p. 10 | Review and Herald, Vol. 80, No. 52. (12/31/1903)

Some Conditions of Success

WRITING in the Missionary Review of the World of one of those powerful revivals of half a century ago, Dr. Arthur T. Pierson makes some helpful suggestions to those who desire to see fruit of their labors for the salvation of souls. He says:—

We venture, with modesty but with deep conviction, to suggest to fellow pastors and the churches of Christ some possible hindrances to the highest success in saving souls, and home helps.

First of all, there is a kind of preaching that directly tends to salvation. It is of first importance to aim at a definite end, and then adjust means to the end. Pulpit essays and popular lectures may entertain and instruct, and many a good exposition of the Word may edify disciples, yet all these may have not the least tendency to bring a lost sinner to Christ. There may be nothing to arouse or awaken, to convince of sin or lead to repentance and faith. Many a sermon does not even appeal to men for a decision; the preacher expects no such movement among his hearers, and makes no effort to induce it. On the other hand, a man who is intelligently a fisher of men will see that all his method is adapted to catch them; and if there is a time of fruitless toil, will at least mend his nets, and see that they are not unfit for his calling. A man who preaches should definitely frame sermons with reference to constraining his hearers to a choice of Christ, and should insist on instant and decisive, if not visible, action on their part. A sermon is so far a failure that does not grip the conscience, using conviction and emotion as channels to resolution.

Again: too great emphasis can not be laid on prayer. Over and over again has God taught us that on supplication and intercession everything else depends—power to present truth, to arouse and win souls, to conduct inquiry meetings, to feel the grand impulse of a mighty passion for souls. Prayer alone can command divine resources of thought and power, open the floodgates of heaven, awaken the careless, restore backsliders, quicken dead prayer-meetings, kindle the fire on broken altars—in a word, a revival of prayer is a revival of all else that is most precious and needful. And yet prayer is the most neglected part of personal and church life. . . . All revivals that are heaven born have been preceded by prayers that are heaven inspired.

Once more we add, with deepest solemnity, that there must be a distinct revival of the sense of the supernatural.

We have fallen on days when naturalism, that twin brother to materialism, is having unusual sway. There is, even on the part of professed disciples, a decay of faith in the divine element in the Word of God, the work of Christ, and the operation of the Spirit. The days of the Ulster Revival [1859] were days when, whatever may have been the coldness of the churches, this awful blight of skepticism about the supernatural did not prevail. For ourselves, we have no confidence in any signs of a coming revival which are not attended by a new faith in God as an active, actual worker among men. While the Bible is assaulted, the infallibility of Christ’s teaching disputed, the reality of the Holy Spirit working doubted, if not denied, we are dishonoring the very means and conditions upon which all true, genuine, reforming, transforming spiritual work absolutely depends. Let us learn a lesson from the past.

In a few words Dr. Pierson has given a clear view of the state of things in the churches. “There is,” he asserts, “even on the part of professed disciples, a decay of faith in the divine element in the Word of God, the work of Christ, and the operation of the Spirit.” This does not make the outlook very hopeful for a general revival of genuine religion, but it is a sign of the last days—a form of godliness without the power. The world needs the threefold message of Revelation 14, given in the demonstration of the Spirit. And these suggestions apply to the giving of that message.

Note and Comment

Is the United States government concerning itself in religious affairs at the Vatican? Such is the only conclusion to be drawn from the following cable dispatch from Rome to the New York Tribune:—

The visit of Ambassador Storer here, and his conference with several cardinals and the pope, is now learned to have been for the purpose of representing to the Holy See how indispensable is the nomination of Archbishop Ireland as cardinal, after so many promises, and after all the church has obtained through his influence.

Mr. Storer left the Vatican pleased, and it is said that he is almost sure that Archbishop Ireland this time will succeed. Vatican circles, however, are skeptical, and the opinion prevails that although the most discussed candidates are Archbishops Ireland and Ryan, the pope will choose an outsider, who is likely to be Archbishop Farley. This belief is based on the feeling that if one American See must be honored by the conferment of the purple, New York deserves it most, because it has the largest Catholic population.

This, says the New York Christian Advocate (Methodist) which reprints the dispatch, “if correct, is a portentous affair.” It adds:—

When our ambassadors get to running after the pope and his cardinals to represent to the Holy See how indispensable is the nomination of Archbishop Ireland as cardinal, after all the church has obtained through his influence, it appears as though a political party is paying its debts to the archbishop.

And when representatives of the United States government directly concern themselves with religious affairs at the Vatican, how long will it be before representatives of the Vatican will be directly concerning themselves with political affairs at Washington?

Chicago’s Rising Crime

CHICAGO newspapers have recently given much space to accounts and discussions of the increasing crime in that city, as manifested in burglaries and “hold-ups,” assaults, etc. Some figures on the subject, compiled from these papers, show that in the month from September 27 to October 27 there were 394 burglaries and hold-ups, and only 88 arrests. In the last six months seventeen police magistrates have had before them 226 persons charged with carrying concealed weapons, and of these 121 were discharged, and 105 of the remainder were let off with a light fine. There are now more than 1,000 criminal cases awaiting trial, with only four trial judges in the criminal courts to dispose of them. Within the space of four days, from December 6-9, inclusive, twenty persons in Chicago were held up and robbed, one of the victims being a lawyer, who, in attempting to run away, was shot and mortally wounded. Robbers have entered places of business, and at the revolver’s point forced the proprietors and others whom they found to give up their money. One attempt was made to hold up a street car.

Not only are robbers becoming more numerous, but they are showing a more reckless disregard of human life. According to the Chicago News, “there has been a marked and significant change in the character of these crimes during recent years. Formerly the footpad rarely resorted to violence, save as a means of avoiding arrest. To-day the robber’s weapon is used to injure, maim, and kill. Having robbed, he is likely to beat his unresisting victim into insensibility. In short, he is a murderer as well as a robber.”

The News thinks that this disregard of law on the part of the criminal class is largely due to the lax enforcement of law, which, in turn, is due in many cases to the political “pull” that protects the dives where criminals resort, and where most of their crimes are planned. “It is the same villainous influence,” the News adds, “that hampers the administration of justice, and secures light sentences and bridewell pardons.” But this is a popular government, and when evil conditions exist, the responsibility for them is seen in the last analysis to rest with the people themselves. The moral degeneracy is a public and general one. This gives to the situation a much more serious aspect than it would otherwise possess.

L. A. S

By L. A. S.

Under the heading “Tea and Coffee Drunkenness” a Washington paper quotes from American Medicine the following statement of facts concerning the consumption of tea and coffee in this country, showing the enormous waste of money by both rich and poor on these useless and harmful articles, and suggesting a direct connection between their use and indulgence in stronger drinks:—

In the annual report of the Children’s Aid Society of New York is published a tabulated list of the conditions of families whose children attend the industrial schools in that city. The number of families whose condition was investigated was 3,453, and the family income of 561 was less than four dollars a week; of 1,263, from four to seven dollars; of 1,629, from seven to ten dollars. In all, the breakfast was bread and coffee only; the supper, bread and tea, with some cheese, macaroni, or fruit. Thus with all the terrible poverty, the article of diet that does not fail twice a day is the coffee or tea. Probably also in the dinner list of many these drinks were included. Surely from the working-man’s dinner bucket the pint or more of coffee is never omitted. But the point needing emphasis is that in the report referred to, it is children who from earliest years are drinking tea and coffee. What proportion of the income of these poor families thus goes to the purchase of these drinks is a highly important concern, but is not directly medical. Whatever one may think as to the physiologic action of caffein, it is agreed that it is not “a food,” and that the amount of money thus wasted by the poor could and should be spent in buying real health-bringing and strength-giving foods. This economic aspect of the question also becomes doubly important both as a medical and financial matter when one finds these articles on the dietaries of all our public institutions. Should so much of the public money be spent on articles of drink, non-foods? And the custom has many bearings on health. The more coffee and tea drunk, the more tobacco used. The national consumption of coffee and tea, moreover, rises almost accurately pari passu with the amount of alcohol used. Is it not true, as a rule, that intemperance in the one co-exists with intemperance in the other? Is not the temperance problem closely bound up with this use of coffee, tea, and alcohol? If so, and even if not so, coffee and tea are unnecessary and peculiarly harmful to children.

L. A. S

Catholic Hopes for the New World

At a recent address in Chicago, Archbishop Quigley, of that city took occasion to state the hopes entertained by the papacy for the conquest of the Western hemisphere. “The new world was discovered by Catholics, and the cross was planted in the name of the church. We can not get it out of our heads,” he said, “that Catholics will yet claim the new world again.”

MRS. E. G. WHITE

By Ellen G. White

Written for Our Admonition— No. 1

MRS. E. G. WHITE

The book of Deuteronomy should be carefully studied by those living on the earth to-day. It contains a record of the instruction given to Moses to give to the children of Israel. In it the law is repeated. At the time when the instruction which it contains was given, the people of Israel were encamped beside the Jordan. All but two of the adults who had left Egypt had died in the wilderness. Now the generation that had arisen during the forty years of journeying were about to pass over the Jordan to receive their inheritance in the promised land. But they must first hear from the lips of Moses the instruction given by the Lord for them. The words of the law must be repeated to them, and they must hear again the conditions upon which they were to enter into and take possession of the promised land.

The law of God was often to be repeated to Israel. That its precepts might not be forgotten, it was to be kept before the people, and was ever to be exalted and honored. Parents were to read the law to their children, teaching it to them line upon line, precept upon precept. And on public occasions the law was to be read in the hearing of all the people.

Upon obedience to this law depended the prosperity of Israel. If they were obedient, it would bring them life; if disobedient, death.

“These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on this side Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain over against the Red Sea. . . . The Lord our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount: turn you, and take your journey, and go into the mount of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the seaside, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the River Euphrates. Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.

“And I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone: the Lord your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude. . . . How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife? Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you. And ye answered me, and said, The thing which thou hast spoken is good for us to do. So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes. And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him. Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it. And I commanded you at that time all the things which ye should do.”

Moses had given the people to understand that he did not desire to monopolize the honor of government. Of all the men of Israel, he was the best qualified to be the leader of the people. But he realized that he must have counselors with whom to share the responsibilities of the work. I can not bear these burdens alone, he declared. Wise, God-fearing men were to be chosen to work with him, and they were to remain in their position of trust as long as they gave evidence that they were loyal and faithful. These men were to show favor to no one, and they were not to do one wrong action in order to gain favor. They were never to accept bribes nor to allow themselves to be overawed by evil men. In all their decisions equity was to govern. They were to be “able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness.”

The men thus chosen were appointed rulers over the people,—rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, and rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. Speaking of their appointment, Moses declared: “I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him. Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it. And I commanded you at that time all the things which ye should do.”

And the people had agreed to the plans outlined by Moses, and had promised to follow the Lord's directions. Why then had they worked contrary to the Lord's agreement, arousing mutiny and discontent? Why had they murmured and complained, as if they were hardly dealt with? They had complained of Moses, as if he were treating them harshly, when he was seeking in every way to make their journeyings in the wilderness a preparation and training for the promised land. Obedience to God's commands, co-operation with him in carrying out his plans, was essential for their present and future good, yea, for their eternal welfare. But they had been rebellious and disobedient.

Speaking of their conduct in the wilderness, Moses said: “And when we departed from Horeb, we went through all that great and terrible wilderness, which ye saw by the way of the mountain of the Amorites, as the Lord our God commanded us; and we came to Kadesh-barnea. And I said unto you, Ye are come unto the mountain of the Amorites, which the Lord our God doth give unto us. Behold, the Lord thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged.

“And ye came near unto me every one of you, and said, We will send men before us, and they shall search us out the land, and bring us word again by what way we must go up, and into what cities we shall come. And the saying pleased me well: and I took twelve men of you, one of a tribe: and they turned and went up into the mountain, and came unto the valley of Eshcol, and searched it out. And they took of the fruit of the land in their hands, and brought it down unto us, and brought us word again, and said, It is a good land which the Lord our God doth give us. Notwithstanding

ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of the Lord your God: and ye murmured in your tents, and said, Because the Lord hated us, he hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to destroy us. Whither shall we go up? Our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.”

It was upon the very borders of the promised land that the people had broken into rebellion. The spies had returned from Canaan with their hearts filled with unbelief, and their wicked murmurings had set the hearts of all the people in rebellion. Dissatisfaction is quickly awakened in hearts that are unsanctified.

“Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them. The Lord your God, which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes; and in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the Lord thy God bare thee, as a man doth bare his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place. Yet in this thing ye did not believe the Lord your God, who went in the way before you, to search you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to show you by what way ye should go, and in a cloud by day. And the Lord heard the voice of your words, and was wroth, and sware, saying, Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, because he hath wholly followed the Lord. Also the Lord was angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go in thither.”

The time to which Moses refers when the Lord was angry with him was when the stream that for so many years had supplied the people with water ceased to flow. It was the Lord's purpose to test his people. He would prove whether they would trust his providence or imitate the unbelief of their fathers. Before God permitted them to enter Canaan, they must show that they believed his promise.

But no sooner was the cry for water heard in the encampment, than the people forgot the One who for so many years had supplied their wants, and instead of turning to God for help, they murmured against him, in their desperation exclaiming, “Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the Lord.”

Their cries were directed against Moses and Aaron: “Why have ye brought up the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there? And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? It is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.”

The leaders went to the door of the tabernacle, and fell upon their faces. Again the glory of the Lord appeared, and Moses was directed, “Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock.”

The two brothers went on before the multitude, Moses with the rod of God in his hand. They were now aged men. Long had they borne with the rebellion and obstinacy of Israel; but now, at last, even the patience of Moses gave way. “Hear now, ye rebels,” he cried, “must we fetch you water out of this rock?” and instead of speaking to the rock, as God had commanded him, he smote it twice with the rod.

Moses had spoken from irritated feeling; his words were an expression of human passion rather than of holy indignation because God had been dishonored. “Hear now, ye rebels,” he said. This accusation was true, but even truth is not to be spoken in passion or impatience. Moses, in taking it upon himself to accuse the people, grieved the Spirit of God, and wrought the people only harm.

Bitter and deeply humiliating was the judgment immediately pronounced. “The Lord spoke unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.” With rebellious Israel, they must die before crossing the Jordan. Had Moses and Aaron been cherishing self-esteem, or indulging a passionate spirit, their guilt would have been far greater. But they were not chargeable with wilful or deliberate sin; they had been overcome by a sudden temptation, and their contrition was immediate and heartfelt. The Lord accepted their repentance, though because of the harm their sin did among the people, he could not remit the punishment. God forgave Moses, but he could not grant him that which he so greatly longed for,—a home in the promised land.

If Christ Should Come To-night?

By Grace Babcock

GRACE BABCOCK

If Christ should come to-night, what would you say? If he should ask you if some soul you’d won To follow him rejoicing all the way? Or if he’d ask what you for him had done To show him which you here have loved the more, The pleasures of this sinful world below, Or joys which shall be found on that blest shore, In that bright home to which his servants go? Dear friend, what would you say?

If Christ should come to-night, would you rejoice? Would your whole soul, filled with a sweet delight, Be thrilled with joy at the dear Saviour’s voice; And rapture find in that sweet face so bright? Could you look up with every sin confessed; With every wrong or thoughtless word made right? And in his presence feel supremely blest, Your garments by his cleansing blood made white? Dear one, could you rejoice?

Soon Christ in all his brightness we shall see. Will you among his ransomed ones there sing, “This is our Lord; we’ve waited long for thee”? Waited till from the grave his saints he’ll bring To meet the living ones who watch and pray. If you’ve not learned the way up to the golden gate, O, wait not till you hear the trump in that last day, Or you will hear the solemn words, “Too late.” Dear one, come now, to-day.

A Crisis

By J. O. Johnston

J. O. JOHNSTON

“If there was ever a crisis, it is now.” These words are found on page 16 of “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. VI; and within the past few days we have received word from the author of these words, saying, “I have been impressed to call upon the members of our churches to study the last two volumes of ‘Testimonies for the Church.’ . . . In the visions of the night the Lord told me that the truths contained in these books must be brought before the members of our churches, because there are many who are indifferent in regard to the salvation of their souls.” Therefore we are now in a time of crisis; and not only so, but as compared with all other crises of the past, this one stands paramount.

“If there was ever a crisis, it is now.”

Then, why is it that Seventh-day Adventists are not stirred to intense activity in every church in the land? Surely it must be because many are asleep, and do not discern the signs of the times. But all are not asleep. There is heard even now “the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees;” and the Lord calls upon those who do hear to bestir themselves, and seek God most earnestly to awaken his slumbering people before it shall be too late to secure oil in their vessels.

We need to agonize now before God; for we are living in the very midst of the “shaking time.” God’s people are being shaken; the world is being shaken; and soon everything which can be shaken will be shaken. During such times as these shall we be found among those who “can not be shaken”? or shall we be sifted out? This will depend upon how we relate ourselves to God and the special work he has for us to do. God is bidding us to seek his face. He counsels us to seek righteousness and meekness, that we may be hid in the day of his anger. Zeph. 2:3.

Can it be possible that there are Seventh-day Adventists who do not discern the signs of this time? and will they sleep on, making no preparation for the advancing night, until, too late to secure oil in their vessels, they awake to hear the startling cry, “Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him”?

On page 131 of “Early Writings” is found precious instruction which we should study at this time; for it is present truth: “I saw some, with strong faith and agonizing cries, pleading with God. Their countenances were pale, and marked with deep anxiety, expressive of their internal struggle. Firmness and great earnestness was expressed in their countenances; large drops of perspiration fell from their foreheads. Now and then their faces would light up with the marks of God’s approbation, and again the same solemn, earnest, anxious look would settle upon them. . . . As the praying ones continued their earnest cries, at times a ray of light from Jesus came to them, to encourage their hearts, and light up their countenances. Some, I saw, did not participate in this work of agonizing and pleading. They seemed indifferent and careless. They were not resisting the darkness around them, and it shut them in like a thick cloud. The angels of God left these, and went to the aid of the earnest, praying ones. I saw angels of God hasten to the assistance of all who were struggling with all their power to resist the evil angels, and trying to help themselves by calling upon God with perseverance. But his angels left those who made no effort to help themselves, and I lost sight of them.”

This is the picture of the present hour, and we are either among the “earnest, praying ones” or among those who do not “participate in this work of agonizing and pleading.” Where are we today? Are you, dear reader, among the company who are agonizing before God, and resisting the darkness around you? If not, may you hasten to join them, or

the darkness will soon shut you in, and your lamp will go out. The Lord loves his people, and he will quickly turn unto them, if they will return unto him.

A Witness for Truth

By Frederick M. Rossiter, M. D.

FREDERICK M. ROSSITER, M. D.

DURING the past few years a number of huge animals, among them several of the mammoth type, have been found in various parts of the world. In all these discoveries the one feature that seems to interest scientists is the number of thousands or millions of years in the past at which the existence of these animals may be placed.

It might seem that our evolutionist friends would receive a sort of mental jar when they read of these gigantic creatures that lived twenty thousand or one million years ago, with which our present-day animals are mere pygmies in comparison. By comparing figures it is not necessary to be a very “great scientist” in order to see that present-day animals are very much smaller. It is passing strange how so many small elephants can evolve from such huge beasts! At first thought it might also seem strange that “scientists” always have these animals living at least twenty thousand years ago—but we know why.

A year or two ago the finding of a human skull in the soil of Kansas set the entire “scientific” world agog, speculating as to its age, and after “very thorough” speculation it was concluded that the owner of the skull did not live this side of twenty-five thousand years ago!

The greatest and most interesting find of recent years is the immense mammoth discovered by a Russian soldier in northern Siberia a short time ago.

From the daily press we obtain the following facts: “This new mammoth just dug out in Siberia is the most remarkable specimen of a prehistoric animal ever found. It is absolutely perfect. The wonderful processes of nature have preserved the gigantic carcass in exactly the state in which it lived. The hair, eyes, skin, and organs of the great beast are perfect.”

This mammoth was discovered by a Cossack who saw its great body through six feet of clear ice. Word was sent to St Petersburg, and an expedition was organized by Dr. Herz to secure the prize. The illustration here presented is from a photograph which he took. A Cossack stood guard over the animal fifty days, waiting the arrival of the party.

The animal was found in a perfect state of preservation; undigested grass was found in the stomach, and particles of grass were found about the teeth; the flesh was still red,—all showing that the animal came to a sudden death while eating, and was soon buried by some disturbance of nature.

Dr. Herz is quoted as saying: “The impromptu grave into which the animal plunged was made of sand and clay, and his fall probably caused masses of neighboring soil to loosen and cover him completely. This happened in the late autumn or at the beginning of winter, to judge of the vegetable matter found in the stomach; at any rate shortly afterward the grave became flooded, ice following. This completed the cold storage till further augmented by vast accumulations of soil, and hundreds of feet of ice about this.” “Thus the enormous creature was preserved for how long no one knows, through hundreds of centuries, perhaps, until not so many years ago some movement of the earth spat forth the fossil mausoleum, leaving it exposed to sun and wind until very gradually the ice crust wore off, revealing to the passing Cossack the long-hidden treasure.”

The following are some of the facts about the animal: It is eighteen feet high; weighs thirteen thousand pounds, or six and one-half tons; its hair is from seven to fifteen inches long; its skin three inches thick, and weighing eight hundred and twenty pounds; tusks fourteen feet three inches long; length of foreleg, twelve feet six inches. “Scientists calculate that the gigantic creature lived twenty thousand years ago.”

From the Scientific American THE SIBERIAN MAMMOTH

There are many interesting observations to be drawn from this discovery, but I will mention only two. First, at one time there was no ice in Siberia, but plenty of vegetation to feed great animals; and second, it must have been warm there, for elephants are tropical animals, and usually are found only in jungles or heavily wooded lands.

It is perfectly apparent that this animal lived before the flood, and who knows but that it was one of the animals named by Adam at the creation? for elephants are long-lived beasts. It was evidently killed at the time of the flood, and buried later, and preserved for a witness in these last days, to testify to the truthfulness of God’s Word.

God has seen fit to reveal some things to his people in these last days that their faith may be established. From “Spiritual gifts,” Vol. III, page 92, I quote:—

“Bones of men and animals are found in the earth, in mountains and in valleys, showing that much larger men and beasts once lived upon the earth. I was shown that very much larger, powerful animals existed before the flood, which do not exist to-day.” “Because the bones of human beings and of animals found in the earth are much larger than those of men and animals now living, or that have existed for many generations past, some conclude that the world is older than we have any Scriptural record of, and was populated long before the record of creation, by a race of beings vastly superior in size to men now upon the earth.

“God so ordered that men, beasts, and trees, many times larger than those now on the earth, and other things, should be buried in the earth at the time of the flood, and there be preserved to evidence to men that the inhabitants of the old world perished by a flood. God designed that the discovery of these things in the earth should establish the faith of men in the inspired history.”

A Prayer for Divine Love

By David Livingstone

O DIVINE Love, I have not loved thee strongly, deeply, warmly enough. . . . I beseech thee, accept me, and use me a little for thy glory. I have done nothing for thee yet, and I would like to do something. O, do, do, I beseech thee, accept me and my service, and take thou all the glory.—David Livingstone.

By Thine Own Soul’s Law

By thine own soul’s law, learn to live; And if men thwart thee, take no heed, And if men hate thee, have no care: Sing thou thy song, and do thy deed; Hope thou thy hope, and pray thy prayer, And claim no crown they will not give. — Selected.

Continue reading: Shall the Blind Have the Gospel Preached to Them?