The last psalm ends with a chorus to the praise of God, in which the poet calls on all people, all instruments of sacred music, all the elements and all the stars to join. Sublime finale of that opera of sixty years sung by the shepherd, the hero, the king and the old man!
In the closing psalm we see the almost inarticulate enthusiasm of the lyric poet; so rapidly do the words press to his lips, floating upward toward God their source, like the smoke of a great fire of the soul wafted by the tempest! Here we see David, or rather the human heart itself, with all its God-given notes of grief, joy, tears and adoration—poetry sanctified to its highest expression; a vase of perfume broken on the steps of the temple, and shedding abroad its odors from the heart of David to the heart of all humanity! Hebrew, Christian, or even Mohammedan—every religion, every complaint, every prayer, has taken from this vase, shed on the heights of Jerusalem, wherewith to give forth their accents. The little shepherd has become the master of the sacred choir of the universe. There is not a worshiper on earth who prays not with his words, or sings not with his voice. A chord of his harp is to be found in all choirs, resounding everywhere, and forever in unison with the echoes of Horeb and Engaddi! David is the Psalmist of eternity; what a destiny—what a power hath poetry when inspired by God!
As for myself, when my spirit is excited, or devotional, or sad, and seeks for an echo to its enthusiasm, its devotion, or its melancholy, I do not open Pindar, or Horace, or Hafiz, those purely academic poets; neither do I find myself murmuring to express my emotion. I open the book of Psalms, and there I find words which seem to issue from the soul of the ages, and which penetrate even to the heart of all generations. Happy the bard who has thus become the eternal hymn, the personified prayer and complaint of all humanity! If we look back to that remote age when such songs resounded over the world, if we consider that while the lyric poetry of all the most cultivated nations only sang of wine, love, blood, and the victories of coursers at the games of Elidus, we are seized with profound astonishment at the mystic accents of the shepherd prophet, who speaks to God the Creator as one friend to another, who understands and praises his great works, admires his justice, implores his mercy, and becomes, as it were, an anticipative echo of the evangelical poetry, speaking the soft words of Christ before his coming. Prophet or not, as he may be considered by Christian or sceptic, none can deny in the poet king an inspiration granted to no other man. Read Greek or Latin poetry after a psalm, and see how pale it looks?—Lamartine.
THE RESURRECTION.
By Rev. A. Kingman Nott
THERE is not a departed joy, or hope, or expectation of the Christian, but will be restored to him in the resurrection of his Lord. I mourn not so much over the body or person of my friend who is gone, as I mourn over the lives and hopes that have been blasted and withered by the same touch of death and buried with him; but the resurrection of the Lord teaches me that there is a day to dawn when there will be restored to me in heaven all that I have loved and lost; and not more eagerly will I clasp to my arms the forms of those who are dear, than I will lay to my heart these blessed memories which I thought had gone perhaps for ever, and which now have come bounding back to me. I care not what or how trivial they may be, they shall all come back. There will not be a treasure over which the zealous eye of the Lord will not watch, and which his careful hand will not restore to the arms and fixed possession of his followers.
Nothing valuable, nothing dear to the Christian, is too trivial to be treasured by the Lord. Nothing good perishes. It is impossible. Out of the world's wreck, all that is worth saving will be saved. Every corner of the creation will be searched, the sea shall give up the dead that are in them. The trivialities of life! who does not know, though he may blush to have it said, that the dearest and most intimate affections of the heart are often called forth by objects so slight that we would not have another know it—the little things which we have laid away in a corner of our hearts, and upon which we doat so fondly! Has not a parent's fountain of tears been broken up by the sight of a little stray shoe which once imprisoned a tiny foot that is since enshrouded in the grave? Who does not confess this element of our nature—not of human weakness, but of human power! In the great day of the resurrection there will be nothing missing. That Jesus who, in the mighty act of conquering death, remembered to lay aside his shroud with care, and folded the napkin and put it away in a place by itself, will overlook nothing. The widow's mite will be returned a thousand fold into her bosom as a mine of overflowing wealth. The cup of cold water given to a disciple will flow back a fountain of everlasting joy. Nothing, I care not whether it be a soft ringlet or the memory of a child's smile, that has been cherished by a saint of the Lord, but will be sacredly preserved, while the earth returns to chaos, and given back to him.
Oh, then, what a glorious morn will the resurrection be! Methinks I see the glad procession coming up—a multitude, to which the throng I behold to-night is but a drop in the vast ocean whom no man can number! I see them coming up in robes of white, with crowns of everlasting joy upon their heads, and palms of victory in their hands. I hear their shouts of gladness as they cry, 'Victory! worthy is the Lamb that hath redeemed us!' Fathers and mothers grasp children long lost. Husbands and wives, separated many centuries, fall again into each other's arms. I hear a voice which calls my own name! I start as did Mary when Jesus gently uttered that word, 'Mary!' That voice! I had dreamed of it all through my life, ever since my boyhood. I know it; and the child is clasped in the arms of its mother, who cries out, 'My son!' and the child looks up and whispers, 'Mother!' in the old familiar strain, and rests again in the bosom that gave it life. I behold these reunions: no one comes alone or empty-handed, but all go with arms full and laps laden with treasures, which the grave and the sea had buried, but which now are all restored for ever with the coming back of Jesus.—Rev. A. Kingman Nott.
HYMN.
By Edwin C. Stiles
"And again they said Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever." Rev. xix, 3.
WhEN Jesus descends down the pathway of heaven,
And all his bright angels in glory attend,
May we thro' his mercy be changed and made like him,
To join the grand chorus that never shall end.
Hallelujah, amen! Hallelujah, amen!
And again we shall shout hallelujah, and glory
To God in the Highest.—
Hallelujah, amen!
When the Bride of the Lamb for her marriage made ready,
Arrayed in fine linen and jewels most rare,
Meets whom her soul loveth to join him forever,
We long in that union and anthem to share,
CHORUS.
She'll truly be clear as the sun in his splendor,
And fair as the moon in her glory by night;
Her terror is like to an army with banners
Where two will put swiftly ten thousand to flight.
CHORUS.
The church will obey the commands of Jehovah,
And follow the Lamb wheresoever he goes;
The faith and the patience of Jesus will make her
The light of the world and the wonder of foes.
CHORUS.
Sing praise to our God all ye servants that fear him,
Be glad and rejoice evermore in that day;
The church of the first-born who're written in heaven,
Will join you in chanting the heavenly lay.
CHORUS.
O blessed are they who are called to the supper
That God hath in glory prepared for his son;
Where all will partake with their Lord and Redeemer
Of the fruit of the vine in that kingdom to come.
CHORUS.
EDWIN C. STILES.
Portland, Me.
Extract from the Syriac Testament.
By G. W. A.
But this know thou, that in the latter days hard times will come; and men will be lovers of themselves, and lovers of money, boasters, proud, censorious, unyielding toward their own people, deniers of grace, wicked, calumniators, addicted to concupiscence, ferocious, haters of the good, treacherous, rash, inflated, attached to pleasure more than to the love of God, having a form of respect for God, but wide from the power of God. Them who are such, repel from thee. 2 Tim. iii, 1–6.
The above portrait of the sins of Babylon, though sufficiently plain in our New Testament, seem to be much more emphatic and glaring in this translation.
G. W. A.
Letters.
By Sarah Havirland
“Then they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another.”
From Sister Havirland.
Bro. SMITH: It has been about eight months since Bro. A. H. Daniels, through the goodness of God, presented the truth in this place. As soon as I had heard it fully explained, I saw that there was great beauty in it, and embraced it with joy. My companion also joined with me, and since that time we have been trying to keep God's ten commandments, and the word of God has become a new book to us. I feel to-day to praise the Lord for his goodness in sending the truth here, and that I had an ear to hear and a heart to obey it. I feel that I can give up all for his dear name's sake. I am willing to part with the world, its fashions and enjoyments, for an interest in the kingdom of heaven.
For some years past I have desired to be a Christian, but could see no sure foundation to rest my hope upon; so I was living without a hope in Christ; but I praise the Lord that my eyes have at last been opened to a sense of my duty towards God. For a few weeks past I have felt more and more engaged in this great and glorious work. I feel that it is high time to awake, and that God's people must be up and doing. I am determined to have on the whole armor of faith and righteousness, that I may be able to stand in the great and coming day of the Lord. I have often wondered that so many people should turn a deaf ear to the truth. They seem to be wrapped up in the world, and think more of a little of earth's gain, and of trying to please the world, than of trying to please God.
There are only four of us in this neighborhood that keep the Sabbath of the Lord, and we often feel lonely, but not discouraged. No, bless the Lord! we grow stronger and stronger in the faith of the third angel's message. I do firmly believe that it is the last message of mercy to a dying world.
From your unworthy sister trying to prepare for the coming of the Saviour.
SARAH HAVIRLAND.
Sumner, Wis.
Consecration Amid Sabbath Opposition
Sister M. L. Scott writes from East Townsend, Ohio, Aug. 19th, 1859: “My heart beats in unison with the people of God. The story of the cross is always the same good story. I rejoice in the service of such a King as ours, and I know if I serve him aright my affections will be set on things above, not on things on this earth, for we cannot serve two masters. There are a few here who are striving to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus; but there is also much darkness and opposition, especially to the Sabbath truth. This we expect, and are willing to share in the trials of the people of God that we may be made partakers of the heavenly joys in store for the righteous when the good Shepherd shall gather home his jewels. I am thankful that we have had the present truth preached to us, and we would continue in the things which we have learned and been assured of, knowing that we have learned them from the Scriptures of truth, which are able to make us wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. O, for an entire consecration to God, to do and to suffer his will, that we may overcome and meet with the saints on mount Zion.”
Brevities.
By J. Clarke
HARSHNESS, in rebuke, is like a surgeon who would use pincers instead of forceps, or an awl instead of a lance.
Lending. Some are willing to borrow, but their own property is so nice and choice that it would soon be ruined by being lent, so they refuse to lend, even to those who have rendered to them most signal benefits. "Give to him that asketh thee."
Scolding children and others, for their faults, will remedy them just as an application of hot water would cure a burn. "A soft word breaketh the bone."
People often grant needless favors to the rich and the able, while the poor, the weak, the friendless and the feeble are neglected, unnoticed and forgotten. "He that giveth to the rich shall surely come to want."
Many people who would know how to put a true value upon a farm, or a village lot, or a horse, will sell their best interests for a cigar or a paper of tobacco.
J. CLARKE.
The Fathers.
How far it is advisable to multiply testimony in regard to the light in which the Fathers should be held in deciding theological questions, we cannot say. Perhaps enough has been already adduced. But the following may have more weight with some than any other testimony, seeing it is a principle laid down in a standard work on Logic:
"The testimony of good and wise men is entitled to high consideration. But we do not ultimately and securely settle a point which they profess to believe until we have ascertained the grounds on which they believe. The same principles of evidence are common to them and to ourselves; if, therefore, they have beliveved on just principles, we must be capable of perceiving them."
Tappan, p. 433.
Tent Meeting in Wauseon, Ohio.
By James Harvey Waggoner
The meeting commenced according to appointment on the 28th of July. Bro. Butler was obliged to go home on business and left me to commence the meeting alone, intending to return, on second-day, Aug. 1st. I was taken sick on the night of the first meeting, and Bro. B. did not return till the 2d, and then so disabled by an accident occasioned by his horse's running away, that he was not able to be with me. Under these circumstances I gave fifteen lectures, my health constantly failing. At the end of that time Bro. Butler was able to be out, and Bro. Holt providentially came, so that I was relieved.
The interest was good throughout. Many were convinced of the truth, but worldly considerations swayed the great majority. But several decided to keep the Sabbath, and our success was full as good as we anticipated. As I left before the appointed Sabbath meeting, I cannot speak more definitely of the result at present.
As brethren may be inquiring why I am so long from the field of my labor, I would here say, that on account of my failing health it was deemed advisable for me to leave and attend to some business matters that demanded my attention. After my return home my disease determined to a chill fever, of which I was very sick. This is now broken, and I am so far recovered that I expect to leave for Ohio in a day or two. By letter recently received, I learn that Bro. Butler also has the chill fever, and is unable to labor at present. We hope the churches will remember us in our weakness, and not cease to pray the Lord of the harvest to bless and carry on his own work.
J. H. W.
Burlington, Mich., Sept. 4.
Excommunicated.
By A. S. Hutchins
Bro. Smith : Not long since I clipped the following from the Exeter News Letter, Aug. 1, 1859:
"Excommunicated.—During the last week a member of Dr. Cheever's church in N. Y., was excommunicated for asserting that there is no authority in the New Testament for keeping Sunday after the manner of the Jewish Sabbath."
This shows the Dr's. manner of disposing of his members who dare express an opinion against scriptural authority for Sunday-keeping. Why not take the Bible and show the member the chapter and verse where we are bound to remember the First-day to keep it holy? Why does not some learned man find it, if it is there? Is the first-day anywhere called the Sabbath in the Bible? A preacher told me, a few days since, he did not know that it was. But I have heard him call it the Sabbath several times since. Is this right? It is easy to call the first-day the Sabbath, but to prove it, is quite another thing. The more the learned and the unlearned try to sustain Sunday, the more blindness and darkness they manifest. Their arguments and efforts on this point, remind me of what the father said of his dwarf son, "His greatness," said he, "consists in his littleness."
A. S. Hutchins.
DAILY WORK.
In the name of God advancing,
Sow thy seed at morning light,
Cheerily the furrows turning,
Labor on with all thy might.
Look not to the far off future,
Do the work which nearest lies ;
Sow thou must before thou reapest,
Rest at last is labor's prize.
Standing still is dangerous ever,
Toil is meant for Christians now ;
Let there be, when evening cometh,
Honest sweat upon thy brow.
And the Master shall come, smiling,
When work stops, at set of sun,
Saying, as he pays thy wages,
"Good and faithful man, well done !"
Letters.
UNDER this head will be found a full list of those from whom letters are received from week to week. If any do not find their letters thus acknowledged, they may know they have not come to hand.
M. W. Hargrave, R. F. C., H. N. Bates, J. Jaffrey, C. W. Stanley 2, P. Mongan, D. C. Elmer, Wm. H. Graham, L. Mighells, E. C. Stiles, Geo. Wright, J. I. Farnsworth, L. Adams, Geo. Cobb, A. Smith, J. B. Sweet, M. A. Ashley, D. Rathbun, J. H. W., S. M. Shiry, J. Byington, Wm. S. Ingraham, J. W., A. S. Hutchins, H. W. Gordon, E. M. Hutchins, J. Clarke, S. C. Welcome, J. Harvey, Jno. Barrows, E. S. Faxon, A. Dyer, D. Robbins, R. Hilton.
Receipts.
ANNEXED to each receipt in the following list, is the Volume and Number of the "Review and Herald" to which the money receipted pays. If money for the paper is not in due time acknowledged, immediate notice of the omission should then be given.
FOR REVIEW AND HERALD.
J. P. Lewis 2,00, xv,1. R. W. Campbell 2,00, xiv,1. J. Porter 1,00, xvii,1. J. Wood 1,00, xiii,1. J. P. Munsell, 1,00, xiii,14. Geo. Cobb (for D. Cobb) 1,00, xvi,14. D. Rathbun 2,00, xiv,1. M. A. Ashley 2,00, xiv,1. C. W. Stanley 2,00, xiv,13. D. Robbins 2,00, xv,1. J. B. Sweet 1,00, xi,1. J. Eckert 0,50, xv,14. E. S. Faxon (for Mrs. S. Lewis) 0,27, xv,1.
FOR MISSIONARY PURPOSES.—D. C. Elmer $1,00.
FOR MICH. TENT.—Sr. Wm. Smith, $1. R. W. Campbell $2. R. Godsmark $2.
APPOINTMENTS.
By Nathan Fuller
Providence permitting, there will be a general conference in Ulysses, Potter Co., Pa., the third Sabbath in September.
Brethren and sisters in Penn. and N. Y. are all invited to attend. We want Bro. and Sr. White to be here if they possibly can; also Bro. R. F. Cottrell.
In behalf of the church. NATHAN FULLER.
P. S. A team will be at the Genesee station on the R. R. for Bro. W. if he will answer and say when.
N. F.
Minnesota Conferences
By William S. Ingraham
Providence permitting, there will be a Conference at Deerfield, Steele Co., Minnesota, to commence Oct. 14, 1859, at 2 o'clock P. M., and hold over Sabbath and first-day, and as much longer as thought proper.
Another Conference will be held at Bro. Moses W. Porter's, five miles north of Mantorville, Dodge Co., Minnesota, commencing Oct. 21st, at 2 o'clock P. M., and continuing over Sabbath and first-day.
I hope our friends will come together praying that success may attend our efforts to spread the truth in Minnesota. WM. S. INGRAHAM.
JAMES WHITE
By James White
Bro. and Sister White will be in Mass. Sept. 10th, Vermont 15–18, Topsham, Me., 24th and 25th. We hope to meet a general gathering at Topsham.
JAMES WHITE
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH
By John Norton Loughborough
Providence permitting, I will preach at the red school house one mile north of Parkville, St. Joseph Co., Mich., Sabbath, Sept. 17th, at 2 o'clock P. M., and on Sunday, the 18th, at 10½ A. M., and 7 P. M.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH
Books Published at this Office.
By Uriah Smith
Hymns for those who keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus. This Book contains 352 pp., 430 Hymns, and 76 pieces of Music. Price, 60 cents.--In Morocco 65 cents.
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Man not Immortal: the only Shield against the Seductions of Modern Spiritualism.---148 pp. Price 15 cents.
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Last Work of the True Church. Price 5 cents.
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These small Tracts can be sent at the above prices, postpaid, in packages of not less than eight ounces.
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Time and Prophecy. This work is a poetic comparison of the events of time with the sure word of prophecy. Price 20 cents. In paper covers, 15 cents.
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GERMAN. Das Wesen des Sabbaths und unsere Verpflichtung auf ihn nach dem Vierten Gebote.
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Debt and Grace as related to the Doctrine of a Future Life, by C. F. Hudson. Published by J. P. Jewett & Co., Boston. 480 pp. 12 mo. Price $1,25.
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The Voice of the Church on the Coming and Kingdom of the Redeemer, by D. T. Taylor. Price $1,00.
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