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Review and Herald, Vol. XXXI, No. 7

PRAYER.

Review and Herald

Third-day, January 28, 1868

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, January 28, 1868

PRAYER.

By Joseph Clarke

BY JOSEPH CLARKE.
(Concluded.)
TEXT. “Lord, teach us to pray.” Luke xi, 1.
Never yet was there a good man who was not a man of prayer; Daniel prayed before his open window three times each day; and may we not safely conjecture that his exiled countrymen gathered in crowds before his house to join him in prayer, and receive the heavenly influence of the supplications of that excellent man, and devoted saint? And did not this make up to them, in some degree, the loss of those high privileges they once despised while in their own land? True, it is a conjecture, but it is a reasonable one.
David says in Ps. cxix, 164, “Seven times a day do I praise thee, because of thy righteous judgments.” David was a man of prayer. His life was devoted to God, and when, for a moment, Satan led him astray, with what humble fervor does he pray for pardon. He even wrote out his confession in a Hebrew poem, and no doubt the whole congregation of Israel joined him in those plaintive notes of contrition. Good men were there who were about to withdraw their fellowship from him, whose sympathy was not withheld from his deeply repentant state. Truly the king of Israel, in thus voluntarily humbling himself in this public manner, did, as far as was in his power, make amends for his fault, and cleared the sacred cause of God from reproach; but blasphemous and wicked men do not appreciate the deep repentance and full confession of the humbled king of Israel, and the cause of God is blasphemed by such men to this day, because of David’s sin. Nevertheless, we, who look at this matter in its true light, while we mourn greatly that David fell, also rejoice that he rose again, for many reasons: One of these is, that as David was at heart a lover of God’s law, we rejoice that he had an opportunity to make another successful effort to overcome and be saved, and thus rescued from final destruction. Another reason is this: In this affair is manifested the forbearance of God, who forgave David upon his repentance; and in this forbearance of God we rejoice, and in his readiness to forgive; for if it were not thus, and were he to strike down the offender without giving him an opportunity to return, that disposition would have struck our first parents from existence when they disobeyed, and not an individual of Adam’s race would have survived to tell the story of his fall, or of the causes which led to it.
It is to this forgiving disposition of Jehovah we appeal, when we pray; and the infidel who would deny to David the benefit of this trait of God’s character, would, unconsciously, with the same principle, cut himself loose from God, who, upon this principle of forbearance and love, feeds and clothes the wicked as well as the righteous; and the righteous man who is tried over this case of David, might pray in vain for his own salvation, if God did not possess this trait of character. Truly we mourn that David fell; but we feel happy that God is so noble as to forgive even the high crimes of king David; but to justify his law, and his honor, and to show his abhorrence of these high misdemeanors, he brought signal judgments upon David and his family in after life, such as would cause all who read the history of them to shudder at the thought of breaking God’s holy law.
But David repented. He was a lover of God’s law. He was a man of prayer. Says he, in Ps. lv, 17: “Evening, morning, and at noon, will I pray and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” Had he not been a man of prayer, think you we should now feast upon his devotional writings? Was it not this which made him alike successful in peace and in war? And did not his reign lay the foundation for lasting prosperity?
It was in prayer that the foundations of Israel’s prosperity were laid. Abraham bequeathed to his son Isaac that fear of God which he himself possessed; and Jacob prevailed with God in prayer when his life and his all were at stake. All night did he wrestle with the angel, and said, “I will not let thee go except thou bless me.”
No doubt the sons of Jacob became men of prayer. Wicked as they had been in hating their good brother in early life, they finally saw their error. The Lord led them by a thorny path for awhile, until they found the paths of peace.
It was the cry of Israel that stirred the Lord to deliver them from Egypt. No doubt that cry was the cry of his children who feared him; and Moses who came to their relief, was a man of prayer. Witness his fervor, as he falls upon his face, and pleads for the life of rebellious Israel. Would he survive them? No; but if God would not save them he would not be saved. This was no willful fling at the justice of Jehovah, but grief, that of a broken heart, if they as a people failed.
He saw at a glance the promises of God to Abraham, to Isaac, and Jacob, and he knew the use the enemy would make of such a fate; and rather than that all God’s people fall, he would for them be blotted from God’s book. But the Lord only designed to try his faith; and it was a bold stretch, indeed, of Moses’ faith to thus address Jehovah. Like Jacob, so Moses prevailed. And the stern Joshua, learning wisdom from the lessons of the wilderness, walked steadily in the paths of victory and peace; and we may safely conjecture that most of the people, who, under Joshua, entered the promised land, were men of prayer and faith; and could we have the history of the national, social, and domestic, life of that nation for the first hundred years after their entrance upon the land of promise, no doubt it would be more happy and pleasant than that of any nation existing since the deluge.
But as often as prosperity came in, Israel sinned, and, by neglect of prayer and watchfulness, fell into evil hands, and became greatly distressed. But in their distress, it was by prayer they were delivered. Prophets, and men of God arose from time to time, and, by prayer and faith, wrought wonders, by which their enemies were scattered and delivered.
But prayer does not avail alone. It is the fervent, effectual prayer of the righteous man which avails. It was the alms, as well as the prayer of Cornelius, which came up before God; and Moses had been thoroughly proved, and tested, and instructed, before he could stand between God and Israel.
It is a solemn thing to approach the Majesty on high, in prayer, and to move the arm of God, more especially on such occasions as those in the history of the nations to which we have alluded; for this, God has trained up and educated men to fill just the niche he would have them occupy.
When he would deliver Israel, lo, here steps forth just the man for the place; one of deep humility and great experience; a man of noble impulses and pure motives; one who was as willing to wield the shepherd’s crook as the kingly scepter; a man versed in all the learning of his age, but pre-eminently a man of faith and prayer. God had, by his Spirit and by his angels, instructed him, and, as a consequence, he was a man of strong faith and fervent prayer.
When God would deliver Israel from Babylon, he had his own agents ready for the work; men like Daniel,and Ezra, and Nehemiah, and Zerubbabel; men of ability and of noble minds, who had been thoroughly trained in the school of adversity, to the exercise of virtue. They were at the right time brought forward into the courts of kings, and, by their noble qualities, won an influence, which they wield for the enlargement and deliverance of Israel. How did these men keep up their intercourse with God, that they might fulfill their holy mission? You answer, it was by constant faith and prayer. They lived near to God. In every difficulty, they repaired to him. Angels guided and led those noble men, and this gave them a power and an influence which could not be resisted.
Nebuchadnezzar, Darius, Cyrus, and other mighty monarchs, became acquainted with these humble, praying men. They saw something about them which won their confidence, and at the proper time, the Lord made use of this influence for the deliverance of his people.
We mention these instances as being a few among many of God’s agents whom he has prepared to do a special work in the order of his providence. We might mention Paul and the apostles, and a host of others, all of whom were men mighty in prayer.
At the present time, a great work is before the people of God, and he is, no doubt, training up for this work, men of great faith. Such men will, of necessity, pass through the furnace of affliction, if it is necessary for their purification. And if it was necessary for Abraham and his posterity, if Moses and Daniel must pass the ordeal of severe trial, shall others shrink who come after? By no means, say you. Truly, let the fiery trial come, if I may be purified and fitted for the Master’s use.
God has a work to be done. At the proper time, men will walk forth, as Daniel did from the lion’s den, as Moses from the exile of forty years, men who have seen trouble and risen above it; men who have been afflicted, and come forth from affliction humbled and purified; men of tried faith and perseverance; men full of holy love and every Christian grace, and mighty in prayer. They will live near to God, and keep up continually a sweet intercourse with Heaven. Angels will delight to strengthen and help them; and the church, as she prays the Lord of the harvest to raise up laborers to go forth into the harvest, longs and prays for such men; and while she gives thanks to God that he is fitting up those now in the field, she feels that they are too few, and labor has already wasted their frames, and they need succor. The church cries to the Lord for laborers to go forth into the wide harvest-field.
No doubt the agents are selected. God knows his own. He is preparing them, and although his designs are hidden in some respects from men, yet he will in due time make his counsels known.
The third message is yet to be proclaimed in power, and the world is to be filled with its glory, and God’s people will be prepared. How are they to be prepared? This question is alike applicable to us all. How did Jacob overcome? Was it by might and physical force? Esau, with a formidable force, filled with murderous revenge, was on the way to destroy him. At that time, what did Jacob do? Did he set up a defense, or seek for allies? No! but alone in prayer he set about the work of enlisting Jehovah in his behalf. All night, till break of day, he plead in prayer for deliverance, and deliverance came. Esau’s heart of stone was softened by divine power, and Jacob escaped.
An enemy, more wicked, more artful, more powerful by far, than Esau, is upon the march against the people of God. His hosts are numerous and strong. He designs the overthrow of all the people of God. It is his last great effort. He knows his days draw near their close. Envy and cruelty fill his soul. He will make a mighty effort against each one who is of the remnant church of God. His masterpiece of error and delusion is ready for full development. Already the world is ensnared. He now waits with furious rage to take in his net the unwary and unwatchful of those who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. He will succeed in too many cases. God forbid, dear reader, that it should be you or I he will ensnare. How shall we escape? Will it not be by prayer that we shall overcome? True, you say, we must watch as well as pray. Truly, we must watch on every hand against this artful foe; but prayer will quicken our mental powers, and in answer to prayer we shall get the eyesalve, without which we watch in vain. How can a blind man watch? Let us wrestle in prayer for the fine gold, the white raiment, and the eyesalve, that we may be prepared for the final and close conflict just before the people of God.

COMPLAINT.

By Etta Booth

O my Father, come very near, I am faint, the way is dark, I want to whisper in thine ear. The thorns that pierce my aching, wounded feet, And blood stained leave the roughness that I meet, Is more than trusting patience meekly bore: O help, my Father! I can bear no more.
Oh! yes my child, I hear thy fervent cry, In earnest need I still am very nigh, The thorns that pierce may bleed thy stubborn heart, And lend thee grace to still endure the smart.
Higher the surges darkly roll’d, Didst see my Father? Then O come, And quell the waves so fierce and cold.
Mine enemies against me rise and say, “Where is thy God,” where is thy hope and stay: My soul doth languish. All the day I mourn, Because of the oppression I have borne.
The waves may wash thee, cleanse thee, purify Thy life for Him whose coming draweth nigh; Thine enemies may break the fet’ring ties And raise thy love from earth unto the skies.
I’m weary of my life, Yes weary of this weight and pain, Where all is sinfulness and strife; The winds blow fierce, the tempest rages high, Dark clouds their blackness gather in the sky; I look for help, I trust my God in vain, Why wilt thou not relieve me of this pain?
Trust thou in me, my child, I love thee still, Trust that to save thee I must do my will, Affliction’s pain, from mercy’s cup I pour, The gold that’s purified I purge no more.
ETTA BOOTH.

CONVERSATIONS ON IMPORTANT SUBJECTS. NO. 2.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

BY ELD. D. M. CANRIGHT.
Minister. Good morning brother. Now we will resume our conversation about the visions.
Bro. B. I am glad you have come. We were just saying, that it seems strange that a woman should have these visions instead of a man. I do not like the idea of being led by a woman! To see you ministers and everybody going to her to know what to do, looks foolish. I don't like it.
Bro. D. Yes, that has always troubled me. I don't believe in it at all. I do not think that it is a woman's place to teach me what I shall do.
Min. Brethren, wait a moment. You are getting excited about this matter.
Bro. B. Well if any such thing had ever occurred in the past it would seem different.
Min. Bro. B., the same thing has occurred in the past, as I will show you by reading Josh. iv, 4. “And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in Mount Ephraim; and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.” Here was a woman who was a prophetess; but that is not all; she also judged the nation and they all “came up to her for judgment,” that is to learn what to do, and to have their cases decided. Is not this more than Sr. W. does?
Bro. B. Well, I declare, I did not remember that passage before. It does seem to meet the case pretty well.
Min. There are other cases of women who have been prophetesses. Miriam, the sister of Moses, was a prophetess, Ex. xv, 20. Another notable case is that of Huldah the prophetess, in the days of Josiah. “So Hilkiah, the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikrah, the son of Harhas, keeping the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college:) and they communed with her. And she said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to me,” &c. 2 Kings xxii, 14, 15. Here we find the leading men of the nation coming to a woman for counsel from the Lord. We also read of a prophetess in Isa. viii, 3. Anna a prophetess, dwelt in Jerusalem when Jesus was born, and “she spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.” Luke ii, 36–38. Philip, the evangelist, “had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.” Acts xxi, 8, 9.
From these passages you see that it is not so rare a thing for women to prophesy as you have thought it was.
Bro. D. But I can't believe in those visions any way. It seems ridiculous to me, this idea of having visions before we can know what to do.
Min. Then you do not believe in visions, Bro. D.?
Bro. D. No, I don't.
Sr. C. Nor do I, Bro. D. It looks silly to me.
Min. Allow me to read from the Bible. The book of Isaiah begins thus: “The vision of Isaiah the son of Amos, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.” Of course then you have no faith in the book of Isaiah as it is only a vision. Let us look at the prophecy of Ezekiel. “Now it came to pass in the thirteenth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens opened, and I saw visions of God.” Chap. i, 1. “And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain.” Chap. viii, 4. We must also throw away Ezekiel; for it is all merely a vision. The book of Daniel must go with it, for thus I read: “Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision.” Chap. ii, 19. “Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heavens strove upon the great sea.” Chap. vii, 2. “In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first. And I saw in a vision,” &c. Chap. viii, 1, 2. So of Obadiah. “The vision of Obadiah.” Chap. i, 1. So I might read of nearly every prophet in the Bible; so that it is even said by the wise man, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Prov. xxix, 18. What about this Bro. D.?
Bro. D. Well,—I—I don't know exactly. I had forgotten that it read just so. But then this was in the Old Testament and was done away probably when Christ came.
Min. Here I think that your memory fails you again. Let us read some. Turn to Acts x, 1–3. “There was a certain man in Cæsarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always. He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in to him and saying unto him, Cornelius.” Also verses 9–17 relate how Peter saw a vision from Heaven concerning the gospel to the Gentiles. “Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean,” &c. Concerning Paul I read in Acts xvi, 9. “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night,” and he was instructed by it to go into Macedonia. Probably Paul is speaking of himself in 2 Cor. xii, 1–7, when he says, “It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.” Then he relates how a man was caught up to Heaven, &c. The last book in the New Testament was given wholly in vision to John on Patmos.
What shall we say to all this, Bro. D.?
Bro. D. I guess that I had better read my Bible a little more before I make many more objections. I see that I have not known much about this subject.
Min. That is a good conclusion. If you will carry that out, I have no fears but what you will come out a firm believer in the visions.
Sr. C. I do not believe that there were to be any such things after the death of the apostles. It was well enough then, but it is not needed now. Some people have a great deal of confidence in visions and dreams, and such like; but I am not so silly as that.
Min. Indeed, Sr. C., I fear that you are getting wise above what is written. Listen to the word of God a moment. “And he (the Lord) said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.” Num. xii, 6.
Sr. C. I think it not silly to believe the Lord though it be not according to worldly wisdom.
Bro. B. But is there any evidence that this will really be so in the last days?
Min. I think there is. Peter in Acts ii, quotes Joel ii, 28–32, and says that it applies to the last days. It reads thus: “And it shall come to pass afterward (in the last days, Acts ii, 17), that I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit.” The verse following speaks of the darkening of the sun and moon and of the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. Does not this show that God will reveal himself to his servants in the last days by visions, &c.?
Bro. B. I can not see what else it should mean. I am inclined to think that you are right.
Bro. D. I wish that we might have the gift of prophecy in the church now. It would help me much if I could be satisfied that it was really from God.
Min. Rev. xii, 17, has always been very interesting to me. “And the dragon [a wicked power through which Satan works] was wroth [angry] with the woman [the church] and went to make war with [that is to persecute] the remnant of her seed, [the remnant of any thing is the last end; hence the remnant of the church would be the last portion of it, or those wholive in the last days when Christ comes] which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” There are two reasons given why the dragon persecutes the church. 1. Because they keep the commandments of God, all of them. This I consider a clear prophecy of the restoration of the Sabbath in the remnant church.
Bro. A. So do I. I don't see how it can be got around.
Bro. B. Yes. I always like to read that to our first-day Adventists.
Sr. C. So do I. They don't know what to say to it.
Min. I agree with you exactly brethren; but the next clause I love to read just as well: “which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” This is another characteristic of the remnant church.
Bro. D. What do you think this is?
Min. We will let John himself define it, then we shall get it just right. Rev. xix, 10: “And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he [the angel] said unto me, See thou do it not. I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
Bro. D. Well, that is plain, I declare.
Min. Then the remnant church will be peculiar for two things: 1, for keeping all the commandments of God; and 2, for having the spirit of prophecy. Wherever you find the church of God in the last days, you will find them having these two peculiarities. Is not that so?
Bro. D. It must be so, it seems to me.
Min. Do you believe that we are in the last days?
Bro. D. I do.
Min. Do you believe that God has a true church to-day?
Bro. D. I do.
Min. Can you find a church that is making a reformation on the commandments,—trying to keep them all?
Bro. D. I think I can.
Min. If this church that you mention then is the true remnant church of God, should it not also have the other characteristic, viz., the spirit of prophecy? No dodging now!
Bro. D. Well, I confess that it does look so. I don't know but it may be so after all.
Min. Once more: in this church which you think is the true church, is there any thing which claims to be the spirit of prophecy?
Bro. D. There is.
Min. How long has it been there?
Bro. D. From the first start of the work, I believe.
Min. Has it had any prominent part in the message?
Bro. D. Oh! yes, it has occupied a very prominent place in the work. In fact this is the greatest objection that is brought against Sr. White's testimonies. If they were not held up and made so important, no one would care particularly.
Min. Exactly so, Bro. D. If we attached no importance to the gift, Satan would not care; for it would do his cause no hurt. But I wish to call your attention to another point: You believe that the Sabbath and the third angel's message are from God; and that the Review, tracts, &c., should be published to sanction it, do you not?
Bro. D. Certainly, I never doubted that at all.
Bro. B. We all believe that, but—
Min. Wait then and hear me through. Then, believing this, is it reasonable to suppose that the work is of God, but that the agents and persons who have done the most of the work are all of the Devil?
Bro. D. No, we don't think so.
Min. But you do take that position when you reject Sr. White's Testimonies; for you know that from the beginning of the message, Bro. and Sr. White have held and acted the most important part in it of all who have advanced it. The Testimonies in particular, have had a controlling influence over this work, as you acknowledge. Now if Sr. White and her testimonies are not from God, they are from the other source,—Satan; and you occupy the very absurd position of supposing that for 20 years the Devil has been carrying on the Lord's work!! Now, brethren, the only consistent positions to take on this subject are either to endorse the whole work, Testimonies and all, or throw it all away.
Bro. D. Well, I declare that seems like pretty strong meat; but I do not know but what you are about right after all.
Bro. E. I can not agree with you. I have read Sr. White's writings and think there are good things in them. I think Sr. White herself is a good woman. But I cannot believe that she is inspired by God and that her writings are equal to the Bible. I place them with other good books, such as the “Interior Life,” “Wesley's Sermons,” and the like.
Min. Bro. E. there is no consistency at all in your position. Her books are either much better than “any other good book,” as you call them, or else they are very bad books. Now look at it. These other good books which you mention are simply the opinions of good men. There may be many good things in them, and there may be things that are wrong. They may make mistakes. They do not come to us with authority. Not so with Sr. White's writings. She claims, she repeatedly affirms, that the Lord shows her those things in vision; that it is not her opinion, but the word of God. Now this is either true or false. If true, then it follows that her testimonies are the word of God, and hence of more authority than simply “a good book” containing the opinions of men. If false, then she is a liar, a deceiver, a hypocrite, a child of the Devil, and she must know it; and hence her books cannot be good in any sense, but a means of deception. She is either a servant of God or of Satan. There is no half way work about this.
Bro. E. But she may be honest and think that she sees this when she does not. She may have a diseased imagination.
Bro. D. I am satisfied that it is no use to reason that way, Bro. E. I tried to think so too, but it is no use, it is very inconsistent. If she had only had one vision, it might be so; but when we remember that she has had some of them covering a period of more than 20 years, that she has had personal testimonies for thousands, and that she says always that the angel of the Lord showed her this, that, and the other thing which she writes, it leaves not a chance to suppose that she may be deceived herself about it. It is either just as she says, or else she makes it all up and knows that she is deceiving all the time. The more closely I examine it, the more I am inclined to believe the visions.
Min. Well, brethren, I must rest awhile, and then we will discuss this subject again.

THE LAW AND THE TESTIMONY.

By Geo. W. Parker

“For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.”
This prophecy was not all fulfilled at the beginning of the gospel dispensation, and we can readily see that it also applies to the last generation of God’s church living upon the earth before the coming of our Saviour. “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Rev. xii, 17. Now if we profess to be the remnant people of God, how can we as consistent and rational beings dwelling in the light of truth now present with us, and given to this people through his word, and his servants endowed with gifts which were to distinguish the remnant even unto the end of the world; how can we, consistent with our eternal destiny, or in harmony with the word of God, and without violating the dictates of reason itself, stand doubting and wavering, not acting or laying hold upon the testimonies and their teachings upon the subject of reform? If we believe these teachings to be of God, why stand we halting between two opinions, deciding eternal destiny with a careless indifference? Awake, O Zion, and shake off this lethargy into which Satan has beguiled you by his siren song of peace and safety.
Upon the reforms especially, many act as stones of stumbling, especially to those who have recently espoused the truths of the third angel’s message. By our not entering into the reforms zealously, they reason thus: Why does not this brother or that sister who has been identified with the people of God so long, not act upon the teachings of the Testimonies? Without searching further they are judging the light of the Testimonies as it shines through its adherents. May God help us to be consistent doers of his will. The gifts are among us as they were promised to the remnant people of God. Then why stand we idle? Are we doubting? Are the Testimonies destitute of truth? If so, renounce them in full. Before you do so, we will suppose for a moment that we could extinguish the light they have already given. Then take your Bible and tear out the sacred pages which declare that these gifts shall be among you if you are the remnant of the true church.
But stop, says the honest believer in God’s word, you are taking rich treasures of comfort from the great storehouse of wisdom, the Bible. I admit it. So closely are these truths allied one with the other that you cannot let one lie dormant without affecting all the rest. If you doubt it, look at Babylon, who prides herself upon spiritual gifts of an entirely different nature, a base counterfeit of the genuine, and a manifestation of the power of deception and error. See the darkness in which they are groping,—not a single ray of light upon prophecy, no beacon light shining forth from the sanctuary. Eyes they have, and see not, ears have they, and hear not. Behold the idols they cherish. The Testimonies bid us to lay our idols down. See how faint their hope. The Testimonies bid us have a hope like an anchor to the soul, and which entereth within the veil. If one of the least of these testimonies are of God, so are they all; for the whole substance of their teaching is for the fulfilling of the law. Then if you or I live in careless indifference to these teachings, we transgress by such inaction or indifference.
The time has come for the people of God to go forward in faith, relying upon the Testimonies as they are in accordance with the teachings of the Scriptures. God will not always by his Spirit strive with man; and many, by reason of their lukewarmness, will be spewed out, and lose their Comforter, the holy Spirit. May God give us grace to go forward that we may escape the plagues poured out upon those who deny and combat his truths, and that we may enter the heavenly city. May we have the blessed privilege of following the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These are some of the promises through Jesus Christ to a dying world. These promises are all based upon the keeping of the commandments of God. May we have grace to heed the Testimonies, and strength to overcome the world, the flesh and the Devil. Geo. W. Parker. Chicago, Ill.

A WORD TO THE WEARY.

By L. D. Santee

As the chilling winds of adversity sweep around us, and wrap our forms in their cold embrace, how cheering to know that Jesus is soon coming to end our sorrows and our care; that the battle now raging between our blessed King and the powers of darkness, will soon end in victory. But are we awake to the solemn time in which we are living? Have we on the armor of the Christian, and in our hand the sword of the Spirit? If we are not thus protected, we must fall. Awful is the condition of those who are at ease in Zion; for says Jesus, “He that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.” Are we arrayed on the side of the Master? Are we fighting the good fight? Oh! let us be valiant. Let us be hopeful; for our Jesus will soon triumph. Let us cling to his promises with a living and loving faith; for we know that what he has promised, he is able also to perform. When we are weary and hard-pressed, when the adversary tempts us with the allurements of the world, and the lusts of the flesh, let us remember that soon we shall be where our foes come no more; and let us be of good cheer.
L. D. SANTEE.
Gridley, Ill.
DAVID thus describes the gentleman: “He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.”
Continue reading: Report of the Battle Creek Bible Class.