p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 51. (12/17/1902)

Earlier text: CULTURE OF SILK IN THE SOUTH

LESSON I.—JANUARY 4.—PAUL AND SILAS AT PHILIPPI.

Lesson Scripture, Acts 16:22-34, A.S.R.V.

(22) “And the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates rent their garments off them, and commanded to beat them with rods. (23) And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely: (24) who having received such a charge, cast them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. (25) But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns unto God, and the prisoners were listening to them; (26) and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison-house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. (27) And the jailer, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. (28) But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm; for we are all here. (29) And he called for lights and sprang in, and, trembling for fear, fell down before Paul and Silas, (30) and brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (31) And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house. (32) And they spake the word of the Lord unto him, with all that were in his house. (33) And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, immediately. (34) And he brought them up into his house, and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his house, having believed in God.”

Golden Text.—“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Verse 31.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) What was the sentiment of the people toward Paul and Silas? What was the decision of the magistrates? Verse 22. Note 1. (2) What was done to the apostles besides beating them? Verse 23. (3) In order to be sure of his prisoners, what did the jailer do? Verse 24. Note 2. (4) What did the apostles do under their harsh treatment? Who heard them? Verse 25. Note 3. (5) What suddenly occurred as they sang? What was the result of the earthquake? Verse 26. Note 4. (6) When the jailer saw what had occurred, what did he do? Why? Verse 27. Note 5. (7) What did Paul say to the jailer? Verse 28. (8) What then did the jailer do? Verse 29. (9) What anxious question did he ask? Verse 30. (10) What reply did the apostles give? Verse 31. (11) What further did they say? Verse 32. Note 6. (12) Then what good work did the jailer perform? What further evidence of his faith is given? Verse 33. (13) How did he further show his hospitality? And his faith? Verse 34.

NOTES.

1. While preaching in Philippi, Paul and Silas were followed through the streets by a woman who had a familiar spirit, and from whose fortune-telling certain men were making money. Paul, wearied of her daily endeavor to associate herself with their work, commanded the evil spirit to come out of her. This so enraged her masters that they complained to the magistrates, alleging that Paul and Silas were troubling the city by teaching unlawful customs. For this cause, there being also a popular clamor against them, the magistrates commanded that the apostles be beaten.

2. The “inner prison” had neither ventilation nor light. The door opened into an inside hall, and this was the only opening. The stocks consisted of a heavy piece of wood with holes, into which the feet were placed in such a manner as to be above the floor and stretched apart, while the victim sat, or lay on his back. The position was necessarily very painful and wearisome.

3. Notwithstanding their sufferings, the apostles sang praises to God and thus at the late hour of midnight testified of their faith to those who might not otherwise have had opportunity to hear.

4. The earthquake and the prison shaken indicate the power of God which attends the Gospel; but more than this is the testimony that it is “the power of God unto salvation.” Rom. 1:16. And so it proved on that eventful night.

5. The jailer would have killed himself to avoid the penalty of death, at the hands of the government, for allowing his prisoners to escape. He had been charged especially to keep Paul and Silas secure; and now not only these, but all the others were loose. By the Roman law a jailer was subject to the same penalty to which an escaped prisoner would have been subjected.

6. Without waiting for their much-needed bathing and food and rest, the apostles immediately took up the work of ministering to the spiritual needs of others. This was the true spirit of Christ.

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THE GREAT DAY OF THE LORD.

By M. C. Wilcox

By M. C. Wilcox. This tract of 40 pages sets forth in brief some of the more important events of the Great Day of God Almighty. It discusses the character of that day, shows when it begins, the coming of the Lord, the events in connection with that coming, the Millennium, the Saints in Judgment, when the Day of the Lord Ends, and the Eternal Home of the Redeemed. Bible Students' Library No. 65. Price, 5 cents.

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TESTIMONY

Volume Seven

THIS VOLUME IS NEARLY FINISHED, AND ADVANCE ORDERS WILL SOON BE FILLED

Its first section is entitled

ACCEPTABLE SERVICE

In it the following subjects are treated in a most practical manner

THE WORK OF SOUL-SAVING

The Christian’s obligations—A work for parents—The need of earnestness.

THE SIGNAL OF ADVANCE

The closing work—An ever-widening work—The shortness of time.

WORK FOR CHURCH-MEMBERS

Ministers to work outside of the church—Church-members to be workers—The waste places of the earth—Self-supporting missionaries.

WORKERS FROM THE RANKS

Humble workers to be encouraged—Children to be workers—Results of humble service.

EXTENDING THE TRIUMPHS OF THE CROSS

The work of the church—The Holy Spirit, our efficiency—Power given the apostles—The same power to be revealed to-day.

THE WORK IN THE CITIES

An important council—The field is the world—The message is world-wide—The work in New York City.

DELAY NO LONGER

The needs of cities—Camp-meetings—Restaurants.

FAMILY WORSHIP

The perils of to-day—Duties of parents—A lesson from Abraham.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF MARRIED LIFE

The first year of married life—True affection—The marriage relation a symbol—Exercise of patience—Unselfish ministry.

There are other divisions equally as good, some of which will be mentioned later.

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NEW TRACTS

By Editor

WHICH DAY DO YOU KEEP AND WHY?

This tract has enjoyed an enormous sale in the past, but the date on its first page is November, 1889, and this has given to many a wrong impression as to its value. Therefore it has been reset, new electrotype plates made, and reissued under this date. We believe this new and improved form—it is now envelope size—will recommend this excellent number to a still wider circle of readers and missionary workers.

Apples of Gold Library, No. 76

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IS SUNDAY THE SABBATH?

This is also an old, tried number. So many editions have been printed that two sets of plates have been worn out and now we are completing the third. This time the size has been changed for enclosure in an envelope. The date, too, has been changed from June 11, 1899, to the present. The many friends of this number will welcome these improvements, for they add to the appearance and timeliness of the matter contained.

Apples of Gold Library, No. 75

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CATHOLIC DOCTRINE

HOW I FOUND THE TRUE FAITH

A new tract by J. J. Kennedy, who was for twenty-nine years a member of the Catholic Church, to the members of which his appeal is addressed. He first shows the contrast between the Ten Commandments as given in the Catholic and King James Translations of the Scriptures and points out its significance. He then gives his experience in seeking the reason for the change of the Sabbath. In connection with this and other questions he quotes from Catholic authority, which fully sustains the positions taken.

Bible Students’ Library, No. 171

Price, ½ cent each, 36 cents a hundred

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Duty and Impulse.

To the man who educates himself to follow duty at all hazards, the first impulse in time of crisis or danger will be to do duty. The mind will act along familiar lines. The man who has sought his own interest, pleasure, or profit, will, in time of danger, flee from duty. The former is illustrated by a recent event in a colliery in England. An engineer fifty years of age, while lowering the cage containing twenty-four men into his mine, suddenly received an apoplectic shock, from which he died almost immediately. But before he fell, the dying man seized the lever, stopped the engine, and so saved the lives of his fellow-workmen, while his own went out in darkness. It was duty first, and he did it in the crisis. Jesus illustrates the same principle thus: “He that is a hireling and not a shepherd, beholdeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolf snatcheth them.” But “the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep.” That is his purpose, his work, his duty. The engineer was not simply a hero in his death; he was a duty hero all his life, and his heart failed not in the crisis.

Protestant Gains in Austria

The “Away-from-Rome” movement seems to make good progress in Austria. It is said that the Protestant accessions of the Lutheran and Reformed Churches during the first half of the year were 2,523, and that of these 2,339 came direct from the Catholic Church. On the other side, these two churches lost 567 members, 476 of whom joined the Catholic Church. This loss on the part of Catholics has led to a controversy in that church, the liberal element calling for a regeneration along evangelical lines, tho not in favor of Protestantism. The largely conservative majority are against this. A noted Catholic priest, Hansjacob, says: “One thing is sure, the clergy of Germany would not be a particle better than that of Austria, if it had not such a powerful opponent in Protestantism. The Reformation has hurt the Catholic Church, but it has also helped her very much. And this double work Protestantism is still doing. The church in Germany, too, has had its great losses. Fully 90 per cent. of the educated classes, 60 per cent. of all the half educated, and 50 per cent. of the working classes have been estranged from the church, and are either superficial deists or even out-spoken atheists.” The wise thing would be to accept the Reformation.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

The next article on “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” will be found in the issue of Jan. 7, 1903.

Man Must Be Recreated

To fit man to dwell forever with Deity, he must be made over; in other words, he must be recreated. No evolutionary process can accomplish the work; it can be done only by the creative power of God; and He does not want long ages in which to accomplish it.

Consider Him Series Delayed

By Editor

The article in the series “Consider Him” is omitted from this issue to give us space to use those so long in type. It will not hurt by waiting. Like each of the other topics in the series, the remaining two articles are entitled, “Behold Your King” and “Thy Kingdom Come.”

New Sabbath-School Lesson Series

By Editor

From this number we have omitted the Review of the Quarter from our Sunday-school lesson, and have given the one in advance, an important new series in the Acts. Students will please note this. We also begin a new series for the first quarter of 1903 in the Sabbath-school lessons, a study of Psalms 104 to 107 inclusive. We are sure that a study of the songs of the Lord will be both a pleasure and a profit.

Seek God’s View of the Sabbath

A pamphlet comes to us on the Sabbath question, accompanied by a personal letter from the author, who writes that he sends it “in order that you may know my view of the subject.” This is entirely immaterial. When the Sabbath and law question first found us in sin and infidelity, we sought earnestly in different directions, from ministers of different denominations, for their views; but we found them contradictory and self-devouring. Then we sought to learn God’s view, to see with His seeing, and we are satisfied. The chief thing to seek, reader, is God’s way. How does He view it? What is His way? What has He declared? Let that be the end of all controversy.

OUR NEXT ISSUE.

By Editor

The next number of the Signs of the Times, No. 52 of this present volume, will be the last in the year. It will be a specially fine number, containing important lessons for the days of Christmastide and the important times in which we live. In this number is a small reproduction of an original poem and artistic design made especially for the first full page of our next issue. The number will also contain an original song and music, “My Heavenly Home.” There will be articles on Christmas and its meanings. This number will also contain the last article but one in the series on “Zechariah,” a consideration of portions of chapters 12, 13, and 14. The first-page poem and illustration should enable our agents to sell a large number. It is worth the price of the paper. Prices will be, from 10 to 25 copies, 2 cents each; over 25 copies, 1½ cent each.

How About the Other Man?

Edwin Markham has written a poem on “The Right to Labor,” which, whether meant for union labor or not, is so applied. One stanza, as taken from Hearst’s papers, by whom it is copyrighted, is as follows:—

“And the right of a man to labor and his right to labor in joy— Not all your jaws can blot that right, nor the gates of Hell destroy. For it came with the making of man and was kneaded into his bones, And it will stand at the last of things on the dust of crumbled thrones.”

This is universally true if true at all. Now, is it not as utter a perversion of that right for a syndicate of laboring men to forbid a man to labor as it is for a syndicate of capitalists to do the same thing? In other words, has not a man who is not a union man, who does not believe in the principle of trades unions, as much right to labor as the man who does belong to trades unions? Or does the right inhere in the trade unionist rather than in the man as a man? Has a man, as a man, no right to labor that he may be an independent, helpful unit of society, that he may support his wife and children, clothe and educate them, but obtains this right as soon as he joins a trades union? Is this the principle of primitive Americanism? Is this the principle of equality and liberty? It surely is not. It is not the principle of Christianity. But it is the principle of many trades unionists. And yet we apprehend that many have not taken time to see the evil of the present system. Surely, if they take time to think candidly, they must see that no man ever knows the principle of true liberty unless he is as anxious that the other fellow shall have it as he himself. True liberty for me is equal liberty to him who may be opposed to me. Sometimes, the logic of events may demonstrate trade unionism to be utterly wrong; what then will you think of the principle and its harvest?

Testing Christian Science by the Bible

By Editor

An earnest believer in Christian Science takes exception to three articles in the SIGNS OF THE TIMES as follows: One on page 5 of the issue of September 3; another, the first article in the issue of October 8, on page 6; and the third in the issue of October 29, first article on page 9. The statements, inferences, or implications in the first two are expressions of opinion to be decided by the only true standard,—the Bible. Of the third, taken from the Christian Work, we have this to say. It was given as a matter of news supposed to be correct, which it is in the main. The special point is that Mr. Peabody and the alleged implied opinion of Judge Arnold misrepresent the Christian Science Church and Mrs. Eddy. And from evidence presented, this seems to be the case. The case of Christian Science, however, must be decided on broader ground than mere reports, or the work that it does in healing. The true standard by which to test it is the Bible.

A Noted Oriental Student.

—Dr. Herman V. Hilprecht, one of the editors of the Sunday School Times, and a noted Oriental scholar and archeologist, we learn from that paper, has been called to a permanent professorship in the University of Pennsylvania. Two Philadelphians, Messrs. E. W. and C. H. Clark, have endowed the Clark Research Chair of Assyriology in honor and furtherance of the work of Dr. Hilprecht. The first gift is $100,000. Dr. Hilprecht has completed a book, soon to be published, which will give the first accurate and comprehensive history of the expedition to Babylonia. He is now about to take up the detailed investigation of the great library of the Temple of Bel in Babylonia, which will be published exclusively in the Sunday School Times. These will be of interest to students of the Bible and ancient Oriental history.

First Around-the-World Telegram.

Charles J. Glidden, of Boston, seems to have been the first man that sent a message by telegraph and cable around the world. November 1 he wrote this message to himself, “Around the world,” and despatched it by way of Vancouver and Australia. It was not a “rush” message, and the operators did not hurry. Mr. Glidden received it thirty-eight hours and twenty minutes later. The cost, all told, was about $12.00. The route from Boston was San Francisco, Vancouver, Fanning Island, Fiji Islands, Norfolk Island, Australia, Singapore, across India to the Red Sea, across the Mediterranean to Paris and London, thence by Atlantic cable to Boston. The message received somewhat of a shock; it read when received: “Gleddon, Armund the world.” The last two words came through intact.

College-Themed Calendar

These are days of beautiful calendars. A unique and well-executed lithographed calendar comes to us from Frank Leslie’s Popular Monthly, New York. The months of the year appear on three sheets. In the center of each of these sheets is a college girl dressed in the appropriate colors of one of the great colleges, with college seal and college yell. The schools thus represented are Yale in blue, Chicago in red and white, and Columbia in blue and white.

The Pilgrim for December

“The Pilgrim,” for December, hailing from that fertile food city, Battle Creek, Mich., has interesting articles on the gods of Japan and the women of the Mica country (North Carolina). Price ten cents.

Divorce and Reform School Children

Over one-half of the children in the South Dakota reform school are said by the superintendent to be children of divorced parents.