(130-135) fied to express an opinion upon the correctness or otherwise of criticism high or low. “‘With the Higher Critics and their followers the development of man is still proceeding. What it may result in is not yet foreseen. So far, however, it has resulted in a critical attitude toward a book called the Bible, out of which by dint of paring and padding they propose to make the real Word of God. They feel themselves inspired so to do by the inward unfolding to them of the Divine purpose. The lower critics regard all this as presumption, as an extra-biblical attempt to give to the world a true revelation. ‘¢There is no one to say, however, where it should at any time end. The reason of the individual reader, these critics maintain, is necessarily that reader’s final court of appeal. Yet, as we remarked before, even this does not seem to be permitted by them, since they also maintain that the individual reader may not be qualified. We have then in the last analysis a constituted hierarchy of Higher Critics who do not agree among themselves and cannot agree farther than to say that their theory in manner of interpreting is identical, even if their interpretations prove contradictory.’’ WILL EPISCOPALIANS AND GREEK CATHOLICS UNITE? The Toronto Mail and Empire prints the following report and sees in it a prospect of a great church union: NEW POSTAL A new postoffice ruling should be known to all our readers. Hereafter newspapers and magazines will not be allowed to keep on their lists the addresses of expired subsecriptions— except for a few months: semi-monthlies, such as the WaTcH Tower, three months; quarterlies, such as the Old Theology, six months. If your papers stop coming you will know why. Subscription lists hereafter must contain the addresses of only those who (1) have paid their money, or (2) have definitely asked for credit, or (3) whose subscriptions have been paid for them at their request. The majority of our subscriptions come under either the first or second of these rules, and we here remark that the publishers are at liberty to extend a credit for another and another year, if the subscriber so requests, but not otherwise. As for the third class; these subseriptions of the Lord’s poor are paid for them gladly by ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, Pa, ‘«The first organization of the Anglican and Eastern Orthodox Union in this country was perfected at an enthusiastic meeting held this afternoon at the parish-house of the Transfiguration and attended by many well-known Episcopalian churchmen and laymen, and has, it is understood, the entire sympathy of Bishop Potter and other high church officials, and is said to be the culmination of a movement which originated in the house of the bishops of the Protestant Episcopal church. It follows closely upon the return to this country of the Rev. Dr. Charles C. Grafton, Bishop of Fond du Lac, Wis., who made an extended trip through Russia and the East, carrying the greetings and kindly expressions of the Protestant Episcopal church of America. ‘¢The church at large, which is not advised of the deliberations of the House of Bishops, has always understood that Bishop Grafton was sent abroad to learn the attitude of the Eastern Orthodox churches toward closer union with the Protestant Episcopal or Anglican church. Since Bishop Grafton’s return he had made it plain that his reception from the high officials of the Russian and Greek Catholic churches was most cordial, and that their sentiment was strong in favor of closer union.’’ REGULATIONS Tract Fund donations of those more favored financially. But do not forget that these also under the new regulations must write us yearly requesting tus. Look at the address label on your paper and note thereon the time of expiration of your subscription and act accordingly. We prefer to have the ‘‘Lord’s poor’’ write us in May each year. As paid subscriptions come at the close of the year this helps to divide the office labors. Remember that we like to have on our List the names of all the interested. Those who donate to the Fund which pays your subscription are delighted to have the privilege of thus serving the fellow-members of the Body of Christ. Therefore let no feeling of false modesty hinder you from making request under these terms if you need so to do. You can no more afford to do without the spiritual food than to starve naturally. “IN MY FATHER’S HOUSE” [This article was a reprint of that entitled, ‘‘I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life,’’ published in issue of April 15, 1899, which please see.] THE HOLY SPIRIT PROMISED John 16:4-15.—May 10. Golden Text :—‘‘I will pray the Father, and he will send you another comforter, that he may abide with you forever.’’—John 14:16 Our Lord, on the way to Gethsemane on the night of his betrayal, gave the discourse of this lesson to his disciples. He had been telling them what they must expect as his followers; that they would be misunderstood, persecuted, reviled, because of their faithfulness to him and to the brethren whom he represented—‘‘But these things have I told you that when the time shall come ye may remember that I told you of them.’’ (v. 4.) He had not told them of all that they might expect, intimating this when he said, ‘‘T have many things to tell you, but ye cannot bear them now.’’ The same may be said to be true of all that ever become the Lord’s disciples. They see a sufficiency of light for one step at a time, but the trials and difficulties future are graciously held from them that they may not be overwhelmed by them. ‘‘Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.’’ This was not deception, not the alluring of his disciples into doing something contrary to their wills, At the very outstart the Master assures us that unless we take up our cross and follow him we cannot be his disciples. If we take this step honestly and sincerely we see plenty of difficulty in connection therewith, without knowing particulars of the troubles to come. Indeed, if we knew of our future trials we should be unjustly overwhelmed thereby, since at first we could but imperfectly appreciate the meaning of our Lord’s words, ‘‘My grace is sufficient for thee; my strength is made perfect in your weakness,’’ and the assurance that he will not suffer us to be tempted above that which we are able, but will with every temptation provide a way of escape. (2 Cor. 12:9; 1 Cor. 10:13.) Henee, as the Lord’s people take one step after another they find these promises quite true; they find themselves sustained, they find they have no more than they can bear, and that although their trials are indeed severer than at the beginning of the way, yet these can be overcome, because of growth in grace and knowledge. The power by which the Lord would grant his aid to his persecuted followers during his personal absence was something difficult for them to understand. In our lesson the Master makes the matter as plain as possible, calling the power, the influence which he would exert on their behalf the holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit, of Christ, the Spirit of truth. As the influence thus to be exerted upon them would be sustaining and comforting, the Lord denominated this Spirit or power a comforter, a sustainer, a helper. He did not say that he would send another person to deal with them; no other person could deal with them better than himself. It was a spirit, an influence, a power which he would send, and this would fully represent the Father and fully represent himself, so that in having the holy Spirit they would be having the fellowship of the Father and the fellowship of the Son. This holy Spirit is properly enough spoken of in the masculine, even as the Father and the Son are represented in the masculine. As it stands the propriety is obvious. THE HOLY TRINITY During the ‘‘dark ages’’ a great deal of confusion of thought prevailed and the clear teachings of the Scriptures were lost sight of. Indeed, the Bible for a time was little in use. The Bishops were credited with being the equals of the apostles in inspiration, under the doctrine of the Apostolic Succession. Hence, when these met in counceils their vote or decision on a doctrine was accepted as [4164]
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