A NEW church building is being erected at Cortland, Neb.
THE baptism of five persons at Jamestown, N. Y., is reported by Brother J. B. Stow.
SPEAKING of Pitkin, Colo., Brother J. M. Rees says, "We have the only church organization in the town."
SIX adherents to the commandments of God are noted as the result of labor in Columbus Junction, Iowa, by Brethren E. H. Adams and U. P. Long.
THERE will be a meeting of Colorado Conference and Tract Society at Canon City, beginning on the 24th inst. and closing on the 29th. This will be an adjourned meeting.
MEETINGS held at Maywood, Neb., by Brother Victor Thompson, have resulted in the baptism of three candidates. Others awaited another opportunity, on account of inclement weather.
THE Grand Rapids, Mich., Democrat gave an extended account of the dedication of our new house of worship in that city a few weeks ago. The dedicatory address was delivered by Prof. J. G. Lamson, of Cedar Lake Academy.
OF the medical work and nurses' training institute at Redhill, Eng., Dr. Lauretta Kress writes to the Missionary Worker: "We have had a full supply of patients who appreciate our work in a remarkable manner. Our first three patients were Church of England clergymen, who pronounced everything excellent, and went away benefited and very thankful for all they received. Our next three patients to fill these places were three atheists, who believed not in God or Christ. They have been led to acknowledge that God is here, and have softened to the extent that the Bible is becoming less obnoxious to them. They acknowledge that the workers here are Christians, and we hope the good seed sown will bring a harvest in their souls. We have every reason to believe that God is with this work. Our neighbors are being interested in our lectures."
ONE sister has secured customers for 150 copies of the Signs, to be delivered regularly in Green Bay, Wis. Fruit of this work is already seen, and has been supplemented by Christian help work done by our people for the poor. Any truly Christian effort always results that way. Of our Master's labors it was said, "The poor have the Gospel preached unto them," and He supplemented this by going about doing good.
TWO of the workers in the Christian Help Mission, Omaha, Neb., recently drove over into Iowa to get some donations of produce that had been promised. The result was that the people filled their wagon so full of vegetables and corn that they could take no more. Brother E. C. Cushman, reporting to Sunshine, says: "We have made five trips into the country, and have always been blessed with the temporal necessities."
BROTHER H. P. HOLSER has gone to Egypt to open up the work in the land of the ancient Pharaohs. When last heard from he was at Helouan, with his family. Surely the Lord has yet a people in Egypt who need to be called out and made acquainted with His law. We believe that I AM has sent Brother Holser to this field, and that the Lord is saying to him, as He said to Moses, "Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say."
UNDER date of December 17, Brethren D. Nettleton and L. J. Burgess write to the Minnesota Worker: "We have spent another very pleasant and profitable week in circulating the special issue of the Signs of the Times. In answer to our prayer, God has given favor with the people, and over 500 copies were sold during the week. It means work early and late, tho. We get out early in the morning, often finding the people at the breakfast table, and continue to work until the people begin to prepare for bed."
IN a little town in West Virginia a church school was started with only five pupils. At first it was a source of amusement to the neighbors and others who are not of our faith, but by perseverance the school has been carried on, and has been growing in favor, until now it numbers twenty-two pupils. The public school board in the place desires to employ the teacher to teach in the public school there next term, so says the Chesapeake News. It is doubtful if the teacher could do as much good in a public school as in the more humble church school; for the reason that the feature which calls for a church school, and makes it a success, would of necessity be ruled out of any public school.
BROTHER R. T. NASH, who, with others, has been conducting a successful work in Columbus, Miss., writing to the Minnesota Worker, notes the addition of three more converts, and adds: "I am now alone in the work here. My wife has gone to Yazoo City, Miss., and taken up the work of teaching the colored children. She is connected in labor with Brother and Sister F. R. Rogers, formerly of the State of Minnesota. They had over ninety students enrolled at my last hearing, and still their numbers were increasing. How much we are in need of this line of workers in Mississippi! In these schools the Bible is the first and last. In this way the truth is carried to the fathers and mothers. But very few of the old people can read."
WE have not yet received the first number of our London colaborer, Present Truth, for the new year, but a recent prospectus says: "It has been decided to make some changes in the appearance of our paper at the beginning of the new year. A better quality of paper will be used, a new design will be secured in the heading, and an effort will be made to secure more and better cuts for illustrating the various departments. We hope that these improvements will make the paper more acceptable to those who are already reading it, and that they will assist the workers in introducing it to many new readers. The present circulation is nearly sixteen thousand, which is very gratifying as compared with what it was two years ago, but there is still an unlimited field for increase, and we are sure that much more can be done."
DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE
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By Editor
If you want a real help in the study of prophecy, you will find it in Dr. E. J. Waggoner's book,
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SIGNS OF THE TIMES
Oakland, Cal.
Work for Tibet
Work for Tibet.—The life of Heinrich August Jaeschke is an example of persevering effort, and his work laid a foundation for missionary operations in Tibet, when the time should come when the line could be crossed for that purpose. Of his accomplishments, the Christian Work says:—
“He was born at Herrnhut, in Saxony, May 17, 1817, and descended from a line of Moravian exiles who were harbored and supported on Count Zinzendorf’s estate. Jaeschke was early distinguished for aptitude in languages, including Asiatic languages, and was a teacher and lecturer in colleges and universities. It is said that he kept his daily diary in seven languages. In 1856 he joined ‘the brethren’ on the borders of Tibet, in the Himalayan Mountains, at Lahoul, and settled in the village of Killarg, on the Bagha River, 10,000 feet above the sea. Once located in his field, altho prevented from going over into the land, he could not be hindered from work, so he learned the language of Tibet, and at once prepared a lexicon in German and Tibetan, and soon another in English and Tibetan, which was published by the British Indian Government. Books and tracts for use around the border soon followed, and a grammar of the language for missionaries. Then began the greatest work of translation in missionary annals. For ten years Brother Jaeschke labored on the New Testament in Tibetan, and, in impaired health, went to England to supervise its publication by the British and Foreign Bible Society.”
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THE STORY OF A PINK ROSE.
ONE day in May, 1891, down in one of the dives of Mulberry Bend, New York, there stood a young girl gazing on a lovely pink rose. Her face was bruised and scarred; a bald spot was visible where a handful of hair had been pulled out during a recent fight. She was one of the worst toughs in all that great city, acquainted with opium, tobacco, whisky, and snuff, diseased in body, lost to all womanly dignity, a human wreck.
Attracted by the fragrance of the rose, she intently studied it a moment. Suddenly came the thought of the innocence of her childhood, and the sweet face of her own dear mother. Never spoke a human voice plainer than did the rose.
In the midst of the noisy crowd, card-playing, swearing, and drinking, the inward voice said: "You saw how lovely and fragrant that rose was yesterday, and now see it going to decay. You were once as pure and sweet as that rose; now those leaves lying on your hand are your years dropping off one by one, and the blackened center means a hell before you, and you are going down."
Deeply stirred and trembling, she said: "Boys, I am going to leave you to-night. I am going to find the lady that gave me the rose yesterday."
"Well, Bluey, how are you fixed?"
"I haven't got a cent."
"Well, I'll go without coffee to-night, so you can ride. Here's a nickel; we'll see you on the car like a lady."
So Delia, the "Blue-bird," was actually on her way out of the horrible pit of sin and misery.
And now, how had the lovely pink rose got down into the slums of Mulberry Bend?
Mrs. Whittemore and a few friends had gone down to the "Bend" with a desire to open a door of hope to some sad soul, and had taken the rose, with a prayer that God in some way would make it a blessing. For an hour she and Delia had walked from one foul resort to another, and an intense longing seized her that this dreadful-looking being might be saved and become a trophy of grace, like Jerry McAuley. So, taking the rose from its hiding-place, she gave it to Delia and asked her to come to the Florence Mission. The surprising answer was, "I'll be there."
Mrs. Whittemore says: "The conviction grew upon me that she must be saved. The Jesus who was mighty enough to save 'the woman of Samaria' and 'Mary Magdalene' could save even Delia, of Mulberry Bend. For two days I pleaded with God for this poor child of the streets; for is not our God a gracious God and full of compassion, 'slow to anger and plenteous in mercy'? Did not Jesus come 'to preach good tidings unto the meek, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives'? Hallelujah! Delia shall be saved."
"On going to the 'Door of Hope' I found the matron waiting with a small parcel in her hand. With curiosity I opened it, and my eyes filled with tears, as with joy I beheld the remnant of the rose given in His name two nights ago."
"Going into the back room, I met Delia coming upstairs, and at once such a marvelous love was born in my soul for the girl that my arms were around her in an instant, and I had kissed those bruised cheeks with much tenderness. With a look of astonishment, she drew back a moment; then her whole body shook; and by the trembling lip and tearful eyes that hungrily looked up in return, I felt an entrance had been made in her heart for my blessed Lord. Poor, dear girl! No doubt that first pure kiss for years recalled some dear association of the past; for soon she was sobbing convulsively. The matron and myself knelt by her side, placing our arms around her, and we were both so overcome ourselves that in silence we waited before the Lord in thankfulness for answered prayer. Then I prayed simply, 'O Lord, all this poor child needs is Thy love; help us to love her into loving Thee!' Then we asked her to pray for herself; so she said humbly: 'Now, God, You can make me better; give me a quiet mind, and keep away desires for drugs and liquor and snuff from me, and I will do anything You want me to. God, be merciful to me a sinner.' Then there came a bright look of joy into her eyes, telling of the new-found joy within."
"She was at once delivered from all desire for rum, opium, etc., and began to yearn over her old companions in sin."
"When three months in the home we started out and began in the very dive where we found her. With much natural shrinking, she descended those steps at my side, and when fairly in the midst of her old comrades, she perceptibly trembled. As I regarded her upturned face, so full of love and tenderness as she spoke, I could hardly believe it possible that she ever could have been there as a member of that gang. In respectful silence every one regarded her. Some had broken noses, black eyes—bad wrecks, going down, down!"
"She said: 'Boys, do you think I look like the same girl I did three months ago? Do you think I am proud of the past and come down here to speak of it?' With trembling voice, choked with tears, she proceeded: 'I want to tell you if I could be saved, you can. It is Christ that bore my sin away and made me what I am. "The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all," and what He did for me, He can do for you. "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed." O, look to Him for pardon, eternal life! "He that believeth on Him is not judged; he that believeth not, hath been judged already." Jesus says, "I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins; return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee." O, won't you? won't you?'"
"I glanced in tender pity into those upturned faces. They were bruised and battered countenances, indeed, strongly stamped with marks of sin, yet they stood and listened, while the tears coursed down their faces. Some bowed their heads and wept at the story of God's love. It was a sight, down in that dark cellar, to move a heart of stone."
"On and on, fearlessly, she spoke, until, quite overcome, she ended with almost a sob, and said, 'Let us pray.' As I knelt beside her, she said, 'And, mother, dear, you pray.' I felt, indeed, like praising God before them all. Kneeling on the dirty sawdust, two hours past midnight, I thanked Jesus for ever crowding the world out of my heart, and giving me far more delight thus bowing before Him, in the midst of all this wretchedness, than I ever experienced in the so-called pleasures of life. That night I realized as never before the value of a soul, and the wonderful love of Jesus in stooping down to save such as they and me."
"She addressed fifteen hundred convicts at Auburn Prison. Among other things she said: 'Boys, I can tell you that Jesus will take us, every one, when all others will turn their back upon us. We are not away down all at once; we go on drifting, beginning, perhaps, to drink wine, but I know what it is to crave a three-cent drink of whisky."
"'Now, what have you got for this life of serving the devil? I can tell you what I had,—misery, scorn, imprisonment, poverty, rags. At first it may be diamonds, but it soon comes to glass. It may be silks, but we soon find ourselves in rags. What have I got since I started to serve Christ?—I've got forgiveness, eternal life, love, joy, peace, and plenty; and should God call me to-night, I am ready and satisfied to go and be forever with Jesus.'"
"Soon her health broke completely down. She awoke one night with a fearful hemorrhage, and for days lay very white and still, but patient and very gentle. She would say, with loving tenderness, 'Mother, dear, don't you cry; if God wants to take me, it's all right, and just think, if He does, I will go rejoicing in nearly one solid year of blessed service; just think of that now!'"
"Up and down the stairs of the Door of Hope could be heard the tramp of ex-convicts, thieves, gamblers, and degraded women, coming to hear Delia speak of the love of Jesus and His power to save. Propped up with pillows, the dying girl told them of 'the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, tho He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.' She sang what she called her testimony, 'There is sunshine in my soul to-day.'"
"The night she passed away, she sang, with radiant face, 'My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine,' and when her speech was gone, she nodded her head when asked if Jesus was present and real to her soul. Then, folding her hands together, this poor child of the slums breathed her life quietly away,13washed in the blood of the Lamb, to be like Him, and see Him as He is at His coming, and walk with Him in white garments forever!"—Anon.
THE HOME
SUNSET.
By Hart Hall
In a sea of glorious mold
Slowly sinks the western sun,
And the dazzling rays of gold
Fade to twilight, one by one.
But the mountain peaks so high,
Towering up with lofty grace,
Catch the sunbeams ere they die,
And receive their last embrace.
Symbols of God's mightiness,
Giant sentinels so bold,
Blushing from the sun's caress,
Garnished with reflected gold,
Crimson blended with the snow,
Beautiful the mountains stand;
While in darkness, far below,
Angry waves wash up the sand.
Abba, Father, may it be
That the picture painted here
Shall direct our thoughts to Thee,
And reveal a lesson clear.
May it be that, high above
All the murmurs of life's sea,
We may catch Thy rays of love
And reflect them back to Thee.
San Francisco, Cal. HART HALL.
ONE WITH US.
In "The Life of the Master," by Dr. John Watson, in January's McClure's Magazine, we take this beautiful paragraph: "Among the factors which went to form the character of the Master one must not forget or belittle labor, since for at least fifteen years Jesus followed the trade of Joseph and wrought as a carpenter. One imagines Him fashioning the wood with much the same tools which are used in Nazareth this day, taking care that the last touch of perfection be not wanting, and casting away the labor of a day if it were faulty, carrying His finished work to some rich man's house, asking for His wage that He might relieve His mother's care, and leaving without it, to come back some other day. So the Master of us all has set the wholesome example of labor to all His disciples; so He has made Himself one unto all generations with them who toil and sweat; so He has dignified and sanctified honest work of every kind—from that of the hand laborer to that of the poet. They counted it a loss in His day that Jesus had not studied in the schools of the rabbis at Jerusalem; we are thankful that, instead, He worked with His hands at Nazareth, and that for His apostles He chose men whose nerves were calm and strong, whose minds were habituated to the slow, persevering methods of toil."
BEST LESSONS.
"O, THERE'S that Ruth Knolls and her brother again. Do you know, Miss Merton, she's just awfully dull in school, and we girls laugh at her so much. She hasn't a particle of brilliancy."
Viva chattered this speech out as she walked along the street beside Miss Merton.
"She has something far better than brilliancy," said Miss Merton.
"What?" said Viva, her cheeks flushing uncomfortably, for she felt that she had made a mistake, and she was very anxious to stand well in Miss Merton's opinion.
"She has a courteous manner. That is a grace that is very great, but far too rare. I know Ruth quite well, and her kindness and courtesy are unfailing in company or at home. She is going to grow into a lovely womanhood."
"I am sorry I spoke so," said Viva. "I really don't know anything about her except that she stumbles so dreadfully in her lessons."
"No doubt she is very sorry about it, and I am sure she works faithfully. It is a fine gift to be quick and bright in understanding things. But you know, my dear, that it is far more important to be kind-hearted and gentle. When you girls go out in the world no one will ever ask or know whether you got good grades in algebra and Latin. If you have done your best, it is wrought into you, whether your best is very good or only mediocre. But be sure of this, every one who meets you will know, without putting you through an examination whether you are a gentlewoman or not. It isn't practical to quote Greek or discuss psychology or read Shakespeare with every one you meet, but you can always speak kindly and listen courteously, and quietly look out for the opportunity to do the little deeds of kindness that make our lives so much more worth living."—Exchange.
THEY HURT THE NERVES.
Boys, do you desire to have always good, strong nerves? Then do not use cigarets. You think they are harmless? They certainly look very innocent—only a roll of white paper with a bit of doctored tobacco inside. But they do weaken the nerves; and, in fact, they have kept many a man from securing a good position on a certain railroad in the west. Read what Mr. George Baumhoff, superintendent of the Lindell Railway, of St. Louis, says about their use:
"Under no circumstances will I hire a man who smokes cigarets. He is as dangerous on the front end of a motor as a man who drinks; in fact, he is more dangerous. His nerves are bound to give way at a critical moment. A motorman needs all his nerve all the time, and a cigaret smoker can't stand the strain. It is a pretty tough job for men in good condition, and even they sometimes get flurried. If I find a car beginning to run badly and getting irregular for any time, I immediately begin to investigate the man to find out if he smokes cigarets. Nine times out of ten he does, and then he goes for good."
—Selected.
GRAINS MAKE BRAINS.
GRAINS when properly prepared by thorough dextrinization of the starch are the most easily digestible of all foods with the exception of fruits, which, when ripe and fresh, with few exceptions, really require no digestion at all. By thorough dextrinization of the starch contained in cereal substances by the aid of the methods devised and employed by the Battle Creek, Mich., Sanitarium Health Food Co., these highly nutritious products are rendered almost as easily digestible as fruits, undergoing in the stomach and intestines with marvelous rapidity the transformation into nutrient material, which, when properly circulated in the blood, builds up brain, bone, muscle, and nerves, and replenishes in the most marvelous manner the daily wasting of the stores of nerve and muscular energy, which must be kept intact in order that the human machine may maintain its never-ceasing activity.
Ordinary cooking does not properly prepare cereal foods for digestion and assimilation in human beings. Fruits and grains being the natural dietary of man, the nutritive elements of the grains must be brought as nearly as possible to the same state as that in which they are found in fruits. In other words, the raw starch of grains must be completely dextrinized. This change takes place in fruit during the ripening process. Grains require subjection to a temperature of three or four hundred degrees—much above the boiling point—to accomplish this.
By processes perfected as the result of long and costly experimentation, the Battle Creek, Mich., Sanitarium Health Food Co. has for many years been supplying the patients of the Battle Creek Sanitarium and its score of branches in various parts of the world with the most perfect health foods ever produced. The great success of these institutions is doubtless due, in large part, to the wonderful nutritive properties of these foods, which are now offered to all who desire them through the leading grocers, who keep them on sale.
Those who desire a tempting and nutritious meal that can be served in a second at a cost of one cent a person should buy Granola. It has a rich, nutty flavor. One pound package contains as much nutrition as three pounds of beef. It is thoroughly cooked and ready for immediate use with the addition of fruit juice or milk.
Readers of the SIGNS who will send the name of a grocer who does not sell Granola, to the Sanitarium Health Food Co., Battle Creek, Mich., will receive a free sample.
WAR
By Editor
We invite your careful attention to the following publications treating on the significance of the present spirit of war which is so prevalent everywhere.
The Alarm of War
• 150th Thousand
A fully-illustrated tract in which is contained a description of many of the recently perfected engines of battle. The author makes it very clear that the military activity which has produced these death-dealing instruments, is a direct fulfilment of the prophetic word. An intensely interesting publication. Published in English, Swedish, German and Danish.
Price, $2.00 per 100
Arming of the Nations
55th Thousand
This 48-page booklet contains the above tract together with a treatise on the "Christian Demand for War," by Dr. E. J. Waggoner. This writer points out wherein the churches are really consecrating the spirit of war.
It is printed on fine paper and has an attractive cover. Agents find it an easy seller.
Price, 10c each or $5.00 per 100
Heralds of the Morning
40 Thousand Printed
Not only does this interesting book treat upon the stupendous preparations now being made for war, but such allied topics as
The Prevalence of Crime a Sign of Our Time.
Judgment Is Turned Away Backward.
The Social Vice.
The Earth Is Filled with Violence.
Ye Have Heaped Treasure for the Last Days. Etc., Etc.
It contains twenty-three other chapters, all of which have for their discussion the significance of current events.
Its illustrations are beautiful and appropriate. Published in both English and German.
Prices as follows:—
Cloth, marbled edges $1.25
Cloth, gilt edges - - 1.50
PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING CO.
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA
39 Bond St., New York City
18 W. Fifth St., Kansas City, Mo.
1 I AM the true Vine, and My Father is the Husbandman. 2 Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit, He taketh it away; and every branch that beareth fruit, He cleanseth it, that it 3 may bear more fruit. Already ye are clean because of the 4 word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch can not bear fruit of itself, except it abide 5 in the vine; so neither can ye, except ye abide in Me. I am 6 the Vine, ye are the branches; He that abideth in Me, and I 7 in him, the same beareth much fruit; for apart from Me ye can 8 do nothing. If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a 9 branch, and is withered; and they gather them, and cast them 10 into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in Me, and My 11 words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be 12 done unto you. Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear 13 much fruit; and so shall ye be My disciples. Even as the 14 Father hath loved Me, I also have loved you; abide ye in My 15 love. If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My 16 love; even as I have kept My Father's commandments, and 17 abide in His love. These things have I spoken unto you, that 18 My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be fulfilled. 19 This is My commandment, that ye love one another, even as I 20 have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a 21 man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are My friends, if ye 22 do the things which I command you. No longer do I call 23 you servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth; 24 but I have called you friends; for all things that I heard from 25 My Father I have made known unto you. Ye did not choose 26 Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that ye should go and 27 bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide; that whatsoever 28 ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you. 29 These things I command you, that ye may love one another. 30 If the world hateth you, ye know that it hath hated Me before 31 it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love 32 its own; but because ye are not of the world, but I chose you 33 out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember 34 the word that I said unto you, A servant is not greater than 35 his lord. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; 36 if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these 37 things will they do unto you for My name's sake, because they 38 know not Him that sent Me. If I had not come and spoken 39 unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no excuse 40 for their sin. He that hateth Me hateth My Father also. If I 41 had not done among them the works which none other did, 42 they had not had sin; but now have they both seen and hated 43 both Me and My Father. But this cometh to pass, that the 44 word may be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated 45 Me without a cause. But when the Comforter is come, whom 46 I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, 47 which proceedeth from the Father, He shall bear witness of 48 Me; and ye also bear witness, because ye have been with Me 49 from the beginning. These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be made to stumble.
31 "Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended in Me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad." 33 "But Peter answered and said unto Him, If all shall be offended in Thee, I will never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, that this night, before the cock crow, 35 thou shalt deny Me thrice. Peter saith unto Him, Even if I must die with Thee, yet will I not deny Thee. Likewise also said all the disciples."
NOTE.—The texts inclosed in marks of parentheses, while not essential to the lesson study, will be found to throw much light upon the lesson, and are suggested for those who wish to study further.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
1. After leaving the Passover chamber, to what did Jesus call the attention of His disciples as a fit symbol of their relation to Him? John 15:1-5. (Jer. 11:16; 1 John 2:6.)
2. If one abides not in Christ, what is sure to be the result? Verse 6.
3. By living in Christ, what great benefit is secured? Vs. 7, 8. Note 1. (John 8:31.)
4. How may we abide in Christ? Verses 9, 10. Note 2.
6. To what extent are we commanded to abide in the love of Christ? Verses 12, 13, 17. (John 10:11, 15.)
7. If we follow this command, what relationship shall we sustain to Christ? Verses 14-16. Note 3. (John 17:16.)
8. Will friendship with Christ shield from the rude touch of the world? Verses 18-21. (2 Tim. 3:12.)
9. How was Jesus treated by the world? What did His treatment signify? Verses 23-25. (Ps. 69:1-4.)
10. What mission were the disciples to fulfill? By what were they to be prompted in their work? Verses 26, 27. (1 John 5:6.)
11. Why had the Saviour thus instructed His followers? John 16:1.
12. What did Jesus say His disciples would soon do on His account? What scripture did He quote as evidence? Matt. 26:31. (Matt. 21:1-5, 6.)
13. What reply did Peter make to this sweeping prediction? Verse 33.
14. How did the Lord meet these boastful words of Peter? Verse 34.
15. What did Peter and the others still confidently affirm? Verse 35.
Side Lights.—"Desire of Ages," chapter 75; "Spirit of Prophecy," vol. 3, chapter 6.
NOTES.
1. THE abiding in Christ is being as closely connected with Him as the branch is to the vine, which draws all its life and growth through the vine from its roots. The branch is but an extension of the vine itself. To have such close connection with Christ is to receive life from God through Him, and to bear only that fruit which is the product of His life,—in short, to be the extension of Christ in humanity.
2. TO ABIDE in Christ, then, is to abide in His love; not simply to accept forgiveness through His love, but to make His love our own, and live in it. This is the transforming power of Christ, which changes life's ambition, and directs the thoughts from a self-center to seek the upbuilding of the distressed and wretched.
3. HOW DIFFERENT is a friend from a servant? No servant is made a confident of family secrets; he has not the freedom of the family circle, does not participate in its united joys, and is not consulted in matters of family interest. He is just a servant, nothing more, doing what he is told, regardless of results. But a friend is welcomed in the family circle, is made a bosom companion, and given the place of honor as a guest. Matters of importance are confided to him, and his counsel sought. His is an enjoyable position. How much more so when we are counted friends of the Lord Jesus! And yet the humble child of God is happy to count himself the Lord's bond-servant. Rom. 1:1; James 1:1. It is the Lord that calls us friends. See Rom. 6:16.
SECRETS OF SUCCESS
By Francis E. Clark
By Rev. Francis E. Clark
Good advice to business boys by nearly 100 business men of Portland, Maine. They all answer the following questions: 1 What are the most essential conditions of true success at the present day? 2 What are the special dangers from a practical business man's view, threatening the young man of to-day? Contains many helpful items from these business men's own experiences. An invaluable aid to every boy, whether in school or employed in an office. Nearly 50 pages, printed on good paper, bound in cream pebble grain, stamped in green and silver. Sent postpaid for only 25 cents.
Every boy should read this book. Send for our special illustrated book catalogue FREE.
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