p. 107 | Review and Herald, Vol. 26, No. 14. (9/5/1865)

Review and Herald

Sep 5, 1865

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 5, 1865

The World Expectant.

Archdeacon Brown, of England, in 1835, said that he "was strongly impressed with the conviction that our lot has fallen under the solemn period emphatically designated in Daniel as 'the time of the end.'"

Dr. Duff, of Scotland, recently said: "Surely the present crisis is constraining us to arise, and that with our whole heart. Surely it looks as if—in response to the sighing of the whole creation groaning in uneasiness and pain through long by-gone ages for the times of the restitution of all things; surely, in answer to the plaintive cry of the myriad martyrs from under the altar, who age after age have been uttering their longing cry, 'How long, O Lord, how long?' He who is seated on the throne on high, is now indicating by no ordinary signs that he is ready to arise and assume his great power, and to manifest himself as really King and Governor among the nations. Surely, in the language of one of old, the great Messiah is about to come forth from his royal chamber—about to put on the invisible robes of his imperial majesty, and to take up the unlimited scepter which his Father hath bequeathed to him. Even now, in the ear of faith, and almost in the ear of sense, we may hear the distant noise of the chariot-wheels of the mighty Saviour King, coming forth conquering and to conquer, amid the shaking of the nations from pole to pole. Every nation has of late been upheaving from its ancient settled foundations; and there will be mightier upheavings still, and that right speedily—all preparing the way for the new heavens and the new earth, in which righteousness will forever dwell!"

Macaulay, the essayist, wrote, in 1831: "Many Christians believe that the Messiah will shortly establish a kingdom on the earth, and reign visibly over all its inhabitants. Whether this doctrine be orthodox or not, we shall not inquire. The number of people who hold it, is very much greater than the number of Jews residing in England. Many of those who hold it, are distinguished by rank, wealth and ability; it is preached from the pulpits, both of the Scottish and of the English church. Noblemen and members of Parliament have written in defense of it,—who expect 'that before this generation shall pass away, all the kingdoms of the earth will be swallowed up in one Divine Empire.'"

Dr. N. L. Rice says: "The world is now rapidly approaching another great epoch, the most important in the history of our world." "We live in an eventful day." "The time cannot be far distant, when great changes are to take place amongst the nations. It is our wisdom, therefore, both to examine carefully and prayerfully the prophecies whose fulfillment is yet future, and to watch passing events which throw light upon these prophecies. It is a great misfortune to mistake the character of the age in which we live, and to fail to understand the signs which God gives, that his people may act with him their part."

Rev. Hollis Read, author of "God in History," says: "We are living in a very remarkable period of the world's history. A very general impression obtains in all reflecting minds, that we are on the confines of another of those signal crises which mark the history of our race. The signs of the times are strangely significant." "There is a feeling in the human breast, that despotism, bloodshed, fraud, oppression, and unbridled lust, have, in defiance of Heaven, rioted long enough, and that a righteous God will soon rise in his wrath and make a short work. This prophetic yearning for deliverance—this instinctive prophecy of the human heart—is not peculiar to the Christian. The Hindoo, the Mohammedan, the Papist, feels it. The world waits the coming change."

Dr. Baird, in Rochester, 1852, remarked that "No well-informed man can look upon the world as it is, without coming to the conclusion that some great consummation is about to take place."

Dr. Hitchcock, of Amherst, says: "In a very short time, far shorter than we imagine, all the scenes of futurity will be to us a thrilling reality."

Dr. G. B. Cheever, writes: "It is impossible to look upon a more sublime spectacle than that which rises to the mind of the spiritual observer at the present crisis. A voice like the archangel's trumpet is crying, 'Cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard to the people!' Event rolls on after event. As the purposes of God are advancing nearer to their completion, ten thousand significant events sweep onward in its train. The convergence of all things to the point, becomes more and more rapid. Meaning begins to appear in events before shrouded in mystery. An omnipotent plan, it is manifest, is in operation, and the trains laid with divine wisdom are fast completing."

Professor George Bush says: "If we take the ground of right reason, we must believe that the present age is one expressly foretold in prophecy, and that it is just opening upon the crowning consummation of all prophetic declarations."

The Jewish mind has been brought to like convictions and anticipations. Rabbi Carillon, of Jamaica Island, affirms that "There is every reason to believe that the latter days are not far off; let us, therefore, be on the watch, and in continual prayer." It is said by a European writer, that "Jews who never before thought of a Messiah, begin now to say, 'These are the days of travail which precede his coming.'" Solomon Herschel, rabbi of the chief synagogue of the Jews in London, is represented as saying that his people, after close investigation of the subject, think, with him, that the Messiah's advent cannot be delayed beyond 1863. And it was announced in the public journals in 1852 that there were then thousands of Jews in Jerusalem, all anxiously expecting the Messiah.

And what divines have uttered as their learning of the Scriptures, statesmen and philosophers have also declared as their reading of the indications of events.

Sir Robert Peel said in Parliament, in 1842, "Every aspect of the present times, viewed in the light of the past, warrants the belief that we are on the eve of a universal change."

Louis Kossuth, not long ago said: "I say this prophetically. I have already read it in the book of Providence, which is made to be a revelation to mankind. The destiny of mankind has come to the turning-point of centuries. There is a cry of alarm upon the ostensible approach of universal danger. The despotic governments of Europe feel their approaching death. The decisive struggle is near. It will be the last in mankind's history."

Dr. Arnold observes: "Modern history appears to be only a step in advance of ancient history, but the last step; it seems to bear marks of the fullness of time, as if there would be no future history beyond it."

"My sense of the evils of the times that are coming, and of the prospects to which I am bringing up my poor children, is overwhelming."

The Living Age says: "We stand at a great starting-point in the history of the world. Old things are about to pass away, and we know not what shall be the new. The continent of Europe, startled by the warning trumpet of 1848, has cowered into silence; all faces gather blackness, and men's hearts fail them for fear of what is coming on the earth."

And the spirit of the press generally is to the same effect.

The Presbyterian Expositor says: "We live in a day of unprecedented excitement and agitation, and the minds of all intelligent men are looking for great events. No wonder that some are expecting the second coming of the Son of God to subdue to himself all kingdoms, and reign on earth a thousand years. Beyond a question, we are on the eve of great events."

The New York Evangelist, in 1848, remarked, "Had

the present state of Europe been prophesied fifty years ago, would any have credited the prophecy? We believe that in this year we have seen the beginning of the end."

The Christian Luminary says: "This truly is an age of wonders, changes, and revolutions. No thinking man can open his eyes upon the great events that are passing before us, without being impressed with the signs of the times, and constrained to admit that important scenes are about to be opened to the view of an astonished world. The seals are opening, the trumpets are sounding, the nations are shaking; signs are seen in the heavens and on earth."

A writer in the Christian Review says: "I am strongly persuaded that the present generation of men stand upon the very eve of the mightiest revolution that the annals of time record." "A silent, rapid, irresistible preparation has been making—making, perhaps, for a sudden, subversive, and universal change; what will it be?"

Rev. Dr. Schauffer, for the last twenty-five years, missionary at Constantinople, said in an address in Brooklyn a few years since, "That the general belief which prevails among the Turks is, that their religion has closed its mission, and stated the fact that the green coat of Mahomet, which is the sacred banner of Mohammedanism, had disappeared from Constantinople. It is said, however, that some prophecies in the Mohammedan sacred books have pointed to the present time as closing the reign of their religion, and this disappearance of the sacred banner, adds to the popular impression."

President Wayland, in a sermon he preached in Rochester, N. Y., in 1853, said: "Within the lifetime of men who hear me, the question will probably be decided, whether the kingdom of Christ is now to proceed to universal victory, or ages of intellectual and moral darkness are again to overspread the earth. It is for such a crisis as this, that the disciples of Christ are now called upon to prepare."

Peace.

By E. W. Darling

PEACE, blessed peace, how sweet the notes To every burdened soldier's ear. As music o'er the water floats, So come thy welcome words of cheer.

Yet thou dost bring sad thoughts to me Of widows' tears and orphans' moan, For friends returning not with thee, But mouldering silent and unknown.

Peace—but a peace that binds the yoke And bids the oppressor's scepter wave, While heavier burden, heavier stroke, Bows low to earth the groaning slave.

Peace, like the calm that doth precede The bursting of a wilder storm, Though muttering clouds of war recede, The sounds of fiercer carnage come.

And then no more shall lasting peace Return to bless the world again, Till earth shall burn, and man shall cease To live in folly and in sin.

Then earth renewed shall smile once more, And war's discordant notes shall cease, And long the dwellers on that shore Shall live in prosperous blessed peace.

O Prince of Peace, all-glorious King, Begin thy everlasting reign, And let the weary pilgrim sing To lasting peace a joyful strain.

E. W. DARLING.

Steele Center, Minn.

Authenticity of the New Testament.

THE following excellent proofs of the truth of the New Testament, have been selected from Dr. W. W. Sleigh's Defensive Dictionary, and are well worthy of a careful reading:—

The New Testament does not abrogate the Old, but it is a fulfillment of it. The council of Laodicea, A. D. 364, did not pretend then first to settle what the canon of the New Testament was, but simply to give their sanction, as a public body, to those books which had from the first century been recognized by separate churches as constituting the sacred canon; and thus to guard the world against imposition and counterfeit books. The books of the New Testament were referred to, both by friends and foes, from the very beginning. Moreover none of the spurious or apocryphal gospels were quoted or referred to (except to censure them) for three hundred years after the birth of Christ.

In corroboration of the antiquity of the New Testament, we may observe,

1. We have a number of manuscripts found in different countries, all anterior to the art of printing.

2. We have some versions of these, written in languages which have not been for many ages spoken in any part of the world.

3. The very style and language in which the Gospels were originally written, prove incontrovertibly that they were written by men who lived in those very times; for it is not the style either of the classic authors, or of the ancient Christian Fathers; but Greek coming from men of Hebrew origin! Who could have forged them? Christian Fathers were for the most part ignorant of Hebrew: they, therefore, could not! And it is equally certain the Greek classical authors could not, for they were heathen.

4. The Gospels were written in Greek, (a peculiar kind of Greek, it is admitted, that is, abounding with Hebrew and Syriac idioms,) because Greek was then the most generally spoken language in the East: it was like the French language in modern times in Europe, almost generally understood. And the power with which the apostles were endowed, of speaking in all languages, peculiarly facilitated the spread of the gospel, and the translation thereof into other languages.

5. That the New Testament was written by men who actually lived at the very time we say they did, that is, before the destruction of Jerusalem, that is, within forty years after the resurrection of Christ, is incontrovertibly proved, not only by the preceding internal evidence, but by numerous external circumstances, consisting of no less than forty-one distinct historical events, related by the sacred writers, and corroborated by the works of enemies; collected together by Dr. Lardner, epitomized by Paley.

Paley, after adducing by name the testimony in relation to this subject, states the following allegations as incontrovertibly established by proof:

1. That the historical books of the New Testament, meaning thereby the four Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, are quoted or alluded to by a series of Christian writers, beginning with the apostles, or who immediately followed them, and proceeding in close and regular succession from their time to the present.

2. That when they are quoted or alluded to, they are quoted or alluded to with peculiar respect, as books sui generis; as possessing an authority which belonged to no other books; and as conclusive in all questions and controversies among Christians.

3. That they were, in very early times, collected into a distinct volume.

4. That they were distinguished by appropriate names and titles of respect.

5. That they were publicly read and expounded in the religious assemblies of the early Christians.

6. That commentaries were written upon them, harmonies formed out of them; different copies carefully collated, and versions of them made into different languages.

7. That they were received by Christians of different sects; by many Heretics as well as Catholics; and usually appealed to by both sides in the controversies which were in those days.

8. That the four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, thirteen Epistles of Saint Paul, the first Epistle of John, and the first of Peter, were received, without doubt, by those who doubted concerning the other books which are included in our present canon.

9. That the Gospels were attacked by the early adversaries of Christianity as books containing the accounts upon which the religion was founded.

10. That formal catalogues of authentic Scriptures were published; in all which our present sacred histories were included.

11. That these propositions cannot be affirmed of any other books claiming to be the books of Scripture; by which are meant those books which are commonly called apocryphal books of the New Testament.

During the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, while Herod was Tetrarch of Galilee, and Pontius Pilate governor of Judea, a country inhabited by a people called Jews, and tributary to the Romans, there appeared in that place a good man, a doer of wonderful works, called Jesus the Christ. He made many disciples both of Jews and Gentiles, who are hence called to this day Christians. He was condemned, by Pilate the Procurator, to the cross, but appeared again alive after three days to his disciples. He enjoined on them the strictest morality. He had a brother, by name James, who was put to death by Herod. Although the sect of which this man was the founder are harmless, and have not been actually convicted of any crime except hatred to our gods, yet they are punished with the greatest severity; many are put to death, some thrown to wild beasts, some burnt alive, and others crucified; but at these punishments some appear to rejoice, declaring they are confident of everlasting happiness. They are detested by all men for their superstition and bigotry; and so they ought, for they will not worship any of our gods, neither the image of Cæsar, nor of Jupiter, Juno, Mars, Bacchus, nor Venus; but only this Christ, who was put to death; but whom they confidently affirm (even after the most excruciating tortures) to be alive.

Notwithstanding all this persecution, and in defiance of the exertions of our government to extinguish this detestable superstition, it has spread rapidly like a pestilence from Judea, where it first commenced, throughout the whole world: and has infected not only the country parts and villages, but our chief towns and cities, even to Rome, where every bad thing finds its way. So that the temples of our gods have been almost totally forsaken, and there are but few purchasers for the sacrifices. At length our great emperor Constantine has been contaminated, and now openly professes Christianity. The life of this Christ has been written by his disciples.

He was preceded by another good man, called John the Baptist, who commanded the Jews to exercise virtue, both as to righteousness to one another and piety toward God, and so come to his baptism in water. Herod sent this man to prison, and afterwards had him put to death.

The authors from whose works the substance of the above facts are taken, are—Tacitus, Josephus, Suetonius, Juvenal, the younger Pliny, Martial, Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, Lucian, Celsus, Porphyry, the Emperor Julian, corroborated by the following friends: Barnabas, Clemens, Polycarp, Irenæus, Ignatius, Quadratus, Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Eusebius.

Still further corroborated by one hundred and twenty other Christian authors, within the first four or five centuries of the Christian era. Thus stands the external testimony:—

Sacred writers ....................... 7 Enemies ............................... 12 Friends ............................. 120 Total, 139

Making, on an average, a writer for every three years, for the first four centuries.

N. B. To this may be added the testimony of the Jewish records themselves, as contained in the Talmud.

The Talmuds are two in number, the Babylonish and Jerusalem. They consist of two parts, the Mishna or text, and the Gemara or commentary. They contain a mass of Jewish records, traditions, laws and precepts. The Babylonian Talmud was commenced in Babylon, 311 years before Christ, by Rab. Ase; and after his death was continued by Rab. Maromar, and finally finished A. D. 500, by Rab. Avina; Rab. Abraham, Ben David. Vol. xxxiv, 1.

The little said in these Jewish records respecting Christ has been a matter of astonishment among the learned, and could only be accounted for on the ground that the Jews, not knowing what excuse to make for not receiving their Messiah, deemed to say little or nothing on the subject, the wisest policy. However, they did not pass over, in total silence, the history of Christ, but absurdly ascribed his power of performing miracles, (which they freely admitted), to his having clandestinely acquired the right pronunciation of the SHEMMAPHORESU, or the ineffable name of God, which they say he stole out of the temple! Hence we find neither Jew nor heathen denied for the first four centuries the power possessed by the Divine Friend of Simon of performing miracles. The latter attributed his power to magic acts! The following extract of some of the particulars relative to Christ, as recorded in the Babylonian Talmud, I have taken from the Hebrew Lexicon, (under the article 'kashaph'), of my learned and very talented friend, W. L. Roy, Esq., Professor of the Oriental languages in New York. The reader is referred to the New York discussion, published in that city, for the remarkable and triumphant discomfiture of the infidels on this subject when they brought forward a Jew to deny that the Babylonian Talmud mentioned Christ. No one who was then present can forget the ability, activity and zeal evinced by my friend, Mr. Roy, on that occasion. In his Hebrew Lexicon he writes as follows:—

'KA-SHAPH. The Talmud applies this opprobrious

epithet to our blessed Saviour. It mentions Jesus of Nazareth in the following passages: Tal. Jerus. Schab. fol. 14, 14; Tal. Babyl. Sanh. fol. 107, 2; Tract Avoda, Sara., fol. 16; Tal. Babyl. Sanh., chap. vi, 4, fol. 43. The disciples of Jesus—Matthew, James and John—are named in particular in Tal. Babyl. Sanh., chap. vi. fol. 43. The power of working miracles is ascribed to them in Avoda Sara., fol. 27, 2. The crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth, and the hour of the day at which it took place, are expressly mentioned. It is stated to have been in the evening (afternoon) of the Pesach (Passover) at three o'clock. Tal. Babyl. Sanh., fol. 43, 67, 1. His wonderful miracles, such as healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, and raising the dead to life, (particularly Lazarus,) are admitted in Tal. Babyl. Sanh. fol. 107, 2; Schab. fol. 104, 2; Jerus. Tal. Schab. fol. 13, 1. A miraculous cure is affirmed to have been wrought by one of his disciples, in the name of Jesus, on the son of Rab. Jesus, son of Levi. Tal. Jerus. Schab. fol. 14, 4; Avoda, fol. 40, 4. The Talmud, however, imputes the power by which he wrought those miracles to magic.'

Thus we perceive that several of the principal transactions, including the crucifixion of Christ, some of his miracles, and also those of his disciples, are mentioned in this credible record, kept by the most acrimonious enemies Christianity ever had.—Ex.

The Scheme to Exterminate the Colored Race

From the Southern Christian Intelligencer of Aug. 5.

The Scheme to Exterminate the Colored Race.

If one-tenth part of the reports are true in regard to the ill-treatment of the blacks, which are coming from all parts of the South, thicker and faster, a most shocking state of things exists. From localities where there are no National troops, come reports that these unfortunate creatures are being hunted down like dogs, and despatched without ceremony. The newspapers in the South are filled with accounts of these brutal murders, which foot up to an aggregate of several hundred deaths per day, which is doubtless only a small portion of the number noticed. An Alabama paper says that this business has become so extensive and common, that some planters even boast that they could manure their lands with the dead carcasses of the negroes. Seriously speaking, it is a matter that demands the prompt attention of the authorities at Washington. If negroes can be shot down daily in garrisoned towns, where the authorities are unable to stop this state of things, it is very reasonable to suppose that this brutal work is carried on more extensively where the blacks have no protection. This wholesale murdering of human beings is, we fear, the practical working of the conspiracy to exterminate the colored race, which is revolting in the Christian age. A just God will hold the Government of the United States, which is responsible for the welfare of these people, to a strict accountability for every life thus sacrificed. Deserting these innocent and helpless beings, and denying them proper assistance and protection in the hour of need, and thus leaving them to their fate, is an inhumanity as cruel as the grave, a crime for which the Nation will be punished, either by financial bankruptcy, chaotic discord and disunion, or a pestilence which will not leave enough of the living to bury the dead.

Our neighbor of The National Democrat, an ex-member of the "Golden Circle," and a reformed Rebel, in referring to this subject, in his recent issue says:

"This alarming increase of deaths among the Blacks is, we fear, but the developing of the extensive conspiracy alluded to in our last, which has for its object the re-enslavement of the negroes or their entire extermination, (more likely the latter), which was not expected would be apparent to the public, until after the withdrawal of the national troops and our readmission to the Union had been secured. Good behaviour and discretion having accomplished this, then they, the Knights of the Circle, count on the protection and assistance of the State and local authorities, even if the Southern States are obliged to ratify the Constitutional Amendment, abolishing Slavery, which is claimed, will be a dead letter in any event. The armies disbanded, all fears of renewed hostilities removed, and the ascension of the Democratic party to power, is, according to their figuring, also to be realized as a matter of course. 'Those whom the gods seek to destroy they first make mad.' Therefore we again say, that unless this barbarous work ceases, we fear that Gen. Butler will succeed in his project of organizing a black battalion in every county in the South, to be maintained by the proceeds realized from the confiscated lands of the disloyal, which he claims is the remedy, together with Negro Suffrage, which will secure tranquility to the Government, protection to the colored people, and justice to all concerned. All this will be realized unless the Southern people withhold their sympathy and encouragement from the malcontents. In thus exposing their fiendish designs we hope to destroy their evil intentions, and secure our prompt return to the Union, which will not be accomplished for years to come if these confirmed and irreconcilable Secessionists are left to prosecute their suicidal work."

From The Raleigh Progress of Aug. 16.

We learn from Col. Lawrence, Commandant of the post at Goldsborough, that six negroes were killed at or near Warsaw some two weeks ago. The facts, as related to Col. Lawrence, were as follows: The former owner of the blacks left on the approach of the Union Army, the blacks remaining. They went to work and made a crop. The former owner returned recently, and ordered them to leave. The negroes refused, and the proprietor of the place, getting some neighbors with arms, ordered them off again, and on their refusal to go they attacked them, killing six. These facts being reported at Wilmington, a company of soldiers were sent up, and the affair will be investigated by the authorities at Wilmington, if it has not been done already.

The Repose of Faith

Selected for the Review.

The Repose of Faith.

We are only called upon to live for the moment. Christ does not bid us bear now, the burdens of to-morrow, of next week, or next year. Every day we are to come to him in loving simple obedience and faith, asking help to keep us, aid us through that day's work; and to-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, through years of long to-morrows, it will be but the same thing to do; leaving the future always in God's hands, sure that he can care for it better than we. Blessed trust! that can thus confiding say, "This hour is mine with its present duty; the next is God's, and when it comes, Christ's presence will come with it." This is the repose of faith, whose heavenly quiet no storms disquiet. Thus is born that joy, which temptation and trial have no power to extinguish; for it is nowhere pretended that the Christian life is free from conflict. Paul fought the good fight of faith, but mind you he finished his course with joy. And Christ while he said to his disciples, "These things have I spoken unto you that ye might have peace" said in the same breath, "in the world ye shall have tribulation," but went on to add, "be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Ah! there is glory in the strife when we are "more than conquerors." Think of the song of victory over all the foes that now assail us! Think of sin and Satan and death prostrate at our feet! But he that would be like Christ and work for Christ must expect Christ's portion. The world will neither applaud, nor comprehend him. It may call him a fool, or a fanatic, or if the name of hypocrite will wound deeper, Satan will not fail to instigate his emissaries to find the most cutting epithet. But it is a very little thing if the world does frown, when God's presence beams upon him. It may throw stumbling blocks in the way, or divide from what the earth holds dear; it may lift the voice of calumny, or the hand of violence, and stab the heart and take away life; but it cannot touch the treasure in the soul, nor harm the life that is hid with Christ in God.

Then never shrink from deep devotion because you fear its trials or its sacrifice. Paul in martyrdom was unspeakably happier than God's half-hearted servants. For there is all this difference in the two phases of Christian experiences: The one is the narrow way to the lowlands, full of pitfalls, and darkened by fogs and clouds through which we painfully travel; the other is far on the mountain top, far above the cloud-level,—still the narrow way, indeed, and often strewn with crosses; but the clear sky is overhead and the fresh clear air is round us, and we journey on with the friend so much dearer than a brother perpetually by our side; and his smile is the light of life, and his voice sweeter than angel's music.

There is no mysticism about this. It is eminently practical and so plain and childlike, that a child will comprehend it best. It is but taking Christ at his word, and living as he has bid us live. If we will put aside all prejudices and preconceived theories, and take up our Bibles as if it had just come down to us from Heaven, meaning just what the language imports, we will see that these simple truths are on every page. Christ says to each disciple, "Follow me," and they who follow him must do Christ's work. Satan will tempt us with wicked thoughts and unholy desires, but the moment we feel them we should turn to Christ and pray, "Lord I cannot keep myself from this sin, do thou save me."

He is a Christian.

He is a Christian! Then he is a man of truth. Upon his word you may implicitly rely. His promises are faithfully fulfilled. His representations he believes to be scrupulously exact. He would not hazard his veracity upon a contingency. "He that speaketh truth, sheweth forth righteousness."

He is a Christian! Then he is an honest man. He had rather wrong himself than wrong his neighbor. In whatever business he may be engaged, you may be sure that his dealings will be honorable and upright. "Provide things honest in the sight of all men." "The way of the just is uprightness."

He is a Christian! Then he is an humble man. He thinks of his own infirmities, acknowledges his dependence upon God, and regards the wealthiest and poorest of his brethren as men, and worthy of his Redeemer's love, and worthy of his attention and interest. "God giveth grace to the humble." "He that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

He is a Christian! Then he is a kind man. He feels interested for his neighbors, and has ever a pleasant word for those he meets. He strives to promote the welfare and happiness of those with whom he is associated. His generous heart delights in diffusing enjoyment. "The law of kindness is in his tongue." "To godliness add brotherly kindness."

He is a Christian! Then he is charitable. He is prompt to attribute right motives to others, rather than wrong, wherever it is possible. Knowing his own liability to err, he will regard with a charitable heart the failures of others, and will be more ready to reclaim and restore than to censure them. "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." "Charity suffereth long, and is kind."

He is a Christian! Then he is forgiving. Wrong does not wrankle in his heart, craving for revenge. The forgiving word is ready upon his lip for his most implacable enemy. "If you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive your trespasses." "Even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."

He is a Christian! Then he is benevolent. He feeds the hungry, clothes the naked, ministers to the sick. Human distresses touch his heart and open his hand. The spiritual maladies of mankind excite his commiseration, and to relieve and remove them his influence and property will be cheerfully contributed. "Freely ye have received, freely give." "Whoso hath this world's goods, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?"

Three Rules For Telling Stories.

Be sure to tell them in the very same way that they were told to you.

Be sure that you have good evidences of their truthfulness.

Be sure that you are doing something to the honor of God in telling your stories.

Have You Faith?

By R. F. Cottrell

"For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me." Jno. v, 46.

This is the language of Jesus to the Jews of his time. Those who did not believe him, did not believe Moses. Had this argument been used by a mere man uninspired, its validity might be questioned; but no Christian will undertake to convict our Saviour of bad logic. The principle, then, is established, by the highest authority, that those who do not believe the fulfillment, when the prophecy is fulfilled, do not believe the prophecy. Moses wrote of Christ in the following places: Gen. iii, 15; xii, 3; xviii, 18; xxii, 18; xlix, 10; Deut. xviii, 15, 18. The Jews professed to believe all that Moses and all that the prophets had written, and yet refused to believe in Him of whom they wrote, when he came in fulfillment of these prophecies, which were so many promises which the Lord had bound himself to fulfill. They could say, "We know that God spake unto Moses; as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is." Jno. ix, 29.

Now when the Lord's promises mature, he fulfills them—when his obligations become due, he discharges them; and what he asks of us is, that we give him credit for what he has done—that when he redeems his promises, we acknowledge the receipt. If we do not do this, we displease him, because we do not believe his word. Thus those who rejected Christ, rejected also Moses and those that had written of him. This is the Saviour's logic, and I accept it as good. The principle will apply in all parallel cases.

Daniel prophesied of four great earthly kingdoms to be succeeded by the everlasting kingdom of God under the whole heavens. The four kingdoms have successively appeared, and all that was written of them has been accomplished, except the final act, which is their destruction. Those who do not believe this, do not believe Daniel, for he wrote of it.

In connection with these four kingdoms, the prophet particularly described the Roman popedom—its unlikeness to other earthly governments, its blasphemy against God, its persecution of the saints, the long period of its reign, the taking away of its dominion and the consumption of its power to the end. All this has occurred, except the "end." Those who do not believe it, do not believe the prophet, for he wrote of it.

In 2 Thess. ii, Paul speaks of this same usurper, describing it in a manner exactly similar, and plainly declares the coming of the Lord at the time of his destruction. "Whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and destroy with the brightness of his coming." All that Paul says of the papacy has been done, except its destruction by the glory of the second advent of Christ. Those who do not believe this, do not believe Paul, for he wrote of it.

The Lord Jesus himself, when asked what should be the sign of his coming and of the end of the world, foretold the darkening of the sun and moon and the falling of the stars, as signs that his coming was near. These miracles of power have appeared. Those who do not believe this, do not believe the words of our Saviour, for he said it and caused it to be written. Moreover he said, "When ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors." Those who choose to know nothing about the period of his advent, neither believe nor obey his word.

Several definite periods of time are given in prophecy. Those who do not care to understand them disregard and disbelieve the prophecies containing them. The Author of prophecy deemed it best to give them for our profit. Such reject the proffered benefit.

For the completion of prophetic time, the apostle John prophesied of a time-message to be proclaimed to the inhabitants of earth, declaring the hour of judgment come. This proclamation has been made, and it was not "done in a corner." Those who do not believe this proclamation do not believe the prophecy of Revelation; for John wrote of it there, and his words have been verified—it has been done.

Following the judgment-hour message, the prophecy predicts the announcement of the fall of Babylon. This announcement was made in 1844. Those who do not believe this announcement, do not believe the prophecy, for it is there written.

After the first and second, the third and final warning was predicted in the prophecy. This is now being given, the work, in every particular, corresponding with the prophecy. Those who do not believe this message, do not believe the apostle, for he wrote of it.

Thus I have briefly applied the principle laid down by our Saviour, to a few points of prophecy. All can see that if the reasoning is true in one case, it is in another; and to dispute it is to dispute our Lord Jesus Christ. This reasoning is founded upon the fact, that the prophecies are infallible—that they point out persons, things and events, so accurately that there is no need of mistaking their fulfillment.

No one but Jesus ever filled the description given of the Christ in Moses and the prophets. He filled every description exactly; therefore had the Jews believed Moses, they would have believed Jesus. The same remark is true of the other points of prophecy I have noticed. If what I have claimed as fulfillments, are not the fulfillments, it can be shown that they are not. Otherwise, God has interpreted his own word by the fulfillments, as I have claimed, and there is no avoiding these conclusions, but by refuting the reasoning of the Son of God.

The word of prophecy promises certain events to transpire. In process of time they transpire. We believe them—our faith accredits their fulfillment—or we stand convicted of infidelity—we do not believe the prophets. Have you faith? R. F. COTTRELL

Continue reading: Popular Errors and Their Fruits. No. 4.