Earlier text: OUR FATHER'S CHANGELESS PURPOSESEVERED FROM THE LIFE CURRENT.
By William Covert
Death is defined as “that state of being, animal or vegetable, but more particularly of an animal, in which there is total and permanent cessation of all the vital functions; when the organs have not only ceased to act, but have lost the susceptibility of renewed action.” Transgression disorders the vital actions, and death dissolves the body into its original elements. The effect is to separate the organism from the fountain of life. Concerning death’s working, the prophet says, “Your iniquities have separated between you and your God.” Isa. 59:2. As man is disconnected from the source of life he must die. In sin he is like the tree which is cut off from its living rootlets,—it has no life support and, therefore, must perish. The vine of humanity was severed from the source of its life when Adam and Eve connected with sin. “In Adam all die” is an irrevocable fact. Endless life can not come to even one soul through the Adamic vine. One man, the head of all, by one transgression, turned the whole human train into the way of death, and every section is rushing onward at a rapid rate. Crash upon crash, and pile upon pile, they are tumbling headlong into the dark abyss. “God is love,” and His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting. Mercy and love fill heaven and earth. These attributes encircle every son and daughter of Adam. For a time humanity is permitted to retain a hold upon forfeited life, that all may have an opportunity to choose between righteousness and sin, life and death. While they stand as in the jaws of death, they are solicited to come into harmony with their Maker’s purpose in creation, and are shown how. Of man’s transitory passage through the present state, it has been said, “He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down; he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.” In the rosy springtime of life he makes great promise of longevity. So also do the flowers, which in the morning bloom, but only to wither in the evening of the same day. The life of every plant retains a deposit of life when it is severed from the stock on which it grew; and often under favorable conditions, it blossoms full and bright, as if wholly unconscious that it is cut off from its source of life. So it is with persons who should be able to reason. Many of them seem to think as little about their relation to life as the severed bud or the cut flower which blooms in the vase. They sparkle and shine with the beauty of youth. They look upon the present life as if eternity were already theirs. Daily they seek after forbidden pleasure. Careless, heedless, and gay, they consume moments of golden probation. The pleasure they think to find is never made sure. Even before they are aware of how swiftly time is flying, their days of probation have been fulfilled, and their opportunities frittered away; so they pass from view to await the judgment. Many questions concerning the dead are asked, and many speculative theories are held to be their solution. Could human wisdom, by searching, discover the secret, a revelation from God would not be needed. God’s Word says of the deceased father, “His sons come to honor, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.” It is presumed that every parent will find out, if possible, the state of his children. Only his inability will prevent his having a full knowledge of their condition while he lives. But if the parent himself be dead, this knowledge is not possible, for the “dead know not anything.” And it is well that they do not know, for there would be sorrow poured into their cup of knowledge more often than joy. Truly the righteous should thank the Lord that, as death must come, it comes as a sleep. And they should be glad for the privilege of remaining unconscious until, in the great economy of God’s plan, they shall be called into a life of ceaseless joy. As far as the truths concerning man’s nature are positively known in the realms of science, there is perfect agreement between what is written in the Bible and the conclusions of the most capable authors upon the subject of physiology and human anatomy. It is well understood that man gains knowledge only through his physical senses, and that this knowledge can be exercised only when his faculties are in a state of wakefulness. In perfect sleep thought is suspended, and knowledge is not at all exercised. But death is a state in which all physical action has ceased, and the organs have lost their possibility of renewed action. The psalmist, speaking of the inability of deceased persons to exercise thought, says, “In death there is no remembrance of Thee; in the grave who shall give Thee thanks?” Ps. 6: 5. Of man in death he says, “His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” Ps. 146: 4. However dreadful the thought of death may be, there are yet these glad considerations associated with its condition: The dead can not suffer, they have no trouble, they see no sorrow, they feel no pain. The life which endowed man in creation was the same as that which energized all lower animals. It is written of the creatures destroyed by the flood, that “all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man; all in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.” Gen. 7: 21, 22. Regarding the death of man, Job writes, “If He gather unto Himself his [man’s] spirit and his breath; all flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.” Job 34: 14, 15. The result of death is given by Solomon in these words, “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” Eccl. 12: 7. Death simply unmakes man. That of which he is composed returns to the source whence it came. The elements, which life had organized into an active form called man, return to their original condition. His body came from dust; it must go to dust again. In death life is yielded up to God, who gave it. These declarations are true of all persons, without distinctions as to character. God is the Author of all life, and holds it in His power while it is in exercise and when it is withheld. In death the life of both good and bad returns to God, who gave it. In this condition man simply ceases to be a medium for manifesting life. This animating principle is not intelligence, but simply the vital power called life, with which the Creator endows all living creatures. Faithful in Little Things
Be faithful in little things. Delude not yourself with the idea that you can be uncertain and untrue in trifles, and yet be reliable and trustworthy in great matters. Trifles make up our life, and are the ultimate test of fidelity. The best will can not ripen into permanent greatness when the fearful power of negligent habit in trivial things has given bent and character to the soul. God's laws are not broken with impunity. Character is not constituted by a brilliant dash now and then, but is what we make it by the use of our powers in the routine affairs of current life. Only those who are faithful in the few things of common life are to rule over many things in the exalted station of the heavenly realms.—Christian Advocate. Jesus said: “I am the Good Shepherd; and I know Mine own, and Mine own know Me, even as the Father knoweth Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.” John 10:14, 15. Just before this He thus shows the difference between the false and true shepherds: “The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.” In the same chapter He declares: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give unto them eternal life.” “A stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him; for they know not the voice of strangers.” These are vitally important truths in these days of uncertain theorizing. There is much talk about Jesus the Christ. He is made to do service theoretically in almost every new scheme and revamped old scheme. “Christian Science” claims Him, but does not know Him. New Thoughtists talk of the Christ-life, but know it not. “Socialism” makes Him its political Head, when there is no kinship between the two. National Reform demands that He be made a king, but as of old He hides Himself from them. Spiritualism tells us to seek Him in the secret chambers; but Jesus says, “Believe it not.” Mormonism declares we shall find Him in the desert; Jesus says, “Go not forth.” Many Christians wish to know the blessing of His promise, but despise His life and precept. Not by theory or human prestidigitation, or works of merit will we find Him. Not by a mere study of His teachings and the records of His life shall we come to know Him; not by joining a church or The Church, with initial capitals writ large, shall we get acquainted with Christ Jesus the Lord. The way is simple, and sufficiently plain to the mind that wishes to know it. It needs not great education or profound knowledge of philosophy or science in order to know Christ Jesus the Lord. 1. We can truly know only that with which we are in agreement. Never can we know the heart of the good till we come into harmony with the good. Never can we know a beautiful musical production till our soul is attuned to its harmony. How often are men misjudged year after year because we do not know them, because we have not come into harmony with their noble principles and high and generous motives. On the other hand, men are sometimes considered noble and good by the noble and generous, because they could not come into harmony with the mean and selfish and sordid nature behind the hypocritical generosity. “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” To know God we must come into agreement with Him. But let us not be deceived. This does not mean that we may in sensuous passiveness and love of our own way persuade ourselves that God is in harmony with us, or will come into harmony with us. He is harmony. He is all that is good and right and just. We must, if we are to know Him for all that He wants to be to us, come into harmony with Him. “He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth Jehovah require of thee, but to do justly, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with thy God?” “How can two walk together except they be agreed?” God is righteous; we are the sinner; we must yield to agreement with God. 2. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” How may we know? Surely it is important. The first thing the normal little babe learns is its loving mother’s voice, and the touch of her hand. The mother-love meets all its needs, and the babe responds in harmony. So the Gospel of Christ meets all the needs of the poor sinner, all his helplessness, all his sin. It does not flatter him. It does not minimize his sin. It does not minister to his pride. It meets him just as he is, incurably sick with the leprosy of sin, and, with wonderful sympathy for his need and marvelous power, it comforts and heals and restores. Its voice will ever reach those who hate the sin which has brought the bondage, and who long to be free from sin and sinning. But the test of the voice does not lie in the Gospel, but in the law. The soul that is sick is in its desperation willing to take any remedy promising relief; hence all the quacks religiously, psychologically, and physiologically. The test of all voices is God’s recorded Voice which He spake from heaven, and wrote with His own fingers upon tables of enduring rock. Ex. 20:1-17. Those Ten Words He spake with a great voice, out of the midst of the fire, and “He added no more.” Deut. 5:22. That one Voice, speaking the sum of all morality to the sinful man, the reflect of God’s character, can not in the very nature of the case undergo change. “They stand fast forever and ever.” “The law of the Lord is perfect.” “It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than for one tittle of the law to fail.” And therefore that voice stands as the test of all voices in the earth. “To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them.” When that voice speaks in our ears from the Sinai of God’s love and justice and truth and righteousness, we may do as did unbelieving, sin-loving Israel of old, beg that it be spoken to us no more, and so fail to learn God, fail to come into harmony with Him, and so put man in God’s place. Thus did Israel. Ex. 20:18-21; Deut. 5:22-27. Or, we may do as did “Moses the man of God,” draw near to God, receive His Word, put away all the sin, and come into complete harmony with God till the very face shall shine and the voice ring from the heart divinely attuned. Moses knew God and knew His voice. He delighted in doing God’s will. Christ knew God, and delighted to do His Father’s commandments. “I delight to do Thy will, O My God; yea, Thy law is within My heart,” are His own words through the psalmist. He lived as tho in heaven itself. He dwelt as in the very bosom of the Father. John 3:13; 1:18. There was harmony and union absolute. The flow and interflow of the Spirit of life were full and constant. And this union, this knowledge, is possible, nay, more, is the duty, the privilege, of every child of God. Absolute yielding to do God’s will by faith in Christ Jesus—God’s own appointed way—will bring life union with Him, the reception of His life, ingrafting into Christ. “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness.” The faith must be in harmony with God’s requirements. The belief that attempts to lay hold of promise and reject precept is spurious. Every voice will be tested by the One Voice. In this there is the union which fulfils the prayer of Christ: “That they all may be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me.” Even thus does Christ know His own, and His own know Him, even as the Father knows Him and He the Father. There is no exaltation of man in this union, only as God lifts him up. There is no free-lovism, no mawkish sentimentality, no vain philosophy, no divided Christ, no shifting, uncertain experiences; but the assurance of pardoned sin in the living, immutable Word, and the ability to live for God in “the power of an endless life.” HUMAN FESTIVALS UNCHRISTIAN.
The world's festivals, and especially human festivals, are invariably detrimental to Christianity. According to Prof. George H. Schodde, some ancient papyrus records, lately discovered, throw light on the mockeries of Christ at His crucifixion. From these documents he deduces that “every year the festival of Saturn was celebrated by the Roman soldiers, who appointed a mock king upon whom royal robes were placed. Then, for a certain number of days, this king directed the wildest carousals of his subjects, after which he was put to the sword. Mock imitations of these riotous celebrations of the Saturnalia king were a favorite amusement among the soldiers in the cases of culprits who had been condemned. According to the manner of the times they were handed over to the executioners as objects of sport, as also in the cases of other persons who had incurred the displeasure of the soldiers.” Since the dispensation of types and shadows which were nailed to the cross, the Lord has given us no festival days, or weeks, or months. We have but the one memorial day, the holy Sabbath, which the Lord set apart in Eden, and which is to be of special observance forever. No other days were appointed by Him until the ceremonial system was set up in the wilderness, and none have been ordained7since the death of our Lord. All others are of human origin, without a shadow of divine sanctity. “Every plant, which My heavenly Father hath planted, shall be rooted up,” is the testimony of the Master. The result of human festivals is idleness, and idleness always begets folly. They are always averse to Christian growth. FALSE CHRISTS AND FALSE PROPHETS.
JESUS has given us the warning: “Many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” And again: “Many false prophets shall arise, and shall deceive many.” Not only are these deceivers to arise, but they “shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Notwithstanding all these signs and wonders, there is no excuse for any one’s being deceived, for the Lord has given us instruction by which we may know the appearance of the true Christ, and may know the teaching and work of the true prophet. So it is evident that the reason why the “elect” are not deceived by false pretenders is that they heed the instruction of the Word. Concerning His coming, the Word says: “As the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.” Again it says: “Behold, He cometh with clouds: and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him; and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him.” Why this wailing? Because the great mass of humanity, all save the “elect,” the “little flock,” will have been deceived by the false christs and false prophets doing great signs and wonders, and will be unprepared to meet the true Christ. Any “christ” that does not come “in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory,” accompanied by “all the holy angels” and with “a great sound of a trumpet,” is a false christ. Any pretended “christ” whose appearance is not in such a conspicuous manner that “every eye shall see Him,” is a false christ. So, “if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.” When Christ really does come, there will be no need for any one to tell you He is here or there, for you will see Him for yourself. The Lord has given us all these particulars to guard us against deception in the matter of His coming. The following scriptures are sufficient to guard any believer against the wiles of the enemy: Matthew 24; chapter 25: 31; Luke 21: 25–28; 1 Thess. 4: 16, 17; Rev. 1: 7. As to the false prophets, we have also a simple but sure test by which we may recognize them. The Lord says by His prophet, “To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa. 8: 20. All those who do not care to study the Word of God, and to obey His law, in order to be able to detect fraudulent prophets, have no assurance of protection. Nor have they any security who pervert the Word, construing its plain teachings according to the wisdom and traditions of men. As in the case of false christs, a failure to study the Word in a spirit of obedience will not only place one at the mercy of the false, but it will blind him in the matter of recognizing the true. In these days of deception it is as essential to receive the instruction of the true Spirit of prophecy as it is to be guarded against the false. “Despise not prophesyings,” but “try the spirits, whether they be of God.” Simplicity and the Spirit
The costly vestments of the minister, or the fine apparel of a lay disciple, is not evidence of the presence or guidance of the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist was “filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb,” and “was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel;” and when he went forth “in the spirit and power of Elijah” to preach the Gospel, he “had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins.” He also lived simply in the matter of food. He drank “neither wine nor strong drink,” and “his meat was locusts and wild honey.” With all this simplicity, the Lord testified of John that no greater prophet had ever arisen. One of the promises to the overcomer is that he shall not be hurt of the second death.” Rev. 2:11. This promise, coming as it does by revelation of Jesus Christ to the church, is infallible proof that there is to be a second death. It is also proof that he who does not overcome sin in this life, by faith in Christ, will suffer a second death. The existence of a second death implies a coming to life after the first death. The Word of God tells us that “as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” 1 Cor. 15:22. The reason that in Adam all die is because of sin. “The wages of sin is death.” Jesus Christ has promised that “the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation,” condemnation. So that, tho all will have a resurrection, only a part will be raised to everlasting life; therefore the other class will be still under condemnation. Jesus also expresses it in this wise: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.” Then to what have the other class passed?—Logically they have only passed unto the second death. Eternal life is the gift of God through faith in Jesus Christ, and those who have not exercised such faith have no assurance of such life. While all have a resurrection, the classes come in the order—“Christ the first-fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming.” 1 Cor. 15:23. This text says nothing about the resurrection of unbelievers, and we pass to another of Paul’s letters, which touches upon the subject of the resurrection. “This we say unto you by the Word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [or precede] them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4:15-17. Neither does this scripture refer at all to the resurrection of unbelievers. It says that the dead in Christ shall rise first; but first of what?—First before the living righteous shall be “caught up;” for the living shall not precede the dead in going up to meet the Lord. The apostle says, just preceding the verse quoted, that “we shall not all sleep;” there will be some living when the Lord comes, and the apostle says that these “shall be changed.” A change will come over the living saints equivalent to a death and resurrection. This change will come “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” See 1 Cor. 15:51-54. So we must learn of the second resurrection and the second death in other scriptures. Revelation 20 tells us of the binding of Satan for a thousand years, so that he could not deceive the nations any more until the end of that time. This refers to the fact that when the Lord comes to receive His people, “the brightness of His coming” will slay all who are not prepared to receive Him, and to be translated into His kingdom. See 2 Thess. 2:8; Ps. 50:3-6; Isa. 66:15, 16; Rev. 19:11-21. When God’s people are taken up from the earth, the rest are all dead, Satan’s hands will be bound; he can no longer work evil among men, for there will be none upon whom he can work. After the resurrection of the righteous, the prophet saw that “the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.” “This,” he adds, “is the first resurrection,” as is made clear by the next verse: “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection; on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” During this time the dead are being judged in detail out of the books. Verses 12, 13. “And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison.” Verse 7. This means the resurrection of the wicked, and the renewal of Satan’s opportunity to deceive for a brief period. And he “shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle; the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.” Verse 8. In the twenty-first chapter we have the vision of the New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven. So the continuation of Satan’s deception of the resurrected sinners leads them to attempt to take the city. “And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city.” This is the last of Satan’s deceptions, the end of his long deceptive career, and the end of those who have chosen to follow him. The wickedness and the futility of his great rebellion will then have been demonstrated before the entire universe, including all his victims, and there can be no purpose in a further prolongation of his existence. So the record of the vision says, “and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.” Further on we are told that “this is the second death.” It is this final overthrow that the overcomer shall escape by virtue of his faith in Christ. “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.” Ch. 21:8. Is it not worth while to be an overcomer, and thereby secure eternal life? “For what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Mark 8:36. The statement is frequently made by adherents of the Sunday sabbath that the change from the seventh to the first day was brought about by apostolic teaching and example. The few texts in the New Testament where the first day of the week is mentioned are strained almost to disintegration to make them teach, even by distant inference, that Sunday was recognized as a day of rest and worship by the apostolic church. In view of this, it is worth while to call attention to one of Paul’s declarations concerning his own course of life, which will throw considerable light upon the matter of apostolic example. Paul had been sent a prisoner to Rome, because of the hostility of the Jews, who had made various accusations against him, and had even conspired against his life. Soon after his entrance to Rome, Paul “called together those that were the chief of the Jews” in Rome, and laid before them his defense against the accusations of his countrymen. In Paul’s defense “he said unto them, I, brethren, tho I had done nothing against the people, or the customs of our fathers, yet was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.” Acts 28: 17. Now one of the “customs” of the “fathers” which was of longest standing among them, a “custom” which had been commanded to them amid the thunders and smoke of Sinai, whose observance God had commanded with His own voice, and for which they had the personal example of the Creator Himself,—was the “custom” of religiously observing the seventh day of the week as “the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.” But had not Paul been teaching the early church to observe Sunday in commemoration of the resurrection? and had he not been observing it himself in commemoration of that event?—Verily, he had not. If he had, he would have been doing something very much against the “customs of our fathers.” If he had, his declaration above quoted would not be true. Here, then, is a square contradiction between those who claim apostolic example for Sunday keeping and the real example of the great apostle. They would have it that apostolic example changed the Sabbath of Jehovah, whose keeping was the most conspicuous custom of the Jews. He declares that he did “nothing against the people, or the customs of our fathers.” Certainly, then, Paul can not be accused of setting an “apostolic example” in the matter of Sunday substitution for the Sabbath of the Lord. It is an easy matter, when a conscientious enquirer asks for a reason for Sunday-keeping, and Sabbath-ignoring, to turn him off lightly with the worn and thread-bare excuse of “apostolic example.” But it is no easy matter to find that example. In fact, it is an impossibility so to do; for it does not exist. 1514.—The People Called Mormons.
Are the people called Mormons mentioned in prophecy? L. P. We think they are in Matt. 24: 24-26:— “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in the desert; go not forth: behold, He is in the secret chambers; believe it not.” Spiritualism has told us that Christ’s second coming is manifest in the secret chambers. Mormonism tells us that He will come to the desert, to Utah. Christ tells us, “Go not forth.” When He comes, every eye shall see Him. Matt. 24: 27; Rev. 1: 7. Labor to convert them from their errors to the truth as it is in the Bible. They now worship man. Will you please explain 1 Cor. 14: 5, 9, 10? The Mormons claim that it is the mystery of God speaking to some of them. A. J. F. The gift of tongues, not “unknown tongues,” as in our common version, is one of the gifts of the Spirit of God in the church. It was given, as were the other gifts, “to profit withal” (1 Cor. 12: 7); “for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ.” None of these gifts are given at man’s will, but are given and are to be exercised as the Spirit will. 1 Cor. 12: 4-11. There is much meaningless babble, which shrewd impostors and half-crazed or demon-possessed enthusiasts have palmed off upon their duped followers as “unknown tongues,” a gift of God. Paul shows that every voice ought to have significance; if it does not, and can not be made plain, it better not be heard. The gift was bestowed to reach those who needed to hear, as on the day of Pentecost; and will ever be exercised when the need exists and God’s people have the humility and faith to claim the promise. 1516.—“Hard Nuts for Seventh-dayists.”
To Various Correspondents.—It is not a hard thing to pile up negatives; but there is no particular virtue in them. Very many of the “Hard Nuts” referred to are sophistical negatives, intended to puzzle and confound. All that is in them of any worth has been answered scores of times in various ways. There is no trouble in them to him who knows the Bible, or to him who sees consistency and harmony in God’s government, tho he may not know His Bible so well. The publication above referred to seems to have greatly pleased the writer and those who wish an excuse for disobeying God. In John 4: 24 it says that God is a spirit. New Thought says, “God is not a personal being, only a spirit.” I know He is a personal being, but I can not explain the difference between Him and His Spirit. F. K. First of all, let us not think of the word “spirit” as representing nothing. It may represent something more substantial than mere material metal or stone. Angels, both good and evil, are called “spirits,” and each of them has individuality, personality. Christ is called “spirit.” 1 Cor. 15: 45. And so also, God is a spiritual Being, having personality and a local habitation, the center of the universe. What His Spirit is, in all its marvelous manifestations, we do not know. In a word, we would say that God’s Spirit is the outflowing of His life, carrying with it to all parts of the universe the power of His presence. A telephone system is a feeble illustration of this. The one at the head of the system, with all connections made, could speak to all parts of the system at the same time. The presence of his voice is everywhere present in the system. This touches upon only one phase of presence; God’s system takes all phases into account. ARE WE CIVILIZED?
By Mrs. E. P. Naylor
On the 11th of May there was held in the city of Fresno, Cal., one of those brutalizing exhibitions known as a prize-fight. A white boy of nineteen was matched with a colored man, and an audience of about five hundred was on hand to see the latter beat the former to death. Had the exhibition taken place on the open street, or even in a barroom, it is probable that there would not have been wanting several score of persons who would have rushed in, and put a stop to the murderous beating which the boy was receiving. But this was a prize-fight, and the persons in the seats were witnessing an exhibition that was permitted by law, and had paid their money for the privilege. In this blood-hungry audience there were present two deputy sheriffs, one constable, two policemen, several other officers of the law, a few doctors, and the remainder representing nearly all classes of society. Among the backers was at least one of the leading public men of the city, who, after his man had been pounded to death, admitted that he “was backing him; that he enjoyed good sport, but would not wish ever to see such a thing again.” But this man’s influence alone was sufficient to have stopped the fight before a most brutal murder had been committed. However, neither he nor any officer of the peace interfered, and not one of the physicians present warned the promoters to call it off. The seconds of the boy who was being murdered before their eyes helped the boy to his feet when he was no longer able to rise, helped him to balance himself to receive another blow, and encouraged him to “be game and fight to a finish.” The boy was so exhausted that he made no effort to fight, and the negro dealt him a blow which sent him heavily to the floor. Had there been the slightest excuse for sending him into this round, there was none for keeping him there after that blow; but he was helped to his feet again and encouraged by his seconds, and the blood-mad mob at the ringside. The boy put his hand over his face to signify that he was no longer able to play his part, but he was knocked down five times after that. The whole crowd, including seconds, referee, peace officers, doctors, and leading citizens were waiting, waiting—for what?—To see with their eyes, and to feel with their hearts the ecstatic bliss occasioned by seeing, a knock-out from which the vanquished could not rise within a given number of seconds! Had they not paid their good money for “a little sport”? and they proposed to get it even tho it came through seeing the life beaten out of a boy. They got it, the boy not even regaining consciousness after the last sickening fall. The white boy would have stopped long before, but the “honorable gentlemen” and seconds urged him to go on. The referee and promoters did not object, and the negro could not stop according to the rules regulating these “manly sports,” until commanded by his superiors. The referee said in self-defense that he could not have stopped the fight and have pleased the gentlemen present, because they expected all the fight there was in a man (boy), and as long as his seconds were willing to let it go on, he did not believe that he should stop it, thereby implying that he knew the boy was being injured beyond the point allowed by law in such cases. The physicians had him carried into the air, and worked over him, but it was soon apparent that he could not live. During this time the majority of the crowd were stamping their feet, and calling for the next similar performance. A jury announced that the boy “came to his death from a hemorrhage of the brain caused by a fall in a boxing contest.” No mention of what produced the fall that occasioned the hemorrhage. Since then the respectable element of the city has been stirring the matter up, and has caused some arrests to be made, and the blame will probably be placed—somewhere. Now, the question is, Do these things prove, as some stoutly maintain, that the world is growing better? Do they show that the much-vaunted civilization of the twentieth century is really civilizing the mass, and its peace officers? A paper published in the city above named asks the question, “Are we civilized and Christianized?” After reading of the affair above outlined, whose sickening details have not been given, let the reader ask himself the question. This age has not only become an age of lovers of pleasure, but lovers of the most debasing kinds of pleasure, and a great many of these lovers of brutal pleasures are moving in what is known as the “best society.” And all this under a glare of light which the heathen world did not begin to have. It is a certain indication of the ripening of the world for its end.