Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 15, 1902
JOY, PEACE, REST.
REST is the fruit of peace, and both peace and joy are the fruits of righteousness. Those who have tasted of God’s mercies, whose iniquities are forgiven, are those who “go out with joy and are led forth with peace.” And those who have peace and quietness (or rest) are those who know the righteousness of God. For “the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever.” Isa. 32:17.
THE one thing to seek, therefore, is not joy or rest, but righteousness. Many there are who are seeking the fruit, who do not wish to sow the seed or plant the tree. They prefer to let the natural products of the flesh, those most congenial to natural tastes, grow and bloom; but they do not wish to reap the fruit—disappointment, woe, misery, death. Many wish only the evanescent joy of this world,—the “folly [that] is joy to him that is void of heart”—the fruit of which is Dead Sea apples, turning to ashes in the mouth, tho beautiful to the eye.
ALL such wish to have the joy and rest and peace of God in a heart filled with selfishness, sin, and rebellion against Him. They wish to ignore all God’s warnings, transgress all God’s precepts, and yet reap the fulfilment of all God’s promises. But peace and rest will never come in that way. One may obtain sin’s anesthetics, may persuade himself that its numbing, soporific effects are peace; but there comes, sooner or later, the sad awakening, the harassed, goaded nerves, the troubled conscience, and the fear of impending and future dangers. “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” It is an inexorable law.
TO ALL these weary, restless, sin-sick souls there is peace and rest in Jesus Christ. God has naught against you. His thoughts toward you are “thoughts of peace and not of evil.” He holds peace in open hands for those who are far off and those who are near. The rough and turbulent sea of strife within your heart, whose “waters cast up mire and dirt,” is not of Him, but of your own restless, unsatisfied longings, lusts, and passions. O, would you not be quit of them forever? Would you not find rest in Him, with infinitely more assurance than the little child can rest sweetly careless in the strong, enclasping arms of a loving mother? It is not hard to find this peace, this rest, this joy unspeakable, if we will but seek in His way.
LISTEN to what He, the wronged One, says. He has never harmed you. He has given you good all your life long. His requirement—His holy, good, and righteous law—was ordained for your life. It is you who have made it death. It is your carnal heart which is enmity with God, and is not subject to the law of God. Rom. 8:7. There is, then, but one logical, right thing to do—surrender to God. Give up your rebellion. Yield to Him the carnal heart. Give to Him all your ways, yielding all, all, ALL, a willing offering; and then by faith accept what an open heaven freely offers to you—all the cleansing, the righteousness, the fulness that has been purchased for you by the life of Jesus. When God has nothing against you, when you have surrendered all to God and have nothing against Him, surely there is peace. It is not a matter of sentiment or feeling; it is a condition, as actual, as absolute, as the righteousness of God. “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Rom. 5:1. Let faith grasp it. Praise God for it, and the rest is yours, and the joy is yours. Abide forever surrendered to Him, and forever the peace is yours. This is the peace that Jesus gives; not as the world gives, but full, blessed, permanent if we will. As long as He is ours, peace will abide; for is not He “our Peace”? Eph. 2:14. It is the peace that floweth “as a river,” that “passeth all understanding,” that gives rest to the heart amid life’s fiercest turmoils and conflicts. It is the “joy unspeakable, and full of glory.” Blessed peace and rest and joy of God! Would you have them?—Seek His righteousness, and all shall be yours. For “the work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.”
The Prophecy of Zechariah
By Roderick S. Owen
By Roderick S. Owen
OLIVE TREES, OIL, AND CANDLE-STICKS.
Chapter Four.
“And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me as a man that is wakened out of his sleep, and said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof; and two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof. So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord? Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain; and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. Moreover the Lord came unto me, saying, The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; and his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the Lord of Hosts hath sent me unto you. For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth. Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”
In this chapter the symbols seen by the prophet are a candlestick all of gold, with a golden bowl at the top, seven lamps, or branches, and seven pipes leading to each branch (see Revised Version), two olive trees and two pipes connecting them with the golden bowl of the candlestick.
The Bible is its own interpreter. The symbols of any portion of scripture must be explained by other scripture. Therefore it is necessary to seek some clew which, traced through the Bible, will give us an understanding of the figures here introduced.
In verse 10 of the chapter we read: “For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth.” The only set of seven brought to view in this chapter is the seven branches with the pipes and lamps. These must therefore be referred to in this verse and spoken of as “the eyes of the Lord.”
In Rev. 5:6 we read: “And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.” Again, in Rev. 4:5 the seven lamps of fire burning before the throne are said to be the seven spirits of God.
The number seven is used in Scripture to denote fulness or completeness. From these statements we conclude that not the branches of the candlestick represent the Spirit of God, but the lamps of fire. Seven lamps then signify all the fulness of the light-giving power of the Spirit of God; for “this is the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” It also represents the Holy Spirit in all the fulness of its purifying power; “for He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver, to purify the sons of Levi.”
When spoken of as seven eyes it represents the searching power of God’s Spirit in all its fulness. The eyes said to be walking to and fro through the earth indicate universality of this property of the Spirit of God, for there is nothing hid from Him; for, says the psalmist: “From His throne His eyes behold, his eyelids try the children of men;” and the writer of Hebrews tells us that, “Every thing is open and naked before the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” As a horn is a symbol of power, so the seven horns represent all the fulness of the power of the Holy Spirit.
Hence we conclude that the seven lamps represent the Holy Spirit, God’s representative sent into this world to carry forward His work. In harmony with this we read in the last part of verse six in the chapter under consideration, “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.”
Next, let us consider the candlestick with the seven branches. A candlestick is not the light, but simply holds that which gives the light. Since the Holy Spirit is the light, the authorized agent for communicating this Spirit to the world will certainly be represented by the candlestick.
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” This was true of Him because he was baptized with the Holy Ghost. He came to impart the Holy Spirit to all who would receive it. This same commission He gave to His followers, when he said, “Ye are the light of the world.” “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Then the candlestick is certainly Christ and his followers. The golden bowl at the top, Christ, the head and source of supply for His body, the church. The candlestick of pure gold is Christ and His true church. The seven branches are not seven divisions of the true church, for God’s church is a unit. We have seen that the seven spirits denote all the varied manifestations of the Spirit, so the seven branches denote all the varied conditions of the church to which the Spirit adapts itself in its manifestations. In harmony with this idea we find that John sees in vision seven golden candlesticks, and Jesus moving about among them. In explanation of this the angel said, “the seven candlesticks are the seven churches.” Rev. 1:12, 13, 20. The second and third chapters of Revelation farther explain that these seven churches are simply different conditions of the church to which the spirit adapts its instruction.
So far as we have examined these symbols we see that they represent the agents by which God carries on his work here in the world, namely, the candlestick—Christ and His body, the church; the oil running through it all and the light over it all—the Holy Spirit.
But we find two olive trees, one on the right hand and the other on the left of the candlestick. The angel speaking of these, in verse 14, says, “These are the two anointed ones, or sons of oil” (see marginal reading). The purpose of the olive trees must be to furnish the oil for the lights. This is indicated by the statement that there are golden pipes connecting each of the trees with the golden candlestick. Then we conclude that these two trees are a source from which both Christ as head of the church and his followers the body of the church, or candlestick, draw a supply with which to work while communicating light and truth to the world.
John speaks of the two olive trees in the following language: “And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies; and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy, and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.” Rev. 11:3–6.
There is but one thing that has power to smite the earth with plagues and that is the Word of God. That Word in the mouth of Moses, turned the waters of Egypt to blood. That same Word through the prophet Elijah stayed the heaven that there should be no rain throughout the days of their prophecy, to-wit, for three and one-half years. By this same Word the earth will be smitten with the seven last plagues, and by it fire will devour all the enemies of God.
But when we examine this Word we find it divided into two parts, the Old and New Testaments. They stand one on either side of the Lord of the whole earth. These are the two olive trees, called also the two witnesses because they testify that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ. One speaks of a Saviour to come, the other of a Saviour who has come. They are also spoken of as the two candlesticks, because they hold light for all the people of the earth. As the candlestick is represented as drawing oil from the two olive trees with which to give light, so the church, as the body of Christ, should always draw from the Bible the material with which to work in the world. The amount of light given will be measured by the purity of the oil used or by the amount of the Word spoken to the world. O, if all the ministers and teachers who name the name of God, and all the professed members of the body of Christ, would only speak and live the Word of God, instead of teaching and living fancies and follies, how soon this world would be flooded with light!
The Building of the Temple.
Zerubbabel was the head, or master builder, in the work of rebuilding the temple of the Lord at Jerusalem. In view of great obstacles to be overcome, this work, in the eyes of the builders, looked like a great mountain. But God assures them that before the master builder it shall become a plain; but “not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord.” He tells them that there shall be no change in the master builder; for as Zerubbabel had laid the foundation, his hands should also finish it; and they shall rejoice to see the plummet in the hands of Zerubbabel, and to see him directed by the eyes of the Lord and supported by his people.
The building of that temple was a type of the3building of a spiritual temple, which seems a great mountain before us; but we must remember that it is not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of God. In this work as in that, there shall be no change in the Master Builder; for He (Christ) who has begun a good work in us is able to finish it to the end. We rejoice to see the plummet, or measure, (that is, the law) in the hands of the Master Builder. By it every stone must be hewed, squared, and laid into position; and when the headstone shall be placed, it will be done with shoutings. Since this headstone is Christ, when the work is completed and the shoutings are heard, they will be, “Grace, grace unto it;” for every one will realize that it is by His grace that all has been accomplished.
Thus we see that while trying to encourage the Jewish people in building the temple at Jerusalem, he set before us in symbols, the instrumentalities by which He will prepare all the living stones for the great spiritual temple. When these are all placed, the time of rejoicing and shouting will come. Shall we not so submit to the work of God’s Spirit, as He by His law and Gospel measures and chisels and hews and polishes us day by day, that we may then be found to be stones in that glorious temple, and our hearts be thrilled by the notes of that glorious song of praise in which we shall be permitted to have a part?
[The next article is “The Flying Roll and the Woman and Ephah.” Chapter 5.]
GLORIOUS PROSPECTS.
By W. C. Mathewson
God is “from everlasting to everlasting;” but man is as “a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” Ps. 90:2; James 4:14. His days are not only “few,” but “full of trouble;” and “his heart taketh not rest in the night.” Job 14:1; Eccl. 2:23.
Thus man’s entire earthly existence is far from being a happy one. Therefore God commands, “Cease ye from man;” “put off . . . the old man.” Isa. 2:22; Eph. 4:22. These are no arbitrary commands; they express the longing of the loving heart of God for the welfare of His dear people. He desires to see two characteristics in all His earthly subjects—eternal life and complete happiness. Most joyfully, then, He invites poor miserable sinners to “put off the old man,” and to “put on the new man;” the “man Christ Jesus.” Col. 3:10; 1 Tim. 2:5.
We are to put on Christ, because He is “everlasting.” Being made “one” with Christ, and “complete in Him,” we thereby become in Him everlasting. God created man for His “pleasure,” but He has “no pleasure in the death of him that dieth.” Rev. 4:11; Eze. 18:32. Evidently, then, man was created to live forever. But “whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Gal. 6:7. Having sown the seeds of sin, he is reaping the inevitable harvest of death.
Thus the original man, capable of eternity, became the natural man, perishable; but God, who is “not willing that any should perish,” has undertaken to make of every child of Adam an eternal being. How?—By actually imparting to him, through the medium of Christ, eternal realities. The Spirit he receives is called the “eternal Spirit;” his life “eternal” or “everlasting life;” his salvation “eternal salvation;” his glory, “eternal glory;” his inheritance, the “eternal inheritance;” himself, an “eternal excellency.” Heb. 9:14, 15; John 6:54; 5:24; Heb. 5:9; 1 Peter 5:10; Isa. 60:15. Many spiritual blessings God bestows, all being eternal. “O that men would praise the Lord for His goodness.”
While sin is ultimately cruel, it is presently enticing, offering to “lovers of pleasures” many temporary enjoyments; but those who are willing to forego the “pleasures of sin for a season,” “to suffer affliction with the people of God,” may confidently exclaim with the apostle Paul, “Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” 2 Cor. 4:17.
What a blessed experience is affliction! “It worketh” just now. At this moment the afflicted child of God is being transformed into an “eternal excellency.” He is Christ’s workmanship, constructed out of imperishable material, by virtue of which he can “never perish,” but remains the workmanship of Jesus.
At the close of six thousand years of sin, the old man finds himself near the lowest depths of physical, mental and moral degradation; while the new man begins to ascend immeasurable heights, never to retrace his steps throughout the boundless ages.
Luce, Mich. W. C. MATHEWSON.
JOHN BAPTIST—ELIJAH—ALEXANDER DOWIE!
By J. B. Cogswell
Universal Cure-All—Self-Appointed Government Destroyer and Establisher of Everlasting Kingdoms!
Usurper of the Prerogatives of the Most High and Blasphemer Extraordinary to the Devil!
“GAZE ON ME!”
THE above announcement in flaming posters on the bill-boards of Chicago, some beautiful morning, might cause a great stir in the city, and immense crowds probably would gather before the boards and discuss this most unusual and unseemly form of advertising. Indeed many would condemn—and rightly too—this ultra method of proclaiming one’s pretensions, and intentions; some would wonder undoubtedly if a waggishly inclined lunatic had not escaped from Dunning just long enough to perpetrate this upon the people. Others would treat the whole thing as a huge joke. But extraordinary, unusual, and extravagant as this presentation may appear at first glance, it really says no more, claims no more, neither does it pretend nor mean any more, than the words actually spoken by Mr. Dowie himself before thousands of presumably sentient, intelligent, human beings, created in the image of their Maker and walking upright; and yet it is said that thousands arose to their feet as one man and applauded the utterance.
Nevertheless it is no joke. It should not cause even a smile, much less levity; for it is one of the most portentous signs of the very near coming of the Lord, and that awful “time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation,” that is coming on the earth. Matt. 24:24; Dan. 12:1.
In matters of religious belief, political opinions, or social relations, one individual has no right to judge another within the boundary of private rights; for each one stands before God on equal ground, to be judged by Him of their individual character. But when any one gives public expression to their opinions, beliefs, or desires, those expressions are of more or less public interest and concern; consequently they may be reviewed, criticised, approved, rebuked, or condemned—as the case may be—according to any ethical standard. So by the truth of the Gospel, we will proceed to consider Mr. Dowie’s recent philippic. Here are his words:—
I am Elijah the Prophet, who appeared first as Elijah himself, second as John the Baptist, and who now comes in ME, the “Restorer of all things.” Elijah was a prophet, John was a preacher, but I combine in myself the attributes of prophet, priest, and ruler over men. GAZE ON ME. . . . I am he that is the Living Physician. . . . I will take no counsel in my methods of government. . . . I have come to proclaim the government of God. . . . I will never rest till all other forms of government have been driven from the earth.
Nothing has been omitted in these quotations, that would in any way change the real meaning of the language used, except perhaps to intensify its extreme egotism. I will give another quotation of almost equal egotism and blaspheming assumption, considering the difference in the “dignities”:—
“I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; . . . I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.” Isa. 14:13, 14.
This language discloses a trifling difference in the aims, but the intents and purposes are identical. Dowie is not so modest and retiring in his methods as he was a few years ago. Then he disclaimed mercenary motives, and gave God a modicum of the glory. Now he takes all the cash he can get, and all the glory he can hypnotize people into according him. But God says: “I will not give My glory unto another. . . . I am He, I am the First, I also am the Last.” Isa. 48:11, 12. God only is the “I am He,” and Christ is the only Living Physician. Matt. 9:12. Mal. 4:2. Dowie lays claim to a glory that belongs only to God and His Son Jesus Christ, the title and office of the Great Physician, and one of the chief appellatives and functions of omnipotence. “I am the ruler of men,” says Dowie. But God says: “The living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.” Dan. 4:17.
Usurper Dowie says he will drive every government off the earth, and set up “God’s government.” Let us see how this talk tallies with what God says: “And in the days of these kings (or kingdoms) shall the God of Heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.” Dan. 2:44. This is the kingdom that is soon to be established in the earth to the exclusion of all others. And, while this pseudo-Elijah is tearing around like a madman trying to drive Democrats, Republicans, and Roman Catholics off the earth, the “God of Heaven” will set up “His kingdom.”
Then Mr. Dowie’s occupation will be gone. He and his followers will escape much of trouble, and avoid a deep and humiliating disappointment if they will give heed to the following: “Behold, one like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him; His4dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” Dan. 7:13, 14; Isa. 9:7. But if they persist in yielding to the alluring suggestions of Lucifer, that prince of hypnotists, they will surely go down with him in that sure destruction “reserved” for those “which kept not their first estate,” who “despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities,” and make “hard speeches” “against him.” Jude 6–16; Rev. 20:10; Eze. 28:19. “For the ancient and honorable He is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. For the leaders of these people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.” Isa. 9:15, 16.
We may not impugn one’s honest sincerity, but we may know if they are truly sincere; for, “Ye shall know them by their fruits.” Matt. 7:16. And Paul tells how we may show our sincerity: “Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the Word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost; in whom the god of this world [the devil] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” 2 Cor. 4:1–5.
Notwithstanding these simple soul-inspiring words, Mr. Dowie says to his poor deluded dupes of Satan, “GAZE ON ME.” Nevertheless the true disciples of Christ, those in whose hearts the “Day Star” has risen will lift their eyes to the “Holy One of Israel,” because they believe God and love to obey Him. “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else.” Isa. 45:22.
Mr. Dowie claims to be the reincarnation of a great prophet; who was literally, and physically translated; “restored” to that perfectness of physical and spiritual life and character, that man enjoyed before sin entered, and Eve became the first victim of the serpent’s hypnotic power. Of course Dowie heals. My own family can vouch for the truth of this statement. We were residents of Chicago, and knew him and his healings. He also claims to heal by direct divine intervention; but the Lord describes his kind so well in Matt. 7:20–23 that we will let it rest there.
“O, well,” says one, “Dowie is a believer in God and His Christ.” But this is no evidence; for the devil acknowledged the divinity of Christ almost two thousand years before Dowie’s alleged re-incarnation. Luke 8:28. The devil recognizes an inevitable truth, which many moderns do not. Eze. 28:12; James 2:19; Rev. 20:10; 12:12. While Lucifer sealed “up the sum of wisdom,” he has no creative power outside of the monopoly on lies, and they are perversions of truth; so his miracle-working is somewhat circumscribed. But owing to the mental and spiritual strabismus of his victims, he can palm almost any kind of a counterfeit upon them. This is a most deplorable fact. It is so much easier to obtain the genuine; only believe. “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” Mark 9:23. “And these signs shall follow them that believe.” Mark 16:17. Thus was the promise of Christ’s miracle power conditional to believers. But the devil does not require one to believe in God or in him in order that he may heal.
In regard to Mr. Dowie being the “restorer of all things” we will consider his claims in the light of prophecy. In Isa. 40:3 we read, “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Undoubtedly John the Baptist fulfilled this prophecy literally. Matt. 3:1–3. Prophecy also points to another messenger that is to go forth in the “spirit and power of Elijah” immediately preceding the second coming of the Lord. Isa. 58:12; Mal. 4:4–6. These people are to build up the “waste places,” “raise up foundations” that have been broken down for “many generations,” and they are to be called “repairer of the breach,” “the restorer of paths to dwell in.” Both prophecies refer specially to broken laws, apostacies from paths of virtue and truth, and from duty to God and to parents and to each other. The Gospel in its primal purity and beauty has become “old waste places” from disuse; and the foundations of our faith have been broken and undermined and well nigh destroyed for “many generations.” These are to be raised up to their original position and soundness.
These prophecies are now in process of fulfilment, for there is a people raising foundations, building up waste places, repairing the breach in the law, restoring paths, and turning fathers’ hearts to their children and children’s hearts to their fathers, and giving the last message to the world in the “spirit and power of Elijah.”
Now to find out what sort of a spirit ruled in Elijah’s character, we must study his manner of life; and in that study we find that Elijah believed God implicitly, acted without question or hesitation upon His Word, and consecrated himself entirely to God’s will. And Elijah’s “power” was his ultimate, absolute faith in God and His ability to perform all that He has promised or spoken (Jer. 11:5; 1:12; Rom. 4:21); absolute fearlessness, free from presumption; and his spirit of consecration. His faith consummated in his translation. So will it be with those who have gone forth in his “spirit and power,” and the hand of the Lord is upon them as it was upon him. 1 Kings 18:46. So John, tho he came in the “spirit and power of Elijah,” was not Elijah, and plainly said so. John 1:21. But he was the herald of Christ’s first coming as these are the heralds of His second coming. So Dowie is not entitled to the title of “restorer of all things,” in fact, he is opposed to one of the great laws of God.
But let us turn with joy and gladness to the Gospel of Christ, the “faith that was once delivered unto the saints,” searching diligently “Moses and the prophets” which contain the “truths of the Gospel;” the eternal law of God. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, according to the Scriptures, is very soon coming again, “without sin unto salvation.” And “every eye shall see Him;” and “they also which pierced Him.”
Kenmare, N. D. J. B. COGSWELL.
A STANZA.
By John Wm. Stein
God’s claim is right, triumph it must,
His cause is just, it will prevail;
When wrong shall crumble into dust,
The right unmocked, beyond assail,
In glad fruition will increase,
In endless glory shall arise;
Its blessedness will never cease,
Its hopes mature in Paradise.
JOHN WM. STEIN.
OUR SAFETY.
By T. E. Bowen
This is a time of calamity. Every day storms, accidents, disasters by land and by sea, are sweeping men and women from among the living, to meet the realities of eternity. Men's hearts are failing them for fear of the things which are coming upon the earth. People do not feel safe anywhere. Companies multiply which offer protection to life and property; but is it protection after all?—No; it is no real, lasting help. It is simply what the human arm can afford.
God's Word directs us away from all this. The psalmist exclaims, “My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.” This scripture points out the great God who made the universe as the only real help. His protection is valuable. “He will not suffer thy foot to be moved; He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” Constant guardianship! While you are unconscious in slumber, no cyclone, no disaster, can pass by His guard to you without permission. And whatever passes will be only for the good of His child.
“The Lord is thy keeper; the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.” Some day power will be given the sun to scorch men with fire. Such a time, a shade on one side would be as a life preserver. That shade the Lord has promised to be.
“The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil.” What a glorious promise! No qualification—all evil. These are those who are truly praying, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,” and God hears the prayer. Then the remaining part of the promise reads, “He shall preserve thy soul.” This passes exceedingly the power and skill of any earthly help. No one can be found who will insure your soul unto eternal life. That greatest of all values, compared with which the wealth of a world sinks into insignificance—the human soul—may be preserved to him who yields its interests into the loving care of Him who made it. Wondrous power! Wonderful God!
“The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in.” This promise becomes more significant in days like these. Should the psalmist come to life, and take his seat in a modern railway train, and read the news of the previous day of the disasters befalling people here and there who, like himself, had entered with confidence the coach only to perish in a wreck, he would feel the need of the protection of his God to preserve his going forth, as never before. But that sure word takes in the humble, trusting child of God to-day, with all the dangers with which he is beset; for the promise was “from this time forth and even forevermore.” Ps. 121: 1–8.
Dear reader, are you insured? Is your very life, your soul, thus guarded by your God? Have you learned to trust Him in days of prosperity? or, must He permit some calamity to overtake you before you shall awake to the fact that He now is preserving you?
The only reason more calamities do not visit the earth is due to the protecting care of God. And that which is befalling others is permitted that those remaining shall take warning, and5seek shelter in Christ, the only sure refuge provided sinners. It is not that those upon whom these calamities fall are more wicked than others. Accidents occurred in the time of our Saviour. A tower in Jerusalem fell one day, killing eighteen persons. Jesus commenting upon it, asks: “Think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay; but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
Let us look up to the God on high “from whence cometh our help.”
“The men who love and fear Thy name
Shall see their hopes fulfilled;
The mighty God will compass them
With favor as a shield.”
T. E. BOWEN.
WHERE THEY STAND.
By James I. Vance
The centuries are on the side of the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes. They side with the cross of Christ and the throne of God. The hours may depress, but the centuries are full of cheer. The struggles of faith will end in endless victory. The long night will slip into dawn. The centuries will ring eternity in upon time and announce immortality. The long pilgrimage will end, the dire siege will lift and trial be over. The hours may say, “Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust,” but the centuries proclaim, “This mortal shall put on immortality.” Tired, footsore, wayworn, and faint, the summit of achievement shall be reached at last, and faith’s journey end in welcome to the weary.—James I. Vance, D.D.
