TO THE experienced Christian, one that has learned to suffer with Christ, there is a love for the cross. A halo of light and glory surround it. They can say with the apostle Paul, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Gal. 6:14. But there are many who profess to be followers of Christ, who have not yet learned to love the cross. They cannot say that the world is crucified unto them, and they unto the world. Again, Paul says, “They that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Gal. 5:24. Here we see it is expected of those who are Christ’s, that the flesh, with the affections and lusts, should be brought into subjection to the will of God, or regulated according to his word. And again he says, “I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a cast-away.” 1 Cor. 9:27. Paul was ready to make sacrifice, to practice self-denial. All unholy temper, passions and appetites, were laid on the altar. The will of God was more to him than his life. He resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Did he not give us full proof that he loved the cross? Certainly he did. And what excuse shall we have, with all the light that is now shining, if we do not live up to the requirements of God’s word as much as Paul did? Let us answer this question between God and our own souls. I believe we are too slow, many of us, in the great work of overcoming. We have not enough of Paul’s sacrificing spirit. I do not expect I shall stand acquitted in the Judgment if I do not, as far as practicable, live out the light of present truth. I have allowed myself at times to be overcome by a perverted appetite, by eating unhealthy food, and eating to excess. This must be entirely overcome. By the grace of God, this unholy appetite can be subdued. By a fixed purpose of soul to die daily, as Paul did, we may gain the victory. Errors in eating, both in quality and quantity, bring upon the mind dullness, darkness and condemnation.
And here I would give an extract from “Upham’s Interior Life.” He says: “We would urge upon all persons who wish to live a life of pure holiness, the great importance of living in such a manner, in the exercise and indulgence of the appetites, as to fulfill and nothing more than fulfill the intentions of the wise and benevolent Author of nature. The life of God in the soul has a much closer connection with modes of living than is generally supposed. If Christians, instead of indulging and pampering the appetite for meats and drinks, would be satisfied with simple nourishment, and with that small quantity which is adequate to all the purposes of nature, what abundant blessings would infallibly result to both body and mind. Many dark hours, which are now the subject of sad complaints, on the part of professed Christians, would be exchanged for bright ones. God would then reveal his face of affectionate love, which it is impossible for him to do to those who enslave themselves in this manner. Christians, think of these things! Ye who seek the experience, the indispensable and blessed experience, of holiness of heart, earnestly make them the subject of reflection and prayer. ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.’ ‘Whether ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.’”
C. LAWTON.
Jefferson Co., N. Y.
Rich Without Money.
MANY a man is rich without money. Thousands of men with nothing in their pockets, and thousands without any pockets at all, are rich. A man born with a good, sound constitution, a good stomach, a good heart and good limbs, and a pretty good head-piece, is rich. Good bones are better than gold, tough muscles than silver, and nerves that flash fire and carry energy to every function, are better than houses and lands. It is better than a landed estate to have had the right kind of a father and mother. Good breeds and bad breeds exist among men as really as among herds and horses. Education may do much good to check evil tendencies and to develop good ones, but it is a great thing to inherit the right proportion of faculties to begin with. The man is rich who has a good disposition—who is naturally kind, patient, cheerful, hopeful, and who has a flavor of wit and fun in his composition. The hardest thing to get along with in this life is man's own self. A cross, selfish fellow, a desponding fellow, a timid, care-burdened man—these are all born deformed on the inside. Their feet may not limp, but their thoughts do. A man of fortune, on the brink of the grave, would gladly part with every dollar to obtain a longer lease of life.
A Retrospect.
By M. W. Howard
A SHORT time ago, I was at a Methodist love-feast. One old brother spoke in enthusiastic raptures, of the joy of love-feasts in general, and of one in particular, the first one he ever attended, more than fifty years ago. That love-feast was held in a little corn-house, and some who were gathered there had come thirty miles to attend it. And I fell to musing how, since that day, he had seen Methodism progress and become popular; so popular that the plain, self-denying doctrines of the Bible had been lost sight of; and passion and love of the world had superseded them, till like other popular churches, they had too much of the form, and too little of the power, of godliness! and elsewhere must we look for the spiritual, godly people, that shall exhibit the true faith of Jesus.
Our pilgrim fathers sought these shores, that they might enjoy the rights of conscience and religious liberty; yet the time came ere long, when, as our historian has said, “They could not forbear to persecute the Quakers and whip the Baptists.” Then Methodism arose; for God has ever had, and ever will have, a lowly-minded and spiritual people, who shall be the depositaries of his sacred truth. And when, in turn, they succumbed to the corrupting influences of the world—became converted by the world (instead of converting the world), to its maxims and operations, another has arisen, seeking to walk humbly before their God. In view of these varied exemplifications of man's weakness, how fitting that we should “not be high-minded, but fear;” how wise to distrust ourselves.
But let us not distrust, nor lose faith in God; for unbelief has well been styled “the damning sin.” Jesus’ own words indicate as much when he says, “Convinced of sin, because they believed not on me.” What wonder, then, that Satan sometimes plies his most vigorous assaults at this point, until the trustful believer sometimes sits in bewilderment, between a too-believing past and an unknown future; knowing, however, that it is Satan’s temptation, and out of it he shall come, with feet more firmly planted upon the sure foundation, enabled to say, “I know in whom I have believed”! Mark the phraseology, not, what I have believed, but in whom; an actual, living person, unto whom even “the keeping of our souls is committed.” There is a difference between committing our souls to Jesus, and committing the “keeping” of them to him. Away with worrying, anxious care; for the “keeping” is secure, if we love him and keep his commandments, purifying ourselves as he is pure.
M. W. HOWARD.
DANIEL M. MOORE
By Daniel M. Moore
From Bro. Moore.
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: In reading the testimonies of the brethren and sisters in the REVIEW of Oct. 4, the thought came into my mind, Am I a soldier of the Lord, and have I on the uniform that will pass me in to the marriage supper of the Lamb, before the door is shut, and I stand without, knocking in vain, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto me?
I ask myself, then, Have I on the right uniform, which is righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness? Have I on this uniform? If not, Lord, help me to put it on.
I am trying to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, with my whole house. We are alone here in the faith, but we feel that the Lord is with us; therefore we fear not what man can do unto us.
The REVIEW comes to us every week. It shines in my house as a lamp in a dark corner. It keeps me from backsliding. May the Lord bless the REVIEW.
Yours in hope of everlasting life,
DANIEL M. MOORE
Polk Co., Iowa.
Quarterly Meetings in California
Appointments.
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
Quarterly Meetings in California.
THE third round of quarterly meetings will be two-days' meetings in each place, and we hope to see a special effort made to attend them, and that they may be a source of profit to all. The appointments are as follows: Petaluma, Oct. 22, 23; Green Valley, Nov. 12, 13; Healdsburg, Dec. 3, 4; Santa Rosa, Jan. 7, 8, 1871.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
PROVIDENCE permitting I will meet with the friends in Iowa as follows: Near Osceola, in Bro. Neal's neighborhood, meetings commence Wednesday evening, Nov. 2, and continue over Sabbath and Sunday. We hope for a general turnout at this meeting, and trust Bro. Morrison will be present.
At Brighton, meetings commence Wednesday evening, Nov. 9, and continue over Sabbath and Sunday. We desire to see a general turnout of the friends from Pilot Grove, Washington, Richland, Talleyrand, and other places.
At Sigourney, meetings commence Tuesday evening, Nov. 15, and continue over Sabbath and Sunday. We trust the friends of the cause will come together prepared to labor in the cause of God. GEO. J. BUTLER.
Monthly Meeting in Genoa.
By Alex Carpenter
According to appointment through the REVIEW, the S. D. A. church of Genoa met in quarterly meeting, Sabbath, Oct. 1. Bro Byington was with us, and spoke with freedom from James 2:18, on faith and works, and his remarks were well adapted to the circumstances. Six joined with us, and one was baptized, after which we engaged in the solemn ordinances that our Saviour instituted on the night of his betrayal, and the Comforter was with us to bless, for which we praise the Saviour’s name. In the evening we held a very solemn social meeting. Sinners made a start to serve God. Brethren and sisters seemed willing to consecrate all to the Lord, and get ready for the soon coming of our Saviour. Eleven have joined with us within the last quarter, nine by baptism.
First-day morning, Bro. Byington spoke on the subject of the Judgment. In the evening we took him three miles, and he spoke to a house full of eager listeners from Rev. 22:14, 15. Earnestly pray, brethren and sisters, that the searching truth be presented may be like bread cast on the waters, which may be found after many days. Also, that such may be added to us as shall be saved. ALEX. CARPENTER.
Genoa, Oct. 6, 1870.
Pernicious Reading.
Of the several novels laid upon our table during the month, not much that is favorable can be said. It is a painful subject for reflection, that every month adds a dozen or twenty to the number of works of this class, scarcely one of which possesses sufficient literary worth to give it any claim to recognition in the world of letters, or power to exert any other influence than to vitiate still more the literary taste and corrupt the morals of the reading community. We recollect no time during the last two or three decades of years when novels were more numerously published than now, or when they were characterized so generally by a low moral and intellectual tone. They are nearly all of them the product of English brains—and the English school of novels at the present time is hardly on a par with the French in the matter of morality—republished here, in cheap form, and through thousands of agencies, sold by the trade to an immense extent all over the country. One of these novels was recently fished up from the purlieus of London, and the name of a popular sensational author attached to it by a publishing house here, and more than ten thousand copies of it sold in a few weeks. It seems to us that many of our respectable publishers are rolling up a fearful account with God and with the community, in using their names and facilities to give currency and circulation to such a class of novels as is now flooding and cursing the land. Unless some means can be devised to arrest this rapidly-augmenting currency of licentious and semi-infidel literature, its demoralizing effects will soon be everywhere manifest.—Hours at Home.
Report from California.
By John Norton Loughborough
OUR last report was made just after taking down the tent, at Petaluma. We spent most of the week, visiting those in Petaluma who were deciding on the truth; and the next Sabbath and first-day I gave three discourses at Bloomfield. Was glad to find some progress in the work. The few there are about buying a hall in which to hold their meetings.
Sunday evening, I gave a discourse in Bucher Valley, to a few who assembled at the house of a family who embraced the Sabbath in Bloomfield. We next spent two weeks laboring in public and from house to house in Santa Rosa, seeking to correct wrongs in the church. We held during the time ten public meetings. Wrongs were confessed on the part of some, and measures taken which will, we trust, produce in time a more healthy state of things there.
Oct. 3, I moved my family and the tent to Healdsburgh, and commenced meetings in the tent the evening of the 6th. I have already spoken six times, and the congregation has increased from 40 the first evening to 200 last evening. We trust this effort will not be all in vain. Bro. Kellogg is putting up a small house for himself in Santa Rosa, that he may be more free to give himself wholly to the work. This leaves me to prosecute the labors here mostly alone. I expect my family will remain in Healdsburg this winter, and I will go out from this point after tent season closes, as the way may open. Friends may address me at Healdsburgh, Sonoma Co., Cal.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
Healdsburgh, Oct. 10, 1870.
Closing Labor with the Tent in Indiana.
By E. B. Lane; S. H. Lane
Our last course of lectures was given at Burlington, Carroll Co. We there met considerable prejudice; but as the truth was presented, it finally gave way, and a deep, lasting interest took its place.
Our congregations increased to the last. We were sorry to leave the work there when we did, but were obliged to, on account of the need of the tent at the Michigan camp-meeting. We expect to return and pursue the work still further there. Some fifteen or more have taken hold of the truth there and in the vicinity, about. We expect others to soon follow. May all the honest in heart be gathered out to keep God's commandments. E. B. & S. H. LANE.
Oct. 18, 1870.
“Death is the Coming of Christ.”
THE “Prophetic Key” gives this illustration of the absurdity of confounding death with our Lord’s coming, as is often done:
“Death,” said Mr. Smith, “is the same to a man as the coming of Christ to him.” “Yes,” returned Mr. Jones, “the same, of course—for when death comes a man goes into the grave, and when Christ comes he comes out of it? The coming of Christ and death then are just the same—just as into and out of are the same.” “I never thought of it that way,” replied Mr. Smith. “I think it very doubtful,” said Mr. Jones, “whether you ever thought much of it in any way.” “Fact,” answered Mr. Smith, as he left.
THE HOPE THAT ENDURETH.
By S. Elmer
Oh! give me a hope that is free from deception;
A hope that is changeless, confiding, and pure;
Which brightens the more as the clouds darkly thicken,
And rests on an anchor eternally sure;
A hope that will buoy us o'er life's surging billows,
Although the fierce lightnings gleam o'er the dark wave,
And our frail bark be tossed with the wild waves' commotion,
Still trust in the skill of the Pilot to save;
That exults at the thought of a soon-coming Saviour,
And points the lone pilgrim to yonder bright home;
That sees through the cloud a reconciled Father,
And trusts in his mercies, whatever may come.
With a hope firm as this, we can pass through death's portals,
And rest for a while in the cold, silent tomb;
Assured that the voice of our Saviour will wake us
To life once again, clothed with immortal bloom.
S. ELMER.
A Good Hint
T. L. CUTLER, in narrating his ministerial experience, says:
“The year after my licensure, I preached at Saratoga. The next day a baker in the village said to me, ‘Young man! you are a stranger here, and yesterday I pitied you when you began, for you did not know what a critical audience you had to address. But I have noticed that if a minister can only convince his congregation during the first five minutes that he cares for nothing but to save their souls, he will kill all the critics in the house.’ I have always thanked that baker for the best practical hint I ever got.”
Don't Be Idle
DON'T BE IDLE.—Rather do nothing to the purpose than be idle, that the devil may find thee doing. The bird that sits is easily shot, when flyers escape the fowler. Idleness is the dead sea that swallows virtues, and the self-made sepulcher of a living man.
Some one from Greenville, Mich., sends a draft of $25.00 to this Office. No name given. Who is it?
RECEIPTS
For Review and Herald.
Amount to each receipt in the following list, is the Volume and Number of the REVIEW & HERALD TO WHICH the money received pays,—which should correspond with the Numbers on the Papers. If money for the paper is not in due time acknowledged, immediate notice of the omission should then be given.
$1.00 each. C P Thompson 35-1, S Harvey 38-18, L W Prince 37-19, W P Baker 37-19, L C Sharpe 38-19, A L Ellis 37-18, E A McDonald 38-18, Mrs S Curry 33-23, I Day 37-13, J P Hoffman 35-13, B H Ross 37-6, S A Brundage 37-13, E C D Eaton 38-19, T Brackett 37-1, T M Elliott 37-19, C Labounta 37-19, E C Chipman 38-10, P S Cottrell 37-10, S Holford 36-3, C Allen 35-1.
$2.00 each. Wm B Prentiss 38-1, Nancy Tubbs 38-18, C Hemenway 39-1, A A Foss 39-1, J Chaffee 38-8, R Hicks 36-21, B Reed 39-1, H White 38-20, I G Camp 38-1, Sybil Whitney 38-13, H F Phelps 35-21, Volney Powers 35-14, T H Starbuck 37-21, Smith Hunter 38-19, G W Chilson 37-15.
Miscellaneous. H O West $3.00 37-7, R Robbins $5.00 39-4, B Smith $3.00 38-17, A G Carter $3.33 40-10, J L Laddington $4.50 38-9, I Gilbert $3.00 37-21, Jos Robarge $3.00 37-17, E Munger $3.00 38-20, T B Dewing $4.50 38-20, T A Herrick $5.50 36-19, I S Fowler 50c 37-19.
Books Sent by Mail.
Wm Potter $1.12, A H Blake 20c, Mrs H Cornell 40c, A C Bourdeau $7.72, Mrs A Morton 18c, Mrs G W Pierce $5.85, R S Lacey 17c, Arthur Mack $2.75, G M Irons 17c, C E Cole 25c, M A Pasco $1.12, E C Chipman 35c, Mrs G E Fisher 17c, Miss S Hackett 17c, R M J Vail $1.46, L G Marvin 17c, G H Wood 17c, C Cartwright 20c, E W Bliven 35c, Mary Dunn 75c, M A Nourse 17c, D J Kauffman $5.67, W Donnell $1.00, A H Hall 83c, D T Fero 15c, J Huntsinger 15c, L McCoy 25c, C A Lovell $1.13, A Persing 25c, Thos Harlow 50c, J Fargo 60c, T Wheeler 17c, M Cummings 25c, T M Elliott $4.00.
Book Fund.
A friend 98c, Church of Chesaning, Mich., $5.00, Alice M Palmiter $2.00, M J Shattuck 8c, G H Wood $5.00.
Library Fund of the S. D. A. P. Association.
N Orcutt $10.00, L R Orcutt $10.00, W N Brown $10.00, J H Morrison $10.00.
Cash Received on Account.
C O Taylor 50c, R F Cottrell $50.00, Jesse S Harris $4.00, J N Loughborough $50.00.
General Conference Missionary Fund.
Vera Reed 25c, H Flowers $1.77.
Michigan Conference Fund.
Church at Greenville $85.00, Genoa $15.00.
Books Sent by Express.
R F Cottrell, Cattaraugus, N. Y., $12.21, Hannah Sawyer, Jordon, Onondaga Co., N. Y., $7.00.