Earlier text: SELECTIONS(Concluded.)
QuEsTION 4. If the earth is to be desolate a thousand years, without a living creature, man or beast upon it, when will Isa. xi, 6–10. be fulfilled: "The wolf also shall dwell with the Lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid ? &c. Chap. lxv. 20. When will there be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days; when the child shall die an hundred years old? &c. Verse 21. When will they build houses and inhabit them? &c. In verse 17 of the same chapter, God says, "For behold I create new heavens and a new earth" &c. This precedes what is written above. Then I ask, When will these things take place? Will it be after the 1000 years' desolation of the earth, or before?
Question 5. When will Dan. ii. 44 be fulfilled: As "in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed, and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces, and consume all these ten kingdoms, and it shall stand forever ?
Question 6. Are verses 7, 8, and 9, of Rev. xix. and verses 2–9, of chap. xxi. parallel ? if so, what will the saints do for white raiment? as in chap. xix. 8, the bride, the Lamb's wife is to be arrayed in fine linen clean and white, which is the righteousness of saints? Further, is the white raiment in chap. iii. 18, the same as the fine linen in chap. xix. 8, 9; and finally, is new Jerusalem which is to descend out of heaven from God, to be arrayed with the righteousness of saints?
J. BISHOP. REPLY. Isa. xi. 6–9, will doubtless be fulfilled after the redemption of the purchased possession. It is not reasonable in the least to suppose that any of the beasts, wild or tame, in the Eden state of the world, as they came from the hand of their Creator and pronounced good, [Gen. i. 25.] possessed any of that savage ferocity or brutal hostility which characterizes beasts of prey, or even some of our domesticated animals at the present time. Nor can we reasonably expect they will possess the least degree of these, after the restitution or redemption of man and his inheritance, believing the new creation will be as perfect as the first. But we know of no good reason why they will not retain their present characteristics as long as they shall exist prior to the time when the declaration of scripture shall be fulfilled, "Behold I create all things new." Verse 6. The calf and the young lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. This shows that it will be at a time when the dominion which man originally possessed over the beasts of the field [Gen. i. 28.] will be restored to all the inhabitants of that world, even to the little child; inasmuch they will be enabled to lead, manage or control not only the domesticated and gentle but the most ferocious and terrible of animals. If this scripture was written for our learning, and we believe it was, then this with the connection shows that it is fulfilled under the reign of the Prince of peace; when animals, now the most useful and even inoffensive, will not then be driven with fear before the growing beasts of prey, but will with their young, without danger, all lie down under the blissful reign, in peace and quietude together. Truly then, "The meek shall inherit the earth, and delight himself in the abundance of peace." Verse 8. "The sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cocatrice's den." Not that we expect there will be children there in these conditions or that distinction between children of different ages will be there as here; but infants when they went to the grave and thus left this world, long afterwards to become inhabitants of that; the sucking child, that here perhaps was able to creep as far as the hole of the asp, and thus endanger its life; and the weaned child which was able to wander even as far as the cocatrice's den, and thus become exposed to a more sure and certain death; these distressing scenes, which, in a climate like that of Judea, so frequently haunted the minds of parents, both as fearful forebodings and heartrending realities, in that safe and peaceful realm "are felt and feared no more." These same children, some of which perhaps by the venomous bite of the asp and cocatrice, came to the grave, will then, after the curse is removed from these as well as all other created things, linger about the dens of these reptiles, noted in this world for deadly venom such as admits of no remedy, without any danger of receiving the least harm from them. The instruction we gain from this verse, is the striking contrast between the state of things as they really exist here, and will exist there; showing the incomparable eligibility of the latter. Connected with the above in the fourth question is the 20th verse of chap. lxv. "There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days; for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed." Why these two scriptures, [Isa. xi. 8, and Isa. lxv. 20,] are thrown together in the question, doubtless is, because if applied to the same period of time, seem to be at the first thought, in some degree irre-205oncilable; since the sucking child is there, but still there shall be no more thence an infant of days. But though the infant of days is a sucking child, and the sucking child might be an infant of days, yet there are capabilities ascribed to this child which never did nor can belong to an infant of days. For the infant of days is neither capable of playing upon the hole of the asp, nor engaging in any other intelligent amusement or employ whatever. Other translations of the last scripture referred to, have been sought for and obtained. The French translation is now before me. But as there is no particular additional light to be obtained from any of these, I shall not attempt to elucidate the subject by the aid of any other translation; but rather by an explanation of the common version. There shall be no more thence i. e. from that time, an infant of days. From what time? From the time that God creates Jerusalem a rejoicing and her people a joy. An infant of days merely, which has not attained to that of weeks, months, or years; on account of its native infantile imbecility, is not in the least qualified to understandingly take any part in divine worship, or in scenes however interesting they may be, which are constantly transpiring before it. There will be no such there. There will be none there but such as can appreciate and take part in the glorious scenes that are constantly passing before the inhabitants of that blissful region. But many will ask, Are the infants who die a few days old excluded from heaven? We expect not, certainly. For Jesus said, "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God." And we do not see why the phrase, "little children," does not embrace the least. But it is objected, that this idea makes one scripture clash with the other. Now to obviate this difficulty, we will let inspiration itself explain this subject. Mal. iv, 2: "But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth and grow up as calves of the stall." If any ask, when shall this be? we answer, at the resurrection of the just. There will be a healing in the wings of the Sun of righteousness, when he shall fly from heaven to gather his elect, and forever exclude every malady, and even death itself from having any more power or dominion over them. Also it is from the grave that they will go forth and grow up as calves of the stall. If any believe it is when they first go forth on the new earth, after the conflagration described in verse 1, we reply by asking if any can believe it consistent to suppose the saints will remain 1000 years, spiritually in embryo after having been born of God? But it may be objected, that this is contrary to the order of the prophecy; for it is supposed that prophecies in their progress, always look forward and not backward. But we as confidently believe and assert, that after having described the final conflagration, the prophet goes back to the first resurrection and describes another class of events which reach down to the new earth. He then goes back and gives predictions to be fulfilled before the first resurrection, and thus ends his prophecy. Thus the saints will go forth from the grave, at the first resurrection, and grow up as calves of the stall. It is at the second birth they will thus expand so rapidly; not perhaps in stature at all, but in those intellectual and heavenly endowments which will qualify them to engage understandingly in the blest employ of heaven. If any are desirous to know to what extent this expansion will take place, the words of the Lord will answer. "Verily, verily I say unto you, among them that are born of women, there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist; notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." Matt. xi, 11. That comprehension of mind, that heavenly wisdom which characterized the man of whom it was said, "He shall go before him in the power and spirit of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just," was, while on earth, inferior to what the veriest infant will be after it is made alive by the powerful Spirit of God that searcheth all things. Who would not aspire after those blessed, those expanded attainments? "It doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." Verily "there shall be no more thence an infant of days." For they all, then will have become the intelligent co-operators in the blessed work of heaven. Nor will there be an old man that hath not filled his years; i. e. no premature old age there. They will all be strong with immortal vigor, without premature decay, or the infirmities of old age. "For the child shall die an hundred years old, but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed." Here all are ready to inquire, will the curse be there? will the sinner inhabit that realm? and death any more destroy the inmates of the kingdom of God? John, in view of a period far in the future, says, "There shall be no more death." Further than this some have been able directly, to make any reply to these astounding questions. Believers in the millennium, and future age, bring this scripture as a successful barrier against some points of our faith, while they boast that it is a sufficient support to their own. Whereas, if they could see that the first clause of the verse cuts off entirely the idea that there will be any further propagation of the human species, and consequently a refutation of their own leading sentiments, i. e., the millennium and future age sentiments, they would doubtless be much less inclined to exhibit it as a refutation of the sentiments of others. It has indeed to the writer, long been an afflictive mystery; and had the time which the prophecy covers contained in the three preceding verses, begun with the creation of the new heaven and earth, as the record of the prophecy begins, doubtless it ever would have remained thus. But the time in which the fulfillment of this prophecy begins, is at the first resurrection, instead of its being at the creation of the new earth; hence all mystery vanishes at once; and we see how literally every word of this prophecy must be fulfilled. For we now see that long after the Lord has created Jerusalem a rejoicing and her people a joy, at the first resurrection; yes, a thousand years after he has there begun his peaceful reign over all the saints made immortal, and the judgment of the wicked will have progressed down to the time of its execution, the antediluvian child a hundred years old not yet arrived to manhood at that age, who took part in worldly scenes when the earth was filled with violence, will come up at the second resurrection to sink down under the pangs of the second death. The grey-headed sinner of a hundred years old, in modern times whose name had perhaps become venerable by years, will come up at the same time, to wither away under the awful sentence, Depart from me ye cursed. Then after this, at the creation of the new heaven and the new earth, Rev. xxi, 4 will be fulfilled to the very letter. "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away." After this they shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build and another inhabit, they shall not plant and another eat. By this we understand that there will be none to extort from them, by fraud or violence, the fruit of their labors under that equitable reign. "For as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands." Here is another passage hard to be understood; for we usually understand the days of a tree, in this country, to be from a hundred perhaps to five hundred years. Hence if the lives of the immortal saints are not longer than that, it could not with propriety be said, "Of his kingdom and dominion there shall be no end," especially so far as the continuance of his subjects is concerned. But perhaps some historic facts respecting some species of trees, may somewhat relieve our minds on the scripture before us. The Comprehensive Commentary, in a note under Ps. lii. 8, speaking of wild olive trees, in 1834, growing in the garden of Gethsemane, says, "Eight of the trees are so large that they are said to have been in existence ever since the time of Jesus Christ. Although Titus cut down all the wood in the neighborhood of Jerusalem, yet it is not improbable these trees may have arisen from the roots of the ancient trees, because the olive is very long lived, and possesses the peculiar property of shooting up again, however frequently it may have been cut down." In a note under the scripture we are now examining, it is said, "To the terebinth and the olive, common tradition, in Palestine, assigns thousands of years." Scott in C. C. The cedar is a large and noble evergreen tree. Its lofty height, and its far extended branches, afford spacious shelter and shade. The wood is very valuable. It is of a reddish color, of an aromatic smell, and reputed incorruptible. This is owing to its bitter taste, which the worms cannot endure, and its resin which preserves it from the injuries of the weather." Enc. Rel. Knowledge. A fit object indeed, in its natural durable qualities, with which to compare the immortal saints. In the Comprehensive Commentary, in a note on this same scripture, it is said, "The people of the east have a peculiar desire for long life; hence one of the best and most acceptable wishes is, May you live a thousand years. May you live as long as the Aalijree; i. e. the Banian or Ficus Indica. I never saw a tree of that description dead, except when struck by lightning. And to cut down one, would, in a Hindoo's estimation be almost as great a sin as to take life. I do not think this tree will die of itself; because it continues to let fall its own supporters, and will march over acres of land if not interrupted." Roberts. The Banian or Bur-tree, Ficus Indica; says Mr. Forbes, is equally deserving our attention; from being one of the most curious and beautiful of nature's productions in that genial climate where she sports with the greatest profusion of variety. Each tree is in itself a grove, and some of them are of an amazing size, as they are continually increasing, and contrary to most other animal and vegetable productions, seem to be exempt from decay. The Hindoos are peculiarly fond of this tree. They consider its long duration, its outstretching arms and overshadowing beneficence as emblems of the Deity, and almost pay it divine honors. Some of these trees, according to Noarchus, cover a circumference of five acres, and extend their branches so far, that ten thousand men may easily shelter under them. Geog. View of the World. There is one good reason why we should adopt the above history as the most authentic; that is, the lives of these trees are lengthened out vastly longer than what will answer the purpose of the historians, in order to prove their own doctrine. Therefore instead of taking any of the above described, they consider it to be the oak which the prophet refers to; the duration of which is not considered to continue at most more than a thousand years;—that millennial period which they believe the prophet had in view. Now according to the history of any of these trees there could not be a more fit object selected from this world with which to compare the lives of the immortal saints than any of these. Again, if the Banian does not die of itself, having self-supporters, and is not subject to decay, and is destined to live through to the end of the present state of things, it seems to be as fit an object as we can find in this world with which to compare the saints, as they are destined to live through as long as that world which is to come endures. Verses 23, 24, are only an expression of some additional particulars, to show us more fully the desirable state of things in that reign from which all evil is forever excluded, after tears are wiped from off all faces. Chap. xxv, 8. Verse 25 is parallel with verse 6 of chap. xi, so far especially as animals are referred to; describing their perfect mildness, and of course applies to the same period, and refers to the same206harmless, peaceful events, the climax of which is. "They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord." Blessed day, when there will be nothing to destroy or even hurt in all the holy government or kingdom of God. Men had previously, during all the ages of this world, been not only hurt, but destroyed, by the various workings of a long catalogue of fatal diseases; by the insupportable gnawings of ghastly famine; by the venom of numerous classes of poisonous reptiles; by exposure to a multitude of savage beasts of prey; and what is most horrible of all, he has ever been exposed to the more savage hostility of his fellow man, equipped against him to execute the work of death. But then will be brought about a change the most congenial to the righteous, a reversion to them the most desirable, when there will be no more of these to hurt or destroy in all the extended realms of God's dominion. All these then will have passed away. Reply to question 5. Dan. ii. 44 will be fulfilled at the close of probation. All the subjects of that kingdom are at that time redeemed forever from sin, and although the great mass of them are not redeemed from the grave, there will be 144000 alive, already redeemed from the grave, "being the first-fruits unto God and to the Lamb;" without spot or wrinkle, wholly fitted for the subjects and service of God. The Son of God will have finished his work in the heavenly Sanctuary, taken off his priestly garments, [Lev. xvi, 23.] and asked the heathen for his inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession, [Ps. ii, 8.] and it is given him. He then puts on the garments of vengeance, [Isa. lix. 17.] all ready to repay fury to his adversaries—to dash the nations in pieces like a potter's vessel; [Ps. ii, 9.] all ready to exterminate the rebels from off the territory granted. Ps. ii, 8. The king is crowned, the seat of empire is all prepared, enough of the subjects, who are called, and chosen, and faithful, are eternally redeemed from sin and death, to successfully carry forward the work of conquest, of extermination and accession; and all this, too, before the nations begin to be dashed—in the days of those kings. Further, that Christ will take the throne of David before his second coming, is evident from several scriptures. Dan. vii, 13, 14. "Behold one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven and came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations and languages should serve him." This must be before the second coming of Christ unless it be claimed unjustly, that the Ancient of Days is on earth before that time; for he came to the Ancient of Days, and was brought near before him. That this transaction is not on earth, is evident from the parable of the nobleman [Luke xix] who went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and return, unless it be again assumed that the ten servants to whom he delivered ten pounds, with the injunction to occupy till he come, were angels of heaven instead of being inhabitants of this world; and the question would then arise, What citizens of heaven [verse 14] "hated him and sent a message after him, saying, we will not have this man to reign over us." If the foregoing is correct reasoning, verse 15 shows conclusively that the nobleman received his kingdom before he returned to call his servants to an account. Hence it is in the days of these kings that the God of heaven shall set up a kingdom. Reply to question 6. Rev. xix, 7, 9, and xxi, 2, 9, refer to the same object, but not to the same time or event, there being a thousand years between. We see no good reason why the saints should lack white raiment because the New Jerusalem is arrayed in it; since in Jer. xxiii. 6. the Lord is called our RIGHTEOUSNESS. We believe he has righteousness enough to clothe not only the New Jerusalem, but all the saints with immortal glory. And since we read in Rev. xxi, 23. "The glory of God did lighten it and the Lamb is the light thereof," we conclude it will be eternally clothed in the righteousness of God and his Son; the same with which the saints are clothed. And as she is the Mother of us all, [Gal. iv, 26.] we conclude it would not be unreasonable to suppose the Mother might with propriety be arrayed in the same righteousness that her children are.
S. P. HAVING reached the close of another volume, the friends of the cause may be interested in a statement of Office affairs at the present time. The receipts of the current volume have been
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By Editor
MANY thanks are due to those friends who have contributed by their thoughts and means to the advancement of the Precious Faith we cherish, during the volume that is closed. They will allow us to bespeak their earnest efforts for the next. THE PRESENT "REVIVALS" IN BABYLON.
By R. F. C.
A beloved brother writes: "The great so-called revivals of the day, it seems to me, are the greatest deception ever imposed on mankind. For I can look upon this work only as a deception, while I hold the Advent faith. Christ is not divided. If he is with us, then he is not in these [so-called] reformations." It is certain that if the voice from heaven is saying, 'Come out of her my people,' any voice that says, 'Unite with her,' is not from heaven. I believe this movement is a great deception; but whether it is greater than that in the Roman empire by which the Papacy was established, is a question. But considering the superior light existing in this land of Bibles, this is doubtless much greater. These revivals seem to take everything in their way. I have heard it asserted that, in some whole towns, not an individual adult was left—all were brought under their influence. At this rate, how long will it be ere Babylon will become the hold of every foul spirit, and the cage of every unclean and hateful bird? These things will flatter the people with the idea that the Devil's doctrine of the conversion of the world is true; and consequently strengthen the opposition to present truth. The people are doubtless, in very many instances, moved by fear that the Advent doctrine may be true, and feeling the need of some kind of religion, in order to escape those things that are evidently coming on the earth, they very naturally choose that kind which is most popular. The mass of the people know not what they do in this movement. The mass of church members are left to believe a lie. God suffers them to be thus deceived, because they have rejected truth. But the great Deceiver has a definite object in this movement. That object, I believe, is to increase the political strength of the nominal church, and thus prepare the way for the last persecution against the people of God. He wants more stringent laws to enforce the observance of his favorite institution. His pious petitions to the present New York legislature have been rebuffed. He wants more strength, and he will have it, too. God's word is out for it, that the two-horned beast will enforce the mark on pain of death. Union is strength; and these 'union meetings,' and wholesale conversions are well calculated to consolidate and increase the strength of Babylon upon any measure that is so popular with almost every branch of the great Babel of sectarianism. I do not mean to say that there is no religion in these sweeping revivals. Man is a religious being; and without enlightenment from the word of God will bow down to Popery, or even to stocks and stones. They have religion, without doubt; but there is a vast difference between the different kinds of religion. The prophets of Baal had religion, when they cut themselves with stones and lancets till the blood gushed out, while calling upon their god to send down fire from heaven. But it was of that kind that drove the prophets of the living God into dens and caves of the earth, till he, through Elijah, undeceived the people and cut off their deceivers. But it may be urged that these people have the right kind of religion, the Christian religion. Nominally they have; and the Papal church could claim the same, from the beginning to the end of its bloody reign. Be not deceived. The word of God points us to a Protestant persecution just before us; and there must be an increase of religion among the sects, in order to bring it about. Since 1844 the nominal churches have been too dead to do anything of the kind. It is religion only that persecutes religion. Without the false, the true never would be persecuted. Dear brethren, it is our business, in all meekness and humility, but with firmness and perseverance, to oppose the true religion to the false; and, in the spirit of Elijah, to call upon the people to choose which they will serve. The spirit to war against flesh and blood should have no place with us. The love of souls should move us. There are many honest souls united and uniting with the fallen, corrupt and corrupting churches of the present day. These, when they have the light, will obey the voice from heaven. Come out of her my people. We must labor to enlighten and save them, though it call forth the wrath of the worshipers of the great and anti-typical Baal and his image—the worldly, pleasure-loving churches around us. There is no escape from the contest, but by an ignominious retreat. If we escape the wrath of the enemies of truth, it will only be upon such terms of vile submission as will bring down upon us the wrath of God. Onward, then, as good soldiers, to the conflict; that in the end we may say, with Paul, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course. I have kept the faith." R. F. C. - "Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another
BRO. SMITH : As it rejoices my heart to hear of the cause of God prospering in other places, I have thought that perhaps the little flock would like to hear how we are getting along in this northern region also. I can truly say that we have been made glad in the Lord since Bro. Waggoner visited this part of the country, some four weeks ago; and although he did not visit the town in which I live, in Portage Co., I had the privilege of hearing him preach two discourses near Adaria, in Waushara Co., some fifteen miles from my place, and I was glad to hear the words of truth from the lips of one from whose writings I had received so much instruction. He preached one discourse from Christ's words, "Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth;" and although at that time his health was quite poor from the effects of a bad cold he had taken, he presented the truth in a clear and powerful manner, showing the harmony existing between the law and the gospel, the perpetuity of the law which is holy, just and good, and without which we should not see the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and become reconciled to God by faith in Christ, &c. The people listened with the utmost attention. Sabbath-keepers were strengthened, and I think some Sunday-keepers were led to see the slippery foundation on which they were resting. As there were many Sabbath-keepers in that region, and some were capable of giving instruction, my brother, Eld. M. Welcome, and Bro. Thurston, requested Bro. Waggoner to come to Fish Lake (it being in their neighborhood) and lecture a few evenings; and they being the only Sabbath-keepers in the place were desirous of having the truth presented in a way that could not be gainsayed. He accordingly gave them three or four lectures. But I was not able to attend. He will probably give an account of the meetings himself, but I will try and give an account of the effects as I have seen them since. I was at a monthly meeting of the Christian church the next Sabbath after he left, and found that the truth had begun to take effect. Some said that the truth had been presented in so clear a manner that they could not get around it, and they must keep the Sabbath. As the Christian church took the Bible for its platform, we supposed that we could all enjoy our opinions without dividing the church; for we had covenanted together that Christian character should be the test of Christian fellowship. But what was our astonishment to hear some in the meeting declare that they would not take the Bible to be guided by, for it upheld slavery; therefore they only take the New Testament. One poor sister said that she felt as though the wolves had been among them to scatter the flock, but I could not see as any were hurt, though they were badly frightened, and seemed to feel that "our little church" was falling all to pieces. Why do you think so? I asked one brother. Why, says he, Eld. Waggoner has turned every thing upside down. I told him that people thought just so anciently when Paul presented the truth. Acts xvii, 6. But notwithstanding the feeling existing in the hearts of a few, we had a very good meeting. The next day being Sunday we had a discourse from Bro. Smith, the pastor of the church. He took for his text the last verse of the 28th chapter of Matt. "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you"207&c. For the sake of showing the weakness of even a good man's arguments against the truth, I will give some of the main points of his discourse. He commenced by giving a short account of Christ and his instructions, as he was about to leave his disciples; and he said that the disciples were to teach all nations to observe what Christ had commanded them. Now says he, "What did Christ command them? I will tell you. He was in the habit of meeting with his disciples on the first day of the week, and it was probably on one of these occasions that he met with his disciples on the mount, and there gave them his commandments as recorded in Matt. v, commencing at the third verse, 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,' &c. He said this was the law of Christ, which if any man obey he shall have eternal life; and he said Christ gave other commands, one of which was to love one another. O, says he, let us obey the law of Christ, and do whatsoever he has commanded us. But some tell us in these days that we must obey the law that God gave to Moses for the Jews, and some say that there were ten commandments written on tables of stone, but he had examined them, and by taking the words, Thou shalt, for a command, there were thirteen or fourteen, and in some way he made out seventeen. Now, says he, to these commands were attached certain articles of civil jurisprudence, and if we are under that law we must suffer the penalties attached to it, which would be to be stoned to death for picking up sticks on the Sabbath, and we must perform the rites and ceremonies that the Jews did. But said he, "Christ came into the world to provide a better way of life and salvation, and he fulfilled his Father's law and did it away. He was the only one that ever kept the law, he was the end of the law for righteousness," &c., and now we could be saved without the works of the law, by faith in Christ. He then alluded to Bro. Waggoner's lectures, and said he asked him some questions that he could not answer; but he should think any one could lecture that borrowed their discourses from others, and had their stakes all driven, and their way all marked out. He said he was not prepared to give a great discourse, for he had no time to study; he had to work with his hands to support his family; that he had not read any on the subject of the Sabbath; when he commenced reading the Bible he had to spell out his words, and he came to a place where it says, "If any man lack wisdom let him ask;" and he went to Christ and prayed, and Christ taught him, and if he was wrong in these things, it was because he was taught wrong. He said that the first day of the week was the Sabbath; that Christ and his disciples kept it; and he used to meet with his disciples at various times after he had arisen, and they were often together on that day; also the day he arose two of his disciples went to Emmaus, he supposed to hold an evening meeting; at any rate, they broke bread there, and asked Christ who had fallen in with them, to partake; and he break bread and gave thanks, which he would not have done if it had been a common meal, for he was a stranger. He said also that John was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, which was the first day of the week, and no one could deny it; that the Sabbath was changed to the first day of the week to commemorate the resurrection of Christ, and therefore called the Lord's day. Having established this point to his satisfaction he spoke of the beast of Rev. xiii, and said he admitted that to be the church of Rome; but the two-horned beast was the church of England, and the mark of the beast was sprinkling, and signing our names to the creeds, which was the number of the beast; in which he said he agreed with Bro. Waggoner. He said the number was 666, and that there were 642 creeds, and this Seventh-day creed made 643; that the churches were Babylon, and he warned all Christians to leave and come out of her that they be not partakers of her sins. He said he did not wish to offend any of his brethren, but if they wanted to keep the seventh day they might. He said he had a large soul, and wanted everybody to act conscientiously. He knew he had as big a soul as anybody that did not weigh any more than he did, if, as some folks said, the body was the soul. In this way he talked about two hours from the commencement. He then gave liberty, and Bro. P. Thurston arose and spoke about twenty or twenty-five minutes. Taking the sermon one point at a time, he showed its inconsistency. In the first place he said that what Bro. S. called Christ's commands were blessings pronounced on the faithful; and secondly, that Christ came to do his Father's will; that he kept his Father's commands, and taught his disciples to observe them; that his fulfilling the law did not destroy it, but that he made the law honorable; that he did not take us from under the law, but from under the curse; and as Bro. S. had connected the ten commands with the law of ordinances, he showed the distraction thus produced; that the ceremonial law was done away in Christ; but the law on tables of stone was binding on all mankind to the end of time; that the church had no right to make any change in the law; that we had no proof that the disciples kept the first day, but we had proof that they kept the Sabbath; and the Lord's day spoken of by John was the Sabbath of the Lord, for Christ said he was Lord of the Sabbath, &c. The congregation, although weary, were very attentive, and seemed pleased with Bro. Thurston's remarks. He gave much light on the subject in a few minutes' time, and I think much good will result from that meeting; for some Sunday-keepers were heard to say that if Eld. S. should preach a few more such sermons he would make them all Sabbath-keepers. The result of Bro. Waggoner's labors is, that about twenty of the most devoted Christians in the vicinity of Fish Lake are now keeping the commandments of God, and meet every Sabbath for worship. They are much opposed, but are strong in the Lord. May the light spread until we shall all be prepared to meet our coming King. Almond, Wis., Apr. 25th, 1858. P. S. We all feel anxious for Bro. Waggoner to come back and labor with us. May the Lord direct and send him this way, is the prayer of many.