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of the a great number of persons that he possesses the true key to the interpretation of prophecy, and has drawn up an elaborate calendar of events which are to OCCUl. In the September issue he writes :-

this speech will exactly suit the editor

Prophetic News who has succeeded in persuading

, Iu the present month of August, 1892, the faith of prophetic alarmist speech of Von Caprivi in students who know that, according to Daniel, a great European the German Reichstag is enough to set war is immediately impending, is undergoing a searching trial all Europe by the ears. For long that and sore testing by reason of the unacconntable and mysterious continent has seemed to be covered delay in the outbreak of the expected conflict, for this August with armed camps, preparing with the finds Europe in a state of profound peace, with every outward appe:trance of tranquillity for some time to come.' utmost care, and regardless of cost, for , Not later than some time between September, 1892, and April, the struggle which seems continually 1893, (will be) the commencement of the qreatest Wet? e,.er known, imminent. The feeling of insecurity as expressed by the which will only last a few weeks or a few months, and will involve most of the nations of Europe, and cause the victorious extension German statesman is grounded upon the friendly relations of France and Russia. France cannot forget her of France to the Rhine, and its consequent annexation of Belgium.' . So much for Mr. Baxter. There is no doubt that he will defeat of twenty years ago, and the loss of her provinces of Alsace and Lorraine. Since that time it has been find in this speech of the German Chancellor every proof war should recognised that the one aim of France has been to recoup that his view is right, but if the threatened eventuate, it would by no means prove the correctness of het' strength and to win back her laurels, and her lost Of one thing, we are sure, namely, provinces. Should an: alliance be concluded between his interpretation. that Daniel does not say what Mr. Baxter makes him say, France and Russia, and war on any pretext were to commence, the German army in its present state is deemed and that being so, we confidently expect that this latest ineffecti ve, and the assistance of the other powers in the system of int erpretabion will go the way of similar systems Triple Alliance would be insufficient to resist the combined which lapse of time has discredited. forces of the two allies. The design of the speech was to rouse the Reichstag to grant an increase in the army What a number of ill-taught Christians there must be in vote. In the current course of events this, if granted, the world! They profess that they have full faith in the means also an increase in the Russian and French army Bible as the Word of God, and yet any man claiming to votes, and it will accomplish for all the position of 'as you have a smattering of science, and giving forth predictions, were,' and at what a cost. The wealth so expended is can destroy their peace of mind. Lately Biela's comet is ultimately drawn from the sweat of the labourer; and for reported as rapidly approaching the earth, and a good many what 1 Certainly n~ to protect his interests. The enormous professing Christians have been fearful lest a collision standing armies, and the extensive armaments, are foul should shatter old earth to pieces and send them hurriedly blots upon our boasted civilization, and show us as not a bit to heaven (1). On their view of the blessedness of the interbetter than our savage ancestors. The mere fact of absence mediate state, we fail to see why they should feel alarmed. of war is no argument to the contrary. To keep up the The sudden shock would mean 'sudden glory.' Has the existing war preparations means a perpetual spoliation. Bible no staying power at all, against the theories which and pillage worse than the incidental ravages of a war. ! are forever cropping up 1 An old writer has said that' the ~~~~~~~~HE

178

THE BIBLE STANDARD.

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1892.

earth abideth forever,' and the fulfilment of God's covenanted blessings to mankind is assured in the promise of perpetuity of earth as the abode of the human race. A closer study of the written word would be a stay and a cot-recti ve against

'l his is refreshing and stimulating to those who believe that our colony would 'be better for the abolition of the liquor traffic. To assert, or even to prove, that there is slygrog selling in prohibition centres, is not equal to showing that prohibition does not prohibit. If saloons disappearthose who are forever reading into the great book of Nature enticements; if drunkenness is events which are not written there nor are ever likely to with their multitudinous lessened, and crime, so largely fed by the liquor traffic, is be. The death of C. H. Spurgoon has opened the way for so greatly reduced; if 'the sale of liquor is, as a rule, as clandestine as thievery, with as much- feat' for the consedifferences of opinion in the Metropolitan Tabernacle Church, quences of discovery follows,' then it does prohibit, and by which are at present causing serious friction. Under the is benetitted. We could well late pastor, the church presented to the outside world the so much a community afford to dispense with the revenue from the liquor traffic spectacle of a united brotherhood, above the petty quarrels to secure such results. 'Writing of the town of Millville, which admittedly agitated other assemblies. The necessity in the southern part of the State of New Jersey, and which for the choice of a pastor has been the proverbial bone, over the Sunday jl{agazine says: which the members have differed. 'Ve confess to a feeling contains 10,000 inhabitants, , On the occasion of a scientitic lecture there could not be of sympathy with those who oppose the appointment of DI. Pierson. His fitness, as a preacher for the post, may be found in all the town enough alcohol to furnish the material Two policemen are found amply unquestioned, but his position in regard to baptism is a for the experiments. sufficient to watch over the town.' barrier. Whatever his real sentiments on this subject may be and there is room for doubt, for by some it is said he is The merits 01' demerits of the Revised Version of the willing to be immersed, and by others that he is opposed Bible are still the theme of discussion by critics, and of to it, it seems certain that if he were baptised, his influence course both sides of the subject have their warm adherentswould be weakened, for lie would be under the suspicion Those who feel it hard to lose some favourite phraseology of hs.ving submitted to it for the sake of the position. The 'Whether :\1:1'. Thos. Spurgeon is the fitting man to occupy object that the Revision introduces needless changes. admirers of the Revision say they are not in search of the place so wonderfully filled by his father, is a matter phrases, but the which the church affected should be allowed to decide rhythm, or smooth, resonant, picturesque Scripture, and their chief regret is that the changes have without pre!,sure from without. In this matter the church For ourselves, we gladly welcomed should be given a free hand. 'Ve may express the hope not gone far enough. the volume, and our admiration of it has not lessened by that the final decision will be best for the future of that constant usage. There are many passages which it makes church, and may be reached without schisms or remaining wonderfully luminous, and as a whole we consider it It heart- bu rn ings. distinct ad vance upon the Authorised Version in clearness Does prohibition prohibit 1 'We are oftcn ju bilantly told of expression, and, we are assured, in fidelity to the original. by the opponents of prohibition that it has been t1 failure So far as the changes go, the special doctrines advocated whenever .and wherever tried, and that the American in this journal received much support, and this we accept failures are very conspicuous. It is only fnir that any as the more valuable, knowing that the Revisers, as It body, evidence that it has been at all successful should be heard. were not favourable to the doctrines. As honest men they Because of conflicting statements, the New}' ork Times sent gave the truth of the Scriptures. a reporter to Kansas to ascertain the true condition of the liquor traffic in that State. ' The result of this tour forces The gravest objection hitherto urged against the Revised the belief,' says the report, 'first, that prohibition in Kansas Version is that of Washington Moon, that however excellent is a permanent fixture; second, that it is reasonably its translation may be as faithfully rendering the idiom of enforced.' 'In the city of Topeka public sentiment will the original tongues, its English is faulty in the extreme, not tolerate a saloon, and will not permit a druggist to a criticism which is supported by some startling citations. make any unusual number of sales during the current An attempt is being made by an independent company of month. When the prohibitory law was enforced in Kansas translators' to remedy this defect. The work of revision of there were one thousand persons in the State penitentiary. the New Testament is now going on. The Greek text of Since that time there have been added to the population of Westcott and Hort's has been generally followed in the Kansas more than 250,000 people, while the number of revision. The final revision is undertaken by a committee prisoners has been reduced to 812. Of the one hundred who go through the text solely from the point of view of gaols in the State, eighty are empty, while the number of gi ving the correct English idiom. t is expected that paupers on the poor farms has decreased one-half.' The the first instalment, oonsist.ing of the Gospels and the Governor of the State, in a recent letter, says: 'In a Acts, will be ready in the summer or autumn of 1893. general way, I may say that the saloon has been practically Whether this will be an improvement on the existing banished from the State, and there are thousands of children revision remains to be seen. here who do not know what a saloon is, excepting as described in newspapers, books, or hy their parents.' The return of the Jews to Palestine continues to interest

DECEMllIm,

1892.

THE BIBLE STANDARD.

179

God saw that it was not good for man to be alone, so He caused him to fall into a deep sleep, and while in this condition took a rib from him, filling the place with flesh. This rib he builded into a woman, and presented her to the According to a story 1 ecorded in the Pluiadelplci Chrisman upon his awakening as his wife. This then was the tian Arbitrator, the morals of the American press are at a inauguration of the marriage rite. ' Therefore shall a m!!-n low ebb. Here is the story: 'At It dinner recently given leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his to the members of the press in New York, a journalist was wife, and they shall be one flesh.' called upon to reply to the toast of "an independent press," As a test of obedience Adam had been commanded not Knowing no independent press among the powerful papers to eat of one tree which grew in the midst of the garden, of the nation, he Ior a long time refused to reply; but it and through him, doubtless, the command had been combeing insisted on, he said: "There is no such thing in municated to the woman; but in an evil hour, one who had America as an independent press, unless it is out in the seen with jealous rage and hate the favour which God had country towns. You are all slaves. You know it, I know bestowed upon the happy pair, met the woman near the it. There is not one of you who dares to express an honest tree, of which they had been commanded not to eat, and opinion. If you express it, you know beforehand that it told her, that not only' was it good for food, but also that will not appeal' in print. I am paid 150 dollars a week for it was a fruit much to be desired, and one, moreover, that keeping honest opinions out of the paper I am connected would enclow them with wisdom, and knowledge of both with. Others of you are paid similar salaries for cloing good and evil. The woman yielded to the persuasion of similar things. If T should allow honest opinions to be the tempter, a~d ate, aud t heu g>l,vc to Adam, w;~ also ate, printed in one issue of my papel', like Othello my occupation thus enlailing on himself the penalty which had been would be gone, The business of a leading journalist is to th reatcned fEll'd iso bed icncc, viz. death. distort the truth, to lie ouuight, to pervert, to vil lify, fawn The cyes of the guilt.y pail' were opened; they were at the feet of :\Iammon, and to sell his country and his race for daily bread, 01' for what is about the same, his salary, You know this, I know it, and what foolery to be toasting 'nn independent press.' 'Ve n.re the tools and vassals of rich men behind the scenes; we are jumpingjacks. They pull the string, and we dance, Our time, OUI' talents, Out' possibilities are the property of other men. We are intellectual prostitutes." afraid and ashamed to meet Him whom before they had been gLtd to C011\'er5e with, so they hid themselves from His sight.. Death was struiug them in the face, and they knew it. .At the close of the day G0c1 called to them, and taxing them with their d isobedience, elicited from them the fact that a more subtle intellect than theirs had been the cause of their downfall; ancl because this was so, He respited them for the time i.Jcing from the consequences of their sin. -~--of c<tlT}illg out the extreme penalty of the law N ex t mon th we intend to gi ve out' read et's the 0PPOl'- Instead that had not tunity of perusing the Rev. Henry Aitkeu's p,tl'er on upon them on that (by, another animltl-one siuned-v-was selected and slain in their stead. The skin 'Points of Contact ill Opposing Views on Eschatologicnl was taken from this animal, ancl with it their nakedness was Subjects.' covered. Atonement \HtS thus made for sin, by the shedding Every passing year deprives us of something. blood in place of that of t.he guilty. They The Christian is like thc ripeninguorn ; the riper he of innocent were, in a figure, clothed in a garment of iunocency, a type grows the more lowly he bends his head. of righteousness, through the death of another, by which He that would be angry and sin not, must not be angry the guilty conscience should be coverecl. But the sin, with anything bnt sin.

those who pray for the prosperity of .Ierusalem. Although the sufferings of the poor amongst them are "cry great indeed, they are still Hocking to the land, ' Fi vc thousand are computed, to have landed at .J atla, and in spite of prohibition of the Turkish authorities, several companies were seen on their way to Jerusalem,' Mauy of the refugees are in a sad state of desti tu tion. The Rev. H. Barnett of Beyrout, Syria, writes: 'The Russian Jews are not the only ones who are coming back to the land. The Yemen Jews (from Arabia) are also coming back in great numbers. About three weeks ago I sheltered in thc mission house fifty souls of these Yemen .J ews.' They said, '\Ve have lived all our life in Arabin, Our fathers did not return to the Holy Land with those that were in captivity in Babylon. Of late the Ishmaelites have persecuted us very much; our li ves are in danger among them. They tell us to leave their land and go to OUl' laud. \V~ consider this to be a sign of the times that our Messiah m ust soon' come, and we gladly, for Zion's sake, left them to come here. Many more are coming. We have been on the way for three months.'

tthe fll)arrtaoe of the ]"nmo.

AWAY back in the distaut ages of the past, after God had spoken into being the birds of the ail', the denizens of the mighty waters, and the beasts of the earth, He created Adarn, the great federal head of our race; but while all other organisms were brought into existence in pairs, this, the crowning act of crca.ti ve power, who was destined to have rule and authority over all others, was then a solitary individual, A beautiful garden was pla.nted, and the man placed therein, the animals, etc., being brought into review before him to receive their nauies ; 'but for .Adam, there was not found an helpmeet for Irim,' ,1,I1d with all his grandeu r and au thori ty he was there a soli tary man. Solitary as a man, yet not alone in the strict sense of the word, for God was with him.

180

THE BIBLE STANDARD. ! miracles

DECEMBER,

1892.

though covered over, was there, and the penalty, though in abeyance, must be enacted--though not then. In the meantime another penalty is awarded to them, one that shall have a purifying influence on their lives, and give them the opportunity of regaining that, which they had forfeited, viz., their life. Henceforth they must work for their daily bread; the earth, which before brought forth food spontaneously, was cursed with thorns and thistles, and they were driven forth from the paradise of God, wherein was the tree of life, so that they should not eat thereof, and iutroduce into the world a race of immortal sinners. And now the marriage is consummated, 'Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bare Cain;' and again she bare Abel. The first was a tiller of the soil, the second a keeper of sheep. In process of time Cain brought of the fruit of the ground, that ground which had been cursed on account of his parents' sin, an offering unto the Lord, who did not accept of it, doubtless, because it was not offered in the right spirit. The boys, had no doubt heard from their parents the sto:y of their downfall, and how their sin had been covered over, or atoned for, by the shedding of inno_ cent bloo.l ; and Abel, remembering this with thankfulness, reverentl y brought of the first.lings of his flock and of the fat thereof, an offering before the Lord, which God n.ccepted. , By fuit.h Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain,' faith in the promise of God that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head, that seed which should result from the marriage of his parents, which marriage was but the prefigurement or the shadowing forth of the more glorious union between the promised seed and His bride the Church. In the Song of Solomon we find this marr iage of the Lord to His bride, the Church, prefigured forth in language at once chaste and beautifu i ; and our Lord in His discourses while on earth spoke of it in unmistakable terms. 'Can th; sons of the bride-chamber fast while the bridegroom is with them? So long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast, but the days will come when the 'ol'idegroom shall be taken away from them, and then will they fast in that day' (:V[ark ii. 19, 20). The bridegroom has been taken away, and the bride now mourns her lonely position, but in earnest expectation is looking forward to the day when He shall return, and claim her as His own, The Church has waited long, Her absent Lord to see, And still in loneliness she waits A widowed mourner she.

was performed at a marriage feast, and in the fourth verse He uses these words, 'Mine hour is not yet come,' or, as the writer has heard it rendered, 'The time for me to provide wine for my nuptials with -the Church has not yet come.' How beautifully this harmonises with the other passages having reference to the same subject, , I will not drink from henceforth of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come' (Luke xxii. 17-30). What. a privilege! 'That ye lllay eat and drink at my table, in my kingdom.' In the eighteenth chapter of Re velation we read of the punishment meted out to the apostate Church, the one espoused to the Lord, but who had refused to acknowledge her widowhood during His absence, and so lived wantonly, Iu the nineteenth chapter we have the glorious consummation of the true bride's hopes and expectations. Types and shadows are all swallowed up in this grand climax, 'Hallelujah: for the Lord our God the Almighty reigneth. Let us rejoice and be exceeding glad, and let us give the glory unto him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And it was gi,'en unto her, that she should array herself in fine linen, bright and pUI'e (no skins of animals requirerl now): for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. And he saith unto me write, Blessed are they which are bidden to the marriage suppet' of the Lam b. These are the true words of God.' May both the writer and readers of the bidden ones for Jesus' sake. Adelaide, Nol'. I-I, 1892. be amongst Amen. the number

F. B. H.

[be 11\esurrection of tbe IDcab-itt: reauro, ano wbcn will it tane place?

TB E importance of the subject with which this paper deals will be seen at a glance by referring to the apostle Paul's ietter to the Corinthians, where he states that 'If there is no resurrection of the dead, neither hath Christ been raised, and if Christ hath not been raised, then is our preaching vain; your faith also is vain.' Therefore, it is of great importance that we should have a clear and right. conception of the teaching of the Scriptures of Truth upon this, as upon other questions. The doctrine of the resurrection of the dead is not a new one. Far back in Bible history, even in the Garden of Eden, we catch a dim ray of light, where the promised seed is mentioned that is to have powet' to bruise the head of the serpent. As we proceed the light becomes clearer, from one that is stated to be ' perfect and upright '-and it That this is her proper present attitude see Isaiah xlvii. is from such that we obtain sound doctrine. This good 8, where, as in Rev. xviii. '7, 8, the penalty for disregarding man declares that 'from his flesh shall he see God,' and her position as such is told out with appalling distinctness. 'that his eyes shall behold the sight' (Job. xix. 26, 27). Paul in his letter to the Ephesians v, 22-32 also shows on we find Israel's singer sounding forth such plainly that the present institution of marriage is but the Later 'As for me, I shall behold thy type of that complete union of which we are writing, for he impressive words as these: I shall be satisfied when I awake with says, 'This mystery is great: but I speak in regard of face in righteousness. thy likeness' (Psa. x vii. 15). Then we come to the prophet Christ and of the Church.' Isaiah, who states in words as pIli-in as it is possible for III John ii. 1-10 We read that the first; of our Lord's

DECEMBER,

1892.

THE BIBLE STANDAltD.

181

them to be put together, 'Thy dead men shall live, my tion this! According to them, 'There is no death; what dead bodies shall arise. Awake, and sing, ye that d well in I seems so is transition.' These are words that we often hear the dust, for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth from those who profess to be students of the Bible; but shall cast forth the dead' (Isa. xxvi. 19). Then follows how different does that Book teach the humble and earnest another prophet, who, in writing of the time of trouble, inquirer after truth 1 The man-formed creed (from which I states: 'And many of them that sleep in the dust of the have just quoted a clause) says, 'the souls which neither die earth shall awake' ; and Ezekiel, who is described as being nor sleep'; the Book says, 'The soul that sinneth it under the hand of the Lord, and whilst under the guidance of the Spirit is permitted to behold a sight which is typical of what is to ake place in the future to each individual of a certain nation. 'Tis a valley full of bones, and he is told that these bones are the' whole house of Israel'; and as he beholds, the noise of an earthquake is heard, and the bones came together, and sinews upon them, and flesh came up, and skin covered them a bout; and, at last, they are described as standing up upon their feet, 'an exceeding great army' (Ezek. xxxvii.). There is one thought presents itself from this vision, and that is the fact that all members of the body are referred to 'minus the blood, which bring'' to my mind the apostle Paul's words, that 'flesh and blood cannot enter the kingdom of God.' But in this vision we have first the bones, then the sinews, next the flesh and skin, but not a word about one drop of blood, for it is by the spirit of God in them that they live. So here we have presented to us bodies that are not flesh and blood, but flesh vitalised by a new life-source, 'the gift of God'; and you will observe that this thought agrees with Job's words that' from my flesh shall 1 see God.' Thus so far we learn from these early Scripture writers that the resurrection of the dead to bodily existence is plainly taught. Now let us look at some of the views that have prevailed, and are still held upon this theme; for some may say, Has not the Church in past ages believed in the resurrection of the dead 1 Let us see if they agree with what I have advanced. . f . t thi d " . A cause re errmg I 0 IS octrmo m the creed of a Church f 11' , Aft h Id runs as 0 ows: er t e war has been destroyed b fi th . '11 k y re. ., e resurrection Wl ta e place God will se d H' 1t 11 h d d . . . . n IS ange 0 ca t e ea to life, each soul will be united to the same body which it had in life and all will . t f t t f ' rtse 0 a per ec sate 0 man .... The just shall be in di lori tl . k cl . d b o ies g ono us, le WIC e m bo ies deformed hideous and ",,' Th "the fitt e d f or surrermz. . .. ey shall all stand before the' trib 1 f J Chri 1'1 una 0 esus . rist to be .Judged . .' . . The risrhteous . " shall be welcomed into the everlastmg. life of blessedness in . heaven, the WICked shall be cast into hell to be tormented . fi ith h devi .' In . re WI td' e evil and ." Ius anzels for ever' . Another T con f eSSIOn rea s: he bodies of men after death return to d us t ,an d see corruption, 1 havi . but the souls (which neither die nor seep) lavmg an immortal substance, immediately return to God who gave them .... At the last day, such as are found alive shall be raised up with the self-same bodies, and none other, which shall be united with their 1 f '1\'1 sou s or ever. ~y_ any thousands repeat every Sunday the words, 'I believe in the resurrection of the dead and life 1 ti , d ever fi mg, an are taught at the same time, and are . as satis ed to think, that they never die. Strange contradicshall die.' Now let us look in the New Testament, and there we have the faithful and true witness Himself, first reasoniug with the unbelieving Sadducees upon this theme (Matt, xxii. 30, 31); and in Luke xiv 14 we read: 'For thou shalt be recompensed in the resurrection of the just' ; and in John v. 28 He plainly declares, 'The hour is coming in which all that are in their' graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth.' Surely the Master's declaration should be final. Tn addition to our Master's words upon this subject, we find the apostles also preached the resurrection of the dead; and Paul enters into a sound argument, 'which sets forth that his hope for the dead depends upon their resurrection (Cor. xv.). Thus far I have humbly endeavoured to point out that the resurrection of the dead is foretold by prophets and proclaimed by Christ and His apostles. A great deal could be gained, as I have proceeded, with regard to its reality; but I will now refer you to our Lord during His stay of forty days on this earth after His resurrection. He exhibited to His disciples His wounds, and even partook of food with them, to show that it was He and not a ghost; the same body they had laid in the tomb, but certainly in many respects ~hanged, 'So that in all. things he might have ,the ~re-emmence, and becom~ ~he first-born from the dead. Being now born of the Spirit, He possesses a new characteristic in the power of being able to come and go, and to appear and disappear at pleasure. Those who will be made like Christ in His resurrected body may be as real as that body, and such possibilities will be theirs also, for '" we are told that' they shall be like him,' and 'see him as . ,. . he is ; and with reference to ItS surety He hath said 'B I li h 11live also.' ' ecause I.ve, ye sa. ive ~ so. . In conclusion, when WIll this take place 1 The Scriptures . .. are clear and unmistakable on this point, for He who has .. keys of death and the grave wdl come agatn and we . ' shall be awakened by the Joyful sound of the trump of God d shall see our Lord commg III power and great glory. . . ' an b ut t I'd nee lIS I10t for rnvsteri d h rou e us, 0[' mys eries surroun us on evet'y and. We .,. . must receive this doctrme by faith, ever pressing onward for .. longmg and looking forward to the time when it is . the pnze, t 0 b e b es t owe d ; an d may we b e f oun d worthy to take part I in the first resurrection, raised incorruptible, being clothed with immortality, and this because our loving Saviour has redeemed us from the dominion and power of death. When from the ~ust ?f death .we rise, To meet our SaVIOur m the skies ; E'en then shall this be all our plea, Jesus bath died for you and me.
t

Th a t 1 IS a mys t ery P au 1 declared it . ec are,

bl

Ad e laid e, S A aI September 29, 1895J.

I. .,

EDWIN

PHIPPS.

---------------------------------------------

182

THE BIBLE STANDARD.

bECl!:MBEt:,

1892,

{paper; on the 11\ingbolll.

Nu. XVI.
.. . ELECTION, AND THE CH U}tCH. ~~,' .::-'" .,. ~,N our last paper we enquired into the mearung o~ the term 'Electioll,' 11~1drom an examinaf , ~ tion of Old Testament history and covenant,

II -_ .. ' ,~ 11
i~

'So then ye are no more strangers ami sojourners, but ye are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.' Eph, ii. 19. Both are interested ill the same covenants and the same kingdom, so it is clear this election is not a new thing; b utt 1 IS tl le COil mucus e Iec ti1011 Whi II Iias preval '1ec1 a 11 't' ti HC through the working out of the Divine purpose. Let the reader carefully ponder that magnificent summary of truth for the individual in Eph. i . -l-Ll. The purpose of God can only come through those who are internally fitted for the position of conveying His blessing to others. The personal blessings involved under Israelitish elections only pertained to those who were pre pared for them by agreement with Divine couditious. It is so now. The main idea which the New Testament presents on this theme is that the door is now thrown open to the Gentiles, whereby they enter, as it were, into this Holy place, reserved formerly for Israel adoption into that elect portion must only. Any such have been revealed

~'. ~;).:'~ obtained 11, good working idea wherewith to examine the doctrine as it relates to the Church. ' God exercises the principle of choice, invariably with the design of blessing others besides the chosen.' The doctrine of the Kingdom as formulated in these papers should give all necessary light on this without further elaboration. Still, as we pass over to consider the change of dispensation, and the call of thc Church, 'out of all nations,' we should examine if this idea stills holds, 01' if it is changed, in what particulars. Let us here insist upon it, that readers must not carry

with them in their studies the idca of 'reprobation' as a necessary correlate to this election. J t is because these two doctrines have been considered as Siamese twins, that so much obscurity has rested over t he Bible teacliiug. Once see that election may mean, not merely the blessing of the individual chosen, but also a guarantee of blessing upon . If' I ti ,. . ot Iiers no t c Iioseu, auc 1 tl le ICea 0 repro)cL ion III Its " . current SEnse can he hurled to the dunghil l of theological rubbish, where it rightly belongs. When men are elected, or chosen from their fellows, to-day, to take part in governmental administration, it is with the idea that such 11 b fit tl I I I . I h I a c Iroice WI ene re peop e, IV let ier It noes t e c iosen ., . . ones or not. The Idea IS seldom ren.lised, hut that does not tJ desi B I' tl a I ter t I le f ac t tl la t sue I I IS le eSlgn. e ieve, as le . ,. evidence presented has shown, t.ht Goel s choice means . . tl tl t . t 'I t IT' ,. I 11 I. I' d t'IIS, \VI I le eel' am y "la .i is uesrgn s la ue rea rseu, I . tl . I f.l cl you Irave 111b 0 11 ou t.li an ( me . le meaiung auc purpose 0 'B"bl El ti " . 1 e ' cc 1011. .. . .. I n the Gospels of Macthew .' Mark ' and Luke ' .the ' elect'. .. .. . spoken of are undoubtedly of tile Isrnelitish nn.tion. In the Epistles the term is used, and without any explanation which gi,'es all idea different to what we have

by express Divine revelation No addition to or continuation of that election could be made without direction from Goel Himself. So we find Paul speaking thus:'By revelation was made known to me the mystery . which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men . to' wit, that the Uentiles are fellow- heirs and fellow-members of the body, a,nd fellow.partaken; of the promise " k II in Christ J esus through the Gospel to Ilia .e a uien see what is the dispensation of the lJlYHtery which Iroui all ages hath been hid in Got! . that now . might be made known through the Church the manifold wisdom of God, according to th,e etern~~. purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Eph. 111.311. I I d That which made 'the mystery' was t le so e an . . . exclusive promise which was made to Abraham. The sol vine of the mystery was the making known how the , .b . Gentiles could be incorporated With the elect nation. " .. . he Kingdom IS yet future, It IS reasonable to expect such futurity to be specified in connection with the election. This is done in several passages, as :. .. , Wherefore, brethren, gIve the more diligence to make your calling and election; for if ye do these things ye shall never stumble; for thus shall Le richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.'

culled from the Old Testament. If no other idea is stated 2 Peter i. 10, 11. we have no right to assume that other is intended. 'Here the election is stated ancl faithful~less is ~njoined Believers al e chosen to 'Sahation, in sant.ification and that an entrance may be secured hereafter 111the Kingdom belief (Eph. But . are to of the truth' (:3 Thes. ii. I:; 'Holiness of heart' In 1 Peter i. 2.13, the 'elect' are pointed to tbe i. 4,; Col. iii. U); 'Obedience' (T. Peter i. :!). : re\elatio.n of J'esus Christ' fo~' their ~nheritance. So also these only gil'e the personal characteristics which IIJI Eph .. 1. cl.IJ, the .' chosen ~I'fl chrecte~~ to the future b I . f I . ..' o'atheru1O" as the object of their hope. I he W ord does e the accornpauuuents 0 e ection and confirming b b... . t l't It' t I' t '1'1 not coutradict Itself, therefore the futurity of the Kingdom th e c I101ce, tilt iCY (0 noollc lIS U una e 0 l.Jec . le.. ., . ti f I I f J d tl . t IS the baSIS of the numerous exhortations to obtain It, to e 1ec IOn 0 srne was ounc e upon le pronllse 0 . . walk worthy of it to seek and to pmy for it. Abrahaui, so lS thc present election from among the ' . f l' f The Kinzdom then is to be sriven to all the faithful Gentiles, or both bor res 0 chosen are 'the seed of <:>" b patriarchs, Jews of natural descent, and incorporated Ab- ra Ilam. ' B 0 tl 1 arc on tl le same 1'00t ,on tl re-same t ree. Gentiles, and it will be bestowed on all at one time. 'Tholl, Leing n. wild olive, was grafted in among them, and The 'election' of the Scriptures is in relation to this dldst become part akerx w ith them of the root of the Jatness of doctrine of the Kingdom, and thus seen, a true and the olive tree.' HOlll xi. 17. harmonious apprehension may be gained, which does not They arc members of the same : body,' and 'fellow entail a belief in the awful consequences which so-called Calvinism has drawn from it. ALPHA. citizens' of the same' common wea lth.'

blW.mMB.mR, 1892.

THE BIBLE STANDARD,

l83

'[be ~ellal lDeatl).

receive the things done III his body, according to that he hat.h, done, whether it be 'good or bad. Knowing- therefore

A CORRESPONDEN'l' inquires: 'If "the wages of sm IS (or for this reason) the terror of the Lord, we persuade death," why need the wicked dead ever be raised l' men.' 2 COl'. V. 10, 11. Sinners must bow and confess vVe briefly reply: 1. In order to receive their' wages' their guilt before the judgment seat-saints confess befora, due when pay-day comes--settlement comes first, and God's settlement day is the judgment day; and no calamity preceding that day can be a substitute for the punishment due after its urriva,l. True punishment must not only come at the right time-after the judgment, and not before it arri ves-i-but it must also be inflicted from the right source -and the first death is often inflicted by man, and not by the Lord. Temporal death, however inflicted, and by whoever it may be inflicted, is a calamity preceding the judgment, instead of being a punishment resulting from the judgment decree. 2. Sinners must be liberated from lcades, where the first death places them, before being judged or punished: 'And death and liades delivered up the dead that were in them: and they were judged, every man according to their works.' Rev. xx. 13. They are judged, not before they go into luules, but after they come out. And this agrees with Paul, who says, 'It is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment.' Hebrew ix. 27. Death is first, and judgment 'comes 'after this' calamity, which comes upon saint and sinner alike; while upon the saint' the second death hath no power,' it being the fate of the sinner su bsequent to the j lid zment. 'fhe' second death' is
. b . .

When the Di vine Judge comes, 'evel'Y eye shall see him' (Rev. i. 7), and dead eyes cannot see. Nor can this be restricted to saints, for it is added, 'They also ths.t pierced him '-though long dead, they must relive to see him. To the wicked High Priest Jesus said, 'Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting upon the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.' Matt. xx vi, 6;1. He canuot see hill! with dead eyes-so he must live again in order to see Him coming. Then, too, will be verified the prediction of Balaam, 'I shall see Him, but not now.' All

I wicked

men will see Him in the judgment day, for there 'before Him shall be gathered all nations; and He shall separate them' -placing some on the right hand, and others on the left-and then He will talk not only to the riahteous but also to all those on his left hand; that is, to<=> the all wicked: 1101' will He talk to dead men, saying, 'Depart from Me, ye cursed' _;no I' will He' say of dead men, 'These shall go away into everlasting punishment.''' They cannot go; besides, if then already undergoing that punishment what need of the mandate 1 What a' farce to command dead men, and even to command them to enter a state -that they had long before entered! ! ! .,. But wheu we notice that this scene IS subsequent to the re~urrec tiIOn, an d tl la t a 11 th e resurrec t e d ones are tllen, . acId res se d ,a 11' IS p'1' am-e-sam t s tl ien en t er 1' t erna I, an d lee . 1 sinners are reman d ec1 t 0 C ea tl'1 rrrevoca bl e- tl le secon d d ea.tl 1.-- "'T S _, In TIT ll' CI'1S1S. . '.. 1'1.1 ',or [S

inflicted after a release from luules, and inflicted as a . . . puuishment : so the first death cannot be a punishmenb at . . all, unless the second death IS a second punishment ; and that would place one punishment before the judgment, and one after It. No, the punishment IS not i.n. temporal death, but' after' it-after hades gi yes up its dead: not in luules, but after release therefrom: then they will be 'judged every man according to their works,' after which the wicked will be engulfed, in 'the lake of fire, which is the second death.'
., '. v

'JUfe Bfter fort\?

'I'm: best half of life is in front
of the man of forty, if he be anything of a man, The work he will do will be done with the hand of a master, and not of a raw apprentice. The trained intellect does not see 'men as trees walking,' but sees everything clearly and in just measure. The trained temper does not rush at work like a blind bull at a haystack, but advances with the calm and ordered pace of conscious power and deliberate determination. To no man is the workl so new, and the future so fresh, ,IS to him who has spent the early years of his manhood ill striving to understand the deeper problems of science and life, and who has made some headway towards comprehending them. To him the commonest things are rare and wonderful, both in themselves and as parts of a beautiful and intelligent whole. Such a thing as staleness in life and its duties he cannot understand Knowledge is . always opening out before him in wider expanses and more commanding heights. The pleasure of growing knowledge and increasing power makes every year of his life happier and more hopeful than the last.Vick's jJ[aga,~ine.

3. Instead of recognising the first death as the penalty, God is ' to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be pu.niehcd:' 2 Peter ii, 9. Then the punishment cannot be realised in any death that precedes 'the day of judgment.' This agrees with Paul's statement: 'Wc must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. [Why 1~ For it is written, As I live, sait.h the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then everyone of us shall give account- of himself to God.' Rom. xiv. 10-12. This bowing of knees, and this confessing of tongues is to be before the judgment seat of Christ; and surely dead knees cannot there bow, nor dead tongues confess; so we must appeal' there (dive, after the close of the first death, seeing Christ is to 'judge the quick and the dead at His appearing,' and not before, and then comes the resurrect-ion. Nor can this appearing before the judgment seat of Christ be restricted to the saints only, as some aver, for the same apostle elsewhere affirms, 'vVe must all appear before the j udgment seat of Christ; that eve/'yone may

184
~
~~\o.-

THE BIBLE STANDARD.

DECEMBER, 189"2.

~EA~~
~~

--<:@). .-J9/0;

tleeoctation lRotes.
THE fifteenth Annual Conference of the Conditional Immortality Mission, was held rtt Gravesend, on the 6th, 7th, and 8th of September. Visitors from various centres were present and took part in the Conference. There were three meetings daily within doors, besides open air meetings. As usual, the morning sittings were devoted to business, the afternoon meetings for prayer, praise, and testimony, the evening meetings were for pu blic testimony. Papers were read by Colonel G. J, Van Someren, on 'The Fulness and Beauty of the Atonement Dependent on the Fundamental Truth of Life in Christ Alone'; by Dr E. Haughton, on 'In Certainties, Unity; in Doubtful Things, Liberty; in All Things, Ohar-ity '-; by NIl' Berrill, on 'The Bearing of the Second Advent Truths Upon Christian Doctrine' ; and by Mr. Norrie, on 'The Kingdom Promised to Christ, its Place and Character.' It was resolved to take over Th Life (met Advent Journal as the proprietary organ of the Missi'on, Colonel Van Someren to be editor; Pastor Thomas Vasey being re appointed as :\1 issionary and Financial Secretary. During the recent discussion in the New Zealand Baptist Union as to the re-admission of Rev. C. C, Brown, A lay member asked if be was to nnderstand from the state of affairs that if Mr. George Aldridge applied he would be admitted to the Union? The President said that there was no application before them, and it was not necessary to answer the question; to which it was retorted that such an application was a possibility that ought to be considered. It was pointed out that !\II'. Aldridge occupied a totally different.position from Mr. Brown, inasmuch as he was not a Baptist minister.-Auc1clctnd Star, November 18. Now, why should we not be admitted, provided we could subscribe to tbe constitution'? Reared in a Baptist family, out' earliest religious recollections are connected with the Sunday School in the little Baptist chapel in the village. Through youth to manhood connected with the Sunday School and Church in a large Yorkshire town, and accepted as a lay preacher, surely our Baptist proclivities should be guaranteed! What objection could be raised? The doctrine of Conditional Immortality? But NIt. Brown has been admitted holding this. ' Not a Baptist minister r But we teach and believe baptism. 'But you do not bear the name.' True, as a matter of fact we do not care for the name, and by no means feel anxious to seek an entrance to a Union that so designates itself. The Jay member need not be afraid. We prefer the broader name of Clu-istian, and whilst not caring to repeat the silly charge that our friends are 'Baptists first and Christians afterwards,' we do not care to allow one doctrine of the Christian faith to so override others that we would accept a denominational name to designate our standing, derived from one act of Christian obedience. Our friends can retire minds easy on this point. their act of justice to Mr. selves. The very idea of ours to the next sitting of from the Conference with their We are not likely to construe Brown as an invitation to ourthe presentation of a request of the Union to be admitted to its

r: ~~. ~ 'jj3ible $tanb.~~ ( :l It/od. ~ 0~'jtC3 0)~G) t traw Zealand Evangelistic and Publication Association t
MONTHLY ORGAN~<" '
ne T<m

E)

EDITED

IIY

(;]W,

ALDRIDGE.

AS"ISTED

BY

SPECIAL

CONTRIBUTORS.

ItJD" The Editor wishes it to be understood that, while he exercises a general supervision oyer the articles and correspondence appearing in the Standard; responsibility for sentiments expressed rests upon the individnal writer.

'[be

:fJ3tble Stanl)arl).

""VEhave reached the close of another financial year, and can now state approximately our position. We find that we have a deficit 0 about TWENTYPOUKDS011 the year's operations, and should be glad to have it made lip before the Conference meets. AGENTS will you look to your accounts, and if you are behind hand will YOllkindly remit at once? Subscribers who as yet owe for this year, will you also send along your subscriptions? Some agents and. subscribers are very prompt in their remittances, showing what. can be done. Others are rather dilatory, and forget that payment for printing and stamps must be made. Brethren and friends, we call upon you to remember your responsibility in this work. Do not add worry to the burden of those who have to do the work of issuing the paper. When you have read this sit down and remit at once, whilst the matter is fresh in your mind.

Hnnual contercnce.
PRELIMINARYarrangements for the Annual Conference are being made, and we are able to announce the following :The Conference will be held on Tuesday, January 3rd, 1893. The Executive has decided to invite all members and friends of the Association to a picnic at Northcote, where the Conference will take place. A tent will be erected on the grounds, ill which the business meetings of the Association will be conducted. One meal only--a snbstantial tea-will be provided at about 4.30 in the afternoon. Tickets to cover cost of steamer and tea, one shilling and sixpence each. Should the weather be too unfavourable to visit N orthcote, the tea meeting will be held in the Foresters' Hall on the same date, and the steamer fare will be returned, the admission to the tea being one shilling, The business of the Association will b~ the reception of reports, discussion of Bro, Le Roy's motion to effect change in the Constitution, election of officers. The business session will commence about one o'clock. ""Vehope to see all our friends present who can possibly attend on that day.

"

~==============================~====~===--=====================
pri vileges appealed to our sense of humour, as we imagined for a moment the faces of some well-known members of the Union to whom our views, and perhaps ourselves, are peculiarly obnoxious. Already the Union has done us much honour. Our name has been very prominently before it, and it has added to the honour in suggesting the possibility of such an appeal. What might not be expected if it were actually made and supported by the plea that the Church we have the honour to be connected with is Bap List in its practice 1 It is too much to expect tha.t such all appeal could as yet be received' graciously. When the members have further studied the great questions of eschatology, who knows but that from some annual meeting there may come a pressing request to us to join the Union, based upon the ground of a common agreement! Some of our Baptist friends who read this will smile contemptuously at such an absurd supposition. Gentlemen. we ask YO\lWhen you were so jubilant four years ago over the expulsion of C. C. Brown, what would you have said if anyone had predicted that in four years you would readmit him, he still holding the same doctrines 1 You would have smiled incredulously, there is no doubt. What do you think of it now 1 'The unexpected often happens.' YOUI' latest action is a proof of that adage, Much as we value the splendid history of our Baptist forefathers, and proud as we are of our personal friendships with some of the noble men in the Baptist minisbry, we are well content with our freedom from the bondage which even the broad platform of the Union might entail. We are not likely, therefore to apply for admission, and please do not send the in vitation yet; we are not exactly prepared for it. "Ve are somewhat curious to know how Mr. Siuion, who asked the question, could assert so positively that such an application was' a probability in the future' (Otago Daily .1'imes,November 18th). No one has any authority from us to say such a thing. We only notice it here lest our brethren in the 80uth and in Australia should suppose that Mr. Simon had some knowledge which led him to make the statement, The remark was both unwise and unwarrantable. Here are two sides of a question: During t.he discussion in the Baptist Union' the Rev T. Bray said he was pastor of a church (Nelson) that had been tom and riven by certain of the rloctrines held by Mr. Brown.' In his reply M I'. Brown said 'his church had .been torn and riven to pieces by orthodox doctrines, and he had been able to build it up from seven to one hundred and six members. He had also three members of the church who were once infidels. So we gather that Mr. Brown, by his preaching, had been able to ' mend' the state of the church, but Mr. Bray gave no testimony on this head. As to the result of his work, the question becomes a little more interesting when it is known that Mr. Bray preceded Mr. Brown at Timaru. A correspondent sends us a tract circulated by the Seventh Day Adventists, entitled 'Why not found out before T and asks for a.n opinion of its contents. Two main assertions are made ill this tract. First-' It was foretold in prophecy that the Papacy would change God's Sabbath' (Dan. vii. 25). Second-' That the Pope changed the Sabbath.' Here is our' opinion' on the-e two points. It is ia sheer assumption that the 'Papacy' is referred to in Dan. vii. 25. Y.l e do not find it there, and are n~t prepared to grant its presence on the mere' say so' of anyone. Second -It is not granted that the' Pope changed the Sabbath.' The statement made in this bald form is, we believe, erroneous, 'The History of the Sabbath,' issued by the Seventh Day Adventist people, being the witness.

DECEMBER.

1892.

THE BIBLE STANDARD.

185

tl jLeaf in 113aptiBt llJistor\?

the history of the Baptist Union in Zealand should be written, there is one chapter at least which will be instructive readi ng. It will tell how the Union, possess. ---ing a fair and tolerant constitution, went outside its terms to expel a member who believed and taught the views on Man's nature and destiny which are advocated in this paper, and will record that after a lapse of time, without change of constitutional base on its part, or change of view on his, it was compelled to re-admit the member and thus record the right of any holding such views, and agreeing to the constitution, to a seat in the Uniori, As the future writer of the history may not attempt the work for some time to come, and might find it difficult to collate the facts, .01' might not ever care to record an item which in one aspect confessedly sullies the Union record, we give an outline of the facts in our journal. They may serve either to aid the historian of the future or to assist the readers of the present to understand the action of the Conference in Dunedin last month. In the early part of 1887 the editor' of this paper visited Dunedin, in response to an invitation to deliver a course of addresses on Conditional Immortality. By invitation of the pastor and officers of the Timaru Baptist Church, six addresses were given in their building on the return journey. These caused no small excitement in Ghe town, and we believe were the means of making more widely known the fact that the pastor, C. C. Brown, had been for many years a believer in Conditional Immortality, and was then suffering pecuniarily for his views. In his own way he had taught the doctrine, and our visit served to call more public attention to the fact. The Timaru Church was so well pleased with the series of meetings held, that a special letter of thanks was forwarded to the Auckland Church of Christ for the visit.

[< -I'':''''''~--~F

II

I New

ever

This and other incidents attending this mission caused the Rev. P. Cornford, the President of the Baptist Union for that year, to write four articles, which appeared in bhe June to September issues of 'l'lie Baptist, in opposition to the doctrines we had taught. These were criticised in The Bible Standard by the editor; and when the Rev. Ch as. Cartel' essayed to defend Mr. Cornford, the Rev. C.

i86

T1tE BIBLE STAND AUD.

DEOEMB:run,

1892.

O. Brown took his pen to answer the new antagonist. This controversy, there is no doubt, served to strengthen the feeling already engendered against Mr. Brown because of our addresses in the Timaru Church. At the Conference held in Wellington in November, the feeling manifested itself strongly. On the opening clay, immediately after the calling of the roll, the president (Hey. P. Oornford) challenged the right of the Tirnaru Church to be represented, as he considered they had forfeited all claims to be any longer regarded as It Baptist Church, seeing that so completely had they adopted the views as taught by Mr. Aldridge, of Auckland. He therefore moved, 'That Mr. Brown at once withdraw from the Conference.' The mutter was referred to the executive committee to consider and report. In spite of the assurance given by Mr. Brown that the Baptist Church was not connected with allY association save the Baptist Union, the executive recommended, ' That in the judgment of this Assembly the Rev. O. O. Brown has identified himself with the distinctive views of another body, and is hereby requested to withdraw.' Mr. Brown made an able defence, declaring his right to hold such views on eschatology as he found taught in the Word of God. The resolution was rejected by a majority of two to one. But the Union must assert that it had no liking for these views, and 00 it passed this resolution: 'That this Union regrets to know that Mr. Brown holds am{ gives prominence to the distinctive views of the body represented by :;VII'. Aldridge, and considers it right' to declare that such views are not in accordance with the views of the Union.' This, of course, was a perfectly harmless resolution, and its weakness is the more apparent when it is known that there are no defined views held by the Union. Indeed, to one who knows a little of the divergent ideas given forth by its leading men, they seem little short of a veritable

Mr. Brown's membership,' and, at least, implying the virtual threat of withdrawal from the Union should their protest be disregarded. Mr. Brown pointed out that by recording a hostile vote the constitution would be flagrantly violated. The defence was useless. Out ~lr. Brown must go, and by a vote of thirty-three against three the motion was carried, and the opponents of Oonditional Immortality scored a victory. But the question of doctrine was never openly faced. The whole question professedly turned on 'identification with another denomination' ; but underlying it was the awful bugbear, Conditional Immortality, which one and all were afraid to touch. To compass their ends the opponents did not fear and they utterly failed to violate their own to afford any proofs constitution, tha..t he had Verily records

, identified' himself with any other denomination. Baptists have cause for shame when they read the of that meeting.

Since then, Mr. Brown has managed to live. He still remained pastor of the Baptist Church at 'I'imaru, and the cause there is more flourishing than ever. He has demonstrated that his work can be successful without the Union, but he had determined that, if possible, the U niou should recant, and re-admit him. A step was taken towards this a short time ago, when the Canterbury Auxiliary to the Baptist Union was formecl. An attempt was to be made to ignore the existence of the 'I'imaru Baptist Church, but Mr. Brown went to work energetically, and, as a result, the first meetings of the Auxiliary were held in that building. Here then was an anomaly--that Mr. Brown was a recognised member of the Canterbury Auxiliary, but not of the Union. At the Dunedin Conference in November last, Mr. Brown applied 01' re-admission, claiming his right to lecture on any subject if invited so to do; and, after further consideration by the committee, he was re-admitted by a vote

olla podrida.

Before this meeting, in correspondence with Mr. Brown of twenty-six to nineteen. as a personal friend, we had invited him to pay us a visit, Here is a complete change of front; for the re-admission pleading that coming so far North it would be a pity to of Mr. Brown, avowedly holding the views for which he return without visiting Auckland. This he had promised was practically expelled, signifies that the Union is now to do, and at the close of the Conference he came on by open to any man holding Oonditional Immortality doctrines, steamer. The action of the Baptist Union had given him and can subscribe to the constitution, Here, then, is a notoriety, and his addresses in the Opera House and victory for the truth, which we look upon as an important Foresters' Hall were listened to by large audiences. Ap- one. The matter has been fairly fought, and the erstwhile parently certain members of the U nion foolishly interpreted opponents have been compelled to admit that a Baptist this visit to mean open defiance on' his part, a conclusion minister bolding Conditional Immortality views has as not warranted in any way. At the 1888 Conference, held much right to membership in the Baptist Union of- New in Ohristchnrch, these members of the Union came together, Zealand as a believer in universalism or in eternal misery. apparently determined to carry their purpose in spite of So far as we know, Mr. Brown is just where he was; he everything. The Rev. A. North moved, 'That 'in the has not conceded one point of his belief. The change has judgment of this Assembly the Rev. C. O. Brown has so taken place within the Union itself. May we look upon it far identified himself with another denomination that he as an evidence that the members of the Union are moving ought no longer to continue a member of this Union, and from the anchorage of old prejudices, and, having conceded that, therefore, he be, and is hereby, requested to with- one point, may go on in in vestigation till they find common draw.' This was seconded by Mr. Battley, of Auckland, agreement in the doctrine hitherto opposed. and, to back up the resolution, a letter had been read sent We note how very careful were the members of the by the officers of the Auckland Tabernacle and Mount comrr ittoo to declare that the views held by Mr. Brown are Eden Baptist Church protesting against the continuance of not the views of the Union. Five years ago the same

tHE 13113LES'l'A:NDAH,b.

18/

for thing was said, and again a ye<tl' later. We have yet to latter is evidently a tempting theme with Theosophists, solves a good many questions that are conlearn the nature and extent of the (views' to which the it professedly insoluble. It was somewhat mem bel'S of the Union would subscribe. Pcrhaj.s the one sidered by them as otherwise that a great only of natural immortcdiif , but on the destiny 6 the a surprise to learn from this yonllggentleman number of men eminent ill science, philosophy, and reliunsaved we are positive there is no common agreement, and therefore the (deci<tl'ation' is more sound than sense, gion, taught the doctrine of re-incarnation. No quotations and must remain so until some attempt is made to formuwere given, but the names were glibly run oft' the tongne, late a statement which would meet with the approval of as if the mere citation were a sufficient proof of the claim. ,Ve confess OUl' astonishment, for the teaching of some who the Union. We congratulate the Union upon its emphntic, though were named is tolerably familial' to us, and we had never tardy, reversal of an un wise decision. met with anything giving a hint of such a view. Appal' ED1TOIL ently others present had similar thoughts, for an elderly lady sitting in a front seat rose and queried, (Did I understand the young gentleman to say that Swedenborg believed in the doctrine of re-incarnation l' THEOf,;Ol'HY, or the Wisdom Religion, as it is styled, has ( Yes,' replied he. become quite a craze of late with numbers of persons, and ( In which of his works is it found ?' in most important cities and towns branch societies have This drew the confession that he had taken the statebeen form cd. Auckland possesses one of these. This ment from a writer on his side, and could not, give the branch has attracted the notice of the Rev. Chas. Cartel', quotation. formerly of Ceylon, and an admitted authorii y as a CinHenry Ward Beecher and Phillips Brooks were also ghalese linguist. It has pleased him to give a series of cited, and this drew from us the query, Where could the addres'es in the Y.lVI.C.A. on Sunday afterrioons, ill which he unmercifully assailed the doctrines of Theosophy and proof be found ? The writings of both are, more or less, known to Christians, and some show of proof should be the character of Madame Blavatsky, the practical founder furnished. But none was forthcoming." of the Theosophical Society. The Theosophists claimed We next tried a little questioning on doctrine. Our that Mr. Cartel' failed to understand their doctrinal position, and calumniated the memory of it noble woman, and young friend had brought up, suggesting it as an analogy, of the moth from the egg through as a defence they called a meeting in the Choral Hall, at the natural evolution which three papers were read by enthusiastic admirers of the stages of, CJj., caterpillar, chrysalis, moth. We modestly to the fact that in the process was no death, H.P.B., and believers in the teachings of which she was the called attention for crush the caterpillar and there would be no chrysa lis, medium. At the close of that meeting it was announced ~o, if that as time would not allow of questions being pnt, a destroy the chrysalis and there would be no moth. special meeting would be called to' afford opportunity to the analogy was at all complete, destroy the man and there allY who wished to inquire further into the themes dis- would be no re-incarnation, As the meeting was called to allow of questions on the cussed. The papers had been already printed, and were papers read on the previous Sunday afternoon, and no one gi ven away at the door. else seemed wishful to do this, we thought it well to put a There is a good deal of curiosity in 01lL' make-up, and on matters theological and philosophical, if allY new phase is few. Our first main question was :-Theosophists put forward presented and difficulties arise in connection therewi th, we a hold claim, (It is a system that will not tolerate shams, want to know. Still we confess that the papers had not frauds, superstitions, nor traditions that have ))0 foundasufficiently aroused curiosity to the extent that we cared to It' urges ... an inquiry into the origin of all go. As to H.P.. (this is short for Madame Helena P. tion in fact.' faith and hope, in order to hring about the recovery of Blavatsky, and is the proper theosophical abbreviation), the primal truths, the utter repudiation of all errors.' This, I question as to her bona fides did not trouble us. The truth put for01' otherwise of Theosophy does not stand 01' fall with her repeat, is a bold claim; it means that everything ward has been .thoroughly investigated. One of the main character, although it may be in some measure discredited if she were proved fraudulent, ,Ve are willing that 'I'heo- pillars of Theosophy is a belief that the 1'ealman, the tru man, is within the body, as a wearer within a suit of sophy should be tested by its teachings; but, as already clothes, and persists ill spite of the death of the body. hinted, we had not been so far moved that we were anxious to attend another meeting. But a friend pressed us to What, proof is offered of this 1

Bn JE\)ening witb UJe '-theosopblstS.

attend the meeting, and we consented. The room in which the gathering was held is at the top of a long flight of stairs, and is close and stuffy, 01' was on that particular occasion. About fifty persons were present, completely filling the room. Somewhat to the surprise of the visitors, no fewer than three persons gave addresses, the last being a 'written essay on (Re-incarnation.' This

"\re have since received a notc from the reader of the [Japer stating that Phill ips Brooks had advocated it ill his -errnons, (which are no doubt procurable,' and that Henry Ward Beecher taught it in two volumes entitled the' Concord of Azes ' and the ( Conflict of Ages.' But this does uot help very J1Jueh~ as Phillips Brooks has already preached thousands of sermons, the reference is a little too vague : and the two volumes referred to were written by Dr. Ed ward Beecher. The latter of tile two we know somethiug of by extensive review, but do not find ill it the duct.ri ne of re-incarnation.

188
tangible

THE BIBLE STANDARD.

DECEMBER.1892.

To this the writer of the paper answered that he h~d no p1'00f to offer. From which we learn that in spite of the bold claims made on its behalf, Theosophy rests upon an assumption as one of its main pillars. However abstruse all later questions may be, the starting point of all investigation should be clear. Neglect of inquiry at this point has been the frui tful mother. of errors, theological and philosophical, which have proved baneful to men, and unless Theosophy is prepared with some clear proof, we, at all events, shall look upon it as one of the delusive theories which have sprung from a view of man's nature which is unscientific and certainly unscriptural.

hence, say, and no "atonement" made, in their next incarnation why should pot B. rob A., and the Divine Wisdom descend upon them both, purging out the folly of wrong-doing, and uniting them as sons of the Great Father Let him that stole steal no more, says the "initiate Paul." Indeed what higher conception need we than a world-wide atonement of this nature ~, This is seriously put forward as an answer to the question, and as a description of a righteous law. Note, in the first position, 'If I rob, I must be robbed.' Human law does not allow that if I have stolen five pounds, the account is squared if another person steals five pounds from me. It will still hold me guilty, and my atonement must be made in another manner, and it will also look after the other man and mete out to him similar penalties. To carry the 'Karmic law' over into another life, does not alter the position one whit. It is a vendetta-like scheme, which, judged by human standard and from the exigencies of divine justice, does not work righteously in the individual and blocks the way to 'universal harmony.' Second, ' Eozoon' only makes matters worse when he supposes the. robbed to become the robber. Suppose 'Eozoon' now to be l;L man who would be horrified at the idea (If appropriating that which is not his own. But some dissolute criminal knocks him down and steals his watch. In the next incarnation, to make matters straight, 'Eozoon' must distinctly retrograde, and do that which he now abhors 1 He must knock down the criminal and steal his watch or something equivalent. Evidently the words of the 'initiate Paul' need a qualification, 'Let him that stole steal no more,' unless he be stolen from, then the relentless law of Karma will compel him to steal. Two wrongs will not make one right, The first act of wrong-doing compelled a second by this law, and instituted an endless chain of events of a like character--that is a fatal objection to, this law. The supposition that there may be a reversal of position, so that the robbed becomes the robber, does not remove this objection; but most certainly makes matters worse, for it necessarily entails the thought that the sufferer here must look forward to the indignity of becoming a wrong-doer in some future incarnation. If' Divine Wisdom' should afterwards 'purge' both, then somehow the fact of forgiveness must come in, although we are told this law knows no pardon. Somehow, we still think that the Bible doctrine is superior to this. It supposes an Almighty and All-wise Judge, against whom all wrongs are ultimately committed. and who will see to it that the failures of human laws will be made up' in that day.' Only by the Divine forgiveness of the wrong-doer, or his absolute destruction, can 'universal harmony' be brought in, and as the law of Karma provides for neither of these, hope of attaining 'universal harmony' by it is but 'the baseless fabric of a vision.' EDITOR.

U:be 1karmtc 1Robbel'.

ANOTHER phase of theosophical teaching was raised, relating to the' law of Karma,' a supposed retributive law which punishes the wrongdoer, and which in its workings is faultless. Believers in it assert that it is free from the fatal objections they imagine to lie against the Christian retributive scheme. Not being able to harmonise the statement of this law and its workings, as given 1y the essayist, we tried a little questioning, with the following result :Do you believe that there was once universal harmony in nature 1 Yes. Do you believe that that will be restored 1 Yes. Do you believe that this law of Karma, which you describe as 'the great relentless law that knows no commutation and no pardon,' will effect this 1 Yes. Am I to understand that the law works in this manner 1 'If you rob or cheat, or defraud your neighbour; so will you be robbed, cheated, and defrauded by another; and, if the account be not squared np in one life, back you will be sent in another body to liquidate the debt l' Yes. Then, does it not strike you that if such a law exists, restoration to original universal harmony is impossible 1 No, I do not see that. Well, if I rob, so I must be robbed. That implies the existence of another robber .who must also be robbed, and so on without end. If your law knows no commutation and no pardon, and works in this manner, how can universal harmony ever be attained 1 . Here the chairman, burning to deliver himself, pointed out that I failed to notice that by this law the individual was purified. To which the answer was given that if that were granted, yet the existence of a law working in such a manner was an absolute barrier in the way of attaining universal harmony. Since the meeting a correspondent signing himself , Eozoon,' makes the point beautifully clear (1) in this wise: 'If Mr. A. and Mr. B.' meet, and A. robs B., both pass

DECEMBER,1892.

THE BIBLE STANDARD.

189

1b\2mn.
6.6.6.6.8.8.
1 0 WHAT a sad record Of frail mortality Is written in Thy word, So fully given by Thee; And yet the word of life appeals More bright throughout succeeding

That Christ-Iike thing which reacheth down To depths of human woe, And sheds o'er darkest paths and sad A benediction glow. But thank God most for His great love, That living source divine, Which stoopeth down to earth and cares For your life and for mine. year~. He careth! Ah, what wondrous rest Doth this thought with it bring; Enough to make the desolate Rejoice once more and sing! He careth, if our hopes come in With sails distraught and torn ; He careth when we seem to lie All stranded and forlorn. He careth if our friends forsake, And skies are clouded o'er; If worries in succession roll As wavelets on our shore. He careth, ancl He will not let Us have too much to hear; Nor any burden, great or small, But what He too will share. Hp careth, ancl He shareth too Our sorrow and our joy; lIe knows right well what troubles press, \V hat anxious griefs annoy. Then let us always go to Him, And cast on Him our care; No human sympathy, though sweet, Can with our Lord's compare. He cared so much in agts past, As His own self to give A holy, willing sacrifice That we through Him might live. Dear friencls, then let us each and all A living offering pour At His loved feet our lives henceforth A s did that one of yore. Assured that He will ' care' to take What we in love bestow, And will re-model it Himself Whilst yet we dwell below.

Here is Thy might displayed, In man Thy will and choice, He is Thine image made, The dust now hears Thy voice; For mortal man, Thy truth made known, To die for man, God's own dear Son. His humble origin Now to our minds confest ; Man by his sin resigns His being into dust, But Christ our life from deat.h is free, To give man immortality. Man by his sin entailed The depths of human woe : Upon mankind declared The death with all its throes, And yet unfolds a plan divine, That saints shall in HiR kingdom

reign.

0 God, we bless Thy name, For wisdom so divine, \Vhich evermore the same, From age to age shall shine; The new Jerusalem so bright, The seat of love,-the Lamb the light. 1'. .T. Ames, Adelaide.

lbe carerb.
human hearts. Where should we he, How could we linger here I f there were none who, in our grief Would shed for us a tear?
i)J(AR

If there were none who cared to smile With us in happy hours, When skies are blue, when seas are calm, And earth is decked with flowers. If we were quite alone-alone Outside the world's great heartCut off from God, cast out by man, With none, or lot, or part. 'Twere better that the sun himself Should cease to give us light Than that our souls for aye should stay In one long, loveless night. \\'ith none to care, with nought to love, One's heart a stony thing, One's life a series of events, A winter without spring. Thank God forlove, That golden thread Us each to each, and To kindred human the love of friends, which binds links us on minds!

SUNSET and evening star, And one clear call for me, And let there be no moaning When I put out to sea.

=Charlotte Mttrray .

<!rosstng the :J8ar.

of the bar

But such a tide as moving seems asleep, Too full for sound or foam, When that which drew from out the boundless Turns again home.

deep

For though from out this bourne of time and space The flood may bear me far, I hope to meet my Pilot face to face When I have crossed the bar,

IHO lRobilitr

THE BIBLE STANDAltD.

l)EC]~MBJm. 1892.

of a lReligtous jJ"tfe.

HOWEVER humble the Christian's walk, or mean his occupation, it matters not. He who lives for the glory of God has an end in view which lends dignity to the man and-his life. A man of piety ma.y be lodged in the rudest cottage, and his occupation may be only to sweep a street, yet let him so sweep a street that, through the honest and diligent doing of his duty, God is glorified, and men are led to speak and think better of religion, and he forms a link between earth and heaven. He associates himself with holy angels, and, though at a humble. distance, treads in the footsteps of that blessed Saviour, who, uniting divinity to humanity, as our Maker made all things for Himself, and, as our brother man, whether he ate or drank or whatsoever he did, did all to the glory of God; and doing so, left us an example that we should follow His steps. Go and do likewise; glorify God, and you shall enjoy Him. Christ judges them to be the men of worth who are the men of work. Be thy life then devoted to His service. Now for the work, hereafter for the wages; earth for the cross, the oncoming time for the crown. Go thy way, assured that there is not a prayer you offer, nor a word you speak, nor a foot you walk, nor a tear you shed, nor it hand you hold out to the perishing, nor a warning yon give to the careless, nor a wretched child yon pluck from the streets, nor a visit paid to the widow or fatherless, nor it loaf of bread you lay on a poor man's table-that there is nothing you do for the love of God and man, but is faithfully registered in the chronicles of the Kingdom, and shall be publicly reacl that day when Jesus, calling you up perhaps from a post as mean as Mordecai's, shall crown your brows before an assembled world, saying: 'Thns shall it be done to the man whom the King delighted to honour.' -REV. DR. GUTHRIK

by-and-by. You will come out at the same hole you went in at every time, if you 'once lose your bearings. Don't try to prance before yon walk. Don't be in too great a hurry to show Methuselahhow the thing should be done. The world was here ages before you came, and never knew YOIl were coming. It will be here ages after yon have gonr. away, and maybe it won't know yon were here. Hold 1\p your heacl and step high But keep close enough to the earth-which is the humble planet the rest of us inhabit-to have something to put your foot on when you set it c1own.-Vr'Jm tlie 'Evangelical .J1{a,grcine.'
--.--~----

{rbe l~[ace of 'Umatltng.

THE following are the precise words used by the pious Jews at the foot of the great wall built by Solomon, more particularly all the Friday afteruoou. It is sung and recited in chorus between the Rabbi and the pecple :
HABBI: PEOPLE: R\BBf:
PEOPLE:

HA BBI: PEOPLE: HABBI: PEOPLE:

(lA BBI:
PEOPLE: HABBI:
PEOPLE:

IC\BBI: ['IWI'LE: HABBl PEOPLE: ItABBI: PEOPLE: HABBI: PEOPLE: HABBI:

PEOPLE:

'IDont's' for Woung flDtnt5ter5.

By I{OBERT J. BUJ~DETT.

-----

.-

R.vmn :
PROrJ,],;:

For the palace that has been laid \\"asteWe have remained solitary, [1.]1(1wept. For the temple that has been destroyeci->We have remained solitary, and wept. For the walls that are demolished-'Vc have remained solitary, and wept. For our sovereignty that hns passed a.wayWe have remained solitary, ant! wept. For our grea.t men \V ho have perished-ilYe have remained solitary, and wept. For 0\11" priesthood, whose office has fallenWe have remained solitary, and wept. Fur our kings who have been despised,"Ve have remained solitary, and wept. Jehovah, we beseech Thee to take pity on ZionAssemble the children of Jernsalem. Hasten, oh hasten, Saviour of ZionSpeak in favour of .Ierusalem. May beauty and majesty encompass ZionReturn in pity towards .Ierusaleu.. May royalty soon be established ill ZionComfort those that, mourn in Jerusalem. May peace and happiness enter ZionMay the rod of ]lower be raised in .Iernsalem.

w.o.

i1l

'Prophetic

117('11'8.'

DON'T sing long-metre hymns to common-metre tunes. 'vYho does l' Oh, lots of people-s-older, and wiser, and more experienced than you youngsters. I have heard

tl "[tgbter

common-metre sermons preached from long-metre texts by \ A LITTLE child was pftssing. along a quiet street, clinging short-metre preachers to peculiar-metre congregations, and with one hand to the mother's dress; but when crossing the effect is a fugue that makes the organ shudder. Keep one of the busiest thoroughfares, I saw the little hand your ears open, a.nd you'll catch yourself at it one of these quickly letting go the dress, and seeking a hold of its days, unless you should die a great deal younger than you mother's hand, which, when it got it, felt safe and content. are now. Don't pump after your sucker's dry. If you have nothing to say, don't say it, and it will be most highly appreciated by the entire congregation. If you have something to say, say it and quit. Don't say it over again another way; don't keep on making a talking sound with your mouth under the impression that you arc still saying something. Don't keep on wandering to and fro in. a wilderness of speech in the hope that yon will come out into a clearing, or strike a road that will lead yon to town So it is with us. When pursuing the even tenor of our way, and all goes on quietly and comfortably with us, we are satisf:ied with the most casual and outward cuntact with Christ; but when we have to cross the terrible thoroughfares of life, when we are brought face to face with the dangers and distractions of sickness, or bereavement, or sorrow, then we inst.incti vely reach up to clasp the li ving and loving hand; we long to see the pitying face, and to hear the olel familiar voice, 'Son, daughter, be of Food cheer; it is I, be not afraid.' SET,.

-,

 DECEMBER,

1892.

THE BIBLE STANDARD.

191.

correepouoeuce.
To
DEAR THE EDlTOR OF THE BIBLE STANDARD.

r.
THE

JMPETITORSmust be under eighteen years of age. It will be understood that the answers sent are the entire icorle of the children.
.I:-II:"<'!'S.

Begin with th 1 present set. Do not write the questions, but send the anlW~?'S numbered to correspond with the questions, and state 1Vhe~'e you found them. Write in ink. See that yom note contains name and address, and reaches me not later than the 18th of the month. Competitors South of Wellington, and ill Austral ia are allowed extension of time equivalent to the time taken for the STANDA1W to reach their homes. To give all opportunity to those who are over the above-stated age, and who would like to compete, we have decided to form ~nother class; age from eighteen to twenty-one. These WIll he expected to answer the stated questions, and the extra ones, which latter the younger class need not attempt. Write answers to extra questions on separate sheet of paper. Do not keep back, though YOll cannot solve every question.
APOSTLE
SEeOK!)

OF THE

UEKTILEf.:.
SET.

SEBlI::S-TWELFTIl Acts xx, 6-16.

1. Where also in Acts do we read of an upper room or chamber? 2. Where in the Go~peb is there a reference to one? . 3. Mention two cases in the Old Testament of the dead being restored to life. 4. (;i"e a'l the instances in the Gospels of the dead being raised, 5. Where does Jesus use an expression similar to the words of Paul in verse 10 .~ 6. In what tOWIl was the miracle performed ' 7. To what town did Pan 1 go nex t ? 8. Give the meaning of' to sail by.' 9. Give the sitnation of the places mentioned from Assos to

Miletu.
10. A bou t what d istance is 1\Jiletus from Epliesus
't
EXTU.\ [\,11<1

qUESTION.

11. Tell what you knoll' of the Ol'i~n of the Christmas festival, the reason for its observance on December 25th. ANSWEr.S TO ELEVENTH SET. 1. Ads x vi. 9--11 (01' xix. 21). 2. Philippi (xvi. 13), 'I'hessalonica (x vii. 2), Herea (xvii. 10). 3. Corinth (Bible Dictionnrf). Ik 2 Cor. vii. 6. 5. Determined (il.. 6. Ari-tarchus (Acts x x vii. 2). 7. Secundus. 8. 2 Cor. ii. 12. 9. Acts xvi. e. 10. 1 Cor. xvi. 2. RESULTs.--Ten COIIeet.- .\Jal'garet Green, "-. E. Judkins, Ernest Aldridge, Louis Falkner. N11IC and part of No. f2.- Fanny French, .Iames John French, Sarah Lawrence, Emily Rattson. Nine rorrect : lIJrty Brewster, Helen J. Brewster, Seven correct : Sydney Smith.

SlR,-I should just like to pen a few words in reply to YOllr correspondent writing over the signature' A Primitive Catholic.' It seems to me, from the tenor of the letter, that your correspondent asks us to believe that it is wrong and unscriptural to make any provision for a possible need in the future, either for ourselves or those dependent upon us, that the conduct of a man making such provision is unchristian and manifests a lack of trust and confidence in the promises of God. In support of this position certain scriptures are quoted. 'Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, etc.' Our attention is also drawn to the fact that when Jesus sent out His disciples He told them' to take neither purse nor scrip, etc.' Your correspondent has evidently mistaken the principles our Lord laid down. A man may have more than he needs for to-day without its being a treasure to him or anything more than 'a matter of convenience. Then our friend omits to mention that when Jesus sent out Hi. disciples a second time He told them to take pLHse and scrip, and if they were not possessed of a sword to buy one. The question comes, iohcrc are we to draw the line at making provision? The indolent man might be content to pray. 'Gi ve us this day our daily bread,' and sit all day in his armchair and wonder why his prayer was not answered. The fanner might neglect to sow seed on the assumption that it was wrong to make any provision for next year. No sane Christian would care to take such a position. If it be right to make some provision, I rleem it right to make such. provision that God has laid in our way and leave the rest to lIim. The supernatural steps in when we have exhausted the natural means at our disposal. The teaching of Christ regarding the rich young man was a special case, and the only time when such conditions are urged upon men seeking eternal life. It is evident that the possession of riches was not incomparable wih standing as a Christian in the early church. Peter said to Ananias, , Was it not thine own ?' implying he had the right to keep his field. r ames said, 'Charge them that are rich in this age that they be not high ;llinded.' At the same time he condemneci the icickcd rich man who kept back the hire of the labourer. If it was necessary for all Christians to part with capital and become poor men, the result would be that all employers of labour would become unchristian, as we know that no business or factory can be conducted without some capital, An instance actually occurred where a sum of money was left to two brothers who were Christians. One gave it all away to the pcor, the other built a factory, employed a number of hands, paid good wages, and treated his employees in a Christian manner. Which of the twain did most good, and produced the best results '-I remain, yours respectfully, OPTIMIST.

v.:

ANSWERS

TO EXTRA

(~FESTIOXS.

Margaret Green, Helen J. Brewster. Louis Falkner, 1. Paul was ordained a preacher and an apostle unto the Gentiles (1 Tim. 2-7). He was chosen by Christ to bear His name before the Gentiles and also beforc the Jews (Acts ix. 15). Afterwards, when in .Ierusalern, the Lord appeared unto him and told him that He would SClH[ him unto the Gentiles (Acts x xii. 21). To them Paul preached that Christ had died for their sins, and that He was risen again (1 Cor. x v, 3-4). Thus his mission was to preach' Life in Christ' to the Gentiles. 2. That Christ appeared to Paul in His g-Iol'ified body, in which state believers expect to see Hi 111 at the Resurrect.ion. Therefore Paul saw Him just the same as he expected to see Him after he had himself heen born again. L. F.

THA~IEs.-Last Sunday we had a good congregation, and we are hopeful, although nearly everyone here in business, politics, and religion, is depressed. Stagnation seems to rule. We have invited Bro. Aldridge to pay us a visit and to hold a week of services. AUCKLAND.-Throughout the past month we have had much encouragement. The evening audiences have been large and attentive. For the present we have closed the series of addresses upon the Book of Revelation, not because of waning interest, but because we consider that the five months' successive talks should have given food for thought on these themes for some time to come. The Bible-class is considering some of the important Scripture tenchings on man's nature. Things new and old He I,eing introduced, and sume delightful evenings have been spent. On Sunday, November 27th, we had our Sunday School .F loral Services, The l1all was beautifully decorated. Loving hands were early at work festooning the walls and gallery front with flowers,

192

THE BIBLE STANDAHD.

DEOEMBER,

1892.

and decorating withvarious floral devices, and when all was done it was a charming sighl. In the afternoon, at three, the children sang some suuable piece', and Bro, Wilcock gave an address upon the' Flowers of the Hihle." At the evening service the sonvs were repeated, and RIo. Alrlridgp. spoke upon 'Les<;ons from the Lilies.' A little interest was caused by the exhibition in the afternoon of a dried' Rose of Jericho.' In the interval between the t wo services it was immersed ill water and was shown at the latter service; the dried twigs had swelled and sprend out, and but for the absence of the petals, one could have said it was plucked but t he day before. ~ro. Wilcock used this as an emblem of death and resurrection, and told his hearers that singularly enough the flower, from this peculiar quality, bore the name of Anastasis,' Resurrection-the Resurrection flower. NAPIER.-\\'e learn that Hro, T. Annett, of Napier, has 'fallen on sleep.' He suffered much during the last few weeks of his life from. internal cancer. A brother" ho has spent many happy hours with him assures us that, knowing the end was fast nearing he faced it peacefully, and died strong in the faith. He was burie I on October, 30th. On the few occasions when we met with him, he impressed us with his earnest and devout character. He has toiled much in a quiet way to spread the truth he loved, and now he rests until the 'crowlling day.' l)uNEDIN.-We are pleased to be able to report that three believers have yielded themselves to the Lord in baptism-Sister Marsden and her two dau;{hter,. \;Ye earnestly seek in prayer for them that they may have the aid and comfort of the Holy Spirit in entering upon and walkill!; in their new life; that it may be a life of pleasure and profit, and of prp.paration for the more peaceful and extended life under the personal reivn of our future king, Jesus, the Christ of God. To all, in every pl~-::e, may the selfsame help be accorded is nur prayer.

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char.re-

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current

mew; ano 1Rote;.

C Gamble, Life and Advent Hook Room, King William-street, City . C. Gamble, Magill Road, Stepney,
NEW SOUTH WALES.

W. H. Carr, Lyndhursr,

Ebley Street,

\I'a\erle\'.

r OSEPH COOK publishes in his magazine, OU1' Das], the fact that he has attained the respectable weight of z8dbs.-twenty stone. He Ihinks that this is clue to total abstinence, and that literary men should be total abstainers. This will prevent mental giddiness, will ward off many a fit of depression, and will prolong mental vigou~ into advanced year,. One cannot hut feel that It is a plly ~1r. Cook did not ret~m hIS original Christian name, Flavlus Jusephu,., FlavlUs. ~osephus Cook is the right kind of name fur a man of l.is wel~ht.-B1'ttlsh J!Veekly.
The late Shereei of Wazan rather prided himself (,n his European tastes. It was an open secret in Tangiers that he was exceedingly fond of champagne. In reply to -orne of his fC;llowers, who remonstrated against a descendant of Mahommed. drmkmg Intoxlcattn~ liquor, the Shereef is reported to have said : '1 rue, the champagne III the bottle is intoxicating, but when poured into the glass in my hand it becomes as simple as water! '-and they believed him. Professor Picketing, of Harvard , says he has discovered eleven lakes in ~Iars and two mountain ranges. A green spot in the north of the planet has been photogr,aphed. He says chat many of the canals mentioned by Scbiaparefli were seen by him, hut these were found to "be single, not double. Dr. Lyman Abbott, successor to Henry Ward Beecher, has issued a book entitled, 'The New Progressive Orthodoxy.' Dr. joseph Cook pithily says of it, 'It is not new, nor progressive, nor orthodox.' The railway between Joppa and Jerusalem has been completed, and the first train between the two places ran on ,\ ugust 30. Of the 30,000 wanted annually by General Booth for the working of his social scheme, only some 4,000 have been obtained. The wealth of the Russian Church is almost incalculable. It could pay the Russian national debt, and would, then be enormously wealthy. Yet this same church has not been heard of at all during the great distress prevalent in so many provinces; no soup- kitchens have been opened by it, no contributions given. It is stated in the Italian press that the designs for a golden throne have been submitted to the Pope, with.an estimate for 4,000. The Breuiers' Journal, which is not prohibition authority by a long shot, gives the consumption of liquors in prohibition Kansas and highlicense Nebraska for seven years as follows: KANSAS.
No. bbls.

Communications to the Editor to he addressed :-(; I~O. A LDRI DGE, Boston Road, Auckland. All Communications to the Associat ion la be addre;seci 10 the Secretary, \V~f. RATTRAY, Victoria Avenue, off Erle-n Terrace, Auckland.

CHURCH
Hold services as under :-

OF

CHRIST

NEBRASKA.
No. bbls.

1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891

20,000 17,000 16,000 15,000 9,000 2,700 2,030

1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891

66,000 84,000 108,000 124,000 136,000 132,000 146,000

A UCKT.AN D-Foresters' !lall, Karaugaha pe Road, Sunday, at II o'clock a.m., Fellowship MeelillC!, 6.45 p.m., Lecture on some important Hil.le Theine. Sunday School .H 3. Wednesday evening, Bible Class at 7.30. Evangelist's address-s-Geo. Aldridge, Boston Road. GISBoRNE-Meeting held in private houses. Address-i-Mr. A Slack. North Gisborne. DUNF.DIN-Oddfellows' Hall, Stuart-strcet. Sunday, at 11 a.m., Fellowship ~Ireetillg. Lecture at 6.45. Sunday School at 2.45. Prayer Meeling and Bible Class every Friday evening at 7.30. Secretary's Address-Francis Battson, Stafford St reei , Soulh Dunedin, TI;AMF.S Pollen Street Lecture Hall. Sunday, at II a.rn., Fellowship Meeting. Evening Service at 6.30. Sunday School at 2.30. Bible Class every Wednesday evening at 7.30. Evangelist's Address-E. H. Taylor, Thames, MELBOURNE-Hanover Rooms, Easler~ Arcade.' . Sunday, at 1[ a. m., Breaking of Bread. Evening at 7 p.m., Lecture on some Bible Theme. Monday at 7.30 p. m., Bible Class. ADELAIDE, S .. \.Inquiry ancl Discussion Class, Blackeby's Hoot Shol', 226, Rundle Street, every Thursday, at 7.45 1'.11I. Secretary's address-F. R. Hughes, 96, North Terrace. SVDNEv-vVarwick Hall, Station Street, Newt own. ~10rning meeting at 1 I. Bible Class Wednesday at 7.45. Secretary'saddress-W Warner, 16 Piu-street, k edfern. Prir ed by H. BRETT, Evening Star Office, Short land-st reet , for the New Zealand Evangelistic and Pub1ication Association, and publ ishec! l,y E. H. FALKNER, Karangahape Road, Auckland. DECEMBER, 1892,

-i-Traoeiler.