Advent Tidende for April, 1873.
LEADING ARTICLES: “God is Light,” by Eld. James White, translated from “REVIEW.” “Seymour’s fifty unanswerable Arguments against seventh-day Sabbath-keeping Answered,” by J. M. Aldrich, continued. This article was commenced in No. 3, and will be continued and finished in two more numbers. (December, January, and February numbers contain a translation of J. W. Morton’s Sabbath tract.) “Thoughts on Revelation,” by U. Smith, fourth chapter. (Each number contains this year a chapter of said work, condensed.) “The New Jerusalem,” by D. M. Canright. “Trichina Spiralis,” with cut, same as in “REVIEW.” “The Baptists on the Sabbath,” an excellent article in defense of the true Sabbath, taken from the Danish Baptist paper, written in favor of Sunday-keeping. Beside this, it contains thirty short articles on various topics, translations from “Review,” “Instructor,” “Health Reformer,” and other papers, and some selections from Danish exchanges; some editorials, and three articles sent in by subscribers. Then we have two pages of reports and letters from different parts of the Scandinavian Mission, and one page of items for the month; also two pages of news miscellany on the cover inside. LETTERS. From these I give the following extracts: Jackson Co., Iowa. Dear brethren, I have a great desire to see some of the dear children of God who keep his commandments and wait for the glorious revelation of our dear Saviour. I have been a reader of the Advent Tidende from the first, and must, with all my heart, give praise and thanks to God for the precious instruction which I have found therein. The sure word of prophecy has opened my spiritual eyes, by the help of the Holy Spirit. The Lord has also, by infinite mercy and love, written his law in my heart, so that I can say with David: “O how I love Thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” I have been a Baptist for ten years, but have never before, in any works that I have ever read, found so clear evidences in favor of God’s truth, as a whole, as I have found in Advent Tidende. I do therefore pray with all my heart that the blessing of God may follow this journal until the great day. May the Lord also in mercy cause his light to shine among my dear Baptist brethren. But I marvel greatly that they are not more willing to exchange their traditions for the commandments of God. JOHN CHRISTIANSON. I have had a hard battle to fight, but by the grace of God I have gained a victory, and can now say with the prophet: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” I desire very much to see the precious truths, advocated by Advent Tidende, spread among our countrymen, both here and in Europe. We long for a Danish missionary to come here, for our countrymen are like sheep without a shepherd. The truth of God has been my comfort through darkness and difficulties, and shall be my comfort until Jesus comes. JOHN CHRISTIANSON. Evanston, Ill. I have been a reader of Advent Tidende for fourteen months, and have had good opportunities to compare its teachings with the Holy Scriptures. I confess that they are built on the foundation of the prophets and apostles, Jesus Christ himself being the head-corner. I am much pleased with the clearness and Christian kindness of this journal. It is like a good steward, who brings forth from his storehouse things new and old. God be praised for his mercy and love in bringing me to a knowledge of the truth, and a more intimate union with my dear Redeemer. I now rejoice with my wife and son in keeping all the commandments of God. I formerly belonged to the Baptists, and strove hard against the present truth, through prejudice. By this I suffered loss, despising my brethren in Christ. Through a friend, I obtained “Liv og Dod” and “Det nye Testamentes Sabbat,” which, after a long struggle, brought me to my right mind. I prayed much to God, and he showed me not to call anything unclean, or unholy, which he had blessed and sanctified. Then I turned my foot away from God’s holy day. And I find it sweet to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to him. The Son and the Holy Spirit were united with the Father in the great work of creation; they are also one in the work of redemption; and they must also, in the same sense, be one in giving the law. The law of sacrifices and shadows passed away with Christ, the true sacrifice. The middle wall of partition between Jews and Gentiles, he took out of the way. But God’s moral law, the ten commandments, is introduced in the new covenant, and God himself will write it in our hearts. On Christ, I build. His footsteps I follow, though in weakness. He did never transgress his Father’s commandments. John 8:46. From his word, I learn that “this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous.” 1 John 5:3. I long to be with Christ, and to be gathered with his people on the glorious resurrection morning. JOHN JOHNSON. Waupaca, Wis. I am a reader of Advent Tidende and like that journal very much, although I am not an Adventist. But I am astonished to see and hear how busy other parties are about them. It is much better to look to ourselves, and not stand still in the road, or rattle so much about S. D. Adventists. Otherwise there is great danger that we will get home too late, or be running after oil when the door is shut. Neither is it useful to be grieved concerning them. Look to your own corrupt heart. That will give you work enough. And pray rather for yourself and for them, that they may be blessed in their labor. C. E. HAGENDALL. Omaha, Neb. By reading Advent Tidende and studying its contents, these words of our Saviour came before me: “O fools and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken.” I have been a Baptist since 1843, and, for several years, elder of a Baptist church in Denmark. Three years ago, I came to this country. I wonder much at myself and others, that after having acknowledged the Bible as a book of divine truth for so many years, and also understanding how the papacy had darkened the light of the Bible through many centuries of superstition and persecution, nevertheless, with the open Bible in our own hands, we were ignorant of this great truth: That Jesus never has changed the law of the Sabbath, but confirmed it, both by example and precept. Through our good journal, this matter is now clear before me, and my prayer is, that God may help us to treasure up his words in our hearts and bring forth fruit in patience. MORTEN OLSON. Jackson Co., Wis. I like to say through our dear paper that the Lord has caused his light to shine also in this place. Last winter, several of us were convinced of the truth. We meet on the Sabbath and encourage each other to prepare to meet our dear Saviour with joy in the great day. HANS ANDERSEN.