Review and Herald, Vol. 28, No. 19. (10/9/1866)

Review and Herald

Oct 9, 1866

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 9, 1866

The New War Cloud in Eastern Europe.

WHILE the final solution of the German question has been adjourned by the peace of Prague, the Eastern question has suddenly assumed a threatening aspect. The Christian subjects of the Turkish Government, who in European Turkey number more than 12,000,000 against only 4,000,000 of Mohammedans, again begin to raise the standard of revolt. The island of Candia, which in a total population of more than 150,000 inhabitants numbers less than 50,000 Turks, while the others are Greek Christians, has risen against Turkish rule and transferred its allegiance from Turkey to the Kingdom of Greece. The Greeks in the old province of Epirus, which constitutes the northern frontier of Greece, have also attempted an insurrection with the same object in view. The new Hospodar of the Danubian Principalities, Prince Charles of Hohenzollern, has compelled the Turkish Government to recognize him, and barely conceals the preparations he is making for severing the last tie that unites the Principalities with the Turks. It is better understood than ever, among all the semi-dependent and the subjected Christian tribes of the Porte, that the weakness of the Government of Constantinople is constantly increasing, and all look forward with hope to the seasonable moment when one powerful blow will end the Turkish dominion in Europe, and restrict the rule of the Moslems to Western Asia.

The Christian element in European Turkey is constantly increasing in numbers and power; while the Mohammedan element is decreasing at a corresponding rate. If Turkey were left alone by her powerful neighbors, the moment would soon arrive when the Christian races would conquer that ascendency in European Turkey which belongs to their superiority in numbers and civilization. But, unfortunately, these races widely differ from each other. There are in Turkey about 4,000,000 Roumanians, 3,000,000 Servians, 3,000,000 Bulgarians, 2,000,000 Greeks, about equally divided between Europe and Asia, 1,000,000 Albanians, all of whom are not enough homogeneous to establish, on the ruins of the Turkish rule, a harmonious Christian Empire. This want of harmony and of strength naturally invites the Great Powers of Europe, especially Russia, to interest themselves in the impending ruin of the Turkish Empire, in order to turn it to their own advantage. The facilities of Russia, in this respect, are so much superior to those of any other European Power that the efforts of the others have been mostly confined to combination for counteracting the schemes of Russia. Twelve years ago this opposition of the Western Powers to the Russian policy in the East, led to the Crimean war. Now Russia is again charged with the design of planning an aggressive policy in the East, and so great is the excitement which these reports have produced in Austria and France, that for a time, even the German question is pushed into the background by the Eastern.

The press of both Paris and Vienna confidently assert that Prussia and Russia have come to a full understanding about the situation of those two great complications. Prussia is not to be interfered with by Russia in the re-organization of Central Europe, and Russia is to have the sympathy of Prussia in her settlement of the Eastern question. However much or little truth there may be in these reports, it is certain that Germany no longer monopolizes the attention of the European Governments, but that the looks of all are turned to the East, there awaiting some startling developments. The formation of new anti-Russian alliances is eagerly canvassed. Some speak of France and Austria united to this end with England and Italy. Others are of opinion that Louis Napoleon, accepting the leadership of Prussia in Germany as an accomplished fact, would rather try to gain Prussia as an ally, in union with England and Italy. At all events, it seems that one of the most probable results of the recent movements will be a closer connection between the German and the Eastern questions. Austria and Turkey are the two most decayed Empires of Europe. Misgovernment on the one hand, and the divergent tendencies of conflicting nationalities on the other, have undermined the existence of both. The collapse of either would at any time hasten the collapse of the other; but according to present appearances they may yet be buried in a common ruin.—Tribune.

Character of the Youth.

One of the marked signs of the times, is the unruly, irreverent, disobedient character of the youth of this country. “Young America” has assumed a remarkable degree of independence, and a kind of dare-devil spirit, that is really shocking and alarming. This corresponds with the apostle’s description of “the last days,” when he says of the children, they will be “disobedient to parents.” This trait of character is rapidly developing itself and spreading very generally among the American youth. We look for no improvement till Jesus comes.

In the address of Dr. Thomas before the Old School Presbyterian General Assembly at St. Louis, he made the following allusion to the spirit manifested by the youth in these last days:— World’s Crisis.

“The great want of our age, sir, is a spirit of obedience to law; of reverence for constituted and legitimate authority; of respect for those who exercise authority, whether in the family, the State or the church. Let me illustrate the habits and temper of Young America, sir, by an anecdote respecting the late Hon. B. F. Butler, whose sobriquet of ‘Sandy Hill’ was familiar to politicians of twenty years since. He was invited to a Mission Sunday School in the city of New York. The Superintendent introduced him to the boys as the Attorney General of the United States, one of the most distinguished citizens of their native State, and an active friend of friendless youth, adding, while he pointed to the clock, that Mr. B. would limit his speech to fifteen minutes.

Well, sir, they listened with fixed attention, but they kept an eye on the clock. The orator warming with his theme, forgot the limitation of his time, and had passed the bound only a few seconds, when a tattered urchin, probably a newsboy, and so familiar with slang terms, suddenly sprang up, and pointing to the clock, exclaimed, ‘Sandy Hill, your time is out!’ That, sir, is an illustration of our respect for those in authority.

Our political papers practice and cherish this pernicious and degrading habit. Our people speak familiarly and contemptuously of the President of the United States of America, the highest dignitary on earth, as ‘Old Buck,’ ‘Abe Lincoln,’ or ‘Brandy Johnson.’ Is it in the use of such epithets that we ‘fear and honor the king’? Is not this the conduct of those that ‘despise government?’ of whom St. Peter says, ‘presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.’

Sir, the tendency of our times—perhaps it may be a natural abuse of the nature of our free institutions—is to despise government, to cultivate a spirit of insubordination. Why, sir, if you will pardon me for relating it, I had once a curious exemplification of this Young Americanism in my own household. It has already appeared in the public prints without my consent, and, therefore, it may not be indecorous to allude to it. I had a little son about four years old, who, of course, I thought a very bright and promising fellow. During my temporary absence from home for a few days on one occasion, his mother relieved the weary interval with reading to him the story of the revolutionary war. The little fellow treasured up

the scattered facts and anecdotes, and narratives of the battle-field, until his youthful patriotism was kindled to a flame, and his blood began to boil. I returned home late in the night, when he was wrapped in slumber. He arose later than usual. While we sat at breakfast he came down, and seated himself by my side in silence. He withheld the familiar welcome—the customary kiss. Evidently his mind was engrossed with something. He sat brooding his topic for a few moments, and then turning to me, he said, ‘Father, are you British?’ ‘My son,’ said I, ‘I had the good or bad fortune to be born in England, but like the Irishman, I was brought over here so early that I became a native.’ ‘Well, sir,’ said he, his childish face all aglow, and shaking his little fist at me, “We whipped you once, and can do it again.’”

The Coming Day.

By R. SMITH

The great day is near, when probation no more, For the careless backslider will longer remain, And the sinner will find when all mercy is o'er, What a treasure he's lost which he might have attain'd.

The saints will come forth in immortal array, Their triumph o'er death and the grave be complete, The living be changed, and together ascend, Their glorious Redeemer in heaven to meet.

With him forever, 'tis said they will be, And the song of their victory never shall end. Forever with Christ in his glorious home,— Oh, who can such glory and bliss comprehend?

And are we prepared for this glorious place? Are we able to stand when the Lord shall appear? Our victory o'er self must be full and entire, Or still for ourselves may we tremble and fear:

God loves to redeem and to save us from sin; Let us haste to pursue the true path of reform; And the strength of Omnipotence then will be ours; We shall conquer the foe, we shall weather the storm.

R. SMITH.

West Wilton, N. H.

Refugees Flee Texas Persecution

It is estimated that one thousand people have arrived at Galveston and Houston, Texas, to escape the persecution of guerrillas in the interior, who rob and murder on both sides indiscriminately, for plunder. Affairs throughout the State are daily becoming worse, instead of better, and innumerable outrages are hourly recorded.

Justice and Sin

There is no justice in sin, and no sin in justice.

Warning to Parents.

By Earnest Christian

DEAR Christian parents, in a spirit of love I would ask you, What do your children read? In these days when the land is flooded with fiction, are your children being mentally poisoned by “Leslie’s,” “Peterson’s,” “Arthur’s,” and like publications? If you, in a spirit of foolish fondness, have permitted them to read these and other fictions, you may well tremble for their future. Do not think they are harmless because not positively vicious. There is no need of dressing up the truth, in false colors in order to make it attractive. The truth in its simplicity is more attractive, to a pure mind, than all the trappings of fictitious writers. But writers of romance are not so harmless as to content themselves with merely adorning the truth; they inculcate falsehood and deception of every kind. And even in those rare cases when there is nothing positively vicious, the effect of romance upon the youthful mind, and indeed upon every mind, is evil and that only. I will not resort to the old arguments to prove this—you all know them, but will relate a few incidents that occurred in a family with which I was well acquainted, as an illustration of this truth.

The parents of this family were professing Christians, and their lives were more consistent than the majority of professors. Their family consisted of two daughters, whom they endeavored to train up for God. The oldest, when seven years of age, was the subject of religious impressions. She was very mature of her age, and her parents anticipated much happiness in training her up to serve the Lord. But, about this time, she became interested in reading the stories printed in “Neal’s Gazette,” then a favorite paper with many. There was nothing of an immoral tendency in anything she read. But she was naturally romantic, with large ideality; the habit of reading fictions was formed, and her religious impressions vanished. Her parents deplored the evil, but were blind to the cause, nor saw the inconsistency of giving their child to the Lord in prayer, and then by taking, and permitting her to read, the popular papers and magazines, destroying the good seed sown in her young heart. Before she was twelve years old, she was a confirmed novel reader, and the amount of light reading she devoured, would astonish any one. Her mind was naturally thrown into a morbid state, her brain was overtasked, and she became irritable, headstrong, and often disobedient. Her parents saw this and deeply deplored the habit, now so firmly fixed, that entreaties, threats, and commands, were equally ineffectual to break it.

In her sixteenth year, she made a romantic profession of religion, after the fashion of her favorite heroine, and soon after married a man of whom she knew nothing, but whom she invested with all the excellences of her favorite hero of romance. Alas, she found by bitter experience that life is not a romance. After suffering everything but death from the neglect and personal abuse of a villain, she left him and went home to her parents, as she expected to die. But God was merciful and spared her life, for had she died then, she surely would have been lost. And did she now break off from her novels, and try to comfort her parents in their declining years? No! she read now to forget, yes, and wrote to forget, and found a sort of pleasure in portraying her past sorrow in some imaginary personage. Poor foolish child; she knew nothing of life yet. When she was about twenty years old, her parents died, suddenly, and near together, and then she felt that sorrow indeed was hers. Her conscience became awakened, and she determined to serve the Lord. But oh, how weak and powerless is the heart, in the hands of a giant habit. She was reading an interesting story, which she wished to finish. She hesitated some time before reading it, but finally did, thinking it would be the last. When she had finished, conviction had left her. God had left her to her idols. I will not follow her life journey further; suffice it to say that she persisted in her sin until she was left utterly alone, with broken health, and a broken heart. And then, she fell in with some of the pilgrims, God convicted her again, and, praise his name, she sought and found a Saviour, able and willing to save from every sin.

She is saved. But, as she looks back in the past, she thinks of two wrecked lives. Of a father and mother, who went sorrowing to the grave; of wasted talents, and wasted time, all occasioned by this one bad habit. And when she sees a novel in the hands of a professor of religion, she trembles; when she sees the light literature of the day on the table of a Christian, she cannot be silent. But when she sees parents, who themselves will not read fictions, permitting their children to do so, her mind reverts to her own bitter past, and she would fain sound an alarm which would reach the heart and conscience of every parent.

Christian parents, you are responsible, in a great degree, for the souls of your children. How dare you, in view of this, permit them to form habits which they cannot retain, and live religion.—Earnest Christian.

Two Late Breakfasts.

BREAKFAST was late at Mr. Smiles’s house, one fine autumn morning—an unusual occurrence; but you know that there are some hours, even in the best regulated households, when things seem to go wrong. The principal trouble was that Bridget was sick that morning, and when Mrs. Smiles came down, of course there was no fire in the kitchen, and the table was not set; but Bridget lay tossing and moaning with violent sick headache. “I couldn’t stand to get dressed, ma’am, let alone making the fire; for I’m kilt intirely with the pain in my head.” “I’ll see to the breakfast,” said cheery little Mrs. Smiles, “when I’ve brought you up some medicine.” So she administered the dose, and then set about her task. But the fire would smoke that morning, and the baby awoke and cried. “Nelson,” she called to her husband, “Bridget is sick, and I am busy; can you attend to baby?” “With pleasure,” answered a strong, kind voice from upstairs, and the pitiful cries soon ceased.

Harry was in the wood-shed, splitting wood. Mr. Smiles came in, throwing off his coat. “There, my boy, I’ll finish this job. You run in and see if you can set the table something like the usual pattern.” “Why, father, you said that you had to be early at the store to day, and should not have time to come out here!” “Yes, I know; but Bridget is sick, and mother is hard at work getting breakfast, and it cannot be helped this morning.” “Harry,” he added, calling him back, “don’t say anything about that to mother; it’s no use worrying her with it now.”

Harry smiled, and nodded comprehension, and was soon experimenting upon setting the table. “Pshaw! these are the supper plates! I’m sure I don’t know father’s napkin-ring from mother’s! There! I forgot the butter-knife!” and so on.

Meanwhile, Mr. Smiles split his wood industriously, thinking to himself, “I suppose I might have gone to the store without waiting for breakfast; but then that would have troubled Jenny. And what can one do better with his morning, than to make his wife comfortable, even though he loses a customer by it for once? What’s the good of customers, or the money they bring, but just to buy comfort, which it is poor economy to buy at the price of discomfort.”

The bell rang, and he went in. “What a nice little breakfast you have made us!” he exclaimed; “and boys can set tables, can they not, Harry?” So there was a cheerful, even a merry meal, an hour later than usual, in Mr. Smiles’s house; and then he went away, leaving a gleam of sunshine behind him in the hearts at home, kindled by his loving looks and comfortable words.

Across the street lived Mr. Scowls, who breakfasted that morning at the same hour, having kept his wife and Carrie waiting while he took a morning nap, and then made a hasty toilet. Unshaved and grim, he came into the breakfast-room. “Draw down that curtain,” was the first salutation; “this glare of light is horrid.” Carrie hastened to obey, while Mrs. Scowls poured out the coffee with a sigh. “I can not stand that noise!” he remarked again. “Caroline, take this bird away!” So Carrie took away the canary’s cage, and shut it up in the dark and gloomy parlor, which was seldom used—the only thing which dared to sing cheerfully in that house. Then they sat down to breakfast, with their usual discomfort—Carrie nervously dreading the incessant admonitions not to eat fast, not to take so much molasses, to hold her knife better, or to sit up straight; and her mother, a thin, pale, anxious-looking woman, apologizing timidly for every thing she feared would vex her husband. “This coffee is not quite so good as the last, but it is the best that Brown has.” “Why didn’t you go down to Smith’s for it, then? Half a mile is not so far to go, I’m sure.” Then, after a silence, “This steak is overdone again; not fit to eat.” “Susan thought we were to breakfast at half-past seven, and now it is eight.”

It was a relief when the dreary meal was over, and Mr. Scowls put on his hat and departed. “Get up, you lazy brute!” he growled, kicking the great dog on the door-step, while the cat ran up the wood-shed roof, and peered at him over the ridge-pole till he was out of sight. Then she came down, and brought her kittens, one by one, out of their box in the cellar into the warm sunshine.

Carrie ran to feed her bird before school, and Mrs. Scowls went into her kitchen, to guard, with fruitless toil and watchfulness, against anything which might annoy her husband at dinner-time.

So pass the days at Mr. Scowls’s. Are you not sorry for them? One selfish man makes forlorn and gloomy, a home which might be as bright and happy as the sunny cottage opposite, if only he would learn Christ’s law of love.—Independent.

An Appeal

By Ethan Lanphear

TO THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST BRETHREN OF THE UNITED STATES.

Dear Brethren: Having been more or less acquainted with you as a denomination of Christians since your organization, and believing you to be honest and sincere in your faith and practice; yet knowing that many of you have refrained from taking any part in our national, or political affairs of government, by voting, or otherwise, I appeal to you in behalf of our government in this critical struggle to maintain itself upon the principles of freedom, humanity, and religion. We have just emerged from a terrible war, brought upon us by slaveholders, rebels, and rebel sympathizers; and while this war was pressed upon us by wicked men, God, the great ruler of the universe, opened the heart of our nation to break the yoke of the oppressed, and set the slave, the oppressed of our land, free. But ere these poor slaves are out of the wilderness of slavery, a policy is introduced by an accidental Executive power, to leave these unfortunate people without protection by the government, and in the hands of ex-rebels. And as the effects of Mr. Johnson's policy are already seen in New Orleans, Texas, Missouri, and all through the Southern States, by murders and outrages upon the negroes and loyal men of the South, it seems to me that every Christian in our land should raise his voice, and use his influence by the ballot, and by every lawful means to head off such a policy, and to elect men to enact laws that will rule in the fear of God. Dear brethren, shall we have another civil war sprung upon us? Are our sons and brothers to be called to another deadly combat, in order that God's poor shall be protected, and their cause vindicated? In the name of God, humanity, and religion, let us, while Mr. Johnson is using every means in his power

as an executive officer, to sell every office under his jurisdiction to make votes, to vote the control of our government into the hands of rebels at the South, and rebel sympathizers at the North, and to fasten oppression upon our nation, and to form a basis for wicked men to oppress and rule our country, let us, like Christians, use our powers as God has given them to us, to avert and to prevent such a calamity from our country.

And in conclusion, brethren, I again press this appeal. Will you not by the help of God help the liberty-loving people of our land to save it from the hands of the wicked, and those that would oppress?

As a friend to humanity, and a believer in the religion of our Saviour, I respectfully submit the foregoing for your candid consideration.

ETHAN LANPHEAR.

Allegany Co., N. Y.

NOTE. We publish the above because we are in sympathy with the sentiments it expresses. But whether we could render any essential service to the cause of humanity by participating in the impending elections, or not, is a question which each one must decide for himself. It is thought by men who are supposed to possess the highest degree of political foresight, that the triumph of Republican principles in the North, this fall, will but hasten the usurpation and revolution which Mr. Johnson contemplates, and so all the sooner involve our country in direst trouble. How this is, we cannot say; but for our own part we feel less and less inclined to have any connection with political matters, but the more earnestly to long for the coming rule of the Prince of peace, until which time we know that righteousness will not reign among men, nor justice, with but rare exceptions, hold its seat in places of trust and power.—ED.

“The Angel of the Church.”

By Sarah A. H. Lindsey

BRO. WHITE: Will you permit me to ask a few questions in regard to Revelation, chapters ii and iii?

1. Is there not a distinction between the “angel of the church” and the “church” itself? In these two chapters we find seven repetitions of these words, “Unto the angel of the church . . . write,” and also, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”

2. Is not this distinction quite plain in chapter i, 12, 13, 16, 20? “And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; and in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man. . . . And he had in his right hand seven stars. . . . The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches; and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.”

3. Is not this distinction still further manifest in the fact that the “angel of the church” is addressed grammatically in the second person? For example, “I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick (or church) out of his place.” But the church is spoken of grammatically in the third person, “To him that overcometh, &c.”

4. Is it not quite evident that the first six verses of this second chapter contain a testimony to the “angel of the church,” and the seventh verse a testimony to the church. So also chapter iii, 14–19 inclusive; are they not especially addressed to the “angel of the church,” verse 16 having been sadly fulfilled in the cases of Messrs. Hull, Snook, Brinkerhoff, and other messengers who have given up the great sanctifying truths of the third angel’s message, and as plainly as verse 19 has been fulfilled in the affliction of those servants whom God loves? Is it not equally clear that verses 20 and 21 are what the “spirit saith unto the church” in Laodicea?

SARAH A. H. LINDSEY. Ulysses, Pa., Sept. 25, 1866.

NOTE. This is essentially the position taken by the Gen. Conf. Committee in Review, Vol. xxvii, No. 20. The special dealings of God with any of the seven churches we might expect would chiefly concern the “angel” or the ministers of that church, they standing as the representative of the church; and for the same reason the warnings and instructions designed for the church are addressed to them, and by them to be made known to the people. We can read very plainly in our own history thus far, the fulfillment of a great part of the message to the Laodiceans. Shall we not soon reach the fulfillment of the closing portion of verse 20?—ED.

Aid and Comfort for Infidelity.

By J. F. HAMMOND

I ATTENDED in this place, recently, a meeting of that class of Adventists who believe in the '67 time. I think they will have a tendency to make more infidels than any class of people I ever met. Never before did I hear such errors preached. One preacher from the West, ridiculed the idea of the city of God being literal. He said it was the church; and that it had been trampled down for 1260 years. What folly! if we may credit the testimony of Rev. xxi and xxii.

At a tent-meeting here, this summer, the '67 time people held forth the doctrine of the non-resurrection of the wicked. One preacher from New Hampshire indulged in the following, and called it argument: “If the Lord should raise the Sodomites, at the resurrection, they would say, Lord, what have you got us up here for? To kill us? You killed us once; are you going to kill us again? What folly to say the Lord will get up the wicked to kill them the second time, when he says the soul that sinneth it shall die. When they are dead they have received the penalty of their wickedness.”

He then endeavored to answer some objections to his doctrine by perverting scripture in the following manner: “Some say the wicked will have a resurrection because the Word said, that they that pierced him shall behold him. So they will; for they fell asleep Christians, and will come up in the resurrection all right; because Jesus prayed for them, ‘Father forgive them; for they know not what they do.’”

He continued: “Says one, The Bible says there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. I answer, so there will be; but the unjust will be of that class like the ones that crucified him; they did unjust acts; but Jesus prayed for them, and they were forgiven.”

This is a sample. Such perversions of scripture as are put forth by the '67 people, I never heard, nor have I ever read anything equal to it, except from the Roman Catholic church. They were particularly severe on the Seventh-day Adventists, who, they claimed, held such erroneous doctrines as the resurrection of the wicked, the literal city of God coming down from Heaven, the thousand years' reign in the future, keeping the Old Jewish Sabbath.

Said another speaker, “The Lord will come in '67, for the Bible says so.” How calculated are such declarations to destroy the confidence of the people, and bring reproach upon the Advent cause.

A passage in Amos, v. 18, came forcibly to my mind while hearing them profess to be rejoicing in the doctrine that the Lord is coming in '67, and yet fighting against the Sabbath of the Lord. Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord! To what end is it for you? The day of the Lord is darkness, and not light. I am truly thankful that the clear light of truth is shining upon the pathway of the willing and obedient.

J. F. HAMMOND.

Providence, R. I.

“I’m so Unworthy.”

By M. S. Irish

It is quite common, after a meeting at which the ordinances are celebrated, in answer to the remark, “You were not there,” to receive the reply, “I’m so unworthy.”

Now if we were invited to a feast by some worldly monarch, would we answer some friend who might inquire why we were not there, “I’m so unworthy?” Would we not rather rejoice that we were not considered unworthy by him who made the feast? If we have done a wrong of which we are not willing to repent, and are smitten by a guilty conscience, we had better stay away, truly, because we are so unworthy; but if we really believe that our Saviour instituted the ordinances, and said, “As oft as ye do this, ye do show forth the Lord’s death till he come,” and “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them,” would we stay away if we felt ever so unworthy? Peter doubtless felt his unworthiness when he told Jesus, “Thou shalt never wash my feet.” But when he answered, “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me,” how soon he showed his true spirit by crying out, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.” How many of us, unwilling or careless about accepting the first privilege, wait till it is withdrawn from us, and we are left to weep and lament our half-heartedness. How like the Lord’s people of old, when they had almost gained the promised land, they feared, lest they should not be able to possess it, for which sin they were sent back, and wandered in the wilderness forty years, till almost every man and woman who started from Egypt perished. How much better influence we should exert, and how much happier we should be, to gladly receive the first privilege to obey, not in our own worthiness, but in the worthiness of Jesus; for we may have eternal life and “all things” through him. Glorious hope!

M. S. Irish.

Thoughts, Words, and Acts.

WE can give. Sympathy is often well expressed in food and raiment, in money, in material help. The epistle to the Philippians, with all its precious teachings, might never have been written if the Philippian church had not “once and again” sent and ministered to the necessities of Paul the prisoner of Christ in Rome. Talk is cheap as ciphers. But yet words count for a great deal when they have a figure to lead them on. So words are worth everything when deeds go before them and marshal them in line of battle. A colored woman in a missionary meeting was singing with closed eyes the hymn,

“Fly abroad, thou mighty Gospel.”

when the collector, passing by, nudged her with the contribution box, saying, “No use singing, ‘Fly abroad, thou mighty Gospel,’ unless you gib something to make um fly.” Thoughts, words, and acts go well together. —The Christian.

“Ye are My Witnesses,”

We are to witness to the truth, power, and sweetness of religion; to the goodness, holiness, and faithfulness of God. We are to witness to the world, by our spirit, testimony, and conduct. We are to witness to poor, doubting, fearful souls. Our witness should be unequivocal, and should be borne with courage, constancy, and love. Our testimony should be from experience. Do we know the Lord? Do we daily experience the power of truth in our hearts? Does it free us from slavish fear, the love of the world, and the dominion of sin? Can we say, We have known and believed the love which God hath to us—God is love? Are we saying to those around us, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; there is no want to them that fear him?” Suppose we should be called to bear witness before judges or kings, in the prison or at the stake; how would it be with us then? Could we witness that God is good and gracious; that he is enough to make us happy if he were to strip us as he did Job, or try us as he did Paul? He says, “Ye are my witnesses.” See xliii. 12.

Give me to bear Thy easy yoke; And every moment watch and pray; And still to things eternal look, And hasten to Thy glorious day! I would thy daily witness be, And prove that I am one with Thee.

France’s New Breech-Loading Muskets

WITHIN a month the manufactories of France will have delivered to the army two hundred thousand breech-loading muskets.

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