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Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 14, 1858

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 11, No. 10.

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By Joseph Clarke

LUCY. So then, Mrs. Thoughtful, you've got to be an Adventist, have you?
MRS. THOUGHTFUL. I am happy to say that I believe the coming of Christ is near. Do you know the meaning of "Advent?"
L. Not exactly; but I know it is a very unpopular name, and Aunt Nelly says they are Millerites, or something like that.
Mrs. T. Advent is from ad and venio, Latin words, signifying "to arrive at," and an Adventist is one who believes in Christ's coming, according to the prophecies of the Bible.
L. Is that it? Well, now there's no harm in that; but they say you are Sabbatarians.
Mrs. T. We keep the Sabbath which was instituted by God.
L. Aunt says it is all fanaticism.
Mrs. T. The word fanaticism is from fanaticus, a Latin word, signifying, wild, crazy, and certainly this term would be more properly applied to a wicked world who are mad upon their idols, than to those who are wholly engaged to please and obey the Creator, to whom we owe our life and all its blessings.
L. I think, Mrs. Thoughtful, I am more charitable than you are. I am willing to give every one credit for sincerity. "Live and let live," is my motto.
Mrs. T. The word charity is misunderstood; you will find that Paul in describing charity says, it "rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth." It is far from Paul to give license to sin by exalting charity.
L. Is Paul's definition of charity according to Webster?
Mrs. T. I have not examined Webster, but we must remember that Webster gives the commonly received definition, and when we wish to find what Paul means by the word charity, we must take Paul's definition, found, 1 Cor. xiii.
JOSEPH CLARKE.