...

TB ...
"T. IIha _ IIf

Bible Standard.
.Cbt 11ft of 604

"1 Il'III CONe

.,11.':

'S

Efcnal tlft."

VOL. 28.

No. S.

AUCKLAND,

N.Z., AUGUST, 1907.

elaimc(i that

TWOPENCE.

. .i

iI

~~

e~f'-~&MUO~_m6irn"'~i~'I~~"~~~~"~~~==~.

I~
\; the course of th is month there is to 1)(' Iwlclin Ualllilrirlge (l<;nglanrl) the 'J'hiJ'(1 (iongl'(,~~ of' p(,l';;on~ illtr'r('sted in

the spread or till'intcl'llatiollallangllage. I';~penmto. \I't' note the matter here that 0111' n'nd('l'~ mn v know that this has sonic bearing 1Ipon the progress 1)1' C'hristianitv. Roman Catholicism a Irea <I.," publishes <l I'eyie\\' in this language, and it has IWCll :,nggestec1 that it he('ollll'S the langllagl' to be llscd at the gl'eat World Convention of (,hri~tian Endoavourcrs. The Books of Ecclesiastes and Matthew are issued in ihis tonglle, and at th forthEtn :tmportn nt coming Congress there i~ to he he"lcl I()roposal. it meeting, to whic-h interested 1)('livers or all lands are invited, to consider the translation and publication of the entire Biblc in J~Rpen1llto. A call to this gathering has been issued, and intend ing members arc in f01'nl('(1 that the object- of the first meeting wi 11 he to learn what attempts ha ye been made alreadv hv committees 01' individuals to make translations: to consider in what manner a trulv vintornational translation can he cffcctod : and to consult npon ways and IllC:1nR of publication. This is a movement which is likcl v to have great importance llpon the matters which \I'e advocate in this papcr, for j tis obvious that in this international language it is possible to foist upon the world with additional strength the old rlogma of immortal-soul ism, or, bv careful and truthful translation. it can forward the interests of Life and Kingdom truth. The other evcning we heard part of an address whieh was delivered to show that "Higher Criticism" has ilif;covered how the Bible was put together. 'rho speaker

OCl'lll:111 scholars had "proved" that there were four different writers, of difi'crent times, whose separate manuUbe 1J.le,,, s('l'ipt~ had boon combined by some <Irtttctsl1l. r-levcr ('c1itoJ'. 'l'hesc four writers \\"CJ'(' responsible 1'01' the fir,.;t six Books of the Bible. 'I'he , arc known u nrlor the somewhat shadowv names of .J", K, P., and 1). Th:1t is. ".1" was a write;' who used the title "Jchovah' for Cod : "lij" gave Him the name "IDlohim;" "D" .is the writer mainly responsible for the Hook of Deuteronornv, which. according to the speaker. """:1"; tho hook found in the davs of .Iosiah," by which statoment the listeners could understand that it had no oxistcnco beforc that timc : "V'is a priestly writer. whose contrihution are su ppoRed to he oasil v traceable. "11" is the editor \\"110took those sevora] writers , and with more 01' less skill combined their different writings. His work was cvidentlv sn acceptable to the .Te\\'~ that :111 trace of the original separate documents has disappeared. KlI L though th is is so, the "proofR advanced hv assured holarsliip' clcarlv show that modern seholar~ arc able to dissect this composite narrative and giYe us once again th original writ-ingK 'I'ho fent iR marvellous, oven in those dell'S of wonders, and tbe performance of the erlitor who combined the documents pales into insignifir.mcc before it. Of course, there are some unbelieving persons who are 'donhtful about this dissection business, nnd who think that no hypothesis ought to he put in the place of truth. 'I'hev are al 0 unkind enough to my that the word "a>'Kllrecl" sounds well, hilt that the chanzo of "I''' into "m" in that word mnkos ,I wonderful /l i Teronce to its meaning. At the closc of the address a questioner wanted to know how we could he sure that modern scholars were ahlc to dissect an ancient document which, accordinu to the speaker, had been ill composite form for about '~50() vears, and in a language which mav be said to bc virtually dead, an awkwarb when not one of: them, nor all of (lllnestton. them, could take a modern book in their own language, written hy tiro or more authors," and assign its (1iff'orent portion, to its respect: ve writers. To this there was no satisfactory replv ; virtually the only answer was, it has heen (lone, and the agreement

THE

BIBLE

STANDARD.

AUGUST, }907,

----

uf scholars confirms it. Tu which statement. had UI]() been in a contentious mood, it would he sufficient to sal' that whilst in the main these modern scholars agree th;t there wore these different original documents, vet in the pro('c"" of sifting- them out there is plontv of (lir('l'",ity whir-l: g-ors to show th:1t (he thoorv is valueless. The speaker wished to ex plain how the assumed editor did his work, and hrlcl11Jl a copr of 'I'atians Diatcssaron (an oarlv hnrmonv of the Four Gospels). Rholring (hat 'I';d i.m harl mndc 11J1 composite narrative fl'<lIll lhc Four a (im'p(:I", and it II":IS so slI('(,(,,,,,flll that it threatened at 0l1<' time f o ~l jfllult}? :t IIustra non. displace the separate (io"lwl", 'I'ho questioner remarked thn (' 'I'n hall's Hu rmonv luul so cOllljlldl'l." di"apP(':ln'd l hat , althollgh i(" existence was certified to hy church h isl orin ns, vel. JIO copies of it WCl'Cknown i ill recently, wh i ls], the C:osl)('ls still continued ns separate manuscripts, aR ihev \\'('1'(' orig-inallY, Whereas, ill tho caso of UH' Old 'I'est.unont. ill(' speaker would have us assume 1'11:11 Ihl' l la rmo n v llad survived, and tho s('paratc' i10C'lIII1Cllt:< hall l'olllJ.J(,(pl\' disappearr-d ! No ('('pi\, 10 lhis waR g'il'rll. Rar(' Illai ,,(,llolal''' we 1'1: ahlc to di""er-i 'I'atinn's Tl annon ; :mll :l"",ign the d ifforont "entl'IKe" lo \lalthl'lr,\lnrk. Luke. and John, rcspecfivolv. "Yes," "nid 1'11<' qlll';;t ionor. "IJIlt tlu-v are aide to (10 this. not because or their "1)('I'inl nhi lit v to del,e('t those Rrl'PI'1I1 authors. 11Iil hl'OIIl,,('t IiPI' Ii:m' the Irolll' (lo~P(:J" I,) gllide thorn." '1'0 l h is 1111'1'1' \I'as no answer.

l he passage, "Jn the beginning was the \\'0, 'r-that is, iL began with a citation from John's Gospel. Close exam ination showed that the Harmony nrust have been a compilation from the Four Gospels. .Three or Iour years later two Arabic translations or the "Diatcssa ron" were found, ono in the Vatican Lihra rv at HOlIll'. alld till' other in the monastervvwhcrc the conuncuuuy linil been found. 'I'hesc discoveries cstahlish hovond doubt that tile compiler had the Clospl'!.' before h im. J~uL i r lie had them in the middle or the second r-eul urv, then l hev 1I!lIst have boeu gel1cn111,I' ]'l'('pi vor] and ci rrulat ('.! III:lI\Y \'1'.)1''; before that date, Thl'1'C' rou lr] 110 IOllg!'1' 1)(' :IIIY doubt that the li'OIlT <:o,;JJels II'l']'\..!l'Olltl'IIIPOI':try dOI'IIuu-nl, u nd the Oo::;pl'l or .l oh n n'('('il'I'.! hv .111"till, :llld L111glit (0 'I'a t ia n , was the sn uu- Uo",pl'1 tlial IH' 11011' av. h '1'1111"doc'''; :leLlI:tf discoverv or ract,; ('(llltl'illlill' to OI'C'I'IIiI'll\\' t lu- glll'::N'" 0 [ 1111 i('1'illg ('I'it i(,isllI, lx-l

t. ,.

'I'lii,.; 1l"(,:.;tioJl of the Iliglll'1' Cril irism is 011C of t hc radol'''; in lhc so-culled \('11' 'I'lu-ologv. Bocausc till' hvpothoso or I he niti('f; an' ;tu'eplpd ",.; !,,,tahli,,h('d 1'('l'itic's. l hr-r is :1 gCl!cr:l1 (PlltiPI1C'Y in l ht: JllilpilK io pu], :l"id(' Hihl.- nu rru t i vo- II'lli('1i <trittci5l11 ill tbe all for raith ill lh "IIPl'l'lI:t!lIl'al. Sunba}? Scbool. and 1111111<111 n'n"oll is l'x:i1kd to th(' Lln01H' wh it-h Uod :!lOIl!' r-n n oc('up.", 'I'h is kin.l or ic'n(,llillg i", 1'C';t('iling 1'1'('11in 0111' ;-;IIIHlay ;-;clwol literature, :11111is IH'illg f;III,C!ld 10 Ill!' scliolal''; by tlio"c who ;\1'1' I'l'ad\' to :il'('('pt 111:111'" glll'l'''I';: nr-; gllities, Here is a (,OP\' oJ :1 letter sent (0 a minister hv a scholar in a Sundav School : "J a m a Lligh School Hut the mention of th is Harmonv of 'I'nti.m reminds gi rl 0:1'seventeen, and a Ch urch mem bel', 'I'here is onc 11'; of another little matter. Jt used to he asserted that subject on which I should like your opinion, ]t is a th Gospcls coulrl not bo traced further bark than the subject which we haw discussed in thc Sunday School middle of the socond century, which would leave a gap class for the last few Sundays. Arc the stories in the of nearlv two g-cnrrationR before 01<.1'I'ostarnont true? Did they really happcn ; and do reaching l he Apostolic ora. ln an vou believe them? I have always been taught at home Ue9ting "Apolog\'" whir-l: .Iustin Xlartyr that the Bible was true from beginning to cnd ; but my crtttctem. addressed to the 'J.~ll1prl'or Anto:-)11ll11ayScllOol teacher says that they arc myths, and ninus (x.. 150) he ([1I0t'CRfrom the "Memoirs of the that there were no such persons as Adam ancl Eye, and Apostles." His quotations, where thov corresponded to that the story of J acob and Esau is simply a story told pa!'sngr" in ,\fark, Matthew. and 'LlI1\l" wore RO correct to teach a lesson. ,Vhen we said we had always been thnt the existence of theso (iospel;;ll'ilS ])1'01'0.11:hut it tnugbt that they were trill', she saiclit was because the \I'as contended that the Gospel of .Iolm either was 1101' Sunday School teachers whom wc had were not educated. in being then, or that its form was di ffcrcn t. 'I'atian. She said that no onc could go through college without an Assvrian, was a pupil of Jnstin, and it was known having it proved to them that the Old Testament was only wri ttcn to account for things, and that it was just that he had prepared a work called the "Diatessaron," as full of mvths as the books we study at school. She meaning "The Hook of the Four." It was known, too, that this book had been widelv circulated during two ;';;Iid that it was verv wl'ong 1'01'such uneducated people to be teaching small children to believe them so Iiter01' three centuries, and that Ephraem Svrus had written all ,I', She would throw down every argument :1 commcntarv upon it. But all copies of the hook, and of i he commcntarv, had disappeared, and some "schol1 ~'aye, and the other girls said thev were beginning to arlv" critics ventured to assert that if ever these were think that the stories were not true, any way, H YO are not too busv, \\'0 IIIcl it he too much trouble 11 found it would be shown that it represented, not the for YOU tu write me a fC'\\' goo(l arguments, or if what combination of the Four Gospels, but the original source from which the Four Gospels were derived. In the veal' she says has some truth in it to tell me." We need not lR76 there was discovered in the Armenian monasterv t rcmhlc for the ark of Goel-that is safe-but what shall of \~C'ni('(' a C'opY of the C'ommentarv, aml it hegan with hr clonc on hrha If of these who are being destroyed by
muin

AUGUST,

1907.

THE

BIBLE

STANDARD.

115

Roger. Mr. Campbell believes-s-I think-in the immortality of the soul. I express no opinion on that subject, as 1 have no data, Mr. Campbell calls Nature God. I call Nature Nature. He thinks we ought to have some form of supernatural religion, ant] '11:is sni(] hy those "advanced" I:rarhers that, nlthonsrh that we ought to associate it with Christ, I prefer a 111l'~IMi('~ ill the Bible fire not true, they serve to iI117::;religion of humanitv without idolatry. Mr. Oampbell t mlo moral and religious truths, nnd so' are still useful thinks J'esns the most perfect man that ever lived. I to lho Sunrlav 8ehool teacher ant] the preacher. Jndood. think there have been many men as good. and some betone S11Ch has remarked that the ter. But, beyond these differences, I think J may YenIT11ths bught hv thos unhistorical Waltle of turo to say that there is nothing Mr. Campbell believes 1J3ible Stories. stories ha ye hccn "veri fled a 1,11011that J dcnv. and nothing I believe that he denies. Bcsand lillle,; ill hisl orv." On wlurh vonrl these cliffC'I'('nce,,!, am as much a Christian asi I another nsks : ";';i11(-r fn('1 i" hd.trl' tha n fic'jion whv not the Rev. R. J. Campbell, am] the Rev. R. J. Campbell is suhsl.il uto somo of t hcso verifk-al ions in histol~Y fo'l'thc as much an infidel as the Editor of the Glarion: fic,tit ious stories of Alualiam, .1oscpl: , and the r~st? Whv There is really much less distance between men like Mr. hold on to the exploded Bible stories ~ Scientific men C'a.upbell and 1\11'.lnlOnc]tia \\'i1liHII1::;and nrvsclf than sock for farts, and then seek to Tcnrn the lessons those thoro is between such Christians and General Booth." Ts fads tear-h. What has taken place, mav, in like condinot this a staggcl'ing thing" 'l'hat in our pulpits are tions. take plate llgain: while what has simplv been imtllt' lI1C'nwhom the avowed infidel can take by OlC hand ilgincd mav never take place. True stories cel'tainly have and d('tlnre that on matters of helicf there is no diff'era grt';liel' leaching va luo than fieti tions stories. ,Vhflt ('IlCC. possih! :I(]nlJllnge can there he in using exploded stories 10 1(,:ll'h mornl truths, when there are plenty of true Prof. Gold win Smith assorts thn] belief in immor~1()l'ie,;lh;1I teach the .same truths, and that have the tal itv is (lying out, and declares thnt the old argunlent" il1(',;1111:1 ad va ntnge of being rea 1 f'acts ? Bv all means i hlo advanced hy philosophv have been s\\'rpt a wav by phvsilet ;111 xplodod stories he set aside, am] only 'trlle stories oloav. No one knows that tliereis a "soul." Morlom h(' 1:llIght 10 the voung." To this communication there physiology does not speak of was no answer, and the editor 01' the Biblo Student asks: "';0111." hut eousciousncss, whir-l: "I;.; it not il decisive proof of the inspiration of Genesis 3S it ID};ing they treat as n function of organthat oven those who deny the truth of the narratives vet G'ut? ism. ] t is true that philosophic C:111 find no substitute fo~ them? 'False' sto~ies arguments survive, but thev are found usually in the better suited to teach truth than any true stories that pages of theological works. where the facts 0 f phvsi0111hc f'ound ? Wonderf'ul !' 'T'ho man that can believe ology are not allowed a place. What the physiologist that, a11(] cannot believe that the great fish swallowed knows is that he finds consciousness always associated ,1 011a ha" a curiouslv-constructed h. mind." with organism, and he can find no traces ()fit a pari' from organism. '1'11t is science. a If there is evidence outside this, it has a right to he heard. but certainlv In 0111' arlv preaching clays infidelitv was blatant, and c the old philosophic utterances no longer have a place, proudly li Itcd itself against the Bible and Bible truths. because they were advanced in entire ignorance of the 'l'ItOS(' days arc gone by. Bradlaugh, Ingersoll and fact;; which the physiologist has discovered. Tt is others have passed away, and thci r followers are f'cw claimed. 01 course, that the physiologist has evidence and unobtrusi ve, The ramp of the to produce in favour 01 the doctrine of soul-i rmnortalitv, :tnftbeht}] 1Reco(l'" Philistines is deserted. But infihut we must confess that if wc gil'C' to it evervthing it I1Isin(l its G'WIl. dclitv is still here, and it has taken can claim, it goes no further than establishing that its place in the pulpits and the there are beings who can cornm unicate with men; but professoria 1 oha irs. Prom our churches its teachings go thereis not a shred of testimony which will warrant the forth, and those who proclaim them are supported hv belief that these arc souls of men, or that they are memClu-istian men anti women. Robort Blatchf'ord js open hors of the human race at all. So w come hack to the and avowed in his opposition to Bible doctrines, and in old position and declare that there is no testirnoru which the pages of the Clarion he bids the New Theology welcan be produced in favour of a belief which has domincome, Reviewing 1fT. Campbcll's new book, he says: atod philosophic and theological thought for centuries. "The '~e\\' Theologv' is 'God and 111." Neighbour' with Freed from its throttling grip, both philosophy and thethe soft pedal on. Tt is Thomas Paine in a white tic. Tt is the Ingersoll n, t muffled in a boxing-glow. It is ology may hope to present truth in helpful and sensible fashion, clearing the character of God, and removing the Clarion. rue worn with a difference. Mr. harriers from the pathway of: man, by the recognition Carnpbcll is a Christian minister, and I am an infidel of man's present mortal state, and that his hope of a editor; and the difference between his religion ancl mine f'nl urt: I1II1:'trest in a POWN externa 1 to himself. is too small to argue about, But I sail under the Joll.'

rror bnlght in the name of truth? Children are beinz led from the veritics of the faith into strong delusion-aro hel icvc n lie.

II6

THE

BIBLE

STANDARD.

AUGUST,

1907.

1882 to 1907.
'r'IW

Anniversary of the Thames Church, just celehrated, when Bro, Geo. Aldridgo conducted the services, loses et period o-F~5 years in connection with our work ill this town, and a bare outline of that time is not out or place. The New ~ealall(l Evangelistic Association sent Bro. K H. 'I'aylor down there at the end of June, 1882, and the first Sunday in .T111y he commenced services in the Oddfellows' Hall, Richmond Street, the ~lIhjed, of discourse being, "Is Man Naturally IrnmorLal;" 'J'IHlt and subsequent addresses created a groat ileal of controvcrsv, and for a while nnvthing but a C'ln-istinn spirit wnamanifcstctl hv manY,in and out of the rccoguiscrl r-hurr-hoa. A few gathered to the standard, and soon the "Breaking of Bread' and Fellowship

life. At one time it seems as though the place would be depopulated; at other times as though it were going to be a large city. Those who look forward to the gl'O\yth of New Zealand see the Thames as a flomishing seaport, a manufacturing town, and also a great gol.lfield. lts surroundings and natural position warrant this belief. I lonce, to have <1. Church building in the Iliain street leads one to th ink that future evangelists, i L the Lord tarry, wi 11 have fine scope, where they will he ahle to proclaim the "Coming Kingdom of our Lord" to 'rilling ears and obedient hearts, who will believe, as the present Church gatll0l'ing does, that the timcJ ,.;ni'el,\'COlllillg when "evil will be extinct." Dllring the '{;j rears Bm. K H. 'I'aylor has given [i'WO odd addresses on Bible themes, many being from the prophetic Scriptures. 1n the week-night Bible Class, among other

POLLEN

STREET

LECTURE

HALL.

was established, with freedom to speak on the "Nature of Man" and "The Lord's Coming" as basic doctrines of Scripture. At the end of two years it was found that the Odc1fellows' Hall was too small to hold the people. An opportunity OCCUlTcr1 which enabled the brethren to acquire the 16-roomed hotel known as "The Munster.' 'This was razed to the ground, and the material, being nil first-class, was used in erecting the building shown in our picture. Most of the work was done bv voluntarv labour, and this building is now the property and home of the Church. And for 25 years a band of "God's children" has held forth the Word and pointed men and women to the One Hope of Eternal Life - Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God. It has been no light (hit) to hold on amid the nps and downs of goldfield

studies, wc have taken word by word, and verse by verse, almost the entire New T'estament, the Book of J oh, and vari ou S oth Cl' portions. IVe bel ieve we ought to rej oice that a Bible Class has thus been made use of for so many vears, Resides the Thames proper, addresses, based on "Chri t our Life,"ha\,e been given in the following places -('oro111 and cl, Kuaotunu, Mercury Bay, 'I'apu, Kopu, 'I'urua, Matatokc, Pnriri, Omahu, Hikutaia, Paeroa, Iraihi, Karangahake, 'I'c Aroha, Waiorongornai, Quartz> villc, Hamilton, 'I'uakau, 'Pn kekohe, Drury, and Papakura ; so that some attempt has been made to get to the regions bovond. CmmHI visits and lectures have also been given in Svdnov, ::\lelboll1'nc, Christchurch, Dunerlin, and 'I'imaru. Again and again, when Bro. Taylor has 'been away, the Association has found speakers for

AUGUST,

1907.

THE

BIBLE

STANDARD.

the Thames; and who shall say what the ultimate results Why, I shall never forget the one on 'Give 1.18 this da v will he? Of those who have stood loyally to the Thames our daily bread.'" .\11 the other brethren who have come Chu rcli, many are sleeping in Jesus, others have been occasionally have helpecl to inspire, cheer, sustain. And at the close of 20 vears wo erect 0111' l%ene~er" and sav " scattered the world oyer, while not a few arc b srowinc0 "HiLherto hath the Lord helped us." ", gn',r in the work. Of officers past and present (1ldcl's and Deacon), the (Ihurch rejoices in their fervour, ability, and steadfastness. IV e COli Id scarcely speak of indi vid ual , but as brethren they have faced every di (ficulty manfully, and relied on the power of God to susta in and provide for OUI' needs. OU)' Church building is ord inarily seated for 320, but ,rill accommodate -JOo comfortably, and it has the honour, we believe, of being the first building erected and devoted to the proclamation of "Life and Advent '1'J'1Iths" ill the Australasian '1'H1 VISJOl'J OIl' '1'H1 11llAUK Colonies. Ono other building was erected, but did not continue to beused for the original purpose. The work (I )[c.\t ill order C0111l' he 1>1'1'a::;L anus or ~ilt ami now carried OH at Thames mav be summarised as folver: tile explanation o l th('~(' is gi\'cu ill n:r::il' ;j!). 'I'his lows :-8unday, 11, Fellowship ; Sunday School, 2.;{O; k ingdolll was to succeed ,\I obuchnd nczzur. and iL wus Gospel Proclamation, 6.30; Young People's Band, 'I'ucsalso lo be "inferior." "'\That was Lili:-;kingdolll -: 'I'h davs (when in session); Wednesday, Bible Class ; ThursS(;ripturcl-; reply that the Babyloniau rloiuiniou was dav, Bible Class at ilJatatoke; and :for some years Bible taken by the :J[edes and Persians (2 Chron . xxxvi. 'W; Reading, Fridays, at Parawai Public School' (this now Dan. \'.28,30-31). Observe how appropriate the image in abeyance, pending ilfinisterial changes). Wc are satto show this kingdom. Here were two nations joi ncd ill isficd that this work has required a great deal of sclfone empire, and so the image :;hO\\'8 it in the breast sacrifice from those who ha ve cnrricd , and <Hecarrvi ng. and arms of silver. But, says the explanation. "it sha ll it on. .\ t the same time, a g-oo(l dca I 0 [ blessing and he inferior to thee.' How -: .L think that i,; clear ill satisfaction has been ours in the work. 'Ye trust that the storv as it progresses. ~ obuchudnczzar \\'H;; lhc when the l-ni\'crsal Easter Xlorn shall come all who have autocrat. J-Jow often occurs tile word "COIIIIIlHlHI!'d"ill participated with us in faith anrl practice 111<1,1' Hlllong he the portion devoted to his rule ~ Even the wi-: men, the immortal ones. Although at present the 'I'hamcs. the lirst in the realm, arc sentenced to death, and hav n~ a couuuunitv, is not "booming," vet II'(' cannot think no PO\\'Cl'to resist the carrving out of the decree. But 0111'labour 10Rt 01' the work of non-effect. 0111'thanks the king" of Media and Persia arc bound by their 011'11 ,II'Cdue to the :\ew Zealand Evangelistic Association for decrees, Others have anthority ill the realm, when apinstituting' the cause here, and trust it niav vet see its pointed to office. The "presidents" and others consul t, \\,H,\' clear to more full." develop its original purpose and and the king is then approached to gi ve effect to the plan of work throughout New Zealand. Wc ought not wishes or his servants, and once tile conseut is giv(;u to overlook the fact that regular nionthlv evangelistic . and the royal seal affixed, the king is tied hand and services arc held at Matatokc and 'I'apu. At Hikutaia root b,\' these 1<1\\':; 01' decrees, whether thev be good or ou r trustees hold one cl-acre of freehold land, on which had. The Book 01 Esthcr is an evidence of this, as at some time it may be a church building will be erected. well as the incident connected with Daniel, and the Bro, 'I'aylor's activities have not been limited solelv to decree of the Median king. This, then, I:; the second, Church work as such . He has done something towards and "inferior" kingdom. It is important in the Bible, h is own sustenance beyond what the Church has been because it was during its l'xi,;tence and power that the able to grant. 'I'hen, for some time he travelled Xl'\\' .Iews returned Irom their captivity and built their Zealand as the (i.ralltl Chief Tcmplar of the lntcrnatemple and city. Jt stood 1'01' oo Far,.;, hut it, too, had t tional Order of Good Tcmplars (N.~. Grand Lodge), to PHI"'; a way and give place to another, here seen as the which position he held over 11 years. and recently reth ird kingdom of bruss. tired from at Christchurch. This enabled h i111 lcctu re to (c) The characteristic or this is givcll as "bearing on "T'otal Abstinence and the Abolition of the Drink rule over the whole earth." 1 lore Daniel is describing 'I'raflic' in 279 towns, villages, and settlements of: ~('\\' things wh icl; should come bcvond llil-; own da v. Llc Zealand. Wc mention this so as to acknowledge with Ii vcs to sec the overturning 01' the first kingdom, and to g'1'<1 titudo the faithful ministrv 0 f Bro. ,1. PORLer (now scrvc and to hear testimony to God under the second ; of Waihi) for three and a-half vcurs at the T'haiucs, IJIlt in this the Juture is beyond his time. His history, Bra. Foster's labours are remombcrl \\'ith kinll,lyfl'C'Itherefore, cannot tell what is the kingdom intended. ings bv many. Only a few days since, when speaking of: this anniversary and the hope that Bra. Foster w0111(1 Butin later days the prophet has a vision, in which this kingdom succeeding the Persian' is named. The interbe with us, one remarked, "I would like to heal' again pretation given of the he-goat, which runs upon and that series of discourses he gave on "I'he Lord's Prayer.'

118

'1'1-11 BIBLE

=========--==--==="----=~

STANDARD.

Anonar,

1907.

---

lnllllplL'~ down the two-horned ram, is that it represents the kingdom of Greece, and its horn is the first king. 'J'fms Ire may fix upon Alexander the Great as this "first king;' and his kingdom that which is here called the kingdom of brass. (d) 'I'his is to be Iollowcd by another; the "fourth kingdom shaU be strong as j ron, breaking in pieces and crushing." More is said of this kingdom in detail than of anv of the others. What is this kingdom? The common answer to that question is, Rome. Commentators 1I1CIlIO,.:t earnest, however widely they have differed from each other OH other matters, especially Oll the actions of lh is power, and the historical applications, have agreed as upon a matter that cannot Le disputed that the fourth kingdom shown in the imago is Home. If it seems like presumption to question this generally-received opinion, 1 eau onlv sav that the conviction that the Word affords !l0 warrant 101' this popular belief leads me to put aside the view, 1 have already laid down the principle that the Scripture must be our guide on these matters. and certain 1 aru that if that rule be adhered lo it will be readily seen that Rome is not the fourth kingdom represented in the image. Most of those who write in support of the Roman view draw their testimony Irom the pages of Gibbon, 01' other historical writers, and offer in proof certain matters which have to be "applied" to enable the testimony to have any value. Oil what Bible grounds has it been supposed to be Rome? Luke i i. 1 tells that at the tilllc of the birth of our Lord, .\llgU~tU:; sent out a decree "That all the world should be: cnrollcd." Here it is said is the requisite Bible evidence. HOllle then possessed the universal sway, "all the world." and it succeeded the kingdom of Greece by its conq nest of the severa 1 parts of the Grecian Empire. .vnd, further, as the kingdom was to be divided, and the ir011 ami clay were to be mingled, wc have the facts of historv, which show that the Empire of Rome was divided into Eastern and ,Ycstern, and the rule once. jlo,.:scs,.:edbv its heads is now becorn ing mixed with the grolring" ]lol\"l'r of democracy. To a11 which we answer: In the ti m or our Lord the world-supremacy (the thing hcf'orcus m tho imago-vision] was i tl other hands than those or 1101l1C. Sabm cla irued lo hare "it" in possession. and "aid, f'urtlu-r, "it has been delivered unto me," and the Lord virtual lv conceded the claim. for lIe gare it no denial, and later named the grcat enemy "The Prince of' this World." T'hatis Cl i"ad that should give 11.:; ause. But let IIll' here 1I0te a few items usually p overlooked. (1) There i,; a J>rO("l'~'; l architecture in the image. o The silver is addl'd to the gold, th brass to the silver, und till' iron lo the IJnls~.\\'hHt an' the historical [acts wliic]: 111<1,1' said to <\1I';\I'erto thu t ? Wliv, that ('<tCll he empire <ISit came into place brought with'it territorv and dominion of its 0\\"1), and absorbed all that existed before. 'Ye should naturally expect that the fourth will (10 as its predecessors did. If Home is the fourth it never held all the territory which .vlcxandor acquired.

Tile J~lllpi.rc or Rome in its widest extent never held. the important territory cast of the Bllphrates. (2) 8ureJy it is also significant that the centre 01 these first kingdoms should be Babylou, and that the second and third came into place by taking Babylon, the city occupied by N ebuchadnezzar when he rccei ved the "supremacy" gift. Did Home 1011011' this example!' No. In the days 01 our Lord the Roman arms had not been so far east as Babylon. ~ ot till the days of the Emperor 'I'rajan, A.D. 11'.1:,did they extend so far, and in the reign of the ext emperor, Hadrian, they were again withdrawn to the western ide of the Euphrates; the power 01 Parthia holding Babylon, that being a pO\l'er which, in the words of Rawlinson, was always "strong enough to antagonise Home." (J) It is asserted that historically we are now about llic feet of the imago. Hut this supposes that there is gradual progress ill the parts of the image, as from the crown to the neck, from the neck to the waist, and so 011. But when each part of the image is described, it is entire, and is in place without growth or development. (.J:)\\,llCn 1 examine other Scriptures bearing upon the time of the end, 1 find that they speak of a dominion as in existence when the Lord comes, which is under the rule of Anti-Christ-a dominion which looms llpO!l the future as the powcr which will break and crush in pieces. ih,t Rome has gonl' out of existence <11-; a po\\'er, and :-lc:ripbrrc nowhere speaks of a revival of an empire once existent, hut gires the rise. gradual increase, <111d full rigout' of the fourth kingdom until its final overthrow. _\8 th is fourth kingdom of the image is to be destroyed, to g i ve place to the heavenly kingdor when the Lord returns, and as the Iu ture kingdom of Anti-Christ is that kingdom as witnessed bv I11<1Jl\' Scriptures, T conclude that this fourth kingdom is the yet future Anti-Chrietian Jcingdoru, and that Home has 110place here at all. ,\'lle]1 did the third kingdolll close? It is usually supposed that it ran on through Inan.I' changosunti! HOllIl' gradwtll\' conquered the various kingdoms that <lI"O"C froltlil, and so brought it to an end. Hut the IJIOI'Cthan twcnt v divisions that arose at the death of AIl'xalHlel" (lid 110L (',lIT\' forward his em pire. That ('e<l"l'd at his death, and there never has been from then till now any semblance 01 a Crccian Empire, From till' da \">; 0 f \ chuchadnezzar to the death of Alexander tIH'I'(' I~'a~growth aiul consolidation, but upon his death there sot ill H proee"" of disintegration of that which was hitherto concrete and solidified. Be it noticed, too, that 11,11('11 stone falls the whole image i" standthe ing. ind icati ng at h',lst that all the: power and extent o[ rule po,,~e;;sC'dIrom the C-Ol1lllICl1CC'IlICnt should be ill l',\i~h'II("(' 1\"lwlt the dcstrru-tion lnk('~ pl.-c. 1l umau rul a nd human POII'CI'at it;; greatl'~t. l"l'ntred ulwu v at Babvlon, shall then be ovcrturucd Ior ever. There is ccrtainlv human rule and human power in existence to-rlav, but not in the consolidated form presented in till' three great empires of Babvlon, Xlcdo-Persia, and U recce, and ccrta inly not as presented tu us ill Llie page

AUGOST,

1907. ' as to be possessed

~==~c========================================~======~~-==
of prophecy Christ. by the fore-pictured AntiObserve the gradual depreciation of the inetalsiu the

r BE

BIBLE

S1'ANDARD.

Lf it be objected, but this is to make a break in the continuous line 0 f: power presented in the image, 1. answer, even modern views must make a brca k, for there is certainly no power in existence which carries forward tile supremacy handed oyer to N ebuchadnezzar. To point us to the claims and pretensions of the Romisli Church in this connection is to evince a failure to note the exact significance of the image is its commencement, course, and overthrow. It deals with rule, imperial supremacy, and no j ugglery with terms is likely to persuade us that that can be translated into ecclesiastical jurisdiction, however widely extended. Besides, th:is is not a time precliction; continuity JlJay he assumed, but it is not necE'ssary to the interpretation of the vision. The facts before 11S show that no empire ever occupied the territory and absorbed the power of Alexander's empire, but that from his day to the present the rule of men, uy men, has been by di Il'erent governments, and [1'0111 different centrcs'' J am prepared to grallt that liomc was a great empire, bu t I am not prepared to grant that Rome took the power that dropped from the drunken hands of Alexander. 'I'he rise of the important Parthian dominion is convincing testimony to that. Yet the existence of this great PO\ITl" is passed over as if it had never been, and had never exercised swav over a large part of the territorv held by Alexander. That pOll' er continued until 226 A.D., when it was overturned hv the Persians, who Jounded the dvnastv of the Sussanidae, which occupied the place of the old Persian BlIlpire, of which it professed to be a revival. At the present stage, therefore, let us sa v that the evidenc-e to hand cloes not allow us to accept the view that Rome i>i the lourth k ingdolll ind icated ill this iuiagc-visiou. :\ow note the last iteiu of: information supplied, for lllis is the stay and support 01" those who ask, How shall tlie,;e things end -: J)an'iel R;lI'S that the vision reaches to UH' latter dar,;, mill. as ill later visions, the chicf interests lies i.1I the crisis presented. "'hat shall wc u n.k-rstmul by the Stone, which, cut out 1'1'0111he iuou nt ta i n, destroys the illlDge by its rail, and, by a pro(;ess of g-rol"th, herollles a great mountain and fills the whole earth?
It ha,; been su irl that the stone is Christ, and that the act 0 f llestroving the image, and filling the whole earth, is <111 apt symhol of the .ivcrthrow of idolatry and su pcrstitiou, and the spread of" the Gospel throughout the whole world. To this it is sufficient to rcplv that what i>i represented here is an act o l judg-Illent. That the sto uc i~ Christ need. not he que,;tioned,i I' associated with Hilll is tile idea or: the rule and authority He POClscsscs. 'I'herc 11I1I~t be no conception of His pen.;on as filling this prediction, without the kingly uuthority and power which destroys evil human rule, and replaces it by the di vine. The first act of judgment associated with His personal advent is the taking of Lh is power, by LIte overthrow of tile opposing Anti-Oh rist ami his hosts.

accompanied by a decrease in their specific gravity towards the feet, so that when smitten it is ea ily overturned. 1 ts weight and quality arc both indications
of its growing worthlessness. God's Kingdom shall COllie, by the advent u1 Llis ~OH> who has proved His worthiness to be entrusted with till: rule, ami as shown in the vision it "ball outspread, not only to the confines of the territory held by these gl'eat kingdoms of the past, but shall fill the whole earth. And it has one other feature which gladdens our heart to contemplate. "It shall not be left to another people." It shall be held hy its Hu ler and His chosen people, never to be lost, or be taken by others, for "it "hall stand for ever." Its King is immortal, and tile eo-rulers share that quality with Him. Theworld longs for good gOIcrnlllent. Each political party is Iu l lv convinced that its views. if mad" effective, would secure betteriucnt, but somehow the poor old worltl still groans under bad gOI'ernlllent, and cannot produce the kingdom lha] shall abide. 'I'herc is lacking ill nil reforru effort:.; Lhc essentiul quality of heart-righteousness, without which 110 hope of permanent good can COllie. Christ is the Highteou::i One. He therefore is worthy to be entrusted with the rule of the ages. Given a perfectly righteous Ruler, with power to carry' out His decrees, and the secret of good gOl'el"l1lllent is solved. But ere i.t va u iJe introduced, that po,,'er must be brought to bear to destro v all that would hinder the beneficial operations or righteous authority. 1 such it good time is coming, 1 earnestly desire tl) have a share in it. Is it possible? 'I'he best of human Hc-heIlH.'s fOT betterment can offer only a present chance of \\'orkillg for the attainment, but the end itself iuay not he reached for centuries yet; ami if it cou ld be reached, unthwarted hy those it sought to benefit, its posse,",,,ioll wOIIIII sea rcclv be vulucd hv those Iortunate enough to elljoy it. 'I'hcn, what of those who laboured [or it, and died without a ,;ight of the goal ~ They would be but as rungs 0 I' tho ladder b.r wh ich humanity climbed to the oxa lted plane, trodden underfoot and 1'01'gotteu. Blessed be God, not so His plan. He calls LIS now to be eo-workerwith Himself. He shows us what the end s hall be; therefore we (10 not work in ignorance, or hopelessness, J1m cherish false hopes of man's power to redeem hi msclf. Wc may fall on sleep long ere the goal of the Divine purpose is attained, but that will not gil'e us present trouble, for we know that Ire shall be remembered II'hCII the hour of victory comes, and all the faithful workers with God shall share in the felieit'y or that completed purposl', having the promise ol 1'0:3~e""illg- a glorio11s inuuorta litv, and co-heirship with till: l Icir of" all thillg~. I:.; tltis hope worth having? It Illay be }O ut's j r yu u wi 1 I. God offers it to )'0 u.

image,

"Have method." a method III life and then put life into the

120

TclE
TABLE OF CONTENTS.

BIBLE

STANDARD.
truth; and the hope

AUGUST,

1907.

PAG~
TlIJ<;

ul \l'ay::; be
::;0

MONTH

" WJ<;ST l\OTJS

(JI<'

11;;-\15
S'n":I';T

188~ to

l!JOi
Till';

EcHOJ<;S FltU" ASSOC1ATIOX

'l'H.~

lIi lli-II!1 I~IJ

I lli '
CR:';ATIUN "

that obtain :-itreet.

was expressed that there would to recci ye truth and to teach it, the evil effects of crystallised dogma might never in the Church of Christ worshipping in \V e"L
CL

readiness

MO~AH.: ACCOL'NT HOME

1~1-12:) 1:!3, 128

l\IISCELLANEOL'o
THE CIRCLE-TALKS UN ETEKXAL

Lw.; ut,'
PHOl'IIE(,Y

IU
]i.j-li~

LE'I"l'JHS TO.\ CUURCH

CILRISTlAN

YOUNG

F'Bl~NU

ON

Till!;

~TUj)Y

AND

Mrssro

NJl:\<\'f,
.

JJAND ACKNOWLEDGI.:l\lIi.:N'J',s

TH~A8UHJR'S

li!i-l'2i l:n L'S

~ Cb~ Bibl~ Standard. ~

/ lQ..Y;Y

1 t is thought bv some thcolog ian Lhal ~lr. Cuuipbcll's book "The :-le\\' 'l'hcolouv." i" lx-iug taken a ~reat deal too s~riollsh'~ It was di~L<:ted in th~illten'ah 'of a three' weeks' holi~lar and there are ",'0,000 words in it. ""\0 revolutions in theology are dated Irorn feats ol tl: is kind." Professor Forsvthc, an amateur photographer himself, sums up the \r~rk wry aptly by l:iaying that it may be compared "to a bad negab vc, undeveloped and o ver-cx posed."
Our Bro. Jcnkins if) findiug much pleasure aud cueouragciucnt in his labours, but there are all-m the aceOIIIpaniinents of unpleasant things, :-lollle who rceoi vell him gladly on a first visit have come u rider the influence of bigoted person,;, who, having adopted it form or religiolls faith, arc not willing to enter into examination of Bible truths. Experiences of this kind, however, are rocei vcd as part of the evangelist's Jot, and cause no diminution of zeal. Our readers may be sure that the work is in the hands of a faithful brother, who will do his best to show those who arc misguided a more excellent wav, and will do it in a spirit of love. JU:3t beforewe go to prcs,;, we hare to report that our Bro, J oscpl: Becroft has fallen on sleep, 'I'hosc who were associated w itit the work ill the carl v d;t,YH, when the services were held in the 'I'erupcrancc l-iall, will rcinem bcr hi I1l as an earnest labourer in the CHrUSe. On several occasions he served the Church as Deacon, and as Church Sccrctarv. Of late years, owing to his own pOOl' state of health, and to the fact that his wife has heen invalidcd JOT' long, he was not ::;0 prominent in our IIIidst, and his attendances were infrcq uent. We know that he roma incd as stannchl v true us ever to the truths he espoused. and that he has fallen on sleep in the full <I""lIl'allCC lhat the goocl \\' ord of the Lord shall be fn 1filled to him. He awaits the Lord's return.

MONTHTLY
0" THE

ORGAN

ntw Ztaland El,langdistlc and Publication }f$$oclatlon.

EDITED ASSISTED BY GEORGE BY SPECIAL ALDRIDGE. CONTRfBUTlONS,

The Edttur wfshea it to be understood that, while he excrcteea 11",O:lIeral anper. vision oyer the ar-ticles and Correspondence uppear iug in the STAN.u.uW, responsibility for aentimenta expressed rests upon the individual writer.

tlss~ctatton

'Rotes.

That our paper deals with "Iive issues" is a elaiu: we 111<1ko, awl the evidence to its truth is continually aflorded. <\11 instance of tl: is occurs in connection with
a paper
"1)0

published

in out'

last number

on the

question,

the Old 'I'cstainont Saints .Belong to the Church?" J )uring a short absence l'rorn homo we met with several
who expressed their gratitude [or the light thrown upon what had been to them a difficult question, Others complain that the setting forth of the matter is unscriptural, or favours CI'l'OlleOIlS teachings. 'l'hoso who write [o r Oil!' paper mal: their appeal to the Word of Truth, and by it alone should their statements be judged. 'I'hc writcrs arc Ial liblc men, and do not claim for their teachings am' more authoritv than can be found within the COI'Cl'tiof the Bible, Let al I our readers believe this , and calmly ami praverfu] lv cxum inc the testiruonv for thcmsel vc::;, ' 'I'hc Annual Chlll'l,h TC;I, held at \\'ed ~trcct on .Iul v :1. was a vorv pleasant occasion. Bro. 'I'avlor, from tl;e 'I'harues, and Bro. J cnkins (OUI' countrv re prcsentati ve) were present, and gal'e short addre,,~e" descriptive of their work, Bro. Foster was present Ironr Waihi. and assured us 01' the prospects of the work in the mininz corunnm itv where lie resides, The ladies of the Church provided an excellent toa. the Choir rendered some musicul item,; in a manner much appreciated. and 131'0, C. B, I(illg "aug one of hi" fal'{llIrite sol 01:<, The Editor presidcd , and ill lli" opening remarks emphasised the fad that in the' h istorv of the Church, then celebrating its an IIIversa 1'\', there 11 ad been t' lea r and we ll-defincd step" ill advanco in the reception and advocacy of Divine

jfattIJ.
I)IL 1-1, ('LAY 'l'lwflLm:LL used to tell with keen pleasure of the gl iIIlpse he 011('(' had 0 r the secret of N apolcon's pOln']' over Iris sold icrs. Happening to meet a French veteran

'I'rumbull him ?"

who hail served under asked him : "Did

the great commander, Xapolcon's soldiers

Dr. like

"Like hi In I" exclui mod the old Frcnclunan. straightcuing lip, his eves snapping cxcitcdlv, "Like h i m ! Wc believed ill him. Napoleon HHI', '(in to the 1110011.' cvcrv soldier "tart. Xapolcoll lind tlll' \\,,11'," And Ire have a COI1II1lHmll'l' who if' grcatcr than \;tpOleon,-Ram's "There pain,"

Horn,

is perd ition

that CHU>:iC:; another

ill the pleasure

AUGUST,

1907.

THE

BIBLE

STANDARD.
pen of Moses. If our Lord's sanction have no stronger warrant to produce.

121

~be (JJ)osaic Recount

'1'11E

of tbe creanon.

suffices not, 11'0

"in the beginning God created the heaven and ilie earth." In this one short sentence of ten words is given the only true account of the Creation. In Hebrew six words only are needed to express this subl ime revelation: "Breshith (in beginning), bara (created), 1~lolJilU (Uod ), eth hashshamayiru (the heaven), vcth (and) haarotz (the earth)." Ami this is absolutely all we know concerning the Creation. When wade, or how made (otherwise than by the power of God ), or why Illade,lrc are not told. It is .interesting, however, to know that the angels of God were in existence before the rcation of OUl' earth, for the inspired Book of Job in"arms us that when Godlaid the foundation of the earth '1'0 whom the in formation contained in this chapter was first imparted lye have no means 01' knowing. H "the sons of God shouted for joy" (Job xxxviii. 7, comp. i. 6). might ha ye come to Moses as a tradition, handed down Iroin the days of Adam, about which there is no diffiIn this opening sentence (~od reveals Himself, "In culty, for the life or man being then so much Jonger the beginning God " None by searching can than ours, tradition in those times would be yel} diffind ont (joll. Apart fro 11 His making Himself known, I Ierent from what tradition is to us. Lauiech, the father 11'0arc Calliplctelv in the dark as regarlls Him. God is of Xoah, was [or (iO years a contemporary of ~\daltl, and lx-Iorc Creation. He is "from cvcrlasting'<c-a thought Shem, the 80n of .:\oah, lived 2-1 years a contemporary utterlv bovond the grasp of a finite mortal, who is alive of ~\lml ha Ill. ~\bra ham Ji ved 7,) years after th e birth to-clay and dead to-morrow. lYe have here revealed the 01' J suac, 80 that J acob might well have heard the had iJ<J.\ istcnce. l ni ty and Pcrsouality 'Of this marvellous tion from Abrahanr's lips, who would hand it OH to his Sl'IC-existent Being. 'VIHlt Hc di(l or how He employed son, J oseph, who li vcd to see his son Ephraim's chi ldreu J Iimsclf before the Creation is "a sea over which no ship 01 tile third generation (Gen. L 23). Joseph died only luith sailed, <t mine into which no spade hath delved, an 1.:)0 year::; before Xl oses was horn. Hut we need not nbl~";into which no bucket hatli dived." (lod hath made Lty too much stress upon tile oral-tradition theory. '1'11(' Olll! world to OUl'knowledge; but who knowctli what Ile art of wri tiug II'a,-; k 110 and widely practised in an wn did IJcto re, and what He will do after: In the beginearl v age o l the 1I'01'Id, In the British Muscu.u arc liilly Uod created. '1'hP11,i f there was it "heg-inning," writings ou brick and "tOJ1efrom Buhylon and ~illel'ell. those who believe in the cterni Lv 0 r matter are convicted which reach back to times before Abrahaui. l ndecd, or gro~::;error. Xlatter (lid not co-exist with God. There tile Chaldean writing contain a corrupt ,LC;C01LUt tlu: of 11'<1'; "in the beginning" a (l uantity 0 r crude matte]' not Creation, evidently coming Jroni the samo source H::; did. Jor God to work all. Atluiu was formed of the dust of that 01' Moses, J t is possible that Sheni might hale the ground, but there waR no primeval mud out of wri tten the account as received through his grandfather. which to create all earth. Created! Prod uced from La mcch, from Adam. Or, God may have giYen the nothi ng; brought into being; caused to exist; such is rovclation direct to :\Io"e:; dming his forty days' sojourn the primary significance of the word. The heaven as on the mount. EI'Cll if Moses was led of God to make wcll as the earth. By the word "heaven" is meant use 01' earlier documents [or the writing of the Hook of what we call the sky. God created the "Universe," Uene,;i,,-clwl'tel' 011C includcd-c-this in no way impairs popularlv described as "earth and sky." Atheists have its in 'piration. Luke, in the introduction to his gospel, a"kC<:1with what tools, engines, ladders and scaffolds did , the Lord set lip this mightv niverse ? Our repl\' is open 1\' states that he based his narrative of the liJe or our I.ord "bv tracing the course of all things accurately "Bv [aith we understand that the worlds have been 1'00:lJll'dhv the word of God, so that what is seen hath Irom tile first," which means he studied written docunot been made out of things which do appear" (H eb. xi. IIIcuts, a" well a" listened to lip testi mony. ';!). ~\.mllre believe Goel's Word when lie said, "J am 'I'his first chapter of Genesis is a revelation of facts. .lchovah, that maketh all things; that strctchoth forth Pretended revelations arc not so. They giYe notions, the hea vens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth IJv idca,;, speculations of the JII[11(l,visions 01' the imagina~hsell:" (I:::. xliv. 24) . tiou, but thev cannot produce [acts, 1'01'they have Hone. '!'11l1::; begun, continued, and ended, within the ('0111is That Il'ellla.I' rclv upon the accuracy o:f:the book, it is pa,:s of ODe brief sentence, the Mosaic account of the Ill'ed rul to cite but one authoritv, Our Lord said, "Had Creation, so far as the beginning of heaven ami earth is \'t' believed 'Jlq:;eii. ye 1r01t1dhave believed Me. But if concerned. What follows in. this first chapter of GeneIT believe not his writings, how shall ye believe :M:" sis js not in any way connected with the "beginning," '1\'()j"(I,;~"(John If. -t,b-l7). Here our Lord puts the I hit:ile,;t honour conceivable upon the productions O[ the: wh ich 11a,l' IlUrL' been untold myriads of years ago. 'I'he Iirst chapter of Genesis is a revelation or a fable. 11it be true, tile contents arc of such a nature as Lomake it impossihlc that it could come from any other source lhan the Creator Himself, for it narrates events that happened before Adam-e-the father of our race-had drawn his first breath, and therefore it lies altogether beyond the sphere of human experience or observation. And the manner, as well as the matter, 0 [ this chapter is urn que. In the Bible itself there is nothing uioro majestic and sublime. There is nothing childish or mythical about it. H ll~Oye::; an air 01 reality. in
r

122

THE: iBIBLE

STANDARD.

AUGUE;T,I907.

n;lllaining portion of the chapter deals with a further display o l Goel's marvellous power, which was exercised about GOOO years ago, when God repaired and re-fitted a ruined earth, making it a suitable abode for the present It unian race. The former history of the earth, the creation of which is thus revealed, is a hiclclen niystery. ,V11O were its inhabitants? How long dill they continue? What was their relation to God? W hat brought rupon them the wrath of God, so that their Creator became their Destroyer,' inasmuch as He overwhelmed the earth He had made with a flood of waters ~ 'I'he angels of God were awed witnesses of it all, and know full well the interesting and tragic story; but it has not been revealed to us. The second verse of the 'Mosaic record simply announces the awful fact that "the earth was devastated (Hebrew, tohu) and desolale (Hebrew, bohu}, and darkncss was upon. the face ll. e deep (the confused mass of waters)." The solid earth is lost to sight, no light penetrates through the abyss of waters, and cloucls and mists surround the scene, There are some who think that this scene describes the condition of "primeval matter" before God's work of Creation. Nothing is further from the truth. In the beginning God "created" -that is, made to appeal' what previously did not exist. Others think this mixture of em:th and water was the first stage, of the Creation. 'I'his is still far from the truth. God did not create a chaos and then reduce it to order, All His works are made complete, and not in a state "without form and void" (tohu and bohu ): The meaning of the Hebrew words iolvu and boliu are readily understood by referring to Isaiah xxxiv. 11, where we read concerning the land of Idumea, "He shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion (tohu) and the plummet of emptiness (bohu):" In other words, The land shall be laid waste with as much care and exactness as we usually applY in building (sec J. Kiugs xxi. 13). See also Jer.i.v. 23-37, where the prophet looks forward to the utter desolation in jlldgment (tohu and bohu) of the land of Canaan.

does the Scripture fix this period of time ( not Goel, who dates Creation from 4004 B.O.

It is man,

at

TIle prophet Isaiah (xlv. 18) tells us, "God created tile earth not a waste (not tohu), He formed it to be inhabited." This settles .the point. In the beginning God created the heaven-the space in which the heavenly bodies roll; and the earth-the globe on which we live; but neither were made "without form (shapeless) and void (tohu and holm)," or they could not have been considered as created, formed, made; nor would they have been call eel hv the organiserl names of "the heaven and the earth."When created, God did not create the earth "a waste;" when it became such, it was a subsequent state. "Ill the hq~inLJillg" ['OI'JlIS the couunenceruent of our Universe, but admits of eras of indefinite extent, and this before the confusion described in this second verse; still more, of course, before the "six days' work," whose course begins in verse three.. The common idea of putting the Creation of the world some 6000 years ago is a mere bl11J1(1er, or which Moses is not responsible. Where f

We are not told the reason why God dissolved the fabric of the earth He had created, and brought it into the chaotic condition so strikingly set forth. Our curiosity is not indulged by the Bible. Speoulations concerning other races of men, and whether or no sin entered among them and caused their destruction and the doom of their dwelling-place, arc in vain. One thing, however, is clear, i.e., that God created the earth and afterwards blasted the work of His hands. But noteno word is said as to disorder in the heavens; the catastrophe is confined to the earth. Scientific men say that some nine and twenty times tJJC crust of this earth was broken up before men of the Adani race dwelt upon it. Between the first and second verses of: this first chapter of Genesis is an interval of such uncertain duration that they m.ay have thirty-nine or forty-nine uphcavals and depressions of theearth's surface, and all of them successive acts of God's power for purposes which we cannot pretend to discover. The vast beds of :[01'1silized objects which geology has brought to light reveals crash after crash as these violent disruptions successively took place. But all this was no part of the original Creation. God created a perfect heaven and earth. The disruption that followed was the destroying of the fail' handiwork of the Great Creator, presumably in His wrath against some act of' rebellion on the part of' the creatures He hac1 made and placed upon that earth. The next thing recorded by ]\![oses-may be long ages after the awful catastrophe that had overwhelmed the earth-is, "And the Spirit of God 'moved '[[pan the lace a/' the waters." The Spirit of God hovered over the watery waste to produce and hatch 011t li Iring creatures, even as the hen doth her chickens. So, by a like operation, the same Holy Spirit formed the child Jeeusm the Virgin's womb in that wonderful "overshadowing' ([;llke i. '{5). The Chalclee hatilit, "Tile Spirit. breathed," and David sa.ith the same (Ps. eiv. ;10), "Tholl scndcst forth Thy Spirit and they arc created." He became. to the bohu-tohu condition, a quickcni ng, life-giving Spirit. Or, again, as when 11}t:ekidin vision saw the valley Iul] of dead bones, and the Spirit of life from God came into the III, and they lived, am'! stood upon their feet (xxxvii. 10). GO(l's creative work, it is declared, was by His Spirit (Job xxvi. U). It was by His Spirit that God caused to emerge out of confusion, emptiness and darkness the 01'(1 er, Iulness, and light which has blessed so mn nv generations or mankind, and which we enjoy this (lay. Tt was He alone who could enlighten the darkness, cause life to spring lip, substitute order JOT c11<l08, nd o]l('n all expanse bea tween the waters ahove and beneath wliorci n Ii re Illight display itself: without fear of: death. 'I'hcsc were operations worthy of the Spirit of God. Wc see, then, that the first two verses of: Genesis record three facts. The first verse states withmohlc simpl ici tv the crca-

/'

AUGLJST, ---------

1.907,

THE

BIBLE

STANDARD. jLife's !pauses.

JOllX HU.;KlX, speaking of forced interruptions lLl t'errice, said: 'There is no music in a rest, but there is the making of music ill it." J n our whole Iife-melodv, the music is broken oll here and there by "rests." and we foolishly think we have come to the end of the tUIlC. God sends a tim of Iorccd leisure, sickness, d isa ppointed plans, frustrated cflcrts, and makes a sudden pause in the choral hymn 01" our Jives, and we 1<llllcni that 011r voices must be silent, and our part J1Ii:;,.;illgin tile nrusi which ever goes Lip to the ear of tile Creator. ;-';c(' lIiJII beat the time with unvarying count, and catch lip the next note as if no breaking-place had COIIIC hetwccn. I)]". .vrthur T. Pierson says: "Not without <i('~igJldoes Uod write the music of: our lives. Be it ours to lcnru the tune, and. not be dismayed at the 'rests.' 'I'hcv arc not to be omitted. .If we look UI), God I-J ilJl:;elJ will l)t'aL the time for 1IS. ,\'iih the eye on Hiin, IrC shall strike the next note full and clear."-SeZecied.

Lion of the Universe without the smalle t note of days. The only notation of time given is "in the beginning," which reaches back to the farthest point when God caused (not crude matter, nor chaos, but) the heaven and the earth to be. This is the first fact. (Countless ages may have elapsed between the creaLion and what follows in the next verse.) The opening sentence of the second verse describes a state of chaos, or destruction, but not universal, for the earth only, not the heaven, was the scene of the utter confusion. The earth is in a state of disruption and ruin. Desolation and disorder succeed to a former state of life and harmony. 'I'his is fad number two. (How long the chaos lastcd-e-who can say?) The closing sentence 0 f the second verse gives a gleam of hope as to what is ab 01It to follow. The Spirit 0 r U od is beginning to work, 'I'he J ewish Bible reads, "'j'he ""pirit of God was ,nl\ing over the face of the waters." Dead matter will be [or ever dead iI the Life - girillg :-lpirit does not operate 11pOUit. In the movement 01: the Spirit we have nil assurance that the confusion. emptiness and darkness is to be ended, and order, fulnc-s and 1igh t restored to the sore-stricken earth. He who is the fountain of Iif'c ami spring of motion shall not work in vain. From the ruin of tbe old earth shall spring forth a "new earth," wherein light and life shall abound. This is the third fact. The Creation, The Ruin, the renewed working of the Spirit-tllcse are the sublime topics treated of in the tiro opening verses of Genesis. Hotorua, C. CRISP ('1'0 be Cantinued.) BROWN.

!Dwelling

in (I;otl.

:fJ3isbop 1R)]le on rbe Eltl\1ent.
I BI:UE'j,;wo have fallen into an error parallel with that 01 .Olll" .Jewish brethren-an error less fatal in its onseq uvnccs than thci rs, 1)11 an error Iar more inexcust a iJ Ie, IJCWll e we ha vc h ad more light. s If the Jew thought too exclusi velv of Christ reigning, has not the (Icutilc thought too exclusively of Christ suffering? If lhc ,Jell" could sec llOthillg in Old Testament prophecy !JuL Christ's exaltation and final power, has not the GenLi 1(' often seen nothing but Christ's humiliation and the preaching of the Gospel ~ If the Jew dwelt too much on Christ's second advent, has not the Gentile dwelt too cxclusi velv on the first? ]f the Jew ignored the Cross, has not the Gentile ignored the crown? I believe there can he but one answer to these questions. I believe that ".C' Gentiles till latelv hare been very guilty concerning a large portion of God's truth. I believe that we have lllcriRlied an arhi trarv, reckless habit 0 E interpreting first nt!I"l'llt texts litcrallv, and sccOlltl advent texts spirituu llv, I believe wc have not righth understood "all that the prophets have spoken" about the second personal advent of Christ, any more than the Jews did about the firRt.-J. (", RyZe, vn. "He's Coming 1'0/lW/TOW.

THE apostle says that whosoever dwells in love dwells ill God. Long before St. John was born the Psalmist said. "Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling-place in all gCllcl"ations.' And yet again the Psalmist sings, "Bc that dwelleth in the secret place of: the Xlost High shall uhide under the shadow 01" the Alrnightv.' The children of Jacob c1welt in tents for many generations, but even then they were not without a permanent dwell illg]>1 ace, for the Almighty was their refuge in the wilderncss. 'Ve sometimes sing, "Nearer, my God, to Th('C'," but Ire lUay do better still. Wc muv abide under the shadow of: the Almighty. Wc mav dwell in God. 'I'his is :t ~are dwelling-place. 'I'hc world is [1111of (lallgcr~. 'l'hcro are temptations, afflictions and sorrows. 'I'hc Psalmist speaks 01: "the strife of: tongues." W(' k now what it is. The tongue is sharper than the SII"OI"(I. l t pierces the spirit. "A wounded spirit who can ht',lr :--., Hilt in God the soul is safe. No temptation call 8111"prise him ; no sorrow can ovcrwhcl III hi Ill: no tongues of ell vv or slander can 1.011("h liim. His outer li Ir- Illay he troubled. His reputation may surfer, BII L Iii:; I i I"c i" hid with Christ in Goel, and nothing can by unv means harm him.-SeZected.

"'Wlait,

jfatber,

uiu 3-

BSl{ tbe :fJ31essino."

"

.\ Lrnl~E bov in a f.uuilv was allowed 1.0go [0 (lit' ('11IisI ian kindergarten. a~ he 'l"aRthought (00 -uuul l [0 iJ(' onl.uu inatcd. But as lhc chi kl stayed to 11I1Il"ItCOll the aL school, he got the idea o l <lRkiDga IJle""ing. l le Lhouglit that what was right in one place was right in another, and when at tea with his father he sa id : "\v ait, father, till I ask a blessing." And the astonished man put down his rice and waited.-lCincle'/"[Jaden:i in Jh:i~'ion Lands.

124
b t '

THE

BIBLE

STANDARD.

AUGUST, 1907. Perhaps you are inclined to accept the posi tiou of those who affirm that the bn.pt ism of the Spirit has completely set aside the necessi ty for baptism in water, ami that those who submit to waterbaptism are going back to "knowing ()hriHt afler the flesh," Xo, 1 am not, There is no Heed that I should stale ut the outset what I believe on this matter, 1 much prefer to present the evidence to YOll from the Word itself, and tha t we should together trace the teach i ng, There u re three clear periods in the New Testament to examine in dealing with l"IS subject. and the facts belonging la those three periods must be considered. Usually the texts a re cited wi urout all.)' reference la the conditions of tlie time and of the message with which they arc associated, and 110gleet of these things can on ly result in confusion, 1 will put the matter in Llle following order:(1) Baptism in the Uotipels-lhat will ('01',,1' the baptism of .Ioh n, ant! t.ha.t which \\'as attendant upon the teaching of Ch rist, and His apostles, (~) Then 1 wi ll ask you to notice lh" .u t as carried over ill Lho new conditions hrouant in bv the resurrection of the Lord~ und 1,,;\1' it was taught by the " pestles. (:~) Then J wi i: trv to shall' its refervuce to the Church-c-Lhc bodv of Christ, 1 "an see that this is Jik~ly to be an intcrcst ing subject, but why do you not commence with the Old Testament in your investigation t There is no neee! that I. should do so, for we are both agreed that baptism is irumeision in water, and whatever reference it mu v huve had ill Old 'Fest.uncnt ti mes in 'conllectioll wi Lh l sruel itj sh ritual. the "rl ivcrs \I'a,hillgs." tc .. it is .ulmi tted Lha L when the Xew Testament openti the act of ha ptism has a new reference for the people of Israel, and it is not a mere revival of an act that had lie fore been pructiscd. \ Vhatever may kLI'C been the practice ot the Isruclitcs in obcd iencc to the ri tuu I of the Old Test.uucnt, they HO\\' uea rd of bapt.ism ill an en t i rely new connection, and it is ill that point therefore that it is ncccs~ar,I' to begin our investigations.

Cb~ fiom~ Circ1~.

rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
4 .-

Talks
I. suppo-:

on Eternal
No, VII. Lha.t now
vi

Life.
be [airly

1 nlay

~'I id tnut the ground is covered wi th reganl to the question of cterua l life, and thu t '"1,1' lu rther conversa t.ions on this topic 1I1\1~t he' gil'en to closer ex.uu inat.ion of the points already presentcd ? \\'ell. it is certaiu that we ougllt to go 0\'01' the::;e JllH tters Hgn i 1I et IH1 aga.i n j f \1'1' wou ld thorough ly a pp rccia te Lhem. u nd it is a.lso certa iu that \l'C ,;1,0111([be wcl l repaid, No li tt h- u tt eut.ion is paid to them uy Bibl student Lha t Llu- i~nora nee iua nifestcd l:--i appalling. I muxl, ('onfcss Lllill lhe thonghis prc, ~l'lIlL',l hal'e lx-cn 1'('1'.)' he-lpful to rue, and J :;1111.11 huvo to con them "gain and again ill o rrler to mu ke thou. a part of llIy 1I\('nl"I po" ,ti,-;ion~, .uul, J III'L.)' add, spi ri tua t help:;, \'011 wi l l Iind that thev wi ll se rvv for both purposcs, J.f lye 1~lIt reflect that when cousideri ng' such IlIH ttcrs wo a re th iuk ing the thoughts of God, \1'(' shall prim theu: as of 1I1c highest va lue illtol lec tua llv, and 'It the sallle t.inucxpericncc L1I(' ]Jowe I' the~' were de"iglH'd to hal'" upon our du ilv life ilnd walk, But s ince I sa \I' you last it ha, occurred to me thu t \I'C nright profitably take into consi dera t.ion another mutter. If the Bible presentation of the doctrine on elernal life is so clear, and ha' such f'a r-rcach iug ~igllificance," it would seem to bp certain that all Bible doctr-ines wi ll ha rmon ise with it, No Bible leaching of importance can be set forth without the real isat.iou that it must be J 11 perfect agreeJllent wi t.h all other Bible doctrines, 1 think thu t llla), u,' accepted as a gelleral proposition, but whut is your speciu I purpose in stating that? \\'PII. bot.h vou aud 1. ma n v vca n- ago. wer" baplizl';1 IIpOIl our p~oi'r,.;,.;ion of faith in (lh ris t, but I do 1I0t think that 1\"(' tI"'11 ,a \I' that the n cL to wh ich we >ill m ittorl had any pa rt.ieulu I' l)('a ri ng b "1)()1I t ho XI'\I' Tcstu mcut touch ing of "I<'I'n'll lifl', ).'0, thal is so, I g'a\"(' III.'"self ill thal acl upl'nl.'" lo till! Lord, thus mani\'(',ling 111I' ouedil'nce to whal I hel iCI'cd lo ue I! 'i" \l'i 11. ~\Io,-;t of llti hal'e done lh,' SaltlC, r exI)('<"i. aull it .i:; only \I'hat call u,' cxl,,'dl'd Ironl ,I'()nng conl'crls \I"ho 1",,'(' 110 [wLL!'r teachi 11" ,md who a re 'Lnxioll:; to obl'l' lheir :\[~~l<'r. Hut. 1 a11l certain tha'l the leaching i:; defectil'c, amI lnaillil' ;;0 bc('allsc the lruth on 11Ian'S na tll r~' ha~ bef'1I replaced by thc hl'athen lIotion of soul immortality, XOII' that the truth on III<1n'S lIatllr(' has been l'C('ol'l'red frOIll lhe \\'0]'(1, it is high time lh'Lt we went forll'ard lo sce wi"i.t

changes in other doctrines are affected by this fundamental change, You raise mv curiosity, and 1 should like to know what you can say UpOIl a subject that has been so well threshed out as that of bnptisur. Do you propo,e to discuss anew the question as to its nature, "Is it sprinkling or immersion 7" Xo, 1 ha ve no such intention, \re are agr(,pd that it is inuuctsion in water in response to " d ivi nr- command, and in o u r Ch uroh ovcuu nt we state thut it is incumbent upon all hclicvors to he h'lpt.ised. Th(' quost iou a~ to ils design, however is a lwuvs in place. because that wi II br- j" rgpI,I' (ietel'llti 11(,'] uy ou I' knowI('dl-;'e of the doctrincs contu incd in the \\-onl. Hight view: on man', nature 1I1I\'e importn nt hearillg UpOIl this C[u!'sI ion of bu p tism. \\-cll, .L r-oufcss LhuL I ,.\111qui to ill the da rk as to 11' t vou I'll rposc to S'LY thn t ha shall bear 11 1'011 th is subject. bu t J promi sr- YOIl that I will Lrv to keep an III1P\'(',JII(lil'('d mi ud, .uul to listen ea re1'1111)" 'I;hat is all I 'I,.;k, a ne! feel ussu red (h'l t i [ w ho th agr('(' to let t.hr- \ \"0 \'(1 "p(,'lk Oil tlli,.; mn ttrr light wi l! be giH'n, That thoro is llece,sily for a discussion of tlris muLtvr was shown a short t imc ago, In tI,is colony .ue two hodies, of Ch rist iu ns, both ]lrof<,sslng to he guided bv the Scriptures on this quest ion of h;lptislIl. n nd both ag'l'eeillg thal it is inuur rsiou ill wa t r. \\'It,v, then, should thov rema in d ist inct borl ies ? is tI,C questiOl~. [or on olher mu tiers it ea 11 be sa id that, ill the ma.i n , thov agree, The lccliuu that sucl. division ought not to couli1711c en used the n ppoi ntment of :t joint onuu it.tec to consider if il uuiou was possible, The membcvs of the committee 1I\('t in due course and held a con ference ox tending oyer sel=eral days, with the result that each party camp out of the discussion exactly wi th the same views with which they entered it, The,l' agreed u pon a memo rand urn to the effect tl~at uie onc side bol ievod thu.t faith lit CI'l'lst secured salvation, a nd that baptism is an act of obedience to Chri,t suhscquou t to .md svrubo lie of that faith in Christ. The oth;r side believed that baptism is ,L condition of sa lva.tion, and that 1I0 ussurance of sail-at ion can be given without it. I am aware of that d ifl'erence, and that each side cites its passages of Scripture iTt proof of its position, 'I'hc OIlC party insists upon baptism aR lIece~sary fur the remission of sins, and cites those passages wuich so speak, and the othe,r cities those which assert the eCHtral 1l1lport<\n('(' of faith, and that baptislll is iln aet of obedience in response to a "Lying failh alreacly postiessed, l aliI of Opillioll that each side holllti b~' its particular texts, 'Lncl minimises ti,e vallle of those 011 the other ~ide, " Hut if ('ach tiide cO\l~id"rs i 1 11a'; a strong position, wc wonld surcly ~ay, "lllll the :Kew'Te:;talllcllt dol'S Hol conlradict i tsel f." 1)0 1I0t lhe diJIerenccs on this ([ucslion IIHlinl~' ari8e uecause lhere is a lack of discrimination of times and dispensations as regards this question 'I It is of the highest illlportance that we rightly divide the Wort! of Truth,

(To be co Iltinued, )
A LONG WALK.

The dear old professor \I"LS ouu of L1,c k i ndest-hc.u-tod lIIPIl ill the wo rld, but I", was also one of the most <tU:;l'Hlmillded. He \I'as recclItly I'isilillg his nell-lv-llIarried Hephell'. and lInturally lhe ~'OUllg wife I\"aS flll1 of thc pmi:;~~ of her first-born, The profpssor Iistelle(1 like a mall in a tln'illll to her ]'('cital of the remarkaule fortillldc witll which l,c cnt his te('th, and his trllly 1I'0lHlerflll inlelligellc(', At lasl lhc dea I' old felloll' woke up \\'ith a :;larl, alld fell h,' ],("tllv lllUHt sal' SOlllelhillg, for (!te :;ake of ,;l an,l' rate, appearing illll']'('st"d, "Call lhe deal' little fe!lo\\' \l'nlk?" he illquired mildly_ "\ralk ~" said thc proud 1II0ther, "\\'hy, he has been \I'alking six months!" "Deal' lIIC!" said t'he professor, "IV hat long traV he must have

got /"-8elcctcd,

.AUGUST,

1907.

THE

BIBLE

STANDARD .

I25
The contrast between Christ and Antich iist is a remarkable one, Christ (1) ea me from above; (2) ea me in IJiR Fa t lu-rs nn mo : (3) ea me to do His Fath('r's will: (-I) to gloriry (:0(1 on till' ri (r.) f : (Ii) was d,>sl'is('d ,111<1 r('jretrcl of men . (7) fioel xn lto.l Il im . a nd (8) TTI' sha ll r('ign for ovor. On the other hnnd. Anti.lnist. (I) ('Olll"S from heloll' (Rev. xi, i); (2) "Ollles ill his owr: ua mo (:lollll I', 4~): (~) ('OIlH', 1.0 do his own will: (-I) hlnspucmc-. thr nu me of God: (;;) oxa lts h imse l f : (G) all the world :1(1 mi ros h im : (7) (lo(l casts him down t o thr- lnko of flrc : smrl (H) his k ingrlom is Ior ove-r (lr~troyrd,
ea h . humbled Hi msel

Letters to a Young Friend on t~e Study of Prophecy,

IN 'l'flE

I'.\P.\CT

'rlll';

.\1'\'i'IC'TlnIS'I'?

-:'11\'DI';AH. 'ICBmNo,The reign of (;hri .. , on o.nth wi l] d he preceded by the 1'ci~II of .\IlLiehrisL: hl'rore the revela.tion of thr ~1:11I of Righteousness wo srr I hat or the 1\1':111 of Sin; before tile rlnv or I hr I,ord o mrth tho n postasv . "ror t hn t dn I' shu l l 1101. come except 1.11('1'(,coiuo t h(' , r:111 ing: nwav first, and that )1:111 of Nill ho 1'~' vca led, the SOIl of porrl it.ion." The whole field of propIH't,I' is d.ukcued. by the shadow of this terrible power; the fnllest dcscri pti011S of its 1'isr, character. historv and ('1](1 h('illo' given bv Danirl under tile svmbol of "tll~ little lion.l:" by Pnu! (2 'rhrss, ii,) u nrlor tl:r t,Ur of "the -:'Iran or Nill :" a nd hv :Toh11: in tho Apocn lvpso 111l,1f'1'till' drSlglla tion of "t hl' hl'ast:, \I'll i If' il,!' 8:1111(' writr-r sums lip his (hanlt!,rr in his r,1's~' opist.lo in 1.1,(, most ('X 1)J'('ssiv(' wor.] 01 all, "'I'hr An t ichri st ." Daniel 1':1111 n nr] .Iohn n like represent thi~ 110\\,('1: t hl'.l' descrihe as hei11~ a bias. pIH'"lIn~, 1)(,1'8('cniinO' thi11~. exist ino just hrfor!' the retJlr~ of thr 'Lord, an;] :ls drstro\"Nl at His comino . \no? 0;' ,."'h~t is the po'~:;;r thus repre,rn Icd , Is J t a, per, on or :I, system? .vro its (l?ings al1'rn(l.v wri ttcn upon th pa,!.:r of lll'10ry, or is its tcrrihle shadow \'('1 to fall upon the worlel? Munv 1<0:1rnr-d :I nd veuo ru ted Protest nt in1P;" pr0tl'r~ Inn i nta in th t the predict ions h:l\'(' been largely rcn lizo.l in the historv "I' thr, Pa pacv. hut "'p (,:lllnot accel;t 11"'1l' IIltt'rpreta rlOll for lIl'O ]'('11S0nR: fir,IIY, hr('au8r th('~' hal'r lo :ldopt thl' I'('arda,\' th('or~' (thr falliley of whiell ill 111,1'1:1,'1 Idb'r I point(~'I' Ollt), alld, ,'r('oll<lI~',II'r :lrf' salisfkd th:l t :L ca rf'ful C'olllp,n'isoll or thc prophC'c,I' Il'ith tIll' supposf'd fulfilment lI'ill ~ho\\' so com. pldr :I disC'rppallc,I' :ls to nr('('SSit:Lte tll<' rl'j('C'tion of thr theor\". \~'hat saith propllt'C,~, "o1l('('rning .\nti. chn,t 1 (1) lIe is to :lrisr ({(iN the dili. sl,on or tll~ fonrth worlcl power (Dan, I'll. 2326) IIltO ten kingdoms; that clivi. slonhas~'ettobelllade, (2) He istorise from one of thc I'our kingdOllls of thr successors of Alf'x<ln(lrr (n<1n, \'iii, H.!)), wlllch w('rr slluatrd in thr rnst: Poprry :lrose In the wrst. (~) 11f' is to wax I'pr~' grea t to 11':1ds Rg-I'pt. SITi:l. :1 nd r Palestine (Dan, \'iii, '!)); these arr <1mong the ('ountrirs whf're Poper~' h:ls the least pOll'rr <1 nil SIlI<1lest illfhlCncp, l ( -I) 'The ,~~ltich rist i's to in kt> n wfLy thr rlall~' sarl:l.fICP, a ncl 01'rrth1'01I' the T0111ple (Dan, 1'111, 11): nrithl'r s:lcrifi('e nor trmplp has had an,v rxistf'llcC' since the risp or Poppr;v, (:;) Hr is to opprrss ,Tcrnsnlrlll (hiring the gr!'atf'r p:lrt of his carpel' (l1f'\', xi, 2) : Poprrl' has no <1n. 1h01'it~, in that ('it~" (r.) '1\\'0 "11'it nesses" are to prophf's~' in ,TC'rllsn kill (luring his J'Pign. cmloll'f'cl ,,'ith sllprr.' natnral powrJ's (Rpv, xi,) ; 110 Rnch witnesses hal'e ?et appeared, (7) All the

wo ral: ipp('rs of 1\ nticlnist are to he stamped with his mark, or name, or number (Rev. x iii. 16, 17) ; no such mn rk h:ls boeu 11'01'11bv tho Romn n i=l s. (H) 1~\'('ryoIl<' whos na iur- hn t h not 1"'Pll l\Titt('1l ill t lio La mh's hook of lit',' wi ll worship .\11Lichri~t (111'\', x iii. H): r-o n"''1IH'IlU,Y u l l who (10 I/O/ ih us \l'or,llil' hi III wi 11 l.v th.it verv raet ~holl' t h:l I !lIP,I' n rr- ':llllong' Ihl" hl"s,;l',l numbr-r. 111ll :H,' 1I1C'names or :111 idol<1tr-ts, ill fi cll'ls n nd hln sphr-mr-rs who rr-f'us allegi, :llW,' to Poprr,v writtr-n in t ho hook of lirr? (fl) .\11 who do worshi thr Brast will :1RSII]'(,dll' hr- "tol'lllrlltr,l with fi ro :111<1 hl'illl,io;l(' wi! hout rr--! dnv :lll't llig-hV' (H"I', x iv. nioi , if, thr;'rrol'l', I hr- P,lP:H',I' bo Ant ich ri st , rl'('ry mcmbr-r of the Rom ish Ch urch is (loon1('(l-l1ot ono (',Ill hl' saved. (10) An tir-luists power is li mi tod to 1.2(JO duvs : Popcrv ha s conl.iuucd for long cr-nt ruics. (11) \Vr know the oud of tho Papacy wh ich i" "1lvstrl,1'. Babvlon the GTPat (Lho mvst icn l Babvlon t . thp mother of the h~rlots of th~ cn rfh. drunken wi tl: t ho blood 01 t ho saints. which 1'f'ignr(l over t ho l,in~s of tho r:nih" (Rev. xvii. ;;. 1H) : this iuiqu itous R,I'Rtrm will he overt ro wn .vntir-hrist the tpll kil\~R (nC'I', xvii. 1(1), in order to mal)r wav for the lI11il'r1'8:1I domi nion of till' 'Beast, Poprr," and Rome wi 11 hp ovort m-ncd in order that the k iugdoru of .vut iclnis+ m:1Y 1)(' pstahlislled at its ('rnirl'-thp litcr:11 Babylon, whosf' overthrow is (lr Rcrihp!l in Rovoln tiou xvi ii. T'h onrl of .Vn tir-h ri st. is n t the ('ollling of Christ, jf) hr (,:lst u livo into Lhr- lako of fire', alld Lhcro dostrovcd (Rp", x ix. 21: 2 Thrs,.;, ii. H), 'It is in the f utu re, not in the past: as a perSOlI. not :IS :I svstr-m e-nlv. that Antichrist wil l appC'nr. Tf Poperv or thr- Pop" is .\nti('hri~L and thrl'r is no othpr, \\'hat is Uw Grepk Cllllr('h, with all its ~ro,;; sllprrstitions' \\'hat is the sl'stpm foul1(lf'd In' -:'Ifa hOIlIc-l? indr('(1.' thrrr nrr 1l1an~; .-\nti, ehl'ist, (1 ,Tohn ii, 1H), 'Poprr~' i,.; all ,\ntichri,.;t; the Grr('k ('hllrch i;; all :\nti christ; ~rallom('tnnisl11 is ([1/ .-\ntichrist: hilt 11,(, .\ntichrist "\\'ho drnirth th,' Faib('l' a 11<1thr Son" (J ,Tohn ii, 22) rrlll:1ins \'rt to hr (liscol'prrd, Thr 1>\. pac,l' l"ls' a 1\\'aY" ('xprC'ss('1l ,If'rl)('st rr\,('r ('neC' for both Fnther an(l Son, It is of g1',eat importancr to llnder staml thr ehnractpr amI cnreer of thi, flltll1'r Antichrist-. Tll thr npostl"s' nays tllis sllhjrct occ11pir(1 n prominent pORi tion in the instr11eiiOlI giWll to thr ('h 11 1'('h : for wr find Palll II'ritin~ to till' TheRs:J 10lli:lns at lrngth 1'rspecting the' 'fall of Rin. and s'lying. "Hf'll\(\lllher ~ t~ llot ihat whrll T wa~ \'rt \\ith ~'Oll 1 iol(l \'Oll thrsr things 1" Till' Ant iclll'ist is a, llIan ill whom will he concP11trated the fllll Hnd, matllre ill" I'eloplll('nt of :Ill the varircl Iwinciples of cI'il \I'lIich in :I seatterpcl :lnil (lividf'cl form h:l\'r n ppear!'d i11110ng m(,ll from thr heginnin~-pri(k, t~'l':lnn,l', cr11rlt~. wil flllllt'ss, dr('rit, and hlHsphr11l~', cOlllhinr,l Il'it.h intcllp('tual ~rratnrss. so\'Crpi~n pOln'r, :m(l hum:ln glor~', ,\s in thr T.orci ,TrsllR Cn rist \1':1R fOllnd il,r ]l!'rfrr tion of everytll i ng purr, ex('ellent. hlE'sRrd, hol,\', in A lltichl'ist lI'i 11 hr R('ril the personification of iniquity.
h bv n nd

'''~''',I'

"Tl' must no!' losr si~l1t of the oxt raordi nu rv r:l<'t Ihat this .vnticlu-isi.ian Boast occupies a post the Iiko of which no mortn l 111:111 :1S ever before occupied. h Hr i, t.h direct creation of Satan, so f:1I' as h is offir-ia I position is concoruod. S,lhln now has "thc ki ngdorns of the world and the glory of thrill" (:\Iatt, iv. H) in hi;; poasossion, and he once ofl'rrr(l them to Christ upon n certain coudition. wn ich was spurned hv 0111' blessed 1,01'(1. S,lian will give this world to Antir-luist (RcI', xii i. 4), who will rule it first' m i l d lv, and then wi th torriblo cruol tv n ml (iiaboliC'nl fcr('r, And. 1I10rro\'l'1'. :ni nthcr powo rf'u] 1I1nn under Sn Lan ie gllid :l11('l'-(':lllr,l "U,r Ia lso prophet"-will :I",isL ill cousolid.i tiug the u u thori tv of Na blll'S I'i('p'rrgrnt: hp will work m ira('Jcos. (,,111 clown firc f rom l.onven. n nd r-vo n gin"'\. hrcu.th to ;\11 illwgr(,llahling it to sprak (RC'I', x iii. Li}. Th11s \1'(' I,a\'(, S:li':ln, V:llse Prophet, Ant.iclnist. :l t ri n i ty of cvil. C'OlTPspolHling to tho t ri n i lv of g()od. i.r .. Fn t lio r. Son :11](1 l lolv Spirit, And here. IlIH,I' 1 HHY, do not gi\'r h('('d to those II'ho fix dntes and lllentioll nalllr~ in connrdion \I'ith .\ntiehrisl. Xero, Xapoleon (L and 111.), Char of Hussia, hal'e in tllrn been pointe(l 01li a~ tll(' COllling' Prill('(', and till' ~'ea I'S 1000. 170:>, IH:{(i, J84-1, IH-IH. 18(;(;, 18%,10-11. :llld ot.hrr <latrs la id down HS thr LiIll<' appoillted for Jlis appr:lring, 'Lapsr of time. hOII'(,I'er. ha' sh()\\'n till' inaccuracy of tht'sr \'ain gll('SS('S, and IHo\'e<1 lh'(, II'ildn('s~ of thr spetlllalions. Antiehri:il ('annot hp rel'ra 1('(1 till the Church haR h('('n l'rlllol'pc] froll! ea rth lo ihe he,w('nl\' pln('rH, .-\nll jiis as the olltcome of thi's l'cmol',ll t1lnt SatH11 is CHst down on io the C'Hl'til (RCI', xii, 3]2), immediatel,l' after wlli('h he gil'ps hi~ anthority to the !leasL (.Rrl', xiii, -I), rt is no business of <1nl'S to I\'a t('lI fol' or exprct the ri5(, of .-\ntl!'hrist: he \I'ill lllost certainly not hp rpl'(':l1 ('(1 (luring the earlhly car~er of the Chllrch of .Tesus Christ. There is ahsollltel~' no prophetieal rl'ent to inter I'ene between now and thc removal of tbe CI1111'cll "to mcet the T.ord in the air." 'I'11l' gn'Ht clifficnlt;y whirh meets the upholdrl's of thr llistori('al or Yearda? I h ('0 l'y is, they Hre not agrf'ecl as to the ,lat" rrolll II'11ich io compute their 1,260 I'CHrs, Some Sal' from A,D, 604. others '(i(;G, 727, 75;;, '11\<1~o on, And likewisc t.he dis:lgreeJl1rnt is complrtr as to when the Papae~"-their snp posed :\ ntiehristshnll eeas!' to reign, And the difficulty is grounded on the assumption that the

~----------------------

126
Book of Revelnt.ion is ( continuous histo,'V of \V hat is to take place in the world and in the Church from the timc that the book was wri tten. To us who he l ieve that the book deal" with 11 crisis in the historv of the world and which crisis is yet 'to ('ome, tile 1:2tlO day" of "thp time of the end" mean :q years, :111(1 HO we have 110 i\i(fi(,lIltr sucl: as tho irs to pf'rplpx IlS, ' \,\'t, see, then, that the Papal system does not fill fi I the prorl ictious of either l)<1nipl, Puu l or .Io l:11 If 1lie P'Lpn('~' hp , not the last torm of .uiti-Olnistiun ity, a 11< the Pope he not tile ln st. n nt.i-Olu-ist. I till' mani fpstatioll or snt-h IIIIISL ho Y('!. fill 111"('.,11111 the I,,'oph('('i('s ('on('l'l'nillg slI"I, must n-qu in- a fu t urist int'"I']!I''''at ion. Tilt IlJ iglt t.\' (!oIHpl(ro)'. PIlPl'g'isfl(J I,,' ~alan. who sha ll lil('('t I,is doomi n the I,; lid of 1),I.I<,,,Li Ill" shall hp revo lecl in \:od'" appointed l.ill,e,--1'olIl' fl'i('I1(I, C.IRPtlS.

THE

BIBLE
to

STANDARD.
was "The Gaming

AUGUST,

1907.

subject spoken Anti-Christ."

Sunday, 7th .Iuly : Bro. C. B. King presided--2 Cor. x. 5. In the evening the final of the course of lectures on tho Hook of Daniel was delivered, enti tlerl. "The Coming Time of Troublo." Sunday, 14th .Iuly . Bro. White pr!" sided. Bro. L, Falkner read 3rd chapter of Ph ilippians, and spoke from verses 1:1 and 1. In the evening Bro. 'R AIc1ridge delivered a good discourse on "!\fan's Highest Aims." Sunday, 21st .Tuly : Bra. Wi leock pre sirled, n nrl based his remarks on the 211CI ('hnptel' of Phi lippin ns. Bro. .Ienkins W;]s wi th us this ll10ming ,)n(1 reeount ed some of his experiences in presenting' Lhe ({ospel :\Iessage, also some of the obstacles met with. .l n the evening Bro. Aldridge prcnchod from Mat. xxii. 42, the subject being Christ's greu t question put to the Pharisees: "What, think ye of the Christ? 'Vhose son "is he?" Considering the inclement weather, the nttourlanee was very fair, deep interest' h('ing paid to this excellent discourse. On Wodnesday evening, May 29, the subject of the lantern lecture was .. Y' oicos from ihe Stones." On \\'ec1nesday even ing, June 5, the last of the series of lan tern lectures on "'I'hp Bible anrl the Monuments" was delivered, entitled, "Mesopotamia and the Biblo." 'I'lrese lectures were well attended, and ]ligh ly n.pprccia.tod, and at the conclusion thr- loct urer was accorded a \"01 I' of thu nks. On \\-ednl's(1a~' evening. J line 12, the Bible Class was resumed, Bra, Aldridge having decided to give some short talks on "Panf 's Epistle ! ,) tIle Colossians," the first being "The Pre-eminence of Christ." On Wednesday, June 19, the subject was "Dead with Christ;" on the 26th, "Risen with Christ." On Wednesday, .Iuly 3, our Ann un.l Tea was held, On Wednesday, July 10, the subject was "The Mystery of Christ." On \Yednesday. July 17, Bra. ~Yhit(' 'presided, and read a paper on "Baptism." On Wednesday, July 24, Bro, Aldridge commenced another series of addresses, the subject being "Pa nl's Letter to the 'l'hossn lon iuns." \V,G, THA~IEf4. clip the following from St a of .Iulv 15th and 17th:-'Ve Thnmo-

Cburch and ,Mission News.

IlIf
...aIlc...illic~...ullc...allc__

~1
News" for the "]300k

.*********~************.
!\,'cra,i\:\Il.--The Au.-klu nd lasL whoJp \I'as
mou tli's c-ornsc

"Ch u rch iuudvcrtcntly R'l'ANIlARIl.

left nllring on th

out of

of led nrcs

of Daniel" the ut.te ndn nccs were fully kC'pL lip, and deep interest W<1S ruanitested and maintained. 'I t has been deeidcd tol"tl'C' these lectures printed in book form, in order that the general public may huvo the benefit of the exposition of this prophecy. Many names have been handed in to the Secreta rv for copies when they arrive. Sunday, 26th Mny : Bro. C. B. 1\ ing presided at the morning meet.ing+-Snrl Timothy, 3rcl chu.pter. In the even ing 131'0, Aldridge preached, his subject being "The Four Great Beasts," the sermon heing il lustra.ted by a eha rt. Sunday, 2nd .Tu ne : Bro. \\'lliL(' presided, and introduced Bl"O. .Ienk ins (colporteur) to the Association, With us in fellowship was Bro. Penman, of Pasroa. In the oven ing the eighth lectu re on the Book of Daniel wus delivorcd, the topic heing "The Ram and the TTe Goat." Sundav, 9th .Iuno : Bro. Aldridge presided--Co1. i. o. Tn the evening the ninth lr-cturc, "Tho Sovcnty \VC'eks," Sunday, 16th .Tune : Bra. Aldridge PH" stded=-Ma tt. ix. from l Sth verse, showing the great Importance of f'a.ith. In the ,,\"(~ning the subject of tho tenth Ipctu re was the "~o\ngl'lolog,l' of D<1niC'1." Sunday, 2::Jrd .TII11(,: Bro, ~\,Idridgl' prC'sided. Bro. \Yilcoek gal"e an address and exhortation from Heb, x. 35, 36, In the evcn ing thf' subject was "The "Rnstern Question i n Propl,e('~'," Runda,l', ;JOtJ, .fune: 111'0. ])i"on pnsided--Rolll. xii, \\'ith liS in fpllowship I\'ere Bro, and f:listC'r .Te880]>, of Bomb:1)". Bra. Tippin, of Hamilton, and Bra, l-1'lrc1.)', of Gisborne. In the evening the

Iined the history of the Church of Christ on the Thames, and specially emphasised the fact that it originally stood protestingly against theological teachings \1'1';(11 a re now la rgely d isea.rrled by the C'h urr-h g"(,]J(raI 1,1" Hnt wh ilst, modern i ll(.>olngy IIi1d it.s "c-liangillg su.uctlons," n ur] ]1011' asspri"<'d L1lillgs pruct.ica lly 1111known ,] qua rtr-r of a cen tu ry ago, there \I',IS sti 11 ilK gn'il t a need as ever thn.t th CIIlIl'('h which fully accepted the Bible "" its rule of fait" a ud practice should cou ti nuo to hear its witness 1.0 GO(I'R 11nc'hangillg vcri tics. I le held, that the root orro r agaillsL whir-h this cluuch I,",'" ('all,'d to ('ollll'nd t wcntv-IlvtVl'ars ilgo. W(l:-{ st.il I tile sn 111{\ potr-nt, ('(j 11':-;(1 of won k ness ntH1 of evi l in r-hurr-h iPH('hing-: t h.i t it II',\'-< th(, fouudut iou for t.ho hlata nt "11('11' Lhpology" e([llaUy wi th t.he onr-o ("""1"('nL t"a,'hing which sent, tho saints inuuod in t.c!v to hoaveu at doa.th or sinners to imlll~diate misery in hell. 'I'hesc ' divergencies of teaching might trouble the unstuble believer, but they could not affect the mall who had found in the \Yord the truth on the basic question of man's nature. The speaker thou wont on to show Lhu.L the New 'I'ost.uneut s('ts fori h thr-s iurport.rnt matters as e:-;:-;ellti.11 items ill God';;.; lllC'SSHgt' of mert-v to man. r-outcnd ing that tluapost!o Pu ul h,1(1 a right 10 be heard on this ma Ltr-r. To ta llv n p.ut from the quost.iou of his inspi rnt.iou. there could h(, conxidorr-d his oha ructe r, reputa.tio n. ,\ nd work. and these more than out\\'('ighetl a nvthiug that could be a dduccd on hehn u of those who n rr- to-day srUinghi m and his teachings aside, and a\'(' confusing the issue wi Lh the iguoru n t ('1',)', "Let us go back to Christ." 19norHilt, for the te<lchings of the Apostles arc tile teachings of the ascended Lord, Three great truths asserted by the Apostle were that Jesus Christ was the Son of Goel: Christ's David ic lineage; and the re~ll]Tection of Christ. For fully all hour the speaker unfolded his theme in a masterly delivery, and was listeued to with close 'lttentioll. celebration of the twenty-fifth rv of the Church of Christ at Thames \I';" concluded last night by H verv successful soiree a nd public meeti ng', There was a large a ttenclance at the tea, t.ne tables being presided over by the ladies of the Church. An inter, c-ting gathering followed, the chair bemg Laken by the popular pastor, ~1J'. K H. Tnvlor. while there were also on the pI atfo,:n, the Rev, S. Henderson. Rev. vv. 11. l l in to n , and Mr. Aldridge.
a nniversa

The

cnunon
RILVEH

0"]c 8HHI 1"'1',

A~NIVI<;nRr\I{Y,

Yosterrlav, at the Pol len Street Hall. the Cluuch of Christ celebrated its twentv-fif th n univers.uv. ~rr, George c-\ Idri(lg-e. of Auckland, conducted the morni ng and evening services, n nd gave an .idd rcss to scholars a nd parents in tll(' aftprnoon, The attendanc!' at f'ncll of the :-iCl"Y1CI?S ,,'as C"ll('otHaging. The suhject of the arl,lrl'ss ill the cI'ening WitS "The Ullcllilngillg Verities," tll(l speaker choosing- the opening- verses of Homnlls as containing these. lIe Ottt-

Mr. Taylor briefly reviewed the history of the Church durinl--( his twentyfive vea rs' ministrv, dealing with its vie issi tudcs from, the ti me of ina uguration a quru-ter of a ontu rv ago, to the present clay. They had much to be thankful for in the progre~s that had br-cn made, and there were indications of a continued measure of success. The growth of the Chu rcl) had heen brought "hout 1>,1'the harll,on~' n ud co-operation of Lhe ofncC'r8 and memhers; thl',\" h"d all plllled tog-rtlwr, Hilt! I'hc re~ult was a matter for congrntlllntio),. Thc speaker pnintl'd <In alluring l,ichirp of 'I'h" llleB i 11 the near fu tll re, when the

AUGUST,

1907.

=~~=-~
hand or prosperity had left its mark n IIU revi vcd olel fortunes, The ReI'. S. Henderson eulogised the ('(l'ort~ of AJr. Taylor during his lengthy p"storn('. lie stated that he honoured "II,\' n", Il who \\'<1S truo to his Own convic-Lions. lie dill not believe that tnooIngi('a I d iIl'ereuces between tlle chu rr-lu-s \I'('\'(' -uflu-icnt to separa te t hr-m. 11(' mn in tu iued that the cluu-ehos. to be truo 10 tho ir mission. should PlIlphnsise thr-i r ngTl'f'ItH:"lnts :1,11(1 not tlie ir d ivergencivs. 11i" ,,1("1. us a Cluistiuu minister was to hring the conuuun itv into com mun ion wi t ils r. 1'1,(, Ip"l or n churc-lr's "ffici(,lw), was not its er0(d. hilt the '111,11. i ly of IIIf'n and II'OnH'n it t mnerl out 'I'h,' H(>I', "\11'. Hinton said hp hnd wo rkr-rl ill u n inter-dcuomiuutionul m issinu for ~"nr". alld f rmn pr-rsona l ,I,',lllc, tiou-c "lIlpl",si';i',1 the f,H't t.ha t Christ.in ni t,l' lI'aR not IIla,l", 11 of ('re(~ds, hn t p lav in the un itv of the spirit, "\11'. .vldridg, of .vuckl.md. ref'errcd io l he origin or th Churcl. of Christ. n nd n l l th.i.t i t s nwaning r-nt a iled '"HI involved on its mr-mhrr. '11e eon tcudcd t hu t ('h ri"I'i,llli Iy 8honlll not hp .i IlIlgNI I,,' it s Ia il urr-. hu t III it" ""('f'p",PS, . During tile (~\f\nillgllllI:..;i('('l ii01118 ,V(\1'O "apihl,Il,l' rondo rr-d hy t.lu- r-hni r. under I I,c effie ir-n t eonductorsh ip of M:: . A. Nhprloi'lc .\ solo was ni('('I~' sling hy "\Iis" 1\[<-Millnll. .i nd 1\li8,'; .\Ii('(' 1\forgnll \'I1i('it'1I j I.\~ pl'p.~id('(l :l j tl- ()l'ga n.
h Ma ke

THE

'RIBLE
===--0===

STANDARD.

127
G, Aldridge, Genesis being the book of special study, Every member of the Band should strive to be at these meetings; this would encourage the teacher and be a hel p to the hea rcrs now n nd in days to ('01111', IVe wore told how meu of past, as \\'('11 as prc'sellt, ti mos ha v tried to dv;;1J'(),I' t hu I\ibl", espcriu lly (:l'nesis: bill t hr- Hi hh- stj Iil ives. Upn",.;is j,.; the IW('('''' ,.;ar,)' Joundu t iou, a nd it shows IlS God's pri mn] dealillg,..; with 111<111; it ulso onta.ins the hope which "HII] has yet 1.0 rea Iiso. Genesis i~ a lmost cove-red I,,' tho hi storv of th ree r"'llilie~: iirsi. .\d,tJ11. with lhe promi . of the seeri of till' lI'OIlHl"; int!. Non.h . who was perfc.-L ill li i s genenttiull, ill \\'110111t hr- ;4(,pd wa s 1'J'("crl"l.!d: :lrcJ, Abra luuu and his "cl'd. ill whom the blessing i" "t'lItred, \\'e ;],n' also Ic.uning Llu- nu rues of each ('],al" Ler, wl: i<,I, helps lIS (.0 11I"1l10ris" (lie 1I10";/". i mporrun t events of the Look, July I::;: ".A Nu Lure Study" was the subject of a paper by two friends, wlrich told us 01 ,,01l1e of the peculiar tui ngs which mark bird u nd insect life, To tile observant OlleS tuese nn tu re studies yield both pleasure and profit, espociu 11)' when \1'(' .uc d ru wn to consider the gre'l t wisdom of God in creu.tion. vl'e, like th" Psa.l mist., Ra,)" 'J...et all TJ1Y works prn.i sc '1'11('(1, and e\'eryihillg Lhu L hn l.h breat h I'l'ai",' i hp 1.01'11; praise ye the l.o rd." C.t;, THE BIBLE DESCRIBED.

GIWRCiE'J'OWN, B,G,-To all the brothrcn, greetIng, Here we arc still press ing forward in the name of the Lord, and holding our banner high, Life only in O)ll'ist is a teaching that will be assail",d hv Sa.tan HII(I nis fon'cs, 011 ('1',1'\' ha 11;1 we see the ovidoucc of this. I'~I"";' "OIlIC of the SO'(,Hl lcd f'rir-nds of 8eripllll'e are rcndoring their ,lssista.ll(,C to socu rr- the ovcrtluow 01' f'el'ipinre doetri nc-. NlIl'ely this widely-spreadi ng opposi tiou will preRPntly ("Ills(' people to nsk. "\\"hnt h,ts the Lo rd said 1 Whore ,,,'I' till' olrl paths?" TIl'('('nU,I', at ono of 111.\' llH'(\tings. I wa-. H:;l.~p,l. "\Ylli('h j~ t.l- tl'''(, (:IIlIl'(h. n.nr] hol\' ('all we know i1,,' Ii'll" fl""ll the fa\';p'(" ~I~' '1"PStiOllf'l' \\,,,,, ,] Hon"lll Cathol ic. Th qnr-stion g,lI'" 1111'a [i uo opp"I'tllllity for SPUillg forih [,I(' N('l'ipt"I'P ipHehing' On t.ho nnturo ,,,,,I standing' of j lie CIIII . I" .uul For on fOl'('i 11'" the tru th that the Bihl .ifforded us "thp 01111" iufu l liblo test (0 disting"i"h 1111' true f ro m the' r,dse. 1 (lid not ll!'gle('t the opportuui ty to set Forth tho k'lC'lling' 01' the 'Vor(l against the teaching' on plll'gatOl)' and saint wotsh ip u nd Ma rioln trv spi Iorth hv that which d,'siglla tod i tsolf (he "true" r-luuch. The endr-n vour thus made to pl'r .... ent tlH~ Bible h'H('lling' Oil 111Hn'R true nutu re a 11(1 (lpsti.llv. awl to show tile" per"oll of Ch rist a's till' Life-giver, was l istr-nr-d Lo n l.tentivclv. Th11S we <'011, t inuo Lhe sowing alll( lI'ait for the hn r v<,sl;.-Yolll';; in 101'e. vV, S, Enm:rnr.r..

TA !'n,-TllI' IIwIILh l.r ]lrp'lching serI'ip(> WI1R condurt ed hv Bro. "I~. H. 'I'av101' on the morn of ''''~l1\clay, .Tu ly 7tll,':t good ongregu.tion heing present, t1H~ subjoct being "Following Christ." The home journey of 16 miles was one of the roughest we have experienced on the coast. Rain poured, wind blew, and on getting homo we were glad of dry clothing. "\iATATOl(]c.-'I'his month Bro. Taylo r vixi tcd Mn tn tokc on the evening of Sun<In? ,TIIly 14th, Al though a rather dark night. ovcr 80 persons were present, when thp subject spoken to wnR "Deliver 11S from Evil." The Bible Class has been postponed for the winter months on }J('. count of the Rtnt!' of the roads. KC.M. DUNF.DTK.-Since our last report our meetings have been held as US1Jal. Our morning meetings have heen very well attended, We are pleased to see the members meet around the Lord's table to remember Him until He comes. 0111' hparts \;,ould be gladdened if more WOll!cl ntten(l 0111' evening services, and so en c011rage those who a re elideav0111'ing in tllE'ir 111lmble way to 11phol(1 Christ as the T~ife-Gil'el'. During the last few w!'eks we have 'had thr('e addresses bv 0111'Bro, R. "VI, Lawrence on "The T,ife of Christ." illustrated hv lantern vie\\s. Th"s(' have he en very interesting and instructiv!'. Th!' views 111'Ip to impress the fa('tR on tho mine]' 'Ve are pleaspd to \I'pkonw to 0111' ass(,l1lhl~ 0111' Bro, ChaR. p, A l(lri,lgC'. who has come to rcsi(le in 0111' city for a tinw. \Ve hopp that his ])r('s(,l1p(, nmong ns \I'ill be of benefit to llimself and us, Christinn greetings to all the brethren,

CHRISTIAN BAND.
~~~o~~~

AUCKLAND.-Jllne Band met to hea paper on "Success from a Cluistian Divine injunction understanding,

21th the Christ ia r 131'0. Skea tes read a in Life," exhorting us standpoint to heed the to get wisdom and get He touched upon the

life of Joseph, showing that in due ti me .Ioseph succeeded because he was faithful to God and mall. The speaker IIrged that we make use of 0111'opportunities to do good to others, and SO overcome selfishness, taking Christ as our ideal, and counting mere worldly sur-cess as nothing, that we may win OII1'i,t. .Tuly l st . Rol lcall night, The attendance was good, 131'0. .J. Green read a paper on "Ch ris t as Ln wgiver,' first showing the righteousness of God, that His la 11' i,.; pC>l'fect, alld that He possesses pOII'er to enforee it, Love towards Goel and tOll'ards 0111'ncighbours is the fulfilment of ine law. The new 10\'e commandment helps us to be loya.l to the coming King, who will be absolute monnrch,. and will utterly destroy law less ones, Most of the mombers present answered to their names by Yerse or exhortation. Bro. Hardv. 'on a I'isit. gal'c liS a splendid testil;lony of stead fastn"ss in the faith. shO\\"ing I1S all how important it i;; to hp rooted and grollnded in the faith, lIe hore emphatic testi 1I10nv to the ynllle of the tra.ini ng he , received 'from the Bond mpptin:rs in the past. July 8th: Bible Scho()1 by our Bro,

.\ l'rl'shyl'('rian m in ist cr has ('(llllpikd "the Iol luwiug descript.ion of Lhe Hihle. which is well spoken of as a gem:"This book contaius-the mind of God, the state of man, tile way of salvntion, doom of sinners, and happiness of believers. Its doctrines :11'e holy, its precepts arc binding, i ts histories an' true, aud iLs decisions are inuuutablc. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe. a nrl nractise it to be holy. it contains light to direct you, food to support you. and comfort to cheer you, It is the traveller's map, the pilgrim's stall', tb,' pilot's comnass, the soldier's sword, and the Christian's charter. Here paradise is restored, heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Oliri! is its gru,/cl eubject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end, It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, prayer fnlly. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of giOl')'. and a river of pleasure. Tt is given you in life. will be open at the judgment. and be .rcmembered for ever. It involves tbe highest responsibility, rewa.rds the greatest la.bour, and eOll' delllns nil who tri Ap wi th its holY con IClIts,-r11(lian W'itness. '
A

PECULIAR

CLOCK.

'I'],p C'lo('k ill the tOIl"er of Rt, ClemeJlt Da nC's Church, in tll(' 8t,.,'I1(I, London, posse;;ses th(' l'xtraoJ'(tIlIHr,1' peculiarity of striking CI"Cly ],0111' twice, TIle hOllr is stl'lll,k oncI' on the large hell, weigh. i ng 2 ..00 pOlinds. and also on the Sallc, tll". 11 1)('11in the spire, WlliC'h dates back to th(' thirt(,pnth c('nt111'V nnd is snid t.o he on(' of the bells l;~ed before the Reformation,

THE Some 1tbings to 1tbtnh :about.

BIBLE

STANDARD.

AUGUST,

1907.

~be

:fl3ible Stanbarb.

religion means old-time power because of prayer. (lod i" just as readv and "'illing to hle-s us to-day as 1I e over was. H e wants to nse His peoplo to-da v just a:-;much as He ovor did. 'l'hotrouhlo is, 11c' ea nnot use them because they are not where nor what they ought to he. When a man or woman :is willing to let God use them, they always find plenty to do. 'I'hcrr- is plenty of work-the need is, workers, Some professed Christians are so jealous that thcv cnnnol rejoice in the success of another. They want to hr 1"1l(' whole thing themselves, and if they cannot head the procession they wi 11 not march. When a "Christian" hrgins to envy the success of a fel low-Christian, he is a good subjoct for the 1110I11'1101"S bench-he needs C011vorting. Header, does this strike you? If so, "T'hou art the man." You may think you are a good Christian; but what does God think? ']'hat is the all-important question. ~omr people are greatly concerned over what some man thinks about them. so much so that thev will do their 11tJl10Stto learn just what opinion is held. If they were hnl f as anxious to learn what God thought about thcm. /hry would soon know the truth, and, perhaps, got rigilt with God. It must make the devil smile to sec SO'llIC people iTy to fool God. Render, arc vou ready to 11Ir<'1. 11im ?-Rlj C. ~add. 01(1 - time

'rHE old-time

The Bible Stamdard. can be ordered direct. from the 'I'rcasurer Mft. ALEX. PAGR, Murdoch RORd, Gr~)' Lynn, Auck land . s. d. Price per annum, })ORt free .. 2 fi !';ingle copies (I 2 BOOK S1']~WARD-.K H. ]<',\LKN,m, Quccn St ronr .. AG]<,NT!,; FOR THW, 'EIRU? S'I'A lYIIA RII: Nl<~W ZRALA ND. 11nckland-Mr. Hancock, Bookseller, Queen St.rent , Well ington-c H. J. Bai-raclongh, Myrtle Creseent . Dunedin-Mr. Lawrence, Hope Strcor , Kaiapoi-Mr. .Iames Holland. Raug iora=-Mr. Wm. Smith. Sont.h Hrook. Ne w Plymonth-Mr. Fred Goortacre, Court.ney Hoa,l. I~,"t Oxford-Mr. A. Flngla.nd. Thames-Mr. C. Sanders. Macky Street. 'I'imat-u-oMr. H. H. King, Stafford Street. Tinwald, Ashburtonc-Mr. Shearer. Waihi-Mr .. Ioseph Foster. AUSTRALIA. Magill Road. Stepney. NJi;W SOUTH W ALRS. Syd ncy-c-Mr. H. Oropp, Mitchell Street. Koga.rah. Adelaide-Mr. SOUTH

C. Gamble,

CJommnnications to the Edttor to be Hrcnt wood Avenue. Mount F.dell. Nook." All communicn.tlons to the Assooiation to be addresserl to t.he Secretary and :\111I'oo('hItofl.(l, GI'er Lyrm, Auckland.

add rcssed Tolegraphic

: G KO.

ALDRIDGE 11drl re"" . Rocky

and orders for Bible Standard 'I',.p""." 'r-t' lIHt. A LI<:X. PAGK

CHURCH
l;'oIrl Services as uuder : AUCKLAND-West

OF CHRIST

r.

"Ecatatit delights and the purest pleasures, when immodoratclv in.l 1Ilged, have a tendency to nauseate and sicken. T'h is is nature's counterbalance to correct wrong tendenc-ies and preserve pleasure indefinitely." When Bishop Latimer was on trial for heres)" he was speaking f'rccly jn his own defence, when he heard the scratching of a pen coming from behind the tapestry. He then realised that a clerk concealed there was taking down every word he was saying. From that moment he spoke slowly, carefully weighing everv wore1 that he uttered. Like that tapestry is the veil of eternity to us all, and behind it sits One who (let us suppose) is writing a book of remembrance. It is written: "Every idle word that men shall speak, the)' shall give account thereof in the day of judgment" (Matt. xii. 36). How carefully wc should speak in view of that solemn record.

Street. , Sunday, at 11 o'clock a.m .. Fellowship Meetln~ 0.45 p.rn . Preaching Service. Su nday School at 2.45. Wednesday evenIng. BIble Class fit 7.4~. I~v'tno:elist'~ address-Gen. Aldrtdge, Hren t wood A venue Mount W,rlen. Seereta t' y-W. GibRon. Ponsonhy Road. RALLSunday at 11 a.rn., Fellow"hip Meet.ing.

uosmr.r.

nUN I';OlN -Odd Secretar-y's

fellows' Hall. Stuar t Street. Snnday at 11 a.m.. Fellowship and Mec ting. F]venlng PreachIng Servtce, 6.30. ArldreRR- S. La.n rence, Rope St.1'0,,,t. Dn ned in. .

H 1'0LI';"l-'VILLF,-Foresters' Hall. Sunday MornIng, Fellowship Meetl"~. Sunday Afternoon, Snnday School. S'JI1day EvenIng. Prenohlna. C'h urch Secretary. R. M. Camoron.

THAMRS-Pollen

Street Lecture Hall. Sunday at 11 a.ID .. Fellowship ME'ptln~. Rvenlng ServIce at 6.30. Sunday School at 2.30. BIble Class every Wednesday eventnz 81 7.~' Rvangelist-E. H. 'I'aylor. I:lowen Street. Parawai. Sccretary=Chas. Sanders, Macka.y Street, Thames. Miners' Union Hall. Sunday 11 a.m. Fellowship Meet irur : .. 2.30 p.m. Sunday School. Sunday lDvening, at 7. A Public Bible Add ress. Church Secretary-D. Donaldson. 1':vangelist-.JoHeph Foster. Wa.ih i, Street Hall. Sunday. at 11 a.ID .. FellowshIp Aildress-H. H. KIng. Statrord MeetluR.

WATHT-The

To 30TH
Standard. Snbs. -Miss

1907.

1treasll rer' 5 Rcknowletlg ments.

.JULY,

TIMARU-Sopbla Secretary's

A. Alien (Boonah), Mi~s A. :\Iaberle\' Mesdames Stayte, J. Osborne, John Somerville, -John 8omervilfe: Jr .. Roose, Henderson, Robinsou (Pukekohe), M. MCntyre. (Buekland.] Messrs D. Murgatroyd, T. Knight, It. Evans, John Evans, Wm. Evans, Senr., Jos. Tetley, J. Honeyford , Ezehil l, McGough, T. \Vatson, Jas. Golding, Thos. Brownlee, .J. B. Rowe, Wm. Braithwaite, D. Campbell, Jas. McKenzie, \V. G. Rothe. R. Cutiorth, Church of Christ, (Dunedin), Messrs. It. Given, Ruapuke, Aotea and T. J. Tonn, Raupo, Northern Wairoa, ALEX. PAGE. TREASURER.

Street, 'I'Ima ru

ADF.LAIDE. S.A.-Druids Hall. Beulll.h Rond. Nor-wood. Sp{'rptRry's AdilrpRs-F. R. Hughes, Woodvllle.

Printed by '['HE BRE,}"!' PRINTING AND PUBLISHING COMPANY. Short. land Street, for the New Zealand F.vangelistic and Publicntion Association. and published bv W. A. SMITH. Selwyn Road Mt. Arbert, AUGUST. 100i.