p. 9 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 8. (2/25/1913)

The Inheritance of the Righteous

By John Norton Loughborough

By J. N. Loughborough

III. The Abrahamic Promise

WE have found in our study thus far, that the purpose of God in creating the earth is yet to be accomplished through Christ, the promised Seed. He is to have “the first dominion,” the dominion lost by Adam, which will be “from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth.” Zech. 9:10. This same Ruler is promised “the kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven.” Dan. 7:27. This must be the whole earth.

Paul speaks of “the redemption of the purchased possession.” Eph. 1:13, 14. When Adam sinned, he sold his dominion to Satan. Death was the penalty. Christ, not subject to the penalty, died, and paid the claim, not to Satan, but to the law; and so redeems the dominion and the race.

God’s Promises Concerning This Earth

The Lord has made promises respecting this earth, which, according to what He has said, can not be fulfilled this side of the coming of Christ. There must then be a future for the earth, beyond the second advent. Note this promise, “But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.” Num. 14:21. Since that prediction, the earth has never been thus filled. In all past ages, violence, anarchy, and sin have reigned predominant. In the days of Habakkuk, the glorious reign was regarded as still future. This prophet said, “The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” Hab. 2:14.

Of the wheat and tares—the righteous and the wicked—our Saviour said, “Let both grow together until the harvest.” Matt. 13:30. So wickedness will be on the earth “until the harvest,” which is “the end of the world.” Matt. 13:39. The last days of this earth are spoken of by the apostle Paul as, “perilous times,” many having “a form of godliness,” upon whom are resting eighteen different forms of sin which he mentions, and such deny the power of godliness. 2 Tim. 3:1-5. Again he says, “In the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” 1 Tim. 4:1. Of the closing scenes our Saviour said, “Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matt. 24:12, 13. He also inquires, “When the Son of Man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8. This implies a negative answer. Again: “So shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of Man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire. . . . Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” Matt. 13:40-43.

There is one very prominent promise in the Bible evidently relating to a future kingdom upon this earth. It is the promise made to Abraham. Of this we read:

“For when God made promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no greater, He sware by Himself. . . . For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath: that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie [God’s word, and His oath], we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us.” Heb. 6:13-18.

According to the teaching of Peter, the accomplishment of our hope is beyond Christ’s second coming. He says:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. . . . The trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, tho it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:5-7.

So the accomplishment of the Abrahamic promise is beyond the second coming of Christ.

Did Not Expect It on This Earth

That Abraham and the ancient worthies looked to the future for the fruition of their hope, is apparent from their reasoning respecting it:

“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose Builder and Maker is God.” Heb. 11:8-12.

Speaking still further of these ancient worthies, their conflicts and victories, the apostle concludes, “These all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” Heb. 11:39, 40. Not that they are to get something better than the promise; but that all of God’s people shall receive it in the perfect state.

Stephen, when preaching that discourse which was followed by his martyrdom, said of the Abrahamic promise:

“When his father was dead, He [God] removed

him into this land, wherein ye now dwell. And He gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on; yet He promised that He would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.” Acts 7:4, 5.

When Paul spoke before King Agrippa, he said:

“And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews. Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?” Acts 26:6-8.

Not by the Sojourners in Palestine

Some persons claim that the promise made to Abraham was all fulfilled by the sojourn of the Israelites in the land of Canaan, because it is said, “There failed not aught of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.” Joshua 21:45. Mind, this does not say, “All God promised to Abraham,” but shows, in the connection, that it referred to the promised conquests in the land. The promise to Abraham was not limited to a small portion on which he might “sojourn.” But he was told, “Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy Seed forever.” Gen. 13:14, 15. “Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.” Verse 17.

The Whole World Embraced

How Abraham regarded this promise, is well stated by the apostle Paul, when writing to the Romans:

“For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. . . . Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham: who is the father of us all (as it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations), before Him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as tho they were.” Rom. 4:13, 16, 17.

This shows clearly that Abraham looked for the fulfilment of the promise made to him beyond the resurrection of the dead, and that the apostles so understood the case.

[“The Heirs of Promise” is the next topic in this series.]

The Difference

It is related that one day Fitzgerald was standing with Tennyson in front of a line of marble busts of great men. Side by side were the busts of Dante and Goethe. Turning to Tennyson, Fitzgerald said, “What is it which is present in Dante’s face, and absent from Goethe’s?” Tennyson promptly answered, “The divine.” And who can dispute it? There can be no doubt that the indwelling presence of the Spirit in a person does make a difference even in the appearance of the face; and if a difference in the face, how much more in the heart!

John the revelator saw men with God’s name written upon their foreheads, or upon their faces. Certainly it made a difference, a great difference, not only in the face and the heart, but in the life as well. If there is no perceptible difference in the face, or in the heart, or in the life, after you have received Christ, you will do well to question whether you have ever received Him at all or not. Since this is so important a question to every living soul, ought we not to examine often ourselves to see whether we be in the faith or not? We need know that we are His and that He is ours. That knowledge wonderfully settles human character.—Herald of Gospel Liberty.

The Roman Curia

By Lord Robert Montagu

THE Curia is a Cabinet of long standing, great practise, experience, and knowledge of affairs. It never goes out by the action of an adverse majority in a representative Chamber. It never suffers change, except as one member or another drops off by old age and death. Like the Russian Cabinet, it comprises all the best intellects of Europe and the New World. It combines the astuteness of the Italian, the solidity of the Englishman, the inventive genius of the American, the clear subtlety of the Frenchman, the dogged perseverance and persistence of the German, the duplicity of the Oriental, and the falsehood of all. All these varied intellects have been carefully trained for their work, and been experienced in diplomacy; while from the intimate reports derived from priestly confessors all over the world, the best and most detailed knowledge of the characters and intentions of statesmen and the passions of people, are ready to their hand. The Vatican is the center of all the intelligence and information of the world; and every bishop has periodically to visit Rome, in order that his inmost soul may be probed, and his continual reports may be tested. Such is the Cabinet with which Protestant statesmen hope on equal terms to cope!

Now consider the other point—the character of the Roman Curia to which the Romish bishops all over the world have sworn implicit obedience, just as the priests also have sworn entire submission to their bishops. The Church of Rome is, in fact, not a body of theological doctrine or belief, but a huge and intricate system of government. It is an empire; it is an absolute monarchy, with its College of Cardinals, or Privy Councilors—a monarchy which rules not only by means of force, and which governs not only the bodies and outward actions of its subjects; but which rules the conscience by means of spiritual terrors, and insures the most abject obedience by means of superstitious feelings. As a study of the Syllabus of December 8, 1864, will show, the Papal Government is a conspiracy of the subtlest and best informed minds, against the fortunes and liabilities of mankind. It has agents in every land and every nation; for every priest, every monk, every nun, every member of a religious confraternity, is an agent of that Government. And every one of these—the whole body indeed of the Romanists—move as one army, in accordance with the orders from the Vatican. By all the allurements of sense; by the feigned terrors of the unseen world; by artifices nicely calculated on an intimate acquaintance with each man's idiosyncrasies, tendencies, antecedents, and present frame of mind; by the power acquired through the knowledge of some secret crime; by enticing young persons of mark to commit themselves in perpetrating some disgraceful act so that their fair name and fame, their honor and their liberties are placed in the hands of the agents of Rome; by memories of the past, and poignant stings of remorse; by offers of preferment, office, glory, and fame, with assurances of safety and secrecy in exchange for services rendered clandestinely to Rome;—by all these means, and many others, the Vatican is ever increasing, in every land, its body of adherents, who must implicitly obey, while they hate her. Nor can honor or patriotism or even family affection intervene. Conscience is goaded, and oaths compel them to discard the laws and the welfare of their nation, with the love of kindred, the entreaties of a wife, the paternal instincts of a father for his children, in order to submit to and obey the mandates of the Pope.

A Marvelous Mechanism

The system of the Church of Rome is a wonderful mechanism. Its center is the Pope. Yet it is independent of the Pope. Many a Pope has been a dotard; very many have been debauchees. Yet the machine works on, irrespectively of his idiosyncrasies. It is the Cabinet, the Privy Council, the College of Cardinals, that governs. That body never dies. One old man and another falls away, like a sere and yellow leaf, but the tree remains; the traditions and the knowledge of centuries are still there. The records of the past are added to the daily experience of the present; and that experience is being ever gathered in every corner of the earth, wherever there is a priest or a missioner. From every race, from every land, from every people, nay, from every family there stretches a telegraphic wire of secret intelligence to the central station of the Vatican. There the intelligence is used by free minds, who are destitute of family, without all the affections which are natural to man, without a country or a home, without patriotism; without restraint of obligations, oaths, moral principles or divine laws; because the word of the Pope is supposed to tear those holy fetters away as gossamer webs, and priestly absolution is held to wash out even the slightest taint of sin. That is right which is done to advance the power of the Pope. That is true which the Pope may please to assert ex cathedra. That which favors the interest of the church is good. Even crime is commendable if it be done for the church.

Coleridge, the poet and philosopher, said that there are two kinds of strong persons who must always prevail over men that vary in their aims, and sometimes move in one direction and sometimes in another: he is strong who acts always in accordance with the will of God, and allows no consideration, no passion, and no interest to make him deviate from the path of rectitude and simple justice, and he, too, is strong who puts before himself one end, to which he constantly aims without swerving to one side or the other, allowing no considerations of right and wrong, no soft or benevolent feeling, no passion, no natural affection, to intervene or deter. Forte nihil difficile. The latter succeeds in this world, the former lives for eternity. Hence the success, for centuries, of

the Vatican. Emperors have resisted it, and fallen. Ministers have framed their policies to curb the pretensions of the Pope, and have been overcome. The devices of premiers are weak, in opposition to the intrigues of the Curia.

The advance of the Papacy has always been as the advance of the plague, irresistible, unsparing, remorseless, and deadly. Its myriads of secret agents overmatch armies and dispose of their generals. Its purposes are fathomless as the sea and silent as the grave. Its action is in every state, setting nation to hamper nation, and exciting one statesman against another; breaking up, dividing, crumbling its enemies; while its own party is always united, conspiring everywhere toward one object. Ever victorious, it will triumph until the great hour for the doom of the harlot which sits upon the nations of the earth, has struck; until the warning voice has been heard through the world: “Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. . . . For she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.”—Lord Robert Montagu.

Which Day Is the Christian Sabbath?

By M. Lukens

By M. Lukens

Which day is the Christian Sabbath?" was asked five prominent men, members of different denominations. The first answered, “Sunday, because Christ was raised from the dead on that day.” The answer of the second was, “The seventh day was the Sabbath until the death of Christ, but since then we observe the Lord’s day.” The third stated, “Sunday is the seventh day of the week.” The fourth said, “There is no Sabbath. Since Christ, all days are alike.” The answer of the fifth one was, “Saturday is the Christian Sabbath, for it is the seventh day of the week, and the Bible says, ‘The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.’”

All of these answers can not be correct, for no two are alike. At least four of them must be wrong. It is not the object of this article to disprove that which is wrong, but simply that we may learn that which is truth. That there is a Lord’s day in the New Testament, is evident from Rev. 1:10, which reads as follows: “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet.” That the Lord’s day is the Sabbath day, is clearly shown by reading Mark 2:27, 28: “And He said unto them, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath: therefore the Son of Man is Lord also of the Sabbath.” The fourth commandment also states that the “seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.”

The Sabbath of the Lord was instituted at the close of creation’s week by the Creator: (a) by His resting on the seventh day (Gen. 2:1-3; Ex. 20:8-11); (b) by His blessing the seventh day (Gen. 2:1-3; Ex. 20:8-11); (c) by His sanctifying the seventh day as the Sabbath (Gen. 2:1-3; Ex. 20:8-11).

Christ, the Son of God, was associated with the Father in the creation of the world as shown by the following scriptures:

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds.” Heb. 1:1, 2.

“And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.” Eph. 3:9.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made.” John 1:1-3.

Christ is called the Word, for at His Father’s suggestion at the time of creation, He spoke the word. “Let the dry land appear: and it was so.” Gen. 1:9. Therefore, as Christ was the one who did the work at creation, He is the one who rested; hence the Sabbath day, which means rest day, is the Lord’s day.

In the Law

After God had delivered the children of Israel with a stretched-out hand from Egyptian bondage, He brought them to Mount Sinai, where amidst the splendors of the mountain, the fire and smoke, God spoke His Ten Commandment law. Ex. 20:1-18. Afterward, He wrote them upon two tables of stone with His own finger. Ex. 31:18. And fearing the people had forgotten which day was the Sabbath, He told them to “remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; . . . for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.” Ex. 20:8-11.

Thus he points out the definite day that He blessed and sanctified at creation, and afterward chiseled this statement upon a table of stone so that there would be no mistake. And that we might be sure no time was lost, and that the great God of the universe had His eye on His blessed rest day, Inspiration says, in speaking of those noble women who followed their Lord and Master to the sepulchre, “And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment.” Luke 23:56.

The question now naturally arises, Which day is the seventh day? Mark 15, after telling of the cruel death of our Saviour, says in verse 42, “And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath.” Every one knows that Christ was crucified on the sixth day (Friday), and the Bible here states plainly that the day following was the Sabbath. Since the day following Friday is Saturday, therefore we must conclude that the Bible teaches that Saturday is the Sabbath.

Names of Days

The English names for the days are derived from the Saxon. The ancient Saxons had borrowed the week from some Eastern nations, and substituted the names of their own divinities for those of the gods of Greece. In legislative and judiciary acts, the Latin names are still retained.

LATIN	ENGLISH	SAXON
Dies Solis	Sunday	Sun’s day
Dies Lunae	Monday	Moon’s day
Dies Martis	Tuesday	Tiw’s day
Dies Mercurii	Wednesday	Woden’s day
Dies Jovis	Thursday	Thor’s day
Dies Veneris	Friday	Friga’s day
Dies Saturni	Saturday	Set erne’s day.

(“Encyclopædia Britannica,” the new Warner edition, Vol. 4, p. 665, art., “Calendar.”)

A mother dressed her young son for Sunday-school, and as the little fellow, all clean and white, started off, he was met by an older boy who had a fishing-line. “Where are you going, Johnnie?” he asked.

“To Sunday-school.”

“O, it is too hot,” he stated, “let us go fishing.”

But the little boy reasoned, “I have no fishing-line.”

“I’ll get you one.”

“But mother wouldn’t like me to go.”

“O, come on, she will not need to know.” So Johnnie yielded. He was successful in catching some fish, and not wishing to lose his treasures he took them home. He was in a sorry plight when he returned with his clothes all soiled with mud. When his mother saw him, she asked, “Where have you been?” Johnnie answered, “To Sunday-school.” “No, you haven’t,” said his mother, and then spying the fish which Johnnie had tried in vain to hide, she said, “I’ll teach you to go fishing on Sunday.” After whipping him, she told him to go to his room and read the fourth commandment fifty times. By that time he could say it from memory.

A few days after this, Johnnie went to school. The teacher asked the first boy to name the first day of the week, and he said, “Sunday.” The next boy in answer to a question said that Monday is the second day of the week, and it so happened that Johnnie had to answer the question as to which is the seventh day of the week. Remembering his experience on the previous Sunday, and that the commandment said that the seventh day is the Sabbath, he answered, “The seventh day of the week is Sunday.” The teacher told him it was not, and told him to listen while she asked the other boys again. But Johnnie still persisted that the seventh day is Sunday, adding, “If you had read that commandment as many times as I have, you would know which day is the seventh.” Then, taking up the calendar the teacher pointed out carefully which is the first day of the week, the second, the third, and so on, and then told him that Saturday is the seventh day. Upon asking him again, he answered, “If I say Sunday is, you will whip me; and if I say Saturday is, mother will whip me, so what shall I do?”

How can we expect our children to be clear upon these subjects, when the commandment says the seventh day is the Sabbath, and the Bible as well as the calendar teaches the seventh day is Saturday, and yet so many people keep Sunday, the first day of the week, thinking they are observing the Sabbath of the Lord.

The Sabbath was not changed by Christ (Matt. 5: 17, 18), nor by His apostles (Rom. 3: 31; James 2: 8-12); but it is just as binding to-day as when spoken amidst the splendors of Sinai. It was kept by the Saviour (Luke 4: 16), and we are admonished to walk even as He walked. It was observed by all the apostles after the resurrection, also by Paul, the great apostle to the Gentiles, as shown by his holding meetings on 84 Sabbaths. Acts 13: 14, 42, 44; 16: 12, 13; 17: 1, 2; 18: 1-4, 11.

When Inspiration mentions the seventh day of the week, it always calls it the Sabbath; but when it speaks of the first day, it does not give it any holy title. Therefore, we must conclude that the seventh day is the Sabbath, that the seventh day is Saturday; and that the Christian Sabbath is Saturday, the seventh day of the week. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.”

Studies in Ephesians

Prayer for Power

Chapter 1, Verses 15-20, A.R.V.

1. After stating God’s plan and purpose in Christ, through the Holy Spirit, how does the apostle again refer to it?

**“For this cause I also, having heard of the faith of the Lord Jesus which is among you, and the love which ye show toward all the saints.” Verse 15. **

2. What did he do in view of this?

**“Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers.” Verse 16. **

3. For what did he first pray?

**“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.” Verse 17. **

4. For what enlightenment did he pray?

**“Having the eyes of your heart enlightened.” Verse 18. **

5. For what did he wish their heart enlightened?

**“That ye may know what is the hope of His calling, what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.” Verse 18. **

6. For what else did he pray?

**“And what the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe.” Verse 19. **

7. How does he vividly bring to us the greatness of that power?

**“According to that working of the strength of His might which he wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and made Him to sit at His right hand in the heavenly places.” Verses 19, 20. **

The Gospel

1. What purpose did the Father have in mind when He gave His Son to this world?

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3: 16.

2. What is the thing that causes men to perish, that is, to die eternally?

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Rom. 5: 12.

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6: 23.

“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1: 14, 15.

3. With these texts concerning sin and its penalty in mind, let the question be raised, What does Paul say concerning the gospel and its power?

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Rom. 1: 16.

4. What is revealed in the gospel?

“For therein [in the gospel] is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Rom. 1: 17.

NOTE.—Sin is revealed in the life of the sinner, and he is hopelessly wrapped up in it. But the gospel brings to him the plan of salvation, by which all this sin is taken from the life of the individual, and the perfect righteousness of God is manifested instead.

5. How does Christ bring about this change by which the individual has his own sinful life taken away, and the perfect life of Christ supplied instead?

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Gal. 2: 20.

NOTE.—“The Son of God” “loved me, and gave Himself for me.” The Lord not only gave Himself to me, but He gave Himself for me. He makes an exchange, by which the sinner takes Him and all His righteousness, and the Master in turn accepts the sinner and his guilt. It is an actual transfer, and the converted sinner has the satisfaction of knowing that he has been clothed in the perfect righteousness of the perfect Christ.

6. Was this wonderful gospel preached in the old dispensation?

“And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.” Gal. 3: 8.

7. Through how many names may men be saved?

“Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4: 10-12.

Star of Warning and Tiding and Calling

By Lulu M. Andersen

By Lulu M. Andersen

O, weary earth-sojourner, What of the times? O, busy worldly-learner, What of the times? O, active pleasure-yearner, What of the times? Turn to the dial, mortals, Look where we are! The Wonderful One is coming: The time is not far. Slumber not on; you'll perish At the flash of His star.

Ho! careless life-seafarer, Rapids are near! Halt! struggling business-terror, Learn what to fear. Flee false religions' error — The Day-star is here. Turn to the dial, mortals, Look where we are! The Counselor is coming; The time is not far. Slumber not on; you'll perish At the flash of His star.

Learn how to meet the Saviour; Sin now must end. Haste! Not a moment waver — Grace He doth lend: Keep His commandments ever — Never offend. Turn to the dial, mortals, Look where we are! The Mighty God is coming; The time is not far. Slumber not on; you'll perish At the flash of His star.

Pray, O, be prayerful, mortals — Dream not along; Pause and be careful, mortals — See what is wrong. O, be o'ercomers now And stand with the strong. Turn to the dial, mortals, Look where we are! The Everlasting Father cometh; The time is not far. Slumber not on; you'll perish At the flash of His star.

Weep, O, repent of sinning; God's plan is best — Plan of the first Beginning, Hallowed and blest. Feel now His love so winning; Enter His rest. Turn to the dial, mortals, Look where we are! The Prince of Peace is coming; The time is not far. Slumber not on; you'll perish At the flash of His star.

Will You and I Be There?

By Alice Brayshaw

By Alice Brayshaw

When weary with toil, and retirement we seek In that beautiful city on high, Have we, as true citizens, learned how to speak For the land of our Father? Have I?

Have we laid up in store in banks that are safe— While these fleeting years have swept by— Provisions which waste not, tho long be our stay? Will you feel at home there? Will I?

In that glorified state, when the ransomed shall stand With cool, sparkling waters close by, On the bright sea of glass, with harps in their hands, Will you be among them? Will I?

When a mark has been placed on the foreheads of those Who because of much wickedness cry, Will we be among them when the angel comes in? Or carelessly wait?— You and I?

When weary sojourners at last find a home, And the dwelling of God is close by; Where tired ones of earth shall nevermore roam,— Have you entered a claim there? Have I?

When redeemed ones of earth to Zion shall come, And with praises exalt the Most High; In the fair fields of Eden will we have a share In the praises of God?— You and I?

In the bright, promised land where the pilgrims find rest; O brother! O sister! let's try To cease our repining and murmurings here, And enter that rest,— You and I.

When our cases are reached in the great judgment hour, And our records examined on high, May pardon be written beside each one's name, As we stand in our lot,— You and I.

The Just, the Strong

By Benjamin Phillips

By Benjamin Phillips

“For I am He in whom thou shouldst have trust, The all-devising hand which crusheth woe; Nor passeth striving mortals here below— To them tho worn yet faithful I am Just,” So speaks that power overwatching all: And in the bud, the bloom, the brook, and breeze The proof stands out, the great Invisible Is ever present over lands and seas.

And man of evil practise goes his way, Yet feels a stayed and changeless power near; The sinful acts, vainglorious display In reminiscence brings a touch of fear. And he, forsaking Strength from day to day, Forfeits sweet hope to lead a vain career.

Be Oft in Prayer

By Mabel Craker

By Mabel Craker

The clouds may veil the brighter sky, The sun's rays quite obscure, And friends forsake who once were near, And naught but sins allure: 'Tis then the time, dear heart, to raise Thy voice in prayer To One who never thee forsakes, But standeth near.

'Tis there thy soul draws nourishment Direct from God above. 'Tis there He showers down on thee Refreshing drafts of love. Then at this Fount be often found With reverence deep: For His dear hand with tend'rest care Thy soul will keep.

Leave thy petition with Him there; Await His wise reply. If He should answer as thou wished, Thy soul might droop and die. He'll not forget; then in His care Let thy case rest. He'll send whate'er be well for thee; He knoweth best.

Or if, perchance, thy feet may stray In paths which seem but fair, Remember Eden's lovely tree Concealed the serpent there. And Danger may with stealthy tread Thy way beset. Then to His arms flee hastily; He loves thee yet.

Stay thou near Him, affrighted one, Content whate'er betide: For nothing cometh ill to thee When thou art by His side. With tend'rest care He guardeth thee; There safely bide. His love could not be plainer shown; For thee He died.

Turk, Washington.

(Eugene C. Foster, in "Sunday School Times")

By Eugene C. Foster

Defiance

(Eugene C. Foster, in "Sunday School Times")

Once there was a mountain high, Seemed to reach beyond the sky; Said, “They’ll never conquer me,— Never!” Once there was an ocean wide, Bosom-throbbed with swelling tide; Said, “I shall forever be,— Forever!”

But the rocking earthquake came, Rent the mountain heights in twain, Crushed the rocks with ruthless hand, In level; Lifted high the ocean’s floor, Emptied it from shore to shore, Filled its valleys full with sand Till level.

Now from every mountain’s height Earth’s Te Deum wings its flight, Waves with songs are ever rife,— Ever! Shall defiant man alone Still refuse his God to own,— Boast an altar-empty life Forever?

God Knows

By Mrs. I. J. Powell

By Mrs. I. J. Powell.

God knows the pain, the care, the sorrow, That rankles daily in this weary breast; He knows the wants, the hopes, the longings, That thrill these heart-strings with such wild unrest.

He knows the snares the tempter flings around me, To keep me, if may be, from upward trend; He also knows the victor's crown that waits me If I am faithful, even to the end.

When the storms of life are fiercely raging, I sometimes falter, and I lose my way; He knows the clouds that round me thickly gather Are but the heralds of a brighter day.

Then, soul of mine, be still, and cease thy longing, Content to do the heavenly Master's will; For know in His good time, beside the crystal river Of peace and bliss, thou then shalt have thy fill.

Meridian, Idaho.

Confidence

By T. E. Morgan

By T. E. Morgan

Christ gave Himself for me. Christ rose that I might rise. By death and life He gained for me a life beyond the skies. I know henceforth there is for me laid up above A crown of life and righteousness, won by the Saviour’s love. For me to live is Christ, for me to die is gain, I walk a weary pilgrim way, but walk it not in vain If only I might gain for Christ a single soul, If wayward sinners I may point toward the heavenly goal. Had I to choose my lot, I wot not what to ask, I leave my life, my all, with God, and thus fulfil my task.

Continue reading: Why Do Men Kill?