Matt. xxvii, 7, 8. And they [the priests] took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.
Acts i, 18, 19. Now this man [Judas] purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; inasmuch as that field is called, in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.
ACELDAMA, field of blood, a small field south of Jerusalem, which the priests purchased with the thirty pieces of silver that Judas had received as the price of our Saviour's blood. Matt. xxvii, 8; Acts i, 19. Pretending that it was not lawful to appropriate this money to sacred uses, because it was the price of blood, they purchased with it the so-called potter's field, to be a burying place for strangers. Judas is said, Acts i, 18, to have purchased the field, because it was bought with his money. Tradition points out this field on the steep side of the hill of Evil Counsel overhanging the valley of Hinnom on the south. It appears to have been used, since the time of the crusaders, as a sepulchre for pilgrims, and subsequently by the Armenians. At present it is not thus used.
A MOTHER'S PRAYER.
By R. C. BAKER
God has entrusted to my care,
Two lovely buds of promise rare,—
Two gems to polish and refine,
Till fit in Heaven’s bright realms to shine.
O gracious Lord, of thee I ask,
Help to fulfill the sacred task,
That in their stainless purity,
My treasures I may bring to thee.
Help me to rule my spirit well,
Every impatient word to quell,
Lest I, despite my jealous care,
Should plant some seeds of passion there.
May all my dealings with them prove
My ruling motive, purest love;
While I, by wise and just restraint,
Preserve their hearts from evil’s taint.
Instruct me, Lord, in heavenly lore,
While I their minds with knowledge store;
Help me in meek simplicity,
“A little child” myself to be.
Guard them from Satan’s artful wiles,
And worldly pleasure’s honied smiles;
And draw their tender hearts to Him
Who gave his precious life for them.
And when the earth’s dread doom shall come,
And thou shalt take thy jewels home,
Grant that these precious gems of mine,
May in thine endless kingdom shine.
R. C. BAKER.
Mackford, Wis.
The Ocean Cemetery
A GRAVE WITHOUT A MONUMENT.—The sea is the largest of cemeteries, and all its slumberers sleep without a monument. All other grave-yards, in all lands, show some symbols of distinction between the great and the small, the rich and the poor, but in that great ocean cemetery the king and the clown, the prince and the peasant, are alike undistinguished. The same wave rolls over all, the same requiem by the minstrelsy of the ocean is sung to their honor. Over their remains the same storms beat, and the same sun shines; and there, unmarked, the weak and the powerful, the plumed and the unhonored, will sleep on, until, awakened by the same trump, the sea will give up its dead. No marble rises to point out where their ashes are gathered. Yet that cemetery hath ornaments of which no other can boast. On no other are the heavenly orbs reflected in such splendor. Over no other is heard such noble melody.
An Example
AN EXAMPLE.—Hon. William E. Dodge, President of the National Temperance Society, was the guest, on a certain occasion, of Gen. Wool and other officers at Fortress Monroe. The General said to his brother officers at the commencement of the dinner: “Gentlemen, our guest whom we have with us to-day is a teetotaler.—I propose that we dispense with our wine to-day and join with him in his own beverage.” It was unanimously agreed to “taboo” the liquor. This was the influence of one consistent temperance man in a social circle. If every advocate of our cause would stand as firm as Mr. Dodge, he might be a “standing rebuke” to the wine drinkers and punch brewers. We fear that sometimes the surrender is on the other side, and from false delicacy or timidity the pledged teetotaler yields the point and takes a sip because “the circumstances are so peculiar.” No possible circumstances warrant a good man’s violation of conscience.
The Commentary.
Tell me the meaning of Scriptures. One gem from that ocean is worth all the pebbles of earthly streams.—M'Cheyne.
And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it, because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
Thus was the seventh day appointed by God, from the very beginning of the world, to be observed as a day of rest by mankind, in memory of the great benefits received in the formation of the universe. It has been a question, among the learned, whether any Sabbath was observed before the promulgation of the law by Moses; but the most judicious commentators agree that Adam and Eve constantly observed the seventh day, and dedicated it in a peculiar manner to the service of the Almighty; and that the first Sabbath, which Philo (one of the most ancient writers) calls The birthday of the world, was celebrated in Paradise itself; which pious custom, being transmitted from our first parents to their posterity, became in time so general that the same Philo calls it the universal festival of mankind.—Sear's History of the Bible.
And He declared unto you His covenant, which He commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and He wrote them upon two tables of stone. Deut. iv, 13.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
Though the ten commandments were given to the Jews particularly, yet the things contained in them are such as all mankind from the beginning were bound to observe; and therefore under the Mosaic dispensation they, and the tables on which they were engraved, and the ark in which they were put, were distinguished from the rest of God's ordinances by a peculiar regard, as containing the covenant of the Lord. And though the Mosaic dispensation be now at an end, yet concerning these moral precepts of it, our Saviour declares, that “one jot or tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled.” To comprehend the full extent of these commandments it will be requisite to observe the following rules. Where any sin is forbidden in them, the opposite duty is implicitly enjoined: and where any duty is enjoined, the opposite sin is implicitly forbidden. Where the highest degree of any evil is prohibited, whatever is faulty in the same kind, though in a lower degree, is by consequence prohibited. And where one instance of virtuous behaviour is commanded, every other, that hath the same nature, and the same reason for it, is understood to be commanded too. What we are expected to abstain from, we are expected to avoid, as far as we can, all temptations to it, and occasions of it; and what we are expected to practice, we are expected to use all fit means that may better enable us to practice it. All that we are bound to do ourselves, we are bound on fitting occasions to exhort and assist others to do when it belongs to them; and all that we are bound not to do, we are to tempt nobody else to do, but keep them back from it as much as we have opportunity. The ten commandments, excepting two that required enlargement, are delivered in a few words: which brief manner of speaking hath great majesty in it. But explaining them according to these rules,—which are natural and rational in themselves, favored by ancient Jewish writers, authorized by our blessed Saviour,—we shall find that there is no part of the moral law but may be fitly ranked under them.—Sear's History of the Bible.
Sabbath Schools.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
I THINK that we need something more said and done about Sabbath Schools among us as a people. So far as my experience goes, we are sadly lacking on this point. Many churches have none at all. This is not as it should be. The excuse is, that none but Sabbath-keepers will attend on the seventh-day, and often there are but few children among the Sabbath-keepers. But if there were only two children, they need instruction. If there are six or eight, there is no good reason why they cannot have a Sabbath School. Do we not all know and acknowledge its blessings and utility? Often here the first seeds of truth are sown in the tender heart, the first impressions of the gospel and of religion made, the first resolutions to do right are here made or strengthened. Here the tender mind receives impressions which last through life; here it learns to know and love that which is good, and receives strength to resist the temptations of after life.
I once heard an aged Chief Justice say, that criminals were seldom those who had been brought up in Sabbath School. This is reasonable. In youth we form habits which last through life. Brethren and sisters, especially parents, do you realize the truth and importance of this? Will you then because it requires an effort on your part, be negligent in this matter, and let your children go to perdition when they might be saved? "As the twig is bent, the tree is inclined." Will you fail to bend it in the right direction? There are thousands of children among the Sabbath-keepers now. They must be saved or lost when Christ comes. They cannot be saved unless they are good. Father, mother, what are you doing to save that child you now love so well? Letting it have its own way, taking no pains to have it go to Sabbath School, nor to go yourself? If so, its blood will be required at your hands in the judgment. I know of many who are doing this very thing now, and it is time to reform. But if we wish to have a Sabbath School and Bible Class, how shall we begin? What shall we do, and how shall we instruct them? For lack of information on these points, nothing is done in many places where there might be large schools. Can not some of our brethren who have had long experience in this thing, give us some instruction through the Review that will benefit all? Will not the Superintendent of the Battle Creek Sabbath School tell us how they conduct their school? also the Superintendent of the Monterey school, or any other flourishing school, anywhere?
I have had a little experience in this of late, and hoping that it will benefit some, I will give it. First, lay it down an indisputable fact that all ought to have an interest in the Sabbath School and Bible Class. None can be excused, neither parents, older brothers and sisters, nor children. If A. has a right to stay away, B. has; and if B. has C. has; and so on to the bottom of the line. If the parents have not interest enough to go, the children will not long; if one stays away, another will; this creates discouragement, and the whole school goes down. Therefore every Sabbath-keeper is under a solemn obligation to take part in this matter. They may get up all the excuses they please to satisfy their guilty consciences, but if they stay away, the real truth is, they lack interest in the cause of God, their own salvation, and that of their children. Proof: If they were to get $2.00 every time they attended, how often would they be absent? Not once!
When we all get together, the order of the school with us has been this: 1. Singing. 2. Prayer. 3. Repeating the ten commandments. Every one takes part in this, both old and young. We repeat them slowly in concert. We are particular to have every little word just right. We then learn to skip around on them. The teacher says, "Sixth, ninth, fifth," &c., and all repeat that one. Having drilled them on this several weeks till they get it perfect, we next learn the books in the Bible in their order, so that we can say them forward and back, and give the chapters in each readily. Having repeated these long enough, we learn and repeat in concert the names of the twelve apostles, also the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, &c. 4. Then the classes recite their lessons. The children learn some portion of the Bible on which the teachers instruct them according to their abilities. In some places we have question books for them. This I think is better. The older ones all join in the Bible Class. If there are above fifteen, we have two classes. One in the History of the Sabbath, using the question book on it, which I suppose can be had at the Office for ten cents a piece; and another class which uses the Union Question Book on the Bible. This is a good thing though there may be a few things which we do not believe. 5. Then each one stands up and repeats a verse of scripture containing some word which was given out the week before, as sin, law, &c. This is a very interesting and instructive exercise. 6. We have a short general lesson for all on some portion of the Bible. The Superintendent asks such questions on it as all can answer. 7. All join in repeating the Lord's prayer. This closes the school.
We have found this order to be very good. If any one can propose an improvement, please do so. At Norridgewock, Me., we have a library selected from the best books which we can find. If any wish instruction where to get these books, I can inform them. $25.00 will get a very good library. I would urge upon the churches in Maine, who have not already done it, the necessity of setting about this work now. From what I have seen accomplished in the past few weeks, I feel encouraged to make a greater effort in this direction. If there are only six or eight of you, there are enough to have a Bible Class. Brethren and sisters you must work in this cause. The minister cannot do it all. The Lord is at hand. Let us be alive and show that we appreciate it. Brethren shall we hear from you about this matter?
D. M. CANRIGHT.
Norridgewock, Me., Dec. 5.
Report from Bro. Van Horn.
By I. D. VAN HORN
My last report was from Gilboa. Bro. Olds, with his team, took me to Cass, Friday, Nov. 23. It took us all day to go twenty-two miles through the mud.
I held five meetings in this place, giving four discourses, which, we trust, removed some prejudice from those about, and was a strength to the believers in the truth. The roads were so bad that it was almost impossible for them to get out to meeting. Death has removed some from this church, and others have moved away, which leaves their numbers quite small. Here, again, we see the bad effects of moving from place to place. May God bless the few that remain and make them strong in the way of truth.
Wednesday, 28th, I preached the funeral sermon of Bro. Baker, at the village of Arcadia. The weather was very bad, and there were but few out to hear. We spoke with freedom on the death and resurrection of Christ, to the encouragement of the hearers, and to the consolation of the mourning friends.
Sabbath, Dec. 1st, I was with the church at Jackson. The burden of our testimony to this church, was purity and holiness of heart. While speaking upon these themes, we were lifted above the trials of earth and enabled to get a glimpse of the better things that await the faithful in their eternal home. On first-day we went two miles to Winter Station, where we preached the funeral discourse of Sr. Jemima Kenan. A large congregation were present, who listened with a good interest to the truths of the word of God, on the subject of eternal life through Christ. While staying with the church in this place, I gave six discourses, which have given much encouragement to the brethren and sisters. Bro. Mears and Van Gorder were with us at this meeting, and aided us with their cheering testimonies. The result of our meeting has been to right some wrongs that have existed, and to encourage the friends of present truth to still be faithful unto the end.
Thursday, 6th, we came to Bellville. We were happy to meet Bro. Lawrence and see him looking so well. We found the brethren and sisters much encouraged by the faithful labors of Bro L., and we had the best of freedom in speaking the word of truth to them. There is every token of a good society here, for they seem to be willing to do anything that is required in order that they may make sure work for eternal life.
Monday 10th, we went to Fredericktown and held three profitable meetings with the few there who have accepted the truth. They still express their determination to hold on to the truth, though their numbers be few. May the Lord bless them.
Wednesday, 12th, we returned to Bellville, and in the evening we gathered at an early hour at the place appointed for prayer-meeting. The Lord met with us. From the very first, the presence of his Spirit was manifested in our midst. There were over thirty present, the most of whom took part in the meeting. Expressions of praise to God flowed freely from our lips, and tears of gratitude and joy were seen in nearly every eye. Time passed rapidly till nearly three hours had gone by, but it was all improved. Praise to the name of our heavenly Father! There are now and then little seasons when we can taste his love. We will go on till we reach our eternal home.
I. D. VAN HORN.
Norwalk, Ohio, Dec. 14, 1866.
Courage in Every-day life.
Have the courage to do without that which you do not need, however much your eyes may covet it.
Have the courage to show your respect for honesty, in whatever guise it appears; and your contempt for dishonest duplicity, by whomsoever exhibited.
Have the courage to wear your old clothes until you can pay for new ones.
Have the courage to prefer comfort and propriety to fashion in all things.
Have the courage to acknowledge your ignorance rather than to seek credit for knowledge under false pretenses.
Have the courage to provide entertainment for your friends within your means—not beyond.
Have the courage to take a good paper, and pay for it annually in advance.
Be Earnest.
By MARY STRATTON
If ever there was a time when God's people ought to be in earnest it is now. If we are, as we believe with all our hearts on the very threshold of eternity; it is time to be awake, really. Shall we let this terrible lethargy of the last days stealthily creep over us without making a vigorous effort to arouse ourselves? My heart aches when I see my own unlikeness to Christ. To live like others around us will not do. We must be just as really good at home, as abroad; out of meeting, as in. Consistency is as much a jewel in religious, as in temporal things.
I remember being at a Quarterly Meeting and seeing there a brother who took great pains to get his family to meeting, and seemed to be quite zealous himself. On our way home we had occasion to stop with him over night, and when the time came for prayers we were surprised beyond measure to see that not one of the whole family kneeled down with us.
It will avail us nothing to have a good name abroad, unless we can claim the same at home. I would sooner have my nearest neighbor think me a Christian, than to be so considered by a whole congregation twenty miles from home. It is too late in the day to cover up our sins. In a little while the cloak will be removed, and he which is filthy will be filthy still. It is time to be honest with ourselves and with God. A dishonest Christian is a contradiction of terms. The term Christian can only be applied to those who are Christlike. Was he ever indifferent to the interests of his friends around him? No! Was he proud or selfish? Never! He was the personification of meekness and humility.
How glad I am that the last message to a perishing world has reached my ears so that I may get ready for the coming of the Lord. Nothing but right doing will give us a place with God's remnant people, and enable us to sing the new song, with the hundred and forty four thousand, which no others could learn.
MARY STRATTON.
Cornville, Maine.
REMARKABLE FULFILLMENTS OF THE VISIONS.
By John Norton Loughborough
BRO. SMITH: In response to your request to write out some of the fulfillments of the visions that have come under my observation I would make the following statements: When I first learned of the visions of sister White, some fifteen years ago, I was a firm unbeliever in anything like direct manifestations of the Spirit of God more than an ordinary blessing that might be felt in the heart in answer to prayer, without any outward manifestation attending it. So it will be readily seen that I would watch with carefulness anything that appeared of a different character. When I first heard of the visions of sister White I supposed them to be either pretensions or mesmerism. But it did not require any great length of time to satisfy myself that a person could not feign a state in which from fifteen minutes to two hours, breath is entirely suspended, the eyes are open, not with a glassy appearance, or a vacant stare, but with a look more like that of one looking intently at a distant object. And that, too, while in this condition, audible words were spoken without breath. Such were the appearance and facts relative to the first vision I saw her have, and the appearances have not changed in about fifty visions I have seen her have since that time.
Having become satisfied that the visions were not under the control of the instrument through whom they were given, the next work was to prove, if possible, from what source they came. Having heard lectures on mesmerism, and seen persons in various states of mesmerism, I could see a marked difference between this and mesmerism. It is also a fact that many experienced mesmerizers have declared on witnessing her visions that it was not mesmerism, but was something with which they were unacquainted. I saw a noted Spiritualist and mesmerizer present once, when she had a vision at Parkville, Michigan. He had given out before she came that if she should have a vision there, as it was nothing but mesmerism, he could bring her out of it. When he saw her in vision he came forward where she was, but instead of trying to bring her out, he went staggering toward the door, saying to the congregation, “She don’t breathe,” and declaring that he did not know what it was, turned deadly pale and left the room.
But to return to my narrative: When I became satisfied that the visions were beyond human agency in their manifestations, I next watched to see if anything hidden or unknown to us and the instrument were brought to light. A circumstance shortly happened in Rochester, where we resided, that carried conviction to the minds of all who were acquainted with the facts.
A man and his wife whom I shall here call Bro. and sister R. embraced the truth while Bro. and sister White were laboring away from home in New England—they then resided in Rochester. They had never seen the above named persons, and after they embraced the truth and before Bro. and sister White returned to Rochester, the Bro. went on business to Michigan. After they returned from N. E. they became acquainted with this sister, as she boarded much of her time in the city. This sister enjoyed herself well for a time, but soon a cloud of gloom seemed to be upon her mind, and it was apparent to all that she was in deep trouble about something. She grew poor under her burden. She was often requested by sister Orton and others to tell the cause of her sadness, but she would not. She could not be prevailed upon to disclose the great secret of her grief. Thus things went on for many days, till, finally, her case was opened to sister White in a vision. She related it to her and the brethren and sisters. Told her that the cause of her sadness was that she was nightly tormented by the Devil, who would appear to her as soon as she retired in the form of an old woman dressed in black. Told her she saw that she wanted to tell the brethren and sisters concerning this strange appearance, and have them pray the Lord to rebuke it, that whenever sister R. would make up her mind that she would tell the brethren and sisters about it this person would take her by the throat and almost strangle her, saying, “If you tell I will choke you to death.” Sister White told her she saw if she would come out and rebuke it in the name of the Lord she would be delivered from it, and be vexed no more. The sister sat in deep thought, but finally said what sister White had seen was the truth in the matter; but as soon as she had said it she seemed to be choking, and had every appearance of one strangling to death. This occurred at Bro. Orton’s house. Bro. Ingraham was present and joined in prayer for the sister. Soon she got strength, after an awful struggle, to rebuke the enemy, was relieved, and I never heard any more of her having any such troubles. This, of course, gave us all, as well as sister R., great confidence that the vision was more than human.
But in the same vision sister White had a view of a man who was making loud professions to keep the law, was talking the Sabbath to others, yet, at the same time, was breaking the seventh commandment. She was not shown his name, and none of us supposed it to be one of our number; but in a few days Bro. R., as we called him, returned. When sister White saw him, which was the first time, only in vision, she readily recognized him as the identical man. None of us had ever supposed him to be a man of that stamp, and, of course, were greatly surprised to learn that he was the man. Sister White related the vision before him, sister R. readily assenting to the first part that it was all so; but when the last part was related as applying to her own husband, she looked at him with an astonished, piercing, inquiring gaze. He burst into tears and confessed that the last part of the vision was true, but tried to justify himself in saying there were many of the first-day Adventists who did as bad as that.
Here were two facts brought to light by something more than human wisdom, and of the source from whence they came we were led to judge by the nature of the work. Works of sin and darkness were reproved, and it seemed to us indeed like the work of the Lord.
More hereafter.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
TIMES OF RESTITUTION.
By R. F. COTTERELL
“And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you; whom the Heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” Acts iii, 20, 21.
God has promised by his prophets a restitution or restoration of certain things. Some loss has been sustained; otherwise a restitution would not be necessary. Nothing can be restored that has not been impaired or suffered loss. When sin entered the world a curse came upon man, and also upon the earth.
I do not now speak of man’s moral loss—the loss of innocency; and how that loss is to be restored—his state of innocence regained. That is not the subject of the text. The text speaks of the restitution of things to take place when Jesus returns from Heaven, where he now is; and if we do not obtain pardon before that event, no restoration is promised us. Holiness is not then to be conferred; for it is said, “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 every man according as his work shall be.” Rev. xxii, 11, 12.
Thus the doctrine of a future “universal restoration” of all men to a state of holiness, falls to the ground. It is not only not included among the “things which God has spoken” by his prophets, but prophecy positively informs us that no such change will take place after the advent; that as men are morally when the advent is at hand, so they must remain by the unchanging decree of the Omnipotent; and that Christ comes to give rewards according to men’s works. The day of their labor is past, and the time is come for each to receive reward for what he has done.
What then is the future restitution which God has promised? It is a restitution from the effects of the curse; and the justified alone have the promise of sharing in its blessings.
In respect to man, the curse brought upon him wearisome labor, sorrow, pain and death. It resulted in the loss of all things, even life itself. The restitution which God has promised will restore him to life—a life free from pain and sorrow. It will give him back all that was lost through sin, as its penalty or punishment. But, as we said, he must, before the restitution, be made free from sin itself, through the efficacy of the redemption by Jesus Christ, or he has no promise of the restitution.
In respect to the earth, its beauty was marred, its fertility decreased, barrenness in some places, and thorns and briars in others, have taken the place of its rich and luxuriant productions, and the garden of God and the tree of life have been removed from it. The restitution will bring back all these things, so that man, redeemed, will again be brought into possession of all that he lost.
I need not refer to the particular passages of Scripture which promise these things. Suffice it to say, all these passages which promise the resurrection of the righteous, the beauty, fertility and loveliness of the renovated earth, when the “desert shall rejoice and31blossom as the rose,” and the paradise of God on the earth with the river and tree of life, constitute what God hath spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began.
We learn from the text that the times of restitution commence when Jesus leaves the Heaven; for he is received or retained there until these times come.
When the Lord Jesus himself descends from Heaven to earth, the dead in Christ shall rise. The “first resurrection” will restore man to life and joy forever. The restitution having commenced by the resurrection of the “blessed and holy,” they will reign with Christ a thousand years. Then will be fulfilled the promise of Christ to the twelve apostles: “Ye, which have followed me, in the regeneration (at the renovation, Campbell,) when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Matt. xix, 28. Says the Revelation, “I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them; . . . and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” Chap. xx, 4.
When will the earth be restored? Not before the burning day—the day in which its elements shall melt with fervent heat. This will not take place till the wicked are raised from the dead to receive their punishment in the lake of fire; for the earth is “reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” 2 Pet. iii, 7. The wicked are not raised and punished till a thousand years after the resurrection of the saints. “The rest of the dead lived not again till the thousand years were finished.” Rev. xx, 6.
Thus the earth, groaning under the curse, is broken down and desolated of its wicked inhabitants at the end of six thousand years, and, at the end of the seventh thousand, it passes through the fire which devours the wicked. Then comes the closing work of the restitution. The new heavens and earth appear, the city of God, the New Jerusalem, comes down to earth, the fountain and tree of life are there, and then it is said, “There shall be no more curse.” The restitution is completed. Not only has man been redeemed from death, but the earth also, his inheritance, is redeemed from the sad effects of the curse, and its possession restored to man—to all the family of the second Adam, “and they shall reign forever and ever.”
Welcome, then, thrice welcome, the times of the glorious restitution! when our glorious Redeemer shall leave his place in Heaven, where he now pleads before the throne of mercy, and enter upon the work foretold by all the holy prophets. The time is near. Who will share in the restitution? Hasten to prepare.
R. F. COTTERELL.
THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST.
By Editor
A CORRESPONDENT asks: “Has the two-horned beast a number?” We think not. The prophecy, Rev. xiii, certainly says nothing about any. The first, or ten-horned beast has a number, 666. The image which is made to that beast, may have one, to make the likeness more complete; but we have no reason for supposing that the two-horned beast has any.
Another correspondent asks: “Why is it said that the image is made to the first beast, instead of its being said, simply, that an image was made of that beast?” We understand that the image is formed as an act of special hostility to the truth and the people of God; and in this work we are to suppose that Protestants and Papists will act in harmony. We suggest that it may be through some concession to Roman Catholic influence that the image is made, and hence is said to be made to the beast.
We have an interesting article concerning the very significant plans and purposes of the Catholics in this country, as drawn from the proceedings of the late Council in Baltimore, for which we shall endeavor to make room next week.
THE STARS SHALL FALL FROM HEAVEN.
The star shower expected in this country on the 13th and 14th of November last, it appears was witnessed to some extent on the Eastern Continent. A condensed account will be found in another column. We are well aware that the skeptic will say that these showers are shown to occur at regular intervals, hence are the product of some natural law, and cannot therefore constitute a sign of the near coming of the Son of man. But we ask how it happens that all the principal exhibitions of this kind, even though they do occur at regular intervals, have taken place within less than a hundred years of the present time; none of any importance having occurred previous to the year 1799.
The Saviour announced that the stars should fall from heaven as a precursor of his second coming. He did not say that the sign should be confined to one exhibition of the falling meteors; and though there should be a score of such, if they take place this side of the specified time at which they were to appear as a sign, they must all be taken as omens and heralds of the great day.
It may be remarked further, that the great display of 1833, was confined chiefly to this country; while the present one was visible on the Eastern Continent. Before the wondering gaze of the principal portion of both hemispheres, this sign has now been fulfilled.
MONTHLY MEETING AT NORRIDGEWOCK, ME.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
This meeting was held Dec. 8, 9, 1866. It came in a very bad time, the roads being very muddy and the nights dark. It also rained some; yet there were some in from other places, though but few. We felt somewhat disappointed, but hoped for the best. Bro. Stratton and Blaisdell were somewhat unwell, and I was quite worn down. Sabbath evening, about sixty assembled, and we had a pleasant and free social meeting. In the morning we had a better one, as we began to get into the work more. Two discourses were preached to-day, with profit, we think. In the evening, about one hundred and twenty-five came together to have a prayer and social meeting. Bro. Stratton gave us some good advice about being short in our prayers and exhortations. The strong brethren and sisters generally forget this, and consume the time with their long prayers and exhortations. Thus the lambs, the weak ones, are shut out, and no good is done. This is wrong. A long prayer or exhortation has got to be very spirited not to injure a meeting. By a long one we mean anything over two or three minutes. Well, we engaged in prayer, and what a blessed season it was! Twenty-three prayers were offered up to God in twenty-five minutes. The Spirit ran from heart to heart; no time was lost; the weak ones gained strength to open their mouths, and God filled them with praise. Many, who a short time since thought that they could not even rise on their feet in a private meeting, we here heard praying to God. Thank God for this move among the weak ones.
Our social meeting was a social one indeed, an old fashioned love-feast. Our hearts ran together as the heart of one man. Union, free, heavenly union, was there. How lovely the faces of these dear brethren and sisters looked to me. No moments were lost here. Frequently Bro. S. would have to say, “Hold on brother, Stop sister, till this one speaks.” The testimonies seemed to come warm from the heart. Christ soon to come, immortality about to be put on, the city almost in sight—oh, what cheering hopes!
Some of the old veterans of ’44 were here. Bro. and Sr. Howland, of Topsham, were present and cheered us younger ones with their encouraging words. Bro. H. said he had been on this road above twenty years, and had no evil report to bring. As he told us some of his experience, how God had led them over the road, had worked for them in mighty power, and how his heart was now cheered to see the work rising in Maine, how strong his faith was that we should soon enter the city, meet the redeemed ones, and rest from our toils,—as he thus spoke, his heart was filled with praise to God, and we all wept for joy and felt that we too would be encouraged to go forward. God bless these venerable pilgrims and keep them till Jesus comes! Bro. and Sr. Barnes also bore a good testimony concerning this way. This meeting, they said, began to seem like ’43 and ’44. Near the close of the meeting, a burden for the unconverted came upon us. We felt that God was moving upon some to give their hearts to Christ. Strong appeals accompanied by the Spirit were made to them. One arose, then another, and another, till five started from the city of destruction for the kingdom of God. Companions started, fathers started, mothers and children started. Then there was weeping and praising God from many hearts full of gratitude.
Thus closed one of the best social meetings we ever had in Norridgewock. Our brethren and sisters here are learning how to work for God and enjoy religion. Our old soldiers from other places coming in and taking hold with us has helped them greatly.
Notwithstanding the bad weather, we had a full house on Sunday. The interest here is still good, and the work is going forward. God has crowned each of our Monthly Meetings with his rich blessing. Each has been better than the preceding one. It is wonderful to us what a great work has been done in this section within two months. Perfect unity and harmony now prevail among the whole body of Sabbath-keepers. As soon as we took this position God added his blessing, as much as to say, “That is right.”
We design to follow up this work as fast as possible. I think that the cause will have some faithful laborers here in Maine, when each one gets in the place where God can use him.
I stay two weeks at N. to set things in order. Let none forget the next Monthly Meeting.