November 1924
THE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
741
as the high priest of old bore upon his bosom the breast plate engraven with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, so the Christian is to bear upon his heart in prayer before God, the interests of his family, the church and the world. Here is the greatest need today in Christian life and work. Intercession is practically a lost art. Whatever degree of success has been achieved at any time and place is due to its exercise. Whatever of failure and defeat has been experienced is due to its lack. When we lament the low state of spirituality in the church, decreasing attend ance on Divine worship, reduction of income and increasing worldliness, we need to bear in mind that the remedy is in our own hands. Intercessory prayer will turn defeat into victory and failure into success. Pronouncing the Benediction The third function of the priest is to pronounce the bene diction. On the great day of Atonement, the program of which is recorded in Leviticus 21, after the high priest had finished his work behind the veil, he came forth to bless the people. The congregation awaited his appearance with hushed expectancy. At length the hanging curtains were thrust aside, the priestly hands were out-stretched, and they heard him say, “ The Lord bless thee and keep thee; the Lord make His face to shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee; the Lord lift up His countenance upon thee and give thee peace.” Then the congregation returned home, absolved for another year. The last act that our Savior performed on earth prior to His departure was to pronounce a benediction. May it not be the only thing Be ever began that He did not finish? While in the act of blessing them, He was parted from them and carried "up unto heaven. He has now passed into the heavens,, as did the priest behind the tabernacle veil. Perhaps the first thing He will do upon his re-appearance, will be to complete this unfinished benediction. The ninth chapter p f Hebrews describes the anti-type fulfilling the type of the great day of Atonement, and the last verse of the chapter speaks of His coming forth to bless the people after His work behind the veil is over. “ Ünto them that look for Him, shall He appear the second time apart from sin unto salvation.” Students for the ministry who go out to supply churches sometimes inquire if it will be proper and permissible for them to pronounce the benediction in dismissing the con gregation at the close of public worship, if they have not been ordained. It would certainly seem as if such liberty might be granted. What is a benediction essentially, but a simple “ God bless you” ? Does it require a mandate of ecclesiastical authority to utter such words as these? Every child of God ought to be a perpetual and incarnate bene diction radiating spiritual light and heat everywhere. By the way, the gesture that usually accompanies the benediction betrays the theological bias of the one who pronounces it. If it be uttered with arms extended and palms turned downward, it is indicative of a sacerdotal leaning, as if sacramental grace were oozing from the pro jected finger-tips and dripping upon the people. If on the other hand, it be pronounced in any formula, with palms up and extended hands, it is simply an invocation offered by an equal in behalf of his fellows, standing with them upon the same level in the sight of God. We refuse to recognize the ecclesiastical line of cleavage between the.
-Christmas W ill Soon Be Herer Books—Biola “ Best” Books Make the Best Gifts The Passing of “The Word” A ROMANCE OF COLLEGE LIFE Helen Henshaw The book depicts the wholesome and typical American college girl of today, who with seriousness of character can have as well the spirit of frolic. While the story purports to impart a serious message, nevertheless, there is a certain trend of humor through the pages. The col lege girl’s rhapsodies on flowers and amusements, and typical friendships that are formed, lend to the narrative a naturalness which is in every way pleasing and appro priate. Interwoven is a love theme, by no means com plex, but adding a certain charm to the volume. The dialogue throughout is natural and pleasing and the moral element is strongly marked. An exceptionally healthy story.____________________ ________________ Cloth, $1.50 In the Twinkling of an Eye By Sydney W atson The Mark o f the Beast By Sydney W atson
There are but com paratively few people who understand correctly what the B i b l e teaches concerning “ the Great T ribulation,” — that awful pe riod of distress that is com ing upon this earth during the time when the Antichrist will rule with unhindered sway. In “ The Mark o f the Beast” these facts are m ost vividly portrayed in story form . So interesting is the story that many people read it through at one sitting, only to take up the book again to re-read once, twice and possibly three times, until the true teaching o f the tribulation is so fixed in their minds that they will never forget it. Cloth, $1.25 Scarlet and Purple By Sydney W atson Good salvation stories are rare,— this is a rare one,— a n exceedingly interesting story. God’s G o o d N e w s concerning His Son and what He has done for us is the theme running through it from beginning to end, but it does not in any way interfere with the plot or the characters except to enhance your inter est in them. It brings the reader face to face with Jesus Christ as Saviour, and many souls have been born again through its reading. Put “ Scar let and Purple” into the hands o f young people,— into the hands o f anyone you want to see converted._____ Cloth, $1.25
The Second Coming o f the Lord is a very precious truth to many Christians, and 'would be to many more if they only understood. Some are ad verse to studying their Bibles just to learn this particular truth, but everybody will read and enjoy a good, well written story. In the Twinkling of an Eye is an exceedingly inter esting story in which the d oc trine o f the return o f the Lord is so intimately interwoven that the reader absorbs it, utterly unconscious that he is being taught,— so thoroughly does he becom e absorbed in the story. It is just the book to put into the hands o f young Christians, careless Christians, nominal Christians. Read it for yourself, and then you will understand what we mean. ________ ____________ Cloth, $1.25 The Conflict By Miss Elizabeth Knauss This is the book of the hour for everyone who is in any w ay interested in the conflict between the Modernist wing of the Church and those who hold fast to the great fundamental doctrines o f the Christian re ligion. “ The Conflict” tells the story in story form— a real live story entertaining from beginning to end— and very helpful. Y ou will want at least one cop y for yourself and one for your pastor. Order at once and put in circulation in your community._________Cloth, $1.25
The High Way
By Caroline Atwater Mason A novel which challenges the religious world Is the church threatened with division by opposing fac tions impossible to reconcile? Upon a broader canvas than heretofore, and with all the pathos and humor and realism which distinguished Mrs. Mason’s earlier stories, she shows in her novel the problem of the ministry during the present religious crisis. Into this new novel with its charming love story and vivid glimpses of modern social life, Mrs Mason introduces a vital issue, which is now generally recognized, and which bids fair to divide the Christian church today. Fundamentalists and modernists alike are recognizing in Mrs. Mason's fascinating story a way to a better understanding of each other’s difficul ties. A book that no active Christian can afford to overlook. ______________________ Cloth, $2.00 If money does not accom pany order, goods will be sent C. O. D., unless otherwise specified. If goods are to com e by mail add 10% for postage.
B IO L A B O O K R O O M Bible Institute, Los Angeles, Cal.
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