Review and Herald, Vol. 26, No. 12. (8/22/1865)

Review and Herald

Aug 22, 1865

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 22, 1865

Judgment and Mercy.

By Jos. Clarke

"WHEN thy judgments are abroad in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness." Isa. xxvi, 9.

"Behold the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy." Ps. xxxiii, 18.

That nations as well as individuals are under discipline, and subject to the complete control of their Creator, is not a matter of doubt.

Judgments and mercies intermingled, have filled the cup of man's experience, from his fall in Eden, even to this time; and never have these two attributes been made more manifest, than since the breaking out of the Southern rebellion.

In particular, have we seen these attributes most clearly manifested in this, that when Jehovah would thresh this people in his wrath, he placed a humane and considerate man at the helm, to direct the affairs of the nation.

God works by means, and his plans are deep and wisely laid. When he would disenthrall Israel from the Egyptian yoke, he trained the child Moses for the work, and eighty long years of his life were devoted to the work of preparation. Some indeed, of his early discipline, seemed sharp, but it was salutary.

David must first tend the flock, then be the victim of the hatred and envy of a king and his courtiers, before he could wear the crown.

When our American Republic was to emerge from obscurity, a man of almost superhuman wisdom and forethought, was trained amid dangers and hardships, to take the helm, and guide this nation to honor and renown.

Not less, do we see the hand of God, in raising up and previously training, a fit person to take the helm, while our nation should pass the fiery ordeal of rebellion and civil war: a man of firm and unyielding devotions to his country, one not to be swayed from the path of duty when once clearly made known to him; not a political quack, but a man of the people; an exception among the corrupt partisans of our times; an honest, praying statesman. Were not all surprised that one like Abraham Lincoln, should suddenly burst forth from obscurity as it were, and skillfully guide us through this horrible struggle, and were we not as much surprised that he should as suddenly retire from the field? Such a man, at such a time, set at the head of our nation! so good a man, chosen by so corrupt a people, from whom the swarms of venal and corrupt statesmen shrank back, surprised, ashamed!

Mr. Lincoln was brought up in adversity, his father was poor, probably never having five hundred dollars' worth of property at any one time. His son was obliged to earn his own bread at an early age. All the schooling he ever had in his minority, would hardly amount to six months in a good school; yet he gained a good practical education, by improving his spare moments of time; and by so doing, perseveringly, he finally outstripped his fellows, who were brought up in affluence and ease, enjoying the finest advantages for improvement.

Consistency was the jewel he prized; and, careful of making pledges, he sustained a character for probity, consistency and truth, and won the love of his people, and the admiration and respect of the world.

That he was consistent, no one dares to contradict; but as an evidence of this, we subjoin a few extracts from his speeches, delivered at different times and places:

"A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this Government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved—I do not expect the house to fall, but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other."—Springfield, June, 1858.

"MY FRIENDS: No one not in my position, can appreciate the sadness I feel at this parting. To this people I owe all that I am. Here I have lived more than a quarter of a century; here my children were born, and here one of them lies buried. I know not how soon I shall see you again. A duty devolves upon me which is, perhaps, greater than that which has devolved upon any other man since the days of Washington. He never would have succeeded except for the aid of Divine Providence, upon which he at all times relied. I feel that I cannot succeed without the same divine aid which sustained him, and on the same Almighty Being I place my reliance for support, and I hope you, my friends, will all pray that I may receive that divine assistance, without which I cannot succeed, but with which, success is certain. Again, I bid you all an affectionate farewell."—Springfield, Feb. 11, 1861.

"The people, when they rise in mass in behalf of the Union and the liberties of their country, truly may it be said, 'The gates of hell cannot prevail against them.' In all trying positions in which I shall be placed, and, doubtless, I shall be placed in many such, my reliance will be placed upon you and the people of the United States; and I wish you to remember, now and forever, that it is your business, and not mine; that if the union of these states, and the liberties of this people shall be lost, it is but little to any one man of fifty-two years of age, but a great deal to the thirty millions of people who inhabit these United States, and to their posterity in all ensuing time. It is your business to rise up and preserve the Union and liberty for yourselves, and not for me.

"I desire they should be constitutionally performed. I, as already intimated, am but an accidental instrument, temporary, and to serve but for a limited time, and I appeal to you again to constantly bear in mind that with you, and not with politicians, not with Presidents, not with office-seekers, but with you, is the question, Shall the Union and shall the liberties of this country be preserved to the latest generations?"—Indianapolis, Feb., 1861.

"I recollect thinking then, boy even though I was, that there must have been something more than common that these men (of the Revolution) struggled for. I am exceedingly anxious that that thing which they struggled for; that something even more than National Independence; that something that held out a great promise to all the people of the world to all time to come—I am exceedingly anxious that this Union, the Constitution, and the liberties of the people shall be perpetuated in accordance with the original idea for which that struggle was made, and I shall be most happy indeed if I shall be an humble instrument in the hands of the Almighty, and of this, his most chosen people, as the chosen instrument—also in the hands of the Almighty—for perpetuating the object of that great struggle."—Trenton, Feb. 21, 1861.

"I have never had a feeling, politically, that did not spring from the sentiments embodied in the Declaration of Independence. I have often pondered over the dangers which were incurred by the men who assembled here, and framed and adopted that Declaration of Independence. I have pondered over the toils that were endured by the officers and soldiers of the army who achieved that independence. I have often inquired of myself what great principle or idea it was that kept this Confederacy so long together. It was not the mere matter of the separation of the Colonies from the mother land, but that sentiment in the Declaration of Independence which gave liberty, not alone to the people of this country, but, I hope, to the world, for all future time. It was that which gave promise that, in due time, the weight would be lifted from the shoulders of all men. This is the sentiment embodied in the Declaration of Independence. Now, my friends, can this country be saved on that basis? If it can, I shall consider myself one of the happiest men in the world if I can help to save it. If it cannot be saved on that principle, it will be truly awful. But if this country cannot be saved without giving up that principle, I was about to say I would rather be assassinated on this spot than surrender it."—Independence Hall, Phila., Feb. 21, 1861.

But how sad! Just as the people were about to celebrate the proclamation of peace, our joy was turned into sadness, and our temples instead of being hung around with garlands, were draped in mourning!

Oh what a sudden transition from joy to grief! Old and young and middle-aged, sobbed with heartfelt sorrow. One loud wail went up to Heaven. The thoughtless maid mingled her tears with the care-worn warrior, and youth and age, rich and poor, mourned like Rachel of old. When, before, were tidings of peace so soon mixed with wormwood and bitterness, made more bitter, when devils incarnate clapped their hands for joy?

But do these things mean nothing? Is mercy (here manifested in winning to justice her hard-earned laurels), so mixed with judgments, and no meaning in it? Has it been decreed by Heaven that our cup of joy should be so suddenly overturned, and we learn no lesson

therefrom?

To-day the heavy tramp of returning legions of soldiers is heard in our land; and fond relatives are weeping tears of joy; but alas! some will not return. Their hands and feet lie palsied in death; their bosoms beat no more at the word home. Our much-loved associates come joyfully home. We feel our hearts beat quicker as we clasp the hand escaped from a thousand dangers, and our eyes fill with tears of joy. But the soldier and the civilian both look pensive, and their eyes moisten with tears for those left behind, who will not awake till the last trump calls them forth. Shall we not learn a lesson when the judgments of God are abroad in the earth?

Spirituality and Perfection of the Law

Selected for the Review.

Spirituality and Perfection of the Law.

"The law of God is just, A strict and holy way; And he that would escape the curse, Must all the law obey. Not one vain thought must rise, Not one unclean desire; He must be holy, just, and wise, Who keeps the law entire. If in one point he fail, In thought, or word, or deed, The curses of the law prevail, And rest upon his head. But does the curse still rest Upon my guilty head?— No—Jesus—let his name be blest! Hath borne it in my stead. He hath fulfilled the law; Obtained my peace with God; Hence doth my soul her comfort draw, And leave her heavy load."

Thistle-Down.

A THISTLE grew up by the wayside, tall and rank, and after a time its many beautiful amethyst blossoms expanded in the sunshine. There was no fear of any hand spoiling their beauty. Even the child shrank back from spoils which must be gathered at such a cost. So the thistle perfected its seeds, and by-and-by a strong east wind sprang up and scattered the airy fleet far and wide. Away sped a troop of them, on wings of down, over the farmer's choice grain-field, settling down finally in comfortable quarters, where the soil was the richest and likely to bring forth the greatest harvest. Now they trooped in a gay procession through the palings, which surrounded the garden, nestling down by the side of roses and lilies and gentle violets, giving promise of most undesirable neighbors. Here a little child's breath was sufficient to speed them on, as he danced along the dusty highway. Now they hovered irresolutely over the river, and finally they touched the surface lightly, to be borne still further onward to a new resting place. Some seeds were lost, indeed, but enough were sown broadcast to reap a harvest a hundred-fold.

What an emblem of our careless words is thistle-down! What evil seeds they sow wherever they fall! We little know what soil is ready to receive them, nor what harm they may do, even long after our heads are laid low. "Bury my influence with me," was the remorseful cry of a dying man. As well might we try to recall the seeds which the winds of heaven have scattered. Did you ever reflect that a little jest on a Scripture text, a sneering remark on one of Christ's followers, a thoughtless criticism on a religious discourse, may be the means of ruining a soul? That is the fruit which such seed-sowing too often bears. Truly "life and death are in the power of the tongue."

The thistle-seeds are sometimes lost, but no idle word have we ever spoken but we shall one day meet again, and "give an account thereof." "If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man."—S. S. Times.

When Meekness is Especially Required

Selected for the Review.

When Meekness is Especially Required.

WE must make profession of the hope that is in us with meekness. Be ready always to give an answer to every man that (soberly not scoffingly and in derision) asks you a reason of the hope that is in you, that is of the hope you profess, which you hope to be saved by, with meekness and fear. Observe it is very well consistent with Christian quietness to appear in defense of truth, and to avow our Christian profession when at any time we are duly called to it. That is not meekness but base cowardice, that tamely betrays and delivers up any of Christ's truths or institutions by silence, as if we were ashamed or afraid to confess our Master. But the office of meekness at such a time is to direct us in what manner to bear our testimony, not with pride and passion, but with humility and mildness. Those who would successfully confess the truth, must first learn to deny themselves; and we must give an account of our hope with a holy fear of missing it in such a critical juncture. When we give a reason for our religion, we must not boast of ourselves or our attainments, nor reflect contempt or wrath upon our persecutors but remember that the present truth, the truth that is now to be asserted, is the word that is to be suffered for patiently, according to the example of him, who with invincible meekness before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession.

A great abasement and diffidence of ourselves may well consist with a firm assurance of the truth, and a profound veneration for it. We must not be angry that our hope is inquired into; even such a trial of it, if we approve ourselves well in it, may be found to praise, and honor, and glory; to which our meekness will very much contribute, as it puts a luster upon, and a convincing power into the testimony we bear. We then walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called, when we walk in all lowliness and meekness.

We must bear reproaches with meekness. Reproach is a branch of that persecution which all who will live godly in Christ Jesus must expect; and we must submit to it, behaving ourselves quietly and with due decorum, not only when princes sit and speak against us, but even when the abjects gather themselves together against us, and when we become the song of the drunkard. Sometimes we find it easier to keep calm in a solemn and expected engagement, than in a sudden skirmish or a hasty rencounter; and therefore even against those slight attacks, it is requisite that meekness be set upon the guard. If we be slandered, and have all manner of evil said against us falsely, our rule is not to be disturbed at it, not to render railing for railing; but though we may deny the charge as Hannah did, when Eli hastily censured her as drunken,—No, my lord, I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink; yet, when that is done we must without meditating revenge, quietly commit our cause to God, who will sooner or later, clear up our innocency as the light, which is promised; Psa. xxxvii, 5, 6; and therefore fret not thyself, but wait patiently; cease from anger and forsake wrath. We do but gratify our great adversary, and do his work for him, when we suffer the peace of our minds to be broken in upon by the reproaches of the world. For me to disquiet myself, and put myself into a passion, because another abuses me, is as if I should scratch up the skin of my face to fetch off the dirt which my adversary throws upon it. When reproaches provoke our passions, which excite us to render bitterness for bitterness, we thereby lose the comfort and forfeit the honor and reward which God's promise has annexed to the reproach of Christ; and shall we suffer so many things in vain? We likewise thereby give occasion to those who had spoken evil of us falsely, to speak evil of us truly; and perhaps our religion suffers more by our impatience under the reproach, than by the reproach itself. For what have we the law, and pattern and promise of Christ, but to calm our spirits under reproach by well-doing? Truly, those can bear but little for Christ, who cannot bear a hard or unkind word for him. If we either faint or fret in such a day of adversity, it is a sign our strength is small indeed.

May it not satisfy us, that by our meekness and quietness under reproaches we engage God for us, who has promised that he will with righteousness judge the poor, the poor in spirit, and will reprove with equity for the meek of the earth; He that bid us open our mouths for the dumb, will not himself be silent. And shall we not learn at last, instead of fretting and being exceeding angry, to rejoice and be exceeding glad when we suffer for righteousness' sake? May we not put such reproaches as pearls in our crown, and be assured they will pass well in the account another day, when there will be an advantageous resurrection of names as well as bodies, in the prospect of which we have reason to rejoice that we are counted worthy to suffer shame for his name, that we are honored to be dishonored for him, who for our sakes endured the cross and despised the shame? It is one of the laws of meekness to despise being despised.

Echoes from a Roman Prison.

By Rev. A. H. Somerville

WHILE traveling in the south of Europe some time ago, I stood at the base of one of those giant mountains whose summits are clothed with glacier and perpetual snow. A Swiss peasant was near, with his long Alpine horn that rested on two wooden props. Applying his lips to the rude instrument, he wound from it a few notes of the musical scale, which made but little impression on the listener. A moment or two elapsed, and then I was entranced; for above me, far away among the icy pinnacles, those artless sounds were converted into chords of exquisite harmony. The melodious echoes—I can compare them to nothing but the aerial symphonies of colossal musical glasses—seemed to sweep in circles among the heights. They rang out again, and again, and again, and again, lingering still amid precipice and peak; then gradually softening, they became fainter and fainter, and so died away.

The incident may be recalled in connection with those epistles which Paul indited from Rome. When, under the breathing of the Holy Spirit, these were composed, the apostle was a captive and in prison, chained to a soldier that kept him, or otherwise in bonds. The words, dictated or written by him, made little impression at the spot. The letters of Paul the prisoner, Jew, and Christian, were matters of no interest in Rome. The man himself was beneath the regard of philosopher, orator, poet, or senator, in the imperial city. But if Paul's words at the time were of small account in the place where they were uttered, we have only to wait for a short season, to learn their marvelous effects elsewhere. The voice from the prison stirred the hearts of a multitude in Ephesus, Colosse, and Philippi; thereafter it found its echo in all the cities of early Christianity; the reverberation has rolled onward during all succeeding centuries, wherever the epistles have made their way; and now the results are more wonderful than ever, as the circulation of the Scriptures advances throughout the globe.

The harmony awakened by the Alpine horn among the Swiss mountains were reverberations of sound; but the echoes evoked by the voice of the Roman prisoner

are of another character; they form the harmonies of faith, hope, and love; of gratitude, self-denial, and fidelity to Jesus; of elevated affection, heroic action, and holy life, on the part of the multitude that no man can number, of all nations, and kindreds, and peoples, and tongues.—Rev. A. H. Somerville.

Satanic Possession.

By Rosina F. Phippeny

We need not go back to ancient times, to find proof to substantiate the claim that some people are actually possessed of the Devil. A number of instances have come under my own observation, that would warrant the conclusion to be correct, that persons are at the present day, actually possessed of the Devil.

Meditating upon the horrible, and revolting conduct of those I have seen, and upon the inroads Satan is making upon the children of men, my eye accidentally fell upon a paper containing a piece on the very subject of which I was thinking. The paper (American Baptist) was printed three years ago, and the article is this:

“The whole subject of Satanic possession is mysterious. We cannot deny, however, that creatures with flesh and bones like ourselves, were, during our Lord's earthly ministry, possessed of the Devil, though persons now tell us that it was only a strange kind of disease which such creatures had.

“1. Our Saviour repeatedly recognized the fact of such possession, which manifestly he would not have done had it not been a fact.

“2. He repeatedly discriminated between the casting out of unclean spirits, and the healing of any kind of disease. Matt. x, 1.

“3. The acts of those possessed were peculiar, not indicative of bodily disease. They prostrated themselves before him, and acknowledged him as the Son of God. Mark iii, 11.

“4. The evil spirits went out of the unhappy people possessed, and entered into swine. Mark v, 12, 13.

“If it is asked why such possession was allowed at that period, and not allowed now, we may reply that it might have been to make it plain, by the triumphs of Christ over it, that he 'came to destroy the works of the Devil,' and was stronger than he.

“Moreover, it is not absolutely certain that it is not allowed now—that the possession of the bodies of individuals by the Devil, was wholly confined to that particular period. No one can prove this. That there are those who conduct as if Satan possessed them, must be admitted; and, revolting as the thought may be, it is admitted by distinguished physicians both in Europe and America.”

Rosina F. Phippeny.

North Star, Mich.

The Glories of Hell.

ALL who believe the following horrid utterances of popular orthodoxy, should, in order to secure their own highest happiness in the future, labor and pray that everybody else may be damned. And, in the light of these benignant extracts, would it be wrong to conclude that the reason why professed Christians manifest no more zeal for the conversion of sinners, is the sweet views they anticipate in the future, of their unutterable endless torments in an eternal lake of fire?

Emmons says, "The happiness of the elect in Heaven will in part consist in witnessing the torments of the damned in hell. And among those it may be their own children, parents, husbands, wives, and friends on earth. One part of the business of the blessed is to celebrate the doctrine of reprobation. While the decree of reprobation is eternally executing on the vessels of wrath, the smoke of their torment will be eternally ascending in view of the vessels of mercy, who, instead of taking the part of those miserable objects, will say, 'Amen, hallelujah, praise the Lord.'" —Sermons, XVI.

"The saints in glory will be far more sensible how dreadful the wrath of God is, and will better understand how terrible the sufferings of the damned are, yet this will be no occasion of grief to them, but rejoicing. They will not be sorry for the damned; it will cause no uneasiness or dissatisfaction to them, but, on the contrary, when they see this sight, it will occasion rejoicing, and excite them to joyful praise." —Edward's Practical Sermons, XXII.

The Rev. Thomas Boston, an orthodox divine, in his Four-fold State says, "The godly wife shall applaud the justice of the Judge in the condemnation of her ungodly husband. The godly husband shall say, Amen, to the condemnation of her who lay in his bosom! The godly parent say, Hallelujah, at the passing of the sentence on their ungodly child. And the godly child shall from his heart approve the damnation of his wicked parent who begot him, and the mother who bore him." —Page, 336.

The Rev. Thomas Vincent, a Calvinistic clergyman of the seventeenth century, indulges in the following strain: "This will fill them (the saints) with astonishing admiration and wandering joy, when they see some of their near relatives going to hell; their fathers, their mothers, their children, their husbands, their wives, their intimate friends, and companions, while they themselves are saved. . . . Those affections that they now have for relatives out of Christ will cease; and they will not the least tremble to see them sentenced to hell, and thrust into the fiery furnace!"

The orthodox Ambrose, in his sermon of Doom's Day, says: "When the damned have drunken down whole draughts of brimstone one day, they must do the same another day. The eye shall be tormented with the sight of devils, the ear with the hideous yellings and outcries of the damned; in flames the nostrils shall be smothered as it were with brimstone; the tongue, the hand, the foot, and every part shall fry in flames!"

Rev. Jonathan Edwards says: "Reprobate infants are vipers of vengeance, which Jehovah will hold over hell in the tongs of his wrath, until they turn and spit venom in his face."

And John Calvin, of Servetus memory, disposes of juvenile infants as sinners without ceremony. He tells us: "Children bring their condemnation with them from their mother's womb, being liable to punishment, not for the sins of another, but for their own; for, although they have not yet produced the fruits of their iniquity, they have the seeds enclosed in themselves; nay, their whole nature is, as it were, a seed of sin; therefore it can but be odious and abominable to God."

There is a never-ending hell, And never-dying pains; Where children must with demons dwell, In darkness, fire, and chains.

Have faith the same with endless shame, To all the human race; For hell is crammed with infants damned, Without a day of grace. —Dr. Watts.

Pride.

"MANY persons do not comprehend how subtle a passion pride is; how easily it makes nutriment even out of its own severed members. One struggles successfully to overcome his avarice, and then becomes vain of his benevolence. One crucifies his shame and then glories in his boldness. Even the very act of self-crucifixion—the pain involved in it, the fortitude exercised, the success achieved,—become topics of self-complacent exhibition. Sometimes the disciple parades his cross before others; sometimes before himself. Sometimes he even displays it in the presence of God, like the Pharisee standing up in the temple and reciting to Omniscience the list of his fastings and his tithes.

This is a very different thing from that glorying in the cross of which Paul speaks. That was boasting in the cross of Christ; this in one's own cross. The one is delight in the work of the Redeemer, his atonement for man, and the system of truths and requirements which grows out of it. It is delight in his service, in the high and blessed privilege of giving up all for him, and in "knowing nothing save Jesus Christ and him crucified." An arrogant self-styled philosophy may pronounce this foolishness, and the rich and the great of this world may despise its followers as the "offscouring of all things;" but to the true believer it is "the power of God and the wisdom of God." The other holds forth for admiration, not Christ, but the disciple himself; gathering even out of the ashes of his own self-abasement the spark of spiritual pride. How difficult thus to preserve true humility, to become through inward crucifixion not only dead to the world, but dead to the cross itself!

Ah pride, pride! thou art that which holds many a man in the chains of his sins. It is a hard thing to take a man off his pride, and make him, instead of trusting in and boasting of his goodness, honesty, wisdom, and the like, to see himself a sinner, a fool, yea, a man that is cruel to his own soul.

This was the sin of devils, and it is the sin of man, and the sin from which no man can be delivered till his heart is broken; and then his pride is spoiled, then he will be glad to yield. If a man be proud of his strength, his manhood, a broken leg will maul him; and if he be proud of his goodness, a broken heart will maul him."—Bunyan.

There is a pride which looks on spiritual religion as a humiliation, or deems it even a mortification not to be endured. A mortification for this tiny speck of mortality not to stay by itself in its own littleness and frailty! A mortification to be brought up in the sense of God's own greatness. A mortification to be enabled by the Spirit of God, to have all our experience modulated and glorified by him! A mortification to be in God's wisdom, to be established in the confidence of his infinite majesty, to think with him and fear him, to move in the glorious order of his perfect mind, and be the embodiment eternally of his impulse! Oh, how petty and weak this pride! How contemptible this contempt! And yet, to be a Christian, to be given up to the Spirit of God, and carefully offered to his holy guidance,—how many look upon it as a meekness, a loss of dignity, a thing which only the tamer and less manly souls can descend to. I know not anything that exhibits the folly and deceit of man like this pride. As if it were some loss or abatement to be set in a plane with God, to have the inspiration of the Almighty, to receive a higher nature and life in the eternal life and impulse of God. It is as if the world of matter were to be ashamed of the sun, and shrink with inward mortification from the state of day! What is God but our day, the sun of our eternity, the light of our light? Without whom as the light of our seeing, the universe of nature were a mere phosphorescence of fate, unintelligent and cold, life a driblet of vanity, and eternity itself a protracted and amplified nothingness.—Bushnell.

A Cholera Panic.

ThE cholera is on its travels—that fierce and pitiless plague, which has its residence in the east but sallies forth at periodical intervals to decimate west, north and south. From time to time we hear of the visitation in distant places—deaths by wholesale in Central Asia, deaths in Southern Russia, regiments disbanded by death on Indian marches, and rivers choked with corpses in the islands of the Eastern Ocean. The last Red Sea news brought word that Mecca and Medina are this year vast lazar houses of cholera-smitten victims, the pilgrims perishing all along the road to the shrines from Jeddah and the southern ports, and sheiks who had come to kiss the kaaba turning back in horror, with their trains, to succumb in tents and houses where they had shut themselves up. Already Egypt has been reached, and the fellahs there are perishing by the thousands; so much so that the Italian and French harbors are shut against vessels from Alexandria. Marseilles has kept all the mail boats in quarantine ever since two moribund passengers were landed at Joliette; and at last we ourselves have been obliged to confront a peril that cannot be disregarded. The newspapers and letters which went out of the general post-office on Tuesday, were sent in boxes instead of bags, to prevent infections being carried out of Egypt by the mail passing through the country. That, indeed, is not a precaution on our own behalf, but it will be observed with regard to the overland dispatches coming homeward. All the instances we enumerate, and others which might be cited, prove that the cholera is on its periodical march; and, without ascribing to the same source the outbreaks in North Russia, Poland and Prussia, it is at least possible that the year may be signalized by the invasion of that enemy which patriotism and courage cannot keep out of our island.—English paper.

That's Me.

A POOR Hottentot in Southern Africa lived with a good Dutchman who kept up family prayer daily. One day he read, "Two men went into the temple to pray." The poor savage, whose heart was already awakened, looked earnestly at the reader, and whispered, "Now I'll learn how to pray." The Dutchman read on.—"God I thank thee I am not as other men."

"No, I am not; but am worse," whispered the Hottentot.

Again the Dutchman read, "I fast twice in a week. I give tithes of all I possess."

"I can't do that, I don't pray in that manner. What shall I do?" said the distracted savage.

The good man read on until he came to the publican, who "would not lift so much as his eyes to Heav-en"

"That's me," cried his hearer.

"Stood afar off," read the other.

"That's where I am," said the Hottentot.

"But smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner."

"That's me; that's my prayer," cried the poor creature: and smiting on his dark breast, he prayed, 'God be merciful to me a sinner,' until like the poor publican he went down to his house a saved and happy man.

Random Expressions

RANDOM EXPRESSIONS.—"I'm tired to death." So you have said very often, and are still alive, in very good health.

"I had not a wink of sleep all night." And yet your bed-fellow heard you snore several times.

"I would not do it for the world." And yet you have done many things equally bad for a trifle.

"We were up to our knees in the mud." You know very well the dirt was not over your shoes.

The Loom of Life

We sleep, but the loom of life never stops; and the pattern, which was weaving when the sun went down, is weaving when it rises to-morrow.

Report from the Mich. Tent.

By I. D. Van Horn; D. M. Canright

Bro. White: The third angel's message is doing a good work in this county. The brethren and sisters at Vassar are firm in the truth, and others are being added to them. They have suffered the most extreme opposition, and even persecution. While we were there the shepherds dare not come out to defend their flocks from the wolves (?); but as soon as we were gone, they were very bold and defiant. The extreme rancor of their opposition has disgusted the people with them, and served to advance the truth. They tried to represent us through the county paper as enemies of the Union. Of course, the effort was a failure, only serving to excite a greater interest in our cause.

We have been in Watrousville four weeks. Everything has been very favorable so far. We have had good weather, good congregations, and a good interest to hear. People came from eight to twelve miles to meeting in the evening. It is said that there never was so great an excitement before in the county, on any subject. In fact, it is almost the sole topic of conversation. Everywhere we hear them say, "I never knew so much about the Bible before in all my life. It looks so plain now. It seems like a new book. Now I love to read it, because I can understand it." Men who never went to meeting, nor read their Bibles at all, are now giving their whole attention to it. Present truth is the power of God unto salvation.

Within the last few weeks, we have seen the gray-haired sinner melt before its power, the worldling yield to its authority, and the gay and ambitious, weep under its influence.

Our own hearts have been watered by the Spirit of God as we have stood up to declare the last message of warning. We sometimes feel as though we were getting a few drops of the latter rain. Yes, praise God, the truth is good, it is glorious, it will triumph. Let the world scoff, wicked men oppose, and the Devil rage; yet God is able to lead his people through.

The Methodist minister of this place has become so enraged against us, that he has actually joined with the most notorious infidels in the county to oppose the truth. He took their position on the resurrection and they stood by him, to back him up. "The same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together, for before they were at enmity between themselves." We exposed him before the people, showing by his own Discipline and Watson's Theological Institutes, that he had joined hand with infidelity in opposing the fundamental doctrine, not only of Methodism, but of all Christians of every age. Most of his own members have turned against him and have embraced the truth.

Most of the people are convinced that we have the truth. Last night above forty voted to keep the Sabbath. We are confident that God has a people in this county, and that he is now calling after them. Trusting that we have the sympathies and prayers of our brethren, we feel willing to go forward with the work of our Master.

I. D. VAN HORN.

D. M. CANRIGHT.

Report from Bro. Bourdeau.

By A. C. Bourdeau

Bro. White: I held interesting and profitable meetings in Dunham and Sutton, C. E. on Sabbath and first-day, July 1 and 2. The meetings on the Sabbath were held in a school-house near Bro. Buchanan's. The Sabbath-keepers in this place and vicinity spared no pains in attending these meetings, and the neighbors that came in, gave good attention to the word spoken.

In the morning we spoke from Eze. xiii, 4, 5, and in the afternoon on the subject of baptism. At the close of this meeting we went four miles to the river Nemarquoi, where nine were buried in baptism, five of whom were Bro. Ruiter and his entire family. This was a blessed and interesting scene. Thank God for what has been accomplished for this family. Though the children are quite young, yet they love God and his truth, and earnestly desire to go with their parents to the kingdom.

Sunday morning the brethren and sisters assembled together at the house of Brn. A. A. and L. P. Cross, to attend to organization. The brethren were invited to speak freely on the subject, after which I spoke nearly two hours on the necessity of church organization among the Sabbath-keepers in this part of Canada, and on the manner of organizing a church as set forth and carried out by our people. In the afternoon a church was organized of eleven members, and Systematic Benevolence, amounting in Canada currency, to $116.40 per year. It is expected that others will soon be prepared to unite with this church.

Sabbath, July 8th, I met with the few in Berkshire, Vt. Several attended from Enosburgh and Richford. Bro. E. Kellogg assisted in speaking the word. Those who heard seemed to be interested and benefited by the word of the Lord.

July 15th, attended a Quarterly Meeting in Eden, Vt. This meeting was not large; yet to me it was encouraging to see a goodly number of old tried friends of the cause whose faces are as flints Zion-ward. I gave two discourses on the subject of hope, from 1 Pet. iii, 15. The blessed hope was precious to us; but especially did we see the necessity of giving a reason of our hope by practicing the truth, and doing those works which correspond with our faith. Elder Stone baptized two brethren, and one united with the church.

The day following we had a pleasant visit with Bro. Loveland and family. We were much interested in hearing them relate to us their experience in the cause of truth, and felt to say, "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised." A. C. Bourdeau. West Enosburgh, Vt.

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