p. 8 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 35, No. 12. (10/21/1908)

Suggestive Notes

Sunday	Oct. 25	Eze. 41, 42	Romans 4
Monday	" 26	" 43, 44	" 5
Tuesday	" 27	" 45, 46	" 6
Wednesday	" 28	" 47, 48	" 7
Thursday	" 29	Dan. 1, 2	" 8
Friday	" 30	" 3, 4	" 9
Sabbath	" 31	" 5, 6	" 10, 11

Suggestive Notes.

Chapters 41 to 48 of Ezekiel have to do with the conditional temple, its ceremonies, rites, offerings, etc., promised by the prophet to Israel if they would only return from the captivity with all their heart. As God would have wrought with Israel when they came out of Egypt into the promised land, in making their days like the days of heaven upon the earth, so would He have wrought for Israel when they came up from the Babylonian captivity, if they had been willing; but they were not willing, consequently the last ten or twelve chapters of Ezekiel must stand as a great prophecy in its spiritual aspect of greater things which the Lord will do for His people through Christ.

★

The last three days of this week's readings have to do with another very important book of the Old Testament, called sometimes the Apocalypse of the Hebrew Scriptures; that is, it deals with revelation and is the parallel book to the Revelation in the New Testament. The name "Daniel" means "Judge of God," or one who judges in God's name. He was known to his own contemporaries, for he is mentioned in Eze. 14:20, and classed among such noble characters as Noah and Job, as an example of wisdom and righteousness. We learn also from the book that Daniel occupied a very high place in the courts of Nebuchadnezzar, Darius, and Cyrus, in spite of all the plots of malignant rivals.

★

The book is written partly in Hebrew and partly in Aramaic. The Aramaic portion begins at chapter 2:4 and ends with the close of chapter 7. It is distinctively prophetic, altho in the Hebrew it is not counted among the prophets, but among the Hagiographa. By some, the book is divided into two parts: narrative, chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, the other chapters prophetic; but the devoted student of God's word will find that all of them are more or less prophetic.

★

God has in these prophecies given the rulers and nations of earth great practical lessons of life. What a lesson is chapter 1 of the excellency of the divine method of education; chapter 2, of God's knowledge in revealing the future; chapter 3, of His power to deliver His children. Note the contrast between chapter 2 and chapter 3. In the one is the Lord's prediction of the insecurity of all earthly kingdoms; in the other is a manifestation of human patriotism, of what man purposed to make the kingdom of man. The names which the king gave Daniel and his fellows were evidently designed to wean them away from the worship of the true God to the worship of false gods. Note the three years' course in the Babylonian schools. It has come down to us through all the ages and is still prevalent.

★

In our New Testament lessons, chapters 4 to 11 of Romans are covered. The great argument is man's sin, his utter need, and God's grace in saving him through Jesus Christ.

Are You Sowing to the Flesh?

1. WHAT eternal law of moral conduct is continually demonstrated in nature? "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Gal. 6:7. "To every seed his own body." 1 Cor. 15:38.

2. What will he reap who sows to the flesh? "He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption." Gal. 6:8.

3. To what is the flesh contrary? "For the flesh lusteth AGAINST THE SPIRIT, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other." Gal. 5:17. "The carnal [fleshly] mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to THE LAW of God, neither indeed can be." Rom. 8:7.

4. What are the works of the flesh? "The works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like." Gal. 5:19-21.

5. What will be the result of such sowing? "They which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Gal. 5:21. "He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption." Gal. 6:8. "To be carnally minded [fleshly minded] is death." Rom. 8:6.

6. In thus reaping, what does a man truly do? "They eat of the fruit of their own way" and are "filled with their own devices." Prov. 1:31. "The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways." Prov. 14:14. "He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity [nothingness, death]." Prov. 22:8. "Hear, O earth; behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not harkened unto My words, nor to My law, but rejected it." Jer. 6:19.

7. That we may be saved from such a fate, what faithful warning does God give us? "Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Gal. 6:7.

2632.—Suffering the Vengeance of Eternal Fire.

Please explain Jude 7, "Suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." Does it mean that the people of these cities are now in misery? W. F.

It does not, any more than it means that they are now "giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh." The present tense is used to make the subject more vivid. The best commentary on Jude 7 is 2 Peter 2:6: "Turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them with an overthrow, making them ensamples unto those that should after live ungodly." What is the example that those cities now set before us?—Absolute destruction. Their loss is eternal, the effect of the eternal fire.

2633.—The Man of Great Stature. 1 Chron. 20: 6.

In 1 Chron. 20: 6 we learn of a "war at Gath where was a man of great stature, whose fingers and toes were four and twenty, six on each hand, and six on each foot: and he also was the son of the giant." Who is this giant and where can we read about him in the Bible?

A. H. B.

Evidently the six-toed, six-fingered man was a son of the father of Goliath, and a brother to Goliath. We read in connection with it, verses four and five, of Sippai and Lahmi, the brothers of Goliath; three of them evidently brothers. Of the one mentioned in the sixth verse it is said: "He also was the son of the giant." They were all brothers. "These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants." Goliath had at least three brothers.

2634.—Telling of Our Troubles.

By Editor

Is it right for a sister to tell her troubles to others in the church or to the church? Could they help you better? Or should one keep them to oneself, telling them alone to God? J. F. P.

That would depend. It is impossible for us to answer a question in that way. As a general thing let us go to God with our troubles. He knows all about it, knows just how we are tempted, can appreciate just what they are, can understand and sympathize with us when our brethren, who have not suffered such things as we suffer could not sympathize with us at all. He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities; others are not always. On the other hand, there may be times when we feel that we must have human help; not only our own prayers, but the prayers of others. Our prayers may be selfish, our desires selfish; we want the wisdom, instruction, and guidance of some unselfish one to lead us. It is well at such times to go to some trusted Christian, tell him all about it, ask his advice, pray with him for help from the Father. It is all right in a general way to ask our brethren and sisters to pray for us, but it is not always best to tell our troubles in detail. Carry all these to the Father who hears us and who is always willing to help us.

As to attending meeting, we would say to our inquirer to avail yourself of every means of grace that God brings to you. Do not in any wise antagonize your husband if you can help it, but whenever it is reasonable, attend the services of God's house, and by His grace live so much better that your husband will see and know that it is the life which you receive from Christ and His word that makes you a better wife, more of a comfort to him than you would otherwise be.

2635.—The Personality of the Holy Spirit.—

By Editor

Our correspondent, it seems to us, is within the bounds of Scripture and reason when he says he can not understand how God's Holy Spirit can be omnipresent and still be a personal being as we understand personality. The "counsel of peace" is "between them both," two persons, Father and Son; if there were three persons, equal persons, the counsel of peace would be among the three. Then, too, God says, "I will pour out My Spirit." Then, too, in the Greek Testament he notes that when the Bible speaks of the Spirit, the neuter form, to, of the definite article is used. There are other things which he thinks point to the same conclusion. The only way the Spirit can be spoken of as a person, it seems to us, is the great fact that the Spirit makes present the Godhead. God speaks, God blesses, God strengthens, through the Spirit. See John 14:21-23. The "He" of John 14:16 in both instances refers to God; God gives the Comforter, that God may abide with His people. That Spirit clothes itself with angels and men, and thus comes in personal form. But ever it is the representation of God. "He shall not speak of Himself."

Beginning of Our Printing Work in the Interior of China

By H. W. Miller, M. D.

F ever an institution can be said to have been begun on a small scale, it can truly be said of our publishing work in China. Our first publication was a single sheet, and our first printing-press was a little army press, the total weight of which would not be over three hundred pounds and could go inside of a steamer trunk complete. Besides this we had a box of English job type which we brought with us from the States.

This little press, being a donation, was brought out to China in the fall of 1903 and remained boxed up until the spring of 1904, when we unpacked it. But since none of us knew anything about printing, fearing to go too far in unpacking, we nailed up the box, concluding to wait until a printer came out. And in this box it remained for another year, until the spring of 1905, when we had a small amount of literature translated into the Mandarin language, and decided to publish a monthly paper for use at the different stations. The press was to be installed at the mission station of Shang Tsai Hsien, in the province of Honan, about twenty miles distant from the railway.

The natives, who had never seen a machine of any kind before, were greatly interested in this enterprise. They came from the country villages to see this press. We explained to the carpenter how to make the cases for the three thousand type we had secured, and he purchased some lumber for us. The only seasoned lumber that could be secured was what had already been sawed out for coffins. (The Chinese make their coffins out of boards from five to six inches thick, which are wedge-shaped, being from six to seven inches wide at one end and from four or five at the other, sawed by hand with the cross-cut saw.) They were three weeks in finishing the type-cases.

Army Press with which our work started in China.

After putting out one issue of the monthly paper and a few smaller publications, we found that working with three thousand characters was a difficult task, so we decided to wait until we could secure a larger font of type and different varieties. We at once

sent an order for enough type to make our number up to seven thousand. When these arrived, we had an even greater task of making the type-cases, and it was difficult to find room in the native houses to store all of them; and by placing them the best way we could in these native houses, they were inconvenient to get at.

In a short time we wore out our inking roller, then we had a new problem to solve as we were so remote from modern facilities. I had some glycerin in my dispensary, and we had some gelatin, and since the rollers looked much like a composition we had used in the laboratory for media, we varied one of the formulas and made up a composition for a roller. Then we took a pasteboard tube and lined it with oil-paper, and by placing the core in the center of the tube and filling in the bottom with pasteboard and sealing wax, we proceeded to cast our first roller. It proved to be a success, altho it was not perfectly circular. We found that the oiled paper adhered to the gelatin, so we had to wash it off. By cutting a length of stove-pipe and spreading it on a board it answered well for an inking slab. By utilizing such materials as could be found in the kitchen and dispensary, together with the ingenuity of the natives, we were ready to proceed with the equipment then in hand.

Composing-Room of Chinese Printing-Office.

We published the "Gospel Primer," a hymn-book of 125 hymns, some sheet tracts, a short tract on the resurrection and another on the immortality of the soul, besides issuing the regular numbers of our paper during the fall of 1905. In February of 1906 we applied to the district inspector of the province of Honan to have our monthly

paper registered at the imperial post-office as a newspaper so as to give us the benefits of the reduced postal rate. Within a few weeks we received his reply, enclosing the official document recognizing our paper. The number of said document was "one," it being the first newspaper published in that province of 35,000,000 people. Altho working with this crude equipment, we felt a real blessing in it, and the Lord prospered our efforts, for this small amount of literature has already borne fruit.

Owing to the distance of Shang Tsai from the railway, it soon became apparent that it would not be the best place to locate our press permanently, so a location was secured

at Sin Yang Cheo, a railway city in the southern part of Honan; but very little was accomplished there except the erection of a building. Upon returning to China, after a few months in America, it was decided to remove the publishing plant to Shanghai, being more central for all of China.

As we previously had done no work in Shanghai, we came here as strangers, and since in these ports only such property is built as is wanted for immediate use, we could find nothing at any reasonable rent in which to locate our printing-office except Chinese houses. Of course these are in many respects undesirable, since the Chinese do not especially care for light, but build their houses more for a place of shelter.

We now have our entire equipment in order and are again beginning to print. Our greatest need is a suitable building, for it is only a question of time when we shall in these countries be largely dependent on our own resources for carrying on our work. We trust that our need here may impress itself upon souls interested in enlightening those in heathen darkness by placing in their hands the printed page of the Gospel of light.

Shanghai, China.

Quickened by the Word

Quickened by the Word.—In his affliction, the psalmist found life-giving power in God's word, for he says: "This is my comfort in my affliction; for Thy word hath quickened me." And again, "My soul cleaveth unto the dust; quicken Thou me according to Thy word." Ps. 119: 50, 25. In our afflictions, we may find in God's words the very strength, the very help, the very consolation, and the power that we need, power to rise above difficulties, power to conquer discouragements, power to succeed in spite of every affliction that the conditions of this evil world may bring upon us. God's word is a veritable citadel of strength to the individual who has learned to trust it.

Mell Appointed Bible Society Secretary

By Editor

Rev. A. Wesley Mell, for a number of years a missionary to India, has been appointed agency secretary of the American Bible Society for the states of California, Nevada, Washington, and Oregon.

Mr. Mell began his work October 1.

The work of the American Bible Society, together with its sister, the British and Foreign Bible Society, is so important in character that its value is beyond the possibility of estimate. We should render every assistance we can to these two agencies which are working for the dissemination of the Bible in all the languages of all the nations and kindreds and tongues of earth.

What they have accomplished is truly marvelous, and their work should go on increasing till the end of time.

Cleansing Power of the Word

Cleansing Power of the Word.—God has a definite means through which He works to cleanse individuals from every form of wrong-doing. Speaking to His disciples, the Master said: "Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you." John 15:3. The character is formed through the things that we think about. If the individual persistently thinks upon the uplifting, right-producing words of God, he will be cleansed through the power of that word. It is God's plan; hence the continued necessity of careful, close, conscientious Bible study.

The Dwelling of the Word

The Dwelling of the Word.—It is God's design that His word shall be in our minds continually, so that whatever we do, even in the most ordinary affairs of life, we may be directed in the doing of it by the word of God itself. "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." Col. 3:16. The word is to "dwell" with us. It must not be an occasional visitor, but a dweller.

Speaking the Word with Power

Speaking the Word with Power.—God definitely promises to make His word a power in the mouth of the individual who speaks it. "Thus saith the Lord God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make My words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them." Jer. 5:14. It is God's design that His people shall permit His word to so fully enter their minds that they shall live that word continually, that that word shall guide them in rightdoing; and he who is thus guided by the word will speak the word with power. This is God's design, and it should be our aim to educate ourselves day by day into the perfection of His plan.

Gratifying Progress in China.

By Editor

A POSTAL card recently received from Brother Bert A. Roberts, who with his wife joined the corps of missionaries who went to China, March 2, 1908, gives the gratifying intelligence that Mrs. Roberts is already sufficiently advanced in the Chinese language to be able to make herself understood among the Chinese people. This is certainly very remarkable. Brother Roberts says he is also making progress, but he is not able to keep up with his wife in learning the language. This may be due in part to the fact that Brother Roberts is very busy in the mechanical work of helping to equip the printing-office that we are establishing in that place.

In this connection it would be well to remind our readers that some five thousand dollars is needed to establish the printing work in Shanghai. The work that our missionaries are doing in that field should appeal to us. There can be no more profitable investment in funds than to assist missionaries who are seeking to spread the principles of the great message of truth in regard to the soon-coming of Christ. Send your donations for this work to the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Mountain View, Cal.

The Wicked Suffer No More Than the Righteous in Death.

By Editor

Dr. C. B. Humiston, of Cleveland, Ohio, has devoted a good deal of time over a period of quite a large number of years to studying the conditions of people who are dying. He is said to have watched over 15,000 people pass away. He says that when he was a child, he was taught that the righteous died very easy and happy, while the wicked were compassed about with terrors and horrors; but in watching these 15,000 cases, he has come to the conclusion that the wicked have no more suffering in dying than do the righteous. He thinks he has exploded one of the orthodox theories of the church.

Dr. Humiston may have upset a theory of some church-people, but he has not in the least regard made a new discovery, since we read, "For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men." Ps. 73: 3-5. Thus the good old Book has been telling us for all of these centuries that there are no bands in the death of the wicked. So the doctor has not made a new discovery after all. It is very frequently the case that if we would have more confidence in the good old Book, we would be saved a great deal of troublesome work, not to mention many mistakes and errors.

Helps for Teachers.

By Editor

Bible Nature Series Nos. 2 and 3.

"Bible Nature Series No. 1" is all in type and will be ready in October. This first book of the series has been prepared for use in the fourth grade in our primary schools, and can be secured from your tract society, or the Pacific Press, Mountain View, Cal.

Numbers 2 and 3 of this series are in preparation, and neostyle copies may now be secured from month to month as they are being graded and adapted for use in the Normal Department of the Walla Walla College. Numbers 2 and 3 are designed for use in grades five and six, and teachers who desire to use these lessons the present year can obtain copies by addressing Walla Walla College, Normal Dept., College Place, Wash. Price of neostyled lessons for numbers 2 and 3 of the series, $1.00 each, post-paid.

Support the Orphans’ Home

By Editor

Elder D. T. Shireman, of Toluca, N. C., writes under date of September 3 as follows:

"I thought I would say a few words to you through the pen. As I am getting old and useless for work any more, I thought perhaps I could visit cities and towns and sell periodicals and thus help sustain our home work. I can not sit down and do nothing, so I hope inside of two months to begin in the towns near home and go as the way opens. I must do something to keep the Home going, as I can not think of scattering the children. I think there might be some who would send us some papers, and pay for a small club of the Signs for the benefit of our Orphans' Home, and I could have them addressed to the town or city where I would sell. Our Home will be more than full, and if the way opens, we will put up another building, as so many are applying to come."

Most of our workers are acquainted with the work Elder D. T. Shireman has done in establishing schools for the colored people in North Carolina. This letter appeals to us, and we believe there are some who will be glad to order Brother Shireman a good club of the Signs of the Times monthly for him to sell to help support the Home which he has established. Send remittance direct to the Signs of the Times, Cooperation Corner, and it will be applied in sending him papers which he can use to advantage.

Signs of the Times Mountain View, Cal.

DATE OF EXPIRATION

By Editor

(Entered Sept. 15, 1904, as second-class matter at the Mountain View, Cal., post-office, under act of Congress of March 3, 1879.)

Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Milton C. Wilcox. Associate Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Asa O. Tait. Assistant Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Max Hill. Circulation Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C. H. Jones.

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Contents of This Number.

By Editor

Editorial

God's Greatness and Power - - - - 1

A Question of Diet and Salvation - - - 1

General

A Warfare - - - - - - - 2

The Authority of the Moral Law - - - 3

Spiritual Decadence of the Churches - - 4

Light, Air, and Ventilation - - - 5

Examine the Links - - - - - 5

With Our Inquirers

Questions Nos. 2632 to 2635 - - - 6

Our Bible Band - - - - - - 6

Our Bible-Reading

Are You Sowing to the Flesh? - - - 6

Missions

Beginning of Our Printing Work in the Interior of China - - - 7

Poetry

There Stands a Friend Outside - - - 2

Say You're Sorry - - - - - 3

God Knows - - - - - - 3