It seems almost incredible that twelve months have fled since we last addressed our companions in the service of this magazine. Yet so it is, and it leads one to look backward. In so doing, feelings of praise to God arise for His sustaining grace in this service month by month; for the perseverance of our helpers in it, and for the encouragement received from one and another of our readers, who become, through the help they receive, our helpers for increased circulation.

The new year coming in leads us to look onward, as the one going out to look backward. Looking onward all is most cheering and bright, for though we write now under a sky darkened with the clouds of battle, with attendant miseries which, however distant, pierce the heart day and night, and though we know not what other calamities the year may bring, one thing towers above them all:The Lord Jesus, the precious Saviour, who by His death on the cross has delivered those who trust in Him from the wrath to come, is coming again. The Morning Star, which gladdens such as watch in the night, has arisen in our hearts. The joy of this-of meeting Him face to face; of grasping again the hand of loved ones, risen and gathered there with us, and much more, fills one with praise and carries the soul beyond all the wretched scenes of earth. But love, the love of God working in us, is woven in with all this, and it makes us think of those who will be deprived of these joys, and who will then begin to feel on earth the miseries which are to follow after-the miseries of men who have refused God's offered remedy. It will make us press that remedy, as the only hope of men, with intensified energies. The nearing vision of supreme bliss produces the greater longing after the bliss of others. It makes us also long to see all who are Christ's in the way of their winning His approval, as expressed by Himself, "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things:enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." Notice how intensely individual this is. It is "thou" and "thee." He does not ask us to unionize His broken-up people that they may be acceptable to Him at His coming, but He asks each one to be found in the path of truth and righteousness. Let us press truth and righteousness on each one of His saints, therefore, assuring them that they must be individually suitable in His sight to get His approval. Sinners are saved one by one, and the man who seeks to win them one by one is a wise man. Saints also are led to faithfulness one by one, and the man who leads them to it one by one is the one who really labors for their practical unification.

In the quiet and retiring service of such a magazine as this, we may not, beloved fellow-workmen, see much result from our own part in it, yet throughout the year not a few have testified that it has, to themselves and to neighbors to whom they lent their copies, proved true to its name. How cheering this is. Which article has been chiefly used to this or that one we do not know, nor care to know, save where we can by personal correspondence add help to that already given. Our labor is
one in which we complete each other, need each other, and work together to build up, each according to the gift he has received, all the people of God who are willing to let us minister to them. If the magazine as a whole does build up, our purpose is reached, we are all encouraged; and as the New Year opens a fresh season for the same service, shall we not, dear brethren, seek for grace from on high, not only to persevere in it but to improve in it in every possible way ?
Timothy may not have been an evangelist by gift, yet the apostle bids him " Do the work of an evangelist," for this is ever the foundation-work of the people of God. When Christian people have lost the evangelistic spirit, they proclaim themselves spiritually dead. Love has left them, whatever they may profess. Oh, let it never be so with us! May love burn in our hearts till our Lord comes and transfers us to the scenes from which it issues. In our intercourse with our neighbors, on the street corner where we are permitted, in tents, in halls, from gospel wagons, in private houses, by wide distribution of sound literature, let the gospel of the grace of God keep up its sweet music everywhere, till the Lord calls us from the scene of service to the realms of blissful rest. Let us throw our means and ourselves unreservedly into it. If our toil is steadfast, carried on in humility and the spirit of dependence, it will surely be blessed; and as it is blessed in the formation of assemblies of believers, we will welcome gladly .pastors and teachers rising up from among them, gifted of the Lord to edify and care for them. How lovely all this is! What grace to have a share in it, however small or hidden it may be, for we serve not for the praise of men, saints or sinners, but for the praise of the Lord Jesus.

But there is more. We have come to the "perilous times " of the " last days;" and, anticipating the great final Antichrist, who will pose as the true Christ, "with all power and signs and lying wonders " (2 Thess. 2:8-10), a quick succession of antichrists have of late years developed throughout Christendom. Being emissaries of Satan, they have no love for men. It is not the gospel they have at heart ; their way is to go into the cultivated fields of Christendom and scatter their noxious weeds. Like their evil master, they are very active, and like him too can disguise themselves as " an angel of light." They who love God's people must be good soldiers here, remembering the word, "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." They must fight these robbers and destroyers of the truth with holy courage, and remember, in finding themselves in the minority, that truth is never popular. The world will side with error because error is gotten up to suit its taste. These conditions tell us that we need much grace to meet aright the needs of our times.

Another difficulty of our times, which adds much to the trials of service in the Lord, is the painful lack of conscience manifested in many. By their talk you are drawn to them ; by their walk, you are repelled. They know far more than they are prepared to conform to; they enjoy the truth, know what is right, but wait for others to go with them before they obey or practice it. Wherever this mind is introduced, it weakens the whole Christian testimony. True service finds its path made more difficult by this, but it must not yield to it, though it must in patience serve on in the face of it. In days of such ill-behavior among professing Christians, we greatly need to carry with us the admonition, "Stir up the gift that is in thee," and "Be not thou ashamed of the testimony of our Lord."

Finally, while we must meet evil in its varied forms, let us remember God does not dwell in evil; He dwells in scenes of light and love, of righteousness and peace. Let us dwell with Him, gathering strength there day by day for our daily pathway. To all our fellow-workers in this service, from the writers to the distributors, we wish not only a " Happy New Year," but a year of abounding blessing of every kind, with much fruitfulness. Our heart, beloved brethren, goes out to you, one and all, most sincerely.

A Talk Concerning "Pastor Russell"

Visitor. It seems to me, Mr. Editor, you say rather hard things in your magazine about " Pastor Russell." I have been among his followers and have found just as nice Christians there as anywhere else.

Editor. Let me ask you a question :Suppose you come to the gate of heaven, and your right to go in is challenged, what would you say?

V. I would say that Christ died for me, and it is in His name alone I claim admission.

E. Do you think a Roman Catholic claiming admission in the name of Mary will be admitted too ?

V. No, I do not.

E. Why?

V. Because whatever excellence there may have been in Mary, she had no merit sufficient to go in by virtue of it, and far less to give title for entrance to another.

E. Quite so ; it required One far greater than man or angel to accomplish the work whose merit can entitle such as we are to a place in heaven with Him.

V. I agree fully with you; but what have these questions to do with our subject ?

E. They have this to do with it:That the Christ "Pastor Russell" preaches is no more capable of such saving merit than Mary. It is a Christ of his own imagination-not the Christ of God. The true Christ was both God and Man; His deity, His divine person, gave such value to His death upon the cross, that it atones for and removes from before God every sin from the man who puts his trust in Him. Convinced as I am that those who present themselves in the name of "Pastor Russell's" Christ will be denied admittance, am I wrong in seeking to arouse such as are under the spell of that deceiver to the sense of the danger they are in ? Love for your soul demands I should warn you of it.

Prayer for Rulers

The actual, fearful European conflict may well remind us in a forcible manner of the admonition in ! Tim. 2:1,2. If instead of taking part in the affairs of government, God's people kept their appointed place and fulfilled their priestly calling in "supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks . . . for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority," what " quiet and peaceable life " might be found in places where bloodshed and untold miseries sweep over nations now. Whilst God's judgments therefore may be upon nations for their national sins, what responsibilities in this connection may also rest upon the people of God for our failure to bear up the rulers in our prayers and intercessions ; and so we must suffer too. What a heavy task rulers must often have who desire to rule righteously. In spite of the enemies of all government who would abolish armies and navies, courts, prisons and gallows, rulers true to their responsibilities must still at times call all their forces into action to maintain the right. Should not we, who are favored of God with such nearness to Himself, who are free to intercede for others, bear them up before Him that He may give them due wisdom ? Even in the house of God, to rule righteously is attended with abundance of difficulty and trial; how much more in the world of the ungodly. Let us then steadily remember the rulers and all in authority in our individual and collective prayers, not only when we suffer from war but while we enjoy peace.