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Review and Herald, Vol. 22, No. 26.

The Light of the World

Review and Herald

Nov 24, 1863

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 24, 1863

The Light of the World.

By John Nevins Andrews

How are we to know whether, being nominally Christians, we are also really Christians? It is important to know if we possess the thing signified by Christianity. The mere name and fame of the thing will be of little use to us.
Now the Bible tells us what Christians are. If then, we are what the book says Christians are, we are Christians. Everybody admits this—that a scriptural Christian is without doubt a real one. But some seem to hesitate about admitting the converse of the proposition, that if we are not what the Bible says Christians are, we are not Christians. The reason they hesitate can only be that they perceive or fear the latter conclusion makes against themselves; for the one is as clearly and certainly true as the other. What use could there be in statements declaring what Christians are, if individuals may be Christians without being what Christians are thus declared to be? Indeed, what truth would there be in such statements? That is no characteristic of a class, which does not belong to all the individuals of the class. The declaration, "If any man be in Christ Jesus he is a new creature," is neither useful nor true, if some are in Christ who are not new creatures. The same may be said of the assertion,
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit," if a solitary individual is pardoned and freed from condemnation who still walks after the flesh. There is neither sense nor sincerity in it; nor in this other passage, "They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts," if some are Christ's who have never put the flesh and its lusts to that kind of death.
It must be admitted that if we are not what the Bible says Christians are, we are not Christians in fact. We may as well admit it first as last. Christ says we are to be judged by his word; not by any favorite author of ours, Blair or Paley, or whoever he may be; not by any sermon we may have heard from this or that minister; not by the standard that may have been set up in some conversation with an eminent divine; not by the opinion entertained in the circle in which we move; nor by what seems to stand to our reason. There will be no spreading out of these, when the Judge shall sit. The Bible will be the only book of law and authority opened then.
I know very well there is nothing new in what I am saying. Anybody can say it, and say it as well. Everybody knows it already. But it is one of the old things that we need to be often reminded of. I know nothing we are more prone to forget than these common-place truths. It is what we know best, and most firmly believe, that we fail most to consider and lay to heart. The most familiar truths have always been the truths by men most disregarded.
But let us hear what the Bible says Christians are, for I did not intend so long an introduction. Well, the Bible says, among other things, that they are the light of the world. The blessed Jesus himself is the speaker, and he is addressing his disciples, and he says to them, "YE ARE the light of the world." Observe, he does not say, "Ye may be, if you are careful to live up to your privileges;" or "Ye ought to be—it is your duty;" or "Ye shall be—by and by, when you have made greater progress in religion;" but he speaks of it as a present matter of fact, "Ye are the light of the world." So it seems that Christians shine. We talk of a shining Christian, meaning to distinguish such a one from Christians in general. But there is no Christian who is not a shining one. Every Christian emits light. Paul testifies of the Christians at Philippi that they shone as lights in the world. They were what Christ said his disciples were. And must not Christians of our cities and villages be the same?
It also appears that Christians are not merely receivers. They give out—they communicate. That is their character. They do not live merely or mainly for themselves. A candle is not lighted for its own convenience, but for the benefit of others, that it may give light unto all that are in the house. Some people think it is enough if they personally enjoy religion. But that is not the case. No man liveth to himself—much more does no Christian.
There are two objects for which Christians shine. One is to discover themselves, that the world may know what Christians are, and so be led to emulate the character. This our Saviour contemplates when he says, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." We are to emit light for others to see by;
and it is that they may see our good works. All Christians perform good works. They are all of them doers. They are the most practical men in the world, though regarded by many as visionaries. There are, to be sure, speculators and theorists enough in the church, but real Christians are working men. But what is the use in our good works being seen? Why is it not enough that they be done. Does not humility dictate that they should be concealed, rather than exposed? The thing is impracticable. "A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid." Were the thing possible the attempt at concealment might be proper enough, if there were no other to be influenced by the sight of our good works. Whether a candle in an inhabited house be on a candlestick or under a bushel, is a matter of little consequence; but not so if there be people in the house. The Christian's good works are to be visible; not that he may be applauded for them, but that men may thence be led to glorify God. Now, a question. Do we shine? And by the light which we evolve, do observers see our good works? Have we any good works for them to see? And are they such good works as, they seeing, will instinctively refer to the grace of God as their cause, and so be led to glorify him? We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that we should show forth the praises of him who hath called us out of darkness into his marvelous light.
I would not have any one suppose that a Christian is to make an effort to let his good works be seen—to be ostentatious of them. No, he is only to let his light shine. He is active in doing good works, but quite passive in showing them. A luminous body makes no effort in emitting light. Indeed it cannot help shining. A Christian has only in all his intercourse with men to set out the Christian spirit, and be governed by the fear of God, and the principles of his holy religion, and the thing is done. The light is emitted, and the good works are seen. And this is the way, under God, to commend truth to the conscience, to reach the hearts of men, and make converts to God. Yes, this is the way. "Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that whereas they speak against you as evil doers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." Another question. Is this what we are doing—shining so that men, knowing we profess the religion of Jesus, see, in looking at us, how pure, lovely, excellent, and divine a religion it is, and are led to say, "Verily, it must be from God, and we must embrace it too—we will be Christians."
The other object for which Christians shine is to enlighten others. But on this I cannot now enlarge. Only this I would observe. See how far Christians shine! They do not merely illumine some little sphere. They are the light of the world. Their influence reaches to the ends of the earth.
Would we make good our Saviour's assertion with respect to ourselves—would we be the light of the world, let us first take heed that the light which is in us be not darkness; and let us next have a care that our light make discovery to others of good works. Let us do them. Then, as for those who see us, it is their fault, not ours, if they are not converted. And as for those who are too far off to see us, it only remains that we carry them the light, or send it to them.

Life's Answer.

I KNOW not if the dark or bright Shall be my lot; If that wherein my hopes delight Be best, or not.
It may be mine to drag for years Toil's heavy chain: Or day and night my meat be tears On bed of pain.
Dear faces may surround my hearth With smiles and glee; Or I may dwell alone, and mirth Be strange to me.
My bark is wafted to the strand By breath divine: And on the helm there rests a hand Other than mine.
One who has known in storms to sail, I have on board; Above the raging of the gale, I hear my Lord.
He holds me when the billows smite— I shall not fall. If sharp, 'tis short; if long, 'tis light; He tempers all.
Safe to the land, safe to the land— The end is this; And then with Him go hand in hand, Far into bliss. —Macmillan's Magazine.

Perplexity of the Nations Increasing.

A LONDON correspondent of the N. Y. Herald, of Oct. 19, says:
"A piece of intelligence of a most momentous character, as concerns its bearing upon the future of the United States, has just come into my possession.
"Plans have been for several months maturing for an European alliance, which is to have for its aim the control of the destinies of the American continent.
"A 'strictly confidential' correspondence was commenced as early as last May, at the instance of an influential (though not powerful) Western sovereign, between most of the Cabinets, with respect to the feasibility of the measure; but the Polish question assumed so grave a form—occasioning new and unforeseen complications—that no considerable progress was made toward the consummation of the scheme. Then came the terrible reverses of the rebels, which, until the last fortnight, endangered the probability of the success of such an undertaking without an immediate declaration of war, inasmuch as it was feared that after all, Secessia might be hemmed in, and resistance to the Union stifled.
"But the holding out of Charleston, and the more recent disastrous defeat of Rosecrans, together with other rebel triumphs in Louisiana, Texas, and elsewhere, have caused negotiations to be renewed, and they are now going on with the utmost activity, and with every prospect of an early completion.
"You will see in the short speech of Maximilian in the 'Mexican deputation,' a delicate allusion to the projected alliance. He took occasion to remark: 'I must make my acceptance of the throne dependent upon a plebicit of the whole country. On the other hand, it would be my duty to ask for guarantees which are indispensable to secure Mexico against the dangers which threaten her integrity and independence.' Maximilian has been well advised. His sagacious father-in-law, King Leopold, the Nestor of sovereigns, has been his faithful mentor.
"The parties to the contract at first, if it shall be perfected, will be Rome (as the head of the Latin church), Austria, Spain, France, and Great Britain. Italy hesitates, but there are influences at work which, it is believed, will cause Victor Emanuel to yield his assent; and it is believed that Prussia, unwilling to isolate herself still further from all the three Powers mentioned, may even so far break with Russia as to give in her adhesion.
It is understood that the Richmond government has indicated its readiness to enter into a treaty, offensive and defensive, with this embryo alliance to the United States, upon the condition that the durable independence of the thirteen States, which are represented in Congress of the Confederacy shall be guaranteed, and that Maryland—in which the District of Columbia, as it is a part of her soil is to be included—shall, as one of the conditions of peace between the present belligerents, be allowed to dispose of herself—to go North or go South at her own option—after all the Federal troops have been withdrawn from her limits, in order that no undue influence may be brought to bear upon her final choice.
The Confederate States, on their part, are to expressly stipulate that they will never attempt to annex any portion of Mexico, Cuba, or Porto Rico, and that they will contribute all in their power to resist the annexation of the British possessions, to the United States, as well as to aid in repelling any armed intervention of the said United States in Mexico, adverse to the doctrine of the 'Latin race,' or in the Spanish West-India colonies. This is a brief statement, in outline of the project. . . .
It is feared by all calm observing men, that seeds have been sown at Washington, which if not speedily uprooted, will produce a state of anarchy—in fact, a defiant outlawry—which will react injuriously if not ruinously to the preservation of order, not only in continental Europe, but also in this realm. The immense foreign population in the army—ferociously antagonistic to the governments of the old world—will be the medium, it is apprehended, by which such a result is not unlikely to be effected.
Of one thing you may be assured: that it is not from love of the South that this strong alliance will be formed with her, but from excessive hatred of the North, and from a settled determination to check her general disorganizing tendencies. Some way or some how it has got into the heads of all political circles, that if the administration of Mr. Lincoln should conquer the South, the part which that represents, would not only undertake to rule all America by the sword, but that it would eventually consider the whole civilized world too contracted a sphere for the field of its ambitious operations."

But—

"Lord, I will follow thee; but—" Luke ix, 62.
Do you see the importance of deciding for Christ? Are you convinced that you ought to give yourself up to his service? Is the feeling strong within you that you should enter on an earnestly religious life? What, then, hinders you? Surely it must be something very serious. Christ demands an entire self-surrender; anything else he will not accept. But you are hesitating; and why?
It may be from the engrossment and pressure of worldly cares. Your mind and heart are full; you are busy with earthly pursuits; you live in a scene of bustle and hurry; every hour has its work; you fancy no time can be spared for Christ; but how vain a notion! Earnest religion does not require you to neglect your business; to be uninterested in worldly pursuits; to lead a dull hermit's life. On the contrary, it calls you to enter heartily into all the ordinary duties of life. But while in the world, the Christian is not to be of the world. And to think of a man allowing himself to be taken up with the interests of time to the neglect of the grand concerns of eternity! What shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
It may be you shrink from the self-denial of the Christian life. No doubt the gate is wide enough to admit any sinner, but it is too narrow for the admission of any sin. If you would be decided, you must at once abandon every known evil way, and you must seek to have your whole life conformed to the will of God. But should you shrink from such a life as this? No doubt it is hard to maintain it; it is trying often to flesh and blood; it needs a daily spirit of self-crucifixion. But the Redeemer's grace is within the believer's reach. With daily supplies of it, Christ's yoke is easy and his burden light. And how deep and pure the inward satisfaction a true Christian life brings along with it! It has joys of which the worldling knows nothing. Godliness is great gain, even now. "Are you happy?" was the question put one day to a beggar boy; to which he replied at once: "I have God for my Father; I have Christ for my Redeemer; I have Heaven for my inheritance; I AM happy."
It may be you fear Christ will not accept you. You have sinned grievously; you have broken many a vow, and left unfulfilled many a resolution; you are verily guilty before God. But Christ came not to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance. "There are two things," said John Newton, "I try never to forget: first, that I am a great sinner; secondly, that Jesus is a great Saviour."
It may be you suppose you could never lead an earnest religious life. You are very weak; you are so ready to give way to temptation; you fall day by day into acts of sin. But has not God promised to give us help in our every time of need, if we humbly, earnestly, and perseveringly seek it? "He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might he increaseth strength."
It may be you do not decide from sheer procrastination. Oh! this delay; how many souls it has ruined. They have thought; they have intended; they have determined; but they have put off. Death has come at an unexpected hour, and they are lost.
Let there be no BUT. Let there be a prompt and immediate decision. Let this be the time of your entering into a covenant with God—a covenant that shall never be forgotten. Your present convictions are of the weightiest moment. They may pass away, and leave you as unconcerned about salvation as ever you were before. Should it be so, and should you never be awakened again, how fearful to think at the bar of God on the time when you were almost converted and saved.
Jesus, still lead on, Till our rest be won; And, although the way be cheerless, We will follow, calm and fearless: Guide us by thy hand To our Fatherland!
If the way be drear, If the foe be near, Let not faithless fears o'ertake us; Let not faith and hope forsake us; For, through many a foe, To our home we go!

"Life is the Time to Dispense Charities."

By James Brewster

A BENEVOLENT gentleman in New Haven, Ct., Mr. James Brewster, having erected a building for an orphan asylum at an expense of $8,000, made at its dedication the following remarks:
I should be wanting in sensibility were I indifferent to the kind expression of approval of my agency in the erection of this edifice. First, I beg leave to say that I disclaim all merit for what I have been enabled to do. Sure I am that I should be most miserable, were I sensible that I relied upon any works of mine as a ground of acceptance with God. I feel myself more than compensated in the pleasure I have derived, from the consideration that by the grace of God I have been enabled so far to overcome my natural selfishness as to do something in imitation of my blessed Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, who went about doing good, and who said, "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven." I believe that the true source of happiness is in making others happy, and in doing what we can to alleviate human suffering; for by an inevitable law of Providence, the poor we shall always have with us. Always there will be enough of human misery to make a test of character. And in regard to the investment I have made in this building, I would not sell out for fifty per cent. advance upon cost.
It may be interesting to some of my friends to learn the moving cause of my agency in aid of this institution. Some thirty years since, before the Orphan Society was organized, I had the pleasure of teaching a class of from twenty to thirty children on the Sabbath, for some years, in yonder old building (then called the Alms House Chapel). I then formed the purpose of doing something (should God prosper me) in aid of establishing an Orphan Asylum in this city; and subsequently I incorporated in my will a bequest of $5,000, to be paid after my decease. Some eighteen months since, learning that the accommodations of the Asylum were inadequate to its necessities, and to the demands upon it—and that an attempt to raise funds for the erection of a building had been unsuccessful, I began to reflect upon the duty, as well as expediency of doing what I designed to do for the poor orphan, while living—prompted not only by the wants of the Asylum, but also by consideration of the frequent misapplication of funds left to be expended after one's decease, to say nothing of lawsuits and other causes by which the objects of the testator are often injured or totally defeated—I came to the decided conclusion, life is the time to dispense charities. My wife sustained me fully in this decision, as well as my children. One of my sons wrote me, "I believe that to be no charity which costs no sacrifice." Still, I confess, there was a conflict in my own mind between self and duty.
When I placed my signature to the proposition to erect this building, like Bunyan's poor pilgrim, I felt relieved from a great burden; and then for the first time in my life, had I any adequate conception of the inherent and powerful selfishness of the human heart. I believe it to be the bane, and greatest obstacle to happiness here and hereafter. I believe it to be our bounden duty to bestow what we have to give in charity mainly while life lasts. I believe we may be mistaken as to the goodness of motives which prompt us to leave property for charities to be paid after our decease, when we can use it no longer.

God's Help in Weakness

God only carries his people when they cannot walk; he pities our weakness, but not our sloth.

A Full Surrender.

By R. S. Hutton

"My son, give me thy heart." Proverbs xxiii, 26.
MAKE a full surrender; keep back nothing; give yourself up wholly to the Lord. He will not be satisfied with anything short of your entire being. All that you are and all that you have are his; and if you do as he requires, you will devote yourself heartily to him.
A full surrender is the only safe course. There can be no security without it. An unwillingness to abandon all for Christ, betrays a lingering love of self and the world. With half-heartedness God can not be pleased. Satan would persuade you that it is enough. He has not been able to prevent your being anxious. In spite of all his endeavors to keep you asleep, you have waked to a sense of your guilt and danger; you have become alive to the vast importance of the soul and eternity. But he would urge you to a partial sacrifice. He would persuade you that you may enjoy the world as you did before, and be religious too. He would convince you that there is no necessity of taking any decided step, and being different from what you were. But all this is hollow sophistry. Be on your guard against his devices; heed not his suggestions. See how God would have you act. Halting between two opinions is emphatically condemned. Against those who are neither cold nor hot terrible judgment is threatened. And Jesus Christ says, "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad."
A full surrender is the only happy course. Would you have solid peace? Would you know what true spiritual joy is? Would you possess assurance of the divine favor, and a good, firm hope of eternal life? There must be decision. An attempted neutrality is a foe to all happiness. Never can you enjoy religion without an entire and thorough giving up of yourself to God. In an undecided life there is much to dim the spiritual vision, and to disturb the spiritual peace. A single evil desire indulged is sufficient to rob you of happiness.
A full surrender is the only course conducive to holiness. Do you long to walk with God? Do you long to grow in grace? Do you long to be such as you ought to be? Then give yourself up wholly to Christ. Open your whole heart to the influx of heaven's affections. Seek to live wholly under the presiding authority of heaven's principles. Let it be your honest endeavor to breathe wholly the spirit of heaven's Lord. Then you cannot fail to advance; you will go from strength to strength; you will appear at length before God in Zion.
A full surrender is needed to commend the religion of Christ to the world. Alas, for the numbers of professing disciples, who are neither one thing nor another! They are cautious, selfish, worldly. They don't commit themselves. They hope they do no harm, but they certainly do no good. They are afraid to confess Christ, and they are afraid to deny him. They are idle, useless, undecided. How is the world to be impressed by such men as these? They put forth no effort for the good of their fellow-men. But make a full surrender to Christ, and yours will be no such life. You will be one with him; you will gather with him. Something within you will prompt and stir to holy toils for Christ, and men will see in you the beauty of holiness. As living epistles of Christ, you will be seen and read of all men.
Do you hesitate to make a full surrender? Think well, indeed, on what you are about to do. Count the cost. Consider the nature and character and conditions of the service of Christ. Do this, and then deliberately and solemnly decide. Let this be your language on your knees at the Throne of Grace:
Lord! thou hast won; at length I yield; My heart, by mighty grace compelled, Surrenders all to thee; Against thy terrors long I strove, But who can stand against thy love? Love conquers even me.
Now, Lord, I would be thine alone; Come, take possession of thine own, For thou hast set me free; Released from Satan's hard command, See, all my powers in waiting stand, To be employed by thee. —R. S. Hutton.

Witnesses Three.

SHORTLY before he died, Patrick Henry, laying his hand on the Bible, said;
"Here is a Book worth more than all others: yet it is my sad misfortune never to have read it, until lately, with proper attention."
With voice and gesture pertinent, and all his own John Randolph said;
"A terrible proof of our deep depravity is that we can relish and remember anything better than 'the Book.'"
When the shades of death were gathering around Sir Walter Scott, he said to the watcher,
"Bring the Book."
"What book?" said his son-in-law.
"There is but one Book," said the dying man.
With such testimony as to the value of the Sacred Scriptures, reiterated by the great and good of all ages, it is a sealed book to many.

Ground of Salvation.

By D. T.

SOME persons expect to be saved on the ground of their morality. So ignorant are they that the commandment is exceeding broad, they suppose they have seldom transgressed. They keep a sort of debt and credit account with their Maker. They do many more good deeds than bad ones, so that, on the whole, God is their debtor. One says he has dealt honestly with hundreds of people, and never defrauded but one. He has been kind to thousands, and never murdered but one. Will the law justify him? "Whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one point, is guilty of all." "Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law to do them." Who can truly say that he has always loved God with all his heart, and his neighbor as himself? and yet I heard a man, over eighty years of age, say he "did not know what he had done to forfeit heaven." How many others have similar feelings. Yet they never heartily espoused the cause of Christ. They never came out from the world and were separate. They never confessed Christ before men. They never were convinced that they were justly condemned by that holy law which they had transgressed, times without number. Hence they never felt their need of the Saviour. Having not seen their sinfulness, they never offered to God "the sacrifice of a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart." Hence, the Lord Jesus has never been to them the chiefest among ten thousand, the one altogether lovely. They are building their hopes of heaven not upon "the only sure foundation which God has laid in Zion, but upon the sand." Continuing thus, practically, to slight "the only name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved," they will meet a most overwhelming disappointment. Just as certainly, sinner, as you rely on your own righteousness to save you, you will lose your soul. By the mercies of God, then, flee from the wrath to come and lay hold on the hope set before you. Hasten your escape; for there is a period, beyond which if you delay, it will be too late, eternally too late.—D. T.—Am. Missionary.

Religion in London

Religion in London.—In a recent sermon, Rev. Dr. Cumming stated that more people went out of London every Sabbath on excursions of pleasure than were found in all the churches and chapels of the city; and that out of a population of three millions, there were but one hundred and fifty thousand communicants in the churches of all evangelical denominations.

Some Truth

SOME TRUTH.—You may insert a thousand excellent things in a newspaper and never hear a word of approbation from the readers; but just let a paragraph slip in (by accident) of one or two lines not suited to their taste, and you will be sure to hear of it.

Family Prayer

Family Prayer.—If the parent will not perform family prayer, if there be a converted child in the family it devolves on him, and should he refuse, he will soon lose the comforts of religion.

An Item.

By Joseph Clarke

A TRUE gentleman will not lavish all his attentions and kindnesses upon some distinguished individuals, whom he dare not despise, reserving his slants and gibes and overbearing demeanor for his nearest intimates and associates and dependents; but by a constant good humor he renders all around him happy.
Even the half idiot as he meets the true gentleman is somehow made to feel at ease, and there is nothing a true-hearted man more scrupulously avoids, than to cause his inferiors to feel the iron heel of his superciliousness.
That man is not a true gentleman who is constantly endeavoring to enhance his own dignity by lowering in the estimation of others those whom he considers his inferiors. He uses all his ingenuity in discovering methods of winning and securing the friendship of others, as far as his pure motives will allow, by suiting his acts of kindness to ALL.
To the mentally weak he is a soft ray of morning; to the strong, he is a sunbeam; to the afflicted, a solace; to the gladsome, he is cheerful; to the tender, he is mild; to the froward, he can be stern; but he measures his affected wrath, for no gentleman will indulge in bad passions.
But home is the place to test the true gentleman; for they are counterfeits who are gentlemen only to those beyond the family pale, while they are monsters of cruelty within the sanctuary of home.
Like the tabernacle built by Moses, the holiest place was within the very heart of the temple, in the holy place, where the ark of the testimony was placed, so with the true gentleman, those who know him best love him most. JOSEPH CLARKE.

To the Sisters.

By L. C. Tolhurst

My mind has so often been led to reflect upon the injury done by us in little things, that I am constrained to say a few words through the Review. As a people, we, the Seventh-day Adventists, profess more than the world, or the churches; and while some carry out their profession, how often are we made to blush by seeing sisters in different places coming among us with their hoops and other articles of useless dress on. I well know that when the tent is pitched in new places, and all these things pertaining to the third angel's message rush upon the mind, that time and patience is required for the development of character; but when the mind is sufficiently enlightened upon these things, shall we not cut loose from fashions which do not serve to our growth in grace and truth, and thereby not only glorify God, but show to the world that we are trying to live out what we profess?
Dear sisters in Ohio, let us not be behind in this matter. Then as we come together to quarterly meetings, and mix with the world and strangers, we shall glorify God. As we know from the Bible, and the testimony to the church, that it will please our heavenly King, should we not rejoice to take up every cross, and do every duty in matters so plain, that we know the approbation of a wise God rests upon us? For one, I am ashamed to introduce to unbelievers a sister Sabbath-keeper with hoops and other extremes of this kind still hanging about her.
May we, one and all, arise, take unto ourselves the whole armor, that we may be able to fight the battles of the Lord, and, if faithful, he will soon bring us off victorious over all the besetments of our fallen nature, and we shall be prepared for the refreshing that is coming from the Lord, then soon receive immortality and reign as kings and priests with our Saviour forever.
L. C. TOLHURST.
Copopa, Ohio.

Cheerfulness and Contentment

If we are cheerful and contented, all nature smiles with us; the air seems more balmy, the sky more clear, the ground has a brighter green, the trees have a richer foliage, the flowers a more fragrant smell, the birds sing more sweetly, the sun, moon, and stars, all appear.

The Bible, God’s Best Gift

THE Bible is the best gift of God to man. It teaches him from whence he is, and whither he is going, and reveals the terms on which he may be happy in time and in eternity.

Eastern Tour.

By James White

FROM the Vermont meeting we came on to Madrid Station, St. Law. co. N. Y., and found brethren Hilliard and Whitney at the depot waiting for us. We were weary, but enjoyed sweet rest of body, and refreshing rest in spirit, at the excellent pilgrim home of Bro. Hilliard and family. Thursday P. M. Nov. 5th, we filled an appointment at the Seventh-day Adventist red church in the place near the former residence of Eld. John Byington, now in Michigan. In the midst of a severe storm there was quite a gathering to the place of meeting of the scattered brethren from several towns. We had an excellent meeting. The cause in Northern New York, which has been well nigh shaken to pieces in consequence of mistaken notions, is evidently gaining strength. Order is so far restored that we think that labor among the little churches in Northern New York from such experienced men as Eld. Andrews or Eld. Loughborough would tell on the cause. In such places where the cause has been weakened and reproached by fanaticism, rebellion and confusion, the best help should be employed or none. Such are no places for the boys. When they have tarried at Jerusalem long enough, let them go into new fields, and prove their calling by raising up sound believers. If they have not faith, consecration, zeal and back-bone sufficient for this, they may as well conclude they have mistaken their calling. We would here say to Bro. Byington that we expect to see the red church which in building he did much, yet crowded with consistent believers in the third message.
The change that has taken place in our own feelings since we were here two years since, when nearly all the brethren in this State went against organization, language cannot describe. We did not expect to be restored to our former freedom and hope. Thank God for what he has done for the cause and for us.
We attended the State Conference at Adams' Center, the 7th and 8th. This was far the best meeting we ever enjoyed in the State. We became much attached to our very dear brethren and friends in this place. Here nearly a whole Seventh-day Baptist church, meeting house and all, has been converted to the Seventh-day Adventists. We would be happy to join Bro. Andrews in a protracted meeting with this church at a favorable opportunity. The members of the church might be greatly increased, with such an effort. We shall doubtless see an interesting report of the New York Conference from the pen of the Secretary, therefore we will not dwell upon the very interesting meeting at Adams' Center.
Sabbath and first-day the 14th and 15th we held meetings at the chapel near Bro. Abbey's in Brookfield. The cause in this region has suffered fearfully from the miserable influence of some of its professed friends. But within the last year there has been a strong gathering influence resulting from the faithful labors of Elder Andrews. While we look at the present state of things with a degree of pleasure, we can but mourn for the slaughter that has been made in Central New York in consequence of the sullen opposition to organization of some so long as they could hold an influence over the flock. The Lord has rescued his people from their influence, blessed be his name! and they now enjoy unity, and see the work of the Lord reviving among them.
On first-day we had a special call to the young. Parents and children wept together, and before the meeting closed, ten or more of those from manhood and womanhood down to thirteen years of age arose and freely spoke of their desires and determinations to be Christians. This was an exceedingly interesting season. Blessed fruits are these of order in the church. This work follows organization in every living church. In this way God sets his seal of approbation to organization as verily as if his approving voice were audibly heard from heaven.
By the urgent entreaties of the brethren we consented to remain over another Sabbath and first-day, and have our two-days meeting over again, so that those who are seeking the Lord may be baptized and added to the church before we leave.
In consequence of the recent draft in Michigan, which must cause considerable confusion, we decided to defer our proposed tour in that State two or three months, and return at once to Maine, where Mrs. W., can have a chance to complete her third volume. Her time when not in meeting or traveling, since we left Michigan in August has been wholly occupied with local and personal testimonies. Since we left Battle Creek she has written not less than five hundred pages. Her book was nearly written before we left home. She now decides to travel no more till she prepares the work for the press. When we visit Michigan we shall doubtless remain till after the General and State Conferences. Our address is Topsham, Maine.
Brookfield, N. Y., Nov. 17, 1863.
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