Review and Herald, Vol. 24, No. 14. (8/30/1864)

Review and Herald

Aug 30, 1864

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 30, 1864

Modern Orthodoxy.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

I HAVE just returned from a camp-meeting at which were gathered about a dozen preachers; several of them were what are generally termed "big guns." As I took notes of the sermons, I will give a few specimens of their quotations and applications of Scripture so far as they quoted it at all, which was very little.

Rev. ii, 10, was quoted: "Be thou faithful until death and I will give thee a crown of life;" instead of "unto death," as it reads. The idea in the text is, to be faithful though persecuted even unto death; but as misquoted it is that the crown of life will be given at death. To support the same idea 2 Tim. iv, 7, 8, was quoted thus: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith, my crown of glory is ready which the Lord, the righteous judge shall give unto me and all who love his appearing." By thus perverting the Bible, they were able to make it appear that holy men receive their reward at death.

Then the Elder speaking of those who do not endorse this doctrine, said: "I would as soon reason with a brute or a dead dog." But hear Paul: "I have finished my course, I have kept the faith, henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous judge shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." Here we see that Paul said, "Henceforth" his crown was "laid up," and that he should receive it "at that day." What day? Let Peter answer. 1 Pet. v, 4: "And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away."

For proof that the world would all be converted in the last days, Dan. ii, 44, was quoted thus: "But in the days of these kings shall the God of Heaven set up a kingdom; and the stone shall smite the image on his feet and break them in pieces and become a great mountain and fill the whole earth."

A minister in attempting to quote 2 Pet. iii, 10, gave it thus: "The elements shall melt with fervent heat, and the earth shall be burned up and pass away with a great noise, amid the wreck of worlds and the crash of the universe." When I called the attention of another minister to the fact that Peter said nothing about the world's burning up, he thought that I was badly mistaken. When we read the passage as it was, he could find neither, "world burned up," "crash of worlds," nor "wreck of the universe" in it.

Another preacher said: "Many are worried about the coming of the Lord. My grandmother thought that he was coming in her day; but it didn't worry me any. She has been in Heaven fifteen years and the earth stands yet, with no signs of the end. (He thus fulfilled 2 Pet. iii, 4.) It is something that don't concern Christians. We need not bother our heads about it. It is all nonsense." "Amen, amen," shouted a dozen voices. "Infidelity!" cried a preacher as he emptied his mouth of the sacred juice of tobacco.

Soon after this another elder said that all the patriarchs, prophets, and saints, had looked with eager anticipation for the coming of Christ. Thus the two together branded all these holy men with infidelity!!

One minister quoting Matt. xxv, 46, "These shall go away into everlasting punishment," said, If sinners perish where is the everlasting punishment? They cannot be punished everlastingly if they perish." A short time after this another minister commenting on John iii, 16, said, "It is evident that those who do not seek Jesus will perish." Thus they squarely contradict themselves; and also make the Bible contradict itself.

At this meeting, I heard them, in praying for the conversion of sinners, quote a phrase founded upon Eze. xxxvii, "Let there be a shaking among these dry bones." Now this chapter is a description of the resurrection of the dead as we learn from the 12th and 13th verses. So if their prayers had been answered, the resurrection would have taken place immediately!

Many times they quoted Mal. iv, 2, "Let the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings," and applied it to the conversion of sinners. Now this passage has no application to the conversion of sinners, but relates to the coming of Christ. One man exhorted sinners to put on the image of Jesus and be changed "like unto his glorious body," thus applying Phil. iii, 20, 21, to a change of heart. Indeed, their whole aim seemed to be to quote some high-sounding Bible phrase to make an impression without any regard to what it does really mean.

They reminded me of the Irishman when he first went out to plow. Said he to his team, "Whoa, haw, gee, go where you are a mind to, it has all got to be plowed any way." So it is with them; the Bible must be quoted some, any way; and in doing this they frequently apply a passage here that really relates to the future kingdom, and vice versa. For instance, one preacher preached from Heb. iv, 9, "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God," and applied it to the peace that Christians have here in believing.

How often in revivals, and especially was this so at this camp-meeting, do we hear them pray, "O Lord, baptize us now with the Holy Ghost and with fire." Now baptism with fire is the punishment of the wicked; so if their prayers had been answered, they would have been consumed on the spot!

Thus I might go on from the notes that I took at this meeting and give passage after passage that was misquoted, misapplied, mixed up, and perverted. It frequently happened in praying for the conversion of penitents that they prayed for the resurrection, the judgment, the coming of Christ, the destruction of the wicked, the setting up of God's everlasting kingdom, &c., &c., and applied it all to conversion!!

As to the doctrines taught, I could not have supposed that sane men would teach such contradictions and absurdities. I will here give some of their own language and see what it teaches when all put together: "Jesus was a perfect human body, and perfect human soul." "Jesus was the very and eternal God." "The death threatened Adam was death spiritual, death temporal, and death eternal." "Jesus suffered the same death threatened Adam. Jesus died spiritual death."

Question. What is spiritual death? The following is the orthodox definition: "Spiritual death is that awful state of ignorance, insensibility and disobedience, which mankind are in by nature; and which excludes them from the favor and enjoyment of God." Buck's Theological Dictionary.

Now put all these statements together and what do you have? The Creator of the universe became a human being, entered "that awful state of ignorance, insensibility and disobedience, which mankind are in by nature," i. e., became a sinner, and subject to the penalty of sin that is death (Rom. vi, 23) which they say is eternal misery in hell fire. Thus they drag the Creator from his throne, make him a sinner, and consign him to eternal misery!

That isn't all: if Jesus became a sinner, of course he could not suffer for the sins of others, as he must die for his own sins. "The wages of sin is death." So the human race is left without a Saviour, and is doomed to eternal torment; while the Devil is left supreme monarch of all! Such theology must suit him.

Here is some more from the same piece: "The old covenant was a covenant of works; the new, a covenant of faith. The first said, 'work and live;' the second, 'believe and live.' Faith takes the place of work, and is now the only condition of life." "We must have faith unmixed with works." The conclusion is that good works now are not only unnecessary but absolutely wrong! Thus in their endeavors to oppose those who teach the commandments of God, they run into the most ridiculous absurdities.

Of thirteen sermons which I heard at this meeting, not ten minutes were employed in preaching repentance for sins, or a reformation of life. It was one continual round of "come to Jesus," "get religion," "salvation," "faith," and "glory;" but not one rule given by which to obtain either, except it was "come to the anxious seat and be prayed for." Then woe to the unlucky penitent if their prayers should happen to be answered!

Those who were not ready to swallow all this, were held up as trying to get to Heaven by their good works, as not believing in Jesus as a Saviour, sticklers for points of law, carnal, not able to discern the things of

the Spirit, denying a change of heart, infidels, brutes, liars, hypocrites, wolves in sheep's clothing, &c., &c. In fact the whole English vocabulary was exhausted to find epithets bad enough for us.

"Truth crushed to earth will rise again, The eternal years of God are hers; But error, wounded, writhes in pain And dies amid its worshipers."

D. M. CANRIGHT.

Alma, Mich.

Prayer.

THERE is an eye that never sleeps, Beneath the wing of night; There is an ear that never shuts When sinks the beams of light.

There is an arm that never tires, When human strength gives way; There is a love that never fails, When earthly loves decay.

That eye is fixed on seraph throngs; That ear is filled with angels' songs; That arm upholds the worlds on high, That love is throned beyond the sky.

But there's a power that man can wield When mortal aid is vain— That eye, that arm, that love to reach— That listening ear to gain: That power is prayer, which soars on high, And feeds on bliss beyond the sky.

Parable of the Tares.

By Editor

MATT. XIII, 24-30, 36-43.

Our Saviour interprets this parable, and thus makes its meaning very certain. It teaches us,—

1. That Christ proposes to set up the kingdom of the heavens on earth. To this end he sows the good seed. The field over which he sows is the world. The good seed which he sows, are the children of the kingdom. It is no longer, as in the preceding parable, the word, the seed of truth; but it is that incorruptible seed taken root and bearing fruit in the persons of the righteous. Thus is shown the tendency of this kingdom to subject even the outward and visible to its sway. It is not simply internal and spiritual, but ultimately affects and fashions anew the material organization of our bodies and the world. The body, as well as the soul, is the subject of redemption in Christ, as the resurrection proves. So with the earth itself. As Peter informs us, it is included in the restitution of all things. "Wherefore, according to His promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth." The curse which has so long rested upon it is to be removed when the kingdom comes in its glory. This Paul tells us: "The creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God." For the sake of these children of the kingdom, the earth itself, their habitation, shall be redeemed and once more made a constituent part of the kingdom of the heavens. This they long and pray for as commanded: "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven." This is the kingdom Christ came into the world to set up.

2. In this work he is opposed by Satan. Thus the parable says: "While men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares. The tares are the children of the wicked one: the enemy that sowed them is the Devil." Most people in our day make little account of the Devil and his works, which we are expressly told the Son of God came to destroy. They hardly believe in his existence, much less his constant agency. But not so our Saviour in these words. He here teaches us that Satan is his great antagonist in this world; that he is ever active and vigilant in his opposition to the establishment of Christ's kingdom on earth. "As a roaring lion he walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." He is indefatigable in this work. He is mighty and successful. He is "the prince of the power of the air;" "the spirit that worketh in the children of disobedience;" so that the beloved John says, "The whole world lieth in wickedness." He is very daring. He even attempted to seduce Christ from his mission of restoring the race and world to God. And we read that in the last days he will have great power and wrath: "Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea, for the Devil is come down to you, having great wrath, because he knoweth he hath but a short time."

3. And this leads us to a third truth of our parable, that there is to be progress in both good and evil to the end of the world. "Let both grow together until the harvest." "The harvest is the end of the world." The wheat is not to grow while the tares wane and die. Both are to grow, and to grow until the harvest, which is the end of the world, i. e., of this age, or dispensation, during which this mixed growth is to continue. Both are to have development, and alike reach full maturity.

Nor are we to set ourselves to the task of wholly extirpating the tares. We are forbidden to do this, "lest while we gather up the tares we root up also the wheat with them." This work is reserved for another time than the present, and for more skillful and effective hands than ours. "The reapers are the angels."

4. And thus we reach a fourth truth of our parable. The final and complete triumph of good over evil, and the bringing in of the kingdom, occur only at the end of the world, at the coming of the Son of man with his angels. "The harvest is the end of the world,"—aion, age, or dispensation. This is the point of time at which the Scriptures everywhere represent Christ as coming with his angels. And they come to separate the wheat from the tares which have been struggling and growing on together up to this point of time, to cast down and destroy the wicked and exalt the righteous.

Such are the plain truths of this parable. It follows: 1. That the millennium is after, not before, the coming of the Son of man. Until this there is a mixture of good and evil. The wheat and tares grow together. We are expressly commanded to let them both grow together till the harvest, till Christ comes. We are forbidden to take the work of separation into our hands. This is for him and his angels to do when he comes.

But in the millennium good is to be wholly triumphant. It is then to have a free and unincumbered growth. All men are then to know the Lord, from the least to the greatest. All kings shall fall down before him. All nations shall serve him. The nations shall learn war no more. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord. There shall be one Lord, and his name one. The people shall be all righteous.

So intense and universal shall godliness be during the millennium that even upon the bells of the horses shall be inscribed, "Holiness to the Lord." The commonest utensils of the household shall all be consecrated.

Such is the picture of the millennium as drawn by the pen of inspiration. Do you see any tares growing in that picture? Does it not look as if they had all been gathered out and burned? Do you not in that picture see the righteous shining forth as the sun in the kingdom?

But the parable informs us that the tares are to continue to grow and flourish side by side with the wheat till Christ comes. This beautiful picture of the millennial age and glory cannot then be realized before he comes. Whence it follows there is no millennium till after Christ returns to our world.

2. But there will be a millennium then. He comes to introduce it. He comes to discern between the righteous and the wicked; to separate the good from the bad; to root out the tares from among the wheat; to cast down and destroy the children of the wicked one; to exalt and to give the victory to the children of the kingdom; to bind Satan, and to destroy all his works in the earth.

3. A third inference from our exposition is that Christ's kingdom is not of this world. It comes down from God out of Heaven. It is brought in by himself; it is built up by angel hands. It is not man's work; not a product of his wisdom or power. He is incompetent to so mighty a task. His skill and strength are not sufficient even to root out the tares. He would rush at the work just as he is extensively doing in our day, with such blind and infuriated zeal as to pluck up more wheat than tares. The Lord's reapers are the angels. Doubtless the command will soon be given them, "Thrust in thy sickle and reap; for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe."

Many tell us that all the kingdom Christ will ever have in this world is to grow up out of the present state of things; that present means and agencies are all that is needed; that men will grow wiser, and better, and mightier; that the gospel will spread, right triumph, and the church enlarge her boundaries and influence, till at last she will succeed in converting all the tares into wheat, all the children of the wicked one into children of the kingdom.

Thus they make Christ's kingdom emphatically of this world, and establish and administer for him after a form and fashion of their own. They will have no interference of the King himself; they ask him only to stay in the Heavens a little longer, to keep back his angels, and they will have the work done, the Devil bound, his lies and delusions all exploded, his children rooted out, the world converted, and the millennium fully inaugurated.

Now how contrary all this is to the word of God, and especially our parable, is evident. This teaches us, as plainly as language can do it, that the kingdom is to be brought in and evil finally overcome in this world,—not by human, but by supernatural agencies; even by the direct interposition of the King himself and his angels. They alone are represented as competent for this work. The final result of their interposition will be the complete and everlasting separation of the good from the bad, the godly from the ungodly, the restoration of all things, a glorious reverse of the ruin made by the fall, the complete destruction of the works of the Devil, and the eternal reign and empire of Jesus Christ over this world.

Reader, are you a friend or an enemy of the King? Serve you under the banner of Jesus or Satan? The great day of separation makes haste. As a snare shall it come; as a thief in the night; as the lightning. Take heed to thyself.—Prophetic Times.

Books on Present Truth.

By Joseph Clarke

In the short period of about twenty years, the Seventh-day Adventists have established a literature peculiarly their own. Commencing with the Sabbath which has been exhumed from the grave dug for it by the Man of Sin, and with it the moral law of ten commands, they have proceeded to remove the rubbish of tradition from other precious truths.

Works of this kind require patient labor in argument, forbearance in debate, and close study in investigation. On the various and important doctrines of the Bible, such as the future rewards of the righteous and wicked, the state of the dead, the doctrine of baptism, the future kingdom, the subject of the prophecies, and the gifts of the church, there has been much error to be corrected and removed.

No one man could have done this work; but many working in harmony have brought the light to bear upon these subjects, and as the fruits of their united labors, a library is now offered to the lovers of Bible truth, such as never before greeted the eye in this fallen world.

The four volumes of spiritual gifts are of priceless value. They do, like all those books which come from the Spirit of God, come home to the conscience and heart, and apply directly to the present emergency. Lifting the veil from what has been obscure, unlocking what was mysterious, and by the simplest form of expression, dissipating into thin air the clouds of tradition and error, and establishing without any seeming effort, what the enemy had apparently unsettled in the mind.

This work of God, as we see it developed in these four volumes, has been the life of this work, and those who are most effective as workers in this great movement, revere it, as Moses did the presence of the pillar of fire by night, and cloud by day which guided them in their journeyings, and only pity those who doubt so good a gift.

The hymn-book is the fruit of much experience and care, and all who worship in the holy assembly need a hymn-book like this, the best no doubt in the world.

Then the tracts and bound volumes convey at once a clear view of truth, especially those truths which are peculiarly applicable to the times, truths which are indispensable to be fully understood in these times of peril, truths which have a sanctifying effect upon the mind.

As we look at the catalogue of these publications and reflect upon the cause of this movement, and its progress, and future glorious triumph; when we think of all the agencies which have been and are now and will be used in its propagation, and final triumph, we are filled with wonder and delight.

It seems as though all those who would publish this

truth, must become skillful in the art of selling these works. Set the people to reading. This will be a powerful agency for good. Every minister should endeavor to persuade people to supply themselves with these works.

If a brother buys one book to-day, next week he will want two more; and soon he will buy four more; next he will want a full set. Then he will want for his friends, and so the market will enlarge. Do not think people are supplied because they have bought pretty freely. This is the very reason they will buy more.

If they are not disposed to buy, tell them of the value of the books. Recommend them highly. Show to them the necessity of reading this or that, stimulate them to purchase by argument; for these books will bear all such means, and often you will sell books where you would not, if you were a stupid salesman.

Sell these books. Sell them. You need not fear to recommend them. Sell them to one, sell them to all. Scatter them; but do not often give them away; for such gifts are generally despised, and neglected. Scatter them as leaves in the autumn winds; and let every one who would publish the truth, especially ministers, become pleasant salesmen; and depend upon it, some will "buy the truth and sell it not."

Jospeph Clarke.

Noah's Ark vs. Infidels.

By B. F. Snook

INFIDELS urge against the truthfulness of the Bible that Noah's Ark was not large enough to contain all the animals that are said to have been in it, therefore they say that the Bible is not true. Bishop Horne gives a most satisfactory answer to this petty objection; and for the satisfaction of the readers of the Review, I will give it in his own language:

“On accurate computation, the contrary has been proved; so that what was thought an objection becomes even an evidence for the truth of the Mosaic record. The dimensions of the ark were three hundred cubits in length, fifty in breadth, and thirty in height; and it consisted of three stories of floors.

Reckoning the cubit at eighteen inches, Dr. Hales shows it to have been of the burthen of 42,413 tons. A first-rate man of war, is between 2200 and 2300 tons; and consequently the ark had the capacity or storage of eighteen of such ships, the largest in present use, and might carry 20,000 men with provisions for six months besides the weight of 1800 cannons and of all military stores. Can we doubt of its being sufficient to contain eight persons and about two hundred or two hundred and fifty pair of four-footed animals; a number to which according to M. Buffon, all the various distinct species may be reduced, together with all the subsistence necessary for a twelve month? To these are to be added all the fowls of the air and such reptiles and insects as cannot live under water.

Other calculations have been made to show that the ark was of sufficient capacity for all the purposes for which it was designed, but as they are longer than that above given, they are here designedly omitted.”

Hope Realized.

At his second coming the Lord Jesus will fulfill all the expectations and desires of his people. Expectation and desire are, as before stated, the component parts of hope. The former has reference to what God has said, and the latter to the state of the heart toward it. A person may expect what he does not desire, and he may often desire what he has no good ground for expecting. Now what does the saint expect and desire? Perfect knowledge; he hopes soon to know as he is known, and no longer to see through a glass darkly. When Christ comes there will be a "revelation of God." It will be "a morning without clouds," a day of resplendent glory. Then the understanding will be clear, the memory retentive; the eye will then be satisfied with seeing, and the ear with hearing. Increase of knowledge will not increase sorrow then, but every new discovery in heavenly science will bring new tides of joy unto the soul.

The believer desires perfect purity.—This is secured to him by God's promise, and shall be realized at the coming of Jesus:—“when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”—This hope of being perfectly holy is a lively hope; it stirs up the soul now to purify itself, even as Christ is pure. Perfect happiness is anticipated also by the believer. To desire to be happy is natural to man, but alas, in what foolish ways does he seek to gratify his desires, and realize his hopes. If we ask the worldly man in what happiness consists, he will talk of health, wealth, honor, and earthly relations, and tell us that if he could have all these, have plenty of them, and that forever, he would be perfectly happy; but this cannot be; time and death sternly forbid it; and even if it could, man could not be satisfied with these. But let these words be considered as referring to spiritual things, and let these have the impress of eternity upon them, and we have indeed all the elements of happiness. When the Lord Jesus comes he will give to both soul and body perfect and perpetual health, and will enrich them with the treasures of eternity, raise them up to the highest honors, introduce them to the whole family in Heaven, not one of whom shall ever die; and above all, he will make them heirs of God, and joint-heirs with himself for ever and for ever.

Once more, the believer longs for the reign of order and harmony. It grieves him to hear the groans of creation, the yells of blasphemy, and the wailing of sorrow; he longs to see Satan cast out, God enthroned, creation renovated, and man restored to his true dignity; he knows that all shall be done when Jesus comes again. The heavens must receive him until the times of the restitution of all things; then shall he come "the second time without sin, unto salvation;" and then shall God's kingdom of order and harmony come, and his "will be done on earth even as it is done in Heaven." The hopeful heart listens to these testimonies, and cries, "Even so, come Lord Jesus."

Lambs.

By R. F. Cottrell

LAMBS among wolves. This is a simile, representing the condition of God's people among the people of the world. Hence they need to be as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves. Lambs should never become so intimately associated with wolves as to forget that they are Lambs, or lose their own distinguishing characteristics and become so near like wolves that no difference can be seen. Lambs like best to associate with lambs.

The lambs are represented as few in number "in the midst of wolves." But will they be devoured? No; inasmuch as their Shepherd says, "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." The little flock are safe amidst dangers. And there is a kingdom to be given to them—a heavenly fold is prepared for them, where they will be forever safe. No wolf can enter there. It is a safe and happy place where evil can never enter. And their Shepherd will lead them forth to green pastures, and to streams of living waters. "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat; for the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them; and shall lead them unto living fountains of water; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."

Let me be a lamb if I do dwell in the midst of wolves! I will fear no danger; for the good Shepherd says, Fear not, little flock. The promise of the kingdom is sure—it is founded in the good pleasure of "our Father." R. F. COTTRELL.

Use of Tobacco.

We have heard of two cases where tobacco seemed to be of some use, besides when employed to kill ticks and bed bugs. One was a noted tobacco chewer who fell into the hands of cannibals, and they would not eat him because so strongly scented with the filthy substance.

The other was the following from a spirit, in answer to the question, "What effect does the use of tobacco have upon the spiritual and physical of man?" The spirit answered as follows:—

"When the poison, tobacco, is introduced into the human system, it at once takes possession of the telegraphic wires, or nervous system. It becomes master and usurps the place of nature. Through the agency of tobacco the nervous system is at once rendered abnormal, and is therefore unfit for reception of spiritual messages, either from the citadel of life to the spirit-world, or from the spirit-world to the material world. And while the human system is under the control of the narcotic, tobacco, it is absolutely impossible, understand us to say, for the disembodied spirit to manifest itself perfectly through such an organism."—Banner of Light.

If tobacco will prevent one from becoming a medium for devils, then we think some might be excused for using it, if it were not equally true that the Holy Spirit is grieved by its use, and does not delight to dwell in a temple defiled by it. Let us "cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit," trust in God to keep us from the snares of the Devil, and keep ready to meet our Saviour.—World's Crisis.

CONGREGATIONAL SINGING.

"It is the duty and privilege of the church to sing; a duty which she can no more perform by proxy, than she can pray, or repent, or believe, or hope, by proxy. No body of Christians so long as they feel they have any thing to say to God in the house of prayer, will consent to stand or sit silent, and employ a few thoughtless and giddy persons to perform in their name,—or rather in their stead,—a part of the devotions so near akin to the worship of the celestial host. I have not doubted for many years that the exclusive performance of sacred music in the church by a few select, professional singers, is at once to defraud the church of her privilege, and to offer an insult to the Almighty."

FALSE REPENTANCE.

By Quarles

Can sackcloth clothe a fault or hide a shame? Or do thy hands make Heaven a recompense, By strewing dust upon thy briny mouth? No! though thou pine thyself with willing want, Or face look thin, or carcass ue'er so guant, Such holy madness God rejects and loathes That sinks no deeper than the skin or clothes.

—Quarles.

Longing for Christlike Holiness

By St. Augustine

Longings.—Oh that the same mind may dwell in me which dwelt also in thee, O Lord Jesus!—for thou wert pure, and holy, and separate from sinners; meat and drink was it to thee to do the will of thy Heavenly Father, and to finish the work which he gave thee to do. And do thou, who hast left to those who love thee, to follow in thy steps, enable and enkindle me, my Lord, and my God, with thy perfect example and thy blessed Spirit; that so, working out my salvation with fear and trembling, I may daily grow in meetness for meeting my God in the day of his appearing. Do thou direct the remainder of my days according to thy will; do thou confirm me in thy fear, and strengthen me in thy love!—St. Augustine.

The Triumph

The Triumph.—It will surely come, for God has promised it. When it does, such a shout of triumph will swell up from earth to Heaven as never did before. It will be the world's great Jubilee. No war shall darken its peaceful sunlight, no sorrow, no pain, no tears, no death, no curse—but the Sabbath of rest—the new earth, the new heaven—the final restoration—the fullness of ages. It is the triumph of the Lion of the tribe of Judah. It is a triumph that the angels sing of—its contemplation fills Heaven with joy—and the glory of it, if properly presented to the race as an object of hope, would move the fallen ones toward Heaven as no other theme can. It is a view of redemption completed—Christ its author and finisher. The race moves, ah! is rushing to this both dreadful and glorious consummation.

Sin's long typic week is nearly at its close—the world's Saturday night is upon us, and the latter day draws nigh. "The fig tree is being shaken of a mighty wind,"—the mystic sea of nations is seething and boiling in every part,—governments stagger like drunken men, and they will, till they are swept to destruction by that heated breath that shall issue from the burning throne.

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