THE HERALD
of Christ's Kingdom
VOL. VIII. June 1, 1925 No. 11
Table of Contents
WISDOM
AND BENEFICENCE OF FUTURE PROBATION
JOURNEYING
TO THE HOLY LAND
“WINGS
OF THE MORNING”
NOTING
DISPENSATIONAL CHANGES
A
SEASON OF SPIRITUAL UPLIFT
DANIEL,
THE BELOVED OF JEHOVAH
THE
HEART MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE HEAD
“THE
NIGHT COMETH WHEN NO MAN CAN WORK”
THE
CHRISTIANS OF ANTIOCH
VOL. VIII. June 15, 1925 No. 12
Table of Contents
THE
ANNUAL MEETING AND THE BROOKLYN CONVENTION
ANOTHER
REVIEW OF THE MINISTRY
JOURNEYING
TO THE H O L Y LAN D
THE
POSSIBILITIES OF PRAYER
“SENT
FORTH BY THE HOLY SPIRIT”
VOL. VIII. June 1, 1925 No. 11
WISDOM AND BENEFICENCE
OF FUTURE PROBATION
MOST
commendable and beneficent are some of the provisions and arrangements of modern times in
our land for the staying of evil and crime and for the assistance and recovery of those
who, from one cause or another, whether through hereditary, special provocation, or what
not, are found delinquent, or are well on the way to become moral derelicts.
Attention is
called, in a recent issue of “The Literary Digest” to the system of probation
and to “the work of those repair men of humanity, the probation officers”
whose work is becoming known and everywhere approved. “But,” says “The
Digest,” “the astonishing savings they are achieving in mending broken families,
and in refloating prospective derelicts on the tide of happiness and success is not so
widely broadcast. The redemptive work is done quietly, without any publicity, any stigma,
the whole effort of the probation department being to shield the family frown disgrace and
hold it together while aiding it to get upon its feet, and in more than 76 per cent of the
cases, we are told, this is effective. The probationer, whether man, woman, boy, or girl,
steps from the protecting care of the court at the end of the period with no prison record
to shame him or her; with better employment, or school opportunities, with weaknesses and
habits under control, with better health and outlook, and with improved home conditions.
As Edwin J. Cooley, chief probation officer of the Magistrates’ Courts of New York,
and a former president of the National Probation Association, tells us in ‘The
Woman’s Home Companion,’ when the offender is believed to be worthy of another
chance; he is not merely placed on probation and left to his own devices, but helped to
remedy the defect of character, environment, or circumstance which brought about his
downfall.”
Present Success of Probation
Case after
case is then cited illustrating the success of the efforts in the direction of correcting
wrong-doing and criminal inclination; and Mr. Cooley goes on to say,
“In
1919 over 24,000 persons were placed on probation by the Courts of Massachusetts, and only
about 8,000 were committed to penal institutions. Of those placed on probation, over 81
per cent made good and were returned to society without the stigma of a prison sentence.
In Philadelphia in 1920 more than 14,708 cases were handled by the juvenile division of
the Municipal Court; and, due to the efficacy of probation, 71.6 per cent of these cases
were adjusted without even a court hearing. Philadelphia has estimated that it would have
cost the county $429,008 to have maintained in institutions the children who were on
probation in 1920.
“Crime
is a curious thing. Today it is across the street around the corner; in the next town. It
is in the home next door, even. But never, never is it in our own – until, like
lightning, it strikes.
“It
would seem that the very humanness of us all our common frailty if nothing else -- would
make the meting out of justice a question close to every heart and every hearthside.
“Thus
probation continues quietly, year after year, to rescue the fallen, to strengthen the
weak, to shield the innocent. It is not a cure-all. It does not pretend to be that.
“But
when we realize that the hopeless material represents only about one-fourth of all the
offenders in the country every year, and that the other three-fourths is made up of men,
women, and children who can be redeemed if given another chance and a helping hand,
instead of a penal sentence, the importance of probation officers being appointed in every
court in the land can be readily under stood. And there is no doubt in my mind (but that
the day will come when public opinion will demand that this be done!”
When the Kingdom Comes
What
interests us particularly about this matter is that the principle thus recognized to be
wise, humane and wholesome and that is being put into operation at the present time,
savors considerably of what we may reasonably expect to be the order of the new
dispensation about to dawn -- the times of restitution of all things.
Truly if now
the wisdom and prudence are recognized by men, of providing special probation for those
guilty of misdemeanor, and throwing around them every protection and helpful influence and
giving them every advantage that they may be recovered from their waywardness, what may we
expect our great Heavenly Father, the Just Judge of all the earth, to do on behalf of
fallen humanity, whom He so loved as to send His only begotten Son that whosoever
believeth on Him might not perish but have everlasting life. Indeed every description of
that glorious Age of the reign of His Kingdom portrays it as a period of wonderful
opportunity and of helpful probation. With all the history and experience of the present
life (before them at that time, together with the many lessons of sin and its evil
fruitage in contrast with the advantages and wholesome inducements; disciplines,
chastenings as well as the great unfolding of the Truth concerning God and His Plan, what
may we surely expect for the masses of humanity, in the way of glorious and blessed
results of conversion, reformation, and turning to God! Additionally, we are to include in
this picture the fact that in that Age, the powers of evil will be restrained, the great
Prince of Darkness bound, that he should deceive the nations no longer, and temptation of
every character will be removed. Surely mankind will find their way back to God as the
result of that glorious period of probation, during which the Kingdom of Heaven will be
ruling, exercising every wholesome and beneficent influence to constrain land to draw
fallen mankind back into the Father’s fold. Thus too, will be fulfilled the ,prayer
of our dear Redeemer: “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done;” and again, “And
I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.” -- Matt. 6:10; John
12:32.
SERIES I
FROM NEW YORK TO MADEIRA
[This article is the beginning of a
series that will appear in these columns, being a report of a recent voyage to and sojourn
in Egypt and the Holy Land and return to America, by a sister in Christ. The account of
the travels is submitted at the request of the Institute, and it is at the
Institute’s suggestion that the report includes items relating to visits at a number
of cities en route, going and returning, believing that the report as a whole will prove
of deep interest and profit to our readers.]
ON JANUARY
29, 1925, at one of the piers in New York City, I walked courageously up a gang plank to
the ocean liner that was to be my conveyance and home for a period of two months. An
inborn reluctance to venture out on deep water had thus far kept me rather close to mother
earth; but an opportunity satisfy a longing to visit the Holy Land, the land where lived
and died the world’s Redeemer, proved too great a weight in the balance, and won.
A two
month’s cruise on the Mediterranean and an additional month abroad meant to me a long
absence from home and country and as the boat moved away from the dock while the orchestra
played and our small silk flags waved, mine as cheerfully as the rest, I saw, somewhat
wistfully, the water widening between the shore and our vessel. Thus earth’s
pleasures must ever have their alloy, and, “Not as the world giveth, give I unto,
you.”
For three
days an exceedingly heavy sea kept the boat rolling and plunging, and the dining-room saw
only those who represented a sort of “survival of the fittest” -- the wonder and
envy of their less fortunate fellow-passengers. Then the waters grew calm and blue, the
spirits of all rose accordingly, and on the morning of the eighth day we awoke to find our
boat anchored in a beautiful bay. In front of us lay the mountainous island of Madeira, a
possession of Portugal, just west of the northwest coast of Africa; and on its shore,
white against the dark background of the mountainside, lay the city of Funchal.
In the City of Funchal
We lingered
on deck to see the magnificent sunrise we had been promised here if the weather proved
clear, and we found much amusement in watching the diving boys, some of them such little
fellows, who came out to us in small rowboats. Their cry, “Quarter, I dive!”
brought many coins their way for which they dove and skillfully caught.
The city of
Funchal, with its white plastered buildings, and streets curiously paved with small round
stones, was still very attractive on closer acquaintance. We took one of the many sledges
awaiting us, canopied, curtained, and drawn by a pair of bullocks. A few had mules
attached, but we had all seen mules in America and their disappointed drivers found no
ready passengers. Slipping easily over the smooth rounded stones, we soon arrived at the
cog railroad that would take us up the mountain to the dining hall where we were to have
luncheon. All along the way hordes of begging children followed us, running along beside
the bullock drawn sled and even following the train as it puffed up the steep incline.
They tossed bouquets of flowers into our laps to make their plea more effective, for
begging from tourists is a profession with, these children, being taught it from early
infancy. Mothers, grandmothers, or elder sisters hold out the little hands and teach them
to say, “baksheesh,” the begging word we were to hear all along our way, a word
that in some way is common to many of the Mediterranean countries no matter what the
language.
Madeira is a
fairy land of nature, where great pure-white calla lilies, roses like those grown in
hot-houses, geraniums growing to a height of many feet, lovely purple clusters of climbing
plants, and bushes covered with large wax-like blossoms grow everywhere in profusion. Of
volcanic origin and at no time a part of the mainland it has fauna and flora peculiar to
itself. The climate is delightful the year around and the only sad blot on the picture
which nature has made so beautiful is the people, ignorant, superstitious and poverty
stricken. Catholicism holds a monopoly in religion, and because of intolerance
Protestantism has been unable to gain much foothold. With a population something over
150,000 there are 49 Catholic churches and 110 priests.
As our queer
little train climbed upward, the open coaches gave us opportunity to enjoy the beauty
around, above, and below us. Higher up we passed a number of fine homes, for every land
has its more fortunate residents; and the climate, scenery, and richly terraced mountain
side of this small island are almost unrivaled. A famous export of the island of Madeira
is the embroidery known by its name. One linen cloth I purchased is so elaborately covered
with eyelets, medallions, and intricate cutwork that it would seem the work of years for
one individual, and I see along with its loveliness the toiling fingers of women, with
sight almost gone at thirty years, whose skill in placing these stitches was rewarded at
ten cents a day. After luncheon we were ready to return to the town now lying three miles
below, bordered by the blue bay with our waiting ship. We sailed away that evening,
feeling regret that our time had been so short in this unusual and interesting place.
To Spain
Our next
stop was Cadiz, on the coast of Spain, where we anchored three miles out. Built on a
narrow peninsula extending far out in the water, its buildings, domes, and spires gleaming
white in the morning sun, one could almost fancy it some magic city rising out of the sea.
It is surrounded by heavy stone walls, with towers and fortifications, and on near-by
rocks, light-houses flash out their warnings. These massive walls and forts look quite
impregnable and no doubt were at one time, but now they are rendered futile by modern
methods of warfare, and serve only as a barrier to the sea that at times rises high
against them. We had been fore warned of a possible disappointment here, for the water is
often too rough to permit landing, but a calm, bright day was in our favor.
The
structures of this city are of marble and stucco, constantly whitewashed, and are rather
trying to the eyes. With the exception of a few squares and promenades, the streets are
often too narrow to allow one carriage to pass another and so we find few autos in Cadiz.
Our long line of carriages seemed to afford much interest to the people of the streets and
they lined up at either side to see us pass. The children with right hands extended, palms
upward, drew back and forth the fingers in their pleasing sign of welcome.
The people,
in Sunday promenade in park and plaza, claimed much of our interest. Beautiful women with
large dark eyes, the usual lace mantilla held high from each head with a great comb of
tortoise shell, and no less lovely children with nurse or parent passed by. Spanish
soldiers, Moors, and priests in flowing black robes with stiff fuzzy hats, wide brimmed
and small crowned, were mingled with the crowd. A remarkable thing was the almost total
absence of beggars.
In the Cities Cadiz and Seville
Cadiz,
founded more than a thousand years before Christ, was in the past an important commercial
city, but is now decadent, with a population of something over 63,000. There are few
places of interest. We visited two cathedrals, an art academy with a few works of the old
masters, and the old church Los Capuchinos. In the latter, over a high altar, is the
famous painting by Murillo, “Marriage of St. Catherine.” It was on this the
painter was working when he fell from the scaffold, dying a few moments later.
We returned
to the boat, which was to be our hotel whenever possible for the night, and early the next
morning we again entered the city, but this time only to board a waiting train for
Seville, a city about 95 miles distant. This was my first ride on a European train and it
was an agreeable surprise to find the compartments most comfortable and the seats covered
with clean, fresh slips of grey linen. The ride of five hours was through a most pleasant
country, rolling, rich, and fertile, and well planted with olive groves.
Seville, the
fourth city in Spain in size, has a population of over 150,000 people. A navigable river
flows through it, whose plain here is broad and fertile. The city itself, is green with
orange trees and palms. The streets of Seville are very narrow, as in Cadiz; and it has in
its palaces, churches, and galleries, some of the great art treasures of man’s
genius. Its great cathedral was started in 1402 with the declaration that it must be
built, “on so magnificent a scale that it shall be without a rival.” Its size is
exceeded only by St. Peter’s at Rome, and it is rich in the masterpieces of great
painters. Murillo’s greatest work, St. Anthony of Padua’s Vision of the Holy
Child, hangs here. Some year ago the figure of the kneeling saint was cut out by a thief,
later recovered in New York, and so skillfully replaced in the canvass that the line of
separation is hardly discernable.
The stained
glass windows of this church are magnificent. Its great dome with the soft blue light is
most impressive. Here is the sarcophagus containing the ashes of Columbus and here is also
a collection of books, 30,000 volumes, gathered at great expense by the son of Columbus
and bequeathed to the cathedral at his death. Among them are the works relative to the
discovery of America and five manuscripts of Columbus, one of them written while in prison
in an attempt to pacify the Inquisition. As we were led from one hoarded treasure to
another and saw the wealth of silver and gold, all wrought in exquisite Workmanship; as we
stood in the “treasure room,” where crowns, crosses, and other articles solidly
incrusted with diamonds, pearls, emeralds, rubies, and all precious stones blazed behind
their glass cases; and as we were then taken to a room with walls hung with costly
vestments and rugs embroidered in silver and gold; the laborious work of long years of
priest and monk, we mentally contrasted this useless hoarded wealth with the ignorant,
helpless masses outside. How fitting seemed the words of Revelation, “Thou sayest, I
am rich and increased with goods.”
The Alcazar,
once a palace of the Moors, is as a type of Moorish architecture, excelled only by the
Alhambra. The walls carved into a lacy fretwork are marvels of the skill and labor of that
period. All through my travels I was constantly impressed with what little value
man’s time and labor had in the past. We see in the old churches, mosques and temples
of the old world, the delicate, intricate and (as in Egypt) stupendous handiwork of man,
representing effort and labor, almost beyond our present day conception. The gardens of
the Alcazar are unique and beautiful. The present king Alfonso, spends a short period each
year at this palace.
The Museum
with its notable art collection, including twenty-three Murillos, was also visited and
after a dinner at the Hotel Madrid our party was taken to the train. We sailed that night
for the Straits of Gibraltar.
-- G. M. H.
“There’s a light that is
shining in darkness,
While we wait for the dawning of day;
And it cheers us along on our journey,
Till the shadows shall vanish away.
“We are not of the night nor of
darkness,
Let us walk then as children of day;
So our weeping shall be for a moment,
And our joy shall not vanish away.
“Oh, we wait and we watch for the
dawning,
The day of eternity blest;
Then we’ll take the wings of the morning,
And we’ll fly away to our rest.”
“Of a truth 1 perceive that God is
no respecter of persons.”
-- Acts 10:34; 11:5-18.
THE
difficulties experienced in the beginning of this Gospel Age, when Divine favor began to
be shown to the Gentiles, illustrates the necessity for our understanding of the Divine
Plan of the Ages. After being blessed with this aid for several years we can scarcely
appreciate what was our condition before this light shone on our pathway. Could we always
have this in mind, it would assist us in the exercise of ,patience and forbearance towards
our dear friends in all other communions. In illustration of this we quote the words of a
Doctor of Divinity on this very lesson -- a man of much more than average intelligence,
too. He says, “The narrow exclusiveness of the Jews, which had fortunately kept their
religion pure for so many centuries, was a formidable .barrier to this extension [of the
Gospel, beyond the Jews]. Christ Himself had preached only to Jews. That was necessary,
for the time of His ministry was too brief for a larger field, and the Jews at first would
not have listened to a broader Gospel. But the time had come to break down the barrier of
Jewish exclusiveness and carry out Christ’s larger thought.”
Not seeing
the “Divine Plan of the Ages,” this teacher and most others impute to our Lord
merely motives of expediency and broadening thought, and to the Jews narrowness and
exclusiveness, whereas when once the “Plan of the Ages” is seen, it is discerned
that it was God who was exclusive and who insisted upon the Jews separating themselves
from Gentiles and who told them that they alone were His special nation, His chosen
people. It was God who made a Covenant with that nation and not with others. It was God
who declared,, “You only have I known [recognized] of all the families of the
earth.” -- Amos 3:2.
Time and Order in God’s Plan
It is the
Apostle who explains to us that Israel had “much advantage every way” over all
the other nations, because to them were committed exclusively the oracles of God -- the
Law and the Prophecies. To them alone Jesus came, not because of narrowness on His part,
nor because of insufficiency of time on God’s part. God delayed the sending of
Messiah for over four thousand years. He could easily enough have made our Lord’s
ministry longer and have allowed it to extend to the Gentiles, had He chosen. On the
contrary, our Lord declared, “I am not sent, save to the lost sheep of the House of
Israel.” -- Matt. 15 :24.
The proper
view of the subject shows us that time and order have to do with every feature of the
Divine Plan, that it has an exactness to a day. “But when the fullness of the due
time was come, God sent forth. His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, to redeem
them that were under the Law.” (Gal. 4:4, 5) At exactly the right time He began His
ministry. Exactly three and a half years thereafter it ended on the very day indicated in
the type. On the very day indicated our Lord arose from the dead. On the very day
indicated in the type the Pentecostal blessing came. And we may be sure that it was on the
very day indicated that the incidents of this lesson occurred. That day must :have been
exactly three and a half years after our Lord’s crucifixion.
Why?
Because, according to Divine prophecy, “seventy weeks” of years, 490 years had
been specifically set apart as a period-of favor to the Jewish nation. It had been
foretold that at the beginning of the last seven years of that period Messiah would come
and that in the exact middle of that seven years Messiah would be cut off in death, but
not for His own sins, but for the people’s. It had been foretold that the prophecy
would be marked by the anointing of the “most holy” at Pentecost, and that the
further end of the seventieth week would also be marked as the termination of God’s
special, exclusive favor toward Israel. It was so marked by the sending of the Gospel
message to Cornelius, and by his begetting of the Holy Spirit after he had believed the
message.
Clearer Views of God’s Plans and Purposes
The record
shows that Cornelius was a just man, a reverential man, a benevolent man, a man every way
prepared to be a follower of Jesus-a Christian, the only obstacle being that he was not a
Jew. That obstacle was not Jewish prejudice, but an insurmountable one -- God’s
unwillingness to deal with any others than His covenanted people of the seed of Abraham.
So soon as the Covenant arrangement with Israel terminated, and God’s “due
time” came for dealing with such Gentiles as were in proper condition of heart, He
had no difficulty in finding messengers to convey the good tidings, as our lesson shows.
Similarly,
we, as Christians, have in the Lord’s providence come to have larger and clearer
views concerning. one feature or another of God’s Plan; and it has been a matter of
progress in the knowledge of His will. Thus at one time many of us in common with the mass
of Christians supposed that somehow we had been under the Law, as were the Jews; that the
Ten Commandments and the sacrifices, etc., were all given to our fathers and that they
were under the Jewish Law Covenant established at Mt. Sinai. We believed also that,
following our Lord’s death, we were transferred from the Law Covenant, instituted by
Moses, and came under the provisions of the New Covenant, which we supposed was in effect.
It was in harmony with this that we used to sing with the spirit, but with
misunderstanding also, the words
“Free from the Law, O happy
condition,
Jesus has died and there is remission.”
Further
light upon the “Divine Plan of the Ages” showed us that the Law Covenant was not
given to, and did not effect, Gentiles, but Israelites only. We were redeemed, but not
redeemed from the Law; only the Jews, who were under that Law, could be redeemed from the
curse of that Law. The same “Divine Plan of the Ages” shows us now that the New
Covenant belongs to natural Israel, and will go into effect at the beginning of the
Millennium, and that we are not under it at all. It shows us that we are under a still
higher and grander Covenant than either the Law Covenant or New Covenant; that we are
under the Faith Covenant, the Grace Covenant, the Abrahamic Covenant, the Oath-Bound
Covenant, as the Apostle says in Heb. 6:17-19 and Gal. 3:29.
Now we
perceive that our High Calling to be members of the Body of the Messiah, His Church in
glory, signifies that we with Him, under His Headship, as His Bride, will be associated in
the mediating of that New Covenant between God and Israel and all the nations during the
Millennial Age. Our lesson teaches us that God has an intimate acquaintance-with all of
our affairs, and at the appropriate time
“God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform.”
God’s Ways Higher
Our Lord
indeed intimated that ultimately His Gospel message would be extended to all nations,
beginning at Jerusalem. The Jews themselves had always expected that they would first be
nationally blessed, and that God’s blessing through them would extend to other
nations, just as it ultimately will do, not under their (old) Law Covenant, instituted by
Moses, but under their New (Law), Covenant, which will be in due time instituted by
Messiah glorified. The disciples, therefore, had no thought of the Gospel invitation being
extended to the Gentiles. They considered that,
like all the preceding favors of God, it would go to the Jew only. It was not bigotry and
not prejudice that lay at the bottom of this, but due to the Divine dealing of the past
and the tenor of the Divine promises. The disciples had not yet learned that the Gospel
dispensation, with its spiritual Israel, is, as it were, a parenthesis in the Divine Plan,
with Israel dropped at its beginning and restored to position at its conclusion.
The masses
of professing spiritual Israel today have made a similar mistake to that of fleshly
Israel, the latter supposed that they alone were to share the Divine blessings of
Messiah’s Kingdom, whereas, it was the Plan of God to accept a selection from the
Gentiles to be fellow-heirs together with the remnant of .Israel who accepted Jesus. Here
was the point of difficulty with Jewish believers in passing over from the Jewish Age to
the Gospel Age; so now we find that Christendom has labored under the impression that only
the saved of this Gospel Age, the Church of the First-born alone are subjects of Divine
love and compassion. Now the eyes of our understanding open to recognize that following
the selection and glorification of this Jewish-Gentile Church and their inauguration as
the Kingdom of God, the restitution blessings shall flow to all the families of the earth,
even to the extent of awakening all the dead, and bringing healing, mental, moral, and
physical, to all the willing and obedient of Adam’s race. giving them eternal life
and cutting off in the Second Death the disobedient and the incorrigible.
Some one
else has remarked, “There are still Christians that claim a monopoly of Divine grace
in their church and brand all others as heretical. And we do not need to go to Rome to
find this spirit; it may be lurking in our hearts and we need to examine ourselves and
guard against it.”
Cornelius
had his vision first. He saw in a vision “openly,” not in a dream, an angel of
God coming in unto him. He talked with the angel and received the assurance that his
prayers and his alms of years had now been received of the Lord, because the “due
time” had come -- the end of Israel’s covenanted favor. We may be sure that at
the same time the alms and prayers of all other Gentiles ascended up, as incense to the
Lord. We may be sure that blessings were arranged also for all such, and the Gospel sent
to them, though not in so marked a manner as to Cornelius, because the Lord would make of
his case a special lesson for the benefit of the Apostles and of all of us who have lived
since. In recounting this matter elsewhere Cornelius says that the angel told him to send
for St. Peter and gave him his address and added, “When he is come, he shall tell
thee words, which shall be to the saving of thyself and house.”
Not Alms and Prayers, but the Grace of God Bringeth
Salvation
It will be
observed that Cornelius’ alms and prayers had not saved him. The death of Christ had
not saved him, though it was necessary to his salvation; and his good works and prayers
were necessary to his preparation for a blessing. The blessing could not come to him,
except through a knowledge of the Truth, just as the Apostle assures us it shall
ultimately reach all mankind. He declares, “God will have all men to be saved and to
come to a knowledge of the Truth.” -- 1 Tim. 2:4.
Let us not
forget the importance God has attached to words-not to all words, nor to any words, but to
the particular words or message of His grace, through the merit of Christ’s blood.
Cornelius was rejoiced, and showed his faith by immediately sending messengers to the
Apostle. Meantime, while they were approaching Joppa, Peter at noon-time betook him to
prayer, perhaps seeking special guidance as to what should be his next move in Christian
work. He got the answer through a dream vision and through the messengers of Cornelius. He
went with the messengers, nothing fearing, and yet not for a moment presupposing what
actually took place. He took with him six men, probably as witnesses, or as an escort, or
because of the dignity of the person upon whom he was calling. He doubtless was surprised
to find that Cornelius had invited into his house his kinsfolk and special neighbors, who
with his own family made quite an assemblage. The simplicity of the centurion’s faith
was thus clearly attested. When St. Peter inquired why Cornelius had sent for him, he
explained the visit of the angel and declared that now they were ready to hear the words,
the
“Wonderful Words of Life”
Note well
the fact that, even though the special favor promised Israel had ended, there was still
but one way for the Good Tidings to reach Cornelius. St. Paul declares that “faith
cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” It came not to him by impression.
Just so today; the knowledge of the Truth goes not to people, however ready for it, by
mental impression, but still, as then, God honors and uses His faithful ones as His
mouthpieces. Mark the expression, “When he is come, he shall tell thee words which
shall be to the saving of thyself and house.” Now, by reason of the art of printing,
the message reaches many otherwise -- by printed words.
Let us note
carefully what these words of life were. They were the simple story of the Cross: The
story of man’s fall, his sentence to death, his hopelessness as respects extricating
himself from that condition and sentence; and the remedy which God in His mercy provided.
The essence of the message was that “Christ died for our sins, according to the
Scriptures, and rose again for our justification.” The message continued, and showed
how the justified ones were invited to become joint-sacrificers with and thus
joint-sharers in Christ’s coming glory. The centurion’s heart had been troubled.
There was something in the message that satisfied his longings as nothing else had ever
done. He believed in the Redeemer and was thus justified. His consecration to the Lord, of
years’ standing, now became intelligent and specific. As his heart went out to the
Lord in full acceptance of the Divine terms, in full consecration of his little all to the
Divine service, the Lord accepted it, and manifested the acceptance; just. as lie had done
with the consecrated Jewish believers at Pentecost. God having thus recognized Cornelius
as a disciple and follower of Christ, a New Creature begotten of the Holy Spirit, Peter
tells us that he” could not believe otherwise than that it was right for him to
explain baptism to the centurion, and to give him water immersion, symbolic of the
immersion into Christ’s death, which he had already then experienced.
The Keys of the Kingdom
Our Lord had
declared that He would give to St. Peter the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. A key
symbolizes right or authority to open. On the day .of Pentecost the Lord used St. Peter as
His special mouthpiece in opening the door of the Kingdom to the Jewish people, to all who
were in the right condition of heart to receive its blessings. Thus we read that
“Peter, standing up, with the eleven, said;” he being the spokesman. So, here,
again, when the time had come foe the message of the Gospel to go to the Gentiles, it was
St. Peter who was granted the privilege of throwing the door wide open by the sermon which
he preached to Cornelius. The “key” or power to open. on both occasions was used
by St. Peter.
These words
of St. Peter do not signify that lie had previously been mistaken in supposing that the
Divine favors were all confined to the Jewish nation. He had been right in that
supposition. It was in line with all the Scriptural declarations. St. Peter meant by these
words that lie perceived that now God was no longer a respecter of persons and
nationality; that now, henceforth, the righteous, God-fearing, in every nation were to be
acceptable. He now perceived the meaning of the vision granted him on the housetop,
“What God hash cleansed, that call not thou common or unclean.” The cleansing at
first was merely typical and to Israel only, accomplished through the blood of bulls. and
goats. The antitypical cleansing through the blood of Christ was confined for a time to
Israel only. But now, in the Lord’s providence, the middle wall of partition was
broken down, so that all believers amongst the Gentiles, seeking fellowship with the Lord,
might become adopted members in spiritual Israel, the “household of faith,” and
might be covered by the merit of the better sacrifice of Christ.
The
convention recently announced in these columns for Boston is now in the past, and it is
certain that the brethren who were in attendance, carried away with them sacred memories
of those hours of sweet fellowship in His name.
In reporting
these convention gatherings of the Lord’s people at various intervals throughout the
year, there is of course more or less of .similarity, for the general order of the
meetings is in each case repeated, such as praise meetings, testimony services, and
discourses by various of the brethren; yet each convention may have its own
characteristics.
Certainly
the convention in Boston did not fall behind previous conventions in that City in
spiritual fervency and in the spirit of love and brotherly kindness toward one another.
The attendance too, was encouraging, being about the usual number, upwards of 140 being
present Sunday afternoon when quite a proportion of the attendance present were of the
public and showed very pleasing interest in the discussion of the Divine Plan, embracing
the great hope for both the Church and the world.
In the other
sessions of the Convention various themes that more particularly concern the Church, were
discoursed upon. Those features of the Christian faith, such as our heavenly calling, the
trials and testings of the Church; her present development in the character likeness of
the Lord, and her final gathering together unto Him were all elaborated upon to the
strengthening of faith and the encouragement of all present. There surely cannot be too
many assemblies of the brethren such. as the gathering at Boston.
SERIES XXXVIII
THE NIGHT IS FAR SPENT; THE DAY IS AT HAND
“And 1 heard, but 1 understood
not; then said 1, O my Lord,
what shall be the end of these things?” -- Daniel 12:8.
IN OUR
examination of the inspired message to Daniel in reply to his question, “What shall
be the end of these things?” or as some render it, “What shall be the last of
these things?” we reach the point at verse 12 in this chapter where the angel’s
mysterious chronological. predictions abruptly end. It is evident that while Daniel, prior
to receiving the information, may have had his mind on matters and events that were then
on the horizon or that he supposed were closely approaching, the angel evidently had his
eye on scenes and developments of far greater magnitude and in the then remote future.
Understanding Reserved for Latter Times
That the
matters were not to be apprehended by Daniel or by any one else in his time is also
obvious. The whole setting. of the prophecy, the conduct of the messengers, the peculiar
language in which the predictions are stated, the detached and fragmentary character of
what was said, then the sudden end of the prophecy without details in explanation of the
strange predictions -- all of these items contributed to the air of mystery which is
thrown over the whole matter by the angel, as if lie were reluctant to make the
communication; as if something more was meant than the words expressed; as if he shrank
from disclosing all that he knew or that might be said. As expressed by another:
“There
is much apparent. abruptness in all these expressions, and what the angel says in these
closing and additional communications has much the appearance of a fragmentary character,
of hints or detached and unexplained thoughts thrown out, .on which he was not disposed to
enlarge and which for some reason he was not inclined to explain.”
It is as if
to convey the impression that matter were being alluded to not then due to be understood.
but that as time should go on and later dispensations should usher in the events, then
their significance would become obvious and plain to the watchers.
Gradually as
down the stream of time the various actors in this great drama of the ages have appeared
upon the stage, as empires and dynasties have arisen and fallen, fulfilling their
appointed seasons, and as kings, emperors, and warriors have each played their parts, the
pages of history have been written and turned one after another. Looking carefully now at
the historian’s account of transactions and occurrences during the twenty-five
centuries of time since, it is without doubt possible now to comprehend to a large extent,
the significance of those mysterious prophetic visions and chronological predictions.
History of Saints Interwoven With That of World Powers
In the
careful and reverent review that has been made of the historian’s account and the
comparison with the sacred prophetic forecast, we have discovered how most obviously the
history of God’s people, of natural Israel and spiritual Israel prior and subsequent
to Messiah’s First Advent is ingeniously interwoven with the history of world powers,
both Gentile and professed Christian. It could not be otherwise and yet accomplish the
Divine purposes. Prior as well as subsequent to our Lord’s First Advent the Jewish
nation was undergoing special punishment for national sin. Additionally Divine providence
was operating that the nation might receive special and severe discipline that would
prepare at least a remnant for Messiah’s coming. Therefore the subjugation of the
nation to foreign heathen powers, entailing as it did humiliation and suffering to that
people, as all a part of the necessary program until Messiah should come. Still further
steps of progress, in the Plan of God subsequent to the Advent and death of the Redeemer,
namely the calling, training, and developing of the Church of the Firstborn, who was to
share the throne of Messiah at His Second Advent, were all to find their place in the
present dispensation, while various Satanic powers were in control.
In the
examination made we have observed unmistakably two outstanding forces or powers, both
positively anti-Christian in character, known as the Roman Papal Apostasy of the West, and
the Mohammedan Moslem Apostasy of the East. The ravages wrought by both of these cruel
apostasies on natural and spiritual Israel in this Age have been such as to be almost
beyond description by tongue or pen. Both of these empires of evil have been most bitter
in their attacks and persecutions of the saints. So that it is no marvel that the angel
included in his prediction: “Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried.”
Ah yes, the fires of persecution burned fiercely through those dark periods, the records
of which so sadly stain the pages of history. Every conceivable means was applied to cause
suffering and to try the faith of God’s people, as well as to test their loyalty to
Him. But under the providence of Almighty God these who loved not their lives unto death
were sustained and kept by His mighty power, whilst their suffering contributed to their
purification and development of character in preparation for that blessed day of
glorification in the Kingdom of God.
Bounds and Limitations
But how
encouraging the fact that those mysterious messengers who communicated in obscure terms
the information concerning those dark and eventful times future from Daniel’s day,
included certain chronological predictions indicating bounds and limitations beyond which
these dreaded forces of Satan should not be permitted to go -- times and seasons that
should in no uncertain manner mark the closing up and conclusion of the records of evil,
thus signifying the final and last overthrow of the empire of Satan with all it implies of
sin, wickedness, crime, and death, which will prepare the way for that grand eternal
Kingdom for which Jesus taught His followers to pray, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be
done on earth as it is in heaven.”
It is these
chronological predictions indicating times and seasons and containing strong hints of the
approaching end of the reign of evil, when. the Prince of Darkness shall be bound and the
King of Glory come in, that are of thrilling interest to the people of God today. In
studying the closing verses of Daniel’s prophecy we have found ourselves face to face
with some unmistakable evidences and proofs that the night is far spent and the day is at
hand.
Two Great Apostasies Rapidly on the Wane
In
consulting the historian we have found the fulfillment of those predictions clearly
recorded. The two great anti-Christian powers that have so long oppressed the people of
God have been seen to be rapidly on the wane for the last two centuries. Careful students,
in following the events of the past two hundred years, are in full accord in recognizing
that they have been years of decay and fall, both to the Papal and the Mohammedan powers.
They have been conspicuously and undeniably such, so that the facts admit of no question;
so that no previous period of their entire history presents anything at all similar or
approaching to the course of events.
“What
historian, what statesman, what newspaper editor, what well educated person,” asks
Mr. Guinness in 1886, “could. hesitate for a single moment to grant that the last two
centuries have been a time of special, and previously unparalleled, decay and fall to the
Papacy and to the Porte; so that these two great politico-religious dynasties, before whom
for so many centuries western and eastern Europe trembled and bowed down in abject
submission, are now scarcely practical factors at all in European politics? Has not the
king of Italy instead of the pope ruled at Rome for the last sixteen years? Is not Italy
respected as a power of at least secondary importance, while ‘the States of the
Church’ and the patrimony of Peter have long since disappeared from the map of
Europe? The pope is now simply a priest; he is a monarch no longer. As to the Porte, every
one knows that it is an effete kingdom. ‘a sick man’ already at the last gasp!
Step by step within the period we are considering both these dynasties have fallen from
their once high estate, losing first power, then independence, then tribute, and at last,
as far as the temporal sovereignty of the Papacy is concerned, existence itself.”
Long Promised Restoration of Israel
Again
another one of the essentially important signs, as has been seen, is that of the
approaching deliverance of God’s ancient people -- the theme so largely dealt with by
many of the Old Testament Prophets. All the Prophets tell the one story of not only the
long ,period in which they have been overrun and down-trodden by Gentile powers, but also
the story of their redemption and deliverance when they shall as a nation be received back
again into Divine favor with added glory, power, and dominion. The prophecies are replete
with references to the time when blindness and disfavor shall begin to be turned away and
when there shall be marked evidences or signs of their restoration. And lo, in these last
days to which the closing chronological predictions of Daniel’s prophecy refer, we
behold. pronounced evidences of the fulfillment of the long deferred hopes of Israel.
None can
deny that for the past hundred years or more we have been witnessing a literal fulfillment
of the prediction that “the yoke of the Gentiles shall be taken off the neck of
Israel and their bonds burst.” Throughout the largest part of Christendom the change
in the civil position of the Jews is to be noted and is indeed one of the most
characteristic features of the history of the past century.
Vision of Valley of Dry Bones Fulfilling
“Since
the middle of the last century,” argues Mr. Guinness, “a complete change has
passed over their condition, and they have been everywhere uplifted, emancipated,
recognized as equals by all nations, given rights and privileges as citizens, a share in
popular representation, seats in councils and senates, a position among the aristocracy,
and in the national administration of the countries where they reside; that they have
risen to eminence in finance, in literature, in music, in war, in government, in politics,
and in education; that their wealth has become enormous, their position secure, their
influence great, and their scattered families reunited in one great national
organization.”
It is
recalled that in 1860 there was formed the “Universal Israelite Alliance,”
“an organization which has for its object the promotion and completion of the
emancipation of the Jews in all lands, and their intellectual and moral elevation, as
also, the development of Jewish colonization in the Holy Land. . . . In the prophecy of
Ezekiel we have, in the vision of the valley of dry bones, and its interpretation, a very
full account of the final restoration and conversion of Israel. (Ezek. 37:7-14.) According
to the representation of that vision the restoration is to take place in successive and
perfectly distinct stages. Thus the Prophet saw that, before the giving of life to the dry
bones, which symbolized the house of Israel, before the clothing of them with flesh,
sinews, and skin, there was first of all ‘a noise and a shaking, and bone came to
bone, each bone to his fellow’; that is, he saw in the first place a preliminary
organization, the necessary antecedent of all that followed. If this feature of the vision
mean anything, it would seem that it can mean nothing else than this, that a tendency to
external organization in the scattered nation was to be looked for, antecedent and
preparatory to their actual reinstatement in their land, and conversion to God, by the
power of the Spirit of life.”
Time of Jacob’s Trouble Must Precede
As to the
beginning of the final restoration, this prediction is approaching literal fulfillment,
for in the very recent past, as all are aware, the breaking of the Moslem yoke from
Palestine is indeed a marked step, for this has opened the way for fresh impetus to the
Zionist movement and for the encouragement of the Jews in all parts of the world to look
in the direction of their home land with the possibility in view of once more obtaining
completely their national existence and independence as a nation, as in the ancient time.
Consequently the daily press is constantly presenting evidences of quickening interest and
the turning of the Jewish mind in the direction of this which to them is the all-important
and burning question.
Evidences
therefore before us are that so far as any one may be able to judge, it can be a matter of
but merely a very, few years till the last obstructive feature is passed over, namely the
period of Jacob’s trouble, a last great scourge of trouble that has been predicted to
take place before the fullness of the Divine promises are realized in the returning of the
ancient Prophets and the establishment of the Kingdom of God. -- Jer. 30:7-11; Ezek. 38:11-23.
“Blessed Is He That Waiteth”
Beholding
then the fastly accumulating evidences of these days, the words of the revealing angel to
Daniel are filled with new and intense interest: “Blessed is he that waiteth, and
cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.” Is there not to be
seen a clear relationship between the angel’s words, “Blessed is he that waiteth
and cometh,” and the fulfillment of the Savior’s prayer! Was not the beloved
Prophet by these words borne forward to the time when there should be an end of all these
desolating powers-to the time when Daniel’s people should be delivered and
Messiah’s Kingdom fully inaugurated? Surely this is the inference to be drawn, and
the blessedness promised was to give ground for a “patient expectation of an event
that was to occur, and for the happy state of him who would reach it.” The inference
further is that the end of the 1,335 days would mark a certain consummation most
desirable, and the angel pronounces him blessed who should be permitted to see it.
“The idea here is of one looking out on this as a happy period, and that he would be
regarded as a happy man who should live in that Age.” The words, “and cometh
to,” signify literally, “touches,” which would mean to reach unto that
time, either by being among those who have existence in that generation, or who, by being
awakened from the sleep of death, are on the scene to behold the new dispensation with its
changed conditions and happy outlook. Are not those who now in advance of the complete
inauguration of the new dispensation, see the coming glories, given by faith to taste of
the blessedness of “him that waiteth!” Thus reading in the light of the lamp of
prophecy the progress of the Plan of God and seeing that we are in the midst of these
great and momentous changes, such do realize blessed consolation and blessed joy while
they note that the Kingdom of God is nigh, even at the door.
May Well Lift Up Our Heads
Mr.
Guinness, in briefly summing up the conclusions of these closing predictions of
Daniel’s. prophecy, has in a very choice manner expressed our viewpoint:
“Here
then we reach the close of this long chronological section of our endeavor, like Daniel,
to understand by books the number of the years whereof the Lord hath spoken; and here,
like that holy Prophet, when he was convinced that the end was close at hand, may we set
our faces to the Lord our God, to seek by prayer and supplication with confession that He
will fulfill His own Word, and cause, His face to shine once more upon His sanctuary,.
which has so long lain desolate, and on His people,, who have so long been a reproach;
that He will do, as He has said, and speedily send Jesus Christ, whom the heaven must
receive until the times of the restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the
mouth of His holy Prophets since the world began -- that the time of refreshing may come
from the presence of the Lord!
“What
is the result of our investigation? Is it not a strong confirmation of our blessed hopes?
Is it not a conviction that we may well lift up our heads, because our redemption draweth
nigh? Slowly and cautiously we have descended the long stream of time, with its turnings
and windings, and confluences with many tributaries, It has flowed through broad Assyrian
and Babylonian channels, through Persian plains and Grecian islands and Roman provinces;
it has rushed in revolutionary rapids, and broadened in lacustrine empires; it has divided
itself into a tenfold delta, and is moving on to mingle its waters with those of the
ocean. We have carefully noted each chronological way-mark as we passed it by, and
compared its position with that assigned to it in the chart of sacred prophecy. Already we
have verified nine-tenths of such way-marks; the few remaining ones lie. close together on
the chart, and close ahead: can we question that they will do so in the facts of history?
Can we doubt that the ‘times of the Gentiles’ are all but over? We have not been
in this investigation following cunningly devised fables, nor elaborating fantastic and
baseless theories; we have been studying the mutual relations of three sets of
unquestionable facts: the occurrences of history and their dates, the astronomic measures
of periods of time, and the sacred prophecies of the Word of God. We have been studying
facts written large in the book of providence, the book. of nature, and the book of
revelation.”
_________
“Daughter of Zion! awake from thy
sadness!
Awake! for thy foes shall oppress thee no more;
Bright o’er the hills dawns the day-star of gladness --
Arise! for the night of thy sorrow is o’er.
“Daughter of Zion! the power that
hath saved thee
Extolled with the harp and the timbrel should be;
Shout! for the foe is destroyed that enslaved thee,
The oppressor is vanquished, and Zion is free.”
“Keep thy heart with all
diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.”
-- Prov. 4:23.
WE REALIZE
that our heads need keeping: and some of us at one time might have been inclined to say,
“Keep thy head with all diligence, in line with the doctrines of Christ, and thy
heart will be all right, for God will keep it.” This, however, is a mistake. God has
stated the matter correctly. We are not competent to keep our heads. We are competent and
responsible for the keeping of our hearts. If we diligently keep, watch, guard our hearts
from evil, and in full harmony with the Divine Word and its spirit of the Truth,
righteousness, love, God will do the rest. He will guide our imperfect reasoning
faculties, and we shall know His doctrines.
Keeping the
heart signifies keeping guard over our sentiments. It signifies a critical inspection of
every motive of life. Why do we speak? What is the object desired? Why do we do this, or
not do that thing? Is the motive honorable, just, loving? Do we love righteousness? Do we
hate iniquity? Is the love of God being more and. more shed abroad in our hearts? Is it
increasing God-ward and man-ward, and toward the brethren? This is watching, “keeping
our hearts,” and implies that if a selfish thought or motive or ambition be found
lurking anywhere, or seeking to guide in act or word, it should be promptly expelled that
the heart. may be pure, clean. Keeping the heart means also activities in love,
benevolence, helpfulness, and the cultivation of thoughts and sentiments in accord with
the Divine. It means not only the purifying of the heart, but the garnishing of it with
the fruits and graces of holiness and love, that it may be acceptable to the Lord. So
surely as injustice or sin or impurity is harbored to any extent, the heart is
proportionately defiled and proportionately unacceptable to the Lord, and in the way
leading towards repudiation by Him.
The Issues of Life
The words,
“the issues of life,” would remind a lawyer of the fact that when a case is
tried in court the jurors are sworn to do their duty in respect to the issue joined -- the
decision to be reached. So all of the Lord’s consecrated people are on trial. The
issue has been joined. It means, first, life or death eternal; and, second, additionally
to those who win life there is another issue, namely whether that life eternal shall be on
the highest plane -- of the Divine nature and joint-heirship with Christ -- or on the
lower spirit plane of the Great Company-like unto the angels. Do we realize the issue
joined in this trial, the outcome of which is so vital? If we do, and if we believe the
Lord’s declaration that the issue or result will depend upon our heart condition,
then we see a reason why we should use “all diligence” in keeping our hearts
pure, sweet, tender, loving, “‘a copy, Lord, of thine.”
Once, when
our eyes of understanding began to open and we discerned the length and breadth and height
and depth of love Divine and the wonderful Plan of Salvation, we inclined to think that
the number who would fail to attain life everlasting, either in this Age or in the
Millennium, would be a small number. We would even have inclined to the Universalist view
that all would ultimately be saved, had it not been for certain texts of Scripture which
clearly intimate that, according to the Divine foreknowledge, there would be some who
would die the Second Death, as a result of the “sin unto death” -- “There
is a sin unto death; I do not say that ye shall pray for it.” -- 1 John 5:16.
But as we
have become more and more familiar with the mind of the Lord as presented to us in His
Word, we discern that none will be granted eternal life, except they shall attain a
certain character development, and that that character development means not merely an
outward loyalty and restraint from sin, but a heart loyalty and love for righteousness,
and hatred toward iniquity. During the Millennium outward perfection will be the standard,
yet ultimately in the end of that Age, the heart development will be the test, which will
determine who may go beyond to eternal life, and who may not.
Importance of Test of the Heart
The heart
test may now be said to be the only one, because our flesh, justified, then, consecrated
to death, is not the New Creature which hopes for glory, honor, and immortality, but
merely its imperfect servant or tool. The New Creature’s heart or affections must be
loyal to the very highest. principles of justice and Love, and, according to its
development along these lines, will be the Divine decision for life or for death-on some
plane or on no plane of being. Even that larger Company of second grade Christians must
have the Christ-like character, as well as the Little Flock and as well as the Restitution
class at the end of the Millennium. We are not to understand that there will be, for any
of the consecrated, any further trial or education or development or testing after the
present trial is ended. No one will be in either the Little Flock or of the larger Company
except those who are in loving loyalty to God, to the brethren, to the principles of
righteousness. All others will be condemned as unfit for life eternal upon any plane of
being.
Perhaps the
worldly might say to us, It must be a great strain upon you and make your life miserable
to be obliged to think continually of the right or ,the wrong of every act and every word
and every thought, and to be obliged to repudiate and disown every sentiment not entirely
just and loving. We reply, that at first it might have so appeared to us, but the Lord
leads His people gently, graciously, step by step, to an appreciation of the principles of
righteousness and love. Following on to know the Lord means, to such, continual growth in
grace as well as in knowledge. We are glad that we see distinctly the issue joined in our
case -- that it is for life or death. To us this is the chief consideration -- the making
of our calling and our election sure, to life eternal. As we get a glimpse of the
wonderful things which God has in reservation for those who love Him -- earthly pleasures,
self-denials, self-sacrifices, all lose their weight and power -- and gradually we come to
the place where we “delight” to know and to do the Lord’s will -- to the
mental attitude in which these Divine regulations are not grievous to us, but really
joyous. This means that our minds have been “transformed,” so that the things
which we once loved, now we hate; and the things which once we hated now we love. Yet we
approached this high position gradually. Those who come into the light of Truth now nave
advantages in many respects, but we must also remember that as the time of testing grows
shorter, it signifies that the tests themselves will be the sharper.
Life Unto Life or Death Unto Death
The Apostle,
contemplating the situation of those who have been saved by faith, through the knowledge
of the Lord, and of His gracious plans, declares that the message becomes to such a life
or a death message. The demands of our consecration to some appear onerous, burdensome.
They have air odor of death that repels them, and leads on to Second Death. To others the
ways of the Lord and the requirements of His holiness have a sweet odor, a life odor,
bringing refreshment. Such an appreciation of the Divine goodness and of the Divine Plan,
the Apostle refers to as a sweet odor of life, and tending and leading up to the glorious
life condition which they shall share in the Resurrection of the blessed.
The Apostle
realized that the message he was preaching would have one or the other effect upon all who
had the spiritual ears. It would be to them either a savor of life unto life or of death
unto death. Then he adds, “Who is sufficient, for these things?” (2 Cor. 2:16)
There is a tremendous strain of responsibility upon all who minister the Lord’s
Truth. Who is sufficient for these things? How can any of us fully grasp and comprehend
the value of present opportunities? And how can those who, in the name of the Lord,
present His message, sufficiently realize the weight of responsibility attaching?
Summing up,
then, let us each know that if we do not keep our hearts from the leaven of malice, envy,
hatred, and strife, the issue with us will be the Second Death, and in the interim
assuredly we would lose much of the light and spiritual blessings which we once enjoyed.
If, on the other hand, we keep out the evils referred to, and put on the graces of the
Lord’s Spirit -- meekness, gentleness, .patience, long-suffering, brotherly,
kindness, love -- the decision in our case will be life, eternal life. And in the interim,
while waiting for our resurrection “change,” our experience will be continual
growth in grace, in love, and in knowledge of the things freely given of the Lord to such
as are in this heart condition. These shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make them
free -- not with the freedom of the unregenerate, but with the liberty of the sons of God
-- liberty to do right; liberty to suffer injustice for righteousness’ sake; liberty
to lay down our lives for the brethren, and, in general, for the. Truth, and in doing good
to all men as we have opportunity.
“Take Heed to Yourselves”
The
Apostle’s words to the Elders of the Ephesus, Church never were more fitting to the
people of God in general than, they are today. He said to them, “Take heed therefore
unto yourselves and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit hath made you
overseers, to feed the Church of God, which He hath purchased with the blood of His own
Son. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among-you,
not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things,
to draw away disciples after them. Therefore, watch and remember that by the space of
three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” -- Acts
20:28-31.
The Elders
everywhere need to take special heed; because in every trial the most favored and most
prominent have the severest besetments and tests. Hence the Apostle exhorts, “Be not
many teachers, brethren, knowing that a man shall receive the more severe testing.”
All the Elders who in heart are pure, unselfish, may be exhorted to have nothing but love
and good wishes for all mankind, and that they become more and more filled with the fruits
and graces of the Holy Spirit, taking heed also that the flock is the Lord’s and that
they wave a responsibility to the Lord, as well as to them. They are to remember, that
they are to watch for their souls (interests) as those who must give an account to the
Great Chief Shepherd. Remember, that the principal thing is Love in all; and, while not
neglecting doctrines, give special heed to the development of the Lord’s Spirit
amongst the various members of His Body, that thus they may become “meet for the
inheritance of the saints in light,” and, according to the Divine will, be not
suffered to stumble in this evil day, but, having done all, to stand complete in Christ,
His Body, His Members, His Joint-Sacrificers, His Joint-Heirs.
“I
must work the works of Him that sent me while it
is day:
the night cometh when no man can work.”
-- John 9:4.
THS
statement by our Lord is understood by a considerable number of Bible students to refer to
the time of special trial and testing -- the time of trouble to come upon the Church, both
real and nominal, and upon the world at the end of the present Age; the thought being that
the conditions obtaining at this time would be such that repressive measures would be
adopted by those exercising civil power, to such an extent that the. work of disseminating
the Truth would be brought to a complete standstill. That there will be such a time, is
quite probable from various Scriptures bearing upon the subject.
However,
upon more critical examination in the light of the associated texts, it appears that the
Master’s words, “The night cometh wherein no man can work,” may have been
intended to apply in quite a different way from that usually understood. Some suggestions
by way of an interpretation have been submitted to us by a brother in Great Britain, that
seem very reasonable. We submit below the brother’s presentations
“The
context shows that the works referred to are certain of the works of God, and as the
incident which drew these words from Jesus was the healing of the man born blind, it seems
to be conclusive that the works meant were the restitution works whereby Jesus manifested
His Messiahship. This was the principal kind of ‘work of His Father’ that Jesus
did while on earth. The quiet work of instructing His Apostles and disciples, which He did
while with them was preparatory to the greater work of His Father which was to begin at
Pentecost.
“Jesus
referred to the works of the Gospel Age when He said ‘He that believeth on Me, the
works that I do [restitution works] shall he do also [in the Millennial Age as a member of
the glorified Christ] and greater works than these shall he do [he shall co-operate in the
building of this Christ]; because I go unto My Father [in order that the Holy Spirit may
be given whereby these greater works may be possible].” -- John 14:12.
Conflicting Faith-Healing Religions
“After
saying ‘I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh,
when no man can work,’ Jesus went on to say, ‘As long as I am in the world, I am
the light of the world:’ The inference is that when Jesus was in the world it was
day, so that when He died and left the world, the light went away, and darkness, night,
set in. The night did not immediately set in on Jesus’ death, for the reason that the
gifts of the Spirit enabled the ‘works’ of restitution to be effected for some
time afterwards for the purpose of establishing the Divine origin of the Christian
religion, the night fully setting in when the last of the Apostles was taken, since when,
no man has been able to ‘work’. Hence it seems that the true meaning of the
words, ‘night when no man can work,’ is not the night of the. time of trouble,
but the night of the Gospel Age.
“The
importance of this interpretation lies in the fact that it gives a direct answer to those
who claim to be God’s representatives when they do works of healing ‘by
faith.’ The blind man’s argument in John 9:30 is laid hold of by all who believe
in faith cures as conclusive evidence of their Divine source, and the argument was valid
while Jesus was in the world; but Jesus is no longer in the world, so that the night has
been on the world during which time none could do God’s healing works. Hence if any
one claims to be doing miraculous cures, restitution work, one thing is clear: it is not a
work of God.
“On the
other hand the inference from Jesus’ statement in Matt. 12:26, ‘And if Satan
cast out Satan, ‘he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom
stand?’ -- when accused of casting out devils by Satanic power, has peculiar significance at this time.
What was not the case then, may be the case at some future time, namely at a time when
Satan’s kingdom is about to fall. The signs of the times read in the light of
Scripture, indicate clearly that we are living in a time when the ‘present evil
world,’ Satan’s kingdom (Luke 4:6), is tottering. Further, by the very number of
conflicting faith healing religions, it seems apparent that there is a division in
somebody’s house, and as Christ is not divided, the conclusion must be that it is
Satan’s house which is divided, and that we are witnessing part of the ‘frenzy
of delusion’ to come upon an unbelieving world and those who are not seeking to
worship God ‘in spirit and in truth.’
Will the Divine Testimony Ever Again be Silenced?
“The
above interpretation removes the chief objection to the thought that there will be a
witnessing going on right up to the gathering in of the last spirit begotten individual,
and the inauguration of the Kingdom of God on earth, so that greater force is given to
other Scriptures which seem to teach this. For example the symbols of Rev. 19:6, 7 seem to
,point to there being a big work to be accomplished after the Church is gathered. The
voice of praise is heard after the destruction of Babylon, and is uttered by a company of
people who apparently have a considerable acquaintance with the
Divine Plan which, it seems reasonable to infer they obtained through contact with the
remaining members of the Bride of Christ prior to the time which the symbol depicts.
(‘The Revelation of Jesus Christ’, Vol. II., pp. 414, 415.) While one cannot
dogmatize on the correctness of this interpretation of the above vision in Revelation, it
is what seems to be in keeping with a reasonable expectation of events as the time for the
setting up of the Kingdom approaches.
“The
only time when there was no work of witnessing is specially mentioned. This was such a
singular occurrence that it was made the subject of prophecy which has been remarkably
fulfilled -- the killing of the two witnesses whose bodies lay in the street for three and
one-half years. Nothing is said of these witnesses being killed again. On the other hand
they are represented as enjoying Divine protection.
“The
Scriptures teach that there will be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a
nation. Some of us therefore seem to take from this a kind of license to let the
imagination have full play, until the spirit of that beautiful assurance in 1 Cor. 2:9,
‘Eye hath not seen,’ etc., is applied in the opposite sense to the time of
trouble.
‘And we magnify His strictness
With a zeal He will not own.’
“We
should always remember that our God is a loving God-most wonderfully tender must be His
love, that any trouble He permits is corrective and not vindictive, and that He has no
pleasure in the death of Him that dieth.” -- Ezek. 18:32.
‘For the love of God is broader
Than the measure of Man’s mind,
And the heart of the Eternal
Is most wonderfully kind.”‘
“The disciples were called
Christians first in Antioch.” -- Acts 11:19-30.
WE ARE told
that it was the echoes of the great persecution in the days of Stephen, long reverberating
through the world, that scattered the early Christians and thereby facilitated the spread
of the Gospel Message in the beginning of the Age. Believers were driven and scattered at
various points around the Mediterranean shore, resulting in the establishing of groups of
Christians, especially in certain favorable centers. Antioch was one of those localities
where the Divine Message met with ready response on the .part of Gentile hearers. At this
time it was the third city in the world in rank of commercial importance and population,
the latter being estimated at 500,000. Its situation was about 300 miles north from
Jerusalem -- a long distance in those days of foot and camel and sailboat traveling. It is
noted as being the first city outside of Palestine in which a Christian church assembly
was formed; and indeed, we might say that as Jerusalem was the center of influence in
Palestine, so Antioch became a center of influence as respected the Gospel amongst the
Gentiles.
They Let Their Light Shine
We are
informed that amongst those that were scattered abroad from Jerusalem, there were
“men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the
Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them; and a great
number believed, and turned unto the Lord.”
It is indeed
to the credit of these early Christians who thus settled in Antioch that they let their
light shine; for living and walking in the light of the Gospel themselves, meant that they
would cause the light to shine in the darkness. It would, of course, be to those who were
of the Jewish faith, that they would. first of all give the Lord’s message; for in a
large commercial city such as Antioch there were sure to be large numbers of Jews. We know
not how many of these were reached with the Gospel, but it was confined to them surely,
until the end ,of Israel’s seventy symbolical weeks -- until A. D. 37.
Be it noted
that these early laborers of the Gospel at Antioch were not Apostles, nor even notable
ones amongst the Lord’s disciples, so that it was not considered necessary by the
writer even to mention their names; nevertheless, we can be sure that however obscure
amongst men, they were reckoned by the Lord as His jewels, who will be amongst the
gathered Kingdom class, and who, numbered amongst those who turn many to righteousness,
will shine as the stars for ever and ever. There is a lesson here, to the effect that
while the Lord made clear to the Apostles first the matter of receiving the Gentiles into
the Church, he nevertheless did not confine his message to them, but was willing to use
any convenient disciple, no matter how humble as a mouthpiece for the Truth, and was
pleased to bless the consecrated ambassadors and their service. So today let each and all
of the Lord’s people be alert to notice opportunities for service, and let those who
occupy a position as teachers in the Church emulate the example of the Apostles, who
manifested no spirit of jealousy in respect to this broadening of the work-rejoicing,
rather, at the spread of the Good News by whatever instrumentality tyre Lord might be
pleased to use. This is the true spirit of discipleship, the spirit of humility. It is in
accord with the Apostle’s words, “In honor preferring one another”;
“Rejoice not in iniquity, but rejoice in the truth.”
A Great Number Believed
The
testimony to the efficient work of these unnamed disciples is, “A great number
believed and turned unto the Lord.” It is worthy of notice that believing is one
thing and turning to the Lord is another thing. We fear that this distinction is too often
forgotten, and that too many are satisfied merely to get their friends to believe soiree
of the good things of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus, and do not press the matter on to the
only legitimate and proper conclusion -- a complete turning away from sin and the world; a
thorough turning of every sentiment, hope, ambition, and desire “unto the Lord,”
and into harmony with His divine Plan. Let us remember the statement, “devils also
believe”; and let us not rest satisfied with efforts merely to convince the head
without convicting and regenerating the heart.
The news of
the Gospel going to the Gentiles at Antioch, and that large numbers were turning to the
Lord, reached the Church at Jerusalem -- the head-center of the Christian work, so to
speak. The Apostles and all of the brethren had already been prepared by the Lord’s
manifest dealing in the case of Cornelius, and this, undoubtedly, would take away from
their surprise and, largely correct any prejudice on the subject of the Gentiles as
fellow-heirs of the promises which had previously pertained to them alone. Nevertheless,
we note that the record does not say that this news caused rejoicing in the Jerusalem
Church. We may infer, therefore, that they heard with some considerable trepidation that
large numbers of the Gentiles were attaching themselves to the faith, and may have
reasoned that this would have an injurious effect upon the cause they loved to serve --
inasmuch as the Jews would say, Yes, your message is good enough for the barbarians or the
Gentiles; it takes hold of the non-religious; but it attracts very few of the deeply pious
of God’s chosen people, to whom belong the promises and the covenants of the Lord,
etc. It would appear, then, that the original motive in sending Barnabas to Antioch
(visiting other inter mediate churches en route) was that he might see and judge of the
true condition of things, and give some report as to whether the new converts were worthy
in their lives and characters to be recognized as fellow-heirs with the saints.
Took Note of the Grace of God
Barnabas,
when he had come, took note of “the grace of God,” manifested amongst the
believers at Antioch -- it must have been manifested not only in their faith in the Lord
as their Redeemer and Master, but also in their conduct as disciples or followers of
Jesus. It is written, “He that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as He
is pure,” and we may suppose that Barnabas quickly discerned the cleansing and
sanctifying power of the Truth amongst these believers at Antioch, and thus realized that
the cause, instead of being hindered by such accessions, would be honored. We read that he
was glad; and we may assume, although it is not stated, that he promptly made a report to
the brethren at Jerusalem, and that they were glad also. A good man, out of the good
treasure of his heart, is always made glad by evidences of God’s grace operating in
himself and in others. It is one evidence of the possession of the Holy Spirit, and that
in good measure, when we rejoice in all good things -- ‘Whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any
virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” -- Phil. 4:8.
The Apostles
evidently made an excellent choice when they sent Barnabas. We remember that he was a
Levite by birth, and this unquestionably, would make him very careful of every Jewish
interest connected with the faith, and undoubtedly, he was well learned in the Law. We
remember, too; that he was a native of Cyprus, an island in the Mediterranean Sea, near
Antioch. Born thus at a distance from Jerusalem, amongst Gentiles, he was probably a
broadminded man, as well as familiar with the dialect of the people of Antioch, and added
to these good reasons for sending him, was a fourth, namely his beautiful character, his
helpfulness as a brother and a teacher in the Church. We remember that he sold a part of
his property in the interest of the poor in Jerusalem. We remember, too, that he received
the name Barnabas as a title of love and respect in the Church, which thus designated him
“a son of consolation,” a “helper.” The fact that this good man was
glad, is an assurance to us that the conditions he found in the Antioch Church were good
conditions, for a good man “rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the
truth.”
They Were Called Christians
Some have
surmised that the name “Christian,” first attached to the Lord’s people at
Antioch, was applied in ridicule. But it seems to us that the evidences all point to the
contrary, and indicate that this was the name which the believers adopted for themselves,
by which they would be known to outsiders. Had the name been a disreputable one, we might
have supposed it to be applied in ridicule; but since the basis of the name Christian is
the word Christ, and since the word Christ signifies Messiah or the Anointed (of God), it
must have been accepted as a most honorable name, for who would think that a Divine
anointing could signify anything dishonorable in the eyes of any man, Jew or, Gentile.
It is
noteworthy that our Lord never gave any name to His people; He called them disciples,
which signifies pupils, learners. The Apostles have applied to the Church various terms,
“Church of the living God;” “Church of God;” “Church of
Christ;” “the Church;” but gradually the name “Christians,”
identifying God’s people with their Redeemer and Leader, came to be the general name
throughout the world. It is a pity that any have thought it necessary to adopt any other
names than these, common to the entire Church of Christ, or to use these names in a
sectarian manner. Evidently the name Christian should represent one who trusts in Christ
as the Messiah -- one, therefore, who trusts in Him also as the Redeemer, and who accepts
all the fundamental doctrines of the Scriptures, based, as they are, upon these two
declarations -- (1) that men were sinners, needing to be redeemed before they could be
acceptable to God, and that they were redeemed by the precious blood of Christ; (2) that
they have accepted the name of their Redeemer, and are seeking to walk in His footsteps.
Sectarianism -- Carnality
There was a
start toward sectarianism in the early Church, some saying, I am a Christian, but of the
order of Paul; others, I am a Christian, but of the order of Apollos; others, I am a
Christian but of the order of Peter, etc. But the Apostle promptly rebuked this spirit,
assuring them that the relationship in Christ was all that was necessary; that neither
Peter nor Paul had redeemed them, and that neither. therefore, could occupy the place of a
head to the Church. The Apostle, furthermore, calls our attention to the fact that such a
spirit on their part was. an evidence of that much of carnality still remaining; that much
of a worldly partisan spirit contrary to the thought and teaching of the Holy Spirit. It
is to be regretted that all along through the Age this sectarian spirit has clung to the
Church even unto this day, and the disposition to look to others than Christ as the head
of the Church is still painfully manifest.
Let us each
make it our highest ambition and aim to be Christians in the fullest sense of the word. To
truly be a Christian implies a union with Christ; it implies a submission to Him as our
Head; it implies a share with Him in the anointing of the priesthood for the work of
sacrifice and of self-denial in this present time; it implies also an association With Him
in the anointing of kings and joint-hems in the coming Kingdom. Let us take and let us
keep this holy name, and it alone; and let us make sure that we do not take this holy name
in vain.
VOL. VIII. June 15, 1925 No. 12
THE ANNUAL MEETING AND THE BROOKLYN CONVENTION
THE seventh
annual meeting of our association has just concluded, and similar to the six previous
meetings was an interesting one; proving an occasion for the friends to give hearty thanks
to the Lord for the good indications of His manifold blessing and His providential care,
whereby another year has been spent in His service, in which the interests of the Truth
have been advanced and the name of the Lord honored.
The brethren
assembled at the appointed time on June 6, and the meeting continued between two and three
hours. Probably not more than fifty friends were present, due in part no doubt to the
extremely hot wave just at this time. Then too, the brethren. thus associated together in
this ministry being scattered over a vast amount of territory involving several thousand
miles distance, many took advantage of the provision made whereby all could be present by
proxy. The meeting was opened with songs of praise and followed by a season of worship, in
which the goodness of the Lord as manifested in so many ways was thankfully acknowledged
and His special blessing invoked upon the conference, to the end that His will might be
carried out and His good pleasure be fulfilled in the exercises of the annual meeting.
A chairman
and a secretary for the meeting were appointed. The reading and approval of the minutes of
the previous meeting was followed by a general review of the work of the past year; the
reports of the secretary, chairman, treasurer, and auditing committee were rendered. These
were heard with very pleasing interest and appreciation, and on motion were unanimously
approved. Various remarks and suggestions were offered and discussed regarding one item or
another.
Re-election of Former Brethren
The election
of the board of directors was then taken up, the friends being reminded that the election
of directors was for only one year and that the offices of all had now expired. Balloting
for new directors for the ensuing year then proceeded, after which the chairman of the
election inspectors announced that the brethren whose term of office had just expired had
been re-elected by what approximated a unanimous vote; the names of these having already
appeared on page 127 of the May 1st issue of “The Herald.”
It was
gratifying to note that the results also showed that more interest had been taken in this
election by the friends throughout the entire field and that the vote had been more
general and widespread than at any previous election. The brethren again appointed to
office as directors gratefully appreciated the confidence thus expressed in their
reelection and regarded the outcome as an evidence of hearty endorsement of the
proceedings and achievements of the past, confirming what is generally expressed in the
correspondence from the brethren far and near. The re-elected brethren were entirely
willing for their services in this direction to terminate altogether, and to commit the
responsibility to others, if that were the Lord’s will and the wish of the friends.
They now earnestly solicit the prayers of the friends in all parts, that during the year
just ahead they may endeavor to handle the holy things in meekness and humility, in
reverence and godly fear, in such a way as that the Lord shall be pleased and the
interests of His Truth and His people may be prospered according to His will.
Seeking Clear and Unselfish Vision
The
directors on being elected held a conference, and as is their usual custom elected a
chairman, vice-chairman, secretary, and treasurer. The outlook before them was considered
and the Divine blessing and guidance earnestly sought, that all things may be done to the
honor and glory of God. The friends may be assured that all the meetings of the directors
are in the nature of spiritual and fellowship, meetings. Much time is devoted to prayer;
each occasion is a time of deep and personal self-examination, that everything in the
nature of pride, ambition, selfishness, and roots of bitterness may be kept down, and that
their own spirits may be chastened and brought into full subjection to the mind, of
Christ. Thus in the counsels of these conferences the blessings of the Holy Spirit is
constantly invoked, that the brethren may undertake to discharge their responsibility with
a clear and unselfish vision. Consequently the meetings of the directors have been blessed
with much harmony and peace, and attended by evidences of Divine aid.
_________
Saturday
evening, following the business meeting of the Institute, the exercises of the Convention
commenced, and continued all day Sunday. Helpful discourses, testimonies, psalms, hymns,
and spiritual songs, were the order as usual. Encouragement and refreshment of spirit
marked all the meetings. Considering together again the truths – the Lord’s
leadings in the past, His exceeding great and precious promises for the future, the great
hope for the Church and the world -- all of these that have so gladdened our hearts, could
not but result in new determination to follow on to know the Lord and to lay hold of that
blessed eternal life that He has promised to all them that love Him and His appearing.
“O! the blest hope of sharing,
Lord,
Thy glory from above,
Is linked with that most precious thought,
Thine everlasting love.”
THE INSTITUTE’S REPORT
IN
CONSIDERING together at this time the review of our united efforts throughout another
year, there comes to mind the words of our blessed Master, “Let your light so shine
before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in
heaven.” Herein truly we have the keynote of all that gives real inspiration and
impetus, and that gives rise to the true evangelical spirit on the apart, of all the
faithful, composing the Church of Christ.
None who
accept the inspiration of the Scriptures will dispute the great commission Jesus gave His
Church, and the anointing she received to go forth and bear the glad tidings of the Gospel
to all who have ears to hear, to all the meek, and to comfort all that mourn out of godly
sorrow; additionally the disciples were commissioned to beseech all who hear responsively,
to enter by full consecration, into fellowship with Christ in His life of devotion and
obedience to the will of God, thus becoming members of the one true Church, and thus
entering the school wherein they are, taught by the greatest of all teachers, the lessons
of faith, of love, and of character building, that they may be fitted and developed to be
the kings and priests unto God, instructors of the world in the Age to come.
Thus briefly
in the word foregoing, we bring before our minds the objects and purposes of .our
association and co-operation together in this institution, in which we are endeavoring to
fulfill the commission which the Master gave, and to follow in the example of the
primitive Church, organized under the special direction of the Holy Spirit. As all
recognize, there is an advantage in having before us yearly, the summing up of what has
been achieved. And too, the brethren in charge of the Institute’s activities, are
always open to suggestions, and in fact invite the brethren to present anything that they
feel would be in the nature of constructive criticism. Some are exercising this privilege
of offering helpful advice and suggestions, and it is appreciated.
Co-Workers Together With God
The year
past, like the previous ones, has not been without its reverses, trials, and tests; yet
the blessings of the Loral’s grace have compensated, and He has given much
encouragement along the way. This strength and encouragement comes, not from outward
prosperity, increase of numbers, etc., but from the fact that there is a genuine work of
the Spirit going on in the hearts of the Lord’s people, and their communications to
us are repeatedly giving assurance that they are being edified and built up in the faith.
The zeal and love of the friends has been very commendably shown during the past year in
their loyal and substantial support whereby the various branches of this ministry have
been well sustained.
We remind
the brethren everywhere that this ministry and its activities are in their hands and not
ours, and that primarily the responsibility of the entire Cause that we all love, is with
the -friends at large, in that it is only as the spirit of co-operation and zeal for the
Truth prompts to energy and activity that its various interests are promulgated. In the
first and important sense the responsibility of building up and advancing the interests of
the Church is, of course, with the Lord, for He careth for His own as He has done all
through the Age But we, as members together of the same Body, are desirous of being
“co-workers together with Him” in carrying out the purposes that He wishes for
the present time.
Man-Made Systems Injurious to the Church
It should be
clear to all that we disclaim any effort whatever in the direction of building up or
advancing an earthly movement or system. The open pages of history before us furnish many
lessons to the effect that this is not what the Lord wishes. Human organizations and
machinery tend rather to stultify and hinder the real work of spirituality and grace in
the Church of Christ than to edify and build up the new creation.
Perhaps we
should at this point, for the benefit of some who haves become more or less recently
interested and associated with us; enter a word of explanation: Our association known as
the “Pastoral Bible Institute,” is not a religious organization in the ordinary
acceptation of that term, in the sense of having a creed with certain items or statements
of the faith that are used as. tests in connection with becoming members of Christ’s
Church. This Institute dictates no creed and applies no tests and utterly disclaims being
an authority or power to rule any one church or number of churches, or to interfere in any
way with the full and complete exercise of individual liberty on the part of the brethren.
Here again we are reminded of how history up to date warns us by many solemn lessons
against the creation of anything amongst the Lord’s brethren in the nature of a
“channel” having “power” or “authority” over others; for we
have the Master’s own words in the commencement of His Church, that there was to be
but one ruler or master and that was Himself; and all of its followers would remain on one
common footing -- “all ye are brethren.”‘
Not Power and Authority but an Association of Brethren
The
centralizing of power and authority in a group of brethren, whether that group of brethren
be the entire church of some one city or a group of brethren selected from several
churches, has been proved over and over again to be a most unwise procedure, and has led
time and again into apostasy and a robbing of the Lord’s people of their individual
liberty. The same evil results have repeatedly come from permitting an individual to rule
the Church, whether by self-appointment or usurpation on his part, or by the church
delegating that power. This institution does not accept nor have delegated to it any
authority or power by way, of ruling others or dictating their belief or their faith; but
is merely an association of the brethren together for the purpose of the more effectually
advancing the Lord’s Cause and for the. greater use of their powers and talents for
the glory of God. The thought is that by thus unitedly co-laboring together, more can be
accomplished and in a more satisfactory manner than if each Class of the brethren, or each
individual follower of the Lord undertook to serve separately or independently.
There is
what we call a membership in this institution, but this membership is merely in the sense
of interest in and desire to be associated with others In what is being done to encourage
and build up fellow Christians. The consideration of a small contribution in connection
with becoming associated in this ministry is not in any sense of the word to be construed
as purchasing the membership or vote; but rather is by way of indicating who is personally
interested in this work and has the desire to participate therein; the thought being that
those who thus contribute larger or smaller amounts should have, if they choose, some
privilege or right to a voice in the management and government of the affairs of the
Institute, such as voting for directors at the election each year, and in other decisions
relative to carrying forward the interests of the Truth and the brethren; and this
membership that contributors receive, gives them this privilege each year.
Let the fact
be clearly borne in mind however, that membership in the Institute is not in any sense an
effort to fix the membership of the Church; nor is membership in this association in any
sense of the word a test of fellowship in Christ; for all consecrated believers in the
atonement are on, equal footing in their Master; and obedient faith in His meritorious
work alone is to be the only test of Christian fellowship. Accordingly, we recognize and
fellowship all such, as members of His Church whether or not they view with us various
details of the faith and methods of ministry. Thus seen, there is no bondage to any in
this association and all are left in the exercise of their full individual liberty in
believing and interpreting the Scriptures as each one sees best.
The Herald and Its Ministry
The
subscription list of “The Herald of Christ’s Kingdom” remains quite firm;
in fact a little increase over last year upwards of 1900. The ministry performed by this
journal, we are confident, continues to edify and yield an uplifting influence. Much
careful and prayerful thought is exercised in connection with what appears in its columns,
for we wish only that to appear which Will impart spiritual blessing and “minister
grace to the hearers.” We are living in a time when the brethren throughout the world
everywhere are very much in need of that which will sustain them in the Narrow Way. This
day is one of peculiar and severe temptation. The influences all about us in the way of
worldliness, selfishness, personal ambition, love of pleasure, the deceitfulness of
riches, etc., together with the various forces leading in the direction of unbelief and
skepticism, combine to make the present a time of great pressure and severe test up on
the Church. Then in addition to this, the general confusion prevailing among the brethren
in regard to spiritual things, the conflicting opinions, interpretations, and viewpoints
that are being circulated throughout the country, intensify the situation. But the
Scriptures foreknowing these things, bring to our attention those counter-influences, and
the message containing the wisdom from above by which all the truly consecrated may be
enabled to discover the Lord’s voice and to stand fast in obedience and loyalty to
their Divine Master.
The ministry
of “The Herald” we desire shall more and more turn the minds and affections of
the Lord’s people toward the Kingdom and incline their hearts to keep in the Narrow
Way. Many of the letters received in our office tell of how much blessing and
encouragement has been realized from the pages of “The Herald” -- helping in the
direction of the heavenly, eternal things.
All who
desire the regular visits of “The Herald” may surely have them; there are none
so poor that they cannot have it if they will but comply with the standing offer which
appears on the second page of each issue. It is offered also on credit to those who hope
to be able to pay later; and if such should find themselves unable to remit, a postal card
request will secure a cancellation of the account.
Some of the
brethren appreciating the fact that the subscription price, $1.00, does not cover one half
the expense of the publication, have repeatedly suggested that the price be advanced to
$2.00 a year. Nevertheless, we have not yet seen fit to do this, preferring to take from
the general fund the amount required to make up the deficiency; believing too that some
might not feel able to afford the increased price. Thus the matter continues to stand up
to the present.
Fellowship Through the Mails
The
communications that come from all parts of the world, are generally of a very encouraging
nature and thereby we are made acquainted to a considerable extent with conditions and
circumstances of the brethren. These letters express the hopes and fears, the difficulties
and perplexities, the successes and discouragements, as individuals and as companies.
Through these messages too, it is evident that many are passing through severe testings
and trials, which it is hoped will work for their good -- purifying them as gold is
refined by the elimination of the dross. More than this, it is to be clearly observed from
the correspondence that we should reckon as co-laborers not only those who contribute to
the funds of the Institute and those who contribute time and strength as Pilgrims, but
those also having no opportunity for the latter service and no means for the former
privilege, have “done what they could” in circulating the printed page: Nor do
we forget to reckon amongst these helpers those whose opportunities for service are few,
whose efforts are necessarily confined to the building up of their own characters, and the
few with whom they are associated, and who often cheer and encourage with kind words of
love, sympathy, and fellowship; these in thus holding up our hands and in “helping
together by prayer,” do a service that is much valued.
Pastors and Teachers in the Church
We are all
aware that one method the Lord has used in the ministry throughout the Age, is that of
proclaiming His Truth by word of mouth, and so this means of honoring His name continues
to have His blessing. Like the other lines of service open to us, we recognize that there-
is room for much more to be accomplished in the way of capable brethren visiting the
Classes and imparting the word of comfort and cheer to their edification. The funds placed
in the hands of the brethren in charge, of course, more or less regulates the
extensiveness of this branch, while at the same time the number of brethren who are
qualified and have the opportunity of encouraging in this direction is quite limited. As
with every other feature of the service, we look to the Lord for guidance that we may make
the best use of what we have at our disposal.
In addition
to several of the brethren who visit Classes locally on Sundays, two or three have devoted
considerable time in a more general way, making extensive pilgrimages and covering a wide
range of territory. These journeys have extended over a greater portion of all the States
and considerable of Canada, during the past year, with the result that not only have a
good many Classes been visited and blessed by the ministry, but individuals here and there
including the twos and threes have frequently been reached and given to share in this
grace of the Lord. These visits have materially served to keep us in touch with the
brethren in all parts of the country and have helped to acquaint us with general
conditions.
How Some Have Been Helped
Time after
time information has come, telling of how isolated and lone ones, as well as regular
Classes of the friends have, midst much confusion and many perplexities, shown most
commendable courage and the spirit of discernment, by which they have been enabled to come
out of conditions of bondage and to stand firm for the principles of righteousness and of
Christian liberty and have defended these nobly in the face of bitter persecution and at
the cost of having their names cast out as evil by other brethren with whom they not long
ago had taken “sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in
company.” (Psa. 55:14.) From the solitary brethren as well as from Classes have come
messages assuring us of deep appreciation of the Pilgrim visits, that the result has been
the strengthening of their faith and love, as well as their zeal toward the Lord and His
Cause, making their hope shine all the brighter. Some write us that the ministry of the
Pilgrim has enabled them to understand more clearly the issues of the present time and
thereby to discern fully what their duty is under the pressure of the present fiery tests.
The thought so often comes, “The Lord knoweth them that are His;” thus we can
rest matters in His hands in the confidence that He will exercise His providential care on
behalf of all the faithful.
What we have
said concerning the accomplishments by the Pilgrim branch should include a reference to
the journey and .pilgrimage by one of our brethren to Great Britain during the summer of
1924. A general account of this trip which was published at the tune shows that the
earnest efforts of the brother received the Lord’s blessing, and the brethren with
whom he met on the other side very much appreciated his ministry and the visit in general.
Conferences on Holy Things
The
privileges of the brethren of assembling together in conventions have not been very large
during the ,past year. Three conventions have been held, reports of which have already
appeared in “The Herald”; and we repeat that while these assemblages of the
brethren were not large, they were all seasons of spiritual refreshing and upbuilding; the
encouraging impression in connection with each was that the brethren had come together out
of deep desire and purely for the purpose of obtaining spiritual blessings and to receive
renewed encouragement by which they might press on to wage the good warfare in the Narrow
Way.
We believe
that none can estimate the value of the blessings that come from conferences and
conventions where the presence and Spirit of the Lord are earnestly sought and realized.
The fellowship of spirit in such gatherings is always elevating and stimulating to faith.
The Apostle Paul must have known something of this as he urged the Church to “forsake
not the assembling of yourselves together; and so much the more as ye see the day drawing
on.”
Preaching By the Printed Page
Various
tracts for free distribution may still be had, such as are referred to on the second page
of “The Herald” from time to time. It is our desire that these leaflets shall
contain, from one standpoint or another, the kernel of the Gospel theme of glad tidings of
great joy, so that new inquirers may find that which may prove to be an entering wedge for
something more exhaustive in the way of an exposition of the Truth.
We are
continually hearing from newly interested persons who have had their interest aroused by
one or another of these leaflets. We take delight of course, in following up this interest
and by encouraging all such, as much as possible. In some instances, these new inquirers
have become Herald subscribers and secured the Divine Plan or the Revelation volumes or
both, and give evidence of deep and genuine heart interest in the Divine Message. These
remarks we make, desiring to share this encouragement with those who are making use of
their opportunities in distributing the free tracts. Quite a good many of the friends are
exercising this privilege of service with fruitful results, but we urge all to order as
many of the tracts as they can place where they have reason to believe they play do good.
We may add a
word further here with regard to the circulation of free literature; repeating to some
extent what has been previously stated, that as we have quite a number of extra copies of
each issue of “The Herald” printed, these we are pleased to supply to the
friends freely, to be used as sample copies and placed in the hands of prospectively
interested persons. These may be ordered liberally to whatever extent any can put them in
good hands; and if any desire to send us lists of addresses, we shall be pleased to mail
sample copies of “‘The Herald” direct from our office. The special double
number of “The Herald,” treating the subjects of the “Dead” and the
“Second Coming of Christ,” continues to be used with good results. We know of no
better or clearer statement of the truth upon these important subjects, hence all may be
encouraged to, make use of this method of spreading the light of Truth before friends,
neighbors, and any truth-seekers that may be met from day to day.
The Divine Plan and the Revelation Exposition
We could
wish that more of the brethren could be active in putting into the hands of the people the
“Divine Plan of the Ages” which we believe has never been excelled as a clear,
lucid, and convincing presentation of the Truth concerning the Divine plans and purposes.
Some have been ordering these throughout the year past and distributing them by selling,
loaning, or giving them away. Let none neglect the privilege of this particular phase of
the ministry by which in past years such a large number of Christians have been blessed in
heart and head.
As for the
two volumes composing the Revelation exposition: the study of these is found to be most
edifying and fruitful, strengthening to faith, and encouraging to spirituality. Some of
the Classes make this a regular weekly study and from the reports that come to us, they
are realizing the blessings promised. (Rev. 1:3.) And this is as we would reasonably
expect, that at this time when it is recognized that so many of the Revelation visions
have been fulfilled and are matters of history, the recognition of this fact cannot be
otherwise than stimulating to the faith and hope of the brethren. We desire to encourage
all to look in the direction of this study in these days of severe testing and trial,
believing that they will find much in this connection that will enable them to understand
and appreciate better the general circumstances and conditions of our day which occupies
such a prominent place, in the Revelation visions. It occurs to us then to earnestly urge
upon all who appreciate the Revelation study to encourage their circulation and to look
for opportunities for placing them where they may give light. During the past year
particularly, there is to be noted an awakening on the part of a good number of the
friends with whom we were associated in former years -- such awakenings generally
resulting in their becoming dissatisfied with what has been engaging their attention, both
as respects methods of service as well as interpretations; such should have put in their
hands a copy of “The Herald” or the Revelation leaflet, which is supplied free
and which introduces the Revelation exposition. In not a few of these awakenings in recent
months, the results have been a coming out of former unhappy and undesirable conditions
and bondage into a clear realization of the facts and of the meaning of the Lord’s
dealings with His people in these very latter days. Let us consider, dear brethren, how we
may the better make use of our opportunities to assist others to enjoy that which is such
a comfort to our own hearts.
We are not
making any special or separate report of our relations and connections with brethren
outside of America, for what is submitted foregoing, includes in a general way, the
brethren in all parts of the world. We are constantly receiving correspondence from
interested brethren in the principal countries of the civilized world, such as, Great
Britain, Australia, France, Germany, Finland, Scandinavia, Holland, India, British West
Indies, South Africa, etc. While in the majority of these countries the interested
continue to be much scattered and comparatively few, yet the love, faith, and spirituality
are quite obvious, and give evidence of the Lord’s special providence over the
faithful, protecting and guiding in a special way such as have indicated loyalty to Him
and love for the Truth and the principles of righteousness.
In some of
these foreign countries, such as Finland and Germany, there are brethren who are active in
circulating the Truth in their own language, in many instances translating articles from
“The Herald” into their own tongue, which we believe and trust is bringing good
results. We shall not neglect to mention the valuable service that is rendered by the
Bible Students Committee, and some of the Classes, as well as individual brethren, in
encouraging the ministry of “The Herald” and the work of the Institute in
general throughout Great Britain; and in Australia the Berean Bible Institute and others
co-laboring there, render valuable assistance. This spirit of co-operation and these
zealous endeavors of others in other countries and far of lands, give genuine
encouragement, and we are sure that their own hearts are richly blessed in the same.
Comforting the Body of Christ
It is
clearly recognized from the outlook today that the Lord’s providence and blessing are
more particularly noticeable in our ministries as they have to do with the household of
faith, the brethren, rather than in the direction of appealing to the public. And this
fact is in keeping with what would be reasonably looked far now, approaching as we are,
nigh unto the “end of all things” so far as this Age is concerned, and unto the
nearness of the change of the Church and the establishing of the Kingdom. Yet we would not
that any be disheartened with regard to giving a testimony or in keeping active in the
service of the Truth and the brethren; rather the present outlook should make us more
active; and such exercise is sure to react favorably upon all so engaged.
Be of Good Courage
Whether,
therefore, our privileges of service these days are to be increased or narrowed down, let
us be faithful in the same to the extent of our ability and talents. The responsibility of
the ministry and care of the Lord’s people, we realize more and more, is entirely in
the hands of the Great Heavenly Shepherd, and our province is to be emptied vessels meet
for the Master’s use, and instruments ready to serve, or to stand and wait, according
to the good pleasure of the Master of the house. If therefore, we find the Lord’s
faithful people today in much the same circumstances as they have been in the past --
overcome in an outward way by great powers of the Adversary, and confronted with various
obstructions and difficulties, let none despair nor be turned back by discouragement,
knowing that hereunto have we been called to wage a good warfare; and remembering that in
our earthly pilgrimage, like our Master, we have been called primarily to demonstrate our
loyalty to God, to be submissive to the Divine will, and to develop all the qualities of
Christian character-to be made ready for the glorious union with the Heavenly Bridegroom.
_____________
Numbe of letters received 3,421
Number of letters sent out 5,569
Number of pilgrims serving 16
Miles traveled 40,612
Meetings held 355
Total attendance 6,125
TREASURER’S FINANCIAL REPORT
May 15, 1924 To May 15, 1925
Balance on hand May 15, 1924 $1,422.51
Receipts during year:
Tract Fund $5,767.78
Herald Subscriptions 1,940.72
Revelation Volumes 1,952.28
Volume I 184.25
Bibles, Mottoes, etc . 397.37
Rentals 1,015.00 11,257.40
$12,679.91
Disbursements during year:
Herald Expense ........ 5,059.05
Free Literature 134.00
Pilgrim Expense . 2,266.91
Convention Expense ...... 60.75
Office Expense 433.37
Revelation Volume Expense 1,814.91
Bibles, Mottoes, etc. ...... 315.91
Administration Expense 444.89
Maintenance of Property 996.01 11,525.80
Balance on hand May 15, 1925
………………$1,154.11
Liabilities Balance due on Revelation Exposition 500.00
Balance $654,11
___________
STATEMENT OF AUDITING COMMITTEE
Brooklyn, N. Y., June 6, 1925
To Whom It
May Concern:
By
appointment of the Boston, Philadelphia, and Brooklyn Ecclesias, we, the undersigned, met
and audited the financial accounts of The Pastoral Bible Institute, and desire to state
that the same were correct and in good condition.
Your brethren in Christ,
W. J. Davis
John Flood
George W. Jeffrey
SERIES II
GIBRALTAR, AND THE NORTHERN COAST OF AFRICA
THE next
morning after leaving Seville, Spain, we entered the Straits of Gibraltar, and soon at our
left the famous old rock came in view. From this distance it is declared by some to
resemble a crouching lion. We tried to trace the fancied resemblance, but were not
entirely successful. It is a great fortress of nature, guarding the blue Mediterranean and
its countries beyond. Although a part of the Spanish mainland, it has been in the hands of
the British since 1704.
Gibraltar is
two miles long, two-thirds of a mile wide, and the distance to its highest point is 1,396
feet. It is honeycombed from top to bottom by great tunnels, or galleries, many of them
built by the Moors, with later, more modern ones added by the English. There are over 70
miles of these tunnels and at their openings, which pierce the entire Rock with
port-holes, are great guns protecting this important Strait from every angle, and the
stronghold is provisioned to withstand long siege.
The town of
Gibraltar, lying at its foot, is under military law, and the traveler who goes ashore with
a camera will find it kindly but firmly taken from his care while he remains. Unless he is
a British citizen he must be content to travel through the lower gallery only. The
ordinary person will find this quite sufficient, for it is a tiresome way, up hill and
down and through dark places. Emerging from its upper end we stood on a fine observation
point, 590 feet above the sea and looked down on the town and beyond this to the strip of
“neutral ground.” On the British side of this ground is a high wire fence, the
open gate of which is patrolled constantly by soldiers. We had a bird’s eye view here
of the new harbor, which was built at a cost of $20,000,000, and accommodates the large
ships.
We watched
for a time a funeral procession that seemed to us strange and primitive, moving slowly
towards a cemetery. All were on foot, the bier carried high on the shoulders of its
bearers. We saw many of these processions in countries farther east later on, which often
bore our mind back to just such another sad little band that came out of a city of Galilee
long ago and whose sorrow was quickly turned to joy. The cemetery also was strange
looking. There were no graves and monuments, but on its ground in straight, orderly rows
lay huge white boxes of stone unburied -- the resting places of the dead. Adjoining it was
a Catholic cemetery, and some distance from here a field of white crosses marked the
graves of Scotch and English soldiers fallen in the Great War. The town, cold, military,
and severe, has no special beauty except in the lovely park just outside. The flowers were
blooming when we were there, in semi-tropical luxuriance, on the rock’s steep side.
The
population is mostly Spanish; hence the prevailing religion is Catholic. There are 14.
Catholic Churches; one English Cathedral for the officers, soldiers, and English
residents; and a Free Church of Scotland, the congregation of which is from the soldiers
of the Scotch regiments. Although the religious situation seems to have changed little.
under English authority, the town, with its clean streets and absence of beggars, differs
greatly from Spanish cities. In fact, education, with its corresponding enlightenment, is
much neglected in Spain, and the results are obvious. Gibraltar, separated by but a little
more than that narrow strip of “neutral ground,” has an air of pride,
cleanliness, and refinement instantly felt. In every country where England is in authority
we found more or less of this in evidence, the stamp of a civilized people.
To Algiers
Our course
now lay southeast to Algiers, a distance of 410 miles. It is the largest city in the
French colony of Algeria. Its population of over 390,000, is two-thirds European. For
centuries this strip on the northern coast of Africa was the dread of civilized nations.
Pirates from here preyed upon the ships sailing the Mediterranean, and the United States
paid yearly tribute to Algeria until 1815, when she sent a fleet there to demand the
release of all American prisoners; but after its capture in 1830 by the French, piracy and
slavery ceased.
Algiers
presents a striking picture from the bay, lying white against a background of green hills
topped in purple haze, with the blue Mediterranean at its feet. Palm, pepper, and orange
trees are in and around the city, with shrubs and foliage in abundance; an old Arabian
proverb enthusiastically describes it as, “a diamond set in an emerald frame.”
The lower part is French Algiers, the upper section is the old Arab part -- a never-to-be-
forgotten memory to one who has visited it. Where the French and Arab sections meet, the
streets were thronged with a motley crowd, variously costumed, and of many nationalities.
White-veiled women were seen here and there, with only the upper part of the face
uncovered. They have dark eyes, and eye-lids heavily blackened-a supposed aid to their
beauty. We entered a mosque and noticed with fresh, first interest a Mohammedan, with
bare, washed feet, prostrating himself towards Mecca. A small boy sat in a corner by
himself, chanting his Koran aloud, swaying back and forth, as is their custom.
We were next
taken to a room or “factory” where Oriental rugs were being made. At the looms
were girls from seven to fourteen years. Our Guide explained that the older ones receive
some pay, the younger ones none, for they are learners. I paused to watch the fingers of a
little seven year old; weave her shuttle in and out the warp, knotting and clipping the
nap, with the swiftness and precision of a machine. I touched her cheek and the face that
smiled up at me was bright with intelligence. No school days, no play-time for these
little ones, but the long hours of childhood spent at a loom, and their home lives in
wretchedness and squalor. Their sad, unhappy lot brought a keen sense of pity and a deep
longing for the near-at-hand Kingdom, when the healing beams of the Sun of Righteousness
shall pierce even to these darkest corners of the earth. Some of the women present
declared at the moment that they could never enjoy their Oriental rugs again, for the
memory of these children would stay with them; but once more in pleasant places, they
have, no, doubt, found it easy to forget.
Into the Lights and Shadows
We walked
now through the narrow streets, like tortuous alleys, so steep that they are built in a
series of steps, and walled on both sides with high windowless buildings. The dark,
cave-like .rooms of these buildings or shops, open on the street. The stones, worn smooth
with years, were slippery with running sewage and we were obliged to walk most carefully
to keep from falling. The indolent Arabs sitting about along the streets and in the open
doorways and shops, paid little attention to our party. I rather admired their air of
disdainful indifference -- whether real or assumed, I could not tell. A tourist who tries
to take a picture of any of them may find himself almost mobbed. The explanation is that
it is against their religious belief, but money usually overcomes the reluctance.
This damp,
dark, filthy quarter, with the grownups and children swarming around almost like human
vermin, could never be pictured in words, it must be felt and seen to realize something of
its misery. We saw bad conditions later in Egypt, but this was the climax of all.
Reaching our
autos, waiting outside the labyrinth of narrow lanes, a few minutes’ ride brought us
from squalor and misery to the French section. The contrast is great -- fine boulevards,
broad avenues, Parisian shops, a beautiful park, and large suburban homes. They are
tearing down the old Arab quarter at the rate of three hundred houses a year, they say,
but much remains to be done, even if this be so. The large French hotel at the edge of the
city was all that could be desired. A ride through the surrounding country took us through
valleys and hillsides of small, rich garden farms-a most lovely country. We walked the
pontoon bridge made of tow barges, back to our boat towards evening. Here we watched the
maneuvers of the British fleet, the twenty-one vessels of which had arrived in port, the
French fort firing twenty-one salutes as they slowly passed to enter the harbor.
The earliest
days of the nominal Christian Church, outside of Palestine and vicinity, began in northern
Africa, rather than in Rome. The oldest Latin translation of the Bible was made in Africa.
There are four Catholic Churches in Algiers, a Presbyterian Church, and a London Society
for Gospel work among the Jews. Protestants number about 10,000, Catholics 400,000 and all
the rest are Mohammedans in the province of Algeria. The various religions are supported
by grants from the government, each receiving a proportionate share.
To Tunis
We anchored
seven miles from shore and on reaching this; an electric road connected us with Tunis, ten
miles away. Because of this long distance from her harbor, the French government has built
a ship canal, permitting boats drawing less than 20 feet of water, to proceed directly to
the wharves of the city.
Tunis is
located in a low plain and does not present the picturesque and striking effect of many of
the cities. It is the third city in Africa, however, and is still very Oriental in
character, for it has been in the hands of the French but a comparatively short time. By a
somewhat high-handed act, France placed it under her protectorate in 1881. There is now a
French quarter, attractive and modern, with fine hotels, but the remainder is still the
old, unchanged city of the Orient. The Mosques are not open to unbelievers. We visited the
Palace of the Bey and from its roof various points of interest were brought to our
attention by our local Guide, whose English had all the stilted perfection of a language
learned only from books.
A most
interesting place was the Court of Justice. Here in a large open court were the people who
had come with their grievances, the men thronging the center, the black-veiled women
modestly huddled back at the sides and corners. All were waiting for the ear of the judge,
who sat wise and spectacled in a small room off the court, taking them in turn. A closed
door to another room, had curious bunches of thread or floss tied to its handle. These
threads, we were told, are left by the women who have entered there to give testimony,
after having been previously warned, that if they tell an untruth they will become blind.
They take the thread or raveling from their garments as they leave, very much it seems as
we might leave a card.
Mohammedans, Jews, and Christians
We passed.
through some of the residential section, the living quarters of which were as usual on the
second floor, the lower story windowless and uninviting. The tiny windows of the upper
story were so tightly barred with green lattice that they seemed like prisons and gave
evidence of the closely secluded lives of the women of the better class. The streets here
and in the business part are too narrow to admit anything but pedestrians, hence our
carriages were outside. In the labyrinth of streets, the narrowness of which, together
with the height of buildings, admit no sunlight, all business, wholesale, retail, and
manufacturing, is carried on. One street was given over to the manufacture of flat
heelless slippers. A worker or two sat in the wide front opening of each small shop,,
cutting and then sewing the bright leathers into shape, afterwards hanging the gayly
colored finished product across the top and down the sides of the wide doorway in
brilliant bunches of colors. There being no windows, wares are hung outside as well as in.
The bright colors of rugs, scarfs, etc., in every direction, lend an air of festivity,
which made one feel that this must be some gala day and all is decorated in its honor. So
strange and attractive it was that I lingered too long, and along with a few others, was
lost from our party. In that alley, like maze, with everything alike and no landmarks, we
wandered on, becoming more hopelessly entangled each moment. No one understood our
language and our chances for luncheon at the French hotel with the rest began to seem
small, as it was already noon. But one who met us announced in broken English that he was
a Guide sent to find us. A short walk brought us to the large arch that separates the old
quarter from the new.
The author
of “Home Sweet Home” died in Tunis, while stationed here as consul, and a window
to his memory in an English Church speaks of the esteem in which he was held. Tunis is
divided into three distinct sections, Mohammedan, Jewish, and Christian, and I believe the
government assists the religious activities here much the same as in Algeria.
To Carthage
The
excavations at Carthage, but ten miles distant, have uncovered statues, and mosaics of
Greek and Roman art dating back to the centuries long before Christ. They are all placed
in the museum here. Carthage, one of the renowned cities of ancient times, was a
stronghold of the early Christian Church, and here many Christians were martyred. An
excavation shows the broken columns of the theatre, the uncovered arena of which is marked
in its center by a tiny chapel and cross in memory of the Christians who met death in this
spot. A lower runway leading from the lions’ den is also uncovered.
We were
obliged to shorten our stay at Carthage, for a strong wind was blowing, and the seven mile
trip from shore to our vessel might prove rather hazardous. Such proved to be the case,
and the small tender slowly made her way against the force of wind and wave. There was no
shelter but the tiny high wheel-house, and the waves dashing constantly over the boat
drenched the people with cold salt water. When we finally approached our ship, the cold
and badly frightened little crowd were further disheartened by the wheelman’s
decision that we could not be taken on board in that. storm. A small boat may safely ride
the waves but there is great danger of being dashed against the larger vessel. Thanks to
the skill of well-trained seamen, we were taken in safely, one by one, from the small
boat, and the hearty cheer they were given, by the watching crowd on board was not all
they received; a purse of over $400 was made up for them later by grateful passengers.
After having this small glimpse of the dangers to which a crew are exposed in times of
peril and the training that permits no thought of self when duty calls, I understood
better the formal prayer of a seafaring nation in her church services, for the men at sea.
Life’s, experiences constantly broaden our sympathies and our understanding/
-- G. M. H.
“The angel of Jehovah encampeth
round about them that fear Him,
and delivereth them.” -- Psa. 34:7; Acts 12:5-17.
DIVINE
wisdom alone can determine what things are good for the children of God. The Master’s
words are sufficient: “Your father knoweth what things ye have need of.” And
this applies as truly to the Lord’s people as individuals, as to His Church as a
whole.
Alternate
seasons of the storm and tempest, and those of peace and calm have been the experience of
the saints all through the Age. Thus about twelve years after our Lord’s crucifixion,
the period of rest and prosperity that followed the conversion of Saul, was followed by
another period of persecution. Herod Agrippa I, had been appointed king of Judea. He was
grandson of Herod the Great, the murderer of the babes of Bethlehem. He was nephew of
Herod Antipas, who beheaded John the Baptist. It was his son, Agrippa II, before whom the
famous address was made by St. Paul. (Acts 26:28.) He was not a Jew, but an Edomite, a
descendant of Esau. He appears to have been desirous of the good will of the ,people, even
at the cost of principle. He took pains to observe the minutia of Jewish ceremonials. He
-hung up in the temple the gold chain which the Emperor Caligula had given him. It is
related that at a “Feast of Tabernacles” he caused the entire Book of
Deuteronomy to be read in the hearing of the people, and that he “burst into
theatrical tears” when the reader came to the words, “Thou mayest not set a
stranger over thee, who is not thy brother.” Thereupon the populace obsequiously
cried, “Don’t weep, Agrippa, you are our brother.”
Passover Season Sifting
On the
lookout to curry favor with the Jews, especially the influential ones, Agrippa caused the
Apostle James to be beheaded, and finding that this. brought great pleasure to the Jews,
he had the Apostle Peter arrested. The Greek word here rendered “apprehend”
rather implies that his arrest was after searching. Probably all the Apostles were more or
less secreted about this time, but, trusting to the sacredness of the Passover season, St.
Peter ventured forth and was arrested and imprisoned, Agrippa intending his death directly
at the close of the Passover week. Meantime, however, the Lord delivered him, as this
lesson shows.
We can well
imagine the sadness of the Church at that Passover season, which must have reminded them
considerably of the time of our Lord’s death and the alarm then amongst His
followers. It has seemed to some as though each Passover season, each Memorial
celebration, was a time of special trial and testing amongst the Lord’s followers. As
Judas and Peter and all of the Lord’s disciples got their sifting at this particular
season of the year, so it may be that the sifting and shaking, by which Satan desires to
have others of the Lord’s followers, are specially permitted at the Memorial season.
But whether this is a true supposition or not, it will surely not injure the Lord’s
people to be specially on guard against the wiles of the Adversary at these times -- since
we are to watch and pray always, left we fall into temptation.
The Church Prayed for Peter
St. Peter is
supposed to have been imprisoned in the famous Castle of Antonio, possibly in the very
same room in which our Lord was arraigned before Pilate, and the same one to which Paul
was subsequently taken when mobbed in Jerusalem. Peter had a guard of four quaternions
(four soldiers each), who relieved each other every three hours. Two of the four were
chained. to Peter’s arms, one to each arm, and a third was outside the door and a
fourth in the passage leading to the outer iron gate. The power of Divine grace helping in
every time of need and giving peace amid alarms; is Well illustrated in this case by the
fact that under all these circumstances, St: Peter was fast asleep when the angel of the
Lord came to deliver him. The proprieties of the case are also illustrated by the fact
that Peter’s friends, the Church, were not asleep, but praying for him. It was not
for him to pray for himself deliverance from the power of Agrippa, for he had already
consecrated his life unto death, and properly should feel quite ready to lay down his life
at this time, if such proved to be the Lord’s will in respect to him. For him to have
asked for the prolongation of his life would have been t ask amiss, and to have manifested
a willfulness incompatible With a full consecration to the Lord’s will. But with the
Church it is different. They could with all propriety, while expressing to the Lord their
confidence in the Divine supervision of the Church’s affairs, tell him also of their
love for St. Peter and of how much his sacrificing in the service of the Truth had done
for them and was doing for them. They could properly enough express the hope that it might
be the Lord’s will that he should continue with them for their joy and comfort and
upbuilding in the “most holy faith.” It should not surprise us either that this
prayer-meeting on St. Peter’s account lasted all through the night and, for aught we
know, other meetings of the same kind may have been held besides the one referred to in
this lesson, which was at the home of Mary, the mother of Mark, the writer of the Book of
Mark and the cousin of Barnabas, possibly the unnamed person of Mark 14:51.
Men Ought Always to Pray
It may be
added, Would it not have been appropriate for the Church to have offered prayer and then
to have retired as usual, leaving the results entirely with the Lord? We reply that the
examples given us in the Scriptures fully warranted the all-night prayer-meeting and even
its continuance for several days. Do we not know of our Lord’s remaining all night in
the mountain at prayer? Do we not remember His long and repeated prayers in Gethsemane ?
Do we not remember the Apostle’s exhortation to the Church, “Praying without
casing, and in everything giving thanks”? Giving: this a liberal construction as
signifying a prayerful attitude of mind and continued looking ‘to the Lord for His
grace and guidance, nevertheless our Lord’s parable of the importunate widow and her
repeated comings and her reward all teach the same lesson of importunity. Besides, our
Lord thus applied the parable, saying, “Shall not God avenge His very elect, which
cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them? I tell you that He will avenge
them speedily.” -- Luke 18:7, 8.
In one sense
of the word the fears and sufferings of the Lord’s people and their trials and
difficulties ascend to the Lord in prayer and call to Divine justice for vengeance,
recompense, punishments, without any word from His people to this effect. Rather their
petition should be in line with Stephen’s prayer for his enemies, ‘‘Lord,
lay not this sin to, their charge.” Nevertheless, as Abel’s blood
is said to have cried to the Lord for vengeance, so the blood of His saints is said to cry
unto Him day and night, “How long, O Lord, dost Thou not judge and avenge?” --
Rev. 6:10.
The Lord
certainly does not wish us to understand that He has no oversight, arrangement or plans of
His own, nor that the Divine arm may be moved by our prayers in any direction at our
pleasure, at any time. On the contrary, the Lord assures us that all of His purposes shall
be accomplished and that His Word shall not return to Him void, “but shall prosper in
the thing whereto it was sent.” (Isa. 55 :11.) Nothing can. alter the definite, fixed
outlines of the Divine ;program. But the Lord has evidently left certain of the filling in
of our experiences subject to change or modification. Those minor details He is ready to
use for the blessing of His people, for the development of their faith. Thus in St.
Peter’s case the Lord was doubtless intending a deliverance in some manner, because
He had a further work for him to do, but He allowed it to come about in such a manner as
to indicate it as a reward of the faith of those who prayed for him. Otherwise the
deliverance might have come sooner or later, and in response to faith or works along some
other line.
The Lord
evidently desires to cultivate in us a quality of faith, trust. Therefore He has made
faith a condition for all of His blessings of the present Age, and distinctly. tells us
that without faith it is impossible to please Him, and that He desires us to “walk by
faith and not by sight.” -- 2 Cor. 5:17.
Why One Taken and the Other Left
The question
naturally and properly arises, Why was Herod permitted to kill the Apostle James and not
permitted to kill the Apostle Peter? Was St. James unworthy of any further part in the
Gospel work, or less worthy than the Apostle Peter? Was there not enough work for all, or
was St. James permitted to die because he was ready for death, because he had finished his
course? and was St. Peter preserved alive because he had not finished his course? None of
these suggestions seems to be the correct one. Rather let us surmise that both Apostles
were loyal and acceptable to the Lord and at the mark of perfect Love, fit for the
Kingdom. Let us suppose that the Lord preserved Peter because He had a special work for
him to do, and that He allowed the beheading of St. James, not because there was nothing,
more that he could do, but because by such a death as he experienced and at such a time,
he could accomplish the most that was possible -- a work which could not have been so well
done at another time, nor by the death of another person. St. James, apparently, was the
leader amongst the Apostles and his execution would be a great shock to the Cause,
awakening the followers of our Lord to renewed zeal and energy in the proclamation of the
Truth. It doubtless served to increase the appreciation of the people for the Apostles,
causing them to give still more earnest heed to their teachings and to realize how greatly
the Cause of the Lord had been made dependent upon them, the “twelve Apostles”
of the Church. -- Rev. 21:14.
This, then,
would help to explain why the Church prayed day and night for St. Peter. The loss of St.
James made St. Peter and every other Apostle doubly precious in the estimation of the
“household of faith.” God intended that St. Peter should live to be an old man;
for this was our Lord’s prophecy respecting him. But the emergency proved a blessing
to the Church, by way of stirring up their pure minds to an appreciation of the
Lord’s cause in general and for St. Peter in ;particular. A similar lesson may be
drawn today. As we see some ripe grains taken and other ripe grains left, it may mean that
the Lord can use the death of the one the better and the life of the other the better in
His dealings with the Church.
A Real
Angel, A Real Deliverer.
The time in
which the holy angels were permitted to materialize still continued; a power possessed by
them, but, we believe, is not now permitted to be exercised. It was between three and six
o’clock in the last watch, for Peter was not missed until sunrise (Vat.), when the
guards were changed. St. Peter; sleeping peacefully, was awakened by the angel, whose
features were radiant, because this was necessary in order that. the Apostle might discern
that his deliverer was a holy being. The Scriptures mention numerous appearances of angels
as men without radiant appearances. Peter was bidden to rise up. Quickly and
simultaneously the chains which bound him to the soldier by either hand were loosed. He
was instructed to put on his wooden shoes, or sandals, and to put on his outer garment, or
cloak, and to follow his leader. We read that he followed, realizing the facts as those of
a, dream. Thus he was led past the first and second wards, or doors; until they came to
the great gate of the city, which opened of its own accord, and then the angel left him.
It is worthy
of notice that the miracles performed here were only such as were beyond Peter’s
natural power. Whatever he could do he was required to do, namely putting on his sandals
and his cloak, and following the angel. He could have been transported. His own sandals or
other sandals could have been fastened to his feet. A new coat might have been provided.
But the lesson is a more profitable one as it was given. Similarly in the Lord’s
dealings with us today, we should remember that it is ours to do everything within our
power, and the Lord’s to overrule all things for our good, and to supply our
deficiencies from His abundance. Thus still He gives us day by day our daily bread, in the
rain and the sunshine and the seed; but He expects us to labor for it, to plow the ground,
to sow the seed, to harrow it, to thrash it, grind it and bake it.
Must Take Steps of Faith and Trust
“When
Peter was come to himself,” when he realized the facts in the case, that he was free,
he said, “Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath sent His angel and delivered me
out of the hand of Herod and . . . of the Jews.” St. Peter’s faith was
strengthened. Willing to die, he found the Lord was willing that he should live and labor
and endure, and he was equally pleased, rejoicing, we may be sure, for the privilege of
further service, even though it would mean further sacrifices and sufferings for the
Lord’s sake and for the sake of His people.
Doubtless
the angel started Peter in the direction of Mary’s home, where the prayer was being
made on his behalf. Another has drawn the lesson from this incident thus: “This is
also a deep principle of Providence. Jesus led the disciples out as far as Bethany, and
then left them, and ever since they have been finding their own way through the world. God
leads us part way in life, and then leaves us with only human guides to find the rest of
the way ourselves.” The thought is that as we need special assistance and guidance,
the Lord gives it to us, but requires us to take steps of faith and trust; just as Peter
was led in a miraculous way through the gate out of danger and the presence of the angel
withdrawn, leaving the Apostle to exercise faith the rest of the way,, which was for his
own good.
The
description of the house with an outer gate implies that it was one of the better class.
Peter’s knock was heard by little Rose, for such is the meaning of Rhoda. So
overjoyed was she that, forgetful to let him in, she ran first to tell the praying
household that Peter was at the gate. Expecting no deliverance at such an hour, some
thought the maiden mistaken, and then insisted that it must be his angel -- in harmony
with the prevalent thought that an angel had supervision of each individual of God’s
people and that such might personate the one under his protection.
Divine Guardianship Ours
The brethren
were surprised at the Lord’s answer to their petitions, because it came so
unexpectedly as respects time. There seas an outburst of excitement and questions, which
the Apostle was obliged to silence by tine shaking of his hand. Then he narrated the
wonderful story of his deliverance and bade them tell it to the other James, the brother
(cousin) of Jesus, and the other disciples. Then Peter went his way, whether to another
city or to another house, we do not know. In any event, he exercised wisdom in not
needlessly provoking Herod. There was consternation with the coming of daylight. Later on
in the same chapter we learn of another visit of the angel of the Lord-this second time to
smite Herod with disease (intestinal worms), from which he subsequently died. This chapter
then shows us the power of Satan, the power of God, and the power of prayer.
The promise,
“The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him,” etc., is a
symbolical statement illustrative of the Divine guardianship of all those who are truly
His. The thought is the continual supervision of our affairs by the Lord. Whether we think
of the angel of the Lord as one of the heavenly host specially appointed on our behalf, or
whether we think of him from the standpoint of the various powers of nature, the levers of
which are all in the Divine care, it matters not. We have the assurance that the Father
Himself loves us and that all the heavenly powers are pledged to those whom He has
accepted in Christ Jesus, and these unitedly guarantee blessings to all those who abide in
God’s love. This means to abide in faith in the Redeemer. It means to abide loyal to
our consecration, to do the Father’s will to the extent of our ability. That will is
declared to be that we shall love the Lord supremely, our neighbor as ourselves, and all
the members of the household of faith, as Christ loved us.
“And He said unto them, Go ye into
all the world, and preach the Gospel
to the whole creation.” -- Mark 16:15;
Acts 13:1-12
SEPARATE me
Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them,” was a most expressive
and signal call of the Holy Spirit in the early days of the prosperity of the Church at
Antioch. Such a leading and call was in fall keeping with the instruction the Lord had
given, that His disciples were to be witnesses and to bear testimony to the Truth unto the
uttermost parts of the earth. The text used at the head of this article is not found in
the oldest Greek manuscripts and therefore there is much un certainty as to its
authenticity; yet it is in general harmony with other Scriptures whose genuineness and
validity are not to be questioned, such as the statement, “Go ye therefore, and teach
all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit.” -- Matt. 28:19.
Though we
would not be in agreement nor in harmony with much that passes for missionary work, we
must recognize that the New Testament is full of the true missionary spirit. Nearly all of
the endeavor and activity in the early Church may be said to be of the nature of
missionary work. Our Lord’s work amongst the Jews was in the nature of a missionary
work. The work done by those who were scattered abroad as the result of persecution in
Judea was in the nature of missionary work. The Church at Antioch was itself a mission
Church. And so the missionary journey of the Apostle Paul, should not be considered in the
light of special mission work as that term is used today (not a mission to savages and
barbarians), but rather as a part of the whole work which the Lord was pleased to
specially bless and use in the establishment of the Truth in various quarters distant from
Jerusalem.
God’s Elect from Every Quarter
The spirit
of Christianity is an aggressive one. The Gospel sets before the true believer an object,
a motive, which inspires to an enthusiasm of the highest degree. The message becomes a
burning one which must flame forth as a true light to enlighten others. Otherwise it would
become extinct, smothered. “Quench not the Holy Spirit, whereby ye are sealed,”
may surely be applied to a proper missionary spirit, as well as in other ways.
Missionary
endeavor in foreign lands certainly has been in harmony with the Divine intimation, that a
knowledge of the grace of God might be scattered abroad so as to select God’s
“elect” from every quarter. We are not by these words endorsing everything
connected with the methods or the message which has been sent forth in the name of the
Gospel. We do believe, however, that a blessing has resulted even through the use of wrong
methods and impure teachings. Those who have given money to the Cause have surely received
a blessing, compensating every endeavor to serve the Lord. The sacrifice of earthly means
has brought its blessing and compensation in fervency of spirit. We are not certain to
what extent the heathen have been benefited by the lessons civilization has brought them;
some, more; some, less. Only the Lord will know how to determine the actual results and to
apportion the rewards for services in His Cause.
Our Missionary Work.
It is our
thought that while there is so much to be done at home in civilized lands, those who have
their hands full do well to content themselves therewith, leaving it for the Lord to open
up, the way later, according to His wisdom and grace, for the heathen to hear the message.
Our missionary efforts, however, hath at home and abroad, are of a different character and
different inspiration than other missionary efforts. Ours is not a proclamation of a
fierce God and a great place called hell or purgatory into which all their forefathers
have gone and into which they must go unless they receive our message. Ours is the
missionary message of St. Paul and Barnabas -- an announcement that the God of love has
provided a Redeemer; that in due time the Redeemer Will establish His Kingdom and through
it bless all the families of the earth with a knowledge of His grace, and grant assistance
back into harmony with God and thereby an opportunity for eternal life.
Ours is a
message of special favor now being given out to any who have the “ear to hear”
and the heart to appreciate and accept it. Ours is the missionary hunt for the Lord’s
jewels, for His “royal priesthood,” His “little flock,” His
“elect” -- that these may be enlightened, and assisted in making their calling
and election sure to joint-heirship with their Redeemer in His coming Kingdom. Our chief
work is at home or in places where the Gospel has already been proclaimed, because we
understand the Scriptures to teach that we are in the harvest time of this Gospel Age,
just as the work of the Lord and His Apostles was in the harvest time of the Jewish Age.
To His disciples Jesus said, “I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no
labor.” Other men labored and ye are entered into [the fruit of] their labor --
harvesting the ripened grain.
Followed the Leadings of the Spirit
The record
shows most commendable progress made by the Christians at Antioch under the instruction of
the Holy Spirit through Barnabas and Paul. And this is corroborated by the testimony of
this lesson that the Church at Antioch was in a healthy condition spiritually, and full of
zeal for the spread of the Gospel. It had in it by this time several persons of ability
and full consecration, whom the Lord was pleased to use in connection with its ministry.
The time had come when Paul and Barnabas could be spared to go elsewhere to start others
in the good way, and the Holy Spirit indicated that this should be done. How this was
indicated we are not informed, and we will not speculate .concerning it. Suffice it that
the Church understood the directions of the Holy Spirit and obeyed them, Barnabas and Paul
being agreeable also. Barnabas is mentioned first in the record, because up to this time
he had the more prominent position -- being older than Paul in spiritual things and
perhaps also older in years. While Paul was “‘a chosen vessel” unto the
Lord, prepared for a treat service, it had not yet been fully manifest that he was the
Lord’s choice to fill the place of Judas, -- the twelfth Apostle.
Apparently
Barnabas and Paul were sent forth at the expense or charge of the Church of Antioch, and
hence went forth as their representatives, as well as representatives of the Lord. The
importance of the matter was appreciated and the dependence of the mission upon Divine
blessing was recognized in the fasting and prayer and outward manifestation of appointment
by laying on of hands. This laying on of hands was not by way of giving authority to
preach, for Barnabas and Paul had already been teaching in various quarters for some
years, and had been teaching the Church at Antioch for over a year, it was therefore
merely a ceremony by which missionaries, and the Church undertaking their support, took
cognizance of each other as representatives and as being represented in this special work
about to be begun. But while accepting the commission of the Antioch Church;: as its
representatives, the missionaries specially recognized that they were sent forth by the
Holy Spirit. -- Verse 4.
Sought Those Feeling After God
They had not
gone far before they began the work which lay so near to their hearts-the preaching of
God’s message of good tidings of great joy, of reconciliation effected by the
precious blood of Christ. They did not go to the heathen people, but went to sow the seed
of the Kingdom in already prepared soil; they went, first of all, as in every place, to
the Jews who for sixteen hundred years had been under the law as a school-master to
prepare them to receive Christ. The pious Gentiles who were “feeling after God, if
haply they might find Him,,” and who had some knowledge of the God of Israel,
frequently attended these Jewish synagogues, and hence in going to these, the
missionaries, Barnabas and Paul, were reaching the best )prepared and most religious
element in every place.
The
liberality of the management of the Jewish synagogues is attested by the fact that the
Gospel got a ready hearing in all of them up to the point where they realized that the
message was likely to produce a division in their midst. If the Jewish synagogues and
Christian churches today were conducted on a similarly liberal basis, and gave opportunity
for the presentation of any subject that could be presented from the Scriptures and in
harmony with the Scriptures, the present missionary work of disseminating the present
harvest truth would be very much simplified. While today we are less subject to the
violent persecution, on the other hand we are seriously handicapped by prevailing
conditions and sectarian bondage.
By Love Serve the Brethren
john-Mark,
the nephew of Barnabas, is here introduced to us; not as a third laborer in the special
work of ministry of the Truth, but as an assistant or servant to Barnabas and Paul. In
this as in every place the Scriptures, while teaching that all believers are
“brethren” and “fellow-heirs,” nevertheless repudiate entirely the
thought entertained by some today that all brethren are exactly on an equality in every
matter. Very properly Mark did not say -- “If I cannot go on an equality with
Barnabas and Paul, I will not go at all.” Very properly he did say that if there is
any opportunity for service, if by any means I can render any assistance in the journey
and affairs of these whom the Holy Spirit has indicated as special representatives, I
shall: be most glad to serve them, and thus serve indirectly the Lord and His. Cause. And
there were opportunities, as there are always opportunities for those who have a will to
serve the Cause; and no doubt Barnabas and especially Paul, received many, helps; from
their younger brother who had become their servant, chiefly from his desire to serve the
Cause of Christ. No doubt also their opportunities for public ministry of the Truth were
enlarged and broadened by this helpful assistance in secular affairs. Paul especially
constantly needed a helper; because of his thorn in the flesh; his weak eyes.
Mark’s
faithful service continued for some time; but for some reason (verse 13) not stated, he
left the work, and we may judge very nearly lost his privilege and opportunity in
connection with it. No one knows how much he may have lost of spiritual blessing and
privilege by his failure to continue with Paul. The disagreement; whatever it may have
been, apparently extended to his uncle Barnabas, and eventually led to the separation of
the latter from Paul. However, years afterward John-Mark apparently saw things in a
different light, and again joined Paul’s company. He seems to have ultimately become
a true yoke-fellow, very highly appreciated by the great Apostle. (Col. 4:10; 2Tim. 4:11.)
Here is a suggestion to all of us that, no matter what may be, the door of opportunity
for, engaging, in the Lord’s service, faithfulness to it is essential to progress;.
and there is a further lesson, that if we find we have erred and been unappreciative of
our privilege, the best thing to do is to repent therefore and seek a renewal of the
opportunities, and to attest our loyalty by fresh and increased earnestness.
Light and Darkness in Conflict
The Gospel
heralds continued on their journey, through the Island of Cyprus, until at Paphos they
came in contact with a new experience. There Satan had a special servant, a spirit-medium,
a sorcerer, and false teacher. This man had ingratiated himself with the chief government
official of that place, and when the latter was being reached: by the Gospel message the
sorcerer opposed. it, realizing that there can be no harmony between light and darkness,
between the Spirit of Christ and the spirit of demons, and that if the deputy governor
became a follower of Christ and imbued with. His Spirit, he would be, proportionately out
of harmony with spirit mediumship and sorcery and, all the evil works of the flesh and the
devil. It was a peculiar case, such as apparently had not previously been, presented; it
was a contention between truth and error and the servant of truth and the servant of
error. It: was just such a case as was needed to bring forward the Apostle Paul’s
grand traits of character: opposition only made. him the stronger by arousing him fully to
the necessity of the case, More than this, although he had already been made the recipient
of certain “gifts” of the Holy Spirit,. he was now specially imbued with Divine
power, as is here indicated by the Greek text; and acting under the direction of this
holy power which possessed him, he pronounced against Elymas the scathing rebuke; the
sentence of blindness, recorded in this lesson.
The deputy;
who was evidently honest-hearted and sincere in his desire to know the Truth, was thus
convinced of the Truth, and embraced the Gospel. From this time onward Paul takes his
place as the chief one in the work; hereafter it is Paul and Barnabas or Paul and his
company. It is quite probable that it was a failure to recognize the Lord’s leading
in connection with the Apostle Paul and his leadership as an Apostle of this branch of the
work, and through family sympathy with his Uncle Barnabas, that John-Mark here deserted
the work.
The Lord at the Helm
The
sprititual lesson here, for us all is, first, that the Lord Himself is at the helm and
directing the affairs of His Church, and that each and all of us should continually look
to Him for the guidance of His work, and to note how He is leading the various members in
the Body (1 Cor. 12:25-31); second, the lesson teaches us the Lord’s will respecting
the promulgation of the Gospel; that it was to be spread everywhere there were any that
had ears to hear, ,that the Divine purpose might be fulfilled, that of selecting out of
every nation, people, language and tongue those who should compose the Bride of Christ. We
see from it, too, that while certain servants are chosen and indicated by the Lord for
certain special services, yet others are permitted to serve as did Mark, and still others
are permitted to serve the Church at home, as did Simeon and, Lucius and Manaen, and that
still others -- the entire Church -- are privileged to co-operate in the matter of
“sympathy, love, prayers, hospitality, and financial sustenance. -- Rom. 12:6-13.
Circumstances
have since greatly changed; and. we are not to be confined to exactly the same methods of
procedure now as then; but the inherent principles are the same. We neither wear the same
kind of clothing, nor travel in the same kind of vessels, nor are we supported in exactly
the same manner. But with all of these variances the same service is now due to be
performed, namely the preaching of the Gospel to all who have “ears to hear.”
With the Gospel presented on the printed page, and with present mail and rail facilities,
larger opportunities are within our reach; and the same agencies make it possible for
those who must remain at. home. And who can use the mails to thus go about doing good,
preaching Christ and His Kingdom and its righteousness. We who are living today still have
special opportunities and privileges for ministering the Truth to others. Our
responsibility is large; in proportion to our talents. and opportunities; and our faith
and love and, zeal should be correspondingly shown; for he who loves much, and who has
many opportunities, will surely do much for Him who has called us out of darkness into His
marvelous light.
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