International Bible Students Association, fPuAJisAers. ।

VOL. IV.                                                   N E W Y O R K C I T Y                                                    No. 4.

Religious and Scientific Gleanings

HOPE FOR TITANIC DEAD.

From Pastor Russell’s Sermon of April 28.

While we weep with the survivors of the Titanic disaster, let us thank God that a better understanding of the Bible enables us to sorrow not hopelessly. Not long ago, misguided by our creeds of the Dark Ages, we would have asked, Were any of the 1,600 who perished saints? And assured that very few of them would have claimed to be saints, we would hove concluded that all the remainder plunged down to a Catholic Purgatory of terror, or worse, to a Protestant hell of eternal torture.

Even the tales of their great gallantry and heroism would not have altered the decision, which would have hung on the question. Did they confess Jesus in word and deed? we would have asked. Were they church members? This is the same argument used respecting the 90,000 heathen who die every day in the year, “going down into Christless graves,” the “London Missionary Society” truly says, but means, and is understood to mean, into Christless eternal torture!

Now, how different! Now we see that a faithful, elect Church is being selected during this Age; that in the next Age they with Jesus may assist, bless, uplift all the non-elect to an earthly salvation to human perfection, in the new Paradise—earth—which Messiah’s Kingdom will usher in. Thus, only the wilfully wicked will ever be annihilated, while all those who then shall prove themselves to be willing and obedient shall have the Divine favor and everlasting life. God’s Power is Infinite, so is His Love, His mercy, His goodness!

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.

Under American vs. Spanish Rule.

From a letter recently received we quote the following interesting extract: “Nowhere were we more surprised than in the Philippines. At Manila, a city of S00,000, we saw many evidences of progress. Our hearts burned with patriotic flame as we saw the work in progress, and perceived that the Government of the United States has been dealing so wisely ajid generously with the Filipinos—as an elder brother with a younger.

“For centuries these islands were under the control of Spain. With the money brought to them by the poor people, the representatives of the Catholic Church had not only lived in luxury, but had amassed millions of wealth. We were told that they now hold title to 95 per cent, of the buildings in the walled city of Manila. One of these buildings they rent to the United States for $400 a month.

“Gradually the people Are becoming awakened and enlightened. They are showing a great hunger for education. The schools are crowded. Four hundred new school buildings are projected. The 800 American school teachers whom the Government brought here are now supplanted by 6,000 native school teachers. The work of civilization is progressing in an unprecedented manner. How happy this contrast with the condition of the colonies of other nations, which seem to be run on the exploit system—for the enrichment of the possessing governments and private individuals whom they favor.

“Our American school teachers here, as at home, are not permitted to give any religious instructions. In other words, the work of the Government is merely a civilizing one, but the work accomplished in this respect seems not very different from that being accomplished by the various missionary enterprises of the Orient—for they all confess that to put religion prominently before the pupils would be to destroy influence and empty the schools.

“On the whole, it seems to us that our Government is doing the most successful missionary work to be found anywhere. We were much surprised and pleased at the personnel of the officers and soldiers stationed at Manila, whom we met. We would have been glad to have found them saintly Christians, but, on the other hand, we rejoiced that we did find them broad-minded, gentlemen, sympathetic with the civilizing work with which they are associated. To our surprise, we found that all this vast enterprise is being conducted along business lines—that the Filipinos themselves are bearing the expense-all expenses except those of the Army and Navy.

“It was proposed recently to erect a Y. M. C. A. building for the Filipinos, and a subscription paper was started. The Catholic Archbishop heard of it, and denounced it freely in the newspapers and bv circular letters sent about. But instead of this stopping the subscriptions, ■it had the reverse effect. The proposed $80,000 was oversubscribed—$100,000 was raised. The Archbishop now threatens that he will build a competitive institution, and the answer of the people (Catholics) is that they hope he will do so.”

r VEN from the standpoint of the skep-tic, a reasonable and candid search into the unknown, by the light of what is known, will guide the unbiased, intelligent reasoner in the direction of the Truth. Yet it is evident that without a direct revelation of the Plans and purposes of God, men could only approximate the Truth, and arrive at indefinite conclusions. But let us for the moment lay aside the Bible and look at things from the standpoint of reason alone.

He who can look into the sky with a telescope, or even with his natural eye alone, and see there the immensity of creation, its symmetry, beauty, order, harmony and diversity, and yet doubt that the Creator of these is vastly his superior both in wisdom and power, or who can suppose for a moment that such order came by chance, without a Creator, has so far lost or ignored the faculty of reason as to be properly considered what the Bible terms him, a fool (one who ignores or lacks reason): “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” However it happened, at least that much of the Bible is true, as every reasonable mind must conclude; for it is a self-evident" truth that effects must be produced by competent causes. Every plant and every flower, even, speaks volumes of testimony on this subject. Intricate in construction, exquisitely beautiful in form and texture, each speaks of a wisdom and skill above the human. How short-sighted the absurdity which boasts of human skill and ingenuity, and attributes to mere chance the regularity, uniformity and harmony of nature; which acknowledges the laws of nature, while denying that nature has an intelligent Lawgiver.

The Evolution Theory Lacks Proof.

Some who deny the existence of an intelligent Creator claim that nature is the only God, and that from nature all forms of animal and vegetable development proceeded without the ordering of intelligence, but governed, they say, by “the law of the survival of the fittest” in a process of evolution.

This theory lacks proof, for all about us we see that the various creatures are of fixed natures which do not evolve to higher natures; and though those who hold to this theory have made repeated endeavors, they have never succeeded either in blending different species or in producing a new, fixed variety. No instance is known where one kind has changed to another kind.¹ Though there are fish that can use their fins for a moment as wings, and fly out of the water, and frogs that can sing, they have never been known to change into birds; and though there are among brutes some which bear a slight resemblance to men; the evidence is wholly lacking that man was evolved from such creatures. On the contrary, investigations prove that though different varieties of the same species may be produced, it is impossible to blend the various species, or for one to evolve from another. For the same reason the donkey and the horse, though resembling each other, cannot be claimed as related, for it is well known that their offspring is imperfect and cannot propagate their species.

Surely if unintelligent nature were the creator or evolver she would continue the process, and there would be no such thing as fixed species, since without intelligence nothing would arrive at fixed conditions. Evolution would be a fact today, and we would see about us fish becoming birds, and monkeys becoming men. This theory we conclude to be as contrary to human reason as to the Bible, when it claims that intelligent beings were created by a power lacking intelligence.

Behind Nature Is the Omnipotent God.

One theory regarding the creation (excepting man) by a process of evolution, to which we see no serious objection, we briefly state as follows: It assumes that the various species of the present are fixed and unchangeable so far as nature or kind is concerned, and though present natures may be developed to a much higher standard, even to perfection, these species or natures will forever be the same.

This theory further assumes that none of these fixed species were originally created so, but that in the remote past they were developed from the earth, and by gradual processes of evolution from one form to another. These evolutions, under Divinely established laws, in which changes of food and climate played an important part, may have continued until the fixed species, as at present seen, were established, beyond which change is impossible, the ultimate purpose of the Creator in this respect, to all appearance, having been reached.

Though each of the various families of plants and animals is capable of improvement or of degradation, none of them is susceptible of change into, nor can they be produced from, other families or kinds. Though each of these may attain to the perfection of its own fixed nature, the Creator’s design as to nature having been attained, further change in this respect is impossible.

It is claimed that the original plants and animals, from which present fixed varieties came, became extinct before the creation of man. Skeletons and fossils of animals and plants which do not now exist, found deep below the earth’s surface, favor this theory. This view neither ignores nor rejects the Bible teaching that man was a direct and perfect creation, made in the mental and moral image of his Maker, and not a development by a process of evolution, probably common to the remainder of creation. This view would in no sense invalidate, but would support, the Bible’s claim, that nature as it is to-day teaches that an Intelligent Being ordered it, and was its first cause. Let human reason do her best to trace known facts to reasonable and competent causes, giving due credit to nature’s laws in every case; but back of all the intricate machinery of nature is the hand of its great Author, the intelligent, omnipotent God.

We claim, then, that the existence of an Intelligent Creator is a clearly demonstrated truth, the proof of which lies all around us; yea, and within us, for we are His workmanship, whose every power of mind and body speaks of a marvelous skill beyond our comprehension. And He is also the Designer and Creator of what we term nature. We claim that He ordered and established the laws of nature, the beauty and harmony of whose operation we see and admire. This One whose wisdom planned and whose power upholds and

THE RICH MAX AMI LAZARUS >

All Christians have wondered re-specting this parable. When taken I literally it seems unreasonable. Why r should a man suffer torture merely L because he was rich, well clothed, r and bountifully fed? And why should L another man be carried to glory n simply because he was sick and poor L and a companion of dogs? In the p clear light now shining, this parable l is luminous and beautiful to such p an extent that one is compelled to h laugh at his own foolish misunder- 5 standing of it in the past.            k

The full explanation of this par-able is given in another number of h guides the Universe, whose wisdom an® power so immeasurably transcend our own, we instinctively worship and adore.

To realize the existence of this Mighty God is but to dread His Omnipotent strength, unless we can see Him possessed of benevolence and goodness corresponding to His power. Of this fact we are also fully assured by the sameevidence which proves His existence,, power and wisdom. Not only are we forced to the conclusion that there is a. God, and that His power and wisdom are immeasurably beyond our own, but we are forced by reason to the conclu-sion that the grandest thing created is not superior to its Creator; hence we must conclude that the greatest manifestation of benevolence and justice among men is inferior in scope to that of the Creator, even as man’s wisdom and power are inferior to His. And thus we have before our mental vision the character and attributes of the great Creator. He is wise, just, loving and powerful; and the scope of His attributes is, of necessity, immeasurably wider than that of His grandest creation.

Divine Power Has Produced Countless Worlds About Us.

But further: having reached this reasonable conclusion relative to the existence and character of our Creator, let us inquire, What should we expect of such a Being? The answer comes, that the possession of such attributes reasonably argues their exercise, their use. God’s power must be used, and that in harmony with His own nature—wisely, justly and benevolently. Whatever may be the means to that end, whatever may be the operation of God’s power, the final outcome must be consistent with His nature and character, and every step must be approved of His infinite wisdom.

What could be more reasonable than such exercise of power as we see manifested in the creation of countless worlds about us, and in the wonderful variety of earth? What could be more reasonable than the creation of man, endowed with reason and judgment, capable of appreciating his Creator’s works, and judging of His skill—of His wisdom, Justice, Power and Love? All this is reasonable, and all in perfect accord with facts known to us.

And now comes our final proposition: Is it not reasonable to suppose that such an infinitely wise and good Being, having made a creature capable of appreciating Himself and His Plan, would be moved by His Love and Justice to supply the wants of that creature’s nature, by giving him some revelation? Would it not be a reasonable supposition, that God would supply to man information concerning the object of his existence, and His plans for his future. On the contrary, we ask, would it not be unreasonable to suppose that such a Creator would make such a creature as man, endow him with power of reason reaching out into the future, and yet make no revelation of His plans to meet those longings? Such a course would be unreasonable, because contrary to the character which we reasonably attribute to God; contrary to the proper course of a being controlled by justice and Love.

Having Given Man Capacity for Appreciation, God Provides Him a Revelation.

We may reason that in creating man, had Divine Wisdom decided it inexpedient to grant him a knowledge of his future destiny, and his share in his Creator’s plans, then surely Divine Justice, as well as Divine Love, would have insisted that the being should be so limited in his capacity that he would n’ot continually be tormented and perplexed with doubts, and fears, and ignorance; and as a consequence Divine Power would have been used under those limitations. The fact, then, that man

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nas capacity for appreciating a revelation of the Divine Plan, taken in connection with the conceded character of his Creator, is an abundant reason for expecting that God would grant such a revelation, in such time and manner as His Wisdom approved.

So, then, in view of these considerations, even if we were ignorant of the Bible, reason would lead us to expect and to be on the lookout for some such revelation as the Bible claims to be. And furthermore, noting the order and harmony of the general creation, as in grand procession the spheres and systems keep time and place, we cannot but conclude that the minor irregularities, such as earthquakes, cyclones, etc., are but indications that the working together of the various elements in this world is not at present perfect. An assurance

THE Bible is the torch of civilization * and liberty. Its influence for good in society has been recognized by the greatest statesmen, even though they for the most part have looked at it through the various glasses of conflicting creeds, which, while upholding the Bible, grievously misrepresent its teachings. The grand old Book is unintentionally but wofully pilsrepresented by its friends, many of whom would lay down life on its behalf; and yet they do it more vital injury than its foes, by claiming its support to their long-revered misconceptions of its Truth, received through the traditions of their fathers. Would that such would awake, re-examine their oracle, and put to confusion its enemies by disarming them of their weapons!

Since the light of nature leads us to expect a fuller revelation of God than that which nature supplies, the reasonable, thinking mind will be prepared to examine the claims of anything purporting to be a Divine revelation, which bears a reasonable surface evidence of the truthfulness of such claims. The Bible claims to be such a revelation from God, and it does come to us with sufficient surface evidence as to the probable correctness of its claims, and gives us a reasonable hope that closer investigation will disclose more complete and positive evidence that it is indeed the Word of God.

The Bible Has Outlived the Storms of Thirty Centuries.

The Bible is the oldest book in existence; it has outlived the storms of thirty centuries. Men have endeavored by every means possible to banish it from the face of the earth; they have hidden it, buried it, made it a crime punishable with death to have it in possession, and the most bitter and relentless persecutions have been waged against those who had faith in it, but still the Book lives. To-day, while many of its foes slumber in death, and hundreds of volumes written to discredit it and to overthrow its influences are long since forgotten, the Bible has found its way into every nation and language of earth, over two hundred different translations of it having been made. The fact that this Book has survived so many centuries, notwithstanding such unparalleled efforts to banish and destroy it, is at least strong circumstantial evidence that the great Being whom it claims as its Author has also been its Preserver.

It is also true that the moral influence of the Bible is uniformly good. Those who become careful students of its pages are invariably elevated to a purer life. Other "writings upon religion and the various sciences have done good and have ennobled and blessed mankind, to some extent; but all other books combined have tailed to bring the joy, peace and blessing to the groaning creation that the Bible has brought to both the rich and the ■ poor, to the learned and the unlearned. The Bible is not a book to be read merely; it is a book to be studied, with care and thought; for God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and His ways than our ways. And if we would comprehend the Plan and thoughts of the infinite God, we must bend all our energies to that important work. The richest treasures of truth do not always lie on the surface.

This Book throughout constantly points and refers to one prominent character, Jesus of Nazareth, who, it claims, was the Son of God. From the beginning to end His name, and office, and work are made prominent. That a man called that all will ultimately be perfect and harmonious on earth as in the heavens, with some explanation why it is not so at present, are requests which are not unreasonable for reasoning men to ask, nor for the Creator, whose Wisdom, Power and Benevolence are demonstrated, to answer. Hence we should expect the revelation sought to include such an assurance and such an explanation.

God’s Character Perfect in Justice, Wisdom, Love and Power.

Having established the reasonableness of expecting a revelation of God’s will and Plan concerning our race, we will examine in the next chapter the general character of the Bible, which claims to be just such a revelation. And if it presents the character of God in perfect harmony with what reason, as above considered, dictates, we should conclude that it thus proves Itself to be the needed and reasonably expected revelation from God, and should then accept its testimony as such. If of God, its teachings, when fully appreciated, will accord with His character, which reason assures us is perfect in Wisdom, Justice, Love and Power.

“Ye curious minds, who roam abroad, And trace creation’s wonders o’er.

Confess the footsteps of your God, And bow before Him, and adore.

“The heavens declare Thy glory, Lord; In every star Thy wisdom shines;

But when our eyes behold Thy Word, We read Thy name in fairer lines.”

Jesus of Nazareth lived, and was somewhat noted, about the time indicated by the writers of the Bible, is a fact of history outside the Bible, and it is variously and fully corroborated. That this Jesus was crucified because He had rendered Himself offensive to the Jews and their priesthood is a further fact established by history outside the evidence furnished by the New Testament writers. The writers of the New Testament (except Paul and Luke) were the personal acquaintances and disciples of Jesus of Nazareth, whose doctrines their writings set forth.

The Existence of a Book Implies Motive on the Part of the Writer.

The existence of any book implies motive on the part of the writer. We therefore inquire. What motives could have inspired these men to espouse the cause of this person? He was condemned to death and crucified as a malefactor by the Jews, the most religious among them assenting to and demanding His death, as one unfit to live. And in espousing His cause, and promulgating His doctrines, these men braved contempt, deprivation and bitter persecution, risked life itself, and in some cases even suffered martyrdom.

Admitting that while He lived Jesus was a remarkable person, in both His life and His teaching, what motive could there have been for any to espouse His cause after He was dead?—especially when His death was so ignominious? And if we suppose that these writers invented their narratives, and that Jesus was their imaginary or ideal hero, how absurd it would be to suppose that sane men, after claiming that He was the Son of God, that He had been begotten in a supernatural way, had supernatural powers by which He had healed lepers, restored sight to those born blind, caused the deaf to hear, and even awakened the dead—how very absurd to suppose that they would wind up the story of such a character by stating that a little band of His enemies executed Him as a felon, while all His friends and disciples, and among them the writers themselves, forsook Him and fled in the trying moment!

The fact that profane history does not agree in some respects with these writers should not lead us to regard their records as untrue. Those who do thus conclude should assign and prove some motive on the part of these writers for making false statements. What motives could have prompted them? Could they reasonably have hoped thereby for fortune, or fame, or power, or any earthly advantage? The poverty of Jesus’ friends, and the unpopularity of their hero Himself with the great religionists o± Judea, contradict such a thought; while the facts that He died as a malefactor, a disturber of the peace,

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A  Creed Idols Smashed!*

x'  Spiritism is Demonism!

V   Cardinal Gibbons’ Sermon.

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A  The Hope of Immortality.

A  Do You Believe in the Resurrec- p

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A  Most Precious Text.

Our Lord’s Return.

A  Which Is the True Gospel? and tnat He was made of no reputation, held forth no hope of enviable fame or earthly advantage to those who should attempt to re-establish His doctrine.

On the contrary, if such had been the object of those who preached Jesus, would they not speedily have given it up when they found that it brought disgrace, persecution, imprisonment, stripes and even death? Reason plainly teaches that men who sacrificed home, reputation, honor and life; who lived not for present gratification; but whose central aim was to elevate their fellow-men, and who inculcated morals of the highest type, were not only possessed of a motive, but further that their motive must have been pure and their object grandly sublime. Reason further declares that the testimony of such men, actuated only by pure and good motives, is worthy of ten times the weight and consideration of ordinary writers. Nor were these men fanatics; they were men of sound and reasonable mind, and furnished in every case a reason for their faith and hope; and they were perseveringly faithful to those reasonable convictions.

What Astonishes Those Who Presume the Bible to Be a Manufactured

History.

And what we have here noticed is likewise applicable to the various writers of the Old Testament. They were, in the main, men notable for their fidelity to the Lord; and this history as impartially records and reproves their weaknesses and shortcomings as it commends their virtues and faithfulness. This must astonish those who presume the Bible to be a manufactured history, designed to awe men into reverence of a religious system. There is a straightforwardness about the Bible that stamps it as Truth. Knaves, desirous of representing a man as great, and especially if desirous of presenting some of his writings as inspired of God, would undoubtedly paint such a one’s character blameless and noble to the last degree. The fact that such a course has not been pursued in the Bible is reasonable evidence that it was not fraudulently gotten up to deceive.

Having, then, reason to expect a revelation of God’s will, and Plan, and having found that the Bible, which claims to be that revelation, was written by men whose motives we see nq reason to impugn, but which, on the contrary, we see reason to approve, let us examine the character of the writings claimed as inspired, to see whether their teachings correspond with the character we. have reasonably imputed to God, and whether they bear internal evidence of their truthfulness.

The first five books of the New Testament and several of the Old Testament are narratives or histories of facts known to the writers and vouched for by their characters. It is manifest to all that it did not require a special revelation simply to tell the truth with reference to matters with which they were intimately and fully acquainted. Yet, since God desired to make a revelation to men, the fact that these histories of passing events have a bearing on that revelation would be a sufficient ground to make the inference a reasonable one, that God would supervise, and so arrange, that the honest writer whom He selected for the work should be brought in contact with the needful facts. The credibility of these historic portions of the Bible rests almost entirely upon the characters and motives of their writers. Good men will not utter falsehoods. A pure fountain will not give forth bitter waters. And the united testimony of these writings silences any suspicion that their authors would say or do evil, that good might follow.

Reason for Recording Certain Facts of History Considered Indelicate.

It in no way invalidates the truthfulness of certain books of the Bible, such as Kings, Chronicles, Judges, etc., when we say that they are simply truthful and carefully kept histories of prominent events and persons of their times. When it is remembered that the Hebrew Scriptures contain history, as well as the Law and the prophecies, and that their histories, genealogies, etc., were the more explicit in detailing circumstances because of the expectancy that the promised Messiah would come in a particular line from Abraham, we see a reason for the recording of certain facts of history considered indelicate in the light of this twentieth century.

For instance, a clear record of the origin of the nations of the Moabites and of the Ammonites, and of their relationship to Abraham and the Israelites, wa^ probably the necessity in the historian’s mind for a full history of their nativity. (Gen. 19:36-38.) Likewise, a very detailed account of Judah’s children is given, of whom came David, the king, through whom the genealogy of Mary, Jesus’ mother, as well as that of Joseph, her husband (Luke 3:23, 31, 33, 34; Matt. 1:2-16), is traced back to Abraham. Doubtless the necessity of thoroughly establishing the pedigree was the more important, since of this tribe (Gen. 49:10) was to come the ruling King of Israel, as well as the promised Messiah, and hence the minutiee of detail not given in other instances.—Gen. 38.

There may be similar or different reasons for other historic facts recorded in the Bible, of which by and by we may see the utility, which, were it not a history, but simply’ a treatise on morals, might without detriment be omitted; though no one can reasonably say that the Bible anywhere countenances impurity. It is well, furthermore, to -remember that the same facts may be more or less delicately stated in any language; and that while the translators of the Bible were, rightly, too conscientious to omit any of the record, yet they lived in a day less particular in the choice of refined expressions than ours; and the same may be surmised of the early Bible times and habits of expression. Certainly the most fastidious can find no objection on this score to any expression of the New Testament.

The Books of Moses and the Laws Therein Promulgated.

The first five books of the Bible are known as the Five Books of Moses, though they nowhere mention his name as their author. That they were written by Moses, or under his supervision, is a reasonable inference; the account of his death and burial being properly added by his secretary. The omission of the positive statement that these books were written by Moses is no proof against the thought; for had another written them to deceive and commit a fraud, he would surely have claimed that they were written by the great leader and statesman of Israel, in order to make good his imposition.—See Deut. 31:9-27

Of one thing we are certain, Moses did lead out of Egypt the Hebrew nation. He did organize them as a nation under the laws set forth in these books; and the Hebrew nation, by common consent, for over three thousand years, has claimed these books as a gift to them from Moses, and has held them so sacred that a jot or tittle must not be altered—thus giving assurance of the purity of the text.

These writings of Moses contain the only credible history extant of the epoch which it traverses. Chinese history affects to begin at creation, telling how God went out on the water in a skiff, and, taking in His hand a lump of earth, cast it into the water. That lump of earth, it claims, became this world, etc. But the entire story is so devoid of reason that the merest child of intelligence would not be deceived by it. On the contrary, the account given in Genesis starts with the reasonable assumption that a God, a Creator, an intelligent First Cause, already existed. It treats not of God’s having a beginning, but of His work and of its beginning and its systematic, orderly progress—“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Then, stepping over the origin of the earth without detail or explanation, the narrative of the six days [epochs] of preparing it for man proceeds. That account is substantially corroborated by the accumulating light of science for four thousand years; hence it is far more reasonable to accept the claim that its author, Moses, was Divinely inspired, than to assume that the intelligence of one man was superior to the combined intelligence and research of the rest of the race in three thousand years since, aided by modern implements and millions of money.

Look next at the system of laws laid down in these writings. They certainly were without an equal, either in their day or since, until this twentieth century; and the laws of this century are based upon the principles laid down in the Mosaic Law, and framed in the main by men who acknowledge the Mosaic Law as of Divine origin.

The Ten Commandments a Brief Synopsis of the Whole Law.

The Decalogue is a brief synopsis of the whole Law. Those Ten Commandments enjoin a code of worship and morals that must strike every student as remarkable; and if never before known, and now found among the ruins and relics of Greece, or Rome, or Babylon (nations which have risen and fallen again, long since those laws were given), they would be regarded as marvelous if not supernatural. But familiarity with them and their claims has begotten measurable indifference, so that their real greatness is unnoticed except by the few. True, those commandments do not teach of Christ; but they were given, not to Christians, but to Hebrews; not to teach faith in a Ransom, but to convince men of their sinful state; and need of a Ransom. And the substance of those commandments was grandly epitomized by the illustrious founder of Christianity, in the words, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with

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be brought unto Moses, yet they themselves were the judges as to what cases went before Moses—“The cause which is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.”—Deut. 1:17.

Thus seen, Israel was a republic whose officers acted under a Divine commission. And to the confusion of those who ignorantly claim that the Bible sanctions an established empire rule over the people, instead of “a government of the people by the people,” be it noted that this republican form of civil government continued for over four hundred years. And it was then changed for that of a kingdom at the request of “The Elders,” without the Lord’s approval, who said to Samuel, then acting as a sort of informal president, “Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they shall say unto thee, for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.”

At God’s instance Samuel explained to the people how their rights and liberties would be disregarded, and how they would become servants by such a change; yet they had become infatuated with the popular idea, illustrated all around them in other nations. (1 Sam. 8:6-22.) In considering this account of their desire for a king, who is not impressed with the thought that Moses could have firmly established himself at the head of a great empire without difficulty?

While Israel as a whole constituted one nation, yet the tribal division was ever recognized after Jacob’s death. Each family, or tribe, by common consent, elected or recognized certain members as its representatives, or chiefs. This custom was continued even through their long slavery in Egypt. These were called chiefs or elders, and it was to these that Moses delivered the honor and power of civil government; whereas, had he desired to centralize power in himself and his o n family, these would have been the last men to honor with power and office.

The instructions given those appointed to civil rulership as from God are a model of simplicity and purity. Moses declares to the people, in the hearing of these judges, “I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger [foreigner] that is with him. Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man, for the judgment is God’s; and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.” (Deut. 1:16, 17.) Such hard cases were, after Moses’ death, brought directly to the Lord through the High Priest, the answer being Yes or No, by the Urim and Thummim.

In view of these facts, what shall we say of the theory which suggests that these books were written by knavish priests to secure to themselves influence and power over the people? Would such men for such a purpose forge records destructive to the very aims they sought to advance—records which prove conclusively that the great Chief of Israel, and one of their own tribe, at the instance of God, cut off the priesthood from civil power by placing that power in the hands of the people? Does any one consider such a conclusion reasonable?

Moses’ Law Provided for a Restitution of Property Every Fiftieth Year.

Again, it is worthy of note that the laws of the most advanced civilization, in this twentieth century, do not more carefully provide that rich and poor shall stand on a common level in accountability before the civil law. Absolutely no distinction was made by Moses’ Law. And as for the protection of the people from the dangers incident to some becoming very poor and others excessively wealthy and powerful, no other national law has ever been enacted which so carefully guarded this point. Moses’ Law provided for a restitution every fiftieth year—their Jubilee year. This law, by preventing the absolute alienation of property, thereby prevented its accumulation in the hands of a few. (Lev. 25:9, 13-23, 27-30.) In fact, they were taught to consider themselves brethren, and to act accordingly; to assist each other without compensation, and to take no usury of one another.—See Exod. 22:25; Lev. 25:36; Num. 26:52-56.

All the Laws were made public, thus preventing designing men from successfully tampering with the rights of the people. The Laws were exposed in such a manner that any one who chose might copy them; and, in order that the poorest and most unlearned might not be ignorant of them, it was made the duty of the priests to read them to the people at their septennial festivals. (Deut. 31:10-13.) Is it reasonable to suppose that such laws and arrangements were designed by bad men, or by men scheming to defraud the people of their liberties

What Say tlip Scriptures About  L

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7^7^ him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it, for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it, lest he cry against thee unto the Lord and it be sin unto thee.” (Lev. 19:13; Deut. 24:14, 15; Exod. 21:26, 27.) “Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head and honor the face of the old man.” (Lev. 19:32. See also Lev. 19:14.) All this, yet nothing special for Priests, or Levites, or their tithes.

The Laws Were a Marvelous Arrangement of Wisdom and Justice.

The sanitary arrangements of the Law, so needful to a poor and long-oppressed people, together with the arrangements and limitations respecting clean and unclean animals which might or might not be eaten, are remarkable, and would, with other features, be of interest if space permitted their examination, as showing that Law to have been abreast with, if not in advance of, the latest conclusions of medical science on the subject. The Law of Moses had also a typical character, which we must leave for future consideration; but even our hasty glance has furnished overwhelming evidence that this Law, which constitutes the very framework of the entire system of revealed religion, which the remainder of the Bible elaborates, is truly a marvelous display of wisdom and justice, especially when its date is taken into consideration.

In the light of reason, all must admit that it bears no evidence of being the work of wicked, designing men, but that it corresponds exactly with what nature teaches to be the character of God. It gives evidence of His Wisdom, Justice and Love. And further, the evidently pious and noble lawgiver, Moses, denies that the Laws were his own, arid attributes them to God.—Exod. 24:12; Deut. 9:9-11; Exod. 26:30; Lev. 1:1.

In view of his general character, and his commands to the people not to bear false witness, and to avoid hypocrisy and lying, is it reasonable to suppose that such a man bore false witness and palmed off his own views and laws for those of God? It should be remembered also that we are examining the present copies of the Bible, and that therefore the integrity for which it is so marked applies equally to the successors of Moses; for though bad men were among those successors, who did seek their own and not the people’s good, it is evident that they did not tamper with the Sacred Writings, which are pure to this day.

The Prophets of the Bible.

Glance now at the general character of the prophets of the Bible and their testimonies. A. rather remarkable fact is that the prophets, with few exceptions, were not of the priestly class; and that in their day their prophecies were generally repugnant to the degenerating and time-serving priesthood, as well as to the idolatrously inclined people. The burden of their messages from God to the people was generally reproof for sin, coupled with warnings of coming punishments, intertwined with which we find occasional promises of future blessings, after they should be cleansed from sin and should return to favor with the Lord. Their experiences, for the most part, were far from enviable; they were generally reviled, many of them being imprisoned and put to violent deaths. (See 1 Kings 18:4, 10, 17, 18; 19:10; Jer. 38:6; Heb. 11:32-38.) In some instances it was years after their death before their true character as God’s prophets was recognized. But we speak thus of the prophetic writers whose utterances claim to be the direct inspiration of Jehovah.

When it is remembered that these prophets were mainly laymen, drawing no support from the tithes of the priestly tribe; and when, added to this, is the fact that they were frequently not only the reprovers of kings and judges, but also of priests (though they reproved not the office, but the personal sins of the men who filled it), it becomes evident that we could not reasonably decide that these prophets were parties to any league of priests, or others, to fabricate falsehood in the name of God. Reason, in the light of facts, contradicts such a suspicion.

If, then, we find no reason to impeach the motives of the various writers of the Bible, but find that the spirit of its various parts is righteousness and truth, let us next proceed to inquire whether there exists any link, or bond of union, between the records of Moses, those of the other prophets, and those of the New Testament writers. If we shall find one common line of thought interwoven throughout the Law and the Prophets and the New Testament writings, which cover a period of fifteen hundred years, this, taken in connection with the character of the writers, will be a good reason for admitting their claim—that they are Divinely inspired — particularly if the theme common to all of them is a grand and noble one, comporting well with what sanctified common sense teaches regarding the character and attributes of God.

The succeeding chapters of The Divine Plan of the Ages continue this convincing presentation to a logical and satisfactory conclusion to even the most critical. 35c. in stamps, sent to Bible & Tract Society, Brooklyn, N. Y., will bring to you by return mail the volume, in good cloth binding. Order now.

These three great Epochs represent three distinct manifestations of Divine Providence. The first, from creation to the flood, was under the ministration of angels, and is called by St Peter “the world that was.’’—2 Pet. 3:6.

The second great Epoch, from the flood to the establishment of the Kingdom of God, is under the limited control of Satan, “the prince of this World,” and is, therefore, called “this present evil World.”—Gal. 1:4; 2 Pet 3:7.

The third is to be a "World without end” (Isa. 45:17) under Divine administration, the Kingdom of God, and is called “The World to come—wherein dwelleth righteousness.”—Heb. 2:5; 2 Pet. 3:13.

The Three Great Worlds.

The First of these periods, or worlds, under the ministration of angels, was a failure; the Second, under the rule of Satan, the Usurper, has been indeed an “evil World”; but the Third will be an era of righteousness and of blessing to all the families of the earth.

The last two of these “Worlds” are most particularly mentioned, and the statements relative to them are in strong contrast. The present, or second period, is called "the present evil World,” not because there is nothing good in it, but because in it evil is permitted to predominate. “Now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.” (Mal. 3:15.) The third World or Epoch is mentioned as “The World to come, wherein dwelleth righteousness”—not because there will be no evil in it, but because evil will not predominate. The blotting out of evil will be gradual, requiring all of the first thousand years. Evil will not rule then; it will not prosper; it will no longer be the wicked that will flourish; but “the righteous shall flourish” (Psa. 72:7), the “obedient shall eat the good of the land” (Isa. 1:19), and “the evil doer shall be cut off.”—Psa. 37:9.

Thus seen, the next Dispensation is to be so dissimilar as to be the very reverse of the present one in almost every particular. Our Lord’s words show why there is to be a difference between the present and the future Dispensations. It word Heavens symbolizes the higher or spiritual controlling powers, and Earth symbolizes human government and social arrangements. Thus the First Heavens and Earth, or the order and arrangement of things then existing, having served their purpose, ended at the flood. But the physical heavens (sky and atmosphere), and the physical earth, did not pass away—they remained.

So likewise the present World (heavens and earth) will pass away with a great noise, fire and melting—confusion, trouble and dissolution. The strong man (Satan), being bound, will struggle to retain his power. The present order or arrangement of government and society, net that Of the physical sky and earth, will pass away. The present Heavens (powers of spiritual control) must give place to the "New Heavens”—Christ’s spiritual control, soon to be established.

The present Earth (human society as now organized under Satan’s control) must (symbolically) melt and be dissolved, in the beginning of the “Day of the Lord,” which "shall burn as an oven.” (Mal. 4:1.) It will be succeeded by "a New Earth,” Le., society reorganized in harmony with earth’s new Prince—Christ. Righteousness, peace and love will rule among men when present arrangements have given place to the new and better Kingdom, the basis of which will be the strictest Justice.

Third World to be Under Control of Christ.

St. Paul was given a glimpse of the next Dispensation, or, as he calls it, “the World to come.” He says he was "caught away" (physically or mentally, or Loth, he could not tell, things were so real to his view) down the stream of time to the new condition of things, the “New Heaven.” hence the "Third Heaven.” He thus saw things as they will be under the spiritual control of Christ, things which he might not disclose. (2 Cor. 12:2-4.) Doubtless these were the same things which SL John afterward saw, and was permitted to express to the Church in symbols, which may be understood only as they become due. St. John, in the revelation given to him by our Lord on the Isle of Patmos, was in vision carried down through this Christian Age and its changing scenes of Church and State to the end of the present evil World, or Epoch, and there in prophetic visions he saw Satan bound, Christ reigning, and the New Heaven and the New Earth established; for the former Heaven and Earth were passed away.—Rev. 21:1.

Ages or Dispensations.

We now notice the Ages into which these great Epochs are subdivided, as illustrated in the diagram below:

The First of these great Epochs ("Worlds”) was not subdivided; God’s method of dealing with men did not vary during all that time—from Adam’s fall to the flood. God had given man His law written in his very nature; but after he had sinned He left him measurably to his own course, which was downward, “evil, and that continually,” that thus man might realize his folly, and that the wisdom of God in commanding absolute obedience might be made manifest. That Dispensation ended with a flood, which took away all but faithful Noah and his family. Thus the first Dispensation not only manifested the disastrous effects of sin, but showed that the tendency of sin is downward to greater degradation and misery, and proves the necessity of Jehovah’s interposition, if the recovery of “that which was lost”—Man’s First Estate—is ever to be accomplished.

The Second Epoch, or "World that now is,” includes three Ages, each a step in the Plan of God for the overthrow of evil. Each step is higher than that preceding it, and carries the Plan forward and nearer to completion.

The Third Great Epoch—"the World to come"—future from the second advent of Christ, comprises the Millennial Age, or “Times of Restitution”; and following it are other “Ages to come,” the particulars of which are not revealed. Present revelations treat of man’s recovery from sin, and not of the eternity of glory and blessing to follow.

Some of the Stately Steppings of God.

The first Age in the "World that now is” we call the Patriarchal Age, or Dispensation, because during that period God’s dealings and favors Were with a few individuals only, the remainder of mankind being almost ignored. Such favored ones were the patriarchs Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Each of these in turn seems to have been God’s favored one. At the death of Jacob that Age or Order of dealing ended. At Jacob’s death his descendants were first called “the twelve tribes of Israel,” and were together recognized of God as His “peculiar people”; and through typical sacrifices they were typically “a holy nation,” separated from other nations for a particular purpose, and therefore to enjoy certain special favors.

The time allotted to this feature of the Divine Plan, beginning here and ending at the death of Christ, we designate the Jewish Age, or the Law Dispensation. During that Age God specially blessed that nation. He gave them His Law; He made a special Covenant with them; He gave them the Tabernacle, whose sheki-nah glory in the Most Holy represented Jehovah’s presence with them as their Leader and King. To them He sent the Prophets, and finally His Son. Jesus performed His miracles and taught in their midst, and would neither go to others Himself nor permit His disciples to go to the surrounding nations. He sent them out, saying, “Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not; but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (MatL 10:5, 6.) And again He said, "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”—Matt. 15:24.

Christian Dispensation Began at Jesus’ Death.

That this national favor ended with their rejection and crucifixion of Jesus is shown by Jesus’ words when, five days before His crucifixion, He declared, "Your house is left unto you desolate.”—MatL 23:38.

There, at Jesus’ death, a New Age began—the Christian Age or Gospel Dispensation, wherein should be heralded good tidings of justification, not to the Jew only, but to all nations; for "Jesus Christ, by the grace of God, tasted death for every man.” During this Gospel Age also there is a class called to special favor, to whom special promises are made; namely, those who by faith accept Christ Jesus as their Redeemer and Lord, following in His footsteps. The Gospel proclamation has gone hither and thither through the earth for nearly nineteen hundred years, so that it can now be said that it has been preached more or less in every nation. It has not converted nations—-it was not designed to do so in this Age—but it has selected here and there some, in all a “little flock,” as Jesus had foretold (Luke 12:32), “to whom it is the Father’s good pleasure to give the Kingdom” in an Age to follow this.

Restoration for All In World to Follow This.

(Acts 3:19-21.)

With this Age the "present evil world” ends; and mark well that while God has. been thus permitting the predominance and reign of evil, to the seeming detriment of His cause, nevertheless His deep-designs have been steadily progressing according to a fixed and definite Plan, and in the exact order of the seasons, which He has appointed. In the end of this Age, and the. dawn of its successor, the Millennial Age, Satan is to be bound and his power overthrown, preparatory to the establishment of

Christ’s Kingdom and the beginning of “The world to come, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”

Millennium, signifying a thousand years, is by common consent used as the name for the period mentioned in Rev. 20:4—the thousand years of Christ’s-reign, the First Age in the "World to come.” During the Millennial Age there will be a Restitution of all things lost by the fall of Adam (Acts 3:19-21), and before its close all tears shall have been wiped away. Beyond its boundary, in the Ages of blessedness to follow, there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying; neither shall there be any more pain. The former things will have passed away. (Rev. 21:4.)

God’s Plan Progressive.

We have here only glanced at the mere-outline of this Plan of the Ages. The more we examine it the more we will find in it perfect harmony, beauty and order. Each Age has its part to accomplish, necessary to the complete development of God’s Plan as a whole. The Plan is a progressive one, gradually unfolding from Age to Age, upward and onward to the grand consummation of the original design of the Divine Architect, “who worketh all things .after the counsel of His own wilt” (Eph. 1:11.) Not one of these great periods is an hour too long or too short for the accomplishment of its objecL God is a wise economist of both time and means, though His resources are infinite; and no power, however malicious, for a moment retards or thwarts His purposes. All things, evil as well as good, under Divine supervision and overruling, are working together for the accomplishment of His sovereign will.

To an uninstructed and undisciplined mind, which can see only a little of the intricate machinery of God’s Plan, it appears like anarchy, confusion and failure, just as the whole, or even a part, of an Intricate machine would appear to a child. To its Immature and untutored mind it is Incomprehensible, and the opposite motions of its wheels and belts are but confusion. But maturity and investigation will show that the seeming confusion is beautiful hrrmony, working good results.

Necessary to Keep In Mind the Ages.

As we pursue our study of the Divine Plan it is essential that we keep in memory these Ages and their respective peculiarities and objects; for in no one of them can the Plan be seen, but In all of them, even as a link is not a chain, but several links united form a chain. We obtain correct ideas of the whole Plan by noting the distinctive features of each part, and thus we are enabled to “rightly divide the Word of Truth.”

A statement of the Word which belongs to one Epoch, or Dispensation, should not be apnlied to another, as things stated of one Age are not always true of another. For instance, it would be an untruth to say of the present time that the knowledge of the Lord fills the whole earth, or that there is no need to say to your neighbor, Know the Lord. (Isa. 11:9; Jer. 31:34.) This is not true in this Age, and it cannot be true until the Lord, having come again, has established His Kingdom; for throughout this Age there have been jnany seducing deceptions, and we are told that even in the very end of the Age—“In the last days . . evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (2 Tim. 3:1, 13.)

Kingdoms of World Not Christ’s Kingdom.

A similar mistake, and a very common one, is to suppose that God’s Kingdom is now established and ruling over the earth, and that His will is now done among the nations. This is manifestly far from the truth, for the kingdoms of this world are supported and enriched through oppression, injustice and deceit to as great an extent as the increasing intelligence of the people will permit. Satan, the present “Prjnce of this World,” must yet be displaced, and these kingdoms, now under his control, must become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Anointed, when He shall take unto Himself His great power and reign.

The succeeding chapters of The Divin* Plan of the Ages continue this convincing presentation to a logical and satisfactory conclusion to even the most critical. 35c. in stamps, sent to Bible & Tract Society, Brooklyn, N. Y., will bring to you by return mail the volume, tn good cloth binding. Order now.

¹

For the benefit of some readers we remark that changes such as the transformation of caterpillars into butterflies are not changes of nature; the caterpillar is but the larva hatched from the butterfly’s egg.