Signs of the Times, Vol. 38, No. 1. (1/3/1911)

Signs of the Times

Jan 3, 1911

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jan 3, 1911

A New Year's Request

I asked the New Year for a motto sweet, Some rule of life with which to guide my feet. I asked and paused; he answered, soft and low, "God's will to KNOW."

"Will knowledge, then, suffice, New Year?" I cried; And ere the question into silence died, The answer came, "Nay; but remember, too, God's will to DO."

Once more I asked, "Is there no more to tell?" And once again the answer softly fell, "Yes; this one thing, all other things above, God's will to LOVE."

Anonymous.

"IF YE WILL INQUIRE, INQUIRE YE."

By Editor

This Inquirers' Department is conducted for the purpose of helping those who are studying the Bible. The answers are oftentimes only suggestive. They are never to be considered infallible, only as they agree with the infallible Word. The writer who may answer them does not consider that his opinion is infallible. He will simply give the best that he has, and plead with the inquirer to search the Word. Such questions only will be answered as, to the editors, seem to minister to the good of the readers and to the mission of the paper. We can not answer repeatedly in the same volume questions upon the same scripture. The name and address must accompany question, not for publication, but as an evidence of good faith, and that answer may be made by letter if deemed advisable. No letters are answered which do not contain the name of the writer. It is well always to enclose stamp for reply.

3312.—Law and Gospel

By preaching the law do we preach the Gospel?

That depends on how one preaches the law. It would be better to put it the other way: By the true preaching of the Gospel we must preach the law. Dr. Adam Clarke has said, "He who preaches the Gospel without the law heals but slightly the hurt of the daughter of My people." No man can truly preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its fulness and effectiveness apart from the law. This would be apparent from a few questions. What is the Gospel?—"It is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." Rom. 1:16. Salvation from what?—Salvation from sin. "Thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins." Matt. 1:21. "Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity [lawlessness]." Titus 2:14. What is sin?—"Sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4. "Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law." Rom. 7:7. "For where no law is, there is no transgression." Rom. 4:15. "For by the law is the knowledge of sin." Rom. 3:20.

How is it possible to make a sinner see and truly know just what salvation the Gospel brings him unless the awful consequences of sin be shown as well as the awful result—death? The Gospel is given to bring men into perfect harmony with that law, so that the law which no longer condemns shall be written in the heart of the believer. If the law is preached this way it must be preached with the Gospel. God has not told us, however, to preach the law, but to preach the Gospel; and the true preaching of the Gospel must include the law.

3314.—Hephzi-bah and Beulah

Will you please explain Isa. 62:4, 5? M. J. W.

The chapter looks forward to the time when the new heavens, and the new earth shall be given to God's children, and the glorious new Jerusalem, or Zion, shall be the capital of that kingdom. That city is represented as the bride. Our Lord Jesus Christ is King. See in confirmation of this Gal. 4:26, where Jerusalem that is above is called "the mother of us all;" and Rev. 21: 9, 10, where Jerusalem the capital city of the new earth is called "the wife of the Lamb." All the saved ones are the children. Christ is called in Isa. 9:6 "The Everlasting Father." Jerusalem above is now desolate, waiting for her children. The same thought is confirmed in Isa. 54:1-8, a portion of which Paul quotes in the 4th chapter of Galatians. Jerusalem above being desolate would seem to be forsaken and is so spoken of. But when God shall restore the earth to its pristine beauty it will be true that Jerusalem above shall "no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah, and thy land Beulah." Hephzi-bah means "my delight shall be in her," and Beulah means "married;" "for Jehovah delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married. For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee; and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee." As Palestine was divided by Joshua among the Israelites, so God will divide the inheritance in the new earth among His saved children. Each man will rejoice in his portion; but the greatest of all rejoicing will be of our Lord Jesus Christ over His bride, the city of God, which shall be a joy and rejoicing forever.

Schedule for Week Ending January 14, 1911

Sunday January 8 Genesis 25-27 Monday " 9 " 28-30 Tuesday " 10 " 31, 32 Wednesday " 11 " 33-35 Thursday " 12 " 36-39 Friday " 13 " 40, 41 Sabbath " 14 " 42-44

Topical Outlines

Chapter 25.—Abraham's third marriage to Keturah; his descendants from that marriage; his death; Ishmael's descendants; the generations of Isaac, including the birth of Jacob and Esau.

Chapter 26.—A famine, which carries Isaac into the land of the Philistines; his abundant blessing in that land; his differences with the Philistines; his willingness to yield more than justice, and God's blessing in consequence; the chapter closes with an account of Esau's marriages.

Chapter 27.—Jacob obtains his father's blessing by fraud; Esau the first-born given a second place; Jacob forced to flee from home because of his brother's hatred.

Chapters 28 to 31 inclusive give us the account of Jacob's visit to Laban, his mother's brother; his marriage to Leah and Rachel, in which he is deceived as he had deceived his father; the sojourn with Laban; and his leaving the land of Syria for Palestine. The reader will note God's care over His servant notwithstanding all his selfishness and unfaithfulness.

Chapters 32, 33 record the journey of Jacob back to Palestine, the crisis of his life by which Jacob becomes Israel, the change of Esau's purpose by God's interposition, and the dedication of Jacob and his household to God.

Chapter 34 gives us an incident of his life in Palestine, and shows how much higher the standard of purity was among the sons of Jacob than among the inhabitants of the land.

Among the chief incidents of chapter 35 are the dedication of Israel and his children to God, God's promises renewed to Jacob, the death of Rachel, and the death and burial of Israel by his sons Esau and Jacob.

Chapter 36 records the descendants of Esau.

Chapters 37-44 are the first part of the remarkably interesting story of Joseph and his brethren, always read with interest and always with profit. It reveals to us a loving and unwise father who doubtless lavished too little affection upon his other sons in comparison with Joseph, but who made Joseph, the son of his favorite wife, the petted child of his old age. Very clearly though incidentally the evils of plurality of wives are developed in the jealousies which existed not only between the wives of Jacob, but between the families. As the result of this unwisdom and marital mistakes, hatred is developed on the part of Joseph's brethren against him. They first attempt to slay him, but finally sell him as a slave into Egypt. Notwithstanding that his father had nearly spoiled him in petting him, he must have instilled within him principles of integrity and purity. These develop very shortly after his reaching Egypt, on account of which he passes two years in prison; and in some way he needed the discipline, though innocent of any crime. From that God calls him to the throne of Egypt; and before him his brethren, unconscious to themselves, come and humbly bow, fulfilling the dreams which had aroused their envy against their brother.

THESE lessons we should gather from this week's reading: (1) God's care for His promised Seed and the channel through which it was to come. (2) That God prizes character above conventionalities. According to custom Esau was the heir, as was also Ishmael; but imperfect as Jacob was, he was superior in rectitude of character to Esau. The Lord chooses him as a channel for the promised Seed. (3) The severe discipline through which God brings His servants to develop within them the character which is necessary to reveal Him to the world. This was manifest in the cases of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. (4) We also see in this record that "whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Jacob met the harvest of his deception in the deceptions which were allowed to be practised upon him. Isaac was willing to leave the Lord to settle with the Philistines, and the Lord blessed him abundantly, and brought the Philistines to his feet. Joseph had doubtless had more or less pride developed in him through his father's unwise course, and the Lord gave him two years in the Egyptian prison to humble his heart. There are other lessons which we will gather if we will meditate upon the Word.

3313.—What Law?

By Editor

What law is referred to in Acts 21:20? Paul is accused, and in verse 24 it says he keeps the law.

W. B.

Evidently the law as used there includes all the Mosaic law as held by the Jews, which not only included the ceremonial, but the Decalogue as well. No doubt Paul followed still many of these observances. To the Jews he became a Jew that he might win the Jews. And he took upon himself this vow, prescribed in Jewish law, to show to the brethren that he still regarded the faith of his fathers. In this way he may have made a mistake. It certainly did not work out as his friends thought it would. The record tells us just what he did and just what the result was, and we must draw our own conclusion. We have an account in Numbers 6 of the performance of some such ceremonies as were carried out by the apostle and others who joined with him in this act.

3315.—Dividing the Sheep from the Goats, Matt. 25:31, 32

By Editor

When does this take place? G. N.

It is impossible in this department to answer all these questions which are involved in the judgment and in the punishment of the wicked. The coming of the Lord as spoken of many times in the Scriptures includes more than the actual appearance in the clouds of heaven. It is in its fullest sense that which takes in the whole great day of the Lord and all the judgment work relating thereto. The division of the sheep from the goats takes place in the investigative judgment which precedes the coming of Christ. When Christ comes He does not call the dead to life and then judge them; for when they are raised to life they are already "accounted worthy." Luke 20:35. They are not raised and then made immortal, but they are raised immortal. 1 Cor. 15:51-54. It is that investigation of cases previous to His coming in which that separation takes place. When He calls them forth it will be when their cases are determined and He takes them home to Himself. He will assign the wicked to their punishment at the close of the thousand years, after their cases are determined. The great and eternal results are placed before us as it were in a brief space of time in the closing part of Matthew 25. It is possible that our inquirer may obtain the pamphlet now out of stock in this publishing house, the author of which is J. N. Andrews, entitled "The Order of Events in the Judgment." This will answer very fully these inquiries.

A Lesson from Noah's Time

By Mrs. E. G. White

As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the Flood came, and destroyed them all. . . . Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

It is the nature of sin to spread and increase. Since the first sin of Adam, from generation to generation it has spread like a contagious disease. While the world was yet in its infancy, sin became fearful in its proportions. Hatred of God's law, and, as the sure result, hatred of all goodness, became universal. God, who had created man, and given him with an unsparing hand the bounties of His providence, was dishonored by the beings He had created, slighted and despised by the recipients of His gifts. But tho sinful man forgot his benevolent Benefactor, God did not forget the creature He had formed. Not only did He send "rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons," filling man's heart with "food and gladness," but He sent him also messages of warning and entreaty. Man's wickedness was fully set before him, and the result of transgressing the divine law.

An Example of the Past

In the days of Noah, the wickedness of the world became so great that God could no longer bear with it; and He said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth." But He pitied the race, and in His love provided a refuge for all who would accept it. He gave the message to Noah to be given to the people: "My Spirit shall not always strive with man." Noah was directed to build an ark, and at the same time to preach that God would bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy the wicked. Those who would believe the message, and would prepare for that event by repentance and reformation, should find pardon and be saved; but a continued resistance of the entreaties and warnings from God through His servant Noah, would separate them from God, and as a result infinite mercy and love would cease its pleadings. The Spirit of God continued to strive with rebellious man until the time specified had nearly expired, when Noah and his family entered the ark, and the hand of God closed its door. Mercy had stepped from the golden throne, no longer to intercede for the guilty sinner.

Truth Rejected

All the men of that generation were not in the fullest sense of the term heathen idolaters. Many had a knowledge of God and His law; but they not only rejected the message of the faithful preacher of righteousness themselves, but used all their influence to prevent others from being obedient to God. To every one comes a day of trial and of trust. That generation had their day of opportunity and privilege while Noah was sounding the note of warning of the coming destruction; but they yielded their minds to the control of Satan rather than of God, and he deceived them, as he did our first parents. He set before them darkness and falsehood in the place of light and truth; and they accepted his sophistry and lies, because they were acceptable to them, and in harmony with their corrupt lives, while truth that would have saved them was rejected as a delusion.

Numbers were not on the side of right. The world was arrayed against God's justice and His laws, and Noah was regarded as a fanatic. Satan, when tempting Eve to disobey God, said to her, "Ye shall not surely die." Great men, worldly, honored, and wise men, repeated the same story, "Ye shall not surely die." "The threatenings of God," they said, "are for the purpose of intimidating, and will never be verified. You need not be alarmed. Such an event as the destruction of the world by the God who made it, and the punishment of the beings He has created, will never take place. Be at peace; fear not. Noah is crazy; he is the wildest fanatic." So the people did not humble their hearts before God, but continued their disobedience and wickedness, the same as tho God had not spoken to them through His servant.

Strong in the Strength of God

But Noah stood like a rock amid the tempest. He was surrounded by every species of wickedness and moral corruption; but amid popular contempt and ridicule, amid universal wickedness and disobedience, he distinguished himself by his holy integrity and unwavering faithfulness. While the world around him were disregarding God, and were indulging in all manner of extravagant dissipation, which led to violence and crimes of every kind, the faithful preacher of righteousness declared to that generation that a flood of water was to deluge the world because of the unsurpassed wickedness of its inhabitants. He warned them to repent and believe, and find refuge in the ark.

The message of Noah was to him a reality. Amid the scoffs and jeers of the world, he was an unbending witness for God. His meekness and righteousness were in bright contrast to the revolting crimes, intrigue, and violence continually practised around him. A power attended his words; for it was the voice of God to man through His servant. Connection with God made him strong in the strength of Infinite Power, while for one hundred and twenty years his solemn warning voice fell upon the ears of the men of that generation in regard to events which, so far as human wisdom could judge, seemed impossible. Some were deeply convicted, and would have heeded the words of warning. But there were so many to jest and ridicule, that they partook of the same spirit, resisted the invitations of mercy, refused to reform, and were soon among the boldest and most defiant scoffers; for none are so reckless, and go to such lengths in sin, as those who have once had light, but have resisted the convicting Spirit of God. Thus while God was working to draw man to Himself, man, in his rebellion, was drawing away from God, and continually resisting the pleadings of infinite love.

Vain Reasonings

The world before the Flood reasoned that for centuries the laws of nature had been fixed. The recurring seasons had come in their order. The rivers and brooks had never yet passed their boundaries, but had borne their waters safely to the sea. Fixed decrees had kept the waters from overflowing their banks. But these reasoners did not recognize the Hand that had stayed the waters, saying, "Thus far shalt thou go, and no farther."

As time passed on without any apparent change in nature, men whose hearts had at times trembled with fear, began to be reassured. They reasoned then as many reason now, that nature was above the God of nature, and that her ways were so fixed that God Himself could not change them. Reasoning that if the message of Noah was correct nature would be turned out of her course, they made that message, in the minds of the world, a delusion, a grand deception. They manifested their indifference and contempt of the solemn warning of God by doing just as they had done before the warning had been given. They continued their festivities, their gluttonous feasts, eating and drinking, planting and building, in reference to the advantage they hoped to gain in the far future; and they went to greater lengths in wickedness, and in defiant disregard of God's requirements, to testify that they had no fear of the Almighty before their eyes.

How simple and childlike, amid the unbelief of a scoffing world, was the faith of Noah. His faith was indeed the "substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." It was a faith that was perfected and made evident by his works. He gave to the world an example of believing just what God said. In accordance with the directions of God, he commenced to construct the ark, an immense boat, on dry ground. Multitudes came from every direction to see this strange sight, and to hear the earnest, fervent words of this singular man, who seemed to believe every word he uttered. Noah was indeed singular. He was one in the world, but not one of the world. He made himself the object of contempt and ridicule by his steadfast adherence to the words of God; yet he obeyed without a questioning doubt. What a marked contrast to the prevailing unbelief and disregard of God's law.

A Type of To-Day

The time of Noah prefigures the present age. Christ tells us that as it was in the time of Noah, so shall it be in the days that immediately precede His appearing in the clouds of heaven. Human nature in our day, uninfluenced by the Spirit of God, is the same as in the age of Noah. And Satan is not asleep; he is as active and vigilant now as he was then. While the voice of God is making itself heard through His servants in warning and entreaties, he is mustering his forces. He engages his host with gigantic energies, to make, through his sophistry, cruelties, and oppression, the words of warning of none effect. The people are tested, and the great mass will be found on the side of the great deceiver, and will be overwhelmed in swift and irretrievable destruction. But those that heed the warnings of God, and in their lives bring forth fruits meet for repentance, shall "dwell in the secret place of the Most High;" they "shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." For them is the promise: "With long life will I satisfy him, and show him My salvation."

Signs of His Coming

By Roderick S. Owen

II. Signs in the Sun and Moon

In Gen. 1:14 God said of the sun and moon, "Let them be for signs." Isaiah, Joel, Peter, and John the revelator all spoke of these signs as indicating the coming of the "great day of the Lord." When on the Mount of Olives the disciples asked Jesus as to the sign of His coming, He first warned them against deceptions, and then said: "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: and then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." In this reply Jesus not only pointed out the signs, but also located them in the world's history. They were to come immediately after the tribulation of certain days.

The Long Tribulation

In verse 15 of Matthew 24 He called the attention of the disciples to what the prophet Daniel had said about the abomination of desolation which was to destroy the city of Jerusalem. He next refers to a great tribulation which was foretold by the same prophet, and which was to come upon God's people, but which was to be shortened for the elect's sake. This tribulation is spoken of by Daniel in the seventh chapter, verse 25, where in speaking of a persecuting power he says, "And he shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time," or for three and one half prophetic years, which equals 1,260 prophetic days, or literal years. This prophecy refers to the time of papal supremacy beginning at the fall of the three Arian powers; to wit, the Heruli, Vandals, and Ostrogoths, the last of which fell A.D. 538. Adding to this date the 1260 years, we find the year 1798 marks the close of the period. In that year the French army under the command of Berthier entered Rome, took the pope captive, and thus ended the days of his spiritual domination of the nations. But as stated by the prophet Daniel, in this tribulation God's people would receive a little help (Dan. 11:33, 34); or as more explicitly stated by the Saviour, these days of tribulation were to be shortened.

Influence of the Reformation

In the sixteenth century, or about 1,000 years after the beginning of this period, the Reformation which arose in Europe had gained strength sufficient to check the persecutions of the Papacy. This movement continued to gain force and to mold public sentiment until it led to the abolition of the society of Jesuits in the year 1773. This was followed by the decree of Maria Theresa and the acts of toleration to 1776. As a result of these the persecutions ceased

about this time; but as we have seen, the days did not end until 1798, thus giving us a period of about twenty-two years for the shortening of the tribulation before the ending of the days. But Mark tells us that "in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened;" while Matthew says "immediately after the tribulation." So we see that the sun must be darkened in the days, but soon after the tribulation ceases.

The Sun Darkened

On the 19th of May, 1780, about four years after the tribulation, and eighteen years before the ending of the days, occurred a notable dark day in New England; a day which since has become known as "The Dark Day," and has been described as follows:

On the 19th of May, 1780, an uncommon darkness took place all over New England and extended to Canada. It continued about fourteen hours, or from ten o'clock in the morning till midnight. The darkness was so great that people were unable to read common print or to tell the time of day by their watches, or to dine, or to transact their ordinary business, without the light of candles. They became dull and gloomy, and some were excessively frightened. The fowls went to roost; objects could not be distinguished but at a very little distance, and everything bore the appearance of gloom and night. Similar days have occasionally been known, tho inferior in the degree of their extent and darkness. The causes of these phenomena are unknown. They certainly were not the result of eclipses.—Robert Sears' "Guide to Knowledge," ed. 1844.

Rev. Elam Potter delivered a sermon May 28, 1780, just nine days after the occurrence, from which we quote as follows:

But especially I mention that wonderful darkness on the nineteenth inst. Then as in our text, the sun was darkened, such a darkness as probably was never known before since the crucifixion of our Lord. People left their work in the house and in the field. Travelers stopped. Schools broke up at eleven o'clock; people lighted candles at noonday, and the fire shone out as at night. Some people, I have been told, were in dismay, and thought whether the day of judgment was not drawing on.

The Moon as Blood

A great part of the following night also was singularly dark. The moon, tho in the full, gave no light, as in our text. Another eye-witness says:

At noon we lit a candle; but it did not give light as in the night, and my father could not see to read with two candles. My father and mother, who were pious, thought the day of judgment near. They sat up that night, during the latter part of which they said the darkness disappeared, and then the sky seemed as usual; but the moon, which was at its full, had the appearance of blood. The alarm it caused, and the frequent talk about it, impressed it deeply on my mind.—Milo Bostwick, Camden, N. J.

This fear seems to have affected beasts as well as men, for one writer says:

The darkness of that night was so great that in some instances it was impossible to induce horses to leave their stalls when wanted for service.

Thus we see the sun was darkened, and became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon did not give her light, and became as blood, thus appearing exactly as described in the Scripture, and at exactly the time foretold by the Saviour. Surely these are the signs for which God's children were to watch; and surely we ought to recognize them as such, and rejoice that God's Word has not failed, and that Jesus is soon coming.

[The next article will be upon "The Failing Stars."]

Shall We Drop the Prayer-Meeting?

By F. W. Morse

It is easy to let busy times crowd out all forms and semblance of God's worship. This is especially so in regard to attending the prayer-meeting. Many date a lukewarm, indifferent attitude in their religious experience to the time when they dropped the prayer-meeting. Taking this result alone it is strong evidence that the prayer-meeting is one of the essentials to a deep, happy Christian experience.

The prayer-meeting is a place where God and His children meet for sweet communion. It is a trysted hour which none can truly appreciate and enjoy, but those who have fellowship with God. Not but that God desires to meet with them, but they fail in the appointment.

Many persons grow weary of praising God for His goodness and loving-kindness to them; that is, of speaking of it in meeting. But those who have had an experience like David's, who was "a man after God's own heart," will say with him, "I will declare Thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise Thee." Ps. 22:22; also Ps. 111:1. Those living creatures round about the throne of God in heaven do not weary in ascribing praise to their Creator; for "they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty."

Salvation's story should never grow old to us, but instead our heartfelt praise and gratitude should increase as we see more and more the evidences of our Creator's glory and His love for sinful beings, and as the infinite love of our Redeemer is revealed in greater measure.

When it is possible for those who claim the salvation which Christ has purchased for them at such infinite cost, to assemble for mid-week prayer and praise, and yet they remain away and prefer to discontinue the prayer-meeting, the condition, to say the least, is a deplorable one. Refusing to worship God is virtually refusing to have God in the life, and the individual is left to his own choice — a godless life. His indifferent and hardened heart lures him on until the doom of eternity is fixed; and to his sad, wailing call in the judgment of "Lord, Lord," the rejected Saviour can only say, "Depart, . . . I never knew you."

Brethren in Christ, do not drop the prayer-meeting.

F. W. MORSE.

Muskoka, Ontario.

Eternity

By Frances Brockman

By Frances Brockman

ETERNITY! where will you spend it? This question we all must decide, How often it troubles the millions Of Christians, and others beside.

Eternity! where will you spend it? The depth of this question is grand; The depth of it can not be fathomed; The years are like numberless sands.

Eternity! where will you spend it? The love that our Father has giv'n, That love that He gives, is o'erwhelming; It fills all the earth and all heav'n.

Eternity! where shall I spend it? I'll settle this question to-day. I'll spend it in heaven, not hades. Lord, strengthen and help me, I pray.

Boulder, Colorado.

The Early Prayer

By Arthur V. Fox

ON one occasion it is said of Jesus: "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed." Mark 1:35.

The day before had been a full and busy one; and our Lord was liable to fatigue, as we are. Doubtless He was weary. Nevertheless He rose while it was yet night. He wished to be alone for prayer.

We are apt to make prayer give way to fatigue. If we have been up late, or have gone to bed tired, the morning prayer is often hurried over. Is it not sometimes almost or quite left out? Let us learn from our Lord's example. Tired as He was, and in want of sleep, He must nevertheless hold communion with His Father in prayer. We also can not do without this. That day is ill begun that is not begun with prayer. It may cost an effort; but let the effort be made. It will richly repay.

ARTHUR V. FOX.

The Bible

By E. F. Burr

EIGHTEEN centuries have passed since the Bible was finished. They have been centuries of great changes. In their course the world has been wrought over into newness at almost every point. But to-day the text of the Scriptures has copies almost innumerable, and after having been tossed about through ages of ignorance and tumult, is found by exhaustive criticism to be unaltered in every important particular—there being not a single doctrine, nor duty, nor fact of any grade, that is brought into question by variations of readings—a fact that stands alone in the history of such ancient literature.—E. F. Burr.

Practising the Bible

By Dr. E. O. Haven

I HAVE here a music-book, one used by singers. The object of this book is to teach and promote vocal music, and also instrumental music, to be employed in worship, commonly called sacred music. Now, how does this music-book teach music? Simply by being studied? Not at all. Suppose a person previously unacquainted with the science and art of music, who has never sung a strain, and has no ear for melody, takes this book and commits it to memory, will that make him a musician? He might almost as well swallow the book, and would derive about as much benefit from it! He must reduce the book to practise. He must make the sounds indicated, or the book is a dead letter to him. Precisely so is it with the Bible.—Dr. E. O. Haven.

Continue reading: THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST