p. 15 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 1, No. 2. (6/11/1874)

The Coming of the Lord.

BY AN ENGLISH WRITER.

“Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence; a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people. Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice. And the heavens shall declare his righteousness; for God is judge himself. Selah.” Ps. 50: 3–6.

We stand on the eve of one of the greatest events the world has ever witnessed. Signs are multiplying on every side of us, compared with which there has been no parallel, either in the history of the church or the world. One of the greatest changes to both hangs upon this great event. It is the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ the second time, in power and glory, to bring all things into subjection to himself, and to be “King of kings, and Lord of lords.” Let us see what the psalmist says of this event in the passage under consideration.

The first word is a striking one—“Our God.” It is the family word. None but the child can use it. That child is one of the family. He is related to his Heavenly Father. He has been redeemed and brought nigh by the blood of Christ. He is in the bonds of the everlasting covenant. He is a joint heir with Christ. He can look up, and say, “My beloved is mine, and I am his.” He will be able to say with joy, when the Lord shall descend from Heaven in flaming fire, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us; this is the Lord; we have waited for him; we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Yes; it is the family word. He who now puts into our lips the sweet words, “Our Father,” enables us to look forward to that solemn hour, and say, “Our God.”

We are about to meditate on a solemn scene—God coming down to this earth in human form, as a devouring fire, with storms and tempests raging around him. Oh! how necessary to be able to say, before we gaze upon it, “Our God.” What will it be if we cannot say, “Our God?” With what feelings of terror and alarm must it be viewed, unless we can say, in prospect, “Our God!” Make sure of this, reader, before you go one step farther. Only this can make you calm in the prospect, and in the reality when it comes, to be able to say, “Our God.” Therefore it is that the Holy Spirit puts this little word first, on which we may dwell earnestly, soberly, searchingly, before we proceed to that which follows.

“Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence.” In order clearly to understand what is meant here by God’s “not keeping silence,” we must refer to the closing part of the chapter, from the sixteenth verse to the twenty-second: “But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldst take my covenant in thy mouth? seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee. When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers. Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit. Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother’s son. These things thou hast done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself.” Here God reviews the character of the wicked in this dispensation. It is exactly what has been going on in our world for the last six thousand years. Men have been taking God’s covenant “in their mouth,” in other words, making a profession of religion, while, all the time, the power of religion has been absent. Underneath this profession, sin and iniquity of the worst form have been carried on. Men have really been “hating” God, and casting his words behind them.

“Theft,” “adultery,” “evil,” “deceit,” “false witness,” “slander”—have not all these things been going on in the world at a fearful speed? All this while, God has “kept silence.” He has not interfered to strike men down in such acts with his arm of judgment, so men begin to say, “Where is God? Tush! doth God see?” If there be a God, why does he not interfere? Either there is none, or else he is “altogether such an one as ourselves.” Thus the world has gone on—the wicked “flourishing as a green bay tree,” the righteous returning with a “full cup” of tears, and God keeping silence. But it shall not always be so. “Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence.” He shall come, and “reprove” men, and “set” each act and deed “in order” “before the eyes” of the wicked. It is interesting to notice how nearly all the features of the wicked, described in this chapter, and which history has indorsed as the dominant principles in the world, are again reproduced by the Holy Spirit in the third chapter of St. Paul’s second epistle to Timothy, and which are to be more prominently developed—as the flower from the bud—in the last days.

And what are to be the heralds of the coming? “A fire shall devour before him; and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.” Here, again, the Holy Spirit confirms this testimony by St. Paul: “And to you, who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.” Yes; from one end of Christendom to the other, one piercing cry shall rend the heavens: “Ye rocks and hills, fall upon us, and hide us from the presence of the Lamb.” The entreaty, earnest and loud, will then be heard from many a lip that now scorns the preaching of the cross: “Lord, Lord, open to us;” but “too late.” It shall be “very tempestuous.” The nations shall be at their wits’ end. The ties of nature and of society shall be set at naught. Men’s lusts and passions shall have unbridled course. They shall run to and fro. Knowledge shall increase. Men’s hearts, on all sides, will be “failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.” A few will lift up their heads in that universal wreck, and run calmly and joyfully; for they know their redemption is nigh, their hour of triumph at hand. Oh! to stand among that little band in that awful hour, and be able to say, “Our God!”

But what will the Lord do then? “He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.”

The Spirit of God confirms this testimony by St. Paul: “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” The word rendered “then,” in this passage, may be more correctly rendered, “after that,” and shows us that some interval may elapse between the meeting of the dead saints and the living ones before they are taken up to meet the Lord in the air. The fond greeting, the loved embrace, the outburst of joy, shall fill it up. Then all shall rise together at one and the same summons from on high, “and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” “Ever with the Lord!” Oh! the joy of these words! Here thought fails. The lips falter. The mind shrinks. Eternity alone can tell their depth. We wait to sound their meaning. Who would not say, in such a world of sin, and sorrow, and death, as this, “Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly?”

But mark the psalmist’s words. Who are they that are called? “Gather my saints together unto me.” What an expressive word—“my saints!” How the Lord appropriates them as his own! “They shall be mine in the day when I make up my jewels.” What precious words—“my saints,” “my jewels!” What sinful, erring creatures we are! How do we daily and hourly provoke the Lord who loves us! What naughty children the Lord has to manage! How he may say of us, as Moses said of Israel, “Ye have been rebellious against the Lord since the day that I knew you;” and yet, “my saints!” “my jewels!” Oh, what grace! what wondrous love!

But mark another word here. “Gather my saints.” “He shall gather the lambs in his arms.” He shall gather them as a shepherd his sheep in the hour of weakness and danger—the weak ones, the nervous ones, those who start at a shadow, and tremble at the fluttering of a leaf. They shall not be weak or nervous then. The frail body shall be dropped forever, and they shall be clasped in an embrace such as they have never known on earth, to a bosom of infinite love.

But mark another word here. “Gather my saints together.” It is the family meeting. It is the grand reunion. It is the glad assembly. We shall not rise to meet the Lord individually—in isolations. We shall be gathered together. So the apostle speaks of our “gathering together unto him.” And again, “We which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them.” No more separation! No more sects, or systems! All together! One mind, one heart, one joy, one glad meeting, without the shadow of a farewell greeting ever darkening its shores! What heart does not bound at the thought!

But mark yet one word more, the sweetest of all, “unto Me.” Ah! what would all the others be without this? Nothing, nothing! The foam, the dust, the shadow, the air! What would that meeting be without Jesus? What is any meeting without him? The very notes of Heaven would be discord; its jasper walls would be hideous; its very air would be oppressive. It would all be dreariness, and darkness, and death. With his name, every song is sweet. In his smile, every countenance is bright. Every chord of the golden harps will vibrate with his praise. Every voice will be vocal with his name. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!—through eternity. For this the Lord himself prays: “Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory.” Love can only be satisfied with the presence of its object. So with the Saviour. He longs for us. He waits for us. We must be with him. How can he be happy without us?

But who are these thus gathered? Mark it well, reader: “Those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.” They are those who have laid themselves and their earthly substance as an offering on God’s altar, and who have made a covenant with God through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are the blood-bought ones. They are those who have cast themselves—all sin and guilt, helpless and undone—on the finished work of the Lord Jesus. They are those who cry from the depths of their hearts:—

“Other refuge have I none, Hangs my helpless soul on Thee.”

Reader, have you done this? If you have not, then you are not in that covenant. And if you are not in that covenant now, can you think of that meeting? You may hide this sad picture from your conscience, or, worse than all, charge your sin on God by a series of excuses. But it will not avail then. Mark the next verse: “The heavens shall declare His righteousness, for God is judge himself.” His righteous dealings will then be acknowledged by every lip, and be felt by every heart. Even the wicked will be compelled to own it. And not only so, but righteousness shall be written on everything, as it never has been yet. And why? “For God is judge himself.” He shall be judge in the earth, and the result will be righteous judgment. Misrule, injustice, oppression, will all be ended then. “Righteousness shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.”

And what is the practical lesson from all this, for the world, as well as for God’s people? There is a word for each one at the close of this chapter. “Ye that forget God, consider this.” Unconverted reader, weigh it well, lest God “tear thee in pieces.” The day is at hand. Consider. Fly to Jesus. He is your only hope. Out of him you are not safe for a moment. Be warned, and haste to the refuge.

Christian, “order your conversation,” or citizenship, “aright.” Aim to glorify Jesus. Let his praise fill your heart. Let his image be clearly, decidedly, unmistakably written on every act of your life. Be whole-hearted for Christ. “He that endureth to the end shall be saved.”

The Cause is Onward.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

“In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.” Eccl. 11: 6.

There is no cause that men can engage in with so much certainty of success as they can engage in the cause of God. There is no enterprise that brings such certain returns as that enterprise which brings its recompense at the resurrection of the just. The truth may be unpopular, its friends may be few, its resources may be limited; yet its success and final triumph are ordained of God in Heaven. “It is not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” Zech. 4: 6. Those, therefore, that engage in disseminating the truth, and make sacrifices for its advancement, are insuring to themselves a reward in Heaven; for the work itself is of God, and he rewards every man as his work shall be.

The result of scattering those publications which teach the truth is seen wherever it has been judiciously done. In territories which the living preacher has never entered the truth has found its way by the silent messengers, tracts and pamphlets, and, as the result, individuals and small companies are observing the Sabbath of the Lord. In Dakota we have learned of three small companies, the least numbering six, now observing the Bible Sabbath, which have never heard a sermon nor seen the face of a person of like faith except of their own number.

One man of Western Kansas, who found in his post-office box three Reviews, read them with interest and finally as the result of reading them, embraced the truth. He has never heard a sermon upon present truth. But by letting his light shine, others have also embraced the Sabbath in the vicinity where he lives. And, although he is a poor man, he offers $100 towards purchasing a tent, if some one will come and labor with it. He also proposes to give a portion of his time as tent-master.

About a year since, a young man in the State of New York called upon some of our brethren, and was received so kindly that he became favorably impressed with the truth. And when he left he was furnished with reading matter. Letters recently received from him show that since his return to his friends in England he has embraced the Sabbath of the Lord and other kindred truths. He is a minister of the gospel.

Within the last six months quite an intelligent colored man from Florida, who was a preacher there among his own people, came North with a view of remaining. He was prevailed upon to investigate the claims of the seventh-day Sabbath, and the doctrine of the second coming of Christ. He saw the harmony of the Scriptures upon these points, and embraced these truths, and then felt that he must immediately return to his people with them.

The present truth, has within the past nine months, through an interesting series of providential circumstances, found its way to Washington, D. C., and has been received into honest hearts at that place. An interest has been awakened to read our publications among others.

A few weeks since, there appeared in the Review a communication from brother Ademar Vuilleumier showing the fact that a minister in Italy had embraced the Sabbath and was laboring ardently to teach it to others in connection with the doctrine of the near coming of Christ, and already there has been

a few gathered around him holding the same views.

Last autumn while a brother was conversing upon the subject of present truth with a friend of his in Western New York, a stranger stepped up and listened. After learning the nature of the conversation, he remarked: “I have seen some of your sort of folks in Russia.” He was asked if they kept the seventh day, and believed in the near coming of Christ. He answered in the affirmative.

I have been informed by brethren and sisters who have friends living in many of the Southern States, and at least seven different nations in Europe, that there are those who have embraced the Sabbath in each of these places during the last year.

To those who have no faith in these truths, these facts may be uninteresting; but those who believe that the message of Rev. 14: 9—12, applies to this time, and that it is to be world-wide in its warning, can clearly understand that, although the truth is unpopular, it is making rapid strides in gathering souls from many nations, kindreds, tongues and people.

It has also found its way to the royal family of Sweden. Publications upon present truth are called for by individuals in almost every nation under heaven where civilization exists. In this country, nearly if not all nations are represented. Here is the burden of this work. And through these men and women of other tongues, other nations are being reached. The people of God are placed here as minute men, and should so educate themselves that they can always understand the opening providence of God, and work successfully for the spread of the truth. Now is the time to become rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store a good foundation against the time to come, that we may lay hold on eternal life. 1 Tim. 6: 18, 19.

“Cast thy bread upon the waters,” says Solomon, “for thou shalt find it after many days.” Eccl. 10: 1. And the prophet Isaiah says, “Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters.” Chap. 32: 20. “In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand.” Prosperity will attend the work of God; and our labors will be blessed if we sustain the right relation to God and his cause. Our interests should be undivided in the cause of Christ. It has been purchased by his own blood. Christ is not dependent upon man, but he permits man to be a co-worker with him in the salvation of those for whom he died.

The cause of God should be taken directly into the heart, and made the first great business of life, and worldly interests should be made subservient to it. “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added.” Matt. 6: 33.

We have to do with the world while we are in it, but it should be used as a means and not an end. Man is only a steward of the talents God has committed to him; and these talents God will require with usury. The usury is the influence of our life as it tells upon the salvation of others.

Who would not venture all in so glorious a cause. No individual who loves our Lord Jesus Christ, and professes union with him, should fail to make a special effort to help forward the work of God. All should take an active interest in imparting light to others. The rays of light, tracts and pamphlets, should be sent to all our friends, far and near. And when this is done, earnest prayer should be offered for the Spirit of God to accompany them to the heart. A lively active interest should be taken in every branch of the work of God. All our influence should tell upon the right side and thus we be found gathering with Christ. “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.” Matt. 12: 30.

One brother in Indiana felt that he must take our publications and visit families and pray with them where it was proper. In his first four days’ experience he found many interested to read, and one that embraced the Sabbath.

Brother and sister Sawyer’s experience, near Potterville, Mich., shows what can be done with the blessing of God. “About one year since, they commenced to visit and pray with families in a neighborhood where they had but a few religious privileges. They commenced a Sabbath school for the children. As the result, over twenty, including parents and children, have conscientiously turned their feet to keep the statutes of the Lord, and more than forty meet on the Sabbath.”

A circumstance of interest occurred in Chelsea, Mass., not long since. A stranger chanced to meet with the brethren in one of their social meetings. While in conversation with him upon the subject of the Sabbath, he remarked, “I believe every word of it. I have a sermon in my pocket which treats upon that subject.” Upon examination, it was found to be one of our Sabbath tracts, which had providentially fallen into his hands.

There is force to the Saviour’s words at the present time: “Lift up your eyes and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” But where are the unselfish, sacrificing laborers that will go forth and labor in any sphere which the providence of God may assign them? Where are those that love the cause more than their own interests, and manifest it in their lives by a willingness to sacrifice for its advancement?

It does not require faith to believe this cause is onward, and that there are souls everywhere ready to embrace the truth. Facts show this. And to the above facts might be added the increasing demand for reading matter.

One year ago last February, the most that had ever been sent out from the Office of publication in one week was 160 bushels. Last February it had increased to 210 bushels in one week (compare Review of Feb. 4, 1873, with Review of Feb. 10, 1874), being 50 bushels more than was sent out in one week a year ago. Those who remember when the entire edition of our works of one week was carried to the post-office in a carpet bag, which was only twenty-five years since, cannot fail to recognize the hand of God in this; and more especially so when we realize that not one unpopular feature of truth has been laid aside. Those who have had long experience in this cause, and possess talents of usefulness, and have withheld their influence in the advancement of this truth, and now take no especial interest in its advancement, will soon find that others have their places in the cause, and will eventually wear the crown they failed to secure. With earnestness all should feel it their privilege now to lift in this important work. The time will soon come when no man can work.

S. N. HASKELL.

An Instructive Incident.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

THREE years since while coming from Saginaw to Battle Creek, I wished to change cars at Lansing. I must make good connection in order to reach my appointment in Iowa. By-and-by the conductor came and took up the tickets for Lansing. Soon the train stopped, and I heard them call out “Lansing,” and off I got, and on went the train. But lo, and behold it was North Lansing instead of Lansing! There was no hack or any other conveyance. It was three miles to the cars I wished to take, and they were to go in twenty minutes! They told me it was no use to try to reach the train. I must stay all night. But my resolution was taken in a moment: I would try. I could but fail anyway. So off I started up the track, alone in the dark with a heavy satchel. All can well imagine that I did not feel very comfortable under these circumstances. All this resulted from a mistake of my own. I did not design to do it. I honestly supposed that I was doing right; yet this did not relieve my difficulty in the least. I had to bear the consequences just the same as if I had done it deliberately. I could but have bitter reflections over what might have been had I used proper caution. Thus brooding over this and other mistakes, which I have made in life, I hurried on, walking and running alternately. Of course I had but faint hopes of being on time; yet I did hope. Finally I reached the depot where I should have stopped at first. On, on I pushed, sweaty and weary. When I was within a mile of the depot I was told that probably the train had not gone. This inspired me with new strength. Another half mile and I met the hack returning, and found the cars had not gone yet. I knew that every minute was now precious. I ran with all my might till I could hardly get my breath. When within forty rods of the depot I saw the train standing there lighted up, apparently about ready to start. One minute more and I might even now miss it. So I exerted myself to the very utmost. I think I must have been within eight or ten rods of the cars when the old engine began to puff and the bell began to ring! Must I get so near the prize and then lose it after all my effort? It seemed to me I could go no farther, nor get one foot before the other. But this would not do; so I summoned all the strength I had, and ran a little faster. In another moment I landed on the steps of the car, and was moving off!

The first thing I did was to take care not to catch cold after such an effort. This I did by walking to and fro in the car till I became cool and rested. But the feeling of relief, of success, of victory, which came over me, abundantly paid me for all my effort.

REFLECTIONS.

This incident brought to my mind many very profitable reflections:

1. Mistakes. How very sad it is to make mistakes. Once made they must be suffered. No amount of honesty or ignorance will change the consequence in the least. Men are constantly making mistakes and suffering for them. Here is one who made a mistake in his business; here is another who made a mistake in his calling; and there is a third who made a mistake in his marriage. All are sad and unhappy. They must bear it now. Yet in many cases mistakes may be corrected in time by energy, perseverance, and the blessing of God. But how terrible will be that final and great mistake which it will appear at the judgment thousands have made; what anguish and hopeless despair will then fill the souls of such!

2. Indecision. Had I lost only one minute by indecision on the start, I would have been too late! Prompt action is often necessary to success. When the Spirit of God is striving with us, we must yield to it, lest by indecision and delay we grieve it from us, and we be left in the dark to go to ruin.

3. Weight. Could I have laid aside my overcoat and satchel, how much more easily, swiftly, and surely I could have run the race! I nearly lost the train by being weighed down and hindered by them. I could then fully appreciate Paul’s advice in Heb. 12:1. How truly this illustrates the condition of many who are trying to run the heavenly race. See them sweat, and toil, and worry, and almost get discouraged by the little progress they make. What is the matter? They are all loaded down with these weights, and are unwilling to lay them aside. There is great danger of such.

4. How perilous to stop to rest or dally by the way! These precious moments once lost can never be regained, and the loss of them may be our ruin.

5. The farther we travel and the nearer we come to the final end of our journey, the more tired and weary we become, and the harder it seems to go forward. How exceedingly bad I should have felt had I failed and given out when so near the object of my effort! But how terribly will that soul feel who has run well till near the end of the journey, and then failed. Yet thousands will do this—will fall in the sight of the prize.

6. What deep satisfaction, what feelings of relief, what holy joy, will the final overcomer feel! The happiness of that one hour will abundantly make up for all the toil and sorrow endured in the whole of life’s struggle. May we all finally reach the heavenly train.

D. M. CANRIGHT.

The Last Supper.

A Spanish artist was once employed to paint the “Last Supper.” It was his object to throw all the sublimity of his art into the figure and the countenance of the Lord Jesus; but he put on the table in the foreground some chased cups, the workmanship of which was exceedingly beautiful. When his friends came to see the picture on the easel, every one said, “What beautiful cups!” “Ah!” said he, “I have made a mistake; these cups divert the eyes of the spectator from the Lord, to whom I wished to direct the attention of the observer;” and he forthwith took up his brush and blotted them from the canvas, that the strength and vigor of the chief object might be prominently seen and observed. Thus all Christians should feel their great study to be Christ’s exaltation; and whatever is calculated to hinder man from beholding him in all the glory of his person and work should be removed out of the way. “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Let the sentiment and language of Paul be ours.

Wesley’s Preaching.

“It was, I believe, in October, 1790, and not long before his death, that I heard John Wesley in the great round meeting-house at Colchester. He stood in a wide pulpit, and on each side stood a minister, and the two held him up, having their hands under his armpits. His feeble voice was hardly audible. But his reverend countenance, especially his long white locks, formed a picture never to be forgotten. There was a vast crowd of lovers and admirers. It was, for the most part, pantomime, but the pantomime went to the heart. Of the kind, I never saw anything comparable to it in after life.”—p. 19. This incident was never forgotten by Robinson. He often related it at his own table, with the addition, that so greatly was Wesley reverenced, that the people stood in double line to see him as he passed through the streets on his way to the chapel. In a letter written at the time to one of his brothers, he gave the following particulars of the same occurrence: “At another time, and not knowing the man, I should almost have ridiculed his figure. Far from it now. I look on him with respect bordering on enthusiasm.”

“After the people had sung a verse of a hymn, he rose and said: ‘It gives me great pleasure to find that you have not lost your singing. Neither men nor women—you have not forgotten a single note. And I hope that by the assistance of the same God who enables you to sing well, you may do all things well.’ A universal ‘Amen’ followed. At the end of every head or division of his discourse, he finished by a kind of prayer, a momentary wish, as it were, not consisting of more than three or four words, which were always followed by a universal buzz. His discourse was short, the text I could not hear. After the last prayer he rose up and addressed the people on liberality of sentiment, and spoke much against refusing to join with any congregation on account of difference of opinion. He said, ‘If they do but fear God, work righteousness, and keep his commandments, we have nothing to object to.’—Diary of Henry Crabb Robinson.

Lorenzo Dow on Bad Thoughts.

Some body once said to Lorenzo Dow, who was a very eccentric strolling preacher:

“Mr. Dow, I don’t know what to do. Bad thoughts trouble me very much. They come into my head, and I don’t know how to keep them out. How can I help doing wrong, if it is wrong to have bad thoughts?”

Mr. D. replied:—“We can’t keep birds from flying over our heads, but we can keep them from building nests in our hair. Do you ask how can you drive away these bad thoughts, and keep them from making nests in your mind? Why, just as we exclude thistles from the lands, by putting in so much good seed there is no room left for them to grow.—Keep the mind busy, with something innocent and useful, and leave no trace for the intruder.”

This Week's Paper.

By Editor

The change this week to larger type will be regarded by our readers as a decided improvement.

The conclusion of “A True Picture,” on the first page is worthy of a thoughtful reading.

And let the first principles of the Second Advent Faith, distinctly stated on pages ten and eleven, be carefully compared with the word of God.

“Redemption,” on page twelve, is a fruitful theme, and will occupy considerable space in the Signs. The discussion of this subject affords a good opportunity to show the relation of the law and the gospel in the great plan.

While “Leadership,” and “The Temptation of Christ” deserve a careful reading; the thoughts of Elder Canright relative to the second and the fourth commandments, deserve especial attention.

THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES is designed to be not only an expositor of the prophecies, a reporter of the signs of our times, but also a family, religious and general news paper for the household. A press of other duties, and want of help up to this time, is our apology for the lack of variety. Our paper will be especially adapted to new fields.

Wanted !

By Editor

TEN thousand subscribers wanted. For terms see first page. Money, or no money, let the names come in from the Pacific coast, and everywhere else. This is missionary work. We offer no commission to agents. Go to work, friends, and get up lists of names. Look up your friends and acquaintances, far and near, those you know would read the SIGNS with interest and profit, and as you forward their names to this office, also notify them and get their consent to take the paper, money or no money. We would like to receive 1,000 names, more or less, from our Seventh-day Baptist brethren. Wake up, friends. Let us unite our forces and let our light shine.

One-Hundred Dollar Men.

Sixteen years since we found twenty-five One Hundred Dollar men ready to put their hands into their pockets, and pull them out with the money, to purchase a steam press for the Review and Herald office at Battle Creek, Mich. We can much easier find one hundred now, to establish the steam press on the Pacific coast, than twenty-five then. File in, friends, file in.

John Morrison, $100 Mrs. E. G. White, $100 John Judson, 100 T. M. Chapman, 100 J. N. Loughborough, 100 George Drew, 100 James White, 100 Joachim Pulse, 100

The North Pacific Mission.

We have good news from the tent meeting in the Walla Walla Valley. A church of more than thirty is now fully organized, and others are being received each week by baptism.

We have received a very kind and godly letter from father Maxon, relative to the work there, from which we take the following:—

“I thank God whom I serve, that my lot is cast with a people that God has chosen to present the last message. My heart, and I believe those of my brethren and sisters in Walla Walla, is in this work to push it on with all our ability. I shall do all I can to make our beloved Elder and his wife comfortable and happy, and to see that they shall lack for nothing. The tent you sent us has been pitched in the city of Walla Walla, and we begin to see the fruit of Elder Van Horn’s labor here, in bringing out whole families upon the truth, besides old men, and younger men and women.”

Bro. J. F. Wood, in a letter to Elder Loughborough of May 18, says:—

“We are greatly encouraged. While opposition rages, the interest to hear keeps up. The tent has been set about four weeks. The prevailing sentiment is that such preaching never was listened to here before. The people are demanding that the clergy show up their side, as they claim we are in error. But so far they are silent. Brother Van Horn is a worker. We are not at all ashamed of him as a representative of our ministers. He has preached every night, and twice every Sabbath and Sunday, since the tent was pitched, and yet he holds out all right.”

A Voice from Nevada.

By Sarah A. Chamberlain

Bro. White:—We were happily surprised yesterday by receiving a copy of THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES, and hereby express our gratitude, by sending the subscription price of the paper. Please continue to forward it to Virginia City, Nev. Mother and myself each send $5.00 for the N. P. M., if needed, if not, use it for the publication of THE SIGNS, or any other enterprise you think best. The cause of God is one, and we rejoice to see its success. Yours for the spread of the truth.

SARAH A. CHAMBERLAIN.

Virginia City, Nev., June 1, 1874.

Progress.

By John Norton Loughborough

Six years ago to-day (June 9th) in company with Elder Bordeaux, I left my home in Battle Creek, Michigan, for California. We landed in San Francisco with our tent, July 18th, 1868. There were, at that time, but two or three of our faith on the Pacific coast. When we looked at outward circumstances it was dark, but when we looked to the Lord, with faith in his power, and in the final success of his truth, it was light.

Opponents said, “none need fear that anything permanent will ever result from this movement.” But what do we see as the result of less than six years of actual labor expended here? Twelve organized churches. A well organized State Conference. Four hundred Sabbath keepers. Two tents in the field. A weekly paper published in the interest of the cause. Church funds pledged for the support of the ministry to the amount of about $3,400 per year. Surely these are signs of progress and permanence. Besides this we see a new mission, opening up the coast in Washington Territory and Oregon. The report comes that one church is already organized there with upwards of thirty members, and others are coming out. We cannot stop at this success, our watchword is “Onward.”

Our minds are led out to make more extensive and thorough efforts to advertise and bring our views of Bible truth before the people. Why may we not expect with the forces and facilities we now have, to accomplish as much in the next year, as we have during the whole six years? Let us plan and act for it.

J. N. Loughborough.

OAKLAND, CAL., June 9, 1874.

Report of Meetings.

By John Norton Loughborough

My last report was made in the Review for April 16th. I held meetings over two Sabbaths at Red Banks, Tehama county. Three had embraced the truth there by reading since my last visit. I baptized one and organized a church of twelve members, to be known as the Red Bluff church. The systematic benevolence of this little church is $310 70 per annum.

Sabbath May 2, I was with brother and sister White at San Francisco. I was happy to find them in good spirits. I spent first-day at Oakland, where brethren Canright and Cornell were holding an interesting tent meeting.

Sabbath and first-day, May 9 and 10, I was with the church in Napa, and organized a church of twenty-nine members. Others will unite soon. Eight were baptized on first-day morning. At the close of the forenoon service had a communion season. May 16th and 17th held meetings at St. Helena, and organized a church of twenty-one members. Others will come in soon. Two were baptized during this meeting. May 18th, elected Trustees preparatory to erecting a house of worship in St. Helena.

I have now joined the laborers already here in the tent campaign. The two tents, one in Oakland and the other in East Oakland, with our enlarged ideas of advertising, are doing a good work in calling the attention of the people to the great truths we have to present. The move of Bro. White in publishing the two numbers of The Tent Meeting, and commencing the regular weekly issue of the Signs of the Times, has aided wonderfully in giving prominence to the work in the tents.

The Local Option movement, which is mentioned in this paper, and which had our sympathy, certainly learned the people on their part the way to our tents. We look for a glorious result from these tent meetings. Pray for us.

J. N. Loughborough.

Oakland, Cal., June 9th, 1874.

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