Earlier text: GOSPEL BENEFITSTHE Lord said to Moses, "Come up to me into the mount, and be there, and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written, that thou mayest teach them." God had previously spoken the ten commandments in the hearing of all the people, [Ex. xx,] but now Moses is called up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, on which Jehovah engraved them with his finger. And Moses rose up and his minister, Joshua; and went up into the mount of God. But before Moses, who "was faithful in all his house as a servant," ascended the mount, he said to the elders of Israel, "Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you; and behold Aaron and Hur are with you, if any man have any matters to do, let him come unto you." "And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount. And the glory of the Lord abode upon Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days; and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud. And the sight of the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire on the top of the mount, in the eyes of the children of Israel. And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount; and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights." Read Ex. xxiv, 12—18; also, xxxiv, 28; Deut. ix, 9. This forty days of Moses' tarry in the mount, was that God might give to him the laws of the Jewish nation, and the ceremonies of their religion, which Moses wrote in a book, called the book of the law, and also called the book of the covenant. At the close of the forty days, God gave to Moses the tables of stone to bring down from the mount.—"And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon Mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God." Ex. xxxi, 18. But while Moses delayed so long in the mount, the people said to Aaron, "Up, make us gods which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what has become of him." And with their ear-rings, Aaron made a golden calf, and they worshiped it. "And the Lord said unto Moses, go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves." Ex. xxxii, 7. "And Moses turned and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand, the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written. And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables." Verses 15, 16. "And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, there is a noise of war in the camp. And he said, it is not the voice of them that shout for the mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome; but the noise of them that sing do I hear. And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing, and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and break them beneath the mount."—Verses 17—20. Who wrote on the Second Tables of Stone?
IT is said that Moses wrote on the second tables of stone; but this we will show to be a mistake. "And the Lord said unto Moses, hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first; and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables which thou breakest." Ex. xxxiv, 1. This text is sufficient to show that God wrote on the second tables of stone, as well as the first. The first "tables were the work of God," [Chap. xxxii, 16,] that is, God prepared them before he wrote on them. But the second tables were hewed by Moses, and God wrote on them as he promised to do. "I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables which thou breakest." Moses went up into Mount Sinai as the Lord commanded him, with the two tables of stone in his hand. And as the Lord descended in a cloud, and passed by Moses, he made haste and bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped. There the Lord made a covenant with Moses, and with all Israel, which may be read in Ex. xxxiv, 10—26. Now read verse 27th. "And the Lord said unto Moses, write thou these words; for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee, and with Israel." Some suppose that the words that Moses is here commanded to write, are the ten commandments, and this is their text to prove that Moses wrote on the second tables of stone; but the words which he was commanded to write, are evidently the words of the covenant, recorded in verses 10—26. Read verse 28th. "And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread nor drink water. And he [God] wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments." It may be said that the words "he wrote," in this verse do not refer to God, but to Moses. For positive proof that they refer to God, we present God's promise, which we have before quoted. "I will write upon these tables," &c. Ex. xxxiv, 1. But if this is not considered sufficient, we present Deut. x, 1—4. "At that time the Lord said unto me, hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up unto me into the mount, and make thee an ark of wood.—And I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables which thou breakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark. And I made an ark of shittimwood, and hewed two tables of stone like unto the first, and went up into the mount, having the two tables in my hand. And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the Lord spake unto you in the mount, out of the midst of the fire, in the day of the assembly; and the Lord gave them unto me." In verse 4, Moses says, "And he wrote on the tables," &c. The word "he," most certainly refers to God. Thus the point is for ever settled. THE SECOND ADVENT.
By F. G. Brown
[The following article is from the pen of F. G. Brown, published in the Midnight Cry of 1843. It shows the sweet, melting Spirit that was so richly poured out on those who stood in defense of those truths which waked up the Advent body, and called them out from the world and the churches.] "It has been said that none but the weak-minded embrace our views. This I deny. However, it is ordinarily the common people that receive the truths of the gospel, and I am willing to be ranked among them. God has made religious truth for this class, and not for philosophers exclusively. Had he deposited truth where the learned and the scientific alone could have discovered it, how few could have ever become acquainted with the way of life and salvation. How surprised I am, that we have all along been soaring to high after truth, just as though we were so many astronomers, seeking for some new world in the far-off heavens, a discovery of which is essential to a perfect knowledge of the material universe. Why truth, and all the truth necessary for our good here, may be found by any mind that will stoop low enough to pick it up. Cold reason will never find out God unto perfection—philosophy, unaided, could never trace the path to heaven for a single soul; and if the philosopher would enter there himself, he has got to come down from his giddy hight, and enter thither by the same narrow, humble way, with the most untutored mind. The Christian scheme abases the pride of the wise. How common it is for us, when endeavoring to instruct such in regard to the plan of salvation, to present before their minds the simplicity of the gospel plan; and on the other hand, how natural is it for them to stumble at it, because they can discover none of man's wisdom in it. 'The Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom,' &c. Now, if these first, and, to the carnal heart, most humbling principles of our religion, are recognized and enforced by us in the great work of regeneration, they ought always to be kept in view in the investigation of all truths that affect our state after conversion. How much are any of us in advance of the Corinthian Christians, to whom Paul said, I have fed you with milk, and not with meat, &c. I do not despise learning, nor do I pretend to more than ordinary ability in discovering the truth of God's word. I think I have sought to let the Bible speak in its own simple tongue. Still, I now see that I have sometimes erred in daring to try its doctrines by my own poor reason alone. Now, the Bible talks to me in the simplest strains, as though it took it for granted that I am just what I confess myself to be—a poor, ignorant sinner. I still aver that I read in it the doctrine of the glorious Advent of my Saviour immediately at hand—and I solemnly maintain before High Heaven, that by the united agency of the Word and the Spirit, I have been taught this precious and sublime truth. God has seemed, too, to show me all the other great truths that cluster around it: he has shown me just the condition of the world, the church, and the ministry, until my soul could no longer bear the sight. He has given me a view of his holy law, with bold and impious man for 6000 years trampling it under his feet—and shown me, as never before, the blood of his Son spurned and rejected, until Justice and Love have seemed to rend the heavens in their cry for the immediate and sudden destruction of a guilty world. Never before have I had fellowship with Christ in his sufferings—never have I felt before as though I could weep my soul away at the feet of Jesus, as I have seen the indignity heaped upon him while he was on his mission of mercy to earth, and the manner in which his offers of love have been treated while he has been seated on the mediatorial throne. Oh, how can my soul any longer submit to his suffering further indignities from graceless, wicked man? And here I might ask, why is it that God has given us, and that without any effort on our part, just such views of his law, of the love of Christ—in a word, just such views of all truth, as reasoning before hand, it would appear that we ought to have, in order to qualify us to sound the midnight cry. Why has he been so particular as to make his Word blaze with instruction, not upon one point only, the doctrine of the Second Advent, but117on all those points that are remotely connected with it? Much is said about having charity for those who do not think with us; and certainly we ought to exercise it toward all who are humble seekers after truth, but to none who are willfully ignorant of it. We ought to have just such charity for them as we do for impenitent sinners, of whom there are two classes—one that seems half disposed to be Christians, and the other determined not to be Christians at all. I believe that to be a Second Advent believer, it is just as necessary that the aid of the sovereign and gracious power of God should be called in, as in the act of conversion. The cases are very analogous. Why, says the sinner, I do not see proofs of the inspiration of the Scriptures:—Another says, I do not see conversion and future punishment taught there; and another, I do not understand what you mean by experiencing religion. But soon, perhaps, God's Spirit begins to move, conscience is alarmed, the sinner is convicted, he is converted—he is in a new world. He says, I have awoke from a dream; why did you not arouse me, and cry in my ear—destruction? Just so as to this doctrine. I know not why I was opposed to it, nor why I did not see the proofs of it before. I am glad that I am converted; and it would be as difficult to convince me that it is not of God, as to convince a young convert by argument, that all that he professed to experience when first converted, is not of God. As I have said once, so I say again, it may be God's purpose to select only a portion of his servants to give the cry, while he keeps it a secret to others. Hence, our opponents ought to have charity for us, for we may be doing God's will:—for one, I am solemnly persuaded that I am. As to an 'abusive spirit,' I candidly think that the other side need to be cautioned a little more than ourselves. I will not be abusive—it has never been my disposition to be; but can I do otherwise than to speak of things just as God, without any effort or desire of mine, has shown them to me? Ought not our brethren to allow that God may have shown us the condition of the world and the church in a light in which they themselves do not see it?" THE GLORIOUS RESURRECTION.
By Mr. Vincent
[This choice extract from Mr. Vincent on the resurrection, we copy from the Midnight Cry of 1843.] "The second antecedent to the judgment of the righteous, will be their meeting with angels at their graves' mouth. Matt. xxiv, 31. 'He shall send his angels with the great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather the elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.' No sooner are they awakened and risen out of their graves, but they are entertained by angels; those holy and excellent creatures, who have such a dear love to them, and before have done many good offices for them, though, when before in the body they did not perceive it, and were too low and unfit for their acquaintance; but they will then know them, and be able to discern the beauty of those lovely spirits, who for so many years have been beholding the face of their Father in heaven, which will have cast such a luster upon them, that will be matter of their admiration, and those shall be part of their acquaintance and companions in glory: instead of devils, those angels of darkness, which use to assault, buffet, and molest them, when in the body before, they shall now have angels of light with them, and about them, to join together in the love and praise of the great Jehovah. The angels will be sent to call them, and gather them, and we may rationally imagine that they will salute them at their rising, and welcome them out of their graves. We read of the angel Gabriel's salutation of Mary. Luke i, 28. 'Hail thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women.' And the same angel's words to Daniel, Chap. ix, 33. 'Thou art greatly beloved.' Such salutations, possibly, the angels may give to the saints at their resurrection. 'Arise ye that are highly favored of God, come forth ye that are greatly beloved; welcome, welcome, ye happy ones; ye that are blessed among the children of men; your Lord is come down and stayeth for you. He hath sent us to call you, and convey you into his presence, and bring you where he is, that you may see and share in his glory. O, how will such words make their hearts to glow within them! How joyful will such a message be unto them! O, how happy they that ever they were born! Or rather, that ever they were new-born! O, happy they that they should live, that they should be raised to see such a day as this will be! O, what looks! What speeches! What joys will they have, when they are entertained by the angels. The third antecedent to the righteous judgment will be their meeting one with another. Matt. xxiv, 31. The angels will be sent to gather the elect together. 2 Thes. ii, 1. 'I beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto him.' The saints will all be gathered together, and we shall be gathered with them, if we be found in that number; there we shall meet with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and the holy kings and prophets, apostles and martyrs, and holy men, who have lived in all generations; and all these in another hue than when they lived upon the earth; they will arise like so many shining suns out of the earth; O, how shall we be delighted with the sight of such a glorious train and company, when we see the image and picture of the Lord upon them, drawn so to the life! What sweet greetings shall we have, and mutual congratulations of our old acquaintance in the flesh, who were with us acquainted with the Lord! And is this the end of our hearing and fasting, and praying, and self-denial, and mortification, and the poor services we have done for the Lord! Is this the issue of our pains and labor! O, happy we that ever we repented and believed, and closed with Jesus Christ! O, happy we that laid up our treasure, and waited for our glory and happiness till this time. The fifth antecedent to the judgment is their meeting with the Lord in the air. 1 Thes. iv, 17. 'Then we which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air.' We have spoken of the meeting of the saints with the angels: of the meeting of the saints with each other, all which meetings will be very delightful, but the meeting of the saints with the Lord himself will be beyond all. O, how sweet will the sound of Christ's coming be unto them before they see him! When they hear the loud expected shout, and the sound of the last trump!—This, this, will be music indeed in their ears: then, then, they will lift up their heads with joy; and do but think how transporting the first glance of their eye will be upon the Lord Jesus Christ, when they see him, yet afar off, clothed with such brightness and beauty; never did their eye behold such an object before; they admired to see the saints, and to see themselves so transformed; but how will they admire to see the Lord in such glory! If so be that some of his disciples did gaze after him with wonder, when he was taken from them, and ascended into heaven, [Acts i, 11,] with what wonder will all his disciples, (most of which never saw him in the flesh, none of which saw him in such glory,) then gaze upon him when he shall come down from heaven! 'Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?' Say the angels, 'This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.' If you look and wonder now at his going, how will you look and wonder at his coming, which will be as surely, but far more gloriously? But when they are come nearer unto Christ, and have a fuller view of him; O, what thoughts; what affections; what joys will there then fill their souls! O, what workings; what beatings of heart; what transports and ravishment of spirit will they have! O, how would they be overwhelmed with the sight, and utterly unable to bear it, if they were not strengthened beyond their present capacity! And is this the Saviour and Redeemer of the world? O, glorious sun of righteousness! Did this most excellent person, who thus appears in the brightness of his Father, and is now come down from his glorious habitation, with such a glorious train of angels, once vouchsafe to dwell with men, and veil his glory in the flesh? Did this Son of God stoop so low as to take upon him our nature, yea, to take upon him the form of a servant? O, how will the saints be wrapt up in admiration and joy! How will they be all in a flame of burning love and affection, when they come to behold the Lord Jesus Christ himself, and viewing him in such glory as then he will be decked with! When they come to see him face to face, who hath such loveliness in his face, and such love in his heart unto them. It is said, [1 Pet. i, 8.] 'Whom having not seen ye love, in whom though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.' If so be that the saints do now love Christ, whom they never saw, only have heard of, and believed the report of the word; how will they love him when they have this sight of him, and see a thousand fold more beauty in him than was reported, or could be imagined! If so be that now sometimes they rejoice, with glorious and unspeakable joy in believing, what will they do when they come to see him in his glory?—If they can now rejoice in tribulations, and take pleasure in the cross and reproach of Christ; what will they find in their Master's joy, and the crown which he now comes to put on their heads! O how glad will they be, that they have been counted worthy to suffer any thing for such a Saviour! It will be a joyful time indeed unto the saints when they are caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. Where to Obtain Our Publications
By Editor
Our Publications can be had of E. Evarts, Vergennes, Vt., and E. P. Butler, Waterbury, Vt. S. W. RHODES
By Stephen Nelson Rhodes
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—I find many more to hear, than I have strength of lungs to talk to. I feel well in the Lord, and have peace like a river, and mean that my righteousness shall be like the waves of the sea, that is, one kind, or right act following another, like the waves of the sea. I am much rejoiced to hear that the Lord is strengthening the hands of the remnant in Rochester, by adding to you such as shall (I trust) be saved.—I rejoice daily with weeping that I am so highly honored of God, that I have a humble place among his called, and chosen and faithful. I am refreshed greatly, and much strengthened and encouraged, as often as I hear from my brethren abroad, through the Review and Herald. I wait anxiously for its semi-monthly visits, and would that I could see it, and hear from those I so much love, weekly. I often pray that the Lord would raise up laborers, qualify them, and send them into the wide field, that is now open, and still opening for the servants of God to go with his commandments, and the faith of Jesus. The truth we have from the third angel, is mighty through God, in bringing out and making manifest the saints. While traveling by the way a few weeks since, I opened my Bible to the following scripture, and committed it to memory, and mean to be sanctified through it, the Lord helping. "We then, as workers together with him, [Christ,] beseech you [my brethren] also, that ye receive not the grace of God in vain." "Giving no offence in any thing that the ministry be not blamed; but in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings; by pureness, by knowledge, by long-suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things." 2 Cor. vi, 1, 3—10. I often find honest-hearted souls who readily receive the light of present truth. I am sure I feel more than twice as strong in the Lord as I did one year ago. The Bible says, "the righteous shall hold on his way, and grow stronger and stronger." I did not intend, when I commenced this letter, to write only to send you a few names for the paper. Preston, N. Y., Dec. 3d, 1852. Sister Wheeler’s Conversion to the Truth
By Olive A. Wheeler
DEAR BRO. WHITE:—I am not personally acquainted with you, but claim the privilege of confessing my gratitude for the Review and Herald, and also confess what the Lord has done for me. It is a little more than one year since I heard the third angel’s message which found me in a lukewarm state, and a member of the Freewill Baptist denomination, to which I had been connected for fourteen years. I had been led by blind guides, had listened to false teachers, and had also listened to slander and false reports, that I became so much prejudiced against the truth, I even refused to read advent publications, thinking they contained error and delusion. However, I was honestly trying to walk humbly before God; but could not obtain that free and full salvation that I enjoyed in my first experience. But the good Lord in mercy sent a messenger to me; and by particular invitation I consented to attend a meeting with Sabbath-keepers, and heard the reasons of their faith.—And when I witnessed the union that existed with the brethren, and the Spirit of the Lord so powerfully manifested, my prejudice began to remove; and I began to feel the need of more religion than I then possessed. I was convicted of the truth, but the cross of embracing it arose like a mountain before me. I knew if I observed the seventh day, I must leave the church, renounce the friendship of the world, and have all manner of evil said against me falsely. And then again, I had been so zealous for the observance of Sunday, I thought I could not give it up. Under these circumstances I was brought into such distress of mind which would be impossible for me to describe. I was then willing to renounce the friendship of the nominal churches and the world, and have my name cast out as evil, if I could have the approbation of Jesus. While the errors of my past life were arrayed before me, I strove to humble myself before God, and cried day and night unto him for his spirit to teach me and give me an understanding of the whole truth. And, praise the name of the Lord; his ear was not heavy that he could not hear. The word of God was unfolded to my understanding, as it never had been before. I then saw plainly, that time was almost finished, and the last message of mercy was being given. And as the ark of the Lord went through the river Jordan, and into the promised land with literal Israel, so must the ark (containing the law of God) go with spiritual Israel into the heavenly kingdom. And O, what a change had taken place in my feelings, and religious views. Truly, (as says the Psalmist,) “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.” And again, the word of God teaches, that “love is the fulfilling of the law.” And truly, my soul was enraptured with love to God and his people. I was willing to renounce the traditions of men and keep the commandments; for in keeping of them there is great reward. The holy Sabbath is not a yoke of bondage (as some suppose,) but a delight, holy unto the Lord. How sweet are the hours of sacred rest. I have had some fiery trials, but yet I praise the Lord for the way he has led me, and for the light that now shines upon his word. O, how plain that God’s holy law has not been abolished, (as some teach,) but his commandments are all sure, and they will stand fast for ever and ever. Neither has it been changed, for God is unchangeable. Says the wise man, “I know that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it.” The law of the Lord is perfect, therefore it requires no change. The Sabbath was made for man; then why should not man enjoy it? Jesus came to set an example for us to follow. And although he arose on the first day of the week, he did not rest, but spent it in traveling. Neither did he rebuke his disciples for not resting, but met with them at evening, and pronounced peace unto them. Jesus rested on the seventh day. Thought I, if Jesus rested the seventh day I also will rest. And, although I am looked upon by professed christians as one deluded, because I do not rest on the first day, Jesus gives me peace. I do not consider a mere form of keeping the Sabbath, effectual to salvation. We need to keep all the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus, and seek meekness and righteousness, that we may be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger. If we possess this, we shall overcome and inherit all things; even share an inheritance in the earth renewed, and live when the tabernacle of God shall be with men. And O, how enrapturing the thought, that we shall dwell with Jesus in glory, even for ever and ever. Yours in hope of eternal life.
OLIVE A. WHEELER.
Eaton, C. E., Nov. 18th, 1852. DEAR BRO. WHITE:—My mind has been dwelling upon the incorporation (so called by the editor of the Harbinger) of the moral precepts of the law into the New Testament, or law of Christ. Speaking of the precepts of the law, he says: “They were incorporated into the New Testament, or law of Christ, and are now in force on Jew and Greek: not, however, because they were once a part of the Levitical law, but because they are just, and have, by our great Lawgiver, been made a part of the perfect law.”—Harbinger Sept. 1851. Now if this is a correct position, then the proof is good; but if the position is incorrect, then the whole fabric falls to the ground. We will now look at the foundation, and I think it will be seen that it is built on the sand. Matt. vii, 26, 27. The incorporation, or re-enactment of a law, cannot take place, until it is first abolished. That this was done at the cross, M. labors to show in the same column of his article. But let M. present the text to prove that Christ did incorporate one of the moral precepts of the Levitical law, into the law of Christ, after he nailed it to the cross, and we will believe. Again, Jesus has not even made mention of one of the ten commandments, after his crucifixion, much less, given an account of a re-enactment or incorporation. Now let us look at M.’s proof presented [Matt. xxii, 35—44,] to show this incorporation. Strange proof, indeed! It is what our Saviour said about the law before the crucifixion, where it is said to be abolished to prove a re-enactment after the crucifixion! M. says that all the law, though moral, just and good, was desolved, (or nailed to the cross) to give place to one more perfect. See Voice of Truth, May 14th, 1845. Is it consistent to say that a just and good law was desolved, to give place to one more perfect? “The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honorable.” Isa. xlii, 21. I understand to magnify is to enlarge. But M. would have it mean, to desolve, abolish, do away. The lawgiver, Christ, (as M. calls him,) has not told us that the moral precepts of the Levitical law were, or would be, incorporated into the law of Christ. And we say that his own testimony proves too much for his position. He proves his own witness [Matt. xxii, 35—44] slain, abolished, taken out of the way, and nailed to the cross, previous to the incorporation. Let the reader take notice: he has proved his witness now dead. And how, or by what rule, he presses this text into his service to prove his point, we fail to see, unless he admits it to have a resurrection. If this is admitted, then all the law and the prophets are alive after the crucifixion, for Christ says that they all hang on the two great commandments, the Sabbath not excepted. I fail to see that M. has one text, in all the teachings of Christ, or the apostles, to support his theory, that he tries to make his readers believe. Let Jesus testify: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets, I am not come to destroy; but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” Matt. v, 17, 18. I dare not correct Christ’s language, in order to harmonize it with my views. I would say a few words to the dear saints; that we have followed down through the first and second angel’s messages by sight, and are now left for a while to walk by faith. But, Oh, how many feet have slipped during the dark and cloudy day. Like a doubting Thomas, except they see the prints of the nails, they could not believe. Many have grieved away the Spirit and have left the truth, to feed on husks. They were without light, just as we were entering the most dangerous part of our journey—the narrows filled with eddies and reefs, where hundreds have foundered their barks. How many have become impatient, and run off in the bewildering fogs of Spiritualism, or rashly denied the work of God, and lost their interest in the coming Saviour. While a few, like the army of Gideon, have, by the grace of God, followed on by faith, anxious to see the end of the journey. Now and then a glimmering ray of light would shine on our pathway, till at last the clear light of the third angel’s message has illuminated the remaining portion of this dangerous coast. The rocks of self-esteem, the reefs of covetousness, the eddies of error, the fogs of fanaticism, the quick-sands of insensibility, the shoals of unbelief, and various other dangers, are to be guarded against. Nothing but constant watchfulness, prayer, confidence in the Captain, and a strict observance to his commands, will insure a safe entrance into the harbor. We have much to do yet, and while we pass the wrecks of others, it may be possible to pick up some that would otherwise perish. We must now be active, and know that our whole soul is in the work.—It is not enough to confess the truth; but we must be willing to send it to others. To do this, a sacrifice must be made, and that truth that has gladdened our hearts, must be sent to them. Nothing short of love to our neighbor as ourselves, will answer now. The words of Jesus, [Luke xii,] “Sell that ye have,” are certainly in force now, and who will obey? Those that love God and man. O, who will not lend a helping hand in this great work? The work is glorious, and who does not want to share in it? Our past history may look strange, and dark to a worldly mind; but to me, it looks glorious, and my heart is filled with joy in view of the whole history of the past, while the Israel of God have followed in this divinely illuminated path, which shines more and more by the effulgence of truth, until we have approached the very twilight of eternal day. The great land-marks have brought us directly to our present position. Then, brethren and sisters, cheer up, the Lord is coming. And as we approach the end of our journey, the evidences begin to thicken, and our path is now made plain. It is now illuminated by the blazing light of truth. Praise heaven’s High King for his goodness towards us. Amen. Union, Wis., Nov. 10th, 1852. Saved by the Third Angel’s Message
By Eliza A. Cooper
DEAR BRO. WHITE :—I praise the Lord that I live in this important period of time. If it had not been for the third angel’s message, I know not where I should have been. But glory be unto the Lord, he has sent his truth to pluck me as a brand from the fire. I love the truth more and more. Every day the Lord is helping me wonderfully; and I will give him all the praise. I trust if faithful to the end I shall have an immortal tongue to praise him for all his loving kindness. I long to see that day, when the redeemed shall come to Zion. Yes, I long to be free; but need patience to be willing to suffer all that I may be called to endure. Jesus says, be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. And again he says, “In my Father’s house are many mansions; I go to prepare a place for you.” And glory be unto his holy name, he will soon come to receive his people to himself. Your sister striving for eternal life.
ELIZA A. COOPER.
Bath, N. Y., Nov. 1852. Bro. E. Everts writes from New Haven, Vt., Nov 21st, 1852:—"I would say that comfort flows into the willing souls of the dear children in this vicinity, from contemplating the manifestation of the power, presence, and goodness of our heavenly Father, to us at the Conference held at Panton, when you was with us. Although the adversary thrust hard at the dear children, and succeeded in throwing them into temporary trials, but, thanks be unto the Lord, out of them all, I trust they are delivered. We have had a melting, searching and encouraging meeting at my house the past Sabbath. I praise the Lord for the good seasons that we have had of late. The saints have gained much strength. A dear brother and sister have recently embraced the present truth, and are very strong in it, and rejoicing in the great light that they see. O, how wonderful it is to see such honest souls, who knew nothing by experience of the former messages, move out so understandingly, and are so bold in our present position. Truly the Lord is doing a great work for us here. O may he help us to be humble and watchful. I pray that the Lord may keep you unto his coming and kingdom." Nov. 29th.—"We have just closed an excellent Conference. It was truly a feast of "meat in due season." Dear Bro. Bates has been and is still with us. He has held forth the truth, and it was accompanied with power. Praise the Lord, it has comforted the dear children, and a deep impression was made on the minds of many that came in to hear. I can truly say that omens of good, and an advancement of the cause is apparent. I think that the blessing that attended the Panton Conference is still resting upon us." Trusting God Amid the Third Angel’s Message
By Lewis Martin
Dear Bro. White:—I would say to you that I am still striving to know the will of the Lord and to do it. I believe with all my heart that we have the truth, and that the solemn message of the third angel will soon go forth with a loud voice. I would say that the paper is a source of much comfort to us here. I am sorry that you are short of means. I greatly fear that some who profess to believe in the present truth are deceived. Perhaps they do not read Luke xii, and James ii, as much as they should. For one I cannot see how any one that believes with all their heart that the third angel's message is now being given, can grasp after the world. Well, dear brother, trust in God, and he will sustain you. Victory will very soon turn on Zion's side. Yours in hope, Lewis Martin.
Bennington, N. H., Nov. 28th, 1852.