MAY, 1 9 W ? f *f [
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NO. 5
VOL. II.
J - rHOMAS NEWBERRY, compiler of ( J i "The Englishman's Bible," after Sixty Years Study of the Word of God in its Ancient Manuscripts, when asked to give the result of thi3 wonderful work said: "The conviction arrived at is this; not of any doubts of the truth of the Inspiration of God's Word as a whole, but the IMPOSSI- BILITY of BELIEVING OTHERWISE."
Published Once a Month by THE BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA Bible Institute Press.
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Forever, O Lord, Thy Word is settled in Heaven.—Psalm 1 19:89 l i b l ? Jnstitwt? (Incorporated ) 260-264 South Main Street ( Second Floor) L o s A n g e l e s , C a l i f o r n i a The King's Business: Entered as Second-Class Matter Nov. 17, 1910, at the postoffice at Los Angeles, Cal., U Under the Act of March 3, 1879. DIRECTORS: Lyman Stewart, President Rev. A. B. Prichard, Vice Pres. T. C Horton, Superintendent J. M. Irvine, Seeretary-Treas. R. A. Hadden, Supt. Extension Work E. A. K. Hackett W. E. Blackstone S. I. Merrill W. L. Green
DOCTRINAL STATEMENT
We hold to the Historic F a i th of the Creed of Evangelical Christendom and The Trinity of the Godhead. The Deity of the Christ. The Personality of the Holy Spirit. The Supernatural and Plenary au- thority of the Holy Scriptures. The Fellowship of the Chureh. The Substitutionary Atonement. The Necessity of the New Birth.
Church as expressed in the Common including: The Maintainance of Good Works. The Second Coming of Christ. The Immortality of the Soul. The Resurrection of the Body. The Life everlasting of Believers. The Endless Punishment of the Im- penitent. The Reality and Personality of Satan.
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The Institute trains accredited men and women, free of cost, in the knowledge and use of the Bible.
r u r p o s e
n<»-.at-ttY,«r.f° uepar tments
(1) The Institute Classes held daily except Satur- d ay a nd S u n d ay (2) Extension Work. Classes and conferences held in neighboring cities and towns. (3) Evangelistic. Meetings conducted by compe- tent evangelists under our direction. (4) Spanish Mission. Meetings every night for Spanish-speaking people and house visitation. (5) Shop Work. Begular services in shops and factories all the year. (6) Jewish Evangelism. Personal work in home» for the Hebrew people. (7) Bible Women. House-to-house work and neigh- borhood classes. (8) Aqueduct. Work among the 4000 men on the now aqueduct. j (9) Oil Fields. A mission to the men on the oil fields. (10) Books and Tracts. Sale and distribution of selected books and tracts.
PRAY FOR THE WORK AND WORKERS OF THE INSTITUTE, If ye abide in me and My Words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you.—John 15:7.
ocBY PRAYER.^
v i If God's books could be opened to these material eyes of ours it -would be found that every step of our progress in this Institute work was by prayer. It was born of prayer and has been sustained by prayer. The spirit of prayer has been manifested in all of the details. We have moved step by step to larger things, praying our way along. This has been true of those in charge of the work and those who have helped in the work. It has also been true of the classes in connection with the work. We have never known more definite devotion in the prayer life than that manifested by some of the young people connected with the Fishermen and Lyceum Club. We have also been helped by prayer. A large number of devoted friends have loyally continued in prayer in our behalf. We want to acknowledge the good hand of our God upon us so far and to render thanks to the intercessors for their help. We want also to plead for prevailing prayer in our behalf for the future days. The needs of the Institute are growing. The demand for wisdom and grace in the conduct of the work is 1 increasing. The call to prayer is imperative. The importance of the work we are doing is more and more manifest. "The fields are white, the laborers few." Ignorance of the Word of God in the most favored quarters is startling. The falling away from the faith is sadly serious. The tide of evil is setting in with tremendous force and volume, and we can only meet the present need and prepare for the future demands by prayer. Hitherto God has blessed us. Our eyes are turned "unto Him." Paul says, "By prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." Phil. 4:6. We want to fulfill this injunction. We want your help. "Brethren pray for us," —I Thess. 5 :25—not formally, but "with- out ceasing." 1 Thess. 5:17._ Pray that the Word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified. 2 Thess. 3:1. We must have an Institute Building commensurate with the great work God has for us to do. We want not only room for large daily classes but an Auditorium that will meet the need of the thousands of visitors who are constantly coming from all over the world, to whom we must minister the precious Word of God and through whom we can reach the ends of the earth. We must have ample Dormitories to accommodate the men and women who are coming for training. We need a better equipment for our growing Spanish Work. We must have a gospel auto for the out- lying districts. We must lift up our eyes to the regions beyond and plant our standard' among the neglected sheep who are without a shepherd. We must have more Bible Women for the blessed ministry among the homes in our own midst. For''all of this and for whatever else He has for us to do we must "give .ourselves continually to prayer." Acts 6:4. We want the opened heavgiis and descending rain. Tames 5 8 We are living in a strenuous age. It is very difficult for men and '
women to find time for meditation and prayer. We must, contend for it as for our very life. There is a wonderful reflex blessing that comes to those who become intercessors in behalf of others. While we give ourselves to prayer for those things which are for God's glory, God graciously remembers our own needs and supplies according to His riches in glory. Phil. 4:19. The Lord is interceding at the right hand of His Father, Heb. 7:25. The Holy Spirit is making intercession for us. Rom. 8:26. Shall we not unite in earnest supplication, laboring fervently in prayer that we may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. Col. 4:12. . . . . .. . , , , ^ Decay of Belief. President Cyrus Northrop, of the State University, recently delivered an address before the Chicago Baptist Social Union. In it he made the following reference to the present religious conditions. It seems to me that, in looking at the religious condition of the country—I do not mean the statistics of the churches, nor the. amount of gifts to missions and philanthropy, nor the general condition of the Church as an organization—but I do not mean the state of thought in the Church itself in reference to its own faith—it seems,to me that we are confronted by four marked changes which have grown into prom- inence in the last few years. If I am wrong, I shall be glad to know it. And if I am right, I shall be grateful, as I am sure you all will be, tp any biblical scholar who will show us the truth. . These changes, stated briefly, are: First, a decay of belief in the supernatural ; second, what I may call the disintegration of the Bible; third, new views re- specting inspiration ; fourth, loss of the sense of accountability. These four changes are essentially one. They are at le^st shoots from a common root—and that root is doubt as to whether God ever has had any communication with men. Under this doubt, Christianity ceases to be the religion which God intended for men to cherish, and becomes simply one of the religions of the world—a purely human device, like Confucianism or Mohammedanism, of no more', authority than these, and to be preferred to these only as its teachings are more reasonable and uplifting. There is a world of difference between saying this thing is true because God said it, and God said this because it is 'true. Thç former carries with it the certainty of "Thus saith the. Lord." The latter is of no validity, because many things may be true, which God never said. And if God never said anything to men, inspiration becomes so attenuated that it is hardly discoverable under the more or less theory which grants-inspiration of some degree to every one Who voices a noble truth,., and grants no higher inspiration, though perhaps a greater degree of inspiration, to any one else. Under this arrangement, a man must first get his idea of God, and then determine whether anything is the product of Divine inspiration according as it meets or does not meet that idea. "There is in this no possibility of revelation in the usual-sense. The order is inverted—God does not reveal truth to men ; the truth, on the contrary, reveals God. Now. this may or may not be satisfactory to some. But it is, to . say the
least, very unsettling to human faith and very depressing to the ordi- nary Christian who does not know enough about God's style to deter- mine whether He said a thing or not, and who is not sufficiently fa- miliar with the internal signs of inspiration to determine whether any particular writing reveals God truly or not. And this condition of things is the darkest part of the outlook at the opening of the twentieth century. •"Jpie Offense of the Cross. By Sir W. Robertson Nicoll, LL.D. In these, days true followers of Christ have to endure, not open persecution, though to that it may come, but sneering, mockery, scorn. They may have more of it to endure, and the signs are that they will. Says a recent writer: "There is an awful mystery about the future of Christianity." What seems tolerably certain is that in the .coming time there will be new and fresh difficulties, constant and augmenting struggles. The battle will increase, it will not diminish. Christianity will be faced by the pride, the wealth, the intellect of the world. The languid indifferentism which has replaced the challenge of mortal defiance will not always continue what it is, will become more openly disdainful of those who take part in the great war of Christianity against that wisdom of this world. The Christian will be judged a fool or a hypocrite. In proportion as the strife for commercial supremacy becomes mbre fierce, those who stand aside from it, who believe that there are nobler ends in life than making money, and that the things of God and the soul are beyond price, will be bitterly jeered at. Nor will the social ostracism, which punishes zealous Christians, become less stern. There are about us signs of a corrupting and decaying society. Old 1 checks are being removed, and if we are to trust those who know, the descent is rapid. The time may soon come when the Christian believer will be openly flouted by the principalities and powers that rule. In such a time he will need a strong heart to believe steadily that the things that are not will bring to nought the things that are. Our Lord and His apostles were fully aware of this; but even as the Lord Himself took the weight of shame, so His followers must. It was the shame of the Cross that was our Lord's extreme trial. The deeper we go into the mystery of the Saviour's life, the more we shall understand this. It was the actual, essential part of His discipline. He made acquaintance during His ministry with contempt and hatred and calumny, and after so many leagues of weary road He came in full sight of the Tree. He was betraved by His apostle, sold for a slave's price, scourged, crowned with thorns, reckoned amongst the trans- gressors, made a spectacle to the world, and to aA^ls, and to men. Who shall declare His humiliation, tell what it all meant to Him; as He hung naked there? Even though from His Cross He looked far and wide through time and eternity, over all kindreds and nations; even though He saw the sure fulfilment of His lifelong dream as He prayed that God would remember all His offering and accept His burnt sacrifice—nevertheless, it was true that reproach broke His heart. He
knew that it was shame that would most divide His followers from Kim in the days to come, and in the Cross that has struck its print so deep there is still nothing so terrible to flesh and blood. His- apostles, encountered it and triumphed over it. St. Paul himself often employs the word. He speaks t of crucifying the Son of God afresh and putting.Him to, an open shame. He knew that the followers of Christ could endure shame just in so far as they were His followers. Because He had borne shame for them, they were to bear shame for Him. Because He had not been ashamed of them, they were never to be ashamed of Him. Yet, so hard was the ^battle, that St. Paul speaks very soberly, very quietly, the words of his utmost triumph: "Nevertheless, I am not ashamed." He had said: "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ;", he had said: "Hope maketh not ashamed ;" he had blessed a brother who was not ashamed of the apostle's chain. St. Paul counted no cost, and reserved no retreat, and marched on with unimpaired conviction—London Christian. Coul Winning. ^ By A. T. PIERSON, D. D. a knowledge of the message of the gospel. It may seem strange ;to say that there-are many who undertake to save souls that do not understand what is the real .sub- stance, of the gospel. The word gospel means, "God's spell, or good news.",, It is all embraced,in four words,i,"Jesus died for me." That is the substance of it. These are the four,-words of which Chas. H. Spurgeon said he had lived and was going to die. Of course this is not the whole gospel, as another three words are very essential,— "Jesus rose again." While His death is the foundation of atonement, His resurrection is the only grounds of justification. . If Jesus had died, and had not risen there would be no salvation. If He could not deliver Himself from the power of death and the grave He certainly could not deliver others. If He had to remain under the penalty Himself, how could He deliver others from that penalty? Hence we read in Romans 4:25 that He was delivered for our offenses and was raised, again for our justification. When He said on the cross, "It is finished," He did not mean that His work was done but only His suffer- ings were completed. From that time on there was nothing but triumph. The Devil appeared to have the victory when Jesus died, but the fact was that He who seemed to be the victor was the victim. .Christ in dying slew death and in entering the grave became triumphant over the grave and in going into the place of departed spirits He contested with the Devil the control of the dead and lead a multitude of capti-ves out from H^des, into Paradise. This was the first triumph that there had ever been over the power of death and from that time j on ;the. sceptre of . death and Hades has been in the hands, not of Satan, but of the Saviour of sinners. Hence He Himself- rose and in rising :pledg-ed to every believer a similar resurrection like unto-His with"-a resurrection body fashioned in the likeness of. His glory and not of His humiliation. Second Lesson. The second element in soul winning is ;
We want and need to go to men with a resurrection message and this is really the substance of the 6th chapter of Romans. We are baptized into the death of Christ, that like Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. We are to tell men that their resurrection begins the moment they believe. That it begins in a new life to the soul over whom sin is to have no more dominion, and that it ends in newness of life to the body over which death is to have no more dominion. So that when we wgo to men'with the true gospel message we need not only tell them that they shall rise from the dead in the likeness of Jesus and be satisfied with that likeness but that faith in Him shall bring such oneness with Jesus that we should begin immediately to live a new life with a new power over sin which they knew nothing of before. Often times one will decline the offer of the gospel sincerely. He says, "I Would like to be a Christian but I cannot. I can't live a new life wholly. I am a slave to drink or tobacco or to passion or to the power of the world, and I know that if I attempt it I shall fail and that would be only worse for me and for' the name of Christi" This is all true, and if it were all that is to be said it would he a sufficient reason for turning away from the cross,—the conscientious fear of bringing reproach upon the name of Jesus. But this is not the whole truth. We cannot do in ourselves through' the weakness of the flesh and the power of the» 'old sinful habits, but we can do through thé power of the psirit, forming new habits of life, and so now converts who really believe and understand their calling find the power of old sins instantly and wonderfully broken. How often even the appetite for drink is taken away a n d the habituâl slave to lusts broken instantly and foreveri This is the resurrection message and without it there is no soul winning. Faith Illustrated. Rev. John McNeill. The Rev. John. McNeill, speaking one eve-ning in St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, while conducting a memorable evangelistic mission in . that city some five years ago, and addressing on this occasion some 1,500 people, related a telling story of his own experience to the following effect. He said: "My mothér was a kind and a good woman, and I am sorry to : say I was often inclined to disobey her, and often did it. However, it wasn't safe to venture too far in that direction, for I j ew at the back of my mother stood my father. When our father died, my brothers naturally looked up to me as the eldest for counsel and guidance— and sometimes a little pecuniary guidance. After a time two of the boys went out to the United States. James—we didn't call him James, Jim was all he got—rwent to college out there to study for the ministry. It was in 1894, at the time when the great World's Fair was in full swing at Chicago. Moody was at the head of a mission which had been organized to meet the ¿ast masses that would be attracted to that city. I was there as a helper. One morning a letter came addressed to me from my brother Jámesi. It ran as follows: " 'Dear Tohn:—YOJK*WÍ11 be pleased to hear I am getting on well at
college, and am very comfortable. You will see just now I am at . The reason is I have run down a bit in health, and have come here for a week's rest and holiday, and feel considerably benefited already. I am recommended to stay another week, and think if I do it will quite set me up again. I feel sure you would agree with me that this is the best course. "'Unfortunately, I cannot quite afford it, having pretty well run out of cash. If you would be so kind as to let me have fifteen dollars, I could manage to stay on for the time named. Hoping you are quite well, I remain, your affectionate brother, "Like a man of business, he enclosed a stamped envelope. Inside the envelope was a sheet of note paper. When I drew it out^ and it was opened, I discovered Jim had also, to sgjiie me time and trouble, kindly written the reply for me! The reply was: " 'Dear Jim:—I am .glad you are getting on well at college, but am sorry to hear you have been sadly a bit lately. I think you Were quite right to take a few days' rest and change, and hope you will stay out the full time as you suggest. I enclose fifteen dollars in notes, with my love. Your affectionate brother, John.' "Jim knew to whom he was writing. I just opened my pocket book, drew out the notes, and put them inside Jim's reply, and dropped the letter into the nearest pillar box." ' Moody, who heard the story related at one of 'the Chicago meetings, said to me afterwards, "It was worth fifteen dollars to have a story like that to tell." McNeill's ápplication of the above as an illustration of faith may be imagined. It was irresistible, and went home; none could forget it. At this same meeting, presumably, it was that he rang Out twice those superb lines of Dr. Bonar, one of Scotland's saints in the succession of Rutherford and McCheyne: "Up on a life I have not lived, Another's life, another's death, Upon a death I $id not die, 1 stake my whole e t e r n i t y ." Christ iri the Old Testament. From Scriptural Outlines by W. G. Carr. Genesis treats of election. Jesus is the "seed of the woman." Exodus treats of the Redemption. Jesus- is the Passover Lamb. Leviticus treats of service and worship. Jesus is the High Priest. Numbers treats of walk and warfare. Jesus is the smitten rock. Deuteronomy treats of law repeated. Jesus is the prophet. Toshua treats of the goodly land. Jesus is captain of the Lord's hosts, "fudges treats of failure. Jesus is the deliverer. Ruth treats of redeemed bride. Jesus is the mighty man of wealth. 1 s a m l Jesus is the Rejected King. 2 Sam I Treats of Royal Gov- I j e g u s j s t hç Warrior King. Kings' f ^hands'o/men [ W I s the Perfect King. Chronicles -> -> Jesus is the. True King. Ezra treats of civil condition. Jesus is the builder- Esther treats of God's secret government over His captive people. Jesus is the man whom the king delights to honor. Jot) treats of perfection through suffering. Jesus is" the man of patience.
Psalms treats of praise. Jesus is the afflicted and glorified one. Proverbs treats of guide book of life. Jesus is the man of wisdom. Ecclesiastes treats of vanity under the sun. Jesus is the preacher. Song of Solomon treats of love and communion. Jesus is my beloved. Isaiah treats of salvation of Jehovah. Jesus is the prince of peace. Jeremiah treats of idolatry of God's people. Jesus is the righteous branch. Ezekiel treats of the glory of the Lord. Jesus is the tender twig. Daniel treats of the four empires. Jesus is the Messiah cut off. Hosea treats of Israel's resurrection. Jesus is the Ishf, my husband. Joel treats of judgment on Israel. Jesus is the restorer. Obadiah treats of the doom of Edom. Jesus is the Saviour. Jonah treats of warning to Gentiles. Jesus is the 43ne in the whale's belly. Micah treats of sin and salvation. Jesus is this man, the peace. Nahum treats of the fall of Ninevah. Jesus is the stronghold. Habakkuk treats, of justification by faith. Jesus is the watch tower. Zephaniah treats of great tribulation. Jesus is the gatherer of nations. Haggai treats of remnant from Babylon. Jesus is the desire of nations. Zechariah treats of judgment of Gentiles. Jesus is the branch. Malachi treats of Apostasy»of Israel. Jesus iS' the sun of righteousness. WHAT CHRIST IS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. Matthew treats of the kingdom of heaven. Jesus is the Son of God. Mark treats of service.' Jesus is the divine servant. Luke treats of sympathy and help. Jesus is the son of man. . John treats of the Divinfe one. Jesus is the Son of God. Acts treats of birth and growth of church. Romans treats of justification by faith. Jesus is the righteousness of God. Corinthians treats of church order, and ministry. Jesus is wisdom, sanctification and redemption. Galatians treatse of liberty of .sonship. Jesus is the true seed of Abraham. Ephesians trfeats- of christian standing and walk. Jesus is the head and husband. Philippians treats of christian experience. Jesus is our example. Colossians treats of fullness in Him. Jesus is our life and head. Thessaloni&ns treats of the Lord's coming. Jesus is our expectation and hope. Timothy treats of how to act in the world. Jesus is our mediator. Titus treats of grace and its results. Jesus is Redeemer and purifier. Philemon treats of human rights. Jesus is forgiveness. Hebrews treats of contrasts of old and new. Jesus is iapostle and high priest.
James treats of works of faith. Jesus is man of pity. Peter treats of suffering and glory. Jesus is shepherd. John treats " v of love and truth. Jesus is word of life. Jude treats of apostasy. Jesus is preserver. Revelations treats of judgment. Jesus is morning star. PRIVILEGE AND RESPONSIBILITY.
We are made nigh, yet commanded to draw night. Heb. 10:22. ' We are accepted in Him, yet we are to serve god acceptably. IIel>. 12:28.
We are forgiven, and yet we are to confess our sins. 1 Jno. 1:9. We are clean and yet to cleanse ourselves by the Word. 2 Cor. 7:1.. We are saved by grace, yet to work out our own salvation. Phil 2:12. We are seated in the heavenlies, and to run with patience on earth. Heb. 12:1. We are kept by the power of God, yet to hold fast. Heb. 10: 23. We are to follow peace, yet fight the good fight of faith. 1 Tim. 6 12. All our privileges are through Christ in resurrection. 1 Cor. 3:22. As Sons of God we ought to act like our Father. Eph. 5:1. As one with Christ, we ought to walk with Him. Eph. 5 :8. As accepted ones above, we ought to be separated below. 2 Cor. 6-17. As knowing His mind, responsible for using His word. Jer. 23:28. As united to Him, responsible for fruit bearing. Jno. 15:8. As friends of God, responsible to confess Him. Luke 12:8. As Christians, responsible to maintain His name and character. Rev. 3:6. Notes By the Way. By J. H. Sammis
"The World" in the Word.
Dr. Bates has an article out, now in pamphlet form, in which he pre- sents a study of the
Critical Condition of The editor of Bib- "Higher Criticism"
liotheca Sacra, the- ologian, philosopher, a n d scientist o f
Scripture terms rendered " w o r l d ," and some logical and doctrinal conclusions. He refers to the world as ' ' This present evil wo r l d" (Gal. 1:4);. " t h e course of this world according to the prince of the power of the a i r " (Eph. 2:2); " t h e whole world lying in the evil o n e " (1 John 5: 19); " t h e world which is to be crucified unto the Christian and unto which the Christian is to be crucified" (Gal. 6:14); " t h e world the friend of which is the ene- my of Go d" (Jas. 4:4), " f r om which pure religion is to be kept u n s p o t t e d" (Jas. 1: 27); is it " g r ow i ng b e t t e r ?" Since when, pray tell? Some Worldly Dr. Bates pursues his in- Specifications quiries: " T h e world peo- ple: are they growing bet- ter? They are " b o rn of the flesh," in which "dwells no good t h i n g ," which " c a n not please Go d "; in fact " i s enmity against Him. Is the flesh growing b e t t e r ?" The world system is that growing better? We are pointed to " t h e triumphs of the brain and brawn of men in their grand achievements for hu- man weal in things intellectual, social,
world wide repute, reviewing the late edi- tion of the "Encyclopedia of Eeligious Knowledge,'' says: " Of the Biblical articles we can not speak in unqualified praise, since they are nearly all tinctured with the destructive criticism which is now falling rapidly into disrepute (our black letter). It is a pity to have so much biblical science falsely so-called in a pop- ular encyclopedia as there is in t h i s . '' If Dr. F. G. Wright says so on such a sub- ject you can say so. Song of the " T h e world is growing bet- "Optimist." ter, no matter what they say, The light is shining bright- er in one refulgent ray. And though deceivers murmur and turn the other way, Yet still the world grows better and bet- ter every d a y . " Dr. W. H. Bates says that this chorus was sung with great , enthusiasm by a con- course at a watering place after a char- acteristic discourse by a noted church sec- retary, a bishop " o f some military and musical r e p u t e ."
civil, ma t e r i a l ." He catalogues a long list of alleged betterments, comforts, and facilities "mo n ume n ts of human g e n i u s ." " B u t , " h e asks, " h o w much of holy character or savor is there in them ? . . . Are they " f o r the glory of God or of m a n ? " " H o w can the course of this world from God's standpoint grow bet- t e r ? " "The Christian " A s well might we World." s p e a k of 'Christian flesh,' or a 'Christian devil,' as of a ' Chris- tian world.' " " ' B e t t e r' is the compar- ative of ' good,' and is itself a thing of degrees. How can that grow ' b e t t e r' which is not even 'good,' but bad and only bad to begin w i t h ? " The Criminal An article extant by a stu- World. dent of criminal statistics writes concerning this most ' . ' Ch r i s t i a n" country: " W e lead the world in crime, and in the im- munity of our criminals from punishment because of the defects in our laws. In this country, 250,000 persons whom the law never touches, Mr. H. C. Weir says, ' a r e engaged in thé systematic pursuit of crime . . . there are four and a half times as many murders for every million of our population today as there were twenty years ago. . . . Ten thousand persons are murdered in this country every year; and of the murderers only two in every one hundred are punished. Three hundred thousand persons have taken part in lynchings in this country in the last - forty years.' Judge George C. Holt, of
the United States District Court of New York, recently said, ' T he tendency to mob violence in this country is today the .great- est menace to American society.' The thug, the thief and the highwayman ope- rate with a boldness here unparalleled elsewhere, and these crimes are increasing in the land. In short we have indubitable proof that in the last half century the flood of crime has been rapidly rising; it has submerged the land more and more, so that there is less safety now for person and property than f o r me r l y ." This is "The world is getting better the Way every d a y" for the thief, thug, murderer; and the god- less and Christless of all shapes and sizes. "W i t h o ut Christ, hav- ing no hope, and without G o d " is in f a ct the characterization of " t h e business wo r l d ," " t h e political wo r l d ," " t h e so- cial wo r l d ," " t h e legislative wo r l d ," ' ' the executive wo r l d ," " the dramatic wo r l d ," " t h e sporting wo r l d ," and every, aspect of the world, no Christ, no hope/ no God in it. Yet it has a christ, the antichrist; it has a god, the god of this world; it has an expectation, " a certain looking for of judgment and fiery indig- nation!''' Such is its Christ, its God, its hope. The whole world lies with and lies in the devil; coddled in his arms, lulla- byed in his lap, it is ours to cry, ' ' Awa k e , '' to snatch some from the burn- ing; to save them out of the worldj that' they may not ,be " p a r t a k e rs of its judg- me n t s ," and to keep ourselves " u n s p o t- ted - fr-om the w o r l d" while passing through and preaching in it. -
A Series of Soul-Winning Studies By Rev. Robert A. Hadden
How to Present Christ to Men. Sub-Topic: The Various Difficulties Presented By Men. DIFFICULTY No. 1. "f a'm afraid I am too great a Sinner and therefore God will not receive me." NOTES: 1, A Class Numerically Small. found here and there however, generally in gospel missions and neglected places where the gospel privileges are few. The worker- will count it joy to meet with such, for they are easily led as a rule to an acceptance of the Gospel of the I.ord "Jesus Christ. 2. A Class Who Comprehend a Great and Vital Truth. This class comprehends a truth that all Thosg who constitute this,class are all too few in number in comparison with other classes of unsaved persons, they are t.o be
another class, but all sinners are included, the rich and poor, high and low, great and small, cultured and illiterate, arfstocraqy and slum, luxurious" and starving,' clean-, and filthy. "God makes no distinction, for every class alike needs the salvation of Christ. 2. A Mission to the Lost.—Luke 19:10. The crowd in the Jericho synagogue cared little for the company of Zaccheus, but Christ actually sought the company of the man and the hospitality of his home; the' despised of men . received Jesus and heard with joy the word that spoke eternal sal- vation for him. 3. A Mission That Includes Every Sinner in a Perishing World.—Jno. 3:16; Rom. 5:6-8. The agony and death on the Cross, the burial in the tomb and the resurrection of Christ from the dead are all included in the finished work of Christ' for every sin- ner. Cf. 1 Cor. 15:3, 4; Rom. 4:25; 1 Tim. 1:15. II. THE POWER OF THE LORD JESUS. 1. He is Able to Save the Greatest and Chiefest of Sinners: 1 Tim. 1:15. 2. He is Able to Save to the Uttermost Bound. Every Sinner Who Comes to Him: Heb. 7:25; Cf. Rom, 8:35-39. - 3. He is Able to Save Everyone that Be- lieveth: Rom. J:-16. III. THE WILLINGNESS OF THE LORD JESUS: Jno. 3:16; 6:37. Upon the authority of God's faithful, un- alterable Word we learn that "him that cometh unto Me, I will in no-wise cast out;" therefore, whoso comes to Him must - be received by the Lord Jesus* and such is the fact, all who come are taken into I heFam - ily, Favor, Friendship and Fellowship of God. What a position, what a privilege: "He that believeth" is the one condition imposed; "He that believeth" is saved; immediately, fully and eternally. Gracious Gospel; Glorious Privilege; High, Holy Position. Great Sal- vation for Great Sinners.
should know: All men are great sinners (Rom. 3:23). While it is true that men gen- erally confess to sin and sinfulness in the abstract, few do so in the concrete sense. The appalling condition of the sinner both as to nature and sinfulness has scarcely dawned upon the consciousness of the mass of men who are without Christ. It is re- freshing to deal with a person who realizes the position and condition in which he stands before God. 3. Meeting the Difficulty. For every difficulty there, is a Divine rem- edy. Otherwise the soul is lost beyond hope and God is at fault for requiring the impossible and leaving the soul without aid in its failure and extremity. The remedy for this and every difficulty is found in the revealed Word of God and comprehended in the finished work of the Lord Jesus; God has provided a great Saviour and great salvation for- great sinners. With the rem- edy made known comes, further responsi- bility on the part of the hearer; the truth must be accepted and the knowledge given must be believed; as the sick receives the medicine that cures and the drowning per- son seizes the rope cast in time of need, so the sinner must receive and trust the Divine remedy. Refusal or neglect brings greater guilt and condemnation. Three great truths are hereafter set forth and may be followed in their general ap- plication by the •worker; these truths to be further elaborated are as follows: (1) The Mission of the Lord Jesus. (2) The Power of the Lord Jesus. (3) The Willingness of the Lord Jesus. I. THE MISSION OF THE LORD JESUS. 1. A Mission Specifically for Sinners.— Mark 2:16-17. i Sinners are the class for whom Christ came and for .whom He was manifested on Calvary's Cross. Notice the term "Sinners" —no qualifying word is offered; the Word of God does not set forth the work of Christ in favor of one class of sinners as against
THE PRACTICAL E F F ECT OF THE PRE -MI LLEN I AL DOCTRINE. Robert E. Speer, the earnest advocate of missions, whose praise is in all of the churches of America, is an earnest be- liever in the Lord's coming. Here is a pithy statement of the need of the heart, and of practical life, which it meets. We commend it to all doubting hearts: the great truth that some day, this same Jesus which was one day taken up from men into heaven shall so come- in like manner as men saw Him go. ' KE had a dear old friend who was a Presbyterian minister in a little town in New Jersey. For years and. years his
ministry had been arid and dry, and at last those Who were about him saw a great change come, and he told me not long before his death what had wrought that change. He said when at last lie opened his New Testament and really be- lieved the simple words there regarding the return of our Lord, the whole truth of Christianity was transformed for him, and he went out into the world to preach a new Gospel with a new joy, new, .strength, new power, a new oassion for souls."— Watchword and Truth.
" T h e need of our lives for the standard of righteousness is met in the incarnation of our Lord, the need for cleansing and healing from sin is met in His atoning death, the need for power , by which to overcome the evil that is about us and within us is met by His resurrection, and the need of our hearts for .the d a y- in Which the struggle shall be on different terms and in His full presence is met by
Drief Thoughts "
For Busy Teachers
International Sunday School Lessons by J. H. Sammis Comment "Pith and Pivot" by T. C. Horton
Lesson for May 7, 1911
THREE JUDEAN KINGS. Amaziah, Uzziah, Jotham. Lesson VI.—2 Chon. xxv.-xxvli.
worshipping the' gods of Idumea; (11) and the fool thing in honoring idols whose.vot- aries. he had just conquered. Thus the want of a perfect heart in the beginning 'led to all the wrongdoing of his life and to his undoing at the last. Out of fellowship with the Lord he fell into the snare of the -devil; crediting himself with his successes he chal- lenged a stronger than he, and in his conceit he lost his treasures, his strong- holds, his glory, his prestige with his own subjects who rose up and murdered him. Had he served the Lord with a perfect heart, that is, a full surrender to seek first His glory, his end would have been glorious Instead of shameful. II. UZZIAH. 1. Uzziah succeeded at sixteen years of age and ruled for more than half a century. "He did right according to all that his father did" (26:4),' and, like his father, lacked the "perfect heart." Under him and Jothani, his successor, Judah rose to great power and prosperity. 2. One cause' of this was his deference to Zechariah, a prophet "who had understanding in the visions of God" (26:5). "Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye prosper" (20:20). The prophets had visions of the Lord and in their "light we shall see light" (Psa. 36:9). Zechariah died, but the "vision," the "Word of the Lord llveth and abideth forever" (1 Pet. 1:24, 25), and therefore if we--fall we are less excusa- ble than Uzziah. 3. Uzziah proved a worthy ruler by (1) subduing his people's enemies (25:6-8); (2) fortifying his eapitál (26:9); (3) promoting I. AMAZIAH. 1. This king, the son of Joash, reigned in Jerusalem twenty-seven years, and did right in the sight of th.e Lord, but not with a perfect heart" (25:2). The deeds and the hearts of men are both under the eye of the Lord (1 Sam. 16:7). The thought of God's "eye" is a help or a hindrance as we think Him a kind or a hard Master. To know that He is pleased with our endeavor and ¿ompassionate toward our infirmities (Heb. 5:15) should be a eheering incentiye to please 11 im; otherwise we have no freedom and are liable to rebel against Him. 2. Had his heart been right his life would have been right, for out of the heart are the issues of life (Pro. 4:23). Character, like the body, grows by;a principle within and determines the outward act. 3. To say "but not with a perfect heart" is to say that Amaziah "did right, and did wrong." (1) Right in executing his father's murderers (Num. 35: 33); (2) right in sparing their children by the law of Moses (rDeut. 24:11), the justice of God (Eze. 18:1-32), even the sons of Adam die because of their individual sins (Rom. 5:}2); (3) right in mobilizing his army to punish the Edomites who harassed the people on the borders (Amos 1:11), for it is the duty of kings to protect their sub- jects; (4) wrong in hiring idolatrous mer- cenaries to fight his theocratic battles (25:6). Let the godly learn that partnership with the ungodly is always displeasing to God and disastrous in the end. The Church needs neither the men lior the money nor the methods of the world. (5)-He did right in listening humbly to the word of reproof (25: 7, 8). and it would have been better for him if he had continued to do so (25:6); but wrong in weighing obedience over against expedience, dollars agaipst .duty (25:9). No matter what one has. invested in a bad busi- ness it should be abandoned at any cost so soon as right judgment is roused to condemn it (Acts 19:19). (7) Amaziah did right, in so doing (25:10)r and it reassures every hesi- tating- soul as it' counts the cost to remem- ber that "The Lord Is able to give much more" (¿5:9. Pull out of bad business, "God will take care of you." -But get out any- way (Hab. 3:17, 18). (8) He did right in "smiting the children of Seir" (25:11), who robbed, enslaved, and slew his people; (9) but wrong in dashing ten thousand captives on the rooks; that was the custom of' his contemporaries but not the will of the Lord. (10) He did the wrong thing in adopting and Uzziah's sin was presuming to be worthy of, Jehovah's presence. • He thrust • aside the. priestly mediator and claimed access to God in his own person. Even kings can have no audience with the King of Kings without a. Mediator, and there is now but One, the Man Christ Jesus. Had Uzzlah owned him- self spiritually a leper he would not have- become one physically. "If we judge our- selves we shall not be judged." III. JOTHAM, first as co-regent and then independent, reigned prosperously. He fol- lowed the good example of his father, but avoided his errors. So lgt every wise son do. But "the people did yet corruptly" (27:2). 14. Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thv God,. which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from thé house of bandage; Few men can stand the test of prospèr- ity. See Amaziah, 2 Chron. 25:18, 19. Nebuchadnezzar, Dan. 4:30-34; Herod, Acts 12:20-23. Spiritual pride is the most detestable of all. The history of the Church is one of lives wrecked on the rocks of pride. Uzziah's prosperity turned his head. Not satisfied with the throne of Judah he spoiled a long and useful life by assuming the prerogative of a priest and God laid him aside with one stroke of leprosy. The sin of pride is to be recognized, hated and for- saken. Many men once the chosen vessels of the Lord have lifted their heads up in- stead of humbling themselves ' under the mighty hand of God and the Lord has laid them aside forever. "Behold : this was the inirmity of thy sister Sodom. Pride, full- ness of bread and abundance of idleness was in her and her daughters. Neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy, and they were haughty and committed abomination before me. Therefore I took' ttiem away as I saw good." Ezek. 16:49, 50. appeared to Abraham (Acts 7:2); at The Burning Bush to Moses (E. 3:1-3); at the Tabernacle to Samuel (1 Sam. 3:3-10); at Anatoth to Jeremiah (Jer. 1:1-4); on the river Chebar to Ezekiel *(Ezek. 1:1-28); on the Hlddekel to Daniel (Dan. 10:4-6); near Damascus to Saul—Paul —(Acts 9:3-6); on the Isle of Patmos to John (Rev. li—); and here at the Temple to Isaiah. When nat- ural "inspiration" is accompanied and im- parted by such supernatural demonstration, but not till then, may we rank the inspira- tion of the Iliad with that of Isaiah. 2. But even then there can be no comparison between this sublime production and any other book in existence. "Even in literary form the world has produced nothing greater than Isaiah." "All kinds of writing appear to be equally easy to him. He is equally at home in pathos and scorn; he can '-paint natural scenery .with ravishiner beautv. or sing an ode of triumph with ravishing power. He is lyrical and dramatic. In depth and breadth of sympathy he. Is un- rivalled." His sublimity, reverence, awe,- terror, tenderness, grace, holiness, denuncia- But the very call of the prophet refutes this. In Mesopotamia the God of Glory and "engines," invented, and inventoried, not by "the mind of the flesh," but by "the mind of the Spirit." 3. But sad to say, Uz- ziah by one act of sacrilege tarnished all the glory of his reign. One moment of folly discredited fifty-two years of honorable achievement. "Watch and pray lest ye en- ter Into temptation." 4. "When Uzzlah was strong his heart was lifted up" (26:16). When we are strong then we are weak. "When I am weak then am I strong" (2 Cor. 12:10). The favors of Providence should humble us. The higher we are lifted, the more lowly we should be in spirit. Men have no reason to glory. All that they are and have of good they receive (1 Cor. 4:7). Uzziah was one of the best of the kings of Judah. The story pf his ilfe is told in this one chapter and nine verses in 2 Kings 14 and IB. A very few words give us the outline of a remarkable life. "He did that which was right," "He sought God," "God helped him," "Praiseworthy," "He built," "He had much cattle" (prosperity), "His heart was lifted up" (Pride), "He went Into the temple to burn incense" (Presumption), "and Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death" (Punishment). How natural and logical are these words. Read them in the light of God's warning to Israel in Deut. 8:11-14: 11. Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his command- ments, and His judgments, and His stat- utes, which I command thee this day; 12. Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; 13. And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multi- ' plied; ISAIAH'S CALL TO SERVICE. Lesson VII.—Isaiah vi. I. THE INTER-RELATION OF THE HIS- TORY AND PROPHECY. 1. As the deeds of Elijah and Ellsha were contemporary with the Kings we have stud- ied, so the words of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezek- iel, etc., were spoken in the course of the history whose records lie before us. The historical and prophetical writings, separat- ed in the records, were concurrent in time and action, and may be, indeed have been, edited into one unbroken, onflowing story. Isaiah tells us (1:1) that he prophesied in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, and Ahaz, whose reigns we are studying. 2. Indeed out of the conditions and events of the times sprung even the predictions of future events for the histories also are prophecies (types). Compare chapter seven with 9:6, for Illus- tration. II. THE CALL OF THE PROPHET. t. Some say, despite the Drophet'» own testimony to the contrary,that Scripture prophecy has no higher source-, than the genius of deep- and far-sighted men. Pith and Pivot—T.C.H. Lesson for May 14th yon and consolation, diversity and univer- sality are felt by all but attained by none. One moment with the Seraphim made him seraphic; and the sight of the Lord sent him forth the Evangelist among the prophets. 111. ISAIAH'S VISION. 1. The time: "the year Uzzlah died" (2 Chr. 26:23). 2. The Place: "the temple," not the sacred shrine, but "the Court of the Priests." Uzziah dared the former and a burning finger inflamed his forehead with leprosy and he went forth unclean. Isaiah stood awe struck without and a burning coal touched his lips and he went forth clean (6:7). 3. The Scene: The prophet's eye was opened (2 Kgs. 6:17): The interven- ing veils dissolved and the awful interior was disclosed to view. He •saw (1) "the Lord sitting upon a throne, high, lifted up, and His train (flowing robes) filled the tem- ple." That was "OUR JESUS" (Jno. 12:41); (2) "The Seraphim.", Six-winged glories— "With twain he covered his face" —in shame- faced awe; "with twain he covered his feet" —with lowly huitiility; "with twain he did fly" —with swift obedience. "Six wings he wore to shade His lineaments divine, the pair that clad His shoulders broad hung mant'ling o'er his breast With regal ornament; the middle pair girt Like a zone his waist, and down-skirted His loins with feathered mail, And colors dipt in heaven; the third His feet o'ershadowed from either heel, with downy gold Sky tinctured grain." —Milton. (3) What he heard: The antiphony,' the seraphim crying responsively, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Hosts," cried one, "The whole earth is full of His glory," answered another. This was the "Trlsaglon," i. e., the Thrice-holy, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Al- mighty, Heaven and earth are full of Thee" (Rev. 4:8). (4) What he felt: The earth quaking under his feet "at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth." (5) What he said: "Woe is me' for I am undone; because 1 am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips" (v. 5). If the faithful and godly are so dismayed at the sight of the Most Holy, what shall become of the sinner and the ungodly? Even in the presence of Deity with His glory robes laid aside, Peter cried out, "Depart from me,- for I am a sinful man, O Lord" (Luke 5:8); This lesson teaches us how God prepares men for hard service. The theme can be found in the words, "Who wilLgo for Me?" and "Here am I; send me." A man's rela- tion to the Lord is largely dependent upon his vision of the Lord and his vision of the Lord determines his understanding of him- self and of the world around him. Men will never measure higher than their Ideals, and ideals are governed by the kind of a God men serve. The Lord Jesus Christ is a different person to different people, de- pending upon their vision of Him. To some He is a hard master, to others H q is a Won- derful Saviour, and to still others He is the altogether lovely One. Some serve Him through sense of fear, others from sense of duty, and still others become His bond servants through their love for Him. Isaiah saw the Lord sitting upon the throne, high but in the last day men will call to the rocks to fall on and hide them from His face. Men will find out their sin then for their sin will find them out" when His face like the sun brings out spot and stain unseen under clouded skies. IV. THE PURIFICATION. 1. "If we confess our sins He Is faithful and Just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 Jno. 1:9). .2. "Then flew one of the seraphim," with "a live coal," "from the altar," "laid it on (his) mouth," and said, "Lo, this hath touched thy lips: and thirie Iniquity Is taken away, and thy sin purged." The "coal" was from the blood-sprinkled "altar;" the fire ("live coal") was "the Holy Ghost sent 2° Wn 4) heaven (2 Chr. 7:1; Act» 1:8; V. THE CALL AND ACCEPTANCE. The Voice of the Lord (Gen. 3:8; Ex. 3:4; Luke 3:22; Acts 22:7). "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" In this dispensation the commission is universal Go ye Into all the world," it is now a word to all with a word for all. 2. Isaiah's Response: "Here am. I, send me" (1 Kes 22:19-21; 1 Sam. 3:4; Acts 9:6) Who wili show this alacrity to do the will of God' H »w many have said "I go, sir, and went not" (Matt. 21:30)? It is probable that those who go not," have never seen the Lord high, and lifted up; have never heard "Holy HSgfe holy, Lord God of Hosts;" nor known that "the whole earth Is filled with Thy glory;" nor felt "Woe is me, I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips;" nor been freed from their iniquity;" nor been touched with a "live coal from the altar." "Who will go for us?" "Send me. VI. THE MISSION. 1. It was to Judah and Jerusalem (1:1). 2. It was to a rebellious and wicked people (1:1-5:30). 3. It was to denounce dreadful judgments on them (1:—39:31). 4. It was with blessed admixture of exhortation in- vitation, consolation, and coming and ever- lasting salvation to the happy remnant who "seek the Lord while He may be found, and call upon Him while He Is near" (55-6) Fearful as are his indictments and judgments do not forget that "Isaiah" is almost iesu and like it means JEHOVAH SAVIOR. Read Isaiah 35:53, 55, 60, 66. This vision was so marvelous that Isaiah saw the reflection of his own wickedness find the sinfulness of the people around him. There was need for but one thing more and that God supplied. The cleansing of this man from sin. Jacob had a vision of God and it filled him with dread. Daniel had one and it prostrated him in His pres- ence. John hsd one on Patmos and fell as dead. Stephen had one that filled him with glory and prepared him for a martyr's death. When we get the true vision of the risen Christ our souls will be drawn out to Himself, the sense of His sacrifice. His service, His devotion in 'our behalf will so mirror to us ourselves that we will hate the sins that hide His lovely face and we will separate ourselves from everything that dis- and lifted up, his eyes had seen the Kins, the Lord of Hosts. Pith and Pivot. T.C.H.
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