i k e K m c j 4 - J > u A .u t e & 4 -
MAY 1946
'These words . . . shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house" (Deut. 6:6, 7).
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THREE URGENT NEEDS IN M ILITARY HO SP ITA LS : Our field workers are still laboring in the great military hospitals where our wounded heroes are being treated. These men have paid for our hard-won victory with their very life-blood. Surely they deserve all we can do to bring them comfort and spiritual help. IN H IGH SCH O O L S : Also, on the home front we face the growing menace o f Juvenile Delin quency. To meet this challenge, we are holding special high school as sembly meetings, reaching the entire student body. One o f our Field Workers has obtained permission to address every high school in the State of Delaware. As a result of one of these high school assembly programs, a cam paign of two weeks’ evangelistic meetings has been arranged in this community, endorsed by the local school authorities and ministers.
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AND NOW IN CH IN A :
W e have a great missionary challenge to extend our ministry to the soldiers and Student Army o f China. This has the official approval of General Shang Chen, Director of the Department of Military Affairs. Mr. Glenn W Wagner is now in Shanghai heading up this great work. Send contributions to THE POCKET TESTAMENT LEAGUE, Inc. National Headquarters, 156 Fifth Ave., New York 10 | Enclosed is $ .................................... as my contribution to your ■ ministry of evangelism and Scripture distribution I □ In Chinese Army camps and colleges I □ In U. S. Military camps and hospitals | □ In high school assembly meetings ■ □ Send me youi free illustrated Quarterly I Name.................... ................................ ............;......... ................................
A new soul-winning edition of the Gospel of John in Chinese, emphasizing verses which show the way of salva
tion, has been prepared. The first edition of a quarter o f a million copies is now ready for distribution! A second edition o f a half million copies is needed im mediately to continue this program. Would you like to have a share in this great ministry o f evangelistic Scripture distribution ?
c. w. wagner
STA T IST IC S O F OUR WAR WORK 5 teams, including 15 workers, visited 174 camps, conducting 1,572 meetings, with 259,464 men in attendance, *168,262 Scriptures personally distributed, and 20,014 decisions for Christ. *Also large quantities of Testaments and Gospels shipped to chaplains direct from our New York Headquarters.
Street and Number.. City and State.........
MAY, 1946
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Ó iM i i i e a d e ^ i S p & a A
SUNSHINE HOUR
RECORHINGS YOUR FAVORITE Hymns mf Gospel Songs Cliorases
Dr. Shepherd's Artide “ I wish the article by Dr. Shepherd, *Is Life Worth Living for a Jew of the Pres ent Day?' March, 1946, could be put into tract form. 1 feel certain it would be greatly used of God in reaching our Jewish brethren." S. A. Blair. San Juan Capistrano, Calif. Dr. Hubbard's Department “ I would like to add a word about the book studies by Dr. Hubbard now being published in The King’s Business. They are profitable, and written in an understand able way. We look forward with delight to each study." Mrs. Oscar Von Lange. Soledad, Calif. ‘‘Your magazine is a great spiritual help to us. ‘The Bible Book of the Month’ is a wonderful study. I like to hand the pa per on to my friends and relatives." Mrs. L. E. Morford. Glendale, Calif. "I certainly don’t want to miss any issue of The King's Business. I especially enjoy Dr. Hubbard’s, ‘The Bible Book of the Month.’ ” Mrs. Charles Worden. Lockport, N. Y. Dr. Talbot's Department ‘T enjoy reading all of The King's Busi ness, but the first thing I do when I receive my copy is to turn to ‘Dr. Talbot’s Ques tion Box.’ ” Mrs. Joel Packard. Oakland, Calif. “ The King’s Business helps me in prepar ing my Sunday school lesson. I have been a subscriber for almost three years. The questions and answers by Dr. Talbot have been a great blessing to me." Mrs. A. Holes. Scappoose, Ore. Encouragements “ I have been a reader of your fine maga zine for several years, and enjoy its splen did articles and sermons. May our wonder ful Lord sustain you, and bless greatly all the work." Mrs. Alma Hopkins. Long Beach, Calif. “ I have been taking The King’s Business since thè year 1921. It has helped me greatly In my Sunday school work.” Mrs. Josephine Vunck. Avoca, N ..Y. “ We are going to the Belgian Congo in the very near future, and will recommend the magazine heartily whenever opportunity arises." Rev. and Mrs. T. Glenn Lawrence. Emery Park, Ariz. From England “ I recently enjoyed happy Christian fel lowship with some of your service men in our country. They spoke of your Institute, and mentioned your magazine, The King’s Business. "As.I> should, no doubt, find it very useful in Christian work, 1 desire to become a subscriber, and have today forwarded you a money order. v "You will be Interested to know I am in touch with British naval men who, when they were in your city, enjoyed the faithful messages given by Dr. Talbot." J, H. Braund. Plymouth, England.
PIPE ORGAN WITH VOCAL Lorin Whitney, Organist BP-1 a. I’m Glad I’m Acquainted With Jesus. b. Songs of Cheer— 1. He Loves Me. 2. Just Like the Sunrise. RP-2 a. Songs of the Sea— 1. Let the Lower Lights Be Burning. 2. Throw Out the Lifeline. b. Hymns of Devotion— 1. What , a Friend We Have in Jesus. 2. Majestic Sweetness Sits Enthroned. Joseph J. Klein—Director Arrangements by—Freeman High 16. Voice Ensemble and Soloists RP-3 a. Follow, I Will Follow Thee. b. We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations. RP-4 a. The Lily of the Valley. b. When Twilight Shadows Fall. RP-5 a. There’ll Be One Song. b. When They Ring the Golden Bells. Orders for 3 or More Prepaid. CHAPEL SINGERS
SONGS OF THE NATIVITY Elizabeth Morgan Hilton with Novachord Interlude RP-6 a. Hark the Herald Angels Sing. Silent Night! Holy Night! b. O Little Town of Bethlehem. It Came Upon a Midnight clear. Elizabeth Morgan Hilton, Soprano Bertha Palmer Smebye, Piano RP-7 a. It Is Springtime in My Heart. b. Songs of Cheer— 1. There’s a Song in My Heart. 2. In My Heart Dwells Jesus. Bill Retts Choristers 16 Voices ' with Special Arrangements RP-8 a. Heavenly Sunlight. Sun of My Soul. b. I Love to Tell the Story. RP-9 a. More Time Alone. Take Time to Be Holy. b. Give Him Your Heart Today. Only $1.03 Including Excise Tax
California Patrons Add 2ys% Sales Tax BIOLA BOOK ROOM J BIOLA BOOK ROOM (C. E. Andrew) 560 South Hope St., Los Angeles 13, Calif. | Please send the following “ Sunshine Hour" Recordings @ $1.03 Each: ------ -R F -1 ,..........HP-2.............RP-3.............RP-4............. R P -5 ,.......... RP-6, I ..........RP-7.............RP-8, ...........RP-9. Enclosed Is % ............... j NAME . ................................. .......................................CITY.............................................................. j STREET ............. A ......................................................... STATE.............. ...................................
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ACROSS THE DESK of the Associate Editor C ONGRATULATIONS to Dr. R. S. Beal, Southwest stalwart, on com- . ptetion of twenty-eight years of fruit ful ministry in the “ sun city,” Tucson, Arizona! Dr. Beal follows New Testa ment strategy with a strong central church and s u r r o u n d i n g mission churches. . 1] We admire the factual make-up of the fearless Converted Catholic magazine, edited, by former Roman Catholic priests and given over to the dissemination of truth among Protestants and Catholics alike. This monthly ought to be included in every alert believer’s reading, Some of the wind is taken out of the sails of preachers by consideration of the sta tistics to the effect that there are fifteen times as many churches as “movie” theaters. With this preponder ance of houses of worship, surely the American church ought to make a better showing. And yet, even this comparison does betoken a vital and definite Christian’ nucleus in our land. Many out-of-state cars are appear ing in California. The Chamber of Commerce predicts a future popula tion of 20,000,000 for the Golden State with 5,000,000 in and around Los An gèles. Another challenge to the Chris tian forces of this area, including the Bible Institute o f ’Los Angeles. ^1 Our hearty endorsement o f the excellent Baptist weekly, The Watchman Exam iner. for editorially calling on pastors and church to consider the amount of space given over to liquor advertising in the national behemoths of the mag azine business, Life and Time. Editor Luce, son of missionary parents, ought to know better. A complaint we would add is that the note of “ smarty- smarty” sensuality is ever increasing. /] Visiting alumnus of Biola expresses Wish that he might take courses of fered now after he has come to ap preciate their value as he did not at the time when his parents forced him to attend. There’s something to this, and schools might do well to take note, Plans are under way for our usual six weeks’ summer session at the Bible Institute. Last year there were reports of abundant blessing from this summer oasis. Students may live in the dormitories during this s c h o o l term, Printing costs con tinue to increase with result that many magazines are forced to raise their subscription prices. However, a half dollar raise looks rather small when yow remember that it will be divided into twelve sections, f Na tional conditions continue to be un settled with many religious editors advocating this and that. What a comfort to remember that we do have a Heavenly Father who isn’t worried.
THE KI NG' S BUS I NESS P u b lis h e d M o n t h ly b y a n d R e p r e s e n t i n g T h e B ib le I n s t it u t e o f L o s A n g e l e s , I n c o r p o r a t e d
Louis T. T a lb ot, D.D.
John Bazart Illustrators
W illiam W . Orr D.D.
E ditor-in-Chief
A s s o cia te Editor
B etty Bruechert, M an agin g Editor
Copyright, 1946, The King’s Business No part o f this magazine may he reproduced without permission,
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M O T H E R ’ S D A Y A N D M U S I C N U M B E R
C O N T E N T S :
CO V E R : “ Christian Mother” Wescott Photo, Vancouver, Wash. See Page 208 Books and the Book, Robert G. Lee .....,......... .............................-............................. W orth of a Song, Herbert G. Tovey .............................................-........................ ^ 7 Mothers, Herbert Lockyer ................................................ -............................................. Editorially Speaking.................... .............- —— - ................ ............... ;.............. ^ G od’s Hands and Ours, Arthur I. Brown ......... ..................................................... 201 A Recipe for Making a Successful Missionary, John R. Turnbull ................. 204 Mother, Mrs. Willard M . Aldrich... ...............................- ............... - -................. ?05 Effectual Grace, Arthur Hedley ............................................................ -...................... ^06 The Bible Book of the Month, John A . Hubbard ................................................. 207 Devotional Readings, lone Lowman ................... ........ ,.......................... -...........-..... 209 Helpful Hints for Soul Winners, I. P. Bruechert ................:............................... 211 The Bible Institute on the A ir........ ........................................................................... 212 Junior King’s Business, Martha S. Hooker .............................................................. 213 Earth’s Treasure Heaps, Paul R. Bauman ........................ — .................................. 215 The Bible in the News.........................,.......................................................................... 216 Book Reviews, William W . Orr ................... .................................................... ............ 218 Biola Family Circle............................................ ................. ............................................ 219 Dr. Talbot’s Question Box.......................,................................................................ —■ 222 Y oung People’s Topics, Walter L. Wilson..... ......................................................... 224 It’s A n Idea, Carlton C. Buck ......................................................................................—■ 225 Greek W ord Treasures, Bernard Ramm ..................................................................... 227 Sunday School Lessons........................................................................... -....................... 229 Object Lessons for June, Elmer L. Wilder ................................................................. 236 SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION— “ The King’s Business" is published monthly; $1.50, one yr.; $2.00, two yrs.; 75 cents, six months; 20 cents, single copy. Clubs of three or more at special rates. Write for details. Canadian and foreign subscriptions 25 cents extra. It requires one month for a change of address to become effective.; Please send both old and new addresses. REMITTANCES—Payable in advance, should be made by bank draft, express, or post .office money order payable to "The King’s Business.” Date of expiration will show plainly on outside wrapper or cover of magazine. ADVERTISING—For information, address the Advertising Manager, 558 South Hope Street, Los Angeles 13, Caiif., or our eastern representatives, Religious Press Association, 51 No. 52nd St., Philadelphia 39, Pa. MANUSCRIPTS— "The King’s Business’: cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to manuscripts sent in for consideration. Entered as second-class matter November 7, 1938, at the Post Office at Los Angeles, California, under the Act of March 3, 1879. Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage provided for. in the Act of February 28, 1925, embodied in paragraph 4, section 538, P. L. and R., authorized October 1, 1918, and November 13, 1938. ADDRESS: The King’s Business, 558 So. Hope St., Los Angeles IS, Calif.
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O F MAKING many books there is no end” (Eccl.' 12:12). By means of books, we march with the war-Worn s p e a r m e a of A l e x a n d e r the Great beyond!the rim of the k n o w n world, and watch this c o n q u e r o r as he rears new dynasties amid the wreck of dismant led kingdoms! Oh the coast of Britain, we hear the grating sound of the keels of the boats of the low-Dutch sea thieves w h o s e children’s children' were to inherit unknown continents. We thrill with the triumphs of Han nibal as he scales the Alps and rushes down their icy slopes into sunny Italy to threaten the Roman dominion. We walk with Peary amid the ice floes of the Arctic seas. We go beyond dim centuries and see the banners float above armed hosts and conquerors riding to victories that have changed the course of time. We accompany Columbus when he touches the shores of a new world, M a g e l l a n as he girdles the globe, Hugh Miller among the rocks, Galileo and Newton among star gardens, F a r a d a y among the universe of atoms and electrons. We journey on pathless oceans. We listen
to the prophecies of forgotten seers, to dead poets singing the brave deeds of mighty men and the love of beauti ful women, to the war horns of King Olaf wailing across the floods, to harps sounding high festivals in for gotten halls. We sit down with the kings of Nineveh and Tyre. We lei surely enter the intellectual heritage of centuries. We see all the kingdoms of the world with their glories and tragedies and we walk with the noblest spirits through most sublime and enchanting regions. rpHIS is a slight conception of the power of literature. By means of books, a hand pulls back the curtain from the actual events of our life, and helps us to travel by our imagination into the uttermost parts of time and space. We understand how wars which have devastated continents, without even creating a disturbance, may rage in a narrow room. We see how, with out moving from a cozy nook, a swing ing hammock or a warm fireside, we may crawl through jungles with an explorer, fight Indians with a Custer, or take a flight into the high realm's with Shakespeare’s marvelous mental
creations, or listen to Milton’s choral hymns of Paradise. VTO wonder Rufus Choate said: “A ’ book is the only immortality on earth.” No wonder Whipple wrote: “Books are lighthouses erected in the great sea of time.” No wonder Plato asserted: “Books are immortal sons d e i f y i n g their sires.” No wonder Kingsley stated: “Except a living man, there is nothing more wonderful than a book.” No wonder Bartholini said: “Without books God is silent, justice dormant, natural science at a stand still, philosophy lame, letters dumb, and all things involved in darkness.” No wonder Bulwer wrote: “A thousand ages were blank if books had not evoked their ghosts, and kept the pale unbodied shades to warn us from fleshless lips.” rpHE Bible is the Book so great that man’s finest words of praise for it are as man’s mean paint on God’s fair lily. One gem from that Book is worth more than all the jewels from earthly mines. It is the blessed Book which countless h o s t s have found to be “ the ladder to Heaven’s open skies, stairways leading to God.”
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T HE Bible, settled in its source (Psa. 119:89), is in its reach a Book above and beyond all books as a river is beyond a rill. The Bible, so sure in its promises (Jer. 1:12), is above and beyond all books as the sun is beyond a tallow dip in brightness. The Bible, so satisfying in its contents (Jer. 15:16), is in strength above and beyond all books as the wings of an eagle are beyond the wings of a sparrow. The Bible, so secure in its guidance (Psa. 119:105), is in fruit bearing above and beyond all books as an orchard is beyond a roadside weed. The Bible, supreme in God’s esti mation (Psa. 138:2), is in glory above and beyond all books as Niagara is beyond a mud puddle. T HE Bible, drenched in tears of multitudinous contritions, is the Book our fathers touched with reverent hands. The B i b l e , worn with the fingers of agony and death, is the Book our mothers stained with grate ful tears. The Bible, coming to us steeped in the prayers of myriads of saints, is the Book against which tyranny has issued its edicts, against which infidelity has loosed its blas phemous tongue, a g a i n s t which agnosticism has hurled its anathemas. The Bible, coming to us fragrant with the faith of little children and rich with the wisdorp of the greatest in tellects of all time, is the Book which knives of s o m e godless scientific anatomists attempt to dissect and against which some pulpit and college snipers aim their ill-grounded proposi tions and which they summon to ap pear at the bar of human reason. B UT this marvelous Book is still “the Word of God” that “ liveth and abideth forever.” All its enemies of yesteryear and today have not ex tinguished one spark of its holy fire or diluted one drop of its honey. They have not torn one holfe in its beauti ful vesture, or broken one string of its thousand-stringed harp. They have not weakened its vitality by one pulse beat, or s h o r t e n e d its march of triumph by one step. Today this Bible walks more bypaths and travels more highways and knocks at more doors and speaks to more people in their native tongue than any book this world has ever known. T HE Bible, possesing the wonder of self-authentication, is infinite in height and infinite in depth. While men have come, and do come, to at tack and destroy its teachings, the Spirit of Christ comes to validate and to confirm with divine conviction and with a divine certainty that •is in communicable by reason, and im pervious to the assaults of doubt. Time is too short for it and the universe too narrow for it. It is as deep as the foundations of eternal justice, as high
mere understatements. For it is the living Word of a living God—the Book supernatural in origin, eternal in.du ration, inexpressible in value, im measurable in influence, infinite in scope, divine in authorship, human in penmanship, regenerative in power, infallible in authority, universal in in terest, personal in application, in spired in totality. Today, wherever it is read and treasured, it breaks the fetters of the slave, removes the heat from life’s fierce fevers, robs death of its sting an'd parting of its pain. As in the centuries forever departed into the tomb of time, it unbars to the soul hastening onward to eternity the gates of everlasting delight beyond the grave. As in ages agone, the dying martyr cools his face in its fountains. Multitudes of saints still find this Book the softest pillow upon which a dying head may rest. L ET us beware that we do not forget that the Old Testament and the New Testament alike tell of Jesus. It can be truly said of the Bible, “the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” The name of Jesus, the supreme personality, the center of a world’s desire, is on every page—in figure of speech, in symbol, in prophecy, in psalm, or proverb. Throughout the Bible, the name of Jesus runs like a line of glimmering light. The thought of Jesus, literature’s loftiest ideal, philosophy’s highest per sonality, criticism’s supreme problem, theology’s fundamental doctrine and s p i r i t u a l i t y ’s cardinal necessity, makes its way through the Book as a crystal river winds its way through a continent. The living Word of our living God, Jesus, is the star of the Bible. You cannot hold Christ and give up the Bible. You cannot believe in the Cross and surrender the infallible authority of the Scriptures. Faith in the deity of Christ is married to faith in the inspiration of the Bible. A LL of the Bible’s analogies, all of its types, all of its pictures, all of its truths, are so related to Christ that He alone explains them. They are filled with perfection of harmony in every detail; the relationship between them and our Lord Jesus Christ is strikingly self-evident. One ought not to be obliged to argue to get folks to see that the diversified and systematic sacrifices of the Jews, the significant shadows of redemptive entity still ahead, the adumbrations of a sub stance yet to come, were elemental, preparatory, rudimental, introductory, and that unmistakably they pointed to Christ, the propellant center to which the faith of mankind, before and since His coming in the flesh, has ever gravitated. The promises to fallen man in Eden and the ceremonies of (Continued on Page 23Ó)
as the throne of the Infinite, as wide as the moral government of God, as enduring as the life of the Almighty. Inexhaustible! Volumes have been written on single chapters—yea, even about single verses of it. C ONSIDER the wonders of the Bible. It is wonderful in its inspiration, in its translation, in its preservation, in its unification, in its salvation, in its sanctification, in its consummation. Addressing itself to the universal con science as does no o t h e r book, it creates lives and a l t e r s destinies. Speaking with binding c l a i m s , it inaugurates world-wide movements and gives birth to immortal works. Commanding the obedience of man-
A MOTHER’S LOVE FOR A SON There is an enduring tenderness in the love of a mother for a son that tran scends all other affections of the heart! It is neither to be chilled by selfishness, nor daunted by danger, nor weakened by worth lessness, nor stifled by in gratitude. She will sacri fice every comfort to his convenience; she will sur render every pleasure to his enjoyment; she will glory in his fame, and ex ult in his prosperity— and if misfortune overtake him, he will be dearer to her from misfortune; and if dis grace settle upon his name, she will still love and cher ish him in spite of his dis grace; and if all the world beside cast him off, she will be all the world to him. —Washington Irving.
kind, it comes into communities of unrighteousness as > the leaven of re generative force. The plot of Heaven- blessed and vitalized soil out of which has blossomed every social and na tional blessing, it produces philan thropic and redemptive enterprises which, together with educational and therapeutic institutions, stand as a tribute to its vitalizing power. rpHE best that man can say, with -*- tongue or pen, is but a paste jewel in this casket of God’s pure gems. Our best efforts to praise the Bible are
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&
Herbert G. Tovey, D. D., Mus. D. Note: The hymns used in the following article will he found in their full setting in the standard hymnals of the Church. The song, “ O Longing Soul” is No. 28 in “ Gospel Solos and Duets No. 2.”
Y EARS AGO, in one of the dark periods of church history, three lonely men paused to hear a hearts were unspeakably sad; the be loved leader, Martin Luther, was dead. They themselves were suffering ban ishment and confusion. And then . . . there was the song! It was Luther’s militant hymn, sung by a happy little girl to an unseen audience: According to Hezekiah Butterworth in The Story of the Hymns, when Philipp Melanchthon, Luther’s affec tionate coadjutor, heard those stirring words anew that day, his heart and those of his companions were filled with fresh courage. “Sing on, my little girl,” he cried; “you little know whom you comfort!” Melanchthon was right: No one ever can measure the full extent of the ministry of Gospel music. It has power to teach and admonish; it adds richness to the heritage of the Church; it offers a means of expression for the deepest truths of life; and it touches the hearts of unsaved individuals, leading the way to the Lord Jesus Christ the only Saviour from sin. Power to Teach God Himself, through the inspired New Testament w r i t e r s , points to Christian song as a means of instruct ing the believer concerning Christ. He admonishes us to be found “ teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col. 3:161/ It is “A Mighty Fortress is our God, A bulwark never failing . . .”
a glorious fact that the Word of Christ, dwelling in the believer and finding glad expression in song, will become his teacher, leading him into vistas of truth that .songless souls never know. For example, who can sing of the majesty of God and of the boundless depths of His mercy with out having an enlarged concept of His almightiness? This was Charles Wesley’s experience, and he longed for the whole Church to share it. With eagerness he exclaimed: “ O for a thousand tongues to sing My great Redeemer’s praise, The glories of my God and King, The triumphs of His grace!” Wesley knew — and Christian song helped to teach him—that words of praise to Christ are not limited to earth nor do they die on the lips of departing saints. He wrote: “Ye boundless realms of joy, Exalt your Maker’s fame; His praise your tongues employ, Above the starry frame! Your voices ' raise, Ye Cherubim and Seraphim, To. sing His praise.” Sacred music—the singing, playing, and writing of that which exalts Christ—has power to shake the earth and to make the courts of Heaven ring; and at the same time it takes the things of Christ and makes them known to thè humblest trusting heart. Sometimes when profound truth is ex pressed orally, its full meaning is not easily grasped. But let music be added, and the message wings its way into the soul. Power to Enrich The God-honoring music of all the ages is the heritage of the Church. Think of the richness of the songs of
David, of the magnificence of the mu sic' of Solomon’s temple, of the Heav enly beauty of -the angels’ praise on the night that Christ was born, of the spontaneous outbursts of the songs of redemption by the early Church. Re call the new world symphony of the Reformation, when people awakened joyfully to thè fact that salvation by grace supplants hope of Heaven by works. Consider the “new hymnody” of the Wesleyan movement and the heart-reaching .themes ,of Moody and Sankey. How rich is this heritage! Because of its great value, music in the C h u r c h must be cherished and guarded. It is a sparkling jewel in a golden setting of Christian truth; it is to bèi both treasured and displayed as a means of honoring Christ and uplifting the souls of men. To whom is this task entrusted? It must be accepted and performed by all those- who have seen the light of the glori ous Gospel of Christ and whose recre ated hearts long to proclaim the good news. These are the individuals—and their number includes every born- again believer—who must see to it that music in the. Church is kept free from the impurities of formalism, commercialism, and sensuality. No anchor of earthly construction should hold it to the rocks of unbelief and professionalism; nor should it be al lowed to conform to variable public demands. Christian music is holy unto the Lord and should be kept so. Power to Express Deep Truth Through music, the deepest and dearest truths of the Word of God may be expressed in language that reaches the heart. For example, music in the Church may accomplish the following purposes, among many others:.
child singing in the street. Their
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Tell it out! Tell it out! “Tell it out with adoration, that He shall increase, That the mighty King of Glory is the King of Peace; Tell it out with jubilation, tho’ the the waves may roar, That He sitteth on the water-floods, our King for evermore!” —F. R. Havergal. R eveals calvary . . . “When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of Glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride.” —Isaac Watts. POINTS TO THE RESURRECTION . . . “The Lord is risen indeed; The grave hath lost its prey; With Him shall rise the ransomed seed, To reign in endless day.” —Thomas Kelly. SUGGESTS TRUST . . . “I know not what awaits me, God kindly veils mine eyes; And o’er each step of my onward way He makes new scenes to rise: And every joy He sends me comes A sweet and glad surprise.” —Philip P. Bliss. Our hearts in Christian love; The fellowship of kindred minds Is like to that above.” —John Fawcett. PROCLAIMS CHRIST’S RETURN . . . “O’er the distant mountains breaking, Comes the redd’ning dawn of day; Rise, my soul, from sleep awaking, Rise, and sing, and watch, and pray; ’Tis thy Saviour, on His bright return ing day.” —J. S. B. Monsell. These are but a few of the minis trations of God which are extended to His children through Christian music. Not only is the music of the Church capable of bringing instruction, en richment, and the expression of deep truth, but it is also one of the best means of making men and women aware of their personal need of the SaViour. Power to Lead to Christ Martin Luther once said, “More souls are brought to Christ through the singing of hymns than through preaching.” Years have passed since that utterance was given, but men will respond today with the same en thusiasm as they did when God touched His torches with evangelistic flame in the days that are past. For example: Not long ago, in the city of Chicago, a business man sat in his room—utterly dejected, thor oughly defeated, lost in the depths of his sin. He determined to end his UNITES THE CHURCH . . . “Blest be the tie sthat binds
Thy sovereign Word restores the light, And quickens all my drowsy powers.” —Isaac Watts. ENCOURAGES TESTIMONY . . . “Awake, my soul, stretch every nerve And press with vigor on; A heavenly race demands thy zeal, And an immortal crown.’”' —Philip Doddridge. GUIDES THE LOST . . . “Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah, Pilgrim through this barren land; I am weak, but Thou art mighty; Hold me with Thy powerful hand. Bread of Heaven, Bread of Heaven, Feed me till I want no more.” —William Williams.
EXPRESSES WORSHIP . . . “O King of kings, O Lord of hosts, Whose throne is lifted high Above the nations of the earth, The armies of the sky, The spirits of the perfected May give their nobler songs; And we, Thy children, worship Thee, To whom all praise belongs.” :—Henry Burton. ADORES CHRIST . . . “How sweet the name of Jesus sounds In a believer’s ear! It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds, And drives away his fear.” —John Newton. HONORS THE HOLY SPIRIT . . . “Our blest Redeemer, ere He breath’d His tender last farewell, A Guide, a Comforter bequeath’d With us to dwell.” —Harriet Auber. EXALTS THE BIBLE . . . “How precious is the Book divine, By inspiration given! Bright as a lamp its precepts shine, To guide our souls to heaven.” —J. Fawcett. HERALDS HEAVEN . . . “There is a land of pure delight, Where saints immortal reign; Eternal day excludes the night, And pleasures banish pain. There everlasting spring abides, And never-withering flowers; Death, like a narrow sea, divides This heavenly land from ours.” —Isaac Watts. BLESSES CHILDREN . . . “ I think when I read that sweet story of old, When Jesus was here among men, How He called little children as lambs to His fold; I should like to have been with Him then. I wish that His hands had been placed on my head, That His arms had been thrown around me, And that I might have seen His kind look when He said, 'Let the little ones come unto Me.’ ” —Jemima Luke. CONQUERS FEAR. . . “Fear not, O little flock, the foe Who madly seeks your overthrow; Dread not his rage and power. What though your courage sometimes faints; His seeming triumph o’er God’s saints Lasts but a little hour.” —Jacob Fabricius. CREATES HOPE . . . - “My God, how endless is Thy love! Thy gifts are every evening new; And morning mercies from above Gently distil like early dew. “Thou spread’st the curtains of the night Great Guardian of my sleeping hours:
Dr. Tovey HELPS THE FALLEN . . . “He that is down needs fear no fall; He that is low, no pride: He that is humble, ever shall Have God to be his Guide.” — Pilgrim’s Progress John Bunyan. SUPPLIES THE NEEDY . . . “Dear Name, the Rock on which I build, My Shield and Hiding Place, My never-failing Treasury, filled With boundless stores of grace.” —John Newton. INSPIRES THE MISSIONARY . . . “Tell it out among the heathen that the Lord is King, Tell it out! Tell it out! Tell it out among the nations, bid them shout and sing.
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misery by doing away with himself. The Chicago River was near; why not leap to his death from the bridge? His mind made up, he began to ar range a few legal matters. He mut- tered to himself: “This is the last time . . . the last time I’ll write anything • .. the last time I’ll put on this over coat . . . the last time I’ll go out of this house . . Suddenly the idea struck him that, to add to the final gestures, he ought to listen once more to the radio. He snapped on the switch and waited for the tubes to warm up. Almost at once a clear voice burst into the room sing ing: “ O longing soul unsatisfied, And weary sore of fruitless quest, There is a joy as yet untried, There is a voice that speaketh rest. “The voice of Jesus softly calls, Entreating you to turn from sin; With Jesus, peace and rest are found, Into His fold, O enter in.” —Leonard R. Jenkins. “Why—that’s I!” the disconsolate one exclaimed. “I’m ‘a longing soul unsatisfied’ if there ever was one!” Breathlessly he listened. Who was the singer? Where and what was the Moody Bible Institute from which this Gospel solo emanated? He did not know or care. All that mattered was that the song made plain to his dark ened mind that Jesus Christ could sat isfy the heart. Dropping to his knees, he yielded his life to Him. Instantly, peace took the place of chaos. The would-be suicide received “the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heav iness,” (Isa. 61:3). In this man’s case song had led to the Saviour. In the confusion and conflict of the age in which we live, the great need is for God-given evangelism—and mu sic is its spearpoint. The use of it was demonstrated clearly in days not far distant, when Moody and Sankey inspired the world to listen to the sim ple message of salvation. These men and others like them, charged with the dynamic of God, were bushes burning with the fire of evangelism. They set forth, in word and melody, the vital truths of conviction, repent ance, and salvation, and "a “new day” Was born. The blessing of that day extends to ours—but, we must not rest upon its achievements. We must, in every possible way, extend the invita tion to sinners, as Thomas Moore wrote in 1816: “Come, ye disconsolate, Where ’er ye languish; Come to the mercy-seat, Fervently kneel; Here brinsftyour wounded hearts, Here tell A u r anguish, Earth h^^Bp sorrow That He^^S cannot heal.”
M ..O T H E R S Herbert Lockyer, D.D.
W HAT a wonderful country Amer ica is! The longer one lives in it, the more he is impressed with the inventive Americans’ unique ways of doing things. For instance, there is a Father’s Day, when father’s love and protection are remembered; a Children’s Day, when the importance of child training is stressed; and, in some sections, a Pastor’s Day, when occasion is taken to commend the preacher for his devoted ministry. However, one of the most popular celebrations, which had its beginning in 1914, is Mother’s Day, held on the second Sunday of May. If one’s mother is living, he wears a red flower; if dead, a white flower is pinned on the coat or dress. That such a day is commercialized is evi dent from the fact that the shops are loaded with suitable gifts for Mother. Cards, as at Christmas, likewise play a large part on this occasion. While, of course, every day should be Moth er’s Day, there is something particu larly fitting about setting apart one day to call to remembrance what the world owes to motherhood. There is an old saying to the effect that God could not be everywhere at one time, so He made mothers. Such lovely sentiment, however, is only par- “tially true, for as the Omnipresent One, God is everywhere, and many mothers, being but fallible human be ings, are not all they should be. Martin Luther, the monk who shook the world, stated: “There is nothing sweeter on earth than the heart of a mother in which piety dwells.” A mother’s influence is described in the old poem: “They say that man is mighty; “But mightier power and stronger Man from his throne has hurled, For the hand that rocks the cradle Is the hand that rules the world.” “The world,” says a gifted writer, “never needed good mothers any more than it does today.” Mothers have the key to the youth problem; their influence upon their children will last throughout eternal ages. In a list of one hundred ministers, it was discovered that 80 per cent of them credited their religious experi ence more to their mothers than to all other influences. In answer to the question, “What is France’s greatest need?” Napoleon replied, “Mothers.” He is also cred He governs land and sea; He wields a mighty scepter On lower powers than he.
ited with the statement, “The future of a child is the work of the mother. Let France have good mothers, and she will have good sons.” Here is the answer to America’s juvenile delin quency, which is really the outcome of parental delinquency. We must have godlier mothers, and fathers, too, if we are to have God-fearing chil dren. “Nobody knows of the work it makes To keep the home together; Nobody knows of the steps it takes Nobody knows but Mother. Nobody knows the lessons taught Of loving one another; Nobody knows the patience sought Nobody knows but Mother.” Even the infidel is affected by the holy influence of a pious mother. John Randolph could never shake off the restraining influence of a little verse his mother taught him. Although in the clutches of infidelity, he found himself repeating it. “There the grave! Look! Listen! There sleeps the muse of infancy, The guide of our youth, The counselor of our ripened years. Our friend when others desert us, Her heart was a stranger to all but love: There she sleeps ’till Jesus comes.” Abraham Lincoln’s mother was a devoted Christian. It was at her knee that the notable President committed to memory much of the Bible. He confessed: “All that I am or hope to be I owe to my angel mother.” If we would turn the world from its errors and vices, we must begin by enlisting mothers. “An ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy.” Said Henry Ward Beecher: “A moth er’s heai'i: Is the child’s schoolroom.” During a to the Pacific Garden - Mission, Chicago, Illinois, where Billy Sunday and many another conspicuous sinner was saved, I was struck with the printed card over the platform, “When did you write to Mother?” And, as I looked at it, I wondered how many wayward sons had been brought to the remembrance of a mother’s love and prayers by such a question. “If you have a gray-haired mother In an old home far away, Sit down and write a letter You put o ff from day to day. Don’t wait until her weary steps Reach the pearly gates. But show her you think of her Before it is too late.” “Honour thy father and thy moth er” says the good old Book, “that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.”
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E D I T O R I A L L Y
Mother’ s Day
What Confess Means
Convert Them
S PEAKING from a monetary stand point only7 the last war was by far the costliest in all history. The billions and billions of dollars which w'-re spent are absolutely incompre hensible to the average person, whose monthly pay check never gets out of the hundreds. But the United States government had to learn the mean ing of these billions and was obliged to assume the unprecedented task of raising these funds in connection with the performance of the war. Con sequently, our Treasury Department embarked on the g r e a t e s t selling campaign of all times. The radio, the press, movie stars, orators, employers and multitudes of other persons and means were pressed into service, with the result that the campaign was successful, and today the American people possess vast and hitherto un heard of wealth in war bonds. These bonds represent great power—power for good or power for evil. It is en tirely possible that America may be gin a buying spree and literally spend itself into national destruction. It is also possible that these war bonds, if converted, could contribute to the salvation of the world. We do not appeal now to the un saved bond owner. We do not believe that God desires gifts from him. But we dp appeal to the child of God. The Christian people of this land possess many war bonds, the aggregate of which is a great sum. Why not con vert these war bonds into peace bonds? Why not take them from their h i d i n g places, from safe-deposit boxes, and put them to work in the cause of world-wide evangelism? Why not present them freely to those great mission enterprises which are loyal to the Word of God; to those mis sionaries who have the vision of a lost and dying world? Why not? Too often money is wrongly con ceived to be the root of all evil. But every Bible student knows that it is not money which is this root, but the inordinate love and desire for money which opens the door to all forms of sin. Why, money, being soundly con verted, can become a root of all good! Especially is this true when it is given from a sincere heart, and followed with persevering prayer. So with our war bonds. Let them be converted and become messengers of peace and God’s good will. Wo i j i d it pay? Such a conversion migjfr ¿e s u 11 in the changing of the ■p of the world, and to the would
rpHE REMEDY for sin in the life of a -*■Christian is given in 1 John 1:9—a verse familiar to all believers. Sinners are never told to confess their sins in order to be saved. What they are told to do is to repent and to believe oh a Saviour who has fully paid for sin all there is to pay. Likewise, Christians, having once believed, are never asked to believe again. But when sin comes into the life, they are commanded to confess it unto God, and to know thereby the joy of forgiveness and cleansing. The word “confess” is not insignificant; rather it has a depth of meaning. Basically, it contains the idea: “ to be of one mind,” or, .“to speak the same language.” In othef words, when we confess our sins, we are of one mind with God in His opinion of sin. We are to hate sin with the same vehemence with which God hates it. We are to take our stand with Him in not only abhorring it, but in completely turning away from it. This is the meaning of "confessing sin.” Far from being a light matter, it is used by God as a means of our growth in godliness as well as our cleansing. He would have us under stand that on this basis alone we may be restored to and kept in fellowship with Him. ★ ★ God Will Give Too \ GENUINE emergency exists in the war-ravaged countries of Europe. Starvation is imminent in many areas. Famine has always followed war. The American people are being asked to give of their abundance to alleviate to a degree, at least, the hunger of these multitudes. Christian and charitable organizations of this country are responding in a magnifi cent way, and both food and clothing are being rapidly dispatched beyond the seas. This is certainly what God would have our land to do in this crisis. Not only do we have His ap proval for this action, but we have as well His promise of abundant blessing upon our already greatly favored land. It is well known that America en joyed unusually rich harvests during the war years, else the war could not have been won. This abundance did not corné by chance, but was given by God Himself. If, during this new emergency, we open our hearts and our larders, and give unselfishly, our fields again will wave with golden grain and our barns will be filled to
/''VNCE more the month including Mother's Day is here, and those of us who know what it is to have a godly mother are delighted to again acknowledge our debt to her. The term “mother” is a very sacred one and does not seem to fit certain mod ern types. It has always been God’s plan that motherhood and godliness should go together. Happy is the boy or girl born in a home where the mother knows the power of prayer, and the value of the Scriptures! There is no more effective combination for righteousness than the Heavenly Father and a godly mother. Many panaceas are offered as a remedy for the troubles of today, but God’s prescription for the unrighteous ness of any age is strong young peo ple of high principle and noble pur pose coming forth from Christian homes to live honest, righteous and useful lives. Thank God for our mothers! May He give America more like them! i^VUT of a number of years’ experience ^ and observation of the circum- stances of the conversion of young people, we have developed a healthy respect for the powerful influence ex ercised by summer Bible conferences. There is something about being out in the open, away from home and daily companions, which seems to di rect the attention -of young people into channels of serious thought. In addition, most conference leaders are true to the Word of God and familiar with the Scriptures. A daily “ dose” of three or four hours of interesting Bible teaching invariably produces gratify ing results. Many conferences with which the writer is acquainted have opened with the Christian delegates numbering about one-half of the group, and have closed in seven days with every young person present surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ. Pastors, Sunday school teachers, and youth leaders do well to urge the young people under their care to set aside other things and by all means plan a week at a good sum mer Bible conference. The results are indeed beneficial to the Church be cause of the quickened spiritual life of the young people. Who can tejl how far-reaching may be the result of even ★ ★ Conferences
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T HE BIBLE is written around the fact of God. Hun dreds of statements sure made regarding His charac ter and the qualities which He possesses in an is eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, holy, just, merciful, kind and loving. Many other details concerning Him are offered, but when we search for clues as to His personal appearance, we discover that the Holy Spirit exhibits a Divine reticence, and refuses to satisfy our curiosity. In a similar manner, not much has been told us about the personal appearance of the Lord Jesus. We might like to know whether He was tall or of average height; what were the colors of His' hair and eyes; what kind of features He possessed. But these are withheld from us. We must wait for that wonderful day when we shall see Him face to face to learn these things. We read Isaiah 53:2 with‘ a sense of shock and sur prise: “He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see hinj, there is no beauty that we should desire him.’1 In spite of this brief description by Isaiah, I know that the Song of Solomon is equally true: “Yea, he is al together lovely” (S. S. 5:16). . There can be no doubt that in body structure, Jesus was exactly as we are. He was “made in the likeness of men,” with 206 bones and 520 muscles; He had arms, legs, hands and fingers, ears, eyes, mouth, teeth, tongqfe, taste buds—every normal tissue and organ were there. His wonderful body was the special responsibility of His Father: “ a body didst thou prepare for me” (Heb,10:5 R.V.).
Are we, then, given no information about the appear ance of God? It must be admitted that there is not much, but that little is very suggestive. In Hebrews 1:1-3 R.V., there is a remarkable statement: “ God. . . hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in his Son. . . who being the effulgence of his glory, and the very image of his substance . . . sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Note that Jesus was the exact image of the “ substance” of God. This word, selected by the Holy Spirit with char acteristic precision, indicates/if we are to take it literally, that God has substance. This is not to say that God is an anthropmorphic God—precisely like us—but, seeing Jesus in the flesh, we have seen God. As to personal appearance, the Father and Jesus are indistinguishable. That leads me to ask: “If we could see the Lord Jesus as He is today, what would He be like?” And the answer is: “Exactly as He was before His resurrection.” Then, He had a body which looked like the one He possessed before the crucifixion. He had flesh and bones, apparently everything He had when He lived with His disciples. They recognized Him as “this same Jesus.” His feat ures were not changed. With that body, He entered Heaven, where He is today seated on His Father’s throne. With that same body, He is coming again to earth as King of kings and Lord of lords. However, the flesh which the disciples saw after Jesus rose from the dead, although it looked like it, was not the same He had before His death. For instance,
infinite degree. We know that He is a‘ Person; that He
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