OUR NEXT TWO ISSUES by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · May 8, 1907

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 33, No. 19.

OUR NEXT TWO ISSUES.

By Editor

NOTWITHSTANDING the contempt and ridicule which have been heaped upon the doctrine of our Lord's second coming by unbelievers without and within the church, notwithstanding the mistakes which deluded and fanatical and mistaken believers have made, and the reproaches they have brought upon the Master, the second coming of Christ is still a great Bible subject, of which the Scriptures speak from beginning to end, and around which all the hopes of the Christian center. Christians can not therefore refuse to study the subject, to learn the truth of the teaching of God's word upon it.

To assist all such we shall present the subject in our next two issues just as simply, scripturally, clearly as we know how under the following divisions:

He Will Come Again.

The Manner of His Coming.

Shall We Know of His Coming?

His Coming the Hope of the Church.

What Christ's Coming Means to the Earth.

What Christ's Coming Means to the Sinner.

What Christ's Coming Means to His People.

Our next number will have a more striking and clearer view of the great Peace Congress in New York. More of its meaning will be developed. It will be presented in its fulness as in no other paper of the United States.

These numbers ought to sell by the thousands. They will be well illustrated, and filled full of important truth.

The twenty-three issues to follow will be equally good. The price of the twenty-six issues, running six months is only seventy-five cents. Back numbers can be supplied for a limited time.

Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Mountain View, Cal.

Protestants in France.—The Northern Messenger, of Canada, March 15, says that "over 100 Protestant churches in France have agreed upon some sort of union. The first three articles of the union agreement read as follows: 'In Jesus Christ, as Son of the living God, and Saviour of men; the unique religious value of the Bible, document of the progressive, revelation of God; and the right and duty of churches and of believers to put into practice free investigation in harmony with the rules of the scientific method, and the reconciling of modern thought with the Gospel.' The form of union adopted is the Presbyterian, and the governing body a general synod." They will find themselves so weakened by higher criticism, of which the "scientific method" and "modern thought" are other terms, that they will never be an aggressive, reforming force in the republic. Poor France, and poor Protestantism!

The Standard Dictionary Company, 1 Union Square, New York, has leased the plates and taken over the sale of all Funk & Wagnalls Company's Standard Dictionary, including the school, trade, and subscription editions. All orders or inquiries for prices and terms should be sent to the above address. The manager is Mr. V. M. Coryell. There is no better dictionary published.

The Foes of the Church.—The church of Christ has nothing to fear from without. Skepticism and infidelity may bring to bear all their forces, may ridicule the most sacred truths, but they can not prevail against those who stand in the strength of Christ and His truth. What the church has most to fear is the infidelity and faithlessness within her own precincts. If she admits the spirit of the world, if she compromises with evil, if she willingly holds within her membership the open transgressor, the sin-lover, the worldling, she is nourishing and cherishing on her own life that which will prove her destruction. As with the Christian so with the church, the only foes to be feared are those admitted within. By bidding them come in the church bids Christ depart. By cherishing His presence, by feeding on His word, by watching against sin, we keep the foes without. The danger to the church is from within. Let her keep her own so pure, and she need fear nothing from without.

America and the Vatican.—We are continually finding in the daily press evidences of the growing friendliness between the United States Government and the Papacy. This is not a matter of friendly courtesy between an officer of the United States Government and some other man who may occupy a high position in the Catholic Church, but it is between men holding official positions in both governments, and the news items, originating in Catholic sources, are careful to emphasize the fact. For instance, we are told in a daily sheet of April 16 that "Don Henrique Jose Reed da Silva (Portuguese), Bishop of Traganopolis, a special envoy of the pope," "a close friend of the American minister in Lisbon," comes with letters to Chief Justice Beatty of California Supreme Court. It is not a healthy indication when government officials are specially friendly with any church officials, especially when that church claims to be the maker and destroyer of governments.

A clipping is sent us by the National Tribune, Washington, D. C., of March 28, containing the statement that the grafters of San Francisco had used $225,000 of the gold contributed by the East to the stricken people of San Francisco. But, bad as the grafters are, this is absolutely denied. Seemingly they have grasped almost everything that was in sight up there in San Francisco, and extravagance and unwisdom may have been used in the matter of contributions, but we believe the evidence has shown that there has been no dishonesty to any extent in connection with the administration of charity funds.

FOUR EXCELLENT TRACTS.

FOUR tracts of the Apples of Gold Library were laid upon our table this morning, the first reprinted since the fire. These are most excellent and helpful tracts on practical subjects. They are Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 10 of A. G. L. The first one is "Looking unto Jesus," by that splendid evangelical man, Theodore Mono. Helpful indeed it ought to be to every one who longs for a Saviour and Comforter. No. 2 is "The Christian's Privilege," by Mrs. E. G. White. We know of no tract of its size that will be more helpful to the struggling soul than this little publication. No. 3, "The Sure Promises of God," by C. H. Spurgeon. The title indicates the character of the tract, a wonderful help to the believer in Jesus Christ. No. 10, "The Benefits of Bible Study," by Mrs. E. G. White, points out the importance of Bible study, how that study should be made the first consideration, how the Bible should hold its rightful place in the Christian's life, how there are gems of wonderful truth to be obtained from that word thru the earnest seeking and following after God. It certainly will prove helpful to the Bible student. The price of each is one cent, single copy; one hundred, fifty cents. The four can be obtained for five cents. Of course if one is getting them for free distribution the better way is to get large quantities. They are certainly worthy of wide distribution, and are very convenient to slip into a letter to a friend.