Australiasian Signs of the Times, Vol. 35, No. 24. (6/14/1920)

Australiasian Signs of the Times

Jun 14, 1920

Signs Publishing Co. · Melbourne, Victoria · Jun 14, 1920

It Shall Be Very Tempestuous

NOT in the darkened room of the silent séance chamber will our Saviour come; not at the deathbed of His saints will that coming be; and not in the dim distance of future millenniums. “Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as His work shall be.” Rev. 22:12. “He will come silently,” says one, “and those who are not taken will not know He has come.”

But the Book of God does not say this. The Saviour Himself declares: “The Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works.” Matt. 16:27.

That is the very antithesis of coming quietly, secretly, unbeknown to the larger portion of earth’s inhabitants. Our Saviour’s declaration gives one a vision of divine majesty and celestial splendour such as this world had never before experienced—a forthshining of omnipotence and glory that will strike unutterable terror into the hearts of those who are not ready, and will fill with inexpressible gladness the heart of every soul that is ready to meet his God. These two scriptures definitely teach this:—

The heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were movedout of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? Rev. 6:14-17.

And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation. Isa. 25:9.

The class mentioned in the first scripture are not ready at that time; the class mentioned in the second scripture are ready and have been waiting. The one class is in unutterable terror; the other in inexpressible joy. Both have had the same opportunities; the one has misused them, and the other has improved them. Both have heard the message of the judgment and of the Saviour’s return; for those who would flee from His consuming presence declare that it is the great day of wrath come at last. They knew such a day was predicted, but they chose to give no heed. They had heard about the Lamb of God who was to take away the sins of the world, and knew that the persistent rejection of His mercy would bring upon them at last the outpouring of divine wrath. So the moment they see Him they know that “the great day of His wrath is come,” and they know they are not able to stand.

THE other class has heard the same message, listened to the same warnings, confessed and turned away from their sins, and accepted their Saviour; and when they see Him, they know they are looking into the face of a Friend, the greatest Friend in the universe, that Elder Brother who purchased them with His own blood out of the hand of the enemy, out of the pit of destruction; and they lift glad faces and glad hands to that glorious Being throned upon a chariot of angels. From that throne-chariot the swift messengers of salvation’s culmination come for those waiting ones who are not fleeing from the Prince of heaven; and they are “caught up . . . in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.” I Thess. 4:17.

It is utterly unscriptural to hold that this event toward which creation and the human race have looked for six thousand years will be seen only by the few who are at that time caught away from the impending holocaust. That tremendous event will not take place in a corner or in the dark or in secret. Said our Saviour: “As the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matt. 24:27. The same truth is expressed by the Lord Jesus Christ when speaking through the beloved disciple in the Book of Revelation:

Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Rev. 1:7.

According to this scripture those who are not ready for their Lord see Him just as plainly as do those who are ready and waiting for Him.

LET it be forever settled in our minds, then, that when our Saviour comes, He comes in a visible demonstration of the glory of the King of the universe. Every eye in the world looks upon Him, some in dread and confusion and horror, and some in joy unspeakable. They who flee have reason to flee; for the psalmist tells us what the world may expect at His coming:

Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about Him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people. Gather My saints together unto Me; those that have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice. And the heavens shall declare His righteousness: for God is Judge Himself. Ps. 50:3-6.

God calls the heavenly intelligences to witness that His judgment is just; and they bear witness that it is: “The heavens shall declare His righteousness”; and they declare it even though a consuming fire goes before Him to consume out of the earth those who “would not have this Man to rule” over them. The psalmist bears witness again to the terrible nature of the fire that smites this sin-sodden world when our Saviour comes. These are the words of Inspiration, and they speak of the “day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men”:

A fire goeth before Him, and burneth up His enemies round about. His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the people see His glory. Ps. 97:3-6.

THAT is how our Saviour comes, to reward every man according as his works

shall be.

The man who has put away sin through the power given him of God, who has sought to bring his life into harmony with the principles of the gospel, who has endeavoured to make the divine Pattern his pattern, and to live for Christ and his fellow-men instead of for self, who has honoured the divine law and walked in harmony with its precepts, need not fear for himself in that great day. God promises His own great power as a protection to such an one. We read:—

For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly. Ps. 84:11.

God does not want mankind to perish on that day. He has made every provision for man to enable him to escape that calamity. “I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth,” says Jehovah. But He has set His mighty hand to the work of ridding His universe of sin. He has given the gospel a long day in which to do its work. He has waited long for man to accept the principles of His kingdom of righteousness. The end of the controversy with sin is near at hand. The gospel will soon have finished its mission of appeal to a sinful race. Millions are settling their destiny today. The hour is late. Friend, have you made everything right with God? Your destiny for eternity hangs right there.

Another League

By F.

FOLLOWING the much-discussed League of Nations there has come the long-looked-for League of Denominations. Both Leagues have the ideal of world-wide peace as their aim, the first endeavouring to promote political peace and the second striving for religious peace. One is international, designed to include finally all nations, and the other is inter-denominational, intending to embrace all Christian bodies.

The greatest move in the formation of the League of Denominations was the recent conference of the Interchurch World Movement held at Atlantic City, America, last January, at which nearly two thousand delegates represented forty-two denominations. Then there are also the following movements in active operation:—

I. “World Conference on Faith and Order,” promoted by the Protestant Episcopal Church. Of this particular scheme we read in the Australian Christian World of May 7 the following news:—

So the World Conference on Faith and Order of the Church of Christ seems now assured, and a preliminary meeting to discuss how best to proceed further, and perhaps to fix the date and place of the World Conference itself will be held, God willing, at Geneva, Switzerland, August 12, 1920. All the great family groups, save one, of the Churches which worship Jesus Christ as God Incarnate and Saviour will be represented by delegates from every quarter of the earth, and of almost every race and every tongue. Invitations have been sent to and been accepted by all Europe, Australia, and America, all Christian Asia and Africa, and the islands of the sea. The languages of the various delegates will be English, French, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Italian, Russian, Greek, Roumanian, Bulgarian, Serbian, and perhaps Armenian and Arabic.

2. “Conference on Organic Union” seeking a basis for inter-denominational unity with the one name, “Church of Christ.”

3. “The United Churches of Christ in America” which recently met in Philadelphia to consider plans for the amalgamation of the 30,000,000 Protestants in the United States.

4. The effort to link up the prelatical Churches of Christendom, evidenced by the conference sought by the Protestant Episcopal Church with both the Roman and Greek Catholic Churches.

5. By no means least in importance are the mighty Church union movements in China and India.

6. In England the effort to compromise is finding hearty sympathy with the public as, for instance, when Dr. J. H. Jowett, the leading evangelical minister of the Empire was invited by the Bishop of Durham (and accepted) to preach in Durham Cathedral. The whole question, moreover, of the increased associations of the Anglican and Nonconformist ministers is shortly to be discussed at the Lambeth Conference of the bishops and archbishops of the Church of England.

7. In Australia also the plans for the union of the Baptists, Methodists, and Presbyterians are practically completed, and before long we must expect this Church Union to be a reality.

These facts all point forward to the speedy fulfilment of the prophecy in God’s Word which foretells a religious people united on one point—that of Sunday observance. The very many creeds and sects

of Christendom are, one by one, proving themselves willing to forget those differences of doctrine which have separated them in the past, all agreeing on Sunday as the true Sabbath (which it is NOT), so that in the near future we shall see Anglicans, Catholics, Wesleyans, Baptists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, “Non-sectarian Church of Bible Faith”-ists, “Duck River Baptists,” “Two-Seed-in-the-Spirit Baptists,” members of the “Church of Daniel’s Band,” and a host of others with strange names and stranger doctrines all members of the one great Universal Church worshipping on Sunday and seeking to compel all others to do the same. F.

Nearing the End

By F.

“FOR a variety of reasons,” says A. Wyatt Tilby in the London Outlook of March 27, “some psychological but mostly political, the Church of Rome is making little headway in England. But on the Continent its advance during the past twenty years has been amazing; in the next twenty its progress will probably be still more considerable. The causes of this revival are so intimately connected with modern thought that they deserve some attention.”

The writer then goes on to identify those causes. He assures us that Rationalism is become the half-way house between Protestantism and Catholicism, and that Spiritualism is also greatly assisting in the process of turning Protestants into Catholics. To use his own words:—

Protestantism is dying—dying in childbirth of its legitimate but unwanted son, Rationalism. Nobody who has seen anything of Lutheranism or Calvinism on the Continent can doubt the fact. . . . The reasons for the evident and admitted failure of Rationalism to hold those whom Protestantism has lost must be discussed in another paper; but a word may here be added regarding the fallacy of the assumption that the long battle with superstition and credulity is drawing to a close. The grosser forms have been hounded out of the Church, only to reappear in the current practice and doctrines of Spiritualism. Three centuries have passed since England believed in relics of the dead, but Sir A. Conan Doyle has now proclaimed their efficacy. Rationalism slowly killed the belief in witchcraft and demonology and possession; but the ordinary Spiritualist openly teaches demonology, and possession is an integral and necessary part of his creed. And if anybody is so credulous as to believe that the day of credulity is over, a few shillings spent on recent occult literature should speedily reassure him that folly did not die out with our fathers.

Of the major portion of professed Protestantism the above, we regret to say, is not far from fact. Having in many instances dropped the “protest” out of Protestantism, there are thousands who, while nominally retaining their affiliation with Protestantism, are, as far as practice is concerned, linked up with either Catholicism or Spiritualism. And such a condition of affairs was foreseen by Jehovah and recorded in His ancient Book, for in Revelation 16 we find three great powers grouped together—the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet, and careful study of these three powers shows them to be Spiritualism (the latest manifestation of the dragon’s power), Roman Catholicism (the successor of pagan Rome), and apostate Protestantism (with its denial of many Bible truths). Moreover, when these three are in operation together, the Bible student knows that the end of all things is near at hand. F.

Both Right and Wrong

IN one of Sydney’s dailies of February 8 appeared a long symposium of opinions upon the question of Sunday sacredness and the right or wrong of permitting games and sports on that day. The opinion of the Lord Mayor, Sir Richard Richards, we quote:—

I am opposed to Sunday sport, unless the particular branch of sport has as its object the improvement of the moral and physical condition of our youth. I believe God, in His goodness, set down and sanctified the seventh day as a day of rest, and I very much regret to find the custom of sport made a property of easiness in our Christian community. The Scriptures show, throughout their teachings, that the seventh day is a hallowed day, and I have come to the time of life when I think that all men should wait upon the Lord, to renew their strength on at least one day of the week.

The Lord Mayor is right when he asserts that God “sanctified the seventh day as a day of rest,” and that “the Scriptures show, throughout their teachings, that the seventh day is a hallowed day.” But we ask in all seriousness, What has that to do with the “first day of the week commonly called Sunday”? The Lord Mayor asserts a divine principle, and then smashes the principle to bits in the application which he makes of it. Proving that the seventh day is a sacred and hallowed day, does not help the sacredness of the Sunday institution to any degree whatsoever. Jehovah Himself blessed and hallowed the seventh

day—not the first day—and set it apart for man’s use; but today men trample upon that divine institution, and the very law which God enacted to protect His Sabbath they use to guard and protect a rival institution. Such a perversion of the divine law is a double insult to the One who made the Sabbath. Let us be consistent. The seventh day is Jehovah’s day, blessed and commanded by Him, and our illegal use of His law to enforce the first-day Sabbath will never clear us of the charge of Sabbath desecration and wilful disobedience when we are summoned to stand before the bar of the great Judge.

Another Protest

By F.

IN recent issues we reviewed a few statements contained in an article by Rev. T. R. R. Stebbing in the Hibbert Journal for January, 1920. We protested in those reviews against this gentleman’s attempt to remove the miraculous from God’s Word. It is refreshing, therefore, to notice that to the following issue (April) of the magazine, a true-hearted Christian contributes a reply to the higher critic, part of which we will quote:—

I protest against the statement that this article emanates from within the Church of England. I deny that the author can be a true and consistent member of that Church, for his statements are not in accordance with the Articles of her Faith. He is evidently a Rationalist, and his conclusions are heretical.

The Church of England, in common with all Christian Churches, teaches that without faith it is impossible to please God; and that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God,” and is to be received and believed as the Word of God.

But, as St. Paul says (1 Cor. 2:14), “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, for they are spiritually discerned.” Again, “Other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid.” Mr. Stebbing evidently is content with a foundation of morality only, or none at all. He labours under the misconception that . . . the Almighty does not, yea cannot, vary the nature and order of His works; in short, that He is the slave of His own laws, as we see them in operation. This is a fundamental misconception.

The religion of the Bible—the Christian religion—is of two worlds, a natural and a spiritual, and both need, and have received, “Revelations” from Him who is over all, from whom they are, and by whom all things exist. Man, too, is of a dual constitution—a natural and a spiritual, and this is plainly taught throughout the Bible. Is it impossible, then, or even a matter of surprise, that the Almighty Father should condescend to the lower plane of human existence and do wonders in furtherance of His gracious purposes, or commission and empower His agents (even man) to do them? Is it reasonable to think it impossible, or even incredible, that the Almighty should summon men to His more immediate presence for similar Divine purposes, as in the cases of St. John, St. Paul, and others?

To find God man must be raised to a higher plane of existence, or be spiritualised; for, as Augustine says, “Our souls can find no rest till they find and rest in Him.”

Job says, “Oh that I knew where I might find Him!” Job 23:3. Also in chapter 38 and onwards, God challenges Job to answer Him concerning things of the creation; but Job answered the Lord and said, “Behold, I am vile: what shall I answer Thee? I will lay my hand upon my mouth.” Job 40:3, 4. When Job was humbled, then he became wise. God magnified and blessed him. Job 42:10.

Would that within the Church there were more of such earnest and faithful Christians as he who makes this decisive protest against such rationalism as is taught from many a popular pulpit, for not only does higher criticism deny “the Articles of Faith” of the Church of England, but it is seeking to remove the very pillars of God’s temple. F.

China Waking Up

A RECENT issue of the New York Weekly Witness contained an article under the above heading, based upon the projected sending of 6,000 Chinese students to France to study western methods and western ideas in the schools and colleges of France. When Japan began to wake up, she looked to Germany for the inspiration which was to guide her in her aspirations toward national greatness. China has turned to America and now to France. She is truly waking up; and in the waking-up process of these two oriental nations we have transferred to eastern Asia the military proclivities and military methods of Germany and France. With the inspiration of Germany behind Japan and the inspiration of France behind China, is it too much to expect that we shall see developments in the East similar to those which we have seen in the West? The Witness says:—

The sleeping giant of the East has been waking up gradually for a good many years, but his bulk is so vast, and his sleep so sound that the waking up process has been very slow. It will undoubtedly be more rapid after this, and when China does get fully waked up, and into line with the progress of Christian civilisation, we shall have a new world, because this nation, which constitutes almost one-quarter of the human race, will inevitably become the most important of all nations, from a commercial point of view at least. There is no race that can produce more, or more skilfully than the Chinese can when they are in a position to compete on equal terms.

And thus are the “kings of the East” preparing to play their part in the final argument of arms on the field of Armageddon. It is true, as the Witness says, that to these students indoctrinated with western ideas and ideals “the mass of the Chinese people will turn for the leadership which will bring China to a point where it can throw off the shackles of political slavery. A China conscious of its national greatness, self-reliant and self-sufficient, need no longer fear either aggression from her Asiatic neighbours or the menace of European imperialism.” And it will be her sudden rise to that conviction that will prompt her to accept the challenge of the aggressor. When that vast mass moves into the world’s arena, we shall see the clash which ends at Armageddon.

Church Amusements

By F.

A CABLE from Chicago, dated March 15 reads thus:— “Methodist ministers are tugging at the leash provided by paragraph 280 of the general laws of the Church which deals with ‘imprudent acts.’ At a meeting of 150 pastors today there was not a dissenting vote when a resolution passed asking that paragraph 280 be abolished.”

The Church rule with which these clerics are in such open quarrel forbids ordained ministers of the Methodist Church attending theatres, partaking of alcoholic liquors, and indulging in card playing, gambling, and dancing. During the meeting at least one dozen ministers expressed their opinions, which were all to the same effect and which the San Francisco Chronicle of March 16, 1920, summarised thus:—

This law does not help the Church. On the contrary it keeps away persons who otherwise might belong to the Church. Ministers are human and appreciate the enjoyment derived from theatres—and other things.

Surely we are living in a time when the solemn admonition given by the Apostle Paul to Titus should be carefully studied by all—including those ministers of the gospel who are seeking out after “the world, the flesh, and the devil.” Said the apostle:—

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and selfish lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Titus 2:11-13.

The world today is looking for leaders, which are needed nowhere so much as in the world of spiritual things; but how can we expect the world to become righteous when the teachers of the flock refuse to “live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world”? This clamouring for permission to be of the world as well as in the world is but another indication of the nearness of the end. It is indeed a sign of the times. F.

Progressing Backwards

By F.

THE April issue of the Hibbert Journal contains a review of a book recently published bearing the following lengthy title:—

“The Old Testament: Its Meaning and Value for the Church of Today.” By R. H. Malden, M. A., F. R. Hist. Soc., Vicar of St. Michael’s, Headingly, Examining Chaplain to the Bishop of Norwich.

Says the reviewer:—

The publication of this little book may certainly be accounted a sign of the times, and a healthy and encouraging one. We have indeed made progress when a Bishop’s Examining Chaplain can write a book in which the results of the Higher Criticism of the Old Testament are not merely grudgingly admitted, but are made the basis of teaching and the groundwork of the argument.

Such progress in the direction of Higher Criticism is “backward progress,” progress away from Christianity towards the Serbonian bogs of infidelity. Furthermore, when one who professes to be a teacher of theology endeavours nominally to retain his “Christian” standing while he actually preaches against the doctrines and teachings of the Bible, he invariably entraps himself. To illustrate this particular case: The writer of the book definitely states that he believes man to be the product of evolution; and yet he also strives to uphold the story of the Fall of man. But if the human species is everywhere advancing from savagery through barbarism to civilisation, where is there room to be found for what is Biblically termed a “Fall”? We cannot hold both teachings; either the evolution idea or the “Fall of man” must be abandoned. The Bible teaches the “Fall” and denies evolution. Hence the true Christian will pin his faith to God’s Word.

Character Must Be Achieved

“MEN may be born with fortune ready made, but character they have to achieve.”

W. R. CARSWELL

By W. R. Carswell

The Conflict of the Ages—No. 3

In Abraham’s Time

W. R. CARSWELL

AMONG the heroes of faith, in God’s great picture gallery of Hebrews, chapter eleven, Abraham occupies a prominent place. This is natural, as he is the representative, or father, “of all them that believe.” Rom. 4:11.

“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Heb. 11:8-10.

According to Josephus, Abraham had already published his views in Mesopotamia, concerning the one true God, Creator of all things, before he was called of God to go to Canaan. A tumult having been raised by his countrymen, in their opposition to the doctrine of the one true God, he was sent into another land. This was in harmony with the instruction given by Jesus to His apostles at a later date, “When they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another.” Matt. 10:23.

The fact that idolatry was so prevalent in the days of Abraham proves that the descendants of Noah had soon forgotten the wonderful deliverance of their forefathers from destruction by water, through the love and mercy of God. According to the “Antiquities of the Jews,” Abraham learned to believe in the Creator through the contemplation of His works. And as he became a faithful home missionary, endeavouring to give the light to others, the Lord chose to send him out as the visions given of God with a view of the city “whose builder and maker is God.” Though promised that he should be heir to the whole world, Abraham received no more than a burial-place as his reward in this life; and this he purchased with money. See Rom. 4:13; Acts 7:5; Gen. 23:16-20. Surely the faith of Abraham in God’s word was sublime, and worthy of emulation till time shall end! He knew that somehow, sometime, God would fulfil His word of promise, and in this hope he went forth to his great field of missionary endeavour.

First Foreign Missionary

Among unknown, and perhaps hostile tribes, Abraham was called to journey just as do the faithful missionaries of our day. As a recompence for the life of wandering to which he was called, God promised Abraham a future home, a permanent inheritance. His eyes were gladdened in visions given of God with a view of the city “whose builder and maker is God.” Though promised that he should be heir to the whole world, Abraham received no more than a burial-place as his reward in this life; and this he purchased with money. See Rom. 4:13; Acts 7:5; Gen. 23:16-20. Surely the faith of Abraham in God’s word was sublime, and worthy of emulation till time shall end! He knew that somehow, sometime, God would fulfil His word of promise, and in this hope he went forth to his great field of missionary endeavour.

Growth in Faith

While Abram (as he was first called) went out at God’s command without questioning His promise, his faith was not then perfect. Twice, because of his want of trusting faith in God’s protecting care, Abram practised deception stating that his wife, Sarai, was his sister. See Gen. 12: 11-20; 20: 2-16. Again, at Sarah’s own suggestion, he took as his second wife the Egyptian bond-servant, Hagar. This was an evidence that the faith of Abram that his true wife should be the mother of his numerous posterity was lacking. He had previously by faith accepted the promise of God that his seed should be as innumerable as the stars in the sky, and this was counted to him for righteousness. But in taking Hagar as a second wife, while his true wife still lived, Abram and Sarai sought to help God to fulfil His promise, and manifested an imperfect faith.

The Final Test

But when the final test was applied, Abraham’s faith was found perfect. By this time the child of promise, born of Sarah the true wife, was living, and had reached the age of twenty-five years, according to Josephus. The command of God to His faithful servant was couched in language calculated to make the test even more severe. “Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of

the mountains which I will tell thee of.” Gen. 22:2. While such a command seemed utterly at variance with the sixth precept of the divine law, which says, “Thou shalt not kill,” Abraham’s faith did not waver. Although the command came with heart-breaking force to the aged patriarch, his faith in the word of God was implicit and his consequent obedience prompt. The father of all believers accounted “that God was able” to raise his son Isaac from the dead to fulfil His promises through him. His words to the servants who were left at the foot of the mountain indicated his faith. He bade them tarry, while he and his son would go to worship, “and come again to you.” Gen. 22:5.

The victory of Abraham in this supreme conflict showed the perfection of his faith, and brought out more fully the promise of the Messiah who should be born of his descendants. Because of Abraham’s self-sacrificing obedience, the promise of the conquering Seed who should “possess the gate of His enemies,” was given to him, with the additional promise that in him all the nations of the earth should be blessed. Gen. 22:16-18.

Purposes of the Test

The question may be asked, “Why did God command Abraham to do that which He intended to prevent; and Isaac to submit to a fate from which He intended to save him? One fact must stand out clearly as an answer. It could never be known if Abraham recognised the duty he owed to God as dearer than any earthly tie, unless such a test were applied. It could not be known if he were really standing on the side of the Word of Truth, unless he was perfectly obedient to its requirements. More than this, Abraham could never have understood the sacrifice of the infinite God in giving up His Son to die, until he himself had passed through the awful ordeal. The willingness of Isaac to yield his life as a sacrifice, when he could easily have escaped from his grief-stricken father, was also to be recorded as a type of God’s only begotten Son who freely gave Himself for us.

But perhaps one of the most important purposes of the test was the lesson it contains for the children of Abraham today. “If ye be Christ’s then are ye Abraham’s seed” (Gal. 3:29); and Abraham’s experience was written for our learning. When fiery trials come to you, and your faith is severely tried, remember it was even thus with our father Abraham. The children of Abraham will be tested as was their father. But in every test, God has a purpose of love, “that we might be partakers of His holiness.” Heb. 12:10. The test of Abraham has therefore precious lessons for all time.

The Character of Abraham

Though a man of peace, Abraham went to war to rescue his nephew Lot. And incidentally we may remark, the number of young men in his encampment fit to bear arms proves the success of Abraham’s missionary labours. Probably his household amounted to one thousand, when 318 were men fit to bear arms. Those who accepted the true God joined themselves to his household. His faithfulness to God was again shown in the payment of the tithe upon all his booty; while his unselfishness was shown in refusing to accept any for himself. Gen. 14:12-24. Hence in the closing part of Abraham’s victorious conflict with evil, we see hospitality, unselfishness, courage, and liberality added to unswerving faith and loyal obedience. Surely here was a character exemplifying devotion to duty, and love to his fellows, and worthy of emulation by the children of Abraham to-day!

Are All the Children In?

ARE all the children in? The night is falling, And storm clouds gather in the threatening west; The lowing cattle seek a friendly shelter; The bird flies to her nest; The thunder crashes; wilder grows the tempest, And darkness settles o’er the fearful din; Come, shut the door, and gather round the hearthstone; Are all the children in?

Are all the children in? The night is falling, When gilded sin doth walk about the streets. O, “At last it biteth like a serpent”! Poisoned are stolen sweets. O, mothers, guard the feet of inexperience, Too prone to wander in the paths of sin! O, shut the door of love against temptation! Are all the children in?

Are all the children in? The night is falling, The night of death is hastening apace; The Lord is calling, “Enter thou thy chamber, And tarry there a space.” And when He comes, the King in all His glory, Who died the shameful death our hearts to win, O may the gates of heaven shut round about us, With all the children in.—Selected.

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