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Review and Herald, Vol. 37, No. 25.

Facts and Queries Bearing upon the Subject of the Day Line

Review and Herald

Jun 6, 1871

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 6, 1871

Facts and Queries Bearing upon the Subject of the Day Line.

By John Nevins Andrews

BY ELD. J. N. ANDREWS.
Some time since, I cut the following from a secular paper: “A QUESTION FOR FIGURES. Suppose a man start from any point on the line of the equator at twelve o’clock on Monday noon, and travel west at a rate of speed sufficient to keep the sun directly over his head. In twenty-four hours he necessarily would arrive at his place of departure, finding, of course, that it is Tuesday noon. Now suppose, for the sake of example, that a line of stations be located directly in his line of travel, at a distance from each other say of ten miles. Inquiring the time of day at each station as he progresses, he is told ‘twelve o’clock Monday noon.’ Yet manifestly at some station he must receive the information that it is Tuesday noon. Query—at which one? and could there be a discrepancy of twenty-four hours between any two localities not more than ten miles apart?”
Though it be impossible for a person to travel round the world with such speed as to keep up with the sun in his apparent circuit of the globe, yet the supposed case is well calculated to bring the matter to the consideration of the reader. The revolution of the earth causes the sun to make the apparent circuit of the globe every twenty-four hours. When the sun is on our meridian, in other words when it is directly south of us, it is to us noon. And as the sun moves westward through the heavens, noon also moves forward in the same path directly beneath the sun and keeping pace with it exactly. Noon therefore is constantly making the circuit of the globe. To-day it is Thursday noon. Noon keeps on its westward course and in twenty-four hours it will be here again. But when it comes again, behold, it is Friday noon. There is a steady, uninterrupted course of noon from the time that it leaves us to-day till it comes to us again. But at some point it changes in an instant from being the noon of Thursday to be the noon of Friday. And so of every day in the week. Every one can see that this instantaneous transition must take place somewhere. And the line where this transition takes place is the boundary between one day and another, the starting point or source of day, the line whence each day sets out on its mission around our world. The writer, from whom we quote the paragraph at the commencement of this article, asks whether it is possible that this instantaneous change of twenty-four hours in the count of time can be, and where that locality is at which it takes place. That such a change does occur in the circuit of day is sufficiently evident, and in a former article we have given some reasons in proof that this line is in the Pacific Ocean, between the old world and the new, where the east and the west literally come together. It will be of interest to see what others have said on this subject.
The American Institute Farmer’s Club, which meets in New York, have at different times discussed this question, and the N. Y. Tribune has given us the substance of their reasoning. The reporter of the Institute speaks thus:
“WHERE DOES THE DAY BEGIN?—R. R. Fox, Edinboro, Erie Co., Pa., says: The answer you give to this question is not satisfactory. There are numbers of your readers here who would like a little more light on this perplexing subject. When it is Monday noon at the first meridian [i. e., from Greenwich, England], what day of the week and what hour of the day is it at 175° east and 175° west longitude, respectively?”
[Note. The question seems to imply that the writer locates the day line at the meridian of 180° east or west from Greenwich, which is five degrees either way from the points respecting which he inquires; i. e., it lies midway between them. But we have shown in a former article that the day line must be located through Behring’s Straits in longitude about 168° west from Greenwich. The day line is therefore to the east of both the meridians which he names. But we can answer his question. When it is Monday noon at Greenwich, it is at the meridian of 180° the midnight with which Tuesday begins (according to the method of beginning days, now in use), and at 175° east longitude it is twenty minutes before midnight of Monday night, while at 175° west longitude it is twenty minutes past midnight Tuesday morning. Observe, we here use the method which begins the day at midnight. For while it is true that first day, second day, etc., do begin at sunset, it is also true that Sunday, Monday, etc., do begin at midnight. For God’s first day and man’s Sunday do not correspond, one beginning six hours earlier than the other. And as 180° from Greenwich is just half way around the world from that point, when it is noon at Greenwich, it is midnight at 180°. And as each degree makes a difference of four minutes in time, and the two points of inquiry are five degrees each way from 180° one of them is twenty minutes before, and the other twenty minutes after midnight. And as the day line is to the east of all three of these meridians, the midnight is that with which Tuesday commences. J. N. A.]
The Tribune report continues Mr. F.’s inquiries and adds its own comments:—
“If a person could start from New York at noon on Monday and travel with the sun around the earth, twenty-four hours afterward, when he returns it is Tuesday noon. It was Monday noon when he started, noon all the way round, and Tuesday noon when he returns; when did it change from Monday noon to Tuesday noon?”
“Ah, there’s the rub. That’s what puzzled Archbishop Whately. It is a problem which no astronomer has yet explained, where any particular day commences.”
[Note. We think that the location of the day line can be determined with as much certainty as can be the fact that such a line does really exist, though astronomy may not be able to do it. Can any reader of the Review tell us where in the writings of Abp. Whately we can find what he has said on this question? J. N. A.]
The Tribune continues thus:—
“H. Terene writes from Council Bluffs, Iowa, upon this question: ‘There is no denying or evading the progressive steps of this reasoning, and yet we know that twenty-four hours ago it was Sunday noon, and not Monday. The difficulty is, that while we know the exact time that denotes Sunday morning 6 o’clock in New York, we cannot determine how many hours have elapsed since Sunday morning, the same day, 6 o’clock, first commenced on earth. We know that it was Sunday morning in Asia, twelve hours before it was in New York, but who can say as to the whole zodiac, when Sunday morning first commenced? If it is true that Sunday morning commences at San Francisco one hour later than it does in New York, it is equally true that Sunday morning begins one hour later for every fifteen degrees we go west, and entirely round the world at the same rate, so that twenty-four hours from the time first mentioned it is still nothing but Sunday morning in New York—a reductio ad absurdum. Again, allow me to state this case. Suppose the earth was belted by a continuous telegraph running east and west, with operators and stations every mile, and that they were all required to telegraph to New York the instant that the sun should rise at each station on the first day of January, will you please tell me what would be the time in New York when the first signal would be received? If you can do that you can tell where the day begins, as well as when, and will receive the thanks of Archbishop Whately, if you should be so happy as to meet him in the next world.’”
[Note. Mr. T. sees plainly that there must be a line where each day first begins to mankind; for to trace the day westward it begins later, and trace it eastward it begins earlier, and where the east and the west meet there is of necessity a line, one side of which is twenty-four hours in advance of the other. Those who deny this, can, if they please, continue to trace the same day westward clear round the world and have it begin later and later till they arrive where they started from, and find that it begins there latest of all, which is manifestly false. And they can reverse this process by travelling east and having the day begin earlier and earlier as they continue this eastward journey till they complete the circuit of the globe and find thus that the day begins earliest of all at the place where they set out, which is a second palpable falsehood. Each of these things is sufficient to show that there is a day line from which each day sets out, and at which it finishes its course.
And again, as Mr. T. supposes the case, if we go west with the speed of the sun, as the day begins later and yet later in exact correspondence with the sun’s progress, we shall continue to witness the same hour till we have completed the circuit of the globe, and find at our starting point that it is the same day and the same hour at which we set out twenty-four hours before! The position of those who deny a day line at which the transition from one day to another takes place simply by crossing it, is thus, as Mr. T. remarks, reduced to an absurdity.
The question relative to telegraph operators, might be more properly stated thus: Which one would first announce the beginning of the new year? for all the other questions are readily answered if this one can be answered correctly. Is it not manifest that there is but one place at which we can locate such a line, and that that must be where the eastern extremity of the old world approaches the western extremity of the new? Where the east and the west touch each other, must be the line where day is earliest on one side and latest on the other. J. N. A.]
The Tribune reports the further discussion of this subject by the same body on another occasion as follows:—
“THE LONGITUDE QUESTION.—The question asked some time since by one of our correspondents, ‘Where does the day begin, or where does the circumnavigator correct his reckoning?’ seems to have awakened a remarkable degree of interest, as we have numerous letters upon the subject. We can only find room for brief extracts from a few of the most important:—”
“A. P. Andrew, Jr., La Porte, Ind.: The Rev. Dr. Robinson, a great biblical historian, when this question was agitated some forty years ago in Cincinnati, said [of the question, Where does Monday noon become Tuesday noon?]: ‘It could not be answered astronomically, but historically, that where the traveler with the sun met the emigration that had emigrated eastwardly [from Asia to the islands of the Pacific] they would tell him it was Tuesday noon.’”
“Wm. R. Reed, Cross Creek, Penn.: ‘Navigators have fixed upon the west shore of the Pacific as the beginning point, say about longitude 170. If a traveler left New York Sunday noon, moving with the sun, when he reached Australia, he would find the people there calling the time Monday noon.’”
“G. W. Pressey, Hammonton, N. J.: ‘The first day of 1867 will begin on the western shore of the Pacific Ocean when that point is opposite the sun, which will be 8:30 A. M., Dec. 31, at Washington, D. C. At the island of Niphon, at sunrise, Jan. 1, it will be 3:55, P. M., Dec. 31, at Washington. With navigators the western shore of the Pacific is always one day in advance. When it is Sunday here, it is Monday there.’”
[Note. Observe, this writer begins the day at midnight, and not at sunset. He thinks the day line is in the west shore of the Pacific; i. e., the east coast of Asia. When that shore is just opposite the sun, it is midnight there, and on the side toward the sun it is noon. If by the east shore of Asia he means its eastern extremity, he is not far from the truth. He does not differ far from the writer before him, if that writer means longitude 175 west from Greenwich. Observe the important fact last stated by Mr. P.; viz., that the west shore of the Pacific is one day in advance of the east shore. J. N. A.]
Vincent Barnard, Kennet Square, Chester Co., Penn.: “Let us imagine a line to be drawn from the sun through the center of the earth, the meridian at which this line enters the earth is the noon meridian, the meridian where it leaves the earth on the opposite is the midnight meridian, or the line at which the two ends of the day, evening and morning, meet; these two are unchangeable with respect to the sun and to each other. Our method of reckoning probably originated with the Greeks, and spread eastward to the shores of the Pacific. It also extended westward over Europe, across the Atlantic and this continent. Thus the Pacific Ocean separates the two ends of the reckoning. Thus no two individuals on opposite sides of a meridian line are able to note the instant transition from one day to another. It is time astronomers should establish a meridian at which each day shall begin and end. Such a line, however, would produce some curious results. The people going to church on Sunday upon one side would see their neighbors at work Monday morning on the other.”
[Note. The wisdom of God has placed the Pacific Ocean between the extreme east and the farthest west, and his providence has established the line through the midst of these waters, wholly avoiding Mr. B.’s difficulty. The reckoning of time from midnight is not of God’s ordaining; but the reckoning of time by weeks came from him, and it is the Hebrew people from whom this reckoning has gone east to the east coast of Asia, and west to the most western extremity of America. J. N. A.]
“Wm. T. Parker, Birmingham, Erie Co., Ohio:—The beginning of the day occurs at the same moment at all places which lie on the same meridian, and it differs in time at all points differing in longitude; consequently it is not scientifically correct to affirm that the same day exists at the same time at two points having different longitude, as in Europe and America. In answer to the question, Where do navigators, when sailing around the world, and touching at ports on the way, correct their log books? I answer, at the first port after crossing the Pacific Ocean. When the telegraphic cable shall be laid across Behring’s Straits, should a dispatch be sent from the American shore on Monday at noon, it will be reported to the Siberian papers as having been received on Tuesday at noon.”
[Note. Observe the last statement. We shall have occasion to refer to the wonders of the telegraph as bearing upon this question of the day line. Meantime it is sufficient to remark that the fact last stated shows that this line is between the two shores of Behring’s Straits. J. N. A.]

FINISH THY WORK.

Finish thy work; the time is short, The sun is in the west, The night is coming on; till then, Think not of rest.
Yes, finish all thy work, then rest; Till then, rest never; The rest prepared for thee by God Is rest forever.
Finish thy work, then wipe thy brow, Ungird thee from thy toil; Take breath, and from each weary limb, Shake off the soil.
Finish thy work, then rest in peace, Life’s battle fought and won; And so to thee, thy Master’s voice Shall say, Well done!
Finish thy work, then take thy harp, Give praise to God above; Sing a new song of endless joy And heavenly love.
Give thanks to Him who held thee up In all thy path below, Who made thee faithful unto death, And crowns thy brow.—Sel.

A. Campbell, on the Sabbath.

In the Bible Advocate of Jan., 1848, A. Campbell, speaking of the Sabbath, says:—“But some say it was exchanged from the seventh to the first day. Where? when? by whom? No man can tell. No; it never was changed, nor could it be unless creation was gone through with again; for the reason assigned must be changed before the observance can be altered. If it be changed it was the work of that august personage, Dr. Antichrist.”

God Made Grasses As Well As Trees

Do NOT be troubled because you have no great virtues. God made a million spears of grass where he made one tree. The earth is fringed and carpeted, not with forests, but with grasses.

The Sabbath and the Mails Again.

By W. H. Littlejohn

Very soon after the publication in Review, No. 19, Vol. 37, of an article under the above caption, the following letter was received at the Office:
“Hamilton, Mo., May 8, 1871.
“Messrs. Editors Review and Herald: I noticed in a copy of the Review of April 25, an article headed, ‘The Sabbath and the Mails,’ signed W. H. Littlejohn, in which he is rather inclined to think it to be a violation of the holy Sabbath to take mail from the post-office on that day; even though a person may be living several miles away and be in town on the Sabbath to attend church. Now if the act of stepping into the office and getting your mail is a clear violation of the letter of God’s law (as he says), Is it not as much a violation of God’s law for us to hitch up a team and go several miles to church? Let us see what Moses says in Ex. 16:29; 20:10, 11; 23:12; 31:15; 35:2. As I understand the Scriptures, the Sabbath was set apart—not as a day of merriment, or of feasting; neither are we commanded to worship God on that day more than on other days of the week; but rather as a day of rest for man and beast. It appears to me that according to the strict letter of the law, a person is not justifiable in harnessing and driving his team three, five, or ten miles on the Sabbath day. How is this? Will some one please answer through the Review, for the benefit of all seekers after truth and holiness. Yours in hope. P. J. V.”
If we comprehend the meaning of the author, he intends to take the position that the ten commandments do not set apart the Sabbath as a day of public worship, and that the letter of them strictly forbids the employment of teams for the purpose of going to the place of meeting.
So far as the question at issue in the article above mentioned is concerned, we cannot see that it is one which can in any way be affected by the inquiry of our friend.
Most assuredly, if his construction of the Sabbath law be correct, then we were right in insisting that a person would not be authorized to go to the office for his mail on that day. For if we are forbidden to leave our own premises, even for the purpose of attending church, certain it is that we shall not be justified in doing so for a less worthy purpose.
But so far as the opinion is concerned which is advanced in the above communication regarding the design of God in the wording of the commandment, we cannot agree with our brother. It seems to us that he is pushing the affair beyond what the facts in the case will warrant. It may be true that, by adopting a rigid construction of that portion of the law which says that “in it” (i. e., in the Sabbath) “thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates,” his view might appear to be correct. But when it is taken in connection with the rest of the commandment, the difficulty is removed. The work here referred to is evidently the same as that spoken of previously in the connection, wherein it is stated, “Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God;” i. e., “any work” of thine; and as this is the same expression which governs in deciding the course to be pursued with one’s cattle, the inference is that they are not to be employed by the owner in any service which can be said to be his work, in contradistinction from that of the Lord.
Now to prove that we are right in this, we have but to apply a rule of interpretation which is common in all courts of justice; namely, that of construing doubtful passages of the law, so as to make them harmonize with the utterances and actions of the lawmaker which relate to the same, or kindred subjects.
Is it true, then, that there is in the word of God any expression of his which will throw light on the subject? Fortunately there is. In Lev. 23:3, we read; “Six days shall work be done; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein; it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings. See also verses 37 and 38.”
Here side by side are found first, the declaration that the Sabbath shall be a day of convocation (i. e., assembly), and second, that in it no work be done, thus showing conclusively that our construction of the law was right; else God would be guilty of stultifying himself by commanding first, that the people should perform no labor of any description on his rest day, and then compelling the same persons to violate the statute which he himself had given, by making it necessary that they should go to the place of assembly.
But no one will venture to represent God as occupying an attitude like this. Hence the only conclusion which remains, is, that we should understand the expression in the law which forbids “any work” as referring to servile labor; thus relieving the subject of all difficulty.
Having done this, our labor in this controversy is at an end. For the moment we concede that the people were required to convene on the Sabbath, the question as to the manner in which they should come together, whether on foot or in vehicles employed for that purpose, and drawn by horses or other beasts of burden, becomes an immaterial one. For it certainly could be no more for them to ride to the place of convocation after a pair of well-fed horses than to drag their weary limbs along toward the place of meeting, on foot.
If it should be replied that the ordinance spoken of in Lev. 23:3, passed away with the Mosaic economy, we are ready to concede it. So did all the texts quoted by the objector except the one found in the decalogue. Nevertheless it abundantly serves the end for which we have employed it. For it shows that God simply designed to teach that manual labor was wrong only when it conflicted with the observance of the Sabbath as holy time.
If, therefore, those living at that period were acting in harmony with such a use of the day by pursuing the course in question, certainly we shall be; for the prohibitory restrictions are removed with the exception of that which it is claimed is found in the law itself, and which, like the others, we have shown should not be construed in the manner claimed.
Nay, furthermore, we shall not rest the matter on negative grounds. For we believe it is a positive virtue, even in the absence of explicit directions to this effect, for the people of God to assemble on foot or by teams for his worship on the day which he has claimed as his own.
The requirement is that it should be kept holy; i. e., devoted to a holy or religious use.—Web.
But how can this be done so satisfactorily, and so much to the good of the people, and to the glory of God, as by stated worship during its hours?
Says the apostle, “Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works; not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Heb. 10:24, 25. Now this may not relate to a definite day, but it contains a general principle. It shows that the assembling of the saints is a very important means of grace, and ought to be brought into requisition more and more as we approach the time of the end.
But should we pursue the course suggested by our friend, it would be the very opposite of that recommended by the apostle. For instead of meeting together more and more frequently, as the latter directs, we should make those meetings more seldom; since in the former dispensation they were in the habit of devoting the Sabbath to such uses, but in this, we should have dispensed with such an employment of it altogether.
Having said thus much, we think that it is not necessary to take up the texts quoted from the Mosaic law, in order to explain them one by one.
Suffice it to say that there is no way in which they can be construed without dishonoring God and making him appear to contradict himself, unless we understand them as relating simply to secular labor.
Nor is this all; any other conception of them would involve Christ and the apostles in an open disregard of God’s will. For it is said of Christ in Luke 4:16: “He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read.” Again at a later period it is said of Paul in Acts 17:2, that he, “as his manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures.”
Now in order for them to reach these places they must have put forth physical effort; and, beyond all contradiction, they must have departed from their own houses. But this, according to my brother, would have made them commandment breakers. Any construction, therefore, that would drive us to such erroneous conclusions must be wrong in itself.
Simply take the position that the Sabbath is to be so used as shall best glorify God, and we are relieved from all our embarrassment—there is a perfect consistency in all that God has said—it becomes to us at once the most precious day of the week by affording to both saint and sinner the privilege of hearing the preached word—and at the same time the sacredness of its hallowed hours prevents us from encouraging their devotion to secular uses by resorting to the office for our mails or doing any other work which is not strictly within the scope of God’s grand original design. W. H. Littlejohn. Washington, Iowa, May 22, 1871.

Wake Up.

By M. Wood

“And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep.” Rom. 13:11. Dear reader, can your precious soul comprehend the meaning of the words of the apostle Paul when he entreats us in the name of God to awake, saying that the night is far spent, and the day is near at hand? Is it not time that we should take heed to Paul’s warning? that we should wake up to the perilous times? that we should have our loins girded about with the righteousness of God, that we may be able to stand in the evil day? When clothed with righteousness, we shall be able to withstand the fiery darts of the enemy, who is ever ready and ever anxious to draw us from the duty which we owe to God and to man. But we must awake, be ever watchful, ever prayerful, always abounding in the works of the Lord, having more faith in the promises of God, and keeping his holy law; looking unto Jesus as the author and finisher of our faith.
Dear reader, do you want eternal life? Oh, yes! So do I. Then let us wake out of this dull stupor, and commence anew to serve the true and living God. Put away ungodliness, for soon Jesus will cease to plead our cause with God; we shall be left without a high priest in the heavenly sanctuary, and he that is filthy will then remain filthy. Let us then wake up, and let us wash our robes in the blood of the Lamb. Shall we be found among Christ’s jewels? Are we keeping God’s commandments acceptably to him? Will God accept of any excuses in the day of Judgment?
Still we are not awake to the dangers which threaten us on every hand. It will be an awful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. It is possible for us to escape his indignation and wrath. Let us be diligent. Watch and pray. Stand fast in the faith. Exhort one another, and the more as ye see the day approaching. It may be that we shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger. M. WOOD.

Decision: Standing Firm for Truth in Last Days

By H. A. St. John

Decision.

DECISION is necessary in all the walks of life. To be good soldiers of the cross and valiant for divine truth in these last days of peril, requires very great decision of character, more than any will be able to command, excepting those who have given diligence to cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. Already commandment-keepers, loyal subjects of the government of Heaven, are spoken of by their enemies as “stubborn, self-willed, and uncharitable.” But there is no medium ground, if we would stand on the truth at all. The chances for skulking, in neutrality, between the two opposing armies, are growing less. The line of demarkation between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not, is daily becoming more clearly defined.
My fellow-traveler to the bar of infinite justice, hear ye not the voice of God’s loyal people saying, “Who is on the Lord’s side? let him come unto me”? Ex. 32:26. “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” Joshua 24:15. “How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” 1 Kings 18:21. “No man can serve two masters.” Matt. 6:24. Jesus said, “No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62. “He that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” “A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.” James. 1:6, 8.
In the word of God, we have many worthy examples of noble decision. Said Caleb, “Let us go up at once.” Num. 13:30. Ruth said, “Whither thou goest I will go.” Ruth 1:16. Daniel would “not defile himself with the king’s meat.” Dan. 1:8. Said Daniel’s companions, “We will not serve thy gods.” Dan. 3:18. Peter and John declared, “We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:20.
In overcoming those things that retard or hinder our progress in the divine life, it is necessary to be decided. Says Jesus, “If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee.” Matt. 5:29, 30. In the original it is said to read, chop it off, not saw it off by degrees, but off with it at a blow. Evil traits of character, selfish propensities, and the like, are foes within and about us now, that should engage our earnest attention. Let these be vanquished by watchfulness, prayer, and well-doing. Then, when outward persecution, bitter and unreasonable, shall come from wicked men and devils, with the help of God we will fight manfully, stand stiffly for the truth, and come off victorious.
H. A. St. John.

MARY E. GUILFORD

By Mary E. Guilford

Discouragement.

Under the pressure of adversity, many yield to discouragement. Gloom and despondency settle upon the mind. Faith in the promises of God, give place to distrust and fear. Gloomy forebodings of the future fill the heart. The spirit becomes restless and impatient under the burden of restraint. There is a manifest unwillingness to submit passively to the providence of God. Instances are not rare, when such minds become envious at the prosperity of their neighbors. Dissatisfied with their own position or attainments, they begin with jealous eyes to scrutinize the motives and character of others. If such individuals are professors of religion, while they yield to the power of discouragement, they become a “dead weight” to the church. The time and energy which should be employed in making a daily advancement in the divine life, and disseminating the light of truth to “those that are without,” has to be expended in bringing such ones up out of the slough of despondency and enabling them to plant their feet upon the promises of God’s word, and trust in his mercy and love.
God is good. He will care for the poor and needy. All that will put their trust in him will find sweet peace and abiding rest. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul; he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Ps. 23: 1-4.
Oh! I long for the time to come, when the remnant people of God will throw off the shackles of unbelief, and “take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” and move forward with that degree of faith and earnestness, which should characterize those who are announcing the last message of mercy to a perishing world.
This is no time for discouragement. Those who are trying to live out present truth should be of good courage. They should take hold by faith upon the promises of God. There is a battle to be fought with the powers of darkness, a glorious victory to be won, ere the promised rest can be obtained. Then let us arouse our dormant energies, gird on the armor anew, and press forward with determination that we will, in the strength of God, overcome every obstacle which would hinder our progress in the divine life. A heavenly race and an immortal crown demand our zeal. Shall we not go forward in the strength of Israel’s God, and obtain the prize?
“Christian, why should earthly trial Make us lose our trust in God? Can we doubt a Father’s goodness, Though we feel his chastening rod? He has said and will perform it; He has spoken, it shall stand: I will comfort, help, and guide you By my own almighty hand. “If we lack a firm reliance On his ever-present aid, He may leave us in the darkness Which our unbelief has made, Golden moments, rich in mercy, We are wasting day by day; How we wrong our blessed Saviour, When we doubt, and cease to pray.”

MARY E. GUILFORD

Castalia, Ohio.

Warnings Against Evil Thoughts and Fleshly Lusts

BEWARE of evil thoughts. They have done great mischief in the world. Bad words follow, and bad deeds finish the progress. Watch against them, strive against them, pray against them. They prepare the way for the enemy of souls.
ONE living, earnest Christian, who can offer the prayer of faith, be he ever so poor, is worth more to the cause of Christ than a thousand worldly-minded and carnal professors, be they ever so rich.
THE dominion of fleshly lusts stupefies the understanding, and deadens the moral feelings. No man who is under the control of his appetite can be either wise or good.
Continue reading: Breakers ahead in the Construction of the Kingdoms of Papal Europe