This Week's Review by Editor

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 17, 1864

This Week's Review

By Editor

THIS WEEK'S REVIEW.—"Both Sides" this week is brief, but deeply interesting. If a new law by Jesus Christ, to take the place of his Father's law, can be sustained from any portion of the New Testament, it can be from Matt. v, from which Eld. Preble has quoted. But the reader will see that he has utterly failed to show a new code of laws. We admire the style of Bro. Smith's reply, and the clear manner in which he gives the true import of our Lord's words in Matt. v. Let it be read, and re-read, and studied with care.

Christ is our advocate, 1 John ii, 1, and the Father is our lawgiver, James iv, 12. Christ was to be a prophet, or teacher, like Moses. Deut. xviii, 15-18; Acts iii, 22. Moses was not a lawgiver. He only received words from the mouth of God, and spoke them to the people. Lev. xxiv, 11-14; Num. xv, 32-36; xxvii, 5-7. So Christ taught that which the Father gave him to speak to the people.

Hear him! "My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me." John vii, 16. Then why talk of his giving a new code of laws to take the place of the Father's? Hear him again. "I do nothing of myself, but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things." Chap. viii, 28. And again hear him! "The word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me." Chap. xiv, 24.

In consequence of the Conference, Both Sides, will not appear in next week's paper. Bro. Smith will, however, commence again with the new volume, and continue the matter to its close.

The report from Northern Wisconsin, by Bro. M. Dennis, well illustrates the state of things as they have existed in many places in the wide field. Very much precious labor of the few worn messengers has been lost in consequence of the scattering influence of disorderly and self-willed persons who have embraced the Sabbath. These unteachable persons remain untaught in the first principles of a consistent faith and daily walk, and are ready the first opportunity to rebel against the teachings of those who would instruct them. The result is ruin on themselves, and the hearts of God's honest, teachable ones, are wounded as they see the result upon the precious cause. Such persons generally give up the Sabbath in one or two years. But there are exceptions. There are a few persons, who remain in a state of perfect rebellion against the discipline of the body, year after year, and still profess to keep the Sabbath. Some of these profess to be teachers of the Sabbath, yet they cannot point to one consistent Sabbath-keeper as the fruit of their labor. One might suppose, from their general conduct, that they regard confusion in things in general, and hatred toward the real laborers in the cause in particular, to be the highest order of piety. But, thank God, order is being established among us as a people, and a system of labor, by which every blow struck may tell for the advancement of the cause.

Good news this week from the Eastern Mission will cheer the hearts of thousands. But the work has but just begun in the East. It will require labor, patient and vigorous, to accomplish the work. Books must be sent to Maine, and those young disciples should read up, and get their friends to reading. Bro. Loughborough will probably arrange for several repositories in New England.

We give a rich slice this week from the Philosophy of Health, on tobacco, by L. B. Coles, M. D. The writer states facts in a masterly style. The subject will be continued in several papers. Let all who are troubled with the filthy weed, read with care, and profit.