Review and Herald, Vol. 26, No. 25. (11/21/1865)

Review and Herald

Nov 21, 1865

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 21, 1865

Prompt Obedience.

By J. CLARKE

Some seem to think it a mark of intellect, to be somewhat skeptical. They think it would be weakness to accept truth unhesitatingly; yet it is evident that they apply this principle especially to religious matters. They have this doubt, and that scruple, and after they are thoroughly convinced of the truth they have so long battled, they take time to settle down in a dignified manner (as they suppose,) and drop their errors, one by one, as a thief would stolen property, which is found in his hand.

Suppose that Saul, when Jesus appeared to him, as he was journeying to Damascus on his errand of bigotry, had thought to himself, "Well, now, it will be weakness for me to come right down at once," and had stopped to cavil a little, and had detained the Lord to remove a few "prominent objections" to something or other, and had attempted to detain him awhile to have an argument with him, think you that we would have heard of Saul of Tarsus? Instead of stopping to sustain his dignity by advancing objections, we see the self-renouncing Saul at once drop his hatred and malice against the church, and instantly he cries out, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?"

So young Samuel, when called by name in the night, thinking it was Eli who called him, answered immediately. Suppose that he like many young people had dreaded to leave his snug warm bed, and had still refused to respond when called, think you that he would have been noticed in the Bible?

Or suppose that the children of Israel had dallied and objected, when directed by Jehovah to be ready against the third day to hear his voice from Mt. Sinai proclaim the decalogue, do you think that one of them would have been left to record their history?

We as a people believe we have among us the gift of prophecy. Certainly we do. We have directly from God instruction as to diet, instruction as to health, but how slow we are to receive it! That young physician believes in the gifts most firmly, yet he is still pressing on in his accustomed way, and poisons which have been pronounced poisonous by the authority he acknowledges divine, I say, those poisons are still in his list of remedies; and he still hugs his system as closely as he did before. Does he believe in the gifts of the church? Oh yes! so do his patients, some of them, and in their sickness the physician is consulted much more than the work on health, which is within reach, and is by them considered of highest authority. Certainly, that book is of high authority; but then it would 'nt look dignified to break off from our old systems all at once.

Hydropathic treatment of healthy and unhealthy bodies, is no doubt good, and would cure much of our sickness, and would prevent a vast deal more; but then we have no bath-room, and our well water is hard, and it is so inconvenient, especially in cool weather; and now our family are all sick, we must of course have the doctor, and he would 'nt like to have us dictate to him! Now what shall we do? I'll tell you what you will have to do—suffer the consequences of your negligence, and when you can get more comfort, it will be in prompt obedience.

Suppose that an enterprise is undertaken by those whom God has placed at the head of the work,—how many there are who without considering the advantages our leaders have of knowing the mind of the Lord, will immediately question the propriety of such an enterprise; and have not many reason to reflect on the part which they have taken in the past, against the will of God; and in view of these things, who of us can say, we have no need of repentance of our sins against those placed over us.

It has been observed that large bodies of men are slow to move; as a large army, for instance; but it certainly seems clear, that a well-disciplined army will make good progress, and applying this principle to the church in a figure, may we not conclude that a well-concerted plan on the part of our leaders, if met by a prompt and unhesitating obedience on the part of the body, would produce like results, and can we expect prosperity, while we yield a slow, hesitating, objecting obedience?

I do not say a man can change his habits of living in one day, or one week; but he certainly can commence and be at work, and have his heart upon the work, and be progressing in the work; and let us (while we praise the Lord for the light he has granted us through our leaders,) be careful to obey and esteem those whom God has chosen and honored, by placing them in responsible positions.

No doubt could we see our own hesitating and sluggish obedience, as clearly as it is seen by angels, the view would fill us with shame and sorrow, and it would also incite us to prompt and decided action.

Had the filthy heathen nations of Palestine, seen the thorough and hasty preparations being made in the camp of Israel, a few days previous to the descent of Jehovah on Mt. Sinai, they would have thought that people very superstitious indeed, to take so much pains to cleanse themselves from all impurity, and to fit themselves to appear with decency before the Lord on the day appointed; but when the day arrived, and those sublime manifestations of the Creator's power appeared, no doubt those scornful heathens, would with tremulous voices, have said, truly, your God is a consuming fire.

A frequent and free use of water upon the whole body, removing the filth which accumulates, may seem a small matter; nay, it may seem a "non-essential" in the eyes and minds of some. Well, no doubt the Hottentot thinks the same; but if God has spoken, he does it that we may hear.

It may seem a "non-essential" to some, as to what kind of food we eat, and how often, and at what times, and quantities we partake; but if God has given us explicit directions, it is that we obey.

It may seem a "non-essential" to some, whether a person administers or receives poisonous medicines when sick; but if God has spoken, it is for an object; he does not speak in vain, his word does not return to him void.

It is evident that there is a tendency on our part, because the will of God is made known to us so quietly, and with so little show of authority, that we need not think it quite so binding, nor quite so important, as if it came accompanied with the solemn and awful manifestations of that day, when the Lord appeared and addressed Israel, standing upon Sinai. But if he instructs us so mildly, let us obey before those tones of love are changed to the thunders of final judgment.

Rome a Persecutor.

By R. F. C.

IN conversing with well-read and dextrous Roman Catholics, I find them disposed to deny that their church has ever been a persecuting power. They endeavor to hide the church behind the civil governments of those countries which were under its influence and control. Say they, The church did not put men to death; it only decided on points of faith, deciding what was heretical; it was the civil power, which for its own safety and preservation executed heretics, as persons endangering the peace and well-being of the state.

It is well to have historic facts at hand to meet such bold assertions and sophistical arguments. The following from the History of the Reformation, vol. iii, p. 374, is to the point:

"The year after the accession of Charles VIII, son of Louis XI, a sickly and timid child, Innocent VIII, had assumed the pontifical tiara, 1484. He had seven or eight sons by different mothers; and hence, according to an epigram of the times, Rome unanimously saluted him with the name of father.

"There was at that time on all the slopes of the Dauphinese Alps, and along the banks of the Durance, a new growth of the old Waldensian opinions. 'The roots,' says an old chronicler, 'were continually putting forth new shoots in every direction! Bold men called the Roman church, the church of devils, and maintained that it was as edifying to pray in a stable as in a church.

"The priests, the Bishops, and the Roman legates uttered a cry of alarm, and on the 5th kalends of May—the 27th of April, 1487, Innocent VIII, the father of the Romans, issued a bull against these humble Christians. 'To arms,' said the pontiff, 'and trample these heretics under foot as venomous serpents!'

"At the approach of the legate, followed by an army of eighteen thousand men, and a number of volunteers who wished to share the spoils of the Waldenses, the latter abandoned their houses and took refuge in the mountains, caverns, and clefts of the rocks, as the birds flee for shelter when the storm begins to lower. Not a valley, nor a wood, nor a rock escaped their persecutors; everywhere in this part of the Alps, and particularly on the Italian side, these poor disciples of Christ were hunted down like beasts of prey. At last the Pope's satellites were worn out; their strength was exhausted, their feet could no longer scale the steep retreats of the 'heretics,' and their arms refused to strike." R. F. C.

Prayer for Help.

By C. H. Rogers

Lord of life, on thee we call, Suffer not our souls to fall, Let us make thee, Lord, our all, Save us by thy grace.

While the tempter with his charms, Strives to draw us from thine arms, Lord with might the foe disarm, Save us by thy grace.

On thy waiting flock below, Who are striving thee to know, Of thy saving love bestow, Save us by thy grace.

Oh we know not how to pray, Oft from thee we're prone to stray, Struggling in the narrow way, Save us by thy grace.

In these last, these perilous days, From the ribald scoffer's ways, Scorning Christ and all his praise, Save us by thy grace.

And the Devil comes amain, Strives our struggling souls to gain, But thy promise still we claim, Save us by thy grace.

Soon the trumpet's thrilling sound, Cheers the saints from all around, And wakes the slumberers from the ground, To immortality.

C. H. ROGERS. Mauston, Wis.

"Behold the Day Cometh That Shall Burn Like an Oven!"

By Vesta N. Cudworth

Bro. White: I send you an article taken from an old number of the World's Crisis, which I think, on account of the truth it contains, and its special applicableness to the present time, will be read with interest by the readers of the Review. I would say, also, that the writer of that article has commenced keeping the commandments of God, (or trying to,) the fourth not excepted; thus we see that the present truth is still at work in the minds of some of the honest ones, for which we have reason to thank God, and take courage. My prayer is, the Lord speed the right.

D. W. Johnson.

Were it not a fact, that life is brief, that death may suddenly unclothe us of mortal life, it is fearful (without a good foundation,) to realize, that we are standing on this world's meager sea, whose very waters are kissing the shores of eternity, and the next wave may bring us to the shore, where our life voyage in time will be ended. Our long day's work will then be done, not as individuals only, but a whole world's work completed. As a world, and as individuals, no repairs in the past can then be made. Our vessel can never reverse its course, or traverse its long path again; only one voyage is vouchsafed to man, only one for the world; if this prove a failure, it is an eternal failure. The morning of the world is gone, its noon,—its sun has been sinking lower and lower, until but a speck of its disk is visible.

The song-bird gathers its wings, and bids farewell to her home work; its little nest in the bough is left far behind, while she seeks some sunny spot; but it is only till the cold winds pass away, and the snow melts from the green sod in its native bowers, then she returns to work and sing, as before. But when man lays down his work, he may never resume it again. There is no retrograde hour in his probation. If he darkens one bright spot for his fellow, he may not stay to repair it. If he jostles one car from the rail, it drags a whole train with it; but on, on he whirls, leaving in his track weeping and desolation. As circle after circle is formed in the water, by dropping a pebble into its clear fount; so one sin may gather in its train a multitude, an army of effects, that will be felt long after the transgressor has stepped from the stage. Sinner, beware! Backslider, pause! lest not only thorns be planted in an earthly pillow, but the blood of the ungodly be at last found in thy skirts.

Ungodly deeds and words, like spectres, haunt the midnight hour, and the couch of death, but will speak in a voice of thunder, when man stands before his Judge. And thou, hoary-headed world, although so old in guilt, so august in numbers, think not to escape the vengeance of a long-suffering God; thy crimes have reached unto Heaven; the very soil is polluted with blood, the air is burdened with the sighing of the prisoners, the clank of the chain has entered the ears of the God of Sabaoth; the tears and groans of past ages are not forgotten; dissembling and lying, treachery and pride, have filled thy cup, and thou must fall.

The earth, once destroyed by water, is reserved unto fire, and the perdition of the ungodly, but a little reprieve is granted. Thy fate lingers; a beam of mercy falls across thy pathway, but the gleaning after the harvest is almost ended; the precious are being taken from the vile, the day of his preparation is almost over. Many have been buying the eye-salve, and, thank God, are no longer blind. There are a few that are keeping the word of his patience, holding fast their crown. Some are rich with the gold tried in the fire, and have bought the white raiment. In short, the bride is almost ready. Then the kingdom must be given to the Mighty Conqueror and his chosen. Awake! doomed world, from thy slumbers, prepare to meet thy God! for behold he cometh with vengeance and a recompense. — Vesta N. Cudworth.

Naaman, the Leper.

By Susan Elmer

A LEPER stood at the prophet's door, For he had been assured, If he came to the holy man of God, His leprosy would be cured.

But then he thought within himself, "What can the prophet mean?" For he said, "Go wash in Jordan's stream Seven times, and be thou clean."

And as he turned to go away, He reasoned with a sneer, "Are not Abana's waters best? Then why my journey here?"

But by and by to Jordan went, And oh, the wondrous power! For leprous Naaman was made whole, From that eventful hour.

And thus it is with those who slight The Saviour's dying love, Who set their hearts on things below, Instead of those above.

And some extol the gospel high, And speak of sins forgiven; But fain would climb some other way, But the narrow one to Heaven.

How many at the present day Against the Lord rebel; Mark out the way they choose to go, And say, "It's just as well."

The fourth command is made so plain, That all may understand, Yet still they keep another day, For which there's no command.

They tell us that perhaps the first, Is seventh after all; Yet if we keep the seventh day, We sure from grace will fall!

They say the holy law of God Long time ago was slain, But when they get the Sabbath out, They're all alive again.

And then again the world is round, Which makes time vary so, When to commence the Sabbath-day Is not for us to know.

And thus they twist and change about, Until it's plainly seen, What they have raised is far too frail A prop on which to lean.

Why don't they keep the sacred hours Which their Creator blest,— When that command is just as plain As any of the rest?

The ten commands are binding still, And perfect is that law; And though men count it o'er and o'er, They ne'er can find a flaw.

The law will judge us in that day, When all is brought to light, And they who are obedient now Will have a perfect right

To enter through those gates of pearl, Within the city fair,— Eat of the fruit of life's fair tree, And all those glories share.

Susan Elmer.

Spring and Autumn.

By Abby Mussey

A FEW months ago were heard the lovely birds singing their beautiful songs at the return of Spring. The warm rays of the sun had melted away the snow of the dreary Winter, and the green grass began to show itself upon the hills, and low in the valleys the forest began to show a lovely hue of green, and soon its branches were covered o'er with spreading foliage; and all things seemed to be smiling at the return of Spring.

Soon the lovely flowers are seen, and their rich fragrance fills the air around us. The farmer plants and sows his seed, and watches to see the fruit of his labor.

The Autumn comes at last. October is here with its cold frosts that nip the verdure from the trees and vines, and oh! how changed is the face of nature. The forest's foliage is struck with death. Its red, yellow, and brown complexion tells us it is dying. Soon the

Autumnal breezes will blow through the forests, shaking the branches and robbing them of their once lovely green but now dead and dying leaves, laying them low upon the ground to moulder back to the earth from whence they sprang.

Such is man. He appeareth for a little moment, and then passeth away. "His breath goeth forth; he returneth to the earth; in that very day his thoughts perish." The lovely flowers are all faded away: they bloomed for a moment, but have now ceased their loveliness and beauty. Such is youth: he cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down, and borne away to the silent tomb, and friends are left to mourn. Yea, how many sad hearts have been made, and tears have fallen for the loved dead since the singing of the Spring birds a few months ago. Such is this mortal life, and such this sin-cursed earth since God's holy law was broken, and the tree of life shut away from man. Thus sin entered into the world and death by sin.

A curse is on the ground, A poison in the air; Oh, well may we long to be free, And for a world where all is fair.

And we have the promise of a fairer clime than this; for the Son of man is come to seek and save that which was lost; and upon that promise we build our hopes; upon this rock we plant our feet, and stand secure. "I will come again," says Jesus. "Amen," the weeping bride replies. "Behold I come quickly, saith the Amen." "Amen, even so, come Lord Jesus," responds the Church. Let "thy kingdom come, and thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven:" for this we daily pray.

Oh! the glorious restitution. And with it comes the resurrection and the tree of life; the restituted earth, and the royal diadem; the crown of life, with life eternal. The curse is gone; the earth is green; the trees put forth their leaves to wither no more; the flowers blossom to fade no more; and man lives to die no more.

"The city comes! Life's river runs! Oh! speed the day! for this we pray. The morning cometh, oh! see it hasteth, Oh! come, my Saviour, come away."

ABBY MUSSEY, in Voice of the West.

The Experiences of a Smoking Clergyman.

AMONG a lot of Temperance Tracts sent me by a friend, one was headed, "Dost Thou Smoke, Bill?" I read it, and it made me feel uncomfortable. Some copies of it had got into circulation among my people before I was aware.—A fine young black man came to me one day, and, after bowing and scraping and bidding me "good morning," asked, "Will massa please gie me one little tract?" "Yes, Quamina, and welcome; which will you have?" "Dat one called, 'Does You Smoke, William?'" He thought it would be too vulgar in my presence to say "Bill;" politeness led him to say "William." I gave him the tract, but I felt I would rather he had asked for any other than that, and my uneasiness was increased. The tract was evidently exciting some attention. It condemned among the people their pastor's habit. One night, soon after Quamina's visit, having knocked out the ashes of my last pipe before retiring to rest, a colloquy took place between my conscience and myself, which is faithfully reported. I scarcely ever felt more despicable in my own eyes than I did at that moment. From this night forth I vowed that I would never spend another penny for tobacco! So ended the colloquy.—Having asked God to forgive me the great sin of which I had been guilty, and to grant me grace and strength to carry out the resolve I had just made, I went to bed. The next day was the commencement of a great struggle. At the usual time for taking the pipe, the craving for it was very strong. I managed to resist it, however, by putting to myself a few plain questions, such as, "What is the matter with you? Why are you restless and unhappy? Have you a headache?" "No." "A toothache?" "No." "Have you pain in any part of your body?" "No." "Are you cold?" "No." "Hot?" "No." "Are you hungry?" "No." "Thirsty?" "No." "Then why, in the name of all that is rational, are you not contented, and even thankful to God for the exemption from pain which you enjoy?" In this manner I lectured myself against the unnatural craving. Every time I resisted the appetite, I felt that I had achieved a victory; that I was rising higher in the scale of being; that my moral strength was augmented; that I was getting more into harmony with God's laws and my own conscience; and that my example, with regard to the youth of my congregation, was becoming more worthy of me as a Christian missionary and pastor. Ere long the craving ceased; the appetite died away; I was emancipated! And now I would not be again enslaved for "all the world calls good or great." Most devoutly do I thank God for my deliverance!—National Baptist.

Christian Life.

By Bonar

DID a holy life consist of one or two noble deeds,—some signal specimens of doing or enduring or suffering,—we might account for the failure, and reckon it small dishonor to turn back in such a conflict. But a holy life is made up of a multitude of small things. It is the little things of the hour, and not the great things of the age, that fill up a life like that of Paul and John, like that of Rutherford or Brainerd or Martyn. Little words, not eloquent speeches or sermons; little deeds, not miracles, nor battles, nor one great heroic act or mighty martyrdom,—make up the true Christian life. The little constant sunbeam, not the lightning; the waters of Siloah, "that go softly" in their meek mission of refreshment, not "the waters of the river, great and mighty," rushing down in torrent noise and force,—are the true symbols of a holy life. The avoidance of little evils, little sins, little inconsistencies, little weaknesses, little follies, little indiscretions and imprudencies, little foibles, little indulgences of self and of the flesh, little acts of indolence, or indecision, or slovenliness, or cowardice, little equivocations or aberrations from high integrity, little touches of shabbiness and meanness, little bits of covetousness and penuriousness, little exhibitions of worldliness and gayery, little indifferences to the feeling or wishes of others, little outbreaks of temper, or crossness, or selfishness, or vanity; the avoidance of such little things as these goes far to make up at least the negative beauty of a holy life. And then attention to the little duties of the day and hour, in public transactions or private dealings or family arrangement; to little words and tones; little benevolencies, or forbearances, or tendernesses; little self-denials, and self-restraints, and self-forgetfulnesses; little plans of quiet kindness and thoughtful consideration for others; to punctuality and method, and true aim in the ordering of each day,—these are the active developments of a holy life, the rich and divine mosaics of which it is composed. What makes yon green hill so beautiful? Not the outstanding peak or stately elm, but the bright sward which clothes its slopes, comprised of innumerable blades of slender grass. It is of small things that a great life is made up; and he who will acknowledge no life as great, save that which is built up of great things, will find little in Bible characters to admire or copy.—Bonar.

Freaks of the Late Meteor.

Last September's Meteor, Seen in Illinois, Brings up at the Rocky Mountains.

Mr. James Lumly, an old Rocky Mountain trapper, who has been stopping at the Everett House for several days, makes a most remarkable statement to us, and one which, if authenticated, will produce the greatest excitement in the scientific world.

Mr. Lumley states that about the middle of last September he was engaged in trapping in the mountains, about seventy-five or one hundred miles above the Great Falls of the Upper Missouri, and in the neighborhood of what is known as Cadotte Pass. Just after sunset one evening he beheld a bright luminous body in the heavens, which was moving with great rapidity in an easterly direction. It was plainly visible for at least five seconds, when it suddenly separated into particles, resembling, as Mr. Lumley describes it, the bursting of a sky-rocket in the air. A few minutes later he heard a heavy explosion, which jarred the earth very perceptibly, and this was shortly after followed by a rushing sound, like a tornado sweeping through the forest. A strong wind sprang up about the same time, but as suddenly subsided. The air was also filled with a peculiar odor of a sulphurous character.

These incidents would have made but slight impression on the mind of Mr. Lumly, but for the fact that on the ensuing day he discovered, at a distance of about two miles from his camping place, that, as far as he could see in either direction, a path had been cut through the forest, several yards wide—giant trees uprooted or broken off near the ground—the tops of hills shaved off, and the earth plowed up in many places. Great and wide-spread havoc was everywhere visible. Following up this track of desolation, he soon ascertained the cause of it in the shape of an immense stone that had been driven into the side of a mountain. But now comes the most remarkable part of the story. An examination of this stone, or so much of it as was visible, showed that it had been divided into compartments, and that in various places it was carved with curious hieroglyphics. More than this, Mr. Lumley also discovered fragments of a substance resembling glass, and here and there dark stains, as though caused by a liquid. He is confident that the hieroglyphics were the work of human hands, and that the stone itself, although but a fragment of an immense body, must have been used for some purpose by animated beings.

Strange as this story appears, Mr. Lumley relates it with so much sincerity that we are forced to accept it as true. It is evident that the stone which he discovered was a fragment of the meteor which was visible in this section in September last. It will be remembered that it was seen in Leavenworth, in Galena, and in this city by Col. Bonneville. At Leavenworth it was seen to separate into particles or explode.

Solemn Warnings.

By Henry Ward Beecher

SOMETIMES, in dark caves, men may have gone to the edge of unspeaking precipices, and, wondering what was the depth, have cast down fragments of rock, and listened for the report of their fall, that they might judge how deep that blackness was; and listening,—still listening,—no sound returns; no sullen plash, no clinking stroke, as of rock against rock,—nothing but silence, utter silence! And so I stand upon the precipice of life. I sound the depths of the other world with curious inquiries; but from it comes no echo, and no answer to my questions. No analogies can grapple and bring up from the depths of the darkness of the lost world the probable truths. No philosophy has line and plummet long enough to sound the depths. There remain for us only the few authoritative and solemn words of God. These declare that the bliss of the righteous is everlasting; and, with equal distinctness and simplicity, they declare that the doom of the wicked is everlasting.

Dear friend, I must be faithful to your soul. You and I will meet, before long, at the judgment-seat of God. You shall not be left in doubt as to whether I think sin is damnable, or whether I think damnation, once begun, is reversible. I stand here to speak the word of God to you. I stand here to declare to every one of you, that whatever hope there may have been for men who may have lived before the gospel was known upon earth, and whatever hope there may be for the heathen to whom the gospel has not been carried, there is no hope and reversion for you to whom Christ has been preached, and to whom all the avenues of salvation have been opened, if, having counted the blood of the atonement an unholy thing, and having trampled it under your feet, you die unbelieving!

Stop, then, now; and especially because it is so easy to stop. I surround you with the generosity of God. I take the sheeted robe of Christ's love, more glorious than the sun, and throw it about you. I surround you with divine gentleness and meekness and mercy. So stand in the presence of Christ, and not in your own filthy rags. May God help you, and bring you, finally, to the land of eternal truth and glory! Amen.—Henry Ward Beecher.

The Power of Words.

THERE is a passage in the Bible which teaches that what comes out of the mouth is a great deal more important than what goes in; and we are told in the same book that it is better to live upon very plain food with those that love us, than to feed upon luxuries which are given with unkind words. Now I believe that almost all brothers and sisters, parents and children love one another. But in some families they think it is very silly to say anything about it, and you might pass a week with them and never hear a single affectionate word. They never say to each other: "I love you," or "That is right, dear," or "You are a good boy." They do not like to say "Thank you," if they can help it, and if you were to ask them why they act thus, they would say: "What is the use of always saying soft things? My friends know that I love them; when things are all right, I have nothing to say, when they are all wrong, it will be soon enough to speak." Now you children do not believe this. You are very fond of kind words. You like to be reminded of all the pleasant things. If you have beautiful eyes and a homely nose, you will like much better to hear your mother say, "There comes my bright-eyed little girl," than to hear her always greeting you with: "Good morning, Miss Snub-nose." Both expressions have truth in them, but one is a pleasant truth and the other is not.

Knowledge Beyond Books

It is the vice of the unlearned to suppose that the knowledge of books is of no account, and the vice of scholars to think there is no other knowledge worth having.

Wants.

By F. D. Huntington, D. D.

WE want a Christianity that is Christian across counters, over dinner tables, behind your neighbor's back as in his face. We want a Christianity that we can find in the temperance of the meal, in moderation of the dress, in respect for authority, in amiability at home, in veracity and simplicity in mixed society. Rowland Hill used to say he would give little for the religion of the man whose very dog and cat were not the better for it.

To make them effectual, all our public religious measures, institutions, benevolent agencies, missions, need to be managed on a high-toned, scrupulous, and unquestionable scale of honor: without evasion or partisanship or overmuch of the serpent's cunning. The hand that gives away the Bible must be unspotted from the world. The money which sends the missionary to the heathen must be honestly earned. In short, both the arms of the church, justice and mercy, must be stretched out, working for man, strengthening the brethren, or else your faith is vain and ye are yet in your sins.—F. D. Huntington, D. D.

Was There any Rainbow Prior to the Flood?

By G.

IN Gen. ix, 13, God said to Noah, "I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth." Infidels profess to see many difficulties in this passage, and argue therefrom that the Bible is not a book from God. Say they, The rainbow is the natural effect of the refraction and reflection of the sun's rays falling on drops of water, and as the same cause always produces the same effect, therefore there had been rainbows from time immemorial. Learned men, partly acknowledging what skeptics say to be true, have endeavored to answer their objection by rendering the original words for "do set," in the above text, "do appoint." This, all must admit does not amount to much, unless we take it in the sense of the old adage, that "a poor reason is better than none."

Our view of this place is that the causes which combine to produce a rainbow never existed before the flood, and this gives force to God's language to Noah, "I do set my bow in the cloud," &c. But what pertinence would there be to this institution, and what force would it give to the covenant which the Almighty then entered into with the inhabitants of the earth, if the rainbow had been a common visitor to this world for sixteen hundred and fifty-six years? for this was the earth's age at the flood.

We have lately been reading Prof. Bush's view of this subject, and although he differs somewhat from his brother commentators, we think his position is mainly correct. After referring to the common view, and presenting the usual arguments in its support, which he partly admits, he then makes this admission, which is explanation enough. He says:

"Yet we incline upon the whole to regard this as the first appearance of the celestial arch. Such we think is the natural impression produced upon the mind of any one who reads the narrative without reference to any existing theory upon the subject, and no one can doubt that the effect would have been far more vivid and striking had this been the first time the splendid sight had met his eye."

A little further on he says again:

"In fine, as it is impossible to prove that the rainbow had actually ever appeared before the flood, we believe the most interesting light in which this glorious spectacle can be viewed, viz., as a great memento of the divine veracity, has been conceded away to the cavils of infidels; and that by looking upon it merely as an effect of natural causes that have always operated, we shall be apt to lose the force of its moral bearing in connection with the event in which it originated."

If it be inquired how the earth received sufficient moisture to cause it to vegetate, if there was no rain before the deluge, we reply, doubtless according to the arrangement which the all-wise Creator established in the beginning. Moses, in giving a synopsis of the creation in Gen. ii, 4-6, says: "These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, and every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew; for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground."

Here it is said that before God caused it to rain upon the earth, in the state of innocence, "there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground." And probably it continued to do so till that mighty catastrophe, the flood. The above is a fair scriptural deduction, and those who think that the phenomena of rain and rainbows were common before the deluge, will please bear in mind that the onus probandi lies with them.

Teachings of the Spirits.

By G.

HERE is a clip from the Banner of Light, in the issue of Nov. 11. By it the reader may determine the attitude of Spiritualism toward the Word of God and our holy religion. Certainly no spirit but one whose abode was in Tartarus would utter such sentiments as the following. It bears the impress of Satan's hand, and is quite plainly "a doctrine of the Devil." Listen to a few questions and answers:

"Q.—Why does it say in Genesis, 'He that sheddeth the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed also?'"

"A.—If that has any meaning at all, the meaning is so very small that it is of no account."

"Q.—Who wrote that?"

"A.—It is very hard to tell,"

"QR.—I suppose Moses wrote it."

"A.—We suppose he did not."

"Q.—Why do you think he did not write it?"

"A.—Because it was written long after he passed from earth. That is proof enough."

"QR.—I don't think so."

"A.—Of course not."

"QR.—The Bible tells us Moses wrote those words."

"A.—Your Bible tells you many things that are false."

"Q.—How can you prove that it is false? Can't you tell me whether God had power enough to inspire men like Moses to write truth or lies?"

"A.—There are different degrees of inspiration. You know that every word that is written, every thought that exists, either spoken or unspoken, written or unwritten, is inspired by God. Moses was no more inspired than you or I. Now do not charge us with blasphemy, for we probably have as much reverence for things sacred as you possibly can have, but we have very little for that record you speak of."

"Q.—Can you tell me what nations are most governed by the Bible?"

"A.—That you know as well as we do. Perhaps we shall say those who are the most bigoted."

And so on ad infinitum. Another spirit, professedly of one slain in battle in the late rebellion, in referring to the belief of his friends that they must wait till the "resurrection of the body" before they saw him, says: "Oh, what a wild mistake! Why, the brain that gave birth to such an idea as that, ought to be annihilated; ought to sink into oblivion." And another one being questioned as to the existence of God, replied: "I aint seen him, though. No sir, I aint. I don't know where he lives; guess he don't live anywhere."

The foregoing is a fair specimen of the blasphemous teachings of these spirits of darkness. In reference to our duty concerning it, the prophet's admonition is: "And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? to the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, IT IS BECAUSE THERE IS NO LIGHT IN THEM!" Isa. viii, 19, 20.

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