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VOL. 29.

No. 7.

AUCKLAND,

N.Z., JULY,

1908.

TWOPENCE.

must be regarded as impossible to colonise Palestine now. The incident will certainly be calculated to stimulate the study of the prophetic Scriptures.Homiletic Review. ,"Veare of those who believe that the Scriptures most assuredly point to a revival of Babylon ere the end of the age. Just as surely as the future Kingdom of the Anti - Christ is predicted, so surely is it shown that Babylon revived-that great cityUbe 1Re\1h'al of shall be the centre of his sway. All attempts to show that every 1Sab}?lon. prophecy pointing to the overthrow and destruction of that city has been fulfilled have failed, because either the fulness and exactitude of the prediction have not been insisted upon, or the actual facts regarding the decline of that city have not been accurately set forth. Its present state of desolation is admitted, but we do not admit that it fills out all the prophetic pictures of its desolation. Its present ruined condition is no argument against its possible revival. Of recent years those who believe in its revival have noted, as giving support to the view, the growing interest which has been taken in the irrigation of the Mesopotamian valley. The possibilities of that region have presented themselves to politicians and statesmen without any influence originating from Bible predictions. It is said that amongst the papers of Napoleon were found plans for the rebuilding of Babylon, with quays, river walls, and all the equipment of a great commercial city. The former wealth and power of that city arose from its huge system of irrigation extending over the land like a spider's web. The Morning Star says: "The Sultan has sanctioned the construction of a dam across the Hindiyeh Canal, the main relic of Mesopotamia's ancient irrigation; German engineers are engaged on irrigation works in the plain of Adana ; in a neighbouring district, the plain of Konia, a German company has turned 200,000 acres into corn land by irrigation; the Baghdad railway, contemplated for over half a century, is now piercing this region, close by the site of Babylon, 'inevitably entailing,' says a recent writer, 'the resuscitation in modern shape of Babylon and Nineveh,' and the restoration of the enormous commercial wealth of the Mesopotamian valley is now imminent, 'My hopes, my ambi-

- ERHAPS the majority of l}ersons interested in the diverse religious currents of our time have come to regard what is known as the Zionist movement as a somewhat chimerical or, at any rate, eccentric project, conceived in the minds of a few ~ ardent enthusiasts, such as Dr. Herzl and Mr. Zangwill, whose great genius enabled them to secure wide and influential patronage for their' ideas. A singular episode has presented the undertaking in a much more practical light. Very rarely are Bible topics elaborately discussed in the Zionism in tbe Courts of Law as were some ex1aw <Bourts. tracts from the Old Testament in the Chancery Division on a recent clay. London lawyers argued before the judge a petition .to alter the articles of the Jewish Colonial Trust. The object of the petition was to restrict the area of the Zionist Colony to Palestine and adjacent lands. 'I'herefore the company sought permission to delete the words in the programme, "in any other part of the world." The petitioners explained to the judge that the majority of shareholders wished to make the articles conform to the principles and doctrine of Zionism, the aim and object of which was exclusively to obtain for the Jewish race a legally-assured home in Palestine or the neighbouring country, but particularly in Palestine. Passages from Deuteronomy and the Psalms were read in Court in favour of the view propounded. There are already some thirty Jewish settlements in Palestine, and these are for the most part in a flourishing condition. On the other side, it was objected by counsel on behalf of a minority of shareholders that the Bible portions which had been cited could only refer to blessings to be attained durinz the Messianic age 'and that it

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1908.

tions, my work,' says Sir William Willocks, an authority on Oriental irrigation, 'are bound up with the re-creation of Chaldea.' " Why, because a man has attained to eminence in some given department of life, should it be supposed that his views upon religion are of extraordinary value? Blinded by the glamour of their success, the world hangs breathlessly upon the utterances of the :a tmtllionaire's artist, the poet, and the scientist 16eltefs. when they give expression .to their opinions upon religion; afterwards these utterances are cited to Christians, as if they should at oncc bc accepted as discounting their own findings, and should replace them with the dictum of the "elect." Wc have, on former occasions, called attention to this in reference to the absurd claim that because a man is a student of physical science he is therefore an expert on matters of Bible revelation. Here we note that Mr. Carnegic is now put forward as, a man to whom we ought to listen. There is no doubt that he has shown a remarkable aptitude in building up a large fortune, but even this success is no guarantee that his opinions on other matters are to bc accepted as of more value than those of men who have madc Christianity their study and their practice. On his seventieth birthday "Mr. Camegie in a Press interview expressed his longcherished and firm belief in Darwinian evolution." He ha a right to his opinion on this subject, but it is open for others to say that even amongst scientists Darwinism no longer holds the position that it once did. Indeed, some of the important books recently published are 'devoted to showing wherein this long-accepted theory fails to justify itself. In that interview the millionaire did not "hesitate to express his belief that there is no scientific certainty attainable of an existence beyond the grave." We, however, believe that scientific certainty is possible, if on1y there is willingness to investigate the evidence. From the standpoint of the physical sciences his statement is sound, but history affirms that the Resurrection of Christ took place. Is that verifiable? Wc hold that it is, and that this establishes, not that dead men are alive, but that it is within the power, and Scripture asserts it is within the purpose, of God to raise man from the dead. With the hardihood born of self-confidence, it has been asserted that the Bible story of Creation has been replaced by thc scientific doctrine of evolution, and by some it was believed that for the origin of life upon the earth there was no need to postuSelf connoent late a Creator. But it is open for Sctentists. the Bible student to say that, spite of all the loud assertion that has been made concerning evolution, there is yet wanting a single item of satisfactory evidence to show that by evolutionary processes man and the living creatures have come into being. But the thorough-going evolutionist

not only believes with all the strength of credulity in the "struggle for existence" and the "survival of the fittest," but also with Huxley, that if it were given him "to look beyond the abyss of geologically recorded time" he would be a spectator of "the evolution of living protoplasm from not-living matter." Haeckel holds that such an origin for life is cia logical postulate of scientific natural history," but the plain man may ask, and ask in vain, for the facts which lend colour to such suppositions. Professor Darwin, before the British Association, lately affirmed that "the mystery of life remains as impenetrable as ever." He who holds to the Bible account has a reasonable view of the origin of life and species, because he believes in the power of an Almighty and an all-wise God, but he 'who substitutes for God a blind and unintelligent chance, and expects by the adoption of a few high-sounding phrases .to persuade us that direct creation is absurd, and our God is impossible, can only win from us pity for his wasted efforts, and a smile at the disordered imagination which can call such freakish imaginings of the mind "science." Mr. Maunder, of the Greenwich Observatory, has written a volume on "The Astronomy of the Bible," in which he discusses the astronomical references of the Bible, and finds that the writers of the Bible were better scientists than our modern cavil\I:be 16tble ant> lers at that Book are willing to Hstronont)?: allow. A selection from his volume is given in the Expository Times, and this we extract to show the quality of the author's expositions. In Isa. lv. 10, 11, occur these words: "For as the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, and giveth seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goeth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing' whereto I sent it." The obvious objection is that, according to science and astronomy, the water does return to heaven after it has watered the earth. Does Isaiah contradict the scientific doctrine of circulation? Dr. Schiaparelli, a distinguished Italian astronomer, says that the passage "expressly excludes any idea of an atmospheric circulation of waters." But Mr. Maunder does not believe that, for, in the first place, he finds that the theory of evaporation was known to the Israelites. It is precisely described in the Book of Job:
Behold, God is great, and we know Him not: The number of His years is unsearchable. For He draweth up the drops of water, Which distil in rain from His vapour: Which the skies pour down And drop upon man abundantly. (Job xxxvi. 28).

If the theory of evaporation was known to Elihu, it was probably known to Isaiah. And if the theory of evaporation was known to Isaiah, it is probable that he

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knew the theory of circulation also. Moreover, Mr. Maunder does not understand Isaiah to say that the rain never returns by evaporation to heaven again, but only that it does not do so until it has accomplished its work. It is like the word that goeth forth out of God's mouth. It does not return unto Him void. It prospers in the thing whereto He has sent it. The point is not whether the rain returns or not, but whether it returns void.Expository Times. -It may be said that this is a special interpretation, but now we turn from the scientist to the Bible student, and . note that from the construction 'trbe Strtlctmal of the passage the scientist is lE"tbence. justified. In Figures of Speech Dr. Bullinger thus sets out the passage:( a ) "As the rain corn eth down and the snow (b) From heaven' ( c) And returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, (d) That it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater. (a) So shall My word be that goeth forth (b) Out of my mouth; ( c) It shall not return unto Me void, (d) But it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." . Here in this beautiful comparison we have in (a) and (a) the two things compared, the Word resembling the rain and the snow; in (b) and (b) we have their source>' in (c) and (c) their destiny, not returning void; and in (d) and (d) their end prospering, and the accomplishment of their mission. Thus does the Bible student show that the exposition of the scientist is correct, but he does this by a scientific examination of the text, and is not at all concerned as to what may be the particular theory which scientists may hold regarding evaporation and circulation. The Question column of The Christian shows that inquirers are still searching for light on man's nature and destiny, but it also shows that the gentleman who is authorised to reply is not likely in all cases to satisfy the querists. Here, for instance, is a question, "Where does the soul !missing tbe; of the Ohristian go at deathlPoint. straight to heaven or to some other place til] the resurrection?" Dr. Thomas replies, "To depart and be with Ohrist is the Apostolic word, and this is surely sufficient, whether we call it heaven or Paradise. It is probably true that in the full sense of the word heaven is to be understood as the final place after the resurrection. Meanwhile, to be in the presence of Christ is a sufficient heaven till then." To which we may add, the question was, "Where does the soul of the Ohristian go at death?" and the quotation from the

Apostle has nothing to do with death; indeed, in its context it is expressly distinguished from death as a thing which is more desirable. Thus the answer given does not bear upon the question. Another question in the same column is, "What does the word rendered 'immortality' in 1 Oor. xv. 53, 54, and 1 Tim. vi. 16 mean? Is it synonymous with endless existence?" Dr. Thomas replies, "It means quite literully 'incorruption,' that which does ~11 lmmortaltt}? not and cannot decay." But here, nub lEtemal again, he is off the track. The word :J!Afe. in the texts Cited is at hanasia, which signifies "deathlessness," and the Doctor has evidently confused it with the word aphtharsia, which means "incorruption." The werd athanasia characterises the state of those who possess cternallife in an incorruptible organism-they die no more. Once again he is asked, "What is the radical meaning of eternal life?" and he answers, "The best explanation is found in J ohn xvii. 5. It means everlasting union and communion with God." But this is a most unsatisfactory answer, for the verse cited does not give a definition of eternal life. It declares that it will be a privilege of eternal life to know God, i.e., that it is given in order that the lmowleJge may be attained. The best meaning of the expression is in itself. If men would but agree that the words arc, intended to convey just what they seem to say, there would be no need for this quest for explanations. The fact is that the acceptance of the dogma of soul-immortality has caused this continual search for meanings to words, otherwise simple .and clear, that shall agree with itself, and the wit and wisdom of men are turned into absolute folly in the effort to make them harmonise with this unscriptural dogma.
Cl

Things that are distasteful to the unawakened are relished as delicious food by those hungering and thirsting after righteousness. How is your appetite? Woman occupies a conspicuous place in the primitive church. This will be evident if we simply mention some of the feminine names which appear in the New Testament records. We read of Anna, Apphia, Ohloe, Olaudia, Damaris, Dorcas, Elizabeth, Eunice, Euodia, Joana, Julia, Lois, Lydia, Martha, Mary of Bethany, Mary of Magdala, Mary of azareth, Mary of Rome, ~1:ary the mother of Mark, Mary the wife of Oleopas, Persis, Ph cebe, Priscilla, Rhoda, Salome, Susanna, Syntyehe, 'I'ryphoena, Tryphosa, etc. Moreover, there were many women on whom the Lord bestowed special favours whose names have not come down to us; there were also many unnamed women who are mentioned because they tried in some way to serve the Lord. Indeed, it may be doubted if any secular history so small as the four gospels was ever written, in which the womanly element so largely prevails as in the life of Jesus the Ohrist.-H. L. Hastings.

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1908.

Ube JEtbtoptan JEunucb.

Acts viii. "U NDERSTANDEST thou what thou readest?" "How can I, except some man should guide me?" The great majority of people read the Bible as did this Ethiopian. In my case it was the BIBLE STANDARDwhich acted as Philip, and guided me. As people are now thinking and writing a good deal about "Man's Immortal Soul," it may be asked, "In what way has the B.S. guided you?" I am a member of the Church of England. Our Bishop and Clergy tell us we have an immortal soul, which can never die. If so, then we have an endless, or eternal, life, apart from Christ; and, as they tell us the soul is the real man, the body being only its lodging-house, the Church of England doctrine leaves Christ out of it, and declares that man has an eternal life in himself. Now, we will see how this doctrine squares with the Bible. "For this is the witness of God, which he hath testified of His Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself; he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son. And this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life" (1 John v. 9-12). Paul says, "Let God be true and every man a liar." Who are the liars in Christendom? Every Church and people who teach in opposition to God's Word that man has an Immortal Soul, or eternal life apart from God's Son, God Himself being the witness. What follows from the teaching of the different Churches which. makes God a liar? The existence of pagans in the midst of Auckland. Out of their own mouth are such teachers judged. Truth compels me to write thus. WATCHMAN.

assume that all men will live for ever, and then urge upon all the necessity of deciding where this endless life shall be spent. But before asking, WHERE shall I live for ever? would it not be wise to inquire, Is it true that I SHALL live for ever? instead of taking it for granted that I shall live for ever somewhere? Perhaps, after all, the momentous question is, whether you will live for ever or not, instead of, in what place will you live the life that lasts for ever. And if people will only let the Scriptures decide the matter they will find that the former is really the great question-to be decided. Nowhere does the Bible raise the question for the decision of human beings, Where will you spend eternity? but everywhere it sets before its reaclers life and death, and solemnly informs them that the only way to "live for ever" is to eat of the "living bread which came down out of heaven." "He that eateth THIS bread shall live for ever" (John vi. 51, 58). Our Saviour asked life for the race He represented., and so we read, "He asked life of Thee [God] and Thou gayest it Him, even length of days for ever and ever." Isn't that plain enough? Why then ask those who have not eaten of the "bread of life" where they willli ve for ever? Woulcln't it be much better to urge them to eat that bread in order that they MAY "live for ever," as our Saviour said? God is not going to throwaway His, eternity on those who haw no use for it. He does not waste His best gifts that way. Eternity is too precious to be spent in sin and misery. There are spendthrifts of time, but there will be no spendthrifts of eternity, because none will possess eternity except those who will spend it aright. Oh that miserable lie of natural human immortality! What a deathgrip it seems to have even on the Church of Christ! Dishonouring to Christ! dishonouring to God! and honouring only that wicked being who has persuaded man to believe, "Thou shalt not surely die."lt1 essiah's Advocate.

"Wlbere taut ll10u $pen~ JEterntt}]."

ONE frequently comes across the expression, "Where Will You Spend Eternity?" in mission halls, on tracts, etc. And it was recently the subject for a Christian Endeavour prayer-meeting topic. But another question arises before the minds of those who accept Bible teaching literally, How can those who do not possess eternity spend it anywhere? If a man has $1,000 he can spend it; if not, it is impossible for him to spend it. No one can spend what he has not got. The word eternity in its application to man is equivalent to the expression, "eternal life," because no one could possess eternity if he was dead. Dead men possess nothing. Their friends own even their graves. So if a person possesses eternity he must be alive. 'I'herefore, the question, Where shall I spend eternity? must mean Where shall I live for ever? or Where shall I live throughout eternity? This is evidently the meaning attached to these words by those who put them out. They

...

Private advices from a Mohammedan source state that the Turkish Government has sanctioned the construction of a dam across the Hindieh Canal in Mesopotamia, which will enormously develop the Euphrates Valley. There is a self-opening gate which is sometimes used in country roads. It stands fast and firm across the road as a traveller approaches it. If he stops before he gets to it, it won't open. But if he will drive right at it, his waggon wheels press the springs below" the roadway, and the gate swings back to let him through, He must push right on at the closed gate, or it will continue closed. This illustrates the way to pass every barrier on the road of duty. Whether it is a river, a gate, or fl mountain, all the child of God has to do is, to go for it. Is there a great barrier across your path of duty just now ? Just go for it, in the name of God, and it won't be there !-H. Clay Trumbull,

JULY,

1905.

THE 1be IDte~ tor tIDe.

BIBLE

STANDARD.

Ior

SOME time after the American Civil War the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher visited the Soldiers' Cemetery at Nashville; United States. "Here," he says, "I observed a man planting flowers over a grave. I approached him and asked if his son was buried there." "N 0," was the response. "A son-in-law'?" "N 0:' "A brother?" "No." "A relative?" "No." "Whose memory, then, do you cherish?" I ventured to ask. After delaying a moment, and putting down a small bsard he had in his hand, he replied, "Well, I will tell you. When the war broke out I lived in Illinois. I wanted to enlist, but I was poor, and a large family of children depended on me for their daily bread. Finally, as the war continued, I was drafted. No draft-money was given me; I was unable to procure a substitute, and made up my mind to go. After I .had got everything in readiness, and was just going to report for duty at the conscript camp, a young man whom I had known came up to me and said, 'You have a large family whom your wife cannot support while you are gone; I will go for you.' In the battle of Chickamanga the poor fellow was dangerously wounded, and he, along with others, was taken back to hospital at Nashville. After a lingering illness he died and was buried here. Ever since hearing of his death I have been desirous of coming to Nashville and seeing that his remains were properly buried. Having saved sufficient funds, I came on yesterday, and here to-day found the poor fellow's grave." On completing his story the man took up the small board and inserted it at the foot of the grave. Turning to look at it, I saw this simple inscription, and nothing more: "He died for

"We KNOW that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." And these also follow in this fascinating chapter: "Ye KNOW that He was manifested to take away our sins:' "We KNOWthat we have passed from death unto life." "We KNOW that we are of the truth." "We KNOWthat He abideth in us:' In contrast with the positive character of these assurances, clustering around the words "we know," is the opposite, or negative state of those who are not the "sons of God"-"Therefore the world KNOWETH us NOT, because it KNEW HIM NOT." , These, not discerning either God, or the "sons of God," lack the simple elements of all true knowledge, and are in uncertainty and darkness, The saints of God, on the other hand, illuminated by the "great light," may be sure and certain on the points where positiveness and assurance are virtues.

---,- ... ,.,.--The older I grow, and now I stand on the brink of eternity) the more comes back to me the sentence in the Catechism which I learned when a child, and the fuller and deeper its meaning becomes: "What is the chief end of man?" "To glorify God and enjoy Him for ever." And surely this is the beginning and end, the Alpha and Omega of that strange, undefinable thing which we call life.-Carlyle. it Workmen in the stone quarries often find a very hard kind of rock. They pick little grooves for the iron wedges, and then, with great sledge-hammers, labour to drive the wedges into the flinty rock. And yet, once in a while, they fail to divide the solid mass The iron wedges and the sledges prove useless, and the workmen wonder at the stubborn rock. But there is yet another way. 'I'he iron wedges are removed from the narrow grooves. Then little wooden ones of a very hard fibre are selected. The sharp, well-made wooden wedges are first put into water. They are then inserted in the grooves, tightly, while wet, and water is kept in the grooves, and no sledge is eeded to drive them. They would break under the severe blows of the ponderous hammer. But the workmen just let the wet wedges alone. They will do what the driven iron failed to do. How so? The damp wood swells. The particles must have room to enlarge. And the granite heart of the rock cannot withstand the silent influence. In a little while the solid rock parts from top to bottom, and the workmen's will is accomplished. It is often so in other things. What noise and visible effort fail to do, some quiet power, when skilfully applied, will surely accomplish. 'I'eachers may remember this fact in mechanics, and manage some very stubborn natures by the application of the silent forces. The iron and the sledgehammer often fail. But tears, prayers, and a patient example never fail.-Rev. A. Clarlc.

me."

..

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THE distinguishing feature of the First Epistle of John, is its incisive, positive testimony, the whole revolving around the word "know," used in various forms and relations. The entire epistle takes one apart from the uncertain and the unknown, and surrounds him with an atmosphere of certainty and positive assurance. It is a tonic for the spiritually debilitated; for a weak heart, or a vacillating nature. Early in the second chapter we find this double use of the word which gives 80 much emphasis' to John's teaching. "And hereby we do KNOW that we KNOW him." These also follow in the same chapter "He that saith I KNOW Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar." "Ye have KNOWNHim that is from the beginning." "Hereby KNOWwe that we are in Him." "Ye have KNOWNthe Father." "Ye KNOWall things." Early in the third chapter this emphatic word expresses a climax of both faith and hope.

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1908.

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THE JUDGESHIP OF CHRIST. THE one great and certain fact before mankind is that Christ is coming. The continuance of the present era from year to year, through so many centuries, affords no testimony that the present state of things shall always endure. If there be a God, and He has a purpose towards humanity, then, in order that that purpose may be realised, there may take place at any time such a change as will close up this dispensation and inaugurate another in which totally different conditions may prevail. The Bible declares that this shall occur, but does not ask us to accept this upon the basis of mere assertion. It appeals to the past, in which may be seen the preparatory steps which unfalteringly lead to the great event to which all' creation moves. I repeat it, Christ is coming! Some may say-many do say-"I don't believe it." It is sufficient for me as a believer in the Bible to reply, If that advent is in God's purpose, even universal unbelief will not prevent its realisation. The one question to determine is, Has God said it? The unmistakeable testimony replies, He has. That, then, is quite sufficient. But to simply assert that Christ is coming is not all that the Biblc advocate has to do. There are always matters of importance attached to this statement having their special bearing upon the hopes and future of men. The words of the Coming One are, "Behold I come quickly, and my reward is with me to render to each man according as his work is." That aspect of His advent brings Him very close to the sons of men, and should make Him a very potent influence upon their lives now. . Let me give you a weighty text from His own lips:
"For neither doth the Father judge any man, bnt He hath (John v. 22). given all judgment unto the Son; that all may honour the Son,

Church is agitated over such questions as the nature of the doom which must fall upon the impenitent-certainly that is a solemn theme, and one which calls for thoughtful and prayerful consideration, but that is only a part of this matter presented to us, when we consider the Judgeship of Christ. For, according to these passages, that touches "every man" past, present and future, saint and sinner, learned and ignorant-all of whatsoever race and clime. And it relates to "all judgment." Precisely that very feature was prominent in the earliest preaching of which we have any record. Before the death of Adam the message was proclaimed:
"Behold the Lord came with ten thousand to execute judgment upon all" (Jude 14). of His holy ones,

even as they honour the Father"

To that may be added two others which present the same weighty theme:
"God .... repent; commandeth men that they should all everywhere a day in which He will by the man wItom He hath Jesus, inasmuch as He hath appointed

judge the world in righteousness ordained" (Aets xvii. 30, 31).

"I charge ' thee in the sight of God, and of Christ

and His Kingdom" (2 Tim. iv. 1).

who shall judge the quick and the dead, and by His appearing

Other passages might be cited, but these suffice to set forth the solemn fact that Christ is coming to be the Judge of mcn. This is a theme which ought to compel the attention of every thinking person. Sometimes the

Not all who heard that regarded it as solemn truth, and few regard it as such now. Many live as if it could be treated as a fable, but refusal to reflect upon the subject is no clog to the chariot wheels of the Divine purposc. It may probably be said, But certainly all Christians accept this _doctrine-all believe in a: coming judgment. Yes, probably they do. But I make bold to say that few accept it as it is presented in the Bible. The common opinion is that some day in the far-off future there will be a universal assize, a gathering of the dead and the living, the righteous and the wicked, before a tribunal at which an immediate decision is reached, the good being welcomed to heaven, and the unfit being consigned to hell. This is the old monkish teaching, which has been handed on to us as if it were the very truth of God, and to be considered as covering what is said in Scriphue of the Judgeship of Christ. From it wc get a pietare of Christ sitting on the judicial scat, and the whole number of thc saved, and the whole number of the lost appearing before Him in two divisions. Scripture knows nothing of such a scene as this. His future judgment is no mere sitting of a Court at some specified time for the hearing and determining of cases that have been long accumulating. This is a purely human idea, which coulel never have obtained the hold it has if it were not that the grand central doctrine of the Bible-the Kingdom of God-had been completely subverted under papal influence, The Bible affirms the doctrine of human accountability, and gives as the basis for this the doctrine of creation. Man as a creature is responsible to His Creator. That fact inevitably leads to the doctrine of a judgment to come. But this human accountability is many-sided. I am personally responsible for my personal transgressions of Goel's known will. But there is also existent, as set forth in the N oachic covenant, a social relationship which establishes a collective responsibility, and this is carried over into the political realm. In the Law as given through Moses there are many items which pertain to matters purely personal, but the Mosaic code is not limited to these; there are some for which the whole nation, as such, is responsible. Human accountability has many sides, anel future judgment is designed

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to. meet that many-sidedness. The Judgeship of Christ will be comprehensive in its character to meet all the conditions which belong to humanity. It is well also to note that the Bible divides men into "Jews, Gentiles, and the Church of God" (1 Cor. x. 32). That should suggest to us that if to the Coming Lord :'all judgment is given" it will be intended to apply it III the way of accurately discriminating and rightly deciding on all matters which belong to the responsibility of these several classes. But there is yet another matter to be noticed. It is commonly assumed that in Scripture the Judge to come will act as a jurist on the bench. It is His duty to try cases and to administer penalties, or announce acquittals. But the Bible affords no warrant for such a limitation of the office of the Coming Judge. When the prophets refer to this future Judgeship they speak of it as a matter for congratulation and rejoicing, and not as a theme of dread or apprehension. It is represented as a joyful event, one which will cause exultation and happiness. As in the following passage:
"0 let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the peoples with equity, and govern the nations upon earth" (Ps. lxvii. 4).

Christ is the Judge. The Man of Sorrows, and acquainted with grief. All judgment is committed unto Him. Does that mean that He sits in judicial capacity to determine cases? That He sits to determine as to the innocence or guilt of men? 'Or, rather, are we not to understand that the title and office cover judicial, legislative, and executive action-in a word, that He is to possess supreme power in kingly rule? If we take the Bible idea of judge, instead of confining our thought to the modern sense engrafted upon it, there is no difficulty in replying that it is the latter view that is intended. After the death of Moses and Joshua, the Lord raised up judges such as Samson, Gideon, J ephthah, Eli and Samuel. In what did their office of judge consist? , They enforced the laws, reformed or protected religion, punished idolators, and had to do prominently with matters of peace and war.
"And the Lord raised up judges, which saved them out of the hand of them that spoiled them. And yet they hearkened not unto their judges, for they went a whoring after other gods, -nd bowed down themselves to them, ... And when the Lord raised them up judges, then the Lord was with the judge, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge" (Judges ii. 16-19).

sent the Coming Messiah as ruling in full exercise of the kingly office, being "King of kings," Sovereign of the world. They indicate that His powers will consist in a theocratic judgeship. Supreme in governing, legislative, and executive, as well as in judicial authority; issuing decrees, executing the law-s, punishing offenders, rewarding the faithful, and carrying forward the Divine ordering of His Kingdom. In these few remarks I have designedly endeavoured to enlarge your conception of the announcement which declares, "Behold He cometh." This declaration that "all judgment is given unto Him" is so comprehensive that I shall attempt to present to you in succeeding addresses some outline of His work as Judge and Ruler in relation to the Church, to Israel, and to the nations. There is a rich vein of revelation on these themes which we may endeavour to work, that our knowledge of the fulness of meaning conveyed in the statement "all judgment" may be increased. We have learned to look upon Christ as the Saviour of mankind, as dying upon Calvary. Wc have followed Him to the silent tomb, and have joyfully believed the testimony that He rose from the dead. ,Ve believe that He now sits at the Father's right hand, and we are now awaiting His promised return. But we must not suffer that to be the limit of our quest for truth. Why is He returning? What is the meaning of the statement that all judgment is given to Him? As the Lord Himself used this language to the men of His day, we may well accept it as of greatest importance to them, and not less to mankind to-day. For mark what follows-"that all men' may honour the Son." Sooner 0]' later this must be. It is one of the certainties of the future that "all men shall honour Him." In the realisation of His authority and power, under IIis ban, or in the possession of the eternal life and the joys of futurity, mankind shall realise that to Him all authority has been given. Let us honour Him now, that thus we may manifest the honour we would render unto God for His wise and beneficent work of redemption by which poor mortal and perishing sinners may be saved from sin and death, and share the glories of His Kingdom ,accomplished. He has purposed that His Son shall reign, and has made the wondrous provision now available to men by which they may share in the great prerogatives which belong to the Son of Man, and which shall be exercised in the Coming Theocratic-Kingdom. Outline of address given at West Street by the Edi~or.

Mr. E. L. Shuman, in his book on "Practical Journalism," has this to say regarding the value of Bible reading and study as an aid to good English writing: "Considered merely as a model of simple and elegant English and as an exhaustless store of vital human truth, there is no book that will better repay careful and constant study than the Bible. Its anecdotes, its imagery, and its language, have become part of the warp and woof of civilised thought and life."

The authority of these men was similar to that afterwards possessed by the kings. Note the request made by the Israelites when they wished for a king:
"Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us .... " (1 Sam. viii. 4-6, 19, 20).

These historical indications should serve to put us on the track, afterwards followed by the prophets, who pre-

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TABLE

THE
OF OONTENTS.

BIBLE
PAGE

STANDARD.

JULY,

1908.

THE THE HE

MON'I'H

.. EUNUCH You .. STREET . SPEND E')'ERNITyj"

ETHIOPIAN WILL DIED

WHERE POSITIVE ECHOES

FOR ME FROM

TESTIMONY WES,), NOTj,;S MOVEMENT YOUNG MEN AND THE BIBLE TRUTHS .. ON

ASSOCIATION THE ZIONIST ONE THE

HUNDRED

97--100 100 lOO 101 101 .. 102~103 104 .. 105~107 107

MAN'S

and, if able to assist the work financially, their contributions will be thankfully received. It is expected that the new building now in course of erection in the Mount Roskill district, corner of Emma Street and Walters' Road, will be ready for occupancy before the next issue of the STANDAHD. 'I'he morning meeting held in the Roskill Hall has been attended with discomforts which could be braved only by those who were immune from the effects of disagreeable odours and from the persistent attacks of swarms of flies. 'I'he new building will be comfortable, and will provide an opportunity for Sunday School work, and for weekevening meetings, as well as for the resumption of the Sunday evening services. Our present wish is to secure suitable seating for the building, and the Trustees would be glad to receive offerings to this object from any of our readers interested in this effort. A suitable seat can be obtained for twenty-five shillings, and about twenty of these are required. If any reader can donate the value-of one the Trustees will be grateful. It is needless to say that smaller sums will be thankfully received. N0 offerings have been sought for the cost of the building itself, but it is felt that as the seating and fencing are costs outside the contract price of the building, and no funds are in hand available for these purposes, the Trustees will welcome any financial assistance which readers of the STANDAHDwho are interested in the spread of the Life views may find themselves able to give. Pastor Russell, of lVIillennial Dawn fame, is visiting the United Kingdom, and, according to The Irish. Protestant, is being advertised as "one of the most brilliant Bible scholars of the Twentieth Century." We have no means of judging the merits of this claim, save by his publications, and from the evidence they yield we should certainly hesitate ere endorsing it. The Irish Protestant gives an account of the first lecture delivered by Mr. Russell, and states that "before commencing his address he announced that a card had been sent up by Mr. Henry" O'Connor, General Secretary of the Dublin Y.M.C.A., requesting permission to ask some questions at the close of the lecture. To this Mr. Russell assented. Nevertheless, immediately after the lecture concluded, the meeting was closed down by singing the Doxology and by prayer. The questioner was, however, at once on his feet, and managed to secure the attention of the audience before those who had already risen had time to leave the building. Before putting his first question, Mr. O'Connor said he desired to draw attention to the fact that, although on the announcement, the friends assembled had been invited to bring their Bibles, they had not been once asked to use them, the lecturer not giving any direct Scriptural reference for any argument brought forward. A little later in the meeting it was elicited that even the lecturer himself had not a Bible in his possession on the platform." We note, too, that in the matter of a Greek reference the lecturer cited the "Emphatic Diaglott" in support of his contention, but he was asked to give some other authority, as the book was

HOME CIRCLE~ALPHABE'l'IC NATURE AND MISSION CORNER .. (POETRY) COMING .. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .. N~"vs ..

LE~'~'ERS ')'0 A YOUNG FRIEND CHURCH SUNSHINE THE NEW I ADVICE

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SECOND BOOKS

'1'0 A YOUNG MAN

TREASURER'S

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~ Cb~ Biblt Standard. ~

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ORGAN

ntw Ztalana EoangtJlstlc ana Publication Jls$ocliltlon.

EDITED BY GEOROE ALDRIDGE.
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The Editor wishes it to be understood that, while he exerciaes a general superrteton over the articles and Correspondence appearing in the STAHDlltD, responaibility for sentiments expressed rests upon the indlYidual writer.

tlaaociation
The Annual on July 14th. the 12th.

1Rotea.

Church Tea at the Thames is to be held Special services will be held on Sunday,

By oversight the word "not" is wrongly inserted in page 87, column 1, line 4. Bible readers know that the verse reads, "Ye do err," not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God. The members of the Dunedin Church have commenced their effort to give greater publicity to the truth they love. They have now some four dozen books in circulation. Hitherto the visitors have been well received, and this encourages them to continue in this commendable work. The West Street Church will hold its Annual Tea on Wednesday, July 8th. The officers express the wish that all the members will endeavour to be present, and they extend a hearty welcome to all visitors. If any country friends are intending to be present we shall be glad to hear from them before the date named. "Echoes of Truth." Under this title the Association is publishing in a tasteful folder the article on "The Spirit of Man" (Old 'I'estament}, which appeared in the June STANDAItD. The Executive has authorised the issue in this form of a short series of tracts presenting the positive Bible evidence on "Man's Nature .and Destiny." Copies of this tract for distribution may be obtained from the Book Steward. Friends desirous of aiding in this work are urged to communicate with him,

JULY,

1908.

THE

BIBLE

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dred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee; and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee; and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed" (Gcn. xii. 1-3). He obeyed and went, not knowing whither. But God directed his steps, and at last when arrived in the land of Canaan God said "Unto thy seed will I give this land. I am Jehoval~ that brought thee out of Ur of the Ohaldees, to give (Continued from Page 59.) thee this land to inherit it. I give unto thee and to "And .Iehovah spake unto Moses in MOWlt Sinai, saying, thy seed after thee all the land of Canaan for an ever-. Speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them, I am lasting possession" (Gen. xii. 1-3-7; xiii. 17; xv. 7; J ehovah your God; the land shall not be sold in perpetuity; xvii. 8). for the land is Mine" (Lev. LXV. 23). It was an unconditional promise, which God confirmed with an oath (Gen. xxii. 17; Heb. vi. 13, 14). And HERE we have set forth the Divine secret why Palestine God has not repented either of the gift of the land nor can. never become the permanent possession of any of the the calling of Abraham. Neither the apostacy of Israel, nations, It cannot be sold. By permission of God, nor the crowning sin of the rejection and crucifixion of Israel for their sins may for awhile be expelled and a their Messiah, could annul the promise. It was unconOonqueror temporarily hold possession, but it must ditional. True, certain conditions were afterwards laid eventually revert to Israel, for God gave it as an uncondown by Moses which affected the question as to which ditional gift to Abraham and to his seed for ever, and generation of Israel should inherit the promises to their to them only. Why this Divine decree that the land fullest extent. And until now each successive generacan never be sold? . Why this constant preservation of tion has proved itself deceitful and unworthy. These it, like property in chancery, until the real owner shall stringent regulations must be complied with ere Israel retu~n, if he is never to return? Strangers inhabit it, shall be in the most perfect sense "the people of God." but It refuses even to yield its fruits to them, as if conBut these conditions in no way affect the unconditional scious of its degradation. Once the most fertile of lands gift. They simply determine the period when the flowing with milk and honey, it is now a desolation people shall take complete possession of the promised which causes astonishment (Lev. xxvi, 32), a barren land. Canaan is to be a prepared place for a prepared and empty land like a house shut up during the absence people. It is a converted nation, with the stony heart of its owner. A land politically important because of for ever removed and filled with the spirit of God who its incomparable position, yet financially almost worthshall "inherit the land," which, now barren and desoless because of the present poverty of its soil. late, shall then "become like the garden of Eden" (Ezek. "When the Most High divided to the nations their xxxvi. 24-36). An unconditional promise! Hence, inheritance, when He separated the sons of Adam, He when the ten tribes revolted frol~l the house of David the set the bounds of the people according to the number oi : Lord said to Jeroboam, "I will for this-namely, idol athe children of Israel. For the Lord's portion is His tory-afflict the seed of David, but not for ever" (1 Kings people; J acob is the lot of His inheritance" (Deut. xi. 39). The affliction and dispersion must come to an xxxii. 8, 9). This division of the earth took place in end, for the Lord God of Israel hath said it. God hath the days of Peleg (Gen. x. 25), who lived several gennot cast away His people; Abraham's descendants must erations before the birth of Abraham, and under the possess the land given to their father Abraham, "For controlling providence of God and in accordance with the gifts and calling of God cannot be repented of'" His foreknowledge the nations were so placed as to sub(Rom. xi. 25-29). serve His Divine purpose. in relation to a people who We are a little careful to emphasise this fact of God's had not yet sprung into existence. The Apostle Paul unconditional gift of the land of Oanaan to Abraham spake also of the overruling arrangements of God; when and his seed, because there are some Christians who referring to the nations of men who dwell on the face of question whether it is a truth that the God of Israel the earth he said, "God hath determined their appointed intends to reassemble the scattered sons of the renowned seasons (the time and duration of their existence and Abraham in the land of promise. supremacy) and the bounds of their habitation (the Zion is on the S.W. hill of Jerusalem, the older and boundaries of their lands)" (Acts xvii. 26). For a higher part of the city, and is often called "the city of chosen people there is a chosen locality. The localities David." In 2 Samuel v. we read how David took the of nations and the events of the worlc1 are but the visible stronghold of Zion and fortified it and dwelt there. appearance of what the omniscient God had foreseen Zion is the representative city of the land of Israel, as from the beginning. London is of the British Isles, or Paris of France. So, It was about 300 years after the above-mentioned when the Jew speaks of the return to Zion, by that word division of the earth (430 years after the flood, 1,900 ~e implies a return to the land of Palestine generally, years before the Christian era) that God called Abraham, Just as an Angle-Indian in Calcutta would say, "I am saying, "Get thec out of thy country, and from thy kinnot a kno'~n or recognised standard. . As the meeting was assulIlmg a stormy character, Mr. Russell wisely declared it closed, and the audience dispersed.

~be ztontet mo~ement.

106

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JULY,

1908.

returning to London," by which he means his country home in England, wherever such might be situate. The movement Zionward has begun, and as the yeart', pass it will grow stronger and stronger, until at last, preliminary difficulties having been removed, with a final effort on the part or the Jews and their helpers, the goal will be reached. We are not prophets, and therefore cannot hazard any statement as to in what year the exodus will take place. Enough for us that it will be in God's good time. One wonders if the accredited leaders of Zionism have any cut and dried programme as to their national progress after the exodus from the lands or their captivity has been effected and they luxuriate in the delights or political freedom I But the lamentable fact cannot be lost sight or that it is as an unbelieving race, stiff-necked and hardened as ever as regards the claims or Jesus or Bethlehem to be their Messiah, that the Jews will again take possession or the "mountains or Israel" (Ezek. xxxiv. 12). The intentions of the rounders or the Zionist movement and the counsel or God concerning. Israel do not run on the same lines, as we shall presently see. The ultimate aim or the Zionist, and the revealed purpose of J ehovah, differ in many respects. The desire of the oppressed Jew runs no higher than the emancipation of his nation and the glory of the Hebrew race. "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts" (Is. lv. 8-9) . The good pleasure of God,- as manifest in the future restoration of Israel, is twofold; firstly, the keeping or His covenant promise made to Abraham, and secondly, the blessing of the whole world through Abraham's seed (Rom. xi. 15). Manifold and various will be the workings by which God will bring this about. The ten tribes or Israel, as well as the two tribes of J udah, are to return from their long banishment, the miracle of a national conversion is to take place, the twelve tribes united as a strong nation under one king shall be the predominant empire of the world, and, moreover, by means or Israelitish missionaries "all nations that on earth do dwell" shall be brought to render glad allegiance to the reigning Son or God, even the Lord Jesus Ohrist. What do we learn from the Scriptures concerning this marvellous restoration of a nation so miraculously preserved during its 2,000 years or exile and woe? Let us briefly trace the course of the wonderful events which issue in Israel becoming the first or the nations and Jerusalem the first of the cities of the world. , ,. It is quite evident that, unaided, the Hebrew nation will never recover possession of their. land. Assistance of a very practical and potent character will be needed. And such will be forthcoming. Isaiah the prophet, in his eighteenth chapter, foretells this. The chapter commences with a call summoning attention-"Ho !"(not ''Woe,'' as in the old version)-to the land unnamed, which is to be described. There is one nation

that shall seek to befriend the Jews. This future ally of the Jews is a maritime nation, for it "sendeth ambassadors by the sea even in vessels upon the waters." Israel is the object of their anxiety. "Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto, a nation meted out and trodden down." Here is a strong sea-power sending out messengers and ships to rescue a scattered people, once so formidable, but now ravaged by their cruel oppressors. In verse 7 we are told that at that time shall this people "be brought as a present unto the Lord or hosts" even to the mount Zion. Universal attention is demanded, for great events are to follow. "All ye, inhabitants or the world, and ye dwellers on the earth, when an ensign is lifted up on the mountains, see ye;' and when the trumpet is blown, hear ye" (vel'. 3). But though this alliance or the despised Jew with a mighty Gentile nation is the commencement of a world's crisis, in which all are interested, and to which all are summoned to pay attention, God Himself does not, as yet, openly interfere. The parenthetic verses 4 to 6 sets this forth, God is not favouring this busy enterprise. Man is active. J ehovah, as it were, retires and watches. Events are not yet quite ripe for Divine interference; but they are represented as the objects of Divine attention. "For thus saith the Lord unto me: I will sit still (but I will keep My eye upon My prepared habitation), as the parching heat just before lightning, as the dewy cloud in the heat of harvest" (ver. 4). The passage suggests thus the idea or that awful season or deathly stillness and oppressive' heat which precedes the bursting of some dreadful thunderstorm. All seems at a stand and in suspense. It is thus the spirit or prophecy has seemed good to portray to us the short season during which the Jews, aided by a powerful maritime nation, are re-settling in their own land. The mass of them are still in a state of unbelief', and go through terrible trials ere the moment of deliverance comes. "For afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and take away and cut down the. branches" (vel'. 5). The Jews are represented thus as morally unchanged since the day when God complained of them as His vineyard, which produced wild grapes alone (Is. v. 1-7) . Now, however, the sour grape is not allowed to ripen. The sprigs and branches are prematurely cut down, and the beasts and fowls feed upon them (vel'. 6)" In other words, these returned Jews again suffer, and that most severely at the hands of the nations under Anti-Christ, whose "rushing" is foretold in the previous chapter (xvii. 12-14). But this is the last, short-lived triumph or the nations over Israel. God then actively interferes on their behalf, and their complete deliverance is the result. The "maritime nation" here referred to, we think, can be none other than the British nation, who is "the Mistress of the Seas." This is the only nation in the world that protects the Jew, and has thoughts or kindness

JUJX,

1908.

THE

BIBLE" STANDARD.

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toward them. Witness their late offer of a territory in British Africa as a free gift, to which the oppressed Jew could flee, and there form a Jewish colony with a free hand as to its internal economy. In ships flying the British ensign will the Zionists be conveyed to their native land. But, notwithstanding the powerful friendship of the "maritime nation," the present Zionist movement comes to a disastrous close. A total failure of the whole plan will ensue. Everything in appearance will betoken a speedy ingathering of good to Israel, and their national hopes seem on the eve of being realised, when God brings all to nought, and lets loose the old passions of the Gentiles against His people. The issue is that "they shall be left together unto the fowls of the mountains and to the beasts of the earth." Why? Because the nation still rejects their appointed Messiah and God still resents the indignity offered to His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. There can be no rest and blessedness for Israel until nationally they repent of their. sin in crucifying their King, and the word of God (according to His declaration through David) has been fulfilled, "Yet have I set My King upon My holy hill of Zion" (Ps. ii. 6). But after this momentary check God will take in hand this "Zionist movement" and wondrous events shall ensue. We must leave till our next paper a careful consideration of the ample details which Scripture gives of the short history-only a few years-of the Jews between their return in unbelief to Zion and the descent of their Messiah from heaven, "whose feet shall stand upon the Mount of Olives which is before Jerusalem on the east" (Zeck. xiv. 4). And then, having traced this Jewish 'movement to the time when "the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob" (Is. lix. 20), we will hope to continue our investigation and note the return of the ten tribes, the reunion of the hitherto divided nation, as also the most interesting particulars related by the prophets concerning their final establishment in the holy land-the land of promise, under the rule of the Son of David and Son of God-even the Lord Jesus Christ. Rotorua. C. CRISP BROWN.

~ne 1bun~re~ lQonng .Men ano tbe 1Btble.

WE live ina day of Bibles and Sunday Schools, and yet with all our twentieth century advantages there seems to be a surprising amount of ignorance among the young people of this generation regarding the Bible our fathers loved. . The readers of The Sunday School Times must have been forcibly reminded of this by a recent article in that excellent publication, in which J ames McConaughy, of Mount Hermon School, N orthfield, gives some of the results of an entrance examination on the Scriptures given to one hundred y<1nngmen last May. There were none under sixteen years of age, and they "were above the average young man in character, and presumably in knowledge of the Bible." Here are a few results of their examination: "Six, after reading the questions, made no attempt to answer any. Twenty-three others did not answer correctly one question out of the fifteen. One paper contained only this statement: 'The names of five Old 'I'estament books are Luke, John, Mark and Psalms.' " They were asked to write out the first and fifth commandments, and only twenty-six were able to give the first, and fourteen the fifth. Of this hundred young men, not one could tell who lost his life on Mount Gilboa, while thirty knew that the law was given at Mount Sinai, and twenty-three about the fall of Jericho. They were asked to describe briefly any two important events in the life of Jesus, and tell where each occurred. Thirty-five gave the two events, but only a part of this number knew they took place. Sixteen knew Stephen as a martyr, but only four were acquainted with Apollos and seven with Barnabas, while only nineteen knew about Saul's conversion. Ninety-eight out of the hundred were unable to give the Epistles of Paul in their New Testament order. Here are a few of their answers to questions relating to Biblical history:"J acob was the younger son of David." "Samuel was the brother of Joseph."J "Gideon captured Jericho." "The ark rested on Mount Sinai." "The Jews built the tabernacle, and used it as a place for money-mongers. Christ built the temple to worship our Father." "Jesus gave His life on Mount Gilboa." "Simon Peter told the Jewish soldiers the place where Jesus was hiding." "Matthew was the chosen one of the twelve in place of Judas." In the words of the Mount Hermon teacher who gives these results, we ask the question, "If this showing reflects the Bible ignorance of a hundred picked young men, how about the millions who compose the rank and file ?"-Linden J. Carter. The milk of human kindness cannot be carried in the dish of a sour disposition.

I have devoted as much time as any man living to the study of the sacred books of the East, and I have found the one keynote, the one diapason, so to speak, of all these sacred books the one refrain through all, to be salvation by works. They all say that salvation must be purchased, must be bought with a price, and that the sole price, the sole purchase money must be our own works and deservings. Our own Holy Bible, our sacred book of the East is from beginning to end a protest against this doctrine.-Professor Max Muller.
THE MESSENGER-A Magazine of Christian Instruction and I~1telligence. Edited by James Dowie. Annual Subseription, one copy, 1/6, post free, from Robert Leitch Tighvonie, Dunfermline. '

108
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JULY, 1908 . "made perfect," is not the word "spirits," but "just men." It is therefore the "just men" who are perfected, and as this does not take place till the resurrection, this passage affords no support to the accepted spirit theory. From the foregoing we conclude that the usual orthodox affirmai!ions regarding the spirit of man are antiscriptural, and that THERE IS NOT A PAUTICLE OF EVIDENCE EITHER FOR NATURAL IMMORTALITY OR A CONSCIOUS INTERMEDIATE STATE, there being no passage which affirms consciousness of the spirit when it is separated from the body. Combining the facts of the New 'I'estament with the facts of the Old, we find(a) That the word "spirit" in the Hebrew and the Greek occur EIGHT HUNDRED TIMES, and in no single instance is there,a u~?,ge of the common expression Immortal spirit" or "never-dying spirit." . (b) In no single instance does It stand for a man. (c ) Now here does it refer to man in the death-state. This examination shows that the word SPIRIT in the New Testament yields no support to the DOCTRINE OF NATURAL IlIO[MORTALITY. This New Testament evidence is in full aareement with the -testimony yie!ded fl':'om a careful examination of that given by the Old. Both agree that .the. spirit of man is not the man, the thinleing being himself, but the breath, or spirit, of life <riven to him by the Creator. All "language as "disembodied human spirit," "immortal spirit," are jus~ ~bsurdities, and are in deadly opposItion to Bible usage. Carefully ponder the foregoing questions and texts. They afford some helpon a much misunderstood subject. The evidence here given can be much increased by a personal study of th~ Word, and believing it to mean \~hat It s~ys, and only what it says on this deeply Important subject of the Nature and Constitution of Man.

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y of man that can live when the ody is dead. (7) Are we then to understand that rersona.li ty is attached to the body of nan rather than to the spirit of man, vhen death separates them? it is the body always which, Iivdead, carries personality. For
01'

ALPHABETIC

TRUTHS NATURE. No. V.

ON MAN'S

J! ingYes;

example: "And Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit" (Matt. n-vii.50). "Here Jesus, as a man, is distinguished from the spirit which was in Him. He gave it up; He was separated from it; He was therefore not that which was separable and separated from Him. When the spirit was gone to God, Jesus, the man Jesus, was left without the spirit, yet still Himself. The spirit of Jesus was not Jesus Himself."-Constable. (8) Does the New Testament agree with the Old in ascribing life in man to the presence of spirit in the organism? Yes; note the following passages:"And her spirit returned, and she rose up immediately" (Luke viii. 55). "And after three days and a-half the breath (Greek, spirit) of life entered into them, and they stood upon their feet" (Rev. xi. 11). . (9) Will, then, its absence from the hody mean death? Yes' these passages clearly prove this: "Fo{' as the body ap(~rt f1"011~ spirit the is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead" (Jas. ii. 26). "When Jesus, therefore, had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished; and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. . . . 'Nhen they came to Jesus and saw that He was dead already, they brake not His legs" (J o. xix. 30, 33). From these instances we observe that the spirit of a man is that which vitalises the organism. Its presence gives life; its withdrawal causes death. (10) But does not Stephen's last prayer afford warra.nt for consciousness in the deatli-state? He prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit" (Acts vii. 59). No, for spirit does not carry personality apart from the body. Note what the narrative actually says: "HE kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when HE had said this HE FELL ASLEEP" (vel'. 60). The man fell asleep. The spirit was not the man. HE was stoned; it departed. HE "returned to the dust; it "returned to God." Death did not make two Stephens out of one. The Step hen who prayed was "stoned," he "kneeled down," he "fell asleep," and DEVOUTMEN BURIED HIM (Acts viii. 2). Was there another Stephen-the real Step hen-who went to heaven? Was he awake when he was "asleep?" Was he unburied when he was "buried?" Why cause such confusion by this totally nnnecessary and positively antiscriptural idea about the spirit in man. (11) But does not Scripture speak of the "spirits of just men made perfect" (Heb. xii. 23), Yes; but it does not thereby imply that spirits of men are now living somewhere in conscious state apart from the body. The subject of the Greek participle,

THE

SPIRIT IN ~IAN TESTAMENT).

(NEW

In this short paper we present an examination of the' New Testament evidence on the word "spirit." It is very necessary that such an investigation should be undertaken, because of the current beliefs which are held on the "spirit in man." Men have made the boast, "I am an immortal spirit!" Has that claim any basis in divine revelation? The following questions will bring out the truth on the matter:( 1) How often does the word translated "spirit" (Greek pneuma) occur in the New Testament? Over 380 times. Surely from this number of occurrences we should be able to determine whether or not it is anywhere used to mean the so-called immortal, conscious part of man? (2) Is this word identical in meaning with the word "spirit" in the Olel Testament? Yes; in the Greek version of the Old Testament it is the word invariably employed as the equivalent for the Hebrew ruach, Compare these texts, which show that the two terms are really one:

SUCi,

"Father, into Thy hands I oommend my spirit" (Luke xxiii. 46). "Into Thine hand I 'Commend my spirit" (Ps. xxxi. 5).
(3) Is any word attached to "spirit" which signifies immortality? No; neither immortality nor consciousness apart from the body is predicated of it. Nowhere is it said that the spirit is a separate real person that continues alive after the body is dead. (4 ) How is the word pneuma translated in our Authorised Version? By "spirit," 288 times; "ghost," 92 times; and by "wind," "life," "breath," and "spiritual" once each. (5) Is there one instance of its usage where it can be certainly said that it is synonymous with "man?" No; it is a possession OF man, "my spirit," the "spirits of just men." (6) If it nowhere designates a man, does it apply to any intelligent beings? Yes; but in such cases it refers to(a) God-"God is a Spi1'it" (John iv. 24). (b) Good angels-"Are they not all ministering spi1'its sent forth to do service for the sake of them that shall inherit salvation?" (Heb. i. 14). (c) Evil angels-"Then goeth he and taketh with himself seven other spirits more evil than himself" (Matt. xii. 45). Thus the word "spirit" can signify real personal beings, but it does not stand for "the real man within the body," nor does it stand for a conscious per-

THE LOST KITTEN.

When Aunt Hitt began to ask questions she kept at least one person employed with little chance for any other word than direct answers. "What's become 0' that likely kitten you had last time I was here?" she demanded of her small nephew. "I hope she wasn't poisoned like the other one you had two years ago, was she?" "Oh, no'm, she --" "Was she drowned, then?"

"No'm, she --"

"Stolen ?" "Oh no'm she --" "W~ll, I 'should like to know what made you give away such a handsome kitten." "We didn't; she --" "Well, what happened to her? Speak up, boy." "S-sshe's growed into a cat!" gasped the small nephew, stammering in his

haste.-Youth's

Companion.

JULY,

1908.

THE

BIBLE

STANDARD.

109 city?" Why did J onah pity the gourd 7 Because it served and was useful to him. Yet what was the gourd compared to Nineveh? And what Jonah's selfish pity, as compared with the greater pity which God had for the great city-a pity abso lutely unselfish, perfectly pure, and infinitely great? God pitied and saved the city wherein were more than 120,000 children and also much cattle. Yes, God even thinks of and cares for the cattle. The evident intent of this fourth chapter is to place Man in contrast with God. Jonah's idea of the Divine character was plainly an imperfect one. He thought that Divine repentance was Divine weakness, that the nonfulfilment of the word was a dishonour to Jehovah. What he did not understand was the supremacy of Love in the dealings of God with His creatures. Thus the prophet's grief over the perishing gourd is made a reproof to his own rash spirit, and from his own mouth comes the justification of God for I-~ mercy to the men of Nineveh. Beyond doubt Jonah himself wrote this book. And it shows the depth of his repentance and faith that he thus wrote. He narrates the story of his folly and unworthiness, forbearing all expression of self-disapproval, and giving the story of his unwisdom siJ1lirly and without comment, thus exposing his character to the reprobation and even contempt of many of his readers, but grandly careless of what they would think of him, concerned only for the cause of God and His righteousness. He exhibits a strange mixture in his conduct of obedience and the spirit of selfishness. Yet this is what is seen in the greatest saints, in David, in Peter, in multitudes far below them; but the grace of God prevails over the infirmities and faults of a merely human character, and so, notwithstanding much inconsistency and moral weakness, the man who fled from Jehovah's presence is restored to His favour and made to be His chosen witness to a great Gentile nation. The Lord Jesus has distinctly employed the facts of Jonah's history in His own teaching. "As Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly, so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" (Matt. xii. 39, 40). And, again, "It behoved the Christ to suffer and to rise the third day" (Luke xxiv. 46). And the apostle Paul (1 Cor. xv. 4) says, that He "rose again the third day according to the Scriptures." There is no other passage in the Old Testament Scripturesexcept this concerning Jonah-which could serve as a basis to this particular designation of time. The Lord also holds up before the proud and hard spirit of the Jew in His day the repentance of the Ninevites at the preaching of Jonah (Matt. xii. 41). The distinguishing mark of the Book of Jonah is that it describes the mission of a Jewish.preacher to a Gentile nation, and sets forth in historical form the great truth (Rom. iii. 29) that God is not the God of Jews only, but is the God of Gentiles also.- Your friend,
CARPUS.

Letters to a Young Friend on the Study of Pl1ophecy.

LETTER JONAH AND XVI. (CONTINUED). INEVEH

A second time is Jonah bidden to go preach to Nineveh. His waiting for a renewal of the commission showed a true humility. If after the rebuke he had ~ncurred he had at once gone to Nineveh, it would have showed presumption rather than obedience. But now without any demur the prophet at once arose and went. It was a long journey of over 500 miles acro s the Syrian desert. Nineveh was "an exceeding great city of three days' journey"-probably its walls were of a circuit of nearly sixty miles, an area which included parks and fields and open spaces, with a population of six or seven hundred thousand. Before Jonah had finished one day's journey his work was done, for the impression made by his words among the people was so great that he had no need to go further. The awe-inspiring, terrible proclamation, "Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown"-and by "overthrown" is meant a sudden destruction such as overtook Sodom and Gomorrah, which was "overthrown" (Gen. xix. 29)produced so strong an impression upon those who heard it, as to cause an immediate demand for a penitential fast, and the contagion of penitence spread as a popular passion "from the greatest of them even to the least of them" (iii. 5). Perhaps they asked Jonah himself what they were to do, and Jonah gave the same advice which his contemporary Joel gave to the people of Judah when threatened by calamity (i. 13, 14; ii. 12, 16). And Joel used the same words as did the people of Nineveh, "Who knoweth whether God will not turn and repent?" (Joel ii. 14). And here we are confronted with a miracle in no way less marvellous than that of the conversion of the sailors in the storm at sea, or the deliverance of Jonah in and from the great fish. It seems almost incredible that the whole city should be moved to repentance by the preaching of one man, and that one man a stranger. Yet this marvellous effect of the preaching of Jonah on the people of Nineveh is by no means unexampled. The preaching of Whitefield and Wesley produced overwhelming feeling in the hearts of tens of thousands. "I have known," says Mr. Layard, "a Christian priest frighten a whole Musselman town to tents and repentance by publicly proclaiming that he had received a Divine mission to announce a coming earthquake or plague." Savonarola at one time held all Florence under the sway of his voice, and could excite them to the highest pitch of fooling by his sermons. The whole secret is that it was the work of the Divine Spirit specially poured out on the city. A sense of the reality of the living, God filled the city, and caused them for the time to abandon their own gods and their evil doings. We cannot account for it on any merely natural principles. The words may be simple,

even weak and halting, the presence of the preacher by no means powerful, yet the people may be bowed down like the trees of a forest before a mighty rushing wind. The working of God's Spirit accompanied the words of the preacher in Nineveh, and a whole city-from the least unto the greatest-was moved to repentance. Even "the king arose from his throne and covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes." "Who knoweth whether God will turn from His fierce anger and we perish not 7" It was only a desperate hope after all. The)' knew not the issue. Very wonderful was this repentance. There was no assurance that it would be effectual. It was a new experience. They had no example to fall back upon. They were in almost total ignorance concerning Jehovah the God of Israel. The writings of Moses were unknown to them, they had not benefited by years of counsel, nor partaken of godly instruction, and yet they repented at the first summons or Jehovah through His servant, the prophet Jonah. And the result of God sparing Nineveh was to call forth a protest from the angry prophet. His dignity was offended, his denunciation was not accomplished. In forty days Nineveh was not overthrown, and, like Elijah (1 Kings xix. 4), this petulant, small-minded man desired that he might die, for his disappointment was so great. He thought more of the honour and credit of the prophet than of the mercy and goodness of God. The close of the story i very singular. "God prepcred a gourd. God prepcred a worm. God prepared a sultry east wind (iv. 6-8), just as we before read, "God prepared a great fish" (i. 17). And the recital of the prophet's despondency in the booth, and colloquy with God, concludes the book. The prophet made a little hut, or booth, of branches (Neh, vii i. 15, 16), and sat under its shelter coolly and deliberately, waiting with what comfort he could muster to see if after all God would then and there exterminate the people he, Jonah, had devoted to destruction; whether God would in a moment overthrow them as He did Sodom and Gomorrah of old. These hastily-erected booths were insufficient protection from the glare of an Eastern sun, and so God, as He miraculously fed Elijah in the wilderness in his hour of dark despondency (1 Kings xix.), would soothe the irritation of Jonah's spirit by giving him the shade of the gourd, which, rapidly springing up as a creeping plant, covered the booth and gave the needed shade. "So Jonah was exceeding glad" (iv. 6), for this token of God's love to him he was grateful. But the next day a worm at the root had caused the destruction of his sheltering gourd, and, moreover, the vehement east wind gave him personal distress. Again the impatience of the vexed prophet breaks forth, and he wishes himself dead. But now God reads thc lesson He intended His servant to learn from this experience, "Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow, and should not I have pity upon (spare, or "be sorry to lose") Nineveh, that great

The ploughshare of repentance unearths some forgotten sins.

always

110

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,.....
CbDr~b and Mission News.

THE

BIBLE

STANDARD.

JULY, 190B. of our Bro. lately as to bring us so much visible fruit. Recently we have ma~eall eff?rt to form a Choir. Bro. Bestic, as Choirmaster has made very satisfactory progress with about 30 members offering, most. of them from the Sunday School. The. mterest is well sustained in our week-mght Bible Class. D.D. THAMES.- Since last report our Church work ltas been continued as usual. Bro. F. Rushbrook has been received by letter from another Church, and we believe he will be an acquisition to our Fellowship. The hand of death has caused deep sorrow in the family of our aged Bro. and Sis. Battson, and as a consequen?e we weep with those who weep, their eldest son, Frank, having- fallen .on sleep, leaving a widow and young children .to mourn his loss. We deeply sympathIse with them in this painful bereavement. Then our aged Bro. D. Hejl(Jerson has passed through deep w~ters,. his s.on Thomas being instantly lolled 1ll a ~ming accident; he, too, leaves a Widow and young children to be cared for. Again, our sympathy f1ow.s forth to these bereaved ones. And we pray our He~venly Father to give such comfort as IS necessary in each case. MATATOKE.-Themonthly service has been well attended, and also the Thursday evening Bible Class. It is nece~sary to say that the Bible Class here WIll be postponed for the months of July and August, on account of the state of the roads, ete. TAPu has had the usual visits, and good congregations for a small place have resulted. WAIOMO. The monthly service was well attended, and we pray that good may result. E.C.M. GEORGETOWN (BRITISHGUIANA)-My . work still progr-esses,although subject ~{} much trial. The Lord knows I love HIS service too much to murmur. The strength of modern denials is directed against the Resurrection of our Lord. To meet this in our locality I have spoken for a few nights on "Is the Bible Reliable, or is it a Fraud?" I pointed out that if a fraud, then it is the most colossal the world has ever seen. Fraud is committed for gain of some sort, but where is the motive for circulating the story of the Resurrection of C:hris~, apart from its truth? That doctrme IS the basis of all New Testament preaching, and it was that element in the me~o sage which roused the wrath and OppOSItion of the rulers. What motive had Stephen, or Peter, or Paul for th.eir emphatic declaration of the Resurrection of Christ, if He did not rise from the Dead? Many questions have been put to me, and our people have been much encouraged.-W. S. EDGEHILL.

AucKLAND.-The subject of Christ's position as foretold by prophet and seer is still being set forth. This glory of Christ should be a great comfort to believers, for He is the Mighty One, the Prince of Peace, the Ruler of all things, in which all true Christians will share. Sunday, May 31: Bro. C. B. King presided, and based his remarks upon Romans vi., "Baptism," and in v. 5 the condition "if." The speaker said he would not run the risk of disobedience, for he desired salvation with eternal glory. With us in fellowship was Bro. Donaldson, of Waihi. In the evening the subject dealt with was "The Saviour Waited For" (Isaiah xxv.). The coming of Christ is mentioned over 300 times in the New Testament. Sunday, June 7: Bro. Aldridge presided. Bro. G. A. Green gave a good practical address, and urged that confession is equal to the important one of baptism, and should be rightly understood (v. 9). Now we have the privilege to confess, at some future time it will be forced upon the people (Romans xiv. 11) . In the evening a splendid discourse was given on "Christ, the Foundation Stone." (Isaiah xxviii. read, spoke from 16th verse). To catch the force of this chapter, one must think himself back to the time when it was penned. Notice the contrasts. Now men are saved by believing in the Word of God: "He that believeth shall not make haste." Sunday, 14th: Bro. Aldridge presided, and gave an exhortation from John's gospel, xii. 39-40. This saying is quoted three times in the New Testament. This was really the crisis in Christ's life, for He then officially offered Himself, and the people had to decide whether or not they would accept Him as their MessiahHe offered Himself to Israel. Man rejected Him, but God received Him. "The Man of Sorrows" was the subject for the evening (Isaiah lii. 3). Who can read this chapter without feeling a sadness at heart? yet with thankfulness, adoration, and praise. Sunday, 21st: Bro. Wilcock in the chair. Romans v. The main point forgiveness of sins (v. 2). Let us rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. In the evening, "The Redeemer Come to Zion" (Isaiah lix. 20). Jude relates that Enoch spoke of the coming of Christ. The speaker instanced some of the signs of the times which foretell the nearing of the end of the dispensation. It is satisfactory to state that unflagging interest is still manifested in the Wednesday evening lectures; but this is not- surprising when those WhOhave a desire for a true Biblical knowledge are induced to come and hear. Wednesday evening, May 27: The topic dealt with was "Bible Structure." This deals with man and his salvation, and

may be accepted as a great truth, for the word of the Lord is great. Wednesday evening, June 3: "The Inspiration of the Bibl-e" was the subject for this evening. It was shown how the Bible was inspired. God spake through men. Key text: 2 Tim. iii. 16; 2 Peter 19 to 21. Many others were also given. "God spake," or equivalent term, is mentioned over 500 times in the five books of Moses. Mark xiii. 11; Matt. x. 19 and 20; 2 Sam. xxiii. 2. Some expressions in the Bible are not inspired, such as the Edenic lie, the utterances of Job's friends, and others. But they are recorded by inspiration for information. Wednesday, LOth : "The Testimony of the Bible to Itself." A great number of references were given to prove the truth of the Bible. Rom. xvi. 25. Christ often referred to, and quoted Scripture. Satan quoted Scripture (Luke iv. 3 to 13). Wednesday, 17th: "External Evidence of the Truth of the Bible." This lecture was given by special request. So many evidences were given that it is difficult to choose for this short notice. Ascertained facts are everyday experience. Opposition-the Bible lives while whole libraries are cemeteries of dead books. Buildings set apart for Divine worship. The Pilgrim Fathers and the five grains of wheat. The Jews, and the monumental testimonies. Wednesday, 24;th: "The Bible and the Stars." This lecture was illustrated by chart. A portion of the Zodiac was explained in connection with the Scripture. Late discoveries of cylinder slabs, and tablets, were referred to as witnesses (Rom. i. 20). To understand the importance of the chart, attendance is necessary. Notwithstanding a very wet night th-ere was a good audience.-W.G. The Anniversary Tea will be held on Wednesday, July B. DUNEDIN.-From a letter received from the secretary of the Dunedin Church we learn that Sister Reid, an early member of the Church, and who was at one time an active worker in it, has fallen on sleep. She has been ailing for about two years, but the end was hastened by a stroke of paralysis. When in health and strength she loved to minister to those who were in need, and for this her memory is fragrant. She fell on sleep trusting in her Lord for the Life Eternal.

WAIHI.-For the month just closed we have very much pleasure in informing you that our hearts have been cheered by the obedience to the Gospel Message of our young Bro. Arthur Syms, who on Wednesday, May 27th, made the good confession and put on Christ by baptism. We rejoice that our young Bro. should at the very beginning of his manhood decide to give his life to the service of our Lord and Saviour. Our fellowship meetings are well attended. The evening meeting is also very much alive, and considerable interest is now taken in the instructive and edifying addresses which Bro. Foster has recently given. We are all glad our Heavenly Father has so blest the services

Brotherly kindness is It haven for the storm-tossed Christian to anchor in during the storm of affliction.

JULY,

1908.

THE

BIBLE.

STANDARD.

III

~ ~ ~ ~ \V ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ \:Snnshine Corner.: ::
~ 1f ~ 1f 1f

li' 1f 1f 1f 1f ~

convey it to those who have enabled our Band to assist. Our box for mites contained 51/- when last opened, and we thank the unknown givers. Might we add that the Treasurer (Sis. G. Hardy) has removed to a "larger and more commodious" residence -"Ty Newydd," Firth Road, Surrey Crescent, Auckland.
THE SECOND COMING.

In Him alone Life is, Abounding source of bliss, Where no offence or hurt may enter more. Where holiness will reign, And man, revived again, Will walk anew, in Paradise restored. Then quickly come 0 Lord, According to Thy Word; Awake the blessed souls who sleep in Thee. And now increase our faith In this Thy Word, that saith, "With Me shall My servants ever be." J.D.B.
ADVICE TO A YOUNG MAN.

Most of us dread illness and suffering, but we forget that no other elements in human life so surely put a certain refining touch into our characters, provided we accept them with a smile. Then they leave their unmistakable marks of worth on our lives. Those" who rebel against sorrow, who complain, never reap its richest reward. The blessing which comes with sorrow becomes greater only when we hike the key of suffering which God Himself puts into our hands to unlock other sorrowing, suffering hearts, and share with them the comfort we ourselves have received. It is easy enough to be bright and happy when everything else is full of sunshine, and we are strong and vigorous. But then we deserve no credit 10r our cheer. It is after we have been disappointed, and one thing after another has been taken from us-our dear ones, perhaps, our home, our everyday comforts, and our health and strength-it is then that God listens to hear ~vhois singing and who is whistling cheerily. Then He picks out this man, this woman, this child, as "worth while," and He works over them and watches them and cares for them with His love, for they are His chosen children - made "perfect through sutrering.-The Ladies' H om e J ournal. Surely the little amount of trouble that we are privileged to take in getting this Sunshine Fund together is more than compensated by the pleasure of being able and ready to help. This month we have been able to help promptly in cases where ready assistance was needed. 'We learned of one home wherc starvation was almost imminent. The father had been unable to get work for some time, and resources were just about failing when he was able to secure what was to be steady employment. Before commencing work, however, at the new billet, he was taken seriously ill, requiring all the time and attention his wife was able to give. Towards the end of the illness tradesmen were refusing to leave supplies, as the wife had not the cash to pay for them. The landlord had given notice to "quit," as rent was not forthcoming. Had it not been for a kindly baker, who left a little bread, and for the help of a couple of good .neighbours, who gave a helping hand, they must have starved. We are grateful to report that we were able to settle the rent trouble, and arrange for a supply of g~oceries and milk. Now the husband and father is on the mend, and hopes soon to get on an even keel again. We are assured of their gratitude, and would

Oh, come, Lord Christ, again, Resume Thy right and reign; Creation groans beneath the load of ill. Satan holds potent sway O'er hearts of men this day Seeking to ensnare them and to kill. How suhtle is his guile, And alluring is the wile He setteth for the fallen human race. Almost divine his might, Like messenger of light Is he, usurping God's OWI1 rightful place. Clothed in delightful guise Are his enticing lies; Well knoweth he to cast his fiery dartThe barb is pointed well, For well the foe can tell Each weakness of th' unguarded human heart. "Knowing good and ill" Is his falsehood sti ll , "Ye shall be as gods" upon' the earth, Blind to his real good, Man takes the poisoned food, And loses innocence from that day forth. "Ye shall not surely die," Is the Satanic lie, And man, proud mall, receives for truth the fraud; Choosing self-will to guide, Ambition, lofty pride, Instead of walking humbly with his God. The serpent's fatal trace Is seen In ev'ry place; Death claims all generations for his own. From change unto decay All nature hastes away; On ev'ry hand the wage of sin makes moan. And yet unto man's car That hoary lie is dear, Though well he knows the body turns to clay. Yet thus he boasts, "The soul Death's might cannot control; Immortal it, and shall be so, alway." "Of sin death is the wage," Is written on the page Of truth, God's truth, to mortal man well known. Who lent the soul its breath, Can send to "second death" All they who His blest ransom will not own. That ransom is the Christ, Who in God's sight sufficed To make a full atonement for our fall. Faith in His blessed name, Who Satan's power o'ercame, Redeems us, soul and body, cov'ring all.

The following quaint advice from Bob Burdette has the "pith of truth" in it: "Remember, son, that the world is older than you are by several years; that for thousands of years it has been so fu 1I of srna'rter and better young men than yourself that their feet stuck out of the dormer windows, that when they died the old globe went whirling on, and not one man in ten million went to the funeral, or even heard of the death. "Be as smart as you can, of course. Know as much as you can, of course. Know aH much as you can without blowing the packing out of your cylinder head; shed the light of your wisdom abroad in the world, but don't dazzle people with it, and don't imagine a thing is SO just because you say it is. Don't be too sorry for your father because he knows so much less than you do; remember the reply of Dr. Wayland to the student of Brown University, who said it was an easy enough thing to make proverbs such as Solomon wrote. 'Make a few,' tersely replied the old man. We never heard that the young man made any. Not more than two or three, anyhow. The world has great need of young men, but no greater need than the young men have of it. Your clothes fit you better than your father's fit him; they cost more money, they are more stylish; your moustache is neater, the cut of your hair is better, and you are prettier, oh, far prettier, than 'pa.' "But, young man, the old gentleman gets the biggest salary, and his homely, scrambling signature on the business end of a cheque will bring more money out of the bank in five minutes than you could get out with a ream of paper and a copper plate signature in six months. "Young men are useful, and we all love them, and couldn't engineer a picnic successfully without them. But they are not novelties, son. Oh, no, nothing of the kind. They have been here before. Do not be so modest as to shut yourself clear out; but don't be so fresh that you will have to be put away in the cool to keep from spoiling. "Don't be afraid that your merit will not be discovered. People all over the world are hunting for you; if you are worth finding they will find you. A diamond isn't as easily found as a quartz pebble, but people search for it all the more intently."-Selected.

112
o

THE "lRew :lBooJts.

:BIBLE STANDARD.

JULY, 1908.

~be 16tble $t~nbarb.

all The Bible Stamdard. can be ordered direct from the Treasurer MR. A. M.'SKEATES, Queen Street, Auckland.
R.

There bearing terest

are three upon the

new books which have come to our table, topic "Evolution." This is a theme made on behalf

of inand

in view of the claims

of the Evolution

d.

theory, and for the influence religious thought, No

it has had upon philosophic

STRUGGLE FOR EXISTENCE, No NATURAL SELECTION, by George Paulin, Edinburgh, T. & T. Clark, 5/- net.

This is a cumbrous title, but no one can mistake its meaning. These two phrases practically cover Darwin's specia i arguments on Evolution, and Mr. Paulin clearly shows that there is 110t, and has never been, any justification for them. Nature has made her own provision for dealing with excess of production, and so-called Natural Selection is a delusion. In the second part of this intensely readable book the auLhor deals with the Law of population, and shows that Malthusianism and Darwinism do not ~xplain the movements of population. If any reader has a fnend of scientific turn who is influenced by Darwinism, this book should prove a great service to him in showing the erorrs of that theory. THE WORLD AND ITS GOD, by Philip Morgan & Scott, 1/-. Mauro, Counsellor-at-Law,

Price per annum, post tree .. 2 6 Single copies .. 0 2 BOOK STEWARD-E. H. FALKNER.Queen Street. AGENTS FOR THE BIBLE S1'ANDARD: NEW ZEALAND. Auckland-Mr. Hancock, Bookseller, Queen Street. Wellington-H. J. Barraclough, Myrtle Crescent. Dunedin-Mr. Lawrence, Hope Street. Kaiapoi-Mr. James Holland. Rangiora-Mr. Wm. Smith, South Brook. New Plymouth-Mr. Fred Goodacre, Courtney Road. East Oxford-Mr. A. England. 'l'hames-Mr. C. Sanders, Macky Street. Timaru--Mr. H. H. King, Stafford Street. Tinwald, Ashburton-Mr. Shearer. Waihi-Mr. .Ioseph Foster. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. Adelaide-Mr. C. Gamble. Magill Road, Stepney. NEW SOUTH WALES. Sydney-Mr. H. Cropp, Mitchell Street, Kogarah. Oommunications to the Editor to be addressed: GEO. ALDRIDGE Brentwood Avenue, Mount Eden. Telegraphic Address, . Rocky Nook.'" All communications to the Association and orders for Bible Stanuiard. to be addressed to the Secretary, MlL ALEX. PAGE, Murdoch Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland.

This is a book after our own heart, and we commend it to our readers. The true place of Evolution is shown as pertaining to the realm of human affairs, and having no place.in Divine workings. The author's attitude on man's nature may be gathered from the following extract:-"What trait is there which is. more common among men than the inclina.tion to believe the first article in Satan's creed: 'Ye shall not surely die?' That article of faith has becn incorporated into many of the religious systems of mankind. Its influence may be traced in all the manifold attempts of man to disguise to himself the real nature of death, and in all his attempts to make that grim and hideous enemy-the wages of sin-appear to be something different from what it is. "'There is no death; what seems so is transition,' says the poet, and men quote this and like phrases with almost religious fervour. What is this but an echo of the first lie which was imposed 1Ipon mankind? '\le place flowers on the coffin and speak of the 'angel' of death, endeavouring with such vain expedients to disguise the character of this, 'the last enemy that shall be destroyed.' This lie has, indeed, eaten deeply into human nature, and where is there any explanation of this significant fact, save in the Holy Scriptures?" THE NEXT STEP IN EVOLUTION, by Dr. 'f. K. Funk, vVagnalls, 50 cents. Funk and

CHURCH

OF CHRIST

Bold ServIces as under: AUCKLAND-West Street. Sunday, at 11 o'clock a. m., Fellowship Meetlug 6.45p.m., Preaching Service. Sunday School at 2.411. Wednesday evenIng, BIble Class at 7.45. !l;vangelist's addresa-c-Geo. Aldridge. Brentwood Avenue Mount Eden. Secretary-s-W. Gibson, Ponsonby Road. ROSKILL HALLSunday at 11 a.m., Fellowship Meeting. DUNEDIN-Oddfellows' Hall. Stuart 8treet. Sunday at 11 a.m .. Fellowship and Meeting. Evening Preacblng ServIce, 6.30. Secretary's Address- S. Laurence, Hope Street, Duned in. HELENSVILLE--Church. Sunday, Fellowship Meeting, at 11 a.m. Sunday School, at 2.30 Sunday Evening, Preaching, 7. Church Secretary. R. M. Cameron. THAMES-Pollen Street Lecture Hall. Sunday at 11 a.m., FellowshIp Meeting. EvenIng ServIce at 6.30. Sunday School at 2.30. BIble Class every Wednesday evening at Evangelist-E. H. Taylor, Bowen Street. Par-awai , Secretary-Chas. Sanders, Mackay Street. Thames. WAIRI-The Miners' Union Hall. Sunday 11 a.m. Fellowship Meeting; ,. 2.30p.m, Sunday School. Sunday Evening. at 7, A Public Bible Address. Church Secretary-D. Donaldson. ltvangelist-Joseph Foster, Waihi.

This is a book of a different order to the one just mentioned. It is by an able writer, who accepts the doctrine of physical evolution, and believes that there is yet another step to take by the human race. There are many beautiful thoughts in the volume, and it is crammed with epigrams, and 'Ye have no doubt it will be a fount whence many quotations will be taken, but we cannot agree with the author in accepting the doctrine of Darwinism, so we cannot stride to this "Next Step," nor can we confine our attention to a Second Advent of Christ which is of a "coming into men's vision by lifting them up into his plane of spiritual comprehension." No, He is Coming Really, Personally, and this is the Hope for men.

7.1111

Ureasurer's

'HcJtnowlebgments.

Standard Subs.-Mesdames Beecroft, Moon, Forest, Mc'Lean, Hutton, Norvell, Cummings, Pettigrew, Misses Clark, Grindrod, Trewin, Townsend, Messrs. Christy, Waterman, Gillard, Christy, Hellyer, Whitcombe, Williams, Jones, Jenks, Stow, Doidge, Murray, Crowe, Irinham, Wooley, Dickeson, Drewitt, Bestford, Co le, Ward, Mitchell, Dickson. -Assooia,tion Subs.-Mesdames Smith, Bach, Knott, Clarkson, Misses Townsend, Messrs. Dixon, Pearson, King, Bates. A. M. SKEATES,
Treasurer.

TIMARU-Sopbla Street Hall. Sunday. at 11 a.m .. Fellowsblp MeetIng. Secretary's Address-H. H. KIng, Starl'ord Street. Tlmarn ADELAIDE, S.A.-Dl'uids' Hall. Beulah Road. Norwood. Secretary's Address-George G. Gamble, Magill Road, Stepney Adelaide. S.A.

Printed by 'i'HE BRE'P1'PRINTINGANDPUBLISHING COMPANY. Short land Street, for the New Zealand Evangelistic and Publication Association. and published bv W. A. SMITH, Selwyn Road, Mt. Albert. JULY. 1908.