Earlier text: Thoughts on the Day of AtonementThe World’s Conversion a Fable
By R. F. Cottrell
The World's Conversion a Fable. No. 6.
Jesus Christ, apostles and prophets, are unanimous in predicting, for the last days of the gospel dispensation, times of peril and gross wickedness, in the world and in the church, which will only be terminated by the great day of wrath in which the Son of God shall be revealed from Heaven; and that that day will come upon the inhabitants of the earth, as the flood came upon the world of the ungodly in the time of Noah. And the united testimony of all the great chains of consecutive prophecy, together with their fulfillment, unmistakably proves that we have reached those last days, and consequently that the day of the Lord is just before us. In addition to this, the signs of the times—the present state of the world and the church—verify the predictions of prophecy, by filling up the dark picture of abounding iniquity of the last days. Among the nations, war and strife are the order of the day. And though they are not actually engaged in the great struggle foretold in prophecy, being held in check by the angels commissioned to hold the winds of earth, yet their extensive preparations for war, while they show what we may expect, answer emphatically to the prophetic commandment: "Prepare war, wake up the mighty men," &c., (Joel iii, 9–14) showing unmistakably that the time is at hand when the nations will be gathered to the valley of slaughter, when the "MIGHTY ONES" will come down, the harvest of the earth will be reaped and the wine-press of the wrath of God will be trodden. In society, the testimony comes from every quarter that crime is increasing to an alarming extent. I read it in the daily prints, I hear it by word of mouth. Conversing with some friends in Buffalo a few days since, they told me there was not a night passed but that more or less of house-breaking, stealing and robbery, were committed in that city. And this is a leading characteristic feature of the present time. The earth is filled with violence; and violence is increasing; and this in the most enlightened part of the earth—the land of Bibles, and a land also of a superabundance of religious teachers. Paul expressed it exactly when he said, "They shall heap to themselves teachers," and he did not speak falsely when he added, "They shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." The doctrine of the world's conversion is doubtless one of the fables referred to. But are there any signs of the conversion of the world in the present state of society? Not any. Still if the word of the Lord says it shall be, we will believe it "against hope." I call upon those who believe and teach the doctrine, to give us the word of the Lord, which proves it true. It cannot be found. Why then teach the people to expect it? It will not be disputed that while the nations are preparing for war, society is exceedingly corrupt; indicating the very reverse of the conversion of the world to God. But it may be asked, Where is the evidence that the church is in a corrupt and fallen state? I reply: Were it a fact that church members were guilty of none of these abounding crimes, were they guilty of no extortion, and excessive worldliness, yet if they can calmly behold the present state of the most enlightened society, and solace themselves with the anti-scriptural hope of the world's conversion, and a "good time coming," ignoring, if not repudiating and scoffing at the scriptural doctrine of the Lord's coming, it is sufficient evidence that the church is dead, though she may have a name to live. Jesus wept over Jerusalem and the Jews, when he foresaw the desolation and destruction that were about to come upon them. His Spirit now weeps over a doomed world and a fallen church about to drink of the wine-cup of vengeance and sink in irretrievable ruin. And hence the righteous of these days are characterized as those who sigh and cry for all the abominations that are being done. Eze. ix, 4. But while the greatest reason exists that ever did exist for weeping over sinners—while the greatest and most terrible calamity is impending that ever befell the human race—a church, professing the Spirit of Christ, can look on with indifference, and not only not weep and sigh over the impending calamities, but can whisper peace in the sinner's ear, and prophecy of good days to come in which all will share the universal joy. And so confident are they of the truth of this fable, that some of them can say, in the face of the most astounding facts to the contrary, that the world is growing better, and can see, by the help of the glasses they use, the world's conversion at no remote period. Now let those who are holding forth this delusive hope to a world filled with violence, and a church so fallen and so far allied to the world as not to perceive it, bring forth their strong reasons and their Scriptural evidences for the doctrine they hold. If they have none, let them cease crying peace, when there is no peace; but rather let them "cry aloud, and spare not," and show the people their transgression, and the professed church their sins. Oh, that the warning might be given so loud and so clear that it might reach the ears of all who may be saved from this wreck of a world, so soon to taste the cup of unmingled fury which all the prophets have foretold. Oh, that the people of God may be aroused and that they may weep day and night over the slain of the Lord's people, and over the strange infatuation that has hidden the truth from the eyes of the professed church of God! Report from Bro. Loughborough.
By John Norton Loughborough
SINCE the time of my last report, my whereabouts have been known by Bro. White's reports, up to the time he left Marion for Battle Creek. It was with reluctance that I parted from Bro. White, but duty called to different fields, and so our journeyings together, which have been especially an encouragement and strength to me, came to a close. July 17, I left Marion for Waukon, Iowa, and in passing over the rail-road to Dubuque, I had an opportunity of witnessing some of the ravages occasioned by the sudden rise in the Wapsipinicon river, which had risen twelve to fifteen feet during the heavy and continued rains of the 1st instant. Large fields of corn, and splendid gardens in the valleys, had suddenly been swept away, or submerged in floating sand carried over them from wasting rail-road embankments. It is said that this stream never was known to rise to such a hight before. About every rail-road bridge, and every culvert on this river west of Dubuque, was swept away, and in some places, the heavy rail-road embankment was torn to pieces for a space of from fifty to one hundred yards together. And when the stream fell to its usual depth, old and safe fords had been gullied out to that extent that quite a number of teams and persons were drowned in the newly-opened gulfs, which before could be safely passed with that depth of water. Reading the accounts of this, and other floods of this season, reminds me of the time when our Saviour's prediction of the last days shall meet its accomplishment, "waves roaring." Luke xxi, 25. Owing to delays occasioned by these breaks in the rail-road, and slow connections up the river, I was detained over one night at Dubuque. From there, I went by boat to McGregor, tarried over night, and on Wednesday came by stage to Waukon. Spent two days in writing and visiting, and commenced meetings on the Sabbath, in company with Bro. Brinkerhoff, who arrived on Friday, having come up from Lisbon to labor in new fields in this northern part of the State. It had commenced raining on Thursday afternoon, and continued rainy for one week, so that but few, except Sabbath-keepers, came in to attend our meetings. A number of brethren and sisters assembled with us on Sabbath and first-day from West Union, Iowa, and from Lynxville and Sand Prairie, Wis. We held six meetings. Two on the Sabbath, two on first-day, and one each, on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons at 5 o'clock. We both had freedom in speaking the word, which seemed to feed the flock. On Tuesday afternoon, a second deacon of the church was elected and ordained. I was glad to visit this place again, after an absence of about eight years. Bro. Stevens and father Andrews, whose voices were then heard in the assembly of the saints, are now sleeping in Jesus, awaiting the blast of the last trump, which shall awake to life immortal those who have lived for that day. There were at these meetings some who were obeying the commandments of God eight years since, but as large a number of our neighbors and others, who have since embraced the truth under the labors of Bro. J. N. Andrews, Bro. Cornell, and others. We were glad to find that there were no matters in this church of a nature to demand trial, but that affairs here were prospering under the careful management of their elder, Geo. I. Butler. This church, although in moderate circumstances and paying the very highest figures on Systematic Benevolence, have erected a commodious house of worship, which is nearly completed, excepting a part of the seats, and the desk. While there is activity and zeal manifested on the part of the majority of this church, we were sorry to learn that there were those who would try to seek an easy position, and neglect the admonition of Paul in Heb. x, 23-26: "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised. And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another, and so much the more as ye see the day approaching." We could but labor to try to arouse such, and to pray that the efforts made by Bro. Butler for their recovery from this snare of the enemy, may be blessed of the Lord. I would say in conclusion, that this church was greatly disappointed in not being permitted to see Bro. and sister White, as they had hoped they might, while they were on their western tour. Gladly will they welcome them here at any time in the future, that they can make it convenient to come. Fayette, Iowa, July 31, 1865. God's Law Without Exceptions
By M. E. Cornell
Interesting Extracts. No. 17.
The following extracts are from a tract entitled, "The Taking of Human Life, Incompatible with Christianity," by T. F. Tukesbury. It is advertised every week in the "World's Crisis," as "A Tract for the Times." Opening, and reading on the first page, the first sentences were the following: "Is it not true that the ten commandments were given to man that he should obey them, without exception? Is not every one of them obligatory in every case?" Here I paused in astonishment. Has the Crisis found out that Eld. Preble's spirit law is not sufficient to enforce morality in this age? Has it "fallen from grace," that it should now endorse the "old dead school-master?" I read on, and found the author declaring God's Law Without Exceptions.
"The person who voluntarily or deliberately takes the life of another, has violated a command of Heaven, as truly as he who worships an idol, commits adultery, bears false witness, or steals. They are all without exceptions, because God has given none. If, as the objector thinks, there are exceptions to God's commands, who has produced them? Where are they found? Are they not among the unfruitful works of darkness?---among the ruins of the fall, the carnal inventions of the transgressor?" Our author is also very clear on the "We answer, that there should be a distinguishing between the civil and the moral law. The moral law was binding on all, down to the end of time; but the civil and ceremonial laws were not, because Christ was to do them away in introducing the new dispensation."85"But the objector may ask, 'Was not the moral law also given by Moses?' It was; but it was 'written on tables of stone, with the finger of God,' (Ex. xxxi, 18), emphatically because it was more important, reaching down to the end of time." * "But what gives a distinguishing feature to the ten commandments, or moral law, is, that Christ has never nullified it, but sanctioned it, by teaching that neither jot nor tittle should 'pass from the law till all be fulfilled.'" How to be Subject to Human Laws.
" 'Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.' Let it, indeed, mean rulers and magistrates: but in what sense are we to be subject to them? Are we to violate God's law, if they tell us to do so? Let the line be drawn in strict harmony with the other precepts. Is there no way to be subject to them without obeying their wicked decrees? Most certainly there is: We can be subject to all the penalties of disobedience; and this is our duty, whenever God's truth demands it in requiring obedience to the divine law. Thus, Daniel was subject to his wicked rulers, by being cast into the den; and many others, also, have suffered penalties by their rulers, as the martyrs to truth, in various ages. And we ought to be subject to magistrates, in obeying them, whenever their decrees do not conflict with the divine law. This should be regarded, in the first place, as supreme, and all other laws bend in harmony to it." pp. 7, 8. Popular Errors and Their Fruits. No. 1.
By Wm. C. Gage
THE world is full of unbelief. If we question people in regard to their religious faith, nine-tenths of them will proceed to tell us what they do not believe. Instead of complying with the apostolic requirement, to be ready to give a reason of the hope that is in them, they are always ready and sometimes anxious to give a reason of the unbelief that is in them. Now it is apparent that such persons cannot be true Bible Christians; for such will ever be ready to tell what they believe, and give a reason why they believe it; and that reason, we may be assured, will not be that "our church" or "our minister" believes so. It is nevertheless a fact, however, that very many who openly profess Christianity, are in this state of semi-infidelity; and in view of this fact, the query arises, How do they get there? It would doubtless be a very difficult matter to account for all the skepticism that prevails in our land of Bibles and Christian privileges. The infidel declares that Christianity itself is at fault; that as a system, it does not commend itself to the judgment of enlightened men. While we unhesitatingly deny this statement, we shall take a position which may at first seem somewhat like it, and charge a great proportion of the prevailing unbelief upon the so-called Christianity of the present day. In other words, the popular errors which have so perverted the Christianity, and become incorporated into the religious belief of the churches in our land, have a tendency to drive men into unbelief. We are sometimes accused of being too earnest in assailing these errors, and making them of too much account; but if we succeed in establishing the foregoing proposition, and prove that they are a prolific source of unbelief, no further defense of our course is necessary. It is not our purpose in this short article, to go into a discussion as to the truthfulness or falsity of these doctrines, but, upon the ground that we consider them as gross errors, give some of the reasons why they should be opposed. So many errors are afloat at the present day, it is manifest that to consider them all, would be out of the question, so we propose to take up such as are most popular, and endorsed by the greatest number of religious denominations. First and foremost among errors, comes the doctrine of endless misery. Endorsed by all Evangelical churches, thundered from almost every pulpit, used as an incentive in every popular revival, we dare assert that it has made more rank infidels than any other false doctrine ever preached. By it God is represented as a vindictive tyrant, whose anger at the wicked cannot be satiated, even throughout all eternity, although the Scriptures declare that his anger will cease in their destruction. When pulpit orators, with all the eloquence at their command, present before their hearers a picture of the wicked undergoing the pains of eternal torment, wailing out their anguish and despair in cursing God, while the righteous are happy in contemplation of the scene, and God himself is represented as delighted with it, can we wonder that men turn away from the picture and say, "I want nothing to do with such a God and such a religion as that?" In view of the mischief of such teaching, it should be our earnest endeavor to show its falsity, and persuade men to love the Lord because he "hath no pleasure in the death of him that dieth." Dansville, N. Y
By H. S. Lay, M. D.
THE body is not the only part that becomes morbidly affected by errors in diet; the mind also suffers with it. There is great sympathy between the organs of digestion and the brain. They are closely and intimately connected by nervous communication, so that you cannot, to any extent, affect the one, without affecting the other; and to the degree that you affect the brain, to the same degree do you affect the mind; for it is by the action of the brain that mind is produced. Now, unhealthful food irritates the nerves of the stomach, and through them, the irritation, to a greater or less extent, is conveyed to the brain, causing it to act abnormally; thereby affecting and perverting the intellectual and moral condition of the mind. And then again, bad food makes bad blood, and bad blood has a tendency to irritate the brain as it passes through it, and is poorly adapted to sustain the brain in its important function; and as a consequence, evil results follow. Many an individual has often wondered why he could not better control his mind, and why his evil passions should so often and so easily gain the mastery over him, and he become irritable, fretful, peevish, and fault-finding; when, if he would but correct his bad habit of eating, and would live on plain, simple, and unstimulating food, he would find that his mind would be more easily controlled, and be in a much better condition to bear the trials and difficulties of this life, and he would have a better prospect before him of securing that which is to come. 'The Great Revival Near.'
By R. F. Cottrell
THIS is the heading of an article in a recent number of the Independent, written "by Rev. Wm. Patton, D. D., New Haven." On reading this caption, it would be natural for one not taught to expect a great revival, to inquire, What great revival is near? But those who understand that a great revival is promised in prophecy to take place in these last days, will have no question of this kind to ask, but will without hesitation refer the expression to the great revival which is promised, and consequently expected some time in the future to occur. When one speaks thus definitely—the great revival—we understand him to speak of some definite thing, which ought, at least, to be well understood by the reader. For example, When the apostle speaks of "that man of sin," (2 Thess. ii, 3,) it should be understood by the reader that the object of which he speaks had been the subject of some prophecy going before, and the Bible student will not be at a loss to refer it to the right thing, namely, the little-horn power described in the seventh chapter of the book of Daniel. So, if a great revival is promised in prophecy—greater infinitely than the earth has ever seen—the Bible student should be able to put his finger on the chapter and verse which promises it. When the scoffers of these last days ask, "Where is the promise of his coming," we can cite them to numerous scriptures that promise a second, a personal and glorious coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is a matter of explicit revelation, and yet few care to inquire whether or not it is near. It is unpopular to believe that these promises are about to be fulfilled. But suppose we ask these men that are looking for a great revival instead of the coming of the Lord, Where is the promise of the great revival? we get no response from them. We hear nothing upon the subject but the echo of our question, "Where is the promise of the great revival?" Our writer says, "It has been deeply impressed upon my mind that God is preparing the United States for a wonderful outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It will be the most wonderful, for power and extent, ever witnessed on earth," &c. He then refers us to God's dealing with our nation in the past, claiming that times when iniquity has prevailed, have been followed by great revivals, and takes this as an evidence that a great revival is at hand. This to me is not infallible evidence. I should think that a people that have been blessed with exalted privileges, might become so wicked, that their wickedness would not be a sign of a great revival, but that, being given over of God, they might, like Capernaum, after having been exalted to heaven be brought down to hades. Again, if the people have grown worse and worse, notwithstanding the revivals in the past, what would be their condition after enjoying another, and the greatest revival of all? Have we any guaranty from the past (and past experience is all the evidence to which appeal is made), that the benefits of this great future revival will be more lasting than that of past revivals, and that the people will not, as in the past, in a short time sink lower in the scale of religion and morality than they were before? Since then there is no promise of this revival and of its permanency, but experience is our only guide, would it not be best to pray against the occurrence of so great a revival, fearing that our people would immediately be plunged into still deeper wickedness and degradation? We agree with the writer concerning the present state of our people, but wonder how it is a sign to him of a great revival, unless he has a clear promise of such a revival, and that great and unparalleled wickedness is to be a sign that it is near at hand. He says: "At the present time there are heavy clouds which darken the horizon, and which fill many hearts with86fearfulness and trembling. The war of the past four years has broken up the quietude of former times, and given prominence and force to various forms of evil. This is true, not only in the armies both North and South, but also in the secret and open combinations of corrupt men in their contentions for place and power. How reckless have men become of the sacredness of an oath, and the obligation to keep the Sabbath holy unto the Lord. How unparallelled are the extravagance and demonstrations of fashion, so unseemly in a time of war and grief, which threaten to shut out all reflection from the mind, and to erase all sense of accountability from the heart. This tide of worldliness sweeps through the church, bearing along, not only the young and inexperienced, but the middle aged and even the aged, until the boundary line between the world and the church is so overgrown and hidden that it cannot now be found. These are indeed the dark overshadowings. If these powers of evil are not arrested, they will work mightily for evil, and will carry our people on to deeper depths of wickedness. But our hope is in God, and in God alone. It is when iniquity comes in like a flood that the Spirit of the Lord doth lift up a standard against it. The revival, the great revival will come; for this alone can save us. This alone, when the war is over, can allay the animosities and wipe out the alienations between the different sections, and make us a harmonious and loving people; and this alone can counteract the evil and make us virtuous; this alone can prepare us for the important influence we are destined to exert upon other nations in the future history of the world." This extract contains a true picture of the present state of the people. Iniquity abounds. This is indisputable. There are truly "heavy clouds which darken the horizon" at the present time. The wonder is, how our writer can have faith strong enough to pierce these clouds with a promise from the Lord. He may, as he says, trust in God; but his trust will be in vain, while he hopes, not only for that which God has not promised, but for an event the very reverse of what God has declared will come. We have a sure promise from the Lord Jesus that he will come again; and he gave this sign of the approach of that day, namely, "Iniquity shall abound;" and that it would be as it was in the days of Noah—the earth "filled with violence," and every imagination of the thoughts of men's hearts "only evil continually." Not only are we forewarned that iniquity shall abound just before the coming of the Son of man, but also that "the love of many shall wax cold." That the professed church shall be in a state of declension and apostasy, amid the perils of the last days, being guilty of almost every enormity, and still "having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof." 2 Tim iii, 1-5. Our writer sees this. He sees that the "tide of worldliness sweeps through the church, carrying all—youth, middle aged and aged—before it, so that "the boundary line between the world and the church is so overgrown and hidden that it cannot now be found." And this is the church through which, and to which, the world is to be converted ! Oh no; our author does not trust in the world nor the church, but in God alone, to do the work. As though God had determined that, at a time when the world was extremely wicked, and the church so fallen that it cannot be distinguished from the world, he would, by his own almighty power, convert this world and church to himself. If this is God's mode of converting the world, I can see no reason why the world should not have been converted long ago, and an almost infinite amount of sin and misery prevented. It is hard for men to believe that the coming of the Lord is at hand, in such a time as this, though it is expressly foretold in the word of God. But by some strange infatuation, they can believe a thing not promised, a mere fable, the doctrine of the world's conversion, while increasing wickedness, in the professed church as well as in the world, and every sign of the times betokens the contrary, showing that the great day of wrath is impending. Thus it was with the Jews who rejected the Messiah at his first advent, and thus it will be with professed Christians who reject all the signs and evidences of his second coming. They will be looking for peace and prosperity when sudden destruction is about to overwhelm them. Spare thy people, O Lord! Gather them out and seal them with thy seal, that they may be saved in the day of wrath. Our writer alludes to the scripture—"When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him;" and he is right in applying it to the present flood of wickedness; but at the lifting up of God's standard, we are not sure that the enemies will be converted; they may be slain. And the writer does not notice that the coming of the Redeemer is promised in the very next verse. See Isa. lix, 19, 20. But though he has no Bible testimony to sustain him in his position that millions are about to be converted, he has an argument. It is this: "The revival, the great revival will come, for this alone can save us." Reduced to the form of a syllogism the argument stands thus:- We, as a people, must be saved.
- Nothing but the great revival can save us.
- Therefore the great revival must and will come.
If it is a truth that the American people must certainly be saved, all must admit that nothing can save them from the depths of wickedness, in which our writer admits that they are, but a greater revival than this world ever saw, a revival which shall, by almighty power save the vilest of the vile, whether they will or not. But I must be allowed to doubt the truth of the major premise in the argument, which is taken for granted and not expressed; for since we have no promise that the American people must and shall be saved, I must admit the possibility of their being lost, when the Coming One shall dash all the nations in pieces, like a potter's vessel. Psa. ii; Jer. xxv. The antediluvians might have urged that nothing could save them in case the flood should come, therefore it would not come. But I must stop; permitting, the Lord willing, to speak in another article of the great revival promised in the word of God for these last days. Did the Israelites Lie to the Egyptians?
By Dudley Marvin Canright
In Ex. xii, 35, 36, it is said that the children of Israel "borrowed of the Egyptians, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment. And they spoiled the Egyptians." Infidels say that this was lying and deception; and since it was done by the command of God, it reflects dishonor upon his character. Josephus, the Jewish historian, in his Antiquities B. ii, Chap. xiv, Sect. 6, speaks of this event thus: "Accordingly Pharaoh called for Moses, and bid them begone; as supposing, that if once the Hebrews were gone out of the country, Egypt should be freed from its miseries. They also honored the Hebrews with gifts; some, in order to get them to depart quickly, and others on account of their neighborhood, and the friendship they had with them." In a foot note on this, Wm. Whiston A. M., says: "These large presents made to the Israelites, of vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment, were, as Josephus truly calls them, gifts really given them; not lent them, as our English falsely renders them. They were spoils required, not borrowed of them. Gen. xv, 14; Ex. iii, 22; xi, 2; Ps. cv, 37; as the same version falsely renders the Hebrew word here used. Ex. xii, 35, 36. God had ordered them to demand these as their pay and reward, during their long and bitter slavery in Egypt, as atonements for the lives of the Egyptians, and as the condition of the Jew's departure, and of the Egyptians' deliverance from these terrible judgments, which had they not now ceased, they had soon been all dead men, as they themselves confess. Chap. xii, 33. Nor was there any sense in borrowing or lending, when the Israelites were finally departing out of the land forever." This seems to be the truth of the matter; and it fairly clears the Hebrews from the charge of dishonesty, and God from the imputation of encouraging deception. Evil Speaking.
By John Matteson
Among the sins of the last days, evil speaking stands prominent. Whisperers and backbiters are numerous. And through the work of such, the love of many waxeth cold. Satan is “the accuser of our brethren,” and whosoever gives himself to speak evil of the children of God takes part with him. The evil consequences of such work are not seen at first; but alas, its withering influence drives out love and peace from the heart and brings in prejudice, suspicion, envy, and many other evil things. Evil angels rejoice in such work. That we hear so much evil speaking among the world's people and lukewarm professors, is not to be wondered at, but that those who profess to be looking for the soon coming of Christ, also take part in the same, is lamentable. “My brethren, these things ought not so to be.” Especially when a messenger comes into a place, there is most everywhere some who are very anxious to whisper in his ears all the bad news they know about their brethren. They often tell things which are not strictly true, or they magnify their brethren's faults and injure their characters. Such individuals are not worthy of confidence. A man who will not tell his brother to his face what he has against him, but does tell it behind his back, violates the principles of the gospel. Some such say, they believe strongly the testimony for the church. Please look at No. 4, pages 14–16. Brother, “show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.” Love and evil speaking can not flourish together. Love “is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil.” If we would love one another, we must try to speak well of one another. Remember that we are members of the same body, and if one suffer, all suffer. Which is the greatest crime, to steal a man's money or his honor? But commandment-keepers do not steal. Another branch of evil speaking, is to speak lightly or to make fun of a brother because his intellectual capacities are smaller. The Lord does not require so much where but little is given. If we have better judgment than others, it is the gift of God. And even the opportunities that we have had to develop our faculties, are blessings from a kind Providence Where is boasting then? It is excluded. If therefore my brother is weaker than I, it is my duty to sympathize with him, not with his wrongs. If he be overtaken in a fault, it is my duty to endeavor to restore him in the spirit of meekness, and at the same time, remember that I also have weak points, though they may be different from his. The hardest case to reach is him who saith or thinketh, “I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.” May the Lord have mercy on such also, that they may repent. May we all seek for eye-salve and anoint our eyes that we may see our own faults, and by the grace of God come nearer to Jesus the perfect pattern. This we will try, not in our own strength, but in the strength of God. Then shall the precious promise be ours, “To him that overcometh, will I grant to sit with me on my throne, even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father upon his throne.” Continue Steadfast.
By Lera E. Dibble
We can never make any great advance in the narrow way through impulse alone. It is not the forming of good resolutions, and covenanting with each other, when under the influence of a good meeting, that proves us children of God; but continuance in well-doing is the test of our religious profession. We are exhorted to bring forth fruits, and that our fruit should remain, not give up as soon as we have some cross or trial; and if we investigate the matter we may learn that the substance of our crosses and trials is some wound to our self-love. If we could get self once effectually crushed and be willing to be "anything or nothing for Christ's sake," we should find the path much smoother than it is now for the feet of some of us. There must necessarily be some test of our obedience. "Goodness untried is no goodness at all," and we need not think it strange if temptation follows temptation in quick succession. It is only for us not to court it, but to lean on the strength that God has promised, to all those who come to him in meekness, to resist it. All who live godly will have a constant struggle; there is no sailing along with the tide, and our oars idle. Heaven is not to be obtained through strategy. Looking down the whole chapter of religious experience, from the early ages, we find all had to war with a powerful and sleepless foe. The adversary that tempted Cain to evil, and each God-fearing servant down through successive generations, is one and the same with him that is striving to quiet our consciences to-day, and make us believe there is an easier way to Heaven, than the narrow one. He is dogging the footsteps of every unwatchful lamb of the fold, and unless we cease to wander, we shall soon be too far away for the angels of God to lead us back. We are apt to grow into the belief that our temptations and experiences are peculiar; that there is more excuse for our wandering away, through force of circumstances; that the Lord knows our motives and judges so differently from our fellow-men, that we may reasonably hope he will remember mercy in our case. But we are all descendants from the same father, and we shall find our natures alike in the main. And do we remember the words "there has nothing befallen you but such as is common to man?" Perhaps some brother or sister has fought bravely and come off conqueror—though bearing bruises—in just such a temptation as we have weakly yielded to, counting Satan's strength greater than Christ's. "If we are insincere and half-hearted Christians, seeking just to reach Heaven at last, after having held to the world here, we need never think to cloak our proneness to go astray, under the pretext that temptation overpowered us." God is greater than all our foes and "will with every temptation make a way for our escape," if we are not willing prisoners. One or two happy flights of feeling or resolves to do right, will never take us into God's presence. If we plant a seed to-day we do not expect a tree bearing fruit to-morrow; but dews by night, and sunlight by day must develop it. It is a constant growth, but a work of time, so it is with Christians. We can not grow87to "be perfect men and women in Christ Jesus," by going to church on the Sabbath, and praying once or twice in the family circle. Religion and its sweet offices are interwoven with every "beating pulse of time," and not an hour passes, but we declare either for or against Jesus. Probably there is no sin so hard to overcome as that committed by an unruly tongue. Even when we try to watch every moment, if at the close of the day we could see a list of the peevish words—the idle, careless words we have spoken, we should be astonished, and not a little discouraged. When we get some precious bit of gossip it is so natural to want to retail it to others, that too often we do it forgetting that the inhabitant of Zion as described by the Psalmist is one "that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor." If when we are about to impart some information regarding others' affairs, we would seal our lips until we had decided whether we had the spirit of true religion in us, and if what we said could in any way be made to redound to the glory of God, I am assured there would be much less pain caused by that class of idle words, than there is now. And in the presence of worldlings, instead of letting our "conversation be in Heaven," it gets very low down upon the earth sometimes, and unconsciously we are led into unprofitable talk, and when we would open our lips to speak of the solemnity of these last days, our words condemn ourselves more than them, because we profess to believe these things, and yet they do not sanctify us. We have taken a high position and are responsible for our influence over those with whom we are surrounded, and it should be a steady saving influence that we exert. When we look forward to what is coming upon the earth, and the perils which shall surround God's people, we may well cry out "Lord, who is sufficient for these things?" It is only by continued watchfulness and prayer, that we may hope to be brought through all the sorrow, confusion, and strife here, to the welcome rest that remaineth for God's people.