BRO. SMITH:—The fact that the Third Angel's Message is rising in France causes me to rejoice. Eld. Letourneaux held meetings among the French people in this vicinity two weeks ago; and I had an opportunity of conversing with him about the Sabbath-keepers in France, and asked him if he could give me the name and address of any of those individuals, to which he replied, that he could give me the names and addresses of ten or more; for he had been acquainted with the Advent people there ever since '44, when he came very near being caught in their snare. Gifts are being restored among them. Those who have the gifts of healing are called by the people from without, doctors; and those who see visions are called by the same, prophets, etc., etc.
Blessed be God! he will accomplish his work gloriously. Bro. Cottrell's remark on the subject is to the point: "It is a question in my mind whether they received the Message from this country, or from the Holy Spirit and ministering angels. It seems most probable to be the latter. God raised up persons in different parts of the world to give the First Message, who engaged in the work without the least knowledge of each other. And so he probably will do in this. The work is the Lord's, and he will accomplish it gloriously."
But this does not excuse us from laboring in his cause. I believe it is the Lord's will that we should communicate to them a knowledge of the work in this country. The Lord help us in our labors, is my prayer. I hope that the lovers of the truth will not forget in their prayers their French brethren beyond the vast ocean. We will have more information about them soon.
A. C. BOURDEAUX.
OBITUARY.
I WRITE to inform you of the death of my dear sister, Mrs. Mary Griffin, who fell asleep in Jesus Dec. 22d, 1856. Her health had been poor for some time, but the last two or three weeks she seemed to be so much better that we had hopes of her recovery. The last day of her life, she prepared for bed, about fifteen minutes to ten, and at ten o'clock she was sleeping the sleep of death. A blood-vessel broke and she only had time to call her children and say, I am going.
She had just received the Third Angel's Message, and had kept but two Sabbaths before her death. She told her family that those two weeks were the happiest days of her life. When I came to this place she said to me, I believe the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord, and I am determined to keep it while God spares my life. How little did I think that would be but two short weeks. She also spoke about the state of the dead. She had always believed they went to heaven at death; but she said it was very plain to her now that they would sleep in the grave till Jesus comes.
It was hard for me to part with her, and when I thought of her poor orphan children, who had neither father nor mother to take care of them, I felt to mourn and weep; but when I turned and looked upon her as she lay in the cold embrace of death, and saw the sweet smile upon her countenance, which seemed to say, All is well, I could not weep, but I felt to rejoice and praise the Lord for sparing her until she had received the truth.
I felt assured that her death was a happy one, and that she will have a part in the first resurrection. My earnest desire and prayer to God is, that I may meet her in his heavenly kingdom, where parting will be no more.
Sleep, sister dear, now sweetly sleep,
From all thy toil and labor rest,
Where mortal care, nor trouble's sigh,
Shall e'er invade thy peaceful breast.
Sleep, sister, thou unconscious art,
While friends and children weep around;
Thou waitest in thy grave to hear
The trumpet's loud and joyous sound.
Sleep, sister dear, in Jesus sleep,
Till he for you from heaven calls,
And though your grave be dark and deep,
His voice will pierce its gloomy walls.
His lovely voice will pierce the tomb,
And bid the dead in Christ come forth;
The living saints will then be changed,
And all be taken home from earth.
All those who God's commands obey,
With them the faith of Jesus keep,
Will be remembered in that day,
Though with the silent-dead they sleep.168
Eternal life to them he'll give,
And they will never die again,
But with their Lord for ever live,
And sing hosannas to his name.
MARGARET SHEPARD.
Otsego, Alle. Co., Mich.
SISTER Catharine Stone of Hillsdale, fell asleep in Jesus, on the night of the 19th inst., aged 48 years.
Sr. S. was in very poor health at the time of the late conference at Hillsdale, but it improved so that she was able to attend the meetings up to the time of her decease. She appeared to have apprehensions of death's approach, as she said she was going to set her "house in order," and was active in the meetings, and her whole mind seemed to be on the present truth. In her family she stood alone in keeping the Sabbath. Her anxiety for the members of her own family was unusually great, and it is hoped that her warnings and entreaties may yet bear fruit, to their good and the glory of God. J. H. W.
Extracts from Letters.
By Editor
Bro. John Brown writes from Plattsburg, N. Y.: "For the first time I write a few lines to you to let you know that I feel grateful to you for the Review. It is a welcome messenger to us. It affords us strength in these trying hours. I believe it is what shows us that the Third Angel's Message is truly sounding, and that the end of all things is just upon us. We shall very soon pass the last land-mark, and behold the glorious City, the New Jerusalem. Shall I be there? If I can live so holy and pure as to be received when Jesus comes, it is all I desire. I know we must be like gold seven times tried in the fire. We must be without spot or wrinkle if we are received. Sometimes my heart trembles with fear, when I think of the purity that will be necessary for the people of God. But when I read those precious promises which God has given to his children, I then can take courage."
Bro. J. J. Stewart writes from Weaverville, Mich., March 11th, 1857: "I am still striving to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony. I truly believe that we are in the last state of the church. I now feel more willing to heed the counsel of the faithful Witness, to buy the gold tried in the fire, and white raiment, and eye salve, that I may see.
"We ask any of the members of any popular church at the present day to give a reason of their hope, and they say they believe they have the truth; but thanks be to the Lord, we who are keeping God's commands, and the faith of Jesus, can say that we know that we have the truth, and the gospel hope. I am still trying to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. There are only three of us here in this dark part of the world who pay any regard to the Sabbath of the Lord. We are endeavoring to let our light shine, and do all we can by showing others the way."
Sister M. M. Nelson writes from Green Lake, Wis.: "I have felt the necessity of late of coming up to higher ground, and I have been endeavoring to prepare my heart that Jesus may come in that I may sup with him and he with me. What precious promises God has given to those who are of a pure heart. He has said that without holiness no man shall see the Lord. I have much to overcome; but his grace is sufficient for us. Glory to his holy name for the gift of the Spirit! How its presence comforts and cheers us on our pilgrimage here. O let us arise and put on the beautiful garments of righteousness, that we may be found as faithful servants when our Master cometh.
"I live six miles from where any meetings of our faith are held; but I feel enabled to look forward with an eye of faith to that glorious meeting in the kingdom of God,
> Where the saints of all ages in harmony meet,
> Their Saviour and brethren transported to greet."
Bro. Z. Marsh writes from Northfield Mountain, Mass.: "As the last sands of time are fast wasting away, and as one day after another is swiftly passing, and each is making the number less, and feeling that the awful threatening to the Laodicean church is for us commandment-keepers, I feel for one that I have been too cold in this cause, and am satisfied that I am still too cold; for when I, as an individual, am zealous, as is here required of me, I shall then be prepared to let my light shine before the world.
"I remember the consecration of '44, 10th day of 7th month. I want to be there again. I likewise remember the brotherly love that then filled our souls. Brethren, let us come out from the world and be separate from it, and then we shall be able to buy the gold tried in the fire, and the white raiment and the eye-salve. Then shall we be ready to meet the Lord when he shall return from the wedding, and be prepared to walk up those golden streets, and eat of life's fair tree—being clothed with immortality and eternal life.
"I stand here alone on the Third Angel's Message but I have commenced meetings in my own house, and the prejudice which at first I thought to see, has in some measure given away, so that I find in the meetings good attention and great anxiety; and one or two young men have acknowledged that we have the truth on the Sabbath question. But the meetings have been much hindered by the severity of the weather, and the snow has made it impossible for those to come who would. Will not some of the preaching brethren call and give us a lecture some Sabbath and First-day?"
Sister R. B. Wheeler writes from Worcester, Mass.: "I receive the Review regularly. I love to read it. I frequently find original instruction, epistles and selections that are quite refreshing; and I cannot allow a doubt but the paper will rise higher and higher in its spirituality as the church comes up to her privileges. I never began to enjoy such a spirit of prayer for those who write for, and read the paper, as I have the last five weeks. Bro. White says, 'Many, and a variety, of gifts make a social meeting interesting; so with a religious paper. And it should be borne in mind that the reading of the Review is all the meetings that many of our brethren have for months, and even years. How proper then to have a number of the Review pages filled with testimonies from many, which would be like a good conference-meeting.'"
Bro. M. B. Cobb writes from Cape Elizabeth, Me.: "Being a believer that the Third Angel's Message is the present truth of the times in which we live, and feeling to take heed to the call to the Laodicean church, believing it to be for the remnant whom the Lord shall call, I feel of late to arise from a lukewarm state, and to renew my covenant with the Lord in a way, with the assistance of God's grace, that I may be able to withstand the things that are coming upon the earth, and stand before the Son of man at his appearing."
MALINDA B. PIERCE
By Malinda B. Pierce
From Sister Pierce.
BRO. SMITH: I take my pen at this time to address a few lines to you. I feel that what has been written on the Laodicean state of the church has been sanctified to my good. It has caused me to examine myself more closely, and try and watch more every moment, lest I enter into temptation, or let something slip from my lips that God will not approve of. I feel as if I had been far from where I should be; but I do feel more decided and determined than ever before, God being my helper, to try and live out the principles of his holy Word.
God verifies his promise to me, that "as thy day is, so thy strength shall be." And the more I hear against the truth, the more I love it. It helps me to stick closer to the Bible, and feel more like a pilgrim and stranger here.
I was told yesterday by a member of the church to which we formerly belonged, that he believed it was the Devil that gave me this light; and that the Devil was making a tool of father Pierce and myself, to pull down the cause of God in this place; and that all our influence was on the wrong side; but before he ended the conversation, he told me that neither he nor any one else found fault with my daily walk as a christian, only that I work on Sunday. I felt grieved, but the Lord gave me strength; and I would not exchange the peace that I enjoyed for all the gold the whole church wears or the professed church, (and that is not a little.) But lest I weary you by my long writing I will close. Pray for us that our faith fail not.
Yours for the whole truth.
MALINDA B. PIERCE
Andover, Vt.
The Field is the World.
By A. S. Hutchins
THE above words stand in connection with the explanation given to a parable spoken by the Saviour, and by him explained to the disciples. From this parable we learn several very important points of instruction; one of which is, that the gospel of the kingdom was not to be confined to a small section of the world, not to be shut up in some place where there reside a sufficient number of brethren, able to pay well the preacher; while other parts of the world were passed in silence, as though the Author of the gospel, the glad tidings, loved them not, nor regarded the welfare of their souls. Said he, "The field is the world." Matt. xiii, 38. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."
Again, said Jesus, "The poor have the gospel preached to them." Matt. xi, 5. See also Luke iv, 18. From these texts of scripture we learn that the "poor" are not forgotten in the dispensation of the good tidings of free salvation to all who will receive it.
If then the above position be correct, is it wise for brethren and sisters, when means are solicited to carry forward, for instance, the tent enterprise, to begin to reason, Well, if we could have a meeting sufficiently near, so that I could attend it, I could afford to give more than I can now? We say, No. The field is the world; not the section near where you may live, nor where I may. "And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings." Rev. x, 11.
I have not the least doubt that we are now living in the time of the fulfillment of this prophecy. And the truth is finding its way in among those of another tongue. Since our conference two of our French neighbors have taken a decided stand on the Sabbath. They mingle their voices with us in prayer in the French tongue.
Again, suppose a poor messenger, a faithful servant of the Lord, living in a section where all, or nearly all, of the brethren, though rich in faith, are the poor of this world, and consequently not able to support him, and yet the Lord continues to crown his labors with success, shall those brethren in other places, withhold their aid because he does not live and preach near them?
Says Paul to the Corinthians, "I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service." 2 Cor. xi, 8. We find from the context, that brethren from Macedonia supplied his wants, while laboring in Corinth. Of Jesus our pattern, it is said, "Who went about doing good." Let us seek for more of this missionary spirit.
"As we therefore have opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." Gal. vi, 10. A. S. HUTCHINS.
TENT OPERATIONS.
By D. R. Palmer, C. Smith, J. P. Kellogg, J. R. Lewis, C. S. Glover
To the Brethren in Michigan.
DEAR BRETHREN:—We need not speak to you of the utility of Tent Operations. The success of the few past years with Tents has proved to you that this is the best mode of convening the people in the Summer season to hear the reasons of our faith and hope. In fact, it is almost the only way to get access to the people during the Tent season.
Our object at this time is to call your attention to necessary preparation and aid for the coming season. It is thought necessary to have a light two-horse wagon, and another horse, to convey the Tent from place to place, to move lumber, and to be used in traveling from village to village to post hand-bills, and to visit those who become interested in the truth.
The horse and buggy obtained last year for the benefit of the Tent enterprise, are about half paid for. These should be paid for, the buggy exchanged for a suitable wagon, and another horse should be obtained.
If some brother can give the use of a horse the coming season, then one need not be purchased.
Those who labor with the Tent have no means of their own, and must be supported by the church if they continue in the work. We think it will be necessary to raise about $300 to make suitable preparations, and sustain the Tent in new fields the coming season.
We send with this a circular that each friend of the cause of truth in Michigan may pledge what he or she will do for the Tent enterprise during the coming Summer. Let those who have means on hand for this object forward it to the Committee at once. Those who have delicate feelings in regard to pledging, can send the means without, and save their feelings. Please return the Circular to the Review Office immediately, so that it may be received before the Conference at Battle Creek.
Those brethren who have a horse, harness, or suitable wagon to be used for the benefit of the Tent, will please inform us before the Conference, when plans for the Tent season will be adopted.
D. R. PALMER, C. SMITH,
J. P. KELLOGG, J. R. LEWIS,
C. S. GLOVER. } Committee.
Conference at Battle Creek.
By Editor
PROVIDENCE permitting, there will be a Conference at Battle Creek, Mich., to commence April 10th, at 3 o'clock P. M., and hold three or four days. The Church at Battle Creek will make provision for all whose duty it may be to attend.
1. Preachers in this State, and those from other States as far as duty may require, and their means admit. Let the Churches in each State see to the wants and expenses of those preachers who should attend this Conference.
2. The Corresponding Editors of the Review should be present if possible.
3. Those Churches who regard it as their duty, should send a delegation of one or more brethren.
4. Those who feel a deep interest in the advancement of the cause of Bible truth, and have means to devote to the cause, should be present.
The Church at Battle Creek would be pleased to entertain a general assembly of brethren and sisters, if it were possible; but their small place of worship, being nearly filled by the regular congregation, would not hold such an assembly, neither could they find room in their dwellings. There will be room enough in the Holy City, where all the saints will meet soon.
J. P. KELLOGG, }
JAMES WHITE, } Committee.
C. SMITH.
To Correspondents.
By Editor
J. E. H.:—Your gun scatters. You do not come to any point. It was extremely difficult to tell in your first communication what you were aiming at, or what you desired to prove by your questions. It is very essential in an article to have the point to be proved kept in view, and introduce nothing but what is relevant to the question. For this reason your first and second articles are respectfully declined. In regard to your questions:—"Whether is easier to cease from transgression, or keep from bearing evil fruit," we will propound it in another form, and leave you to study upon it: Which is the easier, not to sin, or to keep from sinning?
Business Items.
By Editor
Wm. A. Raymond:—We will send you Bible Student's Assistant as soon as the third edition is completed. Show the friends a list of our publications, and let them send for such as they wish.
S. B. Southwell:—The REVIEW bound in paper covers can be sent by mail. We have none since Vol. VI yet prepared.
A. S. H.:—Your note that U. Colby was credited in last July only 50 cts. is entirely a mistake. By referring to No. 12, Vol. VIII, you will find $1 receipted to him. We marked him on book half price according to direction.
Pledges for Power Press.
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Receipts.
By Editor
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By Editor
THE price set to each publication includes both the price of the book, and the postage, when sent by Mail.
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