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Review and Herald, Vol. 35, No. 14.

OUR FAITH AND HOPE;

Review and Herald

Mar 22, 1870

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 22, 1870

OUR FAITH AND HOPE;

By James White

Or, Reasons Why We Believe as We Do.
BY ELDER JAMES WHITE.

NUMBER SEVENTEEN—REMOVAL OF SIN.

We now inquire respecting the removal of the sins of the church, or host, from the sanctuary. We have seen that only 490 of the 2300 years belonged to the earthly sanctuary, and that the remaining 1810 years belonged to the true sanctuary, which Gabriel introduces to Daniel in his explanation in chapter 9; consequently the sanctuary to be cleansed from the sins of the church, or host, at the end of the 2300 years, is the heavenly sanctuary. We have also examined those portions of the Bible that explain how and why the earthly sanctuary was cleansed, and have seen that that cleansing was accomplished, not by fire, but by blood. We have seen that that work was ordained for the express purpose of shadowing forth the work in the heavenly sanctuary. And we have also seen that the sins of those who come to God through our great High Priest are communicated to the sanctuary, as was the case in the type. But we are not left without direct testimony on this important point. The apostle Paul states the fact of the cleansing of the earthly and the heavenly sanctuaries, and plainly affirms that the latter must be cleansed for the same reason that the former had been. He speaks as follows: “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into Heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” Heb. 9: 22–24. Two important facts are stated in this portion of Scripture:
  1. The earthly sanctuary was cleansed by blood.
  2. The heavenly sanctuary must be cleansed by better sacrifices, that is, by the blood of Christ. It is plain, then, that the idea of cleansing the sanctuary by fire has no support in the Bible.
These words, as rendered by Macknight, are very clear: “And almost all things, according to the law, are cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood, there is no remission. There was a necessity, therefore, that the representations indeed of the holy places in the heavens, should be cleansed by these sacrifices; but the heavenly, holy places themselves, by sacrifices better than these. Therefore, Christ hath not entered into the holy places made with hands; the images of the true holy places; but into Heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God on our account.” Heb. 9: 22–24. Then the fact of the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary is plainly taught by the apostle Paul in his commentary on the typical system. And this great truth, plainly stated, is worthy of lasting remembrance.
By many, the idea of the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary will be treated with scorn, “because,” say they, “there is nothing in Heaven to be cleansed.” Such overlook the fact that the holy of holies, where God manifested his glory, and which no one but the high priest could enter, was, according to the law, to be cleansed, because of the sins of the people were borne into it by the blood of sin-offering. Lev. 16. And they overlook the fact that Paul plainly testifies that the heavenly sanctuary must be cleansed for the same reason. Heb. 9: 23, 24. See also Col. 1: 20. It was unclean in this sense only: the sins of men had been borne into it through the blood of sin-offering, and they must be removed. This fact can be grasped by every mind.
The work of cleansing the sanctuary changes the ministration from the holy place to the holiest of all. Lev. 16; Heb. 9: 6, 7; Rev. 11: 19. As the ministration in the holy place of the temple in Heaven began immediately after the end of the typical system, at the close of the sixty-nine and a half weeks, Dan. 9: 27, so the ministration in the holiest of all, in the heavenly sanctuary, begins with the termination of the 2300 days. Then our High Priest enters the holiest to cleanse the sanctuary. The termination of this great period marks the commencement of the ministration of the Lord Jesus in the holiest of all. This work, as presented in the type, we have already seen was for the two-fold purpose, of the forgiveness of iniquity, and the cleansing of the sanctuary. And this great work our Lord accomplishes with his own blood; whether by the actual presentation of it, or by virtue of its merits, we need not stop to inquire.
No one can fail to see that the cleansing of the sanctuary is an event of infinite importance. This accomplishes the great work of the Messiah in the tabernacle in Heaven, and renders it complete. The work of cleansing the sanctuary is succeeded by the act of placing the sins thus removed, upon the head of the scape-goat, to be borne away forever from the sanctuary. The work of our High Priest for the sins of the world, will then be completed, and he be ready to appear “without sin unto salvation.” The act of placing the sins upon the head of the scape-goat, in the type, has already been noticed. Lev. 16: 5, 7–10, 20–22.
The next event of that day, after the sanctuary was cleansed, was the putting of all the iniquities and transgressions of the children of Israel upon the scape-goat, and sending him away into a land not inhabited, or of separation. It is supposed by almost every one that this goat typified Christ in some of his offices, and that the type was fulfilled at the first advent. From this opinion I must differ, because,
  1. That goat was not sent away till after the high priest had made an end of cleansing the sanctuary. Lev. 16: 20, 21. Hence that event cannot meet its antitype till after the end of the 2300 days.
  2. It was sent away from Israel into the wilderness, a land not inhabited, to receive them. If our blessed Saviour is its antitype, he also must be sent away from his people to a land not inhabited, but not to the grave; for the goat was sent away alive, nor into Heaven, for that is not an uninhabited land.
3. The goat received and retained all the iniquities of Israel; but when Christ appears the second time, he will be “without sin.”
4. The goat received the iniquities from the hands of the priest, and he sent it away. As Christ is the priest, the goat must be something else besides himself which he can send away.
5. This was one of two goats, chosen for that day, of which one was the Lord’s, and was offered for a sin-offering; but the other was not called the Lord’s, neither offered as a sacrifice. Its only office was to receive the iniquities from the priest, after he had cleansed the sanctuary from them, and bear them into a land not inhabited, leaving the sanctuary, priest, and people, behind, and free from their iniquities. Lev. 16: 7–10, 22.
6. The Hebrew name of the scape-goat, as will be seen from the margin of verse 8, is Azazel. On this verse Wm. Jenks, in his Comp. Com., has the following remarks: “Scape-goat. See different opinion in Bochart. Spencer, after the oldest opinion of the Hebrews and Christians, thinks Azazel is the name of the Devil; and so Rosenmueller, whom see. The Syriac has Az-zail, the angel (strong one) who revolted.”
7. At the appearing of Christ, as taught in Rev. 20, Satan is to be bound and cast into the bottomless pit, which act and place are significantly symbolized by the ancient high priest’s sending the scape-goat into a separate and uninhabited wilderness.
8. Thus we have the Scripture, the definition of the name in two ancient languages, both spoken at the same time, and the oldest opinion of the Christians in favor of regarding the scape-goat as the type of Satan.
Because it is said, “The goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities into a land not inhabited,” Lev. 16: 22, and John said, “Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh [margin, beareth] away the sin of the world,” it is concluded without further thought that the former was the type of the latter. But a little attention to the law will show that the sins were borne from the people by the priest, and from the priest by the goat.
  1. They are imparted to the victim.
  2. The priest bore them in its blood to the sanctuary.
  3. After cleansing it from them, on the tenth day of the seventh month, he bore them to the scape-goat.
  4. The goat finally bore them away beyond the camp of Israel to the wilderness.
This was the legal process, and when fulfilled, the author of sins will have received them back again (but the ungodly will bear their own sins), and his head will have been bruised by the seed of the woman; “the strong man armed” will have been bound by a stronger than he, and his house (the grave) spoiled of its goods, the saints. Matt. 12: 29; Luke 11: 21, 22.
The great work of the atonement is now complete, and the work of our Lord, as priest, accomplished. The sins of those who have obtained pardon through the great sin-offering, are, at the close of our Lord’swork in the holy places, blotted out, Acts 3: 19, and being then transferred to the scape-goat, are borne away from the sanctuary and rest forever, and rest upon the head of their author, the devil. The Azazel, or antitypical scape-goat, will then have received the sins of those who have been pardoned in the sanctuary, and in the lake of fire will suffer for the sins which he has instigated. God’s people, the host, will then be free forever from their iniquity. “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give to every man according as his work shall be.” Rev. 22: 11, 12. “And to you who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thess. 1: 7, 8.

S. D. A. Publishing Association.

By James White; E. S. Walker

ITS TENTH ANNUAL MEETING.

Pursuant to notice given in Review, the Tenth Annual Meeting of the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association was held in Battle Creek, Mich., March 17, 1870. President in the chair. Meeting opened with prayer by Eld. Joseph Bates. The roll was then called. Members present 99, representing 218 votes.
On motion of J. H. Waggoner, it was
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed on Nominations; whereupon the Chair appointed J. H. Waggoner, D. M. Canright, and Geo. I. Butler.
Adjourned to 2 o’clock P. M.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

Met according to adjournment. Prayer by Eld. J. H. Waggoner.
Committee on Nominations reported the following names, who were duly nominated and elected: President, James White; Vice President, G. H. Bell; Secretary, Mrs. A. P. Van Horn; Treasurer, Miss Anna M. Driscoll; Auditor, Wm. C. Gage; Committee of Publication, James White, J. N. Andrews, and J. H. Waggoner.
On motion of Eld. J. H. Waggoner, Uriah Smith was elected Editor of the REVIEW & HERALD.
On motion of J. H. Waggoner, G. H. Bell was elected Editor of the Youth’s Instructor.
On motion of J. N. Andrews, it was
Resolved, That we pay the Editor of the REVIEW & HERALD the sum of $12.00 per week for his services.
On motion of J. H. Waggoner, it was
Resolved, That we pay the Editor of the Youth’s Instructor at the rate of $12.00 per week for the time employed in the duties of his office.
On motion of W. C. Gage, it was
Resolved, That the President receive the sum of $12.00 per week for his services.
The Auditor presented the following report which was read and approved:

TREASURER’S REPORT

To the Tenth Annual Meeting of the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association for the year ending March 11, 1870.

RECEIPTS.

Amount
Cash on hand May 1, 1869, $1,230 25
Received on REVIEW & HERALD, $5,089 81
“   “ Youth’s Instructor, 608 11
“   “ Health Reformer, 1,339 08
“   “ Office Sales, 4,183 01
“   “ Accounts & Deposits, 44,690 25
“   “ Donations, 25 00
“   “ Shares, 23 26
“   “ Job Work, 1,653 68
“   “ Foreign Mission, 2,488 01
“   “ Mich. Conf. Fund, 3,286 95
“   “ Gen. Conf. Fund, 2,555 91
“   “ Rent, 13 75
$65,956 82
Total, $67,187 07

EXPENDITURES.

Amount
Paid out on deposits, $39,048 48
“   “ for Stock, 10,449 61
“   “   “ Office Labor, 5,481 38
“   “   “ Materials & Sundries, 1,470 96
“   “   “ Wood, Freight, and Incidentals, 1,894 89
“   “ on Real Estate, 57 65
“   “ for Office Library, 4 00
“   “   “ Writing Manuscript for Books, 474 73
“   “ on Foreign Mission, 379 87
“   “   “ Mich. Conf. Fund, 3,615 15
“   “   “ Gen. Conf. Fund, 3,020 78
Total, $65,894 50
Cash on hand to balance, 1,292 57
$67,187 07

INVENTORY.

Amount
Total value of the property of the Association as per inventory, $44,063 01
Association holds notes to the amount of 9,130 71
Due the Association on book acct., 9,984 85
Cash on hand March 11, 1870, 1,292 57
$64,471 14
Association owes as follows:
Amount
On Notes, $4,721 19
“ Book Account, 19,262 26
$23,983 45
Assets after all debts are paid,                           $40,487 69 Assets as given in last report,     May 1, 1869.                                                   $32,736 53 Increase during the year,                                       $7,751 19

CERTIFICATE.

I hereby certify that I have given the books and accounts of the S. D. A. Publishing Association a careful examination, and arrive at the foregoing results, according to my best information and belief.
I. D. VAN HORN, Auditor.
On motion of J. N. Andrews, it was
Resolved, That the Auditor receive the sum of $10.00 per week for his services in auditing the accounts of the Association.
Remarks by Bro. White and Andrews.
Adjourned to the call of the Chair.
JAMES WHITE, President, E. S. WALKER, Secretary.

Health Reform Institute.

By Uriah Smith; E. S. Walker

In response to the call made in the Review, the stockholders of the Health Reform Institute assembled at the Seventh-day Adventist house of worship, Friday, March 18, 1870. Meeting called to order, and opened with prayer by Bro. Bates. Bro. U. Smith was elected chairman of the meeting. On calling the roll, it was ascertained that 705 shares were represented, either in person or by proxy.
The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved.
The Auditor's report was presented, and is as follows:

Health Institute Cash Account.

For the year commencing May 1, 1869, and ending March 10, 1870.

Received.

Cash on hand May 1, 1869, $ 123 90
On Shares and Sales, 324 94
From Patients, 8,108 95
Incidental Sales, 992 41
On Charitable Fund, 10 00
On Account, 3,053 90
Total, $12,614 10

Paid.

Stock and Furniture, 702 97
Incidental Expenses, 5,281 43
Help, 2,117 85
On Account, 4,067 91
Out of Charitable Fund, 328 22
Cash on hand March 10, 1870, 115 72
Total, $12,614 10

Financial Workings for the Year Ending March 10, 1870.

Receipts.

From Patients, $8,108 95
On Incidental Sales, 992 41
Due from Patients on the past year's account, 1,810 33
Total, $10,911 69

Expenditures.

Invoice of May 1, 1869, $ 562 83
Incidental Expenses, 5,281 43
Paid Help, 2,117 85
Their due to date, 164 19
Allowing 20 per cent on $4,232 25, 846 45
Making, $8,972 75
Less the Invoice of Provisions and Goods on hand, 965 46
Total, $8,007 29
Leaving the Excess of Receipts, $2,904 40
This is to certify that I have carefully examined the books of the Health Reform Institute, and find the accounts appertaining thereto correctly kept, and that the above statement of accounts is correct as far as I am able to judge. SANDS H. LANE, Auditor.
On motion, the Auditor's report was accepted.
A nominating committee of three was appointed, who reported the following names as candidates for Directors: B. Salisbury, M. J. Cornell, G. H. Bell, S. H. King, E. H. Root, D. R. Palmer, and S. A. McPherson.
On motion of J. N. Andrews, it was voted to strike out Sec. 6, of Article X, from the Constitution.
On motion of Bro. White, it was
Resolved, That we take immediate measures to pay the notes held against the Institute by the Publishing Association.
Adjourned sine die.
U. SMITH, Chairman pro tem.
E. S. WALKER, Secretary.

Christian Character

By Jos. Clarke

Is not formed in a day. Like the oak, it must have time and space for full development. It is not got up on short notice, upon a few good resolutions, and a few shining achievements; but is the result of long and laborious effort and care.
Not a few start out in this narrow path, hoping by superior ability and the blessing of God, to avoid many of the trials to which others have been subjected; but painful experience teaches them the bitter lesson of human frailty, and they either yield to the pressure, or learn to climb carefully, and meekly, the difficult ascent.
None can claim exemption from danger and toil. None can avoid the wholesome discipline of a firm but gracious God. Through labor, toil, and suffering, in watchfulness, in sorrow, the candidate for immortality presses on. His peace of mind, which is to him of priceless value, is often attended with the keenest pangs of sorrow for sin; and his fears lest he should sin against God, solemnize his mind. His repentance is not the painful remorse of the rebellious sinner, but is the heartfelt sorrow of the conscientious child, who mourns that he has broken the just and wholesome rules of his Father's house.
But the Christian does not form a character wholly by regret of the past. He cultivates the several virtues indispensable to the soldier in this holy warfare: Firmness in doing right, courage in standing at his post, constancy, endurance, perseverance in severe trials, watchfulness amid visible and unseen foes, care in sustaining the interests of the cause in which he has enlisted, a sense of responsibility in bearing burdens which naturally fall to his lot, and constant prayerfulness lest he be left to himself. Faith in God is his starting point and base of operations; virtue is his rule of life; knowledge, patiently, diligently attained, enlarges his mind; temperance holds him in her golden chain; patience sweetens his cup of sorrow; godliness elevates his soul above the sensual world around; brotherly kindness causes him to be useful and agreeable to all; charity throws its graceful folds over all, and disarms his foes, and purifies him to exert a purifying influence upon others.
Amid the contradictions and manifold trials cast upon him, he sits calmly awaiting the end of all things, and learns to suffer silently, and without complaint. The Christian learns to labor for his Master, amid opposition and scorn, discouragement and gloom. Amid disappointment and trials he continues cheerful.
Jos. Clarke.

The Lord Directs Our Steps

A MAN'S heart deviseth his way; but the Lord directeth his steps. Prov. 16: 9.

First Annual Meeting of the S. D. A. Missionary Society.

By James White; Uriah Smith

THIS Society, organized at last Conference, held its first annual meeting, in Battle Creek, Sunday, March 20, at 9 A. M. Reading of Constitution. Report from Bro. White in reference to the funds of the Society. About $1700 have been raised to help the friends in Switzerland. Raised on General Fund $2490 01. Paid out $393.72, leaving $2096.29. This, with the amount raised for brethren in Europe, makes about $3796.29 in the treasury. Eleven new members of the Society were received on payment of $5.00 each.
Voted, That the funds raised for the cause in Europe be held to publish books, and advance the general interests of the work there.
Voted, That Bro. A. C. Bourdeau make out a bill of expenses incurred by him in missionary work, said bill to be paid out of the treasury of this Society.
On motion, the chair appointed Eld. A. C. Bourdeau, H. T. Hewett, and Eld. D. M. Canright, as a committee to inquire into the matter of what is due the missionaries to California.
Adjourned to call of chairman.
JAS. WHITE, President.
U. SMITH, Secretary.

Taking a Pleasure Trip.

By Editor

All right, no harm, if so be God is in it, true and love. Little folks and great folks have no right to do this, do that, go there, by sea, or by land, except God permits, says, “Go!” “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
It’s our pleasure to please God, do his will. Young readers, are the angels happy, think you? What makes them happy? Because they fly on wings obedient! Don’t you want to be an angel? Well fly, fly! fly! on angel’s wings, to do good, to make others happy. Are you born of the Holy Spirit, regenerated? Have old things passed away, and all things become new? Do you love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and strength, your neighbor as yourself? Are your little hearts full of faith and the Holy Spirit? Are you going forth weeping, bearing precious seed? Is holiness written on your foreheads and your door-posts? What now—any time or relish for cricket, dominoes, checkers, fox and geese, and other games of chance, that kill time and lead to gambling?
Every description of gambling is unsafe, because of the irresistible tendencies of indulging in games of hazard. No one can deny that the mental passion for gambling is as terrible and as destructive as the physical appetite for strong drink, and they are to a great extent concomitant or supplementary, one of the other. No one can doubt that the love of hazard is a natural, mental passion. The tendency of the whole system of gaming is to an undue stimulus of this love of hazard, and there must evidently be somewhere a line that divides the safe from the dangerous. Where is that line?
It is at least safe for every lover of humanity to discountenance and renounce every type and instrument of gaming which is ever employed in gambling. It is dangerous enough to encourage games which stimulate this passion, though they are not capable of awakening the enthusiasm necessary for gambling; but to use the very tools of the gambler is hazardous indeed.
We speak from experience and wide observation. When a boy, we became so infatuated with whist, checkers, fox and geese, that we lost all relish for study, and sometimes the day broke to find us still at the table.
No question is exciting greater interest in the Christian public, than that of amusements, or pleasure-seeking. The Watchman says: “This spirit is penetrating our churches and coloring our Christianity. The demand is, that our sanctuaries, and our Sabbath Schools, and our prayer-meetings, should be amusing. Attractive is the word used. Opera music is furnished in the sanctuary. It attracts; it fills the pews. The Sabbath School must be attractive. The children must be amused. Sabbath School concerts and anniversaries must be spiced with witty anecdotes, and prayer-meetings must be made attractive by holding them in rooms furnished with the apparatus for popular games. A brother in the ministry described to me the furnishing of a room for a Young Men’s Christian Association in one of our cities. Along each side of the room were tables for playing dominoes, backgammon, and checkers, and around these, young men sat, absorbed in their games, ’till the moment for the prayer-meeting came, and then the tables were cleared, and worship began. Now, in the name of all that is proper, and serious, and sacred, we protest against this combination. The experience of years has taught us that the prayer-meetings which have been most profitable to us have been those to which we have gone from the closet, and from our knees. Can these young men turn at once, and without leaving their places, from an exciting game to acts of prayer and praise? Is this the fitting-preparation for an approach to the presence of Him before whom angels veil their faces?”
Little Christian, your soul is alive in God, on fire for salvation; you can say with the psalmist, “Oh! how love I thy law: it is my meditation all the day.” What now—fall into this trap of Satan? Not a word of it, not a golden moment will be wasted in the pursuit of mere worldly amusements, however innocent in themselves they may be considered. Your pleasure is in doing good, in social and religious meetings, in the most earnest and energetic efforts for the promotion of every enterprise that is calculated to glorify God, and bless any portion of the human race. All the pleasure that is found in social parties or games of chance, for mere amusement, will prove in the end to have been too dearly purchased. Such pleasure-seeking on the part of Christians, distracts their attention from worthy objects, renders them barren of religious enjoyment, and destroys their Christian influence with the impenitent. It is equivalent to acknowledging that there is not enough in the religion of the Bible to employ and satisfy the mind. This is an alarming inference; but there is no escape from it.
The religion of the Bible rejoices the soul, fills it with unspeakable delight. The word of God is sweeter to the taste than honey or the honey-comb. Those who most fully appreciate the magnitude of the duties of life—the work of living for eternity—will have the least concern about pleasure of any kind.
“Fathers, mothers, when your sons Look to you for daily bread, Dare ye, in mockery, load with stones The table that for them is spread? How can ye hope your sons will live, If ye, for fish, a serpent give?”
“Why do ye spend money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Ho! every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” Isa. 55:2, 1. “Oh! that men were wise, that they understood this!”—D. F. NEWTON, Ed., “Apples of Gold.”

The Weather Phenomenon.

By Adolphus Smith

In this locality (Ottawa Co., Mich.,) as elsewhere, the extreme changeableness of the weather during the past year, and especially during the present winter, has become the subject of general remark. Various opinions are given as to the cause of it, most of them, no doubt, wide of the truth.
The theory most commonly extant concerning this phenomenon, is that it is the result of extreme solar agitation.
The earth evidently forms a natural battery with its positive and negative poles. It is not wonderful therefore to suppose, that, when a superior electric influence like that exerted by the sun, is brought to bear upon it, it should sensibly feel the thrill, especially in the versatile elements that envelop its surface.
But that this is the sole, or even the prime, cause of the changeableness of our climate, is not admissible, from the fact that the same cause would produce a like result upon other dependent worlds, and their sinless inhabitants thereby be made to suffer. The same sunlight and heat that brings vegetation on rich alluvials to a high state of perfection, may cause miasmatic vapors to arise from adjacent marshes, spreading disease and death everywhere within the reach of its infection.
The same laws that are ordained for a terror to evil-doers, are a praise to them that do well. So, also, the same laws of nature that in our world produce such disastrous results, may, in our sister planets, be productive of good, only, to their sinless inhabitants.
Although seed-time and harvest, and cold and heat, were to continue while the earth should remain, yet, it is evident, from well-attested facts, that under the curse of God that rests upon it, the earth is becoming less and less fruitful, its climate less and less hospitable for the human race that treads its surface, diminished as they are in stature, impaired in health, and approaching consequent extinction.
Testimonies concerning the former fruitfulness of the earth, when compared with its present productions, would not be fully credited by this generation, were it not for the remains of vegetable productions found in coal-beds, and the living witness of the mammoth trees of California.
Of the former, a species of the club-moss, known as the lepidodendra, attained to a hight of from sixty to eighty feet, with a diameter, at the base, of three feet. Herodotus, in speaking of the luxuriant vegetable productions of Chaldea, states as an incident, that the leaves of the wheat and barley, were four fingers in width; and the yield of grain, was usually from one hundred to three hundred-fold.
A plant of the milkweed species grew last year (1869), in a rich soil adjacent to my garden, and attained to the unusual hight of fourteen feet and three inches. The same species might attain to a greater hight in a tropical climate. But under the most favorable circumstances, it could not approximate in magnitude the usual growth of like plants in former times when a tropical climate evidently reached a very high latitude, probably extending as far north as the coast of Greenland and northern Siberia.
On every hand, rapidly-accumulating evidences go to show that the earth is receding from her primitive youth and loveliness, and approaching, through age and decrepitude, certain dissolution. To this truth the mighty earthquake bears testimony, upheaving islands and continents; and the deep, dark sea responds in dismal wailings, and fearful tidal waves.
The terrific hurricane devastates hamlet, and city, and navy; and what of vegetable and animal life survive the shock of these, remain to be consumed, those, by the insect, the worm, and the inclement seasons as they come and go; and these, by increasing and complicated diseases, whose name is emphatically legion.
Although in some parts of the earth, much that is excellent in the animal and vegetable kingdoms is still produced, yet is it not evident to every candid observer that on this point the average tendency is downward in the scale of excellence and quantity, and where will this all end?
Evidently in dissolution and utter extinction. But for the elect's sake, the work will evidently be cut short by the judgments of God upon those who have corrupted the earth. Then will Jeremiah's pathetic prophecy meet with its exact fulfillment:
'I beheld the earth, and lo, it was without form and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.' 'I beheld, and lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the Lord, and by his fierce anger.' Jer. 4:23, 25, 26.
Dear reader, if you, in that day, be without Christ, nothing can save you from the death that will be visited upon all the enemies of God. But if you seek Jesus now, it may be you will then be hid in him from the fierce anger of the Lord. That this may be your happy lot and mine, is my prayer.
ADOLPHUS SMITH.

The Best Way to Manage Business

If a person possess any tolerable amount of common-sense and experience, his own mode of laying out his business is best, not because it is the best in itself, but because it is his own mode.

The Order of Events in the Judgment.

NUMBER TWENTY.

The judgment of wicked men, and of evil angels, by the saints, during the thousand years, will solve to their minds, by means of the examination of the books of God's remembrance, the providence of God which has seemed dark and mysterious. For God will then lay open the hidden springs of human conduct, and bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the heart. 1 Cor. 4: 5.
The course of those who have diligently used the comparatively small measure of light which has been granted them, will come up to condemn those who have been favored with great light and have neglected it. Matt. 12: 41, 42; Luke 11: 31, 32.
And in like manner those who have been cut off in their sins, as a warning to others, and who would have repented had as great light been granted them as those who have lived at a later time have enjoyed, will come up in this examination to condemn most fearfully those who have had the example of their fate, and had seen greater light than they, and yet have not repented. Matt. 11: 21–23; Luke 10: 13.
But even those wicked men who have been thus cut off by God's judgments as an example to those that after should live ungodly, shall come up in the judgment for the complete punishment of their sins. But their case shall be more tolerable in the judgment than that of those who have had the example of their punishment, and have had far greater light than they were favored with, and yet have refused to repent. Matt. 10: 15; 11: 22, 24; Luke 10: 12, 14. Thus, even the mitigating circumstances are taken into the account in the judgment of the wicked, as certainly as are those of an aggravating character. Surely God is, in the highest sense, just and righteous.
The record of the righteous, as we have seen, is passed upon by the Father when he counts them worthy to have part in the resurrection to immortality; and by the Son when they stand before him to receive according to their labors and sacrifices in the cause of God. And that record will show in the case of every one who is able to stand in the judgment so perfect a work of repentance, and confession, and reparation of wrongs done toward others, that not one sinful man can rise up in the judgment against them. Isa. 54: 17.
The judgment, by the saints, of Satan and his angels and of wicked men being accomplished, it appears that, just before the thousand years expire, the holy city with its immortal inhabitants descends upon our earth, upon a place prepared for it. See Zech. 14: 4, 5.
At the termination of the thousand years all the wicked dead hear the voice of the Son of God and come forth. John 5: 28, 29. The unjust have their resurrection. Acts 24: 15. “The rest of the dead” live again. Rev. 20: 5. They come forth from the depths of the ocean and from the caverns of earth; for the sea gives up the dead, and hades gives them up also. And they come forth alive, for death itself gives them up. Rev. 20: 13.
And now Satan is loosed for his final work. He begins it just where he left it off. He had gathered the nations to the great battle, when he was bound and they were cut off. Rev. 19. Now, after they have been “many days” in the “prison,” the time comes for Satan to visit them as they are loosed from it for their execution. Isa. 24: 21, 22; Eze. 38: 8, 9. He resumes his work by inciting them to capture the city of God. Rev. 20: 7–9. And thus, by the direct action of Satan, all the wicked, with himself and his angels at their head, stand in the presence of Christ, for the execution of the judgment.
As the righteous stand in Christ's presence immediately after they are made immortal, that they may each receive according to their labor (2 Cor. 5: 10; Matt. 16: 27), so do the wicked thus stand in his presence after the second resurrection. As the righteous cannot receive punishment for their sins after they have been blotted out, it follows that those who stand before him to receive for their evil deeds are the wicked, who stand thus in his presence, after the examination of their cases by his saints, during the thousand years.
We may safely conclude that many who go down to their graves self-deceived, will come up in the second resurrection really expecting to be saved, and quite unaware that it is the resurrection of the unjust. We think this is the very time when our Lord's words shall have their fulfillment:
Matt. 7: 22, 23: “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
And now, for the first time, all the members of the human family are congregated in one vast assembly. The wicked see the righteous in the kingdom of God, and realize that they themselves are thrust out. And when the wicked realize the mercy which they have slighted, and the infinite sacrifice made for their salvation in the death of God's only Son, and remember their persistent continuance in sin till God could bear no longer, every knee will bow in deepest abasement, acknowledging that God is just, and that their ruin was caused by themselves alone, while the throne of God is forever clear.
And as both classes behold the final result of faithful obedience, and of persistent sin, they will, with one mind and voice, declare, “Verily, there is a reward for the righteous; verily, he is a God that judgeth in the earth.” Ps. 58: 11. And now the Son of God pronounces the awful sentence: “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” Matt. 25: 41.
And now, after the example of Sodom and Gomorrah, fire comes down from God out of Heaven and devours them. Rev. 20: 9; 2 Pet. 2: 6; Gen. 19: 24–28. It is the burning earth that constitutes the great lake of fire in which the wicked shall experience the second death. 2 Pet. 3: 7–12; Mal. 4: 1–3; Prov. 11: 31. Satan and his angels shall share this furnace of fire with wicked men; for, indeed, it was originally prepared for them. Matt. 25: 41; Isa. 30: 33.
Finally, the earth shall be not only melted, but dissolved. 2 Pet. 3: 10, 11. Such shall be the intense action of the devouring fire, that the earth itself, being reduced to a gaseous condition, shall flee away from the presence of Him that sitteth upon the great white throne, who is doubtless God the Father. Rev. 20: 11. Then he that sitteth upon the throne shall say, “BEHOLD, I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW.” Rev. 21: 5. And all the elements that were dissolved in the devouring fire shall unite again to form the earth. The New Jerusalem shall have place upon the new earth, and the glory of God shall fill the earth as the waters fill the sea. The saints shall bear the image of the second Adam, as now they bear that of the first, and shall live for endless ages. Sin, being thus struck out of existence, in the utter destruction of all evil doers, shall never rise up again to mar the handiwork of God. The universe shall be as clean as it was before the rebellion of Satan, and
GOD SHALL BE ALL IN ALL.

Interesting Baptism.

By J. H. W.

A young brother, J. A. Johnson, embraced the present truth in Chelsea, Mass., last November. His relatives were opposed, and grieved over the step he was taking; but his convictions were deep and strong, and his love of the truth prevailed; he stepped out decidedly on the Sabbath. Being very feeble, his friends decided to send him to the Health Institute, and generously raised funds for that purpose. It was apparent that he was far gone with consumption, and he seemed fully to realize it. His mind had been exercised in regard to the duty of baptism, and in consideration of his feeble state, preparations were made to administer it in the Institute.
On Sabbath morning, March 12, a company was assembled in the dressing room, to whom I spoke on the object of baptism and the necessity of entire consecration, and seldom have I had a more blessed time on any similar occasion. We then stepped into the bath room and the rite was administered, while the most solemn feelings prevailed. Bro. J., since his baptism,enjoys great peace and assurance in the Lord, and if he falls asleep we trust he will be raised in immortality to eternal life. J. H. W.
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