GLEANINGS BY THE WAY by D. T. Bourdeau

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 13, 1876

FromThe Review and Herald, Review and Herald, Vol. 47, No. 15.

GLEANINGS BY THE WAY.

By D. T. Bourdeau

THE COMING STRUGGLE BETWEEN FRANCE AND PRUSSIA—TESTIMONY OF A FRENCH SOLDIER.

As we were crossing France on our way to Switzerland, we fell in with a French soldier who had served his country in her late struggle against Prussia, and who was well qualified to give a true statement of the real feelings of the French toward the Prussians, and the prospects of a coming conflict between those two nations. He said:—

“We all expect that another war will break out between the two nations in less than six years, and we are preparing for it. We did not have a fair trial in the late struggle. We were shamefully sold. In the coming struggle, we will count on our valor as French soldiers, and the Prussians will be unable to stand before us.”

As we see this storm gathering, God grant that we may not be indifferent in our efforts to persuade men to enlist and serve under the banner of the coming King, that they may be the happy subjects of his peaceful kingdom.

AN OBJECTION ANSWERED.

Should Europeans regard the darkening of the sun, etc., of 1780, and the shower of falling stars of 1833, as signs of the end?

But some will say: As the phenomenon of May 19, 1780, and that of Nov. 13, 1833, were confined to America, they were not sufficiently extensive to constitute so important a sign as the special sign of Christ’s coming. To this we reply:—

1. It is not simply in America that the sun has been supernaturally darkened, and that there has been an extraordinary display of falling stars or meteors. Who has not heard of the remarkable darkness that occurred in Scotland only a short time after the dark day in America?

Tuesday, Sept. 3, 1839, there was a display of falling stars in England which seemed to be equal in splendor to that witnessed in America in 1833. It commenced about 10 o’clock P. M. and continued two hours, and toward morning the spectacle became still more wonderful. The fire engines were horsed, and galloped toward the supposed scene of destruction, followed by carriages, horsemen, and vast mobs. The same phenomenon was witnessed in America, but to a less extent than the described appearance in London.—New York Commercial Advertiser, Sept. 4, 1839.

Again, who is not familiar with the fact that in 1866 there was a wonderful display of falling stars in Europe, North Africa, and Asia? But 2. Were it even true that these phenomena were witnessed only in America, the objection under consideration would not be a valid one. The star that constituted one of the signs of Christ’s first coming was seen only by a few wise men or astronomers in the land of Palestine, who did not even belong to the Jewish nation. Did the Jews therefore do right in asking Christ for a sign, and in rejecting the true Messiah?

But what if God has seen fit to give Americans the priority on one of the signs? What if it could even be shown that Americans alone had had the privilege of being eye witnesses of one of the signs of the end? Must the people living in other countries reject this one sign because they did not see it? What would Europeans say of Americans if they rejected the striking evidences of the end, as seen in the history of the papacy which is made up of events of which only a portion of those living in Europe could be eye witnesses? There are many historical and geographical facts that we have to receive at second hand, i. e., through the testimony of others. For example: Everybody believes that such a city as Paris exists, yet there are but a few comparatively who ever saw Paris.

God has spoken, and has fulfilled his word. Let the world take warning and prepare for the coming of his Son.

“THE LIGHT-HOUSES HAVE APPEARED!”

Such was the language of the sailors and passengers on board our steamer as we were nearing the coast of England, after a very rough and dangerous passage from New York. Joy beamed on every countenance, and all longed for the light of morning, and when it came, all were especially cheered at the sight of land, which seemed all the more precious for our having been deprived of it. As we looked back to our dangers amid the angry and surging waves, deliverance seemed very precious. We thought of the glorious deliverance of the saints beyond the trials and perils of the brief future. Can it be that the final victory is so near. It is even so. “The light-houses have appeared.” They are still in sight. They have been erected by the arm of Omnipotence, and are as firm as the pillars of Heaven. They show us our dangers, and that we are about to enter the haven of eternal rest. May the language of each heart be: Let perils and trials come, if victory is so sweet.

D. T. BOURDEAU.

Locle, Switzerland, March 1, 1876.