p. 15 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 32. (8/13/1896)

Publications on the Sabbath

THE LORD'S DAY, THE TEST OF THE AGES

Presents in the briefest, simplest manner a part of the Bible evidence concerning both sides of the Sabbath question. The subject is treated in a new and interesting way. Fully illustrated with diagrams and original illustrations. 128 pages, paper covers, just out, price 15 cents.

ABIDING SABBATH AND LORD'S DAY

A pointed review of two of the best recent productions for the defense of the Sunday sabbath. The best arguments in support of Sunday are undoubtedly presented in this book. 173 pages, paper covers. Price 20 cents.

CHANGE OF THE SABBATH

A brief treatise answering the question so often asked, “Who Changed the Sabbath?” 218 pages, paper covers. Price 20 cents.

NATURE AND OBLIGATION OF THE SABBATH OF THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT

A candid and thoroughly scriptural treatise on this important question. 96 pages, paper covers. Price 10 cents.

THE SABBATH AND THE LAW

This work covers the Sabbath institution from Eden created to Eden restored, and its arguments are clear and forcible and convincing. 192 pages, paper covers. Price 20 cents.

THE HISTORY OF THE SABBATH

An exhaustive treatise on the Sabbath question, in which every passage in the Bible which has any connection with the Sabbath, either in the Old or New Testament, is examined at length. It is a veritable mine of information, both Biblical and Historical, on this subject. Three volumes, paper covers. Price $1.00 per set.

· · Send for Catalogue containing Price List of other · · Publications on this Subject.

Pacific Press Publishing Co.

Oakland, Cal.

Kansas City, Mo. N. Y. City, N. Y.

RISE AND PROGRESS OF Seventh-Day Adventists.

By John Norton Loughborough

Tokens of God's Hand in the Movement, and Brief Sketch of the Advent Cause from 1831 to 1844.

By J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

This new book, fresh from the pen of one of the oldest ministers in the advent movement, cannot but be of great interest to all, and especially to those who have become Seventh-Day Adventists in recent years and know but little of the early history of the cause and its leaders.

The following are some of the chapter headings: Extent of the Advent Proclamation; The Tarrying Time; The Midnight Cry; The Disappointment; Fresh Tokens of Divine Guidance; Perils, Reproaches, Victories; New Features in the Work; Providence of God in the Publishing Work; Organization; Rapid Advancement; Though Workers Faint, God's Work Advances; Truth Advanced Even by Opposition.

The book contains nearly 400 pages, with 50 illustrations, several of them full page, and is neatly bound in cloth, and furnished in two styles.

Cloth, plain edges . . . . $1 25

Cloth, gilt edges . . . . 1 50

Books sent postpaid on receipt of price.

Address,

PACIFIC PRESS PUB. CO.,

OAKLAND, CAL.

Or 43 Bond St., New York.

This Rock, or the Foundation of the Church.

(Spanish.) Showing that the Rock of Matt. 16:18 is Christ, and not Peter; 4 pp.; 50 cents per 100. Address, PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING Co., Oakland, Cal.

Financial Troubles.

Says the Progress of the World, for August: “The losses in July in the market value of the securities listed on the stock exchange may be counted by the hundreds of millions. Not a class, from the issues of the government to the poorest and lowest-priced shares of bankrupt corporations, escaped the shrinkage.” This is an indication of what we may expect, to a greater or less extent, till after the 4th of next March. It is well for all Christians to be most prudent in their business and investments. There is one bank which will not fail, and is always a safe place of deposit to those who are on right terms with the President, terms easy and open for all, and that is the Bank of Heaven. Its securities are first class, and eternally good.

It Is Not Christ’s Way.

—The Pacific Ensign has the following: “On July 23 the only saloon at Buroda, Mich., was broken into by crusaders, who were bent on destroying the place. The beer pump was broken, twelve kegs of beer and several barrels of whisky and wine were smashed open, and their contents allowed to run out. The bottled goods were all broken, and 7,000 cigars were crushed and left in a heap on the floor. The large plate-glass mirror behind the counter was also broken, and the bar turned upside down. The place was owned by W. W. Harper, and has been a source of annoyance to the residents of the quiet village for two years. The object of the raiders was only to get rid of the saloon, as there was a sum of money in plain sight, but it was not molested.” Now all this may be “reform” of a sort, but it is neither true reform, lasting reform, nor Christian reform. It may not be as bad work as the saloon has done, neither does such work justify the saloon, but it is based on the wrong principle, “Let us do evil, that good may come.” It is not Christ’s way, and yet the prospect is that we shall see much of this sort of thing called Christian.

Letter from Orangeville

We have a letter from “Orangeville,” signed by “J. R. Fisher,” which we will reply to if he will give us the state in which Orangeville is. There are eight or nine post-offices by that name in this country.

Tobacco, Liquor, and Insanity

THERE were committed to insane asylums, from San Francisco alone, during the year ending June 30, 1896, 344 persons; of these 206 were men and 138 women. How much of this may be laid at the door of tobacco using and liquor drinking!

God’s Justice for Rich and Poor

COLONEL INGERSOLL uttered what is held as truth by too many in these days, when he said: “When the rich combine, it is for the purpose of ‘exchanging ideas.’ When the poor combine, it is a ‘conspiracy.’ If they act in concert, if they really do something, it is a ‘mob.’ If they defend themselves, it is a ‘treason.’” But there is One who is no respecter of persons; and that is the God which Mr. Ingersoll contemns. He cares for the poor, and will in his own time mete out exact justice to all.

A Beautiful Volume.

A beautiful book (and that for the little ones, too), bound in bright blue cloth, with sweet pictures and a pretty poem, has been laid upon our table. It is volume 6 of Our Little Friend, neatly bound in one book, of 416 pages. It is filled full of good things for the children, and the cost is only one dollar. We do not know how a dollar could be better invested in a literary way for children, outside of the Bible. It is both entertaining and instructive. Address Our Little Friend, Twelfth and Castro Streets, Oakland, Cal.

The Uncertainty of Things in This Life

The Uncertainty of Things in This Life is well illustrated by a comparison of a note in Our Work and Workers column concerning our missionaries in Buluwayo, and one in our News department relating to the uprising there. When Brother Tripp wrote, he supposed the danger all over, but one of the severest contests has since been fought, in which the natives showed the greatest bravery, in the face of the deadly rain of shot from the machine guns. It is thought another severe conflict must be fought before peace is assured. Pray for our missionaries there.

Not Our Lord.

A circular is being sent through the mails asking for a recognition of Francis Schlatter, “the healer.” One writer goes so far as to say, “He is the Jesus Christ of the nineteenth century.” Now, whatever Mr. Schlatter may be, he is not Jesus Christ. How do we know?—By the Bible. Those who study the work, desiring above all to know the truth that they may do it, will not be deceived by any. Satan may for a time counterfeit what was, but when Christ comes, it will be in such indescribable glory that none can counterfeit, and none will be deceived. He will not come again as he came then. “Be not deceived.” “Behold, he [Christ] cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him.” He will never be a sojourner on earth again only as he sojourns by his Spirit in the lives of his people.

Raising the Age of Consent

SPEAKING of the age of consent, especially in Louisiana, where a bill has just passed the Senate raising the age limit from twelve to sixteen years, the Pacific Ensign forcibly puts the case in this way: “There is nothing more infamous than for the men of a great commonwealth to declare that their daughters and sisters at the age of twelve years are possessed of the knowledge and discretion that will enable them to protect themselves against the seductions of the other sex, and are authorized at pleasure to enter on a life of shame. It shows that either the men have given no consideration to the subject, and are wholly ignorant of its meaning and bearing, or that they realize the advantage the law gives them over female infants, and they desire to hold onto it. Either alternative is bad enough.” The latter is infernal.

The Gift of Ministry

A precious gift which God has given to every one of his children! O, how many there are among them who could minister to the sick, the suffering, the sorrowing, the despairing who are out of Christ, all around them, if their own hearts were submitted and consecrated to God,—minister with prayerful, hopeful hearts, with kind words and gentle deeds, which would carry more of the Spirit of Christ and the message of his word than all the arguments which ever could be used! How such ministry put forth in the meekness and sweetness of Christ would open the way for his truth to sin and sorrow-blinded hearts! How God would add to such gift of faithful ministry, the gift of exhortation and perhaps teaching! How the souls of such gracious ministers would grow and expand and carry the atmosphere of heaven wherever they went! How homes and churches would light up with their presence!

Well, What Next?

Well, What Next?—We can partly understand how uninstructed Protestant Christians, for generations by precept and example taught awrong, can call Sunday the Sabbath, even tho there is not a scintilla of evidence in the Bible to support their claim; but to hear a Jewish paper say, “We are glad to note the good attendance at Sabbath school the few last Sundays,” as does an Oakland paper, is astounding. It reminds us of the time a certain people made an image to the sun-god Apis, appointed a feast in his honor, and said, “To-morrow shall be a feast to Jehovah.” Ex. 32:5, R. V. And of the same god they said, “These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.” But calling the Egyptian sun-god the Lord did not make it so, nor ascribing to the calf the work of redemption from Egypt did not clothe him with redemptive power. It does not change the character of Sunday to call it Sabbath, nor does it make a Sunday school, a Sabbath school, tho it may deceive the children. All this results from departing from God. Ezekiel 20 is profitable reading in this connection.

The Bible Man.

An article sent to us speaks of the soul and body of man, the soul, the immortal part, and the flesh, that which is mortal. But while the Bible does speak of soul and body, it never speaks of one as being capable of a conscious existence without the other, and it never speaks of the soul as an “immortal part.” All this is pure assumption on the part of man. To say that one scripture speaks of the soul of man and another of his body, when both speak of the whole man, is to play fast and loose with the word of God. The Bible man is a unit, mortal, subject to death. He may live forever by believing in Christ (John 3:16, 36), but if he does not, he shall not see everlasting life. He will not be made immortal till the resurrection, and the second coming of our Lord.

In Quietness

God says to us, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Ps. 46:10. It is “in quietness and confidence” that our strength lies; in returning and rest we find salvation. We must be silent before the Lord, or else we shall miss the still, small voice which alone reveals him to the soul. God can thunder with a terrible voice, but we could not understand that; so he reveals himself to us in a whisper. That conveys intelligible sound to our understanding, whereas the thunder would only startle and terrify us. So we read: “Lo, these are but the outskirts of his ways; but how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?” Job 26:14, R. V.

Manifestations of Power.

Most of the great manifestations of the power of God in the earth, are silent and unseen. We know that the power is there, only by the results. Think of the thousands of millions of tons of water that the sun is constantly lifting up from the earth to the clouds, to send down again in dew and rain. Not a sound is heard through it all; but man can not pump a cupful without noise. The power manifested in plant growth is beyond all human conception, yet there is no sound. A plant may in its growth rend a rock asunder, yet it is all done quietly.