Earlier text: OFFER UNTO GOD THANKSGIVINGMARVELOUS CURES BY LIGHT.
At the London Hospital, in Whitechapel, marvelous cures are being effected by the electric light. It is quite three years since the discovery was made by a Copenhagen doctor that both sunlight and electric light can cure certain diseases when all other remedies fail. And early in the summer of this year the Princess of Wales induced the authorities of the London Hospital to try the cure. Her Royal Highness presented them with the necessary apparatus, of which the total cost was £500. The method is a curious though simple one. If any one visits the London Hospital between 2 and 5 P. M. on any day of the week, he will find, in a bright, cheerful room set apart for the purpose, a number of patients sitting on rocking chairs in a circle round the room. Hanging from the ceiling in the center is a very powerful electric lamp. And around it are arranged several telescopes, which concentrate the light on the patients. Beside each patient is a nurse, who presses a small glass lens on the spot of skin under treatment. To understand it all we must go back to the first experiment. As everyone knows, white light—the light of the sun, electric light, etc.—consists of a combination of all the colors of the rainbow. At one side of the rainbow are the red and the yellow rays; at the other side, the violet and the blue. The red and the yellow rays are carriers of heat; the blue and the violet are called chemical rays. That is to say, they are almost without heat, but they cause chemical action. For instance, if you mix the two gases, hydrogen and chlorine, in a thin bulb of glass, and then focus the red rays of light on it, nothing happens. But if you focus the violet rays, there is an immediate explosion. The photographer has reason to understand this. When a piece of photographic paper is exposed to the light, it blackens. But if a “ruby lamp” is used, no darkening of the paper follows, the red glass not allowing the violet chemical rays to come through. Now, some time ago a doctor put a piece of photographic paper under the skin of a dog, and focused the violet rays of sunlight on it. He put another piece in another dog, and kept him in a dark room. The result was that the first piece of paper was blackened, and the second unaffected. This seems a useless sort of experiment, but it was the first step in the great discovery. It proved that the chemical rays of light can pass through the skin. At the same time attention was directed to the curious fact that mountain climbers suffer badly from sunburn when passing over a field of snow, with the thermometer below zero. To elucidate this matter the following experiment was made. Sunlight was concentrated on the faces of two men, red glass being interposed in one case, and blue glass in the other. The red glass allowed all the heat of the sun to pass through, but kept off the violet chemical rays. The blue glass let the chemical rays through, but kept out the warm red light. After the experiment it was found that the man whose face was nearly roasted by the red light came out of the ordeal without a trace of sunburn, but the man on whom the cold chemical rays fell was badly sunburned. Therefore, the doctor concluded that the chemical rays were very irritating to the skin. If the chemical rays do this to a man's skin, he thought, no doubt they will have a destructive effect on microbes. Further experiment showed that bright sunshine killed the strongest of microbes—the bacillus prodigiosus—in one hour and a half. A powerful electric light killed them in nine hours. But by excluding the red heat rays, and concentrating the violet chemical rays, it was found that nearly all microbes were killed in a few seconds. Putting all these facts together, it was now known that the concentrated light of the sun or electric arc would kill microbes on the skin, in the substance of the skin, and even under the skin. In all probability, therefore, any skin disease due to microbes could be cured by light. Now, there is one such disease, a terrible infliction, which was the despair of the doctors. That is lupus, a first cousin of consumption, which attacks and deforms the face. In the light cure the doctors have now a perfect remedy. It is painless, but it has the drawback of being very slow, often taking months of daily treatment. It is carried out as follows: When the weather is fine and bright, the patients sit in the open air, and the light of the sun is used. When the weather is dark, the electric light is used. Of course the latter is very expensive, while the sunlight costs nothing. But, curiously, the electric light is more effective, being very rich in chemical rays. The apparatus slightly differs according to the light used. When the sunlight is used, a large glass lens, filled with blue water—sulphate of copper dissolved in water—is placed some little distance away from the patient. This concentrates the light, which is focused so as to let a spot about the size of a sixpenny bit fall on the patient’s face. The sunlight thus concentrated would quickly burn a hole in the face if it were not for the blue water. But the blue in the water prevents the hot red rays of the sun from coming through, and the water itself also absorbs the heat. Still, a good deal of heat finds its way through, and another appliance is therefore used. This is a small hollow glass lens, about one inch in diameter, which the nurse presses on the skin of the patient. It is connected with inflow and outflow tubes, and a stream of cold water is constantly passing through and absorbing the remainder of the heat. This lens also serves another useful purpose. The red blood ordinarily in the skin would prevent the passage of some of the violet chemical rays. But by pressing the lens pretty firmly, the nurse makes the skin bloodless. When the electric light is employed, a telescope takes the place of the large lens. The reason of this is that when sunlight reaches the earth, all its rays are parallel with one another, and they can at once be concentrated by a single lens. But the rays from the electric light diverge, and they have to be made parallel by one lens of the telescope before being concentrated by the other lens. The telescope is filled with water, and around it is a water jacket, so as to cool the light thoroughly. Photographs are taken before, during, and after treatment. And the collection at the hospital shows what marvelous cures have been achieved. Many persons who gave themselves up to lifelong deformity have reason to be grateful to the Princess of Wales. PHILIP GIDDINGS
By Philip Giddings
“FROM GENESIS TO REGULATION.”
Speaking to some one a while ago, one remarked, “I am not learned, but I can read my Bible from Genesis to Regulation.” He missed the exact word, but struck another one suggestively good. What is the Bible but Genesis to Regulation? “Wherewithal shall a young man [anyone] cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.” Ps. 119:9. “Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Verse 11. God’s word in the heart is the anchor to the soul in the hour of temptation’s tempest, and no less the helm by which to steer in the right course. It regulates the feet: “Order my steps in thy word.” Ps. 110:133. “Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.” 17:5. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” 119:105. It regulates the hands from doing any evil (Isa. 56:2); the eyes, so that they look straight before (Prov. 4:25); the lips, so that a watch is kept before the door. Ps. 141:3. We can’t go, can’t do, can’t see, can’t speak, but according to the Word. Oh, to have one’s life so checked! What a blessed regulation that would be! If during the coming winter the observant pedestrian should notice innumerable excited persons striding through the streets with a stick across their backs and between their elbows, he must not jump at the conclusion that London has suddenly lost its senses. For this form of exercise is part of a treatment which is now rapidly becoming popular—the cure for asthma, bronchitis, and all the other pulmonary diseases which trouble and distress the dwellers in our foggy, smoke-laden cities. Hitherto, the asthmatic person has kept indoors as often as possible, carefully shutting windows and doors, and keeping a roaring fire in the grate. Now, he is bidden to fling his windows open, to sleep even with his windows open, and, moreover, to keep in the open air as much as possible. But this is not all. He is taught that it is not so important what he breathes as how he breathes. Breathing exercises, then, are part of the cure; and here not only the sufferer from bronchial catarrh is concerned, but even the woman of fashion anxious to maintain her good looks. For fifteen minutes twice a day women of fashion, asthmatic patients, and indeed all the world, are bidden to stand outdoors, preferably in the sunshine, and, holding the chest up, to inhale slowly through the nose, and then as quickly exhale the breath through the mouth. Of course, everyone knows that it is through the nostrils he should inhale, and it is quite probable that many of humanity's illnesses are due to improper breathing, but at the same time it will be an almost superhuman feat to make mankind breathe through the nostrils. The Summer Comes and Goes
“The summer comes, and the summer goes;
Wild flowers are fringing the dusty lanes,
The swallows go darting through fragrant rains,
Then, all of a sudden—it snows.” Look for Goodness
By Alice Cary
Do NOT look for wrong and evil—
You will find them if you do;
As you measure for your neighbor,
He will measure back to you. Look for goodness, look for gladness;
You will meet them all the while.
If you bring a smiling visage
To the glass, you meet a smile. CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE WOMAN'S GOSPEL WORK.
By Mrs. Geo. A. Irwin
Since our call for financial aid in behalf of the Woman's Gospel Work, we have received small gifts from time to time, and we wish to express our gratitude to the givers, and to state our hope that many others will also remember us in this way. We realize more and more every day our need of an emergency fund. The following are samples of the calls that come to us, to which we long to respond:— Through a complication of circumstances a young sister in a Western State was left with nothing for support, and an aged mother, almost bedridden with cancer, and a little niece, depending on her. The only place that they could call home was a sod house, with no floor except the earth, the roof hardly waterproof, and only two whole glass window panes. Water and supplies had to be carried over a mile. All three were barefoot, and had scarcely sufficient clothing for comfort. She says:— The problem of living has been mine to solve for eight years. My father was a helpless old man long before he died; and until mother required my almost constant care, I worked by the week, and supported them and my little niece. Now mother can no longer be left alone, unless it is a while in the day. I do not like to leave her even that much, but was obliged to this fall. I had an opportunity to cut broom corn, and she stayed alone through the day, as baby was herding. I had to come home every night, walking seven miles every day in going to and from the field. I have seen but one Sabbath-keeper in eight years. I sometimes long for just one of our own people to talk to; but the Lord has said that where two or three are gathered together in his name, he is in the midst; and there are three of us,—mother, baby, and I. Baby loves the Sabbath, and is little by little learning the blessed truth. I am not naturally strong, and the way is often very hard; but the Lord has never forgotten nor forsaken me, and now I pray that I may not faint with the goal in sight. We are glad to say that we brought this case before the president of the Conference in which she lives, and he presented it to the brethren and sisters, who immediately responded with a contribution of money to relieve her immediate want; but other such needy cases may come to our notice. Another sister finds herself in extremity, as her husband has had a series of accidents for the last few years, which has made it impossible for him to work steadily. He has been engaged in the canvassing work; but about three weeks ago he met with an accident, which has confined him to his bed. She found herself without money and without food, and insufficient clothing for the severe winter she may expect in the part of the country where she lives. She writes:— We were in good circumstances when we accepted the truth, and I had never dreamed of such poverty as we have had and still have to experience. I can not but believe that Satan has been contending for our lives and our usefulness ever since we accepted the truth. There is one thing certain—if the Lord should come personally to me, and offer me the opportunity to choose my own way, I would not do it; for I can not see the future, and what might seem to me to be a great good might be the means of the loss of all heavenly good. Through the contributions, which were so kindly made, we were able to send this sister a barrel of clothing and provision, and are trying to arrange something for more permanent relief. Through the personal interest of one of our sisters we came into correspondence with a Christian woman not of our faith, but one who has been an earnest gospel worker, and now seems ready to receive the truth. She is, however, in poor health, and needs medical care at once. She has passed through a severe operation in the city hospital where she lives, and the doctors urge her to have another; but she feels that it would be throwing her life away, and leaving two motherless children in the cold world. She has learned of our institutions, and feels that she could safely trust herself in the hands of our physicians. Very liberal terms have been made to her at the Chicago branch of our sanitarium, but she does not have even a small amount of money to advance. We believe the Lord has brought this case to our notice, and that we shall be held responsible if we do not do everything in our power to see that she is properly cared for physically, and that the precious truth is presented to her as she can bear it. We have just received word from a Michigan family, in which the son and his wife are very ill with typhoid fever. They are far from our people, and in an isolated condition. They say that one visit from a doctor costs eight dollars, and they beg for a missionary nurse to be sent at once. We are not always able to send nurses to such places, but there is a dear sister here in Battle Creek who has had long experience in treating the sick, and is a woman of faith and prayer, who, if her traveling expenses are provided for, will go to places where there is such need, and give the necessary help. We should like to be able to advance money in such cases as these, with the expectation that it would be returned by the persons benefited, with as much additional as they feel they could give; and thus our fund would not diminish, but increase by circulation. The total amount received up to the present time is $24.10. By way of explanation, I will say that this does not include the help that is to come to our department through the sale of the book, "My Mother's Life." We will receive the percentage on the books after the special offer has expired, the first of December. We are sure the Lord will bless all in giving, and we shall depend upon him for wisdom in the distribution. Those who are interested in the special requests for prayer in this department will rejoice to read the following:— I believe that your prayers have been answered in behalf of my family. Since I sent you my requests for my sons, one of them has expressed a desire to be a Christian. He writes me: "Dear mother: I know you have been praying for me, and that your prayers are being answered. I never before had such feelings as I have had for two weeks. Christ is knocking at my heart. Shall I let him in? I do want to keep the Sabbath, and— is as anxious as I am." His wife used to be opposed, but they are united now. My other son, who married a Catholic girl, has been under conviction for several weeks. He is now ill with typhoid fever, and he thinks this sickness was sent upon him because he married this girl when he knew it was wrong. I try to comfort him, but he thinks it is too late. The woman whom I wrote you about, who was so affected by a thunderstorm, is with me; and although we have had the worst storm of the season since I wrote you, she kept at her work. She said she felt badly, but was not prostrated. Over a year ago I sent to Sister Henry the names of two wayward sons, as subjects of prayer. In reply she wrote: "The names of your sons have been entered on our list, and we will do as seems best in regard to them." I would acknowledge to the praise of God that one of them has been converted since, and is endeavoring to follow Christ. The other, having established the habit of using tobacco, is yet in Satan's chains. I think he desires to be a Christian, but is not willing, or does not seem able, to make the necessary sacrifice. I feel encouraged still to ask that the sisters make him a subject of prayer, that he may be converted and lead a new life. PARENTS, TEACH YOUR CHILDREN.
By Mrs. L. Flora Plummer
Home teaching is the best teaching. No teaching in schools or churches should be allowed to take its place. The word of God is for all. The children need it. Parents need it. Why not study it together? Amid the hurry of our busy lives, sufficient time is not given to the study of the Sabbath-school or Reading Circle lessons. The study of these lessons should be regarded a matter of great importance in each home. How can we expect the precious truths of God’s word to abide in our hearts when our study of them is only hasty and superficial? It is a sad condition that makes the statement true in some cases that a teacher or a comparative stranger has more influence for good with a child than the parents have. When this is true, mothers and fathers are743standing in the way of their children. How strange it is that parents who love their children, and who pray and toil and sacrifice for them, will entirely commit unto others the work of instructing them in the way of eternal life. The most powerful influences for good that can possibly be thrown around the youth are in the safeguard of home religious training. The idea should not be simply to acquire a knowledge of the words of truth, but each truth should be made practical to the daily life of each member of the family. There is power in the word of God to enable us to resist temptation. That power will be plainly manifest in the homes where his word is a frequent topic of conversation. It is not always necessary to take unoccupied time for family study. While at work, at the dinner hour, or whenever opportunity offers, the points of the lesson may be spoken of. “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.” Isa. 28 : 9, 10. “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart; and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house; and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” Deut. 6 : 6, 7. “DEAR sisters, will you allow me to ask an interest in your prayers for my dear father? He is nearly sixty years of age, and is slowly but surely passing away with tuberculosis. Pray that he may be converted, that when the time comes for us to part with him, it will not be without the hope of meeting him in the new earth.” My husband is not a Christian, yet I have the blessed assurance that he will be. Will you and the other sisters join with me in prayer for him, and for me, that I may rid myself of everything that prevents the Holy Spirit from working through me for the good of my husband’s soul. He has nothing very bad holding him to this world—only the desire to make money. I try to live the truth perfectly before him, but very seldom mention anything on religion. When I feel it the Lord’s will, I repeat a verse of Scripture as an explanation of different views. I earnestly desire him to live the truth before our dear little boys. They look to papa, and do as he does. One of them asked me one day, “Why don’t papa read the Bible?” READING CIRCLE STUDY.
By S. N. H.
The books of Daniel and Revelation bear one characteristic peculiar to themselves,—their prophecies are consecutive. Anciently, instead of books, there were scrolls, so rolled together that a seal could be removed, and a portion unrolled without opening the remainder. A book of this description was taken to illustrate this line of prophecy. In unfolding the future, one period follows another, as the seals were broken one by one. The purity and the triumph of the gospel in the apostolic age are illustrated by the white horse which went forth conquering and to conquer. During the first thirty years after the gospel went to the Gentiles, every person, in every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, heard the gospel, and there were converts in all parts of the world. Rom. 1: 8; Col. 1: 5, 6, 23. During the second century, Satan, through paganism, did his best to destroy the people of God. Nero lighted his gardens by burning the saints, who had been covered with pitch, or something of like nature. In the great Coliseum at Rome thousands of persons would assemble to see the saints—men, women, and even helpless babes—destroyed by wild beasts. Nearly all the apostles suffered persecution or martyrdom during the first and second seals. Rome at this time was a universal kingdom, and there was no safety for God’s people on the earth. It continued thus until the beginning of the fourth century. The red-horse period took peace from the earth, but during this time there were remarkable triumphs of the power of God. When Polycarp was asked to abjure his faith, he said, “Eighty and six years I have served the Lord, and now I can not deny him.” The flame formed an arch over him while at the stake, and he was not burned. Finally his executioner thrust a spear into his body, thus ending his life, and the blood extinguished the fire. However, his body was afterward burned. Others spoke after their tongues had been removed. The church stood faultless during this period, as described in Rev. 2: 8–11. Persecution, martyrdom, and unpopularity in the world are the purifiers of the church. Satan signally failed in destroying God’s people; for martyrs were the seed of the church. In the period represented by the third seal, Satan changed his tactics, and emperors arose who favored the believers. Worldly policy came in. The Christian religion was weighed in the worldly balances; church and state were united. Worldly positions were offered the people of God. By compromise the Christian religion became popular. The hellish black banner of Satan was erected amid the professed people of God. This was far more dangerous to the purity of the church than persecution. It is illustrated by a black horse. But amid all this amalgamation with the world, God preserved his people, not suffering the oil and wine to be hurt. The period of time covered by the first three churches and the first three seals is the same. It was during this time that the faith of the church became adulterated with error. What Satan could not accomplish by force he now accomplished by worldly policy. It was this spirit that taught Balak to overcome Israel. First, he led them to commit sin, and by it they were weakened. Num. 25: 1–5. The fourth seal opens the twelve hundred and sixty years of papal persecution. Here was a culmination of the development of the man of sin, the antichrist of 2 Thess. 2: 2–8 and of 1 John 2: 18, 19. It is variously estimated that from sixty to one hundred millions perished on account of their faith during this time. A little later John saw them under the altar, slain. They had not gone to heaven, for the altar upon which they sacrificed their lives, and under which their blood cried for vengeance, was upon the earth. As the world looks back upon this time of persecution, all now attribute to every one of them the white robe of Christ’s righteousness. The sixth seal opened with the great earthquake of 1755, when the city of Lisbon was destroyed, and nearly the whole world felt the shock. May 19, 1780, the sun was darkened and the moon turned to blood, and Nov. 13, 1833, the stars fell. When the signs began to be seen, the coming of the Lord was drawing near. When they were seen as signs, it was near, even at the door. This defines the generation in which Christ will come. Luke 21: 25–32. This is the only text which shows that the signs in the heavens were to be consecutive. Prophecy had marked out thirteen characteristics which were all fulfilled in these signs, as follows:— The latest point we could fix for the generation to begin was after the signs had been preached as signs in 1844; and a person must be from ten to fifteen years of age to appreciate them. So at the present time we are at least from sixty-five to seventy years in the last generation. The next events are the scenes described in verses 14–17. It is the Lord’s description of what is just before us. We can refer the reader to only a few other scriptures to be studied with these: Amos 8: 11, 12; Zeph. 1: 2–18; Hab. 3: 3–18; Psalm 91; Isa. 33: 13–16; Jer. 25: 30–38. It is the day of God’s wrath without mercy. It brings to view scenes that human language can not portray so that the mind can grasp its awfulness. Imagination usually overdraws things, but here it fails, as the terribleness of the scenes just before us exceeds the strongest imagination. Our only safety is to hide in God, and prepare to meet him who, to his people, will be the chiefest among ten thousand, the one altogether lovely and greatly to be admired. Daily Reading, November 25 to December 1.
Sunday, “Thoughts on the Revelation,” verses 1-7 Tuesday, “ “ “ “ “ pages 414-419 Wednesday, “ “ “ “ “ “ 420-426 Thursday, “ “ “ “ “ “ 427-434 Friday, article on Reading Circle Study on this page. 1. What is the significance of the book being sealed with seven seals, and of the Lamb opening them one by one? Who invited the prophet to behold the opening of the first seal? 2. What did the color of the horse indicate? What was the significance of the bow and the crown? 3. What period of time was covered by the first seal? How widely was the gospel preached during this period? 4. Who invited John to behold the second seal? 5. How much time was covered by the second seal? What condition of the church was indicated by the red horse? Who was given power to take peace from the earth? What was indicated by the sword given the rider? 6. How much time is included under the third seal? What condition of the church is indicated by the black horse, and the balances in the hand of the rider? 7. From what place does the prophet hear a voice? What is said? What do the oil and the wine represent? 8. Who take an especial interest in the opening of the seals, and invite John to behold the first four? 9. What period of time is covered by the fourth seal? What was the condition of the church during the time? 10. When the fifth seal was opened, what did John see? Was the altar in heaven, or on earth, where the martyrs were slain? Then where were their souls? 11. What are they represented as saying? Can lifeless objects call for revenge? Gen. 4: 10. 12. Has the world, as well as God, given the martyrs white robes of character? 13. What work was carried forward in the earth during the time of the fifth seal? 14. What event marked the opening of the sixth seal? When did it take place? 15. What signs were seen in heaven? When did they take place? How were the stars to fall? How many and what are the characteristics of the signs in the heavens? 16. What is meant by the heavens departing as a scroll? How were the mountains and islands affected? 17. How many classes of men will hide themselves in the dens and rocks of the mountains? What will they say to the mountains and rocks? 18. Why will they seek to hide? THE THIRD ANGEL'S MESSAGE.
THE sum and the substance, the beginning and the ending, the all in all, of the faith of Jesus is in the following statement of scripture:— “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Phil. 2:5–11. The Revised Version of the phrase translated “made himself of no reputation,” is “emptied himself.” This is in truth the literal meaning of the Greek word ἐκένωσεν ekenosen, from κενόω kenoo- “to empty out.” It is the same word which in Rom. 4:14 is translated “made void,” in the words: “For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect;” and also translated “make void,” in 1 Cor. 9:15. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who . . . emptied himself.” This—the emptying of self—is the secret of all Christianity; for it is the exaltation of self that has made Christianity necessary. It was through self-exaltation that sin entered the universe; for, of that “anointed cherub,” Lucifer, who sinned, and in whom iniquity was first found, it is written: “Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness.” Eze. 28:17. Being “perfect in beauty,” he looked at himself instead of to him who gave him this perfect beauty, and began to contemplate himself, and to admire himself. Then, as the consequence, he grew proud of himself, and began to think that the place he occupied was too narrow for the proper, profitable, and full display of the ability which he now gave himself the credit of possessing. He concluded that the place he occupied was not fully worthy of the dignity which now in his own estimation merged in him. True, he did have the perfection of beauty, fullness of wisdom, and height of dignity. But he had received it all from God, through Jesus Christ, who had created him. He had nothing, to his very existence itself, which he had not received. And when he would boast of it as if he had not received it; when he grew proud of his beauty, and gave himself credit for it as if it were inherently of himself,—this, in itself, was but to ignore his Creator, and put himself in his place. Yea, more, when he boasted of that which he had received, as if he had not received it; when he exalted himself because of that which he was, as if it were inherently of himself,—this was only to argue for himself self-existence. And this was, in itself, only to make himself, in his own estimation, EQUAL WITH GOD. And when it is in opposition to God, to claim equality with God is only to claim to be above God. It is this mind which that self-exalted one gave to our first parents in Eden. Before the woman he set this same thought, and to her insinuated this same ambition. When she said to him, concerning the tree: “God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die,” Satan replied, as expressed in the Hebrew, the Revised Version, and the Jews' translation: “God doth know, that, on the day ye eat thereof, your eyes will be opened and ye will be as God, knowing good and evil.” This is not only the literal reading, but the true meaning, of the original words. This gives the very thought that was put before the woman. It was not that you shall be as gods, in the common acceptation of the plural term gods. It was literally the very thought and ambition of Lucifer himself which he now put before her—ye shall be as God. He would lead her away, and inspire her with this mind which was in him, to be equal with God. The woman accepted his statement, yielded to his insinuation, and accepted his ambitious aim: the man went the same way; and thus sin entered into this world by the entering into our first parents of the mind which is not of God,—the mind which is not in Christ Jesus,—the mind which is enmity against God, and which is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be,—the minding of self, self, and only self. And that this is the universal mind of man as he is in the world, is shown in the exhortation of God to man, in the words: “He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to humble thyself to walk with thy God?” Micah 6:8, margin. Thus it is shown that in order for a man to walk with God, it is, of all things, essential that he humble himself to do so. This of itself shows that in his own estimation, in the mind which is the natural man, he is above God. Such is the natural mind; such is the mind of the natural man. But such is not the mind that is in Christ Jesus; such is not the mind which alone is becoming to the Christian. This mind, instead of being the exaltation of self, is the emptying of self; it is the mind which willingly humbles self to be obedient unto God, even though it be at the cost of death, and that even the death of the cross. This is yet further shown in the words of Jesus to all, forever, who will be his disciples: “If any man will come after me,” the first of all things is “let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” The denying of self, the emptying of self, precedes the taking up of the cross; and the taking up of the cross precedes the following of the Lord Jesus. “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” Luke 9:23, 24. This is precisely the course which Christ took. He denied himself, he emptied himself, and took up the cross, holding not back himself from death, even the death of the cross. And this is the way of the Christian. “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead; and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” 2 Cor. 5:14, 15. This is the faith of Jesus; this is the way of the faith of Jesus, who is “the Way.” “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who . . . emptied himself.” The arrangement of affairs in China, by the Powers, up to Sunday, November 11, as reported by the China correspondent of the London Times, is as follows:— Pressed by the common desire for a speedy termination of present conditions, the foreign envoys have finally agreed to the following terms, to be presented in a conjoint note, which, subject to the approval of the governments, will be pressed upon China as the basis of a preliminary treaty:— China shall erect a monument to Baron von Ketteler on the site where he was murdered, and send an imperial prince to Germany to convey an apology. She shall inflict the death penalty upon eleven princes and officials already named, and suspend provincial examinations for five years where the outrages occurred. In future all officials failing to prevent anti-foreign outrages within their jurisdiction shall be dismissed and punished. (This is a modification of Mr. Conger's proposal.) Indemnity shall be paid to the state, corporations, and individuals. The tsung li yamen shall be abolished, and its functions vested in a foreign minister. Rational intercourse shall be permitted with the emperor, as in civilized countries. The forts at Taku and the other forts on the coast of Chi Li shall be razed, and the importation of arms and war material prohibited. Permanent legation guards shall be maintained and also guards of communication between Peking and the sea. Imperial proclamations shall be posted for two years throughout the empire, suppressing Boxers. The indemnity is to include compensation for Chinese who suffered through being employed by foreigners, but not compensation for native Christians. The words “missionary” and “Christians” do not occur in the note. From this it is plain that henceforth the government of China is to be only by the Powers in China; and thus the greater Eastern question becomes a fixed condition, the ending of which will be but the ending of all things earthly, as God hath declared unto his servants the prophets. American-Style Corruption in the Philippines
Two years ago, when it was first proposed that the United States government should enter upon the task of assuring to the Filipinos the “blessings of good government and American civilization,” the question was asked many times in Congress and throughout the country, “What will be the model of good government that will be assured them? Will it be that of the corrupt city governments of the United States and of the State bosses?” The answer is now being given with an emphasis. The Independent, November 8, publishes a long article from Harold Martin, the representative of the Associated Press in the Philippines, which gives indisputable evidence that the government in the Philippines is but the reproduction of the worst city governments in the United States. Upon a long list of facts, he says:— We have cried to them, “We will give you a clean and good government,” until the words are become a habit, and we can hardly speak officially without using them. Yet the two branches of the municipal administration of this city [Manila] that most directly reach and touch the common people are woefully corrupt, incompetent, and dishonest; and the result of the contrast which is thereby forced to the minds of superstitious and unreasonable natives, none too well disposed to us at best, is almost disastrous to the great work of winning the confidence and affection of the Filipino. And the body of the article shows just as conclusively that this corruption in government is not at all confined to the municipal government of Manila. The shirt of Nessus has been put on, and it will do its dreadful work now as surely as before.