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VOL.

12.

No. 9.

AUCKLAND,

N.Z., SEPTEMBER,

1892.

TWOPENCE.

=,J.,,,., ... ,,,ITHERTO, as a people, we have rather ~~~III boasted of the superiority of our Par-

liament over any colonial legislature in matters pertaining to courtesy. 'We have animadverted on the disgraceful scenes enacted in their midst, and have ~~~~J held up our own as the model chamber, where the people's representatives met and conducted the affairs of the state, calmly, courteously, and wisely, without infringing those laws which should govern the deliberations of Parliament. But we fear we can no longer point to it as the shining example. Our representatives have suddenly forgotten their good manners and have transformed the erstwhile sedate chamber into a bear garden. Truly it is bad enough to have precious time wasted by long-winded talkers, who have nothing to say and take hours to say it, without having to endure the spectacle of honourable members snarling at each other, and at the Speaker, as if bereft of all common sense. We have more faith in the present Government, than in any which has preceded it for some years, but we confess to feeling very little respect for a House which can so far forget itself as to descend to the level of a common brawl, or, as in the discussion of Mr. Shera's Bill, to foolery. It strikes us that much of this is indulged in to block the way to the calm discussion of matters affecting the public weal, if so, it is a scandalous Labour troubles are still largely en evidence. In America thing, and deserves the reprobation of all right-thinking men. Electors should remember this when candidates apply for the ramifications of the strike are very extensive, many branches of labour being involved, and the unions, it is their suffrages. said, desire to still further extend the strike. The interWe hope that in the interests of justice a further inquiry sections of trade are so multitudinous, interests hinging so will be made into the Plummet" case, so that the feeling of intimately on each other, that it is becoming increasingly dissatisfaction now prevalent in the Auckland community evident that a strike in anyone branch almost necessarily

may be allayed. The evidence produced at the inquest has gone far to cause the feeling of unrest, and something should be done to quieten it. At the first news of Plummer's death the general feeling was one of relief-that a 'pest' to society was well got rid of-and society might breathe a little easier in consequence. But a perusal of the evidence, and a little calm reflection seemed to show the possibility that justice, which should know no partiality, had in this instance allowed the knowledge of the victim's antecedents to condone some grave errors on the part of the official who shot him. Several letters have appeared, some of which point out, an apparent serious discrepancy in the evidence, the non-discovery of any firearms said to have been in Plummer's possession, and that the constable, who fired the fatal shot, himself called the jury who sat at the inquest. Others write in defence of the constable's action; but as these chiefly manifest a vein of sentiment that Plummer was well got rid of, they ought not to be allowed to influence the judgment. The character and general worthlessness of Plummer are not in question; but the main inquiry is, 'Has the constable acted within his duty r The right to take life is a serious one, and its limitations should be very clearly drawn. No official ought to be allowed to take it without absolute necessity. The plea that the shot was not intended to kill, or even to hit, we do not call in question for a moment; but it strikes us as altogether unwarranted for two men to go in chase of Plummer, armed with firearms, and to shoot at him at all, without being absolutely compelled so to do in self-defence. This is a matter affecting the public safety, and it should not be allowed to remain in the present unsatisfactory state.

130

THE BIBLE STANDARD.

SEPTEMBER,

1892.

involves many others. In the London dock strike this was seen, and again in the Australian maritime strike. The great weapon which Labour endeavonred to wield in these contests was' federated labour.' Few unions are powerful enough to make a stand against the downward pressure which can be exerted by unscrupulous holders of wealth j therefore they seek for federation, that enough strength may be obtained to ensure resistance. At present that desirable end is not attained, and Labour, feeling its powerlessness, is resorting to methods which whilst they express its resolve to fight in vindication of its claims, yet 'are calculated to alienate the sympathy of the general public. No federation short of a complete inclusion of all labour, skilled and unskilled, can succeed in a war against wealth, monopolised by the few, and used to grind the faces of the poor. At present' law and order' the world wide over are on the side of the capitalist, and let him grind as he will, the workman has no redress. The stern fact that there are more labourers than can be provided with employment is used with terrible insistence to enforce submission. Surely such conflicts as the Pittsburgh and Broken Hill strikes should stimulate all lovers of social order to search for the root cause of these evils, a cause which not only gives the immediate origin of strikes and lock-outs, but explains how it is that wealth should gravitate to the few, and that the many should be so poor. The discovery of that will also show how it is that in a world which produces plenty for all, multitudes are absolutely prohibited from using their labour to secure a share. Finding this, true lovers of their fellows will righteously strive to eradicate the evil thing which generates so much misery and wrong. The cablegram, flashed across to us, stating that the Canadian branch of the Salvation Army is likely to revolt from the autocratic authority of General Booth mayor may not be true, but it most certainly predicts what will happen as the Army grows to recognize its freedom in Christ. The extra-Biblical orders and regulations of the General, covering, as they do, so wide a field, as if he were a second Moses, inspired of God, carry with them the elements of discord and disintegration. The fascination of a semimilitary organisation has won upon the masses, but it lacks the true element of conservatism-the authority of Christ j and as surely as men endeavour to understand their real standing in Christ, so surely will they rebel against the authority of one who is after all but a fellow-believer with themselves. The enthusiasm with which the scheme broached by General Booth, for the social regeneration of the masses sunken in poverty and despair, was received, has very largely died down. Already it has been necessary for leading men of diverse political and religious views to issue an appeal for 25,000 to enable the work to go on which has already commenced. The fact is, the effort, brave though it be, is but the inaugnration of another scheme which, to exist, must de-pend largely upon the gifts of the benevolent-(really upon

the labour of the labourers), To become self-supporting it needs a change in the social conditions. Till that is accomplished, there must be endeavour to keep enthusiasm at white heat, or it will fail. Such a work, if really beneficial, should not be dependent upon the will of a few, but should be undertaken by the State j but even that would fail unless there were a sincere desire to discover and to remove the root cause of existent poverty and pauperism. There is peculiar eagerness shown by many who are enamoured of modern social schemes in the endeavour to prove the identification of each with Christianity. Christians must beware lest they too readily give adhesion to schemes which in order to gain support are identified with religion, and with the person of Christ. Better to study the Bible to find out what its scheme really is, and then it would be the readier seen whether the schemes of social reform, now so loudly proclaimed, have any right to the support they claim. Much of this modern identification is preached by men, who at heart are opposed to Christ and His teachings against sin and sinners. On the matter of human progress 1Il morals, manners, and mind, authorities differ widely as the poles. The majority claim a most distinct betterment j but here and there a voice is heard protesting with vigour against the acceptance of such comforting doctrines. Dr. Emile Reich has recently been lecturing in St. James's Hall, London, on 'The History of Civilization,' and he has been heretic enough to oppose the current view. The lecturer' rejects and repulses Buckle's belief in progress. There is no general progress j we are, on the whole, neither better nor wiser than were our ancestors. We are neither superior to classical nor to medieeval civilization. Progress is the war cry of upstarts and parvenus. As proof of these views he offers the fact, that there is no difference in the race of men. Darwinian theories of the descent of man are, for' the time being, superfluous and unproven, it having never been proved that man had not existed at a time when he could have existed. There are no savages. Their brains do not weigh less, their moral qualities are in no way inferior to ours, Even cannibals abound in features of remarkable delicacy and feeling 'j from all which we gather that the lecturer holds that change is not of necessity progression. 'Whilst we may not be prepared to endorse everything hinted at above, we think it quite right that a halt should be cried to the easy-going exponents of the prevalent doctrine-betterment without Divine assistance. Just as we are congratulating each other that the dreaded , grippe' is loosing its hold upon us, we are informed that another fell disease has commenced its ravages. The cholera is spreading rapidly in Asia and in Europe, and has already travelled with great rapidity from Persia and Russia, where thousands have fallen beneath its stroke, to the shores of Europe, whence it seems ready to spring across the sea to the British Isles. Precautionary measures

SEPTKMBER,1892.

THE BIBLE STANDARD.

redemption, but spite of the opposition it is to the front, not only as a powerful factor enterprise, but also, we are persuaded, as a church, that the line which should mark people from the world may be distinctly length.

131
coming rapidly in missionary purifier of the off the Lord's seen in all its

are b~ing taken in English and American ports, but we are by no means confident that the sanitary conditions of English seaport and inland towns are of such a perfect character that the invader will not be able to obtain a foothold. Doubtless stringent quarantine will be enforced on all vessels leaving infected ports, but the traffic between the Continent and Great Britain is so great that it will be little short of marvellous should the disease be kept out. Man has found out many inventions, but as a rule in a war with disease, even his victories are purchased at tremendous cost. The old topic of 'The Press and the Pulpit' is brought to the fore in a recent issue of the Westminster Review, by J. Leatham, who clearly enough shows that his sympathies are with the press, and most decidedly against the pulpit. Why the question as to the comparative value of these was ever raised is more than we can tell. It is an easy matter to ask a question of this kind, but there ought to be some limitations or definitions given. If both dealt at all times with the same themes, then we might seek to know which best fulfilled the needs of the public, but if there is room for both, even this would be almost superfluous. Seeing, however, that the primary function of the pulpit is to voice a very definite purpose to which all other matters are or should be subordinate j it is surely wrong to attempt to compare it with the press, which has not the same pur pose as a supreme governing motive. Mr. Leatham confines himself mainly to a comparison on lines which touch the social, political and moral interests of mankind, and contends that in every way the press is superior to the pulpit, and the journalist to the preacher. There is doubtless room to contest his claim, even on such grounds, but, we again submit, such a comparison is extremely unfair, and evinces the bias of a partisan, who seems strangely blinded to the fact that if the preacher is faithful to his calling, whatever else he does, he must seek to win men for eternity. Such social efforts as may claim his attention will be subordinate to that which is the highest and noblest work in which man can engage. We note it as an unmistakeable sign of the times that wherever there is a sincere desire to spread the knowledge of ' the truth as it is in Jesus,' it is invariably accompanied by a belief that the time is short, and that the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. It has been asserted over and over again that a belief in the near premillennial advent is inimical to all earnest endeavour to win souls to a present salvation. But, facts are against this idea. The noblest and most ardent workers on missionary fields to-day are believers in the speedy advent of the Lord. The Baptists are sending young men and women to China as missionaries, and a correspondent assures us that it is indispensable that the candidate believe in the doctrine of second advent. This is cheering, for it betokens a revival of previous truths. Truth, still sneered at by those who think that existing ecclesiastical organizations will effect the world's

\tbe 'Jlanb ot Jl)romise.

IN 1859 a paper was read before the British Association of Science in Aberdeen by Major Phillips, on 'The Predicted Future of Syria and Arabia.' He exhibited carefully prepared maps to illustrate his deductions. As I think the readers of the BIBLE STANDARDwill be interested I will try to state his case in a condensed form. The author con trasts the present desolation and poverty of the land with the predicted fertility and prosperity, as he does also the scattered seed of Abraham with the future ingathering and glory. He then deals with the revealed boundaries of the Promised Land, the physical changes, direct and indirect. He cites God's promise to Abraham, Gen. xiii. 14, and the more definite pledge, with boundary indications, in Gen. xv, 18: 'From the river of Egypt unto the great river Euphrates.' He assumes the river of Egypt to be the Nile, and the land between them the promised place. Exodus xxiii. 31 adds other lines: 'I will set thy borders from the Red Sea, even unto the sea of the Philistines (Mediterranean), and from the wilderness to the riverthus bounded by two rivers and by two seas. He claims that the first settlement was only partial, and calls attention to the conditions by which they could get the full possession of all promised, as shown in Deuteronomy 11th chapter. He cites verse 24: 'Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall be your border.' He then uses the map. He rules a line from the northern roots of Lebanon to the southern roots of Sinai in the wilderness. He continues this north to the Euphrates and south to the Red Sea. This he calls the line of construction. Then taking a perpendicular line from that eastward he reaches the sea of Oman, the uttermost sea. Thus the boundary is marked all round except the mention of the Persian Gulf which was not necessary to mention. He then deals with land measure, which he admits is hard to determine. So he takes three measurements in Scripture-the oblation of Ezekiel xlv., the winepress of Revelation xiv., and the New Jerusalem. He discards the English furlong, and adheres to the term used, the Roman stadion, translated furlong. By some elaborate calculations he concludes that Ezekiel's 25,000 reeds is 50 Roman miles. He gets a bearing from Zech. xiv. 10: 'All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon.' He ascertains the location of these places from best authorities, determines their latitude and longitude, takes Mount Zion for a centre, and he then measures on his map the 50 Roman miles width for the oblation. He then lays off seven spaces of same width northward, and he touches the end of his line of construe

132

THE BIBLE STANDARD.

SEPTEMBER,

1892.

tion at the Euphrates. Then he marks off five spaces of 50 miles south of oblation line, and he reaches the southern end of his line at the Red Sea. He then locates the tribes as Ezekiel xlvii. and xlviii, describes all the lines running east and west through Syria and Arabia. He calls attention to the predictions of J acob and Moses in Gen. xlix. and Deut. xxxiii. Those relating to Zebulun and Issachar areto this issue. They are an 'haven for ships;' , they shall suck the abundance of the seas, and the hidden treasures of the sands.' The reader will see by his map that these tribes were north and inland: under the predicted division they are south, and the Gulf of Akabah penetrates their portion in the west, and their line eastward leads to Sheba, where there is gold (see Isa. lx. 6 and Psalm lxxii. 10). The author shows the physical changes that will make Jerusalem the chief city of the earth for situation. From Zech xiv. he learns that there will be a great earthquake, and a very great valley east and west reaching unto Azal (Askelon). He cites surveys that show the Dead Sea to be below the Great Sea 1,312 feet, and by the line the Dead Sea would be reached by the valley made. Because of "the terror excited by this great convulsion the people flee; and Hosea tells of the Valley of Achor as a door of hope. He describes the probable action thus : ' An earthquake valley being opened, the waters of the Great Sea falling eight times the depth of Niagara into the Dead Sea will speedily cause its waters to rise, and while a mighty whirlpool will be created in the vast basin of the Dead Sea, its rising waters will be permeating the drift sands of four thousand years, which now conceal the southern bed of the Jordan. Yes, as surely as the waters of the Great Sea shall enter the Dead Sea at an angle-and admirably prepared as the construction of the surrounding mountains is to produce a grand gyration-so surely will that gyration of commingled waters rise from a hollow river to a mighty overpowering swell, and when at length the waters stand upon a heap, and the gyra, tion ceases to uphold, the mass falls, strikes the mountain sides; and now "Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; let the floods clap their hands before the Lord for he cometh to judge the earth, and the people with his righteousness; and God will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert," and the waters finding no other outlet will clear out the Jordan bed; the Dead Sea will overflow the Valley of Edom, connecting with the. Red Sea by Akabah: thus .J erusalem, the central city, will stand upon the highway for all nations-the emporium of both east and west-and religion reigning above commerce in those coming happy days will fill the long downtrodden city with glory. " God will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream." , Doubtless the old bed of the Jordan .was the Valley of Akabah, The boundary rocks are grooved by past torrents, and worn with water marks; the Dead Sea, filled from the ocean, will be the pool of Jerusalem, a harbour for the commerce of the world. The sand washed out will fill up the tongue of the Egyptian Sea, the old Nile bed re-opened, the present streams smitten, and by the new channel a

straight way made for the nations down the Nile to the city of the Great King. So that dealing with geographical truths, and taking Scripture in its natural, straightforward sense, we get developments of truth, and bright prospects for the human race, the fulfilment of the promise to Abraham, a special blessing for those who are Christ's, and so are Abraham's seed and heirs of the promise. 1 have tried to do justice to the writer-who is painstaking, pleasing, consistent, and instructive,-and any who will take the trouble to mark on a map as indicated in the paper, will see that the promised land to Abraham, not yet given, is indeed a great gift.

E. C.

lbow to jiocate $Cl'iptul'e '[eJ:ta.

THE Bible is God's storehouse. It is }1 big one; has num berless rooms, all filled with the bins that are heaped to the full with good seed. It is not all the same kind, but it is all good. 'Where to find what you want is the question. When a farmer wants to plant corn he does not go to the bin of wheat, nor to the barley sack when he wants rye. So with the promises, if you want to reap ioy you get that kind of seed verses; if you want grace you go to the Scriptures that promise just that, like 2 Cor. ix. 8. I find it very helpful to lay my finger right on the verse that will cover my need. A five-dollar bill will stand one in hand right well if he is hungry and near the restaurant, but though he has it, yet cannot lay his hand on it, because it is lost on his person, or in his room, of what value is it to him 1 Now, thousands of souls go hungry because these promises, which are exchangeable for bread, are lost--lost here in the Book. How shall we find them 1 How locate them so that when we are in need they can be used at a moment's notice 1 I tell you friends, if you do not use the promises of God you will never know 'their value. You will never love the Bible. Gold as gold is worth but little, it is only when it is exchanged for our necessities that we get to see how good it is. So with the word of God. Some say they cannot locate these promises; now that is not so, they can. Put them in as salesmen and they will soon find where the goods are kept in the store. Just the way a clerk locates the wares of a shop, so locate Scripture passages. Here comes a customer; he wants 'encouragement in Christian work.' You take him over to the psalmroom, first bin, third shelf. 'And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth fruit in his season, his leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.' Now, you send him away with plenty of goods like that, and he will soon set up business for himself. Take a good wife and .she knows where everything is kept in the house. She does not go looking for linen in the refrigerator, or searching for china in the clothes closet. Why, bless your heart, she can find the sheets and pillow cases in the dark. Now, in the same way, a Christian ought to know where to find the promises.

S EP'l'EMBER,

1892.

THE BIBLE STANDARD.

133

What is the use of looking in Jeremiah, the book of backslidings, for the promise 'Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid?' It is not there; John xiv. 27 has that. Often I see Christians searching in the Old Testament for Hebrews, or looking towards the end of the Bible for Leviticus, Might as well look for New York on the Pacific coast. Take a physician or druggist; he wants certain drugs or medicine for some one that is very ill, does he look from bottle to bottle wondering if it is in this or that 1 No. He knows what he wants, and where to find it. Now, these sin-sick souls come to us, and we want rightly to divide the word of truth unto them. Some Scripture would be rank poison for them, other promises will be like balm. Christ was the great physician, and we are the lesser ones. Let us know where to find the medicine that will be of service in a critical hour. Many divinity students know almost nothing about the promises and where to find them. If some poor souls came to them for Scripture help, they would much easier deal out a hard theological pill than a well put prescription right from the written word. Friends, let us get acquainted with our English Bible. Let us' know it through and through. We can do it if we have a mind to. The trouble is not that we cannot, but that we are too indolent or lazy to do the work necessary. Have one Bible that you use and mark, that will help a great deal. I feel lost in the work without this Bible I've used for ten years; why, some promises I could find in the dark almost. I know just where they lie. Take Joshua i. 5, 8, and 9, and they are as clear to. me at midnight as midday. Others I mark in blue or red, and that makes them stand out on the page so that I know where to find them. Another, way, is to locate the verses that are alike, as in Isaiah. The eleventh verses, that is the eleventh verses of certain chapters, begin with chapter 21, then go to the 40th and 41st; by the time you get to the 42nd you too will shout. Then read the 43rd with the 51st, 55th, and 58th, and the chances are you will rejoice like a Methodist. Take the three three-sixteens of the Bibleit is easy to remember that-Mala chi iii. 16, John iii. 16, Ephesians iii. 16, and you have what every Christian ought to do; first, to speak often; second, what to speak about; third, strength to speak. The great trouble will be wanting to do too much at once. Build Rome in a day! It cannot be done. Tt is one at a time. You cannot win in this race with a spurt, slow and sure is the only way of winning. Get in your mind the great chapters of the Bible-that will help you. Take the last chapter I just named, which is the bottomless chapter of the Bible, once get the twentieth verse into your mind, and it will never leave you. The Holy Spirit has brought that to me, I suppose a thousand times in prayer and work. Dig out the promises in the eighth of Romans; who that has proved and marked them, can ever forget verses 18, 28, 31 and 32. You might as well try to blot out Jupiter from the sky as to erase Psalm

xxxii. 8 from JPY memory.' Glorious things of that promise I could tell. When I want money, I go to the money promises of the Book,and never yet have I been disappointed. Oh, you that must raise funds for God's work, why do not you pray more and prove the promises 1 You would have less both of worry and work. You will find that Christ knew where to find the Scripture He wanted; that is proven in Luke iv. 17. So did Peter on the day of Pentecost. In fact, anyone that God has used in any great degree, knew His word; knew it well. Oh, may the spirit of wisdom be given as promised in J ames i. 5, till hundreds, yes, even thousands, of the mighty promises of our God shall be known by us, both in location and in mind, and better than all, in fulfilment.

1bis IDotber's Songs.

BENEATH

the hot midsummer sun The men had marched all day, And now beside a rippling stream Upon the grass they lay.

Tiring of games and idle jests, As swept the hours along, They called to one who mused apart, 'Come, friend, give us a song.' He answered, 'Nay, I cannot please; The only songs I know Are those my mother used to sing At home, long years ago.' , Sing one of those,' a rough voice cried; , We all are true men here, And. to each mother's son of us A mother's songs are dear.' Then sweetly sang the strong, clear voice Amid unwonted calm: , Am I a soldier of the cross, A follower of the Lamb? ' The trees hushed all their whispering leaves The very stream was stilled, , And hearts that never throbbed with. fear With tender memories thrilled. Ended the song, the singer said, As to his feet he rose, , Thanks to you all; good night, my friends, God grant you sweet repose.' Out spoke the captain, 'Sin" one more.' The soldier bent his head, '" Then smiling as he glanced around, 'You'll join with me,' he said, , In singing this familiar air, Sweet as a bugle-call, " All hail the power of Jesus' name, Let angels prostrate fall." , Wondrous the spell the old tune wrought; As on and on he sang, Man after man fell into line, And loud their voices rang. The night winds bore the grand refrain Above the tree-tops tall, The 'everlasting hills' called back, In answer 'Lord of all.' The songs are done, the camp is still, Naught but the stream is heard; But ah! the depth of every soul By those old hymns was stirred. And up from many a bearded lip Rises, in murmurs low, The prayer the mother taught her boy' At home long years ago. -f,fT8. E. V. Wilson.

134

THE BIBLE STANDARD.

S];P'l'EMB]!;U.

1892.

II)aper5 on tbe lIdngl)om.

No. XIII. THE I~~~~~HE KINGDOM YET IN ABEYANCE. last month's paper dealt with the historical fact that John the Baptist, Jesus, and His disciples, preached one message: 'The kingdom of God is near at hand.' Former readings have shown the nature of the kingdom the advent of which was thus heralded. To have approached the study in a right manner, and to follow the development of the theme as we have attempted to do, is to build after the details of a perfect plan. The kingdom was on earth, secured by oath and covenant to David, and which had been so long 'overturned,' and was now, according to the divinely-sent heralds, near at hand. We have now to notice the following facts: (1) The kinqdom. was not established during the minist?y of Christ. This is a necessary deduction from the history, for no such kingdom as had been predicted then appeared. There was no re-establishment of David's throne. On this there can be no dispute. The very men who were the preachers of the kingdom, after their work of preaching in the days of Christ's ministry, and after a particular instruction for forty days, ask:

and official rejection of Christ (Luke xix. 41--44). There were, therefore, seven years,-one week to come. Add to these the length of His ministry-three years and a halfand it is seen that, dating from the beginning of His proclamation, the kingdom was but ten years and a half distant. In that fact we get an explanation of the phrase, , the kingdom near:' He was rejected when He presented Himself in the manner which proclaimed Him the Messiah of prophecy. So the kingdom was rejected. The imposed conditions-repentance and baptism-s-were not submitted to.
'The Pharisees am! the lawyers rejected for themselves the counsel ofGoe!, being not baptized of him (John)' (Luke vii. 30).

A few accepted the conditions and' justified God,' but the kingdom could not then be erected, owing to its affiliation with the nation itself, a national moral regeneration being a pre-requisite. On the day of Pentecost the great question with the Jew must be, 'How, under the burden of such aggravating guilt, after slaying the covenanted Son of David, how could he be saved l' This was the thought which caused that anguish of heart under Peter's sermon. It is just as well here to look at the reason assigned, by the priests andPbarisees in council, for putting Jesus to death:
, What do we '! for this man doeth many signs. If we 'let him thus alone, all men will believe on him; and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation' (John xi. 47,48).

, Lord, dost Thon at this time restore the 7cingdoln to Israel? And He said unto them, It is not for you to know times or seasons, which the Father hath set within His own authority' (Acts i. 6, 7).

The answer here given by the Lord confirms their view of the existing facts. He did not tell them they were mistaken. He necessarily implies that they were right in their apprehension of the nature of the kingdom. Like J oseph of Arimathea, they 'waited for the kingdom of God' (MIc. xv. 43). (2) Before His death Jesus had distinctly foretold His coming to be future:
, I say-unto you, Henceforth ye shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven' (Matt. xxvi. 64).

Is not this prediction one with these:

, The Lord saith unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool' (Ps, ex. 1). , I saw in the night visions, and, behold, there came with the clouds of heaven one like unto a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and langnages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.' (Dan. vii. 13,14).

Thus we get the teaching that the Advent Christ refers to, is that which shall inaugurate a universal kingdom upon the earth, 'Under the whole heaven.' It is then, yet future. There is one question which may here be put. ' How near was that kingdom when proclaimed by Jesus l' The answer must depend upon the chronological data supplied by the Scriptures. I find my answer in Dan. ix. 24-27. The sixty-nine weeks terminated on the day of the open

Here was lack of faith in the theocratic king and kingdom. They do not question the rightfulness of His claims, but they fear the result of accepting them. Devout readers of the Gospels will observe that the opposition of the rulers to Christ led them to use His claims as the ground of their charge against Him before Pi late, their hatred causing them to choose Csesar instead of Christ. Now, think, was not their guilt aggravated by the knowledge which they possessed of the covenanted kingdom, of a covenanted Messiah in David's line able to protect against all earthly power 1 The intensity of their malignity was shown in causing the death of one who gave all the predicted evidences of the Messiahship, and in taking advantage of the tender of the kingdom to them to procure His death. That which was brought near in love and grace they make the basis of accusation and death, The kingdom was offered in good faith: that is, it would have been bestowed provided the nation had repented. The foreknown result made no difference in the tender of it so far as the free agency of the nation was concerned; that result flowed from a voluntary choice. Toward the close of the Lord's ministry, immediately after the rejection, He gave warning that the kingdom was no longer near:
, Behold yonr house is left unto you desolate' (Matt. xxiii. 38..) , Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken away from you, and shall be given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof' (Matt. xxi. 43).

The same truth is shown in the parable (Luke xix. 11-27).

of the nobleman

SlPTEMBER,

1892.

THE BIBLE STANDARD.

135

It is now' taken away,' and to be given to others. To whom 1 Some reply, To the believers of the present dispensation. That cannot be; for(1) That particular kingdom was never on offer to the Gentiles. (2) It is still to be Israel's (Luke i. 33, Acts i. 6). (3) The time given in Daniel ix. had not expired. What then is the explanation of the' you '. and' nation' 1 In the parable of the husbandmen, Christ is speaking of a class of men who are rejectors of the 'heir,' and a like class is indicated by the descriptive 'you'; and the , taking away of the kingdom' is very clearly expressed in the prediction:
'The sons of the kingdom shall be cast forth into the outer darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth' (Matt. viii. 12). .

proffer was to the nation of Israel, and will again be made under conditions and circumstances which will cause that people to cry, 'Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.' ALPHA. --------

H <Boob ~raining

for !lDtniatera.

The 'nation' which is to receive the kingdom is that described in the writings of the prophets:
, Open ye the gates that the riqhteous nation. which keepeth truth may enter in' (Isa, xxvi, 2). . , Thy people also shall be ctll riqhteous, they shall inherit the land for ever' (Isa, Ix. 21). 'I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains' (Isa, lxv. 9).

IN the 'Ancient Discipline of the Evangelical Churches of the Valleys of Piedmont,' dated A.D.1l20, in the second article, 'concerning pastors,' it is said: , All those who are to be received as pastors among us, while they remain with their relations, entreat us to receive them into the ministry; as likewise that they would be pleased to pray God that they may be made worthy of so great a charge; but the said petitioners present such supplications to give a proof of their humility. , We also appoint them their lessons, and set them to
get by heart all the chapters of St. Matthew and St. John, with all the Epistles called canonical, and a good part of the w'l'itings of Solomon, David, and the prophets. And after-

It is affirmed by some that the kingdom was established at Pentecost. Such fail to note that no apostle ever declared to either Jew or Gentile that it was set up. The terms of the covenants forbid the preaching of any such thing. . When Peter delivered that heart- stirring discourse on the Day of Pentecost, he took the Jewish view of the kingdom to be the correct one, and hence, without entering into particulars, he endeavoured to show that Jesus is that Messiah for whom the covenanted Davidic throne should be set up, .His resurrection, exaltation, and grant of the Holy Spirit giving all needed assurance. Paul's teaching expressly corresponds with Peter's. In his writings he unites the kingdom with the Advent, and, instead of supposing the present existence of the covenanted kingdom, he predicts that before the day of Christ there would be a serious falling away. He looks for the kingdom as a future thing:
'I charge thee in the sight of God and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the quick and the dead, and by his appem'ing and his kingdom' (2 Tim. iv. 1). . , The Lord will . . . save me unto his heavenly kingdom' (ver. 18). , To the end that ye may be counted W01tfty of the kingdom of God, for which ye also sufter' (2 Thes. i. 5).

James speaks of believers as being' heirs of the kingdom,' and John, in his Epistles, writes of the coming Antichrist, encourages to faithfulness and to an expectant waiting for the coming of the Lord, whilst in the Revelation he shows the manner in which the Advent shall introduce the kingdom. No offer of the kingdom is made now. It is true that our Message is of 'The good tidings concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ' ; but the offer. of the kingdom is not made now as of old time. Why not 1 If we have rightly understood its nature, as depicted in covenant, history, and prophecy, we can see that the

wards having good testimonials, they are by the imposition of hands admitted to the office of preaclcinq:' This seems to be ~ very good system of educating men in the Word of God. It is impossible for a man to thoroughly know the meaning of Scripture until he first knows the Scripture itself. There are plenty. of people who study to know what the Scripture means without studying much to know what it says. They can expound Scripture much better than they can quote it. The root and foundation of all true exposition is in an intimate knowledge of the Word of God; and a large proportion of that VV ord is to be uttered rather than expounded. It is plain enough already; too plain for our inclinations with which it clashes, our lusts which it slays, and our wills which it bows and bends. The man who can stand up before an assembly and repeat without the book sentence after sentence, passage after passage, and chapter after chapter of the Word of God, will find that he has tapped a fountain which never will run dry. He will never lack for something to preach if he can preach the Word of God; he will never need to be stealing his sermons from hither and thither; he will have in his own soul 'a well of water springing up to everlasting life.' There are worse plans for educating ministers than that proposed by Jabez Swan, the great evangelist, who said, 'I wish I had a theological seminary; I' would make the students pray half the time, and learn verses out of the
Bible the other half.'

If men would thus talk with God, and then let God talk with them, they would become mighty in the Scriptures and strong in faith, giving glory to God. Alas that men should be so weak, while eternal strength is within their grasp! Alas that they should be so hungry while the bread of life is before them! Alas that they should be unarmed and helpless when the whole armour of God is offered them, and they have only to take it and be 'strong n the Lord and in the power of His might'! -The
A1I1WU1Y

136
~~.

THE BIBLE STANDARD.

Ei';"J7=3-":-~

I:3EP'1'EMBER, 1892.

~.~~e
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'j13tble
~~.

$t;;,~~ c1[o
ORGAN

~~

MONTHo~:flE

i:;;-w' Zealand

Evangelistic
BY

and ~ublication

~~~W t
v(b))
Association,

The Melbourne brethren have their hands full of work just now. Bro. Brown is engaged almost every evening in one or other of the Bible Schools which have been inauguIt4!' 'l'he Editor wishes it to be understood that, while he exercises" In addition to general supervision over the ar-ticles and correspondence appearing in the rated, and is preaching twice on Sundays. Standard, responsibility for sentiments expressed rests upon the indivithose already mentioned, a week evening Bible Class has dual writer. begun in Ascot Vale. Are not the fields white unto the harvest. We thank God for the revival of truth now being experienced in Melbourne, and we are looking for much good as the result. More workers are required. From Tm, treasurer of the Church Building Fund gratefully two sources the plea comes, , Send some of your young men acknowledges a donation of ten shillings from M.G.M. who have the gift of speech, and are willing to work for A brother forwards the following note :-' I should feel the Master.' much pleased and thankful if you would open the columns of the STANDARD discussion of the question, "Ought a for Christian to insure his (or her) life?" By Christian I mean, of course, a true follower of the Master.-F.H.E.' A COUN'l'RY subscriber sends us a letter addressed to him by We have no objection, but would rather encourage the a friend, to whom he had given a copy of the BIBLE discussion of such a question, asking all who are interested to send their views. We only ask that the communications STANDARD. It has been forwarded to us with the request that we should deal with the objections it contains and be as brief as possible and that the writers give all the give expositions of the texts it quotes against the views we Bible light they can find. teach, Our first idea was to print the letter and review it The Lantern Mission in connection with the Auckland passage by passage, but inasmuch as the writer has formed church is still running successfully. We are rather ,sorry his opinion very hurriedly we deem it sufficient to note where that we shall have to close it at the termination of the he fails to understand our teaching. The texts have been present month for lack of slides. We hope to receive dealt with again and again in these columns, so we just sufficient encouragement to enable us to resume the services give the former part of his letter, which reveals the imperwhen winter comes again. One evening in August was fect grasp the writer has of our position whilst he thinks devoted to an address upon' Men I have known.' Portraits he can show its weakness. Failure to understand the of Dr. Leask, General Goodwyn, Capt. 'Ward and others groundwork gives apparent force to texts which have been were thrown upon the screen. There was a large attendviewed solely in the light of the immortal soul theory. ance and much interest was shown. A Jecture on 'The Whereas, had that theory been investigated the texts Life and Times of .T ohn Bunyan,' the first of a course on would not be used against the views advocated in the the 'Pilgrim's Progress,' also drew a full house. We STANDARD. The writer having read one number of THE believe that the possibilities for service by the use of the BIBLE STANDARD forthwith formulates its teachings, as he lantern are great indeed. It has been looked' upon simply thinks, into two propositions, and proceeds to show their as a toy or for amnsement, but judiciously employed it can falsity. Let us look a moment at these, for herein is be a useful assistant to the Bible teacher. revealed a too hasty generalization and a clear evasion of Bro. E. H. Taylor still remains on the sick list, and for the one point on which we should insist, The writer says: some time to come will have to refrain from taking public , From what I can gather from this number of :l'UEBmLE STANwork. Arrangements have been made so that as far as DAIWI take the Conditionalist views to be, first, That at death possible brethren from Auckland will supply until he is the soul passes into a long sleep of oblivion and is not conscious sufficiently recovered to resume his accustomed duties. of anything until raised up at the general judgment at the last day.' We have not too many ardent workers after the type of Now this yields the evidence that the opinion of the Bro. C, Gamble, of Adelaide. At the time of our visit to writer has been formed very hurriedly, for this is by no that city a year ago we found that he had adopted the plan means the first of our views. There is an enquiry which of posting tracts and notices, on Conditional Immortality, must precede all questions as to the state of man in death, at his shop front in Stepney, so that passers by might be or as to his future destiny, and that is the enquiry, What induced to stay a while and read. He has now, we learn, is the ruuure of man? That is the first of all questions. as many as twenty boards showing in Stepneyon Sundays. , Is man immortal now? Has he a soul or a spirit within AS;:,ISTED BY SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS.

EDITED

GEO, ALDRIDGE.

Some' are exposed at his business place in King William Street, being specially designed to attract attention. OUl' brother has evidently found his tine of work and follows it. This is as it should be. In a letter he says, 'I thank God for enabling me and making me willing-hearted to do and to bear for Him. I wish also to encourage others to do likewise that we may let our light shine, and be the means of leading others into light, remembering 1 John i. 7.'

:association 'iRotes.

:a $ample 'lletter.

SEP'l'EM13ER,

1892.

THE BIBLE STANDARD.

137

him, which is the real man, and which can live on without the body ~ That is the question which every sincere Bible student who hears it will earnestly endeavour to answer from the Word of God. Christians have been so long accustomed to hear and to use the phrase, 'immortal soul,' that i:; is something like a shock to them to be told the Bible knows nothing of it. Neither the phrase nor the idea is to be found in the Scriptures.

doctrine of man's nature, the texts he quotes against our views will be found necessarily and harmoniously to range themselves on the side of Conditional Immortality,
---+._--

ED.

tl Singular :fBequeat.

IT is no uncommon experience to meet with men who ex press the greatest surprise when the truth of the common Conditionalists are men who have investigated on this view on man's nature is questioned. They suppose that the point, and who know that of which they affirm when they whole subject is settled past all need for investigation. say that the popularly believed doctrine has not a statement Perhaps such a one may see this number of the STANDARD; in the Bible to support it. Let the writer of this letter if so we commend to his notice the following news item, take his Bible and concordance and go through all the which will show that the question is not deemed to be at passages, of which there are hundreds, relating to the' soul' all satisfactorily settled even by the learned :or 'spirit,' and find those which speak of it by any phraseAmong the professors of the University of Basel, Switzer. ology as immortal, and we will gladly print all he can find. land, none occupied a higher place than Dr. Inaz Hoppe, The first question is, What is man ~ The answer to that is who died a few days ago, leaving a large fortune and a will <riven in the history of man's creation, and the Bible never o . which are destined to play an important part in the history swerves by so much as a hairbreadth from that declaration. of the town, Among the various bequests made by the 'The Lord God formed MAll' OFTHEDUST THE GROUND.' OF dead man was one of $200,000 (40,000) for the investigaWhen the question as to man's nature has been settled, then tion of the nature of the soul. The interest of the money the next step can be taken as to his state in death, Until is to be used in paying the salaries and expenses of a certain that is done there can be nothing but confusion in the mind. number of scholars who are to live in the house occupied This is evidenced in the above quotation from the letter, by the professor, and study and reflect upon the properties for no Conditionalist would so state his views, As a rule he and nature of the soul. From time to time they are to has devoted some little time to the Bible order of future publish the results of their investigations, that the world events, and does not speak of 'resurrection at the general may be the judge of their efforts to follow out the provisions judgment at the last day.' But we will now pass by this of the will. The men who undertake the work, according and briefly say that the better way would be to say that to the testament, must live frugally and devote all of their , Man in death is unconscious till resurrection.' time to the problem before them. They must be Christians Second, 'That after judgment the souls of the unsaved .at:e but may be either Catholics or Protestants. Their writings simplydestroyed out of being, or to use another word, annihimust be free from all foreign words and phrases. ' Sublated.' jective,' 'objective,' 'national,' 'transcendental,' and other, We might allow this to pass if we were sure as to the similar words are also to find no place in their prospective meaninz of the words' souls of the unsaved.' If by this o works. With these exceptions, Prof. Hoppe placed no phrase is meant 'the person,' well and good, but if it means restrictions upon the duties and privileges of the men who 'a soul,' as a tenant in a house, a 'prisoner in a tenement are to carry out his strange wishes, of clay,' then we must object. 'The wicked shall be We wonder how many of these students will devote themdestroyed,' so we would state it, and if they are not selves to a close and prayerful search into the Word of God, naturally immortal they can be destroyed. There but to learn from the Creator of man the exact nature of man, remains then to find an answer to the question, Will they and of man's soul. Many a humble student of Scripture be 1 That is given in scores of passages harmonious with has so searched and having found that which satisfies his the affirmation. 'The Lord preserveth all that love Him, mind and solves his' doubt, he learns to look upon the but ALLTHEWICKED WILLHE DESTROY.' philosophical treatises that are published as useless efforts No one is rightly furnished for an examination into the to support a doctrine which is 'baseless as the fabric of a questions as to man's state in death and his future destiny, vision.' ' What is the chaff to the wheat saith the Lord.' who has not thoroughly examined the Bible as to his ED. nature, "Ve affirmthis because otherwise the Word will be read under the influence of a doctrine of psychology which cbaracter has been handed down by tradition from pagan philosophers --a doctrine which expressly contradicts Bible speech and THE teaching of Theosophy has the merit (if merit it can which bears every semblance of having originated from the be called) of flattering all the tendencies of the modern :Father of Lies, mind; to reconcile man's craving for the invisible with the

\tbe \true

of \tbeoaopb\?

The writer of the letter sh~ws much earnestness in his advocacy of the views of consciousness in death and of future eternal suffering, If the same earnestness be devoted, as we suggest, to a thorough examination of the Bible

belief in the reign of law. It peoples the universe with unseen agencies, who are continually present with us, although we see them not. It proclaims the universal reign of law, and at the same time concedes man's freedom

133

THE B~BLE STANDARD.

SEPTEMBER.

1892.

of action. It declares man free from any personal responsibilities to any personal and invisible being, whom he is bound to obey and worship, and leaves him entirely master of his own virtues, and with the future entirely under his control. It proposes a lofty morality, and even a spirit of asceticism, with the further object to throw into the shade the Christian morality and the asceticism of the saints. It takes under its sheltering wings all religions of every sort whatsoever, declaring them to be imperfect, but in harmony with the Theosophic system, and their founders to have been adepts that reached a high stage of Theosophic development. It brushes aside the miracles of Christianity, and the marvels of Spiritualism as mere child's-play compared with the wonders that are in the power of the most illustrious Mahatmas. It declares all those marvels which are generally regarded as supernatural to be nothing more than the exercise of the natural powers of those who have penetrated far into the secrets of nature, as they have, and produce by a long course of training, which has lasted it may be for thousands of years; such a mastery over the material world as makes them almost as independent of it as theology represents the angels as being. Its adepts now think it advisable to encourage the formation of a universal brotherhood, as well as a Theosophical society, for the spread of their teaching. Such a system awakens curiosity and kindles the imagination. Its growing influence seems to point to it as destined to play an important part in the mental history of the coming generation. It is one of the marks of genius in a system, that it assimilates all the prevalent tendencies of the age, and this Theosophy undoubtedly does. Proceeding now to examine the credentials of the new system, I do not hesitate to express my deliberate conviction that many of the Theosophic marvels are such as no amount of conjuring secretly, or clever deception, could have produced, but that there is in them a large amount of what, for convenience sake, I call preterhuman agency at work. If we now pass the consideration of the distinctive dogmas of Theosophists, and ask the evidence-beyond the miracles they can advance - in support of so bold a hypothesis as is involved, a Theosophist vouches the source in personal knowledge and experience for the existence of these privileged beings, the Mahatmas, having held communications with them, and witnessed their powers. But if we would know the true character of Theosophy, we must lock to its teaching concerning God. Now, on this point the deity of the Theosophist differs little or nothing from the Eternal Something of Mr. Herbert Spencer. It denies most expressly and unmistakably any sort of a personal God. God is All, and All is God. God is the Infinite and Eternal Cause, the rootless root of all that was, and is, and ever shall be. In other words, Theosophy is merely a sort of resuscitated Pantheism, assuming a tone of friendly patronage to all other religions, but at the same time cutting at the root of all that makes

religion deserving of the name. It claims that Jesus was an adept, but denies that he was the typical Christ. As regards the marvels of Theosophy, we find the facts undeniable. We find a set of phenomena almost exactly corresponding with those of Spiritualism. In Spiritualism, foolish persons who have taken part in it have been made the tools of preternatural beings for the spread of doctrine opposed to Christianity. Are we justified in arriving at any other conclusion as respects Theosophists 1 To put the matter in plain English, Theosophy is a false, an anti-Christian, Godless system, teaching doctrine subversive of all belief and all true morality, and putting forward as its credentials wonders which are neither more nor less than simply deviltry. To sum up, the wonders of Theosophy are not, speaking generally, impostures; many of them are quite inexplicable by natural means. They cannot be supernatural, for the system to which they bear witness is one which blasphemes Almighty God and His Son Jesus Christ. We cannot, therefore, avoid the inference that they are due to the invisible enemies of an invisible God. It is nothing less than a system of deviltry under fair names, hiding its true character behind the name of universal brotherhood; and a pretence made of a knowledge of the secrets of nature's laws. It deserves the hatred and the abhorrence of everyone who calls himself a Christian, and also of every believer in the unity of a personal God.-By the Editor of the Lite?'ary Digest, March, 1892.
-------+----

30bn lI{noJ;'g l-l~"enta ~~pe.

IN Scotland's darkest day the nation at last felt that its only hope lay in the return of John Knox ; and so he was sent for, and eagerly they waited the first signal of the great Reformer's advent. At length a messenger hastened up from Leith, entered the chamber where the delegates were secretly assembled, and carefully shutting the door, a whisper was breathed: John Knox has come.' It went from lip to lip, and men stood up with strange excitement, buckled on their armour and helmets, went from home to home, and village to village, until, ere many hours had passed, the tidings had been whispered to every waiting heart, ' John Knox has come.' And brave men gathered to the secret meeting place, where a mighty host stood around their glorious leader, and the enemies of Scotland trembled on their thrones before the power of one mighty man. Scotland was saved, and the religious liberties of the world were settled. Oh, this is the only hope of the world! Let us send it up to heaven as the cry of prayer, 'Come, Lord Jesus; come quickly!' And soon the whisper shall float down from yonder skies, 'The Lord has come' and around Him shall silently gather His faithful waiting ones; and the sceptres shall fall, and the thrones shall crumble, and the King of kings shall take the kingdom. 0 King of kings, we wait, we watch, wej long, we hope, we pray, we work for that. Amen.

SEP'l'lNIBER,

1892.

THE BIBLE STANDARD.

139

awesome question rang in our ears again and again. during the Lenten season, and became even more frequent and awesome as ~~~:~ the day approached on which Christians commemorate Christ's resurrection. The Bible seemed to open of its own accord to passages referring to His re-appearance, and in church the hymns, the prayers, the sermons, all related to the same event. Texts affirming that the resurrected Christ will again re-appear upon the earth sounded from the pulpit, filling our hearts with mingled emotion. What! The Son of Man coming again to earth 1 Coming, unexpectedly, in the clouds of heaven, with po,Yer and glory. Will this really happen, and will this solid, commonplace old earth see it 1 Will our dear home skies, so familiar in all their morning and evening splendour, so well-known in all their changes by day and night, sometime suddenly grow strange and awesome as they open for the re-appearance of Him whom they once received from mortal sight? Will upturned faces all over the world suddenly grow radiant with joy or pallid with fear as they hear the heralding trumpet, and see' appear the signs of the Son of Man in heaven r
'&b'!'

~HIS

l'

'I

"g

It does not seem possible that these things can ever be, wc said wistfully. They seem so vague and unreal, so utterly unlike anything the world has ever known. Why only to think of it: the world going on its way rejoicing and sorrowing, loving and hating, feasting and starving, revelling in wealth and fighting poverty, trailing its misery and crime close beside its peace and purity--just as it has done fOl: ages, and just as it expects to do indefinitely,and some day to look up suddenly and behold the end close at hand! It does not seem as if these things ever can end. Why, they began in Eden, and ever since have gone on flourishing and increasing. Must they end, suddenly and unexpectedly, 'in such an hour as yc think not '1 'Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away.' Can I doubt His re-appearance when He thus affirms it ? And when the day of His re-appearance dawns-that day of which knoweth the Father only-how variously it will be greeted by the children of men! Some will look up and rejoice, knowing their redemption is nigh, and others will wofully petition the hills and mountains for a safe hiding place. If Christ should re-appear to-day, in which of these classes would I be found? Would I rejoice with the first, or lament with the latter? Ah me, to shrink in terror from the Son of Man when he re-appears with power and great glory! Perhaps it was such thoughts as these that caused my Easter vision-that strangely vivid

vision--that came to me in the gray dawn of the Easter morning. I seemed to be walking down the street, in the soft light of summer evening. The sun wa~ sinking below the horizon, and all the west was aglow with sunset splendour. I contrasted a cloud lying near the horizon like a flame of fire, with one floating high in the zenith, delicate and misty white like a bridal veil, but bordered with purple and gold. Suddenly these clouds united, forming a glorious background, before which appeared a statcly figure with folded arms and majestic head turned towards the earth. It looked like some gigantic statue of Apollo Belvidere, only infinitely more beautiful and grand. Above the head was a divine halo with wondrous beams that streamed afar over the earth like the light of many suns. The majestic sweetness of the face and brow was beyond description, yet there was something sweetly familiar in its appearancesomething that vaguely recalled the head that was once crowned with thorns. It was the Son of Man coming in the clouds, and the world was not expecting him. People were going home from their work in the red evening light, carriages were in the street", and pedestrians were pushing to and fro, each intent upon his own affairs. The sound of pleasant talk and laughter was in the air, the street resounded with the cheerful hum of business, and all the world was fnll of the familiar, quiet beauty of a summer evening. But overhead was that majestic figure with grand, expectant face, and all-seeing eyes, waiting 'to gather together His elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.' Never sunset clouds showed such glory as this. Who ever dreamed He would come at eventide, when the world was full of the quiet beauty of the summer gloaming l Suddenly people became aware of the Divine presence above them. There was a universal uplifting of faces followed by a universal cry of joy and fear. Then ensued some surprising revelations, and the hidden life of many was revealed by their manner of welcome. A well-to-do man, a church member in good and regular standing, lifted his startled eyes upward, then fled in fear and trembling; a respectable citizen fell prostrate in the dust, while his wife stood with enraptured face watching the approach of Him whom she hacllong considered her best friend; a labourer coming from his daily toil, bent and weary, lifted his toilworn hands in glad meeting; a poor old couple stood in the door of their hovel rejoicing that at last their deliverance was at hand; others just as poor and wretched, lamented as if loth to leave their poverty; Domequite obscure people, of whom the world thought but little, rejoiced ardently, while someone who had been prominent in good works sorrowed exceedingly. Many people of wealth gladly left. all to hail the coming King; others clung to their wealth as long as possible, and others with much smaller possessions clung to their meagre hoards just as greedily. Many discreet people who had seemed prepared for any emergency were utterly helpless now, for with all their wisdom and prudence they had neglected to prepare for

140
an emergency like this. ceive Him r they asked

'fHE BIBLE STANDARD.

'Why did we not prepare to rewofully. ' And we knew He was

SEP'l'E:I1BER,

1892.

surely coming.'-Illinois

Ch1'istian Weekly.

-UUlb\? we agree~ to ~i\Je a ~entb.

I WAS considerably
stirred up by the sermon that Sunday morning; more than I was willing to admit. I said to my wife as I came in-c--she, poor dear soul, was sick and could

not go; not a 'Sunday sickness,' she never had that kindI said to her, 'Well, M aggie, what do you suppose our young minister held forth on to-day l' 'The Gospel,' she replied in her 'quiet way. , 0 yes,' I said, 'it was the Gospel, I presume, but it was the Gospel of giving. He took his text from way back in . the prophets, something about robbing God.' (Mal. iii. 8.) 'I don't doubt we need it, and I should like to have been there,' came from the pillowed head in the big easychair. Maggie was getting better, and able to sit up part of the day. Nurse had the baby in the adjoining room; a fine fellow I-but that is another story, as Rudyard Kipling would say. 'The dominie set forth some pretty plain forcible language; he got well warmed up. thought old Spatter wood would have winced He hugs his money as tight as a bear hugs he has quite a little to hug, too. But what . this morning was the statement that very as much as we ought. He dwelt on the tenth, and said he doubted if many gave truths in very I should have some under it. his victim, and I objected to few of us gave Jews giving a a twentieth of

, How much is it l' quietly came from the easy-chair. 'Seventy-four dollars and eighty cents.' 'And our income,' she went on, half to herself-she al ways called it our income, counting herself a partner, doing her share at home towards getting it and deserving her share of the use of it (I believe she is about right)'our income is sixteen hundred dollars; one twentieth of this is eighty. We fell short a little, didn't we dead' 'Well, yes, it seems so,' I said slowly, 'the result is not what I had supposed it would be.' 'No, I thought it would b~ more,' she answered. 'The dominie said this morning that the best and surest way of giving more nearly what one ought was by setting aside a portion each month; perhaps it might be well if we should set aside a twentieth each month.' Maggie looked at me in her usual gentle way for a moment, and I knew there was something coming. She spoke: 'It is a strange coincidence, but while you were at church I was reading an article on benevolence in which was this incident. It was somewhere in England; contributions were being called for to support an orphanage; a wealthy Quaker and his wife walked up to the table, he took the pen and put down five pounds; she, looking over his shoulder, said, "Why, William, is thee not ashamed to give so little 1" "No, it is all I can afford." "No, no, William , thee can give more .for the deal' homeless ones." "Thee can write," he said, thrusting the pen into her hand. She took it and put a cipher away pledged to give fifty to suggest a tenth of our I think we can and ought after his five, and they walked pounds. Now, my dear, I want income instead of a twentieth; to give it.'

their income in these days.' , Well, do you think we do l' asked Maggie. , Of course I do; you know we are very liberal. I don't think we give much under a tenth." 'Yes, dear, we are liberal; but we might see what proportion we gave last year.' I made a mild protest, but meekly got out my pencil and piece of paper, and began to set down the figures. , Well, to begin with, we pay forty dollars for pew rent. Then, when that special collection was taken up for the floating debt, I gave ten dollars. When the Home Missionary collection was called for I was stirred by the appeal, and gave five dollars; for the foreign work I gave two dollars; for work among coloured people I gave another two dollars, and then for church building I gave a dollar. There were collections for several objects, I never gave less than fifty cents; I presume in all two dollars.' 'I ga've five cents a week,' broke in Maggie; 'that is two dollars and sixty cents a year.' 'Yes, and I put ten cents in the basket every Sunday; that is five dollars and twenty cents. Then I gave five dollars to the charity work, instead of dealing out a little here unwisely to encourage beggars in their beggary. There, I believe, that is all,' and I began to add it up. I added the column twice. 1 wasn't in much of a hurry to announce the result; in fact, it was not so great as I had supposed.

I dissented, feeling all the time, however, that she was right, which disarmed me, and I finally agreed to it. That was a year ago. Maggie asked me last night if I thought we had better give up OUt tenth and go back to the old way. 'I can't do it now, for r must practise what I preach,' I said. ' I have been at old Spatter wood for a year urging him to try the scheme, and he has finally consented to do it.'
, And then, too, it has been quite easy and very pleasant giving the past year, hasn't it l' asked Maggie. 'Yes, it is more blessed to give than to receive.' Reader will you not use your pencil a little and see what you give, and then try setting aside a tenth each month 1 Among the many excellent suggestions that come from Mr. Gladstone, is one (Nineteenth Centu1'y, November, 1890) that an association be formed in which each member engages 'to give away a proportion of the annual receipts, which the individual will fix, will alter if he pleases, and which altered or unaltered, he will not be called upon to promulgate. He will, however, not fail to remember that his obligation is only to give not less than the proportion he has fixed. It does not restrain him from givmg more, It' is to be hoped that with practice his ideas will alter and improve.' Will you not agree with yourself before God to set apart a gi ven proportion of your

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income? If you do not know what it is, make an estimate and give a proportion of that. -- Eeo, C. H. Small, in
Christian at Work.

B ?little 'UUlbtle.
A LITTLE while, with tides of dark and light, The moon shall fill ; Glad summer's glow be changed to shrouding white, And winter's chill. A little while shall tender, winsome flowers In beauty blow; And ceaselessly, through shade and sunny hours, Death's harvest grolV . A little while shall tranquil planets speed Round central flame. New empires spring and pass, new names succeed And lapse from fame. A little while shall cold star-tapers burn Through Time', brief night; Then shall my soul's beloved One return With dayspring bright. How oft in golden dreams I see Him stand, I list His voice, As winning largest from his lifted hand The poor rejoice. But waking bears that vision dear away, My hetter part, And leaves me to this pale and empty day, This longing heart. I cannot see thee, but I love thee, Oh, Thine eyes, that read The deepest secrets of the spirit, know "I'is love indeed. but ah ! how long it seems! My Jesus, come, Surpass the rapture of my sweetest dreams, And take me home. A little while;

Eternal fixity and duration belong only to those who are in accordance with God'.-DEAN ALFOHD on 1 John ii. 17. My sheep hear my voice, and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never pe?'ish.-John x. 27, 28. To them who
seek for immortality God will render eternal l~fe.-

=-Dr. Kennedy Moore.

jmmortalit\?
God created man in His own imn.qe.-Gen. i. 27. God said in the day that thou ealest thereof thou shalt die.-Gen. ii. 17.

Rom. ii. 6, 7. If there be one blessing more than another which the Scriptures agree in ascribing to Christ as its author, and for which the believer is taught that he is wholly indebted to redemption, it is immortality. -- REV. DB. DE BURGH (Christ Our Life). . We are candidates for immortality.-PROF. PEROWNE. Christianity treats man not as imm'ortal but as a candidate for immortality.c--Rev. DR. PARKER. As God is eternal, so is all that is in communion with Him.-DEAN ALFORD. Sinful man is not by nature immortal but mortal. If immortality is to be his, it must be as a gift, and not inherited. It must become his by virtue of some new provision of grace. This was the Gospel of Christ.--REv, H. CONSTABLE (Restitution of All Things). It was just when the coming of Christ was begun to be lost sight of that the doctrine of the immortality of the soul came to replace that of the resurrection.-J OHN NELSONDARBY. The earliest Christian writings considered immortality as the peculiar portion of believers in Christ.--J. M. DENNISTON,A.M. (Perishing Soul). From beginning to end of the Apostolical Fathers there is not one word said of the immortality of the soul. Immortality is asserted by them to be peculiar to' the redeemed.c=Rsv. H. CONSTABLl!; (Duration and Nature of Future Punishment) .
The S01tl tli t sinneth, it shall die. - Ezekiel xviii. 4-. All the uncked will God destloy.-Ps. cxlv. 20. They shall 1lUn'ly pe?ish.-2 Pet. ii. 12.

God intrusted Adam with a spark of immortality; he foolishly blew it out by sin.-MAl'THEW HENRY'S Commentary on Gen. iii. 19. Adam forfeited the blessing of immortality.-THOMAS SCOTT.

The literal sense of the words descriptive of future punishment overturns the systems of Augustine and Origen. -REV. H. CONSTABLE (Restitution of All Things). . It seems a strange way of understanding a law which requires the plainest words, that by death should be meant eternal life in misery.--JoHN LOCKK My mind fails to conceive a grosser misinterpretation of Men. abideth not; he is like the beasts that perislc= language than when five or six of the strongest words Psalm xlix. 12. The immortality of the soul is neither argued or affirmed which the Greek tongue possesses, signifying' destroy' or in the Old Testament.--PROF.Pl!;ROWNE (Hulsean Lectures). 'destruction,' are explained to mean maintaining an everThe doctrine of the immortality of the soul, and the lasting but wretched existence. To translate black as white is nothing to this.-R. F. WEYl\iOUTH. name, are alike unknown to the entire Bible.A new Bible would be required to convey that doctrine DR.OLSHAUSEN. In fact no such doctrine is revealed to us,-ARCHBISHOP at all.-REv. S. MINTON. The doom of the wicked is everywhere spoken of in Holy WHATELY. The Bible is silent on the point of an absolute and un- Scripture in terms which imply the obliteration of their conditional immortality for all men.c--Rsv, H. H. DOBNEY entire being and existence.c=Rsv. W. KER. The final destiny of man as a sinner is that he shall be in (Letter Abys, Cantuar), E. W. Search the Bible from beginning to end, and you' will the end as though he had never been.-REv. TAUNTON(Life in Christ). See Obadiah 16. nowhere find sinners addressed as immortal beings.These shall go (tu'ay into everlasting puniehment.s-: REV. THOMASDAVIS.
I

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THE BIBLE STANDARD.

SEPTEMBE R.

1892.

Matt. xxv. 46. 2'hey shall be punished with eve1'lasting dest1uction.-2 Thes. i. 9. May it not be 'reckoned an infinite punishment should God doom man to total annihilation 1--HERMAN WITSIUS. Endless annihilation is an endless or an infinite punishment. Final annihilation is an infinite evil, as it is inflicted in disapprobation of sin.-PREs. EDWARDS (Review of Ohauncey). Everlasting destruction is an everlasting punishment.REV. H. OONSTABLK Shall not the Judge of all the eartli do 1'ight7--Gen. xviii. 25. 0 house of Israel, are not my ways equai ?-Ezek. xviii. 29. Why even of you1'selvesjndge ye not what is 1'ight7Luke xii. 57. I believe that the popular doctrine is the direct occasion of much positive infidelity.i=Rsv. S. MINTON,M.A. (The Way Everlasting). The dogma of eternal suffering involves nothing less than the moral character of God.- W. MAum: (The Rainbow). We fail in presenting thoroughly God's truth to the heathen nations, because we have encumbered Christianity with a doctrine of hell, so unjust, so indiscriminate, so hardening in its frightful proportions that men's consciences refuse to receive it.-REV. E. ,\VHITK It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the li'/,-ing God.-Heb. x. 31. . I cannot see what great comfort sinners can take in the thought of a tedious time of terrible torment, ending at last in annihilation and the utter extinction of their being.-ARCHBISHOP TILLOTSON. It seems all but inconceivable that when God is all in all there should be some dark spot where, amid endlessly selfinflicted suffering or in the enha.ncement of ever-enduring hate, rebel hands should be forever raised against the eternal Father and the God of everlasting 10ve.-BIsHoP ELJ_ICOTT (The Ohurch and the Age).

that he heard, or state anything falsely in these accounts." (Eusebius, 'Ecclesiastical'History,' b. iii., c. 39.) J USTIN MARTYR. , J ustin Martyr (about A.D. 140) affirms at the weekly meetings (Sunday): _cc The Memoirs (Gospels) of the Apostles were read," and speaks also of those Gospels, quoting and referring to the same facts and events we have still therein recorded, as "In the Gospel it is written." " Words which are recorded in the Memoirs of His Apostles." cc As I (J'ustin Martyr) have learned from the Memoirs." cc As is recorded in the Memoirs of His Apostles." cc It is written in the Memoirs." "In the Memoirs composed by them, which are called [A.D. 140) Gospels, have thus delivered unto us what was enjoined upon them." (CC Apologies" and "Tl'ypho the Jew.") Clement of Rome (80-100 A.D.) also confirms this fact that gospels were compiled within the first century.' ORIGEN. Origen (A.D. 200) :-' In the first book of his commen , taries on Matthew, following the ecclesiastical canon, he attests that he knows of only four Gospels, as follows :" As I have understood from tradition, respecting the foul' Gospels, wl;iclt are the only undisputed ones in the whole Church of God throughout the world, the first is written according to Matthew, the same that was once a publican, but afterwards an apostle of Jesus Christ, who, having published it for the Jewish converts, wrote it in the Hebrew. The second is according to Mark, who composed it as Peter explained to him, whom he also acknowledged as his son in his general epistle, saying, 'The elect church in Babylon salutes you, as also Mark, my son.' And the third according to Luke, the Gospel commended by Paul, which was written for the converts from the Gentiles; and, last of all, the Gospel according to John.'" (Eusebius, , Ecclesiastical History,' b. vi., c. 25, p. 231, Bohn's Edition.) TEHTULLIAN. Tertullian (A.D. 200) :-' Visit the Apostolic churches; in which the very chairs of the Apostles still preside in their places; in which their vel'y authentic letters are recited, sounding forth the voice and representing the countenance of everyone of them. Is Achaia near you 1 You have Corinth. If you are not far from Macedonia, you have Philippi and Thessalonica ; if you can go to Asia, you have Ephesus; but if you are near to Italy you have Rome.' (' Heretics,' c. xxxvi.) 'Ve find 80 Gospel facts and statements mentioned by Celsus, the heathen philosopher; Polycarp has at least 36 ; Irenreus, 767 ; Clement, 380; Tertullian, 3,000; Origen, 5,745. These statements and Gospel facts were accepted as facts, and never questioned or denied by any early Christian. As to the statement that the quotations by the early Fathers are' no quotations,' and that' the inaccuracies of the statements as found in the original' is a proof that they did not use the four Gospels, and' a proof the four Gospels were not in existence,' we say we cannot expect more from the early Christian Fathers than we expect from classical

{tct3timoniet3 to tbe eoepete.

RENAN. RENAN,the famous French sceptic, was compelled to admit (' Life of Jesus,' p. 21) :-' On the whole, I (Renan) admit as authentic four canonical Gospels; all in my (Renan's) opinion date from the first century; and the authors are, generally speaking, those to whom they are attributed.' Page 1 :-' About the year A.D. 100 all the books of the New Testament were fixed almost in the form we now read them.' (Sce Bohn's edition of Eusebius, pp. 53, 98, 99, 115, 116, 176, 220, 230, 231.) PAPIAS. Papias (A.D. 70 to 110) recites the same Gospel facts, accepting them as facts, affirming that Matthew and Mark wrote Gospels. His words are :-' Matthew composed his history in the Hebrew dialect, and everyone translated it as he was able. Mark has not erred in anything by writing some things as he has recorded them; for he was carefully attentive to one thing ..-not to pass anything by

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writers. The classical writers seldom mentioned from whence they had taken many quotations found in their works; they were memory quotations, and what is true of classical authors is also, in this respect, true of the early Ohristian Fathers, Our position is that the Gospel statements are accepted as facts, and never questioned or denied by those who, like St. Paul of the early centuries, could question and did know at first hand the accuracy of the four Gospel statements. OMPETITORS must be under eighteen years The statement of the sceptics 'that because of many Gospels we are not quite sure that we have the genuine of age. It will be understood that the four Gospels,' is fallacious in reasoning and is demonstrated answers sent are the entire toorlc of the to be false, and is as illogical as to Slty that because of the children. existence of many counterfeit coins we are not sure of the HINTS. genuine. The existence of the spurious, the counterfeit, is certain evidence of the genuine. So by the Gospels, the Begin with the present set. Do not write the questions, spurious gospels demonstrate the genuine. Even Renan, but send the anSW~TS numbered to correspond with the sceptic as he is, confessed, p. 25, 'Life of Jesus,' of those questions, and state iohere vou found them. 'Write in ink. many Gospels, that' those compositions ought not in any See that your note contains name and address, and reaches manner to be put upon the same footing as the canonical me not later than the lS.th of the month. Oompetitors Gospels. They are insipid and puerile amplifications, having the canonical Gospels for their basis.' Drowning South of Wellington, and in Australia are allowed extension men catch at straws, so infidels in their wicked perversion of time equivalent to the time taken for the STANDARD to of truth have resorted to all kinds of trickery to deceive, reach their homes. To give an opportunity to those who so now we find those sceptics endeavouring, by all means age, and who would like to compossible, to discredit the position, und original position, of are over the above-stated Ohristianity by affirming it to be borrowed.s=.I otrx H. pete, we have decided to form another class; age from MITCHELL, in Christian Age. eighteen to twenty-one. These will be expected to answer the stated questions, and the extra ones, which latter the '[binge. younger class need not attempt. Write answers to extra questions on separate sheet of paper. Do not keep back, IT is said that no man will accomplish much as a reformer who is afraid to call names. Many persons are inclined to though you cannot solve every question. speak smooth things, and if they reprove or rebuke they THE APOSTLE OF THE GENTILES. spread their reproofs and criticisms over everybody until they affect nobody. SECONDSERIES-NINTH SET. There is a story of a conference of coloured preachers Paul in Ephes1ts.-Acts xix. 8-22. which was held in Indiana, where the committee on 1. When, before this, was Paul asked to stay in Ephesus ? Sunday Schools brought in a report criticising some of the 2. Give an instance of one being cured by touching the dress of pastors who neglected that branch of their work. The Jesus. 3. When did Panl meet a magician before? bishop had hardly time to put the motion for the adoption 4. Find two references in the Old Testament to witches and of the report, before It brother was on his feet with an witchcraft. objection to its passage. 5. What is the meaning of curious arts ? 6. 'Where, in his Epistles, does Panl refer to his adversaries in 'Bishop,' he cried, 'I'se 'ginst dat paper; it 'flects on Lphesus? this whole conf'nce.' 7. Where else than in verse 21 does he speak of his desire to The bishop replied that the brother was too sensiti ve, visit Rome? and that the report would hurt no preacher who was doing 8. 'When did he know that he must visit it? 9. Where is his last reference to Erastus ? his duty, Instantly, however, a second objector was on 10. Which of the Churches in Revelation were situated not far his feet, with the exclamation, from Ephesus? 'I'se 'posed to that 'port, too, bishop.' 'State your objection,' said the chair. Axswsns TO EIGHTH SET. 1. 1 Cor. xvi. 6. 'Bishop,' answered the objector, 'de man dat don't hab 2. 2 Cor. viii, 9. fleas on him don't want to be put in de bag and shuk up 3. Rom. xv. 25, 26. wid de man what hab de fleas on him.' 4. Acts xxiv. 17. This settled the question, and 'dat paper' went back to 5. Sopater, Aristarchus, Secundus, Gains, Timothy, Tychicus, the committee to be modified to suit the occasion. Trophimus (Acts xx. 4), Erastns (Acts xix. 22). 6. 1 Cor. i. 12. The apostles and prophets had a way of telling the truth 7. A Greek version of the Old Testament executed at Alexandria, which was often very inconvenient for themselves and unby, it is said, seventy-one or seventy-two translators, about 280 B.C., comfortable for their hearers. And they called names. (Bible Dictionmy). Elymas the sorcerer, Alexander the coppersmith, Diotrephes, 8. Acts ii. 38. 9. Three years (Acts xx. 31). Demas, Hymenreus and Philetus, Ananias and Sap phi ra, 10. Yes (Acts xx. 34, 35). Haman and Agag, Tobiah and Sanballat, Ahab and Jezebel, HESUL'l'S.-All correct.' May Brewster, Helen J. Brewster, and others, are pilloried before the ages, blackened so that Margaret N. Green, 'V. E. .Iudkins, Louis Falkner. Ei,qht COl" no whitewashing report will ever render them presentable, rect : Sydney Smith, Ernest Aldridge. Six correct.' Fanny French, and hung up as warnings to evil men. It is the business James J. French. EXTRA QUESTIONS. of God's servants to separate the precious from the vile, 11. What, is an exorcist ? and it is not a good way to mix the two together. Oome 12. Supposing it possible for evil spirits now to influence manout from among them and be separate, stand for the right kind, are there any Bible tests by which they may be known? if you stand alone, and do not fear to tell the truth and con. ANSWERS TO EXTHA QUESTIONS. tradict the devil.-The A ?'Jn01I1'Y. Margaret Green,' Helen J. Brewster.

'!Do mot !INer

144

tHE BIBLE STANDARD.

SEPTEMBER,

1892.

'ttbe :f13tbleStanl)art;.
The BIBLE 8TANDARD can be ordered direct from the Publisher, E. H. FALKNER, Karangahape Road, Auckland, or obtained from any of the Agents. PRICE per annum, post free ... 2~. 6d. beyond New Zealand, per annum, post free 38. Od.

AUCKLAND.- vVe are once more rejoiced to be able to say that durin[: the past month three have put on Christ by baptism '-two young sisters from the Sunday School, and the youngest son of our Brother Fletcher. We gladly record this that the teachers in our Sunday School may take heart of grace, and still labour on. The seed now being sown will show itself sometime, if not here, may be in the Lord's presence at His coming. On Sunday, August 7th, the Sunday School anniversary was held. In the afternoon Mr. H. Field gave an interesting address to the children. At the evening service the children repeated some of their beautiful hy III "'. On the Wednesday following the annual scholars' tea was given, and a public meeting held, We are sure that all interested in Sunday School work will be glad to know that the latter was what it should be" a happy time, during which the fact was never once lost sight of, that we desire to win the children for Christ.

Reputation is what men and women think of I1S ter is what God and angels know of us, AGENTS FOR THE BIBLE STANDARD
NEW ZEALAND.

charac-

Auckland-Mr. C. Mackay, Bookseller, Grey-street. " Mr. C. Mackay, Bookseller, Karangahape Road. Dunedin-Mr. Aitken, Arcade. Gisborne-s-Mr, A. Slack. HamiItonM r. John Steadman. InvercargiIl-N eil's Botanic Dispensary. Kamo-Mr. J. Heape. Kaiapor-s-Mr. James Holland. Milton-Mr. Gregg. New Plymouth-Mr. Fred, Goodacre, Courtney Road. Timaru-Mr. J. Rowbotharn, Cash Store, Church Street Thames-Mr. W. H. Cropp. Wangaloa-s-Mr. Taylor .
SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

current

1ReWB an~ 1RoteB.

Adelaide-Mr.

Adelaide-Mr. This is how the WaI' C1"!Jrebukes the present fashion in female dress :Lasses, eyes front! \Ve are grieved to see and hear that the fashionable NEW SOUTH WALES. appendage of high shoulders are being worn by some officers and Sydney-Mr. Herbert Cropp, 27, Munni Street, Newtown. soldiers. We desire to say that this camel-hump arrangement on the shoulder is 1\OT uniform, and request that it be put away at once. It is the devil', thin end of the wedge. BEWARE! Also, when ordering Communications to the Editor to be addressed :-G EO. ALDRIDGE, your new uniforms, be explicit, and say, 'No HIGH SHOULDERS, Boston Road, Auckland. PLEASE.' All Communications to the Association to be addressed to the \VM. RATTRAY, Victoria Avenue, off Eden Terrace, There are now three piked roads in Palestine smooth enough for Secretary, travel by carriage. The principal and most frequented one is the forty- Auckland. mile road from Jaffa to Jerusalem, the second one runs twenty miles CHURCH OF CHRIST from Jerusalem to Hebron, anci the third one, fifteen miles long, from Hold services as under :Jerusalem down to the Jordan. Jaffa is 2,3(){) feet lower than Jerusalem, and the Jordan 3,500 feet, but Hebron lies 200 feet higher. The railA UCKJ.AND-Foresters' Hall, Karangahape Road. road from Jaffa to Jen:salem is not completed yet, the rocks in the Sunday, at I I o'clock a.rn., Fellowship Meeting. mountains in J udea offering strong resistance to the digger's implements. 6.45 p.m., Lecture on some important Bible Theme. Sixty years ago the census returns showed Roman Catholics to be 81 Sunday School at 3. per cent. of the population of Ireland; in 1861 as 78 per cent., and this Wednesday evening, Bible Class at 7.30. year as 75 per cent. While Romanism has thus, decade after decade, Evangelist's address-Geo. Aldridge, Boston Road, been gradually but surely decreasing, Protestantism has been proportionGrSHORNE-Meeting held in private houses. atelyadvancing. In 1831 Protestants were only 19 per cent., in 1861 Address-Mr. A Slack. North Gisborne, they had grown to 22 per cent., and in the present year to 25 per cent. DUNEDlN-Oddfellows' Hall, Stuart-street. M_ Ravenstein has published in the' Proceedings' of the London Sunday, at 11 a.m., Fellowship Meeting. Geographical Society his calculations about the time it will take to fill Lecture at 6.45. the world with all the people it will hold. The present population of Sunday School at 2.45. the globe is supposed to be about 1,467,000,000; and he estimates that Prayer Meeting and Bible Class every Friday the maximum of the inhabitants that can be sustained on the entire land evening at 7.30. surface of the earth is 5,994,000,000, and that this figure will be reached Evangelist's Address-Edwin Carr, Stafford Street. A.D. 272, or in about 180 years, at the present ratio of increase, which is 8 per cent. per decade. Tl:AMES - Pollen Street Lecture Hall. George Muller, of the Bristol Orphanage, is over eighty-seven years Sunday, at II a.m., Fellowship Meeting. old, and still travels and preaches. His preaching is said to be as Evening Service at 6.3. vigorous and intense as in his younger years. Eighteen years "go, when Sunday School at 2.30. he had concluded forty-three years of pastoral work, he resolved to Bible Class every Wednesday evening at 7.3. devote himself to preaching in foreign Iands., Since then he has made Evangelist's Address-E. H. Taylor, Thames. sixteen tours in the principal cities and towns of the world, and it is said M ELBOURNE-Hanover Rooms, Eastern Arcade, he has preached 3000 sermons, and travelled 150,000 miles. Again, in Sunday, at 11 a. m., Breaking of Bread. August, 1890, he left England, and has performed a missionary tour Evening at 7 p. m., Lecture on some Bible Theme. through Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France and Italy, and has now Monday at 7.30 p.m., Bible Class. returned to resume his work in Bristol. ADELAIDE, S.\.In a lecture delivered recently in the Medical Society's rooms in Inquiry and Discussion Class, Red Cross Rooms, Hanover Square, London, under the auspices of the Palestine ExploraRundle Street, second Thursday in the month. tion Fund, Dr. Wm. Wright stated that he had just received a letter Secretary's address-F. B. Hughes, 96, North Terrace. from Professor Sayee, who stated that he believed 'that he had succeeded in deciphering the Hittite inscription discovered in Hamath in 1873. The SYDNEY-VVarwick Hall, Station Street, NewtO\\'I1. lecturer narrated the circumstances under which he succeeded in procurMorning meeting at I I. ing plaster casts of these inscriptions for the British Museum and PalesBible Class Wednesday at 7.45. tine Exploration Fund, and he exhibited the casts of some of the smaller Secretary's address=-W. Warner, 16 Pitt-street, Redfern. inscriptions. He expressed his firm con viction that the references to the Hittites in the Bible were correct, although that remarkable people were not mentioned hyany classical author. Those who believed not Prir-ted by H. BRETT, Evemng Star Office, Shortland-st reet, for Moses and the prophets were 1I0W heing confounded by bricks and the New Zealand Evangelistic and Publication Association, and stones. and the nineteenth century H.C. was now by use of the spade pu l.lished by E. H. F ALKNER, Karangahape Road, Auckland. yielding up its secrets-to the nineteenth century A.D.-Glasgow Herald, ' SEPTEMBER, 1892.

C. Gamble, Life and Advent Book Room, King William-street, City. C. Gamble, Magill Road, Stepney.