No fact is better authenticated by sacred and profane history, than the idea that the ancient heathens borrowed many things in their system of worship from the Hebrew religion, and then metamorphosed it over to suit their own carnal notions and tastes. Lately while looking over "Horne's Introduction," a most valuable work for the Bible student, I have been very much confirmed in this position. For the benefit of Bible readers, I will mention a few circumstances which show that the old heathens did pilfer their belief very much from our religion. And I will first remark that the names given to the heathen deities are in many cases altered from the titles of the God of our Hebrew fathers.
The heathen god Jupiter, or Jove, gets his name very plainly from the Hebrews' God, Jehovah.
Vulcan, another of their deities, receives his name from the well-known Bible character, "Tubal-Cain, an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron." Gen. iv, 22. Vulcan, among his worshipers, was the god who presided over fire, and was the patron of all who worked in iron and metals. He was represented by some covered with sweat, and blowing with his nervous arm the fires of his forge. By others, as lame and deformed, holding a hammer, raised in the air, ready149to strike, while with the other hand he turns with his pincers a thunderbolt on his anvil.
The formation of man in the moral image of God. This was the origin of the fabled Golden Age among the heathen, which is extravagantly described by their poets, and may also be distinctly traced in the legends of the Scythian forefathers, and in the age of Perfection among the Hindoos.
In the classical story of the Garden of Hesperides, we may discover a tradition of the Mosaical Paradise.
The Bible account of the Fall of Man and Angels, is the probable origin of the old heathen tradition of the Titans and Giants invading heaven.
The disobedience of Eve is plainly alluded to in the legend of Pandora, who, among the heathens was regarded as the first woman. They say the god Jupiter gave her a box in which were enclosed all human woes, and when she opened it, contrary to the command of the gods, disease and every calamity immediately overspread the face of the whole earth.
The serpent form, assumed by the Tempter in seducing Eve, has been handed down in the traditions of the most ancient nations, particularly the Peruvians, Hindoos, Egyptians, Greeks, and Goths.
The acknowledgment of the necessity of an Atonement for sin, may be inferred from the animal sacrifices of the heathen, which custom they undoubtedly borrowed from our Jewish forefathers.
The heathens had a tradition concerning the primeval chaotic state of the world, as Moses tells us in the first chapter of the Bible, and the formation of all things by the Infinite One. This was true, especially of the Chaldeans, Egyptians, Phoenicians, Chinese, Hindoos, and old Greeks.
The heathen writers borrowed images from the accounts mentioned in the Scriptures. Such are the representations of their deities being veiled in the clouds, together with other particulars. Many of the occurrences mentioned in the Old Testament have been the foundation of monstrous stories among the ancients.
The story of Iphigenia being sacrificed by her father Agamemnon, was evidently taken from the circumstance of Jephthah's devoting his daughter.
The accounts of Scylla having cut off the purple lock of her father, Nisus, and giving it to his enemy Minos, is in all probability taken from the history of Samson and his treacherous Delilah.
Herodotus, who lived nearly five hundred years before Christ, relates the departure of the sun four times from its course, which he very naturally borrowed from events which transpired in the times of Joshua and Hezekiah.
The ancient Egyptians for a long time had a custom of marking, once a year, their houses, sheep, trees and lands with red, which of course was nothing but a pagan perpetuation of the Jewish Passover.
The account of the flood is also preserved by many heathen historians, but colored over and amplified as their fanciful tastes suggested. Berosus, a Chaldean priest and historian who lived more than two thousand years since, says: "That very anciently the gods being offended at the wickedness of the human race, foretold to Xisuthrus that they intended to destroy the world by a deluge. Xisuthrus immediately built a ship of great dimensions, and into it took his family and a multitude of creatures. The flood then came, and the vessel sailed off and finally struck the ground on the top of a great mountain." If we only substitute the word Noah for Xisuthrus, we shall find that the old Chaldean priest has given us quite a tolerable description of the flood.
The translation of Enoch may be traced in the Grecian fables of the translation of their heroes and demi-gods, particularly of Hesperus and Astræa; and in the translation of Dhruva among the Hindoos, of Buddha among the Ceylonese, and of Xaca among the Calmucks of Simeria.
And finally, the offerings even of the North American Indians bear a great resemblance, many of them, to those of the old Israelites. The slaying of the Paschal Lamb is undoubtedly commemorated by the red men in their annual Feast of the White Dog. The poor Indian also brings an offering of his corn and scanty vegetables to the Great Spirit, as the Jews offered the first fruits of their lands unto the Lord. There are also many other points of close resemblance in the worship of the Indians and the Jews, but we forbear to speak further on these points now.
The foregoing facts, candidly considered, form an argument in favor of the Christian religion which the captious sceptic will find no easy matter to overthrow.
BUSINESS MEETING OF THE CHURCH AT MARION, IOWA.
At a meeting for business, convened at half-past ten o'clock, A. M., Mar. 17, 1861, V. M. Gray was chosen chairman, and I. N. Kramer Secretary. Prayer by B. F. Snook.
By request, Bro. White gave a statement of the course heretofore pursued with reference to tent operations.
On motion Bro. Cornell was invited to labor the coming season in connection with Bro. Snook with the Eastern Iowa tent.
The following resolutions were then adopted:
Resolved, That this conference is pledged to support the tent preachers and tent hand this season.
Resolved, That a tent committee of one member from each church connected with this conference be appointed, upon whom shall rest the responsibility of raising and disbursing means necessary to carry on the tent enterprise.
The following committee were then appointed: S. Osborn, of Dayton, M. Osborn, of Millersburgh, H. E. Carver, of Iowa City, Isaac Cotton, of Vinton, J. S. Mitchell, of Lisbon, V. M. Gray, of Marion, Silas Sargent, of Rome, J. Dorcas, of Tipton, and D. Weaver, of Fairview.
I. N. Kramer was appointed corresponding Secretary, to act also as treasurer of this tent committee.
Resolved, That the choice of tent master be in the hands of the committee and preachers.
Resolved, That the surplus tent purchase-money be put into the missionary fund.
Resolved, That the unpaid tent purchase-money pledges be reserved for tent expenses this season.
Resolved, That Bro. Snook's present indebtedness for furniture, &c., be referred to the tent committee for disposal.
Resolved, That we pay Bro. White's expenses immediately.
Resolved, That we as a body extend to Bro. and sister White our sympathy in their recent trials, and that we endorse the position they have taken with reference to them, and that they also have our thanks for their labors with us.
Resolved, That the minutes of this meeting be published in the Review.
Prayer by Bro. White. Adjourned.
V. M. GRAY, Chairman.
I. N. KRAMER, Secretary.
EXTRACT FROM NEAD'S THEOLOGY.
By A. J. Stover
[Bro. Smith : Peter Nead is one of the bishops of the German Baptist (Dunkard) church. His writings entitled "Nead's Theology," are in great favor with his brethren, and are pretty extensively read by them, with few exceptions. It is an excellent work. I make from it the following extract for Review.
A. J. Stover.]
OF THE MESSIAH.
After speaking about the promise of the Messiah to Adam, and that preparations had to be made for his coming, and through Abraham all the families of the earth were to be blessed &c., he says,
God gave the law to Moses upon two tables of stone. Ex. xix, xx. In this law we have the righteousness of God revealed, or that righteousness which God will be pleased with. Adam was clothed with this righteousness prior to his disobedience, and could have remained in that state forever had he not partaken of the forbidden fruit; and after his transgression he forfeited or lost this righteousness. And this was not all: he became so weak and helpless that he never could recover that righteousness; yea, it was not attainable by him or any of his posterity. It was this which led the apostle to declare that by the deeds of the law, no flesh could be justified. Rom. iii, 20. That the law requires perfect obedience, see James ii, 10; Deut. xxvii, 26.
Having briefly stated the nature of the moral law, I shall now touch a little upon the use of the same, and then call the attention of the reader, in a few words, to the nature and use of the ceremonial law. By the moral law, I mean the law which God wrote with his own fingers upon two tables of stone, and gave unto Moses. I have stated that preparations had to be made for the coming of the Messiah; therefore the law had to precede the gospel. The attentive reader can easily perceive the use, or design, of the moral law, from what I have advanced. It is, in the first place, to show the sinner what a righteous and holy Being he has to do with, as the prophet tells us that God is of purer eyes150than to behold sin with the least degree of allowance. Inasmuch as the law is holy, just and good, it is therefore an image of God. The law makes no allowance for sin, neither does God, as has been declared by the prophet.
And, in the second place, by comparing himself with the law, he can see that he comes far short of that righteousness which is therein revealed, and that he is now in a state of condemnation, and that of himself he is not able to attain to that righteousness, and therefore having a clear insight of his guilty condition, it may be asked why sentence should not be passed upon him? I answer, though the law pronounces man guilty, yet as God designs his salvation, it is intended as a means to cause man to seek for refuge in the rent veil of Emanuel's flesh, or the atonement. Therefore God gave the Israelites another law, which is termed the ceremonial law, or Levitical dispensation. This law, given by Moses, was binding upon the Israelites until the coming of the Messiah, and after his coming was to be null and void. The reader will peruse the second and third books of Moses, where he will find this law plainly revealed. This law speaks of priests, altars, and various vessels and of their different uses, and then of various oblations, and of their distinguishments into burnt-offerings, peace-offerings, sin-offerings, and trespass-offerings, and of their design or intention. By the moral law is the knowledge of sin, and by the ceremonial law is revealed the expiation for sin. So, from the ceremonial law we learn that sin must be atoned for.
The question may be asked, Were those sacrifices offered up under this dispensation able to take away sin? I answer, No; for the apostle tells us, "It is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sin." Heb. x, 1-4. "For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never, with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually, make the comers thereunto perfect," &c. Hence we learn that those sacrifices were not able to purge from sin. They could not produce a change in man; yet they were of great service to guilty man, for it was by the law of sacrifices that the great atonement of Christ, the Son of God, was prefigured, or shadowed forth.
REPORT FROM BRO. BOSTWICK.
By Jno. Bostwick
Bro. Smith : Since our conference I have finished a course of lectures previously commenced in Bro. Erb's neighborhood. The truth cut its way through prejudice and opposition, and our elder Raymar, an influential man formerly from the German Baptist church, who opposed the truth at the commencement, especially the law of God and Sabbath, acknowledged at the close of our meetings that we had the best and most harmonious system of views he had yet seen. Upon hearing our closing arguments on the law and gospel he was quite overcome, with many others, declaring we had the best of the wine at the last of the feast. The people here are mostly German Baptists, and a number are convinced of the truth; but owing to certain relations toward each other and the world, did not see fit to confess and begin to live it out, still I have hopes of some of them. I have learned since leaving that Eld. Raymar preached a straightforward discourse on the law of God. Our meetings on the whole have accomplished much in removing prejudice and darkness from the minds of the people. Elds. Sweet and Paige, professed Adventists, had been laboring at this place, which was more of a detriment to the cause of Adventism than a benefit. Bro. Erb has been much strengthened as the result of the meetings.
In company with Bro. Morton I commenced a course of meetings in this place (New Hartford), but as Bro. Morton has been obliged to return home I have to defend the truth single-handed amidst much prejudice and opposition. I have not as yet been able to commence a course of lectures in Caledonia as anticipated.
I thus remain your unworthy brother.
Jno. Bostwick.
New Hartford, Minn.
REPORT FROM BRO. BUTLER.
By T. J. Butler
BRO. SMITH: Since my last report I have finished my lectures in Attica, having given over twenty in all; and although we had to stop right in the midst of our meeting for another protracted effort of some ten days, and had much unchristian opposition in the way of misrepresentation and false reports to contend with, together with a great amount of mad prejudice, &c., yet truth triumphed; and while many are deeply interested and still investigating, some seventeen have taken a decided stand upon the Sabbath, and in short, upon the foundation of apostles, prophets and Christ. Several others, we have reason to hope from the kindness with which they treated us, and the interest they manifested, will also come out upon the side of the Lord and his down-trodden truth before long. To the Lord be all the praise.
I also visited the little flock at North Royalton, Cuya. Co. Found an interest there to bear the word still farther, but sectariauism has become so alarmed that it is difficult to get the ears of the people for want of a house in which to address them. I found upon visiting this place that three more had taken a stand upon the truth since our tent meeting. That God may still bless his holy truth to the salvation of even others in Royalton is our earnest prayer.
I also stopped two evenings with the brethren in East Townsend, Huron Co., on my return home. Found the brethren and sisters at this place still trying to press their way to mount Zion, but being few in number, and having had but little preaching for two years, they seemed almost famished. We endeavored to give them the sincere milk of the word. That the Lord may eucircle all his scattered, tempted, oppressed followers in his compassionate arms, and preserve them blameless to his glorious coming and kingdom, is our humble prayer.
Yours in brotherly love. T. J. BUTLER.
LETTERS.
By Joseph Bates
"Then they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another."
From Bro. Bates.
DEAR BRO. SMITH: In company with three brethren from the Monterey church I met with the church in Caledonia by request, on the 13th inst. A manifest unwillingness on the part of some of the members of the church in C. to renounce and confess their wrongs, opened the way for a move which resulted in a thorough change.
Twenty members now stand free and clear from all the wrongs, and others are ready to unite with them the first opportunity; with an open door also to receive all who will be willing to renounce and confess their wrongs.
I was unexpectedly detained in C. over the Sabbath. The manifestation of God's Holy Spirit, which rested down upon us at this time, in our social and preaching meetings, and at the Lord's supper, was strong evidence that he was pleased with the higher standard raised by his people. Sister B. returned from Bowne with a statement of her hopeless condition respecting her diseased lungs by Bro. (Dr.) Ginley, he recommending her to employ the great Physician. Her husband came for Bro. Gerould and myself. Adopting the testimony of James, sister B. was raised up, declaring she was healed. That tightness, said she, across my lungs which has so affected my breathing is all gone, and I now breathe as free as air. Praise God! he has healed me! We enjoyed a free season in praising the Lord, and left sister B. rejoicing, with her request for the church in Caledonia to receive her into their communion. O, said she, I love every one.
Yesterday morning I rode eleven miles to Ada to take the cars for Ionia, and arrived just in time to see the cars moving out from the station. I inquired if the people would open their school-house to hear on the second coming of the Saviour. The most that came heard for the first time. Some supplied themselves with books, and others wished to hear more about the second coming of the Lord. Meeting this evening in Ionia.
JOSEPH BATES.
Ionia, Mich.
A Sabbath-Keeper’s Testimony
By M. Gaskill
From Sister Gaskill.
BRo. SMITH: As I have been reading the Review, I too have thought to say a few words through its columns. I know of a truth this way, though scorned by the multitude, is a blessed, glorious one. The nearer we approach the footsteps of our divine Lord and Master, the more enraptured are we with him, the way he has marked out, and the price which lies at the end of the race. My heart thanks the Lord for his goodness in giving me a disposition to hear and embrace the present truth.
My hope is in God that he will give me grace to stand through every scene before us. We have our house built upon the sure foundation, "the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus," and if we but furnish it with the graces of the Spirit, reflect the lovely image of Jesus, and in all our ways acknowledge him, the floods may come, the winds blow, but we'll claim the promise, It shall not fall. If we are overcome it does not benefit us to go back, but to make another desperate effort, though besieged on every side, to go through.
There are here five Sabbath-keepers, besides my husband and myself, making seven of us living within the boundaries of a mile. Pray for us, that we endure to the end, overcome all, and eventually stand with the Lamb on mount Zion.
Your sister,
Olcott, N. Y.
M. GASKILL.
A. EGBERT
By A. Egbert
From Sister Egbert.
BRO. SMITH: I do rejoice in the prospect of once more seeing some of the believers of present truth. I have not seen a Sabbath-keeper for over six years, and have at times been afraid I never should again; but I see in the Review that they are coming nearer, and I hope that they will come to Midland this summer. Midland is sixteen miles from where I live, but I would willingly go that distance to hear one sermon from the lips of a Sabbath-keeper. I feel very lonely and oft-times afraid that I shall fail of seeing the goodly land, promised to the saints. I ask the prayers of God's children that he will have mercy upon me and save me at last in his everlasting kingdom.
Your unworthy sister,
A. EGBERT
Midland, Mich.
Extracts from Letters.
Bro. M. S. Kellogg writes from Ionia Mich.: "It is with feelings of pleasure that I write a few lines again to let my brethren and sisters know that I am still trying to make my way to heaven. Although it is with feeble steps that I march along, yet my confidence in God's promises, which are left on record for the finally faithful is unshaken. The Lord is good and greatly to be praised. His mercy endureth forever. We have been highly privileged and considerably strengthened of late by hearing God's truth from the mouth of Bro. Bates, in the town of Orange, Ionia Co., where he has been giving a course of lectures. There are some thirteen honest souls keeping the Sabbath in that place, and others are convicted of the truth. Many gave their expression in favor of the Lord's Sabbath that do not see the importance, or have not yet moral courage enough to step out and take a decided stand amid the opposition of the multitude."
Bro. T. Bryant jr. writes from Jay, Me.: "I still love the precious truths of the present message and its advocates, and am striving to press forward and gain the victory over every evil of my heart and become prepared for the coming of our blessed Master. I feel glad that souls are being gathered into the truth in distant places, and also hope that the time will soon come when the East will be visited with the blessing of the Lord."
Bro. W. H. Ball writes from Washington, N. H.: "I have thought many times that I would like to write a few lines to the brethren and sisters scattered abroad, but have endeavored to excuse myself, like hundreds151of others, for want of ability. Of late, however, I have become satisfied that such excuses will avail us nothing in the coming day. We sometimes hear persons express themselves something like this, if I was as gifted as such a brother or sister, if I could only pray or exhort like this, that, or the other one, then I would be willing to bear my cross; but I am so weak, and my talent is so small, that I feel as though it is of but little use for me to try to do anything. Now when I hear individuals express themselves like this, it enforces upon my mind two conclusions: 1. That if such possessed the desired abilities for praying, exhorting, or writing, they would do so merely to let the brethren and sisters know that they were talented. 2. That if such should ever get to heaven and should not find as many stars in their crown as some others had, they would almost consider them worthless. To my mind, brethren and sisters, the great difficulty with many of us lies here: we are ashamed to appear in our true colors; unwilling to work in our own harness, so to speak; we feel an unwillingness to appear small in the world. This ought not so to be. Let us not despise the day of small things. If the Lord has given us but one talent, we should be just as willing to improve upon that as though we had five or ten. Let us not accuse the Lord of being a hard Master. If we have but one talent, our brethren will not expect as much from us as from those who have greater abilities, neither does the Lord require it; but he does require faithfulness with what he has committed to our trust, and will demand his own with usury.
"I would say to the dear brethren and sisters that it has been a little more than two years since myself and companion decided to go with the remnant to Mt. Zion. As it may not be uninteresting to some I will relate some of the dealings of the Lord with us in the past in preparing our hearts to receive the truth. A few months previous to our embracing the Sabbath, death entered our little circle, and claimed as its victim our youngest boy, then two years old. My companion at the same time was confined to her bed, being very sick, even nigh unto death. At the same time a horse ran away with me, and I barely escaped with my life. About this time we began to consider our unsafe position while living in a backslidden state, without God and without hope in the world. We finally made a covenant with the Lord, that if he would have mercy upon us, and pardon our many sins, the remnant of our days should be spent in his service; that we would bear any cross or make any sacrifice he might require at our hands. We soon were made to rejoice, believing that the Lord had heard our cries, and for Jesus' sake forgiven our sins. Soon after this some books upon the Sabbath question were kindly loaned us, which awakened a deep interest in our hearts to search to see if these things were so. We examined the subject carefully, and at the same time sought the aid of the divine Spirit to lead us into all truth. We soon saw a perfect harmony between the arguments used and the Bible. In searching the New Testament we were astonished at the amount of testimony to prove the obligation and perpetuity of the Sabbath. As the light began to shine, our pre-possessed opinions and prejudices began to give way, and, the soil of our hearts being in a prepared state, the truth soon took root and sprung up. We stepped out upon the sure platform, the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, believing it to be far more safe to follow the teachings of the word than the traditions of men. We came out under great opposition. My friends being all bitterly opposed to the Advent doctrine, many hard speeches were spoken against us. I will give one here as a specimen, not that we feel in our hearts in any degree a spirit of retaliation, or would say or do anything to injure any one, God forbid; but merely to show the dragonic spirit manifested, and the truthfulness of Rev. xii, 17. Soon after embracing the Sabbath we went to visit a brother of mine, as we had often done previous. The first salutation after we got into the house, was, Well, I don't suppose you will have to work any more for a living. I expect the Lord will feed you upon manna, as he did the Israelites, seeing you have gone back under the law. Said he wished my wife had died when she was so sick, and when I was run away with, that I had been killed. He hoped we would move off where we never should be heard from again, &c. What had we done to offend this dear brother? What crime were we guilty of? The only charge brought against us was, that we had gone back under the law, and gone to keeping the old Jewish Sabbath, and had joined the Adventists. But thanks to the Lord, none of these things moved us, for we had counted well the cost before starting. We knew that He that was for us was more than all that could be against us.
"We feel to praise the Lord for the way in which he has led us. He has done great things for us, whereof we would be glad. We love his truth, we love his people, and above all we love the glorious appearing of our Saviour, which is near, even at the doors. We are striving to get rid of every idol, and every secret fault, that we may be fully prepared to hail his coming with joy. I hail with delight the weekly visits of the Review. I have distributed among the circle of my acquaintances nearly as many papers as I have received, not but that I should have been as glad as any one to keep them, but I have had the object in view of benefiting my fellow-men. There are none of us but have friends, or acquaintances, who might possibly be benefited by reading the paper, and the cost of sending off a few copies now and then is but a mere trifle. There are but few of us with means so limited that we may not be instrumental in doing some little good in this way. There is a fearful responsibility resting upon us, as believers in the near coming of the Lord; and it is high time that we awake out of sleep, and bestir ourselves. A few faint desires never will save us. There must be vigorous action. It would seem from outward appearances that some suppose if they only keep the Sabbath, even in a sleek and loose manner, and are considered as being numbered with the remnant, that this is about all that is required of them. Such I fear will find too late their mistake. May the Lord enable us to so examine and prove our own selves, and search our hearts, and try our ways, that we may not be deceived. Let us be sure that our hope is well grounded, and reaches to that within the vail, that when he who is our life shall appear, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming."
NO SIN IN HEAVEN.
By S. E. Lindsley
HERE in a world of sin I pine,
By fierce temptations oft beset;
Earth has no healing balm I find,
To soothe my guilty heart. But yet
This one thought always comforts me,
No sin in heaven will ever be.
When e'er I turn mine eyes within,
And try to scrutinize my acts;
Little I find but guilt and sin;
Of Christian graces much there lacks:
Then sure this thought should comfort me,
No sin in heaven will ever be.
O come dear Saviour cleanse my heart,
From all that's sinful in thy sight;
With thee I long to have a part,
In all thy glory fair and bright:
And this thought always comforts me,
No sin in heaven will ever be.
And if abroad I seek to find
Those who obey thy laws of love,—
True humble ones of lowly mind,
Who seek the wisdom from above:
Lo! everywhere doth sin abound,
Only in heaven no sin is found.
Yet thou hast said the pure in heart
('Tis those who keep thy holy word),
Alone shall see thee as thou art,
And evermore thy love record:
O help us then from sin to flee,
And from it be forever free.
S. E. Lindsley.
New Haven, N. Y.
MARY HODGES
By Mary Hodges
From Sister Hodges.
BRO. SMITH: Although few in number here, we feel strong in the Lord. Thank God that our hearts were prepared to receive present truth, as we believe, to the saving of the soul, if we prove faithful to the end. We rejoice that where two or three meet in the name of the Lord he has promised to be with them. We believe the promise has been verified many times to us; yes, we find sweet peace in meeting on his own appointed day to worship him. O may the little few here be commandment-keepers in deed and in truth, that we may by faith hear the good Shepherd saying, Fear not, little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
MARY HODGES
Pompey, N. Y.
Jesus Remembered You
Never forget that Jesus had you in his eye when he died on the cross.
Most people have some thoughts of Christ. They have heard him spoken of, they have read about him, and occasionally they have had their thoughts exercised about him. Reader, no doubt you have thought of Christ. Your attention has often been directed to him; have you come to any conclusion about him? Is he necessary for you? Is he suited to you? Is he desirable in your estimation? Can you take his word? Can you trust in his merits? Can you confide your soul to his care? What think you of his person—is he divine as well as human—God as well as man—God and man in one Christ? What think you of his work—did he magnify the law and make it honorable—did he make a full and all-sufficient atonement for sin? What think you of his offices—is he the only mediator between God and men—is he the prophet, God raised up, like unto Moses; is he the Priest that God appointed, after the order of Melchizedek; is he the King that God had set on his holy hill Zion? What think you of his love, especially as displayed in undertaking the cause of his people, becoming poor for their sakes, dying in their stead, and ever living at God's right hand to make intercession for them? What think you of Christ? Is he worthy of your confidence and love? Is he worthy of your worship and obedience? Is he worthy to possess your heart, and wear your praises as his crown? Our thoughts of Christ betray the state of our hearts towards Christ; and our thoughts of Christ will influence our conduct towards Christ. We must think highly or meanly of him;—if the former, we shall give ourselves to him; if the latter, we shall withhold ourselves from him. “What think ye of Christ.” We believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. John vi, 69,
EATING AND DRINKING WITH THE DRUNKEN.
N. P. Banks, ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, and ex-Governor of Massachusetts, was welcomed to Chicago, recently, by a grand railroad supper and ball at the Briggs House; in which two clergymen, and a number of prominent laymen, participated. One of the clergymen in attendance is a Unitarian, the other an Episcopalian, and one of the laymen a Presbyterian elder. Wine was abundant at the table, and sentiments, offered by Christian laymen and clergymen, were drank in wine. Mixing with the world, at wine-bibbing suppers and dances, is becoming so common, that the Devil finds little or no difficulty in finding clergymen to introduce the revelry with prayer for the divine blessing. Rel. Telescope.
HOW LONG HALT YE?
"How long halt ye between two opinions?" 1 Kings, xviii, 21.
Some persons seem never decided. They are always wavering. They have no determination about them. They have had convictions, they have felt impressions, they have made vows, they have at times come up almost to the deciding point; but they recede again, and sink back into their old state. They linger like Lot on the plains of Sodom. They look backwards, forwards, before, behind. They seem about to determine, but they deceive the hope. Such persons are in great danger. Such a state is very perilous. The conscience is hardening. The Spirit is being grieved. They are nearing the spot where God says, "Let him alone." They are approaching the state in which Israel was when God said, "So I gave them up." Gave them up! What, God give sinners up! Yes, after they have long trifled with him, resisted the Holy Spirit, and endeavored to effect a compromise between sin and holiness, between Christ and the world, God gives them up. And when God gives a man up, all is over with him. His doom is sealed—his fate is fixed forever. Reader! are you decided? or are you halting? Halt no longer, but decide at once. Throw yourself into the arms of Christ—devote your energies to the work of Christ—consecrate all you have and are to the glory of Christ; or give yourself up without reserve to the world, to sin, and to Satan. If you cannot, if you dare not do the latter, then do the former, and do it at once. Go to the cross, and there, renouncing self, the world, and every idol, take Jesus to be thy Saviour and thy Sovereign, thy all and in all. Say, "Thine am I, Jesus; and on thy side, thou Son of God. I will be for thee, for thee alone, and for thee forever. I AM THE LORD'S."
I know thy works that thou art neither cold nor hot; I would thou wert cold or hot. Rev. iii, 15.
OBITUARY.
By Michael Welcome
Fell asleep in Jesus, Feb. 27, 1861, Bro. Jno. Hall, Sen., aged 69 years.
He was formerly from Massachusetts. In early life he moved to Vermont. He embraced religion when young, and united with the Congregational church. While residing in Berkshire he was chosen deacon of that church. Under the labors of Wm. Miller he embraced the first angel's message. Fifteen years ago he moved to Wisconsin, and five years subsequent into the town of Richford, Waushara Co. It was in this place that he heard proclaimed the third angel's message from the lips of Bro. Waggoner. He saw that it was truth and embraced it under his labors. Eight years ago he was baptized by Bro. Steward.
He was sick eleven days with a fever. He suffered much, but was patient, and showed to all present the realities of the christian religion. He has left a wife, three sons and two daughters, also a large circle of friends to mourn his death. But they mourn not without consolation; for his hope was bright. Immortality appeared in view.
He was beloved by all who knew him. As a husband, kind and affectionate, as a father, loving and good, deeply interested for his children, for their temporal and spiritual welfare, bearing them in his prayers fervently and constantly to the throne of grace, that God would bring them an undivided family into his everlasting kingdom. O, may those many prayers be answered, and may the afflictions which they are called to pass through be sanctified to their present, future and eternal good.
As a christian, he was decided, consistent, devoted and deeply pious in the great cause of truth, seeking continually some way by which he could be a blessing to others, trying to bring truth to bear upon their minds, loving the appearing of the blessed Saviour, the Sabbath, God's holy law, holiness of heart and life, and the establishment of Christ's everlasting kingdom, seeking for glory, honor and immortality.
His house has been a home for the worn and weary for many years. As far as possible their wants were supplied. For many years he has been a pillar in the church of God, sustaining the meetings by his presence, prayers, exhortations and godly life. It can be truly said that the church has lost one of her best members. He was loved by his neighbors, and by those little ones of whom Jesus said, Suffer them to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of God.
A sermon was preached by the writer from the words, If a man die shall he live again [Job xiv, 14]? to a large and attentive congregation, who seemed to deeply feel their great loss.
In his sickness he seemed to realize that he was going to leave us, talked freely of his bright prospect of immortality, that sweet rest that remains for God's people, praising God for that peace which he felt in believing. He said to the writer while standing by his bedside, "I have long desired to fall like a shock of corn fully ripe, and to be clear in my mind, to have no doubts of my acceptance with God. I have all that I desired. Not a doubt in my mind, and not a wave of trouble across my peaceful soul. Glory be to God for such a prospect!" How sweet these words sounded from his lips. I shall never forget them. But now he sleeps in Jesus, soon to awake, when the trump shall sound and the redeemed come forth to enjoy all those blessings that they have looked for, and behold each other face to face, and to see Jesus as he is, and to be like him. O blessed thought! to have the crown, the palm, and to walk the golden streets of that glorious city! Dear brethren and sisters, let us so live that we all may be there. MICHAEL WELCOME.
The Yoke of Christ
By Editor
We call the attention of the reader to the article in this number on the Yoke of Christ. We think it contains much truth, and is calculated to correct a great deal of misapprehension that exists on the subject of religion. Christ says his yoke is easy; and the truth as enunciated by him is to be received before all else. The only difficulty there is in the matter is in bowing the stiff neck, and bending the stubborn will to receive this yoke. Here is where the struggle and the conflict comes; and some commit the sad mistake of perpetuating this struggle throughout their christian experience. They spend a whole religious life in efforts to get rightly under the yoke, instead of doing the work effectually at once and then going on freely and easily in their harness. We were particularly struck with the remarks on those whose selfishness makes the yoke of Christ hard to bear, and his burden heavy; those to whom the ways of religion are distasteful, but who think that nevertheless they must walk in them in order to be saved—this being the sole aim of their unwilling endeavors. But this is not the motive by which we should be governed.