ERROR is always asking the aid of the state to avert the danger of a collision with truth. But truth never fears such a collision.AMS February 24, 1898, page 113.5

A SUNDAY law is all right, upon the theory that it is proper for one person to sacrifice principle in order to save some other person’s feelings.AMS February 24, 1898, page 113.6

THE only thing that force can accomplish with bad citizens is to put them in the penitentiary. There is not force enough in the world to reform one individual, even were it all concentrated upon him.AMS February 24, 1898, page 113.7

THE tendency of modern civilization is to destroy individuality; and the only sure refuge for individuality is in the gospel. Without individuality there could be no faith; and without faith, there could be no gospel.AMS February 24, 1898, page 113.8

ONE of the strangest things in this age of marvels is that Sunday can be commercially the first day of the week, and at the same time be religiously—as we are told—the seventh day! How this can be we do not understand.AMS February 24, 1898, page 113.9

IT is not according to the gospel that a person should be compelled to do what is right. Whether a thing is morally right or wrong, therefore, is a question with which civil government cannot concern itself; for civil government was not instituted to proceed contrary to the gospel. Its proper inquiry is, with respect to anything. Is it contrary to the preservation of individual rights?AMS February 24, 1898, page 113.10

“Bible Study with the ‘Christian Citizen’” American Sentinel 13, 8, pp. 113, 114.

ATJ

THE people of Israel in the wilderness was “the church in the wilderness.” Acts 7:38.AMS February 24, 1898, page 113.1

While they were yet in the wilderness, shortly before they entered the land of Caanan [sic.], God said of them, “Lo! the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.” Numbers 23:9.AMS February 24, 1898, page 113.2

This was spoken of his church, when as yet it was a separate people: “Lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.”AMS February 24, 1898, page 113.3

This was said of his church when they were about to enter the land of their permanent habitation. It was expressing his will concerning them, that they should not be reckoned among the nations.AMS February 24, 1898, page 113.4

Thus he never intended his people to set up a state, to establish a kingdom, or to have an part in any such thing. They were not to be reckoned among the nations.AMS February 24, 1898, page 113.5

His people then being the church, when he said, “The people shall dwell alone and shall not be reckoned among the nations,” he simply said that it was his will that there should be forever a fixed separation between his church and any state or kingdom of the nations on earth. In that word he simply said that the separation which then existed between that church from all nations, states, and kingdoms, should so continue forever.AMS February 24, 1898, page 113.6

That church, then, was never in his purpose to become a state or kingdom like the nations of the earth. It was not to be “reckoned among the nations.” The people were not to mingle with the people of the nations, to learn their ways or follow their customs. Nor was the church—the whole body of the people—to become a state or kingdom like the nations.AMS February 24, 1898, page 114.1

The only organization of the people in the wilderness was church organization. They had nothing comparable in any way to a state or governmental organization. They had government: but it was church government. Jesus Christ was then the head of the church, as really as he has ever been. They had a Ruler; but he was a religious ruler, and religious only. Thus everything about them, all with which they had to do in the matter of government or organization, was altogether religious and churchly.AMS February 24, 1898, page 114.2

Such being the only government or organization that they knew; and in that at the time being already separated from all the nations; when the Lord said of them, “The people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations,” it was the plain declaration of the Lord’s purpose that thus they should forever remain—knowing no kind of organization but church organization, knowing no kind of government but that of God, which is solely religious.AMS February 24, 1898, page 114.3

Thus the Lord taught then and for all time that the members of his church, those who profess to be his people, shall never be reckoned among the nations, shall never have any active citizenship, or connection with, the nations of the earth.AMS February 24, 1898, page 114.4

And that word which was then spoken of his church, is yet spoken of his church. There still stands that sentence in the revealed will of God to his church. That word speaks just as distinctly to the members of his church to-day as it did to his church that day. Whether his church at that ancient day heeded this word or not, does not affect the fact that such was God’s plainly-declared purpose concerning them. And whether those who profess to be his church to-day regard that word or not, does not affect the fact that there stands the word declaring forever that the Lord’s people, the church of God, “shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.”AMS February 24, 1898, page 114.5

Christian citizenship on the earth is a contradiction of the plain word of God. It is in fact a contradiction in terms.AMS February 24, 1898, page 114.6

Christian citizenship in heaven, even while sojourning on the earth, is the plain truth of the word of God. And it is a glorious fact in Christian experience.AMS February 24, 1898, page 114.7

A. T. J.

“Note” American Sentinel 13, 8, p. 114.

ATJ

THE Christian Citizen says that “the teachings of history but emphasize the oft-expressed conviction of leading thinkers that the greatest crisis in our national history impends.” That is true. And it is equally true that nothing is helping more to hasten this impending crisis, than is this same “Christian citizenship” in its persistent mixing up of Christianity and politics, of church and state.AMS February 24, 1898, page 114.1

“What May We Expect?” American Sentinel 13, 8, p. 115.

ATJ

WHAT is there about Sunday which leads its defenders to make such inexcusable blunders as that which appears in the following?:—AMS February 24, 1898, page 115.1

“When ought we to prepare for Sunday? Exodus 16:23.AMS February 24, 1898, page 115.2

“When God prepared food for the children of Israel, did he prepare any on Sunday? Exodus 16:27.”AMS February 24, 1898, page 115.3

These questions are part of a “catechism on the Sabbath,” which is printed in a late issue of the Christian Endeavor World, with the indorsement of John Willis Baer, the general secretary of the Endeavor organization. They amount to a definite assertion, that the children of Israel kept Sunday during their wanderings in the wilderness.AMS February 24, 1898, page 115.4

Now everybody knows that the children of Israel in the wilderness did not keep Sunday, or the first day of the week at all. Everybody knows that it is not claimed even by the most ardent advocates of Sunday, that the Israelites kept it. The very phrase “Jewish Sabbath” which those advocates delight to repeat in controversy, and by which they refer to the seventh day of the week, is a standing evidence of their belief upon this point.AMS February 24, 1898, page 115.5

The Jews have kept the same weekly day ever since they first became known as a nation. This no one will seriously dispute.AMS February 24, 1898, page 115.6

And now the general secretary of the Christian Endeavor Society deliberately puts it out as truth that the Jews, back in their journey from Egypt to Canaan, kept Sunday; that it was Sunday that God designated by miracles in connection with the falling manna, as his Sabbath!AMS February 24, 1898, page 115.7

We mention this because it leads us to make the inquiry, To what lengths of error will the great Christian Endeavor body be led in their support of Sunday? If they will believe this, as they are of course expected to, being printed in their leading organ and indorsed by the official who stands next to the president, what will they not believe in the line of religious error?AMS February 24, 1898, page 115.8

And since it is true that people act in accordance with their beliefs, and since the Christian Endeavorers are expected to be young men and women of action, what mistakes may they not be expected to commit in action? This, in the case of such a body, is a very serious question.AMS February 24, 1898, page 115.9

“Notes” American Sentinel 13, 8, p. 117.

ATJ

THERE is no such thing as national Christianity, Christianity cannot be national; it cannot partake of any characteristics of earthly powers. There cannot be American Christianity and German Christianity, English, French, or Russian Christianity. Christianity changes that which it touches, but is not at all changed itself. It is the same everywhere, is altogether divine, and altogether what it was in the life of Jesus of Narareth.AMS February 24, 1898, page 117.1

February 17, 1898

March 3, 1898