DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: I am still trying to live for God. I feel my weakness and unworthiness to be great; but, when I look into God's word, and see there the glorious promises for them that will overcome, it gives me courage to strive on, and try to keep all God's holy commandments and the faith of Jesus. I want more of the love of God and more of his Spirit to guide me in this perilous time. I want to be more dead to the world and alive to God, or I fear that I shall not be one of those that will be found ready and waiting when the Master comes.
It rejoices my heart to hear from you through the Review. I ask you not to do as I have done, wait and let those that can write well and compose well, do all the writing; but let us bring in our testimonies, and perhaps the Lord will bless us in so doing. Almost every day do I see and hear things which strengthen my faith in the near coming of our Saviour. This bears me up. I will gladly suffer with Jesus, if I can reign with him in glory. The prospect looks bright ahead. The signs tell us that God's everlasting kingdom is soon to be set up. We are almost home. Courage, fellow-pilgrims. A few more light afflictions and we shall receive the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
I feel very lonely here. Three years have passed since I have heard a sermon on present truth. My books and papers have gone from Maine to Oregon, since that time. There are many inquiring souls here. Some have begun to keep the Lord's Sabbath. Could some preacher come here? I think there is a large field of labor here.
LUCY H. WINSLOW
Boone Co., Iowa.
Testimony for Present Truth
By Wm. F. Crous.
From Bro. Crous.
BRO. SMITH: Permit me once more to speak in favor of the truths held by Seventh-day Adventists. I have long since learned to love them. Eight years of experience has endeared them to me, and the longer I try to live up to the truths we hold, the brighter they shine. The truths of God's word have lighted up my pathway, so that I have been able to keep his commandments. I am truly thankful for the light of present truth, especially the health reform. What a blessing to the remnant of God's people; but how slow we are to move out in regard to these things.
“Look how we grovel here below
Fond of these earthly toys.”
How could we live in harmony, and be of one mind and heart were it not for the light of the third angel's message, which is the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
Why are we so slow to heed the instructions given us through the gift of prophecy? Let us try to be more ready to do our duty, that we may not grieve the Holy Spirit, nor discourage the laborers. May the Lord pity us, and his Spirit move us to action, that we may not be left behind.
Your brother in Christ. Wm. F. Crous.
Appleton.
Running in God’s Mercy
LET us run, let us run but in the savor of thy ointment, not in the confidence of our merits, not in the greatness of our strength; we trust to run but in the magnitude of thy mercies, for though we run and are willing, it is not in him that willeth, nor in him that runneth, but in God that showeth mercy. O let thy mercy return, and we will run: thou, like a giant, runnest by thy own power; we, unless thy ointment breathe upon us, cannot run.—St. Bernard.
Guarding the Soul from Evil
If a good man cannot prevent evil, he will hang heavy on its wings, and retard its progress. Admit no guest into your soul that the faithful watch dog in your bosom barks at.
Testimonies from Believers
SR. RUSHIA EVANS writes from Ogle Co., Ill.: When I first tried to serve the Lord I was afraid to be heard praying, and I went away alone. At a prayer-meeting I was called upon, but after saying a few words I could think of nothing more to say, so I made several attempts, still on my knees, waiting on the Lord. Presently the Lord came in and filled my soul with light and glory, and I went home rejoicing in God my Saviour. In a short time I was impressed to pray in my family, but I tried to think it was not my duty because I was not the head of the family. But I had no peace of mind till I was willing to take up my cross, and then my peace was like a river. I am still striving to serve the Lord, and am sorry I have not been more faithful. I am alone in the cause, but pray that my family may yet go with me, and we stand together on Mount Zion.
BRO. AND SR. PRIEST write from Mass.: We feel to say that truly God is good to us, and to thank and praise him for his word, which is, truly, a lamp to our feet and a light to our path amid the perils of these last days. For truly signs foretell that the coming of the Just One draws near. Our prayer is that we and all God's people may be ready when he comes, to hail him with joy, and enter into his rest.
R. MORAN writes from Iroquois Co., Ill.: If I have any heart or sympathy, it is toward the Seventh-day Adventists. I really believe they are nearer the truth than any other people of whom I have any knowledge.
CONVERSATIONS ON IMPORTANT SUBJECTS. NO. 8.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
BY ELD. D. M. CANRIGHT.
Bro. E. There is one thing with regard to Sr. White's having visions that I should like to understand better than I do. I cannot see how it is possible for her to see so much in one vision. In the few minutes in which she is in vision, sometimes she sees enough to fill volumes, if all written out. It would be utterly impossible for the mind, naturally, in the same length of time to receive one-hundredth part of the ideas she receives while in vision. I know that this seems to be changing the subject, but I thought of it, and would like to know what you think about it. It is sometimes brought up as an objection against her visions.
Min. This is surprising, indeed; and I have often thought of it myself; but circumstances have occurred with other individuals, where the mind has exhibited the same wonderful power of thought, in the case of drowning persons particularly. Those who have been drowned, and then restored to life, tell us that in the short space of three or four minutes, all the events, the words, and the actions of their former life, pass through their minds. They seem to appear before their minds in a sort of panoramic review. They can seem to see a thousand things at a glance.
Bro. D. Is there any authentic record of such events?
Min. Yes, I have just been reading from a book, entitled, Man all Immortal, by D. W. Clarke. He relates some very interesting instances of the kind. If it would interest all, I will read a few pages on this point.
Bro. A. I should like to hear, for my part, and I think we all would.
Bro. B. Yes, read on.
Min. You will remember that Clarke is a strong believer in the immortality of the soul, and hence he has mixed in this idea to some extent; but the facts are what we wish for. He says:
“A Fourth Class of Mental Phenomena, Bearing upon the Subject, is found in the Surprisingly-quickened Action of the Memory in the case of Drowning Persons.
“In many instances of this kind, the memory seems to have been so astonishingly quickened, that the whole past life—even its long-forgotten incidents—rush back upon the soul, so as to appear in clear and distinct view upon the broad field of its vision.
“An individual of my personal acquaintance was nearly drowned some years since. He stated that when first precipitated into the foaming deep, he fully realized the hopelessness of his condition; but almost at the very moment, the recollection of former events and of former years came rushing upon the memory. Its action was intense and rapid. Everything was remembered with all the distinctness of present life. Incidents, events, acts, words—all started up in rapid succession, till his whole life seemed to be reflected as from a mirror. His memory seemed to have grasped every event from very childhood to middle life, and hung them up, as though painted on canvas, before the broad glance of the drowning man. Almost by a miracle, he was plucked from the very jaws of death; but ever after was he accustomed to dwell with astonishment and wonder upon the singular development of his memory while the floods compassed him about, and to declare that he believed it possible for the mind to recollect everything that had ever come within the range of thought and feeling.
“Admiral Beaufort, of the British Navy, gives a like account of the action of his mind when placed in circumstances precisely similar. This whole account is so striking that we give it entire. It is taken from the life of Sir John Barrow, published in London, and is contained in a letter from Admiral Beaufort, addressed to Dr. Wollaston. It is as follows:
‘Many years ago, when I was a youngster on board one of His Majesty's ships in Portsmouth harbor, after sculling about in a very small boat, I was endeavoring to fasten her along side the ship to one of the scuttle-rings; in foolish eagerness I stepped upon the gunwale, the boat of course upset, and I fell into the water; and not knowing how to swim, all my efforts to lay hold of the boat or the floating vessel were fruitless. The transaction had not been observed by the sentinel on the gangway, and therefore it was not till the tide had drifted me some distance astern of the ship, that a man in the foretop saw me splashing in the water, and gave the alarm. The first lieutenant instantly and gallantly jumped overboard, the carpenter followed his example, and the gunner hastened into a boat and pulled after them.'
‘So far, these facts were either partially remembered after my recovery, or supplied by those who had latterly witnessed the scene; for during an interval of such agitation, a drowning person is too much occupied in catching at every passing straw, or too much absorbed by alternate hope and despair, to mark the succession of events very accurately. Not so, however, with the facts which immediately ensued. My mind had then undergone the sudden revolution which appeared to you so remarkable, and all the circumstances of which are now as vividly fresh in my memory as if they had occurred but yesterday.
‘With the violent but vain attempt to make myself heard, I had swallowed much water. I was soon exhausted by my struggles, and before my relief reached me, I had sunk below the surface; all hope had fled, all exertion ceased, and I felt that I was drowning.
‘From the moment that all exertion had ceased—which I imagine was the immediate consequence of complete suffocation—a calm feeling of the most perfect tranquility superseded the previous tumultuous sensations. It might be called apathy; certainly not resignation, for drowning no longer appeared to be an evil. I no longer thought of being rescued, nor was I in any bodily pain. On the contrary, my sensations were now of rather a pleasurable cast, partaking of that dull but contented sort of feeling which precedes the sleep produced by fatigue. Though the senses were thus deadened, not so the mind; its activity seemed to be invigorated in a ratio which defies all description, for thought rose after thought with a rapidity of succession that is not only indescribable, but probably inconceivable by any one who has not himself been in a similar situation. The course of those thoughts I can even now in a great measure retrace—the event which had just taken place, the awkwardness that had produced it; the bustle it must have occasioned—for I had observed two persons jump from the chains—the effect it would have on a most affectionate father, the manner in which he would disclose it to the rest of the family, and a thousand other circumstances minutely associated with home, were the first series of reflections that occurred.
‘They took then a wider range—our last cruise—a former voyage, and shipwreck—my school—the progress I had made there, and the time I had misspent—and even all my boyish pursuits and adventures. Thus traveling backward, every past incident of my life seemed to glance across my recollection in retrograde succession; not, however, in mere outline, as here stated, but the picture filled up with every minute and collateral feature; in short, the whole period of my existence seemed to be placed before me in a kind of panoramic review, and each act of it seemed to be accompanied by consciousness of right or wrong, or by some reflection on its cause or its consequences; indeed, many trifling events which had been long forgotten then crowded into my imagination, and with the character of recent familiarity.
‘The length of time that was occupied by the deluge of ideas, or rather the shortness of time into which they were condensed, I cannot now state with precision; yet certainly two minutes could not have elapsed from the moment of suffocation, to that of my being handed up.’”
Bro. B. That was remarkable indeed. I now remember of having heard others make similar statements.
Min. Yes, this man in the short space of two minutes, had all the scenes of his life distinctly presented before his mind. Certainly that is as much, if not more wonderful than any vision Sr. White has ever had. It shows what the mind can do in certain circumstances. Dr. Clarke gives additional circumstances illustrating the point, but I forbear reading them now.301
Bro. D. I am glad that this subject has been introduced; it helps my mind much, for I have often thought of the same objection, how it could be possible for Sr. White to see so much in one vision. But these facts certainly show that it is possible for the mind to receive ideas and impressions very rapidly.
(To be continued.)
TO CORRESPONDENTS.
F. GOULD. An exposition of 1 Cor. xiv, 34, 35, is given in Review No. 4, Vol. xxviii, p. 28, June 26, 1866.
A. BISBEE. We understand the sin against the Holy Ghost to be attributing the work of the Spirit to the agency of Satan, for the purpose of avoiding the truth. This we learn from the circumstances under which Christ spoke the words recorded in Matt. xii, 31. Christ had performed a notable miracle. All the people were amazed. It must in some way be accounted for. It was evident enough that it was wrought by the power of God. But to acknowledge this, would be to confess Christ the Son of David, and the promised Messiah. This the Pharisees would not do. There was no other alternative but to attribute the wonderful work to the power of Satan; and this they did, rather than to acknowledge the truth. Christ first refutes on logical principles their impious claim, and then pronounces his fearful denunciations against the sin against the Holy Ghost, which is doing just what they had done, attributing work which was plainly enough the work of God, and which they undoubtedly knew to be such, to the agency of the Devil, in order to avoid the cross of humbly acknowledging unpopular truth.
An explanation of Rev. iv, 4–6, will be found in Thoughts on Revelation, pp. 75–79.
VALUABLE AND INDISPENSABLE RECIPES.
By S. B. Whitney
BRO. SMITH: The following very valuable recipes, if you deem them worthy of an insertion, I give for the benefit of those who need them.
FOR A SPIRIT OF LEVITY,
Which often leads to vain and foolish conversation. Equal parts of a sense of our responsibility and danger, in view of the work of preparation for the impending Judgment, and the coming of the Lord, combined with nearly equal quantities of serious reflections upon the shortness of time, the condition of the church and world, and the time of trouble.
To be taken in liberal doses at the first appearance of the symptoms, and according to the constitution of the patient, and the severity of the attack.
Having found the above very beneficial in my own case, I can recommend it as an unfailing remedy. Also the following:
FOR FAULT-FINDING.
Self-examination, five parts. Brotherly love and Christian forbearance, each, four parts. Meekness and humility, each, three parts.
To be held in solution with tears drawn from our own eyes by a due consideration of the “exceeding sinfulness of sin,” and the “beauty of holiness.”
Directions same as above. S. B. WHITNEY.
COMMENDED FOR DOING RIGHT.
By S. W. H.
Not long since, in the village of M., a series of lectures were given on the subject of physiology; and, at the close, one especially for the benefit of females. Mrs. H. felt somewhat delicate about displaying her reform dress among the fashionables; but reason got the better of pride, and she wore it. How many minds were turned from the subject of the lecture to the short dress is unknown; but it did not escape the eyes of the doctor; for he took occasion to remark to the audience that he was glad to find one among them that dared, despite of fashion, to wear a sensible dress. Mrs. H. felt richly rewarded for the sacrifice she had made, and who would not?
Do what is right; for the day dawn is breaking,
Hailing a future of freedom and light.
Angels above us are silent notes taking,
Let this be our motto then, Do what is right.
S. W. H.
Minnesota.
WILLIAM MILLER.
HIS PUBLIC LABORS.
The public labors of Mr. Miller, according to the best evidence to be obtained, date from the autumn of 1831. He had continued to be much distressed respecting his duty to “go and tell it to the world,” which was constantly impressed on his mind. One Saturday, after breakfast, he sat down at his desk to examine some point, and, as he arose to go out to work, it came home to him with more force than ever, “Go and tell it to the world.” He thus writes:
“The impression was so sudden, and came with such force, that I settled down into my chair, saying, ‘I can’t go, Lord.’ ‘Why not?’ seemed to be the response; and then all my excuses came up—my want of ability, &c.; but my distress became so great, I entered into a solemn covenant with God, that, if he would open the way, I would go and perform my duty to the world. ‘What do you mean by opening the way?’ seemed to come to me. ‘Why,’ said I, ‘if I should have an invitation to speak publicly in any place, I will go and tell them what I find in the Bible about the Lord’s coming.’ Instantly all my burden was gone, and I rejoiced that I should not probably be thus called upon; for I had never had such an invitation. My trials were not known, and I had but little expectation of being invited to any field of labor.
“In about half an hour from this time, before I had left the room, a son of Mr. Guilford, of Dresden, about sixteen miles from my residence, came in, and said that his father had sent for me, and wished me to go home with him. Supposing that he wished to see me on some business, I asked him what he wanted. He replied, that there was to be no preaching in their church the next day, and his father wished to have me come and talk to the people on the subject of the Lord’s coming. I was immediately angry with myself for having made the covenant I had; I rebelled at once against the Lord, and determined not to go. I left the boy, without giving him any answer, and retired in great distress to a grove near by. There I struggled with the Lord for about an hour, endeavoring to release myself from the covenant I had made with him; but I could get no relief. It was impressed upon my conscience, ‘Will you make a covenant with God, and break it so soon?’ and the exceeding sinfulness of thus doing overwhelmed me. I finally submitted, and promised the Lord that, if he would sustain me, I would go, trusting in him to give me grace and ability to perform all he should require of me. I returned to the house, and found the boy still waiting. He remained till after dinner, and I returned with him to Dresden.
“The next day, which, as nearly as I can remember, was about the first Sabbath in August 1833, I delivered my first public lecture on the Second Advent. The house was well filled with an attentive audience. As soon as I commenced speaking, all my diffidence and embarrassment were gone, and I felt impressed only with the greatness of the subject, which by the providence of God, I was enabled to present. At the close of the services on the Sabbath, I was requested to remain and lecture during the week, with which I complied. They flocked in from the neighboring towns; a revival commenced, and it was said that in thirteen families all but two persons were hopefully converted.
“On the Monday following I returned home, and found a letter from Elder Fuller, of Poultney, Vt., requesting me to go and lecture there on the same subject. They had not heard of my going to Dresden. I went to Poultney, and lectured there with similar effect.
“From thence I went, by invitation, to Pawlet, and other towns in that vicinity. The churches of Congregationalists, Baptists and Methodists, were thrown open. In almost every place I visited my labors resulted in the reclaiming of backsliders, and the conversion of sinners. I was usually invited to fields of labor by the ministers of the several congregations whom I visited, who gave me their countenance; and I have never labored in any place to which I was not previously invited. The most pressing invitations from the ministry, and the leading members of the churches, poured in continually from that time, during the whole period of my public labors, and with more than one half of which I was unable to comply. Churches were thrown open everywhere, and I lectured to crowded houses, through the western part of Vermont, the northern part of New York, and in Canada East; and powerful reformations were the results of my labors.”
CONVERSION OF ONE HUNDRED INFIDELS.
With the 1st of January, 1838, he commenced a second course of lectures at Lansingburgh, N. Y., in compliance with the urgent request of the Baptist church in that place, and of E. B. Crandall, their pastor. The lectures continued nine days, and were listened to by crowded and attentive audiences. The result also was most heart-cheering. Infidelity had several strongholds in that neighborhood, and many of that class attended his lectures, and were greatly affected by them. In a letter dated on the 25th of that month, two weeks after the close of the lectures, a gentleman of that place writes to Mr. Miller:
“I have never witnessed so powerful an effect in any place, as in this, on all who heard. I am of the opinion that not less than one hundred persons, who held infidel sentiments, are brought to believe the Bible. Infidelity is dumb in this place, as if frightened, and converts are many.”
The following testimony of one who was converted from infidelity during these lectures, is copied from the Boston Investigator (an infidel paper) of January, 1845.
“MR. EDITOR: I was a warm supporter of the views of Abner Kneeland, attended his lectures and protracted dances, disbelieved in Divine Revelation and a future existence, and fully accorded with Mr. Kneeland’s views of religion. Having read every work of note that I could obtain, and having heard many lectures opposed to God and the Bible, I considered myself prepared to overthrow the Christian faith, and feared no argument that could be brought from the Bible. With these feelings, I attended a full course of Mr. Miller’s lectures. He gave his rules of interpretation, and pledged himself to prove his position. I approved of his rules,—to which I refer you,—and the result was, he established the fact that the Bible is what it purports to be—the Word of God—to my mind, beyond a doubt; and I have taken it as the man of my counsel. I notice your doubts of the truth of the statement in relation to hundreds of infidels being converted under the preaching of Mr. Miller. This may possibly be owing to your never having given Mr. Miller a candid and thorough hearing. He is a man mighty in the Scriptures, and has done terrible execution in the ranks of the ‘King’s enemies,’ with the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. I am personally acquainted with nearly one hundred, who held to similar views with Abner Kneeland, who were converted under the preaching of Mr. Miller; and we did not yield the point without a struggle, nor without due consideration. Each and every prop and refuge of infidelity and unbelief were taken away from us, and our sandy foundation was swept by the truth of the Almighty as chaff is driven by the wind. Yet we parted with them much as a man parts with a diseased tooth. We tried to cure and keep it there, and when made to know that the root and foundation was rotten, it was painful to part with; but we rejoiced and felt better after the separation; for there is balm in Gilead—there is a Physician there.”
From the 24th to the 28th of May, Mr. M. lectured in Groton, Mass., and from the 3d to the 9th of June, in Lynn, Mass. In connection with his visit to this place, he made the following entry in his memorandum-book: “Thus ends my tour into Massachusetts, making eight hundred lectures from October 1, 1834, to June 9, 1835—four years, six months, nine days.” The editor of the “Lynn Record” gave the following notice of Mr. Miller, and his visit to that place:
“MILLER AND THE PROPHECIES.”
“We took a prejudice against this good man, when he first came among us, on account of what we supposed a glaring error in interpreting the Scripture prophecies so that the world would come to an end in 1843. We are still inclined to believe this an error or miscalculation. At the same time we have overcome our prejudices against him by attending his lectures, and learning more of the excellent character of the man, and of the great good he has done and is doing. Mr. Miller is a plain farmer, and pretends to nothing except that he has made the Scripture prophecies an intense study for many years, understands some of them differently from most other people, and wishes, for the good of others, to spread his views before the public. No one can hear him five minutes without being convinced of his sincerity, and instructed by his reasoning and information. All acknowledge his lectures to be replete with useful and interesting matter. His knowledge of Scripture is very extensive and minute; that of the prophecies, especially, surprisingly familiar. His application of the prophecies to the great events which have taken place in the natural and moral world is such, generally, as to produce conviction of their truth, and gain the ready assent of his hearers. We have reason to believe that the preaching or lecturing of Mr. Miller has been productive of great and extensive good. Revivals have followed in his train. He has been heard with attention wherever he has been.
“There is nothing very peculiar in the manner or appearance of Mr. Miller. Both are at least equal to the style and appearance of ministers in general. His gestures are easy and expressive, and his personal appearance every way decorous. His Scripture explanations and illustrations are strikingly simple, natural, and forcible; and the great eagerness of the people to hear him has been manifested wherever he has preached.”
On his way home he lectured at the following places: Commencing on the 16th of June at Westford, Vt.; the 23d, at Cambridge, Vt.; and on the 30th at Colchester, Vt. As a result of his labors in Colchester, twenty-three were added to the Baptist church between that time and the 2d of December following.
The letters addressed to him and his son at this period show that a report was in circulation that he was dead; and, as soon as that was successfully contradicted, another was current that, on re-examining his calculations, he had discovered a mistake of one hundred years. Both of these rumors were several times subsequently revived, and had to be as often contradicted.
On the 15th of September, in compliance with “the wish of many in Rutland, Vt.,” who were “very anxious to hear” his “course of lectures,” he visited that place, and lectured each day, to the 22d, when he returned to his family, and made arrangements for a second visit to Massachusetts.
He commenced his labors at Groton, Mass., on the 13th of October, and lectured ten days. In reference to these lectures and others in neighboring towns, Rev. Silas Hawley, Congregational minister, wrote from Groton, on the 10th of April, 1840, as follows:
“Mr. Miller has lectured in this and adjoining towns with marked success. His lectures have been succeeded by precious revivals of religion in all those places. A class of minds are reached by him not within the influence of other men. His lectures are well adapted, so far as I have learned, for shaking the supremacy of the various forms of error that are rife in the community.”
Closing his lectures in Groton, Mr. M. gave a third course of lectures in Lowell, continuing from the 23d of October to the 1st of November. These, like the previous lectures in that place, were attended with precious fruits.
From the 2d to the 10th of November, he lectured in Haverhill, Mass., where he made the acquaintance of Elder Henry Plummer, pastor of the Christian church, who embraced his views, and was a steadfast friend till Mr. Miller’s decease.
On the 11th of November, Mr. M. commenced a course of lectures in Exeter, N. H., which continued till the 19th. On the 12th, a Conference of the Christian Connection was in session there, and they called on Mr. Miller in a body. He was a stranger to nearly all of them; and few of them regarded his views with anything more than mere curiosity. Several of them questioned him respecting his faith; but they were speedily silenced by the quotation of appropriate texts of Scripture.
It was on this occasion that he became acquainted with Eld. Joshua V. Himes, then pastor of the Chardon-street church, Boston. Eld. H. had written to Mr. M., on the 19th of October, inviting him to give a course of lectures in his chapel. He now renewed his invitation, and got the promise of a course of lectures in December. Before commencing there, Mr. Miller gave a second course of lectures in Stoughton, Mass., from the 24th to the 29th of November, and one in Canton, Mass., from the 1st to the 6th of December. In this last place, he writes to his son, he “lectured three times on the last day, to a house jammed full.” Pressing invitations for further labors in the surrounding region had to be disregarded, in order to fulfill his engagement in the metropolis of New England.
(To be continued.)
“Two-thirds of the members of my church,” said a pastor, “are honorary members. They don’t come to prayer-meetings; they don’t attend Sunday School; they don’t add to the life of the church; they are the passengers on the gospel ship; they bear no burdens; add no strength; their names are on our books; they are honorary members.”
“ALL IS VANITY AND VEXATION OF SPIRIT.”
By P. A. Foster
“Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.” These impressive words were spoken by one who knew “whereof he affirmed;” for he had made full trial of all that earth is able to afford, and had found all empty and unsatisfying. He was ruler “over a people like the dust of the earth for multitude,” and withal was wise, rich, and glorious. And it would seem that he was in possession of all that heart could wish or imagination crave. To use his own words: “So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me at Jerusalem; also my wisdom remained with me. And whatsoever mine eyes desired, I kept not from them; I withheld not my heart from any joy.” But in after years, when his sun had passed its meridian, and was just ready to drop below the horizon, he turns and takes a retrospective view of his long career of fame and unrivaled greatness; and, as he glances over his life, which had been passed 'mid scenes of untold splendor and magnificence, and realized that his glittering pageantry, which none before him had possessed, and remembers that it has forever passed away, he is filled with sorrow at the transitory nature of all earthly things, and exclaims in anguish of spirit, “All is vanity and vexation of spirit.”
Thousands have trod in the same path to earthly glory, have run “foremost in honor's dusty race,” and have braved almost every hazard for a “fanciful wreath in glory's romantic career.” Some have
“Drank every cup of joy, heard every
Trump of fame; drank early; deeply drank;
Drank draughts that common millions
Might have quenched, then died
Of thirst, because there was no more
To drink.”
Yes, dear reader, you and I can bear witness to the fact that “hours of pleasure are short,” and our brightest hopes are often crushed in the blossom by the blighting hand of time and change.
“Oh! ever thus, from childhood's hour,
I've seen my fondest hopes decay;
I never loved a tree, or flower,
But 't was the first to fade away.”
Let us then, in view of these things, choose, like Mary, that better part which can never be taken from us. Let us shun the light and trifling scenes of earth, and set our feet toward the New Jerusalem. There we shall find pleasures that never grow old, and bliss that never fades. How will the baubles of earth sink in the scale, when we look back from eternity's shores to this miserable, sin-cursed earth, which now occupies so much of our time and attention. We, the youth of the last generation, are too much given to pleasure, mirth, and levity. I fear there is danger of our becoming lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. This is one of the characteristics of the last days. We who profess to be looking for the glorious appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, should not join in the sinful pleasures of the age. Let us arouse ourselves and do “works meet for repentance.”