Christ said to the Jews, If ye believe not that I am he you shall die in your sins. John viii, 28. It appears from this language of our Lord that faith in Christ was indispensable to salvation, and that it was absolutely necessary to believe that he was the Messiah in order to have eternal life. This language is in harmony with that of the apostle Peter where he says, This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. Acts iv, 12. This language was addressed to the Jews, who were called the builders. They set at naught the stone, which was Christ, and as they did not believe that he was the Saviour that should come into the world, there was no possible chance for their salvation so long as they continued in unbelief. Yet notwithstanding the Jews were a stubborn, rebellious people, Christ's love was manifested to them. This we see demonstrated at the time when he wept over Jerusalem, as he makes use of the following language, Luke xiii, 14: O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee, how oft would I have gathered thy children together as a hen gathereth her brood under wings and ye would not. It appears from the above testimony that they were unwilling to receive salvation through Christ, choosing rather to climb up some other way, which Christ denominated as being thieves and robbers. Behold, said Jesus, your house is left unto you desolate.
This desolation took place at the death of our Saviour, when the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. This was a clear demonstration that God had withdrawn his presence from their earthly house, and as that blood was then shed which was to be ministered in the heavenly sanctuary, all who desired pardon must now look in that direction. Under the old dispensation, those who had sinned had to bring their offerings, which were to be without blemish, and present them to the high priest, and confess their sins on the heads of those victims, and through the blood of those offerings their sins were transferred to the sanctuary where the atonement was made. They had to go through with this routine of duties every year. But what made the atonement necessary? Answer; sin. What is sin? The transgression of the law. Then all who had transgressed the law needed a part in that ministration. So also those under the present dispensation who have sinned, need pardon. But how is this to be obtained? Answer: on condition of repentance toward God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus our great High Priest has given his life a ransom for the sins of the world. By the grace of God he tasted death for every man, thus making a way possible whereby all may be saved.
Again we read that he is no respecter of persons; but in every nation, they that fear God and work righteousness are accepted with him. He also hath appeared once in the end of the world to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. He did not have to enter the holy places often as the earthly priests did, else he must have suffered often, for they had to slay a victim every time they entered into the sanctuary. But as the sacrifice was made at the death of our Saviour, and his blood was spilt to atone for the sins of the world, it becomes necessary for all who desire a part in the atonement, to come to God through Jesus Christ, who bore our sins in his own body. But before a person can be induced to come to Christ he must see the need of a Saviour, and before he can see the need of a Saviour he must be convinced that he is a sinner, and to convince him that he is a sinner, the claims of the law must be presented. As he looks into that perfect law of liberty, he sees himself a transgressor and justly exposed to its penalty, which is death, and beholding himself in this wretched condition, under the penalty of a broken law, he looks away to Jesus, heartily repenting of his sins, and laying hold by faith on the promises of God. Jesus undertakes his cause for him, and as he presents his blood to the Father, the Father accepts the offering, and through the channel of living faith salvation sweetly flows to his heart. He feels the witness of the Spirit that he is a child of God and an heir of glory. Then through the blood of Jesus his sins are borne into the heavenly sanctuary, there to remain on the condition of obedience until the closing work of our great High Priest, when those sins which have been heartily confessed will be transferred from the sanctuary and placed on the head of their originator, the Devil. Then God's people will be forever free from the effects of sin, and in a position where they can receive the blessing which God has pronounced upon those who do his commandments, viz., a right to eat of the tree of life, and enter in through the gates into the city.
R. BAKER.
Mackford, Wis.
P. S. Bro. Smith: I would say in behalf of the Seventh-day Advent church at Mackford, that we earnestly desire that Bro. and sister White and Bro. Loughborough should attend conferences in Wisconsin next spring, and will pay our proportion of their expenses to this State, providing our request is granted. We believe their labors are very much needed. We think the time has come for the strait testimony to be given.
R. B.
Extracts from Letters.
Bro. A. J. Stover writes from Indianola, Iowa: "It has not been long since I became acquainted with the doctrines of the remnant people. I have had more light on the Bible since then than I ever had before in the same length of time. I feel more like casting my all on Christ than ever. It makes me feel little but more thankful for the mercies of God. I know that I come far short of what I should be, but what little I do I feel that God blesses me for it. Last spring when Bro. Hull was at Indianola, I heard him on the law and Sabbath two sermons, which very nearly convinced me. As soon as I went home I commenced reading and became convinced the same week. Since that time I have been trying by the help of God to keep the commandments. Some of my neighbors say, I am certain for hell if I do not quit keeping the Jewish Sabbath. I tell them Christ is my judge."
Believers in Vernon
Bro. C. M. Nichols writes from Vernon, Dec. 25th:
"There are a few here striving to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Many are fighting against the holy Sabbath, but I do thank God that the way grows brighter all the while. I have been for nearly four years a believer in the near coming of our Lord. It does me good to hear from the brethren and sisters abroad that they are striving for a deeper work of grace. We number ten in this place. O that we may put our trust in the Lord, obtain strength and wisdom from him to worship him in Spirit and in truth."
God Gives What He Knows Best
WE only ask of God what we think will be best, but he gives us what he knows is best.
NOTES ON MEN AND THINGS.
By William S. Foote
WHITEWASHED HEATHENISM.—A writer in a late N. Y. Tribune tells us in a few (poetic) lines, that he has a friend in heaven, and wished to send her a message. First, he placed it upon "a small white cloud," but that "died in the crimson west." He then gave it to a lark; but "its pinions grew faint and weary," and there was another failure. Finally he heard a strain of supernatural music, and placing it upon the "music's outspread wings," it soared aloft, and he then knew that it had "passed through the golden gate." If our world was to have an age of superlative nonsense, it surely is the one in which we are living.
BIBLE vs. MODERN THEOLOGY.—H. W. Beecher, in a sermon upon the subject of Religion and Politics, says: "And when the sun of Tuesday next (election day) shall go down, the sun of ages shall arise; the curtain shall fall upon one bad drama, and rise upon another one, glowing with new life and hope. After Tuesday next, I think it will be said that the wheel has passed the center, and from that time forward—aggression's fratricidal wrong? No; but justice, equity, truth, liberty, love, all of them are established forever!" But what says the Bible? "The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall heap to themselves teachers having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." 2 Tim. iv, 3, 4. In the last days perilous times shall come, for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, &c. 2 Tim. iii, 1, 2. Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 2 Tim. iii, 13.
And while many, yea, multitudes, are giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, instead of seeking unto God for wisdom and useful knowledge, while the nations are getting angry, and the whole civilized world is apparently arming for a tremendous conflict, while the groans of the oppressed and down-trodden are increasing and calling aloud to heaven for vengeance upon the oppressor, while vice and immorality in every form is increasing throughout the world,—surely the reign of peace cannot yet be inaugurated. And what means this loud cry of "Peace and safety," if it is not in fulfillment of the prophetic word? 1 Thess. v, 3.
"THE PRIESTS THEREOF TEACH FOR HIRE." MICAH III, 1.—A preacher in this neighborhood, on returning from his circuit, was asked what success he met with. "O," said he, "good, good. The people did not hesitate about giving me $300." It reminds us of the following anecdote: Two preachers, on meeting, entered into the following colloquy: "Brother," said one, "I had a dream about you the last night." "Ah," said the other, "what was it?" "I thought I saw you," said the dreamer, "in one of the streets of the New Jerusalem, upon your knees." "Praying, wasn't I?" "No, you was trying to scratch up some of the gold!" Is it any wonder that in these last days the great mass of professors of religion should be lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, when so many of those whom they accept as teachers set the example? Query. Would it be improper to have such dreams about some who profess to be Sabbath-keepers?
A CONTRAST.—"Pooh," said a neighboring professed minister of the gospel, "if you Advent people behave yourselves with decency and propriety, you will meet with no opposition or persecutions." It is as near the truth as many other things said, which are raked out of the dirt-heap of human reason and tradition, for the word of God tells us that "they that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution," and those that truly live thus, certainly "behave themselves with decency and propriety."
WM. S. FOOTE.
Pendleton, Ohio.
THE CAUSE IN NORTHERN N. Y.
By H. W. Lawrence
Bro. SMITH: Bro. Whitney and myself left home Dec. 6th to spend a few weeks in St. Lawrence Co. Spent the next Sabbath with the brethren at Buck's Bridge, and the next day (Sunday) went to Hermon, where we expected to hold meetings, but the prejudices of the people were so high that we only held one meeting and passed on, hoping to find a better opening.
We went from there to Edwards, where we found the ground pretty well occupied by the Methodists, both Wesleyan and Episcopal, and evening schools. We however spent the Sabbath with the few brethren in that vicinity, some of whom we found rather weak in the faith, and others almost discouraged. The enemy is busy here as elsewhere, and the cause was suffering somewhat from a spirit of fanaticism clearly discernable in some.
We endeavored to bear our cross, by kindly bearing the strait testimony, both in our Sabbath meetings and in visiting the brethren at their homes, and we trust the Lord will bless our efforts to the good of some. In the meantime we gave four lectures with some interest, beside one or two at other places.
On our way up we called on a brother Fleming, who has lately embraced the truth; and who invited us to hold meetings in his neighborhood on our return.
Accordingly we stopped and commenced a course of lectures, and gave five discourses, when the school-house was closed against us, and as no other opening presented itself, we were obliged to leave. Still we believe some were sufficiently interested to search the Scriptures, and we hope may be led to obey the truth. We left behind us about five dollar's worth of books, and obtained two subscribers each for the Review and Instructor. We found some interest to investigate in families that we visited, outside of the influence of our public efforts.
At Edwards we were somewhat blessed and comforted in again mingling our prayers and tears with those of our dear sister Castle, who is suffering under the fell disease, consumption, but whose prospects are brightening for the future kingdom.
Yours in the bonds of the gospel,
H. W. LAWRENCE.
Bangor, N. Y.
APPOINTMENTS.
By John Norton Loughborough
PROVIDENCE permitting, I will meet with the church in Convis, Sabbath, Jan. 19, and will commence lectures at the brick school-house on the plank road three miles south of Bellevue, Sunday, Jan. 20, at 1 o'clock P. M., and continue as long as the interest demands.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
Business Department.
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