It is known to most of our readers, that there has been for some time past considerable extra exertion to promote and enforce the more general observance of the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday, and by many called the Christian Sabbath. This movement was sustained by a meeting of one hundred clergymen at the Spingler Institute, and has since been followed up by the preaching of one hundred sermons, and by divers meetings, resolutions, publications, &c., in behalf of the measure. These gentlemen, in setting forth and claiming the religious observance of Sunday as part and parcel of the revealed law and requirement of the Bible, either directly or indirectly, or by implication, are guilty of misrepresentation. It is not credible to suppose that these men, so highly educated and extensively read as many of them are, can be so ignorant of the truth on this question. The conclusion can scarcely be resisted, that many of them knowingly acquiesce in the promulgation of a known error.
These men, when the claims of the Bible Sabbath, the seventh day of the week, are urged upon their attention, dispose of them rather unceremoniously by calling the seventh day the Jewish Sabbath.
The seventh day of the week is the Jewish Sabbath just as much as, and no more than, the Bible account of the creation is a Jewish record—as the books of Moses are Jewish books. ’Tis the Jewish Sabbath just as much as, and no more than—Moses, Joshua and Samuel were Jewish prophets and law-givers—as David was the Jewish Psalmist—as Isaiah, Jeremiah and the other ancient prophets were Jewish prophets—as Jesus Christ was the Jewish Saviour, and the twelve apostles were Jewish apostles. In short, the seventh day of the week is the Jewish Sabbath just as much as the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the Jewish Bible, or as Jehovah or the God revealed in the Bible is the Jewish God. The seventh-day Sabbath is part and parcel of the Bible. Its institution, observance, perpetuation and handing down to the present time is a memorial and monument of the creation and giving of the divine law, which the whole Christian world should tenaciously hold on to as a most precious testimony to the reality of the divine record. The strong tendency of the times is for all these things to loose their hold upon the memory and consideration of the world, and to be merged, obscured and forgotten in the general inundation of material progress, prosperity and change. Let Christians beware that they do not aid this materialistic and atheistic tendency. Sunday observance, on the other hand, is a memorial or monument of the ancient heathen or pagan worship of the sun. It prevailed long before the Christian era. It was brought into the Christian church by the pagan converts. There is not a scrap of a text in the Bible to point out or support it as a Christian Sabbath. Some twenty-five or thirty years since, there was an effort similar to the present to promote and enforce the observance of Sunday. At that time there was a reward offered through the New York papers of five hundred dollars for a single precept in the Bible in favor of the observance of the first day of the week as a Sabbath—five hundred dollars for a single instance where Christ or the apostles called the first day of the week a Sabbath, and five hundred dollars for a single example of their ever having observed the first day of the week as a Sabbath. No one ever came forward to claim the reward, and the agitation in favor of Sunday observance was soon after in a great measure discontinued.
Packing Thought
PACKING THOUGHT—Do not assume that, because you have something important to communicate, it is necessary to write a long article. A tremendous thought may be packed into a small compass—made as solid as a cannon ball, and, like that projectile, cut down all before it. Short articles are generally more effective, find more readers, and are more widely copied than long ones. Pack your thoughts close together, and though your article may be brief, it will have weight, and be more likely to make an impression.
'Ye who write for this busy age,' says a late writer, 'speak quick: use short sentences, never stop the reader with a long ambiguous word, but let the stream of thought flow right on, and men will drink it like water.'—Sel.
Wide Relations of the Sabbath.
IN an admirable discourse by President Hopkins, on "The Importance of the Sabbath to the purity and perpetuity of free institutions," he says:
"The Sabbath is not, as many seem to suppose, an institution slightly connected with the other arrangements of God. It may seem so at first, but trace its connections and you will find it inseparably blending with all the arrangements of God for the elevation and well-being of man. Its law of rest is enstamped even upon the physical organization of all beings capable of labor, whether of body or of mind, and in its simplicity and variety of adaptation, like the air, the light, and the water, it bears the evident impress of the hand of God. How simple, and yet, while it meets the wants of the exhausted animal, how evidently was it 'made for man' in all conditions and in all his relations.
"How perfectly is it adapted to the laboring man in his toil, to the young man in his temptations, to the business man in his perplexities, to the scholar in his exhausting process of thought, and to the statesman as bearing the burdens of public life! How is it adapted to families, consecrating home, and giving opportunity for family instruction; how to communities, as the individuals composing them are related at once to each other and to God, and as needing opportunity both for private and public devotion! How does it blend the social and religious nature of man and fit him for a social heaven! How is it related to the Bible, as a book requiring study, and time to study! How does it connect man with the past, by constantly reminding him of that great event which it commemorates; how with the future, by its glimpses and foretastes of that heaven which it typifies! Kept as God commanded, it would improve the individual man, physically, intellectually, morally. In its social relations, it would secure purity and harmony; in his civil relations, security and freedom. It would unite man, and all men to God. Surely, whatever he may intend, he who fights against the Sabbath, fights against the best interests of his race, and against God himself."
The Slandered.
A venerable old man says, "Let the slanderer take comfort—it is only at fruit-trees that thieves throw stones."
The old man was right. Who ever saw thieves throw stones at the birch, maple, or elm tree? The more fruit the tree bears, and the richer it is, the more it is likely to attract the attention of the thief.
No man that tries to do his duty to his fellows, and endeavors to live to bear the fruits of true religion in his daily conduct, can for a moment suppose that he will pass along through life without being slandered more or less. Such a man will of necessity have some enemies; and these enemies will try in every way to injure him, and, among others, they will not be slow in stirring up the polluted waters of defamation and slander.
A man who has no enemies is merely a milk-and-water nothing. We would not give three figs for such a man.
He who is anything, who makes a mark in the world, who does good, will have enemies; and, if he have them, he will be sure to be slandered.
Love to Christ
By Tholuck
Not only the flowers unfold their petals to receive the light—the heart of man also has a power of expansion. It is love which opens it and expands it, so that the rays of the spiritual sun may penetrate and illumine it. The christian, in the work of self-examination, need not direct his attention to many points; it is included in the daily question—How is it with my love to Christ? That love to him is of great importance, we must confess, since he, in truth, requires of us an affection for his own person, such as no one else ever claimed. O thou must be more than father and mother, than brother and sister, else how couldst thou, the lowliest among the children of men, lay claim to such superabundant love? Since I have believed in thy word, all my desire has been to love thee. I will not cease to love thee, until thou art dearer to me than father, mother, and brother! If they deny thee, if they revile thee—what is so dreadful as to see one's father and mother reviled at our side—but more than when they reproach father and mother, shall thy reproaches, thy wrongs go to my heart.—Tholuck.
Precious Promises.
THERE is not a promise more true, or more encouraging to the christian, than that proclaimed by Paul to the church at Rome—"All things work together for good to them that love God." Not a single event, whether apparently propitious or adverse—no calamity, no sickness, no affliction, but shall work—and they shall all work together—for the good of that man or woman who loves God.
It is true that the afflictions and trials of the righteous are often many and grievous, while with the ungodly it is not so; they seem not in trouble like other men; but beneath the surface, beyond the reach of our vision, God assures us there is a secret history being written—angels are the historians, and in the archives of heaven are the histories. Both for a season may be tossed upon the billows of life's troubled ocean; but let each cast out his fathom-line, and the one shall soon make his sounding, while the other shall lengthen and lengthen and lengthen, finding no resting-place.
If prosperity were the test of God's love, and happiness in this world the only good, Paul's language would be inexplicable. Abraham, who is the type of every christian, being called, went out, not knowing whither he went, wandering in a strange country; but his faith taught him to look for "a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."
If God sometimes surrounds his child with darkness, it is not all dark about him. In, through the gold-fringed clouds, there comes a gleam of sunlight that sends more joy to the heart than floods of sunshine, for it is the Shekinah of God's presence, and the token of his unforgetful love. Though sometimes he may be led to say, "All these things are against me—there is no sorrow like unto my sorrow," God may take away his little "Agnes," whose baby-life had interwoven itself into the very fibres of his own being—in an hour his heart and home may be made desolate; yet when the night of sorrow has passed away, and the bitterness of grief subsided, he shall bless God for the golden chain that binds his soul to heaven. Adversity, like a strong man armed, may to-day strip him of his earthly all; yet he will say, "the Lord lent it to me for a while, and now he has taken it to lend to another." Sickness may overtake him on his journey toward the celestial city, his eye become dimmed, his form bent, and his once stalwart frame tremble for very feebleness; yet the patient sufferer shall look up in the face of his Father and exclaim, "all things shall work together for good to them that love God." Paul closes up this whole matter, when exultingly he exclaims, "but we glory in tribulations also," knowing that "tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, which is given unto us."—Moore's Rural New Yorker.
Pursue Holiness
Follow after holiness, it will repay your pursuit.
What is Said of Us.
The London Freeman, the able organ of the English Baptists, in summing up the events of the past year has the following severe remarks on republican America. Who will say they are not TRUE?
"The election of Mr. Buchanan was a great triumph of the worst of causes; of slavery and slave-holders over Christianity and Christian churches; and it was gained by the defection of the great Quaker State, Pennsylvania, from the principles of its founder! America is the most degraded, at present, morally and religiously, of all free and Protestant countries. It is the reproach of Evangelical christendom. Her slaveholders defy both God and man, and the freemen of the free States sacrifice their own political freedom and the personal rights of the negro, to a low and noisy political party! The United States are to us a greater grief than Heathendom and Popery, for the names of Christianity and Protestantism, of civil and religious liberty, are blasphemed through them. Oh, that the free States may burst their fetters, get rid of the accursed thing, and join the mother country in heading the march of christianity and civilization!"—Sel.
Tenth Anniversary of Spiritualism.
Mr J. B. Chandler, of Concord, N. H., suggests the propriety of an appropriate observance of the thirty-first day of the present month, (March,) as the "tenth anniversary of successful scientific intercourse between the inhabitants of our world and those of the spirit-realm."
It will be recollected that it was on the night of the 31st of March, 1848, that the discovery was first made by the Fox family at Hydesville, N. Y., that the mysterious noises which had for some time disturbed them were produced by an intelligent cause, and could be made the medium of communication—from which, as a starting point, the whole Spiritualistic movement has proceeded.
If Spiritualists desire to fix upon any commemorative occasion of the kind, this surely is an appropriate one; and we have no doubt it will be widely and joyfully observed in the future.—Spiritual Age.
Meetings in Oakland Co., Mich.
By Joseph Bates
COMMENCED according to appointment on the 13th inst. in Shelby. A goodly number of the brethren from the surrounding region came together on the Sabbath, many of whom we had never seen before. We had much freedom in proclaiming the present truth to them, and hope it will not soon be out of mind. Bro. Cornell could not meet with us as we expected. He and Bro. Lawrence were protracting their meeting at Tyrone, and did not arrive until we had closed our labors.
We held three meetings on First-day and evening, in the Baptist meeting-house at Stony Creek. Among others, a Baptist minister of the place attended and became much interested in our position, and at our last meeting in Shelby on Monday evening he declared himself fully in the belief of the Sabbath of the Lord, and all the message as far as he understood it. Another person also became much interested. At the close of our meetings three were baptized. Bro. Cornell and Lawrence designed holding meetings in the vicinity over another Sabbath. JOSEPH BATES.
During the past three or four years, in several instances, brethren have taken books from the messengers, promising to pay them in a short time, and they have heard nothing from them since. If they have forgotten it, we trust that this friendly hint, together with the reproving Spirit, may bring it to their remembrance. We would assure you dear friends, these debts are not forgiven, and will not be, until at least you manifest feeling enough in regard to it to write to us, or in some way inform us why you do not cancel so sacred an obligation. We must make our returns to the publishing office. Their repeated calls, together with the continual wants of our families, have hitherto rendered it impossible to forget these little dues.
Messengers must sacrifice their worldly interests, and wear out their very lives in ministering in spiritual things, and it is all right; we complain not; and if necessary, minister also in carnal things, even to those who are less needy than ourselves, but it would at least be some relief to hear from them. M. E. Cornell.
Reports on New England Missionary Work
By H. W. Lawrence
From Bro. Lawrence.
Bro. Smith: I have lately returned from a two weeks tour, mostly in Essex Co. The tears and expressions of several, evinced increasing interest in that region. I still think the truth will reach hearts in that section. In Keene, over one hundred came out for the first time to hear on the present truth, and were like the "Bereans" of old, bought books, and voted in favor of further effort. Such a "hedge" is not always found even in hill countries. I hope soon to visit that region again in company with others. My observation and experience this Winter in four counties, has confirmed me in the conviction, that more can now be done in new fields with publications, than we as a people are doing. I would like to express my conviction also, that we are now near the point, where those, unwilling to suffer with the remnant, will be left to go back and be excused, if they desire it, just as many were in the two first invitations. Luke xiv, 17-21. There are a few in nearly all the churches I visited this Winter, who for months have been unwilling to help themselves in God's revealed way, and the faith and labor of the more active portion of the church in their behalf seems to be nearly over. I can but endorse as my own view, under such circumstances, the remark of Bro. A. S. Hutchins, in Review, No. 16. "Lord spare thy people is my prayer."
In hope.
H. W. Lawrence.
W. Bangor, N. Y., March 8th, 1858.
APPOINTMENTS.
By Editor
General Conference.
PROVIDENCE permitting, there will be a General Conference at Battle Creek, to commence May 31st, at 2 o'clock P. M. This meeting is designed for a general gathering of those who have an interest in the cause, and who wish to come to worship God, and learn their duty at this solemn crisis. We shall be happy to see brethren from other States at this Conference.
In behalf of the Church at Battle Creek.
JAMES WHITE,
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH,
J. B. FRISBIE,
} Conference
Committee.
Eastern Tent Conference.
By Stephen Pierce; E. L. Barr
THERE will be a business meeting of the brethren in New England, in the town of Roxbury, Vt., on the 3d and 4th days of the week, the 20th and 21st days of April next.
The object of this meeting is not to call in a large promiscuous assembly of brethren and sisters, to worship in the usual manner of conferences; but to consider the tent enterprise in New England the ensuing Summer, and make arrangements for the same.
The invitation is therefore extended to the business, enterprising brethren, who take an interest in this cause, and have means to help it forward, and also to all such brethren as the respective churches of New England may appoint as delegates.
STEPHEN PIERCE.
E. L. BARR.
P. S. Brethren from the south by cars, by taking the earliest morning trains from Mass. and N. H., will reach Roxbury about six o'clock P. M., same day. Brethren from the north should also be particular and take the morning train, as it is the only train through Roxbury the same day. By this they reach Roxbury at 10 A. M. in season to commence the conference.
S. P.
E. L. B.
Roxbury, March 22d, 1858.
Business Items.
By Editor
J. A. Laughhead. Your money was entered on book. We receipt in this number.
E. Scarborough. We will send A. Worster's paper as you suggest. His credit will therefore reach to Vol. XIII, 18, which we so mark on book.
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BOOKS SENT SINCE MARCH 7th, 1858. E. Risdon, Iowa. S. Everett, Iowa. C. S. Glover, Mich. Wm. Wise, Wis. A. J. Richmond, Mich. J. Spaulding, Vt. J. B. McGibbeney, N. Y. S. C. Perry, Mich. Wm. P. Rathbun, Wis. I. N. Pike, Vt. H. W. Lawrence, N. Y. M. Hull, Iowa. B. Landon, Mich. M. J. Owen, Mich. Wm. Chapman, Ills. D. Pratt, Ills. Jas. Harvey, Ind. M. S. Kellogg, Mich. W. Morse, M. T. Wm. James, Ohio. Jno. A. Myers, Ohio. M. J. Bartholf, Wis. C. H. Tubbs, Wis. J. L. Locke, Ind. C. Moore, Mich. W. E. Landon, Ct. A. Caldwell, Iowa. M. S. Kellogg, Mich. Jno. Walker, Mo. J. A. Wilcox, N. Y. I. Sanborn, (by express) Munroe, Wis.
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By Editor
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FOR REVIEW AND HERALD.
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Books for Sale at this Office.
By Editor
Hymns for those who keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus. This Book contains 352 Pages, 430 Hymns, and 76 pieces of Music. Price, 60 cents.—In Morocco, 65 cents.
Bible Tracts Bound in Two Volumes. These Volumes are of about 400 pages each, and embrace nearly all of our published Tracts. We are happy to offer to our friends the main grounds of our faith in a style so acceptable.—Price 50 cents each.
Sabbath Tracts, Nos. 1, 2, 3 & 4. This work presents a condensed view of the entire Sabbath question.—184 pages. Price 15 cents.
The Three Angels of Rev. xiv, 6-12, particularly the Third Angel's Message, and the Two-horned Beast. This work maintains the fulfillment of Prophecy in the past Advent movement, and is of great importance in these times of apostasy and peril.—148 pages.—Price 12½ cents.
Bible Student's Assistant. This is the title of a work of 36 pp. It has been prepared with much care, and considerable expense, and can be had at this Office for 4,00 per 100, or if sent by mail, post paid, 6 cents a copy.
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Review of a Series of Discourses, delivered by N. Fillio, in Battle Creek, Mich., March 31st, to April 4th, 1857, on the Sabbath question. By J. H. Waggoner. Price 6 cents.
The Nature and Obligation of the Sabbath of the Fourth Commandment, with remarks on the Great Apostasy and Perils of the Last Days. Price 6 cents. The same in German, 10 cents.
The Nature and Tendency of Modern Spiritualism—an able exposure of that heresy. 84 pp. 8 cents.
The Two-horned Beast of Rev. xiii, a Symbol of the United States. Price 10 cents.
The Sanctuary and 2300 days by J. N. A. Price 12½ cents.
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Man not Immortal: the only Shield against the Seductions of Modern Spiritualism. 148 pp. 12½ cents.
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Review of Crozier. This work is a faithful review of the No-Sabbath doctrine as set forth in the Advent Harbinger by O. R. L. Crozier. It should be placed in the hands of those who are exposed to that heresy.—Price 6 cents.
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Why Don't you Keep the Sabbath? Extracts from Catholic works. Price 5 cents.
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The Sabbath. Containing valuable articles on 2 Cor. iii, Col. ii, 14-17. Who is our Lawgiver? The two tills of Matt. v, 18, Consistency, &c. Price 5 cents.
The Law of God. In this excellent work the testimony of both Testaments relative to the law of God—its knowledge from Creation, its nature and perpetuity—is presented. Price 12½ cents.
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Last Work of the True Church.—Price 7 cents.
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