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30.

No. 8.

AUCKLAND, N.Z., AUGUST, 1910.

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ism more severe than the representatives of an Empire would dare publicly to avow. He should not go abroad again until he can preach Republicanism, the liberty, equality, and independence which has made America great, instead of the unjust, unchristian Imperialism which has been at once the blight and burden of the nations of Europe."

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HE ex-President of the United States is a strenuous man. With the same energy which he put into his work as President, he goes off to Africa to engage in a wholesale butchery of living things, and then passes over to Europe to instruct statesmen and philosophers concerning the present outlook in the world's affairs. He has been remarkably free with his advice-so free, in fact, that some of his- own countrymen think he has transgressed all proper limits. One of these remarks in the World's Crisis: "When he as an honoured guest of the Oity of London goes 1Roose\')elt as out of his way to belabour the couueeuor. British Government for dealing patiently and leniently with a difficult situation in Egypt, rather than rule the country with an iron hand, he betrayed an attitude that was hardly American, and a lack of tact in rightly receiving the hospitality and honour which a city and nation conferred on him on that occasion. Shooting wild beasts in Africa, and a hurried journey through Egypt, hardly gave Mr. Roosevelt the knowledge and experience that might qualify him to be the teacher to administer counsel and discipline to a peopeople who h~ve been the successful administrators of distant and difficult colonies through 300 years." And a well-known New York journalist, speaking from Paris, says: "I believe it is the ardent wish of every true American abroad that Mr. Roosevelt cease to claim to represent American ideas in these foreign countries, and go home and devote his time and attention to whatever private business he may have. Americans who love their country and believe in Republican institutions, are shocked and outraged to hear this supposed representative of Republicanism preaching the domination and oppression of subject States, and advocating an Imperial-

The attempt now being made to alter thc Royal Declaration has met with not a little support from weakkneed Protestants, and has, of course, the sympathy of all who are in any way under Romish domination, or who pander to the Romish vote. It is held that to perpetuate this lRomtsb Declaration in its archaic form is agttation. to keep alive a spirit of intolerance and to give needless insult to a large part of the subjects of the realm. As to the "intolerance," it would be well if the party which now makes this as a basis of appeal were to undertake the cleansing of its own house ere denouncing so vociferously the state of another. When Rome has purged itself of its disgraceful intolerance towards any who cannot accept her doctrines, it will be quite in order for her to urge that others should follow in her footsteps. The supporters of a religion that openly, avowedly, and unremittingly persecutes, anathematises, and curses all Protestants might be expected to be somewhat chary about raising the plea of tolerance. The Romish attitude on this matter is one of those things that cannot be understood. But Protestants look further than the question of tolerance. Were it simply a matter of religion only, there would be no wish for any mention of Romish doctrines in the Declaration. If men choose to believe, against all evidence, in transubstantiation, that is their affair, and though sensible men would deem such belief folly in the extreme, nobody would be so absolutely silly as to ask that the Monarch should make special mention of the matter. Or, if people are so blind to every-day fact and Bible revelation as to worship a dead woman, that is entirely their own affair, and no nation would trouble to press for a denial of such belief from its Sovereign were it not that matters of grave importance touching the national welfare lay entrenched behind these things. '1'11ecause of the opposition to this Declaration is not in its language, but

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in thc fact that no Papist can utter it. It stands as a guarantee that the Sovereign will not introduce Popery into the country, and the repudiation of these two doctrines is the public safeguard against Rome's Canon Law and persecuting Edicts. "The Declaration is not an attack upon thc Roman Catholic religion. It is intended as a plain and necessary declaration of the personal belief of the Sovereign, in order that there may be no question as to his beingas he is expected to be-a genuine Protestant. 1 0 apology is needed \tbe StOt')? of for presenting a few facts to show tbe lPast. that the people were compelled by the tyranny of Rome to protect their liberties and rights of conscience. For nearly a century and a-half our forefathers had struggled against ecclesiastical tyranny. During the Marian persecution 300 of our Protestant ancestors were burnt alive at the stake. On the accession of Queen Elizabeth the Pope's jurisdiction was banished from the realm, whereupon the Spanish Armada, blessed by the Pope, freighted with Jesuits, Dominican Inquisitors with their instruments of torture, and a fanatical soldiery, attempted the invasion of England, in order to crush Protestantism, and bring the British nation once more into subjection to the See of Rome. But God blew with His winds, destroyed the proud fleet, broke the power of Spain, and made Britain great. Rome, however, was not conquered; for, as D' A 11bigne says: The fearful commotions and sanguinary conflicts which shook the British Isles in the middle of the seventeenth century were in the main a direct struggle against Popery. The Stuarts drove the people to civil war by invading their rights and by ecclesiastical tyranny. Charles 1. married a Roman Catholic. Charles n. secretly joined the Church of Rome. J ames n. was an avowed Papist. During this period faithful Protestants had to endure fearful sufferings. They were imprisoned in filthy dungeons and horribly mutilated. They were branded with red-hot irons, their noses were slit open, their ears were cut off, and they were burnt alive; in fact, many suffered the most cruel deaths." "During the Bloody Assize of 1685 the most frightful atrocities were committed. At Dorchester, on the 10th of September, 74 persons were executed out of 292 who received sentence of death. Exeter followed with 13 executions. In Somersetshire 233 bow '/Romanism were hung, drawn and quartered 'Wlor~el:>, in a few davs. In addition to these barbarous executions 149 were transported and 33 fined and whipped. 'In the midst of this reign of terror J effreys laughed, joked, and swore in such a way that many thought him drunk from morning to night.' This monster simply carried out the commands of a Popish King. The Scottish Covenanters were also persecuted with diabolical ferocity, and the memory of Claverhouse is as infamous in Scotland as

that of J effreys in England. At length the unscrupulous and arbitrary proceedings of James became intolerable alike to High Churchmen and N onconformists, to Whigs and Tories, and in spite of their great differences in all other matters all, except an insignificant minority of Romanists, united at the Revolution of 1688 in welcoming William, Prince of Orange, as their Sovereign. J ames fled to France, and on February 13th, 1689, the Parliament, consisting of Lords and Commons-the King and Queen being present - passed the Bill of Rights with absolute unanimity, thereby securing to the nation a Protestant throne and a Protestant Parlia-

ment."-From

Tract by Convent Inquiry Society.

How effectively does the glamour of popular belief hide stern realities from view. Death, which Scripture declares to be our "enemy," is usually spoken of as a friend, and the language descriptive of it is intended to give it a seeming, altogether op513 lDeatb a posed to visible facts. Extravaccnqueror t gance of speech is a too common characteristic in funeral addresses, and in messages intended to he consolatory to the bereaved. In a speech of Lord Rosebery's in moving an address to King George is found an apt illustration of the blinding effect of popular belief. He said: "To those who witnessed the pageant, in its strictest sense, which took place in London, there remains a memory which nothing will efface. There is nothing so like a conqueror entering his capital as the last procession of a King to his tomb." Who that has truly considered what death is, be it to peasant or King, could ever liken the passage to the grave as a conqueror's procession? ;\l" ay, rather it is the passage of the conquered. It is the journey of one who, whatever his power upon earth, is at last brought low by the Monarch of all earthly conquerors, and he is borne away from the scenes o'er which he once ruled, and where his words were esteemed and obeyed, to the silent resting-place where silence and corruption hold unhindered swav. N ay, here is no symbol of conquest; 'tis the open and visible display of defeat, dire, ruthless, and abiding. He whose imagination can o'erleap the facts, and picture such a grim procession, even though it be accompanied by the outward and visible signs of human power, as the procession of a conqueror is surely blinded, for he fixes his gaze upon the coffin instead of upon the grim enemy whose prey lies therein. But, yes, 'tis the procession of a conqueror, hut the name of the conqueror is DEATH:, and as of old the Roman generals drew behind them in bonds the chiefs of the conquered lands, so death, unseen, drags to the tomb the captives he has taken. Death is victor now, but he shall not be for ever, Its Conqueror shall soon appear, and He, the Prince of Life, will break the chains with which man's enemv has held the sons of men. The apostle of British Rationalism has been in our city, and has delivered his message for the enlighten-

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ment and uplift of man. In the main it has been a glorification of the doctrine of Evolution, with a plentiful besprinkling of depreciation of Sign of tbe thc Bible as a veracious record. \times. How the relegation of the latter to the limbo of old superstitions, and the advancement of the former to the first position are likely to be a factor in man's real betterment does not vet appear, in "pi to of the specious plea that the weigh t of modern "culture' is on the side of the lecturer. Of course, that plea was to be expected. It has been the common plea of scepticism for quite a long time now, until we have no doubt those who make it are beginning t.o believe that it is quite true. 'I'he plea amounts simply to this and nothing more-that he who agrees with the lecturer is cultured, and if he does not, then, of course, he cannot bo presumed to belong to the real aristocracy of culture. What chiefly concerns us in this note is to express our astonishment that so many persons could be got together in a city like Auckland who could vociferously applaud a series of bald assertions made without so much as an attempt at proof. IVe refer more particularly to an address given to show the existence of a conflict between Science and Religion. From end to cnd it was a line of assertions, and if by chance anything was said that distinctly discredited the Bible statements it was received with uproarious applause. Now, the thing to note is this: Thosc who applauded were not persons who have taken deep interest in Bible investigation, so could not be supposed to know profoundly concerning its teaching. Equally evident is it that they have not deeply investigated into the teachings of science, to know whether or not the statements advanced by the lecturer were true. What, then, did they applaud? For answer we reply, they applauded their own appreciation of anything that would attack the Bible as an authority. It is because that Book claims to speak with authority to the sons of men, that it is disliked, nay, hated, and the applause was the outward and audible manifestation of the inward rebellion of the heart.

matters in the name of science ? We do not know very much about the lecturer save by his writings; but we think we are perfectly safe in saying that men of science would not agree to accept him as the exponent of the teaching 01 science. It is quite conceivable that Haeckel might, hut then the German theoriser is so largely discredited by present investigators that for one to speak in his name is not to represent science. As A matter of f'act , there is no such thing as existing agreement in the different fields of modern science to warrant any man to stop f'orwa 1"(1 and state, "This is the teaching of modern science." A few mortal men, just such weak creatures as ourselves, are engaged in investigating, here and there, into small areas of the visible universe, and they write books which are often devoted to setting forth specu lations, to be discarded by their successors, and to the casting aside of the theories of those who preceded them. If a man claims to speak for the Bible, it is an easy thing for the hearer to turn to the textbook and test the utterance; but when a man claims to speak for science, how are his claims to be tested? We repeat, the claim to speak in the name of science is an arrogant imposition upon the intelligence of the public .. On the great questions of human responsibility of present conduct in reference to a future, on the question whether or not man can live in the future, science has absolutely nothing to say, and no man is authorised by it to speak on those things in its name. It is sheer impertinence to claim the right so to speak, and the applause of the multitude does not change its character. Rockefeller, the American millionaire, has amassed the largest amount of wealth ever known to be in the control of any human being, and amongst many thoughtful people it is held that it has been gained in ways that are not to be commanded as testi'Ulae for monies to righteousness. Indeed, \tatnte~ 'tlUlealtb some institutions to which some of the money has been proffered have declined it, on the grounds that it was gained by heartless cruelty and ruthless greed. Latterly a Bill has been introduced into Congress to incorporate the Rockefeller foundation, whose aim is "to promote the wellbeing and advance the civilisation of the peoples of the United States and its territories and possessions and of foreign lands in the acquisition and dissemination of knowledge, in the prevention of suffering, and in the promotion of any and all the elements of human progress." 'I'he N.Z. Baptist for July, whence we take this item, quotes from the Baptist Wodd the following comment upon the fact that the son of Rockefeller will have the chief task of directing this great scheme: "The fact that this remarkably handsome, normal, trained young man should thus direct his life is of such importance as only God can conceive and the coming centuries interpret. H ere is what Jesus OMist has been ~orking for for twenty centuries, what God planned bejore the trees budded in the Garden of Eden, oie., that the mighty of the earth should become His servants, and take up in

Much was said of the attitude of science. It may be in place to say that as yet there is no known scientific fact which contradicts the Bible statements. There are many theories which do, and of these the theory known by that blessed word "Evo\1.Ulante~ all : lution" is one. But evolution is accre~tte~ only a name for a succession of 1Repreaentatt"e. human guesses and speculations which cannot be legitimately dignified by the name of science. No semblance of proof has ever been given to show the origin 01 life, or produced to show the possibility of change from one species to another. Elaborate series of names and diagrams of human compilation are presented, but the science of the world will not agree to accept them as true showings of actual happenings. But there is a question which "Wefeel justified in pressing upon our readers. Who is authorised to speak on these

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coniinewt-plons the establishment of His 1eign upon the world." 'I'his statement, which we italicise, fairly takes away one's breath! 'I'hat the establishment and spread of the Divine Kingdom should have waited the advent of men who have amassed wealth at such great cost to humanity and by such dubious means is a staggering proposition, and we give up any attempt to finc1language sufficiently strong to characterise such a conception. Let it suffice to say that the statement is just another testimony to the far remove of modern churches from the Bible doctrine of the Kingdom of God, anc1 to commend to all a careful reading of Isaiah's second chapter.

"Sblne 1bere:'
By C. E. COPP.
"Lot your ligh t so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matt. v. 16).

jLo"e.
IF you love, love more. If you hate, hate no more. Life is too short to spend in hating anyone. '\Thy war wi th a mortal who is going the same road wi th us? 'Yhy not expand the flower of life and happiness by learning to love, by teaching those who arc near and dear the beautiful lesson? Your hands may be hard, but your heart need not be. Your form may be bent or ugly, but do you not know that the most beautiful flowers often grow in the most rugged, unsheltered places? The palace for care, and the cottage for love. Not that there j no love in a mansion; but somehow, if wc are not very careful, business will crowd all there is of beauty out of the heart. This is why God has given us Saturday nights, that we may leave business in the office, and have a heartcleaning.-Selected. The Christian religion is superior to el'ery other religion in that it has a living leader, though personally absent is spiritually present with His Church. How this fellowship with Jesus transforms life! By it, the common days, yea, the common tasks are glorified. It is not in the doing of the great things that we find him near, but in the simple performance of duty-standing by the machine, behind the counter, at the desk; washing the dishes, sweeping the floor, caring for the children-in any humble, daily work, He is hy our sic1c.-F. L. Piper. In Messina there were many free-thinkers, and they had become sufficiently numerous to establish a paper called The Future. The paper made its first appearance the day before the earthquake, and so positive was the editor that "there is no Goel," that he wrote a violent editorial on the subject, and used these words, addressing God: "If you are not an impotent fool, send us an earthquake to prove you exist." That night the city was destroyed-the most appalling catastrophe in history. Think of a rational being penning such a sentence and daring to publish it. The Italians are dumbfounded, and there is little danger of the free-thinkers getting a foothold 41 that nation.

Returning homeward the last evening from the recent State Conference my eye was caught by a sign in one corner of the waiting-room in the railroad station at Haverhill, which read thus: "Shine Here." It indicated the spot where both believers anc1 unbelievers might get their shoes shined. I said to myself, That's a sermon in itself to every Christian, or ought to be, if they will see it in the right light. Lots of folks expect to shine over there in the other world. They have made a profession of religion, being baptised possibly, joined the church likely, and now, being all ready (?) they are waiting to shine over there among the angels! Well, now, as to our shining over there in that land of glistening and glory, amongst the martyrs of God and the heroes of the cross, who have borne the burden and heat of the day and fought, bled and died in defence of the truth, it would be about like holding up a tallow dip, unsnuffed at that, amongst a galaxy of electric arc lights. The angels would need their best eyesight, and to screen the re t with smoked glass, to see it. No matter of how much consequence we may feel ourselves to be in this world-s-and some of us feel big enough, there is no doubt about that-we will not feel much like shining over there, I reckon. We may shine in society here as a star of the first magnitude, but, with some sense of what we have done and have not done-especially "not done"-and what the Lord has done, or ought to have done for us, and the eternal fitness and fixedness of the place, it would not he strange if wc feel like going into eclipse over them instead of shining. If the "wise" are to "shine as the brightness of the firmament," because they have turned many to righteousness, and "as the stars forever and ever," according to Daniel, twelfth chapter, it is about time some of us got busy in this line or we may then go into eclipse, There arc Bible celebrities that I would prefer to sec shine there in all their deserving effulgence than to look in the glass to see whether I were shining or not So we better "shine here." It is the place to shine. Our light is most needed here. It is a "crooked and perverse generation" amongst whom as the sons of God we should shine as "lights in the world" (Phil. ii. 15). 'I'here are many traps and pitfalls for unwary feet that need the illumination of a Gospel arc light over them. 'Ye read of the "Darkest Africa." I wonder if darkest America has all been properly illuminated? How shall we shine? Why, shine out what the Lord shines in and no more. Let your light shine-don't hinder it; it will shine if you do not. 1. Shine in "good works" that men may see them and glorify God instead of cursing you. Do something

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worthy of a Christian. If Christ has had an influence with your soul, you ought to have an influence with others. Speak to somebody about their soul's salvation. Do it to-day; the writer has since he began this article, which makes the pen work the better for it. 2. Shine in Spirit and demeanour. Put frowns away for future use where nothing else will work. "Keep smiling," as the saying goes. When thrown down come up smiling or stay Clown. "Ye are the light of the world." Do not be a bushelJed candle; rather be a bushel of candle all aflame. "Let the lower lights be burning." There may be a crook in the current of life just where you are and your little light is just sufficient at that point to guide life's mariners safely by you and up stream. Then keep the light burning. There are too many dark-lantern Christians who keep their lights all covered up when needed, and flash them in somebody's face when not needed. "Shine here" -right here. Jesus said of John the Baptist, "he was a burning and shining light." Not he was going to be, but he was. He was until Herod snuffed his life out; but his light had done its work. Don't worry about John; he will shine yet more and more, but not with Gospel light. That is all over with him. It will be the light of eternal love and praise. As for Herod, one day in his brag and bluster his light such as it was, went out to stay out. Don't be a Herod. but be a J ohn.

B Ubrillfny

lRepl}1.

DR. KRLMAN recently asked an eminent American of science his solution of the problem of modern city life. "An emperor!" came the answer, swift an d decisive. "An emperor?" asked Dr. Kelman, in surprise; "I thought you had done with all that in America. Besides, your emperor would need to be a very wonderful man, incapable of mistakes and extraordinarily competent "'H leadership." "Precisely," was the quiet answer, "and we know the Man,' we are waiting for Him, and His name is Jesus." "The thrill of that reply," says Dr. Kelman, "will never leave me."-Selected.

"I PRAY all those who love Jesus Christ, who alone is the Truth, that they do not blame me if I refused to put the most ancient and honoured teachers in the same rank as the Holy Scriptures, and if, when I read their writings, 1 search diligently in the Scriptures to see whether they have told the truth or not. Far be it from me to contradict any great and holy teacher who speaks the truth; on the contrary, the smallest and meanest person, if he speaks the truth, ought not to be contradicted upon any account whatsoever. I only ask that the truth they speak should be manifestly proved and maintained by the Holy Scriptures, and maintained by us, because we find it there; for the Scripture is very sure, and says nothing but that which is sure, and which everybody ought to receive and to hold fast; but every single thing which cannot be proved by Scripture has no weight, no place, no authority in the worship and service of God. Christ is the Truth; He alone is the One who ought to be listened to. "We must not turn to look at any other, nor attend to what any man whatever may do or say, but follow Christ, and Christ only; and, if we doubt whether anything we are told by men is really what Christ has said and commanded, we are to turn to the Holy Scriptures, which are the fountain head, from which God intends we should draw forth all truth. We should find out there what Christ really did say, and according to that we should hold fast, believing it and doing it, without adding to it or diminishing from it, nor twisting it this way and that, to right or to left, but simply obeying it." Most cxcellent. Here lay the might of early Proicstantism. Unfaithfulness to this rule is at the root of all the errors of modern Protesta~tism.-The Vangua1d.

N ever a day is given But it tones the after-years, And it carries up to heaven Its sunshine or its tears, While the to-marrows stand and wait, 'I'he silent mutes by the outer gate.

-H em'Y BUTton .
In his "Empire of Business," Mr. Andrew Carnegie declares that the first and most seductive peril, the destroyer of young men, is the drinking of liquor. "1 am no temperance lecturer in disguise," he adds, "but a man who knows and tells what his observation has proved to him; and I say to you that you are more likely to fail in your career from acquiring the habit of drinking liquor than from any or all the other temptations likely to assail you. You may yield to almost any other temptation and reform-may brace up-and, if not recover lost ground, at least remain in the race, and secure and maintain a respectable position. But from the insane thirst for liquor, escape is almost impossible. I have known but few exceptions to this rule."

What a vast proportion of our live8 are spent in anxious and useless forebodings concerning the future, either that of our own or our dear ones. Present joys, present blessings, slip by, and we miss half their flavour, and all for want of faith in Him, who provides for the tiniest insect in the sunbeam. Oh, when shall we learn the sweet trust in God that our little children teach us every day by their confiding faith in us-we who arc so mutable, so faulty, so irritable, so unjust, and he who is so watchful, so pitiful, so loving, so forgiving? Why cannot we, slipping our hand into His each dav, walk trustingly over that day's appointed path, thorny or flowery, crooked or straight, knowing that evening will bring us sleep, peace, and home ?-Phillips Brooks.

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understand Scripture, there is no need to go beyond Scripture. One great cause of the prevailing .ignora~ce of the Bible prophecies arises from the teaching WhICh EXPOSITORY LECTURES. has insisted that none can grasp the meaning of prophecy (By PASTOR GEORGE ALDHIUGE.) except he be a student of profane history-a statement which, in its bald form, is false." Londou : Digby Long & ce. Auckland: E. Phi pps, 31 High St. On page 18 we find this arresting statement: "Much TI-IIS is a most painstaking, devout and scholarly exami(hat follows is out of harmony with the popular notions nation of the future of the world and of Israel, as indiof this Book of Daniel, and is opposed to the expositions cated by the Lord J ehovah through the prophet Daniel. of lllany estimable students of prophecy. But it is Wc count ourselves richer for having added to our necessary that we form our view from the Word alone, library of exposition another comment upon the Book and not from the teachings of some favourite expositor." of Daniel. Mr. Aldridge gives us an honest exegesis. This will add a little piquancy to the reading of the book 'I'his work-and very few have any idea how much labour in order to discover why and where such difference of a work of this kind involves-is the substance of several opinion exists. 'Ve may here mention that the Author lectures delivered by the Author, who, notwithstanding does not regard the Roman Empire as being the fourth the many duties connected with his ministry, has found holder of world-wide supremacy. 'I'here is no question leisure to mould his discourses into a written commenas to ~ ebuehallne~~ar being succeeded by the Medes and tary. Wc heartily thank him for devoting his talents Persians, and that the Kingdom of Greece followed, but and energies to the production of this commentary, and "the fourth beast is to be in existence at the Advent of hope he will be amply encouraged by the speedy sale of the Lord in power Now, the Roman Empire has long the first edition of his work, ceased to exist; therefore, the Roman Empire cannot be represented by the fourth beast of Daniel's vision. 'I'he One of the great questions of the age is that kingdom represented by this fourth beast has never been of the inspiration of the Bible, and the Book of in existence, but it will appear, and will act as here Daniel has been specially attacked, and its Divine described, and will perish under the consuming fires of j nspiration denied. But this book is either Divine or an If it be necessary, as history and irnposture, If not written by Daniel it is a fraud, and a judgment. prophecy intimate, that the fourth world power shall fraud of the worst kind, for it is guilty of absolute false.hold Babylon, the Roman power cannot be the fourth." hood, saying things concerning Daniel that never occurWith no uncertain note Mr. Aldridge declares his bered, inventing miracles which were never wrought, and lief that Babylon shall yet be restored to more than its ascribing to God prophecies which He never uttered. Mr. ancient glory. He says: "Evil had its centre in Babylon, Aldridgo does not enter upon any discussion concerning and there it shall receive its destruction. The prophet 1I1is, but h is treatment of these writings of Daniel proZcchariah records this (Zeeh. v. 5-11). In the land of ceed on the assumption that we have the words of God Shinar was founded the first of earth's empires, for before us, on every one of wh ich we may lay the fullest Nimrod exercised a sway which began from Babel anti stress, and in which we may have the cornpletest confiextended to Assyria. Ere the great conflict is dence. finally settled evil shall centre once more in Babylon, Our Author points out how writers on Daniel make and there manifest itself in imperial authority. an arbitrary distinction between the historical and proOld Babylon is in our day overturned and covered with phetical parts, as if these were distinct and not necesthe sands of ages, but a population of about seventeen sarily connected. 'I'his he believes to be a great error, thousand occupy a part of the site of the ancient city, and proceeds to show how the historical and prophetical and these call their town Hillah. . The two great are so interwoven and interdependent that the full sigcentres of the cities of the earth are Jerusalem .and nificance of the one is not to be realised without a full Babylon there are signs of awakening in the reference to thc other. And accordingly he proceeds East, and of a return of the tide to the sunrising. with the examination of the 1V7lOle book, the history as well as prophecy, which gives a double value to his expoJ t is not possible that Babylon can be the Roman Empire. sition, as compared with those writers who ignore the in any of its forms. Scripture clearly foretells one part while discussing the other. the restoration of Babylon, which is to be a centre of At the outset it is acknowledged that some of the procommercial activity in the latter days, and the larger phecies are hard to be understood, but, says our Author, part of the predictions concerning her remain to be ful"they are not to be put aside because of their difficulty; fillcd." there is a SUTemethod of interpreting Scripture which The visions concerning the four great beasts, the wi 11vield the needed help in the endeavour to find their ram and he-goat, and the revelation concerning the solution. That simple rule is to interpret the obscure seventy weeks, receive ample and careful treatment exb;tJ the clear. If we can find the meaning of one tending to about forty pages. Limitation of space forprediction, we shall go forward confident that patient bids quotations from these intensely interesting chapters, comparison of Seri pturo with Scripture will assuredly but wc must note in passing a needed caution that is ,yield the interpretation sought for." And, again, "to given us, and that is in regard to those who in the Book

\tbe )prop bet 'IDaniel.

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of Daniel are called "saints of the Most High." Says IIIr. Aldridge, "1 believe there is sufficient proof available from Scripture to warrant the assertion that the Ohurch of God will be safe in the heavenlies when this last great persecution takes place. The Book of Daniel belongs to a time, historically, when the term "saints" had a well-defined meaning as signifying the faithful of Israel, and no hint is given of a change of people. We conclude, then, that the "saints" of the latter day will be of Israel." Following the visions is a most instructive chapter upon "the angelology of Daniel." That which some so strenuously deny is as strenuously asserted here, i.e., that the days in which we are living are "the times of the Gentiles," which constitute a parenthetical dispensation, which commenced after the rejection by the Jews of their Messiah, and continues until they as a nation repent and are readmitted to the Divine favour. And a happy illustration is given from Luke iv, 16-20. "In the middle of the prophecy Christ breaks off, and sits down, saying, 'To-day has this Scripture been fulfilled.''' The portion read was fulfilled, the portion unrcad is still future. The whole Ohristian dispensation rolls between them, yet in the Bible the fulfilled and the unfulfilled are separated only by et comma. . . The great interval allows for the work of the present dispensation, in which God is visiting the nations "to take out of them a people for His name" (Acts xv, 14). Daniel xi. 1-30 is discussed under the title of "The Eastern Question." Of this section the Author says, "From beginning to end the angel's language is plain, giving minutely-detailed anticipatory history of the most specific kind. The prime importance of this prophecy is its bearing upon Daniel's people, i.e., Israel, therefore we need not try to find in it the Church, or the actions of any power against the Church. Such matters 1io outside the scope of the prophecy we have to study." Verses 31 to 45 of this chapter are treated under the heading of "The Ooming Anti-Christ," who, it is needless to say, is not to be found in the Papacy, but in "a coming personage." Very striking is the explanation given concerning the god whom the Anti-Christ privately worships (xi. 37-39). A chapter upon "the time of trouble" (xii. 1-4) brings the book to a conclusion. If we ventured one word of regret, it would be that there is not a closing chapter devoted to verses 5 to 13 in chapter xii. In an "addendum" on the last page fr. Aldridge acknowledges that to some "the exposition may seem to close a little abruptly." But as he, with full intent, stayed his hand when he did, the reader must fain be content. He says, "The Author does not believe that any such addition would add to the evidence which has been set forth. We endeavour to understand that which is revealed; the secret things we leave until He, whose they are, shall be pleased to unfold them." Mr. Aldridge is so well-known as the author of several valuable books that our readers will be prepared to accept , any production of his pen without hesitation. All that

really need be said about this book is that it is equal to his other works in interest and solid matter. 'I'he volume is well got up, contains 186 pages, which are divided into thirteen chapters, and is low priced, being 2s. Gd. per copy. Only by a large sale will the Author be screened from pecuniary loss. The demand for works on prophecy is necessarily a limited one. It behoves, therefore, all who are interested in Biblical exposition, and desirous of understanding the words of "men of old who spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" to purchase a copy of this work, wherein is set forth with clearness and sound learning an exposition of this most valuable portion of God's most Holy Word. Rotorua.

., ..

O. ORISPE

BROWN.

1Resurrection.
AMONGSTthe many truths which are slipping out from the minds of men to-day is the great fact of Resurrection. The crazy belief in that baseless theory of evolution is at the root of it all. Evolution is discredited entirely if it can be proved that anyone person of our dying race has been raised from fhe dead. That would be one break in the chain of endless evolution, one supernatural leap, opening the way to believe in any number of breaks and leaps. But men cling to this fetish of evolution and deny this great fact of revelation.

A party was climbing a mountain side, and a terrific storm came on. "We must give this up," said the men to their guide; "take us back." The guide smiled and said, "1 think we'll get above the storm soon." Sure enough, it was not long before they arose into a region where it was all quiet snnshine, though the storm still raged in the valley below. This is the work a Ohristian should do-cheer men so that they will rise above the storms.

Lamps do not talk, but they do shine. A lighthouse sounds no drum, it beats no gong; and yet far over the waters its friendly spark is seen by the mariner. So let your actions shine out your religion. Let the main sermon of your life be illustrated by your conduct.-

Bpurqeon.
"Human nature has no enduring life apart from God. Separated from Him 'who only hath immortality,' our nature not only sinks into degradation, it is destined to 'eternal destruction.' Death has begun in every man who by his 'treepasses and sins' has separated himself from the eternal fountains of life that are in God. The noblest elements of his nature are dead already, and unless he is raised from the dead, the death will extend until he is completely and irrevocably destroyed."R. W. Dale, "Lectures on Epliesiome" p. 160.

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ON 'l'HE PROPHETIC VISION BOOK OF REVELATION A ''VIFE .

CHOOSING

HOME CIRCLE-CAN You BELIEVE THOUGHTS FOR THE THOUGHT~'uL CHURCH AND MISSION CHRIS1'IAN BAND OUR BOOK LIST TREASURER'S ACKNOWL.~DGMENTS NEWS ..

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~vangelistic and Publication Association.

BY GEORGE ALDRIDGE.
BY SP~;CIAL CONTRIBUTIONS.

EDITED
ASSISTED

The Editor wishes it to be understood that. while he exercises a general supervision over the rticles and Correspondence appearing in the STANDARD. responsibility for sentiments expressed rests upon the individual writer.

Elssociation lRotes.
The Treasurer of the Sunshine Committee thankfully acknowledges receipt of the following sums for the Blanket Fund: Friend, 19s.; B. (Rotorua), 1; M.H. (Waihi), 10s.; B. (Auckland), 1. The article appearing in last issue under the heading, "At the Lord's Table," should have been credited to Bro. H. Tidman, of Dunedin, Wc regret that by oversight the signature was omitted. On July 3rd Bro. J. Salisbury arrived from England under engagement to the Association to undertake Evangelistic and Colporteur work in the Dominion. On the Wednesday following a Social was held to give him a welcome, and a large gathering of West Street folk gave him an encouraging reception. Bro. L. E. Falkner voiced the welcome on behalf of the Association, and other brethren gave short addresses assuring our Brother of their warm sympathy in the work thus undertaken, and testifying their pleasure that the truths we love are in prospect of being spread more widely through the Dominion. Bro. Salisbury replied, acknowledging the kindness he had received from brethren in Australia, and on his arrival on our shores, and expressing his determination under God to devote his life to the noble work to which he had been called. vYe believe that our Brother will to the best of his ability "make good," and that the Brotherhood, wherever he may go, will find in him a ready and devoted worker in the cause of the Lord. For a short time our Brother will be retained in the neighbourhood ofAuckland, that he may become thoroughly well 'acquainted with us and our methods of work,

and may prepare himself for the labour he has to do when absent from us. He will proceed to Hamilton for two months before going South to take up his work in T'imaru, as arranged with the Southern Brethren. It is many long years since the Editor of this magazine addressed a Hamilton audience, but this privilege was enjoyed just recently. On the way homeward from a visit to the Thames Annual Tea a halt was made at Hamilton to attend to the wishes of two dear brethren who desired to follow their Lord in the waters of baptism. The Baptist Church was kindly loaned for the occasion, and an audience of over forty persons assembled to witness the act. An address was given to show the connection of baptism with the Scripture doctrine of Life in Christ. A very helpful season was enjoyed by all present. On the following evening about the same number attended in the Wesley Hall to hear an address upon "Science and the Bible." The evening was cold and foggy, and this state of weather kept away some who had expressed their intention of being present. At the close opportunity was given for putting questions, but it was not availed of. Privately, several expressed their pleasure for the visit; and earnestly desired that the time would not be long before a similar experience was enjoyed. It was a great delight to the Editor thus to renew fellowship with some with whom he laboured in bygone days. Amongst the members of the West Street community death has been- busy during the past year. No fewer than seven of our number have fallen on the last sleep since the last Anniversary. All of them, with the exception of one, had reached and passed the three score years and ten. The latest to fall a victim to the power of the "last enemy" is our Sister Eliza Smith, wife of Bro. Wm. Smith. Our sister, with her partner in life, was in the movement at the beginning which resulted in the establishment of the Church now meeting in West Street. When the Church was formed, then meeting in the Temperance Hall Chapel, Sister Smith became the organist, and shortly afterwards the Sunday School was formed, of which Bro. Smith became the Superintendent and Sister Smith undertook the work of teaching. For many years she carried on her duties as organist. When the STANDARD was established she undertook the work of publishing, and from her house the first issue of the paper went forth, and until the departure of the first Editor the whole of the work connected with the first two volumes was done at her house. On the arrival of the present Editor with his family from England hers was the first house in New Zealand which was entered, and there was a warm and cordial welcome and hospitali ty ever given to the strangers. Her house was always open to those who were of the Faith, and many can call to mind the kindnesses she showed in those days when to be connected with the Life in Christ movement was to be under the ban of orthodoxy. During the past two or three years her health had not been very good, and she could get in but occasionally to the meetings; but she never forgot them, nor did her interest wane in the

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truths she had accepted. Her interest in the Mission work was keen, and even on her death-bed she was anxious that her usual contribution to this fund should not be forgotten, and before she died she sent for the collector, in order to hand it over. She has peacefully fallen on sleep, and we have laid her to rest to wait for the Morning.

'Rotes Oil tbe IPropbettc Ulision in tbe :tJ3ookof lRevelattoll.

"Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy" (i. 3).

SOME years ago it was our privilege to deliver a course of Sunday evening lectures on the Book of Revelation. It is now our additional privilege to embody these in a short series of papers, which we trust may be acceptable and helpful to our readers. As necessarily we must severely compress what we would desire to say-exigencies of space demand this-we will make our prefatory remarks as brief as possible. 1. We need not stay to discuss the question as to whether John the Apostle, or an obscure individual called .T ohn the presbyter, wrote this book. There is only one John of New Testament fame. Strange if an unknown person of that name was the author of the book. How suitable, how probable, that the "disciple whom Jesus loved" (John xix. 23) should be the favoured recipient of this great and marvellous revelation. 2. When it was written is unknown, though tradition says in A.D. 95 or 96. All that can be said is that John wrote it during the last part of the first century. 3. This book is not a mere literary production (a kind of drama, divided into acts), owing its origin merely to the imagination and fancy of the writer. John simply relates what he saw in vision. The object of the book is to set forth the closing up of God's controversy with the Universe. It discloses the manner and circumstance of Christ's triumph over His enemies, and the glorious consummation of the struggle with the powers of darkness-Satan and the fallen angels, as well as rebellious man; a truly magnificent and soul-stirring theme. This sublime revelation was given in order that God's servants (i. 1) should have a vivid representation of the closing scenes of this age, and be encouraged midst their tribulation and patience (i. 9) with the assurance that quickly (iii. 11; xxii. 12) the "Lion of the tribe of J udah" (v. 5) would establish His kingdom on earth. It is a book divinely inspired, truths beyond the reach of his natural powers being impressed upon John's mind; indeed, the inspired man reached an eminence so high that his prospect widened almost without bounds-he could see right into the eternal age, and what is altogether hidden from ordinary men is more or less distinctly within his view. It is quite plain that the Apostle intermingled the writing with the vision-that is to say, he did not write it at his leisure when the revelation was

" completed. The visions as disclosed were then and there written down, and not at some subsequent time (i. 11; ii. 1; x. 4; xiv. 13; xix. 9; xxi. 5). 4. In the Apocalypse (another word for "Revelation") there is a continuous series of vision and symbol from beginning to end. But these symbols have a proper prophetical-historical (if we may join those two words) basis, i.e., as founded upon future facts. 1'f there be a symbol, it is because there is a something or person that is symbolised. For instance, the two-horned ram and the he-goat of Daniel's vision was explained by the angel as setting forth the Kings of Media-Persia and Greece (Dan. viii. 20 ) . The rule ever holds good, "All symbol must have something real f01" its basis." So by a succession of splendid symbols, the like of which is presented hy no other book that belongs to Scripture, are set forth prominent and leading truths connected. with the coming day of wrath. To investigate and explain these symbols is a work of time and skill and patience; specially after all the darkness that has been collected and thrown upon them. 5. John was "in the spirit," in a state of prophetic rapture or ecstacy. He does not say he saw these things with his bodily eyes. The eye of the mind has sharper sight than the eye of the body; and the visions of the Apocalypse are by no means the less real because they were discernible by the eye of the mind. The visions John saw concerned events that will take place at the end of this age. In vision he saw, for instance, the great conflict between Michael and Satan; the descent of the triumphal Lord; the new heavens and new earth. Now it is evident that he could not actually have seen these things, because the former two events have not yet taken place, and the latter are not yet in existence. John was traversing a supernatural world, he was treading on preternatural ground. No wonder, then, that he presents us with objects new, strange, and different from any within the domain of other writings in the New Testament. The locusts and the horsemen, for example, in chapter ix., are something the like of which no man hath ever seen-the costume and the action are alike extraordinary. But there is an awful reality lying beneath this cloak of symbolism. 6. This book is said to be an unintelligible enigma, a kind of raving wholly sealed up that no one can understand. But its very name, "Revelation," indicates the taking off a veil from the future, and its announced purport is "to show unto His servants the things which must shortly come to pass" (i. 1). At the close of the revelation we read, "Seal not up the words of the prophecy of this book; for the time is at hand" (xxii. 10). 'I'rue, it is full of symbols, which are called "mysteries" (i. 20; x. 7; xvii. 5 and 7); but in many cases a divine interpretation is given, so that the mystery is authoritatively explained. But was there not a key sent by which all the mysteries could be unlocked? Was it thrown into the sea at Patmos? No, no key was sent for the book as a whole, and none has been lost. The Apocalypse must be interpreted by the aids of helps and principles

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like to those which are employed in the interpretations of other books. The imagery and symbols of the book find their key in the ancient writings of Daniel, Ezekiel, and Zechariah, where similar imagery and symbols are to be found, the meaning of which is beyond doubt. The germ of one part of the Apocalypse we may find in Matt. XXIV. 'I'he God who gave the revelation to John was He who gave revelation to Daniel and other prophets; it is one revelation, and harmonious in all its parts. But this rule is a plain and certain one, that every passage is to be literally interpreted unless there is some good and cogent reason why it cannot be. If a literal interpretation is inept, impossible, or highly improbable, then it must be abandoned. Otherwise we are bound to follow it. For instance, when we read, "they shall reign with Him a thousand years" (xx. 6), there is no good reason to doubt that the writer meant his words to be literally interpreted. T the passage be clearly a symbolical one, then, of course, it will receive different treatment. ')'. All through the book (with few exceptions) thc present tensc is used for thc future-a designed tropical use of the Present, in order to give vivacity and energy to the expression. As an example, "I saw the beast and the Kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war" (xi x. 19) . John is painting a scene as it presented itself for a moment to his eye, but as matter of fact the event there spoken of is still in the future, though nearly 2,000 years have come and gone since the prophet "in spirit" witnessed the deadly strife. 8. We may well spare all the efforts made to convert the Apocalypse into a syllabus of past history. We need not look for N ero, or Napoleon, or the Pope, or the French Revolution, or the Turks, or the Ohinesc in it, as being distinctly within the vision of the prophetic seer. 'I'he Goths, the Vandals, the HUllS, the petty kingdoms and states of the middle ages, the great battles of Europe, the strifes of the churches, Luther's Reformation -these things find no place in this book. This book refers to events all of which almost immediately precede the Second Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ. And (as we shall presently note) there is no reference to the Church, which is the mystical body of Christ, It deals simply with the world of mankind as divided into the two companies of Jews and Gentiles. Indeed, we may regard Israel as the Key, and shall find the book full of marvels as regards that nation, and depicting the glorious future in store for them. The advent of "the Lion of the tribe of Judah" is the great event to which all other events lead up. It is the central subject of the whole book. 9. John is so seriously anxious concerning the preservation in all its purity of this book that he arrays curse upon curse (xxii. 18, 19) against anyone who detracts from it, and blessing upon blessing (i. 3) for him who reads and keeps it in mind. May this blessing be shared in by both reader and writer as together we strive to apprehend this "revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave Him" (i. 1).

(i. 1-3).

10. Three points here call for attention: (a) 'I'he opening words of this book correct a widespread error. It is not "The Revelation of John" (which is man's title for it), but "'1'h8 Revelation of Jesus Christ." This simple sentence may be taken in two ways- (1) that Christ gives a revelation, or (2) that the revelation is about Christ. Both views are held, and probably both senses are true here. (b) This revelation was made through all angel (see also xxii, 6 and 16) ; the prophetic communication is made not direetly vby Christ, but through the intervention of a celestial messenger. God gives a revelation concerning Jesus, to Jesus Himself; an d Jesus passes it on to the angel; and the angel to John; and Jolm to his fellow-servants. This is a different mode of procedure to that set forth in the four Gospels when J esus dealt at first hand with His followers. 'I'his is a return to the manner of Old Testament days, when God communicated with men only through an intermediary, such as Moses, the High Priest, Prophets, and Angelic messengers. Thus we see at the very commencement the remarkable change in the Apocalypse as compared with the rest of the New 'I'estament. (c) It is to be observed that the persons specially addressed in this book are called "servants" (see also xxii. 6). Now, it is distinctly declared of the members of Christ's mystical body, the Church, "thou art no longer a servant, but a son" (Gal. iv. 7). And Jesus said to His disciples, "Henceforth I call you not servants" (J ohn xv. 15). But Israelites are constantly spoken of as His servants (Lev. xxv. 42; Is. lxvi. 14). Of course, in a certain sense the members of the body of Christ are His servants, but their relationship to God is that of "sons." It is servants of God, not sons of God, who are specially concerned with this book. The significance of this we shall presently note. SALUTA'l'ION AND INTRODUO'l'ION (i. 4-8).

11. (a ) We here learn for whom this revelation was primarily given, i.e., "to the seven churches (assemblies or ecclesia) which are in Asia." 'I'hese were not scattered over the wide extent of Asia Minor, but were situate in seven towns in a small province which at that time was under the Roman proconsul-about 100 square miles consisting of a strip of land bordering on the Mediterranean Sea. (b) A salutation is sent them from God, from Christ, and from "the seven Spirits which are before the throne." The fact that these Spirits are not seated on the throne, but stand'ing as seroant before the throne, at once disposes of the notion that the Holy Spirit is here represented in His sevenfold operations. Angels are spirits (Heb. i. 14; Ps. civ. 4). These are the seven archangels or "presence angels" as the Jews call them. Michael is one (Judo 9 ; Dan. xii. 1), Gabriel is another (Luke i. 19) . We meet with these seven angelic spirits again in chap. iv. 5; seven resplendent glorious beings, all radiant like burning torches or lamps, who stand waiting before the throne to receive the corn-

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mands of Him who sits upon it. Elsewhere they are called "the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth" (v. 6; see also iii. 1). But it is objected that angels would not be associated with God and Christ in pronouncing a benediction upon the assemblies. The objection fails, for we find the same conjunction in 1 'I'im. v. 21, where we read, "I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels." This does not for a moment imply that the angels arc equal to God and Christ, or are the proper object of religious worship. (c) J ohn writes of himself and the members of the seven assemblies (churches) in these terms, "He made us to be a kingdom, to be priests unto His God and Father." . Can this apply to the Church, the mystical body of Christ? Where do we read in the Pauline epistles that the members of the Church are hereafter to be priests? But in Exodus xix. 5, 6 similar words are used concerning Israel: "Ye shall be unto JUc a kingdom of priests and an holy nation." "Ye shall be named the priests of the Lord" (Is. hi. 6). And Peter, the Apostle to the circumcision (Gal. ii. 9), writing to Jews only, in his first epistle (ii. 5) calls them "an holy priesthood" (sce also Hev, xx, 6). As to the "kingdom," we read in ~[att. xix. 28 that John himself is destined to sit on a throne and rule one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Danicl also says, "the greatness of the kingdom shall be given to the saints of the Most High" (vii. 22-27). If the body of Christ arc priests, where, and for whom, do they perform priestly dutics? (For priestly duties, see Heb, v. 1 and vi i. 27.) Hereafter Israel, purchased and redeemed, is to reign over the Gentile nations, and uhe 'l'ornple at J erusalem, with its numerous prie-rs and sacrifices, will be the centre of the world's religious worship (1'.9,10; Ts.hvi.18-23; Ezek. xlv, xlvi.). VISro~ OF THE SON OF MAN (i. 9-20).

Ezekiel records what hc saw of events and realities ,in the [ar distant [uiure, and describes the Temple which is then to be built (xl. 1, 2 and following chapters) ." 'I'hen was Ezekiel brought back from the vision of the future to the realities of the present (Ezek. xi. 24, 25). And thus was it with John at Patmos. Before passing on, we may recall to mind that "the days of the Son of Man" (Luke xvii, 22) expresses the Lime when Christ was on earth. In 1 COl'. iv. il (H.V. margin) the present time is called "man's day." At thc end of this age, the closing period is called "the Lord's clay." (c) There is no need to dwell at length upon the vision which sets forth the majesty and sublimity of Him who here appears. The vision is similar to that which Daniel saw (Dan. x.), and the same effect was produced in either case-both men "fell as one dead," overpowered by the sight. But a gracious "right hand" raised the shrinking Apostle, and he was bidden to "write what things thou sawest, and what they are, even what things are about to happen hereafter." 'rhus Alforc1 and Hotherham and Moses Stuart translate this much disputed verse. (d) The mystery of the seven stars and the seven golden larnpstands, though mentioned here, will be considered under our next heading. Rotorua. C. CRISPE BROWN.

(To be Ooniimf,ed.)

<.tboostng a 'traUfe.
"CAr two walk together, except they be agreed?" Some Christian young men make a frightful mistake in marrying a giddy, frivolous girl simply because she is pretty, lively, and perhaps a ready conversationalist. When home duties are thrust upon such a creature her butterfly training is utterly incapable of meeting the pressing needs. Domestic duties are irksome, and as to assuming the duties of a wife and mother, she is clearly incompetent. She has no taste for religious devotion, and that which would be a pleasure to her husband is foreign to her nature. 'I'here is nothing solid about her. Yet young men with sound judgment in business affairs and with a religious disposition, plight their faith and future happiness to this doll dressed up in woman's clothes. Young men, if you should be tempted to make such a life choice, your doom is sealed. The chances are that your gay companion will lead you away from the Christ you now love, cause you to lose faith in Christianity that has been such a source of comfort in the dark hours of trial, and thrust upon you domestic unhappiness that will bring many a heartache. Choose your life companion with thought and prayer. Demand sense, judgment, health, piety, and you can have a home that will be like a little corner in heaven.-Ohristian Standard. For success I ask no more than this-to ing witness to the tl'l1th.-LoweZZ. bear unflinch-

12. (a) 'I'hat John was banished to the island of Patmos, in the Aegean Sea, is only a tradition. It is more probable that he went there by Divine direction, it being an isolated spot (an isle eight miles long and one in breadth), "wherein undisturbed he might receive the Divine communication." (b) That John saw these visions on a Sunday is an utterly misleading statement. The day we call by the Pagan name of Sunday is never in the New Testament called "the Lord's Day," but al ways "thc first day of the week" (Matt. xxviii, 1; Mark xvi, 2 and 9; Luke xxiv. 1; John xx. 1; 1 Cor. xvi. 2). John found himself, by the power or agency of the Spirit, in the Lord's day, i.e., the long foretold "day of thc Loid"-that future time of terrors being here so calleel, as it has always so been called in Old Testament prophecy. Sixteen times the prophets use this phrase, as, for instance, "The day of the Lord is at hand" (J oel i. 15). Dr. Bullinger well says, "John was transported by spiritual instrumentality into the scenes which shall take place in the Day of the Lord, and records what he then saw in vision, namely, the things which shall take place literally and actually in that day. How this may have been accomplished we may learn from Ezek. viii. 3.

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the Lord, nei ther any that silcnce'!"-Ps. exvi. 17.

12th. Can you believe that the dead know more than the living (as spiritualists and modern religionists affirm), when the Bible declares "the dead know not anything?"-Eccl. ix. 5. 13th. Can you Hades is a place the Scriptures 100rk, nor device, dom in the grave had os) whither 10. believe that Sheol. or of consciousness, when say that "there is no nor knowledge, nor wis(Hebrew, sheol ; Greek, thou goest ?,'-Eccl. ix.

YOU

IBt. Can you believe that man has an immortal soul when the Bible declares that God only has immorta'lity t-c-I Tim. 2nd. Can you believe that God breathed into man a part of His immortal nature, when the Bible says that man and! beast have "one breath"? (Eccl. iii. 19) which would prove beasts were immortal. 3rd. Can vou believe that God made mnn's body ;nd put into it an immortal soul, when the Bible says that "man became a li'Ving soul;" and Paul says, that "the first man Adam was made a limng soul?"-l Cor. xv. 45. It was the man that became a li'Ving soul, and not that Goel breathed a soul into man's body. 4th. Can you believe that man gets immortality at his birth into this world, w en the Bible shows that it is not put on until after the resurrection ?-1 Cor. xv. 53, 54. 5th. Can vou believe man to be immortal, when" the Bible nowhere teaches such an idea, and the word "immortal" is not once used in the original Greek, and the word "immortality" but three times, once in 1 Tim. vi. 16-That God 'Only has it; and twice in connection with the resurrection ?-1 Cor. xv. 53, 54. These are the only places where it occurs in the original. It is true that in our translation it occurs in Rom. ii. 7, and 2 Tim. i. 10; but it ought to be in both these places Incorruption; two different words are used. Immortality in the Greek is athamaeio.; Incorruption is optharsia, 6th. Can you believe that the soul will never die, when God says, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die?"-Ezek. xviii. 4. 7th. Can you believe that Job endorsed the heathen dogma that the soul would never die, when he said, "my soul chooseth strangling and' death rather than my life ?"-J ob. vii, 15. litho Can you believe that David embraced the doctrine that the soul would never die, when he proclaims that "none can keep alive his own soul." Again, "He (God) spared not their soul from death ?"-Ps. xxi i, 29, lxxviii. 50. Dth. Can you believe that when Jesus was crucified and gave up the spirit fMatt. xxvii. 50) that He was still alive in Paradise; when the word of God says, "When Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin." "He hath poured out His soul unto death ?"-Isa. liii. 10, 12. lOth. Can you believe that when the breath or spirit goes forth from man at death, and when he returns to the earth, that his thoughts oontinue to live on, when the Bible says, "in that very day his tlunufh.t perish ?"-Ps. CXV. 17. 11th. Can you believe that the dead are praising God, when the Word so plainly states that "the dead praise not

14th. Can you believe that in death men remember God, when David says, "in death there is no remembrance of Thee?"-Ps. vi. 5. 15th. Can you believe that David is now in heaven, when Peter says, "for David is not ascended unto the heavens" (Acts. ii. 34), "and that he is both dead and buried?"-(ver. 29). 16th. Can you believe that, at the resurrection, men are called from heaven and hell to judgment, when Jesus says, "all that are in their graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, to the resttrrection of lite; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation ?"John v. 28, 29_ Thus it is plain that men are called from their graves in the day of judgment. 17th. Can you believe there is any necessity for a future judgment and resurrection, if man receives his reward at death? Would it be consistent to jud!ge him at death; then take him from heaven or hell, in the day of judgment, jud'ge him, and put 'him 'back againmaking a double judgment? 18th. Can you believe that man would have any existence in the future without a 1'est!1'reotion, when we are told by the Apostle, That if the dead rise not, "then they who are fallen asleep in Christ are perished ?"-l Cor. xv. 18. 19th. Can you believe that Paul himself expected! to have any future life, or to be with Christ, without a resurrection, as a separate soul, after having said, "iohat advanto qeth. it me it the dead 1-ise not? Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we d'ie?"-l Cor. xv. 32. 20tll. Can you believe that eternal lite was given to us through our parents, when the Bible says, "the gitt of God is eternal. lite, through our Lord Jesus Christ ?"-Rom. vi. 23. 21st. Can you believe that the wicked will live t01' ever in hell, when God declares, "all the wicked will He desiros]" (Ps. cxlv. 20), and "they shall be as though they had not been," and "shall not be," "perish," "be as nothing," "burn them up root and branch," "be consumed," "lose life," "be no more," "be devoured," "hurned in the fire, like tares;" etc.-Obad. 16; Ps.xxxvii. 10, 20; Isa. xli. 11, 12; Mal. iv. 1,3; John xii. 25; Ps. civ. 35; Ezek. xviii. 4, 20; Matt. xiii. 38, 40; Heh. vi. 8; Gal. vi. 7, 8. 22nd. Can you believe the everlasting punishment, of which Christ speaks, is everlasting misery, when Paul tells you it shall be ecerlaetinp destruction from the presence of the Lord ?-Matt. xxv. 40; 2 Thess. i. 7, 9. Finally-Can you believe God will

leave you uncondemned in the day of wrath, if you discard' all these plain facts, which are so plainly and clearly taught in His blessed W01-d? The phrases "immortal spirit," "immortal soul," "never-dying sou"]," "deathless spirit," "spiritland," "land of spirits," etc., which you so often hear from the clergy, ministers, etc., and read in hymn books, al-e not in the Bible. You cannot find one of them in the W01'd of God. Then why believe such heathen dogmas, and reject the plain word of the lit>ing God? Reader, are you a believer in the Lord Jesus? I earnestly entreat you to search the Scriptures, and see if these propositions are true, and in accord with the Word of God; terrible judgments are pronounced' on those who 'have the Word of God (and therefore ought to know the Lords' mind) and hold back the truth (Rom. i. 8). Beside, how can the Lord's blessing be expected on statements that are not according to His mind? Do not be deterred by the thought of what men may say; the Lord Jesus said', "Whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed when He cometh in the glory of the Father, with the holy Angels."-Matt. viii. 37 ', To those who are without God, and without hope in the world, I cannot say, search the Scriptures, for that can only he done by the help of the Spirit; but I would say, be not deceived by the devil. Would you possess immortality? You can only do so by being unit~d through faith to the Lord Jesus Christ. Thousands delude themselves with the thought that they have immortal souls, that God is merciful, and, therefore, sooner or later (as they think there is a portion of God in them) the evil will either be purged out or forgiven; there is not a single scripture to encourage such an idea. TIle 21st question gives the doom of the wicked, as declared in the Word' of God. I therefore entreat you, do not act so foolishly as to throwaway God's gift of eternal life. Jesns said, "He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."-John V. 24. The Wages of Sin - DEATH The Gift of God - ETERNAL LIFE -Selected.

A Washington man, while visiting a friend's place in Virginia, became much interested in his experiments in fruit culture. One day the visitor was making the rounds of the place, being in charge of the friend's young daughter of ten, who acted as guide. "This trees seems to be loaded with apples," observed the Washingtonian, indicating a particularly fine specimen. "Yes, sir," assented the little girl; "father says this is a good year for apples." "I am glad to hear that," said the visitor. "Are all your trees as full of apples as this one?" "No sir," explained the girl, "only the apple 'trees."-The Interior.

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ful world. We give it welcome, we hail its approach, we wait for its coming more than they that watch for the morning. We desire to see the King in His beauty (Is. xxxi ii. 17), and the beautiful ones, clad in immortality, whom He shall bring with Him, and hope by God's faYour that we may be among them. Prophecy is no mere topic of argument and disputation; it is the solace of one who sorrows over the miseries of a fallen world; it is the fuel of devout meditation to all who cherish the great joy and inspiring hope of the delivery of creation from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. THE CALL OF PROPHECY. No man can study prophecy and live a life of carnal pleasure. The two things are so antagonistic that the one wiIl, must, kill the other. Prophecy sounds the alarm, "Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest; because it is polluted it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction" (Mieah ii. 10). If we real-ise when wc awake in the morning that it is quite possible that Christ may be "in the air" before evening comes round, and the saints be "snatched away" to His presence, such belief must have a santifying cffect, if we are convinced that the world is getting worse instead of better, our love to and hold upon it grows weaker. "The friendship of this world is enmity with God" (James iv. 4) . The peculiar danger of to-day is that we are surrounded by crowds of mere professors. A certain amount of religious pretence gives an air of respectability, and there is such a mixing up of world and church in pursuits, hab-its, amusements, that it is difficult to distinguish one from another. But the offence of the 01'088 has not ceased, and the stern truths of pmphecy will not be tolerated. A faithful and outspoken Christian bearing testimony of coming woes may expect speedy cold shoulder, and even among some true Christians he will be nn unwelcome guest. There is no call to be rudely aggressive and needlessly offensive and to put on Pharlsaio airs and claim to be "a superior person." But a grip of prophetic truth will so influence a man that, while he moves as a man among men and conducts the ordinary business of life -in a thorough and successful manner, yet he will not conform to the habits and customs of the world. There is such a dressing up of the evil to a ppea.r good, such a shading off the edges. that it is difficult to say where the sniri tual ity ceases and the world begins. The sum and substance of prophecy is to be found in the prophetic words, "Behold I come quickly, and .My reward is with Me" (Rev. xxi i. 12). Daily let us bear in mind this soul-awakening declaration. and we shall not be captivated by the fascinating allurements of the world, or be lulled to sleep by a prophecy neglecting Church. CARPUS.

Ghost" (2 Peter i. 21). It should be the business of those who by God's grace have some little familiarity with "things that are to come" to make the same "Whatsoever things are true, whatsoknown to the Church, and likewise unto ever things are venerable, think on these the world that it may know the counsels things" (Phil, iv. 8). of God, stand in awe of His approaching judgments, so that perchance some may THE STUDY OF PROPHECY A DUTY. repent and flee from "the wrath to come." THEllEcan be no doubt of its being the The general neglect of prophecy is the will of God that those professing faith in undoing of the Ohurch to-day. A false His Son should search the prophetical aim is being taken, a goal reached forportions of Scripture with no less care ward to that has no existence in "the purpose of the Lord" (Jer. Ii. 29), but and diligence than they do the historical, only in the human mind, t.e., the condoctrinal or practical parts. It is an obligation resting upon every Christian version of all nations and the reconciliato have an intimate knowledge of the tion of a world to God. This is the aim and goal of Christian effort to-day. Those past earthly life of the Lord Jesus as revealed in the four Gospels; but is it not who thus teach are ignorant of the A B C of God's revelation. We think equally obligatory that we should likeand speak respectfully of and remember wise be familiar with the great and gratefully the devoted labours of many grand future that lies before the Son of God in the second part of His earthly C:hurch leaders of this and past generations, but deplore their neglect of or incareer, when, having returned from headifference to the prophetic word in their ven, He shall see of the travail of His public feeling. Of course, there are soul and be satisfied (Is. Jiii. 11)? Five notable and striking exceptions. And words will sum up the extent of the such agree with us that the end of the knowledge of many concerning Christ's Gentile Church is apostacy (Rom, xi. 22; work in days to come. The words are, 2 Tirn. iii. 1-5); the end of the age in "He shall reign for ever." But what which we live brings the world-wide reign these words imply, the wealth of events of Anti-Christ. In Hebrews (xi. 13) we connected therewith, they have no more idea than a recently-converted Hindoo. read of some who "saw afar off'." (See also 2 Peter i. 9, A.V.) Those Five words also will express the common idea as to the Christian's future. who "despise prophesyings " (1 Thess. v. 20) are shortsighted and cannot see They would state it by saying, "Die and things afar off. Being wholly unfurgo to heaven." But what heaven is, and where it is, and what their eternal occu- nished. so far as prophetic truth is conpation will be, they cannot say-they cerned, they are full of doubt, and full of speculation, and full of error in all statehave given no thought to such "idle ments respecting the future of Israel, speculations." The wiser among them and the Church, and the World. What have made the astonishing discovery that heaven is a "state," not a place-a state a cruel awakening is in store for many Christian folk-leaders and led alikeof being and not a place of dwelling. and what painful recriminations will re\Ve do not profess to understand this; sound when the fallacy and hollowness we do not comprehend how there can be a state without a place. But-passing of that which now passes for truth is exposed and clearly seen to be but the this folly-let us remind ourselves and offspring of man's vain imagination, beothers that it is our bounden duty as lovers of the Lord, as men and women ing diametrically opposed to God's declared revelation as to the character of called with a high and holy calling to be the ending of this age. ';Ve remember at the trouble to know the counsels of our Lord's words, "If the blind lead the God as revealed in His word, concerning blind, both shall fall into the ditch." these lofty and sublime truths. Our hope' and expectation should be estab"Ve thank God for the angel's message to Daniel making known to us that exact lished upon the sure and stedfast basis period of the seventy weeks (ix. 24) of faith. And our faith can only be which will bring the end of this present rooted and grounded in the words of Him "who cannot lie" (Titns i. 2). age. We read with mingled feelings of future judgments and blessings as set Many shrink from this part of the Christian's training, because it is diffi- forth by Isaiah and Jeremiah and Ezekiel. The messages of the twelve "minor" cult and exacts much careful study. prophets throw additional light upon the There is time for self-indulgence and ways of God. The later prophetic utterslothfulness, but not for Bible searching. Really, want of interest is at the bottom ances of our Lord and His Apostles conof neglect of prophetical truth. "We firm previous testimonies, and add to the can be Christians without it; we can get general sum. And with solemn and chason in the world without it; we may be tened feelings we read slowly through the regarded as peculiar people if we have terrible Book of Revelation, which shows it;" and so the prophecies are left se- the ever widening passages of desolating verely alone. What a mistake is this! judgments, which ends at last in the utter desolation of our present civil and eccleAnd how much of pleasurable anticipasiastical structures, but which is to be tion, and thoughts which strengthen, and succeeded by a condition of righteousness, hopes that lighten present affliction, is peace and blessedness under Christ's rule lost which otherwise might come into by the ministry of the restored Israelthe life of a man if such an one only the whole earth lightened of the curse understood the meaning and purport of and filled with the glory of God, Blessed the prophetic words which "men spake consummation of this weary and sorrowfrom God, being moved by the Holy

Thoughts for the Thoughtful.

Worrv and prayer are absolutely incompatible; though worry and the mere saying our prayers are only too sadly compatible.

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AUGUST, 1910. appreciated, and we look forward to good results being manifested from his advice and counsel. HELENSVILLE.-During the past month we had a visit from our much-travelled Bra. Gordon Kelly, who gave us an interesting ta lk regn rding the conduct of the different passengers at the wreck of the Pericles-the calm confidence of the Christian believers being in striking COI1trnst to the frenzied appeals of those to whom God was little more than a. name. Both saint and sinner with one accord appealed to God in their hour of need. Indeed, all were most devout believers for one hour. But, alas! when safe ashore how few thanked God for their wonderful deliverance. ';Ye also had a visit from Bra. T. O. Jenkins, of Ahuroa, who took both services on July 10. Bra. Ca meron has again been ill, and is still very far from well, though, we are glad to say, he is improving. ';Ye hope he will he fit to take his llS11H I place in the church in a week or two. Though the wea.thei has been very bad during the month. our meetings have been well attended. Sunday, .Iune 2(): Bra. T.JeRoy presided, the subject of address being "Faith." In the evening Bro. Cameron spoke on "The Promises to Abraham, and How w Come Into Them." Sunday, July 3: Bra. Cameron presided, Bro. Gordon Kelly giving an address. The evening subject was, "What, Must I Do to Inherit Eternal Life" (Luke xviii. 18)? ' Sunday, July 10: Bra. T. O. Jenkins presided, and gave the address. In the evening he spoke on "The Excision of the Gentiles." Sunday, July 17: Bra. LeRoy presided. Subject of address, Rom. vii. The evening subject was, "Paul's Question Regarding Baptism" (Rom. vi. 3). L.R. HAMILTON.-Since the last report of Bra. C. B. King, who is much missed by us, the services have been carried on by Bra. G. A. Green, of Auckland, and Bra. Chas. Waterhouse, of the Thames. The former, whose business kept him in and about the town for a fortnight, gave himself readily and energetically to the work of ministering to our needs. We have greatly appreciated his help. The visit of Bra. Waterhouse has also helped us not a little. On July 14 and 15 Bra. Aldridge was with us, and it was a pleasure to revive the memories of a quarter of a century ngo when he laboured in this township and founded the Church here. On tbe Thursday evening a baptismal service was held in the Baptist Church, which was very kindly granted for the occasion. At this service. Bros. Waterhouse, Salisbury and Aldridge took part, the latter giving an address on "Baptism and Eternal Life." Two dear brethren were immersed. On the following evening a public lecture was given in the ';Yesley Hall on "The Bible and Science" bY' Bra. G. Aldridge. This was much appreciated. We were pleased also to make the acquaintance of Bro, Salisbury,

11 11

CHURCH AND MISSION NEWS.

A UCKr.A:\,fl.-Rlln,hl~morning. Brother 'Yileoc).:: presided.

11
11

.T1l110 ,T:I1l1e,

2():

Y. 1214. This epistle wa s wri tteu to believers a m id th( t.wolvo tribes of tiw

dispr-rsion. Tn Arts xvi ii. 18 \\'0 have t1", word "vow," but the same word is here t rn nsla ted pray, which places n different interpretation on the pnssage. "And let them vow over him," is the correct interpretation. In the evening Brother AIdridge spoke on "The Anti-Christ" (John Y. 43). God's Word shall be Iulfi lied just as it has been prophesied. The Lo rd sa id that if one shall come in his own name hi 111 ye will receive. He will accept from Satan what the Lord Himself refused to take. 'Miracles will he wrought for the Anti-Christ fit the end of the age. Sunday morning, In!y ;1: Brother L K ]ra Ik ne r conducted the meeti ng. Ma.t.t. xi ii. 1-23. Attention was drawn to the Parables of the Lord and the impression they would leave in the minds of those to whom He spoke, and it was urged that we make use of the guidebook of God for a safe journey along the pathway of our present life. In the evening the subject was, "Great Babylon-th<;l Future Metropolis of the Wo rld." The great city of the Anti-Christ. That the destrnet.ion of the city of Babylon as depicted in Revelation has not been recorded in past history points to that destruction as future. .Ierusa.lem had been disobedient to God, and forfeited the supremacy, which then passed to Babylon. Sunday morning, July 10: Brother Wilcock presided. The address was given by Brother Josiab Salisbury, who has just arrived from England, his subject being '''Prayer'' (1 Tim. ii. 8). Prayer was the life of tbe Church and the life of a Christian. Tbere were two kinds of prayer-prayer from tbe heart and prayer from the lips only; the prayer of the uprigbt and contrite heart shal l be heard. Before breaking the bread, our Brother was received into fellowsbip. In the evening Brother Ernest Aldridge's address was from Ps. cxix.: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a ligbt unto my path." Our Brother gave a very stirring address on the wondrous word of God, which is to those who live by it a lamp and a guide. Thus may we accept it and follow its guidance. Sunday morning, July 17: BrotherAldridge presided. This being the 29th Anniversary of our Church, our Brother spoke of the way we had been led from the pathway of sin and death to see the glorious salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord and God as the God of love. Speaking from Ephesians iii., reference was made to the wonderful prayer of Paul's in the latter verses of that chapter, that we might know something of the length and depth and height of. that love. In the evening the discourse was on "Tbe Bible and Science: Are they in

Conflict?" Mention was made of the recent discoveries of slabs and cylinders, which showed complete accord with Bible history. The Bible, a book of history and of revelation; but it is more; it is a Book of Life. All organic things die; man himself dies; but the Bible, the '\'ord of God, abides for ever, and offers Life to a 11 who cn re to receive it. The so-ca lled conflict of Science with the Bible iR on one point only, i.e., the 1st clia pter of Geneslx, and that because Crca t.ion is the base of man's rcsponsihilit.I'to God nnd of Divi n anthori ty. On vVeclnesday evening, June 22nd, the last of the talks on the Epistle to the Romans was given, bringing this series of edifying and Interesting addresses to a close, 31 in all having been given. Wednesday evening, June 29, Brother L. K Fal kner conducted the Class, showing in the course of his address his abhorrence of the present-clay ideas and beliefs that the Bible is not to be depended upon, the Higher Criticism being condemned as one of these. Wednesday evening, July 6, the Association tendered a welcome social to Bra. .Iosiah Salisbury, Evangelist, recently enguged by that body for work here. On Wednesday evening, ,July 13, Bra. C. H. King conducted the Glass, his subject being, "Spirit Media." The weather being boisterous and wet the attendance wa s yery small. J.H.W. 'l'H~U'IES. 28TH ANNIVERSARY.Special services in connection with the 28th Anniversary of the Thames Church were held on July 10. Bro. G. Aldridge, who came down specially for the occasion, was the speaker. At the meeting for fellowship and worship our Brother gave a fine exposition of Rom. iii. In the afternoon he addressed the scholars, parents and friends of the Sunday School, the theme being "A Beautiful Child." The building was well filled in the evening, when a heart-stirring address was delivered on "The Whole Counsel of God." The Anniversary celebrations were continued on Tuesday, July 12, when a Tea Meeting and Social were held, which turned out a great success. Among the visitors present were Sister Wilcock, Bros. Aldridge, Foster, Logan, Salisbury and Wilcock. After a bountiful tea had been partaken of, the social meeting was held. Addresses were given by Bros. Aldridge, Foster, Salisbury and Wilcock, and Rev. Hunt, representing Thames Ministers' Association. Musical items by the members of the choir greatly added to the success of the gathering. We have to thank our Heavenly Father for blessing us with fine weather for our Anniversary and for the many mercies He has bestowed upon us in the past year. We are also indebted to our visiting brethren for their help, and we feel sure that they will be gratified to know that their presence and words of encouragement and cheer. have stimulated the Thames brethren to still greater effort to serve our Lord and Master. Bra. Aldridge's chat to the younger brethren on Monday evening was greatly

AUGUST, 1910. and hope to have him shortly amongst us to carry forward the work revived by the efforts of the Association. DUNEDIN.-At the request of the undersigned, the Deacons have requested Sister Sarah Lawrence to resume the secretarial duties, which she has kindlv consented to do. .' A special church meeting was held on July 3, to which the tenders for the new church were submitted. There wero two outside estimates of 600 and 598, respectively, aga-inst which there was a generous offer from Bros. G. Lawrence and Sons to erect the church according to plan and specifications at a cost to the church of a sum not exceeding 500. It is perhaps only fair to our Bros. Lawrence to add that, with their tender, they offered to dorra ts a further sum of 65 to the Building Fund if the church pre ferred to accept another tender. Thc church, however, with many expressions of gra titude, accepted the tender of 'Bros. G. Lawrence and Sons, and gave instruetions for the work to be commenced as soon as the deeds are ready. It was a great day in the history of the little church here, and Bro. Lawrence, sen., the father and faithful friend of the mis. sion in this city, referred to it with an emotion that could 00 well understood. Bro, Tidman earnestly appealed to the voung members to support the work and the workers, not only with their gracious offerings, but with consecrated service. A br-ief description of the building provided for may interest the brethren in other parts. The building, which is to be of brick, with facings of Oamaru stone, is to consist of the main church hall with two rooms at rear, one or both of which will be used for class meetings. The dimensions of the main church will be about 25ft. by 35feet. There will be a balust.raded rostrum with Baptistry beneath. The church is estimated to hold 150 persons. Provision has been made for pews to seat about 75. Others will be added as required. It is hoped to complete the church by the end of October. I1.T. Since last report our services have been very well attended. We are thankful that those of our number who were laid aside by sickness are again restored to hea lth and are able to meet with us. We are pleased to tell our brethren and sympathisers who have helped us in. our Building Fund that we have commenced excavating on the proposed site, and we hope by the end of three months to have our own building completed and ready for the opening. We feel deeply grateful for. the help we have received, and are still to receive, and we trust that our efforts will be as abundantly blessed in the spreading of God's truths as they have been in our desire to get a place in which to carry on His work. 'Ve were pleased to hear from Auekland of -ths arrival of Bro. Salisbury from England. We send our Christian greetings to him, and trust that before long we will have him labouring with us in our Master's cause and in our new building. We pray that our Heavenly

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The roll-ca.ll was well responded to, and a' goodly number of messages were read from absent members. At the close Bro, Salisbury, who arrived from England the day previous, spoke a few words to the Band. The message to absent members wa s chosen from Ps. cxix. 11. On .Iulv 11 a paper by H. 'I'idma n, of Duned in, enti tled, "Why I Believe in God" was read. Our brother pointed out certain things in t.he Universe having relationship with God. How long are we here for, and where do we go? Is there a nv relationship between earth and me? Of the wonderful order, sun rising and setting veal' in and year out, also night and day'. There is also design in everything. Why am I here? Is there any reason or purpose in my experience? I believe in God because I am often conscious of the \\'orkings of another being besides myself'. God hath honoured ever~' man, for he is provided for by Him. The meeting ~10F;('(1 in tllf' usual way. 11/7/10. ,T. STOW. A GERMAN TEMPERANCE SERMON.

Father will bless his efforts in the work has undertaken wherever lIe labours. With Christian greetings to all the brethren, S.L.

~~ O==::lOCO'
On June was held. by John giving Bunyan

'OClOr==o

27 the monthly Reading Circle Bro, G. Aldridge commenced a sidelight into the life of he and the times in which

lived. 'Ye were told that when Queen 'Rlizabpth was on the throne there was a law that nII people should attend the National Church; but when Cromwell and his party had put Charles 1. to rlon th these laws were abolished, and thc people were allowed to worship as they pleased. After Cromwell came Ch,d1es :I r., and wi th him the old laws returned, nne! no one was allowed to preach other than in the National Church. On one occasion when Bunyan was going to preach he was warned that the authorities intended to stop him; but he went on, and was arrested. The Justices threatened him in a most insulting manner, and he was sent to prison, where he remained for twelve years, and it is believed that Bunyan pictured the famous trial, which the pilgrims underwent, from his own experiences. \Vith this little explanation the story became more interesting. We read how the pilgrims were tried, and Faithful was put to death. In the punishment and death which Faithful suffered are pictured the torments which have been inflicted by the Church of Rome upon those who were put to death as heretics. Other explanations were given by Bro. G. Aldridge, and so closed another of the instructi ve readings that we are privileged to hear. At the Roll-call Meeting on July 4 the subject "Our Sunday School" was presented by Bro. L. E. Falkner. Considering the weather, the meeting was well attended, their being some thirty-six per. sons present. Bro. Falknor pointed out that the Sunday School movement was quite young, having commenced less than two hundred years ago. The first Sunday School was founded by Robert Raikes of Gloucester. Our brother then showed the rapid growth of the movement and of the various unions which have arisen until we have now the great International Sunday School Union. Bro. Falkner then gave a brief history of our own Sunday School, telling us that it commenced in the year 18.81, Mr. and Mrs. Smith being the first teachers, Mr. Smith being the first Superintendent, Bro. C. B. King afterwards holding this position for over eighteen years. In conclusion, he pointed out how needful it was to care for the young life in the Church that the scholars may be well grounded in the knowledge of the Word of God.

This laconic but sensible German ought to be sent out to lecture among the people on temperance. Listen:"I'shall tell you how it vas. I drink mine lager; den I put mine hand on mine head, and dere vos vone pain. Den I put mine hand on mine pody, and dere vos a noder pain. Den I put mine hand in mine pocket, and dere vos notthw. So I jine m it de demperance people. Now dere is no more pain in mine head, and de pain in mine pody vos all gone oud, I put mine hand in mine pocket und dere vos twinty tollars. So 1 shall sta,y mit de demperance people." LIFE EVERLASTING.

Men hunger and thirst for life. Scant indeed is the life most men live. It is like trying to quench one's burning thirst from a shallow pool of dirty water in tbe middle of a field where cattle come down to drink and swine to wallow. What is a life worth which is measured by a few thousand dollar~, or a little fading glory, or a flickering spark of worldly and sinful pleasure? Yet this is all some men have and all they hope for. They earnestly desire to live longer, but they are painfully conscious that the life they are now living is too shallow and wretched to last. It must go out. and it ought to go out, because it is not fit to go on. Much as they love life, they shrink from wishing that their life shall be everlasting. What men need is a life so rich, so sweet, so deep, so beautiful, so full of meaning, that it is fit to endure for ever. Jesus has it, and he can give it. "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly," saifh the Lord. "Whoso liveth and beHeveth in me shall never die." They have eternal life in them. "If any man thirst, let him come to me and drink." "The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."-Ohristian Advocate,

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"Dr. Johnson, in giving advice to an intimate friend, said, 'Accustom your children always -to tell the truth,\Vithout varying in any circumstance.' A lady who was present protested that this was too much to expect. 'For instance, in repea.ting in another's words, relabing what happened, etc., little variations will occur a thousand times a day; unless one is perpetually watching,' she said. 'Then, madam, you ought to be perpetually watching,' replied the doctor."