MARCH, 1911
NO. 3
VOL. II.
The Anvil of God's Word.
"Last eve I stood before a blacksmith's door And heard the anvil ring it's vesper chime; Then looking in, I saw upon the floor Old hammers worn with beating years of time. " 'How many anvils have you had,' said I, 'To wear and batter all these hammers so?' 'Just one/ he answered; then with twinkling eye, 'The anvil wears the hammer out, you know.' "And so the Bible, anvil of God's Word For ages skeptic blows have beat upon; And tho' the noise of Paine, Voltaire, was heard, The anvil is unworn—the hammers gone. "Hammer away, ye hostile bands; Your hammers break; God's anvil stands !"
Published Once a Month by THE BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA Bible Institute Press.
TWENTY-FIVE CENTS A YEAR.
Forever, O Lord, Thy Word is settled in Heaven.—Psalm 119:89 I t b f 3 t t 0 t t t u t ? C Incorporated ) 260-264 South Main Street (Second Floor) Lo« Angeles, California The King's Business: Entered as Second-Class Matter Nov. 17, 1910, at the postoffice at Los Angeles^ Cai., Under the Act of March 3. 1679. DIRECTORS: Lyman Stewart, President Rer. A. B. Prichard, Vice Pre». T. C. Horton, Superintendent ). M. Irvine, .Secretary-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 Faith 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 Church. 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 Besurrection of the Body. The Life everlasting of Believers. This Endless Punishment of the Im- penitent. The Beality and Personality of Satan.
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The Institute trains accredited men and womon, free of cost, in the knowledge and use of the Bible.
r u r p o s e
(1) T h e Institute Classes held daily except Satur- Sunday. (2) Extension Work. Classes and conferences held in neighboring cities and torfns. (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. Regular services in shops and factories all the year. (6) Jewish Evangelism. Personal work in homes for the Hebrew people. (7) Bible Women. House-to-house work and neigh- borhood classes. (8) Aqueduct. Work among the 4000 men on the new aqueduct. (9) Oil Fields. A mission to the men on the oil fields. (10) Books and Tracts. Sale and distribution of selected books and tracts. d a v a n d
L s e p a r t m e n t s
PRAY FOR THE WORK AND WORKERS OF THE INSTITUTE, If ye abide in ine and My Words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will »nd it shall be done unto you.—John 15:7.
The Down and Out and the Up and Out. W E ARE accustomed to speak of sinners as the down and out class, referring of course to those who have become the victims of the liquor lust, elope a n d - o t h er so-called habits. In our thoughts we carry the picture of the sinner as photographed to us in the lives of these people. If we speak about work for the lost we think of the jail or the slums, of the bar room and the bawdy house, of the dance hall and the gambling den. We shall surely find sinners in all of these places. We will find men and women out of money and means. Men out at the knees and toes, out of friends and out of homes, out of work and out of the way, out of society and out of sorts, down in the mouth and down in the mire, down in the depths and down iri despair; going down deeper and going out farther and farther. Our hearts are full of sorrow because of their suffering aind shame and sin and we seek to cast the life-line down and out to rescue them and we do well in the sight of God and angels and men.- There is another class, however, for whom we seem to have no concern. They are the Up and Out. We mean the men and women who circle in another sphere, who are well to do financially, who live in elegant homes amidst luxurious and cultured surroundings and who are as much out as the others. They are out of harmony with their own being and out of fellowship with God. Out of coiimunion with the saints, out of sympathy with righteousness. Out of harmony with the Divine will and out of touch with Christ. Out of the way and out of the ark, they are on the broad road and in peril of perdition. Why not or- ganize a mission for the up and out class and up and at them? We have a double standard of virtue for men and women, but God has one; and we have a double standard for sinners, but Christ has but one. The down and out are all more easily reached we know, for the fact has always bee;n that the publicans and harlots go into the kingdom before the self- righteous moralists. Many of these up and out people are living in luxury and lust, living sordid and selfish lives. They have inherited the fruits of our gospel land and have denied the tree that bore the fruits. They owe all of theiT comfort and blessings to the Word of God and they trample its precepts under their feet. Their children are growing up uneducated in thè Bible and untaught in morals and are often a menace to society. They are forming vicious habits which will land them among the down and outs in good season. Why not see-things as God sees them? Why not see that what we call the ups are really the downs? They travel the same road as their less fortunate brethren, although they may not be on speaking terms. One class goes on foot and the other by auto, but both are on speaking terms with the devil and on the the same broad guage down grade that leads to hell. God loves them all, the Gospel is de- signed for them all. | How. to make conjunction between these jvqnst. () f all up and out sinners and the Word of God is the serious question.
What the Bible Will Do for Us, and What We Are to:Do With the Bible. By Captain W. H. Dawson. T HERE are three special things that we are told the Word of God is able to do for us. There are many othérs, of course, but there are three special things, and the greater includes the less. The first is James, chapter 1, verse 21 : "Receive with meekness the engrafted Word, which is able to save your souls." Secondly, in 2 Timothy, . 3rd chapter, 15th verse: "The Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." Thirdly, Acts, chapter 20 and 32nd verse: "I commend you to God, and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." f Now, has the Word of God done this for us, or is the inspired Word of God doing these special things for us? St. Paul writing to Timothy, gives us four special things that we are to do with the Word of God. Putting before Timothy various doubts, diffi- culties and dangers, he assures him that they may all be met and overcome by the right use of the Word of God. In the 1st chapter and the 13th verse, "Take hold of it," "Keep hold of it," "Hold it fast." It is thè sword of the Spirit. Take it and use it. We read of Eleanor, whose hand clave unto his sword, and the Eord wrought a great victory. In the next chapter and 15th verse there is a further step. Handle it rightly, "Rightly divining the Word of the Truth," or one reading of it is "Rightly handling it." It is both for attack and defense. It has its cuts and its guards, and its points ; and the best evidence surely of its supernatural power will be the use of it. May we be like Apollos, "mighty in the Scriptures"? We spend a great deal of time in our naval and military services inventing new weapons to use against the nation's enemies, but there is no near weapon for the; sol- diers of Jesus Christ, though there is fresh power; and with that Divine Power, with that Holy Ghost Power the Word of God is indestructible, it is irresistible, it is invincible, it is impregnable. In the next chapter and the 14th verse there is another step, "Continue in it," "Abide in it." . It is the best book, and there is none like it. Lastly," in the fourth chapter and 2nd verse, we have still a wider use for it, and application of it. It seems to sum it all up in those words, "Preach the Word." Preach it by lip and by life; live it and practice it. Not less preaching, but more practicing. No argument on its behalf will be so powerful as. the argument of our lives. And the words are emphatic : "Begin with it, go on with it, keep on with it, make it the habit of your life." But it a,lso means "proclaim the Word." Proclaim it as herald, as messenger, as witness, by preaching, by persisting, by persuading. In the last chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, you remember that St. Paul per- suaded men concerning Jesus both out of the law of Moses, and the Prophets, from morning till evening in his own hired house in Rome. Lét ' us go and do likewise.
THE KING'S BUSINESS
51
Sure Word of Prophecy By Rev. Dr. G. F. Pentecost.
J UST now we are face to face with a question, or rather a series of questions, which give us no anxiety and awaken in our breasts no fear, and yet they are questions which are crucial regarding the place the Bible is to hold in our faith. Briefly, the question is whether we have a book at all which is worth circulating. It is at home more than abroad—I mean in England and in Germany and in America (that larger England)—that the Bible has its chiefest and most deadly enemies. It is here at home that the conviction is that it is God's book, and the book of God is sought to be weakened by all the arts and artifices o f. unbelieving skepticism. So confident have we been that the Bible needed no defense, and that it was its own best argument, that we have been some- what careless in repelling the assaults which have been and are still being made upon it. We are told that in the face of the culture and scientific attainments of the last decade of the nineteenth century, an era of culture and scientific achievement, of which we are all more or less proud, that traditional faith in the Bible as the infallible Word of God is not so well founded as our fathers thought, and that before the science of literary, criticism much that we have accepted as God's inspired Word is nothing more than religious tradition and the literary relic of a people with extra- ordinary religious aspirations. r?This seems an easy and cavalier way of' disposing of the Bible, which may be satisfactory to some people of literary tendencies. But we are not for ourselves ready to give up the traditional faith of the centuries upon so insufficient a criticism. We would not hinder the utmost efforts of the critics, (friendly ( ?) or hostile; nor do we fear to face any investigation into the foundations of our faith; only, we decline to accept hypothesis for fact, and an assumed minor premise for demon- stration. We believe upon the whole that the Bible is its own best witness, and until that witness is impeached beyond question we shall "cling to the Bible." ' • ' • • • • ' . ' " ' That the Bible is the most wonderful book in the world, I think even the critics will allow. That it came into existence in some way .we must accept, since it is here. That it claims to have been written by holy men of old Who were moved by the Holy Spirit or the Spirit of Christ, which was in them, is asserted. "That many of the individual writers testified that the word's which they spoke and wrote were received directly from God is also cl°ar. Tohn Wesley had a short method with certain infidels of his day. His proposition was simply as follows: The Bible must have been written by men or angels. Leaving angelic authorship out of the question, it remains that it was either written by good men or bad men. Well, let us suppose it was written by bad men. The answer to that proposition is that bad men neither would nor could have written so good a book. Then let us try the other proposition—that it was written by good men. Well, then, if the Bible is not true, it is impossible to conceive that good men would or could have written so bad a book. For-if the Bible is not. true, it is the most stupendous fraud ever perpetrated upon the human race. Good men
would not have perpetrated such a fraud even in the. interests of truth, morality, or religion. We are therefore shut up to the only rational con- clusion left us—that the Bible is true, having been written, as it purports to have been, by holy men who were moved by the spirit of God. I believe that along that line alone, if we had no other line of defense, we could vindicate the Divine origin of the Bible. There are two ways of studying the question of inspiration. One is the spiritual and the other is the mechanical method. At present the mechanical method is the one more in vogue by the critics. I cannot better describe this method than the reference to what has been called "Thé'dissection of the body in search of the soul." This method proceeds up a Priori- denial of the existence of the supernatural, and assumes that whatever is is material, as we use the word in common parlance. Well, I think we may say the sèarch after the soul of men by dissection has proved to be a false method. Just às long ago the folly of examining the so-called physical basis-of life, and resolving that into its chemical elements for the purposes of determining what life is, has long ago been given up. Even Professor Huxley has not succeeded in telling us what life is by this method. So it seems strange that this discredited method of searching after inspiration by examining the dead body of Scripture should be adopted. It cannot be very reliable. T speak advisedly when I say the dead body or the dead letter of Scripture. For the critics proceed»-first of all, to deny inspiration, and tell us that we must begin by treating this book as a purely human composition. I may illustrate my meaning a little further by allusion to an incidènt in the career of the g^eat chemist Faraday. It is said that he was once giving' a popular lecture to ^n .audience in which there were a large number of school children. The subject of his lecture was "The Chemical Analysis of a Tear.". In this lecture -h'è ' demonstrated - that mother's tears were but little drops of salt water. This is the scientific result of that inquiry. No doubt he was per- fectly right from thé point of view of the physical scientist. ! But the effect of this conclusion was most startling upon a small boy in the audiénce, and said: "Then, if that is the case, I will never be sorry again when mother cries. For'if mother's tears are only drops of salt water, I do not see why I should be distressed by the sight of them." Ah, yes ! But while mother's tears were, from the scientific point of view but drops of salt water, it was not within the province of thé' scientist to discover the deep emotion, the heart-breaking sorrow that wèlled behind every tear, and caused it to flow down her cheeks. Now, it seems to me that the modern method of examining the Bible in respect of its inspiration is much the same as this analysis of a tear. The Bible may turn out under the hands of the critics (at least to their satisfaction) to be only literary salt water, but who. bv any of the methods of modern criticism, can discover the deep well of Divine emotion and heavenly love that flows and throbs and beats through every word of the book that God has given to man ?
Do: Did: Done: By Wm. Luff. U NDER the old dispensation the word was "Do"; when Christ came He "Did"; now the word is "Done." Hence His cry, "It is fin- ished." (John 19:30.) In the tabernacle there was no seat; for the work was never com- pleted ; but in the epistle to the Hebrews, which takes us beyond the type to the antitype, we find the High Priest sitting. "But to which of the angels said he at any time, sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool"? ( 1 : 1 3 ). "And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but this man, after he offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God" ( 10 : 12 ). "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high" ( 1 : 3 ) . "Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in. the heavens" ( 1 2 : 2 ). Arm chairs are not for worship; hence Jesus found no resting-place till, work finished, He went home. Even in the Old Testament we have glimpses of a finished work. Noah finished the ark before the animals were brought into it; they were not asked to bring a plank or drive a nail. The mother of Moses finished the ark of bullrushes before she placed her babe therein. The parent slew the lamb, sprinkled the blood, and did all, at the pass- over ; not the first-born, who in many cases must have been only a child. In the ark we have the work of Christ in preparing salvation. In the passover we have the work of the Father in slaying His own Lamb. In the ark of Moses we have the work of the Spirit, by whom we are begotten and placed individually in security. What was the "it" to which Christ referred when He said "It is fin- ished"? : The Temple of Obedience. God placed man in this blue domed temple, with one central column or command; man disobeyed and all was ruined. The law was a second temple, with ten pillars: this also is in ruins. But Christ has builded a temple which supersedes both, Himself being the great central support. When He "became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross," the obedience God justly demanded was finished (Phil. 2: 5). The Curse of Disobedience. God had said, "Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them (Gal. 3: 10). If we have to bear this curse, it will never be finished;
but when Jesus bore it on the cross, He bore it all, it was finished. "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us" (Gal. 3 : 1 3 ). It was an awful draught! The first sip caused Him to sweat, as it were, great drops of blood, as He prayed, "Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done" (Luke 22 : 42 ). And He drank on till He cried, "It is finished." The Bridge of Reunion was finished. Sin had separated man from God; but Christ bridged the gulf from God to man, and back from man to God. Christ's deity the buttress on one side, with the cross for a central support, the bridge is finished and opened free of toll. The Forth .bridge, with its length of 2765 yards and cost of. £3,000,000 is nothing compared to this bridge, built from earth to heaven at the cost of the precious blood of Christ. All I have to do is to trust it. The Preparation of a Feast is finished. "Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my failings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage" (Matt. 2 2 : 4 ), The Robe of Presentation fitting us for the feast is also finished. God has provided the material and the workmanship. "It is finished." Woe be to those who neglect to put it on. "And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment; and he saith unto him, Friend, how earnest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then saith the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer dark- ness ; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matt. 22: 11-13.) All being finished on God's part, let us finish our unbelief by immediate faith in the finished work, then we shall be able to sing, "I believe!... I believe! and I know it is done, That my sins are all pardoned—yes, every one; The finished salvation by Christ on the tree, Has wrought out deliverance even for me." This will lead us to finish with the old ways and to begin living for God. On a tomb in Bath, dated 1657; is the following: "I dare not work my soul to save; That work the Lord hath done; But I will work like any slave, For the love of God's dear Son." Let the unsaved beware, lest God should say of the day of grace, "It is finished." 1 . i
Opportunities
From Thomas Hogben, in "God's Plan for Soul Winning."
S UCCES S FUL soul winning must have two component parts:— L Going to God for sinners. 2. Going to sinners for God. It is not enough to pray. Believing intercession must be linked with consistent living and individual work. The three must go together. Mark, there is a marvelous difference one dare not overlook between our doing Christ's work and Christ's working through us to save other lives. It must be Christ's plan, Christ's way, Christ's time, if one is to succeed. The Holy Spirit will both direct and empower if we give Him full opportunity, and make each one keen to win souls. The man who brings most souls into close acquaintance with Jesus is the man 'who is most alert to do it. We instinctively attend to the matter which is paramount in our minds. Filled with the loving Christ, one finds opportunities everywhere. A naval officer went from Ports- mouth to see a certain exhibition in London. It was immensely in- teresting, and he sat upon a seat contemplating the wonders around. A lady also came there to rest and listen to the sweet music. Instantly the chief purpose of his life asserted itself. "I wonder if she • knows my Saviour?" thought he. "Lord, work through me to show thyself to her!" A remark upon the music opened the way. The result was that in that public place, overlooking the gay and brilliant spectacle, to the amozement of many, the two knelt in prayer, and she gave herself to God. A less interested soul-winner would have missed that opportunity. Every week a clock-maker called at the house of a certain lady in order to regulate her clocks. O Lord," she prayed, "use me in helping to regulate this man's soul." He was a' Unitarian, and so sure of his ground that many would have shirked religious conversion with him. B,ut all the week she interceded for him, and while he wound and pol- ished, she talked. Prayer' and work were thus continued for fifteen months, and she won that soul to J e sus! Bishop Ryle says of Baxter, that when he came to Kidderminster there was one family in one street who worshipped God; but that when he left, there were some streets where only one family did not. Success like that meant to Baxter what it must mean to everyone who wants to win souls—many cries and tears, definite, believing prayer, and definite personal work until something is accomplished. Many people do not realize that the Christian is never off duty, never on the retired list, never pensioned off. His one business upon earth is to glorify God and people Heaven, and for this the time is always n o w — t h e place is always needy—and the people are always perishing.
On a holiday, how blessedly some have been used to do wonderful things for God! Two friends spen t ' a - summéFvkca t i on in the country. God laid two villages upon their hearts. While resting their bodies they gave themselves to much prayer for these places. On their return to work they continued their intercession, asking God to send someone to do the work which had not been possible to themselves. In five months after they ' had commenced to pray, a mission was arranged for both villages. Du r i ng that period they doubled their prayer time, and waited in faith for tidings. One hundred of those villagers accepted Christ. In a little street of a certain town stood a cobbler's shop. A lady who passed it frequently used to feel herself strangely drawn to interest in its owner. Only rarely he could be found alone, for the shop was a center of gossip and godless argument. Yet, when she passed him, that lady seemed to see the man as he ,had been, not the drinking, backslider of that day, but the active worker for- Christ he was before the fire of love had died upón the altar of his soul. Every thought, of him was a prayer. At last she found him alone, and pleaded the claims of God upon his life. "Madam," he said, "I tha.nk you, but I cannot do it. ,I know I should have , to alter the character of my shop if I let God have His way with me. I , am not prepared for any such step." She saw, however, that her visit had touched him;'and straight, back to her Lord she went for power to plead and to prevail. The only answer she gained was t o have that man laid upon her heart as a heavier burden than before. This cheered her, for she had often noticed that when the answer to a prayer drew nigh, the interces- sor would be greatly led on in anxiety, and often in special effort, for the soul requested of God. While waiting for God's orders, she pleaded more earnestly, .than ever, then went down to the cobbler's shop to urge the claims of Christ once more. , >.• The shop, was cleared of men ; ! thè bright f a c e ' l i f t ed to hers told its own tale. He had the Christ for company; Heaven had còme down, to earth ; the leiither^strewn cabin had become a meeting-placé of angels^. Definite dealing and persevering ,£ f>rayer had brought that.-soul bac|$ to God.. . That opportunities with some strew all life's pathway. In a Lóhdort" West-end mansion, a lady was suddenly brought face to face with eternity. Her minister was sent for and besought to pray that her life might be spared. "But," said he, "you are a Christian, and to die is gain. "Yes," was the answer, "for forty years I have been a Christian, but I have neVer led a soul to Christ. Oh, for one more opportunity !" A few days after, he called again, found the blinds drawn» and learned that among her last words was the appeal, "Oh, for one more oppor- ! tunity!" * , ' ' ^ tM m
Notes By the Way.
By J. H. Sammis
tion, and a guffaw, is life. The ancient ' ' Philistine,'' who held the same philos- ophy, was at the ' ' Orpheum'' when Sam- son put an end to his folly, Jdgs. 16:25-30. But happiness is rather to be found in the faith habit, the prayer habit, the Book habit, and the help habit. " I am much a f r a i d ," said Luther a Luther, " t h a t the universities. Prophet. . will prove to be the gates of hell, unless they diligently labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures and engraving them in the hearts of youth. I advise no one to place his child Where the Scriptures do not reign para- mount. Every institution wherein the men are not unceasingly occupied with the Word of God must become corrupt." The seer's words are woefully fulfilled, and now the universities from not using have sunk to abusing the Holy Scriptures; and from not "engraving them on" are come to erasing them from the hearts of youth. Let parents heed the great re- former's counsel Colonel W. H. Crook, Mr. Lincoln President Lincoln's body- and the Bible, guard in 1865 at the White House, in his re- cently published recollections in a maga- zine says: " A t eight o'clock in the morn- ing, immediately upon dressing, the Presi- dent would go into the library, where he would sit in his favorite chair in the middle of the room, and read a chapter or two in the Bible. I think I am safe in saying that this was President Lincoln's invariable custom—at least it was such during the time I was on duty with him. f> t about eigh: -th ; rty he would join Mrs. Lincoln and little Tad for breakfast. . . . As soon as breakfast was over, the President would go to his office and be- gin his ceaseless t o i l ." Statistics show again an an- Falling Off. nual falling off of the mem- bership of non-conformist (other than the s' ate churches) bodies of Great Britain. " T h e British We e k l y" charges it to the want of emphasis on " c h u r ch connection " - b y the ministers. A blind man with a ray of logic left should
This organization of godly The Gideons, " d r u mm e r s" are " d o i ng business" for the King' to. good effect in their hotel Bible work. Thousands of copies of the Book of Life are distributed ip hotels and lodging houses with the following guiding " i f s " : " T h is holy book, whose leaves display the Life, the Light, the Truth, and the Way, is placed in this room by the Gid- eons, the Christian Commercial Traveler's Association of America, aided by the churches and Young Men's Christian As- sociation of this city, with the hope that by means of this book many may be brought to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge. " A mother comforted by the ' wo r d' as expressed on her son's tomb: ' My son, aged 21, Died in his 'yduth, but saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ—A mother.' How about your mother? " I f lonesome or blue and friends un- true, read Psalms 23 and 27, Luke 15. " I f trade is poor, read Psalm 37, John 15. • • . . " I f discouraged or in trouble, read Psalm 126, John 14. " I f you are out of sorts, read Hebrews 12. " I f you are losing confidence in men, read 1 Cor. 13. " I f skeptical, read John 6:40; 7:7; Phil. 2:9-11, ; " I f you can't have your own way, read James 3. " " I f tired of sin, read Luke 18:35-43; 18:9-14; John 9. : " I f very prosperous, read 1 Cor. 10:12, 13. "Hairoy conclusion—Psalm 121; Matt. 6:33; Rom. 1 2 ." A landlady testifies that her light bill is higher, but since the light is used in reading the light of life she is satisfied to pay the extra cost. The editor of " T h e Philistine." Elbert is advertised as saying that Hubbard happiness consists in " t h e study habit, the work habit, the health habit, and the 'Orpheum' h a b i t ." That is, man consists of brain, brawn, belly and diaphragm. Occupation, diges-
munity f r om s i n ." It finally breaks out with this denunciation, " O u t on all who would make the heavenly Father a wishy- washy incompetent, afraid or unable to control his own f a m i l y ." " T h e Co n t i n e n t" and its fellow doctri- naires strangely fail to see the logical im- possibility of accepting their notion of an all-Fatherhood and at the same time be- lieving in a righteous J u d ge of men. Common sense and sophis.icated sense differ here—men know that love and law are mutually exclusive principles. Pater- nal sentiment and judicial process are in- compatible. Fathers do not consign their sons to jails and gibbets; Judges know nothing of family ties. Kightly divide the word of Truth (2 Tim. 2:15); unregener- ate men are not God's sons, nor is He their F a t h e r; they are outlawed subjects and He is their Sovereign Judge. " T h e Co n t i n e n t" is not likely to improve the situation.
see that the cause is f ar deeper. I t is that a Supernatural Presence, a Super- natural Authority, a Great White Throne of Eternal Judgment, a Yawning Gulf of Hell Fire, are ignored, or scouted, but in any case not preached by the ministers, nor believed in by the people. The cause is as clear as the effect. " T h e Co n t i n e n t" in an edi- A Leading torial says, " N e a r ly every- Editorial. body says he believes in God's f a t h e r h o o d , '' but com- plains that " m e n do not live what they believe," and adds, " s u c h is the.trouble today touching this noble teaching that God is the loving and tender Father of all humanity." It goes on, " M e n have cried out to be delivered from the idea t h at God is a punishing Judge. . . . They have their wish. God is scarcely preached at all as a magistrate or as a ruler. . . . What is the result 1 ?" I t declares that, "Men . . . wrap around them the blanket of an all-embracing im-
A Series of Soul-Winning Studies
"How to Present Christ to the Class Who are Anxious to be Saved, but Do Not Know the Way of Life."
By Rev. Robert A. Hadden
THIRD STUDY.
2. Hints for the Worker. In dealing with the anxious, several funda- mental facts must be kept in mind: (1) The truth must be made clear; Christ performed a Finished Work: To be Ap- propriated. (2) Another great fact; God offers His Faithful Word: To be Believed. (S) Christ is Able, Willing, and Ready to save. (4) The Way of Salvation is Simple, Defi- nite, Clear. (5) The Believing Sinner is Saved; Freely, Immediately, Fully, Eternally. (6) Establish the young believer in the
NOTES: 1. The Anxious Class; a Numerous Class. Large numbers are anxious to possess Christ as Saviour, but are unacquainted with the way of salvation; many of these are backward and for this reason do not make their need known to Christian work- ers and so drift on without Christ. If a worker approaches one of this class, he will find the case ready and easy of access; this is particularly true of young people who are generally anxious for salvation. To those who are awake to this fact a great opportunity for a splendid harvest presents itself.
facts of an Assured Salvation. The Salva- tion of Christ is an Eternal Salvation to be possessed, and known by the believer upon the assurance of God's unfailing Word, and this irrespective of personal emotions or feelings, the doubts of friends or the temp- tations of Satan. (7) Use only Scriptures which are adapted to this class of enjuirers. Keep close to the admonition found in 2 Tim. 2:15. For instance, many workers use 1 John 1:9 with this class, whereas a. perusal of the epistle will disclose the fact that the epistle was written to those who were already be- lievers; therefore this verse concerns a be- liever who has committed sin and who by confession to God obtains forgiveness and cleansing; in contrast to this the salvation of an unbeliever flows from believing upon the work and word of Christ Jesus. In the case of a believer who sins, confession of sin to God must be emphasized; in the case of those who are unsaved it is belief in the Lord Jesus that must be emphasized. 3. The Outline of the Plan of Salvation. The outline of the Plan of Salvation here- with given is not to be presented in its entirety to every enquirer; it is desirable, however, that the worker should be thor- oughly familiar with it in order to the full- est preparation for and efficiency in the work of dealing with this class. OUTLINE OF THE PLAN OF SALVATION. I. First Fact: The Finished Work of the Lord Jesus Christ: 1. Christ Died—For Our Sins: 1 Cor. 15:3; Gal. 3:13; 1 Pet. 2:24. 2. Christ Arose—For Our Justification: 1 Cor. 15:4; Rom. 4:25. II. Second Fact: The Conditions of Ac- ceptance With' God: 1. The Finished Work of Christ Jesus. 2. The Faith of the Sinner: Rom.' 5:1-2; 1:16; Eph. 2:8-10; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; Jno. 524. (1) Question: What Is Saving Faith? (a) The Assent of the Mind to the Truth revealed by God. God has revealed in His Word: That man is a sinner; without Christ, hopelessly, inexcusably and eternally lost: Eph. 2:1-12. That Christ died for the sinner; offering a voluntary, adequate and satisfactory substi- tutionary work in behalf of the sinner: Eph. 2:13; 1 Pet. 1:18, 19; Rom. 5:6-10. That Christ rose again; His work ac-
cepted of God; the Believer accepted in Him: Rom. 1:1-6; 4:25; ;10:9, 10.. (b) The Appropriation by the Heart of the Finished Work of Christ Jesus and the Faithful Word of God. The believer is to accept, rest upon, be- lieve his salvation complete and assured be- cause of what God has said and what His Son has accomplished. It is "done" because Christ "did" it. It is "true" because God "said" it. It is the believer's "possession" because he "accepts" it. See Jno. 1:12; 3:16; 3:33; 5:24; 20:31. (cj The Belief of the Sinner must be apart from Works—without the addition of Works upon his part. Tears, prayers, gifts, deeds do not save; their lack does not hinder salvation; God demands but one thing from men: Faith— Faith in the Sinner's Saviour—God's all-suf- ficient Son. See Eph. 2:8-10; Rom. 4:1-5; 4:21-25; Gal. 2:16; 3:10, 11. . The common idea among men is that something must be done to reveal to God our sorrow for sin and our anxiety and willingness to be good and do good; thus He will be persuaded to save us. Not so; the work of Christ settled the "Sin" question • long ago; all that now re- mains is the settlement of-the "Son" ques- tion, and that must be settled in God's own expressed way. See Acts 16:31; Jno. 5:24; 3:36. III. Third Fact: The Immediate and Eternal Results to those wh* thus Believe: 1. Saved: 1 Sor. 15:1-4; Rom. 1:16, 8:1; Eph. 2:8. 2. Justified: Rom. 4:25, 5:1; Acts 13:39. 3. Made Righteous with the Righteousness of Christ: Rom. 4:3-8, 20-25; 1 Cor. 1:30. 4. Forgiveness: Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14. 5. Eternal Life: Rom. 6:23; Jno. 3:16, 36; 5j24; 20:31. 6. Sonship with God: Jno. 1:12; Gal. 3:26; 4:6, 7; Rom. 8:14-17. 7. Sealing of the Holy Spirit: Eph. 1:13. 8. Release from the Dominion of Sin: Rom. 6:11, 14, 22; Col. 1:13; Gal. 1:4. 9. Release from the Servitude of the Law: Rom. 6.14; 8:2; Gal. 3:11, 14. 10. Under Grace:- Rom. 6:14. 11. Access into Grace: Rom. 5:1-5. 12. A New Creation: 2 Cor. 5:17. 13. A New Position: Eph. 2:5,6; 1 Cor. 1:30; Col. 2:10; Eph. J:S, 6, 13. 14. A Glorious Future: 1 Pet, 1:3-5; 1 Thess. 4:13-17; 2 Cor. 4:14; Phil. 3:20, 21 R. Y.
Drief Thoughts ^
For Busy Teachers
International Sunday School Lessons By J. H. Sammis Comment "Pith and Pivot" By T. C. Horton
Lesson for March 5, 1911
THE LAST DAYS AND LAST DAY OF ELIJAH. 2 Kings 2:1-18. I. THE LAST DAYS OF ELIJAH. 1. Their Number. 1. Twenty years of ser- vice are recorded. Six lie between the last and our present lesson. 2. Their Occupation. (1) Elijah would be about the King's busi- ness. (2) He was Head Master of the School of the Prophets at Gilgal, Bethel and Jeri- cho. Agreat personality, he made men. Like Azassiz, Dr. Arnold, Mark Hopkins, he would be a whole university himself. (3) His great pupil was Elisha. (4) One such prod- uct were worthy a life's toil with that "worst class" teacher. Humphrey Davies' "greatest discovery" was Michael Faraday. (6) Elijah's godliness, power in prayer, un- tiring zeal and fearless faithfulness are our examples. 3. The Message to Ahaziah. (1) Israel's Kings were incorrigible. (2) The Mt. Carmel miracle made but a superficial and transient impression. (3) The fate of Ahad did not deter his .son, who "walked in the way of his father, and of his mother, and of Jeroboam who made Israel to sin, for he served Baal," 1 kgs. 22:52, 53. "Be careful, father, for I'm following," cried a boy in a perilous climb. (4) Ahaziah "fell;" "was sick;" sent to a pagan oracle to learn his. fate. (5) The Lord by Elijah sent his embassy back with a death warrant, Chap. 1:3, 4. (6) Yet so-called Christians apply to clairvoyants, spirit mediums, fortune tell- ers and "Christian Science!" (7) Two "fif- ties" were dispatched to seize the prophet and cremated by heavenly fire. Note: 1. "God Is love," yet He "is a con- suming fire," Heb.' 12:29. "It is a fearful thing ta fall into the hands of the Living God," Heb. 10:31. 2. Elijah was, chiefly, a "minister of wrath," 2 Cor. 3:7. His times refused mercy, and served judgment. 3. Distinguish dispensations. Ours is an age of grace, theirs of law. God's times differ. The law was a covenant. Israel voluntarily agreed to it, Ex. 19:8. Death was the as- signed penalty of idolatry—(1) High treason, (2) the breaking of the whole moral code. 4. The "fifties" owned Elijah as "the man of God," yet would make him prisoner. Then "f God's man," said Elijah, "let fire come down." The third fifty humbled them- selves; they found mercy, and he went with them. Thus by "Are" and "grace" It was proved that God was God and Elijah His prophet. 5. Rev. 11:5 shows what the en- emies of Christ and His prophets may ex- • pect in the future. 6. The slaughter of
B °?' s , Prophets, 1 Kgs. 18: and the death of idolaters under Asa, 2 Chron. 15:13 were not religious persecutions, but legal execu- tions. Wwhen jailing thieves and hanging murderers become "persecution," then onlv can we condemn those Bible records 7 But what was execution in that age would be persecution in this. II. THE LAST DAY OF ELIJAH. 1. It was divinely fixed "when the Lord would take up Elijah," v. 1. A man of like passions, he was a man of like destiny with us, Jas. 5:17. God numbers our days times our deathfl or our translation, Matt. 24:36. z. Elijah knew his day. John Wesley when asked what he would do if it were his last day, sketched the program already planned for the morrow. Elijah made his circuit of his flocks, from Gilgal to Jericho. 3. Every day's business should be as our last day's business; and o\ir last day's business as every day business. 4. Lord grant that we may do business up to our last day 5 Tarry here, I pray thee." Elisha knew his last day with his master. Elijah or Jehovah may have told him. (1) We all would wish to keep close to the beloved if n e knew it to be our last day with them. (2) He may have had intimation that the succession to the office and spirit of the great man de- pended on cleaving to him to the l»st "He coveted the best gifts," 1 Cor. 12:3i. (3) That "tarry" tested him. Had he the grace of "stick-to-it-iveness? Matt. 24:13. 4. "So they carrte down to Bethel:,' "?o they came to Jericho." All the- prophets were in the secret that day; "The Lord will take away thv master from thy head today?" "Yes I know, hold ye your peace." Perhaps they marked him, already, for the succession His natural ability was manifest; but he needed the call and enduement. 5. He would not discuss the sad event with them. Nor would we stay to talk, but oleive affection- ately to the departing one. Let us cleave as closely every day as if the last d-v. "Tomorrow and all after life for tears; Today and ail eternity for love," said a good wife to her dying husband. 6. "And they two went on." Stop a bit wiHi the sons of the prophets and gaze sfte*- them. Pleasant and profitable, yes, and painful, too, that last stage of the journey. 7. "On Jordan's 'stormy' banks they stand." God "smites Death's threatening wave be- fore them," Elijah's mantle, symbol of his office, as the living word of God, parts the stream; they pass dry shod. The BObk Is the bridge. We pass In peace by the Word of Promise. 5. Elijah's parting prop-
for him to keep; and hard to use. 8., "If thou see." ' That would witness' to his fit- ness, and the choice of God. 9. "Elisha saw It." The "chariotry" of Israel;, the body- guard of the prophets and of the sons of God. The vision was an abiding inspiration to wear worthily the mantle of the departed "father" in Israel. Elisha rent his mantle in sorrow and bore away Elijah's in triumph. 10. When Jesus went up there fell a double portion of His Spirit, Acts 2. Let us wear it in His name till— 11. —we follow Enoch, Elijah, and Jesus, with the host apd char- iots of Israel through and te the skies. § them to their loved ones, brought back from There is a great lesson on soul saving, here. In the first place-the mother believed that her son would be raised from the, dead. Perhaps the story of Elijah's experience had . been imparted through Elisha' and she as- sociated power from God with the' man of God. She lovingly catried the boy to the prophet's bed and left him there. She sought the Prophet. She would take no formal death to life. , , » crossed with a •'/double 1 portion" of his spirit. 3. If we are baptized into death with Christ we should also be clothed with power from above because when He ascended He gave 1. The" .prophets 'Saw this miracle and "bowed" to Elisha, owning and honoring the Spirit that was on him. The moral and spiritual wonders "-wrought by the Bible should" constrain us to bow to the authority of tile prophets. 2.' If the same Spirit is on us our works should prove'that we "have" ' been with Jesus and have learned of Him (Acts 4:13) that may all see and approve our faith and our profession. III. BLUNDERING UNBELIEF. 1. Before Elijah's translation the prophets had intimation, and after it information of it, yet they, like Thomas (Jno. 20:25), woijld not believe. 2, Elisha remonstrated b,ut they insisted. They made a vain search and came' back crestfallen. Better to heed ' the prophetic word and avoid the blunders of unbelief. 3. Similar skepticism seems to have attended the first translation; they searched for Enoch buts he was not found (Heb. 11:4). Will it not be so at the last translation (2 Thess. 4:1)? 4. Four persons are known to have been translated, Enoch (Gen. 5:24), Elijah (2 Kgs. 2:11), Jesus (Acts 1:9), Paul (2 Cor. 12:2). Elijah (Luke 9:30, 31), Jesus (Acts 9:3-5), and Paul, returned again. And yet men speak of "That bourne from which no traveler returns!" 5. "The gifts from above (Eph. 4:8). II. BOWING TO ELISHA.
osition, "Ask," etc. What had that poor ^ man to give? A. good man's blessing? It is not to be despised. It is backed by the good man's God; a substantial thing. 6. "A double portion." There is no greediness in spiritual desire. If a son of the. First Born, then a first-born's portion. God is » pleased if we "expect great things," that we may "attempt great things," for Him. Alexander gave a blank draft on his treas- 1' ¡urer. to a man. He drew for 10,000 talents. •Give it to him," .said the monarch, "he honors my sincerity and my ability." 7. "You ask a hard thing." Not hard for God cm grant, but hard for man to receive; hard ' We are prone to send the staff rather than ' go to the lost. We believe in the power of I the gospel to sav# sinners, we are more will- ins to pray in our homes for them than to , go to their homes and pray with them. We ' think our dollars will do the duty, that our hands and feet ought to do. Much of our soul-saving work is useless 'i because it is so lifeless. Nothing can take the place of personal contact. There is tré- mendous power in the tender touch of a
PITH AND PIVOT—T. C. H.
j n swer to her prayer. She would have the Jesus Christ was incarnate man.,and his . prophet himself. The staff of Elisha borite vhole life was poured out. He torches us by the ungodly Gehazi was powerless to help hrough the cross with His wounded Hands the dead. It lay upon his cold form as dead and feet. When we are willing to give up the child himself. The ^Prophet must our lives in order that we may reach those come jn living contact with the dead child, who are dead in trespasses and sins, when In the upper room with closed doors alone we reach them with pulsing hearts and pray- with. God he gathered, power and measured ing lips we shall have the joy qf restoririg himself with the giant i death, and overcame. g heart ' '
I i o v
Lesson for March 12, 1911
SELECTIONS FROM SACRED STORY. 1 Kings 2:23-4:44. Elisha now succeeds Elijah. "Elijah" equals "God is Jehovah;" "Elisha," "God is Saviour." The characteristic of E l i j a hs ministry was judgment, that of Elisha s grace to the penitent. Elijah came in the whirlwind, Elisha in "the still small voice, . 1 Kgs. 19:11-14. Jesus, "Jehovah Saviour i followed John preaching repentance. This i is evangelic order first repentance (judgment ' of sin), second salvation through grace. I. BAPTIZED IN JORDAN. 1 Elisha sayx ¡the ascension and put the " promise (2:3) to the test— "Where is the !jod of Elijah?" With Elijah's mantle he smote the Jordan; the waters parted; he ' crossed in triumph. 2. "Jordan" is, to some, by derivation, "Judgment;" to others. The descender." In baptism we pass under judgment of death and rise unto newness of life (Rom 6:4). We are baptized into death, we are baptized by t he Spirit, "the De- scender." Jacob went through Jordan an exile under sentence of death; he recrossed | with two bands a Prince with God (Gen. 27-42- 32:10, 38). Israel crossed in great mourning (Gen. 49:7-10) and recrossed to the conquest in triumph. David crossed with his people with weeping, recrossed to his throne in honor (2 Sam. 15:23; 19:15). Israel crossed it into captivity and will re- >- cross it to Milleinnial glory. Elisha crossed into separation from his "Master," he re-
phets, as a wholesome warning to the na- tion. 6. We have thousands of just sucpi| irreverent and blasphemous youth in our cities and towns. The cultivation of rev- erence and the fear of law is worth a great price. VI. BOUGHT OUT OF BONDAGE. 1. The widow's story: "Husband dead;" "he feared the Lord;" he had a creditor who claimed her sons as bondman. 2./ Elisha's questions: "What would you?" (Mark 10:51; 2 Kgs. 4:13); "What hav you?" (Ex. 4:2; Mark 6:38). The widow's all, "A pot of oil." The prophet's instruc- tions, "Borrow vessels" . . . "simply ves- sels," "not a few," "shut your door," "pour out," "pour into," "set aside," "sell," "pay," "live." When the vessels stayed "the oil stayed." When capacity ends the increase ends. 3. As in the apostate nation, so in the apostate world, the Lord "knoweth them that are His" (2 Tim. 2:19; widows a nd fatherless children may trust in Him ( J e ^j 49:11); God's grace redeems us from the bondage of sin( Eph. 2:8); His supply is never exhausted (Phil. 4:19); He gives all we can take (Matt. 25:153. VII. THE LADY OF SHUNUM. (1) Her hospitality, v. 8, 10. (2) Her re- ward, v. 16, 17; Matt. 10:41. (3) Her great grief, v. 20. (4) She commits it to God, v. 21. (5) Her composure, v. 22. (6) Her consideration, not telling her husband his loss, v. 23. (7) Her great hope, "It shall be well, v. 23. (8) Her great faith, "It is well." Her importunate urgency, "She caught h'lm by the feet," v. 27, 28. (9) Her insistency, v. 30. (10) The prophet's agony, vv. 32-34; (11) The Lord's answer, v. 35. (12) The Shunemite comforted, v. 36. (13) Her sim- ple acceptance, v. 37. (14) .A twice born son was better than a once born, Jno. ¿1:4- (15) "O woman, great was thy faith." Neither will he remain at Bethel (House of God) attractive as the place may be. At Jericho (His moon) is a school of prophets but Elisha cannot be prevailed upon to tarry even there. At Jordan (Judgment) the final test is made but Elisha is not to be turned aside from his purpose and .so as Elijah lifts his foot from the dry shod place amidst the waters, Elisha thrusts his in. Like Ruth the Moabites, he is saying in his heart "where thou goest I will go." On the other side he is rewarded by a great promise with a single condition. On they journeyed, but in vain did Elijah seek to;divert Elisha. His eyes were upon his master. No beauty of landscape, no song of birds, no passing friend or stranger could serve to change the attitude of Elisha, with his eyes riveted and heart fixed, he resolutely remained until the moment when in the flash of a moment the master was swept, fro mhim. He saw him and cried "My father, my father" and upon his devoted head descended the . coveted blessing and to him was left the mantle of his master.
Spirit . . . . some mountain, or into valley." Prophets must indeed have been inspired of God in their teaching, for though they thought, they never taught such dishonor- ing notions of the Spirit. Praise the Lord, He never forsakes his servants, and when they are taken up it is to be "forever with the Lord" (2 Thess. 4:1). IV, BITTER WATERS SWEETENED. 1. "This city is pleasant . . . but." Tropical climate, luxuriant vegetation, beau- tiful site, on the. table land of Jordan look- ing up to the hills of Judea; Jericho was "the Garden of the Lord," "but"—. 2. Los Angeles, too, is pleasant, but —there are drawbacks! Only the salt of grace and truth (Jno. 1:7) can ever heal its waters. Com- merce, politics, education, culture, moral re- forms, can nearer do it. V. THE BEARS OF BETHEL. 1. Bethel was a seat of calf worship (1 Kgs. 12:28, 29). It was the home of idolatrous prophets and priests, and, it follows, of a populace morally degenerate. 2. They were not without light, for a company of true prophets were also there (2 Kgs. 2:3). 3. Our version mistranslates: Not "little chil- dren," but adult young men, hoodlums, hu- man bears of Bethel mocked the man of God. ''Go up! go up!" they said, deriding the translation of Elijah. "Bald head," they cried, probably in sarcastic allusion to Elisha's long Nazarite locks, the sign of his consecration to Jehovah. All this was de- liberate blasphemy of the Lord Himself and deserving of death according to the law, as was the idolatry to which the Bethelites were devoted. 4. Ellsha cursed them, not in personal pique but by the Word of the Lord. 5. "Two she bears" "tare 42 of them. It does not follow that all or any were slain. But if they were it was Just, and needed, like the death of Baal's pro- The picture tjf these two sturdy men of God on their last journey together is full of interest. United by the tie of fellowship in things sacred, conscious of their separation from the pleasure loving, idol worshiping world by which they were surrounded, their hearts were knit in strongest sympathy. Elijah is walking in spiritual agreement with the will of God. He knows that the time of his departure is at hand. His path leads to the place designated by Jehovah where his fiery chariot awaits his guest. Elisha was the son of the Elijah in the prophetic office as Timothy was oi Paul, Phil. 2 22, and the old Prophet was instilling his mind with prophetic truth, ere he should be in- stalled in the prophetic office. The final walk is like that of our Lord with the two disciples on the way to Emmaus, during which the Scripture was 30 ,„T v ? ni ? er j u , 1 ii opened, Luke 24. Elijah tests Elisha s faith to the limit, but the young man is deter- mined not to part company with him until he is taken away. At Gilgal (death to the flesh) he is urged to tarry, but he will not leave his master. hath . . . . cast upon some
PITH AND PIVOT—T. C. H.
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