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Signs of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 24.

The Restoration of Papal Temporal Power

Signs of the Times

Jun 24, 1889

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 24, 1889

The Restoration of Papal Temporal Power

By Editor

SOME time since the Christian at Work had a note in which it pooh-poohed the idea of the restoration of the temporal power of the Pope, and in replying to it the Catholic Review says:—
“The Christian at Work need not trouble itself about the temporal power of the Pope. The Catholic world is now agitating the subject, and never did the signs appear more favorable for it. The odious legislation of Minister Crispi has made more apparent than ever the terrible wrongs that Pope, priest, and Catholic people may suffer at the hands of the invading Government at Rome. The voices of more than two hundred million Catholics are now heard in favor of the temporal sovereignty which the Pope did possess for centuries, which is his by right to-day, and which the just spiritual rule of Catholics of every land and race on the globe demands.”
Of course no Protestant can or will admit for a moment that the Pope has any just claim to temporal sovereignty. The very fact of his being Pope should exclude him from exercising civil power, because at all times and everywhere civil and ecclesiastical powers should be kept separate; but we cannot close our eyes to the fact that powerful influences are at work for the restoration of the Papacy to all its ancient privileges. And when any man assumes to say that “the Pope’s temporal or territorial sovereignty is as dim as a vision of angels, and as distant as the furthest removed star in the nebulæ of Orion,” he simply closes his eyes alike to the most potent facts and to the plainest prophecies.

LOOKING FOR THAT BLESSED HOPE.

By Ellen G. White

BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly 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; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
THIS scripture teaches a very different lesson from that which is presented in the words of many who profess to believe the gospel. We are exhorted to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, and to look for the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Some have made an objection to my work, because I teach that it is our duty to be looking for Christ’s personal appearing in the clouds of Heaven. They have said, “You would think that the day of the Lord was right upon us to hear Mrs. White speak in reference to the coming of Christ; and she has been preaching on that same subject for the last forty years, and the Lord has not yet come.” This very objection might have been brought against the words of Christ himself. He said by the mouth of the beloved disciple, “Behold, I come quickly,” and John responds, “Even so, come, LordJesus.” Jesus spoke these words as words of warning and encouragement to his people; and why should we not heed them? The Lord has said that it is the faithful who will be found watching and waiting for him. It was the unfaithful servant who said, “My Lord delayeth his coming,” and began to smite his fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken.
The exact time of Christ’s second coming is not revealed. Jesus said, “No man knoweth the day nor the hour.” But he also gave signs of his coming, and said, “When ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the door.” He bade them, as the signs of his coming should appear, “Look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” And in view of these things the apostle wrote: “Ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day.” Since we know not the hour of Christ’s coming, we must live soberly and godly in this present world, “looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”
Christ gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. His people are to preserve their peculiar character as his representatives. There is work for every one of them to do. The rich should bring their means, the honored their influence, the learned their wisdom, the poor their virtue, if they would be effective workers with God. They are to bring themselves into right relation with God, that they may reflect the light of the glory of God that shines in the face of Jesus Christ. We read of a class who put far off the day of the coming of Jesus; but upon such his coming will be as a thief in the night, and they will be suddenly overtaken with destruction. How many there are who are willing to be rocked to sleep in the cradle of carnal security; but it is time for us to wake out of sleep. Says the apostle, “We are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.”
We should be awake to discern the signs of the times, and to give warning to the people. There are many in the world who seek to quiet the alarm of the people, who say, “Peace, peace; when there is no peace;” but we should take an opposite course from this. There are many who say to the aroused people, “Do not disturb yourselves, go on in godlessness, go on glorifying yourselves, and living in pleasure. The day of the Lord is not at hand.” Did not Christ have an object in view when he said, “Behold, I come quickly”? Did he not see that his church would need to keep this solemn event in mind? Shall we say with the last-day scoffers, “Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation”? I do not mean to be with this class. I mean to arouse men with the message of Christ’s near coming.
Those who have a knowledge of present truth are under a great responsibility before the world. They are to warn men of the coming judgments. They are to represent Christ to the people. They are not to go about deploring their condition, talking of their darkness, and murmuring and complaining of the hardness of the way; they are to lift up their minds to God, open the door of their hearts to Jesus, and let him come in and abide with them. We must have Christ enthroned in the heart, that the soul-temple may be cleansed from every defilement. The soon coming of our Saviour must be a living reality to us. The question of all importance for this time is, “How is it with my soul? Am I seeking to reiterate the words of Christ? Am I teaching my children that they have souls to save; that peace and holiness must be a part of their life? Am I teaching them to place their hands in the hands of Christ, that he may guide them?”
We have most earnest work to do, and we have no time to waste in drinking at empty cisterns that can hold no water. We should come to Christ without delay for the water of life. We should diligently study the Bible. The study of the Bible is of the greatest importance to us. The Scriptures are able to make men wise unto salvation, yet how few find time to search the word of God! Men are all absorbed in the things of this perishing earth. They are building their hopes upon worthless foundations, and writing their names in the sand. Even those who profess to be followers of Christ do not heed his injunction. They are like the fig-tree whose leaves were abundant, but upon which the Master, seeking fruit, found nothing but leaves. The command will go forth at last concerning the fruitless tree, “Cut it down. Why cumbereth it the ground?”
God gives us his rich blessings to enjoy, and he expects us to bring forth fruit to his glory; but many neglect his work. They do not make a full surrender to his will. There are many who seem to feel that to think of God and heavenly things tends to make men gloomy and desponding; that it is detrimental to health to permit the mind to dwell upon religious subjects.
When in my youth God opened the Scriptures to my mind, giving me light upon the truths of his word, I went forth to proclaim to others the precious news of salvation. My brother wrote to me, and said, “I beg of you do not disgrace the family. I will do anything for you if you will not go out as a preacher.” “Disgrace the family!” I replied, “can it disgrace the family for me to preach Christ and him crucified! If you would give me all the gold your house could hold, I would not cease giving my testimony for God. I have respect unto the recompense of the reward. I will not keep silent, for when God imparts his light to me, he means that I shall diffuse it to others, according to my ability.”
Did not the priests and rulers come to the disciples, and command them to cease preaching in the name of Christ? They shut the faithful men in prison, but the angel of the Lord came to them and released them that they might speak the words of life to the people. This is our work. “Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord,” and we must pursue that work with faithfulness. How many are there who fulfill the mission of Christ? After their baptism there are many who act as though they had graduated, as though there was nothing more to learn or to do; but baptism is only the beginning of our work. We are to go on to perfection, reflecting the light of Christ more and more, and bringing all that it is possible of the spirit and power of Heaven into our lives. We are to seek the salvation of souls around us.
We are to present the truth as it is in Jesus. Christ came into the world to save sinners. For thirty years he lived our example. He endured insult, ignominy, reproach, rejection, and death; yet he lives. He is a living Saviour. He has ascended on high to make intercession for us. Just before his crucifixion, he prayed that his disciples might be one with him, as he was one with the Father. Is it indeed a possibility that sinful, fallen man may be brought into such exalted relationship with Christ? Such a union with Christ will bring light and peace and comfort to our souls. When he went to Heaven, he told his disciples, “It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” Who would not have the Comforter in times of trial? There are many who refuse the service of God; but let sickness or sorrow overtake them, let death come into the family, and they will realize the weakness of earthly dependence, and they will then want a God to lean upon.
The Lord is coming, and when he shall appear we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And “every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” We must have our treasures transferred to Heaven, for where the treasure is, there will the heart be also. Let the light of the Sun of Righteousness into your hearts, and peace will rest upon you. I want you to enjoy the blessing of God. I want to direct your mind to heavenly things. Jesus has promised, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”
Tell of the love of Christ, talk of his power, and you may have a heaven in this world to go to Heaven in. Respond to the light of God, and you will be like a watered garden; your health will spring forth speedily; your light will rise in obscurity, and the glory of the Lord will be your reward.

Know Christ

If you would know the height and depth of Christian experience, know Christ. He alone it is who can satisfy all the longings of your heart. Take him as the companion of your soul. If your pathway lies through shadows, the light of his presence will dispel their gloom. If you are discouraged, his voice can continually whisper words of comfort in your ear, and his tender love will ever inspire you with holy, happy thoughts. “Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace.” Job 22:21.

No Neutral Position Regarding Christ

By Editor

To those who think that sometime they will decide for Christ, who think that their position is now neutral, neither for him nor against him, we commend the following solemn and truthful words from a sermon by Rev. W. Gluyas Pascoe, of England:—
“There can be no indecision in regard to God. You must decide—you do decide—whether you will be his servant or not. Your very hesitation, so long as it lasts, is decision that you will not accept him. Your plea that such a matter must not be concluded in a moment, when you have had your life-time to consider the subject, may be a specious plea, but in reality is a mark of your refusal to be God’s. Hear the word of the great Master: ‘He that is not with me, is against me.’”

A Confession About Sunday Observance

By Editor

Commenting on the fact that the British and American exhibitions in Paris close on Sunday, the Christian at Work of June 6 says:—
“Such a proceeding gives more practical effect to Sunday observance than whole tomes basing the observing of the first day of the week on the commandment which enjoins the observance of the seventh day.”
This is a confession which, however, the Christian at Work has more than once made before, that there is no divine authority for Sunday observance. This being true, we do not see why it is desirable to give practical effect to such observance. The confession, however, is noteworthy.

Congress of American Catholics

By Editor

A CONGRESS of American Catholics is to be held in Baltimore next November. Referring to this meeting, the Catholic Mirror says: “A number of prominent Catholic laymen have been invited to read papers on topics relating to Catholic interests. The congress will be an event of the first importance.” And we presume that a prominent feature of the congress will be a demand for the restoration of the temporal power of the Pope. This has been a prominent feature in similar congresses held in a number of European countries within the past few weeks. The crafty Leo will leave no stone unturned to manufacture public sentiment in favor of what he is pleased to call his “rights.”

Civilization and Sanctification

By Editor

OFTEN the increase of civilization, the arts, the sciences, a general increase of knowledge, are taken for an increase of Christianity. Men suppose that the world is becoming converted because it is becoming civilized. But there is a wide difference between the two. The following from Rev. Alfred Norris, of West Kensington, England, expresses so forcibly this truth that we cannot forbear to reproduce it:—
“Civilization is not sanctification, and cannot produce it; the descendants of Cain originated the arts, sciences, and amenities of life, but they were also polygamists and egotists of a boastful and murderous kind—wherefore, except there be sanctification, civilization will merely become corrupt.”
The only means of converting the world, or nations, or men, is through the grace and regenerating power of the Lord Jesus Christ. “Ye must be born again,” is as true now as when spoken by the great Teacher to the proud Pharisee, eighteen hundred years ago, but it is no less unpopular.

WAITING.

I AM waiting for the dawning Of the bright and blessed day, When the darksome night of sorrow Shall have vanished far away; When forever with the Saviour, Far beyond the gloom of tears, I shall swell the songs of worship Through the everlasting years.
I am looking at the brightness— See, it shineth from afar— Of the clear and joyous beaming Of the "bright and morning star;" Through the dark gray mists of morning Do I see its glorious light; Soon shall flee the darkest shadow Of this sad and weary night.
I am waiting for the coming Of the Lord, who died for me; Oh! his words have filled my spirit, "I will come again for thee." I can almost hear his footfall On the threshold of the door, And my heart, my heart is longing To be his forevermore.
—Selected.

A CHEERFUL RELIGION.

By F. A. Reynolds

CHARITY Christianity, the true, genuine Christianity, is a cheerful religion, and any professor of Christianity who is gloomy or long-faced is not a real Christian, or else he does not understand the real value of what he has got. I do not mean that Christians should be light and trivial in actions or character. Life is solemn and earnest, and a thoughtful person cannot regard it otherwise. But there are professors who repel people by their gloomy faces and doleful words.
No Christian should ever be unhappy. That is a broad statement, but I am willing to abide by it. A Christian is one who has given himself to Christ. God is his Father—all-wise and all-powerful; all the universe is at his command. The Christian’s Father is both able and willing to do all for his loving, loyal child that he sees is for his good. What, then, have Christians to worry about? Why should they not be always happy and cheerful and contented? Isn’t it our duty to recommendour faith and hope by our cheerful, happy faces? The promises—can't we trust them? Who made them?—The infinite God; he who is truth; he who never forgets, and who has worlds at his command. He says, "Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed."
No need, then, to worry about our food. He has said, "Do well and trust." He has also said, "Ask, and it shall be given you." And then he taught us to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread."
We are safe then on that point; he who feeds the birds of the air, who sustained his prophets in times of famine, will see to it that his children who trust him shall not suffer.
Again he has said, "If then God so clothe the grass, which is to-day in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after; and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you."
There, don't you see he calls himself your Father, says he knows you have need of food and clothing, and if you seek first his will, you shall have all necessaries? He does not say we should sit down and wait to have ourselves clothed and fed. In fact, industry is commanded, but it is to be secondary to "laying up treasure in Heaven," and to be prosecuted with faith in God, who can prosper if he will.
But there is another thought: I said Christians should always be happy. Can we be happy in affliction,—amidst sickness, suffering, losses, and death?—Yes, even so. Has he not said, "Cast thy burden on the Lord, and he will sustain thee?" Did you ever test this promise and find it a failure? What is a burden?—All that troubles us. Cast it on him, he will remove it, or carry so great a share of it, and so soothe us by his presence, that we shall forget it, and sing—
"Whatever is, is for the best, Because our Father rules. And if in wisdom he sees fit, Both faith and patience schools."
Yes, there's no doubt ours should be a cheerful religion, but remember the freedom from care, the happiness, the contentment, the exaltation in sorrow, come only to those who can say with Job, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." F. A. REYNOLDS.

“FOR IT IS GREAT.”

THAT is a strange reason which David urges in the twenty-fifth psalm, “O Lord, pardon my iniquity; for it is great.” Men who apply for pardon usually plead that they are innocent, or that their guilt is less than it has been represented. But this pleader seems to consider the enormity of his offenses a reason why he should be forgiven. And he is right. God says, “Repent, and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.” Now repentance means a true and full confession of guilt, and every such confession must be in the spirit of that of the psalmist; for every sin is great in the sight of God. All iniquity is rebellion against him, is high treason, and deserves eternal death.
There is a great Saviour provided for great sinners. There is no second-rate Saviour for little sinners—for those who do not realize the enormity of their departure from God. It is only when we can say, “The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint” (Isa. 1:5), that we are ready for the grand proclamation, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” Isa. 1:18.—Interior.

GOD'S OBJECT LESSONS. NO 7.

By H. F. PHELPS.

LIFE FROM THE DEAD.

THE law of God demands obedience. The natural heart is at enmity with that law. Paul says the carnal mind "is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." We do not naturally love to obey God. Man's ways are not God's ways; nor are our thoughts God's thoughts. Man's ways and thoughts are low; God's ways and thoughts are high. Man's ways are all wrong; God's ways are all right, and just. Yes, his ways are righteousness, and all his paths are peace.
To follow the inclinations of the human heart is death. To obey the commands of God is life. It is terrible to die—to die without hope; the soul to go out in darkness! But, thank God, a ray of light comes to the soul, of life beyond this world, beyond the tomb. Man resolves to lay hold on that hope. He says, "I will change right about; I will do right." But his resolves are worthless; he resolves but to fail. When he would do good, evil is ever present. He finds that he is sold to a most cruel master—sin. What he would do, he fails in doing; but what he would not do, he is almost sure to do. His very resolution seems to mock him as only a failure. His very strength is but weakness. His every effort is fruitless; and could he do as he desires to do, and should at last stand before God, clad in his own righteousness, it would be but the very slime of filth itself, the very essence of sin.
Yet he must obey; he must do; for in doing, in obeying, is life. All the object lessons heretofore considered are but warning upon warning, each saying, Do this and live, do that and die. But his own strength is a failure. Where is the example of a perfect man? Is there one? Turn to man with a hope, and that hope is blasted; for "they are altogether gone out of the way, there is none that doeth good, no, not one." "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me?" who shall save me? Is there no way of escape? no hope?
I read of the promised "Seed." I read of Shiloh, Prince of Peace; of One who is mighty to save; of a Deliverer, a Redeemer; of One who is to be King of kings; of One who will dash in pieces the nations, and save his people. I read of that "Rock that is higher than I." I read also of the "Lion of the tribe of Judah," and of the "Lamb of God." I read of the Messiah of Daniel who was to be cut off. I read of Isaiah's "Man of sorrows," who was "acquainted with grief." I read of Him who is the "Captain of our salvation, made perfect through suffering." Then I turn my eyes to Calvary. I see the cross and Him who was lifted up upon it. Is there life in Him? Will His death save me?
I remember the object lesson, and in it I see the answer to the question which my soul asks. There were very many who were bitten by those fiery, biting serpents. I see the swollen limbs and faces, and the blood-shot eyes. Many died because of the poisonous bite. There is mourning all through the camp. Soon all will die, if no remedy is found. But a God of love provides a way of escape. That God against whom the people have sinned speaks to Moses, and a serpent of brass is raised upon a pole, high, where all can see it if they will. A herald cries, Good news! Look and live!
Some have faith. They look; they live. Some may be too sick to move without aid; assisted by friends, they raise their languid eyes, and although it seems but the last look before death claims his victim, they live. Suddenly they are made well. The fevered brow grows cool again. The parched tongue is parched no more. The swollen limbs assume their natural shape. It is life from the dead. This is an object lesson. Those who had no faith, died. Their lives went out in sin and shame. No hope—they went down in darkness. Faith then, at that time, active, living faith, was life from the dead.
All have been bitten by the serpent, sin. I turn my eyes within, and I see no hope. There is no hope in man. I look to Him whom by faith I see hanging upon the tree. I look at His life of trial, of unselfish labor for others. He lived that I might live. He set me an example. He was tempted as I am tempted. "Despised and rejected of men" for me. "Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows;" "was wounded for our transgressions." All for me. "All we like sheep have gone astray," yet the Lord laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.
And now I behold him as "the way, the truth, and the life." He is my Saviour. He can save me in temptation. He is my comforter in distress. He has become my joy and my salvation. He makes my bed in sickness, is my helper in every trouble. He will and does carry my burdens. He is my companion all day. He is my guest, and yet he feeds me. My Lord and Master, yet my servant. My light in hours of darkness, my hope in times of trial. He is my counselor and adviser. He is my helper, yes, my partner;partner in my distress, and in my joys. He will never leave, he will never forsake me. He will never forget me, for his eye is ever upon me. If I go through deep waters, they will not overflow me, or if through fire, it will not burn. He feeds, clothes, and shelters me. He loves me as his child.
Am I sinful, he will wash me and make me clean. More than this, he will help me to love and obey him. He gives me a clean heart, and writes his law upon it. He has become my teacher. He is my all in all, a never-failing fountain of love, and faithful to all my best interests. I find in him a never-failing stream of living water to my thirsty soul; a fountain for sin and for uncleanness that will never run dry. He will wash me and make me whiter than snow. He will take me to his bosom at last, to enjoy all the fullness of Heaven forevermore.
Why need I fear? Of whom shall I be afraid? If God be for us, he is more than all that can be against us. Indeed, here is an object lesson of God's love to man. Let my soul magnify the name of the Lord; for that his name is wonderful his works declare.
H. F. PHELPS.

PERFECT THROUGH SUFFERING.

God never would send you the darkness If he felt you could bear the light; But you would not cling to his guiding hand If the way were always bright. And you would not care to walk by faith Could you always walk by sight.
'Tis true, he has many an anguish For your sorrowful heart to bear, And many a cruel thorn-crown For your tired head to wear. He knows how few would reach Heaven at all, If pain did not guide them there.
So he sends you the blinding darkness, And the furnace of sevenfold heat; 'Tis the only way, believe me, To keep you close to his feet; For 'tis always so easy to wander When our lives are glad and sweet.
Then nestle your hand in your Father's, And sing, if you can, as you go; Your song may cheer someone behind you Whose courage is sinking low. And, well, if your lips do quiver, God will love you better so. —Selected.

CONSEQUENCES OF BEING AGGRESSIVE.

By W. N. Glenn

THE cause of Christianity is aggressive in its very nature. It is necessarily so, because it seeks to produce a radical change,—a change entirely against the nature, the inclination, and the innate comprehension of the creatures in which the change is to be wrought. Any work of reclamation must be aggressive if it ever succeeds, for the influences which primarily led in the opposite direction will naturally proceed as before if the reclaiming or restraining influence ceases. Christ recognized this principle when on earth, and his labors were incessant. And as the enemy persistently followed his track, endeavoring to destroy both him and his teaching, so his disciples may expect the same consequences if their labors are performed in a like faithful manner. "The disciple is not greater than his Lord." "If they have persecuted me they will persecute you." These are assurances which the Master handed over to all his successors in the great work which he inaugurated on the earth. And after years of experience, the testimony of an apostle verified the divine prediction in these words: "They that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."
Jesus of Nazareth, notwithstanding his obscure nativity, had talents which were recognized by even the learned aristocrats of his day, and had he catered to their caprices, neglecting his legitimate mission, he might have enjoyed their favor. But when he crossed their pathway, exposed the fallacy of their dogmas, and by both precept and example brought to naught their vain traditions, he soon became subject to their hatred and enmity.
After his death, if the disciples had returned to their vocations, keeping their faith to themselves, they might have believed in his resurrection and Messiahship as firmly as they pleased and nobody would have cared. They would no doubt have been regarded as rather foolish to be so easily deluded, but most people would have given them credit for being good, honest neighbors after all. But when their public testimony began to convince the multitudes, detracting from the dignity and influence of the established religious instructors, and showing the true teaching of the Scriptures which had been so long perverted, then their aggressiveness became offensive to the would-be dictators of religious faith. The offenders were called before august councils, and straightly threatened, and commanded "not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus." And when threatening and commanding failed to stop their aggressive work, then more severe measures were adopted,—stripes and imprisonment, banishment and death.
When that "little monk," Martin Luther, while cloistered in a monastery, found access to a copy of the Bible, he possibly might have enjoyed reading it all his life in a private way if he had been content to keep it all to himself. Rome might never have known of the circumstance, or even had a care in the matter, if it had made no difference in Luther's life. But when he began to publish the wonderful revelations of light and truth, and to show to others that there could be justification only by faith, Rome could not stand that. She felt her iron grip on the consciences of men gradually weakening, and all Europe was shaken by the strenuous effort to apprehend the heretic and squelch his heresy. So much for Luther's aggressiveness.
But illustrations of the principle under consideration are not wanting in our own day or in our own country. Last winter the Legislature of Arkansas was importuned to repeal the section of the Sunday law of that State which exempts from its penalties those persons who observe the seventh-day Sabbath. Senator Tillman was the champion of the measure, and the burden of his appeal was the aggressiveness of Seventh-day Adventists in the neighborhood of Springdale, where they have built a church and have otherwise been quite active in establishing their faith.
Had the few Adventists who first settled there been totally inactive as regards their religion, simply "attending to their own business," they might have avoided the enmity of their first-day neighbors. But when they went about their Father's business, teaching the people that it was their duty to obey his commandments, then the ire of the adversary was aroused. Had they hid their light under a cover, tacitly disclaiming all rights because of their comparatively few numbers, they might have been tolerated by even the ambitious senator. Had the Sunday-keeping churches been quietly allowed a monopoly of the aggressiveness, and the proselyting, and the church building, it is probable that the exemption clause in the Sunday law would not have been disturbed, and consequently the law itself would have been but little more than a dead letter. But when the seventh-day people had the temerity to publicly tell the public the reason of their faith; and put papers and tracts in the hands of even members of other churches, showing that the Sabbath had not been changed; and actually set the terrible example of working on their farms on Sunday, after resting the day previous "according to the commandment,"—these aggressive acts were too much for Senator Tillman and his conscientious constituents about Springdale. There was immediate danger that their "great goddess Diana [Sunday] should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed." Such aggressiveness must be put down by a more stringent Sunday law.
Just so it ever has been, and so it ever will be, until the great conflict is over.
W. N. GLENN.

ARE MISSIONS A FAILURE?

By Sabbath Recorder

SEVENTY years ago the fires of suttee were publicly blazing all over India, upon which the screaming and struggling widow, in many a case herself a mere child, was bound and burnt to ashes with the dead body of her husband. Infants were publicly thrown into the Ganges as a sacrifice to the goddess of theriver. Young men and maidens, decked with flowers, were slain in Hindoo temples before the hideous idol of the goddess Kali, or hacked to pieces as the Meras, that their quivering flesh might be given to propitiate the god of the soil. The cars of the Juggernaut were crushing thousands.
For these scenes, which disgraced India seventy-five years ago, we may now look in vain. The church now numbers 400,000 members, and the work is making steady progress. In view of all these things, who can be so unthankful to God as to declare that missions have proved a failure?—Sabbath Recorder.

FORGERY.

By A. W. Sanborn

WEBSTER says forgery is the act of falsifying; the crime of counterfeiting; as, the forging of coin, or of bank-notes, or of a bond. Forgery may consist in counterfeiting a writing or in setting a false name to it, to the prejudice of another person. It has always been the desire of Satan to produce a counterfeit of the work of God. He has succeeded in influencing some of the human family to worship idols, to call them gods, and to look upon them with the profoundest reverence. And in so doing they have forged the title that alone belongs to the Creator of the heavens and the earth.
And this is not all. God gave to man his law of ten commandments. In the first four he tells plainly the duty of all to himself, and in the last six he tells the duty of man to man. In the fourth commandment is enjoined upon all mankind the duty of keeping holy the Sabbath, and it is plainly stated that the seventh day is the Sabbath; and further, that it is "the Sabbath of the Lord thy God." And the reason given for keeping it is that God created the heavens and the earth in six days, and rested on the seventh. But man has set up a rival day (Sunday), and has forged for it the title of Sabbath-day, Sabbath of the Lord, Lord's day, and various other distinctions which alone belong to the Sabbath of the fourth commandment.
Is not this a bold forgery? Has God anywhere said that Sunday is, or ever should be, called the Sabbath? Has he ever called it the Lord's day?—No. Then why give to the first of the six working-days of the week those titles which alone belong to the seventh day, which the Bible so many times says is the Sabbath. The nations of the earth have laws which very jealously protect the rights of all their subjects against forgeries that may be committed to their detriment, and every violation is punishable according to the extent of the offense. Can anyone think for a moment that the great God will pass over the act of setting up Sunday and calling it the Sabbath, and forging the name of God to it for authority? Was there ever a bolder act of forgery committed? Was there ever one so universally perpetrated? Is it a light thing for a nation to compel its subjects to accept and keep a day as the Sabbath that is a forgery?
A. W. SANBORN.
Douglas, Mich.
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