Review and Herald, Vol. 29, No. 26. (6/14/1867)

Review and Herald

Jun 14, 1867

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 14, 1867

DANGER OF UNBELIEF.

By Eld. S. B. Whitney

BY ELD. S. B. WHITNEY.

TEXT. “Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” Luke xviii, 8.

Our text stands connected with a parable of our Saviour containing a valuable lesson of instruction relative to the duty of prayer, and especially of perseverance in prayer. Yet in the text, our Lord intimates that in the “days of the coming of the Son of man” there will exist a great dearth of that important principle, faith, so necessary to the proper performance of this and every other duty; as “without faith it is impossible to please God;” and it is to this point that I wish to call your special attention at this time.

The language of the text is often quoted as applying to the unbelieving world and nominal professors of religion, and the evidences are so numerous and so strong that it needs no argument to prove to us its application to them; but it seems to me that our Lord had his mind also upon the “elect,” mentioned in the parable, and that he designed to teach this class that they were not entirely out of danger in this direction, and to stir them up to greater diligence in making their “calling and election sure.” In support of this supposition, allow me to direct your attention to a portion of the book of Hebrews.

In chapter i, 1, 2, we are informed that “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto our fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son.” In the remainder of the chapter is given a description of his character and appearance; and the superiority of his position and authority as compared with that of the angels is also shown; in view of which, the apostle remarks in chapter ii, 1: “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip, (margin, run out as leaking vessels).” Here, he not only urges a consideration of the superior agency by which God is speaking, but clearly intimates the danger of our carelessly losing the influence of what is spoken from our hearts.

In verses 3 and 4 may be seen how this is applicable to us, where, referring to what is being spoken, he says, “which at first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him: God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost according to his own will.” By this we are shown that by the “testimony of Jesus,” which is the spirit of prophecy, God is as really and virtually speaking to us by his Son as to believers in any previous generation, and the exhortation to take the more earnest heed lest we let these things slip, is as forcible now as ever.

I will now endeavor to show that the danger of which the apostle apprises us, arises from an evil heart of unbelief. Continuing in this chapter the comparison between the Son of God and the angels, he finally tells us that it behooved our Lord to be made like unto his brethren, by partaking with them of flesh and blood and suffering through temptation, that he might be a merciful and faithful High Priest, and then adds in chapter iii, 1, “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;” and, after comparing Moses and Christ, one as a servant and the other a son, over their respective houses, he assures us in verse 6 that we are Christ’s house, “if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.”

But, we inquire, what is the occasion for this exhortation? Let the apostle himself answer, in verses 7–15, omitting the parenthetical clause. “Wherefore, . . . take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called to-day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end; while it is said, To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.”

Here the apostle comes directly to the point, and in strong language instructs and warns us of the danger of unbelief and the deceitfulness of sin; and enforces his exhortation by alluding to the children of Israel, whose experience, he informs us in 1 Cor. x, was typical of ours and was written for our admonition.

But he does not stop here; for, after assuring us that they could not enter in because of unbelief,” verse 19, he continues in chapter iv, 1, “Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.”

Again we inquire, what occasion for fear? and again will we let him answer: “Let us labor, therefore, to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.” Verse 11. What can be more clear than this? and who, after carefully comparing the history of the children of Israel with our experience thus far, can for a moment doubt that this instruction was intended especially for us? And right here, let me say, brethren, that it is my honest conviction, that, while, in the direction of an increase of faith, the Lord is bringing to our aid the light upon the Health Reform, and calling upon us to step out fully upon it, and heed the counsel of the faithful and true Witness, in preparation for the solemn scenes connected with the close of the third angel’s message, we have come to the Jordan in our experience, and it remains for us to say whether we will go up and possess the land, or fall after the same example of unbelief. And the example of the children of Israel, followed by their mournful doom, furnishes a most solemn admonition and warning against unfaithfulness, especially at this important point in our history, when there is not only especial danger of unbelief, but unbelief seems to be especially dangerous; being, of itself, almost a fatal error, or, at least, calculated in its tendency to lead us into fatal errors and irrecoverable apostasy.

And this idea may assist us in understanding the strong expression of the apostle in chapter vi, 4–6. “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” Understanding this as referring to those who have had a deep experience in this truth, in connection with which the gifts of the Spirit are to be fully developed, and who, when they fell away, are left to go to such extremes in opposing the work and Spirit of God, it is no longer obscure or difficult; and who, in view of the remarkable examples already before us, can fail to perceive the correctness of this application? for in nearly, if not quite, every such instance, unbelief lies at the root of their apostasy.

But the apostle does not thus carefully point out to us our imminent danger and faithfully delineate the consequences of apostasy, without also opening before us a door of hope. Turning back to chapter iv, in verse 14, he again exhorts us in view of the existence of our great High Priest, to hold fast our profession, and encourages us to faithfulness by the following considerations; verses 14, 15: “For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” In this perilous time, there is a source to which we may come without fear or hesitancy, where mercy for the past and grace for the future may both be obtained, and from Him who “Knows what sore temptations mean For he hath felt the same.”

But the apostle further instructs us as to how we shall approach the mercy seat in order to be successful in our suit, in chapter x, 19–22: “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest [Greek, plural, holy places] by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say his flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” Here we discover the importance of having the heart well established when we worship the Lord toward the sanctuary, hoping to have our cases favorably considered in the judgment now progressing there.

In perfect harmony with this, and showing the necessity of faith in still stronger terms, if possible, is the testimony of James, which we understand as applying to us, being addressed to the twelve tribes scattered abroad, yet whom he calls brethren, as a servant of our Lord Jesus Christ. In chapter i, 6, 7, he says, instructing those who ask of God, “but let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.”

But Paul continues his exhortations to hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering in verse 23 and onward, and again in verses 26, 27, shows the certain destruction of those who willingly apostatize through unbelief or the deceitfulness of sin. “For if we sin willfully, after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins; but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries.” This is clear, when we consider, that, as we are having the last message of mercy, and our High Priest is doing his last mediatorial work for the world, those who willfully reject this work, after once having known it, must, of course, reject the last opportunity for the offering of a sacrifice for their sins, and nothing can remain but the certain and fearful doom of which the apostle speaks.

Yet, notwithstanding it is a “fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God,” he would again encourage us by having us “call to remembrance the former days,” in which, after we were illuminated, we “endured a great fight of afflictions,” intimating that this experience is to be repeated; and in view of the deliverance then wrought, exhorts us as follows: “Cast not away therefore your confidence which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that after having done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now (in respect to time), the just shall live by faith; but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” Verses 35–38.

From this we learn, that in this patient waiting time of the saints, though it be but a little while, we have especial need of faith by which to live; and as it always is the object of Satan to oppose the special work of God, his effort now is to bring us into bondage through unbelief, that we may ultimately be given over to hardness of heart and blindness of mind to be spued out of the mouth of the Lord. And having once lost our confidence, we become his easy prey and are soon thrown into despair, or led into presumptuous sins.

With this idea in our minds, we are prepared to understand and appreciate the language of the apostle in chapter xii, 1, 2: “Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” The “great cloud of witnesses” of which he speaks, is the extended list of ancient worthies mentioned in the previous chapter, whose wonderful manifestations of the power of faith are recorded in connection with a definition of faith itself; and as faith is the burden of discourse, and it is upon this subject that these witnesses testify, the inference is logical and even necessary, that the sin which so easily besets us is unbelief. And this exhortation

is especially needed by us as a people at this time; for our present lukewarmness with its train of attending evils, our slowness to heed the counsel of the True Witness and zealously repent, are in a great measure attributable to this cause. But the Lord is graciously leading us away from these things; for by the light of the Health Reform, many of the weights are being discovered to us, and by laying them aside we are better prepared to receive and obey the present truth, by which we may be sanctified wholly.

Let us, then, dear hearers, receive the testimony of these witnesses, heed the exhortation of the apostle, come up fully to the work of the Lord, walk in all the light, seek meekness and righteousness, and get a deep and living experience in the things of God, that we may be able to run with patience the race before us, continually looking to Jesus, who having begun our faith will not leave the work incomplete, considering how much he has joyfully suffered for us and that he is still laboring in our behalf, “lest we be wearied and faint in our minds.” And may we not forget the exhortation concerning the chastening of the Lord, but “lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for our feet,” “looking diligently, lest any man fail of the grace of God.”

And as we “are not come to the mount that might be touched,” but unto the “Mount Sion,” let us see that we refuse not “Him that speaketh from Heaven,” whose voice will “shake not the earth only, but also heaven;” and having the promise of a “kingdom which cannot be moved,” “let us hold fast grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear,” remembering that “our God is a consuming fire.”

Dear brethren, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? This is for you and me to answer, “though we know a remnant will be saved” and that a little company of faithful ones will be found ready to meet their Lord. Happy shall we be if found among the wise virgins, who shall have made their faith perfect by their works, unto whom it shall be said, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Amen.

THE ADVENT.

By L. D. Santee

So likewise ye when ye shall see all these things know that it is near even at the door. Matt. xxiv, 33.

Jesus soon is coming, signs proclaim him near, Earth is sighing, groaning, earthly tribes do fear, Soon the shining chariot, parts the azure dome; Lift your heads ye ransomed, your Deliverer comes.

Now the vivid lightnings, rend the gloomy sky, Seas are tossed by tempest, waves run mountain high, Hoary are the billows, seas and ocean roar; Wild the tempest rages, but ’twill soon be o’er.

Gloomy cypress shadows, graves more mournful make, Cheeks are wet with weeping, sad hearts often break, Earth is filled with anguish, sickness, sin and death, Man with pain and suffering yieldeth up his breath.

Soon in shining glory, Christ the Lord will come, And with joy triumphant, take his people home, Then the whole creation will no longer groan, But will shout with gladness, Christ the Lord has come.

L. D. SANTEE.

Mc Lean Co., Ill.

The Sermon.

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom, PREACH THE WORD. 2 Tim iv, 2.

A CURE FOR JEALOUSY.

By Jos. Clarke

“SPEAK not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law; but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.” James iv, 11.

To the truly humble, teachable soul, the words of inspiration, when fully comprehended and set home to the heart by the Spirit of God, prove a savor of life and salvation. But the work of purification is not accomplished in an instant. As the Christian moves forward in the divine life, daily striving for victory, he is sensible, that at times, he receives especial assistance; and at such times, light breaks in upon his mind with unwonted power.

In the words quoted at the beginning of this article from the apostle James, there is a mine of wealth for jealous minds, yet unexplored by the evil-surmiser, and evil-speaker; for such are all those who encourage a spirit of jealousy. The man who surmises that a thing is true, and upon this evidence condemns his neighbor, is the one who makes himself a judge of the law; that is, assumes the place of God, thus placing himself in the same position with the Pope, who arrogates to himself divine authority.

It may to some appear to be a small thing to crucify his dearest and nearest friends, upon the cross of jealousy and mistrust; but every Christian, when he sees that an indulgence of this passion is a heinous sin, in fact, that the jealous person does assume the prerogative which belongs to God alone,—we say the Christian will hastily flee from so dangerous a position.

Another prominent consideration is this: the jealous person is the one above all others most unfit to judge, and yet of all he is most inclined to blindly and rashly take the judge’s seat. Where the candid man would doubt, the jealous mind is already decided to condemn.

Certain it is, that no one should encourage jealousy at this moment. This is not watchfulness. No; sooner set wolves as shepherd dogs to guard the flock, than allow the gangrene of jealousy to infect the watchful and careful head.

The Christian whose diseased mind has been afflicted with the spirit of jealousy, and this fed by dyspeptic fires, finds in the practice of temperance and purity, much strength; and in the idea that by indulging his gloomy suspicions, he is assuming the divine prerogatives, he will have food for reflection and thought. The little debates, decisions and conclusions of the mind, silently made and carried on from day to day, are what decide our characters and destinies for time and eternity. And this is not the result of last year’s labor, or the preceding, but our characters are the result of a life-long education and practice. Have we, then, any time to lose? Shall we not exclude every sin? JOS. CLARKE.

WHAT SHALL WE SAY THEN?

By CHARLOTTE WEBSTER

THESE were the words of the apostle Paul. He says, “Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” and then returns the emphatic answer, “God forbid; how shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” The apostle, as does every true Christian, beheld the necessity of giving God his whole heart, and rendering to him cheerful obedience. He exhorts, he encourages, and also warns his brethren. Already has he learned that holiness of heart is required of every one who would become heir to that “inheritance which is incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away.” The invitation is so extensive, the promises of God are also unbounded, and his love, oh! how great to us poor fallen creatures, and yet we act as if conferring a favor upon our heavenly Father when we confess him before men, or even acknowledge his greatness.

Dear reader, let us pause for a moment. Let us examine our hearts and see if we are not continuing in sin and still desiring that grace may abound. Is God the chief object of our affections? Do we do all we can and still consider ourselves unprofitable servants? Do we have that perfect love that casteth out all fear? Are we ready to make every needful sacrifice for the sake of eternal life? or have we idols with which we are unwilling to part, besetments which we are unwilling to overcome? Do we not conform to the world more than our blessed Saviour would have us? Oh! turn with me and take a retrospective view of Calvary. See what was transacted there 1800 years ago. See the guiltless Son of God, suffering, bleeding and dying, for guilty, rebellious man. Yes, for you and me the great debt was paid when Jesus the mighty conqueror came forth from the tomb, the provision for our redemption from the power of the grave. Yes, Jesus has led captivity captive and ascended into Heaven, where he now sits at the right hand of the Father. He intercedes methinks with increasing love as he views time drawing to a close. He beholds the millions that are virtually fighting against God, disregarding his law, counting the blood wherewith we are sealed an unholy thing, and doing despite to the Spirit of grace. Let us be careful lest we crucify to ourselves the Son of God afresh. Oh! can we be so unmindful of such love as the blessed Son of God has for us? Ah! methinks he groans in spirit still, when with one glance he sees how stately Satan marches over earth’s broad domain; but only a little longer and his power will begin to wane, and Jesus shall have dominion from sea to sea, and from the rivers to the ends of the earth. Yes, only a little longer will mercy be offered to sinful man. A few years, or perhaps months, and the filthy must be filthy still, and the righteous will be righteous still. O fathers, is your example such as to lead your children to the fold of Christ? Mothers, are you going forth, sowing in tears? If so, you shall return rejoicing, bringing your sheaves with you. Sons and daughters, look to Christ. Follow his example, then shall you be found of him without spot and blameless, for Jesus has declared he will come again, and says, “My reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” CHARLOTTE WEBSTER. North Star, Mich.

PRAYER.

By Almond D. Farrar

How dark and dreary indeed would be this world, were it not for that consolation of the Christian—prayer. We have a real, tangible God to whom to offer up our petitions, one whom we can trust, one whom we know hears our cries feeble though they be. We have felt his presence and power in many ways. He testifies of his presence in answers of sweet peace to the waiting soul. Infidels and Spiritualists may talk in their bombastic style of our worshiping a God who has all the attributes of personality. We do not worship a nonentity. We believe in God. There are some things God has not seen fit to reveal to us. The secret things belong unto the Lord our God, but those things that are revealed belong unto us, and to our children. Deut. xxix, 29. Prayer is one of the things revealed, and required of us. Even the heavens declare the glory of God; Ps. xix, 1; and shall not we praise him, and call upon him in prayer and thanksgiving?

I know that in all the varied conditions and events of life, there is a divine providence and watch-care over us. I would as soon believe that my life was all a vapor, a myth, a dream, as to believe there was not a God besides a God of nature. We can see his stately steppings in the inspirations of the prophets. The history of the world is foretold centuries before it transpires. Prophecies are fulfilling under our very eyes. The Bible has been proved to be from Heaven, written by the inspiration of God; and all the machinations of infidels, skeptics, geologists, and pretended revelations of spirits in the form of Modern Spiritualism combined, cannot overthrow it.

In the light of these facts we can worship God intelligently. We can come to him as a child comes to an earthly parent, knowing that he will not turn us away empty. When weighed down by the cares and perplexities of life, we can come to Jesus, and open our hearts to him; and he will hear us in answers of peace and consolation. Though all our earthly friends forsake us we can come to Jesus. He will be our friend. He has said, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” Matt. xi, 28. But the way we come to him, is through prayer and faith as the Saviour of the world. He also says, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” Heb. xiii, 5. And he never will. Since the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy, his promises have been faithfully fulfilled. I will never leave thee. Sublime promise! Is not that enough to instill into our hearts fresh courage? Oh! yes, Jesus will not leave us until we have forsaken him; and even then he calls after us saying, Return unto me.

I will pray unto him continually, when I rise up, and when I sit down. When I wake my thoughts shall be of him, when I sleep, my dreams shall be of him.

How sweet and refreshing to the mind is prayer! There is no balm so potent to soothe the troubled soul. It drives out the darkness of Satan, and lets in the sunlight of Heaven. It is through prayer we obtain the blessings God has in store for us. “Ask and ye shall receive.” Jno. xvi, 24. “Knock and it shall be opened unto you.” Matt. vii, 7. Such are the assurances of our divine Lord and Master. Oh! let us knock earnestly at the door of prayer and ask largely for the blessings we stand in need of. Jesus stands yet pleading in the heavenly sanctuary. It is not yet too late. Let us work while the day lasts; for soon the night cometh when no man can work. God's people must be a praying people. We must come up through great trials and tribulations, having our robes washed white in the blood of the Lamb. Then shall we be saved in his peaceful kingdom.

ALMOND D. FARRAR.

Green Lake Co., Wis.

Maxims

The cloth of humility should always be worn on the back of Christianity.

He that showeth mercy when it may be best spared, will receive mercy when it shall most be needed.

The flames of piety toward God must be accompanied with the incense of charity toward man.

RESPONSIBILITY.

By Mary Stratton

It is impossible to avoid responsibility, how much-soever we may desire it, while we are surrounded by human beings susceptible of impressions. We are responsible in the highest degree for our influence. I am not a believer in innate immortality, but if there is anything about us immortal it is our influence. It is strange how small an act may make a lasting impression. A Christian is a living epistle known and read of all men. Then as we appear careless or reverential, the world takes cognizance of us.

“How careful then ought we to live, With what religious fear, Who such a strict account must give, For all our actions here.”

Not only our appearance in meeting, but the way we go in and out of meeting, a word, a look, a gesture, all, all are telling for good or ill. I remember to have been very seriously affected by seeing a minister ascend the pulpit steps as if the weight of the cause of God rested heavily upon him, and his look was as solemn as the truths he was about to utter. Again I have seen others enter the sacred desk with a high look and a careless hasty step, and I felt at once, they were not of the number who “go forth weeping, bearing precious seed,” and expecting in a little while to “return rejoicing, bringing their sheaves with them.”

Adventists are watched with a microscopic eye. Small faults are made to look very large; and why? Because we profess to be looking for the coming of the Lord; and every community knows what a man or woman ought to be if ready for translation. Therefore we are expected to be better than others, and we ought to be.

It is no use for us to feel independent and think we have a right to live as we please. No one has any right to do wrong. God has a plan by which he can save just such poor fellow-creatures as we are; and outside of this I don’t know how he can save us.

Our leaders among the commandment-keepers are striving with all their hearts to come into this arrangement. Now the great question with us is, Shall we go with them? It surely ought not to be humiliating to submit to be led by those who are really in advance of us. It is more a mark of good sense than weakness. The Lord help us to choose the narrow way and walk in it.

MARY STRATTON.

AM I READY?

By Wm. H. Stown.

AM I ready for Jesus to come? If I am ready for that event I am ready for every thing else, ready to die, ready to live, ready to do my duty to my God and my brethren, to my fellow man at home and abroad, at church and in the world.

But what shall I gain by being ready? I shall gain a home in Heaven, a right to the tree of life, to eat of its holy fruit, and a right to pluck the leaves of that tree which are for the healing of the nations. Yes.

“I’ll pluck the fruit and pluck the flowers, And dwell in those celestial bowers, And never, never die again For Jesus evermore will reign.”

To bathe in the waters of the river of life that flows from the throne of God; to enter through those pearly gates, and walk those golden streets.

If I am only ready, I’ll meet those friends that have died in the full triumphs of living faith. I’ll then make the acquaintance of Noah, Job, and Daniel, and live with the good and great of all ages, to hear from their lips the story of their pilgrimage.

And there I will see my Saviour that blessed Jesus that died for me that I might live and thus showed a way for me to get ready.

I must be ready. I must live in that heavenly kingdom. I must live with Jesus; and by the grace of God, I will be ready, that when Jesus comes I may lift up my voice and say with others, Lo this is our God, we have waited for him, and he will save us. This is the Lord we have waited for him we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

WM. H. STOWN.

Gridley, Ill.

SUNDAY IN POLITICS.

By W. SUTLIFF

Since I first read the work entitled, “The Three Angels’ Messages and the Two-horned Beast,” I have watched with much interest the agitation of the Sabbath question in the United States. At first, I could not believe that our beloved country could be the one symbolized by the two-horned beast. But a close observation of transpiring events, soon convinced me that it was none other. And according to the present indications the Sabbath question is soon to become a political question.

Some time ago an article appeared in the Northwestern Christian Advocate calling upon the Legislature to protect the Christian Sabbath by law. The article wound up with the statement, that if they “were forced to make this a political question, they should meet it like Christian men.”

Since that time, an editorial came out in the same paper, on “beer gardens, sacred concerts,” &c., in which the author plead for a law to stop those things on the Sabbath. This was well enough; for the “sacred concert” which he described, would be disgraceful on any day of the week. But the student of prophecy will readily see a “sign of the times” in this.

I have before me a copy of the Missouri Republican (a purely political paper), in which there is an article headed, “Temperance and Radicalism,” from which I make the following extracts to show that the Sabbath question is already a political question in New York: “Mr. Schutz resigned his position as president, and even as member of the committee (N. Y. Central), because a majority had passed a resolution to oppose the election of any temperance candidate, or Sunday fanatic.” Again the author says, “Mr. Schutz has no objection to laws which force a peculiar observance of the Sabbath upon men of other religious views.” After treating at some length on the intolerance and fanaticism of some of his political opponents, the author goes on: “Now comes the enforcement of their peculiar religious and social views all over the country. Temperance and a Boston-like observance of Sunday, has now become a plank, and a strong plank in the radical platform. They insist that the law shall interfere with a man’s religious views.”

The author in closing the article, says, “To enforce sobriety, and the strict observance of the Sabbath by law is impossible. It is oppression under the mask of culture; it is fanaticism in the dress of progress.”

Some may think that because these extracts are from a paper of the most corrupt political party, that they have no force. But to me they are all the more significant, as it shows that the strongest party is going to take up on the Sunday side of the question, and will be enabled to act the part of the two-horned beast.

In view of these things, I feel that there is no time to lose. We should let go the world, and endeavor to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh, so that when Jesus comes we shall be ready.

In hope of eternal life. W. SUTLIFF. Eau Clair Co., Wis.

A Point to be Put and Settled.

THERE is an evil patent before the eyes of every observing Christian which calls for strenuous action; but which is too easily acquiesced in as if it were inevitable. We mean the low standard of piety prevalent. By this, we do not mean that there is any unusual lack of generosity or of almsgiving, or that there is not quite a general interest in church matters and movements. But there is a manifest absence of earnest, personal devotion and spirituality. Nominal and real Christians in character are at so low and apparently equal a level, that the church and the world are pretty effectually mingled and confused. The picture of the wise and foolish virgins sleeping together, before being aroused by the bridegroom's midnight coming, is before our eyes in the existing state of the church. Here is the real cause that the existing ministry is not supported, that candidates are lacking, and that a portion of our population is relapsing into heathenism.—From the “Connecticut Churchman.”

NOTES DURING A SERMON.

By Wm. S. Foote

The text was in Ps. xxxvii, 37. “Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace.” Here the preacher stopped, as the verse following would rather militate against his sentiments expressed afterward. The next verse reads: “But the transgressors shall be destroyed together, the end of the wicked shall be cut off.” He neglected telling us that in order to become perfect men in Christ Jesus, it is necessary for us, to try through divine grace, to keep a perfect law, but went on to relate to us what he had learned from observation and experience. Said he, “I have seen children die, and go to Heaven; I have seen young men die and go there to; and I have seen old men and old women die and go up to God!” If what he said is true, he certainly had been favored in this particular, above all other mortals, with the exception of the prophet Elisha; and as most of his hearers believe in the doctrine of immortalsoulism, his evidence undoubtedly will go far to confirm them in that belief, although the Bible is wholly silent upon the subject. After saying that the “many mansions above, occupied a space larger than the world, or earth on which we dwell, he spoke of the resurrection of the righteous and the wicked as being simultaneous; and as both were immortal, ‘one would be forever happy, and the other would dwell in endless misery. How that would agree with the verse following his text, he did not inform us.

He seemed quite elated with the idea that man is an immortal being, and of course could never die. Mother J., said he, is not here. Her spirit is in Heaven; but her body in which she dwelt is left behind to be committed to the dust.

I thought from his remarks which followed, that he knew that some S. D. Adventists were present, and that he was making quite an effort to enlighten them. Speaking of the resurrection of Lazarus, he dwelt largely upon the language of our Saviour in John xi, 25. “Whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die.” “Shall never die,” he repeated. “Is not this language of our Saviour sufficient? Was not Lazarus really alive, while his body lay in the grave? His immortal spirit, or Lazarus himself, was in Heaven, and was called away from the society of angels to re-animate his sleeping dust.”

Where the man obtained such information we know not; as we cannot find any such testimony in either profane or sacred history. Our Lord says, with regard to the resurrection of the dead, or those who are asleep in the grave, “I would not have you ignorant, brethren,” 1 Thess. iv, 13, and we understand the order of the first resurrection to be this: At the second advent of Christ, those who have lived on the earth, and believed in him, although dead like Lazarus, yet shall they live. John xi, 26. Or according to 1 Thess. iv, 13, “Those who are asleep in Jesus will God bring with him,” i. e. bring them up from the grave, and confer upon them the glorious prize of immortality. Then those who are alive and remain at the coming of Christ, shall be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and be caught up together with the resurrected dead to meet their Lord in the air. 1 Thess. iv, 13, 18.

Now if this harmonizes with John xi, 26, then we need not remain in ignorance with regard to the true meaning of our Saviour, when he said, “He that liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” The conversation between Jesus, Mary and Martha, was about the resurrection of the dead, and he conveyed to them and to those who have and keep his testimony, Rev. xvi, 12, the idea that the Christian in his grave would rise again to immortal life. And Christians living, looking, and waiting for his coming, are not to be subject to either temporal or eternal death, “shall never die,” but be translated as Elijah was, and live and reign with their Lord forever. In Jeremiah xxiii, we read: “Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you. They make you vain. They speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord. Behold I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the Lord, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them; therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the Lord.”

Wm. S. FOOTE.

Pendleton, O.

The Commentary.

Tell me the meaning of Scriptures. One gem from that ocean is worth all the pebbles of earthly streams.—M'Cheyne.

A Query.

By T. M. STEWARD

I NOTICED a comment in No. 19, present volume of Review, on Genesis iii, 8, by Patrick. I don't understand the text, if his comment is correct. Let me suggest my view of it. “And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.” Now I have understood it like this: And they heard the voice of the Lord God, as they were walking in the garden in the cool of the day; not Lord walking, nor voice walking, but Adam and Eve walking. How is this? Am I right or not?

T. M. STEWARD.

ANSWER. We have always understood the walking to apply to God. All the commentaries we have at hand so construe it. Of the construction of the Hebrew we cannot speak; but the Greek of the Septuagint has the participle, walking, in the genitive singular, agreeing with God, not in the nominative plural agreeing with Adam and Eve.—ED.

First Record of Sabbath Observance.

By R. F. Cottrell

Gen. iv, 3, 4. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering to the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of the flock and the fat thereof.

“THERE is a pretty clear intimation in this text, that the Sabbath was the time, when, by mutual agreement, Cain and Abel brought their offerings to the Lord. In our version it reads, ‘In process of time it came to pass.’ In the margin the literal reading of the Hebrew is given, ‘At the end of days.’ The word rendered end, is from the root which signifies to cut off, so that the proper sense of the passage is that Cain and Abel brought their offerings at the end, or last day of an established cycle, when the numerical succession of days was cut off. As there was no other period of days established at that time, but the week of seven days, the last of which was the Sabbath; so we can come to no other fair conclusion than that they came together to perform this religious act on the day God had appointed and blest.”

R. F. COTTRELL.

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