MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS by J. CLARKE

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 8, 1861

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

By J. CLARKE

SYSTEM.—The farmer who would proceed in his affairs regardless of system, would soon fail in everything: his crops sown, and tended, and harvested out of season; his teams over fed or neglected, or from irregular attention, reduced to worthlessness; his fat-ting animals unthrifty for the like reasons; and his various interests suffering from the same cause; ruin is sure.

Not less sure the ruin of the Christian who attempts to live out the precepts of Jesus without systematic effort; and this is peculiarly applicable to us at present as individuals, as well as a body. Let us be systematic in this warfare. The word of God is our book of disciplinary system. Do not reject any of it.

PAIN.—Going without tea and coffee gives you such a heavy, dead pain in your head! Disobeying the word of God—does this pain your conscience any? Our decisions are for life or death.

AGAGS.—There are a variety of Agags. Saul was directed to slay all; but he might have thought, I will keep Agag a little while, just enough to grace my triumphal return, he is such a splendid prize and carries himself so elegantly; and these nice cattle—true, the prophet directed me to slay the cattle; but I will not take the extreme meaning of the prophet's words: I will use my common sense, and this teaches me to spare such fine stock, so fat and strong; those symmetrical, well-built Devonshires, surely the prophet cannot object to my stocking my new farm in Ramah with such noble animals; and (lucky thought) I will let the prophet have some of the finest for sacrifice; this will be a plaster, and rather than offend him (if worst comes to worst) I will donate the whole (except those finest young cattle) to religious purposes. As to Agag, I can kill him any time if I find the prophet is not in a pleasant mood about it. In fact, I will no doubt have Agag slain, as he can be of no use to me after the triumphal return. I will just keep him a few days, it will add to the glory of my victory. I do not think the prophet meant I should take the extreme meaning of his words.

So now, some continue their idols—tobacco, coffee, tea, hoops; one is out of health, one is old, another will wait till winter, or till the sickly season is over, another wants it once in a while, another thinks coffee, tea and tobacco should not be classed together.

Oh that these modern Agags might be hewed in pieces before these modern Sauls have the kingdom rent from them! See 1 Sam. xv.

CAN'T.—That is not the difficulty—you won't.

J. CLARKE.