bible standard february 1880

8/7/2019 Bible Standard February 1880

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. . . . . . - - . . . . . / z , t anda r d .bltDevotedto the Exposition of Scripture respecting Conditional Immortality, Resurrection,the Return and Reign of Christ, and the Final Destruction of all Evil.

EDITED BY W ILLIAM LEASK , D.D. The Wages of Sin is Death; but the gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

No. 5. Vol. Ill. 1880. Price One Penny.EBRUARY,TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Spiritualism, the Revival of the old Necromancy 49Immortality brought to Light 52Heart Watchfulness: or, Who is the Faithful Servant? 54The Highest Idea of Man 55Notes-and News 56

"SPIRITUALISM, THE REVIVAL OF THE OLDNECROMANCY."

FROMa well-timed and valuable book just published-cc TheClosing Days of Christendom "-( Partridge), we quote thefollowing important paragraphs. The able author's estimateof this iniquity has always been ours. Let all who fear Godavoid Spiritualism I We heartily commend the book for itslight and truth.That Necromancy was a sin not only pretended, but

practised and severely denounced and punished by God inOld Testament times, no one who believes the Bible (and tosuch only do we addresa ourselves) will dispute. That Goddenounced the penalty of death for a sin which it was im-possible to commit,-and that such penalty was sometimesinflicted under the divine law, for an imaginary crime is toomonstrous an assumption to be entertained for a moment.The following are some of the passages in which this sinis denounced, "Regard not them that HAVEamiliar spirits,"nor seek after wizards to be defiled by them, for I amthe Lord your God." Here the Lord says, let it beobserved, "Regard not them that HAVEfamiliar spirits,"not that pretend to have. "When thou art come into theland which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt notlearn to do after the abomination of these nations." "There

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shall not be found among you anyone that useth divination,or an observer, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer,or a CONSULTERwith familiar spirits, or a wizard, or anecromancer; for all that do these things are an abomina-tion to the Lord; and because of thege abominations doththe Lord thy God drive (the Canaanites) out from beforethee. . And the soul that turneth after familiar spirits, I willeven set My face against that soul, and will cut him offfrom among My people." ccThe man or woman that hatha familiar spirit shall surely be put to death." "So Saul


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50 THE BIBLE STANDARD.closing in of the present dispensation: "The Spirit speakethexpressly that in the last days, some shall apostatize fromthe faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and to the teachingof demons" literally, uanderinq spirits, and teaching of demons.And contemporaneously, with the decay of the Turkish

Empire, as symbolised by the outpouring of the sixth vialupon the river Euphrates, the inspired seer saw threeunclean spirits issue out of the mouth of the dragon (Satan)and out of the mouth of the beast (the political power), andout of the mouth of the false prophet (the Apostacy), andspeaks of them as the spirits of demons u'orking miracles,who go forth to the kings of the Roman earth to gatherthem together to the final conflict,-between the True andthe False at Armageddon. And again, in 2 Tim, iii., speakingof the opponents of the Gospel in the last days, he says,"Now as Jannes and Jambres (the Egyptian magicians)withstood Moses, so shall these men resist the truth." Howdid Jannes and Jambres withstand Moses? By imitatinghis miracles, through Satanic or demoniacal power! Thatthey were withstanding the power and purpose of God asrevealed in the mission of Moses is manifest. The followingextract from a work entitled" Evidences of Spiritualism"shows how the votaries of Spiritualism seek to establish aparallel between their own miracles, and those recorded inScripture: "If anyone should feel inclined to laugh at fruitand flowers produced by spiritual means, I would remindhim that this is exactly what was done in the case of Aaron'srod, which brought forth buds, blossomed, and bore almonds.If spirit-hands provoke mirth, we must, at any rate, bearin mind that such things have been seen. " He put forth aform of a hand and took me by a lock of my head" (Ezekiel)."In the same hour came forth the finger of a man's handand wrote upon the plaster of the wall, and the king saw thepart of the hand that wrote." (Don. iii. 2.) The touchingof peoples' knees by these hands may be ludicrous enough,but an angel touched Jacob in the thigh, and Elijah andDaniel were similarly touched. Mrs. E.-is said to haveproduced in company three live eels. I may doubt the fact,but I shall not see in it anything so very mirth-moving, if Ibelieve that Pharaoh's magicians could rival Moses andAaron in evoking or producing frogs, and sending them intothe houses and bedrooms of the Egyptians. Spirit lights orfires moving about a room are common phenomena, and Ifind constantly in Scripture the appearance of lights andfire accompanying spiritual manifestations. Thus in theabove passage of Ezekiel, "I beheld and 10 , a likeness as theappearance of fire." In the Acts, tongues of fire settle uponthe Apostles. A cold wind passes over the Hon. Mrs. E.-when she sees spirits. On the day of Pentecost there camea sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and itfilled all the house where they were sitting. Mrs. Honey-wood's house vibrates in such a fashion that no machinery

can have produced the result. Mr. Home and otherscarried off into the air; so was Philip, and so was Ezekon two occasions. The gift of tongues, again, is assertedbe one of the manifeststions, and this as we all lmow isbe found in the New Testament."

The writer of another work on the same subject, say"Both the Old and New Testament are full of the recordsSpiritualism, and Spiritualists alone can read the recowith an enlightened belief. The hand that wrote uponwall in Belshazzar's feast, and the three men unhurtNebuchadnezzar's furnace, are for them actual facts, whthey need not explain away. St. Paul's language abspiritual gifts, and trying the spirits, is to them intelligiblanguage, and the gift of tongues a simple fact. WhChrist cast out devils, or evil spirits, he really did so;merely startled a madman into momentary quiescence; athe water changed into wine, as well as the bread andfishes, continually renewed, till five thousand were fed,credible as extreme manifestations of a power which is sdaily at work among us. Our modern teachers maintathat they know a, great deal about God, and they declthat after death they shall be with Him, and see Him, aknow Him. In the teachings of the" spirits" there is noword of this. They tell us they commune with highintelligences than themselves, but of God they really knno more than we do."We have given these extracts to show that the Spiritua

ists seek to establish a parity between their miracles athose of Scripture. By the last sentence quoted, the readwill see that Spiritualists receive the teachings of Revelatioso far as they are corroborated by the "spirits;" but twhere this corroborative testimony fails, they eschewstatements. Is it possible to descend to a lower depthTo make the truth and the acceptance of the word of Gdepend upon the testimony of a demon! But the fatuoblindness of these men is on a par with their profanity.it were not so they could not fail to see that the resemblanwhich they seek to establish between the miraclesScripture and the manifestations of spiritualism lies oupon the surface, and in what may be denominated the mphysical likeness of the thing. The miracles of Scriptuwere wrought for noble ends and purposes; those of Moto enforce the liberation of an enslaved people; thatAaron, to establish the divinely appointed priesthood. Thandwriting on the wall was to announce to the impioking the impending destruction of himself and his kingdoThe only object of these spiritualistic manifestations see

to be to while away an hour, or to invalidate the ScriptureThe process by which the "spirits" are consulted

these modern necromancers, and by which they give threplies is identical with the process named by Tertullianbeing used in his day, by the necromancers among


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heathen, to bring discredit upon Christianity. He says:" But consider with yourselves, do not your magicians per-form many amazing feats? Call ghosts and departed soulsfrom the shades below, and by their infernal charms repre-sent an infinite number of illusions? And how do theyperform all this, but by the assistance of evil angels anddemons, by which they are able to make stools' and tablesphrophcrf] "

Is the closing in of this dispensation, like its opening, tobe characterized by demoniacal agency and phenomena?It would appear so, alike from Scripture and from fact.The first half of the present century was characterized by

a marvellous development of the physical sciences, and theresult has been the diffusion of a wide-spread materialism.The 1110reclosely men became acquainted with the works ofthe Creator, the more sedulously they strove to banish Himfrom His own universe. The century is closing in underthe malign influence of a gigantic system of demonology orspiritualism. And it is a remarkable fact that large numbersof those who are the most prominent among the writers andadvocates of spiritualism, were originally materialists andrejecters of Revelation. Having in the pride of intellectrejected God, God has given them over to a strong delusionthat they should believe a lie.

The reality of the phenomena has been admitted by allclasses of thinkers and investigators, though each has hadhis own theory of explanation. The earlier phenomena"table turning" was admitted by Professor Faraday, butwas ascribed by him to "unconscious muscular action."But this theory only professed to explain the earliestphysical phenomena-table turning,-phenomena almostforgotten now in the" higher" developments of spiritualism.The" Psychic force" of Sergeant Cox, and the" unconsciouscerebration" theory of Dr. Carpenter, alike admit theactuality of the asserted manifestations, but fail to accountfor the whole of the phenomena-and leave unexplained anumber of facts which refuse to be coerced within the limitsof their gratuitous but despotic hypotheses, or to adjustthemselves to the arbitrary dimensions of their Procusteanbed. .For ourselves, we belong to that small and unpopular

section of investigators which asserts that the only theorywhich covers the whole of the ground and explains thewhole of the phenomena is that which refers all to Satanicagency. The phenomena closely resemble, if they are notactually identical with, the lying wonders and deceivable-ness of unrighteousness, which are predicted by the HolyGhost, as specially characteristic of the last days, and are tobe regarded as only introductory to those more remarkablemanifestations, which are to accredit the pretensions of thelast personal Antichrist.

Spiritualism took its rise in America- Westem New

York-in the year 1848, and quickly spread over the UnitedStates, and from thence to Europe, where it now numbersits votaries by tens of thousands, spread throughout thecontinent and the British Isles. Its first phenomena wereof the simplest physical character, frequently ludicrous andapproaching the grotesque. No attempts were made atmoral teachings; but when the actual physical phenomenawere established beyond dispute, and the extra-mundaneagencies employed were manifest to all but those whorefused to be convinced by any amount of evidence, itarrogated to itself the character of aNew Revelation. Itbegan by claiming Jesus as a Spiritualist, and the" spirits"declared that it was they "who invested Him with Hispower of performing His miracles, and affirming that theywould never make such a mistake again, as it led to Hisworship as God, whereas He was but man." Spiritualismdenies the existence of a hell, of Satan, of a personal- God;denies the Godhead of Christ, His atoning Sacrifice, theTrinity, the final Judgment, and the personality of the HolySpirit; and affirms that the Comforter whom Christpromised to send, is a Messiah yet to be developed out ofSpiritualism :-that Spiritualism is a New Revelation in-tended to supersede Christianity which is worn out, andobsolete. .It will thus be seen that Spiritualism is as much the foe

of Christianity as blank Atheism. Infidelity is attackingthe Gospel from one side, while Spiritualism is advancing itsmasked batteries on the other. The circle is closing inaround the combatants; the neutral ground is narrowingevery day, as the hostile powers are mustering their forces,and marching their hosts on to the battle-field of Arma-geddon. However much Infidelity and Spiritualism mayseem to be opposed to each other,-they are agreed in this,that before either of them can mount the throne, they mustdemolish Christianity and trample upon the Cross. In this,all their efforts, advocates, and works are marvellously con-sistent; there is no jarring note in this diabolic music.But the believer in Christ has no fear, for he has been

forewarned that these" wandering spirits" and "teachingsof demons" would characterize the closing years of thisdispensation, and that the final conflict, to which they aremustering their black recruits, will end in the victory of theRedeemer, and the triumph of the Cross, when the dynastyof sin shall be supplanted by the dynasty of Holiness,-theusurpation of Satan by the righteous rule of Christ, and Heshall come whose" right it is to reign."

" We are. not ignorant of his devices." Satan is as old as theworld, and has grown very cunning by experience. When hewas but a young serpent, he easily deceived and outwitted ourfirst parents; but now he is that "old serpent," as Johnspeaks. Yet, notwithstanding all his plots, devices andstratagems, God's chosen ones shall overcome him by theblood of the Lamb.


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52 THE BIBLE STANDARD.

IMMORTALITY BROUGHT TO LIGHT."0 Lord, Thou art my God; ... Thou hast done wonderful thiugs;

Thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth; for Thou hast made ofa city an heap; a defenced city [Babylon] a ruin; .... never to bebuilt .... [By contrast.] In this mountain [Zion] shall the Lord ofHosts make unto all people a feast of fat things; .... and He willdestroy . the face of the covering ... over all people, and the veilthat is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death in victory ;and ... wipe away tears from off all faces; ... for the mouth of theLord hath spoken it." Isaiah xxv, 1-8,THE prophet here notes God's "wonderful works" of crea-tion and providence. The tower of Babel was an heap, itscity a ruin, "never to be built," The veil of darkness-the_night far spent-will end at this unveiling of the nations-the resurrection of the just, and the opening of "the day ofGod." When? At the seventh-" the last trump." (1 Cor.xv. 52; 1 Thess. iv. 16; Rev. xi. 25.) Then" He willswallow up death in victory, and wipe away tears from allfaces, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it."Let us illustrate this text by facts. The four cardinal

points of the heavens are established in nature-their humanrepresentations in "the compass." The pointers may bemisplaced by man, while yet the facts themselves remainunaltered through all time. Thus the Bible embraces fourgrand divisions and aspects of its all-comprehending truth,These four divisions abide unchanged through all thechanges of human opinion and earthly affairs.

1. We find here God and His creation with man IIIdominion over the earth. (Gen. i. 26; Ps. viii. 6; H eb. ii. 7.)Thus the .world is, itself, the loftiest monument and thesublimest confirmation of the Bible record. Nothing elsebelieved by men has such profound and enduring foundations.We all tread the solid earth, and see its overhanging heavensin organic. harmonious arrangement. These facts haveextended through six thousand years. "They continue thisday according to God's ordinances." (Ps. xix. 1; cxix. 89-91.) Hence it is by faith-by believing the record-that weunderstand this. (Heb. xi. 3.) It embraces all materialthings=-all that are seen or known by man.

Observe: it is on this exalted plane of facts, including allthe absolute. realities of creation, we would advance in un-folding the certainties of truth that centre in our subject;for as we have found the wondrous works of God in creationand providence, v. 1, so we see:2. That man is "subject to vanity," disease, disappoint-ment, death. His Babel-tower is an heap. His city, Baby-

Ion, the lady of kingdoms, is a ruin, never to be built; andall past generations are in the dust. (Gen. xi. 4-9; Jer, li.64; Rom. viii. 20.)But why this subjection to vanity? Answer," not

willingly, but by the majesty of God's violated law." Forthe creature is dependent, and, like a child, cannot go alone-but" to the bad." This has been demonstrated; for" byone man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and

so death hath passed upon all men, for that all hasinned.""Return to dust [he says] ye children of men." Th

still they go. No science, no experience, nothing has arrestethis order that" turns man to destruction." (Ps. xc. 3.)Thus, the fact is patent to every observer, that all m

'thus far have died (save Enoch and Elijah), and thatliving things exist "under the bondage of corruption;"they are bound to die and return to dust. This is all in facnot in a figure of speech. Thus the rock-bottom facts of otext are as expansive and as absolute as creation. 'I'hememorials have extended through all time, to be the basiand largely the superstructure of our faith in God, andthe majesty of His law and His righteous administration-" His faithfulness and truth," His consistency.But is there hope for man and earth? Yes. Because3. "The creature was made subject to vanity," not of

own will, but by Him who subjected it in hope. It is tgovernmental policy of God; for the creature (man andcreaturehood on earth) shall be delivered into the "gloriouliberty of the sons of God "-the man, by the" redemptioof the body," and" the whole creation" by a regenesis-"the restitution of all things spoken." (Matt. xix, 2Acts iii. 21; Rev. xxi. 1 ; Rom. viii. 15:-23.)The first promise to Abel was unfolded to Abraham in t

oath-confirmed covenant, and further foreshadowed in ttemple worship till Christ came to put away sin and soffering, and give His Gospel, and send His spirit, to gaththe "church of the first born" to be kings and priests abear His name. Against this gracious promise and thpeople the" gates of hell have not prevailed." The wildewaves -of sin and death have broken at her feet. The Churhas survived, and, we judge by facts, it will survithem all.Hence, through all these three aspects of revealed trut

these cardinal points of creation, of its subjection to vanitand its progressive promise of redemption, we reach (omting volumes of proof)

4. The consnmmation. "The face of the covering" athe" veil over all nations shall be destroyed, death swallowup in victory, and tears dried away from all faces; formouth of the Lord hath spoken it." Hence," the ComiOne" must come as the "Resurrection and Life." He wsave us-save the world. (v. 9; John xii. 1-7; 1 Joiii. 2.) This summary notice of earth and man in thefour points, taken in the light of God, having all alike tstamp and record of all reality, serves to demonstrate tcertainty and the actuality of this crowning accomplishmenof His one great purpose. (Eph. i. 10,) "The prayer" wbe answered, "the promise" fulfilled, and "the visionverified in all its plentitude of power and grace. "His glwill cover the heavens, and the earth be filled with H


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TH .E BIBLE STANDARD . 53

praise." (Ps. lxxii. 16-20; Hab. iii. 3.) "Scenes surpassingfable, and yet true "-ItStrue as that man and earth exist infact, and not in fable.

Note: Error revels in mystery, obscurity and evasion, butthe truth delights in direct, radical, and unmistakable termsand realities. The serpent's head bruised; death and himthat had the power of death destroyed; death and hellhurled into the lake of fire (taken in their obvious import)will leave no discordant groan against the universal anthemof earth and heaven over the final triumph of grace. Thisbegins with the saints, is expanded by ten thousand thous-ands of angels, and is crowned and complemented by "everycreature in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, and inthe sea." (Rev. v. 9-14.) Amen! Surely no groaning,dying mortal ought to object or "reply against God" as toHis making" all things new." (Rev. xxi. 5.)The application of this subject seems easy, and to all right

reason a logical necessity. Faith thus makes "the wholecreation," and the causes and forms of death and humanwoe, as well as the promise with the witnessing people ofGod through all time-its pedestal and platform from whichto proclaim the assured salvation, redemption, deliverance;for as sure as the world is so death is, and the promise ofredemption is. Nay, all these three points in our text areabsolute, and also in accord with all history. Hence, faithrejoices in a sphere above all mere opinion or speculation,and rests on these profound realities and in the faithfulnessof God. Surely these points are demonstrated by all humanexperience and by the realities of the yet unfolded Gospelplan; for the deepest truth of this chapter to us centres inthe veil of darkness and death to man, and the needed un-veiling and resurrection here foretold. Further, men are so"veiled" as not to see that death is the penalty of God'sviolated law in any way to render their resurrection, as Jesusrose, at all essential to their salvation, their immortality, ormanifested sonship. (Rom. viii. 19-23.) Yet this is plainlytaught, "for since by man came death [because he sinned]by man " came also the personal and real resurrection of thedead. Jesus did rise from the grave I (1 Cor. xv. 21; Hom,v. 12; viii. 23; Luke xx. 36.)Let us reason together on this line of all that we know ofcreation, of man's history in vanity, and of the Gospel

remedy. Let us allow the fact that death breaks the man-the person, the "living soul "-down, to "return todust;" then you can see that" the resurrection" just meetshis need, in order to his rising to the life everlasting.

The great example of this truth is furnished by the death.and resurrection of our blessed Lord. "His soul [Himself ]was not left in hell [Hades]." (A cts ii. 29-S6.) It iswritten, "Thon will not leave My soul (Myself] in hell;

neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption."(Ps. xvi. 8-10.) "God will redeem my soul from thepower of the grave; for He shall receive me." (Ps. xlix. 15.)Here" Me," "My soul," and" Thine_Holy One," belongs toJesus, our blessed Messiah. They emphasize His self-hood,His personality. T-his gives us the central, and the primaryand prevailing use of the word "soul." It so occurs overfive hundred times from Genesis to Revelation.

Then, the secondary use of the word for "the life" (overone hundred times) is consistent with its original and usualimport. The Hebrew and Greek words are cognate, andrelated to life. Hence they confirm the primary import ofnephesh chaiyah, "a living soul, or creature." "As it iswritten, the first man Adam was made a living soul." (Gen.ii. 7-19; 1 Cor. xv. 45; Rev. xvi. 3.) But as this first man-the living soul-did sin, so he did die. In contrast, thelast Adam "did no sin," and, though He died as the Lambof God to put away sin-the sin of the world-" so He roseagain for our justification; and at His second coming is toraise, and reign with His saints a.thousand years, and thenceon "forever and ever." No unbeliever has the shadow ofsuch demonstrative facts to justify his opinions. Hisphilosophy has no place for the resurrection of the dead, orthe regenesis of earth. Its highest thought is to magnifymortals, and make immortality and glory circle around inthe present mortal state; and even this was borrowed fromthe tempter, who said, "Ye shall not 3uTely die." Theheathen" world lying in the wicked one," adopted it, and soit has come down to us through Rome. Bishop Butler'sanalogy, embodying the prevailing philosophy on this point,says, "There is no evidence that animals ever lose theirliving powers." But this, if true, would make mice andmaggots as immortal as man, and lizards and lice as ever-lasting as angels. Nay, it contravenes our most absoluteknowledge, derivable through all our senses to the contrary;for they all do die, and lose all their living powers , Further,it denies the divine law, "thou shalt surely die." "Thesoul that sinneth he [or she] shall die." (Gen. ii. 17; Eeek,xviii. 4; Acts iii. 23.)

On a funeral occasion the sexton, on closing the coffin,was asked in a whisper, "What are you going to do?"The confused sexton stopped; but, after a repetition, thequestioner relieved his embarrasment by reminding him thatthe preacher had said, "Our brother is not dead." Note:That preacher was consistent with philosophy, "falsely socalled." Surely this should suffice to show how boldly deathis openly denied, and the resurrection-God's remedy fordeath-discarded. Both terms are taken as mysteries ofspeech against the fact of Jesus: resurrection, Who rose as"this $ame Jesns," ,. the first fruits of them that slept."-

J. B. Cook,


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HEART WATCHFULNESS: OR, WHO IS THEFAITHFUL SERVANT?

THE following deeply significant remarks, although slightlymystical, are quoted from the pamphlet named at the footof the page.* Their value consists not merely in referenceto the fact that all natural forces are in the hand of ourLord, and will be wielded by Him when He returns for thebenefit of mankind, but also in their bearing on habitualpractical obedience.

Whatever ideas any of us may have formed regarding thenature of the Second Advent, I think we shall all agree as tothe general meaning of our Lord's admonition to watch forHis Coming, and this from His own comparison of Masterand servants. Who is that faithful servant in the absenceand expected reappearance of his Lord at some indefinitetime? He who is always listening for the sound of Hiscarriage wheels, going now and again to the roof of the houseto discern the first signs of His approach; or he who, havinghis Master and His service at heart, does his appointed workas faithfully as when his Lord is beside him? Surely thelatter. It does not matter to him at what hour the Mastermay come, since He will find everything prepared as if Hehad never been absent. The Christian's Master is too oftenregarded as a hard and 'austere man; with those who thusthink of Him, the watchfulness and service will be veryimperfect. It is comparatively easy to be outwardly faithfulto some appointed task, whether light or laborious; but theMaster of all, who being servant of all knows what true ser-vice is, gives and requires the watchfulness of the heart aswell as of the head, the hands, and the feet. We cannot, forHim, do our work perfectly, unless the whole man be in it,and He in the whole man. Yet He does accept all servicedone for Him, however imperfect, and rewards the doer byincrease of will and strength. The watchfulness required isone against all sins and failings. Sins of temper, of pre-judice, of harsh and hasty judgments, oJ sectarian feeliug inall its insidious forms, in short, of everything that tends toobscure spiritual insight. "Ye shall not see Me henceforthtill ye shall say 'blessed is He that cometh in the name ofthe Lord.' " Thus our perception of His coming dependson inward preparedness to discern Him; and this is conse-quent on simple faithfulness to known duty as in His sight.They to whom His coming in the flesh was first revealed bya choir of angels, were simple shepherds, faithful to theirtrust. Those whom He sought and found before they knewof Him, were industrious fishermen. The Lord has as muchneed of faithful souls as they have of Him; and if they donot seek for Him in any other way than by doing His will,it is quite certain He will seek for them.., "The Second Adv.e~t in its Relation to Man's Spiritual Nature." APaper read. at ~ Religious Conference, at Broadlands, London: ElliotStock.e=Price SIxpence.

This does not exclude that special watchfulness of medition and prayer which enables us to understandScriptures and to discern the signs of the times. Simeand Anna longed and waited for His appearance; andEastern Magi looked for and found the sign which to thindicated His birth. But for the many, and indeed forthe effectual watching is diligence in business; keepingmind and heart pure, and thus all the channels of the sClear, by avoiding every appearance of evil and sin agaiHim; then come what may we are safe as protectedlegions of angels. Creeds may bewilder, but righteousneand duty are simple and plain.The true Light which lighteth every man that cometh i

the world, and in whom all things exist, is the source ofdiscoveries and inventions through the opening of tmiddle region in man, called the nous, mind, or undstanding. His first Advent effected and is effecting a wiopening of this realm, which is more interior thanpsychical, but not so deep as the spiritual, nature. AfHis resurrection He walked to Emmaus with two disciplwhose eyes were holden from recognition, but whose heaburned within them at His words; and on the same dayappeared to the eleven apostles and others, and ate wthem. "Then opened He their understanding, that thshould understand the Scriptures." Here the noun is nothe same which St. John in the 13th Chapter of'Apocalypse, uses for the faculty that can interpretnumber of the beast. This is not a region of sensible visas is that of the soul and spirit, yet when it is opened,enlightened, in a.ny direction one instinctively says, " I seAll that is grand or beautiful in art, and all discoveries ainventions in the application of natural forces are duespecial openings of this region. The artists of the fTabernacle in the wilderness-Bezaleel and Aholiab-werefilled with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understandingand in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship. Itthe same now as then, with every discovery or inventioIt is the light of Christ that opens the understanding of mof genius in any department, that they may understansomewhat of the glory and power of the divine wordnature, and use it for the benefit of the world. Blessedthe workers who know the supreme prompter and direcof their work.

Since the beginning of the Christian era all important dcoveries in natural science have been made in Christiacountries; and only since the Reformation, when the sevseals with which the Scriptures had been closed fromworld were broken, has any perceptible advance in liberand knowledge been experienced. Still further, it is in thocountries where the living words of theNew Testamentbest known and understood that progress of all kindsmost marked.


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THE BIBLE STANDARD.

We now not only know that the lightning of heaven,which used to be a cause of terror to man and beast, is adivine blessing of judgment in the air, purifying and makingit healthful; we have also subdued it to our use, and it hasbecome one of our most helpful servants. By it we havevirtually annihilated time and space, and we communicateour thoughts, almost instantaneously, to friends howeverremote, in articulate words and individual intonations. Yetwhile we glorify God who has given such power, we may notforget that all this progress is in one kingdom only, and thatthe lowest, in our Father's universe of which we are theheirs. "The works that I do, ye shall do also, and greaterworks than these shall ye do, because I go to the Father."Even in this lower realm of nature, have we anything likeHis power, who could with a word calm the fierceness ofwind and wave, and feed five thousand men and womenwith provisions that a boy could carry?We can flash our thoughts almost instantaneously from

one end of the world to the other, but we cannot yet, as Hecould, transmit health and life to the sick and dying at adistance, or even while standing by with hand clasped inhand. We have made marvellous progress in subduingnatural forces, though we have attained nothing like Hispower over these; but what progress have we made in whatis rightly termed Pathology, or the knowledge of feeling, andhealing? Alas! what was true of a woman whom Jesushealed by a touch of His garment, is still true of humanityin its state of bodily suffering. It suffers many things ofmany physicians, spending all that it has, and is nothingbettered, but rather grows worse. It is by the bed ofsuffering that one feels most sadly the lack of Christianpower which ought to be in the Church, and is not. Thanksto God for our physicians, who, with rare exceptions, areearnest, sympathetic, and unselfish men. To their kindlysympathy more cures, perhaps, are due than to their skillor knowledge. But power is deficient. The children of thebride-chamber continue to mourn because the bridegroomhas not come.

To the Lord of Nature all natural forces are in absolutesubjection. Jesus never claimed to work miracles in thepopular sense. His works are never, in the New Testament,called miraculous. They are semeia-signs; or dunameis-i-powers, 01' forces. Signs that the perfect man had comeand was exercising his rightful sovereignty. There is nomiracle in natural, or unnatural forces, as disease, beingsubject to spiritual power. It would indeed have beenmiraculous if such a man had spoken to nature, whether inits orderly or disorderly state, without effect. Through theopening of all degrees of life in Himself, He saw and workedon what is to us the unseen reality of Nature. We, havingmerely the mental and bodily senses in activity, can workonly on substance through phenomenal appearances. We

want the 1Jousto-the fulcrum on which to rest the lever ofour will. It is just as if one were to endeavour to move aman by working on his shadow, or on his portrait. We s eand work merely on things temporal, images and shadowsof eternal realities. Even our science, in all its branches,is incomplete, because we only search out and study pheno-mena, which lands us in materialism, and the denial of anintelligent, personal Spirit as the source of all existence.We know in part, because we see in part, but when thatwhich is perfect has come, then that which is in part shallbe done away.Even in our most sacred ordinance, what we rightly cele-

brate, or show forth, is the Lord's death, till He come. HisAdvent will not abolish that sacrament, it will transfigure it.No longer a funeral com~emoration in remembrance, but aperpetual joyous wedding-feast to celebrate the presence ofthe Bridegroom at the head of His Table. We shall nolonger show forth Bis death, but His life and visible glorifiedpresence. This, surely, is clear from His own promise-" Iwill not drink henceforth of the fruit of the vine, until thatday when I drink it new with you in my Father's Kingdom."Then the saying to the bridegroom at a former wedding-feastwill receive a new and higher fulfilment=- Thou has keptthe good wine until now."In that day of the Lord we shall not lose any power or

affection that we now have any more than does the wingedinsect which is called forth from its chrysalis state to sharein the glory and enjoyments of summer. The plant whenit has raised its stem above the earth, and grows under thefuller influences of the sun and the ail', has its rootageunderground more firmly fixed than before, and thus inheritsthe earth in a larger degree now that it has risen to its truerinheritance above the earth, and begins really to live. Ourlight, and life, and power shall be increased and ever in-creasing, for" We all, with open face, beholding the glory ofthe Lord, shall become transfigured into the same imagefrom glory to glory. His countenance on the mount oftransfiguration, and in the apocalyptic vision was as the sunin its strength; even so through the same light and lifeshall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom oftheir Father."

THE HIGHEST IDEA OF MAN.THIS is found in Rom. v . 11: "Alive unto God in JesusChrist." In this instance, as in many others, our translatorshave used "through," an indefinite word suggestive ofmedium. instead of "in," the proper English equivalent ofthe original, suggesting source or spring :-alive to God inChrist, "Who is our life." It is of the first importance,both for clear doctrine and right practice, to get a trueconception of what a redeemed man is in the sight of God.If we could but stand behind the throne for a brief period,


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and see matters as He does, we should come down from theglorious position with our hearts full of a joy too great for'speech. Paul had this honour once, but though he tells usnothing about it, the impression left on his mind is sodelightful that we are certain that even a momentary glanceat the very borders of the vast field of futurity, which isever open to Omniscience, would silence our pitiful doubtsand cause us to rejoice in the Lord. The Apostle was"caught up "r+harpazo, caught away into the future-to geta glimpse of the coming paradise; and the result wasstrength, peace, joy.Well, but that of which he had a momentary and, of

necessity, limited vision, is seen always in all its breadthand grandeur by God; and if He is satisfied with His ownarrangements for the future, which unquestionably He is,surely so should we. But as that Divinely-planned future isfor the happiness of the redeemed, let us ascertain, ifpossible, how God looks upon them, and try ourselves bythat light. Here then is one of the disclosures which shewus the very centre of the redeeming purpose. "And we knowthat the Son of God is come, and hath given us an under-standing, that we may know Him that is true, and we are inHim that is true, in His Son Jesus Christ." (1 John v. 20.)God the Father sees the believer, then, as in His Son JesusChrist. This is enough-this is joy unspeakable! In Christ,one with Christ, alive to God in Christ-this is the Church,and all others are impostors.But, since this is so, men so highly privileged and

honoured must prove that they are alive to God by living toHim. "Practical Christianity," as it is generally calIed,-as if there could be any Christianity without practice !-issimply obedience to the promptings of the Divine life within.The precepts of the Gospel are framed within view of thisfact. We are asked to be and to do exactly what our newnature in Christ inclines us to be and to do. There is nomystery about this thing. The old man is not asked to dothe work which belongs to the new man. He cannot, nomore than a child can equal the strength of manhood, or aclown understand the far-reaching thoughts of a philosopher."Your doctrine of grace," says one, "is very dangerous; itleads men to do as they like, and yet all will be well."Precisely! This its glory. It does lead us to live as we like,for we like to live as it leads! It is no tiresome task for thechild of God to call Him Father, and to delight to do thethings that please Him. It is only when the doctrine ofgrace is stolen by the graceless, as a thief personates anhonest man, that you get the miserable anjinomian. Thosewho are alive in Christ are men, not shams. They workheartily for their Father, in their Father's house, and feelthat they are free men, not slaves. The Son has madethem free, and they are free indeed. They do live as theylike, their only drawback being that they coms short, for

they wish to live entirely to Him Whom they loveadorable Saviour Who loved them, and gave Himsethem, that He might purify them to Himself a special pa redeemed acquisition, zealous of noble works.Well, what idea of man can you entertain better, h

grander than this? Nay, have you any ideal that forsplendour can come within sight of this? It is admitteall hands, by men of all creeds and no creed, that Chthe one perfect character that has appeared in the hof the world, a character so spotlessly pure, and so absocomplete in every conceivable excellence, that to benknee in worship is an impulse not to be resisted.what must it be for any man to be alive to God inTo talk about heaven and happiness after that is todown from the superior to the inferior, from the glrecognition as one with the Divine Christ to consideraof personal selfishness. Our theology has been ruinethese considerations. Oh, let us haste to the rescuebring it back to its sublime position as the Divine dorespecting redeemed men, as eternally united withglorious Son of God, to whom, therefore, as a mattmoral necessity, happiness is certain I

NOTES AND NEWS.TRUE WORDS.

"HAVE JOu ever stood before a great smelting furnace in which memelted for the purpose of refining them? Imagine such a fire aas this chapel; multiply that until it becomes as big as Ipswibig as all England, all Europe, America, Asia, Africa, and theglobe; and even then it would not be of sufficient capacity tohalf of those who have died and will die without complying wconditions of the gospel. Where is it? Where will you findburning fiery mass? Such an illuminating world should beWhere is it? Have any of our astronomers discovered it? Wbe in the system to which our world belongs-and why should anremote system be plagued with even its existence ?-we ought nto see it, but to feel it. What fuel it must take to feed it I Whastone it must consume in a day, in a year, through eternitywhat is it to be fed? How are its fires maintained? Coals?Brimstone? This world could not feed it for a day. The worlevery solid atom of its matter, would not supply it for a month.before an !\geh ad elapsed, to say nothing of eternity, it would hasumed all the worlds and planets in the sphere to which this sinearth belongs." But let me bring your imagination down to a point you can

realise. Suppose this chapel were a furnace of fire and brimstothat it were full of highly-strung, nervous, sensitive, humanorganised upon a plan, and in a way by the Allwise and benCreator, that makes them capable of angelic bliss, or torturing suHave you ever burnt a limb of your body? Is there any miseryBut think what it must be to suffer the burning of the entire ban hour. You could not endure it five minutes. But suppose awere wrought that you may live and endure it. what must be thmisery of a man enduring it for a day I Well, suppose you wereinto a furnace as big as this chapel, filled with people sufferingway. Did you liver b.lu tue ery gf a person who hits bsan


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THE BIBLE

burnt? What must the cry of a thousand be? Would you not bravedanger, or risk your life in an effort to save them? Either that, or youwould rush in wild terror from a scene too dreadful to be witnessed.What if your own family were in it? What it you were one of thevictims? Just multiply such a hell as this place would make, and con-ceive of the world itself converted into a furnace, full of men andwomen, doomed to suffer its indescribable tortures, not "for an hour, nora day, nor a year, nor for a century, nor for a million of years, but forever without end. Do you believe there is such a hell? I do not. Icannot. I do not believe that the worst father that ever existed, would,if he could, so torture his children. No despot that ever sat upon athrone was ever capable, much less guilty, of such enormous cruelty.Even Nero, monster of cruelty though he was, was never even suspectedof an attempt to kindle a fire large enough to burn the people of Rome.He was charged with the crime of setting fire to the imperial city, butnot of slowly burning its citizens in the hell he had kindled. I do notbelieve there is a fiend in the universe who would, if he could, kindle afurnace, and keep it burning for myriads of years for no other purposethan to puuish his enemies.

" If neither man nor devil would be capable of such monstrous cruelty,is it possible that He whose name is Love could? Was it for this thatHe created us in His own image? If such a fearful possibility wasbefore the race, the morning stars would not have sung, nor the sons ofGod shouted for joy at the advent of the first man. If nine-tenths, orany portion of the human family were doomed to an eternity of hell-fire, the angels of God would have been silent, solemnly mute, at thebirt.h of Christ. They could not, with such a horrible destiny hoveringover the subjects of their interest have sung, Glory to God in thehighest.'

" Such a doctrine is too monstrous to be believed. Men do not believeit. They do not even think about it. It is too dreadful for thought.

"We may now consider for a moment or two the sources from whichthese metaphors and images were borrowed, and how they came to beemployed as representations of the future destiny of the wicked. TheJews believed in a vast under world in which disembodied spirits werereserved until the day of judgment. In this vast kingdom there weretwo provinces, separated from each other by an impassable gulf, Paradiseand Gehenna. In Paradise the souls of the righteous awaited their finalblessed rest, while in Gehenna the souls of the wicked await their finalpunishment. To this kingdom, including both Paradise and Gehenna,they gave the name Hades. Now, this word Hades is never once usedto denote the final condition of the wicked, but only the intermediatestate between death and the judgment, and very freqnently, it includesthe whole of that intermediate state of the righteous, as well as of thewicked. .Matthei a xi. 23, xvi, 18. Luke xvi, 23. Act s ii. 27-31. In allthese instances it would have been better to have retained the originalword Hades, and not to have translated it Hell, became we attach ameaning to that word which is opposed to the sense of the original.Hell represents to us the idea of final punishment, but in these instancesit refers only to the intermediate state. But the word Gehenna, thoughit sometimes represents the province in Hades in which the wicked arereserved for judgment, does also describe the condition of the wickedafter the judgment. Gehenna is the Greek form of the Hebrew Ge-Hinnom, or valley of Hinnom. This valley lay on the south-west O lJerusalem. In the days of Solomon it was covered with groves andpleasure gardens, some belonging to the king, and others to the richmerchants of Jerusalem. Solomon polluted his beautiful summer retreatwith idolatrous shrines, in which the cruel and demoralizing rites of theheathens were observed. His successors imitated and exceeded hisvicious example. The horrible fires of Molech were kindled in the oncedelicious groves, and poor helpless children were sacrificed to the hideous

ST ANDARD . 57

deities of the heathens. Gradually it became a type of all that washateful "and abominable. All the refuse of the mighty city was cast intoit. Worms preyed upon this refuse, and, to prevent a pestilence a firewas kept burning in it day and night. Here it was that the greatercriminals were stoned to death, and their bodies left to the worm, theraven, and the fire.

As the Jews were all familiar with this place, we can well understandhow it became a type of Gehenna to the old prophets, to Christ, and toHis Apostles.

"What has been the effect of this doctrine of an eternal hell uponthe lives and characters of the people? More than anyone thing it hasarrested intellectual and moral progress, and produced the stagnation ofmind which characterise what are called the middle ages. For centuriesit held men in a state of bondage, compared to which slavery is sweetliberty. And to-day it makes more hypocrites than it does honest be.lievers. The so-called conversions which it is said to effect are really no"conversions. It repels more men than it saves. It invests God with acharacter too revolting for human affection, and too monstrous forintelligent faith. The step between a revulsion of the moral sense andblank infidelity is a short and easy one, and there is no doctrine that hascontributed so much to it as this has. Even among sincere Christians,it creates a religion of fear, rather than of love. What kind of familycould any man rear by discipline of fear? What would their lives be?Miserable. What would their characters be? Sly, crafty, and deceitful,and, as soon as they broke away from the despotic restraints of theirunnatural parent they would bound off into licence and nnrestrainedindulgence. Mauy Christians only fear God; they do not love Him;and the religion of fear makes them slaves, rather than children; sadand melancholy, rather than [oyous; and fearful, rather than hopeful.This horrible doctrine has darkened the lives of many of the purest andsweetest of God's children, and converted their existence into a hell uponearth. I have known many, and I know some now, who are sufferingthe acutest mental agony through fear of future torment. And they arethe holiest, the most consistent, and the most loveable Christians I haveever known. There are parents who have no pleasure in religiou now,and who cannot bear to think of the happiness in reserve for them inheaven, because they have lost children, who, they fear, have died with-out hope, and who, they imagine, are suffering this dreadful hell. Whatwonder then, that our lunatic asylums are filled with the victims of thishorrible belief? And of all the unfortunate people that are shut awayfrom their dearest friends in those fearful abodes, none are so much tobe pitied as they. Their sufferings are more real and torturing thanothers. Many insane persons have no consciousness and no physicalpain. They neither suffer in body or in miud ; life to them is a negation,a blank. But these nervous, sensitive. acutely-conscientious and highlyimaginative people endure remorse and fear which consume their peaceof mind, and make their lives intolerable."

We have extracted the above from a Sermon by the Rev. W. Tozer, ofIpswich, referred to in our last issue. It is true and trenchant, asregards its condemnation of the horrible doctrine of the perpetuityof future suffering; we have, however, omitted the weak points (Scrip-turally regarded), which resolve the literal fire of destruction. into a typeof some mental or moral fire.

DR. PARKER AND CONDITIONAL IMMORTALIT~." : V E feel more and more that our friends who are prominently identifiedWIth what is known as the doctrine of Conditional Immortality will dowell to revise and re-state their theological position. There are twotheories before the public which we will endeavour to make clear to ourr~a~ers. Let us call the first Immortal si (if) and the second Immortaltits! (unless). The first theory means iu substance-man is notimmortal by creation, but he may become immortal if he will exercise aliving faith in the Son of God; if he does not exercise this living Faithh~ will be punished for his sins and will absolutely perish, that is, heWlI~ become, as if he had never existed: the soul will be immortal if itbelieves, if It accepts Christ. if. in short, it determines to be immortalaccording to Christian conditions, The second theory means in


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58 T H E S TANDARD .

substance-In the whole purpose and thought of God the soul of manis immortal and will be immortal unless it divests itself of its immor-tality by sin' and elects to die-(' the soul that sinnetb, it shall die');~this awful power of self-destruction has been given to man, and .'S,indeed, part of hi" very manhood; as he was created intellectu~l, WIththe power of destroying his reason; as he was created good, with thepower of destroying his character; so he was created immortal, with thepower of choosing death rather than life. It appears to us that thefirst theory puts man into a totally false position, and robs the wholework of Christ of its pathos and sublimity. Instead of telling man thathe declines a privilege by unbelief, we tell him that he commits suicideby sin, in other words, we tell him that instead of declining to b:comeimmortal he wilfully sacrifices his immortality to his lusts. It wI!1 notdo to say that Adarn lost his immortality when he took the forbiddenfruit, for the first tbeory (.s we understand it) denies that Adam wasever immortal; it regards him as being from the first notbing more thana candidate for immortality. The second theory (1) satisfies the instinctof immortality, which poets and philosophers as well as theol~giansfind in the very heart of the human race; (2) explains such Scriptureas 'Turn ye, (urn ye, why will ye die?' 'I have no pleasure in the deathof tbe wicked;' 'the soul that sinnetb , it shall die;' 'he that convertetha sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from deaih;" andit explains also the fearful language in which the loss, the deatb, theconsumption, and utter destruction of the sinful soul are described inScripture ; and (3) elucidates and glorifies the incarnation and wholepriesthood of Jesus Christ, He recognised the purpose and thought ofGod in the creation of man. To Him man was no mere candidate for aprivilege; He was a little lower than the angels, crowned with glory andhonour, and invested with all that is ennobling and inspiring in theassurance of immortality. We know that the supporters of tbe firsttheory may raise the inquiry, How can an immortal soul become mortal?But they will remember that if such an inquiry proves anything itproves too much. How can an intellectual being become irrational andirresponsible? How can a man created in the image and hkeness ofGod destroy the divine stamp and assume a diabolical nature? Howcould angels, guarded by all the securities of heaven, fall from tbelrfirst estate? Compared with these inquiries the first question is but aplay upon words, and cannot be seriously entertainecl as a difficulty insuch an argument."We hail with pleasure the discussion of this question in the Fountain,but fail to see how that which is incorruptible, can become corruptible,and die. Immortality loses its meaning, unless it be understood asincapable of dying. This is said to be the state of those countedworthy of the resurrection "from among the dead." "Neither canthey die any more." Again," Tbey shall not be hurt of the seconddeath," We append a reply to the above article, from the pen of 1\11'.W. Maude, also extracted from the Fountain ;-

" To the Editor of the Fountain." Dear Sir,-If you will accord me the privilege of sitting for a fewmoments under the shadow of your Sycamore, I would venture toobserve, with all due deference, in reference to your not uncalled-foradvice to the holders of the doctrine cl Conditional Immortality to re-state their theological position, that on one point at least y,our argumentseems to me hardly satisfactory. I allude to your reply to the objectionurged against the Nisi theory, namely, that If man was created immortalhe cannot become mortal. This you say proves too much, since manis confessedly created an intellectual being, and yet may become irrationaland irresponsible. This analogy does not approve itself to my mind asa true one, inasmuch as it is drawn between a finite and an infinitequantity. God has endowed man with intelligence only in meaS1!Te, oneman has far more intelligence than another, and in every case themeasure admits of increase or diminution. Not so in regard to im-mortality. A man cannot be more or less immortal. He must beabsolutely deathless and incorru ptible ; immortality and incorr uptionare always associated in Scripture, or he is actually mortal and cor-ruptible. In the former case he is more than immortal nisi: in thelatter he can be but a candidate for immortality."This argument is, I think, equally applicable, mutatis mutandis, tothe creation of man in the Divine image. The creature can never beor exhibit' the image and glory ' of God, but as a more or less faint re-flection. 1\(an was certainly not created the express (or pe1fect), image' of his Creator-that is found only in Christ."Adam was but the image of God in plastic and imperfectly.modelled clay, as compared with the finished and unalterable work inmarble or bronze to which Cbrist in resurrection glory may be regardedas answering. We have borne and still bear tbe Divine image only inthe earthy, in which it may be marred or obliterated; but we have theglorious promise that we shall bear the image in the heavenly, andwhen that is attained it will be as impossible for us to lose tbe Divineimage as it would be now-did we possess it-to lose our immortality,-Yours faithfully, WILLIAMMAUDE."We cannot praise the Editor's reply thereto, in the same issue, as, inour judgment, it by no means meets the force of Mr. Maude's objection.

BIBLE

THE END OF TilE WORLD IN 1881.SUCH is the startling heading of a Cheltenham pamphlet, lopublished, We could wish 'twere true, but a careful perusal opamphlet has not induced us to rank its writer among tbe prophets.Its arrangement is most faulty, its paragraphs being of interminalength. whilst the way in which the Word is pieced in and dovetailedmost perplexing and misleading. The spirit of the writer can be jufrom a few extracts-sufficient condemuation-'" In that dayProphets shall be ashamed, everyone of his vision when hepropheeied, neither shall he wear a rough garment to deceive,'-tblack surplice of the hireling pretend ers to Holy Orders.""Jesus predicted, as we have seen, that' all tbe dwellers uponshould worship the Beast whose names are not written' in His BoLife. All worship the Beast who believe iu immortal souls,-ingoing to either Heaven, Hell-fire, or Purgatory,-in the Devil of Sas a personal everlasting monster, haunting hell and earth at thetime,-and in being saved without either Judgment, Resurrection,even' bodies at all."" The Vision describes the fourth Beast as being slain, hisdestroyed and given to the burning flame. This fourth Beastslain, predicates the breaking up of Romanism, and of all the popmodifications of this system, as falsely called ProtestantismDissent."It id refreshing, after such specimens of infallibility and uncha(0 find something in the pamphlet which one can quote, with apprthus ;- 'But anyone familiar with the current news of the ppress for the last few years, cannot fail to have noticed thatJerusalem is beginning to 1'ecover from the abject desolation of eighcenturies, and the Jews are settling there by thousands again-asas that in all civilised countries of the world, they are returningfavour and honour among the nations-even tbe Premier ofBritain being a Jew, now that 'the times of the Gentiles' expire,tbe end of the world approaches; yet at the same time there isof general and increasing "distress of nations," with undeni" PERPl.EXITY" of Governments, for the last two years especially-asthe social, commercial, and political conditions and prospects oworld generally-c-as in the shape of wars continually-secret revoluary societies and movements, almost everywhere-regicides and freqassassinations - universal collapse of commercial confidence and eprise-hopeless and extreme depression of trade and businesskinds=-financial panics and military cri-is=-rnouster bankruptciescontinuous failures of niercantile firms-failures of agriculturaland interests, through drought or floods, all over the world, ofalternately, causing famine, pestilence, and abnormal sufferinghundreJs of thousands both in Europe, Asia, and America, besidesdesolations of frequent tornadoes-shocks of earthquake-and unwocasualities at sea, with the mysterious loss of ironclads, training sand steamers, which surely appear somewhat remarkable as sign-poof "GENTILE TBIES being fulfilled," and of "tte end of the worlhand."

NEWS OF THE WORK.Gr.ascow.i--Pour Lectures have been arranged for delivery inCampbeU Arcade Hall,-the first by Mr. W. Dickson, the otherby M1'. W. Laing, of Edinburgh.LONDoN.-ll1abe1ley Chapel.-A course of six lectures by Dr.Leask, the last three being on ;-" The Vintage of the Apocalypse;"Return of the King;" "Locality and Characteristics of His Kingd1\:L\I.VERN.-The Secretary being temporarily located here thrillness, and finding a few kindred spirits, has obtained eightsubscribers to the Society, .CHELTENHAM,-The Church, formerly under the pastorate ofCyrus Brooks, has decided to form itself into a Free Baptist Chunder the ministry of Mr. Henry Murray, Owing to this decision,earnest and sincere eo-believers, previously connected with CamBaptist Chapel, under the ministry of the Rev. W. Julyan, have deto unite with the above, and acting in concert with them, to secmore suitable and permanent place of worship.SUBSCRIPTIONs.-Owing to the continued illness of the ManaSecretary, the Travelling Secretary (Mr. Blinkhorn) has not beento enter upon his canvass for the above having, to do duty at theWill our friends kindly supply this lack of service, by canvassingrespective neigbbours? Funds are greatly needed to enable themittee to carry out, fnlly, the behests of the Conference.BIBLE SUNDARD.-We have a large number of back copies, whicshall be glad to circulate at nominal rates."THEOLOGICAL TRILEMMA."-We are daily expecting a parcelNew York of this valuable work of Mr. Pettingell's. Orders cafiled for despatch, on arrival. Post free at published price ofDollar (4/2).A MODERNPARABLE.-The tract (which will appear in next issuenow ready for circulation. We have printed 20,000 in anticipationmeeting with favour, and are wishful to see our anticipations just25 copies post free at lOd. per 100. A reduction on quantities ..


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THE BIBLE STANDARD. 5SIGNSOF THE TIMES.

DESTRUCTION-of the Tay Bridge, loss of 80 lives. Immense loss ofmaterial.GREATFIRE.-At Boston, U S. A quarter of a million sterlingdamage.Loss OF S.S. BORussIA-In the Spanish seas, with about 150 lives.

Also of two grain-steamers, and all hands. An unusually heavy wreck-calendar from all parts of the marine world.

EARTHQUAKE-inChili, very severe, and extending over a week.ASSASSINATION-(ttempted) of the King and Queen of Spain.DYNAMITEEXPLOsIoN-in Hungary, several lives lost.GREATFr.oons=-in the Canary Isles, several villages entirely submerged.ANOTHERGREATFIRE-in Hakodadi, Japan. 2,300 dwellings des-troyed.FLOODINGS-of the Danube, Seine, Marne, and Rhine rivers. Great

damage done, especially at and near Vienna and Paris.FAMINES-In districts of Bashkelah and Bayazid, Turkey; and UpperSilesia, Germany.A REMARKABLEYEAR.-Tn 1879 only 4 days of summer temperature in

the shade (80). Whilst there were 142 frosty nights.THE RICH M AN A ND LAZARUS.T o T HE E D IT OR OF The Bible Standard.

DEAR SIR,-I am glad to find in your exposition of this parable avindication of its allegorical import. Augustine and Gregory the Greatheld this view. So did H. de SI. Victore, Theophylact, Lomeier, VonMeyer, Bengel, and several others. Trench gives an interesting sum-mary of what these writers taught on this subject. It is the onlyconsistent explanation of this remarkable speech of our Lord. I hopeyour able and eloquent Lecture will have a very extensive circulationfor the truth's sake. I am, yours faithfully, AUSTIN MARCH.

N.B.-The Secretary (Cyrus E. Brooks) will gladly receive items for"Notes and News," suitable for these pages. Date the 12th for followingissue.The "Bible Standard" o.llers the following advantages toadvertisers :-1st. A quaranteed circulation of 2,500 copiesmonthly, amongstthe educated and thoughtful section of the community.2nd. A strictly limited number of approved advertisements, sothat all are seen and read.31'd. A very moderate charge.TERMS :-24 uiords and 1tnder 1s., all above at rate of 4d. peTline of eight words. Six insertions charged asfioe. Con-tinuous Advertisements inserted at the rate of 2s. 6d. per

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