...

TB.' ...
"11I .,.. _

Bible Standard.
.. Cbe,1ft of 804 ,. etcrul tilt."

Ill

"1 ",111 tt
t

VOL.

28.

No. 7.

AUCKLAND,

N.Z., JULY,

I907.

TWOPENCE.

\ 11 ,~ ._,"""-_.'""'ii~~._.,....* -

11('
T

~,~~~
.iIII.lllml!i!iiJili!'im,.

lw__
i NOE
.

-Ili __

~,=L-.

more the old question is raised, "Why do not men attend chnrch ?" and a few wiseacres are supplying answers, which indicate clearly that the reason I . is found in the fact that the churches ~-' are not setting forth the peculiar views held by the writers ! Let a man once have areason which he thinks is good cnoughf:or him to sever himself from church organisations, and at once he seems to imagine that other men stay away either because they think as he does on matters of doctrine, or at least it is because the things which displease him are those lRenewing an which revolt them. No doubt this \l)ll' \topic. is eminently satisfactory to the persons in question; as to whether or not it is the true position is quite another matter. That some are dissatisfied with the churches is very possible, but this will not supply an adequate reason for the majority of men, who, within the sound of church bells, care not to attend the churches. 'I'he true answer goes far deeper than any discussion as to sound doctrine; it belongs to the basic fact that the heart of man is alienated from God. No Scripture that we are aware o:f:warrants the supposition that if true doctrine were preached, and all Christians were perfectly consistent in their lives, the majority of men 'would attend church. From first to last this dispensation contemplates a world opposed to God and to His Son, with only a called-out few accepting His terms of salvation. The only answer to the question-an answer which fully meets the case-is that men do not attend church because they don't want to. Quite rccentlv a Conference was held at Burntisland (we take the account from the Scotsman), at which this

question was discussed by ministers and working men. 'I'he matter was not exhausted at one sitting, and so there was a second 'gathering to continue the subject. 'I'he report \l)nl}? ~ne does not show that anything was Solution. arrived at that actually would Improve things. There was plenty of criticism of the church-goer, and not a little condemnation of the preacher, chiefly because the worker thought that the parson ought to preach on social questions. But the impression left after reading the report confirms the statement made above, namely-that wen do not go to church because they do not want to go. H there is a recognition of man's litter helplessness, and a necessity for a full dependence on the work of Je8U8 Christ rm' salvation, there will be found a eh urch-goer; but if it man does not realise this, and is depending upon himself, or upon society, for an amelioration which will satisfy his present needs, careless of what the future may bring, then such a man will notAncl any interest in church, and will not be found there. That is all there is to it; and the sooner this is recognised the sooner will the truth on the matter close 11p the mouths of the ohjectors who make, an excuse for staying away by throwing the blame on the churches. Churches and churchmembers are not by any means perfect; hut that is not, and never was, any reason of value why men do not go to church. 'I'he New 'I'heology denies that there ever occurred the event in human history hitherto known as the Fall. It is true that Genesis records it; but Genesis is accounted as allegorv rnerelv, and is not to be accepted as sober historv. His true, too, that the Apostle Pan 1 declares it in unmislmowtng \tOO takable terms; but one man says fIDucb. the passage in Rom. v, 12 is an interpolation, and another says that Paul undoubtedlv believed it, but his authority is not sufficient to establish it. He was influenced by the teaching of the rabbis! Another says triumphantlv : "The Fall certainly never happened, because no writer in the Old Testament after the story in Genesis ever refers to it. If it ever happened, then they must have mentioned it." To which our answer would be that the whole of human history

98

THE

BIBLE

STANDARD.

JULY,

1907.

is inexplicable without it, and the special history of the Bible has no place whatever apart from it. The Levitical system has a basis in the Fall, but there is no foundation for it, and it has no reference, if that never occurred. It is not Genesis alone that must go, but the whole of the Old Testament, and the redemptive plan especially, which is wrought out in its pages, and carried over to culminate on the Cross, But this supposed omission to mention the Fall in the Old Testament is dealt with by a Hebrew Ohristian thus: "The majority of ministers have only a limited acquaintance with Hebrew, owing to the brief time that is allotted to it in the theological curriculum. A lifelong acquaintBn~ "tRot ance with that ancient tongue is 16nougb. necessary for a thorough knowledge of its shades of meaning and nice distinctions . The positive assertion that 'no prophet, no psalmist, no historian refers to the Fall in the Old Testament' can easily be refuted when one goes to the original Hebrew for the facts. The prophet Hosea said: 'They, like Adam, have transgressed the covenant' (Hos. vi. 7). 'Oovenant' in this connection meant a law, a command. Adam was forbidden to eat the fruit of the tree of lmowledge. The Psalmist said: 'But, like Adam, ye shall die' (Psa. lxxxii. 7). 'But' here refers to a former well-known fact. The Psalmist had in mind God's judgment of death for sin pronounced on Adam. The prophet Ezekiel declared: 'They are an delivered unto death, to the nether parts of the earth in the midst of the children of Adam' (Ezek. xxxi. 14). Job, although as righteous as the modern critic, believed in the reality of the Fall, for he exclaimed: 'If I covered my transgressions as Adam by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom' (Job xxxi. 33). It is worthy of notice that these four men -two prophets, one psalmist, and a philosopherliving in different localities, writing at different periods, thus preventing any suspicion of collusion between them, each and all used the word 'Adam,' instead of Enos. Had the Doctor consulted the Hebrew Bible, he would have found that the ancient Hebrews emphasised the Fall of man." The denial by Mr. Oampbell, and others, of the Virgin birth of our Lord brings to the fore a question which otherwise would not press so heavily. If we must perforce believe that Christ was actually of no higher parentage than the Adamic, the question must follow, Was He sinless? Bnotber The belief that He was born of the (jlluestfon. Virgin Mary gives the ground that He was not necessarily under the Adamic taint, and, therefore, if from this standpoint the question is asked, Was He sinless? it is put with the endeavour to find whether or not He became liable to death because of personal transgression. If He sinned, and became thus liable, He could not be a Saviour. But this new view

starts with the belief that the Virgin birth is legendary only, and that Jesus was altogether of Adam's race, and inherited the Adamic taint; he must therefore die. The eager question now put is of little value; it begins too far along, whatever the answer may be. The answer to the question as put from those who believe in the Virgin birth is of immense importance to the sons of men; but the answer from the standpoint of the denial of that birth is of little practical importance. 'I'rue, it may affect our view of Him as a teacher, but whether He sinned or not He is no use as a Saviour, for, if of Adam's race, He must die, and requires a Saviour to work for Him, else He could never come from the grave. But it is a curious answer which is givcn to this question by Mr. Rhondda Williams, who raises it in a recent work. He says that the New Theology men are largely silent about this matter, because they love Jesus so much! But Mr. Williams does not believe in the sinlessness of Jesus, B cunous though he loves Him so greatly! Bnswer. Why does he not believe? Do the records say that Jesus sinned? o. Il.lell, how is the answer reached? The first reply is that we know nothing of the thirty years of life before He entered upon His ministry. IN ell, as the Expository Times asks, "Does Mr. Williams helieve that He sinned during that period ?" No, he does not say that; but there is conveyed the suggestion that He might have done so. Is there any hint in the Gospels that would serve this gentleman's purpose? He dismisses the Gospel of John, and so gets rid of the question which the Lord puts, "Which of you convicteth Me of sin?" and confines himself to the three synoptics, and from them he comes with the statement, "I lmow of no sin that He ever committed." That is surely satisfactory. But no; to believe that would be to accept a miracle,' and, of course, belief in the miraculous is one of the items which the New Theology casts overboard. Which simply means that Mr. Williams closely examines the testimony, and can find nothing in it but what testifies to the Lord's sinlessncss; but still he is determined to believe that He was not sinless. All of which goes to show the length to which these modern advocates of "the old blasphemy," or, as it is called, "the new humanism," are prepared to go in their endeavour to do away with man's only hope of salvation. Already the disastrous effects of the New Theology craze are being experienced, and their nature may be judged from a significant utterance of Rev. F: B. Meyer, who, in a recent sermon, said: "I come across a consid, erable number of local preachers <Satberhtg'tJ)e who have sent in their resignations, jfruits. because they are: so absolutely baffled, and say by this time they really do not know what to preach. Their message is gone. The accent of their conviction is wanting, and

JULY, 1907.

THE

BIBLE

STANDARD.

99

they would sooner forego the honour and privilege of addressing men than talk without knowing exactly the way to direct them. Then I have come across a large number of young men who used to attend my Bible Class years ago at Aldersgate Street, and were then the most devoted of the disciples of Christ-so much so that in the dinner-hour they would take up their New Testaments and spend the time in earnestly studying them. But they have come under the influence of the New Theology; they have put the Bible upon the top shelf as no longer of any service, and now loaf about the streets with cigars in their mouths on Sunday afternoons, whereas they used to try to serve Christ by Sunday School and other Christian work." If it is sound to judge a tree by its fruits, what shall we say concerning a teaching which has the effects cited by Mr. Meyer? The professed appeal to the intellect which this new teaching makes is one which is only profession. It is rather an appeal to the old nature, and its fruits are natural. An American preacher has met with an unexpected application of his theology, causing him much disappointment. It appears that this gentleman and hi" father have been preachers of a very strict form of predestination. Not long since the :iather was killed in a railway acci'ttbeoloO}1 dent, and the son sued the Big Bpvltetl. Four Company for killing his father. In due time the case came before the Court, and the counsel for the Company argued that the death of the father on the railroad track under a train had been fore-ordained, and that the railroad company was not in any way liable. The jury took the same view of the matter, and instead of the .$10,000 for which the preacher-son sued, they awarded him one dollar, on the ground that it was inconsistent for preachers of predestination to ask for damages in a' death case.

than a thousand years it was the parent of every version of Scripture in Western Europe." How was it received? "It was called revolutionary and heretical, subversive of all faith in the Holy Scriptures, an impious altering of the Word of God. In fact, for centuries after, everything was said against it that ignorant bigotry could suggest." J erome, however, could give as good as sent, and retorted upon his opponents with the statement that they were "two-legged donkeys." "I could afford to despise them," he says, "if I stood upon my rights; for a lyre is played in vain to an ass." "If they do not like the water from a pure fountain-head, let them drink of the muddy streams." But this opposition gradually died down, and in its place there grew up a feeling of veneration for this version, so strong that men seemed to forget that it was only a translation. It was the version of their church, they said, and in her own language. "Why should it yield to Greek or 'ttbe 'fReell for Hebrew manuscripts, which have 1Re"tston. been for all these hundreds of years in the hands of Jewish unbelievers and Greek schismatics ?" The time came that in Council it was determined that the Vulgate should be considered correct. But it was recognised that it was spoiled by intermixture with other Latin versions, so attempts were made to put it right. Sixtus V. gave to the worlcl a revised text in 1590, but this was so faulty that two years later his successor issued an improved edition, which from then till now has been received as the standard edition. On these two revisions, Scrivener remarks: "One thing is certain-that neither the Sixtine nor the Clementine edition was prepared on any intelligent principles of criticism, or furnishes us with the best text as the best manuscripts of Jerome's Vulgate supply to our hand." That the work of revision is urgently needed is certain, but when it. is accomplished it is not likely that the results arrived at by scholars from their examination of Greek manuscripts and ancient versions will be at all disturbed. In an able article in the Daily Chronicle a few days ago, Professor J ames Long dealt very frankly with a question which is rapidly becoming the question of the time-the forming of the coming race by the training of mothers. Great point is given to his appeal by the presentation of Ube <!ollttno statistics relating to two American lRace. families - first, that of J onathan Edwards, the theologian; and second, that of the ancestor of a race of criminals: "Of a thousand descendants in the first case, 464 were distinguished men-judges, professors, lawyers, college presidents, physicians, clergymen, and authors; while of 1200 descendants of the other, 310 were professional paupers, 130 convicted criminals, sixty habitual thieves, and seven murderers, while 400 were self-wrecked, showing a record of crime,

The cablegrams appearing in the daily Press inform us that the Pope has authorised the revision of the Vulgate, and has entrusted the work to the monks of the Benedictine Order. This Vulgate, i.e., Common Version, is the first in the line of Revised Bibles. In the fourth 1ke"fstno tbe century of our era so many errors Uhlloate. had crept into the old Latin versions that great need of a revision was felt. Damasus, then Pope of Rome, applied 'to J erome, known to be a great scholar, to undertake the necessary work. This Jerome agreed to do, although he knew that, there would be opposition to it from those who thought that "ignorance was holiness." He completed the revision of the New Testament, and then translated the Old Testament direct from the original Hebrew. This was a most important labour. Probably no other work has had such an inti.uence on the history of the Bible. "For more

100

THE

BIBLE

STANDARD.

JULY,

1007.

insanitv, and pauperism ahnostwithout precedent. What proportion of these two results is attributable to women?" 'I'hesc startling :ngnrrs, which were used with great effect recently by Dr. Pierson, should give pause to all who value their country. Professor Long outends that modern life tends to divide the interests of fathers and mothers, the former being content wit] I caming bread a11(1remaining master of the house, while' themother is left almost a.lone to train, f'or good or evil. thr children. 'The old adage, "The hand that rocks the orad le rules the world," is so worn as to be obsolete for man)'. His no exaggeration to say that "if all Englishmen were the sons of good mothers wr should hr a new .nation."-1'/11' (,h1'i.,f1'((n.

It was contrary to Simon's previous plans to "about face," wheel into line in that procession of death, and bear that cross; but they cOTnpelled him to because they wou1cl uot bear it themselves, and so, in a sense, our opposers compel us to heari t, If Lh ey would heal' it, it would save us the trouble; if an should hear it, there would not be <lny for us, and the "woe unto you when al l men think well of you" woul Cl belong to us. 'I'hey ould not absolutely have compelled Simon to bear it, because to lift it and to walk were acts of his own; so at lH"t he yielded, denied himself and went, and was not sorry probably when he saw the sequel. So in our journey of life. We have met the cross, and attempted to pass it to enjoy that which WE' had planned; but )10, "the compelling message" was imperative-bca,)' if 01' die. And so instead of: picking it up and bearing it at <.tr055",,:f13earing. arms' length, as many do, and whine and fret, and have il hard time of it. it is our privilege to shoulder it where 'l'lTTS is all age much given to hearing the cross S11Sit will ride easy, and keep it there until the tender flesh pondsd to neck and watch chains. and. fastened to the gets accustomed to the burden. ,Yr shall not he S01T~' tops of churches, and in many other ways too numerous when we get the crown. to mention-a manner or hearing it which may suit the In all Gospel time "the offence of the cross has not; Pope and the Freemasons, hilt; which cannot meet with ceased," thoug): many have ceased to heal' it, or have so t he approval of Him who d icd npon it for their sins: but padded themselves with worldliness tlttli thev cannot feel there is verv little bearing it in a Gospel Rense-ill the it. But there are three tender spots that 1'11(' crOSRof way Jesus directed. '1'11('1'(' i~ no I aek of: ooiumierr to Christ comes to heal' on, and. Ire shallknow it if we 31;e bear the cross when the mannor of hearing it is pleasing hearing it, namely: (1) In the dO('{I'I:l1Cwe believe and to the carnal nature-c-fosteri l1g pri de: hu r the cross leach; (2) in our praciice : (3) in 'lip com.pany toe I,'pep. which Simon bore he was ('OlnlJI'77f'd to carry. It was 1. It was the doctrine that Christ taught that brought 1I0t SHell it pleasant operation : it was an imstrumeni of Him crucifixion. H e vwent everywhere preach ing the death. and ever intended to bo throughon t the Gospel Kingdom of: God to be literallv established on the earth. age. And it is a trick of the devil to get it manufacand affirmed that He was the King. His disciples made tured into ornaments to ho exhibited externally, to divert only tile m istake of' overlooking 1-1 is sufl'orings and death the mind from that jnterual, vital. spiritnnl bearing of: as the necessarv prelude to the glorv that should follow, it which is contrary to the flesh. and expected it to be set up then. "All things work "Must Simon bear the ('ro;::s alone. together for good to them that love God, to them wh i And all the worl Cl go free? are the called according to His purpose." Christ's pracXo, there's a cross for every one, tice and precept maddened the Jews, who were under And there's a cross for me." Roman dominion, and His preaching of the Kingdom While we do not have the literal, wooden instrument and Himself: to be King raised the jealousy of' the 'Roof death to carry which Si1110n of Cyrene bore after mans, who, at the instigation of tho .T ell's. fulfilled the .Iesus to the place of crucifixion, we still have a cross to Divine purpose of His crucifixion. 'I'hc climax to the hear with which w.e arc crucified with Christ, and are prosecution was reached when Christ told them that they dead to the world. 'I'hey who hare never been through should not see Him again until they saw Him "sitting th is experience should not have been buried alive in bapat the right hand of power, and comingin the clouds of tism, and they never began the new life. 'I'hemcident heaven." 'I'hat this is vet a vital and important doctrine ()f Si man being pressed in to service to bear .Tesus' cross is plain when we consider that there if! a hitter cross in was not accidental. There wore no accidents in the life. helir\'illg- and preaching ii. 'I'ho popular church has death, burial and resurrect ion of .1osus : no incident C011- shunned and lost tho cross of Christ on account of its nccted with Rim wh ich i~ on record is pointless. Jesus teaching. which suits worlclliness.Whel1 they will recould have been strengthened sufficiently by the Father turn to the teaching that j;J1f'~'1 a~ter ta 11 g-M, the cross to bear His own cross throughout all the way to Golwill appeal'. gotha; but the Divine purpose in teaching after lessons 2. Tn 0111' practice. 'I'h 1i I'e 0 f auv theorv is its pracby objective illustration would he better served by comtice. 'There is no cross in heing merely a nominal Chrispelling Simon to bear the cross after Jesus. And the tian, simplv acting on the defensive : hut when we make words of the Lord to us seem to come directly from that it practical-hying out 0111' aith-"shining f as lights in scene in view: "Whosoever will come after Me, let him the midst of a crooked and perverse generation"-reindeny himself, and takeup his cross, and follow Me." ing up people personally to their duty and privileges be-

JULY,

1901.

THE

BIBLE

STANOARD.

101

fore (~od-we shall cucounter sneers, scoffs, oppositiou, and hatred, and be cast out as a "crank" or lunatic Iikelv enough. " ~;, The cross 11lUSt be borne by the company we lceep, "And they went to their own company:" "Partlv whilst ye were made a. gazing-stock, both by reproaches and afflictions ; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used" (Heb. x. 33), "Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee." "This fellow was also with ,}C'SllSof Nazareth," "Surely thou also art one of them; 1'01' tlly speech betrayeth thee" (J\J att, xxvi, 69-73), Jt i,.; just as natural for real Christians to separate from worldliness, whether in church or out, and congregate together, as it is for sheep to flee from wolves and flock jogetlier, A sheep 'will love a sheep ill, preference to a wolf, if she isn't of quite so high-toned a breed as some others, or is even of plainer appearance than the wolf, 'I'ho main thing with a sheep i~ to live; and she knows ,.;lie cannot do it only with her own tribe, There are ";OI11e0 r the Lord's lambs tha t I know of that, if they Ii vc the life they ]1011"Iivo bv the faith of the Son of (iod, they better got out of the wolf's den they are in .uul come iu among the Lord's plain-looking sheep, They shall have as good as there i:4 in the crib and live, anli with godly contentment, which is great gain, and be for ever happy, A wolf's love for a lamb is obvious , ;}I}(l ullgodl~' churches and ministers will 101'c God's lambs as loug as tlte,)" call live on them, But it ;-3 a stretch of faith how the Hock of God can make overtures (0 lwr devourer-s-worldliness. "Wherefore come out lrom among them, uud he ye separate, saith the Lord, nurl touch Hot theunclean thing; and I will receive you, uud will be a Father unto you, and ve shall be my sons und daughters, saith the Lord Almightv" (2 Cor, vi. I';, 1R),

'l'H]!} \'.I~lOS

()Ii'

TUB

DUo.GK

'I'HI';ln: .ue IIl<\U'y propheries ill tile Bible which arc c-lear, ea:;,I" to understand, and not-to he mistaken Lv the luuublest reader. HuL there are others which are not ~o clear and. unruistakahle. Tbey IUII'e been apparently so worded that the: I' design is seen onlv alter careful and patient iuvestigatiou. These latter lI111st not be put aside' because of their d ifficulty ; there is a sure uicthod ul' interpreting :')Vl'iVtul'c which will ,,,ield the needed help in the endeavour to find their -olutiou. 'I'liat sim ple rule is to interpret the obscure bv the deal', III both u\~e:4 God. Jlll'UJ1S what He sa}", and i [ lIT can Iiud the Il!canillg oJ nue prediction, that wil l enable 11" to go [o rwn I'd conf .lont that patient COLlI puvison 0 t scri 1)turc wit h scripture wi II assured ly yield the meauing' ,.;ought JOl', Ju this address J desire to call attention tu a propheev wh ir-l: posse::;::;e::; the qual ity of anrIacccll'<1I'l1L'~~, bl't,IlN' it can be verified Iroiu Bihlical sources. ,\t th tunc when it wu gi\"Cl] it had cl'I'taill dclln itc revelations which could not bc inistakcu ; Lhr application or these was not lll,ll!e 1,Jl()II'll, but till' l'u!Iihur-ut or that vision up to a certain point l'all he ('a:-lily traced. 'I'lu: past gill'S thv assurance that that wh icl: romuius ,1S ,I"('t uu lulfillcd shall just as clearly and cel'tainl v pass into the rca lru or Iuct , and that then tile deep longing of the human heart J'Ol' tile ultimate blc~:4iJlg of the wo rl.' shall be realised. "I will HoL leave vou o rphans" (.Jolnl xiv. 18), 'I stl'ongl,r insisted ill the Iorurer address lhat Lo kuow (,11 ((I'f/i",) ).; 0, no, OUl' sonshi p and daughtership with the meaning of this hook we must try to put OIII':lciH'''; iu Uod arc sure in separation from worldliness and unthe liistorv o.r that past which it records. I I' we hall' godl iness. It is better to be a son or daughter of God, laid till' thing,; tohearL which then vautc befol'e us, Wt' i I' we stand alone, than to be the flattered and pampered "hall be prepared to examine with greater interest l hut ul' societv. and be orphan cd of heaven, It is better to 'I'ho position o l su prv"he a doorkeeper j 11 thehouse of the Lord than to dwell , whicl: II"Chave JlCill' to consider. Ill<l<':." hitherto rctaiucd for ISJ'Cll'I, and centred at .Joruill ihe tents o lwickedncss." "The life is more than sa lcm , has passed ovcrinto the possession 0 I' N" ebuchadmeat, and the both" than raiment." H we cannot live nezzur. ami thc d rea tu gjreJl to the kjng, with the inwith the dead members of. the body, mortification having tcrprctation. ~u]Jpl ied ily Daniel, affords the proo [ tha L set in, then let the knife cut, and lot that which was once the forfeited sceptre or tile House of David passed into loved by association depart, Cast out here are our the hands of the Gentiles. there to remain until the names, but "received up to glorv." "I wi ll tOnl'l'~'; Hill! rig-hUlll heir to Davicl's throne "hall rcappeal' to clairu before mv Father and the holy angels." Presented at His OWl!. 'I'he evidence ] have laid before ,YOU t('ll(ll'(1 l hc throne.c-=C. E. COl']> in W01'lrl's Orisis, to show that this K iug 0 {' Babvlon, 11"110 though the Iri\~ working out his own will, was rcallv an instrument or God, to punish His people, and that, a" now he is upon So persons can bp 100 utter 1." isolated 01' shut in that the throne 0 ftlni versal go vernru ent, he is there as the lhev annot hold communion with the Father 0 I' spirits, appointee 01 J ehovuh. and no help is more effective in the various departments \r c must be cxcocdi ugly careful ill our interpretation of. the work of: Go(l than the help of pl'HI'CI', POllTC'([Iorth of' this vision, because it is the foundation on which the from men who lift holy hands wi thout w ratli or whole or the 8tl('<.:el'ciiug visions and prophecies or this doubling,

uv

~~---------------------------------------102

THE' BIBLE

STANDARD.

JULY,

1901.

book rest. Grasp the significance of this, and we enter upon the high road to the understanding of those which follow, because they supply items and details which fill out this general and comprehensive outline.

'I'he king dreams, and the visions which come to him so trouble him that he cannot sleep. By his command the wise men of his realm are called in early to interpret his dream. Willingly enough they come, quite prepared doubtless to supply him with an interpretation of any dream, however fantastic, that may have troubled their royal master. But he asks an unheard-of thing. He unreasonably insists upon the dream also being given. "The dream had impressed itself as something portentous, but the impression was vague and shadowy, it eluded him like a phantom when he sought to grasp it. All had been clearly imaged on his sleeping brain; now in the daylight it had become blurred and dim. The 'airy fabric' had melted away; only the outlines of the picture, hazy and uncertain, and for that reason all the more alarming, remained. Until some hand had pieced Praise follows hard upon prayer, for the dream is the threads of the fabric together, and filled in the outrevealed to Daniel in a vision of the night, and he renlines of the picture, the great King of Babylon- could ders thanksgivings unto God for the gracious boon behave no peace." "Call in the wise men to tell the stowed. Read that description of God's might, wisdom, king his dreams!" They may have been summoned' and ways, and then, if you are a believer, rejoice that many times for the purposes of interpretation, and their Daniel's God is yours also. No time is lost by Daniel, past experience may have supplied a jaunty self-confiwho first visits Arioeh, to bid him spare the wise men, dence which is here put to a sudden test, under which it for the dream and interpretation are known. Arioch, completely breaks down. Surely, the night's rest had like a true courtier, would claim a little credit to himgiven the king great exuberance of spirits, and he joked with them! But, no, he is in downright earnest, as self, and so says, "1 have found a man." It was rather the other way about, as the story goes. He is introduced they soon perceive, for he insistently declares that they as of the children of the captivity of Judah. "Art thou must supply the dream, and then give him the interpreable?" says the king. "No," says Daniel modestly, "but tation. The chapter depicts a stormy interview. "Tell God is able." "Thou a foreign captive?" "There is a me the dream," says the king, and the Chaldeans anGod in heaven that revealeth secrets, and He hath made swer, "0 king, live for ever; tell thy servants the dream, known to the king what shall be in the latter days." and we will show the interpretation." Their learning, There is no desire for self-seeking on the part of this their ability to read the signs of the times, their sagaJ udean captive; he puts God first, and this, 1 think, city, and their craft are alike powerless here. The must have caught the immediate attention of the king. king naturally supposes that if by the help of the gods they can render interpretations, it should be as easy We may picture to ourselves the attitude of the king by the same assistance to tell the dream. Their failure as Daniel begins to recite the dream, and the quick start convinces him of their imposture, and in anger he says: . of close attention as the first sentences recall the outline "Ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak of the image he had seen. The king was sole ruler of a before me, till the time be changed." Threats, bribes, mighty empire, none could say him nay. "Young as he and accusations are all impotent, and, driven to the was, standing only on the threshold of his reign, he had already won famous victories abroad, and inaugurated extremity, these men make a remarkable admission, which is surely a preparation for the interpretation great works of industry at home. His past had been when it comes. "It is a rare thing that the king refull of glorious achievement, but that would be as noquireth, and there is none other that can show it before thing in comparison with his future he saw his the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with splendid city the metropolis of a vast empire, ever growflesh." The immediate consequence of this admission ing and expanding, till the whole world was ruled from was that the king. decides that such impostors are Babylon. And then to the wakeful king came the no longer fit to live, and the command goes forth thought unbidden: What would be the end of these that all the wise men should be slain. Daniel is one of glories? Of his own power he was conscious; give him these, and, with his companions,' must share the doom length of days, he would build up an empire and found that is to fall upon the Chaldeans. Naturally, he a dynasty-but would it endure after he was gone? Human life was brief at its longest; who would reign wishes to know the cause, and on learning what has hapin his stead? What would be the future of his kingpened he begs for a little time, and promises to supply

the interpretation. Was not this a venturesome thing to do? 'I'he first chapter shows that Daniel had "understanding in all visions and dreams," and this was Godgiven. But the greater thing is that he has confidence in God. Note what follows: Daniel returns to his house, and invites his companions to join him in a prayer-meeting. How important the place that prayer occupies in the Scriptures! Of course, our modern teachers smile at the idea of prayer, but somehow it is still the comfort and solace of the child of God. The believing parents will pray on still in behalf of their erring children, and they believe that the God of Daniel hears them. And sometimes, let me whisper it, the language of prayer finds its way to the lips of the scoffer when the hour of danger is upon him. Daniel and his companions are in danger, and they make use of the protective "all-prayer." 1 cannot pass by without note the catholicity of the prayer. They thought of themselves, but their sense of danger was not so overwhelming that they forgot that others were in the like danger.

JULY,

1907.

THE

BIBLE

STANDARD.
by allY in order to be "throughly furnished" beyond the record itself. I do not decry secular, and so-called profane, knowledge. It is extremely useful and illustrative, but as a means of explaining the Divine workings it is not needed. 1 am quite aware that 1 shall say much that is out of harmony with the popular notions of this Book of Daniel, and that 1 shall disagree with the teachings of many estimable students of prophecy, but 1 shall endeavour to make good my teachings by appeal to the only source of information on these great themes. If any system of prophecy is familiar to you with which any of my remarks may conflict, 1 will ask you to listen to the reasons advanced, and then to weigh them carefully. It is necessary, too, that you should ask yourselves whether or not you have formed yonr views from the Word alone, or have accepted them from the teachings of some favourite expositor or commentator. You will observe that Daniel forewarns the king that the vision stretches to the latter days, and as it begins with the king himself, it must in some way relate tothe intervening history. We will take Daniel's explanation as our guide;(a) "Thou art the head of gold." 'I'hat is, that King N ebuchadnezzar personally was represented by that portion of the image. Mark the extent of his rule and kingdom. As far as the gift was concerned which was handed to him by God, the only earthly bound to his power and his dominion was his own ambition. This great "supremacy" is indicated by the position-the head-and by the metal of which it is composed. The gold may also refer to the original source of that power, and may indicate that in the form of government exercised it is god-like, it being a pure autocracy. No House of Legislature intervened between the will of the king and its exercise, "whom he would he slew, and whom he would he kept alive." (To be continued.)

clom? The destiny of that mighty city, which was even now rising around him, called into being by his fiat? Would it fall, as Nineveh had fallen; or be as he had meant it to be, immortal?" How he listens, as Daniel goes on to describe item by item the singular dream that answers his questionings, and goes beyond the immediate future, until it takes in "what shall be in the latter (lays." A bright and terrible image stood before the king, with the outlines of a man. He saw that this giant image was composed of different metals-head of gold, breast and arms of silver, belly and thighs of brass, legs of iron, and feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 'I'hen his attention is drawn to a mountain close at hand, whence a stone is cut out without hands, and, gathering swiftness in its descent, it suddenly smites the image upon its fect, and the image totters and falls in ruin on the plain. Gold, silver, brass, iron, and clay are broken, and become as Just, arid the rushing wind gathers them up, and all that is left of so much strength and majesty is blown about, and swept away as chaff from the threshing floor. The great image is as though it had not been, but now the further wonder is that the stone, the means of this destruction, grows before his sight, till it becomes a great mountain, and fills the whole earth, and then the king awakes. The vision had presented itself to him as an answer to his thoughts, and then had vanished so completely that, try as he would, he could not recall it. With what eagerness he must have listened as the servant of God brought it back from the oblivion into which it had gone, and how anxious he must have been to know what it could mean. He has not long to wait, for Daniel proceeds without halt to interpret it. Daniel had rejoiced when he understood the vision, not alone because he was chosen to tell the dream to the king, but because of the insight which was afforded to him of the course of the world-supremacy. The image represents successive kingdoms, and Daniel had said of God; "He changeth the times .md seasons; he removeth kings, and setteth up kings." The future stretches out before us as a blank curtain, and, however anxiously we may wish to know what it contains, we must be content to wait until time as it passes brings its events upon us. But here Daniel rejoices, for the darkness is made light. God knoweth what is in the darkness, and He makes the knowledge available to His servants. Let us see what is in this vision, that we, with Daniel, may rejoice. To understand Scripture, we have no need to go beyond Scripture. The Word of God, compared with itself, the Word honestly taken, the Word made its own interpreter, is sufficient. One great cause of the prevailing ignorance of the Bible prophecies arises from the teaching which has insisted that none can grasp the meaning of prophecy except he is a student of profane history. A statement which, in its bald form, I deny. The passage of Scripture which affirms its authority gives also its sufficiency. Nothing can be needed

'U:belResunectton

ano tbe 1ife,

AN English officer, who served in the Crimean war, says that after the battle of Inkermann, when they were burying the dead, they found the body of a soldier who had been fatally wounded, but had sufficient strength to crawl to a place of shelter to die. When his corpse was lifted reverently by his comrades, his hand was resting on an open Bible. The officer looked at the page, and found it was the eleventh chapter of John, in which are the words; "1 am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." 'I'he soldier's blood had flowed and congealed in the frosty air, so that as his body was raised, the leaf adhered to his hand and was torn out of the book. He was buried with the leaf still there, a mute pledge of the resurrection.-S elected.

THE
TABLE
THE MONTH .. S'l'ltEET .. . TO'l'HE CHURCH "

BIB-LE

srANDARD.

JULY,

1[1u1.

OF CONTENTS.
PAG~;

CBossBEARING ECHOES THE Do THE ~'ROM WEST NOTES SAIN'l'S BELONG .. ON l!:TJ<:RNAL LWE ON THil: STUDY FRIEND NEWS. THINGS RESURREC'I'ION AND THJ<: LIFli;

!!7-!OO lUU-101
101-103

103
104 104-107

ASSOCIATION TIME RIGHTS HOME

THJ<: OLD TESTAMENT CIRCLE-TALKS

LETTERS CHURCH SUNSHINE

'1'0 A YOUNG AND MISSION BAND CORNER WILL

OF PHOPHECY

J07 lOS-IOU 109-110 11U--111

111

CI'IRlS1'IAN

A SANCTIt'IED MISCgLLANEOUS

.111 112
1I~

We call special attention this month to the first report of Bro. J enkins' work. Years ago no little effort was given to the proclamation of our message in the district where our brothel' is now labouring, with the result that not a few accepted the truth, and have remained staunch ever since. The Executive deemed it the wisest course to place the colporteur in this district first, that he might have the help and sympathy that these friends could give as he commenced the work to which Ior it short time he has put his hands. It is cheering to know that he has had such a hearty reception, and we arc praying that much good may result from his mission.

~ Cb~ Bibl~ Standard. ~ ,

/

IDo tbe
'1'HI8

~lb

\testament Saints to tbe ~burcb?

:n3elono

MONTHTLY
01" THE

ORGAN

ntw Ztaland Ilangtlistic and Publltatlon RS$otlatlon.

EDITED ASSISTED BY GEORGE BY SP~~OIAL ALDRIDGE. CONTRIBUTIONS.

The .Editor wishes it to be understood that, while he exer ciaee It g euera l superriaion over the articles and Correspondence appearing in the STA.ND.4.RD respouaibility for acntimenta cxpr-eesed rests upon the individual writer.
1

l-issoctRtton 1Aotes.
'I'hc annual 'I'ea 01 the Auckland Church is to be held at "Vest Street on Wednesday evening, July 3rd. A good rally of church members and friends is expected. 'I'hc TJWlllCSAnnual 'I'ca is to be of a special kind this vcar. 'I'he church is celebrating its twenty-fifth annivcrsarywith special services on Sunday, July lLj, and 'I'ca on 'I'uesday, the 16th. Great interest has been taken in the series of lectures delivered at West Street on Sunday evenings on "The Book of Daniel." 'I'his series is now drawing to a dose. Hell nests have bCC11 made for the publication of the leetures, and if the way opens this will he acceded to. 'I'hey 1I1.'C being put into writing with a view to publication, but as this is Iikely to be a costly matter we shall move cautiously ere taking the final stop. A brothel' in tlio South writes: "I am glacl to see by this month's ~'J.'ANDArm that you are getting a colporteur for thc northern districts. OnI' literature needs to bo svstematically distributed. L wish we had such an auxiliary here."YY e heartily ech 0 this wish, If we could have our wav, we should not confine our wishes to a worker for each island; we could wish that we had several consecrated men who would undertake this necessary labonr ; and, in addition, we also need preachers settled in the chief centres engaged in the proclamation of the grand Life and Advent truths,

is Cl subject that has been often and hotly discussed. There are those who hold that the saints of the past dispensations-such as R oah, Abraham, }fosetl, David-s-will hereafter be united to those of the present dispensation, and together all will form the Glorified Church. On the contrary it is affirmed that inasmuch as the Church was not in existence before the day o~ Pentecost, the Old Testament saints are not included . within its borders. The question reall v is, "Are the saints of past ages cssentialiv connected wi th Christ in the samcway as those O[ more recent times, and will they share in the glory predicated of the New 'I'estaJ ucnt Church?" 'lYe hold the view that tho Old 'I'cstaiueut saints arc not thus connected with tile Church 01' God; indeed, that it is impossible that they should be. And this, for tile following reasons: 'l'ho Sew Testament Church and the OIl! 'I'cstaiuent nation of: Israel arc perfectly distinct in their ol'igi 11 andrin their aims. 'I'he one is 1500 years older than the other, God called Israel as a nation out of Egypt; He calls the members of the Church out of the world indiuid'ually, 911Cby one. Israel's calling is whollv connected with the earth, the Church's calling is "to the heavenly places." Israel's hope is the descent of the Lord (as the promised Messiah) to the earth; the hope 01' the Church is to meet the Lord in the air. '1\\'0 years after Christ had commenced His ruinistryy H e said, in rcsponsc to Peter's confession, "T'hou art the Christ," "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build. 111y church." He speaks of the Church as a future thing. I will huik!. Up till that moment the Church certainly did not exist. It was a thing of the future. 'I'hc day of Pentecost, when tlre Holy Spirit descended, may he taken as the point when the Churchlirst presented itself to the world. In viewing this subject we must not lose sight of \\Iwtis. called dispensational truth. 'I'his is a Scriptural word. VV e read of "the dispensation of the gospel" (1 COl'. ix. 17), "dispensation of God" (Col. i.

JULY,

1ooT .

THE

B1BLE STANDARD.

.~,), "dispensation of the grace of' God" (Eph. iii. 2), hv which they may be known. The.y are not formed "dispensation of the fulness of times" (Bph. i. 10)., into a nation nor collected into a visible Church. ExThe word "dispensation" means the method 01' system cept as "in the bonds 01' the Hpirit;' secret and invisible of management or regulation which God has at various to us, they arc not now united in one body, nor can thcy times adopted towards the people of this earth, and of he infallibly discorned 01' recognised hv IIICn. 'l'he Lord, these systems of administrations there have been alroadv ana the Lord onlv, "knoweth them that art- His." '1'11e Christian Church consisted ill the fi rst instance J0111' which may be termed dispensations. (1) 'I'he .vdamic, (2) The Patriarchal, (3) The Xlosaic, (1) (Rom. i. 16; xi. 1-tl) or believing .Iews taken out 'I'hc Chri. tian, in which wo now liH'. 'I'herc is to he a "ae:'cording to the election o l grace' Iroiu 1I1110ngstheir t lifth dispensation. i.e .. Hie Xlillenuial. Had the .Jews, unbelieving brethren, and a/so (Acts xi. 18) of believing as a nation, after the rosurrection and ascension or 0111' UentiJe,; grafted in alllong the believing Jews, and thus made s , fellow heirs and partakers of the prom isc in Lorcl.becn brought to repentance 1>.1' the preaching of His .vpostles, had thev ncknowlcdgod Jesus as the true Cln-ist hy the gospel' (I"ijplt. iii. 16). 'I'his incorporation of Gentiles witl: -lcws was, in Old 'I'estaruent times. Xlessiah. there would have hcen J10 change or dispensenil unrevealed mvsterv "hidden in God" (Eph. iii, ;)tion such as that which nduuHy took place. 'I'Iie "outcasts 01: Israel" would hill'l' hccn brought hack :1'1'0111 10). 'I'hua jt indisputablv follows that the Church or exile and re-united to tlte "di:"pel'''ed of .Iudah,' and the present dispensation cannot possibly 1)(' (as some together formed "ono nation UPOII tit('IIlolmtains of would suv) the great ~IIhjl'd or Old 'I'estarnent ] sracl" (l~z. xxxvi i. 'U), ;\";11'(' know hereafter the.y shall prophecv, the 11<1l1lC' ofLsracl :;cning- but as an allegoribe. The Lord .Tl'~\I;'< luist 11'0111(1 C have at once returned ea I n.nue under wh ir-h to represent the Christian to ,;itUPOH the th rom, or David, the reign of righteous(,Jelrish-Uentile) Church. .\s an example of this mode I\e~~immcdiatelv couuuenced, and the ('OU1'8e f' time run o cfinterpretation we are told that the spiritual meaning or the text. "J~phrailll shall not euvv .Iudah. and .J udah on smoothlv and Ullinterrupted I.\"to the fina I consuuunat ion. 'I'hcn we Opntilt'~ IIlU,.;tha vv occupied a standing ~italllJ()t YeS .1~pllrililll" (Ts. x ii. 1;), is a settillg forth (er!! [ar iufcrior 1'0 thut which, ill the an-wise providor a ha]!]!." lillle Wit('1Ithe Dissenter shall not L'IlI'y the Churchman, and till' Chu rclnuau slial l not vex the l'IICl' 0 [ Uod, has hccu it Hotted 10 us. '" c could have been admitted 0111.'"~ prosclvtes. alld us proselytes onlv a Dissenter! ! ould we hare been partakers of Israel's promises. But Beyond question it is true that the Gentiles arc th i~lI-a~ not to he. 'I'hc .Icws persisted in their im"grafterl into" the Jewish stock. For eight vcars after jll'llitenC'l' until "wra tl: (',UlJC UpOll them to the utterth(~ da v of Pentecost none but Jews were invited or lIIORt" (i. 'l'hoss. ii. Hi), and we Gentiles were iu <:OJJad uuttcd to the Iellowship of the believers ill ,J CSIIS -cqucncc raised to i\ fal' higher standing HUll made a,; Christ. 'l'hc a pestle Peter was inexpressibly shocked partakers or better jll'Olnif:Cs (Hell. xi. -100) than their' when (through a drca Ill) it was first made known to 1111.'1'(' rthlv ones. ea h iiu that Gentiles were to he admitted to the .l ewish Did the Clu-istiau Church then take tile place 01: band. ~\t first "the apostles and the brethren that were lite rejected rf:l'<wl:; H.\" no means, Uod's dealings with in ,J udaea" contended with Peter for his action in hav.vbraham's seed shall hereafter be openlv resumed. ing tcllowship with "men uncircumcised.' But after \ Icanwh ile-C1 uJ'ing the time 0 f Israel's rejection-s-this hearing about the conversion, reception of the Holv d ispcusa tion, which is (;<1 lied a "parenthetical" dispensa~pirit, and baptism or Cornelius and his Irieud-. they lion, is running its course. Hut this new state of things "held their peace and glorifiell God, ::;aying, Then it) ill troducod has no Itcce:;sar.t/ connection either with that the Gentiles also hath God granted repentance unto 'I'he Apostle Pan], at the commencement of' hi.s which went before 01' with that which shall 10110w life." IIIiuistrv, "proclaimed the word of God in the svnaa [tel'. When the time comes to lorgivc and restore lsruol. this parenthetical dispensation will cease, and gogues of the Jews" only, and it was not till the Jews, "filled with jealousy because of certain devout Gentile Lite thread of prophecy which has been broken off will he resumed again, just as if no such interruption had proselytes," contradicted the things which were spoken ever happened. by Paul and blasphemed, that Paul and Barnabas spakc 'I'hc dispensation uudor which we are now living is out boldly and said, "Seeing you thrust the Word of God HOt onl~ exceptional in point of time, but altogether from you, 10, we turn to the Gentiles' (Acts xiii. 16). peculiar ill its character. It differs in ever)' respect And we read that immediately afterwards "a great multitude of Jews and of Greek believed" (Acts xiv, 1). from that which went before and from that which is to It is held by some that this action of Paul denotes the follow. What is the special characteristic 01' this age? J:; it not that God is now visiting the Gentiles," not exact time when the long-suffering of God towards the Messiah-rejecting J ews ended. Henceforward the to convert them as CL whole, but to "take out of them a Church is in the main a Gentile Church with a sprinkpeople for His name;" that is, collecting individuals ling of Jews added thereto. Thus were the Jewish out of everx nation and kindred and tongue and people "branches (by their unbelief) broken off," and Gentile who shall be to the praise and glory of His name? branches by their faith "grafted in" (Rom. xi. 19-20). 'I'hosc iudividuals hare no visible bond or outward mark

1'06

THE

BIBLE

STANDARD.

JULY,

1907.

Have the Old Testament saints any relationship to or connection with this (now) Gentile Church? We answer "No," for (1) the foundation stone-which is Christ-was not laid in their time; (2) the Holy Spirit -as now known-was not given (Jolm vii, 37-39); and (3) Christ referred to the Church as a future thing, which was non-existent at the time when He spake. Moreover (4) , Paul declares that the members of the Church are hereafter to form one body, of which Christ is the Head. But Christthe Head-is seated in heaven, having passed through death and resurrection. How comes it, then, that isolated individuals spread over 20 centuries become attaehed to that Head? It is by the baptism of the Holy Spirit, for "by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether Jew or Gentile" (1 Cor. xii. 13). The Old Testament saints do not belong to this body, because previous to the ascension of our Lord there was no risen Head (Eph. i. 20-23) to which the members could be added, and so they could not be baptized into His body. Now, the head of this body must exist before the members, for we are added to the Head, and not the Head to us. The Old Testament reveals nothing about a body for Christ. Israel was a nation under God, not a body connected with Jesus Christ. (5) There was no life in and with a risen Christ in the previous dispensation, for Christ had not died. The grain of wheat had not died, and so there could be no fruit (Jolm xii. 24). That the ancient saints in resurrection will have eternal life there can be no doubt, but their position in the eternal ages will not be that of those who belong to the organisation which is called "the body" of our Lord. The formation of that body began aftcr Pentecost and ends at the Second Advent. And as there are in a human body a certain number of members and no more, so with the body of Christ, and when the required number of believers is obtained, the Lord will return, waken the dead and change the living. None can then be added to the number-the body is complete. Millennial saints will not belong to the Church, which is Christ's body. What, then, is the position of the saints of olden days? We know that the antediluvian saints, such as Abel, Enoch, and N oah, had faith in God, and the eleventh chapter of Hebrews assures us as to their eternal welfare. But we are referring especially to those of whom Abraham is the head, even as Christ is the Church's head. What were the promises made to Abraham, and renewed to Isaac and J acob? Three promises were made to him, and seven times were the promises given ; (1) a promise of the land of Canaan; (2) that his seed should become a great nation; (3) a promise of great blessing (Gen. xxii. 17-18). These promises are confined to this earth. The promises of God cannot be of none effect, and seeing that Abraham has not inherited the land, he must at resurrection possess the land, and those of his descendants who possessed his faith shall rise again and share in the

inheritance. Supposing Abraham and his godly seed of the past dispensation bclong to the Christian Church? Then their blessing will be in "the heavenly places." But God did not promise them anything in heaven, but on earth. Therefore to reign in heaven would not be a fulfilment of the promise. The promise cannot be fulfilled except in the land of Canaan. The time of the fulfilment is called "the Kingdom of heaven," or "the Kingdom of God." And its boundaries shall be extended, for Abraham is "heir of the world" (Rom. iv, 13) as well as inheritor of Canaan. And our Lord declared to the Jews that Abraham and Isaac and J acob and all the prophets, as well as many from the east and west and north and south, shall sit down in the Kingdom of heaven (Matt. viii, 11, Luke xiii. 28) This was the hope of Israel. They died in faith, believing they should rise again and each one "stand in his lot at the end of the days" (Dan xii. 7, Acts xiv. 6-8), the risen David bcing "their prince for ever" (Ez. xxxvii, 23-25 ; Jeremiah xxx. 9). How different the promise to the Church? "In My Father's house are many mansions; I go to prepare 'a place for you" (John xiv. 2). The dwelling place of the Church, therefore, cannot be on earth, for the simple reason that Christ went away from earth in order to prepare it for us. Whatever and wheresoever may be the home which the Lorcl Jesus is now preparing for the Church, He has gone away [rom. the earth. for that purpose, and therefore it cannot be in any place upon or in connection with the present earth. We are to be "raised up with Him, anclmade to sit with Him in the heavenly places" (Eph. ii. 6) Thus, then, it has been shown that the saints of this dispensation who constitute what is called "the body of Christ," are a distinct, peculiar, unique company, and that the saints in days before the establishment of the Christian Church, or in ages yet to come, do not belong to, or share in their special blessings and privileges. IN e admit the essential truth that saints of every age are "saved" only through the atoning work of Christ, but it does not therefore follow that they all belong to the body of Christ any more than that all are Apostles and Prophets. The saints of all ages will indeed be eternally blessed, but that their relationship to Christ will be the same as that of the Church "which is His body," is, we are persuaded, a doctrine not sanctioned by the Scriptures. Let us, in closing, protest against the idea that ew Testament saints are in themselves any better than Old Testament saints. This is no question of worth or merit, but of God's calling and gifts. There are Archangels as well as Angels. Israel-a company of slaves -was chosen to be God's "peculiar people" rather than Egypt with its culture and learning. And if God sees fit that a certain number of selected ones, gathered within a limited time-i.e., between the first and second Advents of our Lord-shall have heavenly blessings, whereas Abraham and his nation receive an earthly
T

Jtrr.r, 1907.

THE

BIBLE

STANbARD.

blessing, there is no ground for boasting. We are all "sinners saved by grace." And our positions hereafter will be all of sovereign grace. And He who raised David above his brethren, even from the sheepfold to be King over Israel, may, if so please Him, raise to the highest dignity the saints who compose the body of Christ, without doing any injustice towards thesaints of ancient days. Who shall challenge God's right to deal as He will in the apportioning of the future position and dignity of His chosen servants? Of the Old Testament saints we read, "These all died in faith, not having received the promises" (Hebxi. 13). This "not having received" implies that they might have received before death if God had so willed. Does not this prove that the promises given them were connected with this earth, and that, therefore, they shall after resurrection "inherit the earth" (Ps. xxxvii. 11; Matt. v. 5)? Of the New Testament saints we read, "God has provided some better thing concerning us" (Heb. xi. 40). Better? Yes; because ours is to be "an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved (not on earth, but) in heaven" (1 Peter i. 4). Q. Cmsp BROWN. Rotorua.

~tme lRtgbts [btngs.

:MANYills and wrongs of this world are cured by time. Wait. Have patience, and changes will come. The man who to-day stands on high and works evil, to-morrow is dead and gone and forgotten. The combinations which at the present time are the terror of good and honest men, and tend to hinder the rule of truth and righteousness and justice, will, in due ,time, be broken up and scattered to the winds. Wrong in its nature is not abiding; right lives, and the great day will show that barriers which seemed to be insurmountable, soon melt away, vanish, and are utterly forgotten. Be patient, hold fast the right, bear testimony, do not be disheartened, nor faint in the day of adversity, maintain your integrity, and never be discouraged. If your life is hid with Christ you need not fear them that kill the body. If you serve God you will outlive a thousand troubles; you will outlive lies and liars, and when your persecutors are dead and buried, and forgotten, you may yet fulfil your work and serve your generation by the will of God, and hear at last the Master's words, "Well done!" - H.L.H.

-..

...

(Bossip.
SAYS a writer: "Gossip has made a home a hell on earth. Gossip has parted husbands and wives. Gossip has blackened and sullied the characters of many poor girls. Gossip has parted lovers who would have been very happy if it had not been for gossip. One little mis-step, or one little indiscretion, causes gossip to arise with new strength and start on its mission. A gossip er is about the lowest and meanest thing on earth." -S elected.

:JSeaut~ ot tbe 1flesurrection.

IF a man has a statue decayed by rust and age, and mutilated in many of its parts, he breaks it up and casts it into a furnace, and after the melting he receives it again in more beautiful form. . As thus the dissolving in the furnace was not a destruction, but a renewing of the statue, so the death of our bodies is not a destruction, but a renovation. When, therefore, you see in a furnace our flesh flowing away to corruption, dwell not on that sight, but wait for the re-casting. And advance in your thoughts to a still higher point-for the statuary casting into the furnacc a brazen image but makes a brazen one again. God does not thus; but casting in a mortal body formed of clay, He returns you an immortal statue of golcl.-Chrysostom.

" lDerteet Ubrougb Suffering."
LU'J'HER used to say there were many of the Psalms he could never understand until he was afflicted. Rutherford declares he got a new Bible through the furnace. Even the heathen Bion said: "It's a great misfortune not to endure misfortunes;" and Anaxagoras, when his house was in ruins and his estate wasted, afterward remarked: "If they had not perished, I should have perished." So said one, brought to himself by blindness: "I could not see till I was blind." Trials bring many to God. J oab would not come to Absalom till Absalom set his cornfield on fire.-SeleCted.

:JSeStrong.
Be strong. We are not here to play, to dream, to drift; We have hard work to do and loads to lift; Shun not the struggle; face it; 'tis God's girt. Be strong: Say not the days are evil-who's to blame? And fold the hands and acquiesce-Oh, shame! Stand up, speak out, and, bravely, in God's name: Be strong. It matters not how deep intrenehed the wrong; How hard the battle goes-the day how longFaint not, fight on; to-morrow comes the song. Selected.

Many a man prays for a baptism from above who would run if he saw it coming; and not a few of those who plead so eloquently that their lips may be touched with a coal from off the altar, would faint dead away if they saw an angel go for the tongs. Spiritual privileges and power come at much cost, and few of us are really willing to pay the price.-Selected_

108
t
1

THE
and it matters

BIBLE

STANDARD.

JULY,

1907.

determines the settlement of a.ll relating thereto before the judgmerrt seat of God. Here, again, as yOll notice, is put the venal side of the subject. but it is a just concluxiou that tb, other side must ,,],0 e-xist. Th" obedi~ once of mall would count [or blessing. 1I0t here, in this life only, hilt certai nlv before the judgment seat, where oberli"IIC(' or disobedience is to be decided. TI,,,,t is a feature of the mu ttor deserv:--io. VI.-('oll/i/luerl. iIIg of further thought, and I prouri-: That quest ion is mos t important, aud that I. wi gi"e it In)"ollsi,l!'rnt it seems to be left almost entirely ;!tion. out of considerut.ion. I. have already YOII wi l l be well repaid, bill l 111<1." pointed to the fact that Bible history is .uld more to that, because it is incomselecti ve-c-i t follows the line of iudiplete without the testimony which a vidual a nd nn.t.ionul choice, a nd shows ('<lreflll study of tIle Bible is able to KIIPhow the special tench ing:-; giYCII hear p lv. I wish you to think for" moment reference to the Iu tu re. But these IIpOIl. that decisive, onwa.rd step in (io,l'" . pccia.l tcachi ngs hu.ve 110 iuuucd iute great jJl'tll-the ca.ll of r\brahaJll.\\I,llI bearing upon the people eontemporanehe i" hrought from lTr of tile Chu.ldecI)IIS with those who received the special he is placed. under new condi tious God,"all. But it is a. helpful thought to w.rrd. Those conditions <Ire not anti 1:;j-art our invest.igu.tion that the grant .iblo to other peoples. lie and jd" of :;peci"l terms'to uv people for special Iumi lv <I e hereby set a pa rt from the r training does not .lIccessarily,;ignify rest of uumk ind, Let it 1)(' remembered tha t the way of sa I.\"atio~l is closed. to all t.ha t <18 this was " se leetivc .u-t on tluothers, or thu t a sa lvu.t ion granteel to a part of God. and placed the muu under f('\I' means that sa.lva.tiou cun be ob1Ie\1' cond itious, it .Iid not change or in uuned in )10 other way. j n u word, it is ;!H~' w"Y modify the condi tions under un wi se to ussu me u.t the outset that Uod whir-h the people of the world were t.lu-n l iv ing, If any probationary virtue \\'a~ limits His means of redemption to the Iect.ive und purely telllporar., p.uts of in the covena nt wi th Koah. it still COIIt inued. for this ca ll, being elec-t.ive, did 11is pla n. . There is sometb.ing ill that, cerbllnly. not set nside a coveua nt t.ha t\\'as universa I. Ab rn luun is called to specia I \\'e ought 1I0t to put a stumbling bloc.k honour and priv ilege, others remained ill the way of our searcl!. J fancy It a,S they were. The blessmg designed for has been too readily assumed that no him might, and doubtless W0l11<.1,at wa,y of sa lvat.iou is .opel~ to ,Uty except some future tunc. uot upon them, hilt the elective wuy, wh ich IS confessedly n, in the meaut.irne it did not take awnv '\'<I \' of sa lvu.tion for " Iew, and for a ;1Il'y conditions under which they lived. I'u{'pose of present training for f~ltl.lrr . [ see vour point, .md think: it is wel l service. I think it would be profitable Luken: still direct Bible evidence woulrl to purslle that matter" little further. be more satisfactorv than mere reasonWell J shall ask you first of all to illg. observe. that the Adarnie race was conThat, too, CHII be given. I deemed it ti"lIl1leti, a nd, with the exception of. one bes t to state the posi tion, so that the fa.mily, '\"fIS destroyed at the ])elug~ real value of the Bible test imouv could i.ceanse of sin. Su rely tnat fad teach .. , be thell1Ol'e readi lv appreciated: 1\ ot tklt the \I'hole race was responsible to the fact that when Abra luun retu rnr-d Uod, upon tile basis of clf'arJ~'-r~yea.~ed from his pursuit oE the invading kings. undi.tions of attitllde towards l-lis w il l. it is said that ~Jelchisedek met him and I'ulli~hlllellt for \\'rongdoing cun onlv blessed hi Ill. This king is further de('xi:;t whero there is law, and ill His law scribed as a "priest of God ~Iost High." t hcre i" not on I." threatenc,l punishment. Here is one occupying a high position hilt therr- is also blessing to Iw attained as monarch who is a.lso a representa tin' I,, obecliellc", The nature of the bles,,of people Godwanl. \Yha.t does th is i;,,,' to be a,tta.ine,l by oheclience is clearly mean, if not that tllPrp was a recognised "n~\I"'h H,~t forth in th" rapture of Enocll. worship of God by the people of that Th~tt is a ma.tter of i IIferenl'e only, region? That this "'lIS 110 emptv Iorru. a Ithollgh om' ea 1l110t say thn tit i8 at and unwarranted. we may well c011('11I(1" all an unfaj r deduct.iou. by the ua rra.tive 'here, m;d the allusions 1 adduce that because it lies first ill elsewhere to Melchisedek. Tt is imposthe h istorv, and because it relates not sible to accept this story without at to a chosen Jew, but bears upon the r::,-ce. the same time admitting th . ('xistenc(' n.esponsibiJit.,Gocl\\'ltrds \I-as certall1l~' of true worship Goel\mrcls. through a.n rpcognised, for it i,; stated of that accepted JIleans, hv a, peopiP \\'ho are not p<.riod "Thell begtU'1 men to ellll . upon then witlllll the operations or conditions (i.c., iJ]'Qclaim) the name of thc l-,ord." of the "\bra}w1lli~ ("tll. L('t me add to that, that when Noah and It is the first tillle 1 ha"" heard such his family "ame forth from .the ark, God a dedllction irolll that ston. but I must entered into ,t coyenant whlCh embraced ('onfeS8 thnt it seems pe;'fectly legitirna 11 and his habitation. Speciall~- bp mate. it noticed that he.re is Jaid do\\'n the \Yith that story may be put the incilaw of JIIutuaJ responsibility, with a dents\I'hieh t!JlI of the action of the final reference to God, This is a proEgyptian and Philistine kings respecfound truth which has somehow, for long, heen overlooked. It gh'es the true tively, "'ho, smitten with the beauty of Sarah, carry he1' otT to the'ir harems. basis for social '1nd governmental order,

Cbt fiomt irdt.

Talks on Eternal Life.

l]

f'ul

lest

But they are warned from God of their wrong-doing, and they recognise their responsibility to H im, and restore her. Xote t.he case of Abi melech. Abraharu had feared to tell the truth concerning her relationship to him, "because," said he "1 thought, surelv the fear of ({od is' not in tl~is place." But it was, for Abirnelech asks the Lord if for his in.ulverteut act He would slay a ri'ghteoll' nn tion. Here, surely is recognit.ion of responsib ility to ({od 011 man's p.ut, a nd an interest i It ma n OIL God's pHrl. Hut present responsibility means a I:ntu re judgment, wi tl: its issues of IIf" and death. I suppose vou would place thl-' ..-a,, of Ba laam under the same ea tegorv '1 ::\ro~t assured IY. He was ,t prol'l!(t of God. :;'jt[an ;'ecognises him as SI\('h, and so does (JO(~. Hut there can I. 110 recosnition of that without a further question as to the relationship \\''11 i..-i, lhe people susta incd to God. [n. l s ruel. the prophet was the mouthpiece ,,! .Iehovn h to a people, that they IIllghL know God's wil! and be guided to do il. \ Vhv not ca]Tv' O"PI' the sa me iiIP:! lo tbi~ prophet o~lb;ide the na.tion ? Tila t he after\\'ards\\'ent astray does not a Iter the fact of the existent relu t ionKhip when ll!' first appears in ~he histon'. Till he \I'lIS "Jed astray' ther!' is '\10 reason to suppose that he \I'aS other than a Ia ithfu l se rva n t. who wa s to do as God bade him. !S\lch items certa inly Lhrow a slnmg livlrt upon Peter's stateiueut to C'nrn;] ill'. "Of " truth r percei ve that (:od is 110 r""pecter of pel'i;ons! but in r-verv nation he that fea.reth Hi m, u nd workctl. ri ()'ll eousness, t is acceptablc to H ill I." Do 'r'" however, understand that '.'-011 thillk'the basis of man's )'e;;pollsibilit~' to G-od is that of crea turehood ? Yes' it is IIOt as the Goel who has made 'promises of special. ?lessings for obedience to certa.in condi bion that 1-1" is revealed to the peoples outside Jsrt\(.1. but as the Creator, and tlley are 1-11"; cren tu res, and this is the tic which is to bind the obedient to the Rewardcr. ~lclchisellek'~ God is "the Ma.ker of Heaven and ea rth." \""hen the apostles protested against. the worship being 1'('11dered to them at .Ly,tra, Paul declared that the zood tidings he brought wr-rc intended "turn them Irom idols unto the Living Go([, who MAin: the hr-avcu and thc earth and. the sea aJICI all t 1,,1 t in t.heiu is." T~llt this was no 1I(,\\' thing, for "He left: .not.Himself wi thout wi tness, ill that He did good, ~I~d ga \'I' YOU from heaven rn.ins and fnnUul ~";Isons, filling your hearts with food a lid srladness" (Acts xiv. l5-li) . .:1..11(1 \\'h(,1I Paul was at Athens, and delh-ered that remarkable address to the philosoplwr~, he does not sa.y Hnything "bollt s,!1v;ttion by the blood of .Jesus, 1l1ltdeelarns God's creatol'ship, and mall as B1S ('rea' ture, their responsibilit~ Lo Him. :He adds the ca,}l to repentallc('. announcllll-!: the coming judgment. the gURrante(' of that judgment being af1'onlN1 by the resurrection of .Jesus. I gatllf'r, tiwn, froll! this tulk that you helieve the Scri ptures to teach th,tt fro 11 I the beginning man has been on prob,,tiOll to God the Creator, ancl that tl,c

to

,JlJLY, 1D07,

THE

BIBLE

STANDARD.
~u doubt the u l l-wise God might ?llOose a. ~a.~r to be the symbol of a year lit symb?,hc prophecy, as well as a, goat (Dan. \,]11,) to be the svmbol of a kin" 01' kingdom, Thp que~tion is, has J-1~ done so ? \\'hpr(' hHS God told us that 'Hc has chosen " day to he throughout ( he entire prophr-t.i word the svrubol of a veu r ~ T kt 10 \I' no suc-h pa",ag'(', C'erl.n inlv not ill XlIlIlh"rs x iv. :1+ where t he people n ro told tllatin OIl<' lwriie,uJ.Jr instance a sin conuni t tr-d duriu fo]'t~r literal days should rp('pil'P a CL1]~ rpsponciillg pu nishman t for fort\' lil('ral vea rs. Nnr vet in Ezpldel iv. ~-'6, whr-r ~hp prophet. is told ill ono pa rticulur instunee to represent to UlP people of Tsrael the number ofTi te rn l vea rs during which they shall suffer a 'pal'iiculur pun ishmon t by lying on his ~idp for a ('o1'l'esponding number of Iitern I davs. l~q1l::lI.1', groundless is the u ppoal 'to Daniel IX, 2~-27, for the Hebrr-w word "shubua " does not mean "week," ill tlH' se~lse ,~f, seven (~<lYs, but simply "Hcbdomnds, I.e" periods of sel'Cl1, and llIigld he seven hours, 01' seven months, or se\~~I~ centiuies, or all? other d ivi sion of time. The evont 0111" ('011101 dccill., whir-h, and the event ha~ shown thelll ,10 he hebdomads of vea rs, And ,Is for l.uke x iii, :{1-32, it is a-tonisb ino- t.hu I "u('h a pa$sage should be used '1" 71 ba npon which to erect the supel'si.J'II(,tlll't' ot, t.he year-day theory. 'Ifost rpad('I'~ 01' t ho Xell' 'rpstnment would consider thn t the t.hree davs hero are as litt'ral a" thp three dnvs during II'hicl,1 0111'I_ord I;l~', In the gra\'e, ;111([ tha t tile' term "tllIrcl cl;t~,,, i:~ here as simply thint do.'!, as II~ .fohn 11, I, which speaks of lllC' ma l'I'wgp at, ('anl1 in (llllill'p as he-Id 011 thp th irrl day. These fou I' passages cOllstiiu tf' th" Ioundn tion of the Hiatoricn I, or Yea 1'day system. ana if they be witlidra II'nor, rather, thc mode of interprE'tinj.!' 1 hpm-~ t tumblos to the I;ronn(l, l ndeed. thl'," gn': a very slendpr \\'0.1'1'1I 1 for n In L~rpretlllg throllghout the prophetic\I 01 d, ye'~l's? months, days, flgu 1'<1 tivelv instead of l iteru llv, ;1 yery frn,il found,;lIOn '~'hf'l'enpon to erect slIeh, nn edifie'(' ;," tlll~ ypar-da~' theory, Js it not" hlr Sll rE'l> sa fer, si mplel' method of illIf'rpretnhon to take the days and "l'ar" "" th_ey OCCllr c,'er,vwh(Jre tJll'on~'II()ut Ille \\onl of God in simple JiLer"litl' a" '1111: "tantlanl for inter]lretin<Y '('h;'(;nnloglP;] I prl'didiolls? '\"llen n,;'niel "nndf'rst.ooci by books the number of "Ca r~" of Lhe {'aptil'it~, of Jndah (ix, in_ he 1I1](Ipl',tood thE'm as literal. 1l0t prophcti~'al ,H'ars, .-\n n('tual im;tnnce of what I" te 1'1 lll'<l "a propheti('al ~,par" ('annot 1.(' ,l(lcluccd fmlll Rcriptllrp, It if< Hn a"~llmptioJl fo]' which there is not thp shado\l' of a shade of a lit llority, The prillci pa I stn t{,l11ent~ of' ti me to \I'hidl the ~-enr-clay theonr is npplied are: 1, Tiu1P, times, and I;alf n timeDHll, yii, 25, !di, I, Rei', xii, l~, 11. Two thous" nt! threp InUlclrpd da ,',,-Dan, viii, 14, rn, Tn-rl\'(' hnndl't'cl a,;d lIineb' da.ys-D:III, xii, 11. 1\', Thil'tel'u hlll;tlrpd and thirt~r-th-" d:l~'s-n:ln, xii, ]2, \~, Fin' months-Rp,', ix, !i-10, VI, 'I-row', and llay, Ilnci month, and yeal'nI"', ix, 1,), vn, Three (hl~'s and' a.-ha 1f

rccoguition of his own creu.turehoorl has been the ground of his probation, Do you thi nk that this would O'i,'e eternal life? ,.., 'I'ha t is a nswerr-d hy thp opeuiug ":r~pR o,! Romans, ospecia II~' tha t POI't ion wh ich sets forth Illan's dpp,tI'tlll'P frorn tho recognition of (;od a~ Creator. i, 18-:2+: "Thc~- changpd the tru th of (;od 1'01' a lie, and \\'OI!SIIIPI'EIl .1:'(1l SF:I{I'EIl TIlE OREATURE 'IU,TIII':I: '1'11.1:'('ru r: ('RI':,I'I'OR," XO\l' conned wi lh tlia t , for i t is n con tinun tion of tl1(' ~'lIlIP argllIIIPni. thp fact thnt God "lI'ill rondr r Io ""l'r~- man according to his works. To '1'11 E)I Tll.IT BY PAl'lEX(,F: IX \\'I':l.I,-I)OI x SEEK Fall GT.OIlY AXI) 1I0XOl'I( _1:'(1) '1:'(C'OI{IU-P1'IOX,ETERXAL T,I},I';." I~ n01 this Ihl' judgment referrorl to ill Rovola f iou x x. 12, at wh ich tho hooks shall hI' opened. n nd another hook, WHIml I;; Till': HOOK 01<' ].J] F,E ?" But if these pan obtain eternal 1iIo on I h is basis, ,,:I1Prein ] ics the ad va n I'ngP of the selective messages, such n s 11", go~pE'1 of gracp which noli' rnlls "nul of 1111'notions?" The1'e is this d iffe renco to he notr-rl . The creature basis demands work as t he ground of bestowal of l ifr-, a nd (:od is He who determines thp exact ~tn nrl.nd. The gospel of thr- present 'lsk.~ 0111' ,l('(,pptancp of the Lordshi p of Olni-r . .i nd Ood thereupon bestows oterna I li 1'1' ,I.S _I. Ol}"(' to fa ith. l n n \\'01'(1. we obt a i n h~' fniih that which on the un ive r-,u l basis i~ obt a iued on l v In' work", I,~t.ern:ll li Ir- is t hr- full issl;e cif lhal IIl1iYer",1I "oahip coveua nt . but eternal life be inu gl"tnied to the believer in Christ Ia ith, the life of service to Him is to he' rr-nde red in view of the coming hei rsh ip to hp enjoyed wi th Him ,,~ "t.he HC'aci of the Hodv.' These m'p important thonu-s, .md 11,,m:mci more considr-rn tion than -th(,,' ounuonlv receive. I must tn ko tin;.' 1'0 ('onsidpr them.

Letters to a Young Friend on t~e Study of Prophecy.

THE
'lty
DF:AH

YEAR-J),\ \'

:-;\':"'1'1,:'11.

0;1

RAILROAD ER'S
PRA YER.

'I'he following is thE' text of 'l "rail ronll man's pra~'er" pasted on the t-in'lllan's si(le of the switch pnginc in thf' XOl'thrl'n Paci fie ~'a]'(ls, in Rpoknnp:"XO\l' thnt I h'lYC flaggp,l thee, lift 11 pm," fcet from the rough road of life nncl plant them snfel~' 011 the deck of th" train of ,nl\'ation, 'Lpt me 11 se thC' "afet~' lamp of pl'lldence, -,\fake all till' ('onplings \l'ith the link of 10\'(', nlld Ipt Illy hand lamp he the Bible, and kpep ,Ill slI'itclH's closed that lead ofl' Lhe mnin lin(' into tIle siding" with blind end", 1-Ia,'e p,-cry H!'maphor<' hlork along thl' lill!' "ho\\, tIlt' whit!' light of hope, that I Inn" make tll!' run of life withollt stopping, Gin' me thp Ten COlllmHlulnl('nts as a working ca I'd, and when I hal'(o' finisheel the l'tm on schednled tinH' and pulled into thp tE'rlllillal. nHl~' Tholl, Snp("rintendent of the 't;nil'Pl'se, ~ay: 'Vre'll done, good and faitliful servant: ('Ilme into the general office and sign thl' ]>a~r-roll and J'eceiYe your pheque for l'te1'l1nl h'lppinE'~s,"-8e7e('led /11/ 0, ,11, 8/iI'I'/lllflIL,

FIUE:'(J),How are \I'P 10 u ndr-rst a nd t ho sta tcmcuts of times a nrl periods which occur in the visions of Da nir-I .md .Iohn ': _\I'P \\'1' to take thorn as l iteru l 01' SVlIIhol ic : III st udviug tile Book (\1' '1:(',.'01,1tion, and other prophecies, it i~ " mu UPI' of primp irnpovtance to determine whothe]' the chronologica I periods therein uuuked ar(' Ii tern l statements of tlu ti me Lh('~' de flu e, 01' whether such periods 1l<IYCa myst.icu I i mport, concoaling henea th their form n hidden meaning, For insta nco, II'C read (Rev. x ii, 0) of 1.260 day. AI'P we to rcgn]'(l this period as 1,260 litem 1 days, i.e., :J-} vea rs, 01' ] ,260 mysticu 1 duvs-s-eacb dav representing n year-i,p" 1,260 year,,! l~oth views hu ve their snpporters, and the arguments for and aga inst t hem hal'C again and ngain been produced in uu mber less books and pamphlets, 0]10 theorv i~ palled "The Litern l. 01' VuI u]'i~t Vip\\" " The other is known bv thl' nn me of "The Yen r-Day 'I'heorv, 91' Ilixtoricn l View," \Ye may as well u t once sav that we reject tl;e Ia tter n n.l ccept trIP former view. lt is admitted tha t, 1'01' the first four centuries nfter Clni st, the days mentioned in the prophecies of Old and New Testaments were interpreted fiterally by ill(' Fn thers of the Chu reh ; lmt from the' f Etlt to the twelfth centurv a mystical meaning came to bp attached to the period of 1,260 davs and other periods of time, But not till the close of the fonrteeuth century did '''alter Brute first suggest the !/eal'-day interpretation, which was fullv accepted by the Ierule rof the Reformation, who, worn out by long ),PflrR of persecution, became willi ng to believe 'the worst of the Pope, and ~o joined tllOse who (leclared the system of Popery to be Antichrist, which Anti"h ristian rule \\"lS to rontinne tilll,2flO II('aI'S \\'ere finished, This is what i" ;'fllled "tllp 'Protesta nt i ntprpl'etation," \"hat Hre the Scriptu!'e proofs "'hiell arc ad\'llnc-ecl in favour of the year-day in-~tem '! They are .fonr ill JlItmbpr :-1. ~lIl1lbers xi,'" 34, "After 1'he llllllllwr of thf' clays ill whirh ye searched tllP lanel, PI'C'lI forty days, e'({(,/c d(l!) (or {( yeaI', shall yp henl"YOllr iniquities, <,Yen forty yea rs." IJ. ]<JzekiE'l i\', +-6, "T,ie thou ;1pOll th,l' left sidl' ac('ol'ding to tlH' lIumber of tlH' day~, tlll'ep lnmdrf'(1 and ninety ila.VR ' 1iC' ;!.g'n,in 011 tb," right' ~idp' forty cl;l:"": T l;ave ap' pointed thN' each (l(l<I/ iOl' 1/ .'Ipa 1', " Ill, Daniel ix, 2+-27, the fmnou~ pl'Ophec~- of thc seventy weeks, \I'hi('h it is (..]nill](,.l iR proyed b:<- the (','ellt to 1)(' 8el'('nl.'l /ree);,. of yew's, 'i,6" +!l0 ye<ll'~, TV, Lllkc xiii, 31-32, wherein Chri.t sai(l to thl' Pharisees, "I clo (,lIres to-day and to11Iorro\\' , and the third day I ohall 1)(' perfected," This is intel'pr~ted to J]leml the tln'e(' ,I'ea rs of Christ's Ininistr,l'. If do!) (o/' a !)ca 1',

!IO
-Rev. xi. 911. VIII. Forty-two months =-Rev. xi. 2. IX. Twelve hundred and sixty days-Re\'. xi. 3, xii. 6. (We may observe of No. I. that "time" here stands for one year, "t.imes" for two years, "half a time" for half a year-i.e., three and a-half years. This agreeswith Nos. VIII. and IX., which also refer to a period of three and a-half years.) If we take these periods of time to mean exactly what is stated, i.e., as so many literal days., weeks, and months, during which, at some [ut ure date, certain notable events will take place, no difficulty is experienced in the understanding of them. But we hold that to say that a day stands as representative of a year, and all other spaces of time in .~imilar proportion, is to introduce to the Scriptures a canon of interpretation for which there is not the sligh test warrant to be found in the sacred page. There is ample and absolute evidence against this theory. I. In Dan. iv. 16, 23 and 32, King Nebuehadnezza.r was told that he should be driven from men "till seven times should pass over him." On tne year-day theory, this would be a period of 2,520 years. But verse 28 says, "All this came upon the king." The prophecy spake of literal years, and so of course, in chapter vii., verse 25, the prophecy speaks of half that number of literal years. n. The sojourning of the Israelites in the land of Egypt, as prophesied in Gen. xv_ 13, would have been for 144,000 years instead of 400 years (360 days X 400). Ill. The years of' plenty Joseph foretold (Gen. xli.) would have been 2,520 years instead of seven. IV. The wandering in the wilderness predicted as for 40 years would have continued for upwards of 14,400 years. V. Elijah declared there should be no rain for three and a-half years, i.e., 1,260 years. VI. The Babylonish captivity, as threatened by Jeremiah, which he described as "seventy years," would have lasted 2,500 years. VII. Our Lord's statement as to His resurrection on the third day should have been understood to His disciples as three yea1"S after His death and burial. Instances might be multiplied, but passages such as these expose the fallacy of such mode of interpretation, and decide the fate of the year-day theory. We are well acquainted with historical expositions of the Book of Revelation characterised by great research and much abili ty. But if we can disprove the right of the learned authors to call a day a year, and prove that this mode of computation is a great delusion, then the great labour of such writers is lost, and goes for nothing but waste paper. The historical principle is nothing better than shifting sand; we desire rock to rest upon, if it be possible. The year-day theory is not only a delusion in itself, but also a very fertile source of error with regard to prophecy generally. The absurdities into which this theory would lead us are so many and so flagrant as to put its truth completely out of the question. The socalled "Protestant" system of prophetic interpretation is from first to last devoid of all foundation, and nothing more

THE

BIBLE

STANDARD.

JULY, 1907. STANDAHD have been received in this district, and a number of other publications disposed of, showing that some, at least, are interested in the truths set forth. May thc bright sunshine of God's love ea usc the seed sown to burst forth into rrpe fruit to His glory.c-Ar.ex. PAGE, Secretary. By latest reports from our brother, we learn that he is about to commence labours at Pukekohe, Buckla.nd, and Pokeno. These districts were all visited in days gone by, and the missioner ought to meet with some who were then measurably impressed with the truth. TUAMEs.-ViTe have had fairly good congregations during the month, and have had the pleasure of assisting one to put on Cn rist by baptism. We regret, however, to report another removal from our midst, Mr. J. Da.vis and wife being now in Auckland. We miss Mr. Davis much from our choir. For some years past he has assisted us in a very efficien t manner in this branch of our work. We can most heartily commend him to those who may be privileged to associate with him. Our Anniversary is approaching, and, being our 25th, we are hopeful that .Iuly 14th will be a very special Sunday, and that Tuesday, 16th, will see a velY good gathering to our Tea; we shall also be glad to see any Auckland brethren that can attend. W AIlII.-Since I last wrote you we have been favoured with visits from Sis. Gubb, of the Thames, who joined us in fellowship during her stay here, also from Bro. Archie Green, who is at present in our town. Bro. Green has taken the morning meeting twice, and last Sunday he visited Waikino, where he took Bro. Foster's place at the evening service. He has also conducted the weeknight Bible Class on two occasions. Bro, Green's efforts have been very much appreciated by the Church, his zealous labours having aroused much interest. Bro. Foster is still holding forth the Lamp of Life through Christ our Saviour at our evening services, and of late we have had the encouragement of witnessing a few more interested listeners at these services. The friends have recently made Mrs. Donaldson a present of a very handsome Bible, to indicate their appreciation of her valued services as organist. The valued gift is much appreciated by her. D.D. :MA.'l'ATOI{E.-The monthly Sunday service has been well attended, and the weekly Bible Class continues to interest a good number. Bro. Taylor has for two months past been taking these readings from the early chapters of Genesis. TAPu.-The usual visit was paid to this place on June 2, and a good assembly was present. E.C.lVI. GEOllGETOWN (B.G.).-Easter week I spent up the Demerara River. I took with me the chart of Daniel's Image, and gave some addresses on the coming Kingdom of God. These were well appreciated. Tile major part of my audience came by water to the meeting-

than "the baseless fabric of a dream." In mv next communication we will discuss ~t question which lies at the verv root of prophetic inquiry, i.e., "Is th~ Papacy the Antichrist?" Your friend, CAHPUS.

~ ~

Chnr~h aDd Mission News.

...olih..illIlL.~.....m.....m..

,J

OUR COLPORTEUR.-Bro. T. O. Jenkins commenced his work on the l st of June at Drury, and found a lodging with Bro, Brooks, of l ike faith. On the following day he called on Bro. Ba.llard, and went on as far as Rama Rama to visit Bro. and Sister Kearn, and other brethren and sisters. He was pleased to see fullripe fruit as a result of faithful sowinz of this Association nearly a quarter of a century ago. Our brother was well received by all of like faith, and he expresses thanks for the great stimulus he received on seeing and hearing the brethren endeavouring, each in their quiet way, to tell others of the great truths they themselves have learned to dearly love. Since the departure from Drury of Bro. Ba.llard, senr., the weekly fellowship meeting has been allowed to lapse, owing to none of the other brethren feeling capable of conducting the meetings. Bro. Jenkins urged these to resume the weekly remembrance, he himself giving them an impetus by conducting the first meeting held on the following Sunday, and tried to impress upon them by so doing that thus they would feed on spiritual things, and would also maintain a testimony to all around them, as the great Apostle said, "As often as ye eat of this Bread and drink of this Cup, ye publish the Lortr's death until He come." We trust that our brother's words will stimulate the little band in Drury to continue to remember their absent Lord and to wait for His coming again. A Public Meeting was held in Drury Hall on Sunday evening, and was fairly well attended. vVhen calling upon sympathisers, our brother was minded to visit others who might be influenced by the truth, and thus all were sharers in this work for the Master. In Drury and Papakura districts many copies of the BIBLE STANDARDhave been distributed, and a goodly number of new subscribers enrolled, and we are hoping that still more will come in as a result of the work done. From there Bro, Jenkins moved on to Bombay, where he was warmly welcomed and hospitably entertained by Bro. Jessop and his daughter. Notwithstanding the inclement weather during his stay, he made a good number of house-to-house visits, distributing the STANDAHD and other literature, and manv earnest and profitable conversations j;ave resulted. Several new subscribers to the ]3IBLE

JULY,

ID07.

THE

BIBLE

STANDARD.

11 I

place. Many questions were asked by seekers after Truth. No opposition at all was experienced for the first three nights, but on the fourth night some were present who saiu I was having it all my own way, but they would show that I was Anti-Christ, and an opposer of the Truth. They brought a great many persons with them to see how easily they would demolish the man who taught doctrines contrary to their manmade theology. I pointed out that it was an easy thing to dub me an AntiChrist, but that my greatest trouble with them was to keep them to the exact statements of the Word of God. Anti-Christ works against the Coming of Christ, but we affirm that the only hopc for men lies in the advent of our Lord. The opposition did us much good. This being the season of Crosses and Images, I took the opportunity of calling the attention of the people to the Southern Cross in the heavens; the majority had never heard or seen your Southern Cross, but at this season of the year it is about five degrees above our horizon, at eigbt o'clock in the evening. I always get a good hearing whenever I speak upon it, for it is always appreciated. I am able to enforce the lesson concerning the efficacy of the Cross of Christ, and to point to the sad truth that His Cross is a stumblingblock still to God's chosen people, and it is folly to Gentile wisdom. Brethren, may God in His mercy bless you with all spiritual blessings in Christ. We need to put on the armour of God in these sad and trying days. Christ is coming. Four months gone out of 1907. Must we not ask, What have we done? There is much work before us, and the time is shortening. Remember, Christ is almost upon us. Let us come very close together. Put the weak inside the camp and the strong on the outer guard, that the enemy may have no weak point to attack. Remember me at the mercy seat. -Yours in love, W. S. EDGEHILL.

blessing to the penitent. Christ's power of illustration by parable and His prac tical demonstration in healing the blind and lame, and raising the dead, were emphasiscd. Bro. Garratt also showed the example of humility which Christ manifested in His life. May we all str-ive to do likewise. June 10 (Sunshine Evening) Bro. J. Green presided. Bra. Wilcock being sick, the Sunshine ta lk was given by the younger members of the Band. Bro. H. Aldridge told us of the good work the Band was doing, enumerating how the money is sent, and how it is spent, exhorting us to imitate Christ and do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. Bro. Garratt encouraged us to hold fast the good work begun, and be faithful in little things. Bro. G. Aldridge said: Though we mourn and deplore the existing evils in the world, yet through these we are moulded into the likeness of Christ. Other brethren added their sunshiny and encouraging words to the Band. "He that giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord." June 17 (Bible School) the Book of Genesis was chosen by our Bro. G. Aldridge as the main theme of the lessons. He showed by many Scriptures from Old and New Testament that the Bible is always up-to-. date, and is the Word' of God, containing the history of God's plan of redemption. He first showed us the importance of creation and man's relation to it, man's responsibility, God's deliverance, obedience to God and its consequent blessings, disobedience and its doom, and, the greatest of all-the glory of God. May we all strive to learn from the Word while we have these great privileges. C.C.

THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE.

How many people there are who are content to live in an atmosphere of discontent and dissatisfaction, when, with but Iittle effort, they could make their surroundings bright and cheerful. "Thanksgiving street" is such a pleasant locality in which to reside that one wonders why so many continue to dwell at "Grumble Corner." It is certainly easy to find, or imagine, some fault in everythinz and everybody with whom you come. in contact; but the individual who does so makes life miserable for himself, and, to some extent, for those about him also. It is almost as easy to look upon the bright side of life, to overlook the faults and failings, and to find the good points in our friends and our surroundings, and the result~ are fa r ~nore satisfactory. By so doing we WIll fill our own hearts with joy, and will be able to give a word of cheer to those about us. "If the sky is overcast to- day , the sun may shine to-morrow."

THE THREE LITTLE DOGS. Three little dogs were As they trotted along And the subject of With all and with Was what bad folks Said

talking the road; speech, each, were abroad.

illl]

the first: "You will hardly believe it, But I can assure you it's true, A man with a pail Threw suds on my tail! Now, I think that's cruel, don't you?"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 'V

* ~* * ~
1jt 1jt 1f 1jt ~

Said the second: "That's very atrocious; But a worse thing happened to me; A boy with a stone Almost broke my backbone! Now, what think you of that?" said he. Said the thi rd: "My fate "as the hardest, And I can prove it just now: A man knocked me flat When I looked at a cat! Wasn't that too bad? Bow-wow." But the three little dogs did not mention, The first that he'd stolen some sprats; The next, that he ran At a poor blind man: And the third, that he'd hunted the cat. Thus, these three little dogs And many small folk do They tell of a story That redounds to their But forget where they blame. were talking, the same; glory, well deserve

::.1:Sunshinecorner.:I::
~T~ if 1jt Jj,
One of the most pleasing features of our "Sunshine" work is the ready response that is made to our appeals for assistance. Again and again the call has gone forth, and each time our friends have responded right loyally; insomuch that we do not fear to undertake further responsibilities, knowing that we have but to make known the need, and help is immediately forthcoming.
"THANK YOU."

CHRISTIAN BAND. ~
~~~~

The Band opened its Winter Session on May 27, when our President (C. B. l~ing) spoke a few words of ~xhortat.ion to encourage the Band III good works and faithfulness in the cause of the Master. Bro. G. Aldridge then gave a short talk on "What Vlfe Believe;" this topic, if taken to heart, will be very helpful to the young people. He showed that all Christian union must rest on the one basis, "Christ." We, as believers, should cling to His Lordship, openly acknowledging Jesus raised from the dead, and waiting for His return. June ;3 Bro. Garratt's topic was, "Christ as Teacher." Never man spake like this man. Men marvelled at His wisdom; He was Divinely taught, He spoke openly and with courage the message. of H is Heavenly Father, always denouncing S!11 to the uttermost? whilst offering

It is again our pleasant duty to say "Thank you" for the kind way in which you responded to our last appeal. The envelopes so carefully packed by you with blankets coal food and clothing, came safely hand', and were as car~ful.ly unpacked, and the contents distributed among those who were in need of .these good things. If yo~ could but wItne~s the joy of the recipients, and hear their words of gratitude, you would fl;)e.\ wel l repaid for your generosity.

-Union Signal.

"Just a little every day, That's the way Seeds in darkness sprout and grow, Tiny blades push through the snow; Never any flower of spring Leaps to blossom 'with a burst: Slowly, slowly, at the first, That's the way, Just a little ()very day."

U;

II2

THE

BIBLE

STANDARD.

JULY,

1907.

tt $anctifieb \Mill.
MANY Christians would like to be sandifledif they could reserve the privilege of willing to do as they please, in some things at least. 'rhey can easily consent to spend all of their time in serving the Lord, but they want the right to say how, or in what way, they shall serve Him. They will present themselves before Him, and say, "Here am I; send me.": But just as soon as God takes them at their WOI'd, and tells them where He wants to send them, they arc very much like Peter, and say, "Not so, Lord." 'I'hev don't want to be sent:in that particular direction. It does not suit their ideas of propriety. There are fancied difficulties in the way, which they don't wish to face and overcome, Their real trouble is, their wills are not saucti fled. 'I'hey would much sooner give up all of their nionev and pay someone else fa]' going tharf to give Hp their wills anti go in the direction of God's will. ~lanv a professed Christian is yery liberal with his money. but verv stingy of his will. It is his good pleasure to let (Jail have the free use of so much of his will as does not lose him the entire control. "But Goclis never satisfied \\.ith the use of half of our wills, and to let 11S keep the he,;r.ha I f. He asks and demands the whole. And we never give Him otu' whole heart until we yield to Him 0111' whole will. ATe 0111' wills fullv sanctified ?-8cl.
The Bible MR.. ALEX.

\tbe 16tble $tan~ar~.

be ordered d lrect trom the 'I'roasu rru Road. Grey Ly nn, Auck land , ~. d. Prioe per an nu m, PORt. f'ree .. 2 Ii Ri nglc copies .. .. . .' ,. [] :! PAG]<;, Mnrrlooh HOOK S'I'.F.W AHD-K H. FALKNRI<. Qlleell SII'ML J\G-F.NTS POR 'l'HF. HJR{,l~ S'I'ANIU nn. "I~W 7.F.ALAN D. Auoklnnd=-Mr. Hancock, Bookseller, Qneen St.roet , WcllingtOll-H . 1. Bai-mclougb. Mptle CI'~s('pn'. Dunerl iu-c-Mt-. Lawrence, Hope St.recl. ICaiapoi-Mr . Tames Holland. Rangtora=-Mr. Wm. Smith, Sout.h B,OOI,. New Plymouth-Mr. Fred Goodacre. COII,'t.no)- Ho:,,]. l~aRt Oxford=-Mr. A. Flng'la.nd. 'I'hames=-Mr. C. Sanders, Mnck y Street .. Timaru--MI'. H, H. King, Stnfford 8t,r~ct. 'I'Iu wa ld, Ashburt.on-Mr. Sheru-er. Waihi Mr . .Ioseph Foster. Ad elnirlc-cMr. Syd ncy-c-Mr. SOUTH AUSTIlALIA. C. Gamble. Mag ill Road, Stepuoy . NF.W SOUTH WALI<;S_ H. Cronp, Mitchell Street, Kogru-ah.

Stasuiard. can

Oommunications to t.he F.ditol' to he add ressed : GKO. ALllR.JDGli: Brent.wood Avenue, Mount li}<lolI. TelegrAphic Adrl ress . , Rockv Nook.'o All oommunica.tions to the Assoeintton and orders tor Bible St cmdari! 1;0 be addr-essed to t.h e Secretar-y "-,HI T"~AR"n'r MR J\ T,F.X. PAOK ~I 11rd or-h HOMI. 0 I'C)" Lvnn. A uck land.

CHURCH
H"Id ~ervl('e8
8.8

OF CHRIST

uuner :

AIICKLAND-West

Safe in 3esus.
T<\ the second ccntnrv thev brought a martyr before a king, and the king wanted him to recant and give up Christ and Christianitv ; but the man spurned the proposition. But the king said, "If: you do not do it, I shal] banish you." The man smiled and answered, "You cannot banish me from Christ; for He says He will never leave me nor forsake me." The king hecame angry, and said, "Well, I will confiscate vour property and takrit all from you." And the man replied, "l\1:Y treasures are laid up on high; you cannot get them." The king became still more angn-, and. said, "T will kin you." "Why," the man answered, "I have been dead fortv years; T have been dead with Christ; dead toothe world; mv life is hid with Christ in God, and vou cannot touch it."-8eZ. "Faith, to be genuine and operative. nmst not consider difficulties nor seeming impossihilitios, hut the character of Hirn who promises."

Street. Sunday. at 11 o'clock . m .. FellowRhlp M~etlll~ HA5 p.m., Preaching Service. Sunday School at 2.411. Wednesday evening. Bible Class at 7.411_ ~ntll~elist'R address=-Gco. AI(ll'iclg-e. RI'ent,\\'onrl A vr-n u e Mount I~rlen. Secrct.al'Y-WGibson. Ponson by Road . HALLSunday at 11 a.m .. Fellowship Mcet.ing.

rWSJ{TLL

]) LJ NI~DI N-Orldfellows' Hall. StlHwt i::>treet. Sunday at 11 a.m .. Fellowship and Mcet ing. Evening Preaching Serv tce, 6.30. Sccretnt-y's Address= S. Lnurence. Hope 8(.1'""t,. Dn norl in.
H 1<: .11: 1

xsv

Church

LLF.-Foresters Hall. Snnday Morning. Fellowship ~unday Afternoon, Snnday Snnday Evr-ulug; Preachtne. Secretary. R. M. Carnerou.

Meettnz. S('hoo1.

TH A l\!11:~-

Pollen Street Lecture Hall. sundav at 11 a.m.. Fellowship MpctlnjC_ Evening Service at 6.!l0. flunda;v School at 2.30. Rlhle Class everv Werlnesrln;v eye"InjC a t 7_:-1" ~;vangelist-li;. H. 'I'aylor. Bowen St.reet. Pru-awa.i. gcorerru-y-c-Chas. Sander's. :vr"-ckay Street. 'I'hamcs Miners Union HIlU. Su udn.y II a.m. Fp.llowshin Meet.irur : .. 2.30 p_1I1.Su nday School. Sunday Rv~ning. at i. A Public Bible Artdrcss. Church Recret",,~--n_ Dona.ldson. ](v"-nge!ist.-.Toseph Foster. "'"iili. Street Hall. Sunday. at 11 a.m .. Fellowship Arlrlress-H. H, King. Statl'ord Meeting. Street.

W A THT-'f'lle

\treasurer'' BcJmowle~9ments.
To 27TH ,Tmm, 1907.
Stanclanl S1~bs.-Mrs. Bestford (New Plymouth), ;\1)")-_.). K Wootor (Bombay), Annie YOllng~(Boollfll'), Mess~';;_\VIII. Missen , T. Dickson (Pihama), D. M. Wa.tson , B. Garside, C. A. Rail, Ram. Bollard, Robt. Hartley, Chas. Whit.burn (Dru ry), K Shannon, Alex. Mcf lroy (Bombay), H. Parker (Waikino). ALEX. PAGE, TREASURER.

TIMARTJ-~ophla ~p('retnry'g

'I'Irna r-n

_\ nF.LAIDE. S. A.-Druids' HfI,ll. Beu]fl,h Road. Nor-wood. ~.>('rpt" rvs Adrlrpss-F, B. Hughes. Woodvllle,

Printed by 'l'B~; BRE'PT PRDf'rlNG AND PUBLISHING COlllPANY r , Sh<!rl land Street. for the New 7.ealEtnd Flva.ngeltatic and Publioatton Association. and published hv W. A, SMITH. Selwyn Road, Mt. Albert, .JUJ~Y.

mm.