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2 ©itr pulpit THE HEATHEN LOST WITHOUT THE GOSPEL. A SERMON BY REV. MALCOLM MAC GREGOR D 1). Forbidding us to speak to the Gen tiles that they may be saved. —1 Thea 2:18. The resurrection of Christ was the dividing line between Christ's first pre paratory commission, which gave the gospel to the Jews only, and Christ's second and final commission, which gave the gospel to all the world- Up to the time of his death, Christ confined the ministry of his apostles, as, with the exception of a few days, he confined his own, to the Jews of Galilee and Judea, saying, “Go not into any way of the Gentiles, and enter not into any city of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel In this way. he offered the gospel to the Jewish people without arousing their violent race prejudices, and observed and confirmed the rule in the divine economy both of law and of grace, “ To the Jew first and also to the Greek ' But the second, the great, the final commission of Christ, given soon after his resurrection, commanded that the gospel should be given to all the world, without distinction of race, class, char acter or condition Though his gospel was to be given “to the Jew first, it wistobe given “ also to the Greek " Christ s final orders were. “ All author ity hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth Go ye therefore, and m ike disciples of all the nations;' "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation;" and “ that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name, unto all the nations." The apostles in general, and, in a very special • way, Paul the apostle to the Gentiles, that is, the apostle to the heathen races, endeavored thoroughly to carry out this world wide gospel commission. But this broad and generous gospel policy gave great offense to the Jewish people They had been for ages the exclusive recipients of God's inspired m -ssages to men; and they grudged and h ited, intensely, to have such privileges extended to heathen. They could not endure that the Gentiles should be in eluded in the gospel offer. They in sisted that if any of the Gentiles were to be permitted to receive the .gospel, they should, first of all, by process of naturalizing ritual, become Jews They were ready to persecute the apostles to the death for offering the gospel of the kingdom of God to tin (tentilea as such. So in the text and context, the apostle says of them, "who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove out us, and please not God, and are contrary to all men. forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, to fill up their sins alway: but the wrath is come upon them to the nt te most." Hostility to foreign missions has not yet ceased from among men. 'Effete Judaism and spurious Christianity, though on different grounds, unite in refusing to send God’s message of mercy to the heathen. Many instructed and nominal Christians to-day oppose the giving of the gospel to the heathen, erroneously alleging that the heathen do not need the gospel, and that they will surely be saved because of their ignorance l of the gospel. Nothing could be more opposed to Scripture teaching thau this There could be no more disastrous and fatal misconcep tion. In the light of the implications of the text, reinforc d by kindred pas sages, let us candidly and earnestly con sider the momentous and solemn truth, that the heathen are lost without the gospel. 1 IN THE TEXT, IT IS IMPLIED THAT, IN THEIR NATURAL STATE, THE HEATHEN ARE PERISHING. That the heathen are corrupt, in nature and practice, the testimony of Scripture, the testimony of secular his tory, the testimony of missionaries and travellers, the testimony of the heathen themselves abundantly confirm That they are in a lost state, morally and spiritually, cannot be gainsaid They know it themselves, and all who un derstand and believe God s word know it also. Os course, the heathen are not con demned for not receiving the gospel which they have never heard, nor for rejecting Christ of whom they have never known. The Bible condemns them on no such ground as that. It teaches plainly enough that those pet sons and people who have heard the gospel of the Savior and rejected it and him-are deeply and doubly condemned on that, very account. But the Scrip tures as certainly teach that, whether with or without a divine revelation of mercy, and altogether apart from the gospel of Christ, all men are divinely condemned for doing what they know to be wrong and for failing to do what they know to be right, and this shows that the heathen are in a lost condi tion 1. The heathen are under divine con demnation for their criminal ignorance of God. Wen ad the mind of God on this matter, in the inspired words of the psalmist, “Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the ki igdoms that call not upon thy name:" and it is similarly ex pressed in the words of the prophet Jeremiah, " Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name " (Ps. 79:6; Jer. 10:25.) It is plainly implied in these passages that the heathen, in the light of nature, have some means of knowing the existence, the character and. to some extent, the will of God. in the matter of duty, and that they have criminally disregarded, and failed to use them. Such language implies that their ignorance of God is blameworthy, without excuse, punish able. Tuiningto the New Testament, we learn from the great Epistle to the Ro mans. which is very full and positive upon the question before us. that the heathen are " without excuse" for their ignorance of God and for their wicked conduct toward each other and toward him. "The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. who hold down the truth in unrighteousness; be cause that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God manifested it unto them. For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse: be cause that, knowing God, they glori fied him not as God. neither gave thanks; but became vain in their rea sonings, and their senseless heart was darkened." (Rom 1:18 21.) In his ad dress to the heathen at Lystra, Paul convicts them of criminal ignorance of God and of criminal ingratitude to ward him God ‘ ‘ left not himself without witness, in that he did .good, and gave you from heaven rains and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.” (Acts 14;17.) Very significant and unmistakable, on this point, is the language of Paul in his second letter to the Thessalonians, when he speaks of “the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in Hauling fire, rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus: who shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruc tion from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might.” (2 Thes 1:7 9 ) In this passage, it Is plainly declared that, at the last day, the Lord Jesus will take vengeance both upon the hea then who know not God and upon the hearers of the gospel who obey not Christ. From all this it is evident that •crimi nal ignorance of God, as revealed in eternal nature and in the constitution of the human mind, is one ground of the divine condemnations of the heathen. 2 The heathen are under divine con demnation for their idolatrous perver sions of the Godhead. From Old Testa ment and New Testament alike, we learn that to the mind of God, idolatry is impious, inexcusable, abominable and worthy of direst penalties. Hatred of God, as the Scriptures imply, is the prime cause of all idolatry. The living God indignantly resents the libels and insults cast, by every form of idolatry, up>n his holy name. Under the direct inspiration of God, the psalmist iinpre cates and pre-announces the confusion ami retribution of idolaters, because of their impious affronts to the true God. “Ashamed be all they that serve graven images, that boast them selves of idols.” “The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; they have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths. They that make them shall be like unto them; yea, every one that trusteth in them ” (Ps. 97:7; 135:15 18). We learn very definitely from that great treatise on heathenism and Chris tianity, the Epistle to the Romans, the origin and guilt of idolatry. Speaking of the heathen, Paul therein says; ' Knowing God,they glorified him notas God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their sense pss heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorrupt ible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds and of four footed beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up in the lusts of their hearts unto uncleanness, that their bodies * lould be dishonored among them selves: for that they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and wor shipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen” (Rom. 1:21-25). The divine displeasure is kindled against the heathen for their disregard of the natural light which they possess concerning God, and for their perver sion of the truth concerning him. God manifests his displeasure toward the heathen by forsaking them and giving them up to their vile sins. There is something diabolical and heaven defy ing in idol-worship. Hence Paul de clares that “the Gentiles sacrifice . . . to devils, and not to God;" and John as severates that as "for . . idolaters . . . their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death” (1 Cor 10:20; Rev. 21:8). In his marvellous address to the heathen, on Mars Hill. Paul charged home upon them their culpable neglect 'he light of nature concerning flciL flu.: .their iniquitous misrepresentations of the divine nature. “ Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the G >dhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and de vice of man" (Acts 17:29) In the same manner, modern foreign missionaries, in order topreach the Gospel effectively, find it necessary to press home upon the heathen the error and guilt of their idolt t y. 3 The heathen are under divine con demnation for their impious transgres sions of the law of God as revealed in nature In the earlier part of the Epistle to the Romans, the apostle proves the sin and condemnation of the Jews who had the Scriptures, and of the Gentiles, the heathen, who had them not. and shows that the heathen are condemned by the light of nature and that in addition to the light of nature, the Jews are condemned by the light of Scripture He declares that “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men," whether committed against the light of Scripture or the light of nature “wrath and indignation, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that worketh evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Greek” (Rom. 2:8, 9). The word of God implies and declares that the heathen are " without excuse ” for their ignorance of God and for their desperate sins. The frightful enormi ties recorded against them in the first chapter of the Epistle of the Romans, were true of them in all past ages and are true of them to-day, and the heathen know them to be unutterably vile and utterly inexcusable. Speaking of the heathen and their crimes against the law of God in nature, Paul says: "Who. knowing the ordinance of God, that they which practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also consent with them that practice them" (Rom. 1 31). Paul further says: "For as many as have sinned without law | that is without the written law of divine revelation| shall also perish without law;" and "the’se |the heathen] having no law. are a law unto them selves: in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their consciences bearing witness therewith " (Rom. 2:12, 14, 15). As the seal is to the stamp, as the lock is to the key, so the breast of man is to the law of God. revealed in nature or in Scripture —the moral nature of man being correlative to God’s law. and a counterpart of it. Thus, in their own hearts, the heathen have tracings of the law of duty, and know the differ ence between right and wrong. But it is with them all as it was with the learned and leading heathen of long ago, who said. "I see and approve the better; I follow the worse." That in the light of nature —the light inherent in the nature of things and the light of reason and of conscience in the human breast—the heathen have a means of knowing, not indeed the way of salva tion. nor any part of it, but of knowing well God's law of duty, especially as be tween man and man. is manifest from their sound and elaborate systems of ethics, founded on philosophy and formulated into law. The grand old Roman law, which is so largely the foundation of English, European and American law, is but the product of heathen reason, discovering the princi ples of things in nature and in the human mind. We need not wonder, therefore, that the Bible pours its anathemas upon the heathen for their criminal ignorance of God, for their insulting misrepresenta tions of the Godhead, and for their desperate sins against the law of God revealed in nature and in reason, or that the sacred volume declares the heathen, in their natural state, to be perishing, condemned, lost THE CHRISTIAN INDEX: THURSDAY, JUNE 11. 1896. 11. IN THE TEXT, IT IS IMPLIED THAT WITHOUT THEGOSPEL THE HEATH EN CANNOT BE SAVED. 1 That the heathen cannot be saved without the G< spel is manifest from the implication aid purpose of the great eommissicn. Christ's command to evangelize the world assumes the lost condition of all men, and implies that the salvation of men can be brought about only by knowledge and reception of Christ. Christ never admits or im plies -that the heathen, or any otheri, can be saved without him and hie Gos pel He commands that the Gospel shall be preached among all nations for the obedience of faith, and for the at tainment of salvation through faith in him. The Gospel is to be preached to every creature with the promise that “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” The mission of Paul to the heathen was declared by Christ himself to be “to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive remission of sins and an in heritance among them that are sancti fied by faith in me” (Acts 26:18). We learn from Paul, the chief auostle to the heathen, that the ancient chosen people of God to whom the word of God came, and the heathen peoples to whom it had not come, could be saved in only one and the same way. namely, by be lieving on Christ, and that silvation, without knowledge of Christ and faith in him, is impossible. “For there is no distinction between the Jew and the Greek. for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich unto all that call upon him; for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear with out a preacher? and how shall they preach, except they be sent? . . . . So belief cometh of hearing, and hear ing by the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:12- 15, 17). Clearly, therefore, the funds mental assumption of the commission to preach the Gospel is that the heathen, and all men in their natural state, are already condemned and lost because of their sins; and on that distinct basis, the Gospel is sent to rescue men from their sin and doom. If Christ’s coming into the world, and his sending of his Gospel throughout it, are the means of salvation, then the world was lost before he came to it. and the world needs to know about him in order to be saved. If the heath en could be saved without the Gospel, and, as some venture to assert, by their mere ignorance of Christ, then Christ’s coming into the world was needle-s, an 1 his commission to preach the Gos pel is worse than useless; for if igno rance concerning Christ could save at all, it would save innumerably more than the preaching of the Gospel saves. But a very small proportion of man kind possesses the Gospel; but a very small number of those who possess the Gospel profess to receive it; and it is no breach of charity to say that but a few of those who profess to receive it, under stand its meaning, experience its power, and conform to its principles. The Gospel, confessedly, can save only those who possess living faith in it, and these, co nparatively speaking, are very few. Faith in Christ, being saving, can save all who have faith in Christ, but, as we have seen, tney are only a very small fraction of the human race, and only a small fraction even of the peoples to whom the Gospel comes. Now if ignorance concerning Christ 1 e saving if it can save anyone then itc.an and wiljl an 1 mart -s>v? everJMie wh z is ignorant of Christ, in which case, the world ultimately, as a whole, would be immeasurably better off without the gospel of Christ than with it, for all, then, would be saved without it. while but few comparatively are being saved by it. This whole notion of being saved by ignorance is false and pernicious, a de lusionand a snare. The divinely or dered proclamation of the gospel to all the world proceeds on the assumption that all men are lost and justly con demned, already, fortheir sins, and that they can be saved only by repentance from sin and faith in Christ. To en courage hope of salvation by ignorance, therefore, is to countermand Christ’s commission, to frustrate the gospel, to stultify Christians, and to deceive and ruin the world. But it is sometimes asked with strange fatuity, "Will not the heathen be saved, if they do as well as they can?” The Holy Scriptures, the human eon sciences and common sense teach, most emphatically, that neither the heathen nor others of the human family ever, under any circumstances, do as well as they can. A sinner who does as well as he can is as self-contradictory as a white black bird or a saintly devil. Be sides all this, salvation, in any case, as we know from God's Word, is not of works, but of grace through faith, and that faith is founded upon the Word of Christ. The fundamental assumption and foremost purpose of Christ's great com mission show that the heathen cannot be saved without knowledge of Christ and faith in him. 2. That the heathen cannot be saved without the gospel appears from the central doctrines of the gospel itself. The gospel indorses the law in its de mands for righteousness, in its denun ciations of sin, in its reckoning and condemning of all men as sinners. It shows that gratuitous justification, founded on the atonement of Christ, is essential to salvation, and that it can be attained only through knowledge of the gospel and faith in the Saviour. The gospel insists that, without a new birth accomplished by the Word and Spirit of God, there can be no holiness of character and no entrance in the king dom of God. Those, therefore, who maintain that the heathen can be saved without the gospel mistake the perilous condition of all men and sinners under the divine law, and ignore God’s one and only way of salvation through faith in Christ, and they greatly dishonor God's Word; com promise the gospel of Christ: frustrate Christ's mission to evangelize the world; put stumbling blocks in the way o God's people; and leave the heathen millions to perish in their sin. What ever be their principle of action, wheth er pride of intellect, subtle unbelief, obduracy of heart, avariciousness of spirit, or recklessness of disposition, they are encouraging a fatal delusion, fostering a deadly lie. 3. That the heathen cannot be saved without the gospel is evident from di rect declarations of Scripture. Solomon says, “Where there is no vision [that is, no divine revelation], the people per ish.” (Prov. 29:18). Jesus says, “No one cometh unto the Father but by me.” (John 14:6). Peter says, “Neither is there any other name under heaven that is given among men wherein we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12). Paul says. “We before laid to the charge both of Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin." "Be not deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters * * * shall inherit the kingdom of God.” (Rom 3:9; 1 Cor. 6:9,10). John says. We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lieth in the evil one." (1 John 5:19). Without the atoning blood of Christ and the regenerating grace of the Spirit, there can be no escape from the dominion of sin or from the condemna tion of the l»w. Without the gospel heard and received by faith, there can be no salvation for any rational hu man being. 11l IN THE TEXT, IT IS IMPLIED THAT DURING THE PRESENT LIFE ONLY IS THE GOSPEL AVAILABLE It was a saying ot Paul that “It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe,” and the impl cations and drift of his teaching, the urgency and warnings of his messages, the diligence and devoted ness of his life, indicate his belief that the opportunity for preaching and hear ing the gospel was for this life only. Christ's order to his servants to preach the gospel to every creature, to make, baptize and instruct disciples, and his promise to be present with them in car rying on the work, are limited to “the end of the world" or, as his words may be otherwise rendered, to “the consum mation of the age ” 1. There is no authority in the Word of God for a probation after death. Neither Old Testament nor New Testament, neither prophet nor apostle, neither Moses nor Christ ever supports or even suggests such a view. It is sheer wresting of Scripture to try to wring such a doctrine out of any part of it- It is daubing with untem pered mortar, "divining lies,” healing the hurt of the people slightly, saying, “Peace, peace, when there is no peace,' to suggest the hope of a future proba tion, when future probation there is none. The Scriptures do not, and from the nature of the case could not, teach a probation for men after the last judg ment, for then it would not be the last judgment, and its decisions would not be final. Neither do the Scriptures give hope of a second probation tooccur dur ing the intermediate state, when the body is in the grave and the soul is in either Paradise or perdition. 2. The trend of Scripture is strongly against a second probation. It repre sents the state of the departed from this life as fixed, whether it be bliss or woe. One of the most solemn of the parables of our Lord, that of the rich man and Lazarus, lays tremendous emphasis upon the fixedness of the soul's state between death and judgment. The rich man having died is in torment; and his brethren, being still upon the earth, the resurrection of the body, and the gen eral judgment have not come. The rich man who sees Lazarus reclining in Abraham’s bosom afar off in the heav enly glory, asks that Lazarus might be sent to him with even a drop of water to cool his parched tongue. The request is refused; and the significant statement is made, ' ‘Between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that they which would pass from hence to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from thence to us.” (Luke 16:23.) Nothing could be more explicit or posi tive upon the fixed character of the in termediate state. The Scripture tells us that “it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this cometh judgment”— not a second probation. Here and now, if ever, and not in some far off age and some distant world, are the time and place of salvation The uniform teach ing of the Scripture is that immediately after death do men enter into reward or punishment. The prest nt life is the only period allowed us in which to secure our own salvation or to induce others to se cure 8 The of a second probation is based upon utascriptural and false prin ciples. It is founded upon the erroneous alsguiptioA flat men in general.and the JprwTtjcular canno| justly perish wjnTliNiret having heard and rejecteiTtlip gospel of Christ. But the truth is. that all men are justly con demned f< r transgression of a divine law, which, apart from Scripture, all men have in the book of eternal nature and in the book of the human heart. The Scriptures unquestionably h >ld all men responsible for their character and conduct, whether gospel or Scripture comes to them,or not. Mercy offered in the gospel and rejected by men does not originate, but only enhances the guilt and the doom. Without a gospel to accept or reject, the angels that sinned were condemned by divine law and sent down to an eter nal hell. Before ever a gospel was an nounced, our first parents were con demned for their breach of the divine law. As to objecting to the condem nation of the heathen for their horrible breaches of the divine law as revealed in nature, one might as well contend that no criminal should be condemned and punished unless the governor of the State or the President of the nation had first offered him a pardon and the criminal had rejected it. This is the most pre posterous of all objections, and yet it is the most common and the most influen tial. But all law, human and divine, con demns. and must condemn, wrong do ing, whether mercy be finally provided for the transgressor or not. The conclusion of the whole matter is plain and inevitable. Without the gos pel of Christ, the heathen are lost, for ever lost. The three leading features of the heathen religions and of heathen character are sensuality, cruelty and despair. Without the gospel, the eter nal doom of the heathen is sealed. Two powerful lessons are set forth and emphasized by this subject. First. If the heathen are divinely con demned for their transgressions of God s law as revealed in nature and in human nature, without any opportunity of par don and recovery, how tremendous must be the guilt and doom of you who not only break God s law,revealed in nature and in Scripture, but also reject the gos pel of the grace of God. spurn the Savior and his atoning blood and repel the ap proach and influence of the Spirit of grace'. Dreadful as may be their con demnation, it will be immeasurably more tolerable in the day of judgment than for you. Secondly. If. among the heathen, hu man souls, by the million, are perishing in their sin, for lack of the gospel of Christ, with the dissemination of which Christians have been entrusted, how tremendous must be the responsibility of you, O, professed followers of Christ, if you fail to send them the gospel! By solemnity of manner, by explicitness of terms, by repetition of injunctions and by awe-inspiring authority, Christ em phasizes his command to you.at all costs and at all hazards, to give the gospel to the world. A Chance te Make Money. I have berries, gfapes and peaches, a year old. fresh as when picked. 1 use the California Cold process, do not heat or seal the fruit, just put it up cold, keeps perfectly fresh, and costs almost nothing; can put up a bushel in ten minutes. Last week I sold directions to over 120 families; anyone will pay a dollar for directions, when they see the beautiful samples of fruit. As there are many poor people like myself, I con sider it my duty to give my experience to such, and feel confident any one can make one or two hundred dollars around home in a few days. I will mail sample of fruit and complete directions, to any of your readers, for eighteen two-cent stamps, which is only the actual cost of the samples, postage, etc., to me. FRANCIS CASEY, St. Louis, Mo. Our Home Talk. by o. c p. “Take heed unto thyself.” The Christian religion is a personal matter. It was Christianity that first impressed the idea of indi vidual responsibility to God. Ju daism taught the absorbing of the individual in the nation. But, Jesus taught the truth that every individual stands before God upon his own personal responsi bility. “Every man must give an account of himself to God. ” The Christian religion is embodied in a personal Christ. As potent as are the words of Jesus and as wonderful as were his works, nevertheless, his mighty power is in his perfect life. Men have criticised his words and ques tioned the reality of his miracles, but his life stands out unim peached and unimpeachable. Even his enemies gave testimony to his perfect life. Pilate gazed into his face and said: “I find no fault in him.” The Centurion at the cross exclaimed: “Truly,this was the Son of God.” And the power and hope of Christianity to-day is in the lives of the fol lowers of Christ. It is the divine plan that saving truth shall be disseminated by the personal in fluence of believers. We are liv ing in a world of sin—in the midst of fallen, decayed, dead manhood —a world cursed by sin, a world to be saved only by the cleansing in the blood of Christ, a world, if ever saved at all,to be saved through human instrumen tality. There is mighty respon sibility resting on you. All that the little world around you can know of Jesus Christ it must see set forth in your daily life. Your influence is tending to lead souls to Christ or to repel them from him. “Take heed unto thyself.” Be careful as to your influence. Be sure, first of all, that your own feet are on the rock. You cannot reach out the helping, up lifting hand to others unless your own feet are on a solid base. Seek assurance of your own ac ceptance with God. You cannot lead others to the cleansing foun tain for sin unless you have your self been washed. You cannot tell others of the riches of God's saving and sustaining grace un less you have yourself had expe rience. Be not content until God gives you evidence of your own birth from above, until the Holy Spirit bears witness with your inner and heart life that you are a child of God. This is all im portant. It is bold presumption, yea,even base hypocrisy, for you to attempt to leach tv others the way of life unless you are your self walkirg therein. And, be sure your life is in accord with your profession. Be not a mere professor of religion, but a real possessor of its joys. Something is wrong about your light if oth ers do not see its shining. Wher ever you go you are carrying the honor of the cause of the Master with you. “Take heed unto thy self ” that your life may tell to ward the salvation of others. Wartrace, Tenn. Anj- publication mentioned in this de partment may be obtained of the American Baptist Publication So ciety. 93 Whitehall St.. Atlanta, Ga. When prices are named they include postage. The Editors of the Christian Index desire to make this column of service to their readers They will gladly ans ver, or have answered, any ques tions regarding books If you desire books for certain lines of reading, or desire to find out the worth or pub lisher of any book, write to them. A New Theological Work.—The in telligent laymen of to-day (and : .t is only to laymen that I can speak) do much independent thinking along re ligious lines. Many of them are the best exponents of religion, and many of them are its ablest defenders. To such, Theology, which is the Science of the Religion they so beautifully live, and which treats of such lofty transcending themes as God—Man -Sin—Christ—Holy Spirit —The Divine life in man—Things to come—should be ever the Science of sciences! They should find in its study though it be profound pleasures that are ever thrilling and sweet. A Book of Theology which is so thorough lj- modern and which omits all the tiresomely contested and much disputed Theological terms—a Book with a style that does not smell of the dust and the mould of old furrows —such a work would be a delight to every studious layman. Such a book is found, it seems to me. in an “Outline of Christian The ology," by Prof. William N. Clarke. Hamilton, N. J. ($2.75 cts. postpaid di rect from the Author). This book has recently been adopted as a Text Book in Hamilton Theological Seminary (in which Prof. C. is a teacher), and by other colleges. Here are a few senten ces from his Introduction along the line of inerrancy and verbal inspiration of the Bible: “To repress criticism is to in vite unbelief." "Primarily men are in spired—not writings." "Revelation is self-manifestation. God showed him self in the life of men —the story of his self-ihowing was afterward written." “The theme of the Bible is the entrance of God into the spiritual life of man.” “Christianity is not a book religion, but a life religion.” “If special inspiration of the Bible were disproved, Christ would still be the Savior of the world.” “The annihilation of the Scriptures would not abolish the saving power of Christ.’’ And here are a few extracts from the book proper (subject, Man): “The eternal life of the New Testament is not mere continuance of being. It is enriched and elevated being, as worthy and glorious as it is endless. ” (Subject Christ): “Thus in every way Christ is a Teacher of all ages. No teacher has ever uttered so little that was temporary and so much that was eternal ana abid- ing." (Subject, Divine Life in Man- Election): “Instead of holding that the elect are the only ones who can be saved, it is more in accordance with Scripture to hold that the elect are elect for the sake of the non-elect—that is, they are chosen by God to serve for the saving of others who have not yet lieen brought to God as they have been." My limited space forbids me. with a 400 page book, to do more than simply call attention to it. This able work is mod ern and up to date: and even as such we cannot afford not to read it; for, as he says; “Theology ean never stand still while the divine life of the church is moving forward. The forward move ment of theology which we can so easily trace through past ages hasnot reached its end, for the Spirit abides with the church still to guide it into truth ’ N. L. Willet. Through the Eternal Spirit, a Biblical study on the Holy Ghost, Tames. E. Cumming, D. D. Flem ing H. Revell Co. New York and Chicago. Price f 1.50. We confess to taking up this book with a feeling that it was to be another imperfect and one-sided treatment of this subject. Dr. Gordon's Ministry of the Spirit Jattained such a high plane that it has dwarfed other attempts to reach the great theme. Dr. Cumming's book is however ■>worthy to be used of Dr. Gordons, and in some cases it surpasses it in clearness of con ception ana statement. This is true of the chapter on The Secret of Sanctifi cation. Dr. Cumming believes in cri sis of growth, rather than the gradual, or second blessing ideas. Believing in a gradual growth to great crisis in which we take great strides forward. In the periods of growth we go for ward as he says “by new discoveries through the Holy Ghost of things to be surrendered to God, and of things to be a -cepted from him. ” Ot equal merit is his chapter on The Guidance of the Spirit. A new theme is the Love of the Holy Ghost. We do not suppose any book on this great subject will every where satisfy. We are still but search ers for the complete truth about the Holy Spirit. This volume is worth every one’s study, and those who have already read Gordon’s Ministry of the Spirit should get it to give him another view of equal clearness of much the same conclusions reached by Gordon. The author is a Scottish preacher. History of Christian Doctrine George P. Fisher, D.D., LL.D. Chas. Scribner's Sons, New York. Price, $2.50 net. Dr. Fisher has long held a high place as theological and philosophical writer and as a church historian. In this volume these are all combined He treats the subject in hand in a somewhat different manner from that ordinarily followed. It is not merely a summary of dogmatic teachings, but a live history of the rise and fall of heresies as well as the form ulatii nos truth. It deals as much with current beliefs as with authoritative statements. It is thus possible to take anj- given period and study the varia tions of opinion and see from these the gradual elimination of error and clear perception of the truth. Dr. Fisher has a style of unusual clearness and beauty. He is no sense an advocate, but is al ways the historian, stating fairly the positions held by others. A good sense of the important and unimportant as nec essary to a medium sized volume, is shown. It is really surprising how much can be said in a short paragraph By a division into poriods any given age can be studied, while a well compiled index enables ono<to tra'-e any doctrtAe, or error in its historical sequence. Few books could give more genuine profit to studious minds. As a companion to a modern compendium of theology it will be invaluable, enabling one to quickly get in his mind the various past state ment< of truth as well as the latest. A A SKEPTIC CONVINCED 8Y.... The following b iters show the conviction which mnst be foretd upon the faithful user of the Eleclropoise. (Before using.) Wilmington, N. C„ April 9. 1891 Gentlemen.—The Electropoise received. As I look at this apparent! .- harmless cylinder with a cord attached and think of the price I can hardly refrain from Puck’s soliloquy—- What fools these mortals be.” The instrument is what you claim for it—a “ Curative agent of wonderful power or should take its place in history as the most stupendous collosal fraud of the nineteenth century I shall use it faithfully and without prejudice in my family. If no results follow then look out for I shall attack it in the public prim with all the energy at my command. For the sake of the sick I hope to demonstrate your claim. (Rev.) R C Heamas (After using.) Dirham, N. C Jail 31 1893 - Gentlemen.— * * <■ <■ I find the Electropoise in great favor in this place I have used'it in my own family with marked benefit 1 prize it very highly and would not be without it for many times its cost. Respectfully, r c Beaman 1 Shall we send you circulars telling what it cures, how it cures, and all about It? They cost nothing but will interest you. Write for them. 1 Gri'aham. & I>u 13ols, Electric Building, ATLANTA, CA. BAPTIST PERIODICALS THE BEST TEST OF POPULARITY IS CIRCULATION The following substantial increase in circulation was made in our Quarterlies for the second quarter of this year: Senior, 20,000 ; Advanced, 70,000 ; Intermediate. 25,000; Primary, 30,000; Picture Lessons, 47,000. Total increase, 192,000 in one quarter. ~ It is evident that the best is regarded as none too good for Baptists. The sale of Periodicals helps the Society to send mis sionaries to establish Sunday-schools. ORDER NOW FOR THIRD QUARTER lEMHIX HELPS Club price, of n,e or more eopie. to one addre» Price per quarter. p r j fe „er year. JaptiM Superintendent 6)4 cents 25cents Senior Quarterly 5 " •< / ' „ Q „ Advanced Quarterly 2’4 “ 9 .. Intermediate Quarterly 2*4 “ Primary Quarterly “ Picture Lessons 3 .. , Bible Lessons : j .. „ ILLUSTRATED PAPERS Our Young People ce , lts Young Beaper, Monthly 2 y “ , n - “ “ Fortnightly 5 1 .. „ Sunlight. Monthly 2 1Z “ . “ Fortnightly 5 .. ' ... Our Little Ones 6 y , Bible Lesson Pictures j lO0 4 Sunday-school Requisites of every kind at low prices. AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBUCATION SOCIETY PHILADELPHIA, BOSTON. NEW YORK. CHICAGO. ST. LOUIS DALLAS. ATLANTA BSL The Bane ißr ! °' Beauty. the fading or falling of the hair. Luxuriant tresses are far more to the matron than to the maid whose casket of charms is yet unrifled by time. Beautiful women will be glad to be reminded that falling or fading hair is unknown to those who use Ayer’s Hair Vigor. good course of winter s study might be arranged with this as a center. The Forum. The Forum Publishing Co.. New York. 25 cents. $3.00 a year. It might be sufficient to say up to standard to quicken the appetite for the Forum. Special subjects may be men tioned. Election of Senators by popular vote. The Promisee of Democracy, have they been Fulfilled? Armenia's Impend ing Doom; The Democratization of England: Ego. et Rex Mens, a Study of Royalty; The True Aim of Charity Or ganization Societies; The Isolation of Music. It is hard to discriminate among these. It becomes mainly a question of personal interest. We do not see how men who desire to keep up with the times can do without a Review like this We suggest to the masculine readers of the Index an experiment in this direction. The Arena. June. The Arena Pub lishing Co., Boston, Mass. 25 cents. $3.00 a year. The first article to attract attention will be S. J. Burrows' "Celsus, the first pagan critic of Christianity. ” Barring a tendency to admire Celsus rather than the truth, it is able and useful. A sub ject of much importane is Mr. Pomeroy’s ‘ The direct legislation movement and its leader." This subject calls for t .ought. The silver question has va nous discussions, and the Telegraph Monopoly is faced with some rather startling facts. Two Serial Stories are running, both dealing with absurd mod ern vagaries as to occultism and social ism The tendency to extravagance is noteworthy. The Arena, however, is given to speaking out in meeting. This shocks us sometimes but it delights us at others Read with care; the Arena i stimulating and stirring. The Atlantic Monthly. June. Houghton, Mifflin & Co., Boston, Mass. 35 cents. $4 00 a year. The Atlantic is publishing a series of invaluable articles on our public schools. These are based on research covering the whole country. In the present is sue The Politicians and the Public Schools come in for discussion. The heart of the evil is located. It ought to be read by ever yone interested in good schools The Restriction of Immigra tion. Orestes Brownson, and Lord Howe's Commission to pacify the Col onies, add to the number of solid arti cles. In addition there are poems, stM ries and book reviews. For genuine ale round worth a family cannot surpass the Atlantic. whollhelTaberger ? He’s the U ire Fence Man, of Atlanta, Ga., and sells the best and cheapest fencing In existence tor %il purposes. Catalogue free. Write tor it.