"Behold I come quicldy, and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Rev. 22:12. VOLUME 12. OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, FIFTH-DAY, MAY 6, 1886. NUMBER 17. PUBLISHED WEEKLY, FOR THE International Traet and Missionary Soeiety. (For terms, etc., see last page.) Entered at the Post-Office in Oakland. HOME. BY .TULIA L. COLEGROVE. I WOULD not shrink from tangled ways, Though thorns may pierce my feet; I would not lay my burdens down, Till life's work is complete. But oh, blest mansions rise so fair Before my tearful eyes, I half forget the darksome vale 'Tween me and Paradise. I know my armor must be on; There's use for sword and shield; But home and rest are sweeter than This dusty battle field. And I am told that earth renewed Shall be our dwelling-place; And God's own hand shall wipe away The tears from every face. The hands no~v laid o'er forms of clay Shall be in mine once more; The ties that bind us ea,ch to each Be stronger than before. The voices hushed sha.ll sing for joy; The scattered ones shall meet, And praise for aye the Lord of life, And worship at his feet. The Law Given to Israel. BY MRS. E. G. WHITE. WHEN the Lord was n.bout to deliver his peo- ple fi-om Egypti:w bondage, be selected Moses as their leader. l'lfoses was learned in n.ll the knowledge of the Egyptians, and was a skilled and migb ty wn.rrior. Ho had also boon fitted fol' hiH dut.ios by long years of quiet meditation and uommunion with God in the wilderness of Horeb. Through Moses the Lord wrought many signs and wonders in the laud of Egypt. He brought bis people out of the house of bond- age "by a mighty hn.nd, and by a stretched out arm, and by geont terrors," even parting the waters of the Red Sea to make a way for them. At length they came to the wilderness of Si- nai, and cn.mEed bot,ore tho mount; and there, in tho most solemn manner, lhe lJord made a covenant with thorn. Moses was culled up into the mountain, and given this messn,ge for the people: "Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and bow I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenn.nt, then ye shall be a peculiar treai':lure unto me above all people; n.nd ye shall bo unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation." Moses returned to the camp, and laid before the people all tho words that the JJord bad commanded him to utter; and they answered together, and said, "All that the .Lord hath spoken we will do." The Lord then graciously condescended to come down upon MonnL Sinai, not to gi'c n. now law, but to speak wi Lh au audible voiue, in tit u hen.ring of all the people, the law which had been fl'om the begintti11g the foundation of his government. He would not permit even angels to communicate these sacred precepts to men, nor did be trust them to the memory ot· a peo- ple who \Vere prone to f"orget his rOC!Uiroments. He would remove all poRsibility of m isuuder- standing, of mingling any tradition with the ten commandments of the moral law, or of" con- fusing the divine requirements '''ith the prac- tices of men; and to do this, be not only spoke the ten words of the moral law in the hearing of all Israel, but he wrote them with his own fin_ger upon tables of stone. The Lord made the occasion of speaking his law a scene of awful grandeur and sublimity, in accordance with its exalted character. The people were to be impressed that everytbittg connected with the service o:£4 God must be re- garded with the greatest reverenee. They were required to sanctify tbemselves and wash their clothes, and "be ready against the third day," when the JJord would "come down in the sight of all the people upon Mount Sinai." Bounds were set about the mountain that was so soon to be honored with the divine presence; and it was commanded that if so much as a beast touched the mountain it should be stoned or thrust through with a dart. The third day came; and there were" thun- ders and lightr1ings, and a thick cloud upon the mount." ''And Mount Sinai was aiLogctber on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire; and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the \Vhole mount quaked greatly." The glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mount in the sight of the assembled multi! udcs. So terrible were the tokenR of J chova h ·s presence that the hosts of Israel shook with fear, n.nd ·ell upon their faces before the Lord. Even ~\Loses exc aimed, "I exceedingly fear and qnake." Then above the warring clements was heard the voice of J ebovah, speaking the ten precepts of his law. rrbe people of Israel were over- whelmed with terror. ·The awful power of God's utterances seemed more than their trem- bling hearts could boar. They en treated Moses: "Spcts, nnloss tho sacrifice itself had been whore Ahaz and Manasseh arc condemned for occasiOilCU by some extmordinary mnnifestation doing what some claim Jephthi:th did. "But of God; and tbat we c:tnllot fot· a moment think the entreaty of the daughter) thnt he would here." See Lev. 1: 5; 2: 9, 16; 3: 5, 13, 16; grant her two months' time, in order that she 4: 7, 10, 14, 18, 19, 26, 29, 31, for law of burning might lament her ·vi1"ginity upon the mountains on the altar. with her friends, would have been marvelously "But is it credible that a priest or the priest- out of keeping with the account that she was hood should hnve con sen ted to offer a sacrifice to be put to death as a sacrifice. upon the altar of Jehovah, ·which was denounced "To mourn one's virginity does not mean to in the law as the greatest abomination of the mourn because one has to die a virgin, but heathen? This difficulty cailtlOt be set aside by because one has to live and remain a virgin."-assuming that JepbLhah put hi~ daughter to Keil and Delitzsch-Com., in loco. If she had death, and burned her upon some secret altar, been rnourning on account of her youth and without tue a~:>sistance a!ld mediation of a priest; prem::tture death, "it would be altogether op-for such au act would not have been doscri bed poseJ to human nature that a child, who h::td by the prophetic historian :ls a fulfillment of so soon to die, should make use of a temporary the vow that he would offer u, burnt-offering to respit.c to forsake her father altogether." "It the Lord, simply becaw-ie iL would not have would, no doubt, be a reasonable LlJing that she been a sacrifice offet·ed to Jel10vah at a!l, but a should ask permission to enjoy lifo for two sacrifice slaughtered to Moloch." So it would months lollget· before she was pnt to death; but have beetl recorded if tho priests, as in the cases that she should ollly think of bewailitJg her of Ahaz and llfttlln.ssoh, uad helped him offer his virginity, when a sacrificial death was in pros-daughter as a burllt offeriug-.-Keil and De- pect, would be contrary to all the ordinary feel-l·itzsch' s Co·m. on Judges and R-t6th, pp. 392-394. ings of the bumn.n heart." "Inasmuch as the "Durino· t.be 'two months' which intervened history lays special emphasis upon bet· bewail-between .fephth·t~h's return and the supposed menL of her Yirginity, this must hnve stood in sacrifice, it is scarcely c1·edible that the priests some peculiar relation to the vow "-so much so Rhould not have i11terposcd to prevent tbe b::tr- ,that virginity, instead of death, was meant by baron:; deed, or that Jephthtth himself bhould the vow. "And this is confirmed by the ex pres-not have 'inquiretl of the Lord,' respecLillg a sion, to bewail bet· virginity 'ripon the mount-release from llis vow."-Haley. (Soe release a.ins.' If life had been the question, the snme from vows in Lev. 27 : 1-8, etc.) Olle of the tears might have been shed at home. But her moral nature that Jophthah was, cet·tainly lamentations were devoted to bee virginity, and would have been pren:tttod from tho barbarout:; such I amen tations could not be uttered in town, deed by that moral i t1sigh t iuto right a11d wrong and in the presence of men. Modesty required which is the iuvariable power ot' such soul~ a~:> the solitude of the mountains for these. The spoken of in Heb. 11 : 0~. As diu David, on virtuous heart of the maiden does not open itself the impulse of the moment under p:tt:<::>iotJ, a in the eaes of all; but only in sacred silence does good man n:iay do a bad thing ot· deed; but not it pour out its lamentations of love." when in tue religious ~:>t:.tte of mind aud with "And so, again, the still further clause in the the time for considenttion, as was the c:.t~:>e with fulfillment of the vow,' and she knew no man,' Jephthab. is not in harmony with a sacrificial death. This In vcn:ie 29, it is positively affirmed that J epb- clause would add nothiug to tue description iu tllab was in "t.he :Spirit of the Lord" wh~tl he thnt case, since it was already known that she made the vow. As well believe God could cau~:>e wa!'l a virgin. The words only gain their proper sin as to, theret'ore, believe J ephthah burnt sellse if we connect them with the previous his daughter. Verso 31 of Judges may be ren- clause, be 'did with her according to the vow clored, (ct) "Shall surely be the Lord's, o1· I will which be vowed,' and understand them as offer it up for a buriJt offering." Dr. Davidson, describing what the daughter did in fulfillment an eminciJt Hebraist, says:" lt cannot be denied of the vo'W. The father fulfilled his vow upon that the conjunction 'vav' may be rendered 01"." her and she knew no man; i. e., be fulfilled tho 1-Int?'O(l. OlGl :rest., Vol. 1., p. 476. Dr. Robin- vo.../.v throu()'h the fact that she knew no man SOil say::;: "Gesenius, in 1 Kings 18: 27, . . . . . in t:>a life-long vi1"ginity.'' . himself' admits it is a disjunctive."-Ges. Lex. Auberlen's remarks, alone, ougb t to casL grave lleb., p. 266 j Ges. 1'hesa'tu1·., p. 679. (b) Dr. doubts upon the "human sacrifice" interpreta-Randolph, J. Kimchi and Aubcrleu render: tion. "'The history of Jephthah's dauo·bter," "Shall surely be the Lord's, cmd 1 will offer to Le says: "would hardly have been thought him a burnt offering." Dr. _Dn':'idson s~L.rs: worth pt·cserving in the ~criptu.res, if tho ~aiden ~'We admi~ that the constnw.tiOt~ 18 ~rammt,Lt­ had been really offered m sacl'lfice; fol', m that ICally posstble; for oxampl~s JUSttiy tt, as G-o- case the event would b:we boon reduced, at the se[lius shows." "Either of tucse trauslatious best: in to a mere family his Lory, without any the-removes tbe difficulty.". . ocratic significance, though, in truth, it would The objection to tlll~ last renderillg-that rather have been an anti-theocratic abornincttion, the Hebrew is the dative instead of the accusa- according to DotlL. 12:31 (cf. ehapter 18: 9; tive-is groundless.. Fo1· there are ex~~ptions Lev. 18: 21; 20: 1-5). J eph Luah's act would, to the rules govern.IIlg all languages. ~or ex- in that case, have stood upon the same platform ample, the Greek In Act~ 2: 38, where 1nstead as the incest of Lot (Gen. 19: 30), and would ofhekalftos anton-each of them-we l1ave ltekas- owe its adoption into the canon simply to gen-tos h1H~ton-" each" in tu.ird person, an~ "of eological considerations, or others of a.similar you," in seeond person, whtle the verb bapt~thato kind. is third pel'son. Were we to attempt to trans- " But the very opposite is the case here; and, lnte thi~ by ~he rule~ of gnt1:1mar, we would have. if from the conclusion of the whole narrative in something l1ke: "Be bapttzed each of them o1 chapter 11: 39, 40, the objcet of it is supposed (or whid1 .al'e of) you." .But trallslators ~:>O to be simply to explain the origin of the feast translate thts ~ts to make" of you"~sec?n~ per- that was held in honor of Jephtbah's daugh-son-ageee With hel~astos-eacb, ":hwh 1s m the ter, even this v\u00b7ould tell against the ordi-third person. But 1n the case before ~s 1.w suuh nary view. Iu the eye of the law the whole abruptness is necessary to render, "I w1ll offer to hirn a burnt offering;" for Gesenius clearly shows (see Heb. Gr·a'rn., sec. 138, 2) that there are not a few exceptions where the accusative is equivalent to the meaning or use of the d:Liive. I believe this rendering-" offer to him "--is the true rendering. Some other renderings need correction in this connection. In verse 39, we should render, "She knew no man and it [i. e., to vow daugh tors to pel.'petnal ,·irgin i Ly-Ex. 38: 8; 1 Sam. 2:22, in ministering at the taber- naele] was a law in Israel." Verse 40: "From year to year the daughters in Isrn.el came to celebrate [or praise] the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite," etc. GeRenius defines tancth- rendered by our verf:lion "lament"-" to praise, rehearse, celebrate.:' So do professors Harper (Heb. Voc., p. 106), Young, Fuerst, and others. In chapter 11 : 5 our version rend01·s it re- hearse, instead of" lament." The Hebrew verb:-:; for lament arc: anah, nahah, saphad, q~mj n.11d to these may be added others, as, balcah. The _English reader would natnrally infer that the word rendered by our versio11 "lament" is ono of the same meaning, if not the same word, as the one reudered "bewail:' in verse 37. But tho word there reudered is balcah, which really means "be ::til.'' Jepbthah's daughter being stwrificed to the Lord by perpcttml virgittity, Lo tTtinister at the tabemac:le-she wn.s his only child (verso 34)-cut off all hope of tho perpet- uation of his family. Besides, tho sacl'ifice of tlll hope of ever becoming a moLher was t.hc greatest sacrifice which a dangbtcr of Israel could mah:e. :Because of this, there ''vns the bewailing of her virginity (verse 37). Had the wailing been because of her J.eath, it would more naturally read, "Bewail my death." Be- :-;ides, who ever beard or road of such an ante- Jnortem funeral! The noble net of self-sacrifice t.o the Lord which verse 40 records, was cele- brated by "the dn11ghters of Israel" going "yearly to celebmte [or pra· c] the daughter of Jcpbtbab." :But bow unnatural, how absurd, to suppose that they :• went yearly" to praise Lhe daughter of J ephthab for helping to commit the fiendish crime of human sacrifice! 'l'here is every philological, historical, and common- sonse evidence against any such crirne as h n- man sacriticc in the case of J ephthah's clangh tor. To remove the supposi L-ion of his ofl'cring b is daughter as a burnt offerillg, it is only ncces- sari to show that a different translation and interpretation can be fairly made. Our rules in ehapter 2, and the law condemning sueh an abomination, r.ompel us to adopt the position that Jephthah did'not offer a human sacrifice. So Bush, Cassel, Delitzsch, Kei\, Grot1u ·, IJn.nge, the Kimchis, Le Clerc, Lilienthal, Hetlgsten- berg, Sanlsch n tz, Scbudt, Honbigant, ·water- ln.nd, Levi Ben Gersom, Bechai, Dru ·ius, de Dieu, Bishop Hall, Dr. Hales, Adnm Olfu·ke, Riehtcr, and many other eminent Biblical sc~hol­ ars, ngree that Judges does not say be sacrificed his dttugh ter; and they agree that he did not do so. See Haley's Alleged Disc1·ep., p. 239, and others. Only her virginity was mourned. Illn.smnch as she was his only child, the only hope of his posterity; inasmuch a8, in the estimation of a J ow, to have no posterity and remain a virgin was a o-reat loss, tbore was much wailing. She vvns p~obably devoted to perpetual service in the tabernacle. See Ex .• 38: 8· 1 Sam. 1: 2; 2 : 22. It "was a custom in Israel" (J uuges 11: 39) to mourn her virginity. It is, then, clear that there is not a shadow of justification for the charge th:1.t the Bible sanctiotts human sacrifice.-Old 1'estarnent Ethics Vindicated. ':PHE attempt to serve God without love, is like rowing aga,inst the tide. The angels are swift-winged in God's service, bccnnse they love him. Ja~ob thought seven years but little for the love he bad for Rachel. Love is never weary.-Watson. BE kiudly affectioned one to anot.aer.-Bible. lAY 6, 1886. THE BIG NS OF THE TI¥ES. [S] 259 The Proper Foundation of Sabbath Observauce. therefore Sunday keeping is devoid of all mo- rality. That the observance of Sunday does not rest THE question of the proper basis for Sabbath upon the fourth commandment, or indeed upon observance is one about which a great deal is any divine law whatever, is freely admitted by said nowadays; and yet it is a subject that many even among the most zealous first-day should be free from all difficulty. In fact, there people; for instance, the Ckristian at Work of is but one reason for Sctbbath observance, and Janun1·y 8, 1885, said:- th n t is because God requires it. It may indeed "The selection of Sunday, thus changing the bo true thnt man needs a weekly day of rest to particular day designated in the fourth com- meet his physicnl wants; but the proof is far mandment, was brought about by the gradual from conclusive, and even granting all that is concurrence of the early Christian church~ ever clnimed in that direction, it must be ad-and on this basis, and on none other, does the mittod that one day will meet the physical Christian Sabbath, the first day of the week, wants quite as well as another. Bnt no be-rightly rest." and measure of our love bas been given and exemplified in the love of Christ for ns. ''As I have loved you, that ye altlo Jove one another." Said be, "'I'his is my cornmandment, 'l'bnt yo loYe one another, as I hcwe lo·ved yo·u. Greater loYe bnth no man than tb!s1 that a man lay do·wn his life for his friends." John 13: 34; 15 : 12, 13. ' I close by submitting that we cannot keep either the old commandment or tho new, :t11d at the same time violate one of the last i::iix commandments of the decalogue. And can we love God with all our heart and break one of the first four? "This is the love of God, that ~ve keep his commandments." R. F. CoTTRELL. Shall Death Have Endless Victory? lin...-or in revealed religion will ndmit that Sab- But while this is a confession that the Sun- bat.h-lzooping consists alone in physical rest; day-snbbatb does not rest upon the fourth com- all will i11Rist that there are certain· moral ele-mandment, but solely on the "gradual concur- ments which are essential to true Sabbath ob-renee of the early Christian church,'' it is some- Rervmlce. what ambiguous as to the time of this change; DEATH, the enemy, is to-day a victor. He God has commanded, saying: "Remember but this Jack of definiteness is supplied by the may be personified as "the king of terrorR," the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days following from the same paper under date of persistently carrying on his fell work regard- shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the February 18, 1886:- less of age, position, or prospects. Shall this seventh day is the Sabbnth of the Lord thy "We bear less than we used to about the dread enemy of humanity be sta,ye.d in bir; God; in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, apostolic origin of the present f3unday observ-course of destruction? Shall his domain be nor tby son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, ance, and for the reason that while the Sabbath invaded and the captives released? nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy and Sabbath rest are --woven into the ·warp and The voice of inspiration has pro11ouncod hi~ stranger that is ,,vithi11 thy gates; for in six woof of Scriptnre, it is now seen, as it is admit-doom. Hear the testimonies of seers and Sav- days the I1ord made heaven and earth, the sea, ted, that we must go to later than apostolic times iour, as with united voice they promise a com- and all that in them is, nnd rested the seventh for the establishment of Sunday observance." ing deliverance. Has the enemy snatched n day: wherefore the I1ord blessed the sabbath That is to say (nnd it is the truth) that not loved child from our embrnce? The" weeping day, and hallowed it." only does tl:le Sunday institution lack the au-prophet" says: "Thus saith the l.Jord~ Hol'ntin Here, then, is, as all must admit, the only tbority of the law of God, but it lacks even the thy voice frorn weeping, and thine eyes from proper and sufficient b:tsis or foundation for example of the apostolic church; and is not tears; for thy work shall be revY::trded, sail h tho Sabbnth observance; and were this command-onlv not based unon the will of God as ex-Lord; and they sha11 come again from tho land ment generally obeyed just as it reads, there pre;Eled in the fon'rth commandment, but it is of the enemy. And there is hope in thine end, would be no troul:le; all the difficulty arises based solely upon the will and action of the saith the Lord, tbnt thy children shall como from the fact thnt another day is substituted church this side the days of the apostles; there-again to their O\Vn bo1·d0r." J er. 31 : 16, 17. for the one enjoined in the commandment, and fore, being found to lack the essential element Are we mourning the loss of kindred dear to of course another reason must be given for its of divine authority, the first day of the week is us? The evangelist of the Old Testament her- observance. One who keeps the seventh day not and cannot be the Sabbath. alds the tidings: "He will swallow up donlh can,.when asked to give a reason for Lis prac- 0. P. BoLLl\:IAN. in victory; and the Lord God 'vill wipe awn.Y tice, say that be keeps it because God bas so tears from off all faces; and tho rebuke of l1itl commanded; but he who keeps another day From tbe Beginning. people shall be taken away from oft' nll tbe must give another reason. That is, the seventh- earth, for the l1ord hath spoken it." Isa. 25: 8. day keeper can and does quote the fourth com- CoNVERSING with one who ·would have the Has death its terrors to us as we near tho mandment in support of his practice, but the "new commandment" supersede tho ten, es-time of decease? }_;isten to anot.ber voice ot' first-day keeper cannot use the commnndment; pecially the fourth, I referred him to the state-the olden time: "I will ntnsom them fi·om the for there is not a single fact stated in it that is ments of the apostle John, namely: 1. "I write power of the grave; I will redeem them from true of the first day except that it was one of no new commandment unto yon, but an old death; 0 death, I will be thy plagues; 0 grnve, the six days upon which God worked. And no commandment which ye bad from the begin-I will be thy destruction; repentance shall be one will so stultify himself as to say, "'ln six ning. The old commandment is the word hid from mine eyes." Hosea 13: 14. days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, whir.b ye have beard from the beginning." Confirming and continuing the gospel of vic- and all that in them is, and rested the seventh 2. "Again, a new commandment I write unto I tory, our Saviour states: "The hour is coming: day;' and because of that fact I rest on the you." My friend claimed thnt the beginning in the which all that are in the graves sha! I first day." Therefore the conclusion is unavoid- here referred to was the beginning of tho hear his voice, and shall come forth; they th:Lt able that to change the day of the Sabbath is gospel, the day of Pentecost, to which Peter have done good, unto the resurrection of lil'o; to change tbe reason for keeping tho day. But referred when be snid, "The Holy Ghost fell and they that have done evil, unto the resurrec- to change the dny, and to change the reason on them, as on ns at the beginning." Acts 11: tion of damnation." John 5: 28, 29. Defi11ing- for keepiug the day, is to change the nature of 15. The old commandment, then, was the his own rebtion to the work, be snys, "I am Le the institution. Yea, more: it is to destroy the new commandment which Jesus gave to his that liveth: and was dead; and, behold, 1 am original institution and to ~et up another in its disciples, thnt they should love one another. alive forever more, Amen; and have the keys stead; therefore Sunday-keeping is destructive That being the case, said I, John's new com-of bell and of death." Rev. 1: 18. of the original Sabbath institution. , mandment must be newer still; something be Bas·ed upon such statements as the ones '"'e But again: the fourth commandment con-bad introduced sin¢e Jesus gave his new com-have noted we found our faith in the rescue of tains no reason whatever for first-day observ-mandment, and sin.ee the beginning of the the sainted dead. We believe that tLey will be ance; and not only so, but each fact stated gospel proclamation on the day of Pente-placed beyond the reaeb of the dread foe. And therein is an argument against the practice; cost. Consequently that has been superseded. with Richard Baxter 've are ready to say: therefore the fourth commandment cannot be Rather late to introduce new principles. .My "Hasten, 0 my Saviour, the time of thy return; made to support the Sunday institution, and fi'iend looked) abashed, and attempted Till reply. delay not lest the grave should boast of victory; the conclusion is again inevitable, that to change It appears that the "beginning" of the and having learned rebellion of its guest, should the day necessarily changes the reason for keep-apostle dates a little further back. He says, plead prescription, and refuse to deliver thee up ing the day; therefore the first day of the week ''For this is the message. [margin, command-thy duo. Ob, hasten that great resurrection cannot be observed as tbe Sabbath in obedience ment] that ye beard from the beginning, that day, when thy command shall go forth and to the fourth commandment. we should love one another. Not as Cain, who none shall disobey; when the seed that thou The Sabbath, we say, rests entirely upon the was of that wicked one, and slew his brother." sowest corruptible shall come forth incorrupt- will of the Creator, because it is based upon It seems that Cain was bound by, and vio-ible; and graves that received but rottenness facts relative to the acts of the Creator only, lated the principle of, the old commandment, and retained bnt dust shall return thee glorious and is in no wise contingent upon the will or in that, instead of loving his brother, he killed stars and suns. Therefore, dare I lay down act of any creature or creatures "vhatever. But him, thus breaking the commandment of the my carcass in the dust, intrusting it not to a to base the S~tbbatb solely upon the will of the, decalogue that says, "Thou shalt not kill." grave but to thee; and therefore my flesh shall Creator is to clothe it with the highest morality, From the beginning, the old commandment rest in hope, till thou raise it to the possession for obedience to the will of God is the essence required that we should "love one another." of the everlasting rest."-Sel. of all morality; indeed, without obedience, How, then, is the commandment of Christ to there can be no morality. And as God does his disciples, that they should love one another, "To THE law and to the testimony; if they not require the observance of Sunday, and as it a new ·commandment? Not because the prin-speak not according to this word, it is because cannot be kept in obedieuce to any divine law,. ciple required is new, but because a new motive there is no light in them." Isaiah 8: 20, 260 [4] THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES. VoL. 12, No. 17. The Visigoths in tile Western E1npire. (Continued.) "WHILE the emperor ancl his court enjoyed, with sullen pride, the security of the marshes and fortifications of Ravenna, they [A. D. 409] abandoned Rome, almost ·without defense, to the ·resentment of Alat·ic. Yet such was the moderation which he still preserved, or affected, tbrtt, as he moved with his army n,long the Flaminin,n way, be successively dispatc~hed the bishops of the towns of Italy to reiterate his offers of peace, and to conjure t.he emperor, that he would save the city n,nd its inhabitants from hostile fire, and the sword of the barba- rians. rrhese impending calamities wore, how- ever, n,verted, not indeed by the wisdom of Honorius, but by the prudence or humanity of the Gothic king, who employed a milder, though not less effectual, method of conquest. instead of assaulting the capital, be successfully di- rected his efforts against the Po1·t of Ostia, one of the boldest and most stupendous works of Roman magnificence. The accidents to which the precarious subsistence of the city was con- tinun,lly exposed in a winter navigation, and an open road, had suggested to the genius of the first Cresar the useful design, which was executed nnder the reign of Claudius. The artifieial moles, which formed the narrow en- trance, advanced far into the sea, and firmly repelled the fury of the waves, while the largest vessels securely rode at anchor within three deep and capacious basins, which received the northern branch of the Tyber~ about two miles fi·om the ancient colony of Ostia. The Roman Port insensibly swelled to the size of an episco- pal city, where the corn of Africa was deposited in spacious granaries for the use of the c:tpital. "As soon as Alaric was in possession of that important place, be summoned the city to sur- render at discretion; and his demands were enforced by the positive declaration: that a refusal, or even a delay, should be instantly followed by the destruction of the magazines, on which the life of the Roman people depe1tdod. The clamors of that people, and the tenor of famine, subdued the pride of the senate; they listened, without reluctance, to the proposal of plauing a new emperor on the throne of the unworthy Honorius; and the suffrage of the Gothic conqueror bestowed the purple on Atta- lus, prefect of the city. The grateful monarch immediately acknowledged his protector as master-general of the armies of the \Vest; Adolphus, with the rank of count of the domes- tics, obtained the custody of the person of At- talus; and the two hostile nations seemed to be united in the closest bands of friendship and alliance. ''The gates of the city were thrown open, and the new emperor of the Romans, encom- passed on every side by the Gothic arms, was conducted, in tumultuous procession, to the palace of Augustus and Trajan. After he had distributed the civil and military dignities among his favorites and followers, Attalu:-3 con- venel an assembly of the senate, before whom, in a formal and florid speech, he asserted his resolution of restoring the majesty of the re- public, and of uniting to the empire the prov- inces of Egypt and the East, which had once a0knowledged the sovereignty of Rome. Such extravagant promises inspired every reasonable citizen with a just contempt for the character of an unwarlike usurper, whose elevation was the deepest and most ignominious wound which the republic bad yet sustained from the inso- lence of the barbarians. But the populace, with their usual levity, applauded the change ot' masters. The public diseon tent was favora- ble to the rival of Honorius; and the sectaries, oppressed by hi~ persecuting edicts, expected some degree of countenance, or n,t least of tol- eration :trom a prince who, in his native coun- try of Ionia, had been ednca_ted in t~e pagan superstition, and who had smce rece1ved the sacrament of baptism from the hands of an Arian bishop. "The fi rHL days of the reign of Attalus were fair and prosperous. An officer of co11fidonce was sent with an inconsidemble body of troops to secure the obedience of Africa; the greatest part of Italy submitted to the terror of the GoLhic powers; and though the cit.y of Bologna made a vigorons and effectual resistance, tho people of Miln,n, dissatiHfied perhaps with the absence of Honorius, ncuepted, with loud accla- mations, the ehoice of the Roman senate. At tbo head of a formidn,ble army, Alaric conducted Lis royal captive almost to the gatos of Ravenna; and a. solemn emb:u-.;Hy of the principal ministers of J ovius, the Pretorian prof"ect, of Valcns, master of the cavalry and infantry, of the qurestor PoLamius, and of Julian, the first of the notaries, was introduced, with martini pomp, into the Gotbie camp. In the name of their sovereign, they consented to acknowledge the lawful election of Lis competitor, and to divide the provinces of Italy and the West be- tween the two emperors. "Their proposals were rejected with disdain; and the refusal was aggravated by the insulting clemency of Attains, who condescended to promise that, if Honorius would instantly re- sign the purple, he should be permitted to pass the remainder of his life in the peaceful exile of some remote island. So desperate indeed did the situation of the son of 'fbeodosius ap- pear, to those who were the best acquainted with his strength and resources, that Jovius and Valens, his minister and his general, be- trayed their trust, infamously deserted the sinking cause of their benefactor, and devoted their treacherous allegiance to the service of his more fortunt"tte rival. Astonished by such examples of domestic treason, Honorius trem- bled at the approach of every servant, at the arriva.l of eyery messenger. He dreaded the secret enemies, who might lurk in his capital, his palace, his bed-chamber; and some ships lay ready in the harbor of Raveuna, to trans- port tho abdicated monarch to the dominions of his infant nephew, the emperor of the East. "But there is a Providence (such at least was the opinion of the historian Procopius) that watches over innocence and fo11y; and the pre- tensions of Honorius to its peculiar care cannot reasonably be disputed. At the moment [A. D. 410] when his de::;pair, incapable of any wise or manly resolution, meditated a shameful flight, a seasonable re-enforcement of. four thousand veterans unexpectedly landc:::d m the port of Ravenntt. To these valiant strangers, whose fidelity bad not been corrupted by the factions of the court, be committed the walls and gates of the city; and the slumbers of the emperor were no longer disturbed by the ap- prehension of imminent and internal dang13r. The favorable intelligence which was received from Africn suddenly chn, •god the opinions of men, and the state of pnbli_c affairs. 1'be troops and officers, whom Attalus bad s~t into that provinceJ were defeated and slain; and the active zeal of Heraclian maintained his own allegitVlce, and that of his people." ,:'rbe failure of the African expedition, was the source of mutual complaint and recrimina- tion in the party of Attn,lus; and the mind of his protcetor was insensibly alienated from the interest of a pl·ince, who wanted spirit to com- mrtnd, or docility to obey .... The resentment of the Gothic king was exasperated by the mali- cious arts of J ovius, w bo bad been raised to the rank of patrician, and who afterwards ex- cused his double peTfidy, by declaring, without a blush, that be bad only seemed to abandon the service of Honorius, more effectually to ruin the cause of the usurper. In a large plain near Rimini, and in the presence of an innu- merable multitude of Romans and barbarians, the wretched Attalus was publicly desp·oiled of the diadem and purple; and those ensigns of royalty were sent by Alaric, as the pledge of peace and friendship, to the son of Thcodosius." "The degradation of Attains removed the only real obstacle to the cone! us ion of the peace; and Alaric advanced witb in three miles of B.a- venna, to press the irresolution of the Imperial ministers, whose insolence soon returned with the return of fortune. His i11dignation was kindled by the report, tbttt a rival chieftain, that Sarus, the personal enem:r of Adolph us, and the hereditary foe of the house of Balti, had been received into the pn,bco. At the bead of three hundred follower!"\. that fearless bar- barian immediately sallied, from tlte gates of B.avenna; surprised, and cut in pie<"m;, a consid- erable body of Goths; re-entered the city in triumph; and was permitted to insult his ad- versary, by the voice of a herald, who publi<·ly declared that tbe guiiL of Alaric had forever excluded him from the frie11dsbip and alliance of the emperor. "The crime and folly of the court of R.avenna were expiated a third time by the calamities of Rome. The king of the Goths, who no longer dissembled his appetite for plnnder and revenge, appeared in arms under the walls of the capital; and the trembling senate, without a.ny hopes of relief, prepared, by a desperate resiRtance, to delay the ruin of their conn try. But they were unable to guard against the secret conspiracy of :,heir slaves and domestics; who, either from birth or interest, were attached to the cause of the enemy. At tbe hour of midnight [Aug. 24 A. D. 4] OJ the Salarian gate was silently opened, and the inhabitants were awakened by the tre- mendous sound of the Gothic trumpet. .Eleven hund1·ed and sixty-th1·ee years after the founda- tion of Rome, the bnperial city, which had sub- dued and civilized so considerable a, pa1·t of man- kind, was delive·red to the licentious fury of the t1·ibes of GeTmany and Scythia."-Decline and 1/all, chap. 31, par. 18-21. A. T. J. ( To be continued.) Tllere's tile Lord's Answer. MANY years ago, when in my country charge: I returned one afternoon from a funeral, fa- tigued with the day's work. After a long ride, had accompanied the mourners to the cb urch- yard. As I neared my stable door I felt a strange prompting to vil3it a poor widow, who, with her invalid daughter, lived in a lonely cottage in an outlying part of the parish. My natural reluctance to make another visit was overcome by a feeling which I could not resist, and I turned my horse's head toward the cot- tage. I was thinking only of the poor widow's spiritual needs; bnt when I reached her little house I was struck with its look of unvvonted barenefis and poverty. After putting a little money into her hand, I began to inquire into their circumstances, and found that their sup- plies had been utterly exhn.nsted since the night before. I asked them what they bad done. "I just spread it out before the Lord l" "Did you tell your case to any friend?" "Ob, no sir, naebody kens but bimsel' and me! I kent be would na forget, but I didna ken boo he wad help me till 1 saw you come riding over the brae, and then I sn,id, 'There's the Lord's answer!"' Many a time bas the recollection of this incident encouraged me to trust in the loving care of my heavenly Father.--New 1'es- tament .Anecdotes. ALL our watching must have reference to the coming of the Lord. In all things we must be diligent and faithful, to the end that we may not be ashamed before him at his appearing. We know not how soon we shall appear before the judgment seat of Christ, to receive according to the deeds done in the body; "therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober."-Sel. "THE Lord is on my side; I will not fear; what can man do unto me?" Ps. 118 : 6. MAY 6, 1886. THE BIG NS OF THE TIMES. [5) 261 The "Early Closing." indeed the first reformers, never thought of doing); but their success thus far bns not been A GREAT deal is just now being said about very flattering. As there is no Bible ground "early closing." Ministers are preaching, and for Sunday as the Sabbath, there can be no editors are discussing in their papers the prob-unanimity among its supporters, so nmong the lem of "early closing," and the advantages to Snnday advocates may be fonnd every 1:3hade of be derived from it. sentiment-a bouse divided against itself. And What is this" early closing" which is excit-so Sunday continues to be ~bat it bas been, a ing such a furor? lt is simply the closing of day of visiting and pleasure. business at noon on Satnrday, that the latter· And now, Biblical arguments (so called) bav- part of the day may be given to reereation. It ing failed to produce tbe desired effect, it is is claimed that Americans work too bard; that determined by the mi.ni8ters (by ·whose churches they need more bolidnys, and the early closing the thronging cro·wds go on Sunday to the will supply this want by giving a half holiday beach, the park, or the beer garden) to give tbe every week. pleasure-loving a day for recreation before the This is the way the editors talk who claim to arrival of the "venerable day of the sun," and voice the sentiments of the overworked labor-thus being able to "buy repentance ere they ing classes. But the ministers and the religions grow devout," fun now being over for the week, element have another far different reason from people may be prepared to enter the sanctuary that for fnrniRhing a holiday to the people. It in a pious frame of mind, :filling the otherwise is hoped that all will talrot'byterian clergyn1en in behalf of n. S:tbbatb. 'l 1be roason for tltis is ob'ions. Lhc early clu::;ing, Leld at J!itLt'lwrg, _t>enJL, 'Jhcy had not yet given up tho Sabbath when Mare;h 30, :t11d reported in tlto New York 'l'?"iu- Sllltday was fir::;t introduced as a fo::-;tival day, 'une, one mini::;Ler said that "at Warren, Ohio, RO Lhoy were not without a Sabbath, oven Lhongh an early cloHing mo\u00b7emont was made, one of the St111dny was nothing but a dny of festivity and argument~ for which was tl1at the e;lorks could rejoicing on account of the rc~urrcction. attend pr:tyer-meetings, but," he added, wiLb a lt is easy to see bow, in that ploasure-Iov- twi11kle of his eye and a pathetic tone, ''I didn'L ing age, when a gro:tL influx of pHgans was Roe a si11glo salesman at i.be prnyer-rneetings pouring into the cltlli'Ch, nnd the" mystery of during tlJC lllOYoment, so I don't think 1 should iniquity" was working to l't;!:lbli::;h tho Romisb pu~h tho cLurcb aLtottd:wee as au argumeut. Chnreh, the dny of ploar-;uro would take tho Jam iu favor of it from a humaJtitarian point precedence of Ute day oi' ·worship and cessation of view." vVe may well inqnire Lore it tbe fi·om pleasure, and so tho Sabbath would :finally church attendance will not lw aclva.nced by the be lost sight of, espcc~ially as emperors and Saturday half holiday, and the people still con- councils threw over the first day their royal and tinne 011 in the even te1wr of their way, devoting ecclesiastical patronage. Sunday as 'vvell as half of Saturday to pleasure, Concerning tbe way Sunday was observed in what substantial benefit::; will be gained? ls the early church one of the so-called Pathers of one whole day ofrecreation each week so insu:ffi- tbe church bears the follovring te::;timony: cient to saLi::;iy the average American that an- " We solemnize the day after Saturday in con-other half day of the same nature must be tradistinction to those who call this [seve11 th uuday closing evidence might be adduced npon this point to being a e;losing of all kinds of labor, theaters, show that Sunday wa::; obseryed in the early museums, art galleries, and everything of a church simply as a festival, the very element secular r1ature, so that the church may have a they are now trying to weed out. The Catholic monopoly on that day; and by giving the half Church, the direct and :final outgrowth of the holiday first, they mean to take away from the apostasy which introduced the fo::;tiv:d Sunday, laboring clnsses the reason they have so long still observes the day in the manner of it:s early given for not attending cbure;h, that Sunday use. wa::; the only day they bad for their family and The period of reformation, beginning with for recreation. lf thif-3 plnn shall prove sue;cess- Luther and reaching dovvn to our day, bas made ful, those woo have no particular regard for apparent what was overlooked by the aposta- religion will be obliged to exchange an entire tizing church in the first centuries,-tbat man holiday for a half holiday, and on tJnnclay, now needs a Sabbath; not simply a day of relaxation set apart exelusively for religious purposes, they and leisure, eatingJ drinking, and festivities, but must go to ch urcb or stay at borne, and tho a true Sabbath, such as Jehovah furnished the Sabbath of the Bible degraded and dishonored race when, amid the thunders of Sinai, be by the early apostate church that tho Sunday promulgated the commandment, "Remember festival might come in, now is to be made to the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." And now serve as a festival day that Sunday may have instead of going back to the only Sabbath of free course to run and be glorified, enforced by divine appointment-the seventh day-the at-the authority of the fourth commandment. tempt is made to reconstruct the Su11day festi- At the meeting in Pittsburg, previously re- val into a Sabbath, enforced by the fourth com-ferred to, "Dr. G-ibson thought those who kept mandment (something tb6 early church, and men engaged till late hours on Saturday com- mitted a sin against the fourth commandment, and were guilty of covetousness, which is idol- atry." As the fourth commandment says, "The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work," we can readily see why keeping men "engaged" npon any hour of that day would be an infrac- tion of the divine command. But tho doctor evidently tbongbt it would IJOt be a violation of the fourth commn11dmont to work on the clay God expressly commanded man to keep, in the very commandment he is trying to honor, unless the work is continued down close to the time vvben Sunday comes! Then it would not only violate the fourth commandment, but would be idolatry as well ! What changes have come over the jolly festival day of the early elt urch ! Cbrysostom, in the latter part of the fourth century, after the morning service on Sunday, dismissed his congregation to their respective employments, but now, according to tb is doctor. Sundav is so sacred that its holirwss fairly bnlg~s out UJ)On the other days around it! Probably the "early closing" will be effected, and when the public have become sufficiently pcrmontcd with the theory of Sunday sacred- lless, an attorn pt will be made to compel all to observe tbis day. God's word bas fully fore- warned UR against this whole work. Rev. 13 and 14 tell us bow an attempt will be made to enforce the wori:'bip of the beast,-the papney, nnd his mark, the changed Sabbath, and the last great warning against it proclaimed by those "that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Rev. 14: 12. Not only may we expect a Saturday closing, ~md a Sunday cloRing, bnt a greater closing tltnn all;forfoJiovving this proclamation of" the commandments of God, a.nd the faith of Jesuf'," como:-; the great OVOJtt f'or which the ngos have waiLed, and ~which will close tho lti::;tory of tl1is world. "And I looked, and behold a ·white cloud, :t11clnpon the cloud one sat. like unto Lbe Jon of man, having on !tis head a golden crown, and in his haud a sharp Rickie." And boeause "the harvest of tho earth if.> ripe,"" be that sat on the clond thrusl in bis siclde on tho onrth; and the earth was reaped." Hov. 14 : 14-16. J'"'ot the agit.at ion go on, for it arouses tho pleasure- loving, a::; of old, to tread down the Sabbath, urings tbo light of God's truth and the knowl- edge of tho Bible Sabbath to the Lonest in- quirer, and thu::; tho harvest of the onrLh is ripened, and prepared for the gathering day. :M:. E. KELJ"OGG. J.fiddlebttr·y, Vt. "Forbidding· to Marry." A CORRESPONDENT of the Pall ..iJfall Gazette bavir1g advoeatecl the abolition of celibacy among the Roman Uatbolic clergy, H. :Mus- grave Wilkins, a ]~ellow of Merton, Oxford, thus replied to the letter: ".Many years ago, on my remarking to the late .Lord Lytton that such an intention was attriuuted to the then Pope, Pius IX., be replied: 'He will never do that. The influence of the Homan Uatbolic clergy depends on confession, and confession de- pends on clerical e;olibncy. People will be slow to confess to man·ied men.' The fate of Mol- lines, tbe Quietist, in the sixteenth century, illustrates the dependence of clerical influence on confession. He urged people to consult their own consciences and to take the sacrament without confession and absolution, contrary to the practice of the Roman Church. This did not suit the clergy, whose influence waned when confession was dispensed with. Mollinos was imprisoned for lifo and the old 1·egime re- stored. Pope Gregory Vll., when he bad en- acted the celibacy, found himself obliged to per- mit the concubinage of his clergy."-Sel. "THE Lord is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people." Ps. 99 : 2. 262 [a] TI---:£E SIGNS OF THE TIMES .. -VoL. 12, No. 17. " Can ye not discern the signs of the times?" J. H. wAGGONER, - - EDITOR. E. J. WAGGONER, ~ AssiSTANT EDITORS. ALo Tzo T. JoNEs, f URIAH SMITH, ~ E s. N. HASK:b:LL, f CORRESPONDING j UITORS. OAKLAND, CAL., FIFTH-DAY, MAY 6, 1886. Avoid Them. No MORE sensible instruction was ever given than that by Paul in his letter to Titus, namely, "Avoid foolish questions." Many have, evidently, never read this, or they have forgotten it, or they do not care for it. Sometimes such questions are even in- troduced into the Bible-class, and there become sources of contention, whereby the Spirit of God, given to be our guide in to all truth, is grieved away, the object of the class is lost sight of, and a failure to receive any benefit is the result. We give examples. No more fruitful theme for cavilers has ever been got up than this query, Where did Cain get his wife? Did he :find her in the land of Nod? and if so, How did she come to be there? and finally, as the grand result, How, aye, how, can the Bible rec- ord of creation be true? The editor of the Cincinnati Gazette, in answer to a correspondent, suggested that Cain took his wife with him when he journeyed to the East. Perhaps this answer will give rE'st to some troubled souls. Another position, believed to be truth by some, is this: The Hebrew word nod (long o, node) means a vagabond. The Lord told Cain he should be a fugitive and a vagabond; in the Hebrew it is, he should be a nocle. Sorrie scholars insist that it should be thus rendered: "And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land, a gently to learn their meaning, and to read duty there, as they search them to :find a way of self-jus- tification, they would learn that the rising up, or standing up, of a king, means hi:< reigning. See Daniel, chapters 11 and 12. To raise up a king, is io bring him to the throne. Egypt was to be punished for its wickedness, and because this Pha- raoh was a stubborn, selfish, willful person, the Lord raised him up; that is, he brought him to the throne -caused him to reign-that the ruin might be un- der his hand. If this Pharaoh had been a man of a kind, gentle spirit, the Lord would have so or- dered in his providence that he should not reign at that time. Another would have been raised up- caused to reign in his stead. An illustration of this truth is found in the case of Ahab. The Lord threatened to cut off his house entirely! but because Ahab greatly humbled himself, the Lord said he would not bring the evil in his day, but in the day of his son, who did evil even as Ahab had done, but did not manifest the same con- trition for his sin. This is a most profitable Scripture text-"Avoid foolish questions." Dr. Van Dyke on Baptisin. SoME time since, Dr. Van Dyke wrote an article on b:1ptism, specially on the baptism of infants, which was published in the Presbyte1·ian Re'view. vVe did not have the reading of the article, but we laid aside the comments upon it by the Oh1·istian at JVo1·k, which interest us fully as much as the article itself could. This paper is highly pleased with the Doctor's conc1 usions, fully believing in infant bap- tism; and it admires the Doctor's effort in its behalf, and yet is greatly perplexed over his methods. We do not wonder at this; for the Oh1·istian at Wod~ aims to be a fair and candid paper, and it is greatly perplexed over many points in the current theology of the day. It says:- " Dr. Van Dyke's positions may be epitomized in brief as follows: 1. He sympathizes not a particle vagabond," a nod. with that ProLestantism which cuts itself loose from But more suggestive, and better in fact, than all Christianity.'' these solutions, is the ansv .. rer given by a pious negro This seems the strangest of all straHge declara- to a would-be wise caviler. "You believe the Bi-tions. We heart.ily agree with him in this respect, ble," said the railer, "you ask the Lord for wisdom; only we go a little further, and say that that is not I suppose you can tell me where Cain got his wife." Protestantism which cuts itself loose from Chris- Said the negro, "l neber asked de Lord dat ques-tianity. It is infidelity, no matter what name it tion; I asked him what I should do to be saved.'' takes or bears among men. But the paper might We commend this thought to the consideration of have gone further, and said that Dr. Van Dyke does the multitude of restless one::; who are submissively not sympathize with Protestantism at all; for in wi1ling to throw away their Bibles, and to go down this article it is said: "The mission of Protestant- to destruction, because they cannot tell to a cer-ism is ended, and, of course, there is no longer any tainty, the pedigree of Mrs. Cain I If they cannot use for the term Protestant." We are hnppy to say rest under the burden of this momentous question, that the Christian at Work does not indorse this perhaps they may find a pleasing diversion in the statement, though it does not heartily repudiate question, Where did Seth get his wife? or, Where the conclusions which legitimately follow from the did Lamech get his two wives? The folly of some statement. \Ve do not call that Protestantism people is almost beyond endurance. which praises and fawns before the Catholic Church. Parallel to this (in practical importance!) is the If the Catholic Church is indeed the true church of query, If the Lord raised up Pharaoh for the pur-Christ, as was stated and vigorously argued some pose specified in the book of Exodus, was Pharaoh time si nee in a representative meeting of Pres by- to blame for doing as he did r and, Could he do terians, when considering the subject of Catholic otherwise than he did? The only interest that can baptisms, then not only is the mission of Protest- possibly attach to this question, as we see it, is to autism ended, but it never had a mission; it had make it bring this result, namely, If the Lord deter-not, and has not, a right to exist; then Protestant- mined that Pharaoh should do as he did, is it not ism is a "schism," just as the Catholics affirm it to also in li1s determination that I shall do as I do? be. The only justification which can be found for If Pharaoh was compelled so to act, and theref.ore the existence and work of Protestantism is the dec- was not to be blamed, am I not likewise compelled laration of the reformers that the Catholic Church to act as I do, and therefore not worthy of blame? is the great apostasy and antichrist; that it has so This conclusion is easy to arrive at, and very grati-far perverted the gospel, and so far amalgamated fyin.g to selfishness and ca~nality. We recomm:nd he Christ~an system wit~ p~gan rites, that its faith to the notice of such quensts, another conclusiOn, and practice are not Chnst1an, but a great system thus: If Pharaoh was destroyed for his rebellion! of false worship and worldlinE'ss. against God, will I not also be destroyed for my But the paper places a most singular construction sins? This may be found a far more profitable upon the idea of adherence to Christianity. 1m- theme for meditation than the other. mediately following the sentence which we quoted, If some persons searched the Scriptures as dili-is this: "In his view-and not in his alone-the traditions of the church in all ages are entitled to the deepest respect, and 'ought never to be rejected except under compulsion of 1oynlt.y to the Script- ures as the snpreme rule of faith and practice."' And thus we have it distiuctly enunciated that to cut loose from Christianity is to reject the tra- ditions of the clturcll! Only with this reservation that they may be rejected wherein they are specif- ically disallowed Ly Scripture statement. But this is the stronghold of error, and opens the door to unnumbered false doctrines and practices. \Ve think the following is the truth on the subject: The traditions of the church are entitled to no respect whatever, as far as faith and duty are concerned; the Scriptures, and the Scriptures alone, being the complete standard of Christianity. This is in per- fect harmony with the statement of Paul, that the holy Scriptures are profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteous ness, that the man of God may be perfect, tho1·oughly jU?·- nished unto allgoocl wo1·ks. 2 Tim. 3:16, 17. That unto which the holy Scriptures do not thorougltly furnish us is not a good work. There is scarcely an error of the church of Rome which may not be ad- mitted under the Doctor's rule, which is indorsed by the Oh?'istian at Wo1·k. J3ut if the rule be dis- allowed, theu sprinkling for baptism, infant baptism, the Sunday sabbath, and jike errors, mnst necessa- rily be rejected. They all come in under the rule of paying the deepest respect to the traditions of the church. His second position is as follows:- "2. From the days of the apostles to the time of the Reformation and to the rise of the Baptist denomination in England, 'there is not in all Chris- tian history or literalure a line or a word of objec- tion to the baptism of infants, upon grounds with which evnngelica1 Cl1ristians in onr day can have a particle of sympaLhy.'" This statement is not wholly true, but both in substance and method it is wholly deceptive. But we do not accm;e the author of any intention to deceiye, by any means. From his standpoint, ac- cording to the faith of llis church, he stauds justi- fied. We can prove that the meaning of the orig- inal word, baptize, is immerse; that the ordinance is by a precept which calls for obedience, which excludes infants; that it is to be preceded by repent- ance and faith; that every Scripture example of baptism is in accordance with these facts. But this is not the kind of evidence for which the Doctor's proposition calls. HE' asks for llistory or literature this side of the Scripture record which objects to infant baptism. Now we can show that the earliest advocates of infant bnptism ascribed it to tradition; that it was administered under the erroneous belief that no unbaptized iu fan t could be saved; that because of the marvelous benefits which were as- cribed to it, many unbelievers brought their chil- dren, and especially their sick children, to be b:1p- tized; and that infant communion was practiced with it, and is continued to this day in the Greek Church. Besides this, they who rejected the tnt- ditions of the church were denounced a.s heretics, and to preserve the writings of heretics was made a crime to be visited with the severest puHishments. As an example we may state that Arius was a very popular man, having many eminent men as his followers; but an edict was finally promulgated requiring every one who had any of his writings to destroy them or to bring them to the authorities, and a failure to do this was punishable with death. Consequently all that we know of Arius is through his bitter enemies. Shall we go to such times and to such sources for Christian doctrine~ But, of course, that class of " evangelical Chris- tians" who hold that "the traditions of the church in all ages are entitled to the deepest respect," have not "a particle of sympathy" with such evidences as we present. Their position is wide as the world from ours. We hold that" The Bible, and the Bible MAY 6, 1886. TI-IE SIGNS OF TJ:-IE TIMES. [7] 263 I alone, is the religion of Protestants." The Doctor taught in the Scriptures, is not discerned by modern holds that" the mission of Protestantism is ended," theologians, because they lay no stress on the doc- and tradition is to be deeply rPspected. The two trine or' the resurrection. Here again the Doctor is po::;itions cannot be reconciled. They must forever lame in his argument. There remains to be noticed remain apart. But w~ are satisfied to differ with his most material point, the one upon which he most him, because we are Protestants, and have full relies, the identity of the church in both Testaments, faith in the mission of Protestantism. and of circumcision with baptism. But here he is The third statement of his faith, embracing the necessarily the weakest, as may easily be shown. fourth also, is one of great interest; it is as fol- lows:- Under tlte Law. "3. The argument against infant baptism from the silC'nce of Scripture is rejected as proving too muc.h: 'There are many tlli ngs about which the Bible say:; notllincr, which all Christians believe and in- sist upon.' As for example, 4. All Christians agree that the Lord's Supper is for all believers; 'but where is there a single passage of Scripture which says that women are to be admitted to the Lord's tn ble r "' Against this we present a two-fold argument: (1) The very terms in which baptism is required or commanded exclude infants from the rite. It is an ordinance of precept, which infants cannot obey. It is in the Scriptures nlways preceded by faith and repentance, which renders it doubly impo:;sible for infants to meet its requirements. If objections of this nature cuuld be presented against females par- taking of the Lord's Supfrer, we would yield that question at once. But they cannot; the cases are not pariLllel. Bnt, (2) The Scriptures do present a fact, w!tich is itself a rule whereby femn.le,; are ad- mitted to the Lord's table. It is found in Gal. 3 : 26-29. "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Here are a series of important points: They who are children of God by faith iu Christ, put on Christ in baptism, and are thereby constituted the seed and heirs of Abraham. And among them the dis- tinctions of male and female, and Jew and Greek, or Gentile, :ue unknown; they are all members of the housel10ld of faith, or the body of Christ. They being alike members of the church of Christ, they alike have the privileges of the membership of that church. This is undeniable. The first partakers of the Lord's Supper, and all the partakers for several years, were Jews. But this text from Paul to the Galatians proves that they are all one, members of one household; and we insist that there is as good proof of the right of females to come to the Lord's Supper, as there is that Gentile converts have that right. And in both cases the proof is complete. Here again we say that if the Doct.or can find a parallel to ~his argument in favor of infant baptism, we would yield the question. But it cannot be found. The point marked 5 needs but few words of com- ment:- " 5. Most Christians believe that infants dying in infancy are saved through Christ, though incapable of exercising and confessing faith in Christ, which is the only expressed condition of salvation. • But where is the text which says so in so many words?'" We turn to Jer. 31:15-17, and compare this with Matt. 2:17, 18, and we lean1 that children, little children, will certainly be raised from the dead. See also 1 Cor. 15:22-26. They inherited mortality from Adam, and die on that account, and not be- cause of any sin committed by them. Their fall and death were not by their forfeiture, and they will also be raised without any condition. They are resurrected by the Saviour, by the power of his blood which purchased them. But, never having committed any sin, they cannot be condemned, but necessarily enjoy eternal life by virtue of the resur- rection. They, too, will be the redeemed of the blood of the Lamb. But this salvation, so plainly ONE of the peculiarities of the human mind is that while it readily grasps a pleasing story or a fable, it refuses to accept truth until it is compelled to. So strong is this tendency toward error, that mental philosophers are obliged to take it into ac- count. One of Bacon's rules for avoiding erroneous conclusions is the following: "In general, let the stu- dent of uature take this as a rule, that whatever the mind seizes and dwells upon with particular satisfac- tion is to be held in suspicion." The converse would teach that truth will naturally be repelled and rejected. And this is just what the Bible says: "The natural man recei veth not the things of the Spirit of God." 1 Cor. 2:14. "The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Rom. 8: 7. "For out of the heart proceed [naturallyJ evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false wit- ness, blasphemies." Matt. 15: 19. The e things are directly opposed to the law of God; and therefore, as a general thing, before men will accept the truth of the Bible concerning the law, every feature must be made perfectly clear. It is not enough that the principles be unfolded, hut the harmony of all the texts bearing on the subject must be shown. Accordingly we find it necessary to devote special explanation to Rom. 6 : 14 and kindred texts. That text reads thus: "For sin shall not have dominion over you; for ye are not under the law, but under grace.'' So strong is the natural tendency to reject. truth, that in spite of the overwhelming evidence already produced to show that the law is to all eternity binding upon every created rational being, many people will seize upon the expression, "Ye are not under the law," and claim that there are some, at least, who have no duty to keep it. The readiness with which this view is seized and dw lt. upon, should alone arouse suspicion as to its justu~ss. But that there may be no chance for an honest doubt, we propose to examine not only this text, but every text which contains the phrase, "under the law.'' In Rom. 6 : 12 the apo::;tle gives this exhortation: "Let not sin therefo~·e reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof." We have already learned that "sin is the transgression of the law.'' 1 John 3:4. Therefore when the apostle tells us not to sin, he virtually tells us not to transgress the law. But this is an evidence that the law is bindiug upon us; and therefore we are assured that the statement in verse 14 cannot mean that the law has no claims upon us. Again: The apostle continues: "Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin; but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God." Rom. 6 : 13. This is but a repetition of the argument pre- sented in the preceding paragraph. For he says we must not sin, that is, must not transgress the law; and again, that we must yield our members as in- struments of righteousness. Now righteousness is obedience to the commandments of God. See Deut. 6: 25; Ps. 119: 172; Isa. 51:6,7, which have already been explained. So the 13th verse is an exhorta- tion not to transgress the law, and another exhor- tation to keep the law, both of which amount to the same thing, and show that the apostle recognizes the fact that the law is in existence and is to be obeyed. Then comes the conclusion:" For sin shall not have dominion over you; for ye are not under the law, but under grace." Verse 14. Notice a few facts and necessary conclusions. 1. Si nee "sin is the transgression of the law," the absence of sin must indicate obedience to the law. Therefore when the apostle says to any persons, "Sin shall not have dominion over you," it is an evidence that they are keeping the law. 2. Those over whom sin has no dominion are those who are not under the law. "Sin shall not have dominion over you; for· ye are not under the law.'' The fact that sin has no dominion over them is an evidence that they are "not under the law.'' Therefore, to be "not under the law" is equivalent to being free from the dominion of sin. 3. But we have already seen that to be free from the dominion of sin represents a state of obedience to the law; therefore, to say that one is "not under the law" is equivalent to saying that he is keeping the law. These propositions will stand the test of any crit- icism, and they demonstrate that the apostle's argu- ment is based on the fact that the law is in full force, binding upon all, and that there are but two c1asses of people: those who keep the law, and those who transgress it. Those who keep the law are not under it, and of course those who transgress it are under it. In other words, tho3e over ·whom sin has domin- ion are under the law; and those over whom sin has not dominion, are not under the law. In harmony with this, the apostle continues: "What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid." Ver..;e 15. That is, Shall we transg-ress the law because we are not under it? By no means. Keep from under it, by refraining from sin. Thus far we have not shown the full force of the terms "under the law," and "not under tl1e law," but have simply shown that they do not indicate that any persons are outside the jurisdiction of the law; that those "under the law" are violating it, while those "not under the law" are obeying it. The next two verses give us a clew to the real force of the terms. They read thus: "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves senrants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered unto you.'' Verses 16, 17. "Whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness." Sin, the transgression of the law, brings death, "For the wages of sin is death." Hom. 6:23. Every one who sins i::'! under condem- nation of death; and since, as has been abundantly proved, those who sin are" under the law," it follows that "under the law" is an expression meaning, Under the condemnation of the law. Now see how aptly this meaning fits verses 14 and 15. Ye are not under the condemnation of the law, but under the grace of God. Shall we sin, then, because we are not by the law condemned to death r No, indeed; for that would at once bring us again under con- demnation. Let us keep from sinning, and then we shall be no more condemned. How are we freed from the condemnation which the law brings? "Being justified freely by his [God's] grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; whom God hath set forth to be a propi- tiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past.'' Rom. 3:24, 25. Having accepted Christ, his right- eousness is imputed to us, which makes us clear before the law, and we are then subjects of the grace, or forbearance of God. Take an illustration from human affairs. Here is a man that has been convicted of murder. The law of the State forbids murder, and therefore it con- demns the man. The murderer is then "under the law," because the hand of the law is upon him. 264 [S] THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES. -VoL. 12, No. 17. Nothing that he can do will avert the threatened punishment. He may be sorry for his crime, and may resolve never to break the law again; but that will make no difference. He has already broken the law, and mu~:;t suffer the penalty. But now, through the intercession of powerful friends, and because of his repentance and his promises of future obedience, the Governor is induced to pardon the criminal. Now he is no longer under the law,-a condemned prisoner,-but a free man. He is free by virtue of the grace or favor of the Governor. Therefore he may be said to be "under grace." The question now arises, Is he at liberty to commit murder, because he is not under the law, but under the grace of the Governor( Everybody says, No, indeed. He is now under even greater obligation to keep the law than he was before, because he is the subject of the Governor's special favor; and that favor would not have been extended to him, but for his promise to henceforth keep the law. And as sin brought condemnation and death, so, wl1en we are cleared from sin and condemnation, continued obedience, or righteousness, brings eter- nal lire through Christ. This is indicated by the expression, servants" of obedience unto righteous- ness" (Rom. 6: 16) and, "the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Clirist our Lord." Rom_ 6:23. In closing tlds preliminary study of the term, "under the law," the reader can profitably compare with what he hns read, the following verses:- " Therefore, as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one m:1n's dis- obedience many were made sinners, so by the obedi- ence of one shall many be made rigl1 teous. More- over the law entered, lliat Lhe offensemigl1t abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Clnist our Lord." Rom. 5: 18-21. E. J. W. Sontc Onc-"l'housand-Dollar Reasons for Iiccping· Sunday. OuR readers will remember that for several weeks lately we have bestowed some attention upon a book entitled "The ALiding Sabbath," the book being an essay that received a prize of five hundred dollars, as the best of a number of efforts, by dHl'erent indi- viduals, to prove the prrpctual obligation of all men to keep the :first day of the week as the SaLbath. We are perfectly willing that the decision as to the merit of that book, shall rest with our readers. W(' have nothit1g more to say in regard to it. But since we began the notice of that book, we have received another on the same subject, and with exactly the same drsign. This too is a prize essay. Not a :five-hundred-dollar, but a one-thousand-dollar prize essay. It was written in 1884 by "A. E. Waffle, M. A., then professor of rhetoric and English literature in Lewisburg University, Lewisburg, Pa." The prize of one thousand dollars was awarded, "after a painstaking, and protracted examination," by the Committee of Publication of the American Sunday- bChool Union; the award was approved by the Board of the Union; and the essay was printed and copy- righted by the Union, in 1885. It makes a book of 418 pages, and is printed under the title of "The Lord's Day; Its Universal and Perpetual Obliga- tion." The author of this book treats the subject in three parts. Part I he devotes to proving the necessity of the Sabbath, by showing that it is necessary to man's physical, his intellectual, his moral and religious, and his social welfare. In Part II he discusses the propos] tion that "the Sabbath of the Bible was made for all men." In Part III he considers "the nature and importance of the Sabbath." We shall not no- tice the work in detail because the ground has been mostly covered in our review of" The Abiding Sab- bath." About all that we shall do with tllis book will be to notice the reasons that are given for keep- ing Sunday, as we want our readers to become thor- oughly acquainted with the kind of reasoning that draws :five-hundred-dollar prizeR, and one-thousand- dollar prizes, in proof that Sunday is the Sabbath. We need to make no apology for following up this subject. For certaiuly a subject to which is devoted so much high-priced discussion, is worthy of notice to any extent that that discussion may run; more es- pecially when in it there is involved moral and relig- ious principles upon which turn eternal destinies. Of the early int~titution of the Sabbath Mr. Waffie says:- "0ur first argument is founded upon the fact that the Sabbath was iugtituted at the beginning of hu- man history. In the :first three verses of the second chapter of Genesis, we read, 'Thus the IJeavens :-t11d the earth were ii11ished, and all the ho~t of them. And on the seventh day God ended hi:; work which he had made; and he resteJ on the sevenLh clay from all liis work wliich he had made. And God blessed tlie seventh day and sanctified it; because that in it lie had rested from all his work which GoJ created anJ made.' . . . The nature of this early Sabbath is hi 11 ted at in the words that record it.s institution. God 'rested from the work of creation. This is evideutlv meaut to teach meii tl1at on the seventh day th~y are to cease from secular toil, and rest. The idea is more fully developed in the statement that God blessed and sanctilied the seventh day .... Sanctifying the day means that God set it apart as a day to be de- voted to boly uses. It could have uo higher use than to keep man near to his God aud to cui tivate his moral and rei igious natnre. . . . lt is hardly possible Lo avoid tlie coucl usion that a 8aubath, 011 which men rested from secular toil, and engaged in the worship of God, was instituted at the beginuing or human llistory. Just as the law of marriage and the law of property are older than the decalogue, so the law of Lhe Sabbath, having its origin in tJie needs of man, a11d iu the benevolence and wisdOiiJ of God, was given to the first man, and was buL repeated and emphasized 011 Sinai. . . . The bear- ing of this couclusiou upon tlie general discussion will be readily perceived_ If the Sabbatl1 did have this early origin, it was given to the wlwle race, and shonld be observed by every humali being. The moral law itself is not done away iu CJHist; JiO more are the things before it which God made oblig- atory upon man. Unless it can be shown that the law of the Sabbath gi veu at creatio11, lins been repealed by a new legislative act of God, it is still uinding upon all men who learn of it. For, coming at this time, it w:1s not given to one man, or to one nation, but to the whole human family.'' That is the exact truth, well stated. The Sab- bath was instituted at the beginning of human his- ()ry. The :first three verses of the second chapter of Genesis are evideu tly meau t to teach men that on the seventh day they are to cease from secular toil, and rest. And it is indeed true that, unless it can be shown that the law of the Sabbath, givr;n at m·eation, has been repealed by a new legislative act of God, it is still binding upon all men who learn of it. And that it has not been repealed, that there lias been no new legislative act of God, neither by himself, nor by Christ, nor by the apostles, Mr. Wa:ffie shows conclusively. After proving the Sab- bath to be a part of the moral law, he advances argument to show that" the law of the Sabbath has never been repealed," from wh~ch we shall present a few passages. He says:- " If the conclusion.:; of the precedi!lg chapter are just, the law of the Sabbath can never· be abrogated. So far as it is a moral Jaw it must remain binding upon all men while the world stands. . We assert that the law of the Sabbath, so far as it is a moral law, has never been annulled. A law can be repealed only by the same authority that enacted it. It certainly cam1ot be done away by those who are subject to it. If the law of the Sabbath, as it appea1·ed in the ten commandments, has been abol- ished, it must have been done by some decree of Jehovah. V here have we the record of such a decree? Tlnough what prophet or apostle was it spoken r We can :find no words of Christ derogatory to thh'~ institution [the Sabbath] as it was originally established, or as it was intended to be observed. All his utterances on the subject were for the purpose of removing misapprehensions or of correcting abuses. It is strange that he should take so much pains to establish the Snbbath upon a proper foundation and promote right views of it, if he had any intention of doing a'vvay with it alto- gether. The same is true or his actions. There is no record that he ever did anything upon the Sab- bath not consistent with its purposes from the begin- ning. He healed the sick; but works of mercy on that day were never forbidden except in the rabbin- ical perversions of the Sabbath. "It is fair to cone] ude that Christ never intended to abolish the Sabbath. The only conceivable ground for such a statement is the fact that he op- posed the notions of it prevalent in his time. But his efforts to correct these furnish the best evidence that he was desirous of preserving the true Sabbath. He said that it became him to 'fulfill all righteous- ness.' He voluntarily placed himself un-der the law, including the law of the Sabbath. Thus he not only maintained the sacredness of the Sabbath by his works, but he also kept it as an example jo1· us. "But do the apostles teach that the fourth com- mandment is no longer in force; that it is not bind- ing upon Christians ( It is asserted by many chat they do, and appeals are made to their epistles to maintain the assertion. Paul says: 'Wherefore the law is holv, and the commandment holy, and just., and good.' ·How could he have given it higher praiser A1id this he says just after the declaration,' We are delivered lrom the law.' Does he mean that we are delivered from that which is 'holy, and just, and good,' and tliaG we are hence- forth to cli1;regard the things required in the law( Not at all. He simply means that we are freed from the penalty Rnd the bondage of the law. A~nin he says: 'Do we make void the law through faith ( God forbid; yea we establi~:dt the law_' Here his meaning obviously is that the law is not only honored by the redemption through Christ, but is estahlislied in the minds of those who through faitl1 enjoy this rcdrmption, fai Lh giving abiJ i ty to npprecinte its excelleJice and power joyfully to obey it. But he is even more specific_ WJien he wants a summary of our duties to our fellow-men, lie can do no better than to take the second table of tlie law. Rom. 13:8-10. . Paul was hardly so inconsistent as to quote thn" from a law which had been abrogated as a rule of life. "He is not alonein this practice. St. James says: ' ~Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For l1e tlint said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if tl1ou kill, thou art become a transgre::;sor of the law.' What of it, if the law is ann ulJed? It does not matter if we violate obsolete laws. But James would have said that these laws were still binding, and that no one of them could be violated with im- punity. His main point is the integrity of the law -Lhe impossibility of wrenching out one of its mem- bers without destroying all. The way in which Paul and James and Peter and John urge upon the Christians to whom they write, abstinence from specific sins, and the performance of specific d utie1:1, shows that those who believe in Christ have need of law. This general view of the relation of Chris- tians to the law will help us to understand what is said by Paul concerning the law of the Sabbath. It is plain that no part of the moral law is abol- ished. This is still recognized as of binding force upon all. The law of the Sabbath is a part of it, and any apostolic precepts which appecw hostile to the Sabbath must be interpreted in the light of this fact. "Our conclusion is that there is nothing in the writings of the apostles which, when fairly inter- preted, implies the abrogation of the Sabbath. . . They honored ·the moral law as the highest expres- sion of God's will, and sa.y no word to indicate that the law -of the Sabbath was not a part of it. Thus both Christ and his inspired apostles have given their sanction to this insLitution. They have not taken away this choice gift of God to men.'' This is sound doctrine. It is true that in ::~peak­ ing of the law of the Sabbath he uses the qualify- ing phrase, "so far as it is a moral law;" but as the law of the Sabbath is moral to the fullest extent; as there is nothing about it that is not moral, his statement is literally sound. That is, the law of the Sabbath in its widest extent" must remain binding upon all men while the world stands;" and the law MAY 6, 1886. THE SIGNS OF TriE TIMES. [OJ 265 of the Sabbath being entirely moral, "has never been annulled." There is more of it that might be qnoted, but we have not the space for it. Besides, this is all-suffident to show tl1e universal and un- changeable obligation of the seventh day as the SabLath of the Lord. And now, in view of the fact that the seventh day is the day which God establi~hed as the Sabbath at creation; in view of the fact that the seventh day is the day named by God in the fourth r.om- ma.ndment; in view of the fact that the law of the Sabbath "as it ;ppeared in the ten command- ments," has never been repealed; in view of the fac~ that Christ kept, "as an exn.mple for us," this identical day-the seventh dn.y-named at creation and in the decalogue; in view of the fact that the apostles maintain that ''no part of the rnornl law is abolished," and that it is "of bindin~ force upon all;" in view of the fact that God, and Christ, and Ids inspired n.postles have given their sanction to this institution, and that in all their words of sanc- tion to the insLitution there is absolutely no refer- ence to anytllin~ but the seventh day as the Sab- bath; in view of all this we ourselves would give a thousand dollars, if we had it, to any man who could show, by any process of lP-gitimate reasoning, how Sunday or any other day but the seventh day can he the Sabbath. Next week, if the Lord will, we shall gi'e our readers the advantage of some of tbe steps which Mr. Waffle takes to accomplish this, for wldeh he received a prize of one thousnnd dollars. A. T. J. The Cause in Australia and New Zealand. WE have encb month mentioned particulars of the w·ork in Australia and have nlRo Rpokon of tho work in New Zcalnnd. \V c c:n1 otdy sny in reference to the cnuse in A u~t rnlin that from tho time we began to see suceeRs nttond our efforts, the interest hns been sto:tdily on the increase, widenin~ and deepening. Tho tent has been nitchcd four times in three differ- ent snburb;, and in onch plaee a number have embraced the truth. ':l_1ho chnrch in Melbourne numbers fifty-five at tho present time, nnd in the place where the tent was lnst pitched, thirty-five additionnl ones have sig11ed the cov- ennn t. These are mostlv of the bett<'r cln~s. Amon~ them are those "having stores, which have to be closed on the Sabbath. One music dealer has placed our publications in the bands of his agents, and has already secured for us a large number of subscribers for the Bible Eclw, besides selling mnny copies. In each place where the tent has been pitched, we have seen the influence of the truth beyond ·what bns ap- penrod to be the direct efforts put forth. God has gone out before us in this work; and pre- pared hearts to accept the truth. Our brethren have secured a hall in Melbourne, where the friends from the suburbs can meet on the Snbbath. The last Sabbath in March, the ball ·where our brethren meet was full to overflowing, and bad they all been !'>resent, they could not have been seaLed. The interest is better at the present time than at any period since the ·work commenced. Tuesday, the 23d of February, we left Mel- bourne for Auckland, New Zealand, where we remained four weeks, visiting the places that were visited in November. While New Zea- land and Australia are considered as much the same in America, they are two distinct fields and will ever be. It costs nearly as much to go from one to the other as it does to go from America to Europe, and requires nearly as much time. They are as separate in their commercial relations as two nations, although both are Zcalnnd, one in Kaeo and one in Aucklnnd. under the British Crown. Each bas its ovvn We cannot form a correct estimate of the num- lincs of 8tenmers direct to England and other ber of Sabbath-keepers in Australia and New :l:lrts of the world. Yet there is weekly con-Zealand, but as nearly as we can learn, there nection between the two colonies. are about one hunch·ed and fifty, some one hun- Our visit toN ew Zealand in the winter intro-dl'ed and twenty-five of whom have signed the duoed the truth at Auckland, nnd also at Kaeo, covenant. What is much needed at the present whieh if-< 160 rnileA north. Both of these places time is a series of meetings in Auckland; but arc in the north island. Auckland is one of the those can be b(~tter held in the summer season, lnr~est cities in Now Zeaiand, while Kneo is a wbicb eommenccs in September and continues co~;l try place on a river of the snme name. until the next J nne. vVe have reason to be- The pl'incipal bnsiness is lumbering. Bitter op- lieve that with lest:> labor put forth here than position was m:mifested in both of these plnces, bas been put forth nt Melbourne there would be but the f1·ieuds who had fully committed them-gecater results. At the present there is m.ucb selves while we were there in November hnd bitter opposition from some of whom we might grown stronger, nnd others had been reading expect bet tel' things. It is a singular fact that and were anxious to hear more. During our professed Christian ministers will meet for wor- two weeks' stay at Kaeo, we baptized filteen. ship eac:h Sunday, and publicly declare that 'rhe people gave a ready assent when the im- there is no script nre for the same, and yet man- portancc of· bnptiRm vn1s presented. They were ifeRt a bitterness toward the S:.tbbath of the convinced that the Bible teaehes that baptism fourth commandment. Has God changed? is immersion, but there seemed t.o be a genernl Did be make a mistnke in placing the Sabbath dread of going forward in the ordinanee. I did in the midst of nine mom! precepts like a golden not learn the cause of this holding back until ciasp binding together our dnty to God and to nJter the baptism bad tnkon place. It seems our fellow-:ne;t? Or is. it because m~n have that., with the fe:v execptions, y,tone. of them had 1 c;-u·nal benr ts .. W c tbtnk t~1e ~attet.. M~~ eYer seen·a bnpttsm. Some evtl-mlltded person 1 b?d h.nsten t.be tm~e when those of a. ~101~eo had told them tbnt the ceremony would be in-sctcntJOns mmd will have. the opp01tuntt.Y: of decent, and that the cnndidates would be re- henri1~g the ~ruth more favorably set before quired to go into the water almost devoid of tbem.m ~be .01ty of Ancklnnd. clol11iJw. Unconseious of this cause of their ':l_1b1s ctty IS not as large as .Melbourne, and reluctn~ce to a publie baptism, I urged them to the people generally a.re more liberal to those go forward, tolling them tbn.t baptism is a pub- ~b? d.iffer with tl1em in religious set~timer.tt. lie ordinance, and that the more that could be I l11s ctty and suburbs hnve over 40,000 Inhabit- present: the better would be the impression. ants, while Melbou~·ne and ~uburbs have. about It wa.s fiJ1ally announced at the meeting on 300,0?0. Tho publ10 press ts also more hbe~·al. Sttnday forenoon th·a.t baptism would be adrnin-In thts res1Jeet they bet.ter r.e~resent Amertca. i::;Lei·od in the afternoon. A lar~.!."e company was They are more free to gtvc different persons an present at tho water's edge, and the impression opportunity to express themselves through that was made was exeollent. The Spirit ol their columns. God evidently witnessed to the scone. l1'rom rrhe boat sailed Tuesday nt 2:00P.M. A few this time thoro was a breaking down, and nll hours previous, the few friettds met at the object ions were removed. Seven wore baptizud, house of Brother Hare, where vve spent a short bnt others who had been holding bnck made up time mnking suggestions as to their future ef- Lhoir mit1ds that day to keep the Sabbath. The forts, and closed the interview with a season of next Tnosday eight more were baptized. 'l'his prnyer, committing them to the cal'e of a cove· led still othot·s to tnke their stand, and more nnnL-keeping God. As we bid them adieu by would have been bnpLized if 1 could bave-re-tho wave of the hand, while the stately Alameda mnined. · waR eour::.:in!~ its way for· tho broad Pacific Tbe entire community was stirred. After Ocoan, which separated us from our dearest our baptism on rruesdny, we enjoyed a pt·ecions earthly ties, ont· heart yearned for that country season of the ordinances, organized a Sabhnth-and people. May God speedily raise up faith- school, and mnde arrangements fot· the meet-ful laborer8 who will feed hungry souls with ings. Our meeting did not hold as long as the the bread of life. one at 'rroas (Acts 20), but until past ohe On stopping on board the steamer at -f..uck- o'clock, Wednesday moming. Our ticket bci11g lnncl, we received by the hnnd of the purser, an purchased n month previous, and bo1·th secured, album containing the photogrnphs of thirty-six we were undet· the necessity of leaving just ns individuals who were the fiest fruits of the we did. Others will no doubt sign the cove-Third Angel's Message in Australia. This was nant, and be baptized the first opportunity. highly nppreeiated, and will be appreciated by Father J osepb Hare acts as pastor and local the friends of the mission in America. elder of the church, and his son, William Hare, Our voyage was the most pleasant one we as superintendent of the Snbbath-scbool. We ever had. With the exception of two or three felt a great anxiety for their first r>ublic Sab-days a row boat could have lived on the sea, bath meeting after we left, as they were to and some of the way scarcely a ripple was seen. arrange their classes for Sabbath-school, and On the first Sunday evening we were im·ited to hold pnblic service in the Temperance Hall at speak to t.be passengers; quite an interest was Kaeo. Our only opportunity of connecting manifested. This developed those who were with the stenmer for A merion was to leave the more religiously inclined, and opened the way next day, Wednesday, for Auckland. We for daily Bible-readings with them. The re- never left any people more reluctantly thnn we gret was repeatedly expressed that we had not did these. When we took the parting hand eommenced at the first of the voyage. On from some of them, it would not be stating the board a steamship with an over-crowded list of truth to say there were no moist eyes. pleasure seekers for passengers, where enter- We accordingly spent the Sabbath before tainments for pleasure were arranged almost leaving far America at Auckland, where a few daily and nightly, it was like an oasis in the signed the covenant and will meet regularly for desert to find a few who revered God's word. social meeting and Sabbath-school, Edward One man, a public teacher, seemed at first to Hare acting as the leader. We were much enjoy them much; but after a little the card ta- rejoiced on Monday following the Sabbath to ble had a greater attraction for him. receive the following telegram from Kaeo: The officers did all in their power to make it "SahbaLh-school and services well attended. pleasant for the passengers. We never had Isa. 12 : 1, 2." vVe immediately sent the fol-better accommodations, or received more atten- lowing response: "Telegram received. 1 Cor. tion from the officers. 'rhey kindly agreed to 15 : 57, 58." grant us favors in the way of carrying packnges 'rhere are now two small companies in New of periodicals for us to and from Australia. But 266 [10; TI~E SIGNS OF THE TIMES. VoL. 12, No. 17. while cabin passengers fared wcl1, those in .the followin?:, which were taken up separately and steerage had unusually poor accommodations. adopted:~ It would be for the interest of America, and tbe ·Colonies if their :first-cia::;s F;tenmers, as 011 the Atlantic Ocean, had second nnd third cla~s ac- commodations, and a fortnightly line. s. N.H. From Los Ang·eles County. 'VHF.REAS, The reports of the workings of the printing office established by the Pacific Publishing Association, during the past year, and its present eondition, meet the minds of vour Committee as satisfactory, and rfcognizi ng thE: hand of God in the success of the institution, therefore, Resolved, Thn t our thanks are hereby extended to all 'vvho have by their counsrl :tndlabors assistrd APRIL 7 I began a short series ofmeetings iu in cMrying on ihe publishing work to its present the church at ]_;os Angelos City. This church position, nnd that we will do all we can to sustain bas long been weighed down vvith debt. Tltoy it in the future. · Lave, however, just exchanged the lot on which Resolved, That we consider ourselves highly fa- their meeting-bouse stood for a more centrn.l vored in having Elder G. I. Butler, President of tlte one, and received about a thousand dollars in Genern.l Conference, with us to aid us by his coun- sel and encouragement. money besides. Thus the church is cleared of debt, n.nd all the members seem to be of good Resolved, That we are glad to hnve Elder S. N. Haskell, President of our Association, present with courage. us in our annual merting nfter his protraeted nb- We bad several well-attended meetings at' sence, :md we nre cheered by the reports of till' Norwalk, and on Sabbath, April 17, the Lord's work established by llim and his co-laborers in ::3upper was celebrated and a local elder was Australia. ordained. Resolved, That we nre pleased to note the in- I also visited Santa Ana and fonnd there a crease of our denominational work at the office dur- Snbbnth-school containing forty-four members, ing the pnst yenr, and look forward to the time which seems to be in a prosperous condition. when all our facilities shnll be required to publish I have just begun a course of meetings in the Third Angel's Messnge. a school-house at Duarte, a thickly settled Tho following resolution was submitted by rural riistrict where the present trntb bas never W. M. Healey and Wm. Saunders, part of the I b 11. committee. been preached. The peop e ore seem wi mg to listen, and we trn~t that, with the bles~i11g- Resolved, That we hereby express our thanks to of God, some good will be accomplished. Elder J. H. Waggoner for his past faithful and d ~ l l earnest labor, ns editor of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, My post-office ad ress or severa wee rs to n.nd other publications, nnd ns duty calls him to come will be Duarte, Los Angeles Co., Cal. other fields, our sympathy and prayers go with him. E. A. BRIGGS. At a meeting held vVednesclay, April 28, the April 28, 1886. Pacific S. D. A. Publishing Association. THE eleventh annual meeting of tLis Associ- Bonrd was organized as follQws: President, .Elder S. N. Haskell; Vice-President, C. H. Jones; Sec:retn.ry, S. C. Stickney; Trensurer, E. A. Cb~pman; Auditor, B. R. Nordyke. Adjourned. S. C. STICKNEY, Sec. ation was convened at tb e P aci :fie Press Pub-I ========================================= lishing Hom;e, Oakland, Cal., on Monday, April 9:r h rt at f 26, 1886, in accordance with notice published in w ,(.. llllt nt ,en a r Jl. the SIGNS OF THE 'l'IMES and Oakland Evem:ng T1·ibune, PresidentS. N. HnRke1l in the chnir. Having been opened with p:J;ayer, the Presi- dent appointed Committees on Nominations n.nd ResolntionR, as follows:- On Nominations, Prof. S Bt·ownsberger, Elder J.D . .Rice, and Elder Wm. Ings; and on Reso- lutions, Elders J. H. vVaggoner and W. M. Hea- ley, and Wm. Saunders. The meeting then adjourned to the church, corner of Thil'teenth and Clay Streets, for gl'eater eonvonienue. On assembling at the church it was found that 883 shares were rcprese1tted by stockhold- ers present, and 1,115 shares by proxy, being 175 more than was required by law. The meeting now being ready for business the minutes of tbe tenth annual meeeting wore cnlled for, read, and approved. Then followed tho reading of the Profit and Loss Account and Balance Sheet for the year ending Uarch 31, 1886, which were also accepted. Addresses were delivered by the President, Vice-President, and by Elder George I. Butler, President of the General Conference of Se,·entb- dav Adventists, all of which were most interest- ing and were listened to attentively by tbe stockholders present. The meeting then ad- journed to 2:30 P. M. AFTERNOON MEETING. NOTES ON THE INTERNATIONAL LESSON. The Nobleman's Son. (May 16.-John 4: 43-54.) AFTER laboring two days with the Samari- tans, Jesus left them to continue his journey to Galilee. He mnde no tarry at Nazareth, where he bad spent his youth and eal'ly manhood. His reception in tbe Rynagogue there, when be announced himself as the Anointed One, was so unfavorable that he decided to seek more fruit- ful :fields, to preach to oars that would listen, and to hearts that would receive biR message. He declared to his disciples that a prophet hath no honor in his own country. This sa.ying sets fol'th that natural reluctnnce ·which many peo- ple have to acknowledge any wonderfully admi- rable development in one who has unostenta- tiously lived in their midst, and whom they bave intimately knovvn from childhood. At the same time, these snme persons might be- come wildly excited over the pretensions of a stranger and an adventurer. The miracle that Jesus bad performed in Cana prepared the way for his cordial reception. The people who had returned from the passover had brought back the report of his marvelous The committee on Nominations recommended cleansing of the desecrated temple, followed by as Directot·s for the coming year, S. N. Haskell, his miracles of healing the sick and restoring C. H. Jones, J. N. Lough borough, W. C. White, sight to the blind and bearing to the d·eaf. The and vVm. Saundei'S. rrhese were balloted for juchnnent passed upon his acts by tbe dignitaries and elected. The vote was then made unan-of the temple, opened his way at Galilee; for imous. many of the people lamented the abuse of the E. J. Waggoner and Alonzo T. Jones were temple and the lofty arrogance of the priests, elected editors, and J. H. Wnggoner, U. Smith, and hoped that this man, who bad the power S. N. Haskell, and Geo. I. But.ler, COITeRpond-, to put these rulers to flight, might indeed be inCT editors of the SIGNS oF TIIE Tnms for the the looked-for Deliverer. CO~ling year. C. H. Jones: vV. C. White, and The news that Jesus had retul'J1ecl from Judea E. J. Waggoner were elected as a Publishing to Ca.na soon Rpread throughout Galilee and Committee. the region round about. It reached the ears Tbe Committee on Resolntions submitted the of a nobleman in Capernaum, who was a Jew of some honor. He was much interested in what be bad heard of the power of Jesus to heal the sick, for he bad a son suffering with diRease. The father bad consulted the most learned physicians among the Jews, and they had pronounced the case incurable, and told him that his son must soon die. But when be beard that Jesns was in Galilee his heart was encouraged; for be believed that one who could mil'aculously change water into wino, and drive out the desecrn.tors of the tem- ple, could rnise his son to heal tb even from the brink of the gt·ave. Cnpernaum WftS quite a diRtance from Camt, and the nobleman feared that, if be left his home to seck J osus and pre- Rent his plen. to him, the child: who was very low1 might die in his absence. Yet be dared 11ot trust this errand to a servnnt; for be hoped that the prayers of a fond parent might touch tbe heart of the great Physician with pity, and induce him to accompany the father to the bed- side of his dying son. He went to Cana, hastening for fear of being too late. For0ing a passa,ge through tho crowd that surrounded Jesns1 he at length stood bef"qre him. But his faith faltered when he saw only a plainly dressed man, dusty and worn with trn.vel. He doubted tbn.t ~bis person could do what be bad come to ask of bim; yet be deter- mined to mnke a trial. He secured a hearing from Jesus, told him hi::; errand, and besought the Sv.viour to accompany him to his borne for the purpose of healing his son. But Jesus nh·cady knew of hit' sorrow. Even before the nobleman bad left his homo, the pitying B.e- deemer bad read the fnlhor's grief, and his great heart of love had gone out in sympathy for the suffering child. But be was also aware. that the fn.ther bad made conditions in his mind concerning his be- lief in the Saviour. Unless his petition should be granted be would not have faith in him as the Messiah. \Vbile the father waited in an agony of suspense, Jesus addressed him, "Ex- cept ye see signs and wonders, ye will not be- lieve." He here revealed the superficial faith of the nobleman, that would lead him to accept or reject Christ according as he did or did not perform the work required of him. Jesus designed, not only to heal the child, but to illuminate the darkened mi11d of tbe ft1ther. He saw unbelief struggling with his faith. He knew that this man bad sought his help as a last and only hope. In this nobleman be saw represented the condition of many of his nation. They were interested in Jesus from selfish mo- tives; they desired some speciat benefit that they hoped to receive through his power, but they were ignorant as to their spiritual disease, and saw not their terrible need of divine grace, but staked their faith on the granting of some temporal favor. Jesus met this case as illus- trating the position of many of the Jewish peo- ple. He contrasted this questioning unbelief with the faith of the Samaritans, who were ready to receive him as a teacher sent by God, and to accept him as the promised Messiah without a sign or miracle to establish his di- vinity. The father's soul was stirred to its depths with the thought that his doubts might cost him the life of his son. The words of Jesus had the desired effect; the nobleman saw that his motives in seeking tbe Saviour were purely selfish; his vacillating faith appeared before him in its true light; be realized that be was indeed in the presence of One who cou1d road the hearts of men, and to whom all things wel'o possible. Tbis thought brings his suffering child to mind with new vividness, and be cries out in an agony of supplication, "Sir, come down ere my child die!" He fears that while he bas been doubting and questioning, death may have closed tho scene. This was enough. The father in his need seizes the merits of Jesus as his Saviour. In demand- ing him to come down ere his child dies, be MAY 6, 1886. THE SIGNS OF TF-IE TIMES. [ll! 267 clings alone to the strength of Jesus as his only hope. His faith is as imperative as was that of Jacob, when, wrestling with the mighty angel, be cried, "I will not let thee go, except thou bless me ! " J eRus responds to the demands of the noble- man by commanding him, ''Go thy way; thy son liveth." 'l'hese brief and simple wordi-:l thrill through tho heart of ihe father; be feels the holy power of the speak..:n· in every tone. Instead of going to Capornaum, Jesus, by a flash of divine tclogrHphy, sends the message of healing to the bedside of the suffering son. He dismisses the suppliant, who, with unspeak- able gratitude, and perfect faith in the words of 'the S:wiour, turns his steps homeward with a peace and joy he has never felt before. At the same hom: the watchers stood around the dying ch)ld, in the distant home of the no- bleman. The form that bad been so strong and symmetrical in its youthful grace, was worn and emaciated. rrbe hollow checks burned with a hectic fire. Suddenly the fever leav~:\S him, intelligence beams from his eyes, his mind becomes clear. and health and strength return to his body. ' 'l'he fever bas left him in the very beat of the day. The attendants behold the change wit.h amazement; the family is Rummoned, and great is the rejoicing. No signs of his m~1lady linger about the child, his burni11g flesh has become soft and moist, and he sinks into the peaceful slumber of childhood. Meanwhile the father hastens on his way with a hopeful heart. He went to Jesus with grief and trembling. He leaves him in joy and confidence. He feels the solemn assurance that be bas talked with one whose power is unlim- ited. No doubt crosses his mind that Jesus has really healed his son at Capernaum. While still some distance from home, his servants meet him with the glad tidings that his son has recovered. With a light heart be hurries on, and, as he approaches his house, is met by the child, hounding out to receive him, radiant in health and beauty. He clasps him to his heart as one restored from the dead, and thanks God again and again for this miraculous resto- r:-..tion. rrhis c·aso of the nobleman should be a lesson to all the followers of Christ. He would have them place implicit faith in him as their Re- deemer, ready and willing to save all who come nnto him. But he sometimes delays bestowing his precious gifts, in order to impress our hearts with a sense of our deep need of tbat true piety which entitles us to ask of him what we will. We are to hLy by the selfishness that is fre- quently the sole cause of seeking him, and, con- fessing our. helplessness and bitter need~ trust in Iris promises. He invites all who are weary and heavy-laden to come unto him, and be will give them rest.-Great Controversy, vol. 2, chap. 11. THE LAW OF GOD. Breadth of the Law. (Lesson 4.-Sabbath, May 15.) .1. WHAT can you say of the perfection of the ten commandments? "The ·law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, mak- ing wise the simple." Ps. 19 : 7. 2. Of whose character are they a likeness? In I sa. 51 : 6, the Lord, after speaking of the passing away of the heavens and the earth, says in contrast: "But my salvation shall be forever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished." The next verse clearly indicates what is meant by the term" my righteousness," in these words: "Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in wbo3e heart is my law." The law of God is the righteous- ness of God, that which cannot be abolished. As still further proof that it Js the law that is referred to as righteousness, verses 4 and 5 say: "Hearken nnto me, my people; and give ear unto me, 0 my nation; for a law shall proceed from me, and l will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people. :M:y righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people." Since G-od iH tho em- bodiment of righteousness, all righteousness must proceed from him; therefore the law of God, being righteousness (Ps. 119: 172) must necessarily be God's righteousness. 3. How much of our duty is compt·ised in the ten commandments? "Let us bear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man." Eccl. 12: 13. 4. If we do the ten commandments, what sort of characters will we have? "And it shall be our righteousness, if we ·observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as be hath commanded us." Dent. 6: 25. 5. Of whose righteousness will we be par- ta.k ers? "Little children, Jet no man deceive you; he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as be is righteous." 1 John 3: 7. Compare Isa. 51 : 6, 7. tery '~7i tb her already in his heart." Matt. 5 : 27, 28. 17. What is the whole duty of man? Ecc!. 12: 13. 18. What reason is given why we should do our duty by keeping the commandments? "For God shall bring every work into J udg ment: with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." Eccl. 12: 14. 19. What does thit'l statement indicate? "Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duLy of man. For God shall bring every work into Judgment, with every secret thing, w beth or it be good, or whether it be evil." Eccl. 12: 13, 14. Keeping the command- ments is declared to be the wl ole duty of man. The reason given why we should thus do our whole duty, is that" God will bring every work into Judgment, with every secret thing." This statement, coming in the connec:tion that it docs, can indicate nothing else than that tbecommand- ments of God cover every work, with every secret thing. Whosoever therefore keeps the commandments will be perfect, even in his se- cret thoughts. Extent of the Law's Jurisdiction. 6. If to do the commandments is righteous- (Lesson 5.-Sabbath, May 22.) ness, what must it be to fail to do them? 1. WHAT is sin? It can be nothing else than unrighteousness. "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth 7. And what is all unrighteousness? also the bw; for sin is the transgression of the "All unrigb teo us ness is sin; and there is a sin not unto death." 1 John 5: 17. law." 1 John 3:4. 8. Then what is sin? 2. Is everything that is wrong a violation of the law? "Whosoever cdmmittetb sin transgresseth "All unrighteousness is sin; and there is a also the law; for sin is the transgression of the sin not unto death." 1 John 5:17. law." 1 J obn 3: 4· 3. Is sin ever imputed where there is law? 9. How may we know that any action is "Because the Jaw worketb wrath; for where sinful? no law iH, there is no transgression." Rom.4: 15. "What s.ball we say then? Is the law sin? 4. Then when we find sin imputed to any God forbid. Nay, I bad not known sin, but by people, of w bat may -vve be sure? the law; for I had not known lust, except the That they bave the law of God. law bad said, Thou shalt not covet." Rom. 7: 7. 5. What does the Bible say of Cain? 10. To what law does Paul here refer as "If thou doest well, shalt thou not be ac- pointing out sin? To the law which contains cepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the commandment, "Thou shalt not covet." the door; and unto thee shall be his desire, and 11. Then of what law is it that John speaks thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked when he says that" sin is the transgression of with Abel his brother; and it carne to pass, the law?" Of the law of ten commandments. when they wore in the field, that Cain rose up 12. Can there be any sin committed that is against Abel his brother, and slew him." Gen. not covered by the law? 4: 7, 8. "Not as Cain, who was of that wicked "Because the law worketb wrath; for where one, and fllew his brother. And wherefore no h~w is, there is no transgression." Rom. 4:15. Rlew he him? Because his own works were "For until the law sin was in the world; but evil, and his brother's righteous." 1 John 3: sin is not imputed when there is no law." 12. Rom. 5 : 13. 6. What is said of the men of Sodom? 13. What did David say of the law? "But the men of Sodom were wicked and "I have seen an end of all perfection; but sinners before the Lord exceedingly." Gen. thy commandment is exceeding broad.u Ps. 13 : 13. 119 : 96. 7. Then, according to Romans 4: 15, what 14. How broad is the law? must we conclude concerning Cain and tho men "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, of Sodom? and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing We must conclude that they knew the law even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, of God, since sin is imputed to them. and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner 8. Why would not (}od allow Abraham and of the thoughts and intents of the heart." his family to occupy the land of Canaan as soon Heb. 4: 12. as the promise was made? 15. How did Jesus illustrate this in the case "And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety of the sixtb commandment? that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that "Ye have beard that it was said by them of is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall afflict them four hundred years." "But shall kill shall be in danger of the Judgment; in the fourth generation they shall come hither but I say unto you, That whosoever is angry again; for the iniquity of the Arr1orites is not with his brother without a cause shall be in yet full." Gen. 15: 13, 16. danger of the Judgment; and whosoever shall 9. ·what was the particular sin of the Amo- say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger rites? of the council; but whosoever shall say, Thou '· .A.nd. be did very abominably in following fool, shall be in danger of hell fire." Matt. 5 : idols, according to all things as did the Amo- 21, 22. rites, whom the Lord cast out before the chil- 16. Do the commandments also forbid evil i clren of Israel." 1 Kings 21 : 26. thoughts and desires as well as open sins? I 10. vVhat law forbids idolatry? "Ye have beard that it was said by them of The ten-commandment law; "Thou shalt old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery; but have no other gods before me." I say unto you, That whosoever looketb on a 11. What other positive proof have we that woman to lust after her bath committed adul- (Continued on page ~70.) 268 [121 THE BIG NS OF THE TIMES. VoL. 12, No. 17. atirrle. ""WHY ART THOU CAST DO"WN?" WHAT is it ails thee; heart? w.hy dost thou weep? All my sweet hopmgs are withered and strewn· Sweetest communion we oft time did keep ' Now they have left me, and I am alone.' Barren the earth appears, gazing around, Bar:en the heavens seem, gazing above, Dea.d 1s the music that joyed me with sound, Silent forever the whispers of love. Hast thou forgotten, heart? God is not dead! Gloomy and dark may the present appear, But from the present thou soon shalt be led Into a dayligl· t unspeakably clear. Over thee, under thee, close at thy side, Never a moment he leaves or fors11kes. Trust him, abide in him, leave him to auide Follow the way that in wisdom he t~~:es. ' Waker, or dreamer, or what am I now? Ocean~ of loveliness-oceans of light! I:l caven 1tself to my vision doth bow Glory OJ?-glory unfolds to my sight: \Vhy so d1squieted? why so cast down? Hope thou in him whom thou shortly shalt praise· Soon shall the cross be forgot in the crown ' Darkness be lost in eternity's days! ' - Wade Robinson. He Left It All. TI-~R following in~·!dent occ.mrrod, a few years ago, m New York Ctty at a meeting of le posi- tion in tLe world. - Bef01:e proe?oding t~ business: while awaiti11g the ar:nval of some. dtrec!or who was al>soitt., one sald to anotbe1: In a loud Lone that insLaratly commanded attention, "Have you beard thaL --is .dead?" "vVby, no; you ::>.urpriRe me. ! saw bu~ on the streets .last week, apparently m the enJoyment of perfect heaiLh· when did be die?" "He died day bcfol'e yesterday." A moment of silence ensued, aud one of the gentle~1en said to the :firsL speaker, "He was very rtCb, was he not?" '' Ob, yes, very." "How much did he leave?" "lie left it all" w~s the ~nswer, uttered with a deep, solo~n vo1ce, as If on purpose; and another not alto- gether agreeable silence fell upon the company of millionaires. Yes, he left it all; and so must the richest man on the eart~ le~ve it all very soon; "for we b~ougbt nothmg mto tbis world, and it is certam we ean carry nothing out." 1 Tim. 6: 7. Death is the great leveler in more respects than one: It not only brings the king and the bod-earner to tbe s.ame le~el of dependence upon others for bunal, but m a little while it sweeps away all distinction betvveen a Roths- child and a beggar. Neither of them owns a penny when he dies. True, the dead body of the one may be borne in royal pomp from the doorR of a palace, and the dead body of the other may be trundled oft' in a cart from the poor-bouse; but of each it must be said, "He left it all." It is amazing that men of sense who have money do not reflect upon this, and it is unac- countable that rich men, professing to be Oh ris- tians, so often fail to see the purpose fur w hicb wealth bas ~een pu~ in~o their hands. They frequently chng to 1t w1th a grasp that o-rows tigb ter and tighter, and ""hen they are at last compelled to leave it all, they have accom- plished far less good in the world than if they had never possessed a farthing. Nay, money expended in selfish gratification, or boarded for ~~e s~k.e of ae<;umuJating a larger sum, is a pos- Jtlve mJury to the cause of Christ and becomes a burning curse to the unfaithful steward. What says the unerring word of God? "Go to n~w, ye rich men, weep and bowl for your Jmseries tbat shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth- eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered.; and tbe rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were :fire. Ye have heaped treasure too-ether for tbe last days." James 5: 1-3. b . Hence while in one sense tbe rich man leaves It all at death, in ano~;her sense he does not leave it, or rather it does not leave him but it . . ' 1s a w1tncss for or against him at the bar of G-od. "Charge tbem that are ric:b in this ~orld, that they be not high-minded, liOl' trust m uncertain ricbcs, but in tho livirw God wbo giveth us richly all thit1gs to eujoy~ that' they do good, that they may bo rich in good works rea?y to ~istribute! willing to communicate; lay~llg up .m store f_or themselves :t good fouu- datwn agamst the tane to como, tbn t they mn,y !ay bold on elcmal lifo." 1 '1 1im. 6: 17-19. lt ts needless to say that this ii::l addresHud to mct1 ~dready prol'cstsiiig to be Cbristiam;, and hence 1t does not touch the grouud of our salvation in the fiuished -vvork of Christ. liut faithful- ness or unhtitbfnlness in the usc of tiJe meaus God ~as c~nfoned will enter largely into Lbe quest1o.n of o.ur approval or disapproval at the appmtring of t.he Lor~, and do term inc largely t}1.e measure of our enjoyment or w bat is truly life. ln the context, 'l'imocby is exhorted Lo "lay bold on eternal life," ~wd yet we know he vvas already delivered from cotJdemuation. God olton warns men about the proper use of rwbei::l: "For be ::;eotb that wi::;e men diu likewise Lbe fool and tho bruLit->h penwu pcritsb' aud leave Lbcir wealth Lo oLhen:>. . . . B~ 110t thou afraid when OliO its llladc rich wbe11 Ll.Ie glory of bii::l bou::;e is iitCrea::;ed; for vvbe11 be d1eth be shall carry notbi11g away; his glory t:>!1all r~ot del::lcend after him" (.Pt>. 49); "H r1ches tncrease, sot not your heart npon tbem" (.Ps. 62: 10); "Hiches profiL not in tbe day oJ wrath" (J:>rov. 11 : 4); "'l~here is Lhat maket!J bimselfricb, yet lJat.h JlOLliiiig '' (Prov. 13: 7); "rl 1here is a sore evil which L llrtvo seen under the sun, namely, riches kept fo1· Lhe owners thereof to tbeir burt" (He<;J~ 5: 13); "God said unto Lim, 'l'bo~1 fool, this night thy soul s!Jall be reqmred of thee; Lhon whose t>bnll those things bu, which thou bast provided'? So is he that layetb up treasure 1or himself, and is not t·ich tovmrd God" (Luke 12 : ~U, ~1); "How hardly shall they Lhnt have riches enter into the king~om of G-od'?" (I1nke 18 : 24.) Yet ·w1th such aJmouitions scattered all through t~e s.ncred Scri pturcs, mouey is still the god of tbts world; alas! it is the o·od of many who profess to have been crucified unto the world. It is worshiped; it is reo·arded as tbe chief good; it is sought for with ~n eager- ness that overlooks all dishonor in the method of its attainment. Women are bought with it every day, and are led to be offered as sacrifices upou the. altar of mammon, exulting in their degradatiOn and slavery. Men barter for it no- biliLy, conscience, the soul Christ himself' rr l ' . ru y "tho love of money is the root of all evil· which while sor~~ coveted after, they hav~ erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." 1 Tim. 6 : 10. Yet the sure and speedy outcome of this shame- ful _idolatry and debasing vice is tbe inscription wr1tten on the tomb of the richest, "HE LEF1' rr ALL.''-'l'he T1·uth. ---------·-------- PAITH and obedience are bound up in the same bundle. He that obeys God trusts God; and be that trusts God obeys God. He that is without faith is without works; and he tba,t is without works is without faith.-Sel. Persian Street Scenes. .s .. G. W. BENJAMIN, recently United States Mnnster at the court of Persia, describes in the Jan nary Gent~try his impressions of that coun- try. From an illustrated paper in the num- ber, on "Teheran," we take the following:-- " In suc:h a climate as that of rrehernn' life is ~"latu~·all~r passed chiefly in the open air. 'rrhe chill of wm ter, rarely severe, seems to make little difference in the habits of the people·. The shops are all open to the streets; tbe cus- tomers stand outside, and even.tbe shop-l~eeper atte11ds to most of his business from the ex- terior of tbe shop. lf be is a baker, grocer, or costermonger, in all probability he and tbe cus- Lomer boLb stand in the street, retreating ir~to the shop only when a string of camels or a dashing co1·tege forces them'to move out of the way .. A carpcllter may frequently be seen ar- l:~mgmg a.piece of joinery on tbe .'pavement in fro11 t of h1s shop. The schools often in nowise differ from tbe shops; in them idst of a erowdcd thoroughfare ?ne may see twenty or thirty lads seated ?n the1r heels repeating the lesson to- gether m monotonous tone. c: Another common sight in the streets of Teheran is the itinerant barber. The Kornn enjoins tbe masculine Uobnmmodan to shave bil::l erown. rl'be Surmees shave the entire bead ~x:ept~ng a long lock in the center, whereb.r: tt 1s smd, tbe archangel may pluck them out of the grave. But the Sbeabs of Persian Mus- snlmans shave. from t~e forehead to the nap of t~e neck, .leavtng a btgbly prized lock on each s1de. It IS, therefore, common to see a man of ~be lower clnsl:les seated on the pavement, go- tiig through tbe operation of having his bead shaved. The remaining hair and tbe board are dyeJ, and it is rare th~tL one sees arav bairs in T b 11b fi . b " e eran. e l'St tm t applied is henna, an or:tnge-yellow vegetable dye. Many c:onsider Ll11S so balldsome as to p1·of'er it -vvithout Lbe htt·Lher application of indigo, ... vbich moRt,select. 'l 1bo last tint combi110d wiLh the henna, imparts ance and was fiitod OTtO dollar. Corgos wn.H ace11Sod of pi I ing up offal from tlto slanghtor hott:->o nnd allowitt!! iL Lo rot into mag,~ots, which bu J'ud to hi~ dttc:kH. Corgc:-) p1·om i~:;ed Lo feed b iH d ticks 011 lesH n u tri- tiouf:l food hereaf'ter, tlmL Lbe odor of the mng- go.ty mcat,migltL noL offe11d tho nostrils of bi:-; netghbon:;. And LhiR is not n,n isolated case: it is the gen- eral pnwlico of a certain class of poultry rais- ers to feed their fowls in this way. Only a few davs since, the writer wns i 11formed of n case ne;r this city where a man keeps a dond horse or two com;tantly in his chicken yard, in order tbat his fowls may feed upon the putrefying flesh, and fatten upon the mn.ggots which it produceR. What ehoice tidbits for the table must those carrion-fed fowls make! 1\ nd what delicious eggs, composed largely of the albumen ex- tracted from maggots and putrid horse flesh! Bah ! Will the gr·eed of tbol:lc who produce food for our cities ever be curbed'? and will the yreediness which leads people to unquestioningly devour all sorts of dietetic aborninntions. ever cease? C. P. BoLLM~N. Giving Up Tobacco. the ocean and so fetch up a sample fi'om the THE following case, from the Half-Yearly Ab- bottom. The onp is the invention of Lieuten-stract of the ~Medical Sciences, for January on- ant Belknap, United States Navy, and named ward to July, ·1854, page 70, sr..tisfactorily after him. He bas invented three different shows that tobacco can be given up. It is like- cups, but the one used on board the Enterpr·ise wise a terrible illustration of its baneful effects iR Belknap cup No. 2, and the best adapted for on the constitution. Drs. Rankin and Radcliffe, the purpose. The contentR of the cup, nftcr the editors, head it, "A case of An.rJina Pector·is the water is drained off, are put in small boLt les 'res,ultlny from the use of tobacco," and thus intro- nnd labeled with latitude, lo11gitude, nnd depth. duce it: "The following case possesses a very These bottles are packed into boxes, to be sent high degree of interest." Tho history of the to tho hydrographic office in Washington. case is thus related by Dr. Corson, of New When under steam alone the engines are York:- stopped for sounding, but when nnder sail alone ''A highly intelligent man, aged sixty-five, steam has to be gotten up and n,ll sail taken in, stout, rttddy, early married, temperate, manag- as tbe ship bas to lie perfectly quiet, and to be ing a large business, after promising that be under control, which iR impossible under sail. commenced chewing tobacco n.t seventeen, swal- Soundings were tnken about every 100 miles, lowing the juice, as is sometimes customnry, to the depth usually bein-g two or three thousand prevent injuring his lungs from constant spit- fathoms. The greatest encountered was 3,800 Lit1g, and that years after he suffered from a fathoms, or about four and a half miles. In gnawing, capricious appetite, nnut:lea, vomiting latitude 30 degTees south and longitude 30 de-of meals, emaciation, nervousness, and palpita- grees west, shoal water of about 4-00 or 500 tion of the hear·t, dictated to Dr. Uorson, recently, fathoms was found, revealing tho existence of a the following story:- range of mountains on the bot tom of the ocean. "'Seven years thus miserably passed, when, (These the Challenger·, an English man-of-war, one day after dinner, 1 was suddenly seized on a deep-sen sounding expedition nronnd the with intense pain in the chest, gasping for ·world ten years ago, had failed to discover.) breath, and a sensation as if a c1·owba.r wer-e Thnt day fifteen soL1ndings were taken, one ev-zn·essed tightly from the r·ight b1·ectst to the left, ery five miles, till deep water was reached till it came and twisted in a knot 1·ound the hectr·t, again. 'l'he cost of a shot is $4.00. I_jieutennnt which now stopped deathly still for a mimtte, and Marix, the navigator, bad charge of the work, then leaped like a dozen frogs. After two hours and it required a quartermaster, an assistant, of death-like suffering, tile att::tck ceased; and and a fireman to run the engine to take a I found that ever after my heart missed eve1·y sounding, which altogether lasts about one .foU?·tlt beat. My physician saul that I bad or- hour. Should the shot fail to discharge, as it gallic disease of the heart, must die suddenly, did once during the cruise, the whole bas to be and need only take a little brandy for the pain- wound up again by hand, which takes three ful paroxysms; and I soon found it the only hours 1or a depth of 3,000 fathoms, as the engine thing that gave them any relief. For the next is not powerful enough to wind up wire, shot, twenty-seven years I continued to suffer milder and aii.-Baltimo·re Sun. attacks like the above, lasting from one to sev- IN restoring the ehurch at Stratford-on-Avon, where Shakespeare was buried, frescos made before the time of the reformation were dis- covered on the walls.-Sel. eral minutes, sometimes as often as two or three times a day or night; and to be sickly looh:ing, thin, and pale as a ghost. Simply from revolt- ing at the idea of being a slave to one vile ha,bit alone, and without dreaming of the suffering it hncl cost me, nfter thi1·ty-thTee year's use, I one day Lhrew aw:ty tobaeco forever. '·' Wonl:-4 e:1IlllOt dcRcribo my sufferittg and dcHiro fqr n, Limo. J was reminded of Lhe In- cli:m, wl1o, next t.o all tho rnm in the ~world, '~'alttcd all tho touac:co. But nty firm will con- C) tiered. In a mo11 Lh my paroxysms nearly ceased, nnd soon afle1· lef'L entirely. I was di- rectly a nevv rnan, and grew stout n,nd hale as you ::we. "With tho exeoption of a little asth- mntic breaChing, in close rooms and the like, for llC:I.rly twenty years sinc:o I bn'i·e enjoyed exeellont lte:t.ldt.'" On examittaLio11, Dr. Corson found the heart HOomillgly IJealt hy in si;.-;o and structure, only irTeuu1ct?·, intennitting still at every fourth pul- sation. Af'tor sncl1 a well-marked example of manly fit'mlloss, no one need pretend to affirm that the luxury of smoking, snuffing, plugging, or chew- ing, Ot' quidding, cannot be given up; or that the stimulus of wine, or spirits, or malt liquorf:l, cannot be relinquished.-Use and Abuse of To- bacco. Bran ely Now Macle in France. IT appears from a report just furnished to the Academy of Science by M. Girard, the cb ief of the P~tris mnnici pnl lahorat01·y, that the pro- duction of genuine brandy has almost ceased in France. During the decade 1840-1850, the quantity of alcohol annnally distilled in tbe country averaged some 25,000,000 gallons, seven- eighths of which wore obtained from wiue. ln 1883, though tbe qnantity of spirits manufact- ured hnd n1ol'e than doubled, not quite 500,000 gallons were the distilled juice of the grape. Most of the alcohol now produced is made from grain, but a cortnin proportion of it if! obtained from the diFJtillation of eider and perry; and even beet-root, molasses, and potn,toes are made to furnish a spirit, though of a very illferior kind. M. Girard says that the grain spirit would be fairly w holesomo if it were sufficiently rectified; but this is, it appears, never the case. As for the other forms of alcohol enumerated, they are one and all charged with poisonous elements of the most deadly character-acids, ethers, and essential oils-and M. Girard attributes the in- crease of insanity in certain of tbe departments mainly to the growing consumption oftbis vile stufi'.-St. James's Gazette. Two more Sonthern States bfl.ve local option Jaws-Virginia and Mississippi. The Missis- sippi law is a stringent one. In its geneml features it resembles the Georgia law, provid- ing for elections by counties and preserving tbe present 1·estrictions concerning license. If a county votes for liquor, no license can issue in any tovvn or municipality, except upon petition signed by twenty-five free-holders. This pe- tition must lie over for thirLy days, and if in the meantime a counter-petition, signed by a majority of the legal voters of such tow 11 or mn11icipality, is presented, license cannot be granted. 1'bis gives the friends of temperance a mighty grip on the liquor fiOJtd, and it will go hard witb them if they do not cut short his existence in Mississippi.- Inclependent. 'rHERE are in the United States more than six million persons over ten yenrs of age who can neither read 110r write. This class prodnces twenty-two Limes its proportion of paupers, and ten Limes its proportion of criminals, as com- pared with the rest of the populaLion. It is es- timated that these persons furnish thirty per cent. more than their proportion of the drunk- ards of our land. If this is an argument in favor of secular education, it is still mare an argu- mon tin favor of moral and religious education. Nearly two million of these ignorant persons are voters.-0/F·istian Hour. 270 [l4] '1-,:f--IE SIGNS OF THE TIMES. VoL. 12, No. 17. (Continued j1·om page 267.) the people in the time of Abraham had the law? "Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my cbarge, my commandments, my statutes, and my lavi7S." Gen. 26 : 5. 12. By whom did sin enter into the world? "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the \Vorld, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." Rom. 5:12. 13. Then what did Adam violate'? Since Adam sinned, be mlll::lt have bad and violated the law of God, for "sin is the trans- gression of the law." 14. What particular period does the apostle specify, during which death reigned? "Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to MoseR, even over ·them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come." Rom. 5:14. 15. What alone causes death'? "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin ;• and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." Rom. 5 : 12. "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringetb forlh sin; and sin, when it is fin- ished, bringeth forth death." James 1 : 15. 16. And what is necessary in order that sin may be imputed? "For until the law sin was in the world; bnt sin is not imputed when there is no law." Rom. 5:13. 17. Then what besides sin and death must also have existed from Adam to Moses? 18. What does Paul say of the condition of both Jews and Gentiles. "What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise; for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin." Rom. 3:9. 19. If one is charged with sin, of what is he certainly in possession? . "Because the law worketh wrath; for where no law is, there is no transgression." Rom. 4: 15. "For until the law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law." Rom. 5: 13. 20. rl 1o whom alone can a law speak? "Now we know that what things souver the law saitb, it saith to them who are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God." Rom. 3: 19. 21. As a consequence of what the law says, how do all the world stand? lb. 22. Then who are under obligation to keep the law? The whole world. 23. If the law existed from the beginning, why was it necessary to give the law from Sinai? Rom. 5 : 20. "THE law entered, that the ofl'ense might abound." Rom. 5: 20. An offense is a viola- tion of law; a transgression; a sin. Therefore the text means, "fJ. 1he law entered that the sin might abound." Then there was sin before the time spoken of when the law "entered." But as there can be no sin without law, it follows that the law existed before the time when "the RELIGIOUS. -Chicago has an estimated Lutheran population of about 200,000, of which number 37,000 are com- municant members. -Bishop Foster says: "Unmistakably, the times are tumultuous, and the horizon all round looks lowering and tempestuous." -It is estimated that there are now 160,000,000 copies of the Bible in existence. This would allow one Bible to every nine persons. -The meeting of the American Congress of Churches, for 1886, will be held in Cincinnati, May 25-27. Governor Foraker is to preside. -A correspondent of the Religio-Philosophical Journal thinks there is no doubt that dogs some- times not only see spirits but are influenced by them. -An exchange says that the New York churches have appointed a committee of three, whose duty it shall be to prevent the desecration of Sunday. Those three men will have their hands full. -In a single day in the city of Hartford, Conn., ten people were divorced. And the cause( Just ponder it, reader,-it was intemperance. And in one case it was the wife who was Lhe drunkard.- Ch1·istian at VT1 or k. -The churches l1ave not gained much by Sam Jones's meetings in Cincinnati. It is said that no more than fifteen members have been received into the Baptist Churches, and fifty is thought to be a large estimate for the Presbyterian Churches. But then Mr. Jones got well advertised. -Pilgrimage in the Greek Church would seem to be conducted on sound commercial principles. The Very Rev. Archpriest Hatherly, who is about to make his third pilgrimage to Jerusalem, offers to procure water direct from the River Jordan at five shillings per bottle, payable in advance.-Christian Union. -The Watchman says: "Where in all the deliv- erances of earth's proudest philosophers shall you by searching find so much, so compressed, and yet so speaking truth as you can find in the few senten- ces that make up the sum of the ten command- ments?" And then it very truly says of the Jews: "Whenever, and in just so far as, they discarded any part of this code of divine inculcation, they forsook the Jiving Jehovah." Then since God does not change, it necessarily follows that people who now forsake any part. of the ten commandments, just to the same extent forsake God. God has not one standard of righteousness for Jews, and another for Christians. -The N. Y. Observer says: "Sorrie days ago, Father Deasy presented the pope with the Peter's Pence from the diocese of Boston. Such offerings from Lhis countrv are constant. Mr. Parnell is in receipt of thousands weekly from the Irish in Amer- ica. There is no poverty or depression in business in these United States which prevents hundreds or thousands of dollars from being sent to the pope and Mr. Paruell." So far as the money sent to Mr. Parnell is concerned, we have nothing to say. It may be profitably expended, which cannot be said of that sent to the pope. But we cannot help thinking what a howl is constantly going up from these same donors to the pope and Ireland, because the thrifty Chinaman sends his little wages to his native country. SECULAR. -San Luis Obispo, Cal., has recently had a $150,- law entered," which was at Sinai. The "en-000 dollar fire. tering :· o.f the l~w was th~ formal giving of it -Ice floods at Montreal have recently done dam- from Sma1. Before that t1me people knew the, aO'e to the amount of $1750 000. law only as portions of it remained written in o ' ' . their hearts (Rom. 2: 15), or as they were .-The New York Assemb.ly pass.ed the bill to ·ht · b tb , . T t f G d l'k E ·h wmd up the Broadway Surface Railroad Corpora- tang 1t y e sen. an s o o , . 1 ~ n~c tion by a vote of ~7 to 9. and Noah, who had dtrec~ ~omm~mcatwn ~vith -The amount of standard silver dollars in circu- Heaven. But after the gtvmg of the law from lation on April 10 out of a total coinage of $226 _ Sinai, each person could at all times carefully 946,121, was $52,264,396. ' examine the whole law for himself, and conse- quently sins which before might have seemed trivial, or might have passed unnoticed, were made to stand out in their true character. Thus the offense was made to "abound." As Paul elsewhere says, sin, by the commandment, became "exceeding sinful." Rom. 7 : 13. -News of wholesale conflagrations comes from several parts of Austria. Several towns have been completely destroyed by fire. -The value of what is strictly known as hard- ware in this country last year amounted to nearly $60,000,000, of which nearly half was made in Con- necticut. -Levuka, the capital of the Fiji Islands, was almost destroyed by a hurricane on the night of the 3d and the morning of the 4th of March. -Cardinal Taschereau, of Canada, has issued a pastoral letter condemning the Knights of Labor as a secret organization, inimical to the interests of religion. -April 23, a strike of watch-makers at Gram- mont, Belgium, resulted in a serious riot. Several persons were injured, and a large number of the rioters were arrested. -April 20, Burmese New Year, fifty followers of Myingzaing, the rebel prince, set fire to the city of Mandalay in several places. About one-third of the walled city was destroyed. -The American bark Paul Jones, Captain Winn, which sailed from Boston for Australia on Septem- ber 17, 1884, was burned to the water's edge on March 19 last, off Lorne, Victoria. -The Bishop of Madrid was shot and fatally wounded by an ex-priest, April 18, on the steps of the cathedral in that city. The motive for the murder was revenge, the bishop having deposed the priest. -April 23, an attempt was made to destroy the church of San Luis in the city of Madrid. The ex- plosive was placed in an enormous candle. The building was much damaged, and the two sextons seriously i njnred. -At Bradford, Pa., Apri124, a small frame build- ing, erected on posts and used as sleeping quarters by thirty-eight Italian railroad laborers, topp1cd over and immediately took fire. Six of the men were burned to death, and three others were badly injured. -The Powers of Europe have made a demand that Greece disarm immediately. But that Govern- ment declares that the work must be done gradu- ally, and not in eight days as required in the ulti- matum. Further action on the part of the Powers may be necessary. -News received from Mexico confirms the reports of bloody municipal riots at Chihuahua. The riots occurred April 25. A number of Mexicans were killed, together with seven American resid0n ts. The Government has sent a large body of troops to the place to keep order. -Zach. Montgomery, of California, has been con- firmed as Assistant Attorney-General for the In te- rior Department, by a majority of only one vote. The opposition to Mr. Montgomery was on account of his published views on educational matters, he being very much opposed to the public school sys- tem. -Recent advices from Burmah state that the British expedition sent against the Kchyen tribe has been defeated by the rebels. Re-enforcements have been ordered from Manda1ay. The rebels captured Pagandet, a police station, bound the gar- rison with cords, and massacred twenty-three per- sons. -Private and trustworthy cable dispatches say that the native malcontents in India are becomiug expectant of a break-up of:' British rule. European officials, civil and military, state that never, since the great mutiny was crushed, were the natives, and especially the Brahmin class~s, so insolent and threatening as now. -In a recent speech before what is known as the Workingmen's Rifle Corps, in New York, Editor Scweitch, of the Volkes Zeitung, advised his hearers to arm themselves as rapidly as possible, and pre- pare for future trouble. l~ifles, h.e. said, could b~ had for $6.00 each, and ammumt10n was cheap. The crowd cheered the sentiments. -A dangerous state of excitement exists among the peasantry of Galicia, Austro-Hungary, owing to a rumor that the Government intends to restore the forced labor laws, and that the aristocrats are or-· ganizing a massacre of Polish peasants in revenge for the atrocities which the peasants committed upon the nobles in 1846. Secret meetings are being held by peasants, a majority of whom are armed. The nobles are taking refuge in the cities. -April 18, the town of Stry, in Galicia, was al- most completely destroyed by fire. The number of houses burned is about 600. Many persons were killed. The inhabitants are destitute. A high wind was blowing, and the fire started in several parts of the town ab~ut th.e same time. On~ h?n- dred persons were killed m one street by fallmg walls. Hundreds of persons are missing. The lack of water rendered aid by the military futile. MAY 6, 1886. THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES. [151 271 -Geronimo and his band are again committing depredations on the frontier between Arizona and Sonora. From April 22-27 inclusive, ten persons are known to have been killed; others have been ta_ken pdsoners, and still others are missing. Eye- Witnesses to some of the ontrao·es say that the In- dians wore the uniform of Gene~al Crook's scouts. -Judge Zane, of Utah, has given a decision in the contested Territorial election cases, ousting the .Mormon incumbents, who hold offices under an old law making them elective. Tl1e Judge holds that they are appointive, and that Governor Murray's ai?pointees are entitled to the positions. An appeal Will be taken to the Territorial Supreme Court, which meets in June. . -At 6 o'clock on the morning of April 20, the village of East Lee, Mass., was inundated and devastated by the breaking away of the dam at Mud Pond Reservoir, Mountain Lake, about two and a half miles from the villa.o-e. East Lee a vill:to-e where hnlf a dozen paper ~1il1s are sitn~tt: ',is ~n the strenm, and received its first news of tht :wei- dent when the flood came pouring down the streets. -The past two weeks have bern very fruitful of labor difficulties, and strikes of greater or less Ill!l!!- nitude are reported from almost all parts of tl!.is country. and some in Europe. At midnight, April 21, 6,000 emplo)'es of the sugar refineries of the eastern district of Brooklyn went out on a strike. Afterwards, orders were issued to stop work in all the Brooklyn refineries except one, thus throwing 20,000 persons out of emp1oyment. Space forbids mr,re than a bare mention of the "tie up" on the New York street-car lines, the continned trouble on the Missouri Pacific Railway, the strike by 950 men in the car foundry, zinc works, and water works at St. Louis, the strike on the Lake Shore Railroad, the tailo.rs' strike in ~oston, the s~reet-car "tie up" in Baltimore, the stnke of the 3b,OOO men nt Chicaa-0 the strike of the yn.rdmen and pl:1sterers nt. Houst~r; and San Antonio, Texas, or of the 250.000 men at important centers, who, accordinl! to B1·adst1·eet's are demanding shorter hours. B.v the time tiii~ paper reaches our readers it is probable thn.t at least 105,000 of these will have struck. -Herr Most addressed a lnrge meetino-of An- archists and SocialiP-ts in New York, Aprif' 24. He said: "I can furnish you with 10,000 fine breech- londers, with bayonets, nt $10 apiece. You waste your money buying gold wntches n nd jewelry. Better buy muskets, revolvers, and cartridf the appointed meetings, the work has beeu carried forward by the church in Oakland. There is in this church a religious awake11ing such as we have never seen here before. It takes the form of a quiet, earuest deterliliJ.lation,to be wholly on the Lord's side, and to henceforth have ali ving, daily experience iu the things of God. Confessions are being made, aud souls are learuing the meaning of the apostle's words, "This is the victory thal overcometh the world, even our fai tlt." We under- stand that the good work is being carried forward in the San Francisco church. May God speed it. Publishing Association. T.HE eleventh an$ ual meeting of the Pacific S.D. A. Publishing Association was one of the most interesting and encouraging ever held. The attend- ance of both stockholders and others was larger than at any previous meeting. We were favored with the presence of Elder S. N. Haskell, president of the As:>ociation, who had just returned from Australia, and Elder Geo. I. Butler, president of the General Conference. Both of these brethren made stirring remarks i1~ regard to the progress of the work, and the new fields that are opening up for the spread of the truth. I The past yea·r has been one of marked prosperity for this Association. The balance sheet shows a profit of $7,302.67. Assets over all liabilities $59,- 165.48. Our denominational printing has also largely in- creased. During the past year we l~ave printed 10,000 copies of the illustrated "Cheat Co'n tro- ve sy;" 2,000 copies of "Testimonies," volumes 1 and 2, and 1,500 copies of volumes 3 and 4. Two new papers, the American Sentinel and Pacific Health Jow·nal, have been started. The following table will show something of what has been done:-- Tota: number of copies of SraNs printed this year ...................................... 1,022,000 Average weekly circulation................... 21,291 Increase over last year...................... 113,000 The first num her of the American Sentinel was issued in January, 1886. This is a montldy, and the total number of copies printed up to April 1 is 41,- 200. The subscription list of this paper has in- creased at the rate of 1,000 per month from the date of its first issue. The Pacific I-Iealth Jow·nal is a bi-mon Lhly, and the total number of copies printed during the past year is 14,000. Pages of books, pamphlets, and tracts printed this year ................................. 13,183,000 A net increase over that of last year of. ....... 4,763,200 SUMMARY. Total number of pages of books, pamphlets, and tracts printed this year .................... 13,183,000 Total number of copies of SIGNS printed ....... 1,022,000 " " " " Ame1·ican Sentinel..... 41,200 " " " Pacific 1-Iealth Journal 14,000 " " " pages of books, pamphlets, tracts, SwNs, and Sentinels printed this year 29,864,GOO From the foregoing it can be seen that our WfJrk is rapidly increasing, and we look forward to tlw time not far distant, when all our facilities will be required in publishing pre..;en t truth. We hope to have the hearty co-operation of the friends of the institution during the coming year as we luwe had in the past. C. H. JONES. "Life of Christ" in Swedish. WE have received from the publishers, Review and IIe1·ald, Battle Creek, Mich., the "Lif'e of Christ," by Mrs. E. G. White, translated into the Swedish langunge. It is a neat and well-executed volume of 608 pages, with 26 full-page illustrations, and portrait of the author. There are fifty-five chapters, beginning with "The Plan of Redemp- tion," and "Tiu'l Birth ofChrist," and ending with "The Ascension of Cl1rist," and covering all the in- tervening Listory. From the teachings, the para- bles, the miracles, and the sufferings of our Lord, are drawn practical lessons of comfort, admonition, and instruction in righteousness; and as the great theme of redemption is portrayed in graphic yet simple style, the reader cannot fail to be thrilled with feelings of love to the Author of the plan of salvation. We hope that our Swedish brethren will give this book a wide circulation among their countrymen. Price, $1.50. It may be obtained of the publishers, or from the Pacific Press, Oakland, Cal. The same work in the Danish language may be had for the same price. THERE is one commentary on the ten command- ments that is comprehengi VP, and yet within the reach of everybody, and so plain that the simplest can understand it. It is nothing other than the life of Christ as set forth in the Gospels. Said Christ, through the prophet: "I delight to do thy will, 0 my God; yea, thy law is within my heart." Ps. 40:8. He was the law personified. In his life we see the performance of just what the law of God requires. The man who keeps t.he law perfectly will be just like Christ; and the man who does as Christ did is a doer of the law. And such a man is a Christi~n indeed; for the one who abides in Christ must walk even as he walked. 1 John 2:6. No less service than this will be rewarded with eternal life. THE post-office address of Elder A. A. John is 41 Bridge Street, Aberystwith, Wales. THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES, PUBL!SilED WE~:KLY, AT OAKLAND, CAL., }'OR. 'HIE International Traet and Missionary Society. A sixteen-page Religious Family Paper, devoted to a discussion of the Prophecies, Sig-ns of the Times, Second Coming of Christ, Har- mony of the Law and Gospel; with Departments devoted to Health and Temperance, the Home Circle, the Missionary Work, and the Sabbath-school. Price Per Year, post-paid, $2.00 In clubs of five or more copies to one name anu address, to be used in Missionary work, each, 1.50 To foreig-n countries, sing-le subscriptions, post-paid, lOs Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Twelftb and Castro Streets, OAKLAND, CAL., U. S. A.