Sabbath Reform.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 23 July 1913, Page 3

Sabbath Reform.

THE LORD'S DAY ALLIANCE The Book of Life. TO THE EDITOR. Sir. —Seeing so much, depends on having our names in the book of life, can we do less than enquire of God's word how it can be done, so we may show our love for God, and come off victorious in this last and greatest battle between truth and error. " And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire ; and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark . ... standing by the glassy sea, having harps of God." —Rev. 15. 2, R.V. The residents of Helensville and surrounding district will soon be urged to form a branch of the "Lord's Day Alliance of New Zealand." In previous studies of this question we found that this association "will persuade, or compel, everyone to keep Sunday, and not the Lord's Day at all. This Sunday-sabbath is the " mark of the beast,"—Rev. 13. The Lord warns us not to receive that mark lest we suffer the seven last plagues, and perish in the lake of fire. We are told in Rev. 13, 8 that only those whose names are written in the book of life will escape. Thanks be to our heavenly Father, the scriptures show how this may be done, and how we may get the victory over the beast, and inherit eternal life. By nature, we are all under sentence of death, for "all have sinned, and the wages of sin is death," Rom. 3: 2, 3, 6, 23. The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, John 16, 8, R.V., and shows us our helpless condition, that we may call upon ■ God for help, Rom. 7, 24-25. The goodness of God then leads us to repentance, Rom. 2, 4, Acts 9, 37----38. We hear the wonderful story that God has laid all our past sins upon His willing and only son, Isaiah 53, 6. More than this, God imputes the righteousness of Christ to all who believe, Rom. 4, 22-24. Not only that, but by the indwelling of Christ, John 14, 21----23, we are enabled to live a righteous life, Rom. 8, 3, 4, 10. So we bury the old sinful nature and rise to walk in newness of life, Rom. 6, 4. Baptism by water is the outward sign of what has actually taken place in our lives, 1 Peter, 3, 21. We are thus born from above, John 3, 7. In this way we become sons of God, Rom. 8, 14, 1 John 3, 2. Our names are written in heaven, Luke 10, 20. They are written in the book of life, Phil. 4, 3. Rev. 13, 8. If we would overcome the beast of Rev. 13 in this great worldwide test of loyalty to God we, must, in this way, have our names written in the book of life. "Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely," Rev. 22, 17. Mr Editor, with your permission, I will bring before your readers, in a single letter, a more compact study of this last, gracious, warning message. I am, etc. G.J.

A meeting was held in the Forresters' Hall on Friday night last to further the cause of Prohibition, Mr I. McLeod was in the chair and after a few opening remarks he introduced the first speaker, Mr L. E. Falkner, of Auckland. The latter in his address strongly emphasised the privileges and responsibilities that come to the individual in a democratic couuty, and the right of any individual to set before the general public the need of and the reasons for any ieglislation which he believes is for th.6 welfare of the community as a whole. The speaker "then mentioned several of the civils that result frum the drink traffic, and said that it was the citizens' Suty to band together and put a stop to this evil for the common good of Society. Larpe emphasis, was then laid upon the unfair, undemocratic handicap placed on the prohibition party. The trade was protected and given advantages to which they had do right save the right oi the monopolist, a right New Zealand people would not countenance. Parliament was elected to represent the _ people and to carry into effect their will : this was not Leing done, the people by a irajority of 54,000 had demanded the removal of the drink from our shores, yet the law permitted it to stop. *' Hence " said the speaker '* we are demanding that the law be altered, We want a. square deal, a rule by a fair majority, which is the bare majority. We are asking you people not to support a member who will not try and carry out your will." Mr "Wesly Spragg was then introduced and spoke on similar lines to Mr Faulkner.

The audience were invited by Mr Spragg to ask question or raise oh. jections on any reasonable grounds, and as none was raised a resolution was put- to the meeting : " That we will not regardless of party, support any candidate who will not undertake to do his utmost to remove or at least very substantially reduce the present unfair handicap on the prohibition party." There was a fair attendance and the resolution was carried without dissent. —Contributes