Review and Herald, Vol. 27, No. 11. (2/13/1866)

Review and Herald

Feb 13, 1866

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 13, 1866

Prejudice.

By M. E. Cornell

THE prejudice manifested by many in this place toward us and our views, from the time we commenced our public testimony until the present, constrains us to call attention to the sentiments of Eld. Josiah Peet, who was Pastor of the congregational church at Norridgewock for about forty years, and whose memory is still loved and cherished by many people. We most heartily indorse the following remarks upon the subject of "Prejudice" found in his, "Occasional and Fragmentary Writings," as published in his Memoir, pp. 169-171; and we sincerely commend them to the candid consideration of the descendants and friends of their author, who "being dead yet speaketh."

PREJUDICE.

Prejudice is judgment beforehand. A prejudiced mind judges before examining, forms opinions of things before becoming acquainted with, or fairly understanding them. Prejudice may be in favor of an object or against it. As the term is more generally understood and used, it is against an object. It may originate in a native aversion, many grow out of ignorance, or spring from casualty.

Prejudice is of baleful tendency. It is injurious to him who indulges it, and is injustice to its object.

Prejudice is indulged by many against religion. Many judge and condemn religion without a fair examination; not taking the trouble to acquaint themselves with its nature and principles, its aims and ends. They know not what it is, but only know it is something of which they think ill. They regard it as a gloomy thing, not desirable; a thing without which there is greater enjoyment than with it. Many under the influence of prejudice, discard the doctrines of the gospel without a candid examination. They listen to everything unfavorable to these doctrines which they hear, but do not regard as entitled to much weight what they may chance to hear in their favor. The very name by which the system of evangelical doctrines is designated, is to many odious. A parish in Massachusetts gave a minister a call to settle with them, a man of good talents and unexceptionable qualifications. He wished to defer his answer till he could consult his friends. While he was absent, an influential individual suggested to some of the people, that their candidate was a Hopkinsian. "Is he, indeed? then it will not do to settle him." The candidate returned with a view to accept the call, but found that prejudice had been there before him, and he was not wanted. Said a woman, living in a plantation in this vicinity, that had not been visited by a congregational minister, "I really wish I could see a Calvinist: I should like to see how he looks." She imagined that a Calvinist must possess an uncouth visage, or be different from other men in appearance. Prejudice, in ages past transformed the humble and inoffensive disciples of Christ into the vilest of heretics and evildoers; ascribing to them a character so odious and wicked, that it was accounted lawful, and even a duty, to destroy them by thousands, and hunt them out of the world. It inflicted the most barbarous cruelties that malignant ingenuity could devise. For prejudice there is a cure—Divine grace is competent to its removal. It has cured many. How the Apostle of the Gentiles loved, and labored to promote these doctrines and that cause, which he had labored to destroy! Among the many to be employed for the cure of prejudice, a thorough acquaintance with the object toward which it is indulged is important. The scriptures furnish us with a notable example. There were strong prejudices existing against Jesus of Nazareth, and because he was of Nazareth, a place proverbially bad. Nathaniel, though a good man, was not free from the power of prejudice, and was led to doubt whether Jesus could be the Messiah if he originated in Nazareth, and readily expressed his doubts. "Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?" This was prejudicing, having the mind fixed beforehand, that nothing good could come from a place so wicked. Philip did not stop to argue the case and labor to convince him, that though Nazareth had a bad name, yet possibly something good might be found there, but invited him to come and see for himself, and judge according to knowledge, and not according to impressions he might be cherishing in his ignorance. Nathaniel came to Jesus, saw him, heard his word, found evidence that there was good in Nazareth, lost his prejudice, and became a disciple.

To that friend who has decided that we are wrong without hearing us, we say, "Go thou and do likewise."

M. E. CORNELL.

Norridgewock, Me.

A Lesson from the Rebellion.

By J. Clarke

HAD you or I been at the South at the breaking out of the late civil war in the United States, and had we been compelled to remain in the confederate States, our first effort no doubt would have been, to communicate with the general government, and to supplicate and pray for aid.

We would have made known to the proper authorities, our love for the established and permanent government; and our hatred for rebellion, and our disgust toward treachery and treason; and would, in the most distinct manner, have protested against the whole plot of the confederate States, and proved ourselves clear of any and all sympathy for rebellion. And having done this, we would have confidently asked for effectual aid in escaping the territory of the revolted States, or protection while remaining therein; and it would not have been a vain plea.

The situation of a loyal man among rebels, is not an inapt illustration of the situation of good men in this world.

Victims of Satan's art, seduced by his flatteries, most of the human family tamely submit to his authority, and boldly enlist in the army of that rebel leader, and assist him in his attempt to subvert the authority of Jehovah.

A few have ever been loyal, and such have always been the objects of Satan's wrath.

More especially at present, does Satan rage against the people of God; and as his time draws near to suffer the penalty of his transgressions, the more he rages against the people of God.

Under these circumstances, is it not fitting that we protest against Satan and all his works? Certainly it is right and just for us in the most solemn manner to protest against him who has wrought the ruin of almost the entire human family.

Solemnly then, and with humility, we would most earnestly protest against Satan and all his works, desiring that God would grant power to his people to overcome him wholly.

We protest against him because his authority was first established in this world by deceit and guile; therefore he is a deceiver. Next, he has no rightful claim as our creator; for he did not create us; nor does he nourish us; but is himself a dependent being. And having no right to us, he is a usurper, and as he is working to subvert God's government, he is guilty of treason; therefore, he being a deceiver, a usurper, and a traitor, we most ardently pray for the fullest power over him, and the greatest freedom from his influence, which it is consistent for the Lord to grant unto us.

Free us, O Lord, from his wiles, and grant us power to fully overcome our deadly foe, in order that we may be able to subdue our own inward tendencies to wrong, which were first planted in our hearts by the agency of Satan, who now designs following up his cruel work.

Give us power to rebuke this powerful adversary, most effectually. Is he not an enemy? Is he not a usurper? Have we at all acknowledged him as our king? Can he present any claim upon us? Have we been pensioners at all upon his bounty? Is he not himself a creature, spared by thy compassion for a

time? Are not his claims upon us, all founded in injustice, and deceit, and usurpation? Shall we be the victims of his cruelty any longer?

O Lord, rebuke him effectually, for thine own sake, and for Christ's sake and for thy people's sake, who are endeavoring to keep thy holy law, and who do most sincerely loathe and hate Satan's works.

Has he not influenced thy people long enough? Has he not triumphed in the afflictions of thy people long enough? Has he not smiled at our weakness long enough? O Lord, make us strong, and weaken him. O Lord, turn him backward, and overthrow his devices.

Hear our protest against a common foe; a foe who claims what was never rightfully his, and give to thy people enlargement. Turn his counsels into foolishness. Thwart his plans, disappoint his expectations, and weaken his strength. Cause him to be terrified at the boldness of thy humble praying people, and let him, like Belshazzar, smite his knees together for fear at the faintest rebuke of thy humblest child, who appeals to thee.

J. CLARKE.

Mighty to Save.

By Vesta N. Cudworth

AIR.—"We're tenting to-night on the old camp ground."

WE'RE sailing to-day on the stormy tide Of time; with a threat'ning gale; We fear not the storm, with Christ by our side, We never! no never! can fail. Many are the dear ones left by the way, And some have gone down to the grave; We will meet them again when death yields its prey, For Jesus is mighty to save.

ChorUS: Mighty to save, mighty to save, Jesus is mighty to save.

Let the old vessel rock, we're nearing shore, And home looks bright o'er the wave, We'll shout 'mid the thundering breaker's roar, Our leader has conquered the grave. Then ocean's may yawn, and rocks for us lurk, The mad foam, our frail bark may lave; Our anchor's in Heaven, our heart's in the work, And Jesus is mighty to save.

Chorus:

Oh! sailors rejoice, there is land in sight, The flower-gem'd shore so fair, Is just o'er the wave; where a golden light Sprinkles the balmy air; Never mind the toil, we'll tug at the oar, Be truthful, loving, and brave; We're just in the port, where the toiling is o'er, And Jesus is mighty to save.

Chorus:

Vesta N. Cudworth.

Springfield, Mass.

Who are the Angels?

By Sarah J. Wakeling

ARE those dear friends of ours who have closed their eyes in death, those who loved the Saviour and died happy, trusting in him, are they the ministering spirits spoken of by the apostle? Is it not a beautiful thought that those loved ones for whom we mourn, come back to earth to hover around us and to minister unto us? Orthodoxy answers, "Beautiful."

A few nights since, a Methodist minister, who is holding a protracted meeting, while urging sinners to repent, made the following appeal to their sympathies. He spoke to them of all that had been done for man, all that God had done. He has offered man salvation, full and free. Given his own dearly beloved Son to die. Then he spoke of what Jesus had done, how he had suffered and died. Then passed on to speak of all the angels had done. "Those angels who are ever hovering about us. And who knows that it is not that sainted mother or father, the spirit of that dear brother or sister, husband or wife, that is now looking down on you in tenderness, ready to carry home to Heaven the news of your penitence. There is an angel always near me. It is that little infant daughter whose home is now in Heaven above."

I could but exclaim in my heart, "Surely ye err, not knowing the Scriptures." To the law and to the testimony. If we speak not according to the word of God, then however beautiful it may appear to us, it is a false hope. If there are no angels except those who have died here, and their spirits gone to Heaven, then who were those "Morning Stars" who sang together, and those "Sons of God" who shouted for joy at the Creation, before death had entered the world?

But are our departed friends in Heaven? If they are not, then certainly the angels are other beings than departed spirits. First then, let us prove that man is not immortal. "God only hath immortality." I Tim. vi, 16. Now let us see if Job, that patient man of God, expected to be an angel in Heaven at death. Was this his hope, that at death he would go to Heaven, and be one of the bright angels there? Hear him: "Before I go whence I shall not return; even to the land of darkness and to the shadow of death; a land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness." Job x, 21, 22.

Again, "Man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up; so man lieth down, and riseth not. Till the heaven be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep." But did Job never expect to go to, or to see, God? Listen to him still further. "Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! that they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock forever! For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God; whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another."

We see by the above testimony that he looked forward to the time spoken of by Paul, "When the Lord himself shall descend with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God," and "the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." I Thess. iv, 16; I Cor. xv, 52. He did not expect to see God until the first resurrection. So we must conclude, from Bible testimony, that the angels are other beings than the disembodied spirits of departed saints.

They were created of God, before the creation of man. Man was made a little lower than the angels. Psa. viii, 5; Heb. ii, 7, 9. There is a great multitude of angels, "even thousands of angels," or as the margin reads, "many thousands." Psa. lxviii, 17. "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." Heb. xii, 22. They are ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation. Heb. i, 4. In the great harvest time of this world, "reapers are the angels, who are sent forth to gather the elect from the four winds." Matt. xxiv, 31.

They will accompany the Son of man when he cometh with clouds. "For the Son of man shall come in his glory and all the angels with him." In connection with this, let us read Rev. viii, 1. "There was silence in Heaven about the space of half an hour." While Jesus and the angels come to earth to gather the saints, and to raise the sleeping just, there is silence in Heaven. Those heavenly ministrels will then be absent on their holy mission to earth. None will be left there. Each golden harp will be hushed and still. But great will be the joy and soul-enrapturing the music, as they return to those heavenly gates, with all the saints redeemed from earth. May we, dear brethren and sisters, be there to join with all those heavenly beings in the hymn of praise, in the city of God.

Common Colds.

In the matter of common colds, as with many other matters, the commonest things are the most commonly misunderstood. The phrase and the malady, “common colds” are as common as common sense; yet who knows what a common cold really is? A whole community is not uncommonly in a coughing, sneezing, shivering, burning, ague-and-fever, expectorating and deflexive condition, because of the uncommon prevalence of a common cold. But the physician who can explain its rationale will be in advance of the community, possibly there may be one person in a whole commonwealth who can indicate the correct principle on which a common cold should be medicated.

Now, pathologically speaking, a common cold is an uncommon heat. The disease—morbus—to which the term is applied, is really a fever or an inflammation. A person who is constantly exposed to a very low temperature, no matter how near or how far below zero, would never have a common cold, however uncommon his coldness might become. He might die, he might starve or freeze but he would not “take cold.” The more one is pent up in overheated houses and ill-ventilated rooms, the more liable he is to be “caught” by a cold. To produce the catarrhal affection requires the transition suddenly, from extreme cold to extreme heat. The application of heat is the immediate or exciting cause. The condition of the system is that of obstruction. The vessels are clogged, congested, and the resulting symptoms—pain, heat, redness, swelling, irritation, inflammation, fever—are the efforts of nature to overcome the obstruction. The method for preventing colds is, simply, to keep the blood pure and the outlets free, avoiding extremes of temperature, especially the sudden application of heat after severe exposure to cold. Bathing the whole surface frequently or daily with tepid or cold water, or exposing the skin freely to the cool, but not cold, air, with dry friction, taking proper precautions to avoid chilliness, are among the very best means for invigorating the cutaneous function and preventing colds.

Plain, coarse food, which keeps the bowels free, is an important preventive. Nearly all the children that “catch their death of cold” by running out of doors, and getting sore noses, sore throat, croup, diptheria, influenza, &c., have constipated bowels occasioned by stimulating and concentrated food.

But how should a cold be doctored? Firstly, if the family physician is a drug doctor, let him alone. If there is an apothecary shop in the neighborhood, don't trouble it. If you know of any “old granny” who is learned in botanic simples—catnip, tansy, boneset, fever-few, mugwort, fleabane, elecampagne, gill-over-the-ground, or queen-of-the-meadow,—don't disturb her, but keep cool, and exercise your own common sense, if you have any, and if you have not why should you expect other folks to have?

Remain quiet in a comfortable room of an even temperature. Lie flat on the back, and breathe full and deep. Fast. Drink as little water as may be without suffering of distressing thirst. Take a hot foot-bath at bed-time. This uncommonly simple plan will cure the worst common or uncommon cold in a short time. In severe cases take a full warm bath at bedtime; or if this is impracticable, a warm hip-bath and foot-bath conjointly. If there is soreness of throat and chilliness of the body, apply a cold wet cloth to the throat, and fomentations to the abdomen. When there is great heat and dryness over the whole surface, take the wet-sheet pack for an hour. No matter how violent the cold, or the inflammation, or fever which attends it, this methodus medendi will restore your health in the speediest manner possible, save your doctor's fees, ditto apothecary bills, and not expose you to die of drug medication.—Herald of Health.

Telegrammatic.

By Editor

WEBSTER'S dictionary contains no such word. The latest edition has the word telegramatic, designated as rarely used, but which has the import we want; but why telegramatic? From epigram we have epigrammatic; from monogram, monogrammatic, etc.; but never otherwise; and so from telegram we should have telegrammatic, which defines, "In the nature of a telegram, hence laconic, concise, brief, succinct." When a man is preparing a dispatch, he counts every word, because it costs; he re-writes and corrects till all is brief as consistent with complete perspicacity. In our office, the other day, a good writer penned a dispatch, which at first contained fifteen words, but by a little correction it was reduced to nine, and was better than at first. Correction had made it telegrammatic. Do all writers know that every word in a newspaper costs? It costs type, and paper, and press-work and it costs time, too, to read it—and time is money. If all who write for us would correct as carefully as if it were to pass over the wires, more of our sheet would

be universally read, and might contain much more than now that is interesting.

Be telegrammatic, especially where the matter is not of universal interest. Our obituaries, since the reduction of their size, have greatly improved in character, so much so that other journals have called attention to the fact, and they were never so generally read. All notices of schools, of committees, of public occasion, ect., should be thus carefully prepared. We have many contributors who deserve all praise in this respect; with some there is room for improvement. Let it be always noted that a subject should be of most unusual interest to occupy more than a column or a column and a half, while in most cases half a column would be best of all.—Christian Advocate.

I Don't Believe It.

When a messenger came to Gen. Grant, reporting that Hancock's line was broken in, demoralized, and beaten, and that the field was lost, he is said to have remarked, "I don't believe it." A less general would have been involved in the disaster, but Gen. Grant's words give us the key to success in this world. There is great virtue in incredulity. "I don't believe it" has saved a thousand defeats. "You must stop," says the timid merchant to his debtor. "I don't believe it," says the valiant tradesman; and goes on, and pays. "You can't get any further," says the sailor to Capt. Kane. "I don't believe it," replies the dauntless navigator, and fastens his bark to the pole. "You will die before you finish it," says the doubtful scribe to the sinking, venerable Bede. "I don't believe it," answers the saint, immortal till his work is done; and dictates therewith the last chapter of the completed Scriptures. It comes down to us; and we see the tide of battle turned, in this conflict of the ages, by one stubborn chieftain, who does not believe in defeat. Does the Christian need to be assured of this great truth? It is cardinal in his creed. Faith in right, which is endless unbelief in wrong, is the soul of religion. "I believe in God, I believe not in the devil or any of his works:" this is his war-cry, and the watchword of his victory.

The Cholera Coming.

Next summer we are to have the cholera. Its course so far has been just the same as its course in previous visitations, and next summer it will be due in this country. Thousands of the inhabitants of New York will be in the full vigor of health one day, and the next will be hastily borne to their final resting place. A universal panic will seize upon our people; all who can get away will flee from the pestilence; business will be prostrated; and general gloom and stagnation will take the place of our present prosperity.

And yet, all this can be prevented. There is no necessity for the prevalence of the cholera in this city next summer. While the causes of most diseases are hidden from knowledge, the cause of cholera has been positively ascertained. It is filth. The proof of this is conclusive. The progress of the disease in its several epidemics has been carefully watched and faithfully recorded; its history is remarkably full and minute; and, without exception, it has attacked filthy cities only, and it has prevailed only in the filthy portions of the cities which it has attacked.

We have before us a report made to the Citizens' Association of New York, by their council of Hygiene and Public Health, on the subject of the cholera. This council is composed of the leading physicians of the city—men of the very highest position for learning and character—and their report treats the subject with the masterly ability which was to be expected. It traces the progress of the cholera in each of its visitations, and shows that in all places the one cause of its prevalence was want of cleanliness.

The following are a few among the numerous facts cited in proof of this:—

"In the city of Buffalo, where there was fearful mortality from the epidemic of 1849, its principal ravages were witnessed in the filthy and undrained sections of the city, and in the purlieus of poverty, vice, and fevers along the canal. In Sandusky, where nearly one-third the resident population died in a single month, Dr. Ackley states that a stench pervaded the streets. At Louisville, Ky., the centers of the epidemic were associated with filth, malaria and crowding. In Cincinnati, where the epidemic killed 5,314 persons, out of a population of 116,108, it was first associated with filth and crowding. In St. Louis, 4,557 inhabitants perished out of 50,000. Dr. McPheeters reported that the epidemic elected as its chief centers the crowded tenant buildings, the streets and dwellings alongside the stagnant ponds and open ditches that then abounded in that city; also that seven-tenths of the mortality was among the German and Irish population. In New Orleans, when the epidemic appeared, the streets and gutters were filled with filth so that even the Board of Health declared that "the elements of putrefaction had accumulated fearfully in every direction, until the atmosphere was polluted by poisonous exhalations in which a sickly acid smell predominated."

The report then cites numerous proofs that by proper attention to cleanliness, the pestilence may be avoided; we select two of these:—

"In various towns and cities of England, the actual benefits of preventive measures, the sanitary works of cleansing, drainage and ventilation, have been fully tested. For example, the city of Worcester, on the river Severn, having been twice scourged by cholera, undertook to avert the later epidemics by means of effectual cleansing and efficient sanitary regulations. The result was, that while the pestilence swept through the neighboring cities and villages, the populous city of Worcester escaped, 'and the destroyer of uncleanly cities made a passover with the people of Worcester, for on every lintel and door-post was written, 'cleanliness, cleanliness.' Not a house was entered, and the town was saved in the midst of the most frightful desolation.'

"In Philadelphia, the cholera broke out and made some progress in the districts of Moyamensing and Southwark, where the work of cleansing was incomplete. But the citizens had anticipated the coming pestilence by the most comprehensive and energetic effort to effectually purge their city of all nuisances, and all the known causes that produce or localize disease; 2,970 privies were cleansed; 340 houses were cleaned by authority; 188 ponds were drained; 66 rag and bone shops were closed, etc., and in all, the city removed upward of 6,000 separate sources of nuisances and disease. Cholera sent but 474 persons to their graves in Philadelphia, while in the city of New York it claimed 5,071 dead.

Is there not in this energetic community, sufficient energy, is there not among this provident people, enough provident spirit, to arouse us to take hold of the work, and avert this awful pestilence, when it can be so surely done?—Scientific American.

The Last Call.

AFTER two years' service in the army, Joseph W—— was at home on a furlough, and his friends were much entertained with his graphic stories of military life. He could boast of having passed through fifteen battles and skirmishes, unhurt. "I have no fear now," he said, "when I go into battle, for I think I bear a charmed life." "But remember," said his mother, "that your hour will come, and oh, my son! be entreated to prepare for it now." "I hope that hour is a great ways ahead, mother," he said, with a light laugh; but her words sank deep into his heart, and seemed constantly ringing in his ears. The death of a near friend deepened his serious impressions, and he lost his light-hearted cheerfulness, and was much in thought. He endeavored to dispel this gloom by every means in his power; not, alas! feeling that he was grieving that gentle Spirit which would have drawn him to repentance, and a hope of salvation which can take away the fear of danger and of death; which can, indeed, endow with a charmed life that life which is hid with Christ. These efforts to drive away his serious thoughts were only partially successful. The haunting fear that his hour of death might not be far distant intruded upon him in the gayest scenes, and poisoned all his enjoyment. He was not sorry, therefore, when his leave of absence expired, and he returned to the bustle of camp. I shall get rid of all this superstitious dread when I am once more with the army, and have plenty to do, he thought. He was right, for in a few weeks he had succeeded in driving away reflection, in stifling conscience, in grieving the Holy Spirit, and again his laugh was the merriest, his jokes the most telling, and his society the most coveted of any man in the regiment. Month after month passed on with no return of his former gloom. He was repeatedly exposed to danger on the battle-field, and, as before, escaped all injury. It was neither through the roaring cannon nor murderous bayonet that death was to call him to his account; but he came with stealthy steps in the form of wasting disease, and, after weeks of tedious confinement in the hospital, it was announced to him that his last enemy was just at the door. "Then I am lost!" he exclaimed. The chaplain, who was in attendance, endeavored to soothe him by setting before him the rich mercies of God, and his willingness to save to the uttermost; but he would reply, "These promises are not for me, I have sinned away my day of grace; I have frittered life away, trifled it away, been constantly joking on the verge of eternity, and now my hour of death is come, and my soul is lost. I can tell you, Mr. B——, when God called me for the last time to attend to the interests of my soul; it was when my mother urged me to prepare for death, because my hour would come. I knew she was right; but I had passed through so many battles unhurt, when others were falling thick around me, that I was fool-hardy; I thought I should always escape; I did not expect death in this form."

These remorseful self-upbraidings continued, until delirium supervened, and, at length, his sun went down in everlasting night. Reader, has the preserving mercy of God been around you in many battles, and has it not led you to repentance? Has the Spirit often repeated the blessed invitation, "Come unto Jesus," and have you refused? Take heed, lest you have already slighted your last call to the feast of love, and henceforth there remain for you only "a fearful looking-for of judgment and fiery indignation."—Sel.

The Wrong Signal.

"What has happened?" said Mr. Hamilton to his son, who entered the room in haste, and with the air of one who had some interesting news to communicate.

"A freight-train has run off the track, and killed a man," said Joseph.

"How did that happen?" said Mr. H.

"The watchman gave the wrong signal. The engineer said, that if he had given the right signal the accident would not have occurred."

Making a wrong signal costs a man his life. There is another sense in which wrong signals sometimes occasion the loss of life,—of life spiritual. The preacher who fails to declare the way of salvation as it is laid down in God's Word; who teaches that all men shall be saved; or who teaches that men may secure their salvation by their own works,—gives the wrong signal. In consequence, men take the wrong track, and go on to perdition.

The private Christian, whose reputable standing in the church and in society gives influence to his example, pursues a course of conduct utterly inconsistent with the injunction, "Be not conformed to this world." The young Christian is led to practice a similar course: by degrees, he looses his spirtuality, and becomes one of those who have a name to live, but are dead. The holding-out of the wrong signal led to the disaster.

A professing Christian exposes himself to temptation. He has power to resist the temptation, and escapes unharmed. One of less power is led to follow his example, and falls into sin. To him, his predecessor had given the signal that there was no danger there. He gave the wrong signal.

We are constantly giving signals to our fellow-men—signals which will direct their course in their journey to eternity. How careful should we be, at all times, to avoid giving the wrong signal!

Subduing the Will.

A TRUE Christian that hath power over his own will, may live nobly and happily, and enjoy a clear heaven within the serenity of his own mind perpetually. When the sea of this world is most rough and tempestuous about him, then can he ride safely at anchor within the haven by sweet compliance of his will with God's will. He can look about him, and with an even and indifferent mind behold the world either to smile or frown upon him; neither will he abate of his contentment for all the ill and unkind usage he meets withal in this life. He that hath got the mastery over his own will feels no violence from without, finds no contests within; and, like a strong man keeping his house, he preserves all his goods in safety: and when God calls for him out of this state of mortality, he finds in himself a power to lay down his own life: neither is it so much taken from him, as quietly and freely surrendered up by him. This is the highest piece of prowess, the noblest achievement, by which a man becomes lord over himself, and the master of his own thoughts, motions, and purposes.

A Lesson in Punctuality

THE late Rev. Samuel Fiske, ("Dunn Browne,") once prayed in the pulpit "that the Lord would bless the congregation assembled, and that portion of it which was on the way to church and those who were at home getting ready to come, and that, in his infinite patience, he would grant the benediction to those who reached the house of God just in time for that."

By this eccentric method the clergyman succeeded in breaking up a bad habit, which had resisted all legitimate appeals.—Sel.

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