THE following paragraph, from the Methodist Recorder, contains some good advice; and it will apply just as well to the cases of strangers who do not come as members; strangers who, from interest, or even from curiosity, may visit our places of worship. When a church becomes established and the faces of regular attendants become familiar, then when a strange face is seen in the congregation that person should never be suffered to leave the threshold without a kindly greeting. If he is far from home he should be the guest of some member of the church for the day if circumstances permit. Our churches should ever be alive to do all kinds of missionary labor, and in this way the heart of strangers may often be touched, prejudice removed if any exists, and the seed be sown in fruitful ground. It would be profitable to most of us to carefully read all that the Lord has said about our treatment of strangers.
"When strangers come into the church, either from the world to begin the new life, or with a certificate of membership from another communion, it becomes the duty of the members to recognize that stranger, and to welcome him, or her, into their fellowship. While the stranger has a hundred faces to learn, or five hundred, the church of the hundreds has but this one new name and face to learn, and therefore the chances are, that, while the stranger may sometimes mistake a name or face, or even neglect to speak, fearing an intrusion, the whole church will know the stranger wherever he may be seen, even in the twilight or in the crowd. And yet we hear persons who belong to citizen membership, and who ought to help the stranger into acquaintance, sometimes say chilling things of the one put to such disadvantages! The church which holds its new members off at arms' length, or frosts them over with criticism for backwardness, or lack of social grace, thereby chills himself and loses power which it needs for winning souls. Readers, if you would be fair and true to the stranger, meet him more than half way when he comes among you, and never be so cruel as to stand apart on your own dignity until that stranger feels at home. He will never feel at home while you willfully misunderstand the laws of Christian etiquette."
THE perpetuity of every jot and tittle of God's law, is supported by the use of two tills. 1. Till heaven and earth pass. This is quite strong, and carries the mind to a period of time which is still in the future. On this, I think there can be no disagreement. 2. Till all be fulfilled. Here is the disputed ground. We are told that this reaches only to the crucifixion.—That Christ fulfilled all the law, and nailed it to his cross. But we should think it most natural to reserve the stronger expression for the final one. Let us read the text to suit the views of our opponents. According to their interpretation, the Lord wished to assure his hearers that no part of the law would pass, till the crucifixion, which was nearly three years and a half in the future. Then it would stand like this. After cautioning the people not to think he had come to destroy the law or the prophets, he would say, For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till three years and a half.
It has often been shown, that to fulfill a law is to obey it, not to abolish it. But leaving this point, I remark that, the subject of discourse includes something besides the law, namely, the prophets. He says, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets : I am not come to destroy but to fulfill." He came in fulfillment of the prophecies. But have all the prophecies been fulfilled? Nay, verily. Heaven and earth must not only pass, but new heavens and earth must be created before all is fulfilled.
The prophet Isaiah says, "For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. 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." This must be fulfilled before even the fourth commandment of the law can pass.
I conclude, then, that the second till is the stronger of the two. The first reaches to the passing of the present heavens and earth ; the second, not only to the making of the new heavens and earth, but to the unlimited extent of their duration.
R. F. C.
The Millennium.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
Editor Leader.—Allow me to call the attention of your readers to the following scriptural facts concerning the much talked of millennium, for which so many are looking.
1. The Bible teaches that both the righteous and the wicked will grow together till the final end of the world. Matt. 13:24-43.
2. Evil men and seducers will grow worse and worse till the end. 2 Tim. 3:13.
3. In the last days men and society will be more wicked and corrupt morally than ever before, or as it was in the days of Noah and Lot. Matt. 24:37-39.
4. In the last days there will be a great spiritual and religious declension. While many will have the form of holiness most of them will lack the power. 2 Tim. 3:1-5.
5. In the last days the nations will be in a state of anger, hostility, and war, instead of peace and harmony. Rev. 12:15-19; Joel 3:9-15.
6. There is not a promise in the Bible of a state of universal peace and holiness upon this earth before the second advent of Christ.
7. Every promise of this kind relates to the new earth after it has been melted by fire and cleansed from the curse, and the saints are all made immortal. 2 Pet. 3:3-13; Isa. 65:17-25.
8. But when this is fulfilled the wicked are all, not converted, but destroyed, then the saints will possess the new earth not simply for one thousand years, but eternally. Dan. 7:17, 18, 26, 27.
We write this hoping to stir up investigation upon this interesting and important subject. —D. M. CANRIGHT, in The Gilroy Leader.
Roman Catholics as Educators.
THE following pointed queries should be well considered by that class of politicians who have shown a willingness to comply with the demands of that church for a division of the public school funds for its benefit.
“When the Church of Rome objects to the education given in our common schools, and demands public money to carry on education in its own way, surely it is fair to ask it to show where or when education under the control of that church has procured better results. Is it in Spain, where the people are aimlessly and hopelessly cutting each other’s throats, and where anything like stable government appears to be impossible? Is it in Mexico, where brigandage, pronunciamentos, and massacres of Protestants are the order of the day? In both of these countries the Church has controlled education for centuries. Is it in Italy, or Austria, or South America that such results are found as would warrant sensible men in complying with the demand of the Church of Rome for public money to support its schools?”—New York Witness.
Prepare to Meet thy God.
"Who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth?" Mal. 3:2. It is indeed true, that when he comes again, it will be to execute judgment, because he is the Son of man, to gather the wheat into his garner, but to burn the chaff with fire unquenchable. To send forth that tremendous edict, Those mine enemies who would not that I should reign over them, bring hither and slay them before me. Would it not be wise to consider in time whether you are able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against you with twenty thousand; or else to desire conditions of peace. These conditions he not only freely offers you, but has sent his servants to beseech you in his stead to be reconciled unto God. For he hath made him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Let no feeling of past sin, however aggravated, deter you from coming, since it is written, that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin. 1 John 1:7. Be no more a stranger and a foreigner, but, accepting his offer, become a fellow-citizen with the saints, a member of the household of God; be content, with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the saints of God, to confess yourself a stranger, and a pilgrim on the earth, and with them to look for a city that hath foundations whose builder and maker is God.
Perhaps, though not altogether regardless of divine things, you have been going about to establish your own righteousness, and have not submitted to the righteousness of God. Perhaps you have been saying in your heart, "God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are," or "I am rich, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." No wonder, under such circumstances, that you do not desire to hear the Lord's coming. If you think you can do well enough without him; if your salvation depends not on your union with him that is to come; if you feel not your present wretchedness, you cannot desire to exchange your "mourning for joy, or your spirit of heaviness for a garment of praise." If such you are, I beseech you to consider in time the sentence passed upon the guest whom the King perceived to be without a wedding garment; however you may be self-satisfied now, before Him that is coming you will be speechless, and the most appalling sound that ever vibrated in your ear, will be the words, "Bind him hand and foot, and take him away." Realize to yourself the idea of his speedy approach. His faithful messengers are saying, "Come for all things are now ready." He has provided for you the garment in which he expects you to appear, "even the righteousness of God, by faith of Jesus Christ, unto all, and upon all them that believe;" unto all as a gift, and upon all as a covering.—Word of Warning, No. 13.
Gilroy.
By D. M. Canright; J. H. Waggoner
WE have now given ten lectures in this place. We have a good, fair, steady interest, not great and stirring as some that we have seen; but still very promising. No evening have we had less than 150 out. And there has been all the way from this up to 500. We took up one collection and received $17.65. This indicates a good interest. Have sold quite a lot of books. Several families have attended from the country. We have had a number of invitations out to dinner and food has been sent in for us. So we have friends here now and hope soon to have brethren and sisters in the blessed hope. Our friends from Watsonville and San Jose have supplied us quite largely with food so that we do not go to the hotel at all.
We have dwelt upon the prophecies so far; but to-day we take up the destruction of the wicked.
The Gilroy Leader, the ablest and most popular paper of the place, gives us the following notice :—
“THE TABERNACLE.—The tent erected last week for the purpose of conducting religious exercises in, has so much resemblance to a circus tent, that from old associations people naturally went there at first. The most unnatural feature about its external appearance is the absence of a ticket wagon, and to see the look of disappointment on the faces of many as they looked about for this important auxiliary, was really amusing. Once within the pavilion, instead of being confronted with the familiar, good-natured, frank-looking countenance of the elephant, a chart containing Bible scenes attracted the eye, and as they, to very many, are as novel as the form of the elephant would be familiar, the interest is fully as great. Once there, and having heard the lectures given, it requires no circus tent attraction to secure attendance in future, as the lectures are full of interest and very instructive to all. Whatever difference of opinion may exist as to the views presented, the different subjects have been discussed in an intelligent manner, and in such a way as to interest all who have attended them. During the first evenings of the lecture a small wooden image was used for the illustration of prophetical eras of the world's history, and the Chinese population were largely attracted by it, thinking it was one of their gods, no doubt, and our almond-eyed brethren attended in large numbers, listening very attentively through entire lectures, of which they understood not a word. Their eyes bobbed however when the lecturer had finished the first line of prophecy and yanked off the head of the image, by which it was represented.”
The more we become acquainted with this part of the country, the more we are satisfied that we have come to the right field. We shall now have plenty of openings near by for labor indefinitely. The climate is good, the soil rich, and it is on the line of the southern emigration down the coast.
We are of good cheer in this glorious work. Every day we have new evidence that this is not only the truth of God, but that it is just what the people need. Many come to us and say that they do not get spiritual food at the nominal churches any more; but that this seems like old days when they could hear the gospel fresh and with life from the Bible itself.
D. M. CANRIGHT,
J. H. WAGGONER.
June 6.
Encouraging.
By John Norton Loughborough
EVERY day we receive new evidence that the SIGNS OF THE TIMES is becoming an agency through which many souls are receiving benefit. Many from whom we have already heard have embraced the truth, and commenced to keep God's commandments by its perusal. Within the last week we have received several letters from parties who had received a single copy from some source, who write wishing to become permanent subscribers. We expect this is some of the fruit of sending out the single supplement numbers by our T. and M. workers.
The first case I will notice is from a sister who received the SIGNS in Tenessee and has been reading it for a time. In requesting her paper to be changed to Michigan, she says: "I miss the paper very much. When I first received it, I would scarcely read it, but I have become an interested reader, and try to consider and weigh what I read."
The next is from a man in Missouri. He says: "I have received one number of your paper, and I like it very much." He encloses money for postage and says, "If I continue to like your paper I shall send you more money."
Another case in Lake Co., Cal. A man says: "One of your papers happened to fall into my hands, and I like it very much." He enclosed $1.00 for it and requested it sent to his address. Sow the seed, brethren, and scatter the papers and let other souls have a chance to like the paper.
PAUL says, “I mean not that other men be eased and ye burdened; but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be an equality.” 2 Cor. 8 : 13, 14.
As has frequently been stated, one object which the T. and M. Society has is to secure equality in raising means for all the branches of the cause. This, then, should be the case in raising means for general use in the T. and M. work. All can see that to have one or two districts doing considerable in raising means for T. and M. work, and to have other districts which may be just as able to do in point of means, raising but little, and constantly drawing heavily upon the society for supplies of tracts, pamphlets, and even bound books, would not be equality.
We desire, in this State, to bring our mission work, as rapidly as possible, to the same system in all respects that has been adopted and is now working so admirably in other States. In some of our districts especial efforts have been made to sell pamphlets and bound books, and to obtain donations: For these sums they have received credit on the cash book of the secretary. In other districts there has been but little effort made to sell books, or to increase the mission funds. In getting the society into working order we have had considerable to say to you on various points, and so have said nothing before on the point of raising means. In fact, there has not been, heretofore, that necessity which will soon exist to adopt a system of raising T. and M. funds. When we commenced operations under the new constitution, we had a mission fund of over $500.00. This fund is nearly exhausted, and must soon be replenished in order to carry on the T. and M. work.
As I trust all our workers are disposing of the work that was dealt out to them on the SIGNS’ list, and are preparing to settle up their indebtedness to the Review and SIGNS Offices, we may without distraction consider other matters and prepare for an onward move.
We read in our State missionary constitution that it is the duty of our State Secretary “(2) To keep an account of the money received from each district, and the number of pages of tracts and pamphlets, and the number of books furnished to the same, and the value of the whole. (3) He shall notify the director of any district that may have drawn the amount of books to which it is entitled, so that he may raise more money from that district.”
One object of keeping a debt and credit account with each district is to ascertain whether each district is raising its just proportion of the means used, and whether it is drawing more books than it has ever furnished means to pay for. At our next State quarterly meeting the cash book of the Secretary will be looked over by the directors, and some plan devised to raise more means. In the meantime let each librarian, and in fact each T. and M. member make all book and pamphlet sales possible, obtain memberships, or donations from any interested parties who may wish to further the tract work.
J. N. L.
Publishing Fund.
By John Norton Loughborough
We have received some inquiries relative to the publishing fund, as to whether it is to be used in printing the SIGNS, or whether it is all to be considered stock, and to be used in the purchase of site, and furnishing a building, presses, types, &c., for the publishing business, simply. I am referred by one party to a remark that was made at our California camp-meeting last fall, that a portion of this fund would undoubtedly be sunk in publishing the SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
Another statement was also made, that for each and every $10 paid a certificate of stock would be issued and the person be entitled to one vote in the meetings of the association when it should become organized. I assented to the latter statement, but I could not at the time see how money "sunk in publishing the SIGNS" could be called stock, and certificates be issued therefor. But let none censure us too strongly on what was "supposed" at that meeting. None of us knew on just what basis an association would be organized, and we were not even conversant with the fact that laws existed in California under which such an association as we desired could be formed.
The association is now formed, and as far as the law of California under which our association is organized is concerned it will not allow us to consume our stock in the publishing business, but to invest it in buildings, &c., for the legitimate business of the association. Under the circumstances means for the actual publishing of the SIGNS will have to come from subscriptions to the SIGNS, direct donations for its support, profits on sale of books, &c., instead of being taken from what has been already called our subscribed capital stock.
With all explanation heretofore made, still some do not understand that the call made of late to our T. and M. workers, to look after the lists of subscribers is in exact accordance with what was stated by Bro. White, soon after the SIGNS was started. I quote his words again. "1. The agent, who obtains the names should have some evidence at least that the persons would candidly examine Bible subjects.
"2. The agent must obtain the request, or at least the consent (either by word of mouth or by letter), of persons to become subscribers and must so report.
3. "The agent should preserve a list of all the names sent to this office and should feel in duty bound to visit the persons or write to them as often as circumstances will admit, and learn whether they read the periodicals sent with any degree of interest, and if they would like to have them continued, and wish to pay the subscription price, or donate to their publication. Here is a cross to take up, an excellent field of missionary labor. Here is a chance for some of our people who are inclined to exclusiveness, to move out and become broader in their feelings and in their labors."
So you see the work we are now doing with the lists in exact harmony with what was at first proposed. We hope there will be a thorough revising of the lists. Do not hastily cast off any names, but ascertain who are reading with interest, who wish their papers stopped, who wish them continued, and who wish to contribute for the support of the SIGNS as proposed above.
J. N. L.
San Diego County.
By Editor
In a private letter from a brother in San Diego Co., we learn some interesting facts about the work there. He says,
"I have been up to Bear Valley four times since I came down here. Have had a good attendance and considerable interest was manifested. I think some good may be accomplished. Our brethren there are very zealous, I think three or four more will take their stand with us soon. I have spoken of the reasons of our faith and hope from a reasonable and Bible standpoint, and tried to impress the necessity of obedience as well as faith in order to attain eternal life. I find that my great lack is in consecration as well as in ideas; but I pray God that I may obtain them both.
"Have had several invitations to visit different ones to talk upon Bible subjects, and have conversed with some, with good effect I trust. I shall confine my preaching at present to plain practical subjects, and the necessity of obedience to God’s expressed will as it is in his word. Whether I shall ever amount to anything as a preacher is beyond my knowledge. It seems to me that God will have to lift me out of the rut that I am now in before I will be very effectual. I hope to be more imbued with the spirit of the work, that I may do something in a humble way here." J. N. L.
Success of the Cause.
THE following from Bro. R. M. Kilgore's report of labors in Calhoun Co., Iowa, will be of interest to the scattered ones who are trying to work for the Master. He says:—
"Here I found a company keeping the Sabbath who have never heard the voice of an authorized minister. This work had been accomplished through the faithful labors and influence of Bro. N. R. Rigby. I remained a week and preached twelve discourses, at the close of which great interest was manifested to hear more, and by a unanimous vote I was invited to return at the earliest opportunity, which, the Lord willing, I shall do."
Bro. C. H. Chaffee reports that he and Bro. Long are now closing up a series of meetings in Union Star, Dekalb Co., Mo., and that ten or twelve are now keeping the Sabbath. They soon expect to return to Daviess Co., where the interest is good and openings are plenty.
In a report of labors in Northern Mich., Bro. R. J. Lawrence says that since last November he has held eighty-six meetings and organized two churches, and the brethren in various places seem strengthened and encouraged.
Bro. Geo. I. Butler reports from Allenton, Mo., as follows:—
"During the last two or three months, I have not been actively engaged in ministerial labor, but have been mainly at home. I gave a course of lectures at New London, Iowa, ten miles from Mt. Pleasant, of about four weeks duration. A few embraced the truth, and two or three have joined the Mt. Pleasant church as the result. After this I remained at home, working with my hands considerably, which I have found a great physical benefit to me after three years of quite active mental labor. I preached to the church on the Sabbath during this time. This, with the exception of a few meetings with the Knoxville church, when there on personal business, is all the labor I have bestowed in the cause during the time above mentioned.
"I have recently come to this place, intending to labor with Bro. Nelson W. Allen the coming season in an entirely new field in Eastern and Central Missouri. Bro. Allen has lectured some here and at another place, and twelve or fifteen, I believe, are keeping the Sabbath as the result. While waiting for the tent, I am holding some meetings here to deepen the work already begun. We think seriously of setting up the tent in Rolla, where he used to act as professor in the college. We hope that those who listened to the teachings of science may be interested in that which is of such deep importance, the great truths of the third angel's message. We hope for God's blessing in bringing the truth before the people.
"As for myself, the truthfulness of our position never looked clearer to me than now. I never felt more determined to labor earnestly in this cause than now. I have looked over the groundwork and felt the pillars of our faith, and they never seemed more solid than now. There is no other way but to go forward in courage and in faith. No doubt there are discouragements to surmount, difficulties to be met, battles to be fought. Was there ever a good cause in which there were not plenty of these? The hosts of evil are mighty, and our trembling souls may shake at times when we view them; but the mighty God of Jacob alone is a majority; leaning on his arm we can prevail."
From the report of the general quarterly meeting of the Michigan T. and M. Society, held at Potterville, May 8, 9, we learn that Bro. and sister White were present at that meeting, and were in the enjoyment of health and good spirits. After the business of the society had been transacted Bro. White made some very "important remarks as to the propriety of accepting names for our periodicals without some evidence that they would be read with care and interest besides the accustomed 'yes' which is often said through courtesy, without giving the subject further thought." Bro. and sister White also each gave two solemn and instructive discourses at the meeting well calculated to inspire courage in all the T. and M. workers.
Life’s Mistakes and Christian Victory
LIFE, like war, is a series of mistakes; and he is the best Christian who wins the most splendid victories by the retrieval of mistakes.
Fret not Thyself.
By E. T. B.
FRET not though thousands live for gain,
And heap their gold up mountains high ;
It cannot ease one hour of pain,
Or change the day in which to die.
Fret not thyself though oft it seems
Thy way is closed on every side ;
Thy trials often are like dreams
That leave us as the passing tide.
Fret not, but let thy hope expand
With all the happy, pure, and good;
And strive to gain that better land
Where all is plainly understood.
Fret not, though clouds obscure the sky
And but a ray of light is seen ;
There is a brighter land on high,
Where clouds can never intervene.
Fret not though all is swept away,
And death is standing at the door;
Remember that a calmer day
Will dawn on an eternal shore.
Fret not, the Lord will soon appear
With the angels clothed in white;
And fill his enemies with fear
And the saints with pure delight.
San Francisco, Cal. E. T. B.
Health Department.
By James White
"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." 3 John 2.
Bible Hygiene.
BY ELD. JAMES WHITE.
IN the records of God's providential dealings with the race the Hebrews hold a high rank. These descendants of the worthy patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, were proud of the blood in their veins, and, in the days of Christ are heard to say boastfully, "We have Abraham to our father."
Abraham was a truly grand character in his day. "I know him," says the great God, "that he will command his children and his household after him." Gen. 18:19. He is made the father of all the faithful. Rom. 4:11, 16. The reason his children were to be in number like the dust of the earth. Gen. 13:16, or, as the sand upon the seashore, chap. 15:5; 26:4, is given thus: "Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws." Verse 5. The secret of his moral greatness lay in the fact that he was true to principle and possessed unlimited faith in God, and in his providential dealings with the faithful.
There is much of thrilling interest in the sacred sketches of Isaac, of Jacob and his twelve sons, the slavery of Joseph, his elevation, the subsequent slavery of the Hebrews, and their miraculous deliverance. God designed to do great things for them; hence his prohibitions which restricted appetite, and provided for them the most healthful food.
During four hundred and thirty years of slavery in a heathen land, the habits of the Hebrews became more or less corrupted. And as their moral power became weak, in the same degree appetite and passion grew stronger. With an outstretched arm, God brought them from the land of servitude into the wilderness, where he purposed to reform them. Their wrong habits in Egypt had made them irritable, and had disqualified them to endure the pangs of thirst, or the gnawings of perverted appetite.
Their wrong habits were such that a change to the simple manna was a great one. But this change, God being judge what was best for them, was necessary to their physical, mental, and moral good. God well knew that unless they could control appetite, they could not be controlled by law; hence the test in restricting them to the manna. "Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no."
God designed to bring a whole nation near to himself, and give them opportunity to develop a perfect character before him. He tested them on appetite, as he did our first parents in Eden, and with about the same results. Had they stood the test, God would have taken them through the wilderness in the brief space of eleven days, and would have triumphantly planted the hosts of Israel whom he had borne on eagles' wings from Egypt to the land of promise.
But the Hebrews failed to endure God's test. Appetite dethroned reason, and reigned in childish murmurings and rebellion. And as a consequence of yielding to the clamors of corrupted appetite they wandered forty years in the wilderness, and strewed their carcasses all along the way, so that only two of the adults that left Egypt were permitted to reach the good land of promise. Let the sacred records be carefully searched, and see if the murmurings of the children of Israel, which are made very prominent in both the Old Testament and the New, may not be traced back in every case to restrictions, or to their fears, as to what they should eat and drink.
The waters of Marah were bitter, and a general cry of murmuring rang through the host of Israel, and reached the ear of Moses, "What shall we drink?" A certain tree cast into the waters made them sweet. This quieted their murmurings for the time. And the Lord, "made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, and said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians; for I am the Lord that healeth thee." The gracious God of the Hebrews regarded the health of his people as a matter of first importance. He promised them health if they would obey. Indeed, no fact appears more distinct upon the sacred record than that, in the great work of reforming them, and restoring them from wrong habits contracted in Egypt, God commenced with the appetite.
And the Lord does not propose to work miracles for the health of his people while they indulge in habits injurious to health. He designs to make them healthy and happy by restricting their diet, and thereby restoring natural appetite and mild temper. He was soon to take his people to the land of promise, a second Eden, marred somewhat by the curse, and establish them there a healthy, holy people. But before doing this, he would reform them in their dietetic habits, by taking them back, step by step, as near as possible to the purity of his original purpose when he provided the simple fruits, grains, and vegetables, as the best food for man.
Thirty days after the departure from Egypt, the Hebrews were encamped in the Wilderness of Sin, and there the circumstances of their position tested their trembling faith. It was evident that the chances for food were against them, unless God should work a perpetual miracle. And the infidel question was murmured through the camp, "Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?" And the whole congregation murmured against Moses and Aaron, saying, "Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh-pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger." Ex. 16:3.
The case was an urgent one. Something must be done. The people must have food. And the necessity of his people was God's opportunity there to send them supplies from Heaven. It came in abundance, and lay round about the host. The God and Father of his people most certainly gave them food which was best adapted to their wants. Well, did he send down to them cattle, sheep, swine, lobsters, oysters, clams, eels, and the like, tea, coffee, and tobacco? This he could have done, and would have done, if these were necessary to life and health. But none of these were given. What did the God of Israel provide as food for that vast host? The simple language of the Sacred Record gives the following interesting facts:—
"Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from Heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no." Ex. 16:4. God was about to repeat his law in the ears of all the people. Would they obey? Their appetites and passions were such that the matter was one of doubt. This, however, seems to be established in the Divine Mind, that unless they could control appetite they could not be controlled by law. God proposes to prove their moral powers, and he does this by testing them in the matter of appetite.
From the description of the manna given in Num. 11:7, 8, one might safely conclude that it would be quite as disagreeable to morbid taste as graham bread. Its shape, color, taste, and the manner in which it was prepared for food, are thus given: "And the manna was as coriander seed, and the color thereof as the color of bdellium. And the people went about and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it; and the taste was as the taste of fresh oil."
It appears from the record that the people were not at first restricted to manna alone. In the morning they were to eat of the manna, and in the evening they were to eat of the flesh of the quails. Whether flesh was given them once a day at first, that the change of their habits might be more gradual, or because of their frenzied murmurings, may be a matter of debate. But at a later period they were restricted to manna alone, as the following statement of their frantic murmuring shows:—
"And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting; and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic. But now our soul is dried away. There is nothing at all besides this manna, before our eyes." Num. 11:4-6. God gave them flesh—not because it was best for them—but to teach them that he best knew their real needs. As other means of instruction had failed, he let them have their own way this time to humble them and bring them to submission.
The leader of murmuring Israel was instructed to say to his people, "And ye shall eat flesh; for ye have wept in the ears of the Lord, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt; therefore the Lord will give you flesh, and ye shall eat. Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days nor twenty days, but even a whole month, until it comes out at your nostrils and it be loathsome unto you; because that ye have despised the Lord which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?" Chap. 11:17-20.
We are sometimes gravely informed by those knowing gentlemen who give their influence on the side of indulgence of morbid taste, that the appetite indicates that which is best adapted to the wants of the system. And tens of thousands are acting the glutton and hastening to a premature, wretched end over this miserable untruth. How terribly false in the case of the Hebrews! On the same ground men may justify the drunkard, the opium inebriate, and the tobacco slave.