I gave my life for thee,
My precious blood I shed,
That thou might'st ransomed be,
And quickened from the dead.
I gave my life for thee;
What hast thou given for me?
I spent long years for thee,
In weariness and woe,
That one eternity
Of joy thou mightest know.
I spent long years for thee;
Hast thou spent one for me?
My Father's house of light,
My rainbow-circled throne,
I left for earthly night,
For wanderings sad and lone;
I left it all for thee;
Hast thou left aught for me?
I suffered much for thee—
More than thy tongue can tell,
Of bitterest agony,
To rescue thee from hell.
I suffered much for thee;
What dost thou bear for me?
And I have brought to thee,
Down from my home above,
Salvation full and free,
My pardon and my love.
Great gifts I brought to thee;
What hast thou brought to me?
Oh! let thy life be given,
Thy years for me be spent,
World-fetters all be riven,
And joy with suffering blent.
I gave myself for thee;
Give thou thyself to me?
BRO. SMITH: In looking over the Parish Visitor, I read the foregoing lines, and feeling that they truthfully and forcibly represent what Jesus has done for us, I have copied them. I feel that I need to realize daily that Jesus is asking me these questions; but how are they answered in my life? It is the great desire of my heart to give myself to him, but “the gift, alas, how poor!” even when fully given. And yet what wondrous love dwells in his heart, that he should not only be willing to accept of us when we come, but that he has been pleading for 1800 years, with just such unworthy mortals, to come and accept Heaven's richest blessing, even life eternal, from his loving hand. And in all these long years he has not grown weary; but now, just before he finishes all his pleading, it seems to me he manifests a double interest for us, in condescending to come and stand at the door and knock for admission, that he may be with us to guide us through the perils that thicken around our way.
And shall we arise and bid him enter, “a welcome guest?” Or shall we fold our hands in lukewarmness, while probation's last hours are closing? Oh! how we shall want to walk with him over the plains of the new earth. May God help us who have seen the glorious light of present truth to secure him for a companion, and so heed his counsels and walk in his light that we shall at last share in the rich reward he has promised the overcomer.
Yours in hope,
C. R. AUSTIN.
Berkshire, Vt., April 12, 1870.
NOTE. It is said that a pious artist once executed a very impressive painting of the Saviour in his dying agonies upon the cross, and beneath it placed this inscription: “This have I done for thee; what hast thou done for me?” Imagine yourselves looking upon this scene, and listening to these words as from the Lord himself. How could the powers of the ear and eye be employed to convey in a smaller compass a greater lesson to the human mind? From this circumstance the foregoing beautiful lines, copied by Sr. Austin, were probably written.—ED.
Love for Present Truth
By W. Gatchel
BRO. W. GATCHEL writes from Cumberland Co., Me.: How I love the light of present truth! It is more precious to me than ever. The more I hear the truth of the third angel's message proclaimed, the more I love it. It is food to my soul. I delight in the law of God: for it was by that law, that I had a view of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, which caused me to think on my ways, and led me to turn my feet unto his testimonies.
I cannot conceive how any one can love God, or think they have the love of God abiding in them, while they are walking contrary to his commands, and making void his law. For this is the love of God that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous. 1 John 5: 3.
Wickedness and crime are on the increase all through the land, which leads me to believe that the end of all things is very near. I often make the inquiry, Am I ready? am I fully prepared to meet the troubles, that are soon to come upon the earth? Satan and all his host are throwing every obstacle in the way that lies in their power to deceive God's remnant people, and lead them into a snare. I feel that it becomes me to keep in mind the injunction of our Saviour, “What I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch,” that I may be able to meet all coming events, and endure unto the end. Oh! for a closer walk with God. Oh! for grace to help me to live so near to him, that I may have an abiding evidence, that all my ways meet his approval. Oh! that I may be sheltered from the coming storm.
The little company of Sabbath-keepers here, are still striving to press onward, so as to win the prize. We have had many precious seasons during the fall and winter, as we have met together for preaching and social meetings, trying to encourage each other in the way, and speaking words of comfort, and consolation to one another, and exhorting one another to be faithful, and so much the more as we see the day approaching. Two weeks since we had a very interesting Quarterly Meeting, and one more was added to our number. We are all united and striving for the same things, that we may share with God's remnant people, in the everlasting kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.
A Year Keeping the Sabbath
By A. L. Curl
Bro. A. L. Curl writes from Keokuk Co., Iowa: I want to be remembered in the prayers of the saints, and also I want them that tremble at God's word, and delight in the cross of Christ, to know that I sympathize with and pray for them. It has been a little over a year since I, with a few others in this community, commenced keeping the Sabbath of the Lord, and embraced generally the truths of the third angel's message. I was then convicted that this was the faith of Jesus, and a year's experience, reading and meditation, has only tended to confirm that conviction. We meet with some opposition, some scoffs and jeers, &c., but these things do not trouble me; for we must expect such things, but my own sins seem more obstinate than ever before, and often remind me of the apostle's words, Rom. 7: 15, 18: "For that which I do, I allow not; for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. For to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good, I find not." It is certainly the highest attainment for mortals in this life to overcome all sin, and realize that the divine approbation and blessing of Heaven rest upon, and attend all, their efforts. But we can enjoy this if we are thoroughly converted to God, and led by the Spirit. Self must be crucified with its affections and lusts. I want to be among the overcomers. Most of the little company here continue faithful, and manifest earnest desires to see the King in his beauty, and stand with the saints on Mount Zion, while a few seem to have grown cold and undutiful, neglecting the assembling of themselves with the church. This causes the faithful ones to feel sad, but we must pray for them, and labor with them as we may find an opportunity. Pray for us, that we may daily be awake to righteousness and patient continuance in well doing, and finally enter in through the gates into the city.
Obituary Notices.
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth.
Died, in Battle Creek, on the morning of April 12, of consumption, Bro. John A. Johnson, aged about 21 years, late of Chelsea, Mass.
Bro. Johnson's conversion and baptism were recently noticed in the Review. From the time of his coming here the physicians of the Health Institute gave him no encouragement to hope for recovery. His friends wished him to return to Massachusetts, but he chose to remain here, among those of his own faith, believing that their method of living, and of caring for the sick, was most conducive to his comfort. April 6th, a few friends gathered in his room at his request, and the Lord's supper was administered. Unlike most consumptives, he had no flattering hopes. His whole sickness was a perfect triumph of faith; a rare example of Christian resignation. Not a word of complaint ever escaped him; not a shade of sorrow, sadness, or gloom, ever appeared on his countenance. He passed away in full faith and hope of a speedy resurrection.
By request, his remains were sent to his friends in Boston. J. H. WAGGONER.
Died, in Greensboro, Vt., on the 5th inst. of complicated difficulties of the liver, Minerva, wife of W. McClenathan in the 64th year of her age.
Some eighteen years since, Bro. and Sr. M. C. embraced the Bible Sabbath, in Johnson, Vt.
For some time previous to her death she was confident she must rest in the grave a while. The Christian hope graciously sustained her in her extreme sufferings, and she has left comforting evidences that she sleeps in Jesus. Funeral sermon by Elder A. Stone.
A. S. HUTCHINS.
Wolcott, April, 1870.
Preparing for the End
By Bro. Daniels; Sr. Daniels
BRO. AND SR. DANIELS write: We are striving to follow the steps of our great Exemplar. We believe time to be very short. We realize more and more every day that every moment should be employed in preparing for that great event, the end of all things, that is nigh even at the doors.
Working While Probation Lasts
Bro. Jas. M. Osborn writes from Bourbon Co., Kansas: It is a solemn thought that we are in the perils of the last days. How necessary for us to work while the days of our probation last. I want to make sure work of overcoming. I want to be one of the precious jewels that Christ shall make up when he comes without sin unto salvation.
Gaining Victory Over Self
By M. West
SR. M. WEST writes from Madison Co., N. Y.: I am one of the lonely ones, and should be glad to say through the REVIEW that I am gaining some victory over self. The Kirkville Camp-meeting was a great blessing to me. The Lord is doing a work for me through Sr. White’s Testimonies. I am so constituted that when I have tried to serve the Lord I have often gone to extremes which has caused me bitter repentance. I wonder the Lord has not long ago rejected me. I have often thought it would be almost impossible for me to gain a right position, and obtain the kingdom; but when I see the clear light through the present truth, especially through the Testimonies, which lights up every step, I take new courage, and hope, by the blessing of God, to be an overcomer.
The third angel’s message has done much for me. Thirteen years since, it found me in deep despair and lifted me out. No other light that I ever saw was able to do it. This was adapted to my condition.
I love the present truth. All there is of me to-day I owe to it.
Sabbath Question Agitated in New Jersey
“Sabbatarian” writes to the Sabbath Recorder that the Sabbath question has lately been agitated in conservative New Jersey. It commenced as a lyceum question, and was at first wholly confined to the Bible. The first-day clergy feeling weak on this untheological ground, were dissatisfied with the first evening’s effort, and wished to have the question so modified as to embrace the “fathers” as well as the Bible. This was accordingly done, and the question was appointed to come up again in two weeks. Meanwhile Elds. A. H. Lewis and J. W. Morton (names with which all our readers are familiar) were sent for, who were present at the specified time to do good execution in behalf of the Sabbath. Eld. Lewis, by special invitation, lectured on the subject the next evening. The report says that a good impression was made on the community in favor of the truth.
To Correspondents.
M. M. KENNY: 2 Chron. 22: 2, as compared with 2 Kings 8: 26, is undoubtedly a mistake of transcribers. It cannot be correct; for it would make Ahaziah two years older than his father. Dr. Clarke says that the Syriac and Arabic, have twenty-two in 2 Chron. 22: 2, the same as 2 Kings 8: 26. How the inaccuracy has crept into other versions, he explains as follows: “It is probable that the Hebrew text read so originally; for when numbers were expressed by single letters, it was easy to mistake, מ, mem, FORTY, for כ, caph, TWENTY. And if this book was written by a scribe who used the ancient Hebrew letters, now called the Samaritan, the mistake was still more easy and probable, as the difference between כ, caph, and מ, mem, is very small, and can in many instances be discerned only by an accustomed eye.”
N. KEYSER: It is astonishing that any one should appeal to 1 Pet. 3: 4, to prove the immortality of the soul, as you say the Disciple elder did; and yet, viewed from another standpoint it is not astonishing; for persons wedded to that unnatural and unscriptural dogma, must, from the very nature of the case, be driven to every conceivable shift to sustain their cause. It is easy to see from the 3d, 4th, and 5th, verses in connection, that Peter is speaking of an adorning which men and women do not possess by nature, but which must be put on; hence it is not an immortal soul, possessed, as they claim, by all without distinction of character, of which he is speaking. This adorning he calls in verse 4, the hidden man of the heart, and explains what he means by it in this instance by calling it “a meek and quiet spirit.” The incorruptibility brought to view is moral incorruptibility; for it is of moral graces that he here speaks. This hidden man of the heart is the same as the “new man” of Eph. 4: 24, which we put on when we put off the old man. The old man, the carnal mind, is corruption and corruption only; the new man, the renewed mind, Christ formed within, the meek and quiet spirit, the heavenly adorning, all expressions for the same thing, is incorruptible. All that is necessary to avoid the misapplication made by the Disciple elder, is to keep in view the main fact that this hidden man of the heart, is something which we do not have by nature, but which we must put on before we possess it.
Appointments.
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
THE next Quarterly Meeting of the church in Gridley, Ill., will be held at the Gregory school-house, May 7 and 8, 1870, commencing with the Sabbath.
WM. H. SLOWN.
No PROVIDENCE preventing, I will attend the next Monthly Meeting of the Jackson church, which will be held at Bro. Palmer's, in Jackson, the first Sabbath and Sunday in May. Every member of the church is invited and expected to attend. First meeting, Sabbath at 10:30 A. M.
I. D. VAN HORN.
THE next Quarterly Meeting of the Poy Sippi (Wis.) church will be held at the Cady school-house, Sabbath and first-day, May 7 and 8. Meeting to commence evening of the Sabbath. Will Bro. Andrews or Steward or some other preacher please attend?
J. F. EASTMAN.
No PROVIDENCE preventing, the churches in Gratiot Co. will hold their next Quarterly Meeting at Alma, May 7 and 8. We extend a general invitation to surrounding churches.
TITUS Z. ANDREWS.
BY request of our friends at East Elma, Erie Co., N. Y., our Monthly Meeting the second Sabbath and first-day following, in May (14 and 15), will be held at that place. Our friends there are ready and willing to entertain us; and we hope there will be a good attendance, though it may be at a little more than usual sacrifice. Those going by cars must reach Buffalo in time to take a train on the Buffalo and Washington R. R., which leaves N. Y. Central Exchange St. Depot at 4:30 P. M. Fare to Jamison Road, only one mile from the place of meeting, 45 cents. If any are in Buffalo early enough, they can take a train at 10:30 A. M.
R. F. COTTRELL.
Western Camp-meetings.
WE now design to hold four general camp-meetings in the West, as follows:—
Marion, Iowa, June 2–7, 1870.
Illinois, “ 9–14, “
Minnesota, “ 16–21, “
Wisconsin, “ 23–28, “
The brethren in the three States last named will please fix the location, and publish in the REVIEW, immediately. GEN. CONV. COMMITTEE.
The Defense of Elder James White and Wife.
By John Nevins Andrews; G. H. Bell; Uriah Smith
THIS work which was promised some time since, is now ready for circulation. It has been prepared with much labor and care, and will be found satisfactory as an answer to the many wicked slanders uttered against these servants of Christ. It should be circulated in those sections where the tongue of the false accuser has been busy. We commend the work to the friends of this cause, especially to those who have to meet the calumnies of wicked men.
Our laboring brethren have often complained that their way is hedged up by wicked reports, whereby they lose much time and labor, and souls are turned away from the truth to perish in error. In such places no work can be more important than this, and we expect the friends of the cause at large will cheerfully meet the expense of its publication. It will be sold for 15 cents; 17 cents by mail. As a large portion will have to be given away, we invite donations for that purpose, sent to the Office.
J. N. ANDREWS, )
G. H. BELL, } Committee.
URIAH SMITH, }
Note from Bro. Byington.
By John Byington
DEAR BRETHREN SCATTERED ABROAD: I am now on a bed of sickness from which I may never rise. I have tried to talk to you of the great salvation. My words have been too powerless. Forgive me for this. The word of the Lord is powerful. Salvation! Glorious thought! Brethren pray.
J. BYINGTON.
April 22, 1870.
We trust the brethren will grant this request of Bro. Byington's, and remember him at the throne of grace, in his dangerous sickness.—ED.
Who Is It?
We have received the following letter without name, P. O., or State. Until further notice is given, we are at a loss as to whom we shall credit the money:
BRETHREN: I enclose two dollars which I owe for the REVIEW AND HERALD. I thank you for waiting for your pay.
April 11, 1870.
A Profitable Day.
By James White
The church in Battle Creek is now in working order. Union prevails, and the Lord blesses their efforts. Sabbath, the 23rd, Bro. and Sr. White both spoke with great force and power at the morning meeting. A few remarks were made on baptism, after which, three were baptized. In the afternoon, Bro. Bell was ordained elder of the church, and the Lord met with us in the exercises. Altogether, we think this was a good day for the cause in Battle Creek. J. H. W.
Iowa Camp-Meeting.
PROVIDENCE permitting, there will be a camp-meeting held on the farm of Bro. Thomas Hare, 1½ miles west of Marion, Iowa, and 3½ miles from Cedar Rapids, commencing Thursday, June 2, and continuing five days. Bro. and Sr. White and other speakers will be present. We hope there will be a general attendance of the friends of the cause throughout the State. We also extend a cordial invitation to those in other States who can attend. Conveyance will be provided for those stopping at Cedar Rapids, who come by railroad from the east or west; while those coming from the direction of Dubuque will stop at Marion. Feed and provisions can be obtained on the ground. A hearty invitation is extended to all the friends of the cause to come themselves and bring with them all who are interested in present truth. We expect this will be the most important meeting ever held in the State.
IOWA CAMP-MEETING COMMITTEE.
Iowa State Conference.
THE next annual session of the Iowa State Conference of S. D. Adventists will be held near Marion, Iowa, in connection with the camp-meeting, June 3, 1870.
We hope every church in the State will be represented by delegates. They should come prepared to make the reports called for by the constitution, viz., a "written report of their standing, their losses and additions during the year, also the yearly amount of their S. B. funds." They should be able to give the amount of money paid by their churches during the year to ministers and the treasurer. Let every church appoint its delegates in season. A church with twenty members or under, is entitled to one delegate, and an additional delegate for every fifteen additional members. IOWA STATE CONF. COM.
B. G. ALLEN: The money for Annie Eldred's Instructor was received.
J. P. SPENCER, of Guilford P. O.: What State?
RECEIPTS.
For Review and Herald.
Annexed to each receipt in the following list, is the Volume and Number of the REVIEW & HERALD TO which the money receipted pays,--which should correspond with the Numbers on the Pasters. If money for the paper is not in due time acknowledged, immediate notice of the omission should then be given.
$1.00 each. S B Warren 26-1, Jacob Truel 37-11, John M Wince 35-17, W W Hanscom 36-20, H Lockwood 36-1, Mary Thorp 37-19, L E Gallemore 36-15, Sarah A Simmons 37-19, L A Sheffield 36-19, Wm H Lewis 37-11, John Glover 37-19, E Pratt 35-12, E M Larabee 37-19, S J Hyer 37-19, Clark Claflin 37-19, Eliza J Timothy 36-1, L B Wilbur 36-19, Chas Crane 36-20, C H Lansing 36-19, F Rosseau 36-6, Simeon Sharp 36-20, T Paton 36-1, S E Sutherland 37-1, W B Castle 35-22.
$2.00 each. A Rasmussen 37-1, Sophia Woodruff 37-18, A F Brown 37-19, Wm L Moshier 35-9, A H Clymer 38-1, S W Rhodes 37-19, C Rice 37-1, J F Ballenger 36-1, W Hale 36-1, J S Farnsworth 37-17, Daniel Dobbins 36-24, A H Hall 37-10, L M Whitney 37-16, S B Bresee 37-17, J G Walker 37-18, J Ferguson 37-17, Wm Harmon 37-17, U Smith 37-15, A Rankin 37-7, B G StJohn 37-14, L L Glover 36-20, Mary King 36-17, Caroline Belden 37-11, N R Staines 36-18, M Lamphear 37-1, J C Elston 38-1, A J Emans 37-1.
Miscellaneous. E P Bellow $5.00 37-14, D Collins 45c 37-1, I Cornell 3.00 36-1, P Luke 1.50 36-13, W W Guilford 1.31 37-4, Wm G Watson 4.00 38-1, Mrs L Frink 50c 36-8, J W Bailey 2.13 37-10, W McNutt 1.50 34-24, Olive McKean 2.50 37-17, S Harriman 4.00 38-13, Callaway Eller 2.39 36-13, S Alchin 4.00 38-1.
Books Sent by Mail.
C Winters $1.00, I G Camp 35c, E H Whitney 3.75, Wm A Richardson 16c, A Woodruff 58c, Sophia Woodruff 80c, A Jones 25c, W I Rathbun 13c, M D Clark 2.35, J Wilson 60c, L S Weatherwax 25c, S Draper 25c, J C Bunch 2.00, F N Bartholomew 12c, D Richmond 13c, C D Cook 13c, J N Loughborough 3.79, David Summers 25c, Nolney Staley 22c, Melvin A Wood 58c, Carrie A Nichols 40c, Alden Green 10c, L B Caswell 12c, Olive McKean 50c, W S Herrington 1.10, John Welling 35c, Julius C Smith 2.00, Sarah Wilson 50, B G StJohn 16c, John Daniels 75c, S J Merrell 75c.
Cash Received on Account.
Robert Reed $5.00, N Orcutt 10.62.
Received on Book and Tract Fund.
Sophia Woodruff $7.20.
Michigan Conference Fund.
Church in Montcalm $17.16, Hillsdale 35.00.
General Conference Missionary Fund.
R Griggs & wife $15.00, Julia Griggs 5.00.
Origin of the Weekday Names
By Editor
When a person becomes enlightened upon the Sabbath question, and sees what work heathenism and popery have made, or attempted to make, with this institution, one of the most natural questions to follow is in regard to the other days of the week, especially in reference to the origin of their names. Something has been published on this from time to time in the REVIEW; but as this is not readily accessible to new subscribers, and several have of late asked information in reference to it, we this week publish an article giving quite full testimony on the subject.
Sunday Theatrical Performances in San Francisco
February 6, 1870, will be a day to be noted in the calendar of the Sabbath agitation, in the United States. On that day theatrical performances were openly held in San Francisco, Cal., for the first time under sanction of the law. No-Sabbathists are greatly rejoicing over this achievement. This success will doubtless only increase the agitation, fanning the opposition to a fiercer flame.