17 “And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to him the elders of the church. And when they were come to him, he said unto them,
“Ye yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, after what manner I was with you all the time, serving the Lord with all lowliness of mind, and with tears, and with trials which befell me by the plots of the Jews: 20 how that I shrank not from declaring unto you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly, and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: 23 save that the Holy Ghost testifieth unto me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. 24 But I hold not my life of any account, as dear unto myself, so that I may accomplish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, shall see my face no more. 26 Wherefore I testify unto you this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. 27 For I shrank not from declaring unto you the whole counsel of God. 28 Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in the which the Holy Ghost hath made you bishops, to feed the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood. 29 I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. 30 Wherefore watch ye, remembering that by the space of three years I ceased not to admonish every one night and day with tears. 31 And now I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you the inheritance among all them that are sanctified. 32 I coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. 33 Ye yourselves know that these hands ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. 34 In all things I gave you an example, how that so laboring ye ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He Himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. 35 “And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. 36 And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him, 37 sorrowing most of all for the word which he had spoken, that they should behold his face no more. And they brought him on his way unto the ship.”
Questions.
1. Give an account of the night meeting at Troas.
2. How did it happen that a night meeting was held at that time?
3. State the course of the journey from that point onward.
4. From what place did Paul send for the elders of the church at Ephesus to come to him?
5. When they had come to him, of what did he remind them? Verse 18.
6. What could he say of his service to the Lord? Verse 19.
7. How faithful had he been in the ministry? Where had he taught and whom? Verse 20.
8. What had been the burden of his testimony to them? Verse 21.
9. What did he say of his present condition and his journey? Of what was he ignorant? Verse 22.
10. Of what thing was he nevertheless sure? What assurance had he of this? Verse 23?
11. How did this prospect affect him? How did he hold his life? What was the sole object of his life? Verse 24.
12. What did he say as to their meeting again? Verse 25.
13. From what did he say he was clear? Verse 26.
14. How was this? Verse 27.
15. In view of all this, what exhortation did the apostle give? What other title did he give to the church? What relation did he say the elders sustained to it? Who had placed them in that position? What were they to do? How did he indicate the value of the church? Verse 28.
16. What made this exhortation so necessary? Verse 29.
17. What gave special point to the exhortation, “Take heed unto yourselves”? Verse 30.
18. What admonition does the apostle therefore repeat? What did he call upon the elders to remember? Verse 31.
19. In conclusion to what did he commend them? What is the Word able to do? Verse 32.
20. What did Paul say of his own unselfishness? Verse 33.
21. How disinterestedly had he labored? Verse 34.
22. What had he thereby showed them? What words of the Lord Jesus are to be remembered? Verse 35.
23. When Paul had thus spoken, what did he do? Verse 36.
24. How were they all affected? Verse 37.
25. What indicates the great affection the brethren had for Paul, and their appreciation of his labors? What last act of kindness did they do? Verse 38.
Notes and Questions.
1. Nothing more sublime and touching can be found than this account and the words of the apostle as he talked, with the certainty of persecution before him. The instruction is most valuable, and so concise that not a single word can be passed lightly over. Special thought and study should be given to it, so that every sentence may be fixed in the mind exactly as the apostle spoke it.
2. Compare verse 19 with the Revised Version, and note how the word “temptations” is used in its original signification of “trials.”
4. What is the church of God called? What are the elders or overseers to do for it? What is one who feeds a flock? What is an overseer? Has it any such meaning as taskmaster or ruler? Compare 1 Peter 5:1–5.
DOMESTIC
—The government relief expedition for the Klondike is now stalled at Nanaimo, B. C., waiting for a tug to tow them to Dyea.
—The ship Asia, with her crew of twenty men, went down off Nantucket Island in the gale which swept the New England coast on February 21, and all on board save three were lost.
—On February 8 two enormous avalanches thundered down Chilcoot Pass and buried 200 tons of miners’ provisions belonging to prospectors who were going over the pass. No lives were lost.
—The various branches of the California department of the Young Men’s Christian Association met in annual convention at Riverside, Cal., on February 23, to continue their session until February 26.
—The Senate passed a bill on February 22 authorizing the formation of two more regiments of artillery to man the big guns in the coast defense batteries provided by Congress within the past two years.
—A mob of 100 men completely demolished a saloon at Young America, Indiana, because of the barbarous treatment given by the proprietor to a lad who was sent to bring his father home. Over 200 kegs of beer were destroyed.
—Miss Frances E. Willard, president of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, died early on the morning of February 18, at New York, after an illness of about three weeks. Miss Willard was a native of New York, and was born in 1839.
—La grippe has come down upon Chicago with a heavy hand, and 40,000 residents of that city are now suffering from its attack. It is said to be more virulent than upon its first introduction to this country, and the conditions in Chicago favor a rapid spread of the disease.
—A resolution has been introduced in both Houses of Congress providing that the relatives or representatives of the sailors and officers who lost their lives in the sinking of the Maine be paid a sum equivalent to one year’s salary of the men.
—A bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on February 21, authorizing the building of twenty torpedo boats as soon as contracts can be awarded. If the bill passes the House, six of these boats will be assigned to the Pacific Coast.
—A terrific blizzard, the worst in many years, visited the middle States on February 20, and for some time the States of Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Michigan were practically snow-bound, railway and street-car traffic being seriously interfered with.
—The Senate, on February 17, adopted a resolution refusing to confirm the sale of the Kansas Pacific division of the Union Pacific Railroad, except upon the terms that the original claims and the interest thereon due the United States be paid in full by the bidders. The sale was made on February 16, for $6,303,000.
—The negro postmaster at Lake City, South Carolina, was shot by white men on the morning of February 22. A bullet from the assassins also killed a babe in the arms of his wife, and the wife and three daughters were shot and maimed for life. The house of the negro was then set on fire, and the remains of himself and babe were cremated.
—A court of inquiry has been appointed to investigate the Maine disaster in Havana, and have proceeded to that city and begun the work assigned them. The members of the court are: Captain Sampson, commander of the battle-ship Iowa; Captain Chadwick, commander of the New York; Lieutenant-Commander Shroeder, of the battle-ship Massachusetts, and Lieutenant-Commander Marix, of the Vermont.
—The terrible gruesomeness of the destruction which can be wrought by modern implements of war is well illustrated by one of the incidents connected with the recovery of bodies from the wrecked Maine, where the corpses of twelve firemen had to be completely dismembered in order to get them out of that torn and twisted death-trap in the slimy waters of Havana harbor.
—The Spanish cruiser Vizcaya, returning the visit of the Maine to Havana, arrived in New York harbor on the afternoon of February 20, returning the salutes of the forts and the batteries along the entrance to the harbor as she proceeded to her anchorage. A police patrol was at once established around the visitor, to prevent the possibility of any attempt at her destruction.
—The long-predicted rate war between the overland railroads has at last begun, and the scramble of these roads for “Klondike business” has brought the price of a ticket across country down to a fraction of what it has hitherto been. The fact that these exceedingly low rates can be maintained without apparent loss to the companies, shows something of the vast profits made by these corporations in passenger traffic.
—No positive information in regard to the cause of the disaster to the Maine has yet been given the public. The feeling seems to be gaining ground that the vessel was sunk by intent. Rumor has it that President McKinley has positive evidence of Spanish treachery in the sinking of the great vessel, and that Spain has signified her willingness to apologize for the Maine’s destruction and pay damages. The war vessels of the United States are collecting in the vicinity of Key West, with the exception of monitors assigned to the defense of coast cities. It is reported that the cruiser Montgomery has been ordered to proceed to Havana to replace the Maine. Preparations for war are going on within the United States, altho it is not at all certain that war will come.
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Abiding Sabbath and The Lord’s Day, by A. T. Jones, a review of a $500 and $1,000 “prize essay” on the Sabbath. These essays are perhaps the best contributions to Sunday sacredness literature, and this review is an important one. B. S. L. No. 2, 173 pages, 20c.
Ancient Sabbath, by D. T. Bourdeau, a refutation of 44 so-called objections, with critical and practical thoughts on the law and Sabbath, and on the Greek of certain passages, 85 pages, 10c.
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Angels, Their Nature and Ministry, revised by J. H. Waggoner. This interesting pamphlet not only treats of the ministry of unfallen angels, but gives the origin and work of Satan as well. B. S. L. No. 83, 137 pages, 20c.
Bible Sanctification, a contrast of true and false theories, by Mrs. E. G. White. The multitude of false theories respecting this subject makes a clear scriptural treatise a necessity. B. S. L. No. 1, 82 pages, 10c.
Captivity of the Republic. This republic has been captured; how it came about is here related. R. L. L. No. 6, 126 pages, 15c.
Change of the Sabbath, was it by divine or human authority? by Geo. I. Butler, 218 pages, 20c.
Christ and His Righteousness, by Dr. E. J. Waggoner. Is Christ God? Christ as Creator, Is Christ a Created Being? God Manifest in the Flesh, Christ the Lawgiver, are a portion of the subjects treated. B. S. L. No. 72, 96 pages, 10c.
Christ in the Old Testament and the Sabbath in the New, by Elder James White. In addition to the subjects above indicated, one chapter treats “The Old Moral Code Not Revised.” 56 pages, 10c.
Christ Our Advocate, His ministry in the true tabernacle, by M. H. Brown. Christ’s work in heaven is told in a way that is easily understood. Several illustrations and diagrams serve to make clear the arrangement and service of the earthly tabernacle, and aid in the contemplation of the heavenly. B. S. L. No. 128, 112 pages, 10c.
Christian Science. What Is It? Is It Science? Is It Christian? Is It Akin to Modern Spiritualism? By Elder H. A. St. John. B. S. L. No. 93, 85 pages, 15c.
Church and State, by James T. Ringgold, of the Baltimore bar; origin of Church and State union, and the results as still shown on our statute-books. R. L. L. No. 3, 60 pages, 10c.
Due Process of Law and Divine Right of Dissent, by A. T. Jones, a review of Judge Hammond’s decision in the King case, to which is added the decision itself; also the decision of the Supreme Court of California in a similar case. R. L. L. No. 1, 120 pages, 15c.
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Historical Sketches of Foreign Missions, illustrated and containing much valuable information concerning our missionary work in foreign lands. 294 pages, 50c.
History of the Sabbath, in three volumes, by J. N. Andrews, same contents as bound book. 508 pages, 75c.
Honor Due to God, thoughts on tithes and offerings, by E. J. Waggoner. B. S. L. No. 135, 61 pages, 10c.
Hope of the Gospel, by J. N. Loughborough, treats of the character of the Christian hope, the time of its realization, and the promises on which it is based. 80 pages, 10c.
Judgment, its events in their order, by J. N. Andrews. B. S. L. No. 55, 15c.
Legal Sunday, its history and character, by James T. Ringgold. Every phase of Sunday in legislation, historically, morally, and constitutionally considered. R. L. L. No. 22, 260 pages, 40c.
Life, Its Source and Purpose, by Wm. Covert, an intensely interesting presentation of the wonderful subject of life through Christ. The last chapter, entitled “All Things Harmonized in Christ,” contains a mine of encouragement and information. B. S. L. No. 108, 10c.
Lord’s Day, the Test of the Ages, by Elder M. C. Wilcox. This subject has become and will continue to be the testing question of the age, as it has been of other ages. It is comprehensively treated in this pamphlet. B. S. L. No. 134, 15c.
Man’s Nature and Destiny, or The State of the Dead, the Reward of the Righteous and the End of the World. Elder Uriah Smith, 332 pp., 50c.
Matthew 24, or The Second Coming of Christ, an exposition of our Saviour’s great prophecy. B. S. L. No. 58, 94 pages, 10c.
Modern Spiritualism, A Subject of Prophecy and a Sign of the Times. Elder Uriah Smith. 156 pp., 20c.
Nature and Obligation of the Sabbath, by J. H. Waggoner, answers the arguments urged in favor of first-day observance. B. S. L. No. 54, 96 pages, 10c.
Objections to Visions, a manifestation of spiritual gifts according to the Scriptures. Elder Uriah Smith. 144 pages, 20c.
Prophetic Lights, by E. J. Waggoner, treats of the leading prophecies of both New and Old Testament in a way well calculated to prove their inspiration and importance. The book is elegantly illustrated, contains nearly 200 large octavo pages. B. S. L. No. 117, 50c.
Redeemer and Redeemed, or The Plan of Redemption through Christ. Elder James White. 10c.
Review of the Two Sermons by Rev. R. G. Baird. A defense of the Sabbath of the Lord. J. H. Waggoner. 64 pages, 10c.
Rights of the People, of civil government and religion, illustrated. In addition to being an up-to-date treatise on this great subject, it contains the Constitution of the U. S., the Dred Scott Decision, together with the Dissenting Opinion, and the Christian Nation Decision. R. L. L. No. 32, 40c.
Sabbath and the Law, by J. N. Andrews, contains 192 pages, and gives an outline of the Biblical and secular history of the Sabbath for 6,000 years. B. S. L. No. 53, 20c.
Saints’ Inheritance, or The Earth Made New, by J. N. Loughborough, fifth edition, revised and enlarged. B. S. L. No. 140, 10c.
Sanctuary and the Twenty-three Hundred Days of Daniel 8 and 14. 224 pages, 30c.
Seven Trumpets of Rev. 8 and 9, third edition. As a portion of these trumpets are a part of the great Eastern Question, its study is especially appropriate just now. 96 pages, 10c.
Siberia and the Nihilists, Why Kennan Went to Siberia, by William Jackson Armstrong. A clear presentation of the cause of the Nihilists, as well as that of religious despotism as it exists in Russia. 160 pages, 25c.
Social Purity and Talk to Girls. Nothing more chaste and effective in the line of social purity literature has ever been published. 82 pp., 25c.
Spirit of God, Its Offices and Manifestations to the End of the Christian Age. Especial attention is given to the connection existing between obedience to the law of God and the presence of the gifts of the Spirit. It deserves careful study. J. H. Waggoner. 142 pages, 15c.
Sun of Righteousness, an exposition of the scriptures bearing upon the two advents of Christ. H. A. St. John, B. S. L. No. 97, 10c.
Sunday, The Origin of Its Observance in the Christian Church, by E. J. Waggoner. B. S. L. No. 80, 15c.
Sunday Laws of the States and Territories. A careful compilation of such laws as they exist on the statute-books. Sent. Lib. No. 42, 20c.
Sunday, Seventh-day Examined. A refutation of the claim that Sunday is the true seventh day of the fourth commandment. 88 pages, 10c.
Sure Word of Prophecy, a study of the book of Daniel. M. H. Brown, B. S. L. No. 131, 10c.
Three Messages of Rev. 14:6–12, by J. N. Andrews. 141 pages, 15c.
Thoughts on Baptism, being an examination of Christian baptism, its action, subjects, and relations; also a brief consideration of the historical evidences for trine immersion. J. H. Waggoner. 210 pages, 25c.
Will a Man Rob God? Practical thoughts on tithes and offerings. R. A. Underwood, B. S. L. No. 145, 10c.
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“Angels of God.” (Spanish.) A collection of five Bible readings on the following subjects: 1. The Angels of God. 2. Satan and His Work. 3. Christ the Resurrection and the Life. 4. The Second Chapter of Daniel. 5. Signs of the Coming of Christ. Two illustrations; paper; price, 6 cents. Address, PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING CO., Oakland, Cal.
FASTING AND FASTING.
AMONG the regulations for Lent in the Roman Catholic Church are the following, as set forth in the Catholic Mirror of February 19, by Cardinal Gibbons:—
“1. All the faithful who have completed their twenty-first year, unless exempt by dispensation or some other legitimate cause, are bound to observe the fast of Lent.
“2. They are to make one meal only a day, except on Sundays.
“3. The meal permitted on fast days is not to be taken till about noon.
“4. A small refreshment, commonly called COLLATION, is permitted in the evening.
“5. The following persons are exempt from the obligation of fasting: persons under twenty-one years of age, the sick, nursing women, those who are obliged to do hard labor, and those who, through weakness, can not fast, without great prejudice to their health.”
The above is, we suppose, general for the world, but it seems that Catholics in the United States have a much easier time; for “by virtue of an indult granted by the holy see,” March 15, 1895, is permitted “to all workingmen and their families the use of flesh meat once a day on all fast days and abstinence days throughout the year, with the exception of Fridays, Ash-Wednesday, the Wednesday and Saturday of Holy Week, and the eve of Christmas. Those who are exempt from the obligation of fasting are free to take meat more than once on the days mentioned.”
The term “workingmen” is broad enough to cover almost all cases; or is this left to the priest to determine as to who is and who is not a “workingman”? But on account of the gracious concession granted Catholics in the United States, the cardinal tells us that “those who avail themselves of the indult are not allowed to use flesh meat and fish at the same meal, and they are earnestly exhorted to perform some other act of mortification, such as abstinence from intoxicating liquors.”
All of which suggest, we should fancy, to thinking Catholics the following questions: If fasting is a moral obligation (something we “are bound to observe”), how can it be dispensed with? And if it is not a moral obligation, why should it be enjoined? And if it is a moral obligation in other countries, why should it not be in the United States, a land where it would seem fasting could be better observed with health to both body and soul than in most other countries? And, finally, why should not Christians—the faithful—not abstain without considering it “an act of mortification” from the use of “intoxicating liquors” every day in the year?
The fasting enjoined by the Word of God is voluntary, self-sacrificing, and therefore upbuilding. See Matt. 6: 16–18; Isa. 58: 1–11. There are thousands of people in this broad land who consider it no “act of mortification” to the flesh at all to abstain from flesh meats, intoxicating liquors, and tobacco, and who eat generally but twice a day. And most of them do an immense amount of work too. How much better are God’s ways than the ways of men!
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The Power of Jesus Christ
The power of Jesus Christ is sufficient to cleanse from all sin and to save from every temptation if we are in the way of the Lord.
Helping Hand Mission Dedication Postponed
The dedication services of the Helping Hand Mission are postponed to March 13. More definite announcement will be made next week.
Helping Hand Mission Fund Receives Donations
Three California friends have increased our Helping Hand Mission fund by $250 the past week, two for $100 each, and one for $50. Others have given smaller sums.
An Interesting and Instructive Series
By Editor
The article on the first page is the beginning of a most interesting and instructive series. We hope they may be widely read. They alone are worth a year's subscription to the SIGNS.
Standing in God’s Strength
He who presumptuously places himself on the enemy's ground must stand alone, in his own strength, and he is sure to fall. He who does the Lord's will, trusting in God, can stand anywhere and meet any temptation, for he stands in the strength of God.
Embezzlements in 1897
Embezzlements in 1897.—Embezzlements in 1896 aggregated $9,465,921; in 1897, $11,248,084, an increase of $1,782,163. Nobody knows how much was embezzled which did not come to light, or, if it did, the guilty parties were freed by mere legal technicalities.
Epidemic and Famine
Epidemic and Famine are said by the Chicago Tribune to have taken the lives of 222,902. Of these 40,000 succumbed to the plague in India, and 150,000 to famine, in Cuba alone. But the victims of famine in India are estimated at from two millions to eight millions, of which the Tribune makes no account.
War, War
War, War.—1897 was called a year of peace; nevertheless there were killed in battle during the year 103,451. The leading places are as follows: In Cuba, 24,303 persons; in Africa, 18,205; in China, 15,000; in the Turko-Grecian War, 11,839; in Brazil, 10,859; in the Philippine Islands, 7,750; and in British India, 7,024. There were 129,080 slain in 1896. What will be the record of 1898?
