NOTES ON MEN AND THINGS.
By Wm. S. Foote
A PHILOSOPHICAL EXPLANATION.—A writer in a late paper in accounting for the appearance of meteoric bodies in our atmosphere, more numerous during the month of November than at other times, says, "The earth in its annual orbit, passes through a part of the region of space during that month, where meteoric bodies are more numerous than elsewhere." This may help to quiet the minds of those who inquire, "Where is the promise of his coming," but we who are looking for the "glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ," are reminded by it of the fulfillment of the prediction in Matt. xxiv, "the stars shall fall from heaven," particularly fulfilled on the night of Nov. 13, 1833. Praise the Lord for his often re-iterated kindnesses to those who love his holy law. SPECIMEN OF MODERN THEOLOGY.—A short time since, a Methodist preacher at this place remarked during a funeral discourse, that "It is foolish to suppose that the garden of Eden was a small spot of ground, paled in like an old woman's two-penny garden, when it undoubtedly embraced the whole earth." We felt somewhat disposed to ask him, where our first parents were driven to, and what their condition was, after being driven from the garden. He also remarked during the same discourse, that "Soon the wicked will all stand upon the sea of glass, where their sins will be reflected into their faces, and they will thus become their own judges!" A SIGN OF THE TIMES.—During the last summer a multitude of the rich, gay and fashionable, were, as usual, assembled at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., and according to the N. Y. Observer of Aug. 23d, quite a number of them, among other modes of killing time, held what they called "A Sabbath Convention." The meeting was composed in part of two Governors of States, some Representatives of Congress, and several (so-called) ministers of the gospel. The writer of the article says, "The audience was such an one as can be gathered only at Saratoga. All parts of the country, all ranks of society, all phases of opinion, all professions and occupations united on the common ground of the Pearl of Days! Probably no two men thought alike on any other subject. Doubtless all did not agree as to the grounds on which public action should be taken, or as to the extent to which that action should be pushed. But I have no doubt, from the tone of the meeting, and from casual remarks I overheard, that if it had been put to vote, it would have been resolved by acclamation that our American Christian Sabbath—the precious birthright of our national independence, must and shall be preserved." The old adage that "Straws show which way the wind blows," may be applicable here. And although the Two-horned Beast is not yet fully developed, yet if our senses do not deceive us, we are fully satisfied that the proclamation of the truth is bringing to light spirit now partially buried in the hearts of the enemies of God, which will soon be seen in the horrid form mentioned in Rev. xiii, 15. WHAT BLINDNESS!—The same paper in a review, or notice of a volume of sermons by preachers of different denominations, has this remark by the Editor—"One great object in grouping them together, has been to promote the Spirit of Christian union, which is now beginning to pervade the church, somewhat as in apostolic times." Is this blindness, or an attempt at deception? Is it possible for the Arch-enemy of souls thus to deceive men? The only thing which the fallen churches agree upon is opposition to the truth, which must be in order to the fulfillment of prophecy, and this they are now doing; so they call this the same spirit which pervaded the church in Apostolic times!