Notes on Missions and Sunday Observance
By Editor
A COMMUNICATION from our missionary ship Pitcairn arrived just too late for this paper. It will appear next week. We rejoice to hear the good news from our brethren. May God bless them in their far-away fields. We are living in a time of deception. Satan is working "with all deceivableness of unrighteousness;" the article on page 710, "The Weapon against Satan's Delusions," presents the safeguard of every soul. To Correspondents, Contributors, etc.—We wish to say again that we do not publish nor reply to anonymous communications. We do not ask the name for publication, if not desired by the writer, but the editor must know it as evidence of the good faith of the writer. Those who send anonymous communications to this office may never hope to hear from them again. THE Occident (the Presbyterian paper of the coast) has two counterblasts on the Sunday-opening and labor question, declaring how displeased (?) God is because the country, and especially the World's Fair Directory, opened the gates on Sunday. Both of these articles are selected, but of course with a purpose. Will the Occident tell the people why God is displeased? He never commanded Sunday to be kept. What law of God is broken by the open Fair on Sunday, or by labor on that day? God's word ought to be of some worth on the question. THE Apostolic Guide says that a short time since Dr. Pierson, successor to Charles Spurgeon, sent from a communion service by a deacon the sacramental bread and wine to a dying church member, and the messenger "was also instructed to send through her a loving message to the late pastor," Mr. Spurgeon. What is all this but rank Spiritualism or necromancy? The Guide says that "sending communications to the departed, from the standpoint of sentiment, seems not unfitting, though Biblical silence on the subject would seem to be against the establishment of such a custom." The Bible is not only silent as regards the indorsing of such a practice, but it is positively against it. "The dead know not anything." "His sons come to honor, and he knoweth it not." "Should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." If the above report be true, it is sad indeed to see a man like Dr. Pierson building up in London what he is laboring through the gospel to destroy in heathen lands. "OUR CHRISTIAN NATION" is a common cry just now from our politico-religio reformers. Because Columbus was a devout Roman Catholic, because the Puritans sought a country where they could undisturbed worship God, with the determination to compel everyone, when possible, to worship as they did, because on our coins is found "In God we trust," because some States recognize the pagan Sunday, therefore this nation is Christian! Yet this is about the course of argument that is pursued. This country is Christian in about the same way as Constantine, the foe to Christianity, was Christian. It has a name to live and is dead. "CIVIL GOVERNMENT AND THE DECALOGUE" is the title of the second article in our series on religion and State from a Biblical standpoint. We hope that it will be carefully read by all, as we believe that it states the only true principle in the matter. God is "spirit;" his law is the same in nature, and is therefore "spiritual." But no civil government can enforce a spiritual law. God's object through Christ is to place his law in the hearts of men. Heb. 8:10. But this no civil government can accomplish and no human power can prevent if the heart is willing. This article should be widely read. We hope our friends will give it as wide a circulation as possible. The next in the series will consider the mystery of God.