p. 95 | Review and Herald, Vol. 15, No. 12. (2/9/1860)

BREAKING THE LAW OF THE LAND.

By R. F. C.

Some two or three years since, a young man, a member of a certain church became convinced of his duty to keep the Sabbath, and accordingly obeyed. Some time afterwards, upon one first day of the week, he had occasion, as he was about his work, to pass along the road with his team, when he chanced to meet the elder of the church to which he had belonged. "What!" said the elder, "breaking the law of the land?" The young man checked his team and replied: "Which is worse, to break the law of the land, or to break the law of God?" The elder did not seem disposed to converse, but passed straight on.

This incident called to mind the case of Daniel, at the time when a decree was made that whosoever should ask any petition of God or man for thirty days, except to king Darius, that he should be cast into the den of lions. And as Daniel, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, prayed to God three times a day as usual, and as those wicked men that sought his life,

assembled and found him praying and making his supplication, we imagine that we hear them exclaim, "What! breaking the law of the land?"

But Daniel's God was found able to deliver him; and the same God still lives, and will deliver those that will soon be appointed to death by the image of the beast.

It is true, Christians are taught to be subject to the government under which they live; but when men, in view of this, seek to compel them by penal statutes to violate their obligations to God, then it is that they will be found walking circumspectly before God, notwithstanding that the framers of these oppressive laws shall in their utter astonishment exclaim, "What! breaking the law of the land?!" R. F. C.

THE REIGN OF PEACE.

[THE following we clip from the N. Y. Independent. It is an extract from a letter of one of its correspondents now in Europe. The writer seems to have but little faith in the anticipated reign of peace on the earth; and he sees no door of hope in the recent and present revivals.—Ed.]

Perhaps you will cry, "Why does my friend not look at the other side of the medal—tell of Revivals and the coming of the Kingdom?"—(which has come.) I have read and thought much, and would fain hope and believe all things good. But I saw very closely the rise of Irvingism. I knew how much of holy desire and expectation was connected with that development. That gives me pause. Then I firmly and reverently hold to this:—that the truth of God concerning his Son is the (sole) instrument for the renovation of the world. I have been unable to satisfy myself that these movements have been preceded or accompanied by the faithful preaching of "Jesus and the resurrection." Indeed it is a curious fact, that I have, in all, seen but two recognitions of these fundamental principles, in all the accounts which I have read. This occasions some reserve in my estimate.

Then, in respect to Ireland particularly, I have some good stout "prejudices" in regard to Presbyterianism, theoretical and practical. Clerical corporations, of any name, come of evil, are evil, lead to evil. That is a summary of ecclesiastical, and other history! Irish Presbyterianism has been a little—Irish; turbulent, "Orange," and of this world; and eke, pitchy—with itching palms. It "sucks the breasts" of the tax-gatherer. It cooks strange statistics for the Treasury, and manufactures or adulterates minimum subscription-lists, after the manner of Wall-street and sinners of the Gentiles; and would put me out of the synagogue, if I were in it, for merely hinting at these unpleasant facts. Therefore, and wherefore, I cannot yet view in the revivals a door of hope through which one may emerge from a dark and polluted Achor. This is one view, or half-view, of Revivals, and the Reign of Peace to be inaugurated.

Revivals and Reign of Peace! Yes, while I am writing I hear sounds of another revival, of the character of which there is no mistake. The sounds are the crack of rifles, the revival that of the military spirit in England. "England is not a military nation." Certainly not, Herr Teuschen! Assuredly not, Monsieur Crapeau! England is only a kennel of undisciplined and most unscientific bull-dogs; dogs of the doggedest. Whistle, shout, clap your hands, show an object for the teeth, and into it they go, and in it they stay, though it be brass itself. It is affecting and impressive that the state of the popular mind, or what we call "mind," should be such that there could be little surprise were a state of war with France to be made known to-morrow.

* Twelve years since, I stood with Joseph Sturge and Elihu Burrit at the railway station at Brussels. There we met, in Peace Congress, and I believe the blessings of the people were upon us. "They were glad to see us in their streets." "Where is the blessedness?" Where the Progress? Where restraints on ambitious and bloody men? Where the restraints upon malicious and regal idiots, as of Naples? Can we even now make of a Congress anything more than a conspiracy of butchers and burglars, "owners" of human cattle, squabbling, cheating, and intriguing over their herds?

HONESTY.

By J. Clarke

"Owe no man."—Bible.

I AM conscious that I am now talking upon a tender point; for no man considers himself dishonest (no man of any standing); but the difficulty lies here, the standard of rectitude has been trailing long in the dust, and it has been so soiled with clay, and saturated with filth, that its characters have been made almost illegible.

A bad example has been set in our high places. The rotten system of banking, and its various and disastrous workings, taken in connection with the expansive credits consequent upon the almost endless ebbings and flowings of a currency, which no one dared to keep long in possession, has contributed largely toward creating a looseness in the manner of doing business, which has given a character to most of our business men which in itself is subversive of good morals, and is diametrically opposed to the law of God.

This system of credits has caused some of our States to contract debts, which now, by heavy interests and partial payments, are weighing like mountains upon them, while repudiation on the part of some, and inability to pay on the part of others, has given our nation an unenviable reputation abroad, and travelers abroad often meet with taunts from foreigners about repudiation. It is said that the greatness and strength of the British empire owes much of its stability to the honesty and stability of her business men, whose word in any foreign port is like solid gold.

But this is not to the point. I wish to draw attention to the well-known, but seldom-thought-of fact, that the business principles of the present age, especially in our own country, are very corrupt, and becoming more and more so.

Large houses of business are carried on without capital. Credit! credit! and when that fails, down comes the firm, bringing with it many a duped, deceived victim, who had no idea that what he saw was only a bubble. Here is deceit and fraud; yet it is so adroitly done that there is no redress or penalty. The robber is soon reinstated by an expansion of some kind, and so crime seems rewarded.

Such a thing as a nice sense of honor in regard to honesty, is seldom carried out, and when it is, it is often called scrupulousness, or the like, and the quality of cunning covetousness is honored with such names as shrewdness, smartness, &c. So vice is called virtue, and virtue is called vice.

I assert it boldly, that from our highest to our lowest places, dishonesty has been the order of the day; for "lo these many years," the hackneyed maxim, "to the victor belong the spoils," has been the ruling principle of the age.

Those youth who have been brought up within the last twenty-five years, have seen but few examples of strict honesty. On the contrary, they have been reared amidst such examples of oppression and villainy, as might mantle the cheek of a pirate with disgust and shame.

But these philippics are not dealt out to those who are trying to overcome the world. No, no. I wish to arouse such to a sense of the danger of dabbling with this matter of dishonesty. Be assured, dear brother or sister, we must be without guile before the throne of God.

When I see the word, dishonest, I understand it to apply to all debts contracted without ability to pay, to all attempts to do business which the parties are not capable of carrying out; in fact, to every unfair dealing, intentional or unintentional.

An act is honest or dishonest in itself, without regard to motive; as, I agree to pay a debt at a certain time, but after much labor to do so, and having done all in my power to pay it, I fail. The failure is in itself dishonest, but the creditor and God pardon, as circumstances forbade it.

That such a failure is in itself criminal, is evident from the fact that pardon is indispensable to an extension of confidence; yet few will agree with me here for the aforesaid reason, that a bad example has been set before the present generation, and promises are no more than straws, when custom makes it proper to break them.

The principle here involved is this: I have in my hands the property of another man, on condition that I pay at a certain time. I have his earnings, the product of his bone and muscle, in a sense, a part of himself; and if pay-day passes, I have forfeited his confidence. What right has he to think or suppose I shall pay at all, if I once fail? And a failure is only healed by pardon, and that on the ground of intentional honesty, proved by the best of good works; and if I should ask pardon, while by neglect or willfulness, or bad management I fail, my chance of pardon would be poor indeed.

I believe there are many in this message who have not that high sense of honor, and moral rectitude in this respect, which becomes those who would be without guile before the throne of God. To prove that there are such, I ask, How many of us would consider that pardon was indispensable upon the failure of payment of a debt punctually, on the day required? If more proof were required, I appeal to those who conduct the financial department of the Review, &c.; and such is the strength of this evil, that it would be thought by some insulting to be dunned, even after they had forfeited their word by failure to redeem as the bond required.

To be honest, and yet be well supplied with comforts, to be honest, yet liberal and hospitable, to be honest, and yet lay by as God would prosper us, for his cause, to live comfortably, to be clothed and fed, and yet pay all as we go, (for the Bible gives us no liberty to go in debt,) this, I say, requires effort, effort! Indolence is no part of godliness.

Not only is effort necessary, but constant industry (as far as is consistent with health) and management, good, thrifty management; and if we have made a series of mistakes, until our creditors are about closing down upon us, let us conclude that advice might assist our own judgments. We may flatter ourselves that our judgment is excellent, but if we have not proved it, and are alone in this opinion, let us ask advice. It would do no harm, and then we can walk surely. It is better to exchange a filthy robe for a clean one, even if self-conceit goes with it. Only think of self-conceit being wrapped up in a filthy robe! Yet so it is!

Beware! O beware of the spirit of the age! "An article is worth all it will bring," "get all you can," &c. Brethren, do not let us spot our hands with the filthy lucre of the world, but use the world as not abusing it; and let the prayer of Agur be ours. See Prov. xxx, 8, 9. J. CLARKE.

THEY ARE COMING.

By Benjamin Clark

Bro. Smith: I love to read the communications from the dear brethren and sisters scattered abroad in the different States; and also such pieces as the one from Bro. White (Jan. 12) on "Blessed are they that do his commandments." Such I would recommend to be read over and over again.

To-day I am "three-score and ten," and I feel thankful that I have been permitted to live to see them coming! And still they are coming! And though priests, deacons and people object, still they are coming! For what? To keep "the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus."

From the time I first began to write in favor of the Sabbath of the Lord, (forty years ago,) I have been fully convinced that the Lord's people would yet sometime embrace the true Sabbath; although at that time there was only a remnant (of the seed of the woman, i. e., the church) which kept the commandments of God and had the testimony of Jesus Christ. Rev. xii, 17. And that the dragon, or the earthly power, did make war on such, I am a living witness. For as two of us were traveling through Connecticut in 1815, to see some friends, we were robbed of some six dollars of our traveling money by the authority of their laws, for peaceably traveling on the highway on the Pope's anti-Christian Sabbath. Though one of the least of the flock, and though I am not worthy to suffer persecution for the cause of truth, yet for the truth's sake I deem it right that such anti-Christian acts should be remembered.

My views are still the same as when writing a simple tract called "Elihu on the Sabbath" (which has been through the press five times); viz., that it is

sin to do common labor on the seventh and last day of the week, the same as it is sin to break any other of our Father's commandments; the pope of Rome and his adherents to the contrary notwithstanding.

Now if Christ is our hope, our redemption, our salvation, our love, our life, our strength, our one Teacher, and our all, then if we love his righteous appearing, and love his example, how can we but love his seventh-day Sabbath which he says "was made for man?"

In hope of the rest that remaineth to the people of God.

BENJAMIN CLARK.

Alden, N. Y.

MEETINGS IN ANAMOSA, IOWA.

By Merritt E. Cornell

Bro. SMITH: The way seems to be opening here in Iowa. Since the close of the tent season I have been in several places in the vicinity of former efforts, and it has been up-hill work; but this place is about sixteen miles from where lectures have been given before, and here is freedom such as I have longed and prayed for. I have the Court House, and have given eight lectures; and the interest is still increasing. Several have been kept back by prejudice till now, and after hearing once they regret that they did not come before. I had a free time on the second angel's message, and I learn that it is universally acknowledged to be true. The large congregations listen for nearly two hours, and then many will linger around as though they disliked to leave the place. This seems well, but everything is uncertain here yet. I see that I shall have to remain longer than I expected when I came, probably not less than three weeks in all.

An Advent preacher living four miles from here has invited me to give lectures in his town, which I shall do as soon as I am through here, if if seems to be right. Several old '44 Adventists are beginning to manifest themselves here. They have been lost in the rubbish, but as soon as they leave it they rejoice in the third angel's message as they once did in the first.

My tavern bill had reached two dollars at the time I was invited away from it by those interested; but the congregation, learning the facts, immediately paid it. O that these kind and anxious hearts may have strength to bear the cross of keeping all the commandments when they shall once see it. I hope the Lord in answer to the prayers of the church may sustain me in this work, and that scores may come to the knowledge of the truth. How good it is to see souls receive the truth with mingled weeping and rejoicing. The truth makes them free. M. E. CORNELL.

Anamosa, Jones Co., Iowa.

Love, the Believer’s Greatest Ornament

Love is the greatest ornament a believer can wear.

REPORT OF MEETINGS.

By John Norton Loughborough

Since we left Battle Creek we have filled our appointments at Tompkins and Saline. Our conference at Tompkins was an interesting season, and we trust will be of profit to the church. Some thirty or forty assembled from Jackson, Parma, and other places in the vicinity. We had good freedom in talking the truth, and an excellent time at the close of the conference in attending to the ordinances of the Lord's house, which we felt indeed were designed to teach us to be humble, and at the same time point us back to Calvary.

Monday evening, Jan. 16th, we spoke to a few who assembled at Bro. Palmer's house, in Jackson.

Our meetings at Saline were of greater interest than we had expected. We spoke three times in the village of Saline where the Mich. tent was pitched five years ago. We were glad to find a few who still have an ear for the truth. We also had three meetings in the school-house near Bro. Edmund's. The neighbors seemed more interested than ever before, and we trust some will step out upon the truth as the result of these meetings. While at Saline we recommended to the church the plan of systematic benevolence, which was heartily adopted without a dissenting voice.

Yours hoping for victory.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

Southfield, Mich., Jan. 24th, 1860.

HOPE.

By E. M. Hutchins

AMONG the good gifts heaven has bestowed upon us, we class hope. Deprived of hope in afflictive circumstances, we are like the ship in a storm without an anchor; at the mercy of the waves, tossed and driven.

Hope embraces both expectation and desire. To hope for a thing then, there must be grounds for expecting it. And though in some cases it is well to hope where the prospect of obtaining the desired object is small, yet would it not be better often to examine the basis upon which hope rests, and see that it is reliable, lest when it is too late to make amends despair seize us?

In all worldly enterprise we expect, if a given course is pursued, certain results. Hence we see the scholar that desires to climb the hill of science, making diligent efforts. Discouragements may press heavily, and with much difficulty he perseveres, but he is untiring. So it is with the individual who seeks honor, pleasure or wealth. Not unfrequently do we see those who will forego comforts, and even risk their lives for gold. The hope of obtaining a worldly treasure prompts them to this. But notwithstanding all our efforts to obtain worldly good, we may fail of reaching it. For the foundation upon which our hopes rest has no permanency. By affliction we are often doomed to disappointment.

But there is a hope that is well-founded. It is the "blessed hope," for it is above all other hopes. It is based upon God's promises, therefore cannot fail. But as in all other cases, if we would have this hope ours, we must lay hold of, and comply with the conditions. These are made plain in the word of God. And Jesus testifies that his yoke is easy and his burden is light. The great object of hope is eternal life. For this we may sacrifice and yet it be gain to us.

We should naturally suppose a hope above all others, reliable and certain, and of such immense value, would be grasped with eagerness. And that no means would be left untried of ascertaining the correctness of our title, or that we indeed have reasons for cherishing this hope. Yet how often is an opposite course pursued. Many who entertain a hope, make so little effort to come up to the standard, that at most they can only hope they have a hope. It must be otherwise, however, with those who enjoy the full fruition of this hope. Having done on our part all that is required, like obedient children trusting in a faithful parent, we may safely anchor on this hope. And inasmuch as God who hath promised cannot lie, with the fullest assurance may we look for the thing hoped for.

E. M. HUTCHINS.

LETTERS.

By S. C. Welcome

"Then they that heard the Lord, spoke often one to another."

From Bro. Welcome.

BRO. SMITH: My brother and I have just returned from Marcellon and Ft. Winnebago, where he and Bro. Steward held a series of meetings last winter. The Lord has a little band there of about twenty, who are keeping the commandments of God, and are standing in the liberty of the gospel, and are rejoicing in a full and present salvation. They have had to struggle along through trials and opposition, yet they are strong in the faith, rejoicing in tribulation. Some of them were formerly members of the Baptist church, in good standing, and one a deacon in the church; but when they commenced keeping the Sabbath, they were charged with heresy and were expelled for keeping the commandments of God; but still they obtained letters of recommendation from the church; and the pastor and church unanimously say that they are good Christians. Well might Isaiah say, as he looked down toward the close of time, "Hear the word of the Lord ye that tremble at his word; your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake said, Let the Lord be glorified; but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed." Isaiah lxvi, 5.

We met with them some five or six evenings, and on the Sabbath and first-day, Jan. 1st in deacon Wright's neighborhood. We had excellent meetings, and were all blessed and strengthened. Some two or three who had become cold, decided that they would do the will of God. There were but few that came in from other churches on account of prejudice. They stand looking on, expecting to see the little flock fall, not realizing that they are falling themselves, and that vital piety has ceased from among them. Their prejudice has been increased by the imprudent course taken by some professed teachers of the law, claiming the name of Adventists, who have a form of godliness without the power, and whose daily life and conversation is such that they cannot be distinguished from the world except in the desk. Oh that such men would hear the woes pronounced by the prophet against those that run without being sent, or if they are sent, that they might tarry at Jerusalem until they are endowed with power from on high; that when they go out to proclaim the truth they may live it out wherever they go; for I believe if their tongues are touched with a live coal from off God's holy altar, like Isaiah's, that their mouth will not be defiled with tobacco, or with filthy communication; for God speaks through none but clean vessels. I know it is plain language, but it is God's truth, and such things have been a grief to many of God's dear children, and brought a reproach upon his cause in many places.

On Tuesday, Jan. 3d, we commenced a series of meetings in Bro. Hall's neighborhood, some seven miles north of deacon Wright's. There was but little interest manifested at first, but the meetings continued some ten days, the interest increasing daily. Prejudice which was very strong against us at first began to give way, the brethren came up nearly every night from Marcellon and took hold in prayer and exhortation with us. The Lord poured out his Spirit upon us. Sinners were converted, backsliders were reclaimed, and many were led to inquire what they should do to be saved. The last evening we were with them, Jan. 10th, the schoolhouse would not hold the people. We had a melting time. My brother spoke from James v, 16. At the close many testimonies were given, showing what God had done in answer to prayer, and many desired us to pray for them that they might obtain pardon for their sins. On Monday, Jan. 16th, we were obliged to leave for home, but hope the work continues there. I think there were over twenty came out during the meetings, besides many that were awakened. May God help them to embrace the whole truth and live it out. We stopped at Bro. I. Hall's at Ordino, to a prayer-meeting, on our way home. We found the brethren there well engaged, and some appearance of a revival in the place. The call for laborers is great through the country.

Your brother in Christ, S. C. WELCOME. Almond, Wis.

Press Together in Present Truth

By Nathan Fuller

From Bro. Fuller.

Bro. Smith: The glorious light of present truth appears brighter and brighter as I see we are nearing the close. The time has fully come for God's people to press together, and be of one heart and mind, from east to west, and north to south. The enemy is enlisting soldiers, and drilling his army to prepare them for the battle of the great day. He has already enrolled the names of many who call themselves Christians. They have rebelled against the government of high heaven and are now ready to trample God's law under their feet. But there are thousands who have not yet taken their place unhesitatingly in the enemy's ranks. Many of them are honest, and want the truth. The Lord will give them a chance to hear, and be brought under the third angel's message.

"The field is the world;" yea, and it is already ripe for the final harvest. Notwithstanding the enemy has of late been sending out so many recruiting officers, there are yet many who are ready to take a stand on the side of truth, when it comes from the heart and tongue, inspired with love to God and love to man. Those who carry the last message of mercy to a perishing world must be clothed in the raiment of love. A harsh spirit will drive from instead of gather into the truth.

Dear brethren and sisters, let us show to the world by our works that we are gathering with Christ, instead of scattering abroad. It is easier to tear down the church than to build it up again. But some may say we are not called to preach, and how can we gather? Look around you. Are there not some poor saints that the Devil has been worrying till they are almost ready to give up their hope and sink down in despair? Go to them and whisper some kind and encouraging word to them. Throw around them the strong cords of love. Say to them, "Come with us and we will do thee good."

Look again, my brother. Do you see those new and wide fields all white, ready for the harvest? And can you not spare a few dollars to send the truth into those new fields? The cause is one, east and west; and where means can do the most good, there it belongs.

Again, we hear some complain of worldly cares. Perhaps your taxes are high. Well then, sell that twenty-five acres. You can do without it; and perhaps the Lord will soon call for the avails of it to feed hungry souls who are starving for the truth. May the Lord help us to show our faith by our works. "Faith without works is dead, being alone."

The cause is not moving in Pennsylvania so fast as I could wish at present; but I hope the time will come when there will be hearts to obey, as well as ears to hear the truth.

The brethren and sisters in this State are generally poor, but they are kind-hearted, and the most of them are ready to do their duty. May the Lord bless them, and make them of the meek of the earth, that they may be hid in the day of the Lord's fierce anger. The Lord has set his hand to this work, and victory will soon turn on the side of the remnant. "Fear not, little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

Come, brethren and sisters, let us try this year to push the cause of truth forward, by our prayers, by our influence in showing our faith by our works, and let us remember when we say, Go, be thou warmed and fed, that we have something more to do. Faith and works go together.

Some seem to be stupid and dull. Lord, save us from a lukewarm state, is my prayer. Brethren and sisters, wake up! "Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed." "To them that look for him will he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." If we are asleep we cannot be said to be looking. "They that sleep, sleep in the night." "We are not of the night, nor of the darkness. Therefore let us not sleep as do others."

O how I want to participate in the visit to the Father's house. The saints will soon go. The place is almost prepared, and the Lord will soon come. Those who have a form of godliness may call it heresy: but Paul calls it the blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Praise the Lord for such a hope! Hope of seeing the Father, the blessed Jesus, and the holy angels, and all the patriarchs, prophets, and apostles, and all the martyrs who have laid down their lives for the cause of Christ, and being made immortal. It is enough.

O I long to be there, And the thought that 'tis near, Makes me almost impatient For Christ to appear.

Your brother in the Lord, NATHAN FULLER.

THAT FATAL LIMB.

By C. Cotton

A MAN who thought himself quite wise, Climbed up a tree towards the skies, And as he meant the tree to trim, Just placed himself upon a limb, And trimmed away and worked so good, He cut the limb on which he stood; When to his great surprise he found That he was sprawling on the ground.

And thus it is with those who say Man cannot keep God's holy day; For round the earth the thing don't chime; All cannot keep it at one time, And if around the earth we go, We gain or lose a day or so.

Or should we go north to the pole, The Sabbath-day would be so droll, Or rather it would be so queer, One Sabbath-day most half a year.

And thus they write, and preach, and say, No one can keep the seventh day; And yet they think themselves quite just To urge on man to keep the first; As though they thought 't would make all strait If they for first-day legislate.

And yet for all they might fair slim, Since they have cut away their limb. But still in God they place their hope, Make void his law and serve the pope. C. COTTON. Friendship, N. Y.

B. MCCORMIC

By B. McCormick

From Bro. McCormick.

BRO. SMITH: As the brethren are giving in their testimonies through the Review, I would like to cast in my influence in favor of the truth. We have been striving for over a year to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and can say that the way grows brighter. I have been too lukewarm, even since I saw the light of the third message; but I thank the Lord that he is reviving his work in my heart of late, and I feel like setting out anew for the kingdom. We feel that we have some Bible evidence of our acceptance with God. John tells us how we may know that we have passed from death unto life. It is because we love the brethren. 1 John iii, 14. I can truly say that I love my brethren, and sometimes feel almost impatient in not being permitted to enjoy their society more; but if we are faithful to God the time will soon come when all the lonely pilgrims will be gathered together to stand with the blessed Saviour on mount Zion, and sing the song of Moses and the Lamb.

I am thankful for the privilege of reading the Review. We are much pleased with Bro. White's article on Doing the Commandments. We can subscribe to the principles there laid down. We as a people are preparing to refuse the mark of the beast and the worship of his image by keeping the commandments of God. Now if we do not come up to the standard on every point we shall be unprepared when the image is made, which is already being talked of in different parts of the country. For we shall then neither have that confidence in God that we should have, nor feel willing to bow to the image. Let us therefore remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. "Beloved if our hearts condemn us not then have we confidence toward God."

Your brother striving for eternal life through Christ,

B. MCCORMIC

Converted Through Prophetic Preaching

By J. D. Hillis

From Bro. Hillis.

Bro. SMITH: By your permission I will say a few words through the Review. About the first of last September, suddenly and without the previous notice which is common with shows, there appeared in our midst (Knoxville, where I then resided) a large canvas tent on the ground formerly occupied as a circus ground. It rather surprised me to think there was a show in our midst without previous notice; but immediately above the canvas I discovered a banner upon which was inscribed in large letters the following question, "What is truth?" I thought this a strange question for the Devil to ask from the top of his circus. I could not understand it, so concluded to go and inquire what it meant. I did go, and judge of my surprise to find Brn. Hull and Cornell, ministers of the gospel, doorkeepers, ready to receive all who came, free of charge. And then followed the performances. First, Bro. Hull spoke on the subject of the prophecies; then followed Bro. Cornell. Thus the matter went on for several weeks with great interest to our community, and especially to me. Never in my life have I heard so much true Bible preaching. I confess I went greatly prejudiced, and through vain curiosity. Having been a member of the M. E. church for thirty-two years I verily believed it the best and purest church in the world; but glory be to God! the vail of prejudice was withdrawn from my mind, and light burst into my understanding, and the door of my heart was opened to receive the truth, which I, together with my companion and some of my children, gladly embraced. Praise the Lord that the bonds of prejudice have been broken, and we have been permitted to see the truth.

We are told in Rev. xxii, 10, 11, that the time is at hand, when he that is unjust will be unjust still; and he which is filthy will be filthy still, &c. Then says verse 14, "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Here are they that keep the commandments of God and faith of Jesus, and whose fruit unto righteousness is fully ripe for eternal life.

I now live in Pleasantville, where Bro. Hull has preached, and where twelve or fifteen have embraced the truth and are striving to live in newness of life, in prayer and faith, observing all the commandments, and looking for the coming of the Saviour. We trust that when he comes we shall be ready to say, Lo! this is our God, we have waited for him. Many more are keeping the true Sabbath, who are not as yet with us in all things. May the Lord help them to come out decidedly on the side of truth, and then they will surely be on the side of the Lord.

J. D. HILLIS. Pleasantville, Iowa.

ESTHER M. BILLINGS

By Esther M. Billings

From Sister Billings.

DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: I would once more say to you that I am striving to keep all the commandments of God, and to walk in the highway of holiness cast up for the redeemed of the Lord to walk in. The church in this place have lately received a visit from Bro. Welcome, and other dear brethren and sisters from abroad, and we were much encouraged and strengthened to press forward on our way toward the kingdom. It was hard to part with those to whom our hearts were united by the strong tie of christian love; but we look forward with joy to that bright morn when we shall meet to part no more. Yes, when he who is our life shall appear, we shall appear with him in glory. Every one having this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as he is pure. Are we all striving to purify ourselves? or are many of us settling down into quiet, believing, because we have the truth, we have nothing to do? O, we must be sanctified through the truth if it prove a saving truth to us. We must obey the first great commandment, to love the Lord our God with all our soul, might, mind and strength. Are we all doing this? If we are, we are just prepared to keep all the other commandments and do the will of God in sounding the last message with a loud cry. The way to get into this position is to consecrate all to God, and have our hearts cleansed from all sin by faith in the atoning, cleansing blood of Christ. Then, how easy to keep all his commandments and the faith of Jesus! O yes, we have confidence toward God when we are living in "childlike, blest submission" to his will, and believe in, and rely upon, all his precious promises. O, do we not know there is virtue in the blood of Jesus to cleanse from all sin? Is he not a whole Saviour? O, yes, he is, my soul is witness. His blood can wash away the last stain that sin has made, can extract the last root of bitterness and leave nothing unholy there. Then the perfect love of God will fill our souls to overflowing, and we be enabled to rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

O that each brother and sister might see the necessity of being endued with power from on high, to qualify them to go out in the great work. We must be a holy people, without spot or blemish, to be presented before the Father. Without holiness no man can see the Lord.

Our little church have raised the standard of holiness, and we are striving to rally closely around it, and to daily draw sap and nourishment from Christ the living vine. Many are the precious seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord which we enjoy. Many are looking for the latter rain to prepare them for the day of trouble. But must we not get ready for that also by heeding the counsel of the faithful and true Witness. May God enable us to have on the whole armor of God and then we can stand against all who may oppose. My heart is with the people of God. I love the bleeding cause of truth, and my heart is in the last message. O may it soon go with a loud cry. I feel that the harvest of the earth is almost ripe, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. May we all be ready to meet him, is my prayer.

ESTHER M. BILLINGS

Portage City, Wis.

CHAS. W. OLDS

By Chas. W. Olds

From Bro. Olds.

BRO. SMITH: I do bless the name of the Lord for his goodness to me; for all the light I have seen. Surely his word is a light to my path and a lamp to my feet. It is not one year since I saw that I was in darkness and plodding my way along in the car of carnal security, but now I believe that the law is good, even to the converting of the soul. Yes, I find great comfort in endeavoring to keep all the commandments of God. O, who of us would like to come short of eternal life? Let us therefore fear lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest any of us should seem to come short of it.

Brethren and sisters, are we all on the watch, anxiously waiting for the appearing of our absent King? Are we living up to our profession? Let us not sleep as do others, lest that day should take us unawares. How many sleepy, drowsy ones there are who know nothing of the coming of the Son of man, and say we are not to know anything of it. May God give them light to see the truth, that the world's history is fast closing, that we are hastening to the vortex of the great whirlpool where all human hopes will end. How many cradles there are to lull men to sleep; the evangelizing of the world, modern Spiritualism, &c., &c. The Devil works in varied forms, as says the scripture, "In the last days perilous times shall come."

The Lord has very much blessed us here of late, and has been pleased to add a few to our number. There are six of us who meet regularly on the Sabbath, and some others have given in their testimony on the side of truth. Much good might be done if the Lord should direct some messenger of truth this way. Some of the people are looking to see if these things are so.

Brethren and sisters in the faith, let us pray to the Lord of the harvest that he may send more laborers into the vineyard. Bro. Wm. Carthy has written to Bro. Sanborn, and to some others, but has not received any answer. If this should meet the eyes of any of the ministering brethren of Wisconsin, I hope it will be regarded. We give them an invitation with all our hearts to come and give us a course of lectures. May God direct them to us.

Yours waiting for the coming of Christ.

CHAS. W. OLDS

Little Prairie, Wis.

Extracts from Letters.

Bro. S. Myers writes from Plum River, Ills. : “The little church here are evidently gaining ground, and seem to feel more and more the necessity of holiness of heart and purity of life. Our prayer and conference meetings are encouraging, and we are strengthened to press on to the end of the race. We are greatly rejoiced to hear of the prosperity of the truth; and it is our prayer that the message may soon be raised to a loud cry.”

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