p. 204 | Review and Herald, Vol. 12, No. 26. (11/18/1858)

KEEP THY HEART.

By A. S. Hutchins

SAYS Solomon, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." Prov. iv, 23. As the heart is the seat both of all good and of all evil, the injunction of this text is one of vital importance; one that all should carefully heed.

Let the heart be given unreservedly to the Lord; let it be brought into subjection to his righteous will, and kept with all diligence; and an inestimable treasure of good things will ever be found there.

But neglect the heart; let it be devoted to self and the love of the world; suffer not the love of God to enter there; crowd out the influences of the Holy Spirit; and it becomes the fountain of evil, the center of all wickedness.

Says the Saviour, "O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things; and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things." Matt. xii, 34, 35. "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies." Ib. xv, 19.

"My son give me thine heart," is the language of inspiration. But how reluctantly, how sparingly do men give to God their hearts, while its avenues are made large and opened widely for this world, for a treasure of dust and of dross. Oh what folly! Oh how wretched the choice made by the great majority of the children of men!

But how is it with us, professing to walk in the light of the last message of mercy? Do we keep a diligent watch of our hearts? Are we buying the gold tried in the fire? Shall we be found with the

white raiment on, when the last sound of mercy for the sinner dies away? Shall we anoint our eyes with eye-salve, and be prepared to behold the King in his beauty and majesty, when he appeareth? O, my dear brethren and sisters, "examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith: prove your own selves."

Watch the heart, keep it with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. Let your light shine. It will shine if the heart is right. "A city set on an hill cannot be hid." Our "lips and lives" are constant and unimpeachable witnesses of the condition of the heart. They speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Their testimony is convincing, conclusive. "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."

"So let our lips and lives express, The holy gospel we profess; So let our works and virtues shine, To prove the doctrine all divine. "Thus shall we best proclaim abroad, The honors of our gracious Lord, When the salvation reigns within, And grace subdues the power of sin."

"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left; remove thy foot from evil." Prov. iv, 23–27.

A. S. HUTCHINS.

Notice to Discontinued Subscribers

By Editor

But few of those to whom we gave notice in No. 17, that their papers must be discontinued unless heard from, have responded to our appeal. It only remains that we fulfill our intention, and, as we copy our books, drop their names. We are sorry thus to part with any of our subscribers; for we do not believe they can well do without the REVIEW; nor do we want to do without them, if they are willing and desirous to do what they can to advance what we are confident is the best cause on earth. But we think we set forth no unreasonable terms, since all we required was that those who wished the paper and could not pay, should simply write and inform us of the fact; and we cannot believe that many are so reduced as not to be in possession of a scrap of paper, an envelope and a postage-stamp. All we can say then is that those who do not receive their paper after this date, will understand the reason.

Note of Explanation.

By Joseph Harvey Waggoner

I FEEL that an explanation is due to those friends who have written to me, calling for my labors. To them and others I wish to say, their letters have been unanswered for want of time. My father came from Missouri, where he had been to visit his sons, early in October; he was taken sick on the road, and was very sick at my house up to the time of his death, on the evening of the 6th inst. This has greatly hindered my preparations for winter, yet I expect from this time to devote a part of my time in the cause of truth, and will answer calls as far and as fast as I possibly can.

J. H. WAGGONER. Burlington, Mich., Nov. 10th, 1858.

THE CLOSE.

By Editor

TIME in its rapid flight brings the close of another volume of the REVIEW. Thus another waymark is set up in our history; we pass as it were another milestone on our way to the land of promise—that good land of which the Lord has said, I will give it you. What feelings does it excite within you, reader, and what emotions, as you see the sands in time's great hour glass so near run out, and so swiftly falling? what feelings, as you behold the lines of prophecy which span earth's existence in its present state, converging to a common center just before you? what feelings, as you think of the allotted days of time growing less and less continually, and the approaching end—your day of deliverance, or your day of doom—drawing near and more near with every rising and setting sun? Is the revelation of the Lord Jesus in flaming fire the great waymark before you? Or are you putting far away the evil day? Are you becoming somewhat attached to this wilderness state, tarrying in your pilgrimage, and building your hopes in a region like this? Or are you laying up treasure above, centering your affections on things around the throne, and pressing onward to enjoy them there? Can you adopt from day to day the language of the poet,

"One sweetly solemn thought Comes to me o'er and o'er, I'm nearer my home to-day, Than ever I've been before?"

Or are you seeking

"a home below Which flames devour, and waves o'erflow?"

The danger of worldliness, covetousness, carelessness, pride, indifference, and lukewarmness, different writers have endeavored faithfully to set forth in the REVIEW during the past volume. How far they shall be heeded, remains for each to say, not in word only, but in the daily walks of life also. Admonitions and exhortations have enough been given to produce, if heeded, a living church, with loins girded and lamps burning, waiting for the coming of their Lord. We are responsible, brethren, for all these.

The evidences we have had during the past twenty-six weeks of the spread and triumph of the truth in different places, has been a source of no small comfort and encouragement. The leaven of truth is still working. The cause is still onward. We know its destiny, and that of all those who stand stiffly in its defense.

Let us keep on board the old ship Zion which the Lord has piloted through all the perils of the sea of time for six thousand years. Many have entered false crafts, and the worldly churches have taken to the huge raft of popularity and worldly honor, which Satan has towed along by its side, to lure the mariner from the only ark of safety, by promising him a better or an easier passage to his desired haven. Floods of Jehovah's wrath will swamp and swallow up all these ere long. But the bark of truth will safely anchor in the harbor of eternal safety.

"We've looked astern and many toils, The Lord has brought us through; We're looking now ahead, and lo! The land appears in view."

WHY I KEEP THE SABBATH.

By Henry E. Carver

BRO. SMITH: Having the opportunity I thought I would improve the time by writing a little for your columns, if it may seem profitable for the brethren:

It has been about three months since I have taken hold of the Lord’s Sabbath to keep it holy, and as there are others who have taken the same step with me, as well as others among the brethren with whom I have associated in other years, who may be encouraged in their way to the kingdom by hearing from me. I wish to say that all my investigations and reviewing of evidences during the past three months, tend only to strengthen and confirm me in the conviction that the Lord of the Sabbath, who made it at creation and afterwards incorporated it in his holy law, has neither abolished nor changed it himself, nor authorized it to be done; and hence as long as the other precepts of that law are in force the fourth commandment is.

It has been said, and is generally believed, that the seventh-day Sabbath (as it is called) is Jewish. This was my position once; and I would like to present the reasons that have led me to abandon this error. But when I attempt to put my thoughts on paper, the field of investigation is so broad, and the different points of interest so attractive, I know not where to begin, or how to express my views and feelings.

At creation God gave man dominion over the earth and the living things therein, and from that day to this, there has been among men a desire for that dominion, not only among Jews, but men generally. God also said, “It is not good for man to be alone,” and marriage was instituted and its claims are acknowledged by all nations, Gentiles as well as Jews. God also made, blessed, and sanctified the Sabbath at creation, and according to the word of our Saviour, it was made for man; hence it was made for Adam and given to him. But alas! instead of all nations acknowledging and keeping that great gift to man, they hand it over to the Jew, while they either keep no day or keep one of man’s institution not considering that the Sabbath was made, blessed, and sanctified before the foundation was laid for the present distinctions of races, tongues, and nations. If man had maintained his integrity and innocence, there is no reason to suppose that any middle wall of partition would ever have been erected to divide and distract the family of Adam and Eve. It was during this state of innocence, and before sin entered, that the Sabbath was made for man; and if that state had continued, none can suppose the Sabbath would ever have been abolished.

Thus we see that the Sabbath was made before there was any necessity for a plan of salvation from sin, and consequently independent of that plan, and hence the plan of redemption does not effect the abolition of the Sabbath.

But is argued that the sabbath is Jewish, from the fact that it is contained in the covenant God made with that nation when he led them out of Egypt into the land of promise; and as that covenant was to continue only till Messiah should come, therefore when Christ came the Sabbath ended.

This was the view I took; but I could never harmonize it with the fact that the other nine precepts were just as much in force under the gospel as before, (if not more so,) and that breaking them constituted a man a sinner as much now as then, and as much before the law was given in Sinai as since.

The transactions at Sinai were of a very peculiar nature. God was about to establish a nation through whom might be distinctly traced the lineage of the promised Messiah. He was also about to give them a form of worship that should continue till, and typify the mediatorial ministration of, that Messiah. He now makes them an offer, such as had never been made to a nation before. “Now therefore if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people, . . . And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation, . . . And all the people answered together and said, all that the Lord hath spoken we will do.” Ex. xix.

Here is a compact or covenant entered into between the Almighty law-giver and the incipient nation of the Jews, they promising to obey his voice, and he promising in case of obedience, that that nation should be a peculiar treasure unto him, a kingdom of priests—a holy nation. The Lord then proceeds to give utterance to the law that is to be the conditions of that covenant; and he gives them the two tables of stone with the ten commandments engraven on them, having also spoken them in the hearing of the people.

Thus the Lord, as ruler or king of the Jewish nation, gives them a national constitution, and while they obeyed the terms thereof, he blessed them above all people; and when they disobeyed, he visited them with wrath. But look at the nature of these laws the observance of which would make them a holy nation. If the observance of those laws constituted that nation holy it follows of course that those laws are holy; and so the Scriptures teach: and herein lies the great advantage that nation had over others; namely, God had given them his holy, just and good laws as their national constitution, and himself as their King.

Here let me digress a moment, to ask whether God’s giving his holy, just and good law to that nation exonerated the surrounding nations from its requirements; and if not, (as all must admit,) does the annulling of that covenant with the Jewish nation on account of disobedience, exonerate us from its requirements, or abolish that holy law? Surely not. That code of laws given to that nation as their national charter, evidently has been abolished (as a national charter or compact;) but the Scriptures plainly teach the incorporation of those same laws into the new covenant made with the spiritual house of Israel. Paul, quoting from the prophet Jeremiah, says, [Heb. viii, 8.] “Behold the days come with the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers,” &c.; “for this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith

the Lord, I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts,” &c.

No mention is made of any change in what constitutes the fundamental principles of both covenants. The basis of the two covenants is the same; namely, the holy, just and good law of God; and that law includes the Sabbath of the Lord our God, and hence it is in force under the new covenant dispensation; and my prayer is that God may write those laws deeply in my heart, for I want to have a part in those better promises, upon which the new covenant is based.

But the typical or ceremonial law, connected with, if not embraced in, that covenant, furnishes striking evidence of the holy nature of those laws which constituted the basis of that covenant; for we find that the most holy place in the tabernacle was the place of its deposit. The tables of stone on which were engraved the ten commandments were placed in the ark, the covering of which constituted the mercy-seat, over which the shekinal glory was displayed, thus showing how closely the Lord our God guarded his holy law, and how intimately connected it was with his glory. It was the duty of the high priest to enter that most holy place once a year, and there, before that ark and its contents and in the divine presence, make a typical atonement for the sins of the people. Sin is the transgression of the law.

Under the new covenant dispensation we have a High Priest who offers his own blood as a real atonement for the sins of his people. Bless his holy name! But in changing from the typical Sanctuary, and its offerings and priesthood to the antitypical Sanctuary and its offerings and priesthood, there is no mention of the change or abolition of one iota of that law; hence we have no reason to suppose any change, and hence the Sabbath is not abolished or changed in this dispensation.

These are some of my reasons for changing from observing no Sabbath, to observing the Sabbath of the Lord our God; and I pray my Father in Heaven to give me grace and strength to keep it holy—to call the Lord's Sabbath, a delight, holy of the Lord, honorable. Wondrous things are in the law of the Lord; some of which he hath showed me, for which I render him the homage of my heart. Amen.

Your brother in Christ, HENRY E. CARVER.

“CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME.”

By M. E. Cornell

This extract from the Devil’s Koran is often quoted by covetous professors as an excuse for not sacrificing for the cause of truth. When they are called upon to assist the worthy poor, the widow and fatherless, or help build a house for the Lord, or contribute to spread the truth in new places, this proverb of Satan is brought forward, and all further pleading is entirely useless.

“Charity begins at home,” comes out with all the graciousness of the ancient Pharisee; as though it was a thus saith the Lord. But no such thing is declared in the Bible concerning charity. It not only is not a Scriptural phrase, but it is positively against the Scripture. Paul says, “charity seeketh not her own.” 1 Cor. xiii, 5. And again, “Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.” 1 Cor. x, 24.

The teachings of both the gospel and law, are against selfish covetousness, and pure and undefiled religion is ready to every good work. The real Christian is full of benevolence; for to be a christian is to be Christ-like. The christian is ready to say with the good Samaritan of old, “Whatever thou spendest more I will repay thee.” Charity does not begin at home. Then to all the rich among us who are covetous, we say your vain excuses will not avail. Your hiding places are manifest, and you are known by your fruits. Christ commands not to lay up treasures here, but to “sell that ye have and give alms;” but you positively refuse. You profess to be preparing to move to a better country; but the faithful do not believe you are in earnest; for they do not see you packing up and sending on your goods before you. O be not deceived, God is not mocked. Do hasten to send on your treasure, for then we may hope to see you following on after it.

There is a great lack among us. There is not an equality. The rich are eased and the poor burdened. According to the gospel rule, when some of the poor give $1,00, others of the rich should give $25 or $50; but generally the poor are even with, if not ahead of, the rich. I have seen a row of five’s on the subscription list, and I could select one of the subscribers worth fifteen thousand, while another was not worth twenty-five dollars. A benevolent enterprise was lately brought before the church in a certain place, and while one brother worth $800, or so, put down $5, another worth $2000, gave only two dollars and twenty five cents.

Such covetousness is manifest in the different States by those held in fellowship among the remnant. Now I would be glad to inquire if this is right. Can the church fellowship the transgressor of the tenth commandment any more than the violator of the fourth. Would not this be “partial in the law,” and “failing in one point”?

The rich among us join in the song: “We want the truth on every point, We want it too to practice by.”

We only say then, let them have the truth on the duty of sacrificing. To refuse to sacrifice and supply the wants of the cause, is a violation of both law and gospel; it is against the whole tenor of both Old and New Testaments.

The calls for labor are multiplying in every direction, and the truth must be carried to new fields. There is a lack of means in every department of the work, and the Lord knows why it is so. The rich are laying up their treasures on the earth, and the cause has been suffering for means. Only a few faithful ones respond to the calls for help, while others seem not to care. They are at ease in Zion, and the woe is upon them. I believe that the cry, “Who is on the Lord’s side?” should be raised that the willing and obedient may stand together. “He that saith I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar and the truth is not in him.” 1 John ii, 4. “He that knoweth God, heareth us; he that is not of God, heareth not us.” 1 John iv, 6. O may the straight testimony of the Word separate the precious from the vile, till all that are of the church will “show the same diligence,” and the work of God move in power.

M. E. CORNELL. Gilboa, Oct. 27th.

LETTERS.

By Isaac Sanborn

"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another."

From Bro. Sanborn.

BRO. SMITH: The word of the Lord is onward in the West. According to appointment, I commenced meetings at Avon, Rock Co., Wis., Oct. 22d, and continued ten days. Sabbath 30th, some of the brethren from other places came in, and the Lord met with us. I spoke from Heb. x, 26, after which seven testified that from that time forth they would by the help of God keep all his commandments and the faith of his Son. Two others said they would as soon as they had a little more light, and still others are investigating. First-day morning I spoke to the people in the school-house; after which we all went to the close-communion Baptist house, and heard the pastor, Eld. Pool, preach from Ps. viii, 4, "What is man that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him?"

In his introductory remarks he said, close communion Baptists originated with John the Baptist, and were not therefore one of the daughters of the Mother of harlots, as we were informed by Bro. Sanborn at the school-house the night before. This, said he, you will find true if you will read Roger Williams. We thought if he had proved it by Christ or his apostles we would certainly believe.

He then commenced with his text, and after telling how many bones, nerves, muscles, and pores a man had, and proving it by Dr. Dick, he said that God made the body of man of the dust of the ground. But the Lord says he made man of the dust of the ground.

Again, said he, The soul is the human mind, that which possesses life, which reasons, loves, envies, hates, and moves you; therefore Eve's soul willed that she should take the forbidden fruit and eat it, and consequently her soul was the offender or transgressor. It was also the same with Adam. Another attribute of the soul was reason; he called the soul the reasonable man. But what did God say to reasonable Adam? "Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife and hast eaten of the tree of which I commanded thee saying, Thou shalt not eat of it, cursed is the ground for thy sake. In sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life. In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." Gen. iii, 17-19. Now according to this word where does intelligent Adam go when he dies?

Again, said he, Cut off my hands and feet, and can I not reason? Certainly; but if the instrument by which the hands and feet were severed were thrust into the brain, could you reason? I think not. You said the brain was the locality of the soul. You see that the soul cannot think without brains in an active, healthy condition. What brains will those souls inhabit between death and the resurrection? I think according to your own showing they will surely die. God says, Their love and their hatred and their envy is now perished.

He next commenced upon the Sabbath, and if ever the Sabbath was overthrown by assertions without any evidence, I thought it was then. Here are some of them: The Jewish Sabbath is not binding. Well I never taught that it was; you need not fight such a Sabbath until somebody teaches it. But why is not the Jewish Sabbath binding? Because, says the Eld., God worked four days before the sun was made; therefore we have strong reason to believe that the creation week was prophetic time, and that he was many thousand years in creating the world. The Apostle says, Let God be true. What does God say on this point? "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; (not the Jewish Sabbath;) in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day." He does not say that it was because he was thousands of years creating the world; but six days.

Now if the first week of time was prophetic, how long was that Sabbath of which the fourth commandment speaks, the day on which God rested from his work? Eld. P. said there were eleven commandments, and told us what the eleventh was. Will he please to tell us next time what the ten are? Supposing, said he, you were on the opposite side of the earth, could you keep the Sabbath? Of course you could not. Well, if you were there, could you keep the first day of the week? O yes. Then if you could one day we could the other, of course; but I suggest that as you and I can unquestionably keep the holy Sabbath on this side of the earth, we should both do so.

ISAAC SANBORN. Rock Co., Wis., Nov. 1st, 1858.

The Fathers.

By J. Clarke

Our Fathers worshiped in this mountain. John iv, 20.

It is very natural to suppose that what our fathers have practiced must be right, especially in religious matters; and in the remark above quoted it is evident that the Samaritan woman placed great reliance upon the opinions and practice of her ancestors, without investigating the foundation and tendency of those opinions; and she felt assured that their opinions and practices were at least of some importance.

Had she looked at Scripture, and informed herself with regard to the origin of the Samaritans, and the reasons of their separation from the Jewish nations, and had she then looked for the origin of the Samaritan worship, and compared it with the divine authority for the temple and its form of devotion, its ceremonies and rites, she would at once have seen that the Samaritans were only heathens, slightly inoculated with Jewish rituals.

But not so; she had been content to follow in the track of her fathers; their ideas were congenial and common; and now she begins to inquire, when the best of her life was spent in sin; now some doubts arise whether she had been taught aright. The presence of the holy Jesus wrought conviction upon her heart, and she began to see that wrong opinions had influenced her life, and the crimes of her youth were attributable to the erroneous ideas which she held on moral subjects.

These erroneous ideas were handed down to her from the fathers. Here was the snare: Reverence for age, filial affection, and a natural respect for experience had been the means of encouraging idolatry.

Here was the secret of her faith in their mixed religion; it came directly down from "our fathers." Certainly, she would argue, the fathers must have been in the right; it is safe to follow in their footsteps; but now in the presence of Jesus her faith in the fathers begins to waver.

Even so now, many when convicted upon moral subjects, fall back upon the practices of the fathers and primitive Christians, as they often express it, and say, "the early Christians" did thus and so, and why may not we? and then without taking the pains to investigate the matter, they settle down in popular error, and float smoothly down the stream of life, farther and farther from God, and from his revealed truth.

"Our fathers worshiped in this mountain;" this is the sweeping argument which is expected to be the final termination of all controversy. The fathers, or the practice of the church, or the primitive Christians, or some such authority, is by many deemed amply sufficient to overturn the moral law, and invalidate the whole fabric of divine law and order. No matter what was the practice or precept of Christ or his apostles, all must be interpreted according to the traditions and notions of the so-called fathers.

No inquiry need be made as to who these so-called fathers were previous to their conversion; or what prejudices might have biased their minds; or what ambitious object they might have had in view; or what ecclesiastical or political force might have borne them on; or what might exert its silent influence upon them. None of these things are to be considered. It is enough to know they were fathers in the church, and their testimonies must be heeded, their example followed. Let the Bible say what it may, it must be understood in such a way as to justify the fathers. Even though the word of God was so little known that many of those fathers never saw a whole copy of the Bible.

How different the example of the prophets. Read how Daniel confessed the sins of his people, and the sins of his fathers, chapter ix, 6, 8, 16; Eze. ii, 3; and through the Old and New Testaments, we find, continually, reference made to the fathers as corrupt and sinful, and they are placed in the same list with the children.

"As your fathers did so do ye." Acts vii, 51.

J. CLARKE.

Against Pride of Dress

By M. S. Finch

From Sister Finch.

BRO. SMITH: I cheerfully read the testimonies of the sisters that spoke against the sin and pride of dress that exists in these last days. I do not take my pen thinking to add anything to their testimonies, but to relate a little of my experience in times past. I witnessed the sacrifice and consecration made by the people of God in 1843-4, when the cry went forth, "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him," and spread through the length and breadth of the land. It was then I gave my heart to God, and tried to consecrate all to him without reserve. We then laid aside our pride of dress, and useless articles of apparel. We had no relish for such ornaments. God blessed the sacrifice that we then made, and we rejoiced in the glorious hope of his

soon coming. And will he accept of any less sacrifice now than he did then? or any less consecration to God to prepare us for his coming? And shall we be any more conformed to the world now than we were then? May God forbid. What saith the Scriptures. "Be ye not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your minds," &c. God's people are a peculiar people, zealous of good works, unlike the world in their dress, actions, and conversation.

God has chosen us out of the world; then let us be separate from it, for if we love the world the love of the Father is not in us. O you that feel for the purity of the church, and the holy cause which you profess, cease not to raise your voice against the sin and pride of dress. Let us seek for the inward adornings of the heart. Satan is well pleased when he sees God's professed people conforming to the world. If he can get us to yield to him in one point he may in another, and another, until we are led captive by him at his will. O let us flee from his deceptive snares, and lay aside every weight and the sin that doth easily beset us. O that we may fully awake and realize the important period that we occupy in this world's history. Are we not living in the time of the judgment, when our works and acts are passing in review before God? O solemn thought. Well might the Prophet exclaim, "Who may abide the day of his coming, and who shall stand when he appeareth."

Dear sisters let us strive to follow the meek pattern, and so adorn ourselves that we may be able to present our bodies a living sacrifice holy and acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service.

"The humble path my saviour walked, I scorn it not to tread, Though the frowns and scoffs my Saviour bore Shall fall upon my head." From your sister striving to obey the whole truth. M. S. FINCH. Almena, Mich., Nov 8th, 1858.

The Sabbath and Servants

By D. B. Staples

From Bro. Staples.

BRO. SMITH: I am a stranger to you, but I trust not to the truths advocated by the Review, which is a truly welcome weekly visitor.

But my object in writing is for the explanation of a text of Scripture; I shall therefore leave out the "preface" and enter at once upon the question.

It is a question upon which the brethren here are somewhat divided. We are as one man in regard to the perpetuity of the royal law, but we do not all understand it alike. "But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God;" this we are all agreed upon, and try to observe it as such.

"In it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates." Ex. xx, 10.

"Thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates." Here is the point in question. What are we to understand by man-servant and maid-servant? Is it limited to those who may be bought with a price, to serve for life, or to those who may be bound for a term of years, as apprentices, or does it extend still farther and include those whom we may hire to do our work for us?

Does this compound in the general acceptation of the term, mean bond-servant, or does it extend still beyond this and include those who may be hired by the day, or week, or month?

Are we to understand that this command shall not extend beyond our own borders, and that if we have work to do outside of our own limits, we are at liberty to employ men or women to do that work? Or to come right down to the substance of the question at issue, does it mean that thou nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy bond-servants, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates, shall not do any work; but if thou hast any work to do outside of thine own gates, thou art at liberty to employ any one, (outside of thine own gates,) to perform that work, even on the Sabbath day.

Many texts of Scripture might be brought to bear on this question. If we should decide in accordance with man's decision, that the receiver is as bad as the taker, then we should say, that the employer is as bad as the employed; but I submit the question to any who may feel inclined to answer it.

Hoping soon to hear from some one on this point, I subscribe myself yours, desirous of keeping the whole law.

D. B. STAPLES. Dodgeville, Wis., Oct. 29th, 1858.

[We think the commandment embraces all within our employ whether far or near; and that the expression, "within thy gates," is applicable only to the stranger.—Ed.]

O. W. COFFMAN

By O. W. Coffman

From Bro. Coffman.

BRO. SMITH: Allow me to say to the brethren and sisters that I am striving to keep all the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. This evening I received a copy of the Review & Herald from some unknown friend, and my heart was made to rejoice while perusing its pages, and hearing of the good dealings of God towards the brethren and sisters scattered abroad. For some six or eight months past I have been trying to keep all the commandments and live a Bible christian. Being the only one in this place that believes the Third Angel's Message. I love to hear from the brethren abroad. I have been trying to get money to send for the Review, but have not succeeded as yet. I love it, love to read it, and feel to thank my unknown friend again and again for his favor. Bro. Hull labored with us during the last winter and spring. Had he remained longer I think many would have believed the report. I have sold some of your books. I would to God they were sown broad cast over the land. I have but a few copies left. O that we may be zealous of good works. Pray for me brethren that I may be delivered from my present embarrassments, and be able to cut loose from the world, from sin and the devil, and fight valiantly the battles of the Lord and his host.

O let us all awake! Too long have we slumbered and slept. God calls: let us obey. His promises are sure. If God is with us, we shall be fully able to go up and possess the goodly land. May we give our hearts to God without reserve, and in the fullness of our souls exclaim,

"O take it—'tis thine, and e'en should my will Forget in dark moments its pledge to fulfill, In spite of my waywardness keep it still, For 'tis thine, O my Saviour, thine!"

O. W. COFFMAN

Osceola, Clark Co., Iowa, Oct. 26th, 1858.

P. S. I should be pleased to hear from any of the brethren, and hope that Brn. Hull and Adams of Iowa City, will soon fulfill their promise by writing me.

O. W. C.

D. MARSH

By D. Marsh

From Bro. Marsh.

BRO. SMITH: The blessing of a covenant keeping God has followed us all our days, and is more especially manifest to us in our old age. Four years ago my companion and myself were called into the light of present truth, and we have been trying to keep God's commandments ever since. We make no other calculation but to continue faithful to the end. God in his mercy has given us three of our children to go with us, two daughters and a son-in-law. So you see there are five of us now to bear witness to the truth of God's word; and there are others around us who see men as trees walking. We are laboring hard to disseminate the truth among them. The Bible is our book of reference, and that is good enough; but if we had the Review we should like it exceedingly. We are poor, but there is a prospect of a pension for me soon, and then I shall be able to get such things as we need. Till then we must be content. I am trying to labor in word and doctrine every First-day to respectable and attentive congregations. But few attend our Sabbath meetings.

D. MARSH

Fort Winnebago, Wis., Nov. 6th, 1858.

We send you the paper.—Ed.

Sister Knox’s Testimony

By Laura Knox

From Sister Knox.

BRO. SMITH: The Review is a welcome visitor to my humble home, coming as it does laden with precious truth and instructions which I need so much. I think I could not do without it. It is about ten months since I commenced to keep all the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. I am thankful for what the Lord has done for me. I have met with many trials and temptations by the way, but I hope by the grace of God to come off more than conqueror through him that has loved us. My prayer is, Lord remember thy people and bring them into thy rest.

Your unworthy sister, striving to overcome. LAURA KNOX. Ceresco, Mich., Oct., 1858.

Embracing the Sabbath Truth

By C. Copeland

From Bro. Copeland.

Bro. Smith: It has been about six months since I embraced the present truth and decided to keep the Sabbath; and I will here say that when it was presented to my mind by Bro. Cornell, I received it gladly, and felt that it was an interesting season to me, while he continued his meetings here at Stony Creek. But when I came to reflect upon the issue of keeping the Sabbath, I thought I could not endure the cross. Still I could not give it up. I felt to cry to the Lord for decision of mind to do his will, and I think he answered my prayer. The way looked plain and clear before me, but straight and narrow. Since that time I have had no desire to turn back to my former belief; but have had increasing desires to keep all the Commandments of God and have the Faith of Jesus. I make it my home to meet with the brethren at Shelby. I can truly say that I have enjoyed many precious seasons with them. Although there seems to be at times a backwardness in testifying to the goodness of the Lord, still there is a good degree of zeal manifest to arise and get on higher ground.

I had the privilege of meeting with the tent a number of times while at Orion. I thank the Lord for the privileges that I have been blessed with of hearing the Word, and for the encouragement it has given me to press my way onward and upward. I feel determined by the help of God, to see the end of a christian race, that I may be permitted to enter through the gates to the city, and have a right to the tree of life.

Yours striving for the truth. C. COPELAND. Stony Creek, Mich., Nov. 2nd, 1858.

Continue reading: JULIUS J. BOSTWICK