Review and Herald, Vol. 29, No. 15. (3/19/1867)

Review and Herald

Mar 19, 1867

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 19, 1867

The Sermon.

By James White

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom, PREACH THE WORD. 2 Tim. iv, 2.

SERMON

BY ELD. JAMES WHITE.

The Warfare and Victory.

“Abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul.” 1 Pet. ii, 11.

In briefly presenting this subject, we shall notice the following points, designated by the italicised words:

Abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul.
Abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul.
Abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul.
Abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul.
Abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul.

1. The word FLESHLY does not refer in particular to flesh-meats, but doubtless includes them, as the flesh of dead animals is one of the things that man has lusted for. The Israelites loathed the healthful food which God gave them from heaven, and lustfully looked back into Egypt for the flesh they ate there.

The term fleshly refers to fallen man with all the corruptions that his mortal nature is heir to, and is in the text used in contrast with the soul. Men lust for worldly gain, hence the inquiry of Jesus, “What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” Mark viii, 36. Here soul means life, embracing the future life. To yield to lust is sin, the wages of which is death; but to abstain from lust, or from sin, so as to be partakers of the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ, is eternal life. “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like, of the which I tell you before, as I have told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain-glory, provoking one another, envying one another.” Gal. v, 19–26.

Here the flesh is represented as being in opposition to the Spirit of God, as in chapter vi, 7, 8: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

2. LUSTS. These are said to war against the soul, or life; and, if left to carry on their warfare unrestrained, will surely get the victory. The apostle James says that “every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” Chap. i, 14, 15.

Lust, or inordinate desire for that which is wrong, must be crucified, and the old man be slain, or it will overcome the new man, or mind of Christ in us. “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” Rom. vi, 6. “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Gal. v, 24.

3. WAR. In a war there are two contending parties, who, when in battle, exert themselves to the utmost, employing the most deadly weapons to destroy each other. On one side is general lust, with three principal aids, namely, the world, the flesh, and the devil. On the other side is the soul, aided by Christ, the Holy Spirit, and good angels. But thanks be to God, Christ and good angels conquered Satan and his angels, and through him strengthening us we can do all things. He also overcame Satan’s temptations as he offered him the kingdoms of the world, and although tempted on all points as we are, he escaped the lusts of the flesh. Satan is a mighty foe, but Christ is mightier. Fallen angels are strong, but there are angels that excel in strength. And although the Christian warfare is fierce, the victory is sure to the true and faithful who have the heavenly armor on.

The Apostle to the Romans, chapters vii, and viii, delineates Christian experience, in which this warfare is also clearly brought to view. In chapter vii, 14–25, and viii, 1–5, he says: “For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do, I allow not; for what I would that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If, then, I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now, then, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me, that is my flesh, dwelleth no good thing; for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would, I do not; but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now, if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find, then, a law, that when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man; but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. Oh! wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So, then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh, the law of sin. There is, therefore, now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh; that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit; for they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.”

Thousands are in Rom. vii, where the battle goes hard for want of experience and consecration. God grant that they may get into chapter viii, where in freedom and fullness of joy they can exclaim, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh, the law of sin. There is, therefore, now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit; for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”

And at the close of the war there is an all-glorious victory. Our conquering King comes to triumphantly gather to himself the loyal and true soldiers of the cross, and takes them to their everlasting reward. “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Redemption is now completed, the earth is made new, Christ’s foes, including Satan, his angels, and all wicked men, are destroyed. The war is over, the reign of the King of peace has come, and earth’s jubal songs of victory peals forth from the discharged victors

without a jarring note from one of God’s enemies, for they are all as though they had not been. “And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne, and the beasts, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.”

Go forth, now, ye blood-washed saints, and view your reward. The new earth is yours. Enter the golden city and gather round the tree of life; and with the golden cup of God drink of life’s flowing river. Join with the angels in singing of creating love. But it is yours to strike your harps a note higher than the angels can, and sing of redeeming love. This, oh! this, will constitute your most rapturous joy throughout the ceaseless rounds of endless ages.

4. THE SOUL. In the eyes of popular theology the soul is very small, but the Bible represents it as being, as a brother in Vermont expressed it, just as large as the body. We do not design to dwell on the nature and destiny of the soul, but quote a few texts to the point. The theme is too vast. The Review and Herald, and several ably written works at the Review Office, have done the subject far better justice than we can in the limits allowed us.

“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.” Gen. ii, 7. Here no distinction is made between body and soul, but the man Adam, entire, formed of the dust, constituted the soul. And the statement that eight souls were saved in the ark, simply means that eight persons were saved from the waters of the flood. God, by his holy prophet, has said, “The soul that sinneth it shall die,” yet popular theology everywhere affirms that the soul is immortal, and whether it dwells in glory, or suffers in hell, can never die.

The gospel of Jesus Christ sets life and death before the sinner. Popular theology sets life only before him; either life in happiness, or life in misery. But we must pass from this part of the subject, and notice, lastly,

5. ABSTINENCE. The battle proves successful, and day is gained only in obedience to the injunction, “Abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul.” The subject of abstinence is nearly the same as that of human probation, and is sufficient to fill a volume. A few thoughts only must suffice, on the present occasion. God taught it to the holy pair in Eden. Life with them depended upon abstinence from the fruit of a single tree, while they were allowed free access to that of all the other trees of the garden. Life and death were set before them. Abstain and live, or eat and die. But through the subtlety of another they ate, and introduced to the world, beautiful from the hand of God, the reign of death, and the curse, whose blight is seen upon man and beast, and upon every living substance. The whole creation groaneth, and will groan, until redemption’s morn shall burst upon a ruined world, and the Redeemer shall make all things new.

The first offspring of the fallen pair, Adam and Eve, was moved with jealousy, anger, and wrath. These works of the flesh moved the bosom, and maddened the brain of Cain; and his brother, who walked with God, fell by his murderous blow. And as the fallen sons of Adam multiplied, each successive generation feeling the curse more deeply, violence filled the land, and the people, with the exception of a very few, gave themselves up to all the lusts of the flesh. The lesson of abstinence taught to Adam and Eve in Eden was lost upon them, notwithstanding they saw and knew the terrible results of their transgression. They had been driven from Eden, and the earth, once beautiful, had been stained with blood from a want of that abstinence taught by a righteous God; yet they rushed on in crime.

The few who abstained from the lusts of the flesh are mentioned in sacred history like the following: Abel’s works are said to be righteous. It is said of Enoch, the seventh from Adam, that he walked with God. Lot’s righteous soul was vexed. Noah was a preacher of righteousness. And the prophets are called holy. Their lives of abstinence also stand out in bold relief upon the sacred page.

The history of each is also written. One is visited with visible marks of God’s displeasure, with the fire of his wrath, and with flood. They are also reserved till the day of God, at the close of which they will be cast into the lake of fire which will consume them. The other class, true to the great law of abstinence, suffer from the ungodly, yet toil on in hope of the bright future. These all died in faith, of whom the world was not worthy. But their final destiny! we will not attempt to describe it! “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man.” The inspired words of the apostle probably reach nearest to it, as he weighs all the tribulations of a short life of abstinence, and the endless reward to be given. “Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

The ancients gave themselves up unrestrained to the lusts of the flesh. These we will notice as follows:

1. The eating of meat. It was not the design of God that the life of any living creature should be taken. The spilling of blood, and the eating of meat, is sin. The first permission to eat the flesh of animals was to Noah when he left the ark, which, under the circumstances, was a matter of necessity. But that God designed that his ancient people should leave its use is evident from the history of the Israelites in leaving Egypt. While in slavery they ate that which was given them to eat. As they left the house of bondage, God gave them manna. But they loathed the light food and lusted for the flesh meats which they ate in Egypt. God could as easily have rained from heaven the flesh of dead animals as he did angels’ food. But he gave them the manna because it was best for them. He finally gave them the flesh of quails, the simplest kind of meat, to prove to them that manna was better for them than flesh. It made them sick; yet they lusted, and murmured, and the result was that but two adults that left Egypt, out of the many thousand, ever entered the land of promise.

2. Covetousness. Satan coveted the place of Jesus Christ, and fell. And to guard men against this sin, the tenth precept of the moral law was given. The brother who covets after more of the corruptible things of this world, pierces himself with many sorrows. His feeble efforts to overcome grow feebler, until he falls in the spiritual warfare, and is lost. The thorny cares of this life and the deceitfulness of riches have pierced him to death.

But, be assured, it is not the rich only who are guilty of the sin of covetousness. The poor among Seventh-day Adventists are in the greatest danger of coveting the things of the wealthy. They should rather rejoice that they have fewer thorns, fewer responsibilities, and less dangers than their wealthy brethren. Godliness, with contentment, will be great gain to them, while he who should gain the whole world and lose his own soul, would suffer great loss.

3. Sexual lusts. We cannot refrain from speaking out against this soul-and-body-destroying sin, from delicate feelings, as it comes in direct range of our subject. Bible history presents a fearful picture. The character of many, even of the servants of God, has been marred by this loathsome sin. While the lives of a few, such as Abel, Enoch, Elijah, and Daniel shine in purity, that of others is darkened with a cloud. But some of these, such as faithful Abraham, who was tried and proved as no other man has been, a wrestling Jacob, and a repenting David, finally overcame. At the same time thousands have rolled in moral uncleanness, and have called down upon their heads the wrath of God in fire upon the cities of the plains, and the flood of waters in the days of Noah.

We close our remarks by saying that we do not cherish the wild ideas of some relative to the future improvement of the race, should time continue. But the sufferings of the present generation, married and single, can find relief only in abstinence.

God will help all those who help themselves, and press the warfare to the salvation of the soul, and abstain from fleshly lusts. Amen.

THE GREAT REFINER.

'Tis sweet to feel that He, who tries The silver, takes his seat Beside the fire that purifies; Lest too intense a heat, Raised to consume the base alloy, The precious metal, too, destroy.

'Tis good to think how well He knows The silver's power to bear The ordeal to which it goes; And that, with skill and care, He'll take it from the fire, when fit For His own hand, to polish it.

'Tis blessedness to know that He The piece He has begun Will not forsake, till He can see, To prove the work well done, An image, by its brightness shown, The perfect likeness of His own.

DO THE SCRIPTURES TEACH THE WORLD'S CONVERSION?

By William Buckland

This is a subject of much interest, seemingly to nearly all the religious world, and they are looking forward with great anxiety to the time when they shall see the gospel shine forth with such power, force, and clearness, that none of the sons of men will be able to resist its mighty power; when it will spread itself all over the whole earth, till all the inhabitants of the islands of the seas, and they of the farthest climes, yea, all of the heathen shall be made new creatures in God, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, shed upon them, and they are made to rejoice in the sure mercies of God, unto salvation. For, say they, “The Bible tells us that the truths of the gospel will pervade every corner of this earth, and the rays of its light will find out every benighted soul; for the knowledge of the Lord is to fill the earth as the waters fill the sea, and ‘they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord; for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.’”

I do remember the language of our Saviour in speaking of the last days. He said that this “gospel of the kingdom should be preached in all the world [What for? to convert them? No.] for a witness unto all nations” that his kingdom is nigh at hand. Then there is that scripture of the prophet which says that men shall learn war no more, and that they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; and another scripture of that prophet says, that the influence of the Spirit of the Lord should pervade the animal kingdom; that the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the lion shall eat straw like the ox; also, that there should be a highway of holiness raised up, the mountain of the Lord, and all should walk therein. But who is it that is saying these things? Is it the Lord? or, is it man? Isa. ii, 3. “And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob.” It is many people that are saying, Nations shall learn war no more, that they shall beat their swords into plowshares, &c. They, also, are saying there shall be a highway of holiness so broad that all the world will walk on it. We would ask, Do the nations show that they are nearing such a time? Have they forgotten the arts of war? the marshaling of armies? the casting of cannon? the making of implements of destruction? Is the war-horse unharnessed? Are the trained hordes disbanded? Are their weapons of death lying idle, unused, and rusting in their armories, being cast into implements for the breaking of the soil? No! but, like the pent-up thunders of a mighty volcanoe, whose deep notes roll through the earth days before it sends forth from its mouth the fiery stream which engulfs all before it; so the nations of this world are trembling and tottering, which we understand as precursors of great political agitations which are soon to shake violently the kingdoms of this world, and bring swift destruction upon its inhabitants.

But what do the scriptures say on the subject? “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” We conclude that they contain the key to all Bible subjects, that we may unlock them, and draw out the pith of the matter even in this. Paul, in writing to Timothy, says “that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” In another place, in speaking of the last days, Paul enumerates eighteen prominent sins, of which he says the people shall be guilty, and “as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses so do these also resist the truth; men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.” Peter says, “There shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth

shall be evil spoken of;” these have eyes full of adultery, and cannot cease from sin, and have forsaken the right way, and gone astray, and love the wages of unrighteousness. Jude says, “There should be mockers in the last time who should walk after their own ungodly lusts;” being sensual, having not the Spirit. In 2 Peter we have a like testimony, that “there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming?” In Timothy we read that “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” Also, the time will be when the truths of the Bible will not be as a pleasant song, or a goodly garment to men, but they shall desire something pleasing to the ear, though it be a fable. “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” Some shall wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction.

In the book of the prophecy of Daniel, we learn that the wicked man will not forsake his wicked ways, and turn into the paths of truth; nor will he forget them, but continue to walk in them, neither shall he have understanding. In chapter xii we read, “Go thy way, Daniel; for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand.”

Then there is the parable of the sower, found in Matt. xiii. The kingdom of Heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. Then when the tender blades of wheat sprung up, the tares appeared also. So the servants of the household came and said unto him, Wilt thou, then, that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; let them grow together until the harvest.

In explaining this parable, the Saviour says, “The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one: the enemy that sowed them is the Devil: the harvest is the end of the world, and the reapers are the angels. As, therefore, the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.”

Query. As the tares are the wicked, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom, and as the wheat and tares are to grow together until the harvest, the end of the world; also when the four great kingdoms of Daniel are dashed to pieces, and the fifth and everlasting kingdom is then set up, as the judgment comes in between them, Where is there a place for the millennium to come in?

In the third chapter of the book of Joel, there is a command from on high which all nations hear and obey, notwithstanding many false teachers shall be crying, “Peace and safety” throughout the land. This command is given in the time of the harvest, the end of the world. “Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles: Prepare war, wake up the mighty men; let all the men of war draw near; let them come up; beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning-hooks into spears; let the weak say, I am strong. Assemble yourselves and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about; thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord. Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe; come, get you down; for the press is full; the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision; for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.”

Those that are crying peace and safety, upon whom the day of the Lord will come as a thief, are the many men that are saying, “Men shall learn war no more,” being deceived, walking after their own lusts.

We should not overlook the idea brought to light in the following scriptures. They are often quoted as evidences of the world’s conversion. We should consider when they have their application; to whom they are applied, and what is to fill up the space between this and their fulfilment. “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion, and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.” Also, “A highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called, The way of holiness.” Also such scriptures as Jer. xxxi, 34, Hab. ii, 14, which we believe will be fulfilled on the new earth after sin and sinners are destroyed, and all things are renewed (or made new), for we read in Isa. lxv, 17, “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.” And that people shall be a righteous nation. “Thy people, also, shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.” And that company shall be a worshiping assembly. “And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.”

WILLIAM BUCKLAND. Battle Creek, Mich.

OUR ASSOCIATES.

By C. A. OSGOOD

If we would pursue a course of consistent piety, and make our way to the kingdom of God, we must make those our associates who are traveling the same way; those who will help us on in the heavenly race instead of being a hindrance to us. Many young persons who were once thoughtful and serious, and who promised much usefulness, under the influence of ungodly associates, have been led astray, far from the path of virtue, and ruined by sin. True, we can not avoid all intercourse with a wicked world, but while duty may call us at times to be among the ungodly, we must not make them our chosen companions, nor delight in those things they delight in; but we must watch every moment, lest we should imbibe their spirit and so “fail of the grace of God;” and we should remain in their company no longer than duty demands. The psalmist said, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” Here are brought to view three classes of unholy men.

1. The ungodly. Those who are not pious, but decent and respectable; men who are not scandalous in their lives.

2. Sinners. Unjust, profane men.

3. Scorners. Those who scoff at truth and religion. He is said to be happy who does not hearken to, and who is not influenced by, the counsel of the ungodly. If he were to do this, he would become very worldly-minded, have his affections set on things below, and so despise, and neglect to labor earnestly to secure, an inheritance in the kingdom of God.

Should he get into the habit of standing in the place where sinners love to meet, he would, after awhile, feel less the evil of sin, and, continuing still longer in their company, gradually imitate their wicked ways, and finally, perhaps, become as vile as the vilest of them.

Sitting in the scoffer’s seat and continuing to do so, all reverence for sacred things would be likely to pass away, until he would come to scoff like the rest, and say, “What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?” Job. xxi, 15. “Where is the promise of his coming?” &c.

But he who avoids all these, has “his delight in the law of the Lord, and in his law does he meditate day and night.” Such a person naturally becomes “a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.” Such companions “speak often one to another,” about the requirements of God, of the danger of being “hardened through the deceitfulness of sin,” and about the glorious promises of God to those who overcome sin. They help and encourage one another in fighting “the good fight of faith,” and in running “the race set before them.”

But it is said, “a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” All sinners are foolish in the sense of Scripture. Their “end is destruction,” and those who associate familiarly with them and continue so to do, will meet the same fate. This is the result of intimate associations with unbelievers, not only outbreaking sinners, but also, the gay, frivolous, and worldly-minded. Those who live in sin are under the influence of unholy, impure, selfish, motives; and shall we make the enemies of God our peculiar friends?

“Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial?” “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you; and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” In this passage there is a positive command of God, to forsake the company of unbelievers, with a gracious promise that if we do, the Lord Almighty will be our Father, and that we shall be his children. What a glorious exchange; to give up the company of the worldly, the proud, the vain, the selfish, for communion with the ever-blessed God, and adoption into his family, and an heirship to an eternal inheritance! How blessed the association with saints here! And if we continue faithful, we shall soon be permitted to sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and all the prophets, and all the redeemed ones in the kingdom of God, and join in the song of redeeming love, and enjoy the sweets of those hallowed associations forever and ever.

Dear reader, be admonished to leave worldly associates, and cleave to the people of God with all your heart.

C. A. OSGOOD.

CONFUSION AMONG ADVENTISTS.

By W. H. Blaisdell

Oh, what a variety of sentiments among those who are looking for the soon coming of the Saviour!

Some believe he will come this year; others, that he will come next year. Some believe that when he does come, we shall know the precise day in which that event will take place; others, that we can only know when he is near, even at the doors.

Some Adventists believe in the immortality of the soul; others do not.

Some believe that all the dead will be raised; others, that only the righteous dead will be raised.

Some believe that the seventh day is the Sabbath, some that the first day is the Sabbath; and others, that there is no Sabbath.

Some believe that the mark of the beast will be in regard to the immortality of the soul, which will be enforced by Spiritualists; some believe that it is received by holding a claim on real estate, in the form of deeds, mortgages, &c.; and others, that it will be received by yielding obedience to laws which will yet be made in regard to Sunday-keeping.

And this is but a small part of their different opinions. Thus we see, that even Adventists are not free from doubt and uncertainty in regard to the truths of God's word. Still, we read, that we are to be sanctified through the truth, John xvii, 17, and that our souls are to be purified by obeying the truth, 1 Pet. i, 22, and that we ought to have our loins girt about with truth, Eph. vi, 14, in order to stand against the wiles of the Devil. It is very evident that all have not the truth; it is also very evident that if God's people ever have needed the whole armor to protect them against the wiles of the Devil, it is needed by those who stand amid the perils of the last days. It therefore seems that if ever, in any age of the world, God's people needed much help from above, to pilot them through the dangers to which they have been exposed, it is especially needed by those who are living in the last days, to guide them safely through the breakers and dangers that are so numerous just before entering the harbor, and to keep them in the channel of truth, that they may glide safely on amid the fury of the angry waves that are dashing around them, until they reach the port and cast their anchor in the harbor of eternal rest. May the Lord give his people just such help as they need, and make them willing to receive it in just that manner, and from just that source, that may best please him. Oh, how much faith and patience are needed by those living in the days immediately preceding the coming of the Son of man! May we be found among the class spoken of in Rev. xiv, 12; for they are called the saints, and their peculiar characteristic is, that they have faith and patience, and keep the commandments of God and faith of Jesus.

Of all the different classes of Adventists, this is the one among which it will be safe to be found when the Son of man shall be seen coming on the great white cloud.

W. H. Blaisdell.

North Leeds, Me., March 4, 1867.

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