Signs of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 46. (11/17/1898)

Signs of the Times

Nov 17, 1898

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 17, 1898

SAVONAROLA

Biographies

SAVONAROLA

A graphic account of the life and martyrdom of this wonderful preacher of Florence; also a sketch of his times. An inspiring book for young readers, and one that will be read again and again.

Cloth 60c; paper 25c

POLITICAL SPEECHES AND DEBATES

A reproduction of the principal speeches and debates of Abraham Lincoln during the years 1854–1861, together with those of his political antagonist, Stephen A. Douglas. A fascinating volume of over 550 large pages. Cloth, $1.75

JOHN OF WYCLIFFE

The life of this greatest of “the reformers before the Reformation” is one of intense interest, and is here told in such a way as to inspire the reader to cultivate his opportunities and economize his time.

Cloth, 60c; paper, 25c

MARTIN LUTHER

A most readable story of the life of this greatest reformer, at home, at the university, as a monk, as a priest, at Rome, at the Diet of Worms, and the closing scenes of his career. Illustrated.

Cloth, 60c; paper, 25c

Dainty Bindings

BATTLE HYMN OF THE KINGDOM

Is a beautiful poem by Frances Eugenia Bolton. It is illustrated with 15 half-tone, full-page engravings, every one of which is an artistic gem. Although the one shown herewith has been greatly reduced in size, it will convey an idea of those found in the book. The cover design, which is worked in green, silver, and gold, is original and attractive. The bindings are

Art vellum cloth, gilt top, 50c White leatherette, 25c

The following booklets are especially designed for inexpensive gift volumes. Each copy is tastily bound in white and gold and protected by a paper wrapper.

Price, 35c each, or $1.80 for six

Secret of Gladness By the Still Waters Christ Filled Life What Is Worth While Girls, Faults and Ideals Young Men, Faults and Ideals

Secret of Gladness is also issued in a cloth binding with gilt top. Price, 60c

Stories

SABBATH READINGS

The set contains 282 stories and poetical selections. These stories are such as will delight both young and old, and will instil in the mind a love for pure literature. Four volumes, 1549 pages, cloth bound, 40c per volume.

LEFT WITH A TRUST

Contains two good stories, the first being of the struggles of a family, the head of which having gone, according to baby Phil, “Away ’cross the big sea, and perhaps he’d tumble out of the ship and get drowned.” The second tells of the faithful efforts of a boy to support his sister and widowed mother.

Illustrated, cloth, 60c; paper, 25c

JACK THE CONQUEROR

And Other Stories

The first and longest story is that of ten-year-old poverty-stricken Jack Harold. His father and mother were both dead, and his aunt would not allow him to go to school. How his ambition was aroused, etc. Well illustrated, cloth, 60c; paper, 25c.

GOLDEN GRAINS

A series of pamphlets containing 320 pages and 45 beautiful stories for children. Following are some of the titles: “Joe Benton’s Coal Yard,” “This Hand Never Struck Me,” “The Burnt Composition,” “The Wanderer’s Prayer,” “The First Lie,” “The Tempting Gloves,” “Tom’s Revenge.” Complete set for 25c, post-paid.

MAKING HOME HAPPY

An entertaining story of how an unhappy home was made and kept happy, together with the influence it had over other homes. Contains 203 pages; cloth, 50c.

NEW LIGHT ON OLD PATHS

A select series of stories designed to impress upon the young mind practical ideas of life and its duties. Contains nearly 500 large pages; is illustrated and bound in cloth with gilt edges. Price reduced from $2.75 to $1.00

Miscellany

THOUGHTS FROM THE MOUNT OF BLESSING

An exposition of the Sermon on the Mount.

“It can by no means be read with profit at one sitting, but is a book for time of meditation, as its title indicates.” —Baptist Union.

Contains 209 pages, 18 half-tone engravings, is bound in cloth at 75c, and half-calf at $1.00

CHRISTIAN SECRET

A new and enlarged edition of this well-known and valuable book. Cloth, 50c.

STEPS TO CHRIST

“Its counsels are plain and practical, and calculated to explain away the difficulties, doubts and fears that beset the pathway of not a few Christians.” —The N. Y. Observer.

English cloth edition, 50c. Also in German, Swedish, Danish, Spanish, French, Dutch, and Portuguese, at 60c

SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE

By John MacNeil

Says the author, in his preface, “The object of this little work is to call attention to the fact that the fullness of the Spirit is the birth-right of every believer.” It is a wonderful book. Contains 126 pages.

Paper covers, 15c each, two for 25c; cloth binding, 30c

STORY OF REDEMPTION

A book well calculated to show forth the love of Christ, and to draw the reader into a closer connection with Him. Contains 237 pages, 68 engravings, four of which are three-color half-tones. Cloth, with gilt edges, $1.25

ILLUSTRATED QUARTOS

These volumes are well written and fully illustrated. They are bound in cloth, with gilt edges, and contain from 175 to 200 9x11-inch pages. Following are the titles:—

Africa, Illustrated America, Illustrated Egypt, Illustrated Europe, Illustrated Germany, Illustrated Great Cities of the World

India, Illustrated Ireland, Illustrated Out-of-Doors with Tennyson Palestine, Illustrated

Regular price, $2.50; holiday price, $1.15, post-paid

Pacific Press Publishing Company

39 Bond Street, New York City OAKLAND, CAL. 18 West Fifth Street, Kansas City, Mo.

GOD'S CARE FOR HIS PEOPLE.

By Ellen G. White

“Christ had such an experience in His humanity that He desires to be close beside every one who passes through suffering for the truth’s sake.” “The value of man, the estimate God places upon him, is revealed in the cross of Calvary.”

The Lord of heaven is not regardless of us and our concerns, but is in communication with the fallen inhabitants of this world. Christ has not laid aside His human nature; He stands in the presence of God as our substitute and surety, our living intercessor. To Him is given all power in behalf of humanity, and all things have been committed into His hands, that He may complete the work of redemption, which was begun in such humiliation and at such an immense sacrifice.

The Lord is in active communication with every part of His vast dominions. He is represented as bending toward the earth and its inhabitants. He is listening to every word that is uttered. He hears every groan; He listens to every prayer; He observes the movements of every one; He approves or condemns every action. The hand of Christ draws aside the veil which conceals from our eyes the glory of heaven; and we behold Him in His high and holy place, not in a state of silence and indifference to His subjects in a fallen world, but surrounded by all the heavenly host,—ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, all waiting to go at His bidding on errands of mercy and love.

Christ had such an experience in His humanity that He desires to be close beside every one who passes through suffering for the truth's sake,—those who are tortured, imprisoned in dungeons, and bound in chains. He ministers to all such. He is the friend of all who love and fear Him, and He will punish those who dare to lead them from safe paths, or put them in positions of distress as they conscientiously endeavor to keep the way of the Lord.

God has always had a care for His people. When Moses turned aside at the sight of the burning bush, the Lord called, “Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And He said, Draw not nigh hither; put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Moreover He said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of My people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows. And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites. Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto Me; and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth My people the children of Israel out of Egypt.”

Christ taught His disciples that the amount of divine attention given to any object is proportionate to the rank assigned to it in the creation of God. He called their attention to the birds of the air. Not a sparrow, He said, falls to the ground without the notice of our heavenly Father. And if the little sparrow is regarded by Him, surely the souls of those for whom Christ has died are precious in His sight. The value of man, the estimate God places upon him, is revealed in the cross of Calvary. “God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” And will not God judge those who cause pain or disappointment to the ones for whom Christ has given His life? Then let men be careful how, by word or action, they cause one of God's children sorrow or grief.

In order to enlarge our comprehension of the benevolence and love of our heavenly Father, Christ reminds us that God sends His rain on the just and on the unjust, and “maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good.” Christ leads us forth into the open field of nature, and seeks to teach us the lesson that the Hand which upholds the world, and paints the lily of the field, and the flowers of varied beauty, is the hand of the great Master-Artist. It is He who gives to each its distinctive beauty. He tells us that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these

simple, natural flowers, which He has given as an expression of His love for man.

Every drop of rain, every ray of light shed on our unthankful world, is an evidence of God's long forbearance and love. If the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven; if the lovely flowers, which delight our senses, reveal such exquisite skill and care on the part of the great Master-Artist, we can not have exaggerated ideas of the regard and value which God has placed on the human beings made in His likeness. And He will not pass by a selfish, discourteous, or unkind action of one human being toward another. That one should lead another to dishonor His name and transgress His law, is a matter that will not be disregarded in the day of final recompense.

Who can measure or anticipate the gift of God? For ages sin had interrupted the flow of divine benevolence to man; but God's mercy and love for the fallen race have not ceased to accumulate, nor lost their earthward direction. The inhabitants of the world, their reason perverted, have turned the earth into a lazar-house. But God still lives and reigns, and in Christ He has poured on the world a healing flood. In the gift of God's dear Son, a definite view of His character has been given to the race that is never absent from His mind. His very heart is laid open in the royal law. That infinite standard is presented to all, that there may be no mistake in regard to that kind of people God would have compose His kingdom. It is only those who are obedient to all His commandments who will become members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King. These will be honored with a citizenship above, a life that measures with the life of God,—a life without sorrow, pain, or death throughout eternal ages.

MRS. E. G. WHITE.

UNSEEN SERVICE.

By Mrs. H. P. Booth

The true ideal of an accepted servant of the Master, must be in harmony with the requirements of the needed service. The conditions of time and place, the amount and quality of effort to be bestowed, and the limitation or possession of ability to render full conformity with loyal allegiance to all demands, are duly considered. Absolute, voluntary surrender, the unmantling of self, the deliberate consciousness of not being one's own, having been bought with a price not estimated by earthly possessions, must be realized by him who would yield to the essential, attainable, allotted labor.

Such is, and has been, all these Christian ages, not only the ideal, but the real, which has written its open history of the effective unseen service of self-renunciation—complete immolation of self on God's altar. The spiritual being attained, spiritual works brought their results. Indifference to the world's attractions, with all its luxuries and allurements for evil, gave added force to the possessed riches of faith, and thereby gained entrance to the hidden lives of the children of poverty, making them, too, beautiful in living trust for those things which shall be.

These being the true principles, every believer may know the joy of accepted service, gained through the Unseen, who is able to supply all needs.

Earnest souls, wrestling in spirit for the victory, attained the fitness through which the metal of martyrs shone forth; and the same supply is still plentiful in the market of heaven. “Come ye, buy, . . . without money and without price.” Isa. 55 : 1. “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” 1 Cor. 2 : 12,13.

Never was the need of these things greater in the world than now—just now. A mighty work is to be done: a living witness is to be borne. Shall not the unseen service of His children be visibly manifested to all whom He has created for His glory, unto the might and honor of His kingdom?

MRS. H. P. BOOTH.

New Orleans, La.

Continue reading: HAVE YOU FAITH?