Signs of the Times, Vol. 29, No. 10. (3/11/1903)

Signs of the Times

Mar 11, 1903

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 11, 1903

THE NEW LIFE IN CHRIST.

By Ellen G. White

BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.

THERE is a higher life for Christians to live than many of them are living. It is the new life in Christ. Those only who constantly behold Him—the One full of grace and truth—can live this life. Beholding Him, they are changed into the same image, from glory to glory. As they behold Him, He gives them power to become the sons of God. With love and compassion, without a trace of harshness, the Saviour meets them in their necessity. With sympathetic helpfulness, by the gentle touch of grace, He changes the sinner into a saint. With unwearying patience, He works to expel from the soul all disturbing elements, changing enmity to love, and unbelief to confidence.

THOSE who submit to the solemn rite of baptism pledge themselves to devote their lives to God's service; and the three great powers of heaven, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, pledge themselves to co-operate with them, to work in and through them. As men and women thus enter into covenant relation with God, they take the name of Christian. Henceforth they are to live the life of Christ. They have been buried with Him, and they are to “seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.”

THERE is a scriptural figure in which the soul is represented as being delivered from sin to receive the fashion of the new man, Christ Jesus. Those who are “born again” are to live for God, and all that they do and say is to represent His holiness. Constantly they must receive power from Him. This is necessary, in order that the new life in Christ may be lived. No part of the diseased life of sin is to remain. Christ diffuses sanctified activity through all parts of the being, and there is developed unselfishness in the service of God.

THE Saviour is the divine example of God's perfection, and He fashions the soul anew. Those who receive His grace impart it to others, making known His virtue of character by self-denial and sacrifice, by meekness and lowliness, by good words and works. In the life there is seen no deception, no falsehood. The words spoken are faithful, trustworthy words, which mean all that they express. The life is not a falsehood—a claim to represent Christ, and at the same time a denial of Him.

CHRIST is waiting for us to give ourselves to Him. Then He will mould and fashion us after the divine likeness, taking the things of God, and showing them to us. And as we behold the beauty of the Saviour’s character, we shall grow more and more like Him, until at last God can say of us, “Ye are complete in Him.” To create the soul anew, to bring light out of darkness, love out of enmity, purity out of impurity, is the work of Omnipotence alone. What is the honor conferred upon Christ? Without employing any compulsion, any violence, He conforms the will of the human subject to the will of God, making the life complete, bringing perfection to the character. This is the science of eternity; for by it a mighty change is wrought,—the change that must be wrought in the life of every one who passes through the gates of the city of God.

CAN WE KNOW?

By T. Godfrey

“And He said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables.” Mark 4:11. Unto those who have entered the kingdom of God, who have received the law of that kingdom into the soul, and have truly made it a present reality, to them “it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God.” But to those who have not thus received it, it is given in parables. The Word tells us that “the secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him; and He will show them His covenant.” Ps. 25:14.

The apostle Paul in his presentation of this glorious experience to the church, said: “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”

2 Cor. 4:6, 7. Jesus taught His disciples to pray for this glorious experience. He said: “When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.” Luke 11:2. Or in other words, that His will be done in each one of His disciples as it is done in heaven by the angels of God. He wanted them to have a foretaste of the glories of the kingdom of God before the revelation of Jesus Christ in the clouds of heaven with all His holy angels. Peter, James, and John were permitted to see the kingdom of God, in miniature, and the coming of the Holy One, that they might weave it into their experience, as they went forth to reveal the mystery of godliness. Upon the “holy mount,” divinity was revealed in humanity, just as it will be when Jesus shall appear in the clouds of heaven. The apostle Paul, in his letter to Timothy, said: “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” 1 Tim. 3:16. Again, he says in his letter to the Colossians: “Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Col. 1:26, 27. O glorious experience! Humanity becomes partaker of the divine nature,—Christ revealed in mortal flesh, a new creature in Christ Jesus.

T. GODFREY.

STAGGERING

By H. A. St. John

Who has not seen a drunken man staggering from side to side, against the lamp-post, down in the filth of the street or gutter, then up and staggering again. It is utterly impossible for such a man to keep his feet in a narrow path, much less a path that is both narrow and straight.

Now the path that leads to life, eternal life, is through a straight gate and over a narrow way. And every traveler therein must needs make straight paths for his feet, lest he himself wander away, and lose the goal; and also lest he be the means of turning others out of the way.

It is written of Abraham that, “He staggered not at the promise of God, through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.” Rom. 4:20. Hence the inevitable conclusion that every person who does not accept the promises of God at their full value, and show by his life that he does thus accept them, is, to just the extent that he doubts or questions, a staggering professor. If so, how painfully distressing must the Laodicean church appear in the sight of Heaven. No wonder the faithful and true Witness says of them that they are “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” No wonder that they are so disgusting and nauseating to God that He will not bear with them long, but will “spew them out of His mouth.”

The sight of a man drunken and staggering, morally and spiritually, at the promises of God, in unbelief, before all the people, under the concentrated light of the Gospel of the kingdom, is a far more distressing sight than that of a staggering man on the streets of a great city in broad daylight.

Reader, are you staggering at the promises of God through unbelief? Are you still wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked, staggering in unbelief at the promises of God right before you, of “gold tried in the fire, white raiment, and eyesalve,” all of which may be obtained by faith? These promises, verified in your experience, will make you sober, children of the day, children of light, in whom the Lord shall delight, making straight paths for your feet, and turning the lame into the way, the bright and shining pathway that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

When the remnant church shall cease to stagger in unbelief of the promises of God, and sober up, becoming strong in faith, and giving glory to God, then, very soon, will the whole earth be lightened with the glory of God.

H. A. ST. JOHN.

THE LARGER HOPE.

By George McCready Price

[Suggested by Lord Salisbury's remarks on "Living and Dying Nations," in a speech before the Primrose League.]

THOU Eternal and Unchanging One! To Thee the future as the past appears, And to Thy prescient gaze the ages roll Alike in each: THOU ART, and that is all. There is no Future and no Past to Thee, 'Tis one eternal Present in Thy sight. How didst Thou deign to give to mortal man So much of this Thy own prerogative, And picture to his mind a coming scene? But do Thou this once more: Impart a glimpse Of those stern laws so little understood, Shaping the times and seasons of our world, As those fierce storms that huddle on the back Of this old, weary world, while it performs Its chasing round on the great track of time.

What is the key-note of Thy universe Of stars and systems in complex array, That, circling round Thy throne in symphonies Of praise and joy, declares Thy attributes: And nature?—Love, ceaseless, boundless love. So says Thy Word—but mortals scarce discern; Ill-read by treacherous sense and reason frail, This plot of nature lends us evil dreams. We can not read creation's final law Of love by trusting these frail, mortal powers. An apple may obscure a hundred worlds; So near and huge the things of sense appear. One little group, in all the myriad hosts Of worlds and systems pulsing with Thy life, Utters a note discordant to the ear Of Harmony. It was not always thus, Nor can a will at variance with Thine own, Which is the source of life, continue long. The term of sin is but an incident In the long history of Eternal Love. Thou, as our Father, art the only Good This universe can know; Thy will its law, And happiness found only in a life Whose heart-throbs move in unison with Thine. The puerile temerity that dares Retain a character—however formed— Not pulsing in rich sympathy with Thee, Deriving thence its source of power and life, E'en as the atoms move but at Thy word, Must sicken, waste, and die, and be no more. A living sin, a misshaped character, And thus a source of misery to itself, Daily augmenting guilt and wretchedness, May be allowed to live its little day, To show the nature of rebellious thoughts; But, severed from the Fount of joy and life, It soon must perish, death in mercy sent To end its course of self-increasing woe, And stop the discord in th' eternal song. O, could men read the history of our world From the eternal view-point of God's throne! For, as they looked along the vistas grand In His great temple, they might see the end Of sin and woe, coeval; and might trace In part, its cause, its progress, and results. A cause it has not, for a cause would be Its perfect vindication. Through no fault Or lack of foresight in creation's plan, But solely through the daring, selfish choice Of that bright covering cherub, whose fair form Shone brightest 'mid the radiant hosts of light. His glorious beauty fixed his mind on self; His heart was lifted up, and in the place Of thoughts unselfish for his fellows' good And thankful praise to God, his thoughts of self Corroded all the beauty of his soul And crystallized in hate. But what is hate? In this small germ of evil who could see This wilderness of woe that now o'erspreads This corner of the universe? Had now This new-born plant been plucked while yet in bud, A doubt as to its nature might have filled The minds of faithful sons; its lethal bloom Would not appear the hideous thing it is, If plucked thus early ere its fruit was ripe. Long ages since have shown the baleful fruit Of this vile parasite upon the world. And only by the pruning-knife of God, Sharp, cruel as it seems, yet loving still, That crops betimes its too luxuriant growth, By plague, or war of extermination, has There been preserved some precious grain of good. Some wheat amid the tares has ever been; Sufficient, when the gleanings of the years, Long treasured in the storehouse of the tomb, Have been transplanted in the purged soil Of earth, to make it bloom and blossom forth, An Eden-globe, new-born, the sparkling dew Of the eternal morning on each branch And flower, and shedding on the breeze of space The incense of a never-ending spring.

And two results are thus traced out; the one, The vindication of God's holy law Of righteousness, the proving to the worlds That 'tis no arbitrary act of power To blot out sin and sinners from the face Of the creation, but an act of love. The peace of all created stands alone In meek dependence on creation's God, Living a life of faith for moral power, Choosing each moment to obey His will, E'en as the atoms or the starry spheres Move momently by His sustaining word. The other, like a trumpet-blast of joy, Proclaims the birthday of a world redeemed— A little salvage from the wrecks of time, Gathered successively, and stored away In graves of hope, and now brought forth again, On this glad gathering day, sufficient all To people with rejoicing forms the earth, Made pure and spotless from the stains of sin. It seems a weary process to our souls, As through long years of schooling here we pass, And scarcely then can learn to trust His love, While millions all around us, bound beneath Environments they can or will not break, Go out into the night without a hope: So few will learn, so many never will, In spite of all His Father-love can do And yet respect their sanctity of choice. Alone this sacred freedom of the will Enjoyed by us the creatures, marks the rule, Not of a tyrant, but a God of love.

It seems a weary process, but how short Compared with all the future years of God! Heirs of eternity can bear delay, Nor with impatience do they watch the course Of time develop these great purposes. With reverent suspense the circling orbs, By countless millions peopled, watch the course Of these great problems in development, On this arena which we call the earth. The fruits of evil they begin to trace In that first fratricide, and in its wake A lurid history, written with the tears And streaming heart-blood of the race; the act Which sealed the doom of evil and its King, Was done in Galilee and Judah's streets. That persecution of the Harmless One, With such relentless fury, by the fiend, Who turned Judea's heart against her Lord, And taught her that last act on Calvary, Amid the jeers of erstwhile praising throats— That act forever showed what thoughts of self Produce, when cherished in the heart of one With glory, beauty, wisdom all endowed, Familiar with the love and peace of heaven. O what a transformation! What a dread

Of evil it inspires! Who can see A cherub thus transformed into a fiend Malignant, warring ever 'gainst his God, Nor loathe and fear forever to transgress, E'en by a thought the perfect law of love. Time's record will eternal safeguards place Against experiment; but cheerful hearts, Redeemed from sin, or proof against its wiles, Will, age by age, new beauties find in Him Whose law is freedom, love, and perfect bliss.

We see a nation springing into life Upon the Tiber, Tigris, or the Nile. We watch its progress. Year by year it grows, And seems to have no knowledge of the truth. But tender shoots of piety sincere, In vital contact with the Parent Vine, Appear, mature, and ripen, whether we Or any others recognize their life. But not the crowded marts conduce to this— Centers where fashion rules with iron rod, And each soul lives just as his neighbor does, With thoughts intent upon the things of sense And time, and things eternal all ignored. 'Tis where the child, in hardy virtue trained By godly sire, amid the mountain steeps, Holds daily intercourse with nature's God— 'Tis here the vast majority have grown Who can be trusted with immortal life. Great nations ever have been great in sin, Forging great fetters for God's training work. Yet even in the centers of the world, And 'neath the eye of despots, have there lived A few brave souls, who daily walked with God. No age, no nation, e'er monopolized The truth and light from Heaven. None have long Survived their usefulness in growing fruit For God's great storehouse. At the harvest home, When wake the myriads from their silent sleep Of hope, each race and nation will report The bugle-call to everlasting life;— A varied host from every clime and age, Some few from each, the gleanings of the years. The tombs of Memphis, and the frozen sands That skirt the Yukon, send their quota forth; Hesperia sends her bands, and Nineveh; Tasmania, and Japan, and Africa; Even that long-lived race before the Flood, A race of giant mind and kingly form, But whose pursuit of selfish aims, the name And worship of their ever-patient Lord Had well-nigh banished from the youthful earth. He could not see the world thus given o'er To evil in its infancy; in love He saved a few, and blotted out the rest. With these eight souls the world once more began, 'Neath darker skies, and on a wasted earth, Her work of increase; but oft nations since Have shared the fate which then befell the world. When they become an obstacle to truth Such that Almighty Love itself can not Dissolve the bands of gross environment Wrapped tight about the infant soul from birth, And thus the unborn future knows no hope, They serve no more the purposes of God; Another takes their place, and they are named Among the fallen. This, repeated o'er, Makes up the history of our wayward world. The final lesson, not quite manifest, But hastening with the tread of marching years, Proclaims the hopelessness of the disease Lodged in the vitals of the long-tried race. The century now sinking 'neath the west Dawned smiling on the buoyant hopes of man. 'Twas said that Liberty would soothe our woes, Would purge our nature of its selfishness, And usher in the reign of peace and joy. Democracy, with youthful arrogance, Assumed the task of educating man In justice, peace, and altruistic love. Days roll to years, and every year's decline Now tells the failure of his promises. Nor Knowledge, Science, Culture, can reform The heart, or purify the secret springs Of motives, or assist the feeble will To live a life of mind-clean purity. A marble palace or a doctor's cap May lodge or cover but a stunted soul At war with God and man, and doomed to die. Ah, truly 'tis the grandest hour of time, The most sublime that this old world has seen;

The day at which the countless lines converge That, stretching back, enclose creation's life; The glad fruition of the church's hope, The day when sinners rise to meet their doom;— The fruit of seed which their own hands have sown. What can compare? The day of Salamis, Of Actium, or yet of Waterloo, Decided but a few brief hours of sway When mortals strut in pomp. The conquerors there Had fought for power or liberty. What then? Did not the world still move the same? But now Creation's destiny is balanced high, And God and angels watch the trembling beam. Shall mortals not feel int'rest? Is earth's doom A smaller matter than a kingdom's fall? O, how the prisoned ages of the past Grow restless in their dust, as now draws near The time of their release! Their voiceless tongues Proclaim their hopes of joy, their fears of wrath, That shall be consummated in that day; And yet their living fellows heed it not. The hills and woods that now so bright appear, The beauteous flowers, and the purling brooks, All shout in exultation of that day That changes their dull charms for Eden's bloom. Like nature do the children of the Dawn Await its breaking, feasting hungry eyes On every streak that flashes in the east. This night of time is dark, and damp, and chill; Break, break, thou Morn of Endless Ages, break!

Oh sacred church of Christ! No more forget Thy blessed embassy; reform the world Thou canst not, nor were given this to do. Give up the hope of reigning as a queen Upon a world subdued to Gospel charms: 'Twas this that proved thy Latin sister's death. Ask not the civil arm to smooth thy path, Or guide the sinner to thy altar-steps. The sin, which is the cause of all our woe, Is not the act of man, however bad; 'Tis being, and not doing, that is sin. The help of Cæsar's laws, the blood-bought wealth Of baptized worldlings showered in thy lap, May train the senses of a cultured few, Or purge our statutes of a thousand wrongs,— A noble work, perhaps, but not the work To thee entrusted. Thine the task alone To train the children lent to thee by God, That they may never know the ways of sin, And gather from a groaning, dying world A few whom Christ may safely trust with life On that glad morn of universal joy. This age no more than Constantine's will prove The prelude to a world from sin redeemed And marshaled 'neath the banners of the cross. The horrors of that blunder echo yet, Forbidding thee repeat the same mistake. Give up the effort to reform the State— Thou wilt but soil thy robes in the attempt— But take up earnestly thine ancient work To preach the Gospel of thy absent Lord, Training thy children for this work alone, Content to be engaged in this, amid The jeers and curses of the multitude, When He appears again upon the cloud. He left this world an outcast, and expects To find thee treated thus on His return. This age, this boasted age of light and peace, An age of culture, human brotherhood, Can but disguise, even for a time, the pangs Of dissolution. 'Tis a pessimist That would prolong the life of such a world. The optimist is he whose patient eye Can view with hope a nation or a world In the last throes of agony convulsed, Can look beyond the grave, the flight of time, The wreck of nations, and a world's decease, And trace the rosy brilliance of the morn That speaks the dawning of Eternal Day.

GEO. E. McCREADY PRICE.

Midland, N. B.

THE GOSPEL IN CREATION. NO. 1.

By W. A. Sweany

Introductory.

We are living in the realm of cause and effect, where there is a producing cause for everything that takes place. This cause is not always readily discernible, but it is clearly apparent in all that is taking place about us to enable every intelligent mind to recognize the universal operation and application of the law of cause and effect. When we sit down at a well-spread table, altho we may not see the cook, we know there is such a person, for we are enjoying the product of her skill. When enjoying the benefits and privileges of the library, the beauties of the art gallery, and the wonderful products of the inventive genius and mechanical skill of man, we never think of doubting the existence of the authors, artists, sculptors, inventors, and mechanics, who produced these things, even tho we never saw the ones whose work they are, and may never use the articles they produced. The work of their hands proclaims not only the facts of their existence, but many of their characteristics and abilities. Just so, “that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and divinity, so that we are without excuse.” Rom. 1:19, 20.

As the quality of man's work reveals his ability, as firms place their trade-marks on the articles they produce, so has the great Creator stamped the works of His hands, not only with the evidence of His existence, but also with the proofs of His infinite skill, wisdom, and power. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork.” Ps. 19:1.

“Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number; He calleth them all by names, by the greatness of His might, for that He is strong in power; not one faileth.” Isa. 40:26. Thus it is that the heavens and all the works of God speak and proclaim His skill, wisdom, glory, and power. In other words, they preach the Gospel, for the Gospel “is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” Rom. 1:16. Paul, in Rom. 10:13–18, quotes David's statement in Ps. 19:4, that the voices of the heavens have gone unto the ends of the world, and proves that all have heard the Gospel. The living preacher and all other human agencies are only to more fully make known Him, whose existence, power, skill, and wisdom are so plainly revealed in His works.

Multitudes, all in fact (even including the demons, James 2:19), know there is a God, or at least are without excuse for not knowing it, when He is so plainly revealed in everything about us. But alas! how few really know Him. Many know there is such a person as King Edward VII., who do not know him.

Now it is our privilege to know God, and that this may be so, it is our privilege to see Him (Heb. 11:23–27), live with Him (John 14:23), and know His plans and purposes (John 15:15; Isa. 46:9, 10). We read in the Bible that God is holy, righteous, just, faithful, good, true, kind, merciful, pitiful, patient, long-suffering, gentle, yet strong, powerful, mighty, and wise. (See Ex. 34:5–7; Ps. 103:1–17; 116:5; 145:8, 9; 2 Sam. 22:36; Ps. 62:11; Heb. 1:1–3; 1 Tim. 1:17.) Reader, do you know from your own personal experience and acquaintance with Him that all that these holy men of old wrote of Him is true? If you do not, you need to become better acquainted with Him, for it is all true, as all who really know

Him gladly testify. Does He uphold you and keep you from falling? Isa. 41:10; Jude 24, 25. Does He hear and answer your prayers as He did David's? Ps. 34:1–6; 116:1, 2. If not, it must be you are turning away your ear from hearing His law, and are regarding iniquity in your heart, and so “ask amiss.” Prov. 28:9; Ps. 66:18; James 4:3. “Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace” (Job 22:21), knowing that He “who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will” (Eph. 1:11), “doeth all things well,” so that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” Rom. 8:28.

“Let good or ill befall, It must be good for me, Secure of having Thee in all, Of having all in Thee.”

“Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth; for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.” Jer. 9:23, 24. “And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.” John 17:3. It is our privilege to know Him, and be “strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power.” Col. 1:9–13.

But while we may learn that there is a God, and also much concerning His wisdom, skill, and power from the open book of nature, this of itself is not sufficient. By studying the movements of the heavenly bodies we may discern God's will concerning them, for they move in obedience to His mandate. By studying the earth, sea, sky, beasts, plants, fishes, birds, etc., we may learn much of God, and of His will concerning all these things. Job 12:7–10; Matt. 6:26–30. But we can not from these things fully learn His will concerning us. In order to know that, He must speak to us. This He has done from the very beginning, and is still doing. In Eden before the fall He talked with man face to face, telling him what to do, and what not to do, just as a loving father instructs his children from day to day. Had man always remained obedient, this plan would have been continued, and no written law would have been necessary.

But sin made it necessary for God to withdraw Himself from man's presence. Isa. 59:1, 2. Since then, in His intercourse with man, He has in mercy veiled Himself (Ex. 13:21, 22; 24:15–18; Matt. 17:5; Lev. 16:12, 13; 1 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 10:19, 20); because sinners can not exist in the presence of His unveiled glory (2 Thess. 1:7–9). Since the entrance of sin, therefore, the will of God has been revealed through the operations of the gift of prophecy, by “holy men of God,” who “spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

So in addition to the instructive voice of nature we have the voice of Inspiration, making known to us the nature and attributes of God, and His will concerning us. “Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” Rom. 15:4. And the first thing that God caused to be written for our comfort, learning, and admonition is the wonderful story of creation, from which we may learn such precious and helpful lessons concerning the skill, wisdom, and power of the great Creator, who is now engaged in the work of “making all things new.” The importance of the story of creation is better understood when we realize that redemption is creation. David understood this when he cried out, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Ps. 51:10.

Paul realized it when he wrote these words: “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Cor. 5:17. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus.” Eph. 2:10. The fact that God through Christ is our Creator (John 1:1–3, 10; Eph. 3:9; Col. 1:14–17; Heb. 1:1–3) qualifies and enables Him to be our Redeemer. And so the most precious promises of salvation and redemption are prefaced by the statement or reminder that He created all things, and is, therefore, able to create us anew, or redeem us. Isa. 42:5, 6; 43:15–19. Then let us learn to see in everything about us the proofs and the evidences of the Lord's ability to uphold and save to the uttermost all who trust in Him.

W. A. SWEANY.

Bridgetown, Barbados.

The Burning Message Must Come from God

By Benjamin M. Adams

WELCOME every help,—college, school, study,—but the burning message that saves preaching from decay must come from God.—Benjamin M. Adams.

The Conditions of Conquest

The conditions of conquest are always easy. We have but to toil a while, endure a while, believe always, and never turn back.—Simms.

BEYOND THE VAIL.

By C. M. Snow

Winter by winter the sere leaves fall, Winter by winter we're aging all. Under the heather the leaves decay; Under the years we are hiding away. Youthtide and memory, sadness and song, Heartache and hope, as we hurry along.

Winter by winter the chill winds blow, Burying fancies under the snow. Winter by winter and year by year Bury the idols we cherished so dear. Over them scatter the leaves and the snow; Over their graves let the chill winds blow, Hover them, cover them, spirit sublime; Inter them tenderly, sexton of Time.

Winter by winter we journey along, Mingling burdens with snatches of song; Lifting the cloud from the children of gloom; Lighting some craft through the gulf of the tomb; Scattering joys where sorrows had been; Lifting the cross from those smitten of men.

Furrow by furrow they speed the plow Over the sod of the wrinkling brow— Furrow by furrow—and year by year Mount we and grow by our buffetings here; Over the idols we bury to-night God writes us “Victors” in letters of light.

Oakland, Cal.

C. M. Snow.

Continue reading: WHY DO WE SEND MISSIONARIES TO ROMAN CATHOLIC COUNTRIES?