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.tbt gift of 604 Is Bmal [1ft."

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VOL. 26.

No. 5

AUCKLAND,

N.Z., MAY,

1906.

TWOPENCE.

11i!..wij~""Niiill~i._ItI

llllifiiiiOiiiiiiiiiWiiiiiiiitiiiii.

to the Golden Gate, and in the darkness of the night viewed its towers ablaze with electric lights in honour of the great fruit exhibition then bcing held. T n a. moment the edifices, laboriously reared, were overthrown, and ruin and disaster held high revel o'er the works of man. Upon the bulletin on the Herald board announcing the disaster some one had pencilled the text, Matt. xxiv. 'I, as if the writer would indicate that his view was that this pointed to the nearing end of the age, and should be accepted as a sign of the times. Is it so? Shall we read in it a 5a it a Sigil? testimony to the direct work of God, pointing to the approaching end, and evidencing His wrath upon evil-doers? S 111 Francisco has always had the name of being a gay city. and not a few have accorded it a worse name. In the early mining days it bore an unenviable reputation for its lawlessness, and latterly, although it has donned the garment of respectability, it has carried the reputation of fondness for gaiety and pleasure. It is true enough that it is a. pleasure-loving city, and has gone to the length of flaunting its vice in open day; but, admitting all that, can we say, "Y cs, this visitation is a sign?" Let us look for a moment at another thing. Many of its citizens were earnest-hcartcd Christians, seeking the good of others, and carrying the name of Jesus to those who, by birth and training, knew nothing of Him and the grcat salvation to be obtained. One night, in the Chinese quarter, the writer stepped into a hall in which was gathered a large number of Chinese for Christian worship. Here were many earnest labourers giving time and attention to instruct Chinese youths in the elementary facts of Christianity, and at the head of the mission was an intelligent Chinaman, who gave an earnest address to his fellows, There were opium dens and places of ill-repute for the visitor to see, but that picture was imprinted on the memory as an evidence of good being attempted disinterestedly in that heathen locality. Almost in the heart of Chinatown stood the Chinese Hospital, and there we spent an hour one morning at the invitation of the head, witnessing what the devoted Christian doctors were doing for the sick and diseased Asiatics who thronged for treatment. We know of many godly people in that city W110 could be spoken of as the "salt of the earth." He bears false witness who

p~~~AHrl'HQ.UAKE shock and devouring flame! These have been the experiences of the great Californian city, San Francisco, during the past few days, and the story of its miseries has been flashed around the world, causing sadness in myriads of hearts. For, is there another city on the face of the earth which could outvie it in complexity of the personal interests which bind humanity to it? It was a cosmopolitan city-Asiatic and European, African, Australasian, and native-born rub'Ube cautomtan herl shoulder to shoulder, It, haJ its IDisaster. Chinatown, swarming with almond-eyed Celestials, hived with ill narrow limits like bees-a bit of the Flowery Empire transplanted to the very centre of a great, throbbing, hustling American city. Japanese, Italian, French and German had each their own interests in this city of life and activity. Suddenly, without a moment's warning, the earth shook, and substantial buildings toppled over, burying men beneath their ruins, and in an incredibly short space of time the red flames shot forth, defying the efforts of men to vanquish them. On and on they raged and roared with devouring might, till threefourths of the famed city lay in ashes. Our hearts have ached for the many killed and injured, and for the thousands of unfortunates suddenly deprived of home and its comforts, compelled to sleep without shelter in the parks, and to struggle for food and water. Nature had provided the city with a beautiful site, and the skill and ingenuity of man had reared splendid structuresbanks, hotels, and commercial buildings-on the fiats, and covered its hill-sides with tasteful residences. Its sandhills were transformed into lovely parks, and visitors by the thousand have been charmed with their beauty. Our last sight of the city was as we steamed out

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hints that the city was all bad, and 80 only fit for judgment. It may be granted that its vice was more open than in 'OUI'cities. Yet, as between OUI'Sand it, it is merely a question of degree and manifestation. Why should it bc stricken, and Auckland, Sydney, or. Melbourne be left untouched? This is not the day of judgmcnt, and when it arrives it will with unfailing accuracy measure out unerring retribution upon all. Read this evcnt as a warning of human insecurity, and of the power which can be used by God, and repentance and trust should be the 'Outcome. Be it noted that the history of the past eighteen centuries has recorded many earthquake shocks, and some of them of greater magnitude and more disastrous effects than this. Were these signs of the end? If not, .why assume that this is one? It may be said, "But the shocks are jfor eue more frequent now." That may jLearntng. well be doubted, the careless reader forgctting that thc facilities for intercommunication and means for rapid knowlcdgc arc gl'eater now than before. Possibly they wore as frequent in former days, but men had little knowledge of them because the means of C0111munication did not exist. Thcre is one thing that may well be learned from this, and that is that the powers exist which God can URewhen Hc arises to shake mightily the earth. Who can stand against the earthquake shock? N othiug is so calculated to strike a people with terror as the realisation that the hitherto solid earth has become suddenly unstable. The day is coming when God will use this power, but its manifestations will take place at a given pi ace and time, so that there can be no mistake as to their significance, and men, knowing the meaning, will seek to hide themselves from the face of: Him who sitteth on the throne. Ere that comes to pass, the groans and shakes of nature afford ample evidence of: the power to effect His ends, and of the helplessness of man when it operates. Yet, once more, we may learn the utter worthlessness of human skill and energy in face of the power of the earthquake shock. What n lesson of the weakness 'Of man at his best. How vividly comes to our minds the prophet's warning when, having sketched the overthrow of man's work in the days that are coming, he says, "Cease ye from man whose breath is in his nostrils, for wherein is he to be accounted of ?" Let our sympathy flow out freely to men in their present distress, and at the same time let us lay to heart, and seck to impress upon others, the valuable lessons this dire event so forcefully teaches. The famous Conference at Algeciras was called mainly to adjust differences over Morocco. War between France and Germany has seemed to be very possible 'On sever a1 occasions eluring the sitting. Eventually, however, better counsels prevailed, and it was more than hinted that an all-powerful \lUUse reason was the fact that France has IDiplomattst. the support of Britain in her claims. There was one item in the Conference, passed

over generally as of minor importance, but which strikes us as of the greatest import to the people affected, as the well-being of the race turns largely upon it. This is not a mere opinion; it is the history of nations. During the convention the Moorish delegate proposed that an almost prohibitive duty should be imposed upon the introduction of intoxicants into his country. The proposal was unanimonsly rejected, "with mingled feelings of amusement and annoyance." Yet that man was the clearest-headed statesman of them all. He looked npon his people as worth preservation from the most destrueti ve agency in human experience, and he took an effective step to secure it, only to be laughed at by those who knew well the strength of the evil, but would not lift a hand to hinder its working. Yet we boast of the wisdom and growing morality 'Of the age! One writer has said "that the concord of Europe is in favour of forcing the free entry of alcoholic liquors into a country in which their use is not only prohibited by custom, but also by religion." There are some who still remember with shame the forcing of opium 'On the Chinese at the point of the bayonet in the name of Progress and Christianity. Says The Ch1'istian: "The worst traders in the world would, if unchecked, complete the ruin of Morocco in the wn.y of demoralising it through drink. Biit Europe should not for a moment permit such a disgrace. It is for Europe to try and save the Moors, and not to accelerate their ruin by the imposition of an abominable traffic."

By the same mail that brings the report of the above comes the report of the Royal Edinburgh Asylum for the Insane. It contains some most instructive reading, notably of the relation of alcohol and insanity. Dr. Clouston, the Physician Superintendent, states that of the number :&lcobol of arlmissions, "30 per cent. of men, ano 5nsantt)? and 22 per cent. of women, were (1uo to excess of alcohol" --"an increase of this form of insanity in the two sexes as compared with the average of the previous five years. The latest researches into the subject of heredity tended to prove that the results did not end with one generation, but produced physical and mental degeneracy in the descendants of those who destroyed their reason by excess of drink. One alarming thing in the report was the large increase in the number of cases of general paralysis. This is attributed to "great cities, vice, dissipation, and undue excitement." It has been discovered that its immediate cause was a microbe which acted specially on brains that had previously been weakened by dissipation and poisoning. Surely a cold report of this character ought to have some influence npon the rulers 'Ofa country that, being able to perceive an enemy so clearly, and having the power to abolish it, they should at once set about the work. And, in view of such frightful facts, was not the Moorish delegate the only wise man in that conference when he raised the question, and sought 1,'0 protect his country from this dire evil?

MAY,

190ft

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STANDARD.
thought of one who would sit once more on the throne of David, and rule over an Israel permanently restored to its national strength and glory. Therefore, the more that Jesus came to be regarded as the long-looked-for descendent of the idealised king, the more He came into conflict with the authorities." This presents the truth, and had the Jew but followed the guidance of the predictions, and historically placed the life of the Lord beside the prophetic details, it does not seem possible for him to escape the conclusion of Peter, "Thou art the Christ." But hardening in part still prevails, and till the veil is lifted the Jew fails to see the person of his King. "What becomes of men after death? The question will soon be up again, for it never lies asleep very long." So says the Expository Times for March. Of course, we hold that it is bound to remain in this unsettled state until men agree to accept the deube JE\~et' recur::: cision of the only authority which ring Glncstion. can give information on the subject. The question is raised in conncction with the issue of a new book on the "Upanishads," and the Professor who wrote it holds that the . answer will come as a definite choice between annihilation, retribution, and transmigration. "And before it goes to sleep again he belicves that the choice may fall upon transmigration." Well, we do not see why not, so long as the witness of the Bible is continually m isrcpresented, or shut out of court. 'I'he gucsses of Indian philosophers are not likely to be nearer the truth than those of the ancient Greeks, and vice versa. We believe the question will continue to press, but its pressure is relieved and satisfactory answer is found if Bible statements are allowed their due weight. Therein will be found a reasonable reply, in perfect harmony with all scientific knowledge of man's nature now, in perfect agreement with the historical past. The Bible stands bv the grave where human powers cease, and gladdens our heart by the hope of a resurrection from the dead. That word resurrection is omitted by the Professor, but it meets the case, and disposes of his alternatives, as an answer to the question. The ordinary person dearly likes to see parsons and politicians "heckled," and the worse the plight of the "heckled" individual the greater the enjoyment of the onlooker. Sometimes it is a good thing that a man should undertake to defend his position, and our own experience 1bechIfIlO has taught us that it is one of the tbe fi)argoll. most helpful things to the preacher if he will consent to submit his teachings to question. He thereby obtains a glimpse of the minds of his hearCl'S, and not infrequently gets a glimpse of himself not otherwise obtainable, and not always flattering. Mr. Campbell, of the City Temple, recently gave an invitation to his congregation to question him. At the close of an evening service there was a crowded attendance in the hall, and the questioning began. The British

Towards the end of last year the Jews of America and England celebrated the 250th anniversary of tolerance and justice afforded them by English-speaking peoples. In the year 1290 they were expelled from England, not to be readmitted until Oliver Cromwell opened the way in 1655. :a Graceful '!Remembrance. In the same year which opened England's door, a little band of Israelites made their way to the New World, where they found a home, free from oppression. Let it be noted that the celebration included a public thanksgiving in the synagogues for the mercy experienced throughout the long period since. The prayer specially prepared contains the following passage :-"Everlasting God, in whose eyes a thousand years are as yesterday which is past and as a watch of the night, we lift up our hearts in gratitude to Thee, in that two hundred and fifty years ago Thou didst guide a little hand of Israel's children, who, seeking freedom to worship Thee, found it in a land which, with Thy blessing, became a refuge of freedom and justice for the oppressed of all peoples. We thank Thce that our lot has fallen in pleasant places. Verily, 0 Lord God of Israel, Thou hast given rest unto Tl1Y people, rest from our sorrow, and from the hard bondage wherein wc wer made to serve." The Apostle Pan I has written, "A hardening in part hath befallen Isracl," and eighteen centuries of history has proved beyond question the truth of his statement. The marvel to a believer in the New Testament is, How is it that the Jew does not see the claims of the Messiah amply establrbe :fl3Itlltle~ lished in the person of the Lord? :lew. The only explanation at the present time that occurs to our mind is, that the Jew accepts the view of Christendom regarding the work and office of Jesus as the true one, and proceeds to show that this does not meet his needs, and wilfully declines to study the New Testament in the light of the older Scriptures. Recently a Jewish minister gave a paper, before an audience of Unitarian ministers, entitled, "A Jewish View of Jesus." Thc reader adopted a line which would have the sympathy of his hearers, but in it he evinced failure to rightly judge the person of our Lord, because he left out the Israelitish covenants and Old Testament prophecies. He believes that Jesus started His mission as a social and religious reformer, that if He permitted Himself to be termed Messiah it was not He that claimed it. Yet it. is noteworthy that this Jewish minister gives 118 a fruitful thought which we can well consider. Speaking of the death of .T esus, he says: "To understand this, wc have to understand that Jesus was looked upon as the Messiah, i.e., the scion of the House of David, whose coming was predicted by the prophets, and looked forward to by the people, not from any religious point of view, but as a political occurrence, meaning political regeneration of the downfallen glory of Israel's nationality. There is no doubt in my mind that when the prophets predicted the advent of a son of David, they

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1906.

Wee,7dy, glvmg a resume of the meeting, naively remarks: "The meeting was limited strictly to an hour, and as 1\1[1'. Campboll gave very full and careful explanations 'On the different points raised, there was not time for many questions." In view of Mr. Campbell's recent strange teachings, some of the queries put served to draw out some utterances that show that the preacher is no worthy successor of his predecessors as a preacher of the Gospel. His views 'On the Bible and its teachings may be "advanced" (curious how everybody adopting :l view differing from others calls himself "advanced"), but they are not in accordance with its teachings, and he seems to set the book aside in a very light-hearted fashion. He declared that "the Bible is the product of the spiritual experience of the world," a statement wholly devoid 'Of truth. For, first, it has a historical basis, apart from which it has no value to the sons of men to-clay. It may, and does, record splendid lives, consecrated to the service of God, but behind those consocrated lives were the facts which gave solidity and value to their faith and service. Upon those facts, too, wore placed the grand and glorious promises which cheered and invigorated the faithful men of old. In n word, their spiritual experience was not possible apart from the historic past and the prophetic future. Our second, and serious, objection to such a thoughtless :ta.tement is, that it is not "of the world." Primarily 1t 1Sa selective book. I n the outworking of the purpose of God for two thousand years no peoples were touched, or ,:'ere designed to be influenced, or could profit by th~ SCrJptures. Not until the Jewish people had definitelv rejected the Christ did the message take Oll a world-wid~ aspect, and even then it commenced its outward spread but slowly.

the natural man that death entered, and that is a very real fact in the story of the sons of men. Thoughtful persons will 'fisk, But how is the death removed? Thus sin is the. Fall, and death is its consequence. The removel of these two things must coincide, 0]' man cannot be benefited. The great Bible doctrine of Forgiveness seems to have no place in this man's 'reaching, nor does he believe in a punishment for wrong-doers that shall be lasting. His statement W[lS, "All sin has to be paid for to the uttermost farthing. It may take a long time beyond this life to lift men up to the place where God sees they ought to be. There is nothing vindictive in the punishment God inflicts for sin." "Then, do you believe that punishment is automatic P" "Yes, though I don't like the word; it is God's law, and the expression of His loving purpose." This is the kind of thing which is attracting the mu ltitucles to-day-s-man's self-advance, and the worst kind of Un ivcrsal ism. They love to have it so, but it is certain not only that it is not Biblical teaching, but that it is opposed to the "Yard, and, in common with so many current forms of religion, is ministerinz b to the conceit of Ill] man pride.

him as to his views on the Fall and do not believe there was a historic the race fell away from the intention is not falling, it is rising. There is no historic Fall, but there is 59 tbe H jfan" an individual experience of sin." 'Ibt9torfc ? This is an answer which not only sets aside the historic accurae.y of the Bible on that particular incident, but 1t also destroys the foundation for the Atonement ". 'I'hat the New Testament teaching on the Atonement IS harmonious with the story of the Fall is apparent to every Bible reader, and to destroy the historical accuracy of the Fall is to nullify the Atonement, and to rob man o~ all h.ope for the future. 'I'his was quite apparent to his audience, and one asked, "If there is no Fall, ho:v shall we explain the text, 'By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin ?'" 'I'he report goes Oll to say: "Mr. Campbcll explained that wherever we rend the word Adam in the New Testament we should understand the natural man," and for Christ "the spirit- . ual man." How this would satisfy the questioner is not He is saved indeed who is saved from self and the apparent, for it is still evident that it was by the sin of salvation of Christ is nothing short of this. '

Some one asked the reply was, "I cataclysm in which of God. 'I'he race

A business man hangs in his office a card bearing the inscription, "Do it now." ItR message is suggestive to him and to his clerks not to put off a thing to Rome more convenient season. If it is to be done, it is better done right away. Procrastination is not only the thief of time, but it is the lDo it 'lRO\\? robber of opportunitv, The storv of a well-known incident illustr~tes this. It is thus told in a recent number of the World's C1'isis:-"The steamship Central America, on a voyage from New York to San Francisco, sprung a leak in midocean. A vessel seeing her signals of distress, and aRcertaininz her trouble, wanted to take her passengers on hoard. But it was night, and the captain ~f the Central A merica. fearing- that some evil might befall them if the transfer W?lS made in the dark, requested the other ship to lie by him until morning. Again the captain of the rescue ship begged the privilege 'Oftaking the passengers from the vessel. But the answer came back through the trumpet, 'Lie by till morning.' In about an hour and a-half later the Central America went down and all on board perished." Would that we could urge upon our readers the imperative necessity of a prompt acceptance of the grace of God. The offer of it is held out to them, and because it was in existence yesterday and is now procrastination builds upon the hope that will be avail~ ab1e at "some more convenient season." That is foll v of the worst kind. If it should be done, and you arc convinced that it should, then "Do it now." No better or more congenial season will arrive. Does this appeal to you, mv reader? If so, Do it now.

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MAy,

1906.

THE

B!BLE

STANDARD.
"If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." God will bestow a great estate upon our Lord, and ill that estate the faithful believer shall share. How important that is may be seen in the stress everywhere laid upon it by the epistles. But wc fix attention upon the next paragraph (ver. 18-25). Observe the opening words, "1 reckon," the result of a deliberate calculation arising from the comparison of present sufferings with future glory. Put the two in the scale. \Veigh the seen against the unseen, and mark the overpowering weight of the latter. To get some idea of this, re.u l the verses that follow ;0< For t he curnest ex pectat.iou of tile creation reveal illg of the SOilS of (-;0(1" (ver. J 9).

THINGS

WHICH

ARE BEFORE.

Rom. viii. 18-25.

SOlllE years ago a book was issued entitled "Looking Backward." The writer pictured the twentieth century as having come, and with it an entirely new order of things. Scientific discovery and intellectual ad vanccment were supposed to have inaugurated such a happy state that most readers would inwardly sigh and wish the time and the experience were present. 'Ve, too, on many occasions have taken a look backward, and our prominent find has been that, historically, man is a failure, but that concurrently with the course of human history there has been the working of a Divine plan--a plan so distinctly marked, and so clearly outlined, that there ean be no doubt in the mind of the serious student that the complete purpose shall be as surely accomplished as have been the preparatory stages. The book mentioned is really a look forward, and the writer puts into his sketch of the twentieth century those things which he considers may be brough t to pass by the continued progress of humanity. Let us take a look forward under the guidance of the Bible. I wonder how it is that many who seck to benefit their fellows should consent to igllore the Bible. 011 mallY ocoasions I have directed your attention to the Scriptures which invite us to consider "the things which are before," but to-night I desire to carry your thoughts forward under the guidance of the passage chosen. All who are taught by the Word of necessity must be of those who look forward. "Of course," someone will say, "but it is the look forward of personal interest." Some of the keenest sarcasm from the unbeliever is directed against those who are looking for a heaven for themselves, and are careless of their fellows. It may be that some Christians are wholly occupied with the thought of their own personal redemption, but such self-centred position is not taken by any apostle, nor should it be by any believer. He who is rightly' instructed in the Word has a view of God's purposes which take in much more than a personal blessing. Indeed, it may be safely said, that the Socialist, in his greatest breadth of vision, never took in such an extent of possible blessing as the Apostle of the Gentiles has done, and as all believers should do. Turn with me to the eighth of Romans. 'I'hat chapter opens with the statement of a fact of supreme importance to the child of God, "There is, therefore, now no condemnation to t' ern that are in Christ Jesus." What a blessed privilege! Then, note the height to which the Apostle carries the thought of blessing to the believer,

w.citct.h

for the

What iE the "creation" referred to? It does not mean the people of God, for "creation' waits for their revealing, and verse 23 expressly distinguishes them, "not only so, but ourselves also." We take it in its natural sense as signifying things animate and inanimate, as in Rorn. i. 20, 22, 23. Paul does not use the word "nature," 1:>0 (;OIJJlUul1 to-day. That is an expression which seems to thrust God out of sigbt. He uses the term "creation" because that necessarily implies a Creator. With this [18 its meaning, the whole passage is easily understood. Great is the glory laid lip for the believer, but it is not for himself alone. All creation is waiting for that clay when the sons of God shall he revealed. Believers are the SOl1Sof God now, but they arc not manifested as ~IICh. Manifested I What is tha t? Onc passage will suffice in answer:
" Beloved, now are we the children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. '1Ve know that. if He shall be manifested, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him even as He is. "-1 John Hi. 2.

This very chapter gives the same idea-"waiting for adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body." Now, we have obtained these two ideas: ]!'irst,it is the whole creation of which Paul speaks; and, second, "manifestation" is the resurrection and change of the Lord's people at His coming. But note the attitude of creation. It is here pictured as a figure looking forward with strained expectancy, and listening intently for the footsteps of some Redeemer, Earnest cxpectation! The most complete ideas of earnest Socialistic workers could not hope to satisfy such yearnings. They work only for man, and, in consequence, spi.te of their protests, they are selfish after all.
OUT

It "groaneth" and "travaileth." Verse 20 takes us back to the story of creation in Genesis. That record shows that God created all things "very good." Man was formed to be the head of this creation, but through disobedience he forfeited the position, and since then creation has been in bondage, "not wi1Ji11 , but h\' 0'].)' o . reason of Him who subjected it." Sin brought in its frightful issues of death and disaster. Thorn and thistl sprang up as tokens of the general evil which fell UrOI! creation when man, the appointed head, fell from the plane of obedience to the depths of transgression. Man himself should come into the grip of the earth npon

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which he had brought the curse, and its mould should close over his corpse. All things became unsettled, unstable, and unsatisfactory. By the fall there came in disease, infirmities, and pains. The fierce and deadly instincts of war and bloodshed broke out, and one tribe warred upon another. Animals came to be the food or man, and as sacrifices they were slain, and on man's behalf exposed to the judgments of God. When He sent His wrath upon transgressors they also felt its edge. At the Flood all but a few were swept away, and when the fires fell upon Sodom it consumed the animals wit.h cities and men. Subject to vanity, but not willingly. Yet the passage shows that it is not a hopeless subjcction. Who subjected it ? Not man nor devil, for neither of these could add thc element of hope to that state. Goel did it. At the time when He passed the sentence which covered so much, He uttered thc words of hope in the tidings concerning the woman's seed, who should bring back that which was lost. In the deliverance of the selected animals in the ark this was confirmed. 'I'hus does the Apostle plunge into the very heart of the perplexing question, "How is it that in a world ruled over by Infinite power there should be woe so broad and constant in its tide, ever rolling on? That there is no form of life that is not dimmed by pain, and finally extinguished by death? That restlessness and suffering heavily eanopy this wide earth?" 'I'his passage supplies the only reply that at this stage can be given. Some say that thc Creator is not a good and holy Being; that the visible suffering and disharmonies arise from the weakness and imperfection of the Creator, who is either limited in power, or is pleased with suffering. But Paul's answer is better. Science would say this state of things is from the beginning, and as long as the world shall last it must be; but Paul affirms, "It was not so once. Once all was blooming and joyous. Its music was without a wail, its fields unstained by blood." He consoles us with the assurance that it shall not always be so, Sin has blighted creation, but creation shall be redeemed. "The creation itself shall be delivered," and "from the bondage of corruption." What is corruption? Is it not that force by which the body of an animal, that in life was held together by some secret chemistry, is dissolved and scattered? And what is the bondage of corruption, but that perpetual imprisonment which the body suffers whcn once it has begun to moulder? Spring comes and summer glows, but they exert no power to collect the scattered atoms. The apostle declares in first Corinthians that all the sons of God whose bodies now lie beneath the slavery of corruption shall one day be delivered from it. Eve n so shall the creature lJC. That is "the liberty of the glory of the children of God." 'I'hey shall exchauge slavery for freedom, and the corrnpting corse for the body of the resurrection. God's plans arc perfect. He discerns the end from the beginning, and with infinite wisdom gives to each part
of His plan its proper place, and as man fell, and dis-

man shall bc redeemed, and blessing shall follow to the creation which shared his doom. Note the contrast set before us in the following passages :"The field is wasted, the land mourneth , for the corn is wasted, the new wine is dried up, the oil languisueth : . . . the pomegranate tree, the pal m tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field are wi t.hered ; forjoy is withered away from the sons of men. . . . The beasts of the field pant unto 'I'heo , for the water brooks are d ried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderncHs."-.Joel i. 10, 12, 15, 18,20. "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, tktt the ]>1,WII1:1I1 shal l overtake the reaper, and the treader f gntl'es liim 11,,~t sowet.h see.l : and the mouutains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall lIlelt."-AlllOS ix. 13. " A n.l the wolf shal l dwell wi th the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the young lion, and the fatlillg togetber: and a little child shall lead thelll."-lsa. xi. G,

In our chapter, verses 24, 25 tell us about hope. When referred to the present, hope is an uncertainty. We say to anew ly-wedded pair, "We hope your life will be happy," implying that there is a doubt. Business men hope that their speculations may turn out well. Scripture hope is certainty. It is sure and steadfast, entering into that which is within the veil (Heb. vi. 18, 19). That which we hope for we do not at present possess, so hope becomes a stimulus to exertion and a solace in affliction. It is a light amid thc surrounding darkness; a stay when no other support remains. N otc the figure used in connection with this word, All creation groans; none is free from the burden. Creation is viewed as one great whole, and it suffers, being burdened. 'I'he lowing of its driven herds, the cries of its slaughtered animals, all proclaim the pain of ere t.ion. It L-avirils together! What does this import? Why, that there is a definite period for the woes of creation. Think of it. God knows when it shall cease. It is the end towards which all the men of God in ancient days looked onward. It shaH cease. But it implies that the suffering shall increase in bitterness as the time of deliverance approaches. At the advent of Christ the sorrows of creation shall cease, and joy shall take the place of groaning. Here is a hope signal and blessed indeed; an event, not of nature, but of miraculous intervention that shall be the beginning of a chain of surprises by means of which God shall accomplish His glorious purposes. The groaning of nature; the sighings of the tempest; the volcanic outburst ; the earthquake shock; the moans of the dying tribes; what are these to the ear of faith but the sounds of pain-with hope? 'I'hcse arc the pangs of the mother, who suffers, indeed, but not unto death. They are the heralds of a new order of things, for "There shall be a new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." It becomes a matter of pressing importance to us who speak and talk of these things to ask, Who shall enter upon this time of blessedness? There is an answer

aster followed upon creation,

so He has purposed

that

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shall not walk in darkness; but shall have the light of life." The childish mind, untrammelled by sin, finds delight in going through nature to nature's God. '1'h05e who are pure in heart see God. Those who seek Him with the whole heart find Him. Those who will do His will know Him. Notwithstanding the theory that God is "everywhere in general and nowhere in particular," we believe that "God hath prepared His throne in the heavens," and therefore we pray; "Our Father which art in heaven.' Wc believe in the over-present God, and also in the absentee God; we do not have to reject the onc. in order to accept the other. The sun is in the heavens, yet its light, heat, and energy pervade all nature. Our Father which art in heaven seems to satisfy the heart better than, Our Father which art in nature. A man could not find satisfaction in loving his wife's attributes, he longs to love a person. Because God is love it does not follow that love is God. God is in the heaven of heavens, dwelling in the light whereunto no MAN can approach. Yet "the angels do always behold the face of the Father which is in heaven." In Isa, lvii. 15, we read, "1 dwell in the high and holy PJ,ACE,with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit." Thus we have in oue verse, the absentee God, and also the ever. present God. 'I'he God "who telleth the number of the stars and callcth them all by name" is essentially a God of the human heart. He that hath OJ'es let him look above and behold the heavenly luminaries as they declare that GOlI is infinite, God is the light and the life of the world in every sense of the word. "There is no speech nor language where their 'voice is not heard." DAVID B. WAUGH.

sharp and clear. It is he who, casting away all reliance in self, is resting wholly upon the merits of Him who died for men, and whose lordship man is now to recognise, and submit to. Happy is he who, in full trust in the work of the Lord Jesus, can look at the affiictions and troubles of the present; yea, can look out beyond himself and recognise the woes of creation, and yet can say, "1 reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us-ward." [Notes of an address by the Editor.]

conuuuntcanone.
RE.FLEC1'IONS ON VIEWING THE HEAVEN;:).
and th,? firmamout

"The heavens declare Lhe glory of God; showeth His handiwork" (Ps. xix. 1).

H.ECEN'1'LY was giveru the opportunity I of looking through a large telescope. The night was cool and the stun; shone out clearly: Presently the moon arose, and after some preliminaries the great instrument was prupcrly adjusted. The scene which greeted our eyes call be imagined but not described. 'I'he good professor stood at our elbow ready to answer questions, and at times became enthusiastic. In speaking of the ruoou he said he thought he would feel quite well acquainted there, were he to be transported, as he knew more abo LlL the moon than he did about the eartn, While sitting in the small upper room which C011taincd the telescope I gave way to flights of imag.natiou, and soliloquized somewhat as follows :-N0 man, so long as he is a fool, is fit to look through a telescope at the heavens, which David affirms, "declare the glory of God," for "the fool hath said in his heart there is no God." Even the fool is not foolish enough to say IN HIS I-lEADthere is no God, but in his HEART, the seat of his affections, he affirms "there is no God." Some one has said, "Nature abhors a vacuum ;" when a man has not God in his heart or the truth of God permeating and controlling his affections, even though his head may be full of thoughts about God, he is. according to the Scripture, "a fool." Robert Irigersoll knew a great deal ABOUTGod, but Mr. Moody KNEW GOD, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent; and this knowing God constitutes life eternal. Ingersoll searched after God with all his intellect, but Mr. Moody sought God with all his heart hence the vast difference between these representative men; the difference was mainly in character. As no finrite mind can number the stars, so no finite mind can fully comprehend God and His infinitude. Thus the heavens declare the infinitude of God, the heavens also declare that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. The heavenly luminaries are also lifegi ving, and thus suggest the character of God.. Jesus was God manifest in the flesh; "in Him was hfe and the life was the light of men." "He that followeth Me

jfootl for UbougM.

SOME people teach that death is the way to God and eternal life, but this contradicts plain Scripture. Paul tells us that death is an enemy (1 Cor. xv. 2G), and Christ said , "I am the way ... no man .,corneth unto the Father but by Me." Strange how ready some people are to glorify an enemy and rob Christ of His glory. To teach that death is the wav to heaven aud its joys, is to teach that whatever dies' goes to heaven. l'his would prove that saint and sinner, man and beast, and a lot of other things, go there. Note this, "that which bcfalleth the sons of men befalleth the beasts: even one thing bcfalleth them; as the one dieth, so dicth the other yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no pre-eminence above a beast. ALL GOl'NTO ONE PLACE; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again' (Ecel. iii. 19, 20). 'I'he system of theology that would rut dead men in heaven, would put dead beasts there, also. C. F. LADD.

Before you try to let your light shine be sure you have some.

THE
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OF CONTENTS.
65-68 69-71
ON VIU;WING TJJE 71 71 7'2 FH.ANCISCO .. 72-74.

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WIST STI<IKI'

ECHOES

COMl\lUNICATIONS HEAVEN'S FuOD

TIII

-HEF'LgCTJONS

}rOR THOUGIIT NO'l'ES

011' SAN

ASSOCI.ATION \O~IJi:N'S DYING IIO\v QUI,EH

OVERTUI{O'V GRACE

MINISTRY H\'l\l="l \\rAS \VRl'l".rEN QUI';~'I' 0>' TRUTH

UY TIlE

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A VVELl.-KNOWN TEACHING.. CIRCLE-IN l\1.ISSI0N LOOK I!O'IE

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.Lt CONVEHSATION {)IIULtCH CIIIUS'I'[J\N AND

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~ (b~ Dibl~Standard. ~
r
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Bible as a necessarily fallible record, Mr. Chesterman, however, gives the term a much wider significance, and claims that it stands for facts as ancient as the Garden of Eden story of the Fall; that by inducing Eve to believe a lie "the serpent instilled the poison of all Downgrade doctrine and practice," and thus brought sin ancl 'death into the world. So viewed, the modern manifestations of human pride are but the fruit of a tree whose roots are as ancient as the story of man's first disobedience, and to effectually deal with the modern phase we must know the truth as to man's nature, and God's purpose in redemption. The ultimate fall of Down-gradism is seen to be effected by the wisdom and the powc[' of God. 'I'he subject is well handled by the writer, and the pamphlet is well worth the penny it costs.

\rbe ~"el'tI)l'ow of San jfranctsco.

Shal l evil befall -Amos iii. 6. a city, and the Lord hall, not <lone it r'

ORGAN

new Zealand Evangelistic and Publication Jlssociatlon.

EDITED BY GEORGE ALDRIDGE,

ASSISTED

BY SPECIAL CONTRIBUTIONS.

TIle Editor wishes it to be understood that, while he exer ciacs u g eneral superviaion over the articles and Correspondence appear-ing in the STANDARD, responalbility for aentimeuts expressed rests upon the 'individual writer.

aeeoctanon lFlotea.
Is your subscription paid? If not, please remit at once to the Secretary, or to the Publisher. Our printer's bill is unfailing in its regularity. The brethren in 'I'aranaki arc unable to arrange for the proposed Easter gathering. 'I'he idea met with faVOLlr,but the daily engagements hindered its practicability. Perhaps it may be 'a fixture for some other season of the year. The brethren at New Plymouth, who were the movers in the matter, desire to return thanks through our columns to all the brethren in Taranaki and Auckland who heartily supported the idea. They feel greatly eh cered with the hearty sympathy which the suggestion met. ,Vc have received some words of appreciation from several for the serial, "In Quest of Truth." The writer is anxious to be of service to his brethren, and hopes that the' thin veil of story may not hide the information it is desired to impart. The Church at West Street purposes to hold a Church Conference shortly, at which matters bearing upon the well-being of the Church and the future of the work will be introduced and discussed. From the Faith Prcsswi: a re in receipt of another anmirable number of their "Library." 'I'his is No. 109, and is by Bro. Ohesterrnan, of Bath, on "The Risc and Fall of the Down-grade Delusion." The "clown-grade" was a favoutite name used by the late C. H. Spurgeon to mark the whole tendency of modern methods of treating the

\YEDNESDAY, the eighteenth day of April, will long be remembered as the day when, by an appalling earthquake, followed by the outburst of destructive fires, the city of San Francisco, the ninth city in size in the United States, was utterly overthrown. '1'11is earthquake, which has eaus cd so Iear.lul a disaster, is variously accounted for by scientific men. One professor suggests that the earth was swinging a little off its axis. Another theory attributes the convulsion to the near approach of the moon. But, whatever the natural cause be, what we are concerned to note is that little or nothing is said i.n the daily press as to the hand of God in this overthrow. We listen with respect to the opinions of the scientist. A seismologist who is experienced in seismic surveys should know something of 11 is subject. But too often science shuts out God, and secs nothing but the mighty workings of the forces of nature, a nature irresponsible, erratic, uncertain. The prophet Amos raises a startling question: "Shall evil befall a city, and the Lord hath not done it?" Amos, in writing these words, is not making any reference to the question of moral evil, or what is commonly called sin. God is not the author of sin, neither does the holy God ever tempt men to sin. The apostle James emphaticaily settles that point (i. 13-14). The evil which Am08 is speaking of is evil in the sense of calamity, so we might lead the verse, "Shall there be a calamity in the city, and the Lord hath not done it?" By "calamity" we ma.y understand wars, revolutions, plagues, earthquakes, conflagrations, tempests; and all these things God distinctly claims to be responsible for-these things do not happen without God's direct sanction and command. "1 form the light and create darkncss ; I make peace, and create evil; 1 am the Lord that doeth all these things" (Is. xlv. 7). At San Francisco a great calamity has happened, but il 1:8 God who ordained it. It is matter of speculation as to the natural cause of the earthquake, and whereabouts the fracture of the earth started; but there is no uncer-

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tainty when, looking through second causes, we turn our eyes to Him who is the first great cause of all things, and we unhesitatingly say, "The Lord hath done it." The Almighty God, by His power working in nature, caused the outbreak, appointed its direction, determined the scope of the catastrophe. It is not the custom in this enlightened twentieth cen-tury thus to speak. Men banish God from His world now. All events-extraordinary or otherwise-are simply to be attributed to natural muses. God is shut out, He is not taken into account. Then, if God is not concerned in these tragic events, they simply happen by chance. Alas for you and me if chance rules the world! '''le are like mariners ont at sea in an unsafe vessel, which at any moment may go to pieces; we are without chart and without helm; we know nothing of the port to which we may ultimately come; we are the sport of the winds, the captives of the tempest, and eventually shall become the victims of the all-devouring deep. Alas! poor orphans indeed are we if all is left to chance. No father to watch over us, but left to the fickleness and fallibility of mortal things. We arc like travellers in a desert, blinded by a sandstorm, prevented from seeing our way. Life is then indeed a path less waste, in which at any moment we may be overturned and overwhelmed, and our bleached bones left the victims of the tempest, and we never to live or be heard of again. Thank God it is not so. Fools arc they who believe in chance. Wc arc assured that everything that happens in this world was foreknown, is permitted, and overruled for the highest ends of the wise and mighty will 'Of Him who is our Father and Friend. Where we only see confusion, disorder and tragedy, He sees His purposes being carried out. We believe "God hath His way in the whirlwind and the storm." But others, forgetting God, talk about fate. It was his fate to be burnt or to be drowned. Fate! 'I'he word reminds us of the poor wretches in India laid in front of Juggernaut's Car, bound hand and foot, unable to move, and when the wheels have passed over them were left smashed beyond recognition by the ponderous weight. Fate! So and so happens because it must, it can't he helped. God's foreknowledge does not imply fate. Foreknowledge is one of God's attributes, and is concerned with the interest of God as well as the interest of man. It says so and so must be because it is wise, right, just that it must be, and therefore God appoints it. Don't believe in fate, but believe in God. Do not say, "It was the city's cruel fate to be destroyed," but say, "It is God's will" -inscrutable, may be-"for He giveth not account of any of His matters" (Job xxxiii. 13). But some could see the hand of Satan in such a calamity as that of San Francisco. But we reply, "No, a thousand times, No.;' Satan may be Prince of the power of the air (Eph. ii. 2), the god of this world (2 Cor. iv. 4), but he has not the forces of nature at his disposal independently of the express permission of God (sce Job i.). We scout the idea from our minds, wc tread it under foot, we laugh at it. If Satan had the power to do what he would with this earth, there would

not be five minutes' security for its inhabitants. Satan may at times be the instrument of world-wide calamities, but only if Goel so permits. It is this thought alone that can sustain and help to patience in the trying hour. Hilt do not the laws 'Of nature work independently of interference on the part of the Creator? This is the great temptation of modern times, to impute everything that happens to the laws of nature. But it is evident that a law in itself is powerless to act. You may make a law, but there must be a power to make it effective, Some think the world is like a great clock, wound up by the Clockmaker many years ago, and it will keep on going till it runs down. And some-more stupid stillsay the world started itself millions of years ago, and that what we call natural laws developed themselves, and will act for all time to come. They say there is no such thing as Divine interposition; the laws of nature are unalterable, they work automatically, and will ever continue so to work. Thank God, we know this to be untrue. We live in a world in which God's power is exercised every day. 'I'he energies daily working on the earth are tremenc1ous. Think of the power of the air as revealed in the tornado. Think of the force of electricity, with its phenomena of lightning and thunder. Think of the mechanic-al power expressed in the flowing of streams and rivers and ocean currents. Think of the forces at work in vegetable and animal life. 'I'hink, again, of the force of fire, so terrible if it seizes upon our houses or business places, and sweeps unrestrained through a whole city. 'I'hink of the force of powder, steam, and dynamite. Think of the energy which can rend the earth asunder. All this-and much more-represents the active energy 'Ofthe universe. But what is that energy? God-the very power of God acting in all action. And God's will directs Gael's power. All force may be but will-force, and thus the whole universe is not merely dependent on, but actually is, the will of God. "God is a consuming fire," declares the apostle. Fire has a twofold aspect. ltis a- good thing on a winter's night to spread our hands to its fostering warmth. But it is an element that can burn, destroy, and reduce fair things to ashes. There are two sides of God's character. WB may warm ourselves at the fire of Divine love, or its flames may kindle upon us, and we become as fuel for burning. Most assuredly this world has to pass through bitter and long-protracted agonies of suffering and strife ere the kingdom of our God and of His Christ can come. Does not the Book of Revelation speak of a great catastrophe, accompanied by lightnings and thunders-a great earthquake, "such as was not since there were men on the earth, so gre-at an earthquake and so mighty?" (xvi. 17). And by this earthquake the great city is to be divided into three parts. And do we not read how Babylon the Great is to be burnt with fire? "in one hour is thy judgment come--in one hour so great riches are made desolate." And, passing by the natural forces by which this overthrow will be accomplished, the devout seer exclaims, "God hath judged the judgment on her."

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If God hath destroyed San Francisco, He hath done it with some design. We will not be too curious as to the why and wherefore. We are not going to assert that this beautiful city was the most wicked city in the United States, for we remember our Lord's warning as recorded in Luke xiii. 1-5. What general reason, then, may we in all sobriety give for the overthrow of this place? Is it not intended as a solemn admonition to the inhabitants of the earth, according as it is written, "When Thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness" (Is. xxvii. 9) ? In this startling example of San Francisco we may see a foreshadowing of one characteristic of the end of this age. Said our Lord, "There shall be famines and earthquakes in divers places, and tribulation such as hath not been from the beginning of the world. Upon the earth distress of nations, perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the billows; men fainting for fear and from expectation of the things which are coming." Isaiah speaks of "the Lord of Hosts visiting thc city with thunders and with earthquakes, and with great noise and the flame of a devouring fire." And John foretells "a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and there were killed in the earthquake sevcn thousand persons." In this case we read, "The rest were afErighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven." We cannot but tremble in the presence of such a calamity as this which has overtaken the American city. Rut its destruction-for whatever reason-is the direct act of that great God before whom the inhabitants of the world are but as grasshoppers (Is. xl. 22). 'I'his has come forth from the Lord of Hosts, who is wonderful in counsel, and righteous in all His ways. Great is our Lord and mighty in power. His understanding is infinite.: Men shall speak of the might of Thy terrible acts, and declare 'I'hy greatness. Tremble before Him, all the earth; say among the nations, "The Lord reigneth." Rotorua. C. ORISP BROWN.

ijUlomcn'a {JJ)iniatrl?

"I would be very grateful if you will give me your views on the subject of 'Women's Ministry. . . . From my own study of the question I cannot come to a satisfactory conclusion."

WE have had, from time to time, many such enqumes from our various readers, and we tako this opportunity of dealing with them all. But we must state at once that it is not at all a question of "views" either of our own, or of others. It matters not what anyone may think or feel or wish; but it is simply a question of what God has said; and of our believing it, and obeying it. If we listen to man we shall be very likely to be misled. And if we misunderstand what God has said, we shall not reach a right c-onclusion. The misinterpretation of Acts ii. lies at the root of much of the confusion which exists on this subject. The object of Pentecost and Joel's prophecy are both misapprehended.

Pentecost is usually regarded and referred to as altering the status of women's ministry. J oel's prophecy (Acts ii. 17', 18) refers to three classes of persons, (1) "all flesh," v. 17; (2), "your sons and your daughters," v. 17; (3), "my servants and my handmaidens," v. 18. The prophecy is quoted by Peter, and is used, by application, to show that it is not WIse to conclude that persons under "power from on high" are necessarily drunken, Its interpretation belongs to the time associated with the return of the Lord, and would have been fulfilled at that time had the nation fulfilled the one condition of national blessing, namely, Repentance! it does not say "this is the fulfilment of Joel's propheey;" but this is what Joel said. It has nothing whatever to do with the Church, nor do we find anything Like a fulfilment of it even in the Acts. However, it is not our "views" which will be of any service to you or others. What we all need is to know all that God has said in His Word. We cannot get, and ought not to go, beyond that. What we find is1. Dorcas "full of good works and alms deeds" (Acts ix. 36). This ministry was in the home. 2. Mary, the mother of Mark (Acts xii. 12). In the 110111e, prayer. and 3. The mother of Timothy (Acts xvi. 1); Eunice's instruction of Timothy her son, ut home (2 Timothy 1, 5, iii. 14, 15). 4. Lydia, giving hospitality in her home (Acts xvi. 15) . 5. Priscilla is mentioned with her husband as taking Appollos to their home, and expounding the way of God more accurately there. This expounding was done privately, as in Acts xi. 4; and xxviii. 23 (the only two other occurrences of the word elciitliemi, middle voice). This is the very opposite of public ministry of the Word. 6. The four daughters of Philip (Acts xxi. 9). If this is the fulfilment of J oel's prophecy, then it does not come in until after 20 chapters of the Acts, and 28 years of Apostolic ministry. And even then these women are not used, for the Holy Spirit passes them by and sends Agabus from J erusalem (over 50 miles) to deliver His message. I ,! ~,!1ai Here Scripture furnishes us with six passages in which nine women are mentioned, and we find that not one of them ministered in public, but all in the home. If we turn to the Epistles we may note other passages which have been referred to by others who have written on this subject. (1) Gal. iii. 28; but this refers to our standing in Christ, before God, not to public ministry before men. (2) 1 Oor. xiv. Seven times we have the words when ;I/e corne together, and it refers to the public assembling. The spealcing in this chapter is laleo; to speolc audibly. It is used of serious speaking in the N. T., and never of clutl.ier as in Classical Greek.. It is not a question of how the Greeks used it centuries before but of how the Holy Spirit uses it here. Lt is used 24' times in 1 001'. xiv.; twenty-one times of spiritual speaking with tongues and prophesying, and once of God Himself speaking (v. 21). He does not "chatter." (3) 1 'I'im, ii. 8. 'I'he word "men" occurs six times in this chapter. In verses 1, 4, 5, it is the generic word
1

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amihropos, man; but in verses 8 and 12 it is the sexual word aner, male. The sphere 'Of women's ministry is clearly defined in the Word, and seems to be limited to what is persoual and private, and not prominent and public. We look in vain for a Scripture whieh teaches otherwise. So much so that in the Aets and the Epistles the sphere seems to be even more limited than in the Old 'I'estament and in the Gospels. For these various spheres note Anna (Luke ii. 37), Phoebe and Priscilla (R'Om. xvi. 1-4), Lois and Eunice (2 'I'im. i. 5, iii. 14, 15), Lydia (Acts xvi. 15, 1 Tim. v. 10), Dorcas (Acts ix. 39), Persis and others (Rom. xvi. 12), Mary (Rom. xvi. G). And compare 1 'I'im. v. 14, Titus ii. 3. The reasons for this limitation lllay be gathered from a careful study of 1 Tim. ii. 13, 14; 1 Cor. xi. 3, 7-9; Eph. v. 24. This is what is written and taught in God's Word. That this teaching is very genp'ally disregarded, ignored, or disobeyed, does not alter God's Word or God's will. If God pleases, in His overruling sovereign grace, to use any kind of disobedience and make it accomplish His purposes, then we must remember that His mysterious ways are not to be the guides of our conduct. We must be governed and guided only by His revealed Word. '1'0 reason otherwise is to adopt the Jesuit argument, that we may do evil that good may come. Obed iencc is ours; Results are God's. "Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams" (1 Sam. xv. 22). If such texts as this and 1 Sam. xvi. 7 were "illuminated" and put on our walls instead of "precepts" and "promises," which are taken and appropriated by persons to whom they were never given or made, we might look for a more 'Obedient walk on the part of God's children. Dn, BULLINGEH in "Things to Game."

JD}?ing erace.
"It is appointed unto men once to die."-Heu. ix, '27.

So~m seem to be dying all the time. In fact, they never appear to be fully alive, not all over, at once. They court death-make love to it, as something to be desired; something sacred, to be resigned to ; the silent boatman who, with paddle and gondola, sets us quickly across the dark river to the supposed-to-be glittering shore, effulgent with light and joyous with glad life. Pity some people could not reverse that order, and have some of tho effulgence and joyousness here, and let the future and the other shore take care of themselves and us, too, as they are abundantly able to do. Folks who try to put a lifetime into getting ready to die will send you after the doctor as quickly as anybody else, and wonder why he does not come sooner. You could not hire them to go through or by a graveyard in the dark, unless accompanied with a man big enough to thrash any ghost that ever lived or died. And as for

microbes, they are as afraid of them as of bears, and would never think of using any drinking cup or anything else after anybody else, unless cleansed or fumigated. They are the folks who are dying by inches, if living at all; but the fact is, no one ever died until his time came, or his physical frame gave out in some way, unless killed by accident. It is well to take proper precautions and good care of ourselves; but worrying about what cannot be helped is not good care. Railroad accidents do not sort out the fussy from the fickle, and run 'Over the latter and toss the former on to a bed of pansies; so it is well when going on the cars to sit down our full weight and enjoy the ride as much as the fond anticipations of a joyous meeting at the journey's end will allow. We will get there all the quicker, seemingly, and relish the trip all the better. "Dying grace" seems to be a great hobby with many. They will ride the gaunt old white horse right into even alive prayer meeting, and scare timid folks about to death. The real enjoyment and profitableness of a praycr meeting to them is getting ready to die; and after they have chilled it through, the prayer meeting itself is about ready to die; but, strange to relate, the latter never gets dying grace, but just has to die a cold, hard death for want of breath. And it is pretty much the same with everybody else, too. It is pretty hard for a strong, healthy woman who has been washing, or ironing, or gadding and gossiping all day, to try to crowd dying grace into a prayer meeting. It comes with a poor grace. Ditto the men, who have been after the dollar like a kite all day, or cheering at some race, politicalor otherwise. If there is anybody who can consistently talk of dying grace, it is "Lazybones," who never did a day's work in his life, if he could help it. He was dead to the world long ago, and only lacks the ceremonies and the shovel to complete the job of interment. Dear brother and sister, do try and "live and let live." "God loveth a cheerful-hilarious-giver" better than a solemn-vis aged, stingy old miser-an "old Scrooge" who cannot see anything to worship but a dollar-and cannot let go of that without dying grace, and a good deal of it. When one gets pretty near the end, pulling for his breath, pulling for the shore, dying grace may come, if he has his senses and needs it,but not before. Heaven's blessings do not come a long way in advance of our need. A day's manna came to the Israelites, and daily bread is for our needs. And, after all this, "be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. i. 13). One will need more grace for that trying hour when the descending Christ, with all the holy angels, comes down the parted skies, to raise the dead and judge the world than going one at a time by death, on our pillow, and among our friends at home. And grace will be yours and mine in that day of our need.-C. E. CoPP.

If you would have power with men, prevail with God; this you may do by prayer and confession.

THE 1bow a Wlell",rmowll

BIBLE

STANDARD.
._'-

:MAY, 1906 .
-

1b}?1Il1lwas Wlritten.

"IT is Well with my Soul" was written by H. G. Spafford, and the popular tune to which it is always sung is one of P. P. Bliss' best compositions. Mr. Spafford was a member of the Ohicago bar, and an elder of the Presbyterian Church, He had been successful in his profession, but had made some unfortunate investments, and when the financial panic of 1873 seriously disturbed the business of the country, Mr. Spafford found that his savings of many years had been swept away. 'I'he members of his family were prostrated by this disastrous turn in their affairs, and he acceded to the wish of helpful friends that they should visit Europe and thus be removed for some time from scenes of his fiuancial ruin, Mrs. Spafford and her four children took passage on the French liner "Ville du Havre," and the story of that voyage is onc of the most appalling of the many calamities of the sea. When in mid-ocean, and in the blackness of a N o.vembcr night in 1873, the steamshi p collided with the Glasgow clipper "Lock Earn," and in' twelve minutes the former went down, carrying to death 230 souls, and among them were Mr. Spafford's four daughters. Mrs. Spafford sank with the vessel, but floated again, and was finally rescued. 'I'be saved were taken to Havre, and from that city she sent a message to her husband. in Ohicago ;"Saved, but saved alone. What shall I do?" This message of fearful import-",mfficient la drive reason from her throne'<e-was the first notice Mr. Spafford had that his clear ones were not as happy as when he parted with them a few days before in New York. In his unutterable sorrow Mr. Spaflord did not chant a dirge to impossible hope. . When he reflected that his property was lost m cl> struction's waste, that his wife was painfully prostrated. and that his four children were buried in the dark waves of the sea there came from his heart of hearts a song of trust imd'resignatiol1' that has many times encircled the globe :"When peace, like a river, attendcth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; W hat.ever my lot, Than hast taught me tu say, It is well, it is well with lIly soul."
When Mr. Spafford returned from Havre with his invalid. wife, he said to his friends ;"I never felt more like trusting God than I do nON." Spafford's hymn of resignation, with its fine music .l setting by the lamented Bliss, is one of the most helpful of the many Gospel songs written during the past quarter of a century. . . One Sunday evening :J, service of song was grven 111 one of our large city churches, at which the story of "It is WelJ with My Soul" was told, and the lines Sl1J1g with great tenderness of expression bv the audience and choin,

Attending the service was a gentleman who had suffered. financial reverses in the panic of1893. When he heard the story of Spafford's heavy affliction, and joined in singin'g the hymn so pathetically inspired, he said to his wife on his return home from the service; "I will never again complain of my lot. If Spafford could write such a beautiful resignation hymn when he had lost all his children, and everything else save his wife and character, I ought surely to be thankful that my losses have been so light."-Selected by W. A. Burcli.
0'

(lllueer ~eacf)tno.
TUERE me a good many ministers of the Gospel who teach that man is an immortal being; but where any such statement is to be fo~nd in the Gospel they are unable to tell. Let the reader remember that the term immortal means, not subject to death, and so these ministers would have us believe that man is really a deathless being. This is contrary to the plain teaching of the Gospel. Lazarus died and was raised from the dead, and as he died again, he is now dead, so he was not immortal, for he was subject to death. Stephen was killed-stoned to death-so he could die. At N ain, the widow's son was dead, and Christ raised. him from the dead. Christ Himself died on the cross, and was raised from the death state. Death, then, is a fact, and as man is subject to it he is not now immortal.

The trouble is that these ministerial teachers assume that man is by nature immortal-that he has, or is, an immortal soul-and then they strive to force various texts to support their teaching. What a simple thing it would have been for one of the sacred writers to have called man immortal, or said that he possessed an immortal soul. This would ha ve settled all controversy on the subject. But there is not a single passage 'Of Scripture that describes man as being immortal before the resurrection. 'I'herefore the doctrine is withont Bible proof. In the Bible man is constantly likened to perishable objects--never to imperishable. He is never spoken of as living after death until the resurrection. He is never said to be alive between death and resurrection. 'I'he Bible writers speak as though the dead were really dead. No portion of Scripture teaches the popular doctrine of a survival of an alleged "immortal soul" at the death of the body. Paul says, "the wages of sin is death;" but if man is a deathless being, how can he pay the penalty of sin? There is need of a more thorough searching of the Scriptures by individual Christians ; not in the effort to find texts to support a pet theory, but to learn just what Goel teaches in His Word ; and let all pray for grace sufficient to enable them to discard every theory that is found to be contrary to His Word.-O. F. LADD.

MAY,

1906.

THE

BIBLE

STANOARD.

77
of the Gentiles' is a period of 2,520 years, from the year RC. 606 to, and including, A.D. ID14; that the Millennium began in 1872; that in 1874 the Lord came, and is now present, and that in 1881 the general call of the Church ceased."

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:tn (llhlf1t of lrrutb.

CHAPTER Ill. Although the friends of Millennia 1 Dawn teaching had apparently treated lightly the evidence of their error which Phi lip had laid before them, they had, nevertheless, felt that a blow had been struck which had been poorly parried, and if their view had to make headway in Brenton something must be do-ne once to re-establish it Up to this point the task before them had been easy. The books put into circulation by the effor-ts of the indefati!,\ahh colporteur had aroused a measure interest, and the persons who met in M1". Baker's house were eager to- heal' more of this "lllghcr teach inrr," us Mr. Baker called it. So enamoured was this gentle man with the novel views that he repcatcd ly said that "if before he had r,eeived rays of Iight, now the whole field was Illnl)110US." A.gain and again, in con':'Cl'sation with others, he would say that If they could not see this highct: truth he could only feel SOI',l'Vfor them. For himself', he was open" always to "n dvance," and if others lagged behind it was their fault, and not his.

;t

of

Spen king thus one dav to a hardheaded member of the ch"urch, he was met with the reply, "You believe in a resurrection of all men to probation. an.l call that view 'advanced truth.' There is a paper which comes to me which teaches that none but believers will be raised at all, and it says, 'Never ask us to believe in the resurreet.ion of all men, for we have reached "higher grouml !" 80 you see ilHC arc opposing positions, and the advocates of both claim to be advanced. 1 should advise you to think hard over that fact." The majority of those who attended the weekly meeting at Mr. Baker S rcsidenco were those who gave very l ittl . study to the matter, but who naturally followed a stronger man. Phi li ns dec.ded stand had the effect of awikeninO' an interest which boded ill for the futur~ peace of the class, unless the colporteur could bring forward something which would bolster up the case anew. As one of the attendants said, "If other assertions are as unsound as this appears to be, then, perhaps, the en tire scheme is untrustworthy.' 'I'he knowledge of this state of things caused the enthusiastic ML Baker to urge npon the colporteur the impait.ition of some posit.ive teaching to which exception could not be taken, and which would remove the effect of PhiJip's sturdy opposition. The colporteur assured him that this could easily be done by the presentation of Millennin.l Dawn teachings on "Times and Seasons." "These," he said, "could not be understood before this time of the

end, but having made the grand outlines of His plan so clear, we may reasonably expect that God's time is due to lead us into a knowledge of the time features. Formerly, errors were made in the fixing of 'times,' but that is explained by the fact that it was not yet time for a clearer unfolding. Now, however, the time has come, and we have certain knowledge which cannot be disputed." "Can this matter be stated in terms that cannot be questioned 1" said Mr. Baker. "Most certainly," was the reply; "so clearly that no thoughtful person with the Bible in his hand can possibly refute the evidence." "Then," said Mr. Baker, "it is our duty to make this apparent, or we shal l have Philip ,Bayreuth telling everybody that our position is overthrown." "1 Acknowledge to you that I am unable to meet his stntem-nt about Rev. xx. 5, but that is a minor matter. 0111" strength lies in Ihe soundness of our contention that the Millennium has already begun, and that the Lord is already present. Bihliea I 'times' show these things clearly." Ere .tho two friends separated it was decided between them that they should interview Ph il ip at the earliest possible opportunity, and put before him this ilhfraga.ble testimony. 011 the following morning Mr. Baker was on the lookout for Philip, who WDS soon d-sctied on his w:ty to business. 1\ Iter CXCh:lllging the usual courtesies, he broached the sub.i cct of an interview for the purpose of presenting this strong evidence. When Philip heard that it related to prophetic ti mes, he said: "J do not think that I am competent to enter into a discussion on Bible times and seasons, as I have given very little attention to the subject, but if you will consent to have our meeting at my Uncle Kcith's, who is a deep student of these' matters; I think it would bp more sat.isfactory to all parties." Before they par red it was agreed that Phi lip should inquire if such a meeting would be agreeable to his uncle. That evening Philip laid the matter before Ml' Ke ith, and the dear man expressed his pleasure a t the prospect of a talk on such t.hc mes with the Millen nial Dawn representative. Mr. Baker did not succeed so readily with his friend, but eventually all objections were overruled, and the meeting was arranged. On the appointed evening Mr. Baker and the colporteur were seated with Phi lip at Mr. Keith's table. "T understand," said Mr. Keith, "that it is your desire that we should invest iga te the mat.ter of times and seasons as presented by Mr. Russell. I think it would be to our profit if our friend, who is well acquainted with the theory, should now state it." "Well,' said the colporteur, "we believe that there is good evidence to show that wc are in 'the time of the end,' beginning in the year 1799; that the ful\ end of the 'times of the Gentiles' will be reached in A.D. H1l4; that the Bible evidence is clear and strong that the 'times

"I understood as much from the reading of your literature, but it would be as well if, in your own words, you presented the evidence for these startling statements. For instance, it would be very helpful if you would show us how you obtain this definite period of 2,520 years. Whether its terminal .points are as you say, can wait until we examine the evidence of its existence."
"But you agree that there is such a period taught in Scripture, do you not?" :'Well, no; I cannot say that I do," sa id Mr. Keith_ "But that is a matter on which we have positive testimony. If you turn to LCVllrCUS xxvi. 17, 18, 24, 28, you will find a threat of 'seven times' mentioned three times over. This 'seven times' refers to 'the length of time durins' which the Gentiles should rule over 1sra~I' and this is undoubtedly the period referred to when our Lord spake of 'the times of the Gentiles.' 5, "But," said ]\1'1'_ Keith, "I fail to see how you get the period of 2,520 years from this expression.' . With a smile of satisfaction the colpOI'teur, a.nsw~red, "That is easy enough. III the BIble ti mn' is' user! in the sense of a ye:ar, whether the year be literal or symbo lir., :'\ symbolic year, as used in pi ophecy, IS reckoned on the basis of a lunar year-twelve months of thirty days each, or three hundred and sixty days- .. e,ach d~'y representing a year. If a year slmhohc represents three hundred and sixtv veal'S the' n seven ,-',. J ,,<, trrnes WIll reprssent 2,520 years." "You are quoting your text-book accurately enough," said Mr. Keith, "and if that were the final authority the case would be established, but it is not. Then> are. several necessary steps before that posit.ion can be taken, Il'irst, I notice that your author advances but one text as containing this phrase. Is that so 1" "Well, it is mentioned three times in t.he one connection, and one text is as good as a hundred." "Quite so, if the text contains the exp.ressio~. O.ne passage that speaks posit.ively IS quite enough for me; but it so happens that th is passage from Leviticus does not contain the phrase you are so anxious to find in it, and Mr. Russell knows this." "But it reads thus in the English Bible!" "J~lst so, and it can read no other; but 1JI the Hebrew the word for 'times' does not OCCUI". Here is a copy of the Hebrew Bible, at which you may look, or Young's Concordance will give the information. But I have no need to refer you to these, for Mr. Russell says 'Lhe Hebrew word translated "seven times" in Leviticus is the sameword so transla.tcd in Daniel, except that in Daniel the word iddan. is added, whereas in Levit.icus it is left to be understood.' Which means that the word

THE
which is translated 'times' in Daniel is not found at all in the texts from Leviticus, and the word 'seven' stands alone. Seven what? Turn to the Septuagint. Here is a copy, and if you look at the passage you will see it is translated by the word heptakis, the ad varb which is rightly translated 'seven times,' but times in the sense of occurrences, as in the only passages in which it is used in the New Testament, thus: 'How oftcn shall my brother sin against me, and 1 forgive him? until seven times?' and the Lord made answer, '1 say not unto thee, until seven times, but until seventy times seven,' i.e., occurrences. So the only passage on which Mr. Russcll builds does not contain the foundation word. That absent, the whole time measurement goes with it, and the statement of the autllor,-' l n view of this slroll,-!; Bible evidence concerning the Times of the Gen. tiles, we consider it an established truth that the final end of the kingdoms of the world, and the full establishment of the Kingdom of God, will be accomplished by the end of AD. 1914,' is a stn.tornent without so much as a scrap of testimony beyond the wilful perversity of the writer, who knew the fact of the case, bu t presumed upon the ignorance of h is readers.' "But," interjected the colporteu~', somcwha t irritated at the manner III which M_I'. Kcith had so unexpectedly taken the gronnd from beneath him, "there are other collateral lines of eh ronological prophecies which support this view, and these should be examined in any fail' treatment of the subject." "That is so," said ]\1[1'. Keitli, "but, unfortunately for your case, these, too, re' quire a spocinl interpretation. There is an underlying assumption which must be proved before we look further at these. TI,,~t aS~III1!ptif)n is 111;'' ,1; 'a thy in pro phecy signifies a year. "Surely you do not question that ?" cried the colporteur. "But 1 do. I have yet to learn that there is a lit.tle bit of evidence in existence that is worth a straw to support the thesis. There is no text which states the so-called principle, and there is no example of any fulfilment on that basis." "But surely you will concede that the Seventy Weeks of Dan. ix. have been fulfilled in that manner! A week is composed of seven days, and as the whole p=riod of that prediction is generally admitted to be 4!J0 years, it must be intcrpreted on the day- year theory." "Yes, I am well acquainted with that. specious argument. It is advanced by all year-day interpreters to supply a buttress for their interpretations, but it affords them no help whatever. First of all, the word 'weeks' in the passage does not necessarily signify' a term of seven days. It is the numeral 'seven' which is so translated-'seventy sevens.' W1H'n Daniel wishes to record the 'space of time we call a week, he names it 'weeks of days' (x. 2, 3), thus implying that he knew that the word 'seven' by itself did not necessarily express a week. The arurol said 'seventy sevens.' Sevens of what? we may ask, and the dcnominator 'is found in the fact that Daniel is

B1BLE

STANDARD.

MAy, 1906.

praying concerning a term of seventy years, and, in answer, the angel is sent to let him know of a period of seventv sevens-of years, understood-so there i.s no need to Import the awkward theory of 'symbolic' days. Let me add, that there are in Scripture some sixty recorded fulfilments of time predictions, and all have been fulfilled exactly as predicted, whether days, or months, or years. Why assume that the Scripture departs from this method, and adopts a 'symbolic' method of fulfilment for the 'times' yet to be fulfilled after the close of the Bible compilation ?" As this conversation went on, Mr. Baker sat silent; a look of astonishment had settled on his featured, and he seemed disappointed that his friend had no better case to present. A s for Philip, he was delighted at the ease with which his uncle ha-cl handled the supposed Gibraltar posit.ion of the colporteur. Ry this time Aunt Martha had arranged some slight refreshment in the other room, but. neither Mr. Itaker nor his friend, though earnestly pressed, cared to stay, taking their leave a! most immediately, whilst Philip remained to thank his uncle for the lucid manner in which he had shown the weakness of the posit ion on which so much was built, and, with the assurance of youth, expressed his belief that this was tlw last of Millennial Dawn teachings in Brenton. His uncle advised him not to be too ~anguine, saying, "You will find, my boy, that if a man only makes a loud enough claim, men will follow him, and in this case the claim is loud and cp;otistic, and the followers are easily led, ' 4'.

conoersanon

~l'oll1pteb

b}]

tbe 1beat 'ij'(llal?e.

is very hot, is it not?" How

"It

"Yes, very; almost unbearable. much hotter would you like it?"

"Not any, thank you. I think it would kill a great numher-infan ts, invalids, and aged persons. And, to tell you the truth, if the next world is hotter than this, I have a decided objection to go there." "Why, man, 1 read in the Bible of a place 'where everlasting spring abides and never withering flolVer.''' "Oh, 1 didn't the other." mean that place-l meant

"Well, friend, if by your rejection of eternal life, offered to all who hear the Gospel, through a crucified Redeemer, rejecting it you must perish, not live for ever, in hell, for the Bible plainly states 'the wages of sin is death.''' "Oh, but are we not taught that

the

soul is immortati"
"We may be taught so by man, but the Word of God says, 'the soul that sinneth it shall die'-not 'live.' Why, though a man, you don't seem to use the common sense which God gives to all persons who read and think for themselves. A little Irish boy was being chastised for telling lies, and they aid to him, 'Boy, do you know whore you will go to when you dio ?' 'No, sir, 1 don't; do you?' 'Yes, to hell.' 'To hell, will 1'/ Hut isn't hen a place where it is all fire 9' 'Yes.' 'Then I'm sure I could not live there; I can hardly live here when it's JIO in the shade. How could I live in all fire]" 'Oh,' said he, 'you foolish hoy; it isn't you that will go to hell, it's your soul.' 'On, all right, fire away, then, it won't hurt me. I thought you said it was me that would go to hell.' Now, I say that the boy knew more than his teacher. 1 T am not the one whom Christ has redeemed from d ca th in hell, and will one day come to raise me from among the dead, 01' change me, if living, into His image and likeness, and that He will then give me thr- eternal life promised, and take me to the glory with all who look and wait for His appearing, but at death takes my soul. to heaven, then I'm out of it. God forbid, for it is written: 'The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of a trump of God, a.nd the dead in Ohrist shall rise first; then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord.' Thank God for such a hope. But the wicked shall perish. We may well ask if the Bible says 'they perish,' does that mean they live in hell? And, again, L read they shall be punished with "everlasti ng destruction." The soul is not immortal, Scriptures

'Wlbo 'Wlas to 1!3(ame?

A baker ]iying in a vil lage not far from Quebec bought the butter he used frOII} a ncighbouring farmer. One clay he, became suspicious that the butter was 11 ot of the right weight, and therefore decided to satisfy himself as to whether t!1P farmer ""13 honest 01' not. For several clays he weighed the butter, and then found that the rolls of butter which the farmer brought were gradually diminishing in weight. Th is angered him so that he had the farmer arrested on a charge of fraudulent dealing. "1 suppose you have scales?" the judge said, inquiringly. "Yes, of course, 'your Honor.' "And weights, too, I presume?" "No, sir." "How then do you manage to weigh the butter wlrieh you sell?" "That's easily o x pla ined, your Honor," replied the farmer. "When the baker commenced to buy his butter of me, I thought I'd get my bread from him, and it's the one-pound loaf I've been using as a. weight for the butter I sell to him. If the weight of the butter has been wrong. he has himself to blame, not me." "Do unto otlicrs as ye would that they should do to you." "With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to' you again."-"Christian Youth:"

The Bible says it dies; To contradict Is surely the most unwise. C, GAMBLE, Adelaide.

MAy, 1906.

THE

BIBLE

STANDARD.

79
tion through Christ, had quoted the passage, "What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" The sick man asked me what 1 thought of this. I asked him, "Who was the loser, the man or the soul 1" 1 showed him that it is man who should lose his life if he rejected the offer of salvation. i pointed him to the gift of immortality in Christ. He thanked me for the help given.-W. ]~DoEnILL.

listen to a new voice, and our brother's kindly words of counsel will not soon be forgotten. On the 8th inst. we welcomed into fellowship Sister Lloyd, of Pollen Street meeting-house, Auckland. W.M. VmGINIA, S.A.-The anniversary of the Christian Church. Virginia, S.A., was held on {arch 11-12. Onr dear Pastor Lees g:lve us two splendid addresses-in the morning on "Our Great High Priest," in the evening on "Our Blessed Hope." The attendances were very good on both occasions. On the following day the ten meeting was held. when the Ilindma rsh choir ca mo out in a drag (25 of them), and gavc the singing for the evening meeting, Bro. W. Vawser presiding at the organ. "Ve had a splendid meeting; the building was filled. Bro. J. Manning, from Adelaide, presided, and gave an excellent address on "The Church." Pastor :Lecs'spoke on the times in which we live as days full of da ngr-): (2 Tim. iii. 1). Bro. J. R. Cooke and others addressed the mce tinz, and the Lord's blessing was fplt by us all. A cornprche nsive vote of thanks was presented by TIro. H. King to all who had helped to 111ake the n nuiversnrv a success. Bro, Si111('s, of the TIindmarsh choir, responded. On April 1st we had a Baptism service, our dear 1>",101' n nrl his wife heing again wiLlI l1R. A 'yolln;~' lady, i>roll.~~ht lip al.l her l ifo in Methodist teaching. has been hrollght 10 R k nowloduc of the t.rut.h, and boldly confeRsI'd her Ia ith all Sundav ovoning hy being buried with her Lord in the watery gmv!' and rising to walk tlunew life. It was indeed a grnncl111ceting. The huilcJing was filled, and seats had to bc' placed in I he aisle, and ('veryonc paid groat a.ttent ion while ou r Pastor spoke on th great command, "Go v into all the world," etc. He gave us a splendid address. and the ordinance was cn rried through with great solemnity, a ud mrukcd u tto nt ion was especially .'"iv('n while our dear sister boldly spoke iwr great confession. Shc had never even seen the baptism service. Xlay the Lord hl('s~ ho r and make her a blessing are the prayers of the church. D. GF.OROE'I'OWN, .G.-Gr0eting: H Latterly I have held meetings in La Penitence district, and have given talks on "The Nature and Destiny of Man." Swedenborgian views a re largely in evidence iu that part, and 1 have urged an acceptance of the \\'01"(1 of God according to its plain signification. I was disposing of some of our literature, and offered some to a European, who refused it, saying Lhat such literature was the cause of Ih"' recent riot. I demanded proof. He stated to the audience that we did not bol ieve in evrrlasting punish me nt, nor in the immortality of the soul. He affirmed that wc put man and beast on the same 1('vel. He cited some of the usua.l texts. This gave me a fine opportunity, which I immediately used, to give an outl ino of the Bible teaching. T think the objector went away more thoughtful than when he came. I visited a sick man at the hospital last Sunday. A Scripture reader, persuading him to accept salva-

AUCKLAKD.-The writer was recently talking to a fricnd, who is a fairly constant attendant at West Street Church, and in course of conversation the topic turned to the ability of the preacher to continue preaching to thc same congregation for over twenty years, and, to use his expression, "never grow stale." Certainly, the Scriptures are an inexhaustible treasure, a nd were he to spiritualisc and symbolise away its plain teach ing, as is usually done, and not go down to bed-rock, he would not be able to susta in the Freshness and puissance for so many yon rs, and my gTeat surprise is that there is a scat vacant. But truth is not sought n Itcr, nor wa ntcd ; yet a nvthinsr that will tickle the ear and plenso the fancy people will rush to. Certn inly, the theme "Salvation Science" has uttractod a large number of visitors, some of whom have expressed t.hemsel vos ns deeply interested and ('nlightened. This serics was in a VI'l"Y fOI"(('f1l1 mannor hroujrht to a close on Sunday evening, 1 :;th inst. A request hns been 111,1(let.hnt as uiuch as poss ihlo he put in the f'iTA;\,llAI:D. but I have not a ready p"ll. Runday, 2iith :'1a rch: Bro. L. Fa lkner gave n n nrld rcss this morn ing, barring his ~xposilion on "The Sword of the Spirit." If a soldier did not u ndr-rstn nd how to use his weapons of offence and defence, he would be worsted in the fray. The same of a Christin n. If he is not well acquainted wi th his Bible, he could offer but little defence, pointing out the following plil('0R whr-r to gain knowledge of the Word :-T(,8ching in home and in the Sundav School; the morning and evening services, and especially the Wednesday evening Bible Class. The theme of "Salvation Science" was thus discussed :-In the evening (March 25th) the subject was "Needs and Satisfaction;" l st April, "Forgiveness;" 8th April, "T11e End in View;" 15th April, "Oods Agents." T'he subject is deep, vast, soul-stirring, lllaking one long for tlw great consnmmation to come. 22nd: "The Earthquake at San Francisco." The attendances have been good. The Wednesday even ins Bible Classes have been well ai:t~nd('d. "1'11(' exposition of the "Sermon on the Mount" is still bein!! dealt with, and the more the unfol(lin<7 the more it is evident that Paul's advice to Timothy to rightly d ivide the Word was necessary. The subjects t rea ted a re as follows:-\lI,7edncsday, 25th March, second lecture on "The Beatitudes," "Christ and the Law," "The Great Law-Giver," "Christ's Practical Precepts." NEW PLYMouTTT.-For a fortnight, since March 24th, we have been stirred up hy the presence of Bro. and Sis. Page. of Auckland. It was indeed a treat to

CHRISTIAN BAND. ~
~~~

AUCKLAND.-During the month past cur work outdoors has been prevented by inclement weather, and all the meetings have taken place in that room of pleasant associations, the Social Hall. \Ye have enjoyed talks on "Baptism and Its Meaning," and listened to papers dealing with the "Life and Character of the two Queens, Esther and Jezebel," and lernnr-d somethi ng of the part they played in God's plan for the establishment of His Kingdom. Another evening wc gav(' ou r attention and intcreat LO a presentation of the claims of the theory of evolution as compared with the Bible reCOl d of creation. The paper, as road, pointed out the utter unworthiness of the theory to take the place of the statemcnts of the \\{)rd. Truly the "wisdom of tho wise" has become foolishness, and the knowledge which should result in humility, thankf'u lncss, nnd. willing service has been turned aside to idle speculat.ion. Thr- pri vi lr-gcs of our gatherings have been ma ny, bu t SOI11('seem careless of the possession of these. The pleasure and profit of our mcetings vary with attendance, When few are there compan ionship is not so widely shared, and the benefits of the talks do not come to so many. We have still the same watchwonl, "Ma rnnn tha." Let us hold and work together ti 11 that be realised.

H.A.
TJlAMES.-Although there has been no report from our Ch ristia n Band for some li tt.lc time, we have heen holding our meetings, and, 1 trust, with benefit to each onc. ::\lany times our hearts have been gladdened and our hopes strengthened, and we have been encouraged to go forward. May it ever be our desire to do something, however humble, in the Mastpr's service, knowing that He is ever near to help and strengthen all who call upon Him. May each one of us pray more earnesbly for that Divine help which will enable LIS to do more for Him who has done so much for us. On Tuesday, March 20, we held our annual bus in('SS meeting, when the following officers W(']"(' appointed :-President, Bro. E. H. Taylor; Vice-Presidents, Bro, Sanders and Sister Smith; Secretary and 'I'reasurer, Sister I-I. Gubb; Reporter and Correspondi ng Secretary, Sister Sanders. Message to absent members, John xv. 4.

M.S.

80
Ube jforwar~

THE jLooJ~.

BIBLE

STANDA:RD.

MAY, 1906.

{tbe :fl3tble Stanbarb.

The B-ible Stasuiard. can be ordered direct from W[LLIAM A. SMITH, Selwyn Road, Mount Albert, obtained from any of tho Agents. the Publishe Auckland;

EARN.ES'r men and women to-day have little time for looking backward. Facing the future, they "forget the things which are behind," and look forward in hopeful anticipation to the marvellous possibilities of "the things which are before." Paul's picture is striking and vivid. The runner, after a rigid course of training, now that the race has begun, attends to only one thing. Forgetting that part of the course already passed over, he strains every muscle, exerts every physical power, to the accomplishment of a single purpose-to reach the goal and win the prize. . An old deacon was accustomed to offer this prayer: "Help us to forget what we ought not to remember, and to remember what we ought not to forget." A wise forgetfulness of some things that are past is helpful to progress. He who is pursuing with all energy the great purpose of life, cannot afford to have his attention diverted. The slow and painful effort by which the alphabet was mastered is for the scholar a thing of the past, to be forgotten. Forgiven sins need not be remembered after we have learned a lesson from the manner in which we were overtaken. Forget your enmities, the faults and peculiarities of others, the annoyances of life, the disagreeable things of the past; but remember past mercies and comforts and joys. Whatsoever things are lovely and of good report, think on these things. Do not glory in thc good deeds of the past, but devote all energy to greater achievements, looking forward to a future that is bright with promise for all earnest souIs.-N eto York Observer,

s. d. Price per annum, post frcc 2 6 Sing-le copies 0 2 BOOK S'l'.EW ARD-R. H. FALKNER, Queen Street. AGI~N'l'S Fait THIG BlB[,E S1'ANIJA NEW ZEALAND. A nckland-Mr. Rancoek, Bookseller, Quecn Street. Wel l ing'ton-i-H. J. Bar-racloug h, Myrtle Crescent. Christchurch-T. P. Judkins, 80, Brougham Street. Syclenham. Dunedm-s Mr. Lawrence, Groat King Street. K::dapoi-Mr. .Iames Holland. Rang iora-c-Mr. ""m. Smith. South Brook. New Plymouth-Mr. Fred Goodacre, Court.ncy Road. J];ast Oxford-Mr. A. l~ngland. Thames-Mr. C. Sanders. Macky Street. Tilllaru-Mr. H. H. King, Stafford St.rcot, 'I'i n wnld, Ashbnrton-Mr. Shearer. Wa.ihi-111 . .Ioscph Foster. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. Aduhdde- ,VI C. Gamble, Mag ill Road, Stepney, Ph ipps & Hall, Printers. Pirie St rcct.

nn .

I"

NEW SOUTH WALES. Syd ncy-c-Mr. H. Cropp, Mitohell Street, Kogruah. Oommunications to t.he l~ditor to be addressed: GEO. ALllRIDGE Brent.wood .Avenue, Mount Eden. Telegraphic Ad d ress. . Itocky Nook.'" All com mu n icn.tions to Ihe Associatlon and orders for Bible Staauinrd to be addressed to the Secretary and 'I',eaS'II"r MR. .A LI';X. PACR. Mur-doch lcoad, (jl'ey Lyn n. Auckland.

CHURGH

OF CHRIST
Fellowship Mee t tns

Hold Services as under : AUCKLAND-\Vpst St r r Su nrln y, 81 11 o'ci<)('k l1.m., 6.4:3 p m., Prcachinsr Sorvico. :,)lIn,loy Scbool fit :.l.45. ROSKILL 1IALL-

"Mention tbe lJ)age, Sir."

I':c would be distinct help to ministers of the declamatory style if they had a friend in the pew who would insist on something of the precision which Lord Ellenborough - -thcn Chief Justice of England-demanded of a voluble lawyer, who, in making a plea before the court, used the works: "In the book of Nature, my lords, it is written," etc. 'I'he Chief Justice instantly stopped the speaker, ancl said: "Will you have the goodness to mention the page, sir, if you please?" 'I'he time has passed when in this country, at least, the average hearer will be content with glittering generalities, or windy assortions, or even the balanced sentences of the old-fashioned oratory. 'I'he age is against artificiality and insincerity, and whenever these notes arc struck, there is pretty sure to be a feeling of unrest in the average congregation, and a more or less conscious protest from the more intelligent and earnest men and women.-Christian Advocate.

Sunrlu y at 11 a.m., Fellowship Meeting. 81111(1'1,,)' Sehool at 3 p.m. 1->'45.I11 . Pl'eaching Sevvice. p WeunpsnllY evcnlnz, Hlhl Class lit 7.45. Rvan~r:Jist'~ address-Gen. Aldridgc, Bro nt.wood Avenue Mount "Ii:rlcn. Secretary-c-W. Gi bson , Ponsonby Road. D UNl~DlN-Odclfellows' Hall. Btua.r t Street. Sunday at 11 a.rn., Fel lowsh i p and Meeting. Rvpnl!lf.\" Preachlng RprvlPe, fUll!. Secretary's Ad,JressS. A. Lawrence. Great. King Street.

CfnUSTCHURCH-C"lomho ILtll. Syd onham. Suud av atll a.m., Fellowship Meeting. . 6.:50 p.I1I.. Gospel Address, Sun(ln.), School at 2.30 P m. Wed nesdav ".t 7.30 p.m., Bible St.udy. l';vangelist--l<:l"l1fBl, 'ruck, 30, I~lgin Street, Syd en ham. Secretary-T, P. .Iud k ins. 80, Bro ughrun Street. Syd enharn. Hall, Snndn y Morning. Fr-l lo wsbtp Meeting. Rnnilny ArtPrnoon. Rnn,I".., School. Rnnnfl), E,pnln~. Prr-a ehluz. Church Secretar-y, R. M. Camcrou. rH A MES-PoII~n Street Lecture Hnll. RlInilny At 11 a.m .. :;'ellowshljil Meeting. "venlnl!' :o: r v lee at 6.RO. Sn nd n y Sehool at 2.30. R1hlp ('1>185 every WPfjI!PA(lfl), evening at 7.Rfi n~vaMg'elist-R. TT.'I'avlor. Bowcn Street. Pnrawai. Secretary-C. Rftnders, Macky Street, W AIHI-Tbe Miners' Union Hall. Sunday 11 a.m, Fello wshi n Mcetinsr : ,. 2.30 p.m, Su nday School, Sunday Flven ing, at 7. A Pu bl ic Bible Address. Ch n t-ch Recret,"ry-D. Donaldson. lCv"ngclist-Joseph Foster, Waihi. TIMA nU-!-Ioohln Street Hnll. Su ndn y, at 11 a.m .. F'e llo wsh lp Meeting, l'lf'pr"tnrv'A Address-H. H. Kinl!'. Rtntrord Street. T'Ima r-n NEW PLY\10{)'l'H-At Mr. Green's residence, "Te Parengn, Sou th RORd. Sunday, at 11 a.m.c--F'elfowsh ip. ADELAIDE, S.:A.-Druids' Hn.ll. Beulah Road, Nor wood . Ref'retnry's Address-F. B. Hughes, Wooilvllle. Pr-inted bv THE BRE'f'" PRDfTTNG AND land Street, for the New Zealand Assnotatton. and nubl ish ed by W. Albert, MAY. 1906.
PURLISHlNO CO~IP.\NY, ShortEVRngdist.ie and Pubticu.tion A. SMITH, Sel wyn Road, Mt.

HELRNSV

I LLf';-ForeRters'

He must be "alive to God through Jesus Christ" who would live a Christian. "Line the lifc up to Goel's plan, and prove to the 'heavy laden' world 'His yoke is easy.' "