iy * INCLUDED IN THIS ISSUE THERE'LL ALWAYS BE A CHRISTMAS PEACE IN THE SPACE AGE GOOD NEWS FOR YOU . � The EDITOR AND STAFF of THE BIBLE AND OUR TIMES wish ALL THEIR READERS a very HAPPY CHRISTMAS 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111Iiiiiiminiummommummilimmunimnimin muummilinimminillimmummonimummummiiiiiMM11111111111111111111111111111 11111111111111111 A Family Journal of Christian Living. Dedi- cated to the proclamation of the Everlasting Gospel. Presenting the Bible as the Word of God and Jesus Christ as our All-Sufficient Saviour and Coming King. EDITOR � W. LESLIE EMMERSON ASSISTANT EDITOR ART DIRECTOR � CIRCULATION MANAGER RAYMOND D. VINE C. M. HUBERT COWEN � J. H. CRAVEN CONTENTS Good News for You � A. S. Maxwell 4 There'll Always Be a Christmas � R. T. Bolton 6 Peace in the Space Age � R D. Vine 8 Born of the Virgin Mary � Leslie Shaw 10 Only Half a Christmas � Ernest Cox 12 The Secret of Christmas � G. Elliott 14 Is There Room in Your Home and Heart? J. W. Ginbey, B.A. 16 The Vatican Council and Church Unity � B. B. Beach, PH.D. 18 The Five "I Ams."-4 "I am the Good Shepherd" � J C French 21 Jesus is Coming: Are You Ready? � Brian Pilmoor 22 � Here's to You, Grandma Mary J. Vine 24 REGULAR FEATURES Prophecy Speaks � S G Hyde 28 Children's Pages � 32 Mirror of Our Time � 35 POEMS At Christmas Time � M. G Belleini 15 Christmastide � Vivian A. Walker 27 The Angels' Message � Mrs M. H. Cooper 30 Cover Picture: "Holy Night." auuuunuuuuuuunuwnnunuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuauuuauuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuluuuu VOLUME 78 • DECEMBER, 1962 • Price i - THE BIBLE AND OUR TIMES is printed and published monthly in Great Britain by The Stanborough Press Limited, Watford, Hertfordshire. SUBSCRIPTION RATES SIX MONTHS 8/- • TWELVE MONTHS 16/- � Post Free Please notify change of address promptly This Month . . . CHRISTMAS is here again with its greetings, presents, and happy fellowship. We are all glad for the brief holiday which permits old friendships to be renewed and scat- tered families to be reunited. But Christmas will fail of its supreme object if it does not also renew and deepen our love for the greatest Friend of all—Jesus. It is to this end that we dedicate this special Christmas Number of Our Times. Once again our well-loved editor of many years ago, A. S. Maxwell, brings us a message of hope and cheer in his article, "Good News for You."—Page 4. Why we can't do without Christ- mas R. T. Bolton e x p 1 a i n s in "There'll Always Be a Christmas." —Page 6. That the Christmas message of "Peace on earth" is a sure promise, one day to be gloriously 'fulfilled, R. D. Vine assures us in "Peace in the Space Age."—Page 8. Why did Jesus have to come as the Babe of Bethlehem? Leslie Shaw helps us to understand the mystery of the Incarnation in his article, "Born of the Virgin Mary."—Page 10. There was no room in the inn at Bethlehem for the infant Christ. J. W. Ginbey urges you not to refuse Jesus a place in your heart and home this Christmastide.—Page 16. Last December we were writing from India about the significance of the Third Assembly of the World Council of Churches, which had just convened in New Delhi. Now at the end of 1962, Dr. B. B. Beach writes from Rome about the meaning for the Christian church of the Second Vatican Council. Be sure to read his article, "The Vatican Council and Church Unity."—Page 18. From Central Africa, Brian Pilmoor tells how one native Chris- tian he met sought to "share his faith" in the soon return of the Babe of Bethlehem as King of kings and Lord of lords.—Page 22. The children, of course, all love Christmas, so they will particularly enjoy their special pages this month. —Page 32. that a baby had been born! Which was perhaps the most impractical solution of Israel's problems that anyone could have suggested. How in the world could a baby help? Yet all the emphasis was upon this Baby. The shepherds were told to go and see Him at once. The directions ',ere clear and explicit. And surely never T HAT is what the angel told the shepherds the night that Jesus was born. According to the New English Bible, the heavenly messenger said: "Do not be afraid; I have good news for you," which is the modern way of saying, "I bring you good tidings of great joy." If ever the people of Palestine needed good news it was then. They were desperately poor. They were enduring all the indignities of an oppressive foreign occupation. They lived in constant dread of punish- ment from breaking the law, knowing how cruel the hand of Rome could be. From time to time some of the more desperate had risen in revolt, only to be ruthlessly crushed. Now, for the most part, the populace suffered in silence as, in very truth, "darkness" covered "the earth and gross darkness the people." Then, suddenly, everything was changed. Light shone through the darkness. Heaven broke through the seemingly impenetrable gloom. The glory of the Lord was revealed as the angel brought good news from God. A babe is barn What was that news? Did the angel report that Rome had been attacked and the emperor slain? Did he announce that a new plot had been hatched to overthrow the hatred invaders? Did he reveal that an army of deliverance was on its way from Egypt or Mesopotamia? No indeed. Nothing of the sort. Instead he told before had so much excitement been generated about a baby's birth. For "all at once there was with the angel a great company of the heavenly host, singing the praises of God." Luke 2:13. The shepherds did as they were bidden. They went to Bethlehem and found the Baby. They looked; they loved; they worshipped. Somehow they were con- vinced that this Child would certainly do something for them some day. Just what, or when, they were not too clear. But further light began to dawn as they thought of the story being passed around by Zechariah, one of the temple priests—a story which already had been "noised abroad" throughout the country. This man, who was the Baby's uncle, had had a most remarkable experience. At the birth of his own son a few months before, he had said: "And you, my child, you shall be called Prophet of the Highest, for you will be the Lord's forerunner, to prepare His way." Luke 1 :76. He had spoken also of the coming of One who would "deliver us from our enemies, out of the hands of all that hate us" (verse 71) ; and the words revealed the deepest longings of the peoples hearts at that time. Above all else they wanted to be rid of fear. Fear of their enemies; fear of the cruelty and inhumanity of the Romans; fear of poverty, disease, and death. They wanted a chance to live in peace and freedom. There might have been several ways to answer these longings, but God chose to send this Baby. It was a strange way to handle such a desperate situation but, as it turned out, it was the best thing He could have done. Freedom from fear When He grew to manhood Jesus, in His own way, did exactly what the people had hoped for. He delivered them from fear of the Romans by revealing that God is greater than all earthly powers and that His kingdom must ultimately prevail. He delivered them from fear of hunger by proving that God is able to provide for every human need. He delivered them from fear of disease by demon- strating that God, the Lord of all life, is both able and willing to heal. He delivered them from fear of death by proving His own power to raise the dead. He delivered them from hopelessness by revealing the glorious future God has planned for those who love Him, and by confidently asserting that He Himself would some day come again as King of kings and Lord of lords. All this, and more, was included in the "good news" which the angels brought to the shepherds the night Christ was born. It was the message of the manger—and of the cross. It was the message of Bethlehem, Calvary, and Oli- vet. And it comes ringing down the ages to our time. This is the good news our present fear- ridden generation needs. And it comes from the same blessed Baby, now Lord of the universe, soon to return in power and glory. Truly the world has desperate fears today—greater perhaps than at any other time in history. Everywhere there is fear of nuclear war, chemical war, biological war; fear of inflation, depression, dis- ease, and death. People are well-nigh "swooning with fear" as they look upon the things coming on the earth. (Luke 21:26, Moffat.) But there is "good news for you" and everybody else. "Good news" for today! Because Jesus lives, because He is the Lord of history, because He holds the whole world in His hands, we need not be afraid of nuclear war or any 'they kind of war. We need not be afraid of rockets or hydrogen bombs or any other kind of lethal device. We need not be afraid of any human tyranny. Beyond the worst disasters imaginable lies the kingdom of God which Jesus will soon set up. Because He is the Lord of life we need not be Jesus came to bring "peace on earth," but grim evidences of hatred and strife still abound in many lands. afraid of disease or death. He is still the great Physician and the mighty Healer. And because He triumphed over the tomb, because He is the resur- rection and the life, the sting of death is removed. All who love Him truly will be raised again at His glorious appearing. We need not fear any of the tragic developments of these latter days. Trials and tribulations of every kind will leave us unmoved if we trust ourselves and our future to Jesus Christ, Babe of Bethlehem, Hero of Calvary, King of the ages. Knowing Him, loving Him, trusting Him, is a constant source of good news. Just thinking of Him will bring us peace of mind, clear vision, unflinching courage, and unquenchable hope. His radiant Spirit (Continued on page 26.). 5 I RECALL once coming across the following quotation: "While rich man sigh and poor men fret, Dear me! we can't do without Christ- mas yet!" It set me thinking that if for no other reason there must always be a Christmas, for there will never be a time till the world ends, when sighing and fretting will cease. True, we have a good measure of rejoicing and festivity each Christmastide but little of it is on the high plane it should be. "If the mind is never exalted above the level of humanity, if it is not uplifted by faith to contemplate divine wisdom and love, the man will be constantly sinking lower and lower." Christmas provides just that opportunity which we all need to lift our minds from the level of humanity and contemplate divine wisdom and love in the events of the first Christmastide. We cannot, and must not forget, that it was the Light of the world that was born in that Bethlehem manger nearly two thousand years ago. And He who was the Light of the world received the name of "Jesus" which means "Saviour." He was the world's Saviour for it was written of Him, "He shall save His people from their sins." None will deny that we need a Saviour, for the world is heading we know not whither, and unless a more than human hand takes control disaster seems inevitable. Strange as it may seem there are many who reject this divine Saviour and declare that the claims made for Him are not true and that He deserves no more than to be equated with other of the world's great religious leaders, such as Buddha or Mohammed. Inherent in the Christmas message is a fundamental premise which is clearly stated by the writer of the book of Hebrews. He says, "He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Heb. 11:6. If we apply this principle to the story of the birth of Christ it means that we cannot rightly appraise the Bethlehem record unless we first believe it. We must be on the most friendly terms with our neighbour before we can truly assess his character. So it is with Christ; we must believe in Him and be on friendly terms with Him before we can assess His claims. A cloud of witnesses But this is only half the story. There is the testimony of a multitude of men and women who have believed, and like the Magi have laid their gifts at the feet of Jesus and have acknowledged Him to be the Son of God, the Saviour of the world. The Bible calls them "a great cloud of wit- nesses." The names of the great and good men from New Testament times until now readily spring to mind. Are all these bearing a false testimony? Were they deceived and deluded into believing a lie? No deluded man could have changed the face of the eighteenth century England for the better as did Wesley, who being dead, yet speaketh. Were St. Patrick, Columba, Boniface, Francis of Assisi, Luther, Calvin, and others too numerous to mention, just deluded men? These men knew Christ as their personal Saviour and Friend. Surely every just and generous man should hesitate to deny the testimony of this "cloud of witnesses." A mother's testimony There is another witness whose voice should also be heard in this context; Mary, the mother of Jesus. A mother's word about her son must command reverent respect. The communication to her by the angel Gabriel, "And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call His name JESUS" (Luke 1:31), was the first intimation of her destiny. She began to understand the import of these words when the Child was born. The visit of the wise men and of the shepherds; the prophetic utterance of Simeon who said, "Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel" (Luke 2:34, 35); the visit to Jerusalem when Jesus was twelve years of age, and His behaviour in the temple when He spoke those memorable words, "Wist ye not that I must be about My Father's business?" and the events connected with His bap- tism when a Voice from heaven was heard saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matt. 3:17)—all these Mary pondered in her heart until, on the occasion of the marriage at Cana, she uttered her last recorded words which echo down the centuries : "Whatsoever He saith unto you do it." John 2:5. We ignore this witness at our peril. Why not confess Him now? Nothing is more sad than the cry, "It is too late." It is written that whether we will or no, "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Phil. 2:10, 11. Then why not confess it willingly and gratefully now? Another Christmas is at hand and although while the earth stands there will always be a Christmas, it may be the last of these great occasions for us. One day we will have to acknowledge that Jesus is the divine Son of God; we will be compelled to bow the knee and declare His greatness, but then it will be too late. Let us this year, if we have never done so before, go to the manger and to the cross and bow before Him in worship and give Him the gift of ourselves. It is thus, and only thus, that Christ- mas will have real meaning for us. 7 A NOTHER chapter in human history began when Russia's tiny Sputnik I hurtled clear through the sky on October 4, 1957, and began or- biting round the earth. For better or for worse, the "Space Age" had made its debut. Sputnik was the first of scores of man-made satel- lites which have since been successfully launched from both East and West. On that historic day five years ago, there were few who seriously thought that the mechanical messages of the pioneer satellite would ever be "humanized." That the monotonous, yet eloquent "bleep! bleep!" would be succeeded by live human messages, was not thought feasible. But the incredible has actually happened. Six men have circled the earth, and excursions to the moon are already a definite priority on America's space programme. Since Leonardo da Vinci's ingenious Ornithopter, men have wanted to break through the bonds of gravity and soar freely. Balloons, airships, and aero- planes have played their part, but always within the rather severe limits of our atmosphere. But now, thanks to such "spacecraft" as Russia's Vostok, and America's Mercury, intrepid heroes have successfully sampled the thrill of travelling through space. Latest success is that of American Walter Schirra, who belted the earth six times at a speed of 16,000 miles an hour, and at a height of over 100 miles. What does this add up to? Breath-taking bravery? Without any doubt. Tremendous evidence of man's scientific skill? Yes, indeed. Powerful assurance of future peace and tran- quillity? Far from it! A sense of foreboding And there is the tragedy of it all. For in both East and West, space is clearly regarded as the next military battleground. Says an American senior Air Force officer: "We cannot rule out the possibility that Russia can orbit satellites with 100 megaton hydrogen bombs over our heads. We cannot take chances. The sooner we get manned space stations operated by military men, the better off we will be." Russians are likewise aware of the prospect of an army race in space. "It is perfectly clear," writes General Kurochtin in Red Star, "that if the im- PEACE IN THE When the "Prince of peace" returns When the herald angels sang of "glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men," far more than wishful thinking was involved. (Luke 2:14.) They were not heralding a failure, but a Redeemer and Conqueror. Cradled in Bethlehem's manger was the divine Son of God, whose purpose was to rid the world and the universe of every disruptive element; to restore for ever the peace and tranquillity that was Eden's. He was the One of whom it was said: "He shall not fail nor be discouraged." Isa. 42:4. Completion of His plan demands His return to the world. In the Bible's prophetic scheme, this is the next great event to happen. As "King of kings," and as the everlasting "Prince of peace," He is almost due to come again. Only this time it will be to ob- literate evil, and to establish for His loyal followers a reign of "everlasting righteousness." He will make "wars to cease unto the end of the earth," and all weapons of war will be destroyed. (Psa. 46:9.) Most reassuring is the prophetic promise: "Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end." Isa. 9:7. Yet, during this waiting time, while the world is - at the mercy of men who are emotionally immature and morally deficient, God's followers may have peace of mind and heart. The basis of their peace is twofold. First, they are in harmony with God's will. There is no difference of desire or ideal, between them and their Maker. What God says, they are will- ing to do. They know it is for their good. For "God is love." So they, unlike sinners who "are like the troubled sea," have peace of heart: "Great peace have they which love Thy law: and nothing shall offend them." Psa. 119:165. Secondly, � a n d most important, we have peace because Christ cancels sin. (Continued on page 26.) perialists continue to conduct research for means of using cosmic space for military goals, then the in- terests of guaranteeing the security of the Soviet State demand definite measures from our side." The "twin" flight in space last August, of Niko- layev and Popovich, was rather spoiled by the Soviet Defence Minister's warning: "Let our enemies know what techniques and what soldiers our Soviet power • has at its disposal." We are, of course, well aware of both. There is profound admiration for both skill and courage. But we regret that the prospects of peace have not been, in any way, enhanced. The Space Age has somehow simply added further horror elements to the Atomic Age. The general feelings of awe and admiration are real and genuine. But they are feeble by comparison with the underly- ing sense of foreboding. To some it may seem a far cry from space-ships, bombs, and war, to the Christmas message of peace and goodwill. But there is no anomaly. "Peace on earth" will come In the light of God's Word, we may be sure that ultimate peace is no idle hope. Bible prophecy presents a picture of man's great increase in skill and knowledge in "the last days." (Dan. 12:4.) It is one of the signs of the times. It indicates that time's last chapter is well-nigh finished. Together with many other signs, it leaves no doubt in the Christian's mind that the second coming of Christ is about to happen. If man's piety and goodwill had kept pace with his ingenuity and knowledge, the present story would be different. There would be no fear or anxiety. Suspicion would give way to mutual trust and ad- miration. National barriers would be submerged by a sense of world brotherhood. Indifference and hate would be smothered by kindness and love. Men's hearts are the trouble. Unless changed by God, they will always be ruled by selfish motives. And thus the prospects might ever seem more in the nature of impending chaos than Utopia. Says the prophet Isaiah: "The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." Isa. 57:20, 21. This picture, coupled with the New Testament declaration that as time proceeds, "evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse" (2 Tim. 3:13), could quite easily give grounds for despair. But such is far from God's plan. by R. D. Vine I BELIEVE . . . in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord who war conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary." Thus reads the Apostles' Creed. Those who composed this creed believed that the apostles of Jesus held it as a basic part of their faith that Jesus Christ was indeed "con- ceived by the Holy Ghost" and "born of the Virgin Mary." They believed that the apostles placed this belief alongside of their belief in the life, death, burial, resurrection, and promised return of Christ. Were the composers of this Creed right? Is the belief in the virgin birth of Christ by the miraculous intervention of the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the triune God, an essential belief ? We believe that it is. And the evidences from church history show that the historical church has always so believed. Cornerstone of Christian belief The doctrine of the incarnation of the divine Son of God as set forth in the Scriptures is the corner- stone of the whole Christian edifice—and this in- carnation demands the "virgin birth." Remove this truth from its place, and the whole building must col- lapse and be completely destroyed. If sinful humanity is to be saved, it must have a Saviour who is able to save; and to be able to save He must be both human and divine. This could be demonstrably provided only through the virgin birth. This stupendous fact is God's guarantee that Jesus Christ is God incarnate. If, on the other hand, He were not God incarnate, then His life as recorded in the gospels is merely a pious example, and His death but an unavailing tragedy. Because it was such a bulwark of the virgin birth, the Apostles' Creed was fiercely assailed at the be- gining of the twentieth century by the modernizing and naturalizing evolutionary teachers, and now, un- fortunately, many who accept the critical position, are sitting securely within the halls of ecclesiastical learning from which they insidiously implant their unbelief into the minds of the ministerial graduates. William Barclay, D.D., in the Daily Study Bible, for instance, commenting on Matthew 1 :18-25 says: "The virgin birth is a doctrine that confronts us with many difficulties: and it is a doctrine which our church does not compel us to accept in the literal and physical sense. This is one of the doctrines on 10 which the church says that we have full liberty to come to our own belief and our own conclusion." In his comments on Matthew 1:18-25, Barclay further says: "If we come to this passage with fresh eyes, and if we read it as if we were reading it for the first time, we will find that the fact that it stresses is not so much that Jesus was born of a woman who was a virgin, as that the birth of Jesus is the work of the Holy Spirit." Reading such words one would be entirely excused for using Joshua's words to the man with the drawn sword, but directing them to Mr. Barclay: "Art thou for us, or for our adversaries ?" We think it would be very difficult for him truthfully to reply, "As the Captain of the Lord's host am I now come!" It would be very difficult for him to show that the position that he takes is in any way consistent with that of any serious defender of the "faith which was once delivered unto the saints." It most certainly does not line up with that Creed which was so early formulated to defend basic Christian beliefs. Unbelief is a very insidious thing. It is that "sin which doth so easily beset us." Heb. 12:1. It is a seed that soon yields a multiple and baleful harvest. Doubt on one thing taught in the Bible invariably ends in doubting others. If the birth of Christ was not miraculous, what real ground is there for be- lieving in any of the miracles attributed to Him in the gospels ? But most vital of all, if His birth was completely human and natural, what ground is there to believe in the value of His vicarious sacrifice on Calvary, or the evidence presented in the gospels to demonstrate His conquest over death in a personal resurrection? "And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins." "Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God." 1 Cor. 15 :17, 15. The whole Gospel record stands or falls together. Argument from silence All the critics of the virgin birth, including Barclay, makes a great deal of the so-called silence of the other New Testament writers concerning the event. They ask such questions as, "If Christ was By Leslie Show truly born of a virgin, why did not John state that fact? Surely he would have done so! Why also does Mark, who was guided by Peter in writing his gospel, not mention it? And then again, Paul claims to have had a special revelation of the Gospel quite in- dependently of the other apostles and disciples, and he does not mention anything of a virgin birth. It is inconceivable that if he had known of such a thing that he would not have mentioned it." And so, in this way, they build up a case for their un- belief from arguments based upon the silence of some New Testament writers. But can absolute proof ever be drawn from any argument based upon "silence" ? Can we authenticate any Bible doctrine by what is not stated within its pages? It is a manifest impossibility! The fact is, however, that within Sacred Writ itself, there are two independent witnesses for the virgin birth, and the Scriptures fairly declare, "At the mouth of two witnesses . . shall the matter be es- tablished." Deut. 19:15. We thus have the requisite number of witnesses. Critics make far too much of the "argument from silence" in all their biblical criticisms. Because one writer does not refer to something that another biblical writer mentions, it is constantly inferred, and even claimed, that he knows nothing of it. What utter futility! How much would such an ar- gument prove if applied to present-day writers on any given topic? One writer does not need to cover the same ground as another when dealing with a given subject, unless he is being exhaustive in his treatment. He may, in fact deliberately write his work to be complementary to what has already been written, and especially so if he feels that the other author has adequately covered one section of the subject. Only if he wants to draw authority from the other, or perchance add authority to the other, will he cover the same ground. But already there were the requisite number of witnesses for the fact of the Virgin Birth, therefore all that was needed was complementary support, and this all the other New Testament writers present. Ample supporting testimony It is interesting to notice that some important early Fathers read John 1:13 as "who was born" rather then "which were born." The text then, when literally translated reads: "God who was born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man {i.e., a male or a husband], but of God." As Bishop Gore says : "This would be an exact description of the birth of our Lord as recorded in St. Matthew and St. Luke—not of the mixture of human seeds, nor of natural human desire, nor by the act of a hus- band, but by the act of God." An authenticating (Continued on page 26.) 11 HALF A C HRISTMAS, say some, is being scandalously commercialized! They even hint that the whole thing is a wicked conspiracy carefully elaborated by pundits who mass-produce presents, cards, and coloured paper to the impoverishment of a gullible public! Well, what of it? Most good citizens at Christ- mas time are definitely on the side of the reckless Bob Crachit, who all the year round accomplished the miracle of supporting a maximum family on a minimum wage. But at this season he was deter- mined that his loved ones should have just one day's good cheer. Christmas even gave him the courage to bid a bold but respectful defiance to the arrogant and unloved Scrooge who much preferred dusty ledgers to children's laughter, and the metallic chink of soulless coins to the hearty good wishes of friends. It is certainly true that long before the calendar creeps over the threshold of December, we are sur- rounded by the magic of Christmas. Even very or- dinary articles in the shops begin to don a Yule- tide dress. We are continually reminded of the rapidly diminishing number of "shopping days to Christmas." The prosaic mail-van, which we hardly noticed before, now sagely admonishes us to "post early." For a few happy days we are encouraged to forget the hideous mechanical contraptions which almost suffocate our streets, and nostalgically live with the romantic stage-coach—that long defunct vehicle of public transport which frequently careered downhill at twenty-five miles an hour, but always balanced it by a much slower progress up-hill, lest any passengers became dizzy with speed! Surely it is something of a relief, if, even in thought, we can escape to less hectic days. It is also true, however, that Christmas does bring its financial problems. Many an over-worked and under-appreciated housewife faces the festive season with some trepidation. She well knows that now a "regular" income must somehow be stretched to quite "irregular" proportions, as she endeavours to indulge in a few luxuries on the one hand, and yet maintain the supply of basic necessities on the other. Indeed, one good lady only recently, while purchasing just necessary supplies, was heard to exclaim, "If prices keep on soaring, we look like having only half a Christmas!" What many miss There are many thousands of well-respected families in this land today who nevertheless habitually spend only "half a Christmas." They experience only half of the joy, the satisfaction, the quiet happiness which Christmas can, and should bring to them. And their loss has usually nothing at all to do with financial considerations. Indeed, often th more af- fluent a family happens to be, the more prone they are, when Yuletide comes, to spend only "half a Christmas." The reason for their inadequate experience is not far to seek. It is simply that, perhaps unintentionally, they tend to divorce Christmas from Christ. They are apparently content with what Christmas brings in its more secular aspects—its relaxation, its presents, its parties, its happy gatherings around the festive 12 board. For the season's sake they may even join in some well-loved carols, but beyond that, religiously, they have no feeling for, and no appreciation of, what Christmas really means. Christmas is, of course, a time of happiness and good fellowship. Unfortunately, many people imagine, quite unjustifiably, that in order to preserve that care-free atmosphere, religion must be strictly rule i out. They associate Christianity with mor- bidity, with long prayers and longer faces, with a rigid, generally depressing, and "holier than thou" attitude. Such a conception is tragically mistaken. True re- ligion always adds to true happiness, and never, in any way, detracts from it. True religion is not just composed of preaching and praying and petty re- strictions. It is rather to be helpful and sympathetic, constantly endeavouring to bring joy to others, and, as Paul says, by bearing "one another's burdens, . . . so fulfil the law of Christ." Gal. 6:2. Christmas is a time of gifts and good fellowship, but it will fail in its purpose if it does not recall to our minds God's greatest gift to men, Jesus our Saviour. r • Tidings of great joy It can never be too strongly emphasized that, when Jesus was born into our race, He brought, not just a promise of future bliss, but also an immense measure of present happiness into the world. When a glorious angel appeared in the night sky, over those quiet Judean hills, and announced the Saviour's lowly birth to a group of startled shep- herds, he declared that he brought "good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." Luke 2:10. Jesus brought joy, not only to the shepherds and Wise Men, not only to Joseph and Mary, not only to the believers in the first century, but also to the believers in every century since. Therefore, to close the door of our homes against the kindly influences of Christ, at Christmas time or any other time, is not to add to the real happiness CHRIsIMAs by Ernest Cox of those within; rather is it seriously to detract from it. Perhaps too often we have allowed Isaiah's sombre portrayal of the suffering Messiah to colour our whole conception of Him. We have not (may we say it with reverence?) been able to fit "a Man of Sorrows" into a happy Christmas gathering While it is only with awe and deep contrition that we can dwell on those tragic days before Cal- vary when Jesus said, "My soul is exceeding sorrow- ful, even unto death" (Matt. 26:38), we can remind ourselve;, that He was not always, in that immediate sense, "a Man of Sorrows." Before that, and for the most part, He was a Man of quiet, but real, joy. He attracted the attention and affection of multitudes (Continued on page 31.) 13 • by G. Elliott :1- •1•1 T HE festival of Christmas is unique. Everything about it contributes to its distinction. Yet many must wonder just what it is that can so magnify this season of the year. Much of what it involves could be duplicated at any other time. The pro- vision might be identical, the guests unchanged. But it would not be the same. The special atmosphere would be missing. The appropriate spirit would not be there. For Christmas is different. In part this is because prior to the event there is so much preparation made to bring happiness to one's fellow-beings, and particularly to one's own kith and kin. The background of brilliance and colour is full of promise. Seasonal cards of greeting shower the land. Everywhere eager shoppers may be seen, laden with mysterious packages. And in the general air of expectancy that these arouse, we have a shrewd suspicion that the majority of adults share the joys of anticipation with the children. Like the subject we had in mind not so much the obvious ingredient of joy, but to point the underlying reason for it. For only in the contemplation of the reason for the celebration of the season can we really dis- cover "the Secret of Christmas"! The unfolding of a heavenly mystery In a most marvellous way the weeks of expectancy prior to Christmas day may be said to symbolize the millenniums of human expectancy preceding the advent of Jesus. For something of the movings of divine providence had long been known. Signs and portents were multiplied in the life of Israel. And as the time of the nativity drew near there was, in the hearts of the faithful, an eager expectancy that God was about to intervene. Doubtless there were those who echoed the challenging question which character in "the Teddy Bears' Picnic" they too like to feel they are "in for a big surprise"! This indeed could be far greater and more elevated than many realize. They are, of course, aware of the religious undercurrents of the festival. Yet too often they are so pre-occupied with the things arranged to charm the .eye and fill the stomach that they fail to discern anything to enrich the mind, comfort the heart, and satisfy the soul. In fact, in titling our Eliphaz once asked of Job, "Hast thou heard the secret of God?" Job 15:8. To a degree many had, for we are expressly in- formed, "The Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets." Amos 3:7. One of them, Daniel, had indeed made a startling prediction concerning the coming of "Messiah the Prince." Dan. 9:25. Another had testified that the birthplace of this "Ruler" was to be none other than "Bethlehem." Micah 5:2. But it was left to Isaiah, to set forth the supreme miracle of God in one grand, simple acknowledgment: "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given." Isa. 9:6. The Secret of Christmas is the stupendous dis- closure of the vehicle of God's salvation in the gift to man of "His only begotten Son." John 3:16. It is the glorious revelation that on a certain day the Son of God "came down from heaven" (John 6:38), "and the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." John 1:14. Said the mighty angel, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11. The Babe of Bethle- hem, born supernaturally of the virgin Mary, was the Messiah promised to mankind from the foun- dation of the world! Truly, "great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh." 1 Tim. 3:16. God became incarnate on, and from, that first Christmas Day! In thousands of churches. chapels, and homes the singing of the lovely Christ- mas carols will proclaim again the good news of salvation through the Babe of Bethlehem. The apostle Paul never tired of stressing that the "good news" he bore was the unfolding of a heavenly mystery. He spoke of the Gospel, as "the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest." Rom. 16:25, 26. Paul was testifying to an experience which had come to him. "I know whom I have believed." 2 Tim. 1:12. For anyone only to become aware of the occasion when the greatest spiritual secret of the Universe was made known in the Saviour's in- carnation, is not really to know it experimentally. It is only to know about it. It will avail us little or nothing to commemorate the event that is past unless we allow it to purify our present outlook, and vitally shape our future course of action. The truth about Christ will not long be "kept in mind" unless it is also known and treasured in the sanctuary of the heart! In three successive steps the Word of God sets before us how this may be accomplished. First, "the secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him." Psa. 25:14. This is the moment when the mental impress of the facts about the Saviour leads to an abiding conviction of the goodness of God as revealed in Him. Secondly, "His secret is with the righteous." Prov. 3:32. Now, by His grace, belief in Christ has been translated into action. For "he that doeth righteousness is righteous"! Thirdly, "He revealeth His secret unto His servants." Amos 3 :7. In active, daily service to others for God, there is a divine- human fellowship, a sanctified walk, a heart knowledge and communion that glows with perpetual enlightenment that will never grow dim. It is indeed cheering to reflect, that by simply reading the nativity chapter from one of the gospels, by singing the words of a carol, by church attendance, or in thoughtful meditation upon a Christmas broad- cast on the Nativity, one may be able, during the festive period, to make some "acknowledgment of the mystery of God." Col. 2 :2. But far more wonderful would be the full acceptance of Jesus Christ no longer as a Babe but as your personal Saviour. This would change the Yule-tide season from an annual festival to a life-long wonderment over your discovery of "the Secret of Christmas" ! ' -t*t is?t'aft-iPtiOMZIMWAilq.tIMZM I � AT CHRISTMAS TIME At Christmas time our hearts do glow With friendliness to friend and foe Because a little Child was born. If we could keep this glow of peace And always be as Christmas morn. Then strife and enmity would cease. M. G. Belleini. ll 19kacurwiazAziialz.thizAtro=h1 wk:s No4Y4:5 Nitt•tick3 Nkt.t1; MIN IS THERE ROOM IN YOUR HOME AND HEART? By I. W. Ginbey, B.A. C HRISTMAS is the one time in the year when almost everyone hears about Jesus. Even though many may not appreciate what Jesus came to do, few can escape hearing of Jesus through the carols that are sung and the greetings that are sent at this season. However, it seems a great tragedy that the celebration of one of the greatest and most important events in the history of our world should be accompanied by so much indifference as to its real meaning. To many people Christmas is simply the time for a family reunion, for feasting and drinking, for merriment and amusement. Too often too little time is afforded for men and women to hear the angels sing, "Peace on earth, goodwill toward men," and consequently the world remains at strife. But with the woes of sin and strife, The world has suffered long; Beneath the angel strains have rolled Two thousand years of wrong; And man, at war with man, hears not The love sang which they bring: Oh, cease, ye mortals, cease your strife, And hear the angels sing. Looking at the Christmas cards which are used so widely, one finds the same lack of interest in the all-important event. It has been pointed out that not one in twenty has anything to do with the birth of the Saviour of mankind. Too often the sub- jects chosen for Christmas cards are in absolute an- tipathy to the spirit of Christmas. Dr. Albert Schweitzer once declared that if Jesus Christ came into our modern world, He would come as a stranger. Many think of Jesus as just a good man; some perhaps don't even think this much of Him. Indeed when He came the first time He was also a stranger. "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not." John 1:11. The Jewish people, though looking for a Messiah, would not accept Him, because He didn't conform to their ideas. The Pharisees and scribes rejected Him; the rich despised Him; the learned refused His teachings. It was the poor people, contemptible in the eyes of the rest, who received Him. Lowly shepherds were given the message of His birth, for they were pre- 16 • pared to accept Him. The ignorant heathen dis- cerned the signs of the times and were led to find the Babe, and they offered Him not only their gifts, but their hearts. Today too, "not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many ncble, are called." It is the humble and sincere in heart who accept Jesus as the Saviour. How Jesus was received It is interesting to note the reception Jesus was accorded in the days when He was on earth. There were some individuals who received Jesus into their home, but not their hearts. Simon, the Pharisee, in- vited Jesus to his home and was numbered among His disciples, but he had not given Him his heart. He did later, but there were many who like him numbered Jesus among their guests, who shut their hearts to His teaching. There were some individuals who received Jesus into their hearts, but not into their homes. Some of course had not the opportunity of inviting Him to their homes, but there were some who had the opportunity but did not invite Him. Nicodemus came to Jesus by night and was led to give his heart to Him. Yet he did not invite Him to his home. In fact, it was not until after the crucifixion that this follower became an open disciple. Likewise Joseph of Arimathea was a secret disciple, until after Christ's death. There were some individuals who received Jesus into neither heart nor home. The Gergesenes, dis- There was no room in the inn of Bethlehem for the infant Christ, and sad to say there are multitudes today who give Him no place in their homes and hearts. turbed over the loss of their swine through the casting out of devils out of two poor souls into them, bade Jesus depart from their coasts. When Jesus came to Nazareth where He had been brought up and began to teach them from the Scriptures of His mission, the Nazarenes drove Him out and would have cast Him headlong down a precipitous slope but for the miraculous intervention of God. Finally there were some individuals who received Jesus into both home and heart. One thinks of Zacchxus. Jesus was a self-invited guest, but Zacchceus was pleased to have Jesus in his home, and before Jesus left, Zaccheus had opened his heart to the Master. The home at Bethany too, was a place where Jesus loved to spend time of relaxation. There Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, received Him into their hearts as well. What reception will you give Him? At this Christmas time, what kind of reception will you give to Jesus? Perhaps He will find Himself a guest in your house, perhaps not. His desire is to dwell permanently in your home. Will you react as did the innkeeper, saying there is no room for Him? Or will you say, "There is room in my home for Thee" ? Jesus wants even more than this. He wants a place in our hearts. He has a right to this, for He created us, and He redeemed us with the price of His own blood. He stands at the door of our homes and of our hearts knocking. He will not force an entrance, but if ye open the door, He will come in and sup with us and abide with us, and change our homes and our hearts. Shall we not this Christ- mas time mean the words we sing in the carols and make them prayers that Jesus will abide in our hearts and homes? O holy Child of Bethlehem, Descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin and enter in— Be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell— Oh, come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Immanuel. GOODWILL—OUR GREATEST NEED "WE need more of the spirit of goodwill in our family life, in our national and international gather- ings. The spirit that unites our hearts and makes us all one, no matter what our race, colour, or creed, is one of the urgent needs of this day and generation." 17 evidence (the procession would change this of course) —a few flags and innumerable black umbrellas, but a certain excitement was beginning to take hold of the populace. It seemed as if only a sprinkling of people were there, but the tremendous size of the AT rc COIJ CI T e square made the thousands al- ready present seem insignifi- cant. Estimates regarding the number of Romans and tourists in the square vary from 20,- 000 in a Communist paper to over 150,000 in the Rome Daily American. The clergy of the Roman diocese had been ordered out in toto to line the way of the procession outside the Basilica. As I showed the Swiss Guard my pass, he advised me, in Swiss-German dialect, to hurry on in order to get a better place. How right he was. The press-box, located diagon- ally in front of the papal throne, was quite crowded At the end of the hour-long procession of car- dinals, archbishops, bishops, and abbots, Pope John XXIII was borne on his ceremonial chair into the Basilica of St. Peter. Before him was carried his jewelled mitre and the papal triple crown. O CTOBER 11, 1962, will certainly go down in history as a day of supreme significance in the annals of the Papacy. Many Romans were up at dawn in order to be present in St. Peter's giant square to witness the tremendous display of pageantry, as the greatest gathering in Roman Catholic Church history, the Second Vatican Council, opened amid scenes of medieval splendour. Bells started pealing at 7 a.m., and soon Catholic church bells around the globe were announcing the opening of the Council. I joined the flow of pedes- trians walking up the beflagged Via della Con- ciliazione, which links Rome to St. Peter's and the Vatican City. Italian police and "Carabinieri" lined both sides of the wide avenue. One student-policeman told me he had been standing there already since 3.30 a.m. It had been raining all night, but, to the satisfaction of the crowd, the rain ceased about one hour before the procession was due to begin and the sun burst through the clouds. This was in marked contrast to the last session of the First Vatican Coun- cil, which closed to the sound of a terrific thun- derstorm. As I surveyed St. Peter's Square, s u r - rounded by the famous Bernini colonnade before joining the favoured few who had received tickets to watch the ceremonies inside the Basilica, there was not much colour in The vast assemblage of mitr Church filled the great na opening session of t • (some photographers told me they had been there since 6 a.m.), and as the ceremonies got under way, a large number of priests invaded the press section, hoping to get a better view of the Pope. The journal- ists succeeded more or less in holding their territory, wound its way down the seemingly endless Regia Steps, through the Bronze Doors, across the packed square to St. Peter's, the world's largest Christian church. First came the plumed, crimson and white Palatine Guard. The Swiss Guard with a a C HUE but it was almost a struggle for the survival of the fittest. Somewhat precariously perched on a school-like bench, I had an excellent view of the proceed- ings around the papal throne. We were situated next to the diplomatic corps, facing the section reserved for the heads of state and that assigned to the extraordinary missions representing different govern- ments. It was an imposing sight to watch the arrival of diplomats, ministers of state, royal princes, knights of Malta, and finally the president of the Italian Republic. The hour-long procession of Catholic prelates slowly rarchs of the Roman Catholic St. Peter's Basilica at the cond Vatican Council. their Michelangelo-designed red, yellow, and purple striped uniforms and armed with haldberds, followed soon after. Some 2,200 bishops in white capes and mitres constituted the body of the procession. Among the bishops, those of the Eastern Rite were easily distinguishable by their beards and flowing black hoods and bulbous jewelled crowns. Many of the bishops were old and had to be assisted up the steps into the Basilica. Then came seventy-seven gorgeously-robed car- dinals and finally the Pope surrounded by his glit- tering court on his canopy-covered portable throne of gilded wood, covered with red upholstery. His throne-chair was carried on the shoulders of eight crimson-clad bearers. Excited applause of the crowd outside the church, shouting "Viva it Papa," announced the arrival of the Roman Pontiff. The floodlights were turned on, the band played the Pontifical March, the Sistine choir intoned "Tu es Petrus," a hymn acclaiming the Pope as successor of Peter, and the head of the Roman Catholic Church was carried into the Basil- ica. Upon entering the church, the first thing that met the eyes of those participating in the pro- cession was the new giant white and red coat of arms of Pontifex Maximus John XXIII laid into the mar- In front of the great altar a special throne had been placed. From it the Pope gave his opening address to the assembled prelates of the Roman church. Oriental bishops in communion with Rome had their special part in the ceremony. Left.—At the last minute two observers were sent to the Council by the Russian Orthodox Church. Right.—Torch- light procession to St. Peter's Square in the evening after the opening session of the Council. ble of the foyer. Two mighty silver and gold keys have been set in the marble floor as a part of the inscription. The Papal procession advanced down the hundred- yards long central nave of the Basilica, between the massed ranks of the Council Fathers seated in two grandstands lengthwise along the nave. The seats on the left side of the central aisle are lettered "sinistra," and those on the right side "destra" (Italian for left and right). Though it is a well- known fact that the prelates are divided into two opposing groups, the liberals and integralists (roughly speaking "left" and "right" in the Catholic church), one does not suppose that the seating ar- rangements during the Council will reflect these internal divisions! The Pope did not wear the bejewelled triple crown, though it was carried on a cushion and set near his throne. This was in deference to his fellow- bishops. For the same reason, half-way down the central aisle the Pope descended from his ceremonial chair and walked on foot the rest of the way, nimbly for a man almost eighty-one, ascending the steps of the raised dais on which his red damask throne had been placed. Here the Pope sat down between the four twisted giant bronze columns of the Bernini Baldachin, in the centre of the transept and high above the Council Fathers. The arrival of the Pope marked the end of the procession and the beginning of the second part of the ceremony, the celebration by the French dean of the College of Cardinals, Eugene Tisserant, of a solemn pontifical mass. Rites specifically designed to inaugurate the Vatican Council then announced the third part of the ceremonies. A beautiful 1472 Bible manuscript from the Vatican library, call the Urbinus Latinus Decimus, which contains, we were told, 1,088 illuminated characters, was placed on the altar and from now on will be called the "Gospel of the Council." After the Pope had donned full pontifical robes, the cardinals and patriarchs one by one filed past the throne and kissed the papal ring in an act of obedience. With a smile on his face, the Supreme Pontiff exchanged a few brief words with just about everyone. A few white-robed archbishops and bishops came forward and in the name of their numerous colleagues made obeisance by kissing the Pope's right knee. Two austere representatives of the re- ligious orders went so far as to kiss the papal foot in order to present their "obedience" to Catholicism's ruler. The Pope makes his profession of faith After the act of obedience, the Pope knelt, and with him the congregation, to pronounce the Catholic profession of faith, which is traditionally made be- fore the start of great gatherings of the Catholic episcopate. This confession contains the Nicean Creed, and re-affirms belief in the teachings of the Roman church and of the popes. Among the doc- trines specifically referred to are: The seven sacra- ments, the "real presence" of Christ in the eucharist, purgatory and the efficacy of the good works of the living to obtain release for the departed souls from its pains and sufferings, veneration of Mary as the "mother of God" and of the other saints, and the primacy and infallibility of the Pope. This profession of belief concluded with the acceptance of all the prescriptions of Catholic canons and the decisions of previous Councils, especially those of the anti- protestant, counter-reformatory Council of Trent and of the First Vatican Council. Every Council Father, after pronouncing his own name, repeated in unison the oath of response, placing his hand on his breast, and signing his name to the document previously placed on the small desk in front of him. It seems to be of some significance that in none of the documentations released by the Vatican for the accredited journalists, and in none of the news- papers I was able to consult, was mention made of some of the phrases contained in this Catholic oath and profession of faith, which seem to contrast glaringly with the climate of unity and friendly (Continued on page 30.) 20 AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD" ARTICLE No. 4 in the series THE FIVE "I AMS" by J. C. FRENCH T HE qualifications of a good shepherd were well exemplified in the life of Jacob. Trickster though he was, at least he was a good shepherd and truly cared for his sheep. We are told about him: "My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die. . . . I will lead on softly." Gen. 33:13, 14. Whatever ill we may think of Jacob, no-one could say that he was unmindful of his flock. In this way he was a type of the Lord Jesus Christ who made the tremendous claim, "I am the Good Shepherd." John 10:11. No fewer than eighty times in the Bible do we find God likened to "the Shepherd of Israel." It is a significant phrase. Seven hundred years before Christ we find Isaiah the Gospel prophet writing: "He shall feed His flock like a shepherd: He shall gather the lambs in His arm, . . . and shall gently lead those that are with young." Isa. 40:11. And in the last book of the Bible, we read: "The Lamb who is at the heart of the throne will be their Shep- herd and will guide them to the springs of the water of life." Rev. 7:17, N.E.B. Furthermore, the very earliest picture of Christ found in the catacombs represents Him as a shepherd carrying a lamb and caring for the flock. He safely leads His flock Coming back to the figure of the eastern sheph:rd it is significant that he always goes before his flock and leads the way. The Psalmist speaking of the way in which the divine Shepherd leads says: "He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake." No true shepherd would lead his flock into danger, by precipitous routes along cliff edges. And David, the sweet singer of Israel, knew that God would never lead His people into false pathways. Sometimes, however, there were dark valleys or wadis through which the shcherd had to lead his flock. One notorious one was called Wadi el-Naar. It is generally considered to be one of the hottest places in Palestine and was also the place where robbers lurked. Doubtless David had this place in mind when he wrote in his beautiful Shepherd Psalm about "the valley of the shadow of death." Jesus too knows the dangers of the way and leads safely through. Carefully the shepherd looks at his sheep as they make their way to the sheepfold at night. As one sheep approaches the fold, he notices that it has bruised its head against a rock. The horn of oil is brought out and gently the healing oil is massaged into the wounded spot. (Continued on page 26.) 21 si walked through the streets of an African city not long ago, I was intrigued to see on the the wheel of a rickshaw, the words, "Jesus is com- ing. Are you ready?" This statement, with its challenging question, was prin- ted in red letters upon the white wheel discs. The rickshaw boy evidently had discovered Christ's great promise, "I will come again" (John 14:3) and he was anxious to share his faith in this "blessed hope" of the return of Christ "the second time." By Brian Pilmoor This simple rickshaw boy was a man with a message and a mission in life. Having learned one of the great truths of God's Word, he desired to tell others. Like John the Baptist, his witness was to "make ready a people prepared for the Lord." Every Christian has been called to be a witness for God and should "be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh . . . a reason of the hope that is in you." This hope can be none other than that blessed hope of Christ's soon return. Without controversy, great is the theme of the second coming of Christ. In the Holy Scriptures it is referred to no less than 1,500 times. The New Testament, on an average, speaks of this topic once in every twenty-five verses. The Word of God tells of a sudden, audible, and glorious advent of Jesus; it depicts His coming in the heavens, together with "all the holy angels." This literal and personal return of Christ, we are further told, will be visible to all, "for every eye shall see Him." "Then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." This second coming of Christ coincides with "the end of the world," for Jesus comes to resurrect the dead saints and to trans- late them, together with the righteous living Chris- tians into His kingdom of glory. Will it be soon? Some ask the question, "Will the Lord Jesus come in our day?" This is a pertinent inquiry, but more important still is the question, "Am I ready if He should come today?" Many years ago, the Prince of Wales was on a visit to the Midlands and went into a certain working man's home. The next day, this man sadly said to his mates, "I never expected him, nor did my wife. Our home was untidy, and I hadn't washed. We shall never forgive ourselves. If we had only known he was coming, we would have been ready for him." Yes, and the Prince of Peace is soon to come to visit this earth of ours; and we know not the day nor the hour. The one great question for us all therefore is, "Am I expecting Him, and am I ready to meet Him?" Listen! It was Jesus who earnestly appealed to His disciples when He said, "Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." Matt. 24:44. The importance of being 22 • ready for His advent is stressed by the seven illus- trations which the Lord Himself used in seeking to impress upon the minds of mankind the fact of the unexpected hour of His return. In an hour that ye think not! Jesus compares the sudden destruction of Jeru- salem, in the year A.D. 70, with the destruction at the end of the world when He will return to save His people. Again, Christ's advent will be as unexpected "as the lightning [which) co,aeth out of the east and shineth to the west" and as a thief who comes in the night. As the rainclouds burst upon the earth in Noah's day, so also will the Lord of heaven come un- expectedly from above. Jesus related to His disciples a story about a wedding in which He likened His return to the coming of the bridegroom for his bride. Of the bridesmaids He said, "They that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut." Matt. 25:10. Such will be the experience of the wide-awake and waiting Christians. Finally, Jesus related the parable of the man who travelled to a far country and suddenly returned home to find out what his servants were doing. Years ago, while away on business, I sent to my family a simple three-worded telegram which read, "Home to- night. Brian." That night when I arrived home I was not expected. Somehow the message that they had received was, "Phone tonight. Brian." Unprepared, they sat waiting for another message. Some people may be waiting for another message not having understood the three-worded promise of Christ which says, "I will return." The earnest Christian will always be ready and not just getting ready. Well may we take to heart the motto on the coat of arms of the city of South Shields, "Always ready." Great men through the ages have known, an- ticipated, and made personal preparations for that wonderful and glorious day. Martin Luther wrote, "Neither will I permit anyone to deny me the right to believe that the last day is at hand." John Calvin added his testimony by saying, "Scripture uniformly commands us to look forward with eager expectation to the coming of Christ." Hymn writers and holy men have constantly written of the "vision glorious." In Old Testament times, several hundred years before Christ's first advent, Amos the prophet pro- claimed, "Prepare to meet thy God," and in recent years, at the time of the great Harrow train disaster when three trains were piled up in a mass of wreck- age and scores of lives were lost, many onlookers gazed silently upon the station clock which stopped under the impact of the disaster. Under this time- piece were those same words of the prophet, "Pre- pare to meet thy God." One wonders just how many among the dead and injured were prepared and ready to meet their Maker. No wonder Moody, the outstanding evangelist of a century ago, exclaimed, "The moment a man takes hold of the truth that Jesus is coming back again to receive His followers to Himself, this world loses its hold upon him." Do the material things of this world hold us from loving Christ more closely? It is the setting of our affections upon things above that will make us daily ready for His return. Then certainly we shall lift up our voices in testimony to proclaim to other people that "Jesus is coming again." Ready whenever He comes The story is told that far up in the rugged high- lands of Switzerland, close by a mirror-clear lake, surrounded by snow-clad mountains, and away from the beaten paths of the tourists, a lone traveller came suddenly and unexpectedly upon a beautiful, well-cared-for estate. Entering the meticulously kept grounds, he met the caretaker, who showed him around the extensive, lovely flower-filled gardens. "Is your master here the year round?" the traveller inquired. "No, he is away," the gardener answered. "How long has he been gone?" "About twenty years now," the caretaker replied. "I suppose you hear from him often?" the ques- tioner continued. "Not once has he written to me," was the reply. "From whom do you get your pay them?" "From the master's agent in Mailand," said the gardener. "Does the agent come often to tell you what is to be done?" the stranger asked. "No, he has never been here either." "Pray tell me, who does come then to oversee things?" "It is very seldom that anyone comes here," the cordial caretaker replied, "since we are so far off the beaten track." To the traveller this was hard to understand. His doubt and dismay were revealed in his next remark. "And still you have kept the gardens, yes, every nook and corner of the whole estate in such perfect order. Everything looks as if you were expecting your master tomorrow." "Not tomorrow, but today, sir. I keep everything as though he were coming today," said the faithful gardener. Just so, we should be prepared daily and hourly for Jesus' coming. Stars rise and set, that Star shines on; Songs fail, but still that music beats Through all the ages come and gone, In lane and field and city streets. —Nancy Byrd Turner. 23 I DOUBT if I shall see another Christmas," she says. "Oh, don't talk like that," we say, "you'll be here for many a Christmas yet." She is probably right, however. She is tired—so tired. With all the will in the world to do what she feels to be her share of the daily chores, the poor old body can't match up to it, and she who always "looked well to the ways of her household" and never "ate the bread of idleness," must now sit and watch others get on with it. She who served others so faithfully must now herself be served, and though they do it with the utmost free-heartedness and pleasure, and give every evidence of gratitude that she is with them still, nevertheless she thinks wist- fully of those Christmases past when she was the one to carry in that steaming masterpiece. In all justice, those dinners were not better than the one they had had today, but they were just as good— just as good. Memories of Christmases past What Christmases they were! When all the children came from near and far, daughters and sons-in-law, sons and daughters-in-law, grandchildren —how many had there been ? the house chock-a-block full, no room that hadn't bedded somebody down, such noise, such running to and fro, such happiness, such laughter! Very much, of course, as it had been today, but then, in those days, she had been at the hub of it, guardian of the stock-pile, custodian of everybody's secrets. It was she then who had planned the proceedings and held the financial reins. Well, she was glad enough to let those go; Christmas had its worries. But there were other things. They came flooding back to her. Christmas when times were hard and there had been so little with which to make merry. But how sweet had tasted that little. Christmas, "when Peace, like a dove in its flight, hovered o'er brave men in the thick of the fight." She remembered those little respites in the horror of those bomb- ridden nights. Just sweet uninterrupted sleep had made those Christmases memorable. She remem- bered far-away Christmases when eager fingers itched to tear open the sealed packages at the very moment of arrival, as though Christmas Day were not sacred to the opening thereof. She remembered the singing. As today, there had always been singing, music and singing. For joy of the Christ-Child. For joy of re- union. For joy of His providences throughout the years. But now she couldn't sing. She couldn't hit the notes any more. They must sing without her help now. She felt a bit out of it all, as though she didn't rightly belong. No, she wouldn't be here next Christ- HERE'S TO YOU, mas. She felt a bit lonesome. Lots of things she would like to do and see again, but it was too late now. Someone else would sit in her chair next Christ- mas. Would they once think of her, she wondered ? From the quiet street the sweet strains filtered through, "Silent night, holy night, All is calm, all is bright," Night was closing down on her she felt. She wished she had the strength for that lovely walk up through the Park. "I don't suppose she will be here next Christmas," said one. "I don't suppose she will," said another. There will be many who will miss her gentle, assuring influence. The empty chair will not readily "belong" to someone else. It will take time. No time for regrets But the glorious thing about it is that it doesn't really matter at all. There is no need to be wistful, there is no need for regret, for if the coming of the Christ-Child, almost two thousand years ago, was an earnest of one thing more than another, it was of this—that He is coming soon again, and that what we so often think of as the end is only the beginning, that a great and perfect future is before all who sincerely grasp that which He came in the first place to bestow. She will not see another Christmas, we say. What a mistake! That was why He came, the Christ-Child, that she and we all might see aeons of Christmases, countless anniversaries of rejoicing. Think you that we shall never celebrate again the miracle of our deliverance, and Grandma, bless her, is on the brink of it. She is at the head of the queue. That a quiet sleep lies in between matters not at all. "He giveth His beloved sleep," and Time ceases then to be of any account. We plan for next year's holiday. This time, maybe, we think we will really break loose, go places we have never been before. We are even already, maybe, laying in guide books, Shadow when it is full of the fears which none of the Lord's saints need know. Moses and Aaron went up the hill, not down, at life's final close. It was only just before she came to the Celestial City that Christiana, Christian's wife, you will remember, came to Beulah Land, the last halting place, and there, John Bunyan wrote, "the sun shone night and day." "Were I to adopt the figurative language of Bunyan," wrote Dr. Payson just before he died, "I might date this letter from the Land of Beulah, of which, for some weeks, I have been a happy in- habitant. The Celestial City is full in my view. Its glories beam upon me, its breezes fan me, its odours are wafted to me, its sounds strike upon my ears, and its spirit is breathed into my heart. Nothing separates me from it but the river of death, which now appears but an insignificant rill that may be crossed at a single step whenever God shall give permission." At evening time it shall be light So, here's to you, Grandma, for this is possibly your best Christmas yet, because your next one will be spent with the Author of it. Our lesser plans, how little they can begin to compare with yours. "It shall come to pass," wrote Zechariah, "that at evening time it shall be light." May that comforting, GRANDMA � by Mary J. Vine doing our best to get a smattering of some foreign language. We dream of a week or two of unbroken sunshine. But we haven't got a thing on Grandma. Here we plan and worry, skimp here and save there, but she—think about it for only a very few minutes and you could envy her. Sitting there drowsily, well rid of all our harrying schemes and hopes and fears, she is on the eve of such stupendous happenings as truly "eye hath not seen nor ear heard." She is on the threshold of that life for which she has always longed. The journey is almost accomplished —next stop, "Mount Zion"! Beyond "the valley of the shadow" Too often we talk about going down into the Valley of the Shadow. It is only a Valley of the warming light shine full on you, and tomorrow— who knows—"Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty; they shall behold the far-stretching land." THE LORD BLESS THEE With the gladness that knoweth no decay, With the riches that cannot MSS away, With the sunshine that makes an endless day, Thus may He bless thee. AND KEEP THEE With the all-covering shadow of His wings, With the strong love that guards from evil things, With the sure power that safe to glory brings, Thus my He keep thee. 25 Good News For You (Continued from page 5.) will make us more than conquerors over every hard- ship, trial, and disappointment. Such is the message of Bethlehem at Christmas- tide, 1962. In a world gone mad, a world standing on the brink of destruction, it offers the one solution, the one way out, the one bright hope for the future. Amid the deepening darkness it is the one light that will not go out. Despite the lapse of nineteen centuries it is still "good news for you," the best news heaven ever sent to earth. Peace in the Space Age (Continued from page 9.) In heralding our Saviour's birth, the angel said : "He shall save His people from their sins." Matt. 1:21. Jesus showed the way to be good; the way to live a virtuous life. And on the cross of Calvary, He provided the means of removing our guilt be- fore God. That is why Paul says : "He made peace through the blood of His cross." Col. 1:20. Acceptance of Him as our Saviour makes our record clean in the Books of Heaven. It gives a consoling sense that all is well between us and God. "Space Age" anxieties will never upset the Chris- tian. For as the prophet declared: "The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever." Isa. 32:17. Born of the Virgin Mary (Continued from page 11.) statement of this nature, being so precisely accurate, even though not found in the major manuscripts, is not without very considerable weight. Added to this, it should also be pointed out that both Paul and John, above all New Testament writers, insist upon the pre-existence and absolute divinity of Christ. And this idea, so complementary to that of the virgin birth, fully establishes that belief. Can it not be seen that the pre-existence and divinity of Christ as concepts utterly exclude the possibility of Jesus' having a human father? And that much being granted, and accepted, through acceptance of John's and Paul's testimony, then what serious obstacle stands in the way of the acceptance of the literal accuracy of the story of the virgin birth as given by both Matthew and Luke? The virgin birth of Christ is, in fact, the only satisfactory way for the pre-incarnate Son of God to enter into this world to carry out man's redemption, for it enabled Him to fulfil all the necessary requirements of bearing man's nature, experiencing the common lot of mankind from the cradle to the cross, yet being Himself both sinless and divine. (See Romans 8:3; Hebrews 2; Philippians 2, etc.) Was there a better way? Finally, as a direct challenge to unbelief, we would like to ask both sceptics and critics, instead of being continuously negative and destructive, to do some- thing quite positive and therefore constructive. We would like to ask them to show how God, in the redemptive process, bearing in mind the biblically revealed physical and spiritual requirements of the Redeemer, could have adopted any satisfactory method other than the one which He is declared in the Holy Bible to have chosen, namely, brought His Son into this world by means of the "virgin's womb." We believe that if they can show how God could have done it in another and better way, meeting all the requirements of the case, then they have genuine weight to their criticism, and moreover, a right to criticize. But until they can do this, and we believe they have an impossible task, then let them learn to be silent and stand in awe before the great "I AM" who "doeth all things well" and has condescended to become one with fallen humanity in the person of His Son, in order that He might lift that same sinful humanity into the highest heaven to share the throne of the universe. (Rev. 3:21.) " I am the Good Shepherd " (Continued from page 21.) The two things that the shepherd invariably carried were the rod and the staff. With the rod, a kind of club, he was able to ward off the dangerous hyenas and the wolf. The staff he used for leaping over streams, or for pulling down the tender branches for the goats to feed upon. But the most intriguing picture in the psalm is the one where we read about the shepherd preparing a table in the presence of the enemies of the sheep. There were many vipers and cobras where the sheep must feed, and the shepherd had to go before to prepare a place where the sheep might safely graze. There were also noxious weeds that had to be pulled out and de- stroyed, to make the banquet ready for the sheep. Then finally, the whole of the flock was guarded by the dogs that brought up the rear. It is quite possible that the Psalmist had in mind the thought of these good guardians when he said, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life." Known by name Just as an Eastern shepherd knows each sheep by name, so the true Shepherd of the flock knows His 26 own sheep by name. A shepherd on the slopes of Mount Hermon was once asked if it was true that he knew all the sheep by name. Yes, it was true. The request was made for a demonstration. It was feeding time and the shepherd said that it was a difficult thing to ask. However, he said he would try. He called a name, and after a moment, there was a little stir from the place of feeding and a sheep separated itself from the rest of the flock and came up to the shepherd. So the Great Shepherd of our souls knows our names individually. He also knows where we Ttiristmastibr By Vivian A. Walker Ring out, ye bells, at Christmastide, The Saviour's birth reveal. Stand wide, ye gates of Bethlehem, As we in reverence kneel. Behold the lowly manger Wherein the Christ child sleeps. While Mary, virgin mother, Her loving vigil keeps. Hushed is the cattle's lowing. Naught breaks the Master's rest, For they, though lowly born like Him, Are by His presence blessed. Draw near, draw near and worship This Babe of Bethlehem. He is your King, the King of kings! All hail His holy name. Star of Judea, shine above us. With His dear love our hearts instil, Till He return to dwell among us. Star of hope, keep shining still. live, for often He has given directions to one of His servants to go to a certain street in a certain city and to a certain house to find one of His sheep. (Acts 10:5, 6.) Every soul is as fully known to Jesus as if he were the only one for whom He died. His life for the sheep The second part of this great claim of Jesus tells us that the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. And that is just what Jesus has done, for us He has braved the perils of the valley of the shadow, con- quered the evil serpent Satan, and prepared for us a banquet where we can find sustenance for our souls. "Therefore doth My Father love Me," He said, "be- cause I lay down My life." John 10:17. Such love is incomprehensible to us, that Jesus should be willing to lay down His life for us poor, sinful human beings. Jesus said of this giving of His life, "I lay it down of Myself." He did not have to be coerced into dying for us. Through the prophet Zechariah we are told "that the council of peace shall be be- tween them both." Zech. 6:13. Yes, the council of peace, the agreement between the Father and the Son for the salvation of the world, was between them both. Even before this world was created, Jesus indicated His willingness to forfeit His precious life in order that we might live for ever. John the Revelator tells us that the Lamb was "slain from the foundation of the world." Rev. 13:8. Do you know His voice? Shall we not then, amid the maelstrom of this world's din, pause and listen to the voice of the true Shepherd? For "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." John 10:27. Out of the countless number of voices that offer their panaceas for this world's ills, there is only one that will lead us to eternal life. The Old Testament is replete with references to the work of the Good Shepherd on our behalf. Jeremiah (chapter 23), Ezekiel (chapter 34), and Zechariah (chapter 11) all speak in wonderful, glow- ing terms of the work of the Good Shepherd, all pointing the way to the coming of Him who said: "I am the Good Shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine." John 10:14. Dear reader, are you safe home in the fold? for the night approaches and the wind is rising. Do you know your Shepherd? Once a group gathered for a social evening at which each was called on to recite. An actor recited the twenty-third psalm and received a storm of ap- plause. Immediately after an aged saint recited the same psalm and brought tears to the eyes of the little assembly. When he finished the actor said to the old man, "I know the psalm, but you know the Shepherd." Do you know Him as well? COPYRIGHT ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Cover picture: Camera Clix; page 2, Keystone, Camera Clix, Fox Photos, V. T. Kanerva, Braun et Cie; page 4, Studio Lisa; page 5, Newton, Keystone; page 6, Fox Photos; page 7, Fox Photos; page 8, Keystone; page 9, Keystone; page 10, Camera Clix; page 12, Fox Photos; page 13, Camera Clix; page 14, Fox Photos; page 15, R. & H., Religious News Service; page 16, Planet; page 17, Braun et Cie; pages 18, 19, 20, Keystone, Felici; page 21, Keystone; page 22, B. Pilmoor; page 24, Studio Lisa; page 28, T. Nelson & Sons Ltd. 27 By S. G. Hyde ,./,e then. � blasts ce' sDe te\ � k 8.' • Sa � sks � scee � 0,‘,, '`• � 0 � k 6 s% � a ‘0,,,' � tk\`• a �\‘' et' � a � is '''''' � \o •,k. , IP— sio � at � a ‘",_'‘,.. 4"- , liN,e ,. kts" � sc`u ; \V• - to.s. - Vie - Al • • � 06v.* .t06 - GO'3. � ee. G, � a. , � ,•-.6 ..,as. � .. (kis. . Al', � , 0 � 4 It,C. � A o ,,,,, Vr -sk. r. caovi (eel ,1 ‘ � TO vcki ,tos � `0 ON � Vka kWIlt .`secs -- OA k � (e � t.'oe � a � a for en k sk.n9 � vac � ins` � t% ''•c � a � to a. a � no � 45. W � EA � Gr‘o. ace onto V. 6 � et � cc\ c'' e � \ b°60 tost) e � ,4 � . � ‘'s � a � •40(s' • 000. ‘.-ise je~o.e`o°' . ao', .. G vet° � 1°' .set°. We 6. � SPEAKS! The TWO DEATIBI$ D EATH has been mans enemy ever since sin (or disobedience) entered his heart and domain. The "wages of sin is death," says the inspired apostle, to which he added: "So death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." Rom. 6:23; 5:12. The apostolic church accepted the doc- trine of death as a state of unconsciousness or sleep. (1 Car. 15:51.) In other words, the early apostles and Christians believed that death was death and not a form of living transition to some higher sphere. They believed, and taught, that transition from death, a state to which mankind is heir, to life depended wholly upon a resurrection; either that of the righteous which will be consummated at the glorious return of Christ (see 1 Thessalonians 4:16 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-55) or that of the unrighteous which is to be effected a thousand years later (Rev. The fate of Sodom is used in Scripture to symbolize the final destruction of sin and sinners. 20:5)—the former a resur- rection to life everlasting and the latter to the second, or everlasting death. Before the onset of original transgression God invited the parental progenitors of the human race to enjoy the freedom of His creation sub- ject only to one limitation. "The Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it." Gen. 2:16, 17. At the same time God warned Adam and Eve that failure to regard this limitation would deprive them and their children of the continuance of life. "For in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Gen. 2:17. NOTE.—Some have wondered why, in view of the divine threat, Adam and Eve did not die on the day that they sinned. There is a simple explanation. What God said, in effect, is better understood by taking a literal interpretation of the Hebrew original. Having in mind the peculiarities of the Hebrew language and grammar, the divine pronouncement would read thus: "In the day that thou eatest, dying, thou shalt die." In other words, transgression would immediately introduce the process of dying and decay, eventually leading to the finality of death. Until transgression entered man's domain his life was perpetuated by the fruit of the "tree of life." That fruit was available only as long as obedience lasted. When disobedience did enter, the life-giving and perpetuating fruit was denied and the life of man which had known hitherto only its "flow" im- mediately began to "ebb." "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 it was that God introduced His plan for human redemption; His "amazing love" in giving His only• begotten Son as a ransom for sinners. This Son would come as the Man Christ Jesus through the "seed of the woman." Gen. 3:15. "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through (His) death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." Heb. 2:14, 15. In spite of sin. God did not deprive man of life en- tirely. Man was permitted to continue living but always under the shadow of death. And while living his limited life he was invited to seek his God and prepare for the day when death would be swallowed up in victory and he could exchange his mortality for immortality. "Seek ye the Lord, . . . call ye upon Him while He is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; . . . for He will abundantly pardon." Isa. 55:6, 7. (See also Isaiah 25:8, 9.) Will then the death of the unrighteous be ultimate? Apparently, no. For the wicked, too, are to have a resurrection. "The hour is coming," said Jesus, "in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." John 5:28, 29. The godly are raised to life. But the ungodly are raised to death. But the death to which the ungodly are raised, viz.. the second death, provides no re- covery. "Death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." Rev. 20:14. When Jesus comes, the ungodly dead will die, to await, with the rest of the ungodly the second resur- rection and the second death. "Our Lord Jesus Christ is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels. . . . Then He will do justice upon those who refuse to acknowledge God. . � . They will suffer the punishment of eternal ruin, cut off from the presence of the Lord." 2 Thess. 1:7-9, N.E.B. NOTE.—It will be noted that "death and hell" are cast into the fires of everlasting destruction. (Rev. 20:14.) Hell has been commonly associated with fire. But its biblical meaning is "the grave." And so "death and the grave" are cast into the eternal fires to be burned eternally, but not to continual burning as is often thought. That will be the end of all death and all destroying influences. Evidence of the second death as a "fait accompli" is revealed in the glowing descriptions of the Revelator. "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away." Rev. 21:4. No'rE.—This inspiring and gratifying picture pre- cludes the possibility of a continuance of the lives of the ungodly in the supposed everlasting fires. The ungodly are destroyed, not tormented, for God does not "delight in the death of the wicked." More- over the tragic remembrance of sin and sinners would not be effaced from God's new creation, should the ungodly hosts be kept in perpetual torment. The prophet Isaiah writes: "The former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind," while the Revelator assures us that God "will make all things new." Isa. 65:17; Rev. 21:5. Thus the "two deaths" are set before us. The first death we cannot escape; it is the "wage of our sin." But the second death we can escape simply by accepting Jesus and His sacrificial life and mediation, proffered reconciliation, pardoning grace. "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 Christ our Lord." Rom. 20, 21. Two great declarations of Jesus Himself reveal clearly how anxious Jesus is for us to enter into life eternal and escape the tragedy of a "second death." "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10. Have faith in God— No longer sad, forlorn; Have faith in God-- See now eternal morn; Have faith in God— All hail the Virgin-Born! Have faith, dear friend, in God. 2 0 The Vatican Council and Church Unity (Continued from page 20.) understanding with the non-Roman churches, which, we are told, the Council is trying to promote. In fact, each bishop took a most solemn oath to condemn, reject, and anathematize every one and all heresies that have been condemned, rejected, and anathe- matized by the Roman Catholic Church. He further promised and swore to keep inviolate until his last breath the Catholic faith, "outside of which none can be saved." After the profession of faith and the oath there followed the opening prayers and then the litanies sung in Latin. A departure from the Latin used throughout the ceremony highlighted the Catholic church's effort toward universal appeal. Eastern rite prelates in communion with Rome, and a choir, sang a great and small supplication in Greek taken from very ancient oriental liturgical texts, based on the gospel of Matthew. After the singing of these oriental prayers, the Pope gave his half-hour long opening address to the assembled congregation. He read from a prepared Latin text with a clear, even voice, remarkable for a person of his age. He frequently gesticulated ener- getically, using his index finger and hand in a pointing, punctuating gesture. In his opening remarks the Supreme Pontiff indicated once again the pur- pose of the Council: "Illuminated by the light of this Council, the church, we confidently trust, will become greater in spiritual riches, and, gaining the strength of new energies therefrom, she will look to the future without fear. In fact, by bringing her- self up-to-date where required, and by the wise or- ganization of mutual co-operation, the church will make men, families, and peoples really turn their minds to heavenly things." The Pope went on to say that he disagreed "with those prophets of doom who are always forecasting disaster, as though the end of the world was at hand." In fact, he said, he believed that Providence was leading mankind on to a wonderful "new order" of society. In this connection it may be pertinent to say that while Adventists may so often draw attention to what the Bible says about "the end of the world" they are not in any sense "prophets of doom," but heralds of a "new order of human relations"—to use the Pope's words—that will stem not from any ecumenical council, but will be gloriously ushered in by the second coming of Jesus Christ. The Pope stressed the fact that "the Catholic church . . . considers it her duty to work actively so that there may be fulfilled the great mystery of that unity, which Jesus Christ invoked," but it seemed very clear that Pope John XXIII thinks of unity only as a one-way road. That is, that Protestants and other Christians, as well as those who are at present non-Christians, should aspire to be united with the Catholic church. Our strong impression that the Pope's address advocates unity only the Rome-ward way was further strengthened by his use of the "Mother church" concept and by that portion of his allocution dealing with doctrine in which he said: "The twenty-first Ecumenical Council . . . wishes to transmit the doctrine, pure and integral, without any attenuation or distortion." The Pope went on to make a difference between the substance of doctrine and its "clothing," or the way in which it is presented. There is to be no change at all in the substance of Catholic doctrine, tke .1-111e155' Aiessage Have you heard the angels' message Echoing o'er the hills of time? Making known the heavenly story, Of the Babe from heights of glory? List! while angels sing again, "Peace on earth! good will to men." Will you heed the angels' message? "Unto you, a Saviour born;" Life anew may be your story. Christ in you, the hope of glory; E'en though strife be all around, Peace within your heart be found. Will you tell the angels' message To some weary, anxious soul? Banish fear with love's sweet story, Lol He comes again in glory; Sorrow, sin, and strife will cease When He appears—the Prince of Peace! Mrs. M. H. Cooper. eit:474:Z•Viii0J2Xi:2444S.ViatiZigt-tatsve.. but the Council is to give "great consideration" to its presentation, in order to ensure a more sucess- ful "doctrinal penetration." "Severity" to "mercy" The section of the Roman Pontiff's address which deals with the methods to be used to repress the "errors" of our time is one of the passages that has drawn the most comment. Here are the Pope's own words: "Ever has the church opposed these errors. Frequently she has condemned them with the greatest severity. Nowadays, however, the spouse of Christ prefers to make use of the medicine of mercy rather than that of severity. She considers that she meets the needs of the present day by demonstrating the validity of her teaching rather than by condem- 3 0 nations." What is striking in this statement is not so much what is said, but what is not said, or rather, left to inference. The word "severity" is used, not intolerance or persecution, which would be more meaningful terms. The Pope does not express regrets for the intolerant policies of the past. In fact, he almost seems to say that these harsh attitudes may • have been the right medicine for the days gone by, but today the church "prefers"—not should—to use "mercy," not because those of different religious views are entitled to the freedom of their opinions, but because the policy of mercy, benignity, patience, and goodness "meets the needs of the present day." How about tomorrow, if the needs should change? Are we not right in assuming that "mercy" or "severity" are not a matter of moral principle or obligation, but simply means to be used interchange- ably, as the situation may seem to suggest, in order to best promote the interests of the Papacy? After calling upon Mary to dispose all things for a happy and propitious outcome of the Council, the Pope concluded his keynote address. With this allocution the Council inaugural cere- monies virtually came to an end. After giving his "apostolic blessing" and the proclamation of a plenary indulgence for those present, the Pope left the Basilica to return to his apartments, followed by the same procession that had preceded his entry. It had been a long and tiring ceremony, yet withal six hours of splendid pageantry. My legs and feet hurt and ached more than they ever had, since, as a boy, I used to climb in the Swiss Alps! People reacted differently. An Italian lady on the bus found it all wonderful and would have gladly stayed much longer. An Indian bishop remarked that the ceremony lasted too long and another bishop confessed that he was tired, but a Spanish-speaking bishop walked by me with great gusto and said he was not tired at all! In the evening a vast crowd with thousands of flaming torches headed for St. Peter's Square creating probably the most monumental traffic jam in Roman history. For multitudes the night was an extension of the excitements of the day. For others of us it was a time for sobering thought. stinctively that in Him they had a Helper, and often, indeed, their only Friend. Invite Him to His own birthday party Christmas is the traditional celebration of a birth- day. The actual date of our Savour's birth is not known, neither is there any scriptural injunction to honour Christ's natal day. Nevertheless, Christians throughout the world, at this time, are united in re- calling the fact, and rejoicing in the significance, of the beautiful Bethlehem story. Most people regard their birthdays as being of some significance. Occasionally, indeed, folks become quite offended if their birthdays happen to be over- looked by relatives and friends. And naturally, too, any one of us would rather expect to be present, and, for once, to be the honoured guest, at his own birthday party! Perhaps in a rather similar way, it can hardly be said to be Christmas without Christ. So let us, this year invite Him into our homes and into our hearts, so that we spend together, not a half but a whole, Christmas. For, as Paul declares, wherever we are, and whatever the occasion, we can only be "com- plete in Him." Col. 2:10. It is only through Him, and in the sanctity of His abiding presence, that our "joy might be full." John 15:11. WE ARE SURE YOU HAVE ENJOYED READING THE CHRISTMAS NUMBER OF "OUR TIMES." WHY NOT BECOME A REGULAR READER DURING 1963 ? Fill in the coupon below and post with cheque or Postal order to: The Circulation Manager, The Stanborough Press Ltd, Watford, Herts. NM ▪ MN MMMMM M �NM • Only Half a Christmas (Continued from page 13.) of simple people. Almost everywhere they "heard Him gladly." Mark 12:37. Little children, as children will, frequently squeezed past the disciples, and gathered round His knees. The sick, the lame, the blind, even the mentally afflicted, felt in- H � My postal subscription of 16/- for twelve months. K My postal subscription of 8/- for six months. Place a tick against the order of your choice. Mr./Mrs./Miss � Address � I Block fetters glease IL ion um NE NIN � MI MI � NE 31 7eddv'd Zeddeket By Lilian M RS. BARTON has been here this afternoon, to ask if you will spend some time with little Jackie on Christmas night, Teddy. They haven't anyone coming for Christmas, and the poor little fellow isn't well enough to go out anywhere. He is very fond of you, his Mother says, and will be quite content if you will spend just a little time with him. I told her that you would be at home, and felt sure you would come." As Mrs. Williams spoke, she looked anxiously at the scowling fact in front of her. "0 Mummy, why did you tell her that? I can't possibly go," was the dismayed reply. "As a matter of fact, I am expecting an invitation from Cyril Jones. He always has a small party of boys on Christmas Day. They have a Christ- SSSSSVal S%S THE MESSAGE OF THE BELLS Tell me, will you think of Jesus When you hear the church bells ring? How He came to earth from heaven, Peace and happiness to bring. Will the Christmas bells remind you Of the night when angels came, Singing to the lowly shepherds Of a Babe, Jesus by name? While the bells are gaily ringing Think again how Jesus died; Think how very much He loved us, In our stead was crucified. But the bells of heaven were ringing When He as a victor rose, By His life we too may conquer, For He triumphed o'er our foes. Let the bells ring out the message: ''He is coming back again.- No more sin and no more sorrow, Christ as King will ever reign. As we join with one another At this blessed Christmastide, May the joy and peace of Jesus, Ever in our hearts abide. E. Pratt. SSFSSSUS G. Heard mas tree, and will have no end of a good time, he said." "And my boy wouldn't be willing to give up his pleasure to cheer an invalid ?" Mrs. Williams in- quired gravely. Teddy looked dubious. "But we shall have such a grand time at Cyril's. I wouldn't like to miss it." Mrs. Williams said nothing more, but felt very sad. In a few days' time the coveted invitation came, and the news had to be broken to poor little sick Jackie that Teddy would not be spending even one hour with him on Christmas night. At half past four Christmas after- noon, Teddy set out for his friend's home. He found that most of the guests had already arrived and were grouped around the fire busily talk- ing to Cyril, who was the centre of the group. He gave him a careless nod, but made no effort in include him in the conversation. So Teddy sat on the outside of the party, feel- ing rather out of things. It was much the same after tea. Most of Cyril's attention was given to a rather smart-looking lad who seemed to have quite a lot to say. "Now let's have some carol sing- ing," Cryil said, after they had chatted for nearly an hour, and very soon they were all gathered around the piano. "Now is my chance," Teddy thought to himself, "I shall be asked to sing, I expect. After all, I take all the solo pieces at church ; the minister says I have the best voice in the choir." But again he was disappointed. "I hear you've got a super voice, George, old boy," Cyril said to his new friend. "Will you sing some- thing to us? What about 'Silent Night' ?" "Anything to oblige," was the ready answer; and in a few moments the clear, sweet notes rang through the room. 32 4 • • "He can sing, and no mistake," Teddy admittted to himself. "I shan't try to sing after him." But he need not have worried: he was not invited to do so. It was not a very happy evening for Teddy. Many a time he wished himself at home, or even at Jackie's cottage. Even his gifts from the Christ- mas tree, of a very handsome litle diary and a fountain pen, brought him little pleasure, for he had already, unfortunately, received similar ones from his parents. But the longest evening comes to an end, and at last with an inward sigh of relief, and the usual polite expression of thanks, Teddy said good-night, and set off for home. When he arrived, Mummy's quick eyes saw at once that some- thing was wrong. "Well, did you have a nice time, Dear ?" she inquired kindly. "No, rotten!" the boy answered gloomily. "I never want to go to Cyril's home again." Mrs. Williams listened patiently to the whole story, then said very gently: "Happiness never comes from pleasing self, Teddy. ii. is only as we try to give pleasure to others that the b e s t happiness comes." "I suppose you think I ought to have refused Cyril's invitation, and gone to Jackie's?" "What do you think Jesus would have done had He been in your place?" Mummy replied. "Well, I suppose He might have gone to Jackie's," Teddy said. "But I didn't really think of Him, I'm afraid. I just wanted to go to Cyril's. So I went. "I'm sorry you had such a dis- appointing time, Dear," Mummy said gently. "And yet—I don't know—I think it will have been worth while if you have learned the secret of happiness. You see, the more sunshine you bring into other lives, the more you have yourself." Teddy looked thoughtful. "I'll try it, Mummy," he said soberly. "I'll go and see Jackie tomorrow, and take him some of my presents. I expect he would like one of my jigsaw puzzles, a book, and some sweets. Perhaps he never had much for Christmas." l*trottrwwwttcl:mtiptivm