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Review and Herald, Vol. 22, No. 15.

Spiritualism

Review and Herald

Sep 8, 1863

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · Sep 8, 1863

Spiritualism.

By G. W. A.

HOW RECOGNISED IN THE BIBLE.

Gen. iii, 4. "And the serpent said unto the woman, ye shall not surely die." Here is the first spirit communication ever received. The medium was a serpent.
1 John iv, 1. "Try the spirits whether they are of God." An appropriate command in the early days of Christianity, but much more so now.
1 Chron. x, 13. Cause of king Saul's untimely end, "So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the Lord, even against the word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of it.
Matt. iv, 24. One of Christ's first works was to cure those possessed of evil spirits. "And his fame went through all Syria; and they brought unto him all sick people, that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and he healed them all."
2 Tim. iii, 7. A prominent characteristic of Spiritualism. "Ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." Here is the doctrine of "progression" fairly and scripturally set forth.
Ex. xxii, 18. "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live." Witches are no better under the gospel than they were under the law.
2 Pet. ii, 1. "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them." If here is not a most pointed prediction of the "private circles," what could be?
Rev. xvi, 13, 14. "And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth, and of the whole world, to gather then to the battle of the great day of God Almighty." A momentous prophecy of the astonishing conquests which Spiritualism is yet to make.
Rev. xviii, 23. All nations deceived by Babylon's sorceries. "By thy sorceries were all nations deceived." "Sorcery," says Dr. Webster, "is divination by the assistance of evil spirits." This scripture explains how the church and world will be brought into captivity by these powers of darkness.
Isa. viii, 19, 20. "And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep and that mutter, should not a people seek unto their God: for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." A prophecy now receiving its fulfillment, and one which determines the duty of Christians respecting the "peepings" and "mutterings" of the latter-day philosophy.
Lev. xix, 31. "Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards to be defiled by them." It was a disregard of this precept which ruined king Saul, and which is now defiling and destroying the mass of the human family.
Mark v, 13. Devils enter into the swine, and two thousand perish in Lake Genesareth. "And the unclean spirit went out, and entered into the swine; and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea (they were about two thousand), and were choked in the sea." If these spirits will lead brutes to kill themselves, what will they do to human beings?
Rev. xviii, 2. Mystic Babylon becomes the "hold of foul spirits, and a cage of unclean and hateful birds." Now fulfilling in those religious bodies who are embracing the corrupting and soul-destroying doctrines of the spirits.
1 Tim. iv, 1. "In the latter time some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." So spake the Holy Spirit by the apostle Paul eighteen hundred years ago, and just so is it now being done.
Eph. vi, 12. "Wrestling with wicked spirits in high places." There has been a good deal of this "wrestling" with the followers of Jannes and Jambres in late years, but we are by no means through yet.
Lev. xx, 27. Wizards and spirit mediums to be "stoned." This is another scripture showing how Spiritualism was viewed in the days of Moses.
Rev. xiii, 13, 14. "Making fire come down from heaven in the sight of men." One of the astonishing "tests" of the spirits just before Christ shall come.
Col. ii, 8. "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit." Spiritualism is the most specious and dangerous philosophy which the Christian now has to encounter.
2 Thess. ii, 8-12. Satan working "with all power, and signs, and lying wonders." It is thus that he works in that error which will yet ruin the major part of Adam's posterity viz., Modern Spiritualism.
2 Cor. xi, 14. Lucifer "transformed into an angel of light." More than thirty millions of living souls might now bear witness of this transforming power in spirit manifestations, and still it spreads like fire on a vast prairie.
1 Kings xxii, 22. A "lying spirit" goes out and deceives king Ahab. For the same object, too, has many a lying spirit gone forth since his day.
Acts xix, 16. A spirit medium leaps on Sceva's sons, and they flee the house "naked and wounded." This was simply one of the physical manifestations in the days of Paul. We have them now-a-days quite as literal and striking. Any one at all familiar with Spiritualism knows this.
Deut. xviii, 9-12. Directions to the Israelites concerning necromancers, wizards, mediums, &c. The severe measures anciently employed against these characters prove how abhorrent they were in the sight of God.
Acts xvi, 16-18. Paul commands the spirit of divination out of a young female medium. Here was fulfilled the very word of Christ: "In my name shall they cast out devils."
Rev. xii, 12. "Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the Devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." The Devil has indeed come down to the inhabitants of the earth in Modern Spiritualism, and he is now traversing sea and land with that abomination.
Matt. xii, 43-45. "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places seeking rest and findeth none . . . . then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first." This text simply shows how hard a thing it is to reform a medium.
Matt. xvii, 15. A Devil-possessed child, whom the spirits pushed "into the fire and water," is healed. This was some of the phenomenon of Spiritualism in the days of Christ; it has its counterpart to-day.
Rev. iii, 10. "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." A most precious promise in reference to the overspreading scourge which will soon overtake us.
Isa. xix, 3. Old Egypt, forsaken of God, appeals to charmers, familiar spirits, and wizards, for help. Neither nations nor inhabitants go to the spirits while God is with them. When Saul departed from the Lord he immediately went to the spirits. The same is true now.
Isa. xxiv, 4. Spirit mediums have frog-like proclivities. What was familiar to Isaiah, is not remarkable to us. The theory has not changed with dispensations.
Matt. ix, 32 tells of those whom the Devil made dumb. And chap. xii, 22 speaks of mediums dumb and blind. Spirits at the present time have been known to make their subjects blind, speechless, and senseless, and that for days together. Truly it waxeth worse and worse.
Acts viii, 9. Here we learn how one Simon "bewitched" the Samaritans with sorcery. There is much of this witchery among modern Simons; but all sorcerers are to go into the lake of fire. Rev. xxi, 8. The Most High also declares that He will be "a swift witness against them." Mal. iii, 5.
Reader, entrench yourself in the panoply of truth, for thus only will you be safe from this world-destroying error. G. W. A.

Watchman, What of the Night?

By C. M. Willis

SAY, watchman, what of the morning ? Is the day star ascending on high ? O say do you see the bright dawning That speaks our redemption so nigh ? Can you see that the promised salvation Is coming with glory and light, When we shall be saved from temptation, O watchman, say, what of the night ?
Yes, pilgrim, the signs are fulfilling ; The message is published afar ; Mankind are their brother's blood spilling, There are wars and loud rumors of war. The nations are raging with madness— The city is coming in sight ; Then cast off your fears and your sadness, For this is the news of the night.
Say, watchman, what of the city, Are the streets overlaid with pure gold ? Is our shepherd soon coming in pity To gather us into his fold ? Will we soon see him coming in glory, Will our foes then be all put to flight, While the ransomed are shouting love's story ? Say, watchman, say, what of the night ?
Yes, pilgrim, those who his appearing Are longing with joy to behold, Can see their redemption still nearing, Their harps and their crowns of pure gold. They soon will pass over the river, And roam those fair fields with delight, And shout hallelujahs forever ; O this is the news of the night.
Is there, watchman, sweet rest for the weary, A rest from despondency's gloom ? Will the earth that now seems dark and dreary Be draped in perpetual bloom ? Yes, pilgrim, the desert shall blossom, The earth shall be cleansed from all blight ; God will take his loved lambs to his bosom, Where they'll never know sorrow or night.
C. M. WILLIS.
Charlotte, Mich.

Miscellaneous.

A SWINE does not dream that he is inferior at all, but rather thrusts his proboscis, with all confidence, wherever he can, with any prospect of success, to find something to gratify his taste; he does not seem to himself to be greedy, or filthy, or disgusting, but evidently is blessed with as little modesty, or far less, than other more intelligent quadrupeds, some of which seem to appreciate their place and keep it.
So the most ill-mannered, slouching, and slovenly people do most thrust themselves forward, and their deformity is hidden to none but themselves.
A noble mind soars so high that many lesser trials are entirely below them; so far below that they were not even seen or noticed: and thus while the noble mind is soaring amid the sunbeams, the groveling soul is intent upon analyzing the filth of earth.
The most our foes can do is either to hurt our reputation or fortune. They cannot hurt the character which is pure and holy, nor mar permanently or effectually, the happiness which is based upon the promises of God through obedience to his word.
The crafty man may cheat the unsuspecting unguarded person of his hard earnings, but he cannot rob him of his peace, if it is well founded; and never is peace more sweet than when granted of heaven, to heal the wounds inflicted by reckless, unfeeling, covetous wretches, whose hearts are callous, and whose consciences are dead.
Conceited persons are in the habit of judging others severely; themselves they judge more favorably.
Rules of life are a dead letter unless carried out according to the dictates of a sound mind: hence good sense is never better applied than in applying these rules, and nowhere is it more indispensable. If all would always think of this principle, much reproach and fanaticism would be avoided.
MURMURING.—What profit is it, that we have kept his ordinances, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts? Mal. iii, 14.
It is often repeated in the mind, by those who would shudder to speak it out in plain, open conversation, that they are disappointed: they have been quite liberal, have been self-denying in many respects, have come out from the world in respect to the Sabbath, have been a mark to be shot at by the chief priests and pharisees of the day—and now what? Why here is perhaps trouble where we expected blessings, for a long time we have expected the Lord to come and free us from this drudgery and hard work; instead of his coming, came reproach and temptation, and a world of work; instead of deliverance from a world of sin, here came reproof for sin; and instead of being exalted to a seat by the side of the Saviour, came an invitation to descend into the valley of humility. O how disappointed! Instead of being carried along with applause, here is the watch-care of the brethren. Oh who wants to be watched!
Such has been the meditation of many, some of whom have been sifted out, others are left behind, others are fulfilling the prophecy of verses 16-18, speaking often one to another, and learning to praise the Lord, instead of murmuring against him.
Oh it is a dangerous sin, a terrible sin to murmur! Do the clouds withhold the rain? don't murmur. Is thy work hard, constant, painful? do not complain. Are friends turned to foes because of thy obedience to God? be patient. Do thoughts ever come thronging thy mind with dark misgivings about thy worldly store, lest want or poverty should befall thee? or has the spectral form of poverty already entered thy dwelling, with his icy hand and pinched and wrinkled visage? Remember that a cheerful, thankful heart, and courageous soul, will soonest drive him hence. Remember the story of the murmuring host, who fell in the wilderness, only two of whom escaped.
Murmur not lest all thy former work be lost: cast out thy first murmuring thought, lest it spread like the leprosy of Egypt, and darken thy soul; lest it spread around and others murmur too. Rejoice in the Lord, O my soul; for the Lord is good.
J. CLARKE.

Prayer and Social Meeting.

By F. W. Morse

PRAYER and social meetings upon the Sabbath should be sustained with spirit. A vigorous, holy energy that springs from the Christian’s heart, should mark their progress. Here from week to week the consistent follower of the Lord delights to be found, punctually and faithfully at his post, cheerfully bearing his part, and from a rich fund of daily experience, he casts into the common stock his prayer of thanksgiving and supplication, word of exhortation, song of praise, all to the edifying of his brethren.
There is no reason why believers in the third angel’s message should meet upon the Sabbath for the worship of God and the mutual encouragement of each other, in the rugged way, and then drone out two or three hours in dead lifeless formalities. How much is the service and glory of God thought of in such meetings? If unbelievers drop in, who might be influenced by a meeting carried forward in the spirit of present truth, how sadly is the opportunity missed! They go away in disgust, glad to be released from such a wearisome meeting.
With what sorrow does the recording angel place to the account of the church on the book of Heaven the sad record of a mis-improved opportunity.
Says our Lord, “Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning.” Luke xii, 35.
The sacred charge of the king to his servants who bear the last inviting call to the supper is, “Compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”
My dear brethren and sisters, this charge comes home to us. How shall we fulfill our Lord’s command? Compel. But how? By argument and entreaty. “If a man love me he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him and make our abode with him.” Jno. xiv, 23. Such an one dwells in the Lord and the Lord in him. “The same bringeth forth much fruit,” and his argument is with power, his entreaty is with that melting tenderness that breaks down cold-hearted opposition.
How cheering the influence of such in social meeting! Their argument is a face calmly lighted up with holy joy; their entreaty a few earnest words that come home to every heart; their testimony is not put on, but lives with them, being a light, fed by those words which are spirit and life. Such are burning and shining lights; preachers of righteousness to condemn a wicked world and a Godless church. Their works, words and looks, preach day by day. Bright angels of God attend them. When they meet for the worship of God, much divine light and power is in their midst; a joyful record is made upon the book of remembrance before the Lord, and they become his special treasure.
The Christian’s privilege is a broad one. He is a companion of angels here, and may be made like them hereafter; but if the light become darkness, how dense the gloom. If you grieve away the Holy Spirit, dark, wicked spirits hedge you in and shut out the light of heaven.
Cold-hearted, lifeless professor! remember that as you go to the house of worship you carry with you a band of Satan’s messengers, a thick cloud of darkness, an iceberg of frigid coldness. Then as you raise your voice in a dead, formal prayer, how deathly your influence. Then a threadbare exhortation, as destitute of fruit as your daily walk, edifying none, but distressing all true friends of the cause of Christ, and burying the timid soul in chilly discouragement. Says Paul, “Give none offense to the church of God.” 1 Cor. x, 32.
Some will offend by nourishing hardness toward a brother or sister. In this state of feeling they cannot obey our Lord’s injunction given through Paul, “Stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel.” Phil. i, 27. They bring in a scattering influence. “He that dwelleth in love abideth in Christ.” “He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.” Oh, how injurious the course of such offenders!
Again, we say there is no good reason why brethren should assemble for social worship and then drone out the time in lifeless forms. The word of God is filled with precious promises. We should take it as the present, living, speaking voice of God to us; believe it, receive it, and instantly obey. Then are its promises instantly fulfilled in us, according to the dispensation of an infinitely wise Providence. Then our influence is edifying; to edify is to build up. Says Paul, “Let all things be done unto edifying.” 1 Cor. xiv, 26.
How can one instruct in the way to life, or build up the cause of present truth, by their words and influence, when both are given to Satan?
Again, if we pass the laboring week in half-hearted service, dividing with Satan, when the Sabbath comes, that day which God has set apart for his worship, the enemy claims it all. “The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal,” is the language of Paul as he discourses upon the privileges and blessings bestowed on the members of our Lord’s body. That which is manifest is evident in a very high degree, leaving no hesitation, but striking upon the mind at once with overpowering conviction; this is the way the Spirit is given to those who are joined to the truth, to profit withal. If brethren and sisters refuse or neglect to use this manifestation of the Spirit to the profit and encouragement of themselves and each other, it will be withheld from them. “With the mouth confession is made unto salvation,” and out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. Who will withhold a word on the Lord’s side, and offend the church of God? O brethren and sisters, let us “arise and struggle into light.” F. W. MORSE. Deerfield, Minn.

A Chapter on Troubles.

“The lines have fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.” Psalm xvi, 6.
Reader, has it ever been your lot to feel the weight of your troubles press on you so heavily that, turning to these words you have felt them as a bitter mockery of your pain, impelling you to cry out that the “pleasant places,” in which you had to tread were dark paths of sorrow and privation, and your goodly heritage, one of want—the worst want—hunger of the soul. And feeling so, at such times, have you ever paused a moment, and pictured to yourself the poet-king as he wrote them?
No; for such grief as that, when indulged in, takes a form too selfish to admit of any thought but of our own troubles. And yet pondering on these words, and knowing what we know of David’s life, they suggest a lesson which, if read aright, would cause you to look up from the contemplation of your own sorrows, and, full of trials, of petty irritating annoyances, as your path might be, would yet make you echo the Psalmist’s words, that yours was “a goodly heritage.”
Think of the king a moment; first as a youth with a heart embittered by the cruel jealousy of Saul, lastly as an old man, pained by the rebellion of his child, and then follow me, while I try to explain to you what feeling made him, with all his troubles, acknowledge that “the lines had fallen unto him in pleasant places, yea, that he had a goodly heritage.”
It may seem a harsh way to bring comfort to sore hearts, and yet I think it was part of the secret of David’s contentment to acknowledge as a fact at starting, that worldly happiness is not the grand end or aim of life, that the Almighty in giving us this world, gave it us not to enjoy as a means of present happiness, but employ as a means of happiness to come; that the troubles we chafe at are sent not as punishments, but trials. For our weak natures from childhood upward rebel against punishment. But once look on all griefand all suffering as trials—trials of our faith, our courage, and our strength—and we are enlisted as it were in a battle against ourselves, resolving to be tried and not found wanting. We see then, that sorrow is sent in order that our natures may be purified from their earthly clingings and yearnings, and brought to acknowledge that the purest love of earth, the most unalloyed happiness that we can taste here, are only types of eternal bliss, and that in the presence of our Maker only is there fulness of joy.
It is an old, old truth, that suffering bringeth strength; and when we question the teachings of sorrow, while we, with bursting hearts, tremblingly carp at the wisdom of our Father's dealings, it needs but a glance at the Bible to prove its truth, to show that the noblest characters were made strong by suffering.
Look at Jacob the beloved of God; his life was one long trial, a chain of misfortunes. And remember Jacob's reward was of no earthly nature. Then turn to Daniel. We cannot doubt, that the Lord loved him, and yet he was sorely afflicted and we hear of no evil act that he committed, that could make us view his sufferings as just chastisement at the hand of God.
I have not referred in this paper to the trouble of death, because that bears its own consolation. Neither have I spoken of troubles manifestly brought on by our own acts of wilfulness or passion. I speak only of those of which no earthly eyes can see the reason, of trials not of our making, and which in our inmost thoughts we say are not of our meriting—the troubles which almost against our will make us ask the “why.” There is but one answer, “Be still, and know that I am God.”
Dear friends, take this to your hearts. To all those vain yearnings let the answer come clear and distinct,—Be still, weary one! Hush the murmurs, learn patiently and quietly life's great lesson—to endure. “Know that I am God; know that I, the All-merciful, the All-wise, the pitying Father have heard and answered thee, and in mine own good time will show thee the wherefore of all that so troubles thee now. I am God; let thy weakness rest on my strength; thy ignorance on my wisdom; thy longings on my everlasting love.”
With this assurance, with this knowledge of an ever-present refuge in time of trouble—can we wonder that David in the midst of all his sorrows could say: “The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places, yea, I have a goodly heritage?”

Do you Pay for a Religious Newspaper?

By Nexus

I WAS going to ask the question in another form. "Do you read a religious newspaper?" but then I reflected that many read a religious newspaper who do not themselves subscribe for one, they being in the habit of borrowing from their neighbors, and after sending and respectfully soliciting the loan of the paper before the family have read it, they not unfrequently keep it a length of time greater than the golden rule will exactly justify. Then I had like to have thrown the question into this shape: "Do you subscribe for a religious newspaper?" but it struck me all at once, that some subscribe for a paper, but do not pay for it. I have heard this complaint made, and I have no doubt there is foundation enough for it. I, for my part, would advise such persons to take a moral newspaper, if they can find such a thing. That is the sort of paper they require. A religious newspaper is quite too far advanced for them. I don't know, and cannot conceive why these non-payers want to read a religious newspaper. I should suppose they would be satisfied with secular newspapers. I can imagine that they may desire, notwithstanding their delinquency, to know what is going on in the world, but why they should care to know how things go in the church, I cannot conjecture. What do those who do not give anything for value received, want to know about revivals, missions, &c.? Here are persons who would starve editors, publishers, printers, and paper-makers—the whole concern—into a premature grave!—who say, "Send me your paper," implying of course that they will send the money in return, yet never send it; and yet they want to know all about the progress that is making in converting souls to God, and what is doing among the heathen.
Is not this strange, that having never learned as yet to practice the first and easiest lesson of honesty, they should wish to read everything about godliness and vital piety! So I concluded to head the article, "Do you pay for a religious newspaper?"
Do you, reader? If you do, continue to take and read, and pay for it; and be slow to withdraw your subscription. Give up many things before you give up your religious newspaper. If any one that ought to take such a paper, does not, I hope that some one to whom the circumstance is known, will volunteer the loan of this to him, directing his attention particularly to this article. Who is he? A professor of religion? It cannot be. A professor of religion and not taking a religious newspaper? A member of the visible church, and voluntarily without the means of information as to what is going on in that church? A follower of Christ, praying daily, as taught by his Master, "Thy kingdom come," and yet not knowing, nor caring to know, what progress that kingdom is making! Here is one of those to whom Christ said, "Go, teach all nations;" he bears a part of the responsibility of their conversion, and yet, so far from doing any thing himself, he does not even know what others are doing in promoting this great enterprise! Ask him about missionary stations and operations, and he can tell you nothing. He does not read about them. I am afraid this professor of religion does not love "the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob." Ah, he forgets thee, O Jerusalem!
But I must not fail to ask if this person takes a secular newspaper. O, certainly he does. He must know what is going on in the world; and how else is he to know it? It is pretty clear then that he takes a deeper interest in the world than he does in the church; and this being the case, it is not difficult to say where his heart is. He pays perhaps eight or ten dollars for a secular paper—a paper that tells him about the world—but for one that records Zion's conflicts and victories, he is unwilling to pay two or three! How can a professor of religion answer for this discrimination in favor of the world? how defend himself against the charge it involves? He cannot do it; and he had better not try, but go or write immediately, and subscribe for some good religious paper; and to be certain of paying for it, let him pay "in advance." There is a satisfaction when one is reading an interesting paper, to reflect that it is paid for.
But perhaps you take a paper, and are in arrears for it. Now suppose you was the publisher, and the publisher was one of your subscribers, and he was in arrears to you, what would you think he ought to do in that case? I just ask the question. I don't care about an answer.—Nexus.

“Telling Jesus.”

“THINGS always seem to go smoothly with you,” said a complaining disciple to Mr. F——, “I never hear you making any complaints.”
“I have found out an effectual way of guarding against that fault,” said Mr. F——. “One day, in reading the Bible, I came across this passage in Mark vi, 30: ‘The apostles gathered themselves unto Jesus, and told Him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.’ It occurred to me that, when I had any trouble, before I told any one I should first tell Jesus; and I found on trial that if I told Him first, I seldom had occasion to tell any one else. I often found the burden entirely removed while in the act of telling Him about it; and trouble which has its burden removed, is no longer trouble.”
“We ought to pray for deliverance from our trials, but Jesus needs no information respecting them; He is omniscient and omnipotent, and has no need that anything be told him.”
“That is true; yet he listened with complacency and kindness while His disciples ‘told Him all things.’”
In His sympathizing condescension, He permits us to repeat to Him our troubles and our joys, though He knows them all. He listens to them with interest, just as a tender father listens to the narrative of his child, though it conveys no information; and He has connected great blessings with this exercise of filial confidence.
It lessens sorrows, doubles joys, and increases faith. The more assiduously we cultivate this intimate intercourse with the Saviour, the greater will be our happiness, and the more rapid our progress toward heaven. If we would make it a rule to go to Jesus every night, and tell Him all the events of the day, all that we have purposed and felt, and said and done and suffered, would it not have a great influence on our conduct during the day? It certainly would; the thought that we would have to tell Jesus about it would restrain us from many an unholy act. We could not wilfully indulge in that which caused the agonies of the garden and the cross, if we were to make it the subject of our conversation with Him before committing ourselves to slumber.”
“It seems to me that for me to tell Him all my experience would be occupying his attention with trifles; I should have nothing but sin and folly to relate.”
“Sin and folly are not trifles; and the way to get a right view of the evil of sin is to speak of it before Him. And depend upon it, my brother, that if you will go to Jesus every night, and tell Him all things that have occurred during the day, it will speedily lift you above the world; it will do much toward making the will of Christ your guiding, governing principle; it will enable you to bear your cross without repining; it will make you, in mind and temper, like Him with whom you hold this intimate communion. Oh that all Christians were in the habit of closing the day by going to Jesus, and telling Him all things that they have done, and omitted to do, during the day!”

The Waste of War

THE WASTE OF WAR.—Since the national army has been located opposite Fredericksburg, it has occupied about thirty-two square miles, of which twenty-four were covered with dense woods of oak and cedar when our troops were first stationed there. So enormous, however, has been the amount of fuel that they have required, that where this extensive forest once stood, there is now but one vast field covered with stumps.

Poisonous Paper

POISONOUS PAPER—A lady at the West End, Boston, was recently fast going into a decline, in consequence of sleeping in a room where there was highly colored green paper hangings on the walls. The doctor found out the cause, the room was stripped of the hangings, and the lady at once began to improve. The use of green paper is now strongly condemned by many of our best physicians.

Led Right by the Lord

THE Lord may lead you round, but he will lead you right.

Prayer.

By Chrysostom

A MONARCH vested in gorgeous habiliments is far less illustrious than a kneeling suppliant, ennobled and adorned by communion with God. Consider how august a privilege it is, when angels are present, when cherubim and seraphim encircle with their blaze the throne, that a mortal may approach with unrestrained confidence, and converse with Heaven's dread Sovereign. O! what honor was ever conferred like this? When a Christian stretches forth his hands to pray, and invokes his God, in that moment he leaves all terrestrial pursuits, and traverses on the wings of intellect the realms of light; he contemplates celestial objects only, and knows not of the present state of things during the period of his prayer, provided that prayer be breathed with fervency.
Prayer is a heaven to the shipwrecked mariner, an anchor to them that are sinking in the waves, a staff to the limbs that totter, a mine of jewels to the poor, a security to the rich, a healer of diseases, and a guardian of health. Prayer at once secures the continuance of our blessings, and dissipates the cloud of our calamities. O blessed prayer! thou art the unwearied conqueror of human woes, the firm foundation of human happiness, the source of everlasting joy, the mother of philosophy. The man who can pray truly, though languishing in extremest indigence, is richer than all beside; whilst the wretch who never bowed the knee, though proudly seated as a monarch of a nation, is of all men the most destitute.—Chrysostom.
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