Earlier text: THE BAPTISM OF JOHNTHE SIN OF WITCHCRAFT.
By John Nevins Andrews
VI. From what cause did witchcraft become universal among the ancient heathen? That witchcraft was universal with the nations that God drove out before Israel, we learn from Deut. 18. These nations, therefore, in their heathenish darkness and abominable licentiousness, see Lev. 18:24-30, were grounded in the doctrine of the soul's consciousness in death; for it was upon this doctrine as a basis that witchcraft rested, as manifested in necromancy; i. e., divining by means of the dead; enchantment; i. e., making things which have no existence seem real; and dealing with familiar spirits, which is a pretended communion with the dead. But how came these people by this doctrine? They belong to that class that Paul says "did not like to retain God in their knowledge," and "who changed the truth of God into a lie." Rom. 1:21-28. Demon worship, i. e., the worship of dead heroes as conducted through witchcraft, was their religion. And the first principle of this religion is the consciousness of the soul in death. Nor is this doctrine the foundation of heathenism only, with its worship of deified dead men; it is equally the foundation of Romanism, with its purgatory, prayers for the dead, worship of the saints, and deification of Mary as queen of Heaven; and of Mohammedanism with its promise to the bloody men who fight its battles that if killed in battle they shall sup that night in Paradise; and of spiritualism, of which the whole stock in trade is the sayings and doings of dead men; and of MODERN ORTHODOXY, which makes death the gate to endless joy, and bestows rewards and punishments upon the dead without waiting for the resurrection and the Judgment. Who gave the heathen this first principle of their religion; a principle, by the way, absolutely indispensable to almost every system of false religion? When Paul says of these ancient heathen that they "changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather [margin] than the Creator," Rom. 1:25, he tells us a startling truth. For, instead of worshiping the living God, they worshiped the souls of the dead heroes that they believed had now become gods. Thus we read:— Num. 25:1-3: "And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods; and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. And Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor; and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel." Let us read again, and we shall learn what kind of gods these were whose sacrifices the Israelites ate at Baal-peor. Ps. 106:28: "They joined themselves also unto Baal-peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead." The gods, then, to which these sacrifices were offered, were deified dead men. And they were confirmed in worshiping these dead heroes because they received such wonderful responses, so perfectly characteristic of the men. But they supposed themselves receiving responses from the souls of these dead warriors to whom they thus sacrificed as gods. Paul tells us who really received this worship, and, of course, who returned the response. Thus he says:— 1 Cor. 10:20: "But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to DEVILS, and not to God; and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils." They worshiped dead men in name, and devils in reality. They had no doubt that these departed warriors and kings still lived; for they had manifest and characteristic responses. But who cannot see where these responses came from, or what being it is that has an interest that men should believe in their own present immortality? But who taught the heathen this doctrine that the soul of man does not die, or that men became as gods by dying? If we go back to Satan's first great lie, we shall find this doctrine stated in express terms: "Ye shall not surely die: . . . ye shall be as gods." Gen. 3:4, 5. Here is the fountain-head of heathen philosophy, and of almost every false system of religion. With this idea established in the minds of men, Satan has been able, by means of witchcraft, to control the world to an unlimited extent. He sends his evil angels in the name of their dear departed friends, and, imitating the peculiarities of those friends most perfectly, he throws them off their guard, and, instilling into their minds the doctrines of devils, leads them captive at his will. To see what kind of morals attend the practice of witchcraft, read and compare Deut. 18:9-14, Lev. 18:24-30. Witchcraft, or the dealing with familiar spirits, is Satan's system of spiritual gifts; for he holds communion with men through his evil angels, as God does through the holy angels. But as they cannot deceive us if they come in their own name, they have chosen an effectual disguise, and so come to us in the very form and manner of our dearest departed friends. We can understand why Satan has made so great an effort to draw men into the sin of witchcraft; for it gives him control of their minds, and makes their ruin almost certain. And we can see the mercy of God in closing up this pretended avenue to the most wonderful knowledge. The whole thing is a deception and fraud; and God has fenced up the road with his prohibition, that we may understand it to be a dangerous and fatal thing to travel that way. God is equally merciful in what he commands and in what he prohibits. It was Satan, therefore, with his first great falsehood, that originated the principles and established the practice of witchcraft among mankind. J. N. A. SYNOPSIS OF THE PRESENT TRUTH.
By Uriah Smith
(THE SANCTUARY, CONTINUED.) We have now seen that the earth is not the sanctuary; that the land of Canaan is not the sanctuary; and that the church is not the sanctuary. The land of Canaan was simply the place where the typical sanctuary was located; and the church was and is simply the worshipers connected with it. We now inquire, 5. WHAT IS THE SANCTUARY? Turn to the revelation of St. John, and while bearing continually in mind that he is looking not to any spot on earth, nor to the church, but into Heaven as he declares, Rev. 4:1, mark some of the objects which he there beholds. First, he beholds a door opened in Heaven. Chap. 4:1. Mark, he does not say that he saw Heaven opened, but he saw a door opened in Heaven. He then sees seven lamps of fire burning before the throne. Verse 5. Again he beholds an angel with a golden censer offering incense upon the golden altar which was before the throne. Rev. 8:3. Again, he sees the temple of God opened in Heaven, (mark, he does not see Heaven opened, but the temple of God opened in Heaven) and there beholds the ark of his testament. Rev. 11:19. But we know nothing of the golden candlestick, the golden censer, the altar of incense, or the ark of the testament, only as they are connected with the sanctuary. We are therefore justified in the conclusion that these are the patterns from which the earthly vessels were formed; and, as they are inseparable from the sanctuary, that there exists in Heaven a literal sanctuary also, the antitype of the earthly building. But we may as well come to direct testimony since we have it in the word of God abundantly furnished to our hand. We take it for granted that the reader is well acquainted with at least the first seven chapters of the book of Hebrews. Paul there discourses upon the new covenant and the superiority of Christ's priesthood over that of Aaron's. He then opens in the eighth chapter as follows: "Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the Heavens; a minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man." He declares plainly in chapter 9:23, 24, that the holy places made with hands were "figures of the true," and that the earthly tabernacle and its sacred vessels, were "patterns of things in the Heavens." Here is positive testimony that there is a tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man, and that this tabernacle is in the Heavens, (not Heaven itself,) and that Christ is the minister thereof. But, perhaps some are ready to inquire, Do you believe that there are literal things in Heaven, that there is a real sanctuary there? We answer, Just as much as we believe that a real one ever existed on this earth. Just as literal and real as we believe the antitype of the offerings connected with the sanctuary to be, namely Jesus, who offered himself the great sacrifice for the world on Calvary, —so literal and real do we believe the antitype of the sanctuary itself, to be. We know that the popular mystical method of interpretation has so long clothed Heaven and heavenly things in fog and vapor, that many are ready to start at the idea; but we choose rather to take the word of God, unstrained through the "coal sack" of the fathers, or the traditions of the church. With a few Scripture testimonies concerning the existence of this temple in Heaven, and a few of its declarations that it is the great original of which the earthly was but a type, figure, or pattern, we close this part of the subject. Rev. 11:19. "And the temple of God was opened in Heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament." Rev. 14:17. "And another angel came out of the temple which is in Heaven." Rev. 15:5. "And after that I looked and behold 'the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in Heaven was opened.'" Rev. 16:17. "And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of Heaven from the throne, saying, It is done." Ps. 11:4. "The Lord is in his holy temple: the Lord's throne is in Heaven." Heb. 9:11, 12. "But Christ being come an High Priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, he entered in once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us." Heb. 8:1, 2, has already been quoted. This heavenly sanctuary is called by Jesus "my Fathers house;" [John 14:2;] by David, Habakkuk, and John, "the temple of God in Heaven;" [Ps. 11:4; Hab. 2:20; Rev. 11:19;] God's "holy habitation." Zech. 2:13; Jer. 25:30; Rev. 16:17. See also Ps. 102:19; Jer. 17:12; 2 Sam. 22:7; Ps. 18:6; Isa. 6:1-6; Rev. 7:15; 13:6; 14:15, 17; 16:1, 7. If after this testimony any yet doubt respecting the existence of this building in Heaven, we know not what more we can say to them. If these texts can be set aside, any number of similar ones might be. But if the word of the Lord has any authority in settling such questions, this question is settled. THE SPIRIT OF A SOUND MIND.
By R. F. Cottrell
IN 2 Tim. 1:7 the apostle says, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love and of a sound mind." The effect of receiving and obeying the truth of the gospel is to give courage, instead of fear; to impart power, or energy, in the place of weakness and listlessness; love instead of hatred, and soundness of mind in the place of insanity. Each of these points is interesting; but the last is that of which I speak as a remarkable doctrine. God gives to those who believe and obey him the spirit of a sound mind; therefore those who do not obey the gospel are not of a sound mind. They are insane. This accounts for the fact that when a man accepts of the truth of God, the multitude call him crazy. But the truth is he has come to himself—to a right way of thinking; while those who esteem him insane are themselves not of a sound mind. One who can look upon the wondrous works of God in nature, and say, "There is no God," is insane. "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God." "The undevout astronomer is mad." Every sound mind, contemplating the magnitude, the beauty, and harmony of the universe, must conclude that there is a Creator, of infinite wisdom and power. And it is reasonable to believe that he who created man, giving him intelligence and the power of speech by which to convey his thoughts to others, has himself spoken to man, giving to him a revelation concerning his origin and destiny, and instructing him in the course which he should choose. The Bible contains such a revelation: one which commends itself to every sane mind. To reject it is evidence of insanity. But God gives the believer the spirit of a sound mind. It is perfectly in accordance with reason to suppose that the Creator of man, as an intelligent and moral agent, should give him a rule of moral action, a moral law. The ten commandments are a rule of moral action which commends itself to every discerning mind. There is scarcely a man who would not be ashamed to object to one of the principles contained in them. Every sound mind will admit that they are "holy, and just, and good." And it is also reasonable to suppose that He whose wisdom projected the plan of this vast universe, and established and maintains its perfect order, would give a moral law which would never need to be revised.248His law should be perfect; and that which is perfect cannot be improved; it cannot be changed and still be perfect. God gave just such a law to man in ancient time. Said God, by David, "The law of the Lord is perfect." Ps. 19:7 To say that the great and all-wise God gave to man with his own voice, a rule of right to guide him in his duties toward God and man, writing it with his own finger in tables of stone; and that he has since abolished or changed that law, is a sure indication of an unsound mind. "Sin is the transgression of the law," while gospel offers pardon to guilty man. What can be a greater sin than to teach, as some have taught, that the whole law "is dead, and don't deserve a gravestone?" This is insanity of the most hopeless kind. It is of this class that Jesus said, "Whosoever, therefore, shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven." Matt. 5:19. To obey the gospel is to obey the law; for the first requirement of the gospel is to repent of sin, which is the transgression of the law. Jesus said, "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments," referring to the ten commandments, and quoting a part of them. To say that those which he quoted are still binding, is sound; but to say that the others are abolished, is a sure evidence of insanity. A willingness to obey God in all his commandments and ordinances, is the best evidence of soundness of mind. A disposition to evade one of his requirements betrays insanity. No man can argue for the abolition or change of one principle of the ten commandments, without contradicting himself, thus proving his unsoundness of mind. But to those who obey the gospel, forsaking every sin and turning to obedience of the divine law, God gives the inestimable gift of the spirit of a sound mind. Their thoughts, being in harmony with a whole and perfect revelation, are in harmony with themselves. Let us yield ourselves to obey God in everything, evading no part of his revealed will, and, as a consequence, enjoy the spirit of a sound mind.
R. F. COTTRELL. OUR WORK.
By S. N. Haskell
God has committed to his people a work of immense magnitude, and of vast importance. It is to give warning to the world of the near advent of Christ, and to teach the true preparation for that great event. Never was a greater responsibility committed to a body of men than that which God has given to this people. The time for this work is short; it can only be accomplished by the direct help of the Spirit of God. We have the clearest evidence from the prophetic portion of the Scriptures that the Son of God will shortly return to this earth. We are responsible before God for this great light, to make it known to our fellow-men. The world has the utmost need to understand that the advent of the Saviour is swiftly approaching, and that it will very soon be witnessed. When God caused this great truth to be brought to our knowledge, he made us debtors to our fellow-men, to make known to them what he had given us. He has also committed to us talents of means and usefulness, whereby this work might be accomplished. This vast indebtedness is upon us, and can only be discharged by faithful, self-sacrificing efforts. And unless we make these efforts we shall find in the day of reckoning that the blood of souls is upon us. Those who attempt to teach others must understand the reasons and the facts on which the doctrine rests. To be a successful missionary worker in any branch of our work, a living connection with God is necessary. Our lives must be exemplary. And it is the duty of each to study to show themselves approved of God, as workmen that need not to be ashamed. We should labor to prepare our minds for this sacred work by as thorough an understanding of the subject as we can possibly gain. Not only should we become familiar with the publications which treat upon present truth, but such works as will throw light on God's work and its character, in the different ages of this world's history. We should also seek the help of the Spirit of God, without which we can do absolutely nothing. God requires our earnest efforts, and he will bless them if we put them forth in humble dependence on his help. We are called of God to teach these great truths in connection with the doctrine of the near advent of our Saviour. We shall not find it an easy work to perform, for it will require much self-denial, and great sacrifices on our part. There should also be critical examinations of our hearts. It will not please the natural heart to learn how God views sin and selfishness, and to know that our lives must be in every respect fashioned after the pure principles of God's holy law. Men love the religion of convenience, and do not love that which insists upon self-denial, faithful obedience, and the crucifixion of ourselves to the world. Our time to work is short. The day of God is hastening. Ruin is coming upon a world lying in sin. Upon us rests the responsibility of setting forth the truth of God in its purity, and of giving to our fellow-men the message of warning which God has committed to us. We cannot hope to find it a work in which our circumstances will be congenial to our natural hearts. We must set ourselves to this work as those who labor to save the perishing, and who think not of their own ease, or convenience, or comfort. God calls us to labor, and not to faint. Let us unitedly respond to this call. BALE, SWITZERLAND.
By John Nevins Andrews
Our tract and missionary work at Bale is carried forward with constant activity. We have learned several important lessons. 1. We have ascertained that our paper is much more valuable for general distribution than tracts; that is, for introducing the truth. The tracts are wanted to follow it up. 2. We have found how to send out our paper without having it returned unread, and to make it efficient in obtaining subscribers. 3. We have thus learned how to make known to the public our doctrine and our work, notwithstanding the hostility of the pastors and of the journals. It may seem a small matter to learn these facts, but the lesson has cost us much time and effort and patience. In time past we have sent out our journal to many new addresses, but in most cases it would be immediately returned to us. We have now adopted the plan of sending a letter of introduction with the first number sent to each address, and with the fourth number an invitation to the receiver to subscribe for the journal. These letters have seemed to make a very favorable impression upon the people, and we have received very interesting responses, even from persons who had received only our first paper and letter. Comparatively few papers have been returned to us. On receiving the letter with our fourth number many have written expressing their interest in our journal and commending the excellence of the articles which it contained. Some have expressed a desire to continue to receive it, but have said they were not able, at the present time, to pay for it. Even those who have directly declined to subscribe, have, for the most part, spoken in praise of the numbers which they have received. A considerable number have responded by sending us the money for a year or more. Our success has been the more surprising to us because we have sent out for the first three numbers only old papers, and have only sent a new paper for the fourth number. The greater part of our papers have been sent to Switzerland and France, but many have also been sent to the following countries: Italy, Austria, Hungary, Prussia, Saxony, Alsace, Belgium, Holland, Wales, England, Scotland, Sweden, Russia, Sicily, Hindostan, Egypt, Isle of Mauritius, Spain, Bermuda, Canada, United States, Costa Rica, Chili, and Brazil. One thing has greatly encouraged us. Money has come in from many sources from which we did not expect it, sufficient to pay the heavy expense of postage without taking anything from the missionary treasury. One person who received our paper saw in it a request that addresses should be sent to us, and though it was an old number, he complied with the request and sent us a list of addresses, and said that he would be glad to help us in any way in his power. We wrote to thank him for the addresses sent, and he responded by sending us a second list of seventy-five names, and said he would distribute our papers with pleasure. A lady in Berne having received one of our old papers wrote immediately to say that she wished the whole set from the beginning, and to know what would be the expense. The secretary of an important religious society in one of the principal cities of Switzerland, who had received a few numbers of our journal, wrote to express his deep interest in the subjects presented and to request us to continue to send it, sending us what money he could spare at the time. We have received some very interesting letters from France and several subscribers. We also have some very good letters from citizens of Bale. Nearly all the time since I returned from America I have had to struggle with consumptive difficulties. During Mary’s sickness it was necessary that I should care for her day and night, because she so earnestly requested that I should do it rather than any one else. Dr. Kellogg gave me warning that I should certainly take her disease. I knew the danger, but could not do otherwise than I did. Since coming to Europe I have been constantly struggling with the same forms of disease that were manifested in her, and I get over the difficulty in one form only to have it renewed in another. At present I am troubled with extreme congestion of the brain, attended with considerable cough. If I can get over this difficulty, I hope that my health will greatly improve. Last fall when I went out to labor in Switzerland, I resolved never again to mention ill health in any report, and hoped, with God’s blessing upon my earnest effort, to so do his work that I should be able to keep this resolution. But I have been compelled to desist from active labor in the field, and it is due to the brethren that I should state the facts. The question in my case is, whether I can overcome the tendency to consumption or whether that shall overcome me. In many respects my condition seems changed for the better: but now comes the new difficulty, which causes great prostration. I intend, if the providence of God shall make it possible, to join Bro. Loughborough and labor with him during the tent season. It is very difficult for me to leave Switzerland, but I think it is duty to make this change in view of the general interests of the cause in Europe. In my last report I mentioned the fact that Bro. Ertzenberger had commenced labor in the canton of St. Gall. He met with some success. Two persons have commenced to keep the Sabbath, and others became interested; but violent persecution broke out against him. He was compelled to walk five miles through the rain to appear before a judge; but when the judge had examined his case, he gave him an honorable dismissal and showed him much respect. His enemies being thus baffled, a little after midnight made a violent assault upon the house where he lodged, and broke open the doors to seize him. He attempted to escape by a window, but one of the party was watching for him, and knocked him down and kicked him with much violence, so that he bled much from the mouth. Bro. E. thought it best to refrain from further effort in that canton for the present, as it brought bitter persecution upon the few friends who reside there. Those who made this brutal attack upon Bro. Ertzenberger supposed him to be the teacher of some very dangerous doctrine. If our paper could have been extensively distributed through the canton before the visit of Bro. E., public sentiment would have held these wicked men in check. While writing this report, a letter comes from a lady in Germany who has received a few numbers of our paper, and who speaks in high terms of the doctrines it inculcates. She wishes it sent to a friend, and promises to send the pay for it immediately. While writing this paragraph we receive two letters from Paris; one contains a subscription for our paper, with the money; the other comes from a gentleman who says that he is pleased with our journal, but cannot subscribe for it. He says his partner is very much interested to read it, and he wishes that from time to time we would send it to him. J. N. ANDREWS. Our Master has taken his journey
To a country far away,
And has left us a task to finish
Against his reckoning day.
There's a work for me, and a work for you,
Something for each of his servants to do. Your task may be great and glorious,
And mine but a simple one;
It differs little. The question is,
Will his coming find it done? Our Master is coming most surely,
To reckon with every one;
Shall we then count our toil or sorrow,
If his sentence be "well done?" ALL the great agencies are silent. With noiseless footstep, Sleep and his twin brother Death walk the earth folding in their soft but strong embrace the children of men, some to wake with the returning light of morning, and others to wake only on the morning of the resurrection. No blare or clamor heralds the advent of the day-spring; silently the morning star hangs out his blazoned banner in the darkness, and Aurora on soundless pinion opes the gates of day. The wondrous agencies that emanate from the sun, giving life to plant and animal, work in utter silence. We see the results of their action in the wealth of foliage flung lavishly out to the breeze, in the verdant carpet that covers the ground, so short a time since brown and bare, and in the rich promise of harvest; but they speak not. In solemn silence all the stars move round this dark terrestrial ball, raining down upon us celestial influences, yet no voice nor sound among the radiant orbs is found. Great workers are silent. While little men fume and fret, and make a mighty fuss with their petty doings, the man of giant powers works quietly. Steadily, with deliberation and foresight he lays his plans; without haste and without rest he moves along down his programme, gradually conquering the area he has marked around, carrying his points, overcoming difficulties, flanking oppositions, until at last he stands master of his fate. We seldom hear of these men until their work is well-nigh done—until they have climbed high up—and then we exclaim with Sidney Smith, "He is a miracle of genius! Yes, he is a miracle of genius because he is a miracle of labor; because his life has been one of incessant and intense work!" How many of these quiet workers do we find in patient, steadfast, low-voiced women. In the serene air of intellectual calmness they plan out the day's doings, anticipate and provide for the demands likely to be made upon them, and set themselves to work to wear away the mountain of toil that looms up before them. In their calmness is their strength. They waste no nerve tissue in unavailing regret, in needless fear, in idle fretting against the bars that hem them in. They oppose to disaster a brave spirit, meet losses with a smile, bear disappointments with equanimity, and preserve sweetness of temper in every emergency. This quietness of spirit aids one as much in the minor affairs of life as in great undertakings. Severe sickness, death, overwhelming calamity, force upon us an unnatural calmness by the very magnitude of the affliction they bring. But in common life "the little foxes spoil the grapes." Petty accidents move to impatience, slight annoyances destroy equanimity of temper, trifling opposition excites anger. The sewing-machine "cuts up," and instead of seeking out the cause and removing it, the operator determines to make it work anyhow, and gets herself into a perfect fret, while the machine remains cool and obstinate as before. A knot gets in a garment as it passes through the wringer, and is jerked through, bending the cylinders, wrenching the cogs, and throwing it quite out of order. The children fret, and are rudely hushed. No cure for these little ills is so potent as patience—"not mandragora nor all the drowsy sirups of the East will medicine" the fretting soul to peace. "Therein the patient must minister to himself." It is very hard to rein in the restive temper, to repress the stinging epithet, to work steadily in the harness of daily toil without "kicking," or "balking," or lying down in the furrow; but to the learning of these hard lessons does all the discipline of life point, and happiest they who soonest accept the situation and bend their necks to the yoke.—N. Y. Tribune. YOU ARE LOSING TIME.
By Raymond F. Cottrell
CONVICTED of truth and duty, and postponing obedience, you are losing time; and as time, or the use we make of it, is the price of eternity, you are, in the course you are pursuing, losing eternity. You are waiting for more certain evidence on some points. You can see many parts of the present truth and you can also see a beautiful harmony in the whole; but because you do not see more convincing evidence on every point, you neglect to obey what you do see. The truth is clear and right. The evidences are sufficient. The difficulty is in the deceitful heart. You love the world, its riches, its honors. "How can ye believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor which cometh from God only?" This is what feeds and strengthens the "evil heart of unbelief," and prevents one from exercising the faith that is able to save the soul. While you occupy this doubting and delaying ground you are losing time; and if this course is persisted in, you lose eternal life. The prospect of the final, dreadful loss is right before you in the way that you are going. Nothing is more certain than this direful result. Unbelief and sin surely lead to ruin. You are losing time. You should be letting the light shine. You should be laboring to save others as well as yourself. You might be doing good, and making it possible for the Master finally to say to you, Well done. But you are squandering the precious time which God is giving you in which to labor; thus constantly making it more probable that you will lose yourself. You cannot afford, did you know it, to lose the world to come, because your faith is not strong enough to let go of this. Be entreated to change your course. Cherish faith. Give your doubts to the winds. The Lord will take care of his own cause and perfect his own work. It is because God has set his hand to restore the truth to his people, and thus prepare them for translation, that you have the truth which you have, and which you are delaying to obey. Acknowledge what he has done for you, and he will do more. Walk in the light, and light will increase. Exercise the little faith you have, making it perfect by corresponding works, and your faith will increase. Give up the present world, and your hold on the future world will strengthen, and your prospect of obtaining it brighten. Do not, I beseech you, longer waste your precious time. It will soon, very soon, all be gone. Take your position without delay while it is called to-day. It is high time to awake out of sleep. Let unbelief bind you no longer. Break the bands before they are made stronger. Arouse to duty, and work while the day lasts. God is calling you to let your light shine. Satan is urging you still to cover it up with the unbelief which you have so long fostered. Break away. Redeem the time while a little is left in which you may secure eternal life. Do not waste more of this precious commodity, and so mourn at the last that the harvest is past and the summer ended, and the priceless gift of eternal life lost. Yes, lost! forever lost!! QUARTERLY REPORTS OF STATE T. AND M. SOCIETIES.
By Editor
Our Tract and Missionary Societies report on subscribers obtained for our periodicals and distribution of tracts and pamphlets, during the quarter ending April 1, as follows:— California reports 177 subscribers obtained for our periodicals, 933 copies of Signs taken in clubs, and 312,698 pages of tracts and pamphlets distributed. New England, 168 subscribers for our periodicals, 543 copies of Signs taken in clubs, and 130,207 pages of tracts and pamphlets distributed. Michigan, 698 subscribers for our periodicals, 1217 copies of Signs taken in clubs, and 314,171 pages of tracts and pamphlets distributed. Iowa, 503 subscribers for our periodicals, 307 copies of Signs taken in clubs, and 179,334 pages of tracts and pamphlets distributed. Minnesota, 330 subscribers for our periodicals, 336 copies of Signs taken in clubs, and 69,597 pages of tracts and pamphlets distributed. Indiana, 184 subscribers obtained for our periodicals, 102 copies of Signs taken in clubs, and 88,792 pages of tracts and pamphlets distributed. Kansas, 363 subscribers obtained for our periodicals, 114 copies of the Signs taken in clubs, and 77,857 pages of tracts and pamphlets distributed. Pennsylvania, 429 subscribers obtained for our periodicals, 78 copies of Signs taken in clubs, and 133,148 pages of tracts and pamphlets distributed. Thus, in the report of eight States for one quarter, we have 2,852 subscribers for our periodicals and 3,630 copies of the Signs taken in clubs. Should each quarter during the year do as well our yearly report would show a wide circulation of our journals. "Political eminence and professional fame," says Daniel Webster, "fade and die with all things earthly. Nothing of character is really permanent but virtue and personal worth. These remain. Whatever of excellence is wrought into the soul itself, belongs to both worlds. Real goodness does not attach itself merely to life; it points to another world. Political and professional fame cannot last forever, but a conscience void of offense before God and man, is an inheritance for eternity. Religion, therefore, is a necessary, an indispensable element in any great human character. There is no living without it. Religion is the tie that connects man with his Creator, and holds him to his throne. If that tie is sundered or broken, he floats away a worthless atom in the universe, its proper attractions all gone, its destiny thwarted, and its whole future nothing but darkness, desolation, and death. A man with no sense of religious duty is he whom the Scriptures describe in so terse but terrific a manner as 'living without God in the world.' Such a man is out of his proper being, out of the circle of all his duties, out of the circle of all his happiness, and away, far, far away from the purposes of his creation."—The Counselor. KANKAKEE AND IROQUOIS COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
By D. T. Bourdeau
I SPENT the Sabbath, May 1, at Pittwood, where I baptized two persons. Last Sabbath I was in Aroma. Baptized four persons, and attended to the ordinances. I have also held one meeting at Kankakee. Three persons have been added to the Kankakee church, two to the Pittwood church, and three to the Aroma church. At Aroma, most of the French brethren and sisters of St. Anne being present, I spoke in French as well as in English. The Kankakee church took another club of ten SIGNS. Manteno, May 10. D. T. BOURDEAU. WALKERTON, INDIANA.
By A. W. Bartlett
LAST Sabbath we organized a church in this place of twenty-five members, three of whom were formerly members, of the S. D. A. church of North Liberty. The church has prepared a large room for meeting purposes, in which regular services are held every Sabbath. Many of those who now constitute the church were inveterate and excessive tobacco-users, but by God's help they have thoroughly cleansed themselves from this filthiness of the flesh. Our success in Walkerton is due largely to the missionary labor of a sister who diligently and successfully solicited purchasers for S. D. A. publications in the town and vicinity, before we began our meetings. Send the missionary workers in advance of the preachers. DEDICATION AT WEST SALEM, ILL.
By R. F. Andrews
It was my privilege to be present and assist at the dedication of the new house of worship in West Salem, Ill., April 24. These dear friends of the truth are the result of the labors of Brn. Shonk and Foster. They have recently embraced the faith, no labor having been bestowed in their village till last fall. Their house is a neat frame building, 26x36 feet, finished inside and out. During the meeting, seven persons were baptized, and six were added to the church by vote, thus making a reinforcement of thirteen to this young church. They all seem of good courage. Their house was paid for, all but about $300, and this sum has been pledged, to be paid by Oct. 1. We were made glad at the meeting by the presence of L. A. Logan, and others from Wayne county. May the Lord bless this dear people, and help them to live in love and peace, that the God of love and peace may be with them.
R. F. ANDREWS. LAFAYETTE, CAL.
By B. A. Stephens
SABBATH, May 29, Bro. Wm. Butcher and myself met with the company in this place, and organized a church of eleven members. G. P. Sanford was ordained elder, and Mrs. Laura Brown was ordained deaconess. May she be like “Phebe, a deaconess of the church which is at Cenchrea.” Rom. 16:1. One was baptized. We left them much encouraged.