUSTRATIVE INSTANCES. 
Matthew 3 : 6 describes the people as bap-
tized " in Jordan." Dr. Whedon (in loco) says: 
" The Jordan had several banks within banks, so 
that a person could be in the Jordon on dry 
ground." This curious geographical information, 
fortified by a citation from Dr. Thomson, is con-
veyed for the purpose of adding a caveat against 
what, it seems to be implied, would be a nat-
ural inference from the language itself. " This 
expression in Jordan' only indicates, therefore, 
where the rite was performed; it in no way indi-
cates the mode." This adroit effort at the eviscera-
tion of the evangelist's meaning (suggested long 
before, by the way, by Ewing, an antagonist of 
Dr. Carson) has been since treated somewhat 
harshly by the Revisers, who make the text now 
read " in the River Jordan," as the parallel passage 
• 
AUGUST 9, 1883. �
SIGNS OF TI-11-1] TIMES. �
351 
in Mark already did. But waiving that, consider 
how fantastic a theory is here put forth in the 
name of interpretation to divest the words of 
their natural meaning, obvious but inconvenient 
for the interpreter. By the same process, having 
moved 1,800 years forward, try the statement 
that a man was "drowned in the Mississippi." 
 
" Mississippi " may readily mean Mississippi 
Valley, especially as that is often called the Mis-
sissippi " bottom "—the word "drowned" means 
"strangled," and " strangled " is!a, " generic" word 
including " hanged "; and since no man would go 
into the water to be hanged, the legitimate ren-
dering of the passage would be that he was 
" hanged in the Mississippi Valley." One of the 
pioneers and among the ablest exponents of this 
school of exegesis was Dr. Paulus, who sought to 
prove by the same process, also with an ulterior 
though different motive, that when our Lord is 
said to have walked on the Sea of Galilee, he 
only walked in fact along its shores.--Rev. J. B. 
Thomas, D. D., in N. Y. Examiner. 
Overcoming. 
BY ELD. A. S. HUTCHINS. 
SAYS the blessed Saviour: " Be of good cheer; 
I have overcome the world." John 16: 33. It is 
the privilege of the disciple of Jesus to feel an as-
surance from day to day that he is overcoming; 
that he is gaining victory over the devices and 
power of Satan; over the allurements and temp-
tations of the world; and over the evil traits of 
his own nature, and the secret sins of his heart. 
The deep and earnest cry from the soul, fixed to 
overcome and gain the victor's reward, will ever 
be, " Cleanse thou me from secret faults," as well 
as, "Keep back thy servant also from presump-
tuous sins." 
To overcome in all things, and be numbered 
with the conquerors at last, is no small thing. 
The heart must be watched with a godly jealousy. 
It must be kept with " all diligence; for out of it 
are the issues of life." The treasure of the heart 
is good or bad. Good or evil things proceed 
therefrom. Now to have the heart in that con-
dition that its issues will be good, and tend to 
life, it must be guarded with constant care. 
" Casting down imaginations and every high 
thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge 
of God, and bringing into captivity every thought 
to the'obedience of Christ." If we live in obedi-
ence to God, the blood of Christ is adequate to 
cleanse us from the dark stain of every sin. 
" If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, 
we have fellowship one with another, and the 
blood of Christ, his Son, cleanseth us from all sin." 
1 John 1: 7. Oh ! the unspeakable privilege of 
being cleansed from all sin; of being made white, 
free, and pure; of being made ready to meet the 
Lord when he cometh. 
This preparation of heart will only be attained 
unto by overcoming everything unholy, impure, 
and wrong in the sight of God. The remnant 
church will attain unto this eminent state of piety 
and happiness, by keeping the " commandments 
of God, and the faith of Jesus." And when the 
final victory is gained it is said of hem: " And in 
their mouth was found no guile; for they are 
without fault before the throne of God." 
Priceless treasure! Inestimable blessing! to be 
" without fault before the throne of God; " before 
him who " searcheth all hearts." Shall not this 
one thought inspire us cheerfully-to suffer and toil 
on in the work of overcoming ? Yea, is it not 
sufficient to make up for all our tears and trials ? 
But, dear saint, dear brother, this is not your re-
ward. No; listen to the Master's promise to the 
overcomer: " He that overcometh shall inherit 
all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be 
my son." Rev. 21: 7. , 
IT is said that to live well we must pray well. 
All true. The reverse is trne also, that to pray 
well we must live well. When life is correct; 
when the walk is thoroughly conscientious and 
upright; when the speech savoreth of the things 
that profit and elevate, then it is not difficult 
to pray. Unbecoming conduct makes a sluggish, 
heart, and words unfitly spoken are a weight upon 
the pinions of the soul. No preparation for a 
prayer-meeting is so good as work done for the 
Master.—Set. 
NATURE has sometimes made a fool, but a cox-
comb is always of a roan's own making.—Addison. 
THE Lord directed the prophet Jeremiah to in-
form the children of Israel that if they would 
observe the Sabbath in a proper manner the 
city of Jerusalem should stand forever. This is 
equal to a declaration that the Sabbath would be 
obligatory upon them forever. 
But we are told that the Sabbath was only to 
be binding up to the cross of Christ. Now one 
of two things is evident: Either God's promises 
and covenants have entangled him in his purposes, 
or else these persons are mistaken in regard 
to the abolition of the Sabbath commandment. 
That the above statements are correct the 
following scripture will show. " If ye diligently 
hearken to me, saith the Lord, to bring in no 
burden through the gates of this city on the Sab-
bath-day; but hallow the Sabbath-day, to do no 
work therein; then shall there enter into the 
gates of the city kings and princes sitting upon 
the throne of David . . . and this city shall 
remain forever." Jer. 17 : 24, 25. 
We will consider the subject in the light of the 
promise in. this text. If Israel had obeyed the 
commandments, could the city have been de-
stroyed ? No. And why not? Because its in-
habitants would have been loyal to God's laws. 
But did their violation of these laws release them 
from obligation to obey them ? If so, then the 
thief is released from any obligation to the com-
mandment that says: " Thou shalt not steal;" 
or from liability to arrest when he violates it. 
Had Israel continued in obedience to the Sabbath 
then the obligation to obey it would have contin-
ued upon them. Yet Christ would have come as 
a Saviour, and given himself as a sacrifice for 
man's sins, even if Israel had accepted the 
proposals that the Lord made them in regard to 
Jerusalem. For God bad already promised them 
through the prophet Isaiah that Christ should 
take the government upon his shoulders, &c. Isa. 
9 : 6, 7. And that he should bear our sins, and 
make his soul an offering for sin, and make inter-
cession for transgressors. Isa. 53 : 1-12. Thus 
the promises of the gospel were given to 
Israel more than a hundred years before the con-
ditional promise was made concerning Jerusalem. 
So we gather from the prophetic promises that 
the offering and mediation of Christ was a surety 
at the time that a promise was made to Israel, 
contingent upon their observance of the Sabbath, 
which if they had done would have secured to 
them a national existence throughout the Chris-
tian dispensation—and all this for the keeping of 
the commandments which we are told are abol-
ished because Christ has come in fulfillment of 
the above-mentioned promises. 
If it be true that the establishment of the 
Christian dispensation abrogates the Sabbath 
commandment, then it follows that if Israel had 
obeyed it as the Lord commanded and pleaded 
with them to do, the time would have come that 
they would have been released from obligation to 
observe it because it was abolished; and yet they 
would in that case not have dared to transgress 
it because of the threatenings in God's word 
against them in case they should cease to 
observe it. 
Would an infinite God stultify his own purposes 
by making conditional promises that might 
counteract his own will and word ? Impossible. 
The End of All Things Is at Hand. 
How remarkably do the transpiring events of 
our day coincide with the prophetic delineations 
of the closing scenes of time, yet how few are 
willing to consider them as even the premonitory 
signs of the end of the world, as intimated by 
th pen of inspiration. 
So rapidly do the most wonderful events trans-
pire that even the days of an infant are suffi-
cient to compass the rise and fall of empires. 
With what rapidity do the revolutions of govern-
ments and the changes of the social condition of 
countries follow each other! What a change even 
in a single year has been produced! What a dis-
solving of the elements of human greatness, and 
the power of princes! What a repelling force has 
been developed, operating between the particles of 
social organism! Of how little value are the sug-
gestions of man's wisest experience to the eager 
throng of adventurers hastening to the vortex of 
human finality! how impatient of restraint! how 
unstable in the path of duty! In fine, how accu-
rate the description of the apostles in the foretold 
events of the last days. 
"Now the spirit speaketh, expressly, that in 
the latter time some shall depart from the faith, 
giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of 
devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy, having' their 
conscience seared with a hot iron." 1 Tim. 4: 1, 2. 
" This know also that in the last days perilous 
times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their 
own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphem-
ers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 
without natural affection, truce-breakers, false 
accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those 
that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, 
lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, 
having a form of godliness, but denying the 
power thereof." 2 Tim. 3: 1-5. " Knowing this 
first that there shall come in the last days, scoffers, 
walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where 
is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers 
fell asleep, all things continue as they were from 
the beginning of the creation." 2 Pet. 3 : 3-4. 
" But beloved, remember the words which were 
spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus 
Christ; how that they told you there should be 
mockers in the last times, who should walk after 
their own ungodly lusts." Jude 17, 18. 
How. melancholy have been the departures 
from the faith of late! who does not feel sorrow 
for the defection of some friend who has turned 
his back upon the truth, and no longer lingers at 
the portals of the temple of God ? �
- 
How wide-spread have been the delusions of 
seducing Spiritualists ? what destruction of social 
confidence and virtue has attended their manifes-
tations! seducing spirits, how truly they were 
named by the apostles! Doctrines of devils! 
What horrid developments have been witnessed! 
Who does not know of cases of glaring hypoc-
risy, lies, India rubber consciences, as if seared 
with a hot iron—unblushing effrontery! 
Look at the gross immoralities of the Mormons. 
See what a host of individuals are accurately de-
scribe& by the apostle in the second quotation 
from Timothy. But we have not room to specify 
all the abominations now openly manifested as 
foretold. It any one can read the daily jour-
nals and not be satisfied of the truth of prophecy, 
we are sorry for their skepticism, for this is also 
one of the signs of the times. - Look at the polit-
ical condition of society—what corruption! what 
bribery! how given to all the arts of deception 
and intrigue are office-holders! witness the ballot-
box stuffing, false swearing, and other acts of 
violence everywhere prevalent. Alas! it seems to 
be too true that we live in the last days, the days 
of peril. The tyranny of former ages gave way 
to constitutional monarchy, and again, that 
form of government yields to democracy. How 
greatly is it to be feared that even the feeble re-
straints of democracy will fail, and the deplorable 
condition of anarchy succeed to the last flicker-
ing existence of human government.—Sabbath 
Recorder, 1857. 
HERE is an item for parents. At the General 
Conference of Seventh-day Baptists, in the dis-
cussion of Sabbath-school work, it was stated as 
a matter of observation, that " those boys who 
were compelled to go to church and to sit with 
their parents, when small children, whether they 
liked it or not, are the young men who to-day are 
to be found in church and Sabbath-school work; 
while those who went or not as they felt like it, 
are to-day nowhere." And this testimony will be 
corroborated by the experience and observation 
of every thinking Christian. Take the children 
to church and teach them how to behave when 
there. If you do not, the chances are that they 
will never learn.—Baptist Teacher. 
THE Mechanical Engineer reports a curious 
effect produced on a wrought-iron forging by a 
human hair. The forging was in a cold-press—
that is, a powerful press for finishing the forging 
after it is shaped. During this process it is put 
between two hardened steel dies and subjected to 
a pressure of 200 tons to the square inch. At one 
of these operations a hair taken from the head of 
a by-stander was placed on the head of the forg-
ing, and the full pressure appled. The result was 
that the hair was driven into the forging and im-
bedded in it. The hair itself was uninjured dur, 
ing the operation and was removed intact. 
Did the Lord Stultify Himself? 
BY ELD. WM. COVERT. 
A Revival that "Broke Out." 
IT occurred more than fifty years ago, in one of 
the small towns of New Hampshire, and began in 
this way: Two plain farmers, one summer day, 
were at work in the field. As they worked they 
talked—not about the crops, or the weather, but 
on the subject nearest and dearest to their hearts, 
the progress of Christ's kingdom. 
In several of the neighboring towns there had 
been extensive revivals, while their own town 
seemed to them to have been passed by. The love 
of Christians had grown cold, while sin and wick-
edness abounded, unreproved. They lamented, 
as only true Christians can, the low state of relig-
ion about them, and looking for the reason of 
such coldness were led to faithfully consider their 
own responsibility. They resolved to plead with 
God more earnestly than ever before for the out-
pouring of his Holy Spirit upon their church and 
town. They parted, agreed to meet for prayer 
the same evening at the school-house, midway be-
tween their dwellings. 
At the set hour each took his lantern and went 
silently out to the appointed 'place. Of' the fer-
vency of their prayers, or holy gladness of their 
songs of praise at that meeting, we may never 
know. It must, however, have seemed good to 
them to be there, for as they separated another 
meeting was appointed for the next week. 
During the hour of the second meeting, a neigh-
bor chanced to go by, and seeing the light in the 
school-house, went in to ascertain the reason. 
Thus the prayer-meeting of two became a prayer-
meeting of three. 
At the third meeting the school-house was filled 
to overflowing. The Holy Spirit was manifestly 
present, and sinners were heard earnestly asking: 
" What shall I do to be saved? " 
The good work continued and spread rapidly 
from district to district, with a pentecostal in 
gatheringof souls that made it the most remark-
able revival ever known in the town. From 
among the converts four became preachers of the 
gospel, and went forth to do faithful service in 
Christ's vineyard. The far-reaching results of 
the prayers of faith of those two Christian men, 
met together in Christ's name, can never be fully 
known until revealed in the light of eternity. 
Yet they only claimed the promises of our Lord: 
" If two of you shall agree on earth as touch- 
ing anything that they shall ask, it shall be done 
for them of my Father which is in Heaven." 
" For where two or three are gathered together in 
my name, there am I in the midst of thetn.' 
The promises of Christ remain sure. The prayer 
of faith is " a power with God " that prevails. 
Then why do we not oftener in the present day 
see revivals of the kind that " break out " ? 
ROFArbISNI �
.1.11116.14, �
 
352 �
rr 
ui: SIGNS OF TII H, TIM �
 H4S �
VoL. 9, No. 30. 
we are informed with reference to the seventh 
day that God '•hallowed it." Thus we see that 
God has made the seventh day holy. To make 
anything holy is a task far removed from the 
power of man. As Protestants we do not believe 
that even the pope of Rome can make anything 
holy. I think any sane man will admit that it is 
beyond the power of even all men combined to 
make anything holy. This being true, then what 
becomes of the oft-repeated assertion that " it 
makes no difference which day we keep if we 
only keep it holy." As God only can make a day 
holy, it would be utterly impossible for me or any 
one else to keep the first day of the week holy, 
for God never made it holy. The first day of the 
week never has been kept holy, nor can it ever be, 
unless God should hereafter hallow it. There is 
only one day in the week that any one can keep, 
holy and that is the one which God has made holy, 
namely, the seventh day. Any other day offered 
us as a Sabbath must therefore be imperfect, a 
counterfeit, lacking this essential stamp of divinity. 
A day that has not thus been made holy by di-
vine authority is as far from being a complete 
Sabbath as an organ would be of being a com-
plete musical instrument without the reeds. 
There are the case and keys, but the essential 
part, the reeds, is lacking. God does not say, 
" Remember the Sabbath day and make it holy." 
No, no! He very well knew that that would be 
an impossible. task for man. But he does say, 
" Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." 
God made it holy, man should keep it holy. God 
has instructed us in his law how to keep the Sab-
bath holy, and this all should cheerfully' do. 
Obedience is better than sacrifice. 
(To be Concluded.) 
TExT: " And he said unto them, The Sabbath was made 
for man, and not man for the Sabbath." Mark 2 : 27. 
THE words of our text are the words of our 
Lord' Jesus Christ. No discount should ever be 
made upon his words, as he was a teacher sent 
from God in a higher sense than any before or 
since. " He spake as never man spake." We 
should ever bow with humble submission to his 
instructions, knowing that he always uttered only, 
 
pure, simple, and unadulterated truth. 
We will devote our attention on this occasion 
mainly to a consideration of one declaration in 
the text; namely, " The Sabbath was made for 
man:" The Sabbath being something that was 
made, as our Saviour asserts, the following ques-
tions with relation to it are pertinent:- 
By Whom was it made ? 
When was it made ? 
Of what was it made ? 
How was it made? 
Was it easy to make ? 
For whom was it made? and- 
For what purpose? 
If we were speaking of a structure made 
by man, each of the above questions could be 
intelligently answered by the maker, or by some 
one having full knowledge *thereof. For exam-
ple, take a house. We behold a beautiful mansion, 
and inquire, By whom was it made ? Answer, 
By Mr. David Brown. 
When was it made ? An-
swer, In 1876. What was it made out of? An-
swer, Pine, walnut, iron, etc. How was it, made ? 
Answer, First step, excavation of cellar and 
gathering together of materials; second step, 
laying the foundation; third step, rearing the 
walls, and inclosing the building; fourth step, 
finishing the interior. Was it easy to make ? 
The most casual observer would not hesitate to 
say that everywhere upon this mansion are to 
be seen evidences of very skillful workmanship. 
For whom was it made ? Answer, For man. For 
what purpose ? Answer, For a dwelling-house. 
Let us now examine the Sabbath in the light 
of these questions. We are confident that the 
sacred volume of inspiration will furnish us with 
very clear and explicit answers to all of our 
reasonable inquiries. 
By whom was the Sabbach, made ? 
In answer to this question we have only to 
refer you to Gen: 2 : 2, 3, and Ex. 20 : 6-11. 
Here we. have the most explicit testimony that 
the Sabbath was made by the Almighty. If you 
were informed that Mr. A. erected a certain house, 
you would say at once, " It is a poor job," and 
why ? Because you know he is wanting in skill. 
If informed that Mr. B. did the work without 
seeing it, you say at once, " It is well done." 
Why ? Because you know him to be a finished 
and skillful workman. The Sabbath was made by 
the all-wise Architect and Builder of the universe, 
who had associated with him his only beloved Son. 
See 1 John 1 : 3 ; Col. 1 : 16 ; 1 Cor. 8 : 6 ; Heb. 
1 : 2. This enables us to pronounce it a work of the 
highest character in every particular. 
When was it made ? 
Again we find a very explicit answer to our 
question in the blessed volume. By reference to 
Gen. 2 : 2, 3, we learn that at the close of crea-
tion week God rested from all his work on the 
seventh day, and then blessed the seventh day, 
and sanctified it. In working six days, the Lord 
made the preparation for the erection of a Sabbath. 
In resting the seventh day, he laid the foundation 
for the Sabbatic institution, and all this was in 
the beginning of our world. Now if it be true, as 
some teachers would have us believe, that the 
S abbath was not finished till the exode, it would 
represent the all-wise God as laying the foundation 
for an institution at creation, and then leaving it 
for about twenty-five hundred years without the 
s uperstructure. Such folly may often be truly 
chargeable upon mortal, finite man, but should 
never be affirmed of our Heavenly Father. How 
m uch better to answer the inquiry according to 
the most obvious sense of the Scriptures, by saying 
th at the Sabbath was made at creation! 
Of what was it made ? 
How plain and direct is the answer of God to 
this question! In the fourth commandment of the 
decalogue, God's moral law, we find the following 
words, which were spoken by the Lord from Sinai, 
The Sabbath.* 
BY ELD. H. A. ST. JOHN. 
"Re-published from Review and Herald, by request. 
and written with his own finger on tables of stone: 
" For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, 
the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the 
seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the 
Sabbath-day, and hallowed it." Ex. 20 : 11. See 
also Gen. 2 : 2, 3. Here we have the most posi-
tive information from the highest authority in 
the universe, that the Sabbath was made out of 
the seventh day. Suppose a friend of yours in the 
watch-making business should send you by the 
hand of another a beautiful watch. By letter he 
informs you that Mr. A. is made bearer to you of 
a beautiful and valuable pure gold watch, which 
he hopes you will accept as a keepsake from a true 
friend. Mr. A. arrives, and hands you a watch. 
Upon examination you discover that it is partly 
gold and partly brass. You pass it back to Mr. 
A. saying, " Sir, this is not the watch my hon-
ored friend sent me; this is partly brass, whereas 
I have his faithful word that the watch he sent 
me was made of pure gold." He then hands 
you another. You find this one to be all of brass. 
Almost indignant, you hand this back, saying, 
" Sir, you are seeking to pass a counterfeit upon 
me. �
This one is all of a baser metal. I will not 
receive it." He then handy you a beautiful and 
valuable watch made of pure gold, and you ac-
cept it gladly, as it answers the description your 
friend gave you. Now if you were assured that 
there was no other gold watch in the world ex-
cept the one your friend made for you, you 
would know that you had the right one. 
Now if any one should offer you a Sabbath 
made partly of the first day, and partly of the 
seventh day, you should reject it as not the one 
God has made for you, as God's Sabbath was not 
made out of two days. If you should be offered 
a Sabbath made wholly of the first day, you 
ought to reject it instantly as a counterfeit, made 
entirely of baser metal; for there is not one particle 
of the seventh day in the first day, and God's 
Sabbath, given to man as a sacred keepsake, is 
made wholly of the seventh day. And when you 
are assured that God made the only seventh-day 
Sabbath the world ever had, in accepting that, 
you know that you have the right one. Remem-
ber, then, that God's Sabbath is made out of the 
seventh day. 
How was it made ? 
What was the mode of procedure ? In the 
erection of a building, as before noticed, there is 
an order of procedure: 1. Getting ready to build. 
Thus the Lord prepared to erect the Sabbath 
institution by making the heavens and earth, the 
sea and all that in them is in six days. 2. Laying 
the foundation. God laid the foundation for the 
Sabbath by his rest from the work of creation, 
on the seventh day. 3. Rearing the walls and 
inclosing the building. Answering to this God 
blessed the seventh day. 4. Finishing the inte-
rior. So God gave the finishing touch to the Sab-
batic institution by sanctifying the seventh day. 
Then how was the Sabbath made ? Answer. By 
the work of God in creating all things in six days, 
his resting on the seventh day, then his blessing 
and sancifying it. Ex. 20:11. 
Was it easy to make ? 
We are not to suppose the task of making a 
Sabbath a difficult one for the infinite God. Per-
haps it would not be proper to speak of any thing 
that God does as easy or difficult for him; nor is 
it in this sense that we ask the question. But it 
needs no proof that God does many things that 
would be very difficult for man to do, and very 
many things that it is utterly impossible for man to 
do. What one man will do with ease, another 
man performs with difficulty. What one man 
does easily, another man cannot possibly do at 
all,— it is beyond the reach of his wisdom, skill, 
or power. Now let us see about the task of 
making the Sabbath. You say, " Any one may 
work six days." Very true, they might, al-
though it should be remembered that they would 
fall infinitely short of doing what the Lord did 
in the six days of creation. You say, " Any 
one could rest on a seventh day after working 
six." Very true. You inquire, " Could not any 
one bless the day upon which he had rested ?" 
Very doubtful, indeed. We have not reached the 
final act of the making of a Sabbath, but even 
here we find something almost, if not entirely, be-
yond the power of man to perform. And then, 
'should we admit that man could bless a day, what 
an infinite difference between the blessing of finite 
man, and the blessing of the infinite Creator! 
But we now come to the last and crowning act 
�
 of Jehovah in making the Sabbath. In Ex. 20 :,11, 
AUGUST ), 1883. �
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IR: TIM I-4:S. �
353 
giw c*aliath- 
Lesson for the Pacific Coast.—Aug. 18. 
ACTS 13 :14-52. 
NOTES ON THE LESSON. 
" FOR they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their 
rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the 
voices of the prophets which are read every Sab-
bath-day, they have fulfilled them in condemning 
him." Verse 27. Jerusalem was the. religious 
center of the world. To the Jews as a class God's 
will had been revealed in an especial manner; they 
were the depositaries of his law; all his instruc-
tion to the human race, either directly or through 
prophets, came through the Jews. And Jerusa-
lem was the place. where the most favored ones 
dwelt. Here the law and the prophets were read 
every Sabbath-day; and yet, not only the mass of 
the people, but even the rulers themselves, did not 
know the Messiah when he came. " He came 
unto his own, arid his own received him not." 
They did not know the prophecies which they 
react to the people every week. Were they then 
blameless in what they did ? if so, of what use 
was it to send light to them? Their ignorance was 
of a*, kind that Peter says will be common in the last 
days—willful ignorance. They wanted the Mes-
siah to come in their. own way—in a way that 
would exalt them. But Christ, when he wept 
over Jerusalem, as its day of salvation was draw-
ing to a close, gave as a reason for its final rejec-
tion, " because thou knewest not the time of thy 
visitation." Because they did not know the 
things which were for their peace, they were hid 
from their eyes. Luke 19 : 41-44. From this we 
may learn that those in high positions in ,the 
church do not always understand the truth which 
they ought to be able to teach. He who pins his 
faith to some leading man in the -church may be 
led to destruction. 
AND we find precisely this state of things now. 
At Christ's first advent the rulers believed in 
Moses, but of Christ they said, " as for this fellow, 
we know not from whence he is." Those who 
believed that Jesus was the Messiah, were derided 
and looked upon with contempt. .Now tae whole 
religious world are willing to confess that Jesus 
was the Messiah, and they call themselves by the 
name that was once so despised; but they turn 
with scoffs from the doctrine of his second advent. 
Those who " according to his promise, look for 
new heavens and a new earth," are stigmatized, 
and looked upon as fanatics. " Where is the 
promise of his coming?" say they. They can be-
lieve a truth when it is no longer a special test, 
but "present truth" they reject.. But, says one, 
" If the rulers and leaders in the church do not 
know the truth, how can we whose advantages 
are far more limited hope to be enlightened?" 
Hear what the Lord says: "But to this man will 
I look,' even to him that is poor and of a contrite 
spirit, and trembletn at my word." Isa. 66 : 2. 
Whoever remains ignorant of truth, has only his 
own perverse heart and haughty disposition to 
blame for it. " At that time Jesus answered and 
said, I thank thee, 0 Father, Lord of heaven and 
earth, because thou hast hid these things from the 
wise and prudent [wise in their own . and the 
world's estimation], and hast revealed them unto 
babes." Matt. 11 : 25. 
IN verse 27 we have positive proof that Paul 
- recognized no other Sabbath than the seventh-day 
Sabbath. He said that the prophets were read 
" every Sabbath-day." Upon what day was the 
law read in the Jewish synagogues? On the 
seventh day of the week; all acknowledge this, 
when they sneeringly term it " the Jewish Sab-
bath." Did they read the law on the first day, 
or in any way recognize that day as of any more 
importance than the second or third?' They did 
not. 'Then when Paul says that the prophets 
were read " every Sabbath-day," he showed that 
he knew nothing of any other Sabbath than the 
one which the Jews observed. The Jewish dis-
pensation, so called, was long past when Paul 
used these words; but the Sunday was not recog-
nized as a Sabbath even by Paul, the most ad-
vanced of the apostles. 
"AND by`lhim all that believe are justified from 
all things from which ye could not be justified by 
the law of Moses." Verse 39. The " law of 
Moses" refers not to the moral law, or ten com-
mandments, but to the ceremonial or Levitical 
law. It is true that- no one can be justified by 
the moral law, for that is not the object of law. 
It would justify a man if he had never sinned, 
but since all have sinned it can only condemn. 
Under the Levitical law there were _sacrifices for 
sin, and an atonement was made every year. 
But this atonement or justification was only fig-
urative. As Paul says, those gifts and sacrifices 
" could not make him that did the service perfect, 
as pertaining to the conscience." Heb. 9 : 9. 
Their only object was to point to Christ, and to 
keep ever before the minds of the people the 
real sacrifice that he was to make. In Paul's 
sermon he tells the Jews that this true sacrifice 
has already been made, and that through Christ 
their sins may now be forgiven in fact instead of 
in figure, as under the ceremonial law. The Jews 
bad largely lost sight of the object of those sac-
rifices, and looked upon them as efficacious. As 
a consequence they rejected Christ, not realizing 
that they needed the sacrifice that he made. 
"IT was necessary that the word of God should 
first have been spoken to you." Verse 46. Here 
is a text for the consideration of those who 
think that the gospel is yet to be preached es-
pecially to the Jews as a nation, and is to result 
in their entire conversion. God designed that 
they should always be, as for a long time they 
were, the objects of his special favor. Through 
them, as Paul says in the next verse, God de-
signed to enlighten the Gentiles. In accordance 
with this plan Christ confined his ministry when 
on earth solely to the Jewish people. " I am not 
sent," said he, " but to the lost sheep of the house 
of Israel." In cadtrying out God's plan it was 
necessary that the word should first be preached 
to them. A grand future was before them, but 
they neglected their opportunity. They despised 
the high estate to which they had been called. 
They rejected Christ. " He came unto his own, 
and bis own received him not." And so Christ 
said, " Behold, your house is left unto you des-
olate." Yet God has not forgotten his promise 
nor changed his plan.. The promises were to 
Israel. The name " Israel " means " a warrior or 
soldier for God," and was given to Jacob because 
he prevailed with God. Gen. 32 : :8. Therefore 
all, of whatever nation, who strive to overcome 
through Christ are classed as a IAA of the true 
Israel. Read Rom. 2 : 28-30; Gal. 3 : 27-29. 
" AND as many as were ordained to eternal 
life believed." Verse 48. Dr. Barnes says, " thiS 
verse is a battle-ground." That it has always 
been such is proof rather of the perversity of the 
human mind, than of any inherent difficulty in 
the text. if the Bible were studied more as 
other books are, to find out just what it means, 
and not for the purpose of bolstering up.precon-
ceived ideas, many supposed difficulties would 
vanish. In regard to this passage, a certain class 
hold that it affords positive proof' of their theory 
of foreordination or predestination; and many 
who could not yield assent to the inconsistencies 
of that theory, have almost wished that this text 
were not in the Bible. There are many things 
in the Bible that are " hard to be understood," 
but this text does not seem to us to be one of 
them. Let us give it a brief examination. 
The text does not say that as many as were 
foreordained to eternal life believed,although_it has 
come to be conSidered as having that meaning. 
The word " ordained " is from the Greek word 
Lasso, which signifies, to place, appoint, set in 
order, dispose; it is used with especial reference 
to the motions of an army, to drawing it up in 
battle array. But it has not connected with it 
the slightest idea of predestination; none of the 
lexicons give any hint of such a meaning. Hav-
ing found out what it does not mean, we will 
determine by the context what it does mean. 
We find that the apostles had in their audience 
both Jews and Gentiles, but they addressed 
themselves at first especially to the Jews, as 
Paul said to them: " It was necessary that the 
word of God should first have been spoken to 
you." The Jews listened attentively until they 
say that the Gentiles were favorable to the word 
spoken, and then, being filled with envy, they 
" spake against those things which were spoken 
by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming." Now 
it is evident to all that they could not be ac-
cepted and saved while in such a condition, and 
Paul plainly told them so. But what language 
did he use ? Did he say, Seeing 'ye have been 
foreordained to destruction, lo, we turn to the 
Gentiles? No; but., " Seeing ye put it [the word] 
from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of ever-
lasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles." The 
word " judge " means to sentence, to condemn. 
Paul did not mean that the Jews thought them-
selves unworthy of everlasting life, for they .con-
sidered that they alone were worthy of it; but 
he meant that by their rejection of the truth 
they had passed sentence upon themselves. This 
shows very plainly that their salvation rested 
wholly with themselves; they might have shown 
themselves worthy of eternal life, if they had 
chosen to do so. Then as far as they as individ-
uals were concerned, there was no foreordination. 
It might be truly said of them that they were 
not disposed to accept the word of truth; and no 
one would have any difficulty in understanding 
such a statement. 
But right in contrast with these, we have an-
other class, to which the apostles turned. The 
Gentiles were not troubled with race prejudice; 
their consciences were quickened, and a desire 
for salvation was aroused in their hearts. And 
so, like those in another place, " they received 
the word with all readiness of mind." In other 
words, they wore disposed or inclined to obtain 
eternal life, and consequently they believed; and 
that is just what the text states in regard to 
them. 
Just a few words in regard to what kind of 
predestination the Bible does teach. There is a 
class who are foreordained to eternal life. Who 
are they ? They are described in the following 
verse: " For God so loved the world that he 
gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever be-
lieveth in him should not perish, but have ever-
lasting life." Before man was created, God 
formed a plan in regard to him, and that was 
that if on trial he proved loyal and obedient, he 
should have eternal life. Simple obedience was 
all that was required; but after the fall another. 
condition was added, viz., belief in Christ for-the 
remission of past sins. It was a fixed fact then 
that those and those only who should comply 
with those conditions would have 'eternal life. 
But the offer was to all; " whosoever will, let 
him take the water of life freely;" that is, who-
soever is so disposed, as were the Gentiles at 
Antioch. �
E. J. W. 
" BRETHREN, if ye-have any word of exhortation 
for the people, say on." Here we have an illus-
tration of the manner of the Sabbath service as 
conducted in the synagogues. After the reading 
and expounding of a portion of the law or proph-
ecies by the leader, others had opportunity to 
speak. Here we have authority for our system 
of social meetings—a system sanctioned by our 
Saviour, as it was his custom to attend the syna-
gogue services (Luke 4: 16), and also by the apos-
tles as shown by their example and precepts. 
Paul was especially solicitous in regard to this 
duty and privilege, when writing by inspiration 
of the Spirit. See 1 Cor. 14: 26; Col. 3: 16; Eph. 
4:15-21; Heb. 3:12,13; 10: 24, 25. And the same 
Spirit, speaking through the prophet Malachi, 
foretells what they who fear the Lord in the last 
days will do in this regard. See Malachi 3: 16, 17. 
" AND when the Gentiles heard this they were 
glad." That is, when they heard that the Lord 
had Sent messengers specially to them with the 
word of salvation. And we of to-day have fully 
as great reason to rejoice that, although Gentiles 
after the flesh, we have been grafted in to the Is-
rael of God, to be the seed of Abraham and heirs 
according to the promise. Let us, then, the re-
cipients of so great privileges, " be not high-
minded but fear; for if' God spared not the nat-
ural branches, take heed lest he spare not " us. 
The natural branches were cut off for want of faith 
and a consequent lack of fruitfulness; and we 
'have no reason to expect greater favors than they. 
See Rom. 11 : 13 and onward. �W. N. G. 
Jr a superintendent really wants order and quiet 
in his school as a preliminary to beginning the 
exercises, he can have it without fail. lie need 
do nothing more than to take his place in the 
desk and—wait. If he will trot begin until there 
is quiet, he will have quiet before he begins. But 
if he enters into a competition with the school, to 
see which can make the most noise, with bell or 
voice, the' majority will be pretty sure to win. 
Eilje c$ign5 of tly Chum. 
" Can ye not discern the signs of the times ?'' 
J. H. WAGGONER, 
E. J. WAGGONER, 
J. N. ANDREWS, 
URIAH SMITH, �
CORRESPONDING EDITORS. 
OAKLAND, CAL., FIFTH-DAY, AUGUST 9, 1883. 
Two Great Compromises. 
EDITOR. 
ASSISTANT EDITOR. 
354 �
THE SIGNS OF - TH �
TIM 
1-i]S. �VOL. 9, No. 30. 
THE AMERICAN COMPROMISE—CONTINUED. 
BEFORE saying more concerning the position of the 
several parties in the movement of which we have 
spoken, it may be well to notice the object of the com-
promise as stated in Rev. 13. It is the formation of 
An Image to the Beast. An image must have a re-
semblance to the beast in some prominent features. But 
it cannot be the beast itself. Here is the error of some 
would-be expositors of the present day. They make the 
beast Catholicism, and they make the image Catholi-
cism, as though anything could be an image to itself! 
The most prominent features of the beast were as fol-
lows:- 
It was an alliance between the Church and the 
State. The State did not become the Church, but it be-
came so far subservient to the Church that it upheld her 
in her claims and enforced her dogmas and decrees. 
The Church was exceedingly modest, too. It asked 
nothing but the punishment of crime; but it demanded 
a recognition of the declaration that " heresy is the worst 
crime," and she was to be the sole judge of what was 
heresy! The result could not be a matter of conjecture: 
any one with even a small knowledge of human nature 
could foretell it. 
This alliance, this virtual union of church and 
State, was made solely for the glory of God and for the 
advancement of his cause in the earth. It was far from 
the intention of those who effected it that it should ever 
be used for evil purposes. And though almost all the 
world, outside of the Roman communion, now unite in 
condemning its formation and its practices, they who 
are most nearly related to it are still satisfied that it 
was all right. They say the object was good, namely, 
to glorify God, and to benefit mankind. And the motive 
was right; for what better motive can actuate any one 
than an earnest desire to advance the glory and the 
cause of God in the earth, and to do good to our fellow-
man ? This was the object of its formation, and such 
the motive of those who upheld it and labored for it, 
and executed its decrees even to the dungeon and the 
tortures of the Inquisition. 
In its inception and execution its promoters were 
moved by excessive zeal for the cause of God. They 
could not content themselves with the slow work of 
evangelizing the world by individual conversions; they 
must Christianize nations. And if people would not 
consent to act according to their views of Christian doc-
trine, they must be compelled to yield obedience, for 
the nation must be Christian. The result is too well 
known to need a word of comment. 
We of this century and in this country have been 
wont to look back with astonishment at the actions of 
men of centuries ago, and think if we were in their 
places we would act in a far different manner. But in 
that very few judge aright. Looking forward they saw 
only the cause and the motive that impelled them to 
action, and their consciences approved it. We, looking 
back, see only the results, and we are filled with horror. 
Could they have seen the full result of their actions, 
they might have paused and considered well their mo-
tive; but they could not see it. And could the people 
of the present time look forward and see the full result 
of their course they might stand appalled as they now 
do in reviewing the course of their ancestors. It is the 
old story over again: " If we had been in the days of 
our fathers, we would not have been partakers with 
them in the blood of the prophets." But they who 
spake thus clamored-for the blood of Jesus of Nazareth, 
the chief of all the prophets. Thus ever " history re-
peats itself." 
And in the prophecy of Rev. 13 there is a further ob-
ject—the main object—to be reached by this action. 
The formation of the image to the first beast will be 
made for the express purpose of 
Causing people to receive a mark. As the image 
was an image of the beast, so this mark is called " the 
mark of the beast." Can we ascertain what this means ? 
Reader, will you try to ascertain ? Are you willing to 
examine evidences on the subject ? You may say 
" We do not know that you have the truth on the sub- 
ject." 13ut do you know that we have not 
Have you 
ever inquired diligently and prayerfully to know what 
it means ? To show You the immense importance of 
these questions we will here present a message of warn-
ing and of threatening which the God of Heaven has 
spoken on the very subject of which we are treating. It 
is in. the following words:— 
" If any man worship the beast and his image, and re-
ceive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same 
shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is 
poured out without mixture into the cup of his indig-
nation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brim-
stone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the 
presence of the Lamb; and the smoke of their torment 
ascendeth up forever and ever; and they have no rest 
day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, 
and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. 
" Here is the patience of the saints; here are they 
that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of 
Jesus." Rev. 14:9-12. 
This is the most solemn warning, the most terrible 
denunciation, to be found in the holy Scriptures. Dear 
friend, you cannot afford to be indifferent when God 
speaks thus. Better sleep when your house is burning; 
better mock at him who would stay your steps from 
walking off a precipice. God has pronounced blessings 
upon those who tremble at his word; while only ruin 
stands before him who acts presumptuously. 
In this message we find a solution of the greatest dif-
ficulty in the prophecy of Rev. 13. Two classes are pre-
sented in the message: one worships the beast and his 
image, and receives his mark; the other keeps the com-
mandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Is there any-
thing in the commandments of God, or in the faith of 
Jesus, which stands in opposition to " the mark of the 
beast," spoken of in this prophecy ? There is; it is 
found in God's commandments. 
By comparing the scriptures we find that several 
words are used to designate the same thing, as sign, seal, 
mark, etc. See_Rom. 4: 11 ; Eze. 9:4; Rev. 7:1-3. In 
Eze. 9 a mark is set upon the foreheads of God's people 
before utter destruction comes. In Rev. 7 the servants 
of God are sealed in their foreheads before the four 
winds blow upon the earth. Thus we have in the Script-
ures a seal or mark set upon the foreheads of God's wor- 
shipers, and a mark set either in the foreheads or in the 
hands of the worshipers of the beast. We have no idea 
that these are literal marks put in their foreheads. 
These prophecies contain symbols or figures. The fore- 
head represents the intellect of man, as the hand repre-
sents power. Now let us look at " the commandments of 
God" to ascertain what is God's mark, or seal, or sign. 
In Ex. 31:13 we read: " Verily my Sabbaths ye shall 
keep; for it is a sign between me and you throughout 
your generations; that ye may know triat I am the 
Lord that doth sanctify you." And again in verses 16, 
17: " Whetefore the children of Israel shall keep the 
Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their gen-
erations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between 
me and the children of Israel forever; [for what reason] 
for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on 
the seventh day he rested and was refreshed." 
The same was given through the prophet: " Moreover 
also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me 
and them, that they might know that I am the Lord 
that sanctify them." Eze. 20: 12. And yet more im- 
pressively in verse 20: " And hallow my Sabbaths; and 
they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may 
know that I am the Lord your God." 
Why was the Sabbath selected to be a sign whereby 
we may know that Jehovah is God ? Because it is the 
memorial of his work of creation; the evidence of " his 
eternal power and godhead." The title of " Creator " is 
the highest that Jehovah ever chose for himself. It is 
this which distinguishes him from false gods—" the gods 
that have not made the heavens and the earth." Read 
Jer. 10:1-16. Compare Acts 17:22-24; Rom. 1:19, 20; 
Rev. 10:5, 6; and 14:6, 7. Thus we see that the sign, 
or seal, or mark, in " the commandments of God" is his 
Sabbath; the sanctified seventh day; the day on which 
he rested when he made the heavens and the earth. 
No other commandment in his law is thus spoken of, 
because no other contains the evidence of his creative 
power. The other commandments likewise reveal to us 
the will of God; this contains proof that Jehovah is 
God—the true God. And this is the proof given by 
God himself. " Hallow my Sabbaths; and they shall 
be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that 
I am the Lord your God." 
This God-given sign of the creative power of Jehovah 
is utterly destroyed, obliterated, by changing the Sab-
bath to another day than the seventh; to a day on which 
he did not rest when he made the heavens and the earth; 
to a day which is not the memorial of his creative work. 
Mark the language of Jehovah himself; the Sabbath is 
a sign that we may know him, that he is God, " for in 
six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the 
seventh day he rested and was refreshed." 
We have identified the sign or seal (or mark) of God, 
in the evidence offered by himself. Can we in like man-
ner identify the sign or mark of the beast power ? We 
can, for that power has also furnished its evidence. 
And here our difficulty is not in finding the proof it 
gives, but to decide where to begin to quote, and which 
to choose, where the proof is so abundant. First we will 
state a few facts concerning the Sunday which are be-
yond dispute. 
There is no law in the New Testament for keeping 
Sunday. 
There is no Bible proof that it was ever blessed or 
set apart as a day of observance. 
There is no proof that the Sabbath was ever 
changed from the seventh to the first day of the week. 
The claim in that respect rests on mere inference. 
There is no Bible proof that anybody ever kept the 
first day of the week, or regarded it as a sacred day. 
Proof of this all lies this side of the Bible record. His-
tory or tradition is the only‘sis of the Sunday Sabbath. 
The first law for resting from labor on Sunday was 
made by Constantine, A. D. 321. It was not a Christian 
edict but, as Dr. Schaff says, it was to honor " the ven-
erable day of the sun " out of respect to " Apollo, the 
sun-god." 
The religious character of the first day of the week 
was given to it by the pastors of the Church of Rome. 
As a religious or church festival it is solely the property 
of the Catholic Church. 
And what does the Church say on this subject ? She 
has always claimed the "Christian Sunday" as the 
creature of her power. In a Catholic tract, an appeal 
to Protestants, are the following words:— 
" The command to keep holy the seventh day is one 
of the ten commandments; you believe that the other 
nine are still binding; who gave you authority to tamper 
with the fourth? If you are consistent with your own 
principles, if you really follow the Bible, and the Bible 
only, you ought to be able to produce some portion of 
the New Testament in which this fourth commandment 
is expressly altered, or, at least, from which you may 
confidently infer that it wa- the will of God that Chris-
tians should make that change in its observance which 
you have made. . . . You keep the Sunday, and not 
the Saturday; and you do so rightly,for this was the 
practice of all Christians when P-rotestantism began; 
but you have abandoned other Catholic observances, 
which were equally universal at that day, preferring 
the novelties introduced by the men who invented 
Protestantism, to the unvarying tradition of above 
fifteen hundred years. We blame you, not for, making 
Sunday your weekly holiday, instead of Saturday, but 
for rejecting tradition, which is the only safe and clear 
rule by which this observance can be justified." 
As the Creator of the heavens and the earth gave the 
Sabbath memorial as the evidence of his power, so the 
Catholic Church gives the Sunday, the opposing or 
counterfeit Sabbath, as the evidence of its authority. 
See the following from a book by M. Segur, entitled 
"Plain Talk about Protestantism ":— 
" It is worth its while to remember that this observ-
ance of the Sabbath [Sunday]—in which, after all, 
the only Protestant worship consists—not only has no 
foundation in the Bible, but it is in flagrant contra-
diction with its letter, which commands rest on the 
Sabbath which is Saturday. It was the Catholic 
Church, which, by the authority of Jesus Christ has 
transferred this rest to the Sunday in remembrance of 
the resurrection of our Lord. Thus the observance of 
Sunday by the Protestants is an homage they pay, in 
spite of themselves, to the authority of the church." 
And still more emphatic, if possible, is the following 
from a Catechism:— 
" Qum How prove you that the church hath power 
to command feasts and holy days? 
" Ans. By the very act of changing the Sabbath 
into Sunday, which Protestants allow of; and therefore 
they fondly contradict themselves by keeping Sunday 
strictly, and breaking most other feasts commanded by 
the same church." 
That is, the Sunday-Sabbath is evidence that " the 
Church " has power to ordain Christian institutions, 
and to make that sinful of which the Lord has never 
spoken. And by the observance of Sunday, Protestants 
recognize and act upon the authority of the Catholic 
Church. 
AUGUST 9, 1883. �THE SIGNS OF THE TIM P]S. �
355 
The Honor Due to God.—No. 2. 
tained without the help of tradition, and which made 
void some of the institutions of the Bible. 
This has placed them under the necessity of constant 
resort to tradition to strengthen the feeble support 
which they could produce from the Bible for the insti-
tutions to which we refer. And this has given Roman-
ists the occasion to say that Protestants do not make the 
Bible their only authority, but that while denying that 
tradition should be added to the Bible, they actually 
add tradition to that book, but only follow tradition so 
far as it suits them, while Romanists follow it in full. 
There is certainly some force to this reproach. We 
refer in particular to the change of the fourth command-
ment. We have often shown that the Bible makes no 
allusion to this change as an act wrought by divine au-
thority. But it is said in reply that the fathers of the 
church assert that this change was madeby Christ, and 
that they received this fact by tradition from the apos- 
tles. �
J. N. A. 
LAST week we showed that besides honoring God in a 
general way with our means, we are called upon to honor 
him with the first-fruits of all our increase—to devote a 
tithe to God. We showed that it rests upon the same 
foundation as the Sabbath, and is as binding on men. 
The payment of tithes dates from long before the Jews 
were called as God's peculiar people, and is one of those 
things which our Saviour said ought to be done. Per-
haps we do not always grasp the full foece of that word 
,` ought." Webster says it denotes " obligation to duty,". 
" moral obligation." When, therefore, Christ said, 
"These ought ye to have done, and not to leave the 
other undone," it was equivalent to a command. In ef-
fect he said, It is your duty not only to do judgment, 
mercy, etc., but also to pay tithes. Reader, do you pro-
fess to love the Lord ? remember that he has said: "Why 
call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I 
say ? " 
There is one more thought which we will present as 
showing that tithing is not a Jewish, but a Christian 
doctrine. We turn to the case of Abraham returning 
from the slaughter of the kings. Gen. 14. When Mel-
chizedek, king of Salem, and " the priest of the Most 
High God," came forth, Abraham gave him tithes of 
all that he had gained. In the seventh chapter of He-
brews, the apostle Paul, in the course of an argument 
based on this circumstance, to show the superiority of 
the Melchizedek priesthood, makes incidentally a strong 
argument on the obligation to pay tithes. We quote 
verses 4-10. 
" Now consider how great this man was, unto whom 
even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. 
And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who re-
ceive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment 
to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, 
of their brethren, though they were come out of the 
loins of Abraham; but he whose descent is not counted 
from them, received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him 
that had the promises. And without all contradiction 
the less is blessed of the better. And here men that die 
receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it 
is witnessed that he liveth. And as I may so say, Levi 
also, who receiveth tithes, payeth tithes in Abraham. 
For he was yet in the loins of his father when Melchize-
dek met him." 
The argument for tithing, which is none the less forci-
ble because it is brought in incidentally, to illustrate 
another point, is as follows: Under the Mosaic law the 
tribe of Levi, which was appointed for the service of the 
sanctuary, received tithes of the people. The tribe o 
Levi was, therefore, superior in rank to the other tribes. 
Abraham was the father of all the Jewish tribes, and 
consequently he was greater even than Levi. The-Jews 
regarded Abraham with peculiar reverence. But Mel-
chizedek was greater even than Abrahani, as is shown 
by the fact that he received tithes of Abraham, and 
blessed him. Heb. 7: 4, 6, 7. Abraham had the prom-
ises of God, yet Melchizedek blessed him, and the act of 
blessing implies superiority of age or rank, as Paul,says, 
" And without all contradiction the less is blessed of 
the better." Abraham was himself a priest, emRowered 
to offer sacrifices, as were all the patriarchs, yet he was 
inferior to Melchizedek, " the priest of the Most High 
God." And from this Paul concludes that the priest-
hood of Melchizedek was far superior to that of Levi. 
But what has this to do with tithing? Just this: 
The Melchizedek priesthood received tithes. Christ is 
now our priest, but as he is " made a priest forever, af- 
Tradition and the Bible. 
GOD gave the Bible by the inspiration of the Holy 
Spirit. That volume is profitable for doctrine, for re-
proof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 
that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly fur-
nished unto all good works. 2 Tim. 3:16, 17. We 
mi.st not add to the word of God, and we are warned 
not to take anything away from it. Prov. 30:5, 6; 
Dent. 4:2; 12:32. If we obey this instruction, we 
shall conform exactly to the will of God. We shall not 
create institutions and commandments and add them to 
those which God has created, and we shall not neglect 
nor transgress any of the things which God has com-
manded. 
But men do dare to add to the Bible and to take 
away from the Bible, and they are so far from thinking 
this to be a sin that they even regard it as a virtue. 
The authority which-justifies this course of action is tra-
dition. Now tradition has an origin that is wholly indef-
inite and uncertain. Men suppose that Christ taught 
his apostles some things of a different nature from those 
which the apostles recorded. They suppose that the 
apostles repeated these things by word of mouth to the 
next generation of disciples, and they to the next, and 
they to the next, in constant succession. Thus in the 
second or third or fourth centuries men began to write 
what had come down to them in this manner by tradi-
tion. These writings in our times are known as the 
works of the fathers of the church. Some of these works 
contain valuable information concerning the times in 
which the writers lived, and valuable expositions of 
some passages of the Bible. 
BO when they deal in traditions they always depart 
from the declarations of the Bible, sometimes in a very 
grave manner. When traditions do not contradict the 
Bible they may be true, but they are not even then safe 
to follow, for they may be entirely false. But when tra- 
dition-% do conflict with the word of God we know that 
they are absolutely false. The Bible came from God. 
Whatever tradition contradicts the Bible must have 
come from the adversary of God and man, Satan. But 
many persons seem never to have thought of this. 
They acknowledge that the Bible came from God, but 
they think that tradition comes also from God, even 
though it contradict what he has said in his word. 
Therefore they dare to vccept tradition when it leads 
even to disobedience of the commandments of God. 
There is always one thing to promote the triumph of 
tradition over the Bible: Tradition is popular and agree- 
able, but the Bible is always pointing us to the duty of 
self-denial and to the crucifixion of the old man with 
his deeds. 
Tradition is the great source of strength to the church 
of Rome. Her doctrines, ceremonies, and ordinances 
rest mainly upon tradition as she freely admits. Her 
rule of faith is not the Bible alone, but the Bible and 
tradition. And when these two are thus joined tradi-
tion has always the superiority. Men do not say in 
such cases: We will accept tradition so far as it is in 
harmony with the Bible, but they say rather: Tradition 
has come down to us to teach the meaning of the Bible, 
and to supply the defects of that book. Tradition is 
therefore always the master, and the Bible must give 
place to this usurper. 
If the church of Rome were to renounce tradition and 
to return to the simplicity of the Bible, we should see 
no longer one vast organization largely composed of un-
converted men, but we should see, as in the book of 
Acts, many churches, each composed of men and women 
who had been converted. There would be no pope and 
cardinals, no archbishops and bishops, no inquisition, 
no pompous ceremonies, but there would be pastors and 
evangelists, like Stephen, who was filled with faith and 
the Holy Ghost; and the members of these churches 
would keep the commandments of God and the faith of 
Jesus, without turning to the right hand or to the left 
to follow tradition. 
Tradition is the great element of weakness in the 
Protestant church.' It is not such from necessity, but 
from unfaithfulness on the part of Protestants to the 
great doctrine of the Reformation that the Bible alone, 
and not the Bible with tradition, is the rule by which 
God governs men. B.efore this doctrine Romanism must 
fall, and so also must all human ordinances among 
Protestants. The weakness of Protestants has been that 
in separating from the church of Rome they brought 
away with them institutions which could not be sus- 
ter the order of Melchizedek," Heb. 6:20; 7:21; Ps. 110: 
4, we also are under the Melchizedek priesthood, as was 
Abraham, and therefore we are under obligation to pay 
tithes, as well as he was. For if it was necessary that 
those living under the Levitical order should pay tithes, 
it is far more necessary that we should do so who live 
under the order of Melchizedek, since the Levitical 
priesthood itself, in the person of its head, paid tithes to 
Melchizedek. And this point is enforced by Paul when, 
evidently referring to Christ, he says: " And here men 
that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them of 
whom it is witnessed that he liveth." Heb. 7:8. 
We have now given sufficient evidence, we think, to 
show that Christians age under obligation to pay tithes. 
Other points will be noticed, however, as we consider 
various questions that arise in regard to the tithe. The 
first thing that will claim our attention is the question 
as to 
WHAT THE TITHE IS. 
When Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek it is said 
that " he gave him tithes of all," Gen. 14:20, the " all " 
referring to the spoil which he had captured from the 
kings. The remaining nine-tenths, less the amount that 
the young men that had accompanied him had eaten, 
Abraham turned over to the king of Sodom. See verses 
22-24. It should be particularly borne in mind that the 
tithe was taken from the whole amount, verse 20, with-
out regard to what may have been taken out, and that 
the support of the servants while on the march came 
from the nine-tenths. Since Abraham generously re-
fused to keep anything himself, the king of Sodom re-
ceived nine-tenths of the spoil, less the portion which 
Abraham's confederates took. 
Another point in connection with this circumstance 
should not be overlooked. The spoil that Abraham re-
covered originally belonged to the king of Sodom. Al-
though it was now his, as the king of Sodom himself -
mated, verse 21, Abraham refused to consider it so, and 
persisted in returning it to its original owner, lest he 
should seem to be under obligation to the king of Sodom. 
Here is the conversation :— 
" And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me 
the persons, and take the goods to thyself. And Abram 
said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto 
the Lord, the Most High God, the possessor of Heaven 
and earth, that I will not take from a thread even to a 
shoe-latchet, and that I will not take anything that is 
Mine, lest thou shouldst say, I have made Abram rich; 
save only that which the young men have eaten, and 
the portion of the men which went with me." Gen. 14: 
21-24. 
Now mark, Abraham had sworn that he would not 
take anything that belonged to the king of Sodom, ex-
cept the portion for the young men, and yet he took out 
one-tenth to give to Melchizedek. What does this show ? 
It shows that Abraham regarded the tenth as belonging 
solely to God, no matter in whose hands it might be. 
The king of Sodom had never paid any tithe on this 
property, and so Abraham, when it came into his pos-
session, promptly gave the Lord his tithe. And in so 
doing he acted perfectly consistent with his determina-
tion to restore to the king of So lom all his property; 
for the tithe had always been the Lord's, and the king 
of Sodom had never had any just claim on it, 
We come down about one hundred' and twenty-five 
years, and we find Jacob fleeing from his brother Esau, 
as recorded in Gen. 28. One night on his journey he 
slept and dreamed that he saw a ladder reaching from 
earth to heaven, upon which the angels of God were as-
cending and descending. It was here that God re-
newed the promise that he had made to Abraham and 
Isaac. When Jacob awoke, his heart was touched, and 
he felt solemn. The result is stated in the following 
words:— 
" And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with 
me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will 
give me bread to eat and raiment to put on, so that I 
come again to my father's house in peace; then shall 
the Lord be my God; and this stone which I have set 
for a pillar, shall be God's house; and of all that thou 
shalt give me, I will surely give the tenth unto thee." 
Gen. 28:20-22. 
It is worthy of note that Jacob's past life had been 
very faulty. It was in consequence of his deceptions 
that he was now fleeing for his life. And now when he 
turns to the Lord, and resolves to serve him henceforth 
the first thing in his mind is that he will pay tithes. 
Surely Jacob must have had some instruction as to the 
importance of tithing, even though he may not have 
356. �
THE SIGNS OF TH 
I-41 TIM 1-1,S. �VoL. 9, No. 30. 
carried it out heretofore. Some persons seem inclined 
to sneer at this vow of Jacob's, and say that he was try-
ing to make a sharp bargain with the Lord. Such an 
idea can only come from a very superficial reading of 
this chapter. When Jacob said, " If God will be with 
me, and keep me in this way that I go," etc., he was 
only repeating what the Lord had already promised, 
verse 15: " And behold I am with thee, and will keep 
thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee 
again into this land." This, with the two preceding 
verses, was a great promise on the Lord's part; and Ja-
cob, filled with gratitude, solemnly entered into a cove-
nant with God, promising to serve him; and in the 
promised service the payment of tithes occupies a prom-
inent place. 
But now to the main point, as to what the tithe is. 
Read again verses 20-22, already quoted. Upon how 
much of the property that he might receive did Jacob 
promise to pay tithe ? Answer: Of all that thou shalt 
give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee." And now 
notice particularly that Jacob did not say that he would 
first pay his expenses—provide himself with food and 
clothing, and then give a tithe of the remainder to the 
Lord. Not at all. Read verse 20, and you will see that 
Jacob did not expect to amass great wealth in Syria; 
all he asked for was bread to eat and raiment to put on; 
and this was the " all," of which he promised to give a 
tenth to the Lord. According to his word, if he had 
earned only a bare living, one tenth of it was to be re-
turned to the Lord. 
From these two cases, then, we may learn that before 
we use any part of our income, even for the absolute 
necessaries of life, we must take out a tenth of the whole 
for the Lord. We have also direct testimony to this ef-
fect, in these words: " Honor the Lord with thy sub-
stance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase." 
Prov. 3:9. Many persons who believe it is their duty 
to pay a tithe, fail to give the Lord all that is his due. 
We may rob God by withholding a part of the tithe as 
well as by withholding the whole. When, through the 
prophet Malachi, God accuses the people of robbing him 
in tithes and in offerings, he says, "Bring ye all the tithes 
into the store-house." Mal. 3: 10. We cannot effect a 
compromise with God, and satisfy him with the per- 
formance of only a part of our duty. �
E. J. W. 
An Explanation, 
BY ELD. S. N. HASKELL. 
IT may be interesting to our friends who so liberally 
donated to remove the debt existing upon the San Fran-
cisco and Oakland meeting-houses, to know how the 
matter stands, and also to learn whether these churches 
appreciated the help bestowed, and have been faithful 
to contribute their tithes to the California Conference, 
It is well understood that all the money paid into 
the Conference fund, either by donation or as tithes, is 
used exclusively for the support of the ministry, and 
the expenses connected therewith. When thr, meeting-
houses in San Francisco and Oakland were erected, the 
cause in the State was comparatively feeble, and it was 
thought advisable, as our brethren were poor and these 
cities a missionary ground, to give all they could raise 
to pay the interest on money borrowed, and the run-
ning expenses of the nieeting-houses. Those working 
in the Office at Oakland donated liberally of their 
wages. In fact nearly all sacrificed, to a large extent, 
their income, and were obliged to do this in order to 
retain the houses of worship. 
It was in the year 1881, at the Sacramento camp-
meeting, when the prospect that the number of la-
borers in the State would be increased, and the tithes 
of these churches would be needed to support ministers, 
that the brethren proposed to lift the debt on the meet-
ing-houses. Previous to this time the Oakland Church 
had decided that whatever might be t he consequences, 
they would venture to put all their tithes, which 
amounted to $2,000 a year, into the Conference. 
It was supposed at that time, without making par-
ticular inquiry, that $10,000 would liquidate the en-
tire endebtedness of these two houses, but it has since 
been ascertained that $12,000 would be required. It 
was presented to our' brethren that $10,000 would be 
sufficient to remove the indebtedness. Without any 
knowledge on the part of these churches, thirty-seven of 
the friends of the cause in the State -pledged $10,000, 
one half to be paid in 1882 and the other at the fall 
camp-meeting of 1883. 
In looking over the various pledges we find that 
the 
Persecutions of the Waldenses. 
" Avenge, 0 Lord, thy slaughtered saints, whose bones 
Lie scattered on the Alpine Mountains cold. 
* �
* �
* in thy book record their groans 
Who were thy sheep, and in their ancient fold, 
Slain by the bloody Piedmontese, that rolled 
Mother with infant down the rocks. Their moans 
The vales redoubled to the hills, and they 
To heaven.''—Milton. 
IT was the early part of the fourteenth cent-
ury that marks the earliest dates of the martyr-
history of this people. Persecution had already 
done its work in different parts of Europe. Pope 
John XXII. was desirous of carrying forward the 
work of innocent III., and he ordered inquisitors 
to repair to the valleys of Lucerna and Perosa, 
and in this effort persecution reached the Walden-
sian Church. The Waldensian Church was strong 
at this time, and a knowledge of their faith was 
very extensive. They had sown seed before this 
that was now springing, up, and thousands were 
embracing the truth of the gospel. Many of 
them hardly knew how they 'had first become 
interested. The different 'popes put forth special 
efforts to exterminate these religious people. 
The closing days of the year 1400 witnessed a 
terrible tragedy, the memory of which has not 
been obliterated by the many greater persecutions 
which have followed it. It was on Christmas, 
when the Waldenses felt perfectly secure,—
thought that they were sufficiently protected by 
the snows that lay deep upon the mountains, and 
by their secluded position; but they were destined 
to experience the bitter fact that the rigors of the 
season had not quenched the fire of their perse-
cutors' malice. At the head of an armed troop 
Borelli broke suddenly upon them, designing to 
destroy them en masse. These poor people fled to 
the mountains, " carrying on their shoulders their 
old men, their sick, and their infants, knowing 
what fate awaited them should they leave them 
behind, In their flight a great many were over-
taken and slain. Night-fall brought them deliv-
erance from the pursuit, but no deliverance from 
horrors no less dreadful." They encamped on a 
summit which has ever since, in memory of the 
event, borne the name of Alb
erge, or Refuge. 
" Without shelter, without food, the frozen snow 
around them, the winter's sky overhead, their 
sufferings were inexpressibly great. When morn-
ing broke, what a heart-rending spectacle did day 
disclose ! Some of the miserable group lost their 
hands and feet from frost-bite; while others were 
stretched out on the snow, stiffened corpses. Fifty 
young children, some say eighty, were found dead 
of cold, some lying on the bare ice, others locked 
in the frozen arms of their mothers, who had per-
ished on that dreadful night along with their 
babes." To-day the descendants of this people will 
tell the story. 
Many were kidnapped by the inquisitors, who 
were ever on the track for them, or waylaid, when-
ever they ventured down into the plain of Pied-
mont, and were carried to Turin and other towns, 
and burned alive. But notwithstanding this ter-
rible onslaught their numbers were not thinned by 
apostasy from the faith; their constancy was not 
shaken; they still refused to -enter. the Roman 
Church. They had been prepared by their early 
education for all kinds of torturings and burnings, 
and they offered a resistance as unyielding as the 
rocks of their mountains to the tempests of hail 
and snow which the whirlwinds of winter hurled 
against them. 
In the fifteenth century another great blow was 
meditated. Plan after plan was devised to purge 
the valleys of this heresy. No accusation could 
ever be brought against them as being lawless, 
idle, dishonest, or disorderly. Their only fault 
was that they did not worship as Pope Innocent 
worshiped. A bull was issued against them in 
1487, inviting all Catholics to take up arms against 
the heretics • and to stimulate them in this pious 
work, it " absolved from all ecclesiastical pains 
and penalties, general and particular; it released 
all who joined the crusade from any oaths they 
might have taken; it legitimatized their title to 
any property they might have illegally acquired; 
and promised remission of all their sins -to such as 
should kill any heretic. It annulled all contracts 
made in favor of Vaudois, ordered their domestics 
to abandon them, forbade all persons to give them 
any aid whatever, and empowered all persons to 
take possession of their property." 
This granted a pardon to all, and an unrestrained 
license to kill, plunder, or commit any wicked-
ness against the humble worshipers of God in the 
mountains. This bull was talked of in all coun-
tries. It was not only on these mountains that this 
warfare was to be carried, but it was on the Wal-
densian race, wherever dispersed, in any part of 
Europe. All kings were invited to gird on the 
sword and come to the help of the Church. 
" Wherever a Vaudois foot, trod, .the soil was 
polluted-and had to be cleansed; wherever a Vau-
dois breathed, the air was tainted and must be 
purified; wherever Vaudois psalm or prayer as-
cended, there was the infection of heresy, and 
around the spot a cordon must be drawn to pro-
tect the spiritual health of the district." 
A joint army of 18,000 regular soldiers was 
raised, and this number was greatly enlarged 
even by thousands of ruffians that flocked to-
gether, stimulated by the temporal rewards to be 
earned in this work of combined piety and pillage. 
This army was divided, to fall upon the Waldenses 
from two main avenues to their territory. A ter-
rible slaughter followed-this effort. Thousands of 
these innocent people retreated to the caves and 
dens of the earth, only to find these caves and 
dens to be their graves; for their persecutors, 
having found them in a cave, would build a fire at 
its mouth, so that a large volume of black smoke 
would roll into the cave, leaving the unhappy in-
mates to the miserable alternative of remaining 
in the interior to be stifled by this smoke, or to 
pass out through it into the hands of their perse- 
cutors. "When one large cavern was afterwards 
examined," says Mr. Ruston, "there were found in 
It 400 infants, suffocated in their cradles, or in the 
arms of their dead mothers. Altogether there 
perished in this cavern more than '3,000 Vaudois, 
including the entire population of Val Loyse." 
The property of these unfortunates was distrib-
uted to the vagabonds who accompanied the army; 
and to describe the persecutions that came upon 
these Christians at this time would only be stating 
the most terrible suffering that could be brought 
upon any class of people who fell into the hands 
of devils clothed with flesh. Another writer says: 
" Combustible materials were piled up, and fires 
kindled at the mouth of these hiding-places, and 
when extinguished all was silent within. Folded 
together in one motionless heap lay mother and 
seventeen of those that pledged did pay their entire 
pledges in 1882, to the amount of $2,830; thirteen paid 
a portion of their pledges, to the amount of $3,050;• 
seven have paid nothing on the pledges; six who did 
not pledge have paid $102.50; thus making the entire 
amount received $5,982.50. There are therefore over 
$4,000 in pledges yet unpaid. The mortgage upon the 
Oakland church has already been due to the Bank of 
Savings, but they have kindly consented to let it re-
main until the time of camp-meeting. The mortgage 
is $3,000. It will therefore be necessary that our breth-
ren who have pledged to this enterprise make a pay-
ment, if possibly consistent, about the time of camp-
meeting. We believe that this move was in a right 
direction. 
We cannot state exactly what the tithes of these 
churches have been during the past year, but during 
the past six months the tithes in the Oakland Church 
have been over $1,700; and if in the six months to 
come they receive as much as the past six months, it 
will amount to not less than $3,500 during 1883. Thus 
it will be seen that these churches have appreciated 
the aid the brethren have given them, and the tithe 
instead of diminishing has increased during the past 
two years $1,500 in this church alone since they paid it 
exclusively to the Conference. The cause never could 
have advanced as it has during the past few years 
without the aid of the tithe from these two churches. 
Any one wishing to aid in removing the balance of 
the indebtedness on these churches, which is about 
$2,000, can be assured that it will be appreciated at 
this important time. The expense for janitor, gas, etc., 
for the Oakland church is about $300 more than is re-
ceived from rents on the church. These facts will give 
the friends of the cause in California an idea of how 
this matter stands. When they built the sanctuary in 
the wilderness and when Solomon built the temple, also 
when it was repaired by Josiah, the tithe was not used 
for that purpose, but there was great liberality, even 
to bringing precious stones which were in the hands of 
the children of Israel. Ex. 35:21-29: 1 Chron. 29: 
8-17; 2 Chron. 24:8-14. 
AUGUST 9, 1883. �THE SIGNS OF THE TIM 
1-i]S. �
tie) I 
babe, patriarch and stripling; while the fatal 
smoke which had cast them into that deep sleep 
was eddying along the roof and slowly making 
its exit into the clear sun-lit summer sky." 
But this terrible persecution was brought to a 
sudden halt, for the inhabitants. took heart, and 
finally turned upon their murderers and drove 
them from their valley, exacting a heavy penalty 
for the ravages they had committed in it. 
S. N. HASKELL. 
California Tract and Missionary Society. 
REPORT FOR QUARTER ENDING JULY 1, 1883. 
THE TIRED FOOT. 
THE potter stood at his daily work, 
One patient foot on the ground; 
The other, with never-slackening speed, 
Turning his swift wheel round. 
Silent, we stood. beside him there, 
Watching the restless knee, 
Till my friend said low, in pitying voice, 
" How tired his foot must be! " 
The potter never paused in his work, 
Shaping the wondrous thing; 
'Twas only a common flower-pot, 
But perfect in fashioning. 
Slowly he raised his patient eyes, 
With homely truth inspired: 
" No, warm; it isn't the foot that kicks; 
The one that stands gets tired!" 
—The Continent. 
whole armor, fight the good fight of faith, and lay 
hold on eternal life. 
This was my last visit among the churches. 
After an absence of six weeks, having met with 
seventeen companies of our brethren and sisters, 
and traveled a distance of thirteen hundred miles, 
I reached home July 13, rejoicing that God had 
so mercifully preserved my life throughout so long 
a journey. 'Whether good has been accomplished 
through the feeble efforts put forth, I feel that 
personally I have derived a great blessing in the 
labor performed, and am grateful to God that I 
am permitted to bear some humble part in his 
cause. �
CHAS. C. RAMSEY. 
Ilealdsburg College; Aug. 1. 
- ---
CI 
il 
p2 
No. 
of Members .... 
Reports Returned .. 
Members Added.... 
Members Dismissed . 
Missionary Visits... 
5 
Letters Written ... : 
Signs taken in clubs. 
siThSCRIBERS OBTAINED. 
Review �
 
Good Health... 
Instructor �
 
Other Periodic'ls 
No. 1 
No. 2 
No. 3 
No. 4 
No. 5 
No. 6 
No. 7 
No. 8 
No. 9 
Total. 
Ships �
 
143 
94 
80 
25 
103 
13 
136 
21 
698 
30 
31 
39 
8 
34 
6 
44 
50 
15 
257 
3 
4 
.... 
2 
2 
4 
.... 
... 
15 
........4 
2 
1 
4 . 
.... 
1 
. �
.. �
. 
1 
.. 
9 
893 
175 
70 
144 
62 
155 
2194 
68 
4161 
83 
 
396 �
 
166 
243 
49 
49 
109 
20 
288 
184 
22 
285 
175 
149 
67 
148 
23 
514, 
201 
23 
4 
6 
.... 
... 
4 
.... 
. �
. 
2 
.... 
16 
226.. 
61 
4 
10 
12 
1 
35 
40 
.... 
— 
389 
. 
3 1 
.... 
... 
.... 
3 
2 
.. 
-- 
9 
.. �
. 
2 
... 
.. �
.. 
11 
.... 
4 
.... 
— 
17 
... 
. �
.. 
.... 
... . 
1 
. 
1.5 
5 .. 
— 
21 
1130 
1635 
No. 1 
No. 2 
No. 3 
No. 4 
No. 5 
No. 6 
No. 7 
No. 8 
No. 9 
Ships 
Total 
N 
237893 
READING MATTER 
DISTRIK)TED. 
31210 
41266 
11586 
5315 
14566 
12432 
50592 
38706 
5230 
26990 
B 
: 
1834 
1173 
2083 
_ 438 
2657 
300 
4770 
2596 
227 
2551 
18629 
.71 
0 
0. 
B 
$ 89 05 
93 65 
26 60 
1 65 
21 20 
3 00 
40 30 
33 55 
13 30 
20 00 
$342 30 
$ 8 10 
40 00 
5 25 
8 25 
13 95 
.......... 
1 75 
10 60 
28 30 
25 50 
$141 70 
CASH RECEIVED. 
Cl) B 
$ 73 37 
98 60 
7 00 
14 80 
138 60 
6 00 
125 90 
49 15 • 
10 50 
$523 92 
ste3IpoIsad- 
$1007 92 
$170 52 
232 25 
38 85 
24 70 
172 75 
9 00 
167 95 
93 30 
52 10 
45 50 
The State quarterly meeting was omitted, as so 
many general meetings were held in the spring; 
it is also the time of harvest, when many are 
busy taking care of their crops, and consequently 
could not attend. Blanks were sent out at the 
usual time; and the above is a summary of the 
missionary work, as returned from the districts. 
A report was received from every district, and 
only in a few instances have the churches failed 
to report. There is also a decided increase in 
the amount of labor performed, which would be 
expected from the increased interest in reporting. 
Over $1,000 have been received from the so- 
cieties; and the standing of the districts is as 
follows: District No. 1 owes the State Society $259.-
27; No. 2 owes $339.85; No. 3 owes $238.66; No. 4 
owes $79.38; No. 5 owes $86.24; No. 6 owes $53.-
91; No. 7 owes $392.65; No. 8 owes $18.68; No. 
9 owes $58.94. �
• 
The ship mission is also considerably in debt, 
as opening the mission rooms, and supplying the 
library has cost more than was expected. Of 
the $2,000 called for, $1763.75 has been pledged 
to be paid at the fall camp-meeting; and $634.25 
has already been paid. Commodious rooms have 
been secured for the mission at 316 Fremont 
Street, San Francisco. The report shows the 
number of ships visited, and the amount of pub-
lications placed on board. Some omens for good 
have already been seen, and four persons were 
baptized, not long since, as the result of ship mis-
sionary work. 
The resolution adopted at the last meeting, 
recommending the plan of securing subscribers 
to the SIGNS for one month has been tried, and 
not without success. Some of the students from 
Healdsburg school have been engaged in this 
work during vacation, and as the result over 900 
subscriptions have been taken. One brother in 
Nevada obtained 273 subscribers in less than five 
weeks. 
We should take courage as we see the cause of 
present truth advancing, and do our part, that 
the " well done " may be said to us. 
ALICE MORRISON, Sec. 
WHEN John Newton's memory was nearly gone, 
he used to say that, forget what he might, there 
were two things he never could forget. They 
were that he was a great sinner, and that Jesus 
Christ was a great Saviour. 
Placer, Nevada, and. El Dorado Counties. 
ON the way from Fresno County to my ap-
pointments in the northeast, I stopped at Sacra-
mento, Rocklin, Newcastle, and Auburn. With 
two or three exceptions, I visited every family 
of Sabbath-keepers in these places. I presented 
to them the interests of our College, and found 
them in hearty sympathy with an enterprise which 
gives so great promise of becoming a powerful 
auxiliary in the advancement of the truth. I also 
endeavored to encourage them to press forward 
with the whole armor on and endure faithfully 
to the end. A deep interest was manifested in 
the progress of the message and the prosperity of 
all the institutions of the cause. At some of 
these places, I met several whom I would like to 
see in attendance at our college, preparing them-
selves for greater usefulness in the cause of God. 
I trust that the way may open for them to come. 
Many of the Sabbath-keepers in these places 
are sisters, and labor under thb disadvantage of 
strong opposition, but nearly all who have ac-
cepted the truth have held on firmly and are of 
good courage in the Lord. I earnestly hope that 
all of them may advance with the opening prov-
idence of God, keep abreast of the increasing 
light of truth, lay aside all worldliness and unbe-
lief, and engage more actively in the spread of our 
solemn message of warning to a perishing world. 
Sabbath July 7, I filled my appointment for 
Grass Valley and Nevada City, holding two meet-
ings at the former place. At the forenoon meeting, 
the solemn time in which we live and the impor-
tant duties and grave responsibilities of the pres-
ent hour were pointed out from the Scriptures. 
A good degree of interest in the word spoken was 
evinced by all present. 
The afternoon meeting was devoted to a con- 
sideration of the character and workings of 
Healdsburg College and its important relations to 
the cause of God. In the social meeting which 
followed, it was evident that our brethren and 
sisters here appreciate the efforts put forth in the 
establishment of the school. Deep love for the 
truth and an earnest desire for sanctification 
through it were expressed by all. The Lord has 
precious souls here, and I greatly enjoyed my 
short visit among them. The chief occupation of 
the people is mining, the business being carried on 
generally by wealthy companies who give employ-
ment to large numbers. Notwithstanding that 
this is their only source of obtaining a living, our 
brethren have' bravely and firmly held on to the 
truth. The Lord will richly bless them if they 
thus continue faithfully to endure. 
During my visit at the homes of our brethren 
in Nevada City, the deep and heartfelt interest 
which they manifested in the College was truly 
gratifying. Their circumstances being such that 
they could not just then give ready money, gold 
watches and chains were taken from their persons 
and freely given to be sold for the benefit of the 
school. May God bless them in their cheerful 
sacrifices for his cause. 
Tuesday night, July 10, I met with our people 
at Placerville, El Dorado Co. The•meeting was 
devoted exclusively to the interests of the Col-
lege. I was glad to see so deep an interest in the 
school as was here manifested. In visiting the 
brethren and sisters at their homes, I found sev-
eral who greatly desire to attend, and others who 
ought to'be receiving the benefits of its instruc-
tion and training. I shall expect to see students 
from this place at no distant day. There are ear-
nest souls in this company, those who expect to 
go through to the kingdom of God. I pray that 
they may all press together and become unitedly 
consecrated to God in his glorious cause. He has 
rich blessings in store for them if they put on the 
San Jose. 
The Call for Workers. 
THE first and abiding impulse of a converted 
soul is to help his fellows. In this way the gos-
pel began. After Jesus, the great Shepherd, had 
come down to give his life a ransom for the world, 
John pointed two of his disciples to him as- the 
Lamb of God. They followed him. One of these 
was Andrew, and he first went to his brother 
Simon Peter, and brought him to Jesus. The 
next day Jesus found Philip, and enlisted him 
in his service. And the first work of Philip was 
to hunt up Nathaniel, and bring him in. 
So it has been, and so it must be. Those who 
have been made recipients of the truth must 
make it known to others. He who sits idly by, 
and sees his fellow-men go down to ruin, with-
out an effort to save them, is not cultivating the 
Spirit of Christ and is not preparing to enter 
into the joy of his Lord. 
" And they that be wise shall shine as the 
brightness of the firmament, and they that turn 
many to righteousness as the stars forever and 
ever." 
Shall we let the present opportunities pass, and 
the stars which we might secure fade from our 
crowns of rejoicing, and the crowns themselves 
fall from our grasp, and the kingdom recede from 
our reach, and life and all its joys be lost forever ? 
You answer, No; but the answer, to be effect-
ual, must be, not in words only, but in works also. 
" 0 God, my inmost s ul convert, 
And deeply on my thoughtful heart 
Eternal things impress. 
Cause me to feel their solemn weight, 
And tremble on the brink of fate, 
And wake to righteousness." 
U, S. 
How they raised money at Antioch for the 
suffering Christians of Jerusalem, affords a beau-
tiful illustration of simplicity of giving. It 
would be well for Christian churches of to-day if 
the Antioch plan were made the standard, to be 
closely and undeviatingly followed. We do not 
read of a fair, or festival, or even a popular course 
of lectures. " Every man according to his ability, 
determined to send relief." That is the whole 
story as to the method. " Which also they did, 
and sent _it," completes the record. Many a 
church would be saved from spiritual declension, 
not to say absolute poverty, by adhering to the 
Antioch plan.—Baptist Teacher. 
" LUXURY, my lords, is to be taxed, but vice pro-
hibited."—Lord Chesterfield. 
OUR meetings here have not been accompanied 
by that spirit of intense interest which we some-
times see in places where the people are eager to 
hear. Many here have heard something of our 
faith, and try to think that it _does not matter 
whether they do just as the Lord says or not; 
that they will be excused if they do break His 
law. But some have thankfully received the 
pure " word" and are rejoicing in it. Twenty-
six have signed the covenant, including a few 
who have been keeping the Sabbath for some 
years past. Our Sabbath meetings are quite in-
teresting. The attendance averaging about thirty 
adults, and a number of children. We have hope 
that the camp-meeting will result in good to the 
cause here. Brethren Wm. Ings, Henry Scott, 
and Sister Alta Morrison, with my wife, are still 
here to follow up the missionary work. The 
other workers have returned to the school, except 
Bro. Frank Lamb, who is at San Juan, laboring 
to build up the work there. �
W. M. EA
LEY. 
. August 3, 1883. 
358 �
THE SIGNS OF TIMES. �
VOL. 9, No. 30. 
the Lord will induce him to pay the debt if we will 
give it to the Lord as a tithe." But Mr. W 
thought that that was making a close bargain with 
the Lord. They had a certain amount of money 
lying in the bank, and out of that they could give 
the Lord a tithe, and he felt that they should do 
so; but still she felt that perhaps the Lord would 
move on the mind of Mr. A— so that he would 
pay the debt, and they would give that to the 
Lord. 
Thus they reasoned with each other for many 
Weeks; he felt convicted that he ought to give 
a tithe • out of that which he had, and then 
trust the Lord as to whether or not they should 
secure that which was uncertain; but he delayed 
to follow his convictions on account of his wife. 
Mr. W— also felt convicted that instead of being 
connected with an"' secret society that included 
all classes of men, and leaning upon them for sup-
port in case of sickness, he ought to more fully 
lean upon God; that the union of Christian fellow-
ship was the best and most sacred union that 
could exist upon the earth; and therefore he would 
disconnect himself from every organization where 
simply a selfish interest was the object. He felt the 
same about paying his annual dues toward a life 
insurance company. " Has not God taken care of 
us," said he, " thus far in our lives, and if we give 
our money to him and serve him will he not throw 
around us a protection as he did his servant Job 
anciently ? and do we need to have our life in-
sured by any company which has not the cause 
of God in view ? But his wife, in all of these 
cases, as in the case of the tithing, thought that 
his propositions were all sound, but she would 
conclude with this: If you should happen to be 
sick it would be an excellent thing to have the 
support of some society, and if you should happen 
to die, a few hundred dollars would not come amiss. 
And so they postponed the time when he should 
take a stand fully according to the conviction of 
his own conscience. 
ght gum c trde. 
" LET US GO FORTH:."—}1E33. 13:13. 
SILENT, like men in solemn haste, 
Girded wayfarers of the waste, 
We pats out at the world's wide gate, 
Turning our back on all its state; 
We press along the narrow road 
That leads to life, to bliss, to God. 
We cannot and we would not stay; 
We dread the snares that throng the wdy; 
We fling aside the weight and sin, 
Resolved the victory to win; 
We know the peril, but our eyes 
Rest on the splendor of the prize. 
No idling now, no wasteful sleep, 
From Christian toil our limbs to keep ; 
No shrinking from the desperate fight, 
No thought of yielding or of flight, 
No love of present gain or ease, 
No seeking man or self to please. 
No sorrow for the loss of fame, 
No dread of scandal on our name ; 
No terror for the world's sharp scorn, 
No wish that taunting to return ; 
No hatred can our hatred move, 
And enmity but kindles love. 
No sigh for laughter left behind, 
Or pleasures scattered to the wind, 
No looking back on Sodom's plains, 
No listening still to Babel's strains, 
No tears for Egypt's song and smile, 
No thirsting for its flowing Nile. 
No vanity nor folly now ; 
No fading garland round our brow, 
No moody musings in the grove, 
No pang of disappointed love ; 
With the brave heart and steady eye, 
We onward march to victory. 
What though with weariness oppressed ? 
'Tis but a little, and we rest. 
This throbbing heart and burning brain 
Will soon be calm and cool again. 
Night is far spent and morn is near,—
Morn of the cloudless and the clear. 
'Tis but a little, and we come 
To our reward, our crown, our home ! 
Another year, it may be less, 
And we have crossed the wilderness—
Finished the toil, the rest begun, 
The battle fought, the triumph won! 
We grudge not then the toil, the way ; 
Its ending is the endless day! 
We shrink not from these tempests keen, 
With little of the calm between ; 
We welcome each descending sun— 
Ere morn, our joy may be begun! 
—H. Bonar. 
Written for the SIGNS OF THE TIMES. 
A Lesson of Faith. 
MR. W �
was a sea-captain; he had followed 
the sea for many years. On account of his wife's 
health, he gave up the sea-faring life, and retired 
to a cottage a few miles out from the city of New 
Bedford, Mass. He then followed the business of 
a carpenter and joiner. His wife was a religious 
woman and a member of the church. There was 
but one thing needed to complete her happiness, 
namely, that he also should profess religion and 
become interested in divine things. To this end 
she labored for many years. 
Finally Mr. W— yielded his heart, and com-
menced to observe the commandments of God and 
the faith of Jesus. He was, as many other men are, 
connected with certain secret societies, such as the 
Free Masons, and he also had had his life insured, 
that his wife might receive some support in case of 
his death. After he bad made a profession of relig-
ion, he began to seriously consider the claims God 
bad upon those that served him. One of the first 
things that troubled him was the tithing system. 
He felt that God had a claim upon all of his tempo-
ral blessings. God had given him life, and power to 
accumulate that which he possessed, and he rea-
soned with his wife as follows: Said he, " If I 
acknowledge God in all my ways I ought to give 
God that which he claims, one-tenth of all my 
increase." His wife was rejoiced at this, for it 
met her mind most fully. But after going thiS far 
he felt that God had a greater claim upon that 
which he possessed. He said that he had never 
given anything to the cause of God. Now, said 
he, if I begin right, I ought to give God a tithe of 
all I possess, for I have never given the Lord any-
thing in all my life. He felt that he had robbed 
God both in tithes and in offerings. His wife 
thought that that might be all right; " but," said 
she, " you know that Mr. A— is owing us a debt 
which there is some doubt about our ever receiving. 
We will donate that to the Lord, which will be 
equivalent to a tithe of what we possess; perhaps 
They also had conversation upon the other 
points upon which he had been convicted before 
his sickness. The Free Masons, according to their 
profession, had come forward and helped him im-
mediately. He was receiving from them favors 
which they seemed willing to bestow. And there 
was that insurance policy which, in case he should 
die, would be the means of bringing her a hand-
some little income; but under these circumstances, 
having a few weeks to deliberate over the matter, 
she concluded that let circumstances be what they 
might, they would trust. God, who had cared for 
them in all their past lives; who numbered the 
hairs of their head and watched the fall of the 
sparrow. They could not read in the Scripture 
that God ever ordained such institutions to save his 
people from calamities which might befall them. 
So he finally severed his-connection with the Ma-
sons. She also took the policy and returned it to 
the agent of the Life Insurance Company. The 
agent, being a friend of theirs, advised her not to 
do this, " for," said he, " your husband is sick 
and probably will not live, and in case of his death 
you will receive the full amount of your policy." 
But her soul was burdened; her heart was full; 
and she felt that under any circumstances, what-
ever the result might be, she would go according 
to their convictions of duty when in health they • 
calmly considered these things. She left the pol-
icy and thus relinquished all the claim which 
they had upon the company. Said Mrs. W—, 
" If my heart was ever light, it was light when I 
returned from the city. I felt that I had done all 
that I could. I had sought God's forgiveness for 
holding my husband back when he was anxious 
to move according to the convictions of his own 
conscience, and now I had taken every step to 
put away those sins and trust alone i the God of 
Israel. I went rejoicing from morn till night. 
Our captivity turned then and there. God smiled 
upon the labor of our hands, we were never so 
prospered temporally in all our lives before." 
The blessing of God now came into the family. 
It seemed that the cows gave an unusual amount of 
milk; their hens laid more eggs than usual; their 
garden yielded the vegetables as never before. 
The man in their employ would carry to market 
one morning what it seemed that they had in the 
garden, and the next morning there would be as 
much more. It was thus during the season of 
vegetables. It Was the same in every other re-
spect; and yet Mr. W—remained upon a sick bed. 
One day when Mrs. W— was riding out she 
met the insurance agent with whom she had pre-
viously left the policy. He beckoned her to stop 
and presented. her with a draft of $500. Said he, 
" I returned your policy to the company; and 
told them that you relinquished all claim you had 
upon them. In a few days I received this amount 
as a present to you." It covered all they had 
ever paid the company, and she felt that the bless-
ing of God not only gave her freedom when she 
returned the policy, but it had also returned to 
them the full amount that had been paid to the 
company. God raised them up friends who did 
for them every possible thing that would add to 
their comfort. �
- 
In looking over their accounts, one year from 
the time the accident took place, they found that 
their expense had been during the year not far 
from $2,000; but they also found that their income 
from that which they had sold was equal to their 
expense. It was a marvel to themselves and to 
their neighbors how that could be. They had paid 
a tithe on all that they had received. They had 
not consumed their principal, but that was still 
good. They felt that God had especially favored 
them. 
When Mr. W— had been well and was earn-
ing good wages, they only lived and supplied 
themselves. It took all his wages, with all the 
income that they could receive from their gar-
den and from their cows to support them; but 
now he had not himself earned one penny; and 
they were obliged to employ a man to do the 
work out of doors, and a woman much of the 
time in the house; so that it had required much 
assistance during the year with an increased out-
lay of means, and notwithstanding this they had 
received from the sources before mentioned suf-
ficient to support them. They and many others 
believed that God blessed them in doing right and 
trusting him. �
F. T. 
Thus the matter stood for many months; on 
her part it was simply a delay, waiting for a 
more favorable time when they would take their 
stand. Finally one morning after he had been to 
his work about three hours, he was brought home 
in a carriage, having fallen from a building. He 
had received an injury at the upper part of his 
spine, and his entire system below his head was 
paralyzed. He could not move. hand or foot. A 
more severe blow could not have happened to 
Mrs. W—. They immediately telegraphed for 
the minister who had labored with them in by-
gone days. He came to the house of affliction 
and found them in the situation described. He 
had been there but a short time before Mrs. W 
brought forward a sum of money that she had 
taken from the bank, and gave it to the minister 
to be appropriated to the cause of God. Said she 
" I feel that God has been in earnest with me. 
I have kept my husband from giving to God that 
which belonged to him, and I wish to redeem the 
past." 
They had a few cows and some poultry, and also 
raised vegetables, which brought them a little 
income; but it had seemed that the hand of God 
was against them. Nothing that they set their 
hand to prospered; their horse was lame, and could 
not be used; their cows were sick, and the milk 
could not he sold; and she felt that these things 
were permitted of God because she had not per-
mitted her husband to do according to the con-
viction of his own conscience, and which she also 
believed was right. Now, even while he was 
helpless, she was willing to take the steps that she 
did not feel free to have him take while he was in 
health. He had often told her while in health 
that he feared God could not bless them, but his 
frown would be upon them if they did not do as 
his word required. The minister, thinking that 
she might be excited, and that the movement 
would not be according to her sound judgment 
after the excitement was over, told her that she 
had better retain that which she was about to give 
to the cause, till she had time to more fully consider 
the matter; that perhaps they would need all this 
in his sickness. She waited' a reasonable length 
of time, but finally told him that her mind was 
fully made up ; that he could do as he pleased 
about being an agent for her in appropriating it 
to the work of God, but if he did not do it, she 
would give it to some one else. The tithe was 
the Lord's, and the Lord should have it, and that 
she had caused her husband to hold it in his pos- �
EXPERIENCE is a high-grade school--course 
session until she longed to be free from that thorough, tuition free—but incidental expenses 
which God declared was his, �
enormous, 
SPEAR.—Died, near Ferndale, Humboldt Co.' 
 Cal., 
July 18, 1883, Mrs. Alzina Spear, aged 71 years. Sister 
Spear was mother-in-law to Bro. Asa Atwood, of the 
Rural Health Retreat. For many years she had been a 
believer in the near coming of the Lord, and the doc-
trine of life only through Christ. The last few years 
she has been a reader of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, and 
for a few months before her death she was an observer 
of the Lord's Sabbath. We visited her several times in 
her last sickness and felt assured that her hope was in • 
God, and that, if faithful, we shall meet her in the first 
resurrection. 
The funeral was held from the tent. Words of in-
struction and comfort were spoken from Rev. 14:13, a 
text which she had chosen for the occasion. 
G. D. BALLOT". 
THE SEVENTH PART OF TIME. 
AUGUST , 9, 1883. �TT-1-E SIGNS 0 �
TH �
Pi TT ME P]iF). 
Religious Notes. 
—The Illinois Supreme Court has just decided that a 
contract made on Sunday is just as binding as if en-
tered into on any other day. 
The S. S. Times says: " When a minister's preach-
ing hits any particular sin to which his hearers are ad-
dicted, he is pretty sure to be complained of because he 
dosen't stick to gospel preaching."' 
There has recently been a great sale of relics in 
Italy, but the pious Catholics who manufacture 
them are dismayed by the low prices which they bring. 
Certain relics of St. Peter brought only four francs. 
—We learn that the School Superintendent of Cal-
ifornia has rendered a decision forbidding Trustees to 
allow religious services to be held in district school 
houses, under penalty of a forfeiture of their school 
appointment. 
—Emperor William has directed that the four-
hundredth birth-day of Martin Luther be observed by 
all Protestant people. The students of the University 
will celebrate at Erfurt on August 8th the entry of 
Luther into that town. 
—" Observer," in the Christian Union, says: " I am 
convinced that preaching does not deal vigorously 
enough with the consequences of sin; that the old 
dogmas are not much preached, even by those who 
pretend to hold them, because they are unpreachable 
now; and as a consequence there is need of return to 
the gospel method of dealing with men's consciences—
the crowding of motives that stir the souls of the im-
penitent in their innermost workings, so that the fires 
within shall move them to immediate works of right-
eousness." 
Rev. Newman Hall, in the Independent, takes the 
position that the popular system of renting pews is 
neither reasonable, equitable, nor expedient. It is not 
expedient because more money would be brought into 
the treasury if it were abandoned. It is not equitable, 
because pew-holders do not contribute in proportion to 
the advantages receiied. And it is not reasonable, 
because, as he says, "A Christian church is a society 
of believers. The qualification is not wealth, but faith 
and holiness. The object of assembling is not to pro-
vide an entertainment which shall be a financial suc-
cess, but to worship God, to nourish piety in the saints, 
and to convert sinners by the word. A pew-renter 
chooses a certain church because it is fashionable, or 
the service imposing, or the music good, or the preacher 
eloquent, original, amusing; not from any real love for 
worship itself. Yet, because he can pay the regulated 
price, he may occupy one of the most convenient or 
conspicuous seats, while others, who worship in spirit 
and in truth, and aid every sermon by earnest prayer, 
are treated as strangers in their own church." 
News and Notes. 
—Tucson, Arizona, is now lighted by electricity. 
—The Catholics are about to establish a convent 
at Raton, N. M. 
The coinage of the mints for the month of July 
was $3,133,800. 
Several shocks of earthquake have recently been 
felt at Gilroy, Cal. 
—The reduction of the public debt during the month 
of July was $8,000,000. 
—July 30, a fire in the business portion of Tulare, 
Cal., destroyed property to the amount of $120,000. 
The Canadian Pacific managers state that 2,000,000 
bushels of wheat will be sent to tide-water this season 
from Manitoba. 
—One hundred and eighty houses have been destroyed 
by fire in the town of Semerov, Russia, in the govern-
ment of Nijni Novgorod. 
—Another severe shock of earthquake on the island 
of Ischia, has put a stop to the work of searching the 
ruins for the bodies of victims. 
A fire in San Francisco on the 4th, destroyed over 
thirty houses, the loss aggregating about $300,000. 
One man was burned to death. 
The latest reports place the number of victims of 
the Ischia earthquake at 8,000. It is also stated that 
Vesuvius is in a state of eruption. 
—Two freight trains came in collision at Pawlet, Vt., 
Aug. 1. Both trains were wrecked, and twelve cars 
were burned. Four men were killed. 
—Small-pox and malignant fever are raging on the 
coast of Guatemala. Yellow fever is making havoc 
among the foreign residents of Callao, Peru. 
A most dangerous nihilist conspiracy has just been 
discovered in Russia. A great number of people are 
implicated, and many arrests have been made. 
—A powder mill explosion at Aujoulune, France, on 
the 3d, killed six persons, injured several' others, and 
destroyed property to the amount of 1,000,000 francs. 
The total number of deaths from cholera in Egypt, 
since the first outbreak of the disease is 16,000. The 
death rate is not materially diminishing as yet. Chol-
era is epidemic at Bombay. 
Two parlor cars, one baggage, and one passenger 
car, and the engine of an express train were wrecked 
near North Troy, Vt., on the 2nd inst. Fourteen per-
sons were seriously hurt and one lady was killed. 
—James Carey, the Irish informer, was killed by one 
O'Donnell, at Port Elizabeth, South Africa, whither he 
had been sent by the British authorities for safety. 
The murderer admits that he had been appointed to do 
the deed. 
—At a meeting in Sacramento, Cal., last week, to 
express sympathy for the striking telegraphers, and to 
indorse their action, Governor Stoneman presided, and 
the State, county, and city officials occupied the stage 
and took a prominent part. 
�
• 
—During the year closing June 30, 1883, the sale of 
public lands has amounted to 17,000,000, an increase of 
twenty per cent. over last year. Of this number 8,000-
000 acres were disposed of in Dakota alone. This is 
twice as much as was sold in Dakota during the years 
1881 and 1882. 
—Two bridges on the Texas Pacific Railroad, about 
seventy-five miles west of Dallas, Tex., were set on fire 
on the night of the 31st ult. The engineer of the east-
bound through express discovered the fire, on one of 
them, in time to stop within a few yards of it. A de-
tatchment of U. S troops, that was on board, prevented 
the robbery of the train by men who were concealed 
by the roadside. 
—A company with a large capital has been organized 
in New York, for the manufacture of the newly-invented 
multi-charge cannon, which is said to be the most for-
midable weapon in the world. One has just arrived in 
New York, and is described as follows: " It contains 
four pockets' underneath, each of which holds twenty-
eight pounds of powder, while the breech itself holds 
but eighteen pounds. As the projectile starts from the 
breech the force of this entire one hundred and thirty 
pounds of powder is concentrated on it, one pocket' 
after another rapidly discharging its contents. The 
gun is twenty-five feet long and weighs twenty-five 
tons. It is rendered doubly strong by a steel lining, 
and, it is thought, can hurl a projectile through a solid 
piece of iron twenty-four inches thick. It will shoot, 
so it is claimed, from twelve to fifteen miles, and is in-
tended for both harbor and naval defense. The pres-
ent gun was manufactured at a cost of over $50,000. 
The projectiles with which it is loaded weigh from one 
hundred to one hundred and fifty pounds." 
gk,ppintments, 
California Camp-Meeting. 
IT has now been decided to hold the camp-meeting 
for northern California at San Jose, Sept. 6-18. It will 
be held upon the fair-ground, near the depot of the 
Narrow-Gauge Railroad. The horse-cars which pass 
the railroad station also pass the camp-ground. The 
ground is level and covered with shade frees, presenting 
a beautiful grove in which to pitch family tents. Only 
one spot is large enough for the tent 60x100 ft. Had 
the ground been designed on purpose for the camp-meet-
ing, it could scarcely have been improved. The com-
mittee will do everything possible to make it comforta-
ble and to accommodate all that come. 
We hope this will be the largest camp-meeting ever 
held in the State of California; and in many respects it 
certainly will be the most important. Provision will 
be made for man and beast. 
CAMP-MEETING COMMITTEE. 
California Conference. 
THE twelfth annual session of the California Confer-
ence of Seventh-day Adventists will be held in connec-
tion with the camp-meeting at San Jose, Sept. 6-18. 
This will be as important a session as was ever held in 
California. Every company of Seventh-day Adventists 
in ,the Conference should be well represented. Dele-
gates should be chosen, so that the wants of all parts of 
the field may be known, and future labor arranged ac-
cordingly. Individuals living alone, who cannot attend, 
should make known their wants and condition by letter 
addressed to the SIGNS Office. We have reached an im-
portant and interesting time in the history of the cause 
on the Pacific Coast. Advance steps must be taken, 
and now is the time to move forward in the opening 
providence of God. The cloud is rising. The judg-
ments of God are already in the earth. There are many 
indications which show that what is done must be done 
quickly. We expect to see a general rally of the friends 
from all parts of the State. 
California Tract and Missionary Society. 
THE thirteenth annual session of the Tract and Mis-
sionary Society will convene on the camp-ground at 
San Jose, in connection with the camp-meeting, Sept. 
6-18, 1883. 
Not only the missionary work of this Conference and 
the Ship Mission, located at San Francisco, but the 
foreign missions, and what can be done for the islands 
of the Pacific Ocean, Australia, and New Zealand, will 
be considered. Many important questions which per-
tain to the missionary work, that will interest all, will 
be considered. �S. N. HASKELL, President. 
New England Camp-Meeting. 
THE camp-meeting of the New England Conference 
of Seventh-day Adventists will be held on the Fair-
Ground, in the city of Worcester, Mass., Aug. 23-28. 
We expect this will be the largest gathering of our peo-
ple that has ever convened at any one meeting in the 
New England States. In some respects it will be the 
most important. Eld. Geo. I. Butler from Iowa, Pres-
ident of the General Conference, Elder I. D. Van Horn, 
formally President of the North Pacific Conference, 
and Mrs. E. G. White, from Oakland, Cal., are among 
the-speakers who will be present. The school interests 
of this Conference, the foreign missions that will be 
considered, and the advance steps which are being 
taken this season in the work of present truth, will 
make this meeting an important one, and one of un-
usual interest to all of the friends of the cause. Every 
company of Seventh-day Adventists in the N. E. Con-
ference should be represented, and all those living 
alone should attend as far as consistent. All friends of 
the Christian religion desiring a good spiritual meeting 
are especially invited. Reduction of fare on all rail-
roads, as heretofore, is expected. Those coming through 
Boston, and from Boston will come over the Fitchburg 
and Nashua R. R., leaving the Fitchburg depot in Bos-
ton, about 6, and 11 A. M., and 4 P. M. 
CAMP-MEETING COMMITTEE. 
Illinois Camp-Meeting. 
THE Kankakee and Seneca railroad will sell round 
trip excursion tickets on Sept. 10, 11, and 12 from Kan-
kakee to Seneca, good to return until Sept. 21, inclusive, 
for $1.80. And the C. I. St. L. & C. Ry., from St. 
Anne to Seneca and return for $2.20, same limit as 
above. Trains make close connections at Seneca with 
C. R. I. & P. trains for Sheridan via Ottawa. The 
brethren living near the C. & E. I. and Illinois Central 
railroads will please make note of above arrangements. 
B. R. NORDYKE, 
Tray. Agt. C. I. St. L. & C. By. 
Reno and St Clair, Nevada. 
IF nothing in the providence of God prevents. I will 
meet with the church at Reno, Nevada, Sabbath and 
first day, Aug. 11, 12, and at St. Clair, Aug. 18, 19. At 
each of these places evening meetings can be arranged. 
As my stay will be necessarily brief, I would be glad to 
see all of the friends at these meetings. There will be 
an opportunity for baptism at each of these meetings. 
S. N. HASKELL. 
A SERMON ON THE SABBATH QUESTION. 
By W. H. LITTLEJOIIN. 
THIS is a refutation of the theory that God sanctified simply a seventh 
part of time as the Sabbath, without fixing that time to any definite day. 
The necessity for a 
UNIFORM DAY OF REST, 
Is admitted by nearly all, and is advocated in this book. The author also 
shows that the Creator understood and anticipated this necessity, and 
proves by five different processes of reasoning that the seventh or last 
day of the week, and no other, was in the beginning, and is now, the 
Sabbath of the Lord. 
32 pp. Price 4 cents; $3.00 per hundred. 
Address SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal. 
THE DEFINITE SEVENTH DAY; 
GB, GOD'S MEASUREMENT OF TIME ON 
THE ROUND WORLD. 
BY ELD. J. N. ANDREWS.. 
Tms tract is an answer to the question, "Cana definite day be ob-
served by all the inhabitants of the earth ?" It is a coninlete refutation of 
the common objection against the Sabbath, that the rotation of the earth 
on its axis makes it impossible for all men to keep the same day, showing 
not only that a definite day may be observed in all parts of the earth, 
but that no real difficulty has ever been experienced in the matter. 
16 pp. Price, 2 cents; $1.50 per hundred. 
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal. 
S. N. HASKELL, 
I. D. VAN HORN, 
M. C. ISRAEL, 
California Conference Committee. 
OAKLAND, CAL., FIFTH-DAY, AUGUST 9, 1883. 
Time of Camp-Meetings. 
VIRGINIA, New' Market, �
Aug. 9-14 
KANSAS, Bull City, Osborne C6., �" 9-20 
OHIO, Galion, Crawford Co., , �" 14-21 
IOWA, Smithland, �
16-20 
" Algona, �
" 23-28 
MASSACHUSETTS, Worcester, �
" 23-28 
VERMONT, Montpelier, �Aug. 30 to Sept. 4 
MICHIGAN, Manton, Wexford Co., �
" �
66 
MAINE, Waterville, 
CALIFORNIA, San Jose, 
NEW YORK, Union Square, 
ILLINOIS, Sheridan, 
NEBRASKA, Crete, 
KENTUCKY, Glasgow, 
MISSOURI, 
TENNESSEE, 
INDIANA, Bunker Hill, Marion Co., " " �
64 
ALABAMA, Choctaw Co. �
Oct. 1-10 
Sept. 6-11 
" 6-18 
" 12-18 
" 18-25 
19-25 
" 19-26 
Sept. 25 to Oct. 2 
'' 27 64 '' 
360 �
TH H: SIGNS OF THE TIM 10,S. �
VoL. 9, No. 30. 
Eke �
of tie ChM. 
FOR appointments see preceding page (359). 
NOTICE changes in times of Camp-meetings above. 
READ " Important Notice," and also the short notice, 
" $25,000 Wanted." This will be kept standing,—
how long ? 
THE Michigan State Camp-meeting will probably be 
held in Battle Creek. 
Dedication in Healdsburg. 
THE dedication of " North College Hall " took place 
Sunday, Aug. 5, according to appointment. The 
weather was about as pleasant as possible, and the oc-
casion in every way an enjoyable one. The large double 
parlor and room adjoining and hall were crowded with 
citizens of Healdsburg, with members of our church, 
and the inmates of the house. The exercises commenced 
with singing, reading of Psalm 19, and prayer. Bro. 
W. 0. White made the report in behalf of the Building 
Committee, giving a very brief description of the build-
ing, its cost to date, etc. It was interesting to all. Eld. 
Haskell responded in behalf of the Board of Trustees, 
and accepted the building. The dedicatory address was 
given by the editor of the SIGNS, and the dedicatory 
prayer offered by Eld. Haskell. 
After this, remarks were made by Sister White, Mr 
Jordon, the editor of the Russian River Flag, Mr. 
Ruffner, of the Council, and 1Vlr. Atherton, .pastor of 
the Presbyterian Church. The exercises were inter-
spersed with singing; and the company of . singers, 
rather hastily organized for the occasion, did them-
selves credit. •All seemed pleased, and most of the 
audience spent some time in viewing the building, 
which was the admiration of all. 
As we arrived home just in time to aid in putting 
the paper to press, we can give no further particulars 
this week. 
" PLEASE explain Isa. 65:20.. �B. R. N." 
We cannot undertake to do it, because we do not 
think we understand it. It is confessedly an obscure 
passage. " The Age-to-Come " believers used to claim 
it as proof on some phases of their theory; but after a 
long and very close examination of it, Eld. D. P. Ha 11, 
the most critical advocate of that theory with whom we 
ever met, confessed to us that he could not use it as he 
had been accustomed to use it. 
We have seen several pretended " translations " of 
the text, made to relieve it of its obscurity, but by an 
examination of the original we found they were not 
translations at all, but rather free renderings; they 
but give the opinions of the writers as to what it means, 
not the exact translation of what the Hebrew says. If 
any of our correspondents have light on it we shall be 
glad to receive it. 
Gaining Ground. 
THE Christian Statesman sees indications that the 
relation of the railroad system of the United States to 
the Sunday law is soon to receive more serious consider-
ation at _the hands of railroad Men and the Christian 
public than ever before. Following the order of the 
President of the Louisville and Chicago Railroad Com-
pany, prohibiting the running of trains on Sunday, the 
Chicago Railway Age published a letter from H. B. 
Ledyard, President of the Michigan Central Railroad 
Company. He says: " If each of the trunk lines were 
absolutely to refuse to exchange traffic of any kind with 
their connections from 6 P. M, Saturday, until Monday 
morning it would be a simple matter to so arrange the 
movement of traffic as to practically do away with 
the running of Sunday trains." He also says that on 
account of the grouping of the railway companies 
into associations, for the exchange of traffic, etc., 
it would be much kiss difficult to bring about a 
cessation of Sunday labor now than a few years since. 
He thinks that the loss in traffic from Sunday stoppage 
would not be appreciable. He further says: " I believe 
if this matter is presented to all our managers in its 
true light, either from a moral or an economical stand-
point, a few moments' reflection will show to each of 
them that we are all committing a fearful mistake in 
allowing the continuance and rapid growth of this 
Sunday work." While confidently believing that there 
would erelong be a general movement in favor of 
Sunday observance, we have thought that the railroads 
would present the greatest hindrance to such a move-
ment, but from this we see that the way is already pre-
paring. But the Statesman is not satisfied with even 
voluntary observance of the Sunday. It well knows 
that a voluntary compliance with a custom for which 
there is no semblance of authority, may not be of long 
continuance, and it puts in a plea for Sunday legislation 
and a national religion as follows:— 
" The present state of this weighty matter illustrates 
vividly the necessity of laws enforcing the observance of 
the Sabbath. It is generally recognized by thoughtful 
men that mere voluntary agreement among individuals 
would never, in the abience of restraining laws, secure 
the general cessation of business on any single; day. 
Law must interpose her hand to restrain individual 
avarice, willfulness and folly, for the sake of the public 
good. For the same reason we doubt the success of the 
effort to arrest railroad laborson the Sabbath by volun-
tary- agreement among companies or officials. If even 
a minority refuse to enter into such an arrangement, 
competition will still drive all, however unwilling some 
may be, to continue the traffic. Even if made, such an 
agreement would be liable to be broken at any time by 
the action of any one of the parties to it. Nothing but 
the calm majestic voice of law, not worn-out statutes 
habitually violated with impunity as our Sabbath 
laws are violated to-day, but serious legislation with the 
sanction of sufficient penalties, can ever remedy this 
great evil. Such legislation will come with the refor-
mation of the government on religious principles; till 
that has been secured it will not come. Let agitation 
proceed in every possible way." 
And agitation will proceed. Light on the Sabbath of 
the Lord is spreading in every quarter, honest souls are 
accepting it and helping to send its rays still further, 
and when the test comes there will be a little company 
who will say in the spirit of meekness, " We ought to 
obey God rather than men." 
• 
Baptism of Fire. 
PLEASE explain Matt. 3:11: " He shall baptize you 
with the Holy Ghost and with fire." �P. W. 
The query is, of course, in regard to the baptism of 
fire, as there is no question in regard to the baptism of 
the Holy Ghost. We think the explanation is found in 
the context. John was speaking to two classes of peo-
ple, as well as of two baptisms. One class consisted of 
those who would bring forth " fruits meet for repent-
ance," the other, of those who would continue to merit 
the appellation, " brood of vipers." This distinction is 
clearly made in verse 12, in which he continues, " Whose 
fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his 
floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will 
burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." Verse 12 
is explanatory of verse 11. Fire is the agent by which 
the wicked are to be destroyed; and the propriety of 
calling this destruction a baptism is apparent when we 
read that the wicked are to be consumed in a " lake of 
fire." Rev. 20:10. 
The first instance of the baptism of the Holy Ghost 
occurred on the day of Pentecost, in fulfillment of the 
promise of Christ in Acts 1:5. The disciples were im-
mersed in the Spirit, because "it filled all the house 
where they were sitting." There was nothing on this 
occasion, however, that could be called a baptism of 
fire. It is true that there appeared tongues parting 
asunder " like as of fire," but these tongues merely " sat 
upon " each one of them. 
Those who claim that the baptism of the Holy Ghost 
and of fire are the same, must also claim, to be consist-
ent, that the wicked Pharisees were promised the bap-
tism of the Holy Ghost; for the words of John were ad- 
dressed to them as well as to those who were repentant. 
This no one will hold for an instant. Wicked persons 
do not receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, which pre-
pares its recipients for the garner of Heaven; but they 
will receive the fire from Heaven, which rids the earth 
of the worthless chaff. �
E. J. W. 
Important Notice. 
IT will be noticed in this week's paper that we have 
acknowledged the receipt of money toward raising a 
sum of not less than $25,000, the income of which goes 
to aid those who are worthy and need the benefit of our 
school, but who, without financial aid, cannot attend. 
It is well known that the object of the school is to fit 
young men and women for usefulness in the cause of 
God. To accomplish this it is necessary that habits of 
industry be acquired, as well as mental training and a 
knowledge of the sciences; also that the Scriptures be 
taught in a manner which will give a thorough knowl-
edge of the truth and the best method of presenting it 
to others. 
Not only ministers and missionary workers are wanted 
in the cause, but teachers also. There are not less than 
five of our churches in California at the present time 
which are in need of teachers to instruct their children, 
and they are ready to pay a reasonable sum if the 
proper persons can be secured. They are not sat-
isfied with the common teachers of the present day. 
They need those who have formed habits of industry 
themselves, and understand how to teach the Bible in 
harmony with the truths which we profess, as well as 
the most successful methods of teaching the Scriptures. 
If there ever was a time when our youth and children 
should be well grounded in the truths of God's word it 
is in this infidel age in which we live. 
Men and women professing present truth are reveal-
ing the fact that they have no real faith in the Script-
ures as being the word of God. As we value the impor-
tance of eternal life in the kingdom of glory, and the 
salvation of our families, so will be our interest in se-
curing that instruction in divine things which will 
shield ourselves and families against the corruptino• in-
fluences of the present time. These teachers should also 
be prepared to aid the church in the missionary work. 
Teachers not of our faith cannot appreciate the needs of 
the children and youth, and the wants of those who are 
looking for the second coming of Christ in the clouds of 
heaven. 
There are many who are anxious to prepare them-
selves for these fields of usefulness, but are unable to 
attend school. Such persons we are anxious to help. 
There are also those who have money loaned to the As-
sociation on interest, who have no special interest in 
giving their means or any part of the income to the 
cause. It is proposed that this money raised will be 
used to take up such notes, and that the Association 
pay the interest directly to the school. Thus instead of 
the earnings of the Association going to those who have 
no special interest to help the cause, they will be 
brought directly to the aid of those who are, seeking to 
qualify themselves for usefulness. The principal will 
ever be kept good, being used in the cause of God, while 
its earnings will be used as described. 
We invite those who have funds, to donate from one 
to ten thousand dollars each, for this enterprise, if they 
can do so without robbing other branches of the work. 
It is a safe investment, yielding a sure income in the 
kingdom of God. 2 Cor. 9: 9; Ps. 12: 9. 
S. N. HASKELL. 
$25,000 Wanted. 
WE, the undersigned, hereby give the sums set to our 
names, to raise the sum of $25,000 to be placed under the 
control of trustees chosen at the annual session of the Cali-
fornia Conference. Said sum to be loaned to some of our 
Institutions at 5 per cent., the proceeds of which shall be 
used to assist those who are seeking an education at the 
Healdsburg College, to fill positions in the cause of God. 
Said individuals must be recommended by the Conference 
Committee, and the College Faculty. 
William Butcher 
�$5,000 
THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES, 
PUBLISHED WEEKLY, AT OAKLAND, CAL., 'FOR THE 
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Law and Gospel, with Departments devoted to Temperance, The Home 
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Address, �
SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal. 
—OR— ' 
REVIEW AND HERALD, Battle Creek, ELD. J. N: LOUGHBOROUGH, RAVENS. 
Michigan: �
wood, Shirley Road, Southamp. 
MRS. ELIZA PALMER, Sec. N. E. Tract �
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