Earlier text: The Identity of the WorkTHE SANCTUARY.
By O. R. L. Crozier
[This is a very interesting and important subject. And we hope that it will be fully brought out by some one soon, and presented to the readers of the REVIEW AND HERALD. We give the following from the pen of O. R. L. Crozier, written in 1846.] The Sanctuary was the heart of the typical system. There the Lord placed his name, manifested his glory; and held converse with the high priest relative to the welfare of Israel. While we inquire from the scriptures what the Sanctuary is, let all educational prejudice be dismissed from the mind. For the Bible clearly defines what the Sanctuary is, and answers every reasonable question you may ask concerning it. The name, Sanctuary, is applied to several different things in the Old Testament; neither did the Wonderful Numberer, tell Daniel what Sanctuary was to be cleansed at the end of the 2,300 days, but called it THE SANCTUARY, as though Daniel well understood it, and that he did is evident from the fact that he did not ask what it was. But as it has now become a matter of dispute as to what the Sanctuary is, our only safety lies in seeking from the New Testament, the divine comment upon it. Its decision should place the matter beyond all controversy with Christians. Paul freely discusses this subject in his Epistle to the Hebrews, to whom the typical covenant pertained. "Then verily the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and a worldly Sanctuary, for there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the tables and the shew-bread, which is called [Hagia] Holy. And after the second vail, the tabernacle which is called the [Hagia Hagion] Holy of Holies, which had the golden censer, and the Ark of the covenant, overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; and over it the cherubims of glory overshadowing the Mercy-seat; of which we cannot now speak particularly." Heb. ix, 1–5. A particular description is found in the last four books of the Pentateuch. "Sanctuary" was the first name the Lord gave it, [Ex. xxv, 8.] which name covers not only the tabernacle, with its two apartments, but also the court and all the vessels of the ministry. This, Paul calls the Sanctuary of the first covenant, "which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices." Verse 9. "But Christ being come an High Priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands." Verse 11. The priests entered the "figures" or "patterns of the true," which "are the heavenly places themselves," into which Christ entered when he entered "heaven itself."—Verses 23, 24. When he ascended, to the right hand of the Father, "in the heavens," he became "A Minister of the Sanctuary [or Hagion Holies] and of the True Tabernacle, which the Lord pitched and not man." Chap. viii, 1, 2. That is the Sanctuary of the "better [the new] covenant." Verse 6. The Sanctuary to be cleansed at the end of the 2,300 days, is also the Sanctuary of the new covenant, for the vision of the treading down and cleansing is after the crucifixion. We see that the Sanctuary of the new covenant is not on earth, but in heaven. The True Tabernacle which forms a part of the new covenant Sanctuary, was made and pitched by the Lord, in contradistinction to that of the first covenant which was made and pitched by man, in obedience to the command of God. Ex. xxv, 8. Now what does the same Apostle say the Lord has pitched? "A city which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God." Heb. xi, 10. What is its name? "The heavenly Jerusalem." Chap. xii, 22; Rev. xxi. "A building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." 2 Cor. v, 1. "My Father's house of many mansions." John xiv, 2. When our Saviour was at Jerusalem, and had pronounced its house desolate, the disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple. Then he said: "There shall not be left here one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down." Matt. xxiv, 1, 2. That temple was their Sanctuary. 1 Chron. xxii, 17–19; xxviii, 9–13. 2 Chron. xxix, 5, 21; xxxvi, 14, 17. Such an announcement would lead to fill them with sadness and fear, as foretelling the derangement, if not the total prostration of their entire religious system. But to comfort and teach them, he says, "In my Father's house are MANY MANSIONS." John xiv, 1–3. Standing as he was, on the dividing line between the typical covenant and the anti-typical, and having just declared the house of the former no longer valid, and foretold its destruction, how natural that he should point his disciples to the Sanctuary of the latter, about which their affections and interests were to cluster as they had about that of the former. The Sanctuary of the new covenant is connected with New Jerusalem, like the Sanctuary of the first covenant with Old Jerusalem. As that was the place where the priests of that covenant ministered, so this is in heaven, the place where the Priest of the new covenant ministers. To these places, and these only, the New Testament applies the name "Sanctuary," and it does appear that this should for ever set the question at rest. But as we have been so long and industriously taught to look to the earth for the Sanctuary, it may be proper to inquire, by what scriptural authority have we been thus taught? I can find none. If others can, let them produce it. Let it be remembered that the definition of Sanctuary is "a holy or sacred place." Is the earth, is Palestine such a place? Their entire contents answer, No! Was Daniel so taught? Look at his vision. Daniel prayed, "Cause thy face to shine upon thy Sanctuary which is desolate." Chap. ix, 17. This was the typical Sanctuary built by Solomon. "Thou hast commanded me to build a temple upon thy Holy Mount, and an altar in the City wherein thou dwellest, a resemblance of thy Holy Tabernacle, which thou hast prepared from the beginning." Wis. Sol. ix, 8. 1 Chron. xxviii, 10–13. It had shared in the seventy years desolations of Jerusalem. Dan. ix, 2; 2 Chron. xxxvi, 14–21. It was rebuilt after the captivity. Neh. x, 39. Moses received the patterns of the Sanctuary, built at Sinai when he was with the Lord forty days in the cloud on the Mount; and David received the patterns of that built by Solomon, which superseded Moses, with its chambers, porches, courts, the courses of the priests and Levites, and all the vessels of service, &c., "by the Spirit." 1 Chron. xxviii, 10–13. It is manifest that both Moses and David had prophetic visions of the New Jerusalem with its Sanctuary, and Christ, the officiating Priest. When that built by Moses was superseded by Solomon's, the Ark was borne from the former to the latter. 2 Chron. v, 2–8. The Sanctuary comprehended not only the Tabernacle, but also all the vessels of the ministry, enclosed by the court in which the Tabernacle stood. Num. iii, 29–31; x, 17, 21. So the court in which the Temple stood was properly called the Sanctuary.—prideaux. We learn the same from 2 Chron. xxix, 18, 21. "We have cleansed all the house of the Lord, and the altar of burnt offering, with all the vessels thereof, and the shew-bread table with all the vessels thereof." The altar of burnt-offering with its vessels stood before the Temple in the inner court, the whole of which are in verse 21 called the Sanctuary. Well, says one, is not Palestine called the Sanctuary? I think not. Ex. xv, 17. "Thou shalt bring them in and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O Lord, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in; in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established." What is it which the Lord "has made to dwell in," which his "hands have established?" Paul says it is "a City," [Heb. xi, 10.] a "Tabernacle," [Chap. viii, 2.] a building in the heavens. 2 Cor. v, 1. And the Lord has chosen Mount Zion in Palestine for the place of its final location. Ps. cxxxii, 13, 14. "For the Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest for ever; here will I dwell; for I have desired it." He brought them to the border of the Sanctuary, even to this mountain," [Ps. lxxviii, 54.] which was his chosen border or place; but not the Sanctuary itself, any more than Mount Moriah, on which the Temple was built, was the Temple itself. Did they regard that land as the Sanctuary? If they did not, we should not. A view of the texts in which the word occurs will show. "Let them make me a Sanctuary." Ex. xxv, 9. "The shekel of the Sanctuary," [Ex. xxx, 13.] and above twenty others like it. "Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise-hearted man, in whom the Lord put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the Sanctuary." "Before the vail of the Sanctuary." Lev. iv, 6. "Carry your brethren from before the Sanctuary." Lev. x, 4. "Nor come into the Sanctuary." Lev. xii, 4. "He shall make atonement for the holy Sanctuary." Lev. xvi, 33. "Reverence my Sanctuary." Lev. xi, 30; xxvi, 2. "Nor profane the Sanctuary of his God." Lev. xxi, 12.—"Vessels of the Sanctuary." Num. iii, 31. "Charge of the Sanctuary." Num. iii, 32, 38. "They minister in the Sanctuary." Chap. iv, 12. "In the Sanctuary and the vessels thereof." Verse 16. "And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the Sanctuary and all the vessels of the Sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it." Chap. iv, 15; vii, 9; x, 21. "That there be no plague among the children of Israel when the children of Israel come nigh unto the Sanctuary." Chap. viii, 19. "Thou and thy sons and thy Father's house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the Sanctuary." Chap. xviii, 1. "He hath defiled the Sanctuary of his God." Chap. xix, 20. Joshua "took a great stone and set it up there under an oak that was by the Sanctuary of the Lord." Jos. xxiv, 26. "All the instruments of the Sanctuary." 1 Chron. ix, 29. "Build ye the Sanctuary." Chap. xxii, 19. "Governors of the Sanctuary." Chap. xxiv, 5. "The Lord hath chosen thee to build an house for the Sanctuary." Chap. xxviii, 10; 2 Chron. xx, 8. "Go out of the Sanctuary." Chap. xxvi, 18;69xxix, 21; xxx, 8. "Purification of the Sanctuary." Chap. xxx, 19; xxxvi, 17. I have given nearly every text, and I believe every different form of expression in which the word occurs till we come to the Psalms; so that every one can see what they understood the Sanctuary to be. And of the fifty texts quoted, not one applies it to the land of Palestine, nor any land. That Sanctuary, though enclosed with curtains, was called "the house of the Lord," [Judg. xviii, 31; 1 Sam. i, 9—24,] and was pitched at the city of Shiloh at the time of dividing the land; [xviii, 1, 10;] hence, it was called the "Tabernacle of Shiloh." [Safety and happiness.] Ps. lxxviii, 60. The Lord forsook it when the Philistines took the Ark [1 Sam. iv, 2—11] and delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemies' hand. Verse 21. It was brought back to Kirjath-jearim, [1 Sam. vii, 1, 2] thence to the house of Obededom, thence to the City of David which is Zion. [2 Sam. vi, 1—19; v, 9,] and thence, at the direction of Solomon, the Ark was conveyed into the Holy of Holies of the temple, [1 Kings viii, 1—6,] which was built in Mount Moriah near Mount Zion, 2 Chron. iii, 1. The Lord has chosen Zion to dwell in at rest for ever; [Ps. cxxxii, 13, 14;] but as yet he had dwelt there but a short time, and then in curtains made with hands; but when he shall appear in his glory he will have "mercy on Zion" and build it up; then Jerusalem, upon it, shall be "a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down." Ps. cii; xxxiii, 20.— And then "the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem." Verses 18, 19. The Song of Moses [Ex. xv] is evidently prophetic, and contemplates the happy scenes of the Eden Zion. And so Ezekiel has it. The Lord will bring the whole house of Israel up out of their graves into the land of Israel; and then set his Sanctuary and tabernacle in the midst of them for evermore. The Sanctuary is not "the land of Israel" nor the people; for it is set in their midst, and is built and forms a part of the City whose name is, "The Lord is there." Milan, O., Conference.
By Joseph Bates
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—This Meeting was one of deep interest to the few scattered Sabbath-keepers in Milan, and vicinity. Opponents had been doing much to break down and overthrow their faith. Brn. Sweet and Smith, made ample arrangement for the Meeting, to benefit all that came. The presentation of our present position, connected with the past movements in Second Advent history elicited an interest to hear, which continued to the close of the third day. The brethren were much strengthened, and settled in the "present truth." Some who had become indifferent, were aroused, while others who came to hear our present position for the first time, were much disturbed. A little company of us enjoyed a refreshing season around the table of the blessed Lord. Stumbling blocks were removed, and the tempted and tried ones were set free. All praise be to God. The following day, in answer to prayer for the afflicted, God displayed his mighty power as I never before witnessed, in Charles, the son of Bro. and Sr. Sweet. This child had been "bound" and afflicted for the last eleven years, with cramp-convulsion, epileptic fits, ever since he was two years of age. Although he tried hard to keep the Sabbath with the family, it had required continual watchfulness and care to keep him in a quiet state for any length of time. He was anointed, and prayed for, in accordance with the scripture rule. James v, 13—16; Mark xvi, 18, last clause. He began immediately to weep aloud. After he was set upon his feet, he soon began to praise the Lord for what he felt, and soon his face shone with joy and gladness. He turned his face upward, and began to move to and fro through the room, crying with a loud voice, I'll praise the Lord with all my might, and with all my mind, and with all my soul. O my God! I never felt to praise thee as I now do.— I feel it in every part of me. What do you feel? we enquired. God's Holy Spirit, he replied, and continued, I never felt to praise the Lord as I now do. Then stretching his hands toward heaven, he cried more mightily, I feel as though I could go right up to heaven, O, Lord we thank thee, we praise thy holy name, O, Bro. Smith, praise the Lord, O, Father, praise the Lord, Praise the Lord Bro. Bates. He then called on his mother, and said, I never felt so in all my life, O, my God, I never felt thy Holy Spirit so before, What shall we do when the latter rain is poured out? Are you not tired my son? No, mother, said he, don't ask me if I am tired praising the Lord, it only rests me. I can't stand a moment without praising him. And he continued, O, Lord how love I thy law. What sweetness comes from thy Holy Spirit, What will it be in the New Earth, where we shall have harps of gold and crowns of glory, O, what will it be in the New City. How I long to be there, O, holy Father we shall never die there. He was asked just to look into the glass and see his face. He looked, and then raised his voice with a shout, O, praise the Lord, I am healed. He took the Youth's Instructor, and fixed his eyes for one moment on the tree, and read, "Love God," and cried out, that I shall do, His Holy Spirit is as sweet as honey and sweeter too. I want to give all my breath in praising his name. He got hold of his Father again, and cried, O father praise the Lord, I cannot praise him enough. Don't let one moment pass without praising him. Thus the child continued, without a moment's cessation, for nearly three hours to shout and praise the Most High God. His father and mother, older brother and sister alternately embracing him, and bathing him with tears of joy. His oft repeated reply to us all was, praise the Lord, without scarcely turning his straining eyes from looking up towards heaven. His mother said that under any other circumstances he could not have withstood this exercise ten minutes without having fits. The next day, when I was parting with the family, he put his arms around me, and said, O, I will serve the Lord. I thought surely the Lord knows how to heal, and give his Holy Spirit to his law-loving children, and show them, as he did Malachi, how he can turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to the fathers. JOSEPH BATES.
Cleveland, O., Aug. 26th, 1852. L E T T E R S .
By Joseph Bates
Dear Bro. White: The Conference at Alden, Ill., commenced July 30th, and closed Aug. 1st. After some things were "set in order that had been left undone," the word of truth in the message took effect to bind up, heal, and quicken God's law-loving people, to live in strict obedience to his commandments.— Prayer was answered for the sick. God blessed his waiting people. Elder O. P. Hull, a minister of the seventh-day baptist denomination, attended the last day. He also attended the Albion, Wis., Conference a fortnight previous. He frankly acknowledged that there was a power attending the message which we presented, that waked up, and brought out people to keep the Sabbath, which their preaching could not do. Said he, "I have no difficulty in convincing men that will hear me, that the seventh day is the Sabbath, but all motives to move them to obedience in keeping it, is unavailing." Said he, I have listened to you with deep interest. I understand your views much clearer now than when I first listened to them in Albion. He wished to have the paper sent to his address, that he might examine the subject more thoroughly, and have the whole truth. Brn. Case, Waggoner, Phelps and Perry, were present, and took a part in the meeting, at the close of which all moved their various ways again into the wide field to hunt up the scattered sheep of the house of Israel. At South Bend, Ind., I joined Bro. Dodge, of Jackson, again, and we visited many places in the north part of the State. We found some violent opposers to the third angel's message, and some that were famishing for the present truth. These gladly received the message, and begged of us to come again. We pray God to preserve them from devouring wolves. The Fourth Commandment and Faith
By Joseph S. Rogers
DEAR BRO. WHITE : I rejoice that there are some who are willing to embrace the truth in keeping the fourth commandment. In reading your argument upon the message of the third angel in reference to the keeping of the commandments, I was much gratified, for in this message the angel proclaims the blessing to those keeping the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. In looking at the majority of professed Christians, I see they do not regard the Sabbath of the Bible.— And yet we hear them say that they serve God with the whole heart. But we are taught by the Apostle, that he who offends in one point is guilty of all; that is, he is under condemnation, and can no longer be considered as being made free from all sin. And some tell us they live by faith; but the Apostle says, that faith without works is dead, and calls on them to give evidence of their faith. And he further says, that this is the love of God that we keep his commandments, not a part but the whole. If we were to tell them that that law which forbids men to kill was done away, would they not say that we were deceiving ourselves? So we say that they who are living in known neglect of God's commands do not obey him. The Sabbath being made for man, God has seen fit to embody it in the moral law. And Jesus tells us, "Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."— Heaven and earth has not yet passed away, so that the law that requires men to remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy is still obligatory upon all men, and through obedience to the commands of God, and faith in Christ, we are to be prepared for his second coming. JOSEPH S. ROGERS.
Preston, N. Y., Aug. 26th, 1852. Jackson, Mich., Conference
By Joseph Bates
This was a meeting of deep interest to God's dear children in Jackson, and to those that came from the region round about. To know and do the will of God, seemed to be the prevailing sentiment throughout the meeting. The brethren that came in from thirty to seventy-five miles were principally those that had embraced the present truth since the Jackson Conference in June last. Their testimonies were clear, and pointing to the great message they had recently embraced in keeping the seventh-day Sabbath, in addition to all the other commandments in the decalogue. Some of them said they had not been in such a meeting for many years. Their testimonies were accompanied with tears and in some instances sobbing aloud, praying God to forgive them for being so prejudiced against the keeping of the Sabbath of the Lord, and against the brethren in Jackson. They were fully satisfied now that God was with them, and had been, and said that they was now with them with all their hearts. God was truly searching the hearts of his people. Brn. Lyon, from Plymouth, M. E. Cornell, J. P. Kellogg, of Tyrone, B. B. Brigham, of North Plains, D. Hewett, of Battle Creek, and several others were at the meeting. All but the first named one are professed public teachers, and feel the burden of the third angel's message. The three last named, with others, were baptized. The Meeting closed with a heavenly season around the communion table, in commemoration of the sufferings and death of our blessed, coming Lord. The Great Physician answered prayer, and healed his people from sudden sickness that seized them.— To God be all the glory. Amen. Milan, O., Aug. 19th, 1852. The Law and Second Corinthians Three
By E. R. Seaman
It would seem that the Harbinger continues to consider the law of God done away, and offers to his readers for strong proof, his ingenious mechanism of 2 Cor. iii. Although this subject has been noticed before, in an able manner, yet it may not be entirely unimportant to call attention to it again.—Please notice the following, from the article as published in that paper. “But if the ministration of death, WRITTEN and ENGRAVEN on STONES was to be DONE AWAY is ABOLISHED * is DONE AWAY. What can be plainer than this?” I wish to call attention to the magic influence in the application of these nine stars which seem to be fixed by continuous repetition, and joining parts of sentences, to do away the commandments of God.—If this mode of explanation can be pursued with impunity, I know not what doctrine, however absurd, that may not be sustained with equal propriety. Usually when stars are introduced to fill a blank in a sentence, it means that the part omitted is of no importance, and the impression is left on the mind of the reader, of a fair connection of the same subject. It will be perceived in the article referred to above, that after having quoted a part of verse 7, the first three stars are made to fill the place of twenty-four words, then are joined to a part of the last sentence. Next, the second set supply the place of one-hundred three words, uniting a garbled extract in verse 13.—The last three take the place of twenty-four words more, making the sum total, one-hundred fifty-one, words written by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and left out as of no importance. All we have for these are the nine fixed stars of the Harbinger. In summing up the verdict, this we are informed is “plain Bible testimony,” or to use the language of the Harbinger, “What can be plainer than this?” The course pursued by those who make void God’s holy law, is here plainly illustrated. St. Paul is made to utter language to no profit, and the grammatical use of the king’s English most cruelly tortured. By reading the chapter, the candid reader can see that the Apostle is contrasting the two ministrations. He shows plainly that the glory which attended Moses’ ministration was far inferior to that which now enshrouds our High Priest, and the ministration of the Spirit in the Heavenly Sanctuary before the Ark of God; and although the glory which attended Moses in his ministration has passed, the law of God, which was written by his finger, even the ten commandments remain. But no longer entrusted to man’s keeping, they are in the Temple of the Tabernacle of his Testimony, in the proper place, in the Ark of his Testament. Rev. xi, 19. Hence, we hear Paul teaching the Hebrews that we have a minister of the Sanctuary, of the True Tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man. And while I believe that the glory that attended Moses’ ministration has passed, I believe, also, that the ministration of the Spirit of the living God, which writes this holy law in our hearts, comes from the Sanctuary above, and is attended with a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, now enshrouding our High Priest. This ministration remains. And as the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the glory of Moses’ countenance, so we say with emphasis, none will be able to behold the glory of Jesus’ countenance unless they keep the commandments of God, and have the faith of Jesus. Such only will receive glorified bodies that can stand the brightness of that scene. They must, also, have the victory over the beast, (Catholicism,) and his image, and his mark, and the number of his name if they would be caught up on the sea of glass, and sing the song of Moses, which is the song of deliverance. But those who break God’s commandments, and teach men so, will he destroy. He will say, “bring hither those mine enemies, that would not that I should reign over them, and slay them before me.” We cannot serve God and keep the Pope’s sabbath. The glorious appearance of one angel at the sepulchre made the Roman guard fall like dead men. Much more will consternation seize the commandment-breakers, when they get a glimpse of that transcendent glory which will be witnessed at the revelation of Jesus Christ. It will cause them to call for rocks and mountains to fall on them, and hide them from the face of Him that sitteth upon the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. Then I desire to have all my sins blotted out, that I may abide under the shadow of his pavilion before the great day of his wrath shall come. Soon the solemn notes, “the harvest is passed, the summer is ended,” “he that is filthy let him be filthy still, and he that is holy let him be holy still” will be heard. Then it will be too late to seek the Lord. “Blessed are they that do his commandments;” for they shall have right to the tree of life, and enter in through the gates into the City, and be permitted to gaze on the unveiled glory of King Jesus for ever.—My soul is striving to be there. E. R. SEAMAN.
Rochester, N. Y., Sept. 1st, 1852. The Sabbath Gains Adherents
By E. S. Sheffield
DEAR BRO. WHITE: Though a stranger personally, yet I feel that I can address you as a brother in the Lord; for I believe you are doing the Lord’s work in publishing his truth to the world. Receive my thanks for the paper you have so kindly sent me.—I find it contains many precious truths, especially in regard to the Sabbath. The articles of O. R. L. Crozier reviewed by Bro. J. N. Andrews, have had a good effect here. Those who keep the Sabbath have read them with pleasure and consolation, as they have seen the Sabbath of the Lord our God maintained and upheld by such abundant scripture testimony, yea, more than double what we thought could be produced in its favor. At the commencement of last March there were none in this place that kept the seventh-day Sabbath, excepting two families of seventh-day Baptists. Now there are ten families besides these, that rest the Sabbath-day according to the commandment, the most of which are interested in the third angel’s message. Sabbath arguments had been presented here before, but they did not arouse my attention so but that I could slumber over the subject until Bro. Phelps came here to preach, the first of March last. I went to hear him to gratify my curiosity, and with the intent to ridicule his position. When he presented the bible testimony relative to the Sabbath, it was too plain to make a subject of ridicule. After once hearing, I was anxious to hear again on the whole subject; and after hearing the second time, I could no longer reject these truths without feeling condemned. I resolved then and there, that from thence forward I would keep the Sabbath of the Lord. I thank and praise the Lord that I could feel to say, I will not fear what man can say or do unto me, but will rather fear Him that can destroy both soul and body in hell. I fully believe the time is at hand, when the dragon will be wroth with the woman, and will make war with the remnant of her seed, who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ; and that the patience of the saints will soon be tried to the utmost, when they will be ordered on pain of death to worship the beast or his image, and receive his mark. But I do not feel discouraged. I know that my Redeemer liveth. Yours in hope that when He shall appear, we shall be like him,
E. S. SHEFFIELD.
Fort Atkinson, Wis., Aug. 14th, 1852. Hold Fast Your Confidence
By Electa Richmond
DEAR BRO. WHITE: We read your paper with much pleasure, and feel to praise the Lord for his goodness, and tender mercy to the children of men. I would say to the dear brethren and sisters scattered abroad, especially those who went forth to meet the Bridegroom, and have since borne the reproach that our hope has brought upon us, let us hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end, that no one take our crown. Let none be discouraged, for we soon shall reap, if we faint not. I feel to praise the Lord that so many are turning their feet from the Sabbath, and repairing the breach in God's holy law, that they may be prepared to stand in the battle of the Lord. And while they are coming in at the eleventh hour, and receiving their penny, let us not murmur because we have borne the heat and burden of the day, but rejoice that we are counted worthy to suffer for Christ's sake. I believe the Lord has been leading us out from71the churches, and trying us, to see if we would keep his commandments, or no. And while we were scattered, and felt the need of something to unite us, he has given us the third angel's message, which is bringing the people of God into the unity of the faith and Spirit. O, may we be very humble, and seek meekness, it may be we may be hid in the day of the Lord's anger. I mean to strive to be more like our blessed Master, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has got the victory over death and the grave. I would be more consecrated to God and sink deeper into his will. What manner of persons ought we to be, in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the day of God. When I see the wicked doing wickedly, and many departing from the faith, and going back, I often feel to say,
"Why was I made to hear Thy voice,
And enter while there's room;
While others make a wretched choice,
And rather starve than come." I thank and praise the name of the Lord, for that blessed hope of soon entering the Holy City, "where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest." Though we pass through many severe trials on our way, let us say with Paul, "that none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto me." Let us leave the things that are behind, and press forward to the kingdom. In hope of soon seeing Jesus,
ELECTA RICHMOND.
Ashfield, Mass., Aug. 18th, 1852. JOHN HAMILTON
By John Hamilton
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS:—If the Lord be for us who can be against us? We do have the evidence here that the Lord is with us; for he sent his servants in the first place, and his blessing, I trust, rested upon their labors. And so from time to time since, when their help is most needed, he has sent them, and his blessing has followed. O, how good the Lord is. Blessed be his name for sending Brn. Edson and Andrews to visit us at this time; for their coming was like the coming of Titus. They comforted us although under afflictive circumstances on account of sickness in our family. And though our meetings were rather thinly attended yet the Lord was present by his Spirit, and we had the demonstration that the “law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul.” First-day afternoon, while Bro. Andrews held forth from the Word the righteous law of God, that knows no mercy, showing that he that offends in one point is guilty of its transgression; and showing that redemption was only found in Jesus’ blood, and that he is now in the Holiest of Holies pleading it before the Father for all who will repent and forsake their sins by keeping the commandments of God, one was reclaimed and one I hope converted to the truth. Bless the name of the Lord. O, may we all feel to say from the heart, “the law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.” Ps. cxix, 72. Fredonia, N. Y., Aug. 16th, 1852. The Immutability of God’s Law
By J. K. Bellows
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—There has been no position in all my Christian experience for more than twenty years, in which I have taken so much comfort as in keeping the seventh-day Sabbath. It imparts joy and peace, and we feel the blessing of God resting upon us continually. It is strange to me that men can be so short-sighted as to argue that the Sabbath has been changed, and yet no change of the commandment; for it is certain that if our Lord had changed the Sabbath, he would have said something about the change of the commandment. But it remains the same. The law of God is as immutable as himself. His ten commandments ever have been, still are, and always will be binding upon all his children. Each dispensation has had certain laws by which God’s people have been governed, and all that kept the commandments of God, and obeyed the precepts peculiar to the dispensation in which they lived, have been accepted of him. Each of the seven dispensations have had laws peculiar to themselves, and when the dispensation passed, the law passed away with it. Hence, when the Mosaic dispensation passed, the Mosaic law, or the ceremonial law, or law of carnal commandments contained in ordinances, also, passed away; but the ten commandments are still the same. Now we are under the Gospel, and there are precepts to be observed, called in the third angel’s message the faith of Jesus, which are as binding upon us as the commandments of God. Let us then not only keep the commandments of God, but the faith of Jesus. And as the fourth commandment has been, and is still trodden down, and thus caused a breach or gap, let us stand in the gap and make up the breach by keeping the Sabbath according to the commandment. My prayer is, that God may give us grace and wisdom to do our duty in his fear. Yours in the patient waiting of the saints,
J. K. BELLOWS.
New York City, Aug. 22d, 1852. Defending the Sabbath Truth
By William B. Maxson
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—Through the friendly offices of BRO. F. F. Denison, I have for some time received the Review and Herald, by which I have been both pleased and edified. It is very gratifying to one who loves truth for the truth's sake, to know that God is raising up those who will fearlessly speak for him in the defense of his holy law; and especially of his long neglected Sabbath. I have long been somewhat familiar with the Sabbath controversy, and with the varied and constantly changing sophistry employed by the opposers of the Sabbath of the Bible. And how powerless is their opposition when brought in conflict with the smooth stones taken from the streams of the river which make glad the City of God. I regard Bro. Andrews' defense of the Sabbath, in his Articles published in the Review and Herald a manly and Christian work, and entitles him to the love and esteem of all the friends of God, and his truth. It is indeed pleasing to see that the weapons used in the defense of this item of Christian morality, are the same by whomsoever used, and we rejoice that they are such as God has himself prepared and furnished in his Word.—They may be despised by the world, and a worldly church, because they are neither moulded nor tempered by worldly art, but they have been, they are, and they ever will be "mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds." We should not be disheartened because of the enemies of God's truth. A corrupt and sinning world, a worldly church, and worldly-minded teachers of religion are what they always have been. They have always been leagued together in opposition to a pure exposition of God's law. And they cannot sustain the interest and spirit of the world so effectually by pursuing a different course. And by this course they bear unwilling testimony that we are living in the last time. We ought to know that there will come in the last days scoffers at God's truth, men who will not endure sound doctrine, who will turn away their ears from hearing the truth and shall be turned unto fables. May Sabbath-keepers, especially the defenders of God's law, have an unction from the Holy One, and know all things needful for their work. I am pleased to see that the interests of the children are looked after by our Advent brethren. The little work issued from your press, entitled, The Youth's Instructor, the first Number of which I have received, I think well calculated for usefulness as a juvenile periodical, in directing the youthful mind in the path of virtue and religion. It ought to obtain an extensive patronage. Your unworthy brother in Christ, WM. B. MAXSON. Leonardsville, N. Y., Aug. 20th, 1852.