Seven Years by John Norton Loughborough

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 12, 1875

Seven Years.

By John Norton Loughborough

NOT the seven years of plenty or the seven years of famine that followed, in Egypt, in the days of Joseph; Gen. 41; nor the seven years (times, Dan. 4) that Nebuchadnezzar ate grass as the oxen, in which time his nails grew out like birds' claws, and his hair like eagles' feathers; not the seven years twice told that Jacob served with Laban; Gen. 29; nor the seven years which completed the period of one jubilee with the Israelites, and found every man in the possession of his estate, from which he might previously have been separated. Ex. 21. No, it is none of these to which we refer in the heading of this article, but to something nearer our own time, and to events with which the writer is personally connected.

There is something peculiar in the Scripture use of the number seven. It originated first with God's example in the measurement of time, in creating the heavens and the earth. “In six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day.” Here was one complete period of time—a week. For this reason, it is supposed, the number seven among the ancients came to signify “completeness, or the whole” of that to which the term was applied. So we find the term used by New-Testament writers. “The seven spirits of God,” Rev. 3:1, meaning all the manifestations of that “one Spirit.” Eph. 4. “The seven churches,” Rev. 1:4, meaning all the church of the gospel period. “The seven last plagues,” Rev. 16, meaning all that series of God's judgments to be inflicted upon the people.

As the number seven is a complete period, at the close, either of the week or of seven years, it is a good time to reflect upon God's mercies and blessings received by us during that time.

Seven years! How short they seem when passed! Seven years ago to-day the writer and Eld. Bourdeau first stepped from the steamer “Golden City” upon the soil of California. We landed July 18, 1868, in San Francisco, with our new sixty-feet tent, to enter upon the work of proclaiming the great theme of Christ's second coming and to urge a preparation to meet him. When we contrast to-day with that day we see reason to take courage and to rejoice in the mercies of God. Then, we had no church here. Scarcely an individual had even heard of us or our mission. Now there are not far from seven hundred, up and down this coast, in California, Oregon, and Washington Territory, whose hearts are in full sympathy with the work. Then, upon this coast there were no churches, or companies of Sabbath-keepers with whom to meet; now, there are some twenty churches and smaller bands of seventh-day keepers who meet for worship upon God's holy Sabbath, besides scattered individuals who revere God and his holy law.

Then, our operations here were carried on by the contributions of our liberal brethren in the East, as we received the first year less than $50 from those who had espoused the cause here; now there is systematically raised upon this coast for the support of the message, between four and five thousand dollars each year, besides many private donations for the same purpose.

Then, all our papers came from the East by way of the Isthmus, we not receiving them until five weeks after they left the press in Battle Creek, and letters required some two or three weeks for their transit, as the overland railroad was then incomplete. Now we read our Eastern periodicals and letters about six days from the time they are mailed. This, and the interest our older brethren and sisters have manifested in the work here, makes it seem as though two thousand miles, at least, had dropped out of the distance between us.

Then, we had no T. & M. Society to come in as a right hand man in this work, to assist in scattering the seeds of truth; now, we have our well-organized State society, with its efficient corps of officers and workers doing efficient labor in scattering tracts and periodicals. Already can they point to many instances where souls have, by their agency, been brought to the truth. Here also is our State Conference, permanently organized, and our Pacific S. D. A. Publishing Association with its $25,000 subscribed capital stock, and its publishing house in process of erection in Oakland. And not by any means least in the catalogue of agencies, is the Signs of the Times, published in the interests of this cause, making its weekly visits to nearly four thousand subscribers, and at least ten thousand readers.

Although this paper has but just completed the first year of its existence, it has proved itself to be a great power in connection with this cause. Not only is this the case in its furnishing a medium of

communication for our brethren and sisters, more handy of access than the REVIEW, bringing quicker reports of our own labor in this home field, thus giving fresh life to the cause here; but scores have already reported, not only in California, but in other States, that they had commenced to be Christians and to observe God's Sabbath, from reading the Signs of the Times.

While we make these contrasts, and mark progress, and recount these advancements, such evident tokens of God's hand in the work, we have reason to praise the Lord. We cannot sit down complacently as though our work was done. Not by any means. We see work ahead, and opportunities for earnest labor, with which, in comparison, the past is only child's play. What may not be done, if preachers, writers, publishers, Tract and Missionary workers, all take hold in the spirit and earnestness which our cause demands, and which its relation to the times and events around us demand.

Our heart exults in God our Saviour to-day for what he has done for us in seven years, and more especially for what he has done for his own precious cause, not simply here on the Pacific Coast, but all over the world. It is not that we have not had trials, afflictions, bereavements, and hours of sadness, that we thus rejoice, but God's hand has been set to the work, his grace has sustained hitherto, he lives and reigns, and he will speed on his cause to certain victory, whether we remain faithful or not. He could do without us, but we cannot do without the truth, nor without God, if so, we would have “no hope in the world.” To continue in the living Vine, seeking still to be a fruitful branch, shall be our earnest labor.

If the theory be true that all the essential particles of the body are changed once in seven years, then the writer must be set down from this date as a Californian; for seven years to a day have we been nourished from the productions of her golden soil. For all this we have not lost our love for the dear saints of God with whom we were wont to meet in past years, and we rejoice in their prosperity as well as that of California. God's cause is one, our message is to the world. His servants should be “God's free men,” ready to go as “ambassadors for Christ” wherever the providence of God may indicate. As we enter upon a new cycle of time, we resolve, with God's grace, to devote our life to his service wherever our lot may be. Brethren, pray for us.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

Bloomfield, Cal., July 18, 1875.