Signs of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 18. (5/13/1889)

Signs of the Times

May 13, 1889

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 13, 1889

Bible Helps and Religious Notes

By Editor

THE greatest helps to the understanding of the Bible are an unprejudiced, humble mind, an overruling desire to know just what God’s will is, that it may be performed, and the Bible itself. “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant.” Ps. 25:14.

THE Lord does not ask us to wait till we are worthy before we come to him. If we should do this, we would never seek him. He invites us to come just as we are, with humble hearts, realizing our unworthiness; and then God says, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Could we ask more? Thus by coming in God’s way, he makes us worthy.

THE statement is definitely made in several London papers that the episcopal bishop of Glasgow has inhibited Canon Wilberforce from talking temperance in the churches of that diocese, because he coöperates with the ministers of the Church of Scotland in his work. Commenting on this fact the Christian at Work says: “The establishment will not gain much headway in Presbyterian Scotland by this sort of proceedings.” Certainly it ought not to gain much.

WE suppose that some will see in the fact that the new United States cruiser Vesuvius can send four and a half tons of dynamite into another vessel in six minutes, and send a thousand men into eternity in the same time, an evidence of the approach of the time when war will be no more, because it will be so terrible that none will dare engage in it; but to us it is an evidence of the approach of the final clash of the nations of the world before they are dashed to pieces by the Lord at his coming.

AN association has been organized in Japan, the object of which is to maintain Buddhism, especially in view of its political character in the empire. The members pledge themselves, in the selection of representatives in Parliament, provincial assemblies, town councils, or local offices, and in the appointment of school-teachers, officials of societies and business companies, “carefully to exclude all who are disloyal to our emperor or untrue to Buddhism by believing in the foreign religion called Christianity.” This is simply National Reform in the interest of Buddhism. But there is hope for Christianity in the fact that many of the Japanese newspapers which have no special interest in Christianity are condemning severely this attempt to drag religion into the sphere of politics. And it ought to be condemned not only in Japan but in the United States. If it is right that the majority should rule in matters of religion in one country it cannot be wrong in another, and Japan would have the same right to exclude or boycott Christianity that the United States would have to discriminate in religious matters.

THE only real growth in Christian life comes by appropriating God’s word. The Christian is begotten through the word of God (1 Peter 1:23; James 1:18), born of the water and the Spirit (John 3:5); and it is by the word of God that he grows up into Christ, the Incarnate Word. 1 Peter 2:1-5. He must not only read the word, or understand the word, but he must appropriate or engraft the word (James 1:21), till the truth of God becomes a very part of his being. It is this that the psalmist means when he says, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Ps. 119:11.

THE ceremonies of the Christian religion are few. It needs no more than it has to manifest its true character; for from that individual who possesses true religion, there are ever flowing words and acts which show the hidden spring within. Ceremonies are outward; religion springs from within; its seat is in the affections and principles which control the individual. The multiplying of needless ceremonies, the increase of ritual pomp and splendor, always calls attention from the real inner life to an unreal outer life, till at last religion is lost in form and ceremony. This is the way it was with the early church, and Rome was developed. Are not our Protestant churches walking in the same path in their aping of Rome in ornate display and multiplication of days and times?

SAID the Father, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” Matt. 17:5. Jesus says, “If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” Matt. 19:17. Again he says, “Blessed are they that do His [the Father’s] commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” Rev. 22:14. And this is the testimony of the whole of the inspired word—keep the law of God; “for this is the whole duty of man.” Eccl. 12:13, 14. But that man cannot keep the law of God is true; nevertheless, it is his duty. And in order that he may perform that duty, and be brought into harmony with his law, God gives him the gracious privilege of doing through Christ what he could not do in his own strength. The righteousness of God is imputed for past sins (Rom. 4:5-8; 3:25, 26), the man is regenerated (2 Cor. 5:17), and his works become the righteousness of faith in Christ; for God works in him to will and to do of his good-pleasure. The law is ever a rule of duty, the gospel is the power of God which brings man into harmony with that rule.

*GOD REQUIRES THE BEST USE OF OUR POWERS.

By Mrs. E. G. White

BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.

“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in Heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.”

WE have presented before us the Christian’s privilege; but we have not realized the value of this privilege. We have assumed an attitude of hesitancy and unbelief. Doubt has enshrouded our souls, and we have failed to claim the promises of God’s word. What is the reason that these precious utterances are treated with such indifference? Why is it that we are so well satisfied with our present knowledge of Jesus? We are to grow up into Christ, our living head, until we reach the full stature of men and women in Christ. When we fail to advance in the knowledge of God, we rob our Lord of the glory that should flow back to him from those whom he has redeemed with his precious blood.

Said the prophet: “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But 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.”

The Son of God has given us abundant

evidence of his tender love, of his willingness to do great things for us. Why should we not take him at his word? “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” In the light reflected from Calvary’s cross, we can have no excuse for doubting God’s word. We can find no reason for not devoting all our powers to his service. Our reasoning powers, our means, our talents of ability, should be consecrated to him.

The greatest tact and skill are manifested in matters of mere temporal interest. Men cultivate their talent and ability for the service of the world; but how many who profess the name of Christ fail to see the necessity of making the most and the best use of their God-given ability in his service. Body and soul and spirit are to be devoted to God. The servant of God should see that his work is carried forward with fidelity, and wrought with nicety. He should seek to do his work in a manner that will recommend it to God, that he may finally receive the benediction, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

If men expect the best exercise of your skill and ingenuity in temporal matters, how much more should your heavenly Master look to you for the best exercise of your skill and discretion in his work, which is exalted above every earthly consideration?

The first work of the Christian parent is to educate the children properly, that they may know and love Jesus, that they may be able to influence others to love Jesus, to be rich in good works, for there are many who would influence them to take the path of disobedience and transgression. They should be trained to resist everything evil in this degenerate age.

The Lord said concerning Abraham, “I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment.” Wherever the servant of God pitched his tent, he erected close beside it an altar, and there worshiped God. This was the example he gave to his children. If the children are educated to love and fear God, they will be fitted to bear responsibilities in life. Abraham commanded his household after him to keep the way of the Lord. This is what you should do. What are the terms upon which we may have eternal life? This was the inquiry of the lawyer that came to Jesus. He asked, “Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He only asked this question to entangle Jesus. He did not know that Christ could read his heart as an open book. Jesus left the burden of the answer upon him; he turned to him, and said, “What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right; this do, and thou shalt live.”

We might ask, What shall we do to inherit eternal life? And the answer would be, Keep the commandments of God. Who is it that lives up to this requirement? Why is there so great mourning all over the land because of the coldness and the worldliness that exist in the church? Everywhere there is a dearth of the Spirit of God. The words of Him who interpreted the law of God, are set aside. Most Christians act as though they had graduated after they were baptized. They bring no sheaves to Christ. They are not laborers together with God. We are not to inclose ourselves in our houses, and devote our whole attention to our families. This is the height of selfishness. The whole world is lying in iniquity and darkness, and we should not be content to shut away our light from perishing souls.

Christ has given his life for the souls of men, and while God works in us to will and to do of his good-pleasure, we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. While we work on our part, God will work on his part. As Daniel set his heart steadfastly to serve God, he increased in wisdom and understanding. We cannot afford to make a mistake. We cannot afford to be dwarfed in our religious life.

What would we think of apprentices at a trade who learned nothing beyond the first few principles of their art, and never made any further advancement? What can we think of those who profess religion, when they never show any marks of progression in the Christian life? What has religion wrought for him who cannot pray any more intelligently after years of profession of godliness, than he could at first, who cannot testify with any more decision to the goodness of God, and who knows nothing more of the living oracles of his word? The religion of Jesus never degrades the receiver. It reforms his taste, sanctifies his judgment, and fashions his character after the divine model.

The farmer can tell you about his farm, he can describe the quality of the land, and the character of its products. He can speak of what he knows with great freedom and interest. The lawyer, the merchant, the mechanic, all prepare for their pursuits, and experience makes perfect their knowledge, and they can all talk easily and earnestly of the improvements made in their calling; but bring together all those workmen who profess religion in such a meeting as this, and many will speak of their faith with hesitancy, with stammering tongue, and in so low a tone of voice that it is difficult to understand what they say. Why is it that men and women who can speak intelligently about matters of temporal interest, cannot speak decidedly about things of eternal interest? How do the angels look upon our lack of appreciation of the things of God? Why is it that there is such a deficiency in the service we profess to render to God?

We have found it difficult to find persons qualified to fill responsible positions in our institutions; for men have not received an education from their childhood that fitted them for the work of God. They have not labored as though the eye of God was upon them. They were not as Joseph in Egypt, and Daniel in Babylon. God honored these men who honored him, and they were exalted to be leading men in the kingdom. It is of the greatest importance to us that we establish right habits, and develop characters that will be acceptable to Heaven. It is of the greatest importance that parents be able to say, “Behold I and the children whom the Lord hath given me.” If this is our privilege, it will be seen that we have done the work committed to our hands; that solid timbers have been used in the character building of our children. It will be seen that they are untainted, unpolluted by the evils of the world; the love and fear of God is in their souls.

One of the greatest influences for good in society is a well-disciplined family. How many lawless households there are. Parents too often take their ease, and indulge in pastime and pleasure, instead of seeking to repress the evil outgrowth of disposition in their children. They do not realize that the development of these evil tendencies in their children will finally result in the destruction of their own peace. Every father and mother should pray earnestly that Jesus may be revealed to their children as a complete Saviour, and that their characters may be fashioned according to the divine pattern. Oh, that our work may be done for time and for eternity!

GOD UNDERSTANDS.

MAN cannot read the baffled purpose true; Man cannot see the good I fain would do; Nor trace aright life's mazed, perplexing strands; One understands—He only understands.

One only tells if triumph, or defeat; For One alone doth strength and weakness mete; The hidden fountain, and the desert sands— Fullness and need alike, He understands.

Whether with swift and eager tread I go, Or reach my Lord by painful steps and slow, What matter—since I bide His dear commands, Who, now and always, wholly understands? —Faith and Works.

Enduring Temptation

"BLESSED is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him." James 1:12.

"LET THE LITTLE ONES COME UNTO ME."

By Mrs. A. W. Heald

THE question is often asked, "How much can young children understand of their relations to God?" Various answers are of course given, but it is safe to affirm that many of them comprehend more than we know. The following story of a real experience will serve to illustrate this:—

Little Marie was a very willful child; one day she had been unusually troublesome, and at night when tucked snugly in bed, the following conversation ensued:—

"Why has my little girl done so many naughty things to-day?"

"O auntie, just because I like to do as I've a mind to."

"But little children cannot do as they have a mind to. They must learn to be obedient and do as God wishes. Then God will be pleased with them, and when the blessed Lord Jesus comes, he will take them to dwell with him in Heaven."

"Well, auntie, there is one way I can do as I am a mind to, I can want to do just as God wants to have me."

This little girl had, all unknowingly, grasped the great truth of the liberty which is in Christ Jesus, the perfect freedom of a life wholly conformed to the will of God.

Do we sufficiently realize our need of divine wisdom to instruct the dear children as to what God requires of his little ones? How much loving tenderness is needful on the part of parent or teacher! and how all-important it is to gain the confidence of the childish hearts, that they may freely speak their thoughts of God and spiritual things, giving us the opportunity to guide and instruct! The strong will need not be crushed, but may be so wisely directed as to render valuable aid in the service of God. The young hearts are tender and ever ready to respond to the love of Jesus, and if our Lord's commands are rightly presented to these little ones, how many will say, with little Marie, "I will want to do just as God wishes."

MRS. A. W. HEALD.

HOW THE TRUTH CAME TO US.

By F. A. Reynolds

WE lived on a ranch in the Rockies, eight miles from town, thirty miles from any church of our own denomination. Our neighbors were few and far between, most of them Catholics. We were professors of religion, and proud to be called Baptists. But, isolated as we were from all religious associations, we had still a faith. We tried to teach our little ones Bible truths. We never went to church, and Sunday, although a day of comparative rest, was not much different in spirit and influence from other days. We walked, read, and sung; made it a day of rest if we had no pressing work.

A lady who got hold of my name through a household journal, sent me Unitarian tracts and papers, and wrote to me, calling my attention to them. I glanced at them and laid them aside. The brilliant essays had no fascination for me, and I did not care to discuss the question of Christ's divinity.

One day last spring I received in my mail a roll of papers. Opening them, I found the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Review and Herald, and Gospel Sickle. I glanced at them and laid them aside. I glanced them over again later, and told my husband at dinner that someone had sent me some papers, I guessed they were Adventist papers, but I hadn't read them, and didn't know anything about them. He laughed, and said: "They are determined not to let you be a Baptist in peace! First Unitarianism, now Adventism, what next?"

In my next mail I received a card from a lady in Battle Creek, saying she had sent me some papers, and hoped I would read them and let her know my opinion. From a sense of politeness I read a little here and there, and wrote a card acknowledging the paper. Then I received a roll of tracts on the Sabbath question. I read one and was interested, and commenced an argument on the subject with my husband. Then he became interested, and we read all the tracts and some paper articles. The lady wrote again, and we finally became so interested in the Sabbath question that we prayed to be guided aright, and went to studying in earnest. We sent for other tracts and wrote to our correspondent for light on certain points. On the 21st of July we had decided the matter and kept our first Sabbath.

A tract on "Present Truth" drew our attention to that subject, and we read carefully what we could find, and accepted it. Then we were led to study other points of the Seventh-day Adventist faith, which we found to be simple Bible truths, hitherto hidden or distorted, and we now rejoice in the truth so far as we have had time to inform ourselves.

Having asked God's guidance in simplicity and faith, intelligent study led us to embrace every point presented to us. And the Bible study was the means of our rededication to God's service. We find a beauty and a sacredness in the real Sabbath that Sunday never held for us. We find a satisfaction in contemplating death as a dreamless sleep which knows no waking till the resurrection morn. We admire the justice of punishment after judgment, and the consistency of the destruction of evil and evil-doers. We look with joy for the near coming of Christ, and are anxious to speed the Third Angel's Message, to prepare the world for the end. We anticipate the joys of the new earth, free from sin and sorrow, and thank God that he has allowed one of his servants to give testimony for the benefit of those who are trying to keep the commandments.

May we so live that we may be of the throng that sing the new song, who have his name written in their foreheads.

F. A. REYNOLDS.

Willis, Mont. Ter.

THAT JESUIT CLAIM.

By Editor

OUR readers will remember that we have several times of late made reference to a religious political controversy in Quebec, Canada, which had its origin in the efforts of the Jesuits to recover possession of a large amount of valuable property confiscated more than a hundred years ago. "The matter ended, as was supposed," says the Christian at Work, "by the passage of a bill by the Provincial Legislature in July of last year awarding the sum of $400,000 to the Jesuits in full settlement of their claims. As we stated at the time, it was within the power of the Dominion Parliament to veto the bill of the Quebec Legislature. It did nothing of the kind, however, but passed the bill. Meantime, the resources of the Quebec province are reduced, and there is no money in the treasury, and if there were funds it is doubtful if they could be devoted to that object, the law requiring that money to be raised by public loan. This of course requires an act of the Legislature of Quebec. But the Lieutenant-Governor of the Province possesses the veto power, and it is stated in very positive terms that the Lieutenant-Governor has not only made up his mind to veto this bill when presented to him, but has so advised the Premier, and so it looks very much as if the Jesuits, for whose exclusive benefit the act was passed, and who were the

chief movers in the matter, find themselves quietly put aside when it comes to the apportionment of the grant.

"The act left the disposition of the fund in the hands of the Pope, and Leo has decided that only $100,000 out of the $400,000 is to go to the Jesuits, the remainder being divided among the ecclesiastical and scholastic institutions and bishops. The award, however wise and just it may be, has aroused strong feeling, and subjected every act of the Government to the severest scrutiny. It would not be at all surprising if, under the Constitution, the bill passed by the Quebec Legislature at the instigation of the Roman Catholics might prove a very boomerang and operate against them so effectually as to destroy the power they have wielded in the politics of that country. To secure such a result the payment of $400,000 would be considered very reasonable."

BARTIMEUS.

By Robert J. Burdette

I WOULD receive my sight; my clouded eyes Miss the glad radiance of the morning sun, The changing tints that glorify the skies With roseate splendors when the day is done; The shadows soft and gray, the pearly light Of summer twilight deep'ning into night.

I cannot see to keep the narrow way, And so I blindly wander here and there, Groping amidst the tombs, or, helpless, stray Through pathless, tangled deserts, bleak and bare. Weeping I seek the way I cannot find— Open my eyes, dear Lord, for I am blind.

And oft I laugh with some light, thoughtless jest, Nor see how anguish lines some face more dear. And write my mirth, a mocking palimpsest, On blotted scrolls of human pain and fear, And never see the heartache interlined— Pity, O Son of David! I am blind.

I do not see the pain my light words give; The quivering, shrinking heart I cannot see; So, light of thought, 'midst hidden griefs I live, And mock the cypressed tombs with slightest glee; Open my eyes, light, blessed ways to find— Jesus, have mercy on me, I am blind.

My useless eyes are reservoirs of tears, Doomed for their blind mistakes to overflow; To weep for thoughtless ways of wandering years, Because I could not see—I did not know. These sightless eyes—than angriest glance less kind— Light of the World, have pity! I am blind.

—Robert J. Burdette, in Christian Advocate.

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN RUSSIA.

DURING the summer of last year it was made known to the Christian world that the Lutherans in the Baltic provinces were, at the hands of the Russian Government, suffering interference in the exercise of their rights of conscience as to the choice of religious belief. A protest against this was sent to the Czar by the various branches of the Evangelical Alliance. In course of time a reply to this protest was elaborately, but not very satisfactorily, made by Monsieur C. Pobedonostzeff, of St. Petersburg, the Chief of the Holy Synod. To this protest the Swiss branch of the Evangelical Alliance have made a vigorous answer.

The protest insists upon "the primordial right of every human being to serve God according to the dictates of his conscience;" declares "the right of imposing a certain form of religion upon the subjects of his Majesty the Czar, under pain and penalty of exile or other punishments, may well be doubted;" insists upon the right to see the truth wherever found as a law of divine authority, "not a privilege that can be granted or revoked at pleasure, or according to circumstances, but which is a divine gift of God as much as is life itself. Force, brute force alone, can be the engine employed against it." Furthermore, the Procurer is told that "it is against the employment of this force, no matter where it is found, or on what pretext it is founded, that the Evangelical Alliance has protested in the past, and still protests."—Christian at Work.

Sincerity and Obedience to the Gospel

By J. H. Painter

THE frequent remark, "It doesn't make so much difference what you believe if you are sincere," and kindred statements, do about as much mischief in preventing obedience to the gospel as anything that skeptics may say. To exalt sincerity as a standard of righteousness causes it to usurp the place of God's holy truth, and changes sincere into sin sear. What sins have not been committed in the name of sincerity, and how many vainly imagine that it will convert any act into righteousness. Remember Paul, who, though one of the sincerest, was "chief of sinners." Let even sincerity, therefore, be brought into subjection to the gospel of Christ. 2 Cor. 10: 5.—J. H. Painter, in Christian Oracle.

HINDU WIDOWS.

BY ONE OF THEMSELVES.

THERE are four principal castes among Hindus, and of them all I think the third caste, the Kaites, to which I belong, make their widows suffer most.

All are treated badly enough, but our customs are much worse than those of some others. In the Punjaub they are not always strict in enforcing their customs with widows; but though we live in the Punjaub, our family comes from the Northwest, and as we are rich and well-to-do, our customs are kept up scrupulously.

When a husband dies his wife suffers as much as if the death angel had come for her also. She must not be approached by any of her relations, but several women, from three to six (wives of barbers, a class who are kept up for this object), are in waiting, and as soon as the husband's last breath is drawn, they rush at the new-made widow and tear off her ornaments. Ear and nose rings are dragged off, often tearing the cartilage, ornaments plaited in with the hair are torn away, and if the arms are covered with gold and silver bracelets they do not take the time to draw them off one by one, but, holding her arm on the ground, they hammer with a stone until the metal, often solid and heavy, breaks in two; it matters not to them how many wounds they inflict; they have no pity, not even if the widow is but a child of six or seven, who does not know what a husband means.

At that time two sorrows come upon every widow, one from God, and one from her own people, who should cherish and support her, but who desert and execrate her. If the husband dies away from home, then, on the arrival of the fatal news, all this is done. At the funeral all the relatives, men as well as women, have to accompany the corpse to the burning ghat. If they are rich and have carriages they must not use them, but all go on foot. The men follow the corpse, the women (all the ladies well covered from sight) come after, and last the widow, led along by the barbers' wives. They take care that at least two hundred feet intervene between her and any other woman, for it is supposed that if her shadow fell on any, her tormentors excepted, she also would become a widow; therefore no relative, however much sympathy she may feel in secret, dare look on her face. One of the rough women goes in front and shouts aloud to any passer-by to get out of the way of the accursed thing, as if the poor widow were a wild beast; the others drag her along.

Arrived at the river, tank, or well, where the body is to be burned, they push her into the water, and as she falls so she must lie, with her clothes on, until the body has been burned and all the company have bathed, washed their clothes, and dried them. When they are all ready to start for home, but not before, they drag her out, and in her wet clothes she must trudge home. It matters not what the weather is, in a burning sun or with an icy wind blowing from the Himalayas. They care not if she dies. Oh, I would rather choose the suttee!

Many are happy enough to die in consequence of these sorrows; for, however ill they may become, no care is taken of them or medicine given.

I once went to a funeral (before I was myself a widow) where the burning ghat was three kos (about six miles) from the city. It was the hottest month of the year, and though we started at sunrise we did not reach the house again till three P. M. I shall never forget how much we women suffered from the hot, blasting wind that blew on us like fire, and the blazing sun. We were almost worn out with heat and thirst, though we had stopped often to rest and drink. The poor widow dared not ask for a drink, or she would have lost her character; the women with her might have given her water if they had liked, but they would not.

At last she fell, but they pulled her up again and dragged her on; told her not to give way, she was not the only widow, and taunted her, when she wept, with wanting a husband. When she had no strength left even to crawl, they dragged her along like a bundle of clothes.

On arrival at the house she was flung on the floor in a little room; still, though they knew she was almost dead with thirst, they did not give her a drop of water, and she dared not ask for any. She was a relative of mine; but none of us dared go near her, for it would have brought down maledictions on the head of any who tried it. At last one young woman, after watching a long while, saw her opportunity and slipped in with a vessel of water. The widow ran at her like a wild creature. I cannot describe how she

behaved; at first she did not recognize her friend—she drank and drank till life and sense came back to her. Then she fell down at the feet of her who had brought the water, and, embracing them, said: "O sister, I will never forget what you have done for me! You are my god—my second creator! But go away quickly, I pray, that no one may ever find out what you have done, or we shall both suffer. I promise I will never tell of you."

For fifteen days after a funeral the relatives must eat and drink only once in the day (twenty-four hours); but the widow must keep up this for a year, with frequent fasts. When she returns from the funeral she must sit or lie in a corner on the ground in the same clothes she had on when her husband died, whether still wet or by this time dry. Now and then one of the barbers' wives comes and looks after her, or, if she is poor and not able to pay for their further kind attentions, she must sit alone. O cruel place! each widow knows you well, and remembers you with bitterness. Separated from her husband, though she lives she is not alive! Not only is she deprived of comforts, but her friends add to her misery. Though she is in her corner alone and must not speak to anyone, they are near and talk at her in this way: Her mother says, "Unhappy creature! I can't bear the thought of anyone so vile—I wish she had never been born." Her mother-in-law says, "The horrid viper! She has bitten my son and killed him; now he is dead, and she, useless creature, is left behind." And this even though the speakers may themselves be widows. Every indignity that the tongue can speak is heaped upon her, lest the standers-by, or perchance the gods, should think they had sympathy with her.

The sister-in-law says, "I will not look at or speak to such a thing." They comfort the dead man's mother, and say, "It is your daughter-in-law, vile thing, who has destroyed your house; curse her! For her sake you have to mourn for the rest of your life." To the widow they say, "What good are you? Why are you still living in the world?" If she cries and shows her grief they all say, "How immodest, how abandoned; see, she is crying for a husband!" They have no pity. Only those who have been through this know what it is; you must feel this grief to prove it. Whose foot has the chilblain feels the pain. For thirteen days the widow must sit and bear this.

On the eleventh day comes a Brahman, and, like a policeman who comes for a culprit, orders money and oil and other things to be given him. However poor the widow may be, money, or the promise of it, must be given, from the very poorest at least thirteen rupees. Other Brahmans make other demands, and if the family is rich their demands are very high. A poor widow has often to labor hard for money at grinding, or some other work, to earn enough to satisfy their claims.

The thirteenth day is a bad day, though then the widow may take off the clothes she has worn ever since her husband died, and may bathe. The relatives all gather and lay rupees before the widow, which are supposed to be a provision for her for life. They do not spare their reproaches. If the rupees given amount to any large sum it is taken charge of, by some relative, who doles it out.

Now again the Brahmans come for more money. The widow's head is shaved, and there is another Brahmanial tax. Then the barbers' wives have to be paid. Six weeks after the husband's death the widow must once again put on the hated clothes she wore for those thirteen days (abhorred garments! if a widow by chance catches sight of them she shudders as if a fresh widowhood were hers), and then, if possible, she must go on a pilgrimage to the Ganges, and, after bathing there, the clothes may be thrown away in the river.

After a year has passed away a widow who is living with her father and mother may wear ornaments again. But why is this? If you ask the parents they say: "Poor girl! she has not seen much of life; if she cannot wear jewels now while we are with her she can never wear them; and how can she pass a long life without jewels? We can't bear to see her naked; how could we wear jewels and she sit before us bare?"

The widows who have no parents are still more to be pitied; they have to serve as servants to their brothers' or sons' wives. Everyone knows that if there are widows in a house servants need not be hired. A sister-in-law rules over a widow, and they quarrel night and day. If a widow remains in her husband's house it is the same; she is hated by mother and sisters-in-law, and beaten from place to place. If for sake of peace she would like to live alone, she loses her character. If she has children she works for them while they are young; when her sons marry, she becomes their wives' servant. If a widow is childless and rich (by the money given her after her husband's death), her relatives choose some boy to be her heir and to be provided for by her. She may bring him up with love and care, but when he gets big he takes her property and only allows her food and clothes while she waits on his wife. A widow has no power over property supposed to be her own. It is happier for a widow to be poor and earn her living by grinding corn!

Among us women can inherit no dowry of their father's wealth, it all goes to their brothers. Neither do they inherit what their husbands leave. They only have what may be given them, and if it is a lump sum perhaps they are silly and spend it foolishly; they are not taught to take care of it properly. If a wife die she is buried in her best clothes and jewels, but a widow's corpse is wrapped in white cloth. It is supposed that if she came to her husband in the next life without a show of mourning he would not receive her.

Thousands of us die, but more live. I saw a widow die, one of my cousins. She had been ill before her husband's death. When he died she was too weak to be dragged down to the river. She was in a burning fever; her mother-in-law called a water-carrier and had four large skins of water poured over her as she lay on the ground, where she had been thrown from her bed when her husband died. The chill of death came upon her, and, after lying alone and untended for eight hours, her breath ceased. Everyone praised her, and said she had died for love of her husband.

We are aghast at the great number of widows. How is it there are so many? The answer is, If an article is constantly supplied and never used up it must accumulate. So it is with widows; nearly every man or boy who dies leaves one, often more; so, though thousands die, more live on.

I am told that in England and America they comfort the widows' hearts; but there is no comfort for us.—Gospel in All Lands.

TRUE OBEDIENCE.

By Christian Intelligencer

OBEDIENCE is knowledge applied. It is belief in motion. To obedience Jesus looks to find the true test of friendship and love to him: "Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you." "He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me." His disciples, therefore, need to do more than to look into their minds to see if they have knowledge of Christ, and into their hearts to see if they have the love of Christ; they need to look to their feet to see if they run in the way of Christ's commands, to ascertain whether their obedience is in accordance with their knowledge and professed belief. Jesus obeyed the law perfectly. "Though he was a Son, yet learned [he] obedience by the things which he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the Author of eternal salvation." And to his disciples he said, "I have given you an example." Therefore, no believer is justified in becoming so engrossed in his contemplation of Christ's cross of atonement as to allow it to obscure Christ's life of satisfying obedience; and in his rapture at the view of Calvary to think that he has nothing to do but to stand, clap his hands, and shout—

"Hallelujah, 'tis done! I believe on the Son; I am saved by the blood of the crucified One." —Christian Intelligencer.

WHAT JESUS IS ABLE TO DO.

ABLE to make all grace abound toward us; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. 2 Cor. 9:8.

Able to succor them that are tempted. Heb. 2:18.

Able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. Jude 24.

Able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him. Heb. 7:25.

What he has promised, he is able also to perform. Rom. 4:21.

Able to make you stand. Rom. 14:4.

Able to keep that which I have committed unto him. 2 Tim. 1:12.

Able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. Acts 20:32.

Able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. Eph. 3:20.

Able even to subdue all things unto himself. Phil. 3:21.

Believe ye that I am able to do this? Matt 9:28.—Selected.

Continue reading: SELAH