As we reflect upon the prophecy respecting the great city of Nineveh, the course of action of this people when the message concerning its overthrow was proclaimed, and the long-suffering of the Lord toward them, an important lesson may be learned.
1. The city. This was the metropolis of ancient Assyria. It had stood some fifteen hundred years, and was long the mistress of the East. It was about sixty miles in circumference. The walls of this city were one hundred feet high, and so broad that three chariots could drive abreast on them. Upon them were fifteen hundred towers, each two hundred feet high.
Thus securely fortified, why should this people fear? No doubt they often reasoned within themselves, We dwell safely, and there is no occasion of fear. Indeed, a prophecy had come down to them from their fathers, that their city could not be taken until the river should become their enemy.
2. The warning given. God pitied this wicked people in their blindness and hardness of heart. To Jonah he said: “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.”
“Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days’ journey. And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.”
This was not a familiar sound; it was new and unheard of before. The preacher came not from their schools of learning. He was a stranger and alone. He had no Bible in his hand to prove his message from; no prophecy to spread out before them which could be proved true by an overwhelming amount of evidence flashing and burning before them. Again, the message was a very unwelcome one. “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” Let such a declaration be borne to one of our cities, under similar circumstances, at the present day, and no doubt the preacher would be counted as a madman.
3. The reception of the message, and the effect produced on the people. The faith of the Ninevites was one of the most remarkable on record. In the threatened overthrow of Nineveh there were no conditions specified, yet the people understood well that they might exist in the mind of a merciful God.
“So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.” Here faith and works united, which proved the salvation of the city.
Of this fast it has been said: “Never was there one so general, so deep, and so effectual. Men and women, old and young, high and low, and even cattle themselves, all kept such a fast as the total abstinence from food implies.” There was something more than fasting. The proclamation of the king was: “But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God; yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?” This was a move in the right direction, one of which Heaven could approve.
4. God’s mercy to the people. He has declared: “At what instant I shall speak con-concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have pronounced turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.” Hence, his mercy and long-suffering here. “And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said he would do unto them; and he did it not.”
The overthrow of the city was delayed about one hundred and fifty years. But divine love and pity leave not this people now. In the most solemn and stirring manner are they warned by the prophet Nahum, of their final destruction and utter blotting out; following which, we have no record of repentance on their part. One hundred years fly away, when the cup of “the bloody city, full of lies and robbery,” was filled to overflowing; and what will soon be true of all the nations and cities of earth, was true of great Nineveh, notwithstanding her pride and power, her magnificence and boasted fortifications,—she was no more. The prophecy was fulfilled, “The gates of the river shall be opened, and the palace shall be dissolved.”
5. Practical instructions from the history of Nineveh. Said the Saviour to his hearers: “The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it; because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.”
And, again, “This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” Men can see how this declaration may be true of past generations; but how will it be with this generation? Has God given us light sufficient to condemn us if we reject it?
From the childhood of many of us, the sound of the coming of Christ “at the doors” has been heard, sustained by unmistakable evidences. The commandments of God for years have been proclaimed. His downtrodden Sabbath is being restored. The preparation of heart to meet the Lord has been preached thousands of times. Many of us have heard it, and these solemn warnings have sunk deep into our hearts. We have had precept upon precept; line upon line. And will not God hold us responsible for these truths?
Perhaps we may decide with respect to men of this world. We may see why they should call to reeling mountains and hurling rocks: “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.” We may understand why nominal Christians who oppose the proclamation of the third angel’s message, who reject the light of God’s word and trample it under their feet, should come up to the Judgment deceived and hear the awful words from the lips of the Judge, “Depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” But are we aware of the doom that awaits those who apostatize from present truth? Will they be favored above other men? Can they turn away from the truth and settle down into unbelief and infidelity, and yet escape the judgments which hang over the impenitent?
My soul trembles as I reflect upon the amount of light, the harmonious truths of the Bible which have been presented to our minds, and urged upon our consciences; and which have been by us acknowledged and received as binding and important to salvation. What must be our condemnation if we sink with so much light beaming upon us?
Will not the men who from one sermon were moved to prayer and fasting, to robe themselves in sackcloth, to sit in ashes, and to repent of their sins, arise in Judgment against such? But there are those who will not draw back unto perdition; but who will “believe to the saving of the soul.” May we be of the number, and enter into the joy of our Lord.
A. S. HUTCHINS.
“AS IT WAS.”
By Roswell F. Cottrell
WHEN man dies, the dust returns “to the earth as it was,” i. e. before man was created. This is true of the righteous and the wicked, and the spirit also returns to its source, “unto God who gave it.” The spirit is then as it was. It is in the hand of God who gave it. If it was a conscious entity before God gave it to our first parents, it doubtless is after it returns. This is true also of all men, whether righteous or wicked, the spirit returns to God who gave it.
A friend says, “The spirit is with God after death.” And again, “The spirit is with God, which must be taken in the same sense of Heaven, God’s visible presence.” He speaks of man without distinction of character, as does the Scripture quoted; and he informs that if the spirit is with God, “an active, conscious being, it would be conscious also.”
Very well; but what does this prove? If it proves the point designed, it proves the salvation of all men at death. The pure in heart shall see God, and without holiness no man shall see him. Matt. 5: 8; Heb. 12: 14; and in God’s “presence is fulness of joy,” and “pleasures for evermore.” Ps. 16: 11.
R. F. COTTRELL.
OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED.
By C. W. Stone
It is a bad cause that has to summon to its support a false argument. Numerous opponents of the Sabbath make a miserable attempt to associate the name of Jesus with themselves in their contempt for the fourth commandment. They say that Jesus broke the Sabbath. Of whom do they learn this? Of those who sought to kill Jesus. The Jews accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath. Now, if this accusation is true, it will appear in the record that Jesus had done something upon the Sabbath that was contrary to the fourth commandment, the law for the Sabbath. What had he done? He had healed the sick.
On one Sabbath when he was teaching in one of the synagogues, he healed a woman who had been a cripple for eighteen years. Luke 13: 10–17. The minister, who was present at the time, was very indignant; and he told his people that there were “six days in which men ought to work,” thus accusing Jesus of working unlawfully upon the Sabbath. Then this minister with much “bogus sanctification” applied the “stay away” argument to his people, directing them not to come to Christ to be healed on the Sabbath day. “The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day? And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed.”
The minister, among the rest, was ashamed. He had made a very foolish attack upon the truth; and when Jesus in his cutting reply had shown him that he had done no more than the Jews themselves considered lawful, unless they placed themselves in the ridiculous light of regarding an ox or an ass as better than a woman, he was ashamed. He ought to have been ashamed.
What, then, shall be said of the latter day hypocrite, who reiterates the cry of that ancient hypocrite, and upon the same grounds says that Christ broke the Sabbath? If he can make the statement and read the Lord’s answer, and feel no shame, then he must be set down as being among those who the apostle says are past feeling, and as having less sense than those blind Jews who opposed Christ. He ought to be ashamed. C. W. STONE.
NOT READ ENOUGH.
Eld. P. R. Russell (Baptist) writes in Messiah’s Herald of July 2, 1879:—
“I think I may affirm, as a historical fact also, that not in a single church gathered among the Gentiles, and made up largely of converts of this class, in the primitive days, was the seventh-day Sabbath observed. I have found no such case in my reading.”
The trouble with this man is, he has not read enough. He has evidently read only on one side of the question. If he will take the trouble to read Andrew’s History of the Sabbath, he will never honestly make such a statement as the above again.
MISSOURI
Kingston, July 28.—Another week has passed, and we are now in the midst of the Sabbath question. Yesterday (Sunday) the attendance was good, and in the evening, the largest yet. The people are stirred up to talk about the advent and Sabbath doctrines, although religion here is at a low ebb. They listen attentively, but care to read but very little on the subject. Still we hope that some will receive the truth. As we labor on, we greatly desire the blessing of God to aid us in our endeavors to impress the truth upon the hearts of the people.
J. H. ROGERS.
N. W. ALLEE.
Kirksville.—Since camp-meeting I have returned to the northeastern part of the State to resume labor in the cause, where the third angel’s message has scarcely been heard of. I came here with some misgivings, but already there are manifestations of the power of God’s truth. One family have already decided to keep the Sabbath, although they will have to resign their present means of subsistence.
I will notice briefly the circumstances which led them to accept the truth. I had employed a boy to saw some wood; but as Friday afternoon came, I informed him that we did no work the day following, nor after sunset that day. Accordingly he went home, returning Sunday morning to ask for books to read on the subject of the Sabbath, as his uncle with whom he was living desired them. The books were read, and the next Sunday more were sent for. After another week, his uncle came to converse with me, when I found that the publications, with the blessing of God, had already convinced him of the truth, and his mind was fully made up to keep the Sabbath.
I find that some at Bible Grove have become discouraged and given up the truth; but I think they will wheel into line when they find that they are not abandoned, as they had come to feel that they were. H. WREN.
NEW YORK.
Ogdensburg, Tent No. 1, July 26.—Nine adults have embraced the truth. To-day we organized a Sabbath-school and Bible-class, consisting of twenty-two members. Bro. Frank A. Hall renders efficient service as tent-master. Bro. Benj. Holmes, of Glenwood, is a zealous helper in missionary work. The interest here is just in its commencement. Our hope is in God. CHAS. B. REYNOLDS.
Grieg and Watson.—Our tent-meetings in the village of Grieg, which continued about four weeks, did not prove as much of a success as we desired; yet we trust the Judgment will show that some good was accomplished by our efforts. A few became interested in the truth; and our young church at Otter Creek was strengthened in the faith. But the influence of designing opponents who would not face us in public kept us from having a large attendance of church-members from other denominations.
We pitched our tent in Watson, July 23. We are pleasantly located about five miles east of Lowville. Have preached six times to good congregations of interested listeners. Bro. and sister H. G. Williams (with their organ) are with us to take the lead in singing. This adds much to the interest. JACOB WILBUR.
July 28. H. H. WILCOX.
OHIO
Leesburg.—The Sabbath-school in this place numbers twenty-seven. All were present. Donations amounted to $1.20, never having been less than 50 cts. The interest was quite good, and lessons to correspond. Ten copies of the Instructor are used to induce children to attend the school. The recitations will be by synopsis hereafter. Song Anchors were purchased, and arrangements made for a singing class for the children one evening in each week. D. W. REAVIS.
Appleton, July 28.—We are now in the midst of a good interest to hear. People come from a radius of fifteen miles to attend the meetings. Last night the tent was full, and many had to remain outside. We have been canvassing the Sabbath question for nearly two weeks. The people acknowledge that “these things are so,” yet there is a manifest slowness to move out, a few only having decided to keep all the commandments. Have no opposition, ministers wisely remaining quiet. We feel the need of a more thorough consecration to the work in which we are engaged, that the Lord may display his mighty power here. A. O. BURRILL.
Liberty Center, July 28.—We took down our tent last Thursday, and moved it six miles north into the country, where we pitched again, and commenced meetings Friday night. Congregations are good. Between three and four hundred attended our Sunday evening meeting. Since Bro. Carright’s report a few more have joined the church in Liberty Center, and three new ones have commenced to keep the Sabbath. The interest is such in this vicinity that we have thought best to divide our force for a short time, Brn. Bigelow and Hoffer going four miles west to hold a series of meetings in the Christian union church. Arrangements for building a meeting-house are progressing finely. O. F. GUILFORD.
Michigan Tent Meetings and Church Reports
Michigan.
Millington, Tent No. 2, July 28.—Commenced meetings in this place last Sabbath eve, it being the first S. D. A. sermon ever delivered in this town. Many were prompted from curiosity to attend. It is evident that a favorable impression was made, as our congregations have increased. Last night the tent was literally packed, while many remained outside. R. J. Lawrence. Wm. Ostrander.
Fremont Center, July 31.—There are five Sabbath-keepers at Fremont Center, and by urgent request we commenced a tent-meeting there July 5. Our congregations were small from the first, and since introducing the Sabbath question the few have diminished so that we are not justified in continuing longer. We found a strong element of first-day Adventism about here, while the churches seem to hold the doctrines in utter contempt. Unless we see some more encouraging features, we shall soon close the meetings. E. B. Lane. E. S. Lane. M. S. Burnham.
Sheridan, Stanton, and Sidney.—Since my last report I have met with the brethren at each of these places. We had an excellent meeting at Sheridan. I fear, however, that not all is being done in the Sabbath-school work that should be. At Stanton, two more have embraced the Sabbath. At Sidney, brethren came in from surrounding churches, and we had an interesting meeting. After the forenoon service, we repaired to a neighboring mill-pond, where three were buried with their Lord in baptism. Orlando Soule.
Section 6.—I have recently spent nearly three weeks in the counties of Macomb and Lapeer. Five were baptized at Memphis. There are eight faithful sisters at Dryden. Their elder has lately moved away, yet they have regular Sabbath meetings. The testimonies of these sisters in our social meeting were characterized with hope and good cheer. At Imlay City our meeting was held in a private house. Brethren and sisters were present from Webster and Almont. The meeting was a good one. It was encouraging to me to meet at this meeting some who embraced the truth as the result of my first public labors in the cause seven years ago, and to find them firm in the faith. Promises were made at the quarterly meeting for this district, which, if carried out, will relieve them from their present debt to the tract society, and prepare them to labor more successfully in the missionary work. H. M. Kenyon. July 25.
WISCONSIN
Monticello, Tent No. 5, July 24.—We have held six meetings in the tent at this place. The attendance is good. The people are kind, and our temporal wants are well supplied. We hope the meetings will result in good. N. M. Jordon. A. Fuller.
Sturgeon Bay, Tent No. 1, July 28.—We pitched our tent in this place July 23, and commenced meetings the next evening. Sturgeon Bay has a population of eight or nine hundred. It is the county seat of Door Co. We have now held five meetings. Congregations range from 75 to 150. O. A. Olsen. E. G. Olsen.
Elkhorn, July 31, Tent No. 3.—The interest seems to be on the increase. We have not fully canvassed the Sabbath question, yet have spoken on the subject sufficiently to set the people to thinking. We are visiting among them and trying to persuade them to accept the truth. Pray for us. C. W. Olds. E. M. Crandall.
Excelsior, Tent No. 2.—This is to be the last week of our meetings here; when it closes, we shall have been here six weeks. Notwithstanding the very busy season, the attendance has been quite good. People have seemed interested, prejudice has been removed, and conviction fastened upon many hearts. Still but three have begun the observance of the Sabbath thus far. We trust that others will yet embrace the truth. Brethren from Baraboo and Kilbourn have met with us several times on the Sabbath. Some who were keeping the Sabbath before we came here have been strengthened, and we think that Sabbath meetings can be arranged and sustained. We go from here to New Lisbon, where we expect to commence meetings about Aug. 7. G. C. Tenney. J. J. Smith.
Neillsville, Tent No. 8, July 30.—We have given in all twenty-eight discourses. Have met with some opposition. A Presbyterian minister tried the stay-away argument; but finding that he could accomplish nothing in this way, he assailed our position on the Sabbath question and the sleep of the dead, in a two hours' discourse. He succeeded in disgusting many with his views, and confirmed our brethren in the faith. We had liberty in reviewing him.
The M. E. presiding elder next came on with a volley of abuse and assertions, and concluded by saying, “Here Adventism explodes.” We took notes, and announced a review. Bro. Decker being in the vicinity, we requested him to review the discourse, which he did to the satisfaction of all. The next day twelve were baptized by Bro. Decker. There are six others who are keeping the Sabbath. We hope for a few more in this place. We move our tent to a new field next week. Our address will then be Maple Works, Clarke Co., Wis. T. B. Snow. C. Holmes.
KANSAS
Grove City, July 22.—The interest in our meetings seems to be on the increase. We have introduced the Sabbath question, and several persons already express themselves convinced that the seventh day is the Sabbath. Our basket meeting last Sunday was well attended, considering the threatening aspect of the weather.
July 29.—An opposition sermon in the tent, at 3 P. M. last first-day, by a minister who had an appointment in a school-house near by, has served a good purpose by letting the people see the weakness of the Sunday Sabbath.
The donations of the people are sufficient to cover the running expenses of the tent.
J. LAMONT. OSCAR HILL.
Canola, Bloomfield and Harrisonville.—Since reporting last I have visited these three churches. At Canola they are doing quite well in keeping the different enterprises moving. One was baptized. At Bloomfield, difficulties have existed for years. We held several meetings trying to effect a reconciliation, but failed. It was finally voted to disband the church, and we organized a new one, consisting of twelve members. We have had an interesting meeting at Harrisonville. Three were baptized yesterday, and there are several in the community deeply interested. A number of Swedes reside here, who are almost persuaded to accept the truth. They requested me to try to get a man that could talk to them in their own language to come and hold meetings; and I accordingly make this public request that some one who can speak this language come as soon as consistent. Other places near here need such help. SMITH SHARP.
ILLINOIS
Tamaroa, July 25.—I began meetings here July 11, in the Baptist church. After I had spoken once on the Sabbath question the doors were closed against us. I spoke a few times in a hired hall and visited considerably; and as the result, ten have promised to keep the Sabbath, among whom are two ministers. To the Lord be all the praise. C. H. FOSTER.
Webber Grove and Keenville.—We have just closed a three weeks' effort in the vicinity of these two churches. Held three grove meetings, each continuing two days. We are encouraged by what we have seen. Our friends appear to be growing stronger in the faith. Nearly all vowed to pay the tithe. As we visited one family we observed that the Lord had wonderfully blessed them in temporal things. They had vowed to tithe all they raised this year; God heard it, and fulfilled Mal. 3:10 to a good degree. We assisted in three Sabbath schools, and tried to help the brethren and sisters to improve their methods of conducting them. Baptized two. DENNIS MORRISON. July 30. G. W. COLCORD.
Bloomington, July 30.—We have now given thirteen discourses to increasing congregations. The people ask questions quite freely. They hand them in on slips of paper, to be answered the next evening. This adds much to the interest of the meeting. The papers give quite favorable reports of our meetings, especially the Daily Leader. It has twice devoted nearly a column to our main arguments on the law and Sabbath. Quite a number are already convinced of the truthfulness of our position on the Sabbath.
We earnestly pray that we may have wisdom to prosecute this work to divine acceptance. R. F. ANDREWS. R. VICKERY.
TENNESSEE
By G. K. Owen
Edgefield Junction, July 22.—We left our field of labor in Henry Co., July 14. Bro. J. H. Dortch brought us more than a hundred miles in a covered wagon over rough roads. One needs to travel in Tennessee to fully understand the term, “rough roads.” Reached55this place, July 18. Found the tent already pitched; and our hearts were cheered by seeing the brethren and sisters coming in from various directions until the largest number of Sabbath-keepers ever convened in Tennessee was present. Our quarterly meeting commenced that evening. Up to Sunday evening five discourses were given. Two interesting sessions of the Sabbath-school were held, all the schools having learned the same lesson. Business and social meetings filled up the rest of the available time. A good interest was manifested in the tithing system, and some very interesting testimonies were given by those who had adopted it and proved the Lord true to his promise.
Sunday P. M., six followed their Lord in baptism. Three were added to the Edgefield Junction church. The Cross Plains church was organized. At the closing meeting Monday morning Brn. Yates and Dortch were ordained as local elders of their respective churches. The Spirit of the Lord was present, and a determined settling into the work was manifested. On account of the increasing outside interest we continue meetings every night in the tent, which stands only a few steps from the railroad station, where the voice of Bro. E. B. Lane eight years ago gave the first sound of the third angel's message that was heard in Tennessee.
We could not return and continue our labors in Henry Co. on account of yellow fever.
July 28. We have continued our meetings here in the tent one week since the close of the quarterly meeting. Two more were baptized yesterday, making eight in all since our quarterly meeting commenced, and four have been added to this church. We thank the Lord for these omens of good. G. K. OWEN.
SPEAK THOU THE TRUTH.
Speak thou the truth. Let others fence
And trim their words for pay;
In pleasant sunshine of pretense,
Let others bask their day.
Face thou the fact—though safer seem
In shelter to abide:
We were not made to sit and dream—
The safe must first be tried
Where God has set his thorns about,
Cry not, “The way is plain;”
His path within, for those without,
Is paved with toil and pain.
One fragment of his blessed word
Into thy spirit burned,
Is better than the whole, half heard,
And by thine interest turned.
Show thou the light. If conscience gleam,
Set not thy bushel down;
The smallest speck may throw its beam
O’er hamlet, tower, and town.
Be true to every inmost thought,
And as thy thought, thy speech:
What thou hast not by suffering bought,
Presume not thou to teach
Hold on, hold on—thou hast the Rock;
Thy foes are on the sand;
The first world-tempest’s ruthless shock
Scatters their shifting strand.
While each wild gust the mist will clear,
We now see darkly through;
And justified at last appear
The true, in him that’s true.
—Selected.
Progress of the Cause.
“He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Ps. 126:6.
MAINE
By J. B. Goodrich; Chas. Stratton
Burnham.—Some good souls have accepted the truth here, and still we hope for others. As usual, the enemy is trying to destroy all that he can. May God save the honest.
J. B. GOODRICH. August 1. CHAS. STRATTON.
IOWA
By C. A. Washburn; A. W. H. Millard
Conway, July 28.—We think the interest is better now than at any time previous. Last evening our tent was filled. Some are investigating, and acknowledge that we have the truth. We hope for good results. We are now in the midst of the Sabbath question, with an attentive congregation. Pray for us.
C. A. WASHBURN.
A. W. H. MILLARD.
INDIANA
By W. W. Sharp
Silver Lake, Tent No. 1, July 29.—The attendance does not vary much. When we presented the Sabbath question, some stopped coming to the meetings; but several are interested, and are inclined to accept the truth. This arouses secret opposition. Our expenses are more than doubly met by donations. We have faith to hope for fruit here. Bro. S. Rogers has come to help me in Bro. Lane’s absence.
W. W. SHARP.
KENTUCKY
By S. Osborn
Slick Rock, July 28.—I adjourned meetings here to attend the quarterly meeting at Powder Mills, July 19, 20. This meeting, though in a measure successful, showed hardly as much of the melting influence of the Spirit of God as usual. I feel satisfied that the main cause of this was a failure of the members to be on time. This fact materially affected the interests of the Sabbath-school.
Our meetings here in the tent have been well attended, but the people are slow to obey. Three are keeping the Sabbath, and persecution is beginning to rage against them in the form of ridicule, which seems to be a powerful argument.
S. OSBORN.
NEBRASKA
By Daniel Nettleton; Geo. S. Richard
Central City, July 27.—We commenced tent-meetings here June 27. There has been a good interest from the first. Some have attended from the country, notwithstanding the rains and hurry of harvest. When we had given three discourses on the Sabbath, the Baptist minister of this place asked the privilege of speaking in the tent upon the same subject. We granted his request, and reviewed him the following evening. His discourse did the cause much good, as it showed the weakness of their position.
Our meetings have been interrupted by the wet weather. We have had two Sabbath meetings, with a good attendance. Twenty-nine discourses have been given. Eight have commenced to keep the Sabbath, and others, who are convinced of the truth, we think will obey. We have closed our tent-meetings, and will follow up the interest by visiting and holding meetings in the school-house.
DANIEL NETTLETON.
GEO. S. RICHARD.
The Higher Circle of Saints
Do nothing to-day that you would be likely to repent of to-morrow.
“WORLDLINGS are eager to find access to what are called ‘the higher circles.’ For this they study, labor, make haste to be rich, indulge in flatteries, do ignoble homage. But after they gain access, what then? It is but vanity and vexation of spirit. ‘The fashion of the world passeth away;’ the gilded scene is but for a moment; the highest circles disappear like the fleeting visions of the night. But look at the higher circle to which saints are admitted! Here is the portraiture given by the apostle: ‘But ye are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels.’”—Zion’s Herald.
Obituary Notices.
“Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, from henceforth.” Rev. 14:13.
Saunders.—Died, in Roulette, Potter Co., Pa., July 28, 1879, Morris J., only son of J. G. and M. L. Saunders, aged twelve years and five days. The circumstances of his death were painful, and were as follows: He was assisting in loading hay in the field, and in attempting to recover the lines, which had fallen upon the whiffletree, he was thrown under the wagon, dragged several rods by the lines, to which he clung, and run over by both the forward and hinder wheel, dislocating his neck, causing instant death. I was engaged in tent labor at Potter Brook, where I received the sad intelligence at midnight, and hastened home, arriving a few hours before his burial. Funeral discourse by Eld. Rose, Baptist, from Jer. 31: 15–17. It is a sad bereavement, especially to his mother, as he was beginning to be of great help in my absence from home. Pray for us, that sustaining grace may be given. J. G. Saunders.
Blake.—Died, at Galway, Saratoga Co., N. Y., July 6, 1879, our beloved daughter, Alice L. Blake, in the nineteenth year of her age. She gave her heart to the Lord last September, and has since lived a consistent Christian life. She leaves a husband, parents, four brothers, and one sister, besides a large circle of relatives and friends, to mourn her loss. W. N., and E. Parker.
Farrar.—Died, July 20, 1879, of congestive chills, near Lakeview, Mich., Florence Farrar, aged 4 years, 9 months, and 15 days. Her parents embraced the truth under the labors of Bro. A. O. Burrill, two years ago this summer. They are comforted with the blessed hope that our dear Saviour is soon to come, when their little Florence will be returned to their embrace. Remarks by the writer, from Jer. 31: 15–17. G. H. Gilbert.
Durham.—Fell asleep in Jesus, July 25, 1879, sister Elizabeth Durham, wife of Bro. W. Durham, near Russellville, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y. Her death has cast a gloom over the whole neighborhood, for she was much esteemed and greatly beloved by family, church, and neighbors. She died of measles, four days from time of attack. Funeral discourse, by request of deceased, from Rev. 14:13. Chas. B. Reynolds.
TEXAS
Norman Hill, Tent No. 3, July 29.—We shall hold no more meetings at present during the week, on account of the decrease in interest since the presentation of the Sabbath question. Five have taken a firm stand for the truth, one of whom was a confirmed infidel.
I shall remain here until our camp-meeting, holding meetings on Sabbaths and Sundays, and during the week shall visit and solicit subscribers for our periodicals. I have obtained eight subscribers for the Tidende; two for the Harold; and one for the REVIEW. Have sold four Bibles, and $7.75 worth of our books and tracts. Bro. Chas. Wilson and wife, from Cleburne, came here and assisted me for a few days, which help I highly prized. Bro. Edward Swaden is still with me, rendering efficient service. God is our refuge; in him we trust, and to him do we look for help and strength for the future. A. W. JENSON.
Savoy, Tent No. 1, July 21.—We closed our meetings here last evening. The tent was filled. At our Sabbath-school more than a hundred were present. Our social meeting was very interesting and profitable, a large number taking part, some for the first time. The Spirit of the Lord was in our midst. Quite a number of our friends from Denison were present, which added much to the interest of the meeting, and was a great source of encouragement to me. The effort of our brethren to attend meetings where a new interest is being raised is commendable, and often a source of help. On account of the extreme scarcity of money, we have sold but few books. Have obtained three subscribers for the REVIEW, and thirteen for the weekly Instructor. There are now more than twenty who are keeping the Sabbath, all heads of families. R. M. KILGORE.
Savoy Debate.—This began the 14th inst., and closed the 18th, two sessions being held each day. Nothing new from the other side was presented. On the subject of the Sunday, although the question read, Do the Scriptures teach, etc., Elder Horn had to resurrect Barnabas and Justin Martyr, and call up Prof. Hackett, to testify that the first-day was the Lord’s day, thus yielding the point at issue. On the immortality question his principal argument was based on the following: The idea of immortality in this life could not be conceived by man, yet all men at the present time have the idea, and the heathen from antiquity had the same; therefore some higher power, like God, must have revealed it. From these suppositions it is concluded that we have a soul and spirit that does not die; thus adopting St. Augustine’s rule: when any doctrine of the church cannot be traced to its foundation, or starting point, it must have come from the apostles. I admitted that the idea was now very generally accepted; that the aborigines of modern times and the heathen of more ancient times believed it; that the idea of immortality in this life could not have been conceived of by man; and that it had been revealed; but added that it was quite unfortunate for my opponent, and the theory which he was trying to sustain and bolster up, that its author,—he who had “revealed” the idea, “Thou shalt not surely die,”—did not possess at that time a reputable character. John 8: 44. By telling this first lie he caused our first parents to sin, thus bringing death,—“he was a murderer from the beginning.” Satan as prime engineer laid out the road; heathenism did the grading; by papal corruptions the leveling was done, and the bridges and connections were made; while spiritualism comes to the rescue in these last days, lays the track, puts on the rolling stock, and invites the world to get on board.
Elder Horn on this question simply pandered to the prejudices of the people, by glibly repeating inferential passages, repeatedly referring to the rich man and Lazarus as his stronghold; but he abandoned the thief on the cross. On the punishment question Elder Horn admitted that Aion was sometimes limited in its meaning. He therefore abandoned Rev. 14: 11; and 20: 10; but built his whole fabric on Matt. 25: 46. I admitted all he claimed on this text so far as the duration of the punishment was concerned; but remonstrated on the authenticity of his dictionary. According to his rendering, life meant happiness; death, eternal life in misery; punishment, torment; fire did not mean real fire, it was only a figure when applied to the wicked; everlasting destruction, simply banishment. All the threatenings of the Old Testament were local, and referred to the temporal judgments which fell on the Jews; and, with him, to be judged by the law was equivalent to being justified by the law. A mere reference to, or a simple reading of, some of the plainest and most pointed texts which I had produced was all that he deemed necessary to rebut them. Sophistry and ridicule were his main fort. We gained many friends, and lost none who had taken a stand on the truth prior to the debate; but these were strengthened and established in the faith. R. M. KILGORE.