No. 12
DECEMBER, 1914
VOL. V.
F I FT Y CENTS A YEAR
SCtoj0Hustons MOTTO : “ I the Lord do keep it , I will water it every moment lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day. ’’—Isa. 27:3. R. A. TORREY, EDITOR J. H. S ammis T. C. H orton J. H. H unter —ASSOCIATE EDITORS— Organ of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles, Inc. Los Angeles, California, U. S. A. Entered as Second -Class Matter November 17, 1910, at the postoffice at Los Angeles, California, under the Act of March 3, 1879.
DIRECTORS
Lyman Stewart, President. William Thorn, Secretary. T. C. Horton, Superintendent. E. A. K. Hackett. S. I. Merrill.
Rev. A. B. Prichard, Vice-President. J. M. Irvine, Treasurer. R. A. Torrey, Dean. Giles Kellogg. H. A. Getz.
DOCTRINAL STATEMENT We hold to the Historic Faith of the Church as expressed in the Common Creed of Evangelical Christendom and including:
The Trinity of the Godhead. The Deity of the Christ.
The Maintenance of Good Works. The Second Coming of Christ. The Immortality of the Spirit. The Resurrection of the Body. The Life Everlasting of Believers. The Endless Punishment of the Im penitent. The Reality and Personality of Satan (7) Bible Women. House-to-house visitation and neighborhood classes. (8) Oil Fields. A mission to men on the oil fields. (9) Books' and Tracts. Sale and dis tribution of selected books and tracts. (10) Harbor Work. For seamen in Los Angeles harbor. (11) Yoke Fellows Hall. Thoroughly manned. Our Mission for men with Boot Black and Newsboys Class and Street Meetings. (12) Print Shop. For printing Testa ments, books, tracts, etc. A complete establishment, profits going to free dis tribution of tracts.
The Personality of the Holy Ghost. The Supernatural and Plenary au thority of the Holy Scriptures. The Unity in Diversity of the Church, which is the Body and Bride of Christ. The Substitutionary Atonement. The Necessity of the New Birth. P u r p o s e The Institute trains, free of cost, accredited men and women, in the knowledge and use of the Bible. Departments: (*) Tlie institute Classes held daily except Saturdays and Sundays. (2) Extension work. Classes and con ferences held in neighboring cities and towns. (3) Evangelistic. Meetings conducted by our evangelists. (4) Spanish Mission. Meetings every night. (5) Shop Work. Regular services in shops and factories. (6) Jewish Evangelism. Personal work among the Hebrews.
OUR WORK
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S Voi. 5 DECEMBER, 1914 No. 12 Table of Contents Editorials: The War and Missions— Is Patriotism a Christian Vir tue?—Ought Christians to Go to War?—The Grim Outlook in Europe—Unwarranted Interpretations of Prophecy_________ __ 683 The Fundamental Principles of Christianity in the Light of Modern Thinking. By John M. MacInnisAijiL................................... .... ..... 687 The Coming King (poem). By J. H. Sammis...„.J....... .................... „.... 691 Peter’s Venture on the Water. By John McNeill.................. 'It .... 1C? 692 “ Far Better” By H. C. G. Moule..... ......... ;.................. ; ____.......... 698 Studies in the Gospel According to John. By R. A. Torrey...L.....A.:. 4 ... 699 Christ Our Strength (poem). S d e c ted J lH H y .Y . ..... BSBfil 704 International Sunday School Lessons. By J. H. S.............W 705 Junior Endeavor Topics. By J. H. SSPP i j * 709 The Life that Wins (song). Music by L. F. Peckham ..:!A ............. 710 At Home and Abroad........’............ ...................„.J.............:............CsA____ 712 Hints and Helps............ ...L....___ ............ . .Lt ... I....... ...................... . 716 Questions and Answers. By R. A. Torrey........................................ .1... 720 Bible Institute of Los Angeles .. T L ................ 722
SUBSCRIPTION RATE
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FIFTY CENTS A YEAR
Published by the Bible Institute of Los Angeles 536-558 South Hope Street
BIBLES AND TESTAMENTS F o r Christmas Presentation There can be no better gift—nothing of more lasting benefit—than a well-bound Bible or Testa ment.
The Book Room o f the Bible Institute
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is prepared to offer you a better selection of really desirable Bibles and Testaments than ever before. We can supply both the Authorized (King James) and the Revised Versions in any style of type or binding that you may desire.
Orders by mail or in person promptly attended to ADDRESS ALL ORDERS TO The B iota B ook Room BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES 536-558 South Hope St. Los Angeles, Cal.
Noted for their especially clear print and good Binding.
Oxford Red-Letter Bibles
The Old Folks’ Easy Reading
Oxford Reference Bibles Printed in large clear pica type on the famous Oxford India Jinen paper. Bound in best’ Persian Levant leather, divinity circuit, leather lined to edge, silk sewed, round corners, red 'under gold edges. Will be appreciated as a present by father or mother or pastor. Price $8.00. The Largest Type Reference Bible in the Smallest Compass Ever Published Beautifully printed from clear-faced, long primer type on the famous India linen paper. Bound in the best grade of Le vant leather, divinity circuit, calf lined to edge, silk sewed, round Corners, red un der gold edges. Thumb index. Price $ 8 . 00 . An Easy-to-Read Oxford Teachers’ Bible Printed from beautifully clear, long primer type, is self-pronouncing, and has all the helps of the smaller size Bible. Bound in French morocco, divinity cir cuit, leather lined, round corners, red under gold edges. Size, 8j-5x6 inches. Our price, $3.00. Pictorial Palestine Bibles Containing 116 beautiful chromographs and engravings. Black-faced minion type, beautifully clear and easily read. Oxford India paper. Size, 6^x4)4 inches; Bound in French Levant leather, divin ity circuit, leather lined, silk sewed, round corners, red under gold edges. Price $4.50.
With all the words of Christ’ in the New Testament printed in red and all the ref erences to Him in the Old Testament also in red. We have a special Sunday School Teachers’ Edition of these which con tains splendid new and up-to-date helps arranged under one alphabet. Printed in minion black-faced type. Size 7%x5 inches. Bound in French morocco leather, divinity circuit, leather lined, round corners, red under gold edges. Price $2.75. Minion Black-Faced Bibles Beautifully printed on Oxford white paper. Size, 7¿4x5 inches. Bound in French morocco leather, divinity circuit, round corners, red under gold edges. Advertised by the Oxford University Press as the best minion black-faced book made—and it is a marvel of cheapness when compared with what you have been used to paying for a Bible not nearly as good. .Our special price on this Bible is $2.00. Oxford The largest type (brevier) self-pronounc ing Bible in the smallest compass yet made. Printed on Oxford fine white paper. Size, 5 3 - 5 x 8 inches.,; Contains a practical Bible Dictionary, including index, concordance, glossary, weights, measures, coins, botany, etc., all arranged under one alphabet. Practical, scholarly, simple. Bound in French morocco, divinity circuit, leather lined, round corners, red under gold edges. Our price for this Bible is $2.50. Self-Pronouncing Teachers’ Bibles
The New Oxford * Brevier, No. 03309x Large Black-faced Type Reference Bible The ideal Bible for the middle aged and those whose eyes do not easily read the ordinary type. Printed on the finest’ qual ity Oxford India paper. Bound in Alaska seal, divinity circuit, leather lined to edge. Silk sewed, round corners, red under gold edges. Size, 4^x7xl. A very handsome present. Price $5.00. Oxford With self-pronouncing dictionary of Scripture proper names, harmony of the Gospels, chronological tables and maps, and yet the lightest, thinnest and most compact smalt, reference Bible made. The binding is French morocco, divinity circuit, round corners, red under gold edge. Price $1.60. Oxford Nonpareil No. 03237x Reference Bible With Button Clasp One of the most deservedly popular pocket Bibles. Splendidly bound in fine grained French morocco and lined with purple moire; has button clasp to hold in shape.- Suitable for either lady or gen tleman. Size, 4^ x6^ x ll-16 . Price $3.00. Oxford Ruby No. 03108 Reference Bible
The Long Primer Self-Pronouncing Oxford Teachers’ Bible, India Paper Edition Is a wonder of printing. Size, 6x8^4 inches and only. 15-6 inch thick. Contains all the helps, concordance, Bible diction ary and maps. Bound in morocco leather, divinity circuit, leather lined, round cor ners, red under' gold edges. Price $6.00. One of the very best Bibles we have. Special ‘ ‘Christian Workers’ ’ Pocket Bibles W e sell a great many pocket Bibles and try to always have in stock the very best there is to be had “in small size easily read Bibles. The following are some of our best sellers: Oxford One of the smallest Bibles that we would advise for general use. Size, 3 ^ x 5 ^ inches and only of an inch thick. A wonderfully clear type in a very small Bible. Price $1.35. Oxford No. 01254x Nonpareil Black-faced Type A superbly printed small black-fated type Bible, easily read and very satisfactory to use in personal work. Size, 3j^x5j4x^4 inches. Price $1.65. The NEW Oxford The latest editions of the Oxford Press solve the problem of how to get large black-faced type in a handy-size Bible. No. 01478x, size 4j4x6j^xl. Bound in French morocco, divinity circuit, round corners, red under gold edges. Beauti fully printed on the famous Oxford India paper. Price $3.00. LARGE TYPE SMALL Bible No.0113x Pearl Black-faced Type
Ruby No. 03173x Concordance Bible
It is rather unusual to find a concordance in a pocket Bible. Size, 4x5?^xl inch. Bound in French morocco, divinity cir cuit, round corners, red under gold edges. Price $2.50.
AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLES Ordinarily called The Revised Version In response to a very general demand for the Revised Version among Christian workers, we have stocked what we consider to be the very best styles put out by Thomas Nelson & Sons. In regard to the use of the Revised Version Bible, Dr. Torrey says: ‘ Every Bible student should always have a cppy of the American Standard Version. This is unquestionably the most accurate and satisfactory translation of the original texts of the Old and New Testaments. As we believe in the inerrancy of the Scriptures as originally given, we should desire to have as accurate a translation as possible, and we find it in this edition of the Bible.” Self-Pronouncing Printed from large and clear long primer type. Size, 6§4 jx 834 inches.
Reference Bible for $2.50 Printed from minion, black-faced type on fine white Bible paper. Size, 4$4x7 inches. Bound in Egyptian seal leather, divinity circuit, leather lined to edge, silk sewed, round corners, red under gold edges. Same Bible as above But printed on Nelson’s India linen pa per and only % of an inch thick. Price $3.50. Black-faced Type Teachers’ Bible, $2.00 The Publishers say: “This is the largest type in the smallest compass ever pro duced.” Minion, black-faced, self-pro nouncing. Size, 434x7 inches. Contains Bible dictionary, concordance, maps and ' Bible study helps. Bound in Egyptian seal leather, divinity circuit, round cor ners, has head bands, silk -book-mark; red under gold edges. Special Sunday School Scholars’ Bible for $1.00 Printed from good readable type, yet the book is small: in size, being 3f4x5$4 inches. Bound in Egyptian seal leather, divinity circuit, round corners, red under gold edges. The “ Easily Read” Reference Bible, $2.00 Contains also the Apocrypha. Printed from clear face bourgeois type. Bound in Egyptian seal leather, limp, round cor ners, red under gold edges. The following Styles are very desirable for presentation purposes:
Nelson’s India Paper Edition. Only 13-16 of an inch thick. The thinnest print ing paper in the world. . 273X. Egyptian Seal, divinity circuit, leather lined to edge, silk sewed, round corners, red under gold edges. $6.00. 274X. Persian Levant, divinity circuit, leather lined to edge, silk sewed, round corners red under gold edges. $7.50. 275X. Best Levant, divinity circuit, calf lined to edge, silk sewed, round cor ners, red under gold edges. $10.00. 277X. Sealskin divinity circuit, calf lined to edge, silk sewed, round corners, red under gold edges. $12.00. Special American Revision Pocket Bible The thinnest and most compact Minion Reference Bible made. This new Bible is printed on very thin yet opaque India paper with minion black-face type and is an ideal Bible for carrying in the hand, in the pocket or traveling bag. We have five styles to select from, as follows: 147X Library—Egyptian seal, powder grain, limp, silk sewed, round corners, red under gold edges. $2.50. 152X Librate—Egyptian seal, powder grain, divinity circuit, silk sewed, round corners, red under gold edges. $2.75. 153X License—Egyptian seal, powder grain, divinity circuit, gros grain leather lined to edge, silk sewed, round corners, red under gold edges. $3.25. 154X Lichen—Genuine morocco, divin ity circuit, smooth Persian leather lined to edge, silk sewed, round cor ners, red under gold edges. $4.50. 157X Lick—Sealskin, divinity circuit’, calf lined to edge, silk sewed, round corners, red under gold edges. $7.50.
Remarkable Values F le x ib le B ind ings that open Flat
These splendid Bibles are printed from beautifully clear and easily read type on fine quality very thin India paper. Have all the marginal references and full set of good maps. The Concordance is quite comprehensive, and will enable you to find all the principal passages. These Bibles are splendidly bound in French Levant morocco leather and lined -with nice smooth kid with no padding or stiffening, thus making a perfectly flexible •cover that is not apt to crack or break. And another feature that these Bagster Bibles possess is that they will ope* perfectly flat at any point, will lay flat and stay open.
We consider the following Bibles the best value at the price charged of any Bibles we have ever sold:
The Self-Pronouncing Reference Bible With Concordance In every way a similar Bible to the one sold at $5.00, only this is printed from smaller type—clear face minion; and is self-pronouncing. Size, 514x734 inches, and only seven-eighths of an inch thick. A splendid medium priced Bible, worth much more than $3.75, the price at which we are selling it.
The Large Type Concordance Bible
Has all the marginal references and full set of maps. Printed, from primer type that is very easy to read. Size, 6x8 inches, and less than an inch thick. Very thin, light and flexible. A remarkably good value at our price of $5.00.
ESPECIALLY GOOD FOR PRESENTATION PURPOSES
Other Translations We always try to carry in stock all the different translations of the Bible and at the present time can supply the following:
J. N. Darby’s Translation Complete Old and New Testament in one volume New Testament only Pocket size, cloth,. 75c; leather, $1.25. Large type edition, cloth, $1.25. Weymouth’s New Testament In Modern Speech This is at once a translation, an interpre tation and a paraphrase. Very reverent in tone. Delightful reading. Every Bible student should have a copy for compari son. Comes in several different bindings, as follows: , Pocket size, without notes, 3^4x55^x^. Cloth, ordinary paper, 65c. ' Cloth, India paper, 85c. Leather, $1.25. Regular size, with full notes, 5x7. Cloth, ordinary paper, $1.00. Cloth, India paper, $1.50. Lambskin, ordinary paper, $1.50. Lambskin, India paper, $2.00. Turkey morocco, divinity circuit, round corners, gold edges, $3.00. Fine French morocco, limp, gold edges, .„.$3.50. The 20th Century New Testament Is the New Testament translated into the language of the street. Useful for com parison. Cloth, $1.00.
Grant’s Numerical Bible. 6 vols. Bound in cloth, $15.00. Bound-in leather, $ 21 . 00 . Rotherham’s Emphasized Bible 4 volumes at $2.00 each, or one large volumes, $7.50. New Testament bound alone, $2.00. Farrar Fenton’s Modern English Bible Complete in. one volume, cloth binding, $3.25. New Testament separate, $1.00. Newberry’s “ Englishmen’s” Bible Can be supplied in several sizes and styles of binding. 5x 7^x1 Morocco. Price $3.75. 6x 9 xlj^ Morocco. Price $6.00. 7x10^4x1^4 Morocco. Price $9.00. Young’s “ Literal” Translation Very scholarly and much appreciated by many Bible scholars. 6x9x1. Bound in cloth. Price $4.00. The Septuagint In the original Greek with literal English translation- in parallel column. 7x8j4x2j4. Bound in durable cloth. Price $5.00.
Special Low Priced Bibles For Sunday Schools, Churches, and Y. M. C. A.’s and other Bible Classes We have lately made arrangements with the American Bible Society by which we can supply their Bibles at New York prices. We carry four styles in stock, which we are prepared to offer you as follows: At 17c
At 38c An easy-to-read brevier type Bible; size 12mo., 5$4x7 inches. Bound in cloth, red edges. Postage 17c. At 45c A splendid brevier type Bible that you will be glad to own; size 12mo., 5^x7 inches. Has good cloth binding, round corners and smoothly burnished red edges. Postage 17c.
An agate type Bible; size 24mo., 4x5^4 inches. Bound in cloth, red edges. Pos tage 8c. At 23c A minion type Bible; size 18mo., 4^4x6 inches. Bound in cloth with round cor ners and red edges. Postage 10c.
These four styles of Bibles at the prices we are now able to supply them to you are the cheapest and best Bibles for the money that it is possible to buy. If ordered by mail postage will be extra on these. 4 The Cross Reference Bible is the most remarkable analyzed Bible ever published It Contains
In the July “ King’s Business,” Dr. Torrey had this to say about the Cross- Reference Bible: “ There is an especial edition of the American Standard Version which is almost indispensable for any one who aims at a thorough and exact study of the Word of God. It’ is called THE CROSS REFERENCE BIBLE. It rep resents a vast amount of labor both by the immediate editors and by others, the results of whose labor have been incorpo rated in the book. It is a very large book, 2414 pages. It can be had in a variety o f editions from $6 to $16.50. The differ ence is in the paper and binding.”
A complete topical analysis of the Bible. A complete alphabetical index to every topic. Excellent biographies of 300 Bible char acters. Marginal index o f all foot notes and of the text. Complete outline studies or introductions to every book of the Bible. And It Is the only modern variorum edition of the Bible.
New Testaments We carry a very splendid line of Testaments and can supply almost any want in these. Prices vary according to binding and paper and range from 10 cents to $3.75. We submit a short list of a few of our best values: At 7c Each Handsome Small Testament
W e have a Testament that is indeed a marvel of cheapness. Printed in agate type; size 32 mo., 3j4x5 inches. Bound in cloth, cut flush, with round corners and red edges. Postage, 3c extra. At 15c Each We offer the well-known and much-used Marked New Testament, bound in cloth, cut flush, red edges. Size, 3J4 x 5^ j inches. God’s Plan of Salvation underlined. Postage 3c. At 25c Each EXTRA SPECIAL An exceedingly good looking pocket Tes tament, printed clear ruby type, on fine white paper. Bound in smooth French morocco leather, limp round corners, red edges. Comes in both black and maroon colors. At 35c Each Illustrated Pocket Testament We have succeeded in getting a splendid low priced, illustrated testament, printed in clear easily-read type. Especially good as a present for either boy or girl. Can be had in either red or black, smooth French morocco, leather binding. We have a splendid cloth-bound edition of The Workers’ Testament, which has all the passages needed in showing the way of salvation printed in black-faced type. Size, 2j4x4Ji inches. At 50c Each W e offer two very desirable small Testa ments as follows: Handy Vest Pocket Testaments Printed in the finest Oxford India paper, bound in Venetian morocco, limp, round corners. Size, 2%x4$£ inches and only % inch thick. Just the thing for a boy or young man.
Bound in French morocco leather, divin ity circuit, linen lined, round corners, red under gold edges. Excellent size for a lady to carry in handbag or in jacket pocket. Workers’ Testament With select passages printed in bold faced type, arranged by Rev. J. Wilbur Chapman and used by him in his evan gelistic tours. Printed on the finest linen paper, bound in French morocco, limp, round corners,’, red under gold edges. Price $ 1 . 00 . A very desirable Testament to own. The Workers’ Testament As above,, except that it is bound in finest velvet calf skin, divinity circuit with art edges. Size, 2^x4^4 inches. Price $1.50. A beautiful Testament and one that ought to last through many years of hard wear The New Black-faced Type Testament Large minion type on India linen paper. Vest pocket size, 2 ^ x 4 ^ and only V* inch thick. Bound in finest French morocco, divinity circuit, round corners, red under gold edges. Price $1.50..A splendid easy- to-read Testament.
The “ Very Best” New Testament
Bound in finest Alaska seal leather, divin ity circuit^ leather lined, round corners, red under gold edges. Printed from large, black-faced minion type on the celebrated “ Oxford” finest grade India linen paper. Price $2.00. This is the very finest Testament issued by the Oxford University Press.
New Testament with Psalms
rocco, limp instead of with the over lapping leather as in the ones designated divinity circuit, has round corners and red under gold edges. Price 75 cents. The “Easy-to-Read” Edition has black faced type, printed on finest white pa per. Bound in Alaska seal leather, divin ity circuit, leather lined, round corners, red under gold edges. Price $2.75. Another style much liked by ministers and Bible class teachers is the brevier 16mo., 'black-faced type edition. Size; 4j4x6^ inches. Bound in Alaska seal leather, divinity circuit, leather lined, round corners, red under gold edges. Price $2.25. 334X Longness—Egyptian seal, divinity circuit, silk sewed, round corners, red under gold edges. $1.00. 336X....Longsome—Egyptian seal, limp, leather lined, silk sewed, round corners, >red under gold edges. $1.50. . 344X ijLongways-APersian levant, divin ity circuit, leather lined to edge, silk sewed, round corners, red under gold edges. $2.00. 345X Look—Best levant, divinity cir cuit, calf lined to edge, silk sewed, round corners, red under gold edges! $2.50. Revised Testament with Psalms Nelson’s India Linen Paper Edition. Size, 3}4x4Yi inches; only 7-16 of an inch thick. Bound in Egyptian seal, flexible, limp, round corners, red under gold edges. Price $1.00. Bound in Real Sealskin, divinity circuit, calf lined to edge, silk sewed, round cor ners, red under gold edges. Price $3.75. The most attractive Testament in our stock. Splendid Large Type Flexible Edition Printed in large clear-face minion type. Size of book 3J4x4^ inches. Thin, flat, flexible. Bound in Egyptian seal, limp. Price 50c. Egyptian seal,, divinity circuit. Price 75c. Palestine Levant, divinity circuit, full leather lined. Price $1.00. Same Testament as above, but bound in finest French morocco, and divinity circuit instead of limp. Price $1.00.
For those who like this combination we have selected what we think are the choicest styles , from Oxford University Press. Vest Pocket Edition, printed on finest In dia linen paper, bound in French moroc co, divinity circuit, round corners and red under gold edges. Size, 3j4x5% and only inch thick. Price 95 cents. We have a larger type edition; size inches. Bound in French mo
Revised New Testaments
The “ Vest Pocket” New Testament
Printed from clear ruby type on India paper. Self-pronouncing edition with the words of Christ emphasized by being printed in black-faced type. Comes in several styles of binding as follows:-'' 237X Lomat—Extra tan suede, flexible covers, Roycroft style, round corners, red under gold edges, silk sewed. 50c. 232X Lomer—French morocco, flexible, limp, round corners, red under gold edges; silk sewed. 75c. 234X Lomda—French morocco, divinity circuit, round corners, red under gold edges, silk sewed. $1.00. 244X Lomt'er—Genuity morocco, divin ity circuit, gros-grain,' lining to edge, round corners, red under gold edges, silk sewed. $1.50. FOR THE POCKET TESTAMENT LEAGUE The Self-Pronouncing Emphasized New Testament We have a special edition of the Re vised New Testament recommended by the Pocket Testament League. Printed from easy reading nonpariel type. Words of Christ are emphasized by being print ed in bold-faced type. Bound in a va riety of ways as follows: 337X Longly—Extra tan suede, flexible covers, Roycroft style, with frontis piece, “ Christ Knocking at the Door,” silk sewed, round corners, red under gold edges. 75c.
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SCRIPTURE TEXT Wall Mottoes Calendars
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Christmas Cards Birthday Cards
We have a full and complete line of these in many EF~ . styles and at all prices from 5 cents to 5 0 cents each. The Scripture Texts are well chosen and the designs are very handsome. Call and see them if you can—or, if that is impossible, send us your order, enclosing the amount of money you want to spend, tell us about what you want, and we will send them to you.
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ADDRESS ALL ORDERS TO The Biola Book Room BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES
X * Ü x X i l
536-558 South Hope S t
Los Angeles
1 I 4
The King’s Business
Voi. 5
DECEMBER, 1914
No. 12
The War and Missions O NE of the worst evils arising out of the present war is its effect upon for eign missions. The work is almost paralyzed in many fields and mission aries subjected to great discomforts and perils. In some fields, it is im possible to get supplies to the brave men and women working at the front and it is impossible to even hear from some of the missionaries. But this is not all, nor the worst of it, the nations at war have been called “ Christian nations.” Of course, they are not really so, but they are nominally SO, and it is impossi ble for the Mohammedans and Buddhists and other followers of false religions to make fine distortions, and now they are laughing at Christianity and, judging this to be Christianity, they do not wish it. The faithful work of generations is being undone. It was certainly a master stroke of the Devil when he brought about this present war. However, God is wiser than he and mightier than he, and doubtless in the final outcome will bring to naught all these schemes and devices of Satan, but the appalling difficulties which are confronting every mis sionary society today as an outcome of the war should drive Christians to prayer. Is Patriotism a Christian Virtue? F OR a few years great emphasis has been laid upon patriotism as a Christian virtue, but a great deal that is called “ patriotism” is selfishness (though possibly in disguised form) and therefore is essentially Satanic. To love a country simply because it is one’s- own country and to stand by it no matter of what injustice it is guilty toward other and weaker nations is radically and thoroughly unchristian. The sentiment, “ My country, may she always be right, but my country whether right or wrong,” has been quoted and requoted until some almost seem to think it is a portion of the Word of God. It is a thoroughly vicious sentiment. It justifies the most unjustifiable wars and the most devilish conduct in war. We should love our country—there is no ques tion about our Lord’s love for His own Jewish people—but we should not love our country at the expense of other countries. We should not justify our coun try when she is in the wrong. We should not join hands with the multitude of our countrymen to do evil to other nations. We should seek the peace and prosperity and welfare of other lands as well as our own. We should not seek to always put the best construction on our own acts and the worst construction on the acts of other nations. The law of love should be the law of nations as well as the law of the individual. The fair-sounding word “ Patriotism” is often used as a cloak for the basest and meanest conduct. In Christ Jesus there is neither Jew nor Greek, Barbarian, Scythian, German, Englishman, Russian or American, we are all one in Him (Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:11). Ought Christians to Go to War ? A VERY striking and thoughtful article on T he C h r i s t i a n ’ s D u t y in T i m e o f W a r recently appeared in a London paper called “ The Labor Leader.” We give extracts from it. The writer says:
684 THE KING’S BUSINESS “The Germans have overrun France and Belgium, and may possibly invade England by airship and drop bombs on London. What am I to do? Am I to answer the Prime Minister’s call, make myself proficient in arms, and hurry to the Continent to beat the Germans off ? He answers his own question by saying: “Look! Christ in khaki, out in France thrusting his bayonet into the body of a German workman. See! The Son of God with a machine gun, ambushing a column of German infantry, catching them unawares in a lane and mowing them down in their helplessness. Hark! The Man of Sorrows in a cavalry charge, cutting, hacking, thrust ing, crushing, cheering. N o ! N o ! That picture is an impossible one, and we all know it. “That settles the matter for me. I cannot uphold the war even.oh: its supposedly defensive sidd, and I cannot, therefore, advise any one else to enlist or to take part in what I believe to be wrong and wicked for myself. A country, as an individual, must be prepared to follow Christ if it is to claim the title, of Christian.” ■ Further on he says: “No nation and no political party (and for that matter no Church either) is at present prepared to do that, although they all, more or less, profess to be Christian. The inference is irresistible that the nations of Christendom, the orthodox political parties, and the organized churches, believe in the religion 6f materialism, and not in God. “For myself, I can see no logical or practical half-way house between the policy of being always antiwar (anti every war, including this war), a policy based on the teaching of Christ, and the policy of Lord Roberts,, Lord Charles Beresford, Leo Malcse, and Gen eral Bernhardi, based frankly on material self-interest. The latter policy requires the keeping always ready of the maximum possible army and the maximum possible navy, equipped with the maximum possible efficiency. If we are to rely on force at all, then we ought clearly to see to it that we have a greater force oh our side than our enemies can put forward. If it is right to defend One’s country by taking part in war at any time, it is right and wise and necessary to begin the defense when it can be begun with real hope of sucqgss, not at the last moment.’ If it is right to recruit now for national defense against Germany, then we ought to have listened to Lord Roberts and the others and have had our million‘ men armed and trained ready before the .crisis arrived. We ought to have had their equipment, barracks, officers, and so on, in being now, instead of hurriedly impro vising a scratch army at the fifty-ninth minute of the eleventh hour. If the defense is right now, the Radicals, the Labor party, and the Socialists have been wrong all along in opposing increased armaments and general military service. When this war is over the Roberts-Beresford-Blatchford party will .demand, and consistently demand, that we should immediately commence to arm as never before in order to protect ourselves against the next war. That is the obvious logic and worldly wisdom of the situation, if you admit the use of, force at all. “But I simply do not.base my position on logic or worldly wisdom. I base it simply on the command of God and the teaching of Christ. Christ’s teaching applies as much to defensive as offensive wars; in fact,(his precepts are directed mainly to the method of defense. ‘Render not evil for evil,’ ‘Overcome evil with good,’ ‘Love your enemies,’ ‘Unto him that smiteth you on the one cheek,’ are all commands which imply antecedent offense on the part of the enemy and specify the method of defense on the part of the Christian. To the great majority of the people all this Sounds utter foolishness in the face of the present situation, but the divine sense has always been hidden from the wise and prudent, and has only been revealed to the babes of simple faith and child-lik.e heart.”
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Further on still he says: “ I say deliberately that I am prepared to be shot rather than to kill a German peasant with whom I have no conceivable quarrel. I will do nothing to kill a foe directly or in directly by my own hand or by proxy. So help me God. Never.” The Grim Outlook in Europe T HE NEW HAVEN JOURNAL-COURIER of Friday, October 16, 1914, has a long editorial with the above caption. We wish we had space for the entire editorial. We give, however, only the closing paragraph: “At best, the outlook is grim and saddening. No one can predict on which side suc cess will be ultimately gained and "no one would think of fighting for so many different ends. It is only the unprecedented disruption of all the forces of progress and industry that can be dimly foreseen. Whoever wins, whoever loses, the thought of the price to be paid by the entire civilized world grows daily more appalling. Nobody can comprehend what it is going to mean. No one seems able to put a stop to a titanic struggle whose awful destructiveness is without excuse.” These words are wisely and well spoken. But in spite of this “ grim out look” the one who believes in God and knows his Bible, can look out upon the future without fear, knowing that God makes the wrath of men to praise Him and that the remainder of wrath He does restrain (Ps. 76:10), knowing further that the era of war and bloodshed and hate and satanic triumph is to be followed by an era of peace and plenty and joy and glory such as /this old world has never seen or dreamed of, when the Lord Jesus shall come and take the reins of government, when war shall be at an end and when the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. As the days get darker and darker we can look up, not only with expectant hearts but with exultant hearts and cry ever more and more earnestly, “ Even so come Lord Jesus— Come quickly.” Unwarranted Interpretations of Prophecy T HE war has moved many to rush into print as to its prophetic place and meaning. Even writers and papers that have hitherto shown no" great interest in prophecy are now giving voice to the wildest explanations of current events supposedly from the standpoint of Bible prophecy. The Novem ber number of OTJR HOPE contains one of the wisest words along this line that we have read anywhere. Indeed, the whole November number is of un usual value. The word to which we especially refer is this: “A WORD OF CAUTION.” “The great European disastrous war is leading many good people to make rather dogmatic assertions about its relation to the Word of Prophecy. The word ‘Armageddon’ is freely applied to the great struggle. If those' who think that the battle of Armageddon is being fought would read Revelation 16:16 and 19:11-20 they would soon discover their mistake. Armageddon is in Palestine and not in Europe. Armageddon comes at the very end of the age, when the Lord comes out of heaven with His Saints. Others claim that those European events are'the breaking of the second seal and that the rider upon the red horse has begun his deadly work, taking peace from the earth (Revelation 6:3, 4). This also is incorrect. If peace is to be taken from the earth, then peace must have been on the earth first of all. The rider upon the white horse, a deceiving one, no doubt estab lishes a mock-peace. But such has not yet been the case. Perhaps when these nations are
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THE KING’S BUSINESS through fighting their battles, killing their hundreds of thousands and exhausting their resources, they will agree on making ‘universal peace.’ The seal judgments, however, do not take place as long as the Church is still on earth. The first coming great event in the fulfillment of prophecy relating to the end of this age is the rapture of the saints as pre dicted and promised in 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18. “And others think that these events in Europe are the beginning of the great tribu lation,;^This is equally wrong. The great tribulation precedes the visible coming of our Lord three and one-half years. Daniel’s unfulfilled prophetic year week (seven years) is not now nor can it be now. The Jews are not restored to their land nor do we see any thing of Antichrist. “All those wrong conceptions about present-day events spring from ignorance of the revealed details of the end of-the age. The Thessalonian Christians were patiently waiting for His Son from heaven. When false teachers disturbed them and these teachers made it appear that they were to see tribulation, wrath and the day of the Lord, the Holy Spirit sent them a message to allay their fears. It is well for us to read those assuring words in these days of confusion. ‘Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of the Lord is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means; for that day shall not come, except there come the falling away first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdi tion,’ etc. (2 Thessalonians 2:1, 12). But the falling away and the personal Antichrist cannot come as long as the One is here, whose presence holds back the complete apostacy and its appointed heading up in the Man of sin. The One who restrains it is the Holy Spirit. He dwells in true believers, who constitute the Church, the body of Christ. When, therefore, the true Church is removed from the earth, the Holy Spirit in His peculiar presence on the earth will be withdrawn. Yet He will not cease doing a work after the Church is completed and gone. He will call and fit the Jewish remnant for their great work and for their suffering during the end of the age. “We caution our beloved readers not to pay any attention to these false interpreta tions of prophecy. All kinds of literature are being circulated. We know of nothing which is more destructive to the peace of God’s people, than the theory that true believers must go through the period of tribulation in store for the unbelieving world and share the ap pointed judgments and, wrath of the ungodly and the enemies of the cross. And this nightmare, substituted for the bright and blessed hope, of seeing Him as He is, changed in the twinkling of an eye, is, from certain sides, constantly pressed upon God’s people. “ In giving this word of caution we are not alone. Our brother, Sir Robert Anderson, has also warned in the same way. We quote what he writes: ‘This terrible war will prove ai special blessing to the people of God, or else it will cause them definite harm. Blessing, if it draws them nearer to the Lord, deepening their trust in Him, and making prayer 'more real and intense; but grievous harm if they yield to the influences which tend to mar communion’ with Him. ‘In this connection I venture to raise a warning voice against what I may call the politics of prophetic interpretation. It has done vastly more to discredit Scripture than all the attacks of infidelity. In the appalling tragedy of the de struction of Jerusalem, the early fathers found the clearest proof that the Jew was exterminated, and that God has cast away His people. And the result of that error has leavened orthodox Christian theology down to the present hour; f° r the covenant people it displays ignorance of, ‘The ground plan of the Bible. Let us be warned by their example. Had we lived a century ago, when Napoleon was at the zenith of his1power, we might well have supposed that the final drama of prophecy had begun. But the battle of Waterloo led to a period (Concluded on page 730)
The Fundamental Principles of Christianity in the Light of Modern Thinking 1 By JOHN M. MACINNIS, B. D.
X. THE IMMED IATE OUTLOOK AND HOPE OF THE CHURCH.
T HE great essential facts of the Christian religion are these: Man was made for God, and in right relation with Him he realizes his life. He sinned through disobedi ence and as a result he became dead to God and his life is full of failure and sorrow. God sent His only be gotten Son to redeem man and to win him back to Himself once more. Through His death on Calvary Jesus has made his return possible. The return means that the life is so re lated to God that the very life of God flows through it and in this in flow of the life of God man realizes himself at his best. Therefore Chris tianity is God in Christ reconciling the world to Himself so that through His Kingship the world may come to realize its highest aspirations and ideals. That is the world’s great need today. A new infusion of Di vine life through submission to the Kingship o f God in Christ. That alone can meet the deepest needs of humanity as they stand naked in the problems of the hour. Let me merely suggest to you a line of thought that will show you how this enters into the very heart of our present situation. The World Situation Take first of all the world situation from an international point of view. 1 An address by Rev. John M. Maclnnis at the Montrose Bible Conference. Copyright, by John M. Maclnnis, 1913.
The story of history is the story of war and bloodshed. Practically ev ery world power in existence today was founded in blood. Not only that, but the general opinion is that the safety of these great nations depends upon their capacity to shed blood. This is why the armament move ment and program have become so outrageous in their demands that men are beginning to rebel against war and all that it means. The great heart of the world is struggling under its load and is crying for relief. How are we going to get rid of. it ? There must be some great overpowering and all conquering influence come into the life o f the world that will reveal that the deepest things in human life are not the things that separate us into factions and nations but the things that bind us to a common center in which the life of the world is realized. I must confess that as I try to honestly study the programs submitted for our consideration for the purpose of realizing this ideal I can only see one that seems equal to the task. The revelation of the Prince of Peace as the king of glory can do it, for He alone is equal to the task of breaking the nations and making tjiem into a single KingdomM-the Kingdom o f our Lord and His Christ. The Social Situation Take, again, the social situation— everywhere men are lifting up their voices in protest against the present
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.order. They know that things are far from right and that they ought not to be as they are. They are also in creasingly conscious of the fact that our great social problems are not suc ceeding in bringing in the golden ''age of which men have long dreamed. With all our .social reforms crime is on the increase in the great Christian nations. A Professor of Political Economy in one of our great uni versities said not long since that so far as political economy is concerned our great need is for some great dynamic that can change men and give vision to the sordid and cleanse the unclean. Just so. But, where are we going to look for that trans forming power? The revelation of the King could do it. “We shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is.” That is the hope of the Church and I do not know o f anything in the programs of men that can give a better hope. The Outlook of Philosophy Once more let us glance at the out look of philosophy. One of our greatest living philosophers frankly tells us that the world is on the verge of moral bankruptcy, and that the only hope for it is in a new manifes tation of transcendent life. In other words, he tells us that if we are go ing to be saved from our present helplessness God must interfere and do it. He has hope for the world only in a new manifestation of God. The Theological World Is it not interesting to find that at this very moment when men are cry ing for peace, power and a new mani festation of God, that the theological world should be turning its attention to the second coming of Christ in a new way— in a way it has not been
considered since the days of the apostles. Prof. Macintosh in his new book on “ The Doctrine of the Person of Christ” says, “ This con sciousness of the spirit and this hope of the Parousia form the vital heart of the primitive Christology.” I heard him say in a public lecture to ministers and students that this hope of the Parousia is the very flesh of the New Testament teachings. This represents a restudy of this whole question of the coming of Christ in which some of the foremost students in the world are beginning to realize that Christ and His program for the redemption of the world cannot be understood apart from a careful study o f this subject. Prof. Macintosh is very frank in saying that “ our only hope of complete salvation lies in the new order Christ will yet bring.” “ It is a wonderful prospect—so wonder ful that only faith can mount up to seize and hold it. Only he who finds God in what Christ has already done will dare to believe in that infinite future. In order to have hope in Christ it is first necessary to have faith in Him.” But having faith in Him as the Son of God, we know that He will finish what He has begun, and this is our hope which centers in His coming again. The cry of the statesman for peace, of the political economist for power, of the philosopher for a new infu sion of transcendent life is met by the New Testament revelation of the Parousia which is the hope of the Church. The Attitude of the Church What, then, must be the attitude of the Church while she waits for the return of her Lord? Some think that this doctrine of the coming of Christ paralyzes missionary and phi lanthropic work. This is not true
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and the ones who were ready for his return were the ones who at tended to the work entrusted to them. They kept on trading to the very day of his return. The fact of their faith fulness prepared them for a place of responsibility in his new kingdom. The measure of their faithfulness during the time of waiting determined the measure of their opportunity in the new order. The servant who failed to use his opportunity for his master’s service' suffered untold loss. The enemies who refused to recog nize him as King were subdued and overthrown. That is the Lord’s own picture of this age. He is the noble man that has taken the journey into the far country. We are the ser vants to whom He has committed the responsibility of trading till He comes back. The Godless world is the one who says “ I will not have this man to reign over me.” In the presence o f the rejection of His Kingship by a Godless world we are to recognize Him as the rightful heir whose right it is to reign. He has purchased the Kingdom and it has been given to Him and we are to recognize His right. Our trading is the endeavor to take over all this that has been purchased, and to use it in our Mas ter’s business. His business is the redemption of the purchased posses sion. We make a tremendous mis take when we take the attitude that the world is a hopeless wreck from which we are simply to redeem a few chosen ones. On the contrary, the world is a purchased possession in which God has invested the life of His only begotten Son and we are waiting—working and waiting, for its final emancipation. This final emancipation is to come through the parousia of His Son, but we are to hasten that unveiling of God by rec ognizing His Kingship in ail the sweep of our life and interests" now.
either theoretically or historically. Some of the greatest missionaries in the field today are firm believers in the coming of our Lord. Few men in modern times did more to arouse missionary enthusiasm than did the late Dr. A. T. Pierson and he be lieved in the coming of our Lord the most of his long life. The coming of Christ means that He is going to take possession of what He has already bought with a great price. The world and the heathen have been given to Him and they are His, and of course all who love Him and are waiting for His return are interested in His property. This old world has been purchased not with such corruptible things as silver and gold but by the precious blood o f our coming Lord and it is high time we Christians recognized that fact. How then can we be in different to the very things Jesus is coming to possess? What our attitude as Christians should be is very clearly defined in Luke 19. Here we have a parable that was spoken by our Lord because of some who “ supposed that the Kingdom of God was immediately to appear.” A certain nobleman went away to receive a Kingdom---He gave his servants certain responsibilities that they were to attend to while he was away. - The citizens sent word after him, saying they' would not have Him to reign over them. How ever, his servants were given a cer tain task which involved loyalty to Him till he returned. This they were to perform. They were to be loyal to him as their Lord notwithstanding the fact that the great majority of the citizens would not have him to reign over them. The Lord was to return at an unknown time. This return was to be the event that was to begin his reign over his kingdom. At this time his servants were to be judged
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is a matter o f history. It has been fought and has resulted as Dr. Tay lor predicted. At the time he spoke nothing would seem more improb able, but it is now history which no one can dispute. At that time what he said about a revival of religion seemed just as unlikely. Men every where were saying that the old time revival was gone forever. All the scholars were endeavoring to reduce the Christian religion and its Christ to a purely naturalistic basis. Today things are changed. Philosophers, psychologists and religious leaders are all talking about the coming revival. It is not coming, it is already here. It is a question if any religious move ment since the day of the apostles has affected the world so profoundly as the present movement has. The world is literally on fire with religion. It is not all Christianity, but it is re ligious. Our scientists and philoso phers are practically all preaching re ligion. They are not all by any means preaching Christianity, but they are preaching religion. So the great religious awakening is upon us. It is interesting to note that in this religious awakening there is a strange note of expectancy. Men are looking for something. The most of them are not able to define just what they are looking for, but still they are expecting great changes. It is a ques tion in my own mind as to whether there ever has been this same intense feeling of expectancy in the world since the time immediately preceding the first advent of Christ. Surely God is in all this restlessness and expec tancy. What does it all mean? Many different answers will be given to that question. But this we are sure of. The New Testament makes the personal coming of our Lord the goal of the present age and the hope of the groaning and travailing crea tion, and the heart of the world is
In the very teeth of the world’s rejec tion o f Him we are to insist upon His right to rule in all the life of the world. The devil has no right to rule the commercial, political and social life of this world. Every legitimate impulse o f life in the universe belongs to the Son of God and ought to be har nessed to His glorious chariot. Our business is to witness to the reality of His claim till He comes to estab lish it in the glory of its fulness. Our great message is “ Be ye reconciled to God, and give Christ, His chosen King, His rightful place in the life of the world.” Our business is not to tinker and polish up an institu tion which is in rebellion against the King but to win the rebels to His standard lest He come and break them with a rod of iron. If we are not using our powers and influence in that way we are either burying or abusing the trust committed to our care. The Imminence of Christ’s Coming I am inclined to think that the King is coming soon to claim His own. Everything in the life of our time seems to indicate an immediate crisis. Men in every walk o f life seem to be conscious of the near approach of a radical change in the life of the world. That is an unquestionable fact whatever be men’s interpretation of it. Some years ago the late J. Hud son Taylor at a conference of mis sionaries in Shanghai, China, said that there was going to be a bloody struggle between Russia and one of the nations of the Far East, in which Russia was to be the loser. After that there was to be a great revival of religion which would quietly sweep the world, after which Christ would come. The war between Russia and Japan
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