The Watchtower, February 1, 1890

VOL. XI. ALLEGHENY, PA., FEBRUARY, 1890. NO. 3.

Zion's Watch Tower

AND

HERALD OF CHRIST'S PRESENCE.

PUBLISHED MONTHLY.

TOWER PUBLISHING COMPANY.

"BIBLE HOUSE:" Arch Street, Allegheny, Pa., U.S.A. C. T. RUSSELL, EDITOR.

TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION.

DOMESTIC,--Fifty cents a year in advance, by Draft, P.O. Money Order, or Registered letter.

FOREIGN,--Two shillings per year. Remit by Foreign Postal Money Order.

TO POOR SAINTS.

This paper will be sent free to the interested of the Lord's poor, who will send a card yearly requesting it. "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat--yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." And you who have it--"Wherefore do you spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently--and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness."--`ISAIAH 55:1,2`.

Entered as SECOND CLASS MAIL MATTER, at the Post Office, Allegheny, Pa.

WE HAVE printed a second edition of the January TOWER in order to supply the many calls for sample copies for the friends of our readers. Many consider the article on the New Covenant, in that issue, specially good for new readers. We will supply free what you can use judiciously. Send in your orders.

UNWILLING to drop from our lists any who would desire the regular visits of the TOWER for the present year, we send the present issue to many who have not yet renewed their subscriptions either by payment or promise of future payment or by request to have it among those too poor to pay. Please attend to the matter at once, as we do not wish to push the paper upon any who do not desire it enough to ask for it, after the terms have been so arranged as to leave all without excuse. Otherwise do not blame us if you miss it hereafter.

THE CHURCH at Allegheny cordially invites such consecrated lovers of our Redeemer as can conveniently do so, to meet and celebrate with us the Lord's death by partaking of the Memorial Supper on the evening of April 3d next; also to participate in the four days of Special Bible Study which as usual will follow the memorial.

The meetings will be held in Bible House Chapel, Arch Street. In our next we hope to be able to announce special railroad rates for friends from a distance.

THE ANNIVERSARY SUPPER--APRIL 3D.

"This do in remembrance of me."

We give early notice of the date for the celebration of the Lord's Supper because all have not the conveniences for calculating the date, and because many who rely upon the TOWER for the information are so far away that they do not get the TOWER for about a month after they are mailed.

The date given is not the date of the beginning of the Jewish Passover feast-week, for it is not that which we celebrate. We celebrate the killing of the true Paschal Lamb--"the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world," and through whom we, as his Church of the First-born, are already by faith passed over from death unto life.

The killing of the lamb took place the day before the Passover feast-week began, and our Lord was crucified as its antitype on that day--the 14th day of the Hebrew month Nisan, which this year would correspond to April 4th. In the Jewish reckoning the day begins to count from the previous evening at six o'clock (April 3d), and since our Lord on that evening preceding the day of his crucifixion celebrated his own death, with his disciples,

and left them a charge to "do this" in remembrance of him, we will celebrate it as usual on the anniversary, which, as above stated, will this year be April 3d, at a convenient hour after six o'clock P.M.

But, remember, we "do this" not of fear or constraint, or law, but in grateful remembrance of our ransom.

VIEW FROM THE TOWER.

Our Presbyterian friends are still holding general public attention. The reports of the discussion, for and against the revision of their Confession of Faith, before the various Presbyteries, occupy prominent places in the daily papers, and the public scans the arguments on both sides with deep interest. These discussions are doing great good in the direction of waking up thought among Christian people of all denominations. It is thus kindling the fire which shall burn out the wood, hay and stubble of traditional errors from not only Presbyterianism but from all isms.

The discussions and votes of the various Presbyteries settle nothing, however. They are only preliminary: the question of revision or no revision can be decided only by the General Assembly, when it shall finally pass upon the question. The pity is that great men will tie themselves up to a doctrine and stick to it, though they believe it to be erroneous and God-dishonoring, until the majority of their sect agrees to let them confess and preach the Truth.

The New York Presbytery has developed some strong men and opened their lips; and they have said so much that they can never retrace their steps, and would be ashamed to remain in the denomination should the conclusion be a refusal to revise the creed. The vote of the New York Presbytery was almost unanimously in favor of revision, but it furnishes no criterion as to others, for only forty-eight out of a total of two hundred and eleven Presbyteries have yet voted on the question.

Below we give extracts from the Press reports of some of the pointed utterances before the New York Presbytery during its discussion of the subject.

Rev. Dr. Crosby took the floor--his first appearance in the Presbytery since the debate began. He was one of the committee who reported in favor of the revision of the Confession. He said:

"The only permanent standard for any church of Jesus Christ is the Word of God. Any church that has its standard in human philosophy or inner consciousness will disintegrate by its own weight. Consequently, when the question of revision of our standards of faith came up, the only question I wished to consider and examine was, Are these standards in accordance with the Word of God?

"When I examined the foundation of our faith for the hundredth time, with especial reference to this occasion, I found one, and only one statement in the Confession which, to my mind, is clearly and diametrically opposed to the Word of God. The more I have examined it, the more I am convinced that this one in particular is contrary to the Word of God, pernicious to the church, and injurious to the highest and holiest interests of religion. That one phrase or declaration is the use

of the verb, pass by, in the seventh section of the third chapter. When I say that only this one phrase contradicts scripture, I don't mean to say that I approve of all the others. Still, I can allow them but when I see a statement teaching a fatalistic doctrine, contrary to the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, my soul revolts at it. Here is the section:

THE OBNOXIOUS SECTION.

"'The rest of mankind God was pleased, according to the unsearchable counsel of his own will, whereby he extendeth or withholdeth mercy as he pleaseth, for the glory of His sovereign power over his creatures, to pass by, and to ordain them to dishonor and wrath for their sin, to the praise of His glorious justice.'

"Now what is meant by the phrase 'Pass by?' In the parable of the Good Samaritan the priest passed by the man who fell among thieves; the Levite also passed him by. Here it is said in our standard of belief that God treats his creatures as the priest and the Levite treated the traveler, and this in the face of statements declaring that he loves the whole world.

"Our creed, although in some respects the grandest ever penned, is confessedly imperfect, acknowledged to be so by those who are opposed to revision. Now this is the best time for revision, and for this reason, if for no other, I am in favor of the committee's report."

Rev. Dr. G. Wylie, a young man, made an appeal in behalf of the Confession as it is, in which he said it was in harmony with the creeds of other Protestant churches. He quoted the free will part of the Thirty-nine Articles of the Episcopal Church to show how Calvinistic it was. He said he didn't believe in putting new cloth into an old garment, in patching the seventeenth century creed with nineteenth century doctrine. As to infant damnation, he said:

"We refuse to baptize children of notoriously immoral parents, but if they are of the elect, what right have we to refuse them baptism?"

Dr. Paxton did not favor revision. He thought that if the Creed should be revised the great body of people known as Presbyterians, losing the label of Calvin, would be like a dog which, being sent by express with a tag on his collar giving the name and address of his master, on the way ate his tag and lost his identity.

The Rev. Dr. Van Dyke began one of the most striking speeches of the entire discussion, with Dr. Paxton's parable of the dog which had "ate his tag" for his text. "The Westminster Confession as it now stands," he said, "affixes a tag to the human race, to this effect: 'Part is consigned to heaven and part to hell, and no man can find out to which part he belongs, nor would it make any difference if he could.' Now, if I were an expressman I would refuse to forward a tagless dog, so I refuse to believe this unintelligible, improbable dogma.

"We have voted for revision. Now, what is the revision to be? I am in favor of the committee's report because it eliminates reprobation from the Confession, and suggests the formation of a new Creed, more Scriptural than the Confession, as a basis of union with other reformed churches. But first, the elimination of reprobation should be done as soon as possible.

"Ante-natal damnation! No man ever died for that doctrine. Why, then, should any one clasp it to his bosom, and weep tears at the thought of losing it, as if it had been bathed in the blood of martyrs? Such a position is like that of the old woman who said: 'There's that blessed doctrine of universal depravity. What a comfort it is, if we only lived up to it.'

"The Heavenly Father spreads a feast for all; is it for us to say that he refuses to let the poor sinner eat of the crumbs which fall from his table? And for what reason? To satisfy our logic? It is but measuring the mind of the Almighty with the wisdom of the seventeenth century. The doctrine is unscriptural. As for the text about the potter--who ever heard of a potter making a vessel merely to destroy it? Reprobation is a 'horrible' doctrine. The adjective is not mine, but Calvin's, who pushed it to its logical conclusion, and taught the damnation of infants. I don't weep for the tears shed over the destruction of part of the Confession, but for the tears of the mothers who have been taught to believe that their harmless, new-born babes were torn from their breasts to be plunged into everlasting perdition; I would weep for the unhappy creatures in mad-houses, whose light of

reason has been put out by the heresy of ante-natal perdition.

"I know not what others may do, but as for me, I intend to keep on disbelieving, ignoring, and denying the doctrine of reprobation. I intend to teach that there are no infants in hell, no limits to God's love; that there is salvation open to all mankind, and that no man is punished but for his own sin. Is that Calvinism? Before God, I don't know or care. It is Christianity."

Dr. Parkhurst said: "If we are going to retain the preterition idea in our Confession, then we must be true to it in our preaching as Presbyterian ministers, and on occasion declare it in all frankness. We shall be obliged to address our congregations somewhat after this manner: 'My friends, I am sorry to say it, but as a Calvinistic Presbyterian I am bound to say it, that Christ did not die for all. There is a certain amount of fatalism in the case. Some men are damned, and not only that, but congenitally damned; damned before they are born, hated of God even in the moment of conception.'

"The story of Jacob and Esau, as interpreted by the hyper-Calvinists, means all that, when you tell the whole thing out in flat-footed English. Now, if I concluded that that was a Scripture doctrine, and that salvation was not absolutely free to every creature, I would tear my Geneva gown to shreds and rip up my Bible into paper-rags before another Sabbath.

"This thing is in the air. It has come to stay and come to grow. It is futile to talk about repressing it. You may box up your reservoir, but the closer you box it the more destructive the outburst you are preparing for yourself, if, while you are boxing, the brooks are flowing down into it from off the hill-slopes."

The Rev. Dr. Vincent, Professor in the Union Theological Seminary, said: "God's Word is for all time; creeds for the age in which they are formulated. It is a mistake to call the Westminster divines giants; it implies degeneracy in us. The Scripture is better understood to-day than it was then. It is well to pay respect to Augustine, Calvin and the Westminster divines, but why should we take a rigid faith from their dead hands!

"Augustine, Calvin and some of the Westminster divines believed in infant damnation, and I heard it asserted 25 years ago by a Presbyterian minister, who subsequently went over to rationalism. If that horrible implication can be found in the Confession, where is the humanity of leaving it in that record of exploded belief and torment of weak hearts? The Confession does not give the heathen a ghost of a chance. The fair inference from it is that countless millions who never heard of Christ are damned for not believing in him. Why do we stand up so stoutly for Calvin? Was Calvin crucified for us, and in his name are we baptized?"

AN IRREVOCABLE STEP.

In conclusion, Dr. Vincent, after setting forth still more strongly his disbelief in the Confession, said the Church had already taken an irrevocable step; that it had cut loose from its position of six months ago and could not go back.

Dr. Hastings said, speaking for those favoring revision: "What we have said we mean, like honest men, without concealment or fear, and we shall stand by it whether the Presbytery stands by it or not."

While our friends are thus gagging over their unsavory mess (`Isa. 28:8`), how clear and beautiful is the doctrine of election when rightly understood.

EXTRACTS FROM INTERESTING LETTERS.

Michigan.

MY DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:--I take the first opportunity to acknowledge your kind greetings and sentiments expressed in the January TOWER to the brethren that are "scattered abroad." For one I am thankful for this channel of communion between members of the body.

While I might wish that the TOWER may each succeeding month go to many new readers I still believe that the "special issues," in the form of "Dawn," are to be the real "gold" and "silver" sledge-hammers that the Lord will continue to use in battering down the walls of Babylon and building up the "city" which has foundations. I will, however, do all I can to increase the circulation of the monthly TOWER, but I am sure that some others will be more efficient in this line than myself.

Through grace I have been able to sell over 350 copies of Dawn here during the two weeks past, against many obstacles-- sickness, prejudice, etc. I enclose P.O. order for $25 as an offering to the Master, which I trust he will accept through the Tract Fund.

Last night I met with a few of the sheep here who have, of late, been meeting once a week to study the Bible in connection with Dawn. Last evening we considered the chapter on "Ransom and Restitution," and all present were greatly blessed by the truths brought to light.

There is weeping and gnashing of teeth when the truth gets into the camp of its enemies. But we will rejoice in the Lord and seek to do good unto those that hate us and speak evil of us.

I do not sell as many of Vol. I. as I would if not selling Vol. II., but I think I sell a third or a half more books than if I were handling only one volume. I think the second volume is very strengthening to those who desire the truth, and I trust that others will appreciate it as the "night" and the "day" draw on. So in all I think it is as well to sell the two volumes together. In Coldwater, where I sold about 80 of Vol. I. two years ago, I sold over 150 this time by selling the two volumes.

At Quincy I sold about 75 books, and when I returned to deliver them after an absence of two days I found the people in a terrible state about "that book." The false shepherds had started an alarm and it found the ear of nearly all in Babylon at that place. But I delivered the most of my books, preaching a little as I went. The spirit of Antichrist is indeed working "that none should buy or sell in the marts except those that have the mark of the beast or the number of his name."

Have you noticed the articles from the pen of Editor Stead concerning the Pope and the Catholic Church? He suggests the need of a common head for the world to look to, to guide it in social and religious reforms, and of course thinks the Pope should be the one to fill this place. Surely all the world groaneth and waiteth for the manifestations of the sons of God and the true Head of the Church.

It is with much joy that I say "I long to meet you" at the Spring meeting. Like Brother Adamson, I had hardly expected (on account of the work) to be there, until a few months ago. I believe, however, that when the time comes I should have found it hard to stay away.

With much love and joy in the Truth, I remain yours in hope of witnessing unto the end the "good confession."

S. D. ROGERS.

Milwaukee, Wis.

DEAR BRO. RUSSELL:--The ever-welcome TOWER came this morning. I have read the article, The New Covenant, and find the same harmony and consistency in its teaching as in all subjects treated in Dawn and TOWER in the past; link after link, making the great chain of truth, "so that the man of God may be complete; thoroughly fitted for every good work."

At the close of the article, Where Does the Money Come From, I can fully endorse your emphatic warning against all who profess to beg in Christ's name, and am glad you have written this warning in TOWER.

For many years past I have been disgusted with these pious beggars. How grand the sentiment, God says, My son, give me thy heart. And when we fully give our heart to God he asks nothing more. We have given all.

I rejoice, dear brother, at the great work God is doing, with a few of his sharpened arrows. Some have entirely departed from Babylon, some running for the great prize, to be joint-heirs with Christ, some rejoicing in prospect of restitution, many others beginning to see a little. But there is much yet to do. Babylon's walls are still strong, and her defenders defiant, and we on the outside are despised and scorned. Nevertheless we have no cause for discouragement, for God's children shall all be delivered from her chains of error.

I have proved what I had reason to expect, viz.: that in separating myself from worldly churches the small business that I have been engaged in here for a number of years is becoming so small, it looks as if I shall be compelled to close it out entirely, and look for some other means of sustaining life while it is God's will for me to remain here. But I am not looking backward, but forward, and have great reason to rejoice.

Yours in the Master's service, J. P__________.

Palestine, Tex.

TOWER PUBLISHING CO.:--I received a copy of the Dawn, Vol. I., yesterday. I went out this morning, got seventeen subscribers and the promise of several others. I don't think it will be any trouble for me to sell them. You may send me forty. I have to roll my baby around with me, which makes it very tiresome. I am highly pleased with the TOWER.

MRS. W. B__________.

Manchester, England.

MY DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:--I enclose an order sheet and a money order for the Tower Publishing Co. Kindly have them send the books, papers and tracts at earliest convenience.

It is just about 12 months since I began to enjoy the glorious liberty of the children of God, through reading Z.W.T. publications. The joy that has been mine since the opening of my heart to receive the Truth cannot be told. Praise the dear Lord! I am sure that I would not exchange a twelve months' experience of the Truth for 50 years' enjoyment of what was to be had in the nominal Church. Nay, any exchange would be impossible; for, who, having the use of his senses, would exchange a reality for a sham?

I think I ought to tell you of the great progress I have made in the knowledge of the will and purposes of God as revealed in his Word during the past year. It is a wonder to myself. Whereas it took me many years to get a smattering of scriptural knowledge, now I seem to be quite conversant with all our Father's plans. O how thankful I am to be delivered, not only from the bondage of sin, but also from that of error. And won't it be grand by and by to be delivered also from the bondage of corruption?

I do not readily get a hearing for the Truth. People were so prejudiced against me for leaving the church (?) that the whole neighborhood leaves me on one side. However, the Lord does give me opportunities sometimes. I must tell you that I have taken no statements in TOWER or Dawns for granted, but have made them my own by searching them out. Somehow, after seeing the general plan as shown in Vol. I., it has been so easy and natural to see and take the following truths as the Lord has given them to me.

That the Lord will continue to keep us steadfast in the faith is my earnest prayer, and that you and your dear wife may be kept faithful in the service of the truth. With deep love to you and to all of the Church with you, in which my wife joins, I am, dear brother, yours in the Lord,

J. H__________.

Cherokee, Iowa.

TOWER PUB. CO., ALLEGHENY, PA.-- Mr. and Mrs. C. T. Russell and Brethren, greeting:--Yes, we unite with you in heart and hand and voice and prayer that, from the condition in which the new year finds us, the light,

"The radiance from the cross,

The depth of love revealing," may shine more and more until perfect day; and that--

"Still new beauties we may see

And still increasing light."

O how my heart rejoices, because the Lord lets me continue to see that "radiance from the cross afar, the Saviour's love revealing."

We now understand why we did not get a TOWER for December. Still we never had any other feeling in regard to it than perfect submission, for we knew all would be right when we received the light. I really expected to get Dawn Vol. III. in consequence, but now do not have any undue anxiety about it, am simply waiting in expectation.

I got a letter last fall from Brother Russell which was very fatherly, and did me and the brethren here much good. I hail the TOWER with a hearty welcome and peruse its pages with edifying benefit.

I go on Saturdays and such days as I can get opportunity, to the brethren and others to whom I have sold Dawns, and have a talk with them of their progress in the reading of Dawn and receiving light. Some are able to receive in part; some stumble at some points. Some, only a very few as yet, have had the fog of traditions scattered from before their eyes and see the glorious truth the Bible teaches. The "Helping Hand" clears away the mists.

I am unable to say at present how many have come to a firm stand on truth pointed out by Dawn, but I can cheerfully say that the Lord's work is progressing in this regard slowly but surely. In due time "the righteous shall see it and rejoice, and all iniquity shall stop her mouth. Whoso is wise and will observe these things, even he shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord."

A broken vessel in the service of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Very humbly, yours, A. D__________.

Liverpool, England.

DEAR BROTHER:--I have just received your very encouraging letter. May God give you grace and strength for the work he has called you to do. Having so much to do for the Lord, it is a great privilege to receive a personal letter, and though I may write at times, I do not expect you to answer, as the work for the general good of all must be done first. I may say that when I first read your TOWER, I used to give one-tenth of my income to the Lord, but through the light of the truth I was led to see myself obeying the Law whereas I am under grace. Praise God! So it is not the tenth now, it is all--a living sacrifice. The last order came to hand all right. Many thanks for same. May God bless you and Mrs. Russell, and all the brethren and sisters in Jesus. Yours in Jesus, J. B__________.

Clare, Mich.

DEAR BROTHER RUSSELL:--After reading Dawn, Vol. II., the chapters on "The Times of the Gentiles," "The Jubilee Cycles," Israel's Double and the Time Chronology, I became convinced that we are indeed in the time of the harvest, while the chapter on the manner of our Lord's second coming and the harmony of present indications leaves no room for even a doubt. Then in place of marrying and settling down, as I undoubtedly would have done, I sold off my personal property, paid all my indebtedness except a mortgage on some land, to engage in this harvest work. As I have not as yet been able to sell the land, and it being mostly unimproved will not rent for enough to pay the interest on the mortgage and the taxes, I thought to spend about a week in the spring putting in enough of a crop to pay the expenses of the place till I can sell it. If I can sell it for even a good deal less than I thought it was worth two years ago, I would have a few hundred dollars left to use as an offering to the Lord. My neighbors thought me very foolish at the course I have taken, and when I began to hold up the truth I met with opposition, but our blessed Lord and Saviour suffered without the gates and we may go to him without the camp bearing his reproach. I esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. I will not be afraid of them, neither of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks.

Yours in the Lord, W. B__________.

"He that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto everlasting life."

HIS GRACE SUFFICIENT.

"Anywhere that Jesus calls me,

Any work he gives to do,

Any trial or affliction

He may call me to pass through,

My glad heart has the assurance

He will help me bear and do.

"O, the blessedness of trusting,

And the full heart satisfied!

O, the holy joy of loving

Only Him, the Crucified!

Looking up with faith unwav'ring

To the wounds in his dear side.

"Peace abiding like a river;

Rest the world can never know;

Faith that sees the pitying Father

Wheresoe'er the feet may go;--

Love uprising, filling, sweet'ning

Every cup of pain and woe.

"All my soul is filled with blessing

While I sit at thy dear feet;

And a consciousness of serving

Makes the hallowed cross more sweet,

While I own thy full salvation

And the cleansing all complete.

"If the way be rough and thorny,

Thou did'st tread the same for me;

Shall the servant than the Master

More exempt from trial be?

If I may at last behold thee,

It will be enough for me."

--Selected.

RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD.

The church can best appreciate her own position of special favor at this time by contrast with the actual condition of the rest of the world. And a little reflection upon the world's condition of superstition and ignorance should bring us, not only into a fuller appreciation of our own privileges, but also into sympathy and pity for the world in its present cheerless gloom and aimless gropings in the dark. The thought should never be lost sight of, that what we receive as special favor from God is not for selfish gratification, but for the universal blessing of all his creatures. And only such as have this benevolent disposition to bless, who look forward to the prize of our high calling with special delight because of its grand opportunities to lift up the fallen, to liberate the captives of sin and death, to recover sight to the blind, to fill the earth with the knowledge of the truth and to lead all mankind along the highway of holiness to everlasting life and to the true end of human existence, which is to glorify God in the completeness and grandeur of true manhood and to enjoy his favor forever, will be counted worthy to reign with Christ.

Let us take a glimpse then at the world's present religious condition:--

The principal religions of the world outside of Christianity are Brahmanism, Buddhism, Confucianism and Mohammedanism. These with the various corrupt forms of Christianity sway the minds of almost the entire population of the earth. The exceptions are some savage and half-civilized tribes in central and southern Africa, the Esquimaux of the far north, some islands of the seas, and the Indian tribes of America, all of whom have crude ideas of their own, very generally remote from the truth and giving evidence of fearful forebodings or cheerless gloom in view of the uncertainties of future existence, or the conditions under which existence may be perpetuated beyond the tomb.

Brahmanism is the prevailing religion of Hindoostan, and its adherents are estimated to number from 120,000,000 to 150,000,000. Its age is uncertain, as its literature presents neither history, annals nor chronology, though it is probable that it existed some centuries before Christ, as its sacred books extend back from twenty to thirty centuries. Its theology is a chaotic mass of dreamy speculation having no well ordered system of thought. It is described as not a system, but a medley, and not a philosophy, but a dream. Its sacred books are the Vedas and the Institutes of Manu. From the former it appears that anciently the Brahmans were worshippers of the elements-- light, fire, water, etc.

In theory their religion rests upon the Laws of Manu. This work sustains the laws of caste and the authority of the priesthood, represents Brahma as the supreme deity and self-sacrifice (self-inflicted torments) as the supreme duty. It presents elaborate, ritualistic and ceremonial rules of the most exacting character, and promulgates the doctrine of the transmigration of souls. Though Brahmanism has many gods, its one supreme god is Brahm; and according to its philosophy Brahm is the only being in the universe who actually exists: all else is illusory, not real. It is said that in order to put forth his energy Brahm took upon himself bodily form and became three gods-- Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, and to these three were intrusted the arrangement and government of the universe after Brahm had relapsed into his proper state of unconscious sleep.

The highest future bliss to which the Brahmanist aspires is absorption into Brahm; and as his normal condition is presumed to be that of unconscious sleep, absorption into Brahm would signify nothing more than annihilation. However, before he reaches this consummation of his hopes, the Brahmanist expects to pass through a series of transmigrations, until deemed worthy of it. His desire is to so act in the present life as to rise a grade higher in the next birth. If he has been wicked he will be a step lower, or if very wicked he will be sent to one or other of the innumerable hells to expiate his guilt and to reappear on earth in mineral, vegetable or animal form before he rises again to the human. Or if counted worthy to advance upward he enjoys a heaven of carnal delights with one or other of the superior gods. His worthiness of future reward, however, is not made dependent upon actual virtue, but rather upon conformity to Brahman rites and ceremonies, the liberal support of the priesthood, etc. Prayers and painful penances take the place of true devotion, and even suicide is recommended as particularly meritorious; and as a consequence, it is said that numbers annually throw themselves over precipices, bury themselves alive in graves dug by their nearest kindred, or drown themselves in some of the sacred rivers. And voluntary widow-burning and infanticide were common until suppressed by the British government in 1830, though it is still practiced in some parts, and doubtless will be until the old superstition as to its merit has passed away. Some of the penances performed by zealous Brahmans have been of the most revolting character; as for instance, crawling for miles on hands and knees over sharp stones, holding up an arm above the head for months, cutting themselves, disfiguring themselves, etc.

All India is divided into four castes-- the Brahmans or priestly class; a military class; a mercantile class; and a servile class; but the Brahman or priestly class is the favored and oppressive one. These live on alms and are supported liberally by kings and people, as the priesthood of the Church of Rome and others are. In fact so similar is the power of Brahmanism to bind its blind votaries to servile submission to the dictates of the Brahman or priestly class, that the system has been named the Romanism of India.

Buddhism.--The despotism of the Brahmans gave rise in the seventh century B.C. to Buddhism, which was a protest against the corrupt religion of that age. It has been called the Protestantism of India. Though born in Hindoostan, it now has little sway there; but it has full sway in Ceylon and the eastern peninsula. It claims nearly two-thirds of the population of China. It prevails also in Japan and north of the Himalayas, in Thibet, among the Mongolian population of Central Asia, and extends into Siberia and Swedish Lapland. Its adherents are estimated at from 300,000,000 to 400,000,000 --more than one third of the human race.

Its founder is said to have been a certain prince named Gotama, afterward called Buddha, though the legends concerning him partake so much of the character of fiction as to leave it somewhat uncertain whether such a person actually existed. However, the ideas ascribed to him are the foundation principles of Buddhism. The system assumes that existence is the cause of all evil, that ignorance is the ultimate cause of existence; and that, therefore, with the removal of ignorance, existence and all its attendant miseries would be cut off.

Buddhism is more properly termed a system of philosophy than of theology; for it has no god. It recognizes no being with greater supernatural power than man is supposed capable of attaining by virtue, austerity and wisdom. Disgusted with the many gods of Brahmanism and the priestcraft that imposed upon a superstitious people, Buddhism, at least in its early and purer form, taught that religious excellence consists only in wisdom and personal virtue. Buddhism renounces the many gods of Brahmanism, discards all idea and necessity for a priesthood, and does away with all caste. Instead of a god they set up an ideal character which they term Buddha, not for worship, but for the imitation of mankind. And though an image of Buddha adorns the center of the Buddhist temple, and before it offerings of fruit and flowers are placed, the ceremonies are not viewed by intelligent Buddhists as acts of worship, but as simply commemorative of a character worthy of remembrance and imitation; for Buddha, it was claimed, was nothing more than what any good man may become. The more ignorant, however, regard him as a deity.

Instead of believing the future of the soul to be dependent upon an infallible priestly class, it is believed to depend wholly upon the operation of inflexible law. And instead of the prayers and penances prescribed by Brahmanism, Buddhism counsels temperance, justice, honesty, truth, repentance and confession of sin and reformation of character, claiming that these principles alone are the conditions of virtue and true happiness. And in the absence of a knowledge of the true God it appeals to and glorifies human reason and conscience only.

The original idea of Buddhism was indeed a noble one. It was an effort to cast off the fetters of blind superstition, and a bold strike for individual liberty; and it gives evidence of a sincere desire for truth and righteousness and a struggle against great opposition to attain it. In the absence of a knowledge of God, it was an endeavor to follow the clearest light they possessed, viz., reason and conscience; though with the ignorant who failed to catch the true idea of the commemoration of Buddha's memory, the ceremonies have degenerated into a meaningless idolatry, of which the prayer-mill is a prominent feature in some countries. And though the system provides for no priests, a class of self-appointed mendicants corresponds somewhat to a priestly class, but its only clerical function is to read the Buddhist scriptures on stated occasions, or to run the prayer-mill for the people, for which they receive a small compensation.

Though Buddhism was almost a complete revolution of thought from Brahmanism, yet it carried with it the absurd doctrine of the transmigration of souls and of numerous heavens for the good according to merit, and about 136 hells situated inside the earth for the wicked, according to their deserts. And the gloomy end, whenever or however reached, is annihilation for good and bad alike. The highest incentive to virtue which the system presents is the speedy arrival at the end of existence; for misery, it is believed, is not merely a taint in existence, but the very essence of it.

Confucianism is also a philosophy rather than a religion, and having its beginning only a century later than Buddhism (the sixth century B.C.) it very closely resembles that system; and though Buddhism claims about two thirds of the population of China, Confucianism is the basis of the social and political life of that nation. Confucius (whose original name was Kong until Latinized by the Jesuit missionaries,) is described as a grave, sober, upright and thoughtful man, with high moral and intellectual attainments and aspirations.

Carefully trained by a widowed mother, he early developed these traits of character, and at her death, reviving an ancient custom, he spent three years in mourning for her, devoting his time and thought to the study of moral philosophy by reflection upon the principles of moral law, furnished by conscience and reason. After this he traveled extensively throughout the kingdom of China, preaching his doctrines, and though for a time he labored against great opposition and even persecution, as all reformers do, his reputation as a public reformer soon became very great, his followers being mainly persons of middle and mature age--grave, sober, thoughtful and respectable citizens, many of them occupying important public stations. His system has no god, no priesthood, no temple, and it regards the universe as a grand self-sustaining order. It rather doubts a future existence, yet conforms to certain ancient religious ceremonies on the presumption that some future good may accrue from so doing-- "There may be some meaning in them," said Confucius, "and they may affect your welfare in a way you do not know of. As for the genii and spirits, sacrifice to them. I have nothing to tell regarding them, whether they exist or not; but their worship is part of an august and awful ceremonial which a wise man will not neglect nor despise." This ignorance of things unseen and future, yet fear or hope concerning them, is the foundation for many absurd superstitions among the Chinese, such as scaring away the devils with noisy demonstrations, and the disallowance of telegraph wires and railroads for fear of offending the spirits of the winds, etc.

It was the special endeavor of Confucius to direct the attention of men to the duties of social and political life. He said, "I teach you nothing but what you might learn yourselves, viz., the observance of three fundamental laws of relation, between sovereign and subject, father and child, husband and wife; and the five capital virtues,--universal charity, impartial

justice, conformity to ceremonies and established usages, rectitude of heart and mind, and pure sincerity." This, in fact, is the whole doctrine of Confucianism in a nutshell. By the education of the masses according to these principles, he believed and taught that the elevation and happiness of men would be secured; and accordingly schools are established throughout the length and breadth of the Chinese empire. The writings of Confucius, which were designed to perpetuate his doctrines of moral philosophy and political economy, are read with great solemnity on the first and fifteenth of every month by a mandarin [a civil officer] in robes of ceremony. The veneration of Confucius by the Chinese amounts to worship among the masses, but like that of the Buddhists for Buddha, it is, strictly speaking, only commemorative of the memory of a good man. Throughout China there are temples erected to his memory, adorned with ancestral tablets, the center of which is that of Confucius. And to these offerings, etc., are presented.

Mohammedanism--dates from the seventh century A.D., fourteen centuries later than Buddhism and thirteen later than Confucianism. It prevails chiefly in Turkey, Africa, Asia, Persia and parts of India, and its adherents number from 130,000,000 to 150,000,000 of people. In the fifteenth century, having penetrated Europe, it became a formidable foe to Christianity. Its founder, Mohammed, accepted both the Old and New Testament Scriptures and claimed to be the Comforter promised by Christ. The Koran, however, he claimed as superior to the Bible, asserting that it is as old as God himself and that it was conveyed to the lowest heaven by Gabriel and thence to himself. The Koran is, therefore, the sacred and authoritative book among the followers of Mohammed.

Their religion partakes somewhat of the nature of both Judaism and Christianity. It presents one God and various ranks of angels. Mohammedans believe that Christ was a great prophet. They deny the idea of a trinity, believe in the resurrection of the dead, a final judgment, and a future state of rewards and punishments in heaven and hell. They teach that the dead have an intermediate conscious existence between death and resurrection, and that they dwell somewhere near the place where the dust of the body reposes. They are extreme believers in predestination. Friday is their sabbath; they must pray five times a day, fast and give alms, and must go to Mecca, their sacred city, once during life, either personally or by a substitute.

Nothing more praiseworthy can be said of Mohammed than that he was a great and successful fanatic and impostor, having nothing of the high-toned moral character which history ascribes to the founders of both Buddhism and Confucianism. His religion is a miserable hash of Christianity, Judaism and a former heathen idolatry and superstition; and its aggressive character was signalized by determined efforts to conquer the world with carnal weapons. In recent years it has made considerable progress in India in displacing Brahmanism.

Such is the religious condition of what is commonly known as the heathen world.

Truly it has its lights and shadows. In the midst of the gloom of ignorance of God, and of human history, and of the true end of human existence, it is pleasing to note that some noble souls struggled after righteousness, sought earnestly for truth and zealously endeavored to lift up a standard of righteousness for the people. And when we consider the disabilities under which such labored, and the poor incentives which their lame reasonings discerned, we can only admire their true nobility of character in following the guidance of reason and conscience. And while we realize a blessed freedom from the superstitions which bound them, we dare not take to ourselves the credit of superior wisdom or virtue, but must ascribe all we have, over and above what they had, to the superior advantages of our favored circumstances under divine providence.

Glancing at the view of the world's condition presented in DAWN, Vol. I., page 16, we see that it is indeed a dark picture. Out of a population of 1,424,000,000, how small a proportion are even nominally Christian. And how corrupt and debasing, and how thoroughly anti-Christian are the great and powerful systems which claim the name of Christ, only the more thoroughly to impose upon the ignorance and credulity of mankind.

The great Roman and Greek Catholic churches, originally one, and only separated by the spirit of rivalry and strife to be greatest, hold sway over the minds of 274,000,000 of people, and to a great extent also over 116,000,000 more through their system of errors which still clings to Protestantism. The Catholic Church is the organized development of that great falling away from the doctrine of the Lord and the apostles, which began to be established about the third century. The eleventh century witnessed the separation of the eastern and western churches--the Greek and the Roman Catholic, each of which has since been torn by many dissensions and involved in many unsavory disputes and quarrels. But how do their doctrines compare with the heathen philosophies above named? They talk much of their zeal for the conversion of the "benighted heathen" nations, but to what would they convert them?

Let us see: Professing to know God and holding in their possession for centuries past the divine revelation, contrary to that revelation they misrepresent God as a character so abominable and detestable in unrivaled cruelty, malice, vindictiveness and hate, that the heathen mind turns away in horrified disgust, as every missionary to foreign lands will testify and as many leading missionaries have disconsolately reported to the home boards who sent them out. (See TOWERS of June and November, 1888.) The heathen have no faith in a god who could deliberately plan to eternally torment the creatures he has made and professes to love.

The central feature of Catholic doctrine is the mass, in which bread and wine are considered to be changed into the actual flesh and blood of Christ and sacrificed each time afresh, as an atonement for sins, by priests, as instead of the one continual sacrifice of Christ on Calvary for the sins of the world, which it sets aside as insufficient. And the power to forgive sins and absolve from guilt, thus presumably placed in the hands of a self-exalted and often corrupt priesthood, led to the doctrines of penance, auricular confession, indulgences, etc. When these had gained a firm and substantial basis, the whole body of nominal Christians were thereby plunged into an abyss of superstition and servile obedience to the machinations of a priesthood more tyrannical than the grossest forms of heathenism, and into an idolatry as debasing as any the world ever witnessed--a worship and adoration of angels, of the human mother of our Lord, and of fallible and often corrupt and abominable characters who were canonized as saints by the high-priests of Romanism. And its supposed meritorious prayers and tormenting penances, its debasing servility to a tyrannical priesthood of supposed absolute power over the present and future life, its monstrous system of indulgences and its abominable persecutions of truth and righteousness, mark the great Antichrist as the most desolating abomination that ever cursed the earth.

While all this is applicable with greatest force to the Church of Rome, the Greek Church has little indeed to boast of a more favorable character. And all who have come out from that great anti-Christian system, and stopped short of an entire cleansing from her pollutions, have much whereof to be ashamed. This is true, in varying measure, of every sect of what Romanists call the Protestant Sedition.

If the creeds and practices of nominal Christianity were a fair representation of the doctrines of Christ, many of the heathen philosophies would rank its equals, if not its superiors. And many honest skeptics, failing to discern the grains of wheat among the chaff and tares, and the pure seed of truth among the many counterfeit errors, have rejected the Way, the Truth and the Life whom they otherwise would have welcomed and shall yet know and accept. But, thank God, he has not left himself without a witness in the world. He has his grains of wheat, though they be "few" and unrecognized by the world and its historians. And while darkness covers the earth and gross darkness the people, while the nations have for many long centuries forgotten God and almost erased his image from their hearts, God has always had a people, a few, who retained his memory and endeavored to follow his leading--in remote ages a few solitary patriarchs, then a small nation, then Jehovah's Anointed came and a faithful few of that small nation received him and formed the nucleus of the Christian Church; and all through the centuries of the Christian era such have been added to that nucleus as shall be saved in the first resurrection at the end of this age--in all a "little flock." But blessed and holy are all they that have part in the first resurrection.

This little flock of the true friends of God have during the Gospel age been "the light of the world" and "the salt of the earth." And though their light has not yet enlightened all, we rejoice to know that this body of Christ, with Jesus their Head, is the true light which in due time shall enlighten every man, the Sun of righteousness which shall arise with healing beams to enlighten and bless the world. (`Matt. 13:43`; `Mal. 4:2`.) Yes, ere long it shall be the "city set on a hill" --the "New Jerusalem"--"which cannot be hid." (`Matt. 5:13,14`.) And though its place during the Gospel age has been in the wilderness, though it has been unknown and unrecognized by the world as the church, (as a religious system,) and though, like their Lord, they have been despised and rejected of men, persecuted as heretics and esteemed the filth and offscouring of the earth, nevertheless, they have truly been, even under these unfavorable circumstances, the very salt of the earth, and their sufferings for righteousness sake have been sacrifices of sweet savor unto God.

The principles of truth and righteousness which they perseveringly held and patiently suffered for, often even unto death, and the divine revelation to which they pointed as the source of their faith and hope and the inspiration of their labors and endurance, was not without its effect. The seeds of truth have taken root in many lands and brought forth fruits to the praise of God and the honor of his name. And wherever it sprang up, it, like salt, has had its preservative influence for good, notwithstanding the false systems and their false doctrines and practices. Let all of that little flock, who yet remain, rejoice in the glorious prospect that ere long the whole church, complete and glorified, shall be given the heathen and the uttermost parts of the earth for a possession, and the right and power to bless all the families of the earth; making plain the paths of righteousness, casting up a highway for the people and gathering out the stones; lifting up a standard for the people, inspiring all hearts with joyful hope, unstopping deaf ears and opening blind eyes, rewarding righteousness and correcting iniquity, and eventually wiping all tears from off all faces. And they shall come with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away, because ignorance and superstition and sin and death shall be no more.

THE PRESENT APOSTASY.

I have never read `2 Thes. 2` without finding my thoughts led away to the Papal Apostasy; and still I believe the Holy Spirit refers, in this chapter, to Rome. But, as history, which some one has defined as a record of fulfilled prophecy given in detail, is said continually to repeat itself, I am now compelled by circumstances to believe that a special reference is made to "the falling away" of these last days, which, to my own mind, is far more startling, and is soon to become more vast in extent, and awful in result, than even was the relapse of the early Church into the follies of Romanism.

Numbers of men who are connected with Protestant churches, and who appear to the world as ministers of Christ, are rejecting the Scriptures with the greatest contempt, and branding the faith of those who build their hopes on the blood of Christ as "the religion of the shambles."

A very few years ago, of all the languishing "isms," Unitarianism appeared most sickly. To-day its adherents, open and secret, gathering in its own synagogues, or assembling in the churches of all denominations, are to be numbered by thousands.

I know this will seem incredible to many good folk; but if, the next time they receive a call from their popular minister, they will press home the question, "What think ye of Christ?" nor be content with a vaguely given answer--if they shall pointedly ask him whether the Scripture, as a whole, be the Word of God; and whether Christ's blood was shed as a propitiation for sin--some of these may possibly be startled to find that their own spiritual guide has been practically nothing more nor less than a Unitarian himself.

If ever there was a time when we should try the spirits to know whether they are of God, it is the present time. And this is a solemn duty we owe to God, ourselves and the Church; nor must the dread of being deemed uncharitable prevent us from discharging it. Toleration of error is injury to truth; charity dealt out to Antichrist is uncharitableness to Christ. We must not be deceived with high-sounding words; the emissaries of error deal largely in these, especially when speaking of "the exalted sentiments of Scripture," and the character of Christ. We must remember that either the Scriptures are the very Word of God, or they form a mass of misleading absurdities, self-contradictions, and glaring falsehoods;

and the sacrifice of Christ must either have been for the sinner's salvation, or a useless parade of self-endurance. We have not here a matter of mere views and opinions, in which men who cannot agree may yet agree to differ. It is written that "In none other is there salvation; neither is there any other name under heaven that is given among men wherein we must be saved." (R.V.) But what must be the fate of those who, while they profess to regard Him as a great teacher, and admire Him as a great pattern, refuse Him as the only Savior?

There is no more plainly expressed truth in the Word of God than, "Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin." What, then, becomes of the sin of such as trample under foot the blood of Christ, and blasphemously make mention of it as savoring of the shambles? We constantly hear of men who are said to be good men, though "rather shaky" on the doctrine of the Atonement. But if "shaky" here, of what value to themselves or others is their soundness elsewhere? And yet when we question the right of such to minister in the Church of Christ, we are "uncharitable;" and most uncharitable, if we venture to expose their errors to the unwary souls they would fain beguile with their soul-destroying doctrine. Yet, if it is some one who confesses Him as Christ and Lord, and is contending earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints, that may be the subject of conversation, no word shall be too severe for such a one, because of his narrow-mindedness. A significant fact; but happy those who go forth to Jesus, outside the camp, bearing his reproach!

One thing with regard to the present apostasy must be specially noted--that many of those who now deny the Lord that bought them were once ultra-evangelicals both in views and doctrine. What does it mean? What, but this--that they refused to use the light God gave them, and have been given over to judicial darkness? It was said by one of these men, but a few months since: "My present belief can neither give joy to me, nor allow me to administer cheer to any one else." Yet the poor man remained bound, as it were, in chains of darkness. His pulpit work had become most bitter bondage, yet, like blinded Samson at the mill, he felt compelled still to "grind on." "Where are we?" asked another whose name had become famous through all the English speaking world, of a friend of mine who was standing by his dying bed. "All, to me, seems dark," he added. Yet there appeared no disposition to return to the light from which he had wilfully wandered. Nay, and here is the danger that threatens so many--loving darkness rather than light, we may choose the darkness rather than the light, and God may set his seal on our choice.

Then, as Whittier sings:--

Forever round the mercy seat,

The guiding lights of love might burn;

But still, if habit-bound, the feet

Would lack the will to turn.

JOHN E. LINNELL.

We are glad to recognize, here and there, a voice lifted in defense of this foundation truth of Christianity; but such defences of the faith once delivered to the saints are few; they are only isolated voices here and there. As the TOWER pointed out some years ago, as indicated by the sure word of prophecy, the whole nominal church is rapidly plunging into the ditch of Infidelity. And no matter, if for a time they retain some of the superstructure, when the foundation is repudiated all that is left of the building is inevitably doomed.

Yet the picture is not so dark as this writer presumes; for few indeed have been fully enlightened and "have tasted of the good word of God, and the powers [advantages] of the age to come." But if any such fall away, there remaineth for them no more an offering for sin; but a certain, fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries who knowingly trample under foot the precious blood of Christ, counting it a common thing, and who do despite unto the spirit of favor exercised through Christ.--`Heb. 6:4-8`; `10:26-31`.

RELIGIOUS DECLENSION.

While so much is being said with regard to the wonderful results of revival efforts throughout the country, it is well to look on the other side of the picture, and see what the signs of the times indicate. In a recent number of the Congregationalist is an editorial, from which we make the following suggestive extracts, as showing the condition of religious interest in the sections referred to. Speaking especially of Vermont, the Congregationalist says:--

"It is found that about sixty-nine churches have died out altogether in that state, or been united to others. It is found that the membership of Congregational churches, there, has diminished by about 3000 in the last fifty years. It is found that, of those residents who live two miles or more from church, but about one third ever attend it. It is believed that of an entire population of 332,268, from 100,000 to 125,000, besides invalids and little children, never hear the gospel.

"'Trust in God, and keep your powder dry,' was the old Yankee war-cry that did the business for the enemy; but it won't be long, if things are allowed to go on as they are going, before we shall find that our powder is all so damp that its goodness is gone. Our strength will have flattened out into weakness. Our churches will be having only a name to live, while actually dead from removal, and rust, and general inefficiency. Barbarism will have been too much for them. We have no idea that Vermont is specially a sinner in these respects. It is indeed our impression that every New England state could, at least in some of its latitudes and longitudes, quite parallel her figures."

In commenting on the foregoing the New York Observer says:--

"We have been hopeful that the discouraging statements could be explained in such a way that there would be no ground for serious apprehension as to the future of evangelical religion. It is evident, however, that there is considerable alarm among those who are most interested."

GO AND TELL JESUS.

Some years ago, says Dr. Clemence, a Christian lady came to me in great distress, and said: "Sir, I have such a burden on my heart. I am engaged in a boarding school where are many pupils, and I know I ought to tell them about the Savior's love, but I cannot. It seems as if a padlock were on my lips; I cannot speak of Christ, and it is a burden on me every day."

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